Xylia

Nineteen

Turns out, freeing Everest was much easier said than done.

"The damn key won't fit in the lock!"

Drea growled, repeatedly shoved said key in the opening for the millionth time. Yet like the past trials, she remained unable to open the jail cell.

I sighed. "Have you tried any of the other keys?" Drea whipped her head my way, bloodshot eyes bore into my own.

"Did you try any of the other keys," she mimicked in an overly high pitched voice before chucking the key set my way. "Of course I tried the other keys! But none of them would fit."

Leafing through the key set, I stalked up to the barred cell door peering through to Everest's chained form. He had remained unconscious for the past fifteen minutes while Volkan, Drea, and I had been trying to break him out of his cell.

"One of these have to be it," I mumbled under my breath, meticulously prodding the stubborn lock with each available key.

"Uhh guys," Volkan drawled out. Facing him I muttered out an exasperated 'what.' He meekly pointed towards the hallway we entered from.

"We have company."

The pounding of feet approaching had us all reeling with anxiety. Drea sprinted over to Volkan and I, tethering our hands with the chains that attached to the side of her armor. A foot struck the back of my knees, sending me tumbling to the ground.

"What the hell Drea?!" I guffawed.

"That's what you get for defying my orders," Drea snarled, emphasizing her point with another kick and a pointed look in our approaching crowd.

The other guards rounded the corner. "Augustus," One of them addressed Drea, "someone has murdered Celso and Sachi. Their hearts were ripped straight from their chests!" Drea's spine stiffened with the news. Clearing her throat she responded, "How unfortunate, but right now I am dealing with these two troublemakers." She gestured to Volkan and I, nudging me roughly. "This one gets a little too mouthy if you know what I mean."

The guards grumbled in agreement. "Well," Drea mused, stretching her arms around lazily, "I'll let you get back to your hunt. I still have to teach these two a lesson." Turning back to us, she expectantly cracked her knuckles.

Retreating back from us, one of the guards stiffened up mid step. Swiveling on their heel, they questioned, "Aren't you supposed to be in the North Wing?" Drea's eyes widened. "Oh yeah," she remarked, chuckling dryly. "That's where I am taking these guys right now." She prodded us away from the crowd. They quirked an eyebrow up. "Really? Because you're heading in the wrong direction, Augustus." The guard eyed Everest's cell, seeing the pair of keys dangling in the lock.

Oops.

"They're trying to free the prince!" He bellowed, charging forward. Drea dropped our shackles, twirling the metal chains in her hands. Snapping her hand forward, she caught the approaching guard across the face with a clean slice.

She turned to us. "Free Everest." Volkan and I ran to the bars, but I was stopped as she latched onto my sleeve. "Not you, Volkan." I gawked at her incredulously.

"I don't have a weapon!"

"Just channel those spirit powers of yours." With those parting words, she plowed forward whipping around the metal links with Drea-like fury. I stood around uselessly, my mind flooded with panic and confusion.

"Just concentrate!" Drea yelled whilst hammering another guard across the stomach.

"It's not like I can control it!" I hissed back, flinging my hands around uselessly. The muffled cries of Drea's victims were my only response. Hopelessly turning to Volkan, I looked for reassurance. All I got was a half-hearted thumbs up.