The Devil's Curse

mb, the darkness thickened, the air

gainst the ancient stone, whi

d with fear, muttered a

th exhaustion, staggered forw

pressed forward, his sword held

l filled the tomb, the sound

urned to face the sound, h

epped closer to her, his voice low and

ion, closed his eyes, his magic seekin

repared for battle, his e

ight, emerged from the shadows, it

n the darkness, swung at the creature, th

oned a gust of wind, the air swirling aro

at the creature, his sword slicing thro

ing with death, John collapsed to the

h fear, rushed to his side,

th concern, joined her, his

agged gasps, staggered to his

voice low and desperate. "Pl

effort, opened his eyes, his g

agged and desperate. "I cannot con

is chest, her voice gentle and sure. "John," she murmured

pain, closed his eyes, his b

r of them rested, their bodi

t-lived, for the Holy G

arch the tomb, his eyes searching f

of the tomb, he found it

s. "This is it," he murmured, his voice fil

proached the tomb, their hear

excitement, placed his hands

the tomb opened, revealing a

d and brittle, sat upon a throne of stone, i

proached the tomb, their hear

excitement, placed his hands

the tomb opened, revealing a

d and brittle, sat upon a throne of stone, i

om the center of the crown, its petals a radiant white

wonder, stepped forward, hi

" he whispered, his voic

ement, reached out to touch th

illed with warning. " not yet , its pow

h understanding, nodded,

ured, his voice filled with w

n, looked at John, her voice uncerta

ily, his voice filled with wond

his hands ," he murmured. "a creature born of darkness wielding the power

began to tremble, the very walls sha

umbled back, his voice a whisper o

o John, her voice quivering with emotion. "Jo

from the tomb, they were met

unded them, their engines ru

ed Iian Kelar , his face a col

d, his eyes narro

am Iian Kelar, leader of the Third Eye. I offer you a c

ury, stepped forward, his swo

ce a dangerous rumble. "You seek to destroy

be it," he said, his voice smooth and dangerous. "But kn

th rage, lunged at Iian, his

ble but powerful, struck him, sending him hurtli

hock, spun around, his swo

his voice filled wi

erence, lifted his hands, his fingers

d, his voice filled wit

magical bonds that held him, stared

oice filled with rage. "

cold smile, shook his head, h

d corruption," he hissed. "Iian offers a ch

a cold smile, turned to John,

cidence that you were chosen to find the Holy Gr

ock, stared at Tunde, his b

he demanded, his voic

triumph, nodded, his voi

darkness," he hissed, his voice filled with dark power. "I

, roared with fury, the magical bo

wisted mask of arro

ohn ," he growled.

, struggled against the magical bo

he snarled, his voice filled wit

cy calm, shook his head, hi

s," he sneered, his voice dripping with co

rage, struggled against the magica

her voice quivering with emotion. "You

ontempt, shook his head, hi

wer and greatness," he growled. "And yo

e and power, stepped forward, the

hn ," he said, his voice low and dan

g against the magical b

," he growled, his eyes

f power, smiled, his voice lo

ee, John,"

h malice, turned to Iian, hi

he asked, his voic

y calm, considered for a mo

inty. "They shall live to see the world reborn in o

struggled against the bonds that hel

d across Iian's face, his eye

led with dark glee. "There is

th shock, stared at Iian

pon Victor, his voice

illed with power. "I shall take fr

pleasure, stepped forward, his fin

struggled against the bonds that he

voice filled with desperati

th rage and fear, screamed,

this," he howled, his voice

power, touched Victor's forehead, h

struggled against the bonds, his

voice filled with rage.

d in horror as Victor's body began to convulse, his li

e grief and fury erupted from John, his h

tears, reached out to John,

he whispered, her voice

d grief, broke free of the magical bo

" he snarled, his voice fi

pair, watched as Iian and Tunde departed with the Hol

and with a flick of his hand, the ground erupted in fire,

he hissed, his voice filled with dark promise.

John and Amber were left alone in the dese

rage, looked at Amber, his v

id, his voice filled with determination.

th tears, nodded, her voi

, her voice filled with

the barren wasteland of the desert, John's mind was thrown i

curse of the darkness within him - all of these losses, the

rage, and the memories of his family's slaughter er

his body trembling, his mind screamin

se, the temptation to unleash his fury, to let go of the con

m their depths emerged a figure, its red skin radiating a helli

, seductive purr, stepped for

illed with dark amusement. "The c

e and despair, glared at the Devi

ed, his voice smooth and dangerous. "But why, John?

ck and rage, took a deep breath

, his voice filled with determi

his voice like th

ured, his voice dripping

ou really believe the Holy Grail will save the world? Do you not s

uspicion, stared at the Devil,

nce," he snarled. "I car

ocking laughter, shook his head, h

t darkness? What is light without shadow? You see, my dear John, the world is a delicate bal

e and fear, stepped forward, his

"You're just afraid of los

to a twisted smile, laughed, his

the balance, the one who keeps the scales from tipping. And I offer you a gift, a chance to sa

and rage, glared at the Devil, his

take my gift, and use it to save the world, or you may continue on your quest, and damn

took a deep breath, his mi

is eyes glinting wi

?" he murmured, his voice