Quest Chasers: The Screaming Mummy (A Magic Fantasy Adventure Book Series)

by Thomas Lockhaven

  “Eevie,” commanded Cassara, “hold his hand still. No matter what, don’t let him move.”

  “Tommy,” Cassara said, her jaw set tight. “This is going to hurt.”

  Tommy nodded, knowing there was no other choice. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on his breathing. His body trembled in anticipation of the pain about to come. Eevie watched as Cassara dipped a small dagger into one vial and then another, coating the surface of the blade. She then pointed to a black candle and whispered, “Accendo.” A flame suddenly appeared.

  Cassara thrust the knife into the flame, and instantly the blade became white hot. She nodded at Eevie. “Hold tight.”

  Tommy clenched his jaw and squeezed his eyes shut. Suddenly his brain exploded in pain. He screamed as Cassara placed the white-hot dagger onto the serpent ring and whispered, “Uro.”

  The head of the snake raised up in agony and attempted to bury its head into the flesh of Tommy’s finger.

  Tommy’s screams became whimpers, as pain tore through his nerves like shards of broken glass, ripping and tearing their way to his brain. The snake’s body writhed and twisted once more and then turned to ash. Tommy’s hand slipped through Eevie’s as he slumped onto the floor, unconscious. A low rumble that sounded like thunder shook the small house. Cassara’s eyes widened in alarm.

  Eevie rushed over to Tommy and cradled his head in her arms. His finger was blistered and disfigured.

  “What have you done?!” Eevie cried out. “He’s in agony! You’ve destroyed his finger!”

  Cassara ignored her, then quickly mixed the contents of different vials and tubes. Another thunderous boom shook the table, causing the jars and vials to rattle.

  “What is that sound?” asked Eevie, afraid she already knew the answer.

  Cassara remained silent, focusing on her task at hand. She hurried over to Tommy. Gently opening his jaw, she poured the contents of the potion she had just created into his mouth.

  She touched Tommy’s finger and whispered, “Glacio velocitas.” Instantly, Tommy’s finger became protected in a thin coating of ice.

  Cassara turned to Eevie. “I need you to listen to me. I gave him a powerful healing herb and pain reliever. He’ll be much better in a matter of minutes.... The sound that you hear is Vayne. He’s casting spells to find out where you are. My suspicions are he knows that I have found you and that I’m helping you.”

  “Thank you,” whispered Eevie. “I’m so sorry I yelled at you.”

  “I would have been surprised if you hadn’t. Eevie, I’m afraid we only have a matter of minutes before Vayne finds us.” She touched the wall. The bookshelves vanished, and Eevie could now see him, about fifty yards from the house, closing in.

  “He can’t see us, right? And the house is protected by spells—he can’t get in, right?”

  “No, he can’t see us, but he’ll find the house...he knows it’s here. He’s a very powerful and dangerous sorcerer. He was weakened by my spell, but with every minute that passes, he’ll grow stronger. My protection spells won’t keep him out for long.”

  Boom! A much stronger explosion rocked the house. Books rained down from their shelves, and pictures crashed to the floor.

  Tommy sat up and rested his head against the wall.

  “Is it storming?” he asked, still disoriented.

  Eevie started to reply, but thought best to give him a few seconds to recover.

  Tommy raised his hand and stared at his finger. He breathed in, fighting back the raw emotion that filled his chest.

  “I never thought I would be free from that thing.” His voice caught in his throat. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  Cassara nodded at him and smiled. “You’re welcome. It’s a small favor.”

  The house shook with such ferocity that it felt like it was literally being torn from the ground and hurled into space. Tommy scrambled backwards, jabbing his hand at the transparent wall.

  “Vayne! It’s Vayne—he’s right there!” Tommy exclaimed.

  Vayne stood in the field, his hand outstretched as if feeling the air around him. He now stared directly at the house, a wicked grin forming on his face.

  “He’s found us,” gasped Eevie.

  “Children, look!” Cassara hurriedly pulled out a small golden locket from around her neck. She opened it, revealing a small, polished golden stone.

  “Listen carefully!” she commanded. “Behind this house you will see two white oaks. Run between those trees until you reach a stream. When you reach the stream, drop this stone into the water. Do not move! My friend will be there to help get you to safety.”

  An incredible blast struck the house. The side wall caved inward, slamming them to the floor.

  “Cassara,” cried Eevie, “we’ll stay and help you!”

  “No!” yelled Cassara. “You MUST escape! I can hold him off for a while. Hurry!”

  Tommy tried to protest. Cassara looked at him sadly, raised her hand, and breathed, “Exmoveo.”

  “No!” screamed Tommy, throwing out his arms toward her.

  Suddenly they were ripped backwards into a swirling vortex, and the next instance they were in the woods. Turning 360, all they could see was trees and more trees. The house had vanished. There was nothing they could do now but find the stream and follow Cassara’s command.

  “She’s going to die trying to save us,” said Eevie, choking on her words.

  Tommy turned to Eevie. “Let’s not discredit Cassara. She’s a powerful sorceress herself. We have to have faith in her abilities. Remember, she’s beaten Vayne before. We’re here for a reason...and now, we need to find her friend quickly, before Vayne realizes we’ve escaped.”

  Eevie nodded. With a determined look on her face, she said, “Let’s go!”

  Tommy Nearly Becomes the Secret Ingredient in Paul’s Stew

  Just as Cassara had described, two majestic white oaks stood like centurions guarding the way into the forest. Tommy and Eevie quickly scanned the perimeter of the forest. There were no other white trees.

  They ran between the two trees, into the forest. Immediately the temperature dropped, and like a pair of hands closing in around a moth, the forest closed in around them. The trees and plants took on a gray, gloomy appearance.

  “Eeesh, this is dismal,” said Eevie as they hurried through underbrush and trees.

  Splash! Suddenly, Eevie and Tommy found themselves on their hands and knees in a shallow stream. There was no lush vegetation on the bank, no clear warning that there may be water ahead. The stream simply sliced through the middle of the forest.

  “Found the stream,” said Tommy as he climbed onto dry land, giving Eevie his hand to help pull her back onto the shore.

  “OK,” said Eevie, wringing off her hands and wiping them on her jeans. “I guess this is the stream Cassara told us about.”

  A strong, cold wind raced through the forest, sending a chill up their spines. The wind turned and whipped back toward them. Eevie pulled her hair from her face and mouth. Her eyes were open wide.

  “It’s Vayne—he’s searching for us...,” said Eevie, as a look of sad realization filled her face. “He must have defeated Cassara.”

  Tommy shook his head. “Cassara was too smart—I’m sure she got away.” But Tommy knew that Cassara wouldn’t risk the chance of Vayne escaping...she would never let him come after them if she were still alive.

  Eevie pulled out the golden stone. It felt warm in her hand from being in her pocket. “Thank you, Cassara,” she whispered as it fell like a tear from her hand into the water.

  A light fog drifted above the water, and then the water hardened into what looked like a giant sheet of ice. Eevie crouched and leaned forward onto her hands. Her reflection stared back at her. Suddenly, from beneath the icy surface a face appeared. Eevie gasped, surprised, and sat back on her heels. There was something oddly familiar in the crystal blue eyes, the shape of the face. A white wispy beard swirled aroun
d his chin like a storm cloud, gently moving with the water’s current.

  He stared intently at Eevie for a moment, and then his face relaxed into a smile.

  Tommy leaned over Eevie’s shoulder and whispered, “Tell him Cassara sent us.”

  Eevie nodded. “I know, I know.... Sir,” said Eevie awkwardly, “Cassara sent us. Vayne is free, she said to find you.”

  A look of concern flashed across the man’s face.

  “Children...,” his voice was commanding but calming, “...stay where you are. I will be there in a moment to guide you to safety. Stay where you are!”

  Another powerful gust of wind blew through the forest, rippling the waters, causing the man’s face to diffuse, as if it were melting. Just as before, the wind turned and raced back across them.

  Just as suddenly as it had appeared, the face in the water vanished. Tommy and Eevie looked at each other as they sat by the edge of the water. The crystal layer of ice dissolved into a misty cloud, and the water returned to normal. At the bottom of the stream, Eevie could see Cassara’s rock. She reached into the cold water, retrieving the stone. She stared at it for a moment, then placed it in her pocket, a reminder of their friend’s bravery and sacrifice.

  “Children!” His voice nearly made them jump out of their skins. “This way,” the old man beckoned, motioning with his hands.

  Tommy and Eevie quickly followed. The old man wasn’t wasting any time—he was already hurrying away from them into the forest.

  “Quickly,” his voice called out, filled with urgency. “We only have moments before Vayne arrives!”

  They followed in silence. Gradually the terrain changed from dense forest to rocky crags dotted with thick vertical patches of spiny vegetation, which resembled a bushel of green variegated sword blades pointing skyward. Both Eevie and Tommy fought desperately not to touch them as they slipped and slid behind the old man, who proved to be as agile as a mountain goat.

  Ahead they could hear the crashing and splashing of water hitting the rocks. The old man paused and turned toward them. “Stay close—we’re almost there.”

  Seconds later, they arrived at a huge stone cliff face, guarded by a monstrous rock. The pathway seemed impassible, but the old man began climbing up the rock. From Tommy and Eevie’s angle, you could not see it, but hidden steps had been carved into the rock, and were only visible from a specific angle.

  “Woah, this is cool—invisible steps,” whispered Tommy.

  Eevie nodded. She focused on hand and foot placement as she climbed the rock, just behind the mysterious man. The steps led them up and over the gigantic rock, depositing them just a few feet away from a massive waterfall.

  Tommy looked up at the powerful waterfall. We’ll be crushed. “I hope you don’t expect us to...”

  “Indespectus disseptum,” commanded the old man as he raised his hand toward the waterfall. Instantly, a dark, narrow passageway opened through the center.

  Eevie and Tommy paused, dumbstruck.

  “Follow me,” said the old man as he turned toward them. A small smile played across his lips; he seemed amused by their expressions.

  As soon as they were safely through, the waterfall thundered, and a wall of rock closed behind them, concealing the entrance to the man’s home.

  It took a moment for their eyes to adjust, then they found themselves inside a huge, cathedral-shaped room. A network of candle-lit hallways extended outward, like spokes of a wheel. The man touched the wall behind the waterfall, and it instantly became transparent.

  The pie-shaped room was divided into three rooms, and each section seemed to have a very specific purpose. There was a kitchen, a study, and a room very similar to Cassara’s workroom, filled with glass cylinders, test tubes, books, and charts.

  A large fireplace squatted like a stone giant against a wall in the kitchen. And directly in front of the fireplace stood a small, hairless creature, who looked like an elf dressed in canvas overalls.

  Eevie glanced at Tommy as if to say, Do you see him? Then she looked back toward the creature, mesmerized as he slowly stirred a steaming pot, filled with some sort of bubbly ooze that smelled like burning black licorice.

  “Ah, I see that you’ve noticed my friend Paullum,” said the old man, gesturing.

  The creature turned and looked down its long, narrow nose at the old man with a You have got to be kidding me expression spread across his face.

  The man nodded toward Paullum, acknowledging his discontent. “Paullum goes by Paul. You see, in Latin Paullum means tiny or miniscule, and he believes that this name belittles the raw power he clearly exudes.”

  Tommy snickered. He tried to stop himself, but his lips quivered and then his mouth betrayed him. “And he thinks the name Paul exemplifies raw power?” he asked.

  “Come here, human boy,” said the tiny creature, his voice thin and raspy.

  Paul threw his wooden ladle into the pot, splashing boiling black goo onto his canvas overalls. He looked at the liquid dripping down his chest and then at Tommy, his oversized eyes boiling over with anger.

  Tommy’s eyes grew wide as the little creature’s long fingers turned blood red and began pulsing like a ticking time bomb.

  “Woah!” said Tommy, taking a step back and holding out his hands. “You exude power! OK?! You exude! Jeesh, someone needs anger management,” whispered Tommy, looking from Eevie to the old man for affirmation.

  “That does it, human boy,” the tiny creature growled. “I can hear you.” Paul jabbed his red pulsating finger at his own ear, which Tommy realized had grown twice in size. “Let’s see how you like...”

  “Paul!” said the man sternly. He was smiling, but his expression said cool it. “These are guests, special guests. I am quite sure they respect you and all of your unique and incredibly powerful gifts.”

  Paul paused as if deep in thought, and then relented with a “Hmph, we’ll see about that.”

  He nodded curtly to Eevie and Tommy, turned, and with a snap of his fingers, the wooden ladle was back in his hand. He hummed quietly to himself as he stirred the frothy brew. Tommy noticed, however, that his ear was still twice its normal size, which meant he was going to listen to every word they said.

  “Now,” said the man as he turned his attention to Eevie and Tommy. “I can see on your faces that you must have a lot of questions for me, and I too have a lot of questions for you. How about the easy part first,” he said kindly. “I’m Charles—Charles Dixon.”

  Eevie smiled. “I’m Eevie Davenport.”

  “And I’m Thomas Prescott.” Tommy could see Paul moving his head back and forth, mimicking him as he said his name.

  Eevie turned and looked at her friend, knotting her eyebrows. “Thomas?” she asked questioningly. “His name is Tommy. Everyone calls him Tommy,” said Eevie.

  “Tommeee,” snickered Paul. “Tommy, avenger of the dead, soldier of doom, Tommeee...”

  “It’s an honor to meet you,” smiled Charles. He looked at Paul and shook his head. “He only picks on the people whom he likes.”

  “Or have eaten,” laughed Paul creepily.

  “Or eaten,” nodded Charles. He looked at them and smiled, then leaned in toward them as if to whisper a secret. “He’s never eaten anyone...at least I don’t think.”

  Eevie’s smile melted as she turned toward Tommy, his face visibly turning pale.

  “What is it?” she asked confused. “Vayne?”

  “There’s no way Vayne could have tracked us this quickly,” said Charles. “This house is protected by very powerful magic.”

  Then Eevie saw him: the ranger. He was staring directly at the waterfall.

  Eevie turned to Charles. “That’s Maleficum, the man who tried to kill us!”

  “I know Maleficum,” said Charles, setting his jaw. “Paul, it looks like we have a surprise visitor—you know what to do.”

  Paul darted into a darkened hallway, soundlessly disappearing into t
he shadows.

  Standing behind Charles, Eevie and Tommy watched in horror as the ranger spoke a spell, then passed through the waterfall. Moments later, the giant stone wall slid open, and Maleficum limped into Charles’s home, an evil grin on his face.

  “You have a lot of nerve showing up like this, Maleficum...,” Charles’s voice was loud and powerful.

  “I see you’re watching over my two friends,” hissed Maleficum, his evil black eyes feeding on their fear.

  Charles walked forward, stopping inches from Maleficum’s face. Suddenly, Charles threw his arms around his shoulders. “Welcome, my friend,” Charles said, embracing him. “It’s been too long.”

  “What?!” Eevie cried out, flabbergasted.

  She and Tommy edged backwards. Tommy tripped over Paul, falling heavily to the floor. Paul turned with a look of disgust toward Tommy. “Tsk, tsk. Not such a warrior now,” he sneered pretentiously.

  Paul turned to Maleficum and smiled. “Welcome back, my dear old friend. We’ve missed you.”

  Epilogue: Drew Spills the Beans

  Drew knew it would come to this, and now as he looked out his bedroom window, he could see two police officers walking up his icy sidewalk to his house. Even though he expected the knock, it still jolted his heart as they pounded on the door and shouted, “Police! Open up.”

  Soon, Drew sat alone in the back of a police cruiser at the Donut Shack. Deny everything, he told himself. You have no idea what happened to Eevie and Tommy, but you’ll help however you can.

  Drew shivered. They could have at least left the heat on for me. The door to the Donut Shack opened, and only one officer exited—this can’t be good. Officer Robert opened the back door and leaned his head in.

  “Drew, come inside. Mr. Webb, the manager, has something interesting he’d like you to see.”

  Officer Robert stood behind the car door as Drew climbed out.

  “This would be much easier, son,” he said, turning to Drew as they walked toward the Donut Shack, “if you would just tell the truth.”

  Drew’s heart sank. He had a sick feeling in his stomach about what was about to go down.