The Prodigy Antaris - a secret World of magic #1
Chapter 22

There was no going back, the plans were made, everyone was ready to fight.

For two days King Elior prepared everything together with Aidan and Inna. The army was prepared and ready to fight. Everyone knew what to do, the only piece of the puzzle that was missing for our plan was Ava's location. After Bael offered to contact her via the soul mate connection, we were ready. Now that Bael knew where she was being held, Avery, Devas, Jade and Noah, together with me, ensure that Ava is freed.

King Elior will lure the princes of darkness with his legion to another part of Portus Mali so that we will have more time and fewer opponents.

While the king was going through the main portal along with all the warriors and the fake Iris, we sneaked in through a side portal. Jade opened one along with Devas's help and the small rescue party tried to get in unnoticed.

Avery tried to persuade me, fearing for my life. But what is my life worth without the people I love in it?

The army was huge and the portal for the entrance to Portus Mali had to be big enough. The warriors sat on their amicus and I looked at the mighty animals that accompanied them in the possible battle. From Cerebrus wolves, griffins, winged tigers, unicorns and giant birds all amicus were with their masters. Alatus stood by me and I hugged him as tightly as I could. After I explained the plan to him, he wasn't happy to leave me alone.

"If I only sense that you are in danger, I will come immediately to your aid. I don't care about your plan, my Iris. You are more important to me than any plan." Alatus said without breaking eye contact.

I knew I couldn't talk him out of it and he knew what a dangerous place Portus Mali is. I hugged Alatus and said goodbye to him as Bael asked Alatus to follow him. Alatus will accompany Bael to maintain the false Iris camouflage. Due to his proximity, Bael is not considered an impostor, instead acting like the true Iris through the power of my amicus.

The king looked over his shoulder at us one last time and smiled at us. I knew he was only doing this to encourage us because what awaited us on the other side of the portal was far more dangerous than the creatures that were on Infernus Insula, the island where my Alatus was captured. We saw the king and Bael pass through the portal as fake Iris and all his army followed him. Avery took my hand and I took a deep breath.

"Let's go Ava needs us now" I said while Jade opened our portal and we walked through.

Portus Mali was huge... Very dark and cold with huge black castle-like buildings. Everything was dark and spoiled, the plants seemed to be rotting and the trees were burning. The earth was black and stony with lava flows running all over the land. The sulfur mingled up to the sky which was covered by dark clouds. I felt like I was in a movie that only showed the most horrible things in front of my eyes.

As soon as we went through the portal, Jade blew a powder over us that was supposed to tame our aura. Because how could we sneak through this darkness when we shine like that.

"Be quiet and follow me. Bael tells me that Ava will be trapped in the Tower of Pain." Devas said as he made his way to lead the way.

Tower of pain....oh Ava.My heart bled for her what she had to go through.Avery held my hand as if looking for strength and I was there with him to give it. Devas led us in the direction of a castle that we saw in the distance, always careful that no one would see us. We carefully crept along the edge to avoid being noticed. My friends couldn't take their amicuse with them. That would be too much attention, and we didn't need it.

We only killed the few creatures we couldn't avoid, as it wasn't our aim to attract attention or interest from the denizens or even the Lords of Darkness.We couldn't use our powers because that would also draw attention to us. So we were left with only our weapons to fight the creatures. And this seemed very difficult, but together we made it.

We could no longer communicate with the king because any communication could betray us. All we had to do was stick to the plan. The last time we spoke to the king, he gave Avery and me a hug and told us how proud he was of us.

"Father, this isn't goodbye...we're going to get Ava and go home. Everything will be fine." Avery said to his father at the time.

King Elior just smiled at him and said "Of course we will. I just wanted to tell you this. I'm proud of you and your mother too...and your parents would be too Iris and Aidan."

We're sticking to the plan. We're going to get Ava and go home.

We had been traveling for some time and finally we seemed close enough to the castle to observe. How many guards were there, what creatures will we be dealing with. Our path took us over the mountain surrounding the castle so we had a good view. The castle had a garden of black flowers and burning trees just like Ava said. Guards paced up and down in their black armor they were huge and their evil eyes gleamed in the night like cats eyes under their helmets.

"What's the plan how do we get to Ava?" Avery asked softly.

Devas looked around and considered what would be best for us. But at that moment I felt Alatus using a great deal of energy and I inhaled heavily. Avery and Jade were with me, holding me so I wouldn't lose my balance and fall off the cliffs. A huge red cloud with thunderous lightning bolts formed in the distant sky.

"Alatus" I whispered in a trembling voice.

"I am fine my Iris...But you need to hurry..too many..there are too many..They are killing our friends..." I heard Alatus in my head.

"We must attack immediately. We have no time!" I said to Devas.

Avery and Noah grabbed their guns and started to go, but Devas stopped them.

"Behold! They are abandoning their posts!...All rush towards battle!" Devas explained.

" This is our chance. Go!" said Noah as we headed to the castle.

We quickly got rid of the few guards who were still there, we were so close to our destination.

Now it doesn't matter if we used our powers, we had to get Ava out and get out of here as soon as possible.

It was easy to track Ava, her cell was the only one with a giant centaur guarding it. Avery, Noah, and Devas combined and knocked the beast down. Jade opened the cell with her magic, and as we burst in, we froze in place. Ava lay motionless on the ground and on a chair next to her sat the woman who appeared to us in Antaris.

"Bana!" exclaimed Jade, startled.

Bana grinned evilly at us and laughed mockingly.

"Did you think we really leave the elf unattended?" she asked while tilting her head slightly to the side.

The next moment she grabbed her whip and whirled in our direction. The leather hissed just past my face and I seized the opportunity to counterattack. Devas and Avery were not frightened either and we fought with combined strength while Jade and Noah grabbed Ava. Jade immediately opened a portal and Noah jumped through with Ava.

The alarm sounded and our rescue operation took off. The earth shook and we realized that a multitude of creatures were running in our direction.

" Chess mat...Prodigy." she cried laughing.

She was very powerful and staying with Ava just showed how smart she was. Because of her speed, she always managed to hurt one of us, but we stuck together so she couldn't really throw a punch. When I saw her attack Avery my demonic side was awakened and I protected my lover.

I grabbed her neck with all my anger and the next moment she stood there, petrified.Her eyes wide open and in shock at the powers I possess that have been fatal to her. Devas and Avery took a step back and looked at each other.

"Well...you can do it that way, too." Devas said, pulling me and Avery to the Portal where Jade was waiting scared.

"Alatus..we have Ava! Get to safety. Back home.Tell the king...Alatus?" I let my amicus know about our connection.

But no answer came back.What happened there?

Just as we jumped into the portal, the creatures reached the cell and their horrific screams were the last we heard before the portal closed behind us.