Chapter 13

"Does it sound bad if I ask what the map looks like?"

Adam looks at her, "I'm just curious where we're headed, that's it, I swear Adam."

He studies her for a minute and searches the ground for an answer as they walk.

"You could just tell me, but you don't have to-"

"Evermant, that's where we're headed."

They walk in silence for hours, the weight of the world pressing on their shoulders. The blood of so many people they were forced to abandon.

Day turns to night as they approach the town. "Adam?" Violet says,

They look at her, "Don't get me wrong, I know this is important, but they need the map to find out where to go right? We all are wiped. What if we found a place to sleep tonight and started again tomorrow?"

His eyes narrow slightly as he thinks about it. "We need to prove to one another, that we are all the real deal, before we walk in and find a place to sleep for the night."

Roux nods, "I agree....but how do we prove ourselves?"

"We could use magic? If anyone of us is lying about who we are, we can reveal who they really are, swear an oath right here to each other we are all on the same side, the good side." Violet says,

An oath in this world meant everything, if someone was to break an oath....they might as well just kill themselves.

They all agree, they show Adam how to do it and take turns using magic on the others. "Okay, the oaths, I swear that I've never lied about who I am to you two, I want, I am on the good side, I'm fighting for freedom." Adam says,

"I swear, that I've never nor will I ever join evil and become evil, I'll die first, I'm a freedom fighter." Violet says,

"I swear with oath that I'm true to my word when I say I'm not corrupt, I like Violet, swear to die first, I swear personally to suffer horrible tortures and a death before I join Venix and take the side of evil."

They all breathe out with relief and hug one another. "Glad we're all on the same page." Roux says,

"Let's get some rest, we can start tomorrow." Violet says,

They walk into town and find an inn, they rent one of the rooms with multiple beds. They each take one and leave the fourth open. Adam lies awake for two hours, wishing he'd never let her kiss him, Violet lies awake for one, wishing she'd killed that woman when she had the chance.

They finally sleep and wake the next morning, they eat breakfast quickly and start down the road they walk until they reach a small beach.

"Pretty? What are we looking for?" Violet asks,

Adam hands Roux the map as he looks around. They study and pour over it.

"Where mermaids have a voice that daze, their eyes are hidden, sacred is this place, the pure are bidden to find and oppose raze. What does that mean? Where mermaids have a voice that daze...."

"Singing mermaids?"

"There's an idea Roux."

"No no wait, the well used as a supposed sewage dump. It's in an abandoned rundown house over there, people stay away because the supposed smell. But I'm not sure is is a sewage dump."

He leads them to a house just off the street, they walk up and he juggles the knob but it's locked.

Roux takes a step and kicks it in. "Hey it was unlocked." He says,

Violet smirks as they walk in, Adam forces a smile. Roux leads them into a back room where the well is.

"Aha, a well...with mermaids, I think each is singing."

Adam couches and examines them, he touches their faces, brushing his fingers over where the eyes haven't been carved in.

"Hidden eyes." He says,

"Where mermaids have a voice that daze, their eyes are hidden...sacred is this place, the pure are bidden to find and oppose raze. I don't understand." Roux whispers,

"It says the Mermaid's Belt above it. Belt? Like clothes they wear? When they turn into humans?"

Roux's eyes narrow as he thinks. Adam thinks and racks his brain. Mermaid's Belt.

"Where mermaids have a voice that daze, their eyes are hidden, sacred is this place, the pure are bidden to find and oppose raze." He sings softly to himself,

Roux's eyes widen, he waits till Adam's finished. A large crack sounds, a wide slit of the well drops to the ground, a rope slides out and down The well and finally stops, for them to climb down.

"Mermaid's Belt, meaning song, you are a genius Adam." Roux says patting his back,

He smiles and takes the rope in his hands, he looks back at them.

"Me first I guess?" Adam says,

He grips the rope and starts sliding down into the well. He slides down about sixty feet and touches down to the dirt ground.

"Alright, I reached the bottom."

"Can you see anything at all?"

He narrows his eyes and looks around, "I think...there's a doorway."

Adam walks towards it and feels his way into the hall as Roux touches the dirt.

He scoffs, "I don't blame you if you can't find the way Adam." He says feeling around,

Violet slides down and they all explore the hall, cautiously walking down it. Suddenly glowing yellow lines climb across the floor and up the walls.

"Very intriguing."

They walk to the end and see a lever in the middle of the circular room. "This doesn't feel like every trap I've seen in a movie." Adam mutters to himself,

They all look at it and look around the yellow lit room. Violet reaches out and pulls it.

"Wait-wait!" Adam says but it's too late, the room explodes with smoke and they become engulfed and are each teleported to different locations.

"What hope do you have entering this realm?" a deep voice asks, it's voice echoing,

"Who's there?" Violet asks,

"Who are you?" Roux asks,

"Who are you?! To enter my realm?!"

Still engulfed in smoke, Adam gives up trying to fight his way through the dark cloud.

"We aren't threats."

"What is your purpose here?" the voice asks,

"To learn, an evil man has attempted to find this place, we found it first in attempt to stop him, and defeat him." Roux says,

There is a long silence, "Your words are truthful but let me look on your hearts as worth."

The smoke disperses as is sucked into an invisible black hole but all now are in the different locations.

All stand on the bank of a river, vibrant grass and flowers surround them. They look around and up a hill at a structure that covers the long cliff and hill like an awning.

They start up, Violet races to the top. She stares down the long, almost great hall. The others join her side, at the very end are four figures standing in a half circle. The pillars lining the sides of the hall are lit with torches, but the end is dark as it is exposed to the cliff with no roof or walls.

They all look at one another with anxious looks and back. Roux slowly starts down, the others follow. They soon realize that the four figures are statues.

They walk to the end and examine the statues of women. "Who are they?" Violet asks,

"The four, the Watchdog Elements." the deep voice says,

They all jump and look around. "Who's there?!" Adam asks,

Black dust swirls around, hovering off the cliff and begins forming a giant figure. The black dust turns into a large cloak, it hides the man and his face from them.

"I've found you worthy, all of you."

"Who are you? Where are we?" Adam asks,

"You are in Eden, the sanctuary of the Watchdog Elements, I am its guardian, Rion. A spirit, who is also guardian of the Endless Library in another world. You have come to protect this sanctuary from Venix?"

"Yes, he's probably looking for the Watchdogs."

"Then I will reveal one."

"Why one?" Adam asks,

"She's the only one who has become involved."

"Involved?"

"She witnessed the deaths of the Shadow Walkers."

The three stare at each other in shock. "W-what do you mean? They're dead? All of them?"

"She has seen the deaths of thirteen."

"Who are the Watchdogs guardian?"

"They were sent from the gods. Venix had defiled the minds of mortals after he was rejected by the gods, they left this world so as to not waste lives should any one of his follower's minds return the light. They want to test humanity's desire for good to overcome evil.

They sent four abilities to protect us. Four magnificent women were chosen. When a Watchdog is chosen, their spirit and body is brought before me, here. And I retell the tale. When a Watchdog dies, it has the opportunity to choose another female, worthy of the power, or choose prior to her death, the power of choice is theirs completely until they relinquish it. If she does not choose, the power comes to me and I choose the worthy female."

"Why is it called the elements?" Roux asks,

"Fire, Air, Earth and Water, they are the abilities passed down from one to another. The world has become scattered and they are afraid to rise against Venix, they know they'll be hunted. So they've hidden themselves. One may be willing to help, June, Water element."

"She saw the deaths?"

The figure nods. "Will she help us?"

"That decision is hers. I will protect this sanctuary. You are welcome here to retrieve one of the Watchdogs, but never linger."

"Where can we find June? How do we find the others?" Violet asks,

"June will sense the others presence generally, she hides in the most archaic house, around you, she is water."

Smoke engulfs them and they reappear in the street. They all look at each other in shock. "...L-let is fond this house." Roux says looking around,

"They are all rundown houses." Adam whispers,

"That one maybe? It's missing windows?"

"This one has a destroyed roof." Adam says,

They all turn and look at it, they all look around just to be sure and decide on it. They cautiously walk up, Adam looks at Roux who shrugs.

Adam grunts softly at himself and knocks once, then opens the door. They walk in and look around.

"Begin searching?" Violet says,

"June? If you are in this house hear us out we beg you, we aren't enemies, rather friends, allies." Roux says as they split up,

"June? Please are you here? I know it's our word, that must mean nothing to you, but I promise you, we aren't here to hurt you. We know what you are. We need your help."

Violet opens a door, several barrels inside the closet. She begins to shut the door but then it crosses her mind.

She opens the door and checks all the empty barrels. She sighs and leaves, Adam walks into the dining room simultaneously with Roux, they look around, opening cupboards but nothing.

Violet opens another closet door and is thrown onto her back. Roux and Adam run out, she leaps over Violet to the window. Adam runs up and throws himself into her watery body.

She grunts and slips, jumping out of his grip into the middle of the room.

"Wait-wait June please!" Roux shouts desperately,

She turns and looks at them as the two get to their feet. "I'm leaving." she says,

"Please, we want to stop Venix."

She breathes heavily. "Get out of my way!"

"Please June! Please, we're desperate."

She stares at Adam, "You don't know what he's done to me."

"I bet I have a pretty good guess, he's hurt us all. The only way to stop him, is to kill him, we need your help June, please, I'll do anything."

She shakes harshly as she breathes, "I-I can't....I don't want to die."

"I don't either, it's horrifying to think about. Venix has taken hope from a lot of people, I don't want to kill him, I want to destroy him."

She stares at him in silence. "We're, allies?"

Adam nods, "Help us end Venix, once and for all. Rid the planet of this prick."

She stares at him wide eyed, surprised at his desire to kill him, but she knows it's not a bloodlust, but he wants justice.

She breathes out shakily, her complete water form transforms into a fleshy, human body. "What's your names? You know mine? How?"

"I'm Adam, that's Violet and Roux. Rion brought us here, to find you."

She inhales deeply, "Alright Adam, I'll help however I can. But we need the other three."

"We know, can you help us find them?" Violet asks,

She nods, "Yes." she says, her hands still shaking,

"We're in this together my dear, you aren't alone." Roux says,

She smiles softly, "I'm just, scared."

"We won't let anything happen to you June, I promise." she looks at Adam and nods,

"Alright, the closest is in Jelwei."