Eternal Abyss - Waterfire Saga - Book 5

Chapter 4 - Journey

 Astrid wasn't exactly fond of the fact that the prisoners had to be so close to her room. Sera had promised to get them out of Ling's home as soon as possible, but that was never going to happen until they had found out what they needed.

Ling's dad wasn't very happy either, especially when he came home to find four unconscious strangers and a messed-up seaweed pantry. Now, the mysterious guards were all tied up propped in the corner while everyone decided what to do.

"I think," Sera said, "we should wait until they wake and then ask them for answers. "

"Wait?" Astrid blurted. "This is not your house, Sera. We should shake them awake now and demand answers!"

"Sorry, Sera, but I agree with Astrid. The sooner we get rid of these people, the better," Neela said.

Sera reluctantly nodded. "Okay."

Deciding to spare her friends, Astrid roughly grabbed the lead guard and shook him. She did not take lightly on matters where people tried to harm her friends. The man coughed, spitting on Astrid.

Scowling, Astrid shook him again. "What is your name?" She demanded. Then, she noticed a small badge on their cloaks. The leader's read:

IMPERIAL GUARD J.S. LOPHELIA

"And what did you come here for? Are you spies?"

"We're part of the Imperia-"

"Be quiet!" Astrid exclaimed. "We both know you're not. Now tell us, what are you doing in this house?" The others were now beginning to stir.

Astrid quickly found out that the Seal-looking woman was called Barra Liz, and her comrades were Captain Kiawah and Chief Tang. Using this knowledge against them, she started to interrogate.

"Who send you?" She yelled. "Tell us now or I will feed you to the sharks!"

"It was... it was the general! The general from Ondalina!" Everyone gasped in shock. Astrid could hardly believe it. First, that was easy. And second, now she knew for sure that the general, the one who betrayed her, now wanted her completely dead.

"I see..." Astrid said, straying away from the group. "That piece of sea slime is still trying to get rid of me. She wants to make sure Ondalina belongs to her stupid son, even though I CLEARLY said that I DIDN'T WANT IT." She said it with confidence, but deep down her heart was aching.

"Hey, Astrid, it's nothing to worry about. You just need extra protection. We should add more guards on us," Neela started to say. She kept droning on while Astrid pondered over the reason why this was happening.

Sera frowned. "You know, I was thinking I could hold off my meeting with the Qin Emperor. I'm feeling uneasy after that attack, and I think I'd feel better if we visited Becca or someone first."

"And what about the guards?" Ling said, obviously worried. "They're not staying here another night in my home!" The merls quickly agreed, since Ling had a family after all. Eventually, they decided that they'd drop the Onadalinian traitors at the Qin Prison, then go to Atlantica and visit Becca.

But Astrid had other plans. The fact that those traitors had tried to assassinate her set a burning waterfire going through her that wouldn't stop.

So during the night, while everyone was asleep, Astrid grabbed her bag. She stuffed it with food and transperensea pearls, and headed off into the dark waters. I cannot bother the others. They have enough to worry about without me. And she left with that, knowing that one day, she'd join them again, ready to help as always, only this time, with Ondalina right beside her.