After packing the priceless box of rings in his room, Will took a look out his window to see Bianca and Leo sparring with the practice blades. His girlfriend had a sort of grace in her movement that he couldn't stop watching. Though her thrusts were weaker than Leo's, her footing had been precise. Will wondered if it was from the years of cheerleading she did in high school. Leo, however, moved with purpose, each placing of his feet, each thrust he made was one that he had studied. He had an awkward grasp of the fighting concept, but if there was a video online about sword fighting, Will had no doubt that he would be able to learn and become a formidable foe.
Noticing that there was one missing from the equation, Will turned to see Jake sitting at the fountain. He seemed to be content by watching the other two try to land a hit. Will had to admit he wouldn't be wrong, graceful versus calculative would be a match he wouldn't want to bet on.
Will was slightly confused as to why Jake was sitting out of the training until he realized he was supposed to be the training partner. As soon as he remembered, Will ran out of his room and out the door to the front lawn. He stopped running the moment he approached the three students in order to gather himself. Only when his heart slowed down and his breathing evened out did he continue the short way to his friends.
Jake was the first to notice Will's approach as he stood from his spot on the fountain. Grabbing two training sabers off the ground next to him, he threw the first one to his unprepared friend. Will caught it just in time to deflect Jake's first advance. While having parried the first blow, Will's blade twisted in order to gain the right leverage to strike Jake's hand before he could move.
Backing away after the blow, Jake took another stance. Will could see he had been right to bring Jake along. His assumptions were correct when it came to his new friend's fighting experience. He didn't have long to admire his friend's commitment though, within moments, his raven haired friend was charging yet again to clash blades with the more senior of the flame users.
For what seemed like hours, the two of them crossed blades. Will could feel the desperation behind each one of Jake's blows almost as if he had to land a hit. Seeing as though it was just practice, Will couldn't understand what had put Jake in such a state. Blow for blow, the two clashed as they moved around the courtyard. Neither one dared allow the other to gain the upper hand. Earlier in the battle, the other two stopped their training to watch the more superior fight that had erupted before them.
Will had to admit that he was facing an opponent who was not a stranger to fighting. He had to maintain all of his defenses almost to the extent that he would've used his aura to counter some of the strikes. He had thought it wasn't the time or place to have a battle of flames nor was he planning on using something his opponent couldn't harness quite yet.
As the battle raged on, Will was backed up close to a tree, the same way Michael had during his training at the cottage. He knew if he were backed between a blade and a tree, his fight would be over. Before it could happen, Will used all of his balance and agility training to launch himself back to the tree and use it as a catapult, swiftly bringing himself behind Jake. As Will touched down, he was astonished that he no longer needed his flame to propel himself forward anymore.
Having the proper spacing as well as the advantage, Will built his momentum up to thrust his saber into the back of Jake's leg. Before the hit was placed, the opponent's blade somehow appeared to block the blow. As Will looked at Jake's back, he noticed a dark aura around him. Somehow even with just a short amount of training, he was able to unlock his defenses. Not believing what he was seeing, Will jumped back a distance as Jake turned around. His eyes were darker than a black hole as his entire body was engulfed in darkness.
A sensation of cold came over Will, one that was all too recognizable as his friend once again came at him. The training saber came down fast, almost too fast for Will to be able to block. He could tell something was wrong not only by the strength of his opponent, but the blank look which was held in Jake's eyes.
Instinctively, Will's aura activated, sending a crimson and gold glow around the courtyard. Preparing himself for what would seem to be a battle in which would determine the strongest, Will thrust his now glowing training saber into the darkness that was Jake. The moment the two blades collided, it seemed as though the ground shook from the force. Leo and Bianca had been thrown off balance as they watched the unbelievable event that had transpired between two friends. As the shaking subsided, Will took an opportunity to unleash a barrage of blows powered by his flames. With each strike that landed, the dark aura was absorbed into the gold. Within thirty blows, the aura had dissipated as if a second skin had been taken into Will's blade.
The moment the dark aura disappeared, Jake collapsed to the ground. Bianca ran forward when she saw something was wrong. Before she was able to approach, Will put out his hand. His eyes were full of confusion as he looked at the unconscious Jake on the bed of snow. He had fought with the wraiths before; he had also run from the same chill that was emitting from him before he collapsed. "Take him inside and let Michael look at him," Will said as he looked at Leo and Bianca. "That was no normal flame. We need to see if he's ever experienced it before." A feeling of doubt formed in Will's gut. He had felt the aura before, every time he had fought with the wraiths.
Bianca and Leo did as Will suggested and picked Jake up and left to the manor. Bianca only looked back enough to see that her boyfriend wasn't following; instead, Will sat at the fountain watching his friends disappear within the building. I really hope I'm wrong about this, he thought to himself as he looked at Jake's training blade.
After a moment of reflecting, Will took out his phone. As he inserted a flame into the reflective surface, he saw Bianca in Michael's room with an unconscious Jake. His uncle was at the bedside checking the pulse of the young raven haired man. Will allowed the flame to dissipate as he put the phone back in his pocket and started walking to the door.
We need to talk, Will heard Leo's voice ringing in his head. It surprised him that his friend could have learned the technique so quickly. He had only just gotten the flame a few hours ago, yet already he was growing in his learning. Meet me in the library, Will heard before there was no more. Even though he was worried about Jake, Will knew Leo wouldn't have summoned him unless it was important.
Will wasn't at all surprised that Leo had already found the library, knowledge was his home so it only seemed fitting he would find it before anything else. As Will walked upstairs, he kept thinking about the aura that Jake had somehow unleashed. The black aura which froze instead of burning. The aura acted that way so it could easily put out another flame, so the user would submit. The idea that Will had created such a flame sent chills down his spine. If there was a reason behind the black flame, Will knew either Michael would find it, or Leo would learn it.
Finding himself at the entrance to the library, Will opened the door to see Leo with a stack of books sitting on a table in front of him. His finger lay directly on one page as he stared at Will. "I found the reference to the black flame in some of the books Michael has laying around," he said as Will looked down at the page.
To every flame birthed from the master, the pure will always outnumber the taint. Though their numbers are far inferior to that of the pure, beware the dark flame for it can plunge reality into the shadow of chaos. Will read only that entry before looking back at Leo. Somehow, he had brought a dark flame into the world. Whereas the literature had said they would be few, somehow he made one right from the start.
"You could clearly see from your training session today that he's dangerous," Leo didn't feel the need to state the obvious, but sometimes that was the only way to get Will to listen. "In the history so far that I've read, I haven't seen a single corrupted flame that wasn't bad news." He looked back down at the book while waiting for Will to speak.
Looking past the stack of books on the table, Will could see the confidence Leo had in the books. It was as if they themselves were the judge and jury for Jake. He couldn't accept that though, it was Will's fault that he had become a corrupt flame, and he couldn't find it within himself to abandon hope within his new friend. He had to believe that the good inside Jake would somehow outweigh the bad. This is a new age after all, Will thought to himself. Anything is possible. He turned back to Leo to see a look of concern on his face.
"You aren't going to abandon him, are you?" he said as if he didn't even need to ask. Leo knew that it would be almost impossible to convince Will.
"I have to give him a chance," Will said plainly while shrugging his shoulders. "Technically, he hasn't done anything wrong, and I refuse to crucify him without first seeing what he's capable of." Leo just looked at his friend and smiled. He knew he was defeated the moment that Will arrived at the library.
Facts are facts, Leo thought to himself. But sometimes even facts have to bend for determination. He rose from his chair with that thought. "I'm going to check on Jake," he raised an eyebrow while pushing up his glasses. "I just hope you know what you're doing, mate," he said as he walked through the door.
Sighing to himself, Will secretly hoped the same. He had always gone above and beyond to ensure anyone was given a chance to prove themselves. He couldn't just follow someone else's word or read it in a guideline. He had to experience firsthand if Jake was even capable of doing as the book described. When Will had met him, he could only see someone in need. Someone that could help him in turn for a new life. Even now, he didn't regret what he did. If Jake could really attack him by means to kill him, then he truly wasn't the same man he had saved from the streets.
Walking out of the library, Will decided to follow Leo to Michael's room. He too was curious as to how his friend was doing after such an intense fight. Going down the hall just a little further, the two of them stopped at the doorway. Will could feel an intense chill emitting from the doorway, he could instantly tell something was off.
Opening the door, Will saw his uncle sitting on the side of the bed with what looked like a red stripe going down his business suit, and the red was spreading fast.
"Michael!" Will screamed as he went to his uncle's side. Barely conscious, Michael looked up at his nephew, confusion in his eyes.
"He was taken with Bianca," he said quietly as Will activated his aura to heal his uncle. A crimson and gold light shined on Michael as the blood stopped pooling, and the wound sealed itself. "They went through a portal just a moment ago," He said as he tried to stand up. Will helped him off the floor only to put him into the bed he was just moments ago leaning upon. "They went to the desert." With that, Michael passed out on the pillow.
Checking Michael's vitals Will let out a deep breath allowing himself to relax only momentarily. "He's only passed out, he'll be okay later," Will said as he looked over to Leo. "We have more important things to worry about." Will looked at his uncle lying unconscious on the bed as he clenched his fists. "I want you to go to the library and look up anything you can find on portals." He instantly regretted not taking Michael up on the offer to learn portal jumping.
Leo nodded his head as he went to the door. He knew what was at stake if he couldn't learn how portals worked and fast. Will's girlfriend had just been kidnapped by the wraiths. Time was against them as long as they were in the mansion. Will looked out the window for a moment as he stood by his uncle in case he woke up. "Rest easy, Michael," he said as he turned to the bed. "You are going to be needed soon." Will walked to a nearby chair and sat, hoping that his uncle would regain consciousness before Leo found what they were looking for. Will didn't know much about the wraiths, but what he did know was he was going to need all the help he could get to bring Jake and Bianca home.
As Will sat at his uncle's bedside, the only thing he could think of was Bianca. How could I have just left her alone? he thought to himself. The scene of Maya being slaughtered right in front of him was worrisome enough to him since it will be the same thing that could happen to Bianca. Staring at Michael, Will could only hope that he would wake up soon and be able to transport them back to the desert.
He couldn't stand waiting around and instead brought out his phone. Will inserted his flame the same way he always did and summoned the image of Bianca. The screen went dark for a long time; the vortex of crimson gold swirling around the screen was the only light he could see. Find her, he thought as he stared into the black abyss. "Bianca, if you're alive, say something to me," he whispered into the phone.
Out of no here, Will heard a low rumble of laughter. If you want her, come alone. A dark voice rang in his head. You will be able to transport yourself to this location if you feel the need to get to her. The rumbling laughter continued until Will allowed the image to disappear. A face appeared within the screen moments after, showing a cloaked figure holding Bianca's face to the screen. You have one hour to find me, he said with a chuckle, playing with her hair with a knife. After that, the consequences for keeping me waiting will come from this girl's flesh. The image on the screen dissipated, but the laughter of the man rang clearly in Will's mind.
"You know it's a trap, right?" Leo said from the doorway, obviously he intercepted the call. "They'll surround you the moment you get there." His face lit up with concern as Will stood from the chair. His anger fueled his aura, giving him a glow without even activating the flame. Where Leo stood, he saw a man in a blood red aura and felt his intent. "What he said about the transportation was correct, all you have to do is think of the place you wish to be and allow your aura to do the work." With that, Leo left the room. He said a silent good luck as he shut the door, leaving Will and an unconscious Michael in silence.
Looking back at his uncle, Will couldn't think clearly. "I'm not about to lose another person I care about," he said to the sleeping man. "Especially not her, I'd die before I let anything happen to Bianca. It's not going to happen again." Images flashed within his mind of Maya giving him one final smile before her eyes went dim, the image that haunted him every day since it happened.
"Then don't let it," Michael said, slowly coming back to life. "But don't go there without first knowing what they're capable of." Will's uncle, the only relative by blood he actually knew, looked him straight in the eye. "The corrupt flame is responsible for ending your mother's life," he said in a solemn tone. Will couldn't believe what he was hearing, all this time he thought his mother left him, just to find out she had been gone all this time. "It was against a dark flame user. Your father tried to defeat him and failed, the same man who just contacted you through the flame." Will's eyes burned with hate as he looked at his phone, history seemed to have repeated it. "If you still plan on going," he said as he put his hand in his pocket and took out his own cross, "take this with you."
Will went to his uncle's bedside and took the cross within his hand. The pendant was much like his, but it didn't have the royal gold embroidery, instead it held a single yellow crystal at the bottom. "I don't know what it could do for you, but it would probably be more than I can at this time." Michael looked at his closed up chest. "The wraiths' blade damage is more than just physical." His eyes met Will's.
For a long time, the two of them sat in silence. Will held his uncle's pendant in his hand as though it were already a sword, his knuckles turned white around it. In moments, he placed it in his pocket. "I swear I will get vengeance for our family and bring Bianca home." Taking his phone out one more time, Will looked at his uncle. His vow had been made, and the power given to him. Staring into the screen, he focused on Bianca's face, how much he cared for her, all of the memories he shared with her. He focused on his need to be with her and within mere moments, he inserted his flame. Her face showed up within the vortex in moments, and he thrust his hand into the darkness within the vortex. The rest of his body followed as he cast himself into the dark abyss.
In mere moments, he was no longer within the Devereux Manor; instead he stood in what could only be described as a dungeon.
Will looked around, but within only a few steps, he felt a chill. He had grown to know the chill quite well after all of the battles and all of the close calls. He remembered the chill as the last thing he felt when Maya died in front of him. He remembered it from the time in the field. This chill had followed him, stalking him without falter.
Anger was seeping into his features; the dark blood red aura surrounded Will, casting off an eerie red glow showing him the circle of wraiths that closed in on him. Will looked past them to see a chained up Bianca with a cloth tied to her mouth. It didn't look as though she needed it; her head was slumped to the side as the chains held her up.
Protect her, his pendant called out to him, burning his chest with the urge to spill blood. He clutched the cross in his hand, enveloping it in the crimson flame. The moment the blade bathed in the flame, it sprang to life as his sword. Within moments, the uncountable wraiths were upon him, swords drawn, and slowly closing the gap between him and Bianca. Those moments were all Will needed.
With vengeance in his eyes, he allowed the sword's golden aura to mix with his crimson. The flame around him grew so intense that it lit up the entire dungeon. Will charged for his first target. With a swift swing of his sword, he cut the wraith in half. The rage of the aura burned the creature to a crisp. Without any delay, Will allowed his aura's defenses to guide him through every attack. A sword from behind was blocked as Will brought his sword around to his other hand, not letting a single blade touch him. In moments, he was in a trance. His sword danced with the wraiths, out stepping each one as they went down in piles of black sand. The sword itself was cleansing the taint in which they had lived in for decades.
With each wraith that was cut down, another took its place. Will faced a never ending dance of blades. Though with each wraith that was cut, he had a clear view of Bianca. Even though she had been unconscious, her flame was reacting to his presence. It seemed like the crimson flame within her was still trying to help him.
The never ending flood of wraiths continued on, testing Will's limits. He was just one person while decades of preparing for this exact moment; the wraiths seemed to be unlimited. Within moments, Will felt yet another burning sensation coming from his pocket. As he continued his onslaught of the enemy, Will could feel the flame of Bianca funneling into him as well as the burning sensation coming from his uncle's cross. In moments, he felt a huge surge of energy within his sword.
Pointing the sword at the horde of creatures, Will went back to the basics. The first thing he learned to do as he practiced the flame with Maya. At the tip of the blade, a ball of fire erupted forth. Holding it there, the wraiths faltered. A few got close to the ball only to be disintegrated by the pure light emitted. Will condensed the flame allowing the ball to shrink slightly yet compress the explosion. Looking at the wraiths one final time, he released the ball into the horde of darkness.
Shrieks followed the flames' path as each and every one of the dark creatures were caught by the ball of pure light. The ones too far back caught the flame from those who had already received it. Within moments, the shrieks of terror slowly subsided. Will watched as the blindingly bright flame burned away all of the darkness, leaving nothing behind but ash. In mere moments, the last people that were in the dungeon were Will and Bianca.
As soon as the wraiths shrieks of pure terror had subsided, Will went to Bianca's side. Her body was limp within the chains and sweat covered her brow. Checking for a pulse, Will was relieved to find a pulse within his girlfriend.
Taking his sword to the chain which held her to the wall, it gave way easily as he caught the falling unconscious girl. Will looked around only for an instant before reconnecting his sword to the chain on his neck. As soon as it turned back to the pendant, he released it and grabbed his phone. Channeling his need within the device, Will found himself yet again within the confines of the manor.
Without breaking a stride, Will brought Bianca to her bed to rest. He knew what it felt like to be chained up and how long it would take for her to come around. Opening the door to her room, Will placed her on her bed. The sweat had subsided a little, and he could see the color returning to her face. "Take as much time as you need, Bianca," he said as he went to the door. Taking one more look at her, he shut it and took out his phone again. Inserting a flame, he located Leo. "I want you to guard Bianca's room until she wakes up." Will looked at the screen long enough to see his friend nod.
Putting his phone away, Will went to his uncle's room. As he walked in, he noticed the man standing at the window, his hands folded behind his back. With the usual business suit donned, the man looked like he was going to a meeting instead of having just avoided death's cold touch. When Will closed the door, Michael turned to him. "William," he said with a smile of relief. "I take it you were able to get Bianca back?" Will only nodded toward his uncle.
Taking out the pendant, Will looked at it for a time. "This pendant was part of the reason I got out of that situation alive," he said as he gave it back to his uncle. "I don't know how I used it, but it seemed like I was drawing its strength in order to fight the impossible." Michael waved his hand, telling Will to keep it. "If it reacted to you, it's probably better off in your hands," he said as he took a step toward the door. "You did really well, William, your father would be proud." With that, he took his leave allowing Will the space to think.
Don't think this is over, Crimson Prince, a voice rang out in his mind. We are growing stronger every day. Soon, we shall have what's rightfully ours. Will closed his eyes for a moment and saw a shocking sight.
Within a cobblestone room, Jake stood over a body of which looked familiar. Placing a black flamed hand on the corpse of Maya, he allowed his darkness to spread throughout the figure. As the flames seemed to catch the body, the icy chill of death surrounded her. Instead of burning, the flame produced a shriek. The sound was so unnerving that the body itself reacted. In moments, a pale Maya stood to greet Jake. The young man looked out into nothing while holding the girl's hand. "Your fate has been sealed, Crimson Prince," he said in a voice that was not his own. "You will come to us of your own accord," he placed a kiss on Maya's cold lips.
Will opened his eyes in terror, his friend had turned corrupt. Jake had so easily turned to the darkness that Will had to think back to the man's true intentions when he first met him. He had thought to give the man his trust and so easily was it taken away. Now with Maya at his side, he knew Will wouldn't be able to resist the call. Will couldn't believe that Jake could've ever been capable of such evil. Though the more he thought about it, the more he realized that it wasn't Jake's voice that rang from him. It was the voice of the corrupt flame, the darkness that had taken his mother from him.
Looking out the window of his uncle's estate, Will made a silent vow that he would find Jake and Maya. He would drag them back to the manor even if against their will, and purge the madness that had taken over them. He would cleanse the darkness to allow their freedom. He would not lose Maya to corruption again.
Will clutched a hand over his own pendant, allowing his flame to burst forward. Holding his gold and silver sword, he made a vow. "Darkness will not take any more from me," he said as his flames burned brighter. He had made his promise, and now it was time to take the responsibility. He was the Crimson Prince, and it was about time he and his father had a reunion.