HOLD MY HAND THROUGH THE WAVES

CHAPTER 31

               THE KEY OF THE LADY

       Adam’s breadth was shaking, He held onto his bag like it was a treasure. He wiped off sweat from his forehead. He ran without looking back and jumped into a house through the window. It was empty, He could hear gunshots from back there. Away a few blocks, Arthur and Fox were hiding behind a huge barn. Villagers surrounded them from everywhere. The fire in they were holding made Fox uncomfortable, She was traumatized by the fire since her childhood. Her body started shaking but Arthur knew his best friend better than herself. Arthur pulled out his sword holding Fox close.

        Derek squatted down next to his bleeding father. “Ah..? As I expected Father your dogs left you here alone bleeding..” Derek laughed at his father’s helpless state, “They only care about your money, Father.. Ah- You are not my real father..” Derek pointed his dagger at his throat. “Chester you- You replaced me with your elder daughter at birth didn’t you?” “Yes I did, so?” Derek smirked looking at his dagger, “So..I don’t mind killing you..” Derek picked up his Chester’s hand and wrote Monster on his palm with his dagger. Chester screamed in pain, But Derek noticed his unfocused eyes. Derek turned his dagger backwards and stabbed the man’s leg , He turned around and slit his throat before he could stab him. The man’s blood fell on Chester’s face, made him flinch. “Tell me who’s your real daughter?” “Hy- Hydra..”

         Adam waited till all of them completed their one shot each. Adam slowly stepped out of the house alone. “Surrender now!” One of the men shouted from where they were hiding. “Why should I?” A wide grin spread on Adam’s face. “You are outnumbered young man.” Another one shouted, “But by now I know where you all are..” One of the men got up from his place to shoot him but he fell down dead that instant. “So you are the one who held the fire for this long..” Adam yelled at them. The man next to the dead man broke the end of the arrow from his head, “It’s the arrow of Miriana..” He whispered to the rest, “There’s no way it can be the prince.” “What’s wrong with the prince?” One of the new member asked, The elder men exchanged glances. “The prince ended half the clan last time we visited Miriana..” “That’s right I did.” The man looked up with shaking hands. Adam stabbed him in the chest.

        “Look at me..” Fox raised her eyes to meet Arthur’s. “It’s going to be okay..Wait here until get rid of the fire.” Fox nodded, Arthur went out towards the villagers gathered around. “We don’t want to hurt any of you..” Arthur tried to convince them but they were not listening to him at all. A man came to hit him with the fire they had but Fox covered him with her cloak, Arthur could see her eyes were closed with fear. The man tried to pull Fox towards them but Arthur kicked him to the ground. “Give us back Pastor’s daughter..” A woman shouted from behind, Which made Arthur stop from kicking him more. “What?”

        Adam killed most of the men there and turned towards the few some who where shocked and scared, Hiding in a corner. He slowly walked up to them and asked, “How old are you all?” They were all below Seventeen, Their answers were barely audible because of the shivering. “You all can go.” Adam said turning around, They looked at him with widened eyes. Before they could leave Adam said, “Before you go..If you really want to fight, Then fight for the royal army. Not now but when the new king takes over the kingdom.” Adam walked away.

       By the time Adam reached to Derek, Chester was crawling on the ground covered in blood. “Derek..” Adam called him to bring him back to his senses, Derek tried to walk but Chester grabbed his leg begging for forgiveness. He kicked him down and slowly walked up to Adam, Derek placed his palm on Adam’s shoulder and leaned towards his ear. “Kill him Adam..” Adam’s eyes were widened, Derek walked away without looking back. The voice of the arrow made him pause for a moment, He could hear Chester’s body collapsing on the ground.

         Adam caught up with Derek and asked, “Shouldn’t we wait for Fox and
Arthur?” “No.. I left them with a matter only Arthur could solve.” Adam and Derek jumped into the well where Agnes was standing staring at the wall. “Found a way?” Derek asked. “I don’t think it’s the right way but, I don’t see any other way..” “What is it?” Adam started staring at the wall too. “You see those bricks which are slightly barged out? I think we should push them back in..”
Without thinking twice Derek pushed them back in. The bricks around them started shaking, “I think there is water coming out Adam...” Adam turned to see there is water coming out of one open brick. They started to feel scared, “What do we do now Adam?” Agnes asked. Water was filled up to their thighs, “Wait-” Said Adam like he remembered something. He pulled out the box which Ezra gave him and pushed it inside the hole. That’s when the noticed the star sign on the side, “I knew she wouldn’t send a box without a reason.” Adam whispered to himself with a warm smile.

          A passage opened ahead of them, It was like a huge slide. Derek was the first to go down and he shouted he was okay when he reached the bottom. The rest two slid down and reached the Phoenix palace with the key kept inside a glass box next to a great statue of Phoenix surrounded by tombs. “Key of the lady.” Adam picked up the key, “What a splendid place to keep the Key of LADY!” Derek scoffed looking at the key. “Adam picked up the flowers he bought and placed them on the tombs. “Let’s go back Adam.” Agnes opined. Derek and Adam nodded and left with Agnes.

         “Why is it taking so long? Is it because of they forgot the journal?” “They’ll be fine..” Said Wolf irritated, They were all sitting around the table and Veronica just won’t keep quite for a moment. “I wish they would have left us alone here..” Akimi scoffed at Veronica and said, Veronica and Wolf turned to them raising their eyebrow and asked simultaneously, “For what?” Kai chocked on his bread. Kai and Akimi escaped the scene and slammed the balcony door.

         “Where are you going?” Wolf asked grabbing Veronica’s arm while she was leaving too. “To my room..why?” “I’m coming too..You cant leave me here..” He walked with her without leaving her arm. Veronica pause in front of the door, “What happened?” He asked confused. She looked at her arm and looked back at him, Wolf let go of her hand and coughed purposefully to hide his embarrassment.

        “Why do you need Ezra?” Arthur asked the villagers. “The people in the palace told you kidnapped her..” “Do you know who he is?” Fox came forward, But Arthur stopped her. “We kidnapped her for what?” Arthur asked them calmly. “For stopping her from the royal marriage.” “Who is the king you know?” Arthur was getting the point. “Cyrus..” They replied.

        HE KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING.