Chapter 23: Dead things.
"Guardians attack!" Will called out has the man-spider creature proceeded to charge into them. Caleb was the first into battle. He pulled out his sword and somehow got lucky landing the blade just below the section were the humanoid torso was fused with its arachnid body. The creature continued its advancing not even acknowledging the attack.
"What the…?" Caleb called out has his assault went ignored. He the looked closer and noticed how dry and leathery the skin was. Even the blood was coming out in slow lumpy bubbles instead of flowing normally. Whilst the Guardians spun around the creature dodging its bladed legs and launching their elemental attacks Caleb leaped onto the creatures back to assault the upper torso. He swung his sword going for a decapitating blow. But just has the blade 'began to move the creature turned and stopped the attack by catching the blade in its powerful arm. The creature turned towards Caleb. He gasped in shock has he met the gruesome visage. The 'creatures skin was shrivelled up large chunks missing like burnt paper revealing the now grey bone. The creature had six empty eye sockets running down its forehead each glowing with an unnatural eerie green light. The creature grabbed Caleb by the shoulder and flung him hard into a nearby wall.
"Caleb!" Will called out has she saw him impact heavily against the hard stone before slumping down onto the floor. She flew hard towards him but was blocked by the giant spider-monster. It swung its large fists at her and Will dodged each blow using her speed before landing a powerful superhuman blow to the creature's head. In fact it so powerful the monsters head completely dislocated from its shoulders. Will watched in shock has the monster grabbed its misaligned head and with a sickening crunch realigned its head into its proper position. She was so shocked by this gruesome display that she didn't notice the monsters abdomen aiming at her from behind until the last second when she spun around just in time for a foul sticky substance to impact against her hold her arms against the wall and covering her mouth preventing her from calling out. She watched in horror has the monsters inhuman glowing eyes came in close to examine her. Its mouth open revealing a foul breath and a pair viscous grey mandibles emerged.
"Will!" Taranee called out. She flew in front Will guarding her from the foul dead thing and aimed her palms at the monster releasing a massive blast of flame, which engulfed the monsters entire torso. Slowly over the next couple of minutes the group watched in horror watched has creature was destroyed by Taranees attack. She turned around and pulled the web like substance off of Will's face.
"Phew!" She said gasping for air.
"But couldn't you taken that stuff off me a little sooner?" She smiled has Taranee freed her.
"Sorry I was a little busy," Taranee replied.
"What was that thing?" Hay-lin asked looking towards Caleb for answers.
" A Necross," Caleb answered.
"A what?" The girls asked collectively.
"A Necross warrior, " Caleb repeated.
"Basically a reanimated corpse. It was a dark arts form performed by necromancer cults, outlawed centuries ago." Caleb explained.
"You mean like a zombie?" Irma asked doing a zombie face to emphasize her point.
"Err yeah sortof…" Caleb replied has tried to workout exactly what Irma was imitating.
"Anyway let's move girls," Will said has she 'went back into leader mode and the group raced off into the tunnel system.
The palace.
"Even in death you disappoint me…" Phobos sighed has he watched the Guardians leave the ashes that were once the reanimated general Archeron one of Phobos's former lieutenants. After his death Phobos had had his body reanimated so it could be used to guard the sewer system.
He watched disinterestedly has the Guardians accessed the palace.
"Order your guards to abandon their positions," Phobos commanded Cedric.
"We want to give our guests the correct reception." He smiled. Cedric grinned back knowing what to do. He was looking forward to this…
In the palace dungeons Caleb and the Guardians looked about in confusion. There was no guards or security any were to be seen.
"Guess we're expected," Irma said examining the empty room.
"This has got trap written all over it," Cornelia whispered. Hay-lin nodded in agreement.
C'mon lets go, and stay alert," Will said in a low hushed voice.
The Guardians made their way through the palace towards the throne room. On the way they met no guards or resistance of any kind.
Finally they reached the tall double doors of the throne room.
"You guys ready?" Will asked preparing to push the door open. The group nodded collectively.
"No!" Irma gulped not really wanting to know what kind of trap was about to be sprung on them.
Will slowly opened the doors ignoring Irma's remark. The doors opened with a large yawning creak. The Guardians led by Caleb entered the wide throne room cautiously. Wills "eyes brightened has at the top of the stairs directly in front of Phobos's throne was the sword the blade of infinity. Placed into a golden clamp device of some Metamoorian design.
"Welcome Guardians," a voice said from the shadows.
Will searched for the voices source and her eyes grew intense has she saw Phobos emerge from the shadows.
"Phobos," Will hissed.
"Give us back the blade!" Will demanded pointing an accusing finger at Phobos.
"So you can leave before we've had our fun?" A new voice asked. The group turned to their left to see Cedric emerge in all his snaky glory flanked on either by the three Sentinels.
"I don't think so…" He said his facing slicing into a grin filled with knife like teeth.
Only two more to go now. Now how about a review or two?