Chapter 19
The room that was filled with treasure and jewelry began to phase and boil into a menacing blob of melted gold. The gelatinous beads seemed to 'crawl' back into the Chinese dragon's body. Every gold coin, scepter, statue, and gem were being absorbed but the room was beginning to become a torrent of chaotic waves of molten bullion. Lordornia waved her arm in an arch and the three women were surrounded by a red ball of energy as Bazinga Sheldor's form was left leaping and blasting his way through the tsunami of plunder. Eventually, the last ounce of the melted treasure had filled into the dragon and made it completely whole. The tip of its tail finally formed and left the dragon circling itself around the huge room and an eerie white glow in the middle of the dragon's forehead. The mirror to the seal had become a part of the dragon as the four remaining objects in the room looked up at the monster.
The dragon was a long thick ribbon of green scales and waves of golden fur down the center of its back. It had one pair of arms close to the head, but the rest of the body seemed to float as it slithered slowly in mid air. The orange and red tinted eyes burned within the empty space as a rumble of growls built up in its throat as its golden furred mustache twitched and flowed all on its own.
Demon Sheldor's cloven hooves clopped upon the ground of the empty room as he approached the three women. The red energy bubble had subsided and he found that his time to strike was now. Just as he was about to charge, a golden energy lit up the room and a powerful force surrounded all four and they were lurched into the air. Their bodies were traced with golden energy and every one of their curses and spells were ripped off them. Lady Fowler's Pembe curse was gone and she was just a regular looking woman… Sheldor's demon form melted off him as he was his human self again with no scar on his back and a fresh beating heart in his chest… Penelope seemed to beam with color and looked like a brand new person with no scar on her chest and no infertility curse upon her belly… Lordornia was a monstrous old woman who looked to be about to crumble into dust. They all looked at themselves as they floated and looked around at each other. Water and Earth met as Sheldor's eyes found Penelope's, but their moment wouldn't last long as a booming voice filled the empty space.
I AM OUROBOROS THE DRAGON OF LIFE AND GUARDIAN OF THE SEAL OF MAGIC. MORTALS OF THE TIME STREAM… WHY HAVE YOU COME?
Lordornia's old, sawdusted voice spoke nonsense, "The tongue has the holds of life and death. It seeks out truth and power, and make mortals fall to their knees. The tongue play tricks. The tongue tells stories. The tongue lies and cheats and steals. There is nothing more unreliable… than the tongue. CADAT AD PEDES MEOS, DRACO!"
The dragon's body went rigid and its jaws shut tight. The colors of the dragon went completely red and the dragon's body fell to the floor making a perfect circle around the four bodies. The golden aura that entangled the four erupted and they all shifted back to their old selves. Sheldor's body was immediately covered in blackness and before his feet hit the ground, he was in his Bazinga form again. When the dragon's head hit the ground in a massive quake, the mirror embedded in its head pulsed white. Lordornia gave a big smile and grabbed Penelope's arm in her vicious grasp and started to drag her up the dragon's head while Lady Fowler followed suit.
Demon Sheldor's form leapt and landed right in front of the mirror with a snarl. Lordornia furrowed her brow at the demon, "I've had quite enough out of you, you little bastard." Her eyes burned red and the dragon's right arm shot out and got a horrendous grip upon the blackened demon. It ripped him away and slammed him down under the massive claws. The dragon's fingers bulldozed their way into the ground to make sure the demon had no room to move. Demon Sheldor struggled and looked over at the witch standing in front of the mirror and tightening her grip on the blonde's arm with no regards of her pain. Penelope cried out and the mirror pulsed. The pulse of white turned into a ghostly white smoke that wisped violently and seemed to reach into the blonde's chest. Penelope's body jerked and Lordornia was pushed back harshly by an unseen force. Penelope's body went completely limp and her body bent into a lifeless, floating form right before the mirror. Suddenly, a green flaming ball was ripped out of her body and her lifeless corpse dropped and rolled down the muzzle of the dragon until it hit the floor, cold and limp then flashed blue and was gone.
That set off something inside the demon that began to bubble and rage inside him. As the mirror began to shatter and crunch inside itself while being consumed by a green flame, Demon Sheldor's body burst into a haze of that soon engulfed the entire room. It washed all over the dragon, over the two witch's feet, but couldn't do anything but swirl around the bottom where the mirror was on fire.
Lordornia and Lady Fowler jumped off where the dragon's snout was and they both stared wide eyed at the point of the miasma. Lordornia cursed under her breath as she felt the power of the demon raise higher than she could handle. As Sheldor's full demon form of the Chimera roared and erupted from the black mass, Lordornia desperately looked at the green flame and the new form of the mirror and snatched it. She smiled so darkly as she side stepped and looked at the Chimera beast. She held up a jagged glass tiara that was burning a green flame and laughed loudly, "You're too late… You didn't save the girl… You didn't save the dragon… and you sure as hell didn't save yourself." She put the tiara on her head and her eyes went wide as her body froze.
The Chimera gave a grumbling laugh through its massive fangs, "YOU WITCHES… ALWAYS SO COCKY…"
Lordornia looked down at her feet and grit her teeth. The blackened miasma had swirled around her legs and seemingly entered into her flesh. A new power that the demon just learned she surmised by the weakened hold it had. She had the seal of magic in her hands… its power was overwhelming and she needed it. She gave a smile and her eyes flowed red. Within a few moments, the dragon's body stirred and ripped out of the miasma and spiraled until its body was in front of the Chimera. The dragon's red body shimmered a slight gold and the haze all but dissipated.
Lordorina urged the dragon forward and the two enormous creatures collided with tooth and claw. Life and Death… Good and Evil… Yin and Yang… The power that emitted was breathtaking. Ouroboros ensnared the Chimera with constriction as the massive paws of the Chimera sliced at the dragon's armored throat. Fire and acid and lightning and shadows all cascaded in the little room but Lordorina would not leave until she saw the Chimera in the grips of Life's jaws.
The cobra tail sunk its poisoned fangs into the dragon's tail making it lift its chin up in a roar of pain. The Chimera took no hesitation and embraced around the length of the dragon's neck and pulled it to him to sink his massive teeth into the flesh. The moment the teeth hit the flesh, a spark of gold electrified the Chimera and the dragon recovered and pushed the demon with its only pair of arms just far enough to get its massive jaws free enough to bit at the Chimera's throat. Once its colossal jaws had a hold of the beast… its claws ripped at his back and the dragon's elongated body constricted to a dangerous pressure. The Chimera's body popped and cracked as a deadly gurgle escaped its lips.
With that, Lordornia grabbed her daughter's hand and placed the tiara upon her head. The power surged within her and she smiled at the death of the Chimera before a green flame sent the two witches swirling within flame and vanishing from the sealed room.
Althea stood outside the newly renovated Nailao Torta Fabrik pub as Wolowix went inside to talk with Wesley Wheaton and a few other humans. She felt a sudden jolt in her chest and she gasped loudly. She clutched her chest as the spirits spoke of Penelope's death. Althea found tears rolling down her cheek for the loss of the sweet girl but she stopped as the blonde's energy returned. It was faint, but it was there. She smiled as she felt the fairy's energy and knew the girl would be just fine.
Within a few moments the sky let out a thunderous protest and the blue of the sky was overcome with red. The Loa spirits began to jumble their thoughts into the Mambo's head and she knew… the war was about to begin. She took out her asson and gripped it tightly as people were beginning to notice the terrifyingly red sky. Soon, Wolowix and Wesley stepped out with a bunch of big, burly men behind them and everyone was staring up. Wolowix shook his head, "We're too late."
Althea shook her head, "No… we're just in time. Quickly… if you have a horse; get on it! We need to go! Omashire isn't too far of a ride if we take the enchanted path."
The men nodded and went into action. Althea swallowed harshly and shook her asson to gather the Loa spirits. She was going to need them… ALL of them. The witch's power was monumental and the only creature who could kill her now… his aura just vanished.
Onar and, the one eyed wendigo, Hetja stopped their conversation and stared up as the crash of thunder filled the air around them and the sky bled red all. They both looked up in terror. Onar growled under his breath as the aura of the witch filled his senses. Hetja, who had been calling the nerk an idiot for the past few minutes, suddenly looked at the black nerk and used his fang language to explain that he'll have the wendigos gathered in thirty minutes. Onar told him where to meet and he raced down the mountain as the wave of blood continued to take over the blue sky.
Ekim had the entire Ahaon pack of garms surrounding him and yapping in fang language. Ekim was snapping and growling when the rumble in the sky made the small ghost dogs whimper worriedly. The wave of red in the sky passed by them and took over the blue sky. The wolven creatures stared in horror up in horror as the garms began to bark and howl into the air. Ekim let out a low growl form in his throat as his eyes began to glow gold. He could feel it… he could feel the power of the witches and it was far too strong.
Ylreveb and the Hofkey pack were in midst of a hunt. They had a herd of white buffalo trampling across the plains. The reddish-brown nerk stood on top of a small mountain wall where they had their prey galloping towards. The four other nerks at her side waited in professional patience while watching the pure white buffalo being herded towards them. Ylreveb felt a jolt in her chest and every inch of fur stood up on her body. Before she could react any further, the sky boomed above them and red filled the sky.
The whole herd of white buffalo stopped dead in their tracks as the biggest of them all took a few steps away from the herd and looked up into the blood sky. The nerkanines stopped to stared and began clicking and whimpering to the others. The huge white buffalo snorted then turned its thick neck and bayed at its herd. The buffalo were stampeding away as Ylreveb gathered the pack at the base of the wall. She could sense the power and she narrowed her eyes. Something was coming… And no one was going to stop it.
Penelope's eyes fluttered open softly and she was greeted by a leaf canopy. She felt so heavy… so undeniably weak… and she ran through what memory she had. Her arm flew up on her face like a limp noodle and she cried.
"You shouldn't move so much, Penny."
That voice… Stephinaria. She turned to see her fairy friend and immediately frowned. She looked bruised and beaten. The scene behind her wasn't any prettier. There were limp fairies being gurneyed with sticks and leaves or by random bugs or lizards. Penelope sat up, painfully, as her eyes took in all the carnage, "What… what happened?"
Stephinaria sighed as she held her bandaged arm wrapped in aloe, "The witch's army attacked our core, but we managed to fight them off… but not without a multitude of casualties against us. We lost a lot of comrades… but those who are left are building their strength…" The fairy bent her head down and sobbed and Penelope knew… the king… her father… he was one of the ones who didn't make it.
Penelope went to the fairy woman and put her cold hand upon the fairy's warm shoulder, "I… I'm so sorry Steph…"
The fairy shook her head and sniffled, "No… No… don't go blaming yourself Penny… We know who's to blame and we are getting our forces together. We'll be helping your friends to fight against the witches. There aren't many of us left, but… we're not going down without a fight! Now… you rest… by the time you wake up… we'll be in Omashire. We have called upon the creatures of the forest to assist us. The fauns, satyrs, centaurs, and nymphs agreed to fight with us, but many of the shape-shifters have already fled underground. There is a small possibility that any of us are going to make it, but we creatures of the wood… we're stubborn… we won't go down without a fight!"
Penelope gave a sad smile to that as Stephinaria blew a mist of purple upon her face. Penelope immediately black out but not before a buildup of saddened tears leaked down her cheek.
Pryna and Rajesh stood before the Pahale of the Jhunda flock of their Garuda family. They were upon their floating fortress far above any mountain could reach. The entire flock were gathered within an outdoor coliseum with the clouds and sky easily seen above them. The Pahale's thrones sat at one of the points of the oval shaped dome with the male's throne nearly taking up the entire space. Their parents, the Dusara, were standing to the side of the Pahale and gripping each other's hands as Pryna and Rajesh speak of their travels in the center of the entire coliseum.
The male Pahale, a rather large, burly man with dark skin and livid eyes named Saahasika, was the only one not whimpering, whispering, or jerking from the horrid tales of the demon and the witches. He sat in his golden chair etched in the tales of Vishnu and Garuda and looked concerned and angry. When the two children spoke of the seal of magic and how the witches opened the Dragon's Cave… Saahasika pushed off his chair in rage, "ENOUGH! Enough of this. You have returned with only stories and no proof. The land dwellers… they have poisoned your minds with frivolous nonsense. Return to your father's side at once and NEVER speak of this again." Pryna went to argue, but the Pahale glared and Pryna's head bowed low.
Saahasika returned to his chair in the midst of the silence, but never got to turn and sit for a voice climbed loudly and echoed upon the enormity of the dome, "You can't keep closing your eyes to this! This doesn't just concern the land dwellers… LORDORNIA AND AMELIA ARE TRYING TO DESTROY THIS LAND AND REBUILD IT IN THEIR IMAGE! Do you think they'll spare us? Do you think they'll just happen to 'miss us' all the way up here? The land… the sea… the AIR… they are all in danger! WE. MUST. FIGHT. If we don't… If we just leave it up to the land dwellers… then we will perish!"
Pryna stared at her brother's posture as he had taken a few steps towards the Pahale. Rajesh's face was twisted in anger at the blatant disregard for him and his sister, "I have seen the power that these witches possess… YOU KEEP HIDING ON YOUR CLOUDS AND YOU'LL BE THE FIRST TO FALL! I AM FIGHTING! I am fighting whether you accept that or not! Mommy… Daddy… I'm sorry…"
Saahasika's massive hands crackled the golden arm rest in his hands before he spun and stared at the boy below. He could see the warrior in his eyes and the Pahale narrowed his eyes, "You insubordinate little CHICK… how dare you speak out of turn." He snapped his fingers and two armored men flew and gripped Rajesh's arms as the Pahale continued, "Chain him upon the pillar of Bajali… let his tongue run dry."
Before the guards could pull him away… the fortress was hit violently with a tremor of pure power. The Jhunda flock all screamed and seemed to look everywhere in confusion. The tint of red filled the arena and all eyes went up to watch the blue sky fill with blood. The screams and panic erupted and the Garuda all flew in the air to escape the dome. Saahasika's mate stood beside him as they both looked up in horror.
Rajesh yanked his arms out of the guards grip and jogged a little bit closer to the stairs leading up to the Pahale. He stopped and yelled loudly, "DO YOU SEE? DO YOU SEE HOW THEIR EVIL REACHES EVEN US? QUICKLY! WE NEED TO GATHER THE WINGED CREATURES… WE NEED TO FIGHT OR SIT HERE AND DIE!"
Saahasika looked down at Rajesh with a cold stare and nodded. He turned to an older Garuda that held a rashinga horn that was a long tube like trumpet that swept along the ground, "Cetavaani… send the call!"
The old Garuda, whose wings were speckled with grey, lifted the mouth piece of the horn to his lips ever so slowly. He took a dramatically deep breath then blew. The first time was a honking noise that made everyone cover their ears from the noise. The Pahale rolled his eyes as the old man cleared his throat and tried again. The song ran out like an amplified hum as Saahasika stepped forward and let his voice ring out, "WE FIGHT! AND VISHNU BE WITH THOSE WHO DARE FIGHT AGAINST US!"
The Garuda who hovered above gave out a battle cry as they thrust their hands into the air. Rajesh turned to look at Pryna with a sad knowing look. She gave a small nod as the two stretched their wings and ripped into the sky. They slipped out of the arena and across the fortress's beauty. They found the edge and dipped down towards the land and made their way towards Omashire… their flock reading for battle.