All five of them were eating in the galley the next morning. There stock of
food was,
obviously, very high, being only into the second day of their journey. As a
result, there was
mixed amounts of eating on the table where they all sat. Garet, as always,
was eating enough
to feed two of them. Isaac and Mia were eating a fair portion of food,
which was adequate.
Ivan was easting considerably less, partially because of his age and size,
partially because
he saw that Abbadon had eaten nothing but an apple and two oranges.
The Garet hadn't noticed how little Abbadon had eaten and was instead talking about their plans.
"Once I get to Lemuria, I'm going to eat the largest meal I've ever had because when I'm on this ship, eating these rations, I'm starving most of the time!" Isaac shook his head.
"You eat like a horse, Garet, regardless of what rations we have!" Isaac's comment seemed pretty hurtful to Garet, as he then turned to his food and began to eat again, without gracing him with a reply.
"How do we even know we're even going in the right direction?" Ivan asked Isaac. Isaac thought about this for a moment, and then shrugged.
"We don't." He said reluctantly. Garet spat out the contents of his mouth in shock. Mia turned away in disgust.
"You mean we could..." He gulped nervously, "Run out of food?"
"Of course he means that," Mia replied,"You knew the risks before we went on this mission."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" He shouted, now scared witless of the prospect of no food. He quickly put all of his food that was still on his plate back into the cellar below. Abbadon stood up and followed him. Seconds later, both emerged, Garet empty handed, Abbadon with a small leg of meat in his hand. When he sat down, he started slowly eating the meat from the bone.
"I've got an idea to kill the time!" Garet suggested.
"No, Garet, we're not going to guess all the foods you've just eaten!" Ivan said that with a sense of boredom.
"No, I've got a different idea!" With that said, the other three watched him, wondering what could be more fun for him then others talking about themselves.
"Well? What is it?" Ivan asked.
"Let's try and guess..." Garet began.
"Oh god!" Isaac sighed.
"Let me finish!" Garet whined, "Let's guess what clan Abbadon's from!" That idea got all of the looking at Abbadon, who'd just, finished placing his bone into the bone bucket. He was almost intrigued at why everyone was looking at him, then sat back down.
"I want to guess first!" Garet said, putting Ivan out of the running of winning so easily, as he usually did. Garet had sussed that Ivan used his mind reading trick to find out whatever knowledge he needed. Garet took a deep breath and a few moments of thought, then blurted out:
"Abbadon, you're from... the Mars Clan!" He concluded.
"Who could've guessed you'd say that?" Isaac's voice was full of sarcasm.
Abbadon simply shook his head.
"Wrong." He said softly. Ivan then stood up.
"For reasons that are my own..." Ivan started.
"Interior intelligence on the matter..." Garet cursed. He hated being beaten by Ivan.
"...I think that you, Abbadon, are of the Jupiter clan!" He seemed to have a smile that showed how certain he thought he was. Abbadon shook his head and chuckled.
"No where near." Ivan's face turned to confusion then went grumpy himself.
"Then you have to be of the Venus clan." Isaac concluded.
"What makes you say that?" Abbadon asked the leader.
"Well, Mercury Adepts have blue hair." He pointed out.
"That's true, yet you are also wrong," Isaac sat back, bewildered, "And no, Mia, I am not from your clan either." He stood up and stepped away form the table, "looks like you all lose." He walked away, leaving a very confused team.
"One of us has to be right, don't we?" Garet asked.
"Well, I know that he can read minds..." Ivan told them. The others looked at him strangely.
"When did you discover this?" Isaac asked him.
"Shortly after he pulled Mia out of the water." Ivan said, remembering back to that moment. Mia suddenly turned as red as a beetroot, leaving the room with the up most haste.
"What's with her?" Garet asked.
"Beats me." Garet shrugged.
"Shouldn't we be up there, scouting for land?" Ivan suggested. With all the recent excitement, they'd forgotten their mission.
"You're right. Let's go!" Isaac said.
The three of them walked back onto deck to see Abbadon looking at something that Isaac couldn't see.
"What are you looking at?" Ivan asked Abbadon.
"Look and see." Abbadon told him. Isaac squinted his eyes, trying to look at what appeared to be just the vast ocean. It was then that Ivan pointed out of the boat.
"It's over there! I can see it now!" Ivan said joyfully.
Isaac looked again. This time, he saw something. It was only small but it seemed to be tall. Very tall. Garet still couldn't make out what on earth Ivan was getting excited about. Then, Isaac recognised the familiarity.
"A lighthouse!" Isaac said, stunned.
"Yes. The Jupiter lighthouse. It has not been lit." Abbadon told them. Ivan turned to Abbadon.
"You've been there?" Ivan asked him.
"I've been to all of the lighthouses, Ivan. This one, however, is the most beautiful." Abbadon explained. Garet ran to the entrance of Mia's quarters.
"Mia! Come on deck! We've found the Jupiter Lighthouse!" Garet shouted, then rushing back to actually find it for himself. By the time Mia had come back up on deck, Garet had located where it actually was and was almost thrilled to bits with the news. Mia, however, looked shaken, as if she had just discovered her worst nightmare.
"What's up Mia?" Isaac asked.
"Nothing. Nothing, I'm fine." Mia said quickly, trying to shrug off the attention.
"She's nervous." Abbadon told them.
"It's alright to be nervous, Mia. We'll stop the lighthouse being lit, don't you worry." Garet assured her. She smiled and nodded weakly, then went back to looking at it.
"It's about a day's sailing till we reach it. You'd all better rest up and get ready." Abbadon told them.
"Aren't you going to rest?" Ivan asked.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Abbadon replied. Ivan turned round and walked to the galley. Isaac got out the black orb in preparation to turn the ship around. Garet looked for a while longer, then noticed that Mia had gone to the other part of the ship. Garet thought that was strange; she usually enjoys being with people. He decided to check that out himself. That left Isaac and Abbadon as the only two still by the bow of the vessel. Isaac had already turned the vessel to the right trajectory and was now standing there with nothing to do. Isaac looked around for something to keep himself buy with, then decided he'd pay Ivan a visit. As he was walking away, he stopped. He heard Garet and Mia.
"Come on, what's up?" Garet asked her. Mia said nothing as a reply.
"It's him, isn't it?" Garet asked.
"No..." Mia said in defence of the person.
"It is! I knew it!" Footsteps were then heard, followed by the drawing of a sword. Isaac saw Garet, fury in his eyes, approaching Abbadon, sword armed.
"Garet, what are you going?" Isaac shouted.
"What have you done to Mia?" Garet beckoned to Abbadon. Abbadon didn't reply. Ivan came out of the men's quarters, looking like he'd just woken up from what would've been a deep sleep.
"What's happening?" Ivan asked.
"Answer, swine! What have you done?" Garet shouted again.
"I've done nothing." Abbadon calmly said, not even turning round to face Garet.
"You liar!" Garet shouted.
"Garet, snap out of it!" Mia pleaded, grabbing his arm. Garet flung her off him, her falling to the floor. Abbadon sighed.
"Isaac, get Mia and Ivan to the galley, out of harms way." Abbadon asked him. At first, Isaac did nothing.
"Please," Abbadon said to him, "I'll be fine." Isaac then got both of them and let them to the galley, out of harms way.
Garet was filling with rage. His sword was held in both hands and he was ready to strike at a moment's notice. Abbadon still didn't turn around, looking instead at the lighthouse.
"Why don't you trust me, Garet?" Abbadon asked. Garet spat on the floor.
"What is there to trust about you?" Garet sneered. Garet stepped closer. He didn't notice that the Mia had now left the galley and was watching. Of all of them, Mia was the one most concerned. For who, however, was anyone's guess.
"I'm not going to fight you, Garet." Abbadon said. He unbuckled his belt, which had attached to it his scabbard, and dropped it to the floor.
"Something's been preying on my mind since I first met you," Garet began, "That scar. Where did you get it?" Abbadon didn't answer. Garet then started to shout, "Where did you get it?"
"Do you really want to know?" Abbadon asked him. Garet didn't say anything, "Very well. It was four years ago, when I was twelve..." Mia's face suddenly lit up.
"He tried to tell me this story," She said to herself, trying not to draw attention to herself. "It's why he hides away..."
"I was born a blessed child, gifted with ancient psynergy of a forgotten and previously extinct clan..."
"How can I believe this? You've probably spent years mastering this make believe tale!" Garet asked critically. Abbadon ignored him.
"...I am of the Neptune Clan, which holds power over the element of magic, the forgotten power of this world. No creature or being uses magic anymore. Psynergy has spread, even to my clan, where it morphed magic into this form, my psynergy" He paused for a moment, and then continued, "Mia realised that after you played your little game. That was why she ran out and is now shaken."
"How can that scare her?" Garet asked, still full of rage.
"My parents always fought with one another, but when they discovered my lineage they set aside their differences and vowed to protect me with their lives. They researched into my heritage and discovered of my powers. My sword is the symbol of my people, kept in my lighthouse, which has now been destroyed by psynergy," He lifted something from off his chest and took it off. It was a pendant, a pendant of pure silver in the shape of an ankh, a lot like the one Mia had on the top of her staff, "This Ankh once represented the peace that our people had with the psynergy wielders and it was used as a symbol of good will among all adepts for many generations." Mia looked at her staff and indeed saw the exact same design on it, a plain, unadorned ankh.
"What does this have anything to do with Mia?" Garet asked aggressively.
"It was the Mercury Clan that broke that peace. They accused us of weakening psynergy with our powers. Magic and psynergy had co-existed as essences of power for all of time, yet now that eco-system was threatened. We defended our people and our way of life from the Mercury Clan for a hundred years until they finally crushed us, killing all who could wield magical powers. They went to the Sol Sanctum and shattered our elemental star, trying to destroy every hint or sign of our existence."
Garet still had his sword ready for combat. Mia was absorbing all of what he said.
If Garet was or not wasn't clear.
"But someone did survive the war. He was my ancestor. He resided in the ruins of the lighthouse and lived there. Around it, a small village formed, protected by his power. The power of magic was passed on through the generations of that village, yet seemed to die out when the power of the lighthouse disappeared. Then, when I was born, that power re-emerged," Abbadon then hug his head low, "Four years ago, some strangers came into town, four of them. I could tell they possessed powers like I did. I tried to warn people of the danger, yet they were too excited by their arrival. They entered the ruins of the lighthouse, with the mayor. Seconds later, an explosion occurred inside. We all waited, watched. All except my parents and myself," He sighed and shook his head, "They destroyed everything, killed everyone. There powers were all too strong for any of us. They came to my house. My parents died protecting me, like they promised they would. They all came upstairs and found me, cornered me. I attacked, blasting a very small ball of energy form my hands. This annoyed one of them, the one with the blue skin. The one with the burning sword."
"Saturos..." Garet muttered. Mia had worked that out too.
"The others said they should leave me, come get me later, after they'd done their business here. Saturos agreed, yet he still struck at me," He stroked his scar, as if the pain was still there. Mia knew it was, "They left. I didn't want to go with them, so I ran to the temple. I grabbed the sword and put on the pendant. The cloak I took from my father's back. Then I ran. I ran out of the burning village, through the forests, into the wilderness. I have been travelling ever since, looking for a group like yourself." Garet stepped closer.
"Don't you long for revenge?" Garet asked.
"He's dead. I felt my it in my heart when he died, but the pain is still there, Garet. That will never go away." Abbadon went silent after that.
"Ah, that was sweet," Garet said sarcastically, "Am I supposed to give you sympathy now? Well I don't feel a drop of it in my blood." He stepped closer.
"If you strike at me, Garet, your heart will be of a crueller black than Saturos ever had." Abbadon warned.
"Well, that's just how it has to be. I don't like you, trust you, I don't want to be near you. I want you gone. It was better when there was just four of us, when we were one unit, all united. You've torn us apart." Garet said with a passion.
"And you think killing me with unite you all again?" Abbadon asked. He'd not even raised his voice the whole, yet it seemed he had complete control.
"It's a start!" Garet shouted as he charged towards Abbadon.
"Garet, stop!" Mia shouted. It fell on deaf ears, as Garet was no longer listening. Garet screamed as he charged towards Abbadon, full of purpose and intent. Then, without a warning, Abbadon vanished. Garet stopped running and looked around him, searching for any clue as to his whereabouts. He found none.
"I'm not going to fight you, neither I am going a re-appear now. Return to your friends. They will be worried about you." Garet grunted in anger and stamped his foot in protest. Then, without another word, he stormed to the galley, nearing barging straight into Mia. She was left standing there, contemplating what he had said, on an empty deck.
A few minutes later, he reappeared in exactly the same spot he was in before. He hadn't moved at all, merely rendered himself invisible, she concluded. He's already put his belt back on. He was leaning on the side, shaking his head. He clenched his fist and smashed it onto the side in anger.
"Abbadon..." She said.
"Don't feel like you have to apologise," He said, not turning round to her, "None of this was your fault."
"I can't believe what my clan did to yours." She said to him.
"It was a long time ago, Mia. People have changed," He turned to her. She could almost see that he was in pain on the inside.
"You don't have to contain it, Abbadon." She said to him. He smiled faintly.
"I've learned not to cry, Mia. It doesn't solve anything. Pain can be controlled, filtered," He then shook his head, "Garet is right. I have torn your group apart."
"Don't listen to Garet. He's a little head strong." She was trying to persuade him that all of this wasn't his fault.
"After you have done your business with the lighthouse, you can leave me behind." He suggested.
"What?" She couldn't believe what he was saying.
"I won't disrupt your group anymore after that. You can continue your quest unhindered."
"If you go, I'll go. I'm not letting them drive you out." She told him. She stepped up towards her, until they were standing right in front of each other.
"No, Mia. Your place is here, with your friends. It's not with me." He reminded her.
"But you are one of my friends." She said to him. He smiled at that.
"Here, take this," From his pocket he drew a ring, a plain ring it appeared at first sight. It was silver, like most of his other belongings, "It was my mothers. My father gave it to her when I was born." He placed it in her hand and clasped her hand for her.
"I can't accept this." She told him. She felt embarrassed with what he was doing.
"If you are really my friend, you will." He told her. He walked away, to the other side of the ship. She unclasped her hand and looked at the ring. She noticed that there were actually words engraved on it. She read them carefully, one at a time.
Through all the pain, fear, anger, there will still be out bond. Forever it will grow stronger, till when we meet in the eternal embrace. Such is our friendship.
For a reason that she didn't fully understand, she placed it on her middle finger. It fitted perfectly.
The morning arrived. With it, the ship dew to the nearby shore, a mere stone throw away from the lighthouse. All had drawn their weapons and were ready for anything that anyone could throw at them. Isaac led the group, as always, stepping cautiously towards the entrance. There was a stone pathway leading to the entrance, which was open. The two statues were very similar to the design of those in front of the other lighthouses. Ivan ran up to the entrance and looked around, distressed.
"They're already here!" Ivan shouted to his companions. Abbadon knelt down and grabbed a small amount of mud and smelt it.
"They've not been here long." Abbadon assured Ivan. "Let's just hope we get there in time." Isaac hoped. The team slowly moved into the entrance room. Abbadon had already got out his sword, held with his tight and and supported on his shoulder. Garet looked to Abbadon and drew his own sword. The interior of the temple was very spacious, the ceiling being very high up. When Isaac looked up, he noticed that the ceiling only stopped right at the top of the tower. He Also noticed the extreme cold that the constant gushes of wind brought. Abbadon and Ivan carried on regardless, progressing further into the hall. All looked around the walls to see various doorways and ledges scattered at different points and increasing heights. Ivan stopped looking first.
"It's a maze..." He concluded.
"What kind of maze?" Isaac asked.
"We have to find the correct tunnel route to the top of the tower." Ivan replied. Garet was already shivering and trying to shelter from the wind.
"And if we don't?" Garet asked, still trying to reduce the chill.
"You don't want to know." Abbadon told him.
"We should stay together. We don't want to be caught apart." Isaac suggested. All seemed to agree. Ivan was caught up in the elegance of the carvings.
"It's so stunning..." Ivan said out loud.
"I wonder how long it took to make this place?" Mia asked herself.
"One hundred years," Abbadon told them. Ivan looked to him for more information, "All the five lighthouses were built at the same time." Ivan and Isaac looked to each other.
"Five?" They puzzled.
"Yes. Five, one for each of the elements in the world." Ivan and Isaac thought on it for a minute, and then shrugged. Mia and Garet hadn't stopped to think it through, yet had stopped by the entrance of the caves.
"Lead the way, Ivan." Garet called. Nervously, Ivan took the lead and, very slowly, they started traversing the long and narrow passageways.
They didn't encounter a single dead end. Ivan's directions proved fruitful as, each time they found an opening to the main hall, they found that they were higher than before. Garet could barely fit through the narrow passageways, as he had a very broad build up. Mia and Ababdon were next to each other, one behind the other, as they traversed the tunnels.
"You're still going to leave, aren't you?" She whispered.
"You're still going to try and stop me?" He whispered back, "I'm serious. You're group would be better off without me." She then lost her footing and, with her being behind him, he only heard the crash. The group stopped and looked. She'd quickly picked himself up. She then looked down at what she'd stumbled on. She gasped in horror.
"It's a bone!" she shrieked. Ivan couldn't see and was trying to jump up to look at it. Garet nearly threw up, turning around, trying to get afresh breath of air. Abbadon shook his head.
"This is why Ivan is leading the way," Abbadon explained, "Only a wind adept can find the right route. Anyone else gets lost, regardless of what map he or she is following," He shoved his hand into the area near the bone, then now realising it was full of sand. Mia flinched as he pulled out what she feared was another bone, but what actually was a pendant. He looked at the insignia on it and sighed.
"This was a mars adept. May he rest in peace. He put the pendant back in the sand.
"Let's keep going, Ivan." Ivan nodded and, without looking back, continued. Garet tapped Abbadon on the shoulder. "How do you know he was a man?" He asked curiously. "Easy," Abbadon replied, looking down at the bone, "That leg bone is too thick to be a woman's." With that he started to walk on. Garet took a large step over the bone and didn't even think of peering back for a closer look.
A minute later, Ivan shouted from the front of the group.
"We're at the top!" Joy was in his voice. He wasn't the only one to be pleased about it.
"Finally! I thought we were going to be in these tunnel's all day!" Garet grumbled.
"We nearly have." Abbadon told him.
Sure enough, it was almost sunset outside. The views from the lighthouse were spectacular. Looking one way, you could see an endless forest of trees, the other glimpses of their homeland. The trees were set in the backdrop of a great mountain range. Many were so taken in by the view that they weren't noticing the drama that was unfolding near the beacon.
"Look!" Abbadon told them. They all looked to the beacon itself. Standing there, sure enough were Alex and Felix. Both Sheba and Jenna were by him, Kraden standing by Alex. Sheba looked pretty rough, her blonde hair having some dirt in it, some bruises on her face and a slight sorrow about her. Jenna looked concerned, but if that was for herself or Sheba they couldn't tell. Both Felix and Alex were talking, about what they couldn't tell. Everyone else was readying themselves, when Mia realised that Abbadon was already ready. His left fist was clinched tightly, as if he was trying to contain some raging anger. His breathing started to get deep and uneven. Then, without a word warning, he almost started to charge forward. Garet grabbed him before he revealed them all to Alex and Felix.
"Whoa, easy there! You want to get killed?" What Garet was less a warning and more of view of what would've happened if he had charged in there.
"Try to contain the anger, Abbadon." Mia advised.
"I owe them a world of pain." He said to her as he tried to control his breathing.
"Looks like we're ready, Isaac." Ivan told him. Isaac looked up to see that Alex had in her hand the Jupiter elemental star. Isaac knew it was now or never.
"Let's go!" they all ran in on the two of them as they were about to throw it in. Isaac knew that he couldn't get there in time to stop him. Abbadon had other plans. From his pocket he drew a small knife and stopped. Nobody noticed as he threw the knife, it spinning through the air like a bird in flames. Isaac heard the scream Alex shouted as the knife plunged into his hand. He looked at it, then at who threw it. He dropped the elemental star, it bouncing on the floor and careering to a stop in front of Alex.
"You!" Alex said, surprised at there appearance.
"The games up, Alex! Turn over Sheba!" Garet demanded. Alex laughed, a deep laugh.
"Is that all you are concerned about? Your friends? You're lucky she's still alive." He didn't seem as calm as he always was.
"What's the matter, Alex?" Abbadon sneered sarcastically, "Upset because of your friends deaths?" Alex threw the knife back to Abbadon with that remark, Surprisingly, Abbadon caught it in mid air, blade first. Blood trickled from his hand as he clasped it, then put the knife back in his pocket, still letting the wound on his hand bled.
"It's been a long time, Abbadon." Alex finally said to him.
"Not long enough, murderer!" Abbadon was still swelling with hatred and loathing.
"Don't expect me to let you get away with what you are doing." Isaac told Alex.
"Oh, I expect to." Alex told them. Isaac noticed what Alex was doing. Felix had already grabbed the elemental star without them noticing, all barring Isaac. Isaac tried to charge up to stop him from throwing it into the beacon. Alex, however, stopped him. From her hands she emitted a spray of focused water in a jet, one that propelled Isaac back to where he was standing, only this time he was drenched, on the floor and in ferocious pain. The elemental star bounced along the floor once, twice, three times. All were on the brink of suspense, wondering if it would, in fact, fall into the beacon. Even Felix was caught up in the suspense of the moment, almost willing it to fall in.
It was as if the gods were against Isaac and his group. For what seemed to be forever the elemental start had appeared to be tinkering on the brink of not falling. Then, as if it wanted to die, the elemental star slipped off the side and down into the beacon below them. Isaac tried to stand up, thinking he could change the course of current events. Janna watched as he attempted to scramble back up, wanting to help him. Felix, however, stood in here way. Alex laughed again.
"How pitiful. You're like flies." He commented. Isaac had managed to get up now, but was still shaken. Abbadon could see that.
"I said I would be looking forward to meeting you again. Let's see how much stronger you've got. Isaac looked around to see a totally different plan emerging. Abbadon had slipped away from them and was slowly creeping up behind Felix. In his mouth he had the knife, his sword now sheathed. Isaac couldn't believe it; Abbadon was going to murder him.
Jenna turned around to see Abbadon. Abbadon gave her a glare with his slit eyes. Isaac knew that she didn't like the situation she was in, but he also knew that she wouldn't want Felix dead.
"Felix! Look behind you!" Jenna warned. Felix turned full circle to see Abbadon, who'd now got the knife in his hands, ready to strike. Felix hit Abbadon in the stomach with the pommel of his sword. Abbadon fell to the floor. The lighthouse then emitted a bright light, a dark blue-purple shaft of light erupting from the beacon. The lighthouse had been lit. Alex smiled. He knew his task was done here. "I'm sorry to do this to you again, Isaac, but I'm afraid I must cut short this meeting," He then turned to Felix, who was sheathing his blade, "Felix, let's go." As Alex started to head towards the lift, he stopped, "On second thoughts, wait." Felix then stopped. Isaac saw Abbadon stiring behind Jenna. Garet only preyed that he wouldn't try open murder again. Alex stepped towards Isaac's team.
"I almost forgot. I'll need the mars star." Alex said to Isaac. Isaac suddenly remembered that he had it. He looked to his friends. They were cold faced.
"Don't be a fool, Isaac." Felix said to him. Sheba, through all of this, remained silent.
"We'll never give it up! You'll have to go through us first!" Garet threatened.
"If I have to." Alex said back.
"Where is your compassion?" Mia asked.
"You killed Saturos and Mernaidi. In revenge, there is no room for compassion." Alex explained. Mia felt like she'd been betrayed. Isaac felt like this was the end.
"Alright, I'll give it to you." Isaac felt like he had no choice. Garet shook his head. Isaac reached into his backpack and fumbled about for it. In the next few moments, the fumbling became more urgent. Garet looked confused.
"It's not my bag." Isaac said, shocked.
"Don't play games with me, fool! Give it to me!" Alex demanded.
"I don't have it!" Isaac shouted. It was then that another spoke.
"He's telling the truth." It was Abbadon. All looked to him. He was standing again, this time throwing something into the air as he stood there. It was, as Isaac suspected, the elemental star.
"Felix, get it!" Alex demanded. Felix started to close in on Abbadon. Almost ina flash, Abbadon pulled his sword out and pointed it at Felix. He then held the elemental star out, over the edge.
"One wrong move and I shatter this gem!" Abbadon threated. Felix was weary for a minute, then Alex started laughing again.
"He's bluffing! No one can shatter the gem! Only the Neptune clan could do that and they died out centuries ago!" Alex shouted.
"The who?" Ivan asked.
Felix took another step closer. Garet had his sword drawn. Both he and Mia looked at one another. It was then that Felix noticed the pendant.
"Oh my god!" Felix gasped.
"That's right!" Abbadon beckoned out loud. With that said, Felix stepped back suddenly. He looked to Alex. Abbadon smiled slyly. "Now, I think we can sort out a deal, Alex." Abbadon called to her. Alex had turned to him. All attention was drawn away from the other four who were still standing there, baffled. It was then that something shot into Ivan's mind.
"Get Jenna and Sheba out of there! I'll take care of myself!" It was Abbadon. Ivan was reading his thoughts. Ivan grabbed Isaac and he too heard what Abbadon was telling them. Isaac tapped Garet and signalled to Jenna. Garet nodded and began to move. Not a word had to be spoken, for all understood Abbadon's plan.
"What kind of deal, Abbadon?" Alex asked.
"A deal that will make all concerned parities happy." Abbadon told him.
"But you can't make your party happy. They want both their friends and the elemental star." It was then that Felix looked to their captives, only to see that there was only two. He saw Garet leading Jenna to the group. Felix cursed himself.
"Alex! They're getting away!" Sheba shouted.
"We need that Mars Adept!" Alex shouted, then, signalling to Felix to move, he shouted, "Follow them! And take Sheba with you!" Isaac knew that Alex knew of the maze's power. They didn't have much of a head start on Felix.
"We have to hurry," Isaac warned Ivan, "How fast can you get through the maze?"
"I think I can keep ahead of them." Ivan guessed.
"Let's hope you can!" Garet shouted. Jenna, in all this, hadn't said a word.
"Welcome back." Isaac said to her. All she could do was worry, it seemed.
"what about the other person?" She asked. Her voice was soft and full of worry, nearly teary.
"Abbadon can take care of himself," Garet told her, "Don't worry, you're safe now." Those words made her smile for a small while, but only for that. She was with people that she could trust, yet also with people she didn't recognise.
They could now see the way back out of the lighthouse. When they got to the hall, it wasn't filled with the sound of gushing water. Instead, it was full of the sounds of battle. Swords chinked into one another, blasts of energy echoed throughout the halls. All had been looking up that they hadn't noticed that Felix was right behind them. He was about to strike when they heard a scream; a scream of agony. All looked up to see Abbadon, hanging on for his life from the edge of the beacon hole. They could see Alex looking down upon him, sheathing his sword. The could all hear the conversation above them.
"It doesn't have to be this way, Abbadon," Alex said, holding out a hand to him, "Give me the elemental star. Together, we'll release the powers of alchemy! Anything you want will be yours!" There was silence for a moment, then the sound of him rustling through his pockets.
"What can you promise me? All I want is your death." That sent a shiver down Mia's spine. She looked at the ring that she'd given him. It was starting to glow a faint white. Garet's eye caught the glow.
"What on earth is that?" Garet asked her.
"Abbadon gave it to me." Mia said to him. They were then brought back to the action above them with another scream, which was Abbadons once again.
"I see that there is no pleasing you, Abbadon," Alex shook his head, "Very well, die you shall." There was no scream, however, as he began to fall. Jenna and Mia couldn't watch at first, as the sight of Abbadon falling was too much for them. Garet had sheathed his blade and was ready to catch him, when Felix charged into him, barging him out of the way. Isaac drew his sword and charged into Felix. Neither Sheba nor Ivan did anything in the skirmish that was occurring. Mia then had the courage to look up, which was at the worst possible time. She saw Abbadon clutch onto a ledge about ten metres above them in an attempt to slow down his fall. He didn't have the grip he wanted, yet was able to slow himself down dramatically in the second that he was holding on for. He then lost his grip and, without a word fell to the floor. There was no blood as he hit it, yet there was a cracking of bones. Isaac barged Felix out of the way and, with a little bit of psynergy, caused the ceiling to cave in slightly. A large pillar collapsed right in front of Felix, blocking both him and Sheba from the party. Garet reached under Abbadon, who hadn't moved since he fell, and lifted him up.
"Now's as good a time as any, Isaac!" Garet told his friend. Isaac didn't have to say he agreed. The very fact that he began to run out of the lighthouse showed his view.
All of them started to run towards their ship. The ramp was still down as they approached it. Garet was the first o board, followed by Ivan and the girls. Isaac pulled up the ramp as he boarded. Ivan looked at the sea and to the lighthouse.
"Alex isn't on the lighthouse anymore." Ivan said to Isaac. Isaac sighed with relief.
"I was expecting some kind of counter attack," Isaac said, explaining why he sighed,. He then looked over to Garet, who had just left the women's quarters. Isaac asked, "How is he?" Garet shook his head.
"He looks beaten up pretty bad," Garet told him glumly, "I don't think he's going to make it." Ivan looked down tot eh sea as Garet said that. Jenna was still slightly confused as to what was going on. Isaac had now drawn out the Black Orb and was turning the ship around.
"Where are we going?" Garet asked.
"Does it matter?" Isaac said back. He had a point, Garet knew. Garet then went over to Jenna, who was looking out to the sea.
"Have they done anything to you?" Garet asked. Jenna didn't reply.
"I don't think she's in the mood for talking." Ivan suggested to Garet. Garet then stepped away. It was only a few minutes before the Lemurian ship was speeding away from the lighthouse and out of harms way. All looked at the beacon, lit as bright as day itself and rising forever into the sky. Garet shook his head.
"That's it then." Garet said sadly.
"What do you mean?" Ivan asked him.
"We've failed. The third lighthouse has been lit. Alex and Felix have the mars star." He sounded more depressed then he was the first day of their journey, Isaac noticed.
"We don't know that Alex has the Mars Star." Isaac said to him.
"Garet, they don't have a Mars Adept anymore." Jenna pointed out. Garet's face lit up.
"That means that even if they had the mars star, they wouldn't' be able to use it!" Garet then had a beaming smile on his face. That smile was broken when Mia came up on deck.
"Well?" Isaac asked as he turned around. He hung her head down low. Garet kicked the side.
"Why does this have to happen?" Garet shouted.
"I thought you hated the guy." Ivan pondered. "When a guy helps save one of our best friends, you start to thin differently about them." Garet told Ivan.
"Can I see him?" Isaac asked.
"Go ahead," Mia said to him. She looked like she'd just had a cry herself, "But it's not a pretty sight." Isaac and Garet both walked into where Abbadon was lying. There was no movement as he lay on the bed. Ivan peeked his head around the door, seeing what Abbadon looked like. Bruises covered his face. There was a cut on his left arm that appeared quite deep. From his leg there had been a lot of bleeding, as his black trousers were soaked in blood. Even Jenna steeped in, standing next to Garet.
"Who was he?" Jenna asked.
"A fine man." Garet asked. Garet turned from the bed and instead began to walk out. The rest followed. They had given up hope. They moved past Mia, who was going back in. She pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed.
"You were right, Abbadon. You said you were going to leave us after the lighthouse business was over." She hung her head low. The ring was still glowing white, this time brighter than before, "Why did you have to die?" This time, she was crying. She was crying right next to him, "This is my fault!" She shouted. She then stood up and clenched her fists, trying to contain her tears, "If I hadn't of insisted you'd stayed, you'd have still been alive! Now I have to live it for the rest of my life!" She was turned away from him, not wanting to look upon him, "I shouldn't have let you stay. It was selfish of me to want to keep you here!" Mia was still crying, regardless of how much she had tried top stop herself. She then looked at her hands, noticing that both were clenched, and said: "What am I saying? I sound just like him! He wouldn't want to cry over his death!"
"It's nice that someone will cry, though." He said softly. She stopped where she was in fear and terror.
"Garet, cut that out!" She thought he was spying in on her and playing a prank. When she saw that he wasn't by the door, she heard him again.
"Don't you remember me?" He said to her. She turned round to see him, expecting him to be still laid out of the bed, cold and lifeless. Abbadon was now stood up, clenching a wound on the right hand side of his waist with his left hand. His single blue eyes showed no tears, yet he was smiling. She was still crying when she ran towards him and embraced the battered man. She held on tightly to him, almost as if she didn't want him to slip out from in front of her eyes again. Abbadon was shocked by the reaction he got, yet the shock only lasted for a second. After that, he took her in his other arm. She was still crying, this time tears of joy.
"Why are you crying?" He asked her softly.
"I thought I'd lost you forever!" She said in a teary, yet happy tone.
"You had, for a while." He told her, still refraining from tears.
"Don't you ever do that again, you hear?" She demanded of him. It was then that someone shouted from on deck.
"Did you hear that?" It was Garet, who'd obviously heard her talking to him. She quickly let go of him, he still holding the wound in his side. Garet came the moment after she'd let go, to see Abbadon up and on his feet, still weak, yet alive. Garet's face lit up in surprise.
"Oh my god!" Garet shouted. Ivan then ran up to see what the commotion was about.
"What, what's happened?" He said. Then, when he laid eyes on Abbadon, he shouted to Isaac, "Isaac, it's a miracle!" Isaac stepped towards them, with Jenna close at hand and managed to shift Garet out of the way of the entire doorway.
"Who else did you expect?" Abbadon said, almost with a hint of humour.
The Garet hadn't noticed how little Abbadon had eaten and was instead talking about their plans.
"Once I get to Lemuria, I'm going to eat the largest meal I've ever had because when I'm on this ship, eating these rations, I'm starving most of the time!" Isaac shook his head.
"You eat like a horse, Garet, regardless of what rations we have!" Isaac's comment seemed pretty hurtful to Garet, as he then turned to his food and began to eat again, without gracing him with a reply.
"How do we even know we're even going in the right direction?" Ivan asked Isaac. Isaac thought about this for a moment, and then shrugged.
"We don't." He said reluctantly. Garet spat out the contents of his mouth in shock. Mia turned away in disgust.
"You mean we could..." He gulped nervously, "Run out of food?"
"Of course he means that," Mia replied,"You knew the risks before we went on this mission."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" He shouted, now scared witless of the prospect of no food. He quickly put all of his food that was still on his plate back into the cellar below. Abbadon stood up and followed him. Seconds later, both emerged, Garet empty handed, Abbadon with a small leg of meat in his hand. When he sat down, he started slowly eating the meat from the bone.
"I've got an idea to kill the time!" Garet suggested.
"No, Garet, we're not going to guess all the foods you've just eaten!" Ivan said that with a sense of boredom.
"No, I've got a different idea!" With that said, the other three watched him, wondering what could be more fun for him then others talking about themselves.
"Well? What is it?" Ivan asked.
"Let's try and guess..." Garet began.
"Oh god!" Isaac sighed.
"Let me finish!" Garet whined, "Let's guess what clan Abbadon's from!" That idea got all of the looking at Abbadon, who'd just, finished placing his bone into the bone bucket. He was almost intrigued at why everyone was looking at him, then sat back down.
"I want to guess first!" Garet said, putting Ivan out of the running of winning so easily, as he usually did. Garet had sussed that Ivan used his mind reading trick to find out whatever knowledge he needed. Garet took a deep breath and a few moments of thought, then blurted out:
"Abbadon, you're from... the Mars Clan!" He concluded.
"Who could've guessed you'd say that?" Isaac's voice was full of sarcasm.
Abbadon simply shook his head.
"Wrong." He said softly. Ivan then stood up.
"For reasons that are my own..." Ivan started.
"Interior intelligence on the matter..." Garet cursed. He hated being beaten by Ivan.
"...I think that you, Abbadon, are of the Jupiter clan!" He seemed to have a smile that showed how certain he thought he was. Abbadon shook his head and chuckled.
"No where near." Ivan's face turned to confusion then went grumpy himself.
"Then you have to be of the Venus clan." Isaac concluded.
"What makes you say that?" Abbadon asked the leader.
"Well, Mercury Adepts have blue hair." He pointed out.
"That's true, yet you are also wrong," Isaac sat back, bewildered, "And no, Mia, I am not from your clan either." He stood up and stepped away form the table, "looks like you all lose." He walked away, leaving a very confused team.
"One of us has to be right, don't we?" Garet asked.
"Well, I know that he can read minds..." Ivan told them. The others looked at him strangely.
"When did you discover this?" Isaac asked him.
"Shortly after he pulled Mia out of the water." Ivan said, remembering back to that moment. Mia suddenly turned as red as a beetroot, leaving the room with the up most haste.
"What's with her?" Garet asked.
"Beats me." Garet shrugged.
"Shouldn't we be up there, scouting for land?" Ivan suggested. With all the recent excitement, they'd forgotten their mission.
"You're right. Let's go!" Isaac said.
The three of them walked back onto deck to see Abbadon looking at something that Isaac couldn't see.
"What are you looking at?" Ivan asked Abbadon.
"Look and see." Abbadon told him. Isaac squinted his eyes, trying to look at what appeared to be just the vast ocean. It was then that Ivan pointed out of the boat.
"It's over there! I can see it now!" Ivan said joyfully.
Isaac looked again. This time, he saw something. It was only small but it seemed to be tall. Very tall. Garet still couldn't make out what on earth Ivan was getting excited about. Then, Isaac recognised the familiarity.
"A lighthouse!" Isaac said, stunned.
"Yes. The Jupiter lighthouse. It has not been lit." Abbadon told them. Ivan turned to Abbadon.
"You've been there?" Ivan asked him.
"I've been to all of the lighthouses, Ivan. This one, however, is the most beautiful." Abbadon explained. Garet ran to the entrance of Mia's quarters.
"Mia! Come on deck! We've found the Jupiter Lighthouse!" Garet shouted, then rushing back to actually find it for himself. By the time Mia had come back up on deck, Garet had located where it actually was and was almost thrilled to bits with the news. Mia, however, looked shaken, as if she had just discovered her worst nightmare.
"What's up Mia?" Isaac asked.
"Nothing. Nothing, I'm fine." Mia said quickly, trying to shrug off the attention.
"She's nervous." Abbadon told them.
"It's alright to be nervous, Mia. We'll stop the lighthouse being lit, don't you worry." Garet assured her. She smiled and nodded weakly, then went back to looking at it.
"It's about a day's sailing till we reach it. You'd all better rest up and get ready." Abbadon told them.
"Aren't you going to rest?" Ivan asked.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Abbadon replied. Ivan turned round and walked to the galley. Isaac got out the black orb in preparation to turn the ship around. Garet looked for a while longer, then noticed that Mia had gone to the other part of the ship. Garet thought that was strange; she usually enjoys being with people. He decided to check that out himself. That left Isaac and Abbadon as the only two still by the bow of the vessel. Isaac had already turned the vessel to the right trajectory and was now standing there with nothing to do. Isaac looked around for something to keep himself buy with, then decided he'd pay Ivan a visit. As he was walking away, he stopped. He heard Garet and Mia.
"Come on, what's up?" Garet asked her. Mia said nothing as a reply.
"It's him, isn't it?" Garet asked.
"No..." Mia said in defence of the person.
"It is! I knew it!" Footsteps were then heard, followed by the drawing of a sword. Isaac saw Garet, fury in his eyes, approaching Abbadon, sword armed.
"Garet, what are you going?" Isaac shouted.
"What have you done to Mia?" Garet beckoned to Abbadon. Abbadon didn't reply. Ivan came out of the men's quarters, looking like he'd just woken up from what would've been a deep sleep.
"What's happening?" Ivan asked.
"Answer, swine! What have you done?" Garet shouted again.
"I've done nothing." Abbadon calmly said, not even turning round to face Garet.
"You liar!" Garet shouted.
"Garet, snap out of it!" Mia pleaded, grabbing his arm. Garet flung her off him, her falling to the floor. Abbadon sighed.
"Isaac, get Mia and Ivan to the galley, out of harms way." Abbadon asked him. At first, Isaac did nothing.
"Please," Abbadon said to him, "I'll be fine." Isaac then got both of them and let them to the galley, out of harms way.
Garet was filling with rage. His sword was held in both hands and he was ready to strike at a moment's notice. Abbadon still didn't turn around, looking instead at the lighthouse.
"Why don't you trust me, Garet?" Abbadon asked. Garet spat on the floor.
"What is there to trust about you?" Garet sneered. Garet stepped closer. He didn't notice that the Mia had now left the galley and was watching. Of all of them, Mia was the one most concerned. For who, however, was anyone's guess.
"I'm not going to fight you, Garet." Abbadon said. He unbuckled his belt, which had attached to it his scabbard, and dropped it to the floor.
"Something's been preying on my mind since I first met you," Garet began, "That scar. Where did you get it?" Abbadon didn't answer. Garet then started to shout, "Where did you get it?"
"Do you really want to know?" Abbadon asked him. Garet didn't say anything, "Very well. It was four years ago, when I was twelve..." Mia's face suddenly lit up.
"He tried to tell me this story," She said to herself, trying not to draw attention to herself. "It's why he hides away..."
"I was born a blessed child, gifted with ancient psynergy of a forgotten and previously extinct clan..."
"How can I believe this? You've probably spent years mastering this make believe tale!" Garet asked critically. Abbadon ignored him.
"...I am of the Neptune Clan, which holds power over the element of magic, the forgotten power of this world. No creature or being uses magic anymore. Psynergy has spread, even to my clan, where it morphed magic into this form, my psynergy" He paused for a moment, and then continued, "Mia realised that after you played your little game. That was why she ran out and is now shaken."
"How can that scare her?" Garet asked, still full of rage.
"My parents always fought with one another, but when they discovered my lineage they set aside their differences and vowed to protect me with their lives. They researched into my heritage and discovered of my powers. My sword is the symbol of my people, kept in my lighthouse, which has now been destroyed by psynergy," He lifted something from off his chest and took it off. It was a pendant, a pendant of pure silver in the shape of an ankh, a lot like the one Mia had on the top of her staff, "This Ankh once represented the peace that our people had with the psynergy wielders and it was used as a symbol of good will among all adepts for many generations." Mia looked at her staff and indeed saw the exact same design on it, a plain, unadorned ankh.
"What does this have anything to do with Mia?" Garet asked aggressively.
"It was the Mercury Clan that broke that peace. They accused us of weakening psynergy with our powers. Magic and psynergy had co-existed as essences of power for all of time, yet now that eco-system was threatened. We defended our people and our way of life from the Mercury Clan for a hundred years until they finally crushed us, killing all who could wield magical powers. They went to the Sol Sanctum and shattered our elemental star, trying to destroy every hint or sign of our existence."
Garet still had his sword ready for combat. Mia was absorbing all of what he said.
If Garet was or not wasn't clear.
"But someone did survive the war. He was my ancestor. He resided in the ruins of the lighthouse and lived there. Around it, a small village formed, protected by his power. The power of magic was passed on through the generations of that village, yet seemed to die out when the power of the lighthouse disappeared. Then, when I was born, that power re-emerged," Abbadon then hug his head low, "Four years ago, some strangers came into town, four of them. I could tell they possessed powers like I did. I tried to warn people of the danger, yet they were too excited by their arrival. They entered the ruins of the lighthouse, with the mayor. Seconds later, an explosion occurred inside. We all waited, watched. All except my parents and myself," He sighed and shook his head, "They destroyed everything, killed everyone. There powers were all too strong for any of us. They came to my house. My parents died protecting me, like they promised they would. They all came upstairs and found me, cornered me. I attacked, blasting a very small ball of energy form my hands. This annoyed one of them, the one with the blue skin. The one with the burning sword."
"Saturos..." Garet muttered. Mia had worked that out too.
"The others said they should leave me, come get me later, after they'd done their business here. Saturos agreed, yet he still struck at me," He stroked his scar, as if the pain was still there. Mia knew it was, "They left. I didn't want to go with them, so I ran to the temple. I grabbed the sword and put on the pendant. The cloak I took from my father's back. Then I ran. I ran out of the burning village, through the forests, into the wilderness. I have been travelling ever since, looking for a group like yourself." Garet stepped closer.
"Don't you long for revenge?" Garet asked.
"He's dead. I felt my it in my heart when he died, but the pain is still there, Garet. That will never go away." Abbadon went silent after that.
"Ah, that was sweet," Garet said sarcastically, "Am I supposed to give you sympathy now? Well I don't feel a drop of it in my blood." He stepped closer.
"If you strike at me, Garet, your heart will be of a crueller black than Saturos ever had." Abbadon warned.
"Well, that's just how it has to be. I don't like you, trust you, I don't want to be near you. I want you gone. It was better when there was just four of us, when we were one unit, all united. You've torn us apart." Garet said with a passion.
"And you think killing me with unite you all again?" Abbadon asked. He'd not even raised his voice the whole, yet it seemed he had complete control.
"It's a start!" Garet shouted as he charged towards Abbadon.
"Garet, stop!" Mia shouted. It fell on deaf ears, as Garet was no longer listening. Garet screamed as he charged towards Abbadon, full of purpose and intent. Then, without a warning, Abbadon vanished. Garet stopped running and looked around him, searching for any clue as to his whereabouts. He found none.
"I'm not going to fight you, neither I am going a re-appear now. Return to your friends. They will be worried about you." Garet grunted in anger and stamped his foot in protest. Then, without another word, he stormed to the galley, nearing barging straight into Mia. She was left standing there, contemplating what he had said, on an empty deck.
A few minutes later, he reappeared in exactly the same spot he was in before. He hadn't moved at all, merely rendered himself invisible, she concluded. He's already put his belt back on. He was leaning on the side, shaking his head. He clenched his fist and smashed it onto the side in anger.
"Abbadon..." She said.
"Don't feel like you have to apologise," He said, not turning round to her, "None of this was your fault."
"I can't believe what my clan did to yours." She said to him.
"It was a long time ago, Mia. People have changed," He turned to her. She could almost see that he was in pain on the inside.
"You don't have to contain it, Abbadon." She said to him. He smiled faintly.
"I've learned not to cry, Mia. It doesn't solve anything. Pain can be controlled, filtered," He then shook his head, "Garet is right. I have torn your group apart."
"Don't listen to Garet. He's a little head strong." She was trying to persuade him that all of this wasn't his fault.
"After you have done your business with the lighthouse, you can leave me behind." He suggested.
"What?" She couldn't believe what he was saying.
"I won't disrupt your group anymore after that. You can continue your quest unhindered."
"If you go, I'll go. I'm not letting them drive you out." She told him. She stepped up towards her, until they were standing right in front of each other.
"No, Mia. Your place is here, with your friends. It's not with me." He reminded her.
"But you are one of my friends." She said to him. He smiled at that.
"Here, take this," From his pocket he drew a ring, a plain ring it appeared at first sight. It was silver, like most of his other belongings, "It was my mothers. My father gave it to her when I was born." He placed it in her hand and clasped her hand for her.
"I can't accept this." She told him. She felt embarrassed with what he was doing.
"If you are really my friend, you will." He told her. He walked away, to the other side of the ship. She unclasped her hand and looked at the ring. She noticed that there were actually words engraved on it. She read them carefully, one at a time.
Through all the pain, fear, anger, there will still be out bond. Forever it will grow stronger, till when we meet in the eternal embrace. Such is our friendship.
For a reason that she didn't fully understand, she placed it on her middle finger. It fitted perfectly.
The morning arrived. With it, the ship dew to the nearby shore, a mere stone throw away from the lighthouse. All had drawn their weapons and were ready for anything that anyone could throw at them. Isaac led the group, as always, stepping cautiously towards the entrance. There was a stone pathway leading to the entrance, which was open. The two statues were very similar to the design of those in front of the other lighthouses. Ivan ran up to the entrance and looked around, distressed.
"They're already here!" Ivan shouted to his companions. Abbadon knelt down and grabbed a small amount of mud and smelt it.
"They've not been here long." Abbadon assured Ivan. "Let's just hope we get there in time." Isaac hoped. The team slowly moved into the entrance room. Abbadon had already got out his sword, held with his tight and and supported on his shoulder. Garet looked to Abbadon and drew his own sword. The interior of the temple was very spacious, the ceiling being very high up. When Isaac looked up, he noticed that the ceiling only stopped right at the top of the tower. He Also noticed the extreme cold that the constant gushes of wind brought. Abbadon and Ivan carried on regardless, progressing further into the hall. All looked around the walls to see various doorways and ledges scattered at different points and increasing heights. Ivan stopped looking first.
"It's a maze..." He concluded.
"What kind of maze?" Isaac asked.
"We have to find the correct tunnel route to the top of the tower." Ivan replied. Garet was already shivering and trying to shelter from the wind.
"And if we don't?" Garet asked, still trying to reduce the chill.
"You don't want to know." Abbadon told him.
"We should stay together. We don't want to be caught apart." Isaac suggested. All seemed to agree. Ivan was caught up in the elegance of the carvings.
"It's so stunning..." Ivan said out loud.
"I wonder how long it took to make this place?" Mia asked herself.
"One hundred years," Abbadon told them. Ivan looked to him for more information, "All the five lighthouses were built at the same time." Ivan and Isaac looked to each other.
"Five?" They puzzled.
"Yes. Five, one for each of the elements in the world." Ivan and Isaac thought on it for a minute, and then shrugged. Mia and Garet hadn't stopped to think it through, yet had stopped by the entrance of the caves.
"Lead the way, Ivan." Garet called. Nervously, Ivan took the lead and, very slowly, they started traversing the long and narrow passageways.
They didn't encounter a single dead end. Ivan's directions proved fruitful as, each time they found an opening to the main hall, they found that they were higher than before. Garet could barely fit through the narrow passageways, as he had a very broad build up. Mia and Ababdon were next to each other, one behind the other, as they traversed the tunnels.
"You're still going to leave, aren't you?" She whispered.
"You're still going to try and stop me?" He whispered back, "I'm serious. You're group would be better off without me." She then lost her footing and, with her being behind him, he only heard the crash. The group stopped and looked. She'd quickly picked himself up. She then looked down at what she'd stumbled on. She gasped in horror.
"It's a bone!" she shrieked. Ivan couldn't see and was trying to jump up to look at it. Garet nearly threw up, turning around, trying to get afresh breath of air. Abbadon shook his head.
"This is why Ivan is leading the way," Abbadon explained, "Only a wind adept can find the right route. Anyone else gets lost, regardless of what map he or she is following," He shoved his hand into the area near the bone, then now realising it was full of sand. Mia flinched as he pulled out what she feared was another bone, but what actually was a pendant. He looked at the insignia on it and sighed.
"This was a mars adept. May he rest in peace. He put the pendant back in the sand.
"Let's keep going, Ivan." Ivan nodded and, without looking back, continued. Garet tapped Abbadon on the shoulder. "How do you know he was a man?" He asked curiously. "Easy," Abbadon replied, looking down at the bone, "That leg bone is too thick to be a woman's." With that he started to walk on. Garet took a large step over the bone and didn't even think of peering back for a closer look.
A minute later, Ivan shouted from the front of the group.
"We're at the top!" Joy was in his voice. He wasn't the only one to be pleased about it.
"Finally! I thought we were going to be in these tunnel's all day!" Garet grumbled.
"We nearly have." Abbadon told him.
Sure enough, it was almost sunset outside. The views from the lighthouse were spectacular. Looking one way, you could see an endless forest of trees, the other glimpses of their homeland. The trees were set in the backdrop of a great mountain range. Many were so taken in by the view that they weren't noticing the drama that was unfolding near the beacon.
"Look!" Abbadon told them. They all looked to the beacon itself. Standing there, sure enough were Alex and Felix. Both Sheba and Jenna were by him, Kraden standing by Alex. Sheba looked pretty rough, her blonde hair having some dirt in it, some bruises on her face and a slight sorrow about her. Jenna looked concerned, but if that was for herself or Sheba they couldn't tell. Both Felix and Alex were talking, about what they couldn't tell. Everyone else was readying themselves, when Mia realised that Abbadon was already ready. His left fist was clinched tightly, as if he was trying to contain some raging anger. His breathing started to get deep and uneven. Then, without a word warning, he almost started to charge forward. Garet grabbed him before he revealed them all to Alex and Felix.
"Whoa, easy there! You want to get killed?" What Garet was less a warning and more of view of what would've happened if he had charged in there.
"Try to contain the anger, Abbadon." Mia advised.
"I owe them a world of pain." He said to her as he tried to control his breathing.
"Looks like we're ready, Isaac." Ivan told him. Isaac looked up to see that Alex had in her hand the Jupiter elemental star. Isaac knew it was now or never.
"Let's go!" they all ran in on the two of them as they were about to throw it in. Isaac knew that he couldn't get there in time to stop him. Abbadon had other plans. From his pocket he drew a small knife and stopped. Nobody noticed as he threw the knife, it spinning through the air like a bird in flames. Isaac heard the scream Alex shouted as the knife plunged into his hand. He looked at it, then at who threw it. He dropped the elemental star, it bouncing on the floor and careering to a stop in front of Alex.
"You!" Alex said, surprised at there appearance.
"The games up, Alex! Turn over Sheba!" Garet demanded. Alex laughed, a deep laugh.
"Is that all you are concerned about? Your friends? You're lucky she's still alive." He didn't seem as calm as he always was.
"What's the matter, Alex?" Abbadon sneered sarcastically, "Upset because of your friends deaths?" Alex threw the knife back to Abbadon with that remark, Surprisingly, Abbadon caught it in mid air, blade first. Blood trickled from his hand as he clasped it, then put the knife back in his pocket, still letting the wound on his hand bled.
"It's been a long time, Abbadon." Alex finally said to him.
"Not long enough, murderer!" Abbadon was still swelling with hatred and loathing.
"Don't expect me to let you get away with what you are doing." Isaac told Alex.
"Oh, I expect to." Alex told them. Isaac noticed what Alex was doing. Felix had already grabbed the elemental star without them noticing, all barring Isaac. Isaac tried to charge up to stop him from throwing it into the beacon. Alex, however, stopped him. From her hands she emitted a spray of focused water in a jet, one that propelled Isaac back to where he was standing, only this time he was drenched, on the floor and in ferocious pain. The elemental star bounced along the floor once, twice, three times. All were on the brink of suspense, wondering if it would, in fact, fall into the beacon. Even Felix was caught up in the suspense of the moment, almost willing it to fall in.
It was as if the gods were against Isaac and his group. For what seemed to be forever the elemental start had appeared to be tinkering on the brink of not falling. Then, as if it wanted to die, the elemental star slipped off the side and down into the beacon below them. Isaac tried to stand up, thinking he could change the course of current events. Janna watched as he attempted to scramble back up, wanting to help him. Felix, however, stood in here way. Alex laughed again.
"How pitiful. You're like flies." He commented. Isaac had managed to get up now, but was still shaken. Abbadon could see that.
"I said I would be looking forward to meeting you again. Let's see how much stronger you've got. Isaac looked around to see a totally different plan emerging. Abbadon had slipped away from them and was slowly creeping up behind Felix. In his mouth he had the knife, his sword now sheathed. Isaac couldn't believe it; Abbadon was going to murder him.
Jenna turned around to see Abbadon. Abbadon gave her a glare with his slit eyes. Isaac knew that she didn't like the situation she was in, but he also knew that she wouldn't want Felix dead.
"Felix! Look behind you!" Jenna warned. Felix turned full circle to see Abbadon, who'd now got the knife in his hands, ready to strike. Felix hit Abbadon in the stomach with the pommel of his sword. Abbadon fell to the floor. The lighthouse then emitted a bright light, a dark blue-purple shaft of light erupting from the beacon. The lighthouse had been lit. Alex smiled. He knew his task was done here. "I'm sorry to do this to you again, Isaac, but I'm afraid I must cut short this meeting," He then turned to Felix, who was sheathing his blade, "Felix, let's go." As Alex started to head towards the lift, he stopped, "On second thoughts, wait." Felix then stopped. Isaac saw Abbadon stiring behind Jenna. Garet only preyed that he wouldn't try open murder again. Alex stepped towards Isaac's team.
"I almost forgot. I'll need the mars star." Alex said to Isaac. Isaac suddenly remembered that he had it. He looked to his friends. They were cold faced.
"Don't be a fool, Isaac." Felix said to him. Sheba, through all of this, remained silent.
"We'll never give it up! You'll have to go through us first!" Garet threatened.
"If I have to." Alex said back.
"Where is your compassion?" Mia asked.
"You killed Saturos and Mernaidi. In revenge, there is no room for compassion." Alex explained. Mia felt like she'd been betrayed. Isaac felt like this was the end.
"Alright, I'll give it to you." Isaac felt like he had no choice. Garet shook his head. Isaac reached into his backpack and fumbled about for it. In the next few moments, the fumbling became more urgent. Garet looked confused.
"It's not my bag." Isaac said, shocked.
"Don't play games with me, fool! Give it to me!" Alex demanded.
"I don't have it!" Isaac shouted. It was then that another spoke.
"He's telling the truth." It was Abbadon. All looked to him. He was standing again, this time throwing something into the air as he stood there. It was, as Isaac suspected, the elemental star.
"Felix, get it!" Alex demanded. Felix started to close in on Abbadon. Almost ina flash, Abbadon pulled his sword out and pointed it at Felix. He then held the elemental star out, over the edge.
"One wrong move and I shatter this gem!" Abbadon threated. Felix was weary for a minute, then Alex started laughing again.
"He's bluffing! No one can shatter the gem! Only the Neptune clan could do that and they died out centuries ago!" Alex shouted.
"The who?" Ivan asked.
Felix took another step closer. Garet had his sword drawn. Both he and Mia looked at one another. It was then that Felix noticed the pendant.
"Oh my god!" Felix gasped.
"That's right!" Abbadon beckoned out loud. With that said, Felix stepped back suddenly. He looked to Alex. Abbadon smiled slyly. "Now, I think we can sort out a deal, Alex." Abbadon called to her. Alex had turned to him. All attention was drawn away from the other four who were still standing there, baffled. It was then that something shot into Ivan's mind.
"Get Jenna and Sheba out of there! I'll take care of myself!" It was Abbadon. Ivan was reading his thoughts. Ivan grabbed Isaac and he too heard what Abbadon was telling them. Isaac tapped Garet and signalled to Jenna. Garet nodded and began to move. Not a word had to be spoken, for all understood Abbadon's plan.
"What kind of deal, Abbadon?" Alex asked.
"A deal that will make all concerned parities happy." Abbadon told him.
"But you can't make your party happy. They want both their friends and the elemental star." It was then that Felix looked to their captives, only to see that there was only two. He saw Garet leading Jenna to the group. Felix cursed himself.
"Alex! They're getting away!" Sheba shouted.
"We need that Mars Adept!" Alex shouted, then, signalling to Felix to move, he shouted, "Follow them! And take Sheba with you!" Isaac knew that Alex knew of the maze's power. They didn't have much of a head start on Felix.
"We have to hurry," Isaac warned Ivan, "How fast can you get through the maze?"
"I think I can keep ahead of them." Ivan guessed.
"Let's hope you can!" Garet shouted. Jenna, in all this, hadn't said a word.
"Welcome back." Isaac said to her. All she could do was worry, it seemed.
"what about the other person?" She asked. Her voice was soft and full of worry, nearly teary.
"Abbadon can take care of himself," Garet told her, "Don't worry, you're safe now." Those words made her smile for a small while, but only for that. She was with people that she could trust, yet also with people she didn't recognise.
They could now see the way back out of the lighthouse. When they got to the hall, it wasn't filled with the sound of gushing water. Instead, it was full of the sounds of battle. Swords chinked into one another, blasts of energy echoed throughout the halls. All had been looking up that they hadn't noticed that Felix was right behind them. He was about to strike when they heard a scream; a scream of agony. All looked up to see Abbadon, hanging on for his life from the edge of the beacon hole. They could see Alex looking down upon him, sheathing his sword. The could all hear the conversation above them.
"It doesn't have to be this way, Abbadon," Alex said, holding out a hand to him, "Give me the elemental star. Together, we'll release the powers of alchemy! Anything you want will be yours!" There was silence for a moment, then the sound of him rustling through his pockets.
"What can you promise me? All I want is your death." That sent a shiver down Mia's spine. She looked at the ring that she'd given him. It was starting to glow a faint white. Garet's eye caught the glow.
"What on earth is that?" Garet asked her.
"Abbadon gave it to me." Mia said to him. They were then brought back to the action above them with another scream, which was Abbadons once again.
"I see that there is no pleasing you, Abbadon," Alex shook his head, "Very well, die you shall." There was no scream, however, as he began to fall. Jenna and Mia couldn't watch at first, as the sight of Abbadon falling was too much for them. Garet had sheathed his blade and was ready to catch him, when Felix charged into him, barging him out of the way. Isaac drew his sword and charged into Felix. Neither Sheba nor Ivan did anything in the skirmish that was occurring. Mia then had the courage to look up, which was at the worst possible time. She saw Abbadon clutch onto a ledge about ten metres above them in an attempt to slow down his fall. He didn't have the grip he wanted, yet was able to slow himself down dramatically in the second that he was holding on for. He then lost his grip and, without a word fell to the floor. There was no blood as he hit it, yet there was a cracking of bones. Isaac barged Felix out of the way and, with a little bit of psynergy, caused the ceiling to cave in slightly. A large pillar collapsed right in front of Felix, blocking both him and Sheba from the party. Garet reached under Abbadon, who hadn't moved since he fell, and lifted him up.
"Now's as good a time as any, Isaac!" Garet told his friend. Isaac didn't have to say he agreed. The very fact that he began to run out of the lighthouse showed his view.
All of them started to run towards their ship. The ramp was still down as they approached it. Garet was the first o board, followed by Ivan and the girls. Isaac pulled up the ramp as he boarded. Ivan looked at the sea and to the lighthouse.
"Alex isn't on the lighthouse anymore." Ivan said to Isaac. Isaac sighed with relief.
"I was expecting some kind of counter attack," Isaac said, explaining why he sighed,. He then looked over to Garet, who had just left the women's quarters. Isaac asked, "How is he?" Garet shook his head.
"He looks beaten up pretty bad," Garet told him glumly, "I don't think he's going to make it." Ivan looked down tot eh sea as Garet said that. Jenna was still slightly confused as to what was going on. Isaac had now drawn out the Black Orb and was turning the ship around.
"Where are we going?" Garet asked.
"Does it matter?" Isaac said back. He had a point, Garet knew. Garet then went over to Jenna, who was looking out to the sea.
"Have they done anything to you?" Garet asked. Jenna didn't reply.
"I don't think she's in the mood for talking." Ivan suggested to Garet. Garet then stepped away. It was only a few minutes before the Lemurian ship was speeding away from the lighthouse and out of harms way. All looked at the beacon, lit as bright as day itself and rising forever into the sky. Garet shook his head.
"That's it then." Garet said sadly.
"What do you mean?" Ivan asked him.
"We've failed. The third lighthouse has been lit. Alex and Felix have the mars star." He sounded more depressed then he was the first day of their journey, Isaac noticed.
"We don't know that Alex has the Mars Star." Isaac said to him.
"Garet, they don't have a Mars Adept anymore." Jenna pointed out. Garet's face lit up.
"That means that even if they had the mars star, they wouldn't' be able to use it!" Garet then had a beaming smile on his face. That smile was broken when Mia came up on deck.
"Well?" Isaac asked as he turned around. He hung her head down low. Garet kicked the side.
"Why does this have to happen?" Garet shouted.
"I thought you hated the guy." Ivan pondered. "When a guy helps save one of our best friends, you start to thin differently about them." Garet told Ivan.
"Can I see him?" Isaac asked.
"Go ahead," Mia said to him. She looked like she'd just had a cry herself, "But it's not a pretty sight." Isaac and Garet both walked into where Abbadon was lying. There was no movement as he lay on the bed. Ivan peeked his head around the door, seeing what Abbadon looked like. Bruises covered his face. There was a cut on his left arm that appeared quite deep. From his leg there had been a lot of bleeding, as his black trousers were soaked in blood. Even Jenna steeped in, standing next to Garet.
"Who was he?" Jenna asked.
"A fine man." Garet asked. Garet turned from the bed and instead began to walk out. The rest followed. They had given up hope. They moved past Mia, who was going back in. She pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed.
"You were right, Abbadon. You said you were going to leave us after the lighthouse business was over." She hung her head low. The ring was still glowing white, this time brighter than before, "Why did you have to die?" This time, she was crying. She was crying right next to him, "This is my fault!" She shouted. She then stood up and clenched her fists, trying to contain her tears, "If I hadn't of insisted you'd stayed, you'd have still been alive! Now I have to live it for the rest of my life!" She was turned away from him, not wanting to look upon him, "I shouldn't have let you stay. It was selfish of me to want to keep you here!" Mia was still crying, regardless of how much she had tried top stop herself. She then looked at her hands, noticing that both were clenched, and said: "What am I saying? I sound just like him! He wouldn't want to cry over his death!"
"It's nice that someone will cry, though." He said softly. She stopped where she was in fear and terror.
"Garet, cut that out!" She thought he was spying in on her and playing a prank. When she saw that he wasn't by the door, she heard him again.
"Don't you remember me?" He said to her. She turned round to see him, expecting him to be still laid out of the bed, cold and lifeless. Abbadon was now stood up, clenching a wound on the right hand side of his waist with his left hand. His single blue eyes showed no tears, yet he was smiling. She was still crying when she ran towards him and embraced the battered man. She held on tightly to him, almost as if she didn't want him to slip out from in front of her eyes again. Abbadon was shocked by the reaction he got, yet the shock only lasted for a second. After that, he took her in his other arm. She was still crying, this time tears of joy.
"Why are you crying?" He asked her softly.
"I thought I'd lost you forever!" She said in a teary, yet happy tone.
"You had, for a while." He told her, still refraining from tears.
"Don't you ever do that again, you hear?" She demanded of him. It was then that someone shouted from on deck.
"Did you hear that?" It was Garet, who'd obviously heard her talking to him. She quickly let go of him, he still holding the wound in his side. Garet came the moment after she'd let go, to see Abbadon up and on his feet, still weak, yet alive. Garet's face lit up in surprise.
"Oh my god!" Garet shouted. Ivan then ran up to see what the commotion was about.
"What, what's happened?" He said. Then, when he laid eyes on Abbadon, he shouted to Isaac, "Isaac, it's a miracle!" Isaac stepped towards them, with Jenna close at hand and managed to shift Garet out of the way of the entire doorway.
"Who else did you expect?" Abbadon said, almost with a hint of humour.