"Jordyn!" I screech as I'm running down the stairs. Everyone looks at me, as I trip and fall down the stairs. Landing face first at the foot of them, but I quickly get up. "Jordyn," I grasp her by the arms, "Do you know that city up stairs?" Jordyn is silent for a moment then she starts to speak.
"It's called, Morphina. It was destroyed in a big war. Mommy sent me to this world to live with Daddy. She said I was meant to do great things, so I live with Dad. But I couldn't possibly imagine her gone…when she is."
"Good, ok awesome, tell me where is Morphina located?" I ask my tone running on the edge of desperate.
"It's on the edge of an ocean…I can't remember I know it's something though…"
"Come on Jordyn, think. Please."
"Um, I-I uh, I can't…I'm sorry madam, I can't think of it!" She cried and ran into a corner, sobbing into her knees. I looked at Nevleon, he nodded. Then sent me a look of: Sorry-she's-seven-years-old. I smiled and nodded. I went and sat next to Jordyn.
"I'm sorry Jordyn; it wasn't your fault I'm pressuring you too much. But can you tell me a little bit about Morphina."
"Yeah, it was a pretty city. Every- what do you call those things, with a light on top of the thing?"
"A streetlight, anyways go on."
"Yeah that's it! And so like it had those with red roses growing up the pole. Then my mom and I we would walk down to the harbor every morning. The water usually sparkled in the sunlight. Sometimes when it was a warm sunny day Mama would take me down to Lake Summit and- THAT'S IT!
"Lake Summit?" Everyone turned and looked to see what she screamed about I gave them a smile. Then turned back to Jordyn. "Tell me about it." I said, I gave her an encouraging smile. She got a thoughtful look on her face then she started.
"It was located as a barrier, to Daddy's world and Mama's. Mama, had me swim across it to get to Daddy's world. But Mama said never to try to swim back across because there are things in it that could kill even the most powerful things. But I never told Daddy this because I felt like I had to tell it to someone else. But I think Lake Summit the Earthly one, is located in the depths of a great mountain. It's called Indian… I think."
"Indian, are you sure?"
"Pretty sure, I can't be 100 percent, but I'm 99.999999 percent sure." I laughed and smiled.
"Thank you Jordyn. You have no idea how much you've helped me. Now come with me there's something Nevleon and I have to discuss." Her brown eyes lit up and she got up out of the dusty corner wiping her butt off and following me to her father's room. I knocked and he opened it and gave a little bow. Then he saw his daughter trailing behind me. He gave her a puzzled look, she shrugged then followed in behind me. I sat down on Nevleon's bed and looked him in the eyes.
"I have a favor to ask of you Nevleon, your daughter is a guide to part of my journey. I have to continue with her… I know I failed you today with your trust, with Fiona. But I promise that I will protect her with my own life. I know she is the only thing you have to family. But she is my only hope in saving my boyfriend. I have a feeling in bringing her with me will also develop an own sense of strength in her."
"Your highness, I can't believe you would think that I would have let my trust in you go. My daughter herself was foolish to believe she can defend for herself." He gave Jordyn a hard look, "But my lady if you need my daughter, under your protection, I leave her to you."
"Oh thank you Nevleon, I promise not to let her get hurt. I promise to you that much."
"You are welcome my goddess." He bowed once more and I looked out the peep hole in the room and saw the storm had cleared Fiona was gone. But night was starting. It was better to go now. Fiona's senses wouldn't be so strong. I grabbed Jordyn's hand then ran to the base room. I grabbed numerous weapons. I handed a bronze knife to Jordyn.
"Can you take this? You hold it like this." I curled her fingers around the knife and showed her how. She nodded. I grabbed my own falcata which sat on the table. I slipped it down to my waist belt. Then grabbed some food from the fridge not really looking at what I grabbed. I stuffed it all in a bag. Then slipped it on my shoulder, I grabbed several sweatshirts, and then slipped one on Jordyn. I held her hand and helped her into the jeep, I buckled her seat belt. Then got in and started the car. I pressed the barcode and the ceiling opened. I pulled the jeep up the drive then started to drive through the jungle. I glanced at the GPS; I would drive to the Red Sea then sail down it to the Indian Ocean.
But there was quite a long drive till then. I drove through the night. When I reached a small village called Cardison. I looked to the back seat and saw Jordyn draped across the back of the seat. She had soft little breaths and her hair hung in her face. I smiled, unbuckled myself got out and unbuckled Jordyn. She was quite small for a seven year old. She hung limply to me. I walked with her to a village pedestrian. I asked if he had any idea of the Red Sea. He spoke in a foreign tongue, but some how I understood.
"North of here, but beware there is a curse of one of our gods. She is upset, over something!" He said. I thanked him back in the tongue, and then went back to the jeep; they cleared a path for me. I drove on. I would have to take cover, for I myself was growing exhausted. I pulled into a dense part of the forest. Then climbed to the back of the car and wrapped my arms around Jordyn. Then slept.
I awoke a short while later, to a crack of thunder. I shook myself. Jordyn was already awake flipping through the pages of one of her story books. I grabbed her up and then opened my trunk. I was about to attempt something very stupid maybe something a little dangerous. I helped her into the trunk.
"Stay here, I'll be back. Soon." I handed her my phone, "If I'm not back by the time this reads 7:00 pm. Call your Dad, his name is in there."
"Ok, and Miss. Penelope."
"Yes?"
"Good luck." I smiled at her, despite the horrifying condition I was about to go into, she still had hope. I closed the trunk then ran into the storm. Fiona stood in the middle of her blue storm bubble. She narrowed her eyes at me. Then a cruel smile smudged on her face.
"So we meet again, my dear friend Penelope."
"I suppose we do, so Fiona, where's my brother?"
"I don't know, Jake is the general of my army."
"You have a ten year old as your general of your FREKIN ARMY!" I screamed.
"Yes I do, he's quite smart. But you know he is so gullible. It's so cute how he believes every single word, I sink into his head."
"You're a monster, I hope you rot." I said.
"No my dear, I'm not a monster, I'm just another opponent you can't deal with." She smirked.
"Shut up!" I snap, I strike vines from my hands and wrap them around her neck. She gasps for air, but then she stumbles to the ground, and stings my vines with her electricity. They wrap back into my hands. I frown, leaping into the air; I land on her back, breaking her shockwave bubble. I strangle her. She tries shocking me but I grow claws from my nails and sink them into her shoulder, she screams out in pain. But her electricity stings me up the arms. This causes me to let go, I fall to the ground and lay my back aching waiting for her to shock me. When she finally comes there is a smile on her face. She raises a hand, now forming a lightening bolt; it shakes and quivers in her hand. As she goes down I roll and barely miss the hit. She yells out in anguish. She snarls, and then goes for my neck once more with a bolt. I flash her with a quick and utter movement of blinding green light. It temporarily blinds your enemy just enough to attack. She stumbles around for a minute. I go in once more cutting into her with my sword, she screams in pain. Once more lightening ripples into my soul. But I hold fast, wrapping myself around her lean form. Burning her with my forest mist, made with acid and toxic chemicals, but as she's about to fall to the ground. A man with a flash of speed, comes reaching for her. Lifts her up, blasting me to the ground with a spray of razor sharp knifes. I duck down one catching my arm and tearing my soft flesh. It burns, but the wound is already starting to heal. The scar becoming pink, now turning to a white, then to a normal skin color.
I look after them, the man jumps into the air. He grows a pair of wings that shade the color of pink… EROS! Jake's father! I scream after him, but he doesn't even turn. I stand on the edge of the cliff watching Fiona and Eros disappear into the foggy afternoon. I look down water… were by the Red Sea. A short distance of driving will make the journey. I see the sun is cracking through the fog. A string of orange in the grey clouds, I wish I could stand and look, but I have much too do.
I turn and start to run back to the jeep, it's well hidden amongst the trees. I pop the trunk and find Jordyn, laying in it. She looks at me. I help her up and into the car. I get in the driver's seat and start to drive, my heart racing from the experience. Ah, I love almost killing Fiona. We arrive at the harbor by dusk. I find a parking garage and reserve a spot for five days. I wonder if Phoenix is really going to try to swim across the whole freking ocean. I find a hotel and get the best room they have possible. This happens to be on the top floor.
I walk up the stairs, taking them two at a time. But always conscious of the small girl trailing behind me, I reach the top of the hotel. Slide the key into the key slot and open the door. A smell of overpriced air fresheners hits me. I pause at the doorway. Holding Jordyn behind me, for a second. The scent is strong, but it's infused with something.
"Wait here." I say I walk to the edge of the room, checking under every crevice and sheet. Soon I've ripped the whole room apart. I sigh, talk about paranoia. I snap my fingers and everything flies back into place. I gesture for Jordyn to come to me. She slowly walks in, but then she stops and tilts her head. I hear it too; a slight shaking of the ceiling I walk to the four layered glass window and see it's slightly vibrating. I stick my hand on the glass, and feel the tremors.
In a moment of time my brain registers it. It's a giant. I sigh. I've only gone to full form once. It was only for a dress fitting. But now I would have to battle a giant. Ug, is my work never done! I go to the door. But I turn and see Jordyn watching me. "Where are you going?" She asks.
"I'm going to battle a giant, want to come?" I smiled, she nodded eagerly. I hold out my hand to her, she grasps it. Then we run down the halls. We reach the lobby. I run to sidewalk, everything's deserted. No pedestrian in sight. I close my eyes and grow; I picture a tower and myself being taller then it. I open my eyes and see I've grown well over the size of the tallest building in the city. I look down and see Jordyn dangling from my hand I quickly help her onto my oversized palm. She looks at me.
"Are you ok, with riding in my pocket?" I ask.
"Yeah, I remember you had a piece of gum, that wasn't chewed. I've only heard rumors about that stuff! Now I can have a piece that's the size of a blanket!"
"Ok." I smiled at her. I slipped her down into my pocket gently. I felt her sit down slowly. So I quickly navigated my way through the on looking sea side city, and find him. He's large, and not at all appealing. He's ugly and has a beard that goes to his knees. Bones are stuck in it. He glances at me.
"MY NAME IS SILICON YOU PRETTY GIANT! YOU BE MY BRIDE!" He yelled, and word of advice if you ever and by any means EVER run into a giant, do not stand anywhere near his mouth. It stinks like nothing you have ever smelled before!
"Uh, sorry dude, I don't marry unless the first date goes well." I said. Anger boiled in his eyes.
"THEN SILICON KILLS YOU!" He ran at me, destroying a block of buildings. I wrapped a giant vine around his legs, he falls to the ground. Face first. I leaned down and picked up his head, then his whole body and threw it out to sea. The splash rose up and tidal waves rose, but then quickly sunk down. Thanks Pearl. I thought I closed my eyes once more and shrunk down to normal size. Jordyn's hand still in my pocket. She glanced up at me, I smiled down on her. She held her hand up to an empty gum wrapper. I laughed, and then took her hand and we walked back to the hotel. Enjoying the moment.
When we reached the lobby it was alive with people and cleaning ladies. I pressed the button on the elevator and we rocketed up into the building. With a loud bing! The elevator doors opened, we raced down the hall eager to be in bed. I was exhausted by the time I dropped down onto the mattress. Jordyn immediately fell asleep. But I on the other hand was restless and rolled back and forth. Thoughts dashed on my mind. Racing faster then horses around a race track. I couldn't help but wonder where was Phoenix? I wanted to save him, before he entered the portal to Morphina, or what used to be. But I didn't know if I could get to him in time…What if I didn't? What then? What would happen to him? I couldn't stop thinking about him. I sat straight up in bed. I had to find him. I had to. If I didn't I might not be able to go on. Phoenix had done something to me. Breaking into my heart and declaring it his own. I got up; dawn was piercing through the dark clouds of night.
I roused Jordyn she groaned, but got up without much complaint.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"The Indian Ocean, you in?" She smiled.
"Aren't I always, Miss. Penelope?" I left the room while she got dressed. Then I tied my hair into a knot, and brushed my teeth quickly. Then went into the main room,
"Ready?" I asked. She smiled and her dark eyes twinkled. We reached outside the hotel and walked to the harbor in a casual matter. As soon as we reached it, I saw a boat that was unoccupied. I untied the ropes to that were latched to the wooden bar on the dock and jumped on. I helped Jordyn get on. Then not really sure how to control it, called upon a seaman, about to set off. "You there! Do you know how to steer, I just got this boat and don't know how to!"
"Well did you take a class?" He asked in an odd tongue.
"No, please help!"
"Just use the bar in the back, and the rope tied to it. It you steer the bar right it goes right steer left it goes left. Pull the rope to slow or break, then- oh and watch out for that flask!"
"What!" I asked. Then a boat part that was attached the sail came at me. I ducked and screamed. The man laughed.
"It means the wind direction turned." He laughed and went on his way on his own boat. I groaned, I did as he said and we actually made it through the Red Sea without any trouble, it was just until we went through the small channel, and entered the vast ocean that I was lost. But I followed the direction of the wind which was heading north. I sloppily navigated us to the shore. When we finally reached it, I thought is might have been too late. It was. A boy bobbed in the water beautiful beach blond with a red streak. So far out that I scared what happened next.
"Wait here!" I shouted to Jordyn as I ran my heart racing. For the thought of Phoenix's death was horrifying. But the thought of the only boy that I had grown these definite loving emotions for was about to be sucked into a toxic place. "Phoenix!" I screamed my heart, brain, eyes, and my whole being screamed.