The Three Furies (Erec Rex) (47 page)

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could see the difference, and find her, maybe they could escape in all the chaos. . . .

Wait!
A thought flashed into his head.
The eyeglass shop!
He was the only one who could see the magical frames, because of his dragon eyes. Maybe that would work here, too.

He spun his eyes in his head, and everything glowed bright green. The imitation people that filled the room looked almost see-through. Bethany was off to the side of the room, smashed in a crowd of imitations. The real Baskania was coming closer to him, zapping imitations as he walked.

Something bumped into him, hard ... literally
into
him. One of the imitation people had collided with him. Erec looked down at himself, afraid to discover that he had become some odd combination of parts.

But instead he appeared completely like Baskania. Seeing himself look like his worst enemy, someone who terrified him, took his breath away for a moment. Had he
become
Baskania, then? Was
he
an imitation now?

But his mind was working just fine. He was in control of his body. He tried to use his dragon eyes again, but they wouldn't work at all. Somehow, having this imitation skin over him was messing with his powers.

The real Baskania came into view. Real magic shot from his finger, knocking people over. That gave Erec an idea. He wiggled a finger, trying to send Baskania up into the air. Power welled inside him, and he could feel it come all the way to his fingertip . . . but then it was blocked. He couldn't do any magic with this Baskania skin on.

That led him to another thought. If the fake Baskania covering him took away all of his powers, then maybe that would work the other way, too. He shoved his way through the crowd until he was at the side of the real Baskania--who took no notice of him, looking

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as he was. Erec grabbed an imitation Erec firmly and shoved it hard, straight into Baskania.

The Erec imitation combined with the real Baskania. What was left was someone who looked just like Erec.

Baskania, looking like Erec, scowled at himself angrily. "What's this about?" He growled, pointing at himself, but nothing happened. He shook his finger. "What's wrong with me?" He pointed at an Erec imitation and realized he could do no magic with the Erec skin on.

Erec grinned with relief. It was time to find Bethany. He called for her--and soon all of the Baskanias were calling for Bethany.
Great
, he thought. Just what he wanted, to be the new leader of a band of imitations of his arch enemy.

The Erecs were cursing and growling, in imitation of their new leader.

Erec shoved through the room to where he had seen Bethany. Right in the middle of the tangle was one who looked at him fearfully, and ducked behind some imitations. That had to be her, he thought. The others didn't pay attention to him.

"Bethany!" he called out. But he realized his voice was now Baskania's. How would she know it was really him? "It's me, Erec," he called to her. "We switched bodies. It's really me. We have to get out of here!"

She peeked at him, doubtful, and shuddered when she saw him. All around them Baskanias were calling out, "It's me, Erec!"

"Come on." He held out his hand. "Would Baskania know that I said I loved you last night?"

"He might." Bethany stepped forward. "But he also would have tried to kill me by now. This isn't quite his . . . style. I can tell it's you."

The Baskanias were not able to keep up with their exact conversation, but they were chattering animatedly with the Bethanys in the room. Erec threw his arms around her, but Bethany pushed

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him back. "Sorry. I'm not quite ready to hug Baskania yet."

Laughing, he grabbed Bethany's wrist and headed for their other friends. The Erecs were screaming, "You idiot. It's me!" and the Baskanias were dragging Bethanys behind them.

Kyron, Griffin, Jack, Jam, and Melody were gathered in a tight cluster, watching in amazement. The boy who had Bethany's memory was standing with them now. When Erec walked up to them, holding Bethany, they all cowered.

"Guys," he whispered. "It's me, Erec. Long story, but you have to believe me. We're getting out of here now."

Bethany nodded. "It's really him. You guys ready to go?'

Melody looked doubtful. "You don't look like Erec."

"I know. But Baskania doesn't look like himself either now. That's a good thing. He can't use his powers--for now, at least."

"He sounds like me cap'n. Kind of." Griffin scowled. "If yer me cap'n, tell me what my job was in the Nightmare Realm."

Erec laughed, wishing his laugh sounded less spooky. "You were the best toilet cleaner there was. Just needed a little help from a big water-hose-snake-thing."

"It's him," Griffin declared. "Let's go!"

They all grabbed hands and headed through the crowds toward the door. All of the Erecs were facing a bewildered Ajax Hunter, screaming at him. "If I only had my powers I'd skin you alive, Ajax."

Erec walked up to Ajax, trying to speak in arrogant, low tones. "Pathetic, aren't they? Lock them all up. I've got Bethany and the others. I'm going to take care of them personally. Don't let me be disturbed."

Ajax nodded. "Of course, my prince." He bowed. "I'm sorry. If there was anything I could have done--"

"I'll deal with you later," Erec sneered, as did all of the Baskanias behind him.

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"Don't
listen
to that thing! It's not me!" one of the Erecs screamed, followed by the others.

Erec did not stay to see what happened. He and his friends found a hallway with elevators and waited for one to take them to the first floor. Baskanias and Bethanys followed them out, crowding in the elevator with them until it was full. Others had to wait for more elevators to come.

"Looks like we're not getting rid of them," Bethany said.

Erec shrugged. "I don't know how long these phony guys will last. I'm looking forward to seeing the reaction we get downstairs."

The reaction on the main floor was profound. From army generals to secretaries, people fell back in horror when they saw masses of their leader, a hundred Shadow Princes, storming down the hallways. Most of the witnesses probably assumed that this was part of some new plan, but that didn't make the sight less terrifying. Elevators full of Baskanias and Bethanys poured more hordes into the halls. The only people who did not react at all were the blind followers, who scurried around immune to the goings-on.

"How do we get out of here?" Bethany asked.

Erec paused. Out the front door were the Vetalas, and the shadow demon who would doubtless know exactly who he was. That was a problem, because he had no powers at all now with this Baskania skin on. If he couldn't even use his dragon eyes, he probably couldn't get cloudy thoughts if he needed them. The laughter vial was used up.

He grabbed the collar of an army officer who was pressed up against the wall, trying to stay out of the way.

"Yes, my prince." The officer tried to bow. "Can I help you, sir?"

"Lower the bridge to the Jakarta entrance. Can you do that?"

He bowed again. "Y-yes, sir! I'll go to the bridge corps now, sir. Anything else, sir?"

Erec thought. "Yes. I want a path cleared outside, so none of . . .

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us is bothered by the beasts out there on the way to the bridge. Is that understood?"

The officer looked confused. "You're taking the bridge across to the Jakarta entrance?"

Erec raised his voice to cover any slip he might have made. "Yes, are you deaf?" he roared. "Are
you
questioning my decisions?"

"N-no! Sorry sir. W-would you like the usual exit opened up, I mean? So no path will have to be . . . cleared . . . out there?" His voice had raised to a tiny peep.

"Of course," Erec cried. "Just making sure you knew what you were doing, officer."

"Oh! Thank you." The officer bowed repeatedly, then ran to obey.

Erec grimaced at Bethany. "Do you think I pulled that one off?"

She nodded. "Only thing is, now we have to find the way to the 'usual exit.'"

"No problem." Erec led the crowds down a hall toward the army wing. He grabbed the next officer he saw. "You! Lead the way to the
usual exit
. The bridge better be down by now."

The officer looked bewildered. "The usual
guest
exit to the bridge to Jakarta, sir?" he squeaked. "You want me to take you there?"

"Yes." Erec released him. "I want you to clear the way for us. This place is a zoo today."

"Of course, sir. With pleasure." The officer walked before the growing crowd of Baskanias and Bethanys, and the few odd people walking with them. Up a flight of stairs and down more hallways, people and imitations marched in a never-ending parade, until finally reaching a steel wall.

"Open!" the officer yelled, and men at a control desk in the room, eyes wide at the sight before them, pulled levers and made the steel slide apart in two pieces.

A bridge led right out of the room and across the water. Surrounding

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it, the entire way, was a clear glistening bubble that looked like plastic. They all filed onto the bridge. Under them, zombies marched and manticores leaped up at them, and specters swept by, but none was able to get through the barrier around them. Lalalalal appeared, spiraling down from the air and landing on Griffin's shoulder.

"Looks like we made it." Erec grinned at Bethany.

He face wrinkled into a frown. "Sorry. It's still hard to get over your . . . looks. I hope you can get this mask removed when we're home."

Erec melted inside when she said "home." Were they really going to be okay? Then his stomach tightened, thinking about what awaited him in Windows to the Soul eye care shop. This was it for him. He only had a few minutes left with Bethany. And he could not kiss her now, looking like this. If only they had more time to talk . . .

That's when the truth hit him. He looked like Baskania now. No police snake was going to bite him looking like this. He would get out, with everyone else! He was going to make it!

"Yeah!" Erec shouted, throwing a fist in the air. He grabbed Bethany and gave her a huge hug, even though she shoved him away. "We're going to make it! Let's go!"

The bridge was a quarter of a mile long, and they ran the whole way to the small beach on the other side. Erec, Bethany, Jam, Jack, Melody, Kyron, the boy with Bethany's memories, and Griffin, with Lalalalal on his shoulder, crowded into the passageway that led back into the shop.

"Act calm, everyone. There's a police snake waiting for us, so we have to be careful." Erec held his breath as he opened the door to the shop.

This time the door opened behind the counter, carrying shelves of eyeglasses. The clerk swung around expectantly. "Here they come, officer . . . oh! Excuse me. I didn't know . . ." He looked terrified as Baskania strode into the room, followed by Erec's friends.

Erec looked down on the clerk in disgust. "You are to keep this

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door open until everyone has gotten through. Is that understood?"

By this time more Baskanias had filed out into the shop. The clerk held his hand over his heart, mouth open. "Yes, master. I-I saw Erec Rex before. If he comes back--"

"Have him arrested, immediately."

Erec turned to run out the door. He had to get out fast, before anything went wrong.

But then he heard his old voice, screaming in rage. "You idiots! Do you think you can get rid of me that easily? I might not have my powers now, but I know ways around this place. And when I get back to normal, you will all pay!"

Baskania, looking exactly like Erec, burst through the door behind them. He ran toward Erec with a ferocious expression. Yet, exactly as Erec had seen in his future, the clerk shouted, "There he is! There's Erec Rex. Get him!"

A snakelike police officer wearing a tall stovepipe hat dove from behind the counter.

Erec's breath caught. His vision was unfolding, plain as day, before his eyes.

The officer sprang, flying through the air until he hit Baskania in the stomach. He slithered, wrapping himself around what he thought were Erec's legs until they both tumbled, rolling, onto the floor. Then he opened his mouth wider than imaginable, long fangs poised over Baskania's leg. In a flash, the snakelike thing bit, its jaws sinking deep into flesh.

Erec saw what looked like himself gasping and passing out. A few more police officers appeared, pulling "Erec" back with them through the hidden door.

"We've got him now, no worries," one of them said. "He's helpless. This one'll never escape again."

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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Your Sworn Enemy