Shadow Warrior

Chapter17

Waking, they found themselves entangled in one another. Their bliss is still prevalent. Waking and making love several more times, their bodies sore and exhausted. Feeling sleep slowly leave their bodies, they heard a knock at the door.

“I’m coming in!” Galadin yelled.

Pulling the covers up over their naked parts. Abby’s face was a beautiful shade of cherry red. Her embarrassment was evident.

The door opened and Galadin walked in cautiously. “I’m sorry to break things up, but one of the council members is here.”

His words brought them back down to earth. As if falling, their stomach dropped and their heartbeats increased.

“We will be down in 5.” Leo’s eyes screamed in fear.

Not knowing what they were here for, how they found them, or what they knew was terrifying. Who would have told them anything? Kesh was dead. Maybe his death was the reason they were here.

Galadin vacated the room and shut the door upon his exit. Abby and Leo both got dressed and freshened up before heading to the main room. Leo and Abby agreed he would leave first and Abby would follow behind a minute later. As to avoid them finding out more than they already possibly knew.

Leo gave Abby a quick pick on the lips. Trying to reassure her everything was going to be okay. Abby’s nerves were on edge. Having no idea how this was going to pan out. She went against a direct order. On top of it, she fought with other underworld beings. While Leo is also still housing Valak in his body. Then there was their love for each other. By the looks of it they had stuck out 4 times. The punishment was going to be brutal if not death.

“Good afternoon, Councilman Alvis.” Leo’s words reached Abby’s ears.

She took it as a sign to head to them. Calming herself, she walked until she had reached Leo, Galadin, and Councilman Alvis. Giving him a smile and a hand shake, Galadin motioned for them to take a seat.

“We are glad to see you safe and well, Warrior Leo. It is also good to see you, Warrior Abby.” His eyes held something in them. It made Abby uneasy. His postering made her mind go off. Something was wrong.

“Thank you. I am just glad we were able to get Leo back.” Abby knew without a doubt they knew she had disobeyed, but she wasn’t sure about anything else.

“We have opened a full investigation into the happenings at Castle Dracula. We received several reports from Warriors in the area that Valak had killed Warrior Kesh.” His eyes looked at both of them accusingly.

“Councilman, if I may interject, that was my doing. He was attempting to kill many others while also releasing the Greater Demon Valak.” Galadin spoke strongly and with great pride.

“I see. I am glad to hear you were able to stop Valak from being released. However, we also received a report that although he is not here on this realm in body, he is still within Warrior Leo.”

Shit.

Leo remained cool and calm. It was as if nothing could bother him. Councilman Alvis’ words had Abby nearly hyperventilating. How much more did he know? Fear coursed through her veins like it was her own blood. What were they going to do to Leo?

“That is accurate. I have Valak locked away in my body. I have a firm grip on him.” Leo attempted to reassure him.

This didn’t seem to please the councilman. His brows furrowed together. His eyes were calculating.

“I see.” He says slowly.

“We have it under control. We will be going back to Leo’s house to complete research to determine how to rid him of this evil.” Abby fought to keep her voice even and calm.

The councilman’s eyes moved to her and narrowed. She had never liked him. He had given her a bad feeling from the day she met him. He hadn’t given her reason to be mistrusting of him. She always went with her gut.

“Leo you are to leave with me. You will be escorted to the cells. There we will house you until this gets sorted out.” Councilman Alvis looked at Leo with a glare.

“That isn’t necessary. They are perfectly safe here.” Galadin interjected.

“We will not be leaving this warrior with you when he is currently housing a Greater Demon. Angel knows what schemes you have planned.

“Hey moron, I am the one that helped get him out of there and helped them stop the ritual. Do not look down on me. I have 10 times the power you do. Puny man.” Galadin’s eyes were glowing.

“It’s okay. I will go with them.” Leo stood. Two men came into the room and restrained him.

“Oh, you don’t understand,” the councilman began. “We are taking the both of you. Warrior Abby must receive punishment for ignoring a direct order.”

Two sets of hands were tightly wrapped around Abby’s arms. Forcing her to stand. Leo was fighting the men holding him. More men funneled into the room. Half going to Leo and half to Abby as she tried to fight her way out of their grips.

“Why are we being treated like this? We kept Valak from getting out!” Abby was screaming at the councilman. Her eyes were hot with her anger and hatred towards the man.

“Leo is not going to be able to keep Valak contained. And you, you make your decisions. Now deal with the repercussions.”

They forcefully removed them from the place. Throwing them each into different vehicles. Abby fought to keep herself from crying. Her heart went out to Leo. He didn’t do anything wrong. Always a good soldier. Doing as he was told.

Kesh set them up. He knew this was going to happen. If Kesh had been turned, was this other councilman with Valak too?

She kicked and hit the windows, but they didn’t budge. Screaming with frustration. Metal bars separated her from the driver. Spaced far enough, that even if she got her arm through the hole, she wouldn’t be able to reach him.

Arriving at a compound, they were each thrown into separate cells, but they were next to each other. They could sit near each other. Her small arm could reach though and they held each other’s hands as they went along waiting for whatever was going to happen.

Days went by, then weeks. The cells were cold and Abby watched as Leo’s body deteriorated. They fed them once a day. Leo’s body was slowly failing him, which meant Valak would be getting stronger. At some point, he was going to be able to take back over. Everything they had just been through would have been for nothing.

Over a month after their arrest, Councilman Alvis came down to their cells. An evil smile shined on his face. His teeth were almost perfectly straight. What was most unsettling was the evil intent behind his eyes.

“Warrior Abby, you shall be standing trial in the morning. Warrior Leo, you shall be stripped of our rank and cast out.” His words were cold.

“That will release Valak. Can’t you see his body is already wearing down?” Abby fought the tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks. She didn’t care what happened to her. Undoubtably, she was going to be found guilty. There was no argument she could provide them. She was already planning on going down swinging.

“He will fail regardless. His body cannot contain a greater demon for long.” Without another word, the councilman left.

Sliding her hand through the bars, she gripped onto Leo’s hand. His eyes were dull of their light. Dark circles surrounded his eyes. His lips were pale and cracked. His body was slowly being plagued with open sores. There was one on his chest. He was in so much pain, but there was nothing Abby could do. She had already screamed for help. Begged each one for anything for Leo.

Her own life was forfeit in her mind, but that didn’t mean Leo had to live out his life in unbearable pain. He tried hard to hide it, but she could feel it. Valak was eating away at his soul, piece by piece. Each day, Leo looked worse and worse.

Laying her head against the bars, she dozed off to sleep. She was only woken when Leo was shaking her arms. They were hitting the cold bars as there was barely enough room for her to get them through.

There was an ever so slight look of excitement in his eyes. He was trying to tell her something, but her mind was not yet adjusted to the sudden awakening.

“What?” Abby was fighting the sleep of her mind.

“Something has happened.” Leo was looking around.

She followed his eyes and could see dust in the air. There was also a great deal of noise coming from above them. The sounds couldn’t be understood until they got closer. It sounded like the clashing of metal against metal. There were many shouts ringing out.

Abby and Leo both went towards the front of their cells. Looking down the hall to see what they could see. As the sounds grew in intensity, shadows danced on the floor. Telling a story of a great battle when one assailant fell.

The other came running towards them. Never in her life had she been so thankful. Before them stood Galadin. He was covered in sweat and specks of blood. Taking his fingers, he created a portal between their cells. Giving them the opportunity to finally leave.

“RUN!” Galadin yelled as he turned back to the group of guards coming down the stairs. Raising his flaming sword high in the air. His lungs screamed out a battle cry.