Cursed (2 page)

Before Gabe could even comprehend what was happening, the beast came charging at him.
 
He didn’t have time to think of which defensive spell would work best.
 
As the monster’s spiked tail came swinging around in his direction, Gabe jumped as high as he could.
 
When his legs could take him no higher, he felt himself fall to the earth.
 
He rolled quickly to one side in an effort to remove himself from the range of the monster’s tail.

 
The spiked tail embedded itself in the earth with a great thud, mere inches from where Gabe landed.
 
Gabe seized the moment to roll up onto his knees, crawling backwards to create distance, before hopping up onto his feet.
 
Out loud, Gabe began repeating everything he could remember about the Gorgon race in an effort to think of something that would aid him in this battle.

He knew most of the creatures in the Gorgon territory had skin that was thick, almost like armor.
 
Though he was sure the skin came in handy for the Gorgons, he didn’t see how this detail could help him.

The creature retracted its spikes, freeing itself from the earth.
 
A moment later, its mighty tail swung at Gabe.
 
This time he wasn’t able to move out of the way quickly enough and it knocked him off his feet.
 
In a calculated manner, the spike monster raised its tail high into the air.
 
It hovered for a moment.
 
Gabe watched in horror as it pushed out its dagger-like spikes once again.

The beast brought its tail down at Gabe’s head with such great force that it caused the air around them to stir.
 
Just in time to avoid the spikes, Gabe rolled to one side and jumped to his feet.
 
The crowd let out a gasp of relief.

This dance they found themselves in was not going to end well for Gabe, and he knew it.
 
It wouldn’t be long before he was too slow to avoid the attacks.

Gabe looked at the dust in the air, still stirring from the last strike.
 
That’s it!
 
He thought.
 
At last Gabe had an idea for a spell that might actually work.
 
First he needed to cast an air spell.

Gabe took a few steps back to have a moment to regain his composure.
 
The spike monster clearly was not willing to give him much time, considering it already had its head down, ready to attack yet again.
 
Gabe stood, focusing fiercely on the animal.

 
Somehow, in that moment, all the noise in the room seemed to fade away.
 
Gabe felt his belly burning hot.
 
The beast was running full speed in his direction.
 
When he could no longer contain the energy, Gabe pushed his hands outward towards the monster and shouted, “Ventus tempestas.”

An invisible force shot out from his hands.
 
The crowd began to roar with approval as they watched the dust blowing around the spike monster.
 
The creature began to lose footing.
 
With the hurricane-like wind blowing against it, the monster was clearly struggling to find ground.

Gabe felt a triumphant rush wash over him.
 
He raised his hands, preparing to finish the beast with one more wind storm blast.
 
The creature swung his tail around and dug its spikes deep into the earth.
 
No matter how much force Gabe tried to add, he could not seem to budge the monster.

Exhausted, Gabe pulled his hands back and fell to one knee, trying to catch his breath.
 
Clearly his idea was not working as he had hoped.
 
He needed to rethink his strategy and fast.
 
He pushed himself back up to a standing position.
 
Gabe glanced over his shoulder again.
 
The beast was charging full speed in his direction.
 
He felt his stomach twist.
 
He knew he only had seconds before the monster was upon him.

There was not enough time to run and nowhere for Gabe to hide.
 
Digging his heels in, Gabe feared he already knew what the result of hand to hand combat would be.
 
None the less, in a matter of moments, Gabe would have no choice.

He reached for his sword.
 
He was about to unsheathe his weapon when he had one last idea.
 
Staring at the ground between himself and the spike monster, Gabe began to repeat the words,

“Earth into sand,

Unable to stand”

The spike monster did not seem to pay much attention to Gabe’s words.
 
It simply continued charging, clearly with the intention of mauling him.
 
The creature increased its speed.
 
Sprays of hot saliva flew out from the corners of its mouth.
 
With a triumphant glare in its eyes, the monster moved in for the final blow.
 
With its next step, the earth gave way under the beast’s feet.
 
In a moment it sank into a ten foot circle of quicksand.
 
The crowd cried out with an approving cheer.
 
The animal thrashed wildly in an attempt to escape, but found itself sinking further.

Gabe knew the sand would only hold the spike monster for so long.
 
He needed to take further action to ensure it was no longer a threat.
 
Thinking quickly, Gabe knew exactly what to cast.

 
Looking into the animal’s eyes, Gabe could see it was consumed with fear.
 
It was simply trying to protect itself.
 
He didn’t want to prolong its horrific experience any longer.

 
“Perpetuum Somnum,” Gabe said, directing his hands toward the thrashing animal.
 
A second later the poor beast was asleep and snoring quite loudly, its still body no longer sinking.

Gabe sighed a breath of relief, but before he could turn around, he heard the latch to the second cage release and felt a growing heat behind him.
 
Gabe took off running at top speed to the opposite side of the arena.
 
He did not know where the second monster was exactly, but he knew he wanted to try his best to put some distance between them.

 
When he reached the other side, Gabe turned and saw the creature crawling towards him.
 
Though it had dozens of short legs, it seemed to slither.

“From the Volsunga area of the underworld, Gabe will next fight a fire breathing lindworm serpent.”
 
Gabe heard Uri’s voice bellow out from an unseen corner.
 
The words filled Gabe with terror.
 
He may not know much about the Gorgons, but he had been thoroughly warned about the Volsunga.
 
They were a tribe in the underworld that stayed to themselves.
 
Everyone thought it best for all parties involved.

They dwelt in volcanic areas and worshiped what they called a fire god.
 
Gabe remembered one story in particular about a Guardian who had been discovered in their territory.
 
The story went that this Guardian was on the trail of a demon he wanted to question about some recent attacks on humans.
 
He had stumbled into Volsunga territory unknowingly.
 
Apparently, the Volsunga felt an appropriate punishment for getting lost was to burn him to death.

Gabe tried to put the story out of his mind and focus on battling the lindworm serpent that was now quickly approaching him, puffs of gray smoke billowing behind it. Its large cobra head was arched back, ready to attack.
 
Gabe struggled with how to proceed.
 
Once again, he remembered Michael’s words.
 
He had used the treacherous quick sand traps of the Gorgon desserts to trap the spike monster.

This serpent was different.
 
Gabe had absolutely no clue what he could possibly use about the Volsunga to defeat the lindworm serpent.

It moved quickly.
 
Gabe struggled to stay out its flames.
 
No matter how hard he pushed, with every step he made it seemed to gain on him.
 
He knew he would not be able to avoid its attack for much longer.

Still at a loss on how to destroy the beast, Gabe had an idea.
 
It may just buy him the time he needed to think of something.
 
He ran in the direction of the crowd as fast as his feet would carry him.
 
Gabe knew that everyone in the arena was not in harm’s way thanks to the protection spell.
 
It didn’t mean the lindworm couldn’t see or hear the crowd, though.
 
Standing in front of the bleachers, Gabe looked down at his own torso and shouted, “Effingo”.

A moment later, he looked up to see the arena littered with look-a-likes of himself.
 
The duplication spell had worked.
 
Gabe watched as the serpent caught site of the numerous Gabes, clearly confused and disoriented.

Gabe knew he did not have long until the serpent realized it was a trick and would be on his heals once again.
 
Volsunga was a volcanic territory, but he could not figure out how lava or fire could possibly help him defeat the lindworm, a creature who itself used fire as a weapon.
 
The Serpent spit a couple of fireballs at the crowd that were deflected by the protection spell.
 
Realizing its attacks were pointless, the creature began to search for the real Gabe once again.

As Gabe reached the edge of the arena, he saw the serpent in pursuit of him.
 
Gabe assumed Michael had wanted him to use the elements of where the creatures were from against the them.
 
When the serpent began to close in, Gabe wondered if perhaps Michael had not intended for him to use the elements of Volsunga against the beast but to be aware of the environment it was used to.
 
If the lindworm was use to a fiery world, perhaps what Gabe needed to defeat it was a bit of a chill.

The lindworm arched its head back.
 
With a great force, it spat a raging fireball in Gabe’s direction.
 
Leaping to one side, Gabe managed to avoid the flames, but was still close enough to feel the intensity of the heat.
 
Not wasting another moment, Gabe began chanting,

“Water and ice flow,

A blizzard grow”

The creature prepared to spit another ball of fire at Gabe’s head.
 
Knowing he could not afford to break his concentration, Gabe did not move, but instead stared danger in the face.
 
Gabe stayed focused as Sophie had suggested earlier, placing all of his faith in his spell.
 
The lindworm’s mouth began to glow red with its flame.
 
As the fire started to pass by the creature’s massive fangs, an icy wind blew in, extinguishing it into a gray cloud.
 
The lindworm serpent thrashed a bit from the cold gust.
 
Shivering, the beast tried to shake off the cold blast.
 
Before it could build up another fiery breath, Gabe sent an additional icy burst.

Seeing the lindworm struggle and flail, Gabe continued his strategy.
 
Before the serpent could react to what was going on, it was surrounded by swirling clouds of snow and ice.

Gabe knew the serpent’s fire was only one part of the creature’s danger.
 
Its fangs were full of poison and posed just as deadly a threat.
 
While the Serpent was distracted by the brutal ice storm, Gabe’s best hope was to freeze the beast in a block of ice.

In an attempt to escape the cold, the serpent turned to flee.
 
Gabe had lost his opportunity to easily bring the beast into captivity.
 
He quickly gave chase, but was unable to keep pace with the creatures numerous legs.
 
He decided to put his faith once again in his spell.
 
Without hesitation, Gabe thrust his hands in the direction of the lindworm and cried out, “Glacies flatus.”
 
A stream of ice shot from his hands and shattered against the earth.

Gabe knew he could not afford to miss again.
 
The serpent realized the threat was coming from this small boy and turned to charge him, fangs out.
 
With the beast closing in on Gabe’s location rapidly, he shouted again, “Glacies flatus.”
 
Just feet from where Gabe stood, the creature came to a halt.
 
An ice block formed around it as it struggled to inch closer to Gabe; its desire to kill Gabe still in its eyes.
 
A moment later, the beast stopped moving all together as it was encased in the block.

With the crowd screaming cheers of his greatness, Gabe wondered why he was even worried about the tests.
 
Clearly they were nothing he could not handle.

 
Gabe stood, marveling at his own skills.
 
His confidence slowly melted away as he began to feel the earth tremble under him.
 
Spinning around he saw the third cage, door open, empty inside.
 
Gabe felt his stomach ache.
 
Suddenly he was not as certain of his abilities.