Power of M

chapter 32

32. I think I'm about to fall in love with a tattoo.

"Charlie..........?"

"Yes." He answered sounding extremely chirpy. I pulled myself together. "Give me an update on how to get out from the underworld."

"Ay, ay caps'. So here's how it works. You learn the moves physically and the speech." My throat dried. "I have to do public speaking?"

"Something like that."

"How long is this speech?"

"Couple of hours." I just about stabbed myself. "I mean minutes." He autocorrected.

Ash rolled her eyes. "Great. A comedian." While Violet fanned herself. "Just what we needed."

"Charlie." I said in a dangerous voice. "Tell me how to get us out of here." Charlie spoke sounding doleful again. "Sorry, geez I thought you would laugh. You need to say 'as king of souls, I command all the souls to come to my aid. Transport me and my two companions back to the mortal world. Mortale mundi. It is my right."

I repeated it twice. "Wait hold on Charlie, I am not the king of souls."

"Are you sure?" He asked in an amused voice. "Well Alex, sorry to burst your bubble but only the king of souls can summon me. And here I am." He added unnecessarily.

"That's nice." I said. You may have noticed that I said that a lot. I say that when I feel like the entire world is in confusion and I feel faintish. That's when I use that quote. When I have nothing else to say.

The fire vanished. I stood up straight. Holding onto my tattoo I repeated everything Charlie had told me to say. Suddenly we were surrounded by mist. Correction. We were surrounded by millions of souls that looked like mist. Gross. Our feet lifted off the ground and I felt myself dissolve.

We were turning into souls.

Then everything was a blur.

When we landed on ground, we were back in our bodies (thankfully) at the borders of Twilight. I kneeled down on the ground and kissed the sweet earth. (It tasted disgusting. Not sweet at all. Not the point.)

The girls hugged each other and looked at me kissing the ground in complete disgust. I was just a simple human being who was happy to be alive.

I looked at my murder tattoo. "I could kiss you."Ash snorted. "Watch out Violet. Looks like you've got competition."

"Ugh. No way." She said while I stuck my tongue out in exaggerated disgust. Ok. We were both blushing but that doesn't mean anything. I tried to make it all a joke. "So I don't kiss the tattoo?"

Ash smirked, held out her hand and hoisted me up. "That would be great." While Violet smirked. I looked at the Twilight border gates in disgust.

"After all that, I can't believe we are standing in front of this place again." Ash nodded equally disgusted. I looked at her Violet but her expression was far away.

"Um.....ok guys.........we all know what we have to do." I started when Ash interrupted me. "Uh......Alex. No we don't."

I looked at her in surprise. "We go to the palace, defeat Ru and Mavis and then live happily ever after."

"Yeah sure Alex. I never thought of that. But a plan?" Ash said exasperatedly and Violet decided to intervene before things became ugly.

"Alex is doing the best he can Ash. Let's just keep calm and figure this out together."

I shot her a grateful look and she looked at me like, 'is this really your best or am I lying through my teeth?'

Ash calmed down. "Ok, so what's the plan?"

That was exactly my problem. I had no idea. I didn't want to admit it but I was feeling kinda sick and dizzy. I guess summoning all those souls drained my energy. The main problem was I wasn't focusing properly and I didn't know how the hell we could defeat them.

"I don't know." I said miserably. Black dots were floating in front of my eyes.

"You don't.........?!" Ash stopped herself. "Ok, so let's just figure this out." Violet looked at Ash approvingly. I turned to Violet, shaking off my feelings of just lying down and falling asleep which sounded just great compared to having war with a shape shifter and a guy whose made of souls.

"Ok Vi. – she glared at me - Spill the beans. You know the castle inside out. What's the best form of attack?"

"Defense." Ash said dreamily and then looked around apologetically. "Sorry I just read it somewhere."

Violet shook her head. "Don't be. You just gave me an idea."