Chapter Seven
BACK TO KAI AND KEOMAE
Kai slowed to a stop and set Keomae on her feet, "Look, there it is, Ancient City." He told her pointing ahead to the stone city. Keomae smiled brightly, "I can't believe it, we finally made it. After all we've been through, we're finally here." Kai nodded and smiled at her, "Come on, the others will be waiting." Keomae nodded quickly then followed Kai toward the city.
They walk up the stone path toward the huge stone building. Keomae kept looking everywhere and asking questions while Kai kept answering them but it's usually the same answer every time. "This place looks so old. Its no wonder no one has ever been here before." She commented. Kai nodded and slid an arm around her shoulder, "Yep, we're the only ones who have ever been here and you're the first person from the castle whose ever set foot on this stone path in years."
Keomae looked flattered then she turned her head sharply toward the sound in front of her. Kai did the same and let his arm slip down off of her shoulder and back to his side. Suddenly Hilary jumped out of the window and raced toward them as the rest of the group ran out of the building. "Kai! You're back! You're okay!" They cried when they stopped in front of him.
Kai nodded, "Did we worry you? Sure a lot of bad things happened but in end we still made it here didn't we?" Ray smiled, "You sure did. When you didn't come in the time it should've taken you we began to worry. Especially when that fire occurred." Kai chuckled then he said, "That was not the worst thing that happened, no way, far from it."
Mystel smiled then he said, "Well its good to see you both made it here okay. Even if it did take you forever." Keomae looked at them all, 'they we so worried for his safety that they all look so relived and about to burst into tears. They all really care for him.' She thought with a smile.
Hilary couldn't help but look at Keomae out of the corner of her eye, 'Good, she's unharmed which will make killing her even more fun but what about Kai? He'll be so upset if he's really in love with her. I'll have to ask him before we do anything until then, I'll gain her trust.' She thought. "So what did happen out there that kept you so long?" She asked Keomae directly taking a step towards her.
"Well lots of things I guess but the worst would have to be the phoenix attack." She replied. Kai nodded his head in agreement, "I agree, that did keep us the longest plus it was the absolute worst thing that happened out there." Everyone gasped, "You guys got attacked by the Great Phoenix? How are you still alive?" Daichi asked.
Kai turned away from them all and looked up at the moon, "I'm the one that got attacked and I would've died if Keomae hadn't of got me away from that bloody bird and stopped me from bleeding to death." Keomae blushed at that and even more when everyone looked at her. Ray walked to her side and put a hand on her shoulder, "If that's true then we thank you. For saving our friend's life. If he died we'd be nothing."
Keomae smiled a little but blushed even more while Kai just looked embarrassed. Daichi jumped up into the air and said, "Yeah, good work princess." Max and Kenny give her the thumbs up sign then high fived each other. Mystel just looked at her smiling and nodding his head in approval while Hilary couldn't help but smile at her too, I mean she did save her friend after all.
"Alright, let's head inside then you guys can tell us about your long and brutal journey here." Ray said. The group turned and started walking towards the building leaving Keomae to stare at them and Kai to stay with her, "Hey what's wrong?" He asked. Keomae looked up at him and smiled, "Its just, your friends seem different this time we met. The last time they really gave me the creeps but now, I feel much more welcome."
Kai nodded, "Yeah well, maybe they're taking a liking to you. I mean you did after all save my life. They aren't going to forget that in a hurry and soon you'll be one of us." Keomae smiled again, "Maybe…" Kai stuffed his hands in his pockets and stepped forward, "You coming?" He asked not looking at her. Keomae nodded, "Yes."
They all walk towards the building but right before they reach it a giant net is shot at the group from out of the darkness. It wrapped around them and made them fall onto the ground leaving them to try and get out. "Hey! What's going on?" Hilary asked angrily. Kai gasped and ran towards them leaving Keomae to stand there in shock, 'Oh no! Those nets, those are the military's arrows and ropes. That means-'
Suddenly another smaller net shot out of the shadows and wrapped around Kai whom was trying to pull the net apart, not even thinking about using his sword. It made him fall onto the ground and wiggle around in the dirt, "What's happening?" He demanded. Suddenly there was a low chuckle from the shadows. "Who's there? Are you the one who did this?" Kai demanded.
The person chuckled again and stepped out of the shadows making Keomae gasp and step back, "Yes I am. And you all are under arrest for kidnapping the princess." The little group starts complaining and says things like, they didn't kidnap her, and other stuff. "Tyson…" Keomae muttered backing away from the man she fears the most.
Tyson turned and faced Keomae but didn't make a move towards her, "Hello Keomae. Long time no see. You know you had me fooled, I thought you had run away but now that I see, all these outcasts with you, that you were kidnapped." Keomae shook her head, "No that's not at all right. They have nothing to do with this so let them go!"
Tyson shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I can't do that. Your father won't be happy with me if I did." Keomae glared at him and said, "Why would my father believe you and not me? You're just a perverted liar!" Tyson looked at her a little ashamed at that comment then he shook it off and replied, "Because, he doesn't believe you can do things on your own now. All because of this, you lost his trust, probably the throne and your freedom."
Keomae shook her head and backed away then shouted at him, "No, you're wrong! I never wanted the throne and as for his trust well I figure he'll always trust me no matter what and my freedom, that's mine and no one can take that away from me." Tyson chuckled then smiled wickedly at her, "We'll see about that." He snapped his fingers and suddenly about 20 men on horses appeared behind him. A white horse trotted up to him so he jumped on and started galloping towards Keomae.
"Keomae run!" Kai yelled to her. Keomae let her head droop and she closed her eyes, "What's the point, I lost." Tyson grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his horse behind him as he past her. Then he rode back to the other men and ordered, "Take these kidnappers back to the castle! The king will decide what we do with them!"
Gary and Claude trotted over to the small group and got off their horses and put them on a cart, which is tied to the horse's saddle. Lee rode over to Kai and dropped him roughly onto his smaller cart. "Uh hey! Watch it!" Kai shouted at him.
Lee glared at him but said nothing. Kai tried to get to his sword but Lee just smirked and said, "There's no point for a sword now. These nets may look normal but at the very center is a single metal wire that can't be cut by a sword. I'm afraid there's nothing more you can do." Kai growled while Hilary and Kenny gasped.
Tyson took the lead with Keomae behind him on his horse followed by a ring of his men on horses that circled the two wagons or carts that carried Kai and his friends. "This is just great. After all these years of avoiding the military and now we get captured for something we didn't even do." Daichi complained. "But we were going to remember?" Kenny whispered to him.
Daichi nodded while Hilary looked at Kai sadly, 'Poor Kai. He's all alone back there and I'll bet he feels betrayed and that he lost. I wish I could talk to him and Keomae and find out if I could get her to talk with him. Maybe then he'd smile or at least look a bit more cheerful.' Kai sighed heavily and looked over the cart and at the back of Keomae's head.
His heart was in pain; he didn't know what was wrong only that he felt bad like he could've done something to make sure she hadn't been taken back by Tyson. He growled softly and thought, 'Keomae, I swear I'll find a way out of this mess and this prison. Once I do I'll come and free you as well. Then I'll take you back to Ancient City with me and my friends and I'll talk them into keeping you alive. Then we can be together at last with no worries. That I promise you.'
Keomae stared at the ground way below her from ontop of Tyson's stead. She didn't want to be back with Tyson or on her way back home. All she wanted now was to be with Kai and to live with him and his friends in peace. She sighed silently and kept avoiding Tyson's gaze as he looked back at her every once in awhile. "Why do you look sad? You were kidnapped and now your going home, you should be a little happier." Tyson questioned.
Keomae glared at his back, "I wasn't kidnapped, I ran away, that's all there is to it." Tyson shrugged and said, "Maybe but I still don't like those rogues so we're just gonna tell your father you were kidnapped instead." Keomae growled, "I won't lie, I'll never tell him I was kidnapped. I'll tell him I ran away." "He won't believe you, not after what happened. He'll think you more likely kidnapped then just running away. Then once he sees that we've captured them, they'll probably be executed for kidnapping you." Tyson said smugly.
Keomae gasped, the thought of her new friends all being killed for doing nothing, scared her. Especially Kai, she had grown so used to him, he was more then a friend at this point and she would do anything to save him. "I won't let that happen." She muttered. Tyson pretended not to hear but inside he knew they were probably going to be killed no matter what.
3 HOURS LATER
Kai and the others were thrown into the dungeon with a thud. Kai jumped up and ran for the door but it slammed in his face, which made the guard laugh and walk out of the dungeon room. Kai smashed his fist into the bars of the cage and growled. "Calm down Kai, the last thing we need if for you to break your knuckles or anything else for that matter." Ray said while placing a hand on Kai's shoulder.
"But...we've got to get out of here. There has to be a way." Kai muttered while looking around the huge cage. Hilary sighed, "If we had our weapons maybe but everything in here is steel. We don't have anything that can break through steel." Mystel nodded, "Hilary is right. We're just gonna have to wait until the guards start coming, then we can get past them when they open our cage."
Hilary smiled, "Great idea Mystel!" Mystel blushed slightly in embarrassment. Kai looked up at the ceiling and thought, 'I will find a way out of here and when I do I'll be coming for you Keomae. I swear we'll get out of here together.'
Tyson led Keomae into her father's throne room with a hand on her shoulder just in case. Keomae glared at the ground and continued to walk forward with distaste. She wanted to go to Kai, she missed him terribly and now she didn't know if she'd ever get to see him again. They stopped below the throne and waited for the king to speak. "Sir Tyson, you may go now." Her father said.
Tyson nodded then turned and walked out of the room but not before catching a quick worried glance from Keomae. He smiled reassuringly then walked out of the room. Keomae turned back to her father whom was glaring down at her. "Keomae...I don't understand. From what my men say you were kidnapped by those out casts in the dungeon." Her father questioned.
Keomae shook her head, "No father, I left on my own. They had nothing to do with it. I just ran into them right at the same time Tyson showed up." "But why would you leave? If what you say is true then why? Doesn't every girl wish they could be a princess?" Boris questioned. Keomae shrugged, "Not this girl."
Boris sighed, "Well Keomae now I can't trust you anymore. I don't know how I can make you change your mind but I do know that you need more eyes on you so not only will you have Tala as your bodyguard but all of my men are to keep a close eye on you but Tyson will be the guard whom will take Tala's place from time to time." Keomae gasped, "No father please! I won't-"
"Save it! I don't want to hear it Keomae. You ran away before and now I can't trust you. Now go, I have nothing more to say to you." Keomae turned then asked, "What about those people in the dungeons?" Boris sighed, "I don't know for now. I have too much of my mind so don't worry, they won't be killed anytime soon." Keomae gulped nervously then nodded and left.
She walked out of the throne room and past the maids that were standing outside the throne room hoping the king would make them do something. Mariah ran to catch up with her, "Princess Keomae! I'm so glad your safe! Are you hurt?" Keomae shook her head, "No Mariah and please don't call me princess. Its just Keomae okay?" Mairah nodded, "Yes, sorry."
Keomae sighed, "I'm sorry if my father wasn't putting any of you to work because of me. I didn't want him to worry, I didn't even want him to know I had left!" Mariah looked at her then asked, "Its okay but I do have a question. Those people Lee brought in, were they with you? I heard some of the rumors but I want to hear it from you before I believe any of it."
Keomae looked at her and sighed, "Yes, they are my friends. I wish I could just go and see them but I doubt I'll ever be allowed to." Mariah watched as her friend walked slowly to her room and shut the door behind her leaving Mariah to think about what she had just said.
Keomae shut the door behind her leaned against it. "Thank goodness! Princess Keomae, you've returned!" Keomae looked up just in time to see Tala run up and pull her into his embrace. "I was so worried about you. How? How could you do that? Run away I mean." Tala asked letting his grip loosen so he was only holding onto her shoulders.
She looked away, "Don't call me princess Tala. As for your question I had too. I couldn't live here and I still can't. Now please, just leave me be." Tala let her go and watched her as she walked over to her bed and sat down on it, "Alright but just so you know the windows are locked on the outside this time and I'll be right outside the door." He explained. Keomae nodded so slowly it was painful for Tala to watch. He turned and left leaving Keomae to fall onto her back and curl into a ball on her bed and think about her beloved Kai.
Suddenly a small black fur-ball out of her pocket and shook himself off. Teeco looked around and mewed sadly. He couldn't find the funny man his master was always hanging around with. He jumped off of the bed and looked around, he sniffed then walked over to the door and crawled under it. He was going to have to find him himself. He hurried down the hallways and down stairs and up stairs and it only took about 10 minutes before he was totally lost.