“We need higher security on the castle,” informed Bouldan to Muri from a castle hallway. “We can’t risk losing any hope of Dultona getting his hands on the Book of the Underground.”

  Muri just stared at him, his eyes big, as if in shock. “It’s already too late,” he replied. He stepped aside, revealing Dultona’s damaged painting on the wall, the puddle of blood on the floor next to it.

  Just then a shriek was heard. The sound of a gargoyle.

  Muri and Bouldan both looked up in awareness and without thought began stomping off towards the sound. As they got closer, roars and grunts were heard.

  “We need to warn the Dark Master now!” suggested Bouldan.

  “Go assist your troops, Bouldan, I’ll go warn the master,” ordered Muri.

  “Yes, Muri.”

  Bouldan then took off down a hall to gather the Rock Army, and Muri was off to the Dark Master, afraid that Dultona would murder him for messing up again. He had never been so afraid to speak to him in his life.

  Muri entered Dultona’s realm, afraid, to warn him of the intruders in the castle as well as the escaped prisoners. This may be the last time he faced his master’s throne.

  “Dark Master!”

  “What?!”

  “The boy has escaped as well as the prisoners!”

  “You let them escape?!”

  “There are intruders in the castle!”

  Dultona went quiet for a moment. He was furious.

  “Master?”

  He roared. “Aahh! As soon as this is over, you’re no longer my servant, Muri!”

  Muri took a big breath. “I saw that coming.”

  Lava then arose from both sides of the narrow walkway leading to Dultona’s throne.

  “Send out the Army of Rocks! Bring out the evil! We will find this boy...and TEAR HIM A
Cody Hyde's Novels