The Reason

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Showdown in the Shadows

Just because it had become quiet didn't mean it was calm. The trolls and Kristoff were scrambling to salvage what was left of their sacred stones while Malundra and Magnus went to the castle to see if Carnus had made good on his threat. Elsa and Anna meanwhile explained to one another what had happened while they had been apart. Most notably how Elsa beat Dirgelaff in chess for a cure that was ultimately a fake.

"Yeah I think seeing Drake taken over by some psycho demon that treats killing like breathing clued me in on that."

Elsa held herself as she glared at her sister. "Well sorry that I wasn't able to find the cure. I'm trying here."

Anna quickly back peddled. "Elsa no! No one is blaming you for this! This is not your fault."

Elsa gave her back to Anna, her attention on the center of the sacred stones where she last saw Drake, or rather, Carnus in his body. "This is my fault. If I hadn't asked Drake to—"

"Elsa stop that right now!" Anna spun her sister around so that her watery eyes met hers. "This. Is. Not. Your. Fault. Dirgelaff did this, and you totally kicked his butt and now he's out of our hair forever."

"Well tell that to Drake!" Elsa pulled herself from her sister's grasp. "That thing is killing him, taking over his body—"

"—but he can't! Because of the token you gave him!"

It took Elsa a moment before she remembered what Anna was talking about. "The necklace I gave him?"

"Yes! It's icy, angelness is keeping Carnus from taking over." Anna took her by the hands. "As long as he has you with him, he's alive and fighting. You just have to believe that. Elsa, if anyone can save him, it's you."

A flicker of hope ignited in her heart and she knew Anna was right.

The sound of a waterfall pulled the sister's away from each other towards the armored Magnus and Malundra stepping through a portal to meet them.

"Not fair," Magnus glared through his helmet, "you can just portal wherever you want."

"That's magic for you," she rolled her eyes, "always beats science."

"This is a combination of science and magic, making it alchemy."

"Can we table this discussion for another time." Elsa grabbed their attention. "What did you find?"

Chastised, Malundra said. "A thick cloud of darkness has settled over the castle, but the chapel, where your servants are, is untouched. I managed to pull them out and place them in the village, and as an added bonus I put a protective sleeping spell on your kingdom. No chance of any other lives being lost today."

Elsa gave a sharp nod. "What about you Magnus?"

He started making awkward jerking motions with his head nervously. "Well... I provided backup. Flew around the castle and... that..."

Olaf patted him on the leg. "I'm sure you did a good job too." Magnus shooed him away as Kristoff and Sven joined them.

"How are they?" Anna asked as soon as he was by her side.

His head was low as he looked over his shoulder at the rock trolls in mourning. "Well... we're all alive at least." His thick brows came forward over his eyes in anger. "We need to get that thing out of Drake, and kill it."

"I'm with mountain man." Magnus snarled. "Let's storm the castle and kick some demon ass."

"No." Elsa spoke with a cold, but firm tone that hung in the air and forced everyone into silence. "I have a feeling he wants me."