The Erlonan Tales

by D. L. Jordan

  It wasn’t until seconds later that Dean saw black horns rise from the surface and that those lights he had seen were actually the illuminating green eyes of the serpents. An inexplicable rush of adrenaline swept through Dean as he saw the serpents arise from the water. Regaining his senses, Dean alerted the people and shouted, “Run…run…it’s the serpents!

  They’re still alive! They’re coming towards us!”

  Xanire, hooded and settled within his chariot, exploded through the tall windows and flew around the throne room as the serpents gave out roars of excitement. Shattered glass covered the marble floor. Fortunately, the people ran in fright to the safety of the rooms and corridors upstairs through a door in the throne room. Only the Rulers and Dean were in the room now prepared to fight against the evil Xanire.

  Xanire and his chariot of serpents flew maliciously around the Rulers and Dean. Here was Dean’s chance to prove himself to the Rulers, to show them that the time they spent training him was worthwhile. Xanire and the Rulers were engaged in a fierce battle of swiftness, cunning, and might. The Rulers demonstrated their best to uphold the battle. They did this by using the swords that hung beside the thrones. Xanire, who was fighting the Rulers, retreated from the battle and freed one of his serpents.

  Dean looked on in fear as the serpent came straight towards him. Its glowing green eyes were the only things he could see as it came closer. It circled Dean, observing him from head to toe.

  Finally letting go of his fear, Dean angrily stared into its eyes. He wanted to do something, anything that would make the creature go away. He thought of fighting against it, but he did not react soon enough. The horned serpent roared with anger and grabbed Dean with its tail.

  Dean felt the tail coil and tighten around him. He did all he could to evade the creature, but he was somehow stuck to its body like glue. His body lifted up from the floor of the throne room as the serpent made its way out of one of the shattered windows. Dean looked down nervously, hoping that he would soon be rescued. The Rulers did all they could to stop Xanire and save him, but they did not succeed. The serpent had already made its way away from the island while Xanire followed behind it in his chariot.

  TAKEN AWAY ONCE MORE

  Dean hung by the tail of the serpent for hours as it flew towards their destination with Xanire behind them. During that long journey, Dean prayed that he would find a way that would somehow help him escape. The serpent finally arrived at a very mountainous country covered with lush vegetation, as well as flowing waterfalls and the sounds of birds crooning hypnotic melodies as they fluttered through the trees. Dean could see the moonlight raining through the tops of the trees until he was released from the serpent’s grasp.

  Dean fell once again, only this time, he went through leaves and the scratching branches of large trees. He soon painfully collided with the ground. Before long, he could hear the sudden slashing of a whip and the serpent roaring in pain from above. Dean knew that Xanire had struck the creature with his whip as punishment for letting him go and was surprised to see that Xanire did not bother to search for him at once.

  He jumped to his feet and followed the trail of Xanire’s chariot as it flew above him.

  Xanire had stopped and settled the serpents by the cave of a large mountain, which was connected to a chain of other mountains. The cave was behind a blue light that shone from a

  metallic, bolted door. When they landed on the ground, Dean watched with dismay as the serpents started to change from slithering creatures to wretched monsters with yellow eyes and pointed ears.

  Giant brown, bat-like wings sprouted from their backs. Their faces were skeletal and dog like and their bodies were covered in brown fur. This was the race of Xanire’s minions called the Zaives.

  What Dean saw in front of him were the creatures that kidnapped him from his aunt and uncle’s car in the city of Atlanta many years ago. He wanted so desperately to leave his hiding place in the woods and rip all of them to pieces, inch by inch. But Dean knew that wasn’t the wisest thing to do. So, without making a sound, he stayed in his place. The Zaives and a horned serpent guarded the cave from the outside as Xanire entered.

  ****

  At The Marble Palace, the Rulers paced constantly in order to devise a way of rescuing

  Dean.

  “Maybe we can send something to aid him?” said Empress Xian, her hands trembling. “That’s a bit of a challenge,” said Emperor Yang, “he could be dozens or even hundreds

  of miles away from the island. We could never give him whatever we may have in time. Besides, what could we possibly send?”

  Empress Xian closed her eyes, concentrating deeply. An object smaller and similar to that of a baton suddenly appeared in her left hand. Madu sat lazily in his throne, uninterested, smoking his pipe.

  “This is a Tassidain,” she began. “It is a teleportation device. I’ll try to mentally teleport the Tassidain to Dean. I just hope that he’ll succeed greatly with it.” Xian closed her eyes and

  concentrated until the Tassidain disappeared. But this time, it reappeared and pounded Emperor Yang on the forehead. Yang’s hands soon came after to ease the pain.

  The Tassidain appeared again at the top of the ceiling and fell. Yang moved from its landing spot, but the Tassidain somehow clonked him anyway.

  “You’re trying to kill me…aren’t you?” he shouted with anger and aggravation in his voice. She apologized with a hint of frustration. She concentrated again and it vanished. Emperor Yang was gratefully pleased.

  ****

  Dean wandered further into the verdant land, relieved to be out of Xanire’s grasp. He was in a forested area that led to a small area of vines. A baton-like object that he knew was called a Tassidain had appeared before him, levitating in midair between two vines. Dean grabbed the object. A cooling sensation flowed throughout his body. He was in the process of vanishing, teleporting from one place to another.

  Dean found himself at the entrance of the mountain where Xanire had settled his serpents.

  Dean remembered that he was wearing the Morph-belt and tightened it around his waist. The serpent and the Zaives instantly awoke at the sight of him. They shouted in alarm. Dean’s heart sunk as he saw their dog-like faces and brown wings. He knew that it would be almost meaningless to try and run as a method of escape, so he stood his ground to express the rigidity taught to him by the Rulers. He was now prepared to fight.

  The Zaives had surrounded him. One of them let out a piercing roar as it extended its

  claws.

  Dean sped towards the Zaive and the creature sped towards him. Dean used the Morph- belt that was around his waist and transformed. His skin became gray. His ears extended to become fanning flaps, and his arms and legs became like gray tree trunks. He had become a land creature of enormous size…a mighty elephant.

  Thinking that the Zaive would stop running and cower at his size, Dean made a loud sound through his trunk. The Zaive, instead of cowering, jumped onto Dean’s back. Dean swung his head back and forth, trying desperately to swing off the Zaive with his tusks.

  The white serpent still levitated and looked on at Dean’s determination. After many attempts and shouts, the Zaive was thrown off of Dean’s back, smashing onto part of the rock wall of the cave.

  The Zaives came at Dean all at once, intending to destroy him. He morphed from his elephant form into Emperor Yang, hoping that he would possess at least some bit of the Emperor’s physical strength. The Zaives came closer to Dean. He stood still, ready to fight them. Dean was sure that he would succeed. The Zaives were now on him.

  One Zaive of the small group reached from the side for Dean’s shoulder. Dean punched the creature in the face, hoping that by being Emperor Yang he would have some form of strength that exceeded his own. It felt the same way as if he was in his own body when he punched the Zaive. The remaining three Zaives took off and flew above him.

  Dean looked up and saw something slender and white devour each of the Zaive
s in one mouth-widening gulp. Dean turned and looked at the serpent as the foot of the last Zaive was being pushed into its mouth. Dean was relieved, terrified, and disgusted all at once. He knew that the serpent didn’t destroy the Zaives for its own benefit. Dean transformed back into himself.

  The serpent never took his eyes off Dean as he finished his transformation.

  Dean and the serpent then fought. He no longer thought that the Morph-belt would be any use to him. He had learned that just because he had the same likeness and appearance as someone else, that didn’t mean he would have the same personality and strength as that person. Dean used a few of the techniques he learned in his physical training in Avesia instead.

  Dean grabbed the black horns of the serpent. It was stuck in his grasp, trying to escape by wiggling its body. Dean let go of its horns. He watched as the creature withdrew from the battle and flew high into the night sky, escaping further into the mountains.

  As the creature flew away, he placed the Tassidain in his back pocket.

  Dean sat in front of a rock and leaned his back against it for support just for a moment in order to regain his strength. As he sat there against the rock, Dean pondered the consequences he would suffer since he was so far away from his home in The Marble Palace. He sat there asking himself questions that pertained to the island, such as what kind of terrifying creatures lived here, and most importantly, would he ever get back to Yailon?

  He wondered for a long time about his whereabouts. He felt as lost as a child separated from its parent. Once Dean had regained his strength, he began his journey once again.

  Dean continued to walk. A tingling sensation took over his mind, and the word Pulchra appeared. Could it be? he asked himself. He was excited, yet at the same time he felt strange. Dean hesitated but soon saw an ancient-looking sundial on his left, which he read by the light of the moon. He was astounded to see that it was five minutes past two in the morning.

  Dean journeyed further into the mountains, traveling in the western direction. He could not believe what was happening. Finally, he was in the ancient homeland of his ancestor…Amenhotep.

  As he journeyed from the beautiful night landscape of Pulchra into the sacred mountains, Dean felt the satisfaction of finally being home once more. It was a feeling he thought he would never have again.

  Dean held and twisted the lion that hung around his neck as he had always done. He was grateful for being alive, despite all that he’d been through.

  As Dean entered the sacred mountains, he discovered a cave that led to a nearby cavern. His ears were flooded with the harmonious sounds of a young woman’s voice coming from the cavern. The young woman’s words were timid to Dean yet full of hope. Listening with an attentive ear, Dean walked further into the cave to see exactly who she was.

  “Many moons and suns ago, A young one there was of old. Many moons and suns ago,

  Their days seemed to simply glow.

  The young one’s troubles seemed to grow.

  Many moons and suns ago, Warm winds turned to cold. Many moons and suns ago,

  The young one waited in seclusion’s hold.

  Yet, a new dawn arose in the east. And whispers of the past had faded Many moons and suns ago.”

  Dean walked closer towards where the voice was coming from, mesmerized by the words of the young woman’s song. He saw a large cavern with a small waterfall and a pool of water

  that was beneath it. A strip of land was in front of the pool and the waterfall. A complete garden of flowers and vegetables covered a small portion of the land. Dean stopped and stood still as he saw the young woman.

  As Dean walked closer to her, she felt his presence and stopped singing. It was then that she turned around in surprise and asked, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

  She was dressed in tattered blue robes and had dark, caramel skin. Her eyes were cold and piercing. Dean saw her face and could tell that she was the same age as him in appearance.

  “My name is Dean,” he replied with a sense of interest and unease, “I’m the heir of Pharaoh Amenhotep. I’ve come in search for the sacred scepter of this country.”

  “Many have tried,” she said in a monotone voice, “but none have prevailed.”

  “So I’ve heard, but I’m sure that I can break this chain of failures and destroy someone who’s trying to kill me!”

  “Hmm…overconfidence…many who took the task had lots of overconfidence,” she said.

  She walked towards him. Dean was somewhat glad that she seemed to be more comfortable around him.

  “My name is Magola. I’ve lived within this cavern for many years. I haven’t cared once for the scepter. I don’t think I have the power to wield such a thing. This place has always been my home and, as you can see,” Magola outstretched her hand to the garden and the waterfall and pool behind her, “I made it to provide for myself.

  “Why do you live alone?” Dean asked her, letting down his guard. Dean finally felt comfortable being around Magola just as she had been around him. Magola shook her head from left to right, suggesting to Dean that she didn’t want to explain her reason for living in solitude.

  “I’ve lived in these mountains for years and, by doing so, I dodged the fate of my people for the planned voyage to the island of Avesia.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Dean said empathetically. “How long have you been here?” “Twelve years to be exact,” Magola said. Dean’s eyes widened. “There is a great evil that

  lurks upon this land. When I first fled to this cavern, I saw ancient inscriptions on a rock that told the fate of a great person. The inscriptions weren’t specific. That is why so many people have come to this abandoned place in search of the sacred scepter. Maybe I can help you.” Magola requested, “As soon as we find the sacred scepter, together, we can defeat the evil one who’s trying to kill you.”

  “Alright, but we have to hurry. I escaped from his minions and he’s probably looking for me right now as we speak,” Dean said. They left Magola’s cavern and ventured into the rest of the mountains.

  As Dean and Magola went deeper into the caverns of the mountain, they saw a ledge at the very top of a small chamber. However, there was no way either one of them could reach the ledge. Dean remembered the Tassidain he had placed in his back pocket and concentrated on reaching the top. Dean grabbed Magola’s hand, certain that she blushed as soon as their palms touched.

  Soon after, Dean and Magola were both instantly at the ledge at the top of the chamber.

  There at the ledge, was an entrance to a dark and icy tunnel. At first they were both afraid of what might be inside the tunnel, but remembering their task, they went inside despite their fears.

  Dean and Magola walked deeper and deeper into the tunnel. The deeper they went the darker it became. It seemed as if they were halfway into the tunnel when an unknown force stopped them in their path.

  “Ouch, Magola! That was my foot!”

  “I’m sorry. Besides, even if it did hurt you didn’t have to pinch my leg.” “What? I never pinched you!” he snapped.

  A cold feeling ran through Dean’s body and a hot breath slithered down the back of his neck. Both Magola and Dean turned around and saw nothing but darkness and the sound of dripping water. Something tagged Magola on her shoe. She sparked a light from her hand and pointed downward, which made Dean remember when Cacellon performed this very action in The Marble Palace. The mere sight of this made Dean ask himself, How is everyone doing that?

  What they saw was something they did not expect. A small, gray creature with the body of a small dog, the large ears of a rabbit, a long and slender tail, and eyes the size of tennis balls stood in front of them with an innocent look on its face. The creature levitated and circled playfully around them. Magola hugged the creature lovingly, speaking to it in a comforting but stunned voice.

  The creature gave out a high-pitched sound, which made Magola fall even more in love with it. Dean took a closer look at the creature w
ith a hint of admiration in his eyes. It reminded him so much of the small dogs he would see in the windows of pet shops during his life in New York.

  “I think I’ll call him SaRee,” Magola said.

  “Alright then, let’s take him with us. But we have to keep moving, or Xanire will find us,” Dean said as Magola followed, cuddling her new-found pet within her arms.

  As Dean and Magola continued to travel deeper into the tunnel, they felt the solid ground under their feet getting steeper and steeper until they fell onto a slide of solid ice. They slid and

  slid until they stopped at an unusual sight. They had landed on the floor of a rocky chamber full of disintegrating skeletons.

  Something caught Dean’s attention above his eye. He pointed upward and tapped Magola’s arm to notify her to look where he was pointing. What they saw was a sight to behold.

  A gray stallion stood before them and neighed to express its excitement. Magola and Dean stood still as the stallion gazed at them with curiosity. The horse began to snort through its nostrils while stomping on the ground with its forelegs and opening its mouth, exposing its teeth. The horse suddenly ran towards them. Dean and Magola looked everywhere for possible exits, but not one was available. Dean looked back and noticed that the slide had just melted onto the chamber floor, as if it were ice placed right in front of a burning flame.

  They were trapped and the horse was trotting faster towards them. The small creature they had found that Magola had so admirably named SaRee shrieked. The horse suddenly turned translucent as it ran through Magola and Dean, stopping in front of a wall.