Legacy
Chapter 10

Night hadonly recently fallen but the residents of Dorsett had alreadycollectively turned in for the night. As was commonplace, thefarmers and merchants had brought an end to their day at a verymodest hour. For little could they afford to lose sleep while tryingto keep their humble town of fewer than a hundred souls alive.

Within oneof the dwellings, a girl of no more than four years was asleep in herbed. She looked as close to angelic as one could be as she breathedin sweet puffs of air.

Standingbeside the girl’s bed was Shadow Kahn’s Beast. The creature hadat one time been the man’s living body, but it was now a hulkingmonster. The Beast wore a robe as black as night and concealed itshands within leather gloves of the same color. But the most ominousfeature of the Beast’s ensemble was its hood, which had no holesthrough which its wearer could see. Though that did nothing tohinder it.

The Beastmade nary a move as it loomed over the girl. Such an innocent faceseemed to have the trespasser mesmerized. It was only after alengthy gaze did the Beast finally begin to show signs of life whenit reached behind its back and retrieved a battle axe from seeminglyout of nowhere. It then proceeded to cut the slumbering child inhalf.

Shortlyafter the Beast had taken its first life, it began a relentlessslaughter of the entire town. The tormented screams of victimsreplaced the sound of chirping crickets and cries of pain took theplace of owls calling out to the moon. With the town of Dorsettablaze, it took no time at all for total panic to take a firm hold ofits citizens.

“Michael!”cried a woman who was trying desperately to replace her husband. “Michael!” With her attention so focused on what was in front ofher, the woman was unaware of what was behind her, as she backed intowhat had already claimed the life of her beloved. Before she couldturn around, the Beast grabbed the woman by the head and effortlesslycrushed her skull within its powerful grasp.

A manunaware of the unsettling truth behind the gruesome invader drove apitchfork into the Beast’s stomach. But it was realized quicklythat the attack had done little to bring an end to the bloodyrampage. The Beast took hold of the man’s arms, and just when itfelt as if every bone within them was about to break, the Beastripped them off. As the man screamed in horrific pain, the Beastdrove its fist into the top of his head, bringing a quick end to hislife.

In searchof more prey, the Beast made its way down the center of town. Andduring its march its robe brushed over the head of one of itsvictims. A mere venture under the Beast’s clothing was enough toreduce the fallen man’s head to a bare, scorched skull.

Fortunatelyfor James and the others, their journey would soon be taking them toa town where they could replace suitable lodging for the night.

“I’m sotired,” said Aiko. “When are we gonna stop?”

“We’realmost to Dorsett,” said Archer. “I’m sure they canaccommodate the four of us for the night.”

“It’dbetter not be much longer.”

During thepast few hours Jaycee had been taking quick peeks over at James. Alight perspiration had been sprinkled along his upper lip andforehead for quite some time. And every few minutes he would wipe itaway, but Jaycee wasn’t easily fooled. She knew James was fallingill. A nervous sweat could only last so long, and Jaycee had noticedhis sweating hours ago. James’ eyes were also barely open, as ifgrowing heavy from fatigue. Hoping that she was only being overlyconcerned, and to not worry the others, Jaycee made no mention of it.

“Willthey still be awake?” asked Aiko.

“Well,it’s a farming community,” replied Archer. “So . . .”

“Nevermind,” said Aiko, cutting Archer off. “I see light.”

A flickerof light could be seen in the distance, and it was coming from thearea where Archer knew the town of Dorsett to be located.

“That’sa strange looking light,” said Archer.

“Maybethey’re having a celebration.”

What thetravelers found waiting for them at Dorsett was more horrific thananything anyone ever could have imagined. Mangled bodies were strewnalong the road and nary a single building had been spared from araging inferno.

“Whathappened here?” asked a horrified Jaycee.

“Whatcould have done this?” asked Archer.

From aroundthe corner of a burning building emerged Sage. He took his place onthe road and began staring down the group.

“He’sstill alive?” asked a wide-eyed James. “But how?”

“To bemore precise,” said Shadow Kahn, emerging from around the corner ofthe same burning building, “he is alive . . . again.”

“Why didyou do this?” asked Archer.

“Did Inot already tell you? I have to punish all of those who wronged me. And this town was filled with the guilty.”

“All ofthem?” exclaimed James, drawing his sword.

“I haveno patience to sort through the masses. This was the quickest way.”

“You’rea bastard,” exclaimed Aiko.

“Howlady-like. Tell me, James. Is this latest display of my power stillnot enough to convince you that you should side with me?”

“Never,”exclaimed James. “I’ll never side with you.”

“Youwill. Very shortly . . . you will.”

“You justdon’t get it, do you?” exclaimed Aiko. “He said no.”

“That onenever shuts her mouth, does she?” asked Shadow Kahn. “But thatattitude hardly disguises her many shortcomings.”

Hadfrustration and anger not been festering within Aiko for days, shesurely would have let the provoking comment go, but she had beenwound so tightly recently that she ignored any consequences and madea mad charge toward her target.

“Aiko,no!” exclaimed Archer.

Before shecould get to Shadow Kahn, though, Aiko would first have to getthrough Sage. To do this, Aiko threw her full weight behind a strikeshe knew would vanquish him. The attack was futile, however, as Sagecaught Aiko by the arm and hurled the girl through the window of thenearest burning home.

Beforeanyone had the chance to react to what had just happened, Sage hadalready drawn his weapon and begun his own mad charge. Having beenon his guard, James was able to defend against the assault.

“James!”exclaimed Jaycee.

“Don’tworry about me,” said James. “Help Aiko. She needs you morethan I do.”

“Iwouldn’t be so sure of that,” said Sage.

With Aiko’slife hanging in the balance, Jaycee and Archer had no choice but toleave James and assist Aiko.

“I don’tknow how you bested me in our last encounter,” said Sage. “Butyou won’t be as fortunate this time. I won’t disgrace myself inthe presence of the master.”

Sage’sattacks were just as powerful and determined as in their lastmeeting. This left James unable to mount any kind of counterattack,as all he could do was defend himself from wave after wave of furiousstrikes.

The infernosurrounding James drove his body temperature to a dangerously highlevel. And to make matters worse, his vision was beginning to blur. With an opponent as formidable as Sage to contend with, even theslightest hindrance could lead to an untimely demise.

“Notfeeling well?” asked Sage. “Well, don’t expect me to go easyon you.”

“How areyou alive?” asked James. “How is this possible?”

As aresponse to the question, Sage continued to attack.

With eachstrike that James deflected, he knew the battle was drawing nearer toits conclusion, as his weakening body was in no shape to continuefending off someone whose strength was at such a superior level.

As Jameshad feared, his body finally gave out, making it possible for Sage toknock him to the ground with one furious series of strikes.

With hisopponent in no shape to fight back, Sage was afforded the opportunityto take all the time he wanted. He lifted his sword slowly above hishead, then used every ounce of strength within him to thrust hisblade at James’ head. Only by the narrowest of margins did Sagemiss striking his fallen opponent.

“You haveno idea what the master has in store for this world, do you?” askedSage. “I suppose those who die before that happens will be thefortunate ones. Would you like for me to make you one of thefortunate ones?”

In hiscurrent state, James was unable to reply.

Sageremoved his sword from the ground, then crouched beside James. “Killing you would be far too easy,” he said. “I want you tosee what’s going to happen to this miserable world of yours. Iwant you to feel the same pain that everyone else is going to feel. I want you to suffer alongside them. And I want you to know whatit’s like to be powerless to stop your entire world from crumblingdown around you.”

“I’llstop him,” said James. The glazed look in his eyes made James’statement seem all the more ridiculous.

“Youcan’t stop the master,” said Sage. “No one can. He and hispower have no equal. The only power in this world strong enough tostop him is his own, and I highly doubt the master would ever use hisown power against himself. Do you understand what I mean? If youknow what’s good for you, then you will take my words to heart.”

Havingsoundly bested James in battle and having had his say, Sage sheathedhis sword and calmly returned to his master’s side.

“Youshowed great restraint,” said Shadow Kahn.

“I wasmerely following orders, my lord,” replied Sage. “You said youwanted him alive, so I kept him alive.”

Jayceeexited from the burning building first. Archer followed shortlythereafter, holding a beaten, but still living, Aiko in his arms.

“Why wasI the only one who got thrown around like that?” groaned Aiko.

“Youactually have to ask?” asked Archer.

SeeingJames lying motionless on the ground, Jaycee immediately went to him. “James!” she screamed. “Are you alright?”

James coulddo little more than stare blankly at the sky.

“Come,”said Shadow Kahn.

After onelast glare at James, Sage joined his master in departing from thetown that had paid the ultimate price for its part in creating themonster known as Shadow Kahn.