Chapter 19
Lok's POV
We were in the main room, with Cherit admiring the gargoyle statues in the room while the others mourned the loss of the titan.
-This is great!, it's just as I imagined it when I became a seeker! If we remove the excess water, of course.
Cherit nodded in agreement with me.
- Being surrounded by so many winged creatures makes me feel at home.
I laughed at Cherit's comment. Now that I had stopped giving electric shocks, Cherit had claimed my shoulder as him transport. I started to walk around all the gargoyles, until one caught my attention. The gargoyle held a plate and a jug.
-Boys? All the statues hold something in both hands.
-Forget it Lok, you do not see that we lost- Sophie said exasperated.
-There's a hole here ... a hole in the jar.
-Please!- Sophie was on nerves.
-Give him an opportunity.
Dante and Zhalia approached me.
-Probably broke during the fight- Zhalia said indifferently.
-Of course! - I started to take a canteen out of my bag- We need water
The others also approached while pouring water through the hole in the rockrose that ended up falling on the plate that held the statue in the other hand. When the water finished falling the gargoyle began to move revealing a secret passageway.
-A secret passage! - Sophie exclaimed.
- Well-done boy! - Cherit cried with joy - That was amazing!
-Good job. I thought there must be something more in this cave than Gar-Ghoul. Dante's congratulations made me feel really proud of myself.
-What do you mean?- Sophie asked Dante. -Titans were not the most important things for a seeker? After his willpower, of course.
-Some ancient secrets are more powerful than any titan. And that is exactly what Lok has found.
I waved my seven tails happily while smiling with satisfaction.
-I think he was just lucky- Zhalia said in a bad mood.
-I'm sorry I did not believe in you, Lok- Sophie apologized.
- I do not know why you apologize. Let's explore! I want to see what there is!
- And you're not the only one. Come on.
With the words of Dante we all enter the passageway.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
We were walking through the passage that Lok had found. After a while walking the tunnel began to descend until it ends in some stairs, at the end of these the floor was made of wood, at the other end there was a door, it was a little dark so I created a sphere of fire to guide my team through the tunnel.
Lok looked everywhere and stayed in last place, although he was not the only one, Peter was also very impressed. I knelt on the floor and inspected it, it did not seem safe.
-Did you say there was something else in the tunnel, Dante- Sophie asked a little annoyed by the time we had been walking without finding anything.
-Silence- I got up and looked at the boys over my shoulder- This hallway looks like a kind of trap.
My team shared a look, I started to walk down the hall. I heard Peter move forward and get excited with some writings on the wall.
-This is old French, I'll decipher it.
I turned quickly to try to warn him not to do it, but it was too late, he lit a flashlight that he had taken out of his bag and lit the wall, where he hit a multi-coloured glass that had embedded a crack, the light bounced on others crystals in a chain effect. At that moment the room rumbled.
-Run!
I grabbed Peter's arm and pulled him as he opened the door and pushed in behind me. The ground so began to tilt, creating a slope that led nowhere. Sophie flew to the door and Zhalia crossed without problem, but Lok was still tired of the previous discharge and could not fly. Lok screamed as he started to slide down.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
I began to fall into the void, luckily, being wild, my instincts are more developed than those of a normal demon, so I could get my claws and hold on to the edge of the wood, where I could see the bottom, full of spikes where I did not want to fall. My grip was weak and when the wood began to rise again I began to lose it. I tried to do everything I could to not fall to my death, but it was not enough, the wood was recovering its ground position and if it reached the end I would fall. Without thinking I let out a small growl, I noticed how my fur bristled and my eyes became sharper, with a great impulse I began to climb fiercely the wood in movement, with a big jump I went out through the small opening that was and landed in the wood that already it had recovered his soil condition.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
Lok was on the ground breathing in relief for being alive.
-Thank God.
Cherit sighed with great relief flying towards him. I observed Lok a little bit that he was still scared, he had the hair of his ears and tails dishevelled and bristling, his blond hair was a mess, his eyes had changed, they looked like a panther and showed his claws sharp and slightly his fangs, if we add the grunt from before, Lok seemed a wild animal in every rule. It impressed me, but I did not know how Peter was going to react, he was quiet, his mouth slightly open and he looked at Lok almost without blinking.
-By the hair, Lok- I managed to say.
Peter approached Lok quietly with his mouth slightly open. He looked him up and down.
-You ... are ... Awesome! -I was surprised by Peter's comment, I expected everything but that. Peter regained his composure-I ... I'm sorry...
I turned to Peter a little angrily, I know it was not entirely his fault, but still, I should have been more careful…
-Just relax. I know you are not a seeker. You have no idea what you're getting into.
-I think the same could be said about Lok- Sophie mocked under her breath.
- I heard you! - Lok got up- I'm still alive, right?
-I suppose ...- Sophie turned to me- Why did Peter's light activate the trap when your light did not?
I could not help but smile at Sophie's question.
-Fireball is a magic light. Only search engines can pass.
-Why is that? - Asked Lok recovered from shock.
-Well, I suppose this is a secret base for the seekers of past centuries.
I opened a door revealing a room with a medieval appearance; there were several paintings of battles and of God, besides statues of the Virgin Mary.
- Is that Joan of Arc? Sophie asked, full of emotion when she saw one of the paintings.
- Probably the last to use this base.
-Joan of Arc was a seeker?- Lok asked, not understanding much.
-If she were a seeker, she would have a special titan, which would explain the visions she had that showed her the future- Peter explained.
-It was one of the most powerful women in France. She died a few kilometres from here.
While the boys were looking at the whole room I had approached an old table and was looking through a pretty old and interesting notebook, when something caught my attention.
- It seems to be that it descended of the French realizes.
Sophie continued. Zhalia snorted and rolled her eyes at that comment.
-It must have been real blood. A great power comes from a noble name. Although they are like yours.
Zhalia had got what she wanted, to bother Sophie. Lok was asking something to Cherit, I supposed it had to do with the discussion. I do not know what Cherit would say, but Lok just laughed. Desperate to avoid what was coming, I intervened, changing the focus of the conversation.
-I think these are your notes.- I won the look of the girls- Here will be the key.
With that we went to the hotel.
Dante's POV end
Third person
At the headquarters of the Organization, in Prague, deep in the sewers, Defoe was facing the Professed, who turned his back on him. The Professor's dog was paying more attention to Defoe than its owner.
-Mr. I have fabulous news. I, I have assured Titan Gar-Ghoul and his power.
-Did you find something else?- The Professor asked without turning around.
I do not understand what you mean, Lord.
-I told you to secure the Cave of the Gargoyle and bring EVERYTHING that could be of value! - the Professor shouted full of anger.
- Sir, Dante Vale and his team were there, we had to retire...
-Fool! The key to finding the legendary Titan of Arco was there! But you, you fled like a coward, and that information will be in the hands of the Foundation now!
-Lord- Defoe again tried to excuse himself- We sent more men, they are all in the infirmary, even Grier, I was the only one who was saved...
- Save yourself from that?!
-From the boy, whom he wants to capture, he only took care of all the agents, electrocute- The Professor began to calm down at that, although he did not like that information-Lord, I'll fix it. I will do anything.
-Find Dante Vale. He and his team will take you to the ring. Get the ring and the child.
-If Lord, I will not fail this time.
Defoe was about to leave when the Professor stopped him with one last sentence.
-If you fail, the consequences will be terrible.
With that Defoe left with a lot of fear. The Professor sat down in his leather chair, his dog approached his feet, he picked it up and began to caress it.
-Dante Vale is developing his power, that's not good; I need him as soon as possible.
Third person end
Lok's POV
We were in the hotel, Dante, Peter and the girls were in the hotel restaurant eating something, I was with Cherit in my room, I had showered and now I was drying and combing my tails. Cherit was drying my tails with a towel that were still a little wet despite having dried them with the dryer, I was combing them. I looked at the clock on the bedside table, it was 10 p.m., the restaurant no longer had to serve more food, so I could not help sighing with sadness to realize that I was not going to eat that night.
- Are you okay, Lok?
-Yeah, it's nothing Cherit, only sometimes I hate having so much hair.
-Why? I love it!
Cherit said as he rolled the end of one of my tails around my body and paraded foolishly over the bed, making me laugh. Cherit stopped when someone knocked on the door. At first I thought it could be Dante, but it did not make sense, he has a key, so it had to be one of the girls or Peter.
I got out of bed and opened the door; Zhalia was standing with her back to me and looking at her with her arms folded.
-Zhalia?- She turned to look at me. -Everything okay?
-Yes, can I pass?
-Hey? Clear.
I pulled away and let her in, closed the door when she entered. He went to my bed and stared at Cherit, the dryer and the brush.
-Cherit, Dante needs you. Go without being seen.
Cherit looked at Zhalia and then at me. I nodded, he smiled and flew away, I opened the dead and saw him walking down the hall.
-Did Dante really ask that Cherit go alone?
-No, but I wanted him to leave.
-Why?
-It's my business Lok, do not get involved- at his words I tilted my head to one side, Zhalia was mysterious- I see you've been busy.
She sat on my bed and picked up my brush. I went over and sat with her.
-Yes..., it is what there is.
I shrugged and lay on the bed. Zhalia stared at me for a while in silence.
-What happens?
-Nothing.- Zhalia shook her head. -Don't worry. I brought you something.
Zhalia put her hands together and then separated them, a sandwich appeared between them. For a few moments it floated, then took it with one of his hands and handed it to me. I jumped back, sat cross-legged, waved my tails energetically.
-Can I? - Exclaimed happily
-I brought it for you, fool. The kitchen closed and you still had not come down- Zhalia pointed to the clock on the bedside table- I thought you would be hungry after this day.
I bit the sandwich with a lot of appetite, it was meat with cheese, it was GOOD!
-Thank you for the food, but you did not have to bother.
-I thought it would be a good way to thank you for saving me from falling into the water this morning. If it had fallen, I would have swallowed one of those swirls.
-I did not need you to thank me.-I lowered my head. -Thanks for not asking questions.- Zhalia was a little surprised. -People keep asking until they get an answer, it's annoying. Even Dante did it. But you do not, you respected that I did not want to tell you.
-I suppose you'll have your reasons.
-I'm a hybrid between a demon and an angel.
After that there was silence, I did not dare to look at Zhalia.
-That's interesting- I looked at her surprised- Thank you for telling me.
Zhalia got up and went to the door.
-Do not listen to Sophie.- Zhalia stopped and turned to look at me. -I know I can trust you.
Without saying anything, he left my room; I stayed in bed eating the sandwich with great satisfaction.
Lok's POV end
Zhalia's POV.
I left Lok's room, closed the door and I dropped on it, Lok was very sweet, and I never liked the sweet, it fills you with cavities. I took a breath and went to the hotel bar. Once there I sat at the bar and ordered a loaded Martini. After a while Dante sat next to me and ordered a whiskey with ice.
-It has been a nice detail on your part.
- What?
-Take some food to Lok.- Dante sipped his drink.
-It was nothing.
-He is very happy.
-That guy exaggerates everything!- I drank from my Martini with indignation.
-What do you think?" I looked at him without understanding. -About Lok, I know he told you.
-It's interesting. I did not know it could exist.
And he cannot. It's unique.
-He is already one of a kind without being a hybrid.-Dante laughed at my comment- I'm not going to sell him, if that's what worries you.
-Thank you
I turned on my stool and faced him with a playful air.
-The cards on the table, Mr. Vale. He has not come alone to ask me about the puppy, right?
Dante became serious.
-You did not ask questions about him, why?
-I do not like that they get into my affairs, so I do not get involved in the affairs of others.
-How did you get the address of my house?
-You are not the only one with friends in the Foundation.
-And what were you doing there?
-You do not remember? You lost a bet, I was going to claim it.
Dante laughed at himself.
-I am sorry. I have passed.
-Nothing happens. You try to protect Lok, it's normal for you to worry. And you have to admit that Sophie does not help- I drank a little more of my drink.
-Yes ... what problem do you have with her?
-The problem is with her. Do you know what Cherit told Lok while Sophie and I were arguing? It seemed very funny.
Dante laughed and drank more of his whiskey.
-I recognize that I was also very curious. Do not bother too much about the comment, okay? -I nodded.- Very well, Cherit said to Lok: -I've been here since before human history, but women are still a mystery to me-Dante laughed while giving another sip- I have to admit that he's right. Some women are very mysterious, for example you. I am able to read Sophie as an open book, but on the other hand, not you. I do not know what your intentions, your plans, or your motivations are. And I want to discover them.
I finished my drink, got off the stool and started walking towards the exit.
-There are mysteries that are better not to solve.
- Do not you pay?
-We made a bet. You pay. Ciao
I said goodbye to Dante with a wave of my hand and went to my room to rest a little, today was very long.
Zhalia's POV end