Chapter Eight

The fight with a snake demon within the Mystic Caves�

“Alright, if we make it through here, we’ll be good, right?” Asked Star, as they walk towards the entrance of the Mystic Caves.
“If you want to think that, sure. But let me tell you this first.” Jade explained looking over at Star. “If we have to struggle to get out of here, just imagine how hard Drake’s Tower is going to be.”
Star looked over to her with a confused expression. “What do you mean?”
Jade gritted her teeth, already prepared to give her snappy remark, but Tygra cut her off. “She means that Drake’s Tower is going to be tightly guarded now. Especially since he knows we’re coming.”
“Oh, ok. I get it.” Star said with a giggle.
Jade shook her head slightly. “Well, if you’re ready, we should go now.” She stated, walking towards the entrance.
“Wait, I have a question.” Tygra stated, stopping Jade in her tracks.
Tygra could see her shoulders slump as she turned back to them. She actually had to bite her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing.
“Yes?” Jade asked her, trying to remain as calm as possible.
“Well,” Tygra began, not knowing how to start until she decided to push on ahead with it, “in the legend, there’s supposed to be a huge snake demon that was created. He’s supposed to be in this cave protecting some kind of treasure. Is that true?”
“Well, it’s partly true.” Jade began relaxing a little bit. “Drake found him and had him protect the entrance to the tower, not some treasure. His name is Serpenia,”
“Ok, I just wanted to know,” Tygra said as she looked around cautiously.
The three girls then looked at the entrance of the cave. It had huge stone snake statues with gems all around.
“No one whoever comes this far would dare to steal those gems, for a curse would then fall upon them.” Jade said, stopping to look at the statues. “Anyone who would dare take one of those gems would be killed by a snake in the next three days. They wouldn’t even get the chance to enjoy their wealth, nor would anyone else around them. The gems always seem to find their way back here after everyone who came in contact with it was dead.”
“Why did you decide to bring that up, Jade?” Tygra asked curiously as she looked over at her.
“No reason. I just thought a little tale about this place would lighten your spirits.” She looked over at Star who was shivering. “Poor Star is so scared. I had to try something at least.”
“I’m not scared!” Star cried. “But, um, Jade? How big is this snake thingy anyway?”
“15-20 feet.”
“Oh…” Star said, a little discouraged, and more frightened then ever.
“Ok, let’s go you guys. This is going to be easy.” Jade stated, trying to raise their spirits.
They walked into the cave and found it was cold and damp, not to mention huge.
“Man! That snake thing must be big!” Star exclaimed with a gulp as she looked around the cave’s high ceilings and wide walls.
“Yes. I just told you that, remember?” Jade said sarcastically. “But he’s not just huge. No. He has deadly poison that is coated on his spiked tail. It will dissolve your skin in a matter of minutes.”
“Have you seen this thing before?” Asked Tygra watching her surroundings carefully.
“Yes, but only once. He wasn’t very big then. I bet that he s 20 times bigger now, since I last saw him. “
“Oh my…” Star said with another gulp, “I guess that we should stick together, then.”
“When are we going to run into it?” asked Tygra, cautiously walking as she looked out for traps.
“I don’t know. It’s up to him.” Jade paused for a moment, and then continued. “You see, he can change his scales to match the colors of the cave walls. He could be behind us for all we know.”
“Well, that’s always nice to know.” Said Star, a hint of fear in her voice.
They felt like they had walked for days. As if, the darkness would never end and the path would continue in its straight line forever. But, they’ve finally reached a dome-like structure only a few minutes after they had stopped talking. The dome was the only place within the Mystic Caves that had light.
“What is this place? Where are we? “Asked Tygra, looking around the room in astonishment.
“It s the halfway mark.” Jade replied turning back to face them.
“HALFWAY MARK! You have to be kidding be!” Exclaimed Star placing a hand to her head.
“I don’t kid around, like you!” Jade yelled angrily. “I have more important things to do with my time.”
“Whatever.” Star stated, not wanting to get into another argument. “Why didn’t we fight this Serpenia, yet?”
“I don t know.” Jade answered her tone now calm and collective as she looked around the dome. “It’s strange that he didn’t do so already. Hmm. This is probably one of Drake’s plots; to make us think we’re safe and we’re really not.”
“Do you think we should rest a little? You know, get some sleep before we continue?” Tygra asked.
“Might as well. But, keep your guard up.” Jade said as she studied the walls of the dome.
Star and Tygra set the rest of their things on the floor, when they felt the floor shake. It started as little vibrations, soon changing to violent ones, forming cracks which ran down the walls to the stone floor. The girls could hear a loud hiss coming from the continuing path.
"What was that?” Star exclaimed, a wide-eye expression upon her face.
“Watch out! He’s coming!” Jade exclaimed rushing over to her.
Just then, Serpenia came out from the entrance to the second half of the caves. He was huge. About 15 feet tall in height and 30 feet long in length. He had scales all over his body and glowing red eyes. The end of his tail was spiked with a green film oozing from their tips.
“Serpenia!” Jade yelled, her eyes turning their bright red as she readied herself for an attack.
Serpenia swung his tail towards Jade and Star hissing wildly. Star quickly shifted into a hawk and flew away, while Jade dodged it with such speed that it seemed she had disappeared into thin air. Tygra stayed where she was, not moving. It was like she was in some sort of a trance as she stared up at the creature with fearful eyes.
“Tygra! Move!” Exclaimed Jade watching her from across the dimly lit cave.
Serpenia then swung his tail down, hitting the now distracted Jade in her ribs. She flew against the cave wall, cracking her head off the rocks, knocking her out cold.
Tygra finally snapped out of it after seeing her friend being violently hit into the stone wall and out of pure rage, she began shooting fireballs at the creature. “Star! Check on Jade!” She exclaimed still throwing the fireballs; they seemed to have no effect.
Star transformed into her human form, landing on her left foot and right knee. She quickly stood and rushed over to Jade. But before she could reach her, Serpenia wrapped the inner part of his tail around her frail waist, and slowly squeezed.
“No! Argh! Help! Tygra, help!” Star yelled between shallow breaths.
Tygra was still throwing her fireballs, not knowing how else to help. “Why isn’t this working?”
“Fire won’t work!” A voice yelled from aside of her.
Tygra looked out of the corner of her eye to see Jade coming towards her. She had finally awakened and was now holding on to her bleeding ribs with her right arm.
“Jade, you’re alright!” Tygra exclaimed.
“Ahh!” Star screamed as Serpenia began to loosen his grip, and then tighten it again. He was toying with her.
“Listen, fire doesn’t work against him! You have to use a freeze spell!” Explained Jade now standing aside of her.
Tygra stopped throwing her fireballs as her hands began to glow faint blue in color. The room began freezing, ice was forming on the walls and floor around the snake demon. Serpenia soon dropped Star and with surprising speed, Jade caught her before she could hit the ground. She helped Star stand on wobbly legs as she backed them both away from Serpenia.
There was a bright light which lit up entire cave as the temperature turned unbearably cold. Serpenia fell to the ground, beginning to freeze solid as the ice from the walls and floor moved over his body. Another light shined, and in mere seconds, as the light began to fade, Serpenia’s frozen corpse could be seen lying motionless on the ground before them.
Tygra faced her friends, allowing a triumphal smile creep across her face, before falling face first to the ground.