The Chaos Tree
Chapter 27
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Piruz stumbled as the spell hit him, not from the front where the Knight stood, but from the side. Whirling, he saw the Teacher moving with lithe grace across the field from the east, the town providing a backdrop to his approach. He smiled. While the spell pouch had given him a jolt, it certainly was not strong enough to stop him. "Bonum conatus," he called. (Nice effort.)
Sam knew Piruz was centuries down this road and that it wouldn't make a difference, but he tried anyway. "Hoc prohibere," he called. (Stop this.)
Piruz held up a hand to block a spell Caleb had just thrown. Murmuring under his breath, he retaliated. The Knight countered with the Dragon's Talon, and the spell was deflected. To Sam, he shouted, "Tui testamentum meum erit. Et honorificabis me, et adorabunt me, et eritis mihi militibus." (You will be mine. You will honor me, worship me, and be my guard.)
Caleb caught most of what Piruz was saying, and snorted. "Not likely." Palming another two spell bags, he threw them hard and fast. They broke about three feet from the wizard, causing him to rock back on his heels. Joshua was right; Piruz had taken greater precautions after their last encounter, and was now using protection similar to theirs. The question was, could they get around it?
Piruz righted himself almost immediately. "Non satis est, Bellator." (Not good enough, Warrior.) Turning, he dropped something into the bowl directly behind him, and a bolt of energy surged around the circle, eliciting screams and shrieks from those inside the bubbles.
"Stop!" Sam shouted, his eyes going to the circle. The four women inside the bubbles had all fallen to the ground, writhing. Yet the men remained motionless and on their feet, their hooded heads bowed.
Though he knew it would be useless, Caleb threw three spell bags at the circle.
"Is mos non operari," Piruz stated with a smile. "Non potes perdere circulus, Bellator. Ego potest tantum ille qui áuferant eam. Et in opere complere." (It will not work, Warrior. You cannot destroy the circle. I am the only one who can remove the line. The spell will be completed.)
Growling in frustration, Caleb threw another spell. It wouldn't damage Piruz, but maybe it would distract him long enough for Joshua to work a Triad spell. If they could keep the wizard preoccupied and focused on them, maybe Joshua could take him down. Triad power was strong, and it might be the only true weapon they had.
Sam sidled forward while Piruz was occupied with Caleb. As he reached into his sling, the wizard spun in his direction. Yanking out three spell bags, he hurled them in Piruz's direction.
The pouches hit near Piruz, knocking him back several feet. Face set, the witch marshaled his power in retaliation. Straightening, he called on his massive magical experience and shouted, "altabieat , tanhni li'iiradati , walzalam li'amrat!" (Nature, bow to my will; darkness to my command!)
Sam stumbled and went to his knees, but did not get thrown. Caleb hunched down behind the shield Dean had crafted for him, glanced around at where Joshua and Ryker were concealed near the trees and smiled.
When the dust cleared, Piruz blinked in surprise as Sam rose to his feet, shield in hand. Never had this spell failed him. Suddenly he growled in fury; the witch. Whirling, he stared into the tree line, but did not see anyone. Another spell bag hit him, and he hurled another couple of spells, the first at warrior and the second at the teacher.
Caleb stumbled and returned fire. When a renewed barrage of spells was hurled in his direction, his grip tightened on his silver shield as the Dragon's Talon countered every attack.
Sam dodged the spell thrown in his direction and quickened his pace, edging closer to Piruz. He threw another spell bag, which hit a few feet from the wizard. The spell mist rose and hung inches from Piruz, unable to go further around the wizard's protective spell. Looking at Caleb, he asked, How can we take him down?
Not sure, Caleb thought back. He's better protected than in New York.
Sam frowned. According to Dean, at least twice before Brotherhood Triad's had stopped Piruz from activating the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But Piruz's fluency in Latin indicated that was a few centuries ago. Could the wizard have learned so much magic during the ensuing centuries that taking him down now was impossible? He refused to believe it. He threw another spell pouch while glancing at the Tree and the people harnessed to the circle. Only the taller figures were still facing the Tree. The women lay unmoving on the ground.
Piruz threw more spells at the Teacher, then several larger spells at the Warrior. Turning, he merely smiled at the resulting explosions, knowing they hadn't taken down Merlin's two. Stepping to his bowl, he murmured, "han alwaqt li'iinha' hadha." (Time for this to end.) Leaning down, he quickly emptied a small cup of powder into the potion, then poured in a small vial of liquid. Another few spells hit his protection and he felt his spell wobble. He didn't have much time before his personal shield spell collapsed and he would need to fight in earnest. Moving a hand over the bowl, he began a rapid incantation.
Caleb hunkered down behind his shield, his mind turning over their predicament. Piruz hadn't worn protection spells before. So either his appreciation for their skills had increased - something he highly doubted, considering the man's ego - or he needed to take some action to finish the Chaos Spell and didn't want to be distracted. All evidence and their experience of the wizard pointed to the latter.
As the barrage of spells lessened, he leaned around his shield to see Piruz kneeling beside a bowl, and Caleb knew that would be the final phase for Chaos Spell. They'd only been in the park a minute or two, but it seemed like so much longer. Now he was regretting his decision to take on Piruz before Joshua was completely ready. He had counted on Piruz's arrogance and hubris in needing to best them in battle to give Joshua time to finish his own spells. Now, what they needed was a distraction.
Suddenly his eyes lifted and he smiled. While he, Sam and Piruz had been occupied, Dean was ghosting across the park toward the wizard, using the darkness as cover. Distraction? Check.
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The Community Center was dark save for a single room down the narrow, shabby hall. Faded light shone out through the doorway, and a firm voice sounded from within. "Use the clear quartz followed by psilomelance and morrisonite," ordered the older woman, working furiously. The town of Lebanon was under siege from all directions. The explosion from the southern end had rocketed through the Community Center, knocking pictures off the wall and sending table-toppers onto the floor. She heard the glass case holding community memorabilia shatter as it fell in the entryway. The protection lines needed to be restored immediately.
Together she, the older man and the young woman worked over their bowls, adding the ingredients in unison as the older woman murmured an incantation. Their hands were moving in unison, exactly duplicating one another's movements.
"Add the lazulite," the woman said. "Blocking the psychics is necessary to continue to rebuild the protection lines."
The older man and the young woman followed her orders, adding a silvery-blue powder to their potion and continuing to move their hands above the bowls.
Suddenly light flared up from the potion in the older woman's bowl. Nimbly it leapt from her bowl to the old man's, then to the younger woman's and back again, creating a circle of light. Outside in the streets, the protection spell lines resurged, overcoming the dampening spell and exploding with life.
Smiling, the older woman regarded the other two. "Well done. Now back to your posts." As she bent back over her bowl, the other two gathered their bowls and supplies and quietly left the room.
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JT, James and Max jogged past the Lebanon United Methodist Church on their way to the center of the town. It hadn't been easy getting past the posse on the northern end of town, but Max taking on several fighters from the rear with JT and James flanking them in front, meant the townspeople had been overwhelmed. The three managed to subdue most of them with spells or sleeping powder, though a few sustained more serious wounds.
James had picked the lock on the equipment shed at the High School, and they'd placed several women inside, using ropes and whatever else they could find to bind their hands and feet. For the men, they chained them inside Joe's Service Station. A few of the townspeople had escaped, but not many.
Now they were moving quickly, passing dark houses and empty buildings toward the town center. Looking over his shoulder, James asked in a hushed tone, "Shouldn't there be more townspeople coming after us?"
Max spared the younger man a quick glance. "Probably will be once we reach the town center."
"Maybe they're protecting their Watcher," JT said.
"And preventing us from heading to the park," Max added.
"Chicago Avenue up ahead," JT murmured. His eyes darted from left to right, trying to see any movement in the darkness. "Looks clear, but I wouldn't bet on that." Gingerly he massaged his right arm, which ached in pain from the spell.
Max looked him over. "You all right?"
JT nodded immediately. "Just aches. Onida can look at it later."
Instead of answering, Max moved up and took a position slightly in front of JT, gun in hand. There was a dark house on the north-western side of the street. The three of them crouched in the shadows of the trees clustered in the corner of the yard, studying the streets.
"Shouldn't there be someone guarding the street?" James asked softly, looking up and down the east-west running Chicago. He didn't trust this apparent calm. The witch was fanatical in his intention to take over the country. Why would he have such minimal protections on Lebanon?
"There is," JT murmured. He pointed south down Main Street. For just a moment, a head had briefly appeared at the top of a building half way down the block.
Max nudged both brothers and made a motion to look further down. A shadow moved in an alley. "They're taking the high ground. There are people on the rooftops and probably all up the alleys along Main."
"They're guarding the Community Center," James murmured. "You see anyone else?"
Max knew James was asking about their teams coming in from the east and the south. He shook his head. "No one; not yet." Casing the area, he suddenly pointed to a small alley barely visible in the darkness, threading behind a house on the western side of Main. Turning, he looked to the left and saw a similar dark shadow indicating a back alley behind the buildings on the left side of Main. He pointed to JT and the alley on the right. "We'll take the other side."
JT didn't like the idea of them splitting up, but knew they'd be within a block of one another, and nodded. Rising and bent low, he moved through the trees until he was directly across from the alley, then he crossed the street and disappeared.
Max nodded to James. After looking both ways, then started across the street. At the corner of Chicago and Main, Max motioned for James to wait as he moved along the side of the building. He listened for a moment, then took a sharp look around the corner. Slowly he reached into his pocket for his spell dust when suddenly a flash of hot bright light flared up from the ground itself, blinding him with its intensity. When his vision cleared, he whirled around to find James lying face down on the sidewalk, unmoving.
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Elijah was first around the corner onto Main when suddenly his body jolted and seized like he'd been hit with electricity, and he went down.
"Eli!" Ethan cried frantically, though he froze where he stood, staring at this unconscious brother.
Onida pulled energy into her palm and tossed it near where Elijah lay. The energy crackled against a protection line. Eyes wide, she pooled golden energy into both her hands and threw it into the street. Protection lines lit up like a Disney parade, crisscrossing the road. "This Watcher person got the protection lines back up."
"Yeah," Ethan growled. A quick look behind him showed that the restoration of the protection lines seemed to have surprised their pursuers as well. They had stopped their approach and were milling around, apparently attempting to regroup. Maybe the Watcher or Piruz hadn't given everyone protection. But he could see someone attempting to restore some sort of order, and knew they only had seconds. Turning to Onida, he asked urgently, "Can you do anything?"
"Yes," Onida replied staunchly. Stepping forward, she closed her eyes and focused on the bentonite clay infused all through the earth. Turning her attention to the volcanic ash saturating the ground soil, she ignited it with her red energy. The bentonite clay and ash burned together, and she used her energy to connect them with the magical ley lines running beneath the town. When she could feel the clay expanding and reaching out, she knew it was on a course that couldn't be stopped. Opening her eyes, she stumbled to the side, exhausted. Only Ethan's strong grip kept her from falling. He shoved something into her hand and she looked down and was surprised to see a power bar.
"Caleb," Ethan supplied. Turning to his twin, he murmured, "How soon?" He'd barely finished getting the words out when the ground rumbled beneath his feet.
"Not long," Onida said, tearing open the power bar and taking a gigantic bite. Chewing, she looked back down the street to the pursuing group of townspeople. "I hope soon enough."
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Adam stood on the sideboard of the van and blew potion dust down the street. Most of the protection lines here were clustered near the left side of the street. If he stayed right and close to the curb, he would be able to drive without a problem.
"You should be fine if you stay on the right," Joel said.
Adam nodded. Daniel and Keith had crossed the street and were now standing near the corner of Kansas and Main, keeping watch.
"Just stop before you hit Walnut and use the dust again." Smiling suddenly, Joel looked down and shook his head. "Sorry. You made the dust; you know all this."
Nodding, Adam said, "It's always good to hear again." He liked that Joel and Daniel were concerned about his welfare. Who would have thought that after years of having so few friends, he would find a wealth of them in an organization he had once dismissed as beneath him. Life was odd like that.
Joel gave a soft chuckle and nodded. "Then we'll see you when this scuffle is finished."
Adam grinned; he couldn't help it. Only hunters would call an extremely powerful witch attempting to create chaos all across the country a scuffle. Taking a chance on these new friendships, he tendered, "I'm buying the first round."
Joel grinned. "You're on." Giving Adam a small salute, he turned and ran over to where Daniel and Keith were waiting. After what looked like a word or two, he slipped around the corner, Keith on his heels. Daniel turned to Adam and gave him a short wave before following.
Adam climbed inside the Tourer and turned left onto Kansas Street, angling the van to the right side of the road. It was odd to be feeling regret and a sense of aloneness. He'd only just met those two men, yet he found himself uneasy about leaving them to make their sole assault on the town center. Of course, they weren't truly alone. Keith was with them now, and if all turned out correctly, JT's and Ethan's teams would be there as well. Though he felt like he was deserting them, he had a job to do, as had they. They had a rendezvous at the Community Center, Joshua needed him in the park.
Taking a visual sweep of the street for hostiles, as Ryker would say, he put the car in gear and pressed down on the accelerator. As he picked up speed, he kept a watchful eye on the sidewalks. He wasn't naive enough to think that there would be no one watching the western edges of town. They would have spell bags and…
Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light all around, and the Tourer slammed into something solid right in the middle of the street, and a blueish glare burst across his vision. The sounds of crunching metal and shattering glass filled his ears as the rear of the vehicle was lifted completely off the ground, throwing him forward against the steering wheel. The right rear of the van shifted to the right as though the front end had hit a diagonal fence slanted across the road. The wheels spun, and the Tourer flipped onto its side and slid a couple of feet before lying still.
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"James!" Max exclaimed softly. "Shit!" Rummaging in his jacket, he pulled a small ziplock bag from his pocket. Opening it, he pinched some powder and blew it into the air. The street lit up like a neon checkerboard. "Damn it," he muttered. All around James were lines of a protection spell. Only the tip of one foot was outside the light. "All right, let's see if I can get you out." Making sure he was in the clear, Max knelt down on the hard cement sidewalk, grasped James' booted toe and pulled.
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Dean was bent low, moving across the grass with the silent grace of a panther. He wanted to make his entrance as surprising as possible, though he knew he wouldn't get too close before Piruz sensed his presence. When a flare of light flashed in his peripheral vision, he knew instinctively that the zombie-coven had reignited the protection spells. He worried for, not only his sons and godson, but for all the teams in town. He hoped no one had been caught in a spell, but knew that was unlikely. Someone was down, he felt it.
His eyes went to Sam on his right, and ahead to Caleb. He knew Caleb had seen him, and that the older man was attempting to keep the wizard occupied. Piruz was being protected by a spell of some kind, probably like the ones they were wearing. He really hoped they hadn't given him the idea, though he would have thought Piruz was too arrogant to stoop to wearing protection. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a flask of water. Slowing down, he dropped into a crouch and poured some water in his hand. Closing his eyes, he focused and shaped the water into a double-pronged, three-pointed throwing star. Focusing again, the words In Dei Nomine appeared on the silver stars. He knew of no other words so powerful, especially for one from Piruz's background, than calling upon power in the Name of God. If anything could get through the wizard's protection, it would be this.
After making six stars, he pocketed four and rose again. Still bent low, he jogged forward, attention laser-focused on Piruz. He would be able to tell the moment the wizard became aware of his existence.
Caleb nodded to Sam, then threw two spell pouches at the same time Sam threw three. The concussive force of the combined spells knocked Piruz off balance. The wizard fell against the protection circle and dropped to his knees.
Pushing himself up, Piruz gathered his strength and threw a barrage of spells at the Warrior before pivoting and unleashing a dozen at the Teacher.
Caleb whipped the silver shield up in front of him and let the Guardian's protection take the brunt of the barrage. Though he knew his Dragon's Talon could have deflected the spell power, he wanted to conserve his strength.
Sam felt the spells slam against his own shield, and he rocked back on his heels. He hoped Dean would make his move soon. Piruz wouldn't stay distracted forever.
In that indefinable way Dean seemed to always know what Sam was thinking, the Guardian of the Brotherhood suddenly stood as though rising from the darkness itself, reared back and threw the two throwing stars with deadly accuracy.
Piruz whirled as though sensing danger. The stars hit his protection spell, slowed minutely, then plowed right on through. The slowing, however, was just enough for him to dodge to the side. One star went sailing past, while the other imbedded itself in his shoulder. "Aurrgghh!" he cried as he stumbled to the side. Searching the darkness, he saw suddenly saw Merlin's Child silhouetted against the night, shining silver in his hands. His eyes widened in shocked surprise. "Vos…" Stepping forward as though unable to stop himself, he said again, "Vos!" How had this happened? No one had ever escaped the alternate place before. How was this possible?
Dean regarded the wizard, satisfied he'd shocked the witch, and taking advantage of the opportunity to move slowly closer.
"Quomodo effugere?" Piruz shouted, a hand to his bleeding shoulder, anger quickly replacing his surprise. "Effugium non potest!" (How did you escape? Escape is impossible!)
Dean frowned, taking a moment to translate what Piruz had said. When he translated effugium, he knew. "Obviously not," he said, holding out his arms.
Whether Piruz understood the English or not, Dean's raising his arms in an obvious Well, I'm here, gesture was very clear. Piruz bared his teeth, muttered two words and threw a massive spell.
The star in Dean's left hand instantly transformed into a shield before even a thought crossed his mind. The spell slammed into the shield, knocking him back about ten feet.
Reaching up, Piruz yanked the star from his shoulder. At his touch, the star melted away into water as he shouted, "Veni huc!" (Come here!)
The four remaining women kneeling about ten feet away near the protection line around the Tree rose hastily.
"Sta in circulo praesidium," (Stand in a protection circle.) Piruz snarled, and the woman stood around him, one facing the north, two facing Sam, and the fourth facing south.
"Son of a…" Dean griped, watching as Piruz used the women as a shield.
Caleb's anger rose. Closing his eyes, he focused on the woman facing him, and reached out psychically. If he could stimulate the pineal glade, he hoped it would make her fall asleep. It was different than using his Darth Vader skills, as Dean called them, but along the same principle. Closing his eyes, he excited the gland, and the woman wobbled.
"Stare recta," Piruz snapped. (Stand straight)
Caleb pushed a little harder, and the woman yawned, then dropped where she formerly stood.
A moment later a wave of power rippled across the park like a shroud, and the other three women stumbled into one another, then dropped to the ground, motionless. Piruz's head jerked up as he stared north into the trees.
Caleb glanced back and scowled. If he'd known Joshua was going to do that, he wouldn't have wasted his own energy.
Joshua stepped out from the tree line and stood, his hands raised.
"Mage," Piruz snarled. Quickly he whirled and dropped two last ingredients into his potion as a massive spell bombarded his magical protection.
"No," Dean muttered, running forward while throwing two more stars.
Sam rushed the east side while Caleb charged from the north, each throwing spells at the wizard.
Piruz stumbled as a star hit his back, but he was smiling. "'atlaquu quat al'ard walnujum walsama'a!" (Release the power of earth, stars and heaven!) The earth rumbled, and Piruz stared down. The very grass of the park was rippling. Eyes widening, he threw a small crystal into the bowl and shouted, "'iitlaq sarah!" (Release!) As the ground heaved just as light and fire exploded from the bowl, swirling like a flaming ribbon around the binding circle to the Tree, and the spell dropped like the curtain on a stage.
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Onida and Ethan grabbed onto the sides of the building, trying to keep their footing as the ground rumbled. The sidewalk cracked and they stumbled to the side.
"You started an earthquake?" Ethan inquired, his surprise evident.
"No, not really," Onida protested defensively as she tried to keep her footing. In her rush to free Elijah, she realized she may have gone a bit overboard. "I just used the bentonite clay to purify the earth and the volcanic ash to speed it along. The clay does expand some…"
Ethan laughed. Pulling a baggie from his pocket, he took a pinch of powder and blew it into the air. The protective lines near Elijah were broken. "See if you can slow them down," he said, nodding in the direction of the townspeople fast approaching their location. As Onida turned, he cautiously moved forward until he could touch Elijah's foot. When he could do that without getting zapped, he scrambled forward just as another man dropped to his knees from the opposite side and closed a hand over Elijah's wrist. Instantly Ethan's gun was in the air.
"Whoa," the man breathed, dropping Elijah's hand immediately and rocking back on his heels. "I'm here to help."
"Help, as in take us down with magic lines, or hit us with spells?" Ethan snarled. "Back off."
The man scurried back a couple feet, saying, "I'm part of the coven, but I'm not under the wizard's spell anymore. I was freed by my coven leader a couple weeks ago. We've been trying to free more people, but it's been difficult."
Onida rounded the corner and pulled up short. "Who's he?"
"Said he's a freed coven member," Ethan said, pulling Elijah into his arms. Quickly he touched the pulse at his brother's neck. After a moment, he said, "Slow and irregular."
"Let me in," Onida demanded.
"The people?"
"They're fighting their way past an energy boar at the moment," Onida stated, dropping to her knees.
Ethan frowned and leaned out slightly into the street to peek around the corner. "Nice," he murmured when he saw a large, dark, semi-translucent form of energy charging the townspeople, who were scattering in all directions.
Onida closed her eyes and focused on healing Elijah. His heart had been damaged by the protection line, and he had sustained burns across his body. She had to fight away her anger in order to infuse Elijah's body with healing light. That these people set up the lines to kill was outrageous. Finally, Elijah stirred, groaning slightly.
"Eli?" Ethan murmured, leaning over his twin.
"Ugh," Elijah coughed, then moaned. Opening his eyes, they darted around a moment before settling on Ethan. A small smile crossed his face and he murmured, "That hurt."
Ethan grinned, though his eyes were suspiciously moist. "Yeah. You really scared me, you big nerd; charging around corners."
"Hey, I didn't know the lines were back up," Elijah protested, struggling to push himself up. "And not a nerd," he muttered waspishly.
"The Watcher did it," said the man kneeling a few feet away. His eyes went to Onida. "Are you all right?"
After using so much energy, Onida had dropped down on the sidewalk and was leaning against the building, her eyes closed.
Ethan swiveled around and dug in his pocket, pulling out another power bar and handing it over. "Here, eat this."
"Come," said the man kneeling a few feet away. "Come. We've been using the basement of City Hall as a shelter. It's been warded against detection. There is a side door down the next alley, so we should be able to get there without being seen by those watching the Community Center. We can rest there, let your friend recover and get you some water."
Though the thought of water was music to his ears, Ethan nodded only reluctantly. He didn't know this man, and was reluctant about putting faith in him. Still, he helped Elijah to his feet, then turned to assist Onida. A quick glance back around the corner showed the energy surge Onida had created was dissolving and the townspeople were regrouping. "Come on," he urged. If they were going to do this, they should get to it before they had company.
Slinging Elijah's arm over his shoulder, he checked to make sure Onida was directly behind him, he hurried into the nearby alley, and saw an open door about half way down. Ducking inside the building, he followed the man to a stairwell. He would rather have taken the elevator, but the noise would have been too much of an attention grabber. Carefully he supported his twin down the stairs.
Onida followed the three men, grasping the handrail tightly, as she didn't want to fall. She needed rest, she knew it. But this engagement was far from over. If she couldn't get rest, she would need to solider on.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder. As though he could read her mind, he said, "Onida?"
Smiling, Onida said, "Just need a bit of rest, then we can get going."
Frowning, Ethan merely nodded in response. Onida had used a tremendous amount of energy so far. They would need to figure out another plan before continuing.
"In here." The man of mystery had a door open in the basement.
Ethan helped Elijah inside, then smiled when he saw two sofas, a leather recliner, and a small refrigerator. As he lowered Elijah onto one couch, he pointed to the second and said, "Onida?"
Onida slid gratefully onto the cushioned surface and slowly lowered her head down, closing her eyes. She could hear movement in the small room, and Ethan talking quietly with Elijah.
"Here," said a voice.
Opening her eyes, she saw the man from outside holding out a bottle of water. He cracked the lid to show it was sealed, and handed it over. Eagerly, she took the bottle, removed the lid and drank deeply. She could feel some energy returning with the sustaining power of hydration. When she finally lowered the bottle, she smiled and asked, "Who are you?"
"William Pressman." He held out a hand and shook hers.
"You're a member of the protection coven?"
Pressman's brows rose. "You know we specialize in protection?" When Onida nodded, he said, "I guess that's to be expected. We knew you were an experienced bunch."
"What happened, William?"
"Bill," William said. "I'm not quite sure. The last thing I remember was the coven meeting to discuss an unusual power we sensed in the area, then I woke up here."
Onida nodded, finding it interesting that William said he woke up here in Lebanon.
"Our coven leader had broken the spell on me," William continued with a soft smile. "He's the most extraordinary man, has been practicing protection magics his entire life."
Ethan spun a wooden chair around near Onida's couch and sat down. He held an empty bottle of water in his hand. "I'm heading back outside, see if I can find the others. They were all converging on the town center. The protection lines went back up so fast, someone else might be in trouble."
William stood immediately even as Onida was struggling to sit. "I'll go with you," he said. "Though I live in Oberlin now, I grew up in Lebanon. I know the town like the back of my hand. We'll find your people."
"I'm ready," Onida said, finally achieving an upright position.
"Lay back down," Ethan ordered Onida. "Get some rest while you can." Turning, he studied the young man standing there, fidgeting. He looked to be somewhere around thirty, with a comfortable, handsome face, blond hair and a gangly body. He didn't inspire a lot of fighter confidence.
As though reading Ethan's mind, William suddenly smiled. "I know I'm not much to look at, but I'm scrappy, clever, somewhat devious and I know magic."
Ethan chuckled. "All right. Come, meet my brother." He took the young man over to Elijah, and introduced them. He left them talking a moment as he went back to Onida, who had yet to lie back down. "Come on, lie down," he told her. "This is a chance for you to recharge. There's a few sandwiches in the fridge, and I suggest you eat at least one. They appear to be fresh."
Onida watched Elijah talking with William, frowning.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder, then gave her a wry smile. "Elijah has the gift of truth telling. He'll know if William is lying about anything."
Onida's eyes jerked back to Ethan. "You think he's lying?"
Shaking his head, Ethan murmured, "No, not really. But I'm going outside into a hostile situation with someone I've just met ... who was involved with a powerful wizard who wants to send the country into chaos," he added. "I'd like to be certain."
"Ethan!"
The older twin turned around.
"If anyone else is injured, see if you can bring them here," Elijah said. It was his way of telling Ethan that William was on the up and up. "If Onida can, she'll heal them. If not, they can at least be out of the line of fire."
Ethan rose and nodded.
"If we can find my coven leader, he can heal as well," William said.
"Do you know where he is?" Elijah asked eagerly.
William shook his head. "No. I was supposed to watch the eastern edge of the town. Keith was stationed on the southern side and Elena on the north. He might have gone to the western side."
Ethan thought it was odd that William didn't know what his boss was doing, but decided not to pursue it. He was needed elsewhere. "Then let's go. You two," he pointed to Elijah and Onida, "Rest up. This thing ain't over yet."
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Max pulled and heaved, and finally got James free of the protection lines. Breathing hard, he leaned over and touched the pulse at James' neck. Nothing. Shocked, he muttered frantically, "Nonononononono…" as he checked James' wrist. No pulse. Laying the younger man down flat on the sidewalk, he leaned down and began CPR. "Come on, Jimmy. You love dramatics, but this is just a bit much, okay?" Leaning down, he blew a long breath into James' mouth, then went back to frantically pumping at his chest. When the ground began to rumble, his hand went to the wall to steady himself while the paved slabs of cement that were the sidewalk rippled as the ground heaved underneath. Within seconds a large crack spiraled across the road and the building started to crumble. Immediately he threw himself across James to protect him from falling plaster. The quaking didn't last long, and when the shaking stopped, he felt James' pulse again. Heart stuttering in his throat, he quickly resumed his blowing and pumping, giving the street a desperate look. He needed help. Where was Onida? He needed Onida.
Just then, James gave a gasping breath as his heart lurched beneath Max's hand.
"Jimmy," Max murmured, leaning frantically over the younger man, a hand on James' white face. "Jimmy, say something … please."
James grimaced. His chest and lungs hurt; in fact, everything hurt.
"Jimmy…"
"Can I help?"
Max jerked at the soft female voice. Before the woman could react, he had a gun in her face. "Who're you?" he snarled. The woman had long brunette hair tied back in a ponytail, a narrow face with large dark eyes. At the moment, those eyes were widened in fear, though the woman appeared to be making a desperate effort to remain calm.
"I'm of the coven, though not under the wizard's control."
Max snorted in disbelief. "And how did that happen?"
Taking the question with more genuineness than which it was delivered, she answered, "We were all under the wizard's spell until our coven leader set a few of us free. It was long, difficult work to subvert the magic of someone so powerful." Her eyes went to James. "Let me help."
Max eyed the woman warily. His instincts were telling him she wasn't a threat, but one couldn't always trust what was in front of them. Caleb had taught him that. Unfortunately, he wasn't in much of a position to look a gift horse in the mouth. They needed help. Lowering his gun only slightly, he asked, "What can you do?"
"Protect his bodily functions until he can get help," she said promptly. "I am a biological protector. I can use magic to keep his organs from deteriorating."
Max searched the darkened streets around the woman, and knew he didn't have a lot of choices. He needed to get James to Onida.
"Let … her help," James breathed. It was becoming harder to catch a breath, and his chest hurt worse than anything he'd ever experienced in his life.
Max took in the pain in James' eyes, and the slight blue tinge to his lips. Lifting his head to view the woman, he raised his gun again and declared, "Don't make me regret this."
The woman nodded. Pulling a small pouch from her pocket, she took a pinch of powder and sprinkled it lightly all across James' body. Under her breath, she said, "Formă și respirație, bătătură și os, legate în viață, protejate de întuneric." (Form and breath, sinew and bone, bound in life, protected from darkness.)
A clear, translucent blue light poured over James' body, starting in his middle and running out to the tips of his fingers, the top of his head down to the toes of his booted feet. Closing his eyes, James sighed and went still.
"Jimmy?" Max cried in panic. His hand went to James throat even as the woman said, "He's asleep." Sighing only when he felt the faint pulse at James' neck, he sagged back on the sidewalk. This hunt was officially screwed. But JT was out there converging on the Community Center, alone. Looking up, he asked, "Is there somewhere we can take him?"
The woman nodded. "Can you carry him?"
"Yeah," Max nodded. Getting onto his knees, he pulled James into a sitting position. "This won't hurt him, will it?"
Shaking her head, the woman said, "No, he's protected."
Max leaned in and hefted James upward so he was leaning into his body. He then maneuvered James closer and heaved until the younger man's abdomen was on his shoulder, then he climbed laboriously to his feet. Breathing hard, he said, "Lead on."
"We'll need to use the alley," she said, pointing behind her. It was the alley where JT had disappeared only minutes before. "We'll go up one block then cross the street."
Max frowned. "Where we need to go is on the other side of Main?"
The woman nodded.
"Then we cross here," Max stated. "There are men in the alleys and on top of the buildings down near the Community Center. We'll cross here before they can see us."
"They'll still be watching," the woman protected. "Their focus is on the northern and southern ends of the town. They'll see you."
"Maybe not," Max said. Closing his eyes, he murmured an incantation he'd learned years ago, and a soft whoosh sounded. Muttering a second incantation, this one newly learned from Adam, he sent shadows to follow his first spell down the street.
The woman's eyes widened. "You can do magic."
"Not a lot, but some," Max stated. Moving to the edge of the building, he waited until he heard the wind he'd sent down the street knock something over. When he was sure that his phantasm and shadows had the townspeople's attention, he ran across the street, the woman following. When they were safely obscured behind the building on the corner of Main and Chicago, he turned and said, "Okay, lead on."
"I don't think I'll have to," the woman said, pointing. Two figures had just emerged from the shadows around the back end of the Building and Loan Office. One of them was Ethan Matthews.
.
Dean, Sam, and Caleb were thrown to the ground under the combined shocks of the earthquake rolling through the park and the Chaos Spell spiraling out in all directions with the power of a hurricane. Dean could literally feel the hair standing up on his head.
"Damn it," Dean grumbled, climbing to his feet. He certainly hoped Joshua had a way to stop the spell in addition to getting rid of the Tree. But first things first: they needed to take out Piruz. That would be a challenge in and of itself. There were four of them, damn it; he, Sam, Caleb and Joshua. He was not about to be shown up by Triad's of the past. Stalking forward, he pulled his last two stars from his pocket.
Sam crawled onto his knees, then gasped as he saw Caleb marching toward Piruz, his blade a blur as it deflected the spells being thrown at him. Fury etched his face, and something else… Sam's eyes darted to the tree line where he saw a body. Joshua. Horror went through him as his gaze jerked back to Piruz. The wizard was firing assault after assault, not only at Caleb, but at the person to his rear: Dean. The Guardian of the Brotherhood was coming at Piruz, shield in place, a long, burnished sword in his hand.
The Tree stood there, benign in appearance, but Sam could feel its effect as conflicting waves emanating from its core. Go, run, leave these people to their fate; he had never wanted to be a hunter in the first place. Leave them and go find some peace. Then on the flip side; take the wizard on! Use the power kept hidden inside and crush Piruz's chest like he had Alastair's. Just then Piruz threw a massive blast of power at Caleb, and the Knight went flying backward, landing in a heap on the grassy floor. Sam he could feel the power and the fury building up inside his body. Dean rushed Piruz while the wizard's attention was on Caleb. The silver sword penetrated Piruz's shielding, tip first and ran the wizard through. Piruz staggered. Reaching up, he touched empty space and a portal formed. No! Sam thought. Not again! He ran forward and threw an enormous blast of psychic energy at Piruz using all the rage, fear and sorrow in his body. Piruz snarled and threw up a hand in an attempt to divert the power. Sam's power smashed into Piruz, disintegrating his hand and arm, and punching a hole right through his body. Piruz's magic and Sam's psychic energy ignited like a bomb. Energy was drawn inward, then exploded outward in a cacophony of earth, pressure and sound. Sam saw the witch fly through the air and slam into the Tree before everything was obliterated in the explosive wave. When the blast cleared, Sam was horrified to see Dean lying several feet from Piruz, unmoving on the cratered and earthquake torn ground. "Nooooo!" Sam screamed, running forward … and suddenly Sam was climbing to his feet, gasping for air, barely able to breathe.
Sam…?
Sam's eyes jerked toward Caleb, who was using a trash can for leverage to regain his footing. Caleb, alive and well. Immediately he wrenched his gaze away and over to Dean, who was climbing to his feet. Blinking, his mind cleared and instantly he knew: it had been a future vision. And the future was fluid; it could be changed.
Sam!
Eyes going back to Caleb, he thought, I'm fine. His gaze went to the tree line where Joshua was standing, his head bowed. Sam knew he was preparing an incantation. Tell Dean not to charge Piruz.
Why?
Please…
I will, but you know Dean.
Yeah. Sam closed his eyes and tried to think. Watch out for Joshua.
Caleb whipped around toward Joshua, and saw that Ryker had the older man's elbow to help steady him. He didn't usually talk psychically to Joshua, but he focused and did so now. Sam said to watch out. Trouble coming.
Joshua looked Caleb straight in the eye, and nodded.
Caleb sighed and met eyes with Ryker. The younger man's chin jerked upward; he would watch out for Joshua. Giving an answering nod, he turned and his eyes went to Dean, who was already up and moving forward. The Guardian was readying to throw something at Piruz. When he let it go, Caleb saw a glint of silver, and figured it was a throwing star. Deuce, Sam said don't rush Piruz.
Dean's eyes locked with Caleb's, then flicked over to Sam. Heaving out a sigh, he nodded. Sam didn't want him near Piruz for some reason, but how were they supposed to stop him when they couldn't get close? Reaching into his pocket, he shook the flask of water. He had enough for another few throwing stars and maybe a sword, but that was it.
Caleb threw another spell pouch at Piruz, but his aim was off and it hit the man standing near the wizard, a man now free of the spell keeping the Tree in check. The man dropped. Growling, Caleb shook his head. His brain felt like it was on fire, and his coordination was off. Suck it up, soldier, John's voice echoed in his ears. Always, when it came down to the worst of circumstances, John's voice would bring him back on course. The chaos from the spell was wrecking some havoc with his body, but he wasn't incapacitated. It was his aim that was off. He needed to compensate. Looking up again, he aimed a few inches to the left and let another spell go loose. It hit Piruz in the chest and the wizard whirled in his direction, scowling.
"Tu quoque nuper, Bellator," Piruz called. "Quod lignum sit libera." (You are too late, Warrior. The Tree is free.)
Caleb didn't even bother trying to translate the Latin. He simply watched as Piruz stumbled under an assault by both Sam and Dean, as Sam threw spell bags and Dean hurled a throwing star.
Piruz, however, didn't go down. Instead, anger such as he had rarely given indulgence to rose within his body. This was supposed to be his moment of triumph. He had worked centuries to show the God-With-No-Name that ridding the world of evil without destroying everything and everyone was possible. His family need not have died; their servants, his friends need not have died. The Chaos Spell was controlling the uncontrollable Tree, and he could feel the waves of chaos moving out across the country. Now was not the time for Merlin's recruits to interfere. Pulling at all his magical power, he murmured a few words and slung power out to all three warriors.
Joshua had felt the power building, and he dragged Ryker behind a tree as it slammed through the park and the surrounding area. The big guns were ready, and it was time he used them. He moved to stand before one of his Triad symbols and quickly began to activate the spell.
Dean crawled up off the ground and grabbed at his shield again. The moisture in his hand morphed into a massive broad sword and he began stalking forward.
No!
Hesitating, Dean turned to see Sam watching him. It was a rare thing to hear Sam in his head. Sam always said he didn't want to know what was going on in his brother's noggin, and frankly, he'd never needed Sam in his head to know what his brother was thinking. Wrenching his eyes away, he saw Caleb stalking Piruz, the Dragon's Talon moving with such speed, it was a blur of sparks and light. Gritting his teeth, he wondered what he was supposed to do! Sam had risen now and was pelting Piruz with spell bags, and the wizard was starting to stagger under the power. He was out of water, and this wasn't like Washington where he could use the water in the forest. He didn't have access to water through a mystical portal. Then suddenly he thought of Eden. Pastor Jim told him Eden was bound on all four sides by rivers of water. He had used that knowledge somehow to create a bridge back to New York without touching the water. Frowning, he looked down at the grass beneath his feet. If there was water or a sprinkler system beneath the park, could he use that water…?
Joshua's hands moved over the Triad symbol. Then, slowly, he stepped forward to the edge of the tree line. He stared out at Piruz, raised his arms and let loose a torrent of power than knocked the wizard off his feet and back into the Tree.
Ryker, watching from the sidelines, murmured, "That was cool."
.
Joel, Daniel and Keith heard the Tourer crash from around the corner. When Keith turned to race back the way they'd come, Daniel and Joel both hissed, "Stop!" Keith froze, his eyes wide in shock.
Joel nodded to Daniel, who took a small plastic bag from his pocket. After taking a pinch of the spell powder, he blew it out across the street. The area lit up like a carnival.
"They've re-established the lines," Daniel said.
Joel stared around at the lines crisscrossing the road and the sidewalk. It was a miracle they hadn't stepped on a line and gotten zapped. Looking up to Keith, he said, "Can you get around these?"
Keith pulled a small cartouche out from around his neck. "I've got protection."
"Then you head back and check on Adam. We'll go forward."
"But…" Keith looked around at the lines that were disappearing as the spell Joel used faded. "How will you get there?"
"That's for us to worry about," Daniel replied. "You help Adam."
Keith nodded and turned back the way they'd come. Within a minute, he had disappeared around the corner of Kansas Road.
Daniel eyed the road. "Should we take the alleys? They'll probably have lookouts."
Joel blew a bit of spell dust down the alley they'd just past. It was warded as well, but not to the extent of the main street. Commotion sounded, and they both looked up to see people running up Main Street from the northern end. He didn't see anyone he recognized, and figured that at least some of the townspeople were warded against the spell lines. Just then the ground rumbled and cracked, knocking them off their balance and sending plaster down around their heads. When the quaking stopped, Joel blinked the dirt and dust from his eyes.
"What the hell?" Daniel muttered, brushing plaster dust from his head and face.
"That may have changed things a bit," Joel said with a grin, figuring that several of the spell lines had probably cracked. "Still interested in that alley?"
Daniel grinned and nodded.
.
Keith rounded the corner and saw the large van on its side, the wheels still spinning. Running full out, he approached the Tourer and tried to sidestep all the glass to get a look in the front window frame. Adam was held in place by his seatbelt, though his head was lolling to the side in a way that couldn't be good for his neck, and blood was dripping slowly from his forehead. Carefully leaning into the car, his hands on the frame, he called, "Adam?" He got no reply. Suddenly he felt someone behind him. Rising, he turned slowly, then sagged as his breath whooshed out. "Cadmael!"
The black haired man hurried over to the car and looked inside. "How is he?"
"I don't know. I just got here."
Cadmael leaned down and peered into the van. As it was dark, he couldn't see much. "I'll go in through the windshield and get him loose from the seatbelt," he said. Shrugging out of his jacket, he lay it down across the jagged edges of the windshield frame. "We'll have to pull him through." At Keith's nod, he stepped forward, his shoes crunching on the windshield glass.
These rescuers converging on Main had had an easier time than they realized, as he had been taking out those who had been stationed on rooftops all along the town. Starting with the outer buildings, he had been working his way in. It had been a necessary sorrow, to use his power against his own coven.
Crouching, he slid carefully through the broken windshield and into the car. A quick check of Adam's pulse told him the man was alive though unconscious. "I'm going to release the seatbelt." Reaching over Adam's head, he released the belt from above so he could catch the unconscious man. Grunting under the weight of the tall man, Cadmael shifted, slowly maneuvering Adam down and closer to the opening so Keith could move in and pull him out.
"Watch the glass," Keith murmured quietly.
Cadmael nodded, and together they eased Adam from the car and began to move him to the sidewalk. "Wait." Reaching into his pocket, Cadmael pulled out a small pendant on a chain. Sliding it over Adam's head, he nodded, and they pulled the unconscious man from the wreck and onto the sidewalk. "How are the others finding the protection lines?"
"Revelation dust," Keith said, sitting back on his heels, his head hung as he tried to catch his breath. "The lines were down, then suddenly back up." He shook his head. "We were almost caught in one."
Cadmael nodded. "I believe the fighters used dampening spells to take down the protection lines. Moira must have countered their power."
"The two men I was with kept their cool," Keith revealing admiringly. "We heard the crash, and they froze until they could reveal the lines." Eyeing the other man, he asked, "What are we going to do?"
Cadmael pulled a small bottle from his pocket. "You're going to take this gentleman to the City Hall." He pulled open Adam's mouth, tipped the bottle over and allowed three drops to fall into his mouth. Immediately Adam stirred. Then, looking up at Keith, he said, "I'm going to the Community Center. It is time for this to end."
Keith's eyes widened. "You said you couldn't end the spell on the three without killing them, it was that powerful."
Cadmael rose to his feet. "People are dying," he looked down at Adam; "they're getting hurt. These people have come to help stop the wizard and what he is doing. Can I do any less?"
"But…" Keith sputtered. "Maribelle?"
"I will do everything in my power to save them all."
Keith nodded slowly. "God go with you."
Cadmael nodded once as Adam opened his eyes and groaned. Turning, he stepped into the nearest alley and disappeared into the darkness.
.
Piruz climbed to his feet, anger coursing through him. He felt wild, powerful, a rash freedom coursing through him such as he'd rarely felt before. It was a sensation he only experienced when the Tree was completely free, and that hadn't happened for a few hundred years, not since the last trio of Merlin's Warriors had stopped him. But he'd been better prepared this time, his plan had covered all the contingencies, and now the Tree was completely free! Raising his face to the skies, he laughed.
That's so not good, Caleb's voice whispered in Dean and Sam's heads.
"Come, Warriors," Piruz shouted. "Si enim debet mori." (Die if you must.)
I believe he just called us out.
Piruz stepped forward and began throwing spells, first at Caleb, then back at Dean and lastly, over at Sam. Caleb ducked behind his silver shield and scuttled to the side to take cover behind the larger trash can. Sam, not having any trash receptacles near him, crouched down behind the shield, thankful it was taller and wider than Caleb's.
Dean dove to the side as a spell whirled past him, juggling his shield to keep his body as protected as was possible when one is flying through the air. Giving a silent growl, he knew this needed to end. Caleb had gotten close enough to Piruz to have a knife at the man's throat. A scene from the Matrix flashed through his mind, with one of the matrix-generated programs saying, Only Human. And that was Piruz: only human. Lifting his head, his eyes met Sam's over the distance, held for a second before he pushed himself to his feet. Turning his gaze away from his brother, he refocused his attention solely on Piruz. He knew Sam didn't want him to charge the wizard, but he needed to get closer for his idea to work.
Sam watched his brother before he swallowed hard, nodding to himself. He had learned long ago that he couldn't stop Dean from being Dean. If he was going to do anything to safeguard his brother, it needed to be now. Caleb always said told him his abilities were a part of who he was. But as he'd seen earlier in his vision, it was too powerful a part to let loose. But maybe it was time he pulled his head out of the sand and learned some control. Taking a step forward, he suddenly heard Caleb speak; Dean's got something planned…
Sam's eyes went to Caleb, who was watching him. How do you know?
It's Dean.
Caleb turned to where Joshua was standing at the edge of the tree line. The older man gave Caleb a nod, and Caleb stood, resolute. Let's do this, he sent to Sam and Dean.
Moving forward, he pulled two spell bags from his considerably depleted store of magical ammunition, and hurled them at Piruz as he advanced. At the exact same moment, Sam attacked as well. Piruz returned fire with resolve, the laughter of a moment before gone, replaced by an expression of deadly determination. This standoff would end.
Dean, Sam and Caleb advanced as one, keeping Piruz's attention divided between them until Caleb felt the anticipation behind him. A glance back at Joshua told him that whatever their Advisor had planned was ready.
Joshua didn't need to say anything at all for Caleb to give a psychic DOWN! to Sam and Dean before he hit the ground.
The Advisor to the Triad of the Brotherhood shoved a massive spell through the park, hitting Piruz directly in the chest and knocking him back several feet. Leaning forward, hands on his knees, Joshua watched as the wizard lay still for a few seconds, then crawl back to his feet, his face a contorted mask of rage. Straightening once more, Joshua murmured softly, closed his eyes and directed another pulse of dynamic power at the wizard.
At the exact same, moment, Caleb reared back and threw the Dragon's Talon with deadly accuracy.
The second thrust of power hit and Piruz stumbled backward just as the Dragon's Talon flew past his protection spell. The momentum of the fall saved his life as the blade buried itself hilt-deep in his shoulder rather than in his chest.
"Arruugh!" Piruz shouted. Pain, so much pain. He hurled a spell at Joshua as he pulled the blade from his flesh. Touching the pendant around his neck, he murmured, "Restituere potentia et tutela." (Restore power and protection.) The pendant gave a feeble burst of power, but Piruz knew his time here was very limited. He needed to leave. Grinning, he hefted the weapon in the air. "Tibi gratias ago pro tali valuable arma, miles." (Thank you for such a valuable weapon, Soldier.)
"Not on your life," Caleb growled. Ever since his previous battle with Piruz, when the Talon had countered every spell thrown at him without any direction from him, he had wondered whether he and the blade were psychically connected. Time to test the theory: Come to me, he thought. The blade ripped itself from Piruz's hand and flew to Caleb, who plucked it from the air with ease.
"No!" Piruz yelled before power suddenly clenched a tight fist around his body and squeezed. Stumbling to the side, he struggled to face the Teacher just as another force grabbed his throat.
Sam's breath came in short gasps as he watched Piruz, focused completely on immobilizing the wizard. He had power, and if there was ever a time to use it, it was now. He felt a rib crack as the witch stumbled. When Piruz started to gasp, he knew Caleb had added his own psychic power.
Dean had been running toward Piruz, but suddenly stopped. It was now or never. Dropping to the ground, he placed his hands in the grass. He didn't know whether this was possible, but water was the Guardian's to call. Closing his eyes, he thought of water and sought it out. Deep in the earth, he felt the moisture and nearly lost his grip, he was so startled. Now, could he make it do what he wanted? Frowning, he shoved the water toward Piruz. It was much harder than he would have thought, moving water through the ground. Grunting, he worked harder to muscle it through the dirt, the thin tendrils of grass roots and passed rocks both large and small.
Joshua flung another wave of power at Piruz, who dropped to his knees. Raising a hand, he strangled out a word and a small portal opened. Another wave of power pummeled into him, and Piruz was thrown backward. Pain such as he had never experienced before pounded through his body. He needed to leave; now.
Suddenly water burst upward all around him, shooting up like rain from the earth. But this wasn't like any rain he'd ever seen. This rain turned silver and wound around him like ropes, binding his arms and feet. The pressure from the Teacher on his chest eased as the silver tightened. Gritting his teeth, he knew he needed to get through the portal, and he tried to move forward. However, before he could get even a few inches, large silver stakes speared upward through the grass. The silver chains wound around them, effectively pinning him to the ground.
Growling, Piruz closed his eyes and murmured, "quat al'ard walhua' , 'asrar alnujum walsama' , 'adeukum 'iilaa kasr hadhih alrawabit." (Power of earth and air, mysteries of stars and heaven, I call on you to break these bonds.) His magic strained against the silver, but could not break the strands.
Caleb walked forward, satisfaction etched on his face as he surveyed the linked chain Dean had wound around Piruz. However, he'd only gone a few steps when he stumbled slightly. Grimacing in pain, he reached up and rubbed at his head. The Tree; they had completely forgotten about the Tree during their focused battle with Piruz. Joshua's protection pouches had protected them thus far, but the full blast of power from the Chaos Spell and the Tree were being felt.
Sam had started toward the wizard like Caleb, but halted immediately when he saw the older man stumble. It was only then that he realized his own head was pounding. Caleb?
I'm … okay. Head hurts.
Sam's eyes went to Joshua, who was kneeling at the tree line, obviously worn out from the use of such powerful magic. Instead of going to Caleb, who had remained about fifteen yards from Piruz and the Tree, he turned and started an awkward jog toward their Advisor. "Joshua? Joshua! Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," wheezed Joshua, trying to catch his breath.
"He was amazing," Ryker stated, seeing the role of Advisor in a whole new light.
Sam grinned. "Can you do something to strengthen the spell pouches? Caleb and I are having difficulty with our equilibrium, and the buzzing is starting to affect our motor skills. We'll need to get closer to the Tree if we're too…" He left the rest of the sentence dangling.
Joshua knew exactly what he meant, and nodded. Turning to Ryker, he said, "Would you fetch my duffel, please?" Ryker nodded and hurried back through the trees. Turning to Sam, he said, "Don't trust that Piruz is restrained." His eyes went to the wizard bound in the silver chains. "He won't stay pinned for long."
"I think he's already tried one spell," Sam said, glancing over his shoulder. Past where Piruz knelt he saw Dean heading for the wizard, though Caleb was staying back. Sam could feel the Knight's pain; it mirrored his own, though Dean seemed to be holding up all right.
Ryker hurried back bringing Joshua's duffle. The elder Advisor reached in and began sorting herbs, spices and minerals. Every once in a while he'd say, "That one," and "a bit of that one," directing Ryker in the making of a new spell bag. Finally he touched the bags with his wand, murmuring, "Ut viribus trium tenetur: terra, ignis, aqua, vitae." (Strength of the three bound as one: earth, fire, water, life.) Lifting the pouches, he handed them to Sam.
"Thank you," Sam said, looping one around his neck. Instantly he felt steadier. Turning, he jogged across the grass and handed a pouch to Caleb, then hurried to give one to Dean.
Dean hung the new spell bag around his neck, though he thought they were going a little overboard in the neckwear department. But he felt stronger, and the buzzing lessened.
"Joshua said not to trust him," Sam said softly. "He's going to try and escape."
"Yeah, if that little portal hovering there has anything to say about it," Caleb stated as he jogged up to stand beside the other two.
Dean eyed the portal. "Can Josh get rid of it?"
"I don't know, but no one's going through it, not even Piruz," Caleb stated as he turned and walked toward the man on his knees and bound in silver.
Dean's eyes narrowed as he walked toward Piruz, Sam at his side. He didn't relish killing a human, no matter how long lived they were. But this guy wouldn't be continuing his efforts to take down the world, nor would another Triad be forced to deal with him. The wizard's schemes ended right here, tonight.
"Tu non poteris rationem custodire ad diu mecum.," Piruz hissed, rage burning in the depths of his eyes. (You will not be able to hold me for long.)
Dean didn't bother attempting to translate the Latin. He was sure it was typical bad guy Let me go or I'll make you sorry kind of talk. He looked down at the silver binding Piruz's hands, and immediately the silver tightened around his wrists and ankles.
Caleb removed the Dragon's Talon from his belt and adjusted his grip on the hilt. He knew what they had to do; Dean knew it too. No way could they allow Piruz to continue his rampage through history. Lifting his gaze from Piruz to Dean, their eyes met. Ready?
Do it.
Caleb's eyes went to Sam.
Sam's eyes met Caleb's. He didn't like it, but part of being the Triad was making tough choices. His chin jerked in a firm nod.
Caleb stepped forward, the blade raised.
Piruz frowned. "Non licet interficere hominem ab inermi." (You cannot kill an unarmed man.)
Sam snorted. "Tu minime sine defensione. Vos can minime procedat." (You're certainly not unarmed, and you cannot continue.)
Dean looked at the silver, and a thin strand ran up Piruz's back, encircled his head from back to forehead like a band and jerked, tilted his head back and exposing his throat.
Ryker helped Joshua stand as the crafter twirled a finger, murmured, "Fenestra in te regna: quiescite." (Windows through time and space, cease.) And he snapped his fingers.
Piruz's eyes widened as his portal winked away. Furious, he shouted, "No!"
"No Eden for you," Dean murmured to himself. Eden was a paradise for which mankind was no longer a fit, especially not a man bent on destroying civilization.
Caleb's blade rose. However, before he could deliver the death blow, a thick wave of mist surged across the grass like a wave crossing sand, completely obliterating the ground, the trees surrounding the park, even the sky. Startled, Caleb spun around as goose bumps rose on his skin, evidence of the sudden, freezing chill. He raised his blade.
"What…?" Sam exclaimed, his eyes wide. He jerked his eyes back to Piruz.
Dean also watched the witch, but Piruz seemed as genuinely perplexed as they did.
The Triad lifted their weapons, trying to see through the thick haze when a tall, slender figure suddenly emerged as though stepping through a heavy white curtain. Pausing with subdued theatricality, he walked languidly forward, looking for all intents and purposes as though he were shedding the mist like a shroud.
Dean's eyes widened and he attempted to swallow, though his mouth had gone completely dry. "Crap," he whispered.
Sam's eyes darted to his brother, then back to the tall, slender figure. The man gave him the creeps, and he hoped he wasn't a comrade of Piruz's. Cause he didn't think they could beat this guy.
Caleb was trying with all his might to keep the Dragon's Talon from quivering. Power wasn't exactly emanating from the man; more like he was a dark void of nothingness. Normally he would have taken a psychic read, but every cell in his body was screaming at him to keep away.
Almost skeletal in appearance, deep grooves lined the sides of the man's wide, thin mouth. Beneath a high forehead and slicked-back hair, his eyes were endless and distant, ancient and cool. Swinging a solid black umbrella, he was dressed in an expensive, perfectly tailored suit replete with bowler hat. Sparing only a glance for the man bound in silver chains, he approached the Triad of the Brotherhood, smiled, and drawled, "Hello, Dean."
Caleb and Sam both swung their eyes to Dean, who was looking pasty and pale.
Trying to work up some saliva to moisten his mouth so he could speak, Dean finally cleared his throat and said, "Sam, Caleb; meet Death."
.
TBC
Author's Note: Elena is descended from a gypsy line, and the language is Romanian.
Thank you so much to Shazza19, cyenthia 30, summerb8l21, and my Guest for your wonderful feedback and reviews. And thank you, kathyrebhansar for jumping in! I appreciate you all for taking the time to post, and for your wonderful comments. I hope the battle is everything you've waited for!