The next morning Noquef emerged in Gina’s wretched cell only to find her still slumped on the ground beneath the window. He smiled a menacing grin as he approached her.
“There is no way out,” he said. “Hoping and dreaming won’t get you anywhere.”
“Drop dead,” was her reply.
“Still a little hostile, are we?” Grinning, he reached out to stroke the cut on her cheek. She quickly jerked away.
“Let me get one thing straight – no matter how much you hurt me, no matter how many locks you put on me, I will never care for you. And I will get out – mark my words, I will.”
“You’re right – you will. I’m taking you out at just before sunset,” he told her. “Out to that beautiful cliff where all my people will be entertained by your end. This evening the Gina we know now will die, and a more powerful Gina will be born.” She turned to face him, rebellion on her face.
“And what makes you so sure that it will work? What makes you so sure that I will become evil because of torture?”
“Many before you experienced the same fate. There was never one that left who was pure and good. Only pure evil –that is what is really good. What you people call evil is what controls us, rules us, even you and your kind. Besides, I discovered the one true spell to use against you; why are you so assured that I do not know others just as powerful? I’ll be back before sunset.” With that, he walked out. The sound of the door closing echoed in Gina’s empty heart.
Leyance, the girls, and many other Nythagién warriors tracked the path plowed out by the Übels days before. They had been doing so for a day now. Leyance had hoped that Jacinda, Alvina, and Calypso wouldn’t have come, yet here they were, riding alongside him, armed for battle. He listened to their conversation.
“We’re running out of time. I can feel it; she’s getting weaker and weaker,” Calypso pointed out.
“I feel it too,” Alvina agreed. “Her fire seems to be burning out.” Leyance’s heart sunk. He had hoped that he was the only one sensing that, perhaps then it wasn’t true. Yet, it was. He turned to the girls.
“It’s not over yet,” he stated. “We’ll get her out or die trying. I, at least, am prepared for that.”
“We are too,” Jacinda said. Leyance rode his horse a little further and turned back to face the company.
“We must hurry, time is against us,” he yelled for all of them to hear. “We will have to break into groups, approaching from all sides – we must get Regina back. Listen up! Here’s the plan.” With that, he delivered his preparations to get Gina back, the plan he hoped would get Gina back.
The wait for sunset drove Gina crazy. The loneliness, the starvation, the cold – none of it fazed her a bit. But the waiting - that she could not take. Finally the moment she waited for in apprehension came. Noquef entered. Without a word, he walked straight towards her, grabbed hold of her, and dragged her out of the cell. Three guards waited for her outside. She knew it was now or never. Swiftly, she swung herself out of Noquef’s grasp and hit him as hard as she could across the face and ran. The guards were close on her tail as she ran down the cold stone corridor.
“Leave her be!” Noquef yelled. “Loular ca num cai menor oyer ben…”
No, she thought. I have to fight this. I can’t let the spell take me. I can’t. I’ll die if I do! She continued to run but slowed down considerably.
“…Anisaquo cuar raru seb atorolok – bakoter u nek!,” he finished. Like a magnet, Gina hit against the wall.
“No….no…” she whispered painfully. With every inch of strength she had, Gina struggled to remain conscious, but the spell was too much. She fell onto the cold rock floor and was out cold. Noquef walked over to her, smiling. He turned to the guards.
“Get her up. We need to get ready. The time is upon us.” With that, the guards lifted Gina’s limp body and carried her out, Noquef at their heels.
Chapter 8
“Torch-her Torture”
Noquef walked to the edge of a cliff overlooking thousands of blood-thirsty Übels. Gina was next to him, not showing any signs of life. Her wrists were tied to a wooden rod above her. He spoke to the crowd.
“Today we become invincible because today we gain our most powerful weapon yet. One who rules a city of good, a city, which will fall once she is against it, once she is with us. Finally that time of waiting has passed. The time to act is now. We will devour anything in our paths to total domination of this world and others. I will lead you with my new queen. Behold the ex-queen of the Nythagiéns, your new queen!” Cheers erupted and caused Gina to stir.
When Gina awoke, she realized instantly that it was too late to save herself. The only thing keeping her up was her wrists tied to the rod above her. She still wore her black robe with the red ribbon still swirling all the way up her body. Hearing chants and cheers, she looked down to see a sea of murderous Übels. Seeing the Übels caused her to begin to tremble with horror. She fearfully looked over her shoulder and saw Noquef and his servants, one holding a lit torch. Her eyes quickly turned back to the crowd, and she searched it hoping to see some help. She couldn’t believe that Leyance hadn’t come for her yet. Then someone caught her eye. She blinked, unbelieving what she saw but when her eyelid reopened, the person was gone. She couldn’t tell if she’d seen the person in the crowd or not, but she certainly thought she’d seen a very familiar face with terror and pity in her eyes: herself.
Noquef now took the torch, cracking and sparkling, from his servant and walked over to Gina. He slowly and deliberately leaned over and lit the red ribbon on her dress. Gina screamed out in terror. Immediately, the ribbon began to be devoured by the sparkling fire. The single red ribbon burned slowly like a fuse, leaving the black of the dress untouched by the erupting flames, as the main spark slowly wound its way up Gina’s body.
“The evil will burn through you, Gina my dear. Once you are engulfed in flames, so too will you be in wickedness. You will be complete evil – nothing can stop it,” Noquef told her and handed the torch back to his servant. Gina tried to yell out but her screams were muffled by the cheers below…and screams. The fire was just above her knees, when suddenly an arrow flew and hit Noquef’s servant. Falling dead, the servant dropped the torch. It extinguished itself quickly in the dirt. As it did, so did the flames on Gina’s dress. She slumped, hanging by her wrists. She had been broken, and she knew it. She felt weak and hurt, but a small glimmer of hope made her look down into the crowds. That’s when she saw him. Leyance was fighting Übels in the swarm below. Her heart lifted. He had come and he was not alone. She turned and saw Noquef approaching her. Quickly, she grabbed hold of the rod above her and held herself up as she swung and kicked him square in the head.
“I just hope that gave you a concussion!” she yelled at him and then turned to the crowd and screamed at the top of her lungs “Leyance!” Surprisingly, he looked up and saw her. Smoothly, he shot an arrow at her. It swished through the rope which still held her wrists to the rod, fraying the rope severely. This was enough. Gina wiggled her hand free and then used it to untie her other hand. Her second hand free, she fell to the ground, fatigue and pain sinking in. The sparks left her legs weak, and they had to be pushed hard to keep her upright. Slowly, she got to her feet. Noquef too, was recovering from his hit and saw Gina. She hurried to the dead Übel and grabbed his sword. Noquef in return grabbed his and came after her. A sword fight broke out between them, trapping Gina where she was, but she didn’t care. He had hurt her, and he would pay. Fights had broken out everywhere and there was not a dry sword in the area.
Gina and Noquef’s battle was raging full course. Only the knowledge that Leyance was near-by gave Gina strength enough to fight. She was bleeding badly, especially from a cut on her left arm. As Gina’s knees once again buckled in their feeble attempt to keep her upright, Noquef drove his sword at her stomach. Gina screamed in pain as the sword sliced through her skin. It was not a deep cut, but blood gushed from it immediately and the searing p
ain blinded her. She dropped to her knees and crawled behind a small hill of stone. This area revealed another cliff on the opposite side of where the fighting was. One side of the cliff face dropped a ways to a forest floor which wound around to the area where the battle now raged full throttle. On the other side was a far drop to the winding river below. Gina stared at this in horror as Noquef stormed up towards her. She hurried to block his blow and struggled to get to her feet. The fighting continued and Gina’s increasing blood lost was making her weaker and weaker with every breath. Noquef was able to push her closer and closer to the edge with every blow of his bloody sword. With one last blow, Gina fell to her knees. Her sword fell into the abyss as she began sliding backwards. Terrified, she grabbed for anything near her. The ground escaped her, and she fell. She struggled to hold something as she plummeted further and further. Finally, her grasping hands found a root sticking out of the cliff face which was just right for her to catch. Now she hung at gravity’s mercy. Gina looked below her slowly. If she were to continue her fall, her life would end. Noquef came to the edge and glared down at her. He began to laugh insanely.
“You know, it’s odd,” he cackled. “I worked so hard to turn you evil, but I like this idea better. Watching the one who refused to give in finally learn her lesson. Watching her fall to her gory death on the rocks and water below. Besides, meeting such an end opens the possibility to life. Look at it Gina. It’s a long drop – plenty of time in the air knowing what is about to become of you. And Leyance, poor Leyance, he’ll find that he was too late, as usual. That he couldn’t save his precious love. Don’t you see? Love doesn’t conquer all. Love doesn’t have a weapon to fight with, it can be broken easily – and now, it has been. Your friends too will die, though unlike you they will probably have arrows or swords sticking out of them. Lovely to think about, isn’t it? And you can’t save them. Can’t save your friends, can’t save your love, can’t save yourself, -can’t save your city.” He’d gone too far this time.
If I go down, he goes with me! she thought. She looked around her and saw a sharp stone resting on a little ledge close to her. She looked up to Noquef. He was standing dangerously close to the edge.
“Oh yes I can!” she screamed. Swiftly, she let go of one hand, grabbed the stone and threw it, hitting him right between the eyes. He screamed, stumbled, and fell over the side right past Gina. She buried her head in the side of the cliff, trying not to hear his deathly screams or the sound of the fatal splash. So she remained: hanging and hiding her face until finally she was brave enough to look around her, hoping for a way to climb to safety. She dare not look down in fear of what she might see. Slowly and carefully she began to climb sideways so she might get above the forest floor. First reach, first planting of the foot, next reach, next planting of the foot. She climbed one step at a time until at last she was just above the forest floor. Gina looked below her and saw it was not a far jump. So, she finally let go. She had no strength left. The fall was painful, especially on her stomach which still bled. The sting throbbed throughout her entire body. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked to see where she had just climbed. The sight petrified her. A trail of her blood on the stones traced the path she had climbed. She lay still, eyes closed not wanting to see the blood surrounding her, not wanting to be in this injured land, but the screams from the battle interrupted her.
Leyance, she thought. Slowly and painfully, she got up and hurried as fast as she could to find him. She threw off her robe as she went, exposing the black outfit underneath. Her search was not a long one. Just as the trees cleared, she found him battling an Übel. Looking around she found a dead enemy and took his weaponry; luckily he still had arrows. She fired one of these at Leyance’s opponent. The Übel sank to the floor, dead. She hurried over to him and hugged him.
“Gina, thank goodness you’re alright,” he said. When they broke though, his smile turned to a frown. Her blood was all over him, and he saw her stomach’s gash. “You’re loosing way too much blood; we need to get you healed immediately!” Yet, Gina realized that not all the blood was hers.
“My injuries are not nearly as bad as yours. Those cuts are deeper than mine!”
“Come on. A camp was set up to heal the injured. We need to get you there now.” They both hobbled over a ways until they saw a camp. Some Nythagiéns spotted them and rushed over. They were just in time to see Leyance fall. Gina huddled over him and helped them lift him. She let them take him. He needed healing, and that she could not give him.
“He will be alright, Your Highness,” a Nythagién told her.
“I know,” she replied. She turned and started to head back out, all the pains of battle, both physical and mental, weighing her down.
“You need to stay here,” the man said. “You are loosing blood as well and are badly injured. Not to mention the obvious side affects your torturing must have had.” He said it shakily but stern. Gina slowly looked over her shoulder at him.
“I must go,” stated she. “I must help my people. I’ll be alright.” With that she turned and left, leaving the man dumbfounded.
Gina hurried off as fast as her cut and bleeding legs would allow her. The sword dangled in her loose grip at her side. She saw the battle raging in front of her, but a glint of a sword caught her attention. Turning, she saw Calypso fighting an Übel by herself back in a wooded area. Yet the more terrifying scene lay behind Calypso. An Übel was approaching her back, an arrow already strung.
Gina did not hesitate. She ran quickly, screaming as she went. She dived at the Übel and knocked him down. Just as quickly, she grabbed her sword and drove it through him. Next, she grabbed her bow and an arrow and sent it flying into Calypso’s opponent who was nearly on top of her. He fell backwards, clearing her. Gina sighed in relief. She rolled off the Übel and landed on something hard. Getting up, Gina realized she had fallen on his bow. His empty bow. Fear inundated her as she turned to look at Calypso. She had never heard her scream. Gina ran over to Calypso, tears already streaming down her face. She knelt and gently lifted her friend’s head, cradling it in her hands. Little gasps of air escaped Calypso’s lips as she looked up at her friend while fighting the excruciating pain coming from her chest. Gina could barely see. Tears blurred her vision.
“I was too late,” she cried, holding Calypso tight. “I’m so sorry. Cassie - Calypso, please, you have to hold on. Please, don’t leave me. Come on Cassie, you can hold on, you’re strong, please…” She was crying uncontrollably.
“Gina…” Calypso gasped. “…we…saved…you…” With that, she fell limp in Gina’s arms.
“No!” Gina held Calypso tightly. As she did, her hand touched the arrow and ripped it out. She held her hand tightly on the wound, trying to stop the blood. Blinded by the tears of pain, Gina could no longer see what was in front of her. Yet, she thought she saw a small blaze of golden light near the wound for an instant. She tried to clear her eyes to get a better look, but she was interrupted as she heard people running up behind her.
“Queen Regina! Thank God we found you…” a woman said and then stopped seeing Calypso. She turned to the others. “Get her to camp now! She has been badly injured!”
“It’s too late. She’s dead,” Gina tried to tell them, but they did not hear. Two men lifted Calypso and disappeared through the trees with her. The woman and another man helped Gina to her feet and walked her to camp.
There was great commotion occurring at the camp. Many injured Nythagiéns were being healed and then having to rush off to help others in need. Gina started to follow Calypso but was turned away after she was carried into a tent.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I cannot allow you in here. There is not enough room” is what she was told. Feeling lost, Gina walked up to a nurse who stood healing a particularly severe injury.
“How is this man?” Gina asked, feeling out of place as she looked down at her own blood-stained self.
“He is severely injured, Your Majesty, but he will make it
. These leaves don’t cure enough though,” she said solemnly looking down at the ones she held. “They only cure minor injuries and even then they only get rid of the cut and blood. He will still be in a lot of pain after this.”
“But he will be alright?” Gina asked.
“Yes, he will be.” The woman continued to crush leaves into a healing potion she was mixing. Gina’s gaze settled onto this man’s face. Suddenly, his eyes opened, and he looked up at her.
“Hello, Gina. Haven’t seen you in awhile,” he gasped.
“What?” she asked him. Do I know this man?
“I’m sorry. I mean, good evening, Queen Regina,” he corrected himself.
“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. Please, call me Gina. It’s just that I don’t remember you…”
“You wouldn’t with all these cuts all over my body. I’m Hayden – April’s boyfriend…” He stopped and cleared his throat. “I mean, Alvina’s ex-boyfriend.”
“Oh, yes! Of course! I remember you now. Wait a second – so you are Nythagién too? Why don’t people tell me these things?” she inquired.
He smiled. “Well, I’m not surprised you didn’t know about me. Though, I’m not a Nythagién. I’m from Kulinai, a neighbor to Nythagié.”
“Oh. Uh, have you talked to April since she’s been back?” Gina asked tentatively.
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