Chapter 3
Alaric's POV:
"Dhandi, what are you doing here?"
"I didn't want too, honest!" She wailed and I patted her when she hugged me. "I had too."
"Who said?"
"He's got Eden, Rick." Dhandi whispered.
"Mozenrath." I stated. He's the only one who fit that description. Clapping came from behind me and I was momentarily reminded of the time that Mozenrath had hired a genie hunter and the all mess that happened because of it. He had clapped at me like that before, so I knew I wasn't wrong in accusing him.
"Good. Very good, street rat." He mocked and I turned to face him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, keeping Dhandi behind me. I didn't trust that sorcerer at all.
"Assisting." He smirked and I smirked back, not fooled at all.
"Assisting?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "You wouldn't assist anyone without a way to get your own personal gain. You only help yourself." Mozenrath stepped closer.
"Careful, street rat. You don't want to offend me."
I looked towards Mirage who was taking this in with amusement. I didn't being gawked at. "Go ahead and then Al will still kick your butt in the end." I paused for a moment. "That's kind of redundant. I mean I could say he'd just kick your end again, you know? It'd be the same thing." Dhandi giggled and I grinned at the sorcerer.
"Shut up, street brat." The necromancer snarled, his composure wilting a bit.
His stupid eel came slithering out from the shadows to swim around me and Dhandi. "Shut up, shut up." He parroted and I knocked him away when he got close enough.
"Would you not do that? It's annoying." The eel scowled at me and flew back to his master. I glared at Mozenrath. "You knew I'd be caught didn't you? You want to use me and Dhandi to get Genie and Eden." His smirk answered me. "You're using Mirage's El-Katib plan to cover up your own agenda."
"Smart isn't he?" Mirage laughed at me.
"Which is why I recommended taking him out first."
"Excuse me?" I stated and Mozenrath smirked.
"Don't think I've forgotten, who's spoiled my plans much quicker than Aladdin. If not for your interfere with my Wind Jackal, I would have torn Agrabah to shreds."
Mirage smirked. "Yes and who was the first to see through my "queenly" disguise?" I rolled my eyes. A fine time to them to take notice of me! I suddenly found myself grappled by some of the El-Katib and I tried to fight they're grip on me as they lifted me off the ground.
"Hey, let go!" The Evil Incarnate turned to me and grinned wickedly before glancing at Dhandi. "Now, little girl, you don't want us to hurt your friend do you?"
"N-no." She stated, looking upset. I tried to tug my arms free but they had a tight grip. Mozenrath was smirking at me.
"Well as long as you do as I say then he won't be." She was still talking in a sickening sweet tone which I knew was fake.
"Don't listen to her, Dhandi!" I yelled and Mozenrath shoved his gauntlet in my face, blue and black magic radiating off it.
"Quiet, street rat."
"Please don't hurt him." Dhandi stated, shifting a bit. "I do what you want." Mirage smiled.
Mozenrath stepped forward. "Then bring me the jinni's lamp."
Dhandi looked at me before following one of the El-Katib through a portal.
"There you got your way, now let me go."
Mozenrath smirked and walked over to him, gauntlet raised. "I don't think so, street rat. You see, once I have the jinni's lamp I'll have the other jinni as well."
"You mean…you jerk! You never had Eden! You used her!" The sorcerer cackled wickedly and I ground my teeth. "You used Mirage's plan to lure me in and then blackmailed Dhandi into thinking you had Eden, that way she would bring you Genie's lamp because you knew I wouldn't do it. Genie will follow after his lamp. Then when Eden comes here looking for Dhandi, which is why you sent her out there, she'll discover you have Genie's lamp and come looking for it."
"Yes. And once I have the other jinni my plan will be set in motion."
"And how exactly does that pertain to me?"
The sorcerer smirked. "The next step is eliminating the biggest threat to my plan which just so happens to be you." The necromancer turned to Mirage and bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I have a furnace to ready."
"A furnace?!" I repeated, eyes widening, and he smirked.
"Calm down, street rat. It's not for you. I have something better for you."
"I hate it when the villain says that." I tried to back away when the sorcerer stepped closer. "Get away from me!"
"Say goodnight, street rat." He stated, lifting his gauntlet towards my forehead.
"Nighty night, night night!" Xerxes repeated and that was the last thing I heard as the sorcerer tapped the middle of my forehead.
3rd POV:
"We're getting a strong signal." Eden called. "We're gaining on him...He should be just below us."
Aladdin scanned the ground. "I don't see anything."
"Hey," Eden scowled. "Now he's way over here!
Aladdin frowned. "That's clear across town!"
"What gives?" Genie stated with a frown. "I want to know how he does that!"
"Must be Mozenrath helping him along." Eden frowned. "When I get my hands on that sorcerer…" She threatened and Genie leaned towards Al.
"Remind me not to get on her bad side."
Al smirked before seeing something below. "I see him!" A shadow went around the corner suddenly.
"Help!" Iago cried out and they knew they were close as they raced down the street.
They came to a dead end and Aladdin leapt off Carpet. There lying on the ground was a bottle.
"Iago." He murmured and suddenly they heard muffled grumbling.
Eden was the first to spot the disgruntled parrot, who was stuck in a crack in the wall. She pulled him free. "Uh!" He groaned and she dusted him off.
Aladdin suddenly felt something being pulled from his pocket. He turned in time to see Dhandi run off.
"Dhandi!" He murmured and ran after her. Eden tossed Iago to Genie and arched an eyebrow.
"Where is he going?"
"Dunno." Genie shrugged. "Oh, Al? Come back!"
Aladdin darted around the corner and skidded to a stop. "The old well. Where Amal disappeared." He then spotted Dhandi who was sitting nervously by the well. "Dhandi! Ah, you're all right!" He ran up to the girl, but she backed away from him. "Come on, let's get you out of here." Dhandi suddenly pushed him.
"I'm not going anywhere." She protested and Aladdin looked confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked. "Eden said, Mozenrath took you."
"Nobody stole me. I went with him because I wanted to." She said, but Aladdin could see that she didn't believe her own words. She looked frightened and he realized that she was probably being blackmailed by the sorcerer.
"It's okay, Dhandi. You can tell me."
Dhandi shook her head. "I-I joined the kinship of the El Katib! It's too late!" She backed away from Aladdin again and he saw the lamp in her hand.
"No, Dhandi! Don't give that to Mozenrath!"
"Um, I'm not a lowly street rat anymore. I'm finally making something of myself." The girl said firmly, but shakily. "And the best part is, the El Katib are immortal. I'm going to live forever!" She stated and Aladdin finally got a good look at her. She was turning. He gasped.
"If this is what's happened to you, then - then Amal-" He trailed off when something roared behind him and he turned around. Dhandi bite her lip and hopped into the well behind her. Aladdin swallowed, looking at the beast. "Amal?"
The monster sighed. "Yes. Amal. I, too, have finally made something of myself, Aladdin." The sound of the others drew near and Amal growled.
"It's got Al!" Genie exclaimed and Aladdin shook his head.
"Genie, no! It's Amal!" The thing he once called friend tossed him aside then.
Genie beamed. "Told you we'd find him, buddy!" He and Eden flew after the monster who jumped down into the well. They both turned into Olympic divers and prepared to dive off their boards.
"Dhandi!" Eden cried as she watched the little girl disappear into a portal along with the creature. Genie didn't have time to stop and face planted the ground.
"Ow." He groaned and stood back up. "Alley-oop! Oops!" He grabbed the portal before it could close. As a carnival announcer he held it out for inspection. "Step right up! See the amazing, living, shadow-painting doorway to who-knows-where!" He announced and then saw the look on Eden's face. "Sorry."
Eden bit her lip. "Did you see her? What have they done to my baby?" She asked and Genie shook his head.
Aladdin and the others peered down into the well.
"So that's how it got clear across town! It moves through shadows!" Aladdin announced and Iago looked panicked.
"Shadows? It's the Shadow Walkers! The El Katib!" He shrieked and flew down to the bottom of the well.
"The El Katib." Aladdin repeated with a frown. "That's what Dhandi was talking about." He got onto Carpet and the rug lowered him and Abu down into the well also.
Iago shuddered. "I've heard about these El Katib guys. They come out once every seven years, and only during a full moon."
Genie turned into an astronomer with a telescope, and started doing calculations on the side of the well. "Which, according to my calculations," He began in a goofy accent. "Sets in, hoo hoo hoo, 8 minutes, 30 seconds." Eden gasped.
"Hey! If we just wait out here, they'll just go away, see? For another seven whole years!" Iago stated and Genie scowled at him.
"And what about shorty? You're best friend will be a monster."
"Oh, fine, play the guilt card." The parrot grumbled and Genie rolled his eyes.
Aladdin looked at the tunnel. "Come on, we don't have much time. Dhandi's in trouble. I think Mozenrath is manipulating her."
Eden frowned. "Ooh, that sorcerer is going to get it!"
"Amal may be too far gone, but Dhandi's not a monster yet. There's still hope for her and the other children. Maybe Alaric too." Aladdin murmured and stepped into the portal. Iago and the others followed after him. All of them hoping that they still had time.
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