Chapter I
"Wow! Is that a real place?" Aaron Nickel asked himself. He was watching a program about the ancient kingdom of Rowdor. Aaron had always wanted to study lost civilizations, but adults said he didn't have enough patience.
"Archaeologists think this plain was once the home to thousands of people in the Rowdorian capital of Minith. The city was the largest city in a country that stretched from Central Guallatiri to Northern Zamia. Located near what is now Lake Niracia, Minith was the central point on trade routes. archaeologists hope this is the site. So far, though, nothing to prove this statement has surfaced." the reporter said answering Aaron's question. "From Lake Niracia, I'm Rachel Sawyer saying good night."
"No patience; I'll show them. I'll find Rowdor and no one's going to stop me." Aaron declared. "I may only be 15, but I can do it."
"What are you mumbling about this time?" a blond girl next to him asked. They looked to be about the same age.
"I'm going to find Rowdor, Tabby! I can't stand this orphanage any longer. I need adventure and a challenge, so I'm going to find it!" Aaron said. He was loud enough so everyone in the room heard him.
"You're always dreaming of far away places and going to them, but when the time comes you're to scared to go." Tabby pointed out.
"I'm really going this time. I promise." Aaron countered.
The whole room exploded with cheers and two teens walked over to Aaron and Tabby; a brown-haired boy and a sandy-blond girl. The boy looked at Aaron for a minute then said, "If you really mean to go I suppose I'll go too. I mean Aaron's right, we need adventure. So I'm coming."
"Then I'm coming too." the girl said. Then before Aaron could protest, she added, "To quote Perigrin Took, from The Lord of the Rings, 'You will have to lock me in prison or send me home tied in a sack, for otherwise I shall follow the Company.' The Company being you Aaron."
"You would really come with me? All of you?" Aaron asked. Then lowering his voice, he said, "Meet me in the upstairs meeting room in ten minutes." They agreed and went back to relaxing.
Ten minutes later, Aaron was waiting when Scott and Kitty walked in. "Where's Tabby?" he asked.
"She wasn't downstairs or in her room, but she'll show up. Boom-boom will show up though." Scott said. Aaron looked at him like he was crazy. "Don't you remember; Boom-boom is Tabby's nickname around here. Haven't you learned anything? But then again, you've only been here what, fourteen years!"
"I remember. Tabby, don't blow the table up." Aaron said. To Scott and Kitty's amazement Tabby crawled out from under the table. "Do you think you're the only one with powers? I have them as well. Kitty, I know that you can morph into animals and pass through solid objects. You," Aaron said pointing to Scott, " can telleport. And Tabby, you can create explosions."
"What can you do then, mister smarty-pants?" Tabby asked.
"I'm a telepath, can be invisible, and can move at high speeds at certain times, even numbered hours only." he explained. "Now about our adventure. When should we leave?"
"It's February now so we should leave for Niracia in April. That leaves two months to prepare." Scott told them.
"We should leave at night so we won't be spotted." Tabby suggested.
Kitty added, "We should pack light so we can travel fast."
"Great ideas! Let's meet here again in, say, two weeks. Same day and time. No hiding this time." Aaron ordered.
One o'clock on April 2nd, Aaron, Kitty, Tabby, and Scott crept down the stairs to the main room of the orphanage. Each teen had a backpack and a flashlight, though they were not on.
"Quit stepping on my feet, Tabby!" Scott cried.
"Shut up! This mission is supposed to be secret." Aaron whispered. "Now hurry up, we don't want to be caught."
As Aaron opened for the door light flooded the room. "We have you now, Aaron Nickel, Kitty L'Oreade, Tabitha Mirko, and Scott Sumerton!" sneered a man.
The group looked back and saw four adults and a teen at the top of the stairs. The teen had obviously snitched on them. "Headmaster D'afelio!" Aaron yelled. "Run for it!" The group split up outside and ran from the supervisors. One by one the group showed up at the forest tree house, until Aaron was the only one left to appear.
"Where is Aaron? He should be here by now." Kitty said looking out the window.
"He should, but the last time I saw him he was being chased by..." Tabby stop short realizing Aaron's peril. "He was being chased by Coach Jake; the fastest and strongest person in Chico Village. I wanted to help but he told me to run; I wanted to help, but I... he...No! NO, NO, NO, NO!! I'm going after him." Tabby slammed her fist on the table to show that she meant it.
"No; do you want to be captured too? We need a plan first; then we'll save him." Scott retorted. "Now, where would he be hidden?"
"Not in his room; it has a balcony." Kitty told them. "What about the attic, the one in the tower? It has a small windows and one door, which opens from the outside only. Coach would put him there thinking Aaron can't escape."
"We're agreed on the place. Tabby can you create a small bomb that will go off after one minute?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, why?" Tabby said. Then guessing what he had in mind, she said, "You want me to create a distraction to get all attention off of Aaron, so you can pop in and rescue him. Right?"
"Right, and Kitty can phase you through any walls necessary. Come on; let's go."
The trio set out on their test of teamwork. When they reached the wall under the large living room windows, Kitty and Tabby phased into the room. Scott walked into the shadow of the tower. The two girls appeared, gave him the go ahead sign, and ran back towards the tree house. Kitty looked back in time to see Scott reportedly. As they approached the main gate they heard the bomb go off. It was only a small one but the whole orphanage was in an uproar.
Scott heard the bomb go off but was to interested in finding his friend. "Aaron, Aaron are you here?" he called quietly.
"Scott, is that you?" Aaron asked. "I'm over here. Walk forward until you find the wall, then go left, and don't worry, I can see you." Scott followed Aaron's voice and his directions until he bumped into Aaron. As Scott untied his hands, Aaron explained what had happened. "Coach Jake caught me and tied me up in here. It was one o'clock, so my speed wouldn't work. That's better." Aaron said, rubbing his wrists. Just as Scott was getting ready to teleport, the door opened and a tall, muscular man stepped though. He went after the two boys, but Scott grabbed Aaron's wrist and teleported, leaving the man staring. They reappeared in the tree house, where Kitty and Tabby were waiting.
"Aaron!" Tabby cried. "Are you okay? I should have followed you."
"No, I didn't want you to get caught too." Aaron contradicted her. "If you hadn't found me by three, I was going to tell you to go on with out me."
"We couldn't do that! After all this was your idea." Kitty reminded him.
Scott had been looking out the window ever since he got back. "We're being watched; I just don't know how or by who." He looked out the window again and found what he was looking for. "We have to get out of here. The little snitch is watching us. If we try to move out on foot she'll follow us. Jean McKnight, you're not going to get us this time." Turning to the others he said, "Get your stuff and come here." The group gathered scattered supplies and put them into bags. They gathered in a circle around Scott and teleported.
Chapter II
Sometime later, the group reappeared in another tree house. Kitty looked around and asked, "Where are we?"
"Memorial National Park. It's fifty some miles from the orphanage. We should be safe for a while." Scott explained sinking to his knees. He was breathing hard and looked exhausted.
"Are you okay?" Aaron asked. "We can wait if you need to rest."
Scott looked up at him and said, weakly, "I'll be alright. It was just to many places to teleport four people in a short time." He finished his sentence as he fell to the floor, exhausted from the effort.
Kitty sat down beside him and said, "Let's make him comfortable. This trip can wait awhile longer."
"Yeah," Aaron said, "we're going to need him to make it to Niracia together." He didn't know how right he was.
As the day passed Kitty, Tabby, and Aaron watched and waited for Scott to recover so they could move on. After night fell all but Aaron were asleep; he sat on the porch, thinking over this mission.
Why did I have to drag them into this? he thought, looking at the stars in the cloudless sky. I might have brought Kitty, but that's it. She would have killed me if I left without her, but I shouldn't have brought Tabby and Scott. I don't know what danger we're going into and I'll never forgive myself if they got hurt. They've already had to rescue me once; I don't want that to happen again, but I have a feeling something like that will happen. Yes, it will happen, more than once. The last time I may not ever see them again, whether by death or other event. Power beyond my control will be involved on my part of this mission, I just know it. I don't want to risk their safety again. He finally fell asleep just hours before dawn.
Scott woke up sometime later. He looked around and saw his friends sleeping; Kitty and Tabby were next to him while Aaron was out on the porch. He looked at his watch and was startled; it was already ten o'clock. He raced around getting everyone up and moving. They were soon ready to go though still a bit sleepy-eyed. They teleported so no one would see them leaving. They reappeared in a forest.
"Where exactly are we?" Tabby asked. She, along with Aaron and Kitty, was looking at the trees around them.
"Somewhere in southern Derecina. I brought us as close to Niracia as I could." Scott explained. Derecina was a country close to Niracia; two small countries now lay between them and the orphanage. "For now though we need to walk for a while or I'll be too tired to do even that."
"That's no problem. We can rest here before moving on." Aaron said. Secretly he thought, If they all go to sleep, I'll go on with out them. But, to his dismay, only Scott slept. Just after noon they headed out again. "Kitty, will you please morph into a bird and see where the nearest town is?" Kitty morphed into a peregrine falcon and quickly flew up. She was back in no time.
"There's a small town about four miles away. It won't take more than ten minutes on horseback." Aaron nodded and Kitty changed into a horse, a strange one at that. It was the same height as a normal Arabian, but slightly longer, long enough to hold three people. Aaron, Tabby, and Scott climbed on and Kitty took off. Just before they reached town, the group stopped to allow Kitty to change back. They then continued into town. When they entered town many people acknowledged them, none of whom they knew. One, however, they did recognize.
"Andrea! Andrea!" Aaron called to a girl ahead of them. The girl heard him and turned around. When she saw Aaron she ran towards them and they embraced happily.
She let go of him and looked him over carefully. She then said, "It's good to see you, but how did you get here? I thought you weren't allowed to leave the orphanage, except for school."
We aren't, but we escaped three days ago." Kitty spoke up. Andrea hadn't noticed her, Tabby, or Scott until now. "All of us planned it, together."
"The four of you managed to escape, together?" Andrea said disbelieving her. "Didn't Coach Jake catch you? At least one of you?"
"He caught Aaron," Scott said, "but we rescued him. Then we worked our way down here using our....powers."
"Are you crazy?" Andrea exclaimed. "You could have been caught. Then where would you be? You'd be in lock down being questioned. You should have stayed; you were safer there than you will be here." The group was sitting around Andrea's kitchen table listening to her lecture them. The lecture wasn't as bad as it could have been because Tabby, Kitty, Scott, and Aaron were used to it; Andrea was Aaron's twin sister. "Do you know how dangerous it was to do that? You should be ashamed of yourselves."
"You escaped the same way, so don't be lecturing us about our powers." Aaron contradicted. The year before, Andrea had escaped from the same orphanage.
"Yeah, but---"
"No buts about it, Andrea." Tabby interrupted. "You used your powers knowing full well what they were and could do. Your ice powers helped you and there is no denying it. You couldn't have done it without them. There's still evidence of your escape on the orphanage grounds." This was true. Just south of the eastern gate there was a slide that Andrea used to escape over the fence. Andrea created it using her power to control water and ice. In this town, Boodle, she used her powers to create sculptures for sale. She was best known though, by orphanage children, for her escape from the Chicko Village. She was the first, followed by Aaron, Tabby, Kitty, and Scott.
"Now that I think about it, with us five proving that escape is possible, more kids will try to escape. With everyone trying to escape Safel will have to either give them more freedom or close down." Scott explained.
"Yeah, then when this adventure is over we can go back and have more freedom." Kitty sighed.
Aaron looked at her seriously and said, "Kitty, Kitty, Kitty. Don't you realize, if we succeed then we can buy the orphanage; we'll be rich. We won't be poor orphans anymore!"
"Wait a minute!" Andrea exclaimed. "What's this about an adventure? You didn't say a word about this to me Aaron."
"That's because you would tell me not to. It's about us finding Rowdor and no one stopping us." Aaron told her, anger growing in his voice.
"Who said I was going to stop you? Maybe I want to help or go along! Did you ever stop to think about that?" Andrea argued. "Did it ever occur to you to think at all? And do you really think I'd let you go off alone or without my help?"
"We came here by pure accident! Scott teleported us then we rode here on Kitty's horse morph. We didn't mean to come here, but this is as close to Niracia we could get! So if you want me to leave, I will!"
Andrea stood up and looked her twin straight in the eye, then stated loudly, "Fine, leave. See what I care! Don't blame me if you get into trouble." Aaron stormed out leaving his companions staring after him, in amazement. Scott and Kitty took off after him, while Tabby stayed behind to look after Andrea.
"Andrea, what did you do that for? You're his sister." Tabby stated.
"I know he's my brother and I didn't mean to blow up like that. He can be stubborn sometimes; you know that. He gets on my nerves a lot and I needed to blow off some steam." Andrea said siting down. "He's the only family I have; I don't want to lose him."
Chapter III
Aaron walked down Main Street thinking about all he and Andrea had said. She's my family; I should have been nicer. So if you want me to leave, I will! Don't blame me if you get into trouble. What did Andrea mean? If I get into serious danger, she'll come after me. She loves me to much too let me suffer.
"Aaron! Aaron, wait up!" Aaron turned and saw Kitty and Scott right behind him. Aaron started to run away from them. When he rounded a corner, Kitty and Scott were not far behind.
"Where did he go?" Scott asked Kitty. Aaron had disappeared. Kitty knew how to find him; she morphed into a beagle and followed Aaron's scent. That led them to an abandoned warehouse. When she demorphed, Kitty had something to say.
"The scent stops here; it doesn't go in, up, or to a side. The only place for him to go is ddddoooowwwwnnnn!" Kitty and Scott dropped down a shute wound their way underground. They came out in a small stone room somewhere below the town. Kitty was knocked against the wall really hard and fell unconscious. Scott was dazed and had a minor sprain in his ankle. As he sat in the silence he analyzed their surroundings. The room was a stone storage room filled with boxes; there were boxes on all the walls but the one opposite of the shute.
Kitty stirred beside Scott. He quickly moved over to where she lay. As she sat up, Scott asked, "Are you okay? You hit that wall pretty hard."
"My arm; somethings wrong with it." Scott deftly felt her arm feeling for broken bones; there was none, thankfully.
"It will be fine; it's just a sprain." Scott explained. "Now, are you sure Aaron came down here?"
"Positive; he couldn't go anywhere else. We need to find him before he gets into any trouble." As Scott and Kitty stood up they heard people coming down the hall. Kitty sat back down and Scott stood by the door. There were two people talking. What they were talking about Scott did not know, but they stopped outside the door.
"That boy's friends will come after him soon. We can't let them find him." one said.
"Don't forget the boss wants them alive," said a second, "but also remember, Sharky, if we mess up the boss will--"
"I know; let's get this over with." Sharky said with an I-don't-care kind of tone.
The two inside heard every word and Scott backed closer against Kitty, who sat huddled on the floor. Then they heard clicks; the door was being unlocked. The door slowly opened revealing the whole room. Much was as they suspected, boxes and more boxes. Scott moved closer to the door as it opened.
The two men walked in and Scott jumped on the nearest one. The man was thin and probably in his thirties; the second was younger and more muscular. He bound Kitty and came over to help his partner, but Kitty had other ideas. As the younger one picked Scott up, Kitty did a low handstand. She then kicked out and hit the older one. She kicked the younger one twice, making him throw Scott towards the door. Scott cut Kitty's bonds, who tied the would-be kidnappers up, and started down the hall.
"Can't we teleport out of here?" Kitty asked. Scott shook his head, but, in truth, he could. He didn't tell Kitty this because he wanted to find his best friend and leader. Scott and Kitty raced down the hallway, turned a corner, and faced a door. "Aaron might be in there, so should we go in?"
"I guess we should. We should be prepared for anything thought." Scott said. They looked at each other once more and charged in.
Chapter IV
Andrea was pacing the length of her living room, looking out the window each time she came to it. "I'm worried about those three; it's been an hour. They should be back by now. Sure, Aaron can be elusive but Scott and Kitty should have found him; the town's not that big."
"Do you think we should go looking for them?" Tabby asked. "They might be in trouble."
Tabby and Andrea started out and headed down Main Street in the direction Aaron, Scott, and Kitty went. Every few minutes, one of the girls would ask if someone had see one of their friends. All clues led to an abandon warehouse. The girls found three sets of footprints and a set of paw prints.
"The paw prints and one set of footprints are Kitty's; the other two are Scott and Aaron's." Tabby pointed out. "The problem is that they don't go in or to a side; the only ways to go are up or down, and the only one who can fly is Kitty." Tabby looked around for a moment then pulled Andrea back. She then put a heavy rock where Andrea was standing. The rock soon disappeared into a hole that had appeared in the ground. Tabby quickly shoved a nearby plank into the hole.
"I think that's where they went." Tabby explained. She and Andrea looked into the hole and Tabby asked, "Do you think we should go down? After all, they might need us." Andrea nodded. "You go first; I'll be right behind you."
Andrea closed here eyes and jumped. Tabby quickly looked around and jumped, grabbing the plank on the way. She landed next to Andrea, who had landed by an open door. Tabby noticed two men tied up at the base of the wall. She pointed them out to Andrea and said that Kitty had defiantly been here; she was the best at knot tying in the group.
The two girls walked down the long hallway and around the corner. They heard voices coming from behind the door.
"Write the note to your girlfriend." a man shouted.
The answer was mumbled by two voices but a third was strong. "We won't do it." it stated. "My sister and best friend will find us. I know them; Andrea and Tabby will find us. They won't leave us to die."
"Fine," the man said, "make your friends suffer for your insubordination, boy. When, and if, they do find you they will suffer too."
"Don't hurt them. If you want to hurt someone, hurt me!" the boy ordered. "I won't risk them again. Let them go; I'll stay."
"No, Aaron! You can't do that! I won't lose you." a girl said. Kitty and Aaron were in there, but where was Scott? "I almost lost you once because of your stupidity, I won't do it again. You're not doing this!"
"I have to; this is my mess, so I'm going to fix it. I don't care what happens to me as long as you two are safe."
"How heroic! But that won't save them. Try all you like; they're going to die as well. Then if someone does find you, you'll be dead and I'll be far away from here." the man told them.
Unknown to the man, though, Aaron was calling for Andrea telepathically. Then, knowing she was outside the room, he continued his heroics. "Tabby and Andrea will find us. As a matter of fact, I bet they're on their way right now; we've been gone quite a while."
"So, you'll be dead when they find you." A door on the opposite side of the room opened and slammed.
Before Scott and Kitty had come, a scarce hour before, Aaron had been tortured into telling what he was doing snooping around.
"I wasn't snooping; I was looking for a way out." he had told them many times. The men hurting Aaron didn't believe him they whipped him still more. He was tied up in a corner when Kitty and Scott burst into the room. They, too, were tied up and put in the corner where Aaron sat silent, ignoring his pain. Kitty tried her best to help him, but Aaron shook her off. One man was left in the room because his partners had been tied up by Kitty and Scott and the others had left. When Andrea and Tabby reached the outside door, the man was trying to force Aaron, Scott, and Kitty into writing a note for the two girls. When the man had left, Aaron got in touch with Andrea. He told them that the man was going to kill them and they had better rescue them soon.
The man soon came back and Aaron tried to buy them some time. "You really mean to kill us, but why them? They mean nothing to you; they want nothing of you. I'm the one you want, remember." Aaron was trying to convince the man to release the other two. "They know nothing; I know all." Scott and Kitty tried to contradict Aaron but he went on. "Let them go and kill me. They can't conceive what you might be thinking but I, I can."
"Interesting offer, but I refuse it. You three are too young to understand. You, Aaron, I believe they called you, would have been a great lawyer, but you'll never get that far. I think your girlfriend there should die first." Someone moved around just before a loud BANG! A gun had went off. The two girls rushed in and tackled the shooter before he could shoot again. The gun was knocked from his hand and he was tied up. Kitty, Scott and Aaron were untied, but special care was taken with Aaron.
Aaron had been shot in the arm. His clothes were singed, his arm broken, and he, himself, was withering in pain. He was brave though, for the bullet had been aimed at Kitty and he jumped in the way to save her life, but risk his. They could also see the red welts and tears where he had been whipped.
"Aaron, if you can hear me, thank you so much. The only way I know how to repay you is to save your life." She turned to the others, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Let's get him out of here. We can't let him die here after he risked his life for me. I won't let him die." The group knelt by Aaron and gently lifted him up.
When they started out of the room with their prisoner, Scott stopped them. "Why don't I just teleport us out of here?"
"You little liar! You said you couldn't teleport." Kitty cried.
"I lied; so what. We found Aaron, so let's leave." Before Kitty could reply, Scott teleported.
Light filtered into Aaron's room as the four friends entered. The prisoner had by given to the police, with a brief explanation why, and Aaron was seen by a doctor, though it was late in the night. As they feared, Aaron's arm was broken, but it wasn't as bad as it seemed. It would eventually heal, given time and rest, so Aaron was to move it as little as possible.
"He does have a slight fever, but nothing serious." the doctor had told them. "He will awaken in a few hours and want to move his arm, but don't let him. If he gets any worse call me. Good night."
Andrea, Kitty, nor the others remember a time when they were most worried about Aaron. He was always the brave and sneaky one; he could easily out maneuver the adults, but a gun was too fast for even him. They saw him, in his room, not as the proud young man they all knew, but as a helpless little child, fitful in sleep.
Aaron had a good reason to be fitful, for he was having an evil dream, one that he would not soon forget.
In this dream Aaron was running over a meadow, following the screams of Andrea, Kitty, Tabby, and Scott. He followed them into a forest where the shots are coming from as they died out. He turned and saw his four friends, laying on the forest floor bleeding from shot wounds. He ran to them and pleading they're not dead. Then behind him he heard a sound. He spun around and was hit with something in the shoulder. He was pelted and defenseless.
"Quit shooting me!" he yelled as he gasped for air. "What have.. I done to.. you?" No one answered him. As more things hit him, Aaron fell to his knees then to his side. He thought he was dieing and would never see his friends again. "Leave me alone!" he gasp as he fell into darkness.
Aaron opened his eyes and all was dark. He looked around and saw the others sleeping around him. Kitty was to is left and Andrea was on his right. What happened? The last thing I remember was jumping in front of Kitty, then Andrea and Tabby ran in. Aaron saw his arm and fully remembered what had happened. He remembered that he had jumped in front of Kitty and took the bullet meant for her. Aaron tried to think as he drifted back to sleep.
The sun rose turning the sky pink and golden as it drifted through Aaron's window. It played on Aaron's face and around his room. Andrea, Kitty, Tabby, and Scott were in the main room working, when someone knocked on the door. Kitty opened the door and gasped in surprise.
"Who is it, Kitty?" Andrea asked. When Kitty didn't answer. Andrea turned towards the door. She was surprise to see a blond girl standing in the door. "Randi what--what are you doing here?" Andrea stammered. "I thought you were in Cericina!"
"I was, but I wanted to come back and see you." the girl replied. "You never answered my letters." The girl was about Andrea 's height; she wore a blue shirt and black jeans. "Plus,"she added, "I heard about Aaron on the edge of town. What was he thinking? Jumping in front of the gun like that!"
"Saving my life!" Kitty exclaimed. "If he hadn't jumped in the way, I wouldn't be standing here." Randi whirled around to face the furious girl. "He was brave and I appreciate that. If it was you he would have done the same thing!" Kitty stormed off to Aaron's room.
Randi talked about her travels and life in Cericina, while helping with chores. Kitty walked through, a while later. As she passed the kitchen, Randi said, "Kitty, I didn't mean to sound so sarcastic. You're right, he would have done the same thing for me or anyone else. So please don't be mad at me." Kitty walked out, ignoring Randi.
Kitty strolled down the slowly filling streets. There were shops filled with antiques, camping supplies, food, and much more. Near the center of town there was a grocery store. Here Kitty bought the items on a list that Andrea had given her earlier. When she left, Kitty was instantly distracted by a large crowd. She watched in amazement as a young child did magic tricks. She continued and turned down the street Andrea lived on when she heard something in an alley. She quietly investigated, watching for any signs of movement. As she turned back to leave, Kitty felt a sharp prick in the back of her neck. She heard something as blackness fell around her.
Randi had followed Kitty down the alley. She turned the corner in time to see a man jump over the back wall, with an unconscious Kitty in his arms. Randi looked over the wall, then raced back to the house. Kitty, though still alive, was captured by the enemy, who ever they were.
Chapter V
Randi threw Andrea's front door open, gasping for air. "Kitty, she-- she's been kidnapped!"
"What?" Aaron yelled from his room. "Kidnapped!"
"Yes! I followed her into an alley. When I turned down it, a man was jumping over the wall. He had Kitty in his arms and she was out cold. I looked over the fence and got the license plate number of the get away car. I ran back here to tell you."
"Rest while I call the police." Andrea moved to the phone and was about to pick it up when Randi stopped her.
"Wait! Before you call the police read this." Randi handed Tabby a piece of paper from which she read,
We have your friend. Don't call the police or you'll
never see them again. Warn the others as well.
"It's signed 'The Hyena' at the bottom. I want to try and figure out who wrote it and who the car belongs to." Randi sighed. "We need to find Kitty and bring her back safely."
The girl detective disappeared into one of the back rooms and wasn't seen for eight weeks. What she was doing or when she ate was a mystery, though the group saw her a few times wandering around the house; she ignored all questions directed at her. Randi worked from every angle of the mystery for weeks on end. Just when they thought she had disappeared too, the group saw her. It was June 4th, two months after Kitty was kidnapped.
"Scott come with me; we have an errand to run." Randi and Scott walked to South Street, in the poorer part of town. They stopped in front of a dilapidated old house; some of the windows were boarded up, shingles were falling off, and the lawn was in disrepair. As the pair approached the door, someone watched them. Randi ordered Scott to go around back and watch the door, then knocked. No one answered, but someone did scream. Randi found the door unlocked and raced upstairs. She searched every room, but there was no sign of anyone in any of the rooms except one. There were footprints, in the dust on the carpet, that led into the closet. Randi searched the closet and found a secret panel. As she looked down the dark stairs, a hand pushed her and Randi fell down the stairs a little way. The door closed as she stood up.
"Let me out!" she screamed. As she pounded on the door, Randi soon found one of her hands was stuck fast. When she placed her other hand next to it, that one got stuck as well. "Help! Help me!" she yelled. Randi felt a shock go through her body as she called for help. "Oh no, this is bad. Scott! Help me!" The shocks were coming once every minute and were getting worse. Scott had to find her soon.
"Randi, are you there?" Scott called. His voice was faint but Randi could hear him.
"Scott! Help me! I'm stuck behind the wall in the closet." Again Scott called to Randi and his voice was near. "There has to be a latch or button or something to open the door. Hurry and find a way to get me out." she explained as another shock coursed through her thin frame. Three more shocked her before the wall opened and she fell into Scott's open arms. When he had opened the door, Scott had turned the electricity off. Scott massaged Randi's hands until circulation flowed through them again and the shock had worn off.
"That was a close call. I'm glad I found you when I did." Scott said.
When Randi could stand again, she suggested that they search downstairs. Scott agreed as he headed for the door. "That's not what I meant. I meant down the secret stairs. There is obviously something or someone that our enemies don't want us to see."
Randi and Scott took their flashlights that they had pocketed and crept down the dark stairs. As they came to the bottom they heard voices; there were two men and a girl. Scott recognized all of them automatically as Sharky, his pal, and Kitty. Kitty was there but Scott and Randi had no idea how many people were really in there.
They listened carefully to the conversation taking place. Apparently Kitty was kidnapped to get at Randi and Andrea. Though she knew nothing of their 'plans' she was still taken hostage.
"Randi and Scott will find me; I saw them upstairs!" Kitty said loud but weakly. Her captors had been doing something to her.
"Those two? Ha! I locked one at the top of the steps with the electricity on and I stuffed the other in the dead closet." Sharky proclaimed; this statement caused Randi to look at Scott, who closed his eyes. "If the they live they won't find you here. We'll be long gone to El Seao and if they do catch on we'll go to another town." That was enough for Randi and Scott. They were gone in a flash, running back to Andrea's house to tell the others. If they would have listened some more, they would have heard that Kitty wouldn't be going to El Seao for another nine to ten weeks.
Together Scott and Randi tried to tell the others what had happened. Eventually they got the message across and relayed the urgency to go after her.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Aaron asked, walking out of his bedroom. His arm was completely healed and ready to travel. "Kitty's out there in some kind of danger and we have to do something about it. I'm not going to wait around while she's harmed. So if we're going, let's go!"
Chapter VI
"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Light for letting us use your house. We really appreciate it." Randi said, a week later. She had already been around and shown Kitty's picture to the border police.
"That's no problem. You saved our daughter; it's the least we can do." Mr. Light said. Randi had helped him and his wife find their daughter, Isabel, when she went missing three years ago; the couple swore they would repay her somehow.
"What kind of case are you on now?" fourteen year old Isabel asked. "I've followed your cases, around the world, as long as they have appeared."
"We're searching for a friend who was kidnapped eight weeks ago. We have evidence that says she is heading here. We hope we find her soon." Scott explained.
"I hope so too." Mrs. Light said.
The group waited nine and a half weeks before any news came in. The Lights and the others relaxed by the pool while Aaron sat inside by the phone as he did everyday now; he was daydreaming when the phone rang.
"Hello," Aaron answered.
"Keep your detective friend away from this case or you'll never see your girlfriend again." a gruff voice said.
"Who is this?" Aaron asked, becoming fully awake; he was answered by a click on the other line. He sat in silence until the phone rang again roughly twenty minutes later. "Hello," Aaron said, once again.
"Aaron, this is Sgt. McDonald, with local police. We think we have found your friend. Would you please come down and identify her?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes." Aaron quickly left for the local police station.
Aaron was sitting in the police station when a truck pulled up. Out of it came a border patrol officer carrying a teen girl. Aaron saw the girl and knew almost instantly who it was; the officer was holding Kitty. When he came in, Aaron went to the officer.
"Is she--dead?" he asked nervously.
"No, just asleep. She fell asleep on the trip over here; she should wake up soon." As if she had been waiting for her cue, Kitty woke up and the guard set her down.
"Kitty! You're alive!" Aaron cried and embraced Kitty. When they looked at each other again, Aaron was crying. When Kitty asked what was wrong, Aaron wiped the tears away and said, "Nothing; I'm just so happy to see you. I've missed you, Kitty; you've been gone for four months."
"Has it really been that long?" Aaron nodded; Kitty was surprised at what he answered. "I thought it has only been a few weeks; why didn't you go on without me?"
"I couldn't do that; I've known you way too long to even think of leaving you behind. Besides, I need someone to save me from my own mistakes now and then; I need someone like you to look after me when I'm not thinking straight." This made Kitty blush deeply. Aaron looked at the officer and asked, "May we go back to our friend's house now?" After they filled out some paperwork, Aaron and Kitty were on their way home.
"Hello?" Aaron called a while later upon entering the Light's house. "Anyone here?"
"We're in the living room, Aaron." Isabel called. Aaron took Kitty's hand and led her down the hall; just before the living room he had her wait, then walked to where the others could see him. "Where did you go?"
"For a walk." Aaron said. "I left alone and returned with a friend." His friends gave him a strange look, but Aaron looked down the hall, stretched out his hand and watched as another took it. A girl entered causing the whole room gasp and gawk at her; they were astounded and frozen in place. Kitty stood by Aaron and he repeated to them, "I returned with a friend."
"Kitty!" yelled Tabby, Scott, Andrea, and Randi. Each hugged the girl in turn and asked hundreds of questions.
"Just wait; I'll explain everything after I have eaten." Kitty was ushered into the kitchen and given anything she wanted to eat. "Thank you." she kept saying between plates. Three plates later, when she could eat no more, Kitty began to tell what had happened since she was kidnapped. When she got to the part about being told she was moving, Randi and Scott gasped.
"That's when we found the room under the house. We didn't come in because we were afraid there were more people than we could hear in there. If we would have known how many were there we would have rescued you then." Randi exclaimed.
"There was only me, and the two men. But the both had guns and knives, though I do wish I had been rescued sooner." They tried to apologize, but Kitty just waved the thought aside. "Don't worry; I'm safe now and wouldn't want to put anyone in danger again." When she said 'again' Kitty looked at Aaron remembering what he had done for her. "Too many people have been but in danger for me; when I'm better, I say we stop getting in danger and complete our original mission! Now if you'll excuse me, I want to sleep." Isabel took Kitty to the room where she slept.
Another month passed before anyone brought up the expedition to Niracia was discussed again. One day the group was laughing around the pool when Tabby brought it up. Everyone went silent at once.
"We set out to rebuild this city and we have forgotten it for several months. I think we should either finish or give up." Scott said looking at his friends gathered about him. "But how are we going to get there? I can't teleport that far."
"You could borrow our private plane. I'm sure John Roberts, our pilot, would take you. He's always wanted to fly to Niracia." Mr. Light said. "He's flown everywhere else. I could call him up real fast and find out."
"We would really appreciate it." Aaron told him.
Mr. Light went into the hall and called John; when he came back, he was smiling big. "John said he'd be glad to do it; but he has other business. In two weeks he'll have all matters cleared up, a flight plan filed and approved, and be ready to go." It was agreed that they would wait two weeks for John and then fly to Niracia.
Aaron said, "We've put this off far too long; it is time we got back on track and back to our mission."
Chapter VII
Two weeks later, late in the afternoon, Kitty and Tabby were looking over the crystal blue waters of Mericino Gulf and the lush forests of Central Montaigne. Their pilot, John, guided the plane down to the airport of Palillia. They entered the city, after going through customs, and went to seek out their hotel that the Lights had kindly reserved for them. After refreshing showers for everyone, they planned out their next move.
"Here are the pictures I copied before we left." Randi said, spreading papers out on the table in front of her. She picked up a stack of pictures and passed them to the others. "These pictures are what Rowdor used to look like. The one that Tabby has is what scientists and we hope to find here. It is what the ruins should look like now. If we find the ruins before the scientists, we could possibly rebuild it to it's former glory. I hope we could so all could see it."
"It would be cool if we did restore it. I would love to see it up close." Kitty said. "It would be awesome. Randi, what do these words mean?" Kitty handed the photo she was holding to Randi.
Randi studied the words then said, "I don't know; they say something about Minith, but the whole phrase isn't there. If I had the complete phrase I could tell you. I guess we'll find out when it's built, if it gets built."
"Do you want to start out tomorrow?" John asked. "I could call ahead and have the tank filled, if you do, that is."
"Thank you, John; we will go tomorrow; as soon as we can." Aaron looked at his watch then said, "I don't know about you, but I'm going to bed; if we are going to be up early, I suggest you do too. Goodnight." The others said good night then Scott and John followed Aaron to the boys' room. As they crawled into bed, the boys thought about the coming days and their adventures.
Aaron lay awake in his bed as Scott and John slept. What have I done? I told myself months ago that I wouldn't put anyone else in danger, but I have. My friends have already had to save me twice and we had to save Kitty. Both Kitty and I have almost been killed. Now we've added John to our group. He's just someone else for me to endanger. I won't have it! Aaron quietly got up and dressed; he said a silent good bye to John and Scott, the went to the main room. There he took the maps, placed them in a backpack, and knelt by Kitty's bed.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "but I have to do this. I won't risk your lives again. Thank you for everything; I love you, Kitty." He kissed her lightly and left. He looked back at his friends before opening the door.
Kitty stirred and awoke. She looked around and saw Aaron looking at her, ready to leave. She shook her head and jumped out of bed. "No! Aaron, please don't leave; don't leave me here!" Kitty yelled as she ran towards Aaron. Aaron quickly slipped out and locked the door from the outside. Andrea, Tabby, and Randi woke as the door closed. "Come back, Aaron, come back!" she cried, slipping to the floor. "No."
Andrea knelt down beside her and hugged Kitty close, as tears streamed down both of their faces. "We'll find him don't worry; at least, I hope we will."
Aaron raced down the hall knowing Randi would have the door open soon if Kitty didn't pass through it. Tears fell as he ran. I have to do this; I will do this. They will not find me; I will not let them. I love you all, but I need to do this on my own. As Aaron reached the stairs, he looked back at the door. Randi had the door open and Kitty was racing towards him. NO, they won't catch me. Aaron closed his eyes, then was gone.
"Where did he go?" John asked. "He just disappeared."
"He didn't disappear; he ran, fast." Andrea said; she then looked down the hall to where Kitty was. "Kitty? Kitty, where are you? Did you guys happen to see Kitty?"
"Yeah, she was--where did she go?" Randi asked. "She was just here. How could she just disappear like that?"
"Through the floor; she can pass through solid objects, so she probably went through the floor to catch Aaron." Andrea guessed. "If she caught him, they're both long gone by now. We'll have to meet them at the site."
Andrea didn't know how right she was. Kitty had passed down through the floor to try and stop Aaron; she passed all the way down to the first floor and waited. Soon she saw signs that Aaron was coming. Plants swayed with no breeze, things floated as he picked them up, and then vanished when he put them away.
"I have you now, Aaron." Kitty whispered to herself. "You won't get away this time." Slowly she moved over to where Aaron was standing. Silently, Kitty moved around the back of Aaron; she reached up to grab him, but hesitated. She knew he was there, but didn't want to hurt him. She reached up again and took hold of her friend.
"What the?" Aaron exclaimed.
"You're not leaving me here; I'm going with you." Kitty told him. Aaron reappeared in her arms and Kitty let him turn around to face her. "I know you were leaving to keep us out of danger, but I love you. I don't care what the dangers, I'm coming with you. And you can't stop me."
"Who said I was going to? I knew you would come after me, that's why I waited. I don't want to go alone, but I don't want to endanger anyone, especially you. I..." Aaron's eyes clouded, then cleared.
"What is it? Aaron answer me."
"They're coming to find us; we have to go now or we'll never get away." Aaron took both of Kitty's hands and made them invisible; Aaron and Kitty then ran away from their friends as fast as they could.
Andrea, Randi, Scott, Tabby, and John came into the lobby as their friends left. They looked around for them and found nothing and no one.
"They're gone; Aaron and Kitty are gone." Andrea told them, feeling her twin's presence leave her. "By the time we get to Rowdor, they could be home again; even if we left now, they would still be ahead of us by a long shot. I could tell you where they might be going, but not defiantly."
"That's okay. They're probably going to Rowdor; Aaron wanted to go badly." Tabby placed her hand on Andrea's shoulder. "We will find him again. We've almost lost him twice; we will not make it three times. Now come, let's go back to sleep and leave after dawn." The small group trudged back up to their rooms to try and sleep.
Chapter VIII
"We did it; we really did it." Kitty said leaning against Aaron. The pair had made their way to the Minith site with out so much as a hindrance. Now Kitty leaned against Aaron as they watched the sunrise over Lake Niracina, a few miles west of the castle site.
"I know; it's kind of hard to believe they let us go after all that's happened to us." Aaron ran his fingers through Kitty's sandy-blond hair. "They let you and me go. Even though they tried to stop us, they could have done more. We both know Scott could have teleported ahead and made us go back; they could have stopped us and didn't."
"Why; why did they let us go?"
"I don't know; I just know that we're together, alone at last." Aaron lifted Kitty's face up to meet his; if anyone saw them, they didn't care. They kissed and Kitty suddenly turned her face away. "I'm sorry." Aaron said, releasing his hold on Kitty and backing away, keeping his eyes on the ground. "I thought you felt the same way; I'll understand if you hate me for a while after that." He drifted over to look the lake while he talked.
"I didn't mean it that way; I do love you, with all my heart I do. It was just sudden, that's all; you surprised me." Kitty tried to pull Aaron back into her embrace, but he shrugged her off and crouched down. "I always have and always will."
He turned and looked at her seriously as he remembered what he had dreamt back at Andrea's house the night he was shot; he remembered what he had seen and shuddered. "You can't say that; we don't know what might happen to us in the future. I might die and never see you again or vice versa; I don't want anything to happen, but I know it will. After this mission, I won't be the same person, ever; I might not ever love you again."
"Aaron Royal Nickel, don't say that!" Kitty yelled as she pushed Aaron over onto his back. Aaron's eyes grew wide as he realized that he had just made a huge mistake; Kitty was mad and wasn't going to stop yelling at him until she was satisfied. "We will find Rowdor, we will always love each other, you won't die, and neither will I. Our friends will help us and we will go home and live happily to the end of our days; you and I will live together and love each other always."
"Are you finished yelling at me?" he asked as she took a deep breath.
"No! This whole trip you've thought of everyone but yourself. Did you, even once, stop to think about the danger you were putting yourself in? Probably not; you were too busy thinking about us and trying to keep us safe. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Because that's what it seems like to me. I mean think about it, you've saved Tabby back at the orphanage by letting yourself be caught, you let Scott rest so he wouldn't kill himself back at Memorial National Park, even with the great dangers to your safety, and then proceeded to sit up and watch for anyone that might have followed us and in the open of all places! You saved my life in Bellini from that bullet that would have killed me instantly; you know it would have and that's why you did it. You and I both know it's true; in that thick head of your's, you may have thought once about your safety, but never again. You are always thinking about me and our friends first, never yourself. Every time you put yourself in danger for others I'm scared I am going to lose you forever." Kitty looked at Aaron as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Kitty, that won't happen, I promise." Aaron picked himself up off the ground, brushed himself off, and put his hands on his outraged friend's arms. "You're right, I did think about it once, when I was trapped up in the tower back home; I thought about what would happen if I did put my self first. I might lose Scott and Tabby, but most of all I would lose you; you are the most precious thing in this world to me." Aaron pulled Kitty close to him and whispered, "I would do anything to keep you safe, even give my life."
"Aaron, I know more than anyone that that's true, but I would kill myself if you died or anything happened to where I couldn't be with you." she whispered back.
Aaron pulled back and looked into her dark blue eyes. "No you won't; if we were ever separated, you would not do that."
"How do you know that?"
"Because of magic." Aaron removed his necklace that Kitty had never seen Aaron without. He placed it around her neck, touched the center bead, and let her feel the magic that flowed thought it.
"Oh!" Kitty gasped; she touched the beads and she felt them hot against her skin. "Why is it so hot? Is that the magic?"
Aaron nodded and explained. "You have never seen me without that necklace because it was found on me as a baby and Safel could not remove it. Andrea has on exactly like it; it allows us to know the other is still alive. It is hot because I am so near; the closer I am the hotter the main beads are. Andrea's is the same; with both of ours though, the nearer the other is, the warmer the center bead is. If we get separated, as long as I live, those beads will stay warm, even if I'm far away. If you come looking for me, follow the necklace, it will guide you."
"Aaron, I don't want anything to happen to you." He assured her that he would use all his power to prevent it.
Aaron and Kitty held each other for a little longer before setting off back to Minith. As they walked away, Kitty felt something slimy wrap around her body. She tried to get Aaron's attention, but a tentacle slipped over her mouth preventing her from screaming. Kitty kicked and squirmed and eventually did hit a rock, which hit Aaron squarely in the back of the head, as she went limp. Aaron turned to see Kitty being dragged into the lake.
"Kitty!" Aaron picked up a fist sized stone and chucked it at the tentacles. "Let her go you slimy monster!!" He continued to throw rocks at the creature until it dropped Kitty to the ground and slid back into the lake. Aaron ran to her and found her unconscious; he was some what surprised that Kitty wasn't bleeding, until he picked he up and felt the blood on the back of her head. She was growing colder and dying.
~Bring her to me.~ a voice inside Aaron's mind said. ~I can help, bring her here.~ Aaron looked back at the lake and saw the source of the voice. A silver haired girl peered at him from the edge of the lake.
"Who are you?" Aaron asked.
~I am Sullie, Princess of the Lake. Bring the girl to me and I may be able help.~ He did not know why, but Aaron was compelled to do as he was told. Scooping Kitty up, he brought her to Sullie, at the edge of the lake. ~Gently lay her here in the water. Now let me see what has happened.~ Sullie gently touched the floating girl, allowing water to gently caress her. ~It was Him, wasn't it?~
"Him?"
~The terror of the lake. He poisons all who he touches; his victims die unless they receive the right antidote. She has been touched by him.~
"Something did grab her. I don't know what it was but it was huge and slimy and had tentacles, two of which wrapped around Kitty."
~That's Him alright. There is an antidote with my people but you must come with us.~
"Down there? Into the lake?" Aaron questioned looking over the murky water.
~Do not worry, I will provide you with the ability to breath underwater, her too. Lean here.~ Sullie touched both of Aaron's eyelids and ears, his nose and finally his mouth. She did the same to Kitty. ~Follow me and stay close; he may come after us.~ Sullie wrapped an arm around Kitty and dived below the surface. Aaron followed, wary of the strange magic. It began working as soon as his face hit the water; he got wet, which was to be expected, but he could breath as if he was still above the water.
Sullie led him deep into the water, down to where light failed to penetrate. As he followed her, Aaron noticed that Sullie was a mermaid; her tail, like her hair, was silver and glowed slightly, even down in the depths where there was no light to reflect off of it. Far below him, a light grew.
"Sullie, where is that light coming from?"
~That is my home, Lake City. My father will help us.~ Sullie came to a stop. ~He's here. We must go a different way or risk being caught. Follow me.~ The mermaid took off left, leaving Aaron to try and follow, but the bubbles she made blinded him.
"Sullie!! Sullie, wait!!" When Aaron could see properly again, Sullie and Kitty were gone. No chance of following her now, so I'll go and head on down. Maybe we'll meet up down there. Have to stay alert, though, for Him. Aaron turned back to the city and swam towards it. He swam about twenty feet before he heard, or rather felt, Him.
Bubbles buffeted his body, to big to be made by human or merperson. Then he saw Him; he looked like a giant green octopus dripping with slime, poisonous, sticky, and huge. Aaron was terrified; before, when Kitty was attacked, he only saw two of the tentacles. Now, seeing Him in his entirety, Aaron had only one thought and that was to run.
Aaron swam as fast as he could towards the city always keeping an eye on the monster. He looked down at the city and thought, What am I doing? I'm taking this monster straight to a whole city of innocent people. I have to go a different way but which? Aaron looked left, then right and decided on right, going the opposite way that Sullie had went. The monster followed, gaining on its prey steadily. Must keep swimming until it gives up. Must save the city. Those two thoughts kept Aaron swimming away from the city.
Abruptly a stone cliff rose up in front of him blocking his way. To his left was another wall, his right was open water. Aaron looked back and saw the monster reaching for him; it lashed out, missing the boy by mere inches. It followed him right along the wall, almost close enough to catch him. Into a small canyon they went, twisting and turning, never faltering. The monster stopped its attack, but still it followed, waiting for something; a thing that Aaron had done to himself.
Aaron realized his mistake at entering the canyon too late, when he found the dead end. He was boxed in on three sides and the monster came through the only escape. Above him was sheer rock, rising high above the water; he had made certain of his own capture. The only thing he could do now was fight his way out. Aaron stood on the canyon floor and watched the terror of the lake advance. Aaron tensed waiting for the creature to strike, but it didn't; it sat waiting for something to happen, something it expected. It waited for what seemed an eternity to Aaron, then it struck. The monster struck out, trying to wrap one of its tentacles around him.
Why had he waited? Why did he not strike immediately? Aaron asked himself. The creature struck again, managing to get a hold of one of Aaron's legs. He kicked to try and free his leg with no avail, so he reached down to his right leg and pulled free a short blade. He he, beat this! Aaron sliced across the restraining tentacle and got a big shock. The slime melted the blade on contact! That wasn't supposed to happen! Now what do I do? That question was soon answered for him.
Aaron went to take a breath and got a mouthful of water. The spell had begun to stop! Pressure built up in his ears and his eyes stung from the water. Sullie, help! Andrea! Kitty! Please... help...me... Aaron faded into darkness as he called for help.
Chapter IX
Sullie swam away, unaware that Aaron wasn't following. The city neared closer even as the girl she held grew colder. He had said her name was Kitty; she was special to the boy, she knew. But one question remained, why had they been at the lake? She pondered it uneasily.
At the city gates, Sullie stopped. A guard floated into her way. ~Princess Sullie, The King and Queen are looking for you.~
~Then let me through; they are with me.~
~They?~ The guard looked questioning around.
~Yes, this girl and her friend here.~ Sullie turned and found Aaron gone. ~Aaron, where are you? Aaron! Guard, did you see a young man with me when I approached?~
~No, your Highness. It was only you and the girl you hold there.~
~He may have gotten him. I'll speak to my parents. Open the gates!~ The guard obeyed and Sullie swam through them.
The mermaid princess ignored the magnificent buildings that rose on either side of the road on which she traveled for she was headed for the most beautiful of them all, the Palace of the Lake, her home. It towered above everything else with spires and ramparts and battlements a plenty. She cared for none of those now, only for the life dwindling in her arms and the one she had left to die.
Trumpets heralded her arrival as the royal guards opened the palace gates. She ignored all and continued straight to the throne room, her parents were sure to be there. On the way she ran into the King's Squire and her best friend.
~What's this, a new human to keep in the menagerie?~
~You know very well, Jonathan, that it is strictly forbidden by the High Law to enslave those of other races. It so happens that He attacked her. I have to find my parents so she can be cured. Then I must find the boy that was with her; he is needed by our city, our people.~
~Your parents are in their quarters, not the throne room. I've been summoned as well.~ Jonathan took Kitty from Sullie and led the way through the palace to the Royal Apartments. Two mermen guarded the doors and open them at the pair's arrival.
~Mother, Father, I need some help!~ Sullie said to two adults as she approached, Kitty and Jonathan in tow. ~Actually, she needs help immediately!~
The Queen rose from her seat and glided over to where Sullie had stopped. Golden hair flowed behind her in a wave of light. ~Sullie, what is the meaning of this? Bringing an outsider into the palace.~
~Mother, she is hurt and only we can help. He got he for a brief moment; I slowed the poison but you hold the key to her life. Please help her.~
~Why should we help her? Is there something special about her?~ the King asked.
~Not her directly, but the boy that she was with. He went missing just after we left the shore; if we help her she might be able to lead us to him. He is the boy in the prophesy, the one who will rebuild the ancient city of our allies. We must revive her to find him.~
~Is she the girl mentioned in it?~ her father asked. Sullie nodded and her father went to a cabinet beside the great bookshelf. He opened it with a key that hung around his neck and removed a tiny vial. He then motioned to Jonathan. ~Bring her here. It will do you no good to hold her once she swallows this.~ Jonathan laid Kitty on the table to which the King had motioned and floated back a few feet. Then, opening the vial, the King poured the contents into Kitty's mouth. ~Now we wait.~
Sullie settled into a nearby chair to wait. She had a strange sensation that something was about to happen. Kitty's eyes fluttered open at the same moment a voice filled Sullie's mind. It was a single call for help, then another that faded uneasily into silence.
Kitty sat bolt upright and cried, "Aaron!" She then tried to run for a door that she saw, but felt two strong hands restrain her. "Let me go! Aaron needs me!"
~Hold it young lady, this is no time to go running off into the lake.~ Kitty looked back at the King and Johnathan restraining her; her brain worked overtime as she pulled from them and fell to the floor.
"Please don't hurt me. I beg you, don't hurt me," she pleaded.
~We will not hurt you, child. My daughter has told us about you and the boy. We will find him, alive hopefully~ The King placed a hand on Kitty's shoulder and pulled her up. When she tried to reply, she choked on water, showing that the spell was ending. ~Here, let me help~ The King moved his hand over her face and muttered a few strange words, allowing Kitty to breathe deep. ~Better?~
"Yes, thank you. But I must find my friend, Aaron. I fear he is in great danger and may die.”
~Yes, I heard it as well. Is he a-- ~ Sullie paused trying to grasp the right word.
“Telepath, yes. He has telepathy and extreme speed at certain times of day. This is one of those times he does not have that ability and he is not a good swimmer anyway. We must help him!”
~We know this my dear.~ the queen said gently as the king called in one of the guards.
“Then let's go after him! He is dying as we speak!”
~Don't you think we know this! He is the only person that can save our race!~ Sullie cried to the girl. She saw Kitty's eyes widen in surprise. ~You didn't know?~
“No, I did not; neither of us did. If we had we would have know what lay ahead, we were never told though. Could you tell me of it later maybe?”
The king talked with the guard and dismissed him. He turned to the rest of the gathered people apon hearing his daughter's comment. ~How about now? We are still trying to locate the boy and the monster. It may take some time but we will find him. Sullie, Johnathan, tell Kitty the prophecy as we know it. She may find it disturbing though.~
~ Very well. Jonathan will you begin, you know that part better than I.~
~Yes, Your Highness.~ He got a stern look for that comment; Sullie didn't like to be called Highness by her friends. ~Over three centuries ago, when this prophesy began, the kingdom of Rowdor was great. It's power was equal those such as the Romans and Chinese. Early one spring, at the annual gathering of the People, a soothsayer was brought forth by the King of Rowdor's guards. The sayer was babbling about a boy and the ruin of the kingdom; when forced before the King, he begged the man to listen. This man was Ellion, greatest and last king of Rowdor. He listened paitently to the sayer, ignoring the jeers against the man, for he had had this vision as well.~
~The vision was of a young man with extrodinary talent.~ Sullie continued. ~He was accompanied by a girl of his own age; she too was gifted. They would appear in a time when they were needed by the people of Rowdor. The exact time was unknown to both the King and the soothsayer. They would have magic equal to our own.
~It was shown that they would abandon their friends to search for a city. That city, like the time, was unknown. My grandfather, King of the Lake at that time, foresaw the need of this boy's help to save our city. But when Rowdor and our city needed him the most, there was no one. You never came; even in our drearyest times, we held hope that you would come, but you never did.