Chapter 59

The Witch

As I fed a bit of stale bread that Max found to Yon Yon, the apparatus shook less. The energy that had been pouring in slowed until only a thin thread entered the cylinder.

“Seems to be cycling down,” Max said.

I tugged his sleeve. “Take me to it! During this lull I should not be affected as strongly. I can examine it and discover a way to shut it down.”

Max started to lift me. I let him, though my knee was probably strong enough to bear my weight. Yon Yon chattered and curled her hand around my thumb.

“Oh, Yon Yon. I may have need of my hands,” I said.

Max eased his open hand to Yon Yon. “If you let me,” he murmured, “I can carry you too.”

Yon Yon released me and reached for Max. He lifted Yon Yon and perched her atop his shoulders. The little imp chirped and clutched Max’s ears.

As Max lifted me, we heard the pounding of many footsteps flooding the stairwell leading to our own destination. Our exit was cut off.

“Princess, we are out of time.” Max headed for the only other door.

“No, Max! Take me to the apparatus!”

“They will kill us. I won’t watch you die.”

“Max,” I said caressing his cheek, “They will find us. We would only delay the inevitable. Perhaps I can shut off the necromancer’s power source. If so, my death would not be in vain, but have a noble purpose.”

The undead’s clatter grew louder. Max rushed to the identical cylinders and set me before one. I put some weight on my leg and was gratified to find it only twinged a bit. I examined the levers and workings of the complex and confusing apparatus, as I clung to an odd wheel the size of my hand. Putting my weight on the wheel, I turned it counter-clockwise and, as I did, an arrow on the cylinder’s gauge lowered. Beside the arrow along the cylinder, I observed a line of vertical dashes. The top dash, where the arrow had originally been, had a small circle filled in black beside it. The lowest dash had an uncolored circle beside it. Next to the center of the line, there was a half-colored circle.

Could it be this simple?

As the undead filled the doorway, more energy began to zigzag from the orb, ratcheting the noise louder. “Max, go to the other cylinder. When I tell you, turn the wheel hard left as far as it can go.” I experimentally twisted the wheel. It was stiff, but moved. As soon as Max reached the other cylinder, the energy rushed in faster and again, I felt weak and dizzy. “Now, Max, Now!”

He turned the wheel quicker than I. Mine resisted when I got closer to the farthest point. Max raced back with Yon Yon whose fingers entangled his hair. She was squeaking. Max placed his hands over mine, wrenching the wheel hard and, with a whine, it turned completely. The undead filled the room, but did not approach. Soon we saw what they awaited. Liotte, the necromancer, strode into the room. Yon Yon squealed in terror and leapt into my arms. Max wrapped himself around the two of us.

“So, I have lost one princess only to have another graciously delivered. You do not have your sister’s skills, but I am sure I can find a use for you.” Then he noticed our meddling and the hard shudders and pulsations of the apparatus. “What have you done!?” he roared.

The cylinders shook violently, and I feared they would topple. Cracks appeared on their surfaces.

“Stupid woman, you have but delayed my plans. I can build anew. You will stay here as your world explodes and the undead tear the flesh from your body.” Liotte turned to the corpses nearest us. “Kill them!”

In a swirl of gray, he rushed from the room. His undead servants crept ever closer. Perhaps the destruction of the apparatus affected them.

“We’re screwed. Dammit, Princess. I’d hoped to take you to my world someday.”

“I would have enjoyed that, Max.”

Poor terrified Yon Yon gripped my finger with one hand and one of Max’s with the other.

“You would have loved my city and fit in perfectly, Phrysia.” He kissed me hard. How I wished I could have been with him somewhere safe. Then, suddenly I no longer heard the clatter of bony feet on stone. The horrible sense of building energy, that had every hair on my body standing erect, vanished in an instant. Max staggered as his passionate kiss ended. Unfamiliar music blared, competing with the sounds of many people laughing and chattering. I opened my eyes. We were amongst a bustling crowd dressed in bright, odd clothing. The sky darkened, but odd lanterns lit the streets. “Where are we?” I asked.

Max grinned, hugging me close. “Whoo-hoo, baby! This is N’awlins. Welcome to Earth, Princess.”

“Earth?” I asked, astonished.

A woman stood before us weaving to and fro, a flimsy cup in her hand and smiled a toothless grin. She looked like she had imbibed in too much Rhonderdack potion and was sure to be sick.

“Nice costume,” she said, reaching out to touch my iridescent green skin. The luster had come back and I sparkled in the odd lights of this new world. I lost my smile as the woman leaned forward and threw up on the hem of my cloak. “Oh crap, sorry!” she proclaimed as she wiped her mouth on her shirt, exposing the underneath of her breast.

I looked away, embarrassed for the sick woman, and annoyed at my circumstance. To my dismay, another woman sat on top of a man’s shoulders pulling up her top at random. A wave of something hard rained down over us and I ducked, wincing as my knee hit the ground. Max laughed, but I was not amused. He pulled me to my feet and hugged me once more.

“It’s Mardi Gras,” he proclaimed. I looked at him nonplused. “It’s a party, a very large party, and this is a parade!”

He picked me up and twirled me around, though I tried to ward him away from my soiled cloak. More sharp items showered us, and I complained. He moved us away from the couple and helped me limp beside him.

“Hey! I think that’s Jim!” he called, then wrapped his arm around my waist for support. We hurried through the crowd and across the lane. Men clad in black pants, blue shirts, and tall wands made loud squeals with small devices. I saw their pointing and tried to warn Max.

“I think we are being chased!” I yelled up toward his ear to be heard.

“I think they are after Jim, but maybe us too. We will try to keep up. Got anymore spells in your cloak?”

He paused when Jim was delayed as he attempted to circle six singing men walking arm in arm.