Chapter 30

Stiles' POV

I could feel several other hands on me. Voices of concern could be heard above me but I couldn't make out what they were saying exactly because of the pain that I was feeling.

Too much to bare and Lux wasn't around nor Keeper to help out like they did few weeks ago when I was going through this similar pain only that this was more sharp and painful.

I remembered the herbal tea they had made me days ago but for some reason I couldn't remember the ingredients they used but surely, it did help a lot.

A sharp pain, like a hot knife cutting through my flesh was felt right through my shoulder blades.

I shouted in pain as I tried to reach for my back but I wasn't on the floor anymore.

I was being carried but I didn't know where. My eyes were squeezed shut due to the pain I felt.

Why were my shoulder blades hurting this much?.

Why my shoulder blades and not other parts of my body?.

I couldn't get the answers to my questions but still the pain I felt was unbearable.

First, my soulmate dies and comes back to life.. I almost loose my life by drowning in the sea but thanks to Israel that didn't happen.. My soulmate comes back then she doesn't even look at me twice instead, she goes on a suicide mission and now, here I am drowning in pain.

Who knew this mission to go in search of the Origins would be like this?. Mysterious, dangerous and harsh at the same time?.

I should have known that this was what we were getting ourselves into. But what would I have done?. What would we have done?.

We were in a battlefield and our enemy was battle ready unlike us. Going in search of the Origins was the only way.. The only guarantee of us winning this war.

I hoped that Lux would come back soon and alive.

The pain on my back ended as if it were never there. I opened my eyes only to meet with Pops' looking back at me, worry lines etched deep on his forehead.

"Stiles?". He called softly but his voice was laced with fear and concern.

"He opened his eyes!". Pops exclaimed to someone else in the room who repeated the same message outside.

"Stiles are you okay?". He asked but I felt too lazy to reply. I couldn't even open my mouth so as to utter a word.

My vision got blurry as my eyes were suddenly heavy. I felt light headed. That feeling as if you're falling into something unknown which is deep and deep but has no ending so you keep on falling?.

"Stiles, don't scare me again like that, okay?". I heard Pops say but I had already shut my eyes.. Giving into the unknown unwillingly.

•••••

Keeper's POV

I woke up with a start.

It was as if I had a nightmare which was really bad.. No wonder it's called a nightmare!.

But was it really a nightmare?.

I looked around.

It wasn't a nightmare.

I was in the ship's cubicle which served as my room and the last thing I remember was being hit by lightning.

Nonetheless I was alright now. I wasn't hurt nor dead but where were the others?.

Were they fine?.

Were they safe?.

Had the storm stopped?.

I decided to listen in if I could hear any of them speak and find out if everything was okay.

Strange.

I heard nothing.

Nothing at all.

I tried again but nothing changed. I couldn't hear any of them and that worried me.

It was hushed. No noise nor a sound at all.

I took the covers off of me as I got out of the bed and searched for my shoes so that I'd go in search of them.

The door to my cubicle suddenly opened, revealing a very tired looking Peter.

He looked at me. His eyes lighting up with relief as he quickly got in and sat on the armchair next to the bed.

"You're awake!. How are you feeling?".

"Apart from being worried about you guys, I'm fine". I replied honestly.

His brows furrowed a bit, "Oh we're all fine. The storm stopped but we'll tell you all details later as for now, you should rest".

"I'm fine. I don't need to spend all day in bed if I can stand on my own two feet perfectly fine". I said feeling irritated.

"Okay. Fine if you insist. I'll go tell the angel that you're awake". He muttered while standing up from the armchair and walking towards the door which he hadn't closed when he came in.

But wait!.

Angel?.

What angel?.

"What do you mean by an angel?". I questioned. Stopping him from leaving. His hand was already on the doorknob.

He turned and looked at me, "His name is Israel. To cut the long story short, Lux left him in charge and right now, the ship is above the clouds. Um, Stiles' back started hurting again so he's unconscious in his room".

"Lux left Israel in charge?. Where did she go to?". I questioned.

Where had she gone to?.

Was she okay?.

What had happened when I was hit by lightning?... Because it seems that I missed a lot.

Peter shrugged, "I'll tell you everything later but just know that she went on a suicide mission".

He quickly left the room shutting the door behind him.

Suicide what?.

What was going on?.

Was Lux safe?.

I looked around... Wait a sec!.

I hadn't heard Peter come or his footsteps when he had left.

I couldn't hear his heartbeat so I couldn't tell if he was lying or not.. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention, but no!... Something was surely amiss.

I looked at the book that was on the other side of the room besides a flower pot on top of the small table in the corner.

I had power over books. That's why I was called Keeper Of The Books, isn't it?.

If I wanted to know if there was something wrong with me then I'd try it on a book.

I took a deep breathe, "Book, I order you to rise and come to me".

I looked at the book but it did nothing not even the smallest of movements.

I raised my hand towards the direction of the book, "Book open up".

Nothing happened.

This was petrifying me.

I quickly walked towards the table and touched the book. It was indeed a book, then why wasn't it obeying my orders?.

I placed it down again and tried, "Book rise!".

Nothing happened.

"Book, book rise!". I exclaimed but nothing took place.

The bitter truth dawned on me.

I shook my head, I couldn't accept it.

There was no way I could accept it.

What had happened?.

Was it just lightning that hit me or was it something else?.

It was painful to accept.

It was painful.

I had lost my powers!.

I was useless now and I was no longer of meaning in this mission.

I never felt useless in my life like the way I felt in the moment.

I couldn't control a book. So how was I going to control the Origins like this?.

Everyone would hate me. Everyone would see no use in me.

I fell down on my knees as I shook with sorrow. Hot beads of tears streamed down my cheeks.

The void and pain I felt in my heart was unexplainable.

Was this what they called heartbreak?. Because my heart was broken now with the current situation I was in.

I was used to having my powers with me. I was used to using them in everything I did.

How was I going to live now without them?. How was I going to survive like this?.

I couldn't accept this. There had to be something behind this. Something happened during the lightning hit which I couldn't place my finger on. I wish I knew what was going on or what had happened to me.

Without my powers I was useless. There was no use in me. My powers are what made and defined me but now, I was not worthy of the name Keeper.

••••••

Lux's POV

The protective bubble around me that played the role of a shield popped.

The waves were strong and the underwater storm was compelling.

I had underestimated the devil's pot.

It wasn't really a pot. It was like a water hurricane but more compelling. It was dark plus one felt as if you were being pulled by unseen forces in the bottom of the sea.

The forces were strong but thanks to my wings which I was flapping hard, I was able to regain my composure.

My eyes were glowing so I could see in the dark. Breathing underwater wasn't a problem either.

I followed the water cyclone below, this was the only way to get at the bottom.

I knew the bottom held the answers though I was sure that I'd find a lot of other things below... The victims of the devil's pot.

The devil's pot killed a lot of people every year. It was always active and the more people it swallowed every year the stronger it became.

At times, I didn't understand why the First Heaven great God couldn't just shut it down since He was capable of doing so but who was I to question Him?.

"You're so brave or should I call it daringly stupid that you jump in here without us pulling you in?". A voice echoed through the water. It was a mixture of a male and female voice.

I looked around but I couldn't see anyone.

Who was it that just spoke?.

Was it the devil or what?.

This was called the devil's pot so obviously it could be him or his fallen angels, right?.

"Call it both". I replied. But I wasn't really stupid because I knew what I was doing. I knew why I was here.

"Why are you here?. Do you seek death?". The voices came again.

"I've experienced death more than once. I do not fear death". I replied.

The voice laughed well, the owners of the voices laughed and it was chilling to hear the echoing noise of the laughter.

"You fear death or not, it matters not. You must die!". They exclaimed.

The waves strengthened and the water above enclosed thus it fell on me with the main purpose of drowning me.

I quickly built the magic bubble around me but it popped immediately the water enclosing towards me in touched it.

I was forcefully pushed below to the sea's surface.

I couldn't breathe anymore due to the force of the water nor could I swim away.

I closed my eyes letting the water drive me to my fate. I was going to be yet another victim of the devil's pot.

I couldn't accept it. I was a goddess and I refused to die in this manner. I remembered the lessons mother used to give me at times, whom to call for help and what to do when in danger.

I tried to flap my wings harder and faster so as to form another bubble. A stronger one but the force of the water was too strong for my wings to take so I got tired easily.

I tried to breathe but I in took water instead making me gasp but water got into my mouth as well.

From a far I heard the cry of a whale. It was approaching but was it coming this way?.

If so would it be able to pass the devil's pot or was it going to be a victim like me and many others?.

One question, did the creatures of the sea also suffer from the devil's pot or was it just us outsiders?.

I was curious to know and yet I was almost coming face to face with my abyss.