The demons roared, lunging at the group. But Angeleva was faster. Her wings propelled her into the air as she summoned daggers using her wand.
"Fairy Daggers!"
A barrage of glowing daggers rained down, striking one demon directly in the chest. It stumbled back, screeching in pain.
The second demon leaped for Ian. "Mortal! You will die first!"
"Nope!" Ian dodged, keeping his camera steady. "But thanks for the shot!"
Olive locked onto the demon. "Cover him, Jen!"
"On it!" Jen hurled another pudding. "Sticky Surprise!"
The demon snarled as caramel pudding glued its limbs together.
"Now!" Olive charged her blaster. "Precision Shot!"
A concentrated beam of energy pierced the demon's chest, making it howl. Angeleva swooped down, her wand glowing once more.
"Fairy Justice Beam!"
The beam struck both demons, reducing them to ash.
The gate rumbled open, revealing the path to the third floor.
"Two down, three to go," Angeleva said, her face determined.
"We're coming, big bro," Zack whispered.
Together, the family pressed onward.
_ _ _
They descended the spiral staircase connecting to the next floor, the air growing heavier with each step.
Faint whispers echoed through the cavernous walls, laced with a sickeningly sweet aroma. The light from Angeleva's wand flickered, struggling against the oppressive atmosphere.
As they reached the floor, a massive chamber opened before them. The walls shimmered with gold and gemstones, and alluring melodies drifted through the air. In the center stood a towering archway, glowing with a mysterious purple hue. Shadows danced along the ground, taking the forms of elegant figures that beckoned the family closer.
"This place is... strange," Olive murmured, clutching her blaster tightly.
"It's beautiful," Jen whispered, her eyes wide with awe.
"It's a trap," Angeleva warned. "Stay focused."
But it was already too late.
From the shadows emerged creatures cloaked in silk and adorned with dazzling jewelry. They were sirens of temptation, their every movement graceful and hypnotic. Their eyes gleamed, glowing with the power to uncover the deepest desires of anyone who dared look at them.
"Welcome to the Chamber of Temptation," one of the sirens purred, her voice like velvet. "Abandon your burdens. Fulfill your heart's desire."
The words slithered into their minds. Ian's camera lowered as he blinked in confusion, his usual witty demeanor faltering.
Jen took a hesitant step forward, her hands trembling.
Zack's eyes flickered, caught between his resolve and the temptation that gnawed at his heart.
Even Olive's steady hands shook slightly as her memories stirred.
Angeleva gritted her teeth. "No one listen! They're manipulating your thoughts!"
"But it's so... peaceful," Jen murmured, her gaze locked on the vision forming before her — a family feast on her home planet, her parents smiling, their laughter filling the air.
Zack saw his real family back to life, the once-destroyed homes standing tall. His parents, who had died in the demon invasion, embraced him, their warmth pulling him deeper into the illusion.
Ian's mind filled with the image of himself standing before a massive crowd, celebrated as a legendary documentarian. Fame, fortune, and admiration — all within reach.
And Olive saw herself back in her Celestic Police uniform, her reputation restored, no longer branded a traitor. She stood before her former comrades, praised and respected.
"Enough!" Angeleva shouted, her wings glowing brightly. "Fairy Purge!"
A wave of light burst from her wand, breaking through the illusions. The sirens screeched, recoiling from the purity of her magic. But the visions still lingered, their grip not entirely broken.
"We have to resist!" Angeleva called out. "They're feeding off our desires! Stay strong!"
The sirens hissed, summoning chains of purple energy that slithered across the floor, aiming to bind the family.
Olive quickly snapped out of her daze, lifting her gun and firing precise shots, shattering the chains before they could reach her.
"Zack, stay behind me!" she shouted, covering him as he struggled to shake the visions.
"I... I can fight it," Zack whispered, clutching his chest. He closed his eyes tightly, his hands glowing with a soft green light. "Healing Pulse!"
A surge of restorative energy washed over the family, strengthening their minds and clearing the lingering effects of the sirens' influence.
"Thanks, Zack," Angeleva said, stepping forward. "Now, it's our turn."
Ian quickly lifted his camera, shaking his head to regain focus. "Okay, back to business! Let's show these monsters why the Safari Family's the best!"
"Fairy Starlight!" Angeleva raised her wand, sending out radiant beams of light that chased the sirens through the air. The demons shrieked as the beams struck them, their alluring forms twisting into grotesque shapes.
Olive blasted shots, expertly hitting her targets mid-flight. "Gotcha," she muttered, a faint smile of satisfaction crossing her face.
Jen, her resolve reignited, threw a pudding straight at one of the sirens, splattering it across its face. "That's for messing with my head!"
"And this one's for the family!" Ian cheered, capturing every moment through his lens.
The sirens, weakened and enraged, merged together into a massive shadowy figure. The chamber trembled as it lunged toward the family.
"Fairy Barrier!" Angeleva shouted, slamming her wand into the ground. A dome of light enveloped the family, shielding them from the creature's destructive blast.
"Now's our chance!" Olive yelled.
Angeleva nodded. "Fairy Justice Beam!"
A brilliant beam of purifying energy erupted from her wand, piercing through the monstrous form.
The sirens let out one final screech before dissolving into nothingness.
The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the chamber's false beauty faded away, revealing crumbling stone walls. The archway ahead now pulsed with a blue light, signaling their path forward.
"Three down," Angeleva said, though her breathing was heavy. "Two to go."
Zack, though exhausted, clenched his fists with renewed determination. "We're getting closer. I can feel it."
Ian adjusted his camera, grinning. "And I got it all on tape. This rescue mission's gonna be legendary!"
Olive lowered her gun, giving Angeleva an approving nod. "Nice work, Big Sis."
"Thanks," Angeleva replied, though her gaze was set firmly on the next floor. "Let's keep moving."
The family stepped through the archway, knowing the challenges ahead would only grow more treacherous. But with each victory, their resolve burned brighter.