Chapter 8

Satan awoke with a start. He looked up and noticed that he was facing Bob, his trainer. Bob rushed to help him up while giving him a concerned look.

“What happened? All I remember was fighting with Michael, then nothing.” sighed Satan, clutching his right arm which was scarred with the burns of the gauntlet.

Bob scratched his head and replied, “I ‘m not particularly sure… Many thought that you were killed my Michael…” Satan gave a sneer to that remark but bob continued, “It looks like Michael has run off into the marshes of Zerihm. Not sure why, but it is a dangerous place.”

Satan struggled to get up, feeling the agony and pain on his entire body. Bob looked at him nervously and walked forward to rest his hand on Satan’s shoulder. “Well, I hope that you don’t stress yourself too much. Frederick and Samuel need my assistance to deal with the incident of Michael’s” Bob then saw Satan gazing out into the window facing the Zerihm Marshes.

“These are dark times” sighed Bob, “Take care of yourself…” And with that, Bob exited the room.

“So it is.” mumbled Satan under his breadth.

**************************************************

The trio entered the rundown house… no rundown hut to be exact. There, skulls hung from the ceiling, numerous signs drawn by blood filled the walls. A small fire was burning in the centre of the hut and in a corner; a large cauldron was boiling a murky, blue substance that produced a stench that caused Thomas to turn green.

“Sit…Please… you are my guests here…” said the witch in a high-pitched voice that sounded like nails on a scratchboard. She pointed towards three stumps behind the trio and stood looming over the fire. The trio sat down with much caution, given how cunning and twisted some witches are, especially one in a swamp.

“So… what have we here? A warrior from cybertron, an alchemist and an archangel… what can I do for you?” asked the witch smiling at Triton as though he was a tasty snack.

Thomas stood up, surprisingly with much calmness and spoke, “You must be the oracle, the link between the gods and the mortal world, the last prophet of this land.”

“You know your facts well, young one. And what have you three come to seek in this dark and dangerous place?” replied the witch, scanning the trio with her beady little eyes that shone crimson.

“We have come for your knowledge and guidance. We are in need for an explanation. My friend here has been attacked by an unknown force and it seems to originate form a sign of some sort.”

“Let me see the sign” asked the witch, stretching out her right hand.

Michael stood up and passed her the piece of paper with the sign that he had drawn. The witch took it with both hands and held it close to her eyes. After a brief pause, she threw the paper into the fire and a massive fireball ignited into the shape and form of the sign. Triton was thrown off his seat while Michael and Thomas marveled at the flames.

The witch then broke the silence, “That, is the mark of destruction, used by the daemon lords…”

“We know that already” commented Triton, helping himself up.

“Then maybe you would like to tell the story.” mocked the witch.

Triton just sat back on the stump staring and growling at the witch.

“As I was saying, this is mark of destruction. It was first known before this world even started. In fact, this was from another world. It was given to beings who had mastered the art of disassociation or the art of ripping apart objects molecule by molecule.” continued the witch, “It is also present in one of the three gods who created this world…Zomorak.”

“You mean this sign belonged to Zomorak?” interrupted Michael.

“I never said that.” answered the witch, looking away, “Zomorak was only given the sign. The origin of the sign dates back several thousand years ago. Its creator is more powerful than all the gods combined. However, that being, even I can’t tell you. He is but a legend, a spectre in the darkness.”

“How do we rid one of such a mark?” ask Michael, who seems to be the only one paying such close attention.

“To get of it… there are many ways. But a most obvious choice is to use the opposite sign, the sign of creation.” replied the witch.

“Duh” commented Triton.

The witch ignored Triton and continued, “the being must be exposed to the power of the sign of creation long enough for both powers to cancel each other out. Where do you find such a sign? To us mortals, it is almost impossible, unless you have dealings with beings of creation.”

Michael was about to ask another question when suddenly, the witch raised her hand saying, “That is all you need to know…for now. I sense a great destiny that await you young ones. All of you will be part of something great, something that will be remembered. Especially you…” as the witch pointed towards Michael.

“Now, BE GONE!!!” shrieked the witch as she open her palm, that revealed a surge of energy which caused Michael and the others to be sucked into the vortex.