Five hundred in silence shall pass

Darkness become truth

Truth turns to myth,

Four Halflings shall come,

Bring light to darkness

Turn myth to truth,

War shall rage,

And a new power rise

Only when the Four look to the past,

There shall they find their predecessors in death,

With darkness and light united, Earth will go first

And create the foundation,

Fire will follow

Shining hope on all,

Air strengthen fire,

And when Water is added

A new dawn approaches

I was meeting my 'job' for the summer at a small pub/cafe. A small time band was playing upstairs', a guitar, a viola, a cello, and bongos. It was an unusual mixture of hill music and islander's music, with a set of elfin pipes playing harmony. I smiled; it matched perfectly with the mish-mash theme of the place. The only other inhabitant's beside myself were a work-a-holic girl starting a summer course or maybe twelve, and a group of rowdy and possibly a little tipsy students upstairs dancing, most likely they had just finished their final exams and wanted to celebrate. I found it slightly depressing that at the age of nineteen, while I wished I could join them but I had an assignment from the Council. I was to protect and teach a future student for the summer.

It's not that I didn't enjoy my work but this assignment was going to be dull and boring but at least it was a paid assignment. I sighed, the pathetic life of boring do nothing but work nineteen year old Christina Du Pont. My life wouldn't even make a good comedy. I really could use some action right now. A robber, an evil twin, and heck even a run in with a lousy good for nothing would do. Just something besides this. Okay pity party over, I'm being paid 10 copper drummels a day to teach some random girl. It was an easy assignment. I mean what could go wrong? It was easy that was why they gave it to a newbie like me. No real challenge, just a job that more senior observers didn't want.

The doorbell clanged as the door opened and a woman about my age and walked in with a girl, whose striking resemblance to her made me certain they were related. They certainly were not who I was meeting here I was to prepare a girl for Bartram Creek Magic School. But what if they were? The girl was about 12 or 13 with her small stature maybe older. She had curly, vibrant honey-blonde hair and such bright blue it was almost scary eyes. Although she was five or six years older than what I had expected, it's not like weirder things have happened. I can remember a certain incident when a certain person's Common teacher became a flying pig; the spell wore off . . . eventually.

They looked around for another minute or two then walked causally over to my table. I stood to greet them and as I did the girl ran over to me. "Riley!" she shouted enveloping me in a bear hug "I'm so happy to see you! But . . . you- the accident- and boom the crying and then, and now you're here, but how?" I hugged her back sheepishly and tried not to look clueless. She looked up her eyes wide with tears pooling up "Y-you d-don't re-remember me?" she stuttered "One year and you forget all about me and Amanda? You're not a very good sister." I shook my head wishing I didn't have to tell her the truth.

"I-I have never met you or your sister. I'm sorry." An awkward silence followed. "But if I am to guess you are the girl I am supposed to mentor Jennifer and this is Amanda, your sister."

The sister extended her had to shake and started "I'm Amanda, as you guessed and this lovely little girl is in fact Jenny, my sister." She smiled warmly and bent down to whisper something in Jenny ear. Jenny nodded her acknowledgment and Amanda stood up and addressed me again.

"We just moved here from, and I hope I'm getting my turn of phrase right, I was also told that this is going to sound absolutely crazy because nobody is from there anymore but we moved here from-"

I cut her off guessing hopefully "Across?" the shocked face, said it all "Coincidentally I move from there about four, five years ago. Actually to the day I think May 20th, yeah to the day. I moved here at the end of my ninth school year. I was fourteen so it was five years ago."

"How intriguing, Josh never mentioned that anybody else… Well no matter. Jenny, I have to go now, don't give… You never introduced yourself, your name is?" I wanted to laugh at her statement, Josh never mentioned anything to anyone, I was also embarrassed at my lack of manners.

"Oh, I am sorry, Christina. My name is Christina Du Pont." I stated my name cordially and shook Amanda's hand.

"Well then, Jenny don't give Christina here to hard a time. I love you." Amanda gave her little sister a hug while Jenny mumbled quickly, I love you too and, then something about Amanda being embarrassing, and soon after Amanda left.

We talked about the school most of the time. And at some point I learned she was actually eight. We also talked about the new planet we were on called Vernia discussing its similarities and differences to Across. As we progressed on to the subject of what was going on, on Across I noticed a figure watching from above. I instantly recognized Myca Wessex from the five aces a notorious gang in the area. For that black-haired green-eyed creep to be watching wasn't a good sign, actually it was the polar opposite, it was like death itself. The five aces were ruthless like modern-day pirates. No, they were worse than the modern-day pirates were far, far worse. Most pirates today were fairly harmless as long as you stayed out of their way they stayed out of yours. I decided then that it was time to go preferably to the place she was staying or somewhere equally safe.

"Jenny, where are you staying? It is time for you to go home." She stuck out her bottom lip to form a pout, and I let out a sigh "That lost mutt look does not work on me. Now answer me. Where are you staying?" She let out a giant sigh.

"I'm staying with Josh's younger brother. Alvin or Alden or something…"

"Ayden?" When she shook her head yes I continued "I know where you are staying. Ayden is my flat mate." I laughed as she made kissie faces at me while we walked out of the cafe. "No we are not together like that. That would be a tad incestuous. He does have a girlfriend though." She smiled "Is he cute?" I looked down at her and laughed slightly.

"Well he has Auburn hair and dark brownish hazel eyes. But you'll have to decide that for yourself." I noticed a figure following us out of the corner of my eyes and when I saw a flash of black hair before they disappeared back behind some people I quickened our pace. I shouted Ayden's name as we entered the Apartment and a female voiced whined something I couldn't make out and really didn't want to either. Riona must have been there.

Ayden and Riona, it was like reading a romance novel with those two. A very trashy one that nobody but some very lonely and desperate housewives ever read, but a romance novel none the less. They were on again, off again, fights and then making up. I stopped counting long, long, the times I have walked into the apartment to find them making-out on the couch, most of the time I do not interrupt them and tiptoe by. And I am just going to pretend the noises coming from Ayden's room last night was a burglar. Who said living in denial was bad? I believe that sometimes it is very healthy, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

There was also Riona. It's not that I disliked her; it's just that I don't really like her either. I always thought Ayden could do better. But he my brother; no girl would ever be good enough for him in my eyes. Anything was better than that dirty little healer in training tramp was. Sure she was intellectual, and strong magically (her magic was the color soft pink (how ironic), which although wasn't bad it wasn't the best either, it wasn't up to my standard, but I am not jealous. She was training to become a healer, a Vernian equivalent of a nurse. Not only that but she had naturally fire red hair, big baby blue eyes, an even bigger chest (something Ayden likes, I'm sure) and very pale except for the occasional magic ordered tan. She was also a perfectionist, and had serious OCD problems or for her CDO problems. She never had problems getting a boyfriend, just keeping one. Although her and Ayden had been together for nearly a year at this point. Her favorite color was pink (same as her magic), she loved cute things correction she was obsessed with cute things, and she and I were like night and day. She was definitely a day person.

I on the other hand had dark mahogany hair, violet eyes, and honey colored skin. I had been described as a tomboy, who was stubborn, slightly (or maybe more than slightly) crazy, an extreme daredevil, and had no control what so ever over what came out of my mouth when I was really and truly pissed, thankfully that didn't happen very often. I was highly intellectual, my magic was a pale gold with sliver (I could hold my own with a lesser god) and I was a newly minted observer, a fancy term for spy, only I would work for the Council of Magic. My love life stunk like the tuna fish sandwich I found under my bed from a few months ago . . . at least I think it was only a few months, could have been longer. My favorite color was navy blue; if I chose a favorite animal it would be a falcon or feline, or maybe griffin. I was a definite night person.

"Ayden your brother has sent you a babysitting job."

I heard him groan "Christina would you take care of it for me. Pretty please with cherries and sugar and chocolate sprinkles, you know the kind you really like, on top."

I laughed "Sorry bro. But you owe me. It is your turn. Besides I am sure Riona would love to play with little Jenny here. Would you not?" I was trying to get her to help me and it worked like I said I didn't totally dislike her.

"I sure would." I heard some kissing noises and her giggle she before entering the living/kitchen/dining room. The red-haired girl gave me a quick hug before turning her attention to the girl standing beside me. I walked into the kitchen and went to the cabinet to grab a bottle of water. Only to find the selves empty of everything, accept a half-eaten apple that had been in there awhile. I sighed "I am going to go get a new cabinet. "

2: If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you

I walked out and started to go toward the grocery store. I stopped when I saw a figure standing not too far ahead. I realized it was Myca. I took off in the other direction. My thoughts consisted of 'I'm dead' and 'must run'. I heard three more people join him and I instantly thought 'I am deader than dead is. I'm about to be aced. Which was very true, if the whole group of four of the five aces were after you it was most likely that it would be your last day on Vernia. With the rise in crime lately caused by them the news had started using the term 'Aced' to describe their deaths.

As in all classic chases I lost them for a while and hid in an alleyway behind a dumpster. I heard stampede of running feet pass by my hiding place but since none of them stopped I hoped I was safe. But as my luck was however it was only a short time before they had rounded back and were walking down the alleyway. I wondered why I only heard three sets. A voice broke the silence "Come out come out where ever you are. Christina we know your back here, come out now and we won't hurt you … much." Aly was second in charge to the mysterious fifth Ace. Suddenly a pair of hands seized my shoulder. The fourth person had gone through one of the restaurants and crept up behind me. The rest of the gang ran over to help. In a matter of seconds they had me pinned to a wall with a spelled ring on me that would prevent me from doing any spells.

"I know you have it!" Ally growled, in a voice that would make most people pee in their breeches. Yet for some unknown reason though she didn't scare me.

"You know I have what?" I ask my voice flat "I don't have much of value on me." It was a true statement; I had nothing of great value with or on me beside a few coins to buy food.

Ally muttered a long string of curses before speaking "The necklace you imbecile."

"What necklace?" I was thoroughly confused, as much as Aly was royally pissed.

"What necklace? You know shielding well what necklace. The one Ayden gave to you,the one that lets you teleport. By Jorgan's shield. The one you always have on, unless somebody was wrong." Her eyes flicked to Myca for a second and it all clicked into place. Ayden had known they wanted it and had given it to me as a present for safekeeping, of its course not like he had told me that. No, that's not a necessary piece of information to keep it safe at all. The Aces had figured out that I had the necklace and started to track me. Myca had been the one assigned to follow me, (a job he probably enjoyed.) If The Five Aces wanted my necklace, it was not to do anything good. The last thing to click was that if I wanted to live I needed to find a way out of there and fast.

Aly's voice brought me back to realty "Are you going to do this the easy way or hard Smiling slightly I answered "I'm going to do this my way." I had not failed to notice that the people holding me still were guys. I also had not failed to notice that my legs were not being held and that it would be so easy to kick them. I started to bring my leg up only to have it slammed into the ground by someone's foot. So close yet so far.

Aly laughed slightly "Such a feisty little witch," I growled at the derogatory word for my gender and Power, since she was also a female, three guesses at which one she meant, "Maybe a little sleep will do you some good."

Suddenly an idea popped into my head. Myca's hand was in just the right place that if I lowered my head I could bite him. I bit his hand like my life depended on it, which it very well did. I moved fast so they didn't know what was about until he screamed "Shield! She's biting me. Ally some- ow! Rouge. In. Her. Would. Be. Helpful. And. Soon." He said the last part through gritted teeth. Makayla or Mak for short, Ally's right hand guy- or girl handed her an injector. I grimaced as it went into my skin. They thought this stuff would make me pass out although I felt fairly dizzy. So pass out I did, on my accord. I closed my eyes, slowed my breathing and let myself go slack. To them it would seem like I was out cold.

"About time, one more sarcastic remark and I would be cleaning the witch's blood out from under my fingernails." Mak remarked picking at her nails. Although she did not fail to notice the glare from Myca, "She bites you and draws blood, and you still defend her, who's the witch, you or her? Whatever, now about the necklace."

They went into talking about ways to make me hand it over or at least tell where it was. Until Jeremy finally said "Why don't we just check for it now?" They all looked thoughtful for a moment considering the simple but effective idea. Ally finally "We could but it's not much fun and what if she doesn't have it on her." She glared at Myca.

While conversing they were slowly pacing from one end of the alley to the other. At a safe distance away from them I stood wobbling a little and quietly although not actually gracefully exited the alleyway slipping the spelled ring off and into my pocket. Free at last. I tried to think like them thinking like me trying to out think them. They would think that I would think that they would think of looking at my flat so they wouldn't look there because it was too obvious, so in trying to out think them I would think to go there, I think? All this thinking is making my head hurt, and really is not helping the whole dizzy and my slightly off-center of balance. Whoops, ten points to me for the man with a limp, I really need to be more careful and focus, or I might crash into more people and/or walls. Either way I should warn Ayden about the four good for nothings headed his way. Unfortunately scry mirror or scry anything for that matter on me I had not. Fortunately, though mind link we did have, he hated it.

Ayden, Are you there? I probed.

What? I'm already looking after the little brat, besides rubbing that in what else would you want? He snapped.

About that, Myca, Ally, Mak and Jeremy are on their way over to wreck some bloody havoc, Riona and Jenny need to get out of there, like, uh now.

He sighed mentally What did you do?

It's your fault you git, I retorted, something about my necklace can enable teleportation. Does that sound familiar?

He let out a long string of curses before answering Okay, now that you know that uh, that.

I guess them leaving would be a very wise idea. I watched the Five Aces fly by on their way to the apartment; I'd say he had three minutes tops to get those two out of there. I sent him that last thought and told him to leave Jenny with Sophia before I stopped at a store that specialized at coping jewelry. A few copies of the necklace might be useful. I pulled the item out of my front pocket and pulled out my few coins. Time to put my jumble of ideas into line and make a plan.

About ten minutes later I was loping up the stairs to the flat and I hoping for a whole lot of luck and reconsidered my earlier thoughts of how this going to be a boring summer. Fumbling with my keys I listened for any movement in the flat, nothing. I cast a quick see me not spell and slipped in silently. I closed the door without a sound. I searched around in the apartment. The flat didn't look trashed, well, anymore than usual anyway so I muttered the counter spell for my see me not spell. Maybe they hadn't checked the apartment yet, but then where would they look. My eyes widened when I realized were they had gone. I had spent a lot of time at my good friend Ciara's lately.

She was a newer friend who was in my mathematics VII class at the local university. She was also in training to be an observer. She and I usually paired up as partners on the various assignments they gave us. She was of a southern Uruan descent though she had come from a sea village; her accent was what was described as rural. She said hey y'all and yee-haw. Her red hair was cropped short and although I had never met her she had a twin sister at the school. The town she came from was a small fishing community on Angel's Bay in the farthest southern reaches of Uruan near the border to Wessex.

Ayden, Jenny and Riona were gone thankfully but the five aces would be arriving here very soon and well not going to be good. Maybe I should find a hiding place and contact Ayden, again. I slipped into a hamper a piled the clothes on top of me, it was cramped, stuffy, and right on time. As soon as I was settled in they burst into the flat. I listened to them scuffle around for a few minutes and had to try really hard when not to laugh when Mak found that tuna sandwich. Oops, thought I threw that away when I found it last week, well, when I found it for the first time.

Suddenly Ayden burst through the door yelling and I heard a thud. Then a girlish shriek from Ally didn't know she could go more than an octave above demented chuckle let alone glass shattering shrieks. I heard some else say something about taking care of the rat. Jenny! I told him specifically not to bring her, what part of that didn't he get the 'don't' or the 'bring Jenny'. I could also hear two girls fighting I guess that they had Ciara with them and it seemed that Mak was having trouble keeping her a quiet captive, which left one person to search the apartment. I smiled slightly when I heard the tune they were whistling it was from the Across musical Cinderella called 'Someday my prince will come'. I guess I just found it funny knowing it was a guy whistling it. I quickly stopped smiling when the sound got to close for comfort, I heard the footsteps stop right next to the hamper, this was it he had found me. I then heard the closet door next to me open. Whew, that was way to close; I could feel my blood rushing and my heart pounding. The closet shut with a creak, but the person didn't leave. It was almost like they were considering something. Suddenly a hand was going down through the clothes and had me by the arm. I was roughly pulled up and into the chaos.

Myca stood there smirking "'Ello love. Found he-" before he could finish his sentence I had slammed my fist into his face in a very unladylike manner, then again I never claimed to be a lady. Oh, well he had it coming to him. And if I were not on a mission a black eye would not have been the only damage he got.

"Word of advice Myca, never leave me with a way to escape, because I will find and use it." I loved being able to get in the last word. I then started for the emergency exit escapewindow, shouting at Ayden, Ciara and Jenny to follow me. Half way down I noticed only Ciarafollowing. And decided to contact Ayden, Ayden I do hate to be a bother, but where are you? Hands bound, tied to the runt, I mean Jenny. Oomph. I think we just teleported the blindfold makes it hard to tell.

How could you have teleported? I have the necklace with me. Ciara and I had reached theground and Ciara turned to me she seemed to have an idea, she was waving her arms wildly in my face Ayden hold on.

"Chris, do ya think Ayden has the earring you gave him, on him. I hear he hasunavoidably detained am I correct? Oh and tell him I said hi, I know you are talking via mindlink ya'll do that a lot. "

"Yeah, He always wears it, Why? Wait, did you put a tracker in it?" She was one of theacademy's best trackers, anything she put a magical tracker on she could find, "think you could track him?"

She scoffed "Can mutant spider monkeys spin silk?" That was her way of saying yes.

Okay Ayden continue. Ciara says hi, she's tracking you by the way.

Awesome, anyway so, did I ever tell you how absolutely, positively amazing you are, I mean you have-

Ayden. What are you not telling me, there is no point in keeping anything from me nowand personally, I think that unless you want to stayed tied to Jenny for a very long time I would spill the rest of the facts. Ciara gave me a thumbs up.

Okay so there is more than one teleportation necklace. His answer was tepid and riddled with worry over when or if I would start yelling.

I kind of figured, but how many are there?

Only four I believe, one for water, fire, earth, and air. You have the one for water, theyhave air, and fire and earth are still out there somewhere. Hey I'm a poet and didn't know it. Ican make a rhyme anytime. Anyway, you know I never understood the name of that place, what is it Across?

Shut up Ayden, We have your location I'll be there in a minute.

I held onto the necklace and thought of the name of a small shop near there, landing in an alleyway. I felt dizzy and nauseous, it must take some time to get use to the sensation of teleporting. I walked out from my alleyway once I could see straight and headed for the building he was being held at. It seemed to be some sort of abandoned apartment of sorts.

I crept in cautiously and started for the stairs I say a flash of movement in the corner of my eye so two of them had been assigned to watch me, cool, I'm up for a game of hide and seek that is if they can keep up. I bolted to the stairs and up to the second story opened the door cast a see me not spell and watched it slam closed. I crept up the next few flights of stairs and out to the roof.

I crawled over to Jenny and Ayden; the latter seated cross-legged and scowling, and tapped him on the shoulder. He jerked his head over and when he saw no one there his eyebrows furrowed deeply. His voice barely audible he whispered my name questioningly. I responded to his question by starting to untie his wrists and feet but left on the blindfold, a lack of that would be far too obvious. Afterwards I stuck a whistle in his hand and put a scry stone in his lap (courtesy of Ciara). He hunched over faking a yawn. He pointed subtly with his head towards the bag next to Ally's foot.

He murmured to me. "The necklace is in there. Jenny will be out for a while; when she bit Myca they put that drug stuff in her. By the way he already had bite marks, does he have a dog or something?"

I grinned not like he could see it or anything "Not unless I count as one." then I inched my way over to the bag. I reached into it and pulled out the necklace and a bottle of hair dye. So her hair wasn't originally black, huh, who knew? I dropped the bottle back in, stood up and walked over to the edge of the building and waited.

Jeremy glanced back at Ayden and chuckling said to Ally " He is still talking to himself. Can I please shut him up?" He looked like he was just drooling at the thought.

Ally rolled her eyes "Leave him be Jer. He isn't doing anything to you" I laughed silently, ah, pity the fool who does not check on their captive who they think is talking to himself, for he might not be talking to himself. Mak and Myca had exited the building downstairs and shouted up to the others.

"Has she left the building?" Mak shouted up.

"No, why? Is she not inside it?" Jeremy answered.

"Not a trace of her, it's like she vanished or something. I guess she likes using that necklace." Myca shouted up.

"Where is she then? This is taking forever." Aly growled, sounding like her normal sadistic and sinister self. A guard whistle pierced the air. Now was the perfect time to put my plan into action.

"Looking for me?" I asked sweetly, releasing the spell. Ally and Jeremy stated to move towards me. "Not so fast, if you ever want to see this necklace whole again and not shattered in a million pieces on the ground, you'll stop now." I pulled out a copy and held it over the edge. Ally and Jeremy stopped. Jeremy gapped at me too shocked to speak for a moment.

"Are you insane? Have you lost your mind? Do you know what will happen if you do that? The necklace will explode! All the magic in it will be released. That's a lot of magic; the whole downtown area will be flattened." Jeremy was roaring at me until a swift kick from Aly silenced him.

"Well, if you put it that way, Fetch." I threw the necklace toward the now standing Ayden, stepping back readying myself for free fall. "Oh and by the way the city guard are on their way, have fun." I jumped off the building, soaring through the air I thought of the dirt road that led to Angels Bay. Right before I teleported something brushed my foot, and I prayed it was not a person.

3: Let's play a game of hide and seek

I hit the dirt hard and rolled several times before my momentum was fully expended and I stopped. I groaned and started to sit up, wincing as an injector sunk into my skin. Guess that answers the question of what, or rather who, touched my foot. I pulled the injector from my arm and swung my foot around knocking my opponent to the ground, and stood up. As I started to walk away something grabbed my ankle jerking the ground out from under me and causing me to eat dirt, literally. The other person rolled over on top of me pinning me to the ground with their knees pinning my arms down.

They stuck another injector in my arm. (How many of these things did these people carry on them at one time?) I was having trouble seeing straight. But I could see the offending party fairly clearly, Myca. Payback time. I spat in his face. He reeled back, shocked, to wipe the spit off his face. He only took his weight off me for a few seconds but it gave me enough time to land a very painful kick on his part, stumble to my feet and start towards the forest. I could not see straight and what I could see was tinted with rainbow hazes. I managed to shimmy my way up a tree somehow, before Myca appeared.

He apparently hadn't expected me to run and certainly not kick him in his manhood. I breathed in slowly through my nose and exhaled slowly out my mouth, hoping that the rainbow haze and now bright spots would fade. They eased up enough to see somewhat clearly. When I looked down I spotted Myca carefully following my trail about twenty yards back. I pulled myself up a little more into the tree. As Myca walked under the tree I slipped some. I didn't fall though. When he stopped and looked up I froze. He started walking again, but less than a second later I was falling. I had been too preoccupied to notice how small the branch under me was until it too late, and I fallen out of the tree with a crack because the branch I had been perched upon had bent to a ninety degree angle.

Landing painfully on my right foot, I twisted it and although not broken was most definitely sprained, as I continued my descent into a hapless heap by beautiful gravity. I had only been able to stand up before Myca had pinned me to the tree the left side of my face grinding into the bark. He put one foot against my good heel and twisting my arms back held those with one hand using the other to stroke the cheek that faced outward. I wanted so much to do anything to hurt him but he had me incapacitated.

"I see you that you learned how to keep me from moving." I said bitterly.

"Fourth time's a charm. Besides I wouldn't have given up. Not with something as stunning like you as the prize. That was a smart move by the way, making copies of that necklace. I'm sure Ally is having a hissy fit in that guard cage right about now. I should have known you wouldn't have endangered so many people like that. That's just not who you are."

"Why?" I whispered squirming trying unsuccessfully to wriggle out from under his grasp. "Why this? What did I do? What about me is so shielding special from any of the other girls you dated at the school? What do you want from me?"

He laughed softly, curling a strand of my hair around his fingers. "What do I want? I want what we had before. You saw me for the person I was, and you blessed me with both your inner and outer beauty." I coughed to cover up a laugh; boy, that line was really sappy. "You were so happy. We were so happy. Then you broke up with me just because I-"

I cut him off with a bark of laughter. "Just because you what, Myca? Hurt people on a regular basis for your own selfish reasons. Bloody hell! Does that not mean anything to you? Because it means something to me. Myca, you hurt people all the time and sometimes, no! A lot of times killing them. Yet you act like it means nothing!" I had risen in volume through the entire speech, and by the last sentence I was shouting, each word a dagger slicing through the air aimed at him.

He spun me around looking me in the eyes "You have no idea why we did what we did. Every time we had to kill anybody it was only to protect-"

"Bullshit!" I cut him off again "You really think that you were the doing the good thing, that you were the hero in all this. That is the reason I say you only care for yourself. You have always and will always care for yourself, and only yourself. You don't even care for me. You don't know how too. The only reason you even think that you do is that you cannot stand that I was the only girl who ever broke up with you instead of you doing the heart breaking."

He looked wounded by my words but at least he had heard the truth. "You really believe that? Do you even remember half of what we had before? Have you ever tried to remember? We were so, so, so in love. With a second chance we could have that again." He paused. Our faces were only centimeters apart. Wait! When did we get so close? I noticed he was considering something. He was fighting the urge to do something, with my luck he probably had not got in his daily killing, and was craving the sight of blood. Suddenly he said "Ah, to heck with it." He suddenly leaned forward the last few centimeters and kissed me fiercely, my toes curled and I found myself clinging to him just to keep myself up straight because my leg and the tree definitely were not doing the job. I remembered all the times he had done that to me before and a fresh wave of painful memories washed over me taking me back to that last night, that last kiss just like this one.

About two months before we had been dating. I had truly liked him, and sure I had heard the rumors about him being one of the fabled five aces but I had also heard rumors that Ayden was part unicorn and that my history teacher looked like as a pig because she actually was one. Well I ended up proving that one was wrong but anyway, I dismissed it as just that a rumor.

It had happened to be our two-year anniversary. He had told me to meet him at the usual coffee shop, the one that all of this trouble had started at. He said he would be a little late picking me up he had some business to take care of, but that he had booked the reservations so that even if something had come up that we would not lose our reservations. I had been walking to the shop from my last class, thankfully Ayden and I shared that class so I just sent my textbooks and notes home with him.

While walking there I heard a blood curdling, ear-piercing and otherwise unbearably loud scream for help. I don't know why but it seemed I was the only person on the street who heard it. I ran towards the sound and down the alleyway to help the victim standing there. I saw a girl with dark green colored hair crying pinned against the wall. But when I saw the person who had her pinned to the wall my blood ran cold. Thinking that you see your boyfriend threatening another student can have that effect. No it could not be, it just could not be him, I thought.

I instantly focused on getting the girl free. "Hey you," I bellowed. "Leave her be." When he let her go and turned around to face me I suddenly wanted to be very, very far away from there. For what could not be was. I stared in disbelief maybe I was having a nightmare in my Vernian Literature III class and would rap her evil ruler on her desk soon and wake me up, 'yeah that's it' I had thought shakily 'this is all just a nightmare.' I vaguely remember the girl darting by but I can't tell for sure, time had stopped for me, as I had realized that this was not a nightmare and that the rumors were true. My boyfriend really was part of a ferocious, kills-on-a-regular-basis gang. I felt the tears swelling up but I swallowed the lump down I was not going to cry. Even if realizing just how little you really knew about the one you loved or used to love seems to have a tendency to break your heart.

Both of us seemed at a loss of words. Myca recovered first though "Chris, I'm so sorry I, I can't believe you had to see that. Let me explain though."

I didn't need his pitiful excuses or lame lies. My heart was already broken and I had no intentions having it broken again by listening to his lies, or of ever letting him into the picture again. "Shut up Myca! I do not want to hear it! Save it for someone who cares, cause I do not, not anymore and never again will I ever care about you or anything you do." I finally got control of my limbs, and turned around swallowing more tears. When he cleared his throat and started to speak again I turned around to yell at him but was caught in a passionate kiss just like the he was giving me in real life. When he let me go I turned and walked away, and I stayed true to my word. That is until I saw him watching us in that café this afternoon.

When I came back out of my memories I realized that he had stopped kissing me.

He spoke his voice raw with emotions" I still care for you, a lot." He then proceeded to reach up to tuck some of my hair behind my ear. But in doing so he had freed my arms, a carelessness on his part I was going to take full advantage of. I stopped his hand, giving him an icy glare.

"Stop it, Myca. I told you to save it, I meant it then and I sure as shield, mean it now." I used his hand to push him back and cause him to stumble I turned quickly ignoring my body's protest that I had done so too fast and on my injured ankle on top of that. I had but limped only a few feet away before he recovered. At least it hadn't been an easy chase, although, I was the one who would end up with most of the bruises.

Myca let out an unearthly growl before speaking in a deadly whisper that sounded very much like a viper. "You are leaving me no choice then, though it was a fun chase, it shall end here." He pulled me back and pinned me to the tree once more and in one hand he held yet another injector. I was scowling as the sarcasm dripped off my words like honey "As a future observer you should know that they are training us to withstand drugs like rouge, and as you already know it does not happen to work on me. Thus the reason I did not pass out from the last, oh say three doses. Do you really think it will work this time?"

"Don't worry," he sneered "This isn't rouge, it's a little something I cooked up myself to help when we had to take care some of the friskier" he ran an unwanted hand along my side and my insides tied themselves in knots. "People we dealt with, people who like you have been trained to withstand certain drugs as you put it. Personally I like to call them toxins it just has a certain ring to it don't you think." He looked at me smirking wistfully before he stuck the needle in and inserted the vile liquid. I gritted my teeth even after all the times they had us do this to ourselves in class it still stung.

"Why?" I gasped. This 'toxin' was far stronger than any other drugs we had practiced with so far and it was taking some serious strength to keep the waves of dizziness and sleep to overtake me.

"Because," He taunted "If I don't love you I just did what I needed to get what I want. And I always get what I want. Now sleep." He cooed. I gritted my teeth battling with the waves that much harder just to smite him. "Just give in my turtledove, nobody's here to blame you I certainly won't, let them wash over you and carry you off, just like that. You and I both know you can not hold out forever. And like I said before nobody is here to blame you for giving up."

"I am." I managed to croak out on the edge of conciseness.

He chuckled lightly as if I had told a light joke "Can't have that can we?" I truly despised him.

"I hate you and I am not your turtledove." I whispered before slipping too far away to talk anymore. The last words I heard ringing in my head, "There is a fine line between love and hate, and you can't know how close you stand to that until you actually look closely at it. You might find your heart says differently. And yes you are." I felt him stick his hand in the pocket that held the teleporting crystals and carefully remove one.

If I had still had control of my limbs he would have seriously regretted that move possibly in the form of losing his manhood, or life which ever came easier. That was that last thing I knew though, before I had succumbed to the darkness that had been encroaching in on my thoughts. I wasn't looking forward to when I woke up; I had a feeling it wouldn't be fun.

4: Confusing times call for unusual measures

I stirred slightly when I woke up and groaned softly. Then I started to take inventory of my surroundings. The surface underneath me was plush and shaped like a couch. I knew it was day now from the warmth that I felt on my face from a source of sunshine, though I didn't know what time of day. That meant windows nearby. I stopped when I heard voices. I recognized Myca's voice, but the other, a smooth older male voice I did not. From the sound of it he was probably early to mid thirties and had, had a proper education, very advisor like.

"That better not be one of the town sluts I see on the couch over there." I felt a slight angry indignation boil, slut? Oh, he better watch it.

"No, she isn't." Myca had an edge to his voice. I heard him turn around, carpet, my mind automatically cataloged.

"Nice shiner." He, meaning the mystery man-x, coughed to rather unsuccessfully hide his laughter. "Your Highness. How did you acquire it, I must inquire?" I was ever so slightly confused Your Highness? Was Myca- no, there was no way he was royalty.

"I messed with the wrong person. My ex-girlfriend still had some grievances with me. She decided to tell me kindly and calmly with her fist, just what that was." Well he was right about the kind and calm part but if I had told him about even some the grievances I had with him he would have at least one broken bone.

"Oh, and which one is that? You never brought any home although you hinted at one some time ago. Your mother was most displeased when that one failed."

" The last one, the one I was serious about." Something in his tone of voice hinted at something but I was at a loss as to what. "She is visiting now actually, on the couch over there, Bart. You know the 'town slut'." I enjoyed listening to their conversation it was kind of entertaining.

"She gave you that? She looks too sweet to give you that. Well under the dirt and bruises and is that blood? " He paused for a second "Never mind. Now what do you mean by serious? Do you mean puppy love, or have you finally decided to listen to your mother and I? You do realize that she hasn't approved of your last few girlfriends, if you could even call them that, you and I both know you only brought them to functions to watch your mother die from shock. As a prince of Wessex, you need to find someone royal or-"

Myca cut him off with an exasperated sigh "She is royalty, I think. You see she has this birthmark… let me show you." I was still not over the whole prince thing but I had a good idea which birthmark he was going to show Bart and that was definitely not okay. I shoot up glaring at him "Do not shielding touch me you ignoramus." Myca looked like he was going to say something butI was thoroughly sick of his voice "Do kindly shut up, your Royal Highness." The last part came out with a sneer I finally got a good look at the people in front of me. Myca's face was a dark purple where I had punched him, add in the silent laughter … now. The man with him was a very down to earth looking gent. He had scruffy black hair and a kind face. "Thank you for stopping to pretend to sleep, and joining us." Softer to Myca he said "I like her accent."

"I know," he responded, "I enjoy it rougher tones with her colorful vocabulary, so nice to hear."

" Jorgan and Kalina her eyes! They're Bumi violet! Lovely, simply darling she-"

" Is right here." I snapped cutting him off." Stop talking about me like I am not here." They continued to blather on about me like I wasn't there so I went in search of Ayden. Oh wonderful and ever-loving Ayden. Where are you? A groggy voice mumbled something incoherent at me. What was that sweets? Oh, it is so good to hear from you too. I know you missed me as much as I missed you.

Do you have to be a morning person' He was grumpy and even through our mind link I could tell he reeked of morning breath.

Indeed I do. Now, go get your cuppa.

Cup of what? Never mind, don't bother. Where are you?

I do not know, somewhere in Wessex, I think, glorious, is it not? I just love being kidnapped, how about you?

By who? The Aces are in custody. Who else would be stupid enough to even try? Mmmm coffee' I had to try extremely hard not to laugh at that last comment, and barely seceded although a small smile appeared on my face. His simple "Mmmm, coffee." Had been so full of lust for what I found a revolting drink.

'Not all the aces. Myca seems stupid enough, and he seems to think I am-'

"Royalty?" the conversation in front of me drew my attention again. 'Ayden I-I think I'll take a rain check for a second.'

"-It's an interesting theory. A tad far-fetched, but with some schooling, she could make a perfect bride." Okay that was definitely not what I wanted to hear.

"Who said anything about me marrying that imbecilic, spineless, nitwit?" I growled at the man in front of me. I saw his lips move but I couldn't actually make out the words, except for the fact I could read lips, I had spent the past four years honing the skill. The last sentence I read was the last straw, "Stupid witch won't last a week." Oh, I'll show him stupid witch. "Stupid witch, do I really look like some harlot?" He looked dumbfounded as I marched angrily toward him. He mouthed 'Can she read lips?'

"Oh, for the love of- Yes you idiot, I can read lips. No I just guessed." I watched Myca unfazed by this bit of news start to maneuver Bart toward the door.

"Dude, you so asked for it. Now go Chris and I have some things to discuss." He, meaning Bart seemed to snap back to reality, and scampered out of that room as quick as he could. Myca stood with the door slightly ajar and waited until the footsteps had faded off down the corridor, then he proceeded to close the door, with a soft click.

"Get out." I snapped fed up with his idiotic games.

"Hold on I just want to discuss something's, please hear me out."

"No! I don't sheildingcare if the sun was about to explode and this was your last chance at peace before you died, I would listen if it was anyone else, but it's you, so it is whole other cuppa."

"What is a 'cuppa'?"

" Cup of tea! You stupid, obsessive, pathetic-" Water from all parts of the room suddenly popped from its container. "Holy Jinx." I idly stroked the necklace on my neck. Ayden had said they were four for each of the elements, did that mean they could control the element they were for. "It claimed you! The necklace claimed you as its master! But that was only a myth. Quick! Look at the crystal what image does it show for you." It was right then something crashed through the window, there was a flashing of wings, hooves, feathers, fur, and claws and in the center of it all a round crystal like object. A miniature piebald Pegasus and a solid black griffin were fighting over whatever was in between them. I grasped the griffin by the scruff on its neck and it went limp, the animal was only a kitten about the size of a common house cat, when fully grown it would be the size of a large horse. The Pegasus flew out leaving its prize behind to get away from the, oh so dreaded humans. The kit opened its mouth and although I knew it was shrieking because Myca was wincing that was not what I heard.

"Leluva, be good! Luva be good! Let Luva go!" I stared at the kit in shock before, setting her down. She looked up at me curious, "Human understands Luva?" I nodded numbly, "Luva's searching over! You Luva's human! Wait, does human already have griffin?" I managed to croak out a no. I could see Myca was not cringing now but watching with wide eyes seeming fascinated. "You are Luva's human!" She started zooming around the room and chattering excitedly, her words so rapid I could barely understand them.

"What just happened? Did you understand her? And what symbol is in the necklace?" Myca was bursting with what looked like awe and anticipation.

I watched Leluva transfixed and answered, "Not sure, yes, and," I glanced down, "a water droplet with crossed swords, wait! Luva, what do you mean? You know, about your mother!"

The little griffin paused and answered me, "Oh, you just have to meet her and papa. They be so excited. Most griffins impress within week, me though, it took over two months. Why you think I so small, stop growing at two weeks 'til human come. Could you have taken any longer to get here?"

She seemed to finally settle down and flew over to my shoulder and stretched across my shoulders purring contentedly. I stiffened at first, it felt odd to have her feathers and fur warming my shoulders, but it felt strangely, normal. It calmed me and the anger I had felt just moments before, I was able to think more clearly. I released the water and it returned to its original places, and then I noticed that whatever Luva and the Pegasus had been fighting over was still here.

I walked over to the object and picked it up; it was about the size and color of an Emus egg. I examined it curiously, "What is this?" A wyvern egg was Luva's lazy response. I squeaked "Wyvern egg!" My mind raced where there was an egg, there were surely adult wyverns, and adult wyverns were um, protective of their eggs. "Luva, where did you get this?"

Stop doing this, I comfortable, your emotions affect me as well, just so you know and, you don't have to talk to me out loud, we have same mind-bond thingy you and what his name. Besides I don't want mister bug eye listen in on our conversation. I sighed calming down, I didn't want her flying around again, and Myca not being able to listen in on my side of the conversation was a great idea. 'Happy? But you did not answer my question. Where. Did. You. Get. This.'

'Nest.' She yawned and shifted into a more comfortable position. 'They had too many anyway, they won't even notice.' She sent an image into my mind of a net that held a good fifty or so number of eggs. I shook my head dejectedly and turned back to Myca, oh well, was all I could think about besides, good food and a shower.

"So is there any food in this place?" I asked with a small smile. He looked at me bewildered; maybe it was the mood swings. "And," I continued "while you are at it a shower and some clothes my size please?"

He looked like he was about to ask something but shook his seeming to think better of it. "The bathroom's through there." He pointed at a door I had not noticed before "I had some clothes put in there," he pointed a wardrobe "And I'll have some food brought up for you and the thing- I mean Luva? We can talk later." He walked out and I heard the lock click from the outside. I smirked, what else were hairpins for? Oh well, he would find that out soon enough.

I sighed in contentment as I braided my hair. While I had showered and then washed Leluva, some food had appeared. I slipped on some clothes and boots, before joining Luva eating. The food was good and the clothes were even my size. I peeked around the room before finding a compartment that held bags. Hmm, I don't think he knew this was here.

I started to roll up the rest of the clothes and stuck them in the bag. Then I remembered the egg. I looked around, and realized it was gone. Oh well, one less thing to worry about. I looked around then pulled out the necklaces, coins, and hairpins from my old breeches. I stuck the hairpin in the lock and started out into the hallway, Luva was curled up on my shoulders dozing, so I decided to contact Ayden.

'Hello, anyone home?'

'Finally! What happened? Why did you call a rain check? Do you know where you are-'

'Hello.' Luva broke in; well that's one way to introduce them.

Um, Ayden meet Leluva. She's my . . . griffin mind-bond. And to answer your earlier questions I'm in Wessex, like I told you earlier. I called a rain check to insult Myca, and I imprinted? Yes Imprinted a griffin, oh and that necklace claimed me, or something. Oh Armory.

I had walked down several halls, and found an unlocked door that lead into an armory. I started to gather some tools. Daggers check. I tucked those into my boots for now. I found a bow and arrows, and a walking stick that had some compartments in it, very useful. As I turned to leave I found a set of knives that you could hide under your clothes, they included wrist knives, a waist belt with six of various sizes, boot knives and two eighteen inch daggers that I hid in my quiver.

Satisfied I walked over to the door at the other end of the room, it led to a pathway that leads down a slope and away for the castle, awesomesauce. I heard shouting just then, time to leave. I darted out closing the door behind me. I got to the edge of the woods walking before I heard the door from the armory slam open. I took off running. Luva dug her claws in to stay on; I grabbed the necklace and once more called up my memory of the road to Angels Bay. The world around me tilted and I ended up kneeling in the road puking my guts out. While I wasn't positive I could pinpoint the reason I suspected it had to do with the amount of space I had traveled to get to this spot was much farther than before. I also just seemed to be sensitive to the effects that it had on the body.

Are you all done now? Luva peered at me from a distance. I groaned and stood, then started to follow the road. You look pale. You need sit. I had to admit I agreed with her. I walked over to the treeline and once I felt I was a safe distance from the road and the eyes of passersby I sat down and leaned back against a tree. My eyes drifted shut almost instantly, I only hoped that Myca wouldn't track me down in the time it took for me to sleep these side-effects off.

5: Lessons, Memories, and girl talk

I woke up to find the sky had become a light blue green color with paled peach and brown spots. Wait, correction that was only the face I saw, never mind, and three, two, one, I screamed. Luva looked up at me curiously and then went back to preening herself. I started to crawl backward until I realized I could not crawl through trees. Bugger.

"Goody! Your awake, I'll go get Riona and Ciara, they left me in charge of watching you. That thing, wouldn't let us move you." There was as much disgust in the word, thing, as there was in the way most people talked about dog poop. I watched her skip off red curls bouncing. I looked over at Luva curious, and she stopped preening for a second and gave me a look that clearly said, I'm not talking about it, and you can't make me.

I pulled myself up off the ground, grabbed my things and started to go the same way as the hyper girl had bounced off to go fetch, it hit me then. Riona and Ciara. I wondered why I had never thought about it earlier. Ciara had said she had a twin sister, and they both were Uruan and had red hair. I felt so dense right then. I heard Luva give a squawk of protest before coming to light on my shoulder. I kept walking slowly trying to make sure I was going the right way. Suddenly I heard something crashing through the underbrush and then found myself on the ground with a thud. I wheezed trying to get some air back into my lungs. The two girls I knew so well came into view and simultaneously shouted "Marissa!" So that was the girl's name. Ciara was faster to get to us and started to scold the girl "Marissa Heather Collins, how many times have we told you to watch where you are going? Huh? That's what I thought, too many to count and now look at what you did."

Riona gave me a hand up and I clamped mine across Ciara's mouth to muffle the rest of her rant. She looked at me glaring, and all I could do was raising an eyebrow in a silent question. She tore my hand away and scowled, but was silent. I turned to Riona and before I could say anything, she answered me, "House, he wanted more coffee first." My face lit up I loved to talk to him while he drinking his coffee, mostly because he hated it when I did it.

'Ayden, how do my eyes long to see you.' He responded to that, with a suggestion that I don't think is anatomically possible. I burst out laughing, and after some strange looks form the three walking with me, I smiled and shook my head, glancing at Marissa to say that it was something she didn't need to hear. They smiled in understanding before leading me into a clearing with waist high stalks of oat. I saw an older woman whose red hair had faded to an almost pink hue standing in the middle of the field a petulant look on her face. When she looked up and saw us coming she hustled over to us threading her way through the stalks. I started to greet her as Mrs. Collins until Riona spoke up.

"Hello Maria, how are you doing?" The woman smiled wistfully before answering.

"Well, after the death of Sarah it's been hard, she was my sister and all but I know I am still needed here to watch after you munchkins and take care of the farm, but off of dull subjects. Who's this with you?"

"I am Christina, you can call me Chris though. I go to school with Ciara and Riona."

She nodded understanding "So you're the girl they have been worried sick about. How did you get here last we heard you was on the other side of the side of the continent, How'd you get here?"

Ciara smiled sweetly "Now Auntie let her get some food first and then she can explain."

"Sweet marbles! I'm losin' my marbles! That can't be what I think it is sittin' on her shoulder!"

I mimicked Ciara's smile "This is Leluva. She's my griffin mind-bond." She looked at me bug-eyed, and then started to follow us inside. It was obvious she was fascinated with what had happened and how I had gotten a hold of a griffin mind-bond. I walked into the cottage to find Ayden scowling into his coffee cup and Jenny sitting meticulously cutting her sausage and eggs into small bites. I greeted them warmly and he pointed to a plate that had toast and sausage, and eggs on it. I sat down and divided the food so Luva had some too. Then devoured my entire share in what felt like three bites. I looked up, "So where do you want me to start?"

"How about from the beginning." Ayden smirked at my behind his freshly refilled cup. I started "Well when a mommy and daddy love each other," I ducked the pillow Riona threw at me.

"Fine smart-ass. How about after you left the apartment." I looked at him reproachfully; he didn't need to say that in the presence of an eight-year-old. I started from that spot though, and about twenty minutes later I came to the conclusion.

"…And that's when I got here. So any questions?"

Ciara raised her hand in the imitation of an excited schoolgirl "Oh, teacher, teacher! I have one! I have one! What birthmark?" I pulled down my breeches some, to show the mark on my left hipbone. They looked at for a moment before they said any thing "Its, the same thing as the design in your necklace." Ciara said a thoughtful look for a moment " Auntie, Can you go get that old book of myths, the one that Riona found in the attic when we were like six." Maria returned a minute later and Ciara turned through the pages for a few minutes until she came to one that was ripped in half. "Here it is, this tale was one we always loved to make up the ending for remember Ri?" Riona nodded "It was called 'The four sages', you said the necklace claimed you? Well in this story see here:

The Four Sages

Water, Earth, Fire, Air, without these four elements all life forms would cease to exist. But in times of great need the protectors of these elements, called the Sages, would rise, called by the Elemental crystals, a normal crystal in the hands of others until the sage of the correct crystal is claimed by it. Marked by a symbol that represents that sage. For a period of five hundred years or so the sages were always present due to the constant turmoil of the countries, but the last sage known of was Alanna Blackheart, water sage dead 156ME. Since then the crystals have gone missing, none of the sages have been seen or heard of but people say…

The page is ripped here, you don't think, that that's a elemental crystal?" I looked over at Ayden my eye's accusing, 'Only four I believe, one for water, fire, earth, and air. You have the one for water, they have air, and fire and earth are still out there somewhere…' He realized I was staring, and looked up sheepish.

"I suspected, but I didn't have any proof so..." I glared at him as he trailed off with a shrug.

"So you lied to us?" I glared at him livid.

"It wasn't a lie, I just didn't tell you the whole truth either." He looked uncomfortable, as he should, I thought.

"A half truth is half a lie and a half lie does not exist only a full lie or a full truth. Anything halfway is a lie Ayden! And Lesson number one, as in the most important one is do not lie to those who are your friends!" He shrank down in his seat "And where did you get this in the first place how did you get involved in something like this, huh?" He cowered but remained silent, I reached down towards my bow threateningly, "Answer me!"

He looked up at me scared "The Council. They gave it to me, said I had t-to protect it at all costs. So I gave it to you." I thought back to the day I received it,

Ayden walked in looking thoughtful. He smiled when he saw me sitting at the table studying, and I smiled back. "Hey I got you a gift," He held up a necklace "I trust you." I looked at him confused, "You'll find out later." He handed the gift to me, and watched me put it on. Once I had, he turned away to go get something to eat.

"That's, what you meant, 'I trust you'. You trusted me to guard the gift with my life." He nodded.

Riona spoke for the first time in a while, "That doesn't explain the Griffin though. I mean, what's up with that?" She the ducked when Luva flew at her squawking in protest.

"Well in the passages I looked at it was normal to have the sages have a mind-bond of sorts that let them get around without walking. Griffins, Dragons, Hippogriffs, Phoenixes, Pegasus', hippocampus and even a winged chimera at one point." He shivered "I hate chimera's those things are so creepy."

I smirked, "Chimera-phobe." He looked up with an impish grin and finished the statement " And proud of it. Seriously, those things are unnatural. And lesson number one, if it looks unnatural, it is unnatural."

Riona started giggling, and we looked at her "That would be lesson number two, not one. And lesson number three is learning to duck." She threw a pillow at him. He huffed and walked out after saying he could take a hint.

I looked up at the twins suspicious. They were planning something. They smiled in unison and started to walk in different directions, one, Riona, went to a cabinet and pulled out what I recognized as bruise ointment, I cheered silently, I was thoroughly black and blue. The other, Ciara, disappeared farther into the house. I watched Riona walk over to another part of the kitchen and open a drawer, and pull out a gripper to get open the bruise balm. She looked up smiled, and then walked over with the open jar. "Here, and when we go to town you'll need a longer sleeve or an overcoat, people will be suspicious of massive bruises."

"Town?" I looked up questioningly.

"Yeah, shopping spree!" She then started to talk about different boutiques in town, and all I could do was groan. Girl talk, stupid, vapid, girly girl talk.

So sometimes college sucks. I had this plan in my head that I would update every week or every two weeks and then college laughed at me and said "No. You will spend a semester writing 150 essays. You will live off coffee and and pizza and stress will feel like a living being in your life." So my plans went out the window and spent my semester alternating between homework and crying in a corner (not really but you get the idea). This semester my professors have a more sane and humane outlook on life, which means updates and writing and not living off caffine. Okay maybe I will be living off caffine but it won't be as bad as before. It also helps that I have a best friend who has decided to act as a manager and force me to write and update my work.

6: Shopping spree

I was forced into store after store, after store, I thought I would lose my mind, especially when they shoved me this small box called a dressing room. I couldn't help sighing, why me, why oh why? But, wait. Salvation calls, a window. My new best friend, a glass window that was open. A chair, another friend, and then the sweet smell of freedom, or rotten eggs, oh no I get halfway out and I cannot get any further without, something to grab to support my weight, so I can slide my legs out. I look around A pole too far up and a rope sitting below, 'Luva! Grab that rope and try to attach it to that pole, quick I hear the tormenters er-I mean the twins coming.' With the rope attached as best as a griffin can, I grab the rope and pull to put my full weight on it. Maybe not such a good idea, but I got out; it just hurt, a lot. I scowled rubbing my sore side; it had taken the blunt of the fall.

I paused at the entryway to the alley and looked down at Luva questioningly. She snorted before retracting her wings to look less conspicuous, although the beak was still noticeable. I needed a hooded jacket. She could hide in there and nap, her favorite pastime. I looked up at the consignment shop with a smile.

We entered the store with a bang, literally. As soon as I opened the door, I heard something crash in the back. I winced and went over to the section that held a large amount of black and pulled out a solid black hooded cloak, I checked the size and price before heading over to the cash register. A little bell was sitting on the counter and I rang it then started to browse the little spinner that held all sorts of trinkets. As my hand brushed an armband, my necklace lit up glowing bright enough to compete with the sun. I removed my hand quickly and the glowing stopped. I hid the charm under my clothes and reached for the armband again; lifting it off the hook it rested on. Looking at it closely I realized the center jewel was the same shape and style as mine, the third Elemental Crystal.

"A lovely piece is it not. Rather unusual." I jumped at the sound of a low tenor voice, most definitely male. I turned to look into a slightly familiar face. It had sliver blonde hair and steel gray eyes. Although I had never met him before I knew the face of Cody Farloma well. There were enough of his wanted posters posted around town to not know it. He was a well established pirate/privateer wanted in most every country.

"Yes." I kept my face expressionless, weary of his intentions. I watched the twins pass by laughing. I was on my own. I had my daggers in my boots and my bow and arrows hidden under my jacket; my staff though was still at their home.

"And if you do not mind I shall buy it as a gift for my sister." I lost my composure and glared at him "Why not just steal it." Uh-oh now would be the time to insert my foot into my mouth. The half a dozen thuggish sailors behind him I had failed to notice earlier were now very visible and very intimidating. I was mentally quaking in my boots, even armed, but on the outside I was the three C's, calm, cool, and collected.

"Don't tempt me." He sneered. I met his steel colored eyes and with more courage than I felt I quipped back "Then don't threaten me. Besides why get her a common trinket like this," My hand reached into my pocket subtly and I silently brought out two gold clirets (Ayden's). "When her big bad brother could get her all the gold and silver she could ever want?" My hand went behind me and set the coins on the counter. I rearranged the necklace and cloak. "Besides you want to make it back to your ship whole right?"

"What could a mere woman like you do? Love me to death? Ha!" The thugs chuckled on cue. "But you speak quite boldly. I do not think you actually know who I am, do you?"

It was my turn to sneer, "Captain Cody Farlona and his very fearsome crew of pirates, excuse me privateers." Pausing, a small smile appeared and I let the rough but not completely awkward words roll off my tongue. I had taken an Ancient Language class in secondary school and later University, it was used for old magic although most mages did not bother to learn it anymore. I found it an altogether fascinating and had studied it since my first encounter with it. What I said roughly translated into "Yes I know who and what you are. You steal from all in search of power, and look down on those you consider weaker than you. Be careful whom you underestimate. Eventually you will end up hurt." As an agent of The Council I had discovered that unless the bearer of magic had unusually high translator skills or had also studied Ancient spells they were otherwise useless. I watched the men all look to a man who was most likely was the mage of the group with translator skills in hopes of learning what I said so with them otherwise occupied for the most part I left.

I noticed then I did not feel Luva. I reached out across the bond panicked. And she responded immediately with worry 'What wrong? You hurt? Luva coming I bring stick.' I felt relief wash over me she had gone back to the Collins. I started back up the path that way and as soon as I was far enough away from town to have no one notice I slipped off my borrowed jacket and slipped on the cloak. I folded the jacket up and set it and the third dominion crystal in the bag I had before sitting down waiting. I realized that the past day and a half was starting to catch up with me. My ankle was still sore even with it being a fairly minor sprain after the ointment. I waited patiently for Luva, and not long after I had sat down she appeared. She dropped the staff down in front of me then curled up in the hood of the Cloak. I used the staff as leverage to stand and made my way back to town.

Over an hour later I found myself wandering the dock aimlessly enjoying the crisp sea breeze that had that sharp salt water twang I rather liked. I was looking at the ships, all the different names exotic ones like Turquoise Rider and Conquistador to blander ones like The Big One and The Terror (A very un-terrifying ship that did not look sea worthy.) I skimmed my eyes over the different ships until one name in particular jumped out at me, The Black Gull. The notorious ebony ship Captained by the feared Captain Cody. I unconsciously shook my hair so it hid my face a little more hoping they had forgotten about me and gone on to bigger fish. As I passed by on the non too crowded dock a voice behind me rang out "It's her the girl that snuck away after going all dead speak on us. The witch actually showed her face down here. After her!" I took off sneaking a look over my shoulder to see how many were after me. Just one chaser, it was the notorious captain himself.

I turned onto one of the various streets that lead onto and started darting through the throngs of people hoping to lose him that way, but no such luck. I used my staff like a pole vault and jumped straight over a cart and although the move lost me a perfectly good staff it was worth losing him. I leaped onto a wall that every few bricks gained a level. At some point it was tall as the roof it was next to and I threw myself at it, trying my best to mute the thud. Luva still hiding in my hood grumbled across our link. I turned stealthily to face the road. He ran by and when he reached an intersection and realized it was a useless chase gave up. I smiled to myself. He walked back to the ship, looking slightly dejected.

Suddenly he was looking straight into my eyes, bugger. He ran at the wall leapt up and grasping it he swung himself up and onto it before joining me on the roof. I pulled myself into a crouch. "It took you long enough. Do I still seem like a mere woman?" I let him get a glimpse of the dagger in my right boot.

"You have made your point you are a formidable opponent. Now I tire of these games of yours. Hand over the armband." He huffed slightly; the chase had taken more effort for him than me. I smiled knowing I had the advantage. "Games? You think this is a game? Then I guess I quit." I leaped lightly off the roof, Luva leaving the comfort of my hood. Landing in an alleyway I ran towards the entrance. He followed suit and landed in front of me, blocking my exit. I wanted to laugh; he really thought he could stop me.

"Hand it over, you cannot run." I sighed and reached for my bag walking towards him, and once I was close enough instead of taking it out I aimed a kick for the gut and heard him wheeze before darting past. Recovering quicker than I had expected he clasp his hand around my wrist, tightly enough to dig into my bruises and make me want to scream in pain. "Fine, keep it but answer me this, what's a foreigner like you doing running around like some manic. And why are you after a Elemental Crystal." I feigned innocence. "Oh, don't give me that, just answer the question."

"It is a long story. So long story short, none of your business." I tried to pull away unsuccessfully. He smiled like he was dealing with a naughty child. "Fine, our cook died of food poisoning and you can fill in for him for right now if it suits you." I finally pulled free and continued out of the alley. He put his hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off. "It does not suit me." As we exited a commotion started down the street, I ignored it though.

"If you worry about my men, I do not let them drink aboard my ship, drunken sailors are dead sailors, I also generally avoid rapists and exceptionally bad persons I do have morals and a sister although they are known to take- watch out!" He threw himself against me slamming us into the wall. A volley of stun darts flew past hitting the place where I had been standing only a second before. The imperial army of Wessex was here; they had found me somehow. I curse all tracker's and their magic, friends or otherwise.