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Authors: Scarlet Hyacinth
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shouted.
Jaden struggled to break free of the trap and more bandits popped up in his way. Finally, he ended up cornered against a large rock, no longer able to swim away. Judging by the dark threat in Jasper's eyes, Jaden figured the price to pay for his stupidity would be high.
It occurred to Jaden that they were still very close to Atlantis. Atlantean soldier patrols still watched these paths. Personally, Jaden would rather take his chances with the guards than wait around to be killed by the bandits.
He opened his mouth and yelled, "Please! Help me! Please."
To his shock, a deafening roar drowned out his shout. It came from the distance and Jaden quickly identified the Forbidden Zone as the source. The water rippled around them and Jaden felt power wash over him like a tidal wave, so intense it made him cry out. And yet, it didn't hurt. Rather, his nerves sang with confused energy. He swore he could feel an almost physical touch caress his skin.
The bandits didn't have the same reaction. They dropped their weapons, their hands trembling, their complexions going pasty. Some of them lost control of their limbs, others even fainted.
Jaden hated to see anyone in such a poor state, but he now had a chance. No matter what, the beast had given Jaden the opportunity to escape. Jasper, busy emptying the contents of his stomach, didn't even look at him. Jaden didn't hesitate, he took off. He'd wasted enough time with the bandits. Now, he'd finally see who—or what—had helped him get out of his predicament.
* * * *
Aurus used his considerable expertise to get them out of the city posthaste. In maybe fifteen minutes, they'd left Atlantis and headed toward the Forbidden Zone.
Chrys could feel his sibling's presence straight ahead, guiding him like a beacon. It seemed to shine even brighter than before. Or, maybe Chrys's panic made it so? Chrys didn't know. The thought of Jaden leaving made him want to scream, cry, and die.
He forced himself to focus and think coherently. "There are bandits around here," he told Aurus. "I think maybe we should find an alternative route."
Aurus gave him a thoughtful look. "Well, that's easy enough. We just go around the corals into the next current. But… Chrys, I'm not sure Jaden knows that path."
A terrible thought passed through Chrys's mind. Jasper would be watching the main road. What if Jaden had been trapped by the bandits? Sweet Sea Mother… he hoped not.
His terror increased tenfold when a loud roar echoed against the rock, sweeping over them with the strength of a thousand leviathans. For a few seconds, darkness encroached on Chrys's vision, and he heard Aurus gasp at his side. But then the feeling of death and dread vanished as if it had never been.
"What just happened?" Aurus asked.
Chrys couldn't say he knew, he'd only experienced a similar feeling once, when he'd followed his sibling into the Forbidden Zone. It hadn't been so powerful or strong then, but it had been there, somewhere at the edge of his consciousness. Jaden had told him the creature hidden in the abyss meant them no harm. If not, what did the sudden outburst mean?
"I'm not sure," he replied. "But we have to go, now."
They didn't have time for detours. Trusting Aurus to protect him if need be, Chrys shot forward, quickly swimming toward the Forbidden Zone. He needn't have worried about the bandits. A few minutes later he saw them ahead, lying sick or unconscious amidst the corals.
Chrys scanned the area for his twin and decided he had also been spared. He sensed his sibling's direction, Jaden's energy calling out to him. He hoped he'd be able to reach Jaden before they entered the Zone. These past few weeks had been thoroughly confusing. Jasper's presence aside, Chrys had felt odd and apprehensive about the party, even about seeing Aurus. As much as he wanted the older mer, giving up Jaden scared him witless.
Knowing Jaden had been going to the Forbidden Zone without him frightened Chrys even
Jaden struggled to break free of the trap and more bandits popped up in his way. Finally, he ended up cornered against a large rock, no longer able to swim away. Judging by the dark threat in Jasper's eyes, Jaden figured the price to pay for his stupidity would be high.
It occurred to Jaden that they were still very close to Atlantis. Atlantean soldier patrols still watched these paths. Personally, Jaden would rather take his chances with the guards than wait around to be killed by the bandits.
He opened his mouth and yelled, "Please! Help me! Please."
To his shock, a deafening roar drowned out his shout. It came from the distance and Jaden quickly identified the Forbidden Zone as the source. The water rippled around them and Jaden felt power wash over him like a tidal wave, so intense it made him cry out. And yet, it didn't hurt. Rather, his nerves sang with confused energy. He swore he could feel an almost physical touch caress his skin.
The bandits didn't have the same reaction. They dropped their weapons, their hands trembling, their complexions going pasty. Some of them lost control of their limbs, others even fainted.
Jaden hated to see anyone in such a poor state, but he now had a chance. No matter what, the beast had given Jaden the opportunity to escape. Jasper, busy emptying the contents of his stomach, didn't even look at him. Jaden didn't hesitate, he took off. He'd wasted enough time with the bandits. Now, he'd finally see who—or what—had helped him get out of his predicament.
* * * *
Aurus used his considerable expertise to get them out of the city posthaste. In maybe fifteen minutes, they'd left Atlantis and headed toward the Forbidden Zone.
Chrys could feel his sibling's presence straight ahead, guiding him like a beacon. It seemed to shine even brighter than before. Or, maybe Chrys's panic made it so? Chrys didn't know. The thought of Jaden leaving made him want to scream, cry, and die.
He forced himself to focus and think coherently. "There are bandits around here," he told Aurus. "I think maybe we should find an alternative route."
Aurus gave him a thoughtful look. "Well, that's easy enough. We just go around the corals into the next current. But… Chrys, I'm not sure Jaden knows that path."
A terrible thought passed through Chrys's mind. Jasper would be watching the main road. What if Jaden had been trapped by the bandits? Sweet Sea Mother… he hoped not.
His terror increased tenfold when a loud roar echoed against the rock, sweeping over them with the strength of a thousand leviathans. For a few seconds, darkness encroached on Chrys's vision, and he heard Aurus gasp at his side. But then the feeling of death and dread vanished as if it had never been.
"What just happened?" Aurus asked.
Chrys couldn't say he knew, he'd only experienced a similar feeling once, when he'd followed his sibling into the Forbidden Zone. It hadn't been so powerful or strong then, but it had been there, somewhere at the edge of his consciousness. Jaden had told him the creature hidden in the abyss meant them no harm. If not, what did the sudden outburst mean?
"I'm not sure," he replied. "But we have to go, now."
They didn't have time for detours. Trusting Aurus to protect him if need be, Chrys shot forward, quickly swimming toward the Forbidden Zone. He needn't have worried about the bandits. A few minutes later he saw them ahead, lying sick or unconscious amidst the corals.
Chrys scanned the area for his twin and decided he had also been spared. He sensed his sibling's direction, Jaden's energy calling out to him. He hoped he'd be able to reach Jaden before they entered the Zone. These past few weeks had been thoroughly confusing. Jasper's presence aside, Chrys had felt odd and apprehensive about the party, even about seeing Aurus. As much as he wanted the older mer, giving up Jaden scared him witless.
Knowing Jaden had been going to the Forbidden Zone without him frightened Chrys even
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