Author's Note:

Some violence in the middle. I noticed my chapters are getting a little lengthy and I found a good spot to end this one. I promise I'll post another tonight. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty

Deep in the hidden rooms of the Excalibur Hotel where Arthurian murals still covered the walls, the team and the Serpentine Sorcerers assembled. Not trusting her own agents, Rose begrudgingly let Lefay's group secure the area. They reported that they found no traps and Lefay assured her that it was true as they could not lie to him as result of the spells he used. Rose and Hotch believed him. They teleported into the dimly-lit room as planned.

With eight members of the Serpentine Sorcerers surrounding them, the team raised their swords high and Hotch made his proclamation:

"Randal Garner, Leader of the Order of the Fisher King I summon you as Supervisory Special Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner and as King Arthur I demand that you and your followers come forth and atone for your actions!"

They waited and within minutes a dark cloud ascended that nearly engulfed the room. Garner with his horribly-scarred face appeared with twelve other men dressed in black robes with their wands held high.

Garner shot out a spell straight at Hotch. Hotch easily blocked it with Excalibur and bounced it back at him. Garner blocked the spell with the back of his and the energy dissolved. Garner smiled.

"You have learned to master your acquired skills well King," he said in a malevolent tone.

"This does not have to end in violence Garner," Hotch said. "Surrender yourself peacefully and you can tell us all you have learned about the dark arts and be the fascination of mythical agents for years."

Garner snorted in disgust and he raised one hand. A member of the order began to attack Morgan.

"I tire of your words King," he said. "Let us fight to see who deserves control of the both realms mortal and mythical."

Garner raised his wand and shot a more powerful spell at Hotch. Hotch struggled to block this spell and the energy didn't bounce back.

The team and members of the Serpentine Sorcerers fought the order. Spells were shot out but they were no match for the swords of the team so the order switched to swords. The Serpentine Sorcerers weren't as skilled so they all fell quickly except Lefay who kept up with the fight. The team fought fiercely. They was surprised with how well they were managing to hold up against the order. They leaped and stabbed and raised their shields when necessary. The worked in teams of two and three. Rose felt at ease fight alongside them. It was truly an equal match of wit and will.

Gradually the fight began to slow. Rossi took a blow that dislocated his jaw. J.J. took a cut that lacerated most of the muscle in her left forearm. Hotch's left shoulder had a deep gash. Lefay's nose was broken. Reid's leg injury was badly cut and he was in a corner using his shield to conceal himself. Morgan took a stab to the ribs. Rose lost part of her ear. Prentis was cut at the ankles. Garcia was actually the last person to fall as she used everything she learned in her game simulations and only fell after stabbing at three order members and was then knocked out cold. The teams was left wounded and some barely standing.

But they were not the only ones. The Order was equally wounded some were knock out cold also. Others were nursing similar injuries compared to that of the team. There was no true victor in the battle.

Garner stayed mostly out of the fray. He shot off a few spells and when Hotch tried to duel him, he had his associates pull him back. His robes were cut few times when he edged to close to the battle. In the end he found Reid nursing the wound to his leg.

He pulled the shield away and healed his wound. Reid looked terrified.

"Would you like to heal the world Reid son of Diana Mordred?" he asked gently.

Reid's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Garner smiled. "I have something that belonged to your mother," he said "it can help you change everything"

Realization set in. "No," he said his eyes widening with terror.

Garner pulled out the black ring containing all of Diana's dark magic and plunged it onto Reid's middle finger before he could stop him.

Reid's eye's turned black and a horrible smile filled his face.