Caleb ignored the water; the beasts of the sea, as the bubble floated right through the portal and his eyes couldn't, apparently, be dragged away from Will for a few minutes. She'd left a tingling sensation on his cheek, and despite the anger that had been blistering his insides, Caleb smiled as her slowly increasing colour of scarlet stared down at the murky depths below; ignoring Hay Lin as she pulled at the redhead's sleeve and spoke something of awe at the view. It was when his eyes finally dragged away from her, that he saw Cornelia - the girl had her face scrunched up with her eyes closed, and he grinned at the thought that the ever-confident of monsters girl, was scared of something so vital to keeping her alive, so he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and jerked; startled when she flung her entire body at him, and what could he do but stand there, as Will's chocolaty eyes met his, before she looked away flushing even more out of embarrassment. But Cornelia had only been scared, and he didn't think he really had the grounds to push her away; only grinning comfortingly, as her frightened eyes followed another looming shadow. "A neróktínos.. I could fish you bigger things than that.."
Cornelia took the joke with a dry laugh, but Caleb found himself staring at Will and finding nothing: she'd immersed herself in the water outside, speaking direction in hushed tones to Irma. He knew it couldn't help that Irma had probably seen what she'd done, because the brunette was grinning from ear to ear as Will pointedly ignored him. "Slowly.. Come up on the far side of the mine-shaft.."
Caleb watched her quirk her glossy lips, and he wondered if she regretted it already. He should have pulled her back; should have told her how perfect she was; he should have devoured her mouth in his and figured out how to explain hisself later.. He probably would have, were she not in guardian form, and it seemed odd; funny to think that the woman would hold less appeal for him than the girl of whom Aldarn had compared to a boy.. But Will wasn't a boy in any comparison. And the only thing about her he'd like to change, was that she was avoiding him now, because she was too ignorant of herself to see how wonderful she was. That and the blonde who didn't know she was ruining everything. "Will.."
Caleb struggled with his breath, when her eyes, along with four other pairs met his; having heard his broken voice utter the word.. But it was only now that he had her attention, that he realized he didn't have anything to say to her.
"..Thanks.. ..For everything.."
...
"Now.." The palace guard sat in silence other than one voice; an echo of a murmur that wafted through the bushels. "Let's just wait for the guardians and the rbel leader to fall into our trap."
"I think I heard something.."
"Bonehead."
"There's only one way into the mines.." Taranee watched Caleb skeptically; her gaze flickering back to Will, who'd gone very pink and was biting a smile from her lips ever since he'd thanked her.. And Taranee wondered what she'd done - or maybe it was just the fact that Will was letting him pursue his father, and if so Taranee thought that numerous 'thank you's' ought to be in order. "Down the tube mouth.-"
"Wait!" Caleb had leant out of the bubble, and Hay Lin grabbed him and pulled him back; listening for something once he'd complied. "I hear lot's of men talking.."
Taranee looked up at Hay Lin, and then to Will. Men. "An ambush?"
"Or a Startrek convention.."
Taranee frowned at Irma's drawling, but Caleb spoke before Will could. "How did they know we'd be here? Phobos can't create portals!"
Taranee opened her mouth as Caleb flushed at his own words; fully intending to ask how he knew that for sure, but Cornelia gasped. "I bet Elyon can! She locked me in a giant floating bubble! Who knows what freaky power she's got now!"
"Um.." Will pointed to the bubbled, motioning for Irma to disperse it, and Taranee noticed that the redhead's smile had vanished, and her blush had become paled.. It wasn't surprising, Taranee supposed; Elyon was a fairly delicate subject when it came to Cornelia and Will.. The redhead probably didn't really want to get on the blonde's wrong side again, and Taranee npded when Will drew a square into the air and pointed at the large metal tube, "Okay.. Taranee..?"
"Fire!"
More tomorrow I'm afraid..