20: In The Dark

Erik who was still in battle with the spirits, didn't know what was going on.

His helper, Tereq, helped him finish off the spirits, saving about four hundred and fifty men.

"They are all gone, fortify our men with your powers so we can move on," Erik said, dismissing Tereq.

"As you wish." Tereq said, taking a bow to his master.

He summoned all the warriors left together as to set his powers on them, in a whole.

"Blabēs slovån! Prēpistos lavrù!" Tereq shouted, an orangey orb formed in his hands and descended on the warriors.

They were all fortified and continued their march, unbeknownst to Nick's absence.

***

Nick fell with a mighty thud.

What was he going to do?

The bottom of the cliff was extremely dark and he tried screaming for help, but his voice felt hoarse and raspy.

He was in a difficult situation.

His wings were broken amd were cast under a spell.

He looked around and saw numerous sets of burning eyes.

He heard deep breathing and he knew where he was... In a den of panthers.

They all surrounded him, gnashing their teeth.

Nick ran, entering a dark tunnel, the panthers chasing after him.

He felt cold hands grip him, but swiftly moved away.

Spirits were chasing him, along with demonic panthers.

This couldn't get any worse.

Nick kept on running, swaying through corpses and bones, without seeing a thing.

He heard a panther howl and he looked back, only to trip over a body and fall face flat.

He looked up, and saw his pursuers retreating.

He felt glad, and was about to continue his journey, when he heard deep breathing from the body he tripped on.

"Father?!"  Nick was stunned, finding his father partly unconscious, with a bleeding neck.

He swiftly tore off a peice from his shirt, wrapping it round his father's neck.

"Dad! You have to wake up!" Nick cried, patting his dad's cheeks.

His father writhed under his touch, and let out a strained cough, as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Nick? Is that you?" Mr. Phillips asked, slowly sitting up in pain.

"Yes, yes, it's me, father." Nick replied, a lone tear dropping from his eye.

"How are you? Where's your mom and sis? Where are we?!" His father asked numerous questions at a time.

"I'll answer, I'm fine, well, not really. Mother and Chloe are being protected by some angels, and, we are in hell," Nick answered, shaking his head.

"Hell? What bullshit? Wait... You have a wing?"

"Yes, and we need to stop Mario's plans," Nick answered, helping her father up.