Lords of the Silverwings – Written by Dennis Berney 2011

Ben paced the floor of the maternity hospital waiting room. Four hours had pasted since he brought Vespa in and now he waits for the Doctor and some good news.

“Complications” is what the Doctor told him three hours ago…Ben was very worried.

He picked up a magazine off the corner table and realized that he had looked at it before and placed it back on the table.

He moved over to the window and looked out on this beautiful spring day. The Suns brilliant light felt warn of his face and he closed his eyes for a moment and his thoughts went back to the vacation that he and Vespa shared a couple of years back…The Caribbean…He thought. Warn, white sand and the blue water and how beautiful it was.

The radiant warmth felt very comforting to him and he was very tired from the lack of sleep.

Ben fell asleep and started dreaming….

He found himself on the Island of Doctor LaMain wondering through the dense jungle…Lost.

Humidity...stifling humidity…weighing down on him making it almost impossible to breath.

Thick, heavy jungle mud making it almost impossible to move his wheels.

A moment later he found himself falling into darkness. A bottomless black pit.

It seemed like he fell for hours. When through the darkness…the shadowed, hooded form of Doctor LaMain materialized in front of him and started moving closer…and closer.

Ben tried to move, to strike out at this ghostly apparition…but he could not move. He was frozen in fear and the Doctor moved closed.

Inches…only inches away now!

Ben heard a voice as cold as this darkness that surrounded him. It went through him.

“I’m back”…

Just then Ben was awake… A scream… A scream of extreme terror is what woke him from this nightmare.

“Was that me” Ben asked himself? NO!!! It was Vespa!

© DennisB 2011

Ben quickly turned to roll through the waiting room doors and down the hall to the delivery room where he last seen his wife.

He made the short distance in record time and was met in the hallway just outside the delivery room door by the Doctor still in his surgical gown.

“MY WIFE, IS SHE OK” Ben shouted as he tried to look past the Doctor.

“VESPA, I’M HERE HONEY…I’M ON MY WAY”!!

The Doctor held Ben back. “Look at me Ben” he said “Look at me”.

Ben looked in to the Doctors eyes.

“There was nothing we could do to save your wife” The Doctor looked deep into Ben’s face.

“We tried everything to save her” tears came to the Doctors eyes.

“Something happened…we don’t know what it was…She screamed “God No” and then she slipped away. She just slipped away…there was nothing we could do.

The Doctor looked back up into Ben’s eye’s “We saved your baby daughter” Ben looked up…”she’s a very healthy, beautiful baby Silverwing”.

“Her name is Betty after my mother” Ben added, tears streaming from his eyes…”can I see her”?

“Yes, she’s in the scooter newborn nursery…she should be cleaned up by now...please follow me.

The Doctor lead Ben to another door and into a small hallway lined with large windows. There, just on the other side of the glass was his new daughter wrapped in a baby blanket and at the end of the crib was a name plate with the name “Betty” printed on it.
Ben stood there looking at his new daughter through the glass.

A nurse came in and picked her up and brought her closer to the window so Ben could get a better look.

Ben fell deeply in love with his new baby daughter.

The tears of great lose turned to tears of joy for Ben.

On a far off Island in the Caribbean. Deep in the darkest tunnels and pit falls, the twisted evil soul of Doctor LaMain, rejoiced…”Now for the others”.

© DennisB 2011

Days turned into Weeks. Weeks turned into Months and time pasted. Ben had his life full of all the things a single parent must accomplish each day with a new born in the house.

Betty grew at a very fast rate and soon Ben was taking her into town with him to meet the good bikes at Lu-Lu’s diner.

Betty loved to go to the diner for homemade cinnamon rolls, but most of all she just loved to be with her dad.

On the road to town Ben needed to slow down as Betty gave it her all to keep up. She just loved that twisty road that went from her home in the canyon to the little valley below.

It wasn’t long before Lu-Lu put her to work at the diner doing jobs like cleaning and greeting the customers as they came through the door.

Lu-Lu always called Betty her little baby girl from heaven.

Soon it was winter and Ben and Betty started sending out Christmas cards to their friends and the cards started to be delivered to their home each day.

Betty always would roll to the mail box when she saw Mort the mail delivery bike coming up the road. Her house was the last one in the canyon and Betty would bring him ether a cool drink in summer or hot drink in winter and they would visit for a short time by the mail box.

One evening Ben and Betty were opening Christmas cards by the fireplace and reading them to each other.

“Look father, this card is from the Caribbean” Betty held the card out to her father.

“I wonder who it’s from” Ben looked at the card and there was no return address.

“Must be from Sally” Ben smiled.

“OK, let’s see what’s new in Sally’s life, shell we” Ben opened the envelope and pulled out the card. Just then two small yellow stones fell from the card to the floor in front of the fireplace.

“What’s this” as Betty picked up the stones and looked at it them with some curiosity.

“It’s just two small yellow rocks” Betty’s eyes got big as she held out the stones to her father.

The two stones touched each other as Betty held them out.

Just then…In a brilliant flash of light that filled the room and blinded Ben momentary.

A second later Ben blinked his eyes and realized she was gone…Betty just vanished in front of him…

© DennisB 2011

Ben stood there for a moment, dazed by the sudden bright flash that just took his young daughter.

There was nothing he could do. He felt helpless.

“Betty” he whispered to himself.

Ben looked at the Christmas card that he still held. It had dancing little Christmas elves on the front and when he opened it there was a black spot that looked like it had a swirling mist inside of it.

Ben looked closer at the black spot, and then closer….suddenly he dropped the card and his mined was swept away into the blackness of the spot.

Ben felt like he was falling into a bottomless pit and everything around him disappeared.

The dark mist engulfed him but he felt that he was not alone in swirling void.
There were voices…and misshapen, grotesque creatures just out of sight in the mist all darting about and all the time whispering to him in a language he did not understand.

Then a hooded figure appeared in the mist and moved slowly closer to him. An evil apparition, one that Ben knew…It was Doctor LaMain.

The Doctor drew closer to Ben and in a voice and language that Ben could understand, said “this is your daughter’s new home now”.

In a flash, Ben was standing, again in his living room.

The room was very silent except for the wood burning in the fireplace.

Ben stood there in the silence.

His mined already working on what to do.

© DennisB 2011

Ben knew that time makes all difference in a recovery of this type. Quick response was necessary to minimize shock and trauma to his daughter.

Ben was on the phone and booked a flight that very night to the Caribbean Island where he last encountered the evil Doctor.

Another call was made to Police Detective Sally so she would be at the Island airport to pick him up and get the ball rolling on the recovery and things needed.

Ben did not pack. He just put his cell phone in his glove box and grabbed his wallet.

Ben closed his garage door behind him and off he went.

“Airport, next stop” he told himself as started down the road to the valley’s small air terminal to catch a flight to the big city’s International airport.

“No baggage” is what he told the desk receptionist at the airport terminal “Yes Sir, please get on board. Your flight leaves as soon as you get seated Ben”

Ben looked at the receptionist “How do you know my name” Ben asked?

“Sir, this emergence flight will have only one passenger….You…and it’s none stop to your Island destination…One more thing, when you see Detective Sally at the airport, tell her hello” and she smiled.

Ben was on board the big jet and soon it was air born.

It was a little eerie to be the only passenger on board this huge aircraft.

Ben sat next to the window in first class for the entire flight and soon the plane started it’s decent through the darkness.

Ben could see the Islands runway all lit up from one end to the other and they circled and then made their approach.

As soon as the wheels touched the tarmac, Ben could see police vehicle lights approaching the plane.

As soon as the plane stopped the Captain opened the door and rolled over to Ben.

“Good luck Ben getting your daughter back and if there is anything I can do…Please just let me know…I’m Captain Richards.

The moving stairway was wheeled to the door and Ben shoot out the door and down to Sally waiting at the bottom.

“Ben, the boat and the equipment are ready to go…It’s good to see you again, my friend.” Sally smiled.

“Let’s get to the boat”…

© DennisB 2011

“Boat…Things have changed around here Ben. We now have a helicopter to get us from one island to another” Sally smiled. “It’s a lot faster”

The trip to the helicopter was a short one. It was warned up and ready for take off when Ben’s plane landed.

Ben stood for second and looked at this shinny new police helicopter and then jumped in the side door.

“Here, put these headphones so we can talk” Sally handed Ben headphones and he put them on.

“I’ve never had a ride in one of these before” Ben said as he looked around at all the equipment that was on board.

“Ben, I’m going down that cave hole with you…That’s the reason for all the extra stuff.

“Hook on the safety harness and we’ll be on our way” Ben hooked himself in.

Betty gave a takeoff signal to the pilot and up they went into the dark morning sky.

“Sally looked over at Ben “Ben, I never had a chance to tell you how sorry I am about losing Vespa. She was a fine scooter and a good friend. I sure do miss her”.

Ben looked at the sun rise on the eastern horizon “I’m sure she would love to be here right now”.

“The pilot will let us off on the other side of Doctor LaMain’s island”

The head phones started to crackle and Sally’s voice was starting to breakup.

Ben pointed to his headphones to let her know they were not working correctly.

The helicopter stared to vibrate a little and then to shake violently.

Alarms started to go off.

A green mist stared to form around the helicopter and then came through the open door like some intelligently controlled green monster.

Ben, Sally and the pilot started to choke on the foul vapor.

Small electrical sparks started to shoot wildly off all the inside aluminum helicopter sub-structure.

“We need to land as soon as we can” the pilot yelled at Sally.

“I’m setting her down as soon as were over the island.

Just then the engine sputtered and shook the aircraft with great force; a second later it went silent.

JUMP!!!!

© DennisB 2011

Ben and Sally quickly un-attached the harness that held them and started to jump from the now, falling helicopter.

The pilot reversed the rotor pitch and the helicopters decent slowed.
They were almost to the islands when they hit the water.

All three swam the short distance to the islands north shore.

Wet, cold, and nerves a little frayed, the three stood there looking at the downed aircraft from the beach. A third of the helicopter was out of the water.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT” Sally screamed? “I’ve never seen anything like that before”.

The pilot just shook his head and could not come up with any explanation of what happen but did say he activated the emergence transponder before they hit the water.

“We need to get the gear” Ben started to wade out to the wreckage.

“Hold on, I’m going with you” said Sally.

Sally and Ben reached the downed helicopter and grabbed most of the equipment and headed back to the beach.

“We need to get going…Stay here and wait for the coast guard, they should be on their way already…One more thing…you did a great job saving our butts and I’m putting you in for a commendation…Thank You”.

“Just doing my job Detective…but that was a close call” the pilot looked at the chopper.

Ben grabbed half the equipment off the sand and started down the beach. “Hold on Ben…I’m coming with you” Sally picked up the remainder of the gear and double timed it after him.

The pilot watched as Ben and Sally rolled into the jungle at the beaches edge and disappeared into the heavy foliage.

“I’ll be seeing you both, very soon” The pilot turned toward the downed helicopter and started to roll out into the water.

The pilot and the crashed helicopter vanished…

© DennisB 2011

It did not take long for Sally and Ben to find one of the trails that ran through jungle growth. Even as overgrown as it was, it was much better then creating a new path in the dense tropical growth.

The hours past quickly and the morning was now becoming afternoon and with it came the extreme heat and humidity of the day.

Thick jungle mud started caking on their wheels making it difficult to move. Every few minutes they would need to stop to remove the mud.

It was late afternoon when they finally reached the Well of Life.

The well was over grown with jungle plants and veins but the sound of the waterfall could still be heard from jungle above.

Sally looked over at Ben “Let’s make camp here for the night and enter the cavers below in the morning.”

Ben already started to clear the entrance with his machete. Chopping at the heavy veins like a machine in high gear and out of control.

“I NEED TO GET TO MY DAUGHTER, SHE NEEDS ME” Ben shouted as he continued to chop wildly at the veins. Driven by the vision of the dark and misty world, the Doctor showed him in the Christmas card.

“OK Ben…At lest take a brake and have something to eat and drink and then we’ll rescue your daughter and kick Doctor LaMain’s butt”…Lord knows he deserves it.

Ben slowed and looked at the clearing he just made and then over to Sally. “Your right…Let’s have a little food and water and then descend into this hole…Please forgive me”.

“I remember the last time we went down there…There is no night or day, it’s always just dark”.

Ben and Sally opened their gear and pulled out a few things to eat and some fresh drinking water.

It wasn’t long before repelling harness were on and the ropes tied off.

They lowered their equipment down first and then stood there for a moment and looked at each other knowing full well this might be the last time they would breathe fresh air and be part of the world.

The Sun was just setting as Ben and Sally dropped into the dark world of Doctor LaMain.

© DennisB 2011

Betty saw her father vanish from her sight in a flash of brilliant white light.

The image stayed with her for a few seconds before the darkness overcame her.

“Welcome little Silverwing child…Offspring of Vespa and Ben. I’ve been watching you grow over the last few months…How beautiful you are”.

The evil voice scared her and she began to cry.

“Now, Now” the voice came from the darkness just beyond the limits of her sight.

“You should not cry little one…Good things are ahead for you” the voice snarled.

Just then a torch was lit and placed in a metal holder on the opposite wall of this now seen, large stone room. Cave moss covered most of the floor and tree roots pierced the ceiling and glistened with cave moisture in the low flickering of the torch.

The sound dripping water could be heard echoing through out the large room.

A raised stone throne was at on end of the room with a dark and hooded figure seated on a large high back chair made of twisted roots with small animal skulls woven in.

Large and small misshapen creature darted and danced in and out of darkened alcoves and entries. Snarling and growling at Betty from afar.

Betty tried to roll forward but her back wheel was chained to the stone wall behind her.

“Who are you” she asked in a timid child’s voice?

“WHO AM I” the hooded figure shouted back!

“Why… I’m the bike that brought you here; to this world…I’m surprised your father did not tell you of ME!

“I’m Doctor LaMain…A friend of your mother and father”.

Betty started to cry again.

“Go ahead…Get it all out…You’re my little girl now”…

© DennisB 2011

“Gwen…Get in here…NOW...”Doctor LaMain called out. “Someone get Gwen in here…I have a job for her”.

A few seconds later a small dark misshapen scooter appeared in the entrance across the chamber from were Betty was chained to the wall, she moved with difficulty toward the seated Doctor.

“O’ yes, most powerful one, what can I do for you” Gwen’s voice trembled with fear as she bowed deep in front of the Doctor.

“I have a job for you to do…” O’ yes master” Gwen replied.

“From now on you will tend to every need of my new daughter…Do you understand me”?

“O’ yes great master…every need”. Gwen quickly glanced over at Betty and then back to the floor.

“If you fail me again…” the Doctor leaned forward. “You will be thrown into the river of fire…Do you understand me”?

“O’ yes most great master” Gwen started to shake with fear.

“Get her water, food, and a blanket to keep her warm…GO ON NOW AND BE QUICK ABOUT IT”

Gwen turned and glanced over at Betty one more time as she scurried from the room.

Betty could feel the hate coming from Gwen, as she pasted, and it made her feel very uneasy.

© DennisB 2011

Doctor LaMain was soon called away on other important business when a large worrier bike entered the room; He was carrying a short spear and a sword was on his belt. He leaned and whispered something of great importance to the Doctor.

“Captain…You serve me well with this news, you will be rewarded for it” and the worrier bowed to the Doctor.

“Captain, double the guard and put everyone on full alert” the Doctor ordered.

“Yes great one” The Captain turned and rolled from the room.

The Doctor looked over a Betty “I’ll be back soon and then we will talk more" then he rolled out of the room.

Betty could hear him shout as he moved down the tunnel "GET OUT OF MY WAY"!

Gwen returned shortly with a cup of water and a small bowl of what looked like some kind of stew.

“Here you go…Some water and some cave stew…I’ll get the blanket for you as soon as you eat your food” Gwen sat the water and food on the floor in front of Betty.

“Thank you Gwen” Betty picked up the water from the floor.

“How long have you lived here” Betty asked.

Gwen looked surprised at the question “All my life…I was born here”.

“And where is here” Betty asked with a slight smile on her face.

“You ask too many questions…and this is bad…I’ll go find you your blanket now” Gwen turned and left the room.

Betty could feel she was being watched from the shadows and picked up the small bowl of stew and began to eat it.

“I must keep my strength up” she thought to herself.

© DennisB 2011

Ben stepped to the edge of the Well of Life and looked down into the darkness.

The water falling into the well disappeared just a few feet down from the top where Ben and Sally stood.

“OK, here I go” Ben stepped into the darkness and down he went into the dark cavern below.

In just a second he was standing in the waterfall pool, his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness.

He picked up the equipment bags and moved them over to the dry walkway a few feet away.

“OK, SALLY, COME ON DOWN” he shouted

Soon Sally was standing in the waterfall pool.

“Seems like only yesterday we were here, not two years ago” as Sally looked around.

“This is where Doctor LaMain shot poor old Captain John…This very pool”.

“Let’s see if the sword booby trap is still working.” Ben rolled over to the waterfall and stepped on the trigger plate under the water and then stepped aside to see what would happen.

A mechanical sound came from behind the waterfall and all of a sudden they were looking at a rusted sword tip piercing the waterfall vale.

“We need to be careful of these old traps, and maybe some new ones" Sally wisphered.

They disarmed the sword trap and moved quietly down the dark tunnel beyond…

© DennisB 2011

It wasn’t long before Gwen returned with a blanket and placed over Betty “There you go, this should keep you warm“.

Gwen picked up the empty bowl from the floor and turned to roll away.

“Gwen” Betty called out.

Gwen turned and looked at the little Silverwing chained to the wall “I’d like to be your friend…maybe we could talk sometime”.

Gwen did not say a word and then turned and rolled out of the hall.

Betty looked around at the dark dismal room for a moment and then closed her eyes. She thought about her father and her home in the canyon and started to cry… She soon drifted off to sleep.

Betty’s fell into a deep, deep sleep…She found herself standing in front of a most beautiful castle. It shimmered like it was made of silver.

Large pendants with silver wings on them flew in the breeze above the castles spires against a sky so bright and blue it almost hurt her eyes to look at it.

The land around the castle had beautiful oat trees and patches of wild flowers growing among a trimmed and well kept lawn.

“She is here….Tell the King…she has arrived” Betty heard called from the castles great ramparts.

Soon the castles huge oak doors groaned as they were opened in front of her.

A soft cloud of fluttering butterflies surrounded her and softly pushed toward the open doors.

She noticed that the guards at the door were Silverwing scooters, like herself. They were lightly armored in silver chain male and had short swords as weapons in their belts.

“We were expecting you young lady” Betty quickly looked over at a very beautiful lady Silverwing scooter, holding a book, standing in front of her just inside the huge doors.

“Me” Betty asked?

“Yes, you….Your name is Betty, is it not…Let’s see… the daughter of Ben and Vespa” he said as she looked up from the book.

Betty was almost speechless “Yes, I’m Betty”.

“Welcome Betty to the Kingdom of the Silverwings…My name is….well they call me Peach” Peach blushed for a second.

“Please follow me and I will get you cleaned, warned up, and get you some good food…Follow me” Peach turned and started to role into the court yard. Betty followed behind.

The great castle doors were pulled closed behind Betty.

“The King wants an audience with you as soon as all is done…So follow me now”.

Betty followed…

© DennisB 2011

Betty followed Peach through the court yard. Trees, roses and flowering plants of all types bloomed in the afternoon sunshine. Half a dozen or so, grounds keepers watered, turned the soil, and trimmed the many flowering plants.

Peach turned and looked at Betty “Please keep up now”.

“Peach, this is all so beautiful” stated Betty.
“You do not have flowers where you come from” Peach asked?

“Yes we have flowers, but not this beautiful” Betty responded.

They soon came to marble stairway that lead to a second hallway. Lit by candles.

Every where Betty looked was clean and neat.

They came to a door just off the hallway. “This is your room Betty… Your bath has been drawn and clean towels are waiting for you. You have two hours to get ready for your audience with the King.”

Peach rolled to the door “Clean sheets and new towels will be brought to you everyday you are with us. They will clean and dust your room every two days.

“I’ll be back in one hour to escort you to our dining room…What would you like for dinner”?

“Pepperoni pizza and cold milk, Please” Betty responded.

“Very good, pepperoni pizza and ice cold milk it is, in one hour” Peach turned and closed the door behind her.

Betty rolled over to the sunken bath tub…It had red rose peddles floating in the water… and she smiled.

© DennisB 2011

After being chained to the wall in that dark, dank chamber room the hot water bath felt like heaven to little Betty.

“I wonder if I’m still dreaming…If I am, I do not want to wake” she thought herself.

Time came to exit the tub and get dried off. The towels were warn and soft and Betty patted herself dry. Soon there was a knock on the door.

Betty looked at the clock and an hour had paced “seemed like just a few minutes to me” She told herself.

The door opened and it was Peach “Betty are you ready for some pizza and milk. Our royal chief is excellent and I’m sure you’ll love what he made for you…Please follow me to the dinning room”. Betty followed.

The short journey to the dinning room was again a treat for young Betty.

Beautiful oil paintings and tapestries hung from the walls of arched ceiling hallways and fresh flowers on every table.

The late afternoon sun shown brightly through large glass windows showing off the marble floors and hand carved woodwork.

Peach turned to say something to Betty when she noticed a light aurora forming around her.

Peach quickly reached for Betty…”I HAVE YOU” Cried Peach!

A flash of bright green light engulfed them both and for a moment it seemed to Betty, she was standing in the castles hallway and Doctor LaMain’s dark hall.

The bright light faded and still Peach held Betty tight.

Now…nothing but silence and warm light surrounded them.

Peach and Betty slowly opened their eyes…

© DennisB 2011

“I am” a deep voice whispered in Betty’s mined. The blinding light faded and they found themselves on a white marble floor lined on both sides with swirling clouds of white mist. Small swirling wefts of clouds would dance out on the floor before them and then quickly vanish.

“I am the Lord of the Silverwings and I brought you here to tell you that you very special…Special indeed” the voice rang out.

“Your tires are already set upon this path and you cannot falter.” the voice faded and went silent for a moment.

“A great worrier you will become… you will change your world for all time with your courage and your love.” The voice faded and went silent again.

“I must send you both back now. Always remember…I’m with you”…

Blinding light engulfed Peach and Betty and quickly faded. The smell of stale cave air almost gagged them both as Betty realized that she was back in the dark hall of Doctor LaMain’s world.

“CHAIN THEM BOTH TO THE WALL AND PLACE A SPELL OVER THEM SO THEY CAN’T BE TAKEN AGAIN” Doctor LaMain’s voice roared out of the darkness. His great anger could be seen as fear in the faces of all those who served him.

Both Peach and Betty were pushed to the cold wet floor and dragged to the wall where they were chained.

A dark and very dirty bike covered in animal fur and slime rolled over to Peach and Betty.

Peach did not need to be told who this bike was. It was Doctor LaMain’s wizard and evil spell maker…Her name was Zela.

Zela closed her eyes and chanted a few words of magic and the chains that held the two captive to the wall started to glow a faint red.

“This should keep you from wondering off again child” as Zela looked at young Betty.

Then Zela’s gaze shifted onto Peach “Good to see you again, Sister…Enjoy your short stay with use” Zela laughed and rolled off in to the darkness.

“She is your sister” Betty asked after a few seconds?

“Yes…My half sister…We share the same mother” Peach responded as she looked over at Betty.

Gwen soon entered the great cave hall with water, blankets, and food.

© DennisB 2011

Soon, Gwen rolled into the darkness, exiting the great cave hall and Betty and Peach were alone and chained to the wall...and alone.

Peach pulled on the chain and shackle to test its strength.

“Peach, did you hear what the Lord of the Silverwings said” asked Betty as Peach settled back down with her blanket and bowl of food.

“What….No…I did not hear or see anything. Just a flash of light and we were here chained to this wall” Peach yanked on the chain once again.

“You did not see the….” Betty’s words fell short as the dark foreboding and sinister figure of Doctor LaMain entered the cave chamber. He was closely followed by his entourage of large and small, misshapen bikes and scooters. All whispered amongst themselves as they followed their leader.

The evil dark figure stopped in front of the two captives chained to the wall “I’m very happy to see you both enjoying our hospitality and the fine food we have provide you”.

The Doctor started to move toward his thrown chair and stopped and looked back, toward Betty. “Little Betty. My sweet little Betty….Your father is on my island once again and he has brought a friend…He’s going to attempt a rescue…This should prove to be interesting….Most interesting”.

The evil Doctor turned, chuckled to himself and continued toward his thrown chair.

“BRING MY SECURITY CAPTAINS” the Doctor shouted.

Betty smiled to herself and looked over at Peach and whispered “My father is here to rescue us”.

© DennisB 2011

Ben and Sally moved carefully along a narrow path. One side of the path dropped of into a bubbling river of molten lava. Steaming and bubbling as it moved along its slow journey.

Sally looked back at Ben following her “Be careful here, there seems to be some loose stones on the path” and she moved forward once again.

Ben realized that this is where Vespa picked up the diamond she had made into her wedding ring, years earlier. Ben closed his eyes and bowed his head for a moment and said “Thank You for your gift”.

A voice that could not be heard by ether rescuers, a voice as old as time itself, came from the darkness “You are welcome, my son”.

They made their way along the old stone pathway and found the entrance into the domed ceiling room where the huge rock pillar once stood in its center.

Old wooden torches were stacked next to the entrance and two were quickly lit.

Ben looked up to see if the light hole was open at the top of the cave room. It was over grown with island vegetation. Plant roots searching for moisture and nutrition now hung from the small opening, almost touching the rock floor of the great room.

They dropped their packs on the stone floor next to the almost empty gold pit. One bar of gold, shimmering in the torch light, held to the still leaning trap floor, by the rope that triggered the Doctors fall from this life.

“Greed… the Doctors own greed triggered this trap” Ben whispered looking over to Sally next to the hole in the floor. Her eyes still affixed on the single gold bar. A single bar of gold that belong to her long ago, pirate, great grandfather, Gay Beard. A scooter of great compassion, loyalty, and love for his ship, the Marinette, and all that served her.

“Let’s take a short brake and have some food before we take the plunge into the pit…What do you say Ben”?

Ben’s shifted his eyes from the dark gold pit over to Sally “You right…I’m getting hungry and a little tired. A break sounds good to me”.

Ben quickly shifted his eyes over toward the small sound he just heard in the darkness, beyond the flickering torch light.

Then Ben whispered “were being followed and watched”.

© DennisB 2011

Ben and Sally finished their small meal and grabbed a few minutes of sleep before getting their climbing gear out and preparing for the decent into the dark pit.

Ben rolled over to the edge of the pit and held his torch over the opening “I just hope we brought enough rope”.

Sally started to hammer climbing rope keepers into the rock floor.

Ben placed his torch on the rock floor and quietly disappeared in the darkness that surrounded them.

TAT…TAT…TAT Sally’s hammer fell on the keepers. The sound echoed through the caves darkness.

Ben quickly and quietly moved along the stone cave wall, just outside of the light from the burning torches. His eyes were starting to adjust to the low torch light.

Then he saw a dark shape move, just a little in front of him.

Whatever or whoever it was, was wearing a dark cloak that blended into the cave walls.

Ben could see small slits in the cloak and a slight reflection of torch light in the eyes of this silent ghost like apparition hidden against the wall.
Ben moved silently closer and closer.

Then…

© DennisB 2011

Then the gaze of the ghostly apparition pressed against the cave wall, changed from Sally to the approaching Ben, now just a few feet away.

Ben could see the surprise and the hate in its yellow eyes as he moved closer.

The torch light glinted off the shinny blade of a short dagger that appeared from under the cloak of the specter and was swung around toward Ben as he charged.

The blade struck the cave wall and sparks filled the air in front of Ben.

Ben hit this cloaked apparition with all the force he could muster and the specter was knocked to the cave floor, still holding the dagger.

“SHE IS NOT YOURS ANY LONGER….LEAVE NOW OR DIE” the specter hissed in a loud growl.

Sally quickly rolled over and had her 9mm pistol out of its holster and was ready to fire when a brilliant flash of green light blinded her and Ben.

The ghostly specter was gone and the cave went silent.

Ben looked over at Sally “We need to get her back quickly” the words Ben spoke echoed in the still air of the cave.

The two rescuers prepared themselves for the decent.

© DennisB 2011

“WHERE ARE THOSE TWO” the king of the castle of Silverwing roared to his servants.

A courtyard gardens keeper was brought in and he bowed deeply before the King.

“Your highness. Some most disturbing news. They vanished in a green flash of light as they were rolling to meet with your highness.” The gardener was uneasy specking to the King.

“I was trimming flowers in the east garden when I looked up to see Peach and a young female Silverwing heading to your majesties court room…when they just vanished in a green light.

“VANISHED” the King shouted! A Kings adviser leaned over and spoke in a whispered voice to the King.

“What is your name I have not met you before…Are you new to working in the castle garden” the King asked?

“My name is Dital, your Highness and I just started last week” Dital spoke nervously to the king.

“Well Dital, welcome to my kingdom” said the King and noticed that Dital had yellow eyes and was stroking a silver coin that he wore on a chain around his neck.

“Dital, can you show my court wizard where Peach and this young lady Silverwing vanished” the King asked?

“O’ yes my Lord… Dital would be happy to show your wizard” Dital resonded.

Dital bowed deeply and turned, and as he did, he looked to see if the wizard was following.

The court wizard with Dital in the lead rolled out of the great hall and down the hall where Peach and Betty vanished.

The King looked over to his adviser “I do not feel well, please cancel all my other appointments for today…very strange” the King said and then rose from his royal throne and almost fell over.

The adviser caught him and steadied him. “Thank you, Max” the King spoke quietly.

Every one in the Kings great hall bowed as he rolled out.

© DennisB 2011

“This way, this way” Dital kept saying over and over to the Kings wizard as they rolled down the great hallway.

“Right here is where it happen…Right here” Dital pointed toward the floor.

“Clear the area Dital…behind me, right now” and Dital moved behind the wizard.

The wizard raised his wand and pointed it at the spot Dital showed him. The Wizard chanted “REWIND THIS EVENT FOR ME TO SEE”!

A small orb of blue light appeared on the carpeted floor and then grows larger and larger. Soon the image of Peach and Betty moving down the hallway could be seen.

The image was of Peach looking over at Betty and then Peach reached over to her, a flash of bright green light and they were gone.

The wizard brought his wand to his side and the image vanished.

“Very strange” the wizard spoke to himself quietly.

“One more time” and the wizard held forth his wand “REVEIL THIS EVENT FOR ME TO SEE”!

A small orb of orange light appeared on the carpeted floor and then grows larger and larger. Soon the image of Peach and Betty moving down the hallway could be seen. But this time he could also feel and see the image of a dark, evil wizard chanting in the background.

Dital pushed the wizard from behind sending him into the orange light of the image orb.

The wizard turned and looked at Dital for just a moment and then the orb of orange light vanished with the wizard inside.

“Have a fun time wizard” Dital said as he smiled to himself and started to make plans for the Kings demise as he rolled back out to the castles garden.

© DennisB 2011

Ben, now with repelling harness installed, throws his rope down into the dark pit; he then stands and waits for Sally to get her harness on and rope ready.

“I have not repelled in…” just then he feels a small tough on his climbing rope.

“That’s strange” then his rope goes taunt, almost pulling him in to the pit.

And then, a very strong pull is felt on the rope, as if someone or something was climbing up the rope.

Ben braced himself on the pits edge to keep from falling in “SALLY, HELP” he cried!

Sally was there in a heart beat. She threw both lit torches down the pit and then un-holstered her 9mm pistol.

She waited for a second until she could see a target.

She took careful aim and fired two shoots.

The creature on the rope howled in pain and let go, causing Ben to suddenly fall backwards onto the cave floor.

“ARE YOU OK” Sally yelled.

“Yes, I’m OK…But what the hell was that…What did you see Sally” Ben picked himself up off the floor and unhooked the climbing rope from his harness.

“It was a hideous dark cloaked creature with glowing yellow eyes and I could feel its intense hatred of me as it looked at me. It was three times the size of the creature that we found next to the cave wall” Sally shivered.

“Sally, are you ready for this” Ben asked his friend?

Sally looked over at Ben. Her eyes were huge with fear “I’m ready, but that thing scared the hell out of me”. Sally’s eyes shifted back to the pit opening.

“OK…Lets get my daughter back”

Ben grabbed the rope and reinstalled it on his harness and looked over the pits edge and could see the bottom where the two torches still burned.

Sally reached into her glove box and handed Ben her back-up 9mm pistol “just in case” Sally smiled.

Ben smiled, put the gun in his glove box, turned around and started his descent into the pit.

© DennisB 2011

It didn’t take long for Ben to reach the bottom of the pit. He stopped a couple of times to look at the bottom of his rope to be sure that nothing was waiting for him.

Sally soon joined him. They picked up the still burning torches and looked around for a second.

It was a small place with several small opening leading to dark passage ways.

The creatures black blood was splattered on the dusty rock floor and lead off to one of the openings.

Ben whispered to Sally “what do you say…should we follow it”?

Sally nodded and took the lead with her pistol ready and her burning torch leading the way.

The sound of a rusted gate could be heard swinging open and then closing, down the dark passage.

The blood trail was hard to follow at times and small water pools washed away any sign of passage.

The smell of stale cave air and the feeling of being watched, followed them as the moved forward.

The dancing torch light on the cave walls, made it seem like things were moving everywhere.

They soon came to a rock stairway leading down further into island. A huge iron gate was recently pulled closed, the rusted chain and lock swung as if someone recently passed through and a pool of black blood was at its entrance on the floor.

Sally pulled the rusted gate open slowly to prevent warning anything ahead of where they were.

The blood trail led down the steps into the darkness.

Sally froze….

© DennisB 2011

In Sally’s flickering torch light, she could see the creature standing on the first platform of the stairway. Pressed into the corner, its yellow eye’s caught in the torch light revealed it presents. It snarled its dislike at being this close to out worlders.

Sally and Ben slowly moved closer to the creature, pistols drawn.

Black blood was pooling under its misshapen bare feet. It hissed at Sally like some crazed animal that was cornered.

“So your bleeding to death and you can’t run any more” Sally’s words echoed off the rock walls.

“DON’T COME ANY CLOSER OR I WILL KILL YOU” it hissed showing its sharp teeth

“My name is Sally. What’s your name” Sally kept an even gaze on the creature’s eyes to show she was not afraid.

“DON’T COME ANY CLOSER OUT WORLDER” it hissed again.

“This is Ben, we have come here to get Ben’s daughter back” Sally’s voice almost a whisper.

“HE CANNOT HAVE HER BACK… GO HOME…SHE BELONGES TO MY MASTER NOW” the creature almost slipped in the pool of blood but caught itself on the rusted chain that ran along the wall, behind it.

“We cannot just leave here without the young girl” whispered Sally.

“THEN YOU WILL DIE HERE” It hissed and then the creature flung itself at Sally.

Sally shot once and the creature collapsed on the stone floor in front of her.

The sound of the shot echoed down the stone corridor “they know we are here now’. Sally whispered.

© DennisB 2011

Max, the Kings advisor helped the King to bed and then summonsed the royal doctor.

The royal Doctor completed his medical examination on the King.

Just outside the Kings Bedroom door Max patently waited for good news.

The door to the Kings Bed chamber opened and the Doctor stepped into the antechamber and closed the door behind him.

Max stepped up ”Doctor, what seems to be wrong with his Majesty”?

“I don’t know…He was as healthy as you or I this morning when I talked to him at breakfast”. The Doctor looked at the floor, shook his head and started rolling toward the door. Then he turned to look at Max “I’ll be in my laboratory if you need me….the nurse will stay with his Majesty…let him rest for now” then he turned and rolled out the door.
Max’s thoughts went to the events of the morning. Over and over he examined every minute of this morning. The words and the events, all were looked at over and over.

‘Where is the royal wizard” he thought to himself. “He should have reported back by now”.

Max rolled quickly to the Kings Great Hall.

“CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD… BRING ME THE ROYAL WIZARD…AT ONCE” Max yelled as he entered the great hall! “AND BRING ME HIS APPRENTICE.”

The Captain of the guard snapped to attention “At once Sir” and quickly rolled from the room.

The Captain shouting and giving orders to his men could be heard all over the castle.

Max nervously paced the floor in front of the thrown waiting for any information.

The evil Dital, assassin of Doctor LaMain, made is way to the Kings Bed chambers.

© DennisB 2011

Betty and Peach quickly awoke as a ball of orange magic opened to light the middle of Doctor LaMain’s cave hall floor.

The orange light dissipated and there stood the Kings royal wizard Logan.

“WHERE AM I…I DEMAND TO KNOW WHERE I AM” Logan shouted as he looked franticly around at his new surroundings.

The Kings wizard was then thrown to the cave floor. His magic wand was taken away from him and he was dragged over to the wall where Peach and Betty were chained.

Doctor LaMain, sat on his thrown chair watching as the Kings wizard was chained.

“Logan, now MY wizard will make sure you do not wander off.

The Doctors wizard rolled over to Logan and chanted magic over the chains that now held him. The chain began to glow red.

“Zela…I thought that was you standing next to the Doctor…I recognized your foul smell as soon as I was brought here.

“Do not worry Logan, your time is growing short” Zela turned and started to roll away, then she turned back around “Enjoy your short stay with us” she turned and rolled out of the room.

The Doctor was handed Logan’s magic wand “Very nice, very nice indeed, as he looked it over…I’ll keep it safe for you… wizard” and the Doctor placed it inside his cloak pocket.

Doctor LaMain rolled over to his three captives and looked at them one at a time.

“My, my, we are getting quite a little group of outlanders now. Please excuse me…I need to take care of more pressing business at this time…BRING THE YOUNG GIRL TO MY LABORATORY” and he rolled from the cave.

© DennisB 2011

“Sally, I was just wondering…How much ammunition you brought with you” Ben asked as he stopped to look at the dead creature Sally had just shot.

Ben noticed that it had feet instead of tires and wheels. The skin was speckled dark gray with what looked like infected boils on its legs and feet. Black blood pooled under its dead body and ran between the stones that formed landing.

“Sally…I have never in my life seen anything so grotesque as this creature.” Ben was almost transfixed on the dead body.

“We need to get use to it. We’ll seeing a lot more of them”. Ben continued to look.

“BEN, we need to get a move on it. Just be thankful that bullets kill them…I have four more clips besides what is in the pistols. Your right, we need to be careful with our ammunition from this point on. Lets go, we need to save your daughter”

The two move slowly down the stairs. The sound of dripping water echoed in the still air as they moved along the stone stairs leading ever downward until they came to a level rocky corridor.

Sally froze once again. “Ben” Sally whispered “the light up ahead…do you see it and I hear voices”.

“Put out the torches. We do not need them at this time” Sally whispered.

The two torches were quickly extinguished and set against the wall.

Ben and Sally moved slowly along the rocky corridor until they reached a wooden bridge. Growling voices and movement could be seen in the shadows of the lit torches that lined the walkway that crossed under bridge. Small crude doorways were carved into the sides of the walkway many cloaked creatures moved in and out of these from time to time.

“Must be where they live” Ben whispered.

“Let’s wait for a few minutes” Sally whispered back.

And so they waited and watched from above.

© DennisB 2011

“Sir”…Max’s attention shifted to the Captain of the guard standing in front of him.

“Yes Captain…Did you find the royal wizard”?

“No Sir, we searched every inch of the castle and the surrounding grounds…He is just not here”.

“Did you find the wizards apprentice”?

“Yes Sir, we did”

Max looked at the small group of large castle guards standing before him.

“So where is this apprentice” Max asked?

“Right here Sir”.

The Captain moved to one side and there standing between two large guards was a small boy dressed in the robe of a wizard’s apprentice.

“What is your name young wizard”?

“My name is Albert, Sir” The young boy looked nervous.

“Albert, we need to find out where you master has gone…Can you show us. He was last seen in the hallway that leads to this very chamber. Can you show us what happen to him” Max asked again?

“Follow me Sir”

Max and the royal guards followed young Albert into the hallway.

Albert removed his wand from his robe pocket and held it out in front of him.

The young wizard chanted “REWIND THIS EVENT FOR ME TO SEE”!

A small spark came out of the wand and formed a small round orb of blue light.

The blue orb quickly vanished.

“Sorry Sir, I’ll give it another go”

“REWIND THIS EVENT FOR ME TO SEE” a small spark again came out of the wand and formed a small round orb of blue light and then it grew larger.

Soon all could see the royal wizard with his wand out before him and the grounds keeper behind him.

All watched in horror as the events in the vision unfolded before them.

“PROTECT THE KING” Max yelled as he turned and dashed to get to the Kings Bed chamber.

“FOLLOW ME AND SOMEONE FIND THAT GARDNER…AT ONCE”!

© DennisB 2011

The royal guard stationed just outside the Kings Bed chambers hears the alarm and quickly opens the door and steps in.

The King was in his bed but the nurse, tending him was in a heap at the edge of the bed.

The guard starts to draw his sword and feels a sharp pain in his side.

He looks…a dagger handle is…Dital pulls the lethal knife from the dead guard’s body and starts for the helpless King.

The assassin climbs onto the Kings bed and raises his knife just as Max and the Captain of the guard inter the door.

With one fluid motion, Max is pushed to the floor by the Captain who hurls his own dagger hitting Dital mid body, the force of the knife knocking him from the bed and onto the floor.

Dital screamed in pain as he hit the floor and was soon surrounded by the Kings guard.

“DO NOT KILL HIM… WE NEED INFORMATION…AND TAKE THAT MEDALION FROM HIM” Max orders.

Soon young Albert enters the Kings room and Max throws the medallion to him “Find what evil spell or curse is hidden in this so we can heal our King” Max orders… And thank you for saving our King”. Young Albert, the royal wizard apprentice smiled.

The screaming Dital is carried from the room but is stopped by Max for just a moment “WE WILL find your master and WE WILL keep you in chains for the rest of your short life… assassin, take him away”!

© DennisB 2011