darkness rising ( complete )

Under Lock and Key

Raven Delarosa's underground dungeon was the most horrifying place off the maps. No map in Auradon, Anvia, or the Isle of the Lost had Raven's dungeon on it. Except for Raven's maps of course. The dungeon was for Raven's least favorite enemies. This included Evie, Jay, Carlos, Uma, Harry, and Gil. They had been sent to one cell at the farthest place form the entrance. Probably because Raven knew that Mal would try to rescue them. They were closer to the torture room, or as what the guards called it, the room of chains. When the guard slammed the door, Evie ran to the bars and stood there.

"What are you doing?" asked Uma.

Evie said nothing, she just sat down next to Carlos. She noticed that he was shivering. It was cold down there. She wrapped him in a tight hug. He rested his head on her shoulder and fell instantly asleep. Evie rested her head on his. The others began to fall asleep as well.

Evie stayed awake. She heard a sniffle from next to her. Looking down she saw a tear fall down Carlos's cheek. She wiped it away, waking him up.

"What's wrong?" Evie asked.

"What if we don't get out of here?" Carlos asked, sitting up.

"We will," said Evie. "Promise."

The guards walked by, pulling a man with them. They threw him in the cell next to theirs and slammed his door.

"Anvian scum," one guard said. They walked away. The walls between the cells weren't really walls at all, but bars. Evie and Carlos could see the man in the other cell. He wore a brown tunic and black pants and boots. His hair was black and messy. He sat down on a bench on the far wall/ Evie stood up and walked over to him.

"Hello," she said kindly.

The man looked at her. His eyes grew wide. He immediately fell on his knees. "Forgive me Your Majesty. I did not notice you at first."

Evie looked at Carlos, who rose and stood next to Evie. "Your Majesty?" he asked. "But Evie's not royalty."

The man looked up. "Who are you?"

"I'm Carlos," Carlos said. "That's Evie, Jay, Uma, Gil, and Harry. The guards found us in the woods and took us here."

"I was taken off my horse for wearing the Anvian symbol," said the man.

"Anvian?" said Evie.

"I am from Anvia," the man said. He was still knelt on the floor. "It is protected by magic only the kings and queens posses. They are gone, but the magic remains. Their heirs will yield the throne in due time. Or so says the prophecy."

"Of course there's a prophecy," said Carlos under his breath.

"What does this prophecy say?" asked Evie, intrigued.

"'Sixteen years after the queen is gone, her heir will take the throne.'" the man said.

"How long has it been?" Evie asked.

"Sixteen years," said the man.

"And you think I'm the queen?" Evie said. "You must have made a big mistake."

"That is Anvian armor," the man said, rising. He reached out. "May I?"

Evie reached her hand through the bars. The man ran his fingers over the gold. "Here," he said.

When he removed his hand a crest was revealed on Evie's armor. It was an A with flowering vines covering it. Evie ran her fingers over the symbol.

"I'm a queen?" Evie said quietly.

"Apparently," said Carlos. He rubbed where the crest would have been on his, but nothing happened. "Why isn't the crest showing on mine? All I see is a wolf."

The man grabbed Carlos's hand. "It's your crest. You are one of the kings."

"Say what?" said Carlos, pulling his hand back and examining the wolf. "But, why a wolf?"

"You are the king of the wolves," the man said.

"But I thought that was Raven," said Carlos.

"She is the leader of the dark wolves," the man said. "You are the leader of the good wolves."

"Cool," said Carlos.

The guards came back and slammed their spears on the cage bars. "The queen arrives."

"Queen?" said Carlos softly to Evie.

"Raven," Evie said. She grabbed Carlos's hand and dragged him down. "Pretend to be asleep."

Carlos yawned. "Shouldn't be a problem."

When the guards weren't looking, they got on the ground and fell asleep. Evie listened intently to the conversation going on between the guards. A loud bang made her jump. The others in the cell woke up.

"Who's making that noise?" Uma asked.

"Jeez, you fall asleep for three minutes," said Jay.

"I hate mornings," Gil groaned.

"It's not morning," said Harry.

"Rise for the queen," said the guards. They stood up as Raven walked into the room. They had never seen her before. She was more evil in the flesh. She was flanked by three black, menacing wolves. Their eyes glowed red. The instant they saw the man in the other cell, they growled ferociously. He backed against the wall.

"Save your breath," said Raven. She noticed the others. "Where's Mal?" She looked at the guards. "Why is she not with them?"

"She wasn't there," one said.

Raven growled. She grabbed the keys and opened the VKs cell. Stepping inside, followed by her wolves, she grabbed Evie firmly by the arm and dragged her over. "Where is your little friend?"

"I don't know," said Evie firmly.

"Honest?" Raven said.

Evie nodded.

Raven shoved her back towards her friends and Carlos caught her. "Lucifer, Lusha, Sliske, you watch them and make sure they never leave your sight." She turned to the guards. "Take one down. I don't care who, just do it." She exited the cell and locked the wolves in with the VKs. "I'll send my riders."

The wolves circled the VKs and kept them in a tight circle.

"And you," said Raven, pointing to Evie. "You will never be queen."

With those parting words, she left them with the wolves.

--

Raven, fuming, stormed into the horse stables. She entered the room of her head rider and slammed her hand on the table. Smoke billowed from it and seeped under the door. The once silent stable was now filled with the sound of horses and clanking metal. A knight stood in black armor and waited for Ravens command.

"Find Mal," she said. "And when you do, bring her directly to me. No shortcuts. I want her alive, so I can kill her myself."

The knight nodded. He walked from the room, mounted a midnight black horse an rode out of the room, followed by all of the knights in that room. They rode into the night. The moon shone brightly that night. The rider raced through the forest, their horses hooves slammed the ground as they ran. From underground, the ground vibrated and shook.

Evie looked up at the sky. "Mal...."