Chapter 10
"Are you ready?" Elliott asked the girls hastily. The four girls had transformed into Guardians.
"I don't understand," Will said "why do we have to go right this second?"
"Because," Elliott answered her as he opened a fold "he's going to use her for something. I don't know what, but it wont be pretty."
"Where does that lead to?" Taranee asked
"Ronkar." Elliott answered before stepping through the fold.
"Come on." Irma urged the other girls as she too stepped into the fold.
Ronkar was a bleak looking place. What stood before Elliott and the Guardians was a large castle, that looked similar to a castle in Earth medieval times. The trees and plants looked dead and had a dark, purple hint to them. The wind blew through the trees with ominous silence.
"This is where you live?" Cornelia commented "It could use a make over."
"It used to be a much more beautiful place." Elliott told her "That is, until my brother took over. Come, he's most likely in the castle throne room. It was his favorite place to be."
Elliott began to walk toward the castle. The largeness of the castle gave the illusion that it was close. However this was clearly not the case. Elliott wouldn't allow the Guardians to fly encase it alerted Daemon to their presence.
"What, does your brother not like plants?" Cornelia asked as they walked past dead tree after dead tree.
"Actually, as you know all worlds have a heart. In the case of my world if it is removed from the throne by force the life will start to die out." Elliott answered "I guess it's some sort of defense."
"But I thought a heart had to be given willingly." Will said
"It does." Elliott replied "But the heart of Ronkar sits with the current ruler. And if that ruler is forcefully removed, the heart will activate its defense. The life will come back when the ruler returns to the throne or a new ruler is chosen."
"So your brother doesn't really rule Ronkar?" Taranee inquired
"Correct as always." Elliott praised the fire Guardian "I'm sure my brother is trying to find a way to get my father to give him him the heart by using magic. He always relied on magic too much."
"That must be why he's after Meridian." Irma spoke her thoughts "So he can use its heart to get what he wants."
"No doubt." Elliott said "That and then he'll have two worlds under his control."
"Is there really a way to make someone give you a heart by using magic?" Will asked a little worried.
"I don't think so." Elliott tried to reassure her "But Daemon thinks there is, and that's all that matters to him."
"Hey why couldn't we have just folded into the castle?" Cornelia complained
"Because my brother has it protected." Elliott answered "Any attempt to fold or teletransport any where within one kilometer of the castle will tell Daemon we're here."
"Great."
"Do you think Hay Lin is okay?" Irma grew concerned for her friend, and she was sure the others felt the same.
"He wont kill her." Elliott replied "At least until he's done with her. Then it's anyone's call. Stop." Elliott threw out his arms to prevent the Guardians from going any further. He knelt down and felt the ground. Then his hand wrapped around something and he pulled on it. A door opened in the ground. "This is the only safe way into the castle." He explained "Ladies first."
Will, Taranee, Cornelia and Irma all walked cautiously into the underground tunnel. Once they were all in, Elliott closed the hidden door, leaving them in the dark."
"Taranee, if you wouldn't mind." Will's voice could be heard in the darkness.
Taranee made a small flame that lighted up the path. The brightened path broke off into three different paths.
"Whoa." Will breathed
"I guess I forgot to mention it's a maze?" Elliott said as he moved next to Taranee at the front of the group.
"A maze?!" Taranee exclaimed as Elliott approached her
"Don't worry," he reassured them "I know the way." Elliott took the path farthest to the right and beckoned the Guardians to follow. As they walked further into the maze, the walls changed from packed earth to rock.
"Why are we in a maze again?" Irma asked with annoyance in her voice.
"Actually there is a story behind it." Elliott replied "Would you like to hear it?"
"Sure," Irma said "If it will pass the time faster."
"This maze was built by my great-grandfather." Elliott began "He was a commoner and my great-grandmother was the princess. It's beginning to sound like a fairy tale isn't it?" he turned to look at Irma who nodded. Elliott continued "His name was Admon. He and Julianna, my great-grandmother, had met one day in the market place. They talked and became friends, and eventually fell in love. Of course Julianna's father would have nothing of it." Elliott turned back to the girls with a grin on his face. "I assume you've already guessed what happens next?" he continued without waiting for an answer "Admon and Julianna met in secret. But one day the king found out about their secret meetings, and had Admon banished from the castle grounds. So my great-grandfather, being the stubborn man that he was, made a tunnel that lead to the castle cellar and made his way to Julianna's room. He then decided, out of fear of being followed, that he would make his tunnel into a maze. So that only he would know the way to the castle." Elliott stopped walking "And you can pretty much guess the rest."
"Wouldn't Daemon know about this place then?" Taranee asked
"Surprisingly, no." Elliott answered as he inspected a wall "Admon told only his son this story. And he told it to me when I was younger. My brother had no interest in listening to my grandfather's stories."
Elliott stopped inspecting the wall and pushed on one of the rocks. The rock slid inward along with multiple others, so they made a sort of ladder.
"So your brother has no idea this is here?" Will asked as the girls watched Elliott climb the wall.
"That's right." Elliott answered as he reached the top. "And what my brother doesn't know," he pushed on the ceiling and opened a door "can most definitely hurt him."
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AN/ Woot! Liberty!! yeah if you guys didn't like Elliott's story I can make him stop doing that. I didn't really need that story but it was better than discribing them walking through maze. Anywho review please and thank you :D