Magic Spawn Origins

Magic Spawn: Chapter 46

by Meredith Skye

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 In the bottom of the Old Mill, the group encountered an illusion. A skeleton had appeared where Rian had struck with his sword on a hunch.

"What?" sputtered Bernard as two more skeletons materialized out of nowhere not far from he and Aldena stood. Immediately all the skeletons struck, taking Bernard and Aldena by surprise.

A strange distant cry suddenly became louder until it turned into frantic shouts from somewhere in the room. The whole room shifted as Rian watched this transformation unfold. Instead of an empty basement, there were four doors on the far wall. And right next to him a makeshift iron cage appeared. In it stood Ehina, shouting.

"Ehina?" Rian asked in confused. Was this some illusion, or had the empty room been the illusion?

"Finally!" she yelled. "What is wrong with you?" She demanded.

Rian had no time to discuss it, because at that moment, he dodged a blow from the skeleton standing in front of him. The combat began.

"I thought you we're going to leave us down here! It was like you were blind and deaf!" said Ehina, distraught.

Rian had to focus on the fight now, especially since his energy was still low. "Give me a minute," he said. "We're not about to leave you," he reassured her.

Even defeating this one skeleton had become an almost insurmountable chore. For a few minutes, it was just the crack of bones and steel, the stale basement air, the focus on leg-work as he parried and waiting for his killing opportunity, which finally came. He cut of the skeleton's head and watched as it crumbled to the ground. Then he joined the others. Soon they had all three skeletons vanquished.

"I don't get it," said Bernard.

"An illusion spell of some sort," said Aldena, nodding, as if it made perfect sense.

"Check that door," Rian nodded to the one back where they'd come down the stairs.

"How did we forget about seeing that?" muttered Bernard. Aldena followed him.

Rian returned to Ehina's cage.

"I screamed and screamed," she said. Rian motioned for her to stand back as he hit the door with his sword and opened it. Ehina hurried out.

"This is Ehina," said Rian, introducing her. "She's the Arlunni Enforcer who came from another world. This is my aunt, Aldena."

"Aldena," Ehina murmured, as though trying to remember a familiar name.

Aldena's eyes narrowed and before anyone could stop her, she hit Ehina across the face stunning her. Then she grabbed her arm and shoved her against the wall, holding her blade up at Ehina's chest. Rian stood there, shocked.

"Who are you?" demanded Aldena.

"I told you—my name is Ehina!"

"You are lying! You're not a Guardian of the Continuum. You're not even an Enforcer; you don't have the mark. Who are you?"

Fear showed in Ehina's eyes. Had she lied? "I am Arlunni! I didn't lie. I'm studying to be an Enforcer—"

"Studying?" demanded Aldena.

Ehina drew herself up a little higher. "I'm a priestess."

Aldena loosened her grip and looked at Ehina's wrist uncovering a small tattoo of a dove. "You're just an acolyte!" She gave the girl a little shove but let her go. "She can't help us," said Aldena, turning away.

"I can!" argued Ehina.

Aldena rounded on her. "Can you get back to Arlunn? Can you teleport back?"

Ehina faltered. "No, I—"

"If you were a true acolyte, you could!"

"I tried!" said Ehina. "But, there is something ... wrong here."

"Yes, magic doesn't work in this realm. Not very well."

Ehina's eyes went wide. "It was you—you summoned me."

"I did, because we need help," Aldena said bitterly.

"Then how—" began Ehina.

"A blood magic spell."

This disturbed Ehina. "Blood magic is forbidden."

"It seems to work here. Molan should be pleased about that."

"Wait," Rian interrupted. "Earlier, you said 'us'".

"The others," said Ehina, as if just remembering. She ran over to the doors on the far side. "From town." Rian helped her open the first door which held four women. The next room held four boys. The last one held five men. The people huddled together, already terrified by the events of the evening.

While the townspeople gathered, Ehina recovered her sword which hung on the wall.

"Rian, this is Grandma Baggins, do you copy?"

Rian pulled out his radio to answer. "We're a little busy here right now."

"Are you still at the Old Mill?" she asked.

"Yes." Where did she think they were?

Silence.

"What is it, Grandma?"

"Well, there are zombies outside the house. So, we are going to barricade the door."

Rian stopped. "Zombies?" Just Harlan had stayed behind with the girls and Grandma—and Harlan was no fighter. "Just ..." He had no advice to give them. "Zane," he called on the radio. "Do you copy?"

"He's not responding. They got hit pretty bad," said Grandma.

Rian thought furiously. They were too far away to be of help. And he had to get these people out of the Old Mill. "We're almost done here. We'll head back soon. Can you hold out?"

"Maybe. Gotta go now. We'll think of something. Over and out." The sound clicked off.

"Over and out," muttered Rian. So tired. Need to rest.

Bernard called from the door on the other side. "We can get out here," he said. "There's a hole in the wall where the silo is. We can take them back down the road we came on."

Rian looked up at him, worried.

"What is it?" asked Bernard.

"Grandma's house is under attack. They need help."

Bernard glanced around. He knew they'd never make it in time. "We get everyone out that hole and bee line for Grandma's."

"Okay. Let's do it," said Rian, nodding. "Come on, we're getting you out of here."

The people didn't need any convincing. They followed Rian willingly. Bernard motioned for the to come through the door. Bernard and Aldena began leading them out.

Rian turned to Ehina. "What about Kyran and my mother? Did you see them?" He couldn't bear to leave them behind, not if there was a chance of rescuing them from the necromancer.

"Rian, I told you—the magic-spawn is beyond recovery. He's completely in the power of the wizard! I haven't seen your mother at all. Not that I know of. These people are all that were in here."

Not good news. "Okay," said Rian, trying to think what to do. Maybe she was still up at the cave. Rian wanted to believe that there still might be a reason for the wizard to keep her alive. He didn't know what that would be. But he couldn't just give up hope. 

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