Haven: Revenge of the Viper (16 page)

“Sam, Sarah,” she began, “there will be time for questions later. But right now you need to listen to me. We need—”

Before she could continue all three staffs began to glow at once. Holly’s face went white. “Demetrius, behind you!” she shouted.

Two gloved hands appeared out of the darkness, reached forward, and grabbed Demetrius by the throat, pulling him back into a smoky void. Sam flinched as two red eyes glowed before vanishing into the darkness. Alisa spun around with Nara in hand, ready to defend herself. But there was nothing there except for darkness and few whips of lingering black smoke.

“Demetrius!” Holly screamed just as a massive green and black snake fell from the darkness above. Quickly, it slithered down the length of Holly’s body, curling around her in tight coils, and hoisted her into the air and out of sight.

Alisa moved back behind the children, taking her staff in both hands again. “We’re leaving. I have to get you out of here!” she said as swirls of ominous black smoke spun and twisted from the shadows, speeding toward them.

“Mom, behind you!” Sarah shouted.

Before Alisa could turn around the smoke had seized her by the wrists, dragging her high into the air above the children.

“Mom!” Sam yelled. He looked back just in time to see the Viper standing a few feet away, its arm outstretched holding its staff. Sam recognized this Viper—it was missing a glove.

“Run!” Alisa yelled as black strands of smoke twisted and slid down her arms, resting around her neck like a noose. “Run!”

Suddenly, Alisa’s body flew across the room. The children watched in horror as she slammed into the living room wall. The impact jarred Nara from her grasp and the staff fell to the floor.

The Viper advanced, its red eyes bearing down on Alisa. It reached out with its free hand and Nara began to levitate off the ground.

No,
Sam thought. Nara was his mother’s only defense. Without her staff she had no chance. With a flick of the wrist the Viper sent Nara flying into the wreckage near the back of the room.

Without thinking, Sam sprang to his feet and jumped over the piles of debris to retrieve Nara. Travis looked over at Sarah. “Wait here, don’t move, I need to help Sam,” he said.

Sarah didn’t respond. Her face was blank and ashen. “Sarah!” Travis yelled. He wanted her to acknowledge him before he left her side. But she just stood there in a catatonic state, staring at the Viper. He looked over to Sam, who was frantically searching for Nara, and then back to Sarah. Travis quickly grabbed Sarah by the shoulders and shook her.

“Sarah. Sarah, come on!” Sarah’s gaze moved from the Viper to Travis. She nodded. With a sigh of relief Travis turned to join Sam. The wisps of smoke pulled Alisa’s hands above her head, pinning them back against the wall. The black smoke around her neck began to contract, closing off her airway. She choked against the force of the smoke, gasping for any air she could get.

The Viper moved closer and withdrew its sword. Alisa’s heart raced and the skin on her wrists, arms, and neck were starting to burn from the mystical smoke.

In the distance, just beyond Sarah, flashes of green and purple erupted from the ceiling and Holly reappeared, falling to the ground with a loud crash. She scrambled to her feet, throwing off the large dead snake that was wrapped around her body.

“Alisa!” she gasped.

She spun her staff forward and raised it high. Noah flashed, sending purple sparks into the air. There was a loud roar of thunder as a bolt of purple lightning burst from the staff. The Viper quickly turned and countered Holly’s attack. Its black sword slashed through the air, deflecting the blast back in Holly’s direction causing her translucent shield to appear. A loud explosion rocked the house and a blinding light filled the room, turning everything momentarily white.

Holly and Sarah covered their eyes as a wave of heat and gale force wind blew them off their feet and back into the wreckage behind them. The Viper turned its attention back to Alisa, who was still fighting to break free from the smoke. Writhing and pulling against her bonds proved to be useless. She grimaced in pain as the smoke bindings continued to burn her flesh. The Viper was just a few feet from her now, its red savage glare moved from her eyes to her chest as it lifted its sword.

Sam, holding Nara firmly in his fist, was the first to surface from the wreckage. Travis stood up just seconds later, but Sam was already running toward his mother. Travis rolled out from the wreckage behind Sam and made it to his feet.

Without turning, the Viper stopped them mid-stride. Black smoke appeared around their necks and Sam and Travis collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. Nara fell from Sam’s hand onto the floor, her sapphire gemstone flashing rapidly.

The Viper turned to move in front of Alisa again and brought the sword to her chest once more. She cringed at the heat of the wicked blade against her body. Her eyes moved to Nara; she tried to call her name but she could no longer speak.

Her gaze then fell to her son and his friend, choking before her, and there was nothing she could do. Determined not to give up, Alisa clenched her fist and pulled against the shackles of smoke with all her strength. But it was no use; the coils became tighter and more restrictive. Her neck stiffened and her arms trembled under the strain as every muscle went rigid in protest. She could feel her insides twisting with hatred like she had never felt before. She wanted to kill this beast, rip it limb from limb. She wanted it to feel pain, the same pain it was inflicting on the children.

She continued to struggle until she saw Sarah emerge in the distance, holding Nara in her hand. Suddenly, all of Alisa’s frustration and anger turned to fear and desperation.

Sarah, no! What are you doing?
Alisa knew if Sarah got too close, the Viper would sense her and turn on her. She needed to run—she needed to get Sam and Travis and run!
Please Sarah stop!

The blood had drained from Sarah’s face, leaving dark shadows around her eyes and cheek bones. She stepped over Sam and Travis, who were still grasping at the smoke around their necks. Sam held out a hand as she passed, trying to stop her, and Travis shook his head.

“No, Sarah,” he choked out. “NO!”

But Sarah continued to move closer. She didn’t seem to acknowledge them; her stare was fixed solely on the Viper. She trembled as she walked, moving as if she was in a trance. Sarah gripped Nara in both hands and raised the staff over her shoulder.

Alisa shook her head violently, urging her daughter to stop and run away. But it was too late; Sarah was directly behind the Viper now. She lifted Nara over her head, but before she could strike the Viper spun around and slashed Sarah across her midsection. Blood immediately began to seep through her shirt, spreading quickly into a straight line across her stomach. Sarah stumbled back, Nara fell from her hands, and for a second she stood, stunned. Her terrified eyes met her mother’s before she fell to the ground.

Unable to scream, Alisa jerked and gasped at the smoke in rage. Her body twisted, thrashing violently as her daughter lay motionless on the ground.

The Viper spun with the sword in its hand and turned back to Alisa. She was panting, barely able to breathe now. Everything inside of her screamed as the tip of the blade touched her chest again. Sam and Travis watched in agony as the Viper plunged its sword forward and Alisa’s body went limp.

Chapter 14

T
here was a flash of light followed by a loud crash as Demetrius and the Viper tumbled through the darkness. They rolled over one another until they came to an abrupt stop in front of Sam and Travis. Demetrius was the first to stand, and when he did Sam saw that he was bleeding from his neck and face. There was a long gash scorched diagonally across his chest armor. The Viper lay face down with arms outstretched, reaching for its black sword just inches away. Demetrius took a step back, twirled Hollister in his hand and brought the pommel down toward the Viper. But before Demetrius had a chance to strike, the Viper and its sword vanished. There was a loud crack and sparks of jade and sapphire burst from the pommel as it struck the empty floor.

Sam, still gasping for breath, watched as Demetrius swung his staff back around, caught it with his other hand, and lowered himself to a crouch, poised for another attack. He took long, labored breaths as he gazed erratically around the room, scouring the darkness for any sign of the Viper. He inched forward cautiously, moving closer to Sam and Travis, who were still writhing on the ground against the smoke. Demetrius was only a few feet away when it happened. Hollister flashed just before the black blade ripped through the darkness, revealing the Viper’s position. The sword came crashing down from above but Demetrius raised Hollister over his head just in time to block the blade. Demetrius’s legs buckled from the force of the impact, sending him down to one knee. Emerald sparks spewed from the blade’s edge as it ground against the staff, sliding down between Demetrius’s hands. As the blade broke free and the Viper reared back for another blow, Demetrius evaporated, leaving the Viper stupefied in a green swirling haze.

The room was beginning to spin and Sam could feel his lungs burning from the lack of oxygen. The more he struggled, the more the tendrils of smoke suffocated him. Gasping, he reached for the inky black smoke around his neck and felt nothing. His hands scraped and clawed at his tender throat but it was no use.

Helpless to do anything, Sam looked over to Travis, who was also struggling against the smoke. He watched as Travis’s hands fell from around his neck to the floor. Again, Sam craned his neck back in pain and his eyes bulged. Twisted images flashed through his head—his mother being stabbed, his sister being cut down by the Viper. He opened his mouth to scream in agony but nothing came out. Darkness closed in and he could feel himself slipping away. It was at that moment, as his heart raced and his lungs starved for air, that the room erupted in a barrage of colored lights. Streaks of blue, green, and purple soared across the room. There were loud explosions, people yelling, and sparks flying as the whole room rumbled beneath him. Suddenly Sam felt the smoke around his neck give way and a rush of air filled his lungs. He gasped as the air stung his dry throat, making him choke and cough. Rolling over on to his side, he saw Travis with his hands over his mouth doing the same. They were alive.

Sam hesitantly propped himself onto his elbows, unsure if it was safe to even move now. His throat felt raw and his skin still burned, but none of that mattered when he saw Demetrius, Vallen, and Holly across the room. Holly was standing over one of the Vipers. She held Noah firmly in her hand with its pommel aimed at the remains of the beast. The creature looked frozen—its body was covered in thick layers of frost that had cracked into several large chucks.

Demetrius and Vallen stood over the second Viper and it too was frozen solid. Vallen’s sapphire gemstone was pointed at its chest, emitting swirls of blue and white vapor. The frost-covered Viper sparkled in the sapphire light, its unresponsive serpent eyes glowed a dull crimson.

Sam watched as Demetrius moved from Vallen’s side and began to slowly circle the Viper, his fierce gaze never leaving the savage beast. With each step Demetrius took, the gemstone in his staff became brighter and brighter until the entire room was illuminated in a brilliant emerald glow.

Demetrius moved in front of the Viper, his glare piercing and calculating. He stopped just inches away from the Viper’s head and Vallen, who was standing next to him, grinned malevolently. Sam wondered if he was feeling triumphant or if he actually enjoying himself. Vallen lifted the tip of his staff from the Viper’s chest and took a step back.

Demetrius took his staff in both hands and twirled it around so that its pointed wings and emerald gem were directly above the Viper’s head.

Vallen and Holly both brought their staffs in front of them, preparing themselves for what Demetrius was about to do.

Demetrius raised his staff. His eyes glowed a searing yellow.

“This ends now!” he thundered.

Demetrius stabbed the frozen Viper. There was a loud boom. Sam braced himself as the walls of the house shuddered and the ground shook again. Like a brittle statue that had fallen over, the Viper’s body cracked and broke apart into several large pieces. Wisps of green smoke billowed out of the corpse, sending several screaming specters in the shape of snakes, spiders, and other ghoulish things Sam didn’t recognize into the air before they vanished.

Sam stared at Demetrius, who stood glowering over the remains of the Viper. The muscles in his jaw were clenched and his nostrils flared, taking in deep, controlled breaths.

Sam noticed the wounds on Demetrius’s face had already healed themselves. In fact, after looking around the room, Sam noticed that none of the strangers seemed to a have a mark on them anymore. No one said anything for a few moments. Sam, who was grateful the Vipers were finally dead, could contain himself no longer. He leapt to his feet and ran to his mother’s side as Travis ran to Sarah. But Sam’s heart sank when he reached her crumpled body. Her skin had turned a sallow, translucent green that revealed the faintest trace of her skeletal frame. Her features had become gaunt and there were dark circles around her eyes.