THE FOUR MYSTICONS cut through the sky, speeding toward Necrafa’s lair. Arkayna led the way, her eyes fixed straight ahead. She was going to get her sister back. No one could stop her, not even Necrafa herself.
“Okay, once we get in, Em, Piper, you search Tazma’s lab,” Arkayna called out. “Zarya and I will hit the throne room.”
“How?” Zarya asked. “Necrafa’s lair is going to be swarming with spectres.”
“Yeah, we can’t just fly in,” Piper said.
“Who said anything about flying?” Arkayna asked. “Em, did you bring them?”
Em held up four pink orbs. She tossed them into the sky, and one by one they grew and surrounded each Mysticon, creating an airtight bubble.
The heroes floated off their griffins and splashed down into the ocean around the dark tower. They went deeper and deeper into the murky water, eventually coming up in a hidden cove just below the main entrance. After the Mysticons had left the orbs behind, Arkayna sent Choko up to distract the spectre out front. She needed the element of surprise.
Choko taunted the skeleton for a few minutes, then pounced. While the spectre was yanking Choko off its face, the Mysticons sprung up onto the ledge, aiming their weapons at it.
“Nighty night,” Zarya said, and they fired. The skeleton exploded in a cloud of red smoke.
Arkayna and Zarya took off down the tunnel, while Em and Piper went the opposite way, toward the lab. When Arkayna finally got to the throne room, she spotted Proxima, and a lump rose in the back of her throat. Her sister was tied up, her head hanging down as if she’d been knocked unconscious. Four spectres stood guard around her. Arkayna and Zarya hid behind some rocks, trying to figure out how to save her.
Arkayna pointed to the stone column that Proxima was tied to. There were two of them right next to each other. “Those obelisks probably help activate the dragon egg.…”
“Not if we have anything to do with it,” Zarya whispered, knowing this was their chance. It was only a matter of time before Tazma and Necrafa returned.
The two girls sprung out from their hiding spot. Arkayna blasted a spectre with her Dragon Staff. Zarya leapt into the air and shot at another spectre, destroying it. Arkayna kept firing at the other two until they erupted in a cloud of red smoke.
“Get Proxima,” Zarya said. “I’ll watch out for Necrafa and Tazma.”
Arkayna used her Dragon Staff to propel her up the stone column, right to Proxima. She worked at the magic restraint that tied her sister up. “It’s okay, sis,” she whispered. “It’s me, Arkayna.”
“Arkayna?” an evil voice replied. Proxima lifted her head, and in an instant her features changed to Necrafa’s skeletal face. She had horrible, beady red eyes and sharp horns. Arkayna tried to get away, but Necrafa ensnared her in a magic web. It had all been a trick—Necrafa had trapped her.
“So the Dragon Mage is the princess,” Necrafa said.
“Let go of her!” Zarya cried. She raised her bow to fire, but a dark tendril surrounded her, tying her up. Tazma and General Tibion stood in the doorway to the throne room, holding the real Proxima captive.
“You were right, my queen,” Tazma said. “They came to rescue her. Welcome to our humble lair, Princess Arkayna.”
Proxima stared up at Arkayna, her eyes wide. “You’re a Mysticon?”
“Hey, sis…” Arkayna said.
“Finally, the twin stars are here!” Necrafa announced. “Time to unleash the Spectral Dragon!”
She threw Arkayna in the air, slamming her against the stone column. She tied her up with dark magic. Then she threw Proxima onto the other stone pillar and held her there. The dragon’s egg floated between them.
Necrafa stood in front of them and raised her hands to the sky, sending a surge of green magic spiraling up the columns. “Arise, my pet! Arise and wreak havoc!” she shouted, letting out an evil laugh.
Arkayna squeezed her eyes shut, but she could feel the energy surrounding her. Every inch of her body was humming with it. Beside her, the egg trembled, about to hatch.
“I’m scared, Arkayna,” Proxima said.
“So am I!” Arkayna screamed, feeling the dark energy surge through her. She kept thinking about the prophecy. Its roars will herald a new dark age, and the realm will be purged by the dragon’s rage.
This was it. This was the beginning of the end.