The Fallen Prince Part 35

"I may be blind," he says, stepping through the new doorway, "but I can feel what you fail to see."

I take a deep breath. I don't know how he did it, but I'm happy he did. It cuts down on a lot of time and energy.

When we enter the room, the wall closes behind us. Directly in front of us are wooden walls. "It's a maze." One ma.s.sive, over-the-top maze. Wyatt didn't mention this place. I turn to Kera and a piece of thick gla.s.s springs up between us. She pounds on it, but it's solid. I turn to Baun and the same thing happens.

I don't like it. Jason knows all three of us are here and has managed to separate us. For once, he's thinking on his feet and adjusting his actions to fit the situation. My science teacher would call that evolution in action. I call it a sick and twisted mind.

The only way out now is to go forward. Alone.

In front of each of us is an entrance to the maze, and beside it is a map tacked to the wall. It shows where I am and the exit. The paper suddenly catches fire, rapidly disintegrating before I can fully study it. I pull it off the wall and try my best to put out the fire. Nothing I do works. I drop it and watch it burn to ash.

Kera's map is in flames as well. The same is true for Baun's, though it's pretty funny, seeing as how he can't see.

"What's going on?" his m.u.f.fled voice asks.

"We're in a maze," I yell.

He nods that he understands and takes his staff and taps out the area in front of him.

Kera steps forward. She's wringing the bottom of her shirt. I'm just as nervous, more for her than me. I put my hand to the gla.s.s and she places hers on mine. "It'll be all right. I'll see you at the other end."

She nods and I watch her disappear into the maze. The wood scrolls closed behind her, shutting her off from me. My heart races for a second and all sorts of wild thoughts course through my head. None of them are realistic. The only way I'll see her again is if I make it through to the other side.

I move closer to the entrance and peek in. The walls and floors are made from the same slatted wood panels. I step through and my panel slides shut.

It's then I find out it's a timed event. The paneled floor starts to drop away and I hear it clatter and bounce on its way down. I step quickly, trying to remember the basic direction I need to go. I take a wrong turn and end up in a dead end. Running back, the floor is partially gone on the path I need to take. I back up and run, leap, hit the opposite wall, and push off with my legs. I land and roll forward, bounce to my feet, and sprint ahead. When I get to a change in direction, I wait for the floor to pick the direction for me. It's a cheat, but Jason isn't playing fair.

I get to the end of the maze and there isn't a door. I try and force my way through. I firebomb the h.e.l.l out of it. Nothing works. I then wait for the floor to catch up, thinking it will open then, but it doesn't. I jump up and spread my arms and legs, bracing them against the walls as the floor drops away into a gaping hole.

Taking little hops, I maneuver up the wall to the top. I straddle the wall and see Kera. She had the same idea, sort of. While I was spread-eagled, her hands are pressed against one wall and her feet are against the other. There's no way she'll be able to grab the top and swing out. I stand on the narrow wall and balance my way over to her.

"Need help?"

She c.o.c.ks her head to the side and peers up at me. "Please."

I straddle the wall, grab her arms, and pull her up beside me.

"Did you help Baun?" she asks.

"I didn't see him."

Because he's blind and slow, the chances of him surviving aren't good. Kera's lips thin and her eyes shimmer like cut gla.s.s. "What do we do now?"

A metal staff strikes the wall beside our dangling legs and we look down. Baun is standing on the outside of the maze, perfectly safe and sound. I take Kera's hands and lower her to the ground beside him and then jump down. "How'd you get out?"

"I used magic."

"I tried and it didn't work."

"Me, too," Kera admits.

"I'm better at it," he says with a grin.

We hurry to a door on the far side of the back wall and enter a large room held up by columns and arches. The cavernous room is perfectly white and has the feel of a cathedral to it. At the far end of the room is a huge machine encased in a gla.s.s dome. Lights whiz around the outside of it. We can clearly see a mult.i.tude of gears clank together, faster and faster, until the machine hums loudly. Jason stands within the dome, his arms raised as crackles of energy fly from his fingertips. On seeing him, we duck behind a thick column. When I peek around, I get the impression there's something different about Jason, though I can't place what it is.

A flash of light coming from the dome shoots toward the middle of the room and a loud pop sounds. A small hole suddenly appears in midair, crackling with the same energy that's in the machine, and it begins to grow.

Baun c.o.c.ks his head and listens. "What is that?"

I describe what I'm seeing and Baun frowns. "This is bad news. He's made a machine that generates magnetic energy he can use to create a portal into the Unknown."

Jason leaves the dome and squats by something near one of the pillars. It's Leo. He's tied and gagged like a bad-tempered mule outside a glue factory. "You should've picked sides better," he yells over the hum.

Leo sends Jason a withering glare.

"You may be okay with being his errand boy," Jason taunts, "but I have better things to do than follow him around."

Kera taps my arm and points to a spot low to the floor. It's a familiar white ball of fluff. Lucinda blends in so well, if Kera hadn't pointed her out, I wouldn't have seen her.

Unfortunately, Jason notices her, too, and sends a nasty blast her way. In cat form, Lucinda is powerless. The blast sends her little body crashing into the wall, where she crumples to the floor.

Kera gasps and my jaw stiffens. "I think it's time Jason knows we're here," I say.

I step into full view. When Jason turns, he sees me, and it's then I get a really good look at him, and what I see isn't good. He's aged ten years. With all the magic he's using, it's tearing up his body, and he doesn't even know it.

"Only you?" He shakes his head in mock sorrow. "Your dad and your girlfriend gone in one day. That's tragic."

"What's tragic is you thinking you're smarter than you really are." I quickly shoot a series of fireb.a.l.l.s his way. He dives behind the nearest stone pillar as sparks burst in every direction.

Jason gets to his feet and actually laughs. "Good job, Dylan."

Is he really that c.o.c.ky that he's not upset to see me?

Kera steps out and throws one of her stars. It zips past Jason, and with a bit of magic, she causes it to spin back and sink into his hand.

He grimaces, pulls it out, and glares at Kera. "I actually felt bad thinking you were gone. Now I'm sorry I gave you a second thought." He holds up his hand and watches the last of his wound heal. "Awesome trick, huh Dylan? I bet you don't have that one." He whips the star at me. Kera darts over and catches it, then sends it back. He dodges it this time and snags it from the air, throwing it to the ground where it embeds in the rock. "Are we done playing with toys?"

When Baun steps out, I see a flash of fear enter Jason's eyes. Baun bends and touches the floor. It ripples across the room and shakes the area where Jason is standing.

He sends a hot energy bolt toward Baun. I don't know how Baun does it, but he blindly catches the bolt with his staff, swings it, and sends it back. It totally catches Jason off guard, and he's thrown across the room behind a pillar.

"Touch the floor," Baun yells. "It's the fastest way to send all the power we have to collapse the gateway and stop the transference."

It's then I notice the little hole has grown bigger. We do as he says. The lights flutter. The room shakes. The noise of stone jostling stone is deafening. Part of the floor begins to liquefy. All we're doing is weakening the hall, not the magic that connects to the Unknown. The power is still humming along, though at a slower pace.

Jason reappears, dragging a still-bound Leo beside him. He tosses Leo a few feet in front of the growing portal and ties a rope around Leo's bound wrists. He then throws the other end through the growing hole. A sudden tug jerks Leo to the floor and drags him toward the portal. He rolls until he can splay his legs out and dig his heels against the floor. His rubber soles squeak as he's slowly pulled closer to the Unknown and all the nasty things within it.

Fake sadness crosses Jason's face. "I wouldn't want to be him. Have you seen what those dark souls do to a guy? Nasty. But I'll tell you what." He draws his sword. "We can end this now. You and me, Dylan. Let's see if you're as good as you think you are. If you beat me, everyone walks away unharmed and I leave."

He's got to be kidding. His ego has gotten crazy big if he thinks he can beat me. I'm the real deal. He's just putting on a show. I stand and draw my sword, ready and willing to give him the beat-down of his life.

The portal grows bigger. Leo is pulled closer to it. I can't waste time playing games. I rush Jason. Our swords connect. Metal pounds metal. Though I'm taller, he has weight on his side. He's like a bull, pushing me back.

Kera shouts a warning even as she pours the magic she has into weakening the floor. I'm suddenly in the eye of the portal and I nearly trip over Leo, but manage to spin away only to have Jason grab me from behind and knock my sword out of my hand. I grasp his sword hilt and we grapple. There's a reason he's a state wrestling champion. This is a fight I can't win, and he knows it. Equally strong, it's all about technique, which he has and I don't.

I feel myself slipping and I use the arm-twist Grandpa used on Wyatt. Miraculously, Jason drops to his knees. His sword clatters to the ground. But he's more limber than Wyatt. He twists and punches my knee. Pain rips through my leg. I push him away. We each grab our swords. As soon as I touch mine, it flares back to life. We face each other again, and as we circle around, my knee burns where Jason hit it. It's going to give. I feel my bones click, my muscles stretch too far. I ignore the pain and lunge forward, bringing my sword down on his. The power from that blow cracks my blade and the fire goes out.

Jason slashes his sword down and cuts a gash into my arm. I stagger back as he laughs. "You're making it too easy to kill you."

I lose my temper. I toss my sword aside and light up-full burning man on display. He's not laughing now. I get so hot, the hair on Jason's head singes into nubs. He lashes out, but the tip of his blade melts before it touches me. I haul back and slam my fist into his face, angry at everything he's done.

He swings wide. I punch him again. Hard. He staggers back. I go in for another hit that rocks him back on his heels. Dipping back, I jump into the last hit, knocking Jason out.

"Dylan!" Kera yells.

I twist around and see Leo's arms pulled taut, his fingers only inches from the portal. Before I can move, a white cat jumps toward him. Lucinda morphs into human form and cuts the rope. Leo collapses onto his back and scoots away from the portal and the creatures waiting on the other side, mumbling against his gag that he's okay.

With Leo safe, I stand over Jason and stare at his battered face. My heat instantly cools. I don't like what I've done, and I feel a moment of regret.

"It's not working," I hear Baun yell. "We need to combine our power. It's the only way we can stop the evil in the Unknown from coming through."

I'm beside Kera in an instant. If Baun thinks either of us is going to give him our power, he's crazy. I see Kera waffling and I place myself between them, leveling a serious glare at her. "Don't you do it."

Her pupils dilate. "But he's right. It's not working."

The machine spins faster as power surges through it. That's not our only problem. The chamber is weak, and the walls have begun to crumble. Plaster sprinkles down from the ceiling. The portal inches wider, revealing all manner of beasts waiting to emerge from the Unknown.

"If we don't act now, we will lose our chance to stop what your friend has put into motion. Our power is too entrenched in each of us. It needs to be combined in order to work."

He's right. I know it...and I have only one solution. I clamp my hand on to Kera's arm.

She instinctually tries to pull away. "What are you doing?"

"I'm giving you my power."

Baun takes an aimless step forward and holds out his hand for me to stop. "No. You don't underst-"

I don't wait to hear what he has to say. I send everything I have into her. She gasps against the glow of my hand, and when it's over, I look back at Baun. His face has visibly paled. I grab his hand and place it on Kera's arm. "Give her your powers," I tell him. It's an order, not a request.

His sightless eyes blink rapidly, the shock of what I've done written plainly on his face.

"It's the only way now," I yell over the whirl of the machine. "If you really care about Teag, give Kera your power!"

"You don't know what you've just done. What you're forcing her to do."

The machine spins faster. The portal grows and shows the Unknown clearly on the other side. It won't be long before it's ready. "We're running out of time."

His hand glows. Kera's body arches. Her eyes turn a bright magenta and then fade to a dark violet. He steadies her and pulls her close. "You now have the ability to take Jason's power," he says. "Do you understand what I'm saying? You must do it now, Kera, before he gets away."

Sure enough, Jason has regained consciousness and is creeping toward the door. But there's only one way a first can take someone else's power. My stomach drops. I can't believe what I've just done. He's telling Kera she has to kill Jason. It's the only way she can collect his power, because even in the sad shape he's in, he won't willingly give it up. And if he manages to kill Kera, then he'll be the sole owner of all our power. There will be no stopping him then.

We stare at each other. Her lips part. My head spins. I grab her like she's the only thing keeping me from falling over, and I whisper in her ear, "I messed up. I can't let you-"

"You don't have a say anymore. Stay here." She pulls away and takes a step back. Then another and another, her face so beautiful, yet determined. She quickly turns and runs after Jason, who's on his feet and stumbling toward the door.

The Living Dead.

Kera dove through the door. She expected to see Jason, weak and hurting, desperate to get away. Instead, he stood with his back to her. When he turned around, she saw the last of his bruises disappear. He had managed to heal himself. But the effort aged him a little more. Although his body still appeared fit, his hair had thinned and had started to gray at the temples.

"They sent you?" His eyebrows shot up. "Why would they do that?"

The ground rumbled beneath them. Time was running out. "You need to give me your power, Jason."

"You're kidding, right? This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I finally have the ability to do whatever I want, and no one can stop me. You've seen a few movies. They're made about this kind of thing."

"Except in a movie, you would be the villain."

He looked truly surprised. "Because I killed someone? I'm like the Punisher. Everyone who died got what they deserved."

"But you're trying to kill Dylan. He's your friend."

He stepped forward, a predatory look in his eye, and she backed away. "He left me."

The accusation in his voice sent shivers down Kera's spine.

"I died," he snarled, "and then by some weird fluke that even he doesn't understand, he brought me back to life. But he still left me, buried underneath that tree. He didn't mean to bring me back. It just happened, like a hiccup. I'm a living mistake."

He didn't know how right his statement was. His hand snaked out and he grasped her by the throat and slammed her against the wall. He leaned close and snarled in her face. "So, no, Kera. I'm not going to give you my powers. They're mine. I deserve this. Every day I get a little bit stronger, and soon, I'm going to be as powerful as Dylan. When that happens, I will kill him."

He pushed her up until her toes left the floor. She clawed at his fingers. "We don't have to do this," she strangled out. "If you give me your powers, we can all live."

"Wow, and they say I'm dumb." He squeezed harder. "I'm not okay with that."

She suddenly stilled. "Neither am I."

Her body lit up as power poured into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist at the same time she yanked his shirt up and over his head, breaking his hold as she drove his arms apart. Nimble as an acrobat, she circled his body, twisting his shirt around his neck, and pulled.

He tried to break free. She pulled harder. He dropped to his knees, gurgling for air. Tears rolled down her face as she pulled harder. This wasn't Jason. Not really. When Dylan had brought him back, it hadn't been complete. She'd felt the anger inside him, had wanted to see something good, but it was all gone. He'd become a zombie, a living body without a soul.

It wasn't Jason she destroyed, but her heart still burned with sadness as his body jerked against her hold for the last time. When he finally grew still, she slowly lowered him to the ground.

This wasn't Jason. Still...