In a world threatened by chaos and darkness… Where everything is rotten since the disparition of a legend… A hero is destined to bring back the peace in Fairy Hill. The only hope for the people is six rebels that need to find the hero across the lands of Fairy Hill. But it’s a fragile team, with three mysterious, deadly siblings and three others that are discovering themselves.
Everybody feared the existence of the island outside of the Fairy Hill kingdom. People who were attracted by the haunting bell, had never been seen again and were trapped in the iron walls surrounding the island.
Except one day, when a mother was clutching on her child, trying to escape. She was under the docks, carefully getting out of sight from the guards. The baby was beginning to cry and she whispered to him, calming him down. She waited to see if someone heard them, but it was complete silence.
She passed under the iron wall, with the water up to her waist. The mother shivered like a leaf, she focused on her memories of her home on Fairy Hill to keep moving.
When she got to the other side, it was not the one she was waiting for. She stopped, hugging the baby closer to her. The tall figure lifted up and walked towards the tunnel she was coming from. He made his crooked smile.
“ Evelyn, Evelyn, Evelyn” He began slowly, as if she was a child.“ I’ve been looking for you all day.” He tilted his head to the side.
“ Fairy Hill is not yours, I hold the child that will protect the kingdom”
“ Not if I eradicate him with you ”
Fury crossed her face as she promised: “ You will never have him. ”
She waved her hand around and the water rose to the man, hitting him like a bull. She spun around and climbed back on the dock. She looked back at her foe as he got back up. Not thinking twice she ran away from him. It was supposed to be someone else, and he was not there. She didn’t know what to do, and she began to lose sight in the mist surrounding the island.
Evelyn gasped when she saw a silhouette in front of her, looking exactly like the other. She could not stop her run, and he grabbed her arm carefully.
“ It’s me ” He moved black strands of hair from her face, and she took a deep breath. “ You must have taken the wrong way ” He chuckled slowly “ I was worried ”
She lifted her gaze to him “ You were right to be, we need to go now ” She pressed, taking his hand and walked to the little boat behind him. She put her baby in the blanket space he had prepared for him.
“ Brother, always the sensitive heart, I see. ”
The tall man from later appeared from the mist and his brother took place in front of Evelyn.
“ These two are the last, Thorne ”
His jaws tightened in disappointment “ Do you know what they are, Beck ? ” As he didn’t answer, he continued marching slowly toward them" They are powerful enough to be a threat to our island. “ He waved the wall beside them.
” They didn’t even want to be here, I don’t think they will overthrow you, Majesty.“
He laughed at the sarcasm of his brother ” You cut me, because you missed a point. “ He was right in front of him with a smile that sent chills in Evelyn’s back. ” I want Fairy Hill and show them who is the real god of this earth “ He eyed her with a warning ” So let me finish this little business, brother.“
Evelyn held her breath as Beck stood still.
” I won’t let you do that “ He answered calmly and stepped back to protect the mother and the child.
” As you wish, brother “
As he finished his response, Evelyn felt a pain in her stomach. Thorne had stabbed his own brother and reached her at the same time. The sword was pulled away and Beck fell on his knees.
” I won’t have a traitor in my own family. “ He finished him with a cut to his throat.
Evelyn pressed her hands on the wounds, and she looked back at the little boat. She used the last of her strength and power to push the boat away as the baby began to cry. Thorne kneeled beside her watching the boat get lost in the mist. He looked at her still smiling, she was smiling faintly too because she gave a chance to Fairy Hill to survive. Beck had saved the last one. ” You know, Evelyn “ he began as she felt herself weaker and the cold rise on her skin. ” I might not find your son, and he may grow to be has powerful as the others, but in the end… “ She looked at him ” He will be all alone against my army. “ He finished with a false sorry tone.
” He will be prepared “
These last words from Evelyn made the king scoff, but the legend of the boy who got out of the cursed island with iron walls that continued to be told years after, made him choose his allies and men for the army wisely, to strike a war that nobody would be prepared for.
Chapter One - Bloodshed (Fairy Hill : The Lost Hero)
A simple game of cat and mouse, that was the goal of this journey to the shire of Emerald. The high shining castle shadow's was hovering over the once green plains and a young maid was running between the arches for her life.
She stumbled to a door back in the castle "You have to help me !" she screamed at the face of a nearby guard. The guard laid his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm the hysteric lady. " What is happening ?"
She practically tore off the sleeve of his armor attempting to bring them away from the door. "My friend-", She breathed out. "They have killed her !"
He stabilized the maid. "Who ?"
The eyes of the woman widened in fear as she whispered "Them -", looking behind the guard.
"What —"
There was no one behind him but he felt a hand on his throat. He looked back in front of him and saw a man. The guard tried to fight him with his sword. The man started laughing as he picked it up easily and caught the guard in his hold.
"Sweet little mortals", Nik whispered while he broke the sword in two. The guard tried to get away but the man was stronger. He leaned on the guard's neck and bit it. After a few minutes, the guard's body fell on the ground. The maid, who had watched the scene, started screaming loudly. The man's mouth was covered in blood and he put his hand on the maid's mouth to stop her screams.
"I forgot to introduce myself. It's impolite of me, I am Nik." he said while looking at her and she started shaking.
"Don't ... hurt ... me ..." she mumbled while trying to catch her breath.
"I won't."
The maid took a relieved breath at the sound of his gentle voice. Nik removed his hand from her mouth.
" Brother, she's yours." when the maid heard this, she started screaming.
A taller man appeared and he had darker hair than Nik. He smiled at his brother and he went towards the maid. She tried to run away but Nik was stopping her before she could even think about it.
"Could you have given me someone more quiet ?"
"I tried brother, but you can make her quiet."
The taller brother started leaning on the maid's neck but Nik stopped him before he could bite.
" Brother, you have to be a gentleman to the woman and introduce yourself before killing her."
The brother looked at Nik, annoyed.
" Don't give me this look. You know the good manners."
The maid kicked the brother between the legs and started running but when she arrived to the exit a woman with dark hair was in front of her. She had two dead guards on her shoulders and blood all over her body.
" Hello, beautiful."
The maid tried to run to the other side but the three pale human-like monsters were surrounding her.
" How many are you ?" she asked, scared.
" One. Nik the greatest person ever." he pointed himself " Two. Cahelm. He's too serious for me but he can have his moments of fun." he pointed at the tallest man. " Finally, my beautiful little sister Maze. Three." he pointed at the woman with dark hair.
The maid stayed quiet and she fainted.
He rose his hands up, disappointed " Why do they always faint? The fun is when you are awake !"
" Maybe you played too much with her, brother."
" I didn't even touch her with my tongue yet!."
Nik turned over to the maid and kick her body.
"Wake up !" he continued until she started bleeding from her nose.
Nik looked at Cahelm and he smiled presenting her with his hand.
" This lady does not want to play anymore, she all yours, brother" he said, pouting.
Cahelm rolled his eyes but he fed on the body anyway. Nik started to destroy things from boredom. He threw away the paintings and broke some stained-glass windows. Maze helped him destroy things in the room, making relics fall accidentally on the ground.
" Bless the queen." yelled Nik and he just broke a painting of the queen and made a twirl of victory.
The hallway echoed with their laughs as they entered the castle library. Cahelm started researching the books after pushing his brother playfully. Maze scraped some more paintings around, making claw marks in the painted faces before crashing them on the floor.
Her eyes peeked at a book title that was appropriate for their research. Her thumb swept the dirt over the title. Species here and beyond the ages.
She opened the book in the middle and it was a chapter on fairies. She scoffed at the drawing of a classic snob-looking fairie, she then moved to another chapter and fell on the witch's one. The gray waistcoat Nik cast in her face broke her concentration from reading. The sister looked at her brother who had swept chairs and tables all over the room.
" You know I have this feeling", said Nik while getting up on a wooden table that was still standing " Let's dance."
He kicked a stack of books off the table and launched his dance, jumping and inviting his little sister to join him. "Come on!", he pleaded when he saw that Maze was not moving. She rolled her eyes, but finally decided to take his hand, letting the book down. She jumped on the table and Nik made her twirl. The siblings danced in laughter as they turned around each other.
"Where did you find this book, Maze ?", asked Cahelm.
She pointed at the bookshelf, still laughing," Over there, why ?"
" You maybe have found something", he answered, slowly concentrated on the book.
"Like exactly what we want ?" Asked Nik, as he and Maze stopped dancing.
"I said maybe, but it says species beyond the ages."
Her brother looked at her, waiting for further explanation, "Maybe it's really in there...", she continued. They moved towards the table and looked all together in the book, page by page. Mostly they were species they had met at least once or heard of.
" And who is she ?" Asked Nik, in a flirtatious tone looking at a drawing of a creature, a Sylph.
"We are looking for more important stuff than women, Nik."
Maze smiled at her big brother's comment. This was a big book and just when she thought she saw something that could be the information they needed, the door of the library's door opened.
The three siblings turned to see a young man peeking his head in the room. When he witnessed the intruder, he entered in the library. He was wearing ugly green clothes. He probably was from Opal with his dark skin color, muscular body with line up dark hair. Probably working happily for the Queen or he was a slave.
"What are you doing here ?", he demanded in an imperious tone.
Maze answered in an innocent tone, "Research and reading"
"Are you from the village ?"
" Do we look like villagers ? "
" You don't look very well, physically and mentally"
"This one is funny", commented Nik
The young man backed out when they began to move away from the table and when he tried to turn away, Cahelm was already blocking the way. The man was about to speak and Nik passed his arm around his shoulders.
"Do you know if the dear Queen Meira is here tonight ?"
He looked at them quietly, frightened, for a few seconds. Maze joined them with the books in her hand.
"You are a slave, aren't you?"
He nodded, "There is an execution tonight", he finally let out trying to keep a strong voice. The siblings looked at each other.
"Interesting, but we were in serious information gathering", recalled Maze as she tapped her finger on the book.
"It must be important, to have caused a bloodbath."
"Ah, it's for the great cause", defied Nik pressing his hand on his muscular shoulders. " Well, sister, we could keep it for another time, I want to see that execution"
"What do you think, Cal ?"
The mortal looked at her with confused eyes, "What ?"
" Not you, Cahelm ?"
" Whatever pleases you, pleases me", he said, raising his shoulder.
***
Like always before an execution, a long painful scream was shattering the wall. Not from the ones that were sent to die, but from the young woman executioner. A guard looked in Adryane's room, which was turned over. He didn't enter the room. The last guard to have put one foot before her destruction fit was over died. Many guards tried to talk to Queen Meira, asking to go looking for another young witch.
The Queen then replied in the same way to each and every single one of them. A smile appeared on her face and she responded, " I don't need another one." Adryane, since the "accident", never had a guard standing too close to her. Except her best friend who had always been at her side. So, she looked at the guard after calming down.
" Do you know where is Kal ? "
" No, Lady Hillbird, but the Queen said it's time. "
She got up unwillingly to follow the guard to Queen Meira office. She walked over pieces of glass, cracking under her feet. The guard let her pass, she knew exactly where to go, she had been numerous time in this dark green office where the Emerald Queen watched over her kingdom by a bay window. That was exactly what she was doing when she entered. Her majesty was not yet in her big dress, but that would not take too long. She turned to watch the guard come towards her, bow down and mumble, " She did it, again, majesty."
The Queen looked at Adry making herself little, she smiled and told the guard to wait outside.
" How was it? " She asked as she walked towards her slowly, turning around like she was a jewel, craving to have it. Adryane shivered when the hand of the queen touched her olive skin.
" What if one day, I've had enough" replied Adryane slowly " and tear down this castle. " She looked at the Queen with hatred.
" It's the daring Hillbird that speak today ? " She stopped, placing one hand over her shoulder. " How did you feel?" she asked one more time pressing her hand.
"I feel like you will never have the power to use it— " Meira grabbed her cheek in one hand forcing her to stop talking.
" It doesn't matter how much time it takes you to control it!" She let go and rushed toward her desk while Adryane rubbed her painful cheeks." Guard !"
The door opened at the second and the guard bowed down again, waiting for the order.
" We have an execution tonight and I want you to find my personal maid, I want my executioner and myself to be dressed the best tonight. " She smiled proudly, looking at Adry.
" Yes, my Queen "
While he was obeying her demand, the Queen invited Adryane to sit down until the maid came back with the dress and a green gown for Adry. They prepared themselves in the office, the queen went away to dress. While the maid helped her put the clothes on, she felt squeezed when she tied it.
She was covered with Emerald encrusted in the gold medal on her chest, in the middle of the belt and on the sleeves. The maid finished quickly after braiding her long black hair and went to join the Queen to help her.
Adryane looked at her reflection in the bay window. They finally put the crown on the Queen's head. She was wearing a black dress tonight. " Thank you, you can go ", she waved her hand. She looked at herself in the mirror, contemplating her beauty, correcting some spots of makeup around her mouth or watching her narrow eyebrows and replacing her silky dark hair before calling the witch to do their duty.
On the way she picked the poison she was going to use, The Reaper's Petal, the essence came from a plant of the jungle Tiger's Eye. It killed you in a few minutes.
" Now, remember not to talk to the prisoners, I don't want to repeat what happened last time " She sighed, turning a corner" I had to throw away one of my best dress."
She didn't pay attention to her remark and looked around hoping to see Kal appear. He was always with her at executions, What was he doing ? Whatever he was doing, it was too late when the door closed. She was holding the bottle and she almost dropped it when she saw who was getting executed.
It was a single fairy, she was looking like the most innocent, she wiped away her tears when the Queen walked in front her. Her wings, glowing in a purple shade, made Queen Meira's jewelry shine.
" Do you know why you are here ? "
" It was nothing, I was not supposed to have it! " The fairy cried out.
" Exactly, you had something that doesn't belong to you and what did you do after ?! " Her voice rose up
" You are not my queen", was the last answer she gave her.
The Queen scoffed and made a big sigh before she started the execution speech, " So, I have come to the conclusion that you are a traitor to my kingdom and I want what's best for my people. You are condemned— "
A guard entered the room running, covered in blood. He rushed towards her.
" My Queen, we have intruders in the castle, they caused a carnage!"
" Then get reinforcement! " She shouted, angry.
" That's what we did, they are all dead — "
She pushed the guard out of the way and quit the room, mumbling complaints, but before she passed the door she turned to Adryane, " The fairy better be dead when I come back." Adry wanted to throw away the bottle of poison, but when the Queen would come back the fairy could suffer much worse. She removed the cap and when the flowery scent got to her, a teardrop crossed her cheek. She dropped on her knees in front of the young blond fairy and put away the bottle, " I can't " She said, relieved.
Quickly, she got up and turned around the fairy and tried to unlock her handcuffs with a pin from her hair. The guard was walking towards them telling them to stop. When she finally succeeded to open the handcuffs, the fairy knocked out the guard with one light ball to his head. The glowing light in her hand slowly faded.
" I'm sorry "
" No, you didn't kill me, I'm alright with that ", she replied with a sweet smile while her wings shone in a yellow tone.
" I mean, I am putting you at risk, you have to leave. " Adryane helped her get up. She was smaller than her.
" You could come with me. " The fairy proposed, "You don't have to suffer to make the duty of the queen!"
" Not without my friend " The witch shook her head, more to convince herself because she could not abandon Kal here. She could not have hoped for a better greeting from a prisoner freed.
" Then let's go get him, you got an ally in me " She took her hand, the fairy didn't want to lose a friendly face who just saved her life. " Please, you must know the castle, an exit."
More than one exit.
" If the Queen sees us, it's over. "
" I would feel better dying while trying then staying here, don't you ? "
Adryane nodded and reached for the poison, putting the cap back, " Maybe it could be useful ", she explained. She felt exhilarated trying to escape the queen once more and hoped this was not going to be a failure As they began to walk toward the door, it opened, almost flying at the other side of the room. Adry's heart stopped and pounded violently. She walked herself in front of the fairy without hesitation.
The Queen would not hurt her if she was in the way, but instead of her it was three person laughing, wearing the same black clothes and gray waistcoats, all with really pale skin and covered in blood. The intruders, of course. One of them brought Kal, covered in blood too, inside with an arm around his shoulder. She called her friend's name out of enjoyment, she would not have to search to the other side of the castle, but when she saw his frightened eyes, she squeezed the bottle, getting it ready if they were not friendly.
The stranger stopped and looked at her with wide opened eyes. He watched over the guard on the ground making a painful groan. The others were a tall man and a black haired woman holding a book. Then the one holding Kal said in a mocking and disappointed tone:
" That's your execution ? "
***
" He lied to us, this is not an execution ", Corrected Maze with the corner of her lips rising up in a playful mood. She gave Kal a pat on the shoulder.
" That ruined my mood — "
" There was an execution! "
The young woman in the attire of Emerald looked at the blond fairy behind her. Maze noticed the shackles on the ground not far behind them. She guessed what had happen at the same time as the little fairy spoke, " He is telling the truth, I was the prisoner and she was the executor- "
Nik scoffed loudly, " Her, executor? Surely she can kill with that beauty. "
The executioner's eyebrows raised up as Nik walked towards her, very relaxed. He leaned, so that his face was at the same height, " The name's Nik",
" What are you doing ? ", asked Kal.
" Presentation "
" Leave her alone- "
" It's alright, Kal " finally told the executioner " Listen, we just want to leave this castle, we don't want trouble with you" She explained slowly to Nik while he stood up completely and Kal joined her friend to take place in front of her. " Kal - "
" I don't trust him, Adry", he explained quickly," they killed a lot of people "
" It's not our business, they finally made the queen go away from me and you are here, so can we just go. ", she tried to make him turn towards her, but he stayed still watching Nik with warning eyes.
Maze sighed behind, " Are we going to kill them, Nik? It's getting long ", she gazed at the fairy who backed a few footsteps, taking the arm of the executor to make her back away too. Her wings got as white as her face.
" What !? "
" Sorry, my sister is very impatient" He turned to her, " What's the rush about ? "
" Let me see, we have the book" She lift it up, " This is not an execution anymore, so I don't see why we should stay there any longer except if you want to kill them"
" Why not play with them before? " He answered with a smile.
" You two knew that you could have played that differently", Commented Cahelm pointing the three people running toward the door" Maybe with less reference to murder. "
" She ruined it! " Complained Nik.
The fairy collided with Maze blocking the door entrance as the other new threats stopped behind. Nik grabbed the executor from behind, she screamed as her friend shouted to let her go. He turned her to face him, " I'm sorry, love, the queen will lose her most beautiful possession", but before he could talk more she put the uncapped bottle of poison in his mouth. Cahelm caught Kal between his arms after he tried to join her.
He let her go as he coughed and spat pieces of glass, he made a disgusted face, " That's what the queen demands to be the last thing you taste" He still coughed two more time, trying to wipe away the poison. " It tastes like shit!"
The eyes of the girl widened in fear, " How ?" Nik laughed slowly trying to stop the tickles in his throat.
" Don't be so shocked, darling, I hoped for something for stronger, since it was the only weapon you had. " He commented, " I like feisty women. "
" Hey! "
The group was interrupted by the guard who got up, " You are all under arrest- "
" Brother... "
Cahelm moved like a shadow and got behind the guard to rip his heart out. The three companions all gasped in terror. " What kind of monsters are you!? " Shouted Kal taking his friend and with the fairy behind, they backed away from them. Three little mice trapped by the three big cats. They were cornered and could not get away easily now. Cahelm came back wiping the blood away from his arm.
" The handsome ones "
" What do you want ?!" Answered back Kal, ignoring Nik's comment.
" Let's just say you were not at the best place at the right time. " The three siblings continued to walk slowly closer to them.
" If you make one more step ! "
" What, what are you gonna do about it ?" Replied Maze with a false tone of surprise.
The executor get on her knee with her hand on her temple. They looked at her almost laughing until they each received balls of light. " Damn Pixie !" Screamed Nik as they are all blinded by it. Kal caught Adryane up and they ran to the door while the fairy was still throwing golden sparks at them and she flew away in a last blinding light.
The three siblings rubbed their eyes hoping to get back their sight faster.
" They are going to get it, they want to play ? " Nik cracked his hand together " I'm going to play. "
" They are interesting, well the two ladies " Maze looked at the door with a faint smile.
They started to follow them slowly as Nik agreed with her, " Yes, that would be a shame if we didn't know their names" He passed an arm around his sister's shoulder.
" They turned to the right here" called Cahelm.
They emerged in a more confined room and the three were in a dead end. The executor was still gripping herself like she was going to be sick or something. The fairy turned, " Oh no"
" Oh Yes" murmured Maze.
" What is happening to the lady ? "
" None of your business, just leave us alone !"
" I'm afraid you have caught our interest. "
Kal took a nearby object, a solid statue, a relic. He went towards Nik, trying to smash it on his head. Her brother caught the hand of the man before he could reach the goal. He squeezed his hand and the man got on his knee grunting in pain.
" Kal ! " screamed her friend. Something changed in the room, the object began to tremble, " Just leave us alone! ". She gasped and returned on her knee, " Don't lose control, don't lose control.. " She murmured to herself.
" Adryane ! " Kal succeeded to get out of the hold of Nik as he was concentrating on the girl. " No, don't approach her ! " He called the fairy as she saw her trying to comfort her. The three intruders just stayed there, not believing what they were seeing, something that was thought to have disappeared a long time ago. Kal tried to reach the witch, but he was being pushed away by her release of power.
She tried to reach his hand, but its was too late, the damage was done. The roof collapsed over them with an enormous lighting strike. The three sibling got buried under pieces of the castle and the floor fell under their feet bringing them together.
Chapter Two - Underground (Fairy Hill : The Lost Hero)
When Adryane saw the faint white light coming from the wings of the fairy, she sighed of relief. The fairy was rubbing her head, still dizzy. They were buried in a place almost looking like it was other hallways part of the castle. The walls were covered in Emerald putting a greenish glow around them. Something grunted behind her. Kal was knock out and she reached for him. She shook him, " Kal please!" he opened his eyes and got up, quickly grabbing her arm, asking out of breath.
" Are you alright? "
" I almost crushed us and you ask me ? "
" I'm sorry — "
" No, stop, I'm sorry. "
He took her hands to get her attention," I told them there was an execution, thinking that because of them we had a chance to get out. "
" It kind of worked until I made the roof collapse ", She replied mumbling.
" Being chased by three psychos ? " He snored, " Sure that was going so well"
" Okay, we have both made horrible mistakes! "
" Yours was not a mistake "
" Yeah, I know, it's more of a serious problem "
He let her hand down and rose his hands in the air, surrendering, " There she goes again. " Adryane started to laugh uncontrollably, that obnoxious laugh that Kal missed. " I'm sorry", she said again, " It just that maybe I have doomed us all in this creepy cave and there is no exit. "
" There is always an exit" Said the fairy behind them.
" Yes, exactly " agreed Kal with a happy tone " And you have surely buried them for good" The roof was in a mass over them. They moved away a little away putting away the risk to have the same fate.
" Do you know what they were ? "
" I don't know really" he grunted at his inability to answer this question " They could be witches too, but we never saw witches so- "
" Fast, strong and have the ability to survive one of the most deadly poison?" continued Adry shivering from the memories of all the things that happened in the execution room.
" Look ! " Said the fairy, the two friend turned, " It's the book that the girl had in her arms! " They joined her and looked at the book as she turned it over to read the title, " Species here and beyond over the ages"
" That's the book they came for !? " Asked Kal disappointed.
" Maybe they didn't even know themselves " Proposed Adry opening the book and seeing the pages spotted with bloody fingerprints.
" That's kind of sad" said the fairy slowly. The two friends looked at her with surprised eyes. " I mean it's sad when you don't know who you are. "
" They were psychos, that's what they were" answered Kal.
Adryane and the fairy looked at each other with faint smiles while Kal took the book browsing the pages. The fairy felt uncomfortable after she realized that the executor didn't know either who she really was. " I hope I didn't scare you too much", said Adryane.
" Less than them, were you ? "
" I was terrified, more for you two than me" She replied with a smile, " So... " She presented a hand to the fairy" I'm Adryane"
" Reagan" She shook her hand and at that moment they knew they were no more the executor and the executed. They were allies against the cruel world they lived in.
" I think they found something, look at that " Pointed Kal showing the book to the two girls, " See, they made an X right beside The Shapeshifters, but there is nothing about them." Adryane looked at the curious blank page with only the name of the species in the left corner. He closed the book so suddenly he made Adry and Reagan jumped, " There must be something more in the archives in Obsidian !" He smiled to his best friend" Are you ready to go back home ?"
She crossed her arms on her chest," You seriously want to investigate this ?"
" Yes, we could learn about a new threat that is coming upon us. "
" I'm with your friend, Adry. That could be interesting and I'm curious "
" Thank you" He said, immediately sharing a smile with Reagan.
" I just want to forget all of this and go home, maybe it's a waste of time"
" No it's not, now come on, let's move."
Reagan rose one hand up to light their way, when they all heard a noise behind them. She lit up towards the noise and the piece of roof in front of them began to move. One flew out and Adryane pushed Kal out of the way. " No way !" murmured Reagan, and she was right. There was no way that the three intruders were still alive, but here they were, getting out of the remains of the roof like undead. A hand was out trying to push away other pieces.
" Can they die !? "
Adryane grabbed both hands of her friends bringing them to run away while they still could. She didn't know at all where to go, but away from them was still better. A huge part of the roof crashed between them, separating Adry from the others. She didn't lose time to try to call back Kal , when she saw the three siblings in the distance, up and walking. She heard Kal and Reagan call her name, but they were out of reach from the others, safe, and not her.
As other parts of the roof crashed behind her, she hoped to lose them by taking a road to the right, then to the left, then she collided in the tall brother. He grabbed her arm, so she would not fall back. His touch gave her visions, it was a cute laugh and curly long blond hair flashes and the rain upon her face, something feeling familiar. She stepped back as he was stung, because he had seen it too. " Why do you this ?"
" Why do you care to know ? "
" I'm pleading for you to stop this"" She continued,
She got him, his head got down to catch her eyes with an angry look, then he sighed strongly, all his chest tension going down, " We need the book back"
" I don't have it"
She looked back when she heard the two siblings calling for their brother. She pleaded with him again. He looked at their shadows, and he grabbed her arm again, but instead of giving her to them he spun around and took her away. When they were far away enough that its was safer, he let her arm drop, and she stopped.
" I can bring you to your friends"
" It's a manipulation, you are lying. "
" I took you away, I saved your life"
" Why me and not the others ? " She spat back " Kal said it looked like bloodbath, you have taken innocent lives" He pressed his hand on her mouth as the siblings passed by calling the brother's name. " Cahelm are you keeping her for you alone? "
When the silence came back, he took his hand off carefully and warned her: " It's your last chance to get out safely, I can sense them and your friends too. I can bring you to them in exchange for the book."
" That's all you want ?" She asked slowly after.
" This is what I only want, maybe not my siblings "
He made an embarrassed face.
" What are you ?"
He didn't answer her and just lead the way. Adryane followed him not far behind and felt so little on this underground path. It was like they could build another castle here. She then looked at Cahelm's back. The image of him taking the guards hearts like they were petals of a flower came back to her mind. She shivered and closed her eyes to push it away. He was helping her now.
She tripped over some rocks and her toe started bleeding. She could not really see in the faint light that was coming from the top. Cahelm bent down besides her and looked at her toe intensely. He then took a deep breath and looked at her " You must cover it up, it will not help us if you are putting your scent around. "
She ripped out a strip from the sleeve of her gown and tied it up covering her toe. He got up and presented a hand to her. She took it after a little hesitation, and they heard the siblings getting close again. He placed his hand on her shoulder, so she listened with caution.
" You follow this path " He lifted his finger toward it. " You will meet your friends in two-step. "
Adry looked at him with worries as the sibling were close too. " I will bring them on another path and this will be over, you will be free."
" And the book ? She asked remembering the deal.
" You can leave it on the ground. "
She nodded and then began to walk towards the path. She turned one last time around " Thank you ".
It didn't take long when Adry met her two friend back. Kal embraced her and give her a kiss on the forehead.
" I was so scared!"
" I'm alright" She almost cried out " I'm alright," She whispered making a smile to Reagan. " He let me go. He helped me " She said still in surprise.
" Who ? "
" The tall brother, they really want the book back, we could- "
" No, no ,no " He said rapidly " I'm keeping it-"
" Are you crazy!" She shouted", they will follow us! I said we would give it back as a deal to save our asses! "
" They had the book with them earlier, and they still wanted to kill! "
" We have something to deal this time! "
" I don't want to try, they could be backstabbers and I don't care about the deal!"
" I talked with the brother !"
" Does not mean they couldn't do it again !"
She let out a scream of rage and turned around trying making herself calm again. Reagan was not far with her little hand glowing, she was looking at them with wide eyes. " I'm still keeping the book" murmured a grumpy Kal behind. She glared at him until she heard a faint noise, something crawling, something she couldn't see.
" What was that ? "
" It's them ?" Asked Reagan with a little voice.
" No, that Nik guy would have leaned over to Adry and said Hello in the most flirtatious voice ever and then ripped our hearts like the guard" Began Kal and Adryane made a disgusting groan. " Seriously Adry, you see what you attract? "
" Will you stop with that!"
" But it's true that you are beautiful. " Said Reagan.
" That's not the point, stop it both of you, I really heard something !"
Kal gripped his book tighter when Adryane passed besides him looking for the noise that she heard. Reagan began to scream and shook her hand, " Something is on my hand! " She twirled around making her hand sway around.
" Stop the light!"
The glow from the hand of the fairy disappeared, and she stopped shaking her hand. Only the faint glow of her wings could make them see something. " This was an invisible goblin, they are attracted to the bright light" Explained Kal. Adryane looked around wondering if she ever was to make it out of this bloody shire.
***
Maze dodged another falling piece of the roof. What was amazing was that she didn't need light to see where she was going. She always interpreted this ability as she was a part of this darkness herself " This witch have the real idea of fun, she beat us brother"
" Seriously who is she ? " He asked with a grin.
They were the less predictable preys of the day. They surprised them two times and when they joined their older brother it was up to three. He was looking shocked, waiting for them ."
" Where is the girl ? " He got in front of his brother.
" I let her go... "
" What !? Unbelievable"
Nik turned around disappointed while Maze rubbed Cahelm's arm " What is it ?"
" Something happened when I touched her, anyway we lost the book "
" She had it ?" Asked Maze
" Not her, but the two other might "
" So you let her join them, so we can get it back with a bonus ?" Nik came back trying to find sense in his brother last second kindness " Can you get us back to them? "
" Yes, except I want to negotiate with them"
" What ?! Seriously?! "
Maze smiled faintly, Nik always got so dramatic when they broke the routine.
" I could not !" He explained tired of his brother reaction." She made me see her " Maze felt her heart tighten by this mention, because she would have let her go too.
" You had a heartfelt conversation with her ? Why did you let her do that?"
" Don't you think there was enough death for tonight, lets us just go back to them, negotiate for the book and let them go"
Nik was holding a grudge, but finally agreed with his classic angry sigh, " I'm sorry to break the fun, but my mood for it is gone." continued Cahelm.
" It's alright, Cal "
Maze rubbed his back while he guided them, they stayed silent except Nik. His disappointment was echoing on the emeralds. That stupid book, she had found some pages when everything went down. " I marked a couple of pages, before our dear brother decided that fun time was more important "
" Now it's my fault ? "
" No" She laughed " I'm just saying we could have the answer really soon. "
" Seriously I don't care about this "
She didn't answer right away, she had her excitation broken" That explains a lot" She then looks at him with confusion " Why did you accept to come here then ? "
" You two want to know and I care about that "
" You just don't want the answer ? " She asked with a comprehensive smile. There was a part of fear in there too, because it could explain a lot about them. Her brother responded with a faint smile, and she sighed, putting an arm around his shoulder. When they stopped, they heard the same sound.
" They are still here "
" Hey, we just want the book back, you can come out "
" We know, we wanted to kill you, but we will let you go if you give it "
" Or else it's going like earlier"
The fairy got out in front of them, " How sweet" Murmured Maze. She raised her hand and lit it up and before the siblings could talk more, she threw it between their feet where they scattered pages and it caught fire.
" What a bad aim "
" Or a good plan " Said Kal with a victorious smile getting out with the witch behind him. The three siblings got dragged with an invisible force while the three others ran away.
" Stupid goblins ! " Nik got his hair pulled, " Someone gets this fire down! "
They all swayed around, trying to get rid of these annoying creatures. They collapsed on the rock wall. Maze knocked her arm on it and green blood splattered. One was pulling her hair, she tried to take it away, but he was stuck in them. She groaned in frustration, " Little — "
One jumped in her face, pulling her cheeks. They heard little evil cackles for these invisible nuisance. Cahelm finally got the fire light out and Maze could get the one away from her face and threw it away. They heard them crawling away back in their cracks with little growls and little murmurs in their unknown language.
" I think it's a normal reaction from them, we have to gain their trust."
" Or just take it by force " Nik began to walk and Cahelm stopped him.
" A little help here! " Maze was still struggling with the one in her hair.
" A new companion!" Said Nik going towards to help her at the same time Cahelm was.
" Funny" she snarled " but one goblin in this family is enough" Nik giggled
The little invisible goblin finally let go of her hair and Cahelm replaced her black locks in a better position. " What a stupid day" She mumbled.
" Come on sister, it's not because we were humiliated like what three time ?"
She was tired, not sleepy tired, but tired of this stupidity, " Let's take the book out of their hands, no talking, killing them I don't care! " She pointed her brother " We have finished playing for today"
That stopped the commentary of Nik during the rest of the following walks. This was always like that in this family since they were born. The kind of sibling that stay together no matter what, that had a lot of love, respect and sharing between them. Except sometimes they were getting on each other's nerves. Maze could do anything for them, and she knew they would do anything for her too. Always walking the earth in a deadly trio.
The cave led to a bigger one, a waterfall was falling each side of a bridge made of emerald. It was kind of beautiful, Maze never saw this underground, her who had seen all of Fairy Hill. She still found things that surprised her and then her feet made something crack under it. It was an emerald jewelry, the one who was on the chest of the witch. " Do you think that girl was an eclipse witch ?"
Nik let Cahelm pass in front of him and looked at her sister with a doubtful pout " They don't exist anymore sister. "
" But did you feel that power and the queen kept her close, no ? "
" Maybe, Queen Meira surely want to be powerful, having an eclipse witch at her side and control it. "
" She is one " commented Cahelm.
" How ? " Maze moved between her brother trying to understand " People of Obsidian have forbidden and cursed them, they have killed babies that were born under a lunar eclipse, because they were all disappearing one after the other, it is seen as a curse. "
" If she is one, her mommy must have hid her or given her to the queen "
" This kind of girl must be free not kept in a cage. "
They followed the road, but it was easier because little parts of a light gold armor was scattered along the way. Nik scoffed, " If she continues like that we are going to find her free from clothes. "
