Essie Strikes Back!

This chapter is part of "The Small Town Magic Arc." Links for prior chapters in this storyline can be found here: https://www.theprose.com/post/746871/the-small-town-magic-arc

"You won't lay a finger on him!" Essie yelled angrily as Rick and the ice that held him disappeared from Cyclo's approaching fist, immediately reappearing by her side.

"Ha ha ha ha, wanna bet?" Cyclo sneered. "Maybe it's time for me to head over there and see how you are all doing on that side of the field!"

"Not going to happen, Cyclo." Essie smiled sweetly, gaining her composure back. She pointed at the ground, and four skeletal arms popped out around Cyclo, gripping his arms and legs.

"Ha ha ha ha! These scrawny things won't be enough to keep me from visiting you, little lady!" Cyclo laughed. His guffawing stopped when his attempts to break the grip of the skeletal hands were unsuccessful.

"I will admit that I am almost impressed, but I already feel the strength of these things weakening. Hope you have another trick handy, young one."

"Oh, I sure do." Essie retorted, still smiling. If Rick hadn't been unconscious within his ice prison, Essie's beaming face would have likely been enough to melt the encasement.

Essie continued pointing at the ground, and a skeletal fist flew out and punched Cyclo in the face. Unfazed by the blow, he looked at the fist that lay on the ground with amusement.

"Cute. Maybe you should have worked for a kiddie haunted house. Unfortunately, any career options you might have had will fall to pieces once I break loose and return the favor."

"Who said I was off the clock yet?" Essie replied, still grinning. Swarms of skeletal fists then flew out of the ground and relentless struck Cyclo all over his body. Cyclo flailed back and forth helplessly as the fists mercilessly assaulted him, giving him no chance to breathe or react to anything except for the pain that he certainly no longer considered adorable. After what no doubt felt like an eternity for Cyclo, the fists retired and made room for swarms of skeletal arms that came out of the ground, the hands of each grabbing the cyclops until all that was visible was a mass of skeletal limbs.

"Hang in there Rick." Essie said tenderly. "I will thaw and heal you after I end this right here and now!"

To be continued....