THE CLOAKED FIGURE was always just a little in front of them. Arkayna tried to blast him with magic from her Dragon Staff, but he was moving too fast. She kept missing him.
Just when they were gaining on him, he stopped and spun around. He wielded a giant sword. That’s when he let down his hood.
“Dreadbane?” Arkayna said, staring at the giant skeleton warrior. The last time they’d seen him, he was trapped behind Necrafa’s portal. She’d banished him to a desert dimension—even after he’d stolen the Codex for her. He was blinded by his love for her, even though she was just using him to destroy the realm.
“In the flesh,” he growled through his skeletal jaws. “So to speak…”
“He escaped the prison dimension?” Zarya asked as she drew back her bow.
“Give us the rings,” Arkayna ordered. “It’s the only way to destroy Necrafa.”
“Which is why she must have them,” Dreadbane said.
“She tried to abandon you,” Zarya shot back.
“Our love is … complicated.” With that, he hurled his sword at them. It landed on the stairs just below them and exploded, destroying a huge chunk of stone. The force of the blast threw Arkayna backward, and in an instant she was plummeting off the tower.
“Long live Necrafa!” Dreadbane yelled as he ran away.
“Hang on!” Zarya shouted as she shot a magic arrow at Arkayna. She was able to grab the rope trailing it and swing onto the side of the tower. But she was still thirty feet below Zarya and Choko. They pulled her up inch by inch until she was back on the stairs.
Arkayna struggled to catch her breath. When she was certain she was safe, she turned to Zarya. Zarya had always been one of the bravest and strongest people she knew. She never hesitated in the face of danger. And she would do anything for the people she loved.
“Thanks … sis,” Arkayna said.
“Don’t mention it,” Zarya said, turning to go.
“Wait … I’m sorry I didn’t seem happy that you are my sister,” Arkayna said. “It’s just … with the prophecy and Proxima and everything else, it’s been so confusing. But I’m happy. I am.”
Zarya still seemed unsure. Her shoulders were slumped and she wouldn’t look at Arkayna.
“No, for real. I love you,” Arkayna said. She punched Zarya in the arm, then gave her a noogie. “I love you, I love you!”
“Okay!” Zarya finally said. She was smiling. “That’s more like it.”
But Arkayna wasn’t done. She wrapped her arms around Zarya, enjoying how good it felt to be close to her. “I love you, sis.”
“Right. The ‘sis’ thing is kinda annoying,” Zarya laughed. “Now let’s get that bone dome and save the realm.”
They took off on their griffins, swooping down across the city. It was clear Necrafa had already been there. Bridges were destroyed and buildings had collapsed. There were giant patches of black, scorched earth. As they got closer they could see the other Mysticons on top of a roof. They were with the Sky Pirate captain named Kitty, her trusted lieutenant (and little brother) Kasey, and the rest of her crew. It was clear Em and Piper had called them in for help.
Necrafa was hovering in the air high above them. She rode the Spectral Dragon and had a whole army of spectres behind her.
Arkayna’s stomach sank. She was more powerful than all of them combined, and they hadn’t returned with the rings. How much longer could they hold off her army? Were they already doomed?
“They’re back!” Piper yelled when she spotted them. She turned to Necrafa. “You’re in trouble now! Hit her with the rings, girls!”
Arkayna and Zarya jumped down onto the roof. “We don’t have them,” Arkayna confessed.
“If you don’t have the rings, who does?” Em asked.
Dreadbane swooped down right on cue. He was riding his vulture. He held the glowing rings up in his hand.
“I do!” he yelled. “They belong to my queen!”