Demon Legacy: The Curse of the Amulet

Race to the Library

Before she could say anything, the sinister voice returned, speaking out from the darkness and shaking me to the core. “Oh, Rose? Where are you? I brought more souls for you to see suffer!”

Damn! It was the demon. What was I supposed to do now? The princess whispered, “Go to the castle library and find the wizard’s diary.” Before I could ask her why or say another word, a white light flashed before my eyes and soon I woke up back in the chamber in the present day, hearing familiar voices.

I opened my eyes. My vision was a little blurry, but I recognized my friends. Carl! Finn!” My voice was just a whisper however they heard it.

“Derek! Oh, thank god you are all right,” Carl said with relief.

Finn stood next to me. “Derek, where is the captain? And Alex and Parker?” He helped me stand up. I looked around. There was no sign of the others.

I turn to face Carl. “How long was I out?” My head was throbbing.

“I’m not sure, but after we dropped off the professor we came back here. We called and searched for everyone, but finally we found you lying in this dark corner on the ground. Then a flash of some sort of light entered you…. We got nervous, thinking you were dead, but then you spoke….”

Then I realize what must have happened. My soul had been separated from the body, but since Princess Rose had grabbed me before the demon could, she was able to prevent my imprisonment. “We searched for at least two hours before we found you here, even though we had already searched this spot and there was nothing. We don’t know how you got here.” Carl hugged me. I guess both my soul and body were dragged into the mist, making it impossible for them to find me. We all stood in uncomfortable silence, lost in our own thoughts.

Then Finn spoke. “Why are you wearing the amulet?” he asked. “And what exactly is happening to it?”

I looked down at my chest. I had forgotten that I’d put it on, but I could now see that it was slowly sinking into my body, right through my clothing. So, that’s how the person dies. The amulet spreads throughout the person’s body while it drains out the life force. “I don’t know,” I said. “That is, I remember putting it on, but I’m not sure why I did it.”

 “Can you see anything?” ask Finn. Both Carl and I looked at him in confusion. “I mean, is the myth true that whoever has the amulet can see into the future?”

I gaze at the amulet with renewed interest—and then with increasing terror as it suddenly started to glow. I felt a strong wave of heat flowing into me. I cried out loud, of the agony that was flowing all over my body. I was barely standing, clutching the amulet tightly, and breathing quickly in and out.

“Derek, what’s happening?” Carl cried in alarm.

“I see something…something horrible,” I shouted, in pain. In my head I witnessed lot of thing that I can place, one I see the war that wage between the demon army and the King Alexander, next I see him defeating the demon king and making truce between themselves, the scene changes once again, showing Edmund IV making deal with the mist, all these vision was making my head spin that fell to my knee trying to comprehend what I’m seeing. The final scene I see castle’s destruction at the hands of demon, and Carl, Finn, and me all lying in the rubble, all three of us dead. Then the vision ended, and I fall on four, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from my forehead. Finn kneels down, rubbing my back in comfort while he place water bottle in my month which I drank greedily. That was one thing I always I liked about Finn: although he had the round and innocent face of a child, he acted mature, and he was often one step ahead of us, always ready to help.

After calming my breathing, I stood up with wide-eyed with shock and horror as I mumbled the words out. “This castle…is going to…fall soon.”

Carl and Finn were stunned. “What are you saying, Derek?” stuttered Carl.

I checked my watch. “This place is going to fall in exactly ninety minutes if don’t escape this place soon.” I said as I wiped the sweat off my forehead and stood up straight.

“Are you sure?” Finn sounded bewildered.

“Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I think the amulet’s power is real. And I think the creature seal inside it is draining my life force.” I said quickly.

“What creature? What do you mean, it’s draining your life force?” asked Carl urgently.

“I’ll explain everything I know while we’re on our way to the castle library!” I cried as the room began to vibrate. “Let’s move!”

And the chase began.

On the way to the ancient library, I told them every detail of what had happened to me: the truth about the kingdom’s annihilation, the deaths of Rose and the king, the wizard sealing the demon into the amulet, and Rose’s urgent instructions to find the wizard’s diary. “I’m not sure what’s written in it, but I hope it will tell us how to break the curse and destroy the demon once and for all,” I said.

“Derek, did you know that the curse of the amulet was true?” Finn asked firmly.

“I wasn’t sure at first but when I saw the Princess soul in her old bedroom during our search for the Professor and his colleague along with the strange occurrence that happened, I was convinced that legend was true which why I tried to stop everyone from taking the amulet but” I said with a paused while looking around for any sign of danger. When there wasn’t any sign, I signal them to go forward while Carl asked me “what happened Derek? What stop you?”

“I don’t know but something took over by body and forced me to wear that curse object.” I said feeling angry that whoever did this to me will not leave unpunished.

“You mean to tell that they are more people in play?” Fin asked confused with hint of annoyance.

“I think so but what bother me more what could they achieve by releasing such monstrous spirit?” I asked bewildered by these people intention.

“Well we can find the answer when reach that damn library. By the Finn, you know the way, guide us.” Carl exclaimed.

Luckily, thanks to his team’s earlier reconnaissance, Finn knew the library’s location. The library was on the third level at the end hallway. We started searching for another secret passageway, and soon found one behind the Queen statue. We ran up the staircase and came upon to throne room, which I was now seeing for the first time in its present-day, decayed, and ruined state. The library was far bur we made hesitate to reach it soon however own the way, I felt we pass through something and suddenly we back in the throne room again.

“What the hell just happened?” Finn exclaimed in shocked.

“You are asking us? We even don’t know what just happened?” Carl said annoyed.

“It look like that this is the demon power, it is manipulating the space around us, it trying to prevent us for reaching the library.” I spoke while keeping my eyes open for any surprise.

“Great! How are we supposed to avoid these portals without getting killed?” Carl asked worried.

Before I can say anything, the floor split open and Finn started to fall into the c***k. Fortunately, he caught himself on the edge and held on until we pulled him up.

“It look like that princess soul wasn’t strong to stop the demon power. It will do anything to kill us but the question is how does it know where we are? Wasn’t the princess protecting us from being seen?” Finn said thoughtfully.

Then I heard that sinister voice. “Dereky? Oh, Dereky? Where are you, my delicious morsel? You can’t hide from me. I can find you because I had a taste of your blood!” Its laugh seemed to echo throughout the whole castle.

“What the hell was that?” shouted Carl.

“That’s it—that’s the demon,” I said. I wasn’t sure what it meant about my blood until I felt something wet and warm at the back of my neck. Why I didn’t notice this sooner, I must have struck my head when I landed back in the present day. If the demon could use blood to locate me, maybe it could do the same with the others as well. “Finn, are you all right? Did you get cut or scraped at all?”

“No, I’m good. Let’s keep moving.”

The room started to quiver again. Rock debris started falling, and we heard collapsing stone heard behind us. Soon we saw the mist forming into something, at first look the mist like human then I saw the decaying form in knight armors, demonic eyes, greenish, purplish skin, and sharp teeth growling at us.

“You got to be kidding me? Zombies?!” Carl Exclaimed.

Damn! What now? How the bloody hell we will reach the library with these portals and zombies’ interference? Then I sense a tingle feeling in my head and that voice, the one responsible for this mess “you might bear the curse of the amulet, but you have it power with it, use it.” I hate to admit it, I need to listen to him to reach the library and find the answer we need.

“Okay listen” as I turn toward my friends “if the amulet curse is true so is the amulet power, stay behind and don’t look back, I will warn you when stop and go.” I said firmly.

“Derek, are you sure? We don’t know what will happen to you if you this power?” Finn asked concerned.

“Finn, I know what you mean but if don’t do something, Captain and others death will all be in vain. I will stop if I feel unwell but if those things started nearing us, shoot them down.” I said as I take out my gun. The rest follow me but before we could move, I saw what I fear, behind the zombies I could see the mist swirling, the demon was with them, so turning around was not an option.

“Run!”

So we ran as fast as we can, trying to avoid the zombies attack and avoiding the obstacle however we will still needed to figure which portal we needed to go through. The zombies were behind us with that demon chasing us, with no clue how to use the amulet power but with instinct the amulet stared to glow, pulsing on me chest, hurting me a bit however with determination I focus on the power and soon I saw those hidden portal. I saw each portal were leading to different area along with the trap that the demon had setup. I saw the princess room on the right side of the wall and pointed toward it. We went through with ease and soon we were in the room however we couldn’t rest as we heard the angry roar of the demon echo the castle.

“How!? How dare you defy me! You wouldn’t escape from me” We ignore the roar and went forward however when we enter the hallway which had statue on the right, we encounter those zombies knight waiting. One of them charge at me swinging it sword which I dodge in time while Finn and Carl fired at them but the bullet bounce of them. I realized they are protected by a magic barrier which annoyed us and once again the amulet glow furiously it power transferring into their gun. I told Finn and Carl to fire again while I pick up one sword from the statue as the zombies attack again.

Hesitate but they listen to me and fire their gun and what shocked us they bullet came out as an intense flame, piercing demon heavily while the sword that grabbed slashed the zombie, dispersing into nothing.

“Holy s**t! what kind of power those this amulet has?” Carl exclaimed in shocked.

“That explain how King Alexander and his army defeated the demon back then.” Finn stated.

“Yeah, you might be right, we better move before” Ah! The pain in my chest increases much more, making fall on four.

“Derek! oh god! Are you alright?” Carl said concerned while helping to stand up.

“Derek, you have done enough, it better you stop using the amulet power, it is draining you heavily and we don’t know how long you can handle this.” Finn said firmly.

“I’m sorry that I worried you guys, but we need the amulet power to find those portal.” I said confidently while picking up the sword from the ground.

“Derek would you list…..” “I understand Finn, we nearing to the library and believe that once we are inside the zombies nor the demon can’t harm there. So please have faith in me and beside” I said turning toward him and Carl. “If anything, happen further I will try stop it okay” I said smiling faintly trying to change their doubt.

Finn sight heavily while Carl shake his head “Alright Derek, but thing goes to the worse, stop the amulet power.” Carl said firmly with Finn agreeing with him.

Once it was decided, we head out once again trying our best to avoid the portal and the demon death trap and the zombies of course

   We darted past many new traps and obstacles, sliding into the opening and closing walls, jumping from one section of floor to another, and avoiding spikes. Once we arrived near to the library, another set of monster, we were being chase by some red, creepy creatures, What kind of power does this monster have?.

“What the f**k? How is it doing all this?” Carl said cursing.

“You are asking me? I still am trying to figure that out.” I said pulling my gun out.

“Doesn’t matter, shoot them down.” Finn orders us. We all fried at them with our side arms. (which were infused by the amulet power) When we finally reached the library door to only discover it was locked. Why wasn’t I surprised?

 “Derek, we’ll keep these freaks busy while you find a way to open that door!” Carl shouted. He and Finn continued firing while I tried to figure how to unlock the door. “And make it fast, because we’re going to have to reload soon.” Finn yelled. Suddenly we saw something launch into the air and land inside the mist and explode causing the mist to vanish along with it side freak show monster. We look awe struck, not understanding what just happened.

“Is everyone alright?’ A familiar spoke, revealing himself from behind the statue, it was Alex, he was alive?

“Alex, you are okay.” Carl screamed happily.

“Yeah, just a bit of shaken up with the whole situation.” Alex said panting while clutching his stomach. Finn noticed his stance and asked him to see what happened. Alex had bandage around his stomach which was leaking blood.

“Alex, how this happened to you? who did this to you?” I asked concerned.

“Let ask him once we are inside the library.” Finn stated while carl carried Alex on his shoulder. I nodded and returned my gaze to the door. I noticed that the lock was shaped was like the stone in the amulet. On impulse, I leaned over and pressed the diamond-shaped red stone of the amulet to the opening. The door unlocked. I pushed it open.

“Come on! Hurry!” I cried, and the three of them backed in quickly while I looked out for any monster or the demon, once everyone were inside, I shut the door just in time. There was a bang on the door and from the other side the demon roared at us. “You may have escaped for now, my juicy friend, but your death by my hand is inevitable. I will be waiting outside, waiting to demolish your soul!”

Then there was absolute silence. We leaned against the door, catching our breath. The amulet wasn’t glowing anymore meaning we are in no danger for now.

“I doubt it’s given up, so maybe there’s a spell around the library that keeps it out.

We should check each other, for any injuries. I said while looking at Alex.

“You’re right especially you since that amulet literally made you look like shit.” Carl said with hint of angry in tone.

“What are you guys are talking about?” Alex said while Finn applies medicine on his wound.

“It’s a long story which we will tell but we want to know what happened in the chamber? Are the captain and Parker alright?” I asked him anxiously, dare hoping that they might be alive.

“Hell, I don’t know much, all I know is that I was attacked by some mist, I tried to fight back but it was no use and soon I got drag along with my brother and captain however before I was fully immersed into it, I saw some sort of light grab me and the next thing I knew I landed in some hallway.”

A light grabs him before he was devoured, did the princess save him? I thought to myself.

After gathering my wit, some sort of creature started attacking which I invaded in time but with every time I shoot them down more appeared. With no choice and low ammo, I had no choice to ran however one of them reached me, scratching with it claw while I put a bullet in its head.” Alex said while resting his head on the wall.

“What happened next?” Finn asked while finishing wrapping the wound.

“Not much, I went in hiding in one of the rooms, some sort of magician room.” Alex stated.

“A magician room, the wizard room?” Carl asked curiously.

“Yeah, you could say that, it look like any palace room except it look ordinary room with book shelves line on one side, writing table with pedestal on the other, a simple bed beside a wardrobe in the middle. I check the room for any first aid and found the tool to keep my wound from bleeding, but I know I need medical attention. It was there that I notice something odd. On the table next to bed, I notice some sort of magical orbs resting next to a grimoire. The book was old, withered but I could read some of the text, supposedly the orbs were infused with highly intensive energy to disperse the enemy momentarily, diminishing them.” Alex explained carefully.

“How peculiar that such orb where just lying there, the demon could have notice them so how?” I asked baffled.

“In any case, I took the book and the orbs with me, hoping they could of use. It was then I felt shake around me and that horrible roar. It was terrifying at first but knowing that Finn, Carl, and you were still alive, I pull myself together. It was then I saw you guys passing by and going to some weird portal. I tried to follow but ended at the library entrance. I thought I have screw up but then saw you guys heading this way along the freak show of zombies and black mist chasing you. I wanted to help but couldn’t understand then I remember the orbs that I had and with instincts I threw the orb at them and boom! They were gone” Alex said finishing his tale.

“Well, it appears luck was on our side.” Finn said calmly.

“Yeah, for now but we don’t know that for sure.” Carl said annoyed.

“Well now then would any care to explain why the hell the amulet was glowing, along with Derek look like he can pass out any moment now?” he said pointing at my chest.

“Seriously! after seeing portal monster, evil spirits, magical orbs and all that your question? “Finn asked astounded, and Alex just shrugged at the question.

“Well, I believe that everything might be link to the amulet so yeah, that my question.” Alex stated the fact.

I smile amused by Alex clam demeanor; it was good to have them back. All sat down with Alex, and I explain about the legend, the fall of this kingdom by the demon that is trapped in the amulet along with spirit of princess Rose, the supposed figure that is helping is princess and the power of the amulet. Alex Finn and Carl listen to everything I said, absorbing all the information, it was Alex that broke the ice after a long pause.

“Well, it appears we are stuck in tricky position, we might have the power of the amulet on our side but with the curse still active, Derek can’t always use the power leisurely. With only few orbs remaining, I highly we can much longer against the demon spirit.” Alex said.

“But if the princess insisted to come here and with resists shown by this demon, I think the answer lie inside the wizard diary.” Carl said hopefully.

“That is true but with little time left before the castle fall and along with the fact that there could be another player involved in this game, I don’t know whether he is our ally or foe?” Finn said firmly.

“Regarding the time, I check a when we enter the library through the amulet power, we manage to change our fate by reaching here however for how long that I’m not sure. I’m not sure either about this person intention, he has been helping us from escaping the demon spirit, I know that this person is foe of this monster as well but what I worried most that after we find a way to stop this creature and save the soul that it has devour, what will he do next? Will turn against and try to steal the amulet? That what concern me.” I said with uneasiness tone.

“Let focus on one thing and that is stopping this demon and saving those lost soul. Then we can deal with him later if he appears in front of us.” Alex said confidently which we agreed upon.

“Derek and Carl, I want you guys to start the search for that diary while I stay with Alex and keep him company. The way his wound is, he need rest and look after, once I’m sure he can move around we join you guys.” Finn orders us and we both nodded in agreement.

 Come on, let’s search this place and find that diary,” I said. Together we gazed around at the huge and ancient library and its thousands upon thousands of books.