The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

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     They all jumped up and turned their backs to the fire, facing the new threat that had spoken from the shadows. The voice had been level, amused even but entirely unfamiliar. Florence was kicking herself for not knowing someone might find them here. The fire would have given off light through both windows, showing anyone who was following exactly where they were.

     She moved forward, trying to block the others from whoever was there. Despite the fire, the shadows still loomed in the corners of the building and she couldn't make out where the voice had come from.

"Who are you and what do you want?" No answer, no movement. "Show yourself." Florence's voice was demanding, she wasn't in the mood for any games.

    "You do not disappoint, Mrs James... or should I call you Florence?" The voice still sounded amused.

"You'll call me nothing, hiding in the shadows like a coward. I know you're here for me, this isn't a chance encounter, so how about you get on with whatever you plan to do here."

    Florence felt a grip on either of her arms, Quentin and Skyrah were both worried about what she'd said. But she wasn't, delaying it wouldn't stop it from happening. The voice must have agreed because a laugh reverberated around the room and a moment later, movement caught her eye. A figure stepping out of the darkness.

    The owner of the voice; a short man, almost as short as Florence and appeared to be around the same age. Silvery-white hair that was tied back in an unflattering ponytail, gleamed against the firelight. He had a pudgy face and small eyes that were watching her animatedly. He didn't appear half as threatening as his entrance had made him seem.

    "You are everything I had expected, and more." He spoke with confidence, swishing his black cloak around him like he was a stage performer.

"And you're wasting our time, who are you? And what do you want?" 

"You may call me Dryele. You should know my name, since we will be spending a lot of time together."

    The cats yowled loudly and Florence's brows raised at his presumption. "Why would I go anywhere with you?"

Dryele smiled, showing yellowed, crooked teeth. "Because if you do not lead me to the Orb of Tilgh," he paused, gesturing with one small hand. Two more shapes emerged from the shadows. Tomb Walkers dressed in black cloaks stopped either side of Dryele, their decomposition could be felt across the room. "My Tomb Walkers will make your friends suffer unimaginably."

    Florence had already deduced the man was the master of the Tomb Walkers, it was the only explanation for them all being there at the same time. She glared at him, feeling Skyrah's grip tighten on her arm. The girl had suffered enough. But how could she get them all out without agreeing to go with this lunatic? Her eyes flickered to the windows, they were too small to escape through- Dryele and his minions were blocking the only door.

    "If you're waiting to be saved by your blue-cloaked-friend, I wouldn't bother. He cannot find us here, I made sure of that."

Dryele appeared to be gloating, like blocking the stranger in the blue cloak was a monumental success for him.

   "He's not... wait, how do you know about him?"

Dryele looked amused again, "I have my ways, I am gifted after all."

    That didn't help in the slightest, he knew too much and they had nothing. They needed more information and Florence needed to stall him until she could think of a way to get them out. She couldn't and wouldn't lead him to the Orb. There was a dark glint in the man's eye that told her everything she needed to know, there wasn't a chance she was letting him get the power of the Orb.