The Jem

~30~

Jermine shifted into an elephant and stomped onto a few guards they all cried in agony as their abdomens were crushed so easily with just a step of his foot.

Deeja feasted on a guard. "Oh how long I've been waiting for some fresh meat." She pounced with feral grace but horrifying hunger.

Darya choked some attackers. As they gagged on her water and shook rapidly on the ground, she joined the prince who glared at his father.

"Who are you? My dad would never speak to his followers with such a repulsive tone." Brice was surprisingly multitasking, pushing away multiple guards with his strong wind whilst readying to attack his so-called father.

"Capture them all!" The emperor demanded. Brice grabbed Darya's hand stiffly and began running.

"Come on Jermine! Deeja!" She yelled but unfortunately as they tried to make a run for it the guards captured them then put a mouth cage around Deeja's face and when Jermine tried to turn into a fly they clipped a blue collar around his neck which did not allow him to shift. He was stuck as Jermine.

"Find Crimson and Hunter and complete the mission, you don't even need us!" Deeja tried to break free but failed and the cage around her mouth, muffled her order.

"We'll come back for you, I promise." The loyal feline gave a dismissive nod and tears rolled down her cheeks. They couldn't stay any longer.

~

Brice began scampering through the halls, still gripping Darya's silk covered hand.

"Crimson and Hunter are waiting for us with a carriage, how do we get out?"

"Who are they?"

"That doesn't matter right now!" She scowled

"Follow me." He led them down ancient, cobblestone stairs. As they traced their way through old taverns and strange monuments, they finally reached a steal fence and ran out.

"I don't understand what is going on, is your father usually like this?" Darya asked as they both sprinted faster to find the carriage that was obviously well hidden.

"No he's never been like that." Brice admitted.

"Maybe that was a shifter or somehow someone possessed your poor, innocent dad."

Horror took over Brice's expression but he kept on running.

"Over here!" A female voice whisper-shouted. A girl beckoned them over with her hand then her crimson eyes filled with confusion and sorrow. "Wheres Jermine and Deeja?" Her voice hoarse and broken as the question rolled off her tongue.

"They've been captured." Was all Darya answered.

"We have to go, we'll sleep in the hotel tonight then get Feline and Feral back and head off to the 7th realm." A guy who craned his neck from the carriage, suggested.

The 2 girls nodded then headed into their carriage. The 7th realm? Do these people have a death wish?

Brice swallowed hard as the bile in his stomach churned in ways he didn't know were possible. "Gods above." He whispered to himself then joined the others.

~
They had made it back to the hotel no one breathed a single word. Maybe because Deeja and Jermine were always the ones to lighten up the mood. The hotel suite was beautifully lit.

"Tonight we rest, if you have any plans to break in and help the rescue, inform me. Tomorrow we retrieve Deeja and Jermine. If any of you disagree you can leave right now. But let me make one thing clear, I will not set foot out of this realm-hell I won't even set foot out of this city until I have them both back! Understand?" Crimson spoke with such sternness that everyone stiffened a little but they all nodded.

"Now, we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Crimson." She smiled at the guy who had come with Darya.

"Crimson he's the son of the Emperor." Darya said through her teeth.

"What?! You brought the Prince to us?" Crimson's blood boiled in her veins and her crimson eyes roared with fury.

"He's the element wielder!" Darya argued back then took off the pendant and chucked it over to her.

"Please don't call me Prince, I'm Brice." He stuck his hand out, she looked at it angrily.

"Ok Brice, you better be willing to risk your life at any cost, there are no more tea parties or fancy tuxedos."

"That's very offensive and stereotypical. But yes I'm willing to risk my life to save our 6 realms from the upcoming destruction that is quite frankly inevitable." She did not reply only shook his hand.

"So if your Crimson, he's Hunter?" Hunter gave a nod.

~

After Darya had told them exactly what happened at the emperors celebration and what her predictions were about why he was acting so strange they all went off to their rooms.

Hunter laid on the comfy double bed and Crimson slumped in after. They hadn't even bothered to remove the bed covers. She turned her body to face him. "What are we going to do Hunter?"

He turned to face her, his head still on the fluffed velvet pillow. Galleyana's civilians sure loved their luxurious lifestyle.

"We will figure something out." Hunter brushed a strand of brunette hair off her face.

"I hope so, because if I don't get Deeja back safely I don't know what I will do with myself."

"They're going to be ok, Deeja is a strong girl and Jermine will protect her if necessary." He reassured her then pecked her lip.