Long Lost Betrothed

Depths of Deciet Part 2

Word Count: 1346

"So, uh, Cassandra was it?" Scanlan asked as we continued to walk down the dark halls Percy and I leading the group. "Seeing as how we're two unattached adults..." Scanlan kept saying before backing into Percy turning to look at him.

"No." Percy said instantly giving Scanlan a scare before he continued walking stepping up his pace to catch up to me since I didn't stop. Still angry at Rippley and the Briarwoods.

"Interesting company you keep." I heard Rippley say from behind as I gripped my rapier tightly against my hip fighting the urge to cut her throat.

"I recall you having more digits last time we saw each other." Percy said snarkly as he caught up to me  his arm brushing mine from being so close as
Rippley replied.

"Innovation is dangerous. Especially when you mix science and magic." She said sending Percy a smile as she walked up next to us almost like she was trying to seduce his mind.

"This Ziggurat," I said through gritted teeth dragging her attention away from Percy, who sent me a slightly amused look with a raised brow, "You found it for them?"

"Not just found, restored." She said with pride in her voice. "Improved. At the Briarwoods request, I was able to augment the structure with a particular mineral," She explained as she started pulling off wood from the side of the wall opening up a door way.

"Residuum." Percy said gripping my hand gently in his, as I squeezed his hand back.

"But to what end is anyone's guess." Rippley said as she walked into the next room first followed by Percy and I second as he walked in front of me in case something tried to attack as I took out my rapier. As Percy walked forward I heard a click and without thinking I grabbed the back of his jacket yanking him back, causing him to lose his balance and fall back into me.

"What are you doing." Percy yelled out shocked as we both fell to the ground on our asses at the same time the trap went off as spikes shot into the floor.

"Good listening, Ophelia," Rippley said as I sent her a glare as she walked towards one of the contraptions, "Mm, worked even better than my design." She spoke as she examined the contraption, opening it up before turning to look back at Percy, and I. "Perhaps I should take the lead?"

"By all means." Percy said as we stood up and he held his gun up to her head, "Easier to keep an eye on you." And with that he motioned with his gun for her to continue walking while I stood behind him with the rest of the group as they stared at him concerned. The next room we walked into had a ton of pully devices and walk ways built leading to an under ground building. As we walked down some of the wood walkways we eventually walked into some well dug out tunnels as I heard Grog talk to Pike about her finding herself and Vax telling Vex how he'll survive after getting turned down by Keyleth. I was mostly focused on Percy though as he held the gun to Rippley's back, making sure that he didn't just shoot her before we had a chance to get what we needed out of her. Besides like I said, I would be the one who ends up killing her.

"Such a well constructed weapon. Do the barrels rotate by gear or wheel?" Rippley asked trying to make conversation whether as a distraction or because she was trying to get Percy to like her, I'm not completely sure. When he didn't reply though she kept talking. "Come now, you must be dying to talk shop with an intellectual equal. Your... friends," she spoke shooting me a look, "seem pleasent enough, but... your mind is on another level."

"She has most of a point, your mind is unlike any I've ever crossed, though intellectualy wise, Ophelia could be right up there with you." Cass said as she walked up next to Percy for a second before walking ahead of him, but to the side slightly so he could keep his eye on Rippley.

"Thank you, Cassandra." Percy said making me snicker softly knowing what she said went right over his head.

"Not a compliment for you." Cassandra said with a chuckle. "It was however a compliment for Ophelia."

"Well, thank you, Cass, someone has to try to understand him sometimes." I said with a chuckle as Percy looked down at me with a soft smile as I smiled back at him squeezing his arm gently before looking back at the walk infront of us.

"This way." Rippley said leading us down a staircase, "We're getting closer."

"For your sake, you best hope so." Percy said as we walked into a large tomb room with torches lit, and each tomb door had a statue of a person standing armed.

"Stand back!" Grog shouted suddenly making me spin around weapon raised thinking we were gonna be attacked, "That stone person's armed!"

"Oh, Grog..." I sighed softly taking a deep breath to calm my fast heartbeat.

"Uh, that's a grave." Vax said stepping up next to Grog before walking towards the grave and holding out his knife as it lit up in flames examining the grave.

"Where are we?" Vex asked as everyone spread out around the small room a little bit.

"Our family tomb." Cassandra answered as I looked closely at one of the tomb statues.  "It holds generations of de Rolos."  All of a sudden I heard stone grinding against stone as I quickly looked over at Vax who jumped back from the statue he was standing at as it slowly opened.

"We've got visitors." Vax said as he continued to back away.

"Wait a second." I said backing up towards Percy bas the stone statue infront of me also started moving, "Did Lady Briarwood raise all the dead?" As I finished my question multiple zombies stepped out of their tombs.

"Uncle Nathaniel!?" Cassandra gasped standing behind Percy and I. We all quickly launched into actions cutting down the zombies as Grog slammed two of them together above himself as he started laughing in joy, causing Vax, Keyleth and I to stand and stare at him.

"How long is he gonna stay like that?" I asked tilting my head as we stared.

"No telling, really." Vax said resting his arm on my shoulder.

"Drop it Rippley, now." Percy said causing me to turn around and look to see him holding his gun up towards Rippley who was now holding a sword in her hands.

"You still think you can do this without me?" Rippley asked him as we all gathered behind him. "Percival, I'm not what you should be worried about." She then dropped the sword letting the clang of the metal hitting the ground sound throughout the room as everyone stared at the both of them.

"I have more than enough worry to go around." Percy said finally lowering his gun slightly, the rest of us breathing a quick sigh of relief.

"Fine, but you'll regret this." Ripley said as she walked over to one of the tombs that didn't open sliding the stone to the side opening another dark passage as we stepped forward to continue on our journey.

*I'm so sorry I haven't been updating I got a second job, (cause you know economy bullshit) and just haven't had time to write. I do plan to possibly add season two to this book so you guys don't have to go to my profile to find it but if you want me to make season 2 a separate book I totally will! I just want to apologize again and hopefully I can get more updates out soon ☺️ P.S after I finish writing out season one you might get a spicy 🌶️ surprise at the end 😉 something to maybe look forward too if you want it*