The Song of Demons' Hope

chapter 6

Chapter 6: Behold the Power of Joel!

The family's attackers brought them to the very heart of Firemist Citadel, Joel's fortress.

"Well, at least we get a ride" Tonkana tried.

"Why don't you just make them attack each other?" Silas asked.

"Because, these bonds not only hold us, they hold our powers, look at the symbols. See the one with the Egyptian-looking eye? That's the sign of the demon king Cantarracious. He is able to restrain multiple Chosen Ones' power at once. He put his power in that symbol and gave it to the Turned, "explained Seth in such an angry tone, one of the attackers flinched.

Just then, an attacker came up to them and spoke in a hushed voice "Sssshhh, listen to me. I'm going to take the enchantment off these bracelets. When I do, don't take them off. Wait until you get to the king. My name is Manyada. I am a djinn sent to you by Jabarel, Aria's brother. You're lucky. If I didn't save you, you'd be at Joel's mercy. He is a wizard, so don't try to use magic on him or he'll pollute it until it turns on you." After his long time jabbering, he said some words that translated to "Be gone, eye of the Accursed! I banish you, as you are not needed here."

After he spoke the incantation, the Egyptian eye glowed blood red, started smoking, stank of rotten eggs and three-week-old raw steak, and faded away. Once it did, the djinn took an impossibly long breath, breathed out royal blue powder that curled around him and completely hid him in a cloud of the stuff, and when it cleared up, he was gone.

"Fancy," Zachary muttered. However, Seth simply shrugged and commented "I've seen better exits than that."

And so, the family waited until they arrived at the fortress of Joel. Once they arrived, they were fed mush and disgusting water. Afterwards, they were promptly brought to Joel, who acted as if they were his long lost friends. His pet dragons swished around him as he tried to be kind. Silas and Aria silently undid their cuffs. The others waited silently until Silas sprang up, his arms now free and started launching ice shards at Joel, who shouted some gibberish and turned the ice into wads of paper. Aria undid the others' cuffs. Seth transformed into a reptilian creature that had long, green swords in each of its six arms. Its four feet had suckers that *popped* whenever he took a step. Its three heads had fangs that looked venomous. The tail of the creature was pointed so sharp, it could puncture and demolish metal and concrete. Tonkana pulled a hidden dagger from his sock. Zackary conjured up a thunderstorm over Joel's head. Kaden tried to break into Joel's mind but couldn't; he had a spell to prevent it.

Seth immediately went after the dragons. One of the four monsters lost its head from a sword. Another went from bright yellow to midnight black after a bite from the fangs. It lost its enchantment and turned into a garden snake. The remaining two fought for their lives.

Despite the family's efforts, Joel was unstoppable. A spear of light became a pile of ash. A thunderbolt froze and ricocheted off the walls. Tonkana's dagger arm went haywire and turned on its owner.

The dragon fight was not going well. The dragons were rapidly advancing, and more were pouring through the window. Seth cut off a foot threatening to throw him across the room. His tail shot out and got stuck in a dragon's left eye. Seth laughed as he threw it across the room at Joel. Joel was taken by surprise. He fell with the sheer weight of the monstrosity. He yelled something and the restraint was thrown to the side. Joel stood again. He threw a purplish green blast at Aria. She flew across the room and fell unconscious. Seth killed a dragon with a complex spell that threw a shroud of turquoise light over the dragon. It flashed suddenly and the dragon became a little statue.