The Evergreen Legend

Chapter Eight

"Alright! Heads up! On three summon the fire from deep inside you Fox, and throw it onto the tree!" Aunt Missy said as he tried to focus on the tree, but he was too excited about the upcoming homecoming dance at his middle school that the fire shot out of his palm and onto the tree spreading to the other trees. The flames were dark orange and red mixed, and as they danced with the wind, Riah jumped in front of Fox and froze the fire creating a wall of ice around them.

"Azariah, push your hands outwards and break it!" She did as told and broke the fire. Fox knelt down and started crying, with his head down he spoke to Riah and Missy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that!!! I don't know how to control my emotions well yet, I'm sorry." He fainted as his vision came back.

"Sorry, I had a memory, you know that time I almost burnt down a whole forest?" It was nine at night when he woke up, due to Cassius carrying him to his room he was in bed talking to the rest of the group while Cassius and Riah excused themselves as they join hand in hand into their bedroom closing the door behind them Cassius develops riah into his arms as he winds his fingers up riah's arms as he makes his way to her chin and whispers into her ear.

"It's time for our night of fun my love." After a few minutes of passionate kissing, Cassius spontaneously lights candles around the room giving the smell of roses and lilac. Throughout the night were sounds of aroused moaning from their room. By the time they got people together for the war that might happen one month had passed, and everyone had become closer day by day.

"Okay so, not to burst anyone's bubble here but when do we leave?" Vanessa asked stuffing her face with a chicken thigh.

"So, first things first we need to find out what exactly happened that night our parents disappeared," Fox said as he took a bite of mashed potatoes and a sip of whiskey.

"Yeah, then we need to find out where they are and how to bring them back because we can feel that they're alive. We don't know where," Riah smiled as she took Cassius's hand in her as she ate, "Our family symbol is a willow tree so maybe they're in a willow tree? For protection??" She took a sip of some water.

"Why are you drinking water Riah?" Her brother asked eating some beefcakes, she had been feeling weird for a while but kept shaking it off for nervousness.

"Oh, I don't want to wake up tomorrow with my head aching." She smiled and continued to eat feeling good about the weeks ahead.

"So Pixie and I will sneak into the palace and see what we can find while you guys go looking for a willow tree?" Pixie nodded and they both got up from their seat excusing themselves so they could go to bed. Lei Chao walked over and asked Riah to follow him alone so they could talk.

"Young lady we can talk in here." She stated as she opened the door to a room with a couch, Azariah felt watched, not by Lei Chao but by someone else.

"Sit, now mistress Riah, I must speak with you about the mission ahead." Just then Lei Chao pulled out a crystal and placed it on Riah's arm as someone grabbed her from behind.

"Lei--mmm!" She wiggled and fought to break free but it was no use the person holding her was too strong for her to fight, as the crystal touched her skin she screamed, they had her mouth covered blocking out the noise. It burned, badly. This caused her to pass out eventually.

"She's still my granddaughter Maranda, and what you did to our daughter was beyond cruel!!  never wanted any of this!!" A man stood before Riah as she sat tied to a chair, the burn mark was still fresh.

"Master, she's waking up!! Mistress Riah is waking up!!" She jumped, the man looked to be in his sixties, and the ropes she was tied with burned as she tried to wiggle her arm causing her to scream.

"Oh please don't do that sweetie!! It's an aien crystal, they are your family's only weakness. I don't want you hurt any more than you already are." Her world soon went dark again, this time though she was not alone.

"My baby! They used an aien crystal on you?! I didn't know they would stoop so low as to hurt their granddaughter!!" Her mother Riah in her arms and cradled her, Loralai started crying as she spoke, "I'm so sorry my child, you shouldn't have to deal with this at such a young age. Come find us!" She woke up seeing Cassius's parents and her mother's parents in the same room fighting. Back at the sky region, the group started getting a bit worried after Riah didn't return for a while. 

"Where did my sister go? And Lei Chao?" They followed the path Lei went and made it to the room, when they opened the door they saw Lei Chao sitting on the couch quietly.

"What the hell?? Where is my fiancé Chao!?" Fox stared at Cassius with a shocked expression.

"Fiancé!? We'll talk about that later, Where is my sister Lei Chao? If you don't talk then we will get Hanjin and the other elders in here." He stood there silently.

"No need, we knew something was wrong as soon as she didn't return so we came as soon as we could." Hanjin and the other elders walked in starring Lei Chao down.