“I can’t control water magic,” Bane mumbled angrily.
Evan thought he saw Sintian smirk, likely proud that he was superior than Bane in some small way.
“The three of us should be enough,” Evan said. “It’ll have to be.”
The toxic water ate away at the ice instantly, however, eroding the edges and destroying their spell.
“Quick, this is our only chance,” Evan roared, sprinting across the bridge before it melted entirely. He heard the others on his heels as they ran. Their weight dented the icy bridge and the ice itself had turned soft as a slush-puppie.
Evan had no idea what would happen if he fell in the sea, if it would burn his skin off, or fill his pores with poison, but he ran anyway. They couldn’t let the minion get away with the Gem, not after all they’d been through.
They were halfway across the bridge when the minion summoned another portal. No, not again!
The bridge had cracked in several spaces and sunk lower and lower into the steaming sea. As Evan reached the end of the path, it cracked like a shattered mirror and he leapt the rest of the way, fortunately only three feet to the lilypad.
Emi followed behind, then Sintian. Bane was last, and most of the bridge before him had disintegrated now. As he took off, the ice beneath his left foot gave way completely, plunging his boot inside. Bane swore in fury as he leaped, landing on the giant lilypad and hissing in pain. He got straight back to his feet, however, lunging toward the demon.
The mutant koala-monkey grinned, gloating as he disappeared yet again.
All four of them were full of rage now as they dived into the vortex after him.
Once again, a myriad of multicoloured light assaulted Evan, and his stomach flipped over and over. Then he was back on solid ground, the rushing of the portal cutting off.
This world was blissfully normal, or at least not outwardly bizarre. It could almost be somewhere on Earth. A plain of orange rock spread before them, reminding Evan of the pictures he’d seen of the Grand Canyon. The gravity levels were back to normal and there no giant white orbs or poisonous seas in sight. Unfortunately, the monkey demon was nowhere in sight either.
Bane’s face was still set in a grimace of pain, and he was limping as he set about looking for the demon. “Aww, this stings like a glarqer.” He quickly used a mild fire spell on his boot, trying to dry it.
“Are you going to be okay?” Emi asked worriedly.
“Should be,” Bane said through gritted teeth. “Some poison may have got in through my armour, but there’s no time to check.”
“But what if you die?” Emi said.
Bane smirked, “I’m tougher to kill than that.”
“At least we’re on a relatively normal realm,” said Evan. Well, he thought it was, until he glanced up at the sky.
The sky was a rose pink and filled with wispy yellow clouds, but it was the group of hornets the size of horses buzzing high above, that left him gasping in shock.
Emi yelped, trying to make her body small.
“It’s okay,” Evan tried to reassure everyone, and himself. “I don’t think they’ve seen us.”
“Rueda,” said Bane. “One sting from them and we’d be dead meat, armour or not.”
“There!” Sintian’s shout brought their gazes back to the ground.
The demon scuttled across the orange rock ahead, clutching the Gem tight to his furry body.
They set off after it, Bane hurling a stunner spell after the thief. The minion tried to dance away from the spell, screeching like a banshee, but the stunner smashed into the Rambrace instead. The device flew out of the demon’s hand, exploding into pieces as it hit the ground.
“Yes,” Sintian cried, “the little Ushk can’t run into another world now. We got ‘im.”
Fortunately for them, the orange ground came to an end at a set off cliffs. The demon had nowhere else to run. The cretin realised this too, and turned to run to his left instead, right up a rock hill.
They followed him up the hill, Evan confident that they had the demon now. As they crested the rise, however, they encountered a herd of cattle on the rocky plain before them.
All four of them were running so fast that they couldn’t stop as the hillside suddenly slanted down. Evan tried to put on the brakes, but merely fell on his backslide, sliding right into the herd of bulls.
Wait, cattle is a herd of cows, not multiple bulls? Evan suddenly realised they weren’t cattle at all, but a herd of demonic bulls.
They might’ve even been Minotaurs; he didn’t have the time to inspect them closely. All Evan saw was their horns, which sprouted not only from their heads, but the entire lengths of their bodies.
The herd stampeded as the Venators inadvertently crashed into them.
Evan was almost impaled by a dark green horn, but ducked at the last minute, then rolled as a second bull galloped past, snorting a foul smelling mist.
Amidst the utter anarchy as the bulls stamped and snorted in every direction, he saw the demon slip away. Evan resurrected a shield of air he hoped would work as he tried to wade his way through the herd.
Another bull would’ve gored him, but his horns were deflected by Evan’s air-shield.
Sintian attacked the bulls needlessly as Bane leaped over the nearest bull with a cry of rage, his frustration at the demon thief boiling over. He threw another stunner at the minion, this time clipping his legs. The demon went down face-first, his snout skidding across the rock. As the monster tried to rise Bane was upon it, driving his sword through the thief’s back. The monster gave one final screech as it died, the Gem of Quantem rolling out of its grasp.
Bane scooped the Gem up and unhooked the Rambrace at his belt, preparing to leave, the rest of them, however, were still trapped in a circle of demon cattle.
“Stop it,” Evan shouted, seizing Sintian’s elbow as he waved his sword at the cattle threateningly. “We don’t have to fight the bulls, we can use Lethigue on them.”
Evan remembered Master Greller explaining that demons resembling beasts were more susceptible to spells that could put them to sleep.
The three of them cast the Lethique spell, producing a purple haze which settled on the ground around the bulls, working like a drug for sleep. The stampeding horde was quelled, settling down to sleep.
Then Evan saw something that made his heart stop. The herd’s stampede had awakened their leader.
It arose from a nearby cave with an almighty roar, a bellow so loud it almost burst his eardrums. Then it came into view, towering over its herd of bulls. A Minotaur!
At over twelve foot tall, the beast dwarfed even Master Urkzal.
Scratch that, there were three Minotaur's! The other two bull-men emerged behind what Evan supposed was the alpha as they were a foot shorter, but obviously still terrifying.
Unlike the herd, the Minotaurs stood proudly on two cloven feet. Their legs were covered in shaggy fur, whilst their torso’s was bare and rippling with gargantuan muscle. Their chests arms were human, but their heads were unmistakably a bull’s, with black horns that curved upward, glinting monstrously. The pure power and rage that emanated from them was frightening. All three Minotaur charged, the ground shaking as their hooves slammed down on the earth.
One beast charged toward Bane and Sintian, who stood off to the left, another chased Emi, who ran frantically away, to the cliff’s edge, whilst the biggest Minotaur galloped towards him.
Evan shouted incoherently, gathering all the magic he had left. A purple bar of raw energy exploded from his palms and smashed into the Minotaur’s chest mid-charge.
He looked round desperately, planning to help Emi. She’d stopped right at the cliff’s edge and then dived to the ground at the last second. The minotaur attempting gore Emi couldn’t slow down in time and ran straight off the cliff, its panicked snort echoing as it fell.
Evan’s Minotaur had only been staggered momentarily, confused as to what had stopped it. Then with a thunderous snort it came on again
.
Most of his magic was gone, but Evan didn’t have time to think of a way out of this. He threw small balls of fire from both hands as the brute proceeded to charge. The fire bombs enraged the goliath further and it made an effort to swipe the flames away. But still it came; nothing could stand in its path.
Evan had nowhere to run except backward, toward the edge of the cliff. He chanced a look over his shoulder and saw a shimmering turquoise sea beyond the cliff, but the drop had to be ninety-feet high.
He tried to summon another energy spell, but the last vestiges of his sorcery had drained. All he could do was throw his hands out in front of him and cry out nonsensically as the Minotaur crashed into him.
He seized the middle of each horn as he went down, the beast on top of him. The incredibly impact drove all the wind from Evan’s body, but he’d stopped the horns from disembowelling him.
The Minotaur shook his head from side to side, taking Evan with it like a ragdoll. He held on to the horns for dear life, to stop himself being thrown off the cliff as well as getting his insides ripped out.
Evan noticed a creeping black mist begin to ooze out of the ground inches from his side, the thin wisps were incredibly faint, but there was no mistaking it. No! This shouldn’t be happening. Somehow his body was summoning the demon magic!
Me and Brooke took Emerald Shade. My demon magic can’t be back.
He couldn’t let it happen, under any circumstances.
“H…help,” he wheezed, trying to get his breath back.
He twisted his body and glimpsed Bane and Sintian, who’d managed to dispatch their own Minotaur. Evan prepared to call out to them when the Minotaur snorted thunderously and bucked his head, lifting him high. He held on once again, this time landing on his feet.
The beast stomped and scuffed his hooves furiously, driving Evan right to the edge of the cliff. He frantically released his hold on one of the horns and snatched for Ruaden. He thought it was best chance for battling the beast, but the sword was only halfway out of its sheathe when the Minotaur rammed him again, with only one hand he couldn’t hold the beast back and both of them were sent tumbling off the cliff.
Evan’s arms flailed madly as flew through empty air. He was helpless as his body plummeted. His vision blurred, he couldn’t see anything, and then he crashed into the sea below with sickening impact.
Part Five
Pain in a Painted World
The Realmer Republic hereby forbids all relations between orcs, goblins, ogres and trolls with the humans. The Fae Folk, vampires, nymphs, mermaids and all magic-users are also forbidden from seducing humans, (and others) through trickery or any unnatural means. -quote by High-Master Biffog of Sygorn Palace at the Council meeting of 1807.
Chapter 42- My Best Friend’s Girl
Jed couldn’t believe what he was seeing as Cera sidled into the room. Maybe he’d dozed off at some point and was dreaming. She didn’t look much like the Cera he remembered. That girl had flawless brown skin, glossy black hair and bright emerald eyes. This girl’s skin was covered in little cuts, even across her cheeks. They looked like scratches fingernails might make. Her hair was now thin, lank strands that clung to her skull like drowning victims clinging to an island, and her eyes were dull and glassy.
“Cera?” Jed repeated in a breathless gasp.
She gave an excited giggle and her eyes lit up as she took him in.
“Is it really you, Jed? Father said I knew the three intruders, but I didn’t think it would be you of all people.”
“Whu… your father what?”
Cera howled with laughter. She clutched her stomach and doubled over, giggling hysterically.
“Oh Jed, you always were so hilarious, weren’t you.”
Jed realised with a sinking horror that she wasn’t joking around. Cera really thought like his comment was the funniest joke she’d ever heard.
“I’m not trying to be funny,” he said. “How about you let me out of these cuffs and we can talk, yeah?”
Cera’s laugh cut off suddenly and she ran towards him, screaming in anger. Before Jed could speak again she’d clawed him across the face with her nails.
“Naughty boy, trying to trick me. Do you think I’m stupid?” she cried.
“Argh, Jesus Christ.” Jed swore, his cheek on fire where she’d scratched him.
He’d never doubted Evan’s story of Cera’s betrayal, but Jed had struggled believing Evan when he had described Cera as slightly unhinged. Now Jed knew Evan had been lying, she wasn’t unhinged; she was absolutely off her rocker.
“Look, just calm down, yeah. How… how’ve you been,” he said weakly. He decided the best way to deal with an unstable and likely dangerous individual was to keep things polite, and not anger her in any way.
To his surprise Cera beamed at him, her anger evaporated as soon as it had come.
“Oh, thanks for asking. Yes, I’ve been good. Well, up until recently. I got to see all these amazing sights. It was like going on holiday. Me and Mother and Father travelled to so many different worlds, and saw all kinds of things. But then mother stopped travelling with us and it was just me and Daddy. I’m not sure where Mum went, but it didn’t matter, because then we came back home. That’s where it got annoying, Daddy won’t let me leave this place. He won’t even let me leave my room. I sneaked in here just to get a peek at you.” Cera finished with a sulky pout.
“Oh, er, wow,” he replied. “That’s, uh, really something. Why did-”
“How’s Evan,” Cera interrupted excitedly, sitting down cross-legged in front of him and smiling.
“What do you care?” He spat, giving up the pretence. So what if she attacked him again, she’d done a lot worse.
“What do you mean?” Cera gasped. “Of course I care about Evan, he’s my one true love.”
Jed snorted. “You literally led him to his death. You knew Kurrlan would kill him.”
“No, of course not,” she simpered. “Kurrlan was never going to kill Evan. He needed Evan’s gift, that was all. What I did wasn’t so bad Jed.”
“Why, why did you do it? Did Evan mean that little to you? Did all of Veneseron mean that little to you? You sacrificed us all just for yourself.”
Cera frowned. “I can’t remember why I did it. But Father said it was important. Kurrlan helped us, I think. We owed him a lot. All I had to do was lead Evan to him. And then… and then…” Cera broke off, thinking hard.
Jed didn’t know how to reply this time, and some of his anger ebbed away. Did Cera truly not remember what she did? Evan mentioned that Vanderain told him when a human borrowed magic from a Dread Lord it eventually broke their minds. Their bodies weren’t meant to use magic so over time the side-effects were disastrous. He wondered just when Cera had started to go insane. She’d appeared a sweet, normal girl when he’d first met her. There’d been no sign whatsoever that she’d ever sell out Veneseron.
Jed hated her for what she’d done. She must’ve still been sane when she decided to betray Veneseron, but now, now she was just a wreck. It was hard to hate her when she was so ill.
“I still remember Evan though,” Cera said, deciding to shout it in his face for some reason. “We were soul mates, we were going to get married, you know.”
“Um, I’m not sure you were…” he trailed off as her happiness abated once again, to be replaced with fury.
“What did you say, you stupid, little-”
“I’m sorry, I meant to say I remember that too,” Jed said quickly. He decided to tell her anything she wanted to hear. He’d play along until he could escape. As they talked he’d been piecing it together in his mind, he just needed her to give him more information.
He’d guess so far that Cera’s father was the one kidnapping Venators from Veneseron. But he had no idea why. Or how Battlebeard was involved.
Cera nodded eagerly. “Oh, I knew you’d remember. It was fun, wasn’t it? I miss Veneseron. I beg Daddy every day to take me back.” Tears had formed in he
r eyes.
“Hey, I can take you back,” Jed said at once. Part of him felt terrible for tricking an insane person, but he had too.
“You can?” Her face lit up.
“Yeah. We just need to get my friends, and the people your Father kidnapped, then we can go.”
“Oh no, we need them.” Cera shook her head vigorously. “Daddy said they’re going to make me better again.”
“How?” He said slowly. “Are they still alive?” Please let them be okay.
Cera shrugged. “Who cares? Father thinks it’ll work any day now. He’s always in his lab doing experiments. He says once he can take their magic away and give it to me, everything will be good again. He says once I have magic once more, my mind won’t be so… strange. I feel foggy inside my brain, you see. And I have these odd mood swings. But if I get my sorcery back, it’ll all be okay.”
Jed just stared at her, dumbstruck. Her father thought he could steal other Venator’s magic and give it to Cera. Jed had never heard of something like that, he didn’t think it was possible.
“Is that why they’re all girls?” He took a guess.
“Maybe,” Cera said. “Daddy thinks the more they have in common with me, the better. He makes sure they’re the same height, age and training rank. But it’s hard getting the right ones. Daddy’s always complaining about Battlebeard, he can’t snatch good ones, you see.”
“Why is Battlebeard helping you?” Jed asked.
“He smells,” Cera wrinkled her nose. “But he was our family’s bodyguard. Father paid for his training and equipment when Battlebeard started Dragon Jousting. He’s loyal to us, like a good doggy.”
“Do you know where my friends are?” He asked next. “You remember Elijah, right? And I’m sure you met Joelle, too?”
Cera squealed in excitement. “Really? They’re here too, where?”
Damn, she obviously didn’t know.
“Okay, well, how about me and you go and find them together. I’m sure Elijah would love to catch up with you after all this time. I know that I’m happy to see you again.”
Moonlight War- Act II (The Realmers Book 3) Page 16
