The New King (Sequel to The Prince Behind the Veil)

Chapter 17: Sealed

Simon, Everett, Harvey, and Thomas were sprawled out on the forest floor.

Thomas jumped up, and raced toward the tree. He leaned against the bark, but couldn't get through.

"What?" Thomas said, confused. He rammed into the tree three more times. "No! Open you blasted-"

"A sealing spell..." Harvey interrupted. Thomas looked towards Harvey, and said, "Wait, a sealing spell? Edward!" Thomas rammed the tree again.

"I'm afraid Edward wasn't the one who created the spell, Thomas," Harvey put a hand on Thomas' shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Thomas murmured.

"I saw Violet start it right as we jumped through. She's stopping them from coming for you, Thomas."

Thomas put his back to the tree, and slid down. "We can't get through?" Harvey nodded. "And she... she... she's trapped down there......... forever," then paused, turning on his side. "Just like he said...." Thomas felt tears prick his eyes.

"I don't know how long she sealed the portal," Harvey continued, his arms now folded. "The longest she could make it last would be a week or two. Violet's not powerful enough to seal it off completely,"

Thomas felt his heart drop in his chest when Harvey said, "The longest she could make it last would be a week or two,". Not being with Violet for a week? While knowing she would be suffering because of Edward's foolishness. But then, he realized Violet had gone through the same thing, although Thomas had been with Edward. "I have to stay strong," Thomas thought to himself. "If Violet could do that, then so can I!" Thomas straightened up against the tree, not ready to stand up yet.

"We have to go back for her!" Thomas ordered, trying to sound strong, but a tone of weakness struck his voice.

"She worked so hard to save me," he continued. "I don't want it to all fail in the end!"

"Of course we'll go back," Harvey said. "We just need a plan...... Oh, yes!" Harvey walked a little ways down the forest path, and called for the others. Simon helped Thomas to stand up, and followed Everett's lead.

Harvey was standing in the middle of a clearing. "We will set a camp here, and check the portal everyday. I do believe I still have some paper and ink in my pack...."

"C'mon Thomas," Everett said, easing him over to a tree. "You need to rest-"

"But, I don't want to!" Thomas whined. "I want to help save Violet!"

Everett chuckled. "You sound just like her," Thomas gave her a confused look.

"On the first day Violet was with us, all she wanted to do was storm out of our cottage, and defeat Edward. But, we needed a plan, and quite honestly, to train you all, preparing for attack. The point is, Thomas," Everett made Thomas sit against a tree, and she knelt beside him. "We need a plan, a really good plan, in order to get her back," Everett stood up, and walked away. "I'll go find a nearby stream, and bring back some water. Thomas, stay. There."

Thomas crossed his arms across his chest, and sighed. He wanted to help save Violet so terribly, not sit around like a baby and be nursed by the others. He wasn't 6 years-old, and had to be led by the hand.

All of the torture made Thomas' head spin, and he soon fell asleep up against the tree, and had a wonderful dream. He had saved Violet, killed Edward, and they were sitting in Grasmere's Palace garden. Violet was knitting, and Thomas was reading a book. It was all so pleasant, until Harvey shook Thomas awake with urgent news.

Chapter 14: Edward's Sanctuary

Violet was taken to a bedchamber, then locked inside. She jiggled the doorknob, but couldn't open the door. With a sigh, she turned around, surveying the room.