What Lays Below

Fractured Code

Chapter 24

Here is where I lay

The snow began to fall gracefully to the wastes. A large area without a single place to go. Tucked under Zareths right arm was Danny, Tucked under his right arm was Inky. Both wearing thick coats and hats. It was incredibly cold even though the cabin of the boat was heated. Zareth found them he couldn't sleep to long, something subconscious would wake him and he'd search his arms all over again for them both. He sighed putting his head on Dannys. His eyes closed again only to hear the train whistle moments later blowing marking that they were about to stop at a town. He nudged the ladies under his protective watch. Dannys eyes shot open and shook looked around almost panicked. Her eyes locked onto Zareths and it was like she came home.

"Its okay babe...nothing serious. We're just at our destination." He said looking back at Inky who was stretching and yawning loudly.

"You have no idea how warm you are for someone whose half master of ice." She said wanting to cuddle back up again. He chuckled standing up pulling a single back down. It wasn't the suitcase but it had heavy clothing in it that they managed to buy from the town over. They'd need it to get to wherever it was they were going. Danny wasn't that talkative about it, and when she was asked about it she would just smile and shrug her shoulders.

Danny stood up and they walked into the bathrooms changing out there thin clothing for the thick. Zareth wasn't totally sure why they needed to go to this place at all. They needed to get back to Ninjago City didn't they? Thats where the problem was...right?

"Are you going to tell us where we're going?" Inky asked now that they were outside in the train station.

"Ever learn how to use a snowmobile?" Was Dannys answer. Inky sighed and shook her head.

"No mom…" Inky was getting impatient with her.

"Danny…" Zareth took her hand and pulled her to him. She sighed.

"I can't say anything...its programmed that way. You'll just have to trust me...you do trust me don't you?" Danny looked up into the soft blue eyes of his. He smiled softly down at her. The knowing look was what she got put her mind at ease.

"But where are we going?" Inky cried out pointing right or left. Danny laughed.

"Left…" She said going over to a snowmobile rental.

"Mom...we should go snowboarding. I mean Uncle Zareth taught me how to surf. Its gotta be similar right?" She asked Danny laughed and shook her head.

"Not even a little." She said Inky looked amazed at this new information.

Inky watched the snow as they traveled through the glacier country. It wasn't snowing very hard just light flakes fluttered down onto them. Goggles on there faces, and helmets on there heads they followed Danny through the pass. It was an hours drive out till the came to a very homely looking cabin. The lights were on, and smoke came from the chimney. Danny pulled off her helmet and got off the snowmobile. Inky climbed off the seat in front of Zareth who had been driving since she couldn't.

"Alright the person your about to meet is apparently been the caretaker here for some time now. He looks young, but he's actually quite old. He's uh...he's...Danielle Spencers son." Danny said. She cleared her throat and walked into the cabin. There was a boy who appeared really young, hair cropped short, with two long pieces hanging down to his chest tied into braids. He looked up and smiled seeing Danny.

"There you are I tho...oh…" He saw Inky and then Zareth walk in. "I wasn't aware we were going to have guests. I'll fetch more cups." He walked into the small kitchen just under the stairs.

"I am uh...okay." Danny cleared her throat sitting down on the couch.

Hot chocolate was placed in front of them. Inky looked at it and then at the man sitting in a chair next to the fire.

"I'm sure you've got questions. Feel free to ask them." He said. Zareth narrowed his eyes at him and then looked at Danny. Danny just nodded her head and shrugged trying to coax him to begin his questions.

"I guess introductions are in order." Luckily Inky fired off before anyone else. "My names Inky. Elemental Master of Ink."

"They named you Inky?" He chuckled

"Well no...its just what they call me cause I hate my real name." Inky spat crossing her arms.

"What if I told you...that your parents didn't want you to go? You were taken, by my Aunt Angela's order." He said. Inky looked up at the boys face. His eyes were bright blue almost glowing.

"How can you know that?" Inky asked.

"Because I was in the room when the order was made."