Chapter 28: Spanish Standoff.

Queen Skyla, staring at the crystal in her hands saw the hurricane as it was still rising up from the vortex.

"Go!" She had shouted hopelessly but knew even as she did that they couldn't hear her. She watched only long enough to see the hurricane's big hand enclose around the crystal before she dropped it and flew into the Netherworld.

"Well well, what do we have here?" Skyclone sneered as his large hurricane deposited its catch at his feet. "This is certainly intriguing."

The small blond girl blinked up at him and jumped to her feet but she was quickly scooped up and held in front of him for inspection.

"What in the heavens are you?" The large man sneered.

Joanie-Ellen was still recovering from the shock of meeting her first hurricane. Skyclone laughed at her bewildered expression and gave her a bit of a shake.

"Leave her alone Skyclone or I'll blow you away!" Slam shouted, somewhere along the line he had managed to jump from his vulnerable position on the cage to where his fellow Skydancers were. They too were adding their threats and protest to his mishandling of the girl. The big man laughed and gave Joanie another shake. "Blow me away?" He queried. "Over a worm like this? What was she thinking?"
Joanie jerked and glared at him.

"Le' me go asshole." She snapped suddenly, twisted her body and kicked Skyclone in the face. The man hollered with surprise and dropped the girl, grabbing his head. Joanie landed flat on her back but was quick to recover as she got up and scrambled away between Skyclone's legs. She jumped up and made a leap for a ventilation shaft she had seen in the tunnel but she didn't make it.

She wasn't tall enough to jump that far.

Dropping down she was scooped up by the three imps who laughed mockingly as she struggled to get out of their grip. They handed her back to the furious Skyclone.

Before Joanie could even struggle out of his grip again a sharp blow against the head send her crashing to the floor.

With her world spinning and bells ringing in her ears she didn't hear the horrified cries of the students.

Skyclone towered above her as he bent down and picked her up by the scruff of the neck.

"Little worm you will pay for that." He sneered and made to strike her again. There was a mildly disturbing light of acceptance in Joanie's eyes as she waited for the next blow to rain down on her.

"Skyclone enough!"

The bold command echoed through the chamber as Queen Skyla joined her students and walked almost to the edge of their tunnel. Her blue eyes shone coldly as she regarded Skyclone over the distance between them. The Skyswirlstone winked on her hand.

"Let her go, she is not apart of this."

Skyclone turned around slowly so that he could look at Skyla. A small touch of scorn curled the end of his mouth.

"Then pray, why did you involve her Sister?" He queried.

Skyla's mouth thinned as he held Joanie up like a rag doll. The girl was pale and dazed.

"She is only a child Brother." Two could play that word game. "Let her go, this is between us."
Skyclone shifted Joanie so that he could support her small body against his enormous stomach and put a chokehold on her neck.

"You should've considered that before you send her here to do your dirty work." He sneered and without warning started squeezing on her airway. "New ultimatum Queen Skyla. Give me the stone or I will break her little pigeon neck."

Joanie's eyes widened in panic as his grip tightened.

The horrified students watched as she coughed and started clawing at his hand.

Queen Skyla took an uncontrolled step forward. "Stop it Skyclone!" She demanded. "She's only a child! Leave her alone."
He paid them no mind and increased his grip.

Joanie's struggles became more fevered as her need for air grew. She kept clawing at his hand and kicked at his knees. She managed to get a decent blow into his stomach but he barely felt it.

"You can't hurt me." He whispered in her ear. "You're a fly. An itsie bitsy insect that I will squash..." He relaxed his hand for a second to tease her with a breath of air but immediately started choking her again.

"Stop it!" The Skydancers were shouting. "Skyclone you bastard stop it!"

Jade and Camille were close to tears.

Queen Skyla stood very still as she watched Joanie-Ellen over the chasm between them.

The girl's struggles became more desperate as her need for a decent breath grew urgent.

The woman closed her eyes and shook her head.

"No Skyclone." She commanded. "Let her go, I will give you what you want."
Skyclone laughed over the shocked exclamations of the Skydancers.

"I knew that you would see the light." He said and immediately let this grip on Joanie go.

The girl, gasping through panicked sobs, sagged against him and coughed.

Her eyes rolled back in her head and for a moment Skyla thought that she might lose consciousness but then she shook her head and met the woman's gaze.

'Don't.' Her eyes pleaded.

Skyla smiled and shook her head slightly.

"Queen Skyla no." Breeze whispered urgently. "You can't do that."

The woman was slowly peeling off the glove, her face taunt.

"I can't not do it Breeze." She replied. "Would you be able to just leave here, honestly?"
The Indian boy opened then closed his mouth.

"He'll kill her anyway." He said dejectedly. "And you and..." He paused and shared a look with the others.
Skyla shook her head. "He won't kill me." She said. "And Joanie is worth nothing to him. He'll let her go, once he has what he wants." She turned to look at her troupe. "It's you I'm worried about." She sniffed softly and fingered the glove. "The moment he lets Joanie go I want you five to go. Fly, go back to the wingdom as fast as you can. Warn them and hide. I'll stay here and create a diversion."

"Dame Skyla no." Jade mouthed protest. "You can't do that."

The woman turned a gentle look on her, but her face was stern.

"I can and I will Jade." She said. "And you five will go. That's an order."
She could almost feel their silent protests but she ignored it. She turned her back on them.

"Okay Skyclone." She called out to her brother-in-law. "Let the child go, and I will bring you the stone."

The eager man stepped closer to the chasm but didn't loosen his grip on Joanie.

"Throw it to me and I'll send her over to you." He sneered.

Skyla shook her head. "No, put her down first and then you will get the stone."
Another shake of the head.

"No."
The two people faced each other. Skyclone retook his firm chokehold on his hostage's neck.

"Throw it." He commanded.

Joanie chocked and tried to writhe out of his grasp.

Skyla felt more than saw that the situation was hopeless.

"Get ready you guys." She whispered as she bundled the glove. "Okay Skyclone, on three. One... Two... Three."
As the stone left her hand, a movement caught her eye...

AN: Okay, hello everybody.

If you're wondering about the title, it is a situation in chess where neither one of the two opponents can do anything without sacrificing a valuable piece (usually in my case the queen or the horse). Just thought you'd like to know :-) Ah, what else?
To ponywalker – I wouldn't know about Nickelodeon as my backwater planet doesn't have that channel but I do agree with you on Cartoon Network. Gem (another reader really called Jewelgirl. HELLO!) and I were actually discussing it (sort of). The only show worth watching is 'Courage the Cowardly Dog' and – going back on what I had said earlier – 'Johnny Bravo' (he reminds me of a guy I use to date ages ago. I so love it when the girls hit him.) "Sigh" they don't make cartoons they use to. Oh well. That's what books are for!

Oh yes, just so you know – I try to update my story once or twice a week. Thanks for the review, I'm happy to know that you like it.

Take care everybody and keep safe as always!
Alys.