‘OK, me lady, you win, can we go back down now,’ he said, trying not to squeeze the life out of her.
Carrie drifted back down. ‘You gave in a bit easy there.’
Fergal released her. ‘Not really, I could have tightened my grip until you became unconscious and we would both have fallen. I would’ve bounced off the floor and got back up no problem, but I’m not sure how you would’ve fared.’
Carrie wiped her face on a towel. ‘So it was a draw.’
‘I be thinking of the bigger picture, if we had done this outside, and how high you could have taken me.’
‘You’re very gracious.’
‘I’ll enjoy fighting alongside you.’
‘Then you won’t have long to wait,’ said Alex, as he appeared in the gym.
‘When we going in?’ said James.
Alex held his hand out and the golden bar flew to him. ‘Now.’
Carrie raised both eyebrows. ‘In the daytime?’
‘Yeah, I’ve had a look around and it’s well hidden.’
‘Do we know what we’re up against?’ said James, and Alex told them what he saw in his dream.
Carrie strapped her sword to her back as did a few of the others. ‘This could be an interesting fight.’
‘You have a fighting nature,’ said Fergal. ‘I like that.’
‘You should see her in action,’ said Jodie, who also had a sword on her back with her crossbow on her hip like a gun.
Paige, Claire, and Skye, wore two swords with the hilts sticking up above each shoulder.
~~~~
There were twenty-two in the group which appeared fifty feet from the cave. House checked once more to make sure it was clear of any unsuspecting people.
‘Where is it?’ said James.
Alex pointed. ‘That rock face ahead. There’s a shield hiding the cave.’
‘Are you going to smash the force field down like before?’ said Paige.
‘No, they’ve got a prisoner who we might hurt if we went in that way. I’m going to see if they’ve set the trap, and hopefully they’ll take the field down themselves.’
‘What do you want us to do?’ said James.
‘Just wait here for now, I’m sure you know more about organising everyone as there’s a good clearing here, and be careful as anything could come at you.’
Alex strolled towards two trees just in front of the cave. A perfect place for a trap, he thought. He walked through the trees, the web appeared, and covered him. He glowed slightly and it fell away. Alex grabbed his neck to make it look like the spell worked, and had his collars up to hide the fact he had no black band.
‘What kind of plan is this?’ said Fergal.
‘He wants them to think he’s their prisoner,’ said James, as he got all the fighting warriors in a line, and those using psychic talents behind them.
‘Why would he do that?’
‘That’s why,’ Carrie shouted, as the cave appeared. ‘The witches think they’re safe now.’
The witches stood there grinning. ‘You fool, think you can just walk in here,’ Tagana hissed.
‘Your suffering will start now,’ said Mardella. ‘Come, join our other slave and watch your friends die.’
‘Attack them,’ Tagana ordered.
Six hounds, the size of ponies, seven gangly grey men, and two giant spiders ran forward.
‘Let’s see how they do without your power,’ Mardella barked.
Alex dropped his spear and walked over to them, he winked at the worried looking wizard. I’m not their prisoner, and you won’t be either soon.
Rho and Chi dived in on the first hounds and brought them down. Jodie took two out with her crossbow. Fergal ran head on and decapitated one hound with his axe already going for the next. James and Asima charged at the grey men, James ducked under an outstretched arm as his sword sliced through one’s stomach. Asima parried swords from two grey men, and in one fluid motion beheaded both. Paige and Claire teamed up taking another two. Skye showed no fear as she fought alongside Carrie, both swords too fast for the last two grey men who fell in seconds.
The spiders shot their web at the group, but Kristina and Millie blocked it.
‘That’s impossible,’ Tagana cried. ‘There are no white witches left.’
‘We’re not white witches . . . we’re psychic bitches,’ Emma shouted, pointing her hand forward, and the witch flew backwards.
A huge boulder flew through the air, crushing one of the spiders. ‘That was just too ugly,’ Kerry shouted, above the noise of the fight.
Rockman appeared running at the other spider which fell easy to his blows.
‘Attack now,’ Mardella screamed.
The remaining creatures charged out the rear of the cave, the snake demon slid straight for Fergal, but the gnome side-stepped it and swung his axe down on its back. The water demon attacked the middle of the group.
Tagana scrambled back up, and stared at Alex with a crazed look on her face. ‘You, kill your friends . . . I want to hear them scream.’
‘Are you mad? The women of Vesta do not scream,’ Alex laughed, and put his hand on the wizard’s neck and the black band crumbled to dust.
The witches stepped back. ‘That’s impossible.’
‘If you say so, and anyway I think Uncle Adair wants a few words with you.’
The robed man and woman turned into cat-like creatures, as big as horses, and ran towards the fight.
‘Do you need any help here?’ Alex asked the wizard.
‘No, thank you,’ Adair picked up his staff. ‘I’ve been waiting a long time for this.’
Alex ran after the cat creatures and leapt on the back of one, he put out his hand as his spear returned to him. He plunged it in the back of the cat’s neck. Rho and Chi double teamed on the other bringing it down before Rho crushed its throat. James and Asima joined Fergal, hacking at the snake demon with speed and power, and the demon vanished.
Rockman pounded on the water demon but had no effect, as his blows just bounced off. The demon had what looked like purple skin, as it towered over the group with its fists hammering away at an invisible shield.
‘We can’t hold it much longer,’ Kristina shouted.
‘Summer,’ Alex yelled, ‘get rid of that thing.’
The blows started slowing and getting weaker as Summer stared in deep concentration. Steam came off the demon, and it started to get smaller until nothing remained.
The witches took Adair prisoner long before Stockholm syndrome was coined, and he had never heard of it, which may be the reason he had no regrets when he tried to kill them. They did have some defences and managed to block the blue energy coming from his staff. They were weakening and would’ve succumbed if not for another demon in the back of the cave which jumped out at the wizard. It stood eight feet tall with long claws. It, however, was no match for the wizard who now had no confinement of the spell. Lightning came from his staff and the demon burnt. It was all the time the witches needed, when a hooded figure appeared behind them, and they vanished.
‘They have to die,’ said Adair. ‘Not for what they did to me, but for all the innocents they have murdered.’
Alex entered the cave. ‘You won’t get any arguments off me.’
The wizard stood in tatty looking robes, with his long hair and beard not fairing any better. ‘I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you.’
‘No need,’ said Alex, as he walked back outside turning all the dead creatures to ash.
Adair glanced around the cave, and a bright light came from his staff. He stepped into the back letting the light touch everywhere before walking back out, where Alex introduced him to everyone. The wizard pointed his staff and hid the cave once more.
James scratched his head. ‘Why did you hide it now they’re gone?’
‘It might look a bit odd to anyone finding it here after all these years,’ said Adair. ‘I have tried cleansing it of the evil that has been in there, but something may stil
l linger.’
‘Can you sustain it being hidden for long?’ said Alex.
Adair leant on his staff. ‘For a while, but I would like to fill it in one day.’
‘Let’s do it now, we have many talented people here.’
‘If you’re sure, you’ve done enough for me already.’
Alex looked at the size of the cave. ‘It shouldn’t be a problem as long as there are enough rocks around here.’
There are, but I think you might spoil the forest if you do that, House told him.
‘How would we spoil it?’ said Alex.
They are part of the forest, and have been here a very long time.
‘You’re correct, whoever you are,’ said Adair.
Alex sat down next to the others. ‘That’s House; he’s a spirit and our friend.’
Thank you, said House. I do have another idea if you want me to try it.
Alex shrugged. ‘Whatever you think’s best.’
I will need the shield down, and no one must enter.
‘You have me intrigued,’ said Adair, and with the wave of his hand the cave appeared again.
Everyone became silent, before they heard rumbling noises coming from the cave. They all watched as stone and mud started to appear in great amounts, and filling the cave.
How’s that? House said, sounding pleased.
‘Nice work,’ said Alex, ‘and quick, too. Where did you get it from?’
A landslide from all that rain we had. I thought the locals would like it gone.
‘That was considerate of you.’
I thought so too, but it does not look like the rock face it should.
‘Let me help there,’ said Adair, and pointed his staff at the wall. The electricity which looked like blue lightning shot from it and covered the filled in cave. The rocks appeared to melt and become one as it changed to how the cave looked when they first saw it.
Fergal twisted the end of his beard. ‘Clever that.’
‘What happens now?’ said Adair.
‘We go home,’ Alex replied.
‘I have a few things I need to do before I go home.’
‘I know, Uncle, but I have two of those reasons for you at home.’
‘Did he just call me “uncle” again?’ said Adair.
James smiled. ‘It would appear so.’
Everyone stood up and grouped together. ‘House, take us home.’
The first thing the wizard noticed were two women holding baby pucas and a female gnome. He looked around at his new surroundings and saw the wolf cubs lying near the fire-place.
‘Hello, Brother,’ a voice said behind him.
He turned quickly and smiled. ‘My beloved sisters, I did hope, but for the most part I was in despair,’ the wizard said, and embraced them.
Luella held him tightly. ‘We stayed hidden, and thought you had gone away.’
‘We would’ve come if we had known,’ said Daralis.
‘I know, and that’s why I never told you,’ said Adair. ‘I could’ve got a message to you, but it would only have put you in danger.’
Luella raised an eyebrow. ‘We still would’ve come.’
‘I know, that’s why I didn’t send the message, anyway which of you is the reason I’m called uncle?’
‘That would be me,’ said Luella. ‘I have two sons, and I will tell you all about them later.’
Adair smiled. ‘I can wait, but I’m grateful you have.’
Briana approached them. ‘Hello, old friend.’
‘Briana, my dear lady, it’s so good to see you again,’ said Adair, and embraced her.
Alex passed Adair a drink. ‘Why did you make the message you sent me so complicated.’
The wizard drank it straight down. ‘Two reasons, the first was that I had to make it look like I made a mistake, and wrote it in the old language so I could pretend to throw it away. The second reason is you told me it was encrypted.’
‘That was my fault,’ said Alex, looking uneasy at Joseph who raised an eyebrow.
‘Well, if you said you had read a message or a simple message, then that’s what I would have written.’
‘We’re not going to have another theoretical discussion about time travel again?’ said Claire.
‘I must have missed that,’ said Alex. ‘What I want to know is how you managed to write any letters at all.’
‘They had me do all their messages, and send them,’ said Adair.
‘How did you send them?’
‘I just thought of who the letter was for, and sent it there. It’s a simple trick when it’s just a piece of paper.’
‘What made you think of sending it to me?’ said Daralis.
‘I had nowhere else to send it, I didn’t even know if you were still alive, but for some reason it gave me hope.’
‘It must have been horrible for you,’ said Luella.
Adair looked pained. ‘Yes, but at least I found a way not to hurt anyone.’
Daralis sat on a sofa. ‘I did wonder if they forced you to do that.’
‘They tried, but after I made them believe my power had weakened, and that I was unable to harm an innocent, they gave up and used me for protection.’
‘Are we going to search for the witches again?’ said James.
‘No, that will be my task,’ said Adair. ‘They will not be hiding now but running.’
‘Just be careful of their trap,’ said Luella.
‘I can help there,’ said Alex. He didn’t know why, but he touched the wizard and the golden glow went through him.
The wizard shivered. ‘What did you just do?’
‘Dunno, but I don’t believe the spell will be able to capture you again.’
Adair stared at Alex. ‘You have amazing power, where does it come from?’
‘I’m not altogether sure, but part of me believes it’s from the sun.’
‘And is that how you could go back in time?’
‘We got the idea from a book. It said that you can travel back in time but only in spirit form.’
‘There were others who would disagree with that,’ said Adair. ‘I knew someone who could actually predict the future and he did it by going there . . . thinking about it, I should’ve got him to check my future.’
‘Well, the book did call him a crackpot.’
Carrie poked Alex in the arm. ‘We’re not going to let him go after the witches on his own, this is our fight.’
‘I know how you feel,’ said Alex, ‘but Adair has more reason to go after them than we do.’
‘Does he?’ said Claire. ‘I thought we were here to stop them from hurting others.’
‘We fight together,’ said Paige. ‘We are a family.’
‘I for one won’t argue with them,’ said Alex. ‘I’m sorry, Uncle, but you won’t be alone in fighting the witches.’
‘I somehow find that comforting,’ Adair smiled. ‘Fighting the witches alongside the psychic bitches.’
‘Adair!’ said Luella.
Claire laughed. ‘Don’t blame your brother; it’s what Emma called us before she attacked one of the witches.’
‘It sounded good at the time,’ said Emma shyly, as everyone looked at her, and they all laughed.
Alex’s eyes grew. ‘Now I know why I had to make them think it was me with all the power.’
James nodded. ‘The witches were not expecting the rest of us to fight the way we did.’
‘Will you be staying for a while?’ Fergal asked the wizard.
‘I’m not sure, why do you ask?’
‘There be a ceremony tomorrow night, and it be good if you were there.’
Adair smiled knowingly. ‘Would it be a gnome birth celebration, by any chance?’
‘Yes, have you ever been to one?’
‘A very long time ago, but I do not know where I’m staying at the moment.’
‘There’s a room upstairs for you,’ said Alex. ‘Stay as long as you like, or come and go as you like.’
‘We never
had that offer,’ Claire huffed.
‘This is your home . . . it’s up to you what you want to do.’
‘About the ceremony,’ said Roisin, ‘it be open to everyone here. I think it will make it all the more special if you do come.’
Alex looked around at the others who in turn nodded. ‘We would be honoured to attend.’
Livvy stood up excited by it. ‘We have to go shopping and buy them some presents.’
Paige smiled at her. ‘Yes, but what do we get them?’
‘I will help you there,’ said Daralis.
‘The children will love it,’ said Alex. ‘I know they’ve wanted to come out with us at night.’
‘You have children, too?’ said Adair.
‘I have nine daughters, Uncle, you might want to run back to the witches.’
Claire leant back with drink in hand. ‘He doesn’t even know who the mother is.’
‘Is that even possible,’ said Adair.
Alex shrugged. ‘You never know she might turn up one day.’
Carrie looked shocked. ‘What? Do you know who she is?’
‘No, I’ve never met her . . . well not that I know of . . . she could be one of you lot for all I know.’
Claire shook her head. ‘I think you’ve finally lost the plot.’
Michelle sat down next to them. ‘Well, if the eldest is nine, and the youngest is five, who was Alex hanging around with back then?’
‘Don’t even go there,’ said Paige. ‘Alex was never more than a friend, granted one I loved very much, but that’s as far as it went.’
Alex frowned. ‘What do you mean loved?’
‘I still do of course, but I never did see you with anyone else during that time.’
Alex grinned. ‘You’re forgetting about my outer body experiences.’
Daralis blushed. ‘You said you stayed in my living room.’
‘Don’t worry, Auntie dear, I did.’
‘So you could be in any of our rooms without us knowing,’ said Claire, and Alex just smiled again.
‘You can do that?’ said Adair.
Alex shook his head. ‘No, but some of my dreams took me to places which were important, like Daralis’s cottage. It was where we found your letter she never knew existed.’
Other Worlds: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Two - Fantasy Page 17
