The Edelin Chronicles: The Search for Cindias

Chapter 21: Well We Found Him... Now Things Get Interesting

Everyone else catches up to me as they look into the cage; to see the man we are trying to save. My eyes dart around furiously as I look to find a way in. Before I see a large lever connected to the wall of the cage door; causing me to rush over and yank down the lever, making the cage door begin to open before me; I dash under the door, not giving a care in the world about my friends, as I rush over to him.

My body slides into sitting next to his body, as everyone from my group rushes over as well; sitting on the ground next to me. I unsheath my sword and slide the blade in between the chains, and Cindias; pulling up and breaking the chains. The chain links scatter across the floor; I see Cindias start to breathe normally, as the dark magic leaves his system.

However, that wasn't the least of our worries, as small wisps of purple magic start to gather across the room from us; twisting and swirling into a large purple snake, crimson swirls around its body oozing with magic; its fangs gleaming in the firelight.

I grip the hilt of my sword tightly, as it starts to slither towards us. I swipe at the snake; fire starting to grow in my hands; my anger aimed at the snake. 

Everyone else grabs their weapons, as I stand towards the snake as it towers over our little band; its mouth open, displaying fangs the size of a normal snake. 

It hisses, sounding like nails on a chalkboard mixed with the sound of something burning in a lava pit, as it lunges at our group; I swipe at the snake, cutting some of the flesh off; before it burned to a crisp. 

This cycle continues for a few minutes; me taking swipes at the magic snake; while some of the group aiding how they can; from taking swipes at the snake, to burning the magic away with fire. Until the snake was about the size of a King Cobra, slowly slithering over to us. 

I brandish my sword at the snake before I see a fire growing to scare the snake away. I lower my sword and turn around; to find Cindias standing, with help of Adriana, lowering his hand to make the fire stop.

I sigh in relief as I walk over to the fire Alpha. A smile on my face, as I shake his hand.

"I knew you could do it," he whispers.

"I didn't do it by myself," I reply; looking back at my friends, who aided me in my mission.

"Yes, I thank you all as well. I doubt that I would be alive if it weren't for you," he exclaims to all of us.

"Well, we best get out of here, before anyone catches us," Raina replies. Before I hear an evil chuckle echo throughout the room.

"Too late for that," I turn around to find Darth Sidious herself.

"Evanora," I snarl.

"What do you want?" I hear Cindias growl behind me. She laughs as we tense up; our weapons up and ready.

"I have already told you, Dawn," she turns to me; her burn clearly visible, "that dragon must stay in his cage," she cackles.

"However, the cage doesn't have to just be here," Aiden replies, walking out of the shadows. "Though some traitors are going in a cage," he glares behind me. At the Dracinians in the room.

"How? There's two of you, and seven of us!" Raina remarks. Before Aiden snaps his fingers and an armed battalion marches through the prison door.

My group raises our weapons, as the group gets surrounded. A fire grows in my hands; my hands clench my sword; my Espirmailius rubs his flank against my side as he growls at the soldiers.

"Stand down gentlemen; let's give them a chance to surrender," one voice cuts through the room as our attention turns to the man who betrayed his country.

"Ignis," I hear Cindias snarl. As the Fire King breaks through the battalion, past the witch and his son; to address us.

"I give you this last chance; surrender now, give the Fire Ruby to us, and you may live; fight, and we will be forced to kill you where you stand. Either way, you choose... I win," he smirks.

I lower my weapon and walk over to him. Getting up to his face and whispering, "over my dead body," and walking back, coating the blade of my sword with fire.

He nods to the captain of the battalion as they approach, swarming us on all sides. Though we fight strong, eventually we get outnumbered; attacked 5 to 1.

The soldiers restrain us, cuffing our hands and taking our weapons. As we are dragged before the King.

"I told you, either surrender or die," he chuckles, "but I won't let you die just yet, that would be too easy, no, I'll leave you to the mercy... of each other," he laughs as we are dragged aside. 

Ignis walks over to our group, surveying all of us until he stops; grabbing Adriana from our group and dragging her into the middle of the room.

"Of all the ways I would see this happening. Never did I suspect treason in my own family," he yells at her, as I try to reach her. Seeing her curling in on herself; trying to escape her father. "But then again, it is you we are talking about, and I have been waiting for ages to do this," he smiles, before he starts to kick his daughter. Pushing her around like a ragdoll; using only his foot. Before more torture escalates. From punching and kicking to slapping and yelling. All culminating with Adriana laying on the floor, beaten into a bloody pulp.

My heart started to race as we were dragged away from the room. Fire growing from my wrists as Adriana's bloody face flashes in my mind. Tears burning away on my skin as we are brought down to the dungeons.

Where we are at the mercy of each other.