Callia's Redemption
Chapter Sixteen

Marok sits up as if cued to with a smile on his face. “Ah, here are the others. Glad to see you listened and stayed away from the room.”

“You threw us out.” Half of them quip.

He looks confused. “I suppose I did.” He stands up with a smile on his face. “Come, let’s get Callia settled. Her friends should be arriving soon and then really must be going.”

“Marok!” Gertrude yells as she storms up the hall. “I demand you tell me what happened with your temper. Why did you throw everyone out of the meeting with the Spirits? It’s rare when they visit, especially if they’re granting young Callia with such an important gift.”

He waves her off. “It is none of your concern. I am the Elemental Elder and will bestow upon her whatever gift I choose.” He holds his hand out to me. “Come Callia. We have much to discuss. Especially since an Earth God shall be here soon.”

“What are you talking about?” I breathe as I take his hand. I stand up on my own. He just yanks me along with him as he slowly shuffles out of the room, Allie trailing behind us.

Allie catches up to us, but nothing but silence comes out of her voice. “I cannot hear you.” I sigh when she starts getting frustrated.

Marok chuckles. “The Spirits said we’re not allowed to talk about what happened in that room. You’ll never be able to ask or tell anything about what happened Allie. You should have asked her while in there. If you continue to break it, you will forget about those events that transpired.”

“That’s not fair.” Allie nearly yells in a hissed voice. “But Callia will-“ Silence follows and it appears she’s trying to shout. Eventually she starts looking confused.

“Told you.” He says with a grin.

“Where are we walking to?” I sigh as I roll my eyes, trying to move on.

“The same place you dropped in on us.” He chuckles.

“Why would we do that?”

“Because they’re transporting themselves in. Gstalt does have us surrounded after all. You really must have gotten under his skin this time Callia.” He chuckles like a mad man.

“Hold it,” Allie says quickly. “What do you mean we’re surrounded?” Well that explains why the stone drained so much so quickly. Gstalt was close after all.

“I mean what I said and what I said is we’re surrounded.” He grumbles.

“When did this happen?” She seems scared almost.

“While we were in the meeting. The Spirits told me.”

“I’m glad they’re at least nice to you,” I mutter to no one in particular. I am not at all thrilled by that bullyish behavior from them. On the plus side, I no longer have a ticking time bomb in my chest.

Marok chuckles. “It’s because I listen. The Spirits know all, and it’s something you should understand. Be flattered they’re taking an interest in you.”

“I’d rather die.” I snap under my breath. I hate being told what to do. I am not a child.

“Callia,” Allie starts right before screaming. I yell out in surprise as something hard crashes on top of me. I groan, echoing several voices in the hallway.

“What in the-“ I breathe as I hear Marok laughing. The rest of my voice is cut off by someone strangling me in a viper tight hug.

I high shrill voice squeals. “I cannot believe it was right! You’re alive.”

“Penny…Can’t…Breathe…” I gasp. Apparently, my lungs are destined to get a workout today.

“Never leave me again!” She hisses, not releasing her hold on me.

“Okay, let her go,” Mary laughs as she pulls Penny to her feet, myself included. Mary pulls us apart before she gives me a hug. She looks me over, her eyes lingering on my chest. “Is everything okay?”

I smile and nod. “Yes, the Spirits took care of it.” She raises her eyebrow as I shake my head, “I’d like to explain further, but I can’t.” I look her over and gape. “What happened to you?” I demand and then look at Penny. She has golden bronze hair that is tightly curled. She wears a green flowing robe that darkens her ocher eyes. They’re both covered in scorch marks. I look behind them and see Alaric. He’s unconscious, his skin charred and not wearing any clothes.

Alarm spreads over me as I sense darkness. “Alaric!” I yell, worried, as I reach for him.

“Callia don’t!” Penny and Mary yell as they try to reach me. It’s too late. I touched his bare back. I scream out as a binding spell pulls at me. I know this spell, and I can’t believe I fell for it. It’s the same famous spell Gstalt used on me on our last encounter. I hear his evil cackling in my head as I fall to my side, completely disabled. I can hardly breathe as I feel his pull, trying to get me near him.

My body soon begins to flicker as he tries a transportation spell to bring me to him. I can’t fight him right now even if I wanted to. Not with the amount of magic that was drained from me just moments ago. I’d still give him a good run, but my body would cave to exhaustion the second I tried any big spells.

“Do something!” Allie begs from someone, my vision beginning to blur. His spell will soon be complete if they do not do something. The only reason it’s taking him this long is because of my strength. I may not be able to use my magic, but he still has to fight it to force someone to transport. He’s definitely weaker, I can feel it, he’s already using borrowed magic. However, the lent magic feels different, meaning it’s definitely not Arwen’s magic. It’s so much stronger than anyone I’ve felt before, excluding the Spirits. It rivals my own, but it’s not to my level. It doesn’t feel dark, just…hot? No, that isn’t the right word.

“Callia!” I hear Gstalt yell at the same time I hear Garth yell my name.

“Do something!” I hear Mary, Penny, and Allie yell. My vision begins to split. I can see Gstalt, and the ceiling of the Water Gods infirmary. Gstalt looks rough and is covered in water and scratches. There is someone obscured behind Gstalt. The aura surrounding him is brimstone red. It terrifies me, and I have no explanation as to why.

I gasp as I snap back, pain subsiding in slow waves as my vision begins to focus. I land hard, but water surrounds me as it pools upward. It’s freezing and it’s dark. I sit up as I look around. I landed in water and I’m outside in a water submerged field. I can feel my magic, though it is weak, it’s no longer disabled. My senses are slow to reach it, so it’s best if I don’t try to use it until I’ve recovered.

I’m trying to figure out what happened. Gstalt must have succeeded in transporting me, but his spell is no longer applied to me. I can no longer feel his magic surrounding me. I’m directly in where the Water Gods are located. Gstalt must have lost enough power to not be able to finish the spell; or somehow someone disabled his spell in mid transport. The only two people who I know, know how to perform that spell are Alaric and Garth. Garth panicked last time, but maybe he pulled through somehow. Either way, I have no way of asking for the moment.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, just giving me seconds of knowledge to duck. I lay back down, just in enough time to see a fire ball fly past my head. The fire is the same brimstone red I saw before I landed here. That’s not good. I can feel the power from this magic. It’s strong as a God’s and that’s likely what it is from. A Lava God. A strong one at that.

I roll to my hands and knees and get up. Immediately, I see a man running my way. He’s tall, with flowing black hair and glowing red eyes. I freeze in shock as I take him in. He’s not a God, their eyes do not glow like that. I know exactly what he is, and this confirms the Spirit’s warning; Arwen is dead. A brimstone aura surrounds him as he comes to a stop, water evaporating around him. This is not good. It also explains why he’s so strong. He’s stronger than Gstalt but his magic is limited in the realm.

The Banishee raises his hand, fire appearing above it. “Come quietly Callia. This will hurt you a lot more than it hurts me if you don’t. You’re weak right now.”

I shake my head. I have enough magic to beat him, though I’m not sure my body has the energy to use as much that is needed. If my body fails, I will lose consciousness and will be in his hold faster than my next breath. If I do not fight however, that is going to happen anyway.

I take a step back; my best chance is to run. I wish I had listened to the Spirit and sealed my spell on that Stone before I had this much power drained. “I will not.”

He chuckles darkly. “Foolish girl. Do you know what happens when you fail to listen to Morticious?”

“Probably listen to you talk about yourself in the third person.” I snap as I use a water surge, spraying water and mud from the ground in a geyser like blast. I take off running as I hear him screaming in pain. Water hurts Lava anything, that is a very good key rule when fighting them. I just need to make it to the trees, and I will likely be okay.

A fireball connects with my leg, making me fall into the mud. I scream out in pain as I force myself to sit up. Fire is eating away at my flesh, which I quickly extinguish. I cannot run on my leg. It’s burned through to my nerves. I cannot move my foot. He shoots another ball at my shoulder, causing me to fall backwards. I cry out as I put the flames out, but it’s too late. My arm is completely useless.

Morticious cackles as he comes closer. I sit up but am swaying slightly while he eyes me. “Cute trick, but you’re wasting energy.” He raises his hand, another fire ball at his ready. “Now, are you coming with Morticious?”

“For the last time no!” I’m going to die at this rate anyway. I picture a water ball surrounding him, and picture him far away in a desert.

“No!” Morticious screams as the lilac water surrounds him. I gasp and fall in agony as my energy drops drastically. My body is shaking as my mind fights to stay awake. I stare at the stars, trying to picture what comes next as Morticious vanishes. If Morticious was here, Gstalt is not far behind. I haven’t a prayer on beating him in this condition. I haven’t even enough physical strength to heal.

“Come on Callia,” I breathe to myself as I close my eyes, trying to replace some strength. If I’m going to die, I’d much rather die alone being eaten by wild animals, than with Gstalt anywhere near me.

I open my eyes as I replace some strength and see a floating blue ball above me. “Arin?” It zips away as I sit up. When I do, I see torches heading towards me. There is a darkness I sense before I can see him. Gstalt.

“Time to move,” I tell myself as I start dragging myself away, laying as low as I can, trying to submerge myself in as much water as possible. Eventually I drag myself to thousands of reeds and hide in there. I start digging a hole in the mud, trying to lower myself as much as possible into it as I can. I quickly lie down and let the water cover me, praying he won’t see me. The last thing I hear before going under, is men shouting. I know this is futile since Gstalt can sense me. However, I’m hoping he’s weak enough that he has to be really near me in order for it to work.

I wait for what feels like an eternity. It isn’t long before I feel hands around my waist, and they start to pull me out. I scratch and claw at the arms, at least showing I’m putting up a fight, no matter how weak it is. Once I’m pulled out of the water, I expect to see Gstalt. Relief washes over me as a small smile forms, “Garth,” I breathe as my body goes limp.

“Oh no you don’t.” Garth huffs as he almost loses grip on me, nearly sending me back into the water. “Come on Callia,” He grunts as he lifts me into his arms and stands. “I got her!” He yells as he starts running with me cradled in his arms. He glances at me as he starts running. “I thought you were dead.”

I give a weak laugh, it hurts. “Getting there.”

“What did this to you?” Garth demands as lights start getting brighter. I can hear people talking quickly, yelling something about orders to retreat.

I can see the blue light of the Water God’s portal on his face. My body starts relaxing and that is its mistake. “A Banishee.” I breathe as I close my eyes.

“No Callia, stay with me.” Garth yells as he grabs my face and starts shaking it. I hear the thum of the portal as we enter the Water God’s world.

“I’m trying,” I breathe, unable to form a witty response.

“What happened?” Allie demands as Garth keeps running.

“We need a healer. Now!” He yells as he keeps running. I can hear water splashing as he runs down the hallway.

“It looks like the same burns from the Lava God we fought on our way in here.” Mary says quickly.

“That’s not what she said.” Garth huffs as he lays me on something warm. I open my eyes and see the room I had woken up in earlier. Garth is still holding my face. “Callia, don’t you dare close those eyes again.”

Allie’s face pops up as she begins working on my wounds, her hands covered in water. I can feel her stitching my skin together with her magic. “Callia, honey, what caused this?”

“A Banishee.” I breathe, bringing silence into the room.

Garth looks confused, “What is a Banishee?”

“A banished Spirit.” Mary supplies. “We learned about it in school together.”

“It does explain his power.” Penny says as she steps into view.

“What?” Garth demands. “How does a Spirit get banished? How is it in human form? Is it stronger than Callia?”

Allie shakes her head. “It’s possible, but Callia was already significantly drained before she went out there. It’s likely not stronger, but close to her level.”

“Why was she drained?” Garth demands then looks at me. “Why were you drained Callia?”

“Let her rest,” Allie breathes as he grabs my hand. She pulls him away gently. “Let her sleep, she needs to recover.” The lights go dark a few moments later, allowing me to close my eyes.