Those were Magenta's parting words as she held firm on Robin’s shoulder piece, before leaping off the rear end of Edmund and transforming back to her brightly coloured bird-like form. She rode the winter's spell as it fell towards the mountain surface, peering back as Robin and Edmund disappeared beyond the white haze.
Now the Reapers were climbing towards their master, guided by the turquoise storm that lit the night sky, overhead. The surface of the Black mountain was like charcoal, with cracked channels and craters, large enough to swallow half a dozen people. Some of the debris was partially glazed and reflected the stark blue bolts of lightning as they struck the mountain. Even with the continuous snowfall, the surface was patchy in places, which made life a hell of a lot easier for Magenta as she threw herself against a bare, levelled stretch, using her arms to break her fall as she began to turn back into her humanoid form, before rolling in amongst the gravel that sat at the bottom of the nearest crater.
As she laid on her back, for a moment she felt the mountain vibrating, a few rocks had dislodged themselves and fallen amongst her wild blonde hair as it fanned out, resting between her head and the crater wall. Her eyes widened as she coughed up a few pinkish feathers and spat them at her side.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me...” she grunted, as she scrambled to her feet and glared towards the height of the mountain with a hand shielding her face. There was another tremor; she could feel it beneath her feet, she could see the tiny stone marbles shifting around her; then a bright wash of light was cast over her face - The Reapers were once again on the move.
Magenta made her way to the crater wall and began to peer over, looking out for the advancing Reapers as their aimless projectiles continued to plummet against the ground, stamping their presence into the surface as more potholes and craters exploded in blinding flashes of light, hoping the hurling fragments of stone would maim or wound their cowering enemies as they made their way towards Magenta, whose striking pink collar stood out like a man riding a Slitherback.
There was nothing less conspicuous as Robin crossed the moonlit crest of the mountain. Then as the snowy haze cleared, the silhouette of the Count appeared on the mountain, no longer dressed in his armoured attire. He was once again back in the war torn, silver jacket that had belonged to Silverstein. His dirty blonde hair was waving in the breeze as he whipped his wand back and forth, electrocuting the Phoenix with powerful bolts of energy, which manifested from his wand as a series of bright red ropes, slicing across the pained creature's face and blinding many of its eyes as it slashed across them.
There was a shriek that filled the skies, then as Robin dived, the Phoenix pulled at the Count, lifting him off his feet and hurling him into the jaws of Edmond, who snapped at the scruff of his neck and launched him as far from the Phoenix as he possibly could. The Count landed hard against a boulder and dropped his wand on impact, which then glowed an evil shade of crimson that stood out like a beacon amongst the glazed charcoal shards beneath it.
The Phoenix - now partially blinded on one side of its face - took back to the skies, in time to pass through a Senteer charm that had been swiftly forged by Robin as he remained mounted on the back of Edmund. The charm closed firmly behind it as it arrived over the Institute, much to the dissatisfaction of the Count as he found his footing and glared with fury, across at the heroic pair, who exchanged a pretentious smirk as the armour that encased him returned to its original state, back to the mustard coloured coat, waistcoat and shirt.
“She’s safe now,” claimed Robin as he dismounted Edmund and patted down the distressed seams of his frock coat.
“It’s a female, now, is it?” questioned the Count, reaching for his wand.
“One would assume. That face of yours has rejection written all over it!”
There was an awkward moment between the two as they slowly approached one another. Both their wands remained at their sides, each with an eager eye - two rivals watching their enemies every move.
“Look, Munder. We didn’t come here for trouble.You can go on your way and we can all put this behind us. You live your life, and these humans and morients alike can live theirs. There needn’t be any more hostility... ”
The Count frowned, then took a step closer. As the snow fell, a thicker haze filled the air, distorting Robin’s vision as he tried to focus on the Count, squinting and brushing aside the ice from his brow.
“In good time you will come to understand that hostility is our only tool for bargaining. For all too long I have been labelled a traitor. If there was justice in this world we live in, I would be understood.”
Robin felt uncomfortable, after all, he had never expected such a civil response from the man he had considered his enemy. Many questions swelled at the front of his mind as he met with the menacing yellow eyes of the Count, who had far more hidden truths burning within. He seemed like a monster; acted like one, too. But there was a sense of redemption in his voice as he expressed his fury towards those who sought control over the Phoenix, and the people who inhabited the Morient realms.
“If you think that I’m a monster, then you haven’t seen anything yet, my old friend.” he added, as the ground beneath his feet began to tremor.
“They want the Phoenix as much as I, don’t you see? You’ve led it back where they need it, precisely where they want it. All I ever wanted was to restore life, life that was taken from me!”
“And those you’ve killed and hurt, don’t matter?” remarked Robin “- does that not make you the selfish one? Being destructive because your life turned to shit?”
The Count forced a smile, “I wonder how alike we would find one another if Kirsten or Emily were at the receiving end of a killing curse. What kind of man would you then become, Robin?”
The ground shook again as boulders dislodged from the mountain and hurtled by, between the two men as they stood face to face at arms length.
“I’d make those responsible, pay. With their life!” said Robin, aggressively.
“Then we aren’t so different...”
“I’d be less obsessive!”
As the Count's face began to soften, a crack appeared beneath them both, pushing apart the crest of the mountain until a subtle orange glow appeared like a sea of veins down beneath the ridge they stood upon. There was another rumble, and vibrations caused the gravel to chatter against their boots as they stood alert to the looming danger.
“If you insist on sheltering the Phoenix... then I must draw our moment of civil exchange to a close.”
Robin looked him in the eye one last time, noting the gaunt impressions and burning redness as evil took ahold of him, warping his second hand life force that had been stimulated by the Phoenix’s bitten curse. The Count was now an engine of destruction and Robin knew there was only one solution, one with many painful consequences.
The Count drew his wand as his sights sunk deep into Robin like a hawk, immediately conjuring a cluster of destructive energy that Robin managed to turn away, slicing the face of the projectiles with his wand and deflecting the blasts against the ground, which was now amass with debris. As more thundered down the side of the mountain, the ground shook, knocking them off balance as they scrambled back and forth, finding their footing.
“Brexio!” yelled Robin, returning fire towards the Count's feet, knowing the mountain would likely collapse beneath him, but as the charm exploded, more of the mountain came away, wounding the Count, knocking him off his feet, as he tumbled bloody and raw amongst the shattered debris. When his body finally came to a halt, he found himself laid across an abnormally large shell, one of a long deceased arachnid, its remains perfectly positioned to bear witness as the crest of the Black mountain suddenly blew wide open, into the heights of the sky, the explosive burst was followed by a stream of molten lava which came crashing down the sides of the mountain with boulders in tow, rolling and burning across the bright orange rivers as they followed the cracked channels.
The mountain surface had g
otten a whole deal brighter as lava exploded from shattered pockets, illuminating the look of shock on Robin’s face as he glared towards the skies, where the eruption was spewing from the neck of the mountain, like a collective of severed arteries. Edmund had returned to Robin's side, pressing his head against his arm - the creature was in fear of the frightful surroundings.
“You need to get away from here, boy. Head back to your brothers and sisters, the sky over there is clear...” Robin pointed away from the mountain, but Edmund shook his long, snake-like head, followed by a slithering, in-out motion of his tongue. He didn’t want to leave Robin, but he was terrified by the lava erupting from the core of the mountain.
Robin took Edmunds head in his hand and rubbed him gently along his snout, then looked in to his eyes, “You’re going to get hurt!” Robin warned, admiring the Slitherback’s unfailing, faithful companionship.
Further down the mountain, as glowing hot boulders pounded the ground, so did the bodies of pursuing Reapers as Magenta turned to the killing curse as a final resort.
“Vanphineer!” she cried, feeling bitten by the will to survive, spurred on by the rage that burned inside her as she thought of this, the consequence of the Count – a man who had masqueraded as the one she loved. Her words had been as good as bullets as she stumbled and fell, landing sprawled across the mountain surface, avoiding the shots being fired by the Reapers.
“Vanphineer!” she cried again, closing her eyes as the stark red energy separated a Reapers head from its body, before falling to the bottom of a nearby crater.
“Robin!” she yelled, taking a glance over her shoulder as a stream of lava surged past her face, filling the crater, and incinerating the fallen Reaper body.
Robin turned a searching glance down towards Magenta, following the flow of the lava until his eyes fell upon the approaching Reapers, scrambling over the broken surface of the mountain.
“Get out of there! Get back to the Institute!” yelled Robin, directing her away with an eccentric wave of his arm,“What are you waiting for?” he added, before a blinding light shot past his face.
Robin stumbled back, then turned to the Count, who was advancing towards him, again, scowling as he flung another charm in his direction. Robin dropped to the ground to avoid the magical energy, which hurtled over his head and dissolved against a river of lava that was descending down the side of the mountain. The ground was still vibrating and the air littered by glowing ash as lava melted away the plant and wildlife that inhabited the surface.
Pockets of air were exploding as they rose from within the core of the mountain, launching molten particles across the black surface, further panicking Edmond, who suddenly leapt from Robins side and made for the skies, swooping over the Counts disciples on their uphill climb - his shadow drawing the eyes of the Reapers, and gifting Magenta with a window to disappear, while their heads remained turned, watching the long, scaly tail of Edmond as it disappeared behind the rivers of molten fire.
Magenta turned back to Robin, but his attention was entirely fixed on the Count's efforts. Robin was deflecting his every move, biding his time until Magenta had got away - but still she stood, hoping for acknowledgement, as blinding light burst from the ends of their wands as their streams of energy clashed, knocking them off their feet.
“Go now!” Robin yelled, “Go now!”
Magenta gasped, then cast the Senteer charm beside her; holding a clear image of the cliff and the Institute at the foreground of her mind. Then before the Reapers had a chance to act, she dived through the opening and closed it behind her, leaving Robin alone with the Count, much to her displeasure as she landed sharply, laid against a field of frozen grass, far away from danger and a short trek from the Institute which peacefully called to her with its colourful stones, glistening under moonlight.
* * *
The lava had cut off the path ahead as the Reapers attempted to climb the mountain. Their sights burned on towards the crest and the fighting silhouettes of the Count and Robin as orange light simmered around them in each desperate attempt to disarm, or highly likely, kill each other, as fumes thickened, filling their lungs. Robin thumped his chest and cleared his throat before returning fire, taking a wild shot with a standard Brexio charm, hoping to throw the Count's focus and buy himself some time to get away - but the Count was quick to the mark and denied his efforts, slicing the ball of turquoise energy in two.
“I’m going to kill you now, Robin!”
He glared towards the luminous yellows of his eyes as they appeared from behind the smoke and falling ash.
Robin was now on the ground, scrambling backwards to escape the face of death as it emerged ahead, towering over him as the Count came to halt, planting his boots against the mix of brittle bone and charred earth beneath him.
Robin noticed the Count's wand was still at his side as he leaned back on his hands, trying to gain balance.
“You’ve really got a lot to live up to, Munder. Here I am, living and breathing -”
Robin coughed to clear his lungs, “- if you’re to be this master of death, next time, have your wand at the ready...”
The Count drew his wand and directed it towards Robin's head.
“And I wouldn’t allow time for any last words, like this. It may invite an easy getaway!” yelled Robin, as he threw a handful of shards in to the eyes of the Count, before rolling back through a Senteer charm in the ground that he had prepared as he spoke, working silently to pull up a magic doorway to salvation.
Robin's body dropped through to the Morient realm, landing firmly against the rocky cliff edge that overlooked the pit, and the tall Institute entrance.
He could hear the Count yelling as he tried to clear his eyes of the gravel, and the dust of bone fragments.
“Edmond!” Robin called, holding his wand high towards the opening in the air, eager to conceal himself and his companion Slitherback - but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Edmond!” He called again, aware of the risk he was provoking as the charm remained open.
“Come on, Edmond. I’m not leaving you!” Robin muttered, as he watched the floating tear, anticipating the worst, which then suddenly arrived in the form of lava, building against the fringe of both realms. It hissed, then seeped through, dropping heavy against the fresh earth like a molten slug.
There was no longer any time in hand. Robin reluctantly began to twist his wand and draw the charm to its close, but as it shrunk, it froze, then began to rip open again, followed closely by the dark silhouette of the Count as he stepped up to the verge and glared down at Robin through the tear, with his wand pulsating red, holding a deadly upper hand.
“Last words, you say? They may well be the death of you!” the Count said darkly.
His eyes remained fixed on Robin as the molten waterfall poured at his feet, scorching the bottoms of his rubber soles, before dripping down towards the foot of the pit. Robin quickly backed away, finding a patch of earth to safely stand - his shoes steaming as they cooled.
“Shielz-ignite!” commanded Robin, hoping to coat himself within his protective armour; however, his wand was already engaged, fighting to close the bridge to the human world.
“You’re out of your depth, Robin. You never knew when to give in!” bellowed the Count, sensing victory was near.
The Count prepared to climb down. But as he went to jump, a familiar beacon of hope appeared in the skies, exhaling its resounding war cry. Robin could only look on in awe as Edmond struck the Count, lifting him away and into harm's path, leaving Robin with the spectacle that was the burning ring of fire, and the vastness of the skies as he listened closely to the torturous sound of a dying Slitherback as they were swallowed by the raging fires...
Robin swallowed hard and took a quick breath as Edmond's deafening cry rung sharp in his ears, forcing a tear to run down his cheek as he slowly pivoted his wand, severing the Counts lead, and silencing the voice of his friend.
There was nothing he could do, but
no matter how many times he told himself, “there was no other way”, a heavy weight of grief weighed down his shoulders as he carefully stepped away from the lava, and stood silent.
CHAPTER 19
Cry Of The Phoenix
Morning was creeping on the horizon yet the skies were still dark and the wind had a bitter chill, which numbed the tips of his ears and fingers as he reached for the tall metal gates, and swiftly drew them to their close.
Assuming Magenta was already inside, Robin closed a large padlock around them, which had been hanging from an old hook in the wall. There was also a plaque underneath it, which looked a little worse for wear, having endured many winters. But most importantly, what Robin had noticed as he fastened the lock, the entrance was completely unmanned and its cumbersome doors were both ajar for those coming and going, those helping to construct the defences within the main foyer. Robin looked around at his surroundings as he awkwardly wandered across the threshold, watching the remaining Enforcers hard at work as they lumbered past, carrying wooden cabinets and chest of drawers on their shoulders.
It was not an accustomed sight to anyone who worked there. It brought a deep sadness, and a lump to their throats as they helped to fortify the hall, in hope of thwarting any further confrontations with the Count - who was now undoubtedly on the back foot, yet never to be underestimated.
Even though some had their wands at hand, fashionable tools were still being hammered against nails as Robin carefully stepped past, giving the Enforcer’s handy work a once-over, before his eyes began to wander, searching for Magenta - or any friendly face, for that matter.
“Teppi!”
There was no one else by that name, yet it took him a moment to register who it was approaching. He was working beside one of the stone plinths as Robin made haste towards the back of the hall. And only then, as he neared, did Teppi finally click. From behind a sea of grey, the distressed looking frock coat and brown quaffed hair emerged.
The Professor and the Starlight Phoenix Page 21