A special thank you to Taya7 and Kat. They pointed out that maybe the threat to her baby would bring Marguerite's power out. It's like when a child gets trapped under a car; the mother lifts it right up to rescue her child. And you all know what? I agree with them.
Twenty-Two
Rescue
Part One
"Blast, I need potash of alum," Challenger glanced up at the others. "Or, chemically known as aluminum potassium sulfate." He shook his head, waving his hand. "Never mind about the name. Yet, if I could get my hands on it, we could create crystals."
"Crystals," Marguerite piped up, intrigued with the idea of making crystals. If only we could make diamonds. "But how?"
"You pour hot water into a clean glass jar," he held up one of his specimen containers, "and stir in potash of alum. The alum will dissolve and you'll be left with a saturated solution. You wait a couple days then, drain the solution. Presto! You've got crystals. See, when the alum dissolves, the particles are spread throughout the water. The water evaporates, not leaving enough water to dissolve the rest of the alum. In effect, the particles are forced back together to make larger crystals than they started out as. We can even color them by…"
"We get it, Challenger." Marguerite sighed and leaned against a wall, crossing her arms firmly against her chest. "Yet, what will making crystals do? That isn't showing awesome power…these are sorcerers. They're not going to be amazed by simple magic tricks."
"Marguerite's right," Roxton said disheartened. "We need something…grand and exciting. Something that'll frighten Klor. Make him think these two could destroy him. Besides, we may not have two days to wait for your alum to dissolve."
"You're right," Challenger sighed, dropping the bags onto the sand and snorted when the dust misted up into his nose. "I just don't know…give more time. I'll think of something."
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An hour ticked painfully away, but Challenger was still unable to come up with an illusion that would appear to make the women powerful. Marguerite's dread slowly seeped into frustration and dripped dangerously towards fury. She paced the length of the enclosed space, her teeth clenching every few minutes. Roxton took up stride with her. "It'll be ok, Marguerite." He gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
She whirled around, shaking his hand off her and glared up at him. "Maybe it won't! Sorcerers who won't think twice about striking us dead if we attempt anything surround us! Our daughter is trapped in the clutches of Klor who wants to use her as a tool! We're stuck in here without any escape plan! How will everything be all right?"
The door squeaked open. All four prisoners sneered at the man who entered. Klor smiled politely. "It is time." He snapped his fingers and guards rushed into the room, taking hold of them and knocking each of them out.
Part Two
She ached all over, but her senses were sending her a violent warning that something was terribly wrong. Marguerite moaned as she dragged herself out of the darkness and cracked her lids apart. She squinted from the blazing sun, but gradually adapted. She sucked in her breath at the sight. She was on a platform, tied by a thick twine and her neck in a noose. She glanced to either side of her to see her friends in the same predicament, except for Roxton. Where is he!
She searched him out, her eyes settling on his rigged form diagonal from her on an opposite platform. Between the two platforms were hordes of people. Sorcerers, she thought disdainfully before peering back up at Roxton. He was strapped to a metal chair and was now quivering in pain. Marguerite narrowed her eyes, glancing around until she saw Klor. He was standing a yard or so away from the hunter, his stature solid and focused on his task. "Klor!" she screeched, throwing off the sorcerer's concentration. Roxton's body immediately slumped forward against his restraints.
Klor peered over at her casually then, continued his torment. Marguerite's rage rose to dangerous peaks as she stared at Roxton's shuddering body. She felt a tingle start in her hands and work its way down to her toes. In the back of her mind, she could feel something stirring.
A woman strolled out from the crowd, carrying a bundle of blankets. She positioned the bundle so that Roxton could see what she held. Marguerite knew instantly what it was without seeing Roxton's stricken face. Lillian. Her eyes flashed to the woman, scorning her. Marguerite's abhorrence rose beyond anything she'd ever felt before. Her eyes flashed a brilliant green, her body heating from the inside out.
The woman gasped and staggered, dropping to her knees and allowing Lillian to roll out of her grasp. Klor peered down at her oddly then, stared open-mouthed at Marguerite before stumbling onto his own knees. The others, too, began to fall, gripping their heads with their hands and groaning.
Challenger and Veronica stared at the spectacle in awe. Veronica glanced at Marguerite then over at Roxton. This is my chance. She focused on the man across from her and imagined his ties. Concentrate.
Roxton, his binds loose, tumbled out of the chair and rolled onto the floor. He lay there, still affected by the shock waves that Klor had sent through him. Realizing he wasn't in direct danger, he steadily crawled to his weak feet and staggered off the platform, picking up Lillian and half-ran-half-wobbled toward the others. He peered around him until his attention settled on Marguerite. My God.
She was stiffly poised, her expression deadly. Yet it was her eyes that made him hesitate. They were void of anything remotely resembling her. Instead, they were a deep green and flooded with vile wrath that frightened him more than anything ever had before. Tentatively, he made his way up the stairs and untied Challenger and Veronica. He glanced at the jungle girl. "Thanks." Then over at Challenger: "George, what the hell is going on?"
"It seems she's found her power."
End Chapter Twenty-Two
I know it's not that breathtaking scene some of you may have expected, but I did my best! Thank you so kindly for the wonderful reviews. I think I'll be adding about one or two more chapters.