"Max?" Carter asked, as Zakan vanished from the living room.
She just shook her head, as she sunk to the floor. Not able to hold back her tears anymore, she began to sob.
"Hey, it's going to be okay," Skeeter offered weakly.
"I can't do this," she whimpered, as she choked on her sobs, "Why didn't he just kill me?"
"Get up," Carter ordered, "I didn't rip a Goddess out of you, so that you could sit here crying! You hate Zakan? Good, we're going to use that!"
"You saw what he was like!" Max cried.
"Yeah, he's a first rate asshole," Skeeter countered, "With some serious fire power. You really want to wait around for him to come back and kill you? Take over the universe? If you can't do it for yourself, us, humanity, why not do it for Kenny? I think he'd appreciate it if you killed the thing that stole his body and life!"
"Your spell didn't work," Max started, as she wiped away her tears, "Before, centuries ago . . . The ancient Gods had one that banished him and Arcadia. The temples were destroyed, as the old ones died out. It was on a tablet, in Ital."
"And how would we get it?" Carter asked, as she paused, "We tried getting into Ital, and we couldn't."
"I know how," Max replied.
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"You're injured, Zakan," the King said, as he materilizied back in the throne room, "What happened?"
"Humans," he spat, as his wounds began to heal, "They've taken Arcadia."
"Taken her where?" the Queen asked.
"Out of the mortals body!"
"That cannot be!" the King cried, as he leapt to his feet.
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"How do you know how to do this?" Jill asked, as she watched Max draw a symbol on the wall in chalk.
"Arcadia knew," she replied, focusing all her energy on the task ahead, "So I do."
"Is it weird?" Jill asked, "Having someone elses memories?"
"A little," she said, glad that the others were assembling a small arsenal in the other room, "At this point they seem to be helping a bit."
"Are you okay?" Jill asked gently.
"No. I'm the opposite of okay at this point."
"Max," Jill started, unsure where to go from this point, "What are you planning on doing when you get there?"
She tossed the chalk down on the couch, and turned away from the symbol on the wall, "The King and Zakan assembled an army, who guard the castle and the surrounding area. Deeper in the woods, some dissenters survived. Arcadia knew that, but she couldn't bear any more blood being spilled. If they can have an army, so can I. Unlike Arcadia, I'm not afraid of a little blood shed. It's ready."
"Good," Skeeter said, "So are we."
Max regarded the group carefully, "You know that this is most likely a one way trip?"
"The world is going to end, I'd rather go out this way," Littleton said, as the others nodded.
"Do your thing," Carter said, nodding toward the symbol.
She turned back toward the symbol on the wall, "Blessed is he who purified, who has given himself in the holy place of the Lady. With reverence we welcome you, let the whirling dance begin! Strabloe druei tanaous te mani! Anahata, hectate, lyssa, innana, astarte!"
"Wow," Carter said, as he watched the portal open to Ital, "Is that?"
Max nodded, and stepped through before she could lose her nerve, "Let's go."
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"She thought to trick me with parlor tricks," Zakan continued.
"That mortal," the King said, "She was trouble from day one of this."
"She fought Arcadia," Zakan said, "I could see it in her at times."
"The mortal must die."
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"That's the castle," Max said, as they emerged on the edge of the woods, "The King . . . If it's at all possible, I hate him more than Zakan at the moment. He did this to us."
"Where are we going to find the warriors you mentioned?" Jimmy asked, as he looked at the new world they emerged in, "It's different here."
"Who is there?" a voice said behind them.
"Nando," Max blurted out, as she watched the man who had once offered them salvation so long ago, "You're not dead!"
"You!" he cried, "Arcadia!"
Max yelped, as she jumped out of the way of his sword, "Would you just listen to me? I'm here for your help! And do I look like Arcadia to you? She's gone, Nando!"
"How do I know that?" Nando asked.
"Do you really think Arcadia would come down here?" Max asked, "She wanted you to live in peace, despite the destruction going one. I want you to help me kill the King and find a tablet in the castle."
"That doesn't sound like Arcadia," Nando mused, as he nodded to the group behind her, "Who are they?"
"Friends from the one world not taken over yet," Max replied, "They are the ones who got rid of Arcadia."
"Where is your mate from before?" Nando asked, "The one who became Zakan?"
Max swallowed, and vowed not to fall apart again, "He's still Zakan."
"Are you prepared to kill him as well? Killing the King is all well and good, but Zakan has all of the power."
"I want to save him," Max said quietly.
"It might not be possible," Nando said quickly, "You're aware of that?"
"I know. If it comes to that . . . I'll be ready."
"Come," Nando said, as he beckoned them into the woods, "I'll prepare my people."
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"We can finish this without Arcadia," the King admitted, "It won't be as easy without her power, but it can be done."
"We're not doing anything until Arcadia is back," Zakan replied, as his wounds finished healing.
"We can't wait for Arcadia," the King argued, "We will find her again when this is done. We'll even stuff her back into that mortal who was so eager to get rid of her."
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"You should have let them kill me," Lupa said.
"I couldn't," Max said simply, as she surveyed the battered group of warriors gathered in the woods.
"I know. The King was counting on that," Lupa sighed, "Yet you're back. I don't think he ever thought that would happen."
"I never liked being predictable," Max admitted, as she outlined their plan to the other group, "Is it possible?"
"There are ancient artifacts kept in the deepest chamber in the castle," Nando said, "I was once a guard there, I know. Secret passageways lead the way down there. I can find the way."
"Okay," Max said softly, "How do we get in?"
"That is the hard part, the castle is heavily guard, as you well know," Nando continued, "We need to pull the guards away from an entry point, and make our way inside. The less that go inside at that time the better, former Goddess."
"I agree," Max said.
"Wait," Jimmy finally said, "You're not going in alone."
"Of course not," Max said, "Nando, who would you like to bring?"
"Lupa worked in the castle as well, so has Loho," Nando said, "Who of your warriors might be some use to us on the inside?"
"He's gotten pretty good at magic," Max said, nodding toward Carter, "Better than good."
"Is that all?" Jimmy asked, "You expect us to wait around while you do this?"
"No," Max replied, "You and Skeeter are good shots, so we need you on the outside taking out the army. Jill can tend to the hurt, and Littleton . . . well you're a lawyer."
"I can shoot," Littleton retorted.
"Good," Max said.
"The sun is setting," Nando said, "We should get started."
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"The humans that took her," Zakan said, "We have to get them first. They can give her back to us."
"Forget about Arcadia!" the King yelled.
"I can never forget about Arcadia!"
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"There," Nando said, as he nodded to the edge of the woods, "I must say your weapons are impressive."
"I wish I thought to bring a tank," Max replied, as she clicked the safety off on her gun, "It's been awhile since I used one of these."
"The tunnels start by that wall," Nando said, "As soon as the others begin their attack, we're going in."
"I guess that would be now," Carter said, as he watched the other group charge the castle, "We're really sure about this?"
Loho raised his sword, "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. I am ready."
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Skeeter fired blindly into the charging guards, and prayed that Max and the others would do what they set out to do. Turning his head at the clanking swords and firing guns, he saw the other five dashing toward the castle.
"Come on, come on," he said under his breath, as warriors fell in front of him.
"This is insane!" Jimmy yelled over the small war erupting in front of them.
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"You sure that you know where you are going?" Max asked, as they made another turn in the tunnel.
"It has been awhile," Nando admitted, "But yes. I knew this knowledge would help me later on."
"How come there aren't any guards down here?" Carter asked.
Nando shrugged, "Now? The King has no fears because he doesn't believe that there is anyone left to betray him, not with Zakan and formerly Arcadia, by his side. The army controls everyone, except for us."
"I wouldn't say that," a voice said in the darkness, "Why don't you come with us?"
Max gritted her teeth, as she watched the guards emerge from the darkness and knew that the bullets from her gun wouldn't penetrate their royal armor.
"Zakan is looking for you," the first said, as he stared at Max, "He's angry."
"I'm sure he is," Max retorted, as she raised the gun and Nando lunged at him with the sword, "I'll be giving him my regards later."
Firing at his forehead, as Nando cut the second's head off, she saw Carter duck out of the way of the swinging sword of the third. Firing blindly into the darkness, she stumbled back to her feet, as Lupa plunged the blade deeply into his stomach.
"Shall we?" Loho said, gesturing to the door, "Before any other visitors come to see us?"
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"Something is happening," the King said, as he heard the noise erupting outside.
"Her!" Zakan hissed, "The mortal is behind this!"
"She can't be. She has no way of getting to Ital. No mortal does."
"Who is this army outside? They must have come from the only world left! She brought them here!"
"Go," the King ordered, "Destroy them, Zakan!"
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"This is it," Max breathed, as she gazed down at the tablet that was so vivid in Arcadia's memories, "This is what Ahtar used to banish them."
"Who is Ahtar?" Carter asked, as he watched his friend stare at it with a mixture of awe and fear.
"He was the King of the Gods in those times," Max said, "The leader of the Old Ones, before they were all driven out. Like Arcadia and Zakan, he is waiting to be reborn."
"We can't carry this," Nando said, as he scribbled down the inscription, "We just need the words?"
Max nodded, as she stroked the cool stone with her hand, "I remember this . . ."
"Max?" Carter asked softly, as she seemed lost in thought.
"Zakan killed so many of the old ones, as they banished him and Arcadia," she said dreamily, "Arcadia screamed at him to stop, the violence hurt her more than the banishment. She pulled his arm down, and the lightening struck the world below, destroying whole worlds and civilizations, right before they were banished."
"Max?" Carter tried again, as she stood, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she said quietly, as she looked around the chamber, "That."
"What is it?" Nando asked, as she picked up the sword.
"Ahtar's sword. Look at the carvings, they were his symbol," she breathed, "He stabbed Zakan with it, during the banishment, to help save the old ones. It was the only one that would penetrate his flesh."
"Bring it," Loho said.
"We've got what we need," Carter said, "Max? Snap out of it."
She lifted her head to meet his gaze, "I'm okay, Carter. Arcadia's memories are there, I think they might always be there, but it's me."
"Good," Carter said, as she lifted the sword, "Are you ready for this?"
"Very ready."
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"Let's go!" Kella yelled, as they stormed over the fallen bodies, "To the King! Zakan!"
"I hope they got what they needed!" Littleton yelled, as they stormed into the castle, "Where the hell are they going?"
"I don't know!" Jimmy yelled back, as the small army flooded into the foyer with their weapons drawn.
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"Do you hear that?" Nando yelled, as they ran up the staircases to the center of the castle, "I'd say that the fight just moved inside!"
"I hope that means that we're winning!" Loho yelled back, "Keep going up!"
"There!" Nando yelled, as they burst out into the foyer, "Come on former Goddess! We're going to the thrown room!"
"Max!" she heard erupt over the chaos.
She turned to see Skeeter firing at some of the guards, and screaming her name. Not knowing quite what to yell back, she ran after Nando toward the thrown room.
"Where do you think that you're going?" a voice said, as she was thrown to the ground.
"Zakan," she breathed, "I was actually coming to kill you."