Kalypso <completed>

6.

Since the portal idea took a wrong turn. Katarina took a flight. The money she had was enough for a one-way ticket, some fries and a burger. It was a 3-hour drive and a 45 minutes' walk (since she had no money) from the nearest airport where Kat had landed,

Huffing and panting, holding a stone worth a life in her hands, she walked over the bridge towards the Whittingham castle. 45 mins was an insanely long time to walk. Her light blonde hair raced against the speedy wind, the water under the bridge danced along her high pulsed heartbeats.

Trees surrounding the castle looked like rows of army defending their citadel. The trunks protecting the air and the eyes of weary trespassers

Reaching the ancient, murky gate, she waited for a while 'Hey. It's me, open the freaking door".

The castle seemed to be conjured right from a children's fantasy novel. She noticed the stones, they radiated purple light 'obsidian' the same stone used to build portals. The towers on the sides of the main hall stood watchers, with quicker and arrow ready to fly.she heard something whirl, works of a rusted mechanism. As the metal gate opened, it revealed a room of splendour and majestic novelty inside. Her eyes befell the grandeur of the architecture

She was left with an awe, her eyes caught the throne in front of the hall, it was beautiful, yet she sensed danger in the aura, twelve pairs of grand columns supported the fall ceiling, and the only source of right was the chandelier that clouded over. Nicholas Mannik sat on that throne. She touched her chest with one hand and spoke in muffled breaths, still lethargic due to the exercise

"I-I uh have brought hmph t-the s-stone"

Nick smiled at her words and replied

"I knew you could do it, Katarina Vanaga'

He turned towards his left and whispered to his general "Oof the girl's got guts"

The general smirked as he turned his eyes again to hers and spoke in a voice that portrayed authority and superiority

"Give me the stone. Its authenticity must be checked"

With her pulses now normal

"No, I won't" she replied "Not until I see my sister alive with my own eyes"

He exaggerated a breath and said "Okay" clapping his hands twice "Bring the girl her sister"

She turned at the sound of metal clanking and guards bringing a girl, whose arms and legs were shackled. Looking at the Ava's bruised face she cried out

"Ava" Tears welling in her eyes "Don't worry" she smiled and comforted "I am here now "

"Hello!!"Nicholas called out breaking their silent reunion and long distanced embrace

"Now, give me the stone girl, your sister will only be returned then"

Kat looked at Ava who was pleading with her gaze to not give him the stone but she dismissed her attempted pleads and walked towards the throne. She reached out to him with her hands holding the stone

"The Vanaga is yours"

With focused gaze and cautious moves, he took it from her hands and kept it in his palm.

Green luminous light coloured the room, blinding his eyes and everyone else's for a second. His fingers circled the sides,

Staring at the beauty of the stone, lost in its aura, he laughed and spoke

"Here, in my hands, I finally have it..."

He shook his head, escaping from the stone's light and looked at Katarina "I am proud of you"

She intensified her gaze with Nicholas and spoke "Let Ava go"

"Oh," he answered, "I am extremely sorry, I really am"

She furrowed her brows "What do you mean?"

"So, here's the thing. Umm, I can't let your sister go or you for that matter, the Shade ritual, the only thing that'll truly give me power requires the Vanaga Stone and your blood. I would have taken a sample and let you go, but I can't risk my power, so the bloodline must end"

She widened her eyes and stuttered "B-but you said y-you would let us g-go, if we have you the s-stone"

"Well" he shrugged his shoulders and replied

"I lied"