Chapter 11

But You Do Not See

It took Mia a few minutes to figure out what had woken her up, after she'd come back inside from the top deck, she had fallen right into a fitful sleep. Rolling over, she perked up again as she picked out the sound of some one shouting above the constant creeks and groans of the ship. Mia was used to the usual argument on board the ship. Jenna and Garet both loved to voice their opinions, so it was not uncommon for the two to start yell at some one, or even each other. But…

The Mercury-Adept sat up straight in her bed; she closed her eyes and listened to the muffled voices coming from the main cabin.

'Is that… Felix?' She thought, ignoring the cold as she pushed aside the covers and climbed out of bed. It was still early and the fire in the main cabin must not have had enough time yet to heat the ship, so she just wrapped one of the thick quilts around her shoulders and walked out and down the hall.

'Defiantly Felix.' She thought as she picked up her pace a bit, as far as she could remember, Felix yelled even less than Isaac unless it was in the middle of a battle. So the fact that Isaac and Felix seemed to be the only one's shouting was too tempting to ignore.

Mia was more than slightly surprised when she opened the door to the cabin, and immediately spotted the two Venus-Adepts standing in the middle of the room, shouting at the tops of their lungs at each other, neither one forming a coherent word other than the other man's name.

Jenna and the others were staring unabashedly from where they sat near the table; Sheba still holding the spoon she had been using to dish up Ivan's breakfast. The other Jupriter-Adept didn't seem to mind that his breakfast was cooling quickly only inches above his bowl, anymore than Garet seemed to notice the piece of bacon hanging from his fork in front of him, mouth wide open to gape at them both. Jenna was the first one to look away and see Mia standing there. Leaving Kraden who was sitting, staring wide-eyed at the two, she motioned for Mia to come take a seat at the table.

"I have no idea." Jenna said quietly before Mia even opened her mouth to ask what they were fighting about.

"Hell can freeze over for all I care! We are not leaving him behind!" Felix roared, the others jumped at the force behind his words. Isaac took a hesitant step back before steeling his resolve and meeting Felix's rage with his own.

"I didn't say we would leave him behind!" He shouted back, looking Felix in the eye, "We make it look like we're leaving and double back when they think we're gone! Then we follow them back to wherever they're keeping Piers!"

"And then lose them in the caverns!" Felix interrupted, "Isaac it's a maze down there! If we lose sight of them for a moment then Piers is a goner! And besides!" The Venus-Adept threw his arms in the air and turned his back on Isaac. Pacing, he continued, "Whoever the hell made him sign holds power over him! If we do manage to corner them somewhere, follow them all the way to the end, then Piers is their escape route! We have nothing they wantl even now when we still have the Trident it's nothing" Isaac stood there a moment, mouth opening and closing, but not saying anything. Finally, he just closed his mouth and looked away.

"We have to do something…" He said quietly, Mia looked down at her hands folded neatly in her lap.

"I know…" Felix replied softly; they could hear the workmen coming up on deck, "We just don't have that much time to think it through…" As the two regained their seats at the table, the meal was finished in silence.


"Rise and shine, lad; it's almost time for you to say good-bye to your little friends out there…"


Ivan walked along side Mia, Garet and Isaac were in front of them, Lunpa was bringing up the rear and Hydros was in front, leading them through the dank caverns.

"Are you sure that this will work?" The King asked, looking over his shoulder in the dim light. The Jupiter-Adept saw Isaac shrug ahead of him. Kite shifted nervously on Ivan's shoulder.

"We hope it will." The Djinni said softly, as they continued down through the maze-like caves.


Jenna stood on deck, waiting until it brushed up against the side of the dock as Felix maneuvered the vessel forwards. It was well passed lunch and she was anxious and yet fearful at the same time. If this didn't work, Piers wouldn't have a prayer.

Sheba and Kraden came out on deck, Leon followed closely behind. They hadn't been able to convince the Lemurian too stay inside the city after he'd found out what they were going to do. He wasn't going to miss-out on, what could possibly be, his last chance too see his nephew alive.

'If this doesn't work, then we resort to Isaac's first plan. Run after them and make up stuff as we go along.' Jenna thought; she swallowed as her stomach felt knotted. 'This had better work…' As the ship came to a halt, they made there way down the ramp and started into Ancient Lemuria.

Felix led them through the ruins, his dark eyes scanning the fallen pillars, in his left hand he held Poseidon's Trident, and he fingered his Sol Blade with his right. They walked in silence, only their foot-steps echoing in the cavernous space. As they reached the lake, Felix motioned for them to stay hidden amongst the debris as he walked out and scanned the area.

Jenna noticed Sheba fidgeting from where she crouched beside Kraden, maybe they wouldn't come until after they'd left the Trident. It wasn't productive thinking, but there wasn't much else. Jenna perked up as she saw a flash of red from across the lake. Isaac and the others were waiting.

"Just leave it."

Jenna jumped at the sound and Sheba clamped a hand over her own mouth to keep from shrieking as Piers appeared out of nowhere off to Felix's left. Felix had been surprised as well, at Piers' voice he had whipped out the Sol-Blade and had it held out in front of him, ready to use. Once he recognized the other Adept though, he relaxed considerably and replaced the blade.

At first glance, Piers looked like he always had, strong and proud. But the longer he stood there, the more Jenna noticed how he kept shifting his weight uncertainly, and how his eyes kept darting around constantly. The front of his shirt was bloody, meaning the wounds had broken open recently. He didn't look afraid exactly, but much less sure of himself, his eyes held little emotion at all. Golden orbs blank and, almost uncaring…

"Just, leave it there…" He repeated, gesturing towards the Trident. Felix worried his lip as he set it down between them both. "Where are the others?" Piers asked, not making a move towards the weapon. Felix gave his friend a sympathetic glance.

"They're here in the ruins." He said simply, Piers just nodded,

"Don't try anything." The Lemurian said, looking away "There's nothing any of you can do about this." Jenna felt something cold seep into her stomach; Piers wasn't joking, he wasn't bluffing, there was no hope in his voice. He was just willing to let himself die.

That sense of foreboding was quickly beaten back as anger surged up inside her. Since when did they go around giving up!? What was Piers thinking? Felix could yell if the situation called for it, and he could be stubborn as hell, but just because he was their leader did NOT mean they were just going to turn around and forget just because Felix told them to! And judging by how violently Felix had reacted this morning, they'd probably be old and grey before Piers convinced his friend to leave like that.

"Piers," Jenna almost fell back as Leon came out from behind the pillar he had been crouched behind. Piers' eyed widened as Leon stepped out,

"U-Uncle…" He croaked, taking a hesitant step backwards; Jenna noticed a hint of fear slipping into his eyes. Piers tensed suddenly as Leon took a step forward, hand outstretched to him. When he was only a few feet from him, Piers doubled over suddenly in pain as fresh blood seeped through his shirt.

"Don't come any closer." Piers said hoarsely, gasping from breath as both Felix and Leon moved forwards, both taking a step back at the order. Piers placed a hand around his throat, "He's just doing this to hurt you; don't come closer or it'll just get worse…" He choked; he looked as if some one were strangling him.

"Piers, what—"

"Give me the Trident." Piers whispered, cutting Felix off, "And get out of Lemuria, all of you." Leon looked completely lost as Felix retrieved the three-pronged weapon and handed it to Piers. The Mercury-Adept grabbed the handle, one arm still wrapped around his stomach as he tried to get to his feet. He glanced momentarily at his uncle.

"I'm sorry…" He said softly, backing up slightly, his breathing was still labored as he looked away again and continued to back up. "I'm… so sorry…" Piers vanished into the shadows of the Ruins. Felix came forwards placed a hand on Leon's shoulder, Jenna placed her head on the fallen pillar in front of her and closed her eyes. It was all up to the Djinn now…


'Note to self.' Kite thought as he followed Spring through the piles of rubble and fallen pillars, 'The next time a Mercury-Djinn comes up with a plan, and then a Mars-Djinn supports that plan; it's a trap.'

'Oh quit complaining, Kite!' Blitz said through the Mind-Link, she sounded thoroughly annoyed, 'We canall hear you, and don't think Ivan and the other's can't as well!' Kite muttered quietly under his breath as he hovered over a small pile of dusty bricks. Scanning the area quickly, he felt his small heart jump into his throat before diving back down; Spring gave him a quizzing glance as he did so.

'I found them!' He shouted at the others,

'Where? Jenna and all of us need to know!' Cannon said urgently, all the other Djinn piping up as well,

'In front of the fountain! I just saw two guys walk past, they sure didn't look Lemurian!' He replied,

'How can you be sure?' Flint asked; the message was weak, but gaining strength as he seemed to be relaying the information to Isaac.

'Well now, other then the fact that they were wearing cloths from Gondowan and had dark hair, I suppose I can't really be sure.' He replied dryly, the others not taking the joke very well, Spring especially, seeing as how she was just sitting there glaring golden daggers at him.

'Felix wants to know why men from Gondowan would be here in Lemuria,' Echo said,

'Yeah, Lunpa and Hydros are getting scary; they want to know how men from that part of the world got inside.' Forge piped in, Kite felt a slight tinge of annoyance,

'I see them first and now everyone expects me to have all the answers, great.' he thought sourly,

'We heard that!' Kite was about to respond when there was a large 'thunk' behind them. Spring jumped up on him to keep his instincts from kicking in and have him give away their positions by running around like a maniac. The panic subsided quickly and the two Djinn turned around. Peaking over the bricks, they spotted a large travel-pack.

'I call the pocket on the Right.' Spring said, glancing back at him, Kite shrugged,

'As long as I don't have to share; ladies first.' The two each took a deep breath before scampering forwards and diving into two of the small pockets in the packs. Kite gagged at the stench of spoiled fruit as he came up and poked his head out the opening; Spring poked out in the other pocket, said spoiled fruit stuck too one of her horns.

'Remember to stick to the plan, you two.' Meld reminded them, 'And make sure we can find the trial to!'

Kite was about to respond but was cut off unexpectedly when the pack gave a lurch as whoever it belonged to heaved it back up and flung it over their shoulder.

"Damn thing gets heavier every time I pick it up." A man grumbled to his companion, the other man gave a bark of laughter,

"Then don't put it down again, you dolt." There was the sound of gravel crunching under boots as both men fell silent.

"Are you two quite finished?" A man asked, Kite cursed his lack of view, the voice tickled something in the back of his mind, but he couldn't get a grip on it. The pack shifted slightly as the man holding it adjusted the strap over his shoulder, cautiously, he spoke up,

"So you just kill this guy with that Trident you got there, and you become the most powerful man on Weyard?" He asked nervously, Kite glanced over and saw Spring cringe slightly.

"Yes, we've been over this before. One of you destroys the Bond, and I become the Master of Weyard's water." The way the words seemed clipped irked Kite to no end; He had heard that voice before, he just couldn't put a name to the voice. There was a sound of some one stumbling slightly, and the other man spoke up,

"Hey, he looks pretty bloody; he ain't gonna die on you before the Trials, is he?" Spring squeezed her eyes shut and Kite saw tears bubbling up,

'Don't worry, Spring, he'll be fine.' He thought; only realizing his mistake after it was too late. Piers' eight other Djinn perked up instantly at the remark; and Kite had to focus deeply to block them all out until they were just small voices he could barley hear. Spring glanced over and nodded slightly, both settling back into the leather packs as they began to move.

"But sir," One man said skittishly, "How can that happen when you aren't even a Mercury-Adept?" There was a sound of some one sighing, Kite then jumped as he heard Piers' voice,

"It doesn't matter," The Adept replied blankly, "As long as his name is on it, he'll get the power, no matter that it's against his own Element."

"Ah, so you decide to speak at last, do you?" The man who was leading them said, pretending to marvel at the fact. "Well, it seems watching me tear your Uncle's heart out has loosened your tongue somewhat. That's good, seeing as how soon you won't be able to talk at all." Kite ground his teeth at the remark, but held his tongue, getting caught wasn't going to do them any good.

The talking subsided quickly, after they really started moving, Spring conjured up a small sphere of psynergy. Careful, so as not to draw attention, she let a large dark blob form and fall from the Sphere, Kite acted quickly to summon small eddies for muffle the sound. The two swiftly formed a pattern, Spring would drop, Kite would smother. They worked as quietly and with as little energy as they could manage, leaving a trail for the others to follow.

"What is that infernal dripping?" The leader cussed, thoroughly annoyed as they came to an abrupt halt. The two Djinn froze.

"Well," Piers said, his tone still level, "Seeing as how you're walking through a cavern filled with water, I think it's safe to say that it's just water." The lackeys chuckled slightly, but were silenced and tensed as there was a strangled sound, then something like a person slipping.

"Perhaps you should have simply remained silent." Was the icy reply, "Get him up and let's go." Kite heard the other lackey moving around as the gravel crunched under-foot. As they started moving again, Kite looked down and gaped at the blood staining the pebbly ground.

'Oh man, guys,' He thought as Spring re-formed the Sphere, 'You had better be able to follow this…'


'Damn it, Felix was right; this placeis a maze!' Isaac thought as he sped down the crumbling ally, Flint giving him directions through the ruins. After they'd seen Piers vanish into the shadows, they'd split up separately using the Djinn Mind-Link as a way to keep tabs on each other. Two Djinn to a person, the extra's all going off in pairs.

' Flint, how far are we from the fountain?' He thought, Flint took a few moments, as he spoke to the other Djinn

'The Lake ought to be on the other side of that wall right in front of you Isaac.' The Djinn replied. Isaac scrambled over the dusty wall as a few bricks came loose under him. Landing silently on his feet, he scanned the banks quickly as he moved back against the ruins,

'Damn it, if I get lost and can't help out, I won't be able to live this down!' He thought harshly, still searching for anything to mark where Kite and Spring had been.

"Look there!" Vine yelped as she pushed her way out, Isaac looked down at where the Djinni was half out of his arm, surrounded by an odd glowing light. Vine was pointing towards a large building that seemed built into the cavern wall, the door was cut off but for a thin walkway. Isaac remembered the building to be the first one he and the others had seen when they'd come down from the caves. Dimly, Isaac was able to make out four retreating figures.

'Right under our nose's the whole time!' He thought angrily, 'Damn it, Flint, Vine, quick; tell the other's where they're headed! Now!' Vine nodded and melded back into him, Isaac felt the whirl-wind of activity as the Djinn relayed the information to everyone else.

Isaac scrambled back up the wall and over; and immediately began searching for a way to get back to that building by the lake.


Mia ran down through the crumbling streets with the rest of the Djinn behind her,

'Hurry Mia! Hurry!' Fizz urged as she stopped and leaned against a mound of bricks, to catch her breath.

'Hush up, Fizz!' Mist berated, 'She's still weak from that poison!'

"Stop arguing! All of you!" Mia panted, annoyed by the constant yammering. "Now, what direction is that building, Shade?" Said Mercury-Djinn ran up and jumped up the side of one wall, glancing around before jabbing her tail in the direction Mia had already been going,

"Straight and take a right!" She directed, leaping back down as Mia started moving again. After a few more minutes of running, Mia's slipped and fell over a slick spot on the ground.

"Owe… what was that?" She moaned, glancing down at her foot she gave a start, it wasn't plain old water, but a type of thick blue syrup which sang of water energies.

'Well at least we found the trail…' She thought as she climbed to her feet,

"Mia you okay?!" Mia looked over her shoulder and saw Garet, Hydros, and Lunpa running down through the rubble.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She called back, "I found out which way they're going too!" Garet stopped next to her and helped her to her feet,

"Do you know where the others are in the Ruins?" He asked, Forge popping his head out of Garet's shoulder,

"He won't believe us, says we're lying." The Djinni said quickly before vanishing again, Mia didn't pay him any mind as the Djinn set to her started giving out the other's locations.

"Felix and Jenna met up again and are some where behind you, Ivan and Sheba are making their way over to this part, Isaac's nearing the walk-way to get to that building with Kraden," Hydros nodded and seemed to think for a moment.

"I suggest we try to find Isaac first since he seems to be the one closest to where we're trying to go, what do you think, Lunpa?" Garet merely nodded in agreement as Lunpa mulled for a few moments, Mia wasn't as quick agree either.

"I think it would be best to follow Kite and Shade's trail really." She said, gesturing to the puddles that led away through the ruins, "It might be maze-like in there, I'd feel better having them guide us through." Lunpa, still silent, nodded and the other two agreed as well. Together, the four continued at a hard pace through the disheveled city.

It didn't take all that long, what with the Djinn in constant communication, for the others to meet up with them as they followed the trial left behind. Jenna and Felix came up running after a few minutes, Isaac close behind with an exhausted but stubborn Kraden. Leon met up with them just before Ivan and Sheba ran past an abandoned statue to join the group. All members where dusty, dirty, and tried, but all the more determined too help Piers.

They traveled without speaking over piles of debris until finally they reached the small walkway leading to the open door. The wooden double doors had rotted away with time, leaving the foyer for them to just walk right on into.

The trail seemed to lean towards each of the rooms going down through the building, but once it reached a door-way it would stop and start up again a few feet down the hall.

"They were checking the rooms for anything they'd forgotten," Hydros commented, Mia looked over at where the King was standing over a rough table, Mia oddly recognized it as the one she had seen while poisoned. "Whatever they're planning, it's happening now, no more waiting, they know we're here." He continued, there was a stack of scrolls on the desk, whom-ever had planned this hadn't thought them important enough to bring along. Hydros leafed through a few documents and notes the person had written

"Lunpa." Hydros spoke as Ivan and Sheba scouted ahead with 'Reveal' to make sure no surprises were waiting for them. Lunpa walked over and Hydros pointed to something on one of the papers, "Does this look familiar to you by any chance?" the King asked, the explorer took the parchment from him and rubbed his chin as he read.

"Yes actually…" he said, mussing over it, "But I can't remember from where or what…"

The two continued too shift through what was left, Lunpa's expression froze and he took on a menacing glare as he read off of something, Hydros leaned over and read it as well, confusion washed away as furry was painted across his features.

"Felix." The king said, Lunpa looking for all-the world like he was going to kill something. The adept came as his name was called, but stopped half-way in the room at the looks on their faces. Hydros held the parchment in one fist, crumpling it, he handed the crushed paper to Felix who unrolled it gingerly and read whatever it was, Felix glared as Hydros spoke again,

"No matter what it takes, Young Man." The king said frigidly, "I want this man dead." Felix nodded and passed whatever was on the scroll to a bemused Isaac. The paper made it's way around to all of them, coming at last to Mia as Ivan and Sheba came back to report that the trail ended with a Teleport Lapis.

Mia glanced down at the parchment, written in dry and blackening blood it said;

'The master will fall, in all his glory; his blood-line will then wither. Can't fight destiny now can you? I'll make sure he lives as long as possible.'

With this taunt waved in their faces, they charged down the halls following the trail left by the Djinn. It didn't matter if they were too late or not, they would beat this man's face in no matter what was happening.


"Ah, well, we're here." Kite squirmed around inside the tight pocket, still uncoordinated since the Lapis,

'I guess it was kinda dumb to think there was only the one Teleport Stone.' he thought, he was un-nerved when the others didn't reply; they were to far away now for them too speak with one other.

The party had only gone down one passage, straight all the way with a slight decent with no adjoining passages, because of this, they hadn't seen a reason to keep leaving a trail, plus there was no water as far as they could tell and the dripping would have caused suspicion.

But now, as Kite squirmed around uselessly, he noticed an odd blue light in front of them. There was a loud groaning as the light grew brighter, the man holding the pack took a step back and Kite could tell from his shadow that he covered his eyes. The light didn't fade as Kite heard a sound of water splashing, as if there were fountains all around. A small trickle of pristine water seeped past the man holding the Djinn up. Neither Spirit tried to move as they heard the distinct sneer in the leader's voice as he said;

"Welcome to Mercury Lighthouse, Boy. I hope you enjoy your stay."