Calliope [Book 2]
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Mido felt frozen as he looked across the kingdom. The three witches were nowhere to be seen, but their undead army marched forward, weapons at the ready. Re’iam’s army joined with Asmar’s, standing their ground as their enemies approached. They were heavily outnumbered, and Mido grew more and more worried with each step they took.

“You better get to Librona,” he said to Calliope. “We won’t stand a chance if we wait for them.”

Calliope nodded slowly as she stared at the undead army.

“Go,” Mido hissed to her, bringing her out of her trance.

“Hold tight,” she said, kissing his cheek. “I’ll come back with the entire world at our side if I have to.” And with another flash of light, she was gone.

#

Calliope found herself just where she expected to be, outside of King Sloan’s castle. She hurried passed the guards and into the castle where she found the king, just outside of the throne room.

“Calliope,” he said, surprised to see her. “What brings you here?”

And so she explained the predicament they found themselves in. “We couldn’t wait for a raven to get to you,” she said. “Asmar is in Re’iam right now fighting against the undead army.”

King Sloan hesitated before nodding. “All right,” he said. “I suppose we’re in this together. Just promise me this will be the end. I can’t take war anymore.”

Calliope smiled and nodded. “I’ll do everything in my power to finish this once and for all. When can you be ready?”

“I’ll go to my army now. Give us a few minutes.”

Calliope nodded. “I’m going to gather everyone I can,” she said to him.

“Go to my advisor,” King Sloan said. “He will show you the surrounding kingdoms. We may not do business with them all, but they should all respond to Re’iam’s need. After all, Queen Ryenna is our supreme ruler.”

King Sloan called to his advisor as he hurried toward the barracks to ready his army. Calliope followed the advisor to where the maps of the world were laid out. He pointed out each kingdom to the witch and she took in their coordinates. Within an instant, she was gone.

Calliope made her way to each kingdom, carrying her plea with her for their assistance. To her surprise, they all agreed, willing to help protect Queen Ryenna and the world they had come to know. Each of the kingdoms’ armies readied themselves, and Calliope transported them with ease to Re’iam where the battle had only just begun. She returned to Librona, the last kingdom remaining, and met King Sloan just outside of the castle, his army ready. Once more, Calliope summoned her magic from within and in a flash of light, they found themselves suddenly in Re’iam.

The armies joined each other one by one, their numbers increasing dramatically against the undead army. With the help of the other kingdoms, the human army didn’t look as pitiful against their enemies. Calliope watched as Mido and King Sloan were reunited, anxious to lead their armies together, fighting side by side. Calliope examined the battlefield, wondering where the witches could have been hiding. She made her way to Queen Ryenna’s side, her face suddenly pale.

“What’s wrong?” Calliope asked, sensing that something was amiss.

“The witches,” the queen said hastily. “They’re in In’audis.”

“Shit,” Calliope muttered.

“A distraction,” the queen muttered.

“I can get there,” Calliope reminded her. “Troops have stayed in each kingdom in case something like this happened. We will be able to get there quickly.”

Queen Ryenna nodded and without wasting another moment, the two witches disappeared.

Mido noticed the familiar blinding light and turned to see Calliope disappear with the witch queen. His heart raced, knowing something was wrong. He pushed them out of his mind – he knew they would be able to handle it – and focused on the war at hand.

#

Calliope and Queen Ryenna found themselves in In’audis as the three witches began to attack the kingdom’s capital. Queen Ryenna looked to Calliope and Calliope nodded, signaling that she was ready. They hurried toward the witches, who were unaware of their presence, and Calliope readied the spell. As soon as she had summoned the magic required, she launched the attack at the first witch, bringing her down violently and to her knees.

Realizing that their partner was down, the witches spun around and saw Queen Ryenna and Calliope. Calliope held herself steady as the spell did it’s job, keeping the witch restrained and from using her magic. It did not stop her two partners, however, and they hurried forward, launching spells in their direction.

Holding the witch down didn’t feel too demanding, and while Calliope waited for Queen Ryenna to administer the spell, she used her other hand to attempt to fend off the two approaching witches. She shot spells in their direction, but they were indeed stronger and skilled. They dodged and parried her attacks with ease and returned fire with their own attacks. Calliope decided then that some form of defense would be her best bet, so she summoned all of her might to form an invisible shield around her and Queen Ryenna. The attacks bounced off of her shield, to Calliope’s relief, but the weight of the two spells was heavy. She struggled to keep the barrier around them and to continue to hold the witch down.

She felt the witch struggling to fight back Calliope’s spell. She groaned as she tried to repel the spell. Calliope felt the witch push harder and harder against her. Calliope felt her arms and legs begin to shake as the pressure grew tremendously. Between the weight of the witch she tried to keep down and the increasing strength of the attacks outside of their shield, Calliope knew she would not be able to hold much longer.

“Almost done,” Queen Ryenna muttered as she concentrated on the spell. Just as Calliope thought she was going to break, the witch shrieked and disappeared in a terrifying darkness that enveloped them for a moment. Calliope dropped to the ground, exhausted by the weight of the two spells she held on to. She was thankful to have made the decision she did, certain that she would not have survived that first attack, and there were still two witches left.

As the blackness subsided, Calliope and Queen Ryenna turned to the remaining two witches as they shrieked in horror, their voices echoing through the land. Their faces twisted with rage. Something did not seem right about them, though. Queen Ryenna watched as their bodies began to twist into the familiar smoke form that she saw as they made it through the barrier. They flew through the air and toward the horizon, possibly heading for Re’iam.

Calliope turned to Queen Ryenna, stunned. “What happened?”

“The black magic,” the queen said. “It has completely taken over their very being. Hurry, to Re’iam.”

In another flash, Calliope and Queen Ryenna disappeared, bringing themselves into Re’iam where the battle with the undead army raged on. They arrived just in time, watching as the two black forms sped over the ocean and into the kingdom to join their army.

Mido watched as the forms flew overhead and joined their army on the battlefield, taking the shape of two witches as they landed. Mido looked to Calliope who stood with the witch queen just on the edge of the battlefield. They watched the two witches take their place with their army. Calliope wasted no time. Mido watched as she disappeared once more, appearing on the other side near the two witches.

Calliope slammed them with a forceful spell, knocking them backwards briefly, but they were quick to regain their composure and counter the attack. Queen Ryenna joined Calliope at her side, sending a spell of her own forward toward the two witches. Mido watched as the four witches battled back and forth, spells flying in every direction around them. He turned to his army, still battling in hand to hand combat with the witches’ undead army. He felt stuck, helpless, as the two battles raged on in the great kingdom.

Calliope continued to lure the witches as close to them as possible to make their jobs easier, but the witches knew their plan and were determined not to end up like they partner. The two black witches toyed with their victims as the war pressed on. Mido watched as they struggled to make any progress. He wished there was something he could do to help them, but keeping the undead at bay would have to do. He joined his army, sword in hand, hoping to keep himself distracted while the fight between the witches grew.

Mido swung at each undead soldiers and citizen as they made their way to him. Some were armed with only a dull weapon or tool, while others, mainly the soldiers of the past, were equipped with the armor and swords they died with.

Their armor stood surprisingly strong despite their old, rusted appearance. The undead army grew stronger as the battle raged on, surly their source of power coming from their magical commanders. Mido fought amongst his soldiers as the undead army closed in around them. The undead citizens were the easiest, with no armor to protect their undead body. His sword sliced through brittle bones uneasily. The undead soldiers, on the other hand, battled with skill and precision, just as they had learned to do when they were alive.

And as the battle raged on, the undead army grew stronger. The undead citizens did not succumb to Mido’s blows as easily. Their bones were stronger, their maneuvers skillful. He blocked their strong blows, but the undead army pushed him and his comrades further back, closing in tightly and quickly. They separated Mido’s soldiers, closing in on them individually and thus weakening Mido’s army. Soldiers fought against two, three, and four undead soldiers and citizens, struggling under the weight of the attack.

Five undead soldiers closed in around Mido. He swung his sword frantically around him in an attempt to push them back, but they pressed in closer. His sword banged against their armor with a loud clang, barely making a dent. His own armor suddenly felt heavy as it wore down on his body. The undead soldiers tightened in around him and Mido hesitated. There was no way out. No way he could break through, except with all his strength and a little luck.

And so he pushed forward fiercely, throwing his sword in front of him for leverage. He ran into the soldiers and their weapons hit sickeningly against his armor. He felt turned around and upside down for a moment before realizing he was on the ground. He looked up into the sky just in time to see a sword, and he waited.

The sword came down with a clang on armor, steel meeting steel, but he did not feel the impact of the blow. The sound of war raged on around him and he opened his eyes, disoriented.

“C’mon, coward.”

A hand grabbed at his arm and pulled him up. An armored man stood before him.

“I thought this through, this time,” Jon said. “Armor helps, yanno. It’s gonna take a lot to bring me down.”

“You’re a fool,” Mido said, but he could not hide the proud smile that crept onto his face. He took his place beside his friend as they battled together, two against five. And then Ian found his way to them, defending his friend and leader. The three men, now at a better advantage, took the undead soldiers by force, their strength increasing with a sudden burst of energy. They knocked the undead soldiers backwards, finishing off with a blow from their swords. But with each soldier that fell, more seemed to appear, growing more strongly. There was no doubt that their army was outnumbered.

The witches continued their battle, darting this way and that across the field. Lights flashed through the air as they transported themselves around the battle in hopes of catching their prey. Mido felt Ian nudge at his side, bringing his focus back to the war at hand. Another wave of undead troops ran towards them. Mido recognized the symbols some of them bore on their armor; symbols of Librona and Asmar, their faded, rusted colors marking their homelands. Soldiers and citizens that once called this land their home and these people their friends.

Mido, Jon, and Ian raised their swords once more, ready to meet their attackers, their own troops standing bravely behind them. The two armies clashed once more, the dead in combat with the living. Mido thrust his sword into an unarmed, pale haired man. The weapon came out clean. He turned on his heels and slashed through another body; an older, gray haired man. He spun around once more and let his sword come across an auburn haired woman.

Mido watched as they closed in and suddenly, he could see each of their faces. Their eyes; blues and browns. Eyes that had seen beauty and wonder and pain and suffering. Eyes that once looked upon those that they loved.

Ian stood beside his hesitant friend. He, too, had began to notice each facial feature of every man and woman that came at them with their rusted weapons. The young and the old – all people, once very alive, that could have been friends and family.

And then a familiar face caught Ian’s attention. His heart stopped and his face whitened as he spotted the face, clear as day, amongst the undead soldiers. He immediately recognized his strong features; his familiar green eyes, his thin lips, his hair pulled casually in a short pony tail. His rough hands grasped his beloved sword – the one he made himself, never expecting to use it. The one that Mido held dearly.

Mido turned to Ian and followed his gaze. He peered through the army; there, in the front lines, was the all too familiar face, and his heart dropped.

“Mido,” Ian muttered to his friend, not taking his eyes off the man that approached them. “Mido.”

But Mido did not respond. He watched as the man got closer and closer to them, and for a moment, he saw him there, alive, smiling at his son.

“Mido,” Ian warned, turning to his friend. “It’s not real.”

Mido watched in horror as his father raised his sword, ready to attack.

Jon pulled Mido’s arm and shook his shoulders. “C’mon, Mido, snap out of it.”

Mido’s heart pulled in his chest as he stood glued to the ground.

Ian grumbled to himself as he and Jon began to swing their swords around the undead army in an attempt to clear them away from the stunned king. But in the chaos, they found themselves separated from their friend. When Ian turned, he saw Mido on the ground, staring into his father’s undead eyes.

“Kill him, Mido!” Ian yelled to him. He fought his way through the army, swinging his sword violently in an attempt to reach his friend. “He’s dead, Mido. He’s gone. Put him out of his misery.”

Mido stared into his father’s eyes as the man raised his sword above him. His heart sank in his chest as he fumbled for his sword. He squeezed his eyes closed and in one, swift movement, he brought the sword across the body on top of him. The body fell limp and rolled onto the ground. Mido stared in horror as he watched his father die - again - right before his eyes.

Ian grabbed at his arms, pulling him off the ground and shaking him back into reality. “C’mon, Mido.”

Mido met his friend’s gaze, his eyes hollow. Once more, the undead army began to surround them.

“Calliope needs us,” Ian reminded him.

Calliope. Yes, she needed him. He needed her.

Mido nodded and cleared his throat. “Yeah,” he said. “I’m okay. ’C’mon.”

Mido joined Ian’s side once more, forcing the image of his dead father out of his mind, and took up the battle at hand as the army closed in again.

#

Calliope felt her magic come with ease, each spell as powerful as the last. It was a thrilling feeling to have her true power at her fingertips, but she quickly grew frustrated as the battle dragged on without much success. All this time preparing, and they had barely made a dent in the war. Determined, she decided to take control of the situation. She sprinted forward, dodging each attack that was thrown in her direction. She summoned another barrier around her as she neared. She leapt into the air, throwing her arms towards the ground. An erratic ball of electric magic came crashing down to the ground, shaking the earth as it made contact, throwing the witches off of their feet.

When Calliope landed, she sent another blast of energy forward, sending the witches flying further through the air. This time, they caught themselves and countered the attack, but it bounced off of Calliope’s barrier. Queen Ryenna was suddenly at her side and they had their next victim at their hands. Calliope increased the barrier granting the witch queen it’s protection as she let loose the required spell to hold the witch back.

Just as the first time, the outside witch shot her magic at them, each one bouncing off of Calliope’s invisible shield. This time, however, the witches were stronger, determined, and Calliope felt herself grow weak under their strength. Calliope pushed back with all of her might, determined to give Queen Ryenna enough time to finish the job. But, with a sudden burst of energy, Calliope was flung backwards through the air, landing hard on the ground, her spell broken.

She jumped to her feet, looking around quickly and noticed that Queen Ryenna was gone. She spun around, panicked, and watched in horror as the two witches turned their attention to the battling armies. They threw their spells angrily through the air, raining down on the humans. Bodies flew through the air as the ground shook and erupted all around them. Calliope summoned her magic once more and found herself once more before the witches, protecting the human army behind her. She let a wave of energy loose, sending the surprised witches backwards once more. She quickly shot another spell towards them, frantically searching for Queen Ryenna.

The two witches disappeared in a flash. Calliope spun to see them on the other side of the battlefield, summoning their magic once more and attacking the human army. She watched as they neared Librona and Asmar and her heart leapt in her throat. Once more, Calliope willed her magic to bring her to the two witches and she found herself standing before Mido and King Sloan. The two witches wasted no time, immediately shooting a spell in her direction as she appeared, but Calliope was quicker this time, shooting another invisible force field around her, Mido, and King Sloan. She held onto the spell as the witches continued to throw their attacks in hopes of breaking through once more. Calliope struggled under the weight as she raised another arm to send an attack forward, but the attack was weak.

“Let go!” Mido yelled to Calliope, watching as she struggled to keep their protection.

Calliope felt the barrier shrink, but she was determined to keep them under her protection. She continued to push her magic, the spell expanding and shrinking around her. She felt Mido’s arm pull her back and the barrier dissolved around them. Just as soon as the spell was gone, Calliope summoned another spell. She grabbed onto Mido and they vanished just as another spell came crashing towards them.

Mido looked around and found that they have traveled to the edge of the battlefield. Calliope panted as she struggled to stay on her feet. Mido hurried to her, but she pushed him away. In another instant, she was gone. Mido looked across the battlefield and found her once more battling with the witches, this time with Queen Ryenna at her side. Together, they were able to separate the two witches. Calliope found the invisible shield once more, protecting her and Queen Ryenna while she worked her magic on the black witch.

Calliope looked on as the battle continued. She watched as the remaining witch gave up and turned her attention to the battle, determined to destroy them before they got to her.

“Focus!” Queen Ryenna yelled to Calliope, feeling the magic weaken as Calliope watched the witch, distracted.

“Hurry!” Calliope yelled to the witch queen as she watched the last witch’s terror reign over the land. As soon as the second witch was banished, Calliope dropped the barrier and appeared at the remaining witch’s side. She jumped onto the witch’s back, bringing the two witches onto the ground, but the other witch was quick, flipping Calliope over. The witch attacked with another spell just as Calliope emit another force field around her. The witch remained on top of her, pushing her magic harder in an attempt to penetrate the shield. Calliope pushed back, struggling under the weight of the witch’s magic.

Mido watched in horror as the two witches battled in this manner. Queen Ryenna appeared once more on the field, taking advantage of the witch’s distraction, and attempted to summon the ending spell once more. The witch jumped off of Calliope and threw a spell in each of their directions. Queen Ryenna was quick to vanish once more, avoiding the attack, but Calliope was not as quick. The attack hit her just as her barrier vanished in a moment of weakness. The spell hit her square in the chest, sending her sliding across the field and into the undead army.

Calliope choked and coughed as she desperately tried to catch her breath. She tried to get to her feet but stumbled forward and onto her knees. She looked up, panting, and watched as the undead army surrounded her quickly. She tried to send another force wave through, but the spell was weak, and the undead army pushed closer in.

Mido leapt through the air, swinging his sword around him, clearing the undead army away from Calliope. He continued to block their attacks while Calliope tried to catch her breath. Wincing, she pushed herself to her feet once more. She stood at Mido’s side and threw her arm forward, sending another spell out into the world and clearing the undead army away from them.

The black witch was at her side once more, but this time, Calliope was quick to dodge. With a thrust of her arm, she sent Mido to the edge of the field and turned her attention to the witch. Queen Ryenna was at her side again and they continued their process. Calliope shot the spell toward the witch, quicker this time, freezing the witch. Without the need to protect them from the other witches, Calliope didn’t need to balance the two spells. She focused her attention on keeping the witch down while Queen Ryenna administered the final spell.

But the final witch had grown stronger still. Within an instant, she had burst through Calliope’s spell, sending both Calliope and Queen Ryenna backwards once more. The witch turned into black smoke and flew through the air and between the armies. The soldiers dropped in her wake as she sped through the crowd. Calliope watched in horror as their soldiers dropped quickly, one by one, and the witch was heading quickly towards Mido and the city behind him.

Calliope sprinted through the army, vanishing as she ran and found herself just before the witch. As she appeared, she shot another spell forward and watched as it collided with the black smoke. The collision resulted in a thunderous explosion which shook the land violently and knocked Calliope backwards. She gasped as she hit the ground, feeling the wind knocked out of her lungs. Suddenly, the witch was upon her, smiling wickedly at Calliope just before her world went black.