Crustel

Chapter 44

        I put her beside Lexter. He was overwhelmed, surprised, shocked, and super excited. (Yes, he was too elated too) He went to hug her but I stopped him. "Hold on your horses! She's unconscious," I said as I took my wand. He backed off. I mounted a spell and pointed the wand towards her. In a twinkling of an eye, she woke up. "Where am I?" She asked as she looked at her surroundings. All of sudden, she jumped as she was startled. "Save me! It's a sling!!!" She screamed. Lexter was quite upset. He sat behind the rock. "Zoya," I said. She saw my eyes. "I know you're going to kill me! Please leave me. I swear! I don't know where are Ethan and Lexter," She said quickly. I rolled my eyes. "Can you stop freaking out!" I roared. Lexter didn't stop me. She looked at me worriedly. She stayed silent. "Good! So, the sling you just saw is Lexter," I pulled Lexter towards me. She gasped. "Ah yaa! What did you mean with Ethan?" I asked her.

    She looked at the ground. "Ethan was once kidnapped by that Cruel Captain. He was just ten. We were kidnapped when we were two and three but Ethan was brought when he was ten. He was in charge of the cleaning team. No one spoke with him except Lexter and Me because he was a Crustelician and there was an obvious reason," She stopped and took a deep breath. "He is the only son of Elvira. Well, the captain tried to control his powers too but Ethan had a scar on his knee. He was injured while handling a broken glass mug. That scar blocked the captain from taking Ethan's powers. Ethan was quite close with me. To be honest, I was quite close with him. He never talked about Crustel or his parents and friends. All of sudden, he disappeared. We had no idea. I was mistaken that I helped him to escape. The Captain cut my tongue but thanks to Lexter," she looked at Lexter with a kind look and continued, "He saved me. The captain was about to burn me alive but somehow Lexter saved me. Since that day, the captain kept an eye on us. Suddenly, Lexter was gone! So, he guessed I helped him to escape. He killed his thick friends, Zack, Array and Tunga," she stopped. Lexter cried loudly, "NOOOOOOO!!!"

         I was speechless for a moment. "Ethan was in Ardian with you guys?" I questioned her. She nodded. "He spent his leisure time at the library. He never plays. He always reads about Ardian," She told with a cold voice. I wandered around. I waved my wand as it showed Ethan's image on the ground. "Is this the Ethan you mean?" I asked Zoya. "Yes!!!" Both Lexter and Zoya said quickly. I waved my wand again. The image faded. I wandered around again. I noticed that Lexter and Zoya were chit-chatting. They were enjoying their time. I knew Ethan was trying to warn me. He came to Ardian before but my question was how was he able to escape from Ardian without making a mistake and being cursed. I stopped thinking and saw the blazing sun rising. "We can't wait anymore. I have so many things to complete! Lexter, do you want to see your mother or stay with Zoya?" I asked him. He was blushing. He took his time. "I will join you! Zoya too," He said excitedly. I ignored him as the thought of Ethan haunted me. We checked the map. I noticed the Chamber of Maru. I knew my friends might be still there or the beast might have caught them. I closed my eyes as I held my amulet tightly. This time, I saw the present. I had the ability to see the presentation at different places. Ethan, Erica, and Kanyal were tied on a tree's branch together. 

        Erica was laughing at them. I knew I shouldn't have believed her. I wanted to know the place. I saw the Beast. He was standing outraged. It seemed like the well where Lama's spirit faded. I opened my eyes immediately. "Do you guys still have your powers?" I asked them as I was waving my wand and making a bridge to walk across the river. Lexter nodded but Zoya stared at the ground. "No! The moment my tongue was cut, I lost my powers. I am weaker than an ordinary human," She said with her tired voice. "Hmm...Then, here you go!" I changed her into a fairy. She looked exactly like I was in my fairy form. "What? WHY???" She asked me confusedly. "You can't survive there as a normal witch. You're even weaker than an ordinary human. The Beast might eat you alive. You better be in this fairy form," I said as we crossed the river. The bridge faded after Lexter and I stepped on the ground. Zoya was flying happily. She was actually elated.

       We walked so far passing through the woods. "Where are we going? This is not the way to Hatakuna," Lexter said as he peeked at the map. "Yes! We are not going Hatakuna now," I didn't continue. I saw a huge steel gate. I opened it and entered it. I witnessed fear in Lexter and Zoya's eyes. "I promise, you guys will be safe!" I said as I patted Lexter's hairy back. I saw the garden and the elves rushing. The library was just as same as the moment I saw it before. We sneaked into the library as Lexter and I used the invisibility spell. Zoya was too frightened because she was noticeable. "Say that you're the Librarian!" I whispered to her. She nodded as she gulped. All of sudden, the lady which was the Beast's assistant blocked our way. Lexter and I sneaked slowly to the back of the library. I heard her asking Zoya, "Where were you? Go, arrange the books! Elvira's been too outraged. She came to the library first. She might be here in few hours. Go, arrange the books," She ordered Zoya. Zoya nodded and flew as fast as she could towards the bookshelf.