Chapter 12
Lok's POV
We came to a large room, the floor was made of light and dark clay tiles. Zhalia, who had overtaken Sophie with a bit of anger, stopped and indicated that we were not moving forward.
-Help cheat.
-We are out of time-Dante said a little worried-I will explain. Just step on the clearer ones. The Golem was made of clay from the Vltava River, when it dries, it becomes clear. Sophie, Lok, be careful with the wings, if we touch the dark clay, the trap will be activated. And Lok …
-Let me guess, be careful with the tails.
Dante smiled satisfied. Zhalia followed Dante.
-The brilliant Dante Vale earns his reputation.
At the comment of Zhalia, Sophie rolled her eyes, I do not know why it bothers her, she does not stop praising Dante all the time like Zhalia. Sophie and I followed the adults taking great care of where we were treading, Cherit had to help me a little, it was difficult to keep my wings and tails at a safe distance from the ground, besides, my tails seem to have a life of my own, and sometimes they do what they want.
After crossing the clay corridor we reached a closed door, the girls and I thought how we could open the door, while Dante walked away a little after ordering us to stay where we were. He crossed the corridor and approached the exit where two men in capes surrounded him.
-Good evening, gentlemen. They allow me their layers.
Dante scoffed, the men took off their cloaks showing Defoe and Grier. Defoe attacked Dante with a green gelatinous ray, Dante eluded him, but was caught by Grier, who immobilized him with a key.
-Defoe,- grunted Dante with disgust.
Zhalia was the first to react by attacking with a "Raypulse", followed by Sophie with her own attack. I pointed an agent with my hand and said "Electricbolt". But nothing happened.
-Lok, have not you been practicing? -I scoff Sophie
-A search engine that can not even use Bolt... how pathetic!
Zhalia's comment was over, I know it is pathetic, I did not need to tell me, and less with a tone of mockery.
- Yes, pathetic!
Defoe laughed, my whiskers began to emit sparks that try to hide a little, I did not want to see that I was scared, with Dante caught was helpless, in addition, I felt very helpless of not being able to help Dante. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the Freelancer amulet.
-Don't you think, boy?
Defoe warned me, with that I take out a kind of magical device from one of the pockets of my jacket, it was a dark green light sphere, I do not know why, but a chill ran all over my body and made my tails bristle. Defoe threw the sphere near us, when it hit the ground it lit up, cutting us off, when I was able to open my eyes, the whole left side was thick and viscous clay, from which huge hands came out trying to reach us. Those things caught my legs and they began to drag me down by plunging my body into the ground. Sophie and Zhalia were also caught. Defoe laughed at us.
- Fantastic!, the trap of Jodis Lore has been activated, and look where, the agents of the Foundation have been trapped.
I looked at him with all the hatred I could muster while trying to keep my head on the surface.
Apparently Grier had relaxed, because Dante had the opportunity to nudge him in the face causing Grier to bend, Dante took the opportunity to break free. Defoe took a step back with the fear written in his eyes.
- Kreutalk, attack, now!
The manta-rat titan appeared at Defoe's side, and spat out a current of acid, similar to the one used by Defoe, towards Dante. Dante dodged it and turned around, surrounded by three agents who had just come running into the room. Defoe pointed his hand towards Dante and shouting "Poisonheat!" A stream of green acid came out of his hand impacting on Dante, who did not make the slightest gesture to avoid him.
-Dante! No!
Scream full of worry. Dante was immobile on the ground, in that state he was helpless, and without him we too. Defoe approached us with an unpleasant smile on his face.
-You, -I pointed and stood in front of me- you're Lok Lambert, right? -I did not answer-You have never been told that the caller gives. I think you have a journal to give me?
I reached into the mud and pulled out my father's diary.
-What are you doing?!
Sophie screamed at me like I was crazy. Defoe smiled satisfied, dropped the newspaper to the ground when he was about to pick it up. Defoe looked at the newspaper with great disappointment, it seemed that the world had come on him.
-What is this?
- Your boys did this! Because of you, my father's diary is broken!
Defoe grimaced in disapproval.
-In this state it is useless. In spite of that, the secrets of the amulet of the will are very close. Kreutalk, take the key.
The titan nodded and flew to the door that the girls and I had tried to open before the Organization entered. He spit his green liquid over the lock, melting it and allowing him access to the room. When he left, he flew straight to Defoe and gave him a key.
-Well, now, what to do with Mr. Vale?
-Don't you dare to touch him!
Defoe seemed delighted with my threat, it seemed that he had been waiting for it. Defoe bent a little and grabbed me by the neck, fortunately he did not squeeze much, so I could still breathe, although with a bit of difficulty. Being so close I could smell him a little better, and that's when I realized.
-It is notice that you are a puppy, also a very bad one, it seems that you need a lesson.
-Leave him, take his hands off!
I could not help but laugh a little at Sophie's concern.
-Quiet Sophie-Look at Defoe with amusement. -It's not the first human with inferiority complexes that I face.
At my comment Defoe opened his eyes astonished, some of the agents looked at each other surprised. Take advantage of Defoe was distracted to relax a little and stop hiding how scared he was. My biscuits emitted sparks, and to Defoe, as he had not let me go, the same thing happened to Cherit, an electric shock ran through his body causing me to let go and fall to the ground trembling.
Defoe got up with the help of one of his agents, he looked at me surprised. I looked at him with all the hatred and disgust that I could, for a second we had a small duel of looks, that I win when Defoe exploded releasing a lot of threats that I did not understand and addressed my prepared to attack me. Grier stopped him and whispered something in his ear.
-I have what I came for. Let's go Grier.
They both went to the exit, but stopped when they noticed that Zhalia relaxed a bit.
-Do not be happy woman. I called a cleaning team. By the way, I almost forgot. You, -Defoe pointed to one of the agents causing him to jump up.- Do you have it? -The agent nodded.- Fine. When the cleaning crew arrives, they will give you instructions-Defoe looked at me with a smile that made my blood run cold about what to do with the puppy.
After saying that, he left. Cherit flew among the leftovers and followed Defoe and Grier.
We keep fighting against clay hands, even though we broke them they kept appearing more. Three agents watched us with amusement; one of them kept looking at the mobile phone in his hand. The phone rang indicating the arrival of a message.
While the agent was reading the message he approached me. Behind him something caught my attention. Dante had opened his eyes and rolled onto his side with a grimace of pain.
The agent smiled mischievously. I did not like it, I knew what that smile meant, it was not the first time I saw it and it was not good for me.
-Well, boy, the orders are clear.
I was not paying much attention to the agent, although I could hear him vaguely. I was focused on Dante. He had stood up and whispered "Everflames", a bright flame of fire ran through Dante's body softening his expression of pain.
-Everflames? – whisper.
-Anyway...
The agent caught my attention, took out a blue pistol, was the same with which they had pointed me days ago in the courtyard of Dante's house. When I saw it, the panic filled me, I was trapped in the clay and I could not run away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sophie's bewildered face and Zhalia's surprised face. The agent pointed my chest at it.
-I assure you that this is going to hurt a lot and I...
The man could not finish the sentence; Dante had placed stealthily behind him and one of his companions, took a hand of each agent and threw them back. The agent who was pointing at me just a few moments smashed into the wall and the other agent hit the third.
-Well, said Zhalia-Now, if you're kind enough to get us out of here.
Sophie and I showed our agreement to Zhalia's request. Dante smiled and went to help us.
Lok's POV end
Third person
Cherit was still following Defoe, he was clinging to the bumper of the sedan where Defoe and Grier were going. Defoe spoke on the phone with a man with a deep voice, while his subordinate drove.
-Remember the importance of the old amulet of the will for the future of the Organization.-Said the telephone voice.
-Of course Mr. the notes of Jodis Lore will be of great value for that purpose, along with the titans that he hides.
-And the boy, it's also very important, have you captured it?
-One of my boys is in charge of that, you better have got it, otherwise, I'll make sure he stops breathing.
-More you better catch it.
-Sir, if you do not mind, would you like to know why you have so much interest in the brat?
-Let's say it's one of a kind, and you do not need to know more. Now do not let anything or anyone get in your way!
-Yes sir.
Defoe finished the call, before addressing Grier.
-The teacher keeps us on a tight leash, do not you think?
-I have nothing but respect for the chain of command
-It does not matter, just move.
- Yes, sir.
Third person end
Dante's POV
Once he had removed them all from the clay, we inspected the room, which seemed to be the studio of Jodis Lore. Sophie and Lok checked the books, while Zhalia and I the table, rather me, Zhalia had her mind elsewhere. Suddenly she giggled and began to whisper so that only I could hear her.
- It seems to me that your children have been playing in the mud.
I looked towards Lok and Sophie, Zhalia was right, the wings were Sophie and Lok were full of clay and the tails and ears of Lok equal.
- I'm sorry we have feathers and hair,- Sophie said with a sudden glare at Zhalia.
-Do you think this will come out one day?
Lok said removing some clay from his ear, although he only managed to get his hair tangled. Zhalia smiled cruelly and Sophie hid the laughter. Lok sighed
-This is going to give me a lot of work.
I returned to our mission, run your fingers tracing the shape of the key in the dust.
-Zhalia, I'm going to need your help. Sophie, Lok, go find Cherit. We are not finished yet.
Dante's POV end
Third person
Defoe had reached his destination: The path of the alchemists.
-It tells the legend, that this is where the magician Lore left his Golem forever.
Defoe laughed in a creepy way. Grier de conforms to looking at their destiny. As they approached the door, a blonde agent gave an order to her agent. When they saw that their superiors had arrived, a line was placed in formation.
-Sirs! We have secured the building, but we cannot force entry to the attic of the Golem, not even with our titans.
-As it is to be expected -Grump Defoe- it is a room that contains great treasures, but this key should change that.
He took the key out of his pocket and inserted it into the lock in the shape of a mouth. The line between the two doors shone bright green, then the doors opened.
Third person end
Dante's POV
I was with Zhalia in a taxi; we headed to The Path of the Alchemists to stop Defoe. Zhalia looked straight ahead and I looked out the window.
-Lok is very clever.
I turned to Zhalia
-What do you mean?
-Ah, it's true, you were unconscious. Lok made Defoe a very funny comment that left him hallucinating, him and everyone.
-And will you tell me?
-Lok said, and quote verbatim: "He is not the first human with inferiority complexes that I face". It's funny that he called him human, considering that he can use powers, and human seekers can only invoke titans.
I made an assent sound and looked out the window again.
-I hope you listen to me and stay out
-You have more faith than the Pope. I bet you they're really disobedient.
-They are not bad guys.
-So what do you have to lose?
-Well, what do we bet? -I said with a smile.
-If they obey, I invite you to a coffee, and if they disobey you, you invite me to eat.
I looked at Zhalia with a raised eyebrow, I did not understand why if she lost she invited me to a coffee and if I lost a meal.
-I know that I will win, so I do not want to make you illusions by promising you something that you will not get.
I could not help but smile at his comment. I hoped Zhalia was wrong. I know that Lok does not know how to obey orders, but he is with Sophie, she is more responsible and it seems that she would not question me, besides Cherit is also with them and feels great attachment for Lok, and I do not think that exposes Lok to danger, nor that disobey
Dante's POV end