77

Into the Abyss

Like everything in the towering cavern, the fighting across the chasm stopped, the four adults forming a bizarre tableau of mayhem.

Not a sound.

Not a whisper.

Until a noise like heavy fabric ripping tore through the chamber. And with a thunderous crack Mount Breima awoke with a roar. From the four pools, luminous beams shot upward merging at the top of the cavern. A dazzling effulgence enveloped Lottica and Nick. Across the chasm, the fight between the adults resumed.

In mid-air!

Deilune, Linda and Beilla were airborne, floating above Abzeig. Deilune and Beilla clawed at one another while Linda clasped Deilune’s ankles.

The Fareima blazed from Beilla’s chest and the Kareima from Deilune’s. It was Hawk and Raven renewing an age-old battle, though neither seemed aware that they were being drawn over the deep chasm that had begun to glow ominously. Abzeig threw himself on the ground and trembled, along with the mountain beneath him.

Only Lottica and Nick seemed to realize how perilous their parents’ situation had become. It appeared that all pieces of the Kareima and Fareima were being drawn to their respective pools, over the now fiery chasm, the depths of which roiled and raged with energy.

Beilla didn’t seem to understand the Fareima was drawing him to a pool of lava. Floating, he continued to wrestle Deilune, as if he and the rightful heir of Breima were not headed toward their doom, and Linda was not latched onto his legs. Locked in this deathly struggle with an other-wordly inferno growing beneath them, they drew close to Lottica and Nick’s side of the chasm, struggling.

“You cannot stop it, Breima. Raven cursed your family. Now, you will be the first to perish in the Feirengahst!” he cursed Deilune.

A blur rushed past Lottica and Nick.

In flight, a black blur. Its eyes flashing with the brilliance of the Kareima.

Hawk.

It struck Beilla clean in the chest, knocking him clear of Deilune and Linda. Sleek and alive with power and grace, in one swift move, Hawk’s iron talons tore the Fareima pendant from Beilla's neck.

For a brief moment, Beilla hung in space looking surprised. Then he vanished into the fiery chasm. Only the frail flapping of his cape, a useless wing, marked his descent into the abyss.

Abzeig, cowering on the far ledge, saw Beilla fall and rose to flee. A shrill cry from Hawk froze him at the very edge of the chasm. Awkwardly, Abzeig raised his gun at the impossible creature streaking towards him. He vainly fired once as Hawk struck his arm, knocking him off balance. And then Abzeig, his arms flailing, followed the path of his misguided master into the roiling abyss.