“Sshh,” Gabriel whispered releasing him.
“Was that really necessary?” Traiden demanded in a quiet but hostile voice.
“Stick your head around the corner and tell me what you see,” he instructed.
Traiden gave Gabriel an odd look but did as he was told. “Holy flying saucers, are Thad and Zyphera fighting?” He asked, completely shocked.
“What the devil is going on?” he demanded, looking at Gabriel accusingly.
“We didn’t think this would ever happen, at least not till he was older,” Gabriel added in a sad voice.
“What are you talking about?”
“Look closer at Thad,” He replied in a soft voice.
Traiden peeked around the corner, not at all surprised that Zyphera had Thad pinned under her. He studied the boy for a moment.
“No, it can’t be,” he mused, stunned by the revelation. “How long have you known?”
“Since before he was born,” Gabriel replied shamefully
“Did the professor know?” Traiden wondered. A thought dawned on him.
“Why do you think Madron kidnapped him?” Gabriel replied his attention fixed on the two bodies in the corridor.
“Why have….” Gabriel held up his hand for Traiden to stop.
“Zyphera knows we‘re here."
“How do you know?” Traiden asked
“See for yourself.”
Traiden peered around Gabriel, immediately locking eyes with Zyphera. “So she does.”
Madron quickly snuck away while Zyphera held Thaddeus’s attention. He opened his palm and was delighted to see a small purple stone. “Thank you” he whispered as he held the stone to his heart. With in seconds he could feel scabs forming over his wounds. He rested for a moment to contemplate his next move.
“Finish him,” A small voice shouted in his head. “He wanted nothing of your reason. He wanted to only see you dead. Everything you did was for him and he threw it back in your face. Your love for him was met by hate and disgust. He is no better than those he fights beside. If he is not with you, than he is against you. You saw his eyes. His power will only grow as he matures.”
“An enemy is an enemy,” Madron thought to himself. He got to his feet. As quietly as possible he retraced his footsteps. He carefully peeked around every corner till he found the corridor he was looking for. “Now this is interesting.” he thought to himself as he stared at the two struggling bodies before him. With both of their backs to him, it provided the perfect opportunity to rid himself of not just one, but two of his opponents.
Gabriel and Traiden stood at the opposite end of the corridor trying to understand what Zyphera wanted them to do. Gabriel and Zyphera locked eyes, both concentrating hard to convey the other’s thoughts. Traiden watched with amusement. Then something caught his eye.
“Uh oh, we have company,” He said breaking Gabriel’s concentration. Gabriel looked up and saw Madron creeping down the corridor behind Thad and Zyphera. Feeling Traiden’s body react he quickly grabbed his arm to restrain him.
“What are you doing?” Traiden hissed at him.
“If we jump out now he can run again. If we let Madron think he can over power the two while they have there backs turned….” He didn’t need to finish. Traiden saw the plan. Gabriel popped his head back around the corner, ducking down low to stay out of Madron’s line of sight. He quickly signaled to Zyphera. He waited a few more seconds till Madron was almost on top of his two friends. He nodded his head.
Zyphera shot into the air delivering a quick round house kick to Madron’s head sending him flying. He landed with a thud. Madron lay motionless. Zyphera carefully repositioned herself for another assault. When he didn’t move she slowly walked over to see if he was hurt. She stood over his still form.
“I think he is unconscious,” she shouted to the boys.
Madron’s eyes flew open. “CAPRO” He shouted twisting his hand in the air as he got to his feet.
Zyphera fell to the ground gasping for breath, her hands pulling at her neck.
“You were foolish to think I was so weak, He smirked. “I can end your life with a flick of my wrist,” he laughed gleefully, moving his hand slightly. Zyphera’s head moved with it.
At the opposite end of the pathway, Gabriel jumped into action, his sword becoming ablaze with fire as he charged Madron.
Gabriel’s sudden appearance took Madron by surprise. He released his charm on Zyphera, ready to face his new opponent. His hands moved over the ground before him. The earth began to shake. Zyphera struggled to move out of the way as a giant stream of water rose from the depths, swirling in the air above Madron’s head. With a snap of his wrists the water burst forward with a great roar, enveloping Gabriel.
Gabriel struggled to remain focused as the water surged around him. An intense rushing noise filled the cavern. The flames burning in the night sky danced as a mighty wind hurled itself towards the battle. It collided with the water with terrible force casting droplets over the labyrinth floor. Gabriel stumbled to the ground as the water dissipated around him.
“You are no match for me Madron,” Gabriel said in a strong voice as he picked himself off the ground.
“Yes, but you have not seen the new tricks I’ve learned,” Madron hissed. The ground beneath Gabriel began to shift, falling away, exposing the rapid flow of lava below. “I have the professor to thank for that,” he smirked.
Traiden leapt up in fear as Gabriel disappear. “Profero Labrusca.” He shouted.
Thick green vines raced under the ground breaking through the walls of the giant hole. Everyone held their breath. Their eye’s peeled on the rim of the cavity waiting to see if he survived. Thad took this moment to charge Madron. He had been standing back waiting for his moment to strike. Out of the corner of his eye Madron saw him approach.
“Sorry Thad, no mercy this time,” Madron thrust his hands in Thad’s direction. An invisible energy collided with the boy hurling him backwards.
Traiden watched in horror as Thad’s body came rushing towards him. He ran as fast as his legs would let him. Thad crashed into him with such force that the two slide across the stone ground coming to a halt against the far wall. Traiden’s body took the brunt of the fall.
“Thad, are you alright,” He gasped barely able to breath. Every bone felt as if it had been shattered.
No reply. “Thad,” he said gently trying to wake him “Can you hear me.”
Traiden freed one arm running his hand over Thad’s body taking note of any injuries. When his fingers examined the back of Thad’s head they were immersed in warm goo. He pulled them away, shocked to see them covered in blood.
“Zyphera,” he hollered, “Zyphera if you can I really need your help right know.”
Sensing the panic in his voice Zyphera ran as fast as her shaky legs would let her. “OH no, not him too,” she thought as she saw Thad’s motionless body. “How bad is it?” she asked.
“I am not sure. I need you to brace his neck so I can get out from under him,” Traiden replied. Zyphera did as he asked. “On the count of three let’s roll him, One.....two.......three.”
Once Thad was on his side and Traiden was free, he could see what caused the bleeding. A small glass shard, likely from a window of the citadel, was lodged in the back of his head.
“This doesn’t look good,” he replied, his face grim. “I am going to have to pull this out. I need you to hold him very steady,” he instructed Zyphera.
She nodded nervously. Traiden pulled a small pair of pliers out of his pouch. He carefully freed the piece of glass, along with a torrent of blood. With his free hand he quickly grabbed a purple stone and placed it over Thad’s heart. “Come on,” he begged, worry clouding his face.
“It’s not stopping,” Zyphera said tearfully.
“Come on Thad, hang in there,” Traiden whispered.
Seconds seemed like minutes as Zyphera and Traiden held their breath.
“Its working,” Traiden exc
laimed a moment later. “The blood is slowing to a trickle and the wound is beginning to heal.”
Thad’s eyes began to flutter. “Zyphera, are you there,” He asked. He felt as though as heavy mist was sitting around him.
“I am here,” She replied, unsure what his response would be.
“What is going on,” he asked in a scared voice as tears began to form in his eyes.
“You hit your head,” she explained moving to hold his hand.
“I had a horrible dream that I......"
“Don’t worry. I am here now and everything will be okay,” she cut him off, gently picking him up and rocking him in her lap.
Traiden gave her a questioning look. She shot him a glare that said “If you ever tell him that it was not a dream I will seriously hurt you.”
Madron was so pre occupied watching Traiden and Zyphera rush to save Thad, he had completely forgotten about Gabriel. When he turned to walk away he was shocked to see him standing on the opposite side of the crater. “Why won’t any of you just die,” he yelled furiously.
“It’s simple,” Gabriel said; his hands at his side and a mischievous smile on his face. He stared at Madron, “Good verses Evil… evil always loses.”
In a blink of an eye his hands shot forward. The vines Traiden produced to save Gabriel were now rushing to ensnare Madron.
Madron immediately sunk to the ground his fists curled into tight balls. “Argh” he growled leaping high in the air. He grabbed the vines as they shot underneath him. He twisted them around his fists snapping them like a whip. They responded to his touch recoiling back towards Gabriel.
Thad’s head shot up as the sound of the cracking vines resounded of the solid rock walls. His eyes lit up with fear as he peered around Zyphera. He shakily stood to his feet as he focused on the battle raging only a few hundred feet before him. He watched with astonishment as Gabriel disintegrated the vines before they could touch him.
Madron snarled at his foe, a whisper escaping to the air. A giant living serpent formed from the stones of the labyrinth walls completely under Madron’s control. Its rocky body ground against the stone floor as it slithered into position, ready to strike at his master’s command.
“Incurro” Madron shouted. The serpent hissed as he struck out. The ground shook as the powerful head collided with the earth where Gabriel stood only a few seconds before. The serpent seemed unfazed as he searched for his target.
“What lovely dance partners you two make,” Madron laughed, watching Gabriel maneuver around to avoid the onslaught of attacks the serpent delivered.
As Gabriel quickly sidestepped another of the serpent’s strikes, he threw his hands into the air. The flames above him fused together forming a giant bird. It soared towards the serpent engaging the battle on his commander’s behalf. Thad, Traiden and Zyphera watched with fearful anticipation. Commands filled the air merging with their counterparts. Suddenly Madron fell, his serpent vanishing.
“What happened?” Thad asked tugging frantically on Zyphera’s arm.
“He’s too weak,” she replied with relief in her voice. “Keeping the serpent alive is draining all his energy,” she explained.
“Give up Madron,” Thad heard Gabriel ask his fallen opponent, his fiery phoenix hovering over head for protection.
“This battle has only just begun,” Madron replied gasping for air.
Thad stared at Madron as his hood slide partially off his head. He was stunned by what he saw. Several large purple scars disfigured the left side of Madron’s face. Madron caught Thad’s eye.
“Compliments of your Grandfather,” he called out. “The last gift he gave me before he left me to rot on Hadis.”
“You deserved it,” Thad replied coolly as he watched Madron struggle to stand.
He was surprised to see his cloak was soaked in blood.
“I have you to thank for this one,” Madron added, nodding towards the blood.
“Me,” Thad repeated, taken aback by Madron’s statement.
“That’s enough Madron,” Zyphera commanded, stepping in to end the conversation.
Madron chuckled “He doesn’t know what he is. Oh father was good at keeping secrets.”
“Father, what do you mean father,” Thad demanded. Confusion floated around him, mixing with the burning embers and debris fluttering in the hazy air.
“I mean that your Grandfather is my fath…..” Before Madron could finish he mysteriously vanished, leaving behind only a pool of blood.
“No!” Thad screamed in frustration, banging his clenched fists on the stone floor, “What did he mean,” he demanded turning to his friends for the answers.
“Now is not the time to explain things,” Gabriel replied trying to keep Thad calm. “I promise when we get out of here, I will tell you everything.”
Thad pondered Gabriel’s words, deciding if he believed him. “Everything?”
“Everything,” Gabriel promised.
The four stood in silence, allowing a small sense of peace to wash over them.
“Where is Leath?” Thad asked realizing there team was short a player.
“Don’t worry about me,” Leath’s voice floated out of the darkness. “Just got a little lost in the maze, but otherwise I am a perfectly capable human being,” he limped into the sliver of light cast by the fire, his gaze directed at Traiden and Gabriel “What ever happened to never leave a man behind,” He scowled.
“I am unfamiliar with that parable,” Traiden grinned. “Besides, I thought you were a capable human being,” he added with a little smirk.
Leath muttered something under his breath before changing the subject. “So what did I miss?”
“A lot,” Thad replied his voice filled with a jumble of emotions.
Leath turned his attention to Thad.
“I don’t want to talk about,” Thad stated before Leath or anyone else could ask. “Can we please just get out of here?” He pleaded in a small voice.
“Sure thing boss,” Leath replied in a kind voice.
Thad attempted a smile.
“Works for me,” Leath said as he headed back the way he came.
Thad and his companions encountered no resistance as they trekked to the outer city. The Battle waged over seven hours ago destroyed most of the city. The rebels fled deep into the craters of the mountain, allowing Madron’s loyal servants to reclaim the city. The only threat remaining was the necessity for breath. The group moved as quickly as possible covering their faces with whatever cloth they could find. Without the adrenaline of battle their bodies were fast succumbing to the harsh conditions.
“God protect us,” Gabriel whispered. They were still half a day from reaching the surface.
The path ahead seemed to stretch on forever as they trekked closer towards the door.
“Are we there yet,” Thad asked Gabriel in a weak voice, “cause I don’t feel very good.”
“We’re almost there,” Gabriel assured him.
“Here,” Traiden offered “Hop up on my back.”
Thad stumbled over and climbed on. “I think I might need……” Thad began, but his sentence drifted off as he sank into a fitful sleep.
After three hours of packing Thad on his back, Traiden was beginning to fall behind. “Man, what do you feed this kid? He weights a ton.”
“I’ll have you know I am 100% muscle,” Thad mumbled only partially awake. “I could take you out with my pinky finger,” he added with a smile.
“I am going to hold you to it,” Traiden replied giving Thad a friendly jiggle. “Are you okay to walk now?” Traiden asked in a serious tone. “Thad”
“I think he’s gone back to sleep,” Zyphera informed him.
“Argh”
“Don’t worry we‘re almost there, only about another hour,” Gabriel assured Traiden.
“I distinctly remember you saying that an hour ago,” Traiden grumbled.
“What is one more hour?” Leath bugged, hobbling past Traiden.
Traiden rolled his eyes and concentrated on reaching the door.
True to Gabriel’s word they reached the edge of the realm with in the hour.
“Now what,” Leath asked. “None of us know the password.”
“That is where this little gadget comes in,” Gabriel replied pulling a small, peculiar looking object out from the satchel around his neck. It looked like a star but with a sixth point growing out of the center.
“What is that?” Leath asked.
“Think of it as a universal lock picker,” Gabriel grinned.
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