The Time Capsule

Chapter 31: Chained Beast

Chapter 31: Chained Beast

AN: Feed connecting...feed connecting...feed connecting.....

Ice cold water dripped down from the stalagmites and stalactites hanging precariously from the stone ceiling. A deep, shuddering breath curled through the darkness, spreading a monstrous smell with it. Wooden carts rolled up the deep caverns of the dwarf mines, the small, nimble creatures pushing them until they reached the tracks, where they severed onward with the push of magic until they emerged into a tiny crack of sunlight, filtered through from above. Most of these creatures hadn't seen the sun since they were trapped by the great avalanche down in these mines, or were simply born in the caverns and never knew anything different. 

For this reason, they didn't look like the jolly Santa dwarves one reads about in fairytales. These were angry little men with long white beards, glowing orange eyes and purple skin, growing with warts from being down in the caves for so long. Instead of battle ready armor, they were dressed in rags that barely clung to their skinny forms as they marched up the hills to deliver more carts. A swirl of energy all colors of the rainbow careened out of nowhere and knocked gigantic boulders from the ceiling. 

The Scottish prince of Sinclair, Oliver, tumbled out of the light next and instantly stood to balance himself on his sword, his checked kilt padded more than usual, his thick leather boots skidding across the stone floor, and his green overcoat protecting his simple brown padding and white tunic. His brown hair, used to being messed up by precarious winds, simply sat stubbornly on his head, not moving an inch. Layla's eyes glowed a deep purple, almost black, the jewel glowing brightly n her hand until it turned into a magnificent golden specter, the purple jewel now a small dot on the handle, her outfit Amazon rainforest style but with a dark skirt that almost looked like steel scales, sharp thorns on her back and head protecting her on all sides. 

Narcissa was elegance in motion as she fell gracefully to the ground, the dreamcatcher had expanded to give her wings of her own. Black ink swirled into the designs of the universe on her porcelain skin, her hair forming white streaks as the strong, white and black wings appeared on her back. A sturdy iron black dress with purple trimmings formed on her body, and she was now clutching a black sword, the purple from the dreamcatcher atop the handle, just like Layla's. 

"Right, are we all here then?" Angelica asked, looking around frantically. "Whoa! Dressed for the occasion indeed." 

"Blimey!" Narcissa exclaimed as she caught sight of her reflection. "Couldn't have warned us, I suppose?" 

"Probably not, seeing as she was in a coma," Oliver said, rolling his eyes. "Done us up a bit, hasn't she?" 

"This is the best armor I have ever touched," Layla's eyes grew wide as she traced the metal of her outfit. 

"Yes, that's all very lovely," Angelica said. "Where's the others? Levi, Jillian and Nightwing? Father? Father!" 

A horrible pause...then finally a whoosh of light slammed down on the concrete floor and James came tumbling out, dressed in a black leather jacket with padding down his knees and looking rather ridiculous. Angelica smirked and fixed it up with a wave of her hand to a more suave take, the leather swirling around her waist. 

"Much better," James said. "She really doesn't think I can handle myself does she?" 

"I think she's more worried that *we* can't handle *you*," Angelica smiled, her lips turning into a thin line as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're ready for this? You only just escaped Morgan, it feels unfair to push you back into the fray again." 

"I'm sure," James swallowed a lump in his throat after a pause. "I let him get the better of me once and paid deeply in turn. It won't happen again, believe me."