Chapter 14 The Nether Fortress

As Aphmau found herself in the Nether, she began looking around for Lowell. "Lowell! Lowell!"

"I'm over here, Ms human lady", a familiar voice yelled back. Then, Lowell ran up to Aphmau.

"Lowell", Aphmau said in relief when she saw him. "Thank goodness you're okay!"

"Ms human lady, I think Kiva is over there", Lowell said, before pointing towards something.

The thing Lowell pointed me towards was some type structure made out of some kind of red brick. I later found out that it is called a 'Nether Fortress.'

"What is that", Aphmau asked.

"No idea. But looks different than everything else, so maybe Kiva's there", Lowell said. Then, he rushed off in the direction of the structure!

"Lowell, wait", Aphmau yelled out. Then, she ran after him.

…

Aaron and Melissa were hiding behind the bridge that led into the structure.

"This is probably where Kiva is being held captive", she said.

"Right", Aaron said. "Okay, so here's what I think we should-"

"Aaron, Melissa", a familiar voice yelled out. Then, their eyes widened as Lowell ran up to them with Aphmau in tow.

"Lowell", Melissa said in shock before kneeling down besides him. "What are you doing here? It's not safe for you to be here!"

"The same goes for you, Aphmau", Aaron pointed out to her angrily. "What are you doing here?"

"It's my fault, Aaron", Lowell said. "I came to rescue Kiva and Aphmau came after me."

After Lowell told Aaron how we ended up in the Nether, he looked at me, before taking a deep breath.

"Sorry", Aaron said to Aphmau.

"It's okay, Aaron", Aphmau reassured him.

"Aaron, we need to get to Kiva as soon a possible", Melissa pointed out. "So I think we should just take Aphmau and Lowell into the Nether fortress with us."

Aaron didn't seem happy about taking me and Lowell with him and Melissa into the Nether Fortress, but after thinking about it for a moment…he sighed in defeat.

"Fine", Aaron said, before coming up to Aphmau. "Aphmau, you're in charge of keeping an eye on Lowell."

"Got it", Aphmau said. Then, Aaron and Melissa looked across the bridge.

"There's two guards there", Aaron pointed out.

"Let's see if you and I still work well together, bro", Melissa said.

"Aphmau, you stay here with Lowell", Aaron instructed her. "I'll signal you once it's safe to come over to us."

"Got it", Aphmau said. "Aaron, Melissa, please be careful."

After I asked Aaron to be careful, he gave me a nod. He then looked at Melissa and gave her a nod as well.

After Aaron and Melissa nodded to each other, they looked at guards that were at the front of the fortress. Aaron pulled out his sword, and Melissa held up her fists. Then…the two of them charged at the guards!

They saw the siblings and prepared to fight them, but before they could react, Melissa kicked them back! While they were recovering from the impact, Aaron swung his sword at them. With fresh wounds on their chests, they fell to the ground.

"He has the Demonic Broad Sword", one of the guards said in shock. "Could he be…"

Before the guard could finish, Aaron picked him and the and the other one up. And then…he through them into the lava!

After the guards had been dealt with, Aaron signalled to Aphmau. She ran up to him with Lowell in her arms, before looking down at the lava. "Are they…"

"They're fine", Aaron reassured Aphmau. "They're Shadow Knights. They can't really die. All my sword did as injure them temporarily."

"Shadow Knights", Aphmau asked in confusion.

"No time to explain", Melissa said. "Come on! Let's head inside and find Kiva!"

We snuck our way around the halls of the Nether Fortress, with Aaron and Melissa fighting off Shadow Knights whenever they had to.

Eventually, we made it to a room. We peered into it, and saw a cage at the back of it. Inside that cage…was a young werewolf girl.

"It's Kiva", Melissa said happily. "We found her!"

"Kiva", Lowell yelled out. He then wiggled his way out of Aphmau's arms and tried to run into the room, but Melissa grabbed onto him and pulled him back.

"It's not safe, Lowell", Melissa said as she pulled him away from the room. She then kneeled down beside him and patted his head. "You stay here with Aphmau, okay? We'll get Kiva out of there soon."

After Melissa reassured Lowell, her and Aaron peered into the room.

"There doesn't seem to be anyone else in there", Aaron pointed out. "Let's get Kiva and get out of here!"

"Right", Melissa agreed.

Aaron and Melissa charged into the room to get Kiva. But before they could reach her…Melissa was suddenly knocked into the wall!

"Melissa", Aaron yelled out. Then…he suddenly heard a voice whisper to him. He looked up…and saw a shadowy figure with purple, glowing eyes staring at him. Before he knew it…the figure charged at him!

After the shadowy figure charged at him, Aaron started yelling in pain. Shadow started surrounding him. And, Even though his eyes were covered, I could see that they were now glowing with the same purple colour as the shadowy figure's eyes.

When Melissa heard her brother yelling in pain, she quickly got onto her feet and rushed up to him. "Aaron! Aaron, are you ok-"

Before Melissa could finish, Aaron turned to her, and then…he knocked her into another wall!

"Melissa", Aphmau yelled out to her. Then, she looked up at Aaron.

I watched as Aaron slowly made his way towards Melissa; with his sword in hand. I couldn't just sit and watch. I had to do something!

"Stay here, Lowell", Aphmau said to him. Then, she ran until she was standing between Aaron and Melissa, and held her arms out. "Aaron, stop!"

When Aaron saw me, his eyes widened in shock. Then, in a voice that was different from his own, he whispered a name.

"Irene?"

I had never heard this name before, and yet, when I heard this voice say it…I suddenly felt a bit of sadness.

However, before I could think about this, Aaron suddenly yelled in pain again! Then, the purple glow in his eyes disappeared, and so did the shadow surrounding him.

"Aaron", Melissa exclaimed, before running up to her brother. "Are you okay?! What happened?!"

"I…I don't know", Aaron replied. Then, he looked at Aphmau. "Are you okay, Aphmau?"

"I'm fine", Aphmau replied.

"Kiva", Lowell yelled out. Then he ran up to cage she was being kept in.

"Lowell", she said as she came to the front of the cage. "And Melissa too! You guys came to rescue me!"

"Of course we did, sweet pup", Melissa said. Then, Aaron came to to the cage as well. "This is my little brother, Aaron. He'll get you out of here in a jiffy."

"Can you stand as far back as possible, Sweetie", Aaron asked Kiva. She nodded before doing as she was asked. Then, Aaron took his sword, and swung it at the cage! In an instant, the bars at the front fell to the ground.

"Lowell", Kiva yelled. She then ran up to him and gave him a hug. "I…I was so scared."

"It's okay, Kiva. You're safe now", Lowell said, before looking up at the adults. "Aaron, Melissa, and Aphmau, thank you so much for rescuing Kiva!"

"We're not out of the woods yet", Aaron said. "We still need to get out of the Nether."

Just as Aaron pointed out that we still needed to get out of the Nether, we suddenly heard noise coming from behind us! We turned around, and saw a whole bunch of guards behind us!

"Not good", Aaron said, before looking at his sister. "Melissa, take the kids! I've got Aphmau!"

"Got it", Melissa said.

On Aaron's orders, Melissa picked up both Lowell and Kiva and held them in her arms. Then…Aaron suddenly picked me up!

"Hold on tight, Aphmau", Aaron instructed her.

Following Aaron's orders, I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. Then, somehow, with just their legs, him and Melissa ran up the wall of the fortress! Once we reached the top, they took a quick look around, before jumping off the wall! Once we were on the ground, Aaron put me down.

"Everyone good", Melissa asked.

"We're good", Lowell and Kiva replied.

"I'm good too", Aphmau replied.

"Those Shadow Knights are going to be hot on our trail", Aaron said. "Let's hurry back to the Nether portal and get out of here!"