Chapter 21:

Manifestations of Malice

Twilight Star: First Goal


“It appears that way,” Robbie sighed, pulling his wings inside. A moment later the gate was no longer visible, and they were surrounded by a wide range of M-Ms. There must have been at least fifty around them. Only good thing was the area wasn’t open but had trees all around. That could help them, if they weren’t surrounded. The ones closest to them stood around three and a half feet tall with wrinkled dark green, dark red, or dark orange skin. Their faces were round with long, pointed ears also wrinkled in a way that made the creatures appear dangerous. Their eyes were eerie yellow just like their canine teeth, and long, sharp nails from their four fingered hands. A leather cloth was all that covered their male parts. There was no hair on their heads. Behind those were taller ones that were a bit more wrinkled with dark yellow, dark blue, and black skin. Another grouping was just a bit taller, almost five feet tall, with more wrinkles that somehow made them look even more dangerous and deeper yellow eyes. They had skin that was violet, indigo, and white. Towards the back was one that was black-violet and just as tall as Trenton. “Yea, they aren’t Goblins or all green.” He felt Londra and Fern take his hands with Calla and Anna joining the circle. He knew what they were doing and even if it took out only a few it would be worth it.

“Sixty-two,” Mara said softly, her thin violet-navy horns slightly glowing with her blue-navy Demon eyes as she used her magic to recount. Her hands were shaking but she know the others were far from calm. “I included the four shadows near the tall one as well. Can’t quite make them out but they are different…”

“I noticed that as well,” Trenton confirmed, his large hands gripping his lance tightly as color drained from his long, golden pecan colored face. They all watched the golden-white light erupt, encasing the battlefield in light. Everyone stood hoping… Trenton began to count again once the light began to dissipate. Nobody was expecting what came next.

“It has been a long time since we got to play with our food,” a screechy voice started causing the others to laugh diabolically. “They usually just run away, leaving the slow ones for us to feast on… but you can’t run away…” now the forty-two that remained banged their weapons against their nails creating another eerie sound. “First wave, go!”

“Everyone switch to swords and shields!” Londra yelled in their minds. “I am afraid too, but we must focus. He is right, we can’t run since we are surrounded. We fight! We are survivors! Look what we have all overcame already.” There were only twelve of the smaller ones left, mostly dark red and dark orange. As if they needed to prove themselves, they began to lick their lips and make horrible sucking sounds. Everyone in the circle changed to swords and shields. This made the M-Ms laugh, another horrible eerie sound that chipped away at one’s courage. “We don’t know much but we do know they will target Goblins. Julius and Rus you work with Zeke. Robbie and Peter will be on magic duty. Slice off their heads then use Purification Flame. Belle, Zerina, and Sasha will take the lead with Calla and Fern burning them as soon as the heads fall. Sasha, it is up to you about your form. Fenten, start casting high level magic projectiles. See if there is anything they don’t like. Trenten, Anne, and Alden take the other side while Mara and I work on this side. Peter and Fern watch us as well in case we need help burning them up. We can do this!”

Everyone took a deep breath, practically in unison as the circle rearranged. Robbie stood right behind his group while Peter was to the side watching Mara and Londra. Calla stood behind the ladies while Fern was more centered behind Anna. Fenten started to unload lances made of earth, fire, ice, and air at the twelve moving towards them. The ice and earth were the only things that sliced them but… they let them fly by to be caught by the larger ones that began to chew on them. The sinister laughing started again.

“Well, don’t think that is a great idea,” Fenton mumbled, closing his light blue eyes for a moment. He changed into his human form, pulling in his wings to stand beside Londra with his sword and buckler ready. He looked over at Londra whose voice was in his head trying to calm him, while she was fighting to stay in control, like everyone else.

“Nothing to be afraid of,” Anna started to mumble as they attacked. “Just block, dodge, and slice off the head.” She laughed nervously as the one before her lost its head and burst into a rainbow of flames. Trenton was tall enough he just kicked the small, horrible, dark yellow creature towards Alden who wasted no time removing the head as Fern began to burn it. Anna wanted to sigh in relief watching the twelve burning before the group. If the M-Ms continued to come at them in small groups… this would work…?

Shadows came, stealing four of the burning M-Ms, disappearing to the back of the lines. The other eight burnt up completely leaving only white ash behind. “Don’t like that,” Calla mumbled softly, wiping away the tears of fear that had escaped from her violet eyes. She heard Londra in her mind telling her to breath, so she did. “Maybe a different frequency with each spell and higher level so they burn faster… must burn them faster.”

“Stay with us, fear will not help,” Londra said forcefully, trying to calm her own racing heart. A quick glace showed everyone gripping their weapons and shields tightly, while their bodies became stiff. Not good, what could she say when her own body was reacting that way? The remaining thirty began to beat on their nails again, letting them see the green poison on the blades and nails. “Did anyone take a hit?”

“Nobody was injured,” Robbie confirmed, his oval, buttercream face focused. His green eyes were watching everything, trying to make it like an experiment so he was shaking with fear. “I don’t know what they are saying but the low, chanting growl is unnerving. Wait, two of the largest disappeared…there should be thirty with the four shadows that only Mara and Trenton can see, but I count forty... wait… more?”

“Agreed,” Mara said trying to keep the nerves from her voice. She wanted to bring out her wings and wrap herself in them, disappearing into the shadows but that wouldn’t help her new friends. There was Londra’s voice again, so calming. “The four shadows went to eight… no ten, how are they multiplying!”

“We must work for our pleasure and supper!” the largest one yelled. This was followed by a unison scream. It was enough everyone was covering their ears while trying to remain standing. The scream did two things; activate the necklaces they were all wearing as nightmares entered their minds and used gravity magic making it hard to stand. The nightmares only lasted a few moments, but it was enough to unnerve them while fighting to stand. They screamed again, this caused a few of them to kneel while tears leaked from their eyes. Weapons were dropped to cover their ears. Fern and Sasha decided to take their human form as they battled to stay in control of their minds.

Londra was fighting to keep the bugs from unnerving her; they were just a mirage. She looked forward just when the largest one picked up a small one, that had somehow been saved by the shadows. With a terrifying scream, he hurled him towards the group. She fought to stand while yelling to the others in their mind to stand. Nobody heard her either way since they were still battling their own fearful hallucinations. But he was thrown too hard because there was no way he would land in the middle of their circle. Just as he was above, the largest one yelled something and the small one exploded, raining brown-green blood down on them. They all had time to block their face and eyes, but everyone was splattered with it somewhere. Londra’s breathing changed as the blood dripped off from the back of her left arm, running down her whole left side. She had protected her face, but a tiny bit landed at the base of her left cheek. It ran down, merging with the other. She looked down, expecting her blue pants and light green, short sleeved shirt to be stained with brown-green blood but… she was clean? No, she felt it… was it a mind trick… She looked around to see that everyone was just as confused but now there were fifteen of the ones that were around four feet tall with wrinkled dark yellow, dark blue, and black skin running towards them. Also, the ones that were five feet tall began to use magic.

Londra and Anna backed up taking each other’s hands to create a dome of reflection around them. The spells began to bounce off which made the M-Ms laugh again, since they caught their own spells and ate them. “I really hate this,” Anna mumbled, squeezing Londra’s hand before they retook their places. Tears were running down her light tan, heart shaped face as her deep green eyes wouldn’t stop making them. Like she didn’t have enough to do and now it was hard to see…

“Try to hold the circle, if not move as groups,” Londra directed looking at the wrinkly, black skinned creature before her, snarling. He flicked his fingernails, sending poison towards her. She dodged it, moving around him until she was in the right position to take his head. Peter used a stronger Purification Flame on it that burned faster. She didn’t have time to look around, just helped Fenten take out a dark blue one while Mara worked on another black one. They watched the Purification Flame burn, ready to react if something went wrong, but the first two burnt up within minutes yet the black one that Mara took down was waving at her. It unnerved them all. A little cry came from Peter who restarted the spell. He hadn’t been able to start the spell immediately… maybe that was the difference.

Mara was tall enough to look around to see the last ones burning weren’t dying. It had to be the time lag, what else could it be? Then her Demon eyes caught a shadow moving. It was a M-M but… definitely female. It shoved an egg in the not quite dead one then pulled it back while it was still burning. The rest of the team didn't notice, but with her eyes she watched the egg hatch, eat the Purification Flame then the body it was stuffed in. The new M-M was larger and stronger looking than the one it ate. “Didn’t need to see that,” she whispered.

“That was a female,” Londra whispered. “It put an egg in… then it hatched and… we need to kill them. They are the ones making the numbers multiply.”

“I seen it too,” Trenton and Anna said softly.

“I don’t like this… but it is the only idea I have come up with,” Robbie started, fisting his buttercream hands in frustration. “Trenton and Anna then Mara and Londra hunt down the females. Only the Demons can find them, apparently. Two will have a better chance of sneaking around. Pull the circle in.”

“You are right, I don’t like that plan,” Alden projected, looking at a nervous Anna. “Two of them alone on opposite sides against that… even with the shadow moving it is risky. But I do see your point. I barely seen the… female. What I did see…”

“Was nightmarish,” Calla whispered, clutching her lance tightly, it was helping her stand since her legs were shaking under her lovely, blue pants. “Please be safe and hurry back.”

Anna pulled Londra in for a hug while Mara and Trenton found the ten females scattered around the battlefield. They use a tracking spell, unique to Demons, and split them up. Trenton reached out his golden pecan colored hand that was slightly shaking to take Anna’s light tan nervous hand. They headed to the west while Mara and Londra headed towards the east. Trenton let go of Anna’s hand as they hid behind a large tree so he could cover his mouth while she did the same. The blood stained parts of their bodies began to burn and itch. Anna couldn’t help but wonder. She pulled her shirt off seeing that her right side was a strange brown-green color, yet her shirt was still blue… She touched it... not liquid or sticky like she thought but hard.

“Mine as well,” Trenton whispered. “I think it is because we shadow walked. I can’t wait to feel the pain when we teleport. There are enough trees around… hopefully.”

Anna grumbled, yanking her shirt back on. “Just think of annoying Flame Beetles. I have this,” she whispered forcibly. “Okay, there is the first. She has a bag of eggs?” The females looked more animalistic, if it was possible. This one had straggly black hair that covered her free bouncing breasts, yet she was wearing a small loin cloth. “My eyes need washing,” she grumbled softly.

“Correct,” Trenton whispered. “She can also teleport… she is thinking about that right now.”

“I can fix that,” Anna responded softly. A moment later the creature was before them. Before it could scream, Trenton took off the head while Anna hastened her Purifying Flame. The bag of eggs… sixteen by the looks of it, dropped to the ground and started to hatch. Small wrinkly creatures began to look around with their large mouths open and yellow teeth gleaming in poison with clawed hands reaching out while the body looked more like a young frog with dangly legs. They both reacted, slicing their heads off before burning them. They waited until nothing was left but white ash. Both let out a breath, closing their eyes to prepare themselves for whatever was next. “We have to do this,” she said before they were moving on to the next.

Mara and Londra were lying on the ground within tall grass waiting for their fifth to move. This one had dark green hair covering her dark yellow breasts with beads?

Grabbing them when they teleported was Anna’s idea and it had worked. Yet communicating with each other was so difficult to do. Londra had to focus on the one she wanted to speak to and then her words had to be focused. She was trying to be a good captain and keep them all going. Letting them know that they were almost done and to hold on, but she had no idea if they heard her because they were too far away to see.

Both pairs were on their last female and there was no more detected. The others were still working together but slowing and taking more damage. After they killed their third, Robbie informed them that their blood soaked body parts were burning and itching. But that was the last time Londra or Anna heard anyone…

So, it was a time thing… now that they were slowing, thanks to the burning and itching with the exhaustion… make it harder to fight. The female began to teleport and was now before Mara who took her head while Londra destroyed the eggs so all could be burned in the Purifying Flames. “I don’t see a way to get back,” Londra whispered.

“There are no more shadows to use… this one was tricky, but I didn’t want to teleport and push this mess into my body more until we are done. All the shadows have moved since the sun is in a different spot… that and the ground is being torn up with magic. I just don’t see a way back that doesn’t require running,” Mara responded.

“We can’t teleport,” Londra sighed, “not until they are all dead. I think we will be close to passing out if we do. Fifteen left who use magic and weapons with the leader who is…”

“Behind us,” Mara sighed, pushing Londra away. The tall, black-violet, wrinkled, male with piercing yellow eyes used his sword on the left and his claws on the right, connecting with them both. The sword had pierced Mara’s left leg while the claws came down on Londra’s right shoulder. With a scream of pain and frustration, Londra changed her sword for her lance. Pushing the pain away with a spell, she stood before it. It was fresh and fast while she was running on pain and fear… so much fear… She was able to block his attacks but getting in one would be impossible.

Mara was trying to stand when another appeared next to her. This one was dark red, with green poison dripping from his twisted mouth. He began to use fire magic, trying to burn her clothing off but Mara used the force to help her stand, putting out the fire quickly before her pants were gone. Using shadows to strengthen her bleeding leg she started to block his attacks, since he had switched from fire to a sword and claws.

Londra franticly looked around to see everybody was wounded and battling to live. Trenton and Anna had one burning but it just kept attacking them. The Purifying Flame wasn’t working? Then she noticed that four others were burning but still attacking.

Londra couldn’t see anything but this eight foot, black-violet, abomination before her but she could feel the hopelessness drenching the area. The fear was fueling the M-Ms… and they were all afraid. She couldn’t keep this up for too much longer, neither could anybody else. Robbie, Fern, and Calla were desperately trying to burn the ones that were leaning down to get their head from the ground and reattach them. Anna was doing the same trying to protect Trenton who was badly injured… his leg was impaled like Mara’s. What were they doing wrong? Think! Tears began to run from her hazel eyes, and she was surprised she had any moisture left in her dry eyes.

They wanted to… kill instead of purify? Could it be that easy? Not that calming the mind and heart when you were bleeding, aching, burning, and itching would be easy. She looked closer at the flames; they were dark and no longer rainbow colored. The fires were tainted; thus, they didn’t work. It wasn’t the frequency or level, but the purity. She wet her lips and began to weakly sing since it was the only thing in her mind, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” She was sure they would all think she was crazy but… this song had gotten her through all the challenges. All the cold, dark, bug invested challenges. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,” she blocked and pushed back. “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”

“I know that horrible song,” they all hear Robbie say. He had strengthened their link somehow after realizing that the fear was making it hard to hear the ones next to him. Now it sounded like he was standing right next to everyone. “That bad, uh?”

“I think so too,” Anna mumbled, trying to protect herself and Trenton who couldn’t stand. “I can’t stop crying and I can’t heal his leg… I… I… hate this! I hate the word can’t!”

“They won’t burn,” Calla murmured, gasping for air. She could finally hear someone beside Londra’s mind words of support and Alden’s mind words of direction. “I haven’t heard any of you in a while… even the ones next to me. Was it the screaming?”

“Guys, even with my muscles… I don’t know how much more I can take,” Zeke admitted. Sweat beading up all over his body that was drenched in brown-green blood and wounds that were topped with green poison. It was hard to hold his golden eyes open.

“They keep repeating nipples,” Fern grumbled, she was sitting on the ground because her legs would no longer hold her and the burning… even her scalp… her long violet hair dripping with brown-green blood. Her blue eyes were far from vivid and dry while still finding a way to water up. She wondered how Calla was even standing. “So horrible…”

“I stopped listening,” Zerina sighed, blocking and pushing the tall M-M away from her again. Her short, turquoise hair plastered her head from sweat and gore while her blue eyes were just trying to stay focused. She had absorbed all the fire they had sent at her. A few had been able to use holy, how she had no idea. She was also able to block water and wind spells, but her body just wouldn’t keep up with all her mind wanted it to do. Her cinnamon hands were tight on her sword and shield but… she had more pride as a warrior than this!

“Our fire is tainted?” Belle guessed, her deep blue eyes and oval, light beige face showing her exhaustion while she battled with Sasha and Zerina but hadn’t heard them speak in quite some time. She had heard her brother and Londra, when she did her long Elven ears stood up then but now, she was sure they were drooping. So much burning and itching…

“It must be, all I can feel is fear… from the past and present,” Alden projected. His blue-green marbled eyes were so dry from the tears of fear, but he had to stay focused. Rus was barely standing, and Zeke’s muscles were shaking in fatigue. He knew his beige, Elven ears were drooping but so was the rest of him. His sword was so heavy…

The leader didn’t like that they were talking to each other and screamed again. It echoed through the little patch within the forest and birds could be heard fleeing for their lives. “Not this again,” Londra mumbled. All she could see around her were bugs… spiders… nightmares then the talisman in the necklace glowed helping her recentered for a moment. This is when she noticed how wounded Mara was. She pushed the leader back with all that she had and struggled to get to Mara. The fear was there again; Mara looked like a giant fire ant. “No,” Londra whispered. She closed her eyes then opened just in time to see Mara fall and the M-M reach for her… but she seen something else. The spirits within the M-M suffering in pain. A reason to purify… she sliced off its head and began to use Purifying Flame. “I’m gonna let it shine,” she sang weakly. “When the darkness threatens the day… I’m gonna let it shine. When hate wins the day… I’m gonna let it shine,” she paused, battling the fear within herself.

“It is working,” Mara whispered, her body aching everywhere as she tried to do something… anything but cry. “I can’t stand… This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,” she mumbled, closing her watery blue-navy Demon eyes.

“I didn’t let the challenge stop me…” they all heard Julius say. The link was strong again; they were all strengthening it because it was needed. His light tan, square face showed his pain and exhaustions while his green eyes looked around as if he could find strength somewhere. His shield was strapped to his arm because he just couldn’t hold it anymore while his sword was so heavy… like his body… but… “We aren’t killing we are freeing the souls within the ugly shells, right?”

“Yes,” Anna responded as if something clicked in her mind. She looked at the M-M before her, picking up its head while laughing at them. “I’m gonna let it shine,” she gritted her teeth fighting the flashing nightmares twisting her emotions so all she wanted to do was kill. “When doubt clouds the mind… I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let is shine.” She separated the head again but this time her fire was pure. The flames were rainbow colors, bright and pure. It wasn’t laughing now. “Let go of those poor souls!”

“I get it now,” Peter whispered, his white rabbit ears standing up as he pushed the fear to the side. Was that even possible? He and Fenton had taken turns fighting but he was so exhausted. Thankfully the blood had missed his ears, but it was caked in his white hair and down his right side. It itched so and burned. His arms ached and was glad he didn’t need hands to use magic just a focused mind. He could see his talisman glowing strongly and for the first time see the souls within. “We must save the tainted souls. My fire will be pure! I don’t know the song… what is next?”

“On the darkest day… my light will shine,” Fenten answered softly, staring ahead at the M-M before him. With a deep breath he straightened his worn body, wishing for his wings but glad that they were not out. His light blue eyes blinked back the pain, as he tossed his head to get his moist, short, indigo hair off from his caramel colored face. “It will shine, it will shine, it will shine!”

“When hate turns to pain… my love will shine,” Zeke added thinking about how many times he had heard the song. Londra and he were always in the challenge room together, her silly song helped him make it through. Rolling his shoulder and finding a way to move his yelled, “It will shine, it will shine, it will shine… my love will shine.”

“Even when doubt darkens the mind… my light will shine… my love will shine… my mind will shine… I’m gonna let it shine!” Robbie continued feeling a bit of strength return. He was leaning on a lance… which he didn’t remember changing to. His green eyes so dry, yet… the challenges had been horrible too. Hearing and seeing things that weren’t real, just to tug on your emotions and break your spirit… this wasn’t too different.

“I can hear you all again,” Trenton mumbled, his large hands over the wound in his right leg. His eyes closed, listening to Anna tell him it was going to be okay.

“It is quite the song,” Sasha commented, blocking an incoming attack. Her evergreen eyes searching just to make sure they were almost done. Moisture all over her body mixed with the brown-green blood that was like a burning scab that wouldn’t come off and wounds that weren’t bleeding but covered in green goo. “I like it. I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. We must free these souls!” With that the two before her and Belle lost their heads. Fern and Calla’s fire burned true, even if they were both sitting, leaning against each other. “Oh, I can see them… they are free.”

“That is why we are fighting… not for us but for them. That is what keeps the magic pure,” Belle said softly, wiping her tears with the shoulder of her shirt, the only thing that wasn’t filthy. Her blue eyes connecting with her brother for a moment. “The bleeding and burning made me forget. I couldn’t even hear Zerina and Sasha beside me.”

“What do we have left?” Rus asked watching those before him burn to ash. He wasn’t sure where he wasn’t burning but… he had lived on Terra, he was used to burning. He had lived through the challenges with Londra’s silly song and their support. He had changed from before and finally liked this version of himself. His large, brown muscles were aching, but he would endure. “My singing voice is horrible. Didn’t want to add to the pain.”

“The leader is all that is left,” Alden projected, trying to roll the ache out of his joints. His long, braided, brown hair crusted over with the brown-green blood that was plastered to his shirt… he didn’t even remember what color it was. His mind was failing… all the images of what had been done to him as a slave really made it hard to think. “I just need a moment…”

“I can’t bring out my wings,” Fenten, Fern, and Robbie said in unison. They finally had a moment to look at each other and if it was any other situation they would have laughed.

“Yea, can’t turn into fast me either,” Rus mumbled, wanting to lay down on the ground and sleep. Oh, maybe the ground was cool, that would be nice.

“Neither can I,” Sasha said quietly, using all her will power to speak. “I can barely stand.”

“My leg is shot,” Zeke grumbled, looking down at his torn up left leg. “They wanted to eat me. I showed them… but yet they really did a number on my leg. I don’t know how I am standing,” he admitted. “Wait, I am standing right?”

“Yea,” Rus grumbled, “leaning against me.”

“Londra is fighting it,” Anna said frantically, her green eyes clearing as she looked over the battlefield. She needed to do something but couldn’t focus magic that far away right now. There was no way she could move. “I can’t leave Trenton…”

“I wish you could but… glad you are here,” Trenton sighed battling to stay awake.

“I can get there,” Peter started, his long rabbit ears twitching as if telling him to move. “But my arm can’t hold a weapon. My shoulder was chewed on pretty good.”

“I can’t get there either,” Julius sighed, struggling to stay standing. “Got a green, gooey sword in the foot. I believe in you Londra!”

“I will go,” Belle and Zerina said together. They looked at each other and nodded.

“Peter, can you get to Mara?” Londra asked, they all could hear how winded she was.

“I will!” he stated. Tucking his arm against his body, using what was left of his shirt to hold it there he ran. Belle and Zerina ran beside him just in case the leader decided to stop going after Londra. Once he was beside Mara, they rushed to help intercept the attacks.

“Thanks,” Londra mumbled. “Having a hard time breathing… think it is him…”

“You are right,” Belle answered in her straightforward, smooth way causing Londra to smile. “I will give you a few minutes but that is all. My legs are failing me.”

“Got it,” Londra mumbled, using a spell to make Zerina disappear. It wouldn’t last for long, but she would be able to get behind the leader. But it felt her and turned because Belle was beginning to breathe hard. Zerina smiled as Belle sliced his head off. Immediately, Londra used Purifying Flames. “I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” With that the last of the M-M turned to ash. “Not to sound like a captain, but… Sasha, Zeke, Calla, and Fern think you guys could purify the land. If you need more Anna can add to it. Robbie, we have the air. We can’t leave it like this… not after all of that.”

“Good, then I will work on bringing us all together,” Alden projected, wanting to do something to help realign his mind.

“Use your air magic,” Belle suggested, breathing hard for real this time. “That way you won’t have to carry the injured. I know you didn’t use a lot of magic…”

“That is a good idea, thanks Belle. I am a little… off right now, so thanks,” he projected. He watched how everyone worked on purifying each a bit different, while he slowly moved Trenton, Mara, and Peter back to their intimate circle. Everyone was bleeding but yet… where was the blood? There was so little on their clothing, just dirt and magic remains.

“The portal will hurt just as much as teleporting,” Sasha started, laying on the ground because she was just that exhausted and sore, but she wasn’t alone. “I say teleport to our room…” Londra and Anna joined the circle, slowly sitting next to Sasha. “I am right?”

“Yes, unfortunately,” Anna sighed, leaning against Londra for a moment. “Do we have enough antidote? How much did you by, Robbie?”

“Twenty bottles of blood antidote, know what that means now,” Robbie sighed picking at the brown-green stuff on his right wrist. “Twenty jars of battle antidote. Looking around, I don’t think we have enough or enough energy to…” he stopped noticing Londra was activating her Lacrama.

“Hey, Murk,” she started, “thanks for answering so quickly.”

“I have a bad feeling,” Murk’s voice came through her Lacrama. “Why can’t I see you? What did you do?” He sighed, “how can I help.”

“Oh, I love questions,” Londra replied weakly. “Is Alexander there?”

“He is, right next to me as a matter of fact,” Murk answered. “It is amazing how his new arm is so life like. He was helping me… okay, next?”

“I know that we said he could take his time but that isn’t an option. We ran into M-Ms….”

“Don’t know what that is… but he just ran out of here yelling he just seen Darcy and would be heading to D and D. Is that… did you… are you all alive?”

“Yes, and that is very helpful,” Londra replied with a smile he couldn’t see. “I hate to cut this short, but my energy is fading and if he seen Darcy, I am going to warn Deven. Thanks.”

“Yea, bye,” he ended with a large sigh.

“Good idea,” Robbie said trying to read the bottle he was holding in his hand. The instructions were so tiny and his eyes were so dry.

Londra continued to the next person, “Hey Deven,” she started, but this time the screen showed his surprised, sharp oval, black face and amber eyes. After seeing them he ran nervous hands through his short, neat, dark red hair with orange highlights. “We stepped into a trap and had to fight Green Goblins or what others call Manifestations of Malice. So, M-Ms for short. We have some antidote we bought from a nice group in the north, but not enough. Alexander is chasing after Darcy to show her the recipes for the antidote…”

“Are you teleporting here? How many?” Deven asked, getting his composure. “It is going to hurt… so only once. I would bring the worst here. I will meet you at the back door since it is closer to the treatment rooms.”

“Thanks,” Londra replied watching him look around the group with watery eyes. “Trenton and Mara were both impaled, they are the worst. Myself, Alden, and Zeke will be with them. That should leave enough antidote so the others can be treated in our room.”

“Call Daniella, she will have a small army ready to help,” Deven suggested as Londra nodded. “Figured she was your next call. Have Robbie or Anna keep the communication open so Alexander can explain how to do everything.”

“That is a good idea,” Robbie mumbled. “I have more than enough to do that even if I pass out. I will just attach the spell…”

“Okay, we will see you in a few minutes. I am contacting Daniella now,” Londra said. Deven nodded and the screen went blank. She was going to contact Daniella with just voice, but she refused so a moment later her kind, heart shaped, copper face and worried brown eyes were looking back.

“What happened! Our contract flickered, meaning you were in serious danger. Speak! What do you need,” Daniella said as more faces filled the screen with worried eyes.

“We have antidote but not the energy to use it,” Londra started. “Part of the team are going to our room while the other go to D and D. We need help and maybe a few that can use water or air magic. We are going to keep a voice link going so Deven and Darcy can walk us through what needs to be done.”

“It will be done!” Daniella stated, looking around. “I will bring a team up in less than five minutes. I suggest everyone go into the bathrooms; we will probably need water and cool places to lay you all down.” With that the link went dark.

“Guess she told us,” Anna sighed. “I agree with the cool place to lay… I am so hot.”

“I will put you before the bathrooms,” Londra started. Before anyone could question it, they were before the bathrooms in their room hearing people come up the stairs while the others were before the back door to D and D. All crying out in pain.

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