Chapter Twenty-Two
Nic was pacing the lobby when I arrived. His face was crumpled in concentration and I got the impression he was trying to finish an unsolvable math problem, like how many apples does it take to make a sweater or something equally improbable. He didn’t notice my arrival; I kept quiet, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts.
Leaning quietly against the wall, I looked up at Bob. I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the danger of the situation, I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. I felt a sense of thrill that I had never felt before. Until now, I had never willingly placed myself in danger. Even as a child, I had insisted my father buy me a helmet for whenever we rode in the car. Today, I would play a major role in releasing a draconic god back into the world. Where was my helmet now? And despite the fear at all that could go wrong, the excitement of what I was about to do was all I could think about.
Nic finally caught my presence and his face relaxed. “You sure you’re up for this?” he asked.
I raised my eyebrows. “Really? You think I’m going to back out now?”
“No, I suppose not. But I had to ask, just in case.”
“Just tell me what to do.”
He took a deep breath, and then led me over to Bob. “I think you should only have to drain about a dozen or so lines before he’ll break free. Unfortunately that means starting with the strongest ones and working your way down. I suspect you’ll have no problem with the first two or three, but it will get progressively harder after that. I’m going to have to keep a fair distance from you, so I won’t even be able to give you a hand.” He looked down. “I am truly sorry about that.”
I touched his arm reassuringly. “Hey, we all have a part to play in this. Let me do mine. You focus on getting the stone back, then high-tailing it out of here.” I interlaced my fingers and stretched them out in front of me. “When do I start?”
“Now,” he said, backing away from me. I didn’t try to watch where he went to hide; the less distractions the better.
I felt a tremble of nervousness ripple through my body. Closing my eyes, I emptied my mind of all stray thoughts, trying to focus only the task at hand. With one last deep breath, I looked back up to Bob. Finding the strongest force line was easy; it was the highest one, supporting his tail. I studied it for a moment, wondering if the smaller lines supporting the tail would keep it from crashing down once I took out the main support. Taking one last look at the beast, I got to work.
I had forgotten the sensational taste of the energy. My body surged as I filled with electricity. It took about ten seconds to fully drain the line; as it blinked out of existence, I could see the stress the weight of the tail placed on all the smaller lines. I had to work quickly. I planted my feet hard into the cold marble floor, glad I had put shoes on today as I struggled to get a good grip. Reaching out, I yanked hard at the next line, fighting my muscles as I sucked in the taste. I drained it fast, and without pausing I reached for the next line. It was getting harder now. My body longed to be in motion. As I filled myself the energy, I started to wonder how much I could hold before it got too much. I felt the flow waiver, and I forced my mind to stay on task. Focus, I told myself as I balled my hands into tight fists. I could feel my fingernails digging into my palms, but I ignored the pain.
The skeleton began to tremble as I drained the fourth line. Hold on, my mind shouted at me. The room started to spin, but my eyes remained locked on the energy I was sucking away. It wouldn’t be much longer before I couldn’t absorb any more. The lines were getting smaller, but there was no more room left in my body. I pulled the energy in, mentally pushing the existing stores down into my soul as I tried to make more room.
I started to feel light, and I noticed I no longer had control of my limbs. My feet lost contact with the floor, and as I passed by the massive skull I knew I was in mid-air. I wasn’t flying, or even floating for that matter; it was more like gravity no longer existed for me, except that it was painful. I could feel my limbs twist as my body writhed and contorted, free from my willpower to keep still. I remained focused, and I knew I was running out of time. I forced my mind out in two directions, jerking at two more lines. The effect was immeasurable as my mouth filled with flavour. I continued to thrash about in the air, more violently now, but my mind refused to let go, moving on to the next line as each was drained.
Out of nowhere, there was a loud snap. The sound echoed in the marble lobby, and was so intense I felt the shockwave from the sound. After that, several things happened simultaneously. Gravity returned, and I hit the marble floor hard. The sweet metallic taste was gone, replaced with the bitter metallic taste of blood. My body, screaming against the pain of the fall, involuntarily jerked up as it pulsed full of energy. I could hear more snapping noises as the remaining force lines broke away from the waking beast.
Bracing myself, I waited for the surge to release from my fingertips, but it never came. The power pulsed through me, battering my insides as it tried to find a way out. I knew I was screaming in pain, but I couldn’t hear anything over the snapping above me and the electricity crackling inside me.
Across the room, I could make out Nic as he cautiously moved toward the dragon. Both his hands were raised defensively, and I could see he was saying something, presumably explaining the situation. The dragon’s back legs, having been suspended in a diving position crashed down as he lunged forward to Nic. Marble shattered everywhere under his weight, and I felt my arm sear with pain as a piece ripped through my skin. I was a bit surprised that Nic didn’t falter at the flying debris, or even at the sight of the beast, who roared at him in anger. I cringed, expecting the worse.
The beast did not kill Nic, as I had thought he would. He stopped, cocking his massive skull towards the tiny man in front of him. For a brief moment, I thought we had succeeded. He was going to give Nic the stone. But Bob turned then, twisting his large body around to look at me. The fear that raced through me was enough to forget about the constant electrocution my body was experiencing. In less than a second, he was at me, his jaws snapping me up in one lightning fast movement. His bones creaked loudly in response to his rapid movement.
I knew I was still screaming, but everything around me was silent. I felt my body forced down into his jaw as the dragon raised his head and leaped upward. Through the hollows of his skull I could see the glass rain around his body as he crashed through the skylight, taking flight.
Finally realizing my fate, I tried to force my way out of his mouth, but my body still wretched with electricity. I had no control over my movements, twitching erratically while I struggled to hold on. One slip and I would fall down his throat, which I assumed meant I would plummet to my death. I could see the ground quickly shrinking away as he flew higher. Why hadn’t he finished me off yet?
The energy pounded at my body, looking for release. Still, I was weak, unable to control it. I had never felt so much pain in my life, and this showed no signs of going away. I needed to release the power, but I couldn’t figure out how. It was unbearable. I felt myself slipping as the fighter in me gave up. I started to tumble, half conscious, down towards the beast’s skeletal throat. Just as I felt my legs slip out into the air, I heard Connor’s stern voice echo in my head.
“We made a deal.”
It was enough. I scrambled, reaching for anything to hold on to, my hands raw from where my nails had cut in to them. It was useless; his jaw was smooth, petrified with age, and I felt myself slip even closer to my death.
But Bob changed direction then, diving downwards, and the force of gravity threw me hard into the back of his teeth. The energy inside me shocked me intensely on impact, still looking for a way out. I lay prone against his sharp teeth, twitching erratically as he continued his descent. My face crackled as wet tears poured down my face, conducting electricity across my cheeks. They burned, and the salt stung the raw skin.
Less than a minute had passed since we had crashed through the roof of Mobius, but I sens
ed we had travelled quite a distance. I felt him decelerate and I rolled gently back onto the flat of his jaw. His impact made a soft thud, and I bounced once before he was stable. Then slowly, he opened his mouth, and I could see the ground directly below me. It took me a second to realize he was asking me to climb out. Summoning all the control I could find, I scrambled out, my body still twitching with shock. The ground felt unsteady below me, and I could feel my body teetering with strain.
I looked back toward Bob. Why hadn’t he eaten me yet? Why had he brought me here?
To keep you from hurting anyone, I heard an unfamiliar voice echo in my head.
I looked into his hollow eyes, and despite their emptiness I could sense emotion behind them.
“Thank you,” I stammered. “What do I do now?”
He shook his head.
“Can you take some?” I asked shakily, reaching out my hand. Again, he shook his head, in such a way I could sense his sorrow. He turned, and crouched, getting ready to take flight.
“Wait!” I shouted, and my words stung as I felt electricity zap my mouth. “What about the stone?”
He cocked his head to me, and for a moment I thought he was going to eat me, for real this time. But then his body quaked, and I could hear a low, musical tone emanating from his body. As I listened harder, I could make out several low tones, like air passing over empty pop bottles. The sound was coming from somewhere deep inside him; I could see the stone move as the air pushed it upward. The air chimed against his ribs, and despite the terrifying nature of the creature before me, it sounded beautiful. He dropped his head closer to mine and appeared to cough. The stone fell from his mouth into my hands. Before I could respond, he leaped into the air and flew off.
I stood there shocked, both emotionally and physically. As I held the heavy rock, I could see the electrical pulses dance over my skin. I wasn’t sure what to do. If I didn’t release this power soon I knew I would die. My heart was straining to keep up. But I had to protect the stone, and I had no idea how to do either of those things. I didn’t even know where I was.
As I examined my surroundings, it didn’t take long to feel sick with dread. I was standing on a massive outcropping of sandstone, flat and smooth, flecked with deep tidal pools. To my right, I was bordered by a gigantic old growth forest, to the left, the violent ocean, waves battering against the rock for miles in each direction. Every now and then, a wave would find a crack in the rock and water would shoot upward, creating a wall of sea spray. This was Botanical Beach. This was the beach Morgan had seen in her vision.
I heard a loud popping noise behind me, followed by several others. It sounded like popcorn, only louder. As I turned, the popping noises increased, and I found myself standing twenty feet away from Casper, flanked by two large trolls, and several dozen other creatures. More were popping into existence with every second.
“Alexis,” he said wryly. “I did not expect to see you here.”
I didn’t respond, frozen in fear as more people materialized behind him.
“Now, why would Nic give you the stone?” Casper mused, taking a step toward me. “He’s only made this that much easier for me. Now I have both things I want.”
“He didn’t give it to me,” I gritted through my teeth, struggling to keep control of my body as I retreated backward. I was near a breaking point.
“You foolish girl. Do you honestly think you can escape?”
I could hear more popping noises than I could see creatures appearing in front of me. As I listened I was aware that a number of the sounds came from behind me. I was surrounded. My body trembled as I forced it to stay still.
“Give me the stone, Alex.”
I knew he was going to kill me either way. I had to think fast. “Come take it from me,” I said, holding it up. All I could do would be to release my power into him, hopefully stunning him long enough to get away. That was my only chance.
Casper cocked an eyebrow at me. “Very well. You know, I had been willing to let you go, Alex. I only need you or the stone, not both. But you are so irresistible, standing there so defiant.” He stepped forward again, and electricity rippled through me as my fear increased. “There’s so much power in you. Yes, I think I can find a use for you after all.”
“Step aside, Alex,” a familiar voice came from behind me.
I turned around slowly. Connor, Morgan and at least fifty other Mobius employees stood behind me. In the air were equally as many harpies, faeries and even a few pixies. I took two steps towards him, stunned at their presence, but before I could make it any farther something hot hit me hard in the back, knocking me down into the rock with immense force. Morgan was at my side in an instant, speaking two words and the heat was gone.
“Get the stone!” Casper shouted, and I heard movement from all sides of me.
“Stay down!” Connor screamed at me as I saw people racing by, easily leaping over my prone frame.
The ground exploded beside me, sending Morgan flying and showering me in stone and dust, rocks battering against my back.
The sound of battle raged around me. When I was certain I was behind the fight, I rose slowly, surveying the scene. Spells were flying in every direction. People screamed in pain as they fell. Swords clashed. Harpies shrieked. Explosions were rampant. More people fell.
And we were losing. As far as I could tell, we were dominating the physical part of the battle, mostly due to the harpies. The tore easily at the ogres and other monsters that got in their way. But magically, we were faltering. With every advance we made, a spell came out and blocked us. As far as I could tell, the spells all were coming from one source: a small robed figure near the back. We had Connor, Morgan, and at least four other wizards, plus the three witches. How could we be losing?
“Get the guy in the back!” I shouted, hoping someone would hear. Morgan was closest to me and she seemed to acknowledge my voice. She flung an icy mass from her hands directly at the wizard. He deflected easily with a wave of his hand.
Morgan straightened up then. “You!” she yelled, recognizing the figure. But it was too late. Her shriek pierced the air as a bright purple sphere collided with her chest. Where was all the magic coming from? There weren’t any force lines up here, and surely one wizard couldn’t have that much power.
But that was the problem. No force lines meant no external power source for our side. I looked around, and could see our spell casters were drained. My body still surged with the energy from earlier, and with every spell cast, I felt a twinge inside of me as it fought to escape. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I raced forward, my muscles reacting with a burst of speed I hadn’t expected. Connor was near the front, and even from behind I could tell he was weary. I knew I couldn’t get to him easily. Behind him, and directly in my path to Connor, a snarling wolf tore at a fallen faerie. My gut lurched at the sight.
I searched as I ran closer to the ferocious beast. I recognized one of the dwarves from the arena lying prone ahead of me. I didn’t have time to help. Snatching up his axe, I cleaved through the wolf in one quick thrust. It wasn’t enough. The beast lurched toward me and I swung again, the axe slicing through him smoothly. Thick, gray smoke poured from his wounds, filling the air with a rotten sulfuric odor.
My legs wobbled as pushed back into a sprint, still not used to rapid movements. Connor was only a few feet away, his back to me. His whole body looked sapped.
I lunged forward, wrapping my hand around his arm, letting the power drain from me. I could feel it channeling into Connor, and I could see his body respond to the energy, but something still felt wrong. The transfer was too slow. I locked my fingers into his hand, willing the power out of me, but again it was not fast enough. He was still casting spells, but he didn’t have enough energy to do anything more than weak fireballs.
“Morgan!” I shouted as I saw her start to rise. She was on her knees, shaking, and I could see her wound blistering at her stomach. “I need cover!” She seemed to understand, waving a h
and as three harpies dove down in front of us, shrieking protectively. I could hear the wet, tearing noises as they blocked whatever it was that was coming at us.
I still had too much power in me, and it wasn’t leaving fast enough for Connor to use it. Summoning every last bit of strength inside me, I grabbed his face, yanking it hard down to mine. I barely caught his look of shock before I kissed him, and the power surge that left my lips nearly flung him away, but I kept my grip. It only took seconds to transfer the power. I hoped it would be enough.
As soon as I let go of his face, I no longer could support my own weight. I fell weakly to my knees, the impact jarring my whole body. I felt the rock slice through my pants, ripping open deep gashes in both kneecaps. I waivered for only a moment before my face hit the ground.
Before I blacked out, I was aware of several things: Connor shouting something intelligible, followed by deafening, rumbling roar; a familiar bluish light engulfing my entire vision, a wave of searing heat pushing my body down harder into the rock, the Philosopher’s Stone tumbling from my hand, and then, darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I could hear a slow, repetitive beeping when I awoke. I counted it, getting up to four thousand, three hundred and twenty-eight before falling back asleep. When I next awoke, the beeping was a bit faster, and it took me until one thousand, five hundred and sixty-four before I realized it was in time with my heartbeat. I listened, comparing the thumping in my chest to the beeping. There was a slight delay between the heartbeat and the beep. I listened harder, waiting for the machine to go out of sync, but it didn’t.
I took a deep breath, and immediately I heard a chair scraping across the floor. “Alexis?” I heard Connor whisper. “Are you awake?” His voice hinted panic.
Force (An Alex Warren Novel) Page 20