Chapter 12

Donna glanced around nervously, only seeing darkness wherever she looked. She could barely make out David’s form directly in front of her. He had quickened his pace in the last few hours, just after nightfall. Donna was having more and more trouble keeping up with him. Finally, she called out for him to stop. David mumbled something, but finally turned around and walked back to her. He was still carrying Angel in his arms, clutching her as if he couldn’t bear to let go.

“Why did you want to stop?” he asked in that booming voice, his eyes boring into hers.

Donna was instantly afraid of him, and forced herself not to shudder as she leaned against the stone wall and answered, “I’m very tired, David. Can’t we stop now?”

For a moment, she thought he would agree with her. But then his eyes narrowed and his voice grew even louder as it echoed through the cave. “No! We can’t stop! Now, get up!”

Donna looked at him, and then turned away. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Have it your way, Donna. No one forced you to come with me. Though you should realize, without me, you’ll have no way to find your friends. Is that what you want?”

She considered this for a moment and saw that he was right. “All right, David. How much further is it?”

David turned and stared off into the distance for a few seconds. “About three miles or so. But we have to get there tonight.”

Donna sighed but slowly stood up. “Okay, let’s go.”

David nodded and ran ahead. Donna kept up as best she could. Fifteen minutes later, they reached their destination. Donna’s face filled with disappointment. All she could see for miles around was rock. She was about to start complaining when David quickly told her to shut up. Much to his surprise, she did just that.

Closing his eyes, David begin to concentrate. Seconds later, what seemed to be an electric current surrounded his head and leaped across the dark cave. Donna stared at David in wonder until she saw the image of a young boy in front of her. His left eye seemed to glow as he said, “Greetings, brother. What can I do for you?”

“Nate,” David said, his breathing labored, “I need Rose’s help. Do you know where I can find her?”

The boy seemed amazed that David had asked for help. “Yes, I do. She’s here with me, in the Darkness Realm.” Glancing behind David, he noticed Donna. “I’ll bring you all here at once. Hang on.”

The boy’s eye seemed to glow brighter as a brilliant light surrounded Donna, David and Angel. It was then that Donna noticed that a trickle of crimson blood was slowly flowing from David’s nose. Before she could say anything, she felt a sharp pain in her head, and everything went white. She sank to her knees, trying to block out the pain.

"How's she doing, Tusk?"

The hulking creature growled slightly and continued bandaging Angel's arm. Ariel turned to Nate and shook her head. "She hasn't showed any signs of life, aside from the fact that she's still breathing. There isn't much else Tusk can do for her." Nate stared at Angel as she lay on the table. He realized that she could die here, in his kingdom, because he failed to help her.

Rose finally came in, followed by David. Rose questioned Nate with her green eyes, but he turned away, unwilling to say the words. She kneeled by Angel's side and touched her forehead. Rose remained that way for several moments until she looked up and said, "David, I'll need your help with this." David stepped forward, and Rose placed Angel's pale hand in his. Closing her eyes, Rose began to chant a few syllables in an ancient language. Nate listened closely, but he couldn't make out the words. Rose chanted faster and faster, almost as if she was trying to trap them all in a strange trance that she herself was in.

After a few moments of this, Rose stopped and opened her eyes. Her hands glowed with a brilliant green light as she gently laid them on Angel's forehead. The light seemed to engulf the twins for a few seconds until Rose slowly stepped away from her sister. Nate noticed she looked faint, and caught her just as she collapsed. Rose blinked several times and stared up into his concerned face. "Did it work?" she asked.

Nate looked to Angel, who was just awakening. She sat up and glanced around, looking for a familiar face. The first one she saw belonged to David, who still held her hand tightly in his. Angel smiled and hugged him, burying her head in his chest. "Thank you, Davey," she said.

"Thank you? For what?" he asked, holding her close.

"For your faith. Rose couldn't have healed me without it." She squeezed his hand affectionately.

In another part of the palace, Kory, Donna and Kyle were considering their next move. "I still think we should go back to headquarters," Donna said, fingering the bandage on her head.

Kyle shook his head. "We can't, Donna. The Gauntlet found us there last time. If the place hasn't been destroyed yet, they'll know where to find us."

Kory cleared her throat and said, "Why can't we stay here?" Kyle and Donna stared at her.

"Are you crazy?!" Kyle shouted. "This place is like Spooksville times ten!"

"Oh, shut up, Kyle!" Kory shouted back. "Nathan said we could stay as long as we wanted, and it's highly unlikely anyone would think to look for us in another dimension!"

"She makes a good point, Kyle," Donna agreed.

Kyle frowned and looked at them both. "Fine, we'll stay," he said at last, "but if they do find us, I'm gonna say I told you so."

"You'll be too busy running from them, you nut," Donna joked as she hugged him.