Hey everyone, sorry it's taken me so long to update but I had some problems with my computer. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 4

"No sign of the annoying kid then?"

Harry's moody voice broke the silence.

Eragon looked up and smirked. "He's right over there."

Harry looked behind him, then realised who Eragon meant and glared. Ginny snorted.

"You know, I don't feel comfortable about this whole thing," Sonea said. "There has to be more to it than some spoilt kid's entertainment."

Jack, asleep on the floor, mumbled something incoherent and rolled over.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Would someone please take that bottle away from him?"

Will tentatively grabbed the bottle. Jack woke up straightaway.

"NO, NOT GOOD!" he yelled. Then, realising where he was, he smiled innocently at everyone else, snatched the bottle back and drank more.

Sonea looked disgusted. "Men."

Yawning, Eragon stood up. "Well, we're not going to get out of here by sitting here all day. I reckon we should go after the Beast."

Jack looked up at him, eyebrows raised. "I'm comfortable here."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Eragon's right. We'll starve to death otherwise."

"Not necessarily," Jack said wisely. "We can always eat the snake."

Minutes later, holding the remains of a charred rum bottle and inspecting what had once been part of his hair, Jack sulkily walked along a tunnel, accompanied by an even less happy Harry, Will and Sonea.

"Why is the bloody rum always bloody gone..." he muttered.

Will rolled his eyes. "Maybe this is someone's way of telling you that it's time to change your ways."

Jack snorted. "Fat chance of that."

"Do you two always have to argue?" Sonea asked wearily. "I'm getting tired of it now."

"Sorry," Will muttered. Jack merely looked sadly at the remains of his rum.

"Bloody snake."

"Do you think the others will be OK?" Ginny said, sounding a little worried.

Eragon shrugged. "Sure they will."

Ginny looked at him. "How do you know?"

Eragon smiled. "Because we're going to find it first."

Ginny smiled back. Wow, he's cute, she thought.

Sonea was seriously considering killing the lot of her group when they emerged into a familiar-looking entrance.

"This is where we just left!" Harry moaned. "This is such a stupid idea..."

"Getting tired?"

Again, all four looked up to see Ariadne's grinning face.

"Haven't you died yet?" Jack said grumpily.

"Touchy," said Ariadne. "No, I haven't. But you lot are very interesting to watch."

Will rolled his eyes. "Then can we come out?!"

"No!" Ariadne exclaimed. "That would just ruin the fun. But I've decided to make things a little more interesting."

"How?" Sonea asked wearily.

"Well," Ariadne said, clapping her hands together. "How would you like to see some of your friends?"

Will looked interested. "You mean that...we could bring someone from our lives here?"

"Yep," Ariadne answered. "I'm going to choose, though. Hmm...you two, the pirates. What's that woman's name? The one that you were going to marry?"

"Elizabeth!" Jack said cheerfully. Will glared at him.

"You weren't supposed to give her name," he hissed. "Now she's in danger too."

Jack shrugged. "So?"

"This'll be fun," Ariadne said. "You two are already fighting over her. Well, I guess that's it. I've already chosen for the rest of you. Bye."

Her face disappeared from the grille above.

"Elizabeth here. That's all we need," Will said.

Sonea looked confused. "Won't you be glad of her company? You do love her, don't you?"

"It's not that I don't want her," Will said. "I don't trust him with her!" He pointed at Jack, who smiled innocently.

"Who, little old me?"

Sonea gave Will a knowing look. "I'm not surprised," she said.

Jack pouted. "Everyone says that," he muttered.