Magus jumped back from the wall, as water constantly seeped through the holes.
âYou still donât understand, Torlon, you havenât found out why I was here in the first place.â Magus said, leaning up agains tthe dampened wall. The floors puddles were now streaming into each other.
âI can easily kill you and run straight up out of here. Or just leave you here to drown.â Magus continued âBut I figured out to make this interesting. For I knew there was a lake, and what its importance was. But not the details of where. And for that, I thank you.â Magus spoke, arrogantly.
Torlon stood silently. He took a quick breath, and looked down at his dim reflection in the small stream he was standing in.
âAre you going to say anything?â Magus asked.
Torlon continued to stare.
âVery well. Looks like Iâll have to keep my secrets then.â Magus said, stepping towards Torlon.
Quickly, Torlon steppe forward. He instantly shoved his hand into his cloak and whipped out his dagger, swinging it at Magus in one continuous motion. Magus stepped back and swayed to his left, avoiding the deadly slash. Torlon charged forward, attempting to tackle Magus. In one quick motion, Magus jumped upward and clung to the wall. Torlon looked up, seeing the previous floors they had fallen through. The water now ran at his knees.
âEat this!â Magus yelled as he dropped from the ceiling and extending his legs.
WHAAAM!
Magusâs rotation of his legs slammed Torlon into the leaking wall. A large crack was heard, as the wall shook a little. The water pressure began to build.
âAgh!! I know what I need is jsut beyond..screw it!â Magus yelled as he ran forward and slammed his own self into the wall.
CRAAACK!! The wall completely gave. Within seconds water poured into the corridor, instantly throwing Magus and Torlon back. The room itself began to fill up with water.
Under the current, Magusâs eyes popped open and focused on the area where the wall once stood. He pushed off the wall behind him and swam toward it. Torlon was drifting slightly behind him, giving up on swimming up for oxygen. He began to pursue Magus.
Magus arrived where the wall once stood, with it clear now Magus could see a large hole on the ground a ways back, he quickly swam into the hole. Torlon followed.
The hole led into a large tunnel, Magus swam along using the walls to push himself forward. Torlon struggled to hold his breath, it had already been around a half minute since oxygen had entered his lungs. Up ahead, Torlon saw Magus approach a hole above him, and swim up the hole. Torlon immediately follwed. Once he passed the hole heard water dripping. He could now breathe again. Torlon hoisted himself out of the hole. He looked around, amazed at what he was seeing. The room they were in was enormous! Water stood all around, their was a small waterfall behind him. Apparently cycling water through the hole, having it flow back up to where he was.
Torlon walked forward, where he saw a chunk of rock that stuck above the water. Up ahead, he saw Magus standing on the dry land. Torlon hoisted himself otu of the water, and continued forward. On the chunk of land, Torlon saw diamonds. Masses, piles, stacks of diamonds. Magus began to speak.
âYears ago, me and some comrades would try to find this lake.. Once we did, we realized the miners here were hiding something. Rumor had it, that they kept the supply of diamonds from the mine for themselves, and just said it wasnât producing any diamonds. The miners watched any single way to enter this place. So we had to kill them. But in the midst of the attack..I had to leave for some reason. The mine was considered condemned and they sealed it up. Saying that the lake was the reason it was closed. So donât tell me what you know, and do not know about this place Torlon!â Magus yelled.
Torlon stepped back, and gritted his teeth.
âYou will still not run out of here alive!â Torlon yelled.
Magus laughed and looked around. Amongst the piles of diamonds, the water quietly flowed. Behind him was a small rock path to a corridor. Magus smiled.
âNow, I am sensing something I have felt before.â Magus inhaled a breath and closed his eyes.
âIf this were to be my gateway to hell then I shall follow it.â Magus said as he ran full speed towards the corridor.
Puzzled, Torlon gave chase, but only in a light jog. Approached the small opening, entering into the massive darkness that awaited him. The room faded to black. Torlon looked behind him, but the opening to the lake was gone.
The blackness began to brighten, Torlon found himself standing in the middle of a small town. A man approached him.
âTorlon! Iâm about to head to the mine today. Take it easy!â The man said.
âFather?â Torlon asked.
âWell, yea, Iâve only been your father your entire life!â The man gave a hearty chuckle.
âWhat...â Torlon trailed off.
âDonât bother helping me out, you worthless excuse for a son.â Torlonâs father said.
âWhat?!â Torlon screamed, walking a bit backwards to the sidewalk of the street. His father stepped toward him. Torlon was still amazed at the familiar town he was standing in. Down the street was the old convenience store he used to hang out at. Cars buzzed through every now and then. His house could be seen on the corner.
âAnswer me! Who do you think you are you worthless piece of crap? Huh?!â
âWhat is wrong with you? You were never like this!â Torlon yelled, his eyes getting glassy.
âThereâs only one way to shut you up kid, Iâm putting you down!â
âYou bastard!â Torlon yelled, leaping forward. He pulled out his knife and drove it deep into his fatherâs heart. Torlon yelled and ripped the knife out, stabbing his father again. Almost immediately, the town disappeared, Torlon saw himself back in the entrance of the corridor. He had driven his knife into Magusâs chest.
Torlon looked around, confused. Seeing Magus on the ground, not moving made him happy.
âA blessed blade like my own, and a trained mind like my own will not fall for illusions.â
Torlon raised his knife above his head, and brought it down. Magus barely rolled out of the way, he stood up and ran back into the open room. He coughed, holding his chest. Blood was pouring out. With a small splash, Magus fell into the water. A red wave spread from the vampireâs fallen body. Magus saw everything fade to black.
You say...you have problems...
âYes...I have much to fight for..but not the lifetime to make it last.â
I can give you a one way ticket..an offer. To make sure you will always be around to fight for what you believe in. To be a well known, rich and feared person.
Magus looked around, he saw himself in a place he had thought heâd never see again. He sat in a small bed of his cottage. Outside his brother and sister were helping his father work the crops. A tall man stood on the end of the bed. Magus looked to his left..and saw a large stone castle.
âIâm back home..medieval England..â Magus thought to himself.
Then brace yourself boy, this may hurt
Magus looked to the man. This was the vampire who turned Magus into a vampire! He had the chance to remember who turned him into a vampire again!
âWait! Whatâs your....your...â
Magus felt the feeling of his neck being pierced. Everything faded to black once again.
âNoooo!â Magus shouted to himself. â That was a chance I wonât have again...â
Once again, the blackness lifted, he stood in the middle of an open field.
A young boy, a young girl, and a grown man lay on the ground. Their necks had been bitten into. Magus saw himself in the middle of the field, his chin had the warmth of blood on it.
âThis is where I turned on my family...out of hunger..and hate for my dad not giving me the attention I deserved...he wouldnât let me become a knight...If Iâm not mistaken ...oh no!â
Magus turned around to see a large wolf pounce on him. Quickly, it bit him in the shoulder, and ran off.
âMy body was still fighting to stay human. Trying to stay alive..then the mixture of the werewolf bite so it plugged together neatly...â
Magus felt wet on the front of his body. His eyes popped open as he saw himself floating on the water. He quickly stood up, seeing Torlon just now jump in after him.
âDonât...*cough* think this is the end...â Magus said. Torlon grabbed his blessed dagger, and was ready to finish the vampire off.
For the first time, Magus was in awe at the beauty of this room. The water was clear, and shallow. The diamonds throughout the walls sparkled off of the reflection. The room was slightly lit from an unknown source. Magus still had not found out what was in the corridor beyond this room.
Magusâs arms were flung straight sideways, he smiled as his arms began to bulk up and grow hairier. His face extended into a snout, his hands into claws. The werewolf was unleashed. With a loud howl, Magus ripped his robe off, standing with just his pants on. His shoes had been ripped apart. His hind leg muscles jerked and twitched. Torlon sheated his dagger and pulled out another. He spun the handle on the tip of his index finger, tossed it into the air, and caught it by the handle.
âNow, your new form doesnât intimidate me. It just tells me silver is now the key. Take this!â Torlon yelled as he hurled the knife at Magus. The knife was stopped inches away from Magusâs heart. He extended his left hand forward as the knife fell into the water.
âSploosh!â
âTelekinesis? Oh well, just shows that Iâll have to be up in your face to kill you. Now, itâs your turn to chase. Come on!â Torlon yelled as he jumped out of the water and ran towards the corridor. Magus leapt out of the water and began the chase. Torlon randomly turned into any direction, as long as it wasnât a dead end. He had no idea where he was going, but he knew he was running from Magus. Diamonds were strung throughout the walls of the twisting, turning corridor. Torlon stopped as he saw a small ladder leading upward. He began to ascend it, only to be stopped by the firm grip of Magusâs hand on his ankle. Torlon was yanked down and thrown to the ground. Quickly, Magus ascended to the ladder as he saw hinges at the top where the wall and ceiling of the shaft met.
Magus pushed at the ceiling above him. Surprisingly enough, it moved! With a breath of relief, Magus tasted fresh air as he ascended into the night sky. He stood near a small twisting road. At the end of the road he could see in the distance the entrance of the shaft that he and Torlon had met in. Looking down, Magus saw Torlon begin to ascend the ladder. He waited patiently for his opponent. Torlon jumped out of the hole, and immediately charged the werewolf with a flurry of daggers. Magus jumped backward, he landed softly and growled at his opponent. He showed his fangs as his low growl continued. Magusâs arms went to his side as he looked to the sky, closed his eyes, and let out an ear piercing howl. Torlon bent down and covered his ears. He winced in the pain of the shrill howl.
Magus crouched to the ground, and pounced at Torlon.
Thwack!
Impact. Magus plowed right into Torlon, bringing him to the ground. Furiously, Magus clawed at Torlonâs chest. He then rolled backwards, sprung to his feet, and lifted Torlon up from the ground. Magus brought Torlon to his face.
âIâve wounded you in the chest, I know youâd be twice as agile if that werenât there. This makes me sick, I still pity you while you enhance your strength fully. Iam too much for you no?â Torlon asked.
Magus snarled as he stepped towards the open trap door. Magus held Torlon to his face, then briefly looked down the hole. The ladder could be seen, long as ever. It went down into pitch black darkness. A low growl emitted from Magusâs throat as he spun Torlon around, and brought his massive jaws down right into his shoulder. Torlon screamed in pain, Magus dove down into the hole as he retained the grip with his jaws. The two fell back down into the hole, Torlon struggling frantically to find a solution from the pain he was receiving. His screams were silented as he landed back onto the hard, cold ground, Magus on top of him. Finally, Magus loosened his grip as he rolled off of Torlon.
Magus looked up, wooden beam supports cris-crossed the stone ceiling above them. His fangs gleaming, Magus ripped apart the ladder and slammed his elbow into random supports. The corridor shook, Magus grabbed Torlon by the collar and began to run, dragging his opponent behind him. Back through the dusty, twisting corridors Magus went, until he saw the shining lake nearing once again. Magus ran past the piles of diamonds and hurled Torlon into the water.
SPLAAAAASH!!!
Torlon landed in the shallow water, rolled a bit and stopped. He brought himself into a sitting position. Clutching his shoulder.
âMy...my body..argh..you fiend! Now I have to fight to keep my humanity. I would die then become anything similar to you!â
The werewolf grinned, his teeth protruding out of his mouth. He began to slowly walk towards Torlon. Clumsily and slowly, Magus dropped off of the raised rock and splashed into the water. Torlon backed up a bit, and braced himself yet again. As Magus approached, Torlon took a random swing with his good arm. Easily, Magus gripped Torlonâs arm with his right hand and sent the claws of his left hand deep into Torlonâs shoulder wound. Torlon yelled and fell to the ground. He stood up and planted a full force kick right into Magusâs chest. Hitting the knife wound dead on. Magus howled as he stumbled backward. Blood began to drip from his wound again.
Torlon grunted and struggled. He began to feel his body mutating within him. The werewolf gritted his teeth and growled. He then smiled as he saw Torlon scream and fall to his knees. Hair began spreading on his arms. It slowly disappeared as Torlon lay there, grunting and yelling.
Torlon screamed as the water in the room began sloshing about. The ground beneath them began to shake. Torlonâs screams were fading into a loud howling sound. The tremors stopped, as Magus looked at his opponent. Torlon stood there, growling. His face ha dextended into a snout. His clothes were ripped all around him. The new wolfâs eyes were blood red. His belt full of weapons fell into the water and sunk to the bottom of the shallow lake. The two wolves ran at each other, and clashed in the middle of the room. Water was pushed back as the two locked hands. Neither oneâs eyes left their opponents. Magus smiled as he was sensing Torlonâs body giving in to his new form as time passed.
They both growled in unison. This was something Magus would enjoy oh so much. Still, Torlon had a bit of humanity within him. Magus would never be anything of this dimension again.
Magus shoved Torlon back. Torlon, not used to his muscular legs, stumbled backward and fell into the water. He immediately stood back up. The hair on his body drooped downwards from the weight of the water. He shook the water off of him just as any dog would, and stared at Magus. Quickly, Torlon attempted a pounce in Magusâs direction. Once again, Magus jumped straight into the air and landed behind Torlon, performing a cross slash attack with his claws. With his newly enhanced senses, Torlon jumped forward a few feet, avoiding the attack. He immediately turned around and faced Magus once again. The two locked hands once again. Magus sensed the humanity in Torlon still. It was as if it were fighting a war against this new force taking over Torlonâs body.
Torlon let go, and jumped backward. He looked up and screamed as loud as he could. Water around him shot upward. The room was filled with a thick mist now. Magus struggled to see where his opponent stood. The silhouette of Torlon was seen in the middle of the mist. The wolf stood there clutching his head and shaking around violently.
Torlon..fight It off...you will be a freak jsut as him if you let it prevail..
Torlon howled as water shot up around him again.
Magus stepped backward, confused.
The mist cleared. This time however, Torlon stood as a human.
âMy father helps me wherever I go. He wants your blood as bad as I do. He exists even within me. I alone could not have fought the force of a creature like that out of my body. Realizing that, I can now kill you and live peacefully.â Torlon said.
Magus cocked his head sideways. Wondering how just the mere force of Torlonâs father had helped him regain his humanity.
torlon reached into the water, and reattached his belt to his waist. He stood there, shirtless, staring at his opponent. Magus could still sense the werewolf flowing throughout Torlonâs body. He had not driven it out, but only made it latent again. IT was a very rare thing for Magus to witness. He intended to bring the werewolf out of Torlon once again. Just so Torlon would die frustrated that he was a human no more. With a large splash of water appearing behind him, Magus pounced at Torlon, landing just a few feet in front of him. Quickly, Magus jumped forward and picked Torlon up by his neck. He reached into Torlonâs belt and grabbed one of his own knives. He held it against his opponentâs neck.
Torlon struggled, knowing fully that he still had werewolf inside of him, the silver knife would hurt him greatly. Torlon mustered up as much energy as he could as he brought his legs backward and shoved Magus away from him with his feet. Splashing about, Magus tumbled backwards to regain his balance. His body heaved in and out as he panted heavily. The knife dropped from the werewolfâs hand. Torlonâs arms would occasionally bulk out and grow furrier, but he would fight it off the instant it happened.
Magus knew he would have to distract Torlon long enough for the wolf part to take over. This time he wouldnât be able to fight it off so easily. Torlon charged forward once again, he plowed into the werewolf, taking him into the ground.
SPLAAAASH!
Water erupted from the floor as the two fighters rolled around. Magus got to his feet and lifted Torlon up by the chest with both arms. Once Torlon was completely off of t
he ground, Magus hurled him away from the raised platform, and towards the waterfall. Torlon almost fell into the hole that they had entered the tunnel in, he quickly stood up. He felt the werewolf taking over his body again. He struggled to retain his humanity. He grunted and flailed about some more. Magus slowly walked towards the waterfall. He was tired of trying to bring out the werewolf. He was ready for the kill, werewolf or not.
Torlon clutched his head, screaming. His heart began to beat faster. The sound of the area around him was feinting. Pure hate engulfed his body as his eyes locked onto the werewolf. Magus emitted a growl and prepared to unleash whatever skills he had necessary to end this fight.