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Bait and Switch Casey awoke, aware of nothing except the pain in his head. He was still inside the canvas bag, being dragged along the ground. Every few seconds his head would bump against the uneven ground, which explained his pounding headache. He could not believe he had let Alex Dudley of all people get the drop on him. Even if he was armed with demonic powers. “Help!” Casey yelled, hoping they were still close enough to the school for someone to hear him. “Somebody help me!” “That’s enough of that,” Alex said. His hands glowed red again, and he muttered an incantation placed in his mind by Asmodeus. Inside the bag, Casey suddenly found his mouth sealed shut by strip of sheer gray cloth, wrapping around his head. Alex muttered another incantation, and ropes materialized around Casey’s wrists, arms and ankles. “Now you’re ready to meet the master,” Alex said. Casey felt the ground sloping downward as he was dragged over it. They stopped, and Alex untied the top of the bag. He dragged Casey out, still roped so tightly he could hardly move. Casey grunted in protest, but the enchanted gag on his mouth made speech impossible. Casey looked around and saw that they were in a cavern of some sort - most likely the caves that lay west of the campus. A large man in a hooded cloak stepped out from the shadows. “Welcome, young one,” he said in a cold voice. “I am Asmodeus.” “I brought him just as you commanded, master,” Alex said, like a puppy expecting a biscuit. “We would not need him at all if you had managed to keep the Tyler brat from escaping,” Asmodeus bellowed. Alex hung his head. “You weary me, boy,” Asmodeus said. “Sleep now.” Instantly, Alex curled up on the floor and fell asleep. Casey had been trying to crawl toward the mouth of the cave, but he could not move very quickly. Asmodeus turned and placed a boot on his chest. “You are not going anywhere, whelp,” he said. “I have plans for you.” He dragged Casey up with one hand and placed him on a chair. “First, I must feed,” the demon said. “Working even these petty magics has left me exhausted. Your witless schoolmate is a very poor instrument -- rather like trying to slice bread with a serving spoon.” Asmodeus placed his hand over Casey’s heart. As his hand began to glow a fiery red, Casey screamed. He felt as if his innermost self were being torn apart and drained away. What had Tommy said after his dream? “Like ripping the soul right out of his body.” The description was painfully accurate. At last Asmodeus seemed to have had his fill. “That was exquisite,” he said, conjuring a chair for himself. “Such a strong and courageous soul in one so young. I will be at peak power in no time with this sort of diet. Strong enough to destroy your friend Tommy.” Casey strained against his ropes, but they were tighter than ever. “I was right – the bond between the two of you is very powerful. Almost . . . magic,” Asmodeus said. “That is what makes you the perfect bait.” Miles away, the Champion was still searching for Asmodeus. The demon had used warding spells to conceal himself from the Champion’s heightened senses. The hero expected that it would take him the better part of the night to pick up the trial. To his surprise, an image of Asmodeus appeared before him. He appeared to be in a cave. “Champion,” the image of Asmodeus said. “I have someone here you may wish to see.” The image shimmered and then gave way to a different one – Casey, tied and gagged, inside an iron cage. "Let him go,” the Champion roared. “Or I will tear you apart!” The image of Asmodeus reappeared. “You will do nothing,” it said. “Or the boy will die. I have placed a spell on the cage that surrounds him, a spell designed specifically for you. If you touch the cage, or even go near it, the boy will be destroyed instantly. You dare not come here.” Frustrated, the Champion fired a bolt of magical energy at the image, which simply vanished. He was left alone in the darkness, surrounded by silence. How could he have left Casey on his own like that? What kind of hero lets his best friend get grabbed by a demon? From the image, he could tell that Asmodeus was holed up in one of the caves in the western part of town. The knowledge did him no good, however, since he could not go anywhere near the demon’s lair. With all of his powers, he could do nothing to help his friend. Then the thought hit him: he could not help his friend, but Tommy Tyler could. The spell was directed specifically at him. It would have no effect on Tommy. Once Casey was free, he could simply change back into the Champion and stop Asmodeus once and for all. He made his way toward the caves. Once he was close enough, he landed and spoke his magic word. He changed back into Tommy, still in his soccer uniform. To his chagrin, he realized he was not wearing any shoes. His cleats were still back in the locker room. He walked the rest of the way in his socks, with the sharp rocks jabbing his feet. Next time, Tommy thought to himself, I’ll have to remember to put my shoes on before I say the magic word. “And I’d better never change into the Champion while I’m in the shower,” he muttered. He reached the cave and crept along the wall, staying in the shadows. Soon he saw the cage holding Casey. Alex was sleeping on the ground nearby, but Asmodeus was nowhere in sight. Tommy found the key sitting on a chair and unlocked the cage. As soon as he saw him, Casey began yelling frantically into the gag. “Take it easy,” Tommy said, pulling the cloth from Casey’s mouth. “Are you all right?” “Tommy, get out of here,” Casey said. “It’s a trap.” “What are you—” Tommy’s words were cut off by another strip of cloth, which appeared from nowhere. Tommy spun around and saw Asmodeus slamming the cage door shut. “Indeed, it is a trap,” Asmodeus said. “And you are the mouse.” Asmodeus waved his hand. Ropes appeared and wrapped themselves around Tommy’s body. Within moments, he was tightly bound and helpless. “Why don’t say your magic word, little mouse?” the demon sneered. “Cat got your tongue?”
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