Twelve hours had passed since their first encounter with the Grimonds, and the group was in dire straits. Isgalis and Baruch had less than half a day to live, and the freezing temperatures of The Cold Plot were taking a serious toll on Tiziano’s health. The kid was incredibly weak; his muscle coordination was erratic, his hands and feet were numb, and he was slipping into a state of severe confusion and drowsiness.

  “Teo, he doesn’t even recognize me anymore!” Jayden shrieked, shivering. “He’s totally disoriented. I think he’s losing consciousness!”

  Teo rushed to his friend’s side.

  “Tiziano, please, stay awake!” he exclaimed, shaking him. “Stay with us!”

  The photoconverger was unresponsive, motionless.

  “His pulse is really weak,” Teo said, taking his wrist. “If we don’t do something, he’s going to die soon!”

  “What can we do, Teo?!” Jayden screamed, hysterical. “We’ve tried everything! Even if your power might be off the charts someday, your inexperience can’t break the spell holding us in this dungeon! And the Grimonds seem to have forgotten about us, just leaving us to die! They haven’t shown themselves in…,” she seemed disoriented. “I don’t even know how many hours we’ve been here! It could be ten hours, a day or two! Maybe Isgalis and Baruch are already gone! Tiziano’s going to die, and so are we!”

  “Isgalis and Baruch are still alive! I’m sure of it! I don’t know where they took them, but I’ll find them! Tiziano will live, and so will we! Okay?!” Teo said, looking her in the eyes and holding her cheeks. “We haven’t tried everything yet…”

  Jayden cried silently.

  “I need you to pay close attention,” the boy said, his voice low. “I’m pretty sure this cell is some kind of panopticon; they can see us, but we can’t see them. There’s gotta be a bunch of Grimonds on guard, and they’re probably rotating shifts. The only way out of here is to make the guard on duty think we’ve captured their leader, Net-Moth.”

  Jayden looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

  “And how are we supposed to pull that off?” she said, incredulous. “We can’t even get the low-ranking ones to come near us.”

  “You’re going to make it happen…” Teo said, his tone suggesting a plan.

  “No! I’m not ready for this!” Jayden replied, understanding his intentions. “My skills are still basic. They won’t buy it!”

  “We don’t need you to perfectly recreate Net-Moth. Just enough to catch their attention and get them to open the bars. I’ll create a distraction and kick up some dust. In the chaos, they won’t be able to tell the difference between him and you.”

  “And when you say ‘create a distraction,’ you mean…?”

  “Blow up half the dungeon and shake the walls to their foundations.”

  “I don’t know if this will work… How are you so sure Net-Moth won’t be with the guards?”

  “Because he and his henchman are likely concocting a scheme for Isgalis and Baruch. If their spirits are truly bound to the Incruxis, they stand to gain immensely from possessing them.”

  Jayden exhaled slowly.

  “Alright,” she conceded. “We’ll do it.”

  Half an hour later, the Grimond on guard heard a loud roar from the pit and felt the walls tremble. As he approached the observation slots, about twenty-three feet above the dungeon floor, he saw a massive cloud of dust obscuring everything.

  Before the dust settled, he heard Teo’s commanding voice, aggressive and sharp.

  “I know you’re there and you can hear me! I know you’ve been watching us all this time, watching us freeze to death! I know you enjoyed it, maybe even got a kick out of our suffering! But that’s over… I’ve got Net-Moth! And if you don’t come down here right now, I’ll kill him! And if you raise the alarm, I’ll kill him too! I want you to come down here and open the gate! Just you! Or you’ll face the consequences!”

  The guard laughed loudly from above.

  “You think I’m an idiot, kid?!” he replied sarcastically. “The great Net-Moth never sets foot in dungeons! He’s in the Onyx Hall right now, sealing the final fate of your friends! You’re nothing but a charlatan! A two-bit liar! A…!” Suddenly, a chill ran down the Grimond’s spine, and he fell silent.

  When the dust cleared, he saw Teo holding Net-Moth captive.

  “You know I’m a Vendalion! I can blow his brains out with a flick of my fingers! You better come down here now! You alone, got it?!”

  The guard scrambled down a flight of stairs leading to the dungeon doors. He placed his bony, elongated middle finger on the locks and cast a spell, muttering a few words. The bars swung open, immediately nullifying the force field around the cell.

  “Sorry, boss!” the Grimond whined. “I never thought it could be real!”

  “Shut your mouth, scum!” Jayden snapped, mimicking Net-Moth’s tone and crude manners. “I want this situation resolved, immediately!”

  “Are you alright, sir? I can’t see you clearly in the shadows!”

  “Silence!” Teo ordered. “We’re getting out of here, and he’s coming with me! Stay away from the door!”

  “No, I won’t do that,” the guard objected.

  “Obey, you idiot!” Jayden yelled, furious.

  Reluctantly, the Grimond stepped away from the door.

  “Turn around and lie face down!” Teo commanded.

  The guard complied. However, he wasn’t about to give up so easily. As Teo and Jayden began to move, about to pass through the doorway, the creature repeatedly tapped the frozen ground with his long, spindly finger. Instantly, the ice layer on the ground groaned and fractured, and sharp stalagmites erupted violently from it, like a row of glacial teeth, creating an impassable barrier between Teo and the false Net-Moth.

  The guard, who had been confined in the cell with Jayden, sprang to his feet and moved diligently towards her.

  “Did I do good, boss?” the Grimond asked anxiously.

  “You did perfectly,” Jayden said, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly golden light, which instantly plunged the creature into a deep sleep. With his mind already under the young woman’s spell, the imposing stalagmites he had conjured wavered, crumbled into thousands of fragments, and pulverized into a fine layer of frost that dissolved without a trace on the ground.

  “I love it when you improvise!” Teo said, approaching the shapeshifter.

  “I can’t believe it worked!” Jayden exclaimed, astonished, as her body returned to its natural state. “Now what?”

  “You heard the guard! We need to find the Onyx Hall! That’s where they’re holding Isgalis and Baruch.”

  “And how are we supposed to find it? This place is a maze, miles and miles long!”

  “By asking nicely.”

  “You’re thinking about…?” Jayden said. “Are you out of your mind?!”

  “Crazy as a loon! But that’s not the point. You can’t look like that. You need to look like the guard.”

  “It won’t work. Why would a Grimond ask where the Onyx Hall is? They’re all supposed to know where it is.”

  “It won’t be a direct question, more of an implied request. Once you’re transformed, you’re going to pretend Tiziano and I are your prisoners, and you’re taking us to the Onyx Hall. Then, you’ll ask a Grimond to escort you there, to keep me under surveillance. Since Tiziano’s unconscious, you’ll have to carry him.”

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  “I get it,” Jayden agreed. “It’s risky, but it might just work.”

  “Alright then! We need to hurry, because it won’t be long before the next Grimond comes to relieve this one and raises the alarm.”

  The Grimond in question was smoking. He eyed Jayden warily at first, but quickly agreed to her request. The resemblance between the downed guard in the dungeons and Jayden’s guise was uncanny. She was definitely getting the hang of it.

  They were walking through a narrow, icy corridor with a low ceiling when the Grimond leading them abruptly stopped.

  “What’s going on?” Jayden asked nervously.

  “The girl we’ve been chasing,” the creature muttered, pointing into the distance. “She fell asleep in that niche.”

  “I see... Maybe you should join her for a nap!” Jayden said, inducing the Golden Dream.

  “Fantastic, Jayden!” Teo exclaimed, as the Grimond collapsed. “I can’t get enough of watching you do that!”

  However, their joy quickly faded when they realized little Tania wasn’t just asleep, but unconscious from hypothermia.

  “How is that possible?!” Jayden said, alarmed. “Tania’s abilities should have protected her from the cold.”

  “Not here,” Teo retorted. “In The Cold Plot, neither fire nor heat exist.”

  “We have to get out of here, now, before Tania and Tiziano die!” Jayden blurted out.

  “We’re not leaving without Isgalis and Baruch!” Teo replied firmly. “I’m not abandoning them!”

  At that moment, they heard a high-pitched, monotonous sound: a meow!

  “Noel!” Teo shouted, filled with relief. “You’re okay, buddy!”

  As he ran to greet him, the cat darted down the hallway.

  “Stay with Tania and Tiziano!” Teo yelled over his shoulder. “I’ll be right back!”

  He sprinted after Noel, who didn’t slow down. Just when he thought he was going to lose him, the cat stopped. He was standing in front of a gigantic, ancient portico, which could only lead to one place.

  “The Onyx Hall,” Teo muttered in disbelief. “You led me here.”

  Noel meowed, wagging his tail, and scurried between the columns leading inside. Teo followed him.

  The hall truly lived up to its name, its agate-studded walls gleaming with hues from deep garnet to vibrant vermilion. At the far end, a raised platform held a lectern, behind which Net-Moth addressed a large audience, flanked by Ptah-Min. On either side, there were sacrificial altars upon which Isgalis and Baruch lay.

  “Our star has arrived!” Net-Moth boomed as Teo entered, despite the boy’s attempt to stay hidden. “Please, let us give him a warm welcome!”

  Teo hesitated, unsure what to do, caught off guard by the Grimond’s announcement.

  “Come now, boy! Don’t be shy!” Net-Moth urged him. “Join us on stage! Surely, you didn’t think we wouldn’t notice your little escape? The young woman and the two children will be joining us shortly. So, please, come forward!”

  Teo advanced, feeling the weight of hundreds of Grimond eyes on him. As he reached the platform, Net-Moth greeted him with a sardonic smile.

  “Very good, little boy! Very good!” the Grimond congratulated him. “I’m always so pleased when you’re obedient! But let’s cut to the chase, shall we? I see it in your face, I can tell. You’re wondering, ‘Why are these magnificent Ardorian creatures keeping us alive? What do they want from us?’ Excellent questions, I must say! Well, the answer is quite simple: we need you alive. Why? Because we want to escape this wretched bubble that imprisons us in The Cold Plot. Yes, I know! I know! You’ll say, ‘But Net-Moth, the magnetic bubble is impervious to the conductivity of Grimond skin. You’ll never escape.’ And I’ll say, ‘You’re absolutely right. We’ll never leave… as Grimonds.’” A cruel smile spread across the creature’s face.

  “I know what you’re planning, but you’ll never pull it off!” Teo yelled. “To transfer your minds into the bodies of other species, you need The Fire of Valrag. But the ancient Ixarions extinguished the fire and heat of these lands forever!”

  “What a sharp and arrogant young man you’ve turned out to be!” Net-Moth sneered. “Everything you say is true. It would seem we’re hopelessly trapped in this cursed place! However, fortune has smiled upon us for the first time in many years, because the Ixarions didn’t count on us having you.”

  Teo looked at him, bewildered.

  “You see, my dear Vendalion, this comrade here,” the Grimond said, gesturing to Ptah-Min, “though he may appear to be a complete moron, has proven useful. He noticed you carrying Valrag’s swords when you entered our territory.”

  “You’re wrong!” Teo objected. “These swords belonged to Mazdart, brother of the keeper of the Library of Babel and general of the Ixarion army in the war against Raen.”

  “Oh, yes! I forgot!” Net-Moth replied, a malicious glint in his eyes. “The poor fool whose body Valrag stole!”

  Teo froze, unable to react to his words.

  “Let me tell you a secret, little one,” the Grimond continued. “Everyone in Ardoras believes Raen killed Sir Phleas’s brother, but that’s not the truth. It was Valrag, a demon from the Frozen Lands.”

  “You’re lying!” Teo retorted. “Everything you say is a lie!”

  “Oh, please, child! You’re a smart boy!” Net-Moth replied, maintaining his composure. “Just think about it for a moment! Mazdart knew he and his army couldn’t defeat Raen, not with their own strength. So, he made a pact with the dark powers of the Other Continent. Demons more powerful than Raen reside there. In fact, the Frozen Lands, as we call them, is the birthplace of all demons. Evil and black magic wouldn’t exist in Ardoras if it weren’t for the Other Continent. The Incruxis possessing your friends aren’t native to this place, no demon is.

  “Mazdart was desperate,” the Grimond added, “and that made him vulnerable. Valrag simply took advantage of that. He tricked the Ixarion and stole his body. Why? Because Valrag is a Hospitem, or ‘host demon,’ meaning it needs a living being to sustain its existence. Hospitem live and operate through their hosts, but they eventually consume them, like Incruxis. So, the demon is forced to find a new host. The moment you touched the swords Valrag had controlled through Mazdart’s body, you became the lucky new host. Now, you share your spirit with Valrag!”

  “Fortune smiles upon us, Net-Moth!” Ptah-Min gloated. “Praise you!”

  “Indeed, fortune smiles upon us!” Net-Moth intoned, raising his voice and addressing the audience. “Because this child is the bearer of Valrag and the key to our freedom from this perpetual prison! He will reignite the Fire, allowing us to escape these lands forever! For Valrag, in his wisdom, has chosen a Vendalion to share his destiny! And only the might of the greatest of the Races can undo the curse the Ixarions placed upon us!”

  The auditorium erupted in applause and cheers, celebrating the good news.

  “These sacrifices we offer to the Incruxis,” said the Grimond, gesturing towards Isgalis and Baruch, “will be the fuel that feeds the Fire. And our prisoners, with the exception of the young Vendalion who belongs to the Master, will be the vessels that receive our minds, allowing us to conquer The Continent. Three of us will venture out and bring back the livestock that will serve as hosts for the rest of our brethren!”

  The uproar in the auditorium intensified. The Grimonds sang and danced.

  “I won’t do it!” Teo roared, enraged. “I’ll kill you all! Not a trace of your existence will remain!”

  “I figured you’d say something like that!” Net-Moth responded. “But you will… oh, believe me, you will! Bring the girl and the children!” he ordered.

  A group of Grimonds brought Teo’s three companions to the platform. Jayden was gagged and bound; Tania and Tiziano were still unconscious.

  “It’s simple, kid,” Net-Moth declared. “You’ll do as I say, or I’ll cut your friends’ throats, one by one. Think carefully about your decision, because if you refuse to obey me, their blood will be on your hands.”

  At that moment, a horrified scream echoed from the back of the auditorium. Then another joined in, and within seconds, chaos erupted. The Grimonds retreated in terror, creating a clear path down the center of the hall. Walking slowly and elegantly through them was Noel.

  “What is that thing?!” some shouted, shaken.

  “It’s the incarnation of the Ixarion spirits who condemned us here!” others responded, troubled. “They’ve returned to complete their task and erase us from The Continent forever!”

  “They’re punishing us for trying to reignite The Fire of Valrag!”

  Then, Teo understood. Isgalis had told him cats didn’t exist in Ardoras, and the Grimonds were mistaking Noel for the Ixarions, due to the feline’s resemblance to the heads of the Great Race’s members.

  Noel went to his master, and Teo picked him up. The cat purred and licked his hand.

  “The spirits of the Ixarions are with the child!” the crowd bellowed. “Proceeding with the ritual would seal our death sentence! Let’s get out of here, brothers! Let’s leave the Onyx Hall before the Eternal Curse descends upon us!”

  “No! Don’t go!” Net-Moth shouted. “These are mere superstitions! Come back!”

  He tried in vain to stop the mass desertion. Within minutes, the hall was empty.

  “You’re not fooling me, brat!” the Grimond leader spat, losing his temper for the first time. “I don’t know what that thing is, but I know it’s not the incarnation of the Ixarions! If you don’t do what I say right now, I’ll cut this whore’s throat!” he said, pulling Jayden’s head back and placing his long middle finger against her neck. “Hurry, or I swear I will!”

  “You won’t!” a voice roared from the shadows.

  Net-Moth looked down at his chest and found one of Teo’s swords thrust clean through him. Shortly after, he lost consciousness and fell dead.

  “Grimonds’ souls were never bound to the Incruxis,” Roderic said, stepping into the light. “They were just decoys to keep you from killing them. You need to stop being so trusting, kid!”

  “But how is that possible?” Teo stammered, bewildered. “How are you here?”

  “With the Pipers’ help,” the young man said, as he ungagged Jayden. “They guided me here. I entered through the other end of the catacombs, which is closer to their village.”

  When she was freed, Jayden hugged and kissed him profusely.

  “Thank you for coming back for us! Thank you so much!” A tear of shock and relief rolled down her cheek.

  Meanwhile, Ptah-Min was paralyzed with terror. He wanted to run, but his legs wouldn’t respond.

  “Let’s finish this one too,” Roderic said, raising Teo’s sword. “All the scum must be dealt with.”

  Teo held his arm.

  “No,” he countered bluntly. “He’ll live.”

  “Why?!” Roderic bellowed, enraged. “Just a moment ago, you said you’d kill them all!”

  “I know,” Teo murmured regretfully. “But I want to believe we can be better than them.”

  With a reluctant sigh, Roderic lowered Teo’s katana.

  “These are yours,” he said, returning Teo’s katana and wakizashi. “Jayden, you’ll carry Tania; Teo will take Baruch and Tiziano, and I’ll take Isgalis. I don’t think a Vendalion would have any trouble carrying the weight of two children, right?”

  Teo gave a knowing smile.

  “Let’s get moving,” Roderic said. “Isgalis and Baruch don’t have much time left. I’ll show you the way to the Pipers’ village.”

  THANKS FOR READING!

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