Page 41 of Bewitched

“Medea, what are you doing? Get up!” he shouted, but she didn’t obey.

“I c-can’t,” she said. “I can’t m-move.”

“Then transport out of here if you have to, just do it now before we’re both eaten by that creature.” He held his sword up, trying to think of the best place to stab the water creature. He wasn’t even sure he could kill it, since he’d never been confronted by one before and didn’t quite know what to do.

The sea serpent rose higher out of the lake, almost seeming to grow in size. It was pink in color and had two curved horns atop its head. It looked even slimier than the arcines—the snakelike reptiles of Mura. When the serpent of the sea hissed and its forked tongue shot out of its mouth, its tongue was so long that it almost hit the bridge. Rhys had never seen one of these before in his life, although he had heard of the creatures. He thought they were nothing but a myth, but now he realized myths all came from something, and this sea serpent was real. He found himself wondering just what this creature ate, truly hoping it wasn’t people.

Medea screamed and waved her arms frantically in circles, trying to use her magic, but nothing happened. To Rhys’ horror, she did not transport out of there to safety. Instead, she was left there helpless, and about to become the sea serpent’s dinner. He couldn’t let that happen.

“It doesn’t work. My powers are gone,” she yelled. “I have no magic. Help me, Rhys.”

The sea serpent rose up right above them now, being as tall as the pyramid.

“Damn it, I wasn’t planning on fighting off a sea serpent today as well as a dragon.” Rhys shook his head, not believing how this day just kept getting worse. “Oh well, I suppose it’ll be good practice for when we see the dragon,” he mumbled. With a war-like shout, he shot forward, using his power of immense strength to grab the serpent around the neck, holding on tightly.

The sea serpent hissed and pulled back its head, dragging Rhys up into the air with it. Flipping its head one way and then the other, the creature tried to free itself of Rhys’ hold. Rhys’ legs flapped around in the air, but he didn’t let go.

“Rhys!” he heard Medea scream from her position on the bridge.

If he could manage to stab it with his sword, he might just be able to kill it. Then again, if it was a creature of magic, that might not work. Part of him feared killing off the being, since it belonged to the gods. The last thing he wanted to do was anger them, but he had to protect Medea. If this sea serpent ate her, he would never forgive himself for not being able to stop it.

When the serpent’s head lowered back to the bridge, Rhys got his footing, lying atop the beast and holding it down with all his strength. “I’ve got it, Medea,” he shouted. “Get yourself to safety. Run. Go, quickly before it gets loose.”

Rhys’ brothers both ran down the bridge to join him with their swords drawn, ready to help Rhys fight off the sea monster.

“We’re here to help you, Brother,” shouted Zann, swiping at the air, but not hitting the serpent. Steam flared from the sea serpent’s nostrils and it squirmed under Rhys’ hold. Its hissing turned to growls now, and Rhys realized it was getting angrier. He wasn’t sure how long he could hold it there.

“Damn it, Zann, you’re a bad aim. Let me do it.” Darium tried the same thing, but it seemed as if their swords went right through the beast and didn’t harm it at all.

“We can’t kill it. It’s sent by the gods,” shouted Rhys. “Get Medea out of here.”

Both of his brothers tried to help her, but she seemed to be stuck to the bridge.

“Something’s wrong, Rhys. We can’t move her,” Zann told him.

“She’s being punished. It’s because she didn’t give an offering,” said Rhys, realizing now why this was happening. The sea serpent moved its head and a long, forked tongue shot out of its mouth, almost touching Rhys’ face. He jerked backward, just managing to get out of the way and at the same time not lose his hold on the monster.

The crystal pendant Rhys wore on a chain around his neck glowed again. When he looked back over at Medea, her eyes were opened wide in fear. The poor girl looked so scared and also so helpless that his heart went out to her. That’s when he noticed something. She still had the ring on her finger—his ring, the one she stole from the temple. She hadn’t put it back like he’d told her to do after all. “Damn it, Medea, don’t you ever listen?” he spat.

“What now, Brother?” yelled Zann.

“Darium. Zann,” he called out. “Take the ring off her finger. Hurry.”

“What? Why?” asked Darium, looking down at her hand.

“It was my offering to Zoroct and she stole it,” Rhys explained, jostling the sea serpent, managing to pick it up, holding it over his head. He had once chance to rid them of it before the monster tried to bite him again. Using all his strength, he hurled it as far as he could, throwing it back into the lake. It hissed and screeched as it splashed down, creating such a wave that all four of them nearly got washed over the edge of the bridge.

“The ring is stuck on her finger,” yelled Darium, struggling, trying to remove the jewelry.

“It won’t come off,” shouted Zann. Both of his brothers tried to pull the ring off, but it wouldn’t budge for either of them.

“Damn it, do I have to do everything myself?” grumbled Rhys, hurrying over to them, taking hold of Medea’s hand.

“Rhys, I’m scared,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Why can’t I move or use my powers? What’s happening to me?”

“You should have listened to me, Medea. Now, you are being punished by the gods.” He slipped the ring off of her finger easily, scowling at his brothers.

“It wouldn’t budge,” said Darium.