The Enchantments: Book 3 - The Key of Sorcen

Chapter 4: Unlocking the Shadow

"That arrangement is totally unacceptable!" Shawn said furiously.

"We really need to be on the same wavelength on this one." Simeneon shot back.

Marlanda peered over at Simeneon stunned, "You want Shawn and I to go in search of a mythical creature that may or may not exists?"

"I assure you both," Professor Tweedle said without hiding the annoyance in his voice. "The Soul Shadow is real and it's the only one that will be able to tell us how the two pieces fit together."

"You're sending us on a wild goose chase, there is no physical proof that this creature exists!" Marlanda yelled.

"ENOUGH!" The professor bellowed as he slammed his fist into the table. "The two of you believe that this is a wild goose chase, I'm here to inform you that without that information from the Soul Shadow this search will be for not!" He peered harshly at the Shawn and Marlanda. "You say that'll be the worst of the assignments. Simeneon and Fin will be by themselves in their search for the gold and silver pyramids. You two will have the wisdom of two separate inputs in your search. None of this will easy, I can guarantee you that. Yours will be the most difficult, at least the others have an idea where to start, the only clues I can offer to you is what is written, and in my limited volumes of books there are very little. You'll have the use of the university library to find out all the information you can on the Soul Shadow. I must warn you, he is a very elusive creature and there is not much known about him. This creature is very dangerous and there are those that speculate that he is in line with many treacherous and evil individuals!"

Marlanda and Shawn looked at each other with much trepidation then back at Professor Tweedle. "Who?" They asked in unison.

Professor Tweedle looked around the table at the young faces that stared back at him and sighed, "He is linked to Heldom."

Simeneon and Fin stood at the rear of the car as the driver of the cab put their bags in the trunk, then with a loud thud it was closed and they were ready to go.

"Now listen to you two, I want you to watch each other's backs and take nothing for granted. You're entering the hornet's nest and the leader will not be happy when he discovers you poking around in his terrain. Don't trust anyone, do you understand me? Don't...trust...anyone." She lightly poked both Marlanda and Shawn in the chest. "Now give me a hug."

Marlanda moved cautiously forward and gave Simeneon a hug, "Come back alive." She whispered gently in her ear.

Simeneon gave her a reassuring smile then moved over to give Shawn the same. As they broke apart she grabbed Marlanda's hand and pulled her away from the group as Fin was shaking hands with Shawn.

"I wanted to talk to you alone before we went our separate ways." They strode around the side of the car and stopped near the front. "Marlanda, I really want you to watch out for Shawn, there's something about I can't put my finger on. He has this innocence about him that could get him in real trouble. I know you and I trust you, for the first time in my life I have a girlfriend and me don't want to lose you now. Protect yourself and don't do anything stupid. It's not just you, you have to worry about anymore."

Marlanda turned and looked at Shawn, "Just look at him, he's like a little kid." He and Fin were playing fighting and Fin's face was turning red from being under his armpit. "I'm starting to like him around, he's so..."

"-Cute."

"I didn't say that!" She joked. "-But if you must know, he does have that little something that-"

"-Makes you weak-kneed."

She turned back to face Simeneon, "You're gonna have to stop finishing my words and get into the car." They both laughed and hug again.