Chapter 2

Caught

A few nights later

Dante's POV

We snuck back in the Eyire Building and we got back to the safe. I stayed guard with Sophie while Lok cracked the safe and Zhalia watched him. I decided it would be best if he learned how to pick locks. Den was in the room with Zhalia and Lok.

"Do you hear growling?" Sophie asked as a blue beast ran toward us.

"Boltflare!" I shot at him.

"Honorguard!" Sophie summoned the shield as my power missed.

He reared up and scratched at the shield. "It won't last, Dante! He's strong."

"He's defending his castle! Come out, Powerbonded Caliban!" I summoned my Titan.

The beast was smart. It seemed like he had fought before. We kept him back as best we could.

"Freeze and be still please!" A voice echoed with power and we were frozen in place.

"Talia?" I asked.

Dante's POV End

Earlier

Talia's POV

"Evening, Goliath." I smiled as he woke up.

"Evening, Talia." He smiled back.

"Can I come?" I asked.

"No way, Tai. That trickster you call a father would turn us into bats if we tried." Brooklyn roosted on the wall.

"I have magic. And I can fight." I whined.

"You are still new to both those skills, Talia. We will fly later." Goliath said gently.

"Stupid Puck and his dumb rules." I huffed.

"Careful, kid, you know his true name is more potent coming from your mouth." Brooklyn laughed.

"He's working with Third Dad." I said dismissively.

"Was working with "Third Dad." It's dinnertime, Sweetheart." Owen kissed the top of my head.

I looked at Brooklyn and he was cackling. Goliath's lips became a wiry grin.

"Oh, shut up." I scowled at them.

"Come along, Talia." He led me back inside and I sat at the dinner table. He served us our dinner and we ate.

After dinner, I lured Bronx out of the TV room and played with him. He played fetch and then I rubbed his belly. He liked it. I was trying to teach Alex to be gentle when petting his tummy.

He perked up suddenly and looked down the hall.

"What's wrong, boy?" I asked.

"Grr." He growled and ran toward whatever caught his attention.

"Bronx, wait!" I hopped a little and flew after him.

Bronx had a head start, but I was faster in the air. I followed him to the hall where David was keeping the weird necklaces. Bronx was fighting… Dante and Sophie. And a monster. They shot strange energy bolts at him.

"Freeze and be still please!" I casted and froze them in place.

"Talia?" Dante asked. I kept their mouths working.

"Kiddo, why did- what's going on?" Puck appeared as he felt my magic.

"I was just going to ask them." I said.

"Zhalia, I can't move!" L-Lok shouted.

"Looks like we have a predicament, Tai." Puck said.

"Don't hurt them, P." I said and he looked at me bewildered. "I'm trying something."

"I don't like it." He frowned.

"Talia." Dante said.

"Right. Um, let's go the Great Hall." I teleported everyone to the Great Hall.

"What's going on?" David asked. Fox agreed.

"Talia, I could have brought us here." Puck frowned.

"I'm fine." I coughed.

"No, you're not. Ten people is too many." He forced me to look into his eyes.

"We," I coughed again and wiped the blood off my lip. Dante seemed uncomfortable for some reason. "-have other things to worry about now."

"Don't think you're off the hook." He healed me.

"I know…" I placed my hand over the scar on my stomach. I could still feel the blood soaking through my shirt even though Puck got rid of it. I steeled myself and made my face unreadable. "Why did you break into the castle?"

"That's some poker face." Zhalia said.

"Got it from my dad. Now, answer." I demanded.

"Those necklaces your father has-" I hummed, but let Dante's mistake slide. "-They're not just artifacts, they called Amulets and they hold powerful beings called Titans. Titans are powerful, ancient warriors that were summoned from the Spirit World of Huntik and sealed away in Amulets by Lord Casterwill centuries ago. Titans don't think like humans do because they're spirit entities that rely more on their instincts. They were to aid Lord Casterwill in an ancient battle against the Nullifiers, they were threatening to destroy the world."

"Casterwill like…" I paused.

"Like me, yes. I'm his direct descendant. Casterwills have a special type of magic that only we can use and have abilities only Casterwills are known to have." She added more than we needed.

"Why are those Amulets so important?" Fox asked.

"Seekers, that's what we're called, can bond with the Titans in the Amulets and can communicate through the Rapport-Bond, or "the bond." Titans will most easily bond with Seekers whose personality is similar to its previous Seeker, although Titans that haven't been bonded with any Seekers for a long time may be difficult to bond. Also, if the new Seeker's personality is completely opposite to the Titan's previous Seeker, it may outright refuse to bond. Sometimes, if a Titan has an abnormally strong bond with its Seeker, it may become so in sync with its Seeker; that it becomes Powerbonded. Although, Titans don't naturally think in human terms, Powerbonded Titans can more directly communicate through telepathy with their Seekers. Additionally, Powerbonded Titans become more powerful in attack and defense power and gain some amount of golden armor. I don't know why." Zhalia shrugged.

"Are those Titans I have strong?" David asked.

"Yes. We need to take them before our enemies try to take them from you. And they will hurt everyone in this castle to get them." Dante told him.

David thought. "Very well, Mr. Vale. You can have the Amulets tomorrow evening."

"Um, when do we get to ask our questions?" Lok asked.

"Tomorrow after sunset, but come a little early." David told him.

"We'll be there." Dante told him.

"C'mon, Tai. Let's go." Puck took us back to my room. I was sitting on my bed as he scolded me. "What you did was stupid. You know better than to strain your magic."

"I wasn't thinking." I said.

"Talia, you have to start thinking about your own wellbeing. It won't do you any good if you keep hurting yourself." He sighed. "Please."

"Ok." I said.

"That's my good girl. You know I don't like scolding you." He brushed my hair back.

"I know." I said.

"Did you undo the freezing spell?" He asked.

"I dunno." I shrugged. "Normally, my magic stops after I get hurt. But… Unfreeze and do as you please!"

"Reusing the same rhyme twice?" He teased.

"It still works." I huffed.

"Let's go play a trick on that Blueballs guy." Puck smiled.

"Bluestone." I corrected.

"Does it matter?" He asked.

"…What'd you have in mind?" I asked.

"You're gonna love it, kiddo." He couldn't resist giving me a small peck on the cheek. "Ok, so here's the plan…"

Talia's POV End

Dante's POV

"Dante, I can move again." Lok told me, smiling at us.

"Talia must have accidental released the spell when her wound opened up again." Fox said.

"What is she and who was that with her?" Sophie asked.

"We'll answer your questions tomorrow." Xanatos said.

"Have a good night, Mr. Xanatos, Mrs. Xanatos." I told them and we left.

Dante's POV End