Isabel gasped and looked at the ground, very nice ground- really. Fresh green grass, dew drops. But it was almost…Too perfect.
Ethan tried to look away, but he was too drawn to Dartemis' dark violet eyes. They were uncannily like his late brother and sister's.
"Why do you want them?" Ethan asked suspiciously.
"I don't." Dartemis broke eye contact and looked up at the darkening sky. "They would do you more harm than good in that place. They're what make you different, and make you stand out as a threat. You don't want that."
Isabel suspected there was a bit more to that, but she didn't question it. After all, this was her half-brother's father.
"Fine. We agree."
Dartemis looked to Ethan.
"I do too." Ethan's eyes were on Isabel, trusting.
I really hope I know what I'm getting us into. Isabel thought. As Dartemis put out his hands, she closed her eyes. What would it be like not being able to heal? Would they ever get their abilities back?
But it was too late for questions. She felt energy draining from her and saw red through her eyelids.
And just like that- they were gone.
"Will you take us to this place? The sooner the better, sir." Ethan was acting very meek. His face was white and his hands clenched.
Dartemis nodded, and a portal appeared, the colors inside it swirling from black to white. Beside Isabel, Ethan gulped.
"Take these," he said, handing the two Named glowing swords.
"Won't these call more attention to us than our gifts?" Isabel asked, feeling the throbbing energy in her hands.
"No." Dartemis pushed them toward the portal. "I'd go. As Ethan said: 'The sooner the better.'"
Ethan nodded and grabbed Isabel's other hand and they both jumped through.
Matt and Rochelle climbed down into a pit. It was a pitch black that drowned even Matt's light, and the sound of water dripping around them was almost deafening.
Rochelle shivered, but she didn't want Matt to know she was scared of the dark.
"I hope it's not in pieces…" Matt mumbled as he got to the bottom. Rochelle grabbed his arm, chilled to the bone.
"Ahha!" Matt lit up an index finger so he could read the small lettering.
"See? The Propchey's there. Now can we go before the whole place collapses on us?" Rochelle looked up into the darkness they had just climbed through, straining to see even a little sliver of light.
Matt shook his head, making little water droplets fly everywhere. "There's more writing than there used to be…
The Named abandoned and an Enemy on the rise.
Trapped, forgotten and lost.
Faith in each other, in everything.
Strengths to be found and Weaknesses to be conquered.
Danger and tears and blood mixed into one.
Enemy can only be defeated by they who are United.
The survivors, heralds of a new world."
Rochelle was speechless. She couldn't think of a single thing to say.
Water rolled down the wall as Matt drew away, the light in his finger diminishing. Soon everything faded into a fuzzy grey.
"Matt, we have to tell everyone else." Rochelle let go of his arm and put a hand against a rock wall. She twitched. It was so strange how quiet her hands were these days. They told her next to nothing.
Dying did a lot to a person.
"Yeah," Matt said by way of reply. He took her hand, and floated them upwards.
Neriah sat on the hill, flower petals floating on the wind around her. She felt detached, much like she always did. Her long hair floated behind her. Her hands were white and pale as they held Dillon close to her.
The man laughed and he popped his knuckles. The gauntlets bent easily, making them practical to wear at all times.
"We're there, sir."
"Alright, go see if he and his father are there. Remember, both of them were Named."
The driver nodded and got out. He hesitated a bit before he began walking up to the door.
Knock Knock.
Shaun opened the door, wondering who it was.
"Um, sir, I need to talk to your son." The chauffer looked down, feeling slightly guilty. He heard children playing in the living room, laughing as their adoptive mother vacuumed.
"Which one?" Shaun asked suspiciously.
"Ethan, please. Oh, and if you'd like to accompany him, we're going into town."
"He's not here," Shaun said, and he began to close the door.
The children's laughter was what got to the driver.
"Sir," he said, quietly into a crack in the door. "Your family is in danger."
Shaun shut the door and put his back to it.
"Hey guys," he said to his family in the living room. "We're going on a trip."