by J. J. Egosi
“Two hundred thousand gold. I could never forget it.” Michael gulped.
“I’m sure there’s at least that much up here and it has your name on it.” Alexa smiled and winked.
“What do you think?” Julianna whispered to Isabella.
“We could use the money after Lucifer robbed us,” Isabella whispered back.
“That’s how life goes. You either rob or get robbed,” Julianna replied.
The two nodded. “Alright, let’s do this.”
“But, we’re robbing them of everything they’ve got.” Michael reminded.
“Don’t act like you didn’t pickpocket to get by before,” Isabella said.
“I did that because your adoptive parents wouldn’t give me money,” Michael replied with a dim-eyed look.
“Well, when you had to pickpocket, it was to get by. You were never concerned about who you were hurting. You just needed to do whatever you needed to get by,” Isabella said.
“I suppose you’re right,” Michael said reluctantly.
“And since we were stripped of our fortunes, we need to do the same,” Isabella said.
For a moment, Michael contemplated her argument and the trouble the lizardmen had caused them the far. He took a deep breath.
“Alright, but can we be fast?” Michael asked as they made their way up the last few steps and toward a long hall with a single door at the end.
“Yes, just try to be careful for”—
Michael stepped on a loose tile. Like a reflex, the walls to his either side opened and fired out poison darts.
Alexa grabbed his shoulder and ducked his head. The girls ducked too, gasping and nearly jumping out of their skin.
“The traps.”
“Now, you tell me,” Michael replied with a now pale complexion as he caught his breath.
“Well, I didn’t think you’d set one off so quickly,” Alexa said with a laugh.
“I think we should fly from here on out. I’d care not to take my chances with any other loose tiles,” Julianna said.
“Works for me,” Alexa replied.
They released their wings and hovered over the hall with their eyes toward the lone door at the end.
“With all the traps, they didn’t think to guard the vault,” Isabella said.
Michael grew nervous, believing something was wrong with the image before him. He wondered if bigger traps awaited.
Alexa manifested her shadows into an orb which she used to break through the thick stone door.
“Well, that didn’t take long at all,” Michael said.
With the door knocked down, they could finally see the fortunate that awaited and what a fortune it was. There was more gold than any of them had ever seen—mountains of jewelry and encrusted goblets, crowns, and chests as far as they could see.
They all looked at the vault, in awe of the wealth standing before them.
“Unholy shit!” the four demons exclaimed at once.
They all walked in, mesmerized. Each step seemed like a dream.
“It appears those lizards are just as rich as the legends said they were. Maybe even richer,” Alexa said.
“No kidding,” said Julianna, looking back at the group. “Let’s just make this fast. I’ll watch the entrance.”
Alexa smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
The girls proceeded to pack their gold into their bags, while Michael struggled between a goblet and a crown.
“There’s no need to pick and choose, Michael,” Alexa said. “You’re not a peasant anymore. Take what you’d like.”
“Yes, and I think you’d look really great with both.”
“You think?”
Michael stood in front of a jewel-encrusted mirror. He placed the crown over his head and held the goblet in front of him.
“Something just doesn’t feel right,” Michael said.
“You’re overthinking this. Also, don’t forget about what these lizards did to Ursula.”
Michael looked over at her. She had a glare of blind malice as she stuffed her infinity bag with all the riches her two hands could grab.
“They still haunt her mind, Michael,” Alexa spoke with cold and murderous eyes. “They need to suffer.”
Michael paused in a moment of thought.
“When you put it that way.” Michael looked up at his crown, adjusting it a bit. “I suppose this isn’t so bad.”
“Exactly. Now get packing. And don’t skimp out. You deserve some real money.”
“I suppose you aren’t wrong.” Michael smiled. “That merchant never did pay me with anything other than groceries.”
“That’s the spirit.” Alexa smiled and patted his back.
Michael nodded. He looked around the vault now with the same interest as the others when he locked his eyes on a treasure chest. It was a thing of beauty—finished with a glossy gold coating and jewel-encrusted carvings. The chest alone could go for a few tens of thousands of gold pieces on the market. Add to it the twinkling blue jewels and the overspill of at least ten thousand gold coins.
“I think I’ll start with that.”
As he set his sights on the treasure chest, the sound of crushing footsteps approaching from outside the temple rumbled in. The girls were packing away the gold and jewels into their bags with gleeful smiles when they heard a roar in the distance.
Michael and the rest turned around and dropped their loot.
“That sounded like it came from outside,” Michael said.
“Which means we have to make haste,” Alexa said.
They were all out of time. The source of the roar tore the roof right off the temple with colossal claw. Roaring once again, it eclipsed them with its scowl. Before them now was the largest dinosaur they’d ever seen.
“Fucking hell! What is that?!” Isabella shouted in a panicked tone.
“Who gives a shit? Everyone, move!” Julianna screamed.
The group flew out of the vault, evading the dinosaur’s grip and bite. Their fear only grew when they got a better look at the beast through the hall as the sunset cast its way in. It was a predatory monster through and through; built like a tyranno, but with an extra set of legs, larger arms, and spikes all across its back.
“The omegasaur,” said Ursula.
“Omegasaur?” Michael wondered.
“Yes, I’ve heard of it. The secret ace of the lizardmen. Archives say he only emerges when great tragedy hits. Essentially, it’s their last hope, as well as their emissary of vengeance,” Alexa said.
“Do the archives also say it’s friendly and a vegetarian?”
“Sure. It looks like the gregarious type, too. Eager to make new friends with us,” Julianna spoke in a snarky tone. The dinosaur roared. Its blazing vertical eyes beat down like inescapable suns.
“Both of you quiet. This beast is recognized for ending entire species with its ceaseless appetite,” Alexa said.
The beast roared as it stood high above the vault of gold. The lizardman riding it looked down at them with disdain as it held up its staff. Suddenly, a glowing presence appeared around the fallen lizardmen. With the chanting words of the lizardmen, the fallen comrades had reformed and were now reborn.
As Michael and the others stormed into the air, they saw it all for themselves: the beast they defeated coming to life.
“Damn it all. I was worried about this,” Alexa said. “This big one’s used its necromancy to bring them back.”
“Do these lizardmen really have that power?” Michael’s eyes widened with shock.
“Yes, and we experienced it first hand when you passed out before,” Isabella said.
The omegasaur roared toward the dusky skies. They could feel it pounding of its powerful stomps in their chests.
“Any ideas?” Michael asked.
“We could try finding an opening,” Isabella said.
“What opening? This temple’s filled with traps!” Alexa reminded.
“Then, what?” Isabella asked. Her eyes bulged ou
t with dread as her reflection shed across the giant teeth over her.
“I say we start with that omegasaur and crush any of the weaker ones that get in our way,” Alexa said.
“Right, because if we kill the big one, we’ll assert a sense of dominance,” Michael said.
“Survival of the fittest,” said Alexa. “Only the strongest can rule.”
The five of them nodded. They flew toward the head of the omegasaur, charging at it with all their might. They didn’t make it as far as they had planned, however; another beast had different plans.
“Shit! I think something hit me,” Michael said, feeling his body dragging on one side.
“Your wing. A spear hit it!” Isabella said.
They all stopped and looked down and saw a wave of spears heading their direction from the lizardmen’s foot soldiers.
“They’re not going make it easy for us, are they?” Julianna said.
“Why would they?” Alexa gritted her teeth.
They soared out of range of the spears, maneuvering with their elemental strikes. They evaded them but their luck soon ran out and they all came plummeting down to the temple entrance and in the feeding grounds of the revived lizardmen.
They picked themselves up and Isabella quickly healed their wings just before they each retracted into their bodies.
“I guess this is going to be a ground fight,” Michael said, staring into the vengeful eyes of the scaled and armored beasts.
“Figures. They only have that one air dactyl creature to call upon for aerial attacks,” Alexa said, gazing at the bird-like creature above.
“Now, what? These things will keep coming back, so how are we supposed to kill them?” Julianna said, backing away as they grew nearer.
“Won’t the weaker ones just revive themselves once the omegasaur is dead?” Michael asked.
Isabella looked up at her enemies, pondering a solution, which she didn’t take too long to arrive at.
“I know how we can beat them.”
Michael looked at her eagerly. “Really? You have a strategy?”
“Yes, but you’ll have to trust me. I haven’t done this before, but it’s the only way to wipe out all these lizards at once.”
Isabella looked at the army as she got in a fighting stance. She raised her hand and something began to manifest around her finger.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Alexa asked as panic came over her.
Around Isabella’s finger, it came into clear view: a purple ring.
“You can’t be serious! You’ve hardly the power to wield such a beast!” Alexa said in disbelief.
“I know, but this is the only way,” said Isabella. “We need to wipe them all out at once to stop them from reviving.”
“I could easily do that with my lightning,” Michael said. “Let me just help a little if”—
“I can handle this, alright!”
Isabella’s harsh and sudden tone took him by surprise. He took a few steps back with a cold nod and the rest of the girls mirrored him.
“If you say so. I’m here if you need me.”
“I know.” Isabella smiled. “Thank you.”
The sky darkened and the wind churned as the forces of nature clashed with one another to bring forth an entity from beyond. From an exploding chasm in the jungle, it slowly rose with a bellowing groan… the titan of the fourth dimension.
“Unbelievable. She summoned a titan. And in this dimension?” Ursula said, watching Isabella and the mighty titan in awe.
Isabella stood there, panting. Casting the beast took more of a toll on her than she had anticipated.
“Yes, and since this isn’t an official battle between demons, she didn’t have to sacrifice a thing to summon it,” Julianna said.
“This will never work,” Alexa said.
“Why not?” Michael asked. “She summoned it, didn’t she?”
“That’s true, but wielding a titan takes great strength and experience in combat; two things that can only be gained from regularly traveling through the dimensional gap. Isabella may have been strong enough to beat that titan, but commanding it as her servant will be another story,” Alexa explained.
Isabella grinned. “So, is that all I’m missing? Travel experience? In that case, let me stack the deck a bit in my favor!”
Isabella’s blackened aura enveloped her with a gust of wind. Her fists clenched and her eyes went dark to welcome her etherial state.
The group stumbled, amazed by the presence her etherial state imposed.
“What incredible power!” Alexa said, gazing into her eyes.
“You think she has a chance now?” Michael asked.
“Impressive, but it’s still too early to tell for sure.”
Isabella took a deep breath. “Now, Quorthon, send these lizards back to extinction with your frozen fist attack!”
The titan hurled its fist onto the ground, freezing every lizardman in its path with its iceberg foot. In several chilling seconds, they were all incapacitated. The battlefield was now a motionless wonderland of snow and frost.
The lizards were stood frozen like statues of the past. The group looked at Isabella’s work in awe.
“She did it? She really did it?” Julianna said, stunned.
“Looks like I did.”
Isabella looked at her friends and smiled. She called the titan back into the ring and she returned to her human form.
“I sure did.”
Just moments after, she fell to the ground. The group immediately ran to her aid.
“Isabella, are you alright?!” Michael shouted.
“You idiot. Why’d you have to push yourself like that? What did you have to prove?” Alexa said.
Her body twitched as she groaned. Struggling to pick herself up, she turned her gaze toward Alexa.
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t see another way to win this.”
“That’s ridiculous. Michael could have ended this with his own titan,” Julianna said.
“She’s right. I could have done that without taking any damage…but”—
“But, you’re afraid of your monstrous side, aren’t you?” Isabella pushed.
Michael began to shake from memories of his battle against Lucifer. The image of his titan taking flesh still haunt him, as did the moment his friends leaving him as a result of casting it.
“I guess I didn’t want what followed to repeat itself.”
“I see now,” Julianna began, “you thought we’d walk away without you.”
“I guess we all have trauma that, irrational as it can be, is difficult to shake off when push comes to shove.”
Alexa nodded at Ursula who nodded back with a smile.
“I was a fool to let what happened control me. I still find it hard to shake off the regret. Even now. Please forgive me,” Michael said.
Isabella placed her hand across her face. “It’s alright. We’re here for you if you ever lose control. Remember. You’re our friend.”
“And we’re a team.” Ursula smiled and nudged his shoulder. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Tears rolled down his face as he smiled with relief. Isabella smiled back. With his help and Julianna’s, Isabella rose to her feet.
“Just hold still while I heal you.”
Michael placed his hands a few inches over her chest. She blushed from the close contact when a bright light appeared from his fingers that alleviated her from all her aches and filled her with energy.
“Impressive healing. Did you also get that from a regained memory?” Ursula asked.
Michael smiled and laughed. “No, I just happen to know a couple spells here and there from the lessons I had with Isabella when we were younger. I’m not very good, though, so this could take a while.”
“I’m glad you learned a few things,” Isabella said. “I would have taught you far much more if my parents left home more often.”
“I’m still thankful for the little we did,” Michael said.
“I
am, too.”
Michael put the finishing touches on his healing magic. The last of her pain left her. She looked back with a smile.
“Thank you, Michael. I feel better.”
“Happy to have helped.”
“Also, can I tell you something?”
“What is it?”
Alexa and the others listened in with curious glares.
“It was stupid, I know. But the reason I jumped in like that with my titan was to thank for you accepting me back into your life.”
Michael’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Isabella nodded. “Sorry for worrying you.”
“It alright. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Really?” Isabella’s eyes glowed with relief.
“Yeah. And besides, I”—
“Like hell it’s okay,” Julianna interjected. Unlike everyone else, she was irate. “You nearly got yourself killed.”
“You seriously went that far to make up for something he already forgave you for?” Alexa asked.
“Yeah, you really didn’t have to go to such extremes for me,” Michael said.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I’m glad I did. That sort of thing would have bothered me forever if I hadn’t,” Isabella replied with a firm nod that left the others silent.
Alexa nodded back before taking a deep breath, refusing to argue with her conviction any longer.
“That was reckless, but I’m glad it paid off,” Alexa said.
Me, too.” Isabella smiled. “Now, how about we finish the job here and extract the cores from here statues.”
“Good idea. With their souls locked inside, they won’t be able to revive again,” Julianna said.
Alexa smiled and nodded. “You take care of the statues and I’ll make sure there are no enemies left in the temple.”
“Why, so you can take all that gold for yourself?” Julianna said.
Perhaps,” Alexa said, grinning. “It would be easier pickings without the lizardmen. Much of it is probably scattered across the hall now.”
“And the traps would be simple enough to disarm if we just destroyed the walls,” Julianna said.
“Not a bad plan, but maybe we should deal with the statues, first,” Ursula said with a nervous laugh. “We don’t want to take any chances.”