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Chapter 1:

Tomb of Flesh and Stone

by Michael Feuerstein











In the depths of a mountain, In a great hall, behind a pillar; one of many that lined both sides of the hall, stood a tall middle aged man named Audric smeared with dirt and blood. Sweat now beaded down his face as he waited anxiously hiding in the dark. He was clutching his sword handle tightly in his fist and pressing it hard against his chest. Everything in the room was covered in dark shadows. The only lights were two large candles standing on each side of a stone engraved alter cast only light on alter and the two pillars on lining the wall. All of which was farther away from him then he wanted them to be. There was a break in the silence that enveloped him, for Off in the distance you could hear shattering cries of a man. It was Deveon, through the screams you could almost feel his pain. It sent chills straight down his spine. Now another one of the seven was gone. Five now remained, the knights of Kylera. Now the discomposure was beginning to fill him, his armor was now weighing him down. Frighten, Audric knew he had to move but he couldn’t bring his feet to take just one step. It felt like they have become roots and taken hold of the ground, and if he picked he would be taking the risk he would surely parish.





Before he stepped forth from behind the pillar a door came clattering open, slamming into the wall with a large bang then stopped still, silence. Then gradually the Sounds of heavy breathing and footsteps could be heard, echoes bounced off the structure. The echoes shook the very place he stood. Dust began to fall from the ceiling above and landing down on to his head and shoulders. He began to think to himself he was going to die here, he was going to be locked in this tomb of stone. This shrine of hell. Audric knew if he just stood here though he would surely parish. His arm already was bleeding profusely from a prior encounter with this thing. He had to move. He look around the side of the large stone pillar he hide behind and saw a doorway (1 of 3 large doors in the room) far off lit by the constant flicking of candles of the alter. There stood a Sepherian, a fellow knight in the doorway. His eyes bulging, looking off in another direction terrified then instantly back to his other screaming the word "Run." The pounding of his heart grew and the beating of footsteps grew closer then it picked up faster, and faster. Whatever it was, it was running in his direction.  A large furious roar was heard off in the shadows. It shook the whole entire hall.



Audric griped his sword tight with his fingers saying “god give me strength.” He gathered all his courage, picked up his feet and went as fast as his body would let him towards the doorway. You could hear the clanking of his armor as he ran between the pillars and wall; nervously moving his eye side to side as he went, paranoia filled him. Praying, Hoping with his entire being that he could survive this horror, the bloodthirsty devil. Behind him the pounding of unknown feet seemed to stalk him his side on the other side of the pillar, following him as if that was his shadow, or maybe death himself. He could almost feel every breath it made. The walls got lighter and lighter, as he got closer to his exit. He was half way there and about to have nothing fear but suddenly it jumped from in-between two pillars at him. He began to feel the piercing pain of its claws dig into his back. He hit the ground with such a force you could hear a crack as if some large branch snapped. He was spun around in the air landing on his back like a rag doll. The teeth of the creature sunk into the flesh. Blood started to spout out everywhere from his shoulder. Then the creature draped in the shadow, raising its head from his body with a piece of his flesh in his mouth. Frozen in horror and overcome with shock Adrian stared up at the whatever had got him but couldn’t make anything out except its eyes, its blood red eyes, gazing through his chest into his very soul, injecting him with nothing but fear, nothing but pain. Then he passed out. His companion saw this and ran out screaming “NOOOOO” with sword in hand. The creature turned its head and looked up in Sepherian Direction.













Then the beating of wings could be heard and the creatures rouse from the ground. A great wind blew on Adrian’s faces, blowing away or drying most of the sweat and blood. The knight that once stood in the door way, Sepherian picked up the paces of his feet and ran in the direction of the beast, letting out a battle cry. As did the hellish creature letting out a deafening roar as it flew towards him with furious speed.



Just as they were about to hit Sepherian jumped into the air, raising his sword. Time seem to slow. Then they both collided together in mid air with a clank of armor and skin slapping togather. The creature clamped his claws onto him piercing threw his armor and into  the dark it flew, father off into the shadows with Sepherian in hand, straight for a pillar through the air. With each struggle for life it dug it claws deeper inside the mans flesh. The man let out a paining cry and raised his sword, and with all the strength he could manage stabbed the creature as hard as he could in the shoulder piercing through the skin out to the other side of its shoulder blade. The beast let out a blood-curdling shriek and dropped him with his blood smeared sword in hand. Then the sound of the sword and the man sword could be heard echoing as they hitting the ground. The Distraction of the pain made the creature lose its focus and spinning out of control colliding into a pillar with a large cracking a deafening bang as it went straight through, breaking the pillar in two. The beast hit the ground with a thud that shook the entire complex. follow by the breaking, and tumbling of rock and ruble of the pillar down onto it. With great thuds, one after another until there was no pillar standing.



After the dust settled, there nothing but a mountain of debree, a grave that marked where the creature lay. Whither it was Dead or Alive, It was of no concern. Getting out alive was the only thing that mattered at hand this very moment. Time was of the essence. For in less then 20 minute the great stone doors would close and lock forever.



Sepherian’s Biceps were bleeding profusely from the claws it dug into him. He tried to get up but his side was pulsing with such pain from the fall after the creature released him from its grip. He tried sit up but the pain pulsed so hard it made him lay down again. Taking time to breath he gathered his strength and gripped his sword handle tightly. Digging the point of the blade into the ground and he managed to used the sword as a crouch to push him up and get him to his feet. Now crying the words “AUDRIC” followed after a deep heavy breath and clanking of the sword as it hit the stone moving slowly to Audric. Sepherian spoke again “get up, please get up, we must get out, WE MUST LEAveee.” The sound of Sepherian voice stirred Audric who lay on the ground from where the creature left him unconscious and wounded.



He awoke with such pain letting out a groan. Then shortly after with a pain in his voice said “how long have I been out.” Sepherian replying” to long, we have to get out of here” those words followed a pause for Sepherian was spitting out some blood then speaking Sepherian said” where in the hell is Alexander?!!” Audric replied “ up at the main hall guarding the entrance with the 2 others”

Sepherian replying “ok, listen though, we have to get out now; its only a matter of time before…” A loud echoing roar was heard in the distance follow by pause in his voice for only a second. Then Sepherian finished what he was saying, “there’s more…” Audric sat up. A fearful expression filled Audric’s face. He grabbed his sword and put it back his holder on his back and got up quickly ignoring the painful throbbing of his shoulder, Audric now ran swiftly for his friend. When he stood in front of Sepherian, Audric pulled up Sepherian arm and threw it over his shoulder. Then quickly together they made it for doorway Sepherian once stood.



Suddenly there was a great bang. It came from the largest wooden door at the far end of the stone hall. But it didn’t distract Adrian or Sepherian as they ran past the alter and an alterative doorway and into and down a hallway. AS Each foot hit the stone floor the sounds bounced off the hallway walls.



Then Suddenly another Deafening bang. The force of whatever that was throwing itself against the huge door was cracking it slowly with each hit. Followed by another. Then for what it seemed liked 20 seconds there was complete silence. Audric stopped in the hallway for he was thinking it gave up and turned back. Suddenly the huge wooden doors of the great hall bursted open, Splinters went everywhere. Then a thump, as the two pieces of the door hit the ground. Out walked slowly from the dabree and shadow came the outline of another creature, larger and more muscular then its predecessor but without wings. Still covered in shadow it moved its menacing eyes from one side of the hall to another, eventually focusing on the large pile of boulders. Popping out from between the ruble was a claw. It knew death had come to his companion. It raised its head in the air and began to breathe in the air smelling for foe that did his other in. It turns its head quickly to the exit Sepherian and Audric had run. Letting out a strangely louder deep roar while it began to run, and run quicker then anything you ever seen. 5 miles, 10 miles, 30 miles, 50 miles a hour. Towards the hall. Hearing the roar the Sepherian said “ its her, RUNNNN.” Audric and Sepherian began to run again faster then before ignoring both of their pains, for if they didn’t it would cost them their lives. Turning lefts and rights down other parts of this intricately connected hallway trying to make it back to the main hall before the entrance doors closed, locking them inside forever.



Behind them the creature entered the hall at grade speed slamming into the side of the wall, leaving an indent of its body, pieces of stone littler the hallway wall floor right after. Audric spoke in a low but confident tone as he ran “ almost there, almost there….” maneuvered quickly between each turning of this well crossing maze. As they came closer and closer to the exit. Each torch that line the walls every few feet or so went out as the creature drew closer to its prey engulfing the hallway in complete darkness behind it. The creature was just about 27 feet behind them and accelerating at great speed. They both knew they wouldn’t be able to make it out alive unless one stayed and died with sacrificed himself for the other. They were 7 feet away from the exit into the main hall and the beast was now 18 feet behind them when Sepherian stopped and pushed Audric through and into the main hall. Sepherian uttered the words “forgive me” as he turned around quickly, drawing his sword and gripping the handle tightly in hand. Screaming the words “RUN” to Audric that was laying on the floor, 7 feet behind him. Audric gazed up and looked at Sepherian with such reverence, then got to his feet and swiftly began to run. Sepherian loathingly gaze at the creature not faltering or backing away. Then with such emotion screamed “FOR HONOR” followed by a deafening battle cry as he ran at creature.



The battle cry of Sepherian from behind could be heard and began to fade as Audric got further away and was making for the main door for the Main Door. Only 5 minutes left before they begin to close and lock. Audric began to think to himself (where the hell is Alexander and the other 2?) as he looked around the main stone hall as he ran. Then he saw it, there bodies littered the middle of the hall as he reach it. Two of knights of Kylera but Alexander’s body was nowhere to be found In the torches that littered and lit of the main hall.



Had Alexander abandoned them? Then Audric said “unless…”Audric eyes began to slowly gaze up above, and then began to follow the ledges that lined the top of the great hall. There were great stone statues sat on ledges each of a different demon. Then he noticed something different, a body in a corner eaten away at, bone now revealing. Sword still in hand. It was Alexander, his expression was of a screaming Petrified man. Nothing the living could hear, only silence. Then Audric began to slower the pace and began to look around at the statues. Spinning around trying to figure out witch one was it that killed him. Which statue did it. Squinting to see, if he could to tell the real from the unreal. But then, off in the distance he heard the very last screams of Sepherian Distracting his concentration from his wonder and then it slowly dyed and faded away. He was gone now; He the only one left now, the last of the seven knights of the Kylera. He had to run, he had to Carrie on the brotherhood history and bloodline. He had to live.



The creature gazed down from the ledge it sat on greedily. Following his next victim with it eyes now glowing fierily red with desire for its blood. Saliva was dripping from its mouth in the shadows. It made a yelp and jumped from the ledge and extending it wings and arms outstretched now for Audric. But Audric now had his back turned and was running again for the exit Then out of nowhere the two great stone doors 5 feet thick started closing, slowing inching together



Audric began to run for the door again. The only thing that mattered now was to stay alive. Get through this nightmare. In the corner of his eyes he noticed a blacken spot covered in shadow now, where a statue once stood. A large roar and cutting of air from its monstrous wings was heard behind him. He pulled his sword out for his holder on his back. He didn’t stop to turn around. The doors began to close. He had to picked up the pace or else he would be locked in here forever. Behind him in the air swooped down another one of those beasts straight for him. It was about 7 feet away from him as he leaped and slid through the doors on his back sword in hand. When he came to a sliding stop outside the entrance he threw his sword with all his strength with all the strength he had left. It went spinning quiet furiously in the air. Quick and hard it pierced the demons throat. The jolting with such force it sent the demon tumbling back in the air towards the ground. The last thing he was saw was the creatures face screaming in pain. And then slowly faded as the Doors slammed shut with a heavy bang. He escaped that hell. the tomb of flesh and stone. The rain was patting onto his face and leather armored body lightly, washing away all the blood and sweat that covered it. He lay still on the cool wet steps of the entrance. It was mid-spring, early in the morning. Finally taking a deep breath and set his head down in exhaustion. And rite before he closed his eyes he wondered to himself (is it over?)…..



And then…. came…. darkness…