Lloyd POV: We launched as soon as we were ready, and once we were in the air I stood next to the railing.

I know that Kai is probably fine and was just waiting for us, but I couldn't help but worry. We still don't know everything about this place and how exactly they plan to put Kai in these Sands.

I sighed and Zane behind me said, "Nervous?"

I jumped and sort of yelled, "Could you please give me a warning next time you come up behind me?"

"Sorry, but you seemed like you could use some company." He said, going to my right.

"Yeah, you're right about that. I just hope we get there in time." I said, turning back to the view.

"We will. From what we managed to receive Silas they wouldn't have had enough time to get everything ready. Kai isn't in the Sands yet."

"I know. What is going to happen to him anyway." I asked, looking at him.

"He admitted to everything and was given a life sentence at Kryptarium prison."

"That good." I really didn't know what else to say.

"Hey guys! We're almost there, but we're landing now so we don't get spotted." Jay yelled, from outside the control room door.

We both nodded and headed up to him, and went inside. The others were there and ready to go. Nya was flying with Jay next to her and Cole was at the table cleaning his scythe.

"Okay guys, here's the plan. Nya, Cole, and I will sneak in and go straight for the portal room. Zane, I want you to try and hack their computer system, give us enough time to get Kai before they can call reinforcements. Jay, stay outside and take out as many guys as you can quietly. The less they have the less we'll have to deal with. Got it?" They all nodded without question.

As soon as we landed we ran towards the building. It was a bright gold and black castle-like place that had little security from where we were.

"Jay, if you finish early meet the rest of us in the portal room." I whispered and he nodded.

He and Zane went off in one direction and the rest of us in the other. We waited for the guard to patrol the next area and we got in. Even the halls were gold and black, as was everything else.

"Whoever is in charge really loves these colors." Nya whispered.

"You can say that again." Cole responded.

We sneaked through the halls, but not really hiding because there were no cameras and not really any guards. This place is in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no one around, so they must not think that it's not worth the trouble to get extra guards. But that just makes it easier for us. Finally we saw a couple of guys enter a room with very large doors that had many different symbols on it.

"I guess that's where we need to be." Nya whispered.

Cole knocked open a vent that was above us and we climbed in. I was the last one up, so I closed it behind us. We easily traversed through and climbed out the other side. Quietly we climbed onto the rafters and looked down.

It really was a portal room. A large swirling pit of orange and grey smoke was in the middle, with several guys around it and talking to each other.

Then Zane clicked on coms and said, "You guys reading this?"

"Yeah, we got you." I whispered.

"I managed to get in their system, but there's not much to tell. It's a lot like a social media network that every member has access to. The main adminstorters are two people named Renata and Shadow King Shamus. They don't have cameras, guards, or a good security system because they believe that their isolation is their best counter measure. They also don't have a lot of members because of their strict selection." Zane informed us.

"What about Kai?" Nya asked.

"There is some news on that. It says that he was taken to the prison below ground. But he was just brought up for the ceremony."

"Okay, I don't like the sound of ceremony." Jay said, over the coms.

"Agreed." Nya responded.

"Are you almost done out there Jay?" I asked

"Almost. There are still a couple of guys." he said, while grunting a little bit. Probably just took down a guard.

"Alright, see you soon." then I clicked off.

We waited for a good ten minutes when we saw the doors open, and they brought Kai in.

He was covered in dust and his uniform was ripped everywhere, and he looked ticked off. But his bonds must be made of vengestone otherwise he would've burned them off and escaped already. They brought him into the center and then the doors on the other side opened and a guy dressed in full gold and black entered.

He walked over to Kai, wrapped an arm around him, and said, "Loyal subjects! This is a great day for us! The Master of Fire will soon join the Master of Storms in the beautiful Sands. Let's rejoice!"

That really doesn't sound good.

Kai POV: I really hate all of this. First, I get tackled and tied up. Then I get dragged into a ritual room filled with people that want to watch me get thrown in a pit. And this guy must bath in bad cologne!

But he's also really strong because I couldn't move away from his arm.

He was laughing hard after his little speech, and pressing down on me. I moaned and looked up. He looked even more creepy and smug when he was laughing. I saw something move in the rafts, so I leaned off to the side to check.

It was Lloyd, Nya, and Cole, fully armed and who look like they're about to jump down. Perfect. Great job guys.

I maneuvered the knife into my hand with as little movement as possible and waited. Then they jumped down, taking some guys down, and Lloyd pointed his sword at Shamus and said, "Take your hands off him."

Shamus was surprised by that, but his smug smile returned and said, "Well, well, well. Who would have thought the ninja could have found this place. Congratulations."

"Thanks. Now give him back." Nya said, readying her weapon.

Just as she said that the ring exploded with swirling orange sand and red energy, and what looked like an opening appeared in the middle.

"While I would like to give him to you, but he will be quite busy with-" before he could finish his sentence I cut my ties and took him down.

The others looked surprised and smirked a little. I sighed and started to walk over to them. Nya strangled me in a hug and the others gathered around.

"Good to see you're alright Kai." Lloyd said, as Nya let go.

"How did you get that knife?" Cole asked.

"Found it in the wall with a note."

"Sunami. She left it there knowing someone else would be taken." Lloyd said, smirking to himself.

"Who's Sunami?" I asked, confused.

"Long story. Tell you later." Nya said.

I nodded but then someone jumped down behind me, it was Regina. And she had Shamus in her left hand, unconscious.

"Thanks for getting rid of the Shadow King for me. But now it's my time to shine." she said, and grabbed my shoulder.

She pushed him in and tossed me after. I saw her run off as Nya tried to grab my hand. I reached for her but I was falling too fast. I was in the Sands now.

Guess I didn't time it right.