Crustel

Chapter 33

       "AAAAAH!" We screamed as we went so down. It was like a wooden slippery slide but it was pitch dark.  I quickly waved my wand. It glowed so brightly in green. Even when we were rushing or to be much clear, forced down by gravity, Kanyal was theatrical again. "You? Why did you come?" Kanyal asked Ethan. Ethan rolled his eyes and didn't answer him. All of sudden, I saw light from outside. It was like the tunnel was about to end. "Guys, we are entering the chamber! Don't scream! Never scream. Never," Gasy, I mean Elvira warned us. "Who's this elf? Is it she or he?" He asked awkwardly. When I wanted to answer Ethan, Kanyal interrupted and told, "It's your mother. She was cursed!" I could hear Ethan gasping so loud.

      Elvira put her finger on her lips and shooed. The light became even brighter. We couldn't see anything. We closed our eyes and rolled through a hallway. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw a humungous hallway leading towards a grand door. I looked around. Countless portraits were hanging all over the wall. I was thrilled to see the innumerable portraits. I was able to hear the haunting humming voice at the end of the hallway. Elvira looked at me, "Cora, I think they are here," she gulped. In my entire life, I have never seen Elvira scared of anything. This was something vital. To be honest, for the first time, I admitted that I was frightened of the haunting voice. When I turned back slowly, just to ensure my best friends' safety, three of them were holding their hands and following us. 

   "Cora, should we have to pass the door? I mean can't we go back. We have some Lanshiren and Crustelician problems to be solved," Ethan gasped. "Ethan! Have you lost your mind?" I groaned. Erica gave him a deadly stare. All of sudden, Kanyal stopped us. "Guys! Look..." He pointed at the portraits. "What's it? I can't see them. They are almost at the ceiling. So High!" I whispered. Kanyal rolled his eyes, "Aren't we fairies? We have wings!" He reminded me that we had wings. That was quite awkward. (Shame shame puppy shame moment!) I flapped my wings and flew so high. Ethan, Kanyal, and Erica joined me. Much to my dismay, those were our pictures. The picture on the left was Erica's where she was sitting boldly with a sword on her hand. There was a note below her picture. It stated, "The Queen of Taleas! All Hail the Queen," I saw the picture on the right. It was Kanyal's. He was standing like he just won thousands of wars. There was a note below his portrait too but it was in Ard. "All hail, King Kanyal!" I wondered why his note was in the Ard language. The middle portrait was mine. I couldn't remember giving such a pose. That was my most bold and confident pose on the throne with my wand on my right hand but with an Aquan Trident on my left hand. I was startled for a moment. Kanyal noticed it. "An Aquan trident?" he gasped. There was a note below my portrait too. "Long live the Queen!" I couldn't understand anything. Suddenly, my eyes met Ethan's portrait. The same pose as Kanyal's but the note was in Ard. "Long live The King of The DARK," I immediately questioned Ethan, "What does the KING OF THE DARK mean?" Ethan shrugged. 

    "Uhmm guys... I think we should hurry!" I heard Elvira's voice as the haunting humming voice was heard nearer. We flew back down. "What's this portrait all about?" Ethan asked softly. "Oh dear, it has been years you had talked to me," Tears rolled down from Elvira's neon blue eyes. "Can't you just answer him?" Kanyal sighed. He was too rude. Elvira rolled her eyes and was pointing her fingers towards my amulet. It was glowing in red all of sudden. I was astonished. "Cora, you're the one who can answer this. You are the only one," Elvira said softly and calmly. I was puzzled. "What? I just came here. I mean this is the first time I am coming to Ardian. How can you expect me to answer this question?" I roared. After roaring with my thunderous voice, I realized I had made a huge blunder. I forgot Elvira's alert. 

     "Uh oh!" Erica said worriedly. In a few seconds, we felt like the ground was quaking and heard thunderous sounds. "Cora, there is only one way to escape!" Elvira still told me calmly. I wondered how she was still calm. "Cora, use your powers! You're the only Aquan Crustelician who can control anything about earth and water," She urged me. I was stunned. "WHAT?!" I gasped too loud. "Could you just stop talking and save us?" Kanyal and Ethan, both told at the same time. "I don't know what powers I have," I told as I was about to cry. Then, I remembered my second ability. I closed my eyes and tried to stand still even on a quaking ground. "Have you lost your mind? Save us, Cora!" Erica cried. I didn't reply to her. The moment I closed my eyes, I saw the past. I saw the present and saw the future too. The future told me to face this challenge as the past was manifesting my history. The history of my birth. I was amazed because when I was four, I had been to Ardian. I had come to Ardian before. I couldn't believe it. All of sudden, I felt as the ground stopped quaking. I didn't open my eyes.

It was because the future was about to unveil to me who was the fake Emerald and fake Elvira. To my surprise, both of them were the same person. The face was about to be unveiled until Kanyal ruined the moment. He screamed like a teenage girl. I opened my eyes. To my horror, he was too high, hanging on the air as a huge spider was holding him. The spider's other hand grabbed Erica. Both of them were screaming. I was startled. I looked into the spider's eyes. It was not an alive spider. The spider was dead three minutes ago. It was controlled by someone. I couldn't see who was controlling it.