Chapter 5 Pt. 2

“Arianna, I have loved you all of my life, and I wouldn’t imagine ever doing anything to hurt you. But with these things happening, I am afraid for us. I am afraid that Warrick will cast me out leaving you here for him to do what he wants. After all these years, I still believe he loves you and would do anything to have you with him. Not only does he hate me for his belief that I stole you, he hates me for knowing what I do about his life. Most of it I did not find out directly from him. Chance has told me things, and I managed to put it together myself. I am afraid my time here has ended, and I can’t leave knowing I hurt you and didn’t give you the truth.”

They both sat and held each other crying, knowing now the reality of what was to come. Their crying was interrupted by an abrupt kick to the door.

When the dust settled, Caius and Arianna could see the smiles coming from Ridge and Relic. Not far behind, Chance was shouting,

“Hurry up. We don’t have time!”

Even in the most stressful of times, Relic could not help his sarcastic remarks.

“Now, come on you two. What were you expecting, a red-carpet invitation? Let’s get out of here!”

Relic was on his way to take Arianna by the hand but, on his way by, he had to stop momentarily to slap Ridge.

“Geez, Relic, is there any time you are ever normal? We are breaking into a prison and breaking out at least one person that Warrick wants to see burn. We will be sitting right beside them when we get caught and cast out. How can you be so happy?” Ridge was clearly upset.

“Ridge, you always are so serious and uptight. Be positive. All is not lost. I may be crazy, but I am not stupid. Besides, it’s always best to go out with a bang!” Relic said with zeal and a huge laugh as he and Arianna ran down the long hall to the exit of the prison. Looking confused, Caius ran along with them with Chance and Ridge at their side.

“You know, you will be cast out for this if we live through it,” Caius remarked.

Chance looked up. “Oh well, I never did like my job anyway.”

Caius looked to Chance in amusement but with a small glimmer of surprise in his eyes.

At that moment, as they all forged down the dark, narrow hall of the prison, Caius watched his wife running alongside Relic. Even though, in that moment of haste and fear, he watched her not knowing if this would be the last time they ran free. Everything seemed to be in slow motion in his mind. His life as a father, a husband and a protector flashed through his mind—images of the hundreds of lives he watched over. As much as he never wanted to leave any of them behind or alone, in a flash, everything he came to know hit him, and he knew he could not go with Arianna and his loyal and trusted friends.

Caius slowed down to a stop and watched as they ran ahead to the door. Caius knew that this was too easy and more than likely, this was a trap, but if there were any chance to save his wife and daughter he had to sacrifice something even if it were for just the time being he would not know for sure. Chance, who loved Caius, knew in a thought and slowed down to turn and look back at Caius who stood with a hint of a smile. Relic and Arianna, who had run ahead, stopped and turned to look at Caius. Caius sent his thoughts.

“You know I love all of you, especially you, Arianna, the love of my life. I know you are safe and you will be okay. I cannot go with you now; I must go and fix all I have done wrong. Even if I fail, I cannot allow you, any of you, to suffer for me. Arianna, go with Relic and Chance. I know they will take care of you. Do not worry about me. I am with you in my heart no matter what may come of me. I love you.”

In an instant, Caius was gone from sight. Arianna stood beside Relic crying, but she knew he was right. Ridge, Relic and Chance looked at one another and then to Arianna.

“It will be okay, I promise. We will take care of you and Meridian. I know where Meridian is. Caius is right; the only chance we have at keeping him alive is to keep you two separate. Warrick will not hurt Caius if he cannot find you. I can take you to Meridian.”

Relic calmly comforted Arianna.

“We have to get out of here; this has been too easy. Once they realize Caius is gone, they will come looking for us,” Chance insisted.

Without a further word and through her tears, she took Relic’s hand, and they followed Chance’s lead. Ridge was not far behind.

“Where will you go, Chance? They will come looking for you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you,” Arianna cried.

“Don’t worry about me. I have my connections, and I will be fine. First, Ridge and I must find Slaten and Pramlee. I know they have no idea what is going on. They are trying to find out more about Warrick and his plans. I will find you both. Don’t worry.”

Chance was always reassuring, brave and steady.

“What about you, Ridge?” Arianna expressed her concern.

“Don’t worry about me. I will not be going with Chance right now. We all have our work to do, but I promise we will be together at some point to put everything together. Relic has more connections than Grand Central; some are questionable though I might add,” Ridge said as he gave a look to Relic that implied he did not approve.

“But they are resourceful.”

Ridge gave some credit to the edgy and witty guy Relic was.

“Hey, you are just jealous because people like us know how to have a good time. You are just angry because you like outdated music and dress like Barry Manilow.” Relic laughed as he gave his snarky remark.

“I am going to let you get away with that one because we all could use a laugh at my expense, but I will add that you are just jealous of me because I play better than you, and don’t get me started on dressing. You are the one who looks like you raided the Mad Hatter’s closet and KISS called. They want their makeup back!” Ridge said with a smile.

Just before Arianna was going to tell them to shut up and ask what they were now waiting for, the two guides from the tavern who had shown their disdain for Meridian appeared by the road leading out of the realm.

“Who are they?” she asked Relic.

Before Relic could reply, Chance interrupted.

“This is where I go; I will find you all later.”

In a flash, he was gone, and Relic turned with a small smirk to answer.

“Well, Mrs. ‘A’, they are just a couple of friends or connections I have that will help us out. They tend to be busybodies but, as previously mentioned, resourceful.”

Ridge leaned over Arianna’s shoulder and whispered in her ear. “Yes, they are very resourceful, and they do offer all kinds of connections with the male persuasion here in the realm. So, I think Relic’s description of ‘busybodies’ is putting it lightly.”

“Hey, just because they like me doesn’t mean I... They come and listen to our music as their outlet from all their work with humans.”

In the company of the mother of the girl he was falling for, Relic was unusually uncomfortable. Ridge could not help but capitalize on his friend’s discomfort.

“Oh yes, Relic, we know how they just like every guy here. Oh, I’m sorry. Did it escape your attention they let anyone plug into their outlets?” Ridge smugly said in his calculating voice.

Relic was grinning but nervous.

“Just because the only attention you get is from the old lady down your street who died in her nineties and was an Elvis freak doesn’t mean all my connections are nonfigurative!” Relic shouted.

“Will you two please shut up!” Arianna shouted as she walked on ahead to meet the girls.

Ridge was doubled over laughing, and Relic just looked over at him and said, “I am going to remember this. I hope you are satisfied.”

Ridge resumed his posture.

“Of course, I am satisfied; I needed a good laugh!”

Ridge, still laughing, began walking away leaving Relic standing for an instant, muttering under his breath.

“I don’t wear makeup.... It was one time for the show, and I needed a little eyeliner and glitter. I am not the only one who wears it. Kieren has been known to shine up too ya know!”

The more Relic spouted off, the harder Ridge laughed. Arianna had turned and was with the two provocative women.

“What’s with those two?” Arianna spoke up.

“They are always like this, sometimes worse,” stated Cora.