Secrets

Chapter 41

Hall of the Gumm-Gumm King

Part 1

Marshall led his sorceroress mentor with Jinx on his shoulder to the last place where he last saw Talia; Arcadia Oaks High. They stepped onto the green grass of the school's lawn, "This is where we last spoke to each other before we split up." Marshall informed her. June checked her surroundings to make sure no civilian were around or watching. She summoned her staff for the first time ever. It was made of platinum carved and molded into an elegant art, the carvings were vine scrollings all the way up to the bright purlple gem with what looked like wings at the the top. Marshall had his eyes wide at a moment amazed by her magical weapon. June walked past him and stuck her staff into the ground, and begin dragging around in a big circle. "So. . .remind me again, what we're doing here?" he curiously asked.

"I'm going to perform a memory projection spell," She explained continued conjuring her spell. "It's tricky, but effective with a very specific piece of their last known whereabouts of the missing soul and with a piece of their essence should help us lead to a clue."

Marshall raised an eyebrow, "A. . .piece of essence?" June comes over a hands him a strand pieces of hair to him.

"Talia forgets to clean out her hairbursh." June said to him before he takes it. She walks back into the large circle a few feet away from him, and turns back around facing her apprentice. "Hold the hair out while I recite the incantation."

June slams her staff down onto the ground a symbol shines bright from the circle she conjured. June holds her staff above her head as the strands of hair from Marshall's grasp glows, "Per fragem amissi amore inveniet spiritus ubi evanuerunt!"

"Whoa. . ."Marshall amazed.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Jinx said.

Jinx peaks out from his backpack watching whole scene with his head covered, "Heh. . .that doesn't look too bad."

"Shh," June hushed the too so she would concentrate. The the light forms a projection revealing the memory where everyone there together.

"I have to go find Aunt June," Talia's projection said. "Maybe she can reason with them."

"Okay, Tal ," Jim's projection said putting a hand on her shoulder. " But be careful. Remember they're after you, too."

"Jim, trust me, there's no one better observant here but me," she said, as the projection made her move.

"Ugh!" Jinx frustatingly said. "If there's one thing that hasn't change from that girl is her stubborness."

"Come on!" Marshall said in pursuit of the memory.

The spellcasters chased after the memory projection through the town taking turns in streets and allies. Talia climbs and jumps over a wooden fece and makes a graceful landing on her feet, Marshall and June were gaining on her until suddenly the memory stops. They watched the young girl halting from taking what looked like a piece of needle from her neck, sniffed whatever was on it, "Oh, no not again!"

They watched her being ambushed by the mysterious figures in black wearing masks with giant eye like symbols jumped and throwing ropes at her. Talia tries to dodge them, but the ropes lassoed her arms and legs restraining her from moving. June, Jinx and Marshall gasped at the sight of this happening before their eyes. The poor struggling lioness still continued persistently to fight, until one of them electricuted her with a taser. June covered her mouth distraught watching all of this. Talia fell onto her knees in pain and onto the ground. Marshall then looks up to see a familiar face he hopes to never see again; Otto Scaarbach. He approaches the Silver Lion with a malicous grin down upon her and said, "A pleasure to be meeting you at last, Princess. I am Otto Scarbaach. . .I am here to escort you to the master."

The projection faded away like smoke ending the scene, leaving the wizards all horrified from seeking the truth of what has become of their missing Silver Lion.

"Otto!" Marshall gasped, explaining him to June. "He's the Head Commander of the Janus order."

"Then they must have taken her in to their base of operations," June confirmed. "We find her there and if possible. . .Gunmar."

"Right. But there's one big problem here," Jinx pointed out. "Where exactly is their secret base?"

"I know," Jinx and June looked towards Marshall with a blank expression. "Omni-Reach."

. . .

Meanwhile in Heartstone Trollmarket, the troll civilians were all gathered upon hearing the announcement from Queen Usurna and the grave news she brings.

"Citizens of Trollmarket, the Trollhunter is dead," she says. The trolls gasped in dismay hearing of what's become of their champion and protector. However little does the treacherous queen know, Jim Lake Jr.'s alive. Climbing up on the walls from surviving the Deep facing his greatest fear. "No, I'm not," Jim said, about to reveal himself to them showing that there was no means of despair.

"Where's Vendel," one of the crowds asked.

"Vendel is dead, too." Usurna answered.

"What?" Jim stopped.

"The Silver Lion killed him," she said. Jim gasped and then turns disgust. Becoming more resentful and hatred toward the Queen. The trolls gasped again, believing her lies, yet some question her accusations.

"I knew those gray felines were no good!" Gatto said.

"But why would the girl commit such an act?" Bork asked, while Wumpa sobs.

Jim continues to listen, "Vendel was the heart of Trollmarket. It is with a heavy heart that I take up his mantle and promise to lead Trollmarket into a new era." Jim climbs down to find away out becoming more furious listening to her speaking so ill of him and his friend. "A human and a lion has led us a stray. It is time that trolls lead Trollmarket once more. Trolls for Trollkind."

The trolls questioned the Krubera Queen's words, until they settled on applauing and willing to follow the Queen's leadership." The queen smiles malicously up at the clueless guillable trolls without them knowing what's coming for them and her evil scheme was going according to plan.

. . .

Inside the Heartstone, Team Trollhunters mourn over the shattered remains of what once their friend and comrad Vendel; elder leader of Trollmarket.

"First Draal, then Jim, and now this?" Toby saddly depressed.

"Why did yo leave?" Blinky looked down upon Vendel's staff in his hands and set it on the table next to his remains. "I was not your time." Then a tiny glimps of yellow light caught his eye grabbing his attention, "You crafty old goat." he gasped recognizing the stone beside the rubble. Blinky ran over and picked up what looked like an artifact resembling a Kairosect. Toby looked at him confused "What?" "What is it?" Claire asked.

"He was holding an Anamesis stone," Blinky described setting the artifact on the table and place the stone to the device projecting a big sphere of light around the room before displaying a figure of Vendel. "What did you want to show us?"

"There are only two agents of Gunmar- -" a holo-projection of Usurna appeared. "The Changeling. . .and the Changeling's master." She pulled out her dagger walking towards him

"How do you know this?" Vendel turned around questioning her.

"Because I'm the Master," she pierced her weapon to his abdomen making everyone gasped witnessing the truth.

"Vendel!" Blinky emotionally reached watching his demise.

"I"m sorry, Vendel," she lied, as the projection of Vendel leaned coughin his last remaining breath. "I was hoping you live long enough to see Gunmar's glorious return."

The scene was so horrific Blinky continued to watch poor Vendel being killed slowly and painfully by the Creeper sun's effect, "Usurna." Vendel groaned.

"He used his last moments to warn us," Blinky said placing his hand on Vendel's ghostly face before it slowly disappears.

"She took control of Trollmarket." Jim walked in wiping a tear from his eye witnessing this as well.

Everyon raised their head aghast and could not believe of what they were seeing before their eyes whom they all thought to be dead, Jim Lake Jr.

"Master Jim," Blinky gasped.

"Queen Usurna said that Talia was responsible," Jim said. Toby walked around checking to make sure that he was no hallucinating. "Wow." he said, as he poked him. "Ha! Jimbo you're alive! You're not a ghost!" Toby cheerfully gave him a bear hug.

"We saw you fall to your doom," Blinky smiled as if he had no doubt in his mind.. Claire runs up and hugs him with complete and utter joy, "How did you survive the Deep?"

"Claire." Jim hugged her back.

"N troll has ever come back," Claire wiped a tear from her eye.

"But I'm not a troll," Jim confirmed to her.

Jim turned his head and walked over to the deceased shattered remains of Vendel before him. Feeling ashamed and blamed himself of how he could've let this happen. "No, no. I'm sorry." he said to Vendel with tears falling from his eyes. "This is my fault."

"No, Master Jim," Blinky said to him. "Vendel believed in you. He knew you'd return to make things right."

"Usurna liar, traitor!" Arrrgh turned growing furious. "Crush Queen now!" His eyes and marks glowed bright green and bangs his fists angerly to the floor.

"No, we can't take her now," Blinky said, calming him down to remind him. "She's too heavily protected."

"Blink's right," Jim said. "There are too many of them."

"If she's working for Gunmar, what's to stop him from taking Trollmarket?" Claire said to them.

"Us." Jim pointing it out. "If Gunmar thinks I'm dead, we've at least got the element of surprise."

"Taking on Gunmar himself?" Blinky aghast. "Oh, what a day. But Master Jim, even though your Eclipse Blade can mortally kill Gunmar with a precise strike, to confront him. You'll nned extra help from the Silver Lion. Lady Talia's Power of Enhancement is vital to our success.

"Right," Jim agreed. "Has anyone heard from her?" He glanced at everyone to see if they know of her whereabouts. "No. Not since we left detention," Claire said.

"And where's that Marshall Cadden?" Toby said with his arms crossed infuriated of his absence. "I thought he be back by now."

Then a vibrate went off on Jim's phone in his back pocket, he pulls it out and see that it was a voicemail message sent from Marshall. "He sent me a voicemail," He clicks it and listens in, "Hey Jim, I'm sorry to bail like that. But I needed to find June because there was something going down with the trial. June knew that you would survive the Deep either way. And if you guy's figured out that Usurna's a bad guy we have another problem. The Janus Order's got Tally and they've nicked her with gravesand." Jim gasped as his eyes widen remembering the thought where she almost died from that stuff. "They've taken her to Omni-Reach Travels on Delancy. Don't worry, we have the antidote made ready. We're about to infiltrate their base to find her and maybe. . .Gunmar. If he's down there, we need you all down there a soon as possible. Hurry Jim! The fates of Arcadia and Trollmarket are in our hands!" Marshall's message ended as the line cuts off.

Jim takes his cellular device from his ear and stares at the phone from what he'd just heard.

Everyone looks at him not likeing the look on his face, "What'd he say, Jimbo?" Toby asked.

"We gotta get to the Janus Order, fast," Jim said to them, before he runs off he turns and assures them, "And don't worry. I'm not stupid to go alone. We're stronger together."

. . .

Marshall, June, and Jinx used the elevator to make their way in the underground base. The door slides opens and they all gasped upon the destruction before them. The place looked like in complete ruin, the lights were flickering, the statue of Gunmar was lying in the middle of the hallways, and there were piles of bones scattered across the floor.

"Oh yeah, this is definately the work of Gunmar," Jinx confirmed feeling a bit petrified.

"Okay. Marshall I need you to use your pyschic connection you have with my niece right away," June commanded him.

"Got it," Marshall touched his forehead with his index and middle finger and began concentrating. It was weak, but Marshall could sense her presence, his vision shows him through the halls, making turns left, right, straight, see's a wall with a secret panel, and behind Talia lying sickly on the floor moaning. His mind snaps back as his eyes opened wide, "Follow me!" He takes off running.

. . .

Talia had been very quiet for a very long time having to listen to all the horrors and screaming behind the door where she's been locked up. The chaos died out about three hours, three whole hours of Changelings being slaughtered. The Silver Lion, wondered if she could check to make sure the coast was clear, but she didn't want to risk letting the monster know she was there. His nose could smell her a mile away. So, the best thing she could do was lye low 'til someone could come looking for her. But it had been about a day now.

Talia lied on the cold hard floor feeling her illness overtake her just like she had before from the Darklands. Even though the medicine she'd gotten from the Changeling, Allana, did helped but it wasn't enough to cure her from the poison. Her vision was becoming a blur, the vessels were breaking on her skin, her body was burning up, and growing numb. The thought of Allana's face when she'd told her of Kodanth killed by Gunmar and seeing her grieve for him was something Talia would never expect from a Changeling to care. She could've ignored her or runaway. But instead she sacrificed herself to help her enemy. Talia begin to cry feeling how helpless she was and couldn't save her, save them, from stopping Gunmar slaughtering them all like animals.

Then Talia's ear picked up the sounds of footsteps from listening in on the ground she could tell that they were closing in. She couldn't tell who it was or that it was Gunmar coming, but she was starting to become afraid. The door made a hissing sound, the door slowly slides up, her vision was weak all she could see were two pairs of shadow silhouttes before her, one of them came in and, "Talia!"

Talia recognized and knew who that voice was; Marshall. He knelt down and picked her up in his arms. "Mar- -shall."she weakly moaned. "We're here, Tally. Everything's gonna be okay."

June came down and pulled the antidote she contained in a small glass bottle. "Come here, sweety." June brought the bottle up to her face and poured it into her mouth, "This'll make you all better." Talia drank the antidote and swallowed it. Her fever was cooling down, the vessels on her skin faded away, and her body was replenshed from the paralysis. Talia gasped and sits herself back up completely revived and rejuvenated from the posion.

Jinx jumped on her lap happy to see her alive, "You really need to stop scaring us, kid."

"Sorry," Talia coughed, until she remembered something really important. "We have to get to Trollmarket! There's a spy - -"

"We know," Marshall said.

"You do?" Talia looked at them. "Do you know who it is?"

"Yes," June said to her.

"Then who is it?" Talia rose to her feet as Jinx jumps off from her lap.

"Usurna." Marshall slowly responded. "She'd been working for the Skull Crusher this entire time."

Talia's eyes widen and her mouth opened in disbelief. Then again that would explain how she knew so much of their previous missions, why she was so curious of her power, and also she did see the Queen's aura she first laid eyes upon her. At first she didn't know what she saw at first and thought that she was the gravesand. But now. . .now it all makes sense and this made Talia not happy. "I don't believe this,"Talia clenched shaking her fist upset.

"I know, she clearly played us all for fools," Marshall said.

"No," she said with a slight emotion within her voice. They looked at her confused til she confessed, "Ugh! How could I've been so stupid!" She clinged onto her head in frustration. "Tally calm down," Jinx trying to ease her.

"No! This is all my fault! I knew it when I first saw her and I didn't do anything," she began to cry.

"When you first saw her? What are you talking about?" June asked.

"Back in Blinky's library, I saw and sensed that there wasn't right about that troll," Talia explained as tears fell from her eyes. "I could've of said something to Vendel, but instead chose to ignore it. Now Trollmarket's in danger and it's all my fault!" She covered her face ashamed of herself for letting this happen. First the changeling massacre and now this, Talia had felt like she'd become a total failure.

Marshall placed a hand on her shoulder comforting her and said, "Hey. Hey. Don't beat yourself up. So you've made one big mistake. That's the part of us that makes you human makes us all human." Talia looked at him and listened, "When we all make mistakes the best thing to do is try to fix them."

"He's right Talia," June agreed with him and took her hand. "Besides even if you did say something there was no way you could've proved to anyone that she was the enemy. You did the right thing. You remained calmed and waited patiently I am very proud of you for that."

Jinx climbed up on her shoulders and said, "I always know you to be hotheaded, stubborn, ruthless, reckless- -maybe a little bit selfish sometimes- -" Talia looked him with a dull annoyed expression listening to him saying all the negative things about her, "Jinx." "The-the point is. . .Your starting to finally grow up." He sheepishly grin. Talia softly smiled appreciated him and everyone for their support. June and Marshall lifted her up from the floor and back on her feet. Talia wiped her face clear from her tears regaining some of her confidence back.

"Tally!"

They looked up seeing Toby Dolmzalski standing at the doorway with a relieved joyful expression on his face. "Guys! I've found Tal!" He called out to everyone excitedly before ran up and quickly hugged her. He observed checking on her, "Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! For a minute there we thought Gunmar might have eaten you up and spit you out when saw the place trashed right when we walked in. Are you still in one piece? Did they hurt you? Do you by any cha- -"

"Tobes, Tobes, Tobes, I'm fine,"Talia chuckled assuring him. "Nothing broken I promised."

Then Jim, Claire, Blinky, and Arrrgh came in, "Ah, Lady Talia," Blinky cheered.

"Guys!" Talia smiled happy to see everyone about to hug them, until Jinx cut in between, "Uh, guys? Can we save the hugs and kisses later right after we finish the job?" They all paused dumbstruck realizing that he was right, they still need to stop Gunmar.

"Oh, right," Jim said.

"I'll head back to Trollmarket with Talia, Marshall and Jinx," June said.

"No, June," Blinky said. "We need Lady Talia if we are in order to- -"

"No," Jim interruppted.

"What?" Blinky flabbergausted.

"We need eyes to spy on Usurna while we track Gunmar," Jim explained, before turning back to Talia. "Tally- -"

"Say no more, Jim," Talia said knewing what he was going to say. Her aura began to shine and held out a fist infront of everyone, Jim place his hand on as everyone else joined in besides June and Marshall, Talia's Power of Enhancement began to flow to them with incredible force of energy their bodies began to shine with the same light as Talia's.