In a dark, star-filled night sky, five figures surrounded by a bright, peaceful light appeared in a soft shimmer of air. Beneath them, the intense explosion that consumed Kumraa slowly diminished away, leaving only black smoke and ash falling like black snow to the ground.
Slowly the light surrounding the figures ebbed, and Jeneta was the first to moan softly in pain and open her eyes. Her muscles were killing her! With a wince, she opened her eyes further and looked around. Besides her, Prya, Ling, Heather, and Angeni were just opening their eyes too. Were...they alive? Did they survive the fight against Kumraa? She didn't know, but the pain in her body certainly felt like she was alive. She blinked, looked down, and gasped in surprise. "Whoa, what's going on?" They were...floating up in the air? How could this be? She heard the other girls gasp in alarm too. Were they going to plunge to their deaths? This is SO unfair! Jeneta thought to herself in fright. They battled a huge evil monster, and now they were going to be killed by falling straight to the ground!
She looked to her friends beside her in panic, but before she could get a word out, a soft breeze blew across them, gently blowing their hair about them and calming them. When the girls looked up, they stared in awe at a soft ball of blue light coming towards them. It was small at first, but as it came nearer to them, it got bigger and bigger. When it was right in front of them, the ball was twice the size of a basketball. It hovered in front of them for a few moments, then slowly grew bigger, turning into a tall and muscular man.
When it was done, a tall, dark-skinned man, looking to be about in his mid-30's, floated before them. His jet-black hair was neatly combed back into a low, braided ponytail. The beginnings of a beard and mustache covered his chin and jaw line. He wore a simple white robe that flowed with the breeze all around him. On his feet were a pair of golden sandals, and he seemed to actually walk in the air towards them. His dark eyes smiled and seemed so welcoming to the girls, but they could only stare at him in slight apprehension and confusion, not knowing what to say or do.
The man smiled warmly and looked them deep in the eyes. "Please...do not be afraid. You are in no danger. Not anymore." His voice was deep, but also soft in a way that spoke of gentleness and peace.
There was a moment of tense silence as the girls continued to stare, until it was Jeneta who first spoke, her voice shaky. "Who...are you? And what happened to Kumraa?"
The man bowed his head in understanding and smiled softly once more. "I am Imanwai. I am one of the gods who brought life to this world. I am one of the many brothers and sister gods who help bring life to worlds that would have remained barren," He raised his eyebrow and held his chin between his finger and thumb thoughtfully. "I believe some of us even came to Earth, where you hail from."
Heather's eyes widened in shock. "Came to Earth? You mean..you guys...you created..?"
"Shhh! Let him finish!" Angeni shushed, then turned back to the man with a sheepish smile as Heather rolled her eyes.
Imanwai smiled softly to himself again, then continued. "Thanks to you, this world has been freed. Kumraa is destroyed, and his threat is no more. We are all indebted to you." He bowed his regal head to them.
"But how did we survive?" Jeneta shook her head in confusion. "The Goddesses, they said....I mean, they thought there wasn't a chance we'd come out of this alive..."
"Because at the last moment, they used the last of the strength they gathered from you when you merged with them to create a protective barrier, a shield to protect you and to ensure that that you would be safe. I then brought you up here, to speak to you," A sad look came across the god's face.
"You mean they're....they're..." Ling's eyes misted up slightly. They couldn't be gone, they just couldn't! Not after everything they went through together. It would be like part of her and her friends died if the Goddess sacrificed themselves.
"The strain was almost too much for them, yes," Imanwai said, "But all is not lost. Take a look," He pointed to the Sacred Medallions around their necks. The medallions glowed faintly in the light of all of the planet's moons, giving them an otherworldly look.
"The essence and souls of the Ones Who Are Blessed are within your bodies once more, safely recuperating until they are summoned again with the help of the Sacred Medallions."
Jeneta sighed with relief and gently held the medallion piece in her hands. He was right...she could now feel Ula's soul, her hopes and dreams when she concentrated, and as she looked to her friends, she saw that they too could feel the souls of the goddess they were connected to. They smiled as they held their medallions close, relief washing over them.
"But..what about Kumraa? Is he really gone?" Prya asked nervously.
Once more sadness entered the dark-skinned man's eyes. "Yes, but..there is something you should know about him," He folded his hands together, as if in prayer. "Kumraa wasn't just a demon lord. One time...many years ago, before there were even humans...he was one of us. He was one of the gods that traveled the universe, bringing life to dead planets and ensuring the balance between light and dark."
"What? He was one of you?" Heather shook her head in disbelief. "That's impossible!"
Imanwai was silent for a moment as flashes of memory entered his mind...of Kumraa as a handsome, fresh-faced young man, with long blonde hair and laughing hazel eyes, then went on. "Kumraa was one of our most powerful gods, helping to bring about life on worlds that were dead or just formed. He was the one that helped create different species and cultures and brought education. But...over the years, Kumraa felt that he was under-appreciated by the others. He felt that no one took notice of all his hard work, his time, his experiments. He slowly began to grow impatient, impulsive, and arrogant. He argued more and more for a higher position, for more power, to rule over these worlds. But in our order, we do not rule over worlds...we simply watched over them and guided them as they needed."
He shook his head in sadness. "But Kumraa didn't see it that way. He felt the people NEEDED to be ruled over with an iron fist, to be controlled. He felt they were all beneath him. Soon, darkness took over his heart, and he began to...change. He and I were close...closer than the other gods. We shared just about everything together. But when he began to change, it destroyed our friendship. That is why...that is why I didn't allow myself to become involved. I was hoping, I was praying that somehow, he would see the error of his ways and...and.." Tears gathered in his eyes at the memory of losing his closest friend.
"It's alright, we understand," Angeni nodded for him to continue.
"The evil and darkness overtook him more and more," Imanwai's voice shook with emotion as he spoke. "Until one day...he was unrecognizable," He winced as he recalled in his mind the scarred, greyish face of his old friend, his eyes glowing red and an evil smirk on his once-handsome face. "We all decided to confront him, to plead with him and get him to become one of us again, but it was too late. He had many followers, and soon, there was a great battle...a battle that not only occurred here, but on many other worlds. There were heavy loses on both sides, but somehow, we became victorious. Kumraa was the last left and weakened, and we left it to the five goddesses who were the overseers of this world to watch over him...The Ones Who Are Blessed. But he arose again, as evil and hungry as ever with new followers. They fought him the best they could, but they never finished the spell to destroy him. It only sealed him away."
He looked up at the girls bravely. "That was when I finally allowed myself to intervene. When the goddesses died, in desperation I took their souls and hoped to help them be reborn again, but...something went wrong. Before he was sealed, Kumraa cast his own spell to ensure that they would never be reborn on this world again. I was devastated....all of us gods were...but I knew there had to be a chance, a way to overcome this curse. In my grief, I fled Cyphyrus with the souls....I had remembered a small planet the other gods talked about where one of the battles against Kumraa took place...a small blue planet called Earth."
"And that's where we came in!" Ling smiled.
"Yes, when you put it that way. The Goddesses were reborn, just as brave and beautiful as I remember them to be," The god chuckled as the girls blushed, and nodded his head. "Now we are all in peace again, thanks to your bravery and courage." He bowed low, his arms spread wide.
Jeneta smiled, then a sudden, dreadful thought came to her. "But...what happened to Djoser and the others? Are they okay? I thought I heard Kumraa telling the Goddesses that he...he.." Fear washed over her in chilly waves.
"There's only one way to find out..." With a small smile, the god made a gesture in his hands, and immediately the girls were surrounded a soft light. Peace like none other coursed through the girls' body, and they closed their eyes as in a shimmer, they disappeared, leaving the stars twinkling in the sky and the moons shining brightly.
****************************************************
"No..it can't be, the girls can't be gone!" Kain shook his head and clenched his fists. "They just HAVE to be okay...they just HAVE to be!"
Besides him, Tao drew in a shaky breath, then turned to Yelsnid. "Please...is there a chance you could be mistaken? Maybe they're waiting for us, and we just need to find them..."
"I am not mistaken," Master Yelsnid sighed tiredly and sat on a tree stump not too far away. "I can't feel them right now, and I'm...I'm too tired to try any more spells to locate them." Although he tried to hide it, even he couldn't stop his body from trembling with exhaustion.
"We can't just wait here all night for them. There has to be something we can do!" Kondolar said, looking to Djoser. "Maybe..if we go to a village and let Master Yelsnid rest, we could try again."
Djoser was quiet for a moment, a thousand thoughts running through his head. The only good thing to come out of this was that Kumraa was likely defeated, as his army suddenly dissolved without his evil power to draw upon. But did that mean that Jeneta and the other girls sacrificed themselves? It couldn't be...Jeneta promised him she'd come back. But there was no way to know for sure...not sitting and waiting in the meadows in the dark. The girls certainly wouldn't want him to do that, he was sure of it.
With a sigh, Djoser turned back to the others and nodded his head. "He's right. Although I'd rather not...we should head out and look for shelter. There's nothing more we can do here, and Master Yelsnid needs rest before anything else. It's time to head out."
The others nodded reluctantly and made to move to their horses....when suddenly there was a bright flash in the air above the meadow clearing off to the right. For a moment there was nothing out in the wide-open space...then a large blue ball, followed by five smaller white balls, slowly descended down from the sky to the flowery ground. The others looked on in anticipation as the lights slowly dimmed, and five smiling figures, along with the fall form of a dark-skinned man, emerged triumphant.
At first, Djoser could barely bring himself to move as he and Jeneta locked eyes with one another for what seemed like eternity.....it could have been a dream, and if he moved, he'd wake and it would be gone. But as he watched Jeneta step forward towards him, a radiant smile on her face and her arms opening for him, he allowed himself one step towards her...then another, and another, until he was practically running to her. He didn't care who watched or what they thought...he just had to get to her and know for sure if she was real or just a dream.
He didn't stop running until he grabbed her in his arms, picked up her light form, and swung her around and around, so relieved and joyous was he. He listened to her happy laughter as she fiercely hugged him back, then when he stopped, he looked into her face and saw the tears falling in streams down her dark cheeks, and he knew for sure that it was not a dream...that she was here, in his arms, and alive.
He couldn't help the one tear from falling down his own cheek, and his voice was thick with emotion. "I...we...thought you were...that you all were..-"
Jeneta shook her head and pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. "Djoser, don't you remember? I told you I wanted to see you again."
At the look of complete love and happiness in her eyes, Djoser couldn't help but grin widely, then bend down and passionately kiss the girl who had stolen his heart. Nothing else mattered, nothing except being here with this strange girl from another world with her strange ways, and feeling every ounce of her love pour into him.
***
"Prya!" Kondolar rushed as fast as he could to the young brown-skinned girl. "Are you alr....AHH!" He was just about to reach her, his heart beating a thousand miles a minute....when at that moment, he tripped over a hidden branch and fell sprawling to the ground. Prya stopped and gasped in surprise, then covered her mouth as she laughed softly.
"Oh Kondolar," she said softly, helping him to his feet. The young man blushed heavily in embarrassment as he dusted himself off. He was just about to say he was sorry, that he had no idea why a beautiful girl like her would want anything to do with him. He was about to berate himself for being so stupid, so clumsy in front of her...but he never got the chance. Instead, Prya threw her arms around him with a sob, tears gathering in her eyes. "Kondolar...promise me you won't leave me?" At the surprised look on his face, Prya smiled. "I never really had much of a chance to know what love is, but...but..when I think of you, it's like I can't breathe when you're not there. Each moment is agony when I don't see you. That's what it felt like for me. That's...that's what love is supposed to be like, I know that now. Kondolar...I know I love you now. So...so please promise you won't leave me."
The young man felt his eyes mist for the first time, and slowly...he enfolded her in his arms with a smile. "I promise, if I can help it, I won't leave you....because I love you too," he whispered. For a moment they touched foreheads with one another before sharing a soft kiss as his robes fluttered about them in the night breeze.
******
Angeni barely had time to smile at the touching scene between Kondolar and Prya before she was suddenly lifted off her feet. She gave a small yell of surprise as she looked up to see Kain smiling down mischievously at her. "OHHHH! You idiot! Put me down, you...you...you..." She pounded on his chest and shoulders. But before she could get herself angry with him, she looked up into his eyes, and it was then that all the emotion and fear of never seeing him again surfaced like lava from a volcano, and she couldn't help the tears falling down her cheeks and sobs racking her body. "You...you...!" She slowly stopped pounding on him, and with a happy smile, she threw her arms around his neck and cried softly. No words were needed as Kain held her close in his arms. Almost before he knew it, he lowered his head to give her a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. It was sweeter than anything he had ever tasted in his life. When the long kiss ended, he laid his chin on top of her head. He wished for nothing more than this moment to last forever... and as the moon's lights shined down on them, for just a moment...for him at least, it did seem to last forever.
****
"I should have been there with you." Ling gasped in surprise as she felt a pair of arms enfold her from behind. She didn't even notice Tao come up behind her as she watched everyone else. She placed her hands over his clasped ones across her midriff and sighed in contentment. Sure, she could have come up with a wisecrack remark right then, could have told him to shove off...anything like that, but for right now, that didn't matter to her. She knew now that while he annoyed her at first, just the thought of never seeing Tao again was enough to scare her to her very bones.
With a smile, she turned around to face him. "You were with me, moron!" she said with a chuckle. "You were with me in my heart...in my soul. Any GREAT warrior like yourself would have known that!" She laughed softly and flicked his nose. At his bewildered expression, Ling could only laugh more, finally making him chuckle. Then in a complete surprise, as Ling continued laughing, Tao bravely took her in his arms and kissed her passionately for a long moment before leaning away again, a nervous look on his face. For just a second, he thought she would smack him hard...but instead, she jumped back in his arms and kissed back as passionately as he kissed her. And for the first time, in a LONG time, everything felt right to Tao as he held her in his arms.
Master Yelsnid weakly walked up to Heather and placed a trembling hand on her shoulder. "You did well, my dear," he said softly. "Very well. We're all proud of you." Heather smiled gratefully, then was surprised as the master sorcerer pulled her into a soft hug. With a sigh, Heather hugged back, happier than ever that it was all over now.
When the hug ended, Master Yelsnid turned to face the man standing not too far from them. "Thank you...for bringing them safely back to us." he said, his voice thick with emotion.
"The thanks is to them," Imanwai smiled, looking at each girl meaningfully. He turned to look at Heather, then walked over to her to take her hand in his. "I know you have lost someone very important to you in this fight," he whispered. "But know this...the end of one life often means the beginning of another." Heather gasped and was about to ask him what he meant, but he had already moved away. He stopped and turned to face the others.
"Now...it is time to return and give life to a fallen kingdom...and for a king to be crowned."
Everyone looked up in surprise and turned to look at Djoser, then back at Imanwai..but before any questions could be asked, they were all surrounded by a calming, blue light and they all disappeared...even the horses, leaving the peaceful night behind.
***************
Within moments they were back in Colaris, and they could already see changes coming about. Even at night, there were people rushing about, doing their best to repair broken buildings, gates, and roads. Large lamps and torches gave them the light they needed. The girls all stared in awe at how much better the city looked, with markets being set up for the morning and women on their way home to make fine dresses.
With the threat and evil of Kumraa gone, life instantly began sprouting back into the city...practically the whole planet. But soon, exhaustion overtook the girls, and taking pity, Djoser quickly rode them to the city's palace, only just starting to be prepared. Within moments of being shown their rooms, the girls fell into bed and were asleep, barely taking their boots off before their heads hit the pillow. In the doorway, Djoser smiled as he folded his arms across his chest. "Sleep well, my saviors," he whispered as they slept on. Just then, Kondolar, Kain, Tao, and Master Yelsnid walked up to him from the shadows, their faces grave. "Djoser...we need to talk," Master Yelsnid said, his voice weaker than ever.
***************
Morning arrived in a spark of sunlight, and almost immediately, beautiful colored birds flew across the sky in flocks, as though welcoming a morning of freedom and peace that now reigned across the lands. The door to the bedroom opened, and half a dozen giggling servant girls came in, holding bundles of dresses and shoes.
One of them walked over and opened the curtains, flooding the room with light. Immediately Jeneta and the other girls woke, surprised but finally feeling rested. "What's going on?" Jeneta asked, sitting up in bed.
"Today is a very important day. We have much to do!" said one of the girls, smiling broadly. Jeneta and her friends barely had time to say anything else as the servant girls pounced on them with a grin, bathing them, doing their hair, and getting them dressed in elegant dresses reminiscent of the Middle Ages; A golden yellow for Jeneta, a sleek red for Ling, emerald green for Heather, an elegant shade of maroon for Angeni, and a sapphire blue for Prya that could put the ocean to shame. When they were all dressed, they stood in the middle of their room admiring and complimenting each other, their faces filled with delight and happiness.
After that was a quick breakfast of breads, cheese, fruit, and wines, then they were rushed off to the throne room, which amazingly survived the destruction of Kumraa's army...although had no roof. The room was immense, but it was packed by time the girls entered. Everyone was dressed immaculately, and they easily talked with and smiled warmly at the girls as they shyly walked in.
"Hello girls!" said a warm voice behind them. They turned around and gasped in surprise as they saw the sorceress Orana and her daughter Kylini, both beaming down at them in happiness.
"Orana!" Jeneta said with joy, and rushed up with the other girls to give her a group hug, then Kylini.
"We're so glad you're safe," Heather said tearfully, truly happy to see the women again.
"As am I, and I am SO proud of you all," the older woman said, looking at them all with pride. Beside her, Kylini nodded in agreement.
"This is truly a joyous day, because of you," she smiled as she placed a hand over her heart.
Just then, a trumpet sounded loudly in the room, interrupting what more she would have said, and everyone turned to the immense wooden double doors as they opened, making way for the new king. Just as Djoser stepped in through the doors, a cloud moved away from its place over the sun, and it was as if he was being showered in gold. He was dressed in full armor, his dark navy blue breastplates and arm plates fitting perfectly over his muscular body. His black cape fluttered easily behind him in the wind. His hair was neatly braided over, and even Jeneta couldn't help a sharp intake of breath at how dashing he looked as he walked past her. Kondolar, Master Yelsnid, Tao, and Kain walked behind him, their heads held high. As Kain walked past her in the procession, he couldn't help grinning widely at Angeni, showing off his dimples and raising his eyebrow. She blushed and looked away, but still felt her heart skip a beat.
The march ended at the throne, an older man dressed in religious robes and wreathes in his black and white hair standing in front of it. In his hands he held a small pillow with a golden circlet crown resting in the middle of it. Embedded in the front of the crown was a large diamond, glowing brightly in the morning sun.
Djoser knelt down on one knee when he reached the throne and place his right fist over his heart. The man looked down on Djoser hopefully. "Do you, Djoser, son of King Sostris and Queen Nfertiri, promise to uphold all that is good and honorable and protect the kingdom of Perdenia and all it's people? To rule fairly and justly, and defend the weak?"
The young man answered immediately. "I swear, upon the honor of my parents, King Sostris and Queen Nfertiri, that I will protect this land and all within it, and bring honor and peace upon this kingdom. This I promise, as King Djoser." The older man smiled his satisfaction, and his dark eyes seemed to smile happily as he picked up the crown and addressed the crowd.
"I present to you, our reigning sovereign, King Djoser!" The man placed the crown upon his head, and it was then that the crowd seemed to go wild. Trumpets sounded, and there were shouts, yells and clapping everywhere for their new king. Even Jeneta and her friends couldn't help but cheer and celebrate along with the others. This was a joyous time, and for them, it was a long and difficult road to it.
Djoser stood up and turned to see Jeneta looking up at him joyfully. He smiled and winked at her, and she felt her heart skip anew.
It was a long morning of feasting, dancing, and music, and the girls loved every moment of it as they watched and imitated new dance steps. They would have went on more, but just as a dance they were learning ended, Djoser came up and tapped Jeneta on the shoulder, and looked at the other girls. "Come, there is something you should see," he smiled.
He led them up a flight of steps, then out to a balcony at the back of the castle that was just repaired. The castle was situated on a small hill, and out to the left was a beautiful view of the ocean not too far off. Djoser pointed, and the girls looked out to see what seemed to be people jumping in and out of the water, waving to them. Then upon looking closer, they saw the glimmering tails, the long, wispy hair and gleaming skin.
"Why.....they're merpeople!" Heather said in fascination. The girls giggled with delight and waved back as they watched the merfolk flip and dive in and out of the ocean. They blew seashell horns and made rainbows appear above them with their splashing.
"There's more to see!" Djoser led them back towards the front of the castle, where there was another balcony facing the city square. As soon as the girls stepped out, they looked down on a whole multitude of people...people of different shades of coloring and cultural backgrounds. Just as soon as the people notice them there, they quieted, and one by one, they began to bow low, creating a wave of bowing people as the girls watched in shock.
"They are thanking you...for saving our world." Djoser said softly with a smile.
Tears misted in Jeneta's eyes. "I..don't know what to..say..I.." But just then, the crowd parted, and there was suddenly the sound of shouting and animal-skin drums being beaten that came from behind them. The girls watched in awe as about a dozen dark-skinned women, wearing multicolored skirts and turbans, came twirling down the path. Dark-skinned men with bare chests and beating wooden animal-skin drums strapped around their waist followed them. They stopped in front of the castle and began dancing to a beautiful beat of drums and clapping. The women twirled and kicked their legs high, and as one, danced a dance of freedom and joy. Their golden bracelets and anklets gleamed in the sun, and soon, everyone was clapping to the beat as they danced.
After long moments they stopped playing and dancing for a second...then started playing again as they slowly moved away. As the dancing troop moved off to another beat, another group came up. This time they were Asian-looking people with almond-shaped eyes and dark hair. The women wore black pants with a red jacket-like top, and the men carried large golden symbols and string instruments. The women began dancing together in a complicated dance as the men played a beautiful song. Even their eyes moved together as one, showing just how long they've practiced it. At the end of the dance, a long trail of people under a light dragon float appeared, circling around and dancing. The girls clapped in delight and watched with a gasp as firecrackers....made more visible in the day with magic, began bursting in the sky. Everyone clapped and cheered, and for the rest of the long day, there was celebration and happiness as a new era arrived on a world long held by evil.
*******
The sky was just beginning to darken to dusk, the fireworks still blazing in the sky when Djoser walked up to the girls as they sat around a bonfire outside in the city square, listening to an old man tell an ancient fable. He gently laid a hand on Jeneta's shoulder. "Come, there is something...important Master Yelsnid wants to talk to you about." He motioned for the other girls to follow and led them to the stables. They mounted their horses and rode to just outside the city near the forest. When they reached the clearing before entering the forest, they saw Tao, Kondolar, Kain, and Master Yelsnid already there, waiting for them.
Jeneta smiled in greeting, but when she turned to look at Djoser, she saw a very worried and sad look on his face. "Djoser...is something wrong?" The new king smiled sadly and shook his head as he dismounted. The girls followed him and stood before Master Yelsnid.
The old man tried to smile, but instead could only bow his head tiredly. The girls were startled at how haggard and pale he looked. "Master Yelsnid...are you okay?" Heather asked worriedly.
But the old man shook his head. "Please..don't worry about me. I bring good news. I was able to find a way to send you back home...to your world, to your family."
"You have? That's great!" Angeni said happily. Her smile faded slightly as she looked at Djoser and the others. "But...we'll..we'll be able to come back someday...won't we?"
"I don't know, my child. But..that's not something for us to worry about right now. Come, quickly now..." The old man pointed to a spot that was already marked. It was a blackened chalk outline in the shape of a six-pointed star with a diamond in the middle. With a nod, the girls walked forward ahead of them. Then, just as they reached their mark, they noticed that the men had stopped walking with them. They were alone on the spot.
"What's going on?" Jeneta asked. "Why are you all back there?"
Master Yelsnid smiled sadly and took a few steps forward. "Girls...I was right, I did find a way to send you back home. I did some calculations with the time and space distortions in the vortex, and I believe that if it comes out right, only a couple days on your world will have passed when you get back, at the most, three days." He was quiet for a moment, then continued. "But...it was at a price. In order to use this spell...I had to use some of my life energy. It's the way magic is used here. Every spell uses a bit of the sorcerer's life force, and the amount taken depends on the size of the spell. A price had to be paid. That is why there are so few magic users here...too many have forgotten the rule of using up too much of their energy, and simply passed away," His body shook as though he was cold in the warm air. "Since I already used so much of my energy sending you girls to find Kumraa....this spell took all my energy."
The girls were quiet for a moment...trying to comprehend what the sorcerer was saying. Jeneta was the first to speak, saying what the girls were thinking. "You mean you're...you're..."
"I'm dying, girls. I used my last life force to create a doorway back to your world." Even as he was saying those words, his body suddenly started to turn slightly transparent.
"What?" Heather's eyes widened in shock. "No! You can't!" Her hands balled into fists. "Then...we won't go back! We'll stay here!"
"That's right!" Ling said. The girls were about to leave their spot....when they suddenly walked into an invisible wall. Try as they might, they couldn't pass through or around it.
"NOO!" Jeneta yelled, watching the man growing more and more transparent. "Please, Master Yelsnid, let us out!" Tears spilled over onto her dark cheeks as she banged her hands against the invisible shield, her heart breaking in two. "Please, don't do this! You don't have to! We'll stay! WE'LL STAY!!!"
Already the spell began to work, having been activated as soon as the girls stepped on the markings on the ground, and above the girls, a vortex began to open. It started out small, then began to grow bigger and bigger.
"Master Yelsnid, PLEASE!" Prya placed her hands palms up on the shield, tears flowing. "There has to be another way! Please don't die like this! Just...just let us out, we'll find some other way to go home! Together!"
"You...you can't do this to us! Not after everything we've been through!" Angeni pleaded tearfully.
But the old sorcerer just looked up at them and smiled softly. In his eyes, the girls could read what he was trying to tell them but was too weak to say; It's alright, his eyes told them. It's alright, He gasped once in pain and fell down on his knees. Sparkles appeared around his body as he grew fainter and fainter. Then, with one final breath....the sorcerer was gone. Djoser turned to look away, barely able to watch. Besides him, Kondolar tried his best to hold back the sobs that racked his body as heavy tears flowed down. He was his mentor, his guidance...and the only father he had every known. He would be alone now...truly alone, and that broke his heart beyond anything. Tao and Kain could only hang their heads in silence, their hearts too sad for them to speak.
"NOOOOO! Master Yelsnid!" Jeneta screamed out. Desperately she tried to break through the invisible glass, but it was no use, and she fell sadly to her knees, her palms up against the shield. The wind began to pick up and their hair began to whip all around them. Suddenly there was a shadow before her, and Jeneta looked up to see Djoser kneeling down in front of her. With sadness in his eyes, he pressed his palm on the invisible shield against Jeneta's. Only the invisible wall separated their hands. "Djoser," she whispered sadly. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but there wouldn't be any time.
The wind grew stronger, and the girls were suddenly lifted off the ground. Slowly Jeneta was pulled away from Djoser, "NO!!" she screamed, desperately trying to stay on the ground. But she could do nothing as she felt herself being lifted away. She reached out to Djoser, hoping against all hope that this wasn't really happening. She watched as Djoser stood and reached out to her too, but it was no use. She could already feel the vortex getting closer and closer. "Djoser! I love you!" was the last words she heard herself say as she was pulled away.
She saw him smile ever so softly...then saw him mouthed the words "I love you too,". She saw Tao, Kondolar, and Kain walk up next to him, their eyes filled with sadness as the watched Angeni, Prya, and Ling reach out to them, tears flowing. And then...all went black, and she saw no more.
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British Royal Museum
Swinging his baton around on its string, the security guard walked along the halls of the burnt out section of the museum. His flashlight was held firmly in his hand has he passed its light over everything. He sighed and walked off. Just as he left the section...there was a flash of light and a sound that was like thunder.
The guard hurried back...and what he saw by the bright glare from his flashlight was enough to stop him dead in his tracks. Laying on the ground, still in their school uniforms, were the missing girls that had baffled everyone in the country. Quickly he bent down and touched a hand to the neck of one of them, and sighed in relief when he felt a pulse. He then got up and began blowing his whistle. "They're here, they're here!" he shouted, running off to find someone...anyone! "The missing girls are here!!"
As he ran off, the girls continued to lay there. If the guard would have shined his flashlight on them a little longer....he would have noticed tears still glistening on their cheeks.
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