Chenley entered the dark room and stopped in front of a row of ten elderly, wicked, pale faces. "The Draconians are here, my Lords," he informed after kneeling down before the sorcerers, "they are waiting outside."
"Let's not keep them waiting any longer."
The sorcerers walked single file out of the room and up a flight of stairs. Chenley followed obediently behind.
The congregation of soldiers and Draconians stared up at the capital building, anxiously waiting for something to happen. When they marched into the city, they had expected an ambush, maybe for Zeus itself to obliterate them before they had a chance to destroy it. Instead, they had been met with nothing. No soldiers, no attacks, not a single person had been seen since they entered the capital of Zaibach. Everyone was on edge as they waited for the final showdown to begin.
A movement on the roof of the building drew everyone's attention. One by one the ten sorcerers emerged from a trap door and situated themselves on the roof. After they had all emptied onto the top of the building, one especially wicked looking sorcerer stepped forward and grinned evilly.
"Welcome, Draconians, to Zaibach," the sorcerer greeted, "it is a pleasure indeed to have so many of the winged people gathered."
"If you think we are here for a casual visit, then you are mistaken," Folken spoke, his voice loud and full of authority, "we have come to destroy your Zeus machine."
"Yes, yes," the sorcerer nodded, "we are well aware of your intentions. I did not think you would come for a visit with half the Asturian and Fanelian Armies, not to mention all the guymelefs. And..." the sorcerer paused. "Do my eyes deceive me? Escaflowne and Sherazade? No wonder Naria and Eriya failed to complete their task. Oh well. Good riddance to bad rubbish."
"How can you say such a terrible thing?!" Adrina demanded, "They fought and died for you because you poisoned their minds against Folken. They obeyed your every command and all you can say is 'good riddance to bad rubbish'? You sorcerers are fools and cowards."
"Ah, Queen Adrina," the sorcerer addressed, "the brave woman who left Fanelia without a word to anyone and rescued her husband from Zaibach. It's a good thing you didn't mention you plans to any advisors."
"What?" Adrina questioned, "What do you mean? Why?"
"Because if you did, I would've found out and warned the sorcerers"
Adrina, Folken, Van and Hitomi gasped as Sir Chenley joined the sorcerers on the roof. "My Lord, my Lady."
"Chenley?" Adrina inquired.
"Yes, my Lady, it is I," Chenley replied.
"Why?"
"As they say, my Lady, 'It is better to be on the right side of the devil than to be in his path,'" Chenley answered.
"You," Adrina accused, "it was you who told Zaibach where Folken was so they could kidnap him. You knew that Rindus couldn't defend against the guymelefs and you knew Folken would turn himself over in order to save the city. You bastard! We both could've been killed!"
"Tsk tsk," the sorcerer chided, "such terrible language from such a proper young lady."
Rage coursed through her veins as the sorcerer taunted her. She turned to Folken and stretching onto her toes, unhooked the purple dragon necklace from his neck. She held the chain so the pendant dangled and raised it above her head.
"Do you know what this is?" Adrina shouted, "This is the Murasaki Tatsu, the purple dragon. With the Sekichiku Namida, your destruction will be at hand. Zeus will be destroyed and so will you!"
"My dear Queen," the sorcerer smiled, "those are very harsh threats. Would you at least like to see it before you destroy it?" He turned to one of the other sorcerers and said something. The sorcerer nodded and the group. He was hidden behind the other sorcerers so no one on the ground could see what he was doing. A second later a rumbling began in the building and the sorcerers stepped aside as a giant machine rose out of the ceiling.
The Zeus was massive and took up at least half of the roof. The lower half of the machine was shaped like a box and made of a gray metal. On the front were many knobs, switches and gauges. The top half of the Zeus was made of clear, glass tubes that entwined with one another and entered the gray part in different spots.
"Behold the might Zeus!" the sorcerer cried.
"I am not impressed," Adrina told him.
"Then perhaps a demonstration of it's power will tickle you fancy," the sorcerer suggested.
"No!" The cry echoed all throughout the congregation as the sorcerer turned to the others.
"Power up the Zeus!" he ordered. Another sorcerer shuffled over to the machine and pushed a series of buttons. The Zeus began to whir and a chugging sound emitted as the clear tubes filled with a red liquid. Adrina felt sick when she realized it was blood.
Adrina tore her gaze from the horrid machine and turned to Van, who stood on the other side of Folken with Hitomi and Golan. "Are you ready?" Van nodded. "Okay, let's do this."
Both stones were raised into the air. "It's time!" Adrina shouted, "concentrate with everything you've got on the pendants!"
Adrina could feel the wills and energy of the Draconians coursing through her as she held the purple jewel over her head. She looked up and saw the gem was glowing a radiant purple. She looked over at Van and saw the pendant was glowing as well.
Suddenly, Adrina felt her wings burst through her dress. She looked around and saw that all the Draconians wings had appeared. Even Golan's tiny wings had appeared and he laughed as miniature feathers floated around him. Adrina felt her feet lift off the ground and realized that her wings were moving by themselves. All the gathered Draconians rose into the air until they were even with the rooftop.
"Foolish demons," the sorcerer sneered, "you cannot defeat us! You cannot destroy Zeus!"
Adrina ignored him and concentrated on channeling the energy in her body through the pendant. It's glow was so bright now it hurt her eyes to look directly at it. She heard the Zeus powering up and knew that if they didn't destroy the machine soon, it would destroy them.
Then, from somewhere in the group of Draconians, someone yelled, "it isn't working."
Almost immediately the power in her body lessened and the pendant's glow dimmed. Adrina looked around as she began to descend back to the ground. Panic began to build inside of her.
"No!" She shouted, "don't give up! It is working! Concentrate!"
The power still diminished and the Draconians continued their descent. Desperately seeking comfort, Adrina reached out and grabbed Folken's hand. Suddenly, the power of the Draconians returned to her body in a rush like a tidal wave. Adrina gasped as the power cascaded through her and collected in the pendant. The purple glow was so bright it appeared almost white.
When Adrina felt she could take no more of the onslaught of power, a white beam shot out of the pendant and was joined by another beam from Van's pendant. The two beams merged and struck the Zeus. The machine began shake as the beam melted it. Zeus shuddered once again and then exploded with a white light.
Everyone shielded their eyes from the blast. Once the intense light subsided, the Draconians turned back to the roof. Surprisingly, there was no sign of Zeus. Every trace of it's existence had been vaporized. The only things on the roof were the ten sorcerers and Chenley, all dead.
"We did it!"
The cry rang out as the Draconians slowly descended back to the ground. There was much cheering and many hugs once they landed, and many were directed at Van and Adrina, the wielders of the pendants. Adrina smiled and hugged everyone who approached her, but she felt odd. The power of the Draconians had drained her and she felt very tired. While talking to the Draconians, her vision blurred and she had to blink several times before it cleared. After a while, she began to feel sick as well and wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep.
Folken noticed her behavior. "Rina love, are you all right?"
"What?" Adrina stared at him blankly for a moment, trying to comprehend what he said. "Uh...Oh yes! I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Folken prodded.
"Yes, why?"
"You're acting strangely," Folken replied.
"I'm just a little tired," Adrina smiled, "I'll be fine once I..." She trailed off as everything around her faded to black.
Folken caught her as she fell and laid her down on the ground. He held her hand in his as he called to her. "Rina, wake up."
"What happened to them?" A Draconian woman asked.
"I don't know," Folken answered, then realized the woman had said "them". He looked to his right and saw that Van was laying on the ground also, a worried looking Hitomi at his side, Golan cradled in her arms. Folken turned back to his wife.
"Rina love, please wake up."
Adrina made no move or sign that she heard him. He patted her hand hoping to awaken her but to no avail. He wished he knew what was wrong with her so he could at least try to help her. A crowd had gathered around them but Folken barely noticed as he squeezed Adrina's hand, hoping for some response but receiving none.
A sudden thought struck him that chilled his blood. Adrina and Van had both passed out at the same time. Were they suffering some sort of reaction from the destruction of Zeus? They had been so occupied with the fact that there was a way to destroy Zeus that they never considered there might be repercussions. What if as a last laugh, Zeus killed the Draconians who wielded the pendants?
"No," Folken said. He wouldn't lose Adrina, he couldn't. "No, Adrina. You can't leave me, I won't let you. Wake up Adrina. Wake up!" There was no movement in her pale face. "Rina love, please, I'm begging you, don't leave me. I need you! You are the only reason I'm alive. Adrina! Adrina, listen to me! Adrina!"
**************************************************
Cliffhanger: Is Adrina really dead? What about Van? Read the epilogue to find out!
"Let's not keep them waiting any longer."
The sorcerers walked single file out of the room and up a flight of stairs. Chenley followed obediently behind.
The congregation of soldiers and Draconians stared up at the capital building, anxiously waiting for something to happen. When they marched into the city, they had expected an ambush, maybe for Zeus itself to obliterate them before they had a chance to destroy it. Instead, they had been met with nothing. No soldiers, no attacks, not a single person had been seen since they entered the capital of Zaibach. Everyone was on edge as they waited for the final showdown to begin.
A movement on the roof of the building drew everyone's attention. One by one the ten sorcerers emerged from a trap door and situated themselves on the roof. After they had all emptied onto the top of the building, one especially wicked looking sorcerer stepped forward and grinned evilly.
"Welcome, Draconians, to Zaibach," the sorcerer greeted, "it is a pleasure indeed to have so many of the winged people gathered."
"If you think we are here for a casual visit, then you are mistaken," Folken spoke, his voice loud and full of authority, "we have come to destroy your Zeus machine."
"Yes, yes," the sorcerer nodded, "we are well aware of your intentions. I did not think you would come for a visit with half the Asturian and Fanelian Armies, not to mention all the guymelefs. And..." the sorcerer paused. "Do my eyes deceive me? Escaflowne and Sherazade? No wonder Naria and Eriya failed to complete their task. Oh well. Good riddance to bad rubbish."
"How can you say such a terrible thing?!" Adrina demanded, "They fought and died for you because you poisoned their minds against Folken. They obeyed your every command and all you can say is 'good riddance to bad rubbish'? You sorcerers are fools and cowards."
"Ah, Queen Adrina," the sorcerer addressed, "the brave woman who left Fanelia without a word to anyone and rescued her husband from Zaibach. It's a good thing you didn't mention you plans to any advisors."
"What?" Adrina questioned, "What do you mean? Why?"
"Because if you did, I would've found out and warned the sorcerers"
Adrina, Folken, Van and Hitomi gasped as Sir Chenley joined the sorcerers on the roof. "My Lord, my Lady."
"Chenley?" Adrina inquired.
"Yes, my Lady, it is I," Chenley replied.
"Why?"
"As they say, my Lady, 'It is better to be on the right side of the devil than to be in his path,'" Chenley answered.
"You," Adrina accused, "it was you who told Zaibach where Folken was so they could kidnap him. You knew that Rindus couldn't defend against the guymelefs and you knew Folken would turn himself over in order to save the city. You bastard! We both could've been killed!"
"Tsk tsk," the sorcerer chided, "such terrible language from such a proper young lady."
Rage coursed through her veins as the sorcerer taunted her. She turned to Folken and stretching onto her toes, unhooked the purple dragon necklace from his neck. She held the chain so the pendant dangled and raised it above her head.
"Do you know what this is?" Adrina shouted, "This is the Murasaki Tatsu, the purple dragon. With the Sekichiku Namida, your destruction will be at hand. Zeus will be destroyed and so will you!"
"My dear Queen," the sorcerer smiled, "those are very harsh threats. Would you at least like to see it before you destroy it?" He turned to one of the other sorcerers and said something. The sorcerer nodded and the group. He was hidden behind the other sorcerers so no one on the ground could see what he was doing. A second later a rumbling began in the building and the sorcerers stepped aside as a giant machine rose out of the ceiling.
The Zeus was massive and took up at least half of the roof. The lower half of the machine was shaped like a box and made of a gray metal. On the front were many knobs, switches and gauges. The top half of the Zeus was made of clear, glass tubes that entwined with one another and entered the gray part in different spots.
"Behold the might Zeus!" the sorcerer cried.
"I am not impressed," Adrina told him.
"Then perhaps a demonstration of it's power will tickle you fancy," the sorcerer suggested.
"No!" The cry echoed all throughout the congregation as the sorcerer turned to the others.
"Power up the Zeus!" he ordered. Another sorcerer shuffled over to the machine and pushed a series of buttons. The Zeus began to whir and a chugging sound emitted as the clear tubes filled with a red liquid. Adrina felt sick when she realized it was blood.
Adrina tore her gaze from the horrid machine and turned to Van, who stood on the other side of Folken with Hitomi and Golan. "Are you ready?" Van nodded. "Okay, let's do this."
Both stones were raised into the air. "It's time!" Adrina shouted, "concentrate with everything you've got on the pendants!"
Adrina could feel the wills and energy of the Draconians coursing through her as she held the purple jewel over her head. She looked up and saw the gem was glowing a radiant purple. She looked over at Van and saw the pendant was glowing as well.
Suddenly, Adrina felt her wings burst through her dress. She looked around and saw that all the Draconians wings had appeared. Even Golan's tiny wings had appeared and he laughed as miniature feathers floated around him. Adrina felt her feet lift off the ground and realized that her wings were moving by themselves. All the gathered Draconians rose into the air until they were even with the rooftop.
"Foolish demons," the sorcerer sneered, "you cannot defeat us! You cannot destroy Zeus!"
Adrina ignored him and concentrated on channeling the energy in her body through the pendant. It's glow was so bright now it hurt her eyes to look directly at it. She heard the Zeus powering up and knew that if they didn't destroy the machine soon, it would destroy them.
Then, from somewhere in the group of Draconians, someone yelled, "it isn't working."
Almost immediately the power in her body lessened and the pendant's glow dimmed. Adrina looked around as she began to descend back to the ground. Panic began to build inside of her.
"No!" She shouted, "don't give up! It is working! Concentrate!"
The power still diminished and the Draconians continued their descent. Desperately seeking comfort, Adrina reached out and grabbed Folken's hand. Suddenly, the power of the Draconians returned to her body in a rush like a tidal wave. Adrina gasped as the power cascaded through her and collected in the pendant. The purple glow was so bright it appeared almost white.
When Adrina felt she could take no more of the onslaught of power, a white beam shot out of the pendant and was joined by another beam from Van's pendant. The two beams merged and struck the Zeus. The machine began shake as the beam melted it. Zeus shuddered once again and then exploded with a white light.
Everyone shielded their eyes from the blast. Once the intense light subsided, the Draconians turned back to the roof. Surprisingly, there was no sign of Zeus. Every trace of it's existence had been vaporized. The only things on the roof were the ten sorcerers and Chenley, all dead.
"We did it!"
The cry rang out as the Draconians slowly descended back to the ground. There was much cheering and many hugs once they landed, and many were directed at Van and Adrina, the wielders of the pendants. Adrina smiled and hugged everyone who approached her, but she felt odd. The power of the Draconians had drained her and she felt very tired. While talking to the Draconians, her vision blurred and she had to blink several times before it cleared. After a while, she began to feel sick as well and wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep.
Folken noticed her behavior. "Rina love, are you all right?"
"What?" Adrina stared at him blankly for a moment, trying to comprehend what he said. "Uh...Oh yes! I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Folken prodded.
"Yes, why?"
"You're acting strangely," Folken replied.
"I'm just a little tired," Adrina smiled, "I'll be fine once I..." She trailed off as everything around her faded to black.
Folken caught her as she fell and laid her down on the ground. He held her hand in his as he called to her. "Rina, wake up."
"What happened to them?" A Draconian woman asked.
"I don't know," Folken answered, then realized the woman had said "them". He looked to his right and saw that Van was laying on the ground also, a worried looking Hitomi at his side, Golan cradled in her arms. Folken turned back to his wife.
"Rina love, please wake up."
Adrina made no move or sign that she heard him. He patted her hand hoping to awaken her but to no avail. He wished he knew what was wrong with her so he could at least try to help her. A crowd had gathered around them but Folken barely noticed as he squeezed Adrina's hand, hoping for some response but receiving none.
A sudden thought struck him that chilled his blood. Adrina and Van had both passed out at the same time. Were they suffering some sort of reaction from the destruction of Zeus? They had been so occupied with the fact that there was a way to destroy Zeus that they never considered there might be repercussions. What if as a last laugh, Zeus killed the Draconians who wielded the pendants?
"No," Folken said. He wouldn't lose Adrina, he couldn't. "No, Adrina. You can't leave me, I won't let you. Wake up Adrina. Wake up!" There was no movement in her pale face. "Rina love, please, I'm begging you, don't leave me. I need you! You are the only reason I'm alive. Adrina! Adrina, listen to me! Adrina!"
**************************************************
Cliffhanger: Is Adrina really dead? What about Van? Read the epilogue to find out!