The Sorcerer Prince

Chapter #10

     Phantom doesn't have to be told twice, but Seto jumps when his friend's body morphs back into a small bat. The bat flaps hard into the trees. The prince only hesitates a second before sprinting after his familiar. He's not used to running for long distances, but his adrenaline spurs him on when more dogs join the chorus in the distance. They're all barking like that because they're getting close to their target.

     Whoever led the sorcerer's attack on the castle is coming after the escaped prince. Seto has a terrifying thought that they could have already found Abigail, but the fear is snuffed up by logic. Bodil would protect her. Seto is next in line to the throne, so he'll be the main target. He's vulnerable since he was born human and without magic.

"I hear horses", Phantom's word's appear in Seto's head almost like he's reading a book, "We're almost to the house. Run up the stairs to the second floor and use Bodil's blood on the last door". Telepathy might have made him jump, but it's somehow not surprising. This must have been how Phantom communicated before he had a human form.

The trees abruptly give way to a large, circular clearing. This place had to have been cut into the forest. Young trees are already growing in on the edges. The grass is overgrown and brushes Seto's waist as he runs through. He only looks up when something blocks out the sun and casts a shadow on him. That isn't a house. It's a wooden mansion. The two-stary building is massive, with a a porch on the ground level and small balconies on the second level.

Seto doesn't have time to stop and gawk. He stumbles out of the long grass and stumbles when his foot goes right through the porch's rotting floorboards. The mansion is old and nearly falling apart. The door isn't even locked. Phantom drops onto Seto's shoulder as the prince flings the door open and slams it back closed.

     "Should I block the door with something? This place isn't exactly subtle", Seto speaks out loud as he looks for some sort of lock on the door.

     "It doesn't matter. They won't be able to pass through your gate. We'll be safe in there", Phantom replies, urging Seto to move. The prince nods and heads for the grand staircase ahead. This house would have been very nice when it was well kept. The stairs creek and groan under Seto's weight, but thankfully don't break. He runs past a few open doors in the hallway. He glances a grand library in one room and a bedroom in another.

"Is this the door? What to I do now?", Seto fumbles as he pulls the jar of demon blood out of his pocket. All he can think about is getting caught after coming so far.

      "Bodil's blood rune is in the very top right corner. Just put some of his blood on it, and the door will unlock!", Phantom's word's are hurried and rushed. He's technically an unbound familiar, so he doesn't fancy the thought of getting caught.

      The prince is disgusted with himself as he dips his fingers in the jar of blood and smears it on the door. A symbol flares with light on the door as the lock makes a small click sound. Seto wastes no time yanking on the handle and dashing inside with Phantom on his shoulder. He closes the door just as fast. Seto pants with his back braced against the door, winded from the long chase. He's terrified of getting caught. The prince never actually saw his pursuers before he got inside the house. That doesn't make him doubt for even a second that they're after him.

"It's never been so quiet in here", Phantom's quiet comment makes Seto finally look up at the room. He doesn't remember ever being in a dark sorcerer's gate before, but he's certain that they aren't suppose to be this big. The room is divided into four different areas with space pushed back near the entrance. The right back corner looks like a small bedroom with an open curtain that could separate it from the rest of the room. The back left looks like a potion lab for alchemy sorcerers. The two front corners have a small sitting area and bookshelves framed full of literature. Old fashioned, wooden chest dot the area for storage.

"Wait.... how is this room even standing since I have no magic!?", Seto panics, expecting the room to cave in on itself. These gates are a literal rip in time and space. They need a source of magic to let anything living inside.

"Relax", Phantom slips off Seto's shoulder and transforms before continuing out loud, "You used to have so mach magic that you stored the extra to power this place". He moves into the sitting area and grabs the low table, pulling on latches that lets the tabletop slide to the side. Inside is a massive crystal the size of Seto's head. He's only seen egg sized ones for high-ranking officials until now. The crystal would be beautiful if it hadn't of faded to such a dull gray color. You can only see a the faintest hint of a purple tint.

"That doesn't look safe".

"Oh..... I thought we had more time. I'd be surprised if this room lasts more then another few hours. I didn't think so much time had gone by already......".

"That means that we better hurry up and find whatever we're looking for".