Beyond the doorway was a large natural cavern. It was lit by the insidious glow from the huge soul gem that stood over twice as tall as a man on the far side of the cavern. In front of the soul gem stood four figures who were silhouetted by the purple light.
Footsteps echoed throughout the cavern as Hicham and Udoriol rushed in followed by the Blue and White Cloaks, who fanned out as soon as they were through the narrow doorway with Sarah and John bringing up the rear.
“I’m sorry,” the familiar high pitched voice said from the far side of the cavern as Sarah stumbled on an unseen rock. The voice could be clearly heard throughout the cavern, but it somehow created no echo, and it made Sarah’s hair stand on end.
Orbs of lights winked into existence throughout the cavern, bathing everything in an eerie purple glow. It revealed the sheer size of the cavern which was almost large enough to accommodate the entirety of Corrington Cathedral.
“There, that’s better,” the voice said.
“We have no need for your foul lights!” Hicham roared as wings erupted from his back, “Reveal yourselves!”
The light from Hicham’s back revealed the four figures’ features. Among them, Sarah recognized Steven, Kurt’s butler. Standing on his left was a white bearded dwarf wearing the black robes of a priest of Ratri. He held a gnarled staff in his hand, and his eyes were black pits like the vampire’s. Standing on the other side of the butler was a hulking monstrosity that looked like he was even taller than Zer Voltag. This one’s features seemed to be a cross between an orc and a human. and planted into the ground next to him was a greatsword that stood taller than he did.
Standing in front of the trio was someone who resembled an elf, only his skin was as black as night, and his long hair was as white freshly fallen snow. Sarah knew at once that he was the one who had spoken to them and guessed that he must be the Drow. He wore a rapier at his side and a grin on his face that revealed a mouth full of needle like teeth.
“Ah, all the important actors are here,” he said. His voice was delicate, and his tone was playful.
“What are you plotting here?” Udoriol demanded.
“You’ve figured that much out by now,” the Drow replied. “I think that I should introduce myself first.”
“I have no need for your name!” Hicham cried as he leapt forward, propelled by a powerful flap from his wings.
“Patience,” the Drow’s voice was sickly sweet and smooth as Hicham crashed against a black barrier. “I have spent thousands of years preparing for this moment. Let me savour it.”
“I think you’re enjoying it a little too much,” Steven remarked.
The Drow shot him a dirty look before returning his attention to the others. “My name is Voritor, and I am the last of the Drow. I seek to become Ratri’s first and only Chosen.”
He levelled his gaze on Sarah and his mouth curled into an unnaturally wide smile. “I hear that you were present at the library where I gained the final key to the spell of Ascension. Perhaps it was fate.”
He paused and shook his head. “Who would have thought that the final spell needed to complete this ritual would have been found under a backwater church?”
“Succinctly put, Master,” the dwarf observed dryly, “shall we get this over with? You wouldn’t want to let this opportunity slip through your fingers after all our effort.”
Voritor rolled his blood red eyes. “Fine, Forin.”
The Drow was about to draw his sword when Steven cleared his throat. “Master, I’ll be of little use to you in this body.”
“Ah, of course,” Voritor said with an apologetic smile and let his hand stray from his sword.
He then grasped Steven firmly by the head with one hand and did the same on the half orc with the other.
“Stop them!” Nathan roared.
“Wait!” Hicham warned.
The youth’s warning came too late for a pair of men hurled themselves at the barrier and became engulfed by a black mist that seemed to appear out of nowhere, leaving their lifeless, withered husks behind.
“Fireball!”
The blue fireball hurtled through the air and crashed against the shimmering black barrier. Sarah could feel the revolting power emanating from it as it shimmered and knew she would be unable to break through it with her power alone.
“This foe is beyond us,” Udoriol breathed, turning pale.
The elf turned around just as the door to the passageway slammed shut. A White Cloak ran over and pulled on it with all his might. “It’s closed tight,” he cried.
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Voritor completed his incantation and Steven’s shoulders slumped while the half orc’s eyes opened. The massive creature stretched his muscles and grinned. “Ah, it’s good to be back in my body.”
He glared at the butler’s body and picked up his huge sword with one hand.
“You might still need that,” Forin warned. The dwarf waved his staff and the body was whisked away. “That huge body of yours is a little conspicuous for espionage work.”
Steven, in the half orc’s body, frowned and looked at Voritor. “Can’t we get proper spies once you’ve ascended?”
Forin broke into a malicious smile. “You’ve proven perfectly adequate up until now.”
While the pair were talking, Hicham had muttered a quick spell. His sword shimmered brightly, and he plunged it into the barrier.
“Sarah, help me!” he shouted.
Sarah moved as close to the barrier as she dared and cried, “Burning hands!”
Twin pillars crashed against the barrier causing it to shimmer malevolently. Udoriol and a few of the other White Cloaks channelled energy into their swords before plunging them into the barrier like Hicham. The two City Guard wizards cast a spell which bombarded the shield with icicles.
Voritor watched their labours with amusement. “Steven, why don’t you play with them for a little bit?”
A wicked grin crossed the half orc’s face. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Prepare to defend yourselves!” Udoriol warned as he pulled his sword from the barrier and readied his shield.
Sarah watched the half orc pick his massive greatsword up easily with one hand. He shifted his weight forward slightly, and in a flash, disappeared from her view. Moments later, one of the White Cloaks screamed as he was cut clean in half. Sarah shifted her gaze to see that the massive half orc had appeared thirty feet from where he had been standing less than a second ago. His arms moved in a blur, and another man was cut in two from his head to his pelvis.
Hicham let off a roar and hurled himself at Steven. The half orc’s huge sword shimmered black as he parried the youth’s savage blow.
“It seems you are more my cup of tea, Chosen,” Steven grinned.
The half orc’s muscles bulged as he increased the pressure on his sword and Hicham’s wings flapped furiously to keep up. Sarah looked up at the Drow and the dwarf named Forin and saw that neither was attempting to make a move.
In the corner of her eye, Sarah saw a rock spike fly towards Steven. Forin raised his staff and black lightning crackled from it, turning the spike into a cloud of dust.
“I didn’t need your help,” Steven snapped irritably, as he continued his battle of strength with Hicham.
“Of course you didn’t,” Forin stated flatly.
The white bearded dwarf’s eyes glowed purple as he raised his staff again and lightning flew from it towards the blue cloaked wizard who had cast the rock spike. The wizard cast a barrier which swiftly crumbled under the assault, and he screamed as the black lightning struck him and boiled the flesh from his body.
Steven watched as the wizard slowly turned to ash and smirked. “I suppose I should give you the respect you are due as Treto’s Chosen.”
The half orc was pushed back as he took a hand off his sword and reached into his pocket. Moments later, his eyes glowed purple, and he pushed Hicham back with such force that he would have been sent careening into a wall if he didn’t have his wings to stabilize him. Instead, he landed gracefully on his feet.
“Do not get careless now,” Udoriol warned as he tried to find an avenue to intervene. The other blue and white cloaks also circled the half orc warily, all too aware that they would be cloven in half if they took a wrong step.
“Fire blast!”
A bolt of blue fire struck the half orc in the shoulder pauldron, and he shot Sarah a glare. Forin raised his staff, but a raised hand from Voritor stopped him from going any further than that. Steven shot the Drow a look as Sarah darted forward, deciding that she had to capitalize on the opening.
“Burning hands!”
Steven was quick to react, raising his greatsword to block the pillars of flame. Black energy rippled along it as the blue flames struck it. Sarah gritted her teeth and continued channelling the spell despite feeling her energy deplete rapidly. Soon, the black shield around the sword shattered in a burst of black energy, and the purple light faded from Steven’s eyes.
Before Hicham could exploit the opening, the half orc leapt backwards deftly, back into the safety of the barrier.
“Everyone get back,” Sarah panted, deciding that she hadn’t any choice now, “Hicham, protect them.”
“No, you can’t!” John cried.
“Don’t waste the opening!” Sarah ordered as she raised her hands over her head and began channelling her power.
While their shield was up, Sarah could see no path to victory. She was now gambling on her final spell being powerful enough to shatter the barrier, and hopefully annihilate those inside, and failing that, at least leave them vulnerable for long enough for Hicham and the others to strike. She was also gambling on John rushing to her side to prevent her from succumbing to the other presence that she felt was buzzing with anticipation.
These were two desperate gambles she was making, but while their barrier was up, they were at the mercy of the dwarf who would be able to pick them off at will. To make things worse, the Drow had not shown his power yet. She also knew she would be vulnerable while channelling the spell, but after seeing the Drow prevent the dwarf from casting a spell on her, was confident that they needed her alive.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Udoriol and the others huddle close to the entrance. Hicham dragged a struggling John over, and she returned her focus to those in front of her, who watched her with amusement.
“You won’t be smiling for long,” Sarah muttered to herself.
Sarah felt faint but summoned her last scrap of strength to complete the spell. “Meteor strike!”
“No, this isn’t enough,” she heard the Drow say as she sent the huge orb of blue fire hurtling towards the four who had resumed their initial formation with the Drow in the front and the others behind.
Sarah collapsed, completely spent, as the orb made contact with the barrier and exploded, filling the cavern with blue fire. She prayed that whatever barrier Udoriol and Hicham could cast would keep them safe.
“Sarah!” she heard John cry from behind her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, the fire in front of her cleared. The barrier shimmered malevolently and beyond, the Drow smirked. Behind them, the soul gem had dimmed, but from the foul miasma she felt still emanating from it, still held significant power.
Sarah felt despair take over her heart. The other presence surged to the surface and shoved her aside, and she felt energy surge through her.
“Sarah! Come back!” John’s voice sounded distant, and she tried to draw strength from it, but it was no use.
“This vessel is mine!”
Her body moved on its own and rose to its feet. She felt swirling power envelop her body as it moved on its own and got to its feet. Sarah struggled but was powerless to resist. She looked down and was horrified to see that her body had been engulfed by swirling blue flames. She then looked up and saw that the Drow’s lips had curled into a wicked grin.