The Double

In the split-second before the creature made its move, Carola tried to focus her mind on the Pyramid. This time she couldn't afford to close her eyes. She was able to feel its power flowing through her, but it felt muddled and confused. As her awareness began to expand she realized two things.

First, that the Ancients were subtly and almost undetectably moving in time with the harsh, discordant music of the device. The creature was using it to prevent the Ancients from coming to her aid.

Second, that that the power of the Pyramid was flowing through the creature too. It was only a faint echo of the power within her but it was still capable of great things. And unlike the creature she was tired and overwhelmed.

"Move aside," hissed the creature. Jarlath was sweating visibly but he stood stock still. Carola found herself admiring her friend's courage. The creature pressed a button on the device and a new tune began to play, sounding far closer than the one that paralyzed the Ancients. Jarlath's body began to move, though he visibly struggled against it. Then it seemed that this would be her end. She resolved to face it in a way that would do the Goddess and her ancestors proud.

But before Jarlath had moved out of the way, Belinda screamed and leaped at the creature, knocking the device out of its hands. The device hit the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces. The creature screamed with futile rage. It was covered by shadows, flickered, and disappeared. The Ancients unfroze and pulled swords that glowed with a pale blue light out of their sheaths, but it was gone.

The captain of the Ancients faced Belinda. "You have saved us," he (?) said.

"Um, thanks," said Belinda. "What did I do?" Matthias was staring vacantly at the Ancients, his eyes occasionally wandering to Belinda's shapely rear end. They both seemed to be pretty far gone. Maybe that was what had saved them. Maybe her spell-induced stupidity meant that she wasn't quite as affected by the creature's subtle magic.

"What... what was that thing?" said Carola.

"It was a shadow cast by magic," said the captain. "It was sent to destroy you. Or to test you. What power do you have within you, to cast such a shadow? I felt your mind touch mine. What power do you have within you?"

Carola shuddered. Did she dare to tell the Ancients the truth about herself and her quest. She had no idea what these beings wanted. Maybe they knew something about just who the Guardians and the Brazen Man were and what the Pyramid of Balance actually did. (And why hadn't the Guardians told them anything about just how they were supposed to fight the Brazen Man, anyway? She'd thought that the Pyramid would give her some sort of insight, but none had come yet.) But what if they considered the Guardians enemies? What if they wanted the power of the Pyramid for themselves and killed her to get it?

1. Carola uneasily faces the Ancients and tells them her story.
2. Carola runs for her life, overwhelmed by everything she has experienced and forgetting her friends and her quest.

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