The Knight drew his sword as he stepped into the courtyard. All was quiet under the dark sky. A full moon lit up the cobblestone ground. The only audible noise was the clank of the Knight's armor as he took a few more steps into the courtyard. His eyes searched for some sign of movement.

            A deep, rough laugh echoed throughout the courtyard. The knight gripped his sword with both hands. 'Filthy Demon! I will send you back to hell!' The laugh rang out again. 'Foolish mortal, I have not yet shown you hell.'

            C'owardice beast! Shed your magic and face me!' With this, the demon shed his cloak and stepped toward the Knight. Razor sharp, twisted horns stuck out of the Demon's head. His slitted eyes shown with hatred. A snake-like tongue darted out between pointed teeth. His long bony fingers wrapped around  his sword.

            The Demon's half hoofed feet kicked up dirt as he took a step forward. A wicked smile crossed his face as he drew his sword up. 'Draw your sword human, its time to end this game.'

            The Knight raised his sword and planted his feet. The Demon roared and charged the Knight.  He sidestepped this and swung on the Demon.  The Demon swung around. The Knight swung  his sword again but it was met. Seeing the opening, the Demon took advantage and swung into the Knight's thigh.  He cried out in pain but held his ground.

            And so the battle continued. Long into the night they fought. It was a stalemate. Every time one would attack, the other would block. Each time their swords met, sparks lit up the dark courtyard. Every so often one would land a minuscule blown on their opponent. Nothing fatal, just a glancing blow. Dark clouds gathered above the two combatants.

            Eventually, the Demon's hellish attributes wore the Knight out. Again and again, the Knight swung and was blocked by the Demon. The Demon began landing more and more blows, each more and more fatal.

            Finally, The demon landed a crippling blow. The Knight was hit just above his ribs. The force of the blow sunk through the armor and hit flesh and bone.  Blood leaked through the hole in his armor.

            The Demon screamed into the still night and swung again. The Demon's sword smashed through armor and sunk into the Knight's shoulder.  The Demon withdrew his sword, which was now dripping with blood.

            The Knight dropped his sword and fell to his knees. The Demon grinned and let out a long wicked laugh. 'Your soul is mine mortal.' The knight lowered his head and  began praying. The Demon stopped laughing and squinted at the Knight.

            'What are you doing foolish one? Are you talking to your God?' A look of disgust crossed the Demon's face. 'You sicken me mortal. Your God cannot help you anymore.' The knight continued to pray, the whole time, waiting for the final blows to rain down on him.

            Yet after several minutes of this, the finale had not come. The Knight raised his head and looked for Demon. He saw nothing but darkness. He stood upon shaky legs. He noticed his many wounds no longer hurt.  Suddenly, a voice startled the Knight.

            'Turn around mortal.'  The knight spun around, expecting the demon. Instead stood a man in a black cloak. He had long black hair that hung in his face.  Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. The man's eyes searched the cloudy sky.

            'Who are  you? 'The Knight was visibly terrified. 'You are valiant and brave, but you cannot defeat him. Let me help you'. The Knight took a step back. 'How can you help me?'

            The man continued to gaze into the sky as raindrops began to fall.  'I come from a different land. A horrible, wretched world, full of Demons and monsters corrupting everything. I am trying to end this problem by stopping it before it starts.' The man turned his full attention to the Knight.

            'I can give you the power of the gods. You will defeat this monster.'  With this, the man held out his hand. The Knight took a few shaky steps toward the man. The two joined hands and the man's eyes lit up.  'You have chosen well valiant one. Now close your eyes.'

            The Knight did and a tremble ran through his body. He could not move and a white light burned his eyes, though they remained shut. A wicked  laugh woke him from this stunned state. He looked up to see the Demon glaring down at him.

            Sword in hand, the Knight rose to his feet to face the Demon. A  look of utter surprise crossed the Demon's face.  Rain was now pouring down, soaking the courtyard and everything within. Even so, the Knight's sword burned with holy fire. With a scream of rage, the Knight swung on the Demon.

            Black blood leaked from the Demon's scarred chest. The Knight swung again and again, until the Demon lie on his back, looking up, terrified, at the Knight. That look of fear, that look brought utter satisfaction to the Knight. With a grunt, the Knight raised his sword one more time, and sunk the fiery sword into the Demon.

            The Demon let out one last roar and closed his eyelids.  The Knight stood breathing heavy for several minutes. Suddenly, Severe exhaustion washed over the Knight, and he collapsed to the ground.

                                                                   * * *

            The Knight lay there for hours, until the cloaked man came back. The man stood over the Knight for several minutes, and began to laugh.  Lightning flashed and the man turned into the Demon. His laugh echoed through the courtyard.

            He reached down and picked the Knight up. He looked into the Knight's dead face. 'I have not shown you Hell.' The Demon spoke in a different language and the rain stopped. The sun was raising above the land.

            The Demon slowly walked off into the distance with the Knight. All that was left in the wet courtyard, was the Knight's sword, still glowing with holy fire.

                                                END