Chosen Chapter 13: From the Deep
Part 6
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Through a teleportation potion, Billie and the others appeared in the living room of the Chosen residence. When they were in the underwater cavern, they had felt a deep tremble across the entire ocean. According to Ridley, it could only mean one thing. The legendary island of Atlantis had risen from the deep. It was the only place where Auger Shells could be found, which were exactly what Ambrose and his evil offspring needed to attain immortality.
Violet and Arthur came running in from the kitchen, having heard the commotion. "You're back." Violet said with a mix of relief and concern. "What happened?"
"Something bad." Duncan said.
"Did you find the sea hag?" Violet asked.
"Yeah, but she's not the problem." Billie said. "We know what Ambrose is after, and he has found the place where he can find it."
"Where?" Arthur asked.
"Atlantis." Ridley said.
"Atlantis?" Arthur asked confused. "It's one of the ancient wizard cities, but how does it help Ambrose? It was destroyed."
"Not completely." Ridley explained. "The ruins sunk to the bottom of the seas, where they remained ever since. Our community believes those ruins to be cursed. Dark magic lingers there."
"And so do Auger Shells." Duncan added.
"So Ambrose sought Atlantis to get the shells." Violet said. "But how? I thought it was lost."
"The staff." Arthur concluded. "It has to be. It was forged by a powerful wizard, so it must be able to locate similar sources of magic."
"Great, so we got the how and why, very interesting, but how are we going to stop him?" Nathan asked impatiently.
"We should just vanquish him and his brats." Nick remarked before looking at Arthur. "Sorry, no offense."
"None taken." Arthur replied. "If my father is about to kill innocents, we don't have a choice."
"Don't we?" Billie asked with a frown. "I mean, I want to believe you, but can we?"
"Billie, stop." Violet said. "Arthur has done nothing wrong. I cast a spell to prove he's not being controlled by his father."
"You did?" Billie asked. "And you trust him?"
"With my life." Violet said determined.
"Then I do as well." Billie said as she nodded understandingly. "I'm sorry, Arthur, I hated having to doubt you."
"Me too." Duncan added. "We just could not ignore the possibility."
"Don't worry about it." Arthur replied. "I understand you wanting to protect your friend. I wasn't even sure of myself for a while."
"It's good to know you're on our side." Billie said. "Because I think we're going to need you. Do you have any idea how we can stop your father?"
"Can we please just call him Ambrose?" Violet asked uncomfortably.
"Or we could call him your future father-in-law." Nick suggested with a smile.
"Shut up." Billie replied. "We need a way to stop Ambrose."
"With the staff, he is nearly invincible." Arthur said. "We need to get it away from him if we want to stand a chance."
"Anything we can do about his illusions?" Duncan asked.
"We tried to make some potions for that, but they don't really work." Violet admitted. "It's tricky."
"Just remember that illusions can fool all senses but touch." Arthur said.
"Great, so when we think we're in an illusion, we'll just throw a rock at it or something." Nathan remarked. "Good plan."
"It's better than nothing." Duncan replied with a shrug.
"What about daddy's little villains?" Billie asked.
"Bryant can control the earth, while Harper can manipulate electricity." Arthur said. "She is also slightly psychotic, so be careful. I don't think either of them can cast illusions though."
"And what about Nadia?" Ridley asked. "Every moment we spent discussing plans, her life is at stake."
"Ambrose probably has her and the others at his mansion." Arthur reasoned. "The entire place is cloaked by powerful magic, so we won't find it."
"I bet Bryant and Harper know where it is." Duncan said. "If we can get one of them away from Ambrose, we can force it out of them."
"Nice thinking." Billie said. "If anyone gets a chance to interrogate them, take it."
"We got enough potions to take out an entire army." Violet said as she revealed a couple of bags filled with glass potion bottles.
"How do we find the island?" Nathan asked. "We don't have a mythical staff to guide us."
"I know exactly where it is." Ridley said. "Teleport me into the sea and then track me again. I'll lead you straight to it."
"Great, then let's not waste any more time." Billie said.
Violet divided the potions among the group while Arthur teleported Ridley to the beach. The twins worked together to telepathically track his movement and when he stopped, they all teleported to the lost city to confront Ambrose.
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After anchoring in a small bay, Ambrose and his children spiraled onto the rocky shores of Atlantis. There were some remnants of an ancient harbor, though most of the smaller buildings had either been destroyed or been worn down underwater. A few fish were floundering on the rocks, having been brought to the surface with the island.
"Now what?" Harper asked.
"Now we find the Auger Shells." Bryant replied. "And get our immortality."
Ambrose did not respond. Instead he looked up at the ruined towers of the city. Standing on the island again brought back many memories. Once he had reclaimed this world, he would make Atlantis magnificent once more. Perhaps he would even make it his capitol.
"Father." Bryant asked carefully. "Where should we go?"
"The staff will lead us." Ambrose said. "The shells would have been kept in a vault with other magical artifacts."
Ambrose held up the staff and tapped the ground several times. The staff began to glow and pointed to the largest tower in the middle of the city. Ambrose smiled and started walking while his children followed.
"What the hell happened to this place anyway?" Harper asked. "I mean, I know it was destroyed by magic, but what happened exactly?"
"Centuries ago, Atlantis was the center of magic." Ambrose explained. "One of the most advanced cities in the world. The wizards here wanted to share their knowledge, so they invited witches to come here to expand their powers."
"I take it that was a mistake." Bryant noted.
"It was. I advised them against it." Ambrose replied. "Wizards are more powerful, more talented. Witches could never become our equals. The royals of Atlantis did not agree, and it let to their downfall, and the destruction of our race."
"What do you mean?" Bryant asked.
"It's all connected, son." Ambrose replied. "When the witches of Atlantis tapped into a power they could not control, they unleashed dark magic that destroyed the city. The Source of All Evil, who felt threatened by us long before, took advantage of our weakness and declared war. One by one, our cities fell and our race was nearly exterminated."
"So the witches are to blame." Bryant said. "I knew I hated them for a reason."
"I don't blame the witches." Ambrose replied. "Blaming them is like blaming a monkey for being a dumb animal. No, I blame the royals. They should have known better."
"Well, they paid for their mistake." Harper remarked casually. "Look at what's left of them."
"What's done is done." Ambrose said. "We're here."
The Staff of Magnus was glowing brightly as Ambrose stopped in front of the large tower. They were standing in a large square. Ambrose tapped the staff on the ground and the large stone doors of the towers trembled. Symbols began glowing as the doors reacted to the staff and slowly opened.
Ambrose smiled and walked inside. The grand hall of the tower was well-preserved, likely sustained by the powerful magic that was used to build it.
"What are those?" Harper asked.
Ambrose looked ahead and saw a large group of statues standing in the middle of the hall. The trio moved closer to take a better look. The statues looked perfect, life-like in their expression. Bryant reached out and touched one. He closed his eyes and focused. After a moment, his eyes shot open with a shocked expression.
"These are not simple statues." Bryant said determined.
"I suspected as much." Ambrose replied as he looked at the statue in the middle of the room. It was a statue of a young man wearing a circlet around his forehead. His hands were folded together and he was kneeling, like he was praying. Ambrose balled his fist and resisted the urge to shatter the statue.
"What happened here?" Harper asked.
"It doesn't matter." Ambrose replied as he turned away from the statue. "We came here to retrieve the shells. Let's move."
Xxx
Through a swirl of blue spirals, Violet and Arthur appeared on the rocky shores of an island. A moment later, the others appeared through teleportation potions. Ridley appeared from the water and the others handed him his clothes and the bracelet that granted him his legs. Violet turned around and looked at the city ruins in front of her. She could imagine how beautiful it had once been, but now it was just creepy.
"Amazing." Arthur whispered. "And so sad."
"Are you okay?" Violet asked as she took his hand in hers.
"I think so." Arthur replied. "Being confronted with the past always stings. The wizards lost so much. This place is a graveyard."
"What happened here was a tragic accident." Violet said. "But now we have a chance to prevent another tragedy."
"You're right." Arthur said determined.
"Alright, where now?" Billie asked as she stepped forward.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but my bet is on the big tower over there." Nick said as he pointed at the largest tower in the city.
"And we should trust your gut feeling?" Billie asked with a frown.
At that moment, the island trembled and strange symbols began glowing on the tower. They heard stone doors shifting open. Nick smiled at Billie and she rolled her eyes. Instead of arguing, Billie started heading toward the tower and the rest followed.
A little while later, Violet and the others found the entrance of the tower and headed inside. They walked past a group of strange statues and entered a hallway with several flights of stairs spiraling in different directions. Violet noted Arthur had fallen behind and was staring at the statues.
"What's wrong?" Violet asked.
"I'm not sure." Arthur replied. "There is something about those statues."
"We should split up." Duncan said, having not heard Arthur. "Ambrose and the others could be anywhere, and once they have what they need, they will simply teleport out."
"No, they can't." Arthur replied. "There is thick magic in the air. Teleporting in the center of the city is impossible."
"That's at least one advantage." Billie said. "Alright, there are seven of us, so let's split up in two groups. Violet, Arthur and I will go left. Duncan, Ridley and the twins go right."
"Just be careful." Duncan replied as he and his group headed to the right set of stairs.
"Yeah, you too." Billie said before turning to Arthur. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
"Wait, you're still doubting him?" Violet asked defensively.
"No, that's not what I meant." Billie replied. "I mean, are you sure you're ready to face your father?"
"I am." Arthur said determined.
"Good." Billie replied as she pointed to the stairs on the left. "Because my gut feeling tells me he is waiting for us at the top."
Xxx
On the other side of the tower, Duncan, the twins and Ridley were running up the stairs. When they reached another floor, they stopped to take a look around. The wizards had to be around here somewhere, but the tower was as huge as a skyscraper. Sadly, the wizards had not invented magical elevators.
"We're just running aimlessly." Nathan said.
"Can't you track the wizards like you tracked me?" Ridley asked.
"It doesn't work like that." Nick replied. "We had to focus on you first. We never met them."
"Time to change that." A voice sounded.
Duncan turned around, though before he or the others could make a move, they were all struck by bolts of lightning and were thrown back across the hall. A redhead came down the stairs with an amused smile. Electricity sparked between her fingers and Duncan felt numb from the shock, making it difficult to move.
"All you boys come here for little old me?" She asked.
"Damn, she's hot." Nick remarked. "I wasn't expecting that."
"Harper, I take it?" Duncan asked.
"Daddy sent me to keep you preoccupied." Harper said. "He sensed you the moment you arrived. I didn't mind, though. I like playing with cute guys. And now I've got four all to myself."
"You're insane." Duncan replied.
"And we're definitely not interested." Nathan added.
"Speak for yourself." Nick remarked.
Harper smiled as she fired another bolt of lightning and all four of them cried out in pain as electricity coursed through them. She was clearly enjoying torturing them, as she laughed manically. Duncan had enough. He astral projected behind her and conjured an athame, which he raised to her throat.
"Game over, crazy." Duncan said.
"Hardly." Harper replied as she grabbed the blade and sent a shockwave through it.
The shock forced Duncan to retreat to his physical body. At the same time, the twins got up and threw potions at Harper, though she zapped them before they could hit. Suddenly Ridley appeared next to her and lifted her off the ground with one arm.
"Where is Nadia?" he screamed at her.
Harper grabbed his arm and sent a surge of lightning through his body, though Ridley shrugged it off and threw her into a wall, knocking her unconscious.
"Okay, I think I prefer blondes after all." Nick said.
"Ridley, how did you do that?" Duncan asked.
"Merfolk are very resistant." Ridley replied with a shrug. "Besides, she took Nadia from me. She had it coming."
"Now we can interrogate her and find Nadia and the others." Nathan said.
"We don't have time." Duncan replied. "Try reading her mind."
"We can't do that." Nick said.
"You also thought you couldn't track Ridley." Duncan noted.
"You put way to much faith in us." Nathan said somewhat troubled. "Don't you know it will only make it more difficult when I let you down?"
"We're not having this talk now." Duncan replied.
Nathan nodded and joined hands with his brother. They both placed a finger on Harper's forehead and focused. After a little zap due to static electricity, they let go and stood up.
"We got the mansion." Nathan said. "It's just outside of San Francisco. The merfolk are being kept in the basement."
"Did you see Nadia?" Ridley asked hopefully.
"Yeah, she is fine." Nick replied. "If we get out of the tower, we can use potions to get there."
"We can't leave the others." Duncan said.
"Look, if we free the merfolk, Ambrose's plan will fail." Nathan said. "The others can take care of themselves. You believed in me, so believe in that."
"You're right." Duncan said before looking over at Harper with a frown. "What are we going to do about her though?"
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