Magic Spawn Origins

Magic Spawn: Chapter 65

by Meredith Skye

* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *

The field in front of the crypt was quiet. The moon had slipped behind a cloud. The only lights came from two lanterns hung on metal lampposts towards the middle of the field. Surely the skeletons didn't need light. It must have been for the benefit of Molan.

Rian felt crushed. He had failed to protect the town. His mother and Kyran were both still in the power of the necromancer, and he was powerless to do anything about it. And what about Haley?

Rian looked out across the meadow. "We have to do something," he said to Zane.

"That's brilliant. Like what?"

"Can you get your hands free?" Rian asked. His hands were tied behind his back and he'd had very little success in loosening them.

"What do you think I've been doing this whole time?" Zane said, annoyed.

"And?" asked Rian.

"I'm not Houdini. Hey, I thought I saw something. Over there, to the northwest, near that clump of bushes."

"You saw what?" asked Rian.

"I don't know," said Zane. "I think it might be Harlan."

"Great," said Rian. Now Harlan will get himself captured too. Then again, maybe he wasn't alone ... if only Aldena were with him. Maybe they'd have a chance.

"And if we get free, let me attack Molan," continued Zane, with just a hint of that superior attitude.

"Why?" asked Rian.

"Because, I'm the better swordsman."

"That's not true!" Who did he think he was?

"Well, that's what we were going to find out at the spring tourney," said Zane.

"I have a magic sword," said Rian, peevishly.

"Whatever," replied Zane. "Not anymore."

Soon, the crypt door opened and Molan paraded through it, followed by two skeletons. Rian's ten year old brother followed behind him, oblivious, his black eyes seeing nothing.

Molan came towards Rian, with a smug smile of satisfaction. "You should never have presumed that you could defeat me, human."
 Rian tried to think of a good threat, but he was losing hope.

"I don't need long on this world," said Molan. "My power is growing. I need to assemble an army to help me to attack the Seven Worlds of Cathal." He gestured to the zombies and skeletons that surrounded him. "I think that the people in this town will be a good base to work from."

"That will never happen," said Rian. "We'll stop you."

"You've already failed," said the wizard.

"Others will stop you then. We don't give up."

"No, you humans are very stubborn. But you're right, without some kind of barrier between this city and the outside world, we are vulnerable. So, I will create a magical shield between us and your world--using the power of the magic-spawn."

From the crypt doorway stepped Lauretta, Rian's mother. She wore her long blue dress that had been her Halloween costume. She walked slowly as if in a fog, not recognizing anything that was going on around her. She walked right past Kyran, who only blinked a few times when he saw her.

"All I need to create an impenetrable shield to protect this town is the life of one human," said Molan. At this, he pointed to Lauretta who stood nearby, oblivious to the circumstances. "And I have the perfect one." He smiled.