Chapter 20: Bargains
Aladdin's approach to diverting the attention of the guardsmen worked well for getting Abu and Carpet to a safe place. But it wasn't working as well as he hoped for making his journey easier. There were only so many times one could roll barrels, knock over furnishings and statues, and otherwise physically block pursuers before they caught on to the pattern, so Aladdin took it a step further by varying the paths through which he fled. This made several rounds of guards fall into traps that he'd set by being one step ahead of them.
He'd made it to the North Wing, entering a long hallway with several short winding staircases.
"I'm probably not going to find where Carpet and Abu went to - I took too long to follow them." He paused long enough to study the area, but found something small beside his boot.
"A thread...Carpet's thread!" He looked at the middle staircase ahead of him and saw an easy trail to follow. "I guess Abu must have plucked a few of the stray threads to help lead the way. Leave it to Abu to learn from the games we used to play with breadcrumbs when I was a street rat."
He carefully followed the threads through several sets of staircases, but upon hearing an echo of voices behind him, Aladdin realized he wasn't alone.
"We've found you, Aladdin. Did you think the snakes would buy you time? They were no match for our magic. Not even the biggest snake stood much of a test when he faced us head on." The deepest voice of the Dark Masters echoed through the way, and it wouldn't be long before they would close the gap in the path between them.
Oh, no, Barty! Aladdin thought, worried that the snakes had sacrificed themselves. He wondered how many others would perish just to save him from sharing the fate that Zeta's friend did. No, I gotta buy Abu and Carpet some time. Genie and the others may already be on their way here. Just a little longer.
He realized in the fork of the path that he could use the threads he'd gathered to his advantage. If I can create a path for him to follow, he'll think that we're all on this stretch.
"You really think you can deceive us into thinking where you're going? I can feel the vibrations of your steps, boy. Our magic is smarter than your tricks!"
Apparently not smart enough! You're right along the path I want you to follow! Aladdin thought. He ran as fast as he could ahead, looping through several corridors until he found a room to hide in. He'd carried a torch, but quickly snuffed out the light just before he entered the room.
He'd heard the Dark Masters's footsteps hesitate along the path. Aladdin stood close enough to the entrance to see the light of their torch illuminate the way. His eyes narrowed, realizing the Masters' saw the thin threads in the path. He heard the voices debating the path they should take.
"The boy is trying to trick us! These threads are the proof!"
"But which way should we go - to the left or right? I say to the left - it's obvious he's trying to divert attention that way."
Aladdin winced. Had his plan not worked after all?
"You fools! I'll decide. We'll take the right path. It's clear he took the shortest route and wanted us to think he went the long way. A street rat can only hide for so long!"
Aladdin let out a slow breath, stepping further into the darkness and finding a small corner to hide behind. He saw the light of the torch before the cloaked figure entered the room, but found himself watching as the Dark Masters touched the flame of the torch to something aside the entrance.
The room exploded with light, causing Aladdin to draw back at the sight. He covered his eyes, squinting as he looked around the room, realizing it was much bigger than he'd thought he was walking into. Something of an antiquated auditorium, several pillars helping to decorate the circular room. Aladdin realized he was just on the inside barrier of several rows of seats. Apparently for a sacrificial room, they made it so that a large crowd could observe the events. Aladdin wondered what kind of palace would condone such rituals.
If this palace used to belong to demons, I wonder what sort of things they had for "sport" here , Aladdin thought.
"Where are you, Aladdin?" One of the Dark Masters' voices bellowed. "We know you're here."
At that moment, a burst of light flooded the room again, this time making the Dark Masters' voices howl all at once. Aladdin squinted, looking just enough into the center of the room where the altar stood. He had to cover his mouth from uttering anything aloud, but the sight filled him with more dread than his predicament beforehand.
Mirage stood in the middle of the room, shaking her head. "My, my, my - for such powerful rulers, you certainly have trouble finding one lowly former street rat. Seems like I came just in time."
"I take it you have found something of interest to us?" The loudest of the Masters' voices said.
Mirage nodded. "Oh for certain. In case you're having trouble locating Aladdin, I think it'd be better for him to come to us. I certainly have something - or should I say, someone - that will provide the incentive."
A sickening feeling filled Aladdin's stomach the moment he heard Mirage's words. He crawled to one of the higher rows of seats to get a better look. He saw a cloaked figure kneeling on the floor, clutching their side where a large area of blood coated the tunic. The figure's head bent down, and Aladdin could tell the figure seemed badly injured.
Who did Mirage capture and hurt that badly? Wait a minute, if Mirage used to be in the magic bottle that Genie carried around, then that means...Aladdin's thoughts stopped as quickly as they started when he saw the reflection of the jewel the figure wore in her hair. His eyes widened with horror.
No...Jasmine!
Genie, Iago, and Zeta arrived in the cauldron room just in time. Zeta looked around, lighting a few of the torches to give the room light.
"I'm surprised no one's here yet. If Aladdin and Abu were successful, they should've been here by now," Zeta said.
"Something must've went wrong," Genie said.
Iago folded his wings across his chest while perched on Genie's shoulder. "Gee, ya think they'd do a better job of not getting themselves caught while waiting for us to arrive."
Zeta flinched. "If any of them were caught by the Masters, then we have our work cut out for us. Especially if they weren't able to get the runes."
A screech nearby startled all of them. From a hiding place behind the cauldron they sought, Abu and Carpet emerged.
Genie gasped upon seeing Carpet. "Yo, Rug-Man, what happened to you? You're...severely frayed to say the least."
"He looks like he got pulled apart by the Dark Masters! If they could do that to him, just think what they could do to us!" Iago shouted.
Zeta gave him a warning glance. "Not so loud, parrot. We need all the runes to start the process. If Aladdin has them..."
Abu held up the small bag of runes in his hand, containing the ones he and Aladdin found in their search. Zeta seemed surprised, but Genie was quicker to give Abu a high five and grab the bag.
"Alright, monkey boy! We're in business now! All the runes, meaning we can get rid of the Dark Masters and save Agrabah, not to mention Al's body."
Zeta shook his head. "We won't be able to save Aladdin if he's already dead. We need to find him. My magic can only protect him for so long."
Genie scratched his chin. "I'm pretty sure I programmed our coordinates to arrive close to where he was. If my calculations are correct, he should be in the next room."
Zeta dumped all of the runes in a nearby cauldron in the room in which they stood. He watched as a vision came clear, confirming Genie's assertion. "Indeed he is. But he isn't alone, and the vision is changing. The Masters are planning a dangerous bluff. You need to get to Aladdin before he makes a mistake he can't take back."
"We know you're here, Aladdin!" Mirage taunted, hissing between her long fangs. "You were the original sacrifice planned for this little excursion, but I wonder if a fairer option might be in tow." She forcefully tilted Jasmine's face towards hers. "I think this Princess ought to do nicely. Maybe if you show yourself now, we can promise you a fresh new start in Agrabah since the Princess will have an entire new identity once the Masters consume her."
"Indeed, that's an enticing option," the loudest of the Masters' voice proclaimed.
What exactly do I do now? Aladdin thought, his back against a nearby pillar that hid him from view. If I stay here, they'll sacrifice Jasmine in my place, but if I show myself, I'm outnumbered and they'll capture me too - and that's no way to help her get out of there. There's gotta be some way to distract them.
He inched as much as he dared to look at the scene below him, where Jasmine struggled against Mirage pulling her to stand.
"Aladdin, whatever you do, stay hidden! It's not worth you falling under their trap. They're going to..." Jasmine's voice trailed off as a blast of magic hit her from behind, delivered by the Dark Masters. She cried out, falling forward.
I can't afford to wait, Aladdin thought, his heart lurching. He looked at a far corner of the room to see a weakened pillar, one that could create a domino effect of collapsing a good part of the room on itself, if he could strike the weak area with enough force. He saw a large rock just out of reach. If he went for it, there wouldn't be anything hiding him anymore, not to mention if his aim was off, he'd make himself vulnerable.
He smiled to himself. In that case, I'm not gonna miss.
At the very moment Aladdin went for the rock, the hissing voice of the Dark Masters filled his ears. "This is where you die, boy."