Chapter #7 - Journey Into The Dragon's Den

It was late when they left. They followed the map given to them by Julian. It showed the best way to the castle in which their enemy lived. Knowing that it would take days to travel there they decide to remain hidden by the darkness of night and hide out with a guard during the day.

One afternoon, about an hour before dark Alexandria watched as several of the High Overlord Balthasar’s warriors walked passed. Sighing she gently moved and awoke the two boys. Alexandria pointed towards the entrance and carefully picked her way back over. Demascus moved over to Alexandria and watched the warriors for a few minutes then returned to the darker part of the cave. Wondering if it was a good idea to wait to move out until tonight, Mathieu replaced Alexandria and watched the warriors disappear over the hill. There was a sudden bang just above them. Looking a little further out of the cave in which they hid, Mathieu saw two of the High Overlord Balthasar’s mages. Moving with the utmost stealth Mathieu snuck up to just behind them and saw that they were placing wards just above the cave. He checked the runes they were using and quickly snuck back to the cave below.

“We must leave now.” Mathieu said as he grabbed his bag. Alexandria didn’t argue but Demascus did.

“Why? What’s going on out there that’s got you all full of fear?” he said watching Mathieu intently. Sighing Mathieu felt the mages complete their wards and them crash into place. Demascus’s eyes went wide.

“Oh…”

“Knuckle-skull demon. You got us trapped. Now we’re going to have to waste energy to fix your mistake.” Alexandria snapped as she moved around the cave trying to find a weakness in the wards. As she neared the entrance to the cave, a manic laugh filled the cave. Alexandria let out a small scream and ran back to the boys. Mathieu looked around and couldn’t see anyone.

“You children are foolish to believe you can take me on.” Was all the voice said. The cave grew dark quite suddenly and Alexandria summoned light but it too was devoured by the on coming darkness. Standing close to one another, they felt something move in the dark. Alexandria clung to Mathieu’s arm.

“Are we still in the cave?” Alexandria asked softly. She felt Mathieu move. She stayed at his side and followed him, not letting go.

“Don’t believe so Alexandria. The walls feel different. So we now must figure out how to escape here.” Mathieu answered. Alexandria felt around for the wall. Mathieu was right it didn’t feel natural or even like a man-made cave.

As they walked towards their right Alexandria tripped over something in the darkness. Falling, she reached out to grab one of the boys.

“Help.” She called out as she felt something curl around her ankle. Groping in the dark Mathieu caught her fingers and felt a spell pulling her away from them.

“Alexandria, fight the spell. Don’t let them take you.” He called out hoping she would understand. Alexandria’s scream was his answer.

“Crap their going to separate us.” Demascus said as they both felt her presence disappear. Reaching out for Mathieu, Demascus felt the startings of the same spell upon his comrade.

“Oh no you don’t.” Demascus said countering it. Mathieu’s voice stammered out of the darkness.

“No, no please leave me be.” Mathieu’s voice was close to panic. Moving carefully to the sound of Mathieu’s whimpering Demascus almost tripped over him.

“Snap out of it Mathieu. There’s nothing here.” Demascus said as he grabbed Mathieu’s shoulders and gave him a good shake. Snapping out of the daze he had fallen into Mathieu looked at Demascus using his demonic powers to sense his aura.

“They got into my head.” Mathieu said shaking Demascus with each word. Demascus broke Mathieu's grip easily and punched Mathieu solidly in the jaw.

“I said snap out of it damn you.” Demascus said as he watched Mathieu struggle against the magic being wielded against him.

“Demascus?” Mathieu's voice was uncertain as he reached out to the figure he could see. Gripping Mathieu's hand Demascus answered.

“Yeah I’m here.” Taking a solid breathe Mathieu let out a sob and released Demascus's hand. Reaching out, Demascus couldn’t figure what had started this.

“We can’t even protect her. Can’t protect an innocent child.” Mathieu muttered, striking out at the wall behind him.

“She’ll be fine that’s why Isabelle and Julian trained her and us for that matter. So that if we were separated we could protect ourselves. We should try to figure the weakness of this place before they try again.” Demascus said. Looking at Demascus, Mathieu realized that he was right and he started to look for the weaknesses in the part of the wall he had hit.