by Gideon Mills
“It’s got to be here,” Wyatt said. “Allegra was sure of it.”
“She might be double-crossing us,” Gillian said. “She isn’t the most loved princess.”
Wyatt had heard good and bad about her. Wyatt might be gullible, but he believed in the best of people until he was proven that wasn’t the case. Or if the first thing they did was attack, like Amon.
A voice laughed from behind them. Wyatt slowly turned to face the sound and made sure all three of them were protected. He casted a spell to triple check their safety from magic.
Standing in the shattered door frame was Amon. He was tall with a bald head and a very imposing figure.
Wyatt could sense all the magic in him. The amount of mana in Amon was immense, but it wasn’t more than Wyatt held. They were equals in strength, but that didn’t mean much. Amon had formal training and was willing to use magic that Wyatt wasn’t.
“You are strong,” Amon said. “You and I, we could take over the world. Be the rulers of the weak.”
Wyatt would never work with this man. Never. Amon stood for everything that Wyatt hated in the world. “You are vile,” Wyatt said.
“If you say so,” Amon said. “I see that you have hurt my dear Selene.”
“She’s alive, but barely,” Cat said.
“A shame,” Amon said. “I put a lot of effort into her and molding her into my little killing machine. Using some magic that you might enjoy. You have no idea the power of fucking and magic.”
Cat sneered at him. “You’re a monster.”
“I’m a man who enjoys power and knows who is the better.”
Wyatt wanted to attack this man but didn’t dare strike. He had no idea how to strike in a way that Amon wouldn’t be able to counter.
“Who do you work for?” Gillian asked.
Amon laughed. “Like I would ever tell you that.”
That proved, at least, that he wasn’t behind this all. A step in the right direction, but still left many questions unanswered. “Tell us,” Wyatt said. “You clearly aren’t smart enough for all of this. The king isn’t either.”
Amon smirked. “King Martin is a fool and easily tricked and controlled. It was child’s play to make him do what I want. I didn’t even have to use blood magic, or fucking. Though he did seem to be open to both.”
Wyatt wanted to kill this mage more than ever. The rage in Wyatt rose, and he wasn’t able to control it anymore. He lashed out with a burst of magic, a whip that slashed at Amon.
The other mage saw it coming and used his own magic to block it. Like it was nothing to him. Not even blinking an eye. Both Gillian and Cat had no clue that Wyatt and Amon were in a fight with their magic. Neither of them moved but sent shots out at each other.
Beads of sweat poured down Wyatt’s face. He had to hurt this man and make him suffer. Try to pry into the man’s mind to force him to speak. It was like a brick wall made of the hardest stone in the world. Wyatt sent magic at him that he had never used before.
Amon just stood there, glaring at Wyatt, uncaring.
Cat noticed the intensity on his face, and she seemed to realize what was going one. “Gillian, they are fighting, with magic that we can’t see.”
That was all the guardswoman needed. She rushed at Amon along with Cat, the pair a fighting duo. Both ready to have the fight from all sides. Amon dodged them both, but momentarily dropped some of the protection on his mind. Wyatt saw one small glimpse of the man’s mind. It was not of the brotherhood or any place that Wyatt knew, but a dark place. One that sent chills through Wyatt. Made him sick and scared.
He had heard of this place and had been told it wasn’t real. That mages only spoke of it to keep each other in line. Yet, here in Amon’s mind, he saw the truth of it, and just how awful it was.
The netherworld.
It was a place of death and killing. Of torturing people to see what hurt the most, and what would make them do their bidding. Not to mention other unspeakable horrors.
“The netherworld,” Wyatt said. “It can’t be.”
“It is a place of grandeur and bliss,” Amon said. “One can learn how to truly be powerful and a ruler; her is true power.”
That had to be who was behind it all—the ruler of the netherworld. Wyatt was sickened by the thought of that. “You are trying to bring the ruler here,” Wyatt said.
“I am. Once here she will rule us all and keep all the vile people in place. Let the true good rule. You and I, we can be the ruling class with her,” Amon said.
Wyatt wouldn’t allow it. Couldn’t ever stand by and watch all the races be treated that way and forced to serve the ruler of the netherworld. The leader of monsters and torture was not something Wyatt would ever be part of, ever.
He had to stop Amon here and now. Yet, Wyatt wasn’t strong enough, and the others weren’t powerful enough. Wyatt saw no way to win this fight.
The spell Wyatt had cast to hide him and the others faded, and they were exposed.
Everything was going to hell and fast.
They had no real proof of who was behind this, and no way to get out of here unnoticed. To make matters worse, the corridors were filling with the king’s guardsmen.
“Honeysuckle,” Cat said. “We’re trapped.”
“You have nowhere to go,” Amon said.
The more he talked and looked at them, the more Wyatt hated the man. This was ridiculous, and they all knew it. They had failed in their mission, and now they might die. Wyatt knew this might be the case, but truly facing it made it harder to accept.
Wyatt used his magic on the attacking forces in the halls. It was their only way out, as the room they were in had no windows and was on the third story, even if it did. Cat might be able to make it out of here, and Wyatt with his magic, but it would be too much to use that to save Gillian. Not that it mattered. They didn’t have a window.
That was a pointless thought chain, and he let it go, instead attacking the men in the hall. His attacks created pure chaos. Wyatt was pleased with that, as that was his intended plan.
Without saying a word, the others went on the attack, rushing past Amon to focus on the men. Wyatt and Amon would battle alone. Wyatt might not make it out of here, but if he could help those that he was slowly becoming attached to, he would be happy. To save someone Wyatt cared about was a noble way to die. One that he would be proud of in the next life, if there was one.
Behind the mage, Cat and Gillian worked as a team. If Wyatt didn’t know any better, he would think they had been together for years and years. The smoothness of their teamwork was astonishing. They were machines in taking out the king’s guardsmen. Wyatt wished he could watch them work all day. It was fucking hot.
Unfortunately, he had to deal with Amon. The vile mage was standing there, sending attacks at Wyatt. Ones that Wyatt had never seen before in his life, and Wyatt was just able to deflect them. None of the physical assaults compared to the ones that Amon made on the mind. Wyatt had done the same to Amon. Having it done to him hurt like nothing else in the world. The pain was like having his mind hit with a burning torch and a pickaxe times a thousand.
Wyatt wanted to give up and let the mage control him. For Amon to obliterate his head and end it all. Never before in his life had Wyatt wanted to give up so much. The only thing that kept him going was seeing Cat and Gillian fighting to the death in those damn hot dresses. Seeing the dresses being ripped to shreds on them, showing more and more skin. They didn’t care at all but fought guardsman after guardsman.
If they could do it, so could Wyatt. He had to be able to save himself and them. If he couldn’t, what good was having magic? The building shook around Wyatt. This area wasn’t known for earthquakes, but that was what it felt like. Wyatt couldn’t explain it. From the look of horror on the face of Amon, he wasn’t the reason for it. Wyatt wasn’t either.
The next thing he knew, the stone beneath his feet was falling apart, and he was falling to the first floor of the castle, as everything coll
apsed around him.
33
A Surprise
Wyatt didn’t know how much time passed, but he had passed out. Around him was nothing but rubble and shouting. His head throbbed from the pain of it all. Blood flowed from a gash above his eye, making it hard to see. It wasn’t easy to figure out his surroundings as it was, with the bricks and stone on top of him.
Muffled by the debris was shouting. None of it was audible to Wyatt, but it made him work harder to get out of here. He didn’t dare use his magic to get out. If Amon survived this, he would need that mana to continue his battle with the mage.
Taking a deep breath, Wyatt decided what he needed to move to free himself from the mess of it all. He started to move the rocks and the shattered furniture around him, making slow work of it.
Soon he heard others arrive, and one of them was a very familiar voice. “Wyatt? Cat? Gillian?” Octavia was there and trying to find them. “You alive?”
Wyatt knew she was close to him if he could hear her through all this around him. “I’m here, I’m fine.”
Wyatt heard others speak but couldn’t make out who or what was said. It had to be Cat and Gillian, and that made him feel a lot better. They might just get out of this alive, but still not able to prove who was behind this all. Thinking about it being a netherworld monster, or ruler rather, was still not something Wyatt was comfortable with.
Around Wyatt, there was utter chaos and movement. He could tell that Octavia wasn’t alone, as the rubble on him started to lighten, and he was able to see the moon shining in on him. The first face he saw was the green-haired goblin and her fantastic smile. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Wyatt said.
“You look like a fucking ogre, but I’m glad you are alive.”
In no time at all, they had him out of the hole he was in. She was surrounded by goblins and dwarves. They hadn’t talked about her getting aid of any kind, but she clearly had gone out and sought some assistance.
As Wyatt exited the hole in the ground, he saw just how many were there. They had an army, even some of the elves that fought in the first battle against Amon. It was amazing.
In a matter of minutes, the others were freed from the destruction around them.
“What happened?” Gillian asked.
Octavia had a sly grin on her face. “I ran into a coworker at Francis’s, and he told me that some of the goblins, elves, and dwarves were going to rob the place. I talked to them and worked out a plan since you were already in.”
That wasn’t expected, but Wyatt was thankful. More and more people were arriving in the area. Almost all the ballroom guests were showing up.
First to come into view was Francis, and right behind him was Allegra. She was looking even hotter as she was panting from running, and the rise and fall of her chest in the very revealing dress was dazzling.
Wyatt couldn’t believe how many of the nobles were appearing here. Francis walked over to Wyatt. “You learn anything?”
“Amon is working with the ruler of the netherworld.”
Francis stepped back. “That isn’t possible. The netherworld isn’t real, a folk legend.”
Wyatt knew that it was going to be hard to get anyone on board without proof. Most people had never even heard of the netherworld. Wyatt was fighting an uphill battle with this one, and Amon was still not in sight.
Suddenly the rubble shot up around them. This time Wyatt knew what caused it, a great surge in magic. One so intense that both Wyatt and Francis stepped back in fear of it. The next thing that Wyatt knew, Amon was standing in front of them.
He was covered from head to toe in blood. The mage sneered at them. “You will not ruin my plan; you will not get in my way.”
Everyone but Wyatt took a step back from Amon, even Francis was slowly backing away. Wyatt wouldn’t allow Amon to see him scared, or show any fear at all. This was that moment when one had to show everyone who Wyatt was and what he stood for. Wyatt didn’t care if he died or not. The mage would make sure that he did his best to keep everyone here safe. To protect not only Gillian, Octavia, and Cat, but everyone here. To show them that not all mages were crazy and that they could stop the netherworld.
“You lost,” Wyatt said. “I know your plan. Everyone here, even the king knows you were tricking him.”
Wyatt didn’t know if that last part was correct or not, but he hoped that the king was seeing now that he was being used to control those that were beneath him. Making a war that he didn’t need and being distracted from the real threat that was right in front of him.
The mana still flowed into Wyatt, having never letting it stop. He didn’t want to be caught off guard by Amon, or any of the others that might be trying to kill him or prevent them from revealing the truth about this. Doing his best, Wyatt created a large ward on all the people here. Making sure that they wouldn’t be affected by magic. The spell he cast was one of the hardest he had ever done, and making it not affect Amon was extremely difficult. Yet, Wyatt made it happen.
Amon stood watching him work. Wyatt could see that the other mage was busying himself, drawing in more and more mana. Too much. There was no way that he could handle that much without burning out or going completely insane.
Cat, Octavia, and Gillian appeared at Wyatt’s side. All of them ready to fight Amon and anything else that might arise. Wyatt was fearful that Amon would summon some sort of netherworld creature. It had never been done before, but Wyatt couldn’t think of any other reason for Amon to be doing what he was doing.
“You ready?” Wyatt asked.
“I’m going to kick this mage’s ugly butt,” Octavia said. She had her bow out and ready to fire on him.
Both Gillian and Cat had found swords and held them out, ready to fight. Wyatt was going to go down with the hottest women in Imlay, or the world, at his side. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Now,” Wyatt said.
The four of them attacked Amon, who was ready for them. Wyatt shot a ball of fire at the mage while Octavia shot her arrows. Cat and Gillian rushed at him with their swords, ready to slice him in two.
Amon sent the ball of fire flying into the air, making it look like a firework. The arrows shattered before they even hit him. Cat and Gillian had better luck. Reaching him and making Amon just back up before their blades hit him.
The four of them continued to strike with their best attacks. Amon dodged and weaved around them. Soon others joined in the fight, Francis, Allegra even joined, pulling out some throwing stars to strike at him. In what felt like an endless supply of them. The king’s guardsmen stood there around the king, keeping King Martin safe. The other nobles behind that, watching it with fear all over their faces.
With the others fighting against Amon, they were making progress. The attacks going at him were impressive, and how the mage avoided it all, Wyatt didn’t know.
“How can he handle that much mana?” Francis asked. “Shit, the same for you.”
Wyatt had no idea the amount he had in him. With the battle raging around him, he had stopped paying attention. That was a dangerous thing to do, but it was needed. They had to stop Amon.
“I don’t know,” Wyatt said. He panted hard as he spoke; this was taking a lot out of him.
Amon attacked back with more than Wyatt had ever seen, but the wards that Wyatt placed held up. It wouldn’t be too much longer before they all collapsed from exhaustion. The only hope was that Amon was the first.
To Wyatt’s dread, Amon drew in even more mana. Then he dropped to his knees and screamed out in agony. A horrifying shout that pierced Wyatt’s hears. The man’s body begun to change in front of Wyatt.
Amon was turning into some sort of abomination right before their eyes. Into a real monster, on both the inside and the out. The stench that emanated from Amon now made several of the people in the area vomit. It took all Wyatt had to keep his own dinner down.
The creature stood in front of them, no longer Amon, but a hideous monster with blood-red sk
in. His bones protruded from random spots on his body, with weird hair on him. Nothing in nature was like this, he had turned into a netherworld beast.
“It’s real,” Francis said. “I can’t believe it. The netherworld is real.”
Everyone saw with their own eyes that some sort of otherworld had to be behind this. Whether they genuinely understood or not, this was just what Wyatt and the others needed to prove that there was something sinister behind this all. That they couldn’t trust Amon or anyone close to him.
Speaking of that, Selene was gone, and there was little doubt that she would live. Elves had nine lives if there ever was a race that did. She was a problem for later; now they had to focus on the creature that used to be Amon.
“Arhhh!” the creature bellowed. Wyatt had never heard anything like it before. It sent a chill through him and scared the shit out of him. This was something that he wanted nothing to do with.
The monster moved with such a speed that it was clearly not human or any of the other known races in the mortal world. Wyatt didn’t know what to do. He turned to Francis who was frozen in place. As were the others. No one dared move to fight the thing. This was going to go badly if they didn’t come up with a plan.
It was now or never.
34
The Last Battle
Wyatt had worked with Francis before, and the others for a bit. They knew the way each of the others worked and would be able to adapt and change tactics. The problem was that none of them knew the strength or the weakness of the abomination standing in front of them.
There was no time to test. Amon attacked with a breath of fire out of his mouth, as if he was a fucking dragon. The man sent it at Gillian and Cat, who both narrowly avoided the fire. It was so hot that Wyatt could feel the heat from the attack. It was intense and made him sweat. He hoped that the two women would be all right.
Not thinking, he sent a blast of water at them and then at the beast. It did nothing to Amon, who just turned to Wyatt with a giant toothless grin on its face. It made him look even uglier.
