Stumbling out of the mirror maze Boon turned and grabbed for the heavy iron studded doors and heaved on them. Muscles rippled beneath the remnants of his tattered black suit as they started to swing shut. It had been insane, the mirrored walls had come to life and then goblins poured out of every intersection. He'd seen people pulled down by a pair of giant snakes and transformed! At first it had been great, appropriately scary for a Halloween party. Then it had gotten terrifyingly real and not an illusion at all!

He was in the corridor leading back out of the maze, a couple of party guests ahead of him when it happened. Laughing, chatting about how scary it had been everything had seemed normal. One of the ladies had screamed as something rose through the floor of the maze. It had been a coatl, a massive twelve foot long crested snake with wings and black scales. The others had laughed at the scare and moved as if to go around it. They took one step when without warning its scaled bulk wrapped around them and yanked them through the floor! Which was when the horde of five goblins had come spilling out of a side corridor to attack him.

That had been about five minutes ago, he’d beaten the goblins back and made it to the door. He almost had the door closed on the bedlam of the maze now. He froze as a woman wearing a frothy mass of ivory lace, cream silk and golden pearls ran out of a crossing corridor screaming. She had her skirts hiked up around her knees and powerful rabbit legs were giving her an edge on her persuit. Careening off a wall she started to peg it toward a side corridor, crazy hair blowing out behind her as she ran.

“This way!” Boon yelled jumping up and gesturing, her head whipped around and she changed direction. She'd just gotten out of the crossing space when a group of green skinned, frothing at the mouth goblins boiled out after her. Changing direction had cost her some of her lead however and one of the beasts grabbed her hair and yanked. With a scream she went backwards, smashing into the lead goblins who wrapped vile hands around her whilst leering.

Pausing for just a moment Boon adjusted his fedora, brushed lint off the tatters of his suit and had a momentary pang of regret for his lost sunglasses. After all one must always look their best when charging in to save a damsel in distress. Satisfied his hat was straight Boon roared and charged! He was still ten feet of polar bear, no one was going to accost a woman whilst he was around! The goblins hesitated, drawing back and then he was on them. One big paw flattened the goblin holding the Princess. He kicked two more into their mates and hoisted the lady up over his shoulders. Goblins chittered and screeched and probably would have fled as Boon roared! Sadly about fifteen more of their friends came charging out of a corridor cutting him off from the door.

Growling and preparing himself for a fight Boon blinked in surprise as a third of the screeching goblins suddenly turned to stone. Several of them turned and in a flash of ice-white light collapsed to the floor with a thump as plastic dolls. The goblins screamed and broke and started to run away down the opposite corridor to the one they had entered from. Emerging into the crossing was a yellow furred wolf in a red hat dressed in a long flowing black and red tuxedo complete with cumabund and opera cloak. He looked dapper and untouched by the troubles, the benefit of being a sorcerer probably.

“Thanks,” Boon shouted to the canine as he jogged past him, “This way there is an exit,” wasting no time Boon charged back to the door and planted the Princess on the floor. He waited for the wolf to follow and as soon as he was inside shoved the heavy wooden door shut. It thumped into the doorframe. Staggering upright, hair in disarray the lady threw herself at the locking bar and it slammed it into place.

“Thank you,” the lady murmured trying in vain to straighten her gorgeous blonde locks. She gave up after a moment and pulled loose some pins and tugged the wig off. Boon stared into a pair of green eyes now set beneath a scruffy mess of masculine looking white hair. His princess then reached down her brassiere and fiddled with her cleavage. Muttering in exasperation she pulled out two oval shaped pouches full of water as he kicked his skirts straight.

“Ugh all that work ruined… what the hell was that all about!”

“You're a guy!” Boon accused, pointing with one hand, “Damn that was one impressive costume.”

“I concur,” the wolf said with a sly grin, “You make quite the lady.”

“Yes, well…” he harrumphed and held out his hand, “Name's Sefra, I was being Princess Serena… thanks for the assist, skirts aren't easy to run in.”

Shaking his head and smiling the polar bear shook that hand and grinned, “Could have fooled me, that was some impressive girly screaming you were pulling off.”

“Indeed,” the wolf said still smirking, “I am Kaed and this Halloween party… I am done with it I suggest we leave.”

Twitching his ears Sefra harrumphed again and folded his arms, “Well, you know, got to stay in character whilst you can.”

Boon laughed and nodded at the wolf, “I agree with lemon fur here, let’s not stand around here and try to find a way out before those snakes come back and find us.”

“Aye, not sure what is going on in there but that was some serious magic being thrown around,” Kaed said with a frown, “I also have no idea where we are?”

Turning from the door Boon paused, the room he had taken refuge in was amazing, not at all what he was expecting. A solid flagstone floor stretched off ahead of him broken by two lines of tall carved columns that held up a vaulted ceiling. The far wall was filled by a huge stained glass window depicting a purple rabbit with a horn in his forehead; Boon recognized him, Nidonocu. He was standing tall before a glowing summoning circle containing a strange blue/white furred creature.

The summoning circle itself was just below the window, a circle of lapis-lazuli inlaid on the floor. It had tall stone stanchions at the cardinal points topped by thick ice-blue candles. Just beyond the circle was an altar surmounted by a gorgeous ice sculpture of Kalido. The crux like creature that had sang them all into the mirror maze. Flanking it were two amazing statues of black, gold-veined marble. Sitting on their haunches the jackals were black with bands of solid gold around their upper legs and hefty collars of platinum with ankh pendants about their necks.

They were shorter than Boon by a good two foot and rather than looking out into the chapel they faced each other. Blank white eyes outlined in gold eyeliner in the shape Boon thought was the eye of rah if he remembered his Stargate properly.

“I think,” Boon said at length, reaching out to place a big paw on Sefra’s bare shoulder, “This isn't a place for is to hide…”

Frowning Sefra nodded and moved back toward the door, “I agree, it reeks of a sanctuary and we are ill equipped to deal with such a place.”

“Nonsense,” Kaed said with a sniff and started forwards, “I have enough power for all three of us. I say I smash the window and we all escape that way.”

“I don’t know,” Boon muttered, “this sounds like a risky idea, oh fuck, we need to leave, now.”

Reaching for the bar over the door the bear wasn't quick enough. He’d seen the candles around the summoning circle start to light themselves. But before his hand touched the door the last candle flickered into life. A moment later a shape slithered up out of the stonework at the centre of the circle. Wings beating heavily the white scaled coatl hung in mid air majestically. Its crest of white feathers was tall, mismatched eyes bright and commanding and Boon found the bar over the door would not shift. Grunting and straining he tried to dislodge it, to pull it free but it resolutely refused to budge.

“Who are you,” Sefra demanded, stepping forwards and striking a pose, “In the name of the moon I demand an answer. I am Sefra Moonblossom, heir to the Throne of Serendipity and I abjure thee in this place to stay still and answer!”

The coatl tilted its head and watched as the candles around the circle flickered and swayed. Boon swallowed heavily and moved to stand behind the rabbit, placing both his hands on her … his shoulders.

“Will that work?” he asked quietly but Kaed answered before Sefra could open his mouth.

“Probably not,” Kaed hissed, “I get the feeling we all inadvertently agreed to some sort of ritualistic demonic pact when we entered the party.”

“Bugger,” Sefra's said with a sardonic smile, “I knew I should have brought Tsochan, this would have gone much smoother with his power here.”

Kaed shot a look at the rabbit and shook his head, “That demon ferret would be little help here, let me try…” walking forward the wolf raised both hands and hurled a bolt of ice at the flying snake. It was a powerful attack but mostly for show as he followed it up with a narrow beam of bright light that should have probably have done something nasty or permanent to the snake. Instead both spells slithered around the outside edge of the circle, deflected by its arcane power.

Swaying their head from side to side the coatl hissed softly, blunt snake face splitting into a grin. Slithering forwards it’s head poked out of the ring of the circle and those majestic wings flapped gently as if it was tasting the air above and around them both. Shaking himself suddenly Boon realised he'd just been standing there like a lemon! Drawing a deep breath the polar bear lunged at the snake, trying to grab the feathered reptile before she could do anything. Its wings however carried her up and out of reach as her forked tongue flickered and she spoke.

“It is decided…” spreading those wings wide she beat them once, rising up high, long supple snake body suspended in mid air. Too late Boon realised it was just a distraction. The two anubis statues had slowly been rotating! Turning to face them, expecting them to come alive and attack Boon’s eyes met the blank white gaze of the statue.

Shifting his bulk he moved to stand opposite, stooping his shoulders slightly so he could stare into those eyes levelly. He couldn't look away, couldn't move his body… except at its direction. The statues were the trap but not as he had expected. It was talking to him, whispering into his mind… loneliness, sadness but delight at having found a new friend.

“Sefra…” Boon muttered, unable to look away, “Please tell me you didn't look… it… it is going to… oh no, please no!”

The voice was whispering what it was going to do to him now they had joined. It was murmuring quietly about how strong, how majestic he would look once he had joined them as a statue. Struggling to shift Boon grunted as his fedora slipped, the moment eye contact was lost Boon’s body jerked back to life. Quickly he pulled off his hat and held it out before him, blocking out sight of the creatures eyes. He then tried to move his feet, to get over and grab Sefra or Kaed but he couldn’t move. Waves of ice had expanded out of the magical circle, they had rooted his big bear paws to the floor… despite being free of the creature's gaze he still couldn’t move!

It took him a moment to realise what it was, backlash from Kaed’s magic, it had ricocheted off the magical circle. It must have been twisted, changed somehow by the dark Halloween forces at work here for it had frozen them all to the floor.
Boon watched Sefra slowly stand up on tiptoes so he could easily see into the jackal statues eyes. In the same way Boon was crouching. Their bodies were being forced to meet the gaze of the jackal. After a couple of moments however Boon realised Sefra’s body wasn’t straining, he had gained several inches of height until he could easily see into the statue’s eyes! Slowly it dawned on Boon that he too was eye-level with the statue, he was no longer crouching… hurriedly hiding from those thoughts and the implication that he was still changing Boon focussed on trying to save the rabbit, or help him somehow. Sefra’s muzzle was screwed up, a look of panic and horror covering his muzzle. Desperately trying to shut out the voice in his head, pleading, demanding, cajoling him to look back Boon flicked his eyes down Sefra’s body. The rabbit’s clothes were dissolving, slowly flaking away into dust that itself faded before it hit the floor.

“Sefra… listen… to me… resist… you have to… resist!”

“No… no no I won’t,” the rabbit mumbled, “You can’t make me, I won’t let you I am not… not that!”

“He can’t hear you, you know,” the snake hissed as it slithered forwards on the ground. Boon could just see the white scaled body out of the corner of his eye. It coiled once around his ankles, big snake body warm and supple against his feet. Coils rose up to his waist and hugged him almost tenderly before unwinding and moving off.

“Kaed,” Boon shouted, struggling to turn his head and find the wolf, “Don’t just… ah feck…”

Kaed was standing where he had been, slightly ahead and struggling to move. His hands were flexing feebly, unable to summon his magic thanks to the heavy layer of frost covering his body. Right before his eyes Boon saw the ice sink deeper into Kaed. His dashing clothing was flaking away, dissolving. The white coatl slid across to the wolf coiling himself around his body so she could play her tongue across his face. For just a moment she touched her snout to his, her lips moved as if she was talking but Boon heard no words. Then she was slithering off, sliding behind Boon and out of sight.

There was a thump however, the bar over the door coming loose. The slithering sound of the snake’s retreat and then silence… except for the pleading, needy, desirous whispers of the voice in his head. Boon refused to listen and bent his will towards trying to snap Sefra out of it. The rabbit however just continued to stand there, his dress flaking away entirely, leaving him quite nude as he stood and stared back at the statue. He wasn’t even blinking and as Boon strained in vain to snap him out of it his body began to change. His fur was smoothing out, lying flat against his body and merging into his skin that was starting to darken and harden. Black marble was spreading across his body and a line of pure platinum was creeping about his neck, thickening, solidifying into collar with a golden ankh dangling from it.

Giving up on Sefra for now the bear turned his attention back to the wolf. He was a mage, he had to be able to help. What he found was more frost, more ice and less flesh and fur. Kaed’s hat was entirely ice now, glistening and reflecting the light like a crystal. His face was screwed up, snarling angrily as inch by inch he lifted his hand. Pointing it toward the altar his face twisted into a triumphant snarl as a ball of fire erupted into being. Heat from the flame melted the frost covering his forearm, his fingers flicked and he tried to hurl the fireball.

Streamers of flame erupted out of the fire as the whole thing wavered and froze. A lump of solid ice hung in the air before Kaed’s hand, “No,” the wolf screamed as ice encased his arm. He struggled back and forth, twisting his hips as his legs froze to the floor but it was clear Kaed was losing this battle. A soft gurgling moan from Sefra drew Boon’s attention back to the rabbit.

Sefra’s big bunny ears were transitioning from long and frilled to straight, tall and slightly curved. Sefra’s muzzle was also changing, growing longer, more canine in shape and length. Boon watched the rabbit’s muzzle transforming but was distracted when he noticed the changes happening to the rest of his body. His waist was lowering, twisting, his legs bending, shifting, knees rising up, feet becoming canine paws complete with golden claws. His hands slid down, arms lengthening, hands twisting into paws as his neck and chest elongated. He was becoming a duplicate of the anubis statue, his body morphing into a beautifully carved replica of a proudly sitting jackal.

He stopped muttering as his face was claimed entirely by the marble. Now there was nothing left of him, his flesh and fur were all gone, consumed by the dark marble, the points of gold and the noble carriage of the mighty dog. Shaking his head in despair Boon resumed his struggle, his fight against the compulsion and so it wasn’t until their eyes met that the bear realised the Statue that had been Sefra was turning, rotating…

He tried to bring his hands around, to block Sefra’s eyes with his hat but he was too slow, his limbs locked up. A familiar voice filtered into his mind, the rabbit was talking to him, Struggling, caught off guard the polar bear tried to move his arms, to shield himself from that baleful, transformative stare but he couldn’t move. Well he couldn’t move under his own power, his body twisted around, his feet shuffled about until he was facing Sefra. His hands released his hat and fell to his side and so Boon stared helplessly into Sefra’s eyes. His voice rose inside his mind. He was so happy, eager, excited, if his tail could have wagged it would have done so.

Boon however was lost, he continued to try and struggle against the baleful influence of the statues gaze. But he could feel his clothing dissolving, his body beginning to change. His arms lowered, his hind quarters settled into an alert, watchful pose. Inch by inch he was becoming marble, solid, proud, watchful. Off to his left he could see Kaed, he was entirely ice now crouching before the altar, hands raised, an expression of terror moulded onto his muzzle. The wolf had been posed like an action figure then frozen in ice… no he was ice. Boon could see straight through him, there was nothing organic hidden beneath the glistening surface. He was ice entirely now… just like Boon was becoming marble!

With a last desperate moan the polar bear attempted to break free, to halt the transformation. But it was growing hard to think, it was inside his brain now, his thoughts were scattering, sliding away like oil on water. He was a guardian of the temple, none could walk between them without looking into their eyes… none could approach except those of great will. A collar settled about his neck and Boon’s ears stretched upwards. He was a statue, a guardian, it was his place to sit here and keep the circle secure. None would pass they would join him, join his siblings, they would all be statues together and guard this place as was their duty.

Frozen, marble footpaws touched the ground, his back curved down, hind-quarters sat firmly on the ground. Eyes locked with his twin he stared at him. He had a name but it didn’t matter, he was a guardian and this was his place. Proud, strong, Anubian jackal, that was him, safeguarding this place. Memories of what he had been before were of no matter, not even worth reviewing, he was here to guard, to protect, to keep this place safe. He was a statue, a guardian… his eyes had a companion, he was not alone… he was a statue… he was where he wanted to be.

-0-

Kaed felt the threads of his trap loosen and come undone all the way. It had started after the white snake coiled herself around him before leaving. She had spoken to him, through the cracks of his own prison he had heard the voice of the coatl.

“I need your help sorcerer, I cannot resist my compulsion for long, I have have managed to not judge you. I will need your help, we must stop the demon.”

Then she had left, leaving him to freeze! Now however, true to her word the ice shattered, Kaed stumbled backwards landing on his rump. He felt his hat slipping and immediately clapped a paw atop it to keep it in place. That had been a powerful curse, something had twisted his magic, thrown it back at him as ice! He was wet, shivering but alive and wasted no time in sitting around waiting.

There were four deadly statues in the room now and no polar bear or rabbit. He'd got off lightly once because the white snake was fighting her compulsion. She’d spoken quietly into his mind, asking him to render assistance against the demon polluting this place.

“Sod that,” he shouted and launched himself at the window. A bolt of force shattered the glass. He tumbled through it out into the cool night air, he was free! He had just time to see it and scream before he bounced into the giant spider web hidden outside the chapel window. Strands of sticky silk clung to his fur, tangled his hands and feet and gummed up his mouth.

Shouting in a muffled growl Kaed tried to thrash, to bring his magic to bare but the web was too thick. Long, spindly legs loomed above him, skittering atop the web, silk started to wrap around him as the voice he'd heard whilst being frozen returned.

“You should have helped, I cannot free you from the master’s trap... “ the female voice that echoed in his mind sounded frustrated and Kaed… well he was starting to regret not helping.

Kaed let out a muffled scream and struggled but the spider was too big, the silk of his cocoon sticky, draining… he was caught! Reduced to another wriggling bulge of fine silk hanging from a tree, ready for the spider to enjoy later.

~fin