The Omega: The Sceptre Of Halydon

chapter one

SIX CENTURIES BEFORE...

"Arrgghhh!!!!" I screamed in agony as the trident of Olphymus unleashed its torturing power on me.

My hands were chained to the two big trees in the middle of the demon's realm illusioned to be a mere forest. But only immortals could understand what it truly was.

"Are you ready to talk now, Vashna?" The man that was supposed to be my husband, the man I'd fallen in love with — the demon lord of Hadeimus — came close to clench my chin.

Tears streamed from my eyes as I stared intently at his. "Why?" My voice was weak and hoarse from pain and hours of excruciating torture.

Any mortal could have died by now but I was an immortal, not just any kind. I was the special kind and I was not supposed to fall in love, that was the rule. Love brought weakness, I had been told by Keshna, and weakness led to betrayal and destruction.

But had I listened? No. Now I was paying the price; the price of not listening. I had fallen for the very same person I was not supposed to.

He only chuckled tauntingly in my face. "Oh, you sweet, naive Vashna." He straightened himself, brandishing the trident menacingly before me.

"Why, Kadan?" I kept asking as though whatever he replied would justify this betrayal and hurt he had brought me.

"You..." He was about to respond when the air sizzled with energy.

I understood the energy, and while relief flooded me, fear took hold too. Why did he come? He would die. Moreover, I had given it to him. I had buried it in his body, and the agreement was he would run away with it.

But he had come. I tried to struggle free from the chains but I could not. Kadan had used the bane of Halydon as shackles, he knew mere chains would not hold me. I watched helplessly as the form appeared from a white glowing portal, shaking my head vigorously as tears fell.

"No. No. No." I cried but it was too late. Sylton was here, my best friend was here.

"Let her go, Kadan!" He appeared in all his magical glory. His wizard eyes and hair reeked of power, Sylton was no ordinary wizard, he was the direct descendant of the Phoenix Mother who was the mother of witches and wizards.

Kadan's eyes flashed blood red. He had always hated Sylton, he used to think I was cheating on him with Sylton. "Well, well, well...if it isn't the other man." He turned to me with his demon eyes. "You summoned him?"

"No." I shook my head, my voice trembling. "Please, no. Let him go." Sylton was strong but there was always one thing about demons, they were sly and dark. I had always known that about Kadan, yet I fell for him. Maybe it was because I had believed he would treat me different. That was stupid of me.

"Let her go, Kadan!" Sylton's silvery shoulder length hair glowed pearly white, his eyes were the mixed colors of blue and white; the blue showed more when he was calm and the white became visible when he was in a volatile state, as it did now.

He spread his arms, the air zapped viciously as he uttered spells. Kadan hit the ground with his trident, the ground split and ominous black smoke snaked from the cracks and wrapped themselves tightly around Sylton.

He began to choke, his eyes darkened from brilliant white to evil-ridden obsidian.

I struggled with the chains that dug into my skin, searing my flesh. "Please, let him go. I'm the one you want."

"He came here, didn't he?" Kadan eyes were now that of his demon, his voice had thickened and echoed. "I'll take his soul."

"No, please!" Sylton did not deserve to be tortured for eternity.

His choking sounds tormented me. Moreover, what I had given to him, where was it? If it had been inside of him, he would not be affected this much. He would had been able to fight it. Had he lost it?

"Do you want me to save him?" Kadan's tone was taunting and proud. Sylton had been forced to his knees.

But I could tell he was trying to fight it. The dark powers, he was struggling to fight them. Ominous laughter could be heard everywhere.

"Yes, please. Please save him. Please..." I begged desperately.

"Then where is the Sceptre of Halydon?" He asked. I could not believe I had let myself fall for him, more tears rolled.

"You...w-will never f-find...it." Sylton managed to choke out.

I turned to him, where had he kept it? Kadan looked from me to him, then with an angry roar, he used his wicked trident to hit Sylton across the face. Sylton grabbed the big black staff with three sharp pointers.

I watched helplessly as they both fought over possession of it. Using it to steady himself, Sylton kicked Kadan who momentarily lost balance and let go of the trident.

Acting fast, Sylton who had managed to fight off the demons that had tortured him in form of smoke hit Kadan on the face with the sharp pointers, Kadan began to bleed.

Not relenting, Sylton roared spells that shook the illusioned forest, hitting Kadan over and over. I tried to use my own powers to support him but I could not. I was weak, the bane was sucking whatever power that was left in me.

I prayed earnestly that Sylton would win. But Kadan grew demon claws and scratched Sylton's neck, more demons tried to slither from the crack as thick, black smoke.

"Hit the trident on the ground, Sylton! It will close up and stop more demons from being summoned!" I yelled as loud as my hoarse voice would allow me.

"Not so fast, wizard." Kadan moved like a very dark wind, shook trees and fell leaves as it breezed around Sylton who was still uttering spells trying to find Kadan's heart.

This was Kadan's territory, it would be difficult for him to be defeated here but I would like to hope that luck and the Phoenix Mother was with her son today.

I closed my eyes to pray for Sylton's victory, I heard a scream. I quickly opened my eyes, Sylton was bleeding from his heart, the blood was black. He thrust his hands at me, his wizard powers shot through me, the chains began to break.

Kadan noticed this and released more demons on Sylton to trap his soul, he rushed to me and stabbed me through the heart. "I won't let you escape." He seethed.

"You'll never get the Sceptre of Halydon." I spat weakly.

His chuckle was dark and wicked. "I know it's no longer with you, I'll find it."

Tears fell from my eyes as I looked into the eyes of the man I once loved. Death was near and revenge swirled. With the last of my strength, I vowed. "I'll come back, Kadan. And even if you're gone, I'll come for your generation."

"Immortals are killed, they don't die naturally." He drove the trident deeper, sneering into my face.

"Then be ready for my return." I felt the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. Sylton's tormented cry was the last thing I heard before darkness of death swallowed me whole.