Men of the Cave (Symbol of Hope Series) (21 page)

“Where is James? Should he not be in here?” Martin asked.

“James, until recently was with Sam. I love my brother dearly, but I do not want to trust him, yet,” Max said.

He continued. “Sam has an advantage over us. Even in his spirit state he can now make physical contact with the concrete world.”

“Wait, since when could he affect the human world in his spirit form?” Antony asked.

“That is what James told me. He has spent many years evolving his ability and pushing the limit of what he can do further. He is able to harness his spirit form so that it actually can interact with the physical world as if he were a living being. Apparently in his spirit form he is also more powerful.” Max looked at me concerned.

“I did not say anything because I knew you would explode with anger, Dion. But one of the things that upset James was, he is not entirely sure Sam did not push Kasey over the ledge purposely. James says that Sam at times, is uncontrollable in spirit form…”

I stood up and clenched my fist.

“Dion, revenge will only get you killed. James believes that when Sam is in his spirit form he is not himself anymore, he is out of control, violent. He can morph into anything. That day he was chasing Kasey as a tiger.” Max informed.

“I do not know if I can keep control tonight!” I paced the floor.

“You are going to have to. We have to stick to the plan as best as possible,” Max said annoyed.

“What is the plan, Max?” John stood and began to pace with me.

“John, Martin, I want you to stay behind James. Do not let him out of your sight. I want you to make a move on him before we give him the chance to move on us. Whether he is on our side or not.” The twins nodded. “Now, gentlemen can you focus and give us any heads up about tonight?” Max asked them.

“We have been trying, nothing has come up yet,” Martin said frustrated.

“Antony.” Max looked at him.

Antony nodded. “I will have a talk with Layna, we will be ready.”

“Good, because if we ever need to separate James and Sam she will be a great distraction.” Max turned to me.

“You and I will go for Sam. I have a plan, I do not know if it will work but if it does, Sam will be caged for as long as we keep him that way.”

“Now remember the curse. As long as he is chanting it, if he manages to stick a blade in us, we are done. Do not take James for granted either he is just as capable to use the curse for himself.” Max looked at the twins, “protect yourselves and stay safe.” Then he swallowed hard, “I do not want to lose any brothers here tonight. Now, go and do what you have to. Prepare for tonight. Stay behind Dion, I want to talk to you about what I have planned for Sam.”

Max and I spent the next few hours going over our part of the plan. Antony had the task to prepare the weapon. At eleven thirty, Martin and John received a premonition. They came into the weapons room where Max, Antony, and I readied our swords.

“He is soon to be on his way,” Martin said.

“It is going to happen on the pool deck. That is where I see us all being,” John imputed.

“So it has begun.” Max took a deep breath. I grabbed my Pugio Dagger. Squeezing the handle twice, I headed out the door. Max preferred the Roman Spatha, the twins took their Gladius swords, and Antony took his Moorish Scimitar. We chose not to carry shields. We never fought with them and thought they would slow us down. James joined us and picked out a Gladius for himself.

Camouflaged for the night in thin black sweaters and jeans, we positioned ourselves. The cold night air and the slight breeze sent chills that I ignored. We stood outside anticipating his arrival, Max in front, I to his right, Antony to his left with Layna at his side. Following behind, were James, Martin, and John. The tall grayish ghost figure approached through the forest pathway. Sam appeared in spirit form, a monstrous looking image of himself. His face contorted, wrinkled, and aged. He resembled a Hollywood ghoul. Sam stopped at the edge of the deck.

“Good evening brothers,” he said in a hollow tone. His body nowhere in sight.

“Sam,” Max replied.

“What shall it be Max, have you chosen to do the right thing and end this pathetic eternal suffrage?”

Max tensed and replied. “Sam, we told you once, nothing has changed. We have no plan to leave this world, not tonight.”

“I see, seems like you boys were anticipating somewhat of a brawl.” Sam pointed to the swords in our hands.

“We hope that this can be resolved amicably. What is this to you, why is it important?” Max negotiated.

“Nothing amicable about the sword in your hand brother,” Sam snapped. “You always did feel like you knew what was best for the family. Well tonight, I am going to bring salvation to this family, and you will thank me Max when your spirit is once again with Cyra’s. Let us say I am paying for an overdue debt.”

Max and I leaned forward ready to charge. In unison we ran as Sam’s ghost materialized a sword into his hand. Before his spirit-self approached us, it split into two identical selves. The fact that he could portray more than one spirit ghost at a time, was a new revelation. The metals of our swords silently struck each other with mighty force and the battle began.

I focused on the spirit to the left as Max battled the one on the right. Ahead of his every move, I moved from place to place ensuring that he did not land a swing. Our swords touched only when I commanded it, to change his direction or slow him down. From what I could tell, Max struggled with Sam’s powerful swings. It almost seemed as if Sam focused his energy on Max.

They danced around with grace and brutal force as every swing swooshed through the quiet night air. The grunts from both men masked a thousand years of anger. Attempting to move Sam’s spirit down toward the forest path, I lead him away from his other ghost half. Achieving my goal, I peered around at my surroundings to get accurate locations on everyone.

John and Martin yelled, “Antony he is on the roof.”

I knew the Twins worked on getting a vision as to where Sam placed his dormant body. Antony and Layna headed for the roof.

James stopped them with his mind. “Are you searching for his body? I will bring him down.”

From the corner of my eye, a shadowy physique lifted from the roof floating onto a lounge chair. Antony and Layna sneaked their way closer near Sam’s body. Layna carried the special sword in her mouth. I knew my part was to keep Sam distracted long enough for Antony to stab Sam’s lifeless frame with the sword. In the meantime, Sam the spirit guided Max closer to his dormant body. Antony pulled the sword with the chain straight towards Sam’s body.

James yelled, “Noooo…that is not a fair fight.”

James lifted Antony through the air and tossed him with force into the tall trees. Layna angered by James’ action charged and attacked him with great brutality. She latched herself to his arm and knocked him down. He pulled her off throwing her into the pool. Sam’s ghost not missing a beat continued to spar with diligence. The rapid clinging and clanking of swords striking resonated in the night. John and Martin moved on James. All of a sudden, the spirit I battled vanished in a puff of mist. My powerful swing sliced through the air at nothing. I turned my gaze to Max. In a fraction of a second, Sam’s ghost vanished into his body and Sam arose. He placed his hand into his jacket and took out a blade. With exact precision, he inserted the metal into Max.

Sam held the handle and whispered, “I love you brother,” then in Greek, he chanted.

“And let it be upon this immortal,

That was sentence by mighty wraths,

To lay eternally in the heavens,

By the steel of his kindred’s blade,

And to thy blades owner,

May the Grace’s gifts be now bestowed.”

“NOOOOOOO,” I screamed. Max fell over onto his side. Her high pitch cry echoed. Kasey appeared from the shadows of the house mortified.

“Antony!” I screamed as Sam picked up Max’s sword and charged me. I moved fast down the path, my objective to get him away from the others. I did not stop to go down the stairs, I ran off the cliff. Soaring through the air, I managed to land on my feet. The roar of the rough sea hitting our rocky shore gave me the atmosphere I needed for my revenge.

Sam attempted to do the same but failed to land properly and fell on his side. It only took him an instant before he popped up, “Dion, think about what I am offering you. Do not pass this up because of a human.”

“I have no idea who you are anymore Sam, clearly not a brother of ours.”

 My fingers tightened around the handle.

“I did not push her Dion. I tried to save her,” he yelled.

“Save her! I saw her back Sam, what animal would do such a thing to save her. You cannot be trusted your words are lies!” I bent low and charged him. Overcome with an exuberant amount of rage I challenged him, “Man on man, no abilities.”

“We fight raw then,” he agreed.

With all the natural strength God gave me, I swung on him. We circled each other with mighty blows. As we got close to the shoreline, the chilly water splashed around creating droplets of water flying through the air. Then a hand full of Elenora’s falcons flocked onto Sam and pecked at him.  One of the birds flew at me with the special sword. Anthony created a sword with a chain and lock welded to its handle. Ignoring the falcons, I entered their black feathered cloud and plunged the blade into Sam’s chest.  With the chain in hand, I reached behind him and wrapped it around his back and chest. Then locked it to the handle, the sword then became a permanent fixture in Sam’s body. He fell lifeless, onto the sand and ocean water. The birds flew away.

“Noooo! What are you doing to him?” James barreled through the night. He stood at the bottom of the staircase, along with Martin and Kasey.  Antony stationed himself at the top of the cliff. I imagined John was with our beloved Max. James ran half way toward us and stopped.

“He is not dead James, simply contained,” I barked.

“So, our creation worked.” Max’s loud voice came screaming from the top of the cliff. He and John appeared through the dark forest. His sweater slashed from where Sam’s blade pierced through.

“The curse, it did not work?” James screamed up to Max.

“It must have been a fake, a ploy. James, it is over.” Max smirked.

“You cannot keep Sam like that Dion, release him it is not right. He is our brother,” James growled.

“Why not? Now he cannot hurt anyone else.” I had no patience left for my little brother.

“He never intended to hurt anyone, let him go!” James commanded. Then he looked around, quicker than anyone could even see, he lifted two pieces of rope debris from the rocks and wrapped them tightly around Kasey’s wrist and ankles.

“What are you doing?” she panicked.

I sprinted to her, but James’ can move objects with his mind as fast as I can with my body. With a powerful force, he threw my body into the rocks. A moment of pain impaled my back. Within seconds, I was back on my feet in time to see Kasey’s body lifted through the air. Martin lunged for her but missed. With a violent thrust, James tossed Martin back into the stairs. He dangled her body upside down over the turbulent waters. Her screams shrilled as she swayed.

“No one move or she falls,” James ordered. I froze as well did everyone else.

“Let go of her James.” It took everything within my power to remain calm.

“Un-do the sword in Sam’s chest, now!” He screamed. “I do not want to hurt her, but you cannot do this to Sam.”

“Dion, do as he says,” Max yelled.

Antony took the key to the lock off his neck and handed it to Layna. She came down the steps missing two or three at a time. I bent over Sam’s lifeless body. Layna strutted to me with the chain in her mouth that held the key. She placed it in my hand. I unlocked the chain, then drew the sword from Sam’s chest. His spirit form rose in a cloud of grey smoke. He smelled like death. Angry, he swung at me. I threw the sword with the chain into the rocky beach and with my Pugio Dagger began to spar with Sam once more.

Martin pointed his sword onto James and moved on him. He turned to strike Martin. Her shriek caused everyone to freeze.  We watched as her body hit the cold water. Kasey disappeared into the dark her body did not resurface. Martin shoved James aside and ran to the shoreline. He removed his shirt and shoes and dove in. Sam not allowing Kasey to be a distraction for me continued to exchange blows.

John scream, “James what have you done!”

My brothers ran down the wooden staircase toward the beach.

As Sam and I got away from the shoreline, his lifeless body began to lift through the air. It spun round and round gliding away from me. He flew spiraling through the sky down the beach.

Sam’s spirit ghost yelled, “Nooo, James!” But James ran with Sam’s body out of the scene. The minute the two were out of sight Sam’s spirit vanished into the air.

I stepped out into the shallow waters of the ocean and exhaled a deep breath of cold air when Martin surfaced with his arms around Kasey both swimming to shore. I ran and met them a few feet from the shore’s edge. She coughed, but otherwise all right. I placed my arm around her waist and helped her to shore. She collapsed onto her back on the sand attempting to catch her breath.

“Are you alright?” I asked leaning over her.

Gasping and with a quivering bottom lip she replied, “CCCold.”

I helped her up and we headed toward the top of the cliff. I put an arm under her shoulders, her coat felt like it was a sponge of cold water. She stunk like burnt wood.

“Should we go after him?” I asked Max when we reached the top.

“I think it is over. He will not be back. Take her inside and get her warm,” Max ordered.

I headed for the house. Her lips trembled and she shivered. Once inside I grabbed her cold hand and led her to my room and into the bathroom. I turned the faucet to the tub and began filling it with warm water. Overwhelmed with an aggressive adrenaline from the fight, I could not believe she disregarded my orders. Harsh, I unbuttoned her coat and pulled it off.