Cyrus said, "Go inside."
Reza moved into the cave and saw the surface was littered with small crabs. They snapped at the Familiar. The path was very narrow. Moonlight was shining further down the tunnel.
"Keep going," Cyrus said.
The Familiar found another forest hidden behind the cavern. Cyrus saw the tall thin trees he was looking for. They had found the entrance to the Drakus Vinnikai graveyard.
•••
The Shade sat with Charles while Brutan ate some odd-looking food. The sun hardly shone through the fog. The Shade sensed something. Her nerves were on high alert. Dark figures started to appear. The Shade smoothly took out her sword. An Aldaran’s horn sounded.
"We are under attack!" Mace said. "Get your weapons."
The enemy’s eyes glowed. She smelled decay. Brutan came next to her holding a large axe.
"Charles, we have to protect Cyrus," the Shade said.
She ran. Royal battle drums sounded. A dark soldier attacked her. The Shade stabbed him through the heart. She was about to continue when she saw the soldier still standing. She parried a lethal blow to her head. Dark soldiers swarmed around Cyrus’s tent. She tried desperately to get to him.
She yelled, "Cyrus, we are under attack!"
Narah jumped over the enemy and ran inside the tent. Cyrus was lying on his bed with his eyes closed.
Narah said, "Cyrus wake up!"
Cyrus didn’t move. A dark soldier came through the entrance. She fiercely attacked him cutting off his arm. The dark soldier kept on moving. More enemy soldiers came through the entrance. She was being pushed back.
He opened his eyes just in time to see a dark soldier come toward him. Cyrus shot a lightning bolt at the enemy. The dark soldier exploded. The Shade shielded her eyes. He kept on firing at the enemy destroying all who attacked them. He stood and went outside his tent. Narah followed close behind. She saw hundreds of dark soldiers swarming the camp. Cyrus shot fireballs into the enemy’s midst.
A black mage appeared in the middle of camp. Cyrus saw him and started to throw spells at the mage. Cyrus’s attack bounced off harmlessly off the mage's shield. The mage pointed at Narah. She was flung toward him. She tried to fight against his grasp but she couldn’t move. The black mag held her and chanted a spell. Her face burned. She screamed in agony. Her mask suddenly fell away.
•••
When the mask fell, he saw that the Shade was Narah all along. How could he be such a fool? He should have known this from the beginning. Cyrus renewed his attack and the black mage shield spell thwarted his assaults. He couldn’t believe the princess was the Shade. She looked so vulnerable in the mage’s arms. He needed to get her. Something hit him hard. He fell down to the ground. Pain lanced his side. He saw three figures. He recognized with horror these three figures where the dead Clandestines brought back to life. He was hit again and flung backwards. He hit a boulder with a thud. Narah tried to struggle in the black mage’s arms.
The mage said, "If you want to see the princess again, you have to come to the capital to get her."
The mage disappeared with her in his hands. Cyrus yelled. Anger infused him. He stood up. The Clandestines were ready for him. They hurled a lightning spell at him. Cyrus brushed it off with a wave of his hand. His magic became a living pulse. He was in control for the first time. He concentrated and he held his hand aloft. The Clandestines disappeared. He saw them hovering off to his right with blood-red eyes. They combined their spells and shot at him. Cyrus conjured a shield. He fell to one knee. He thought of Narah and he exploded with an onslaught of raw power. The Clandestines fell backwards. He kept on pounding at the mages. They disappeared from his sight. He jumped just in time because acid spewed where he was standing before.
He saw from the corner of his eye the Clandestines floating. He turned and flew toward them, shooting wicked lightning at them. The Clandestines shot a tornado at him. Cyrus’s spell fizzled as the tornado tore into him. He hit the ground hard. He stood up. The Clandestines watched him wearily. Cyrus placed his hands together, and he concentrated. He opened his palms and a glowing sphere appeared. He focused waves of his energy into the ball. The Clandestines shot a spell at him. His shield held. The sphere was clear with flashes of magic sprouting from the surface. Cyrus kept on concentrating. The Clandestines flew around him conjuring more magic.
Cyrus yelled. "Charles, run for cover!"
The Clandestine magic penetrated his protective shield. The sorcery singed his skin. He was almost ready. He unleashed the spell. The glowing sphere hit the first Clandestine and the mage blew into pieces. The remaining Clandestines redirected their attacks at the glowing orb but they also blew up in a matter of seconds. Cyrus concentrated and the sphere flew around the battlefield destroying all the dark soldiers. His magic ceased.
•••
The first thing Charles noticed after he fell to the ground was the dark soldiers all blown to pieces by Cyrus’s magic. Brutan lay still on the ground. A long sword protruded from his chest. He knelt by him and said a prayer to the gods for Brutan soul to rest. Charles closed his eyes.
"Charles, we have unfinished business," Cyrus said.
The few remaining Aldarans walked up to them.
Cyrus said, "Mace, I mourn for your fellow warriors who died in this battle."
Mace said, "Aye, Tecturan was also among the dead. He died honorably."
"After you bury your dead, take your remaining men and go back to your homeland. I will send for you when I need you," Cyrus said. "Charles, we will go back to the capital. Don’t be alarmed. I will transform into a dragon."
Charles didn’t know what was going to happen. Cyrus walked away from them to a spot away from the battleground. A hush came over everybody. Cyrus closed his eyes. He started to shimmer. Charles couldn’t believe what was happening. Cyrus blurred and in place of him was a large dragon. Charles moved backwards looking for an escape.
Charles heard in his head a voice. It was Cyrus and he said, "Hold Charles. It is I. I am this dragon before you. Please climb on my back. Do not be afraid."
The dragon lowered its wings. Charles came toward the beast and climbed on its back. The dragon jumped into the sky. Charles was dizzy from the ascent. He dared not look down. He held on as tightly as he could. Wind blew all around him. He looked forward and was amazed of how light he felt. He was flying with the hawks and eagles.
Cyrus said, "Charles, I didn’t want to alarm you. The princess was taking by the black mage. She was the Shade."
Charles, dumbfounded, said, "I cannot believe it."
Everything seemed smaller up here. They moved at a dizzying pace and the capital came into view. It was overshadowed by a large fog. He saw dark soldiers patrolling the front.
Cyrus said, "Hold on tight. I sense some demons."
Charles heard an odd sound. Monsters flew toward them. Cyrus sent a plume of fire into their midst, and they backed away. The demons came from behind and attacked. Cyrus blew past them and headed toward the emperor’s castle. Charles saw the tall spires poke over the mist. The demons were coming closer. Cyrus stopped and burned a few of the demons who got too close to them. Cyrus screeched a war cry and killed the remaining demons with his claws. Cyrus flew to the ground in front of the castle. Charles jumped off the dragon's neck. Cyrus changed back into himself.
Dark soldiers attacked. Charles took out his weapon. Cyrus’s magic destroyed all the soldiers. A flying demon flew toward him. Charles cut the beast’s arms. A few seconds later Cyrus destroyed it. Charles defended himself against several soldiers. There were too many enemies. Cyrus cleared the enemies in front of them. Charles saw something at the far corner of the sight. More dark soldiers came rushing at them as the demons flew overhead. He was back to back with Cyrus. Cyrus kept on killing enemies with his wicked spells and Charles watched his back and cut down any soldiers who got close to him. Charles saw something flash again. He looked through the throng of enemies. He saw steel boxes.
When Cyrus used his magic to destroy the dark soldiers, the leftover magic was sucked into these things. He counted four boxes at several different corners.
Charles cut down a soldier. Cyrus sprouted tendrils of lightning into the hordes of soldiers. Charles watched as Cyrus’s magic was transferred into the metal boxes. He understood.
"Cyrus, stop!" Charles said, "They are taking your magic."
Cyrus didn’t hear him. He was immersed in his power. The demons and dark soldiers stopped attacking and backed off. Charles had a bad feeling. The metal boxes glowed. Before Charles could say anything four black mages came from behind the boxes and held their hands pointed to each other.
Charles said, "Stop!"
A bright light shot toward them and everything went black.
CHAPTER 56
Cyrus awoke in a glowing spherical cage. His head pounded with pain. He remembered battling the demons and dark soldiers and everything went dim. Outside the cage, four black mages held their hands upward while magic sprouted around their fingers. Cyrus tried to intone a spell but nothing happened.
The emperor laughed and said, "Drakus Vinnikai, you cannot get out of my trap. I built this cage especially for you."
The room was circular and large windows were stationed on top letting fog into the room. He saw Narah, Darrin and Charles lying on stone altars. Each of their arms and legs were shackled. Various instruments of knives and crude cutting tools were placed on a scarred table. The emperor had changed. He had scales instead of skin. His face was a nightmare come to life. He was a demon from the dark depths of the underworld. An old man stood with the emperor. It was his aide.
Cyrus said, "You murdered those kids!"
The emperor said, "They were my sacrifice."
"I will kill you."
The emperor laughed again and said, "No, I don’t think so. Prepare them."
A black mage went up to Narah and grabbed a large knife.
"Do not touch her! She is your niece!"
The emperor said, "I will stop, if you give me something."
Narah said, "Don’t give him anything. He will just kill us."
Cyrus pounded against his prison and said, "What do you want?"
"I want your magic," the emperor said.
She said, "Do not give it to him."
"I want you to promise to release my friends, if I give you my magic."
Darrin said, "The emperor killed Narah’s parents."
"Is this true?"
The emperor said, "Yes, it was all an accident."
She said, "This cannot be."
The emperor smiled. "Cyrus, do we have a deal?"
"I want you to promise to release my friends," Cyrus said.
"Yes, it is a promise."
Cyrus heard his Familiar saying, "Master, I cannot find you."
Cyrus thought, "I am captured at the emperor’s castle. I need your help."
The emperor said, "Cyrus, I need your permission to get your magic. Will you give me your magic voluntarily to me?"
"Yes."
Narah tried to get out of her bonds. She said, "Do not do it. He will destroy us."
Cyrus looked at Narah. He ached to go to her. He mentally said to Reza, "Please, hurry."
The black mages intone a spell.
Cyrus said, "Why did you do it, Hawkney? Why did you have to kill your brother?"
"Hah, I told you it was an accident. I just wanted to show him how powerful I was. My brother, David, always was concerned about the commoners. I told him we should rule with absolute power. He never understood that."
Cyrus said, "You are wrong, emperor. You do not know how to rule."
"With your power, I shall rule the world."
Cyrus slumped to the bottom of the glowing sphere. Cyrus saw with his Wizard’s sight his powers being drained from him and entering the emperor. Cyrus couldn’t focus. His vision was getting unfocused. He saw Narah straining with her bonds.
"Master, I am almost there," Reza said in his mind.
Cyrus couldn’t respond, he was too exhausted. His Familiar flew into the room and shot a lightning bolt at one of the dark mages. The dark mage fell. Instantly, Cyrus felt better and stronger.
"Keep chanting the spell," the emperor said.
"Reza get me out of this prison," Cyrus said.
The black mage got up and shot a spell at Reza. The Familiar disappeared. The black mages again intoned the spell. Cyrus started to feel exhausted again. From the corner of his eyes, he saw his Familiar interrupt the stream of his magic entering the emperor by flying into its path. Reza deflected the power toward the glowing cage. His prison burst. Everything exploded in a bright light. The black mages were torn apart from the blast.
Cyrus was free. Luckily, his friends were unharmed. He concentrated and their bonds were destroyed. Cyrus suffered a burst of pain. He was pushed to the far corner of the room. The emperor stood with his one remaining black mage. Cyrus countered-attacked and hit the mage with a fireball. The black mage didn’t have time to raise a shield. He was obliterated.
The emperor said, "So, Drakus Vinnikai. It is just you and I. We will settle this with magic."
The emperor started to grow.
Cyrus said to his friends, "Leave now!"
Cyrus concentrated and changed into a dragon. The emperor kept on growing. He tore apart the walls, and his head broke the ceiling. Large leviathan wings sprouted from his back. He flew into the sky. Cyrus followed.
•••
Narah led Charles and Darrin to the exit of the castle. The sound of walls breaking thundered down the hallway. Nobody accosted them. Before they exited, they found some weapons. They ran down the steps of the entrance and saw hundreds of dark soldiers waiting for them. Darrin went ahead. His sword was pointing upwards.
He said, "Stay behind me."
"So, Darrin, you escape the emperor’s dungeons. You shall not escape me," Captain Mercer said.
Darrin stood up higher. Captain Mercer and his soldiers came toward them. Narah parried a thrust to her chest. She slashed and cut the solder in two. She kicked his remains away from her. The soldier still moved. She cut off the head from its shoulders. More soldiers came pouring toward them. She saw Darrin go up to Captain Mercer. Narah fought off another soldier. She tried to get a better view of Darrin fighting. She was too busy defending herself to see them.
Charles said, "Narah, I hope we can get out of this."
"Do not worry. I believe in Cyrus."
A large crash rocked the city. She saw a dragon plummet to the ground. She could not understand how Cyrus changed into a dragon. Yet, he looked tired when the emperor was taking his magic. She wondered if he had enough power to prevail against the emperor. She cut down another soldier, cutting off its head. The body stopped moving.
Narah said, "Charles, you need to cut the heads off their body, and they will die."
Charles grunted. He had a cut on his leg. She killed the dark soldier he was fighting.
He said, "Thank you. There is just too many of them."
She said, "We need to keep fighting."
The dark soldiers kept on coming.
•••
The emperor waited for Cyrus to come closer. He spewed acid at him. Cyrus evaded the spell. He felt a sharp pain on his left wing. Some of the acid touched his scaled skin. Cyrus blew fire from his mouth. It missed the emperor. Cyrus attacked with his talons ripping and tearing. The emperor evaded and hit him with his shoulder. The demon was all over him, tearing him in the chest with his large claws. Cyrus screamed and broke away. He flew into the clouds. He looked down and saw the emperor coming toward him. Cyrus shot an electric bolt, and it hit the emperor on the chest. The demon emitted a high-pitched scream and flew away.
Cyrus hovered over the city looking for the next attack. He couldn’t see over the mist. He looked downwards. Small demons flew toward him. He sprouted fire and killed most of the flying creatures. Cyrus clawed and destroyed the rest. He looked for Narah and her
friends. The emperor hit him from the back. He fell and slammed into the buildings below. He crushed two large buildings. The emperor appeared and raked him with his claws. Cyrus screamed and hurled himself backwards away from the attack.
He was battered all over his body. The emperor was tireless in his assaults. Cyrus’s magic was dwindling. The emperor savagely sent a blizzard spell at him, and Cyrus was pushed through buildings rolling backwards. He needed more of his magic back from the emperor. Small demons attacked him as he lay. Cyrus burned them with his breath. He summoned his Familiar. Reza surrounded him as the emperor jumped at him. Reza’s surface repelled the emperor’s claws. Cyrus hit the emperor with his tail.
He heard Narah scream. The dark soldiers were closing in on them. He flew toward her and changed back to being human. He sent electrical bolts into the dark soldiers’ midst. The emperor hit him with a spell, and he hit a wall. The emperor hovered over Narah and Charles.
"Cyrus stop! I will kill them," the emperor said.
Cyrus got up. His battered body didn’t want to move. He didn't know what to do. He nodded his head.
"Good, now I want all your power!" the emperor said.
Cyrus said, "Ok, you win."
Cyrus walked up to the emperor. Hawkney chanted a spell and Cyrus felt heavy. He fell to the ground. Narah ran up to him and held him. The emperor closed his eyes.
Narah said, "Cyrus, Cyrus."
He tried to say something to her but everything suddenly changed around him. He lay on a vast vista and standing near him was a dark-clothed man. He knew it was Vondra Merilus, his father. He couldn’t see his face because his father’s cowl was over his head.
Vondra said, "Son, you have to give yourself into your magic and your destiny."
Cyrus said, "No!"
His father said, "You will die and your friends will die. You are Drakus Vinnikai!"
Cyrus was afraid if he fully embraced his magic he would never come back. He didn’t want Narah to die. He knew what to do. He was back in front if the emperor. He looked into Narah’s eyes and wanted to touch her. Cyrus held up his hand and everything stopped. Nobody moved except Narah and his friends.
The Darkness Binds Page 29