Chapter 9

Shadow tells Laura the truth of why she can't meet anyone else, Josh and Tom go head to head against Callum and Xagraver dispatches an assassin to give the children a warning.

Chapter 9

 

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

 

Shadow cursed out loud, placing his hand to the bark of a tree and bowing his head.  Glacird was back on the branch above him, and the group of teenagers were long gone.  And now, he was suffering the wrath of a certain dark-haired tomboy who he already regretted un-gagging.  The girl was currently sending him death glares, which he could almost feel burning through his cloak and into his back.  It was rather terrifying.   "Look at me, damn it!"  Shadow did just that, but not before preparing the angriest glare he could muster.  He was surprised to see that Laura didn't even flinch, or apologise, or show any sign of surrendering.  Damn, that usually worked.  "I asked you a while back if I was alone... and you said I was."

 

"How the hell was I meant to know you knew them?!" Shadow snapped back, forcing himself away from the tree and approaching her angrily, "And why should I care?  They have their own task to fulfil here, and you have yours." The pair fell into silence as Laura turned away from him, so he could now only see the back of her long hair.  He simply shrugged, before beginning to walk away, "And even if I had told you that you maybe had friends that were here... it'd have made no difference.  For you would not, and still cannot, meet them."

 

There was suddenly a surprisingly tight grip on his arm, and Shadow immediately forced his arm free, before grabbing her shoulder and slamming her forcefully against a nearby tree, eyes flashing dangerously, "Do not forget your place, Laura." He hissed, causing the girl's eyes to widen in fear.  Shadow continued holding her like that, before eventually releasing her.  The girl slumped to the forest floor, giving a sigh of relief and looking at the older boy warily.  "...We are not allies.  I may have been... well, friendly to you lately... but do not forget that I am in control, here.  And you will do as I say."  His lips thinned, before turning away in disgust, "Now hurry up, we need to get to Industrictus before they do, and they have a head start."

 

Laura climbed back to her feet, rubbing her shoulder and wincing.  She quickly wiped a stray tear away from her cheek, looking around as if deciding whether it was worth trying to escape.  There was a soft sound behind her, and something wet nudged her hand.  She looked down at the wolf by her side, and she immediately forgot her troubles as she crouched down to hug her new friend. 

 

*             *             *

 

"Callum, wait!" Lolly shouted after the long-haired boy as she jogged to catch up with him.  Callum eventually stopped, turning to half face them, a look of questioning on his face.  Lolly came to a stop, panting slightly, before continuing, "...What are you doing here?  I've not seen you in ages... Years, in fact."  Josh, Tom, Molly and Anna shortly came to join them, all waiting for an answer as well.  Except Anna, perhaps, who seemed more interested in sticking her finger in the duck's mouth and giggling as it tried biting her.  The girl was true to her word... obsessed with ducks.  Callum looked at her uncertainly, seeming reluctant to answer her question for some reason, causing Lolly to roll her eyes in agitation.

 

“...I arrived here before you.” Callum eventually replied.

 

Next to speak was Josh, who sounded more confused than Lolly, “Wait... what?  You weren’t even in the story to begin with... how did you get here before us?”

 

Callum frowned at him, before shaking his head, “You think I know?  If you work it out, feel free to tell me.  Meanwhile, a thank you or something for saving your lives would be appreciated.  If it’s not too much trouble.”

 

“We could’ve survived without you.” Tom retorted, almost snapping.  This remark caused Callum to raise his eyebrows in amusement, folding his arms. “What?  You think your little snake there had more chance of beating that... thing, than...”

 

“Than what?” Callum questioned challengingly, before gesturing to the group of animals at their feet, “Than an otter?  A duck?  Oh, and a monkey, hawk and a bloody mouse.  The hawk and monkey are the only two that sound in the least bit threatening.”

 

“Yet they’re the two you saved.” Tom sneered, causing Callum to laugh.

 

“Alright, then... you think you could’ve won?” Callum asked, freeing his arms and shrugging, “Then come on, then.  Pick one ally of your choice, and we’ll see who has the strongest Praestia here.  And if you are wondering, my power is illusions... so you have fun fighting against me.  I’ll try to make it slightly interesting.”

 

Tom gave a short laugh, before smirking, seeming eager for this challenge, “Illusions?  Right, whatever.  I’m water... and seeing as he wrote the freaking story, I’m choosing Josh as my ally.”  He gestured to the boy who seemed to be daydreaming, only now to snap out of it with confusion.

 

“Er... I wouldn’t recommend that.” Josh warned, but Tom simply shrugged, “No, seriously... okay, whatever... let’s do it.  Where the hell’s my hawk?”  He frowned, looking around, before eventually his Praestia descended from a nearby tree where it had been hiding.  Josh had noticed from the start that the hawk wasn’t the strongest of flowers, or... anything.  He seemed determined though, but that didn’t usually win battles.  “And just to clarify here, this is a fully... friendly battle, right?  I mean, in case you’ve forgotten, Tom... if you go too far, you could end up killing Callum here.  Or vice versa...  and that’s not in the story plan.”

 

Callum nodded to Josh, dark eyes moving back to Tom with irritation, “Of course... friendly.  Play fair.  Now, you ready?  Good.” Without waiting for reply, Callum grabbed hold of a pendant around his neck, which was in the shape of an odd triangle.  But before anyone could even examine it properly, Josh and Tom’s opponent clenched his fist around it and began directing his power to the serpent on the ground in front of him.  The snake itself was in no way whatsoever small like Tom had commented, considering it was around four feet long.  The snake appeared to be a black python, and looked rather... dangerous.  “Meet Serpictus, the technical name for this snake... you really have a strange language, by the way. It just sounds like latin words mixed together.”

 

“...That’s kinda what it is.” Josh admitted rather sheepishly.

 

“You’re really no Tolkien.”

 

“Can we shut up and fight?!” Tom snapped, and Josh and Callum quickly nodded, returning to the situation at hand.  Serpictus lifted its head high up, beginning to uncoil itself to appear tall.  Its jaw opened, revealing two dangerously pointy fangs and a sharp, red two-forked tongue.  “...So, you have a big snake.  Big deal.  My otter can just drown it.”  Callum merely smiled fakely, gesturing for Tom to move first.  “Okay... Josh, what is my otter even called?”  Josh hesitated, thinking, before murmuring something to him, “Right.  Erm... Qualontra.  God damn, really? Why can’t we just call it a... water otter.  I’ll think up my own nickname later, geez... anyway!  Qualontra, use-“

 

“This isn’t Pokémon.” Callum said in a monotonous voice, tapping his foot with impatience. Tom rolled his eyes, before instead focussing intently once more.  The otter jumped up into the air, before jets of water began to spiral around the Praestia’s body, before suddenly shooting themselves along with Qualontra himself, towards the still unmoving snake.  There was a squawk from Tom’s right, and a sparking hawk dove down with the otter, the charge growing stronger as it came closer to the opponent.  Callum, meanwhile, appeared to do nothing, simply folding his arms a second time.  Josh shifted uncomfortably, watching.  The hawk suddenly turned in its attack and flew back into the sky.  The otter, however, continued its attack, only to go straight through the ‘snake’ and crashing into the ground.

 

“What?!” Tom exclaimed in shock as Qualontra readied itself, shaking the dirt off his fur, “...Illusion.  Right.  Okay...”  Serpictus suddenly appeared right in front of the weakened Qualontra, and with one sweep of his large tail, sent it flying backwards, hitting the ground a second time.  “Anyway, Josh, you gonna help here?”

 

“I can’t...” Josh replied quietly, before laughing nervously, “I know what was gonna happen... you see, in the actual story, this was meant to be Lenfei... and he was gonna win.  I’m assuming, seeing as Callum is apparently replacing Lenfei, that he will too... and illusion is a powerful element... he can just make his snake appear wherever he wants when it might physically be nowhere near...  Illusion was only meant to go to a few Praedux in Otellus... it wasn’t going to be a main element until the ending. But now I’m actually facing someone that has it, I seriously have no idea how to beat it.”

 

Tom turned to stare at Josh incredulously, “...Well, that’s very helpful, Josh.  Thank you.  My opinion on you as a writer is decreasing by the second, cause you’ve made this whole story way too confusing for me.  God damn it, I’ve forgotten the name already, but... I dunno, shoot jets of water in every direction!”

 

“...I suppose that’s one way of doing it.” Josh shrugged, before shouting to the hawk, “Vitawk, follow that suggestion!” He suddenly broke off, frowning, before looking to the three watchers, “You might want to get out the way...”  This was met by nods, and one screaming Anna who literally dove behind a near tree with a rather painful sounding thump.  The otter and hawk immediately began sending rather unorganised bolts of lightning and water around in a complete circle.  Callum, Josh and Tom were all forced to follow Anna’s example and dive behind nearby cover to avoid the attacks.  But eventually, there was a loud hissing sound. Josh immediately looked up to see the snake appear, writhing in pain, “Quick! Attack, attack, attack!”

                           

“What he said!” Tom ordered in response, narrowly avoiding a late-coming bolt of electricity sent his way.  The otter and hawk, in quite a good example of teamwork, both charged at the distracted snake...  Vitawk built up electricity, while Qualontra began firing bursts of water from his mouth.  Both Praestia collided with the snake, who was too distracted to listen to Callum’s desperate commands.  But eventually, Serpictus managed to regain control, and dove into the fray.  The next few seconds were literally madness, quite like you’d see in a cartoon.  Except there was no massive cloud of dust.  The three young Praedux couldn’t fully see what was happening though, because the three animals were in a tangle of black and brown, while a certain bird dove in and out every so often.

 

“This would be much more effective if it was in slow motion.” Lolly commented from nearby a near bush, which she was sharing with Molly, both watching the action intently.

 

“It’d be the best movie ever!” Anna cried, taking out a camera from... god knows where, and deciding to take a photo of the battle, “Yay!  Go Callum!”

 

Eventually, there was a screech and grunt of pain as Vitawk and Qualontra were sent flying backwards by Serpictus.  “Finish them off!” Callum commanded, and the large snake slithered across the ground, before opening its mouth wide before pausing just above Vitawk’s throat.  “...I think it’s safe enough to say that I won.”  Serpictus backed away from the opponents, slithering back to his master and wrapping itself rather affectionately around Callum’s legs, resting.  “I am impressed; however... perhaps there is hope for you after all.”

 

He turned, and tried walking away, before tripping over the large snake at his feet and hitting the ground face first.

 

*             *             *

 

“I don’t understand, Shadow!” Laura shouted, advancing on the cloaked boy, unafraid, “You can hit me, slam me against a tree or freaking break my nose again... kill me, for all I care.  Just tell me what the hell you want with me!  Why did you separate me from my friends?”

 

“Fine!” Shadow snapped back in nothing more than a hiss, before sitting down, lighting the bundle of woods set between them with a wave of his hand.  Immediately, a large and warm fire erupted from nothing but Shadow’s power, illuminating the boy’s pale face briefly.  Laura watched him warily, before sitting down opposite him, casting her eyes downwards at the flickering flames, appreciating the warmth.  “You want to know why you are separated?  Do you think I did this to... I dunno, torture you? To hurt you?  There is a prophecy, Laura.  There are eight children... one of them is destined to trigger the prophecy should they meet the others.”

 

Laura remained silent for a few moments, dark eyes looking back up to meet Shadow’s silver, “...And is that child me?  ...And just so you know, referring to us as children is quite offensive... you’re only two years older than me.”

 

“Whatever.” Shadow dismissed the trivial matter with a flick of his hand, “The prophecy referred to eight children... so a child you are. Deal with it. Anyway, yes... I believe so.  If you meet any of the other seven children, besides one... then the prophecy begins.  And that means... that someone will die.”  Of course, that wasn’t the entire truth.  If Laura was to meet one of the others, then yes, someone would die... but at the same time, it would give them a chance to win and destroy Mortalitas and Xagraver... or to all be killed themselves.  But some things were best left unsaid.

 

“So...” Laura paled, “If... If I ever even talk to... Josh, for example... then he might die?”

 

“He, or any of the others.”

 

Laura’s eyes widened, and she fell into a stunned silence.

 

*             *             *

 

“Lord Xagraver...” 

 

The Lord of Voxilitis looked up from his reports to see a bright-green haired man enter his temporary office and kneel before him.  Xagraver smiled coldly, climbing to his feet and approaching the man.  “...Marcel.  You are here at last.”  Xagraver and a group of his best soldiers had long been able to easily get past the pathetic attempt at protecting the borders of Voxilitis.  To this day, Estellia was still stupidly unaware that her ‘perfect’ defences were far from effective.  He was currently based in a large, seemingly abandoned factory on the outskirts of Viridicor, which was Mortalitas’ headquarters in Western Otellus.  Although no-one, not even Shadow, was aware he was here.  He may have sent Shadow to keep watch on the eight children supposedly powerful enough to defeat him, but he didn’t trust the cloaked boy one bit.

 

And so he had summoned one of his highest-ranking followers to meet him, Marcel.  There were four leaders of Mortalitas beneath him, and they handled the more ‘dirty’ work such as assassinations and other such crimes.  Marcel, Rita, Carlson and Annie.  They were all such... common, strange names.  Yet they were all highly skilled in what they did, and they each had different abilities.  Marcel was his primary assassin, Rita was manipulative and... well, persuasive... Carlson was brute force, and Annie... well, Annie had special abilities.  Somewhat inhumane abilities, but they were effective nonetheless.

 

“Of course, I came as soon as possible.” The green-haired, posh-sounding man purred, smirking rather evilly, “It is good to have you back, Lord Xagraver...  Dare I ask the reason for this honourable visit?”

 

Xagraver immediately began to pace back and forth, hands clasped behind his back, “It is as we all feared, Marcel... the eight children of the prophecy have arrived in Otellus.”

 

“Aha...” Marcel nodded in understanding, bowing once more, “Then I suppose you wish for me to... dispose of them before the prophecy begins?”

 

“Oh, we don’t need to go to such drastic measures... yet.” Xagraver smiled rather mysteriously, pausing in his pacing to face Marcel, “After all... what fun is a prophecy without a fight? What use is there to taking over a world without... challenge?  No... I need you to deliver a warning.  Let them know that their enemy knows they are here... And show them that to even try and defeat us would be foolish.  We will always be one step ahead of them.  Shadow is currently keeping watch on them... they are headed for Industrictus, and are approaching Aurin Village on the border of Pacaris and Industrictus...  Ambush them there, and teach them a lesson.”

 

Marcel considered the task, “...Ambushing is not quite my style, I prefer to attack from a distance without my prey even knowing I am there... but nonetheless, I will do as you command.  As you wish, Lord Xagraver.  I will take a group of four highly trained Praedux with me.”

 

“Good.  Get it done.”

 

Xagraver turned away from the assassin, who bowed slightly, before turning and leaving the room.  A smile reached Xagraver’s face.