Barldgura The Stone Demon

"We do not admire the man of timid peace. We admire the man who embodies victorious effort; the man who never wrongs his neighbor, who is prompt to help a friend, but who has those virile qualities necessary to win in the stern strife of actual life."

~ Theodore Roosevelt.

The story continued...
John Steele...

"Hey! Barldgura, here I am. Over here, pug-ugly! I am one of those you came for. Come and catch me if you can, you slow, stupid piece of rock!" John yelled.

Sierra sputtered. "Johnny is providing us the time we need. Hurry, Professor, begin your spell!"

The Professor rubbed the bone with one hand, twisting the shiny tube into intricate designs with the other.

Sierra clapped her right hand on the Professor's shoulder. Soon, they were covered with a light blue glow, and Sierra's powerful voice joined the Professor's.

Meanwhile, the gargoyle Demon had turned and stepped toward Steele, moving faster than before.

Steele rolled away from the creature's grasp, sprinting ten yards to its right side at the last possible second. He stopped and began taunting the stone Demon.

"You sure are slow! Is it because of your stone ass? Or maybe you are getting too old? That's it! You are too old. Barldgura, what is your name, ancient Persian?"

The enraged creature made infuriated gurgling noises. Howling in anger, it charged at John.

"You think shooting your puny fear beams at me will freeze me long enough that you can catch me? What a joke you are!"

Steele appeared momentarily frozen from the Monster's fear beams.

Before John could move, the Demon's stone claws grasped his right side. John managed to pull free and jog back ten yards to the monster's left. John Steele stood there panting.

*****

Major Frederick Masters...

Frederick could see the blood dripping from the slashes on the right side of Steele's rib cage.

Johnny can't survive another charge from that thing. It will surely crush him next time. I better get out there and help. Thought Frederick. 

Frederick dashed to the side opposite the monster, where his injured friend stood bleeding. He was yelling loudly to get the demon's attention.

It was too late. The gargoyle assassin spared one quick glance over its shoulder at Frederick. Then it turned back, facing Steele, and began another lumbering attack.

I reacted too late. Now, the best man I have ever fought beside will die. Major Masters cursed at himself!

*****

Professor Henry Silberhutte...

When the chanting reached its crescendo, the professor ceased rubbing the bone and placed the tube, now glowing a bright blue, to his lips. Then he blew into it mightily.

The creature stopped in its tracks a couple of yards away from Steele. It howled in frustration as it started to sink slowly into the ground.

John ran swiftly toward the others as the thing continued to sink deeper. Finally, all they could see of it was its claws stretching upward.

A pale-faced Colonel approached the Professor. "What was that thing, where did it go, and is it coming back?" he demanded.

In a calm voice, the Professor responded. "First, that thing was a Demon gargoyle, a tool of the enemy we are fighting against. Second, I cast a spell and created a bog, quicksand, if you will, under the creature. He sank to the bottom of the pit I created. Several hundred feet down, I suppose."

A now red-faced Colonel asked, "Okay, but what will stop that thing from simply climbing out of the pit and attacking my men again?"

"He won't be able to climb out because I opened a portal to another universe at the bottom of the pit. He is no doubt there. This won't kill him. However, it will probably take him a thousand years to find a way out of where he is to return here. Of course, this war with the servants of Chaos will be ended by then." stated the Professor firmly.

"I... but... oh, never mind!" The Colonel spun on his heel and walked rapidly toward his men.

The Professor heard a muffled moan. He turned his attention to the sound and saw John Steele collapse on the ground with an agitated Sierra Masters hovering over him.

The Professor rushed to John and shouted, "John, son, what is it?"

The Colonel bellowed, "Medic!"

Within seconds, a mercenary dressed from head to toe in black gear, including face paint, was at John's right side. The man pulled a medical kit in a canvas bag from his back.

The mercenary knelt quickly to take Steele's pulse...

END