Dark Everglades: The Rising Sun [BOOK ONE] {BEING RE-WRITTEN}

Alexandra

The only thing that I feel is numbness. This portal is a lot different from the one we used in Eclea.

Everything is black and the farther we travel through this portal, the hotter everything becomes. The heat resistance suits vibrate just a bit or maybe that's just the movement of the portal, and everything stops.

I get slammed onto the floor, as does everybody else, and I squawk involuntary.

Arina groans next to me and I slowly sit up, holding my head. "Ugh... Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah..." Liam mumbles, getting to his knees and holding his head.

"This must be an older portal..." Ethan mumbles, resting himself against the back of the white painted portal.

"Damn it Chang..." Arina whispers angrily and I smile a bit, standing.

I look through the tiny square window and my eyes widen. "Guys... I don't think I like this..."

Arina hops to her feet, slightly pushing me so she can see through and her eyes widen as well. "Damn it," She whispers again, a terrified look on her face.

There are guards standing right outside the portal, holding swords and molten battle axes in front of them, pointing to us.

"What's going on?" Liam asks, sitting up now with his back against the portal.

"... Guards. A lot of them," Arina responds and Liam straightens.

"I can teleport us away."

"Not a chance," I blurt, turning to him. "Didn't someone mention something about too many people and not enough energy?"

Liam doesn't respond to that, shaking his head slightly and Arina doesn't move.

I turn to her. "What do you suggest we do?"

Arina doesn't say anything for a moment, glaring at the guards who don't move any muscles.

Those guards look as if they came out of a book. They're made out a molten lava rocks and the helmets they wear only show their glowing red eyes with the blazing red hair falling across their shoulders.

"Why are their guards? Signa doesn't have a castle they protect do they?" I ask and Arina gulps.

"Well... Panel does."

Ethan groans, hiding his face in his hands. I look around, confused. "Panel? What's that?"

"A city in Signa obviously. They decided to make their own King and Queen... They sort of got the idea from Karlel, but Karlel holds a king and queen for the entire state. This is just for the city," Arina responds and I throw my hands in the air. 

"Why would Chang send us here?!" I ask and Arina doesn't respond.

"I don't know... Maybe there's a reason?" Liam asks and Arina glares.

"We can't fight them. I know I won't be able to change forms as long as I'm in these ridiculous clothes... We might as well just... Surrender."

I stare at her, not really comprehending what she just said.

"Surrender? Surrender? Now? Arina are you insane?! I didn't just decide to come with you to just surrender-"

"I know!" She yells, her red eyes brightening with fury and I silence. "Why the hell would I even guess that?!" She continues, her curly hair darkening and Liam stands.

"Everyone just... Calm down. We don't have any choice Alex, don't blame it on her."

I hesitate, my breaths ragged and I nod once.