Mythics: the search for Avia

Chapter 11: Escape

"Come on this way!" Said a voice in the dark as James felt his handcuffs unlock.
It was only a few hours ago since the boys had found out about the girls powers and everyone had watched in horror as Skylars wings had been sliced clean off. After that, the girls had been assumably moved to cells down the hall.
"What's going on now?" He asked.
"I'm getting you out." Replied the voice and now he recognized it.
"And why would I trust you, Scarlett?"
"Because I have the key." Scarlett replied simply. "And also because it was my plan all along."
"Why are you helping us? You sliced off your own sisters wings!!" Said Zack from where he was standing against the wall warily eyeing Scarlett.
"That wasn't my decision." She said irritably, "and will you please cooperate? I'm sticking my neck out for you guys trying to help you." She freed the rest of them and ran across the dark room to Jack who was still shackled next to where the girls were. She freed him too.
"Thanks." He said.
"At least someone appreciates it." Scarlett muttered and led them quietly down another dark hall.
"Can you explain a bit more what's going on?" Asked Jack.
"Yeah, and why you betrayed the girls and kidnapped us?" Added James.
"Well to start, I was always on your side." Scarlett began. "It was my mothers idea to kidnap you and to lure the girls here and take Skylar's wings if she didn't join us."
"Why do you listen to her?" Alex cut in.
"Because she is more powerful than you think and stop interrupting." Replied Scarlett. "Anyway, I was instructed to bring them here and I didn't want any of you to get pulled into this or for anything to happen to my sister so I thought up a plan."
"And?" Prompted James.
"And I am taking you to Grandmother Tina to get some upgrades and help me come back to free the girls." Finished Scarlett.
"Upgrades..." Said Lucas in thought. "For some reason I have a bad feeling about this."
"You can say that again." Said James.
"Think what you want but I'm here to help." Said Scarlett with a resigned sigh. "When the time is right you will know who to trust."
They kept walking in the dark for a bit then a small pinprick of light appeared ahead. It was a hidden exit.
"Alright... We have to be really careful now. No sudden movements or Avia's magic will set of some pretty nasty traps. Okay?" Scarlett whispered.
They boys nodded and they went forward as a group, Scarlett in front and Jack bringing up the rear. The sun was blinding. Eyes used to the darkness of the prison, the boys squinted and blinked like moles in the light. Once they adjusted, they saw a forest ahead of them.
"Are we going in there?" Asked Lucas. "It's a bit creepy."
"Yeah, you better not be leading us to a trap." Warned James.
"And if I was, what would you do about it?" Scarlett said with a smirk.
"Um, I'd uh, um..." James stuttered.
"Exactly." Scarlett replied. "Nothing. So can we quit with the mistrust and move along already? Some one might see us."
With no other options, the boys trudged ahead into the dark forest.

"Hey Scarlett." Said James, breaking the silence that had sat over the group since they entered the forest about 20 minutes ago.
"Hm?" Scarlett grunted a reply.
"What is your power?" James asked.
"What do you mean by that."
"Well, the other girls all have different powers and stuff so it seems like you'd have them too. I was also wondering why you don't have wings since Skylar does and you're sisters." James said.
Deciding this would be a good way to get the guys to trust her, Scarlett decided to answer truthfully. "Well, I am a witch. But I prefer the term magically gifted. My grandmother, who we are going to see and who gave the girls their powers, is a witch too. A rather powerful one I might add. So is my mother, though she didn't always have magical abilities." Scarlett explained.
"And the wings?" Asked James.
"I have them. But I just prefer no to wear them." Scarlett stated simply. "I can choose whether or not I want them."
"Oh."
They continued on in a couple more minutes of silence.
"Didn't you say your home was somewhere in the mountains?" Scarlett asked Jack.
Jack looked up, startled out of his thoughts, "Yeah."
"Then why don't you go home?"
"Well, two reasons. One, since my parents aren't alive, I would be living a very lonely life alone. And two, I want to help you guys out as much as I can cause truthfully you guys are kinda interesting to hang out with and I may be able to help you." Answered Jack.
"What exactly CAN you do?" Asked Alex suspiciously.
"This." Replied Jack and he extended his fangs.
Everyone except Scarlett jumped back.
"What are you?" Lucas bravely questioned Jack.
"Vampire." Scarlett answered for him, putting am arm on his shoulder and everyone took another few steps back.
"Why are you touching him? He's going to eat you!" Exclaimed Zach.
"I don't eat people, those are ghouls. They mainly live in Tokyo. I drink blood of living things, mainly humans. There is a difference." Said Jack irritably, retracting his fangs again.
"And I wouldn't eat you. Only people I don't like I will drink from."
"Oh... Good to know." Zach said quietly.
"Now can we start walking again?" Jack began walking briskly ahead of the group next to Scarlett and everyone followed a few paces back.
It was another 10 minutes or so until they reached a small section in the woods that was brighter and had much friendlier looking plants.
"In here." Said Scarlett and she pulled back some lichen on a rock, revealing a small wooden door with a circular window. She knocked on the door and it opened with a creak.
"Spoooky." Said Jack mysteriovusly, trying to lighten the mood but nobody paid any attention. Scarlett put a comforting hand on his shoulder and he smiled at her.
They all entered the cottage without a word and Scarlett began lighting torches around the room with matches.
"Hello? Is someone there?" A dark figure filled the empty hallway leading to the rest of the cottage.
"Grandma!" Exclaimed Scarlett and she ran to the figure, embracing it in a big hug.
"Well hello, Scarlett. What a nice surprise." The figure stepped into the light to reveal an elderly woman with a dark green witches dress on. Her graying hair was tied up into a bun and a pointy witch hat, matching her dress, sat upon her head.
"What can I do for you?" Grandmother Tina asked.
"Grandma, Mom has Skylar." Scarlett said and Tina looked unsurprised.
"I know dear." Grandmother Tina replied calmly.
"But what are we gonna do?!"
"First, calm down. It's nothing to fret over. Doesn't that song from the human world say, 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?'"
"So, she's gonna be alright?" Scarlett said quietly.
"Yes, dear. She will. But the girls do need all of your help to get away." Grandmother Tina said. "Come with me."
Tina turned and disappeared down the dark hall she had emerged from and the boys and Scarlett followed.
"Woah!" James exclaimed.
The room was filled with all sorts of magical elements and beakers and bubbling cauldrons. It looked like a giant science lab.
"You said it! This place is pretty cool!" Lucas said.
"So you need my help to defeat Avia?" Grandmother Tina said.
"Yes." Replied Scarlett.
"You are wrong."
"What?" Asked Scarlett, incredulous.
"You are wrong." Tina repeated. "You don't need my help. I know you already have a plan in mind you just need the materials for it, am I right?"
As usual she was, "You're right grandmother." Admitted Scarlett with a resigned sigh.
"Alright," Tina said and turned to the boys, "Let's get down to business!"
"-to defeat, the Huns!" Interrupted Lucas and the other guys laughed under their breath a bit.
"No more funny business." Grandmother Tina said, "Zack step forward."
"Um, ok." Said Zack uneasily and he took three steps forward as the rest of the boys took two steps back.
"Scarlett dear, my wand."
"Of course grandmother!" Scarlett said, jumping to attention. She handed Tina her wand.

Quicker than you could blink, Grandmother Tina flicked her wand at Zack and suddenly he fell flat on his face.
"Guys? What's going on? Why am I wet? I can't feel my legs." Panicked Zack while Scarlett stifled her amusement.
"Dude, you have a tail." Said James bluntly.
"What?!" Exclaimed Zack and he tried to turn around and see for himself. After a couple minutes of struggling, the boys helped Zack flip himself over. Now able to see, Zack studied the tail. It looked like someone had replaced his legs with the black and white tail of an Orca.
"Wow, your heavy." Panted Alex.
"How do I change back?! I don't want to be like this forever!" complained Zack.
"Jeez, calm down. All you have to do is dry off."  Scarlett said. She grabbed a towel laying on a nearby counter and threw it at him. He caught it and began furiously rubbing himself down trying to dry off.
"Now it's your turn." Said grandmother Tina and she pointed her wand at Alex. Suddenly, Alex wasn't standing there anymore. There was a red furred wolf in his place. The wolf howled and suddenly Alex was standing there again... except he was a little different.
"Why do I have wolf ears? And a tail?!" Said Alex spinning around in circles to try and see the red wolf tail sticking out of his shorts. His canines had grown a bit sharper too.

"I think I get it." James cut in, speaking to Scarlett on the side. "You are giving us the same powers as the girls to help save them. Right?"
"That is the idea, yes." Replied Scarlett with a grin.
"Alright then I'm ready for this!" He exclaimed putting his hands on his hips heroically. "Magic me up!"
"Alrighty then." Scarlett said conjuring up her black wand. "Cornibus ad volatum!" She yelled, as large tan and white wings with black spots emerged from James's back, ripping large slits in his shirt so they could go through.
Tipping one forward, James admired the wing. "It's beautiful! Thank you so much!" He thanked Scarlett.
"I-its no big deal... really." Blushed Scarlett.
"Yahoo!!!!" Exclaimed James jumping and punching the air.

All the while Jack had been standing quietly watching in the corner.
"Feeling left out?" A voice said behind him making him jump. It was Scarlett.
"No... just watching." Answered Jack.
"I have something for you." Scarlett said and reached behind her to hand him a beautiful red and silver sword with ornate detail.
"Wow! Where did you get this?!" Jack exclaimed.
"I... made it. Do you like it?" Said Scarlett hesitantly.
"It's amazing! Thank you!" Jack grinned at her, his fangs making him look a bit menacing but Scarlett smiled back.
"Now lets see some vampire action." Scarlett said and stood back.
"Ok..." Jack made sure there was adequate room and did a few test swings. The blade sliced through the air with a faint ring and it was majestic to watch.
"Good to fight some bad guys?" Shouted Scarlett from a couple feet away.
"Perfect!" Jack said walking to where Scarlett stood.

Back where everyone else was, Zack had finally changed back and was rubbing his legs furiously, as if afraid to lose them again.
"Come on Lucas. You're next!" Scarlett declared in a sing-song voice, pushing him forwards towards Grandmother Tina.
"I don't wa-" Lucas's protest was cut off because Grandmother Tina had already said the spell.
"Gah!" Shrieked Lucas and everyone turned to look at him.
He had a human top half and a green snake tailed bottom. He had fangs and scales on the back sides of his arms. "Gah!!" he screamed again. "What even AM I?"
"You're a lamia. Half snake half person." explained Grandmother Tina.
"But I don't like snakes!" Lucas protested in a panicked voice. "How do I change back?!"
"You have to just imagine yourself as you want to be. If you desire to be human you will be, but if you want to be in your other form, you only need to want it to be so." Said Grandmother Tina. "And the same goes for you to, Alex."
"Um, ok." Alex said, quickly switching back and forth between his human and wolf form. "Cool."
"So what's the game plan?" Asked Lucas. "Cause we can't just barge in there." The others murmured in agreement.
"There is always the tunnels." Scarlett said and everyone looked at her.
"I have lived in that fortress so long I have memorized it." She tapped her head and continued. "There are a series of confusing winding tunnels throughout the place and they connect to almost every room, I don't think even mom -I mean Avia- knows about them."
"That's great! How do we get to them?" Asked James.
"Well... we kind of have to get past...a um, dragon."
"Ok, no big deal. We can just think of it as practice, right?" Chuckled Alex nervously.
"I have some sleep powder if that will help." Grandmother Tina said, "You can put the dragon to sleep and go past it." She handed the bag if powder to Scarlett and she hooked it on her ingredients belt.
"You guys ready to go?" Said Scarlett and the boys nodded in grim determination.
"Good luck!" Grandmother Tina called behind them as they left the hut.
"Let's hope we don't need it." Muttered Jack.