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~Bellsandy

The Beginning of the End


Suddenly Takmet awoke. He felt an evil presence prowling the streets outside. And he knew who it was searching for. He got up quietly, yawning, and peered out the door.

Nezbek called from the other room, “Are you expecting someone?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Takmet answered, concentrating on the view outside. “I have this horrible feeling...” Just then an arm popped out of the sandy street right at Takmet’s feet. He glanced down and kicked the grasping hand reflexively. “Shit. It’s those walking dead again.”

“So you’ve been through this before?” Nezbek asked, still meditating in the other room.

“Yakumi knows where we are now. And most probably what we came here for as well.”

Takmet turned his head to see Nezbek emerging from his solitude. “Then I will start dismantling the spell now.”

Takmet nodded. “I’ll take care of these pests. I have to get them out of the city.” With that he exited Nezbek’s home, out into the street.

“Incredible,” Nezbek said to himself. “Three hours of sleep revitalized him that much.” He contemplated that thought for only a moment before waking Hotep. Nezbek told him, “If any of the girls wake up please make sure that they won’t disturb me.”

“Whatever you say,” Hotep answered sleepily. “Where’s Takmet?”

Suddenly the ground shook violently and a loud rumble reverberated through the walls of Nezbek’s home.

“What the hell was that?” Hotep asked, now completely awake.

“That would be Takmet. He should be joining us shortly,” Nezbek said with a hint of annoyance.

The girls who had been sleeping before awoke, startled.

“What was all that noise?” Rei groaned.

“You’ll find out. If you’ll excuse me.” Nezbek passed by the sleepy group and into the room where Sasaki lay.

Rei looked after him and blinked. She turned back to Hotep. “That was rather rude, wasn’t it?”

Hotep shrugged.

*************************************************

Nezbek walked into the room. He saw that Sasaki had woken up and became slightly irritated. He had wanted her to be asleep while he probed the extensions of the spell, but he could take care of that when he needed. Nezbek took the chair that was seated next to the bed.

“How do you feel?” he asked softly.

Sasaki smiled sleepily. “Better.”

“Good. I am going to start dismantling the spell now, but I would prefer it if you slept during the process. That is, if it suits you.”

“Whatever you recommend is fine with me,” Sasaki replied.

Nezbek smiled. After a pause his smile faded. “There is something I must explain to you. I have never attempted anything as complicated as this. There is a good chance I will succeed, but…”

Sasaki finished his sentence. “But there is also a chance that you may not. I understand.” Sasaki nodded. “I hope to see you when I wake, if I wake up at all.”

Nezbek gazed steadily into her eyes. “Would you like to see Takmet beforehand?”

Sasaki was mildly surprised. “I guess it’s not that hard to see, is it?”

“It’s written all over you. Your expressions and you spirit as well.”

Sasaki hesitated, struggling with her emotions. “No…I don’t want him to even think of saying goodbye…”

Nezbek was impressed with her composure. It suited a princess well. “Then close your eyes, and when you open them I will be here to greet you.”

Sasaki did so. Nezbek put his hand on her forehead and recited a couple powerful words to a simple spell. Sasaki instantly drifted to sleep. Just then Takmet appeared at the doorway of the room.

Nezbek addressed him without turning. “Well, well, Takmet. I don’t suppose you could have disposed of those creatures a little more subtly?”

Takmet bristled. “It was the easiest way to be rid of them all. My thoughts are it was too easy.”

“Then I suggest you be prepared to fight tonight as well. It sounds as if your friend is saving her energy for when evil is at its height.”

Takmet nodded. “Will you be finished with Sasaki by then?”

“Perhaps.” Nezbek paused. “That depends on the strength of the spell and the strength of her will.” Nezbek was silent. He turned to face Takmet. He spoke again, but more softly. “I must warn you. It’s only fair since you are the one she loves.” Takmet listened solemnly. “She may not survive. I have never attempting anything like this before. If I begin dismantling the spell and someone breaks my concentration, I cannot go back and continue from where I left off. It must be done all at once.”

Takmet gazed at Sasaki painfully. His expression demanded sympathy from even Nezbek. “I understand,” Takmet said haltingly. “But so help me, if she dies, you will be the one to accompany her on her way to the underworld.” With that looming threat Takmet left the room abruptly.

Nezbek was surprised by the intensity of Takmet’s feelings. He had been radiating them like a bonfire, but they were cut off as quickly as they flared. Nezbek guessed that Takmet was learning how to hide his powers as well as his feelings just by the interaction they had experienced thus far. A quick learner, indeed, Nezbek thought.

In truth Nezbek had no fear of death, but with Takmet involved, his body’s chance for a proper burial would be slim. He would rather take his body to the underworld in one piece. What would the others think of him if he appeared mauled by Osiris’ wrath?

Nezbek pulled away from those thoughts and focused on the sleeping woman in front of him. He silently prayed as he began to slowly dismantle the spell. The resistance he encountered at first was minimal, but then it thickened to the point where he felt as if he were wading through molasses. He ignored the bits of conversation from the other room as he continued working.

To his relief, no one disturbed him for several hours. During this endless span of time, Nezbek carefully pried away each solitary strand of the spell that was connected to Sasaki’s life force. Each time one was released, a part of Sasaki’s life flashed before his mind’s eye. With that flash came all of the thoughts and emotions that she had experienced at that moment. Every so often, Nezbek would get glimpses of Sasaki’s world. He did not understand what he was seeing, but with those images came a dull pain.

Nezbek felt sympathy for her. It appeared as if when she was growing up in that foreign land that she had always felt somewhat estranged from it. That something wasn’t in its place. These flashes sometimes gave way to more recent ones. In these new frozen memories, Sasaki was conflicting with herself. It seemed that she knew where she belonged, but was attached to the other world by her friends.

One thing that had surprised Nezbek before was Sasaki’s love for Takmet. It had been just as intense. Nezbek saw their first meeting, his brow wrinkled and mild anger swelling up at the scene that had led up to it. He experienced an ounce of the pain that she had felt when she and Takmet touched for the second time, sending her flying across the room. But Takmet’s proposal of love by the spring warmed Nezbek’s heart.

All these flashes came painstakingly slowly as each thread of power was untangled from Sasaki’s soul. Unfortunately the curse could not just be dispelled. Nezbek began to perspire from the tremendous amount of concentration he was practicing as well as from the heat. Over time, he could feel the resistance to his probing lessen considerably. By the time it began to darken, Nezbek was almost three-fourths of the way through the process.

Sasaki’s friends in the other room had slept on and off while Nezbek sat, working. But now, as the sky began to darken, everyone was wide-awake, for with the darkness came the stench of encroaching evil.

Takmet went to the front door and peered out at the sky. “There are no stars or moon out tonight.”

“What does that mean?” Mandi asked.

“That Yakumi is getting ready,” Takmet answered gravely. As he spoke the sky grew even darker and black clouds rolled in to blanket the navy night sky. In the distance the flash of silver caught his eye. “Something’s coming…”

Rei floated to the door and peered out over Takmet’s shoulder. She recognized the creatures. “Silver serpents! Flying ones! I haven’t seen those in two hundred years.”

“What are they?” Takmet asked, turning to her.

“Gigantic cobras with bodies made of solid silver as thick as a man’s. Claws and in this case the wings are also made of obsidian. The spout acid that eats through anything and they have long ivory fangs. The only effective way to be rid of them is with magic. These things aren’t mortal. Nothing can penetrate their silver scales except for aggressive magic.”

“Do they go after a specific target or do they kill ruthlessly?” Takmet asked.

“Usually they home in on a specific target, but they leave destruction behind them.” Rei crossed hers arms. “These people will be in trouble if they get into the city.”

“Not if I can help it…” Takmet said.

“You can’t go out there by yourself! One man with magic skill is barely a match for one of those. And here come several dozen.”

“You forget I am not just a man,” Takmet said absently as he gazed out the doorway.

Rei watched the determination ignite in his eyes. He wasn’t about to let these animals interrupt Nezbek.

“You can’t possibly hold them all back. Some are bound to pass you and get to Sasaki who I’m positive is their target.”

“Not on my life,” Takmet snapped as he turned to look at Rei. “I’m going. You stay here. The stronger magic should stay next to Sasaki while I go turn these things to dust.”

“But--,” Rei began, but Takmet had already disappeared.

“He can’t go out there alone,” Mandi protested.

“You’re right,” Chloe agreed. “Let’s go.”

“I’m going, too,” Ami said.

“No.” Rei stopped her. “You haven’t developed your skills enough. Stay with me and keep me company.”

Hotep spoke up. “What? I’m not good enough for you?”

“I’d like some intelligent conversation, if you don’t mind,” Rei answered.

“Well excuse me for asking,” Hotep huffed.

“Well, we’re going now,” Chloe announced as she prepared to walk out the door.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Rei asked. Chloe halted. “It’ll take you forever if you want to walk all the way there. Can’t you transport yourselves?”

Chloe blinked. “We can do that?”

Rei rolled her eyes. “Amateurs. Just focus on Takmet’s energy and will yourself to him.”

“Oh.” Chloe smiled. She grabbed Mandi’s hand. “C’mon.” She tugged Mandi toward the door and the two of them disappeared before they stepped foot outside.

“I’m just surrounded by talented women,” Hotep blinked, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

Rei sighed. “Good luck, guys.”