It was beautiful, yet terrifying.
Yet the bull just sat there, occasionally bending it's head uprooting some grass with its teeth.
I cautiously stepped out into the open. The bull didn't bat an eye. I stepped completely out under the moonlight, drenching myself in the luminescent glow of the moonlight. I heard Holly hiss," Are you crazy, Evanna? Get back in the trees!" but I ignored her.
I walked over to the bull and hesitantly patted its head. The bull continued to munch the grass in his mouth.
"You guys," I whispered, waving them over. "Come here." She saw the others hesitantly step into view. They shuffled over to where I was standing.
"I don't think the bull wants to kill us," I whispered. Eli stared at her in amazement. Then he said, "You're right, but how did you know?"
Then it was my turn to stare.
"What do you mean?" she asked. Eli blushed and looked at the floor.
"Um.." he said, pawing at the floor with his feet.
"Eli, what do you know?" asked Holly with a danger note in her voice. "Spill!" she said in her most magic-infused voice so that Eli would be powerless to resist and have to tell.
"I discovered my power," he began in the monotone, dead-beat voice of someone being controlled by magic. "It is the power of reading minds. I kept it a secret because I didn't want to guys to know I had read your innermost thoughts. It was an accident, of course, but the damage was done. I did the ritual of the rising thing myself when you were up in the tree and Kae was still in the spring. I wore long-sleeved shirts to prevent you guys from seeing the inscription. Now I've gotten better at controlling it and only read minds when I wish to, on purpose." He took out his sword and carefully split the seams of his shirt. There, glowing, were the words:
Power of Mind Speech
"And there you have it," sighed Eli, pinching his sleeve back together. "The whole truth."
I was shocked. I'd sensed something funny about Eli since we had left Fairy Circle, but she'd never have guessed that it would be something as big as this.
Holly gasped.
"Is that why the day we showered at the waterfall, when I gave you one of Kae's spare sleeveless shirts you insisted on the baseball tee? And whenever the boys took their turn you managed to have some excuse to shower later?" asked Holly. Eli looked ashamed as he nodded. I realized there would be some hostile feelings toward Eli that could jeopardize the quest.
"Okay, guys, that's enough," I said. "Eli had the right reasons to do the wrong thing. We are going to forgive him because, for one, we have a quest to finish and hostile feelings could jeopardize it. Also because if you were in his position, you would have done the same." She saw Holly, Stephanie, and Mallory exchanged a glance. Phillip and Kae did the same. But we all nodded at the end.
"We'll trust you, Eli," said Kae. "If only for the quest." The others nodded, this time I did with them.
"Okay, so what are we gonna do about that?" asked Holly, gesturing to the massive bull.
I sighed.
"I don't know," she said. "I think it isn't supposed to kill us. He's supposed to defend himself, and stop us from killing him. These traps aren't gonna work." I gestured to traps listlessly.
"Yeah," sighed Holly. "We need someone to lift it so someone else can get in."
"Sounds like a plan," said Stephanie thoughtfully. "Kae's the strongest. He can lift the bull, and Eli, since he's the skinniest, can get under and stab the bull."
"But can we trust him?" asked Mallory quietly, so that Eli could not hear.
"We have to," said Holly firmly. "At least until the quest ends."
The rest of us nodded in agreement.
"It's doubtful at the most that I'm going to be able lift the bull," remarked Kae.
Stephanie sighed. "It's all we have, Kae. Just deal with it."
"All right, then," I said. "We have a plan."
Kae crept out into the moonlight. I watched fearfully at he stepped over to the bull and put his hands around it. The bull did not resist. I watched as the bull was lifted into the air. The bull snorted and pawed at the empty air, trying to get back to the ground. Then as fast as a flash, I saw Stephanie carrying Eli across the clearing under the bull. Eli plunged his sword in the bull's underside, attacking his heart, which was placed in the middle of his belly. As soon as the bull was deemed dead, Stephanie got Eli out from underneath the bull, grabbed Kae and dove off to the edge of the clearing.
It all happened so fast, I barely registered that the bull had been killed before the bull shimmered and disappeared before our eyes. Like a magnet, we were all drawn to the center of the clearing. We formed a perfect circle, and in the middle appeared a shimmering form.
She was completely colored ivory, except for the forest green wreaths she wore in her hair. Her face was not beautiful, yet her features were majestic and regal. When she spoke, her voice was rich and kind, filling my mind with images of golden forests and silver lakes.
"I am the goddess of the Twilight forest, Anaina. I sent the Nemean bull to you, and as you defeated him, he will now join me in the heavens above, serving me as a loyal lieutenant. It is a peaceful life, one that he will enjoy more than being sent to killed when someone asks for a boon. Now you have finally defeated him, he can rest in peace. What would be your boon?" asked the figure.
I was so entranced, it took a nudge from Stephanie to bring me back to earth.
"Um, may we have immediate transportation to Arachne's castle?" asked I. The goddess's face darkened.
"Gladly, I would," she said. "But the place is dark and I have no wish to set foot there. I also would not have any of my faithful lieutenants go there. You may have anything else," said Anaina. I shook my head.
"There's nothing else we want. We need immediate transportation there now. We're on a mission to kill her and defeat the Spinners. Please," I said. Her voice wobbled, and she was close to tears. I did not do all that in so little time, did not fight so many monsters, to see all my work go down the drain. Anaina regarded me thoughtfully.
"You have spirit, little one. I can see that you are bent on your task." She snapped her fingers, and seven little glowing wisps flew out from the darkness. "Grab onto these and speak your destination. They will take you there, but do not let go until the wisps lower you to the ground. You will touch the ground unharmed, but you may be miles away from your destination."
I thanked Anaina profusely, but she waved it away.
"Do not thank me," said Anaina. "You earned it."
I looked at the others, and we simultaneously grabbed our wisps and flew.
Chapter 17
As we flew over the Twilight forest, I couldn't believe the beautiful sight we were seeing. Hanging on to our wisps like kites, we soared over gorgeous waterfalls and magnificent mountain ranges. The trip took then an hour or two, and when our feet touched the ground and the wisps dissipated, I was sorry to see them go, especially when we turned to face the black stone ruins of Arachne's castle.
We could not see anything but the tall tower tips.
I turned around.
"Before we going forward, we should do Kae's ritual thingy," I said. She gestured to Kae's shoulder.
"Do we know his power?" asked Mallory, slightly confused. I smiled slightly.
"When he picked up the bull," I explained. "He lifted two tons! There's no way a boy Kae's age could do that." They all watched as I spoke Kae's power aloud. When he touched the ground again, his shoulder was inscribed with the words:
Power of Strength
Stephanie smiled.
"Nice," she said. "Now let's get going." She turned off for the castle. The others had no choice but to follow.
Thin black spires rose out of the ground, and white swirling mist blew about the land. We could see nothing except for the few feet in front of us.
We entered through the metal gates, wincing as they creaked and whined as we pushed through. No one spoke. We continued along what looked like a garden, exc
ept every plant and tree was withered and gray.
Soon we up at the palace doors themselves.
I looked questioningly at the others, and then pushed through. A cold blast of air hit us as we walked in. We found ourselves in a wide chamber, made with iron gray stone walls and cold floors. A staircase spiraled up at the far right. A cheap metal chandelier hung from the ceiling, but it did nothing to welcome the appearance of the room. Instead, it hung bare, with no lights or jewels.
Nervously, I climbed up the stone staircase, not daring to touch anything but the floor. My palms sweated like crazy, and my armpits were damp. Slowly her friends followed up after her. Still no one spoke.
We climbed for what felt like hours, and my feet ached by the time the staircase finally stopped. Then, stepping onto the landing, my feet ached again as she saw another flight of stairs.
"Another one?" I moaned. "I wish there was an elevator."
"There is one," said Holly, coming up behind her. She pointed to an elevator that I hadn't noticed.
"Do you want to take it?" asked Stephanie, overhearing our conversation. Her expression was unreadable. I sighed.
"Well, I certainly don't want to climb up another flight of stairs. Let's take the elevator."
Without waiting for an answer, I pushed the up button. Holly and Stephanie exchanged looks and grabbed the rest of our group. We all waited, until the metal doors slid open. Unlike the gates, the slid open soundlessly. Without hesitating, I strode in the door. After exchanging uneasy looks again, Holly and Stephanie led the rest of inside as well.
As we rode up, I stared resolutely up at the ceiling. I did not look at any one of my team. The elevator went up, up, up, and still I did not speak. Out of the corner of my eye, she saw the others looking uneasily at her.
We continued up, up, up, until I grew tired of doing nothing.
"Stop," I commanded. The elevator stopped.
"Open," I said. The elevator doors slid open. I strode out of the doors, with the others trailing after her. I walked for hours, yet my legs didn't get tired. I could hear the rest of her team ambling after her as I purposefully strode through different corridors, halls, chambers, and rooms. She saw Mexican decorating, Celtic, modern, and Victorian. Yet I never broke my stride.
Finally, I stopped in front of a plain white door. Somehow, I knew Arachne was inside. I had a choice now. I could lead my team forward, or could force them to backtrack. But there was no way I could backtrack now. I was going forward. I opened the door.
Chapter 18
A young woman sat at a loom. She had silver-blond hair, and eyes the color of a rainy sky. Her face was regal and beautiful, but her visage of bitterness, greed, and malice struck fear in my heart. With a jolt in my heart, I realized that the woman's arms were shaped like a spider's.
"So," said the woman, not looking up from her loom. "You have come to visit me?"
Her voice was coy, infused with mock welcome. I was stunned. This lady, who I assumed was Arachne, did not sound the slightest bit afraid of us. She seemed to think it was a joke we showed up.
"So, you think you can defeat me?" asked the woman, still not looking up. Before we could answer, before the words even registered in our minds, she turned.
Faster, faster than Stephanie could ever go, faster than the fastest winds, so fast that I almost missed it, the woman spun around and struck her hand out, and icy blue streaks of energy shot out from her hand, paralyzing us. I was terrified.
The woman got up and took a stroll around the room, smiling pleasantly as if our visit was no more than a tea party. She began to speak. Her voice was cold and icy, yet a fire of evil burned through.
"As you might have guessed, I am Arachne..." She paused."Junior."
This sounded so stupid I felt like it was a jok. This terrible villain was named Arachne Jr.? Yeah right. But Arachne's face was perfectly serious and full of malice.
"You think you are to thwart me?" asked Arachne. "Please. I just made your leader, Evanna, as she was so aimlessly running through my palace, feel.. ah, superior to the rest of you."
I realized it was true. I had led us straight to Arachne's palace without even talking to my team. No, not my team. My friends.
My anger grew as Arachne continued to talk, chatting about all the things she had made go wrong.
"Little Eli here," Arachne said, patting Eli on the head. "Has a talent for reading minds? Well, I planted fake backstories of you in his head so he would keep his little secret."
Arachne threw back her head and laughed. Her voice grew cold and icy.
"I loved hearing you talk after he spilled his beans," she said. Her voice grew high-pitched and whiny, in a imitation of our voices. "Shall we trust him? Oh, yes, if only for the quest." She laughed again.
"So noble. Yet all for nothing, because when I rule, the penalty for treason is death. Goodbye, my little heroes!" Arachne raised her hand. Only pure desperation allowed me to talk. I had to say anything, anything at all to distract Arachne.
"So, how come your name is Arachne Jr.?" I blurted. It worked. Arachne lowered her hand, and an easy smile spread over her face.
"Such ignorant little children," said Arachne. "All right, I'll tell you." She sat back at her loom to continue weaving as she talked.
"Arachne, my late mother, was a lady who knew how to weave very well. Her exquisite weavings brought her much fame and riches. But word of her talent spread until the great goddess Minerva heard of the talent. Minerva was the goddess of weaving, and was very arrogant. She presumptuously believed that she was far better than Arachne, and that if she could prove that, everyone would bow to her and praise her. So she set off to challenge Arachne to a weaving contest. Arachne, of course, knew how dangerous it would be to accept Minerva's challenge. But Minerva kept on goading her, taunting her weaving talents, until Arachne had no choice but to agree or lose the respect she had earned for her weaving. Both women sat down to their looms at sunrise. They worked as the sun traveled through the air, and stopped as the sun set. A crowd of people had gathered to see the fine works. But it was obvious that Arachne was the better weaver. In a fit of rage, Minerva said spitefully,"So you are the better weaver. Now you will spend the rest of your days weaving in a corner!" She then turned Arachne into a spider. And I am her first child."
"Why aren't you a spider, then?" I asked, hoping to keep Arachne distracted.
"Because my sire was human," said Arachne impatiently.
I shuddered. I felt like I would never question Arachne's family tree again. Arachne began speaking again.
"Now we have dawdled enough. Let-" Arachne was cut off by someone flying through the door and knocking her over. It was Amaryllis.
Chapter 19
Amaryllis stumbled into the room.
"Amaryllis!" exclaimed Arachne in a rage. "How dare you interrupt me like that?"
I looked from Amaryllis to Arachne.
"You mean you two know each other?" I asked. Arachne turned to her, wearing an mixture of incredulity and delight.
"You mean you don't know?" asked Arachne. She threw her head back and laughed.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Stephanie making faces at Arachne's back. I smiled a little, but it faded when I looked at Arachne.
I had no idea how I was going to defeat her. Kae was straining against his electric blue bonds, trying to get at Amaryllis. But Arachne was speaking again, so I focused on her.
"Amaryllis, you did tell them the story of my rising?" asked Arachne. Amaryllis shook her head.
"Well, then, they shall see it now...."
See it now? I felt confused. But Arachne waved her hand, and the world dissolved and transformed into something new.......
Amaryllis crept along the city of New York. She was lucky the power was out, for her appearance frightened many. She was also fortunate that the only person who could see her was the only one not afraid of her.
The woman stopped suddenly. The power came back on, a
nd suddenly the New York skyline lit up bright.
She scurried into an alleyway, afraid of the bright lights that could expose her appearance. It wasn't ideal, but she would have to do the call from there. She opened her black bag and set it on the floor. A misty green spirit rose from the bag.
"Arachne, queen of the Great and Powerful Spinners", she said.
Suddenly, the spirit glowed red, and the shapeless lump formed into a sleek slender corpse. The corpse spoke in a ragged, rough voice. "Amaryllis, have you brought me good news?"
Amaryllis swallowed. She said," Perhaps, my lady, it depends on what you think."
The corpse's voice grew amused. "Such a diplomatic answer, Amaryllis. Your tongue grows ever smoother."
Amaryllis bowed her head. The corpse continued. "Well? Whether it be good or
bad, tell me.
"Amaryllis bowed again. She said," I have found an ample opportunity for you to rise to power."
Here, she paused, and the corpse's eyes grew large with hunger. At last, Amaryllis continued, and she said," The only problem, my lady, is that it is in the next thousand years." The corpse's features grew serious. "Well, Amaryllis," she said. You do know what that means?"
Amaryllis shook her head. The corpse's eyes gleamed. "My dear Amaryllis, did you not just say you found an opportunity for me to take over the world? Finally, after years of searching for the time, I will rise, and rule the whole world!"
Amaryllis looked confused. "But, my lady," she said. "You are great, but how will you survive the next thousand years?"
The corpse chuckled, a truly terrifying sound. "My dear Amaryllis, how do you think bears survive the winter without eating?"
The call was taxing so much of Amaryllis's strength, she could only whimper.
The corpse smiled, showing barbed fangs.
"I shall sleep off the years," she said. "And you will, too."
Amaryllis cried out in protest, but remained rooted to the spot. The corpse reached out a glowing red arm. It was hairy, and rather like a spider's. It touched Amaryllis's straining face, and she collapsed and fell into a deep sleep. And there she stayed, for a thousand years. And it started the whole thing.