Yeah! Another chapter :D

The story is going to reach the climax soon. :)

Um...not much anything else to say :/

So...I hope you enjoy the story!

Chapter 16: Fallen

Ash POV

The sea suddenly fell still. The serpent was no longer thrashing. Where was Winter? I glared at the sand beneath me. Scowling, I kicked my feet viciously. The sand gave way and my foot flew out of the sand. I stumbled backwards but managed to regain my footing. Hurriedly, Josie stepped out too. We helped Neville, who was sunk to his waist, get out. Then, we rushed to the sea. Josie kneeled next to the now gentle waves, and swirled her hands in the water. The currents rocked to and fro. Suddenly, Josie started and drew the water towards her. A black-clothed boy washed up on shore.

Winter! I rushed to his side. He skin was even paler than before, and an ugly crimson gash bled across his stomach. He was unconscious, but his chest was rising and sinking unsteadily. Josie shut her eyes in concentration. A thin stream of water was drawn from Winter's lips. Suddenly, he twisted to his side. He convulsed, exploding into a fit of sickly coughs. I put my hand on his shoulder awkwardly, trying to calm him down. Eventually, his coughing subsided and we helped him sit up. He breathed hard, holding his hand to his bloody stomach. Josie helped to heal it.

Now that he was conscious, he was in worse condition that I thought he was. His black hair stuck against his forehead. His pale eyes looked sunk in, dark circles beneath them. He skin looked almost ghostly, and blue veins stuck out in his arm. He trembled constantly and took in jagged breaths.

Josie was busying herself. She willed the water from Winter's clothes, drying them instantly. His abdomen wound had stopped bleeding, though the gash had only faded to an angry red scar. Winter shook his head as she tried to heal his hand. Healing his stomach wound had left her out of breath. Neville helped bandage his hand puncture, Winter said hoarsely that it was only a minor wound.

Then, difficulty he stood up, staggering just a little.

"Winter, what…happened?" I said.

"The monster's…dead," he said with a slightly rasp. He coughed.

"Will it come back anytime soon?" I said. No way Winter could handle another serpent attack. I wondered if my lightning would suffice as a weapon. I wouldn't exactly be able to walk up to it and stab it with my spear.

"It's dead." Winter repeated. "It won't come back."

"What do you mean?" Neville said.

Winter ducked his head and looked away. "I don't want to talk about it."

His expression almost looked like…shame. None of us knew what to say. Then, it was Winter who broke the silence.

"We still have to hunt Proteus. Let's go."

"With you in this condition!" I exclaimed. "No way!"

"I'm feeling better," he said quietly.

It was true that he was breathing normally, but he still looked sickly. He still looked tired. His hand wound was still bleeding, and I didn't trust that gash in his stomach either.

"But you can't-"

"I'm not going to let great Lord Poseidon interfere with our quest. I said we were going to find Proteus and we are," he said.

"But you're in no condition to fight!" I shouted.

"I'm only a member of the team," he said. He turned away. "There are still three warriors to fight. We're going."

He walked away. Neville trotted after him nervously. I looked at Josie. She quickly turned her gaze to the ground and slowly, as if in pain, followed Winter's footsteps. I gripped my spear in anger and followed them.

Neville was leading now. He brought us around a cliff and put his finger to his mouth. That meant Proteus was right around the corner. Winter put on his own and gave Neville and me a mouthpiece. If Proteus decided to drown us (we didn't know if he could, but he as a son of Poseidon, it was a safe precaution) we would still be able to breath with the mouthpiece. Some magic mechanism allowed infinite air to flow through it when the occasion called for.

"Winter," I tried one last time. "Are you sure?"

He nodded grimly. A bit of color had returned to his face, maybe he was okay. However, I couldn't help but feel bitter at Winter's…I don't know! Arrogance, valor, stubbornness? Couldn't he wait one more day? I took a quick intake of breath. This was no time to be wasting my energy on being angry at my team member. I tried to focus my anger on Proteus. No matter how twisted it might sound, anger was often a fuel I used in battles.

Winter pulled out his dagger and drew the landscape behind the cliff. A small 'X' marked where Proteus was. He was right beside the seashore. Winter didn't bother to say a word. We didn't know how sensitive Proteus' senses were. He could know we were there right now. We already knew the plan. Draw him away from the water, strike quickly. Neville sat against the cliff and nodded.

We had concluded that a surprise attack would do no good. Rushing in recklessly would prove a disadvantage to us. Reluctantly, Winter had agreed to letting Josie come out first. If Proteus decided on a long range attack, Josie would parry his water manipulation the best. I stayed behind Josie, Winter circled around the other side of the rock. The instant Josie crept out from the rock, a blinding blade of water slashed through the air. Josie, clumsily deflected it and it slashed into the rock behind us. Horrified, I looked at the vicious laceration in the cliff. It had cleanly cut through, almost four feet in. I directed my eyes back to the beach. A tall figure stood nearby the beach. Winter had directed an angle so that the sun would be right behind Proteus. We could see where he was without actually looking at his eyes. When it came to the fight however, we wouldn't be able to look at Proteus.

Striking my spear into the ground, I summoned a lightning strike. The blinding flash streaked at Proteus. A spiral of water shot at the lightning and directed it into the sea. I charged forward and swung my spear, spinning lightning off of it. The figure ducked with cat-like reflexes and swept his foot at my leg. I leapt and slashed my spear down in a deadly arc. A slick rope tightened around my ankle and jerked me backwards. I crashed into the ground. Twisting, I looked at my ankle. A swirl of water had bounded my ankle. Gasping, I looked desperately around for Proteus. A flickering black blade cut my bonds. Winter threw a volt of black magic at Proteus. Proteus flicked his hand upwards and a swell of water swept Winter off his feet. Spires of sparkling water flew around Winter, encasing him in an water orb. Helplessly, Winter tried to break out of the orb, but the water expanded wherever Winter struck the edge. Drops of sweat were beading on my forehead. I wiped them away, breathing hard. The air felt more damp and humid.

"The daughter of Poseidon and son of Zeus," Proteus said. I flinched. His voice was cold, ice cold. It was layered with callous suavity. Hidden within it was frigid malevolence and bitter vengeance. I could imagine his expression. Either an easy, devious grin or narrowed eyes and a dark scowl. "an interesting choice of comrades, Winter Shakler. Your eyes are blind." He chuckled. "But mine are…shall we say, special? This should be a fascinating challenge."

Josie shot jets of water at him but Proteus flicked his hand and they splashed uselessly to the ground. He turned to me and I cast my gaze away. "Is it your turn, son of Zeus?"

I scowled. I wouldn't be able to attack him without looking at him. I decided to try to bait him to attack me. Then I would be able to parry. Quickly, I swiped at my forehead. The air was feeling even clammy and heavier with moisture. "You wouldn't be able to keep up with me."

"Oh?" he said. He chuckled. I froze at the chilling sound. "Then perhaps…I should try a different tactic."

There was silence and then Josie's yelp rang through the air.

"Josie!" I shouted. I couldn't help it, I looked up. Proteus had Josie locked in a chokehold. I gasped and stood up quickly. I made a split second decision. My lightning was accurate enough. I lifted my hands, ready to summon a lightning bolt, when a force knocked me to the ground. Viciously, I rammed my shoulder into my attacker. Not bothering to acknowledge who it was I slammed my fist into his gut. I shoved the black-clothed adversary aside and sprinted at Proteus. Proteus thrust Josie on the ground and swiftly turned towards me. He flew past me and I felt a pierce in my gut. I yelled and fell to the ground. A crimson gash was bleeding through my shirt.

"Ash!" Josie cried out. She pushed herself from the ground.

I realized that Proteus was still behind me. Time suddenly slowed. Josie lifted her head to look at me. I opened my mouth to shout at her to look away. Her gaze connected with something above me and she froze.

"NO!" I screamed.

I stumbled to my feet and rushed to her side, clutching my stomach wound. Vaguely, I realized that the air had suddenly lost its random humidity. By the time I got there, I only found a statue. Hysterically, I screamed her name. I yelled at her to come back. She couldn't have been gone. I could've saved her if…

I spun around to see Winter stand up shakily. His ebony clothes. My eyes widened. The image of my unknown attacker flashed through my mind.

"Winter!" I shouted wrathfully. "Why did you stop me! I could've save her!"

He had slightly angry, but wary eyes. "It doesn't matter. She's dead anyways."

"'It doesn't matter?'!" I yelled furiously. "What in the gods' names are you saying!"

Winter didn't say anything.

My anger flared up. "Why don't you answer! Josie's dead!"

"All souls eventually make it to the Underworld," Winter said morosely. "This was Josie's fate."

I went red with rage. In a second, I had Winter pinned to the ground. "I could've saved her! Are you justifying your action by fate! Is your heart really that cold?"

Suddenly, Winter's face was flooded with desperation. "Get off, Ash!"

"No! Not until you tell-" I was cut off just as something flung me to the ground. My head hit the ground and difficulty; I blinked the blackness out of my eyes. An image of Winter came into focus. A vague silhouette tall figure stood behind him with a dagger. I weakly cried out as the figure plunged it into Winter's back. The figure walked towards me. Exhausted of strength, I lifted my arms weakly to defend myself. Streams of water wrapped around my wrists and pulled me to the ground.

"Oh, poor naïve mortal," Proteus' voice rang through the air.

Suddenly, one of Winter's lessons came back to me. If an enemy is going to strike you and you have no strength to counter, relax your muscles. You might avoid a fatal strike.

My clenched muscles instinctively relaxed. Was this what death felt like? A sharp stab panged in my back.

Wet. Crashing of waves. Groaning, I pushed myself up from the ground. Where was I?

I sat up with a start and sudden twinge of pain pulled in my back. Proteus had stabbed me.

"Winter!" I shouted. My voice sounded strange.

I crawled, my vision still blurry, clumsily to the spot where I had seen Winter. My knee slipped on a patch of slippery ground and I sprawled on the ground. Ineptly, I stumbled to my feet. Anxiously, I scanned my surroundings. I walked over to the shore. Winter was nowhere to be seen. I stared hopelessly at the vast sea. The cold water lapped at my feet. Helplessly, I turned and ran, tripping over some deformities of the earth. Beside the gray statue, I fell to my knees. Josie's eyes were still open wide with shock, her mouth gaped in surprise. I laid my fingers on her cheek, and drew them back immediately. Her skin was cold-too cold. I squeezed my eyes shut. Not skin, stone.

I covered my face with my hands, somehow trying to shut out the world. Shut out what had happened. Although the world was just a black void through my shut eyes, a dizzying sensation spun around my head.

Josie was dead.

Winter was dead.

I heard a distant yelling and suddenly realized it was me. My hands tightened around my head.

"Why!" I screamed. "Why gods! Why Josie! Why Winter! Oh, why, gods? Why!"

I raised my head to the heavens. Hot tears streamed out of my eyes and I yelled.

Proteus POV

"He looks pitiful," I said, disgustedly.

"True, but his spirit's strong," Idylla said. "He hasn't given into my manipulation, despite his condition."

Distastefully, I looked him. His ebony hair was matted with blood and his shirt was torn to ribbons. His eyes were half shut in exhaustion and his chest lifted unsteadily.

Obelix spoke up. "Do you think we can still go through with the plan?"

Idylla grimaced. "If he keeps it up, maybe not. He's very resilient, even with the beatings you gave him, Proteus."

Achlys laughed. "Oh, we'll break him. In due time, Idylla."

"We don't even know if he can summon it," Obelix muttered. "You guys are too reckless."

"He can summon it, alright," I muttered. "That plague he used to eat up my water prison was…it reeked of death."

I turned my gaze back to the boy.

"If it wasn't for the son of Zeus' mistake, he might've taken me. I don't even know how he noticed my trap."

"It was his sharp senses." Suddenly, Achlys grinned. She laughed. "I know how to get him to yield."

Sorry if this chapter depressed you D:

But I hope you enjoyed it?