by Roy Huff
“I’m sorry, Owen, but Dante’s been a friend for how long? I know it sucks what happened to Zee’s dad and all, but Dante’s back, and he deserves a big celebration. It might make Zee a little uncomfortable, but if he’s a true friend he’ll understand.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m just a little concerned about Zee’s state of mind right now, especially after what he said he saw about his father in Everville. I just don’t want to push him over the edge.”
Jack opened the car door for Dante and helped him carry a couple of small bags.
“Dante, glad to see you’re finally out of that hospital. Let me help you with that,” Owen said as he took a small bag that Dante had been carrying.
“You know the worst thing about hospitals?” Dante asked.
“You mean besides the food?” Anika replied.
“No. That’s it. The food absolutely sucks, at least the food they were feeding me. That meatloaf last night was absolutely terrible. I can still taste the aftertaste in my mouth, and I don’t think meatloaf’s supposed to have an aftertaste.”
“That sounds pretty gross, but at least you’re out of that place now, and you can eat whatever you want,” Owen said.
I know, right? I could go for a good burger right about now.”
“A burger sounds great,” Anika agreed.
“I’m a little hungry, too. Come on. Let’s get your bags to your room, then we can walk to that burger place on campus. You know, the one where you can make your own burger from scratch,” Owen said.
Anika and Owen carried Dante’s bags to his room and dropped it off on his bed.
“Oh, Hi. I’m Tesla,” said a short and skinny boy with dark brown hair and green eyes, looking up from the bed on his side of the room. He wasn’t handsome in the classic sense, but he had a kind of geeky charm and a nice smile.
“You must be Dante’s new roommate,” Anika replied.
“Nice to meet you, Tesla. This is Anika, I’m Owen, and that’s Dante.”
“Just don’t give him too much of a hard time. Dante just got out of the hospital.”
“Don’t listen to her, Tesla. She’s just being a little overprotective. I’ll be fine.”
“Sorry to hear it. Are you okay? Were you injured in the storm?”
“Well, not exactly, but I’m fine now, so no need to worry,” Dante responded.
Anika looked at Tesla and said, “Hey, you know what? You should come to Dante’s welcome back party that Owen and I are planning.”
“Really, guys?” Dante said in astonishment.
“Don’t look so surprised, Dante. It’s kind of a big deal. Besides, we haven’t been to any really good parties since we’ve been here; we might as well have one while we still can. Who knows how long that will last?” Anika said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tesla asked.
“Oh nothing. So what do you say? Wanna come?” she continued.
“I don’t see why not, but I probably won’t be able to stay long. I’m an engineering major, so I don’t get out of my room much. I’m taking a full load, eighteen credits with Physics and Calc II.”
“Yikes! Well, I’m sure we won’t keep you too late. Besides, our get-togethers usually don’t attract that many people. I just want to make sure we have at least enough people to have a good evening and give Dante a respectable welcome back,” Anika replied.
“It’s not really all that bad. I just need to manage my time wisely. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of people that come, but I’ll do my best to be there.”
“I guess we’ll be seeing you around then,” Owen said.
“Wanna come grab a burger with us for lunch?” Dante said.
“Thanks, but I got my sandwich here, and I need to study, so maybe next time.”
“No problem. I guess I’ll see you later,” Dante replied.
“All right, see ya,” Tesla said as they walked out the door.
Dante turned to Anika and said, “Ahhh. I didn’t know you cared so much.”
“Yeah, well, just this once, but don’t let it go to your head. Your roommate seems cool, though,” Anika replied.
“Yeah, I guess he seems all right.”
After they left the dorm, they continued along the main walkway through the center of campus. Their curiosity of the present state of the campus forced them to keep their eyes glued to their surroundings.
“You know, things don’t look that bad around here. I thought it would be worse,” Dante said, as he inspected the damage.
“Yeah, well, you should’ve seen it a couple of weeks ago,” Owen replied.
They continued with the small talk until the smell from the food court could no longer be ignored.
“Oh, man. That smells great!” Dante said in a visible state of anticipation.
“I know, right? If we were twenty years older, this place would be dangerous. I don’t think there’s anything on the menu that has less a week’s worth of cholesterol. Better enjoy it now while you’re still young,” Anika said.
The new burger place was half empty, and after they finished ordering their food and found a seat, they took their time eating.
“Oh … my … God! This burger is so impossibly good,” Dante exclaimed.
He had only taken one bite, but the flavor of the charbroiled burger and the sauce forced him to comment. A thick light brown and red sauce with flecks of black char dripped down his chin. Even the smell of the sauce that was dripping down his face was inviting. Anika looked at Dante and wiped the sauce off his face with her finger.
“You’re such a slob, Dante,” she said as she licked the sauce off her finger.
Owen grimaced. He normally would’ve commented on the act, but after having already taken a few bites of his own burger, he honestly couldn’t blame her.
“Well, I’d love to stay and chat with you guys, but I’ve got class in ten minutes,” Anika said.
“Yeah, I have one, too. When’s your next class, Dante?”
“Oh, I have another hour. I’m just gonna relax here for a while and enjoy my meal.”
“Well, you deserve it, Dante. I hope you do well in your class. Maybe the professors will ease up a bit because of the storm, but then again, maybe not. In any case, take it easy, and don’t overexert your brain. I don’t want to see you back in the hospital any time soon.”
“Thanks, Owen. See you guys later.”
Anika and Owen walked out the door; Dante took another humungous bite and let the sauce continue to drip down his face as he did.
“Mmmm. This is good,” he said to himself, now sitting alone.
CHAPTER 16:
PLANNING
The Ubaloo and Fron sat with The Keeper in his workshop. Felix, Faine, and Asher each sat on the backs of Grenmar and the two other marmooks who were facing The Keeper.
“Oldrik is no more. His thoughts and essence are with Them; this is very grave news,” The Keeper said in a stern tone.
“Oldrik is no more. Oldrik is no more,” said Felix in his high-pitched voice.
“Them now possesses the knowledge of all our secrets and defenses that were once held by Oldrik. The location of the worms is now known by Them. With this revelation, the armies of Them will be amassing in The City of Worms. Them will attempt to seize the worms, but Them will soon find it won’t be an easy task. Even with that knowledge, the worms are protected, and the arrogance that Them hold will make it difficult to harness the element.
“The concentration of the element within the worms represents tremendous power. If Them are successful in creating a large enough collector and are able transfer enough of the element from the worms, it could spell the end to all of our eight surrounding realms. Only Everville and the borderlands will remain,” The Keeper intoned solemnly.
“Since the knowledge of Oldrik’s betrayal, the remaining Keepers have been working with the giants to create new methods of defense that are not known to Oldrik. General Varrick has created an underground realm that
can transport the armies of Everville to any of our lands without having to traverse the borderlands that exist between them. This will give our armies a great advantage.
“Felix, Faine, and Asher, I have a very important task for you. You must travel to the underground land of the giants and visit General Varrick. General Varrick has confined Oldrik’s former Fron helpers, Calvin and Mallory, to a Fwaylan bone cage near his study. I want you to convince Calvin and Mallory to spy on the armies of Them and find out the location and plan of Them’s army. I would contact them myself, but I sense they are not completely willing and would reveal my request to Them. It will be up to you to change their hearts.
“Calvin and Mallory have partially given themselves over to evil so they will not be suspected, but you will need to travel through the tunnel underneath the monoliths in the land of the giants to get to The City of Worms. Once Calvin and Mallory have found the location of the armies of Them in The City of Worms, they will communicate with you across the city,” The Keeper said.
“The tunnels underneath the monoliths can only be used when powered by the element in the collectors. Once you are successful in finding the location and plan of the armies, you will have to travel through the natural portal to Brackenbone, and I will look into your minds to find the answer. Don’t worry about the armies of Them following you back through the portal. With the breach weakened, only the pure of heart can traverse the natural portals. Once I have communicated the plan to Varrick, he will use the collectors to power the tunnel underneath the monolith.
“I will give you two collectors, one for you, and one for General Varrick’s army. Don’t lose the containers. If you do, you will have to travel all the way back through the land of the giants, above the brutal desert, back to Everville, and then through the Deep Woods and across two more realms before you can reach the portal from Brackenbone to The City of Worms. We don’t have time for that,” The Keeper reminded the listeners, seriously.
“I will assemble our armies from the surrounding realms and have them converge in Brackenbone near the portal. Once we have the location and plan of Them, we can converge on The City of Worms and flank the armies of Them from each side of the city, the armies of Everville on one side and the army of giants on the other.
“Be warned, though, The City of Worms, like all lands surrounding The Other In Between, is occupied by dark creatures who are loyal to Them. They are used and possessed by Them in the creation of Them’s army, so you must proceed with great caution. Your size and strength will be to your advantage, but no one is safe in The City of Worms.”
“Giants, spy, element, monolith, tunnel, portal, City of Worms, Brackenbone, mind, flank, got it!” Felix exclaimed.
“Good. Time is of the essence,” The Keeper said.
The Keeper went to his shelves and pulled two of the collectors that contained the element. Grenmar started jumping up and down in his seat as The Keeper approached. Grenmar’s jumping tossed Felix high in the air. As Felix gained altitude, he clapped his hands over and over again and repeated, “Element! Element!”
Asher reached over with his five-inch muscular arm and held Grenmar to his seat, preventing Grenmar from jumping any further.
“Grenmar,” The Keeper said. “I knew your father. He was a hero and saved my life many times. I have faith in you. I know you will keep Felix, Faine, Asher, and your fellow marmooks safe. If you are anything like your father, you are capable of great things.”
Grenmar jumped into The Keeper’s lap, knocking Felix upside-down on top of the table.
“Hey there, little fellow,” The Keeper said, as he proceeded to stroke Grenmar’s soft velvet head.
Grenmar looked up at The Keeper. Tears engorged Grenmar’s eyes. He proceeded to lick The Keeper’s face, then hopped back to the other side of the table; he was now unable to control his urge to jump. Asher rolled his eyes.
“Now on to other things,” The Keeper said.
“Toe has convinced me to delay your departure by a few angles of the sun. There is a great celebration underway in the villages above, but please, keep your indulgences to a minimum. In very short order we will need you clearheaded and focused on the task at hand.”
“Indulgences. Indulgences,” Felix repeated.
The Keeper gave him a stern look. The Ubaloo and marmooks then retreated aboveground to the land of the Fron.
Once the Ubaloo and Fron had left, The Keeper appeared to General Varrick in his study.
“Varrick. I will soon send Felix, Faine, and Asher to your position in an attempt to convince Calvin and Mallory to spy on the armies of Them in The City of Worms. They will be carrying two containers to power your tunnels underneath the monolith for two trips. Prepare your army. Once the Ubaloo have communicated the plan of the armies of Them, I will contact you again. We will flank the armies of Them from both sides of the city. I will send in our army from Brackenbone, and you will send the army of giants to the location I provide at the time.”
“We will not disappoint you, Keeper. I will instruct half of my army to the wait by the monolith with the other half in reserve. As soon as you give the order, we will travel through the tunnel to The City of Worms and crush the armies of Them.”
The Keeper’s image disappeared from General Varrick’s table and Borak approached. The healer had bandaged his neck, but the blood was still seeping through the bandage.
“How is your wound?” General Varrick asked him.
“It’s nothing. No Fwaylan is ever going to stop me,” he uttered as he held the bandage tightly, keeping pressure on his neck.
“Good. Have the healer attend to your wound. I need you ready to lead the half of the army that will be fighting the armies of Them. Ready your men as quickly as possible. When The Keeper gives me the order, you will direct the army’s descent into The City of Worms.”
“Yes, General.”
Borak walked away and headed towards the healer. The healer was beautiful, with long, flowing black hair, soft tan skin, and no visible scars or flaws. Her smooth calming voice had a power all its own. When combined with the medicine she applied, it was very effective.
As Borak approached, she took out a jar of ointment made from the dirt of the underground realm, the glowing insects from the walls of the catacombs, and a few medicinal herbs. Borak knelt down to allow her to reach his neck. She then took off his bandage and applied another round of the ointment. She looked into his eyes and spoke:
“You are the strongest and bravest giant I know, but please be careful when you come up against the armies of Them. I have no doubt that you can crush the possessed minions that lead Them’s army, but Them are deceitful and cunning. Humble yourself to your surroundings and prepare for the unexpected.”
The ointment halted the wound’s bleeding, and she placed a new bandage on his neck. She then touched his arm and said, “Now go, and I don’t want to see you in here again. Your men need you.”
Borak held the healer’s hand, which was tiny by comparison.
“Thank you, healer. I’ll try not to disappoint you,” he said in a softer tone, and then he headed off to prepare his men.
CHAPTER 17:
CONSPIRACY
“How was your first day of classes since the storm?” Anika asked.
“It was pretty mellow,” Owen replied. Everyone got extensions for the next couple of assignments. It’s a good thing too, the party being tomorrow night and all that.”
“Same here. Speaking of the party, I was able to secure one of the large conference halls on campus. I guess that’s one lucky thing that came out of the storm. The rooms had been booked for the next few weeks, but after the storm, several of the events were cancelled. I just hope we can fill up the room. I made up these flyers at Campus Copy. You wanna help me put some of these up on the bulletin boards around campus?”
“Yeah. Sure, no problem. You think we should post the event online, too?” Owen asked.
“It’s already done.”
&
nbsp; “Okay. Cool. You know, there was one other thing I’ve been thinking about.”
“What’s that?” Anika asked.
“Well, it’s Cleophas. I have hardly heard from him at all since the dinner, and he was supposed to be helping find the solution to the collector problem, which he never did. Then I just got his email about delaying the meeting at the Echo Club. You think we should give him a call?”
“I’m sure he’s fine. We can talk to him later at the meeting. Let’s just focus on getting this party set up. I’m really kinda looking forward to it now. Did you ask your new roommate Adamo if he wanted to come?”
“Yep. He said he wouldn’t miss it.”
“Great. Anyways, Owen, here are some flyers. Why don’t you hand some out by the dorms, and I’ll do this half of the campus.”
“Will do. I’ll catch you later,” Owen said.
“Thanks. I’ll text you later,” Anika replied as she walked off and approached a cluster of bulletin boards in the immediate vicinity.
Back at Zee’s place, Drusilla had just walked in the door and looked a little anxious.
“Zee, how have you been? Are you feeling any better?” she asked.
“As good as can be expected, I suppose.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. I’m not sure how I would be dealing with it if it were me, so I really commend you. By the way, have you heard anything about Jacob? I wasn’t sure if he was planning anything after we destroyed the beetle, and I was starting to get a little nervous.”
“No. I haven’t heard anything, but if I see him again he’s got a lot to answer for. I’m glad you guys didn’t get into any trouble. That was kind of a risky plan, but I’m grateful you and Owen pulled it off. I really wonder how much else he knows. He must know a lot. We should probably meet up with Owen and talk some more. We need to find out how Jacob fits in to this whole thing and what he’s got planned.”
“Well, I guess we can talk to him at the party tomorrow night.”
“What party?” Zee asked with a surprised look on his face.
