Chapter 2

THE MYZERAHL’S SONG

 

Alexia ran faster and harder than ever before. The dizzying song echoed throughout the forest. She tried to push it from her mind, but it was so bewitching she could barely think straight.

She glanced behind her, expecting to see Jack and Arthur, but no one was there. She stopped, suddenly afraid. Alexia knew she was a much faster runner than both boys, especially Arthur, but surely she should be able to see them! A branch snapped behind her.

Alexia gasped. Her mother was standing only a few paces away. She wore a beautiful yellow dress and was smiling. Tears welled in Alexia’s eyes as she ran into her mother’s arms.

“I have missed you terribly, my girl,” her mother whispered. And though the song still boomed, Alexia barely heard it.

As she melted into her mother’s embrace, something changed. It felt … wrong. A foreboding formed deep within her and Alexia opened her eyes. She screamed. It wasn’t her mother she was hugging but a Shadule with a cruel scar crossing its face. The snakelike creature hissed as she leaped back.

“You thought you could kill me so easily?” the Shadule taunted. “I killed your father! I destroyed your home. You can never escape me!”

“No!” Hot tears slid down her cheeks. “No!” She knew she should run, but her feet were so heavy. The song reverberated around her, growing toward a crescendo.

“Where is my mother?” Alexia glanced around in confusion. Wasn’t she here just a moment ago? It was a muddled thought. No, that’s not possible; she’s been dead for years now.

Alexia watched numbly as the Shadule’s sinuous body bent bonelessly back, readying itself to strike.

 

Arthur Greaves was panicked. The hypnotic song thundered around him. Every note sent his heart leaping. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t keep up with Alexia. In a panic he glanced over his shoulder to be sure Jack was there.

Jack had stopped running. He was screaming at Arthur and waving his hands furiously. Whatever he was saying was lost in the roar of the song. Arthur motioned for Jack to hurry, but when he turned, he was surprised to see Mrs. Dumphry stalking toward him.

Why would Jack be afraid of Mrs. Dumphry?

“Arthur Greaves,” Mrs. Dumphry said, “you have slowed us down for far too long. It is time for you to die.” Without another word she released a spiderweb of fire. Arthur shrieked and dropped to the forest floor as the flames rocketed past.

Before Arthur could think what to do, Jack was standing over him with a look of pure murder. Jack knelt and punched Arthur hard in the face. What’s happening?

“You’re not like us!” Jack screamed. “You don’t belong! And you’re nothing but a coward!”

“Kill the boy,” Mrs. Dumphry commanded. Jack nodded and grabbed a large rock.

Feeling desperate and hurt, Arthur leaped to his feet and ran.

 

Jack ran wildly, trying to catch up to Arthur. He knew he was faster, but no matter how fast he ran, Arthur managed to stay ahead. Jack glanced over his shoulder and was relieved to see no one was there. As he looked forward again, he skidded to a stop. Arthur had halted and was waving at Jack to hurry. Yet Arthur obviously hadn’t seen the thick wall of slithering black fog rising from the ground just a few paces away.

Jack screamed and pointed at the fog, but he could barely hear his own voice over the thundering song. His head spun as the melody soared. Jack lurched forward to go help his friend, but he staggered to a stop as the Assassin strode out of the Shadowfog. The Assassin’s cloak pulsed with dark light, and his skin sparkled like diamonds. His eyes were caverns of fire, and in his hand was a sword of white flame.

“I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU, BOY.” The song changed as the Assassin spoke, the melody shifting to accompany the words. “I GAVE YOU THE CHANCE TO JOIN ME, BUT YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON GREATNESS. NOW I WILL DESTROY YOU!”

Jack ran. His worst nightmare had come true. The Assassin had come for him.

 

Alexia closed her eyes, sure the Shadule would strike her at any second. Instead something crashed into her from behind, pinning her to the ground. She screamed. It was Arthur Greaves, lying on her and squealing like a girl.

“They’re trying to kill me! Please, you have to help me!” He scrambled up. “They’re coming!”

The world spun as Alexia stood. What is he talking about? Her head felt stuffed with wool. Who’s trying to kill him? But Alexia knew she couldn’t waste time thinking about Arthur. Something had been trying to kill her, hadn’t it? That’s right—a Shadule!

Alexia turned to see Jack screaming at a nearby tree. “Never!” he cried. “You killed my mother! I will never serve you!” Alexia began to laugh. What is he doing? He looks like a madman! Behind her Arthur wailed, “Please! No! I won’t slow you down! I promise! I’ll try to be brave. Just give me another chance!”

Alexia turned and almost fainted. Her father was standing in front of her. “I told you not to leave the house!” he shouted. She’d never seen her father angry before. “You could have saved us. It’s your fault we died!”

Tears sprang to Alexia’s eyes as she crumpled to the forest floor. At the periphery of her vision, she saw that Jack and Arthur had also dropped to their knees. All three children wept as the horrific song rose toward its final crescendo.

Alexia’s father walked toward her and shifted, transforming into the scar-faced Shadule. Alexia knew she was about to die, but she was too heartbroken to care. Kneeling with their backs to her, both Jack and Arthur cowered low.

“Never!” Jack screamed.

“I’m sorry!” Arthur wailed.

The song cut without warning. And with the silence the Shadule evaporated. All three children gasped and fell breathless to the forest floor. For a long moment, the only thing Alexia could hear was the sound of all three of them choking back tears.

“What was that?” she said.

“Was it real?” Arthur whimpered. “Did it really happen?”

“What you saw was not real.” Mrs. Dumphry strode through the trees. “But if the song had been allowed to finish, all of us would have died.” She sat down and leaned heavily against a tree.

“A Myzerahl is not hard to kill if you can find it, but its song is death as sure as a sword in the belly.” Mrs. Dumphry shook her head dizzily. “The Myzerahl takes your greatest fears, things you may not even know you feel, and uses them to destroy you.”

Mrs. Dumphry closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Alexia realized the old woman was as haunted as the rest of them. She also must have seen something! Alexia was happy at the thought, though she immediately felt guilty about it.

“How did you stop it?” Jack asked unsteadily.

“The only way to destroy a Myzerahl is to face your fears. And like all fear, once you have faced it, the battle is won.”

“Are there any more of them out there?” Arthur didn’t meet Mrs. Dumphry’s eyes.

“No, child, there was only one. And we needn’t fear another attack today. Dark servants never travel with the bird, for they, too, would be caught in its song. They send it ahead and follow far behind.”

“What do you mean, bird?” Alexia asked.

“A Myzerahl is a bird … of sorts. Rather, it used to be a bird before it chose to serve the Assassin. The creature is not much larger than a blue jay and looks similar in shape and size.” Mrs. Dumphry stood and brushed at her skirt. “Whether Elion is ready for us or not, we must leave England at once.” She turned to face the children. “If all goes well, we will be safely on the other side of the world before the end of the day.”