by Natalie Erin
There it was. Wyntier’s file. But something was wrong. As they turned the pages, they realized that the paper was new, and fresh off the printing press.
“It’s brand new! He rewrote his file!” Kennu snarled as he read through the pages. “They’re making him seem like some sort of hero! Are you reading this?”
Soran shook his head furiously as they skimmed page after page of lies. Wyntier had deleted every single record that made him look the least bit distasteful. After a while, they found Lukas’ file tucked inside.
“It was as if he had never been bonded to Vera at all,” Kennu said. “I bet Nicodemus’ file is probably a pile of ashes right now.”
“I bet you’re right,” a sinister voice said behind them. They turned to see a giant monitor lizard, as large as several horses, blocking the doorway, his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth in amusement. Beside him was a cobra of the same monstrous size, his threatening hood flaring in the window’s light. The rest of the guards circled the two behemoths. A man held up Cameliyon by the collar of her shirt, transformed back into herself. Two Changers struggled to hold onto a fighting Angel in her griffin form, while Martin and Pumpkin, both ferrets, were subdued by the rest of the Changers.
“Clever idea, yes?” the cobra hissed. “Nobody’s around to catch our little friends in the act except us. Bad little friends...you shouldn’t be slithering around here.”
The monitor cackled and said, “Allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Anubis, and this is my cousin, Ra. Surely you have heard of us?”
Anubis laughed at their shocked expressions. “You have heard of us indeed. Luckily, the Council left their Changers behind to guard the Hall, silly friends. All except for Lukas, of course. But we won’t be needing him.”
“Won’t be needing him indeed.” Ra slithered around the kids in a circle. The guards threw the rest of the group against Soran, and the Accompany realized that Ra was herding him into another room. Ra took his tail, bashing them back through a door Anubis had opened, throwing them down a long flight of stairs into darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Temple of the Evil Gods
All that could be heard was the sound of their screams as they tumbled down the stairs, and then their labored breathing as they lay against the cold stone, immersed in the dark. They were unsure of where they were...nothing could be seen, save for the pitch blackness of the room they’d fallen into. Soran heard the rattle of Ra’s tail and yelled, “Light! I need light!”
His coat tore off him in flames. Zorna flew high into the air, sweeping around the room and creating as much fire as he could in his phoenix form. Even as a phoenix, Zorna only gave enough light so they could see what was right in front of them. The Changers leapt protectively in front of their Accompanies, forming a barrier between them and the Changers of the Council as they closed in.
As far as they could tell, the room was nothing but stone. The only thing in it were tall platforms on which the Council was sitting upon. Ra was the only one still left on the floor, snaking around them.
“Let’s see the power of your Creator,” Anubis said mockingly. Anubis displayed his fangs and chanted, “I call upon Rameses, Nefti, Takmet, Sulket, Horus. Do your duty for your king.”
Five Changers leapt off the platform. A falcon larger than Zorna flew straight at Soran’s heart, beak widened, aiming to plunge it into the Accompany’s chest. Zorna flew in front of him and locked talons. The birds spiraled to the ground and began tearing at each other with everything they had. Two pumas circled Martin and Pumpkin, who had changed into horses. They leapt onto their backs and Cameliyon screamed loudly as the twins tried to buck them off. Angel was dueling fiercely with a formidable osprey of her own size, while poor Federin was being chased by a giggling hyena, who was enjoying the game of violence. The remaining Council members swayed in a chant, repeating over and over, “Rameses, Nefti, Takmet, Sulket, Horus…”
Meanwhile, Ra circled around the Accompanies, enclosing them in as he planned to strangle them all at once. Soran looked around and wondered if this was the end. This was all his fault. Were they all to die here, foolishly and for no purpose?
Cameliyon sobbed as Martin and Pumpkin fell under the weight of the large cats, rolling to get them off. The pumas simply raked their claws over their backs and jumped out of the way when the horses fell. Federin was smacked across the face by the hyena and hit the wall, unconscious. Zorna was trying so hard, so very hard, to fight for Soran, but the stronger falcon had him pinned and was now ripping out his black feathers fanatically as Zorna screeched, trying to toss him off. The osprey smashed Angel down into the hard stone, biting hard behind her neck. Her mouth opened in a soundless scream, writhing underneath her foe.
One of the pumas had Pumpkin pinned. The large cat pulled back his fangs and sunk them into her neck, tearing into the flesh. In wretched pain, the Changer screamed.
This noise did something terrible to Cameliyon. Letting out a scream that matched her Changer’s, her eyes began filling with a smoky, black texture, overwhelming the pupils and whites. She flung her hand out in front of her, and from it emitted a wavy, flowing black water, one that streamed directly for the puma that bit Pumpkin. The water streamed into the puma’s mouth and the big cat got off Pumpkin, eyes wide as it began coughing heavily, gasping for air. The puma took a few steps before collapsing on the ground, blood streaming out of its mouth into a large puddle as it shuttered, then died.
“What is this?” Ra hissed. “This is not part of our game.”
Cameliyon opened her other hand, and the black water went for the rest of the Changers attacking her friends, infecting the mouths of the osprey, the hyena, the falcon, and the second puma. Each of them gasped for air just as the first had before sinking to the ground, drowning in a stream of their own blood that flowed from behind their teeth. Slowly, Cameliyon’s eyes lost their smoky appearance and she stepped back, her shoes soaked in the carnage she’d effortlessly created.
The Accompanies had no time to marvel or be afraid. Cameliyon ran to her Changers, splashing through the bloody pools. The twins transformed and she scooped them up in her arms, running up the steps and out the door they’d been thrown down. Daren grabbed Federin, and Kennu scooped up Angel as a swan. They hurried after Cameliyon, clumsily scampering up the smooth stairs.
Soran was last, crawling to Zorna through the river of blood flowing through the stone room. He kneeled by his side, dragging him out from underneath the dead osprey. There was a part where there were no feathers left on Zorna’s back.
“Oh Zorna. I’m so sorry.” Tears fell from Soran’s eyes as he got to his feet. He hurried up the steps, before Ra and Anubis got their bearings and could follow. As they hurried through the Council Hall, Soran asked, “Cam, what was that?”
She took deep breaths as she ran. “That’s what I told you about, Soran. The darkness.”
The banging of the wooden doors behind them was enough to signal that Ra and Anubis were giving chase. There was nowhere to go. If they went to Ana’s they would only be leading them back to everyone else.
Angel had an idea. Kennu, go to the cathedral, she said frailly in her mind. Kennu relayed the thought to Soran, and the Accompany changed his path, heading immediately towards it. Angel’s proposition was their only hope now.
Once they had reached the grand stone cathedral, they launched themselves inside. Soran cried, “Refuge!” and fell across the head priest’s feet, Zorna still in his arms. The head priest saw the Council coming and stepped before them in his white robe, a white tiger following. He and the other ministers formed a wall between the children and their enemies.
Anubis stepped forward and snarled, raking his claws across the stone. “Amancio! Move,” he snarled.
The priest didn’t move. “No, Anubis. I will not stand for you coming in this holy place and wrenching the Creator’s children out to seek judgement. You have no right.”
“Your head will be on a plat
ter for the king if you don’t get out of the way, old man,” Anubis snarled.
“The children claim refuge.” Amancio’s Changer spoke in a deep, rumbling voice, calm against the storm of Anubis’ threatening command. “There is nothing you can do. You may have burned our constitution, but there is a deeper law that states you cannot take those who seek sanctuary in the cathedral out to be judged, nor can you spill blood on sacred steps. Doing so will compromise your Council status. And I’m sure we can all take care of ourselves.” The white tiger growled lowly, as a warning to the Council members.
Anubis flickered out his tongue. “For now.” When they saw that the ministers weren’t about to give in, both turned to leave.
Before completely slithering away, Ra hissed, “You would do well to leave Nesting’s Haven, Amancio. While you still can.”
With grim faces, the ministers turned to the children. They began tending to them and their Changers, wrapping their battle wounds in clean white fabric.
“Ignus, watch over him for me.” Amancio pointed at Kennu, then went to put balm on Zorna’s skin patches.
The white tiger left his cohorts to their duty and led Kennu over to a long pew. He made the boy sit down before checking him for any wounds.
“Well, you’re fine on the outside,” Ignus said in his rough voice, “But not on the inside.”
“I know,” Kennu said quickly, anxiously glancing over at his friends on the other side of the cathedral. “I’m in pretty bad shape. I can’t believe I haven’t had a seizure today.”
“Not that,” Ignus said. “In here, like I was. Like we all were.” He touched his nose to Kennu’s chest, where the boy’s heart beat frailly.
“Is everyone going to be alright?” Kennu asked anxiously.
“They’ll be fine, but you won’t if you don’t learn to forgive yourself,” Ignus said. Kennu looked at him in confusion, and the big cat stared back. “I can see what has happened to you. You grieve for your loss, child, and because of it you lash out at others, even when you don’t mean to.”
Amancio came back, his black hair brushed away from his eyes. “How is he?”
“Worse than we thought,” Ignus said.
The priest sat down beside him, and Kennu pleaded, “Please sir, don’t bother with me. I’m not worth saving. Just go help my friends.”
Amancio smiled. “Your friends are in good hands, Kennu. And despite what you may think, you are worth saving. Everyone is.”
Kennu looked closer at the priest and saw his own golden eyes shimmering out of the man’s face. His mouth dropped open and Amancio laughed. “Yes, Kennu, that’s how I know your name. I’m not only Amancio, high priest of Southwild, but also your grandfather.”
“We received my son’s letter and came here as soon as we could. We knew we would find you here,” Ignus rumbled. He turned and said, “Mirabelle, what do you think? Doesn’t he look like Keota?”
A golden lioness padded over by the tiger. “Dearest no, he must take after his mother,” she said. “He’s obviously got fairy blood.”
Kennu jumped at the sound of her voice. Amancio got up and patted his grandson on the shoulder. “Stay here. Your family will be here soon, and we’ll all make way for Ionia’s Palace together.”
“Does my dad know you’re here?” Kennu asked.
Amancio laughed. “No, but he’ll find out when he shows up! We’ve sent someone to fetch him.”
Vivienna nearly crushed Soran and Zorna as she and Melodi embraced them tightly when they arrived with all the adults. No one showed up for Daren, so he simply cuddled Federin to him and waited to leave.
Ionan and Keota seemed winded. They must’ve rode at breakneck speed all the way to the cathedral. For a minute Kennu thought that his father was going to shout at him, but instead the Accompany slid off of Ionan’s back, grabbed his son and clung him to him, ruffling his hair affectionately.
Cameliyon, Martin and Pumpkin looked around in confusion. Their parents hadn’t yet shown. “Excuse me, but can anyone tell me where our parents are?” Cameliyon asked loudly.
Ana, with Maekrel in her wake, said softly, “Cameliyon…your house was attacked. Pumpkin’s and Martin’s parents, along with their Accompanies, were chased out, a few hours ago. We looked everywhere, but we couldn’t find them.”
Cameliyon’s face twisted into a snarl. “It’s not true. You’re lying.” She stormed out of the cathedral, in the direction of her home.
“She’ll come back,” Keota said solemnly. “There’s nothing left for her to go to. Both houses have been burned to the ground. We were so scared...we thought you had all gone to her house when we couldn’t find you.”
“Where did you all go?” Ionan asked angrily, stomping his large feet. They all looked at each other, and Soran told the story slowly.
When they were done, Ionan gnashed his teeth and said, “What a foolish thing to do! Even if you had found something, nobody would have believed you about Wyntier! Use your common sense!”
“Don’t be so mad, Ionan. They did it for good.” Amancio came up behind him, and the dragon jumped several feet when he noticed the Accompany, shaking the ground as he came down.
Keota looked closer. “Dad…is that really you?”
Amancio smiled. “In the flesh, son.”
Keota walked forward and embraced his father. “I’m sorry I didn’t come home...again. I really meant to visit you with Kia. But I...didn’t. Life got in the way.” He looked down shamefully.
“Everyone must follow his own path,” Amancio said. “However, I don’t understand how someone so close to home could not come by once to see me.” The pain in his face was evident once he set sight on Ana.
Ana stepped forward. “I’m sorry Dad, I really am. I was just...afraid how you would react.”
“React to what?” Amancio asked, bewildered.
Maekrel, who had been hiding behind her, stepped out with his hair in front of his face. “React to this,” Ana said. “I’ve fallen in love with him.”
There was a long silence. The golden lioness Mirabelle stepped forward and asked, “Are you my son?”
Maekrel smiled sheepishly. “I was. Until Wyntier used a drug on me, and changed me. I’m human now.”
Nobody knew what to say at this point. Thankfully, they were saved by two little girls, skipping around the pews.
“Why hello, little one,” Ignus laughed as the younger Mirabelle looped circles around him while chasing after Lyrica.
The young dragon turned around at the sound of his voice and cocked her head, her scales shimmering in the light of the stained glass. “Papa, who are these people?” she asked.
Ignus and his mate looked at Ionan when she said this. He said softly, “These are your grandparents, Mirabelle. Ignus is my father, and the lioness you see is the Changeress you were named after.”
“Yay! Are we going to be seeing my other grandparents too?” she asked.
“Yes, very soon. Now go play. You will have much time to talk to them on our way there,” Ionan said. At his words, the little dragon began playing tag with Lyrica again.
“Mira! Mira, where are you?” Sunset stuck her head inside the cathedral.
“Over here, Mama. I’m fine,” she called.
Sunset nodded in relief, drawing her head out of the building.
“I suppose we’re going to have to call me Belle now, to keep things less confusing.” The older Mirabelle chuckled, glancing out the door at Sunset. “Is she your mate? She’s very beautiful.”
Ionan shook his head. “Sunset is Mira’s adoptive mother.”
“Then whose hatchling is she, then?” Ignus asked.
A second later, the young Mirabelle opened her mouth and began to sing a happy tune. Ionan turned away and said, “Isn’t it enough to know by her voice?”
Ignus squinted. “She’s not…yours and Vera’s, is she?”
Ionan nodded. “Vera named her. She always adored you, Mother, up until the moment she died.”
/> Mirabelle purred in happiness. Ignus placed his paw on Ionan’s and said, “Welcome home, my son.”
It wasn’t long before Cameliyon, Martin and Pumpkin returned, dragging themselves into the cathedral. “It’s gone.” Cam said, collapsing in a heap in a pew. “Everything’s just…gone.”
Keota came over to her and said, “I know it’s painful, Cameliyon, but in order to get you to safety we have to leave right away. Don’t forget we’re all leaving things behind here, things we love, and if we stay here we’re all in great danger. The cathedral can’t shelter us forever.”
“But our parents!” Pumpkin protested.
“There’s nothing that can be done,” Amancio shook his head. “The only thing we can do is to get you to a safe place.” He looked out the window. “Darkness falls. We should move quickly, in order to avoid being followed.”
Everyone went outside, and the bags were quickly loaded onto the scaly backs of the dragons. Belle and Ignus had changed into dragons almost as big as Ionan was, Ignus a glimmering emerald with a beard, and Belle a pretty golden dragoness with seven different horns.
Hop on, Angel said, offering her back to Kennu.
The fairy balked. Ionan’s been the only person who’s carried me since Allie died.
I know. But you must get there somehow, she insisted.
He nodded, clambering on slowly. When Ignus had given the signal they all took off in a thrilling midnight ride.
After a while, when many riders had fallen asleep, Belle flew up to her son’s side. She looked at Ionan with a knowing smile and said, “Are you planning the wedding soon? I’m sure your father will be thrilled to plan another party.”
“What are you talking about?” Ionan said grumpily.
“Ionan, I see the way she gazes at you. It is the same way Vera used to.” Belle cast an eye toward Sunset.
“I’ve known Sunset for years, Mother. She lost a mate, and so did I. It would never work out.” A small puff of smoke filtered out from his fangs slowly.
