Ancient Magics
By Silverdust
Chap 11. Passage to Destiny
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The phosphorous lights of the city played over Sekhmet's features. The world whipped by the window of the small limousine, drawing her ever closer to her destiny. Her mind was in turmoil, thoughts about the Shadow Realm, the Real World, her family, her friends.
Kiiraa.
She batted those thoughts away angrily. The whole car echoed with a thick, heavy silence, almost drowning out the tension, hadn't it been like transparent sheet, falling upon her and her companions. Right now, she could have been more than happy to hear the annoying sounds of the keyboard on Kaiba's laptop, instead of this swallowing silence.
Bakura sat on the far left, glaring out the window. What he was angry about, she didn't know, maybe going back into the Shadow Realm, a place he hated for so long. Malik sat beside him, violet eyes looking straight ahead. He hadn't blinked yet, or if he did, it was so fast even she couldn't see it. He was tense, going back there frightened him. He was afraid of the Shadow Realm, or something in it. The hand gripping the Millennium Dagger was turning white around the knuckles, and shaking slightly. Otogi sat beside her, head in hands, trying to catch some sleep. She smiled, only he could find away to escape this one.
The car passed under another red light. Kaiba had given strict orders that they arrive as soon as possible, since Sekhmet couldn't teleport that many people at once. Red lights were no exception. But Seto, she thought involuntarily, getting a ticket would slow us down even more. She glanced at the clock tower, still visible even from her vantage point. 11:45. Fifteen minutes left. She played with her charm bracelet nervously, feeling her stomach tighten.
After what seemed like endless hours, they pulled up to the park. Sekhmet got out, followed by the others. The car sped away behind them, the last reminiscent of modern times disappearing into the cold black night.
"So where is it?" asked Otogi, the sharp chill in the breeze bringing him fully awake.
"Bakura," Sekhmet asked. "Do you have the ring, or does Ryou?"
"I have it," he answered. He had wanted Ryou to take it, for his own safety, but the boy refused, stating that he couldn't use it anyways.
"Do you think you can make it tell us where the portal is?"
"What should I set it to look for?"
"Shadow Realm traces, magic, anything to that extent."
Bakura nodded and closed his eyes, channeling all his energy to using the ring. It began to emit a brilliant golden light, almost blinding. The light spiraled around and collected around one of the many points that decorated the ring's surface. It shot up, pointing east. So with Bakura as their new guide, they set off to find the portal.
***
"This is it," Bakura stated tiredly.
It was a nearly hidden part of the park, it didn't look like it had been used on ages. The grass was high, no one had been there to cut it, and there were some weeds here and there. There was an old bench on the other side and what looked to be the remains of a fountain in the center. All in all, it looked pretty ancient.
Oh well, thought Sekhmet, time to get started.
She took of the charm bracelet. It glowed brightly, good the magic is working. Taking a deep breath, Sekhmet released her whole store of magical energy. She could feel it course through her veins like her own blood, she felt it radiate from her body. Slowly, she unhitched the first charm from the bracelet.
Ankh of life, symbol of Ra! Grant us permission to enter the Shadow Realm!
It rose to float to her left. She could feel something hidden unlocked, it's defenses falling away. She unhitched the second charm.
Eye of Horus! Great Falcon God of the Sun! Grant us safety as we pass through this portal!
It rose to float opposite the Ankh. She shuddered as she felt some greater power wrap around her. She unhitched the last charm.
Isis! Mistress of Magic and Secrets! By your great power, I summon you to open the Gateway to the Shadow Realm!
It rose to float at the top. Suddenly, it flared a bright light, connecting all three charms. They melted into the light as the power grew. Wind roared past her as it opened, something caged for so long finally released. The power was great, unchallenged. The white light formed a circle. Inside darkness began to grow and spiral, black swirling and swirling, drawing them in.
Sekhmet's power dropped. She had unlocked the portal, now to go within. She turned back to her companions. Otogi walked in first, disappearing into the darkness. Malik followed, steel-eyed. Bakura came last, muttering darkly. Sekhmet took one last glance at the world behind her, bidding it a silent goodbye. Then she followed Bakura, into the darkness, the nothingness, into the danger.
The portal slowly closed behind them, erasing all evidence that four teenagers had stood there. Three charms fell to the grass, shimmering silver, only a reminiscent of what they had been before. Hidden, until someone came back to find them.
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SilverD: So ends Ancient Magics. Whoo!!! I finished something with multiple chapters I feel so proud of myself. Thankies for all the nice reviews, remember, keep those characters coming. Watch for the next story! Sorry this chapter was so short, I'll make up for it somehow. Till' the next book, Ja Ne!