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“Run! Hurry get away from here!” Tornado yelled as he collapsed to his knees pressing his palms against his temples.

“Tornado! There must be a way to stop this. Please, let me help you!” Aero cried unable to force himself to leave him.

“No! I don’t want you to get hurt. Now go! Warn the others to stay away before it’s too late!” His eyes hardened as the beast took control. She ran terrified fighting the urge to in her mind to go back to him. Her feet took her toward without any thought of direction. A dizzy sensation filled her mind as she stumbled down the hall yelling a warning to those that she passed along the way. All the servants had been informed of Tornado’s “condition.” The click of locking doors sounded as she turned the corner slamming into Rook.

“Aero, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Tornado.” She cried steadying herself. “The beast is back and he’s loosing control.”

“Where is he?”

A scream echoed in the hall.

“That was Flora!” Aero cried in horror. “He was in the corridor by our rooms!”

“Find a place to hide.” Rook commanded running down the hall.

Darkness filled the corridor hiding both Tornado and Flora from view. Rook entered adjusting his eyes to the darkness. Footsteps sounded charging towards him as he prepared for the worst. Clanging sounds of metal ensued as Flora’s scream erupted in the darkness. Rook blocked Tornado’s attacks with his sais trying to lead him away from the direction of Flora’s scream.

“Flora! Are you alright?” He called through the darkness, pushing Tornado away.

“I’m fine but I can’t see. The floor and walls feel like water. It’s hard to even stand.” The weight of the darkness seemed to be intensifying.

“You have to get out of here before it gets any worse.” He yelled as Tornado attacked again. Rook thinned the darkness until he could see silhouettes. “Now hurry before he changes it back.”

“Flora this way!” Aero’s voice called into the darkness.

“Aero?” Rook yelled. “Get away from here, both of you!” Tornado’s attacks strengthened as he tried to push through to Aero.

“Don’t hurt him!” Aero cried fearfully. “I know Tornado’s not being himself but, please!”

“I’m doing everything I can just to keep him here.” Rook explained, “Now, please, run before he goes after y-” there was a thud from the darkness along with the metallic skidding sound of Rook’s sai as it spun along the ground from the darkness.

Aero stared into the darkness in horror as the source of the raspy cough was hidden by the darkness. A silhouette came into view from the fading darkness of the corridor. Tornado walked towards them dragging Rook by his shirt.

“Torn-Tornado?” Aero asked frozen with fear. He threw Rook to the side while spinning his kama so the handle lay against his arm.

“Run Aero!” Flora cried out from where she knelt by Rook’s side, “I’ll take care of this!” She stood as she commanded the rose vines to climb in through the windows and spread down the hall.

“Stop!” Aero shouted. Flora stopped the vines watching her worriedly. “I know Tornado is in there. I don’t care what he says or who’s controlling him right now. I’m not going to run anymore!”

Tornado smirked as he brought the cold metal blade to brush against her neck.

“Don’t do anything Flora.” Aero demanded as she closed her eyes. She felt her body quivering against the urge to run. The blade left her neck as Tornado wound up for the final blow.

“No!” Tornado screamed grabbing his own arm. “I’ll go through with the test! Just stop!” Darkness spread out from his feet depicting ancient text.
“Beast,” Tornado called into the darkness that swirled around him.

“Yes, host,” it answered mockingly in his head.

He retorted angrily, “Let’s get this over with, parasite.”

“So be it.” The dark ethereal explained, “but, host, you are in my realm now.”
All around them darkness flowed like air making the view foggy. Below their feet the floor was etched in ancient text. Tornado was calm standing with his hands in fists by his sides.

“What are your demands?” The dark ethereal asked standing before him.

“If I win you leave my mind forever.” Tornado demanded.

“As to be expected.” It laughed, “and what will I gain if I win this battle?”

“If you win you can stay in my body.” Tornado requested.

“What makes you think that’s even?” The irritable voice echoed in Tornado’s mind.
He answered, “Even in the dark realm you’ll be locked in prison. This is the only way you can get out.”

“We are unable to lie until the battle begins,” the beast stared at him with his yellow eyes, “You are correct. But as I said before each time I win I gain more control of your body. So, if I win not only can I stay in your body but I gain constant control of your left eye.”

“What?” Tornado shouted trying to strike out against the dark ethereal. He was unable to move his body.

The beast laughed its eerie laugh at the feeble attempt. A grin formed on the large wolfish face. “We cannot move until the demands are agreed upon. So are we agreed?”

Tornado scowled, “Agreed.”

“Then let’s begin.” The ties were released and the beast charged at Tornado. It rose on it’s hind legs and slashed across Tornado with its claws. Sweeping back with his paw the beast threw Tornado against the barrier.

As he slid down, coughing trying to catch the breath that was knocked out of him. He could feel the warm blood as it ran along his skin. Tornado didn’t dare take his eyes off the dark ethereal that calmly walked toward him. “You’re too weak. You can never win.” The voice taunted him through his mind, “Just think of it when Aero looks at your face and sees my eye.”

“That won’t happen!” Tornado screamed grabbing his kamas and slashing across the beast’s chest.

The creature laughed its eerie laugh, “Barely left a mark with that measly attack.”
Tornado backed away from the dark ethereal.

“You are showing your fear, boy.” The beast advanced poised to pounce.
As the beast lunged Tornado jumped using the air to get behind the beast. He rammed the handle of his kama into the creature’s hip muscle with all his might. It’s leg crumpled momentarily under the strain. The paw seemed to hesitate as it touched the ground.

“I’ll give you credit for that.” The beast growled, “But I’ll see it coming next time.”
Tornado crossed his kamas in front of his body. “Just wait,” he retorted, “I haven’t used all my power, yet.”

“We’ll see about that,” It lunged off to the right expanding its razor edged wings ready to slice into Tornado. He ducked low under the wings and scrambled back onto his feet. The beast saw that Tornado was unprepared for another attack. It rebounded off the barrier heading right at him. Tornado turned but was unable to avoid the attack. The dark ethereal clamped onto Tornado’s lower leg with its jaw digging its teeth into his flesh. It forced Tornado to the ground.

“I’m not weak, boy.” The voice sounded in Tornado’s head. “It’s true I used to be stronger. You don’t get much training done when you’re stuck in a boy’s body or a dungeon.”

“Am I supposed to care about that?” Tornado asked his voice straining with pain, “This is a fight!”

The dark ethereal slammed his forepaw on Tornado’s chest causing him to have a fit of coughing. It released his leg and brought his face before Tornado’s, teeth dripping with blood, “Have it your way then.”

Tornado was becoming short of breath quickly under the weight of the beast, “Get off!” He gasped.

“Make me,” Mocked the beast, “This is a fight after all.”

He slipped his good leg under the demon and rammed his heel under the beast’s ribs forcing it to relieve him. Tornado didn’t get up. His breath was unsteady and his leg throbbed with pain. The teeth had left deep wounds and blood had already formed a small well by his leg. “Crap,” he muttered to himself.

He turned to see the beast crouching and staring at him hungrily.

“What do you want?” Tornado asked angrily.

“I thought I’d give you a chance to surrender.” It answered.

“How kind.” He growled, “But I won’t.”

“You’re a fool, boy.” It told him pacing, “So I’ll bring you as closer to death than you’ve ever been. That way I can take automatic control of your body. If I get bored I think I’ll kill Aero.”

“Shut up!” Tornado yelled.

“It’ll be fun,” The beast taunted, “and easy. Plus it will be your hands that killed her. You would be causing her to suffer.”

“I won’t let you!” He screamed forcing himself into a kneel, “I would die before I let you do that.” Darkness started wrapping around him taking a form of wings. It sliced through the air like blades of black diamond.

“So this is the power I’ve heard of.” The demon thought to himself, “let’s see his strength.”

Tornado crossed his kamas and pulled them to his sides. An arc of darkness shot towards the beast. There was no time to dodge and a wound was etched across the beast’s chest and across the side of its body. The dark ethereal collapsed to the ground in pain. Summoning up his own darkness the dark ethereal shot an attack at Tornado. The wings of darkness closed around him shielding him from the attack.

Tornado floated into the air darkness whipping around him violently. He glared down at the dark ethereal hatred burning in his eyes. “Beast do you surrender?” He asked but the dark ethereal didn’t respond, “Can you still speak?”

“Yes,” the beast answered, “so don’t flatter yourself. Tell me something. How have you become so strong?”

“I have found something important to me,” Tornado answered, “I have a reason to fight. That is what gives me my strength.”

“A reason to fight,” The demon questioned, “What is it?”

“Aero,” he answered, “I will protect her with my life.”

“I won’t be able to beat you yet.” The dark ethereal told him. “I will one day but for now I surrender.”

The invisible ties returned and all the darkness flowed around them once more. Everything faded away and Tornado found himself back in the corridor. He collapsed to the ground pressing his hands against the wounds on his leg. Blood began to fill the gaps of his fingers as he breathed through his teeth.

“Tornado!” Aero ran to his side. “What happened to you?” She fell back a bit as the blood started pooling on the ground. “We need to treat you right away. Wait here! I’ll be right back.”

“Wait!” Tornado stopped her by grabbing the skirt of her dress. “Did . . . did I hurt anyone? What happened to Flora and Rook?”

“They’re fine.” Aero assured him. “No one blames you for anything. Besides, you should just worrying about recovering right now. Once you get treated you have to tell us everything.”

Tornado was forced to stay in bed until he was fully recovered. Unfortunately, shortly after his recovery suspicious figures began to be sighted in town and often in the forests surrounding.

“How many were sighted today?” Rook asked the watchman.

“As many as thirty.” He answered.

“That many?” Rook ordered. “Keep up the good work. Prepare the men for anything but let them be the first to attack. We may be overreacting.”

“Yes, sir!”

“What’s going on?” Tornado asked.

“Dark ethereal are being sighted and there are reports of the dark lord’s emblem being seen on their persons.” Rook explained. “We’re not sure what to expect but I can only expect the worst after what happened to you.”

“But why would there be dark army soldiers in the faery realm?” Tornado asked. “What do they have to gain?”

“We’ve never had trouble with them before.” Rook told him.

“You aren’t suggesting it’s me are you?”

“I see no other reason. You were targeted by them before and you are ethereal. Don’t take this the wrong way, Tornado. I’m not asking anything of you. I want to know the reason just as much as you do.”

“More have been sighted!” The watchman shouted from the level above. “They seem to be patrolling!”

Rook sighed. “It seems we’ll find out sooner than we’d hoped.”