“Has there been an invasion? Like from outer space?”
“More like inner space.”
“Huh?”
“There is a world—unseen but very real, more real than this world. We’ve been there.”
“You’ve been—to this other world?”
“Yes, it’s actually the real world. We go there to fight the enemy. We are Prince Warriors. Finn and Rook too.”
“Really?” Mary blinked, looking over at Rook. “The lawn-mower guy?”
Manuel nodded.
“Oh.” Mary’s mouth formed a small O. “That’s sort of . . . cool.” She stood up and wandered over to Rook. “Hi!” Rook glanced at her. She stumbled around for something to say. “Can I get you anything? Snacks? We have—graham crackers and juice boxes. . . .” She winced a little, realizing how lame that sounded.
“No thanks,” said Rook. “I’m good.”
“I’ll take some,” said Finn, but Mary didn’t seem to hear him.
“Okay. If you change your mind . . . and by the way, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For—rescuing me. From the pod-smoke thing. It was very gallant.” She pronounced the word gal-LANT and laughed a little.
“No problem,” said Rook.
Brianna and Ivy came out of the supply closet in their armor just in time to see the end of Mary’s exchange with Rook. They looked at each other and grinned. Clearly, Mary was a tad smitten.
The Prince Warriors gathered around Manuel as he announced the latest news.
“Four pods open, four white mist clouds, there’s no telling how many people are already infected. Emergency services have told everyone to stay inside to avoid the cloud’s toxicity, but people are still being drawn to it. Fire crews are out trying to douse it. Of course that’s not working. The mist has already spread to half the town. It won’t be long before the entire town and surrounding areas are also covered. Without protection, I suspect at least 20 percent of the total population will become infected within a few hours. In a day or two, it will be higher than 50 percent.”
Everyone was quiet after this gloomy assessment.
“So,” said Xavier, “we have to stop this soon, before it has time to spread.”
“How do we do that?” asked Ivy.
“We’re the ones Ponéros is after,” said Levi. “We’re standing in his way. He can’t move freely if we’re around. So we need to draw the Glommers . . . to us. Then maybe they’ll leave everyone else alone.”
“I suggest getting to the highest point we can,” said Manuel. “That is also good military strategy. Occupy the high ground. It’s more defensible. Plus the Glommers will be able to find us more easily.”
“Cedar Point,” said Levi. “It’s the highest point in town.”
“Perfect.”
“Hold on, guys,” said Mary. “There are like—” she counted quickly, “eight of you. And like hundreds of them. You need more help!”
Evan grinned. “We have everything we need,” he said. And then added: “Except snacks. We could really use some snacks.”
* * *
While Mary passed out graham crackers, chip bags, and juice boxes, Xavier called his mom. She sounded worried.
“Xavier! Where are you? Is Evan with you?”
“I’m at the Rec. Yes, Evan’s here. We’re fine. Are you okay? Is dad there? Are you staying inside?”
“Yes, yes, Mary called us. We had a very strange conversation. Are you with Mr. J. Ar now?”
“No. He had to take Mr. Santos to the hospital. But Mom, we’re okay. Make sure to stay inside and keep all the doors and windows closed. And if you see anything—like a cloud or a mist—don’t look at it. Go into the basement until they sound the all clear. Okay?”
“Xavier, I want you and your brother to come home. I don’t like any of this—it isn’t safe—”
“Mom, we’re Prince Warriors. You know that, right?”
“Yes . . .”
“So let us do what we have to do. What we were meant to do.”
There was a long pause on the line. Then his mother’s shaking voice: “Okay, Xavier. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.” He handed the phone to Evan.
“Hey, Mom!” Evan said, his mouth full of crackers. “We’re going to fight Glommers!”
Xavier rolled his eyes.
* * *
“Grandpa Tony?” Brianna was relieved to hear his voice on the phone. “You know what’s going on, right? Take care of Nana Lily and my sisters, okay? And—is Star okay? Viktor didn’t hurt her, did he?” Brianna listened a moment, then let out a sigh of relief. Star was okay. “I’m so thankful. Tell her I’ll be back soon. And don’t worry! I’ll be fine.”
* * *
Ivy called her mom. “Hey, Mom, I’m fine. I’m with my friends. Make sure to stay inside and close all the curtains and don’t look outside, whatever you do. And—can you call Dad and tell him? I know you two don’t talk much but—oh. Okay. No, don’t leave the house. It’s better to just stay in until this clears. I’ll be fine, Mom. Bye.”
She hung up. Brianna looked at her. “Where’s your dad?”
“He doesn’t live with us.” Ivy hung her head, as if ashamed.
“How come you never told me that?” Brianna asked. She had always thought Ivy’s life was so perfect. It had made her not like Ivy very much at first.
Ivy shrugged. “I should have; I’m sorry. I didn’t want anyone to know. I don’t see him much since he moved out. But I miss him. I wish the two of them would just, you know, work things out. But I’m not sure they want to.”
Brianna put an arm around Ivy. “It’ll be okay.”
Ivy smiled at her. “Hope so.”
“Let’s go destroy some evil Glommers. That will make you feel better.”
“Sure will.”
* * *
“The police just tried to take down some Glommers in the park,” Manuel called out, focused on the laptop screen. “Bullets just bounced off them. Police don’t know what to do. None of their weapons have any effect on them.”
“There’s only one weapon that will stop them,” said Rook. “Time to go. Everyone ready?”
“Can I come?” asked Mary, coming up beside Rook. “I mean, I’d like to help.” Rook shook his head.
“Maybe you can stay here and—keep tabs on things?” He made eye contact with Manuel, who got the message and nodded eagerly.
“Oh, yes, Miss Stanton, we could really use your help in . . . monitoring the advance of the Glommers and . . . reporting back to us. You’d be like . . . our central command.”
“Okay,” Mary said, brightening. “I can do that.”
“And Mary,” said Rook, “don’t let anyone in. If you see any mist coming into the building, go down to the storm cellar.”
“Got it.”
“Once we get to the Point, you shouldn’t have to worry. The enemy’s forces will be focused on us.”
Mary swallowed. “You and a bunch of kids?”
“Don’t worry,” said Rook with a solemn expression. “We won’t be alone.”
CHAPTER 33
Cedar Point
They’re coming.”
Finn turned from the window and spoke to the kids gathered around Manuel.
Xavier went to see for himself. Zombie-like Glommers were in the street, marching toward the rec center like a platoon of tin soldiers.
“Okay,” said Rook with a sigh. “Let’s go. Mary, lock this door after us. Then go to the office and close the blinds.”
“Uh, okay.” Mary gave Rook another smile. “Good luck,” she said. “Or—whatever you guys need.”
“We can beat them,” said Ivy. “Those dudes can’t move too fast with all that metal weighing them down.”
“Not yet a
nyway,” said Manuel, his voice trembling slightly.
“Get in the car as fast as you can. Don’t stop to look at them,” said Rook. “On three: one, two, three.”
They burst through the doors and dashed for the car. The Glommers caught sight of them and immediately changed course, picking up their pace. They began to cry out in loud, groaning voices that shivered in the air.
“They’re moving faster than I thought,” said Ivy as she leapt into the car, followed by Brianna and Evan. They climbed into the third row, while Xavier, Evan, and Manuel got in the middle row. Finn sat in the passenger seat. Rook slammed his door shut and started the engine. He had to pass right by the Glommers as he sped out onto the main road. One of them stood in his path, its arms raised, bellowing loudly. Rook floored it, but swerved at the last second, leaving skid marks on the road as he sped away.
The kids stared back at the weird beings standing in the road with their white eyes and humanlike appendages laced in metallic webbing. It was stunning how quickly and thoroughly the mist had infected these people.
As the Prince Warriors drove through the town, more and more of the Glommers joined in chasing them, forming up in ranks behind the car and marching in lockstep.
“Can you drive any faster?” asked Levi.
“We need them to follow us,” said Xavier. “The more that come after us, the fewer around to cause problems for unprotected people. We need to gather them all at the Point.”
Rook finally arrived at the bottom of Cedar Hill, where the paved road became a dirt track, meant for four-wheelers and mountain bikers. He shifted into low gear and charged up the hill, his back wheels spinning out on the rutted road. He expertly navigated the narrow track, weaving around the thick growth of mountain cedars that gave the town its name. The car bounced over tree roots and deep ruts while Rook warned his passengers to keep their seat belts fastened.
“This is like riding Tannyn,” Evan remarked under his breath.
“Let’s hope the landing is a little better,” said Ivy.
They soon drove out of the woods as the hill steepened, becoming more rocky with fewer trees. Rook drove in a zig-zag pattern, straining the SUV engine to the limit.
“I might be getting sick,” said Brianna, covering her mouth.
“Don’t throw up in my dad’s car!” said Levi.
Rook sped to the top of the hill and shut off the engine. A sign posted in front of them read:
The kids piled out and began to survey the hilltop. It was possible to see the entire town from this hill, including all the damage being done by the Glommers and the mist that continued to waft through the air. It was no longer in curling plumes; the mist had spread out like a blanket over part of the town, looking no more harmless than a low-lying fog.
“It’s everywhere,” breathed Manuel.
Levi noticed an official-looking historical marker: “Site of the Battle of Cedar Point, 1835, where a small band of rebels held off invaders for forty-five hours while waiting for reinforcements.”
Guess we aren’t the first ones to try and hold this hill, he thought to himself. Forty-five hours. Almost two days. Of . . . resistance. They were going to face a similar battle today: resisting the enemy in order to win the day. Would it take two days? Or longer?
You have everything you need.
“Levi!” Rook called. Levi went to join the others who had gathered together, checking to make sure their weapons and armor were ready. Now that it was becoming real, they were all growing visibly nervous.
“We could really use an instruction from The Book right about now,” said Manuel. But no new instructions spun out of their breastplates or lit up their phones.
“Resist the enemy, and he will flee,” said Finn. “That was the one I got—when I was fighting those Forgers on the cliff that day you guys showed up.”
“That’s a good one,” said Evan thoughtfully.
“Be strong and courageous,” said Ivy. “Don’t fear and don’t be discouraged. Mr. J. Ar always quotes that one.”
“We aren’t fighting flesh and blood, but the powers of darkness in the unseen world,” said Brianna.
“Perfect, Bean,” said Levi.
“Guys, go for the heart, or where the heart should be, same as the Forgers,” Rook said. “It’s going to be pretty hard, but if you can pierce it, you might be able to disable them.”
“Yes, that area seems to act as a nerve center,” said Manuel.
“But they still sort of look like people,” said Brianna under her breath. “We’re not going to really kill them, are we?”
“You won’t kill their human parts, only the inhuman ones,” said Rook. “That’s what the sword does.”
The kids nodded as they stood together at the top of the hill. They took out their Krÿsen and raised their swords.
A noise rose up from below them, the sound of rustling leaves and breaking limbs. The kids looked down to see the trees at the bottom of the hill trembling and collapsing.
“They’re coming,” said Rook.
A few minutes later the Glommers came into view. They barreled up the hill, mowing down trees and anything else that got in their way. There were so many—maybe a thousand or more now. The mist settled upon them, as if binding them together in a single purpose.
Suddenly heavy, ominous storm clouds rolled in over the army of Glommers, casting them in a deep shadow. Yet the sun still shone down on the Warriors on the hill, striking their armor so that it blazed like a beacon to those with eyes to see.
A bone-chilling shriek sounded overhead as a dark shape broke through the clouds, spreading long, spiny wings.
“The black dragon!” Evan was breathless, pointing.
“Antannyn,” said Levi, his voice quavering.
“What’s an Ant-a-nin?” asked Ivy.
“The biggest of the black dragons. The one that almost killed Tannyn.”
“How did it get here?” asked Brianna.
“Must be another portal,” said Manuel. “Possibly due to the pods being opened.”
Despite their fear they stood straight and silent, holding their swords up high so that the blades gleamed with an inner fire.
CHAPTER 34
Resistance
Levi glanced up at the huge black dragon circling overhead, the white mist creeping over the town, the Glommers marching up the hill. As the enemy presence loomed larger and larger, Levi felt smaller and smaller. He glanced around at their paltry force. Only eight of them. How could he and his friends stand against so much evil?
You have everything you need.
He felt his helmet heat up, replacing the doubts in his mind with the truth he already knew.
The Glommers looked like an oceanic tide of half-metal humanoids engulfing the hill. Suddenly, Levi felt his eyes begin to ache as if he were very tired. Tears blurred his vision. He closed his eyes and waited. He had learned to recognize the signs. He was going to see something the others couldn’t.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw them.
Lights. A shower of tiny white lights falling all around him, like early snow. Levi knew instantly what they were: Sparks—the twinkling puffs of light from the Cave. He looked at the others, but he could tell by their expressions that they couldn’t see what he was seeing.
The Sparks grew brighter, more radiant than any lights Levi had ever seen. Lights so bright it made everything else—even the white mist from the pods—seem dull and sad.
The Sparks encircled the Prince Warriors like a hedge, a barrier. And then Levi saw that the lights were growing larger, each miniscule glimmer blooming, exploding like fireworks, shooting out tendrils of light. The brilliant shafts wove themselves into shimmering figures as tall as buildings, beautiful and noble. Levi could make out the familiar shapes of breastplates over flowing robes, shields, and swords. . . .
>
Warriors!
Levi gasped, nearly falling over backward in amazement. They were so big, so beautiful! Illuminated by the ethereal light he had only ever seen in Ahoratos. He felt his arm shaking with the thrill of what he saw. He wished they all could see it. He wished they could experience the burst of hope and courage these Warriors had awakened in him.
“They’re here!” he whispered, for his voice seemed locked in his throat. He tried again. “It’s the Sparks! They’ve come to help us!”
The others glanced at Levi and then at each other in confusion. They saw nothing but gathering Glommers. Their faces registered the same fear that he had felt a moment ago.
If only they could see this, Levi thought. He shut his eyes tight, whispering from the depths of his heart: Let them see it too. Ruwach, please, let them see it. Just this once.
And the air was suddenly filled with music, soaring chords, and thrumming drums. The Warriors were singing. Levi wondered if he was the only one who could hear it. He glanced at Brianna.
“Listen! Can you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Listen!”
Brianna looked out over the hill, her brow furrowing. Then she let out a small gasp of amazement and strained her neck upward.
“I hear it,” she whispered.
“Now look! See them?”
Brianna looked around, confused. Then suddenly she squinted, as if blinded by the sun.
Her mouth curved into a luminous smile.
“I see them! They’re so beautiful!”
“What?” asked Ivy, beside her.
“Listen!”
Ivy listened. Then her eyes opened wide as well and she started to laugh. “They’re here to fight with us!”
“No,” Levi said with a smile, “I think they are here to fight for us!”
Down the line, each of the Prince Warriors received their sight. Ruwach had opened their eyes and their ears. Levi felt joy and gratitude fill his heart as he watched his friends become energized by the sight of this supernatural army fighting for them.
The Prince Warriors and the Swords of Rhema Page 19