Chapter 30
Dante's POV
We went down the stairs with care, none of us wanted a fall like that, Sophie was the only one who was calm. When we got down we were impressed with the huge snake, although Zhalia had said it was docile, we did not want her to wake up.
-Do not move,- Zhalia ordered. -I'll go over and get the poison.
No one argued, we did not want to get close to that thing and be its food, and as Zhalia was interested, it was obvious that she would have to approach it.
Zhalia approached slowly to the head of the reptile and placed a hand on the nose; the snake opened its eyes a little and observed Zhalia. I thought that his eyes would be full of evil and menace, but to my surprise they were full of kindness and tenderness, and looked at Zhalia with some fear.
-Shhh, quiet friend, we will not hurt you.-Zhalia whispered calming the snake. The snake seemed to calm down and went back to sleep. "I need someone to help me open my mouth.
Nobody volunteered, obviously. Zhalia looked at us very seriously and with a frown.
-Where are the brave?
-Do not look at me, I'm just a puppy, and it would be very irresponsible to let me get close to that thing- Lok raised his hands showing that he was unprotected.
-Since when do you consider yourself a puppy?- Sophie asked angrily.
-You always remind me and use it as an excuse all the time, for once it serves me, I plan to take advantage of it.-Lok crossed his arms indignantly.
-Leave it now- I scolded them as I approached the snake- I will do it.
I knelt next to Zhalia, placed my hand next to his and began to caress the creature.
-And that?- Zhalia whispered.
-Lok is right, I made the promise to take Sophie home safely, and, even if it's not legally, I'm responsible for Lok morally.
-You can not let anything happen to your children, can you?- Zhalia said in a mocking tone. The glared with the look
-Let's get this over with.
Very carefully I opened my mouth to the snake, it was easy, but it weighed a lot. I heard Lok moan in fear when he saw his huge and sharp fangs. I was also very impressed and scared, if the snake got angry and closed its mouth it could grab an arm and pull it out, and then the poison would kill me, all very sure. Zhalia took an injection to remove the poison, inserted the needle into the gland where it stored the poison, just behind his fangs, the snake woke up and stirred a little when noticing the puncture, it had not liked it and was getting angry.
- Hurry up, get angry.
-It's almost there.
Zhalia extracted the poison and then the needle, and with that let the snake shut its mouth, it was quite angry. Zhalia poured the green liquid from the needle into two vials that she kept inside her boot.
- We can go now.
-I do not think so.
Lok pointed to the snake, had raised its head and lifted it about two meters above us, its eyes had changed, it was angry and its eyes had changed, now it was fierce and scary.
-Great,- Zhalia sighed, -it's angry.
-What does that mean?- Sophie asked backing from the snake.
- That you have to run!
At that we ran to the stairs and began to climb, the ice scales of the snake rose in a ridge, opened his mouth letting out a hoarse roar and launched against us, his mouth hit the ground making the whole cave tremble, Sophie lost her balance and fell, but flew up to join us, sometimes it seems that Sophie forgets she has wings. We resumed the climb but the snake attacked again, this time towards the stairs, a few meters from where we were, the stairs broke and this time we all fell, Lok fell on his face, luckily for his wings, Sophie flew and landed Standing, Zhalia fell on her side and I on my back. I got up quickly.
-Zhalia, what do we do?
-Attack, once you get angry there is no way that you stop seeing us as a threat.
At the warning of Zhalia attacking the snake using "Rayfire" in his eyes to blind it and give Zhalia and Lok time to get up and react, the giant reptile stirred all over the cave hitting the walls, the others had to move away to not being crushed, Sophie flew almost to the top, Zhalia jumped from side to side using "Hiperstride" and Lok moved nimbly on all fours. At all times I kept the beam in her eyes, but it was smarter than me, so focused on keeping its sharp teeth away from me, that I forgot its tail, hit me with it back throwing me against a wall, I fell So, the last thing I saw was the team trying to reach me while shouting my name.
Dante's POV end
Zhalia's POV
We tried to get to Dante, he had remained motionless on the ground, the snake did not make it easy for us and we were afraid that he would attack him while he was in that state. Besides, Dante was our best chance to escape, without his fire we depended on Sophie's light, but it was not very effective against the snake, although at least it distracted it while attacking her from above, giving us some opportunity to reach Dante.
-Lok, do you think you could climb on top of it to distract it?
-I'll try.
Despite being scared Lok waited his chance and climbed the snake avoiding the ridge of ice, the snake stopped to chase Sophie, turned slowly and fixed its gaze on Lok, who swallowed, after a few seconds scanning him it threw itself at him. It opened the jaws with the intention of swallowing him in a bite, Lok used "Electric-jum" and climbed on its head, where he grabbed with his claws to keep from falling while the snake shook his head to throw it away. With Lok and Sophie keeping it busy I had time to get to Dante and check his condition, it seemed that he was only unconscious and had no visible injuries apart from a bump on his head. I tried to wake him up but it was impossible, and in desperation I ended up slapping his face a few times, but to no avail.
-Dante fuck. Let's go awake you're a very bad nanny and now it's my turn to take care of your children.
I heard Lok scream and I turned to look; Lok landed half a meter away from me.
-Are you okay?- I asked a little worried when I saw Lok stick his right arm to his chest.
- Yes, quiet, it's just a small cut.
I nodded, I knew that later it would be my turn to check his arm and make sure what he said was true, although Dante would also insist on checking him while scolding him.
Sophie landed next to Lok exhausted.
-We cannot distract it forever!
-You're right, now you have to attack. -I said very determined-He has us cornered
The snake had spread its huge body throughout the room and was rising above us.
-What do we do? -Asked Sophie scared.
-Invoke the titans.-Without hesitation a second Sophie and Lok summoned Sabriel and Freelancer, I summoned Kilthane.
-Lok, use an electric pen and create a shield to protect us.
-Yeah ..., I do not think it's possible.
-What?
-I could not create a shield from the first time I used it.
-Lok! Now!
The snake opened its mouth. Lok tried to relax, swept the air with his arm and used " electric-feather".- The feathers dug into the ground and threw an electric current to the snake, which was preparing to attack us with a beam of ice shot from its mouth, electricity and ice collided in the air and the ice won, although it was fired at around us, I protected Dante from the pieces of ice with "protective shield", Sophie protected herself with "Light-shield" and Lok hid behind the shield of Freelancer
-Lok, what are you doing?! - I cried desperately.
-I told you it does not work out.
-Keep trying; I will continue to distract her.
Sophie went back into the air as she attacked the snake with bursts of "Lightpulse" and "Lightbolt", her attacks focused on its eyes and on its ice ridge, the titans also did their job attacking the snake and stabbing their weapons into their Scales, although they could not get through, the snake did not like it very much, I also attacked from my position as Dante's bodyguard, Lok meanwhile, was still trying to create a shield with an electric feather. We did not hold much like that, the snake spat a gust of snow at Sophie and Freelancer, threw Sophie to the ground and ended up half-buried and Freelancer disappeared in a flurry of light, hit Kilthane with his tail flattened against a wall and returning to his amulet, we were back in the same, my attacks did not seem to affect the snake, but the cold if it affected us.
-I do not get it! - Lok said desperately.
Sophie leaned on her hands with difficulty and Sabriel ran to help her, I looked at Dante and clenched my teeth, if he did not wake up we would have no escape. The giant serpent soon attacked us with all his might, it threw himself against us with its jaws open and with almost his whole body, I closed my eyes and pressed my grip on Dante, I heard Sophie, Cherit and Lok shout dead of fear, the attack did not come so I opened my eyes, I was surprised when I saw Lok holding an electric wall almost as big as the snake, which separated us from it.
-How did you do that?! - Sophie asked just as surprised as I was.
-I do not know! -Lok answered with effort as he made the wall withstand the onslaught and attacks of our attacker.
-That does not matter, keep it as much as you can!
I ordered. I kept trying to wake up Dante, but the very stubborn one did not wake up. Sophie and Cherit joined me to try to awaken him, Lok was making a great effort to keep the wall, but sooner or later he or the wall would give in to the snake, with the last thrusts Lok backed away and the wall trembled, the wound of his arm began to bleed a little and dripped onto the snow, it must have hurt him to have his arm so tense. Sabriel had gone to Lok's side to protect us when the wall gave way. Sophie decided to try another spell different from all the ones already used for the sleeper to get up.
-If this works Dante will not sleep in three days.-Sophie warned.
-Great, I'll give him a book to entertain.
Sophie looked away from me and focused on Dante, but I think she laughed at my little joke. She placed a hand on Dante's chest.
-Eternal sun!
Sophie's hand shone in a precious golden hue, the glow shifting from her hand to Dante's chest where it disappeared. The three of us waited anxiously to see if it worked, it did not take a second, Dante opened his eyes and smiled when he saw us both and Cherit.
-Dante! - I sang happy.
-It worked!- Sophie said excitedly.
-I'm glad! - Lok screamed exhausted -You could ...!
The wall broke under another attack of the snake and Lok went flying through the air before finishing his sentence, Dante caught him before he hit the wall, he did not know how he had done it, because he still held it when Lok took off and Suddenly it was gone, I blinked a little to locate myself, then summoned Gareon to help Sabriel keep her at bay. Dante left Lok on the floor carefully.
-Are you okay?- Dante asked Lok
-Yeah, just tired.
- Rest, I'll take care of it.
With that Dante moved away from Lok, invoked Ignatius and launched into the attack.
-Sophie, stay with Lok, you're both very tired. I will help Dante
Sophie nodded and ran to Lok, verified that he was okay and stayed by his side as a spectator. Dante had woken up with a lot of strength and desire to fight, he was hitting the snake everywhere, he and the titans took care of everything, I helped with a couple of attacks, but I was also a spectator. Dante soon got on the snake's head, used "arachnid touch" to avoid falling with the reptile movements to throw it, Dante raised a fist over his head, began to shine with a bright red.
-Dragonfist!
With that he dropped his fist on the head of the beast, the serpent fell to the ground unconscious and with its tongue on the outside. Dante came down from the head and joined us, I returned Gareon to his amulet and Sophie and Dante followed my example giving deserved rest to their titans. Lok stood up with some difficulty, but once upright it seemed to be fine.
-What was that? -Asked Sophie, we looked at her strangely- The wall of Lok.
-Aaaah!, no idea- Lok stated.
-A magical shield- Dante explained.
- As far as I know, Lok does not know how to use that power-I intervened.
-It does not need to know the power, many seekers, I for example, learn it out of necessity, in a situation where a shield is required and sometimes you want your powers to create it from thought. If Lok was thinking of a shield and placed his hands in the right way, it is not unusual for him to appear, "Dante continued explaining.
- Are you saying it was a stroke of luck? - Sophie asked a little shocked
-One could say, yes.
-Amazing.- I sighed. -I do not know if it's awkwardness or ability, but it's the second time you use a power without knowing of its existence.
-Let's say it's skill, okay?- Lok said and then laughed, making us laugh a little at each other. "Well, now how do we get out?" Most of the stairs are broken, if not all.
-I brought something in case we were in this situation.
I said as I approached Dante's backpack, I opened it and pulled out a rope and a hook.
-Great! Good idea Zhalia- I congratulated Lok
-A girl always has to be prepared.
-Can I ask when you put that in without me noticing?
-That's classified information, Dante.-I said with a mocking tone.
-Very good, but, am I the only one who has realized that this rope will measure ten meters as much and we are about sixty meters from the exit? - Sophie said annoyed.
-I have a trick that can help us in that. Ropetrick!
With that the rope grew as much as I wanted it to grow, once it was long enough I gave it to Sophie, flew up and hooked it somewhere, she stayed up to make sure it did not come loose, the others started to climb by the rope using the wall to support the feet and make it easier to climb. Once we were all up we recovered the rope and we started making the way back, unfortunately we had to make the puzzle of the stupid plank since we did not know how to get out of the infinite corridor and we knew that the way that Sophie and Lok had to go It led to the exit. This time Dante convinced the board for the test to be done by him or Lok, the board agreed and Dante made it, once the door was open we left.
"Goodbye grumpy woman"
Before the last message of the board I almost took it, but Dante forced me to ignore it since we had to get home. Dante melted the snow from the other entrance and we started up the tunnel. When we arrived at the snake room, it was empty, we decided to move in case they appeared again, when we arrived at the exit we all celebrated it with much, but much joy, I would say that we loved seeing the sun again, but it was night and there was no sun. We rested a bit and then we started to climb the cliff illuminated by the fire of Dante and the light of Sophie, while we cursed the slope, and the rise, and the snow, and the cold and everything in general, well, rather I cursed them, Dante seemed not to notice the cold and the slope did not matter and the boys were only shaking with cold, Cherit was the happiest was inside the coat of Lok. When we got to the cabin we were exhausted, we rested a bit in the living room, Sophie and Lok went to their bedrooms to shower and to get something more comfortable, while Dante and I prepared dinner. After dinner the boys stayed in the living room and Dante and I went to shower. When I got out of the shower I searched through my things, when I found what I was looking for, I left my bedroom and went to Dante's, I knocked on the door.
-Pass.
I looked at the boys and then in between.
-How are you?
-Well, just a little bump.
-You should rest, a blow to the head is never good.
-Quiet. You need something?
-I came to make sure you were okay.
-I told you yes.
-Yes, sure.
With that Dante and I started to argue, in the end I won and I let myself be checked.
Zhalia's POV end
Sophie's POV
Lok and I were sitting on the floor in front of the burning fireplace, we were turning our backs so that our wings were warm, Cherit was asleep on one of the sofa cushions. I was checking the wound on Lok's arm, it was just a cut, as he had said a thousand times while protesting, but I did not want to agree with him.
-Hey Sophie, why did you get angry when Zhalia asked you why you did not use your powers when we were trapped?
I turned red at Lok's question, I stopped bandaging his arm.
-Just tell me you will not tell anyone.
-I swear.
-No ... it occurred to me.
-Really?! - Lok exploded in a laugh.
-It has no thanks
-You're wrong, if you have it.
-It is humiliating.
-I know- Lok did not stop laughing- That's why it's so funny. But quiet, I will not tell anyone.
-Thanks- I said satisfied and kept bandaging the wound. -How do you have your back?
-Uuummm, hurt, but I will survive- Lok massaged a little shoulder- As soon as the wings are defrosted stop bothering me.
I finished bandaging the wound to Lok and we stayed a while longer talking, I congratulated him on his new power. I noticed that Lok was falling asleep so I suggested going to sleep, Lok thought it was a good idea and went to his room. I was going to mine when I remembered something I wanted to tell him, and I went to his bedroom, I called, but there was no answer, I opened the door a bit and saw Lok lying on the bed, he was already asleep and had not even bothered in putting on pyjamas. I went in and approached him, took off his slippers and left them by the side of the bed, and then I took a blanket over it and covered him, crouched down to his ear and whispered.
-Thank you for saving me from dying frozen piece of idiot.
I kissed him on the cheek and left his bedroom to go to mine, put on my pajamas and went to bed.
Sophie's POV end
POV of Zhalia
When I was satisfied after checking his head and making sure it was just a hit I stopped.
-Happy?
-And a lot. By the way-I took what I had brought from my room- This is for you.
-What is it?
-A book, do not you see?
- "The mysteries of hell" (invented name, you do not exist, or I have not found it)
- It was written shortly after the world of humans and magic came together. It goes from the magical world from the perspective of a human; I thought it would entertain you.
-Y that?
-I had forgotten to tell you- I got up from Dante's bed and went to the exit- The spell that Sophie used to wake you up, did not let you sleep in three days.
-Genial- Dante sighed.
-Look at the positive side, if Lok wakes up and wants to play, he will keep you company.
-Very funny. Zhalia, one more thing - Dante stopped me just as I was about to leave - Why did your friend want the poison of the snake?
-It is believed that it has the power to remove magic from magical beings and turn them into humans, as well as healing powers, which could cure almost any disease, cancer, AIDS ..., it can even make a paralytic walk, that a blind see, or a deaf hear. If you can replicate it, you could get the cure for almost anything.
-I hope you get it.
-As well. Goodnight.
I left Dante's room and went to mine. Dante had caught me by surprise, I did not expect that question, luckily I came up with a lie.
Two days later
The others had returned to Venice, however I had gone to Prague and I was meeting with my friend in a cafeteria, before going I went to the post office and sent a package, then I went to the cafeteria.
-Sorry for the delay.
-Do not worry darling. I've ordered a single coffee, just the way you like it.
-Thank you. How is everything?
-Well, I've come a long way with the experiment, but I'm missing an ingredient. You got it?
-Of course. -I give you a vial- Will it be enough?, is the only thing I could get out.
-Yes it is. As I already told you, it has the ability to wrest magical powers from any creature by turning them into humans or destroying them in the case of a dragon, it will be very useful for the Organization.
Klaus and I were talking in the cafeteria.
Zhalia's POV end
A couple of days later (New York)
Third person
In a research laboratory, a secretary picked up a package without a return address. When she opened it, there was a vial and a note. After reading the note, the secretary ran to the office of the scientist in charge of everything, handed him the vial and the note. The man read the note with amazement.
"It is poison of the giant ice snake, I know that they are carrying out research to find a cure for various diseases, I hope it helps them. Do not waste it "
Third person end