The Four Stones

Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Cyrus Appears

    Malachi stared blankly at the cave wall. He was bored out of his mind. All he’d seen for days on end was gray, gray, and guess what? Gray. As much as he didn’t want Cyrus to even make it to the cave, he wish something exciting would happen.

    His shoulder had been completely healed for a few days now, but that arm was still a bit weak from lack of use. Malachi had been working that arm extra hard so that if Carl and/or Cyrus showed up, his shoulder wouldn’t be a weak spot. The last thing he needed was for Cyrus to have an advantage. Even without one, the fight was going to be a grueling one.

    Then slight scratching noises could be heard from a distance. Malachi instantly went on alert, making his breathing as quiet as possible and listening intently to whatever was making to noises. A pebble moved and a rather large rat scampered across the cave floor. Malachi sighed in relief, but the scratching noises continued.

    “Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favorite student.” said a cold voice, dripping with venom and sarcasm.

    A figure appeared from the entrance. He was tall, but not quite as tall as Malachi, and very lean, almost unhealthily so. His gray beard was sticking out every which way, and his yellow, snake like eyes flashed in the darkness of the cave. He wore a black robe with white skull patterns decorating the sleeves and waist.

    “It’s about time you showed up, master. Are those old bones giving you trouble, or did you get lost?” Malachi said, with a smirk barely visible in the dim light.

    “You did a good job hiding the place. I’ll give you that, but that’s not why it took so long. You see, thanks to you and your pupils, Carl sustained a bad injury, thus slowing us down considerably.” Cyrus replied, his voice icy. “Ah, here he is now.”

   

    Then Carl entered the room. Any sign of injury was gone from his body. He must have had time to recover on the journey here. He glared at Malachi with a new hatred.

    “Hello, Carl. I’d be lying if I said I’m glad to see you again.” Malachi said coldly.

    “That goes for me as well.” Carl replied with little emotion.

    “You see, I was watching your fight from the shadows. I wanted to see how well my runaway student was doing, but where are your pupils? Shouldn’t they be with you?” Cyrus asked with mock concern.

    “That’s none of your business.” Malachi replied.

    “Maybe not, but I am curious. It would be a shame if something were to…..happen to them.” Cyrus said, smirking evilly.

    “If you so much as lay a finger on any of them, I will rip out your insides.” Malachi threatened, voice as cold as the arctic wind.

    “My, my aren’t we protective? I haven’t come within five feet of any of them, but I’d be more than happy to slit one of their throats if you don’t do as I say and hand over my powers.” Cyrus jeered.

    “You don’t have the power to do that. Even if they were here, which they’re not, I don’t think you would be a match for them. After all, I trained them.” Malachi replied confidently.

    “You always did have too much confidence for you own good.” Cyrus taunted.

   

    Then Carl made a break for the box. Malachi was too quick for him though. He sent Carl backwards with a forceful blow to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him in the process. Then Cyrus made a mad dash for the box, only to be roundhouse kicked by Malachi.

   

    “Oof!” Cyrus groaned, hitting to cave floor.

    He and Carl picked themselves up and continued throwing themselves at the box with Cyrus’ powers inside it. Malachi blocked their attacks every time. Malachi was trying to reserve his magic energy as much as he could, but with two wizards throwing themselves repeatedly at the box, he began to grow tired. Malachi then went for Carl to punch him in the face, but to his horror his hand went through Carl’s skull. Instead of blood and the sickening crunch of bone, only rock and dirt were covering Malachi’s hands.

    “What?!” Malachi yelled.

    He turned his head toward the box just in time to see Carl unsealing Cyrus’ powers. Malachi ran as fast as he could to try and stop Carl, but it was too late. A bright light flashed. Then a glowing black substance rocketed toward Cyrus, enveloping his body.

    “Crap.” Malachi said.

    “Finally!” Cyrus bellowed, laughing maniacally. “After sixteen years of being sealed away, I have my power! Now the kingdom will be mine!”

“Don’t you mean ours?” Carl questioned.

Cyrus turned toward Carl and gave him a cold stare.

“No, Carl.” Cyrus said.

“But, you said if I helped you regain your powers, you’d let me rule the kingdom with you.” Carl argued.

“I lied.”

“What?”

“I lied. I have no more use for you.” Cyrus said coldly.

He pointed a finger at Carl and a blast of black light burst from the tip of his finger.  Carl’s eyes grew to the size of baseballs. The blast came too quickly for him to do anything except yell in surprise.  The blast nailed him in the chest. Carl crumpled to the ground, shriveled and gray. Malachi gasped.

“You’re next.” Cyrus threatened, pointing his finger at Malachi, sending a blast of deadly, black light straight toward him. The blast was coming too fast, all Malachi could do was close his eyes and accept his fate.

A/N- Sorry for the cliff hanger.....actually not really......sorry not sorry...MUAHAHAHAHA!