Inside the lair of the Golgotha:
Cindy turned to see her friends but they were frozen in place as if time had stood still. Even a fly was stuck in midair. They couldn't help her now. "Akiro must be right. This really is up to me." The chamber was enormous and the ceiling must have been over a hundred feet in the air. The pedestals supporting the ceiling were carved out of stone and appeared to be writhing snakes. In the center of the room was a small boy kneeling and he looked sad. She approached slowly and was on her guard. Akiro's words echoed in her mind. "The creature will try to trick you."
She was within twenty feet of the platform and the boy looked up at her. She felt her heart skip a beat. It was Jimmy. His clothing was torn and he looked worn out. There was a cut on the side of his forehead and it was still bleeding slightly. She looked around and they were alone in the chamber. "Are you OK Jimmy? How did you get here?" He looked back at her and called out "Cindy? Is that really you?"
He got to his feet but the chains attached to his wrists kept him from approaching her.
Cindy stopped her own approach but it was one of the hardest things she ever had done since arriving here. There was the boy she had waited for and she couldn't trust that it was really him.
"Please Cindy!" he called to her. "You have to get me out of here!" His pleas made her heart tear but she remained firm. "How did you get here?" she demanded.
"I never stopped looking for you when I lost you through the portal. I don't know how we got separated but I never lost hope of finding you. But the last time I came through I was grabbed by some men and dragged down into this chamber to be a sacrifice. Please, you have to get me out of here before they return!"
"How do I know you're not the monster trying to trick me?"
"Cindy look at me. You know it's me" his look of desperation was heart wrenching. She was torn on her desire to help him and what she knew of her teachings from Akiro. Her mind turned to Akiro and how he had questioned her feelings for Jimmy. He must have known something like this would happen. He had told her to keep the pearl close and not lose it. She pulled out the pearl and showed it to Jimmy. "Do you know what this is?" Jimmy looked at it and replied "it's a pearl. But I don't see what that has to do with anything. Please you have to set me free"
"Answer one question first. Where did I get this pearl?" Jimmy's face went blank and he stared back at Cindy. His mouth curled into a cruel smile and all his teeth spear like. His eyes glazed over black and he laughed. The laugh had an echo that sounded bestial and demonic in the background.
"Very good Cindy it seems there is more to you than I anticipated. You are the only one that has ever approached that I failed to completely fool. It is most disappointing since you are the only one that could free me."
"I'll make a deal with you. Set me free and I'll give you the real Jimmy back."
"You're lying" Cindy's voice came out cold.
"Am I?" he snapped his fingers and in the back of the room a wall slid open and Cindy could see a small cell and within she could see a boy and a small mechanical dog next to him.
"She called out Jimmy! Goddard! is that you!" Goddard barked back happily. Jimmy was waving frantically and yelling for her to run!
"I knew one day that someone like you would come and my freedom would be at hand."
"What I told you wasn't a lie. My worshipers found your friend and brought him here." He really is devoted to you. since he arrived as my guest. He begged for any information in regards to your whereabouts. His devotion amused me so I decided to keep him as a plaything. It was enjoyable to torment him. One time I took your form that I had extracted from his thoughts and let him think you were rescuing him just to laugh at his disappointment. It is most interesting that the girl he was seeking was to be the very same one that I waited for. Once I had made the connection he refused to tell me anything more about you. He jealousy guarded anything more on you and resisted some of the most painful interrogation methods I have ever used.
"Ok so you have my friend. But I'm not freeing you no matter what! Don't make me kill you." She sounded more confident than she actually felt.
She received the demonic laugh in response. The boy that had pretended to be Jimmy shimmered and changed shape into a giant dragon like creature. It stood up and stretched it's wings. Cindy stood back and was stunned at the sheer arch of the wingspan. The wings fluttered and the gust of wind caused her hair to blow around wildly. She tied it back tighter and gripped her sword unsure of what to do.
"If you want your friend back you just have to get by me." It's eyes glowed green and the venom dripped from it's saber teeth. It dug it's claws into the ground and it's head lunged forward. Cindy rolled out of the way just in time. She swung her sword downward and it harmlessly clanged off it's scales. I didn't know it could turn into something like that! What am I going to do?
It veered up and Cindy concentrated and starting chanting one of the more difficult spells Akiro had showed her. The Golgotha spread it's jaws wide open and lunged forward. The spell was complete and a ball of electricity fired out of Cindy's hands and it slammed right into the open maw. The creature jerked away and writhed in pain as the electricity arced and caused involuntary muscle spasms.
That gave Cindy an idea. Akiro had told her that the creature was all but indestructible on the outside but soft on the inside. I am going to need a lot of therapy after this. She ran close to the Golgotha and started chanting in that same manner. The Golgotha lunged in and swallowed Cindy whole.
Jimmy screamed "No!You killed her! I can't believe you killed her!" He dropped to his knees and broke down and cried. The monster turned to face him and laughed. "Something wrong Jimmy?"
The creature's eyes went wide and it reared up onto it's hind legs and clutched at it's stomach. The area was glowing red. The creature flopped on it's back and writhed and twisted as it's eyes boiled out of its skull and smoke was pouring out of the open mouth and nostrils. It's tail slammed into the walls and chunks of rock broke off and dust flew all around. The writing stopped and the creature was silent.
Conan and his friends were released from the magic that had bound them at the door and they raced forward to find Cindy. They stood and stared in awe at the dead creature. Akiro yelled out "She's done it!
Conan couldn't hide his concern "Akiro where is she!"
They heard a small cough coming from the mouth of monster and Conan drew his sword and approached cautiously. He peered into the mouth and was surprised to see a very exhausted Cindy covered soot and slime. He picked her up and carried her to Akiro. Akiro examined her and was relieved she was unhurt. "The spell she used is extremely draining. She will need to rest."
They heard the boy calling from the back room and Zula and Malak friend Jimmy and Goddard who shouted out their thanks as they raced to be by Cindy's side.
It took some time to reassure Jimmy that she would be ok but he eventually calmed down. They had a chance to speak as they gave Cindy time to rest. Conan approached Jimmy and looked him up and down. He smiled and shook Jimmy's hand. Jimmy's hand seemed to be swallowed up by Conan's. "So your this Jimmy that Cindy always spoke about." Conan knelt down and spoke quietly. "Between you and me kid she adores you."
Jimmy blushed, "She does?" He looked down at Cindy. She started to stir. Suddenly she was alert and leapt to her feet her hand going to her sword. Conan caught her and calmed her down. "It's alright Cindy. It's over. It's dead. She relaxed and turned to see Jimmy standing there. "Jimmy is that really you?"
She wanted to believe him but she had to be sure especially after what had just happened. Not to mention that this Jimmy looked identical to the other down to the cut on his forehead and worn ripped clothing. "Where did I get the pearl that I carry?"
"I gave it to you a few years back when we were stranded on "our" island together. I had to open 137 oysters to find it for you. It's me Cindy." He reached out to hug her and she rushed forward and held him tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and cried freely.
They went into the chamber that held the septor. Akiro picked it up and slid it into this robes. "We will have to be a good distance from here before we can use this. The magic that bound the creature here will prevent a gateway from opening. They slipped back into the labyrinth and Akiro allowed Cindy to lead the way using her abilities which allowed him to prepare the spells they would need to open the gateway.
They snuck back to their horses and Jimmy sat on the back of Cindy's horse with her and held on tightly. Goddard hopped on with Malak and they rode off as fast as their horses could take them.
They made camp for the night. Cindy fell asleep right away. This gave the gang a chance to speak with Jimmy. Everyone had their own details to add in of all the amazing things she had done while being in their world. Jimmy listened patiently. He would have objected to the idea of magic being real if he hadn't seen Cindy shoot lighting out of her hands. Akiro and Jimmy had a long talk throughout the night about science and magic. The two really got along great actually.
Cindy woke up during the night and found everyone was a sleep except for Conan. He was tending the fire and keeping watch. She realized that Jimmy was laying next to her with his arm around her. She wanted to lay there in his arms but she had to speak with Conan while she had the chance. She kissed Jimmy's hand and then slipped out from under his arm and rolled away.
She sat down next to Conan. "How are you?"
"I'm going great Cindy" You showed an amazing amount of bravery. I wish you could have met Valeria. She would have been proud of you."
"Thanks Conan. I really do appreciate that. I wanted to know what you think of Jehnna?"
"She is a great woman and a great queen. She rules her people fairly." Conan started to say.
"I saw how you two are together. You obviously care about her. She needs a king, Conan and I know she wants you to take the job" Conan turned to look Cindy in the eyes. "Conan I know you loved Valeria but she is gone. She wouldn't want you to spend the rest of your life mourning her loss. Life is for the living not the dead."
"Are you going to tell Jimmy how you feel about him?" Cindy opened her mouth to protest but Conan put a finger up to her lips. "I promise to tell Jehnna how I feel about her if and only if you tell Jimmy how you feel. Deal?"
Cindy grinned and replied "Deal"
To be continued….