Chapter 82 (1/2)

“This way!” Rella pointed. The mist surrounding her body followed her arm.

“We just came from there,” Tafel said and frowned. “You’re lost. Admit it.”

Rella pouted. “It’s not my fault the witch rushed us all in here,” she said and landed on top of Tafel’s head. “Why don’t you do something instead of complaining then?”

“Watch me,” Tafel said and her horns started to glow green. She closed her eyes and a sphere of wind radiated outwards from her body. The wind howled through the tunnels, forcing the few fairies lingering around to lose their balance and tumble around. A minute passed.

Tafel opened her eyes as her horns dimmed. “This way,” she said. “I found the captives, but no signs of Charon or Bella. I couldn’t locate the birthflowers either.” Tafel sprinted down the tunnels, weaving past the few fairies.

The two traveled deeper into the cave until they reached a massive archway with three fairies playing cards in front of it. Tafel approached them, still cloaked by Rella’s invisibility spell, and drew her sword. She stabbed it between the fairies. A snake made of smoke sprang out of the sword and swallowed the three. It disappeared, leaving behind three sleeping fairies.

“It’s here,” Tafel said and resheathed her sword as she walked through the archway. She walked through the dark passageway with Rella flying next to her and rounded a bend. A soft blue light greeted the two. In front of them was a steep cliff, leading to a pit that contained thousands of bodies. The walls were peppered with blue stones that illuminated the captives.

Tafel wrinkled her nose and held back the urge to vomit. Rella pinched her nose as tears sprang to her eyes. “This smells so bad,” she said, her voice nasally. “Are they even alive?”

Tafel frowned. “I can’t teleport this many people,” she said and stepped towards the edge of the cliff. She drew her sword and held it in front of her. An orange flame blazed into life on its blade. The mist surrounding her and Rella dispersed. Whimpers rose from the bottom of the pit as the eyes of the captives were drawn to the flames.

“Is there anyone who can be counted as a leader amongst you all?” Tafel asked, her voice thundered in the ears of the captives. “I may be able to free you all, but there needs to be order.”

Murmurs rose up into the air. A few people shouted and begged while others cried. The captives’ heads turned towards the furthest region of the pit. A man staggered his way to the front, stepping over the living and stepping on the skeletons of the dead.

“My name is Opfern,” the man said. “I am the Baron of Blod [1]. Who are you?”

“Tafel Besteck,” Tafel said. “The current demon lord.” More murmurs rose up, louder this time. The demons on the right half of the pit looked up in admiration and puzzlement. The humans on the left half trembled and muttered to each other.

“How do you plan on saving us?” Opfern asked as he gestured towards the people in the pit. “None of us can use magic. The fairies take them away first. Many people here haven’t lifted a weapon in their lives.”

“How long have you been here?” Tafel asked, ignoring Opfern’s question. Sweat rolled down her back as she gazed at the field of people staring up at her.

“Five years,” he replied. He stared into her eyes. “How are you going to save us?”

Tafel frowned. “How do the fairies bring you out of this pit?”

“A group of them come and levitate us with magic,” Opfern said. “The ones they take never come back.”

“I understand,” Tafel said as the flames on her sword disappeared. “I need to consult with my allies before I can proceed.” She turned around and walked back towards the entrance. Screams and cries echoed through the cave behind her as she rounded the corner.

Rella shuddered. “Can you save them?” she asked as she raised the barrier of mist around their bodies.

Tafel bit her lip, but didn’t reply. Rella opened her mouth to speak, but the sounds of fluttering wings cut her off. The two pressed their backs against the tunnel wall as a group of thirty fairies flew past them, all of them carrying baskets. “Why do we have to do all this work while those three slackers sleep on the job?”