Rustin Petrae's Blog, page 5

Now Available! Forfeit: A Collection of Short Stories

Forfeit, is finally available for purchase.

Basilisk: Now available!

It's been a long few years trying to get Basilisk finished. I wish I could've completed it sooner but life gets in the way. With being an indie author, sometimes you have to judge how much your time is worth and which projects to pursue. Unfortunately, with Basilisk, there were a lot of other projects (including a lot from my day job as an Art Director for One Up Bands) that got in the way. I apologize for taking so long and I hope to get the next book in the series, Chaos, out much quicker. Basilisk (A Histories of Purga Novel): In the season of betrayal there will rise a catalyst of destruction. The three will come forth as protectors. The Prince. The Savior. The One Born of Both Worlds. They will stand as Sentinels to guard against Blak, the one known as Chaos.


The prophecy the Callers have guarded for centuries has finally come to pass. The world of Purga is on the verge of complete destruction. The Terra homelands have been wiped out. The Rooks have been enslaved by Blak and his nightmare creatures called croatoans. King Rowan is in hiding, fighting just to stay alive. There is no safe place anymore and as the two races of Purga struggle and fight, their only chance of survival lies with the three.


The Sentinels.


There’s just one problem. One of the Sentinels has been captured and enslaved by Blak. His power is being controlled and now Rone and Keiara must fight against one of their own. With the world collapsing all around them, the only way to save everyone is to rescue the third. Where to buy: Amazon | Smashwords Continue the exciting and epic fantasy/sci-fi adventure that is the Histories of Purga. If you haven't read any of these novels, you can get the first book in the series, Dragon, for only $.99! Thank you, Rustin Petrae #basilisk #book #novel #historiesofpurga

My Newest Design Collection for One Up Bands - Moroccan Dream

In addition to being a self-published author and comic book creator, I am also the Art Director for One Up Bands. We do a lot of awesome, custom prints on fashionable headbands, keychains, and even one of our newest products, the Fusion Belt. We have over 1,200 stock designs to choose from with new designs always being added as well. The newest collection we currently have available is my Moroccan Dream collection. Inspiration for this design came from a basic quatrefoil concept but with a twist. I used differing shades of color to create a gradient look and then highlighted that with an accent color on the quatrefoil itself. With 6 different colors to choose from, you'll find one you like. You can view the entire collection here: http://oneupbands.com/collections/hea... Check it out. Our headbands make awesome gifts! A little bit about One Up Bands: One Up Bands offers several types of headbands to help keep your hair and sweat out of your eyes! Non-Slip Athletic Headbands: Our flagship product, our non-slip headbands are second to none! With a soft, velvety underside and and elastic strap, you'll find them to be exceptionally comfortable. Plus, with HUNDREDS of designs, you're sure to find a whole bunch you like! All non-slip bands are available in our standard 20" and we also offer an adjustable band, which provides a range of 18-20.5" Tie-Back Headbands: Made from a super comfy, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial fabric, our tie-backs are ideal for just about anyone! From the guy with the shaved head at the gym to the cyclist who always wears her helmet - no one likes that burning feeling that comes from one itty-bitty drop of sweat working its way into the corner of your eye. Our tie-backs help you keep your eye on the prize! Loopty Loop Headbands: One Up Bands continues to stay ahead of the curve with the latest in athletic fashion accessories: Loopty Loop bands. Available in THREE sizes, these comfortable bands are super soft and very stretchy! The best part is, these bands stay put, just like our non-slip headbands. So, stock up today and add a little diversity to your headband collection. Elastic Headbands: Similar to our Hair Ties, our elastic headbands are great for the gal on the go, and won't pull out, dent, or damage your hair! Available in several colors and sparkly shades. Chlorine and salt-water safe. Visit oneupbands.com to browse our selection of products and trendy designs! #moroccan #design #pattern #quatrafoil

My Review of: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure

When Skylanders first came out, we actually didn't end up getting it for our son. The first game we got was Skylanders: Giants (which both my son and I loved). The initial concept behind the game was amazing. It was really the first of its kind to introduce these figures that could be put on the "portal" and then transported into the game. It was a great thing for gamers and collectors both (or if you happen to be both a collector and a gamer). It had that awesome uniqueness and shock factor that I think fascinated a lot of people at the time and was one of the reasons why it became as popular as it is today. When I went to play the game (we ended up buying it for our son later after we had thoroughly beaten Giants), I was not disappointed. The things I liked: What I liked about the game was, obviously, the figures. I am a very character driven person. I love to create my own characters, mostly, but I also like other people's characters. Skylanders was no different. I liked how you could collect these guys. It created these little Skylander hunting missions that were fun for not only me and my son, but for our whole families. It was definitely a unique side effect of the game that really helped make it that much more interesting. As for the gameplay itself, I loved it. The storyline and the character involvement were awesome. The best thing, I would say, was the ability to level up and get your charcters' upgrades. That really heightened the video game experience for me as well as extended its longevity. It made it more playable and for longer. The addition of the extra adventure packs was pure genius in my eyes. It was yet another way to extend Skylanders' longevity and not in an annoying way (in my opinion although I do see how it could be since you have to buy more stuff). I did get a lot of enjoyment out of the first Skylanders and I think it's a great game for adults and kids. The things I didn't like: There wasn't a whole lot in the way of things I didn't like in this game. Some of the gameplay was a bit rudimentary (although considering it's a kids game, that really didn't bother me that much). The graphics were, for the most part, pretty awesome. There were a couple of things that seemed off, but again, not enough to be bothersome or annoying. The biggest grievance I ended up having with the game was the toys themselves. Although they were awesome to find and hunt down, some of them were/are nearly impossible to find. Still. Even though the game has been out for ages. I still can't find Ghost Roaster (unless I want to pay a crap ton of money for him). Also, having to buy all these other characters definitely gets expensive. It gets hard to keep up when you have to pay so much for them. Overall, the game was amazing. My son and I enjoyed it and played it several times over. We love the characters and we continue playing the games to this day. My recommendation is that Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a great game to play with your kids (or even if you don't have children. #game #gamereviews #review #skylanders

NEW Excerpt for Basilisk, Book Three of the Histories Of Purga

I thought that it's been a little past due for another excerpt/sneak peak of Basilisk, the third book of my epic Histories of Purga novels. The world is on the brink of destruction for the people of Purga but they continue to fight Blak and the evil he keeps spreading. The only hope for survival now is for Rone and Keiara to rescue the third Sentinel. Only then can their prophecy be realized.

Stay tuned for more excerpts. And keep checking back for more info on my books, the Hybrid Earth Universe, and all my other projects!

**

 

“Niku is my brother!” Rone yelled, horrified. He stared at the woman in front of him. He was angry but at the same time he felt happy. The two emotions waged a war inside him.

 

The woman’s eyes were cast down. Her fair blonde hair wafted in a small breeze. She shifted a bit uncomfortably as she rubbed her hand over a rough, hexagonal-shaped scar about midway up her forearm.

 

The woman was someone Rone had thought dead for over fourteen years.

 

She was also his mother.

 

“First, I find out you’re not dead. Then I find out that you abandoned me to go run off with a Terraqouis you fell in love with and now you tell me that Niku is my half-brother.” He was so mad, he couldn’t think straight. Above all else, he felt betrayed. He felt hurt.

 

She’d left him and she hadn’t thought twice about it.

 

“How could you do that to me?” he asked her.

 

“Rone, maybe you should stop,” Keiara said. She could see the anger etched on his face and was afraid he might do something stupid.

 

“I never planned on any of that happening,” the woman said.

 

Keiara knew her well. She had been very close with Niku, after all, before Rone had come into the picture. Her name was Gwen. She’d always seemed a bit odd, but basically harmless. The shocking revelation on her true origin however, left Keiara speechless.

 

Rone ignored Keiara’s warning. Instead, he took hold of his mother’s arm and dragged her after him. He rushed her through the camp and she let him. Soon after, they came to an empty tent and Rone ushered her inside.

 

Keiara followed them in.

 

“I don’t think you understand,” he said immediately. “I thought you were dead! I cried for you. I longed for you. I went to your grave almost every day over the years. Why would you do that to me?”

 

“I didn’t want to,” she said again. “It was never the plan. I wanted to take you with me.”

 

“Don’t give me that,” Rone spat.

 

Gwen flinched and tears sprang up in her eyes.

 

“I planned on taking you the night I left!” she yelled. “I was going to sneak into your room to get you but your father was there, watching you sleep. I knew that if I tried to take you, he would stop me. I couldn’t…I couldn’t risk it. I had to leave.”

 

“Why?” Rone asked. “Why was it so important that you leave?”

 

“Because I loved Cyrus!” she yelled. “I never wanted to marry the King! It was just a way for my family to gain more power. A marriage of convenience. I did the best I could for you. But then I met Niku’s father and everything changed. They’d captured him and tortured him for information. At first, I was wary of him. I’d seen him a handful of times and he always looked like a cornered animal. Ferocious and dangerous.”

 

Rone glared at her. The hurt of hearing his mother’s confession was almost unbearable.

 

“Then, one night, I started talking to him. I was curious. Maybe young and foolish too. To my surprise, he actually talked back. He was gentle and nice. He treated me like a real person and not an object to show off at Upper Tier functions. I came back to see him almost every night for three months. Then, one day, I came there and he was lying across the floor, bloody and beaten. I found out later that your father had questioned Cyrus. It was at that moment I knew I couldn’t be with him anymore. I’ve grown up hearing so many stories about the Terraqouis. About how they were savages. That day, I realized who

 

the real savages were and I wanted no part of it. I made a plan to escape. I was going to free Cyrus, take you, and we were going to run.”

 

“So when you couldn’t get me, you chose to leave me behind instead?” he asked, outraged.

 

“I know what I did to you is unforgiveable and I can never tell you enough how sorry I am, but I couldn’t live there anymore. You of all people should understand that,” she said, looking at her son earnestly. “I was in Vitari when you were recovering. I know what you and Keiara were trying to do before all this chaos happened. You were trying to bring peace between the Rooks and the Terraqouis.”

 

Rone held up a hand, interrupting her.

 

“Wait. You were there?” he asked. It felt like someone had driven a six inch spike through his heart. “You were in Vitari when I was recovering and you never came to see me?”

 

Gwen’s throat worked, her words sticking there.

 

“I could’ve died! And still you didn’t think to check on me? You didn’t think to let me know that you were still alive?”

 

“I was ashamed,” she explained.

 

“You damned well should’ve been,” he yelled at her. His next words came out harsh. “Don’t come near me again. Go back to pretending I never existed.”

 

Ignoring her bout of sobbing, Rone walked out of the tent and away from her.

 

Hopefully forever, he thought darkly.

 

“You don’t mean that,” Keiara said, rushing after him.

 

“Yes I do,” he replied angrily.

 

“She’s your mother, Rone,” Keiara tried to say as she rushed to follow him.

 

“No. She was my mother,” he replied. “When she left me behind, she gave up that title.”

 

Keiara couldn’t think to say anything back. His words were true.

 

“Are you okay?” she asked instead.

 

“Better the farther away from her I get,” he told her.

 

Rone had a rush of confusing thoughts inside his head. So many emotions kept ripping at him. He felt anger toward his mother but a part of him was overjoyed at the fact that she was still alive. A huge part of him was disgusted that Niku was his half-brother, but another part of him was happy to have one. He’d always wanted siblings, but his father never remarried. Now he had one. He wasn’t overly fond of who he’d been stuck with for a brother, but he still had one.

 

He clenched a fist, irritated at the jumble of thoughts cluttering up his mind.

 

“The One Born of Both Worlds,” Keiara whispered suddenly.

 

Rone turned to look at her but her words sank in and he realized what she was talking about.

 

“Niku. A Rook for a mother and a Terra for a father. He’s half of both races.” He wondered, idly, what that really meant. He wondered if his mother ever really had a choice in the decisions she’d made or if fate had played a bigger role in her life…and in the choices she’d made.

 

No. She abandoned me, he thought. It doesn’t matter if she never really had a choice in the matter, she still did it. And willingly.

 

He pushed the rest of those thoughts aside and tried to focus on the bigger picture instead. Wilhelm was getting closer and closer to destroying Purga. He had Niku, the third Sentinel. Somehow, they had to get him back and free him of the control Wilhelm held over him. Then, by some miracle, Niku needed to agree to fight alongside someone that he’d expressed on numerous occasions he despised. Oh, and he also needed to come to terms with the fact that Rone was his brother.

 

Why can’t things ever be easy? he asked himself.

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New Excerpt of Basilisk: Book Three of the Histories of Purga Novels

Well, work continues on Basilisk, the third installment of my HIstories of Purga novels. This book picks up right where Roc left off, with the two races of Purga battling desperately to survive and save their world. Blak's power has only grown and everything has been thrown into a purpetual state of chaos and unrest. Most of the Rooks have been subverted and the Terras are, unfortuantely, not far behind as the Qarri Forest is taken and the tribe-cities their fall one by one.

I haven't had a lot of time to devote to writing lately, but I do what I can, when I can. I will post some more free excerpts right up until the release.

Here's the second one:

"A war? Against the Rooks? You don't have to worry about that. We can handle them." Niku brushed the matter aside.

 

[Humanity's flaws will be their undoing,] the Dragon noted. [Ignorance. Greed. Pride. Bigotry. Racism. These are the things Blak has used to gain his foothold in their minds.]

 

[It is a sad thing to witness,] the Roc agreed.

 

"Hey! Why don't you two quit acting like I'm ivisible!" Niku shouted, annoyed. "Now why am I really here?"

 

[To protect your mind,] they said. [Your body is in the physical world under Blak's control. We pulled your mind into this one to keep the demon's infection from spreading. You are the third Niku, son of Cyrus and Gwendolyn D'Avignon Varlamagne. You are meant to protect. To preserve. To serve as a Sentinel to this world we have built for humanity. Fight. Fight as hard as you can. The other two will fight to bring you back as well and together, the three of you can defeat him.]

 

"Gwendolyn D'Avignon Varlamagne?" Niku asked. His hands clenched into fists and his body went completely rigid. "Varlamagne? Never associate me with that cursed name again. My mother is Gwen of Vitari. She is not a Rook. Do you understand?"

 

[It is you that does not understand,] the Roc shot back. There was a flash of anger from its eyes and they sparked with white-blue light. [You are the One Born of Both Worlds. You are both Rook and Terraqouis. Fate has brought you into being for this moment. Do not let your idiocy and petty hatreds cloud your judgment.]

 

"You're lying," Niku replied quietly. Then he looked up and his eyes locked onto the Dragon's. "Liar!"

 

The Dragon let out an earsplitting roar as the Roc screeched painfully. Both of them were clearly angry. The Dragons eyes glowed red hot as flames danced off its scales. The Roc's eyes were bright with blue light and arcs of lightning were sparking off its body.

 

[Your world is in peril and still you refuse to see it,] the Roc yelled, angry and infuriated. [He will destroy everything. He will consume everything. And here you are enveloping yourself in your stubborn refusal to accept a simple truth.]

 

Niku couldn't think. The creatures' words were too much to handle. He was lost in a confusing cloud of emotions.

 

It couldn't be true. I can't be one of them. They...they are killers. And that Rook. Rone. He's...he's...my brother? Can't be.

 

"No!" Niku shouted. "I can't accept that."

 

[You don't have to like it but you must accept it. You have been fighting this truth, this part of yourself, for so long. I know you've always suspected. I know you've felt your differences with others in your tribe. Embrace them now. Give in to the truth,] the Dragon explained, its voice considerably calmer. It's bright, red and gold eyes stared fixatetly at him, making Niku quickly uncomfortable.

 

Niku turned away from the pair.

 

"I can't," he said. "Not after what they did."

More excerpts to come!

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My Review of: Ant Man

Ok. So when I was growing up Ant-Man wasn't anywhere close to being one of my favorite superheroes. In fact, I thought he was lame and kind of goofy. That being said, I don't actually know a whole lot of Ant-Man story lines. I do know that there are two of them, the original (Hank Pym) and the newcomer (Scott Lang). Also, Hank Pym was the one that created Ultron, not Tony Stark. Not sure why they felt  the need to change that in Age of Ultron, but whatever, I suppose it's not really that big a deal. With the upswing of recent superhero movies, it does feel like both Marvel and DC are taking out B-list superheroes in the hopes of making some real money off them but what I'm beginning to see is, who cares. I love superhero movies and even ones like Ant-Man are knocking it out of the park for me. I watched the movie and absolutely loved it.  With that being said, here's a break down of the movie for me.

Things That I Liked:

For the most part, the movie Ant-Man (from what I remember of his story anyways), went pretty true with the comic storylines. There was the original Ant-Man named Hank Pym (who's wife, Janet, was the Wasp (she does have a little cameo in the movie which I really liked) and then there's Scott Lang, a thief that steals the original Ant-Man suit. That part, from what I remember, was pretty accurate. I love accuracy in comic book movies. It doesn't have to be 100% true to the comic (otherwise that would be boring) but it does have to be pretty close. I also really liked the actors in this movie. I'm a fan of Paul Rudd already but I think Michael Douglas did really well as Hank Pym. Also, Evangeline LIly as HOpe Pym was an excellent choice as well. She was very intense and played the more emotional parts very believably. The plot of Ant-Man was also really well done and had my attention grabbed right from the start. This movie had the perfect blend of action, comedy, and drama. The effects were top notch and super realistic. Surprisingly for myself, it quickly became one of my favorite Marvel superhero movies.

Things That I Didn't Like:

There's not much in this topic, I'm afraid. I will say that some of the plot points that were obviously not true to the comic did rub me the wrong way. Darren Cross is NOT Yellowjacket. In the comics, Hank Pym dons the suit to get a more "badass" rep, instead of the goodie goodie rep he had as Ant-Man. Also, Scott Lang just straight up steals the suit. Hank Pym did not orchestrate that. It made sense in the movie, which is why that one doesn't really bother me that much. I was not a big fan of the actor that played Darren Cross. He didn't really come across well to me. Like he wasn't all that believable as a villain. It did get a letter better towards the end of the movie however.

For Ant-Man, I give it 4/5 stars. It's a great movie and if you're a superhero fan, this movie won't disappoint.

My Review of: Ant Man

Ok. So when I was growing up Ant-Man wasn't anywhere close to being one of my favorite superheroes. In fact, I thought he was lame and kind of goofy. That being said, I don't actually know a whole lot of Ant-Man story lines. I do know that there are two of them, the original (Hank Pym) and the newcomer (Scott Lang). Also, Hank Pym was the one that created Ultron, not Tony Stark. Not sure why they felt  the need to change that in Age of Ultron, but whatever, I suppose it's not really that big a deal. With the upswing of recent superhero movies, it does feel like both Marvel and DC are taking out B-list superheroes in the hopes of making some real money off them but what I'm beginning to see is, who cares. I love superhero movies and even ones like Ant-Man are knocking it out of the park for me. I watched the movie and absolutely loved it.  With that being said, here's a break down of the movie for me.

Things That I Liked:

For the most part, the movie Ant-Man (from what I remember of his story anyways), went pretty true with the comic storylines. There was the original Ant-Man named Hank Pym (who's wife, Janet, was the Wasp (she does have a little cameo in the movie which I really liked) and then there's Scott Lang, a thief that steals the original Ant-Man suit. That part, from what I remember, was pretty accurate. I love accuracy in comic book movies. It doesn't have to be 100% true to the comic (otherwise that would be boring) but it does have to be pretty close. I also really liked the actors in this movie. I'm a fan of Paul Rudd already but I think Michael Douglas did really well as Hank Pym. Also, Evangeline LIly as HOpe Pym was an excellent choice as well. She was very intense and played the more emotional parts very believably. The plot of Ant-Man was also really well done and had my attention grabbed right from the start. This movie had the perfect blend of action, comedy, and drama. The effects were top notch and super realistic. Surprisingly for myself, it quickly became one of my favorite Marvel superhero movies.

Things That I Didn't Like:

There's not much in this topic, I'm afraid. I will say that some of the plot points that were obviously not true to the comic did rub me the wrong way. Darren Cross is NOT Yellowjacket. In the comics, Hank Pym dons the suit to get a more "badass" rep, instead of the goodie goodie rep he had as Ant-Man. Also, Scott Lang just straight up steals the suit. Hank Pym did not orchestrate that. It made sense in the movie, which is why that one doesn't really bother me that much. I was not a big fan of the actor that played Darren Cross. He didn't really come across well to me. Like he wasn't all that believable as a villain. It did get a letter better towards the end of the movie however.

For Ant-Man, I give it 4/5 stars. It's a great movie and if you're a superhero fan, this movie won't disappoint.

My Newest Design Collection for One Up Bands - Moroccan Dream

In addition to being a self-published author and comic book creator, I am also the Art Director for One Up Bands. We do a lot of awesome, custom prints on fashionable headbands, keychains, as well as custom wraps for bluetooth speakers, power banks, and some other stuff too. We have over 1,200 stock designs to choose from with new designs always being added as well.

The newest collection we currently have available is my Moroccan Dream collection. Inspiration for this design came from a basic quatrefoil concept but with a twist. I used differing shades of color to create a gradiant look and then highlighted that with an accent color on the quatrefoil itself. With 6 different colors to choose from, you'll find one you like.

You can view the entire collection here:

http://oneupbands.com/collections/hea...

Check it out. Our headbands make awesome gifts!

A little bit about One Up Bands:

One Up Bands offers several types of headbands to help keep your hair and sweat out of your eyes!

 

Non-Slip Athletic Headbands: Our flagship product, our non-slip headbands are second to none! With a soft, velvety underside and and elastic strap, you'll find them to be exceptionally comfortable. Plus, with HUNDREDS of designs, you're sure to find a whole bunch you like! All non-slip bands are available in our standard 20" and we also offer an adjustable band, which provides a range of 18-20.5"

Tie-Back Headbands: Made from a super comfy, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial fabric, our tie-backs are ideal for just about anyone! From the guy with the shaved head at the gym to the cyclist who always wears her helmet - no one likes that burning feeling that comes from one itty-bitty drop of sweat working its way into the corner of your eye. Our tie-backs help you keep your eye on the prize!

Loopty Loop Headbands: One Up Bands continues to stay ahead of the curve with the latest in athletic fashion accessories: Loopty Loop bands. Available in THREE sizes, these comfortable bands are super soft and very stretchy! The best part is, these bands stay put, just like our non-slip headbands. So, stock up today and add a little diversity to your headband collection.

Elastic Headbands: Similar to our Hair Ties, our elastic headbands are great for the gal on the go, and won't pull out, dent, or damage your hair! Available in several colors and sparkly shades. Chlorine and salt-water safe.

Visit oneupbands.com to browse out selection of products and trendy designs!

I'm Back...With A Freebie

Ok. So I've been away from my website for a long time, mostly becuase I was working on Blood Ties: The Second and then when I finished with that, I revamped both Dragon and Roc. I am currently working on Basilisk right now but I'm hoping to still post some updates, new reviews, articles, and more. I may not be able to post a blog entry every single week, but I'll try. 

I have, as I said, been working hard on Basilisk, the third book of my Histories of Purga novels. In the next installment, we find that everyone is fighting to stay alive and the only hope for survival is to rescue the third Sentinel from Blak's control. Without him, everyone and everything will die.

Rone and Keiara put together a bold plan to break the third Sentinel free but will they be successful?

Aeole and Asher must fight to protect their homelands from Rook invaders.

Rowan and his band of refugees try to find a way to stop the Blak Army and break the mindcontrol its soldeirs are under.

It's a fight that will go down in the history books.

With that, here's a preview sample of the first couple of pages (unedited at the current time):

Chapter One

"Niku!" Someone was shouting. "Niku! Where are you?"

Niku recognized the voice immediately. He'd know it anywhere. After all, he'd been in love with its owner for a long time now. Except she didn't know it. For all his bravery in battle he could never summon the courage to tell her how he really felt.

Not like it matters anymore, he thought to himself. Not since the Rook showed up.

He felt that old, familiar hate boil through him. He despised the Rooks for murdering his father, Cyrus, and torturing his mother. They had stripped him of enough already and now one had taken even more from him.

He'd taken Keiara.

"Niku!" he heard her shout again.

"Keiara! What do you want? Have you finally lost interest in your damned Rook?" he sneered.

There was no answer.

"Why play these games?" he asked, after a couple seconds. He looked around but still couldn't find her. "Why taunt me? Why continue to torture me?"

"I have a secret," Keiara whispered from directly behind him. "I've known how you felt about me the whole time. I just wanted to watch you squirm and twist in the wind. I wanted you to think you had a chance with me. I wanted to watch your love grow so I could crush you like a bug. And let me tell you. It was worth the effort. The look on your face when I chose a Rook over you was absolutely priceless."

Niku was shocked silent at her words but more than that, he was shocked at the callous, vicious way she said them. It wasn't like her. She didn't have an ounce of meanness in her. She was kind and sweet. She wouldn't say those things. She just wasn't capable of it.

He turned around slowly and found no one there at all. In fact, he realized nothing was anywhere. The world around him was an empty, white void.

"Where am I?" he screamed. He was starting to panic now.

"Where you are meant to be," Keiara said. She suddenly materialized in front of him, as beautiful and perfect as ever. "Where you will stay. Forever."

Keiara suddenly changed into Rone. The smug Rook smiled cockily at him.

"This is where you belong. You're uselessness won't get in the way anymore. All you do is screw things up," he said.

Niku's fury rose to incredible new heights. His vision blurred. His heart thumped painfully. His hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.

With an incoherent growl, he charged blindly at Rone. Before he could get to him, however, the Rook dissipated into thin air and Niku stumbled and fell onto the ground. He got up slowly and looked for Rone but he was alone again.

"Coward!" Niku screamed loudly. His face went bright red and he could feel his blood pounding through him.

"Always so easy to manipulate. You're anger has been your downfall." Now both Rone and Keiara were back and they said the words together, their voices in perfect synchronicity.

Then they started laughing. They laughed and laughed, their voices contorting and merging with each other until it was one voice. Then Rone and Keiara melted into each other. There was a hideous few minutes where they looked like some kind of two headed monstrosity. Then their features smoothed over until Niku was looking at the burned man. The man that lead the Rooks.

The man that did...something to him but he couldn't remember what.

"What do you want from me?" Niku asked, afraid. The man scared him badly.

"What I want is to take. To corrupt. To pollute. To contaminate. This world and every other now that I have been freed. Believe me when I say this boy, I will never stop." He suddenly blurred and then he was inches away from Niku's face. "I cannot be stopped."

The burned man changed again and this time Niku's fear was so powerful that he could barely breathe. The man's twisted, burned face split open and the tear continued on until the two halves of his former body fell to the ground in a slimy pile. What crawled out of the husk was a thing that looked like a spider but a twisted, deformed version of one.

"My power is at its apex and no force on this world or any other can stop me now that I have you," it said.

Its voice was like knives that flayed the inside of Niku's head. He clamped his hands to his ears and fell to his knees as the pain quickly became unbearable.

"You will die here, halfling. You will die here, One of Both Worlds," it said.

"No! No. I. Will. Not." Niku yelled out his rage with each word and as he did the pain receded. His eyes flashed with bright green light the color of a field of spring grass.

His weirdly glowing eyes fixed on the spider-thing. He threw out an arm and the power rushing inside him flew out in a pulsing wave of green light. The air suddenly smelled like freshly turned earth and wild flowers.

As soon as the wave of power left him, Niku felt a wave of exhaustion roll through him. He fought against it though. He wasn't letting that creature get him. He wasn't letting it escape either. He was going to destroy it.

The spider-thing didn't even try to move. It just laughed hideously.

"Futile. All your efforts are futile," it said as the light hit it.

Its body swelled and bulged grossly.

Niku watched in horrified fascination as the revolting thing exploded in a wave of stench and putrid slime. The force of it smacked into him next and sent him flying a few feet through the air.

He hit what passed for the ground in that weird place a minute later but all it did was shatter like glass. He kept going, passing from that white void and into the sky of a devastated, ruined world.

He shouted in complete terror as he tumbled end over end through a brown and yellowed sky. Streaks of purple raced over and through the land below and whole chunks of the earth were just gone. Tendrils of darkness covered two thirds of this world and they were hungrily trying to devour the rest.

Niku's screams rose the closer he got to hitting the ground. He closed his eyes before he did. He couldn't stop his fall but he could stop himself from seeing his own death.

A second later, he smashed into the peak of an enormous mountain that looked like half of it had been sheared away. Rocks and pebbles flew into the air when he hit it and he created a crater about two feet deep.

He coughed harshly as dust flew down his throat. His eyes watered and his chest burned. He took a few seconds to get himself together. He was amazed that he was still alive but he was extremely shaky still. His body was still trembling from the fear of certain death.

He managed to flop onto his back. He waited a few more minutes, just sitting there and taking steadying breaths. Finally, he pushed himself to his feet. His legs still wobbled but they stopped a few seconds later.

He looked around the half destroyed mountain he was on and finally got a chance to take in this new place he was in. It was a ravaged wreck but he knew instantly that it was some sort of mirror world of Purga, only the real Purga was beautiful and vibrant. The Purga he was in now was a pale comparison. It was dry and wasted. Chunks of earth were just missing and tendrils of purple laced darkness invaded it like a plague.

"Now where am I?" he asked out loud.

[The world between worlds.]

He wasn't expecting an answer so when he got one, he was startled. He turned around and directly in front of him were two massive creatures.

One was a dragon. The other was a roc.

[And time is running out. You must fight back.] Both creatures seemed to be talking at the same time. Neither ones' mouth moved, however. Instead, their words filled Niku's mind like thoughts.

"I don't understand," Niku said. "What is going on here?"

[There is a war,] the Dragon said.

[And we are losing,] the Roc said next.

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