Chapter Fourteen – The Hunt for Leptar
The three trembling souls materialized upon a barren plain that was steeped in shadow and overlooked by mountains of jagged rock. William slowly opened his eyes, as the thick, foul smelling air wafted passed them and peered through the dim light that had spread itself so thinly throughout the vast region, as though it was only there in angry reluctance. All around was dark and rancid, as a sky of black loomed menacingly overhead.
“Where are we?” He asked slowly, still gripping Trinity’s hand tightly.
“The Land of Shadow,” Gwen quietly offered through squinting eyes as though she didn’t want to fully let it in, “I’ve dreamt of this place my whole life,” she said panting lightly, “It’s not a dream this time, is it?” A trembling smile appeared upon her face as she looked around slowly and tried to calm herself.
Trinity released her hand from William’s grip, “We are both here with you, Gwen,” she said gently. Gwen scrunched her eyes tightly shut before opening them once more and taking in a deep breath, “OK,” she began, “it’s this way.”
The three friends walked slowly along the raw dusty path that they had materialized upon with a terrifying mountain of black glaring down at them as they approached. Creatures - that were so foul that could only survive by consuming their own dead - littered either side of them as their intensely glowing eyes came slowly out of the darkness.
“Don’t worry,” Gwen whispered gently as she watched William clutch at his cross, “they won’t harm us.”
“How can you be so sure?” William whispered back, still keeping his steady gaze around him.
“This has been my world, every time I closed my eyes since I was a child,” she replied calmly.
“The Gate of Haidreal awaits us,” Trinity injected, “fear not William, your destiny is not yet complete.”
Soon, they came upon a harrowing cave that sat aloft a rocky outcrop after collecting cuts and scrapes as they climbed toward it. Silence filled the air and the stench of decay hung thick all around. The sky rumbled frightfully as they drew near, until they – one by one – immersed themselves in the darkness.
“Gwen!” Whispered William as he felt blindly before him, “I can’t see you any more!”
“It’s OK,” came a gentle voice from the darkness ahead, “just keep going,” Gwen encouraged, before an archway of illumination lit up before her. William, followed closely by Trinity, rushed up to her, as great markings of ancient writing fluoresced and adorned the wall as she reached out to touch them, “Whom ever should enter here,” she began, “should abandon all hope.”
William looked to Trinity in silence, “Now, it is up to you,” she said softly.
Slowly, he reached around his neck and raised the chain - that held the vial of blood - up and over his head. The blood within shone brightly in the dim light as he placed his hand above it and his brand once again began to glow. When it had faded, he splashed its contents over the great face of the wall - smashing the vial upon it when it was empty. Trinity removed a golden hairpin that had held her flowing locks in perfect place and taking William gently by the hand, she lightly pricked his finger. Without a further word passing between them, he flicked at the wall repeatedly. It didn’t take long before the ground beneath them shook ferociously and the glow from the markings went out. Suddenly, the cave rumbled until the wall before them cracked violently. As Gwen relived her nightmare once again, a ghostly spirit floated slowly from the destruction before them and offered its hand to hers. She trembled with fear as she slowly reached out for the spectral hand and it wrapped its icy fingers tightly around hers.
“What are you doing!” William quickly shouted as all of her colour flushed quickly away until she disappeared completely. The spirit vanished – having had its fill - leaving a shimmering portal in its wake that rippled gently in the foul air around it.
“Why would she do that!” He shouted as his eyes bulged in fright.
“It was her destiny to do so,” Trinity empathised, “only she could open the portal, it was, why she was.” For quite some time, William gazed silently at the apparitional entrance;
“I can not come with you,” Trinity prompted as she watched the frightened little boy beside her, “you are the one that wears the Cross,” she reassured as he clutched it tightly through his T-shirt, “be unafraid William.”
William closed his eyes and still clutching the cross that sat over his thumping heart, he stepped bravely into the portal that awaited him. Trinity looked on for a few moments as it swallowed him completely before it collapsed altogether and she too, disappeared.
William stepped hesitantly out into the blinding sunshine that had now surrounded him, as the familiar scent of his mother’s perfume wafted gently through the air. Gradually the light dimmed and she appeared, stood radiantly before him, as a steaming plate of sausage and mash sat welcomingly upon the kitchen table.
“Did you find the cross, my darling?” She merrily sung - crouching lovingly before him.
William frowned, “How did you know about that?” He asked slowly, being still slightly confused by the whole situation.
Janet burst into laughter, “I’m your mother!” She cooed lovingly, “I know everything … Can I see it?” She beamed with a magical twinkle in her eye.
Slowly and uncomfortably, he reached into his neckline and pulled out the golden cross - allowing it to hang freely in full view.
Her eyes bulged with delight, “Oh, William! It’s beautiful!” She exclaimed, reaching out but not quite touching it, “Can I try it on?” She asked as her fingers trembled before its might.
Quickly, he clutched it in hesitation, tucking it back away into his neckline; “Oh go on!” She played.
Suddenly, she grew angry and impatient - firmly placing her open palm out before her, “William!” She snapped, “I am your mother! Now give me that cross!” - Still, he hesitated.
She let out a terrifying wail as her eyes shone red and the sun-filled kitchen turned instantly to the dark depths of Haidreal. Her voice dropped demonically as she spoke once again; “Give me the cross, William!” She demanded before lunging violently at him and trying to grab it. Instantly, a tremendous explosion of brilliant white light – triggered by her unholy touch – emanated from the little cross and threw her way back into the darkness, as William himself, began to glow brightly. The thundering ground beneath him broke the silence that followed and in the extremity of his far-reaching light, Leptar raced furiously back toward him with vengeance deep within his heart.
As if caught in a trance, William lifted slowly off of the ground as his engulfing light intensified dramatically. Higher and higher he floated, whilst Leptar’s hooves stampeded in rapturous rage, ever faster. Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks as William looked at him through renewed eyes;
“Your reign of terror is at an end,” he announced in a deep and calming voice.
Leptar stepped slowly back, “Remanon,” he sniggered, “how nice of you to visit.”
“This is your final act of treachery,” Remanon began, glowing still brighter through William.
“I wouldn’t do anything … foolish,” Leptar smirked as he held out his open palm and surrounded by his devilish claws, Aurora floated helplessly.
Remanon’s power within William died quickly down as his glow dimmed and William floated gently back to the ground.
Leptar grinned with delight, “That’s …” he paused as Aurora disappeared and he lowered his hand, “Better!” He roared as he charged fiercely once again.
As quick as a flash, William threw both of his hands out before him and Leptar froze - unable to move. William’s glow instantly returned; much brighter than it was before;
“Did you think that I had gone?” Remanon laughed, as hues of blues and pinks began to swirl quickly away from Leptar before they rose up and disappeared - leaving nothing more than a cowering man behind them, “Now,” Remanon continued, “you will not be
destroyed as you deserve, but shall live forever, as a mortal.”
As Remanon uttered those final words, Leptar the mortal, faded quickly away, until all that was left of him was the dust that he had once stood upon. Remanon faded and William fell slowly to the ground as the light dimmed to nothing. Opening his eyes, he peered slowly around in the darkness as if he didn’t know where he was or how he had gotten there. Suddenly, a soft blue glow appeared and revealed a beautiful woman with long flowing hair that hovered in perfect radiance before him, “Thank you, Prince” she whispered gently as she disappeared. William smiled and clutched the cross tightly to his chest and closed his eyes.
When he opened them, the great crack in the cave wall before him had disappeared whilst a small amount of light lit the space around him from the world outside. Rising to his feet, he slowly stumbled out of the cave to see that hordes of beasts had grown ferocious and were amassing below – snarling and screeching up at him with hunger deep within them.
William closed his eyes once more as slowly he walked to the outcrop’s edge as once again, he began to glow. His glow brightened quickly as he neared it until he stepped off surrounded by blinding light. Slowly he descended down through the air toward the now silent creatures that watched with fear. As he landed gently on his feet, he walked slowly toward the still amassing hoard as they got bolder and the snarls began to return. All at once, they ran headstrong toward him with their claws at the ready and their mouths baying for blood. William swiped away at them with his bare hands as they approached, sending countless numbers hurling uncontrollably away but still they came in droves. Slowly, their numbers began to push the light back into darkness until they had overpowered William completely. All – it seemed – was lost, then suddenly, one last push of light exploded from him covering everything in an instant. When, finally, the tremendous light had died back down, all was silent and peaceful. The creatures had all been destroyed but, in doing so, William had almost used up his own life. Quietly he lay - battered and broken - and watched with fading eyes as Hannah leant out from the belly of the Firefly above him. Over the colossus of corpses they flew, as if Haidreal itself had no more soldiers left to send. Now within feet of him, Hannah watched helplessly as the smallest spark of light that was still within his eyes strained softly in the darkness. She had only been at his side for a miniscule amount of time, but in that single instant she longed to be there more than ever before. Time had all but stopped, as every beat of her heart saw him slip further and further away. Still lower the Firefly descended until Hannah was in touching distance of his outstretched hand before it fell lifeless back to the ground beside him.
Now in the distance, a small spirit appeared emanating its own glorious light and walking quite quickly just above the carpet of corpses that littered the landscape. Hannah watched with tears in her eyes as the spectre headed straight for William. She walked barefooted in a long sash-tied dress whilst long curly hair glistened and bounced gently behind her. She raised her arms toward William as she approached and slowly, his limp body floated high into the air. Once it had reached its majestic height, it exploded with light once more before William quickly descended - alive and renewed. Now face-to-face with the beautiful apparition before him, William gazed in awe, “Gwen?” He asked quietly after a moment.
“Hello, William,” she smiled, “Thank you, Prince. You have rescued my mother,” she gazed at the brightening sky blissfully as Aurora appeared overhead, “now I can go to her,” she added as she began to float up, “Remember me.”
Aurora smiled warmly as her daughter approached and they both vanished into the steadily brightening sky around them. Gradually, the Sun’s rays penetrated the clouds and as they hit the ground, the endless bodies around them began to disappear. William watched in amazement, as the light brought with it streams and grass that covered the plain in moments. A single bird, as white as Arcadian, flew down from the now beautiful sky to where William still watched in awe and in blinding light, it transformed into an old man with a long flowing beard and robes of turquoise.
“Hello, William,” he smiled gently.
William felt as though he was staring back at a long-lost friend, “Remanon?”
Remanon laughed warmly, “Yes my boy, I am Remanon. Thank you for bringing my family to me.”
William gazed in admiration.
“Is there anything I can do for you in return?” He smiled gently.
William thought for a while, sending Remanon into fits of laughter, “That has already been done!” He bellowed loudly, “Is there not anything else, my generous Prince?”
After another moment and without William saying a single word, Remanon chortled, “Well! If that is what you want!” He bellowed joyfully as he faded away to nothing.
William gazed at his loving sister who was still hanging out of the now landed Firefly and as its ramp slowly descended, he ran happily toward it to thunderous cheer from the rest of the crew. Now back aboard, its ramp retracted and its door closed tightly as its mighty propellers began to spin. As gently, they lifted back into clouds, he could wait for nothing but to see Glitherhiem once again.
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