The chase

*POV* Coral Sparks

"How did this happen? I know Jane had one, but she hasn't turned." I asked Randall, he shrugged. "Like Dominic said they must have brought a carrier through the portal with them, and Destiny said there could be 3 of them."

I took my seat, just then the door opened. Captain Darkwood, an earth elemental nobleman. He bowed. "You called for me?" I nodded. "Yes Captain, get your arm together and bring them to the city, not all the people will fit in the castle. And also send a message to the white city of the attack."

I continued to explain what I wanted of him, when I was done he bowed and left. "We have to be ahead of this." Randall nodded. "What can I do?" He asked, I looked at him then smiled. "If you want you can go with Clay and Cassy, they are going to try and hunt them."

Randall nodded. "I will go." I stood, giving him a hug before he left. As I sat in the silence, my mind buzzed. The door opened again and Jane entered. "Coral?" She asked in a small voice. "Come in." She entered and stood with her hands clasped.

"Everyone is calling these things rune monsters. Am I one of them?" I rushed to hug her. "Of course not! Don't think like that. Go watch your child. Everything will be okay." She nodded, and left.

*POV* Destiny Blaze

The city was surrounded with troops and from what Dominic was saying it might be enough. Night had fallen and only one of the monsters had been spotted.

Dominic stopped talking as I put my finger to my lips, shushing him. Through the tree something rushed, we had been tracking what we thought was another rune monster.

The rustling continued, Dominic's breath sounded loud beside my head as we both watched from behind a tree.

A deer came running into the small clearing and my heart skipped a beat, it stopped to eat before walking off farther into the trees. A little disappointed, I turned to Dominic. "We should probably get back."

He nodded, something over his shoulder caught my eye, a black shadow watching us. "It's behind us!" I whispered. He tried to look over his shoulder but I grabbed his face. "Don't move." He stilled.

I whispered my spell and sent a bird in the opposite direction. It moved closer. "Be ready to get us out of here." He was about to protest, I gathered fire into my hand and stepped towards it sending it towards its head.

It let out a screech turning to run towards me. Dominic grabbed my waist. "Not yet!" I hissed. He said something but I was focused on the 10 foot monster in front of me.

Sending 2 fireballs at it, one hit it on the left side of its chest. It stumbled but continued forward. "Hit it's head!" Dominic yelled as I fumbled with a spell. It was practically on top of us as I finished the spell and sent a steam of fire into its face.

Dominic teleported us a second later a couple feet away. It fell on top of the spot where we had once been. I took a breath. "That was scary as hell!" I stepped towards it. It was motionless.

"Is it dead?" Dominic cursed from behind me, taking a hold of my hand, stopping me. "We have killed them before, but it also came back to life." I didn't take my eyes off of it. "You gotta be kidding."

I whispered a spell and sent a stream of orange fire to incinerate it. When I was done all that was left was dust. "Think it will come back?" I questioned. Dominic scoffed.

One down however more to go.

Hours later all 3 had been killed and burned. And the word was spreading that if anyone was found with a rune mark on them, they were infected. And of course everyone started to panic.

I shook my head as I saw Clay tried to tell a group of villagers to not worry, but to continue on as normal. "Goodness, this is such a mess!" Mink said, coming over to lean on my shoulder.

"I agree. We have to find that portal, no one else is coming through there again." Clay grumbled. "There are still good people there." Dominic defended.

Clay sighed. "Maybe you should go back and find them then." I stopped him. "Dominic isn't going anywhere!" Clay glared at me then nodded.

"We still need to find the portal." He said. I nodded. "Yeah, but I am not sure we will find one. Because we wake up here after going through there." Clay rubbed his hands on his arms. "You might be right, but I will have some men search just in case."

The conversation was over, we made our way back to the castle. It was late when we got back. Coral met us. "I still have the army in place just in case, but I have told everyone to go back to their lives." I gave her a smile.

"Glad you're okay sis." She gave me a hug, but I could see how much she had changed from that shy timid girl she once was. That he made her be.

She told us a meal was waiting for us and we sat to eat. She began speaking. "From what Randall has been telling me, their world is in big trouble, and that there aren't just one or two rune monsters, but millions. City's full."

Dominic spoke up from beside me, his hands full. "It has been spreading for years now, and soon it will get to the main city and the good people that live there." Coral looked even more worried.

"That's what I was afraid of. I would go back myself-." I stopped her. "You aren't going anywhere!" She sighed. "I know. That's what I am saying."

"I met quite a few people there that I wouldn't want to see die." I nodded my head.

"I could try going back." Dominic said, setting his food down. "I don't know my power a lot but I took Destiny there, maybe I could do it again."

Everyone stared at him. Shaking himself Clay nodded. "That might just work, but you're not taking Destiny." I felt good that he was protecting me, but.

"I will go." Everyone stared at Mink, she pointed at Cassy. "We will go." Clay was on his feet. "No way!"

Cassy stood too. They stared at one another for about a minute before he sat back down. Mink smiled. "Dominic, we will go with you. Cassy is strong and I can help too. We can go see what we can do to help."

Coral nodded. "If you guys are willing." Cassy nodded, staring at Clay who was glowering. "I will go too!" I spoke, my heart beating quickly in my chest.