| |
"It's coming," Royce said. He instantly changed into a large panther with glowing yellow eyes.
Grace said, "What's coming?"
"We’re surrounded."
Lazarus focused his magic and created an arcane shield around them. Something flew out of the darkness from in front and behind them. A buzzing noise that sounded like wings grew, and Lazarus saw an insectile creature which looked like a Vvong insect but wasn't. The large insect flew straight at them and smashed into the barrier. The creature was a large mosquito with two-inch mandible jaws. It snapped at them, trying to get through. The buzzing noise grew louder still.
The mosquitos swarmed around them. Grace screamed. Cindy placed her hand outwards, and a tidal wave shot from her outstretched hands and pushed the mosquitos away. Lazarus heard the sound of several bodies smashing against the cave walls.
Green goo splashed around them. Lazarus was too shocked at the sudden attack to realize Cindy's magic had shot through his magical barrier.
Shannol said, "What do we do?"
"We have to run. My magical barrier is not going to last forever," Lazarus said. "Okay, everybody, are you ready?"
He heard everybody yell a YES, except Royce, who growled a reply.
Grace said, "Wait, I can to do something better. Give me some of your magic."
Lazarus already knew what she was about to do. He recalled how Grace traveled back in Nevada. Lazarus and the other Alpha's gave her some of their power. Dirt and stone appeared beneath them, almost like chairs.
"Royce, you’ve got to change back to a human," Grace demanded.
Royce complied, then they all sat on the dirt seats.
"We’re going to move really fast," she said.
Lazarus and the others nodded to her to continue, and he held onto his dirt seat. It was strong and stable. The buzzing noise started to get louder again.
"They're coming."
"Go now. Lazarus, keep up your magical shield. I will help you."
His shield had another layer of power surrounding it. They were suddenly thrust forward, like on a roller coaster. Shannol made a grunting noise, as if she was surprised. Lazarus thought Grace was getting stronger in her Earth powers.
The mosquitos came out of the darkness and hit the shield.
The lights were still far away from them. The greenish goo smeared the front of the shield. Cindy held up her hand and water splashed the front, but after they could see what was in front of them, another set of mosquitos shot at them, again smashing against the shield.
"They are also behind us." Royce's hand changed into large claws and was pawing against the air. Lazarus held his magical shield. He just wanted to get away from these insects.
Suddenly, they shot out of the tunnel and into a very high cavern. Lazarus finally saw where the light was coming from. In the middle of the cavern was a catacomb of insects crawling around a large mound. The mosquitos noticed them and took flight, coming straight at them. The buzzing sound was deafening.
Grace said, "Where do we go?"
The pathway skirted around the area. Below them was a large hole that disappeared into murkiness. There were several tunnels exiting the pathway.
Shannol said, "I studied the map. Go to the tunnel at the end of the trail."
They had to move one by one onto the path because it was so steep.
"I will go first,” Lazarus said. “Stay close. I still have the shield covering us."
A group of mosquitos flew at them. Cindy pointed her hand at them and a spout of yellow flames flew from her hands and destroyed the first wave of creatures. The rest of the mosquitos again smashed against his shield.
Lazarus moved out toward the ledge and walked over. Then he realized that they didn't have to do this the hard way. "Hold on. I will fly us over to the cave."
Without even asking, the other Alphas gave him their power. Suddenly, they were aloft, floating across the gorge toward the cave. More mosquitos splatted against his shield. Cindy kept cleaning the surface of the barrier.
"We are almost there," he said.
Right before they were about to enter the tunnel, a large slug-like creature came out of the tunnel and blocked their way.
"Cindy, a little help," Lazarus cried.
The buzzing noise was so loud Lazarus was not sure if she heard. Yet, he felt her magic starting to coalesce. Ice daggers flowed from Cindy and struck the large slug. Greenish ooze flowed from the many wounds the giant slug sustained, but the creature stayed blocking the tunnel.
"Okay," Lazarus said, "I'm going to try something. Cindy and Grace, use your power to keep us aloft. My shield might stop. When I cast my spell, get us through the cave."
His magic gathered around him, and he started to combine several elements of nature into one big blast, but he heard something. It was not the buzzing noise of the mosquitos or the squishing noise of the insects smashing against his barrier.
It was a voice. It was Merlin.
"I feel you. You are close. Use this."
Lazarus instantly felt another power adding into his. The magic was not something he was used to, and it frightened him. The power was depthless and felt like the stars in the sky themselves were falling into his body. It was the cosmos, and he cried in pain. The magic was too strong for him to hold and cast.
The magic was building and building and he couldn't control it. Then when he could no longer hold his magical barrier, Lazarus flung his magic upwards and outwards. He was not sure if he was going destroy his friends or even cast any spell. Lazarus had to cast the power out of him. It was just too strong and powerful to keep contained.
A bright white and blue light shot out of him, blinding him. He felt like he was in a vast white snowfield and he was the only person there. In the far recesses of his mind, he heard screaming, but he did not know where it was coming from. He was trapped in a throe of strong magic. Yet, he sensed the others waiting for him. It was the Vvong Queen. She was smiling an alien grin. Lazarus couldn't see her face or features. All he saw was a silhouette of a hulking, massive creature.
She said, "You have tasted the power of the cosmos. You can have this magic as I have had it. We can be Gods. This is what Merlin wanted to keep to himself."
Then she disappeared.
He felt himself falling and falling down the deep gorge.
Cindy yelled, "Lazarus! We are powerless. We need your help."
Lazarus awoke. He felt as if he was in a deep sleep. The air was swiftly moving around him. He opened his eyes and saw his friends falling down a deep chasm and they screamed. He focused his will and they stopped falling. It was easy, almost like child's play.
Lifting his hand upwards, he ascended with his friends.
