Magic Spawn Origins

Magic Spawn: Chapter 14

by Meredith Skye

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

Something was about to happen. Kyran watched as the last vestiges of the moon disappeared into the clouds, which rolled in with an eerie speed.

The members of the Gondor Warrior Patrol stood in the abandoned camp by the lake, wondering where the other campers had gone to.

"Let's get back to camp," said Rian. The others agreed. Kyran fell in behind his big brother, but they didn't get far before the darkness thickened.

"What is this?" asked Edward. "Some kind of fog?"

Harlan stood looking out at the darkness which seemed to roll in as they walked. "No. I've never seen this before," he said. "Ooh, maybe it's a spell ... some kind of artificial darkness."

Fortunately, they didn't have to go far to get to their camp. By the time they got to the pavilion, where Grandma still sat at the card table manning the radios, it had grown pitch dark. The only the light came from her two old-fashioned oil lamps on the table. Everyone gathered around, expecting some kind of trouble.

"What is going on?" demanded Edward. As he said it, the light from even their oil lamps began to fade—as though a dark hand hand had reached out and covered them, snuffing out the last bit of light.

"Look out!" warned Zane.

In the sudden darkness, Kyran suddenly felt vulnerable. He thought he felt a presence near them. Was it the necromancer? Or something else?

Kyran knew that Rian had been about ten feet in front of him, but he couldn't see anyone anymore. It was like being blind! He stumbled forward a few steps but then stopped.

Then he heard Rian call his name."Kye?"

"Here," shouted Kye, feeling some relief. Immediately Rian found him and put a protective arm on his shoulder, as they stood together in the utter dark.

"This is freaking me out," they heard Ray say.

The sound of glass shattering broke the silence. "Something brushed my leg!" said Edward.

"Hey, let go!" shouted Grandma Baggins. There were sounds of a scuffle.

"Grandma!" called Zane, followed by the sound of someone stumbling through the dark.

Literally, Kye could see nothing in front of him.

"Someone help!" yelled Grandma Baggins.

Hands took hold of Kye's leg and arm, pulling him from Rian. He looked to see what was there but the darkness was too complete. "No! Rian help me!" yelled Kye, but it was too late.

Several creatures had hold of Kye and were dragging him off. They had boney fingers, but seemed to be flesh and blood. "Stop!" he shouted.

"Kye!" yelled Rian. There were sounds of a scuffle, as though they also had hold of Rian. "Get off!" he shouted.

"Help! Over here!" yelled Kyran, hoping Rian could follow his voice. He desperately tried to break free from the arms that held him. In this darkness, he couldn't even see what had ahold of him.

"I'm coming," said Rian, but it sounded like he was fighting something. Something with small bony hands pulled Kyran farther and farther away. No amount of struggling helped.

Suddenly out of the dark, Rian's sword blazed blue. Someone ... or something ... cried out in pain. Footsteps scatted. Now Kye could see Rian's face lit by the light from the sword.

"Kye?" Rian called searching for him.

"Over here!" shouted Kye. Rian sprang towards him through the dark. The invisible captors let go of Kye scattered before Rian got there.

"Are you all right?" Rian asked, looking Kyran over.

"Yes," said Kye, still shaking. Slowly the darkness receded a little. Rian and Kye made their way over to the others, who flocked to the only source of light.

"Where's the lantern?" asked Rian.

"Broken," said Harlan.

"Can you light it?" asked Rian.

"No, they poured out the oil.

"Son of a bitch," said Ray.

"What about the flashlight?"

"They got mine," said Zane. "Smashed it."

"They destroyed all the light sources," said Harlan. "I definitely need my monster manual," he said. "This sounds familiar!"

"They even smashed your headlights," said Edward.

"Oh man," said Harlan.

"Um," said Ray, pointing at Rian. "Your sword is glowing."

This distracted Harlan from his broken headlights. "Hey," said Harlan, like a kid at Christmas. "Let me see that sword."

"Why?" said Rian, strangely reticent.

"It could be important. Just set it here for a minute." He pointed to the table.

Reluctantly Rian set it down, though it was hard to let go of. Harlan, Edward and Ray all crowded around.

"It's beautiful," said Ray.

"Obviously a master work sword," said Harlan. He couldn't let go of his D & D analogies.

Harlan reached out to pick the sword up but cried out and immediately dropped it. "It shocked me!" he complained, shaking his hand.

"Ooh, let me try," said Edward. He reached out and gripped the handle, actually picking it up before he cried out and dropped it. "It's ice cold—like dry-ice or something!"

"Okay, my turn," said Ray. "Wow, this is like King Arthur and the sword in the stone!"

"Then why did it pick Rian?" muttered Edward.

Ray reached out and touched the hilt but immediately dropped it. "It cut me--I'm bleeding!" He yelled. He held his hand out for them to see, but it was fine. "Yes, but ... it was ..."

"Hmm," said Edward. "Maybe it's a cursed sword."

"Cursed swords don't kill skeletons," said Westin.

"They might," argued Ray.

"Could be an intelligent sword that takes over the mind of the user," suggested Edward.

"All right," said Harlan. "So, maybe master craft, possibly cursed, but definitely magical," said Harlan.

"How do you know?" asked Westin.

"Because it cut through that skeleton like butter," said Harlan. The others nodded in agreement.

The darkness still hung heavily in the air, but at least they could see a few feet in front of them. Meanwhile the night was still.

"Wait," said Rian suddenly. "If we'd been attacked, then ... what about Mom? If she did meet this necromancer before, then maybe he knows where she is and how to find her?" He was already grabbing his armor to put it back on.

"Where are you going?" asked Zane.

"Home," said Rian. Kyran's big brother had his jaw set in that stubborn way. Once he made up his mind, no one could deter him.

"I think we should stick together," said Edward.

He finished putting his armor on. "Well, I'm going home." Carefully, he put the magical sword and scabbard on his belt. "Kyran, let's go."

"You're not in charge," said Zane.

"Screw you!" said Rian. Without argument, Kyran hurried after him.

_________________________________

If you liked this chapter, please click "vote"!