Children of the Cursed Read online

  “This is the end of the cave.” He took great pleasure in making others nervous.

  “Why didn't you just say so?” Gawain found himself annoyed by the man's arrogance.

  “I wouldn't want to miss out on seeing the fear in your eyes.”

  “Believe me when I say that I do not fear the likes of you.”

  The man looked back at Gawain with that evil smile of his, “The Dragon Graveyard is just beyond here, but we find ourselves blocked by this great steel door,” he said, ignoring his words yet again, which seemed like something he enjoyed doing.

  “Are you telling me that the great and powerful Mages couldn't even get past?”

  “I'm starting to second guess letting the four of you live.”

  “Forgive my headstrong companion, for he is just an old grumpy man,” Ulrich interrupted.

  “What are you doing, Ulrich?” Gawain angrily asked. “I have yet to give you permission to speak.”

  “I'm saving our asses, old man. And I don't need your permission to speak,” Ulrich answered. He then proceeded to walk up to the leader of the Mages, “Also, forgive me for my boldness earlier. I meant no harm in my jests.” He humbly bowed.

  The man rubbed his chin between his thumb and first finger, “Thee definitely have a silver tongue. For now, I shall stick to my decision, and let you and your companions live for a while longer.”

  “Thank thee.” Ulrich humbly bowed again. “Would you now humble us by explaining why no one can get past this steel door?”

  The man walked up to the huge silver door that towered before them and placed his right hand on it. “See these symbols?” He asked. “Tis the secret to opening the door, but none knows of this language. Not even the most powerful of magic can break past either. We need someone that can translate these symbols so that we may get past.”

  Ulrich walked up to the door, staring at the symbols that had been placed there, “These are hieroglyphics,” he muttered. “Words of the Ancients have been carved into this door.”

  “Impressive, you're smarter than I thought, true these be what you say, but still we have found none that can read them.”

  Ulrich looked back at Master Gawain, “The old man there can read them.” He pointed.

  “Is what the young one here says be true?” He asked. “Can you truly read this?”

  “I can read them if you like, but I doubt it will be of any use to you and your men.”

  “And why is that?”

  Gawain walked up to the man and got him to look at a specific symbol carved into the door, “See this here? This symbol means, one of chosen blood.”

  The Mage looked over the door curiously, “What does the rest say?”

  “Only the one with the chosen bloodline my open this door. He who accomplishes the trials inside may retrieve the treasure hidden within.” He stared at the symbols for a few more minutes. “The rest cannot be read, the markings have worn over the years.”

  “That's a major problem for us,” the man responded. “Which means that I no longer need the four of you alive.”

  “Wait!” Ulrich raised his voice. “He's of chosen blood.” He pointed at Leon.

  Leon rushed up to his friend, “What are you talking about?” He grabbed Ulrich by the arm and pulled at him. “I have no special blood in me. Why would you say that?” Ulrich pulled his arm away from Leon and glared at him without speaking. “Tell me?” Leon demanded.

  “How about I show you?” Ulrich grabbed Leon's hand, then he removed a knife from his belt and used it to cut into his flesh. Without hesitation, he forced Leon's bloody hand flat onto the steel door.

  “Let me go!” Leon cried out, but Ulrich ignored his pleas and kept Leon's hand forced flat against the door. To everyone's shock, the door began to tremble, and rocks started to fall from above. “What's going on?”

  “The door is opening,” the Mage said with glee. The steel door started to give way opening the path into the graveyard. “Finally!” His eyes widened with excitement. He turned and yelled for his men to hurry over to him, “Enter the graveyard and find what we seek,” he commanded. The man was smart and refused to enter the hallowed grounds without knowing if it were truly safe. The leader of the Mages was elated that they had finally gained access to the Dragon Graveyard, while Leon, on the other hand, was confused and hadn't come to the realization that his blood truly had opened the door.

  “What happened?” Leon asked, looking down at his bloody hand. He wasn't sure which was more shocking; the fact that his blood opened the door, or that his wound was already starting to heal.

  “I proved a point, that's what happened.” Ulrich smirked. Gawain had seen enough, Ulrich's actions were unacceptable and his punishment had to be enforced. That was his intention when he made his way towards the young man.

  “Where do you think you're going?” The leader of the Mages said.

  Gawain tried to get around him but it was to no avail, the man had cast a barrier spell that wouldn't allow him to pass no matter how hard he tried. “What kind of sorcery is this?” He scowled. Gawain wasn't the only one that was trapped inside a barrier, the man had Ellyn, Leon, and Ulrich trapped as well, all shouting their dis-pleasures.

  “Why don't the four of you pipe down! Just sit back, shut up, and enjoy the show.” He turned and waved his men on into the Dragon Graveyard, “Hurry. Go and collect what we have sought for so long.” His men did as they were ordered, and without thinking twice they went running out of the cave and into the Dragon Graveyard. But it didn't go as planned, for as soon as the men entered they burst into flames, all dying a horrible and painful death.

  The leader couldn't care less that a few of his men had died, and he showed it by his words. “That was a shame, was it not? It would seem that the one that opened the door is the only one that may enter the graveyard, or so it would seem.” He looked at Leon and smiled. “I have a deal for you.”

  “I refuse to help scum such as you.”

  “Oh but you will, or your friends shall die, it is up to you. If you do as I ask they live, don't, and they will die a slow and painful death. And then I will kill you just for the hell of it. What do you say?”

  Leon didn't have much of a choice but to do as the man asked of him, there was no way that he would allow him to kill his friends. “If I do as you wish, you will let us go?”

  “I shall.”

  “Then what is it that you seek?”

  “Leon don't do it,” Ellyn pleaded. “You've seen what happens when you enter the graveyard.”

  Leon looked at Ellyn and smiled, “Trust me, I know what I am doing.” The man dispelled the barrier around him.

  “Come, I shall tell you what it is we seek.” The man motioned. Leon walked over to where he stood to wait, “Listen closely,” he said. “There are ancient scrolls located somewhere inside the graveyard. Find them, bring them to me, and you and your friends shall leave here unharmed.”

  “That's all I have to do?”

  “That's all.”

  “What if I find other relics of power inside the graveyard?” Leon questioned, as he was afraid the man might take the piece of the blade from him as well if he were lucky enough to find the item.

  “Whatever else you find is yours to keep, I just want the ancient scrolls.”

  “Then you have a deal.” Leon held his hand out for the Mage to shake. The baldheaded man grabbed Leon's wrist, as Leon did the same to his to solidify the deal between them.

  “Go now, retrieve the scripts,” the man said. “Remember, your friends’ lives depend upon you.”

  “Just keep your end of the deal.” The thought of helping these scum made him sick, but other lives depended upon his success. He then turned, and with a new focus, made his way towards the exit of the cave and the entrance to the graveyard. At first he wanted to make sure that he could enter without being harmed, so he reached out his hand across the threshold. The boy was trembling with fear, sweat running down his face.

&nbs
p; “This is taking too long!” The man angrily hissed before shoving Leon across the threshold into the Dragon Graveyard. Leon was barely able to regain his composure before hitting the ground, which made the landing a little less painful.

  “You bastard!” Gawain shouted. “I'm going to kill you with my bare hands when I get out of this barrier.”

  “Silence!” He lifted up his hand and cast another magic spell, this time rendering Gawain unable to speak. “That's better.” He then turned his attention back on Leon and kept a close eye on him to see if he would burst into flames as the others had before him. Leon stood inside the graveyard; he panicked and started to pat himself down frantically. “You're fine boy, you have yet to burst into flames.” The man informed him.

  The boy came to the realization that he had not been harmed in any way, and that calmed his nerves and strengthened his resolve to save his friends. “You play dirty,” Leon responded. “I promise that if you harm my friends before I return, your death will be swift.”

  “I will keep that in mind.” The man laughed. “Enough of the childish banter, go and get the scrolls before my patience runs thin.”

  “Just remember our deal, and my promise to you,” Leon replied before running off into the Dragon Graveyard. As he ran further inside, the sun was shining brightly down upon him, and the heat was almost unbearable. “It's hotter than the pits of Hades out here,” he said to himself. “I need to find out where to go and quickly or the sun will roast me before I get the chance.”

  That's when something caught his attention; there was a silhouette of a man standing off in the distance to his right. “Who goes there?” Whoever was following him wasn't in the mood for chatting. “I said who goes there?” He shouted again, still to no avail. “Since you refuse to answer, then I shall come to you if that's the way you want to play.” He dashed off towards the silhouette. But it to no avail, no matter how fast he ran he couldn't catch up, whoever it was managed to stay just out of his reach.

  Leon chased after the silhouette until it disappeared behind a huge stone that stuck out from the ground. “Hello. Is anyone there?” He called out as he walked up closer. “I won't hurt you.” As he drew near the stone started to glow, which startled him. “What sort of magic is this?” he said to himself. That's when he heard a faint voice that seemed to materialize out of thin air and carry its way over to him.

  “The chosen one has returned,” the voice whispered.

  “What do you mean by chosen? Not this again, first Robin tells me I have a great bloodline flowing through my veins. Then Ulrich calls me the chosen, now this voice says the same. I'm getting tired of this.”

  “The one that carries the cursed bloodline, fated to save or destroy this world. That is your fate child, therefore you are the chosen,” the voice explained.

  “I am nothing more than a child, why would such a fate befall me?”

  “Because you are a Cromwell, are you not?”

  “Yes.” Leon sighed.

  “The blood from your hand opened the great door, right?”

  “Tis true,” he said. “But that doesn't mean I have special blood inside me.”

  “If your blood opened the door and you obviously didn't get burned to ash, then yes, you are of the chosen. This your fate, like it or not. Someday you will have to accept it as fact,” the voice responded. “Tell me, child of the cursed. What is that you seek here?”

  It was truly upsetting to hear the voice refer to him as “child of the cursed” but he managed to keep himself calm despite this. “I seek a piece of a legendary blade along with ancient scrolls that lay dormant here.”

  “If you want the items you seek, then you must brave three trials to prove your worth,” the voice said. “The first trial begins now. Can you bear the flames without getting burnt? Let's find out.”

  “How do I accomplish such a thing?” The voice did not answer, and Leon could hear something moving from afar. Right then the mountains started to move towards him. ‘Are the mountains moving closer to me? Or do my eyes deceive me?’ As it drew near he could make out what looked like a tail and wings coming from the backside of the mountain.

  What startled him the most was the red glowing eyes that stared back at him. This was a Dragon. “This cannot be,” Leon muttered. “Dragons have long since been extinct from this world.” He wanted to run away, to flee as fast as he possibly could. Then he remembered the words “bear the flames without getting burnt” He gathered all the courage he could muster and stood fast, waiting for the Dragon to approach him.

  The Dragon didn't get as close as Leon was expecting before it roared loudly, shaking the earth beneath his feet. Smoke flowed from its mouth, and without warning, the fire erupted. Flames sailed through the air, and Leon stood there watching with bewilderment. Flames were upon him, yet he did not move. Something inside of him had changed as he was no longer afraid; he stood in the center unwavering, not once was he harmed.

  To him, it was incredible to see and feel the power of such a magnificent beast. Almost so much, that for a second he forgot that he was engulfed in the flames. When those flames began to fade Leon watched as the Dragon took flight, and within seconds disappeared into the sky. “You did well to pass the first trial, young one,” the voice returned. “Bravery is key to becoming the warrior you are meant to be.”

  “Who are you? And why do you hide in the shadows?”

  “That, boy, shall be made clear to you soon enough,” the voice responded. “Claim your prize and move on to the next trial.” The center of the stone started to glow yet again, and Leon walked up closer to investigate. What he found was an abnormally large golden coin stuck in the center of the stone; once he touched it, the coin fell from the stone and onto the ground.

  After picking up the coin he noticed there was a symbol of the sun carved in the center. He had a feeling that the coin would play an important role in finding the items he wanted. Carefully placing it in his bag, he tied it around his waist to keep it safe. Afterward he surveyed his surroundings trying to figure out what direction to head in next. When all seemed lost and Leon seemed unsure of his next move, again the silhouette appeared just in front of him, “You again,” he muttered. “I'm not sure that you can be trusted fully, but you did lead me to the first trial. All I can say at this point is, lead the way.” With that being said the silhouette moved towards the west, and Leon made sure to keep up. He followed the silhouette through the graveyard for another hour, treading up steep hills, climbing over fallen trees, and hiding from some the biggest insects he had ever seen.

  Leon finally happened upon something different. It wasn't just one stone that was placed in the ground, there were many that blocked his path. “What is this?” he muttered, watching the silhouette disappear inside.

  “This is your second trial.” It was the same voice from before.

  “What am I supposed to do here?”

  “What you see is the Maze Of No Return.”

  “Why is it called such a name?”

  “All who have entered never made it out alive,” the mysterious voice said. “This is your second trial.”

  “I have no choice do I?” Leon gasped.

  “I’m afraid not. Are you ready, young one?”

  “I am,” he sighed.

  “Then go, once you make it out with your life, shall you claim your prize.” One of the large stones slid to the side, revealing a way inside. Leon had only one choice, and that was to proceed through the maze. He cautiously took a step forward inside the maze, “This doesn't look so bad.” He tried to build up the courage to take another step forward, but the entranceway started to crumble and fall apart.

  Leon dove out of the way, barely missing getting buried by the rubble, then he turned to see his only exit vanish. He gathered himself and walked on ahead. Before long he came to a part of the maze that was spitting flames from both sides of the stone walls.

  “Really,” he muttered. “First a Dragon, now flames from a wall.
Give me a freaking break.” He was getting ready to throw a temper tantrum when something of importance caught his attention. The flames seemed to stop briefly at times; there was only one way to navigate through this part of the maze. He had to run through each time the flames had stopped.

  The brave young man watched carefully as the first set of devices stopped spitting fire, and that's when he made his move. He ran through the first set as fast as he could before the flames erupted once again. That was close, he thought to himself, rubbing the burnt hairs on the back of his neck. It was now time to conquer the next set of devices. This time it would be a little harder for him because the flames were stopping and starting quicker than the last.

  Leon timed the devices yet again, each time they would start and stop he would make a mental note of it until he was ready to attempt his next move. He made a run for it for a second time, stopping each time the devices would activate. At times he would have to jump to the right, then to the left, then to the right again. There were even a few times that he had to roll on the ground. He barely managed to miss the last of the flames, his armor was singed and hot to the touch. It was a miracle that he was even still alive.

  He was thankful to be alive, but he wasn't out of the woods just yet. The young man walked through the maze protecting himself from all kinds of dangers that came at him from all angles, thinking for sure that the end of the maze would soon be approached. Though unfortunately for him, that wasn't going to be the case. Leon came to a part of the maze where he had to choose which way to go.

  That's how mazes were supposed to be, however, this one was different from others. This maze was filled with traps and other dangers that the eye cannot see until it is too late. Which way should I go? To the right, or to the left? It was a tough decision to make, there would be danger no matter what path he chose. Leon looked down both paths multiple times trying to make the right decision, “Well most of the time I'm told to go down the right path, which always seems to get me into trouble. Left it is.” He cautiously made his way down the path. To his surprise, it wasn't as bad as he had thought it would be. There weren't any signs of danger and the walk was way too easy. Which made him worry that something unexpected was about to happen.