In Gente...
As Heather and Geoff rode into Gente, the streets weren't as lively for some reason. Only a few people passed on the streets, either trading or selling their business.
"This place almost like a ghost town," Geoff muttered under his breath.
"You got that right," Heather said, hearing what he said. "We better get these horses to the town stables and inspect where the prince was staying."
Geoff and Heather hurried to the stables, paid the stable hand to keep on an eye on them, and off to the town inn.
"Excuse me?" Geoff said to the inn keeper who was putting some keys into their rightful holes.
The inn keeper turned around and looked at Heather and Geoff. She was tan with long unusal purple hair in a braid and black beady eyes. She wore a teal dress with golden earrings and a locket.
"Oh sorry, I'm not really the inn keeper; I'm the bellhop/journalist," the girl said. "My name is Sierra."
"Nice to meet you, Sierra," Geoff said. "I'm Geoff and this is Heather."
Sierra gasped. "You wouldn't have to be the Heather and Geoffrey of Ciudad Investigations, right?"
"Uhh...yeah we are," Heather said. Heather and Geoff looked at each other with eyebrows raised.
"You're my favorite detectives in all of Desembarcar!" Sierra squealed, hopping up and down which earned weird looks from Heather, Geoff, and a few quests in the inn.
Suddenly, Sierra stopped hopping and had a questioning look in her eyes.
"So you guys here on love business?" Sierra asked. Heather and Geoff stared. "As in you two together?" Sierra smirked.
"W-w-hat? NO!" Heather shouted, apalled.
"Yeah! Heather is my friend, nothing else!" Geoff said, apalled.
"We're on a case," Heather explained.
"Oh, you are! Well, if you need any help at all, just ask," Sierra told them.
"Actually, we come to see if you knew this man and if he purchsed a room," Heather said, holding up a picture of Prince Alejandro. Sierra studied it and her eyes.
"Oh, I remember him!" Sierra exclaimed. "Yes, he did purchased a room but he has not been in it for the past few days. Sorry."
"Dang it! I thought for sure..."Geoff exclaimed, trailing off. Heather put the picture back in her satchel.
"Wait!" Sierra exclaimed."It's rumored that the man you're looking for was last seen walking into the forest on his horse towards th-the Aph-ph-phrodit-t-te c-c-cave." Sierra gulped.
"Thanks," Heather said, smirking. She walked to the door and started towards the stable.
"Whoa, stop!" Geoff said, popping in front of Heather, stopping her. "We're seriously gonna believe that girl?"
"Geoff, this is our best lead. If the prince is not in his room, then where?" Heather explained, side-stepping and continued walking.
"Maybe he walked to another town?" Geoff suggested, walking along side her.
"And not tell his parents about it?" Heather asked.
"Sometimes, parents can be annoying sometimes and not know if they're interferring," Geoff explained.
"But the princes always kept their word, no matter what," Heather said, stopping and turning to Geoff. "Look if he's not there, then we'll go to the next town over, deal?"
"Deal," Geoff said, nodding.
"Come on let's get the horses and rescue the prince before it gets dark," Heather instructed, walking towards the stables with Geoff alongside with her.
The two retrived the horses and set them up. After that, Heather and Geoff took off into the forest. The forest had trees with branches that streched out as if nimple fingers touching you. The grass was lusicous and green.
Not long after they entered the forest, Heather and Geoff heard a horse coming up. They got closer and stopped. They saw a big brown healthy horse tied up to a tree. Heather got off her horse and lead it the brown horse ny the reins. She examined the horse's saddle. So new and custom made. Yep, this is a royal horse.
"Hey, Geoff?" Heather called out.
"Yeah?" Geoff replied, coming closer with his horse.
"I think this is the prince's horse," Heather said.
"You think?" Geoff asked.
"The saddle is fit for royalty, so it must the prince's horse," Heather explained.
Suddenly, all three horses went neighed to each other as if talking to each other in their own langauge.
"See? The horses wouldn't be like this if they didn't know each other," Heather pointed out.
"I guess you're right," Geoff said. "But if the prince's horse is here, then where is the prince?"
"I'll keep walking and see if I could find him, okay?" Heather said, tying up her horse to a nearby tree. "You can watch them, right?"
"Wait, I'll come with you," Geoff said, getting ready to get off his horse.
"And then what if we find the cave? You won't be able to help without falling under the Aphrodite's spell," Heather explained. "Besides, I need you to watch the horses in case no one can kidnaps them."
"Fine," Geoff grumbled, staying in the saddle of his horse. "Just be careful!"
"I always do, Geoff," Heather mumbled before walking forward.
"So how's them Slayers?" geoff asked, trying to start a conversation.
Meanwhile, Heather continued through the healthy forest, feeling no danger up ahead.
Suddenly, the sky had gray clouds. The ground was bare except for stones and boulders. The trees were now gray and bare. Heather notcied parts of skeletons and the whole thing scattered on the ground. The bones kept piling up as she started hearing moaning, giggling, and laughter.
Heather looked up and saw a cave where the voices were coming from and the bones and skeletons were in huge piles. She paused at a few feet from the mouth of the cave and took a deep breath.
"Come on, Heather. You can do this. Do it for Dad. Do it for Bridgette. Do it for Damian and Amanda. Do it for...Mom," Heather whipsered.
Taking one more breath, Heather slowly trudged into the cave. There were lights at the end of the cave. Heather examined her surroundings. There were rats chewing on the human remains. Gross.
Suddenly, Heather felt movement behind her. She looked behind her and nothing was there. She looked in front of her and found a woman hanging upside down pointing a spear at her.
"Don't scream," the woman whispered. The woman jumped down to where she was standing up right.
Heather took another look at the woman. She had fair skin and long blonde hair in a thin braid with olive eyes. She wore a light blue dress with a blue bonnet. This woman looked vagely familar. It couldn't be...
"Bridgette?" Heather asked quietly.
The woman perked up, removeing her weapon from Heather. Surprise that any stranger that knew her true name. Unless...
"Heather?" Bridgette asked quietly.
Heather smiled as she nodded. Bridgette dropped her weapon to the ground as she embraced Heather, smiling and sobbing. Heather took the hug, sobbing as well.
"Heather, I missed you and Geoff and-and everyone!" Bridgette sobbed quietly.
"Well, we all missed you too," Heather said.
Heather and Bridgette pulled away from the hug and released.
"So, what brings to the Aphrodites cave?" Bridgette asked.
"Business," Heather replied, earning a confused look from Bridgette. "I'm here rescusing someone. I'm a detective, you know. Me and Geoff are."
"Oh, Geoff! How is he?" Bridgette asked, excitedly.
"Well, he's Geoff. You know, fun and playful Geoff," Heather replied.
"Oh, I can't wait to see him again. By the way, who are you rescuing?" Bridgette asked.
"The prince of Desembarcar," Heather replied.
"Which one?" Bridgette asked again.
"Prince Alejandro," Heather replied.
"Oh, you might not want to do that," Bridgette warned.
"And why not?" Heather asked.
"Because a new guy came looking like a prince came in and the top Aphrodite claimed him," Bridgette explained. "And once she got what she wants, she never lets it go."
Heather thought about it and a great plan came to her mind.
"I've got a plan," Heather smirked,"and it involves you."
"Tell me," Bridgette smirked.
Heather leaned in and whipsered her plan into Bridgette's ear. Once Heather was done telling her plan, her and Bridgette's smirks became bigger.
"That might actually worked," Bridgette said.
The Aphrodites were dressed in provocative clothes and jewlery. They had absolute beauty to their looks. Men scatted around the room, being wooed by several Aphrodites totally love struck.
The top Aphrodite, L'Amour, was cuddling with Prince Alejandro, who was under her spell. L'Amour had long silky hair with skin to match. She wore the most provocative clothing out of all the Aphrodites.
Prince Alejandro was different, though. He had a body of a slayers body with tan skin and a buff chest. He wore a red tunic with brown pants and shoes. His light brown hair framed his face and little goatee to match. His lovestruck eyes were light green. He was sure trapped under L'Amour's spell.
L'Amour was lean in to kiss the prince when...
"L'Amour!" a voice called out. The Aphrodites, including L'Amour, looked at the source of the voice. The men were too wrapped in the Aphrodites to even look.
"Ahh, Poulette," L'Amour said, smiling.
It was actually Bridgette. Poulette was her Aphrodite name. Bridgette had a look of anger on her face. She had something or someone behind her back. Bridgette took out the person from behind and threw on her on the ground. It was Heather, who laid crying on the ground.
"Why did you bring that woman here?" L'Amour asked, angrily.
"Same thing all those women who come through here," Bridgette responded. "To claim back her husband!"
The Aphrodites all gasped while Heather continued to cry.
"And who is her husband?" L'Amour asked putting her hands on her hips.
"M-my hus-s-sband is r-r-right b-b-beside you!" Heather sobbed, pointing at the prince.
"Oh? You want your husband back?" L'AMour asked. Heather nodded. "Well, too bad! "He's mine!"
"B-but he w-was min-ne f-first!" Heather claimed, crying even more.
"Too bad; so sad! He's under my spell and he'll be mine as he as lives!" L'Amour cackled.
Heather signed with a moan. "Can at least say goodbye to him and I'll leave and won't you bother ever again?"
L'Amour thought about it. If she refused, the girl might come back. But if she lets the girl do this, she'll never come back.
"Alright, you've got a deal," L'Amour smirked. She lifted her hand, aloowing Alejandro to walked down to Heather.
Heather took his hands into hers which sent a shiver down her spine. She winced, but continued her actions.
Bridgette looked around to see if the exit was clear. And it was.
"Heather! NOW!" Bridgette yelled.
With that, Heather broke out of her acting and dragged Alejandro towards the exit of the cave. Bridgette followed closely behind.
"WHAT? Poulette! Explain!" L'Amour demanded.
"First of all, my name's Bridgette, not Poulette!" Bridgette exclaimed. "And second, I've been wanting my freedom for years, so goodbye forever!"
"Argh!" L'Amour yelled.
Soon, Heather, Alejandro, and Bridgette were out of the cave. They stopped and doubled over in fatigue, panting.
"Do you think they'll follow us?" Heather asked, panting.
"Nah, Aphrodites can't leave their cave without being desentigrated," Bridgette replied, giggling.
"Okay," Heather said.
"What are we gonna do about him?" Bridgette asked, pointing to Alejandro. Who was still lovestruck.
"All he needs is some water and he'll be out of the spell," Heather explained. "Which is back with the horses who's with Geoff."
Bridgette gasped. "Geoff's here?"
"Yeah," Heather said in obvious tone. "Come on!"
Bridgette and Heather, along with Alejandro, walked to the horses and Geoff who had his back turned to him and was in deep conversation.
"I mean why don't be friends with the dragons, instead of killing them?" Geoff asked to no one inparticular.
"Oh, Geoff," Heather said. "Look who I found."
"Finally, Heather," Geoff sigehed, turning to the three. "I was starting to get..."
Geoff trailed off when he saw Bridgette.
"She's not an Aphrodite, isn't it?" Geoff asked.
"No, look into her eyes, Geoff," Heather chuckled.
Geoff walked up to Bridgette and looked into her olive eyes. Bridgette smiled. Geoff smiled and wrapped his arms around Bridgette, spinning her.
"Bridgette! It's really you!" Geoff laughed. Bridgette laughed, too.
Heather guide Alejandro to a tree near the horses and laid him down. She took out a water jug and dumped some water onto her hand. She rubbed some of it on his eyes. His eyes closed soon after that...
Alejandro was in a daze for God knows how long, but he knew for sure he was coming out of it. He opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was a woman in front kneeled down beside him.
The woman was beautiful from her silver eyes to her figure. She had silky black hair with a gray streak making it more beautiful. She had skin as white as dirty snow that made her figure even more glorious. Her outfit was a brugandy tunic with brown pants and brown felt shoes. Not the typical outfit that most girls wore which made her unique.
"Hi, please forgive me we met like this," Alejandro said, sitting up against the tree. "I'm Prince Alejandro." He grabbed her hand, which had a familar touch but he ignored it, and kissed the top of her hand.
"I know. I was sent," the woman said. "Heather."
Alejandro blinked after releasing Heather's hand. "What do you were sent? Who sent you?"
"Your parents. The king and queen," Heather said in obvious tone.
Alejandro nodded. "How long was I in a daze?"
"A few days according to some people," Heather replied. "Which by the way you need to contact your parents back in Gente."
Heather reached her hand for Alejandro to take which he accept. Heather pulled Alejandro up and the two looked at their hands, then at each other.
They were interupted by a loud giggle coming from behind them and they let go of their hands to looked.
"Geoff! Hahaha! That tickles!" Bridgette squealed. A blonde man was running his hands against a blonde woman's stomach in a ticklish manner.
Heather chuckled, before clearing her throat. "Ahem!"
The man stopped while the woman did too. The man and woman straightened themselves before bowing while Heather did also.
"Please, don't do that. I have to live with that at home. Not here please," Alejandro chuckled.
The three raised and straightened. Heather walked up to the man and woman.
"Prince Alejandro, meet Geoff and Bridgette. Geoff and Bridgette, meet Prince Alejandro," Heather explained.
"Nice to meet yoy, your highness," Bridgette giggled.
"Yeah, what she said," Geoff said.
Alejandro, Heather, and Geoff got on their horses. Since Bridgette didn't have one, she got on Geoff's horse, sitting in front of him. They arrived at the inn where Alejandro was staying. Sierra was there, noticing that they found him.
"Oh you guys found him!" Sierra exclaimed. "And you have a new friend."
"This is Bridgette," Geoff said, putting his arm around her. Bridgette blushed at this.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sierra!" Sierra exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Alejandro and Heather were behind them, watching the scene.
"I'd better go call my parents," Alejandro said, before he walked off towards the inn's phone. Heather smiled at him before turning back to Geoff and Bridgette.
"Oh, Alejandro! Thank goodness you're alright!" Queen Maria exclaimed into phone.
"I'm glad too," Alejandro replied, smiling.
"Oh, your father wants to talk to you! Hold on!" Queen Maria said, before handing the phone to King Enrique and leaving the room.
"Hello, mijo," King Enrique said.
"Hello, father," Alejandro said.
"Listen, before you were in a 'daze', did you find a wife?" King Enrique asked.
"No," Alejandro said, before thinking about possibly bringing Heather back as a wife.
"Well, tell Heather and Geoffrey that they must stick with you until you do and no, Heather can't be your wife," King Enrique explained.
Alejandro blinked. "And why is that?"
"Because she obviously not royal enough to be a princess or even queen!" King Enrique explained.
"Neither were Lucinda or Gabriella!" Alejandro exclaimed.
"And where are they?" King Enrique asked.
Alejandro didn't answered that.
"That's right! Out of Desembarcar! I want you to marry someone that wants to stay here and be queen! Got it?" King Enrique asked.
"Yes, sir," Alejandro said, giving in.
"Now that doesn't mean that Heather and Geoffrey will be rewarded for rescuing you. Which they will. Now, after you found a wife and you travel back to the castle, bring Heather and Geoffrey with you, and if they have a friend with them, their friend can come, too." King Enrique explained.
Alejandro blinked. "Wait how you-"
"Goodbye, mijo," King Enrique said, before hanging up.
How did he know about Bridgette? Alejandro shrugged it off and walked toward his group.
Little did they know, their journey has already began.
And done!
What did that last sentence mean? Oh well...
Wow, a long chapter to review! Oh which reminds...
Review! Thank 2012, Everyone! B/c I have been updating my stories much faster since it has begun!
Review!
Luv, Flutejrp!