Mission Accomplished

Takmet appeared on the outskirts of the city. The silver lines in the sky were growing larger, closer. A high wailing screech echoed from the horizon as the creatures swiftly approached.

Takmet winced at the offensive sound. Suddenly Chloe and Mandi appeared next to him. He rolled his eyes.

“Hey, Takmet,” Chloe smiled as she pulled Mandi along. “We thought you could use some help.”

“Actually, she thought you could use some help,” Mandi corrected Chloe.

“Stay back. You’re on your own. I can’t claim any responsibility for what happens to you here. You made your choice.” He looked back up at the silver flashes in the sky. The serpents were almost upon them.

“Gotcha,” Chloe replied.

The serpent that was leading the pack swept downward, growing larger with each passing second. With a loud thud and a spray of flying sand, it landed, hissing a threat at Takmet who stood in awe of the power evident in the creatures build. Its long neck was held erect, and this part of the serpent alone was taller than Takmet by a foot or so. It had only two legs, but muscular, which supported the hefty weight of the front of its body. The wings were spread wide, scales of obsidian glimmering in what little light there was. It screeched at Takmet.

Takmet shouted back at Chloe and Mandi, who stood in fear and awe of these gigantic snakes. “Get out of here!” And they did, running to find some sort of cover to gather their composure.

Takmet took a defiant stance in front of the menacing serpent, watching the others that hovered in the air with a sharp eye. Those in the air waited for a signal from the leader to fight or go on ahead. Suddenly thunder clapped from the heavens and it was as if the bell had been rung for the fight to begin.

The serpent screamed with a high screech and lunged towards Takmet with lightning speed. He dodged. Its fangs missed Takmet by inches. He had not expected such speed from something so massive. Takmet rolled on the ground, away from the serpent. It whipped around again before Takmet could get on his feet. Again it charged. Takmet disappeared just before the animal trampled him flat with its glimmering claws. It skidded to a stop, confused. A screech rose up in the airborne group of serpents, alerting the leader to Takmet’s reappearance. The snake’s head turned to see Takmet standing behind him, dusting off sand from his skin.

“I must admit, I didn’t think you were so quick,” Takmet said to the serpent, eyes narrowing in determination.

The beast shrieked in frustration, spinning around to charge him again. Takmet stood his ground, prepared for the speed of the serpent’s attack this time. As it charged, the serpent spouted acidic venom. Takmet lifted his hand, creating a shield that dispelled the venom harmlessly. He continued to stand his ground as the enraged creature advanced fiercely.

“Neith, provide me with a weapon to destroy these monsters,” Takmet whispered.

The goddess of war and weapons gladly obliged. A large bow appeared in Takmet’s clenched hands. The instant he felt the weight of the bow in his hand and the arrows on his back, he raised the bow, loaded an arrow, stretched the cord and loosed.

The arrow whistled in the short distance from the bow to the forehead of the running serpent. It penetrated both scaly skin and dense bone, slipping easily into the brain, killing it instantly. The serpent stumbled and fell to the ground, skidding from the inertia of its charge and stopping at Takmet’s feet.

He didn’t have time to be relieved. The serpents in the air screamed in anger at the effortless defeat of their leader. Several swooped down, the closest coming in too fast for Takmet to think. He wouldn’t be able to dodge. A flash flew from behind him, striking the advancing creature in the eye. It cried in pain and veered off its course, landing clumsily several yards away from Takmet. Another flash. The creature’s other eye was pierced with an arrow. It screeched again, floundering blindly in the sand.

Takmet glanced behind him, surprised to see Mandi and Chloe, each with a bow identical to his own. Mandi quickly strung another arrow and let it fly. It hit the already blind serpent squarely in the forehead. It stopped writhing. Mandi strung another and aimed it at Takmet. He didn’t have time to dodge when she let it go. It whistled past him, just above his head, and struck another silver beast that had been behind Takmet, ready to strike. Takmet looked behind him, astounded that he hadn’t heard the creature before, and moved out of its way as it crashed to the ground.

“I thought I told you to get out of here,” Takmet yelled at the girls over the hissing and occasional thunder.

“Some way to thank the people who just saved your life!” Chloe answered.

“How did you get those weapons?” he asked.

“We’d love to answer, really,” Mandi said. “But those things decided to bypass you and get to their target.” She pointed up.

Takmet looked up, seeing a sea of glittering bodies flying towards the city. “Damn it!” he said. He disappeared, traveling instantly inside of the city to a place ahead of the serpents. He held his bow out with both hands and held it firmly. He put the tip against the ground and placed his bottom hand on top of the other, plan facing out, creating a shield that would prevent the creatures from entering the city. Takmet braced himself as he stood on the roof of someone’s home.

The leaders of the groups rammed into the invisible barrier, activating an electric shock and tumbled to the ground, stunned. Mandi and Chloe appeared next to Takmet and watched as the serpents that ran into the barrier fell in a heap outside the first homes of the city. The barrier flashed brightly each time it was hit, causing the girls to shade their eyes even though it was dark. Takmet was sweating with concentration. There was no way that he was going to let them get to these innocent people, and most especially Sasaki.

The serpents stopped hitting the barrier. Those that had been shocked before recovered quickly and took to the air again, waiting. They hissed their frustration as they circled the city, unable to get to their target.

Chloe raised her bow, arrow ready. Mandi held out her hand, stopping her from letting go.

“If they can’t get in, then that won’t be able to go out. You’d just be wasting an arrow,” Mandi said.

Chloe saw her logic. “Then what are we supposed to do? Outwait them?”

Mandi watched Takmet for a moment. “No. Takmet can’t keep it up forever, you know.”

Takmet was still sweating with concentration. He barely heard the girls talking. His eyes were open now, watching the serpents watch him. They are surprisingly intelligent, he thought. It hadn’t taken them long to realize there was a barrier guarding the city. How long would they wait there? Could he think of a way to kill them all without letting them enter the city? He had an idea.

He barely turned his head to the side so Mandi and Chloe could hear him. “When I say, shoot,” he told them. They looked at each other, then obediently strung their bows.

Takmet folded in his arms, letting the shield down for a second, and yelled, “Now!”

Two arrows flew and two serpents fell out of the sky, arrows protruding from their foreheads. The others charged again. Takmet quickly reconstructed the barrier and grit his teeth when several collided with the shield. More of them fell, only stunned by the electric forces that the shield generated.

Takmet folded his arms in again. “Loose!” Mandi and Chloe let arrows fly at those who charged at the disappearance of the shield. Two more fell. The stunned ones recovered quickly and took to the air yet again.

Chloe sighed. “This is going to take forever!”

“I have an idea,” Mandi said. She strung another arrow. “Whenever you’re ready, Takmet.” She looked at him expectantly.

He hesitated, but lowered the shield again. He nodded.

Mandi let the arrow whistle towards the remaining serpents. As it flew, the one arrow became two, the two became four, the four became eight, and the eight became sixteen. Sixteen separate targets were hit dead center, guided somewhat by Mandi’s thoughts. Takmet smiled. He knew now how she had come to possess a bow identical to his.

“That was amazing,” Takmet applauded her, recreating the barrier once again. “Duplication of weapons. Useful,” he smiled.

“I’m sure I could duplicate other things if needed,” Mandi said, stringing another arrow. “Let’s get down to business.” She smiled.

Mandi and Chloe loosed several more sets of arrows, Mandi splitting each of theirs into as many as possible before they hit their target. Within moments there were only seven of the serpents left flying. These wisely chose to retreat.

Takmet sighed and wiped his forehead. “Unfortunately I am sure that this is not the end of Yakumi’s assault.”

Chloe smiled. “Let’s take the break she gave us, though. Back to Sasaki.”

He nodded and all three of them disappeared.

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

Nezbek still sat next to Sasaki, inadvertently looking into her memories. He didn’t mean to intrude, but it was necessary. The number of strands left to untie was next to none, and although Nezbek was unbelievably tired, he kept on. Just a little longer…

Takmet, Chloe, and Mandi stepped in the front door.

“You’re safe,” Rei said thankfully.

Takmet smiled. “You still don’t believe I can take care of myself, do you?”

Hotep greeted him as well. “Took care of them nasty snakes, did you?” He slapped Takmet on the back.

“I had help.” He smiled at the girls who had found a seat.

“I’m glad they helped rather than hindered,” Rei said.

“How is Sasaki?” Takmet asked.

“She hasn’t come out yet,” Ami answered.

“Seems to me that Nezbek should be almost done though,” Rei added.

Just as she said that Nezbek emerged from the room. He looked exhausted and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. As he passed Takmet he paused. Nezbek looked at him and sighed. “It is done,” he said, his voice dry and tired. Nezbek pushed aside the curtain to his room and collapsed on his bed, leaving the curtain open. He sighed again as he rolled over and closed his eyes.

Takmet’s heart skipped a beat when he heard Nezbek’s words. Was it really possible that the spell was broken, after all this time? Everyone’s eyes were on him as he left the main room and hesitantly entered the other.

Sasaki was still asleep on the cot. She was damp with perspiration from the strain that Nezbek had put her through. Takmet sat in the seat Nezbek had occupied before.

“Rei,” Takmet called.

She poked her head through the curtain. “Yeah?”

“Come here.”

She entered the room and floated next to her brother, gazing at Sasaki. “So it’s done then?” she asked.

“It seems so,” Takmet replied. “Do you think you could break the spell now?”

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to. I still have a contract with her. I shouldn’t do anything unless she wishes it.” Rei crossed her arms.

“You know she would wish it, just as much as I would if she were awake,” he reasoned.

Rei studied his expression for a moment. His eyes showed tenderness, but also a glimmer of hesitation. Before he had been worried that when the time came, he would take advantage of Sasaki. Even though Rei knew that, she relented, sure he would not do anything he would regret later. She sighed. “I suppose I could make an exception. I’ll just count it as one of her wishes.”

She closed her eyes, concentrating on the spell she had used before to try and break the spell. This time Rei encountered no resistance and was surprised to see how well Nezbek had cleaned up. The genie dispersed the spell without even breaking a sweat.

She turned to Takmet before leaving the room, winking. “Wake her gently.”