‘Take cover!’ Rebus bellowed. Soon bullets were taking chunks out of the ship’s hull.
‘Get us out of here!’ Obsidian screamed.
‘I’m trying,’ Rhidian said as he grappled with the wheel. ‘They’ll try and puncture the airbags.’ But even as he said it, The Horizon was once again cloaked in the fog. They could hear small bangs and see flashes from below, which soon faded into the background.
Everyone urgently pooled into the control room.
‘What’s the plan now, master?’ Rebus asked.
‘Yes, our sneak attack is well and truly gone,’ Caleb responded.
‘It’s my fault,’ Obsidian said, grinding his teeth. ‘I didn’t give Jenta-Lor enough credit. I thought I’d have more time to connect with the wizard, but it was too quick.’
‘Once this mist disappears, we’ll be truly out in the open,’ Alba said.
‘A couple of spotlights on us and we’ll be sitting ducks,’ Red added.
‘Rhidian, put us down somewhere safe for now. I need time to think,’ Obsidian instructed.
‘There are open fields to one side of the city. We’ll be safe there but not for long. Shard, do you think you can find that area?’ Rhidian asked.
‘Yes, I can see it in the distance,’ Shard replied.
‘Excellent,’ Obsidian said.
Soon they were away from the commotion and, through Shard’s navigational skills, Rhidian steered the vessel to open flat ground. They landed with a small thud. The fog was thicker here, held by the trees and water.
‘Well done, Shard,’ Red squeaked excitedly.
‘My pleasure,’ the dragon’s smooth voice retorted.
All was quiet for a while. Everyone stepped onto the deck.
‘Red, you and Shard take flight and report back to us on what’s happening,’ Obsidian said, ‘but be careful.’
‘Will do,’ Red said, relishing the thought of doing something important. So he climbed onto Shard’s back, and they were away in a couple of heavy wing beats. Obsidian went back into the control room to forge some kind of plan with the rest of the wizards.
Rhidian stood on the deck; all he could do was steer the ship and knew nothing of battle. He closed his eyes and thought of Mia. A smile filled his face; she was beautiful. Where was she? Was she all right? She may even be close right now.
‘Don’t move, you are under arrest!’ Rhidian blinked open his eyes and turned. He was suddenly standing toe-to-toe with a Jenta Force police officer. He could tell she was female. She stood about six foot tall and wore the usual police uniform and full-face visor, but definitely a woman’s voice.
‘Where on earth did you spring from?’ Rhidian asked, totally surprised.
‘You are under arrest,’ the officer persisted and produced a set of handcuffs.
‘GUYS… Rebus, Alba, Caleb… someone!’ Rhidian screeched.
‘Do not evade arrest,’ she said in the same monotone voice. She grabbed Rhidian’s wrist and was about to slap on the cuffs, when she stopped.
‘W-what’s happening?’ Rhidian said, fully confused.
‘Keep calm, Rhidian,’ Obsidian said as he stepped from behind the officer. ‘I’ve just rendered her immobile for now by a special neck grip which freezes her nerves,’ he said.
‘She’s either a stray patrol, or there may be others,’ Rhidian assumed. ‘Hold on a moment,’ he said and took off her visor. ‘I thought I recognised that voice. It’s Shana. She’s a friend of my wife, but why is she a police officer for Jenta-Lor? It doesn’t make any sense. She used to run a cake shop in the city. She didn’t have a family and worked on her own.’
‘She’s been taken over with mind control. Just as I suspected,’ Obsidian said. ‘That would mean that Jenta-Lor’s use of magic has culminated an army of officers who are just normal people. He’s taken away their free will.’
‘We can’t attack and kill innocent people to gain control. How can we get them all out of this trance-like state?’ Rebus asked with deep concern.
‘I sensed the person I needed to contact was near, when we got closer to the palace. That is the only one who can break their trance, once the damper field is shut down. But I didn’t have time to lock minds. I just hope that person isn’t working for Jenta-Lor, or we’re all doomed,’ Obsidian said in anguish. ‘It’s a chance we have to take. Rhidian, get us airborne.’ Obsidian seemed the most serious anyone had ever seen him. ‘We’re going back to Jenta-Lor’s palace.’
‘What about her?’ Rhidian pointed towards the officer.
‘She’ll have to come with us, or she could raise the alarm,’ Obsidian said sensibly. Just as they were about to lift off, Shard came to a landing on the deck.
‘What’s happening at the palace?’ Obsidian asked the boy.
‘Jenta-Lor’s forces are on the ground ready for any attack,’ Red said as he dismounted.
‘I’ll need you to distract them, without actually harming anyone,’ Obsidian said. ‘In fact, cause the most amount of confusion you can, but be careful because they will be intending to hurt you and Shard.’
‘W-what? Okay.’ Red was slightly confused.
‘Just do as I say and we can overcome Jenta-Lor once and for all. We’ll need Shard’s keen eyes to navigate The Horizon within range of the palace again. And without being seen,’ Obsidian ordered. The engines started and they lifted into the grey mist. Shana, the police officer, still in her trance, was led to safety inside the control room.
As they approached the city, still hidden by the fog, Obsidian gave the instructions. ‘Kill the engines, Rhidian. Red, take Shard and cause confusion. Do anything you can.’
‘What do we do now?’ the other wizards asked.
‘Nothing,’ came Obsidian’s reply. ‘Now I must do something.’
‘Shard, you heard what Obsidian said, as much confusion but without harming anyone,’ Red pressed.
‘Understood,’ he replied. The great dragon swooped down as low and as fast as he could, bursting through the thinning fog. When they saw the huge beast approach, everyone on the ground ran for cover. Shard belched a trail of bright, yellow flame around the edges of the palace grounds. The utter chaos it caused pushed Jenta-Lor’s soldiers away from the perimeter and close to the palace.
‘At least they’ll be safe bunched up together,’ Red shouted in Shard’s ear. Red then spotted a small compound of oil drums and indicated for Shard to concentrate his fire directly into the heart of it. The dragon belched flames which produced a large explosion and a huge fireball erupted with yellow flames and black smoke.
‘Get that fire under control,’ Jenta-Lor bellowed as he ran across his lawn, ‘and return fire, you idiots!’ he screamed. Jenta Force Police immediately responded and aimed a barrage of shots. But Shard soon swooped high up into the sky, just avoiding the spray of bullets. All was in disarray as Red looked back at the devastation he’d caused.
While all this was going on, Obsidian had knelt on the deck and connected his mind to someone inside the palace.
Chapter 33
Inside Contact
She flicked open her eyes – something had broken her away from her tortured dreams. But how was that possible? She was alone in her room. There it was again, someone calling her. There were noises outside but she was too immersed in her thoughts to care.
‘Mia, you must listen to me.’ Mia sat up in bed and looked around the room again. There was definitely no one in there except her and that strange voice – a voice that she seemed to recognise.
‘W-who are you? Why are you messing with my mind?’ Mia called out.
‘Mia, you must wake up!’
‘Stop it,’ she said. Tears filled her eyes. ‘Now go away and leave me in peace.’ She reached up and put her palms to her ears. But it was no use. The voice still penetrated her mind.
‘Mia… CANCAZANOTIA.’ The voice in her mind spoke the word and a strange thing happened. Mia blinked her eyes open and let go of her ears. Strange, but somehow fami
liar memories flooded her mind, like a river that was out of control. Everything was happening too fast.
‘No-no-no!’ she repeated and fell back onto the bed. She closed her eyes and rolled from side-to-side. Her forehead glistened with perspiration, which pooled in her eyes and rolled onto the pillow. She was shaking violently and found it hard to breathe. ‘Stop-stop-stop!’ she shouted, and then, as soon as it all happened, it stopped. Mia lay still on the mattress. Her whole body was drenched in sweat. Her breathing calmed and the anxiety inside subsided. She sat up and saw the ghostly apparition of OBSIDIAN! He was literally floating in front of her eyes.
‘But you were banished?’ she stammered.
‘Yes, that is true, but not any more. You must understand, Mia – you, too, are a wizard.’ Obsidian said calmly.
‘I am a wizard?’ she said simply.
‘Yes, my dear, you are,’ Obsidian confirmed.
‘H-how is that possible?’ she pressed.
‘I kept you safe by hypnotising you. I didn’t want to, but I had to stop Jenta-Lor finding out that you are, in fact, a wizard too.’
‘I don’t know what’s happening. I can’t handle this,’ she said.
‘Just breathe and close your eyes,’ Obsidian said softly.
‘It’s coming back. I am a wizard,’ she said, and opened her eyes wide. ‘I can feel the energy inside.’
‘Do you believe me now?’ the ancient warlock asked.
‘Yes, yes I do,’ Mia confirmed, as her face lifted into a broad smile.
‘You have to take down the “damper field”,’ Obsidian continued.
‘Damper field?’ Mia said, and then it filled her mind. ‘Yes, the damper field.’ She nodded towards the apparition and she now knew what she had to do.
‘You have powers, do you remember?’ Obsidian said.
‘Yes.’ Mia smiled when she answered.
‘Jenta-Lor will soon know you are a wizard and he will try and take you down before you break his spell. But I will try and distract him so that you can help us overpower him,’ Obsidian instructed.
‘But what about this damper field?’ she said with concern. ‘Won’t my powers be muted?’
‘We are attacking Jenta-Lor as I speak. He is already distracted and can’t focus on you and our attack, so his magical powers are low – the perfect time to attack the field. You must enter the room where the spell is held and shut it down now!’
‘I know where it is,’ Mia agreed, thinking of the room she’d been forbidden to enter.
‘I will help you,’ Obsidian added, and his image dissolved. Mia wasted no more time and got dressed right away. As soon as she made her way to the door, she heard commotion outside the house and realised everything rested on her.
She grabbed the handle to her bedroom and turned it. The door opened and standing in the hallway was Morbid!
‘Are you going somewhere?’ he said, his beady eyes trained on her.
‘Just going to get a glass of water,’ Mia lied.
‘I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere,’ he insisted and stepped into the room. He heaved his puny chest and smiled. Mia immediately stepped back as fear filled her whole body. Could she do this?
‘You can’t come in here without permission. Jenta-Lor will hear of this,’ she argued, but knew it was futile to resist.
‘It was Jenta-Lor that sent me,’ he squeaked with a grin. ‘Put out your hands.’ She looked down and he was carrying a pair of handcuffs.
‘What’s happening outside?’ Mia asked, as she tried to deviate from the conversation.
‘That’s none of your concern. Now, you must slip these on and come with me,’ he said and reached out to grab her. But as he did, she felt something inside her that she hadn’t felt for a very long time… the warmth of magic!
She smiled and didn’t feel afraid any more.
‘No, I won’t,’ she said with conviction, and Morbid looked puzzled. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She looked confident and now he felt fear.
‘I said you’re coming with…’ but he didn’t finish what he was going to say. He was about to lunge at her, but suddenly felt taller. How was that possible? When he tried to work it out, he looked down and realised that he wasn’t standing on the floor. He was, in fact, floating above the ground… suspended in mid-air! He dropped the handcuffs in shock.
‘I-I,’ but he couldn’t get any words out. Mia, on the other hand, was enjoying every minute. But she also knew that the power she now held would only last so long. She needed to shut down that damper field. She realised that Jenta-Lor would soon know she was using power and he would be here soon.
She knew the ruler was preoccupied at the moment, but that wouldn’t last long. As quickly as stamping on a rather unwelcome cockroach, Mia spun Morbid around until he was totally dizzy, and then tossed him across the room. He crashed against the wall, there was a groan, and then he fell to the ground with a dull thud. He didn’t move after that. She could hear more loud noises from outside of the house and flashing lights cut through her curtains. She also heard footsteps closing in on her room. Jenta-Lor’s police were going to arrest her; she had to escape right now and shut down that damn force field.
She quickly searched Morbid’s body for a bunch of keys. She’d seen him carrying them many times and there was one room in particular that she wanted to investigate.
‘Ah,’ she said, as she dipped into his breast pocket. There they were. She took them and left her bedroom and made sure to shut and lock the door behind her. They would discover Morbid soon enough, but every little barrier was essential to give her precious time.
Mia knew where she had to go. She’d been imprisoned long enough to know what room was off-limits, and that was where Jenta-Lor’s powers lay.
She could hear a full battle taking place outside and speedily swept along the corridors. She could feel new magical energy coursing through her whole being. How is this possible? she thought; it couldn’t just be Obsidian boosting her powers, there must be others. She suddenly felt so powerful and realised that she could do anything.
Soon, police guards approached; they didn’t stand a chance. She dispensed with them with the flick of a wrist. It felt so good to be in control.
Mia finally came to a stop at a set of double doors – this was it. She peered at the highly-glossed, wooden surface. She had the key to open it, but disregarded that thought. She concentrated her newfound powers and blasted such a force, the doors not only burst open but also splintered into a million pieces. Her magic was at full capacity so Jenta-Lor’s powers were definitely weakened; now was the time to strike.
Mia stood as clouds of dust floated in the air. She squinted through the white fog and realised that the room wasn’t empty! Inside stood a figure.
Unafraid, Mia stepped into the room. The guard stood firm, a formidable figure. She realised that Jenta-Lor wasn’t going to let just anyone guard his secret. It wore armour of pure red, which covered it from the top of its head to its feet. On the front of the faceplate was a slit, which revealed pure white eyes. As if the appearance of its body wasn’t enough to put fear into anyone’s heart, it had a rapier gripped in its hands. Mia stood calm and not in the least bit intimidated. She felt she could do anything.
‘Give up now and I’ll spare you,’ Mia spoke softly, her tone full of conviction. The creature didn’t reply, but Mia didn’t expect it to. All she needed was for it to relent, but deep in her heart she knew it wouldn’t. As soon as she’d uttered the words, it advanced.
The guard raised its mighty sword, ready to cut her in half. It immediately sliced a diagonal line through the air with such force and speed, but Mia was wise to the attack and quickly side-stepped out of danger, making the guardian miss completely. But it didn’t even appear to be off balance. Mia was shocked and quickly tried to plan her next strategy. Not perturbed by missing her, the creature immediately swung around and struck again. This time it was a lot closer, too close in fact. The sword came down fas
t and hard with no sound. Before Mia could get completely out of the way, it grazed the material on her sleeve and sliced through the cotton, taking a thin layer of her skin.
Mia winced as she leapt out of the way. Now was her chance! The creature was adjusting itself in order to make another move. For a split-second it was out of position. She concentrated her powers and sent an invisible force from her fingertips. It ripped straight into the mid-section of the creature’s body. In that microsecond, Mia thought she heard it scream. Her magic had cut in deeply and soon a black, tar-like solution spewed out from the fresh, jagged wound. It spilled down the red surface of the armour, tarnishing it with black blood.
It tried to recover, but Mia could see the wound was causing a lot of pain. Hampered, but still determined, the monster once again lifted the sword in another manoeuvre. By the time it had lifted it halfway, Mia fired off another deadly blow. A violent surge of energy shot from her fingers and hit the intended target head on. It stabbed straight through the slit where she assumed its eyes were. There wasn’t a screech this time but a full-blown, high-pitched S-C-R-E-A-M! Yellow fluid oozed from the open slot and ran down the face visor like amber snot. That was it; the creature was stopped in its tracks. It was just a statue.
Immediately, Mia felt weakness inside; her power was draining. She had to fight through that and stop the damper field. The wizard moved to the centre of the room where a plinth was set. On top of it was a glass dome and inside the dome, a swirling ocean of black liquid.
This dark mass seemed to sense that something powerful was about to approach. It sloshed back and forth inside the glass like a mini tidal wave. Mia had to crack open the globe and destroy the liquid right there.
‘You have our combined strength, Mia… do it now!’ Obsidian screamed inside her head. Mia let loose with everything she had and the room was immediately filled with a blinding light. Morbid stood outside and was about to enter with the handful of troops he had left, but thought better of it and left. The light got brighter and brighter and came to a peak. The glass dome, under so much pressure, began to crack like an egg and then exploded!
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