“You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.”
― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society
TWO DAYS BEFORE
Tabitha and the others were flying over the Dark Forest when the first rays of the sun crested over the eastern horizon. Below, the Dark Forest was of course dark. The ground could not be seen. But still Balca said.
“Guys, if we still want to keep a low profile and not alert mortals to our presence. I suggest we land.”
“Not in the forest? I don’t like the look of that place.”
Balca turned around flying backwards and shrugged to Talin who found this maneuver weird no matter how many times she saw it.
“I know, I know, but we won’t fly out of the forest’s air space anytime soon. By the time the sun reaches its zenith, we will only by half way across the Dark Forest. If I remember correctly, Avalon has dragon and griffin riders.”
“Yes that’s true, and there are patrols that fly near the borders of the Dark Forest.”
Balca nodded at Malice, thanking her for the added comment.
“If we are spotted by the mortals, believe me. We will face Paladins and Holy Knights a lot sooner.”
Talin bit her bottom lip in thought.
“I don’t know. What do you think Tabitha?”
Tabitha was listening to the conversation but she was also scanning the Dark Forest with her senses, both physical and magical.
“There is a cloud of aura two miles away, it looks like a combination of holy and light magic.”
“That’s strange. Why would such magic be in the Dark Forest? I mean, you guys can feel the dark aura coming from the forest itself right?”
Tabitha nodded in agreement at Zula’s words.
“Yes, there are no natural wildlife such as deer or small creatures in the forest. I sense supernatural monsters and necromantic magic from the forest.”
“Then shouldn’t we avoid the place like the plague?”
Talin asked hoping that the answer would be yes. She sighed when Malice said.
“But that area with holy and light magic looks interesting. While we wait for nightfall, I suggest we investigate.”
“I second that.”
Balca chimed in. Talin looked at her friend saying in exasperation.
“What’s with you? I don’t think it’s a good idea to enter the forest. Least of all explore an area where there is holy and light magic.”
Talin exclaimed and Zula nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, holy and light magic usually involves at best priests or holy warriors. At worse one or more of the gods. What do you think Kasca?”
Until asked for her opinion, Kasca was content to remain silent and listening to the conversation.
“I will go where my Lady commandsss. If that meansss ssshe will go to that area of holy and light magic, then I will follow without hesssitation.”
“Here, here, well said snake lady.”
Balca sang cheerily. Everyone looked at Tabitha to hear her decision. Tabitha realized in that moment despite all of them being centuries old, she was their leader. Her words would be the final decision, they had all sworn fealty to her. Tabitha made her decision.
“I want to know why there is an area filled with holy and light magic in the middle of the Dark Forest. Plus, we can hideout until nightfall.”
“Yay, you heard the lady. Let’s go exploring guys.”
Balca said with enthusiasm, everyone except for Tabitha, Malice, and Kasca rolled their eyes. It only took the group a matter of minutes to reach their destination. Tabitha was no fool, she ordered everyone to fly around the area in a circle. They still had some time before the sun was fully over the horizon. Tabitha wanted to scan the area from above before landing.
“That is a ruin.”
Tabitha said in surprise, and she was indeed correct. Below them in a clearing a mile wide was the remains of an ancient temple. The main building was half destroyed and aged with greys and browns. Some of the pillars have toppled over and some stood half gone. There were multiple archways, some still standing and others half destroyed. Despite all of this, the ruins of the temple had a beauty to it Tabitha could not deny.
“Kasca, do you see anything that would prove dangerous to us?”
“No Lady Tabitha, I sssee no trapsss. Magical or mundane, of courssse, I could be wrong. The trapsss may be concccealed by ancient ssspellsss I am unfamiliar with.”
“You might be right Kasca, but I do not see any myself. I guess we will find out sooner or later. Let’s land everyone.”
The moment their feet touched the ground, they felt the power of the holy and light magic. It was not only in the ground, it flowed thick in the air itself.
“Man, this place is heavy with some holy aura.”
Balca was swaying on her feet as if drunk, Tabitha looked at the green demoness with some concern. Suddenly, Balca shook her head roughly and stood straighter.
“Don’t worry, I got this.”
She gave Tabitha a thumbs up. Everyone else had the same reaction except for Tabitha. Mmmmm, devils are indeed different from demons if that did not affect me like everyone else. Tabitha and the others proceeded to look around the ruins searching for…whatever there is to find. Particularly the source of the holy and light magic. After several minutes Kasca called out.
“Lady Tabitha! Everyone! I’ve dissscovered sssomething over here!”
Tabitha and the others reached Kasca who was standing in front of a large tomb. The double doors crafted from iron, from the looks of the tomb. It had aged over the centuries, but the iron doors looked new.
“Why is a tomb near a temple?’
Talin asked in confusion, while Tabitha placed a hand on the iron doors. Suddenly, Tabitha was pushed back by an invisible force. A rune symbol in red appeared over the middle of the doors.
“What the hell is that? That rune reads seal.”
Talin said. There was silence for a moment before Tabitha asked.
“Did anyone find any symbol in the ruins that would identify the god or goddess this temple was built for?”
When everyone said no, Tabitha found that quite interesting.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“What are you thinking my dear?”
Malice asked Tabitha.
“I’m thinking that this temple was built long ago to keep someone or something imprisoned. I’m thinking that the holy and light magic are meant as barriers to keep out monsters and other supernatural beings. I’m thinking that this tomb before us here is the entrance to a prison cell.”
“Wait a minute.”
Zula began.
“If the holy and light magic are supposed to keep out monsters and supernatural beings. How come we were able to land without issue?”
It was Kasca who answered the question.
“Becaussse, the magic keeping out unwanted guessstsss isss failing. We are ssstrong enough to enter through it.”
“Kasca is right. Whoever built this temple didn’t want their identities known and didn’t want any supernatural beings entering this place. I doubt any mortals could break through the iron doors.”
Tabitha said with certainty, Balca smiled at everyone and spoke.
“Well, why don’t you break the seal and let’s find out why someone wanted to keep people out?”
“Can you break the seal, Tabitha?”
Talin asked. In answer, Tabitha raised her right hand. A black aura was forming in her palm, Zula and Talin recognized it for what it was.
“Of course, if you want to break a seal of holy and light magic…”
Talin began.
“…you use demonic and dark magic.”
Zula finished. Tabitha slammed her hand into the barrier, and the rune with the word seal appeared in the middle of the door once again. And once again the invisible force tried to push her back. But this time Tabitha was ready for it. Holy and demonic magic clashed, light and dark collided in a battle of wills. Tabitha gritted her teeth and growled her determination. The holy and light magic despite being weakened over the years was still able to resist. But Tabitha is a she-devil, young but growing stronger by the day. In the end, Tabitha’s demonic and dark magic prevailed. Shattering the seal, the magic disappeared in sparks of light.
The magic fell and the iron doors were now opened to them. Tabitha felt invigorated, not at all winded. It was strange to expend such energy and not feel tired. Tabitha reached for the handles of the iron doors and pulled them open. The hinges screeched like the whaling of the damned. The opening of the doors revealed stairs going down into the dark, deep within the earth. As Tabitha placed a foot forward to go down the stairs, Kasca placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Lady Tabitha, let me go firssst.”
“That’s not necessary. I can handle myself.”
Kasca nodded.
“Yesss, but between the two of usss. I have the better sssensssesss.”
Tabitha was about to argue that, when Malice said.
“Tabitha, Kasca is your sworn general. She has centuries of experience; let her serve you.”
Tabitha was about to say something then stopped, and finally nodded. Kasca moved forward, slithering down the stairs. Tabitha followed then Malice, and the others took up the rear. Even though it was dark, that was no trouble for a devil and demons. Their eyes were made for the darkness, seeing everything as if it was the daytime. The blackest pit could be penetrated by their gaze, this darkness was nothing to them. They went down and down the stairs, and when they reached the bottom Tabitha estimated that they were at least a mile into the earth. They were in a tunnel, the darkness seeming to go on forever.
“This is one strange tomb.”
Talin said.
“This is not a tomb; this is a prison.”
Tabitha declared. Talin looked at her in confusion.
“How so?
She asked but it was Malice who answered as the party walked following Kasca.
“The aura of holy and light magic and the seal was actually meant to keep out demons. They were all meant to keep us out. The only question is what or who is prisoner down here?”
It felt to Tabitha that they had walked in a straight line for half a day when Kasca said.
“There is light up ahead.”
She was right, Tabitha saw illumination only twenty yards away. The party continued to move cautiously to the light. They entered a domed chamber filled with light from a hole in the ceiling. The hole must go all the way to the surface, because it was sunlight that stream through the hole. The chamber was built using heavy stone bricks the color of dark brown. Old and cracked in places, but Tabitha was not interested in the architecture of the chamber. She was looking at the two statues at the center of the room. The statues are of two female demons, embracing each other and with a long golden spear going through both.
“What in the multiverse is this?”
Zula demanded in awe, staring at the statues. Tabitha moved closer to the two statues, the statues were marble white and pristine. One was dressed in the robes of a mage, and the other in leather armor of a warrior. Both women had the same face, the same look and they look more human than even Tabitha. Both females’ faces were lovely, and they had the same length of hair but she could not tell the color of their eyes and hair. Both women had four inch curved horns from their temples, both had wings, and tails…without spades. Tabitha’s eyes widen at that realization.
“They’re Cambions, twin Cambions.”
“Cambions? What are they doing here?”
Talin asked but Zula asked.
“Hold on, aren’t they just statues?”
Tabitha shook her head no, but it was Balca who explained after inspecting the Cambion statues.
“Yeah, they’re alive. I can see blood flowing through their veins. Just use your sight.”
Tabitha did as Balca advised, she shifted her gaze to X-ray vision and saw it. Underneath the surface of the marble skin, Tabitha saw blood flowing. The Cambions were alive but imprisoned, sealed as marble stone statues.
“Why and how were the Cambions sealed away?”
Talin asked.
“Cambions are the offspring of devils and humans, they are half devil and half human. Physically, they tend to take after their devilish parent, with horns, wings, and tails. However, they take after their human parent emotionally. Cambions can be good or bad or indifferent. But here’s the best part, like devils from the Nether Realm. Cambions are hard to kill, even if you kill them in the mortal realms. They will return to the Nether Realm and regenerate. Yet, Cambions are not as powerful as devils. Stronger than most demons, but slightly at a disadvantage.”
Tabitha was listening ardently to Balca’s explanation on Cambions. Balca may act a bit off hinge and all, but the little she-demon contained a lot of knowledge in that big brain of hers. While Tabitha was listening, she had shifted her concentration to the gold spear which was emanating holy magic. The spear was seven feet long, and it stabbed through the Cambion twins at a 45 degree angle. From the way the Cambions were embracing each other. It looked like the warrior was trying to shield the spellcaster from the blow of the spear. Tabitha looked at the magic inside the spear with her sight, and then she said.
“The spear is meant to imprison, not kill.”
“What?”
Zula asked in surprise, now studying the golden spear more closely. Tabitha continued.
“The spear is made entirely of magic, every inch of it. Crafted not to slay but to seal with an imprisonment spell. Whoever used this spear did not want the Cambions returning to the Nether Realm. They did not have the time or power to kill them permanently, mind you this is just a guess. I have no evidence to verify, just a hypothesis based on these ruins and this tomb.”
Tabitha swung one hand around motioning to their surroundings.
“Whoever built this temple, it was never meant for worship. It was built to keep these Cambions here. They were sealed in marble stone and imprisoned and locked away in a tomb. With a temple built around the doors to keep the holy and light magic flowing. One more thing.”
Now, everyone was listening to Tabitha.
“Whoever crafted the spear, built the temple and tomb. They went to great lengths to hide their identity.”
Everyone looked at the two Cambions, the warrior and the sorceress.
“Why? What’s so dangerous about these Cambions?”
Talin asked and then went on.
“I know Cambions are powerful and all, but they are not as powerful as a devil. Yet, someone went through all this trouble to seal them away forever. Why was it important that these twin Cambions not return to the Nether Realm? Or why they were not killed permanently?”
Balca tapped a finger to her chin in thought.
“Mmmmm…those are good questions. I know.”
Balca slammed a fist into her open palm and said.
“Why don’t we set them free, that way we can ask them these questions.”
“But can we free them? I mean that spear has strong holy magic, and the sealing spell is no joke.”
Zula stated and Malice nodded in agreement.
“None of us can remove the spear because of its holy magic. But.”
Malice looked at Tabitha saying.
“You can remove the spear, just as you removed the holy and light seal. This will not even be half as difficult for you a devil.”
“If it isss Lady Tabitha, then I have no doubt that ssshe will sssuccceed in removing the ssspear.”
Kasca agreed.
“Of course, Tabitha can do it. There shouldn’t be any doubt.”
Talin said with full confidence.
“You go girl.”
Balca encouraged. Tabitha looked at them all in amazement, she thought. Why do they all have such confidence in me? Why do they automatically believe that I can do this without fail? Tabitha shrugged, it wouldn’t hurt to try…or maybe it would. Tabitha shrugged again and summoned her devilish powers in the palm of her hand. Blood red energy and swirling dark magic wrapped around Tabitha’s large red slender hand. She approached the statues and looked at the spear. Tabitha took in a deep breath that she did not need and gripped the shaft of the golden spear.
Immediately, there was a reaction. Malice, Zula, Kasca, Talin, and Balca were blown back several feet as the spear erupt with golden light. The force of the magic pushing everyone back, everyone except for Tabitha who held on to the spear. The spear was crafted from pure holy magic, and it fought against Tabitha’s devil magic. It was a clash of titans on a magical level. Tabitha analyzed the magical particles of the spear; she sent her own essence into the spear. Gaining knowledge of the cellular and molecular makeup of the spear. Then, when she had learned all, she needed to know. Tabitha began to break down the spear one magical particle at a time.
The force of the holy magic had pushed Kasca back, it was unexpected, and she could not get any closer to her Lady. Kasca watched in amazement as Tabitha battled the holy magic with her devil magic. Gold light fought against red and dark light. At first the lights were equal in intensity and power. But slowly, the gold light was ebbing. The red and dark light consuming, and Tabitha began to draw out the spear slowly. Inch by inch the spear was being drawn out of the twins. But it fought to stay put, it was futile. Tabitha’s magic was just too overwhelming, yet the spear did not give up the fight.
Finally, Tabitha pulled out the golden spear which crumbled in her hand like dust. Having destroyed its magical particles from the inside, the spear could not maintain the magic used to create it. The dust which fell from Tabitha’s hand faded away to nothing before hitting the ground. Tabitha looked at the Cambion statues, the others approaching now that the magical battle was over. As they got closer. The holes that the golden spear had made between the twins closed, and then the statues began to crack.