CHAPTER FOUR

Every creature in the chamber starts talking at once. All around him, Gregor can hear excited yelling, hushed whispering, and the shuffling of papers. Through it all, though, he does not take his eyes off Luxa. She just continues to stare down at him, mouth slightly agape. Her beautiful violet eyes almost transfix him where he stands.

Vikus is trying to calm everyone down, but he's having trouble raising his voice over the volume of the room. Gregor can see his hands moving back and forth as he speaks, looking from side to side. It takes Ripred, still wearing his pristine smirk, to quiet the chamber. With a single slam of his tail on the podium he's sitting at, instantly, the chamber stops talking. Everyone has calmed down, at least for now.

"Gregor…" Vikus says softly. "Gregor the Overlander…" He slowly blinks his eyes. "It is so wonderful to see you!"

Gregor smiles up at the man. "It's good to see you, too, Vikus. How're things?"

Vikus returns Gregor's smile. "They are well, Overlander, they are well."

"Let's get back to business!" Ripred pipes up, giving Gregor a knowing look. "The Overlander has returned."

"Indeed," one of the fliers replies. "Where do we go from here?"

"I need two days," Ripred says. "No more. I already have in mind who I want to bring."

"Let us not get ahead of ourselves, Ripred," Vikus says.

"What think she, Queen Luxa, what think she?" a crawler adds.

Luxa is still looking at Gregor, but when she feels all eyes in the room turn on her, she takes a deep breath, calming herself. "Gregor…" her voice suddenly sounds dry. "How did…? Why did you come…?" Her gaze settles behind Gregor, on Brookmark. Her eyes suddenly narrow angrily. "Ripred…!" she hisses. Standing, she turns on the rat next to her. "You brought him here without mine, or any other representative's consent!"

Her words spray like venom, but Ripred doesn't flinch under them. "I need no one's consent but the boy's," he replies simply. "I called upon him, and he came, just like he always would have." Ripred stands now, turning on Luxa as well. "The point is, now that the Overlander is here, what say you, your majesty?"

Luxa is literally shaking in anger. After a few more moments of staring Ripred down, she plops back in her seat, letting out a great sigh. She looks back to the young man standing below her. "Gregor…" she says softly, her eyes full of concern. "I will not tell you to leave, but be warned, what we are about to tell you is a grave matter. If you leave now, no one here will stop you." She glances back to Ripred, who has also taken his seat again. "You have my word."

Gregor is silent for a moment. Luxa has just given him the opportunity to turn away and never look back. But he can't. Now that's he back down in this wonderful place, he just can't. He smiles up at her.

"I'm here," he says. "Tell me what's going on."

Ripred smiles down at him, the light of the torches glinting off the scars on his face. "Some time ago," he begins. "A stench began to infest its way through the rat colonies. It was un-earthly, a stench like we'd never smelled before. Enough was enough. I sent a small scouting party out to find the source of the odor, and I heard nothing back for some time. But finally, a single member of the party returned- exhausted, dehydrated, and starved." Ripred pauses, letting the information sink in. "What he described finding fits the description of biters perfectly."

There it was again. Biters. "What are biters?" Gregor asks.

"Creatures of legend," Luxa replies. "Foul beasts that are said to be able to break anything in half with a single snap of their jaws."

"Truthfully," Vikus adds. "Not a single Underland creature has ever seen one. That is, until…"

"My scouting party's leader," Ripred finishes, picking at his teeth. "Your escort."

Gregor whips around to look at Brookmark, who is in turn staring down at the floor. "Brookmark…?"

"Yes," Ripred grabs Gregor's attention back. "Brookmark fought against the biters, and is the only one of his party to return alive."

"Sorry," Gregor replies. "But I'm still not sure what a biter actually is…"

"Of course," Vikus says, thinking for a second. "I believe in the Overland they're called…what was it…crocodiles?"

Gregor freezes. Crocodiles? He thinks for a moment. Everything in the Underland was at least four times bigger then its Overland counterpart. He tries to imagine an oversized crocodile, and the thought sends a shiver through his body.

"Wait," Gregor says. "How come I've never heard of them before?"

"Hardly anyone has," a flier replies. "As Queen Luxa says, they are legendary, said to be as old as the Underland is."

"You could say," Ripred adds, "that they're the Underland's first inhabitants."

"Then how did you guys even find them?" Gregor asks.

"The earthshake," Brookmark says from behind him. "The one I mentioned? We believe its tremor opened the pathway to their cavern." Ripred nods in agreement.

"Sorry," Gregor says again. "But I still don't understand the problem? Do the biters not want to join your alliance or…?"

"Worse then that, my boy," Ripred replies. "According to Brookmark, the biters have sworn to take back the Underland."

"Take it back…?"

"We do not know how they became trapped in their cavern," Vikus says. "Perhaps another earthshake years ago. But it would seem they had no intention of sharing the Underland with any other creature."

"So they're just greedy?" Gregor asks.

"Greedy and dangerous," Ripred says. "To be able to bite a fully grown gnawer in half."

Gregor nods. "Okay…okay. I think I understand." He looks back up at the assembly. "But what do you need me for?"

Luxa looks off to the side as Vikus speaks. "There is a prophecy, Gregor. One we thought would never come to pass." Gregor stills. So there was, in fact, a prophecy. "We did not tell you of it before because we thought it was not necessary."

Gregor takes a moment to compose himself. Sandwich's last prophecy about him had foretold his death, but it never came. Ripred has also told him, personally, that he doesn't believe the man's words. What could he possibly want Gregor to do now?

"I think this meeting is over," Ripred interjects, jumping right off the podium. He walks right up to Gregor, giving him a wink. "There is much we must show the Overlander."

"Well said, friend," Vikus calls, stepping down from his own placement, and crossing the room with a cane. "Come, Gregor," he adds, placing a hand on Gregor's back and turning him around.

As Vikus and Ripred usher him out of the chamber, Gregor turns his head, looking back at Luxa. The rest of the creatures are moving around, conversing with each other excitedly. But Luxa remains seated, staring off after him. Her violet eyes hold a certain degree of sorrow, and seeing them breaks Gregor's heart.

"You will undoubtedly talk to her later, boy," Ripred mumbles, turning him back around as they descend the stairs. As they reach the bottom of and turn down the hallway, Gregor notices many of the Underland palace workers turn and stare at him in a mix of shock and awe.

Ripred speaks quickly as they guide him through the corridors. "You couldn't have found my letter on a better day, boy!" There is an edge of excitement in his words. He turns his head to look back at Brookmark, who Grewgor has realized is following them. "And Brookmark, oh, you did well!"

"I cannot say I approve of your methods, Ripred, but the Overlander's arrival was definitely the push Luxa needed," Vikus is stern, but there is an undertone of amusement in his voice.

"You said it was just a meeting between us, Ripred," Gregor shoots at the rat. "And you said there was no prophecy!"

"Would you have still come, boy?" Ripred challenges. When Gregor doesn't reply right away, Ripred snorts. "Thought so. I imagine it's that mother of yours."

Within another minute, the four of them are standing in front of the wooden door that leads to the prophecy room. Vikus quickly unlocks it, and they enter. The room looks just as Gregor remembers; words are scrawled across the walls, floor and ceiling in every way, shape, and form. In the center of the room, a lone lantern rests on the floor.

Vikus extends an arm, allowing Gregor to pass by him. "The prophecy."

Gregor cautiously approaches the lantern, his eyes scanning the part of the floor right below it. It is, without a doubt, definitely one of the clearer written prophecies he's seen. The words seem to shimmer in the brightness of the dancing flame. He can feel the others still standing behind him as Gregor gets to his knees and bows his head.

BENEATH THE PEACEFUL UNDERLAND,

LIES CREATURES, FOUL, RAGE IN THEIR HANDS.

THE UNDERLAND IS LOST TO THEM,

BY RIGHT, ALL OTHERS THEY CONDEM.

THE FLOOD WILL COME, AND WITH A REIGN

OF BLOOD, AND BODIES, AND RUSTY CHAINS.

THERE IS NO HOPE, NO NOT THIS DAY

SO FIND YOUR OWN RAGE, IT'S TIME TO PLAY.

A QUEST TO VANQUISH THE BEASTS MOST VICIOUS,

LIES IN THE HANDS OF A GHOST AND THE AMBITIOUS.

TWO RAGERS WHO THOUGHT WOULD FALL,

RETURN, ABLE TO SAVE YOU ALL.

GIVE THEM YOUR BEST AND SEND THEM AWAY,

AND PRAY THEY RETURN, OR LIFE BECOMES GRAY.

BUT ONE OF THEM MUST WATCH WHERE HE SWINGS,

OR HIS BUILDING RAGE WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING.

A THIRD RAGER IS WAITING AHEAD,

HUNGRY, HE WILL RIP LIFE TO SHREDS.

HIS EYES GLOW IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT,

WAITING FOR THE FINAL FIGHT.

IF THE RAGERS ARE TO FAIL,

THE UNDERLAND WILL BE DROWNED IN WAILS.

GIVE THEM YOUR BLESSING, AND PRAY FOR THEIR LIGHT,

THEIR VISION IS A BLOODSTAINED SIGHT.

Blinking, Gregor reads the words again. As usual, he doesn't know what to think of Sandwich's prophecies, but this one definitely has an undertone of some kind of battle. He slides his hand over the surface of the floor, letting his fingers brush against the chiseled words.

Vikus speaks from behind him. "What think you of 'The Prophecy of Rage,' Gregor the Overlander?"

"'The Prophecy of Rage,'" Gregor says aloud, getting back to his feet. "Good name. It's definitely about ragers."

"Which is why we need you," Ripred says. "Sandwich refers to one of the ragers as a ghost, and since you killed the warrior, he must be talking about you. That and you're the only other rager I know."

Gregor nods. "Okay, so I gotta go fight these things? The biters?" Gregor gives a noticeable swallow as the image of a huge crocodile floods into his head again.

"It would seem so," Vikus answers. "If the biters truly mean to take back the Underland, we must stop them before they can begin their massacre."

"You won't be alone, boy," Ripred stresses, a smirk rising across his face. "I want a piece of these things too, and the 'ambitious rager' the prophecy speaks of can only be me."

"What about the third rager?" Gregor asks, looking back to the prophecy. "The one 'waiting ahead?'"

"We assume it's a biter," Ripred replies. "But who knows, really? Ragers are as rare as rainbows."

"If one of the biters is truly a rager, the task will be nearly impossible," Brookmark speaks up.

"It was already nearly impossible anyway," Ripred shrugs. "We have to try."

"Oh yeah, Brookmark," Gregor says, looking at his escort. "You saw these things right? What are the biters like?"

A cloud seems to hang over Brookmark as he looks away. "Horrible creatures… Razor sharp teeth, huge jaws and forms- skin as tough as scales." He hangs his head low. "We were so powerless…"

Vikus claps his hands together. "Come, we will discuss later. Now is a time for food."

They exit the room, and Vikus leads them down the corridor and up a flight of stairs to the dining hall. As they enter, Gregor finds most of the delegates have stayed to dine as well, and are all gratefully chowing down.

"Sit anywhere you wish, Gregor," Vikus says with a smile. After a short bow, he moves away, calling out to the pair of crawlers from the assembly.

Ripred comes up to his side, grabbing his arm. "We'll talk later, without Vikus' ears." The statement is direct, and after he says it, Ripred and Brookmark move toward the table. "I hope you left me some shrimp and cream sauce!"

Having just eaten, Gregor decides to skip the meal, and moves over to the side of the table. A few of the delegates are staring at him, but he shakes off the uneasy feeling. There's a table off to the side, and he plops down in one of its chairs. Leaning back, he gazes up at the open roof of the room.

It's obvious that he's not making it back home by the morning, so he prays that Lizzie will be able to handle it. Mentally apologizing to his mother, his thoughts drift to the biters. If they're really as bad as Brookmark says they are, he's got his work cut out for him. Being a rager made no difference to him if they could bite a rat in half with no effort. Speaking of being a rager, two lines of the prophecy slam through Gregor's system.

BUT ONE OF THEM MUST WATCH WHERE HE SWINGS,

OR HIS BUILDING RAGE WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING.

Did Sandwich know that Gregor would start losing control of his rager side? Or did the mad man just go for a good rhyme to complete the stanza? Gregor isn't sure, but Sanwich does have a point. If things get crazy in the field, Gregor doesn't know if he'd be able to stop himself.

I've got to talk to Ripred about it, ASAP. But then again, Ripred has obviously read the prophecy as well. Perhaps he already knows how much trouble Gregor's in.

There's movement to his left, and Gregor looks up to find a soldier standing above him. "Uh…hi."

The man nods. "Queen Luxa has summoned you to her quarters, Overlander." He looks around, shifting uncomfortably. "I have been sent to cover your escape."

"My escape?"

"You will not leave this room unnoticed…" he heaves a great sigh as he turns away, marching over to the longer table where everyone else was seated. "My delegates!" he greets. "The Queen has sent me to entertain you as you dine!" With that, the man bursts out into the worst singing voice Gregor has ever heard.

After a few seconds, all of the delegates fall into their own versions of laughter. The fliers, the shiners, the nibblers, even the crawlers. As Gregor looks, Ripred is rolling around on the floor in stiches. Even Vikus is covering his face with one of his hands.

Gregor is about to start laughing himself, but then he remembers that this man has just sacrificed his pride for his sake. Taking one last look at the sight, Gregor darts for the archway leading out of the hall, quickly ducking out of it. He doesn't need someone to show him where Luxa stays in the palace; he's been there before, and he'll never forget it. He jogs down the hallway, and turns down another corridor before turning again, up a flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs, he makes down another hallway.

Eventually, he's climbing up the twisting staircase that lead's to the Queen's chambers. He can hardly keep the butterflies in his stomach in check. Finally! An opportunity to talk to Luxa alone! He's face to face with her door now. He flattens his shirt down, and brushes a hand through his shaggy hair. He'd been dodging the barber for a while, and now he kind of regrets it. Holding his breath, he pulls her door open and steps inside.

SMACK.

He's definitely not expecting the slap. Luxa hits him so hard, his head snaps sideways from the force of her hand. His vision clouds, and once again, he can feel himself sliding back, allowing his rager side to take over. He clenches his fists, doing his best to fight back the sensation, but he can't! Everything around him blurs as his breathing slows. He finds his hand going for the pocketknife in his pocket, and pure panic sweeps over him.

BUT ONE OF THEM MUST WATCH WHERE HE SWINGS,

OR HIS BUILDING RAGE WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING.

No! He thinks desperately.

But suddenly, Luxa wraps her arms around him, stepping closer. She buries her face in his chest, and he can hear her sobbing. As if it had never even been there, his rager sense evaporates. He looks down at her, almost poking his eye out with her crown.

"I thought you lost…" she whispers with a voice leaking sadness. "I thought you never to return."

"I'm here," Gregor tells her.

She shakes her head, her face still buried in his chest. "I did not want you to return like this," she replies. "I wanted us to go on a picnic, to laugh together again." She takes a sharp intake of breath. "I did not want you to return only to be forced into another battle."

Gregor wraps his own arms around her thin frame. "I'm not just here for the Underland," he says softly. "I'm here for you. If destroying the biters will keep you safe, then I'll do it." He smiles. "I'll do anything."

"I just got you back," Luxa cries, tightening her grip around him. "I will not lose you again!"

Gregor's heart floats. So this was why Luxa had been so adamant about him not returning to the Underland. At first he thought she might've been mad about him, but hearing her say those words is extremely uplifting. He manages to squeeze an arm between them, and lifts Luxa's chin up so she's looking at him. Her eyes tell him more then her voice ever will.

"You won't."

Despite herself, Luxa smiles, and Gregor returns the favor. He bends his knees, lowering his head slightly as she leans up on her tiptoes. Their faces are inches from each other. However, there is a giant sound of fluttering wings, and Luxa quickly breaks away, stepping back from him. Gregor looks to his right, ready to scream at whoever interrupted them, but when he sees a mesh of golden fur, he relaxes.

"Aurora," Luxa says, wiping her eyes. "Welcome back." Luxa's bond has just landed on the balcony outside the room. The bat stares at Gregor. Luxa smiles. "Know you, Gregor the Overlander?"

"Of course," the bat purrs, bowing her head. "It is most surprising to see you again, Overlander."

"I wish I could say the same, Aurora," Gregor says, smiling, and giving her a small bow in return. "But I always knew I would see you again."

Aurora flutters her wings, happily, but then she suddenly snaps her head toward Luxa. "Luxa, have you told him?"

Luxa blushes as her bat looks at her, but her face twists into realization at Aurora's words. "No, we have been talking about other things, and…"

Suddenly, a second bat has landed next to Aurora. It is bigger then her, and is a dark pitch black. Its wings are still half spread as it looks at Gregor; it freezes, shock written all over its face. The sight of the creature takes Gregor's breath away, and he stumbles backward slightly.

"Gregor!" Luxa calls.

Gregor looks down as his right hand, clenching and unclenching his fist. It can't be. It's impossible, and he knows it. But yet, there was something inside him, deep down, telling him that it was true. Shaking, he looks back up at the bat.

In a voice heavy with pain, he chokes out, "Ares…"