“Yes,” he responded with a hiss. He bowed graciously; causing the metals in his medallion to glimmer in the moonlight. “And I have brought the others.”
Nathan watched from his knees as two shadow guards lined his friends in front of the tall white obelisk. Andy was lined up first, followed by Eva Marie, and then Angela. Their hands were bound and their clothing appeared dirty and in disarray. Leah was the last one to join them. Her face formed a slight grin when her eyes met Nathan’s. He was content about finally meeting her even under the current circumstances. Leah continued to look back at him and Nathan focused on her brown eyes. He wanted to form a memory of her that wasn’t from a picture or a dream.
“See Lucas my love,” Amanda flirted, while twirling her fingers through his long blonde hair. “I have everything under control.”
“Don’t toy with me, Lauren,” he exploded, seizing her hand. His voice boomed and the priests and the guards appeared to cower. “I am not one of your human dogs!”
The woman he called Lauren took back her hand and glowered ferociously. “You know I would never do such a thing.” His ocean blue eyes seemed to take on a fiery red and Lauren quickly bowed; conceding graciously. “Besides my love,” she murmured. “You know my powers do not work on immortal spirits.”
“I am done here,” he shouted.
Lauren looked confused.
“And you will discover how he got here,” he demanded, while gawking at Nathan.
“But my love…” she stammered.
“He knows how to use Pneuma, Lauren!” he shouted. “So he’s accountable to someone and I want to know who!”
“Pius!” he yelled.
“Yes, my Lord,” he responded, his voice trembling.
“Do you still believe we are close to finding the one we seek?” he asked.
“Yes, my Lord,” he responded again, but pausing to divert his eyes. “I am almost certain.”
Lucas placed his red hood back over his head and proceeded towards the dark archway. “He wants results Lauren,” he shouted, before stepping in. “And your success or failure will not be determined by me.”
“Aaaah!” she screamed. The sound reverberated around the plaza. The three priests slowly inched away in anticipation of her wrath. “Pius!” she yelled. “You three get over here!”
She spun around and raised her hand as to punch the center of the tall white obelisk. Angela and Eva Marie’s eyes grew wide because she headed directly towards them. Angela and Eva Marie ducked as Lauren’s fist hit the wall. There was no sound, but the entire plaza vibrated.
“Aaaah!” she screamed again. “Where is the blood that you tested earlier?” she shouted. “Bring it to me!”
Quickly, the priest standing closest to Pius presented him with the sparking blue vial that contained Jonas’s blood. Pius placed the tiny bottle into her hand and bowed. Lauren quickly raised it into the moonlight and then howled. “Ugh!” she moaned, taking a swing at Pius. “Why even bother giving me this when clearly he’s not the one we’re looking for!”
“My apologies,” he said, bowing low and inching away.
She stared blankly for a moment, but before long, her pursed lips formed a maniacal smile. “Contrary to what my love may think, it’s not a total waste of time,” she said, while twirling the sparkling vial between her fingers. She placed her hands on her hips and surveyed her prisoners. She looked at each one of them in the face and laughed. “Take out your knife Pius!” she demanded.
She paused to look at the vial in her hand and smiled, then turned to look at Jonas. “You might not be the one we’re looking for,” she said with a grin. “But your blood will allow us to keep opening doorways to your world.”
Jonas scowled and Lauren laughed at his frustration. “Don’t worry,” she said, her sparkling green eyes gleaming with superiority. “You won’t be alone long, maybe your brother has what we need.”
“Stay away from him!” he yelled, attempting to get to his feet.
“Ha-ha-ha,” she cackled. “Your father didn’t like that idea either but keep it up and you’ll end up just like him!”
Jonas slumped down; the tears swelling in his eyes.
“Ask Leah,” she continued, turning to look at her. “She knows what happens to those who get in my way.” She continued to twirl the vial in her hand. “See, we thought that Leah was the one and what better way to find out than to become her roommate,” she chuckled.
Pius took out his small silver dagger and Andy and the others began to squirm uncomfortably; a look of unease across their faces.
“Poor little Jamie,” she said with a sarcastic whiny voice. She quickly spun around to gawk at Jonas. “And imagine my surprise after going through all that trouble to kill her roommate to find out that Leah is just like you; almost – utterly – useless!”
Nathan’s hands trembled as she stampeded towards Leah. Lauren leaned over; close to Leah’s face. “And you didn’t make it easy for us either, did you Leah?” she asked in a soft, but heartless voice. “Poor Leah can’t sleep at night – she’s depressed over losing her roommate Jamie – blah, blah, blah!”
Leah looked calm. She glanced over at Nathan and a tear ran down her face. Suddenly, he remembered his dream. Images of the bodies on the plaza floor and the woman in white as she strolled past them replayed in his mind. “She’s going to stab Leah,” he mumbled. Jonas looked up; trying to make sense of what was said. “She’s going to stab Leah!” he said again.
Nathan struggled to free his hands, but couldn’t. Lauren held out her hand and Pius gave her the dagger. She violently pulled Leah by the hair and brought her face close to hers. Leah screamed. “And then,” continued Lauren hysterically, while waving the blade in Leah’s face. “Because of all your whining you got yourself put in a mental hospital!”
“Let go of her, Amanda!” shouted Nathan angrily. He looked down and noticed that his hands were a bright red. Lauren stopped to look at him, but she looked confused. “Lauren, Amanda – whatever your name is – I said let go of her!”
She dramatically released Leah’s hair and then headed towards Nathan. “My name is not Amanda,” she said. She gave the vial of blood to Pius and pointed the dagger at Nathan’s throat. “I’m not done with you yet,” she said. She glanced over at Steve and then gave Nathan a devilish smile. “I am going to have so much fun with you.”
She laughed and looked up as if remembering something. “I’ve been called so many things over the years,” she said. “The superfluous humans of Ancient Rome used to worship me as Volupia – I hated that name!” She playfully fluttered her eyes and waved the dagger carelessly in her hand. “Since I’ve found my love, I prefer Lauren now; Lucas and Lauren. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
She smiled, stepped back, and then slapped Nathan in the face. Nathan toppled to the ground and his entire head rang. It felt like a million little stings across his face. He could taste the blood pooling in his mouth. “Now quiet!” she shouted, her voice echoing around the plaza.
Nathan looked up from the plaza floor. His head continued to throb and his vision was fuzzy. He squinted, trying to make out the shapes in front of him, but then he heard Leah scream. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he protested to himself. He heard Leah scream again and chills shot down his back. “I have to save her!”
He was angry, but he could feel something else building inside of him. In the pit of his stomach, something burned. Nathan continued to work at the rope around his wrists and gritted his teeth in frustration. He blinked furiously, trying to restore his vision. Slowly, he was able to see again and for a brief second he thought he saw a small dark shape dart behind a tomb on the second level.
“I should drain you dry of blood before I get rid of you,” Lauren shouted, severing Leah’s ropes and raising the dagger in the air. She grabbed Leah by the wrist and Leah closed her eyes before turning away. Quickly, she plunged the silver blade into her arm. Leah screamed in agony.
&
nbsp; “No!” Nathan yelled. Instantly his hands stopped trembling and the burn that was in his hands now spread throughout his body. Nathan was enraged, but the energy intensifying inside of him felt peaceful. He gave in to the feeling, the energy, as it consumed every inch of him. He thought he would explode; he felt like he was on fire.
The rope around Nathan’s writs sizzled and were consumed in a blue flame. Nathan looked down at the ashes from the rope and stood up. Without hesitating, he opened his palm and cast an energy ball at Lauren; followed by another.
The first energy ball hit Lauren in the back; causing her to falter. She spun around and knocked the second energy ball away with her hand. She grabbed Leah and tossed her to the ground. One of the Shadow Guards that were now encircling them reached down and took Leah by the neck, bringing her to her feet. The Shadow Guard drew his long double-edged sword and Angela screamed.
Nathan felt the burn again throughout his entire body. He exhaled deeply as he glowered at Lauren, then the priests, and then the Shadow Guards. “How did you do that?” protested Lauren, staring at the bits of rope and ash beneath his feet. “How did you get through your bonds?”
“Like this!” shouted Nathan and he released the energy that was burning inside of him. Out of his hand emerged a blue flame and he aimed it at the Shadow Guard. The guard screeched in gut-wrenching pain until he dissolved into a fine sprinkle of white ash. His sword hit the ground and so did Leah.
Lauren gasped. “That’s impossible!”
Nathan took a hold of the rope around Jonas’s wrist and watched as it burned a bright blue, eventually turning into ash. “Lookout…behind you!” Jonas yelled.
Nathan turned around just in time to release an energy ball directly into Steve’s chest; hurling him into one of the archway pillars and knocking him unconscious. He turned back around to find Jonas smiling at him. “Do what you can,” he said, patting him on the back. “And try to release the others.”
“Nathan!” screamed Angela. He spun around to find two Shadow Guards, swords drawn, closing in on him. Nathan ducked as one of them took a swipe at his head. He kept an eye on Jonas as two of the priests tried to subdue him. Nathan raised his hand to throw an energy ball at them, but suddenly, he was off his feet and dangling in the air.
“You!” screeched Lauren, while holding him up by his shirt. Her menacing face quickly melted into deadly resolve. “I’ve had enough of you – your life ends here!”
She tossed him into the air like a rag doll. Nathan hit the ground hard, landing in the graveyard below. His head throbbed again, as he opened his eyes to a clear view of the stone steps that led up to the memorial plaza. Blood trickled down from the crest of his head and he tried to wipe it from his eyes with his hand. The two Shadow Guards that had attacked him stared at him from atop of the stairs and on the staircase approaching fast was the Scarlet Priest with the crescent-shaped medallion.
Nathan felt a sense of dejavu and tried to get up but fell back to the ground. He was dizzy and couldn’t gain his balance. He remembered what happened next in his dream and started to panic. Any second he expected Lafonda to appear, followed by the Shadow Guards with their swords. “I have to try and prevent this,” he mumbled.
Nathan’s mind was racing, he rolled to his side and in a last-ditch effort, cast an energy ball at the approaching priest. Pius smirked as the energy ball passed him by several inches. The medallion around Pius’s neck glowed. Nathan tried to get to his feet again, and that’s when he saw her. She emerged from behind the same tomb where he thought he’d seen a small black shape earlier. “No!” he yelled, reaching out frantically; trying to wave her away.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a series of blue energy balls hurling towards him. Quickly, Lafonda dove to the ground and tried to move him. When she realized it was too late, she shielded him with her body.
Lafonda rolled over and Nathan had a clear view of the pink and grey sneakers on her feet and the shiny gold locket around her neck. He also caught a glimpse of the dissipating purple energy shield that surrounded them. Lafonda attempted to help Nathan to his feet. She looked amazed. “Did that come from me?” she asked.
Nathan quickly looked around, and just like in his dream Pius lay slumped against the staircase, knocked down by a rebounded energy ball. Nathan gasped. He looked up towards the plaza and the two Shadow Guards were gone. “Lafonda!” he yelled, while trying to push her out of the way. “You have to get out of here!”
Lafonda looked confused, but continued to help him. Behind her, a Shadow Guard appeared; revealing his long silver sword. Nathan was able to force her out of the way but then another one appeared. The two guards raised their swords, and in a blue blur they were gone, nothing left but their swords, smoke, and ashes.
“Are you two okay?” asked a familiar voice. Nathan turned around to see Malick standing there with both his hands stretched out. He could still feel the heat from the ashes. Lafonda and Nathan both nodded their heads and Malick hurried them behind the closest mausoleum.
Nathan glared at him with intense eyes and Malick responded by raising his eyebrows. “What?” he asked, defensively and out of breath.
“You know this means you are a cheater, right?” asked Nathan, glancing down at Malick’s hands.
An energy ball slammed above Malick’s head causing him to flinch. “Umm, can we talk about this later?” he said.
Lafonda inspected the bruise on the side of Nathan’s face and the bloody cut near his hairline. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he said. “I am fine Lafonda.”
“Good,” she responded, whacking him on the back of the head.
“Ow!” he yelled.
Lafonda pursed her lips. “If anyone will be doing any talking, it will be you Nathan Urye!” she protested. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
Malick peered out to the plaza and ducked again to avoid another energy ball. “You guys!” he exclaimed. “Now is not the time.”
Nathan glanced from behind the mausoleum wall and saw that Jonas had a sword in his hand and was attempting to hold off the two priests. Leah was making her way towards the stairs and Lauren was in hot pursuit behind her. The remaining Shadow Guards were positioned along the top of the plaza while Pius continued to throw energy balls from the staircase.
“The priest with the medallion is the one attacking us,” said Nathan. “And he’s blocking Leah’s escape and Lauren’s right behind her.”
“He’s back up again?” asked Lafonda. “I thought he was knocked out.”
“Apparently not,” commented Malick, while peering out from behind the wall.
Nathan quickly glanced out from behind the tomb wall again. “We have to do something to help Leah!” he exclaimed.
The three of them suddenly heard barking and looked at each other in bewilderment. Malick smiled. “I know,” he said. “And it sounds like now is our chance.”
Malick peered out and then stepped from behind the protection of the wall. Nathan followed behind him apprehensively until he saw the snarling black fox at the base of the stone steps drawing Pius’s attention. “Jonathan,” he said with a grin.
Malick didn’t hesitate; there were only a few moments before Leah reached Pius. He formed a blue fireball in the palm of his hand and hurled it straight at Pius. It hit him in the center of his chest and Pius screeched in agony, leaving behind only his gold and silver medallion and a pile of charred dust.
Leah hurried down the steps, but stopped for a moment when she reached Pius’ remains. Quickly, Malick headed halfway up the stone steps. He tried not to step on the pile of dust, and noticed the medallion was gone as he passed Leah. He raised his hand and a blue flame appeared. Rapidly, he motioned his arm in the air and soon the blue flame over his head coalesced into an enormous ring of fire. Lauren froze as he cast it over her; stopping her in her tracks.
A whooshing sound echoed across the p
laza and the graveyard below. Several red energy bolts sprung from one of the plaza archways, destroying parts of the stone steps and barely missing Malick. Out of the darkness stepped Lucas; his eyes glowing red underneath his red hood.
Nathan and Malick quickly joined Leah and Lafonda behind the mausoleum wall while particles of tombs and red energy bolts flew around them. “What are we going to do?” asked Nathan. “We have to save the others.”
Leah held her arm. There was blood on her hands and shirt. She winced a little from the pain, but nodded reassuringly at Nathan. “He’s right,” she said. “We can’t leave them.”
Malick attempted to look out from behind the mausoleum wall. “We have a plan,” he said.
“We?” asked Nathan. Lafonda also looked at Malick confused.
Everyone jumped after Jonathan suddenly materialized in a swirl of blue and white lights. He was human again. “My apologies,” he said. “I haven’t yet figured out how to make an entrance without scaring anyone.”
“Perfect timing,” commented Malick. “I was just about to explain to everyone our plan.”
Nathan looked shocked. “Uhh,” he mumbled. “You and Jonathan have a plan?” He raised his eyebrows in suspicion and pointed at both of them. “You and Jonathan?”
“When did you guys develop a plan?” asked Lafonda, while crossing her arms in protest. “And when were you going to tell me about it?”
Malick responded by shaking his head at both of them; he just turned to face Jonathan. “You know what to do,” he said. “Nathan and I will distract them and draw fire while you rescue the others.”
“Wait, what?” asked Nathan, still surprised. “Draw fire?”
Malick peered over the mausoleum wall again, returning quickly to avoid the continual line of fire. “The guards on the right are still knocked out so you should enter there,” he said.
Jonathan fidgeted nervously with his glasses. “Umm, are you sure this is going to work?” he asked. “I’ve never done this before.”
The Legend of the Firewalker Page 30