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Chapter 10---Hello, We Must be Going

Time Unknown

Angelia led us through what appeared to be an endless series of corridors and hallways, each one looking so alike that unless you knew the layout one could get lost for days. Yet she made her way through as though she’s done this several times already.

All this time, the questions seem to roll through my head as I tried to piece together what I knew about Del & Angelia with what I have seen and coming up short. That Tanya and Angelia were rivals of some sort I could easily understand, but I still couldn’t figure out exactly why they seemed to go up against each other on such a regular basis and why Del seemed to be caught up in the crossfire.

We eventually found ourselves in what appeared to be a central hall, filled with various swords, pistols and weapons of various types. Some were recognizable to me while others were so advanced they couldn’t possibly have been invented yet. Suddenly a light flashed on overhead momentarily blinding us. “And just where do you think you're going my dears?” I heard an all too-familiar voice. As my eyes adjusted to the light, sure enough, there was Tanya, not looking at all pleased at how far we managed to get up to now.

“We’re going home,” Angelia replied, “and we’re not going to let anything or anyone stop us, especially you!”

“Oh, really,” Tanya shot back, “are you really so certain of yourself? Tell you what, why don’t we settle this in a relatively simple yet civilized manner.”

“What’s the catch?” Angelia shot back.

Tanya winced as if she had just received the biggest insult imaginable. “No catch, just a simple duel between us. If you win you and your delightful little dears can go. But if I win, you all stay as my “guests” indefinitely.”

I shuddered at thought of being Tanya’s guest especially after all that’s happened. Angelia simply shook her head. “Excuse me if I don’t think much of your hospitality. But if you insist on going through with this then I accept your challenge.”

“Don’t do it!” Del spoke up. “It has to be some kind of trap, and even if you win she’ll still find a way to keep us prisoners!”

Angelia turned to her and gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, whatever happens I’ll always make sure you’re OK. And I won’t let Tanya do anything that would ever hurt you.”

Del didn’t seem at all convinced, but she just nodded her head and tried to smile back though it looked as if it took a lot of effort to do so.

Tanya simply shook her head at the display. “If you’re quite finished may we get started? As the challenged of course you have the choice of weapons.”

Angelia looked over the weapons on display and eventually went over and picked up a rapier with a fancy design on the hilt.

“Always the romantic, are we?” Tanya sneered as she produced a similar looking blade from behind her back, almost as if she anticipated this choice.

Angelia held the blade in front of her assuming an en guarde stance. “Just remember your promise to let us go quietly if I win.”

“But, of course,” Tanya responded mockingly as she lunged toward her opponent..