Jezebel (Watty Awards 2012)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Kiara's POV

"Geez, how far is it?" I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"Honestly, KiKi." Kelvin glared at me as we hiked up the mountain to the castle.

"Couldn't they have made an elevator?" I asked, teasingly.

"I'm beginning to wonder if you actually care to be guardian at all?" he asked.

"Well, we don't make much good guardians, do we? You and Kim were supposed to guard the king and queen after Mom died and my father disappeared." I grumbled and I guess that was the last straw because Kelvin whipped around and grabbed me by my hair, pulling me close to his face as he glared at me.

"Do not speak of things you know nothing about!" he growled and pushed me aside as I glared back at him, but instead of hitting him with a comeback I thought it better to keep my mouth shut as the towers of the dark castle began to come into view and a chill ran through me that put my stomach in twists as my eyes gazed up at it.

This was no normal castle that you see in movies and think of splendid queens and kings, princes and princesses drinking cups of tea and counting money. No, you must remember that this is the castle of vampires, so nothing about it is normal.

The castle floated amidst in the air with roots connecting down into the center of a large body of raging dark water. It had been casted with a spell when the queen had left, so no one would enter, but I guess it did not keep everyone out as she'd hoped.

"Come on, Kiara." I frowned, muttering to myself. "Get it together. This is for Jezebel."

"How do we get in?" I asked Kelvin in a shaky breath as we ducked behind some large bushes near the stream we had followed.

"There," he pointed towards a small opening where the waters of the dark waves crashed among each other violently. Every few seconds before a wave would form, there could be seen a black iron gate before the waters would crash over it and it would disappear from sight until the waters would give way again. "That's the way in."

"Seriously?" I gasped in disbelief. "Do you not see those waves? They're huge! If you don't get through that gate in time, you could be crushed!"

"Exactly why you have to do it," a voice said and I jumped damn near ten feet in the air as I looked over my shoulder to see Kim and Kayla standing behind us and they weren't alone. My mouth dropped open in shock as I gazed upon at least three dozen centaurs standing behind them. I had never actually seen the centaurs before because just like us, they were pretty good at blending in the woods.

"Well, I'm glad to see you have decided to join us." Kelvin smiled as he shook the leader's hand.

"Only because we are tired of the wars," the elderly centaur replied. "We shall help you fight, elf. There is no where else to run."

"So...um...why is this up to me?" I asked, turning to look at Kim.

"Because you are the fastest out of all of us. That is your ability." Kim said seriously. "Your agility and the fact you are the best archer I have ever known alive. Now put them to good use. I shall open the gate for you. After that, you are on your own. You should remember the way around the castle. Just keep out of sight and you will be fine. Now hurry. We don't have much time."

"Yes, we have to get Jezebel out of that castle before midnight when she turns or Marana will have the upper advantage and will kill her if she hasn't mated her and that disgusting thing of a son of hers." Kelvin turned his nose up in disgust.

I swallowed the stiff lump in my throat and nodded as I turned to look at the crashing waves. I took a deep breath and held still as I focused, ignoring all sounds around me as I narrowed my eyes, watching the black waves crash against each other almost as if in slow motion before I saw them part and the black iron gate was revealed.