by Tyler Wild
“I guess there’s really no chance of us getting back together now,” I said to Cassandra.
She looked at me, puzzled. “Why do you say that?”
“I just cut off your arm. I don’t think that makes me boyfriend material.”
Cassandra sighed. “You saved my life. I guess that counts for something.” Then she added meekly, “I’m surprised you would even want someone so disfigured.”
“Give me more credit than that. I’m not just interested in you for your looks.”
That caused a slight curl in her lips. “I suppose it’s for my money,” she said, coyly.
“What good is money going to do me here?”
“I’m a princess, after all. One day you could be king.”
“I’m going to be king with or without you,” I said confidently.
Her eyes narrowed at me, both offended and amused by my confidence.
We continued traipsing through the passageway and stumbled across a small room that didn’t appear to be of much significance. It was attached to the main corridor.
I grabbed a torch from the wall and entered the small space. The amber flames illuminated the empty chamber. It looked as good a place as any to rest.
I was tired and thirsty, and Cassandra looked pale. There didn’t seem to be any immediate threats in the area.
We sat down, and I slugged several gulps of ale from the bottomless canteen and passed it around. I indulged myself in a few more hits of the Happy Leaf and leaned against the wall. Before long, I nodded off, and once again my dreams were filled with catacombs and monsters.
I don’t know how long I was asleep when Lily nudged me awake. The fairy had a grave look on her face, and she put her finger to her lips, shushing me.
My eyes rounded with concern. I whispered, “What is it?”
58
Kron
We didn’t need anymore trouble. We’d been through a lot already. Unfortunately, there was much worse ahead.
A few more minutes, I pleaded with the universe. Just a few more minutes of bliss. Maybe an hour? Or two?
It was wishful thinking.
I crept to the doorway and flattened my back against the wall, peering around the doorframe ever so slightly.
A creature lumbered toward us in the darkness.
I could barely make out its shape.
The corridor filled with a grinding sound, like something sliding across the floor in rhythmic waves.
Scrape.
Scrape
Scrape.
The creature finally drew closer and edged into the warm light of a flickering wall sconce. The thing was a massive gelatinous blob, nearly the width of the passageway. It stood at least 8 feet tall and was made of a translucent green material. It inched down the corridor like some type of giant slug.
Its features were undefined. I couldn’t really tell if it had a mouth and eyes. A rat scampered across the hallway in front of it, and the blob rolled over it. The poor varmint permeated the outer membrane of the gelatinous mass. It struggled and squirmed for a few moments, then dissolved, its nutrients absorbed by the blob.
I held still at the door with my sword drawn, not that my sword was going to do any good against a creature like this. It could easily conform its shape and spill into this room, absorbing us all. And there was little we could do about it.
My pulse pounded in my ears as I made another plea to the universe. I pulled my head back from the doorway and hid.
The gelatinous slug scraped across the stone, inching along. It stopped at the edge of the door. Grunts and groans filled the corridor.
Then it farted.
The flatulence echoed throughout the corridor, and the beast continued its march.
I breathed a sigh of relief as it passed our chamber, but the foul aroma made my eyes water and my stomach turn. The pungent aroma twisted the girls faces in disgust.
It took much too long for the smell to dissipate. I was certain my olfactory glands were burned out. I’d probably never be able to smell anything again.
We waited until we could no longer hear the sound of the slug scraping against the stone. Then we crept back into the hallway and continued our journey. The gelatinous mass had left behind a slimy trail. It made the floor slick, and I almost fell and busted my ass.
Cassandra grimaced with pain, the effects of the Happy Leaf having worn off. She took a few more puffs, but I figured it was best to keep a clear head, so I refrained.
We twisted through the passageways and came across another burial chamber. In the center of the chamber, a crypt made of dragon’s hide sat atop a riser. Several statues of warriors lined the walls. By this time, I was leery of inanimate objects.
“Whose tomb is this?” Sophia asked.
I shrugged.
Various bits of treasure lay scattered about the room. Gold chalices, jewel encrusted daggers, silver cutlery. There was a treasure chest with gold coins and pearl necklaces.
I grabbed a handful of the coins from the chest and surveyed them. I smirked with amusement when I realized what they were.
“What is it?” Lily asked.
“This is the Gold of Kalazar.”
“I thought that ship was lost at sea,” Sophia asked.
“It was,” I said. “Taken down by a giant Leviathan and never found.”
“How did it end up here?” she asked.
“Apparently, the ship was sunk by a demon,” I postulated.
I stuffed a few of the coins into my pocket.
“Of all the treasure we’ve come across, now you decide to take a few coins?” Cassandra asked.
“It’s not for me.”
“Who’s it for?”
“The little goblin. Before we left, he asked me to bring him back a Kalazar coin. I thought he was crazy at the time.”
“What does he want with it?” Sophia asked.
“To buy his freedom. When Phaedra first enslaved him, she told him he could buy his freedom with a Kalazar coin, knowing there were none in the normal world.”
The girls seemed amused.
“I’d love to see the look on her face when that little goblin hands her the coin,” Lily said.
“With any luck, you will.”
We left the chamber and continued through the labyrinth. It didn’t take long for us to stumble across our most treacherous encounter yet.
59
Kron
Phaedra had warned me about the dangers we would encounter. The Dagger of Onyx was the only weapon that could kill an immortal. It belonged to Giaka, the Scorpion Queen.
The mere sound of her gave me chills.
I wasn’t a big fan of creepy crawly things—and Giaka was a big creepy crawly thing.
She was an immortal herself, and the only way to kill her would be with her own weapon. After weaving through the maze of corridors for another several hours, we found her lair.
She resided in the ruins of an ancient temple that had tall doric columns and proscenium arches. Eons of time had cracked and crumbled the structure, and large chunks of stone littered the area. It was on an island, surrounded by a river of magma, contained within a cavernous underground space.
The roof of the cave was lined with stalactites. The air was filled with steam and haze. Primordial gases bubbled from the molten soup. Methane bubbles erupted in flame. Bubbles of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide burbled from thermal pits on the island.
We stood at the edge of the river, looking at the cauldron of fire. There were no stones to step across. No ferryman to take us over. I wasn’t sure how we were going to get to the other side. There was nothing in the surrounding area to facilitate transport across the magma.
Then I had an idea.
It may not have been a good idea, but it was an idea, nonetheless. I spun around and ran back the way we came.
“Where are you going?” Cassandra asked.
I didn’t bother to answer. She’d find out soon enough.
I ran back to the tomb. T
he casket made from dragon-hide would serve as an ideal canoe—I hoped.
I pushed the top off and dumped the contents on the floor. A plume of dust filled the air as the bones scattered. I felt bad about disturbing the man’s final resting place—but not that bad about it. We needed to get across that river, this was the only way.
I grabbed the casket and lifted it overhead. I carried it out of the burial chamber and raced down the passageway.
At the fiery shore, I set the casket down.
Cassandra looked impressed. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
I winked at her and ran back to the chamber for the lid. I could use that as an oar.
The casket was big enough to comfortably hold two people, but as I set it into the lava, I realized it was very unsteady and likely to capsize.
I stepped over the edge of the lava and climbed into the wobbly makeshift boat with caution. It felt top-heavy. I used the oar to stabilize it.
Sophia climbed into the boat. Despite her perfect balance, I thought we were going to go over. With the two of us inside, it sank down a little, which provided a little extra stability.
Cassandra gazed at the makeshift boat, wondering how she was going to fit.
She wasn’t.
“You’re staying here,” I commanded.
She scowled at me. “I’m going with you.”
“You’re in no condition.”
“I can still fight,” she said with defiance.
“I’m sure you can. But not this time.”
Her face twisted, and she glared at me, but she knew I was right.
I carefully paddled across the river while Lily flew above us. I didn’t want to spend any longer in this casket than I had to. It was scorching, and I felt like my skin would start sizzling at any moment.
Several times during the crossing, I was sure we were on the brink of capsizing. It was a miracle we didn’t take on the molten lava.
As we reached the shore, I leapt out of the casket and pulled it from the magma. Sophia jumped ashore, and we drew our swords. The three of us stood before the ruins, scanning the island for any traces of the beast we would have to slay.
We climbed up the steps that led to the temple. A row of fluted columns lined the front facade, topped by a triangular pediment. Demonic figures were carved into the stone.
Upon entering the ruins of the temple, I could hear the clatter of the Scorpion Queen’s footsteps against the floor.
Parts of the roof had crumbled away. Columns had been toppled over. Dusty skeletons littered the court, presumably belonging to those who attempted to steal the monster’s dagger.
The Scorpion Queen emerged, and her grotesque form was more shocking than I had imagined.
60
Kron
We spread out, squaring off against the beast as she entered the court. She had an upper torso that was mostly human. It merged into the abdomen of a giant scorpion.
Four legs propelled her across the temple. She had a pair of human arms as well as a pair of scorpion-like pincers. The top of her head and back were armor plated. She stood 12 feet tall, and her tail was at least 20 feet long with a stinger that was at least 24 inches.
Judging by the scream that bellowed from her lips, I don’t think she was pleased we had invaded her space. Her shriek was earsplitting, and I covered my ears.
It was a weapon.
In her hand was the Dagger of Onyx.
The three of us surrounded her.
Her feet clattered as she constantly twisted, preparing to fend off an attack from any angle.
I charged toward her with my sword high, ready to strike.
With a swipe of her pincer, she batted me away. I flew through the air and crashed into a column. The ground rushed up to greet me. With the wind knocked from my lungs, I gasped for breath.
The beast’s stinger struck at Sophia.
She stepped aside as the thorny point stabbed the ground. Giaka retracted it before Sophia could hack at it with her sword.
Lily flew toward the creature, hoping to skewer the beast. But with another swipe of her pincer, Lily flew across the temple.
The blow knocked her unconscious, and her ragged body tumbled across the stone.
Sophia kept the scorpion occupied as I sprang to my feet. I rejoined her, hacking at the beast—this time trying to avoid the massive pincer. I ducked, and it whooshed overhead.
I stabbed at the creature’s soft underbelly, but she blocked my blade with her dagger.
Her pincers struck at me.
Another arm attacked.
A pincer snapped.
I ducked and dodged and twisted and ran. She had too many avenues of attack.
She stabbed another pincer toward me—its open prongs ready to snap me in half.
I stepped aside as the crabby appendage rushed by. Then I chopped down, hacking through the exoskeleton, severing the massive pincer.
It fell to the ground and disintegrated upon impact.
The beast’s shrill shriek pierced my ears again.
I recoiled from the sound and retreated.
Within seconds, the pincer re-grew.
My jaw tightened with frustration—another beast with unlimited regenerative capabilities.
Sophia scampered about attacking and retreating in guerrilla fashion.
I attacked from behind and tried to chop off its tail. But despite my best swing, I couldn’t sever the tail. The blade stuck a quarter of the way through. And it re-grew around my sword.
The beast twisted around and flung me across the temple again.
I tumbled to the ground and staggered to my feet.
The scorpion snatched Sophia with its pincer and lifted her into the air.
I screamed with rage and charged the beast. I leapt through the air and hacked Asgoth across the appendage, severing the pincer.
Sophia crashed to the ground, with the claw still squeezed around her, crushing her abdomen.
The beast re-grew its pincer and turned its attention to me.
I backed away, and it followed. I wanted to draw it away from Sophia and Lily. She struggled on the ground, trying to escape the grasp of the pincer. Despite being separated from its owner, it still maintained a firm grip.
I backed toward the entrance.
The beast charged me, its four pairs of legs clattering against the stone. I exited the temple, and the creature chased after me, ramming into the towering columns. The opening was too narrow for it to fit through.
Dust and debris fell from the entablature.
The temple rumbled.
I began to see how it had been turned into ruin. Eon after eon of adventurers trying to obtain the unattainable, fighting with this invincible demon, had ravaged the once pristine structure.
Standing toe-to-toe with this creature was not the proper strategy.
My eye caught sight of a fallen column that lay at a 45° angle, against another column on the front facade. I raced toward it and scaled the pillar. As I reached the top, I leapt up and grabbed the cornice of the pediment. My feet dangled 20 feet above the ground.
I shuffled across to a broken section of the entablature and pulled myself onto the ledge. I climbed onto the roof and crept across the top of the temple, peering in through the damaged sections of the roof.
The creature kept slamming into the columns. I began to realize that this beast was a prisoner within the temple. She was too large to leave.
She finally gave up and moved back into the court. I waited until she was aligned directly below me, then I jumped through the hole in the roof. I plummeted down, landing on her back, plunging Asgoth through her armor plating, hopefully skewering her heart.
61
Kron
Asgoth did not fail me.
He shivered with ecstasy from the taste of the scorpion’s blood. But it wasn’t enough to kill her.
She bucked me from her back.
I flew through the air, losing my grip on Asgoth—the demon sword s
till wedged into her back. The tip of his blade poked through her chest. Blood trickled down her torso.
She shrieked again, and her face contorted with a mixture of rage and agony. She dropped her dagger and clawed at her back with both hands, trying to grasp the sword—but it was just out of reach.
I tumbled to the ground, and before I could stagger to my feet, the beast was practically on top of me.
In a blur, her stinger stabbed at me. I watched helplessly as the pointed tail hurled toward my chest. It was like it was happening to someone else and I was sitting back watching. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t move fast enough to get out of the way.
I was about to accept my fate when something blurred before my eyes.
Lily had seen the events unfolding and flew across the room. She put herself between the stinger and my chest. The venomous spike impaled her chest and filled her full of deadly toxin.
My face contorted, and I screamed. The last thing I wanted was for her to sacrifice herself for me. She was so pure and innocent.
The beast snapped its tail and flung Lily across the court. She slammed into a column and fell to the stone. Her lifeless body lay mangled in an unnatural pose.
The beast staggered and reared its stinger back, preparing to stab again. But before it could strike, Sophia broke free of the severed pincer and scooped up the dagger. She charged the scorpion’s underside and stabbed the hideous beast in the chest with her own blade—the only thing that could kill her.
The giant scorpion screeched again, and its legs gave way. The massive creature slammed against the stone, rumbling the entire structure. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling. The vicious demon howled a last scream before dying.
I sprang to my feet and ran to Lily. My hands snatched the resurrection potion from my pouch, and I was ready to pour it into her mouth and bring her back.