Plots Revealed
Author's Notes: Rayman isn't missing in action on accident, you know. :p Concealment of Evil may be changed from PG to PG13 if it gets any more violent.
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The sun had finally set into the horizon, changing the atmosphere from bright red to black. Ivy and her friends sat in a small ring around their campfire, too tired from endlessly following Morphina's damage to even care about raiders. Behind them, the ruins of Menhir Fort sat a long distance away, but its very presence seemed to drag everybody who witnessed it into a feeling of remorse and regret. Even their horses didn't have the spirit anymore; they stood silently at their post by a tall tree, liquid brown eyes watching the scene with indifference.
Ivy stared into the sky, gazing at the stars. Next to her feet sat her dinner of wild game, untouched. Her friends were sitting in silence, not bothering to strike up a conversation. Even Freya, usually the first to get over something, poked at the fire with a large fallen branch. Finally, Ivy broke the silence. "Why wasn't Bane locked into the Cave of Bad Dreams with the rest of the demons? I thought the Cave was created to make sure no demons could escape..." Ivy's question went unanswered for quite a while; the other four sitting with their hearts weighed with the persisting bite of lost hope. Finally, Donnia spoke up.
"It's really hard to explain, Ivy. Me and Drac-" Donnia indicated Rex finishing off his dinner. "-Have heard plenty of stories about 'The Last True Sea Monster'." Ivy sat up immediately, grief momentarily forgotten. "Bane's a sea demon? Why was he in the middle of Menhir Hills then?" Donnia nodded, her blue hair falling in delicate locks onto her shoulders. "From what I heard, Bane is called the last of his kind because he was the leader of a small group of demons the same species as he. They were the most feared of the ocean; for eons ships and swimming creatures couldn't make it across the ocean safely with them around. Bane and his pack would literally rip a haul of a great ship to shreds in less than a minute and catch anything edible in their large gaping mouths. Now you know why even Razorbeard himself didn't venture farther than the Great Bay."
"Despite the rumors of remaining sea demons still living off the coasts, Bane was really the last of his kind. Many years ago, the Fairy Council themselves placed a price on Bane's pack. If you brought a sea demon's head back as proof, you became richer than your wildest dreams with fairy money. The pact started a great demon hunt; demon slayers, including several of the zombie-tamers like your mother Ivy, raced to the sea and stained the coasts with the tainted blood of the sea demons. However, Bane was not only the leader of his group but the strongest as well. One day he dragged himself onto the coast and battled against a large legion of demon-slayers that have gathered there. Finally, the battle ended when a group of the world's most powerful fairy creatures, Ly and Betilla included, brought Bane down with the power of the zombie-tamer's spellbinding. He was not to be slain, but instead live with his heavy conscience as far away from the sea as possible. Bane was dragged to the landlocked lands of the Menhir Hills, and they quickly built a new tower in Menhir Fort especially designed to keep Bane sealed. He slumbered with a heavy heart under enchanted chains, the same chains we found earlier. It worked really well, that is, until today."
"The strange thing is, Morphina never bothered herself with Bane's presence. She always ranted on and on about how much stronger she was without 'that slimy excuse for a sea dragon' bugging her. Why did she change her mind?" Bad-Rayman reflected. "She didn't change her mind; she's just luring Bane into a false sense of security before she spellbinds him like the rest of her cronies. Like she did with us." Freya pressed. She was fiddling with the bandages around her injured leg, an aching remainder about Striker, and applied more healing herbs to her deep cut. Ivy nodded in agreement, and went back to staring at the stars. Soon, the team will decide who will be the one standing guard. I'll stand guard first; I can't sleep anyways, Ivy decided to herself.
The rest of the night passed uneventfully, until Ivy switched shifts with Donnia Starhunter. Ivy settled into a deep sleep, her thoughts mixing together to form a cloud of confusion and regret. "Missed me, Ivy?" a familiar voice asked. Ivy stirred and felt herself being carried along a stream of grayish mush through her dreams. Ivy tried to move her muscles again, but she found that they were paralyzed. Suddenly, she felt herself being dragged from the darkness and into a bright-lighted area. She heard the sound of singing, a light-hearted tune to a song that Ivy could all but remember. Then, the words became recognizable. "Sleep lightly child, no nightmares will harm you. I will protect you, to the end of time..." The words were at a slow and graceful pace. Ivy finally became aware that the song was the lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she went to sleep. "Mother?" Ivy called out. The song continued as if the singer hadn't heard her. "Don't fret my baby, there's no need for your fear. Sleep well and tight, Dreamland is near."
A figure materialized out of the white light. Ivy nearly shrieked in glee. Rosemary, Ivy's mother, stood in front of her, her delicate red hair falling in long graceful locks around her shoulders unlike Ivy's stiff wiry hair. She wore a white robe, covering all of her body save for her arms and her dainty feet. She stepped towards her, a wraith from the days before Morphina and worries. "Ivy," Rosemary's voice was the same as the singer, and Ivy became aware that she was the one singing. "I want you to keep all of your hope with you. For a while, you've doubted your path as you follow Morphina's walk of destruction." Ivy shivered under her mother's piercing gaze. She couldn't tell whether this was a message from an angel, or a telepathic vision sent by Morphina to goad her on to her death.
"I can't mother." Ivy choked out. "I'm afraid that I'll fail the Cave of Bad Dreams, like I failed Menhir Fort. I wish Rayman was here to help..." Rosemary laughed, a silky sound that Ivy immediately felt comforted by. "You won't fail. Fate has been kind to you, my child. I'm sure that the Guardian has taught you well, yes?" Ivy nodded, not bothering to talk anymore. She was just happy to see her mother again, even if it would probably be the final time. "Never fear, Ivy. The Tamer's Light will guide you, and help you vanquish both Bane and Morphina. However, since you're worried for Rayman's safety, there is something I have to show you before you can continue your quest."
Suddenly, Ivy felt herself being dragged away from Rosemary, away from the light. Her surroundings changed from colorful and bright to dark and bleak. As she stood suspended in darkness, she was greeting with the most horrendous flashback she will ever experience. It was Menhir Fort, and it was under attack. Soldiers and Commanders met at sword-length, and walls crumbled under the firepower of the stronger spellbound creatures. Ivy turned her attention to where the majority of the soldiers were, and she saw Morphina in the middle of a large group, venom running down her twisted maw as she blasted soldiers head-on with demon spew. She was no longer the human shape she usually took, but her default form; a large scorpion/lizard creature that oozed with deadly poison. Ivy's stomach did a backflip as she saw whole groups of soldiers literally melt under the powerful venom of Morphina. Crunch! Morphina bit down on a soldier's head, leaving a bloody stump for a neck. She was obviously enjoying the taste of human blood once again as she chewed on the man's head, her fangs stained red. She turned her serpentine head, as if looking at Ivy herself, and grinned in satisfaction.
Boom! The tallest tower, in the middle of the fort, started to crumble. Immediately, the air was filled with a deathening inhuman roar as a large dark shadow, obscured by the large cloud of dust shrouding it, rose from the ruins. There was a glint of light as the enchanted chains broke way under the power of Silver Lums. The scene stunned Ivy, but she saw something that made her hope melt away from her body. She saw Rayman and Globox run away from the falling ruins of the fort, their hands still sparkling from the use of the Silver Lums. Rayman's face was twisted into a delighted sneer as he watched the fort cave in on itself. Then, Ivy heard him shout to a nearby Commander. "Hold off the rest of them! No one but us will leave this place alive!" After that, Rayman proceeded to grab a sword from a soldier to impale anyone who happened near...
"Noooo!" Ivy yelled. She couldn't believe it; she was hoping that Rayman would help her sooner or later. It turned out that he was the one that released Bane. The images faded away, but they were still vibrant in her mind afterwards as she was suspended in the depths of her mind, weeping with grief. Suddenly, she was brought back into reality by Freya's gentle shaking. Freya had a worried look on her face. Ivy rose into a sitting position, and realized she was covered in a cold sweat and that everyone in the camp was looking at her. To the East, the sky showed evidence that the sun was going to rise really soon. "You were screaming bloody murder. What was happening?" Freya asked. Ivy didn't answer. At the back of her eyes a hidden fire grew; she was now fueled by a newly kindled rage. "It doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that we have to catch Morphina as soon as possible." She turned to where the fort once stood, the images still racing through her mind.
"This time, we have nobody to back us up. If we fail now, all hope will be lost."
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Morphina smiled to herself as she led the army through the depths of the swamplands; they had reached the border between Menhir Hills and the Marshes of Awakening many hours ago. It was now Dawn; the rising sun had marked the beginning of a new day. The army marched loyally behind her, slaves showing no fatigue at all and their Commanders staggering from the lack of sleep. No one bothered Morphina, knowing that her venomous nature could very well destroy anybody who questioned her. After a while, Morphina made the group halt in a grove of twisted swamp trees. Commanders panted and rested against tree trunks or rocks to catch at least some winks. In the Battle of Menhir Fort, Morphina's army suffered only twenty-four deaths; nineteen spellbound captives and five Commanders, Striker, Pondscum, and Keiri included in the numbers. Some creatures suffered minor wounds, the worst being painful sword or arrow cuts. All in all, Morphina's plan was going smoothly so far. Morphina paced in front of her resting legion, deciding her next move in the form of the young human body she normally took.
"How much further Morphina?" a large booming voice that seemed to materialize from the ground rumbled behind her. She turned, her dark purple eyes reflecting unnaturally. "Don't be such a baby, Bane. Soon, we will proceed to our next step to the destruction of the Cave of Bad Dreams." Bane stepped towards Morphina, and nodded in agreement. Bane was a large sea dragon, about as tall as a small tree from the top of his shoulders. He growled softly, his throat rumbling from the insides of his long serpentine neck. Bane's head was lizard-like, with sharp teeth protruding from the top lip and the bottom lip like a carnivorous fish. From his forehead to the beginnings of his tail ran a large webbed ridge, the weapon he used to destroy ship hulls. His tail was like a large fish tail, only with sharp barbs sticking from the tips. Bane's front and back legs weren't too shabby either; their webbed claws were coated with demon poison. Unlike Morphina's true form, his skin wasn't toxic. The only thing that gave him the sense of longing was his scales; their once silvery shine was reduced to a dull gray. Also, around his neck and wrists were remainders of the chains that once contained him; cuffs that glimmered with weakened magic. Bane's eyes were bright green, but they were almost obscured completely by his large drooping eyelids. Bane still hasn't got over the headache that would follow after you broke out of a long spellbinding.
"In fact, Bane. Our next hideout is right behind these trees." A confident voice replied from behind Bane. Sure enough, Rayman soon came into view, Globox tagging behind. Morphina grinned inwardly. What had happened was that she had found Rayman taking a nap in the Fairy Glade a few days ago. She snuck up from behind and attacked Rayman in her most powerful form. Rayman fought well, but soon afterwards Morphina took his free will away. She also decided to take Globox's free will because he happened to appear at the scene to check on Rayman. It only took a few seconds for Morphina to spellbind Globox's weak will. Now, thanks to her efforts, Morphina had the world's Guardian at her disposal. It won't take much effort to bind the rest of the world to her will with Rayman around, but right now Morphina had to bide her time with a pathetic sea dragon and her ignorant Commanders.
Rayman brushed away some branches and looked into the distance. Bane and many curious Commanders looked as well, and some audible gasps ran throughout the army. "This is crazy!" "What is she thinking?" "We can't go in there!" "He'll blow us to Hellgates!" Many different exclamations filled the army. Even some spellbound slaves, included Globox, gained enough spirit to make some barely audible whimpers. Morphina sighed in annoyance. "What's wrong now, my trusted army?"
Ruby-Eyes the ferret, the successor to Striker, answered the quickest. "Morphina, that's Razoff's Mansion! We can't go in there! We'll soon find our heads mounted above his fireplace and our skins placed on his floor if we cross his threshold!" Just as the Commanders have noticed, Morphina's next hideout was none other than Razoff's grand mansion; the same one that Davis unknowingly entered a day ago. The lights were now turned off; most likely as the Count was enjoying the calmness of dawn in the comfort of his soft feathery bed. Morphina sneered. "I know that, but can you imagine how much firepower is in there?" There was a pause as Commanders considered it. "Razoff may be the most powerful sharpshooter in the world, but he could never touch me with those pathetic bullets. If I were to gain control on his soul, I would have not only the world's guardian and his friend at my side, but the world's greatest sniper ever as well. Besides, it's been a long time since any one of you have slept in a decent house without having to feel bugs crawl up your spine."
At Morphina's words, the army immediately gained enough courage to slink up towards the house. When Morphina led the army up to the house, she ordered everyone to wait for her as she 'made the biggest threat go away'. Cautiously, she went through the entrance with only Rayman at her side. (She knew that Rayman was among the only creatures that survived a meeting with Razoff). When Morphina gained control of the Mansion, she would give a signal from one of the large windows and the army would be allowed to go in without any fear. As Morphina and Rayman disappeared into the mansion, the army sat biding their time in the marshlands surrounding the house in deadening silence. They fidgeting in worry, even though every one of them was aware of how strong Morphina was. Even Bane the sea demon had trouble keeping still as he waited, Globox the frog taking a nap on his back.
In the mansion, all was silent save for a couple of stray rodents scurrying across the ground. Rayman was commanded to wait near the stairs as Morphina slunk off alone. She didn't even bother to conceal herself as she crept down the halls, still wearing the skin of a supposedly harmless young woman. To show him my true power, I'll bide my time before his spellbinding. It's best to make my captives learn who their master really is, Morphina decided. It wasn't long before she ran right into the owner of the mansion with his gun pointed at her chest. "Well, I've been having a lot of bold visitors come in my house lately. What's your business here?" Morphina sneered at Razoff. Obviously, he doesn't know whom he's dealing with, Morphina thought. "I've come for what's going to be rightfully mine, Sniper. My army and I will be staying here for a couple of nights, whether you like it or not. Of course, even I can be polite when I take my business in a lovely estate such as yours." The Sniper seemed slightly disorientated; he had never seen a creature so confident in her actions when she was at gunpoint. He lowered his shotgun slightly.
"What if I refuse this little offer of yours?" Morphina smiled, then snapped her fingers. On cue, Rayman went running to her aide, poised and ready to pick a fight. Suddenly, quicker than the eye could see, Morphina grabbed Razoff by his skinny neck and lifted him off the ground. "You listen well and you listen well, you rotten excuse for a lizard! In just a few days the whole world will bend under my power. I alone have more talents than you can even imagine, Count Razoff. In fact, I'll offer you a decent trade if you cooperate. You let me take this little mansion of yours to create my new hideout and you can be a Commander of the highest rank. Think about it, you can even control the great Rayman or his goofy friend Globox! What do you say?"
Count Razoff glared at her despite his awkward position. "I may have lived in this mansion alone for quite a while, but I'm not ignorant of the world around me! I know exactly what you're going to do to me after I settle this little trade. Sooner or later, you're going to turn me into a mindless monster like what you did to Rayman. I'll have no part of it!" Morphina snarled; she did not like it when her victims saw through her plans of deceit. He's smarter than I realized, Morphina thought to herself. "You just made a poor mistake, Count Razoff. Now, you'll be powerless as I take over this shabby mansion without your word on it." She snapped her free fingers, calling Rayman closer. "Rayman, take this creature to the catacombs. We'll let him suffer for a little while in his own dungeon until I feel like spellbinding him!"
As Rayman dragged the now powerless Razoff away, Morphina quickly gave the army the signal from a nearby window. It wasn't long before the army filled every hall in the mansion saves for the catacombs, along with the area outside. The army found resting places everywhere, making the mansion seem like a mob house. Morphina smiled to herself as she seated herself in a large velvet chair and watched the remaining members of the army set up camps around the household from a large stain glass window. Smiling to herself, she poured herself a glass of dark wine and toasted herself.
Life was good!
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"Urrrgh...my neck..." Davis stirred away from his short coma, waking up to the pounding of his sore temples. Desperately, he rubbed them with his fingers, only causing them to become even sorer. When his sight finally returned, he gathered his bearings. He was trapped in a large stony corridor filled with swamp refuse and moss. Chains and unused cages clinked softly in the gentle breeze let in by the large shafts overhead. When Davis gazed upwards into the shafts, he saw that above was where Rayman and Razoff had battled in a large arena filled with pitfalls and surrounded by a steel cage. Davis could even spot the large wrecking ball, fixed after the last fight with Rayman, as it swung unused above him. Davis crawled pathetically to a small pond of dirty water and gazed at his reflection. He was dirty remainder of what had happened in the swamp. His eyes were bloodshot and misty, making his soft blue eyes look like he was drinking alcohol all night. His once soft brown hair was now in huge clumps from the days of not brushing the gunk of it. He bent down to drink some water, returning moisture to his dried-up throat.
At least Razoff was kind enough to let me keep my dagger while I was unconscious, Davis recalled as his hand felt the familiar presence of his birthday present. He smiled, despite the situation. Somehow, he was going to find a way out of here and was going to show Razoff that he came on peaceful terms. Suddenly, Davis heard the sound of a door opening from the other side of the catacombs. Instead of rushing to greet the noise, Davis flattened himself against the comforting coldness of a stone wall. It was always best to conceal yourself in a prison in case the jailor came to punish you. The voices came closer until Count Razoff came into view, a large gash across his right cheek. He didn't seem to notice the wound as he was being forced along by Rayman, whom which Davis instantly became excited to see again. However, that excitement turned into dread as Rayman turned his head towards him. His bright eyes, normally filled with life, were burning with the fires of hatred. He smirked at Davis, then replied to his captive. "Hey, it looks like you have a playmate! Doesn't that sound fun?" He proceeded to attach Razoff's ankles and wrists to chains hanging from a nearby wall. "Sorry it has to be so uncomfortable, but Morphina has a special fate in store for you."
"Wow, I'm bursting with joy," Razoff said sarcastically as Rayman finished locking up the cuffs around his wrists and ankles. Davis kept his place in the shadows, watching the scene in awe. "Don't worry, you won't be here for long. Morphina even said that she'd come here in a few hours to finish her business with you. After all, that's around the same time Ivy and her group of flunkies are supposed to arrive here, given the time they take to follow tracks." Davis drew in a harsh breath. Ivy was involved in this? Oh no, this could only mean that Morphina is repeating the War of the Souls to seek revenge, Davis decided. Now, his aches and pains seemed unimportant as he watched Rayman and Razoff 'converse' angrily. Davis caught the final words of the conversation. "To make sure you don't slip out of those chains and escape, Morphina sent a couple of watchdogs to guard your most likely exits, so to speak." Rayman jabbed his thumb to the direction of their only exit; the front door. Davis dared to look, and he saw the lithe shadow of Ruby-Eyes from the light of the doorway. Davis flinched; he was trained in killing the undead and demons, but living creatures? This seemed too much...
When Rayman disappeared out of sight, Davis slowly crept out of the darkness. He sighed in relief; obviously Rayman didn't think the small boy was a threat. He unsheathed his dagger, feeling the blade in his hand. "Boy, killing people is sure gonna be hard to get used to." Davis was unaware that he spoke his last thought out loud. He quickly regretted it. "You're not going to kill me, are you?" Razoff's voice became a small pathetic squeak from his awkward position from the wall. Great, Davis thought, now I have Razoff believing that I'm a cutthroat after his treasure. It was time to settle this once and for all. Davis raised his dagger, focusing his inherited power until the blade grew white-hot with the Tamer's Light. Razoff flinched and prepared himself for his throat to be cut. Swish! Davis swiftly cut a chain off the wall, freeing Razoff's right arm. He was going to have to be careful, if he missed the bounds then he would slit Razoff's wrists. Not a pleasant thought. In three quick solid movements of his dancing blade, the final three chains were cut, freeing their captive. When Razoff fell to his knees in a surprised daze, no longer supported by imprisoning metal, he immediately saw Davis's true personality.
"Thanks, kid. Sorry about the dart earlier; if I known you were a skilled blade artist then I would've let you in on lighter terms." His voice was a soft whisper; best not let any Commander have the drop on them. Razoff rubbed his wrists, returning circulation to his hands as he sat knee-deep in the catacomb's damp refuge. Davis smiled warmly. "No, it's my fault. I went running after my sister Ivy even when she told me not to and got lost in the mist." Razoff quickly rose to his feet. "Wait a minute, you're related to the successor of the zombie-tamers? Geez, now I really feel stupid for paralyzing you, kid!"
Davis tapped his foot in impertinence. "Please call me Davis; 'kid' is getting on my nerves. Besides, we're pretty much stuck here in these catacombs until Morphina fetches for us. What choices do we have of escaping?" The two considered this for a moment. It wasn't long before the powerless Count came up with several different plans for escaping. "Well, we have three choices, Davis. The first one is to just wait here for Morphina to come back and say goodbye to our free will." Davis shook his head. What a way to state the obvious, Razoff. The first plan was clearly a joke. "The second one is to slay the guard and make a dash for the entrance, somehow dodging the hundreds of Commanders in there." Davis winced but said nothing; that choice was almost as bad as the first one. "Or, we could slay the guard up in front and then use the secret escape in the catacombs." Finally, the arranged plans seemed useful, however Davis wasn't too keen on slaying a living being, even if it was a Commander.
"Why do we have to slay the guard? Couldn't we just escape without the guard knowing?" Davis questioned softly, still keeping his voice down. Count Razoff shook his head. "There's no other choice, because if the guard came back to an empty cell then what would he do now? And, since there's a war going on and Morphina has access to my weapons, the only way to equip myself with anything with any firepower is to pry a weapon off the guard's dead body." Davis shivered at the calm tone to Razoff's voice, but he obeyed anyway. Silently, the two crept through the catacombs, careful not to make any loud noises as they padded across the cold pavement. Soon, they were standing at the entrance to the catacombs; a large wooden door that hadn't been cleaned in a long time. It was overgrown with moss and lichen, making it an eyesore. With a quick signal of his right hand, Razoff tapped on the door. When Ruby-Eyes opened the door, Davis dove behind the guard's line of sight.
Wham! Ruby-Eyes fell unconscious, a well-placed rock to the head. Razoff shut the door quickly but quietly, trying hard not to attract any attention. When the door was closed, Davis gathered enough courage to speak. "Whoa, he's holding a gun!" Davis whispered as he saw the shotgun being held in Ruby-Eyes' still paws. Razoff pried it out of his grasp, making the unconscious ferret shift slightly. "It's not just any gun, it's mine! The numbskull didn't even have the experience to hold it correctly." Davis crept closer to the ferret, so close that he could feel his steady rancid breath on his face. "Okay, Davis. Slit his throat!" Razoff encouraged.
"Why can't we leave him here? We have your weapon!" Davis argued. "It doesn't matter. If that guard wakes up and tells Morphina, our secret escape will be ruined. If you can't do it, then at least let me do it." Davis shook his head. He bit his lip, trying to keep himself from crying out. He pointed his dagger under Ruby-Eyes' chin, his vision blurred by hot tears. His blade struck home. Ruby-Eyes choked on his own blood; his gaping throat wound silencing him forever. Davis started to cry, weeping until his lungs hurt. He couldn't believe that he just slain a living creature with his blade. He felt horrible, yet in the back of his mind he enjoyed it...
Razoff had to grab Davis by the shoulder to lead him to the secret entrance. The secret escape route was blocked off by a stone wall, so concealed that even the Count had trouble finding it. His fingers found the subtle crack that formed a rock slab, and with a forceful pull from the Count, the rock slab slid open, revealing a small tunnel that even Davis would have to duck to get through. "This will lead outside, but I'm sure if Morphina has army members posted outside or not." Without a second word, Davis ran into the tunnel, using his knees to support him. His words echoed off the tunnel's walls, emplacing his words.
"There's only one way to find out! Freedom and Ivy, here we come!"
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Ivy and her group found themselves at the edge of the marshes. Ivy examined the tracks, large groups of footprints leading into the security of her homeland. Freya sniffed the air, her extraordinary smell senses telling her what the other members of the group couldn't figure out. "The tracks are still fresh. The army has just passed here about two hours ago at the very most. If we keep following them at this pace, then maybe we could catch them."
Ivy gazed into the marshlands; her green eyes reflecting worry and doubt. "I just hope you're right. If we mess up, there won't be any way to fix it." She brushed the hair from her eyes as she scanned the surroundings. She sighed to herself as her thoughts wandered back to her family. Pierce, her father, would always comfort her by telling her stories of long-lost heroes, Davis, her younger brother, would always give Ivy someone to talk to about her feelings and her views, and Rosemary, her mother, nothing more than a memory now. She wondered to herself as she let her mind wander.
Will she succeed, or will she start the beginning of the world's Dark Ages?
Only Fate had any idea now...
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End of Chapter 3
Wow, I'm probably endangering myself by making Rayman spellbound. *Watches as the ground opens before her and flames appear from every corner of the Earth* Um, should I tell you not to worry about Rayman, or should I just let you people review this chapter like nice, orderly people? *Tomatoes are thrown* Pah. Not to worry, I'm sure the next Chapter will save Rayman from Morphina, or will it? *Laughs evilly, and is hit by flying shoes* X_O Well, since I got that squared away, here's a lovely preview!
Preview to Chapter 4: Bane and Venom
Ivy and her friends join forces with Davis and Razoff, but will that be enough to stop the giant clawed menace called Bane? Also, Ivy discovers that Morphina is keeping a treasure more priceless than the world's treasures in the highest room of Razoff's Mansion; Ivy's mother. To make matters even more complicated, Rayman and Globox have some 'scores' to settle with Morphina's most crafty traitors; the ex-Commanders Bad-Rayman and Freya. Stay Tuned! ^^
Review! I don't accept flames either, you spoilsports. (Which leads me to ask, why am I worrying if nobody flamed me for spellbinding Ly in Veil of Darkness? Ah well, trying to predict the future will do that to you.)
Author's Notes: Rayman isn't missing in action on accident, you know. :p Concealment of Evil may be changed from PG to PG13 if it gets any more violent.
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The sun had finally set into the horizon, changing the atmosphere from bright red to black. Ivy and her friends sat in a small ring around their campfire, too tired from endlessly following Morphina's damage to even care about raiders. Behind them, the ruins of Menhir Fort sat a long distance away, but its very presence seemed to drag everybody who witnessed it into a feeling of remorse and regret. Even their horses didn't have the spirit anymore; they stood silently at their post by a tall tree, liquid brown eyes watching the scene with indifference.
Ivy stared into the sky, gazing at the stars. Next to her feet sat her dinner of wild game, untouched. Her friends were sitting in silence, not bothering to strike up a conversation. Even Freya, usually the first to get over something, poked at the fire with a large fallen branch. Finally, Ivy broke the silence. "Why wasn't Bane locked into the Cave of Bad Dreams with the rest of the demons? I thought the Cave was created to make sure no demons could escape..." Ivy's question went unanswered for quite a while; the other four sitting with their hearts weighed with the persisting bite of lost hope. Finally, Donnia spoke up.
"It's really hard to explain, Ivy. Me and Drac-" Donnia indicated Rex finishing off his dinner. "-Have heard plenty of stories about 'The Last True Sea Monster'." Ivy sat up immediately, grief momentarily forgotten. "Bane's a sea demon? Why was he in the middle of Menhir Hills then?" Donnia nodded, her blue hair falling in delicate locks onto her shoulders. "From what I heard, Bane is called the last of his kind because he was the leader of a small group of demons the same species as he. They were the most feared of the ocean; for eons ships and swimming creatures couldn't make it across the ocean safely with them around. Bane and his pack would literally rip a haul of a great ship to shreds in less than a minute and catch anything edible in their large gaping mouths. Now you know why even Razorbeard himself didn't venture farther than the Great Bay."
"Despite the rumors of remaining sea demons still living off the coasts, Bane was really the last of his kind. Many years ago, the Fairy Council themselves placed a price on Bane's pack. If you brought a sea demon's head back as proof, you became richer than your wildest dreams with fairy money. The pact started a great demon hunt; demon slayers, including several of the zombie-tamers like your mother Ivy, raced to the sea and stained the coasts with the tainted blood of the sea demons. However, Bane was not only the leader of his group but the strongest as well. One day he dragged himself onto the coast and battled against a large legion of demon-slayers that have gathered there. Finally, the battle ended when a group of the world's most powerful fairy creatures, Ly and Betilla included, brought Bane down with the power of the zombie-tamer's spellbinding. He was not to be slain, but instead live with his heavy conscience as far away from the sea as possible. Bane was dragged to the landlocked lands of the Menhir Hills, and they quickly built a new tower in Menhir Fort especially designed to keep Bane sealed. He slumbered with a heavy heart under enchanted chains, the same chains we found earlier. It worked really well, that is, until today."
"The strange thing is, Morphina never bothered herself with Bane's presence. She always ranted on and on about how much stronger she was without 'that slimy excuse for a sea dragon' bugging her. Why did she change her mind?" Bad-Rayman reflected. "She didn't change her mind; she's just luring Bane into a false sense of security before she spellbinds him like the rest of her cronies. Like she did with us." Freya pressed. She was fiddling with the bandages around her injured leg, an aching remainder about Striker, and applied more healing herbs to her deep cut. Ivy nodded in agreement, and went back to staring at the stars. Soon, the team will decide who will be the one standing guard. I'll stand guard first; I can't sleep anyways, Ivy decided to herself.
The rest of the night passed uneventfully, until Ivy switched shifts with Donnia Starhunter. Ivy settled into a deep sleep, her thoughts mixing together to form a cloud of confusion and regret. "Missed me, Ivy?" a familiar voice asked. Ivy stirred and felt herself being carried along a stream of grayish mush through her dreams. Ivy tried to move her muscles again, but she found that they were paralyzed. Suddenly, she felt herself being dragged from the darkness and into a bright-lighted area. She heard the sound of singing, a light-hearted tune to a song that Ivy could all but remember. Then, the words became recognizable. "Sleep lightly child, no nightmares will harm you. I will protect you, to the end of time..." The words were at a slow and graceful pace. Ivy finally became aware that the song was the lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she went to sleep. "Mother?" Ivy called out. The song continued as if the singer hadn't heard her. "Don't fret my baby, there's no need for your fear. Sleep well and tight, Dreamland is near."
A figure materialized out of the white light. Ivy nearly shrieked in glee. Rosemary, Ivy's mother, stood in front of her, her delicate red hair falling in long graceful locks around her shoulders unlike Ivy's stiff wiry hair. She wore a white robe, covering all of her body save for her arms and her dainty feet. She stepped towards her, a wraith from the days before Morphina and worries. "Ivy," Rosemary's voice was the same as the singer, and Ivy became aware that she was the one singing. "I want you to keep all of your hope with you. For a while, you've doubted your path as you follow Morphina's walk of destruction." Ivy shivered under her mother's piercing gaze. She couldn't tell whether this was a message from an angel, or a telepathic vision sent by Morphina to goad her on to her death.
"I can't mother." Ivy choked out. "I'm afraid that I'll fail the Cave of Bad Dreams, like I failed Menhir Fort. I wish Rayman was here to help..." Rosemary laughed, a silky sound that Ivy immediately felt comforted by. "You won't fail. Fate has been kind to you, my child. I'm sure that the Guardian has taught you well, yes?" Ivy nodded, not bothering to talk anymore. She was just happy to see her mother again, even if it would probably be the final time. "Never fear, Ivy. The Tamer's Light will guide you, and help you vanquish both Bane and Morphina. However, since you're worried for Rayman's safety, there is something I have to show you before you can continue your quest."
Suddenly, Ivy felt herself being dragged away from Rosemary, away from the light. Her surroundings changed from colorful and bright to dark and bleak. As she stood suspended in darkness, she was greeting with the most horrendous flashback she will ever experience. It was Menhir Fort, and it was under attack. Soldiers and Commanders met at sword-length, and walls crumbled under the firepower of the stronger spellbound creatures. Ivy turned her attention to where the majority of the soldiers were, and she saw Morphina in the middle of a large group, venom running down her twisted maw as she blasted soldiers head-on with demon spew. She was no longer the human shape she usually took, but her default form; a large scorpion/lizard creature that oozed with deadly poison. Ivy's stomach did a backflip as she saw whole groups of soldiers literally melt under the powerful venom of Morphina. Crunch! Morphina bit down on a soldier's head, leaving a bloody stump for a neck. She was obviously enjoying the taste of human blood once again as she chewed on the man's head, her fangs stained red. She turned her serpentine head, as if looking at Ivy herself, and grinned in satisfaction.
Boom! The tallest tower, in the middle of the fort, started to crumble. Immediately, the air was filled with a deathening inhuman roar as a large dark shadow, obscured by the large cloud of dust shrouding it, rose from the ruins. There was a glint of light as the enchanted chains broke way under the power of Silver Lums. The scene stunned Ivy, but she saw something that made her hope melt away from her body. She saw Rayman and Globox run away from the falling ruins of the fort, their hands still sparkling from the use of the Silver Lums. Rayman's face was twisted into a delighted sneer as he watched the fort cave in on itself. Then, Ivy heard him shout to a nearby Commander. "Hold off the rest of them! No one but us will leave this place alive!" After that, Rayman proceeded to grab a sword from a soldier to impale anyone who happened near...
"Noooo!" Ivy yelled. She couldn't believe it; she was hoping that Rayman would help her sooner or later. It turned out that he was the one that released Bane. The images faded away, but they were still vibrant in her mind afterwards as she was suspended in the depths of her mind, weeping with grief. Suddenly, she was brought back into reality by Freya's gentle shaking. Freya had a worried look on her face. Ivy rose into a sitting position, and realized she was covered in a cold sweat and that everyone in the camp was looking at her. To the East, the sky showed evidence that the sun was going to rise really soon. "You were screaming bloody murder. What was happening?" Freya asked. Ivy didn't answer. At the back of her eyes a hidden fire grew; she was now fueled by a newly kindled rage. "It doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that we have to catch Morphina as soon as possible." She turned to where the fort once stood, the images still racing through her mind.
"This time, we have nobody to back us up. If we fail now, all hope will be lost."
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Morphina smiled to herself as she led the army through the depths of the swamplands; they had reached the border between Menhir Hills and the Marshes of Awakening many hours ago. It was now Dawn; the rising sun had marked the beginning of a new day. The army marched loyally behind her, slaves showing no fatigue at all and their Commanders staggering from the lack of sleep. No one bothered Morphina, knowing that her venomous nature could very well destroy anybody who questioned her. After a while, Morphina made the group halt in a grove of twisted swamp trees. Commanders panted and rested against tree trunks or rocks to catch at least some winks. In the Battle of Menhir Fort, Morphina's army suffered only twenty-four deaths; nineteen spellbound captives and five Commanders, Striker, Pondscum, and Keiri included in the numbers. Some creatures suffered minor wounds, the worst being painful sword or arrow cuts. All in all, Morphina's plan was going smoothly so far. Morphina paced in front of her resting legion, deciding her next move in the form of the young human body she normally took.
"How much further Morphina?" a large booming voice that seemed to materialize from the ground rumbled behind her. She turned, her dark purple eyes reflecting unnaturally. "Don't be such a baby, Bane. Soon, we will proceed to our next step to the destruction of the Cave of Bad Dreams." Bane stepped towards Morphina, and nodded in agreement. Bane was a large sea dragon, about as tall as a small tree from the top of his shoulders. He growled softly, his throat rumbling from the insides of his long serpentine neck. Bane's head was lizard-like, with sharp teeth protruding from the top lip and the bottom lip like a carnivorous fish. From his forehead to the beginnings of his tail ran a large webbed ridge, the weapon he used to destroy ship hulls. His tail was like a large fish tail, only with sharp barbs sticking from the tips. Bane's front and back legs weren't too shabby either; their webbed claws were coated with demon poison. Unlike Morphina's true form, his skin wasn't toxic. The only thing that gave him the sense of longing was his scales; their once silvery shine was reduced to a dull gray. Also, around his neck and wrists were remainders of the chains that once contained him; cuffs that glimmered with weakened magic. Bane's eyes were bright green, but they were almost obscured completely by his large drooping eyelids. Bane still hasn't got over the headache that would follow after you broke out of a long spellbinding.
"In fact, Bane. Our next hideout is right behind these trees." A confident voice replied from behind Bane. Sure enough, Rayman soon came into view, Globox tagging behind. Morphina grinned inwardly. What had happened was that she had found Rayman taking a nap in the Fairy Glade a few days ago. She snuck up from behind and attacked Rayman in her most powerful form. Rayman fought well, but soon afterwards Morphina took his free will away. She also decided to take Globox's free will because he happened to appear at the scene to check on Rayman. It only took a few seconds for Morphina to spellbind Globox's weak will. Now, thanks to her efforts, Morphina had the world's Guardian at her disposal. It won't take much effort to bind the rest of the world to her will with Rayman around, but right now Morphina had to bide her time with a pathetic sea dragon and her ignorant Commanders.
Rayman brushed away some branches and looked into the distance. Bane and many curious Commanders looked as well, and some audible gasps ran throughout the army. "This is crazy!" "What is she thinking?" "We can't go in there!" "He'll blow us to Hellgates!" Many different exclamations filled the army. Even some spellbound slaves, included Globox, gained enough spirit to make some barely audible whimpers. Morphina sighed in annoyance. "What's wrong now, my trusted army?"
Ruby-Eyes the ferret, the successor to Striker, answered the quickest. "Morphina, that's Razoff's Mansion! We can't go in there! We'll soon find our heads mounted above his fireplace and our skins placed on his floor if we cross his threshold!" Just as the Commanders have noticed, Morphina's next hideout was none other than Razoff's grand mansion; the same one that Davis unknowingly entered a day ago. The lights were now turned off; most likely as the Count was enjoying the calmness of dawn in the comfort of his soft feathery bed. Morphina sneered. "I know that, but can you imagine how much firepower is in there?" There was a pause as Commanders considered it. "Razoff may be the most powerful sharpshooter in the world, but he could never touch me with those pathetic bullets. If I were to gain control on his soul, I would have not only the world's guardian and his friend at my side, but the world's greatest sniper ever as well. Besides, it's been a long time since any one of you have slept in a decent house without having to feel bugs crawl up your spine."
At Morphina's words, the army immediately gained enough courage to slink up towards the house. When Morphina led the army up to the house, she ordered everyone to wait for her as she 'made the biggest threat go away'. Cautiously, she went through the entrance with only Rayman at her side. (She knew that Rayman was among the only creatures that survived a meeting with Razoff). When Morphina gained control of the Mansion, she would give a signal from one of the large windows and the army would be allowed to go in without any fear. As Morphina and Rayman disappeared into the mansion, the army sat biding their time in the marshlands surrounding the house in deadening silence. They fidgeting in worry, even though every one of them was aware of how strong Morphina was. Even Bane the sea demon had trouble keeping still as he waited, Globox the frog taking a nap on his back.
In the mansion, all was silent save for a couple of stray rodents scurrying across the ground. Rayman was commanded to wait near the stairs as Morphina slunk off alone. She didn't even bother to conceal herself as she crept down the halls, still wearing the skin of a supposedly harmless young woman. To show him my true power, I'll bide my time before his spellbinding. It's best to make my captives learn who their master really is, Morphina decided. It wasn't long before she ran right into the owner of the mansion with his gun pointed at her chest. "Well, I've been having a lot of bold visitors come in my house lately. What's your business here?" Morphina sneered at Razoff. Obviously, he doesn't know whom he's dealing with, Morphina thought. "I've come for what's going to be rightfully mine, Sniper. My army and I will be staying here for a couple of nights, whether you like it or not. Of course, even I can be polite when I take my business in a lovely estate such as yours." The Sniper seemed slightly disorientated; he had never seen a creature so confident in her actions when she was at gunpoint. He lowered his shotgun slightly.
"What if I refuse this little offer of yours?" Morphina smiled, then snapped her fingers. On cue, Rayman went running to her aide, poised and ready to pick a fight. Suddenly, quicker than the eye could see, Morphina grabbed Razoff by his skinny neck and lifted him off the ground. "You listen well and you listen well, you rotten excuse for a lizard! In just a few days the whole world will bend under my power. I alone have more talents than you can even imagine, Count Razoff. In fact, I'll offer you a decent trade if you cooperate. You let me take this little mansion of yours to create my new hideout and you can be a Commander of the highest rank. Think about it, you can even control the great Rayman or his goofy friend Globox! What do you say?"
Count Razoff glared at her despite his awkward position. "I may have lived in this mansion alone for quite a while, but I'm not ignorant of the world around me! I know exactly what you're going to do to me after I settle this little trade. Sooner or later, you're going to turn me into a mindless monster like what you did to Rayman. I'll have no part of it!" Morphina snarled; she did not like it when her victims saw through her plans of deceit. He's smarter than I realized, Morphina thought to herself. "You just made a poor mistake, Count Razoff. Now, you'll be powerless as I take over this shabby mansion without your word on it." She snapped her free fingers, calling Rayman closer. "Rayman, take this creature to the catacombs. We'll let him suffer for a little while in his own dungeon until I feel like spellbinding him!"
As Rayman dragged the now powerless Razoff away, Morphina quickly gave the army the signal from a nearby window. It wasn't long before the army filled every hall in the mansion saves for the catacombs, along with the area outside. The army found resting places everywhere, making the mansion seem like a mob house. Morphina smiled to herself as she seated herself in a large velvet chair and watched the remaining members of the army set up camps around the household from a large stain glass window. Smiling to herself, she poured herself a glass of dark wine and toasted herself.
Life was good!
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"Urrrgh...my neck..." Davis stirred away from his short coma, waking up to the pounding of his sore temples. Desperately, he rubbed them with his fingers, only causing them to become even sorer. When his sight finally returned, he gathered his bearings. He was trapped in a large stony corridor filled with swamp refuse and moss. Chains and unused cages clinked softly in the gentle breeze let in by the large shafts overhead. When Davis gazed upwards into the shafts, he saw that above was where Rayman and Razoff had battled in a large arena filled with pitfalls and surrounded by a steel cage. Davis could even spot the large wrecking ball, fixed after the last fight with Rayman, as it swung unused above him. Davis crawled pathetically to a small pond of dirty water and gazed at his reflection. He was dirty remainder of what had happened in the swamp. His eyes were bloodshot and misty, making his soft blue eyes look like he was drinking alcohol all night. His once soft brown hair was now in huge clumps from the days of not brushing the gunk of it. He bent down to drink some water, returning moisture to his dried-up throat.
At least Razoff was kind enough to let me keep my dagger while I was unconscious, Davis recalled as his hand felt the familiar presence of his birthday present. He smiled, despite the situation. Somehow, he was going to find a way out of here and was going to show Razoff that he came on peaceful terms. Suddenly, Davis heard the sound of a door opening from the other side of the catacombs. Instead of rushing to greet the noise, Davis flattened himself against the comforting coldness of a stone wall. It was always best to conceal yourself in a prison in case the jailor came to punish you. The voices came closer until Count Razoff came into view, a large gash across his right cheek. He didn't seem to notice the wound as he was being forced along by Rayman, whom which Davis instantly became excited to see again. However, that excitement turned into dread as Rayman turned his head towards him. His bright eyes, normally filled with life, were burning with the fires of hatred. He smirked at Davis, then replied to his captive. "Hey, it looks like you have a playmate! Doesn't that sound fun?" He proceeded to attach Razoff's ankles and wrists to chains hanging from a nearby wall. "Sorry it has to be so uncomfortable, but Morphina has a special fate in store for you."
"Wow, I'm bursting with joy," Razoff said sarcastically as Rayman finished locking up the cuffs around his wrists and ankles. Davis kept his place in the shadows, watching the scene in awe. "Don't worry, you won't be here for long. Morphina even said that she'd come here in a few hours to finish her business with you. After all, that's around the same time Ivy and her group of flunkies are supposed to arrive here, given the time they take to follow tracks." Davis drew in a harsh breath. Ivy was involved in this? Oh no, this could only mean that Morphina is repeating the War of the Souls to seek revenge, Davis decided. Now, his aches and pains seemed unimportant as he watched Rayman and Razoff 'converse' angrily. Davis caught the final words of the conversation. "To make sure you don't slip out of those chains and escape, Morphina sent a couple of watchdogs to guard your most likely exits, so to speak." Rayman jabbed his thumb to the direction of their only exit; the front door. Davis dared to look, and he saw the lithe shadow of Ruby-Eyes from the light of the doorway. Davis flinched; he was trained in killing the undead and demons, but living creatures? This seemed too much...
When Rayman disappeared out of sight, Davis slowly crept out of the darkness. He sighed in relief; obviously Rayman didn't think the small boy was a threat. He unsheathed his dagger, feeling the blade in his hand. "Boy, killing people is sure gonna be hard to get used to." Davis was unaware that he spoke his last thought out loud. He quickly regretted it. "You're not going to kill me, are you?" Razoff's voice became a small pathetic squeak from his awkward position from the wall. Great, Davis thought, now I have Razoff believing that I'm a cutthroat after his treasure. It was time to settle this once and for all. Davis raised his dagger, focusing his inherited power until the blade grew white-hot with the Tamer's Light. Razoff flinched and prepared himself for his throat to be cut. Swish! Davis swiftly cut a chain off the wall, freeing Razoff's right arm. He was going to have to be careful, if he missed the bounds then he would slit Razoff's wrists. Not a pleasant thought. In three quick solid movements of his dancing blade, the final three chains were cut, freeing their captive. When Razoff fell to his knees in a surprised daze, no longer supported by imprisoning metal, he immediately saw Davis's true personality.
"Thanks, kid. Sorry about the dart earlier; if I known you were a skilled blade artist then I would've let you in on lighter terms." His voice was a soft whisper; best not let any Commander have the drop on them. Razoff rubbed his wrists, returning circulation to his hands as he sat knee-deep in the catacomb's damp refuge. Davis smiled warmly. "No, it's my fault. I went running after my sister Ivy even when she told me not to and got lost in the mist." Razoff quickly rose to his feet. "Wait a minute, you're related to the successor of the zombie-tamers? Geez, now I really feel stupid for paralyzing you, kid!"
Davis tapped his foot in impertinence. "Please call me Davis; 'kid' is getting on my nerves. Besides, we're pretty much stuck here in these catacombs until Morphina fetches for us. What choices do we have of escaping?" The two considered this for a moment. It wasn't long before the powerless Count came up with several different plans for escaping. "Well, we have three choices, Davis. The first one is to just wait here for Morphina to come back and say goodbye to our free will." Davis shook his head. What a way to state the obvious, Razoff. The first plan was clearly a joke. "The second one is to slay the guard and make a dash for the entrance, somehow dodging the hundreds of Commanders in there." Davis winced but said nothing; that choice was almost as bad as the first one. "Or, we could slay the guard up in front and then use the secret escape in the catacombs." Finally, the arranged plans seemed useful, however Davis wasn't too keen on slaying a living being, even if it was a Commander.
"Why do we have to slay the guard? Couldn't we just escape without the guard knowing?" Davis questioned softly, still keeping his voice down. Count Razoff shook his head. "There's no other choice, because if the guard came back to an empty cell then what would he do now? And, since there's a war going on and Morphina has access to my weapons, the only way to equip myself with anything with any firepower is to pry a weapon off the guard's dead body." Davis shivered at the calm tone to Razoff's voice, but he obeyed anyway. Silently, the two crept through the catacombs, careful not to make any loud noises as they padded across the cold pavement. Soon, they were standing at the entrance to the catacombs; a large wooden door that hadn't been cleaned in a long time. It was overgrown with moss and lichen, making it an eyesore. With a quick signal of his right hand, Razoff tapped on the door. When Ruby-Eyes opened the door, Davis dove behind the guard's line of sight.
Wham! Ruby-Eyes fell unconscious, a well-placed rock to the head. Razoff shut the door quickly but quietly, trying hard not to attract any attention. When the door was closed, Davis gathered enough courage to speak. "Whoa, he's holding a gun!" Davis whispered as he saw the shotgun being held in Ruby-Eyes' still paws. Razoff pried it out of his grasp, making the unconscious ferret shift slightly. "It's not just any gun, it's mine! The numbskull didn't even have the experience to hold it correctly." Davis crept closer to the ferret, so close that he could feel his steady rancid breath on his face. "Okay, Davis. Slit his throat!" Razoff encouraged.
"Why can't we leave him here? We have your weapon!" Davis argued. "It doesn't matter. If that guard wakes up and tells Morphina, our secret escape will be ruined. If you can't do it, then at least let me do it." Davis shook his head. He bit his lip, trying to keep himself from crying out. He pointed his dagger under Ruby-Eyes' chin, his vision blurred by hot tears. His blade struck home. Ruby-Eyes choked on his own blood; his gaping throat wound silencing him forever. Davis started to cry, weeping until his lungs hurt. He couldn't believe that he just slain a living creature with his blade. He felt horrible, yet in the back of his mind he enjoyed it...
Razoff had to grab Davis by the shoulder to lead him to the secret entrance. The secret escape route was blocked off by a stone wall, so concealed that even the Count had trouble finding it. His fingers found the subtle crack that formed a rock slab, and with a forceful pull from the Count, the rock slab slid open, revealing a small tunnel that even Davis would have to duck to get through. "This will lead outside, but I'm sure if Morphina has army members posted outside or not." Without a second word, Davis ran into the tunnel, using his knees to support him. His words echoed off the tunnel's walls, emplacing his words.
"There's only one way to find out! Freedom and Ivy, here we come!"
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Ivy and her group found themselves at the edge of the marshes. Ivy examined the tracks, large groups of footprints leading into the security of her homeland. Freya sniffed the air, her extraordinary smell senses telling her what the other members of the group couldn't figure out. "The tracks are still fresh. The army has just passed here about two hours ago at the very most. If we keep following them at this pace, then maybe we could catch them."
Ivy gazed into the marshlands; her green eyes reflecting worry and doubt. "I just hope you're right. If we mess up, there won't be any way to fix it." She brushed the hair from her eyes as she scanned the surroundings. She sighed to herself as her thoughts wandered back to her family. Pierce, her father, would always comfort her by telling her stories of long-lost heroes, Davis, her younger brother, would always give Ivy someone to talk to about her feelings and her views, and Rosemary, her mother, nothing more than a memory now. She wondered to herself as she let her mind wander.
Will she succeed, or will she start the beginning of the world's Dark Ages?
Only Fate had any idea now...
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End of Chapter 3
Wow, I'm probably endangering myself by making Rayman spellbound. *Watches as the ground opens before her and flames appear from every corner of the Earth* Um, should I tell you not to worry about Rayman, or should I just let you people review this chapter like nice, orderly people? *Tomatoes are thrown* Pah. Not to worry, I'm sure the next Chapter will save Rayman from Morphina, or will it? *Laughs evilly, and is hit by flying shoes* X_O Well, since I got that squared away, here's a lovely preview!
Preview to Chapter 4: Bane and Venom
Ivy and her friends join forces with Davis and Razoff, but will that be enough to stop the giant clawed menace called Bane? Also, Ivy discovers that Morphina is keeping a treasure more priceless than the world's treasures in the highest room of Razoff's Mansion; Ivy's mother. To make matters even more complicated, Rayman and Globox have some 'scores' to settle with Morphina's most crafty traitors; the ex-Commanders Bad-Rayman and Freya. Stay Tuned! ^^
Review! I don't accept flames either, you spoilsports. (Which leads me to ask, why am I worrying if nobody flamed me for spellbinding Ly in Veil of Darkness? Ah well, trying to predict the future will do that to you.)
