Chapter 50
"Worthless?" Mira said, repeating the word Malberic had used. "If it's so worthless, you wouldn't want it back."
As she took a step back from him to make sure he didn't try to snatch it from her hands, Mira felt her leg bump into something solid behind her. Glancing back, she some of the large stones, like those built into the tower, rested at the base of the tree.
"The orb is worthless to you," Malberic insisted. "Return it, or face the consequences."
"No, release my friends, or the consequences will be yours to face," Mira said sternly. "The vision showed me that this orb is like the battery that keeps your immortality charged. You certainly would not want to lose it, would you?"
"How dare you threaten me, insignificant mortal!"
He stretched out his hand to the tree behind her, but as one of the branches started to stretch towards her, it crumbled and began falling apart. The orb glowed brighter in her hand.
"You can't use magic to take it from me," Mira said aloud as she realized the restriction. "This orb is your source of magic. You can't use one thing against itself."
She moved behind the rocks and held the orb over them.
"Release my friends, or I'll smash it."
Malberic could not disguise the fear that such a possibility held for him.
"So be it. The ducks shall be free."
He waved his hand at the figures standing on the other side of the tower, and Mira saw the illusion of herself dissipate. The ducks began to move and put their hands to their heads. When they caught sight of Mira and Malberic, they hurried over.
"Don't get too close," Mira said. "I still don't trust him."
"We're awake. Mira, you did it," Wildwing said, sounding relieved as he looked at his teammates.
"Yeah, but we're not back in Anaheim yet," Nosedive said.
Malberic had never taken his eyes from watching Mira, and now he spoke again.
"Give me the orb, and I will send you back."
"No way am I handing this over to you that easily," Mira said quickly. "You've cheated before. Once I give this up, what's to stop you from taking revenge?"
Malberic glared at her.
"So we woke up to a stand-off," Mallory said.
"What do you want to do, kid?" Duke asked.
Mira looked from the ducks to the orb and then back at Malberic.
It's time to make one last choice. Mira refuses to give the orb back to Malberic, so she can either destroy the orb on the rocks or try to use it to barter passage back to Earth. Which choice should she make?
Destroy the orb, select Chapter 52.
Barter passage, select Chapter 53.
