by Edward Eck
In the distance, as the commotion of battle eased, Max thought he heard something like a chainsaw. Then it grew louder. He looked around to find the source. Through a single gap in the stone, he spotted something. At the northern end of the park, fifty motorcycles roared across the grassy field toward the stone barrier.
The dark sorcerers outside the barrier turned in surprise. Without warning, fireballs thrown by the motorcycle gang slammed into the ground, barriers and dark sorcerers alike.
Max turned back toward Malcolm who was straining his neck to see the cause of the commotion.
Radimir shook his head to clear the cobwebs then looked at Max. “Before leave Sphinx, mirror call Sheelin. Ask for help.”
Max let out a little chuckle before smiling. “Good thinking, Radimir.” He turned his attention back to Malcolm. “The game’s up, Malcolm. The Hunters are looking for their prey.”
With pursed lips and a furrowed brow Malcolm seethed, “Not soon enough. Magna fir-tor loma.” Malcolm held Max’s gaze while loosing the fireball at Radimir.
The big Russian was unprepared and had no time to respond. The fireball slammed into his chest, propelling him backward into a barrier stone. He slumped to the ground dead.
Max stepped forward wide eyed. After a quick glance at Malcolm then back to Radimir, he raised his hand toward the Russian and concentrated. Time stopped for a brief moment. Only Max could move and see what was transpiring—Malcolm’s sneer at eliminating his Russian friend, the fire burning through the clothing and flesh of Radimir’s chest. He then focused on rewinding time five… then ten, finally twenty seconds. The fireball flew from Radimir’s unharmed chest back into Malcolm’s outstretched hand, then disappeared as Malcolm spoke the spell in reverse. Once the damaged was undone, time resumed normally. Radimir once again shook his head to clear the cobwebs then looked at Max. “Before leave Sphinx, mirror call Sheelin. Ask for help.”
This time Max replied, “Radimir, shield up.” He then pointed toward Malcolm.
Radimir obeyed instantly. He slammed his forearms together to form a personal shield just in time to protect himself from the fireball blast.
This time it was Malcolm who looked at Max with wide eyes. “That wasn’t déjà vu! You turned back time, but how?”
Max reached out his left hand toward the lake.
Malcolm watched as a large block of ice rose up out of the water. “Not this again.”
After removing a finger from his temple, Francois leaned closer to Malcolm. “My lord, the master commands that we bring the one called Max to him, dead or alive.”
A sneer crossed Malcolm’s face. “That works for me, but I would prefer dead. Get him now.”
Hands reached between the stone barriers and grabbed at Max from behind. Max quickly let the block of ice fall and stepped away as he glanced at the flailing hands. A fireball slammed into Max’s back. The searing pain lit his nervous system on fire as he dropped to his knees.
Twenty feet away, Gollnick had crawled to the fragments of the anchor stone. Malcolm moved in behind him, but Meagan attempted to block. The head dark sorcerer shoved her out of the way roughly. She tripped over a stone and fell to the ground. As Gollnick touched the largest chunk of rock, Malcolm stepped in behind him and drew his sword.
“No!” Meagan screamed. A one-foot wide column of stone rose up between Malcolm and her uncle.
Malcolm’s eyes widened, but it did not deter him. He reached around the column with sword at the ready.
Max knew what was about to happen, but he was unable to do anything about it. His memory flashed back on the past week. It was Gollnick who had found him in the hospital and brought him to the Circle. He’d offered Max a home within Ravenicon. It was Gollnick’s patient training that helped Max prepare for the battle in the underworld.
Now all Max could do was watch as Malcolm speared Gollnick through the back and out his chest. Pulling his sword free, Gollnick collapsed to the ground.
Max struggled to stand, but couldn’t find the strength. He saw Meagan crawling toward the lifeless body of her uncle. Their eyes met and Max called her name weakly, “Meagan!”
Still near the blast site where they entered the stone ring, Francois cast a spell, “Destro assor rectu.” The base of the nearest stone barrier exploded. Rocky shrapnel scattered everywhere and the concussive force deafened Max. He was weak and injured and lacked the strength to make a quick response. All he could do was look up as the massive slab came crashing down on his crippled body. The weight of the impact deprived him of consciousness providing the only relief from the overwhelming pain.
* * *
Cyrus stood just in time to witness the stone slab smash down on Max, crushing him to the ground. His senses were shaken and his balance was out of sorts, but Cyrus struggled to walk a few steps. He tried to make his way to Max when a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind. The hand spun him around and almost to the ground. The straight face of Francois Le Rain met his eyes. “If you want to live, sit down and shut up.” With a shove, Cyrus landed on the hard ground still trying to get his bearings.
Fireballs hit the ground near Francois and Duestoff who had been flanking their leader, causing them to leap for the safety of the stone barriers.
An older man with long white hair tied back in a ponytail and a teenage girl approached the circle with four other motorcycle riders, each with another fireball at the ready. After Francois backed off a bit, Cyrus stood and faced the two dark sorcerers.
He watched as Radimir stood near the barrier’s gap, still rubbing his head. Amber regained her breath and stood beside him while Tiem, Kallan and Vincent moved to encircle their tormentors.
Taryn leaned against a stone slab with a fireball casually in one hand. Francois and Duestoff were trapped between the New Circle and the motorcycle riding Hunters.
Cyrus was both pleased and disappointed when the dark sorcerers raised their hands in surrender. He was hoping to find a release for his anger.
Cyrus turned to confront Malcolm, but found the leader of the dark sorcerers had disappeared through another hole in the barrier wall.
Tiem examined Gollnick and hung his head. “A great sorcerer has passed from this realm to the next.”
Amber spun to find Meagan passed out on the ground. She knelt by her friend’s side and found Meagan was still breathing. Amber shook her and called her name multiple times, but with no luck. Meagan was not waking up.
Reluctantly, Cyrus made his way over to the stone that had crushed Max. As he knelt to view the remains of his friend’s body, Cyrus’ breath caught. Quickly, Cyrus stood and scanned the area. “Malcolm’s gone… and he took Max with him!”
40 Aftermath
Patterson Park was in shambles. Giant stone blocks formed an irregular circle in the southeastern corner of the park with huge sections shattered into debris. Hundreds of scorched earth potholes littered the area. Most structures were gone or stood in ruin. Forty-eight motorcycles flanked the standing stones.
Inside the gathering, members of the New Circle took stock of their loss. Many were injured but they faced a few fatalities. Four members of the Hunters lay still and Vincent held vigil over the body of his friend and mentor, Gollnick.
As the others searched around for wounded enemies, Cyrus realized another of their number was missing. He scanned the area before calling out. “Where’s Meagan?”
Heads turned this way and that until Amber signaled for help. “She’s over here.”
He rushed to her side.
“She’s still breathing, but she won’t wake up,” Amber whimpered.
Qaletaqa, leader of the Hunters, stepped forward. He placed a hand over her forehead. “Hema toe-zie fume.” He lowered his hand and tilted his head then placed his hand on her head once again. “Inlecto telepa mon see-tor.” After a few minutes, he turned to the others. “Physically, she is well, but her mind is a jumble. I have no explanation for it. Until her mind settles, she will not wake.”
Amber faced her brother, wide eyed and shaking. “We lost Gollnick and Max, we can’t lose Meagan, too. And without her, how are we going to fix the anchor stone to get back into Ravenicon castle? As far as we know, Elisa and Hank are still trapped in there. We have to get them out!”
Cyrus put a hand on her shoulder. “We will. We’ll find a way to repair the anchor stone and get our friends back. We’ll also find a way to get Max back. For now, we need to find a place to stay.”
Tiem stepped forward and bowed. “I’m sure my master will provide shelter for the New Circle.”
Cyrus raised an eyebrow then looked to Taryn.
Taryn nodded. “It’s okay. This is Tiem. And I suspect he is the newest member of the Circle. I believe his master will provide shelter for us. At least until we can get back on our feet. I will warn ye though, ye’ve never met anyone like his master.”
Cyrus looked at the boy for a moment before responding. “So who is your master, Tiem?”
“The immortal Ra.”
Everyone except Taryn and Radimir looked around in surprise. Murmurs finally broke the silence. Even Qaletaqa’s eyes widened as he rose to his feet.
Cyrus raised a hand. “In that case I suggest we gather our fallen friends and head to Cairo.”
Sheelin stepped forward. “Cyrus of the New Circle. My father and I must return with the Hunters to our own home and continue our work. Taryn has informed Radimir and myself that we too are members of the New Circle. If you ever need my help I will come. I might even be able to convince my father to send the Hunters again if needed.”
Radimir stepped next to Sheelin. “I going Sheelin for now. I come when called.”
Cyrus shook their hands and thanked them.
Kallan next approached Cyrus. “It is time for me to return to Nidavellir as well.”
“Until we can see the Crystal again, I can’t be sure, but I believe you too are a member of the New Circle, my friend.”
Kallan nodded and shook Cyrus’ hand. “Call me if I am needed.”
After everyone departed, Cyrus picked up the pieces of the anchor stone.
Tiem carried Gollnick’s body and lay it next to Meagan. “Levas mon see-tor,” the boy chanted. Both Gollnick and Meagan levitated a few feet above the ground.
Amber looked around before focusing on Cyrus. “Without the mirror in the castle library, how are we getting to Cairo?”
Taryn placed her trench coat over the fallen body of Gollnick. “Don’t worry, Amber. We’ll find a mirror large enough to teleport through to Egypt. And we will find Max. I didn’t travel to Canada and almost become a Wendigo just to lose him now.”
Amber scrunched her brow. “Okay. I think I missed something.”
Taryn smiled. “We’ll have plenty of time to trade stories later. Let’s get movin’.”
* * *
In the depths of New York City, Malcolm stood before the throne of fire awaiting acknowledgment of his presence by the winged creature within the flames. The heat radiating from the throne made him perspire. As the sweat ran down his lowered face, a drop of moisture hit the floor.
The booming voice echoed through the room. “You have succeeded in eliminating Gollnick Strom, though not quite in the way I had planned. Nevertheless, he is gone.”
Malcolm’s voice quivered, “Thank you, my lord. I have also brought the body of the whelp who defeated me in the Greek Underworld. He will bother us no more.”
“On the contrary, my feeble friend. He is the power we seek to remake this world.”
Malcolm turned his head to look at the body resting on a stone table next to the open pit of magma in the center of the room. The glow of the molten rock behind Max made his silhouette dance on the wall of the chamber.
The voice boomed. “He will rise again.”
About the Author
Edward Eck lives in Pennsylvania and works as a network administrator and computer programmer. His love of fantasy emanates from stories such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and the mythology of various cultures. His hobbies include dancing, reading and writing.
In high school he lost his interest in reading, finding it boring. It wasn’t until later in life that his love of reading was rekindled when he discovered fantasy and sci-fi novels. He realized that he hadn’t grown bored with reading, he just wasn’t interested in the same material he had been required to read in school. Since then he has read many books and found a love for writing as well.
“Reading is an escape from the boring and mundane. Let your imagination soar!”
Also By this Author
CHRONOS AND THE NEW CIRCLE
Max awakens – with no memory of who he is – to find that magic is real and the ancient gods of myth were mighty sorcerers. When he is recruited to a group of young magic-wielders, the safety of the world is on the line.
The enemy threatens to release powerful mythical creatures from their prison bonds, and only Max and his friends can stop them. But Max has a secret not even he knows. Can he remember in time?