Heart of stone

Now when Nick had Amazonia, Paris thought that is was probably best to tell the rest of the family about his last visits with Nick. Of course they where disappointed, especially Chel. She didn't have to say anything, all Paris had to do was to look her into her eyes and he could see it.

''He's asking for me and Tulio there to go alone and negotiate for Amazonia, but if this should be a trap, and there is a big risk that it is. Then they will confiscate our communication devices, we need a way for us to be able to get in touch. That's why I made this.'' Paris said as he reached into his pocket taking out two wristwatches. He put one onto his own wrist and gave the other on to Jack.

''Tulio and I disgusted this thing through and we decided that it would be best to do as we were told.'' Paris added. The others nodded in agreement, at the moment they could risk anything happening to Amazonia.

''We will be able to stay in touch through this.'' He added as Jack put his own watch onto his wrist.

''We can't do this all on our own.'' Jack said as he glanced up from his new toy. Paris frowned his eyebrows in irritation.

''We don't have much choice do we?'' He spat at his loyal and kind, but at times arrogant best friend. Jack's face turned into a smirk, which meant he was either coming on to him or he had an idea. Paris was hoping that he didn't plan to throw himself onto him. Jack scratched the back of his head and a weak grin grew across his lips.

''Well I have an idea where we can get help.'' He said and glanced up at Paris slightly. Paris frowned his eyebrows in confusion, but soon he knew where Jack wanted to say and he did not approve.

''No way. I know what you're thinking, forget it Jack. Never!'' Paris said and folded his arms across his chest and he shook his head. Jack growled slightly and put his hands onto his waist.

''Zandra has an entire army behind her. And even though she's Nick's half-sister, she won't agree about what he's doing and she will help us.'' He said. Paris couldn't believe what he was hearing. After all that had happened in the past, Jack want's to drag Zandra back into their lives all over again.

''The answer is still no.'' Paris hissed hoping that this was going to end the discussion, but if he knew Jack right, it wasn't. And right he was.

''You're just bitter because she dumped you.'' Jack hissed angrily. The others looked back and fourth at the two former soldiers and friends. Paris gritted his teeth in anger.

''That's a lie! And if you don't forget that small detail about Leon being Zandra's uncle, and you know that they were really close. If she finds out who killed him, who do you think she's going to side with? Then we would be in an even more difficult situation that we already are!'' Paris yelled. Jack nodded and scratched the back of his head again. He maybe didn't think this entire thing through after all.

''Yeah, you might have a point. But it was still a good idea.'' Jack added. Paris growled and shook his head in frustration.

As Paris was ready to go with Tulio to the mansion, he first walked up to Chel's bedroom and knocked onto the door, not expecting to be let in. But a weak angelic reply did come from inside and he turned the doorknob around and peaked inside the room to see Chel sitting in front of her dressing table. With a weak smile and nervous he walking inside.

''Hi.'' He said weakly and ran a hand through his brown hair. Chel smiled slightly back and placed her hair-brush back down onto the table.

''I just wanted to say good-bye before we leave.'' He added and took another step towards her. Chel sighed sadly and stood up, closing the gap between them. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he brought his hand to touch her upper arms.

''You are still upset about before aren't you? About me and Nick.'' Chel sighed again and looked away, but in her eyes he could still see that it was a real bother for her.

''Can you blame me?'' She asked, still looking away. Paris made her face him again with his finger.

''I don't. But you need to know, I did it for you, for all of us. He gave me a proposition, and like a fool I trusted him.'' Chel smiled slightly and brought her left hand up to his neck and played with the hair there. Paris smiled also and brushed a few strains of hair behind her ear.

''We can talk about that later. Just make sure to get Amazonia back safety.'' Paris smiled wider and planted a soft kiss onto her forehead before embracing her. He clutched onto her hair softly before pulling away slightly.

''I need to go, your brothers and Jack is waiting for me outside.'' Chel nodded and leaned up to plant a soft kiss onto his lips with a smile.

''Be safe.'' She whispered before they pulled away completely and Paris walked over to the door. He turned around to look at her one last time before going outside.

Jack and Riven had dropped off Tulio and Paris down the road leading to the mansion. As the two young men walked slowly up to the big gates and the roof reaching up behind the three tops, nervous about what was to come. As they entered the gates, they saw Nick and Amazonia standing outside talking with a couple of guards.

''What is she wearing?'' Tulio said and frowned his eyebrows at Amazonia wearing her black uniform. As they got closer, Nick and the others turned their head to look at them, Nick's lips curved into a smirk and his facial expression filled with satisfaction as Amazonia's filled with fear.

''Get out of here! It's a trap!'' She yelled out to them, but soon her warning was replaced with and yelp in pain as she hold onto her left wrist. Tulio and Paris set of to run and come to her rescue but they were grabbed by two guars each. Soon Amazonia went quiet as a tear ran down her eyes.

''Leave her alone!'' Paris hissed angrily. Nick smirked and grabbed Amazonia's left wrist and pulled her sleeve up slightly reviling an black wristband. Paris recognised it, and cursed that something that he had created caused anyone dear to him any pain. The electric bracelet on her wrist was only created to cause pain and obedience, and that was exactly why Amazonia was wearing it.

''Don't worry, it's set on light. I wouldn't let anything come to hurt her or the child.'' Nick said as he let go of Amazonia's wrist. She eyed him angrily before looking back at Tulio with sadness in her eyes. Neither him or Paris knew what as coming.

''But if she would go against me again, then there will become worse.'' Nick added before turning his attention to Paris and smirked.

''I suppose you have heard, your weapon worked excellent.'' He added. Paris pulled in hope to get free, but it was useless.

''I knew it was you!'' He growled angrily. Nick's smirk grew wider as he glanced over at Amazonia by his side. She was looking down in the ground as a tear ran down her cheek. Nick turned back to Paris and Tulio again.

''There has been a slight change of plans. Instead of the negotiations, I have ordered for your execution tomorrow morning.'' Nick said. Both Tulio and Paris's faces filled up with fear as Amazonia sobbed into her palms. Nick looked satisfied over at Paris.

''But don't worry Paris, I'll raise your child like my own.'' He said with a sickening smirk. Tulio's eyes burned with rage as he looked over at Paris, who stood and frowned his eyebrows and looked over at Amazonia in surprise.

''His child?!'' Tulio screamed in rage as he considered to rip Paris's face off. Amazonia looked up at Paris with tears in her eyes.

''I had to tell him that you where the father.'' She said in a whisper before looking down into the ground. Paris nodded sadly and looked over at Tulio standing besides him with his tighten fists. Amazonia looked up again at Tulio.

''I'm sorry.'' She cried, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. Tulio looked back at her in disbelief and pain before he and Paris were being dragged down into the dungeons. The guards locked and left, leaving the two young men alone. Tulio walked to one of the corners and slowly sank down to the floor and buried his face into his palms. Paris looked at the young prince into the darkness, he knew that he was in pain and he also knew that it was because of a lie. He didn't know why or what, but something had forced Amazonia to lie about Paris being the father of the baby.

''It's not true you know. I know that you might not to believe after what just happened, but she really didn't betray you.'' Paris said and leaned against the wall opposite Tulio. The prince slowly looked up with red puffy eyes, and stared at him in anger.

''Do you really think that I'm buying that again?'' He spat at him angrily. Paris sighed and was about to reply, but he couldn't find the right words. Tulio shook his head and ran a hand through his flaming scarlet red hair.

''Why don't you just call for Jack instead.'' Tulio added. Paris nodded and was about to do so, but before he had the chance two guards returned and stopped outside on guard duty. Tulio growled angrily.

''Great.'' He muttered.

Early that morning Paris and Tulio was being dragged outside into a ship where they being put into the security cage. Soon Nick and Amazonia got on-board with five other men. Amazonia looked at her husband and best friend, dying inside that she couldn't help them.

''Come on dear.'' Nick said and grabbed Amazonia's hand dragging her inside to the main area of the ship. Tulio growled angrily and sank down to the floor. After a shorter trip around twenty minutes, they landed in the middle of a desert-land. There wasn't much more then dry hard ground and some plant here and there. It was a lot warmer then anyone of them where normally used to and not one single drop water in sight. Two guards lead Tulio and Paris over to some high pillars and chained them up with their hands above their head. Nick and Amazonia walked after them with the other guards.

''If there is any last words, then this is probably the best time.'' Nick said as he with a pleased smirked looked at the two young men. Paris tried to wiggle himself free as he growled angrily, he hated this, being chained up like an animal.

''If you except us to beg for mercy then you can forget it. You will pay for this Nick!'' He hissed and pulled once more on his chains. The guard that had chained him up swung a stick across his head, giving him a lighter wound. Paris growled in pain.

''Cut it out!'' Nick roared angrily over at the guard before turning his attention back to Paris again with a sickening grin.

''It's so unfortunately that it had to come to this, but I'm afraid that it's necessary. I hope that it won't take to long for you to get dehydrated, it shouldn't be to painful.'' He said with a forced smirk, a friendly one, but his eyes screamed insanity. Amazonia left his side and ran over to Tulio placing both her hands on the back of his head and kissing him forcefully onto his lips, him returning it knowing that this was possibly their last kiss ever. When she pulled away she rested her forehead against his as tears started to ran down her cheeks.

''Forgive me.'' She sobbed and pulled his hair slightly. Tulio shook his head and moved his head to her neck placing a soft kiss there.

''You have done nothing wrong.'' He whispered before he heard her shrieking out in pain and broke free and trying to get the electric bracelet of her wrist. Paris turned back to Nick glaring at him angrily with gritted teeth.

''Leave her alone.'' He hissed as Amazonia were being dragged back to Nick's side. Nick shook his head and wrapped his arm around her waist and taking her hand with his other.

''I don't like to cause her this pain, but until she has learned her place, it's sadly necessarily that she wears it.'' He said and made her look up at him with the help of his finger, smirking at her. Amazonia bend her head down in shame as she sighed deeply.

''If you let them go, I'll do whatever you say.'' She said disgusted with herself. Tulio and Paris shouted at her not to. She didn't want to, and neither did she know if she would be able to. But if it meant for the two people that she loved the most to be spared then what other choice did she had?

''I'm sorry my dear, but I can't do that. I can't risk that anything will ruin our plans. Come on, it's time to go back to the mansion.'' He said taking her hand and pulled her back to the ship. Amazonia turned around to take one last look at them.

''Tulio!'' She yells after her.

''Don't worry, I love you!'' He replied her.

''I love you!'' She yelled before the doors closed and the ship took off. Tulio shut his eyes with gritted teeth trying not to think of the things that might be happening to her. He opened his eyes again and turned around to Paris.

''What are you waiting for? Call for Jack!'' He hissed angrily. Paris turned his head away ashamed of himself.

''I can't.'' He said in a whisper. Tulio's chin dropped to the ground as he tried to release himself, but it was no point.

''Can't? What do you mean that you can't? Just press the button!'' He yelled over at him. Paris turned around to glare angrily at him.

''I can't call for him because I can't reach the button!'' He hissed. Tulio let out a loud roar and pulled his chains again. If this was some kind of sick joke, it wasn't funny!

''Great job genius, now what are we suppose to do?'' He scolded angrily. This wasn't really how he had pictured dying! Dying of thirst together with one of the people that he disliked more then the plague itself, with his pregnant wife being held prisoner.

''Stop it would you? Help me think something out to get us out of this mess instead!'' Paris spat angrily.

The second Amazonia and the others arrived back at the mansion, Amazonia went straight to her room, not wanting to spend another second in the same room as Nick. In tears and anger she slammed the door shut behind her before sitting down onto her bed. Tulio and Paris. In a matter of hours they would both be dead, and there was nothing she could do about it. She could of course try to get in touch with the palace, but she didn't know how since Nick surely tracked every communication device in the mansion and she wasn't allowed outside. It felt like all hope of ever seeing anyone of the others again or ever get out from this horrid place, where gone. Amazonia looked down at her small growing baby bump and hugged it tightly as she cried harder.

The hours past and when it got darker as the burning sun started to set behind the mountains, both Tulio and Paris started to get dehydrated and if they didn't get some water soon they would surely die. Neither one of them had said anything since their previously conflict.

''I can't believe that it would end like this.'' Tulio said sadly. Paris carefully looked over at the younger boy. They had never gotten along or seen eye-to-eye. But they did share the same concern about Amazonia. Paris nodded his head and sighed deeply.

''I try not to, but I can't stop thinking about what he's doing to her.'' Tulio added as he looked down into the ground. Paris turned to look at him fully and sighed.

''Well you have to stop, you won't like what you might come up with.'' He said sadly, fearing it himself. Tulio looked questioning at Paris.

''What do you mean?'' He asked. Paris only looked back at him, making Tulio understand what he was saying. He shook his head in disbelief, not wanting to picture it.

''He wouldn't dare to!'' He screamed.

''There is nothing you can do about it. You are stuck out here with me remember, so you better trying to stop thinking about it!'' Tulio was close to tears, everything felt so hopeless. What kind of husband was he if he couldn't be able to protect his wife from the person that would be capable of humiliate her in the worst way that a woman could be.

''Do you really think that he would?'' He asked him as he looked at Paris with big eyes, wanting to hear that even if Nick was capable to take someone else life, he would never do anything so cruel to Amazonia. Paris knew what Tulio wanted to hear, but he couldn't lie.

''Maybe not at the moment, but someday he might want to have an heir of his own to continue his work. And what Nick wants, Nick gets. No matter if Amazonia want's it or not.'' He said sadly and cleaned his fists. He could see Tulio loosing the last power and will of surviving he had left as tears started to stream down his cheeks, before his legs bend underneath him and his head fell foreward.

''NO! No Tulio, come on wake up! Try to stay awake!'' Paris yelled in panic and tried to reach Tulio's unconscious body with his foot.

Jack stood inside his bedroom looking outside the window at the sun setting in distance. He looked down onto his watch and sighed deeply. The time it took for Paris and Tulio to get back to him, worried him. There was no doubt that Nick set a trap for the two of them, and now there were back at square one again. A soft knock was heard and he spun around to see Chel peaking inside. Jack smiled slightly and asked for her to come inside. She returned the smile and went inside before closing the door behind her.

''Any word yet?'' She asked. Jack sighed sadly and looked down into the floor. How was he going to tell her that her brother and the love of her life could be dead by now, that she might never see them again. But he didn't have to say anything, she already knew the answer and she throwed her arms around his neck and started to sob into his chest. Jack sighed sadly again and embraced her.

Late at night, when the dark navy sky was filled up with white twinkling stars, Paris had not succeeded to wake Tulio and he was feeling how he was about to give up as well.

''I have… have to… stay … awake.'' He said to himself but soon his head fell foreward as he closed his eyes. But before he drifted away, he could feel someone lift his head up and opened his eyes to see a pair of honey coloured eyes looking at him surprised.

''You.'' He managed to whisper before everything went black again.

Sorry guys that it took some time to update, but there has been much happening lately and have just taken a few days with my friends enjoying the warm weather. But I'm back with a new chapter and this time it's a little bit longer. From now on I'm going to try to write at least 3000 words/chapter. Well hope you like it.

So a little bit of Nick's past is relieved. He's Paris's ex-girlfriend Zandra's half-brother, they share the same father. And Leon apperently is Zandra's uncle, on her mothers side. So technially Nick isn't related to Leon, but could this have something to do how Nick turned out?

Will we ever find out who the mystery person was, and whoever it is, can he or she be trusted? Will Paris and Tulio pull through, and will Amazonia ever get away from Nick?

Next time: Amazonia finds a potential friend into the mansion, Paris meets a person from his past that he thought was gone forever.