The green snake roared and hissed under the weight of the attacks.
It lifted its tail and repeatedly slammed it into the ground. The earth vibrated under their feet as large chucks of rock flew into the air.
Felicia and Alex were ruthless, attacking without respite.
They weren't worried about themselves. Their only thought was for the people this creature would hurt should it get past them.
After all, the nearest village was only three miles away. A beast of this size would be able to cross it in record time.
And no one would be able to stop it unless they had magic of their own.
What were the chances of that?
On the other hand, if the serpent went in the direction of Imperium then Aura Wielders would get involved.
And they would trace it back to Lake Joan.
But only after the serpent caused the death of countless civilians!
Then an investigation would unfold.
And the Pope's cover would be blown!
Didn't he realize that, Felicia wondered as she fought.
Does he not realize he's risking exposure by releasing this? Or does he not care anymore? He just wants us dead at any cost?
He can't afford having large groups of magic practitioners who can sense demonic prowess coming to Elysium.
They wouldn't hesitate to point him out.
And he wouldn't be able to refute all of them.
He had been clever in concocting the hoax with Helena and her fake sword, so why is he being so careless now?
Liam pressed his back against a boulder and felt like a coward. If only he had a magical blade as well, then he could help his friends instead of just watching like a damsel.
He had been useless during the underground fight and he was useless now!
His heart ached as he watched Felicia.
In that brief moment Alex's sword arm faltered, the snake's massive jaws came his way. He tried to dive aside, but it was too late. The serpent's tongue wrapped around his waist and he was yanked into the cavern of its mouth.
His sword fell out of his hands.
Felicia and Liam both screamed out his name.
Just before the snake's teeth cleaved him into bits, a massive bolt of lightning struck the neck of the snake, finally severing its head.
Both the head and the body hit the rock bank before dissolving into green powder.
Alex fell back, coughing.
Felicia and Liam rushed to him. "Are you alright?!"
"It almost chomped you into pieces!" Felicia shrieked, completely losing her composure. "You went into its mouth and it.....
Liam shook his head. "That was a close one, Alex. Felicia saved you in the nick of time. Again."
Alex grabbed Felicia's hands which were roaming over his body examining him for any wounds. Apart from a few bruises and scratches, there was nothing.
Even so, it did not erase her panic!
It had been less than half an hour since she'd healed him of horrific burns and purged the black magic out of his veins.
"I'm alright Felicia." He pulled her into a tight embrace and stroked her hair, waiting for her to stop crying. "You saved me. You saved us. Again. You're exceptional, you know that right?"
Felicia chuckled, tearfully.
Once she stepped away from Alex's embrace Liam pulled her into his own. He had almost had a tiny heart attack watching her take on the serpent. She was so courageous! Foolish, undoubtedly. But still so much bravery.
Alex massaged his neck.
Felicia smacked his hand away and applied her healing magic upon it.
He smiled at his sister who was so much a mother hen when it came to him.
Then his smile dropped. "What is that on your chest?"
Felicia glanced down. "I don't know. He...he burned it into me when we were underground. I think...I don't know...it's not good."
Alex leaned closer and identified it as a demonic symbol, not merely a dark burn.
"He's done something to her Alex," Liam voiced. "It hurt her earlier right before he showed up. It may be something he can use to control her or find her or hurt her...."
Alex's expression broke. He felt like a failure. What was going to happen to Felicia now? What would the mark do to her? He too had heard her cry out in pain earlier. He hadn't known it was because of a demonic mark. He thought it was just because she was scared to face the Pope again.
He was her brother and Guardian, yet he was always a step behind.
Felicia covered the mark with her two fingers and tried to heal it away but it remained put. "We have to get the ruby," she bluffed. "It'll help me deal with this mark."
"Then let's head back to the church now," Alex replied, looking away so she wouldn't see his tears.
"What if the Pope set up another trap? What if he gave me this mark hoping we would return to the church? What if he's waiting for us?" Felicia asked.
Alex didn't look at her. "Do you believe he knows we're after the ruby?"
"I think we'd better be prepared for any outcome," Felicia answered.
A silence stretched.
"So," Liam began. "The Pope escaped us in spite of his injury. He must have slipped away as soon as we were distracted by the snake. But with his severed arm...that will slow him down for some time, won't it?"
"I don't know. I hope so, but we do not know what he is capable of. We don't know what he can hit us with. We've had two clashes back to back and barely survived both." Felicia's expression was more angry then hurt now. "I hope he suffers! No doubt he knows of some dark spell to reattach his arm. After all, all he needs to do is sacrifice more souls and he'll be back in top condition. That's how he was able to recover so fast after I fried him like a chicken earlier." Felicia fumed as she thought of all the people that man had and would kill indiscriminately for his own selfish needs.
Liam tensed, glancing around. "Does that mean he'll be back here soon?"
Alex thought about that and walked to the edge of the lake. He dipped the tip of the Holy Sword into the water. "He escaped through lake. The demonic magic here is strong. Saintess Joan's mark keeps it from getting too strong, but there is something else."
Felicia kneeled down and dipped her hand into the water. When she'd first plunged here, she had only felt the cold, but now she could feel the magic.
And....a tear? Why did it feel like there was something broken here?
"A gash seeping blood which needs a bandage," Alex muttered.
Felicia nodded. "A magical tear...one which separates this world from other dimensions."
"So that's what you felt the need to find earlier? Liam inquired.
Felicia nodded.
"That other dimension being hell?" Though Liam sounded like he'd asked a question, his tone was more conclusive.
Alex pulled Felicia back up. "Don't touch this water for too long. It making me and the Holy Sword uneasy."
Indeed, the symbols on the sword were flashing on and off.
"It'll all end here, Felicia."
Before she could ask him what that meant, they heard the thunder of horse hooves approaching them from behind.
Then loud voices shouted at them from the opposite direction. Their heads snapped forward, across the lake.
There were several men mounted on stallions atop the cliffs, trail and bank of Lake Joan. They had come from behind the mountains which served as the borderline between the two kingdoms.
These were soldiers from Imperium.
And judging by the glowing white crystals a few of them were holding up, there were Aurors mixed in.
Alex, Liam and Felicia all cursed at once.
"You three! Who are you?!"
"What was all that ruckus we heard?!"
"We heard the sound of a beast!"
"Careful, brothers! There is a heavy presence of black magic here!"
"Are you three witches?!"
At this point the men had drawn their weapons.
Arrows and crossbows pointed directly at the trio as they rode their horses closer with caution and hostility.
Behind them, the sound of the approaching guards from Elysium also grew louder. And their weapons were drawn as well.
"What is that green substance behind you?! Answer at once or we will fire! We do not tolerate witchcraft!"
"Alright time to go!" Alex burst out. Felicia grabbed Liam's hand and touched the blade of the Holy Sword.
The three vanished at once, leaving wide eyes and gasps of shock behind.
And subsequently exposing the infinity symbol to countless witnesses.
Hopefully, nobody recognized their faces.