“Worship me as like your god and bring children every year, I will let you live” – that were words the dragon told as people come. Of course, people had no other choice. They went home and turned back with healthy children to satisfy the dragon. Then the dragon fell in sleep and only woke up one time a year when people brought children to come. A lot of children had died.” her voice became husky, “Many years passed. The dragon became greedy and cruel. It woke more times and wanted more children.” she said angrily.
“Nobody dares to stand up to him?” asked Heracles.
“Of course, people did but there also had people who received power from the dragon. They always obey and willingly execute anyone who opposes it. The purge has been going on and lasted for many years. It only stopped till all who were supposed to oppose him were killed. The remaining people were forced to obey.” said Aunt Calliope.
“So cruel.” Amelinda lamented.
“Yes, it’s but we have no choice. Humans are weakly creatures.” said Aunt Calliope sadly.
“Will you be right?” said Amelinda with a little worry, saw her.
“Don’t worry. I will have a way to protect myself.” said Aunt Calliope, smiled.
Her heart turned heavy, Amelinda didn’t say more. She, Heracles and Gwen kept walking by Aunt Calliope. Three people from a corner walked into the passage and walked to them. Heracles, Amelinda and Gwen jittered. “Keep calm. They will not realize you.” whispered Aunt Calliope. They kept their speed. The people came more nearly. Heracles secretly observed them but it was too dark and three of them wore hooded cloak. Therefore, he couldn’t see their faces. The people were one step away from them. “Hello Miss Calliope.” said the people, “Hi.” Aunt Calliope replied them. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda lowered their heads and kept silence. They went cross. The footsteps went far. Aunt Calliope walked faster. Heracles and his friends caught on. Then the footsteps behind them stopped. “Wait a moment Miss Calliope.” called one of the people. Aunt Calliope and others slowed down. Then the footsteps came more near. Heracles felt anxious. He could hear his heart jumped. “Who are going with you Miss Calliope?” the voice came out again. Aunt Calliope stopped. She turned back, walked a step to them. “What’s wrong? They are my fellows.” said Aunt Calliope calmly.
“Your fellows – I have never heard that you have fellows.” another voice sounded up suspicious.
“Of course, you don’t know. This is the first time they come here.” said Aunt Calliope with a sweet smile on face. Then she turned aside, lowered her voice whispering: “Listen – I will hold them back. Try your best run away. I will find you after.”
The people kept staying two steps from Aunt Calliope. “You three turn back. Let us see your faces.” One said. He raised head, looked through Aunt Calliope to see Heracles and his friends who stood still. His hands clenched and he was ready to fight. The person moved ahead one step.
“Ekplikitos!” Aunt Calliope suddenly shouted, pointing her stick on the people. Light flashed out. The people were bounced back few steps and lied on the ground. “Go, quickly.” she shouted again. Heracles, Amelinda and Gwen didn’t think much. They immediately ran. The people crawled up, shook their heads. They were still dizzy. “What are you doing Miss Calliope? You dare to free the children.” one shouted angrily. He was the leader. He turned to another. “Go and catch them back.” he added. The underling bowed his head then left. He quickly went in to a corner near that and disappeared.
“Have you thought about punishment Miss Calliope?” frightened the leader. His voice was full of indignation. Then black smoke and wrapped around his body. The other underling was also surrounded by black smoke. Then their eyes turned inky. They looked so scary.
“Yes, I have.” said Aunt Calliope decisively.
“So you are ready to be executed?” said the leader coldly.
“I am.” Aunt Calliope replied.
“Catch her.” the leader ordered. Then he and his underling rushed toward her. Aunt Calliope didn’t stand still and let them attack she created a light barrier around protecting her body inside. “How long do you think the barrier protect you?” said the leader. He and his underling changed into two clouds of smoke flying around Aunt Calliope who was still calm. Hand-shaped smoke clouds shot at Aunt Calliope. Her barrier rippled. She kept observing then and was ready to fight again.
Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda had gone very far. After leaving the passage they had turned into some corners and stopped at a dark dead end. Their breaths were short but they got calmer. “We should turned back and help her.” said Amelinda. Heracles and Gwen looked to the others. “How?” they asked.
“Do you remember our invisible powder?” said Amelinda, “I still have some here.”
“Oh yeah! the invisible powder.” Heracles and Gwen yelled.
Amelinda’s space ring lit up. A small glass jar appeared on her hand. It’s the jar containing invisible powder. She sprinkled some invisible powder over her body then gave it to Heracles and Gwen. They in turn did then gave the invisible powder jar back to Amelinda. White smoke spread out from them. After three pops, white clouds of smoke replaced. They disappeared. “Let’s go.” the voice of Amelinda came out. The clouds of smoke were divided then scattered away. They held hands, found the way back. It took them few minutes groping in the dark to get back. Aunt Calliope and the others had left.
“They are not here. What should we do?” voice of Gwen.
“Let’s go around. We may see her.” said Amelinda. The noise didn’t come out they silence, continued walking ahead. The talk came out from a corner. A crowd of people appeared. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda stepped backward. They leant against the wall, kept silent in order not to be discovered.
“Hurry up! They haven’t gone far. Let’s search everywhere. They only hide somewhere here.” said one of them. They hurriedly walked pass the place of Heracles and others. They scattered into other corners then gone away after that.
“They are searching for us.”
“I see.”
“We should hurriedly find her.”
Whisper spread out from a corner. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda just passed it. They still went around. Long time had passed they still didn’t find her and felt really impatient. “Where did they take her? We have come so far without seeing them. Where is she? Chambers all are empty.” Amelinda suddenly spoke up.
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