Chapter 14 is up and ready for your enjoyment. You'll love it!
Sly Cooper and the Space Thieves
Chapter 14- The Trap
At the underwater cave, there were sounds of fury and complete outrage. They were all coming from only one individual: The Dark Wolf. After waking up from his slumber and discovering that Isis was gone, he threw the biggest temper tantrum ever! He banged his fists on the ground, howled like crazy, and kept yelling the same phrase over and over; that he will have his revenge. "HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENDED!" he screamed so loud that the whole cave was echoing. Then a new voice came out of nowhere. This voice sounded old and sinister. "Perhaps if you calm down and actually think for once, you would know the answer…"
Dark Wolf turned around and saw a figure in the shadows, though he unmistakably wore a robe and carried a staff, his face could not be seen. Dark Wolf looked at him in shock and anger. "Oh, it is you. Have you come here to make me feel worse than I already am!" he shouted at the stranger. He simply looked at the beast with an emotionless tone in his voice. "No, I came here to check on our prisoner. However, it looks like I have wasted my time, since there IS no prisoner anymore…"
"IT WAS NOT MY FAULT! One minute Isis was right here chained to this wall. And the next, she had disappeared! And the only thing I remember was falling asleep. I didn't know WHY I fell asleep, I just suddenly felt like sleeping…" The shadowed figure stared at him curiously. "You fell asleep?" He then began to smell the air for something unusual, out of the ordinary. Then after a few moments, he turned back at Dark Wolf. "There were 5 scents in here. One was King Beowulf…"
Dark Wolf looked really shocked at this statement. "Beowulf was here! That's impossible! No one can enter this cave without magical means, not even him, and he knows no magic. There was no way he could even find this cave, let alone access it!" "Be quiet and let me finish." Dark Wolf fell silent immediately. "As I said, there were 5 scents in this cavern. One was Beowulf, the other 4 I cannot identify. And there is also magic in the air…" Dark Wolf's jaw dropped. "Magic! You're saying that whoever took Isis used magic! I thought you were the only…"
"I thought I was the only one too. But obviously, there is another…" He paused for a moment before speaking again. "I believe that whoever led Beowulf down here used magic to put you to sleep, and then take Isis away before the spell wore off. I never expected this to happen." The stranger then looked at Dark Wolf, who was still in a state of shock at this news. "Varu, I think we should give the king and his allies a surprise they will never forget…"
Meanwhile, in an underground tunnel the Cooper Gang and their royal friends were traveling back to Iceica in their new and improved armor van. Bentley and Penelope decided to stay behind to fix any damaged systems on the Dragon Thief, but as the turtle pointed out, without zinthor crystals the ship's power core will not be at full capacity. Cryos told him that they have crystals that provide fuel for the cities and that some of them may be a suitable substitute. Bentley agreed and asked him to bring back some of those crystals.
They were traveling in the van for two reasons: First, the Dark Wolf was still on the loose, and the van was the safest transport for Isis and her infant son. Second, it was way too cold for the baby to survive in, even with thick clothing. The van was much warmer and more comfortable, which both Beowulf and Isis approved of. The royal family couldn't wait to get back home and raise their son. While Murray was driving, Sly and Carmelita were talking to Beowulf and Isis.
"He is so cute," said Carmelita as she held the child in her arms, with Isis' permission of course. "Looking at him kind of makes me wish I have children too." Sly looked at her in surprise. "You do? I never saw you as the type to settle down and have a family." The inspector laughed affectionately. "I know, but things can change." "I think you would make a great mother, Carmelita." Isis said as she was given her son back. "Really?" the inspector asked in surprise. "Yes, you are strong, kind, and care for others. I think you would be a great wife for some lucky young man out there."
"Thanks Isis, but I already found someone special." She then turned to Sly with love in her face. Sly returned the smile at that statement. Beowulf then said, "Oh, I didn't know you two were a couple. Have long have the two of you been together?" Sly and Carmelita turned to the king with amusing looks on their faces. "Well your highness, we've been having lots of fun for years back on Earth." Sly and Carmelita looked at each other and remembered all the times they had together: Sly would steal something, and Carmelita would try to catch him. However, she was always one step behind him and Sly's gang manages to get away every time, which really made her mad. Lots of times he would flirt with her before escaping, which made her failures even more humiliating.
They both laughed out loud about the good old days. Beowulf and Isis looked confused, but decided not to interrupt. When they had finished, they began to talk about their rescue mission. Beowulf had lots of questions. "I don't understand. How did Dark Wolf find out you were pregnant when it was a secret, Isis? How did he take you out of the palace without alarm? How did he get you into that cave when there was no way in or out? And how in the world did he make himself invisible down in the cave when he knows absolutely nothing of magic?"
Needless to say, he was confused and frustrated. Isis put a hand on his knee for comfort. "Calm down, darling. I am just as confused as you are. I only remember being asleep beside you in our bed chamber, then when I woke up, I found myself chained up in that nasty cave with that horrible animal. The important thing is that you found me and our child was born under safe and comforting circumstances." The white wolf looked at her and smiled at her comforting words. "Yes, I am truly glad Sly and his companions have crashed their ship here. I just wish I knew how he knew…"
"Hey guys, were here!" Murray had just stopped the van in front of the gates to Iceica. Everyone later got out of the van and walked to the gates (the temperature is comfortably higher than the surface). There were two guards at the gates, each of them wearing crystal like armor with spears. Beowulf approached them. "It is alright, these are guests of mine and the queen. Please open the gates for us." The guards did not seem to be happy or surprised to see their queen back home with a baby, Sly noticed. They just nodded and opened the gates for them. 'Something is not right here…"
After the gates had opened, they walked down the streets to the palace. Along the way, everyone notices something strange; there was no one in sight. All of the streets and market places look completely deserted. It was quiet; too quiet for their comfort. Sly then decided to tell him something that Yanor had told him. "King Beowulf, I think you need to be on your guard." "And the same for you," he responded in kind. "Isis, hold on to the baby and stay close to me." She nodded and walked beside him.
After a silent 20-minute walk, they had arrived at the palace. Again, the guards that were there had no expression on their faces as the queen approached with her child and let them inside. Murray was beginning to get nervous. "Gosh, why is everything so quiet? It wasn't like this when we left." "No, it wasn't." the king responded. "I smell something foul here…" He decided to check the throne room first for anything else unusual. When have found the throne room doors, he motioned for everyone to have weapons out. Cryos and Cecilia had drawn their swords, Carmelita her blaster, and Sly his cane. After the king drew his own sword, he kicked the doors open.
There was someone standing in the middle of the room, apparently waiting for them. He was an old looking wolf with dusty looking fur, wore a white robe, and carried a staff with a golden wolf head on it. Beowulf looked at him in relief and surprise. "Oh Volroth, it is only you." The old wolf bowed to Beowulf. "I apologize for causing you alarm, your majesty. Ah, I see that Queen Isis has returned to us," he said as he looked at her. He noticed the little prince she was holding. "And it looks like her child is finally born. Congratulations sire," he finished with a smile.
Volroth looked around and noticed Sly and the others. "I see that Cryos and Cecilia are here, along with a few guests." Something in Sly's gut told him to not trust this guy. Sly turned to Beowulf. "Who is that?" The king looked at everyone with a reassuring look on his face. "This is Volroth, my royal advisor. He has been working here since my grandfather ruled our home. Last time I saw you, old friend, you had gone to visit your brother in another city. I didn't expect you back for at least another week…"
"Something has come up, your highness. There was a little matter here that I had to resolve." Volroth then lifted his staff and tapped it on the ground, which caused the doors to close and lock behind them. Everyone was surprised by his actions. Beowulf looked at the old wolf in the eyes, with confusion in his face. "Volroth, what is going on here? Why have you sealed us in?" Volroth then formed an evil smile on his face. "Both of your questions, my king, have the same answer…" He tapped his staff on the ground again and then the biggest surprise of all appeared right before them: Dark Wolf!
As everyone was shocked at these events, and as the baby had started to cry in Isis' arms, Volroth answered his king's questions with one word:
"Revenge."