Chapter 29

Melody ignored her hunger and carried on walking the dusty streets of Atrinity. Where would Riley be? Thousands of people were crowded around the newspaper stalls, fighting over the last couple of copies.

“What’s the news?” she asked a nearby gnome.

“The leader of the white realm was seen here in Atrinity.” he answered in a gruff voice.

“That’s good”

“Wrong, she’s being held captive by a sprite, Bloomie and human”

“Wide range of races” Melody commented, trying to act surprised.

“Nowadays it doesn’t surprise me” he murmured and slumped away.

Melody dug her hand in her jeans pocket and felt something warm on her stone cold hands. She struggled pulling it out her tight pocket and discovered the compressed crystal ball.

She muttered the correct incarnation and found a nearby bench to sit on. If she could catch a glimpse of where Riley was she could have a rough idea which direction to head in. She balanced it on her knee and held her hands in place. She held her breath and counted herself in. The shocking electrifying pain shot through her veins slowly. A shot of agonizing coldness swept over her like she was out in the snow for hours on end. Lebandee and the others were gathered around, talking quite heatedly. They were still standing in the snow so it was obvious they were in dwellers land. Slowly, an intense burning scolded her from her finger tips up through her whole body. The sudden change of temperature made her body ache and throb. She saw a rocky ledge of part of Dweller Mountain and a young boy climbing, quite rapidly up towards the jaggered entrance. He pulled himself up and wiped the snow from his knees. In the background she caught sight of a dweller in four legged form, teeth bared, and getting ready to attack from behind.

She shot back into reality, gasping for breath. She didn’t recognise the boy but something told her she should be worrying. She uttered a sick grasp when she looked down to see her hands, wet with thick blood, leaking from the crystal ball.

Did he die? How was she to know?

She wiped the sickening blood across her trouser, not in the slightest bit tempted to have a taste. Her nature was wrong. She could stop herself being a Bloodfang. When this was all over she was going to check and see if there was a spell to change her fangs. But for now, she had to live with them.

‘I need to hurry’ she thought to herself ‘I need a way to reach the dweller mountains. Maybe up there I could see where everyone is’

Not many shops were open so it was extra difficult to find a way of transport. It wouldn’t come cheap either. She remembered how Lebandee told her he owned a dragon in his pet shop but even if she ran, it would take hours, possibly a full day. Hitch hiking was the best plan.

The city centre was buzzing with people, going about their lives, oblivious to everything that was happening in her life and that very moment.

It took forever to get a ride. The people in Atrinity are so rude and arrogant.

“Where to?” the old man wheezed, letting her on his cart that was pulled by group of strange looking deer.

“Caprica, please” Melody answered, a little shy about asking.

“Your kidding, it’ll take some doing that!” the man choked.

The cart was made like a cage, made of strong bamboo.

“Sorry, it’s just that it’s an emergency” Melody apologized, hanging her head down and praying he would still give her a ride.

“Better get going then!” the man announced and gave the deer a short whip.

The cart wobbled as it came to life and began accelerating down the road.

Jamie finished beating the flames while the rest of us tried spotting Ray in the wide landscape.

“He’s gone” Jamie whispered out loud.

“It’s Bloodbeam” Lupita growled “He’s got Lyla”

“Well Atrinity’s out of the question” Lebandee pointed out.

“We have to help Lyla and Ray.” Juliet agreed “But where did they go”

Everyone looked blank.

“The box, he has to send a message back” I informed them.

“We can’t wait, they could be in really big trouble” Lupita cried.

Suddenly, a small dagger flew threw the air and hit one of the rare trees, stripped of their bark and leaves. Tom picked himself from the snow, his small cap covering half of his face. Lebandee had a sneak tug of the knife to see how strongly it was stuck in there. It wouldn’t budge.

“I know what I’m doing” Tom said, stretching. “I’m going after Bloodbeam”

“Who knew you could be so caring” I mocked.

He pulled a sour face.

“Actually, my business there is more pleasure than a heroic rescue. It’s my job to kill every beast of the north and Bloodbeam’s one of them.” he argued.

“And the huge reward for Bloodbeam’s head on a plate isn’t anything to do with it” Lebandee muttered, under his breath. “What about Melody? What’s become of her?”

“I don’t know” Juliet answered “I think Lyla’s in more trouble though”

“A Bloodfang in another world. Not a good match” Lebandee pointed out.

“She’s not like that. Don’t speak of her so poorly!” I snapped.

“I didn’t” he argued “I’m just saying”

I kept quiet.

“So what’s it going to be?” Tom asked, ready to set off.

“Even if I had a choice, Lyla” Lupita answered, bound to Toms controlling spell.

“I’m staying with Lupita” Juliet answered.

“Wherever you go, I’ll go Riley” Jamie told me.

I smiled.

“Lyla needs us more at the minute and so does Ray”

Everyone looked at Lebandee, he pulled a face of concentration.

“Melody needs me” he whispered to himself.

“As soon as we find Loriei and Lyla we can find her” I assured him.

Suddenly it hit me. I was so soaked up in other peoples problems, I had forgotten my own.

“Abi!” I squealed, setting off like an alarm. “I can’t believe it! I completely forgot!”

I watched it dawn on Jamie’s face as well and thought it over.

“I have to go. We have to go” I choked.

The panic overwhelmed me. I’d left her so long. She was all alone. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.

“Listen Riley” Juliet commanded, her voice strong and stern. “Abi will be fine. When you see her standing straight in front of you, that’s when you have to be worried”

I calmed down and looked up to Lebandee.

“She’s right. We know this world more than you. As long as she’s not in Dwellers Land, she’s perfectly safe. I’m sure it’s the same in your world”

Jamie put his arm around me and waited until I calmed down.

“Are we decided then?” Tom interrupted, getting impatient.

I nodded, reluctantly.

Lyla needed us. We couldn’t just leave her.

Although I was acting heroic and brave, I wasn’t. Inside the fear was eating me up inside. I felt sick and worn. This was it. The big deal. We were walking willingly straight into Bloodbeam’s trap… and we knew it.

Chapter 30

Ray had successfully reached the top of Dweller Mountain. All that rock climbing in his childhood had paid off quite nicely. Brushing the snow from his bare knees, he gazed at the distance he had climbed in such short time.

Suddenly, a sharp jolt pushed him forward and he scrambled at the icy rock for a tight grip. A dweller, hunched over the side of the ledge dribbling thick slime from its huge jaws.

Where else to go?

His fingers slid slowly from the sharp yet slippery rock. Part of the mountain ledge crumbled in his hand and I huge chunk of rock fell in the palm of his hand. With full effort, he launched the rock at the dwellers snarling face and pulled himself him whilst the dweller backed off.

Rolling onto his stomach, Ray reached for his bow. In one swipe, the bow crushed in his cut hands as the dweller cut off every escape in sight. The dweller leapt on top of him, claws and teeth ready to rip through his skin. The dweller pinned him down, its lingering around his nostrils. Thick black claws dug into his chest, ready to rip apart. With one last struggle, the dweller lost grip of his left shoulder which gave him a good chance to free his arm. Without holding back, he dug his fingers deep inside the dwellers grey eyes. Ignoring the moist jelly yet firm texture, he continued burying his fingers inside the dwellers enormous skull.

Everything happened so quickly. The dweller howled out in pain, half dragging him across the mountain ledge. Ray reached for an arrow from his behind him and pushed it deep inside the dweller’s thick, shaggy neck. A shower of blood spurted all over his clothes, darkening his already red shirt.

The dweller struggled for a while and then collapsed in a heap on the floor.

Ray retrieved his fingers and wiped the black gung back on its knotted grey coat.

He looked in despair at his homemade bow, destroyed on the floor. Three more arrows and a small pocket knife was all he had to continue his brave expedition. That and the butterfly box. Perhaps he did need back up. Perhaps they need directions. He whispered the directions and message into his cupped hands, containing the fragile butterfly. After releasing her, he said goodbye to his bow and walked, fearlessly into Bloodbeam’s lair, determined to save Lyla from whatever fate awaited her.

The horrid stench of curdled sludge greeted him as he took his first steps inside the caves gloom. Unarmed, he was relying on his quick step and perhaps his pocket knife as a last resource. It wasn’t safe to call out for Lyla and the hall seemed very directive of where to go. Candles melted slowly in small lanterns of the tunnel, making the view a little more visible. Probably just as good that the light was dim, for a start it could camouflage him for a moment is he was caught and if Lyla saw he beaten and blooded like this she would freak out. He could feel the blood tickle his bottom lick and a sharp stabbing pain shot in one of his eyes. His chest wasn’t too good either. The one of the dwellers claws had been ripped out when it shot back so suddenly. Only just noticing himself, Ray quickly ripped it out to ease the pressure and tucked it inside his pocket. Suddenly, a deep scream was heard in one of the chambers and Ray raced after the echo before it faded. It wasn’t Lyla, more like a man’s angry scream. The sounds of bottles smashing against the wall were next following by bickering voices.

“You!” Bloodbeam shrieked, seeing Lyla pressed against the wall.

“What do you mean me? You’re the one who kidnapped me!” Lyla argued.

Ray peered around the corner. Bloodbeam didn’t look happy at all but to his surprise Lyla looked quite calm, almost fed up. No one had been known to stand up to Bloodbeam before and survive. Ray kept his knife close.

“What part of bring me the blonde, didn’t you understand?” Bloodbeam growled at the dragon beside him who hung his head in shame.

“Leave Riley alone!” Lyla shrieked “She’s never done anything to you”

Bloodbeam face turned into a scowl.

“Where’s Loriei? I’m not stupid, I know you have her” she continued, stepping forward assertively.

“Could have fooled me” Bloodbeam muttered, throwing his cape around him.

“Where are you going?” Lyla demanded.

“If you want a job doing, you have to do it yourself” Bloodbeam answered and turned to the shame faced dragon.

“You’re not leaving me here Bloodbeam” Lyla cried, stepping forward a bit too far.

Bloodbeam pulled out his wand and blew a shower of black crystals over her. Lyla fell to the ground, shocked and bewildered.

“Thy day and night

Night and day

A light sparked at the end of his wand but nothing else happened.

“What was that?” Lyla laughed, pulling herself up. “I admit the black smoke cloud was a good trick but I guess display is all you are”

“Oh sit down” Bloodbeam moaned, sliding his wand back in his pocket

Before Lyla had chance to answer, a huge force piled upon her. Secretly she tried to fight the force but in the end it compelled to powerfully against her. She tried making it look as though she chose to sit down but Bloodbeam wasn’t paying much attention anyway. Lyla noticed how he was rubbing his head again, hiding the pain he was in and couldn’t help thinking:

‘Maybe he needs help. Maybe there’s just something wrong with him’

She pitied him but hated him at the same time. Was it right for Tom to kill him?

He slowly turned around and helped pick Lyla from the floor.

“You’ll have to do with front seat, I get queasy when flying”

He led her to the dragon and gave her a lift up before mounting on the scaly back himself.

Ray decided this was the best time to take action, if he didn’t he would willingly let Bloodbeam take Lyla from him.

A long rope lay limp in the corner. Perfect.

Tying it in a noose, he leapt into the room and flung the noose around the startled dragon.

Without order, the dragon leapt in the air and burst through the small opening in the cave. A shower of flint crashed down as the dragon picked up speed and fled. The noose, tightly wrapped around the dragons webbed foot, allowed Ray to soar in the sky behind them.

“Ray!” Lyla shrieked, in both fear and shock.

The dragon obviously didn’t like his new passenger and frantically dodged and swerved through the mountain peaks to loose him. No luck.

“Carefully, you’ll hurt him!” Lyla screeched in the dragon’s ear.

“Can you keep it down?” Bloodbeam moaned, “I’ve got a splitting head ache”

Suddenly, a whole new mountain range appeared in the mist, making the dragon take a quick swerve. The turning was so sharp and sudden, Ray had misread the situation and crashed into the mountain.

“Ray!” Lyla screamed, as he let go of the rope and slid down the dusty mountainside.

“Turn back! Turn back!” she cried, tugging on the dragons long whiskers.

“No point” Bloodbeam shrugged “He’ll be lucky if he even makes it to the bottom in one piece”

To be continued...