Threat of the Shadow Mage

EVERYONE IN THE RESCUE MISSION WAS IN A PICKLE NOW. DANTE WAS being tortured beyond imagination, the villagers were lost until Cai came along, and now they were up against three Shadow Mages. Two more than they had anticipated, but it wasn’t a problem now that Cai and Aspen were there. Dante was now back on the floor, defeated, and out of air.

“Now then…” Sean began, also catching his breath, but not to the extent Dante was.

“I’m going to fetch fair maiden, and bring her back so you can watch her die.” Dante just looked at him, and as Sean exited, he buried half his face in the dirt.

Cai had an idea.

“Aspen, I need you to do something for me.”

She listened intently as he explained his simple yet effective plan.

“Do you understand?”

She nodded, and Cai went on his way. As planned, one of the Mages noticed him, and as the two of them began to fight, the other two began to come, but were shot dead before they took a third step. Cai took care of the one he fought, and the villagers came to the children. They celebrated and embraced one another for a minute. Everyone was glad that they were reunited, but they weren’t done yet.

“Darwin,” Aspen said softly. The man turned to her.

“Where’s Dante?”

The expression he brought was not filled with promise. “Uh…Aspen, he…he stayed back trying to rid us of the two Mages that were on our tail. He’s uh…he’s been captured.” Aspen couldn’t believe her ears. Her stare drew a blank, and she turned away, trying to grasp what had just been told. Darwin came behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry my dear. It was his decision though. He chose to save us.”

Still a blank, she just thanked him, and sent him away.

“Dante captured? He could be dead.”

“You don’t know that.” Another voice invaded her thought pattern. It was Cai’s. She looked to him, and his posture invited her to come into his arms. She flew into his arms, and lingered for a moment before she realized what she had to do.

“I can’t stay here. I have to find him and make sure he’s alright.”

Cai just looked at her.

“You are more like your father than you know.”

Aspen was confused. She was always told that she was so much like her mother. What was it, at the moment, that made her so much like her dad?

“He would always stop and make sure everyone was grouped together even in a life and death situation. Just like you are right now.”

He pushed part of her bangs behind her ear.

“Go. If he’s been captured, than he’s more than likely in one of the torture chambers. They’re located just south of here.”

He walked her over to the hall they exited from, and pointed her in the right direction.

“Just down there, you’ll find a series of doors. You don’t want to open the first set of four. Go past those, and to your left should be the rooms you’re looking for.”

He turned her towards him.

“Be safe.”

Tears played at the corners of her eyes, but she nodded and went on her way. Before she got too far, she turned around and ran back to Cai, catching him off guard. She held him close, and he soon did the same. Then Aspen got on her toes to kiss his cheek and went on her way.

“Take care, my niece.”

“Gunter? Aaron?”

Sean came into the room and saw Gunter lying on the floor. “Gunter!” Sean rushed to his side and turned him over to check for a pulse. Nothing. Sean pounded the floor, and yanked himself up to find Namtar. He took his cloud rag formation and flew out the door furiously.

Namtar knelt on the floor, trying to ease the pain in his abdomen, but it just seemed to make it worse. His anger built like a wild fire, and he was about ready to explode. Sean found him, and he remained kneeling, but he turned his head to acknowledge him.

“Are you finally done with that excuse of an elf, Sean? I’m ready to move out.”

“Your highness, I would be done if I could find the girl.” Namtar looked ahead and stood sharply.

“Are you telling me that Silvertongue got away?” he asked in a deep, unfriendly voice.

“I’m not sure. I went to go get her, but instead I found Gunter lying on the floor dead.” In the blink of an eye, Namtar came to be in front of Sean; causing him to jump a little.

“You find her, and bring her to me. You’ve probably tortured that elf long enough that he’ll die in the next few hours.”

“I understand sir.”

“Good. Now get moving. We head out in ten minutes.” With that, Sean took the hem of his cloak, swung it around in front of him, and flew off to find Aspen. As he did, Namtar briefly clutched at his chest again before he went to address the waiting soldiers. But before he could take another step, Sean came back.

“Did you forget something Sean?”

“No sir. I just had a thought, and figured you should hear it.” Namtar turned around and Sean smirked.

“If Aspen did escape, then there’s no doubt that she would try to find her man if she heard he was captured.”

Namtar was intrigued. “Go on.”

“If she does find him, then I have an idea that will break the heart of her dear elf friend. Come with me, and I’ll explain the rest on the way.”

Naturally, Namtar liked the idea, and followed him to the chambers.

Aspen searched desperately for Dante once she reached the end of the hall.

“Dante?”

Her voice grew more concerned, and she called him again and again before she found a door that was locked. She fiddled with the knob, but nothing happened. Dante opened his eyes and glanced at the door. He thought that it was Sean coming back with the woman of his dreams becoming vulnerable. His eyes were glued to the door as he awaited them to enter. Aspen tried and tried, but it took her a minute to realize she could just use her magic to open the door. She stepped back, and then shot the lock. Rushing to the door, she opened it, and found herself relieved.

“Aspen?” Dante asked surprised but weary.

“Dante!” she came to his side and helped him up to his knees. She wrapped her arms around him, but he winced in pain.

“Oh, you’re hurt. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I…I’m just so glad to see you alive.” She hugged him again, but gently.

“Everything’s going to be okay. I’m going to get you out of here.”

Dante was glad to see her, but then he looked to the door, and the joy faded away. She went to untie his arms, but she was interrupted by a strange voice.

“What a touching scene.”

Aspen turned with a jerk, and her hair flew through the air strikingly.

“The hero saving the damsel in distress. Or in this case the damsel saving the hero.”

It was Sean. He had already figured that if she had gotten away, she would go searching for Dante; sure enough, he was right. “Aspen, my dear, did you forget that you’re in the Mages’ headquarters? There’s no way out once you’re in. I would think you knew that before you gave yourself up.”

Aspen stayed close to Dante’s side as he began to circle them. “I’m actually glad I found you here, faire one. I brought someone you know along. I believe you two are old friends.” Aspen didn’t like the sound of that, and a cold chill of fear spiked down her spine.

“So how do we get out of here with the kids without being spotted?” Darwin asked.

“There’s a secret tunnel just down there. Follow me, keep quiet, and we’ll make it out of here.”

So they headed out as quiet as a pack of mice sneaking through the majestic halls of a palace. After dodging and ducking from being seen by the Mages, they finally reached the exit after what seemed like hours of walking in circles.

“Alright, go, go, go. You know the way.”

“Where are you going?” Darwin asked seeing that Cai was returning inside. “I have a feeling that something went wrong. I have to go back and find Aspen and Dante. You lead the others back to the village and get under ground in case something happens.”

“Like what?”

“Just do as I say. I’ll be following you shortly.”

“Okay. Take care of yourself.”

“You as well, Darwin. You as well.” And with that, they parted.

Sean turned to the door, and said, “My lord?” A couple seconds later, Namtar came into view, and Aspen couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Tex?” she asked confused.

“Not anymore, Silvertongue. He goes by Namtar now,” Sean told her.

She looked to him, and then back at Tex. Dante knew that Tex’s time was short, but he also knew that now that he was a Shadow Mage, he had the ability to slow the poison unknowingly. He tried to free his arms, but Sean saw the strain in his eyes and walked over to him. Sean yanked him up and dragged him to the other side of the room.

“No!” Aspen said trying to hold on to him, but her hand slipped.

“Aspen,” Namtar said alluringly.

She stared at the ground for a moment, and then slowly turned her head to look at him.

“Let’s put that gag back around your mouth shall we?” Sean teased as he shoved Dante against the wall. Namtar joined Aspen on the ground and he looked longingly into her gorgeous eyes.

Something came over Aspen that she couldn’t understand, and a feeling rose in her that told her that she still wanted Tex. Was it a spell? Was it just looking deep into those beautiful eyes that were mixed between hazel and light brown? She didn’t know, nor did she understand. Aspen had loved Dante for a long time now, and had forgotten what it was like to be with Tex. What he had done to her in the past. Once Sean moved out of his way, Dante saw this connection between them, and he went to go forward, but a forcing hand held him back.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Sean told him before he attached the iron fists to a chain on the wall.

“You’re going to sit and watch this. Courtesy of…who was it again? Oh, me.”

He laughed, and Dante tried to communicate with Aspen through telepathy, but Namtar had blocked that ability with the spell he was using. Dante struggled again as he watched Namtar place a gentle hand on the side of her face, and Sean just chuckled. That gesture was known all too well in every kingdom from here to the most outer places of the world, and Dante didn’t want what came next to happen. Namtar began to close in, and Aspen just sat there in a trance, not knowing what to do. Then he kissed her, and she seemed to kiss him back. Dante stopped cold, him being at the end of his chain, and watched as the love of his life was tricked into falling in love with a former friend. Sean looked down at him, and enjoyed seeing the saddened, lost soul look Dante held. He stepped forward to reach him, and then knelt.

“Just think. Your love will be under this spell forever. She’ll marry Namtar and have no memory of you whatsoever. And the best part is…she’s going to conceive his child and kill you in the end.”

As he started to laugh, Dante looked back at Aspen, and a heat of raging anger started rising in him. Sean was too busy laughing to notice that the temperature was increasing, but then when he heard the ropes on Dante’s arms snap, he found himself lying on the floor.

Namtar stopped quickly and looked to see what was going on. Sean lie on the floor, and Dante’s stare became hard to meet. Something behind him was steaming, and Namtar knew then and there to flee the premises. He took Aspen in hand, and flew out the door. Dante continued to stare, but only because he was concentrating on keeping the heat up to melt the iron fists. It was scorching his hands, yes, but with his adrenaline flowing at a rate too fast to calculate, he didn’t feel a thing. Just when he thought the metal was weak enough to break, Sean woke and kicked Dante’s arm. That broke his concentration, and his arms, but Dante turned to face off with him anyway.

Namtar found a hiding place that was well out of sight, and not known about, so he tied Aspen up, but as he did, the spell wore off since it had not been completed. He grabbed a handful of hair from the back of her head and made her look at him.

“I’m going now to kill that blonde headed mistake of yours, and then I’ll be coming back to make you my wife. You can’t do anything about it, and that Uncle of yours is as good as gone as well. I’m going to leave you with no family or loved ones whatsoever. You’ll be all alone in this wretched world, and I’ll be sure that you are miserable for the rest of your days.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it.” A voice said from behind them. Namtar turned, but he was punched.

“You alright Aspen?” asked Cai.

She didn’t answer, but the look in her eyes told him that she recognized him. As he went to untie her, he was pushed over and a brawl between him and Namtar began.

Meanwhile, Sean and Dante were having a little brawl of their own. Even though he had a broken arm, Dante was winning because his will to survive and love for Aspen was too strong for Sean to fight.

“Forget it! You’ll never see her again!” Sean said as he got pinned after Dante broke free.

“Oh I seriously doubt that,” Dante said as his eyes grew brighter as he continued to gaze into Sean’s soul. Then something happened that Sean did not expect. A gentle glow traveled from Dante’s eyes, down his arms, and through his hands in a sudden jolt. A flash of white light flashed before Sean’s eyes, and just like that…he died.

Dante relaxed, allowing his eyes to die down and his heart to calm. He sat back, and propped his arm on his knee as he caught his breath and feeling the after effects of the adrenaline.

Now that Aspen was free of the spell, reality finally grasped her like a bird bringing a fish out of water. Cai fought Namtar as best he could, but due to his age, he was sort of losing. Then Namtar had him pinned.

“Any last words, gramps?” he asked him, resisting the push Cai was giving him. Cai looked over at Aspen, and she got an idea. As Cai looked back at Namtar to give him an answer, Aspen looked to her hand and started forming a spell that would distract him long enough for Cai to win and be done with it.

“As a matter of fact…I do.”

“And they would be?” he asked, getting ready to kill him.

“You might want to watch your back.”

Namtar squinted in confusion, but as a spell hit him in the back, he understood. Cai managed to get up and pin him, but before he killed him, he noticed something different about him. This distracted him, and Namtar shoved him off, but remained on the ground. Cai got up, but stopped as he saw him still lying there. Namtar winced, and turned on his side as he clutched the bottom of his sternum. Cai got up slowly and walked over to him. Seeing the position he was in, and connecting it to what he saw just a moment ago, he understood what was going on. “Oh, ho. I see the problem now.”

Namtar looked up at him, still curled up.

“You’ve been infected with the juice of the Jada Blossom. Nasty stuff. Now who do I know that has access to this kind of stock?” Namtar held his gaze as Cai put his fingers to his chin and thought for a moment. Then he snapped his fingers.

“You haven’t encountered an elf by the name of Dante, have you?”

Namtar turning back and curling tighter gave him the answer he was looking for.

“I feel sorry for you dear boy. I really do.”

Aspen looked at him with question, but didn’t say anything.

“First your parents hide the fact that they’re Shadow Mages, as well as your sisters for so many years, and then an incident in the forest clears the air. Then you go through half of the process of becoming one yourself, but you were continuously fighting your memories and guilty conscious to protect who you love. Now look at you. Your older sister, who you thought dead, turns you into this monster who craves nothing but misery, justice according to your standards, and blood of the innocent.”

Namtar looked back up at him, and tried to get up, but the pain was too excruciating.

“If you want to not be killed and be free of this conscious that doesn’t belong to you, take my hand, and this whole nightmare will be over.”

Tears filled Namtar’s eyes, and he bowed his head to hide them. He then turned to look at Aspen.

Seeing the tears in his eyes brought a wave of sorrow over Aspen, and she wanted to comfort him, but she knew she couldn’t.

“Aspen?” He paused as he tried to get the breath for what he needed to say next.

“I…I never meant for any of this to happen.” Cai lowered his hand and looked at Aspen.

“Just – just know this. No matter what happens, no matter what life may throw my way, I will love you with all of my heart.”

Now Aspen’s eyes began to water.

“I will love you in my own way, and nothing…” he stopped for a pain shot through him again, but he regained himself and continued. “Nothing is ever going to change that.”

A tear fell from the tip of her eyelashes and was followed by another running down her cheek.

“I hope you and Dante have a good life together.”

Aspen widened her eyes and kind of jerked forward as he pushed himself up and threw himself at Cai.

“No!” Aspen cried as she watched them go out of sight.

The two of them fell off the small ledge, but Tex allowed Cai to live. They landed, the fall being very short, and Cai scrambled to his feet. Tex spoke softly, and Cai allowed him to finish his thought.

“You can’t turn me back. Akoff and Orianna made sure of that. Kill me now so I don’t have to endure this pain any longer.”

He paused a moment.

“Not the pain from the poison, but the pain of a broken heart. I can’t stand seeing Aspen like this. Dante is everything she deserves and more.”

Cai smiled, but with soft, sad eyes.

“Welcome back Tex. You’ve managed to regain your former strength of willingness.”

Tex gave his best dying smile, but then remembered Akoff.

“Y-you have to hurry. Akoff will start the attack once he sees I’m dead. He’s your enemy now.”

Cai looked down to the soldiers who were taking their ranks. “Tex. You now have a clear conscious, and will go somewhere that is kind to those who have gone through what you have.” He faced Tex again.

“Just be done with it.”

Cai sighed and cupped his hands together. A soft light built to a mid-brightness, and then he gently blew on it.

Instead of a killing spell, Cai had created a spell that would take Tex to the place he mentioned before without pain or death. The light enfolded Tex, and as dust from the light sprinkled him, he began to glow and fade away.

“Fare puteus, Tex.”

Aspen hung her head thinking that she had lost her uncle, and that she was now alone in the world. But then, hearing a shuffle of rocks, she looked up and saw that Cai was very much alive. She was overjoyed, and when he finished untying her, she flung her arms around him.

“Come child.” He pulled her away so that he could see her face. “We aren’t finished here yet.”

nodded.

“Right.”

“Now I will go and take care of Akoff and his men. You on the other hand need to go back and get Dante.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

Cai just smiled. “I’ll be fine,” he told her as he brought her head to his chest again.