*image is not from the graphic novel but from Last Chaos wallpapers.
Dark Prince Excerpt by Arielle
*I wrote this in Prose para mas madaling maintindihan. But the manuscript I submitted to PHR was in the form of a comic/manga script.
The Dark Prince had assumed the face and body of the paladin, Siegfrid. With this disguise, he was able to walk and spy in the King’s camp while the real Siegfrid was still in a meeting with the king.
The Prince discovered that Siegfried’s weakness was his love for Lavinia, the daughter of General Diaz. He would soon use that information to finally defeat the paladin that continually thwarted his plan of conquering this land.
His disguise would only last for an hour, so before it wore off, the Prince discreetly left the King’s camp. He proceeded towards a nearby brook. As he glanced into the clear waters of the brook, he saw his own black helmet and armor. He was losing his disguise! He must get himself back to where he had left his steed.
“You shouldn’t be here Siegfrid. The enemies might attack anytime!” said a concerned woman’s voice.
The Prince turned. He couldn’t help but smile upon seeing Lavinia. The woman had followed him thinking he was her lover!
“You shouldn’t have followed me woman…”
Lavinia’s face became ashen. He had used his own voice to make her realize his mistake. She started to run. But he was faster than her and caught her easily. He clamped his hand on her mouth to stop her from screaming and dragged her away. ************
image is from Xiah Oriental Fantasy Online
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Siegfrid studied the pendant, the King had given him. Carved into it was a firebird with outstretched wings.
“This pendant had been with our family for years. I would have given this to my son had he not embraced the dark gods, his mother secretly worshiped.” explained the old king with sadness.
Siegfrid bowed his head.
“Thank you, your highness.”
“You are like a son to me now Siegfrid. I hope this pendant brings you luck as it did my ancestors.”
Screeching noises broke out from the camp. Siegfrid immediately knew the source of those noises.
“Harpies!” he unsheathed his sword and ran out of the King’s tent.
Three ugly and foul smelling harpies were flying around the camp. One of them flew towards him.
“Paladin Siegfrid!!!” it shouted, “ Come to the Valley of Iksmar if you want to see your beloved Lavinia again!”
Siegfrid grew cold. The Valley of Iksmar was currently occupied by the hordes of the Dark Prince! For Lavinia to be there, it could only mean that she had been captured by the Dark Prince!
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image is from Aion Game Wallper
************ Lavinia opened her eyes. She was no longer near the King’s camp, but inside a dark and damp fortress. Her eyes widened when she saw the man wearing black armor before her! Only the Dark Prince wore such armor!
“It’s about time you wake up. You will miss the climax of the battle.” the prince sneered.
She realized she was lying on the stone floor. Both her hands and feet are tied to four wooden stakes embedded on the floor around her. On the wall near her was a large mirror.
The mirror was showing scenes of a battle. Her heart stopped when she recognized Siegfried! He was surrounded by monsters! Siegfrid was hurt and bloodied yet the monsters kept coming towards him!
“He will soon die.” commented the Prince.
“No!”
“But first he will suffer.”
The mirror clouded and the battle scene disappeared. Lavinia heard a thud on the room. She craned her neck to see what caused the noise. Her eyes widened when she saw Siegfrid lying a few meters from her.
“Siegfrid!” she shouted. She wanted to be sure, he was really here and this was not just an image created by magic.
Siefgrid’s head moved. He turned towards her voice.
“Lavinia!”
“You cannot save her Paladin.” the Dark Prince stood between them. ““You will die Paladin. But first you will witness my minions defile and destroy the innocence of your woman!” ************
************ Fear, anger and helplessness filled Siegfrid. He was badly injured. His strength was gone from his body. No matter how he tried to stand up, his legs keeps collapsing beneath him. All he could do was shout as the Dark Prince’s grotesque minions began to draw close to Lavinia!
“No! How could you do this?” he beseeched the Dark Prince, “ You are still a human being!”
“I am now an immortal, Paladin! And those who opposed me like you will suffer greatly!” he sneered.
Lavinia’s shouts filled Siegfrid's ears. Her clothes were now being torn apart by the minions! And he couldn't do anything to help the woman he love! His heart seemed about to burst. It was burning with anger. Anger on his own weakness!
He bowed his head with shame. He couldn’t bear to see Lavinia violated like an animal. He swore that if he lived through this, he will- He blinked. The heat on his chest continued to increase! Something was glowing and burning inside his tunic!
The King's pendant was the source of the heat! Was the pendant magic? Could he use it as a weapon to fight and save Lavinia?
“Give me your life Paladin, and I will grant you a wish.” came a cold voice. The voice came from inside the pendant! A voice only he could hear.
Lavinia’s cry was calling out for him!
“Then take my life whoever you are!” he shouted. “But save Lavinia!”
The heat on his chest intensified! It exploded into a huge fire than began to engulf his whole body. Siegfrid screamed!
*********** The Dark Prince couldn’t believe what was happening! Sigfrid’s whole body was burning! This was not part of his plan. Sigfried will only die once he had suffered enough!
“Who did this? I am not yet finished with the Paladin!” he roared.
All his minions ceased moving. No one dared to make a sound. Only Lavinia’s cries can be heard in the silence that enveloped his fortress.
Sigfried’s body crumbled down to the floor! Soon, only ashes were left of the Paladin that had defied him for a long time.
The Dark Prince tried to contain his anger. He was robbed of his revenge! He turned towards Lavinia. Her innocence was still intact though her clothes now lay in tatters.
One of his minions timidly approached him.
“What should we do we do with the woman, my lord?”
“Do what you want with her. But make sure you kill her in the end!”
He turned and walked away. He needed fresh air. He had to find who was responsible for Sigfrid's death! He would not forgive whoever robbed him of his revenge!
“Save her…Protect her….”
The Dark Prince stopped walking. The voice was inside his head!
He felt his body move. Turned towards Lavinia and his minions. To his surprise, his hand unsheathed his sword!
Someone was controlling his body!
The Dark Prince tried to stop himself. But his body would not obey him! His hand firmly grasped his sword and began slashing his minions! He couldn’t believe what his eyes were seeing!
His minions were quickly being killed and hacked into pieces by his own sword! In minutes, blood was everywhere! And all his minions were dead!
How could he do this? Who could have made him do something like this? White hot anger boiled inside him! Yet no matter how much he tried, his body would not obey.
His body began walking towards Lavinia. The woman had lost consciousness. He swung his sword and slashed the ropes tying her hands and feet to the stakes. He then slowly put back his sword on it’s sheath.
To his surprise, he found himself gently taking the woman into his arms, carrying her out of his fortress!
“This woman should die, ravaged, yet my body is saving her!”
“Save her…Protect her…”
“Shut up! The moment I regain control of my body, you will pay whoever you are, and this woman will die!” ************