Chapter 10
1636 Words
Ray and Isabel turned their heads and saw the oncoming convoy headed their way.
“Looks like we’ll have to continue this later,” stated Isabel, looking at Ray, and he nodded.
Five disgusting Duggers headed across the courtyard, and Ray and Isabel jumped down from the machine.
“Scat!” exclaimed Ray, looking at Haven, and she nodded, flying high into the air.
The Earth Guardian gave Isabel a determined look, and she gave him a clipped nod, grabbing her glowing green whip and snapping it in the air. Aggravated, Ray snarled at the creatures and threw his arms out. The bright claws appeared, and the weapons sparkled with energy. The Duggers roared and charged toward Ray and Isabel. The two Diggers held their ground, waiting for the impact.
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Two Duggers advanced toward Isabel, and she grabbed her knife from her hip with her free hand. As the beasts approached, she swiftly swiped the blade across the creature’s abdomen, and the second Dugger grabbed her. Isabel squealed as she saw the first Dugger charge toward her. Quickly, she pulled her feet up and pushed against the creature’s chest.
Isabel and the Dugger that had a hold of her toppled to the ground, and when they reached the ground, the beast let go of her. Immediately, the girl jumped to her feet and snapped the whip at one of the beasts. The end of the weapon wrapped around its neck, and she pulled back as hard as she could. The Dugger howled in pain and disappeared.
As soon as the beast disappeared, the other Dugger slammed into her and sent her flying in the air. Isabel hit the ground hard, groaning, and coughed as she spat out blood. Weakly, she pushed herself to her feet and staggered. The Dugger roared at her angrily, and Isabel smirked, wiping her mouth.
“You’re going to pay for that one,” she sneered, and the beast charged toward her.
Isabel ran toward the monster, and right before the Dugger reached her, she leaped into the air. She landed on its shoulders, wrapped her legs around its neck, spun, and threw the Dugger to the ground. The monster snarled as she jumped on top of it and wrapped the whip around its throat.
“See you in hell!” Isabel yelled and pulled back on the whip.
The Dugger screeched in pain as the glowing rope sliced through its flesh and disappeared.
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Ray roared at the three Duggers, charging toward him, and the creatures snarled. Quickly, Ray centered his energy, jumping into the air, and the claws disappeared. The Elemental Hammer appeared in his hand, and he slammed it on the ground. A ring of green mist appeared and shot out from the impact. The beasts flew backward, and Ray didn’t waste any time.
He ran over to one of the monsters as the hammer disappeared, and the claws reappeared. Before the creature could regain its senses, Ray stabbed the Dugger in the chest, and the beast wailed, shaking violently, and disappeared. The two remaining beasts got to their feet and snarled at the Earth Guardian. Ray looked at them, smirking.
“Who’s next?”
The Duggers looked at each other and then charged at Ray. The beasts pinned the guardian between them, trying to swipe their ugly claws at him, but they seemed to miss every time and hit each other. Swiftly, Ray ducked, making the Duggers punch themselves. Amused, he chuckled and stabbed both monsters in the chest as he stood up. Both Duggers screeched and disappeared.
Heavily, Ray sighed, looking at Isabel, and dropped his arms. She was sitting on the ground, resting her arms on her knees, and he noticed a gash above her right eye and blood dripping from her lip.
“Are you alright?” he asked, trying to catch his breath.
Isabel looked up at him and weakly nodded. Haven flew down to them and looked at Ray. The fairy noticed a gash on his arm, and she gave him a concerned look.
“Are you okay?” asked the fairy, and he nodded, pointing to Isabel.
“I will heal, but she should be looked at,” stated Ray, and Haven looked at the girl.
Ray didn’t notice that Isabel had three slashes on her upper arm. Quickly, Haven fluttered over to the girl, and Ray followed.
“Are you okay, Izzy?” asked the magical creature, and Isabel nodded unsteadily, getting to her feet.
Suddenly, Isabel pitched forward, and Ray caught her before she hit the ground.
“I don’t think you are,” he stated.
Isabel only nodded with a floppy head, and then her head fell limp against his chest. The Fairy Guardian looked at Ray in concern, and Ray pulled Isabel’s head back, looking into her droopy eyes.
“She’s okay. She just got knocked senseless,” he said, lifting the girl in his arms.
Haven only nodded and watched Ray carry Isabel toward the machine. He leaned her against the wall, and she looked at him. Ray made a few quick movements with his hands, and a stream of fresh water appeared. He directed the stream toward Isabel and grabbed the back of her neck.
“Drink. You will feel better,” Ray whispered, and Isabel began drinking.
Surprisingly, the water made Isabel feel better, and quickly regained consciousness. Gratefully, she drank more and felt much better. Isabel looked at Ray with big eyes.
“Thank you. I didn’t think water could make you feel this good,” she stammered, and Ray chuckled.
“Elemental Water has healing properties,” he stated, gesturing to her arm.
Isabel looked at her arm and gasped as she rubbed the spot where the three slashes once were. Isabel looked at Ray with wide eyes and touched her forehead. Surprisingly, the gash was gone too.
“Thank you. You have saved my life again, and I don’t know how to repay you,” she whispered, and Ray touched her face gently.
“You don’t owe me anything. Are you sure you’re okay?” Ray asked, and Isabel nodded.
She saw the care in the Earth Guardian’s eyes and felt like she was falling for him. Isabel wondered if he felt the same way. She shook the thoughts from her head and knew she would have to wait to find out after they had saved her home. Isabel looked at Ray and smiled quickly.
“Yes, thank you again.”
Ray looked at the girl for a moment and shook his head.
“Okay, if you say so,” he stated and looked at Haven.
“We will give her a couple more minutes, and then we will clear the jam. Be on the lookout for that overgrown snake.”
Haven nodded and flew back to her lookout spot.
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Down in the Underworld Realm, Catalina was at her magic table when a large round orange portal appeared in the living room, and Belhazur stepped through.
“Ah, there you are. I was hoping you would be here when I got back,” said the demon king, and she blinked at him as her smile faded.
“Where else would I be?” Catalina asked, walking toward him, and Belhazur put his palm to her face.
“I just thought you would be doing something else with your free time.”
She looked at him, searching his eyes, and quickly smiled. Belhazur noticed a nervous twitch in her lips as he took his hand away, and she tapped her long fingernails together. Catalina stepped away from him, laughing nervously. Her behavior confused the demon king, and he had never seen her act this way before. Suddenly, Catalina scoffed, turning toward Belhazur, and glared at him.
“Find something to do with my free time? I can’t even leave the house,” she snapped, and to her surprise, the demon king laughed at her.
Belhazur gave her a thoughtful look.
“Sure you can,” he stated, walking toward the front door and opening it.
“Come outside with me,” the demon king stated, reaching for her.
Catalina crossed her arms, shivering, and scowled at the king of Chaos.
“Do you really think I am stupid?” she asked, and Belhazur looked at her oddly.
“What do you mean?”
Catalina looked at the demon king as if he had three heads.
“I already tried to go outside after you left, and I was shocked and thrown back into the house. I am not going through that again,” she stated, and he gave her an honest look.
“Listen. I promise nothing will happen to you.”
Catalina didn’t move. She didn’t like the king of Chaos. He wanted to cause her pain, and she would do everything she could to prevent it from happening.
“Catalina, my queen. You can trust me. I am here now, and nothing will happen to you.”
She looked at him suspiciously and sighed. Cautiously, Catalina walked over to him.
“If I get zapped again…”
Belhazur gave her a stern look, and she stopped talking.
“You will do what? Remember, you cannot even make a simple potion to break down the guardian barrier or even save your boys. Now, what could you possibly do to hurt the king of Chaos?”
Catalina glared at him.
“Now, stop being a shared, helpless victim, and come outside with me,” Belhazur said, and Catalina hung her head in defeat.
She took a couple of steps closer, and the demon king snatched her wrist.
“Someday, you will learn!” the demon snarled and yanked Catalina outside with him.
- Writer
