The Goddess Crystal

Chapter 16: Life Tendencies

The air is thick and dry with dust as the lift continues its journey to the surface. The darkness is only illuminated by the constant pulsing of Skye and Leith's Gems, the former's floating near the door.

The guards keep a firm grip on Skye, per Leith's orders, but the Gem continues to stay a decent length away from him. As we hit the surface level, the Gem pulses an odd green color and taps the lift door.

We walk out into the cave and then into blinding sunlight. I squint as Skye leads the way, the guards' rifles trained on his back. The Gem leads us to the waterfall.

Like every waterfall, the torrent of water shoots off the cliff and into a pool of water, leaving a gap between the falls and the cliff face on the way down. The only difference is that the passage that would usually be accessible to the path under fall is blocked by a massive rock.

With a single tap, the boulder disintegrates at the touch of the Gem. Skye stares for a few brief moments before trudging on.

The air in the cavern is cool and damp and water drips from the ceiling into puddles. It smells vaguely of forget-me-nots, and the floor and walls are made of roughly hewn gray rock.

Everyone stares at the thing in the middle of the cave. I shake my head in disbelief. "It can't be—it's not real..."

In the center of the room is the Goddess Crystal.

It stands about two feet tall, shining and emerald colored, illuminating the cavern in its eerie light. Jagged pieces break off from the main part, looking almost like teeth. A pressure fills my head and the two Gems drop, colorless.

Leith doesn't notice. "Yes! I've found it!" And just as he's about to run and, I don't know, grab it, a boundary of pearly colors materializes around the Crystal. Being stubborn, Leith gingerly touches the protective field and is rewarded with a zap.

While he curses, the room resonates with a voice I've only heard inside my head once.

"Leith Stone...an owner of a heart as black as yours may not pass. You have allowed your hard life to make you bitter and thus the Crystal will not be yours."

Everyone gives a yelp and the cavern echoes with chiming laughter. "No need to fear. You will not be harmed."

Leith looks at Skye, eyes panicked. "Thief, you get the Crystal. She must let you through. You bore the Sword."

Another laugh. "That wasn't the Sword. The Legendary Sword was removed from its place many years ago by the farmer that saved me. What he holds is a fragment of the Crystal."

Leith is adamant and continues to argue with the Goddess. "Then why did my Goddess Gem not lead me?"

"It has been tainted. It is useless in all aspects other than evil."

Leith growls. "Thief! Now!"

Skye looks at me then walks over to the barrier. He touches it but is equally hurt.

The Goddess makes a tsking noise. "Skye Blackthorn, you have a kind heart, but you have done deeds that stop you from the Crystal. I am sorry." There's a pause. "Why not allow Jillian to try?"

I jump at the mention of my name. Leith simply glances at me and jerks his head towards the Crystal.

I swallow and pass Skye. I hesitate for a second and close my eyes. Reaching forward, I wait for the pain...

That never comes.

I open my eyes. My hand has gone through up to nearly my elbow. I pass through the barrier without realizing it. Leith nearly blows a fuse but I don't hear anything over the Goddess' voice, both in the cavern and inside my head.

"Jillian Brook, your life has not been the best, but nor has it been the worst. You strive for what is best and for that...congratulations. You may use the Goddess Crystal."

There's a whooshing noise and the voice is gone.

Leith comes up to the barrier, stopping a hairsbreadth away from being shocked. "Bring me the Goddess Crystal, Jill."

I look at Skye from the corner of my eye then back at Leith. Is it just me, or does he look like he was when he was younger? Innocent?

I'm tempted to do as he asks, but I remember what he's done. "Or what? You'll shoot me?" I gesture towards the barrier and smirk. "Forget about something?"

Leith takes out his gun, slowly, before taking aim at the other side of the cavern and firing. The bullet melts through the barrier and penetrates the wall with a shower of shards of rock.

He smirks at my stupefied look. "Well, that answers that." Turning the gun on me, he says, "What did you say, Jill?"

I stare wide-eyed at this person, who I help raised, made laugh when he was down.

Now he's aiming a gun at my head. "Leith, don't do this."

He laughs, forgetting about Skye and letting him stay free. Or maybe Leith knows he won't leave. "Bring me the Goddess Crystal."

I look at Skye. He only stares back at me, looking just as lost as me, only he has a battered face and body.

Maybe it's the bruises that litter Skye. Or maybe it's me remembering all that's happened.

I don't know what makes me do it, but I mouth 'I'm sorry' to Skye before looking back at Leith. "No, I will not."

And with a large rock I saw lying to the Crystal, I smash the precious piece of history.

The diamond must have weakened, I think, before there's a bang, like a gun discharging and then the world goes black.

Tempest Bound: Chapter, WHY U BE SO SHORT? Haha, I just wanted to end it there. Cliffhangers :3 Sorry for the wait! Had a lot of things going on recently, but I should be free for the next week.