Free Dark Soul Silenced - Part Two by Simon Goodson Page A

to the stairwell but up three more flights of stairs.  When they reached the top floor Ned found that the dome roof was closed.  The room felt gloomy and oppressive.  He was sure he caught movement in a side room, though whatever was there stayed put.  Master Demotte marched away from the stairwell, finally stopping in the middle of the room.  He doubled up in pain for several moments before standing again, pain still etched into his face.
    “I don’t understand Master,” Ned said.  “Why are we here?”
    “ So that I can find peace.  Open the roof.  Now!”
    Ned triggered the switch.  The domed roof quickly disappeared from view.  Bright sunlight fell across the room.
    “Thank you!” Master Demotte said.  “Remember me.  Remember that I chose to die rather than become a creature of darkness.”
    Even as he spoke Ned could see the impact the sunlight was having.  The darkness within Master Demotte was writhing in the bright light, burning away bit by bit.  The Master stood with his teeth clenched, face locked in concentration.  For a brief moment Ned thought the Master stood a chance, that he could be cured.  Then as more and more of the darkness was burnt away he realised it wouldn’t happen, couldn’t happen.  The darkness had taken over almost all the old man’s body and soul.  Where the darkness was destroyed nothing remained.  The Master must have been in agony, yet he stood straight backed now, with a slight smile on his face.  As his body burnt he turned his face towards the sun and smiled.  Seconds later the charred body collapsed, all trace of life gone.
    Ned stared at the corpse in shock for a long time.  Only when Anthony placed a hand on his shoulder was the spell broken.  Ned realised he had tears running down his cheeks, yet he didn’t feel embarrassed.  It was the right reaction.  Master Demotte had remained a great man to the end.  When all the other masters had succumbed to the darkness he had held on, had fought to the end to ensure something good, something lasting, would survive.  Ned would not let the Master down.
    Ned flicked the control to seal the dome again then strode towards the stairs.  The Captain fell into step with him and the others followed close behind.  Soon they were back by the Memory Table.  Ned turned to the Captain.
    “Have your men ready.  As soon as this is done we leave.  I want to be as far away from this keep as possible by nightfall.  When the sun goes down, those creatures will roam free.”
    “ Yes sir.  We’ll be ready.”
    “ Good.”
    Ned turned back to the table.  Taking a deep breath he placed both hands on it, then reached out with his power and concentrated.  Everything went black.
     

Part Three - The Hunt Resumes

Chapter Seven
     
    Daniel staggered back from the table, mind reeling from the influx of another man’s memories.  More than just memories.  He felt as though he’d lived through those experiences.  For a moment he wasn’t even certain what his name was, who he was.  Was he Ned?  No.  No he wasn’t.  He had those memories now though.  The Memory Table had delivered them.
    That was a shock.  Before the experience he had simply seen the block of stone as part of the room, probably a table of some form, imbued with power.  Now he knew it was called a memory table.  Now he recognised it, and the memory it triggered was from another man’s mind.
    It felt like a violation.  The memories had been forced into his mind, jammed in against his will.  Slowly that feeling faded though.  As he came to terms with what had happened he realised how important what he had seen was.  Breathing deeply to seek calm Daniel started to replay the memories, studying them from his own perspective, rather than Ned’s.
    He quickly realised he had witnessed several different yet equally important events.  Most obvious were the arrival of the meteor, and the birth of the vampires.  Or rebirth.  Master Demotte had