Chapter Twenty-Two - The Demise

Chapter Twenty-Two – The Demise

The hair on my back stood on end as I stared into the glassy eyes of the Temple Keeper. The only that kept running through head was a simple question; what did he want with me?
I finally forced words out of my mouth. I found it was nearly impossible to form sentences in his presence. “What do you want with me?”
“Why, your annihilation of course.” He stated coldly. “Don't you remember what I told you that day you came to my shop?”
“You knew that was me?” I was now both shocked and weary of what he had planned for me.
“Hah! You think I'm that foolish?! I've lived for more than a millennium and I could see it was you the entire time because of your aura.”
“A millennium?” This shocked me more than anything. Was the Temple Keeper immortal?
“I may look like the old man, but I only inhabit his body. Normally one of us would remain dormant inside a human, but I chose the latter. Unlike the rest of us I have bigger plans in store.” So he was a Silvani then. Then why was he killing off his own kind?
“Why would you want to kill off your own kind?” I questioned.
“I can't have others getting in the way of my plan of taking over the earth. I see all of you as a threat.” His eyes gleamed in the light. “I'm just lucky my plan...no, I knew my plan would work. You may have a Silvani within you, but your human self is still in control. That stupid human self of your allowed me to execute my plan with ease, and now I'm here, standing face to face with you. Now the only thing left to do is decide how I should end you.”
“What plan? How did it help you find me?” I asked, stalling for time. I wasn't sure how I'd escape my inevitable demise. I only hoped Saeron or one of the others had an idea.
“It was ingenious really. But thats to be expected from a Silvani.” He grinned maliciously at me, his voice full of pride. “Now where shall I start. When I had heard of your return from the temple I was extremely baffled as to why Saeron hadn't killed you. Then one night I saw Saeron in his human form enter a house through the window. When I peered inside I found him standing near your bed. It became clear to me that he had fallen for you and was now useless as my tool. So I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands, and when you came to my shop that day an idea sprung. I pretended not to recognize you and fed you stories. True stories, but stories I knew would change your mind none the less. I wanted you to go back to the temple. I knew there would be dangers in the jungle waiting for you there. I knew that the tiger people I had previously talked to before you came to my shop would be wandering around in the jungle in search of Saeron. They had told me they wanted to take him, but I merely told them it was located in the jungle, sending them on a wild goose chase. I knew that even if they did find Saeron his dark tiger form would tear them to shreds. Now it was only a matter of time before any one of the following things occurred. You were hunted by these new tiger beings or Saeron somehow found them as soon as you did, releasing his dark form to protect you and then killing you after from loss of control.
“I thought my plan would work for sure, but somehow you managed to avoid it all. The huntings, the uncontrollable dark form. Your aura even grew stronger that day. I could feel it that day. That's how I knew you were still alive. By then I had come to the realization that if I wanted you dead I'd have to do it myself.
“That night I could feel your aura coming closer and I could also sense Saeron as well. I was considering killing you as soon as you came to the village, but I was far to curious about where these tiger people lived. And then a plan begin to fall into play, one that would help me in my quest for world domination.
“I caused the evacuation of own town causing you to have no choice but to join the tiger people as they headed back to their kingdom. This was my plan for killing two birds with one stone.
“Following you would have been now easy task on foot. The ocean alone, when it's waters are parted, as longer than I mile, so I took Oris along with me. When I made it to this island I was much more pleased than I expected to be. I knew immediately this place would make the perfect haven for me. So secluded, so beautiful. No one would ever think to look for me here. And of course....the tiger people. You'll all make excellent tools in my diabolical plan.”
“I hate to break it to you, but I'm no one's tool!” Shouted Zayne in his human form. I looked around. They had all transformed into their human forms.
“So on to your demise then.” The possessed Temple Keeper said ignoring Zayne's comment. He put his hand under his chin in a gesture of thought. Suddenly he outstretched his hand to me and the gloves he had one ignited with fire. “I think I'll finish you off with a classic burning.” His lips curled over his crocked teeth, and his eyes took on a malicious form. He raised the ignited hand up to his head and the flame grew bigger. “Now burn in hell!!!”
The fire came at me with tremendous speed, it's flame growing bigger each inch it traveled. I was nearly a fraction of a second away from being burned when someone tore me out of the way. Saeron held me tightly to his chest, his gait picking up with accelerated speed. I looked behind him just as the Jyot people were making their way toward the Temple Keeper. They had transformed back into their tiger forms and were now fighting, tooth and claw, with the Temple Keeper, obviously trying to create a diversion as Saeron made a run for it.
“Where are you taking me?” I hoped he could hear me over the wind whistling passed us.
“I'm taking you somewhere safe where he wont find you.”
“He'll sense my aura! Didn't you hear him?! My death is inevitable. There's no sense in prolonging it and getting everyone killed.”
Just then I heard a loud growl as Jurah tore into the Temple Keeper. The Temple Keeper yelled in rage. “Let me pass you fiends! I don't want to injure perfectly good tools, no let me pass!” I was grateful he didn't want to hurt the Jyot's. No one would have to die for my sake.
“Don't say that, Dante! We're all fighting to keep you alive. The least you could do is be grateful were doing this. If it weren't were our telepathic capabilities as tigers me and Jurah would have never been able to execute this plan without the Temple Keeper knowing it.” Saeron stated as he whizzed even faster through the lush forest. “Your not going to die.”
I smiled up at him. A weak, unsure smile, but a smile no less. He looked down for a moment and gave me a reassuring grin that made me feel a little better. However, my mind wouldn't stop thinking about all that had happened and all that was probably happening right now. These people were risking their lives for mine. They were giving it everything they got to keep the Temple Keeper from succeeding in finding me. But what if they failed? What if he got away and he found me?
We finally stopped at the opening of a cave so that we could hide and Saeron could rest. There was little light in the cave and I was scared to go further when the light from the sun began to fade into the shadows of the inner most part of the cave. Saeron gladly transformed into his tiger form and led me to the back of the cave, being my eyes every step of the way. We settled down on the ground, my body laying against Saeron's coat for warmth. The cave was not only cold, it was very damp. Occasionally a drop of water would fall on my head which led me to believe that there must be a pond just above us.
“Saeron, if I don't live I want you to know something...”
“I told you not to talk like that, Dante! You will live!” He fought as though he knew it to be the truth.
“I love you.” I said softly. Though I couldn't see it in the darkness, I felt his head rise.
“You do?” He asked, his voice both happy and surprised at the same time. Surprised? But didn't he know I loved him?
“Of course I love you. You didn't know?” I asked with much anticipation of what he was going to say.
“You never told me.”
“I know. But I thought you knew. I always showed you I loved you...even if I never told you.” I finished my sentence an waited for a reply. I felt his neck move, but nothing more.
I was starting to grow anxious when he suddenly nudged me with his wet nose. He then licked me softly on the cheek, his touch making me smile. Than his form began to change and his tongue became lips kissing me passionately all over. My cheek, my neck, my lips. I was surrounded by a haze of heat as he pulled me close to him.
“I've always loved you from the day I first met you.” He whispered seductively to me. I closed my eyes in complete pleasure as he nibbled on my ear. “I've never loved another and I never will.” He breath was hot on my neck now. He pulled me closer to him and I could feel his lips now on my collar bone, and then I froze. I could feel the wet hint of his tongue on my collar bone and chest. The feeling was so heavenly that I completely fell into a trance. I would have done anything for him at that moment.
I felt a breeze of wind rush into the cave and my fears were suddenly reawakened. I wanted to continue what we were doing forever, but something told me the Temple Keeper was coming.
“Saeron, I can feel him approaching!” I said as I pushed him reluctantly away.
“How close is he?” His voice was now alert. I was about to tell him I had no idea where he was when a forceful trimmer shook through the cave and the water above us began forcing it's way through the newly made holes in the cave ceiling. The cave was beginning to collapse and the water was pouring out fast. We had to escape before the cave fell and we were killed. But even if we did manage to get out there was still something else waiting for us outside.
Saeron transformed into his tiger form and nudged me onto his back. He then ran as fast as he could toward the entrance just before the entire cave crumbled and the pond above it fell through. He carried me up to hill where we would drown and set me down.
“Looks like I got the little mouse to come out of it's hole.” The Temple Keeper laughed to himself. He was standing just a few hundred feet away from them, his dark cape swirling violently in the wind as he calmed it to a light breeze. His arms were bloody from being attacked so many times and his side had a small gash in it.“Let's try wind than, shall we?”
His hands moved in different directions in attempt to create a forceful gust of wind. He brought his hands up to his head, just like before, and prepared to aim. “This one will be extra sharp!”
Just before I felt the gust hit my stomach something darted into it's line of sight. In that split second I saw blood splatter, I saw his body topple to the ground, and I felt my eyes widen with fright.
“Jurah!” I screamed. I fell by his side, my body trembling as I saw the large wound the Temple Keeper had dealt on Jurah.
“How dare you interfere!” The Temple Keeper growled.
“No! How dare you! You have no right here. I should have killed you when I had the chance a long time ago!” Saeron spat out the words.
“Heh, well here I am Saeron!” His words were daring Saeron to come at him. “Come and get me!”
I watched from Jurah's side as the fight ensued. The Temple Keeper's attacks were fast, but Saeron was much faster. He dodged and flame and came at the Temple Keeper with full force, only to be sent back with a whirl of wind. He back of a tree and used it as a spring to hurtle himself directly at the Temple Keeper. I could tell he was getting tired because Saeron got to him this time. His large paws swiped down on his opponents chest and blood instantly came forth. Saeron fell back for a moment, admiring his work, and then quickly headed for his opponent again. Air shot at him, but he managed to dodge most of it, his cheek and arm now bloody where the air had made it's mark. Saeron 's attack failed this time, but I could tell he wasn't about to give up. He instantly recoiled with a leap, heading straight for the Temple Keeper's neck. I could see it in his eyes, the Temple Keeper knew where he was heading. I could also see that the Temple Keeper knew it was too last for him. Saeron's teeth sunk into the Silvani's host, the blood draining profusely from his neck. The vessel suddenly became lifeless and it's form feel effortlessly to the ground.
“Did you...did you kill him?” I asked with hope.
“I killed his host, but the Silvani got away. We're safe though, for now.” I winced at his lasts words. Would he be back?
“Jurah are you going to be okay?” I examined his wound. It didn't appear to be as bad as I had thought, but it could become fatal if he didn't cure it right away.
“Of course. I'm just glad your alright, Dante.” He got up with clear strain in his voice. “So Saeron, how about that fight then.”
“Umm, I don't think you should be fighting in this condition.” Saeron gestured to Jurah's wound.
“Your wounded too” Jurah made a gesture to Saeron's wounds now. “I'm not going to give up the fight that easily!”
“You really want to fight?”
“Of course! Let's head back so we can begin.”
“Alright, as you wish.” Saeron gave in.
“Saeron, don't give into what he wants. He's badly hurt!” I yelled. “You could kill him!”
“Don't let her talk you out of it, Saeron. Now let's go!” Jurah growled.
When we finally arrived at the castle it was nearly dark making it harder for me to see what exactly was going on. The fight hadn't started yet, but I knew when it did the only thing I'd be able to see would be dark figures fighting in the night.
I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer to myself. I had an strange feeling in the pit of my stomach that was telling me something was about to go terribly wrong. I finished my prayer and my eyes opened. I prayed that Saeron would win and that they would both be okay. Prayers were suppose to work right? So then why did this sick feeling keep bubbling up in my stomach?