Chapter 40

~Ianite's POV~

I sighed. Yup, nothing new here. Poor Nix, the target for all the bad stuff. At least she's immortal now as High Priestess. Though the barrier is still here... huh...

"Don't think you can save your High Priestess. I've moved to a new location, one you'll never find. You'll never win now." Darkness disappeared after that.

"Here we go again, huh?" Sparklez stated. I merely nodded.

"If only one of us had presence sensing as well," Karl said. I got to thinking. 'If only' is right, but... would it be too much to see if Aianite is around and if she could tell us where Nix is being kept? She's the only spirit people other than Nix can see, most likely because she's a goddess spirit. I looked around, hoping that if Aianite is here, she'll know what I'm doing. After a moment passed, nothing. I sighed, it was worth a shot anyway.

"What were you doing, Ianite?" Tom asked.

"Seeing if Aianite was here. She is not, obviously."

"Why?" Karl asked.

"So that she could possibly find Phoenix and let us know where she is," I explained.

"I see, good thinking," Sparklez complimented. I gave a smile toward Sparklez, then looked out over the ocean.

"I just hope we can rescue Nix... again... Y'know, this is getting a tad old. I'll bet Nix feels the same way." I went over to the barrier, wondering why it's still here. I tried something. "Could you go back to your place of dwelling? I'm sure you're exhausted keeping up this barrier. Nix was taken away, so she can't let you go." The barrier disappeared, much to all of our surprise.

"Wow, I wonder why that worked?" Sparklez asked.

"I... I don't know. We'll have to ask Nix when she comes back to us," I said. The others nodded.

~Normal POV~

I finished my cake and set the plate and fork on the floor. I leaned back against the bars and stared at the ceiling. Darkness finally appeared after a while.

"So, what's your plan for me now, Darkness?"

"I'm just gonna keep you here for now. I have some things in store that I'd like to try, to get you on my side and work for me. You're powerful, High Priestess. I'd like that power for myself."

"Good luck trying. I'll never break, I'll never join you." Darkness smirked.

"Never say never, High Priestess." He disappeared. I sighed.

"Welp, time to get used to him trying whatever he can to try and get me to switch to the dark side." I laid on my back and stared at the ceiling again. Well... what a way to end my birthday, but also, the heck?! Now I can't take Ianite on that date for Valentine's Day. Ugh... the worst timing ever there, Darkness... why couldn't he have taken me tomorrow? I wouldn't have minded as much... Also, come to think of it, I still haven't trained for the Olympics. Great, there goes my chance of ever winning. If not me, then I hope Sparky wins. He'd be a great candidate for winning the stones to help him defeat the Darkness. Well, I can at least practice my powers. I'll just practice my soulfire power. I really do need to work on that. Ever since I found out it's more than a surprise weak attack, that it's more powerful than that, I haven't practiced it at all.

I also don't need a wand to conjure it up. I held up my palm and a small, blue flame appeared. I had a thought. I wonder if my fire could burn these bars? I looked at the bars and stood up, going over to them.

"Don't try it, Nix." I looked behind me.

"Aianite? But, why?"

"You need to be here for now. You'll see why eventually." She disappeared and I gave the place where she stood a confused look. I sighed and sat back down, playing with my fire. I made it bigger and bigger, until I could make shapes with it, which I did. I made a heart, then I wondered if I could make human figures. I gave it a shot. It took a bit, but I made Ianite's figure. I smiled a small smile. I hope she's doing alright.

~Ianite's POV~

As I was looking out over the ocean on my throne at Sparklez's tower, Aianite appeared before me.

"Aianite! I'm so glad you're here. Can you see where Nix is and tell us?" Aianite shook her head, which made my heart sink.

"She needs to be there for a bit. Do you remember what she told you of one of her visions in the past?" I had to think back, there were quite a few she told me of. I remembered eventually. (A/N: blech, I think i'm going crazy. I've read through my story multiple times but I can't find what vision i'm thinking Nix had... unless it's the one where Wot mentioned that Ianite did something in her past that Nix was confused about but I forgot that he mentioned Ianite's past... I dunno man... too many chapters and my brain is dumb af)

"The one where she was being held by the Darkness, where none of us could find her, and he mentioned my past and what I did... that's when I told her of Olivinite and Oakinite. I remember now." Aianite nodded. "Well, I'm sure she can escape from there. She's strong, she'll get through. Though the wait will be rough."

"I know, sister. You'll get through it, you're strong." I gave Aianite a very small, skeptical look.

"I'm not so sure about that Aia. I mentioned Olivinite and Oakinite when you asked me if I remembered Nix's one vision. Remember what I did to them? That's not very strong. That's cowardice."

"Ia, you were still considered a young goddess, still trying to figure things out. You have many, many years to learn what is right and wrong when it comes to goddesshood. Plus, you've repented for that and you've learned from it, didn't you?" I nodded. "Then you're growing. As you should. If you didn't, then I would be concerned. Nix is helping you too, isn't she?"

"Yeah, though you could say we're helping each other."

"As a couple should. I've seen how Debbie and Ernest helped you and Nix that one time, when Nix kind of... almost broke her vow. They are a great example of a couple that you and Nix could look up to. I'm very glad they're your honorary grandparents." I smiled.

"I am too. I'm glad Nix suggested that." Aianite gave a slight nod.

"I should be off now Ia. Take care, and I'll see you again if you need me." I nodded and hugged Aianite. She disappeared. I gave a small sigh and looked back out over the ocean. Now that I know Nix is going to be alright, I'm not as worried. I do still hope she comes back to us soon though.

~Normal POV~

As I was playing with my fire, Darkness came back.

"Yo, mind taking care of my plate and fork? Actually, those belong to the Dine at Nite. Take those back for me, please? I'd like to know that they're safe where they belong and taken care of." Darkness glared at me.

"I don't take orders from anyone."

"It ain't an order, it's a request. And I was polite with you, not being demanding." Darkness huffed, but he did actually disappear with the plate and fork.

~Sparklez's POV~

I was doing the dishes with C and Karl when a puff of black smoke appeared and revealed Darkness. Karl and I took battle stances.

"Leave, now," I demanded.

"Again I say, I don't take orders from anyone. I'm here on behalf of your High Priestess. She requested that I bring these back to this place. She wanted to know that they're back where they belong... like I care, but whatever. I only did this to get on her good side. Get her to join me." He put the plate and fork in the sink.

"She'll never join you," Karl said.

"As I told your Priestess, never say never." He disappeared again. I gave the spot where he was a skeptical look.

"She'll never join him, you're right. But... I wonder what he'll do? He'd better not hurt her... He'll regret it if he does."

"What, you like her, mate?"

"I used to, but she's dating Ianite, and slowly my feelings changed. Now, she's like a sister to me. Albeit she's older than me, but still, as a brother, I can't help but feel protective." Karl nodded slowly, understanding. "Also, remember what Ianite said after he fatally injured her? She said that if anything happened to Nix, he would feel the wrath of a heartbroken goddess."

"True, I remember now. So that's what you were really alluding to?"

"Well, yes and no. Yes because yeah, Ianite did say that, and no because I did kind of intend for myself as well. So I suppose both apply here. My protectiveness and Ianite's love for Nix." Karl smiled gently and nodded, then we both got back to helping C finish the dishes.

~Normal POV~

Wot came back and gave me a look.

"I gave them back, happy now?" I smirked.

"I appreciate it Wot." He gave a small growl, then turned away. "So, gonna keep me prisoner until my friends and goddess save me?"

"Your friends won't find you here."

"I don't believe you. I know they will. They always do." He scoffed.

"Give in High Priestess. We're in a new location, so no one can find you now."

"I'll never give in Wot. They'll find me. They'll find a way. I believe in them."

"Faith in nothing. I hid our location so well, not even your goddess can find you."

"My goddess will kick your tail once she finds me. You most definitely incurred the wrath of Ianite now, with this stunt."

"I'm not scared of her. Do you know what she did, High Priestess?" I got a jolt through me when he said that. A sense of deja vu. Wait... this is what my one nightmare was a long time ago! This is when I found out about Oakinite and Olivinite! So it wasn't just a nightmare, it was a vision. I gave a triumphant look.

"Wot, I know what she did. She's repented. She's asked for forgiveness. She was forgiven and she's learned from that past mistake. Plus, she has me to help her now. Her and I will work together to make sure she doesn't make that same mistake again, and that she can lean on me if she feels like it's a difficult time. You ain't got nothing on her or me to hold against us. We're strong. We can prove to our followers that we're good and can be trusted." Wait, did I just say 'our followers'? I'm a High Priestess, ain't no one gonna be following me.

"'Our followers'. You're a Priestess, not a goddess."

"Slip of the tongue. I'm dating a goddess, of course I'd accidentally say 'our followers'. It was only a matter of time. I did mean to say 'her followers'." He 'hmph'd' and went away again. Probably to think of another way to get me to give up on being saved and join him. Well, he'd better be the one to give up, 'cause I sure as hell won't.