brushed his hands together, raining more grit on Sapphira. “But her fate is inconsequential. It is Mardon who now guides our destiny, and we are to ascend to Earth’s surface and carry out his orders.”
Sapphira stepped out of Chazaq’s spiteful dust shower. “Mardon might be able to guide you in this realm, but he’s dead, so he can’t go to the land of the living.”
“He told us that we would already be in the living world when we awoke, just thousands of feet below the surface.” Chazaq cast his beams on her again. “Perhaps you noticed a dimensional shift.”
Sapphira stared at him but said nothing. Walter crept closer, also remaining silent. Ashley continued piling rocks, keeping her eye on the giants.
“Your silence proves that you did notice.” Chazaq’s eyebeams swung to Ashley, then to the rope and trapdoor above. “I believe I have found the way out that Mardon promised.”
Sapphira raised her arms. Flames erupted from both hands. She began swirling the fire into a flaming cyclone that expanded toward the Nephilim.
Chazaq wrapped Sapphira around the waist with one arm and pulled her against his chest, binding her and extinguishing the flames. “Traveling to another dimension is not in our plans, Mara.”
Sapphira’s face turned red as she gasped for breath. She looked like a struggling toddler in his massive grip.
“Let her go!” Walter marched toward Chazaq, Excalibur’s beam blazing.
Chazaq laughed. “Here comes another David, thinking he can slay Goliath, but he comes with a shining blade to replace sling and stones.”
“Maybe you need a demonstration of what this sword can do.” Walter angled the beam toward one of the other Nephilim. “I can’t use it on you while you’re holding Sapphira, but I’ll fry your toadies one by one until you let her go.”
Chazaq squeezed Sapphira, making her eyes bulge. “Go ahead and test your feeble blade. This should be entertaining.”
“Then laugh at this!” Walter swiped the beam at the closest Naphil. The light surged into the giant’s body, but instead of disintegrating him, it seemed to infuse him with energy. His skin glowed, and he sent out twin beams in a more vibrant scarlet than ever.
“Walter!” Ashley called. “Sapphira said they have plant genes, so they must be phototrophic. Light gives them energy.”
“Yeah,” Walter said, dousing Excalibur’s beam, “I guessed that.”
Chazaq loosened his hold on Sapphira, allowing her to breathe. “The inhabitants of Earth will learn of our skills soon enough. In the meantime, we will take Mara with us. A little insurance might be beneficial.”
Sapphira slipped an arm free and desperately gulped air. “He can’t … kill me. … If he does … he will die.”
“Is that so?” Walter drew back the sword. “You plant creatures might be immune to the beam, but I haven’t heard of one yet that can withstand an axe.” He charged at the Naphil he had energized and sliced through his leg, cutting it off just above the knee. The giant toppled over and crashed to the ground. As his life fluids poured out, he roared, writhing in pain.
Drawing back the gleaming sword again, Walter scowled at Chazaq. “Want to be next?”
Three of the Nephilim lunged at Walter, but he leaped out of the way, slicing a finger off one giant as he breezed by. The others made a circle around him and closed in slowly. Walter swung Excalibur frantically in every direction, lunging whenever one of the giants came within range.
“Stop!” Chazaq commanded. “We cannot afford any more casualties.”
As the Nephilim backed away, Walter let out a huge sigh, sweat dripping from his chin. The fallen Naphil now lay still in a pool of dark blood, his face ashen.
“Begin the ascent,” Chazaq ordered. “When we are fully energized on the surface, that little sword will not be so effective.” He stomped over to the rope and picked up Karen with his free arm, releasing Sapphira at the same time. As his arm locked Karen close to his body, she gasped and her head lolled forward. “Here is our new insurance. When we are safely out of this hole, I will let her go.”
Lifting his sword once again, Walter charged.
Chazaq squeezed Karen’s throat. “One more step, and she’s dead!”
As Karen gagged, Walter halted, letting the sword’s tip rest on the floor, his face flaming red. “Coward! Hiding behind the skirt of a little girl!”
“Not cowardice. Expediency.” Chazaq released her throat and waited while the other giants made a human ladder to the trapdoor high above. When the fourth giant’s hands reached the door,