CHAPTER VIII

 

Chris looked back through the closet, as he stood in the tall grass. He could
see the bed room quiver, and then fade. He reached out to touch the vision as it
vanished. He started to panic, as he looked around. He had no idea where to go.
Rachel is in danger, he said aloud. He had to calm himself down. He began to
recite the alphabet, as he began to walk.

Stench of death surrounded him, as he walked through heavy brush. He began to
vomit, as he came upon what was left of a small village. Men, woman and
children lay in piles for days. Decay was rancid. Chris covered his mouth and
nose, and walked through the village, gaging. Who would do this, he wondered.

He stare at a small child, her lifeless eyes open. He shivered, and tore his
eyes away from hers. His eyes teared up, but only for a moment.He began to run,
if a village like this could be destroyed, he could only imagine what could
happen to Rachel.

--------------

Dwayne stared at his hands, and then out the window. He had paced away the
night, he thought, as the sun shown through the window. He rubbed at the scruff
of beard that was on his chin. All they had to do was chop Sargatanis' head off,
and it would all be over. Damn, why did he feel so lost.

He watched through the window as Puck gathered the horses. How long would it
take them to get to Sargatanis? When they get there, would they be to late?
Dwayne sighed, and started to pace once more.

-----

Puck whistled up to the house, signaling all was ready for them to leave. The
ride would take nearly a half days ride, there was no time to waste. If they got
to Sargatanis', they might make it in time for the end of the wedding.

Puck mounted his horse, as the others emerged from the house. No words passed
between him and Dwayne, as they made eye contact. Puck nodded, and turned his
horse to trot away from safety. He looked to see Jessica watching them leave,
and then turned his horse around.

"Are you staying here?" He asked Jessica.

"Yes....I don't know." She said, as she pointed at the horse.

"We can't wait for you to make up your mind." He tapped his horse with a switch
and left Jessica tasting the dust from the ground.

Jessica watched as the others rode away. She stood next to the horse Puck had
chosen for her. "I can't stay here. I have to see what this place looks like
they are going." The horse gave a nay, as if it understood her. She mounted the
horse, giving it a soft tap with her foot. "I want to meet this Sargatanis guy.
He's probably a pretty awesome guy! What do you think Scruffy?" She asked the
horse.

The horse nayed back.

-------

"You're brother is in this world." Sharlette whispered to Rachel, as she put the
heavy vail on Rachel's head.

Rachel said nothing, looking straight ahead. Tears flowed down her cheek. She
had considered this woman her friend. Now, Sharlette was getting her beautiful
for evil. Rachel sighed, as silent tears fell. Dwayne would come, she just hoped
he would get there before it was too late.

"You're brother is looking for you. Sargatanis will kill him."
Sharlette said, as she turned Rachel's face to meet hers.

"Why?" Was all Rachel could squeak out. She pulled her
face out of Sharlette's hand, turning away from her once more.

"Don't be so difficult." Sharlette said, as she ajusted the vail again.
"If you would let me end your life, like Anna chose to do, then
you would be free of him." She whispered.

"Never." Rachel said, as she wiped the tears off her face.

"Suit yourself." Sharlette said, as she handed Rachel her bouqet of red roses.

Rachel dropped it to the floor, as thorns scratched her hands.
"Dwayne will come." she said, as she wiped the blood onto
the dress.

"Not in time." Sharlette said, as she picked up
the bouqet and put it back into Rachel's bleeding hands.

--------

Chris stared at the huge building that stood before him, it reaked of evil. The
thick trees and brush that surrounded the building were daunting. The evil
gargoyles that stood watch over the grounds, looked as if they could come to
life at any moment. For evil, this was a beautiful place.The death stench was
here too. The only thing dead here though were the flowers. All the flowers were
dead except some red roses that were turning black.

Chris gasped as a hand covered his mouth and pushed him to the ground. He tried
to pull the hand away, but it was stronger than he. A sack was pulled over his
head, as the huge man turned him over on the ground. A knee was in the middle of
his back, to keep him from crawling away. Ropes bound around his hands, almost
breaking the skin on his wrists.

They walked into a room that had a loud echo. Their footsteps almost deafening,
almost drowning out the music that had come to his ears. Soft music, wedding
music. He could here voices, as the echos vanished. He began to yell, as he
recognized his sisters voice.

"Rachel!! Where are you?!" Chris yelled, and his voice echoed.

The ropes tightened around his wrists, making Chris fall to the ground.

"Rachel!!" Chris yelled again.

"Quiet him." A man said.

Chris laid on the ground with a thud, as another man hit him with his club.
Chris lay without moving.

-------------

Dwayne ran his horse into Sargantis' lair at full speed. The last few yards to
the death house, Dwayne's heart was beating as fast as the horse hooves touched
the ground.

"Dwayne!!" Rachel yelled, as she saw him enter the room.

Sargatanis started to laugh. Dwayne was too late. Rachel would be his forever.

"Help me!!" Rachel yelled, and tried to run towards Dwayne.

Jessica walked into the room. Beautiful, she thought. Her eyes caught sight of
Sargatanis. A shimmer of Bryce flickered, and then Sargatanis remained. She
shook her head. This was the man from her dream!! She had to get closer.

"I see you brought your whore!" Sargatanis said, as Puck tried to pull her back.

"You are too late." Sharlette says to Dwayne with a smirk on her face. She steps
between Dwayne and Rachel.

"Dwayne, oh my God." Rachel starts to cry, as blood stains heavily on her dress.
"It hurts!!" She says, and passes out. She falls into Sargatanis' arms.

Sargatanis laughs hysterically, and they both vanish.

Rage fills Dwayne. He screams, pushing a huge card to the
wall. He grabs the guard's sword and swings it in the air.

"He's gone mad!" Jessica yells, and falls to the ground.

With the sword held high in the air, he stands face to face with Sharlette.

"Give me one reason I shouldn't end your life."
Dwayne asks through gritted teeth..

"There is nothing you can do now. It is
done." Sharlette replies cooly.

"Are you praying?" Shadow asks.

Sharlette stares at her and smiles.

Dwayne starts to scream again, as he brings down the
sword across Sharlett's exposed neck.

"Safe Haven." Sharlette whispers seconds before her
head falls to the floor in front of Jessica.



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