Last time, The Guardians were preparing for a well-earned summer vacation, when Elyon showed up. Someone or something is taking the children of Meridian. It is now up to Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin to figure who or what is committing these crimes, and stop them. On with the show!
Chapter 2: The new enemy
Upon emerging from the Fold, Will and her friends found themselves back in the castle at Meridian. "Love the new decor." Said Cornelia. "Glad you do." Said Elyon. "Welcome, Guardians." There stood Vathek, former guard under Phobos, key player in the rebellion, and now Captain of the Guard. "What's the situation in the city?" asked Elyon. "Not good, Your Majesty," said Vathek grimly, "At least 40 children were taken last night. The people are beginning to panic"
"This is getting out of hand." Sighed Elyon. "That's why we're here." Said Will. Already a plan was formulating in Will's mind. "I need a map of the city." "There's one in the study." Said Vathek as he showed the way. In rout to said study, Cornelia asked Elyon, "So, where's Caleb?" "I honestly don't know." Answered Elyon. "The last I saw of him," said Vathek, "He was in the city trying to keep everyone calm."
Once in the study, Elyon pointed out a large map layed out over several desks. "This is the best detailed map of Meridian," said Elyon, "On the surface at least." "We still haven't mapped the Infinite City all the way." Said Vathek. "This one will do nicely," said Will. "Where have the abductions taken place?" Elyon pointed towards the map. "Here," the area she pointed was filled with at least thirty small blue dots, "here, here, here, here, here and here." Each place Elyon pointed at was covered in blue dots. "Lat nights kidnappings were here." She pointed at one more place. "Each night, there were reports oa a strange green fog in the area."
As Will looked at the map, she noticed a definite pattern in the takings. "Each night's kidnappings have taken place along the outer rim of the city. The first night's were at the northern most part, the second night's a little to the east. But on the third night, the takings took place to the west of the first night's." "I see where you're going," said Taranee, "Each night's abductions alternate from east to west. So if tonight's takings follow the same pattern," she pointed at an area several blocks to the east of the first takings, "Here's where they'll strike next."
Just then, Caleb, former leader of the rebellion, and now chief bodyguard for Elyon, entered the study. "Things are calming down with the people," said Caleb, "But it's only a matter of time before a full blown riot breaks out." "Ahem," coughed Cornelia, "You've been here ten seconds and you've haven't kissed me yet." Caleb turned around and embraced Cornelia. They kissed.
"Forgive me," said Caleb, and he kissed her again. "One more like that," said Cornelia, "And I might just forgive you." They kissed again. "Oh get a room," smirked Irma. "Don't tempt then," said Hay Lin, "They might just do so."
That night Will and the others had positioned themselves in different parts of the expected area of abductions. For several hours nothing happened. The girls were finding it hard to stay alert. It wasn't untilafter midnightwhen the strange green fog mentioned by Elyon rolled in where Taranee was stationed. She sent a telepathic message to the others to get there pronto.
While waiting for the other Guardians, Taranee noticed that the fog was moving against the wind. It reached one house, stopped, and them moved on to the next one. Just then, Will and the others arrived. "Now that's what I call freaky." Said Irma. "Let's see what's behind that fog." Said Will. "I'm on it." Said Hay Lin as she formed a strong wind. It blew away the green fog.
When the fog cleared, there stood eight people, or at least they at first looked like humans. They all had purple scales for skin, black eyes clawed hands and razor sharp teeth. Around their necks were stones similar to the green ones only these were a mixture of yellow and orange. The sudden removal of the fog seemed to disorient them. "I stand corrected," said Irma, "That's what I call freaky."
Irma's comment attracted the attention of the creatures. "They can see us!"hissed one of the demons (for lack of a better term). "Who are you and why are you taking the children of this city?" demanded Will. "We are the Naz'riak," said the larger of the demons, the facial markings on its orange stone in clearer detail, yet oddly distorted, "As to why we are culling these younglings, we do as the Empress commands." "And why does your empress want with children?" asked Cornelia. "It is not our place to question the orders of the Empress," said a third demon, "And it is none of your business to ask why. Now stay out of our way if you do not wish to be destroyed."
"I think it's you who should be worried," said Will as she pulled out he Heart of Candracar, "Guardians Unite!" Within seconds, Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin had transformed. The Zaz'riak seemed startled, but not concerned. "So," said the first demon, "The humans here are more than they seem. But no mater." The lead demon (assuming it is the lead one) pointed at one of its underlings. "You, no.6, deal with these interlopers."
"It shall be my pleasure," hissed the demon known as no.6, "None shall survive." "Wait!" exclaimed Will, "What have you done to the children?" "The children haven't been harmed in any way." Said the lead demon. As it held up its hand, several glass spheres were visible hovering around it. To Will's horror and the horror of the other Guardians, within the spheres was the miniaturized forms of sleeping children.
"As you can see," said the lead demon, "They're perfectly fine. They have been preserved for transport to the Empress." "But why?" asked Taranee. "We do only what the Empress commands." With is, all but one of the demons vanished. "Now what?" asked Irma. "Now," said an angered Will, "We beat the crap out of this one until it tells us where they took the children." "I do not think so," hissed demon no.6 as it pulled out a leather pouch. It reached in and pulled out several small stones. It cast the stones to the ground, and the stones grew into what looked like a cross between a demon and a robot.
"These biots shall deal with you interlopers." Hissed the demon. "I don't think so," said Will as she launched an energy attack at the nearest biot. The creature exploded, leaving a pile of metal scraps and green goo. Irma followed suit with a large water blast, slamming several biots into a nearby wall. Taranee incinerated several of the creatures. Cornelia summoned vines that crushed several biots, while Hay Lin launched a small tornado that ripped the remaining biots to shreds.
"Is that all you got?" asked Will. "Apparently I've misjudged you humans," hissed the demon as it pulled out more biot stones, "But no matter, there's more where that came from." This time there was a lot more biots to deal with. As the others were either blasting or bashing biots, it was Taranee who saw the demon trying to escape. She flew after it, and cornered the demon in an alleyway.
"You're not going anywhere!" exclaimed Taranee. "Foolish mortal," hissed the demon, "You delve into matters you do not understand." "Oh I understand enough," said Taranee, "You're going to kill those children." "That is not my concern," hissed the demon, "I do only what the Empress commands. Now get out of my way."
"The only way you'll get past me is to kill me," said Taranee with much determination, "And I'm rather hard to kill." "We'll just see about that!" hissed the demon as it lunged at Taranee. She dodged the attack, landing a hard kick to its head. The demon stumbled and fell to the ground. Just then, one of the demons that vanished with the stolen children reappeared. "Is there a problem here no.6?" it asked its comrade.
"As a matter of fact," said the Demon Taranee was fighting, "There is, no.10." "Then I have a solution," said the second demon referred to as no10., "This!" It rushed at Taranee from behind, pinning her against a wall, her back exposed to the demons. The second demon had Taranee restrained so she couldn't move or fly. "Guy! Help me!" exclaimed Taranee as the first demon stood up. "You know what to do." Hissed the second demon. "I do indeed," said the first one as it raised its right hand. The tips of its fingers glowed with dark purple flames.
"What are you doing?" asked a scared sounding Taranee. "Binding your powers so you shall be a threat no longer," hissed no.6 as it placed its flaming hand above the center of Taranee's back, it shouted, "Five-Pronged Seal!" It thrust its hand into Taranee's back, the flames burning into her very soul. Taranee let out a scream of agony that was herd by Will and the others, who had just finished with the biots. "Taranee!" exclaimed Will. She flew over to where the scream came from.
There, to Will's horror, there lay Taranee de-transformed, face down unconscious on the ground. Standing over Taranee was the two demons. "This is an example of what shall happen to you and your friends if you stand in our way again." Hissed no.6 as it and no.10 vanished. Will rushed over to Taranee, who was slowly waking up. "Taranee! Are you alright?" exclaimed Will.
"What happened?" asked Cornelia as she, Hay Lin and Irma arrived in the alleyway. "Those demons did something to her." Said Will as Taranee opened her eyes. "What happened?" asked Taranee, "What did those things do to me?" Slowly, Taranee stood up, she tried to summon a fireball, but to her horror, found that she couldn't. "My power! They're gone!"
"Taranee! Your back!" exclaimed Hay Lin who was standing behind Taranee. Cornelia, Irma and Will rushed around to see what Hay Lin saw. "What is it?" asked Taranee. "Goodness!" exclaimed Cornelia. "Can someone tell me what its going on with my back?" asked Taranee. She reached around to feel her back, and felt five burns on the center of her back.
The end of chapter 2. Next chapter, The Guardians arrive in Candracar to explain to the Oracle and to figure out how to help Taranee. Please read and review. See you next time!
