The Italic writing is the characters thoughts and the underlined italic is from the scripture Sophie is reading.
Chapter 3
Lok POV.
Den had agreed to keep Sophie distracted by duelling her for a while, to give Lok and Zhalia an opportunity to talk.
"Well?"
Lok sighed and slumped down on the couch opposite to Zhalia. "I think it's haunting her now more than ever, her parent's death that is... It's probably because now she remembers and knows who did it and she feels as though, because she is a descendant of Lord Casterwill that she should have been able to save them."
Zhalia nodded slowly. "Let me guess, she also feels pressure from been the Casterwill leader and feels as though she should be more powerful?"
"Were you listening in on our conversation this morning?"
Zhalia smirked, "No. I'm guessing that I was right though."
He nodded and was about to reply when Den and Sophie walked through the door. Den glanced in Lok direction and mouthed the words 'sorry', because he obviously couldn't keep her distracted.
Zhalia stood up "Well I had better leave now, before any of the Bloodspiral come looking for me."
They quickly said their goodbyes and stood on guard as Zhalia slipped out of the safe house and along the ally way until she was out of sight.
Sophie POV.
As Zhalia's figure slipped out of sight she turned from her lookout point and headed towards the library.
Halfway there a small white Titan flew in front of her.
"Where are you going lass?"
"To the library, I want to find out some information on something."
"Oh... What is this 'something'?"
Sophie gave Cheret a sympathetic smile, "Sorry Cheret, I might tell you about it later. If anyone asks I just want to be left alone for a while."
She quickly strode into the library and closed the doors behind her, locking them. Not wanting anyone to try and sneak in.
Cheret POV.
He stared in awe after Sophie as she closed the doors to the library and heard the distinct sound of the latch been turned, locking anyone who tried to gain entrance out.
"Cheret where is Sophie?"
"Aye, Lad I don't know what she is up to. She just locked herself in the library saying that she had to research 'something' and that she wanted to be left alone for a while."
Lok frowned slightly and looked as though he was considering going and trying to unlock the library doors to see what she was doing.
"You know we could just go outside and spy through the window to see what she is doing."
Lok and Cheret turned around to see Den grinning mischievously obviously looking for some action, which he would definitely get if Sophie caught them.
"Den, the consequences from that if Sophie found out would be... Well let's just say I would much rather take my chances against a group of Bloodspiral troops then face an enraged Sophie."
Den laughed at Lok, "Ha your such a wimp."
"Fine go and spy on her, I'll see you in hospital."
Den stopped laughing and looked around as though he was trying to find something to change the subject onto.
Sophie POV.
'There has to be something here.' she sighed and glance over at the clock. She had been in the library for nearly nine hours, and it was getting dark outside. Dante should be getting back soon.
'Please these old Casterwill records should have something about the betrayer.' Sophie rubbed her forehead trying to prevent the head ache. She was tired and hungry.
Just as she was about to give up for the night a passage caught her eye.
#Casterwill's friend protected three regions; these were his sanctuaries where he would hide if trouble rose then strike the enemy when their back was turned. #
Sophie gasped, 'The betrayer used to be a friend to Lord Casterwill. This must be a passage about him and the land that Lord Casterwill had trusted him to protect.'
As she read more the vague location of these regions was outlined. One of the names jolted a memory in Sophie's head.
'This region, Zhalia once mentioned that the Bloodspiral did a lot of work in an area which had these surroundings.'
Sophie slipped the book back into its position on the shelf and started to head towards the library doors when she started to sense evil lurking nearby.
She paused and glanced over her shoulder. The library window had thick curtains hanging over it, so no one could see in or out them. She cautiously started to approach them when the curtains flew back.
Shattered glass fell everywhere covering the timber floor the sound of the breaking glass rung in Sophie's ears but that wasn't the worst of her problems.
Five Bloodspiral members and leap into the room through the broken window, they stood in straight formation, blocking her escape route through the broken window. It was as if they knew she had locked the door and would waste precious time if she went to unlock it and escape through it.
The outer two Spirals were evoking their Titans while the other three where casting spells at her.
"Honorguard!" Sophie gasped shielding her eyes from the Bloodspirals bright Blotflares which battered against her protective barrier.
The two Titans which had been evoked dashed towards her and broke the shield which had protected Sophie from the Blotflares.
"Fight with me, Sabriel!"
Lok POV.
He glanced over at Den then back at the various items of food laid out on the table.
"So... Um... Should we try to make tea, or wait for Sophie or Dante to come and make it, so at least we will know for sure that it is edible." Den asked.
"I would much rather not get food poisoning... I vote we wait. Even if we do starve to death." Lok quickly replied.
"I don't want to wait any longer. Why don't you go and see if you can drag Sophie from the library." Den complained.
Lok glanced over at Den. "Why me?"
"Because she will be less likely to kill you if you go and disturb her study."
Lok sighed as he heard Den and Cheret snickering as he left the kitchen.
He was halfway up the stairs when he heard a familiar voice screaming out.
"Sabriel, no! Double spell, Raypulse! Join us, Sorcerell!"
'Sophie?' Lok thought as he started to run towards the library doors. He grabbed hold of the handles with both hands and desperately tugged against them in vain. They were still locked.
"You are outnumbered. Give up and we might spare you Casterwill." a deep voice demanded.
"Never!"
The voices were much louder as they passed through the door.
Although Lok didn't hear any familiarity in the first voice he was positive that they were part of the Bloodspiral brotherhood from the way they spoke the word 'Casterwill' with such hatred.
"Sophie open up!" Lok yelled banging against the firm door. No call of response was called out as Sophie probably couldn't hear him over the sound of a large crash which occurred as Lok was yelling.
Frantically Lok raced back down to the kitchen where Den and Cheret looked up hopefully when they heard the footsteps racing towards them.
Seeing the look of concern on Loks face Den burst out laughing. "Come on Lok her response couldn't have been that bad."
Lok shook his head viciously. "No it's not that. Bloodspirals... They are in the library attacking Sophie. She is outnumbered but I don't know how many."
Den and Cheret exchanged a worried look before quickly started towards the stairs.
"No! You can't get into the library that way. The door is still locked; we will go outside and through the window. That is the only way they could have entered!" Lok yelled, bursting through the door which led outside and took off running into the night.
The cold air rushed at him but he raced around the side of the safe house towards the library window. He could hear Den's pounding footsteps behind him.
As they rounded the corner a large flash of light came from the library. There was already an unconscious Bloodspiral member on the ground outside the window, a Titan returned to his amulet as Lok and Den approached.
Den started to say something but he was cut off by a scream from another person who was a Bloodspiral agent plummeting from the window. He landed in the bushes which surrounded the safe house, he to fell unconscious.
"Ha now there is only three of you!" Sophie's voice rung out clear in the night.
"How dare you! No Casterwill will better the Bloodspiral brotherhood!" A deep voice was quickly followed by Sophie screaming 'Hyperstride' and jumping through the window with Sorcerell , landing next to Lok and Den.
"Sophie are you ok?" Lok asked anxiously.
She was about to answer him when Den shouted. "Guys look out above!"
The remaining three Bloodspirals jumped through the window and landed on the ground three meters away from them.
Sophie didn't give them time to recover from their jump. "Sorcerell, attack!"
Den was thinking along the same lines as he summoned Vigilante.
Seeing that they were outnumbered the Bloodspirals summoned out their Titans.
"Lok, summon out Baselaird. He can help us defeat them!" Sophie yelled blocking an attack with Honorguard.
Lok nodded and evoked Powerbonded Baselaird.
Sophie POV.
She looked around at the five unconscious Bloodspirals. Lok and Den were already summoning back their titans. She put Sorcerell's amulet back into her pocket.
Lok came over and wrapped his arms around her thin waist. "Are you okay, you didn't get a chance to answer before."
She accepted the warmth of his hug and moved into closer. "I'm fine."
Lok looked down into her eyes, "What happened?"
"I'm not exactly sure. I was just about to come down stairs when I sensed an evil presence nearby. Then they came through the window."
They both glanced across at Den who was checking to make sure that none of the Bloodspirals were starting to regain conscious.
"Lok we should go and collect our things from the safe house and leave. Obviously the Bloodspiral knew that we were staying here. It is possible someone followed Zhalia, which could mean they found out that she is a spy. Anyway it isn't safe here anymore."
"Sophie, where will we go and what about Dante? How will he know where to find us? If what you are saying is true and more Bloodspirals come we can't just leave a note lying around saying, 'We are hiding at this location'." Den said walking over to the pair, Cheret sitting on his shoulder.
Lok smiled at Den. "Don't worry, It's Dante. He will find us.