9 At the White Cliff

CHAPTER Nine At the White Cliff The kids huddled together to avoid the flames. "A prison of fire," Sparr said. "You may thank Witch Demither for the idea. Thoughtful, isn't she?" "My happy mood is fading fast," Keeah whispered. The wall of fire edged closer. "Let them go," Galen boomed, struggling against his chains. "Give me the Eye and you may all go," Sparr told them. He snapped his fingers, and one large Ninn raised his heavy sword. "Your chains will be cut, Galen. You will be free."

Max's eight legs trembled. "D-d-don't trust him." Eric looked up. The flames coiled high into the air. The strange, green-winged seaflies were beginning to gather above them. Eric felt something wasn't right. What was it? Sparr stared through the flames. "I created the Red Eye of Dawn centuries ago to do my will—" "Your evil will!" Keeah said, trying to remain calm. "All you do is put curses on people. Like Demither. Like my mother!" Eric kept staring at their prison of fire. Demither's fire. He recalled how she had said once that she was a friend to no one, not even to Sparr. The flames slithered over one another. They gleamed red, then silver, then red again. The Ninns were afraid of the fire. They wouldn't come close. But still, something was wrong. Zzzz! The seaflies buzzed lower. Then, in a flash, Eric knew what it was. The fire looked hot enough to burn them to a crisp. But no smoke was coming from the fire. And no heat. The flies would never buzz so close if there was heat. That was it! The fire wasn't real. It only looked hot.

The fire was… something else. In fact, it was hundreds of something elses! Sparr circled the flames. Soon, he would guess. Demither had tricked him. In an instant, Eric formed a plan. He tapped Neal with his foot and glanced up at the seaflies. Then he nodded at the Ninn with the sword. "Can your pals do something?" Neal smiled a big smile. He twitched his feelers. Slowly, the flies lifted and buzzed over to the Ninn. "Give me the Eye!" Sparr demanded. "Get ready to move," Eric whispered. He stepped to the wall of fire. "Eric, what are you doing?" Julie said. "Just follow me." He held out his hand. "Master Eric, no!" cried Max. "Now!" Eric shouted. Neal twitched, and the flies surrounded the fat Ninn. "Ugh!" the guard growled, swatting the flies. His heavy sword dropped to the ground. At the same instant, Eric leaped through the fire. He was ready to scream, but he didn't have to. The instant he stuck his hand in, the flames ran over his fingers. The fire was icy cold! "Silfs! I knew it!" he cried. The strange creatures spilled in a shower to the ground.

"Demither has betrayed me!" Sparr cried. Eric and Julie dashed over and grabbed the Ninn's sword. Together they swung hard. Chung! Galen's heavy chains fell away. "Now you will pay!" Sparr shouted. "No, Sparr," Keeah cried. "You will pay for the curses you have put on people!" Ka-whoom! Bright beams shot wildly from Keeah's hand. A terrible bolt blasted the ground near the Ninns, sending them rushing in every direction. Another exploded near Neal. "Oww!" he cried, as he leaped for cover. "Keeah!" Galen shouted. "You cannot control the Eye. Your anger will destroy you!" "Throw it away!" Max yelled. Keeah hurled the burning stone at the sea. "IT IS MINE!" Sparr cried. He sucked in his breath and seemed to grow to twice his size. His eyes flashed, and his fins turned black with rage. He grasped his magic staff. Ka-bam! Bolts of fire leaped from the staff. They shot across the air to the Eye. And the jewel stopped its fall to the sea. Slowly, it moved back toward Sparr. "You see? The Red Eye of Dawn knows its master!" he howled. "Come to me, my jewel!" Laughing, he reached for the sparking jewel.

Suddenly—KA-WHOOOM! The peaceful sea exploded, and a giant serpent rose from the waves. "Witch Demither!" Eric said. The serpent reared her head and opened her jaws. "I am Demither, queen of oceans!" And with a single lunge of her scaly arm, the witch closed her claws over the Red Eye of Dawn.

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