Chapter 6: The Necklace

"What happened? Are you guys ok?" Aaron asked worried mostly for Tom and Dorothy. Out of the entire group they had been kind to him and had stuck out for him.

"Ok?!…ok? What are you up too? Running off and leading us into this trap." Emily said, sweat dripping down her forehead. If looks could kill he'd be dead ten times over.

"The kid didn't know." John replied.

"Then how isn't he affected?" She barked back.

Aaron looked around in confusion. He felt bad for losing himself and leading them in here but didn't understand what was happening to them.

"The further down the path we traveled the heavier we felt. Right now I feel about 5 times my weight." Dorothy said now standing close to him she seemed to be adjusting to it.

"Do you…not feel it?" Veron asked between heavy breaths.

The hood had fallen off the old man and giving Aaron a clear view of his face. He had many wrinkles and a long grey beard. He looked exhausted but Aaron could see the wonder in the man's eyes.

"No, I heard whispers and felt something drawing me here." Aaron said deciding to be honest.

"What a strange phenomenon. I wonder what makes you so different. It's as if your connected to…wait…Yes, I can feel it. A strong magic is here." Veron replied with clear excitement.

He used the long wooden staff he carried as a crutch moving closer as fast as he could. Brushing right past Aaron he reached out to the object floating above the alter.

The object was circular, golden in color and had engravings covering its surface. At the middle a black gem rested while a thin silver chain ran through the top. It was beautiful.

Veron's fingers were outstretched ready to grab the necklace from the air. The pedestal below span faster and an almost translucent barrier appeared bouncing his hand back. It rippled gently before fading.

Veron was stunned. He tried again but was met with the same result.

'That's weird I don't think that was there when I almost touched it? Why am I different?' Aaron thought remembering how close he had gotten.

"I got it old man" John said shoving Aaron to the side. Aaron stumbled a bit but didn't fall.

The large man lifted his great-sword high above his head before bringing it down with great speed.Aaron winced ready for the impact but not a sound was made.

Touching the barrier it caved in slightly before bouncing back. The sword flew from johns hands and into a shelf knocking it over, Items scattered everywhere. He looked shocked.

"You big oaf! You can't break a magic barrier that easily. It requires skill not brute strength." Veron said with a smug look.

Aaron watched in amazement as veron began to chant waving his staff in the air. He could see a glow form around the staff.

'Woah! What is he doing?' Aaron thought.

It somewhat reminded him of the dream he had earlier but the voices and words then sounded different and way more powerful. But still Aaron was amazed seeing sparks fly off the old man's staff.

"What is that? How is he doing it?" Aaron whispered to Tom afraid of interrupting Veron.

"He's a wizard. I don't get how they do their magic and don't really care to find out. To much work and effort." Tom replied eyeing up a few things in the corner of the room that looked shiny.

"Zrrrrrrrr!!"

The top of Veron's staff glowed bright and vibrated. He stopped chanting tapping it onto the barrier. There was a blinding flash of light and when Aaron opened his eyes he could see the old man standing in the same spot while a pile of ashes sat at his feet.

"My staff!" He shouted.

The barrier rippled once more and went back to normal.

"Harhahaha! Skill huh?! Harghahaha" John laughed heavily while doubling over.

Veron ignored the big brutes jibes trying to scoop up the ashes. Emily simply looked irritated but she had wondered over to one of the shelves and was inspecting a variety of items. John walked over and joined her.

The others besides Veron decided to give up on retrieving the necklace and started scavenging the rest of the room.

'Maybe I should give it another shot. It seems important and I feel connected to it for some reason.' Aaron thought.

Veron was still on the other side of the pedistal trying all that he could to get passed the barrier. Reaching his hand out Aaron touched the barrier. If he hadn't seen it ripple he wouldn't even know it was there. With no resistance whatsoever his hand passed through grabbing hold of the silver chain.

Veron gasped with astonishment drawing the attention of a few others who were busy stuffing their bags.

Withdrawing his hand the barrier disappeared and the pedestal stopped spinning. Aaron ran his fingers over the engravings. For some reason it gave off a familiar warm feeling. He stared into the black gem that glistened in the light as he was hit by a wave of deja vu.

"Hahaha! Yes I must have weakened the barrier. I knew my spell worked." Veron laughed.

"Now give it here boy. I wish to discover the mysteries of my new artifact." He continued.

Veron held out a bony hand beckoning Aaron to give it to him.

'No, I can't…I won't let him take it. I don't know why but I want this more than anything.' Aaron thought.

He clutched the necklace to his chest taking a few steps back from the old man. The look of happiness on Veron's face quickly changed to that of anger.

"N-no…I-it's mine. I-m sorry" Aaron stuttered.

The old man scared him almost as much as the monsters he saw earlier for some reason.

"You dare to steal from me brat!! I will turn you into my lab rat you ignorant child. That power is not for the likes of you." Veron screamed at him.

Aaron only clutched it tighter ready to run. With a single word and the flick of his wrist Veron shot out a flickering red bolt. It didn't move very fast but the close distance and surprise didn't allow Aaron to dodge it.

The air was knocked from his lungs as he fell backwards. It had hit him square in the chest burning a small hole in the cloak and scorching his skin. He gasped for air while trying to get back to his feet he winced in pain.

As he sat up Veron was there, ready to hit him with whatever that was again.

"P-please…don…" Aaron tried to beg him to stop but found it hard to speak.

He could see the cruel grin on Veron's face and red energy flowing around his fingers.

'Was this going to be the end? All for some necklace he just found?'

**Author note: Taking a break for a day to try and fix grammar errors and a few…ok, many weird phrasing choices in previous chapters. I am also working on a cover and a change in the storyline I had envisioned.**