21
The next day, Shelby walked to the glade alone. She stood before the shimmering pool and stared into it. She had to warn Malikai about her friend's plans. With all her might, she summounded up the magnificent, pink portal. She stepped into it and casually walked across the magic web to the Otherworlds. Once stepping onto the portal field, she raced towards Malikai's home. She pounded on the front door.
The dark Zodiac mage opened the door and stared at Shelby surprisingly. "Hey, what's-"
"They're coming for you!" she shouted.
Malikai's eyes widened. "Wh-What're you talking about?"
"My friends are coming to question you. They think that you're trying to release dark magic across the web like the Dark Sorceress."
Malikai stared at her for a moment, then his expression turned hard. He turned and beckoned for his fellow mage to follow him. The two walked inside Malikai's house and sat at the black table.
"How could they think such a thing?" Malikai said to himself. He turned towards Shelby. "I bet that it was that Roland guy, right?"
Shelby nodded grimly. "I'm afraid so. Everyone believes him because they barely know you. Unlike the way I know you."
Malikai's lips twitched. He wanted to smile, but obviously couldn't. "Thanks... Anyway, how could I be doing this stuff when I've been keeping an eye on the sudden increase in dark magic?"
"You've been keeping track of the dark magic?"
He nodded and waved his hand. Purple-ish mist appeared out of nowhere and twisted, forming into a small map of the magical web. "I've been wondering about the magic spike myself," Malikai said. "I even investigated the area, and found nothing. Maybe, most likely, it's the Dark Sorceress."
"That's not possible!" Shelby protested. "The Dark Sorceress was killed, right?"
Malikai stared at the map hard. His eyes were pained. "I... I'm not sure..."
"What?"
"I... I don't know, but I feel as if she's alive somehow... We have a...special connection, I guess you can call it?"
"What do you mean by that?"
He shook his head, his eyes sad and shameful. "Because she's my-"
Suddenly, a knock came from the door.
Emily, Adriane, Kara, Jen, Juls, Haley, Liv, and Roland stood at the edge of the portal in the glade. Kara turned to face the crowd.
"Okay, listen up!" the blazing star shouted. "This is the plan. Emily, Adriane, Jen, Roland, and I will enter the Otherworlds and search for Malikai. Juls, Haley, and Liv will stay here and keep us monitored with Tweek. Plus, keep trying Shelby and see if she's gonna join us. Understand?"
Juls raised her hand.
"What is it?"
"Yeah, um, who died and made you boss?"
Kara was about to pounce at the water Zodiac Mage if it weren't for Adriane holding her back.
"Yeah, so as the blazing airhead was saying," Adriane continued,"we'll go after the mage."
"Everyone ready?" Roland said.
"Yes," the healer said.
Ozzie smiled as he stood on her shoulder. "I'm ready to kick some dark Zodiac Mage butt!"
"Lyra and I are ready," Kara said.
"So is Dreamer and I," the warrior comfirmed.
Jen smiled as she thought of Darlada, her bonded unicorn. Everytime she thought of her, she would feel much stronger than ever.
Roland smiled. "Alright, let's go!"
The group jumped into the portal and headed across the web together. After their travel, they landed in the Otherworlds' portal field. The group saw a narrow
pathway through the trees and made their way towards it.
"I don't like the feel of this place," Roland said, obviously on guard.
Jen nodded. "Me either. I have pure good magic, so, I guess it's like negative energy towards this place."
They walked along the path until they came upon a small house. It seemed to be so omnious in a scary place like they were in.
Emily looked at Ozzie. The ferret shrugged. "It's worth a shot."
The healer walked up to the door and knocked.
Shelby shot up from her seat and stared at the door. Malikai raised a hand, telling her to calm down. He walked towards the door and opened it casually.
"Yes?"
Emily stared at the mage for a moment, then remembered her task.
"We would like to ask you some questions, Malikai."
He stepped out of the house, Shelby following him. The grouped stared in surprise.
"What're you doing here?" Jen asked her friend.
"I was uh..."
"Nevermind her," Malikai said. "I just want to say that I am innocent. I am not responsible for the increase of dark magic in this general area."
Emily listened as he explained. Ozzie frowned.
"Don't be lyin', you evil mage!" the ferret yelled while punching the air. "Lemme at him!"
"Slow down, Mr. Ferret," Jen said patting Ozzie's head. "Let Emily take care of this."
"He's lying!"
"No, he's not," Emily said. She stepped forward and stared into Malikai's eyes. The dark Zodiac Mage stared at her curiously. The healer closed her eyes. Then she snapped them open. Malikai could feel it. Emily was searching through his mind with her mage powers to find the truth. The healer searched his mind carefully, and eventually she tore away her powerful gaze.
"I can sense it. Not to mention that I searched his mind for the truth. So, he's not lying. I should've done that before."
"I told you he was innocent," Shelby said, hooking her arm around Malikai's. He blushed.
"Then... What's going on here?" Jen asked. Malikai motioned inside his house. "Please, everyone, follow me and I'll explain."
The mages looked at one another and shrugged. They followed Malikai inside his house. He pointed towards the floating map above the table. "I've been monitoring the sudden increase in dark magic around this area and I believe that I can track it down."
"You can?" Roland said in awe.
Malikai nodded. "Of course. Magic attracts magic. Dark magic attracts other dark magic. You know that much."
"Then please," Kara said sarcasticly,"lead the way."
"Gladly."
He lead the group outside. He raised his hand as a purple and black haze swirled around it. Closing his eyes, he tried to sense a great amount of dark magic anywhere he could think of. Then, he saw it. He opened his eyes and turned to the group.
"That spike is in the Black Grass plain! Let's go!"
The mages and bondeds followed Malikai through the Otherworlds carefully. The pushed aside the trees and bushes as they traveled through the forest. Malikai stopped and moved the tree branches aside. "This is it."
A great plain was filled with long black grass that stretched on for over a mile. The dark Zodiac Mage walked into it without searching the area first.
"The Dark Sorceress's palace use to be here," he said. "Maybe we should search there first."
"Only if your magic takes us there," Roland said.
Malikai ignored that comment and continued walking, sensing the magic. They eventually came upon a large dark door. Adriane and Dreamer pushed and together, they opened the door successfully. The mages stepped inside the Dark Sorceress's palace and gazed at the room they entered. It was huge, with black crystallized shandelears and dark curtains covering old glass windows. The large corridor was echoing with the sound of laughter that scared the group.
"Wh-What was that?" Kara stammered.
"Let's find out," Haley said as she stomped towards the large staircase at the far end of the room. The rest of her friends stomped after her as they followed the sound of laughter. They reached the top of the stairs and stopped when they saw a long hallway. They walked down the hallway and stopped when they came to a dead end.
"There's nothing here," Kara said. "But... But that laugh-" Jen studdered.
"There is something here," Malikai said stepping forward. He touched the wall and concentrated. Suddenly, a black door appeared out of nowhere, materializing into the wall. The mages gasped. "How did you do that?" Adriane said.
"Dark magic attracts dark magic," Emily repeated.
Malikai nodded. "Exactly right, healer." He reached down and grabbed the door knob. He slowly opened the door.
The mages stared out onto a large platform that lead outside. It was as huge as a mansion's roof top. As they stepped out onto the platform, they noticed someone standing on the oppisite side of them. The person was laughing evily.
"Hey! You!" Roland called. "What're you doing here?"
The person turned and the mages gasped.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the great mages of Ravenswood," the Dark Sorceress said. "So glad of you to join me."