Light Beyond the Tunnel

When Neptune awoke, he wished he hadn't. He found himself strapped to a sharp stone, the edge of which was digging into his skull. No longer in his half-dragon form, his thin legs were stretched in a way that should have caused them pain. Yet they did not hurt, for they had already been broken for a rather long time.

An eerie silence filled the dark space Neptune was trapped in. He felt that if he spoke, he would not even hear his own voice. The cold was numbing.

"Ah, you have awoken," the familiar nasal voice broke the creepy silence. Neptune would have turned, but his neck was too sore for movement. "Had a nice nap?"

"I've been better," gasped Neptune, his own lack of voice scaring him.

A sneering laugh shook the darkness.

"Where...where are we?"

Yellow eyes came to life as the gremlin replied, "In a cave the locals call The Tunnel. Heard it's cursed." It laughed once more.

Neptune decided not to ask anymore. Right now, resting and healing were the only things on his mind.

The yellow eyes disappeared.

*** *** ***

In another part of The Tunnel, Jason was chained to a wall. He was stripped of his armour, and wore only his inner clothing. The enchanted blade was hiding somewhere else.

"You're friend, the Piscian, was a bit too weak to speak. But you...no...I can feel the energy seeping through you!"

Jason groaned in pain, unsure of whether that had been a mockery or a compliment. He decided on the latter, saying, "Thanks. I don't give up so easily."

"Exactly," replied the gremlin, "that's why my master doesn't want you destroyed. No...not at all."

"Your master? Malice Jowls?" Jason asked. He was panting in agony.

The dark outline of the demon's head seemed to move side to side. It said, "No. My master lies in a much higher place than that vampire sent to feed me."

"Griephon," Jason breathed the word softly.

Nodding, the gremlin said, "Yes. He has given me power beyond Malice Jowls' reckoning. Powers matched only by his own." Suddenly, the whole cave lit up, blinding Jason tempoarily.

"As long as Elfin, Neptune and I stick together...we have power to overcome any enemy," spat the slayer. As he got used to the light, he turned to stare at his captor, his intense eyes boring into those of the gremlin.

"That I know, that is why I am going to break all of you. Separately." The last word seemed to have been emphasized more greatly.

With that the gremlin disappeared. Jason shouted and screamed for him to return, but finally gave up, knowing that it was useless.

*** *** ***

"Elfin the mage. Single-handedly defeated over twenty demons am I right?"

"What is it to you, filth?" Elfin snapped. Even under such conditions, the cool elf still kept his cocky smile.

Visibly annoyed, the gremlin retorted, "We'll see who ends up as filth when I am done with you and your friends, mage!"

Elfin was not bound anywhere except for his right leg. The chain was attatched to an iron ball. A classic. Without a staff, any mage was powerless.

Then, with great speed, the gremlin rushed forth and grabbed Elfin's throat, knocking him against the wall. Their eyes were only centimetres away from each other's.

With a raised claw, the gremlin then drew blood from Elfin's cheek. The mage screamed in pain.

Acid was sprayed onto the fabric of his robes, and although the cloth prevented his flesh from corroding, it was not enough to ease the stinging pain. Elfin screamed again.

"It's going to be a long day, Elfin!" laughed the gremlin as it stepped back, releasing Elfin. "So stick around! But then again, you're not going anywhere."

*** *** ***

Back in the tower, Griephon tapped the armrest of his throne. Before him were eight of his Keltics, which he had mercifully saved from disapparation.

"One simple task. Destroy eight kids. AND YOU FAIL ME! One more chance. And this time, I won't save you from the Abyss."