The Amulets (An 'Amulets of Andarrin' tale)

by Michael Alexander Card-Mina

  This immediately got Sabula’s attention and he began flying towards Hobbins, the wolf pinning him down jumped away in fear but Kalerum cried out “Sabula, he is finished, THE AMULET!” “I have something else in store for this one.” he said grimly. “I want the blonde girl alive, kill the others.” he finished.

  Sabula hesitantly left Hobbins dying in despair and leapt into the air in the direction that Fayne had taken.

  “As for you” Kalerum said turning to Vegilinski. “Send news, inform him that we will have the amulets soon.”

  chapter twenty-three

  Double Jeopardy

  Delaius seemed in a hurry as he sat Jack on some gravel by the cliff edge near the burning house. “We must get back to my house, we can heal your wounds there, come” Delaius said attempting to help Jack up.

  Jack could hardly move but the thought of his friends being hurt or worse because of him made it easier. “Just go, please hurry, you have to help them.” he said desperately.

  “Wait here th….” Delaius stopped his sentence mid-way through.

  The grass holding Larcus was becoming frosty and cold, Larcus was muttering a spell under his breath and the grass was now freezing around him. Moments passed until he rose his arms up and smashed through his now iced prison, seconds later he freed his legs.

  Delaius turned and sent a spell towards Larcus as he moved to recover his wand transfixing him to the spot. Delaius kept his wand pointing at Larcus, Jack was safe and now he’d deal with Larcus.

  “You think killing me is going to change anything. You’ve lost; by now the amulet will be ours.”

  “Silence, you’re going to the council Larcus, you’ll pay for your crimes.”

  “Oh but I think not. What will the council make of this abomination you so hold dear?”

  “Kalerum has made it easy for the council to accept Jack, but you, you’ll rot in Headrow Fields for the rest of your days and, as you’re a vampire, you’ll be there for a very long time.”

  A loud shriek sounded and Delaius’ attention was directed behind Larcus to the tree-line in the distance. As soon as his eyes left Larcus, he dropped to the floor, free of Delaius’ hold.

  Larcus sprang to his wand but Delaius launched a spell which sent him crashing back once again.

  Larcus hit the floor but rolled to face Delaius. Wand now in hand, he sent a spell which had Delaius falling back. The pair quickly rose as more shrieks sounded and small dark forms could be seen moving towards them in the darkness.

  Larcus smiled and sent another spell towards Delaius but this time Delaius parried it away with his own wand and sent Larcus crashing back again.

  More shrieks sounded and whatever it was they were coming, Delaius didn’t have time to waste, he turned back to Larcus, who was now on his knees, and sent another which hit him square in the chest, sending him crashing back seemingly unconscious.

  Jack groaned in pain as he tried to rise from the ground, Delaius was preoccupied, ignoring Larcus lying unconscious on the floor. Something moving in the distance had taken all his attention. Noises filled the night, like the sound of low bird calls. Judging by the alarmed expression on Delaius’ face, Jack knew it was something much different, though Jack was helpless as he sat perched up on the gravel holding his weight up on his arm, his head still pounding.

  “Don’t move” Delaius said as he stepped on to the grassy plain from the gravel. As he took a few steps towards the sound, Delaius fixed his eyes across the plain and saw dozens of creatures running towards him on all fours. Their bodies were a pale pink and their bodies and limbs were wiry but muscular. As they got closer Jack could clearly see their faces, they were the same creatures that he had seen in his nightmare in the house. They were hellish creatures and fear swelled in him.

  “Borlin Fraeir” Delaius muttered to himself.

  Delaius began weaving his hands in an intricate pattern in front of him. Within moments a small flame consumed his wand and free hand. Seconds later he sent a wall of fire out in front of him, towards the oncoming creatures and out of the flames shot dozens of little fire balls, much like the ones he’d sent at Larcus earlier, the fireballs now ignited the creatures on impact. But still they rushed towards him. Leaping off the ground and over the wall of fire with their mouths wide open and teeth hungry for flesh, but Delaius sent them crashing back one by one. However Delaius knew he couldn’t keep this up for long, they kept coming and coming. He also knew that this was a distraction so that Kalerum’ men had the time they needed. He had no choice. Delaius cast another huge flaming wall between him and the creatures only this time small dragons created from the flames flew out off the wall and seemed to target the creatures, firing balls of fire out of their mouths and covering the creatures in flames as they flew into them.

  However it wouldn’t stop them for long, even on fire they still kept coming, as if the fire didn’t affect them until it finally took their lives.

  Delaius turned to get Larcus but he was gone, he’d disappeared. He didn’t have time to beat himself up over it. Delaius hurried over to Jack.

  “What’s happening?” Jack asked.

  “We must leave, come” Delaius said, helping Jack up.

  “WH...” Jack didn’t finish. Dozens of the creatures came hurtling through the fire towards them. Jack and Delaius’ bodies turned to a cloud of dust which shot up into the night sky, leaving the creatures to hurtle past.

  As quickly as the dust had gone up into the sky, it fell back down, only this time it fell next to the statue in Delaius’ garden. Delaius and Jack quickly formed from the dust.

  They gazed at the house which was now destroyed. Wood and bricks scattered the garden, huge holes were formed around parts of the house. The front door was caved in. wherever Kalerum was he wasn’t here. Delaius gently placed Jack on the grass.

  “Wait here” he told him before hurrying towards the house.

  He carefully stepped over a ramp of fallen bricks and roofing to make his way inside. Everything was destroyed; bits of the bannister lay broken across the stairs. The kitchen was now only fit for the skip, cupboards fallen into a pile across the floor. Delaius made his way up the stairs over objects and rubble until he reached the landing. The roof had collapsed onto the landing floor blocking off the toilet. He stepped over a cabinet and made his way into the room where he’d left James but it was empty. All the pictures had been smashed, the wardrobe toppled onto the bed and the straps which had held James down were now hanging down to the floor. Delaius picked up a broken picture; it was the one Jack had seen when he was recovering there, the one in which Delaius was standing next to a woman. He removed the picture from the broken frame and placed it in his robe. Delaius scanned the rest of the house but it was empty. He tried to think of what might have happened. Why would Kalerum waste his time taking them? It didn’t add up.

  Delaius came out of the house, his face a picture of anger and despair. His focus was now on the shed which seemed untouched. He marched over to it and as he got closer he noticed a trail of blood leading to it. He hurried to the door; reaching it he grabbed the lock. Dread filled his mind as he saw the lock had been broken. He opened the door and cautiously made his way through the now open hatch and down into the cellar. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, the ceiling started to glow illuminating the cellar. Delaius was horrified. Hanging from the side wall was James, his top removed and a message carved into his body which read: ‘janui pia ravanya brakada farna durana’ Delaius checked James’ pulse but he was dead. A tear ran down from his eyes and onto his cheek, grief washed over him.

  A cough from the opposite wall made him spin round to see that Sabula was no longer in the chains, instead was hanging the bloodied and beaten body of Hobbins. Gashes had torn huge chunks out of his robes and flesh and a puddle of blood covered the floor beneath him. Delaius quickly released the chains and caught Hobbins as he fell forward.

  “Hobbins!” he said, placing him on the floor “Hobbins!”


  Hobbins’ eyes flickered open and shut a few times before he finally kept them open. “Delaius…I tried to stop them but…he was too strong…” he coughed up blood before Delaius placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

  “I’m sure you did your best” Delaius assured him.

  “There were others…strong…Kalerum…” he stuttered trying to control his breathing.

  “Save your strength” Delaius said gently.

  “No…the one who bested me, Kalerum, it was him, he had a…had the amulet…Delaius…you must find the others before they do” he said urgently. “The girl, Lily, she bears the amulet of Elysia’s”

  “How is this possible?” Delaius started.

  “They made for Cumbria.” Hobbins said, coughing up more blood before continuing “Fayne, she took them…but they won’t get far. Sabula is allied with Kalerum…Delaius!” he said with fear trembling his speech “He sent Sabula for them” he finished. Delaius’ eyes showed he feared the worst.

  Fayne was rocketing through the sky. Clouds shot past her as she climbed higher. Helena sat with a look of sadness in her eyes. It had only been a short time ago that she saw Hobbins and William beaten to the floor. She knew she’d lost him and it crushed her even more when she thought about the pain they would put him through. But she had to be strong for the others. The time to mourn wasn’t now; she had to get them to safety.

  “Thindo” she shouted to Fayne.

  Frankie, who was sat behind Helena, soon realised what that meant as Fayne’s speed increased. Even though they were all strapped in tight Frankie couldn’t help but tighten her arms around Helena in fear of falling. Aaron was sat behind her yelling, though it was more through excitement than fear.

  “Wahoo” he screamed “can you believe this…we’re on a dragon…this is amazing” he shouted as the wind snatched away his words, which was probably a good thing as Helena wouldn’t have appreciated his enjoyment. Though Aaron cared, he was just overwhelmed with excitement at what was happening. Lily, too, had a huge smile on her face as she looked down at the land below. Ben’s arms were wrapped around Lily for fear of falling but a similar smile was on his face as he gazed below them. Though when Lily let a hand leave the huge saddle to feel the wind Bens face was a state of shock.

  “Hold on” he screamed “you’ll kill us both.”

  Lily quietly giggled to herself “oh calm down! It’s not every day you get to ride a dragon is it” she shouted back to him.

  Clive was not very adventurous and riding on a dragon was now definitely top of his ‘things not to do again’ list. His face was panic stricken as he clutched the saddle with one hand and held Ben’s shirt with the other. He had not opened his eyes since they left the ground and he wasn’t planning to open them now. A sudden nip in his side where Clive was clutching his top, made Ben turn.

  “If you ruin this top…” he threatened. But then his words cut off as he looked out behind them. “What’s that” he said cautiously. Clive turned around, squinting he saw a black shape approaching through the clouds behind them. Clive turned back to Ben, his eyes wide open with fear.

  “There’s something behind us…it’s coming…IT’S COMING!!!” he shouted as loud as he could. Helena turned to see what the fuss was about, as soon as she saw the black figure in the distance she too became a sight of panic. “Sabula” she said loudly. “Fayne, Thindo…Thindo” Helena cried at the dragon.

  Fayne’s wings closed tight around her body and the group’s legs as she hurled downwards in a steep dive. Clive’s eyes were now wide open as he glanced back at Sabula. “It’s getting closer” he cried to the others.

  Sabula was fast, he was only metres away now and gaining as he shot down in pursuit of Fayne, following her every move. Clive screamed in terror as he saw the creatures face, a face devoid of features but for two vertical slits above what might have been a mouth. Its arm stretched out towards Clive, a ferocious looking claw on the end of its arm. Clive almost wet himself, he turned back to the others screaming for his life.

  Fayne suddenly turned in the air, wings outstretched, she faced Sabula, her huge mouth burst open and shot, not fire, but ice, covering Sabula until he was trapped in a block of it. Unable to move Sabula dropped down towards the ground. Fayne flew towards it, clutching it in her claws she threw it back through the air. Turning back, her wings back against her side, she rocketed away. Helena knew it wouldn’t stop Sabula, he was too strong.

  Sabula fought to free himself as the block of ice headed towards the ground. His arms began burning, melting the ice. Helena knew it was only a matter of time until he was able to smash it into pieces, he would soon be hurtling back to pursue them.

  “Thindo!” she cried to Fayne.

  chapter twenty-four

  Despair

  Jack was lying on the ground in pain fearing for his friends when he heard muffled voices coming from inside the shed. He got up slowly and, mustering all his strength, he limped towards the sound of the voices. As he made his way down the dark, cold steps of the bunker under the shed he heard Delaius’ voice. “Why did you not go?” he was saying.

  “There wasn’t time…had to get James…William…where” Hobbins mumbled to Delaius as if remembering William.

  “What of William. Did he go with them?”

  “No…he stayed, He fought valiantly…but Sabula….” He shuddered.

  Jack rounded the corner and saw Delaius kneeling over Hobbins.

  “Hobbins!” Jack cried as he joined Delaius. Hobbins’ eyes flickered from Delaius to Jack.

  “I’m sorry Jack” he said.

  Jack turned to the other wall and saw James’ lifeless body hanging from it, the words carved into his body. He filled with emotion. He couldn’t imagine the pain he must have gone through, but he knew Hobbins was in the position he was in now because he’d tried to save his brother. He couldn’t check the tears that welled as he fell to his knees at the sight of his brother.

  “Delaius tell my wife…I…” Hobbins stuttered.

  Delaius interrupted, “shush” Delaius whispered “I will not lose you as well Hobbins.” he said reassuring him.

  “It’s too late…too late for me” Hobbins said, “you have to find them.”

  Delaius’ hand moved across Hobbins’ wounds and moments later they began sealing shut. But Hobbins was still too badly hurt internally and Delaius’ healing power could not save him, he needed professional aid.

  “Jack, I need you” Delaius said authoritively.

  Jack was still in tears in front of his brother’s body.

  “Jack I’m sorry about James but we need to save Hobbins whilst there’s still a chance.” Delaius said urgently.

  Jack rubbed the tears from his eyes and turned back to Delaius and Hobbins. “What can I do?”

  “I need you to keep him awake, do not let him sleep” he told him.

  Delaius got up and rushed to the exit leaving Jack with Hobbins. Hobbins turned to Jack sympathetically “I’m sorry for your brother Jack, I wasn’t strong enough” he coughed.

  Jack wiped another tear from his cheek. “You did what you could. And I thank you for it.” Jack said truthfully.

  Jack sat there, tears pouring down his face, hopeless and useless, Hobbins was in this state so that his friends could escape and yet he could do nothing for him. “I won’t let you die Hobbins I swear to you, just stay with me. Think of your family, they need you” he said hoping to give him strength.

  Hobbins coughed up blood and gripped Jack’s arm. “If I die Jack, tell Delaius to watch over them. I know…” he coughed up more blood but paused and stared at Jack as if recalling a distant memory “you have…have a good heart…just as your…”

  “My what?” Jack urged but Hobbins’ head fell back, his eyes began to flicker shut “Hobbins!” Jack shouted, he put his hand on his face and lifted his eyelids “Hobbins, wake up, you can do this” he shouted. Hobbins’ eyes flickered open but only momentarily before they shut again.

&n
bsp; Footsteps sounded at the top of the shed and Delaius came rushing down with a steaming mug. He rushed to Hobbins’ side. “Hobbins, Hobbins! Delaius shouted, slapping his face. Hobbins’ eyes flickered open and Delaius moved the mug to his mouth

  “Drink” he said pushing it to his mouth.

  Delaius forced the drink down Hobbins’ throat and then placed the empty mug on the floor. Hobbins slumped, his body looking lifeless. Delaius placed a hand on his head and muttered some words under his breath that Jack couldn’t understand, he then checked for a pulse before picking him up and carrying him like a child.

  “Where are you taking him?” Jack asked not knowing whether Hobbins was alive or dead.

  “I cannot help him further, he needs serious medical attention. Aria may be able to help. I will return momentarily. Stay put.” he said. Suddenly he vanished in a cloud of dust which flew up the stairs and outside.

  Jack was sad for Hobbins, he seemed like a good man and he had been good to him when he’d first met him at the festival and now he had given his life for his friends, he prayed to the heavens for his health. Beyond that there wasn’t much Jack could do and he filled up with emotion at the thought of his brother still hanging in the chains. He moved over and took James out of the chains that held his lifeless body. He knew there was nothing Delaius could do to save him. Tears pouring down his face, he lay his brother on the floor “how did this happen” he cried to himself. “It’s all my fault…I’m so sorry James” he cried into his brothers chest. Suddenly he felt something move on his brother’s body. He quickly lifted his head up and noticed that his brother’s wounds, where the message had been carved into him, were slowly healing. Jack didn’t know what to think, what was happening? Moments later his brother came round and his eyes flickered open. He looked at Jack “Jack” he said dazed.

  “James!” Jack said smiling unable to control his relief.

  “Jack, what ah…argh” James screamed, his body went into uncontrollable spasms. “Jack…argh!! What’s happening!” he screamed painfully.