Challenging Directions - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 15 - Anger

After Rai enters, the happy mood dissipates. He is staring angrily at Ashe and Gilligan, who sensed his presence and reacted quickly. Gilligan joined with Ashe once more and together, they take a defensive stance. Rai walks up to Enya, his eyes glowing and small strikes of lightning coming off his skin and floating around him.

"May I ask what is going on here?" He asks through gritted teeth.

"You may, but that does not mean you will get an answer." Enya says rolling her eyes at his bravado.

"Quite the knight in shining armor." Lani started chuckling, earning a glare from Rai.

"Watch it." Enya said hitting his arm.

"Sorry." He stared at Enya. "How do you know we can trust them?" Rai said changing the subject.

"We don't, for now we choose to have an open mind." When Ashe relaxes and Gilligan emerges, Enya turns to face them. "But we keep someone with them at all times, you and Riac can make a schedule if it makes you feel better. Add Lani and me to it of course, all of us except Mia."

"Fine." Rai grunts, slowly losing the magical glow from his eyes. "Where shall he sleep?"

"In a room of course." Lani says sarcastically. "In the East Section, that way he is close to you and Riac, but at the same time away from Mia."

"What about the shadow?" Rai says looking at Gilligan.

"Hey I have a name you know! It is Gilligan." He goes up to the towering man.

"Gilligan!" Rai starts laughing. "What kind of name is Gilligan?! You sound like an idiot!" By now he is doubled in half, laughing so hard tears formed.

"Enya named me." Gilligan said after Rai got over his laughing fit.

Rai turns to look at Enya to find her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Lani of course was behind her laughing at him.

"Crap." Was all he said, and when Enya pointed at the door, he left.

"HAHAHAAHAHA RAI IS IN TROUBLE!" Lani starts laughing.

"Well it looks like you are feeling better." Gilligan smiled.

"Yeah, that helped a little... okay a lot!" She was still wearing a big smile on her face when the door opened again. When Riac entered, taking Rai's place, Lani noticed the blood on his hand immediately."What did you do!" She angrily walked up to him and grabbed the bloody hand. "Who did you beat this time?"

"Lani calm down, your magical energy is not all the way back. You could hurt yourself, please be careful." Ashe runs up to her as she loses her balance.

"I am fine." Lani says trying to shrug him off. "Take me to them." She addresses Enya.

"Okay, but you can't walk." She turns to Gilligan. "Can you go lure Nandin and Fia this way, he is the one with the black hair and a scar across his eye. Fia is usually hanging out with him." He swiftly leaves and Enya turns back to her sister. "He will be here soon."

"I don't need someone to carry me." She said defensively. "I am not a child." At this Ashe and Enya smiled.

"That is exactly what a kid would say." Enya laughs. "Oh and Riac, we need to chat. Fia will arrive and watch Ashe, you are coming with us to see the prisoners, and afterward we are going to the pit." She didn't turn to him or really acknowledge he was there.

Fia and Nandin burst through the doors attacking Gilligan who was laughing.

"Stop!" Lani yelled. "You are giving me a headache!" Gilligan returns to Ashe still giggling. "Why are you attacking Gilligan?" She addressed Fia and Nandin.

"He said a few words that I would not care to repeat." Nandin said glaring at Ashe and Gilligan.

"Wait, the shadow has a name?" Fia raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "That is kinda cute... and creepy."

"Gill, why the hell were you teasing our people?" Enya looked at the shadow, her face a mixture of curiosity and anger.

"You told me to lure them here." Gilligan shrugged.

"I didn't meant to taunt them!" Enya said still angry. "Fia watch Ashe and Gilligan, I need Nandin to carry Lani and follow us to talk to our 'guests'."

Fia's face looked worried, but a small nod from Lani calmed her. Nandin picked her up with ease and followed Riac out the room. The walk to the lower deck was quite and for the most part uneventful, but once they entered things got serious.