Broken Silence

CHAPTER FIVE

Jim, Claire, and Toby were at the bottom of the canal as the black haired girl was holding the horngazel.

Jim smiled at her, "You ready?"

Claire took a calming breath, "If it helps me get my brother back? Yeah, I'm ready!"

"Just remember, saving Enrique is our little secret. If any of them were to find out-"

"Don't worry. My lips are sealed."

Toby stepped closer to the bridge, "Now, you're going to start drawing a semi-circle.", he looked next to him to see Claire had already drew the entrance, "Oh... you have it. Okay, nevermind!"

She pressed the middle of the semi-circle and it opened, revealing the steps to Trollmarket.

Claire breathlessly whispered out, "Wow...", as the trio made their way down the glowing stairs, "The crystal staircase... This is more that I... I-I never would have..."

She bolted down the steps in her excitement.

Toby panicked as he shouted out to his new team member, "Hold on a sec! We need a few ground rules here, okay? The locals are not friendly to outsiders! The first time we came here, Jim almost got killed!"

The brown eyed teen kept on going as the red head looked at Jim worryingly, "You think she heard any of that?"

The Trollhunter shook his head, "Not a word.", before running off after the oblivious female. When they reached the bottom, Claire looked around in amazement "It's... it's beautiful!"

Jim gave her a smile, "Welcome to Heartstone Trollmarket!"

The awestruck teen grasped the ravenette's hand in hers, exclaiming "This place is beyond... it's beyond beyond! I want to live down here. Can I live down here?"

"Yeah, no. I don't think so. I don't think that's a good id-"

Claire ran through Trollmarket and caused a few of the denizens to gawk at her. She ran into Blinky, Aaarrrgghh, and Gemma who was in her Dragon Folk form.

The dark haired girl stared up at the emerald eyed krubera in wonder as the hybrid fought back the wave of protectiveness from the innocent action, "You're... you're..."

"Aaarrrgghh.", the grey skinned troll helped finish.

Then Claire's gaze wondered over to Gemma as she marveled at how the dragoness' tricolored scales sparkled majestically in the light of the cave crystals. Then, it wondered over to the brunette's face as the younger girl noticed that her eye was the purest blue she has ever seen; like looking into a clear pool of water.

"You're very pretty..."

Gemma's face turned bright red at Claire's compliment as the Dragon Folk's mate proudly agreed with a wide smile, "Very pretty Gem!"

It was like an arrow pierced the twenty-two year old's heart as it felt like she fell in love with the large troll all over again. The hybrid's tail snapped forward as she crouched down and hid behind her fin; extremely flustered. Claire looked at her in concern, "Is she alright?"

Toby waved a hand dismissively as he laughed, "She's fine! Just a sucker for flattery.", causing his sister to glare playfully at him from behind her tail.

"Well, if it isn't the Fair Claire!", Blinky greeted, "We've been expecting you."

"Blinkous Galadrigal.", she smiled politely at the scholar troll, "Jim told me you helped him face Draal and slay Bular. And that Vespa!"