The Legend of the Firewalker (33 page)

“Like you toyed with that one?” he said, pointing to the muscular guy, who had recovered from Nathan’s e
nergy ball and was just now getting to his feet.

“Who? Steve?” she snickered. “He serves a purpose.”

The blond man pointed towards Nathan. “I thought you had brought only five of them this time,” he continued. “Where did he come from?”

She suddenly looked flustered. “I don’t know,” she said, turning around to gawk at the priest with the gold-and-silver medallion. “Why wasn’t he with the others?” she yelled. “Are you trying to make me look like a fool?”

The priest quickly lowered his head. “My apologies,” he responded with a hiss. “We weren’t aware of him. My magic has detected the one you seek, but unless they use their ability, it’s hard to tell which one.”

“Then we’ll have to test them all,” she demanded. “Bring them here!”

The priest with the crescent-shaped medallion vanished into the archway.

Steve stumbled over to a pillar that made up one of the archways. He placed his hand to his head, and he looked b
ewildered. “W-where am I?” he stuttered.

The man with the chiseled chin sighed. “Time is a pr
ecious commodity these days, my dear,” he said haughtily to Amanda. He had a petulant look on his face. “And you are wasting it!”

Flippantly, she tossed back her long, curly blond hair as if to show disapproval. 

He rolled his eyes at her display of protest and pointed at Steve. “And please tell me, why in all the realms did you decide to keep that pitiful thing?” he asked with disgust. “Do him a favor and kill him already; put him out of his misery.”

She headed over to Steve, whose muscular frame was slumped over.

“Get rid of him?” she laughed. “My pet? But he’s so useful.”

Steve looked up at her, the confusion in his eyes starting to fade.

“Amanda?” he asked. “What happened? What are we doing here?”

She leaned over and gently stroked his face with the back of her hand. “There, there,” she said, with a mothe
ring voice.

The confusion on Steve’s face suddenly disappeared. He stood up and looked empty-headed again.

“See my darling,” she shouted, joyfully. “As good as new and as obedient and loyal as a dog — just like all mortal men are who feel my touch!”

It suddenly dawned on Nathan why he felt compelled to dance with Amanda the night of Lafonda’s birthday party. “She touched my arm,” he murmured. “I knew something was up. I would never voluntarily subject myself to public humili
ation by dancing!” 

“You!” she snapped. Her green eyes suddenly filled with rage. “Shut up!” She motioned at Steve. “And you,” she commanded hysterically, “what are you waiting for? Tie them up!”

There was a whooshing sound, and the priest with the crescent-shaped medallion stepped onto the plaza again, followed by Andy and then the others.

“Ah,” she said, while clapping her hands enthusiastically t
ogether. “Pius, you have returned.”

“Yes,” he responded with a hiss. He bowed graciously, causing the metals in his medallion to glimmer in the moo
nlight. “And I have brought the others.”

Nathan watched as two Shadow Guards lined his friends in front of the tall white obelisk. Andy was lined up first, fo
llowed by Eva Marie, and then Angela. Their hands were bound and their clothing appeared dirty and in disarray. Leah was the last one to join them. Her face formed a slight grin when her eyes met Nathan’s. He was content about finally meeting her, even under the current circumstances. Leah continued to look back at him and Nathan focused on her brown eyes. He wanted to form a memory of her that wasn’t from a picture or a dream.

“See, Lucas, my love,” Amanda flirted, while twirling her fingers through his long blond hair. “I have ever
ything under control.”

“Don’t toy with me, Lauren,” he exploded, seizing her hand. His voice boomed and the priests and the guards a
ppeared to cower. “I am not one of your human dogs!”

Amanda took back her hand and glowered ferociously. “You know I would never do such a thing!”

His ocean-blue eyes seemed to take on a fiery red and Amanda quickly bowed, conceding graciously. “My love,” she murmured, “you know my powers do not work on immortal spirits.” Cautiously, she drew near him and attempted to caress his cheek. “Besides, we belong together — and you know how much I love it when you call me Lauren.” 

“I am done here,” he shouted.

Amanda looked confused.

“And you will discover how he got here,” he demanded, while gawking at Nathan.

“But my love —” she stammered.

“He knows how to use Pneuma, Lauren!” he shouted. “So he’s accountable to someone, and I want to know who!”

“Pius!” he yelled.

“Yes, my Lord,” he responded, his voice trembling.

“Do you still believe we are close to finding the one we seek?” he asked.

“Yes, my Lord,” he responded again, but pausing to d
ivert his eyes. “I am almost certain.”

Lucas placed his red hood back over his head and pr
oceeded towards the dark archway. “He wants results Lauren,” he shouted, before stepping in. “And your success or failure will not be determined by me.”

“Aaaah!” she screamed. The sound reverberated around the plaza.

The three priests slowly inched away in anticipation of her wrath.

“Pius!” she yelled. “You three get over here!”

She spun around and raised her hand as if about to punch the center of the tall white obelisk. Angela’s and Eva Marie’s eyes grew wide because she headed directly towards them. Angela and Eva Marie ducked as Lauren’s fist hit the wall. There was no sound, but the entire plaza vibrated.

“Aaaah!” she screamed again. “Where is the blood that you tested earlier?” she shouted. “Bring it to me!”

Quickly, the priest standing closest to Pius presented him with the sparking blue vial that contained Jonas’s blood. Pius placed the tiny bottle into her hand and bowed. Lauren quickly raised it against the moonlight and then howled.

“Ugh!” she moaned, taking a swing at Pius. “Why even bother giving me this when clearly he’s not the one we’re loo
king for!”

“My apologies, Amanda,” he said.

“Don’t call me that!” she threatened. “Call me, Lauren.”

“Yes, Lauren,” he responded, bowing low and inching away.

She stared blankly for a moment, but before long, her pursed lips formed a maniacal smile. “Contrary to what my love may think, it’s not a total waste of time,” she said, while twirling the sparkling vial between her fingers. She placed her hands on her hips and surveyed her prisoners. She looked at each one of them in the face and laughed. “Take out your knife, Pius!” she demanded.

She paused to look at the vial in her hand. She smiled, then turned to look at Jonas. “You might not be the one we’re loo
king for,” she said with a grin. “But your blood will allow us to keep opening doorways to your world.”

Jonas scowled and Lauren laughed at his frustration.

“Don’t worry,” she said, her sparkling green eyes gleaming with superiority. “You won’t be alone long. Maybe your brother has what we need.”

“Stay away from him!” he yelled, attempting to get to his feet.

“Ha-ha-ha,” she cackled. “Your father didn’t like that idea either, but keep it up and you’ll end up just like him!”

Jonas slumped down, the tears swelling in his eyes.

“Ask Leah,” she continued, turning to look at her. “She knows what happens to those who get in my way.” She continued to twirl the vial in her hand. “See, we thought that Leah was the one. And what better way to find out than to become her roommate?” she chuckled.

Pius took out his small silver dagger, and Andy and the other
s began to squirm uncomfortably, a look of unease across their faces.

“Poor little Jamie,” she said with a sarcastic, whiny voice. She quickly spun around to gawk at Jonas. “And imagine my surprise, after going through all that trouble to kill her roommate, to find out that Leah is just like you: utterly us
eless!”

Nathan’s hands trembled as Lauren stampeded towards Leah.

Lauren leaned over, getting close to Leah’s face. “And you didn’t make it easy for us either, did you Leah?” she asked in a soft but heartless voice. “Poor Leah can’t sleep at night. She’s depressed over losing her roommate Jamie. Blah, blah, blah!”

Leah looked calm. She glanced over at Nathan and a tear ran down her face.

Suddenly, Nathan remembered his dream. Images of the bodies on the plaza floor and the woman in white as she strolled past them replayed in his mind. “She’s going to stab Leah,” he mumbled.

Jonas looked up, trying to make sense of what Nathan had said.

“She’s going to stab Leah!” he said again.

Nathan struggled to free his hands, but couldn’t.

Lauren held out her hand and Pius gave her the dagger. She violently pulled Leah by the hair and brought her face close to hers.

Leah screamed.

“And then,” continued Lauren hysterically, while waving the blade in Leah’s face, “because of all your whining you got yourself put in a mental hospital!”

“Let go of her, Amanda!” shouted Nathan angrily. He looked down and noticed that his hands were a bright red.

Lauren stopped to look at him, but she looked confused.

“Lauren, Amanda
— whatever your name is — I said let go of her!”

She dramatically released Leah’s hair and then headed towards Nathan. “My name is not Amanda!” she yelled. She gave the vial of blood to Pius and pointed the dagger at N
athan’s throat. “I’m not done with you yet,” she said. She glanced over at Steve and then gave Nathan a devilish smile. “I am going to have so much fun with you.”

She laughed and looked up as if remembering something. “I’ve been called so many things over the years,” she said. “The superfluous humans of Ancient Rome used to worship me as Volupia. I hated that name!” She playfully fluttered her eyes and waved the dagger carelessly in her hand. “B
ecause I’ve found my love, I prefer Lauren now. Lucas and Lauren. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

She smiled, stepped back and then slapped Nathan in the face. Nathan toppled to the ground and his entire head rang. It felt like a million little stings had landed on his face. He could taste the blood pooling in his mouth.

“Now quiet!” she shouted, her voice echoing around the plaza.

Nathan looked up from the plaza floor. His head conti
nued to throb and his vision was fuzzy. He squinted, trying to make out the shapes in front of him, but then he heard Leah scream. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he protested to himself. He heard Leah scream again and chills shot down his back. “I have to save her!”

He was angry, but he could feel something else building inside of him. In the pit of his stomach, something burned. N
athan continued to work at the rope around his wrists and gritted his teeth in frustration. He blinked furiously, trying to restore his vision. Slowly, he was able to see again, and for a brief second he thought he saw a small dark shape dart behind a tomb on the second level. 

“I should drain you dry of blood before I get rid of you,” Lauren shouted, severing Leah’s ropes and raising the da
gger in the air.

She grabbed Leah by the wrist, and Leah closed her eyes before turning away. Quickly, Lauren plunged the silver blade into her arm. Leah screamed in agony.

“No!” Nathan yelled. Instantly his hands stopped trembling, and the burning sensation in his hands now spread throughout his body. Nathan was enraged, but the energy intensifying inside of him felt peaceful. He gave in to the feeling, to the energy, as it consumed every inch of him. He thought he was going to explode; he felt like he was on fire.

The rope around Nathan’s wrists sizzled, and it was co
nsumed in a blue flame. Nathan looked down at the ashes from the rope and stood up. Without hesitating, he opened his palm and cast an energy ball at Lauren, followed by another.

The first energy ball hit Lauren in the back, causing her to falter. She spun around and knocked the second energy ball away with her hand. She grabbed Leah and tossed her to the ground.

One of the Shadow Guards who were now encircling them reached down and took Leah by the neck, bringing her to her feet. The Shadow Guard drew his long double-edged sword and Angela screamed.

Nathan felt the burn again throughout his entire body. He exhaled deeply as he glowered at Lauren, then at the priests, and then at the Shadow Guards.

“How did you do that?” protested Lauren, staring at the bits of rope and ash beneath his feet. “How did you get through your bonds?”   

“Like this!” shouted Nathan and he released the energy that was burning inside of him.

Out of his hand emerged a blue flame and he aimed it at the Shadow Guard. The guard screeched in gut-wrenching pain until he dissolved into a fine sprinkle of white ash. His sword hit the ground and so did Leah.