"The Beast of the Otherworld?" Zann echoed. "What's that?"
He didn't recognize the creature from his parents' books.
And he was sure he'd remember something that looked like that!
"It's the most horrible beast in all the worlds." Wyssa shuddered.
"How was Morb able to transport it from its home on Narakan?"
"Narakan?" Venna sounded startled. "I thought that world was only a myth."
"Apparently not," Wyssa said. The creature hissed, and a dark, viscous substance dripped from its jaws and sizzled on the stone bridge.
"How big is that thing, anyway?" Perda cried as the enormous head rose even higher.
"Big!" Zann answered. "And it doesn't seem to be in a good mood either!"
The Beast let out a hoarse, echoing cry.
Then its head snaked toward Zann and the others.
"Run!" Venna shouted.
The humans scattered. Zann lunged toward the gate and skidded across the rough stone on his hands and knees.
When he glanced back, the Beast was raising its head again.
Zann noticed that the dark goo wasn't coming from its mouth after all.
It was oozing out of its head.
"Look out!" Gliss screamed. "It's going to strike again!"
Spurting angry flames, Zing flew toward the Beast.
"Zing, no!" Zann shouted. "It's going to eat you!"
The Beast snapped at the small dragon. Zing barely escaped.
"We have to zap away!" Gliss cried, grabbing Darb's hand.
"No!" Wyssa said. "That's the worst thing we can do.
If the legends are true, the Beast can catch hold of Transport spells and pull its victims back—straight into its jaws."
"So we're trapped?" Perda snapped her fingers, and a sword appeared in her hand. "Then we'll have to fight."
Zann stared at her for a second. When had Perda become so brave?
He couldn't imagine any other kid his age facing down a monster so calmly.
But this was no time to think about such things.
Rubbing his hands together, Zann conjured his own sword.
"Stand back, kids," Venna called. "I'm going to blast it."
"Wait," Wyssa said. "I don't think that will—"
Blast!
A bolt of energy shot out of Venna's hands.
It flew straight at the Beast. The Beast opened its giant mouth . . .
Gulp!
"Did the Beast just eat the Blast spell?" Gliss cried.
Zann didn't have time to answer as he dodged another sizzling drop of slime.
He found himself beside Darb, who was still cradling the mibbit.
"The mibbit doesn't seem too worried," Zann commented.
Darb nodded. "Vee told us the effects of the ear-rubbing would last a few hours, remember?" he said.
"Too bad. I bet the mibbit was the only thing holding the Beast back before."
"You're probably right. No wonder the mibbit was tense with that thing around." Zann glanced up. "Get back!"
He and Darb leaped away in opposite directions.
The Beast's head slammed down, shaking the whole bridge.
"Hurry! Run while it's stunned!" Perda shouted.
"Maybe it won't be able to climb out of that pit and chase us."
Zann sprinted for the gate. He was only halfway there when a shimmering wall of magic energy shot up in front of him.
"What's that?" Venna cried.
Zann didn't answer. He lowered his head and ran straight toward the magical wall.
But he bounced off it and stumbled into Darb.
"Oof," Darb grunted. He fell backward, almost slipping off the edge of the bridge.
To catch himself, he had to drop the mibbit.
The fuzzy creature landed on its feet and just stood there, flicking its ears lazily.
"Look out!" Perda yelled. "The Beast is coming for you guys!"
Zann grabbed Darb and dragged him away from the Beast.
The Beast's orange eyes glowed, and another wall of magic energy sprang up inside the first.
"Why did it make another wall? The first one seemed to be working pretty well." Zann winced, touching his shoulder.
He would definitely have a bruise to heal later—if he survived this.
"I think it's herding us back toward itself."
Suddenly Perda looked scared. "Look! It's drooling."
"This is hopeless!" Gliss cried, her voice shaking.
"The Beast is going to eat us, and there's nothing we can do about it!"
Darb grabbed the mibbit. "Isn't there anything you can do?" he asked Wyssa and Venna.
Wyssa was peering at the magic walls. "Let me think, let me think," she muttered. "There must be a way . . ."
Zann glanced from Wyssa to his friends.
Perda and Gliss were clinging to each other, looking terrified.
Zing was hiding behind Venna. Darb, cradling the mibbit, was looking nervously at the Beast.
The hideous creature was sizing them up, as if deciding whom to eat first.
Suddenly Zann's eyes lit up. "I've got it! Everyone run toward the tower!"
"What?" Venna said. "Are you crazy?"
Zann didn't answer; he raced along the bridge toward the tower.
Perda caught up to him. "Zann, the door is bolted shut!
And we won't have time to try to open it with a spell. The Beast will have us cornered!"
"Just go." Zann shoved her forward and then turned to make sure the others were following.
Wyssa was the last to run past. She gave Zann a strange look.
"I hope you know what you're doing, boy."
Zann hoped so too. He glanced at the Beast, which was already gathering itself for another attack.
As the huge head snaked toward him, Zann sprinted after the others.
He could feel the creature's hot breath on the back of his neck.
A drop of viscous goo landed on his shoulder, burning right through his shirt.
Zann yelped in pain. He picked up speed, trying not to imagine the Beast's sharp teeth digging into his skin.