Memory in the End

Chapter 16: Fire

Making it to Drasdon wasn’t very easy. For one thing, it was nearly three days away since we were on the opposite side of where we were supposed to go. Each day the Four kept going over what they might say to Ivan, as apparently he’s the scariest of them all. Aru said that he’s a real “hot-head”. He tried to make a pun because Ivan controls fire but all he got were a couple of sighs instead of laughs. But I’ve never seen them so nervous to be reunited with someone.
    We took a lot of breaks. Michael says it’s for my sake but I can tell they aren’t sure if they’re ready to be reunited. I guess they’re also nervous. The Five haven’t been together in a long time, and it was easier to deal with it when we just talked about it happening. Now it really will happen, and I can see they’re getting anxious. I wonder why they broke up? It had to be something bad if they’re this tense.
    Unsurprisingly, Ivan didn’t live in the town. The townspeople told us that he lived close to the mountains, and they seemed to really enjoy Ivan. Since the town was very close to the mountains, it would be cold all year long. Ivan would use his power to help heat the town so that they can grow crops and not have to worry about freezing temperatures. I wonder, if we took him away, would the town would freeze again? The Five always tend to use their powers for good. This was a great thing, but it made it difficult to take them away.
    We thank the people and begin our journey from the warm town to the colder mountains. The difference in temperature was definitely noticeable, because as soon as the town disappeared over the horizon behind us, I felt a freezing gust of wind blow my hood down. I tried not to shiver, but my body had a different idea and I ended up shaking. Michael wanted to give me his cloak but I refused. I could deal with the cold. I didn’t want Michael to freeze as well. Plus, another layer would just slow me down, and we need to find Ivan as soon as possible.
    We entered a small clearing next to the mountain. There was a hole in the side of the mountain. It looked like a cave that seemed to go deep into the rock. Henry told Michael that Aru should go inside, which offended Aru that we would send him to his “death” but I hardly think he’d die. Again, they’re pretty hard to kill. But regardless, we all had to go in; it seemed warmer inside and Michael was sure I’d freeze to death because of my stubbornness.
It was warmer inside the mountain, I couldn’t tell if that was because of the thick walls of the mountain or because Ivan was close. I was hoping for the latter, but I was also getting anxious. Once we find Ivan, this part of the quest is over. This means pretty soon we’d have the final battle to regain my kingdom, and I wasn’t ready. I felt inadequate in fighting compared to them and as if I’d be useless. But at least I’d have my kingdom back...hopefully.
“Princess,” I hear the frustration in Henry’s voice. He had probably been calling my name for some time.
“Yes?” I ask. I didn’t realize that we were stopped at a fork in the tunnel.
“Michael told us that you and I are heading this way, while they check out the other side,” Henry tells me, pointing to a corridor.
“Okay, yeah let’s go,” I tell him, following behind. I don’t know why Michael put Henry and I together when we clearly can’t stand each other. I think Henry feels uncomfortable because it is unusually hot in here and he’s water.  The mountain was most likely a volcano actually, and that’s why it was so much warmer in here than outside. All the heat is condensed in here. Henry must feel terrible; fire and water never mix well.
We made our way to the end of the corridor, but it seems like all the different corridors lead to the same place. Henry and I wait for the others but we aren’t greeted by them. Instead, Xenia and her warriors come out. This time she came with a lot more people than she did last time.
    “Hello Princess,” Xenia says with a smirk. Henry and I are surrounded by her warriors so we both take out our weapons. I draw my sword and Henry grips a knife in between each one of his fingers. Xenia stays her in her place while her warriors head towards us. Henry and I take them out easily. We expect that they were only distractions so Xenia could try to sneak around and attack us. But instead, she just stands there, smiling and watching with amusement. She must be waiting for something.
    She had a lot more warriors than was expected and it wasn’t long before they began overtaking us. Henry and I couldn’t hold off an army by ourselves but of course Michael and the others came in the knick of time. It wasn’t difficult to get rid of the warriors when it was all of us but what really worried me was how calm Xenia was. She just stood there watching as we defeated her army, not having a care in the world. And then she attacked.
    She went straight for me, her sword clashing against mine. It definitely didn’t take me off guard, I was watching her the whole time knowing that she likes to strike when she thinks her opponents aren’t watching. I hit my sword hard against hers, pushing her back and regaining control. I’ve gotten better at fighting her and she knows it.
    I managed to push her away enough so that she flew to the other side but she stood up easily. She glanced over at one of the warriors who was holding a strange sword. It didn’t quite look like a sword, more like a weird metal rod that was pointed at the end. It was very plain, there were no special designs or etchings. But the warrior had a look in his eye telling me that there was more than meets the eye.
    Xenia rushed at me, catching me off guard. She tried to stab me with her sword but I rolled out of the way and kicked her in the gut. She quickly got up, ready to attack when one of the warriors grabs me from behind. I elbow him in the face, his grip loosening for a moment and then duck as Xenia’s sword intersects with the soldier instead of me. Using this brief distraction, I kick Xenia in the gut and she flies towards the other guy.
    Suddenly Michael, Aru, and Owyne rush in. They kill off several of the warriors, and the guy with the rod sends an arrow towards Michael. Michael dodges it and then uses his power to send lightning at him. I thought for sure that the lightning would’ve killed him and Xenia, but they had other plans. The rod sword wasn’t an ordinary item, it absorbed all the lightning sent from Michael and accumulated in the rod. Xenia smiled and nodded at the warrior. The warrior holds the sword with both hands and points it towards me. The lightning that accumulated is sent flying straight towards me in what seems a higher power than it was when Michael had cast it. It felt as if everything around me was happening in slow motion. I saw the bolt of lightning heading my way and everything else around me seemed to be moving slowly.
    “Arrabella!” I hear Michael shout and then see him jump right in front of me. The next few moments were terrifying, and time seemed to slow down as Michael moves. The lightning hits him right in the chest, and his body jerks several times before he falls. I stare in shock, unsure if Michael was breathing, but then I remembered that he’d said he can’t be killed so easily...but still it must’ve hurt. I rush over to him just to be sure; he’s definitely breathing. But we are slowly being overtaken. After seeing how the rod can take their powers and send it back the remaining three aren’t using their powers. We might be defeated.
    But it was at this moment when a burst of flames erupts, shooting between where we were and the warriors. Ivan had arrived. When he emerged from the flames, we all stared at him as he approached us. The warriors and Xenia retreated. The flames were beginning to engulf the part of the mountain we were in.
    “No time for formalities,” Ivan’s deep voice says, “We have to go.”.
    Henry and Owyne grab Michael while Aru accompanies me. We follow quickly behind Ivan as the smoke begins to take over the cave. Ivan leads us out through a small opening, where there’s a small ledge. We would have to jump off the cliff and into the lake below. Ivan goes first, simply jumping off the ledge and plunging into the water below. Henry follows after while Owyne takes Michael with him. Aru and I are the only ones left and I don’t know who’s more scared...Aru or I.
    “Together?” I ask, with a nervous chuckle.
    Aru can’t speak but nods. We grab each others hands and jump from the cliff into the freezing cold water. Aru and I swim out of the lake, but we’re both shivering as we climb out. Henry and Owyne are tending to Michael while Ivan simply stares up at the cave. He then turns his dark eyes towards us, “So I heard you’ve been looking for me. Now that you found me...what do you want?”
    And so I told him the same story that I’d told the others, although this time I was more distracted with Michael. Ivan was a lot easier to persuade than the others, probably because he didn’t have much to lose. He started a fire under the mountain that would be strong enough to reach the town, and keep them warm. Now all that was left was making sure Michael was okay and then we take the war to Victor.
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And we have finally met the last of the Five; up above is a picture of the handsome Henry Cavill who plays our broody dark Ivan. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this suspense, action chapter! Poor Michael got injured, how do yall feel about that? And how do you feel about Xenia?
Thanks so much for reading and voting, I am forever grateful for you guys! Both my friend and I have a lot of fun writing this book and we are almost done writing the whole thing! Anyway thanks for reading!
xx
-S