“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”

― William Shakespeare

“There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be...”

― John Lennon

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

They were boxed in, with enemies charging from the front and foes attacking from the rear. Tabitha had only one thought, it’s time to go Jedi.

“Everyone, get down!”

No one argued with Tabitha or paused to wonder what she would do in this situation. Everyone fell to the ground while Tabitha stretched both of her arms to the sides, open palms facing the charging Harkuns. Summoning magic in both hands, Tabitha sent a push of air right into the charging warriors. The Harkuns were not expecting such an attack, so they were not prepared for it. The Harkuns were blown back, many of them hitting their own comrades who were coming up from behind. In a matter of seconds, Tabitha had cleared a path through the enemy.

“Lydia, the only way we are going to make it through all those Harkuns is to fight our way through. And I think that option is a bad one. Is there another way?”

Tabitha spoke quickly, knowing that they did not have much time before the Harkuns recovered. To her relief Lydia said.

“Yes, there is another way. Follow me!”

Lydia ran to the right, staying on the parameter of the Harkuns’ city of huts and tents. The group hugged the cavern wall until they found another opening in a smaller cave. They went in but not before hearing the roars of anger from the Harkuns behind them. They ran through the tunnel of the cave with Tabitha still in the rear, sending gusts of wind blasting the Harkuns back. The group ran until they came to a solid wall.

“For the love of everything true and dear, this is a dead-end!”

Sandra exclaimed, drawing her sword and buckling on her shield. If she was going to die, then it would be with weapons in hand.

“I don’t understand…I thought there was another room here.”

Lydia said looking a bit confused.

“It’sss been over 3,000 yearsss, many thingsss could have changed sssince you were lassst here.”

Kasca stated, already she had two swords in hand. Tabitha summoned her biggest spell of air, and when she cast it. The Harkuns who were getting too close were literally blown out of the cave. Tabitha turned to the others saying.

“I’ve bought us some time, but not much. If there is no way out, then we make our own way out.”

Tabitha marched towards the solid wall, but when she got closer runes of white, blue appeared on the wall. Tabitha stopped in her tracks, looking and wondering what was going on now. Tabitha took a few steps back and the light of the runes dimmed slightly, then they went dark when she took a couple of more steps back. Tabitha then walked straight up to the wall, not only did the runes flared back to life. They practically glowed brighter when she was only a few feet away.

“This is trippy.”

Balca said with excitement.

“Tabitha, touch the wall.”

Malice suggested in a low voice, almost seductive in nature. Tabitha was so transfixed with the runes; she did not even stop to consider why they reacted the way they did to her presence. Tabitha simply placed her right-hand flat on the surface of the wall, and the runes flared up so brightly it was like looking into the sun. When the light finally went out, there was no longer a solid wall. Tabitha was looking into a room, a white bright room. At the center of the room was an obsidian box, rectangular in shape and hovering six feet off the ground.

“By the Nether Realm’s black heart.”

Talin said in amazement.

“What is this place?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen this room before. I never even knew it existed, I thought this was another cavern.”

Nanina stated never taking her eyes from the room. They were all mesmerized by the beauty and grandeur of the white walls, floor, and ceiling. It only took a thrown spear passing between the heads of Nanina and Sandra to kick them back into reality. The spear clattered on the white floor skidding across several feet, but not leaving a scratch.

“Get inside quickly.”

Tabitha ordered as she turned to face the oncoming Harkuns who were now throwing spears and firing arrows from bows. The others did as Tabitha commanded, running into the room and far away from the entrance. Tabitha cast another gust of wind, knocking the spears and arrows away in mid-air. Then she flapped her wings and flew back several feet away from the entrance. As soon as she moved far enough away from the threshold, the wall reappeared. There were multiple thuds and then shouts of rage and confusion. Tabitha just sighed in relief; she was just glad to get away from those homicidal Harkuns. When Tabitha faced the group, she saw that Lydia, Nanina, Kasca, and Sandra were staring at the floating obsidian box. Talin and Balca were nowhere to be seen, but Malice and Zula were sitting on the floor.

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“That was just too close, too close for comfort.”

Tabitha heard Zula say as she breathed in and out.

“Yes indeed, I forgot how frightening Harkuns could be when you are their targets.”

Malice said with a grin on her lovely alabaster face, and as Tabitha was making her way towards the succubi. Talin and Balca came back through another door.

“We found a way up to the main fortress and let me tell you. It is something to behold.”

Talin sounded excited, but Balca had a disappointed expression on her face.

“I don’t know. The interior could use a little brightening up a bit.”

“What are you talking about?”

Talin looked at Balca, trying to understand what the she-demon was getting at. But before the pair could engage in one of their arguments, Sandra spoke up.

“There’s something inside this floating box.”

Everyone’s attention immediately went to the box. Tabitha changed course then, she walked towards the box. As she was getting closer, runes invisible before began to glow at her proximity. As before, as she was getting closer the runes flared brighter.

“It’s like when you approached the wall, it’s the exact same thing.”

Lydia said.

“Expect the runes on the walls glowed bright blue, these runes are bright red.”

Nanina stated she and the other two were stepping back away from the box.

“What does this mean? It seems to me that the way the wall and box react in your presence. It’s like all of this, the wall, this room, and this box were placed here for you Tabitha.”

There was a question in Sandra’s green eyes, and Tabitha saw it. She shrugged saying.

“Don’t look at me. I have no idea how to explain all of this.”

By this time, Tabitha was now standing a few feet in front of the box. The bright red runes were blinding to all, all except for Tabitha who was staring at it.

“Tabitha, touch the box. Like you did with the wall.”

Again, Malice suggested and again, Tabitha did not think to stop. It was all too easy for her to touch the obsidian box with her right hand. As soon as her crimson flesh made contact with the hard and smooth surface of the box. The red glowing runes flared brighter; it was like being in the room with a star going supernova. When the light winked out of existence, and the others were able to see again. Tabitha was still standing, looking at the object that was inside the box which was now nowhere to be seen.

The object was a silver rod with carved runes in its shaft, and that was not all. On both ends of the rod, seven jeweled rubies were embedded into the metal. Like seven colors of the rainbow there are two reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, but the two last colors were not indigos or violets. There are two black and white rubies. In total, fourteen rubies in all. The rod itself was six feet long. In Tabitha’s hand, it would look like a small weapon, like a mace or a short sword. But in the hands of anyone else who was not the size of the greater she-devil, it would look like a long staff. Tabitha stared at the rod entranced, and no one spoke. Finally, Tabitha said.

“The Rod of Might.”

Those were the only four words she spoke just before she gripped the rod with her right hand. It was like an atomic bomb going off as soon as she clamped her hand around the Rod of Might. Both Tabitha and the rod exploded with magical energy. Tabitha released a roar that echoed throughout the room, she felt both pain and pleasure. The rod was fighting her, using its magic to repel her. That other part of Tabitha, the ancient entity which lives within her came out then. Not taking control as it did the first time, this time both the entity and Tabitha were of the same mind and body. They were partners, they were one and the same. Tabitha smiled and spoke.

“My dear old friend you are mine now and forever.”

Then Tabitha poured her aura, her essence, and her magic into the rod. As she and the rod were vying for dominance, the entire room was shaking violently. Sandra fell to her knees, unable to keep her balance.

“What’s happening?!”

Sandra demanded.

“I think Tabitha just turned something on!”

Balca said with glee, she was smiling. Sandra found that strange. She truly is an insane demon. Why would she be smiling at a time like this? And just like that, the shaking stopped. Everyone looked at Tabitha and was struck speechless. Tabitha and the rod were both glowing brightly with a sequence of colors. First, both were white then black, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Then the sequence repeated, going faster and faster until finally there was an explosion of bright colorful light. The walls, floor, and ceiling seem to have absorbed the colorful light. Because their surfaces had multi-colored rainbows streaming through them like data streaming through fiber-optic cables. By the time the colors had disappeared, both Tabitha and the rod had finally settled down. Even Sandra could tell that the greater she-devil and the rod were resonating with the same aura. Balca and Malice were the first to approach Tabitha, and Balca asked one simple question.

“Is it done?”

Sandra saw a look of joy and anticipation on the she-demon’s face. And she was surprised to hear such a question. Not, are you alright? Or how do you feel? She asked, is it done? Did Balca expect this to happen? Did she know the outcome all along? I think I should have a long talk with that green she-demon. Balca has been hiding things from Tabitha. Sandra blinked once, realizing that she was worried about the greater she-devil. Before she could understand why she felt that way, Tabitha spoke.

“Yes, the Rod of Might is mine…once again?”

Tabitha blinked a couple of times and shook her head like a bull.

“Once again? Where did that come from?”

Sandra found Tabitha’s words interesting too. When she had spoken about successfully claiming the rod, Tabitha sounded like a different person. But then she snapped out of it and sounded like herself again. Sandra was starting to believe that Tabitha was far more than just a greater she-devil. But when Malice spoke, Sandra knew something was happening here that was meant to be. Because Malice said.

“Don’t worry about it, Tabitha. Let’s go up to the main fortress, the entrance is this way.”

Tabitha looked at Malice and nodded in agreement. The succubus and the green demoness began to lead Tabitha through the door and up the staircase. Lydia and Nanina were right behind the three, Talin and Kasca followed suit, but Sandra paused for a moment. Malice and Balca are in this together, and then she turned her gaze on the backs of the Cambion twins. I think Lydia and Nanina are in this with them too. After all, they used to live here. At the time, reaching this place looked random. But the twins could have wanted to lead Tabitha here all along. To lead her to the Rod of Might, but it couldn’t be. That rod…?

Sandra did not finish the thought, she simply followed. She had a strong feeling that the mystery of the greater she-devil Tabitha would be revealed soon enough.