Chronicles of Eden - Act XII

by Alexander Gordon

  “We’re sorry, master,” the twins whined as they huddled close together.

  “You’re going to be,” Twilight scorned, her piercing glare causing the witches to tremble fearfully while slumping back with shaky whimpers. The reaper held in her voice while fuming with rage at the witches before she suddenly jumped a bit and looked to the side with a sharp gaze.

  “Wait, I sense a surge of magical energy nearby,” she said, with the girls behind her snapping back to reality and turning to her in surprise. “A great deal of magic… suddenly igniting from out of nowhere. What in Eden is… wait… wait a moment… it’s outside. It’s outside in the countryside below.”

  “A magical surge?” Specca wondered. “Happening nearby in the countryside? Could it be…”

  “Alyssa,” Falla gasped. “She’s casting her spell. It’s happening!”

  “They’re coming back! They did it!” Luna cheered. “They’re coming back to us!”

  “They must have gathered the elves away from The Sisterhood,” Doku praised. “They did it, they saved them.”

  “Hurry, get outside!” Specca urged as she rushed out of the room with the butterfly sisters, with Apoch and Astreal scrambling to get out of their way as the girls dashed by. Star quickly warped after them while Doku ran over to Apoch and handed Snapper off into the confused witch’s arms.

  “Please watch over her, I’ll be right back,” Doku promised before scurrying after the others.

  “Wait, what?” Apoch asked, right before Snapper leapt onto her face and started clawing at her with buzzing wings. The witch screamed and dropped to the ground with Astreal frantically trying to pull the hungry swarm off her sister.

  “Daniel,” Triska breathed out in awe, the cambion then quickly running off after the girls while Apoch rolled around on the floor with Snapper biting her nose. After the girls left the chamber Twilight growled heavily, with Apoch and Astreal freezing from sensing the ominous presence of their enraged master. Even Snapper halted from mauling the witch in her frenzy, the youngling quickly scurrying down into Apoch’s arms as she whined fearfully from seeing Twilight showing a frightening glare with a malicious aura surrounding her.

  “Please have mercy,” Astreal begged.

  “Don’t eat us,” Apoch sniveled. “Not again.”

  “I’m not going to eat you,” Twilight snarled. “But you’re going to wish I had.”

  Apoch and Astreal gulped while turning pale, all while Snapper whined and nuzzled closer to Apoch in fear of the terrifying aura that was being exuded from the image of the enraged reaper.

  Outside the carriage all the girls gathered together as they saw a bright light shining up from the lowered countryside below them, an extremely large circling ring of magical energy flaring up with an intense surge of power emanating from it.

  “Oh my word,” Doku breathed out.

  “That’s Alyssa doing that… right?” Falla asked.

  “I’ve never seen a casting circle that big before,” Specca marveled. “Incredible. She must be using an extraordinary large amount of magical power to create something as big as that.”

  “I guess that means she started another wildfire like you said,” Triska mused with a smirk. “Fire really does get her going, doesn’t it?”

  “Pretty lights,” Luna softly said. Beside her Star was staring at the sight with amazement while Doku was doing the same from behind her long bangs.

  The casting ring flared brightly before suddenly dimming. Shortly after the land began to rumble, glistening pillars of light spiking into the air from the magical spellbase’s glowing edge as the ring’s light wavered and resonated erratically.

  “What’s going on?” Falla wondered shaking her head. “Is this supposed to happen?”

  “I can’t tell if the spell is working or not,” Specca worried. “It looks like something is trying to happen, but… nothing’s happening. Oh dear, please tell me Alyssa has enough magical reserves to pull this off.”

  “What happens if she doesn’t?” Luna asked.

  “The strain from the sheer magnitude of her spell would be fatal,” Specca feared. “She would be killed instantly with her lifeforce being crushed under the stress.”

  “Oh my,” Doku nervously said. “Is the spell… is it faltering? Is she not able to do this?”

  “She can do it,” Triska voiced. “Have faith in her. She’s the Wildfire Witch after all. Give her a flame and she can make anything possible.”

  Star closely observed the flickering lights of magical radiances that shot up around the casting ring’s border, herself and the girls feeling the ground rumbling from where they were as something was still happening from the witch’s spell.

  “Anyone see any elves yet?” Falla nervously asked.

  Without warning the circular slab of ground outlined by the witch’s casting ring broke free from the surrounding land, the severed landmass flipping over like a lid as light suddenly bloomed from the opening below. The sounds of people screaming in a panic were heard as Triska and the girls watched in amazement at the sight of the enchanted ground spinning around to reveal the other side having hundreds of people atop it, the upending chunk of rock flipping over and slamming down into place with a burst of dust rising up around it. Slowly the haze cleared to reveal a huge crowd gathered together where the casting ring slowly fizzled out on the ground below them.

  “I think I see some,” Specca managed to say as she slowly adjusted her glasses.

  “Wow…” Luna breathed out.

  “Are those… are those the elves of Green Haven?” Doku wondered.

  “Depends,” Triska carefully said. “Are we expecting any other communities to magically appear here anytime soon?”

  Star rubbed her eyes then meowed softly in awe at seeing an entire village’s worth of people having suddenly appeared from under the ground.

  “They did it,” Doku marveled with a growing smile. “They got the elves away from The Sisterhood. They saved them.”

  “Incredible,” Luna said with fluttering wings. “Daniel and the girls really did it. They got Clover’s people away from those horrible monsters.”

  “They succeeded!” Specca cheered with a hop. “The elves are safe now. The plan worked perfectly!”

  “It really did,” Triska agreed with a smile. She blinked then quickly looked around before turning to the girls. “Wait, weren’t Daniel and the others supposed to be coming here right behind them? Where are they?”

  “Pip should be bringing them all back to us any moment now,” Specca said as the girls searched the surrounding area for any sign of their missing family. “It shouldn’t be too long before they arrive.”

  “C’mon,” Falla prayed as the girls began to grow anxious. “C’mon. C’mon, where are you? Please tell me they’re coming too.”

  “They had to have made it out also,” Doku insisted. “Alyssa cast the spell, so that means Daniel and the girls would have been ready to leave with her right after.”

  “Daniel,” Triska worried.

  “He’ll make it,” Kitten assured. “He’s my master after all.”

  “Any moment now,” Specca carefully said as the girls were showing uneasy frowns. A full minute passed as the girls spoke not a word while anxiously awaiting the return of their family. In the valley below they could hear the rising voices of a confused and relieved crowd of elves, however all the girls could focus on was when their co-mates and man would return to them.

  “What if-” Luna began to say before Triska cut her off.

  “He’s going to make it,” she firmly declared. “He’s coming back to us. This isn’t where his quest ends, not by a longshot.”

  “Don’t lose faith,” Doku softly said. “Daniel won’t fail, he won’t fail his quest or leave us behind.”

  “He promised to always take care of us,” Falla agreed as she held her sister’s hand. “He’s going to come back, he promised us he would. And I know for a fact he wasn’t lying.”

&nbs
p; Specca held her hands together in prayer as she closed her eyes and hoped for the safe return of her mate and family. After a moment’s pause a bright flash erupted next to them, the piercing glare shining off the nixie’s glasses before slowly subsiding, allowing her to open her eyes and show a relieved smile as she and the girls saw their faith was well placed.

  “Daniel,” Specca softly said, herself and the girls smiling in awe at seeing their family having returned. They saw Daniel being set down onto his feet by Cindy, the human slowly lowering down onto his knees along with her as his head was lowered while his hand feebly held onto the sand wraith’s. Clover was looking down at them with a solemn gaze while Reiko was groaning as she lay limp in the elf’s grip. Beside them the elven captain was looking around in surprise at where they now were while holding Alyssa in her arms, the witch managing to open her eyes with a quiet murmur while her hand finally dropped her staff from fatigue. Felucia watched her daughter holding Daniel close with a troubled grimace before glancing around with a raised eyebrow at seeing everyone staring at them. And Sheal-

  “AHHHH!” Specca screamed as she and the girls finally noticed the fiery monster in the group. “There’s a salamander woman here! Oh my god! How did-”

  “It’s okay,” Clover called out raising a hand, her eyes never leaving Daniel as he slowly regained consciousness. “It’s okay. She’s not an enemy. She’s with us.”

  “She… she’s what?” Falla exclaimed.

  “…hi,” Sheal slowly said with a small wave.

  “She helped us when things got dicey,” Clover explained as she knelt down and carefully picked Pip up in her hand, the sleeping fairy twitching slightly as the elf gently cradled the tiny monster with a regretful grimace.

  Triska looked at the salamander woman carefully before quickly rushing over and kneeling beside Daniel as he swiftly became her priority again. The girls promptly did the same, with everyone turning their focus down to the human who slowly held a hand to his head as he came to his senses.

  “Daniel? Daniel, are you okay?” Triska urgently asked. “Are you alright? Speak to me, Daniel.”

  “I’m… okay,” he breathed out, eyes slowly opening to see Triska smiling at him with tears in hers. “I’m alright. It’s great to see you again, Triska.”

  “Daniel!” Triska cheered as she embraced him. “I’m so glad to see you again! I was freaking out after I heard what you did! I was so worried about you! I can’t believe you went out there like that, do you know how crazy that was?”

  “I’m sorry for worrying you,” Daniel said as he slowly held an arm around her. “And… sorry for taking your sword without asking.”

  “You silly, stubborn, sexy man,” Triska whined as she nuzzled her face in his shoulder. “I’m so thankful you’re back, I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t return.”

  “We’re all thankful you’ve returned,” Doku praised. “We were growing more fearful by the hour for what may have happened to you. Thank god you’re back safe and sound.”

  “And you rescued the elves too!” Specca squealed as she hugged Clover. “You saved your people from The Sisterhood! You’re heroes!”

  “Yeah…” Clover quietly said as she glanced to Reiko. She tossed the harvester over to Star, the jinx catching the tiny woman then shaking her with a puzzled mew as the ethereal monster mumbled something in her hands.

  “Clover?” Specca wondered as she saw not a trace of joy on the elf’s face.

  “Alyssa, are you okay?” Luna asked as she and Falla rushed over to the witch. “Alyssa? Alyssa!”

  “I’m fine,” Alyssa groaned with a small wave of the hand. “Just… completely exhausted.”

  “She cast the biggest spell I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” the elven captain marveled. “I mean… she transported my entire village… through the ground by means I can’t even fathom.”

  “We know,” Falla laughed. “We saw them pop up here. Your people are safe down in the valley, they all arrived a few minutes ago.”

  “They’re here?” the woman whimpered with tears in her eyes. “They’re safe? Thank the gods. Thank you. Thank all of you. I have no idea who you people are but thank you so much!”

  She broke down crying while hugging Alyssa close, the witch batting her hand against the elf’s chest as her face was smothered in it. Pushing back Alyssa gasped for air before the elf dropped to her knees and clutched the small monster closer, with Alyssa weakly groaning as her head rested on the woman’s shoulder.

  “Please… not so rough,” Alyssa whined. “I’m about ready to break as it is.”

  Luna dropped to her knees and held Alyssa as she cheered and fluttered her wings, with Falla smiling at them before looking around at the others. She then quickly searched the area for someone else before turning to Daniel questionably.

  “Where’s Squeak?”

  Triska, Specca, Doku, Star, and Luna stopped and looked around for the missing ant girl before turning to Daniel as he lowered his head again while remaining silent.

  “Where’s Squeak?” Triska asked. “Why isn’t she here? Did she arrive with the elves? Is she down there with them?”

  “Daniel?” Specca worried. She glanced to Clover and saw the remorseful frown on her face then noticed a saddened one on Cindy’s as the sand wraith whimpered with a tear in her eye. “Girls? What’s going on? Where’s Squeak?”

  “Squeak?” Alyssa asked as she wearily pushed away from the elven captain. She stumbled with her steps at first before Luna caught her, the witch and butterfly looking around for their missing mate before turning to Daniel as he still didn’t say a word.

  “Where is she? Why isn’t she here with us? Wasn’t she with you?”

  “Why are you all looking so sad now?” Luna worried.

  “Daniel?” Triska carefully said. “Where is Squeak?”

  Daniel slowly looked back up to her with a heartbroken face, the cambion’s eyes slowly widening as she shook her head slightly.

  “What happened? Where is she? Daniel, please tell us.”

  “Where is she, Daniel?” Falla feared as she knelt down beside Triska, her eyes seeing the pained expression Daniel wore along with something his eyes wanted to convey that she didn’t want to believe.

  “We found The Sisterhood,” Daniel said, with everyone falling silent as he tried his best to speak properly. “We found their leaders in the elven forest. The ones that murdered Clover’s priestess and took over Green Haven. The ones who confronted us in the elven temple. The gemini.”

  “The gemini?” Specca gasped as the girls showed fright from hearing that. “No… good lord no… not them.”

  “Jovian. Jacqueline,” Triska recalled. “Those monsters are the ones responsible for Ruhelia being wiped out? For Green Haven coming under attack? Those two are back in Koskaysil?”

  “Yes,” Daniel confirmed. “It’s all been because of them. They’re gathering every monster they can for their army. They’re plotting to lay siege to Rockhelm.”

  “Rockhelm?” Triska exclaimed. “Our kingdom? Are they fucking crazy? No army could bring down Rockhelm, that place is an impenetrable fortress!”

  “They have over four thousand monsters under their banner,” Clover spoke up, with the girls turning to her in shock. “They’re out there gathering even more to add to their numbers. The Sisterhood isn’t fucking around here, they’re determined to wipe out the humans and all of us who don’t bow to them in this land.”

  “Four thousand?” Alyssa breathed out. “They have over four thousand monsters under their command?”

  “Believe it,” Sheal spoke up. “I once marched with their army under the belief it was for a noble cause. The gemini may have lied about The Sisterhood’s true purpose, but they did not with the vast number of followers they had gathered. They’re getting ready to raze this region to the ground with a legion of the most deadly and dangerous monsters they can find.”

  Triska stared at her in horror from imagining s
uch a thing then turned to Daniel with heightened alarm as he took a slow breath before speaking again.

  “We got the elves out of Green Haven before they could be used as slaves or killed,” he continued. “We had them retreat to Alyssa’s location while we stayed and kept the gemini busy so they wouldn’t give chase and slaughter them all. We… we…”

  He closed his eyes as he struggled with the painful memory, his mournful gaze then moving to Falla as she stared at him with a quivering lip while fearing what he was going to say next. Triska and her co-mates started breathing shakily as they could see the truth in his eyes already.

  “We stalled them long enough for the elves to flee,” Daniel said. “But… not without a great cost.”

  “No…” Falla breathed out. “Please don’t say it… don’t say it, Daniel.”

  “I’m sorry… but… Jacqueline… she killed Squeak… right in front of me.”

  Falla felt her heart breaking as she dropped to her knees, her wings falling limp behind her as she lost her breath and voice completely. Luna and Alyssa stared at Daniel in alarm while Specca shakily turned to Clover, the elf lowering her head with closed eyes and a single tear falling down her cheek as if to confirm the grim news. Doku and Star looked to one another in stunned silence before watching Daniel as he faced a whimpering Triska.

  “She’s gone,” Daniel tearfully said. “She’s gone, Triska. The gemini… they took her from us.”

  “No…” Triska breathed out. “It can’t be true. She can’t be… she can’t be…”

  “Squeak,” Alyssa whined as she clutched Luna’s hand and arm for balance.

  “No,” Specca whimpered, holding both hands over her mouth as she felt her legs wobbling beneath her. “She can’t be gone… she can’t be…”

  “Please tell us this isn’t true,” Doku begged as she and Star were struggling with holding in their tears. “Please tell us she’s not really… she’s not…”

  “No…” Falla whimpered. “No… no… NOOOOOOOO!”

  The butterfly broke down completely in a heart-wrenching shriek, hands held to her face as she cried out from the painful truth she knew to be real. Alyssa and Specca soon joined her as they couldn’t hold it any longer while Luna dropped to her knees and broke down crying with wings slouching behind her. Clover cringed from the painful screams of her family that only brought more tears of hers out as she felt her heart aching from the loss. Doku started sobbing before turning to Star and holding onto her, the jinx slowly embracing the harpy as she lowered her head and closed her eyes that did nothing to stop the tears from coming out. Triska screamed as she held her head, her tearful eyes looking down at the ground before up at Daniel as he was quietly breaking down just as they all were. Cindy held onto his back as she cried into his shoulder while the elven captain and Felucia remained silent as they solemnly lowered their heads. Sheal whimpered with a tear forming in her eye, the drop running down her cheek before quickly busting into a puff of steam.