Snippet #1578285

Why...food...try...? Mellonia stared(if such a term could be used for a being lacking eyes) at the fleeing party with intense interest, particularly at the mage. His fear was the most palpable and the most delectable by far, a stark contrast with the half-breed...it was safe to assume that he at least had a basic grasp of what he was dealing with. That was not a problem, for the sword-wielder was the greatest key in breaking the barrier between Mellonia and her prey. When his sword clashed against the crack in the glossy floor, a large swathe of glass broke away, sinking into the depths below. Strange...human...giving...opening...

Centuries ago when the bazaar floor was constructed, the enchantment to capture thieves was bound into the ground. Those with guilt on their minds would perceive the floor as a transparent surface, able to see their doom within. Mellonia would only be able to snatch them up and take them down into the abyss if they displayed fear of her presence. Although strange and babaric in a sense, this allowed the most bold and fearless miscreants to survive while weeding out the weak. The mad king would then recruit these master criminals into his fold-

No...enough...memories...useless... her prison temporarily shattered, the aqua-giant reached her arm through the gap. Icurus had fallen back to play rear guard, his weapon drawn and revolving in a deadly blur of steel. Mellonia pulled her head and shoulders up through the widening gap and flicked the reptile-man's armament away without even flinching. She proceeded to grasp the little man and squeeze for a moment before immediately releasing Icurus. The ranger lay there, twitching and stunned as Mellonia pulled the rest of her glistening form from the water and began her pursuit.

---

"Unhand me!" as soon as he felt an arm enclosing his waist Andre sped up his pace. By no means a sheltered individual, the duke had more than his fair share of adventuring experience and physical aptitude. He easily kept pace with the manic swordsman and was angered that Akir thought his 'help' would even be remotely needed. Silice shrugged off Akir's assistance with no small amount of indignity of her own, falling into step alongside her lord once more. The assistant cast a glance behind her and paled at the sight.

Lumbering down the hallway with awkward grace, the great pale giant was gaining on the group faster than one would think possible even with her longer strides. Behind her the floor seemed to reform, repairing itself everywhere except around the stunned Icurus. Under the drakian the floor split once more to admit him into it's cold waters, instantly bringing itself back together as if he had never been there.

Already panting from the rapid sprint(more from fear than anything) Andre moved his hands in a series of rapid gestures that would invoke another spell from his own arsenal. The first was a lash of blue electricity that made the pale giant shudder and gasp momentarily, but did little else to halt it's advance. The second, more elaborate spell was invoked with a flourish and the crushing of a hollow glass marble. With a loud creaking sound the floor itself rose and shaped into a wall the covered the hallway perfectly from top to bottom.

Andre and Silice slowed down, turning back to observe the great glass wall between the creature and themselves. Mellonia was frowning and probing the barrier for a long while while the group caught their breath.

"Let us...take a moment to grieve for our fallen companion." Andre wheezed and glanced at his construction. He feared it would not hold for long at first, but his overwhelming faith in his own skill kept Mellonia at bay for the moment. It was then that the aqua-giant suddenly oriented on Gwendolyn and flashed a wide smile, uttering one, shaky syllable: "Cousin..."

With that Mellonia disappeared beneath the glass once more, causing the hairs on the back of the party's necks to raise once again. For the first time since the morning, Silice deigned to speak. "We should run."

Andre found that he could not disagree. They were almost out of the bazaar if his guess was correct...