The Lost Prince

by P. G. Shriver

  With fierceness and folly he spun with levitating force around the outside of the spiral in a sprint of success. With each circle, the hot wind built forcing the teens to recognize a similarity.

  “No!” Thad yelled, closing his eyes against the flames, against the truth.

  “He’s trying to trick us. Don’t listen to him!” Cai yelled.

  “Ohohohohoho!” The floating monster threw back his head, then stopped suddenly before John. “You, my nephew, forsook me. I would be hurt, if it were possible for me to feel pain, but it was prophesied that one would turn against me, one would become a traitor. Would you like to see it? The prophecy? I have it, you know? And I have prepared against it.

  “You. Your betrayal. You would be next, if I had your amulet.” And with that outburst he zoomed back to the rock on the floor. “Alas, I do have hers!” He feigned a distraught look at Neka, lowered her amulet to the rock, raised the dagger above his head, and thrust it into the amulet.

  Neka fell silent, her head bent in death.

  “No!” John struggled, pulling against the magnetism between the teens. He wanted his hands around the monster’s neck. He wouldn’t even acknowledge that this creature, this evil being from some ungodly destination, related to him or his family in any way.

  John had seen so much pain, so much destruction, so much hatred. He’d heard of the prophecy, through the ranks, searched for it as a member of the faction, but without success— and now he lived it. Tears of frustration burned in John’s eyes; his heart burned with hatred he now felt for this thing tormenting them and the love he might have had with Neka. He’d known— the moment he peered through the crack in the barn siding and spotted her— that she was the one who would share his life with him.

  She was like him, would understand his strange behavior, his powers, and she won his heart with a look. He wanted to keep her safe, but he couldn’t… just like his parents, his sister. His anger grew as this horrid monster returned to face him, a satisfied look in his eyes.

  John’s nostrils flared. His urge to let go and fight this thing before him, one on one pulled against the magnetic restraints keeping him in the spiral.

  “Yes… that’s it nephew… that’s it. You can do it. Just hate me enough…” the monster whispered, his fowl breath falling on John’s cheek.

  “John, I know you want to hate him, but don’t! You’re buying into his plan. Stop what you are feeling right now! Think of the mission!” Cai yelled toward him. John’s face turned to her in an attempt to break the mental connection.

  Cai was right, and if he had to die to save the world, at least he would be with Neka forever.

  “Is that what you think, my little one, my boy, my prodigy?” The hot whisper reached into John’s right ear. “You think you will be with that girl forever in some afterlife?”

  “Don’t listen! Tune him out!” Cheater yelled over the roaring flames. “He’s using your emotional connection. Don’t let him!” John heard Cheater’s request over the flames, felt the surge of energy his friends sent through their connection, and he closed his mind to the face , to the words, coming from beside him. In his mind’s eye, he saw Cheater, her resolve, her strength through all she suffered. How was it this girl could endure so much in her life and be so strong against this monster?

  “How, indeed?” The monster frowned in curiosity and stroked John’s cheek with a creepy fingernail, then he dissolved in a flurry of atoms, and regrouped to face Cheater. “How energizing! To be able to fly apart and together again. That poor, sweet girl…” he smiled up at the churning spiral, two lights out.

  “I’m saving you for last, sweet Sara. Do you want to know why?” He tempted her.

  Cheater remained silent, emotionless, like a statue in a park. She faced him without a flinch.

  “Oh, my dearest, the last for last. There is a darkness in you that runs so deep. All I have to do to force it to come out is… Well, perhaps I should save that bit of juiciness. I’ll give you a little clue as a gift: Stephan. Happy birthday, my sweet, solemn, darling.” Cheater felt the hot lips on her forehead and cringed. The warm perspiring fingers on her cheek lingered, but she hadn’t closed her eyes against them. She stopped the rush of thoughts— memories— from surfacing, pushed away the flashes with such force that she surprised even herself.

  “Very nice!” The man nodded, his brows raising in surprise. “Your mother taught you well. I may keep you around a while after this night has passed.” He nodded.

  The monster’s left hand rose and Neka’s body followed the motion as the hot force of flame threatened the grips of Jaz and Jamie. Both of Jamie’s arms now struggled to stay connected. Jamie felt as if his shoulders were being pulled from their sockets as one of his feet struggled to remain on the ground, the toe of his shoe just touching the aged dirt below.

  Distraction, Thad thought as his body vibrated with fear. The fiery wind changed direction and pushed the flames downward as Thad fell into a deep concentration. Neka and Rebecca returned to the ground forced down by Thad’s wind of determination.

  Cai wanted to blend them, but she knew the effort would be fruitless. They had to stay in the spiral, keep it going. The magnetism of the spiral’s force kept them in place.

  This creature wanted to stop the spiral, stop the teens from doing whatever it was that this spiral was sent here to do. She couldn’t think of a way that blending with the flames could help them. It was the first time in her life that she felt her gift was worthless to her. With that feeling, the monster appeared, his face before hers.

  “Yes, that’s right! Your power is worthless. Poor, Cai. You could all blend… hide, go ahead! But I will know because of this magnificently frightening spiral. But please, do blend! Try, for daddy. Shut down the spiral for me. Go ahead.”

  “Shut up!” Cai yelled back. His goading infuriated her! Her helplessness dissipated as her anger grew.

  “Yes! Yes!” The monster clapped, grinning from ear to ear and shaking with anticipation. Cai felt the pain in her left hand as John squeezed her fingers harder. The much needed pain was a reminder of the mission. The pain served its purpose as Cai broke the connection with her anger. She turned a silent thank you to John.

  The monster dangled her amulet before her. “You know, I could use that anger of yours later. I’m going to spare you, too.”

  That was his second mistake.

  He returned to the rock with a different amulet, sending a wink toward Carmen.

  “Colors are so important in the world today, aren’t they? White— pretty much a useless color in a box of crayons, but life? Black— so dark and foreboding, downright scary, right darling Carmen? Yes, so many more colors to see; red— a strong foundation; orange— creativity; yello—focused, isn’t that how it goes Carmen? Green for love? Do you love… Carmen? Do you see green when you peer through the flames at me? Tell, me, what color do you see?” With that last question, he crumbled the third amulet with the dagger and the remaining nine Gifted Ones turned to see Jamie’s head fall. Three in a row of their friends now sagged, held up only by Simon, Jaz and the winds of Thad.

  “No!” Lena cried out. “Not Batman! I’ll pound you if I get the chance you… you…”

  “Oh, my! Batman hadn’t even come into his true power yet, silly girl. If he had, he would have sent for more help. He was worthless to you all, but of course, he had purpose for me. His built in sonar will be useful to reach the outer limits before I shut down this disturbing machine you so conveniently gathered to activate.

  “Yes, it seems I’ve awakened the gentle giant, Lena, by taking her friend’s life. Such mean things to say to a nice man like me! Imagine me, able to grow to immeasurable heights! Did you know you could do that dear Lena? Did you know that you were genetically modified to grow at will? So why have you stopped where you are, my dear?” He cradled her chin in one hand and shook it gently side to side. She growled in response.

  “Ugh! I don’t have time for you right now. Two of you
have something I want. You know who you are, and I’m sure by now, you know what those items are. I’ll bet one of them is you.” He atomized to appear in front of Thad, again.

  Don’t listen to him, Thad! We will beat him even without… without the fallen. Cai sent him the message.

  “That’s right. Don’t listen, Thad. Just because I made you who you are doesn’t give me the right to threaten you,” the monster mocked.

  “You didn’t make me who I am! My mother did!” Thad tightened his hand on Cheater’s, but flames grew up between them. He peered through the flames squeezing tightly, crying out as the flames licked at his wrist.

  As fire creates wind, the twelve, still fully connected, rotated within the spiral with the fire the was forced back in the whirlwind Thad had created. High above the stranger’s angry words, high above the seeking flames, both man and wind turned in the center of the spiral pushing back the flames as they rose higher and higher.

  “Ha! You think you can beat me, but you can’t. Not without your mothers’ protective pendants. And as I kill each of you off, I’ll know where to look for the last two!”

  Doubt filled their faces because they knew two couldn’t beat him.

  They felt the downward pull as the monster’s power lowered them slightly toward the flames, the belief of heat growing beneath them.

  “No! Don’t listen to him, Thad!” Cai screamed above the roar.

  “Focus!” Simon yelled through the challenging wind and flame, pulling at Rebecca’s lifeless body to stay connected. If he could just let go long enough to hold her head in his hands, he might…

  “I see. Now I see how ungrateful you all are that I gave you every power you have!”

  The monster moved to the rock.

  Is that true? Cai reached out to John. If anyone would know it would be him.

  “Of course, it’s true, Cai! Ask me! He wouldn’t know. He was just a sparkle in the test tube’s glass when he was modified for his special power. Have you figured out who saved your life that night, my brilliant nephew?

  “One by one, you will all fall.”

  The time was closing in on the creature of fire. He had to hurry. Time was stolen with every turn of the spiral, and he still needed the last two amulets.

  “You gave us nothing! All you did was take everything away!” Cheater challenged.

  “Oh, poor little Sara.” He pouted, “Stop trying to delay me. I’m going to smash another one of you anyway.” He laid the next amulet on the rock; it’s crystal-like surface reflected the non luminous veil of the flames sending forth dancing prisms; he raised the dagger, and yelled, “Who is next to fall?”

  Simon’s head slumped forward.

  Four in a row.

  Four down.

  This couldn’t be how it ended. There were so many lives at stake. This world, their world, hung in the balance between good and evil, and they hadn’t figured out how to defeat him.

  How many have to die? Thad thought as he loosed his grip on Carmen’s hand.

  Cheater held firm to his, gripped it tighter. “No! The fairytale! Remember the royal chant; recite it now, word for word.”

  “We have to find a way, a different way to defeat him.” Carmen told Thad before closing her eyes.

  The demonic man moved into Carmen’s view, “Oh, dear color seer. So brave. So confident, or is she? Tell me, little Carmen, what color is your mother now?” He tempted the young girl.

  “Arrgh!” Carmen growled in response, the noise beginning low and growing louder than his last words. Quickly switching moods, Carmen quietly began, “We are The Gifted Ones; the royals. We are connected…”

  Cheater joined in, “to each other through blood, through right, through distance. We’ve travelled far and wide to reach this…”

  Thad picked up the chant, “…to reach this place, to achieve our mission. Where one touches one we share our powers forever…”

  Jaz closed his eyes, remembering as he recited, “…for together we can bring justice to the poor, tame the unruly, reward the unselfish.”

  Cai spoke louder than the rest, “We will protect what is now, what is past, and what is future.”

  “Stop!” The command shook the barn, caused the spiral to tremble, and paused the voices, interrupting the Gifted Ones’ chant. “Do you know whose blood you are connected by?” The monster ripped through the barn circling them at inhuman speed.

  The flames responded to his motion, growing, flickering, and reaching until they were blown back by the words of the chant.

  The faster the monster moved the louder the chant grew. The creature paused at the rock, placed another amulet on it’s smooth surface, and smashed it with the tip of his dagger.

  A deep voice dropped from the chant silencing them all.

  Lena was down.

  Jaz struggled in the pull of both girls at his sides, both unable to lift their arms. Jaz screeched in pain, begging for help.

  Thad inhaled deeply and strengthened his wind to lift Lena. They could hear the relief in Jaz as he continued to chant, “…we are protected from the evil that surges in and around this world, this universe, and beyond.”

  “Not another word!” The monster’s size increased so quickly that he now towered over the teens, his scaly crown close to the barn’s rafters overhead. The fear for their not yet fallen friends tugged at each heart; the unknown of the spiral, of their ending, closer than it had ever been to them. Their compassion, their love for all living beings, for each other, for their families, stopped their attempt again as the dragon man returned to the rock, fell to his knees, lifted the dagger, and crumbled Carmen’s amulet.

  Now he could see them in their glory. He knew who was their foundation. He knew which one would bring them to their knees.

  Cheater cried out, “No, Thad! No weakness! Don’t let go, please!”

  Thad turned desperate eyes to Cheater. How could he let any of the others go? “We’re all dying,” he cried, his guilt overtaking him.

  The dragon man cocked his head, locating the reddest of those left.

  “Where there are two, there are twelve!” Nathan shouted to Thad the ending of the chant reminding him as long as Thad and John were still alive, the twelve were still alive. “Don’t let go!”

  What will happen to them? The unspoken words crinkled Thad’s eyes, burning tears forming.

  “Bow to me now, and I will save the rest of you!” The bellow rose above all noise in the barn, the flames licking higher with the tone.

  Another amulet crushed beneath the monster’s thrust.

  Cai’s body fell limp.

  And the monster was gone.

  “No!” Thad screamed. “Not her!” Thad’s heart ripped in two. Rage tensed his jaw as his face twisted with hatred. He ground his teeth together and screamed.

  He could not see the monster, who now blended with his background. His large reddish, green body now hidden. The Gifted Ones didn’t know where he might turn up next, who he would threaten. He now had half their powers and a great advantage over them.

  “Yes! Yes! There you are. There’s the one I was searching for. You are of my line. Feel that anger, that desire to kill. Feel it!” the whisper blew down upon Thad though he could not see the creature above him.

  Thad’s eyes burned as the monster’s fiery wind sped up; Thad matched it tossing dust and flames, old hay, shards of amulet throughout the barn.

  “Oh, perhaps I shouldn’t have done that.” The monster tapped his index finger to his pursed lips. “But then, if you destroy the others with your power, I won’t have to. Please, do continue.”

  “Thad stop!” Jaz yelled.

  “Thad I can’t see! Stop before you blind someone!” Cheater squeezed her eyes closed against hair and debris.

  The wind slowed. Thad started to relax.

  “Oh, I can’t wait any longer! You’re too annoying! Your strength is only matched by your stupidity, silly girl!” The monster man shook his head at Cheater, returned to the
stone, and smashed her amulet.

  Thad cried out in pain. The torrent of grief ripping through him at that moment filled the barn with gales of force. The roof of the old barn flew off, leaving only the churning spiral above them. Thad pushed his power so hard that even the rain drops flew back up and away from the opening.

  Jaz watched the commotion ahead, the lightning just beyond the spiral streaked the sky with continual bolts spreading above and beyond where the Gifted Ones circled. None had seen a storm of this nature.

  We can’t predict the end. We must follow our destinies. We must complete this mission, Cai’s voice— strong and resolved— filled Thad just as a wall creaked against the tossing and turning within the building. Put aside your pain, your anger, Thad. We need you. He heard her plea as tears flowed freely down his cheeks, tears as hot as the flames the monster forced upward. You have the strength. I believe in you.

  “Cai,” Thad sobbed. “Why Cai? Why Rebecca? Why Sara? Why not me?” Thad challenged the monster. “Break mine!”

  “No, Thad! No!” Jaz pulled his eyes from the mesmerizing show above and sought Thad’s face as he yelled.

  Never let go! Rebecca’s voice reminded him.

  How many times did they have to sway him? He couldn’t be trusted. He wasn’t strong enough.

  Jaz slumped as the next amulet shattered.

  Thad felt the spiral slow, a cog in the wheel of motion. He knew it was Jaz before he even opened his eyes. He was going to kill them all.

  One thing that Thad had never been was strong. He wasn’t strong enough to deter the monster’s intention. He wasn’t strong enough…

  Nathan fell next.

  Two more angry Gifted Ones were down.

  Two remained.

  Now the monster knew.

  “Whatever you do, Thad, don’t lose it. Hang on!” John shouted over the roar of wind and flame. “Where there are two, there are twelve!” He reminded Thad.