A World Apart The Jake Thomas Trilogy - By Steven A. Tolle Page 0,169

been swayed by rumors and tales." The demon said, laughing. "I am reasonable and only seek to have you serve me. If you will but obey my commands, I will give you whatever you desire: power, riches, women." It gestured at Keria. "Come to me now and I will give you the girl as a sign of good faith. You can do with her what you will; even release her, if you wish."

"Let the princess go first and I'll consider it." Jake said, trying to figure out a way to save Keria.

The demon's face pulled back in a look of contempt. "That is not the answer you should have given, boy." It growled, smoothness gone. "Do you really expect me, who saw the beginning of all creation, to barter with something as low as you? You will take only what I give." It rose to its full height. "I offered you this girl in exchange for your obedience, but that was a one-time offer. She is mine and what you want no longer matters. You are here and I will simply take you, even if I have to break you first. If you seek to resist me, it will only make it that much more painful in the end."

"I won't allow you to hurt her." Jake said, his anger now rising with his fear for Keria. He continued to pull in his magic, strengthening it.

Creatos laughed, cold and cruel. His lips pulled back into a smirk. "When I have broken you, you will be made to watch while I use your precious princess, then pass her to my followers."

"Never!" Jake yelled as he sent a blazing bolt of blue fire at the demon. His blast forced the demon back a step, their conflicting energies crackling.

"You are stupid if you think you can stand against me." Creatos laughed, waving off the Imps and half-men as they moved towards Jake. "I have faced the Creator himself, so what chance do you think you have?" He sent his own dark might raging at Jake.

Jake blocked the attack, the force of it striking him hard, harder than anything he faced before, driving him back several steps. Shaking it off, he responded, striking back at the demon. He continued the attack, sending a steady stream of azure might into the demon.

Creatos laughed as he deflected Jake's attack. "Fool! It will take more than that to defeat me." The demon lord countered, its magic striking Jake, this time knocking him to the ground. Jake rolled with the blow and struggled back to his knees.

He saw Creatos, with a triumphant look on his face, send another bolt of darkness at him. Jake deflected it, rocking back from the impact. Suddenly, the air seemed full of darkness as Creatos began to rain blows rapidly at Jake, the atmosphere staggering from the conflicting energies. He found himself barely able to fight off these attacks, with no thought of counter-attacking. He could feel conflicting wisps of fire and ice seeping in as the demon's energies began to break though his defenses.

Seemingly out of nowhere, an enormous blast of clerics' fire slammed into Creatos, rocking him back and freeing Jake. The demon lost its footing and went to the ground, flesh smoking. Jake, as he pushed himself back to his feet, looked over to see Jonas, face determined and staff in front of him, entering the cavern through another passageway, his form pulsing brightly, yellow light illuminating the cavern walls, with Hailyn and Marcus following closely behind.

"You are as stupid as the boy, cleric." The demon lord snarled as it regained its feet. "You have only ensured your death today."

"You do not frighten me, demon." Jonas said loudly, voice defiant. "I am a servant of the One, a wielder of His Light. If I fall, I know that I will be sheltered in His hand for eternity. For you, there is only oblivion."

Creatos, staring pure hate at Jonas, attacked, sending his demon fire at him, while calling on the Imps and half-men to kill him. Jonas deflected the attack, sending the conflicting powers into the ceiling. The Imps began to attack as well, dark magic flying at Jonas, forcing him to retreat back a few steps. Hailyn began to strike the nearest half-men and demons while Marcus waded into a group of half-men, shield and sword moving.

Jake returned to the fight, sending his magic into the half-men closing with Jonas, blasting them away. Creatos turned back to Jake, slamming him with