Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 42

It was even more difficult to get the three of them through the passage than it had been with two, especially since they had to climb up the stone slope Bane had tumbled down earlier. But a few moments later, they were back in the hallway in front of the portrait. No Umbras in sight.

Andie, Isabelle? How are you doing? Bane asked.

We're battling through a hoard of Umbras, but we're fine, Andie's voice assured him. You?

All okay here, Bane said. Jessica, Emily? You all right?

Yes, we're making our way to the palace now, Jessica told him.

Good. I have my mother and Balon with me, so meet us outside the study as soon as you can, like we planned.

Got it, Emily replied.

On our way, Andie added.

Bane, Zarias and Camille kept running without speaking to each other, Zarias leading the way. Bane saw his mother was having trouble keeping up with them, owing to her long captivity. Bane caught her hand and pulled her behind him.

"Hang on, Mom, we're almost there..." he said.

She could only gasp in reply. Just then, they stopped abruptly. A group of snarling Umbras stood in their way.

"I'll deal with them," Bane said, stepping in front of his mother and raising his arm. "Light of the Guardian!"

A ray of pure light shot out of his hand, knocking two Umbras away. They fell backwards with a sickening squelch and disappeared. Zarias raised his own arm and took out the rest.

"Come on," Bane said, taking his mother's hand again.

They hurried up a staircase, turned a corner, then raced around another, until they found themselves in the large circular room with several hallways leading to different parts of the palace; one being the study.

But Zorak was already there, waiting for them. They skidded to a halt, Bane immediately moving to position himself between the Demon Lord and his mother. Zorak just looked down at them with a maddening smile.

"Well, well," he said. "You seem particularly intent on breaking into my property, lately. And I see you even have the audacity of stealing from me."

Bane snorted in disgust.

"That's rich, coming from the one who stole my mother from me and locked her up for nine years," he snarled.

Zorak ignored him.

"You were so close to freedom, too..." he commented with mock unhappiness.

Bane was about to answer with a sharp quip when the sound of hurried footsteps made them all look round just as Emily and Jessica came into view through one of the passages, gasping for breath and looking anxious.

"Ah, more unexpected guests," Zorak chuckled, then turned to Zarias. "Come, Zarias. You no longer need to pretend being their ally."

He held out his hand as all eyes darted to Zarias, whose expression didn't change.

"I knew it!" Jessica said furiously, her green eyes flashing angrily at Zarias. "You were spying on us the whole time, weren't you? You traitor!"

Bane didn't take his attention off Zorak, though he was also watching Zarias out of the corner of his eye.

"You're right, Father," Zarias agreed. "But the deception isn't necessarily where you might think it is."

A heavy silence followed, broken by more hurried footsteps as Andie and Isabelle came into view from yet another passage, looking disheveled and sporting several cuts and bruises, but otherwise unharmed. And while Bane didn't like seeing any of them so close to Zorak, he was relieved they were all right.