BLACKOUT

Enjoy this wonderfully long chapter.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Enchanted

'I was enchanted to meet you.' Taylor Swift

"Long story short." Asha grinned at the slack jawed king that had fallen on the floor, after she forgot she had been helping him up. Before a dragon god paused time. A very pretty dragon god, "A God paused time and told me where we kind of are. Then he gave me this coat, that is from my land. He also gave you one."

"Your land?" Diomede's asked, feeling the jacket that was wrapped around his broad shoulders, the wool on the inside looked extremely warm. And the fur on the outside was dyed a deep blue.

"Yeah. Sorry about dropping you, I tend to do that a lot." She gave him a sheepish grin, "We are in a dungeon where a Troll God called Johad rules. Apparently Hector is in the maze somewhere. And that there are many, many more spider's." She groaned, reaching her sword out as she walked over to him she started to pull it apart, "Which do you prefer, longsword or short?"

Diomede's blinked, watching with an expression of disbelief as the sword was split into two, "Longsword."

She nodded absently, undoing the sharp longsword and handing it to Diomede's, "A gift from a God this was. I have to pay him back later."

"If I was him I'd want one thing from you." Diomede's said softly.

Asha waved her sword which was still huge at his face, "He's very different then you Diomede's. He cares not for physical things. I think." She smiled, then faced the hallway of light, "Shall we?"

"Yes." He walked on, in front of her.

Asha rolled her eyes, focussing on not falling over on the slippery rock's, now covered in spider blood, she walked backwards, looking at the cave once more, "By Tracy." She said to the carcass of the spider, then spinning around she caught up to a curious Diomede's, walking by his side, "How long have you been in Troy for?"

"A couple of week's. We are here for the wedding." He replied, jaw clenching in annoyance as she walked as an equal beside him.

Asha grinned cockily, "I didn't peg you as the sort who would attend wedding's," She placed a finger on her lip and thought, "I know! There must be a big event before it! Maybe a Game's?"

"Yes. And I do not mind wedding's, though I won't have one of my own for many years."

"Hmmm." Asha sighed, "I never want to get married, too much of a bother."

He seemed surprised by this, "But your female."

She growled, ignoring him and speeding her pace, she examined the corridor of light, the wall's were made out of some strange material and seemed to glow unnaturally, she couldn't see the exit, nor the entrance any more, "What the heck is this?" She walked closer to the wall's side and cringed away instantly, they were pulsating, as if some liquid was being contained behind them.

Hearing a rumbled Asha ran over to Diomede's, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him onto the ground just as some beast snapped at where their head's had been. She landed on top of him, "Are you okay? It seems we just woke something big up."

He nodded and she swore she heard him mumble something along the lines of, "Not the only thing you woke."

Asha cocked her head but didn't ask him to repeat, instead she leapt up, swinging her sword around in an arc as the beast dived again, it gave a roar of agony as it's face was torn into. The thing resembled a huge worm, with long sabre like teeth. The blood that dropped from it corroded the ground.

"Acid, don't let the blood touch you." Asha said to Diomede's who had finally gotten up and into a defensive position, longsword in hand.

"Be careful then, don't want to ruin your pretty skin."

She gave him a glare, ducking the worm's head she rolled over to it's side's, where she could see through the transparent like skin and see a bright globe. Spreading her feet apart she squared her shoulders and thrust forwards the sword shredding through the skin like butter. Acid spewed out at her and she cursed as a drop fell onto her hand, eating at the skin there.

"Asha!" Diomede's growled, pulling her away from the torrent of acid and making her run down the way they had come, "I told you not to-" But he was cut off when a spider just like Tracy fell onto the ground and hissed at them, he swung at it, eliciting a crunch from it as the longsword stabbed into the soft underbelly.

"It's fine. I just need some water right away." Asha mumbled. She pulled away from him and started to fumble with the strap that held her water bottle on, her finger's shook from the pain as the acid ate away at her skin.

Strong firm hands pushed hers away and undid the clasp, pulling the water bottle over to her shaking hand, "Your shaking."

"Really now?' She murmured, a cold sweat breaking onto her forehead, "It's acid Diomede's. It's eating at my flesh. Of course I'm shaking. I'm not a statue." Asha closed her eyes when she felt the sensation of water being poured onto the wound, weak she fell forwards, her head colliding with Diomede's chest.

A hand stroked her hair, "As much as I'd love to stay here and have you all over me, we have a certain crown prince to save."

"Hmmm." Asha sighed, reopening her eyes she stepped back, glancing at her hand she winced, the skin on top was dissolved, "There goes my pretty-" She froze, as the seconds ticked by the skin was slowly covering her wound, she stroked over the new patch when it fully healed in a minute. It was smooth, unblemished, and pale unlike the rest of her skin. But it was there.

"You must be a goddess." Diomede's murmured, his eye's wide.

"No, I'm just me. Asha Stormgrey." She stated, "This is a new weird thing. Pretty useful."

"Asha." Diomede's caught her attention and she looked up, her nose brushing his, the cool blue of his eyes piercing hers, "The worm is... dissolving."

She stepped back and turned around, her eyes wide in disbelief. In front of her eye's the disgusting acid filled beast was dissolving into shard's of light, when they were all gone a single key lay on the ground, glowing brightly, "I think we have to pick it up."

"It might fit that door." The King gestured towards the huge door that was made out of iron. Asha examined it, the wall's weren't glowing like the worm's side's, they were a black rock like the cave and had two lit torches on each side.

Stepping carefully she picked the key up and went to the door, finding the keyhole she slotted it in and stepped back quickly, sword at the ready as the door opened by itself. Staring into a huge labyrinth she sighed, "We have a big job on our hands."

Diomede's chuckled, "It would be boring if it weren't."

The area in front of them was a scenic courtyard with wall's lining the side's, several door's littered the place, some in the tree in the middle of the courtyard.

It was a beautiful thing, the leaves a startling white and the trunk a bright green, it reached up into the sky, which was open for them to see. But it wasn't the sky they had been used to seeing their whole lives's, it was bright red, the sun a burning blue.

"So many god-damn colour's." Asha growled, walking forwards, "And a whole heap of god-damn door's. What more could a girl want?"

"All we need now is some brightly coloured spider's and..." He stopped and groaned, "I didn't mean it!"

But out came the spider's, crawling over the wall's and down them. They were all bright pink and seemed to be covered in fluff. Asha started giggling uncontrollably, "They. Look. So. Funny."

One paused, regarding her with it's many eyes and said, "So do you."

Asha shut up instantly, straightening up she stared gobsmacked at the arachnid, "Did you just talk?"

"No." It said. The voice much too familiar, she looked up to glare into blue eyes.

"Lupaz!" Asha growled.

"No, it's Gerda. The spider. I am invisible." Lupaz smirked, "Don't pay me any attention."

Asha growled, ignoring the dragon god in the tree and swiped at the spider that had leapt at her, Diomede's taking out the one to her right. They both hit their target's and were rewarded with the sound of dying spiders. Asha rolled out of the way of a spider's attack, with Diomede's behind her, who swiped upwards with his longsword, killing the spider.

Her eyes landed on 'Gerda' and she snickered, "Sorry Gerda." She slammed the blade down on it's head, hearing a satisfying crunch as the poor arachnid was squished. She heard laughter and looked up to find Lupaz watching them.

"So now that that's finished, care to explain why you are in a tree?" Asha called to him.

Lupaz shrugged, stepping forwards and falling into the air. He landed whisper softly and grinned at her, "The door's lead to different path's and part's of the maze. Some have rewards, some are traps." He nodded to a confused Diomede's, "The jacket suit's you."

"Your the one that told Asha where we are." He retorted, "Couldn't you have warned us about that worm"

"Where's the fun in that?" Lupaz asked, "I'm a God. I am bored."

"Asha could have lost her hand." Diomede's growled, not caring about whom he was talking to and stepping up to the dragon, who looked down at him.

Lupaz was a good foot taller then Diomede's and he grinned, "I knew she wouldn't I like her hand's too boy."

Diomede's eyes narrowed, "Asha is mine."

"Not." Asha snapped, "I am no one's but my own. And I am only tolerating your presence because I need to find Hector. Otherwise, I would not associate with you." Diomede's rose an eyebrow, obviously asking why, "You tried to RAPE me! You remember that? I'm surprised I haven't gutted you yet."

"Hmm you make me feel hungry Ash." Lupaz stated, breaking Asha's glaring contest with Diomede's, "But I have to correct you. You do have an owner."

She sighed, rolling her eyes, "Yeah. And who exactly is that?"
"Me. You owe me. Therefore I own you."

Asha just sighed loudly, and walked to the god, she patted his shoulder, "You need some mental help. Badly." Then she walked over to a door, "I'm going to find Hector. Do what you want."

Then she pushed it open, aware that the two other's followed behind her.

What was revealed in front of her was a huge courtyard, filled with lava. She could see the steam lifting off of her wet clothes and enjoyed the warmth.

"Lava?" Lupaz asked, standing beside her, "You might need to undress, don't want-"

Asha punched him in his stomach before he could say anything more, and regretted it instantly, shaking her hand in pain, "Oh wow, what are you made out of? Concrete?"

"I'm a god Asha." Lupaz laughed, not bothered by her crude act, "God's are made out of different stuff then mere mortals. Is your hand ok? Want me to kiss it better?"

"Stop trying to grope for my attention or whatever." Asha growled, "Otherwise the next hit will be with my sword, and I am betting that that will hurt much more then a mere mortals punch." She clenched her throbbing hand and gazed back at the lava filled room, "Is there anything we need to get from here? Because I do not feel like dying."

"It doesn't seem like there is a way through this area." Diomede's stated, his eyes glaring into Lupaz, "Shall we try another door?'

Asha nodded her head, taking a last look at the room her eyes alighted upon a pedestal, where a round orb lay, "What is that?"

"A dragon's egg." Lupaz stated, then he surprised them all by walking straight into the lava. His feet seemed to be floating a mere couple of centimetre's off the deadly substance and weren't bothered by the intense heat. He floated up to the pedestal and tapped the egg, "A fake one. But it's a monster's one alright."

"Chuck it into the lava if you want." Asha called, "Then again." But it was too late, they heard the sucking sensation of something falling into liquid and Asha winced as the egg dissolved.

"Then again, if there is an egg, there is probably a parent!" Asha yelled, watching as the lava boiled and frothed at the end of the corridor, a mere fifty meter's or so away.

"Oh." Lupaz stated, his voice right beside her, she jumped, backing into Diomede's, "I forgot about that. I was just irritated by the egg. We can walk out the door. Or fight it?"

"Out the door." Asha and Diomede's stated together, almost tripping over themselves to run out the door. Lupaz followed them much more calmly, stretching his arms into the air and yawning.

Asha stopped herself from staring at the skin that was once again exposed because of this gesture and walked to the next door, inspecting it, "The last door was lava red, this one is a nice forest green."

"A forest?" Diomede's asked, pushing it open he glanced inside only to jump backwards and slam the door closed, "Not a forest."

Asha was curious, "What was it?"

"Probably the spider's den." Lupaz yawned, he draped an arm around Asha's shoulders, "Let's get to bed."

"Your so much more reserved in dragon form." Asha growled, pushing the arm away, "Can't you stay like that and not be a pervert? We need to find Hector. He could be being eaten alive right now!"

"He's safe and sound in the dungeon's behind Johad's throne." Lupaz stated, "He isn't what Johad wants. He wants you."

"Why?"

"The Sun ordered him to get you. He's using Hector as bait."

"But, we just outran the Sun!" Asha said, "And why are you telling me this now, not earlier?"
"The Sun was just mocking you." Lupaz yawned yet again, his eyes closed and the blue orb's were gone from her sight, "You still need to kill Johad. Because I want you too. Consider it the debt of my bringing your bike from your 'land'." He waved his finger's in the air.

"I didn't ask you for that!" Asha snapped, "And why can't you kill him yourself? And is the Sun here?"

Lupaz shrugged, "I'm the God of Trick's. I don't do anything by myself. No god does. They need humans to do their bidding. The Sun isn't here. It's night time."

"So why do you want to sleep?" Asha growled.

"He can't come here either. It's Johad's domain."

Asha stared pointedly at him, then rolled her eyes, "Fine." She walked to the trunk of the tree and sat down with her back against it, "I will take first watch."

The two men looked at each other and then at her, "I will take the first watch." Diomede's stated, sitting down in front of a door. Asha started to protest but the look on his face stopped her.

"Ok. Wake me up first." She then settled closer to the tree and snuggled into the trench cloak.

"I could materialise a bed for us to share." Lupaz stated, "With silk sheet's and comfy cushion's."

Asha groaned, the idea making her tired body feel sore against the hard trunk, "No Lupaz. I'm fine with sleeping here."

She heard him walk over to her tree, "Fine." She opened her eyes to find him starting to sit next to her, he leaned against the trunk, long legs spread in front of him, his body pressed close to hers.

"Oi." Asha almost screamed, "Stop doing stuff like this." She pushed him away and shuffled over a bit, "Become the Lupaz I first met."

"Your blushing therefore it's not horrible what I am doing. Asha." He grinned cheekily, white teeth shining in the golden moon's rays.

She sighed glancing up at that moon and watching a star shoot across the sky, it was a bright purple, "Why are all the colours so different here?"
"Johad made his world take this form. He's a god."

"And you want me to kill him. I'm a mere mortal." Asha murmured, "I'm probably going to be laughed at then thrown into a pit full of spiders."

"He wants you in one piece for the Sun." Lupaz answered, they watched the sky in silence until she heard his soft breathing. The area around them was dark and she couldn't make out Diomede's.

Deciding to put her plan into action she stood up, careful not to jostle the sleeping god, she walked over to the dead spider's and brought out her sword, quickly dismembering the leg's she grasped them tightly in different hands and walked to the wall's, looking back at Diomede's and Lupaz, but not being able to see them. She shrugged, placing one leg against the wall, it stuck there and she placed the next one up higher. Then repeated the action, pulling herself up with her arms.

Her feet slipped on the slippery surface of black rock and she felt her arms strain to keep her up. The wall's were extremely tall, just like the one's in Troy, and when she reached the top her arm's felt like they had been cut off. She glanced down and regretted it instantly, the height making her mind spin in horror. If she fell now she would die, crazy regeneration or not. Taking a large breath of air she turned around and was greeted with the oddest sight, the room's were not there, instead another wall stood in her way, but in the middle of it and right in front of her, were a set of impressive double doors, bigger then Lupaz's dragon form and made out of a pitch black. She walked carefully over to them, shrugging the spider legs onto her back and withdrawing her sword once more. When she was a few feet from them they opened inwards. She stopped, creaped out, but walked inside of them anyway.

As Asha slowly glided over the polished floor, torches on either side would alight as she reached them, casting an eerie glow over the walls. Her shadow followed her like a ghost making her skin crawl. The only sound was that of her footsteps and the brush of her trench coat on the floor. Her eyes made out a doorway when the last line of torches were lit and she slowed her pace. In front of the doorway was an impressive room lined with banister's holding glowing golden flames. A lone throne stood at the end, huge and imposing. It was made out of a dragons skull, the empty eye slots mocking her.

A groan made her ear's prick and she looked over to find Hector tied to a wall.

"Hector!" Asha called, running towards him, she dropped her sword in her hurry, so worried about the blood falling from his temple. Halfway to the Prince a wall of golden fire lit up between them.

"Welcome Chosen One." A rough voice said, and Asha gasped, spinning to find a pair of green eyes watching her from the throne, "I am the God Johad! And you are my prey." He leaned forwards, eyes slitting, "You are a female?"

Asha ground her teeth, her hand's shaking, she darted her eyes to her sword then back to the huge man. He didn't look like a troll, he seemed very human, except for his size, "Yes. Surprised?"

Johad laughed, the sound shaking the room, "Go on, grab your sword, it will do nothing to me! I am in league with the true ruler of this world! The Sun."

"The Sun doesn't want to rule the world," Asha stated calmly, walking to her sword she picked it up, her eyes locking on Johad's, "He wants to destroy it."

"How naïve you are." A voice stated. It was musical and made Asha want to fall into it's embrace, she smelled the most beautiful scent, morning sun rays and honey.

She turned around slowly and locked eyes with the most brilliant being in the entire world, "The Sun." She stated before backing up slowly, her eyes sweeping over the plane of perfection that was his human body. Why were there so many beautiful men?

He was golden tanned, his skin unblemished and his body strong, he was around the same height as Lupaz. His hair was a rich gold that sparkled slightly. And his eyes were an old gold. High cheekbones accentuated a face made of sin. His full bite-able lips smirked as her eyes trailed over him. He did an evaluation himself and his smirk grew deeper.

"I am surprised that you are a woman." He stated, that voice sending tingles over her.

She shook her head, "I uh... yeah." She said dumbly, then she growled, narrowing her eyes at the wall next to him, "Yes. I am."

The Sun laughed, "As I said, I am surprised that the old man decided to send a mere woman to try and deal with me." His laughter echoed off the walls and into her.

"Yeah. Well I didn't get much choice." Asha ground out, her body wanted her to bow before him and let him ravish her, she shook the thought away, "If I had it my way I would be at home lounging on my bed and watching some soppy romance movie."

The Sun blinked, but didn't miss a beat, he walked forwards, towards her.

She struggled to put her sword up and was mocked by Johad's laughter.

"What plans do you have for her my Lord? Anything to do with the Goddess's Crown. Or something more tasteful for a little bite like her." Johad smacked his lips at her.

"Sorry what? Little bite?!" Asha almost screamed, "I am not an edible snack! I am a very human, very me, person." She blabbered, The Sun had almost covered the whole distance to her and if she backed away any further she would be burnt by the golden flames.

Don't be scared of a little fire Ash. Lupaz's voice said in her mind.

She shook as the golden man grinned at her, "I won't be using the Goddess's Crown yet. I have plans for it, on the other hand, I might be inclined to have a taste of her."

Asha growled, she didn't want to try the fire yet, so when he got closer she rolled behind him and started to jog backwards, "Well this is fine and dandy but," She rolled away when he suddenly appeared behind her, "I don't feel like being eaten."

"Hmm." He stopped moving as Johad laughed, he looked her over, "Are you sure? If you don't I will serve the wonderful Prince Hector to Johad."

"Oh yes please! His blood smells wonderful!" Johad chortled.

Asha narrowed her eyes at him, "You wouldn't. He's part of an important future, to both sides of the coin."

"How so?"

"If he lives through the war then Troy has a ruler. If Achilles kills him, then Troy has no ruler. So many other things connect to that one thing, like Agamemnon's death." Asha smiled, "And the beginning of the Roman Empire."

The Sun cocked his head, hair falling onto his neck, "I can see why you were chosen now. No I can't have him killed."

Johad gave a sigh, "Can I eat her after your finished with her? She looks tasty."

Asha gave him a glare, "He's trying to eat me too. There won't be much left over."

"Oh I want to eat you in a different way Chosen One." His eyes bore into hers.

Her cheek's burned as she realised what he was talking about, she took a couple of step's backwards, "What's with men in this era?" She muttered under her breath, "It's not like I'm that special." Then she glanced over to the fire, where Hector was behind it, "Well you cant eat ash. Though that is basically my name!" She yelled, then ran over at the flames.

Johad gave a cry of distress at the thought of losing his dinner and The Sun tried to catch her.

But Asha ran too fast, she closed her eyes, ready for the burning, but when it didn't come and her hands pressed into cold rock she sighed in relief. She bent over Hector, feeling for a pulse and untieing him. She heard the flames go out and spun to find golden eyes watching her curiously.

"Lupaz is here isn't he?" The Golden God stated.

"Right here brother." Said the cheerful voice, he materialised beside Asha and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Sorry I took so long Asha."

"I got the fright of my life. But it's ok." She answered, "Can you keep them busy until I get Hector out?"

"You'll owe me."

She gave him a glum look them shrugged her shoulders, "I will try. But I'm just a mere snack."

Lupaz laughed at that, looking to The Sun, "You really tried pulling that one off? You just met her and you couldn't keep it in your-"

A huge fireball came screaming at the blue god and they rolled out of the way, Hector landing in a limp clump. Asha breathed in and out fast, feeling the skin on her back burn as the fire had hit her there.

"Don't talk to me." The Sun growled, when Asha glanced at him she had to close her eyes instantly, he was burning as brightly as the sun itself.

"Your my brother, I can't help it."Lupaz shrugged, then he seemed to palm the air and a huge spear of water appeared in his hands, "Shall we dance?"

"I have no time for you!" The Sun growled.

"Come on Goldem!" Lupaz chortled, "Let's have at it. I know you want a go at Asha, but just relax!"

"Stop talking like the future ones." The Sun, well Goldem, growled, his temper flaring.

Asha turned away, poking at Hectors cheeks, "Wake up. Your a dead weight and I am not strong enough to carry you!"

He groaned and Asha gave a sigh, she pulled at his arm's dragging him towards the door that was on the left of the throne, Johad watched her as she walked past. One hand propping up his head, "You aren't allowed to leave."

"Stop me then." Asha challenged, and before the Troll god could move she swiped her sword into his foot, eliciting a loud scream of pain from the God.

The two dragon God's stopped their fight to look over at the sound and when Johad got up, ready to tear Asha's head of, his fell, rolling on the ground. She stared in disbelief, looking over to find Golden wiping his hand clean of the green blood that fell from the Troll God's neck.

"He was about to eat you." The Sun God stated, glaring at the limp body then transferring his gaze onto Asha, "You are not allowed to leave yet."

Lupaz took the moment of distraction to pummel water at his head, "Hey Goldem! Attention on me. The Old Man always said you were horrible at fighting!"

Goldem hissed, looking away from Asha and beginning his fight anew.

She sighed with relief and dragged Hector to the door, opening it quietly she snuck out to find that she was outside in the forest. To her right was a ledge that opened up to a valley, and at the end of that valley was the back of Troy. She smiled, finally, she had made it out. Some part of her wondered if Diomede's was ok, then she brushed it away, looking around she found a way down the small incline and dragged Hector with her. The Prince was starting to become concious and she propped him against a tree trunk. Inspecting his wounds.

His forehead had a slight cut that had stopped bleeding, but she tore her a part of of her shirt of and wrapped it around his temple.

"Hector." Asha murmured, "We have an angry Dragon God that killed a Troll God after us. I think. You have to get up. I can see Troy." She sighed when there was no response and glanced at the door to Johad's world, she couldn't hear anything from the place, and wondered if that was a good sign or not.

"I can see the most beautiful sight." Hector murmured and she jumped in surprise.

"Hector! Good. You have to get up, immediately. You heard what I said, evil god's and stuff. Troy is just there." She pointed but he caught the hand.

"What do you mean Asha?"

"No time to explain. Come on!" She jumped up, offering a hand out, "I won't drop you this time. And I can support you if you need too."
"I-" Hector started then he started at the solitary door which had started to shake with golden energy.

"Oh shit!" Asha exclaimed, grabbing Hector she heaved him up and then pushed both of them down the ledge, groaning as she tumbled down it to land in a bush. She felt several cuts and bruises from her tumble, but stopped moving as she heard the door exploded and footsteps.

Eye's closed as she cringed into the bushes cover she winced as she heard Goldem walked to the edge of the ledge. She opened them slightly to find the golden god gazing out over the valley's, eyes scanning the area.

"Chosen One. I know you are close by. The Prince is too hurt to move very far. Come out now or I will kill everyone you hold dear."

Asha shook, the leaves around her making little noise surprisingly.

"What about your dear Sophia? And Kyle? I had Argruis killed early on. And I heard that Sophia just had a child. It would be so easy for me to just walk in there and silence the child's cries. They are staying in the royal wing." Goldem stated, softly, as if he knew she was so close.

Closing her eyes, Asha willed herself to relax, as she prepared to stand up to protect her friends.

HA HA

Don't worry the next chapter will be up faster then the last few.

SB7 Reporting Out!