"I...I don't know!” Angela wailed. "I think it was around the Fourth of July!"
Nadia turned away, trying to take some deep breaths, but found she couldn't keep her heart from beating so fast. Her skin flushed again with the desire to destroy something. The Neotaur that had kicked Bruno now turned on them. This wasn't the same one she’d chopped before, as it had both arms, large spiked morning stars sticking out of each one.
It swung both of its weapons together in a pinching motion like it was going to play the cymbals with Nadia in the middle. She jumped back and lashed out with her sword in the opposite direction. The sword glowed red again, and she took the spiked end of the arm right off. It sailed through the air and smashed into one of the other Neotaurs, making it stumble and fall to the floor.
He recovered quickly, however, and also turned in her direction, raising its weapons. She’d made this one mad too. Both monsters charged at once and Nadia waited to swing, trying to time it for when they were both closer. The icy grip of fear squeezed her whole body, telling her that it wasn't going to work.
A second before impact, a spiked metal arm shot out across the path of the two rushing attackers, stopping them both with the clothesline move. She glanced over to see that another Neotaur had attacked the others for some reason. So, there were four, and one of them was on their side? When did that happen?
The head compartment flipped back from the one who’d saved her and she saw Rich there, waving. "Just in time! Sorry that was so close. I can create things using my mind with my paladin powers. I thought I’d make this a bit more of a fair fight, huh?"
She felt so elated, she wanted to throw her arms around him, but figured that might be kind of painful in his current state. Instead, she raised her hand and yelled, “Thanks!”
Rich snapped his head back into position, placing himself as a shield in front of Nadia and Angela.
Nadia returned, sure that the other Neotaurs would be distracted again, but there was still only one Rich and three of them. It would last forever.
"Any luck?" Nadia asked.
She could see Angela's hand shaking as she worked the controls. "Not yet," she said. "I've eliminated a few days, but it's really slow going. I'll keep trying!"
Nadia searched her mind, trying to think of some way they could narrow it down a little. The problem was, not only did it feel hard to think right now, but she never paid attention to things like eclipses. Then again, Rich was that kind of person.
"Keep trying," Nadia said. "I'm gonna go ask Rich. He’s all into that astronomy stuff, and he’s got a good memory. Maybe he can help us."
She looked around and ran toward where Rich was trying to fend off all three of them at once. The problem was, Rich was definitely not the biggest threat.
Nadia waited for a chance when one of them struck out at Rich with a massive club arm and blocked the strike for him. This gave her a few seconds to turn and ask a question. "Rich, we need to know when the last solar eclipse was, or any solar eclipse, really. Do you know anything about that?"
Rich’s Neotaur had an oversized version of his usual sword, which he used to parry another series of blows before responding. His sword flew in a wide arc, making his attackers temporarily retreat. He didn't take his eyes off them, though. "I don't know about any recent ones, but there’s this famous one we learned about in science. It's called the Einstein Eclipse."
All three rushed again, and Nadia took on one of them and Mallory and Jezreel took another so Rich only had to deal with one. It got through Rich’s defenses, however, and knocked him on his back.
Nadia beat back her attacker and ran to Rich’s side, screaming. With her sword, she slashed into the creature’s leg, taking it clean off. The lopsided creature fell to the side and crashed noisily to the ground. Nadia barely avoided being crushed by it, but then turned, feeling her anger bubble up inside her like a geyser ready to blow. She would have to make the next attack count.
She jumped forward, her sword raised, but to her surprise, Rich blocked her next blow. "Don't," he said. "My father's in there."
To her own amazement, she realized she didn't care. She had to attack, had to finish off her opponent. She screamed and raised her sword again. This time, Rich fought back even harder. She thought she heard him yell "Sorry!" before smashing into her chest with a metal fist. This sent her flying, and she hit the floor hard.
Pain shot out from everywhere in her body, especially in the arm she landed on. She had felt something snap, and so she stayed on the ground. Her arm was probably broken.
She drew on the power of her dark sword while she was still conscious. Using her good arm and her sword as a crutch, she got back to her feet and hobbled toward Angela.
Angela looked over and screamed when she saw Nadia. "Are you okay?"
Nadia leaned heavily on her sword. "I'll … I'll be all right. I think. Rich said something about Einstein's eclipse. Do you know when that was?"
Angela’s eyes shot open, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, that's the eclipse he used to help prove his theory of relativity.” She closed her eyes for a few seconds. "Something with nines. It was either May 19th, 1929 or May 29th, 1919. It’s all mixed up in my head."
"Try both. I'll take one or two days over a whole summer."
Nadia checked on Rich and saw that he was trying to take the head off his father's Neotaur, trying to get him out. But the Neotaur attempted to crawl away, inching forward by dragging itself by its good arm and pushing off its one good leg. The other two, seeing what she had done, decided to gang up on her. They advanced in slow steps that shook the ground, and Rich seem too preoccupied to help. “Angela, you got it yet? Now would be good!"
"It wasn’t 1929. Must be 1919. I'm trying it now!"
Without warning, the two Neotaurs in front of Nadia slowed, their weapons raised. They came at her from opposite directions, so there was no way she could hit them both with her sword at once. She braced herself, thinking she was going to try to dodge one and go for the other. The world seemed to slow, and she heard a voice from behind. "You’re a dark knight now. Imagine yourself on fire."
She felt so desperate that she actually did it. The instant she thought it, it was so. Strangely, the sword ignited first and then sent an explosion in the direction it was pointing. This caught one of them right in the midsection.
Its torso superheated to red hot and started to fall apart. The other Neotaur changed course to avoid her.
"Got it!" Angela yelled.
Nadia spun, still on fire, though it didn't feel painful, but pleasant. The second bar on the door slid back, and the door itself slowly swung open.
Nadia felt elated, but out of control, unable to stop herself. She danced around in constant motion as though she were made of flames. Maria ran up to her with her arms outstretched and wrapped them around her.
Nadia felt a surge of energy, different somehow than the energy given off by the fire. In a matter of seconds, the flames extinguished, and her mind felt clearer than it had for a very long time. She stepped back and took in a deep, shuddering breath. "How did you do that?"
"Flames are some of the best representations of chaos in existence. One of my powers is that I can bring order to chaos. It's very helpful in putting out fires. I'm just glad I got to you when I did. Jezreel needs to be more careful with using her flame abilities."
Nadia nodded, realizing that Maria thought Jezreel had accidentally set her on fire. That would seem the more logical conclusion than that she was a dark knight in disguise.
A dark knight. She’d completed all of the tests, and apparently Jezreel had made her a knight in an attempt to save her life.
Somehow, she didn’t feel all that gratef
ul.
CHAPTER 17: INSIDE THE BOX
"Mom, come quick!" Rich cried.
Maria ran to Rich’s side, and Nadia followed.
Rich’s stomach tightened and his hands shook, thinking that he might have found his father only to lose him again.
Working together, they finally succeeded in yanking the top off his father's Neotaur and found Phillip looking limp and pale. The other Neotaur had retreated, and the third still smoldered on the ground.
"Can you help me get him out?" Rich asked, knowing they might only have minutes to save him. "There's some pretty strong power holding him, and I can’t overcome it. See if you can do something."
Rich’s mother placed her hands on Phillip’s chest, closing her eyes and speaking to herself. She winced even more intensely. "This is gray magic," she said. "There's only so much I can do. It's like I've unlocked the door from my side, but he's got to undo the deadbolt on the other side.”
Rich’s face darkened. "You mean he’s keeping himself in there? Why would he do that?” He knelt over his father. "Dad, we’re your family. Please come out." He reached out and touched his father's hand, engaging his empathy powers. The scenes came quickly, but they were all there. He saw his father sneaking out tonight, navigating the maze on his own and finally making his way back to a door hidden deep in the jungle.
There, he found the sanctuary room he’d been trapped in before. But nothing was the same as the last time he’d been there. It was a completely different illusion, something that looked like it was from prehistoric times or something. Realizing what he’d done, the sight had torn him with guilt and sadness. He stumbled back to the portal and into the maze, running through the jungle to try to catch up with his family. Along the way, the Neotaurs had surrounded him, ambushing him before he could reach the group. Alone, he’d stood no chance. Then the memory ended.
“Mom,” Rich said, “you need to see this. Use your empathy power.”
Her hand hovered over Phillip’s, and she hesitated.
“Mom,” Rich said more insistently, “you’ve got to do this. If he stays like this too long, I don’t think he’ll make it. You need to convince him to get out, and to do that, you need to understand.”
She waited a moment longer and then lowered her hand, closing her eyes. A few seconds ticked by and a single tear tracked down her cheek. The one tear multiplied until her cheeks looked like a miniature waterfall.
She let out a long sigh, but did not open her eyes. “Phillip, it’s me. I know you probably think I’m angry with you, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You couldn’t help me understand what happened to you because you didn’t understand it yourself. I’ve had to deal with the pain of losing you twice, and I’m sure as Palad not going to do it again.”
Her eyes fluttering open, she leaned down and kissed him one the forehead. “I love you, Phil, and I always will. Please come back to us. I...I’m sorry.”
Reaching with one hand, she grasped his again and squeezed hard. Nothing.
She continued pleading, and Rich joined in. "Dad, it was really rough not knowing where you were, but that’s in the past now. We have to save Takka. You promised to do that, right?"
Phillip stirred, looking like he was straining against ropes that had him tied down. Rich and Maria kept talking, taking turns.
"We're almost to the door now,” Rich said. “I'm gonna need your help when we get there. I know you feel like you deserve to be punished, but you don't, especially not like this.”
Phillip managed to lift his head, though his eyes remained closed, his face lined with tension.
Then his mother delivered the final blow. “Phil," she said so softly that Rich could barely hear her. "Phil, Rich is going to have a little brother or sister."
Rich reached out for something to steady himself, but his hand grasped only air. A baby? Was she serious? It made him dizzy just thinking about it.
Part of him hoped it was a little brother.
With a sharp intake of breath, Phillip ripped himself from the invisible force that held him captive in the machine. Metal cables snapped and bits of debris flew as he broke through the Neotaur’s skin.
Rich and Maria helped him pull himself free, after which he collapsed on the floor, breathing hard and staring up at them through bloodshot eyes. He turned his gaze to Maria and smiled. "You're pregnant?"
Maria nodded. "I didn’t want to say anything until after this was over. I didn't want to give you one more thing to worry about, but I needed something to bring you back. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."
He shook his head. “No, no, I’m the one who should be sorry. I got up at night and heard these voices in the maze, telling me where to go. I tried to ignore them, but they were so strong. They said I could go back for the people I left behind here last time...the illusions of the other life I had. They sounded so real, and I told myself I was just going to check and that I’d be right back, but once I started following the directions the voices gave me, I found myself in a dead end, surrounded by Neotaurs. Bet you a steak dinner it was actually the Gray Knight. I can’t believe it worked.”
She helped him to his feet and flung her arms around him, holding him close. "Never again,” she said. “Don’t you ever think about leaving us again.”
He nodded. "Don't worry. I won’t even think about it.”
Jezreel coughed behind them. "Well, this reunion is just incredible. No doubt Cupid himself is shedding tears of joy over it, but we need to go. One of those things got away. That other one didn't make it. The door’s open, but I don't know long it's going to stay that way. You can hug and cry all you want when we’re done the mission. And if you'd like, I’m good at arranging ways to make people cry.”
Rich knew she was right, but still wanted to trip her as she passed. Phillip broke away from Maria and came face-to-face with Jezreel. He stood there, his eyes hard. “Leave my family alone," he said. “You like to make others cry because you don't have enough of a heart left to shed a tear. I must say, I'm almost sorry for you, Jessie."
He stomped away, heading for the open door. For a moment, Jezreel looked genuinely confused and dismayed. She quickly replaced this with her usual haughty expression. Without a word, everyone followed Phillip through the door.
The door led to a crystal hallway made of the same iridescent material as the keys both Angela and Nadia bore. The room contained nothing more than a cube about the size of a basketball made out of crystal standing on a stone pedestal, with another door made of the same crystal cut into the far wall.
Rich approached cautiously and saw that there didn't appear to be any threats. Maybe this was it. This door could mean that they had reached the center of the maze. Now it was his turn to take command.
"Nadia, Angela, show me the keys.” They rummaged through their pockets and held the keys out to Rich. One was long and thin, and the other was stubby and more rounded. Rich looked at the door and saw there was no handle, but there was an empty space where a handle should have been. The whole space looked like it might be in the shape of the smaller round key.
He took this one from Angela and slid it in the hole. It fit perfectly, and once he had inserted it, he couldn't even see the outline of it anymore. There was a faint click, and the door slid silently open.
They all filed through the door into an identical room. This time, they used Nadia’s key to open the door. The second the key left her hand, Nadia sighed, as though it made her feel a bit better to be rid of it.
Rich almost put a hand on Nadia’s shoulder, but stopped himself. It looked like a little color was coming back into her face, like she was a little more herself again. “Nadia,” Rich said, “thanks for holding on to that.
Are you all right?”
She nodded and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I think I will be. Let’s get this over with.”
The third room looked like the others, but Rich could see right away why they were going to need him. This door had a shape cut out of it in an incredibly complex pattern. It curled up and down, back and forth, even doubling back on itself at unexpected times. It took up a section of the door twice as big as his head.
"Well," Phillip said, "you're the locksmith, Rich. Can you make us a key?"
"I think so," he said. It wasn't exactly like the one he’d practiced with back in the cave, but it was the same sort of concept he’d been working on before they’d lost Jan.
"I'm gonna try. Everyone be quiet as you can." The room fell into silence and Rich close his eyes, re-creating the pattern with his mind, practicing a few times before making a serious attempt. He’d practiced taking on complex patterns at a glance before, but this one was even a bit more complicated than he was used to. About halfway through, he lost it and had to start over again.
He wanted to pound with both fists on the wall, but he thought that would give Mallory a reason to gloat. Not being able to show his frustration, however, made him feel even more frustrated.
"What's the matter, Richie?” Mallory asked. “Is it too hard thinking inside the box?”
Putting his mind to good use, he imagined a tall glass of lemonade, full of ice. He turned and tossed its contents onto Mallory’s face.
She spluttered and coughed, wiping the sticky stuff off her armor.
"What?” Rich asked. “That worked the first time.” He turned to his mother. “I was kind of thinking she’d start melting like the Wicked Witch of the West or something." He looked around, holding up his hands. "Anyone else want to say something stupid? I know you're tired and beaten up, and this whole thing stinks. But unfortunately, I'm your only ticket out of here, so just keep your mouths closed!"
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