Souldancer - Champion of Light - 1. Chapter 1 - Liam Montgomery

Souldancer Champion of Light

by Phoenix Rafael

May, 2010

Chapter #1 – Liam Montgomery

Liam sat at the table, eating lunch with his best friend Austin. He felt like not being around too many people, which for Liam was unusual. But Austin took it in stride and agreed. His girlfriend Angela was at choir practice anyway.

Liam took a sip of his Pepsi, and sighed. Austin looked over to his friend. “What's wrong, Liam? Has Caroline stopped putting out or something?”

Liam smiled weakly, “Nah Austin, nothing like that. It... I don't know. I'm tired, of what, I can't put my finger on. I suppose part of it is that I haven't been sleeping well lately.”

Austin took a bite of his egg salad sandwich. “How long have you not been sleeping well for?”

Liam shrugged, “A month or two.”

“A MONTH OR TWO?!?” Austin was upset that it took Liam so long to tell him something like this.

Liam sighed again, “Yeah, I thought the problem would go away by itself. But I keep having these nightmares. The city is dark, but the sky is lit, with orange fire.”

Austin blinked at Liam, “It's just orange fire.”

“That's the thing” Liam took a sip, “Everyone was dead. It was like the atmosphere was burned away.”

Austin offered Liam a reassuring smile, “Perhaps you should talk to my Mom. She can help you know.” Austin's Mom was a psychiatrist. “No charge.”

Liam took a bite of his own sandwich. “Thanks, but I have this feeling the problem is going to resolve itself fairly soon.”

After Liam and Austin finished lunch, they both went to the rest of their classes for the day.

At his locker, at the end of the day, Liam saw his friend Issac at the locker next to his. “Hey Issac, I haven't seen you in a while.”

Issac grinned. “That's because David and I are going steady. He said yes, and Dominic likes him.”

Liam blinked. “Dominic, your twin, actually likes someone you're dating? Did he fall and get hit on the head or something?”

Issac laughed at that, as Dominic came up and patted his brother's shoulder. “Yeah, I know Liam. I don't normally like the guys Issac dates, but this time I approve.”

Liam walked over and put his hand on Dominic's forehead. “Alright, who are you, and what have you done with Dominic Roy?”

All of them laughed at that, and then started to leave the school. At the sidewalk, they waved, and parted ways as Liam started the ten minute walk home. Sure he had a bus pass, but the walk did him good. It was September, and the weather was nice outside.

“Beware the ides of much!”

Liam blinked, and looked over. There was Linda Traugott, the local nutjob, sitting on her soapbox by the bus stop.

“Isn't that beware the Ides of March?” Liam asked, studying Linda who looked about 65, but her eyes, those eyes said she was much, much older.

Linda grinned. “You listened, Liam. Good work. There may be a future for you yet.”

Liam blinked again. “You're coherent. We all thought you were nuts. The guys at school compare you to the crazy cat lady on The Simpsons.”

Linda still grinned. “Now how fun is it if I go through life acting the way everyone expects me to? At least this way, I get a few shits and giggles out of it.”

Liam couldn't help but smile. “I suppose so. But how do you know my name? We've never talked before.”

Linda's grin turned into a spooky smile. “I know you, Liam Montgomery. I know you've been having nightmares, I know that you and Caroline broke up.”

Liam totally lost his smile. He looked like someone had walked over his grave. He and Caroline had broken up two weeks ago, but decided not to tell anyone unless they asked.

“When the time comes” Linda leaned in to Liam, and whispered, “Remember, soul power.”

Liam looked at Linda plainly. “Soul power? What does that mean?”

Linda waved her hands, “Shhh, don't tell everyone.”

Liam shrugged her off. “Whatever. I gotta get home. Have a good day!” And he walked away from the crazy lady.

Liam was rounding the corner, almost home. His mind was on what Linda said the entire way. He wondered if she even had a home, since she seemed to be at every bus stop, or corner store lately. It was eerily odd.

But while his mind was on Linda, he bumped into something. “Oh, I'm sorry.” Liam looked up at the tower of a man dressed in black clothing, with a black trench coat.

The man grinned. “I want your heart. Give it to me.” And the man started to reach at Liam as if to put his hand in Liam's chest.

Liam panicked, trying to back away, he even turned and started to run, but the man was faster than he was. Liam didn't know what to do, but he believed this wacko would kill him. 'Remember, soul power' danced across his thoughts.

Liam crossed his arms, and yelled “SOUL POWER!” A bright light emanated right from his soul, encompassing him, and a moment later, he emerged in a white set of battle armour, complete with a cape, and white costume makeup hiding his face.

Liam blinked, wondering what the fuck was going on. But then something took over, and gave him a huge boost of confidence. “I suggest you go elsewhere for your hearts, demon! Or I will destroy you were you stand, for I am Souldancer.”

“Souldancer! Rubbish!” The man gave an evil grin, “The prophecy of the Souldancer is false, because My Lord ensured it would never happen!”

Liam raised his hand, and not knowing how he did it, brought a white ball of energy. Like a baseball pitcher, he tossed it at the man. The man tried to dodge it, but it hit him, and he quickly disappeared.

Liam blinked, and then right in front of him was Linda. “Good job, a bit rusty, but good work. We can train you to be more polished. Besides, they won't all be that easy.”

Liam blinked, and was able to transform back into Liam. “What are you talking about?” He was really very confused.

“That was a demon, as you correctly identified. They are after the hearts of innocents. Why else? They want to take over the city.”

Liam laughed! “They sound like Pinky & the Brain.”

Linda smiled, “Yes, I suppose they do. I'm sorry if I freaked you out lately, but I am to be your trainer. There is a history you will find out about later.”

Liam looked Linda in the eye, “You're serious. I'm this... Souldancer?”

Linda nodded, “Souldancer, the Champion of Light. You are the leader of a team of five that will right wrongs, and try to prevent the city from being taken over.”

Liam hmmmed and shrugged, “How do I find the other four?”

For that Linda sighed, “That I don't know. Each member of the team represents an element. The elements are Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Soul which is you. The easiest way is to look for a birth mark on their butt's that represents their element.”

Liam brightened up a little. “Sweet. I don't mind looking at girl's ass all day.”

Linda again signed, “The entire team is guys Liam. Check in the locker room, though they may not even go to your school. They are also all sixteen, just like you.”

Liam hmmed and thought about his best friend Austin. He didn't remember seeing any birth mark's on his ass. He didn't recall seeing any on Caroline's ass as well. “I'll ask around, I can do that without drawing too much attention.”

“When you find them” Linda instructed, “For them to transform, it's the name of their element, with the word power afterwards. You must remember this, as it could save your life.”

Liam nodded a little. “Right, like air power, or fire power. Doesn't that sound a bit hokey?”

Linda hung her head in shame. She gave a very loud sigh. “It's just how the spell invokes your powers. Don't give it too much attention. In time you may learn to transform without it.”

Liam smiled again at that. “Alright, I'll tell them. Anything else, Master?”

Linda looked at Liam as if he were the crazy one now. “No, and you don't need to refer to me as Master.”

Liam thought about it, and said. “You're right, Sensei.”

“You don't need to refer to me as Sensei either.”

Liam nodded, “True, but I get this feeling the title is appropriate for you. Well, goodnight” And with that Liam was down the street, almost to his house.

Linda herself headed home, and yes, she had one.

******

“I failed” the tall demon faced his Master. “Souldancer showed up to save the day.”

“SOULDANCER! How did you manage to do that?!?” The Master Demon was livid with this one. “You were supposed to collect hearts, not socialize at the local do-gooders club!”

The demon hung his head in shame. “I didn't know Souldancer would show up. I tried to recognize him out of his costume, but that magic, that spell does something so you can't find out.”

The Master Demon reached his hand into the demon, and the other demon was lifeless. “Worthless piece of crap.” He looked at the other demons that were assembled. “This is what the cost of failure is! Go out and get me hearts! It's time we owned this city!”