The Jem

~41~

The arrows didn't stop, "Intruders! Intruders!" One of them shouted. Of course they would be wary of anyone who enters their realm. 6 incredibly strong realms were plotting against them, but did they know that the other realms were losing power? Were they the cause of it?

The horses trotted as fast as their legs could stand whilst Feline and Feral sprinted ahead and followed the shining Jem. Hunter's stomach still cried out but he shut his mouth about it, he wouldn't jeopardise this mission because he very well knew that if he told Crimson that his wounds still killed, Crimson would have stopped everyone and waited till he would heal.

"Come on! Faster!" Darya shouted at her horse. The shield was still standing strong but they had to be faster. The Jem lead them through trees, villages, towns and then more trees and after a while the arrows stopped but still they weren't going to let that shield drop. The purple stone slowed down a little, and Hunter could've sworn he heard it breath unevenly too.

Light turned to dark and the Jem finally stopped at an incredible palace. "Ummm...I'm not sure I want to go in there." Deeja hesitated.

The six of them kept hidden in a nearby forest but wouldn't risk a fire.

The palace was bathing in the moonlight and Hunter could make out the colour-the deepest of red, almost as if they had used fresh blood to paint its exterior. But it's pointed tops and cylinder towers looked grand and royal-but still blood red.

"I've read about this place. It's called the blood palace of Tortayga. The king is mighty but merciless. They say that when he faught in the half-breed war, centuries ago, he used his enemies blood to paint his palace and got a mage to place a preservation spell so the blood wouldn't rot. Apparently it was to show his victory and he keeps adding to it when he takes a new life." Brice informed.

They all marvelled at it, at how much blood this one king had spilled. They were going to have to be stealthy and silent. "Well I guess were going to meet one of the monarchs in the 7th realm." Jermine grinned but Hunter could see the fear coating his eyes like a fuzzy jacket.
"Hopefully we'll be in and out before he gets a chance to find us." Darya prayed. Crimson was completely silent since they had arrived in the 7th realm. Maybe it was what that fauth had said that was now getting to her.

He put a hand on her elbow-a comforting gesture. "Are you ok?" Her eyes looked as red as the blood palace.
"I'm...Im scared." She whispered. Hunter pulled her closer to him then hugged her. "I'm here for you. Your friends are here for you. Don't be scared." He kissed her brow and she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

Crimson stepped back from him and took out the Jem again and it was so bright in the darkness as it began tracking the last element wielder.

~
Heat rushed in every part of Crimson's body. Her veins pulsing uncontrollably and her heart wouldn't slow down. Every thing about this realm was horrifying and worst of all, she was the Heir to their biggest kingdom. Crimson was terrified and she did nothing to hide it from the others.

The diamond filled sky was beautiful here but it didn't distract her from the things she was about to encounter. Not when they could all very well be dead in a few minutes from now. She inhaled and exhaled slowly as she tried to calm her growing panic.

The Jem lead them in and out of all kinds of trees then took a right. The horses followed obediently as they trotted into dangerous territory. Her heart began sawing a hole through her chest, as if it were trying to escape this situation too. None of them said a word.

They didn't even have a plan to guide them, they just followed the glowing stone blindly to whatever hell awaited for them. Guards were stationed everywhere around the palace. "Jermine and I will take them out, you guys go find the last element holder. Now."

When the sounds of swords being violently un-seethed hit Crimson she dismounted her horse and ran like hell. The others followed but she still felt guilty for leaving Deeja and Jermine to kill all these guards on their own.

Taking steps twos-threes at a time, Crimson climbed the bloodied stairs and raced through the halls after the Jem. She knew Brice used his magic to cast off their scents from nearby guards.

They made their way past exquisite paintings and beams of gold and silver but everything still felt so evil, like the demons were a part of every objet here. The Jem stopped in front of a set of metal doors and through the window she could make out a kitchen. She grabbed the stone and hid it. She was surprised no one had stopped them or even found them. But her heart eased a little, they were one step closer to winning.

They quietly pushed the doors open and amazing scents of herbs and meat hit them. They hadn't eaten a good meal in days. No one was in the kitchen. Darya shot to the left and began eating a tart. "Darya! You don't know what they do to their food here." Brice snapped.

She made her way over to him, her eyes dancing with amusement as she took another bite out of fruit filled tart right in his face. "I couldn't give a crap if it's dairy free or has strawberries instead of raspberries, food is food!" She took another bite and munched. Crimson tried to swallow her laugh. But suddenly a crying noise flew in.