The Prince of Light

Chapter 11

The whole city was in the trees. The actual houses were built around each tree. They balanced on platforms, forming decks around the houses. There were about thirty or so houses. Chase pulled out two belts. He strapped one around me and one around him. They had odd, green crystals on a black strip of leather. Like emeralds.

"Why do we have to wear these?" I asked Chase.

"They allow us to fly." He said.

"But I can fly already." I said, confused.

"You can? Well, no matter. Jump!" He said. He jumped and jerked me with him. We hovered in the air for a moment, and then we flew up. We landed on the biggest house's platform.

"What's this place?" I asked. He didn't answer. He just jerked my arms and pulled me in the house. The inside was decorated lavishly. Fancy furniture was spread throughout the room. In the center of the room, the giant tree trunk was hollowed out. A wooden door was attached to the only entrance. A small cot and table were waiting inside. He sliced the ropes on my wrist with a spare knife and shoved me inside the cell. He shut the door and locked it. He walked out onto the platform and looked back.

"Stay here. Your punishment will be decided later." He jumped off the platform and floated off. I sighed.

'Wait. He forgot to take the fly belt. But it still doesn't help me.' I sighed again and sat on the cot. A plan began to formulate in my mind.

'Tonight is the time you need to escape. Also, how are you going to get the key?' The Voice put in.

'Oh, I will figure something out. I just hope Faolan and Kendra are ok.' I thought.

* * * *

Kendra swam down the river. She was torn.

'I really like Lucas. But I can't cheat on Aiden. Why did I have to date him?' She wondered. 'Ok, so let's do pros and cons. Lucas- hot, nice, amazing powers, but I barely know him. Yet we get along so well. Aiden- cute, smart, cool power, but we don't get along very well. Ugh! Why does my choice have to be so hard?!?!' She kept on swimming. A big fish swan nearby.

'Hi, little fish. Why are you in such a hurry?' She asked it.

'Danger! Rush water ahead!' It said.

'Rush water?' She wondered. She suddenly realized the roar of a waterfall was droning in her ears. She swam frantically. But it was too late. She was swept over the waterfall, powerless against the strong pull.

* * * *

Faolan's first feeling was a throbbing head and his left leg being cold. He slowly opened his eyes. The world was a blurry mess. He lifted his head and felt nauseated. Again he tried. Finally, he could lift his head. He saw a bone handle coming out of his leg. They clarity came to him, like a cold bucket of water was splashed on him. Part of his werewolf powers. Self-regeneration. There was a knife in his leg! He groaned. He reached down his leg. Reaching the handle, he knew what he had to do. He grabbed the handle, gritted his teeth, and steeled himself against the pain that would come. He sucked in a breath, and then he yanked out the knife.

"AHHHH!!!!" His scream echoed through the woods.

* * * *

I concentrated on the problem ahead.

'How do you unlock a lock without a key?' I thought. Thinking, thinking, thinking. A warning bell rang out against the forest. All noise went quiet. The only sound was the rushing of the river. Then, a single yell filled the air. I looked out the tiny, metal bars for the window. More yells joined in until the city was filled with eerie screams. Nothing moved. Then a line shot up. A grappling hook. It hooked onto the platform. It tightened and then the screams of pain started. If a snake could scream, it would sound just like what I heard. All across the city, these screams wailed. It rang in your ears even after they stopped. They were haunting. Chase ran into the room and grabbed his bow and his arrows. He started to race out of the door.