Crustel

Chapter 50

After so many days, my amulet glowed. It was a message. It was from Ayari, well she accidentally shared the details of the place she hid Lexter and Zoya. I was able to see and I showed it to Kanyal and Ethan. Ethan recognized the place.  "Let's go and save Lexter and Zoya," He hurried but I stopped him. "No! Watch this," I showed him what Ayari did. She took a few drops of Lexter's blood. Zoya was unconscious. She was weaker than an ordinary human being. "What is she doing? Why does she need his blood?" Kanyal asked questions. "SHHHHH!" I shooed him. "She's enchanting weird spells! Listen to it," Ethan urged us to watch her gingerly. It was unquestionably in Ard Language but I couldn't read her lips. She was muttering. Lexter was turning back into his human form. At a certain point, he was freed on not being a sling anymore but I saw the foreboding in him. He was clueless about Ayari's next step. So did us.

 She put the drops of Lexter's blood into the tremendous cauldron. (Obviously, there will be cauldrons in Witch stories! Imagine well while reading for the best experience) Assuming that it might be a potion, it was boiling. The colour changed from green to purple. The moment the colour of the potion changed, Lexter's eyes changed colour from red to silver-blue eyes. "We need to get there! We have to save them!!!" I shook both of them. "I know but," Ethan was in his deep thoughts. "What? But what?" Kanyal urged. I calmed him down. "Don't react! The Dark World Rule!" I reminded him. "It's a place near the sea! The Dark Sea but there is a small problem," Ethan again hesitated to complete his sentences. "Just spit it out! We need to hurry," I said.

"The Captain will be there! He will drag out our magic!" Ethan said worriedly. We gulped. All of sudden, we heard huge men marching towards us. "What are you guys doing there? RUN!!!" Kanyal roared after he started running. He lunged out from few meters away. We tried to catch up with him. Luckily, my eyes met a huge statue. It seemed like a serpent's statue. "Guys, here!!!" I pointed them towards the statue. We hid behind it. Fortuitously, the men missed us. "Why don't you alter the law! It's so hard to stay reactionless!" Kanyal said in his iconic theatrical way. "I wish I can! I am not crowned yet for your information!" Ethan groaned. I agreed with Kanyal. It was really hard to be reactionless. "I will try to figure this out! Now, let's climb," He said as he pointed to the hidden stairs. He pressed on the snake's tail. Stairs were visible. Ethan led the way. The height of the statue was 928 meters. It was the tallest statue in the world. As we were climbing up, the stairs were fading.

On the halfway, "You guys can cry, shout, smile and finally react here! At the top of the statue. This is a secret place to do so. There won't be echoes and no one can hear us. I usually bring kids up here when I was in the Dark World. Ayari doesn't know about this place. So, the men won't climb up!" Ethan had his words. I didn't know how to feel. All that mattered to me was about Lexter and Zoya. If we don't save them on time, ufff, I don't want to think about it! We climbed up so far. I took a deep breath. Kanyal did so too. We were tired but didn't have time to take a rest. It was night time already. Since the Dark World didn't have the Sun, it was pitch dark without moon or stars light. We were not able to see things as it was too dark. I felt as someone was pressing my shoulders. I thought it was either Kanyal or Ethan. "Yes?" I asked. Both of them didn't answer me. "What? Why did you call me?" I asked again. Both of them were quite worried. "Who called you, Cora?" Ethan and Kanyal asked simultaneously. "Wait, then who's this?" I asked as I removed the person's hand.

I didn't know who it was. "Who are you?" I questioned. He chuckled. Ethan took his wand and slowly mounted a spell to produce light so that we could see the person. To my horror, it was Lexter. I gasped. "Lexter? Is it really you?" I asked as I was elated to see him but Ethan interrupted, "How do you know this place? Who accessed the stairs for you?" To be honest, Ethan had valid points. Kanyal joined, "Where's Zoya? Is she alright?" Lexter didn't answer. He was still chuckling. "Your laughter doesn't answer our questions, Lexter!" Ethan growled. Lexter moved a bit nearer towards me. It was awkward. I went backwards. "Stop. I have to whisper, you silly," he sniggered. "You can tell anything in front of Ethan and Kanyal!" I stopped him but he kept coming near me. Kanyal tried to stop him but when Kanyal stretched his arm to stop him, Lexter cursed a hard level spell on him. ( He was in Ardian! Definitely powerful! ) Kanyal was stunned. So did Ethan. Both of them were cursed by Lexter and were standing stunned. 

I was startled for a moment. Fortunately, Ethan's wand was still producing light. I was able to witness the place. Much to my dismay, my eyes met aventurine in Lexter's finger. He was wearing an unfamiliar aventurine ring. He slowly took off his ring and tried to give it to me. I hesitated to grab it but Lexter forced me. I wasn't able to run anywhere. In that panic moment, I forgot all the spells. All I did was to stand terrorised of Lexter. The aventurine was bright with the light produced by Ethan's wand. Lexter reached out and claimed my hand, running a finger around the green band where the aventurine ring had been. My eyelids flickered as I was about to faint at any moment. I saw evil in his eyes. No! Not evil. I saw Vendetta. I knew he had hatred but never knew he would take his revenge any time. Before my eyes closed, I saw Zoya appearing from Lexter's back. She was standing still where I was going out like a light.