Cabal whispered in Sarah's ear, "We're going to charge the beast head on. You must attack it quickly, before it recognizes you. It needs your magic to grow powerful. Once it discovers you, won't stop until it reaches you." His voice softened, "It mustn't reach you. I am the only one, other than your companions that who will defend you. Know this, if it takes hold of you, my warriors have orders to kill you before it takes your power. A light spell might hinder its defenses. Give me a moment to warn my people, then cast it over us and into the cavern. It's immense, much larger than the other. The spell must be strong." Cabal placed his hand on her shoulder and added, "Do not fail, it would wound me deeply to take your life. Especially when our world so desperately needs people of magic."

She nodded, feeling him turn and move off toward Nicole. Jack followed, if Nicole was going to charge the beast, he was going to be at her side. Sarah took a deep breath and thought of Todd. She was certain it was too late to save him. She'd lost him forever. Bringing her anger to bear, she allowed it to rise. It allowed her to concentrate on the death of her only love's murderer. The elves turned their eyes to the floor as Sarah cast her light spell into the cavern. Their eyes adjusted quickly as they rushed forward, just as Sarah screamed at the excruciating pain of the claws digging into her shoulders.

Her scream brought Jack and Prince Cabal to a halt as they spun to find a large band of brown, hairy trolls racing toward them. Jack met the onslaught swinging his sword wildly, severing limbs and clawed hands as he fought to reach Sarah. Cabal dove under the attack, scrambling through the ma.s.s of long hairy legs. He pulled the trolls down as Jack hacked at them from above.

Bats swarmed out of the darkness as Nicole appeared at Jack's side. The trolls retreated as they attempted to drag Sarah off into the black void of the tunnels. Screeching, the diseased creatures swatted at the bats. This gave Sarah the opportunity to defend herself. She called upon her magic to set the nearest troll on fire. Her need for revenge controlled her choice of spells. The large beast ran off into the darkness, screaming in horror only to fall a short distance away as the flames consumed it.

Prince Cabal reached her as she turned to face a second troll. "No!" He shouted, thrusting his sword into the stomach of one of her attackers. "Save your strength!"

She flattened herself against the wall as he dove into the remaining three trolls. Unwilling to stand by idly, she cast an illusion of large brown cave spiders crawling on the trolls. Jack and Nicole jerked as spiders appeared from the ceiling by the thousands, attacking everything in sight.

"They're not real." Nicole yelled to Jack.

Cabal ignored the spiders striking out at the last of the trolls until they turned to flee. Cabal grabbed Sarah's arm and pulled her over the troll bodies that littered the cavern floor. They headed back to the battle at hand.

"Hurry, before the beast grows stronger!" Cabal ordered, rushing past the two adventurers.

The battle inside the cavern was fierce. Half a dozen warriors lay dead at the creature's feet. Cabal shoved Sarah to one side and joined the battle. He shouted to her as he ran forward. "Do your worst before more die!"

The creature had transformed into a giant blackish purple bear with enlarged claws and an elongated snout. Its sleek dark surface gave the bear-beast an unearthly appearance. Jack rushed forward to attack the creature's head as its jaws sank into the legs of the warrior that had preceded him in the tunnel. Nicole rushed to his aid. Only three warriors and the Prince remained to battle the beast alongside Jack and Nicole. Sarah called a spell of fire and threw a giant ball of flames at the creature. It staggered backward but was otherwise unaffected.

Again and again she threw the flames at the creature to no avail. She called a spell of ice and hurled it into the monster. It screamed in pain as frozen crystals formed on its skin but it did not hesitate to destroy the warrior's swarming around it. Slowly it began to push the warriors back and approach her. It changed into a four-armed creature with claws of steel. Realizing that they could not keep the beast from reaching Sarah, Nicole pulled the emerald talisman from her vest and thrust it in the air above her. Recalling the incantation that Sarah had given her, she called its burst of light forward and directed it toward the creature. The instant the light touched its sleek coat, it turned and started for Nicole at such a quick pace she was forced to s.n.a.t.c.h the gem from the air and sprint back toward the tunnel, barely able to stay ahead of her pursuer.

"Water!" Sarah screamed, suddenly realizing why the ice had injured the beast. "Nicole, go to the river!"

Nicole ran down the tunnel, stumbling over the remains of the trolls. Using her woodland sense she sought for any trace of moisture. The sounds of the warriors and her friends came from behind her. Although she could not hear the monsters pursuit, she knew it was not far behind. She ran blindly toward any hint of water that came. Nicole desperately reached out to the creatures of the cave. Insects and bats answered her call. She beckoned them to her then dashed into a tunnel on her right. A fork in the tunnel came it led her into a small cavern that narrowed into a low tunnel. She found herself on her knees scurrying forward. Keep moving! She heard Sarah's voice whisper from somewhere inside her head as a barrier of ice sealed the tunnel behind her. Smiling to herself, she complemented the sorceress on her telepathic discovery.

Sarah stumbled as she concentrated on slowing the beasts' pursuit of Nicole. If she couldn't even slow the beast, it would reach Nicole in a matter of seconds.

Nicole crawled into a small chamber and scrambled to her feet. She raced across to the far side and stopped, stunned. There was no tunnel, no river, only a dead end. Could her senses have led her astray? No, she could smell the water, nearly taste it. It was so close. She moved to the far wall as the beast emerged from the narrow tunnel. It took the shape of a large hooded dark snake. Nicole turned to face it. She drew her short sword and stuffed the talisman inside her vest.

"It's a dead end!" She shouted over the beast. Not waiting for a reply, she attacked the creature as it neared. It leapt into the air, its shape taking on that of a giant wolf as it reached her. Using her sword to keep it at bay, Nicole shot over the beast, she pushed off the cave wall and rolled in the air. She landed behind it as the others entered the chamber.

"Sarah! There's water on the other side of the far wall!" Nicole yelled as the beast charged, scattering them all. Cabal pulled Sarah across the chamber as Jack and the three warriors fought to keep the beast from reaching Nicole.

"It wants the power of the talisman." Sarah warned.

"Destroy the wall." Jack shouted to Sarah.

"If there's a river on the other side, we could all drown." She gasped to Cabal.

"A small price to pay for saving our world." He offered as he met her gaze. With a nod, he motioned toward the wall.

Solemnly, Sarah turned toward the far wall.

Cabal added, "When it starts to break, dive for the rocks." He motioned toward a set of large boulders to their right. She began to chant. As the magic flowed into her the beast ceased its struggle to reach Nicole and turned toward the sorceress as her spell formed a soft blue aura around her. Cabal placed himself between her and the beast as it sprang. Suddenly the cavern wall imploded in a shower of rocks and water. The force of the explosion sucked at the beast as it reached them sending all three reeling into the void beyond the cavern wall. The roar of a waterfall met their ears as they crashed into the icy water of the stone enclosed pond. The beast screamed in agony, flailing as the turbulent waters of the falls forced it down and rolled it over and over.

Cabal shoved Sarah away from the force of the current forcing him deeper into the turmoil. Sarah's head reached the surface. She struggled against the pull of the current to reach the sh.o.r.e. A bright yellow moon crested over the tall trees and she realized they were in the small pond where they found the book of spells. Sarah glanced back toward the water for any sign of survivors. When Cabal failed to surface, she dove back in to search for him. The beast was tossed free of the current and slowly floated to the surface. Sarah issued a light spell and found Cabal floating deep beneath the water. She swam to reach him, ignoring the dying beast.

She took hold of Cabal's shoulder and swam for the surface. She gasped as she reached the surface, desperate for air. Jack appeared in the water before her. He took hold of the Prince and pushed Sarah gently toward the stone edge of the pond. Nicole surfaced in the water behind them, as did the three remaining warriors. Each struggled against the fierce current and swam to sh.o.r.e. Smiling Nicole glanced at the still form of the dark wolf. It had managed to pull the bulk of its body from the icy water, lying on top of the pale rocks that lined the sh.o.r.e.

Prince Cabal coughed as he purged his lungs of water. Rising, he took the torn piece of Sarah's robe she offered and held it to the wound on his brow. Moving slowly to where Nicole stood, he stared at the silent beast. Jack came up beside them with Sarah under his arm.

"Is it dead?" He asked, kneeling beside it.

"No," Nicole answered, "Be careful." She moved to pull him back and the beast lunged. Transforming back into the liquid beast that engulfed Hopper, it covered Nicole smothering her in its dark. She could hear Jack's screams as he fought to tear the beast away from her. Her head began to swim. She felt icy fingers move inside of her vest. Dark colors merged and separated before her eyes as it absorbed her strength. Suddenly the colors flashed with a brilliant emerald light and the beast spat her out as if she were the pit of a succulent fruit. She flew over her rescuers heads and landed in the center of the frothy waters of the pond. Diving after her, Jack was oblivious to the creature's metamorphosis.

Sarah staggered backward as the beast took its final form. Prince Cabal attacked not waiting to see what it would become. His three warriors rushed to his side, striking at the creature with renewed strength. It continued to grow, changing from the blackish purple tar like liquid into a giant cat-like beast. b.a.l.l.s of fire slammed into the beast, knocking it back against the rocks at the edge of the pond.

"Push it toward the water!" Sarah yelled over the warriors battle cries."

It'd been weakened by the icy water. Perhaps if they kept it in the pond long enough it would become weak enough to destroy. Throwing her spell of ice at it, the beast screamed and charged toward her. Prince Cabal and the warriors were ready. They drove it back to the water with their swords. Jack pulled Nicole from the pond and joined in the battle after ordering her to stay out of it.

The stars twinkled gently above them as the moon moved across the horizon. The battle continued until the first signs of light glowed in the east. They had pushed the beast into the water time and time again only to have it shoot from the pond onto the rock bank despite their efforts. Sarah cast an enchantment on their swords chilling them to an icy temperature to further injure the beast. Its sleek dark surface was oozing with a thick black substance from the many wounds the warriors had managed to inflict. Yet it still strove to absorb Sarah's magic. Pushing for the shadows, the giant cat screeched in frustration as Prince Cabal dove between it and Sarah once more.

Nicole staggered back from the battle still not fully recovered from the beasts attack. The sun touched her face, warming her. She sighed and turned slowly facing the golden orb. Taking a deep breath, she looked back at the beast, determined to rejoin the battle. As her thoughts turned to destroying the creature, her chest began to burn. Clutching at her breast, she gasped as the sensation grew stronger. Tearing at the front of her vest she pulled the glowing talisman out, dropping it as its heat seared her fingers.

It fell into the shadows and rolled off into the gra.s.s beside the rocks. She had mistakenly thought the beast had taken the talisman. That explosion of light must have injured it, instead of giving it power. Springing from the boulder, she knelt down beside the gem. The glow had vanished. Lifting the talisman, she was surprised to find it had turned cold. Climbing up onto the pile of boulders Hopper had created to block part of the falls. Nicole raised the crystal into the sun above her. A burst of light issued from it and she was thrown off the boulder to land in the dirt behind her. Scrambling to her feet and back onto the boulder, she raised the' crystal over her head and willed the beam of light to strike the beast. A bolt of green light pounded into the beast, knocking it off its feet but otherwise not affecting it.

Nicole screamed for Sarah as she jumped from the boulders and raced to where the sorceress stood throwing another ice spell at the creature. "Sarah, take this to the boulders, stand in the light and use it!" Nicole ordered.

Sarah grabbed the jewel and Sarah sprinted across the gra.s.s to the boulders as the beast's seized one of the warriors in its jaws. Jack sprang forward and shoved his sword through the giant cat's throat, only to be batted away like an annoying fly. Cabal leaped on the back of the beast and plunged his icy sword again and again into the monsters back. The beast crushed the warrior in its jaws and tossed his lifeless form aside. It rolled on its back and it quickly overwhelmed Cabal. Its long claws sunk into Cabals arm and pulled him to toward its ma.s.sive teeth. Bracing his feet against the cat-beast's chest, he continued to stab at it.

Jack sprang toward the beast's head placing his sword at it throat he tried to sever its head. Once again he was easily thrown clear. Nicole dove at the monster, calling on the forest creatures. Birds swarmed from the trees attacking the beast. It ignored them. Sarah screamed from her perch above the falls and they fell back. Raising the crystal high, she prayed that Cabal wouldn't be injured and chanted the spell of dissolution. Picturing in her mind a force field of safety surrounding Cabal, she sent a white bolt of energy into the creature. It screamed, springing away from the light. Sarah followed the beast and attacked it with the light, not daring to look at what was left of Cabal.

The two remaining warriors followed Jack and Nicole as they attacked the beasts driving it toward the pond. Another, burst of light struck it and it fell into the freezing water. Sarah concentrated on the beast using all her power to send a continuous stream of the white hot energy into the pond where the beast struggled. Again and again she pounded the beast with the power of the crystal until it sank beneath the surface of the water.

Sarah fell to her knees, exhausted. She could hear cheers of her fellow warriors. Her thoughts turned to Todd. When the cheering came to a sudden halt she looked below to find the others gathered around the still form of Prince Cabal. Sarah quickly climbed down the rocks to examine Cabal. She felt numb as she neared the edge of the pond where the prince lie. Nicole knelt beside him, her head to his chest as Jack pulled the charred clothing from his legs. His face was pale. He wore an expression of severe pain beneath the streams of blood that covered his face.

"Is he dead?" Sarah asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

"No", Nicole answered, smiling up at her. "But he could use the skills of a good nurse."

"His men will have to care for him." Sarah said, "I'm going back for Todd."

Jack grabbed her arms. He stared into her eyes and said softly, "He's out of our reach, Sarah."If he survives, he will find us. You have to trust him . . . and wait."

The Elfin court seated before them stared silently as the three remaining adventurers approached. The grand hall in Fortress City housed the council of the three elf nations. Golden banners swam from the ceilings and towering walls. White flowers, symbolizing fallen warriors cascaded from two large urns on each side of the large forum before them. Prince Cabal squeezed Sarah's elbow as they neared, giving her an encouraging nod. Dressed in the rags of their original costumes, the three adventurers faced the high council with the tall prince at their side.

The elegant Queen Briees stood before them in amber robes. Her golden hair cascaded down to the floor portraying the same image as the beast in the cave. Her face did not hold a welcoming smile. Her eyes were not full of grat.i.tude. When she spoke, her voice was calm yet void of emotion. "We have discussed your situation and the events that led to the release and consequent destruction of the great beast." She paused as her gaze lingered on her son, Cabal. "The High Council has ruled. We believe your return to your homeland will cause you to revert back to your natural state and Puissant's powers will be returned to him. Prince Cabal's argument of your victimization at the hands of the ancient wizard have been quite convincing; you did prove yourself as allies by destroying the beast and saving my son's life. This combined with my son's a.s.surance that you suffered as great a loss as any family in our city has given me reason to offer leniency. Although not all in the council share my belief, I offer you amnesty. But it comes at a price. Sorceress Sarah Sims, you must stay here in Fortress City and complete your training under Amity's guidance. An untrained sorceress is a deadly threat our city cannot risk. The barbarian Jack Tyler and Woodland Elf Nicole Waters shall serve in the Battle academy training our young men and women in the skills necessary to replace those precious warriors lost in this struggle." Her deep blue eyes showed no warmth as scutinized Nicole and Jack. "It will be difficult. You face many prejudices and threats of vengeance by the families of those you killed. Your exceptional battle skills and the testimony of the surviving warriors have been your saving grace."

"We regret the pain we have caused and are honored to serve you." Jack answered as he took Nicole's hand in his. "We will not disappoint you."

The Queen did not respond to Jack's words, but simply continued, "You will also allow Amity to cast an enchantment upon you. It will insure that you never return to Puissant's world." The Queen finished as her eyes met Jack's.

"I have no desire to return." He said, "I can't speak for the others." He turned to look at Nicole.

Nicole gazed into his eyes, then kissed him deeply. She turned to the Queen and declared, "I wish only to be with him."

Sarah felt all eyes fall upon her. She turned to gaze at the council of elderly elves and saw some filled with fear, others anger. She was a new threat to the security of Fortress City as well as the other elfin providences. If she turned against them or allowed Puissant to return it could mean their destruction.

"I accept your term as long as the enchantment will not interfere with my magic. I also humbly request that Amity aid me in seeking out and healing the trolls that roam the caverns under the Cave of Sorrow. They have been cursed with an illness I suspect Puissant cast long ago. I would have them freed in hopes of recovering our fallen comrade, Todd Hopper." Her voice broke as she spoke his name. A tear rolled down her pale cheek. Weeks had pa.s.sed with no sign of him; she feared the worst.

The Queen gazed past Sarah and she turned to find the old wizard from the cave standing there. He nodded his consent.

"Let it be done." The Queen declared.

The End.

Stay tuned for Hypnotic Journey Book 2, When Magic Fails coming soon!.

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