Chapter Seven He's Back

 

 

  We all surrounded the mysterious man, tied up in a chair, staring dead at me with his yellow eyes. He had white spiky hair, a tan colored skin tone, and was wearing a ripped navy blue trench coat. The chief began to ask him questions. "What is your name? Who send you here? What do you want?". No response. The man then laughed and spoke up.

 

  "You expect me to tell you everything. Ha, it will be foolish of me to do so". Dylan slammed his fist to the mans face. "The world is at it's end and all of you will pay. You will all suffer in the rath of darkness. Hmmm, darkness in command of everything that exist. Not even you, Nick, will stand a chance. You're too frail". From that moment it was convenient that Aroa sended this intruder to steal the map to the Stones of Balance.

  

  "Where's Aroa and where did she put my parents in captive! Tell me!", I shouted, choking the man viscously. Dylan pushed me aside and was about to punch the man, but he cut through the twine and scratched Dylan's arm. Blood gushed out from his skin. The man quickly morphed into a rat and escaped from the hut. Adam and I ran after him casting spells, though we kept missing.

 

  "You can't run away much longer", hollered Adam. We had lost the mans path in the misty forest. That was when we heard a sound of a eagle soaring over our heads. He was gone. It was a good thing that he hadn't left with the map. We walked back to the tribe to see if Dylan was okay. "Veronika, is Dylan alright", I responded in a worried voice.

 

  "Yeah, he should be fine. Well at-least he's not dying. Anyways, what happen with that awkward morphing guy?". "Ummm, he escaped from us", Adam answered. "I wondered why he attacked Emily and you, Nick", Veronika questioned to me. "He was after Chad, Emily, and I to take the map to the three Stones of Balance. Aroa plans to use these stones to control all. That's why we can't waste time".

 

  Not too long after the conversation, a bolt of lightning strucked the ground of snow. Lexius had spotted my destination. "There you are Nick. I was beginning to get the picture that you abandoned me". "I had to leave from the island. It was Crogar's will. That's why he died. To save Chad, Emily and I from Aroa's daughter, Abegail". "I heard about that. The army is back at Crogsfoot Valley if you're wondering. "Oh alright, but it's good to see you still standing". "I thought the same to tell you the truth".

 

  Lexuis paused and pointed his sword to Adam's chest. "Nick what are you doing with Barthalomae". "Don't worry Lexius, this is his twin brother, Adam. He helped me and my friends during our travels". Lexius slowly lowered the sword and squinted his eyes, still confused of how Barthalomae has a identical twin. "It's a pleasure in meeting you, Lexuis", Adam smiled, shaking Lexius hand. "Sorry about that", Lexius apologized. "So where do you guys sleep?", he asked. Veronika scooted us aside, welcoming Lexius. "Hi, I'm Veronika; and they rest in their separate cabins, like everyone else in the village. My people probably won't mind preparing a room for you".

 

  "Thank you ma'am, I'll be delighted in staying in", Lexius thanked. Veronika nodded and made the arrangements in setting up Lexius's cabin. Emily then walks out of the hut where Dylan got hurt by the mysterious man. "Hello, I believe we haven't met; my name is Emily.", she greeted to Lexius. "Nice to meet you madam; I'm Lexius, friend of Nick". "Emily, Adam and I have decided to start our excursion Monday after sunrise. I mean, Aroa has ways of collecting the stones before us, hopefully she won't", I interrupted. "Stones, you mean the Stones of Balance", Lexius budged in. "Yes. Do you know something about them?", Adam asked. "Ha, do I. I know much about the stones. Crogar told me many tales, which probably by now you should know. All I have to say is that these stones are needed to be broken. You see the three hide a piece of a picture. Match the three up and you will unlock the secret object behind the picture, but beware. Those who seek the stones will lead them to many chaos", Lexius explained.

 

  "We'll be sure to be careful, thanks for the advise", I assured him. Dylan and Cheif Marco exited the hut. Dylan had a white around his wounded arm. "A new visitor I see", Chief Marco noticed. "Hello my name is Lexius". "Wait are you a friend of Crogar?", Chief Marco inquired. "Why, yes I am". "Crogar said to me that you're very bright in to building many things, Lexius. Welcome to the Tancolian tribe. Excuse myself for a few minutes. My son Dylan has a minor injury and needs his rest". Dylan rolled his eyes and limped into his cabin with his father helping him out.

 

  Emily then took a good look at the map. "It says here that the lost city will only be found in the center of the triangle. Don't really know what that means". "Hmmm,'the center of the triangle", I wondered to myself. "Doesn't it mean the Bermuda Triangle", Adam murmured. "That sounds like that could be the answer. Atlantis was sunked below the waters unknown. The Bermuda Triangle is said to be the worlds most mysterious areas in the globe. To tell you the truth, this may be where we have to start off at", Emily stated. "So how do we plan on getting there. We can't just transport there magically for the fact that Aroa can track us down easily", I assumed. "True but we can fly while being invisible", suggested Lexius.

 

  We all agreed to the idea and called it a night. The next morning no one budged having breakfast. Instead they helped us gather wood to build a plane that would take us to the Bermuda Triangle. It was definitely a good thing that Lexius has experience in building flying objects, so it shouldn't take long for the plane to be finished. This morning I couldn't resist, but to sneeze constantly.

 

  Adam searched in his backpack and got out a beanie and a scarf for himself then he took out another pair and handed them to me. I thank him and he put a smile on his face. "Adam can you find me leaves of a palm tree? Even though it's snowing, there might be some lying on the ground", Lexius requested. "Shouldn't they be decomposed already?. It is winter", Adam complained. "Not if you look hard enough. Take Nick he may be good assistance for you", Lexius demanded giving Adam a empty sack. Adam had looked as if he didn't want to do so, but he had to.

 

  We had searched for hours in the snow and trees. No palm leaves. I began to think that Lexius was insane to think that these leaves happen to grow strong in this type of weather. The both of us kept walking on and we soon made it to the place where we first met the pack. It was palm leaves galore. We filled the sack until the bag couldn't fit anymore. I guess Adam and I were wrong.

 

  The whispers from before came back and I started having a migrane. Black dust moved together gliding in the air, forming into a male form in a dark cloak. Then black hair grew from his head. He slowly turned his body around breathing fast and then slow. Barthalomae was back alive. He raised his hand and the Pheonix Medallion tighten and choked me.

 

  Moments later he used a force that pushed me against a tree trunk. The medallion had soon loosen itself. Adam and Barthalomae had casted a spell at the same time creating a collision. Barthalomae was too powerful though, and the collision broke, making Adam fall on his back. Barthalomae, without using his hands, twisted Adam's leg. Adam screamed to the top of his lungs, laying his hands on his right leg. He came closer to him and blocked me, so I couldn't help him, pulling his sword upward, ready to kill his own brother.

 

  Emily came from behind him and shot a arrow to his back. Emily ran towards us and kick Barthalomae to the face, knocking him down to the sheet of snow. She pulled Adam, next to me. Barthalomae got himself up on his feet and formed into black dust charging at us. Emily screeched and wrapped her arms around me, aiming his hand,but he flew through our bodies and vanished out of nowhere. "He's back", I said, not believing at what I have seen with my own eyes.