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7

Eli placed the Shadow Talker on his head and gently pushed me behind him.  

"Stay behind me," he said calmly as two Shadow Clan members slowly walked up to the  

two of us. Their bright green eyes scanned over both of us, mainly me, and a low hissing  

sound escaped them. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of them debating  

whether or not to kill us. I had heard stories throughout the years about the Shadow Clan.  

Most things were not very good, however Will used to tell me about how they weren't as  

bad as people made them sound. But from this personal experience, I can tell that the  

latter, isn't the first one on my mind. 

One of them, the bigger of the two, looked at Eli and started to speak to him in  

their native tongue.  

"We need to ask your leader for a favor." 

The second, and slightly smaller one, started hissing. 

"I know, but you see, this girl behind me has been tainted by the effects of Dark  

Water used by Thaddeus Blakk." 

Again, their only response was hissing. 

"We tried that, but now the mutations are returning an- ow! What the hell,  

Astrus?" Eli screeched after I elbowed him sharply in the side for calling my abilities a  

mutation. He must've gotten the memo when he saw the death glare I was issuing  

towards him. "Anyway, could your leader be able to construct some kind of stabilizer to  

help her channel the pure slug energy around her to counter act the Ghoul energy inside  

of her which is causing her," he paused trying to think of a less offensive term,  

"abilities?" 

The two creatures looked at each other and began speaking to one another. Then  

finally turned to Eli and I, nodded and began taking us to their Emperor. I looked up at  

Eli and gently nudged him with my shoulder. "Eli." 

"What?" he whispered. 

"Can we really trust these guys? What if they're leading us to my death or  

something like that?" 

"Those two told me that they remembered you." 

"What are you talking about? I've never met them!" I hissed, trying to keep my  

voice low. 

"They said that your father brought you down into their cavern when you were  

just a baby. He told the leader about an experiment that he and Dr. Blakk had planned for  

you, but as a precautionary they would need to have a type of Dark Water neutralizer. So  

their leader created countless forms of stabilizers from the water in the Lightwell and  

gave them to you after each of your tests. And occasionally, if the effects lingered for too  

long, they would put you in an area filled with Fandangos and a Boon Doc to keep you  

somewhat in control until the devices were made." I stopped walking. My fists were  

clenched so tight that my nails were beginning to draw blood. Eli noticed this. "Astrus?" 

"I'll kill him," I growled lowly. I turned on my heel and started walking towards  

the exit.  

"Where are you going? We have bigger things to worry about!" 

"Eli," I looked at him and knew he was slightly terrified, "I'm going to hunt down  

my father. Meet me at Bulls Eye cavern after you talk to their leader." 

He sighed in defeat. "Fine, but don't get yourself killed." Before I could run off,  

Eli ran over to me, gave me a quick peck on the lips and ran back to catch up with the tw  

guides.  

I smiled, "You worry too much, Eli. Nothing will happen to me." I began walking  

towards Bulls Eye cavern with only one thing on my mind. Revenge.