Before Zak can do anything other than hug her book and get out of the way, Venger has appeared, Kryschenn has gone into a bezerker rage, and Zeo's collapsed after stopping a fireball..."I've got to DO something...." Zak keeps telling herself, but at least the palace guards aren't getting in the way of things...they had charged Kryschenn, but the appearance of Venger and the rest of the confusion had left them all gaping and scrambling to escape with the rest of the populace.
Then the vizier turns into a demon, perhaps thinking he would have his master's support-- but Venger has been vanquished. For the moment, anyway.
"He's not really a demon," Zak called helpfully as the doppleganger advanced on Cassandra and the others. "So he can't use their powers or steal your soul...but he does have the same strength and speed, and invulnerability to fire! And watch out, Cole, he might have a demon's mental abilities too..." She didn't remember exactly whether those came with the doppleganger skill or not, but a demon had some pretty NASTY mental ablilities...
Zakiyah then retreated to a safe spot, well out of the way of the swinging swords and spells-- and bumped into something extremely cold ad airy. She turned and was confronted with the frightening visage of the guardian spirit, who was looking impatiently at Cassandra. "Silly girl," it said softly, as it regarded the Mystic, who'd stopped following it to confront the vizier. "The staff must be retrieved, it's far more important...no matter. You will do."
Zak's thoughts suddenly went blissfully, peacefully blank. Anyone who sees her will notice she's dropped her book with a loud THUNK! (her quill is still stuck in her hair like a giant feather). She teeters a little and then turns to walk stiffly away toward the catacombs, oblivious to the battles behind her, her eyes fixed on the wispy spirit that leads the way...
