Diabolus Ianua

   This is one of my earlier writings. Its a story I wrote for my creative writing class in high school and I just recently dug it up from the depths of my Facebook notes. It has some part that are in Latin, so if you need a translator, I encourage it so that you can embrace the full feeling of the story. Enjoy.


-Kristopher 




   “Diabolus Ianua!” These are the words one must say to gain access to a castle lost in time. Anton von Killstrum’s castle. The castle’s master does not like unexpected visitors and will do whatever it takes to defend is and his most prized possession. But it calls to you, beckons you toward it. “I have many rooms and many treasure to find. Come explore me,” its says. You must not give in, for you will never come out of Killstrum’s Castle. There was one man, however, who did make it out. His name? Axel. No last name and no family, just a legend to which he holds up proudly.
   Axel was the adventurous type. Always trying new things and going to new places. Never once did he not do something new. His story starts in his village. The village of Coojo. Its all starts with a yawn and a smack upside the head. “Wake up, you lazy bum! There’s work to be done!” Axel, being twenty one years old, did not get up until he felt like he had rested enough to do something new for the day. “May the devil spit on you food, you dirty old witch,” whispered the disgruntled man. With a yawn, he stood up quickly and a wooden beam hit him in the forehead. “Today’s going to be a great day,” said Axel sarcastically to himself. As he walked down the creaky wooden steps to the kitchen, he saw a horse drawn carriage out a window. “The kings’ back already?” “Of course he is! Now go do your chores! And I better not see you staring off again! The devil will snatch you up without you noticing,” said his mother. 
   Axel’s mother didn’t know how true that was. Once he finished his chores, Axel went for a walk, and not his usual way around town. He walked through the woods, climbing trees and what not. “If only my mother had some sense of adventure, she would see where I’m coming from when I say I want to do something out there, in the world.” Just then, he tripped over a big rock, which looked like a tombstone. “A tombstone? Here?” As he looked closer, he noticed it was a tombstone and there was an old language on it. “Huh? What’s this? Diabolus Ianua? Sounds funny.” After his last word, the wind picked up, revealing a path going into a cave that wasn’t there before, hidden by magic. “Wow,” said Axel. “Well, caves were meant to be explored, right? Lets take a look then.” With a big smile and a strong desire, he entered the cave, to which the entrance disappeared once entered. “Oy! Lemme out! This isn’t funny!” “Fear not, brave explorer, for this is the cave to a castle. Find the master’s treasure and you’ll be set free.” “The master’s treasure, eh? Alright, lets see this ‘master’.” 
   Inside Castle Killstrum, Anton von Killstrum woke with a start. “An intruder! In the cave! Guards!” Quickly, a group of fifty of so goblins appeared and saluted their master. “Yea, m’lord!” “There is an intruder! Go find him and bring him to me!” “Yes, m’lord!” As Anton’s minions ran off to find the intruder, Anton went to his bedside table, opening it, to reveal a music box. “Hello, my love. I do hope you feeling alright, being stuffed in a drawer most the time. I don’t mean to treat you as a slave, but, may I hear your beautiful music?” The music box then opened, playing an elegant song. “Ahh, Ludwig von Beethoven. Thank you, my dear. Now, I must put you back, but I’ll be back to visit soon.” He then shut the drawer and locked it. “Aduro Vorago,” said Anton, and the fireplace behind him sparked into a great fire. “Ahh, must better.”
   Axel walked down the dark cave, seeing a light at the end. “People say not to go towards the light, but why would I choose now to listen?” He ran towards the light, hoping to find treasure and adventure. He came out of the cave and save a grand castle. “Where am I?” A wooden sign that pointed to the castle read, “Castle Killstrum”. “ ‘Castle Killstrum’? Never heard of it. Lets have a look see, shall we?” As he walked toward the castle, an arrow whistled by his head, barely missing him. “What in God’s name?!” He looked up at the castle gate to see an elf of dark skin, pointing a arrow at him. “An elf?! But… that’s impossible! Their not real!” The elf shouted back something in his own native tongue and shoot at Axel again. “Ahh!” He ducked behind a fallen log and realized that he sat on something rather sharp. “What’s this? A pen? Well, for every pen, there must be a book!” He looked around for a book and found one in an old oak tree, in a owl’s hole. Hurrying, he opened it and read the first thing he could. “Fidelis Creatura!” The elf then lowered his bow and walked toward Axel, kneeling on one knee. “I beg your forgiveness, master.” “Master? Those words… Were they a spell?” “Indeed. The sacred language of the Gods. Whoever speaks the words in that book control everything that ever was and will be.” This baffled Axel’s mind. “Hold on a tic! You were just speaking some other language! How come I can understand you now?” “I’m still speaking my native tongue. My best guess would be that the book gave you the power of translation.” “Well, I guess I have a new companion. Will you venture forth with me, into Castle Killstrum?” “I will, m’lord.” “Fantastic! Lets go!” The two then walked up to the gate and went thorough.
   As the two walked up the long pathway heading to the castle, they heard a faint whisper, “Are you willing to sacrifice?” Axel jumped. “Who’s there? Sacrifice what?” The whisper answered, “Everything…” “Be gone, spirit!” The eerie feeling of a presence was gone and they continued, still on their guard. “Elf.” “Yes, m’lord?” “Do you have a name?” “Yes, but I am your servant. For you to call me by my name would be to great an honor, m’lord.” “Call me Axel, my friend. Now, what is your name?” With a chuckle, the elf gave Axel a confused look. “I must beg your forgiveness, for I have forgotten my true name.” “Forgotten? Hmm…” As Axel was thinking, his eyes came over the book. “I have an idea!” Axel whipped open the book and started searching. “May I ask what your looking for, m’lord?” Axel shot him a agitated look. “Sorry. Axel.” “Well, other then the fact that you did just ask, you may ask.” It took a minute to figure out what his master had just said. “Oh.. umm… What are you looking for?” “I’m looking for a spell. A spell to help you remember your name.” “Really?! Thank you, my friend.” “Not at all.” As Axel searched, an arrow whizzed by the elf’s head, hitting his shoulder. The elf turned around to see another elf, just like him, aiming for his head. “Brother, come down from there! This is our master now!” “Him? He will never be my master!” The aiming elf shot again and hit the books binding. “Elf, please, protect me!” “As you wish, m’lord!” The elf, a servant to his master, rushed into battle, hell bent on protecting his master. “Commoneo Cognomen!” The elf stopped mid step and looked at Axel. “Elf, are you ok?” “Please, my friend, call me Thomus.” “Thomus… Onward to battle!” “Yes, m’lord!” Thomus ran ahead, pulling two daggers out of his back pocket. “I vanquish thy, enemy of the master!” Thomus then thrust his daggers into his enemy’s chest, pulling down, dragging his to the ground. “Rest in peace, demon…” A dark cloud surrounded the corpse, setting it ablaze, leaving nothing but a cape and a sword. With those items in hand, he walked back to Axel and gave them to him.” Spoils of war, my friend.” With a hearty laugh, he fastened the cape around his neck and the sword in a holster he found in the cave. “Thank you, my true companion.” Thomus smiled and they continued up the path.
   “Guards! Did you apprehend the invader?” The goblin guards appeared in front of Anton in a puff of smoke. “Not yet, m’lord. We’re working on it. We did get word, though, that the invade has allied your elven battle commander, and had him defeat your main door guard. So, all-in-all, this ain’t good, sir.” Anton was now pacing. “You imbeciles! Catch him now or I’ll feed you to the… wait… that’s it!” “Sir, your not thinking of… him, are you?!” “Indeed, my servants! Unleash the Kobalos!” “Yes m’lord!” As his servants walked away, he sat on his bed, looking at the bedside table. “Once I rid the castle of this intruder, we will be together at last. For you see, he is the last one. The one who will make this castle whole again. We can be together, my dear. Just wait a little longer.” Anton then continued to sit on his bed and wept quietly.
   “Alright. The boss wants us to get that intruder and fast.” “Well, not us! The Kobalos.” “Oh, right. Still, we’re releasing them, so we’re getting him. See?” “Not really…” “Oh never mind.” The goblin guards gave up trying to understand one and went to unleash the Kobalos. “Alright. On three. One. Two. Three!” The opened a heavy metal gate and three men in green cloaks walked out, with hoods over their face’s, concealing their identities. “Ok. We released them…” The two guards looked at each other. “Now we run,” they said simultaneously. They ran away from the Kobalos and peeked to see what they would do from around a corner. “Why they just standin’ there?” “Maybe they’re tired...” Then, the three cloaked men were gone and the goblins were dead.
   Axel and Thomus walked into the main foyer of the castle, astounded at how well it had stayed together. The ceiling was barely cracked, the wooden stairs weren’t rotted, and the chandelier’s crystal was still clear as day. “Wow,” whispered Axel, “What a place to live. I must have this castle for my own. I know it sounds a bit greedy, but something inside tell me that I must have it!” Thomus covered Axel’s mouth quickly. “You musn’t say such things. The master will hear you.” Just then, the chandelier dropped and hovered and inch above the ground. “We musn’t hurt the treasures.” “Yes. It is precious. Be careful with it, brothers. “Oh, we will. But first, let us, the Kobalos, dispose of the intruder.” The three men then threw the chandelier up in the air and caught it from the bottom. “Let us kill in the name of Anton von Killstrum!” They charged forth and swung the chandelier at Axel and Thomus, making Axel land on his rear end and Thomus doing handsprings to safety. “Axel, are you alright?” “Don’t worry about me! Take out the enemy!” Thomus ran forward and was immediately hit by the chandelier. Axel knew there was no way to win by force. “The book!” Axel whipped open the book and search like a mad man. “Diruo Timor!” The chandelier began to shine and dissolve. “Brothers! The treasure! Its melting!” “Not melting. Simply going away.” “We must save it!” The three men tried to grab whatever they could and hold on to it. Axel smirked and stood up. “Its no good. It’ll be gone in seconds.” He opened the book again. “Now, what to do with you. Hmm….” As he searched, the three men ran toward him, daggers drawn and ready for battle. “Ahh! Here’s a good one. Fundo Hostes Hostium!” The thieves stopped and fell to the ground, curling up into a ball. “How could you! Now we will die a most painful death!” Thomus put his hand on Axel’s shoulder. “Lets leave these peasants to their death.” “Hold on. I at least owe them one good thing.” He opened the book and read words as a forgiving mother would. “Memini Meminisse Gaudium,” whispered the merciful man. The men then sighed with their last breath and were no more. “Come, Thomus. To the master’s chamber!” 
   They raced up the stairs and banged on the door. “Anton von Killstrum! We’re here to contest you for your castle!” The doors slowly swung open, revealing a pale man in a red cape standing by a roaring fire. “Hello there, my honored guests.” “Honored guests? You’ve sent your minions to get rid of us! Honored guest my eye!” Anton then turned, an evil look in his eye. “But see, that’s just it! You defeated them! And your standing in front of me! That has never happened before!” Pulling two rapiers off of his mantle, he pointed them at Axel. “You’re an intruder. I’m the master of the castle. Only one can stay and I don’t plan for it to be you.” “Then, m’lord, let us fight, no restrictions, to see who is the true master of this castle! Thomus, go!” The elf sprang through the doorway, tackling Anton. “You think a petty elf can stop me?” Anton raised his hand and grabbed Thomus by the throat. “Goodbye, traitor!” He threw Thomus to the side, making him tumble out a window. Axel ran to the window. “Thomus!” “He is gone! This is a fight for you and me only. En guard!” Axel opened the book and turned to Anton. “How dare you dispose of my friend like some broken child’s toy! You shall pay!” Anton laughed, “And how am I going to pay? I have immortal life and two swords. What do you have? A book.” “A book that will end you.” Suddenly, the bedside table flew open, revealing the music box. “No!” Anton jumped to catch it, but missed. “Is this yours, m’lord?” Anton turned around to see Axel holding the music box. “Don’t open it. I am the only person who is to open it. Please, I beg you!” Axel looked at the little music box and whispered, “Deleo Carus Arca Archa!” The music box began to shine. “What have you done?!” Anton then ran forward and snatched the box away from Axel. “Destroying the one thing you hold dearest!” The box then spun out of control and burst into flames. “No! Elise!” The music box opened and began to play Fur Elise in the saddest way, almost like the pianist was crying while he played. It then burnt it down to a cinder and the ashes feel to the floor. “My beautiful Elise. I have no reason to live now. What is your name, you merciless being?” “Axel.” “Well, Axel, prepare to die!” Anton lunged forward, spinning his rapiers wildly. Axel jumped up and took his sword from its sheath, tossing it at Anton’s heart. “Foolish mortal, you cannot defeat me, for I have no heart!” “Habeo Habui Habitum Pectus Pectoris!” Anton froze, for he felt a heartbeat in his chest. “Its over. You’re the new castle’s master.” As he said his last words, the thrown sword sank into this chest, right through his heart. Axel landed on his feet and walked over to Anton. “Rest in peace, my worthy opponent.” Anton von Killstrum was no more and the castle was now Castle Axel.