The Light, the Dark and the Ugly (15 page)

She rubbed at her head. "Sorry, I was too busy keeping sparky here from frying himself." Erica punched Travis in the arm.

Travis pushed himself away from her. "Ow! You don't have to knock my elbow off."

A loud whistle got their attention.

Jennifer had two fingers in her mouth. "Erica. When you touched Travis, the portal got bigger."

The news seemed to completely cure Erica of whatever the staff and book had done to her. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Then I guess it's time for a little experiment."

Minutes later, Erica held hands with Travis, who held Jennifer's hand. Dhiraj was the last link of the bunch.

His breath sped up. "So, does it hurt?"

Travis smirked. "You know how it feels when you get shocked by a doorknob?"

Dhiraj nodded. "Yeah?"

"It's nothing like that."

Erica and Jennifer groaned as Dhiraj gulped. The leader of the pack looked behind her. "Are we all ready?"

Dhiraj lied when he gave an affirmative nod. He wondered if Jennifer was lying, too. Before he had a chance to assess her truth-telling, Erica dropped Travis' hand, took hold of the two enchanted objects, and stood close enough for Travis to grip her arm.

In the few thoughts Dhiraj could fire off before the current of the staff took hold, he determined that Travis wasn't lying. The sensation wasn't like a static shock at all: it was much more painful. Dhiraj's teeth chattered and he could barely feel Jennifer's nails digging into his palm.

Soon the first set of sparks took Dhiraj's attention off his pain. In the space between them and the van, a portal opened up. It was shaky and lighter than the ones he'd previously seen, but at long last, it was big enough for one of them to go through.

Chapter 23

Ted and Natalie sat together quietly as they ate their lunch in their room. There really was no way to know how closely they were being monitored. Natalie had said the dark souls had at least one mind-reader, and there could be many more where he came from. While the rooms and castle they stayed in looked archaic, it was certainly possible everything they said was being recorded as well. Despite all of this, Ted and Natalie put together their plan of action. While they didn't know exactly how they'd get back to Earth, they knew the best first step was getting the heck out of the stronghold.

Natalie stared at Ted as she chewed a tough piece of meat. Even with all the bumps and bruises, Ted's ex looked fierce and perpetually ready to strike.

He slurped down a spoonful of liquidy grains. "You sure you want to split up?"

Natalie gave him a wry smile. "Sure. We can cause more damage that way."

Ted was sure Natalie would hold up her end of the plan, but he wasn't as confident in himself. If he failed, he'd probably have his head displayed on a pike by the end of the day.

Natalie must've noticed his concern, because she reached across the table and gripped a clump of his hair. Ted felt the pinch on the top of his head as Natalie pulled him closer.

"You're gonna do fine." Natalie tightened her clench. "Just picture yourself doing it right instead of screwing it up, and we'll be home in no time."

Natalie knew him too well. Ted's powers had given him exponentially more confidence over the past year, but the last two weeks with just his natural abilities didn't make him feel like much of a hero. Ted looked into Natalie's eyes. He'd seen a lot of disappointment there during the final days of their relationship, but that's not what he saw now. Instead, there was trust, mixed with a hint of annoyance.

He removed her hand from his hair and smiled. "You're right. I've got this."

She returned the grin. "There we go.

Ted continued to psych himself up for the next 10 minutes or so, until the guards came to fetch him. He'd asked to see the General to make an agreement that would end the war. It didn't take long for the man in charge to pencil Ted in.

Ted walked down the ornate hallway that led to the General's throne room. He remained flanked by two lines of guards. They were prepared for him to try almost anything, but he wasn't sure anybody would be ready for what was coming.

When the group was one turn away from the massive doors to the throne, Ted bent down ever so slightly and stopped. The guards continued on for a few paces, leaving Ted completely behind them. It was only a moment, but without their eyes upon him he could feel his power returning. Ted could've done any number of things with that split second. A few deft telekinetic moves could have the entire party fall on their own swords. Another could've resulted in him flying through the air and clotheslining the backs of their helmets. But he and Natalie had come up with a much subtler idea. Ted felt himself enter multiple minds at once. Without their gaze on him, it was as easy as flipping a switch. Before his heart had a chance to beat twice, the guards turned back to see him fiddling with his shoelaces.

One sentry with a particularly large helmet grunted his frustration. "What do you think you're doing?"

Ted smiled to himself. He'd done it. The little matter of whether it'd worked would become clear within the next few minutes.

He looped his laces together. "Sorry, guys. I didn't want to trip. I really need a new pair. Do you have Fleet Feet here?"

The large-headed guard broke formation and grabbed Ted by the shoulder. He lifted the living soul with ease and pushed him back into line. Ted continued moving forward until the pack reached the throne room. The massive doors opened, and another set of guards ushered him inside. This time the General stood much closer than his shadowy throne.

Ted's double wore a healthy grin. "I hear you've seen the light of day. How wonderful it was to hear that you've settled on the best option."

Ted held up one hand. He listened for a particular sound during the moment of silence, but there was nothing. His stomach churned. 

Come on. This has to work.

"Thanks for seeing me so quickly, Gen– William. I'd like to negotiate slightly different terms."

The General nodded as if he'd expected this.

He gestured to a nearby table. "Of course. A thousand years of war wasn't meant to end with a single handshake."

Ted studied the General's face as they sat. The General didn't seem aware of what was about to occur – at least, what Ted hoped was about to occur.

The General linked his fingers together on the tabletop. "Now, Ted. Is it money or power we're talking? Because we could make sure you have vast supplies of both."

Ted smirked. "I appreciate the offer, but that's not the part I want to change."

The General nodded. "Fine, fine. Heroes never seem to want the fame and fortune, but I imagine it comes in handy." He leaned forward. "What is it you do want?"

In the distance, Ted heard a light scraping sound. His heart picked up its pace. They were coming. Ted could barely hide his excitement.

He gripped the side of the table. "Before I sign anything, I need you to let Natalie return to Earth unharmed."

The General's face scrunched up in laughter. "How noble! But really, Ted, do you think we'd give up one of our main bargaining chips?"

The noise grew louder outside. It sounded like a hundred fingernails sliding across a blackboard.

Ted tightened his grasp on the table. "I didn't. But I needed to talk about something to catch you off guard."

The General's demonstration of the dark soul army's firepower had an unintended consequence. Ted knew exactly where to find a trained pack of Lychos.

The General cocked his head to the side as the stampede came crashing in through the side of the throne room. Ted whipped the table to his left and dove behind the makeshift barrier. He narrowly avoided the swipe of the first Lychos, which leapt over the table and landed directly on the chest of the closest guard. As the wolf-like creature tore the sentry's armor apart, the other beasts focused on the remaining guards. In all the hubbub, Ted felt his powers return. He reached for the downed guard's belt with his mind and pulled a dagger toward his hand.

As the hilt reached his fingers, Ted stood and approached the General, who was busy fighting off one of the Lychos with his fists. He considered leaving the man to fend for himself, but he was the hostage Ted needed by his side to escape. With a flick of his wrist, Ted sent the creature straight back against the one of the solid, beastly sculptures. It fell unconscious with a whimper. Before the General could react, Ted had a blade against his throat.

The General remained perfectly still. "Well done, Ted. And here I thought you were a pacifist."

Ted switched the blade to the General's back. "Let's move, Bill."

The General complied and the two of them walked out of the now-decimated side of the building. A quick glance back saw the Lychos treating the guards like chew toys.

Ted felt the sun against his face as he led his hostage forward. He and Natalie had gone over the route over a dozen times, until he had it completely memorized. Two lefts, a right, and all the way down a long, straight corridor. That's where Natalie would be waiting. Ted stayed close to the General. He was prepared to shove the blade through the back of the lookalike's heart if necessary, though he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

After every direction Ted barked, the General listened. His lack of resistance caught Ted by surprise.

They were only a turn away from the long passageway when the General got talkative.

"That was very clever. Who knew you could get inside an animal's head from so far away?"

Ted ignored the General and kept his eyes on the path ahead.

Ted's hostage didn't seem to take offense. "I'm surprised you're willing to go so far for a cause you don't even understand."

Ted grumbled. "I understood it enough when I saw Natalie's face."

The General nodded as he continued to walk. "It's unfortunate we had to do that, but at least we're forthcoming with our intentions. Your protector has never told you the whole story."

Ted flinched at that. The General was likely right. Whenever Ted sought information from Erica, he was stonewalled at every turn. Her lack of info had even put them in danger on multiple occasions. 

Ted tried to kick his thoughts to the curb. "Walk faster!"

The General complied, but he kept on talking. "Oh, the beautiful protector. Your love. I'm sure she loves you, too, but she's loved many before. It's been hard for me to watch."

Ted flared his nostrils. "Don't talk about her like that."

Even with his back turned, Ted could detect the smirk on the General's face. "She really was beautiful on our wedding day."

Ted spun the General around and pointed the knife at his throat. He felt hot and twitchy. "I don't want to hear anything else out of your mouth."

The General didn't seem to take Ted's words seriously. "One has to wonder. Did she fall in love with you because you looked like me? The question alone would make me wonder if I could ever trust her feelings at all."

Ted wasn't sure what to believe. The General didn't seem to be lying. He was an evil murderer who was leading a devastating military campaign, but every word he spoke held the weight of truth.

"I don't understand." The sentence left Ted's mouth before he could stop it.

The General looked unsettlingly calm. "Put down the knife and I'll explain everything."

Ted hadn't had a chance to consider the offer when the sound of an aerial engine followed by an explosion filled his eardrums. The latter noise preceded the rumbling above and beneath them. The ceiling smashed apart, sending stones crashing to the ground in every direction. Ted rolled away from a multi-stone clump, but by the time he focused his eyes back on the General's previous position, the dark soul was gone. Through the now-open ceiling of the passageway, Ted watched a plane zip across the sky as it dropped another bomb. The floor beneath him shifted once again. He steadied himself against a wall and tried to understand what was happening. Then the realization struck.

It's an attack. It's the light souls.

Chapter 24

Erica was compelled to stare at the portal. The awe transcended the mild electric current running through her body. Just when she'd given up on getting him back, now she had a chance to save him. Something inside told her to drop the book, and when she did, the current abated but the gateway remained. Erica looked to her right. Travis, Jennifer and Dhiraj looked as dumbfounded as she was. The portal was like a shimmering, circular ocean in the middle of the dried-up field. Erica felt like it was somehow an extension of her, and she imagined the others must feel the same way.

Dhiraj had an almost goofy look on his face. "I bet this trick would kill at parties."

Travis nodded. "I just want to let all of you know, I'm taking sole credit for this when we rescue Nat."

Erica's heart sunk. "Guys, this really is incredible, but we have to stop Kable. He could be minutes behind us for all we know."

Jennifer squinted. "But, don't you want to save Ted?"

"Of course I do. But Kable needs to be our first priority."

Jennifer dropped Dhiraj and Travis' hands. The portal continued to burn brightly as she grabbed Erica's shoulder. "We'll find a way to stop him. In the meantime, you've gotta bring our friends back."

Erica wanted to disagree, but Jennifer's eyes wouldn't let her. Besides, if she could get Ted back quickly enough, perhaps they'd be able to stop the Presidential candidate from causing any more damage.

She nodded. "Okay. I'll go, and you three can–"

Travis stepped on her words. "No freakin' way! You get to go find your boyfriend while I play third wheel to Mr. and Mrs. Gates?" He crossed his arms. "I'm coming with you."

Erica waves him off. "No, Travis. It's not safe."

Travis grunted. "Newsflash! It's not safe here, either." He looked down at the book. "Besides, you have to get back here, right? The portal only opened when you had four people." He pointed his fingers in her face. "That's you, Ted, Nat and me."