The Lord of Shadows Rises (11 page)

Alexander was sitting in the hidden camp in France with the other masters and the elder. “It is time,” said Bain as the newly minted Masters looked up.

“What do you mean, Bain?” asked Alexander.

Bain replied, “You are not real masters, yet.”

“I am not following. I thought we were masters?” Lenora said uncertainly.

“You have the title but you don’t have the experience. Every guardian before you had to go to the Temple of the Rose and pass their respective tests, three in all.”

Guan had his eyes closed. “Where is the temple?”

“It is in the rural village of Quedlineburg, Germany. It was hidden to keep tomb robbers out,” said Bain.

“Why there?” asked Yuan.

“The founder of the Order of the White Rose was Qadir the Goth and first Grand Master during the Dark Ages. He lived in that area and bought land to build the temple. He then recruited other members around Europe into the Order of the White Rose,” explained Bain.

“What do these trials entail?” asked Guan.

“That is for you to find out,” said Bain. “You must travel on foot to remain inconspicuous; it will take a day for you to travel that distance.”

Hathaway ran up. “President Newman of the United States wants to meets with a guardian.”

“I will meet with him,” said Alexander.

“I will take you on my ship, just like the first time we met,” said Hathaway.

Lenora looked at Alexander and said, “Be careful, Alexander. I don’t want to lose you like I lost Master Thompson.”

Alexander walked up to her and hugged her. “I will join with you and the others after I talk to President Newman.”

Lenora said, “Just please don’t be reckless.”

Alexander smiled and said playfully, “No promises.”

Lenora chuckled. “You big dummy, I want to do one thing before you leave,” she then kissed him on the lips. “That is for being there for me.”

Alexander reached into his pocket and pulled out leather string necklace with silver charm of a four leaf clover. “This is a necklace I had Bain craft for me. I want you to have it so you know I will come back,” said the young master as he broke off the hug. “Wait for me.”

***

The Lord of Shadows was sitting on his throne in the Parliament building as the self-declared Prime Minister of Norway. A soldier approached. “My Lord, our spies have found another Orb.”

“Oh?” said the "dictator." “Which one?”

“The Lightning Orb sir, protected by the President of the United States,” said the soldier.

“I will retrieve it. Gather up ten thousand soldiers for an attack on the United States of America,” said the Lord of Shadows. Getting up from his throne, he then walked through the portal.

***

President Newman was a well-built man with brown hair and eyes in his late thirties. Some considered him too young to be a president but the voters put him in office and he was determined to defeat this growing threat.

He was wearing a suit but he loosened it as he was sitting in his office with his Chief of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. “Are the troops ready?” asked the Commander in Chief. The president was a former soldier who had served in the military and fought in the first Gulf War.

“Yes, Mr. President,” General Howe replied. “We have the Lightning Orb surrounded with thirty Special Forces.”

Xxx

On the outskirts of the capital, Washington D.C., a black portal opened and the Lord of Shadows walked out. Soldiers from his temple appeared from another portal. “Attack the White House!” The Lord of Shadows' soldiers started to attack the civilians. The President had an army stationed in the streets and they fired at the oncoming Shadow Army.

The Lord of Shadows saw a bullet hit one of his soldiers. “I see they were expecting me.” He snapped his fingers and a black barrier appeared absorbing the bullets.

The US Army pulled out their knives, seeing bullets not doing anything and charged the Shadow Army which was armed with semi-automatic guns, and began to fire at the military causing massive casualties.

Three US tanks appeared and provided cover fire as the soldiers got close and fought with their army issue knives. A US soldier saw the Lord of Shadows and motioned his platoon towards the evil dictator. “They are brave, but foolish,” the Lord of Shadows said as he ran at the charging platoon and hacked through the twenty men with no mercy. He saw one solider rush him going killing several of the Shadow warrior, killing them in the process.

“Go to hell,” whole heartedly and defiantly said the brave private as he grabbed the Lord of Shadows and pulled the pin out of a grenade in his hand. The blast engulfed both in a final effort to kill the dictator.

“That actual singed my armor,” the Lord of Shadows commented. The army backed away.

The commander of the battalion saw the losses. He ordered what remained of his unit to withdraw.

The general phoned the president. “The defense has crumbled. Out of the 3000 we sent only 500 survived. We won’t last at this rate,” said Howe gravely.

The president sighed. “Have all citizens evacuate the area?”

“What about you, sir?” asked Howe.

“You have your orders, General, I will stay back.” said the Commander in Chief. “Dismissed.”

Xxx

Alexander and Hathaway landed in the Potomac River in DC. “They have begun their assault,” Hathaway said as he went below deck. He came back with a five foot long great sword resting on his shoulder. “Let’s head to the White House and rescue the president,” said Hathaway.

“It’s a Zweihänder. I hear it is hard to use due to the weight,” said Alexander.

Hathaway nodded his head “My blade is nine pounds of metal in the blade and two pounds in the handle. However it comes with a major disadvantage; I need two hands to lift it."

When they get to the city, they see it overrun by soldiers decked in black armor. Alexander takes out his twin swords and rushes. Hathaway swinging his giant great sword with ease killing many of the soldiers opposing them.

The Lord of Shadows blasted the door of the oval office down with evil energy and saw the president drinking wine. “I have come to talk about the terms of your surrender,” said the villain darkly.

The president smiled as a battalion of Special Forces appeared holding pistols. “I think not,” the Commander in Chief declared with confidence.

“Your secret service will do you no good,” said the Lord of Shadows. He rushed the guards as they started to shoot with more pouring in.

“Get the President out of here,” said one of the men. The president was escorted out of the White House.

“Your guns are useless against me,” the Lord of Shadows said shoot fireballs at the agents killing some with the heat. The Lord of Shadows raised his hand and a gust of wind blew at the other agents shredding the one who got too close.

The president was escorted to his motorcade, but the Lord of Shadows appeared, blood dripping from his sword. The president took off his jacket and pulled a gun from the back of his belt. “Blast him!”

The five guards along with the president fired their guns, but they don’t do anything as the barrier absorbs the bullets.

The Lord of Shadows rushed forward and brought his sword up ready to end the leader’s life.

It came down but was stopped as a Clang was heard as Alexander was on his knee blocking the blade with twin Kodachis. “Guardian of the White Rose,” said the Lord of Shadows as Alexander kicked him with a knee thrust sending him backwards

Alexander helped Newman up and the two fled.

The Lord of Shadow growled, “Perfect. I can kill two birds with one stone,” He stalked up to the guardian and the president but was blocked by Hathaway.

Hathaway threw the orb to Alexander and stood in front of the Lord of Shadows, great sword in hand. “Go Alexander. Take the orb and escape with the president. I will hold him off, as long as I am able.”

Alexander looked on. “Get the hell out of here, Alexander. If you fall, we will have lost a guardian. You must do what is necessary to attain victory!”

Alexander closed his eyes and ran out with the president.

Hathaway ran at the Lord of Shadows slashing his sword, but it was intercepted by the evil one’s sword. “I will end you, Lord of Shadows.!” Hathaway forced the villain onto his knee from the sheer power of Hathaway.

“Impressive strength; however, I killed stronger enemies two hundred years ago.” He then disappeared in smoke. “I have yet to use all of my skills,” the evil one said, his voice echoing around Hathaway.

Hathaway brought his sword closer to his body and. He was unable to block the attack as the sword pierced Hathaway’s body and he slumped over.

The Lord of Shadows took the fallen warrior’s sword. “I will add this to my wall."

Alexander hid in a building as several soldiers passed his hideout. “Let’s go,” Alexander whispered. The president nodded his head.

“Did you get my wife out the building?” asked the president.

“I had some of my comrades sneak her and your son out.” They made their way to the ship, but were stopped as they encountered ten shadow soldiers.

The shadows soldiers advanced on the two but are shot. Five men in suits appeared holding pistols run out. “Is everyone out?” asked Newman.

“We have evacuated most of the citizens, Mr. President,” said one of the men.

“We are escaping as well,” said the young leader.

They got to the ship with no more attacks. “Dad!” A black-haired boy of about eight years ran up to greet his father. Right behind him was a woman in her thirties with blond hair.

“You escaped,” said the woman as she hugged her husband.

“If it weren’t for this young man and his comrade, I would have perished,” the President said, motioning to Alexander.

The ship left the dock and headed out to sea.

Alexander was in the meeting room. “Hathaway died a hero, and he will be honored and missed.” The crew put their heads down in respect.

Xxx

In the captain’s quarters, the president was talking to Alexander. “I have to warn the United Nations of this threat. We might be able to stop the Lord of Shadows with a preemptive strike.”

“With all due respect, sir,” said the leader of the secret service, “modern weapons did not do a damn thing against that madman.”

“I see your point, but, I noticed that as long as the Lord of Shadows was far from his troops, they were susceptible to bullets,” said President Newman.

Alexander thought about it. “But it was not significant enough to give us any type of edge in a shootout,” said Alexander putting in his two cents.

“We will meet with the rest of the guardians and get more input,” decided President Newman.

“Agreed,”

Xxx

The ship docked in a cove where the Order’s camp is hidden. Bain walked up to the ship. “Alexander, did you succeed?” he asked.

Alexander nodded and replied, “Yes, however, we lost a great ally and friend.”

“Who fell?” asked Bain.

“Hathaway.”

“I see.” Bain bowed his head.

“We must meet with the other guardians. We need to get our trials started,” said Alexander.

Bain nodded. “They are waiting for you.”

Alexander walked into the room with the president. “Alexander!” said Lenora as she hugged him. “Thank goodness you are safe.”

“I told you I would survive.”

“Mr. President, please have a seat. We first need to get in touch with the United Nations and warn them of this threat,” Alexander said grimly.

“All those lives lost due to this madman,” the President said with his head lowered.

“We need to get ready for the trials. If we don’t we won’t acquire the skills nor the knowledge to win,” Guan said keeping a level head.

“According to Bain, we can’t enter the temple until the Winter Solstice in December,” countered Mason.

Lenora got up. “We can’t afford to wait. The longer we wait, more countries will fall.”

“We all know that, but we have really no choice since the temple was meant to open at that time to keep robbers out,” Mason replied.

“We will need to keep the Lord of Shadow’s forces from gaining more ground. We won’t be able to beat him or his army without discovering some weakness,” Alexander said.

“For now, we don’t have any info on any of his weaknesses,” brought up Lenora.

Guan was thinking. “Wait. Sifu Shin told me about these orbs. Whoever absorbs them will become reliant on them like an addiction and like all addictions, it has a downside.”

“What is the downside?” asked Alexander.

“From what I understand the orb is poisonous to anyone using it for an extended amount of time. The problem is he has to use it continually with no break,”

“So the power will corrupt the body but we don’t know how,” said Alexander.

“Then we should come up with a plan to utilize this information,” said Mason as Yuan stayed silent.