by Cameo Renae
“Where have you been?” Will asked with a grin.
“Around,” she replied. “I narrowly missed a few arrows on my way here.” She pulled her shirt away from her body revealing a hole. Then her eyes went sad as she turned to Lavinia. “They’ve captured Rhyder. He and the others are being readied for the ceremony.”
“The eclipse has begun,” Rupe said, his finger aiming at the moon.
“We have little time,” Lavinia added. “More help is on the way.” The trees swayed in the distance, and the ground pounded in rhythm as Giants stomped through the forest.
Soon, the Lions, Middling, Satyrs, and all other survivors gathered around them. Everyone looked battle weary, but none complained. They were here, ready to fight until the end. Ready to give everything they had, including their lives, for their precious homeland and those who created it.
“William, I want you to ride with the Centaurs,” Lavinia said. “Alek and Thane will be accompanying you.”
The two Elves stepped forward. Alek handed Will a sword and a shield. The sword was double-edged and sharp with a golden hilt. Surprisingly, it was lightweight. The shield, he strapped to his back.
“Thanks,” Will said.
Rupe stepped forward, holding a fist to his chest. “I will guard you with my life,” he said, then bowed his head to Will.
“As will we.” Thane and Alek also bowed.
“Thank you,” Will breathed, overcome with emotion.
But there was no time for emotions. No time to feel anything but a drive to save those he loved. He had to keep his wit and be strong. For his mother. For his sister. For his grandfather, and everything good and worth fighting for in Misteria.
“When do we leave?” Will asked, mounting Rupe’s back.
Lavinia’s eyes fixed on the moon above . . . half of which had darkened.
“Now,” she breathed, standing at attention, raising her sword in the air above her.
The Elves—like a well-oiled machine—took heed. Drawing their bows, they stood—arms straight and steady—taking their firing stances, aiming toward the guards positioned at the front gate.
The Centaurs readied their weapons and shields, as did the rest of the survivors.
Will gaped in awe at the weapons the Giants brandished—huge maces, as large as a Howler, with handles of wood that were flanged with sharpened studs. Others had flails—large spiked metal balls attached to a chain, held by long metal shafts. These were weapons no human would ever be able to wield.
Lavinia, with her sword aimed up at the sky, thrust her arm downward and screamed, “Fire!”
From the forest, hundreds of arrows took flight. The Goblins and Trolls didn’t see what was coming, as the silent and deadly projectiles found their marks, sinking deep into flesh and bone, killing every guard at the front gate.
Will held on tight as they charged forward.
As they stormed the castle gate, Alek and Thane kept pace on each of Will’s sides. Elves at the forefront finished off the guards, as the rest of the survivors charged forward with a resounding war cry.
Entering the castle, they were met with another wave of Malzador’s army. Arrows and spears hurled in their direction. Shields went up, blocking most of the attacks, but some slipped through, injuring and even killing a few survivors along the way.
Elves clashed with Goblins, Lions bounded toward Howlers and Hellhounds, and Giants and Trolls exchanged heavy, death-doling blows which rocked the foundations.
Rupe and Will pushed forward, making their way toward the courtyard when two blazing eyes stood between them and the exit. It was the largest Hellhound Will had ever seen, its razor-sharp teeth snapped in savage contempt.
Thane nocked and shot an arrow as the beast barreled forward, striking it in the shoulder. But it did nothing to stop its forward momentum. Alek’s arrow flew next, sinking deep into the Hellhound’s left eye. The beast howled but kept coming.
From the side, Alek pushed Rupe out of the way and jumped into the path. He grabbed the Hellhound’s neck and tumbled into the maelstrom of bodies.
“Run!” Thane urged.
Rupe cantered toward the courtyard as Thane moved to aid Alek.
Fear shot through Will as he looked back and realized he and Rupe were alone. As Rupe galloped toward the exit, Will swore he heard someone scream his name. His head twisted in all directions, but he only saw creatures and beasts engaged in battle.
“Will!” It was Anna’s voice this time. “Look up. To your left!”
Will turned his attention and saw Ashlyn and . . . “Anna? What happened to you?” She was tiny, legs flailing while dangling with one arm from Ashlyn’s grasp.
“Help!” she screamed.
Will stretched his arm to grab them as they rode by, but he failed to see the Goblin charging behind them with a net.
“Anna!”
The Goblin scooped Anna and Ashlyn from the air, then disappeared into the courtyard.
“That Goblin took my sister!” Will hollered to Rupe, pointing to the exit which was now blocked by five Goblins holding spears and swords in front of them.
“Hold on!” Rupe yelled, quickening his pace.
He lifted his shield like a battering ram, and slammed into the wall of Goblins, sending them tumbling across grass and rocks outside. He charged forward, leaping over bodies, slashing everything in his path with his sword.
Will scanned the courtyard and saw the Goblin running with the net over his shoulder, Anna and Ashlyn still trapped inside.
Will jumped off Rupe and ran after him. A Howler, with a Goblin on its back, bounded toward him from the side. Right before they made contact, the Howler dropped dead, an arrow lodged in its skull. The Goblin tumbled off, standing with a sword pointed at Will. Before Will could act, an arrow struck it right between the eyes, dropping it instantly.
Will turned back to see Alek and Thane running to catch up to him. The Elves were amazing, every movement sharp and calculated, graceful and fluid. They pulled and nocked arrows, one by one, letting them fly, hitting their marks every time.
“My sister,” he yelled, his finger aimed. “She’s in the Goblin’s net!”
Before Alek or Thane could get off a shot, Anna’s body grew. Her full-sized frame knocked the Goblin over.
She freed Ashlyn from the net, but the Goblin grabbed her hair and dragged her toward a door. Anna struggled, but managed to call her power and throw it at the Goblin’s chest.
The blast sent it at least twenty feet back. When it landed, it didn’t move—his eyes were open, its tongue hanging out.
Dead. It was dead.
“Anna!” Will ran up to his sister and hugged her. Her body was trembling, her skin ice cold and trembling.
“I couldn’t find Mom,” she sobbed. “She wasn’t in the dungeon.”
“We have to move,” Thane urged, sending an arrow into an approaching Goblin, and then another one into a pig-like creature.
Alek shot a Howler, then pulled his sword and decapitated an approaching Goblin.
Ashlyn zipped in front of them. “Your mother. She’s there,” she said, pointing toward the center of the courtyard.
The dark warrior had Talia, binding her to the stone altar.
“Mom,” Anna wailed.
She started to run to her, but Thane picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her off to safety. Alek dragged Will by the arm, but he fought against him, trying to break the hold to run to his mom. It was the first time they’d seen her since they arrived in Misteria, and she was in danger.
“We need you alive,” Alek said grabbing Will firmly. “If you want to save her, come with us.”
Will wanted to run to his mother and save her right then and there, but he knew Alek was right. He had to get his head straight before he got himself—and her—killed.
As the Elven warriors escorted Will and Anna to safety, Will spotted Rhyder. He was bound to one of the poles, his body hunched over, his face and side were covered in blood. Rhyder h
ad become his mentor and friend, and to see him in that condition—so broken and helpless—made Will sick to his stomach.
He and Anna had to find a way to end this.
As the battered and weary survivors fought their way into the courtyard, the battle for Misteria continued. The Elves continued to push their way to the center, but the dark warrior ordered his evil army to hold them back.
The sky darkened as the moon neared its full eclipse.
Malzador’s voice boomed like thunder. “If any Sorcerer fails to perform the ceremony, both Talia and the Unicorn will die.”
Talia was laid on her back on the stone altar, her hands and legs bound, while the dark warrior pointed a sharp blade in the middle of her chest. Four Goblins aimed their arrows at Zohar.
“No!” Will screamed as Alek and Thane pulled them into a small alcove within a garden area. Thane, with Anna still over his shoulder fighting like a cat to get free, pushed on one of the bricks against the wall. A hidden door popped open and he slipped through. Alek pushed Will inside and shut the door, staying back to fight.
“Follow me,” Thane said, leading them up a long flight of stairs.
“How did you know about this place?” Anna asked, finally giving in.
“I was a guard here when the Sorcerers ruled the Crystal Castle.”
“Where are we going?” Will asked.
“There is a secret room at the top of the stairwell which overlooks the courtyard. It’s a place guards would post to watch the south side of the wall. There are many more secret rooms like this one throughout the castle.”
As they neared the top, Thane grasped his sword and placed his finger to his lips. Both Will and Anna quieted.
“Stay behind me,” Will said, pulling Anna behind him as he readied his sword.
Thane pushed the door open and rushed inside, but after a few seconds, his head peeked out of the door. “Come in. It’s clear.”
Will entered first and then Anna. The tiny room had two small circular windows which overlooked the south side of the castle wall. In the distance was the Forked-Tongue River, the forest, and beyond that, the mountains and wall of mist. Two more windows, on the opposite side, overlooked the courtyard.
Will and Anna each stepped up to a window and looked down over the sea of pandemonium.
The battle for Misteria raged on. In the center, Malzador stood with his arms outstretched as Kingsley, spoke the first spell to undo his part of the magic that kept Misteria hidden and safe.
As he finished, a wild wind howled around them, followed by a burst of blinding light. Screams echoed and everyone shielded their eyes. For a moment, the courtyard went dead silent as everyone’s eyes lifted to the sky.
A large iridescent flame had ignited directly at the top, and slowly burned its way down,
burning away the invisible barrier protecting Misteria. As it disintegrated, ash fell, covering the ground in fine black soot.
“Will. Anna. I want you to know I love you more than life itself. Stay away. Stay safe. No matter what happens to me.”
Will and Anna’s eyes snapped to each other, their eyes wide. The sound of their mother’s voice had tears welling in Anna’s eyes.
“Mom!” Will shouted, but she didn’t answer.
“Mom!” Anna also tried, but they were met with silence.
Will glanced at Anna, giving a look that needed no words. Anna nodded and took hold of his outstretched hand. While Thane’s attention was turned toward the opposite window, they both ran for the door.
“Wait! You can’t leave,” Thane yelled, chasing after them.
Will threw his power at the door and slammed it shut as they bolted down the stairs.
This was not the time to hide in a room while everyone else was fighting. Will knew—and finally believed deep down inside—that he and Anna had come to Misteria, not by coincidence, but to fulfill a prophecy. And he knew Anna felt the same way.
Nothing short of death would stop them now.
Pushing out of the hidden door, Will came face to face with a Howler. Its leathery skin taut, its sharp hackles raised, its dark, evil eyes zeroed in on him. Lowering its head, a deep, guttural growl rumbled from behind deadly sharp teeth as it stepped forward.
Will called his power and thrust the sapphire flame. It blasted the Howler’s head, dropping its lifeless body with a thud.
“Will, look!” Anna pointed directly above them. Way, way up—above the falling ash—was a jet with a long contrail trailing behind it.
Will panicked. Misteria and all its inhabitants would soon be revealed to the human world, and he knew they wouldn’t survive for long.
“Don’t let go of my hand,” Will said to Anna as he sprinted forward.
Lavinia caught a glance of them and headed in their direction, ordering her Elven warriors to protect them.
Zohar reared, stomping one Goblin to death. But two more came and held his chains tight.
The eclipse was finally complete—the moon was an onyx ball in the sky—and the barrier was quickly diminishing.
The dark warrior kept his blade pressed against Talia’s chest, making sure the Sorcerers completed their spells, while Malzador used his power against all those who fought to the front. His power, a flame much like Will and Anna’s, was large and deep crimson. With a flick of his wrist, he dropped dozens of Misterians, including those in his own army.
He didn’t care. He was fulfilling his vendetta.
His Dragons were in flight, swooping down, grabbing Elves and Giants in their large talons before carrying them high into the sky and dropping them to their deaths.
“Rhyder is the last to undo his spell,” Anna said. “We have to stop him.”
“We have to save mom first,” Will replied.
“Don’t worry about her. Just make sure he doesn’t finish the spell.”
They failed to see the humongous Troll that charged toward them, swinging its large spiked club. Will shoved Anna out of the way and dove to the ground, the club missing him by inches.
The Troll raised its weapon for a second blow, but dozens of arrows littered its chest. It stumbled backward, wide-eyed, the club still clutched in its fist. Then, its eyes rolled back and it dropped back with a thud.
Will and Anna were suddenly surrounded by four hungry looking Hellhounds. Their fire eyes glared at them, snapping teeth dripped with acid saliva, and rabid barks emitted flames.
“What do we do?” Anna cried.
“Stay alive,” Will urged. “Use your power, but not fully—in short blasts. We can’t tire out too soon.”
Suddenly, hundreds of glowing lights appeared above them, raining down golden glitter on the Hellhounds. The beasts wailed, clawing at their eyes. They were temporarily blinded and started attacking each other.
“Fairy magic,” Anna squealed.
For a moment, a smile lifted on her lips as she watched the Fairies, Sprites, and Pixies join the battle, flying around the courtyard, sprinkling magical dust in the eyes of the enemy to blind and confuse them.
“Anna, now!” Will commanded, running and weaving his way through snapping teeth and stray clubs, spears, and swords.
Malzador roared, watching his army fall prey to the tiny, winged creatures. His eyes darkened, and face hard-set.
“Eat!” he bellowed, aiming his finger at them.
Slag and Blayze swooped from the sky, mouths wide open, gobbling up dozens of Fairies and their kin.
Malzador’s dark eyes met Will as he neared him, a wicked grin raised on his lips. In his palm, Malzador called a large crimson flame.
“No!” Talia screamed as Malzador sent his flame soaring toward her son.
Will threw up a shield around himself, but when Malzador’s flame hit, the blast thrust him backward, slamming him into a Goblin. Will and the Goblin tumbled across the ground. They wrestled, but Will got the upper hand, and sat on the Goblin’s stomach. He pulled his sword and thrust it into its chest.
“Will!” Anna screamed,
running to his side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” he said, feeling a bit dizzy. “But the Goblin isn’t.”
“Rhyder’s spell is almost complete!” She said pointing at the barrier that was nearly gone.
Will shot up and ran toward the Sorcerers. “Rhyder,” he screamed. “Don’t finish the spell!”
Rhyder’s attention turned to Will. He stopped his spell for a moment, pausing the final deterioration. There was about twenty feet before Misteria was completely exposed to the human world.
Above them, another airplane passed overhead.
“Listen to him, Rhyder,” Talia shouted, her eyes filled with tears. “Don’t finish it.”
A darkness shadowed Malzador’s face, his eyes narrowed on Talia.
“Kill her!” he roared, motioning to the dark warrior.
“No!” Anna charged forward as the dark warrior raised his dagger above his head, then plunged it down at Talia’s chest.
The blade stopped short, inches above an emerald barrier wrapped around her.
Will looked over and saw Anna, arms out in front of her, focused on the shield.
“I can’t hold it much longer,” she cried.
Eight seconds. That was the longest she’d held her protective barrier.
Will called his power, filled with rage, and threw it at the dark warrior. The sapphire flame shot like a cannon from his palm, slamming the warrior directly in his face. The blast knocked him off his feet and flung him to the ground, knocking him unconscious.
In the madness, Tobin and Thaddeus snuck behind the Sorcerers. Tobin quickly sliced Eason’s binds with his dagger, but as he ran toward Rhyder, Malzador spotted him. Too fast, Malzador hurled a fiery ball toward Tobin, who’d frozen in his tracks, his eyes wide with terror as the death flame soared toward him.
The flame stopped, inches from Tobin’s nose.
Eason stepped forward, his hand outstretched, blocking the lethal attack. Tobin was shaking, his eyes rolled back, and then . . . he fainted.
With a flick of his hand, Eason sent the fireball hurling back toward Malzador. But Malzador caught and quenched the flame as if he were extinguishing a candle. A wicked laugh roared deep inside his chest. “Before the full moon becomes anew, I will smother the life from your eyes, and those of your entire bloodline,” he promised.