THE COMMANDER OF THE LOST SOULS

In a far away country, where magic still exist , there was a small Kingdom nestled amidst rolling hills and lush green meadows, named Azurah.

It was night in that Kingdom, and a storm was brewing. The rumbling sound of thunder echoed through the sky , followed by the constant flashes of lightning. A great doom loomed in the air.

Two figures lay on the bed in a dark room, a man and a woman, snoring softly and unaware of the disturbance in the environment.

The man rolled over on the bed. The cloud opened up and a clap of thunder boomed, shaking the frames of the doors and windows of the building. The dark room lightened up as lightning crackled.

The man flickered his eyes open, he raised his head up and turned right to stare out through the open window. Sighing. He stood up and threaded barefooted, down the room to the window.

Stretching forth his hand, he made to close the window and stopped. Frowning. He stared at the strange hue coming from a room downstairs,and wondered what it was .

A lightning crackled in the air, he felt an electric current zap through his body and jumped back. Breathing heavily. He moved cautiously ,closer to the window and threw his head out to look up at the sky.

A loud cackle sounded from no where. Thunder boomed. Lightening sparked. The whole Earth lightened up.

A dark cloud like a finger appeared in the sky. Slowly it spread, covering the stars and then the moon. It zapped all the light away, plunging the earth in total darkness.

He looked on in fear, and watched as the whole sky became filled with thick darkness.

The cackle sounded again. A soft female voice from no where whispered in the air, and a loud shriek filled the night.

The citizen of Azurah slept on. Unaware of the doom in the air. The man closed the window and stumbled back , his face was tinted with fear.

He threw a frantic look around in the dark, wondering what next to do. The best thing to do now was to lite the oil lamp. How would he locate the lamp?

He recollected the maid had lite the lamp and had left it standing on a hook, close to the dresser.

He threaded back, towards the dresser to search blindly around for the oil lamp. The lamp made a small clicking sound, when his hand touched it. He took it down, and went over to the dresser to search the up cupboard for a lighter. It wasn't difficult locating the lighter.

He took it out and in no time, he lite the lamp. He walked back to hang the lamp on the hook.

Turning towards the bed, he stared at the form of his wife, sleeping on the bed. A contemplative look was on his face. He nodded his head and walked over to the cloth hanger. He took out a shirt and wore it over his head.

Hurrying quickly to the bedside, he pulled out his boots and sat down at the edge of the bed to put it on. When he was done, he scrambled up and hurried out of the room. He closed the door gently behind him and began striding down the hallway.

Where are the guards that were supposed to keep watch? He wondered.

He threw his head around and strode cautiously down the hallway. The lamps kept hanging at each corner of the hallway flickered and went off one after the other.

The whole hallway was plunged in darkness. A loud voice shrieked. He could feel all the hairs on his body stand on end. He groped around in the dark , and tried to retrace his step back to the room.

Feeling around for the door, he walked slowly back the way he came. It seem to take him forever before he could touch the right door.

He turned the handle and stumbled inside the room. It took him some few seconds before his eyes adjusted to the light.

When it did, he hurried quickly, over to the dresser and began rummaging inside the drawers. The lamp in the room flickered and went low.

He turned to look at the deem light, and became frantic with his search.

"Here you are ," He whispered and sighed in relieve when he touched a flashlight. He brought it out and switched the flashlight on.

A blinding bright light filled the room.

Closing the drawer, he straightened up and ran all the way out of the room, down to the hallway.

Remembering he hadn't closed the door on his way out, he ran back to close the door. But before he could close it, a wind from no where slammed the door close.

He startled and threw a frantic look around. The thunder rumbled, shaking the whole building . He could feel the vibration on the wooden floor.

Hahahahaha......

A loud cackle sounded, followed by a hissing sound.

He followed the sound downstairs and turned left. The sound seem to be coming from the Throne room. He paused in front of the oak door, and threw a furtive look around.

With all this disturbance, he hadn't seen any of the guards or palace staffs on his way down . He frowned and listened. An Ominous sound seem to be coming from the Throne room. His hand shook as he made to turn the handle.

Someone grabbed his hand. He flung around quickly, getting ready to attack.

"Your Majesty, it is only me." Blaiz the Captain of the guard whispered. His eyes darted towards the closed door.

"What is happening, Blaiz? Where are all the guards?" His Majesty, King Bozzelli asked.

"Your Majesty, they are all in there." Blaiz said, staring at the oak door " For some reason, they all went in there to see what was happening but never came out."

King Bozzelli turned to look at the door, strangely. Thunder Boomed with a groaning sound. The wind whirled, whisking everything in it wake.

"Then we must by all means know what is going on in there." King Bozzelli said. He turned around and opened the door slightly, what he saw made his heart to do a quick flip over.

"What the gods is that !"

Someone exclaimed close to his ear.

King Bozzelli had completely forgotten he was not alone. He pushed away from the door and turned to look at the captain.

"Our magic and sword is completely powerless against that thing in the room. Just you and me alone can't fight it."

A voice cackled in the air, as if in confirmation of his statement.

The two men turned around, to stare at every dark corner in the hallway.

The flashlight in King Bozzelli's hand flickered on and off before dying down. He shook it and beat it in his hand, a faint light appeared. He beat it in his hand again, the light flickered unsteadying before it beamed brightly.

"Your Majesty, what do you suggest we do?" Blaiz asked

"Go wake the staffs up. Get my wife and baby, lead them out of here through the secret tunnel. I'll be joining you guys soon in the woods." King Bozzelli said

"Your Majesty ?" Blaiz said feeling reluctant to leave the King.

"Go Blaiz. If for any reason i don't join you guys in the next twenty minutes, take my wife and baby to Crystal shield. That is the home of the Dwarves. They will be save there." King Bozzelli told the captain.

" But Your Majesty, I made a vow to protect you with my life ."

"There will be nothing to protect, if we all die tonight. Go and do as i demand." King Bozzelli spoke sternly.

The captain bowed his head. " I'll do as you bid,Your Majesty." He said and turned around. He threw the King a reluctant look before hurrying away.

King Bozzelli breathed deeply before turning to the door. He pushed the door open and strode in.

"What is the meaning of this madness, Anira !" King Bozzelli asked the Queen's lady in waiting, who was about to perform a ritual to join herself together with a demon.

The slender woman standing in the middle of a circle, facing a pyramid shape drawn inside the circle, a knife in her hand turned to look at him. A demon stood, suspended in the air behind her.

"Quickly, finish the ritual." The demon said impatiently to her. He was afraid the man would stop her from completing the ritual.

"What have you done to my guards, my staffs ?' King Bozzelli asked waving his right hand at them.

Anira blinked her eyes and smiled. " I'm glad you are here, to witness the completion of this ritual."

"What have you done to yourself, Anira ?" King Bozzelli asked, feeling sad for her. "How could you have allowed yourself to play around with dark magic?"

Anira corked her head to the side and smiled.

The demon hissed, a black steam escaped from his mouth and nose.

"You and I know using dark magic is dangerous. Why then did you allow yourself to be lured over to the dark side, Anira?"

Anira threw her head back and laughed. She stopped and stared at the King with a piercing look.

"You still don't get it, do you? Dearest Comrades, try to answer the why to the poor King's question. " Anira said, swinging around to face the demon behind her. She waved the knife in the air and waited for the guards and staffs to speak.

"We are known as Demonica's. We owe our Oath, pledge and allegiance to Lucifer. Our soul purpose is to release Abaddon the demon of chaos and destruction from his Chains and to help Lucifer rule the world . " They all chorused, their voices echoed down the throne room.

King Bozzelli widened his eyes in shock. "Impossible ! What sort of abomination is this? Undo your spell on them, right now !"

"Or ?" Anira slowly turned around with an evil smile, cutting herself with the knife in her hand as she faced him. " What would you do to me? Have me thrown to the dungeon?"

King Bozzelli lowered his eyes to her hand , he squinted his eyes and watched as she cut her palm open with the knife. Blood Oozed out from the cut.

"Good. " The Demon purred, sniffing the air as her blood Oozed out and spilled on the marbled floor." Oh, demons. How I love the metallic smell of blood in the air. It smells divine."

King Bozzelli took his gaze over to stare at the demon behind her. " How is this even possible? I thought you guys went extinct a long time ago , along side with your master Abaddon ?"

"Then you thought wrong. Some of us escaped. For thousand years, we have been waiting and biding our time. For thousand years, we have been recruiting members to our cult, waiting to strike. But when our priestess made a prophecy, we knew we had to strike now or never ." Anira said.

"Quickly, complete the ritual. " The Demon said, unable to withstand the smell of blood.

"Listen to me, Anira. Don't...."

Anira blasted him then with magic. He flew backward and hit his head on the door.

"You'll not speak a word. You'll watch quietly while i complete the ritual. " Anira said to him with a warning tone.

The demon still sniffing the air, stopped suddenly to stare in his direction.

"Interesting. What a coincident. " The demon purred, growing in size his red eyes glowed brightly.

"What is it, Master ?" Anira turned to ask the demon.

"Him !" The demon pointed a black, smoky forefinger at him." You have guarded the secret so well, King Bozzelli. Haven't you ?"

King Bozzelli winced as he scrambled up. He put his leg on the door, to prevent it from closing on him when he wants to make his escape.

"What secret do you speak of, Master ? Anira asked, throwing King Bozzelli a confused look .

" I don't know of what you speak about, " King Bozzelli said.

"Hmm. I can hear the cry of a baby. The child we seek have been under this roof all this while, and we never knew. Strange." The demon said with a slithering voice.

Anira's face turned into a frown. " Then we must kill the child !" She hissed out.

"With all pleasure. But before that, you have to complete the ritual to join us together." The demon purred. He stared down at the woman, standing in front of him.

"You will never harm my child. I won't allow it."

"We will see about that ." Anira said turning her back to him. She raised her hand in the air and began humming a sound.

"Let the day give way and let the night rule. Let the gate of hell be opened. And let Abaddon be granted entering into the world."

"Oh hades, Oh Universe, Oblige our prayers, we beseech thee. " All chorused.

"We beseech thee in the name of Lucifer, the head of all demons." Anira continued.

"We beseech thee Lucifer the great. Lucifer the beloveth." All chorused.

"In the name of Lucifer, I offer my flesh, my body and soul up to the will of Abaddon in covenant , to do as he pleases. " Anira said, holding her bleeding hand out.

"Let this covenant be binding in blood and soul ." All chorused.

"This abomination must not be allowed to exist ! I cannot stand by and allow you bring demons to my Kingdom. " King Bozzelli screamed, interrupting their ritual.

Anira and the demon chuckled. The guards and staffs followed suite. A clap of thunder shook the whole building.

The window frames and doors shook on its hinge.

"Your regime has ended and a new Era has begun ." Anira eyed him evilly .

King Bozzelli tried to blast her with magic but she counterattacked his magic with a choking spell. He stepped back holding his neck, unable to breath.

"Do you think you alone can win against us? We wield power ! We are strong ! We are Demonicas ?" She said blasting him again.

King Bozzelli flew back, hitting his head on the wall, the flashlight in his hand fell out and rolled a distance away from him. The door slammed shut with a loud bang. He groaned , feeling pains. He crawled over to pick the flashlight from where it had fallen, and struggled back on his feet.

Anira eyed him, getting ready to blast him again with her magic.

"While you were busy ruling and playing the loving husband and father, I was busy hatching a plan and doing my home work while playing the role of a doting lady in waiting at the same time. " Anira shrugged and chuckled, when she saw the look of hate in his eyes.

King Bozzeli watched in horror as Anira began chanting the binding spell. His face fell in defeat.

"I must inform the world about your existence . This is not the end !" He shouted and pulled the door open. He slammed the door behind him and began running down the hallway.

"Get him ! Get him and the baby, now ! Dead or alive, i don't care !" Anira screamed, angrily . Her magic becoming unsteady.

King Bozzelli staggered in the hallway when the building shook. He didn't wait to see what was happening behind him or who was coming after him. He ran with all his strength , throwing himself on the wall to steady himself as he ran.

Time was not on his side. He has eight minutes to make it to the secret tunnel.

Footsteps sounded close behind him. He knew his guards were fast on his heels, he tried to steady himself when the building shook.

A loud cackling sound echoed down the hallway.

"Halt !" Cassian screamed, blasting him with magic.

King Bozzelli dodged to the side and threw a ball of fire at them. He didn't wait to see the damage he did with his magic before sprinting down the hall.

The building suddenly shook. He grabbed hold of the wall and used it to steady himself as he moved forward.

A loud shriek echoed down the hallway. He ignored the strange sound he was hearing and kept moving forward, with great difficulty. He sighed when the rumbling sound stopped, and sprinted down the hallway towards the door by his left .

He fell on the door and pushed it open. The thumping sound of footsteps sounded down the hallway. There was no need trying to speak some sense to his guards. They wouldn't listen. There minds have been tampered with.

He flashed the light around, and pointed it at a particular spot, where a stool stood. Running over to it, he went down on his knee and went to work. Quickly, he removed the things on the spot and pulled the board open. A secret place leading down a ladder appeared before him.

He put his leg over and climbed down. When he got in, he tried his best to place back the things he had removed from the spot before closing the board.

He pinned the board down with a lock and climbed down the ladder, making sure to point the flashlight downwards.

The door to the room flew open. He threw a quick look up at the board and began descending the ladder in a hurry. When he got to the last step, he jumped down and sprinted down the dark, long and narrow hallway.

It seemed to take him like forever before he bursted out in the open.

He winced at the cold biting air. A great wind blew at him, pushing him back to the dark tunnel. He fought against the wind, and pushed forward, walking slowly.

The wind blew relentlessly at him. It seemed to be getting harder to walk. The wind was slowing him down on purpose.

The flashlight in his hand flickered unsteadily, making it difficult for him to find his way in the dark. He didn't let that deter him. He went down on his knees and began crawling . It was easier this way. He crawled his way down the fields to the woods and scrambled up on his feet.

The earth opened up a current of chaos. He lowered his head and continued sprinting down the woods.

Three more minutes. He counted in his head as he sprinted. A great wind blew angrily on the trees with the intention of taking them out from the root.

A lightning bolt hit a tree near by, he ducked just in time to avoid a tree from falling down on him.

He got to the Monkey puzzle tree in the woods and threw a frantic look around, he was looking for Blaiz signal.

Far off behind him, he could hear thumping sound and the rustling of leaves and he knew the guards had followed him to the woods. They had found his trail.

He dived right , wondering if Blaiz had decided to wait for him at the swamp. They'd both agreed that he would wait for him in the woods. What had changed ?

His guards that Anira had sent after him were drawing closer. He increased his speed and ran towards the direction of the swamp.

He skidded to a stop when he heard lowered voices, and turned off the flashlight. Walking quietly in the woods, he drew closer to the voice.

"Your Majesty, I received specific instruction from the King to take you and the princess to Crystal shield. We should be on our way now, we have been waiting for the past thirty five minutes and His Majesty is yet to show up." The captain said, his voice was filled with worry as he looked around at the bad weather.

"No, let's give him some few more seconds. I believe he would soon be here. " The Queen replied, clutching the wrapped baby close to her chest.

King Bozzelli peered closely in the dark, when he saw the familiar shape in front of him, he came out from hiding.

"I'm here now, let's keep moving. They are fast on our heels." King Bozzelli said.

The Queen sighed with a great relieve when she saw him. She hurried over to him with the baby in her arms.

"Hurry up, i saw him run this way."

Someone in the woods shouted.

The Kings face became filled with dread.

"I think they have found us. " King Bozzelli muttered. " Quickly, Blaiz, take the Queen and the princess to Crystal shield, I'll draw them away from you guys."

"Come Your Majesty, " Blaiz said to the Queen.

"No Blaiz, I'll stay with my husband. Take my baby, to the dwarves ," She said stretching out her hand to him. " I trust you with my child.

The captain felt emotional. " I feel honoured to hear this, Your Majesty. But i feel the princess will be saver if you go with us."

King Bozzelli turned to his wife. "Are you sure about this, Love ?" He asked her.

"I can't leave you alone to fight them. If you die, we die together." The Queen replied with a resigned look on her face.

King Bozzelli nodded his head. "Then we better leave her a parting gift ."

They ignored the voices in the woods and concentrated on conjuring and merging their magic together.

"Forget us not, Princess Evangeline. The future of Azurah and the world lies in your hand. We trust and believe in your future," They both chanted.

A blue light appeared on the tip of their forefinger, they touched the baby with it. A tear slipped from the Queen's eyes and dropped on the child's forehead.

"May the Universe watch over you, My child." The Queen muttered.

The sleeping baby in her arms frowned, her mouth quivered , getting ready to cry.

"Shhh, My love. You will be save." The Queen whispered and kissed her.

"You can take her now," King Bozzelli said to the captain." Hand her over to the King of the Dwarves."

The captain withdrew the baby from the Queen's hand. " I will watch over her and keep her save." He promised the King and Queen.

"We trust you, now go." The King said. He and the Queen turned their back to him. Their faces filled with sadness.

The guard nodded his head before sprinting off into the night.

The couple shared a look.

"We are alone now, let's hope it is for the best." King Bozzelli said to his wife.

They turned and sprinted back to the woods, in order to lead the guards away from the captain.