Chapter twelve
The lead saved the day
Elizabeth froze.
Yet Datura was dead serious.
Reluctantly, she grabbed her dagger and descended the staircases, strode toward the platform, her legs heavy and her head dizzy.
Datura came forward, grabbed her by the wrist, and jerked her toward a beam of dazzling light shining ahead of them.
The radiating light hit them over the face and dimmed seconds later.
Elizabeth rolled over on the ground, her hands dangling beside her. Suddenly, she was wide-awake.
Rubbing her throbbing wrists, Elizabeth hoisted herself up into a sitting position. She gazed wildly around and found herself in a deserted cave.
Spectacular stone carvings adorned the walls, blood-stained fangs hung from the ceiling, scarlet trickled down to the ground, and water drenched over the frazzled tablecloth.
Suddenly, Elizabeth heard footsteps echoing around the cave entrance.
She whirled on her heels, just in time to find Datura, brandishing a sword, marching toward her.
“What do you want?” Elizabeth asked through a quivering voice.
“Duel—and kill.” Whispered Datura, advancing closer. “It’s live-streaming now—across the entire venue.”
Elizabeth drew her dagger and prepared, yet Datura was quicker.
She charged, her sword glittering under the damp torchlights, and she pierced through Elizabeth’s arms with a tilt of her sword, drawing the blood-drenched blade out.
Elizabeth took a few steps back; she didn’t dare to look at her hands, and she knew it would be no good if she lost her life here.
She tried to raise her dagger, yet her hands went slippery with blood, and the frost blade slipped from her clutch. Datura grabbed the chance and kicked it out of Elizabeth’s reach.
Elizabeth willed her energy bolt to appear, yet it extinguished after a few quick flickers. She stared, quite apprehensively, as Datura strode forward.
Suddenly, Elizabeth leaped into the air and fell on top of Datura, knocking the sword out of her hands. Yet Datura was definitely prepared; she lunged forward, seized Elizabeth by the wrist, twisted her arms with a clear crack that echoed throughout the cave, and threw her to the ground before her.
Datura jerked Elizabeth’s hands behind her back with a clench and bent her down by the knees.
“Now, I appreciate a little game,” Datura murmured, drawling her voice cold and long deliberately, her fingernails digging into Elizabeth’s skin.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and said nothing.
Concentrating, she urged the flames to emerge from her palms; she could feel the sharp blade of Datura’s sword slicing her forearm, and blood dripped to the ground, diffusing over in small scarlet flowers.
Greenish flames lingered through Elizabeth’s fingers, dancing across her palms, over where her carpal bones were broken, and suddenly, searing pain washed over her.
Elizabeth’s face contorted in pain, fire was searing over her body, and she felt something wiggling its way out from her wrists. She tried to glance over her shoulder, yet Datura was gripping her hair hard.
Yet suddenly, the sharp blade dropped to the ground in a clutter.
Datura screamed, loosening her grasp on Elizabeth and backing away, gaping.
The flame stretched across Datura’s hands, spreading toward her heart, leaving scarlet streaks over her fair skin. And Elizabeth knew her plan had worked.
Yet Datura was irritated by how things had turned out, and she won’t let it all blow over that easily.
Enraged, she raised her hands high and twirled. Elizabeth felt a sudden force draw her upwards, her arms grappling frantically as she rose in midair. Her legs dangling under her body, her eyes bulging in uncertainty, she was tilting over, and she found it hard to keep her balance.
Datura’s hands gave a sharp twist, and Elizabeth heard an earsplitting crack beneath her.
Her legs twisted in midair, contorted into a grotesque shape as Datura hurled and slammed Elizabeth to the ground in a sickening crunch.
Elizabeth collapsed to the ground, panting.
Datura leaned back, and her eyes bulged as she stared at Elizabeth.
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Confused, Elizabeth took a glimpse of her wrists; she might as well let out a terrible shriek if she hadn’t bit her lips and suppressed it.
A blur of scarlet stained over her wrists and knees, yet she could note that the twisty bones were mending, blood was gliding back into her body, and the agony eased.
Elizabeth whirled around, she wiggled her wrists, and was relieved to find the joints had healed within seconds.
Suddenly, a dazzling light hit them. As the glow dimmed, Elizabeth saw Morris Morgan standing ahead of them. A look of loss emerged on his face, his silvery hair matted behind him, and he staggered toward them.
“Why are you here?” Demanded Datura angrily, striding forward.
“Well, you bet, I’m gonna ask you about—” Whispered Morris, his voice suddenly strangely strained, and his glassy eyes bulged as he stared at Datura, lost for words.
Elizabeth turned on her heels to find Datura shivering. She had her back pressed against the wall, her face drawn down to a look of horror.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Elizabeth saw something tumbling toward them from the far edge of the cave.
A flickering blackish shadow galloped into view.
Its upper frame was a lion’s, its midsection a goat’s, its hindquarters a serpent’s. Its jet-black, rock-solid hide exuded a sickening, cloying stench. The serpent head flicked alertly to and fro, forked tongue darting in and out with a menacing hiss; the goat head bleated piteously, sharp fangs lolling from its jaw, caked in thick, glutinous blood; the lion head reared back to the sky, belching billows of flame, gusts of smoke, and letting out a thunderous roar. Blood slithered down its spiked tongue, and an acrid, noxious reek hung heavy and thick in the air.
It was a Chimera.
Shuddering, Elizabeth flinched as the Chimera stumped forward, its venomous saliva dripping down its chin, beady eyes focused on the intruders that lurked in its cave.
“Goddamned it, who the hell sent us here?” Muttered Datura angrily under her breath.
The Chimera was getting closer; Elizabeth could feel its coiling breath puffing above her. It roared and breathed fire toward them.
Tension choked the air.
Elizabeth rolled over to avoid being crushed under its feet. She scrambled toward the inner cave, kneeling on the ground, and rummaging frantically through her pockets.
“What the heck are you doing? The beast’s gonna kill me!” Datura let out a horrible shriek that echoed through the cave, shattering the walls.
Elizabeth knew it was just a matter of time before the Chimera found them.
She screamed back anxiously, “Lead!”
“What the hell—” Datura shrieked, yet a groan cut her off, drawing her voice.
What followed was a terrible scream and the noise of flesh being torn apart.
Elizabeth got the lead hidden in her pockets and darted back to the cave.
She could make out Morris’s faint outline as he stuck his back to the walls, his arms drenched with blood, scarlet soaking his shirt. The bloody fangs inches away from his contorted face, a note of blood hung in the air.
Elizabeth shot out her dagger, stabbing straight into the Chimera’s neck. The monster roared and turned to face her.
Elizabeth picked up Datura’s sword, which was lying in the corner, pierced through the lead, and threw the spears into the Chimera’s mouth.
The lead melted in the heat and slid down the Chimera’s throat. The monster snarled in agony. It collided with the ground, distorting. Elizabeth raised her hands, summoning even more intense flames. The ground beneath them rumbled, quaked in tension, and the narrow pathway leading deeper into the cave descended further; beneath their feet, the terrain began rising steadily upwards, steepened into a sharp, steep slope.
The Chimera howled in rage and slid into the depths, bounced off the walls in a sickening crunch. Elizabeth swiftly waved her hands, conjuring a magical barrier between them and the beast.
After eliminating the Chimera, Elizabeth hurried toward Morris. She took a napkin and gently wiped the blood from his chin. She then extended her palms, releasing a beam of silvery light that flickered over Morris’s body. As her lips uttered the incantation, dazzling white radiance emanated from her hands to the deep gushes that curved harshly over Morris, enveloping him in its soft glow. Slowly but effectively, his wounds began to close, blood began to fade, and his distorted face eased in relaxation. Within seconds, the blood that smeared over his shirt was rinsed, and Morris whispered faintly to her, “Thanks a lot.”
Elizabeth reached out and hoisted himself up.
“Datura Jasmine?”
There was no answer.
Her voice echoed through the cave, bouncing from wall to wall, yet no one was answering.
Suspiciously, Elizabeth glanced around, yet Datura was nowhere to be found.
Then, Elizabeth turned to Morris, “Why don’t you just leave? You could use the Teleport Door—wait—”
“She brought you here, right? She tried to kill you, right? And no one would ever know if we died, she could just make up a lie and tell everyone we got eaten by the Chimera. So why?”
Morris shook his head mournfully.
He gazed at the ceiling, and Elizabeth could see tears welling in his eyes.
“It’s just—well—nothing.” He finally managed.
Taking her hands, Morris pulled her into the Teleport Door, and they vanished in a flash of light.
Elizabeth opened her eyes as her feet touched solid ground.
She glanced around and found herself back in the hall.
Penelope hurried to greet her, before they could draw a sigh and plop back onto the cushioned seat, they’d noticed a dark shadow lurking in the doorway.
The familiar revolting voice rang from behind.
"Jessica, dear?"
Josephine spun around and saw Carlos walking inside the hall, carrying a piece of parchment.
"What do you want?" asked Josephine warily.
"I'm here to talk to you, privately," said Carlos, smiling and rolling the parchment.
Before Josephine could do anything, Carlos grabbed her by the collar, jerked her head over, and dragged her out of the doorway.
The candidates came out from the backstage, all gasping for breath.
Narcissus walked right toward them and opened the tissue box Josephine had given to her. Elizabeth grabbed some tissues and tried to blow her nose.
But then, she stopped dead.
Wait, something besides tissues, it was a golden letter.
Inside, written in red ink, were six glittering words.
"Come and listen if you want."
Elizabeth and the rest sneaked out of the hall, around the corner, and down the corridor.
Then, they heard voices behind a closed door.
Elizabeth pressed her ear to the door and listened.
Soon, she found herself stunned by the secret conversation going on.
"How dare you, first burying me in the Ginnungagap for such a long time. And now, even interrupting the Election Campaign, Carlos? Really, that's how you repay me? That's how you repay my loyal service?" came Josephine's voice, filled with rage.
"Joanna, calm down!" said Carlos, thrusting Josephine to a side with a thud.
"Dolores is missing, and you guess what, I saw her today! Right here, and you must've recognized her, or you won't let her into the Ethereal House and hide the heirloom, buying time for her to steal the painting!"
"So what? I saw her, and I recognized her; even Veronica remembered her. What do you want to do with her?"
"I want Dolores, I want her killed by midnight."
"If I disagree?"
"Or, all of your sweethearts can't survive till tonight!"