"You surprised me mortal." Says the Skeleton king. "You extinguished three quarters of my subjugates including my two finest warriors. It has taken me centuries to acquire this many followers, fortunately time is irrelevant and you have proven yourself worthy and will become my finest warrior yet!" I need to regulate my breathing, but I'm so tired. Thinks Tate. "I may have failed at killing you here today, but make no mistake that I will still kill you in death! So bring me back and let me finish what I started here today." Says Tate weakly through heavy uneven breathing. "Pathetic mortal, do you believe you are the first to make such threats?" Asks the king? "Maybe not." Says Tate. "But you can be damn sure I will be the first to follow through." The skeleton king laughs. "Defiant to the end." Curse my mortal body, I'm helpless! I could try and talk my way out of this, but then how does one barter with the dead? Maybe I don't need to barter, maybe I just need to stall him long enough to get some of my strength back. "I have to admit that you have struck my curiosity on this dark mark, if I'm going to die then at least tell me what would have become of me?" Asks Tate. Tate watches as the skeleton king takes a moment to ponder this, not willing to waste the opportunity he pushes harder. "Have you seen it before? Have you seen it first hand?" Asks Tate. "The dark mark is old mortal, older than even myself...and yes I have seen what it can do first hand." Says the skeleton king. "That mark means you have been invaded by a demon and not just any demon, only the truly powerful are able to mark a mortal in such a way." "But what does it do?" Asks Tate genuinely interested at this point. "It matters not." Says the king. "You will die here today and the mark will be inconsequential. Do not worry yourself over that which will not come to pass." "I'm just curious." Says Tate sincerely. "I must know before I die." "Very well." Replies the king. "The mark is like a key, it allows a demon to come and go as it pleases. A mortal such as yourself will have no idea it is even present until it's to late." "I'm possessed by a demon?" Asks Tate disbelievingly. "You are most certainly possessed mortal, the power I feel resonating within in you is far to great to be your own. I would presume that you are not possessed by just any mere demon, but that you are possessed by a greater demon." Says the king. "What what does that mean?" Asks Tate. "I still feel like me, I don't feel corrupted or influenced in any way." The king laughs. "Demons are immortal, they are patient. It will lay dormant until it decides not to and when that moment comes your body and mind will no longer be your own." "So it's all or nothing?" Asks Tate. "They can take over, but they have to do it completely? They can't manipulate my thoughts and actions slowly over time." "Foolish mortal!" Shouts the king. "A greater demon can do whatever it pleases, there are no laws it must follow. If it wants to corrupt you slowly over time or it decides to destroy you all at once, the choice is its and their is nothing you can do about it! This why I offer you salvation, your death will prevent the demon from destroying you and everyone you love." The king raises his sword a takes a step towards me. "I grow tired of these questions." It wasn't enough time, I didn't stall him long enough, my body still has nothing left. "Hayden..." I whisper quietly to myself. "I'm sorry..." In a few more steps the king will be upon me and his sword will cut me down, I can't believe this is how my story ends. I try to prepare for the coming blow, but let's be honest...how does one really prepare for such a thing? "Thud...THUD...Thud...BOOOOM!" Something explodes in the distance, flying rock and debris flood the room making it impossible to see. When the dust finally begins to settle I can hardly believe my eyes. "It can't be..." Whispers Tate.