Oscar smiled a little, convincing himself to truly take Caspian’s advice. He was hard on himself, he knew that, but he’d always been forced to be that way. He’d grown up being told he wasn’t worth it. That had changed. There were people who cared about him – people who saw him as worthy. The Mariadies had made him one of them, even. The Enchanted trusted him enough to grant him head of the Alast Guardian’s Guild. Many believed in him. Perhaps it was time he started to believe in himself, too.
‘I’ll make you a deal,’ Caspian said, resuming his work. ‘You stop doubting yourself, and I’ll stop feeling sorry for myself. We’ll both move on from our problems. Sound good?’
Oscar laughed a little at that. ‘Okay, you have a deal.’
Caspian flashed him a grin, his bright blond hair falling down into his hazel eyes. ‘Good.’
‘SHIPS AHEAD!’ Someone shouted.
‘AND LAND!’ Someone else added, both from the captain’s deck.
Caspian and Oscar jumped to their feet, gathering their weapons and rushing to the side of the ship. Ahead, indeed, was land. And in front of it, at least ten ships firing at one another. It seemed they’d at last reached the battle.
Oscar caught the wild look of excitement and fear on Caspian’s face. He understood it for he felt the same way. But they were with the Mariadies. The Wicked didn’t have a chance. Oscar gave Caspian a look, one that said ‘are you ready?’ which he responded to with a single, sure nod. It was time to show the Wicked that the Enchanted were no longer alone.
~
Creshan was alone in the lab, running through the tests from the latest Human experiment. Or rather, that’s what he’d told Erebus. Erebus was dealing with much after losing his prisoner and hearing the truth would only anger him further. Actually, in all likelihood, he would end up dead at Erebus’s hands if he knew the truth.
Over a week had passed since Leonardo Mayfire rescued his wife, leaving his father to die. Creshan had heard Erebus’s rage from his lab the moment it had happened. Of course the hunt had been on, but Erebus hadn’t managed to track them. Too many Wicked were out fighting in the war and not enough had been left behind to help Erebus. Granted, they hadn’t really thought they had anything to worry about to begin with.
Even so, they’d lost the prisoner and Erebus’s last chance at finding Laura. Yes, he’d claimed her to be useless, and had planned on moving her, but Creshan was sure that it had been a scare tactic. They would move her, voicing their promise of killing her, with the hope that once she was actually facing death she would talk. But that hadn’t worked. Which meant Erebus was furious. A lot of stuff had been smashed in the past week. Including the entrance to their underground hideout. They’d moved to another and Creshan had set up the lab anew.
But something felt off. It had for a long time. It was why he’d chosen to no longer experiment on the Humans. Since the time The Sargent was murdered and Creshan faced his killers, a piece of his old self had returned. The words the girl had spoken – the truth in her eyes. He wondered if perhaps he could still find the good within him. And it looked as though the moment he questioned that, it had all begun to unravel. When he next saw the Human hostages, he couldn’t quite separate himself from what he was doing to them.
It was as though a switch had been flicked. The Wicked had never been evil, as always drilled into him in his life as an Enchanted. It had indeed all been a misunderstanding. An assumption. But the difference between that and what they were doing in the war had become obvious. No, maybe they hadn’t always been evil, and maybe they had simply been misconstrued due to their creator, but that did not mean that what they were doing – forcing Enchanted to convert, taking innocent Human’s hostage and experimenting on them – was good. Maybe they weren’t evil like they had always been believed to be, but the choices they were making was pushing them surely down that road.
Creshan realised in that moment that if he continued to do as Erebus asked, then he would reach a point of no return. That he could do some real good in his position. That he could not only fight for a better life for the Wicked, but prove that they were not evil by showing that they can back down, that they can choose to be good, that they can stop hurting the Humans and Enchanted.
Erebus was wicked. It wasn’t the lightning that marked him so, it was simply in his soul. And the fact that there were Enchanted out there who could convert to Wicked and Wicked to Enchanted was surely enough to back up that proposal. Mr Stark – The Sargent, had been an Enchanted, and yet he was evil right down to his bone. It wasn’t about the colour of their lightning, it was simply who they were on the inside.
But Erebus had wormed his way into the minds of all the Wicked. He had come to them when they were weak and promised them so much more than they thought they would ever have. What was becoming increasingly obvious, however, was his inability to deliver. He was not fighting in the war alongside his Wicked. He was not giving his people a better life. He made so many promises and yet none of them were coming true.
Wicked were fighting for him; dying for him, and still he cowered below ground where he was safe. He was never in it to help the Wicked, Creshan recognised that. He was only ever in it for an army. He needed the Wicked to fight for him so he could achieve the one goal he’d always had from the moment he’d been created. He wanted to rule over the world. He wanted control and power and riches. He wanted to be a God of his own.
The moment those thoughts flooded Creshan’s mind, he knew what his role was. He was the only one on the inside, close enough to Erebus, who could actually succeed in undoing the mind control Erebus had over the Wicked. If he could do that, then maybe the Wicked would back down and leave Erebus. And if that happened, then there was a chance the Enchanted would see what was happening.
It wasn’t a sure plan. There was still the possibility that nothing would change – that the Enchanted would still treat them as evil. But it was their only shot. Things would get worse when Erebus took over should he win the war. He’d rule, and who knew what role the Wicked would really play after that.
Creshan snapped back from his thoughts as his computer beeped. The flyer he’d been working on had saved and was ready to be printed. He hovered the mouse over the print button, hesitating for a moment. The second he committed, everything would change. There was a very real chance that Erebus would find out it was him and he would be killed for treason.
But he could not do what Erebus wanted anymore. Erebus had stolen him from his home and converted him against his will. He’d forced him to do his bidding, having him torture innocents and kill Enchanted; his very own people. He’d already begun failing the Human experiments, sneaking them from the facility out to safety and marking them as dead. He’d already made his decision, really.
And he knew it was a worthwhile cause. He knew that there were good in the Wicked. That many Enchanted were still themselves deep down. That many Wicked only followed Erebus out of fear and desperation. He’d seen the way Wicked flinched when Enchanted were hurt. The way they would glance away before they were tortured. He knew there had to be Wicked out there willing to fight for their people but in the right way.
Creshan forced himself to take a deep breath to calm himself even though he didn’t need the air. Then, he pressed down on the mouse, clicking the print button. He hoped he was right. He hoped that he’d made the best choice. Because if he hadn’t, and Erebus found out, he was as good as dead.
Part Two:
The War
In a world ravished by war,
sometimes only the hopeful can survive.
Chapter Nine
Warriors Of Destruction
Laura awoke early the next morning despite the fact that they’d all had a late night. Grace and Logan had spent hours setting up secretive traps and protective defences against the Wicked for the Humans. While it wouldn’t keep the Wicked out, it would be enough to alert the Humans to their presence, allowing them to escape or find shelter in the church.
In addition, a number of Enchanted that had helped Elias’s prodigy rescue some of their people had shown up with guards who promised would stand watch in order to keep the town as safe as possible. Most towns had a few Enchanted watching over them throughout Lastrala, though they would have liked to post more to ensure they were indeed safe. Unfortunately that just wasn’t possible, they simply didn’t have the numbers to spare.
While Logan and Grace along with a number of the Casters and even Creatures had been creating the traps, Mitch, Gemma, Laura and Drew had all come together to talk to the Enchanted Guards to learn as much about what was happening throughout Lastrala as possible. They were told that the fighting was worst at the tip. It was where they were most vulnerable as there were multiple ports for ships and thus easy entry for the Wicked.
In addition to that information, they discovered the extent of the invasion throughout Elixir and what the status of each country was. There was no clear indication of how many Enchanted were out fighting or how many had been lost, but it seemed most Enchanted were in Lastrala attempting to hold the lines and re-gain control of the country.
It looked as if the only safe countries on Elixir were Mandra, Starckest, and Talasmi. Everywhere else had some form of a threat approaching or had been taken over completely. That was enough to scare Laura. It meant that while most the Enchanted were in Lastrala, their force was still divided. They had armies everywhere, battling to keep a hold of Elixir.
After much discussion, it was decided that they would make their way to the tip to lend a hand. Having the Casters and the Creatures would definitely help, and if they could take back the ports along the mainland then they might just be able to take back Lastrala. Or at least eliminate the threat of more back up arriving.
They spent the rest of their night devising plans before having dinner with Elias. It was nice to have a chance to say goodbye, most likely for real, to him. As much as Laura didn’t want to do so, she knew they couldn’t stay in the little town. They were needed elsewhere. So they had their final moments before heading off to bed. Pretty much everyone in town took at least one person into their home to stay as their way of thanking them for their willingness to help. After what the Humans had been through, they were no longer oblivious to what was happening around them. They might not have been able to see it all, but they still knew something was wrong and they were there to help. So they were welcoming and happy to take the Enchanted and Casters in.
The Creatures did, however, choose to remain on the boats so not to frighten the Humans as they slept. They had their ways of hiding their real identities from the Humans, sure, and yes the Humans were coming to terms with the truth, but the revelation of animals as fearsome looking as the Creatures would be too much, even for them. The Creatures too required rest, and doing so meant relaxing their power, which allowed their glamor to fade. It was easier for everyone if they remained on the ships, where they were safe to look as they pleased.
Laura knew that, assuming they won, after the war much damage control would be essential. The humans had experienced a lot, and they would be scared mentally and some physically by what they’d been through. Laura hoped they could hold on and stay strong for a little longer, until the war was over and they could grant them the help they needed.
As Laura made her way outside to meet the others that morning, she noticed a great deal of action. There was another ship in the dock and it appeared as though more Enchanted were exiting from it. She picked up her pace, rushing down the street to where Drew waited, watching with his arms crossed.
‘Who are they?’ She asked as she reached his elbow.
He shook his head. ‘I’m not sure.’
It wasn’t a ship, Laura realised, but a smaller boat with only six or seven Enchanted on board. The leader of the group noticed the two of them watching and made a beeline straight for them. Soon, Mitch, Gemma, Grace and Logan had joined them in watching as the Enchanted approached.
Laura was both weary and cautious. She wasn’t sure what the Enchanted’s arrival was about, but she hoped they brought good news, whatever it was.
‘We heard Human’s had been rescued and returned here,’ the leader said as he reached them. ‘I assume that’s your doing?’
Drew eyed them uncertainly. ‘Not all ours. There was a group of Enchanted that assisted with some that had been taken hostage.’
The leader, a bulky man in Enchanted battle gear, nodded. His bright blue eyes flickered to each of them, taking in the small group of teens.
‘Good. We only came to see. We were on our way up to the tip. We received word yesterday that the fighting has taken a turn. Apparently a ship of reinforcements arrived and took back the port all by themselves. They’re making their way to shore now and we wanted to go help them get rid of these bastard Wicked.’
Laura’s heart began to race a little at that and hope bloomed within. If they were receiving reinforcements then that meant that the fighting had eased up elsewhere. It also meant that when they arrived they would have an easier job to do.
‘We were just setting out for there this morning as well. Mind if we tag along?’ Mitch asked.
‘Of course,’ the leader replied with a nod, extending his hand. ‘General Lain’s the name, by the way. And these are my force. The last of it after our previous battle, sadly.’
Laura was devastated to hear that. She’d read when learning about the Enchanted that Generals usually had a team of at least thirty. That he only had six men left was awful to hear.
They each introduced themselves and shook his hand.
‘We were going to make our way by foot, but if the port is secure it might be safe for us to sail,’ Logan said to the General.
General Lain nodded in agreement.
‘You’re welcome to ride with us,’ Gemma offered quickly, nodding towards their fleet of ships. ‘We have a whole army coming with us.’
They hadn’t yet explained what kind of army, but that hardly mattered. Any hands were good hands in the battle.
‘You’re very kind. We’ll take you up on that. Our boat is small and a little crammed. We just managed to get away on it while escaping Herrem. They’ve been invaded too.’
It was yet another hit and Laura felt it. It was never ending. The Wicked simply kept coming. Where had they been hiding all these years? And with the addition of so many converted Enchanted, their enemies’ army just kept growing.
‘We’re ready to leave when you are,’ Laura said, speaking for the first time.
The General gave a tight nod. No doubt he was thinking of the possible casualties to come.
‘The sooner the better,’ he responded.
Sooner it was. After introducing the General and his men to Megan and her Casters along with the Creatures, which took a bit of explaining, and thus led to a lot of shock and disbelief, they set off. The General didn’t have time to be unsure of his companions. He understood that. Laura knew he did. But she also recognised his unease at such power and the strange creatures riding with him to battle.
Yet his fast acceptance was a relief, and Laura only hoped the rest of the Enchanted would follow his tune. Both during the fight and after, assuming they succeeded in defeating Erebus. Because if they didn’t, and if the Casters became their slaves due to their abilities, then Laura would feel as if she had failed them. She couldn’t allow that to happen, not after she had convinced them to help.
But she couldn’t think about that yet. It wasn’t a possibility for they still had a war to win. There was too much to worry about to be adding their future concerns to the mix. So she pushed it from her mind, said her last goodbyes to Elias and the Humans, thanked the Enchanted Guards who were staying to keep watch over them, and boarded the ship with Drew and her friends at her side.
Before long, they’d set off across the coast with the knowledge that very soon they’d be seeing the war with their own eyes. And be fighting in it. Possibly losing their lives in it. But it was a risk she was wil
ling to take. She had to. She refused to live in a world where Erebus ruled. She refused to let him control her. She would rather die fighting than let him take her power.
She knew how to wield it and she would use it. No matter what happened, she would remain strong and go down fighting.
~
Caspian slammed the butt of his sword into the back of the Wicked Witches head before pivoting to slice his blade through the neck of another charging Wicked. The Wizard dropped to the ground, but he was faced with more within an instant.
He brought up his sword, deflecting the blow the Wicked cast and pushed back against the blade, feeling the lightning sparking from their connected weapons. Taking the moment’s distraction in his stride, he released a hand from his sword and shot a ball of his own lightning at the Wicked, sending him sprawling backwards.
He barely had a moment to recover before the next Wicked attacked, his own red lightning pouring from his hands. Caspian blocked the shot with his sword, then sent his lightning into the Wicked, connecting his own blue lightning with the enemy’s red. He felt the vibration of the connection all the way up his arm, but he held firm, refusing to break the fight.
‘CASPIAN!’ Someone shouted and Caspian’s eyes flickered only briefly to see a Wicked charging from off to his left.
He had only a split second to think, but in an instant, he’d swung his blade down to hold back the red lightning and swivelled his own power, turning it on the approaching Wicked.
Before he knew what was happening, Oscar appeared, cutting down the Wicked who still had his lightning on Caspian, allowing Caspian to focus his whole energy on the other attacker. It took him only a second to hone in on him, striking him down with his blade.
He turned to see Oscar already engaged in another fight, so he hurried to take on the next enemy. Mariadies were battling all around them, and so far, there were no casualties on their side. Wicked bodies were strewn across the ground, and it was growing more and more obvious that the Wicked were not going to win.
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