The Devil's Apprentice by Patrick Stewart (polar express read aloud TXT) 📕

The girl glanced behind him at the Demon Hunters. “All of them? You can’t...”

“Yeah, we definitely can,” the voice said.

It wasn’t the first time the voice had overestimated its powers. But this time it didn’t matter if he lost. He would rather not, obviously, but he found he didn’t care for his self as much this time.

Alex smiled at the girl. “I gotta try.”

He gently freed himself from her grip, then turned and walked towards the nearest Demon Hunter. He didn’t recognise her, nor did she recognise him, it seemed. But she lowered her weapon and let him pass. Alex strode towards the fountain. His hand itched to draw his longsword and plunge it into Mark’s chest. Or better yet, slice his head off. Neither Mark nor Melissa noticed his approach. He got to within a meter of them when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

It was the silent girl from Mark’s crew. The Demon Hunter with purple hair. Their eyes met. His showed hard determination. In response, her grip on his shoulder tightened.

“Mark,” she said the word quietly.

Amongst the background noise, it should not have been heard. But it was. Even the demons seemed to hear. It was surreal how suddenly the silence came. He could feel every eye on him. Melissa looked back, her eyes weary, she seemed confused. Then, recognition struck. She raised her hands to cover her breasts as her cheeks reddened. She was ashamed to be seen like this. Alex averted his eyes.

Mark stared at him with manic eyes. He wore his usual self-assured grin. Alex felt his confidence begin to slip away. Even with the power the voice gave him, he doubted he could take Mark and his three buddies. He was also encircled by dozens of Demon Hunters. There was the chance they would attack him too.

But in the end, it didn’t matter.

Alex had made his mind up before he came to Ignis Estate. Demon Hunters by and large were a horrible bunch. He wasn’t going to be a part of that. He wanted to make a difference, a genuine difference. When he first became a Demon Hunter, he thought he would be saving humans from evil demons. It turned out to be the opposite. It was the demons that needed saving. Alex was going to do that or literally die trying.

He pulled out his long sword and held it by his side. The tip touched the tarmac with a clink. Mark’s eyes fell on the sword. The manic of earlier dissipated.

“Is it true?” he asked, his voice lazy. “You killed a Krumier?”

The silence was replied by sudden whisper. Every lip seemed to move. The sound was like a slow wind trapped in a turbine. Alex caught some of the words. They were talking about him.

“I guess you’re here for this bitch?” Mark raised his sword and placed the sharp tip on Melissa’s shoulder. He brought it down her chest, causing Melissa to lower her arms, to move her hands away and expose her breasts.

Alex felt this fire build up inside him. He wasn’t sure if it was the heat that came with the voice, or just pure rage. Either way, Mark was going to pay.

Mark let out a laugh. Then he charged.

With his sword held above his head, Mark leapt into the air. As he came down, Alex raised his own sword and held it horizontally. There was a loud clang as the two swords clashed. The force caused Alex to skid back and drop onto one knee. He recovered quickly and pushed back with his sword as he climbed to his feet.

“Let’s destroy this bitch,” the voice said.

As if to show intent, like a lit fuse on steroids, a single fiery red spark shot from the point of his sword down to the cross guard. The dull grey blade was now glowing red. At the same time, Alex felt the fire flowing through every vein in his body. For once it seemed the voice wasn’t fucking about.

Smiling, Alex charged. He was going to teach Mark a lesson. One the piece of shit would not soon forget. Moving with incredible speed, adrenaline pumping through his body, Alex closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Mark barely had time to react. He scrambled backwards as his sword came up to deflect. Sparks flew as fiery metal clashed against silvery steel.

Whatever it was the voice did to him, it was more than just a transfer of raw power. Alex got the feeling that the voice in his head, it was an entity, maybe even a soul, one that had extensive knowledge and experience in battle. Experience that it passed onto him.

With his vision clearer and his increased speed, strength and immense knowledge and experience in battle, this duel was too easy. Mark had no choice but to be on the defensive. He moved back with every step and just about managed to block the strikes. He didn’t even attempt to parry any of the blows.

His face crunched in concentration and beads of sweat formed above his lips. He was completely focused and trying his hardest. But it wasn’t enough. The voice in his head was toying with Mark. Surprisingly, Alex didn’t find much pleasure in that.

Alex stepped to the right and brought his sword straight down. Mark raised his own to block. Alex kicked him in the chest. It was a hard kick, but he was surprised by the effect. Mark’s body flew off the ground and hurtled back. It looked like a doll that had suddenly and harshly been pulled back by the string it was attached to. He slammed into the chest of the demon-shaped fountain before he dropped into the basin with a splash. Alex watched and waited for him to rise, but there was no movement.

He’d won.

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