Jay Angel 425H, R-4:00 Dragons and Monsters April 13, 2010

Carmella

From the darkness Joey appeared his shirt ripped to shreds and soaking in blood, screaming the name over and over again. He fell to his knees bunching the damp earth trying as hard as he can to shake the world he lives. It was as if he thinks that if he hits it hard enough somehow the events that had happen would change. He soon realizes this and gives up. I come over to him asking him what had happened, Joey, where were you? What happened? His screams stopped and the last words spoken by my best friend Joey Flagrin were Carmella Ildia Volo. He died moments later just as the sun was breaking over the distant mountains. As much as I wanted to I had no time to mourn. I could sense the forthcoming doom that now laid waiting in the cave. I wiped the streaming tears from my eyes as I drew my trusty sword Grimlaw. The sword had once belonged to my father Tabias the Great, who was killed by the evil witch Marnovva when I was just a mere child. Tabias and his clansmen were sent to stop Marnovva from destroying the kingdom of Butler. Brock was youngest and only member of Tabias clan to survive that day. He returned to the village with the sword Grimlaw battle torn and exhausted. As soon as I was old enough Brock vowed to train me in the hopes that I would one day avenge my father and the brave clansmen who died by the hands of the evil witch. I couldnt help but feel that somehow this Carmella Ildia Volo that Joey had spoke of was connected to the evil witch Marnovva herself. Uncertain and a little hesitant I entered the cave unsure of the evils I was about to face.

I walked into the cave Grimlaw in hand and was soon entrenched in black. No light entered the cave I couldnt tell where I was going. I couldnt see all and the only thing I heard where the sounds of my unsteady footfalls. Fear was gripping me, I wanted to turn around, to run away and let someone else take care of the evil that had befallen my land. No! I forced those coward acts from my head, I had to continue on it was up to me to defeat Marnovva and to avenge the death of Joey. A light emanated from my sword basking the walls of the cave in soft light. I remembered sometime ago during my training with Brock, telling me that my sword Grimlaw supposedly held many secrets, I could only hope this was one of the them. The light from the sword seemed to drown my fears and I continued forward through the cave searching for some way though. Hours and hours passed as I walked a labyrinth of tunnels that seemed to lead to nowhere. I was hopelessly lost everything was starting to blend together; exhaustion was starting to set in so I sat down against a cave wall to rest. I woke with a start; I had a dagger against my throat. There I was staring eye to eye with my father. No words were spoken only the shrill scream of the wind finding its way down the cave could be heard. He was shaking with rage and his face was dark with dirt. He screamed WHY ARE YOU HERE! and with these words he pressed the knife harder against my throat. I thought quickly, but didnt know what to say. Just then I saw pain in his eyes and realized he must be under the control of some evil force. I dont know why but just then the words Carmella Ildia Volo came out of my mouth. The knife dropped form my fathers hands and he fell to the floor. Just then a piercing scream echoed from the darkness. What ever it was it was getting closer and louder. I stood up and grasped my sword preparing for what ever was coming at me.

I gulped a big spit wad down my throat as the sound got louder. Whatever it was there seemed to be more than one. Just then out of the shadows crawled a hideous monster that I had never seen before. It was at least 8 feet tall. It had the body of a spider with a head that appeared to be that of a wolf. The spider wolf hybrid let out an eerie scream and before I knew it the entire cavern was covered in the monsters. I was terrified, my heart was beating extremely fast but then I felt a calming hand on my shoulder. It was my dad and he was doing something very strangehe was smiling. He calmly said to me son dont be afraid we shall do this together. Before I even had a chance to think the wolf-spiders were on us. As if without hesitation I was also in action; countering every fang with my sword, swinging swiftly, doing what I was trained to do. Occasionally Id catch a glimpse of my father and was amazed at his fighting skill. He was armed only with a knife but seemed to be taking down twice as many of the monsters as I was. Just as things seemed to be going our way I heard a creepy laugh. I looked over and there she wasthe evil witch herself. I didnt even have time to make a sound before she raised her staff and BOOM my father went flying into the cave wall. The view of my fathers limp body unlocked something primal in me. All my muscles seemed to flare as my adrenaline pumped fiercely in my body. I went blood thirsty killing everything in my path. My monstrous battle cries seemed to send the monsters scurrying for the exit but I wouldnt let them leave. I killed every single last beast and then looked for the witch herself, but she was long gone. Finally catching a sense of myself I ran to my fathers aid. His pulse was subtle; he was still alive I had to do something. I started to attempt to lift my father to take him out of the cave, but then he spoke. Leave me here son, theres nothing you do to save me. I wasnt meant to be alive this long. I made an oath to the witch to save your life, but you freed me. Before I die you must know

who she really is. You must also know that she. My father fell to the ground coughing up blood. She is your mother. With these final words my father left this world. It was clear what I had to do, but I had no idea how to do it. I needed to find Carmella Ildia Volo in order to kill this witch once and for all.