The Changeling Princess (18 page)

CHAPTER 33

I felt the tension building with each passing day. The opening of the Portal was drawing near and it was impossible to think about anything else. Wade and I spent every possible moment practicing to perfect our skills.

It was ten o
’clock on a Tuesday evening. I was watching television with my parents when I sat up straight in my chair. I listened carefully because the voice of the Supreme Entity was speaking to me.
The time has come for you to fulfill your destiny. I will lead you to your destination.

I jumped up from my chair.
“I’ve been summoned,” I said breathlessly. I hugged my parents and told them I loved them. I knew my parents were in shock because everything had happened so fast.

I removed my sword and shield from the trunk of my car and rushed to Wade
’s house. He was waiting for me on his front porch, wearing his robe and holding his shield and sword. “Let’s go around to your backyard where it’s more private,” I said quietly.

“
Do you know where we’re going?”

“
No, but I was told I’d be given a sign.”

I morphed into the Changeling Princess and held onto Wade
’s hand. We morphed into Mists and soared high into the sky. I hovered in midair for almost three minutes before I saw a series of twinkling stars laid out in a straight line. I was positive the stars were pointing the way for me. We probably looked like a streaking comet as I turned up the speed.

We had been traveling for two hours when my senses told me we
’d reached our destination. I glided down to Earth and felt sand beneath my feet. It was pitch black and we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces.

“
Where do you think we are?” asked Wade.

“
I’m not sure. Let’s put our energy beams on low and use them like a flashlight.”

We peered off into the distance and all we could see was sand
—miles and miles of sand. “It’s obvious we’re in a desert,” said Wade.

“
Judging from the distance we’ve covered, I’d say we’re in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Keep a sharp lookout. I have a feeling we’re going to be very busy around here when the Sun comes up.”

I placed my hands on Wade
’s shoulders and focused my rejuvenation beam directly into his eyes. “What was that for?” he asked.

“
Think of it as charging a battery. How do you feel?”

Wade became enthusiastic.
“You know what? I think I’m stronger than ever. That was a brilliant idea.”

“
You’re absolutely positive you don’t want a hood?”

“
Positive. I’ll protect my head with my shield.”

“
Okay, but at least keep your collar up.”

The darkness slowly faded as the morning Sun began its ascent in the eastern sky. It was the start of a new day and the intense heat of the Sahara would soon be upon us. I sensed it was only a matter of time before the Portal of Darkness appeared.
“I think I hear something,” I told Wade.

Wade listened, focusing on the wind sweeping across the desert.
” The wind is getting stronger. I think there’s a sandstorm heading toward us.”

I threw up a barrier to protect us from the sandstorm. Suddenly, the sand storm disappeared as quickly as it began. When I dissolved the barrier, I heard a low rumbling sound coming from the ground. We both stepped back when the sand in front of us began spinning like a revolving disk. The disk lifted itself upright and continued growing until it reached a height of two hundred feet. It continued spinning and I heard a loud cracking sound. Suddenly, bolts of electricity began shooting outward from the revolving disc. The disk continually changed colors as it spun faster and faster. It went from sand-colored brown to bright red and then from dark blue to deep orange.

I shot several energy bolts at the disc. They had no effect because the disk absorbed the energy. The disk was increasing in power and I was helpless to stop it.

My senses told me I was watching the formation of a portal that led to a parallel universe. The real challenge would take place when the creatures from that universe attempted to enter our world.

The portal opened and I was able to view the inside. All I could see was a dark tunnel, but I became nauseated by the smell. Evil has an aroma all its own and this was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I just hoped Wade’s sensitive nose was up for the job.

I wanted to enter the tunnel, but my senses told me I
’d lose my powers. I tried sealing off the portal with a force field, but my powers were useless. I had no choice. Wade and I would have to wait for our adversaries to come to us.

I heard the sound of an advancing army deep within the portal. The sound was getting louder and louder as they rushed towards us.
“Hold your ground!” I shouted to Wade.

Wade raised his sword in the air and shouted into the portal.
“Bring it on!”

The first wave consisted of a large mass of Heat Demons firing low level energy bolts. I began firing blasts of cold air, covering the Demons in ice. Wade zeroed in on the creatures and finished off the entire wave with his high-powered energy bolts, followed by a massive wall of fire. When the smoke cleared, a lone Demon stepped forward carrying a sword and shield. He was about eight feet tall and he was built like a tank. He raised his sword and pointed it at Wade.
“I challenge you, Earthling. I will hack your body to pieces and feast on your bones.”

Wade stepped forward and raised his sword in the air.
“I accept your challenge.” Wade could have killed this Demon with his energy beam, but he couldn’t resist a challenge. Wade wasn’t afraid of anything and this was his way of proving it.

“
Protect you head,” I shouted out.”

Wade nodded at me.
“I’ll keep my shield up.”

Wade and the Demon circled each other, both waiting for an opening. After a series of lunges, the Demon became impatient. His slashes were catching nothing but air and Wade was scoring with counter moves, leaving huge gashes on the Demon
’s legs and arms. The more frustrated the Demon became, the more wounds he received. Wade’s expertise with a sword had the Demon totally confused.

Wade side-stepped the Demon and cut off his arm with one quick slash. The Demon howled with pain as Wade moved in for the kill. Wade put a hug gash in the Demon
’s leg, forcing him to drop down on one knee. Before the Demon could recover, Wade stepped forward. He had both hands around his sword and with one quick motion; he cut off the Demon’s head.

I raised myself twenty feet off the ground so I could get a better look inside the Portal. What I saw was spine-chilling. The advancing hordes extended as far back as I could see.

Wade initiated a chant and the wind began blowing. He couldn’t send a tornado into the Portal, so he positioned one outside the entrance. The tornado worked like a vacuum sweeper as it carried the advancing Demons high into the sky, locking them into a death spiral. I continued sending blasts of cold air at the Demons who were able to escape past the tornado. We’d been fighting for over an hour when the advancing horde stopped.

“
I think that was just the first wave,” I told Wade.

“
I think you’re right. Those guys were low level Demons sent out to test our powers. I’m sure the next wave will be much more difficult. I’ll keep my tornado in place.”

We didn
’t have to wait long before the second wave came rushing out of the Portal. These creatures were much larger and much stronger. My senses told me they were high level Demons who had earned their badges of evil. My senses also told me these were not Heat Demons.

Leading the charge of the new wave were two creatures riding dragons and carrying staffs charged with energy. When they reached the entrance to our world, the creatures riding dragons remained behind in the safety of the portal as their minions marched forward.

The dragon-riding Demons raised their energy staffs at the same time and sent a powerful energy bolt directly into Wade’s tornado. The tornado literally withered and died. The strong winds were reduced to a soft breeze and the hordes of Demons rushed forward.

I turned up my energy beam to maximum strength as Wade threw a huge firewall into the front of the line. We held our ground and began blasting away. The Demons were falling to the ground in such huge numbers that the advancing Demons had to climb over them.

When the remaining Demons tried to retreat, they were blasted by their leaders, who were still hovering in the safety of the portal. This was the price the Demons had to pay when they disobeyed the orders of their superiors.

As the Demons were retreating, I spotted several objects that looked like spirits flying out of the Portal. I fired at them with my energy bolts, but two of them got away because I couldn
’t pursue them.

I was surprised when the dragon-riding creatures flew out of the Portal to meet us with their staffs held over their heads. I figured they finally got up enough nerve to join in the battle.

I used my power of telekinesis to grab one of the leaders. I suspended him in midair and then sent him flying into his partner, knocking him off his dragon. As they were both falling to the ground, Wade and I blasted them with our energy bolts. The evil creatures were vaporized before they hit the ground. The dragons scurried back into the Portal as fast as their wings could take them.

“
I don’t think we’re finished yet,” I told Wade.

“
Probably not, but we’ve done a pretty good job so far.”

Before I could reply, I looked up to see an army of Demons flying toward us. The air was filled with gargoyles and all kinds of strange-looking creatures I
’d never seen before.

When Wade grabbed his neck, I realized he
’d been hit with some kind of weapon. He dropped to his knees and I knew instantly he was seriously wounded. I didn’t have time to assist him, so I threw a quick force field over his body to protect him.

I released an ear-piercing scream as I faced the oncoming hordes.
“Let’s see how you like defending yourself against this Changeling Princess.” I raised my sword in the air and morphed to my maximum height of eighty feet. My sword was fifty feet long and I was ready to go to war.

I was nothing but a blur as I soared into the air and met the flying creatures head on. I was filled with vengeance as I sliced through the flying hordes, leaving nothing but a path of destruction in my wake. I was a one-woman wrecking ball as the sky turned blood-red and blotted out the Sun. I keep up my slaughter, zigzagging through the sky, killing everything in my path. In less than ten minutes, there wasn
’t a single flying creature left in the sky.

I dropped down to the ground to check on Wade. I was about to morph down to my normal height when I heard a strange screeching sound. I looked up to see another pack of creatures flying toward me. These creatures were so hideous they made my skin crawl.

Leading the pack were four Demons riding dragons. The dragons’ scales glistened like diamonds and their teeth were jagged and sharp. The Demons riding the dragons were skeleton creatures with energy-powered whips. The whips sounded like a crack of lighting every time they were snapped. I suddenly remembered the story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—Death, Pestilence, Famine, and War. I didn’t know if these were the Four Horsemen, but I was determined to kick their butts all the way back to wherever they came from.

I attacked the first dragon and severed its head with one swipe. The dragon fell to the ground, but the rider morphed into black smoke and flew back into the Portal. The three remaining dragon-riding Demons flew high into the air and began cracking their whips in unison. The other flying creatures flew into formation, surrounding me from all directions.

I held my sword out in front of me with both hands. I began spinning faster and faster until I became a mini-cyclone. My blade acted like a buzz saw as I began cutting a path through the surrounding creatures. At the same time, I released a barrage of energy bolts that lit the afternoon sky like the Fourth of July. Between my sword and my energy bolts, I destroyed the entire horde of flying creatures. The three remaining skeleton leaders lost no time scurrying back into the Portal. Like most evil creatures that prey on the weakness of others, they were cowards who were incapable of fighting their own battles.

I paused to check up on Wade, but I sensed another wave of creatures deep in the portal, quickly making their way to the entrance. I was suddenly overcome with a strange sensation running throughout my entire body. I had no idea what was going on as I was lifted off the ground. I had no control over my actions as I rose higher and higher into the sky. When I came to a stop, I realized I had been positioned between the Sun and the Portal. I glanced from side to side and for the first time I could see my wings. I had a feeling of complete bliss. I knew instantly that the Supreme Entity was guiding my actions.

I felt my entire body absorbing the energy from the afternoon Sun. At the same time, my powers were being elevated to their maximum strength. I sensed that my newfound strength extended all the way out to the outstretched tips of my newfound wings. My entire body grew brighter and brighter until I was as bright as the Sun itself. With my wings spread wide open, I became the cross of righteousness, filled with fury to be feared by all evil creatures. I channeled my light into a solid beam and directed it toward the Portal. When the Portal weakened, I used all of my strength to exert maximum power. I watched as the entire structure exploded into a million pieces. The threat to mankind had been postponed for another five hundred years.