The Deuxac

L.A.: Sorry for the delay. Here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Anna wasn't sure, but she thought she might have passed out during part of the journey. She remembered the bag being thrown over her head. The bag stuck to her mouth as if it were trying to suffocate her.

She remembered hearing Rajah fall to the ground as she was thrown onto something, she assumed a mamluk, that jostled each time it took a step. She prayed that Rajah and Carpet were okay.

It was quiet for a while as the mamluk continued to carry her. She was pretty sure Mozenrath was still there but he seemed content to be silent at the moment.

Which was fine with her since she was mad that she had be kidnapped. How did Mozenrath find a way in again? Was the palace's security really that bad? When she got back, she would have to talk to them about it… that was if she ever did return.

The feeling of dread washed over again. What if this time no one came to their rescue?

She yelped when she was thrown to the ground. Something was attached to her ankles as the bag was pulled off her head.

Two Mamluks retreated, leaving her on the ground. They were in the same chamber from her previous visit here. A rustling sound from her legs alerted her to the chains that attached her to the wall.

"Great. Just great," Anna said.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked.

Anna looked across the room to see Carpet chained to a wall as well. He was still a human which meant it was still night.

"Yes, I think so," Anna said. "How about you?"

"Fine, I guess," Carpet said. He looked around with an air of nervousness. "We're back here, huh?"

"Looks like it," Anna said. "Don't worry, they'll save us. I know they will."

"Will they?" Carpet asked. "What if they don't get here in time?"

"They won't," Mozenrath said as he entered the room. "I'll make sure of it."

"You can at least tell us why you want Carpet so bad," Anna said. "I think we deserve that much."

Mozenrath stared at her for a minute. "Fine, my plan is foolproof. I see no reason why you shouldn't know why I killed you." He laughed at the terrified looks on their faces. "You see, I came upon a spell, a spell for immortality. For it to work, you need the magic from an enchanted object. Namely, the power that gives them life. Because in order to extend life, you need to take life."

Anna remembered that Mozenrath's gauntlet was slowly killing him. She should have realized his motives sooner.

Carpet's face was pale as he unconsciously moved away from Mozenrath.

"Unfortunately, the last time I tried to use the spell, it back fired. Instead of giving a human immortality, it gave an enchanted object humanity."

Mozenrath suddenly walked away from them and toward a red curtain hanging on the other side of the room. She hadn't noticed the curtain before but now, she couldn't take her eyes off of it.

The curtain bellowed as if a wind were blowing against it. Dark mist seeped out from underneath before evaporating. As Mozenrath approached the curtain, a low growl came from within.

"I messed up last time," Mozenrath said. "I should have just taken the magic out from the Carpet. It makes the magic purer. I didn't have the means before, but now I do." He wrapped his hand around the curtain and yanked it away.

A creature stepped forward. It was a quadruped with clawed feet, one eye, and an armor like outer shell. The shell glowed with many different colors reminding Anna of a rainbow.

It hissed as it sucker-like mouth flicked out to taste the air.

"Thirdac," Carpet said quietly.

The Thirdac, Anna remembered now. They were creatures from a different dimension that fed off magic. Was Mozenrath really going to try to control one again?

"Close," Mozenrath said. "It's related to the Thirdac. This creature is called the Deuxac. It doesn't eat magic. It eats darkness instead. It stores magic in its shell for protection." Mozenrath patted the Deuxac's head. "Much easier to take magic from."

The Deuxac looked at Carpet hungrily.

"Well, you can't do anything now, right?" Anna said. "Carpet's human."

"Hoping your friends will come in time?" Mozenrath said. "Too bad. It won't happen. He may look like a human but he's still a carpet."

"There is no way you will get away with this," Anna said.

"But I will, little girl," Mozenrath grinned. "In fact, Carpet is going to give me his magic willingly."

"Why would I do that?" Carpet asked.

Anna yelped as a sword was placed to her neck. Two mamluks stood menacingly on either side of her.

"You'll do it," Mozenrath said, "unless you want your little girlfriend to loose her head."

Carpet's expression changed between anger and fear.

"That's the problem with being human," Mozenrath said. "Fear… Love… Guilt… Those nasty feelings don't make you think correctly. Many people lose their life over them." His eyes narrowed. "So, what's it going to be?"

Carpet looked from Anna to Mozenrath again before slowly nodding.

"Carpet," Anna said, "you can't." She yelped when she felt the sword nick her neck.

"I'm sorry," Carpet whispered, "but I can't let them hurt you." He turned to Mozenrath. "I do this and you let her go. She's no use to you."

Mozenrath thought for a moment. "Fine. Whatever. Once the spell is done. She can't do anything."

Mozenrath laughed as the Deuxac crawled toward Carpet. He stood still trying his best to not show fear.

The Deuxac reached him and stuck out its sucker-like mouth toward Carpet's face.

"Carpet, please," Anna said.

"Good bye Anna," Carpet said. "Thanks for everything."

The Deuxac's mouth struck him in the chest. When it retracted its mouth, a strange white orb of energy left Carpet's body.

Carpet's eyes fluttered close as he turned back into a carpet. A moment later, he fell to the ground, lifeless.

L.A.: Dun, dun, dun... Don't worry, the next chapter will be up next week. Anyway, you know what to do. READ and REVIEW!