“You do not…kill them,” Ahmose interrupted. “You will remain hidden. And they will return to the state from which they were raised when we dispose of the evil one who called them forth.”
“What are we supposed to do now?” I asked Dr. Hassan.
“Remain here, I would assume.”
I peeked at the zombie warriors, who stood as still as statues. Their gray, sunken skin and bones were covered with strips of black leather. The bones that were exposed and no longer able to bend using ligaments were wired together somehow, their joints connected by long staples. Some rotten limbs must have remained attached by the armor strapped onto their bodies, otherwise, zombie armor seemed a bit superfluous, if you asked me.
Amon screamed again, the sound louder this time. “We’ve got to save him!” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low. A powerful blast of energy from behind the closed door shook the walls and a chunk of rock tumbled down near us, releasing a cascade of dust.
Dr. Hassan’s raised brows indicated its size. “Lily!” he cried. “Get down!”
I ducked as Dr. Hassan sank his two files deep into the zombie warrior’s chest. It just stared at the two of us, breathing raggedly. Then, raising its sword overhead, it let out a supernatural scream, its jaw unhinging, a metal staple the only thing holding the jaw to its skull.
Just as the sword was about to come crashing down upon us, it was met with Ahmose’s silvery ax. The god of the moon thrust back the creature’s weapon as he lifted his and took its head off in a mighty swing. “Come, Lily,” said Ahmose, holding out his hand.
Asten stood on the other side of the hall, bow lifted. As he let loose a gleaming diamond-headed arrow, a dozen more guards rounded the corner, like feral beasts scenting fresh meat. The arrow hit the remaining guard at the door right between the eyes and the creature exploded. Immediately, Asten pulled another arrow from his quiver. “Lily! To me!” he cried.
Dr. Hassan followed closely on my heels as I made my way to Asten. When all the zombies were incapacitated, Ahmose joined us. We were about to break through the door when it opened, more undead warriors pouring out.
As Asten and Ahmose fought the new horde, I glanced behind me. The fallen were rising again. In fact, the warrior whose head Ahmose had chopped off had located it and set it back on his shoulders, albeit at the wrong angle. He would be upon us in moments.
“We cannot weave the spell until Amon is freed!” Asten exclaimed.
Through the mass of bodies in the doorway, I saw a mist of red with a man standing in the middle of it. I knew this had to be the necromancer.
I grabbed Dr. Hassan’s hand. “We must break through and free Amon!”
“But they said to wait for an opportunity.”
“We’ll have to make our own opportunity!”
We darted between fallen bodies and avoided being caught except for one headless zombie’s arm latching on to my leg. I kicked hard enough that it released me; then I crouched down and continued on. Ahmose’s arm hung limply, and Asten had a deep wound on his thigh. Both had several bite marks, which didn’t bode well, considering they were fighting the undead.
I wasn’t sure if Dr. Hassan was still behind me or not, but I rushed to Amon. He was tied to a chair facing the red mist that obscured the features of the man behind it. I ignored the mist and began sawing on the ropes that bound Amon’s arms. My wimpy trowel wasn’t making much headway.
“Ah, Lily,” the ghostly shadow said. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d heard it before.
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t disappoint you, then,” I said, not allowing anything to distract me from freeing Amon.
Amon’s head had been lowered onto his chest, but at the sound of my voice, he raised it, his words filled with pain. “Young Lily?” he gasped.
“Yes, it’s me. Just hold on. We’re here to rescue you.”
“I’m afraid your rescue attempt is fruitless. You see, I wanted you to come,” the smooth, sinister voice answered from within the mist.