Into the Fairylands: Chapter 12

Into the Fairylands

By J. R. Bennett
<Chapter XI~*~Chapter XIII>

Chapter XII

Making things Undone

~*~

            It took a few minutes for everyone to climb up but once they were up, Ed, Zach, Travis, Alice, Bug-a-boo, Little Dill, and Jolly Roger could easily see what was before them.  The new area looked vast with rows of torches burning for miles illuminating a white marble floor.  In the middle was a massive stone block serving as an alter with runes inscribed all over it and dried blood on the top while a foul smell of incense hung in the air.

            Everyone approached the stone; it smelt of decay and seemed to be the only smell that could overpower the incense.  Bug-a-boo surveyed the runes on the alter.

            “What does it say?” Travis asked Travis.

            “‘Here are the damned.’” read Bug-a-boo.  “‘Given up in the name of Father Horcus for the forgiveness of the Lone Titan.’”

            “Must be where Manoo’s minions take their victims,” commented Ed.  “The whole place reeks of death.”

            “There’sssss more life than death here little man,” hissed a voice from the black shadows.

            “Whose there!” cried Alice.

            “I am everywhere and nowhere.” the voice taunted.  “I am duel.  I am multiple.  I am one.  Sssssome call me the Lone Titan, others the Basssstard of Horcussss.”

            Everything seemed to happen at once.  Out of the shadows came a snake like creature, head of a snake, torso of a man, and the lower half the body of a snake.  The torso was dressed in ancient armour and was wielding a large battle-axe in both its hands.  The creature charged at Ed, axe poised ready to strike. Ed tried to jump to the right to avoid the attack but was stuck by the edge of axe and collided into Zach, hitting the hard marble floor and crashing into one of the torches.

            The creature recoiled ready for another strike.  Zach, still in pain from the collision, hurled a hunk of burning wood at the monster.  With luck, the burning wood hit the creature but it was still attracted by the others.  It was about to pounce again when a large hand from the dark appeared and grabbed the creature.

            “That isss enough.” the same voice hissed and the hand gripped the creature.

            “Who is this!?” called Bug-a-boo.

            Alice and Travis ran over to Ed and Zach.  Both were badly hurt from the attack.  Zach’s shoulder was scratched and bruised and gashed across the back of his head.  Ed’s face was badly cut, his left eye not even being spared from the assault.  Alice and Travis wasted no time bandaging Ed and Zach.

            Out of a heavily shadowed end of the room appeared a big head with handsome face and a nattered mess of long black hair.

            “It issss I, Manoo.” the face hissed. “Damned to live my daysss on thisss rock they call Sssspyrussss.”

            Bug-a-boo produced from his coat a sapphire orb and proceeded to shake it.  The orb began to glow and, as Bug-a-boo let go of it, floated up high above everyone.  The orb let out such a radiant glow that it illuminated the entire room more than the torches.  It was then that everyone could behold Manoo, the titanic child of Horcus and the titan Ironbone.

            Manoo was a massive titan, over one hundred feet in height while dressed in rages with chains and fetters latched around his arms, legs, and neck.  His body was riddled with patches of snake scales while the right side of his torso was fused to the wall.

            “Who daresss disssssturb me in my sssslumber?” the titan boomed.

            Bug-a-boo gave a curt bow and introduced himself and the others.  The titan hurled the snake creature across the room and leaned as best he could to take a closer look at the others.  In the meantime, Ed and Zach were able to gather enough strength to stand.

            “I apologissse for the reaction of Temor.”  Manoo hissed.  “He issss my guard and ssssent to prevent anyone from breaking my soul.”

            Manoo pointed to the rune and blood covered alter.

            “So that is how Horcus has kept you trapped.” Ed commented.

            “The story of my sssssealing has been wrapped in a lie of rebellion on myssself and my worssssshipersssss.”  Manoo explained and told his long tale, seeming not to hiss as he spoke this time.

            “Long ago, before time eternal, the first gods Void and Naught fashioned the universe by taming dragons and locking them in spheres.  Unsure of what to do with these creations the two fought and Void slayed Naught.  Horrified by his sin, Void went into a long sleep that will only end when time is over.  He will destroy all creation to revive Naught.

            “From Naught’s blood came the oceans; his flesh became sand and soil, Naught’s hair became all flora; his teeth the twenty-four gods of the Zeltic lore; and his bones all the creatures of creation.  Among the bones came the first masters of the world, the titans.  The titans believed the world was their birthright and enslaved all creation for their bidding.  For 40,000 years, titans ruled like gods and worshiped the twenty-four gods as thanks for this right, holding Horcus as the highest of them all.

            “Eventually humanity and the Fae became tired of their gigantic overlords and rebelled.  Among this rebellious group was a cult who sacrificed all that were slayed as tribute so that they may defeat the titans.  Horcus became enraged and wanted to destroy this cult, he intended to wake Void and bring about the destruction of the universe so that he would win, even if it meant becoming a tooth.  I objected and helped the cult, now called Manookoo, and attacked Horcus.

            “In the long fight, Horcus cursed me and my followers to this rock.  Now I must spend my days feeding on the flesh of innocent who are made to appear as sinners of unknown crimes.  What I would give for this fate to be over!  Alas, I am forced to stay and rot in this tomb.”

            “There may be away.” Bug-a-boo replied and explained about the sealing of Manoo’s soul to the rock.

            “The only thing I know that has the seal of my father would be on the alter,” said the titan and proceeded to reach with a mighty fist to destroy it.  As the fist became close, a flash of white light and the fist flew back.

            “Of course.” Ed mumbled weakly.  “The seal can’t be broken that easily.  Horcus probably knew that would happen eventually.”

            Everyone examined the alter.  In raised letters and covered in blood on top of the alter was a large rune in the middle of an icositetragon made up of a series of intricate runes.

            “‘Only my breath can break this curse.’” Ed read from the runes.

            “I doubt Horcus would want us to shout ‘be gone’ or something like that.” Zach added.

            Little Dill jumped on top of the alter and began to blow on it, taking deep heaving breaths and blowing as hard as he could.

            “It’s no use.” Bug-a-boo said as he picked up the small toy and placed him on the floor.  “This is far more complicated.”

            Little Dill was having none of it. He jumped up and down trying to get everyone’s attention for another idea but was ordered by Bug-a-boo to stand a side and wait.  Annoyed, Little Dill ran up to Jolly Roger and began to whisper something into the seagull’s ear.  Roger nodded, Little Dill jumped on Roger’s back, and the two flew off to where some of the broken torches were burning.  The seagull gripped the piece of wood that was burning on one end and carried it the best he could to the alter.

            “Tries this!” Little Dill cried.

            “It’s worth a try.” Jolly Roger argued.  “At worse nothing happens.”

            Bug-a-boo let out a hard sigh and reluctantly agreed.

            Jolly Roger dropped the burning wood on the alter.  The flame burned for a short while until the flames died out and wood became only red embers and black ash.  In seconds the blood converted surface began to burn; smouldering at first and soon yellow and blue flames began to lick the air and spread across the alter until the flames burst into a mighty combustion that put out the rest of the torches.

            When the smoke and drama had died, the only light that was in the space was the glowing orb.  The orb slowly floated down to Bug-a-boo.  The alter was only rubble and the torches now just poles of wood with chard tips.  Manoo crawled forward, everyone could see that his skin was free of scales and the walls of the rock.

            “Thank you.”  the titan said.  “It has been a long time since I could breathe air freely and feel the sun upon me.  I shall not take this gift you have given me for granted.”

            “You’ll have a very different world to see once you leave here,” called Bug-a-boo from below.

            “That is something I look forward to.” Manoo replied.

            Suddenly, from the far end of the cavern there came a sudden gust of fresh air and light from outside as two large stones slid away.  Beyond everyone could see blue sky and ocean with not a speck of purple fog to be seen across the horizon.

            “It’s beautiful.” Manoo muttered as a tear rolled from his great eyes.

            Everyone agreed.

            Manoo crawled toward the opening.  He didn't flinch away from the light; the great titan only closed his eyes and let the warm sunlight wax across his pale skin and the cool sea air blow through this mane of hair.

            There came a rumbling; the ceiling began to quake and slide down.  Manoo quickly braced himself against the ceiling and pushed against it with all his might.

            “I should have expected my father wouldn’t want me to leave here.” Manoo commented.

            Everyone looked up at the titan.

            “Go!” Manoo ordered.  “My time was over eons ago!”

            Ed, Zach, Travis, Alice, Bug-a-boo, Little Dill, and Jolly Roger ran for the opening.  Pulling up to the opening was the eagles and the boat-sled – now more boat than sled!  Everyone ran, water from the opening slowly flooding the room and reaching their knees as they reached the boat.

            There came a cry of pain from inside Spyrus, followed by a force of air escaping from the opening.  The eagles tried to move fast but the ropes snapped, sending the boat one-way and the eagles another. 

            Everyone was able to steady the boat.  The boat drifted for a fair distance before seeming to stop.  The party watched as the great rock Spyrus sank into the ocean, leaving white capped waves in its wake.

            “So falls a once great mighty god.” Ed said in awe.

            “There are no gods, Ed.” Bug-a-boo added.  “Just powerful beings who buy into their powers.  Horcus thought he was able to keep humanity under the thumb of the titans and in the end, he and his kind are now but myths of the past while Manoo remains trapped in Spyrus.”

            “No.” Zach said calmly. “I think he’s finally free.”

            No more was said as just then there came the sound of a faint whistle.  Everyone looked back to see the Pedigree charging along the sapphire waters with black smoke billowing from her funnels and white foam slashing away from the bow.