From Below

"I'm not so sure," said Dreth. "How do I know your information is worth the wand anyway? I mean, if the thing's so powerful, I may not need your help. I can just release myself with it."

"Don't be foolish now," said Harm, tapping the pommel of his sword. "I'm being generous in deference to your obvious contributions to evil, but I am not a patient elf. The offer will expire soon, and my wizardly friends here," he indicated Redthorne and the elven mage, "are more than capable of dealing with you."

Dreth bent over and picked up the wand. Holding it in one hand he looked at the dark elves, weighing up the artifact against the assembled foe. Eventually he tried to breathe in, realized he had no lungs and raised Darkblood instead. "I think you're bluffing," he said. "You saw me fight the dragon and know what you're up against. I think you'd have come in casting fireballs if you thought you could harm me."

Harm scowled. "You're being unreasonable. We mean business. Here, I'll give you a little example of what my mage can do, just to prove how serious we're about all this." He turned to the elven sorceress. "Kill the female. Slowly. Very slowly."

"Ooh, a show!" said Percy, clapping his hands.

The mage smiled and approached Emerald, who struggled futilely in the grip of two guards. Taking her victim's chin in black fingers she smiled. "This is going to be fun."

As Emerald screamed, the elf began to intone in a slow and ancient language, the words of the spell hanging briefly above her as black mist before dissipating.

Smiling in ecstasy the sorceress raised her arms high above her head, speaking in louder tones as the climax of the spell approached. The power of the magic was almost visible, distorting the air in the small chamber like heat rising from the desert floor. Dreth took a step back.

The dark elf shouted the final words and held her hands out wide.

Emerald screamed in pain and fear as blood started to drip from her ears and eyes. "Noooo!"

"Oh, but yessss," replied the mage.

The elves looked on, white teeth showing smiles of great enjoyment as their sacrifice rose slowly into the air, flailing about wildly.

"Wooo!" said Cuthbert.

Dreth sidled slowly sideways.

"Wait." The sorceress stepped back. "That shouldn't happen."

A red glow was emanating from Emerald as she twisted about in agony.

"Uh oh," said the pink treasure imp, and disappeared with a pop.

"What's wrong?" asked Harm.

"Something's interfering with my spell." The sorceress frowned and rolled up her sleeves. Taking a deep breath she opened her mouth to cast more magic.

"Don't Bother!" Emerald's voice, amplified many times over the norm, echoed around the chamber. The female magic user flew backwards, her body slamming against the far wall with a sickening crack of broken bones.

Dreth gave the wand to Cuthbert and put a finger to where his lips should have been. The zombie looked puzzled, but nodded and secured the magical device in his pouch.

The elves were backing away from Emerald, who was now hanging still in the air, her hair floating about her head like some kind of unholy halo. The red glow was stronger now, and an aura of immense Evil was pervading the room. Dreth noted, with some satisfaction, that it was obviously causing Redthorne intense pain. The baby was howling his lungs out too.

"Leave My Vessel Be!" came the voice again.

Redthorne slumped to the floor, unconscious, and several of the elves fell too, clutching their heads. Dreth moved quickly, grabbing the baby from the one holding it as he dropped.

"This One Is Mine! You Will Do Her No Harm," said the Evil through Emerald. Each word came out at an almost physical intensity.

Most of the dark elves were down now, unconscious or dead. Harm desperately dragged himself out of the doorway, staggering away with one other elf following closely behind.

The body of Emerald watched them go, and then swiveled round to face Dreth and the zombies.

"Er, hi," said Dreth. "Names Dreth, Guardian of the…"

"Be Silent!"

"No problem. Silent it is."

Emerald's drifted closer, bathing Dreth in red glow, which he now saw emanated from one of the rings on her finger.

"You Are Responsible For Waking This Body. Therefore I Charge You With Keeping It Safe Until I Wish To Inhabit It."

"Keep in safe, gotcha," said Dreth.

"It Will Not Go Well For You If It Comes to Harm, Do You Understand?"

"Well, no offence or anything your immense awfulness, but you seem to be pretty good at defending it… her… whatever, by yourself."

"I Am Only Able To Visit This Plane To A Finite Number Of Times. You Will Look After This Vessel." Emerald raised a hand and pointed at Dreth.

"She does go on a bit doesn't she?" Dreth heard Percy whisper to Cuthbert behind him.

"Duly noted," said Dreth, who privately agreed with Percy's opinion.

"I Weaken. Something Is Resisting Me. Remember… Look After… This… Vessel." The red light faded and Emerald floated slowly to the floor, coming to rest gently against the wall.