Volume One Chapter Six The Five Fairy Orbs

 A Quest

Lasta woke in her cell feeling utterly miserable as she looked aside. It had been a whole week since the death of her innocence and how she had completely messed with her mind. She knew that she felt constantly sleepy because of her nightmares but she was no longer bothered by them. In fact she was able to get used to them. Although she had memories of not having them, she knew that she could no longer trust them. So she did not. She had to pretend that they were only put there as a method of Salynara’s to torture her with.

She curled up into a ball. She wondered if the woman that she called ‘mother’ or the man she called ‘father’ were real. Or what about that boy she called ‘brother’ was he real too? Yet, at the same time, she knew that it no longer mattered. She no longer looked the way that she used to do so even if they were real they would not recognize her, either way it no longer mattered.

She narrowed her eyes as she curled herself in further as she hugged her legs tightly.

How old am I?

I don’t know.

What does Salynara want me to become?

It doesn’t matter.

Why is she doing this? Is it just for the tears?

It doesn’t matter.

No. I guess not.

She soon saw the door open. Salynara walked in with a bowl of gruel and gave it to her. She took her spoon and ate it without question. She had memories of better tasting food but she decided not to not to trust them. So she soon forced it all down and passed the bowl.

“We will be packing.” She said as she unlocked the cuffs.

She nodded.

“What do you need to pack?”

“I will teach you.”

“Thank you.”

She followed the fairy witch to her room. She gave the girl three bags. She would point at certain clothes and she would pack them. She did nothing to question her orders or why they were packing. It no longer mattered. She would tell her and Otb when she was ready. She had no motivation to rush her. She was then led to the kitchen and, again, Salynara told her what to pack and she did.

She then followed her to Otb’s room and they walked in. He looked at Lasta and frowned as he put some clothes on. She, again, was told what to pack and packed them.

“What did you say to the girl?” He asked in a mocking tone.

She smiled.

“Nothing. I just made her my slave.”

“At that age!”

“Yes. In fact, it was once quite common in the old days to get children younger than her.” She laughed. 

His eyes widened with shock. He let out a long breath.

“So, mind telling me where we’re going?”

“On a quest to find the five fairy orbs.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. So I hope to be back before the month’s up. Which is why we will be setting off as soon as we can.”

That answers that question.

“Why?”

She smirked.

“You shall see soon enough.”

Lasta finished packing. She then looked at her for her next order. She curled her finger to her and the next moment they were in the kitchen. Where Salynara taught the girl how to cook. She soon served a full English breakfast to the two.

Why do they get that and I get gruel? She thought as she held a jug of freshly squeezed apple juice.

She could smell the scent of the food and her mouth watered as she realised that she liked it. She knew that it would taste good. Yet she had to remind herself that her memories were not reliable. Although she did want some of it, she knew that it was not allowed.

Why? Why am I not allowed that?

She looked aside to stop them from having to look at them eating. She could already feel that she was beginning to be choked by her tears. She knew that would do nothing to help her.

Salynara did not let this escape her. She smirked.

“I need a refill!”

She snapped out of it and refilled the cup. She tried to keep her hand steady. She did all that she could not to look at the food or pay any attention to the smell. She soon refilled the cup.

“Care to kneel?”

She did. She looked at her in her eyes. She cut a piece of beacon and put it in her mouth.

“Eat.”

She did. She ate it as slowly as she could, savouring every salty moment and the toughness of the meat. The swallowed. She felt the tears fall before she could stop herself. Salynara took out a spoon and scraped them off her cheeks and drank them.

“Thank you.” She wept.

She smiled.

“Good girl.”

She soon finished her meal and Otb soon followed. She was given their bags.

“What? No back for her?”

“No.”

“And she carries all of ours?”

“Yes.”

“But she’s only a child!”

“Do you want me to put you in the dungeon again?”

“No.”

She looked aside as she followed them silently. They spent the morning getting to the portal. Then they soon stepped in. 

Avalon 

They arrived in the middle of what looked like a garden of many apple trees. The grass was a healthy deep green and the apple trees were high above their heads. There were a great amount of apples on each branch to a point that they were littered with apples that had fallen because there was no more room on the branches. 

The sky was a strange golden yellow colour and the clouds were a pale yellow that looked almost white. Yet the sun was a bright scarlet. It looked very surreal to look at. Almost like it was from a strange dream of hers that she just could not quite recall.

“Where are we?” Otb asked.

“Avalon. The recorded resting place of King Arthur.”

“Guess we’re not here for him.” Lasta commented.

“No. So come, we are in a hurry. And eat nothing here other than what we have packed.” She instructed. 

She nodded. Lasta looked at the apples. She had memories of how they tasted. Yet even though she remembered that they tasted great, she could no longer trust them. No, this must be some test. Yet, she could not help but be curious about whether or not they were accurate. However, there was only one way that she knew would satisfy this curiosity. She was about to reach out until Salynara hit her.

“What did I say?”

“Sorry.” She said, sullen. 

“For that you will skip lunch.” She snapped.

She looked down in rage and nodded.

“Why? What’s wrong with eating an apple?” Otb asked.

“All apples here are enchanted with a dangerous magic that makes anyone fall into a deep sleep that can only be broken by either a kiss of a lover or a fairy of the Seelie Court and as I destroyed that…”

“Then why did you not say?” Otb snapped. “Also you do realise that she’s a child? She’s probably curious about how they taste.”

“That’s no excuse!”

“There’s no excuse for not telling us either.” He snapped.

She nodded.

“Good point. Now come. We would want to move on. I want to cover as much ground as we can.”

They walked at a fast and steady pace that Lasts struggled keeping up. Yet she knew that the fact that she was wearing the bracelet that Salynara had put in her was the only thing that helped her keep up.

Salynara pulled out a map and looked at it then looked around. She walked onto a narrow path and then traced it to the clearing of the forest. She looked around and then back at the map. She then took a step off the beaten path and they followed her to a group of stones.

There were four in a circle with a stone in the centre. Lasta looked at the writing on it.

“Now what?” Otb asked.

“I guess I-”

“Urm… There’s writing on those stones. What do they say Lady Salynara?”

She frowned as she reached out and touched it. Suddenly she spotted the writing on the stones. She then looked at the other stones and jotted them down too.

“Well…”

She then reached out her hand and took out a knife. Lasta felt herself tense up as the fairy looked at her. She took the girl’s hand and pricked the finger tip. Lasta bit into her lip to stop the pain from getting to her. 

Suddenly they all fell right down. Then they hit the ground. Everything went black. They soon woke in a dimly lit chamber. There were high colloms. With arches holding the ceiling up.

“Now what?”

“Patience!”

Salynara looked at the map and at the writing.

“What does that say?”

“Look. I am trying to think! I need to figure it out.”

“What?”

“Then why don’t you read it out? You never know, we might help.” He suggested.

She looked at him with a frown and nodded.

“The centre roughly translates to

‘I give out life,

Hear many strife,

I hold the head,

Of your dead!’

‘If I could speak,

Truth is all I tell,

Many will come and seek,

And my secrets they sell!’

‘Futile I would bring to all,

Barren not a soul I call,

Yet I have only,

Colloms three!’”

Lasta crouched down as she thought about the words. She knew that it was a riddle. Yet she also wanted to be the first to solve it.

“The other?”

“Oh, they are the words of earth, air, fire and water.”

Lasta looked up, her eyes shone slightly. She was struck with the answer. Yet she wondered why she could not think of it earlier.

“Earth.”

“What?” Salynara asked, confused.

Yet she returned to the riddle and then back at her.

“Oh!”

She smirked and patted her on her head. 

“Good thinking girl!”

She tried to hide her shy smile.

“Thank you, Mistress Salynara.” She said, trying not to get her hopes up.

“Now.” She sang. “Time to get this one done! 

She returned to the map as she laid it down, aligning the symbols to the stones. Then they walked down to where the earth symbol was. They walked down the corridor for a long time. Yet, despite her hunger, Lasta did not dare to complain. She knew better than to. She did not even complain when she felt her legs start to ache. She did not want to be the source of any delays or to inconvenience them as much as she could help.

They eventually came to a door. In front of them was a table. On it were three symbols. As soon as Salynara looked at it, her eyes widened. She was about to close her eyes but then something came to her.

“Otb, go to where it says Arthur.”

He did.

“Girl, go to Gwenevere.”

She did.

She walked to where it said Merlin. Suddenly three seats rose up. Lasta looked at Salynara for answers.

“Sit.”

They did. Suddenly, they were yanked to the circle stone table. Then the floor beneath lowered and spun. Then they were beneath the floor. There was a gap where two stones flung inward. Sealing the top and them in wherever it was they were going. Lowering them in the darkness, not knowing the next time that they would see the light. 

The Orb

They soon arrived at a flat surface. It was in a great and long hallway. Where there was a sun and moon and a star in front of a cage. In it contained a large creature in front of a set of doors with a pair of wings engraved into them.

Salynara looked at the map and then back at the creature. Her eyes then rested in the door.

“The first orb is behind those doors.” She said. “Any ideas?”

Lasta looked at the three symbols.

“It might have something to do with them.” She said as she looked around.

“Can you make any more observations?”

“Maybe there’s a matching tile around here somewhere?” She muttered.

She looked at the tiles in the ground but they were all the same. So she looked at the walls but they were all identical. She returned to the table knowing that there would be some clue there. She checked for anything that could be considered as a secret component of any kind. Yet she was able to find anything. She knew that it must hold a clue of some kind. That was when she remembered that each person represented a name.

Maybe it works in the same way?

“Maybe the symbols represent a person, like at the table?”

Salynara nodded.

“Makes sense.” She commented. “Now who do you think each person is?”

“Well, the star means magic, like Merlin. Now, the sun and moon is what I'm stuck on.” She admitted.

“Well, the sun and moon must represent light and dark, or King Arthur and Queen Gwenevere. So the sun and moon must represent you and me. So, I think that you must be the sun and I am the moon.” Otb deduced.

She nodded as they walked to the gate in that order. They placed a hand on the tile and pushed. The gate opened and soon they were in.

That was when they saw the fire and Lasta dived out of the way. The wings dived down. She looked up to see the two legs in front of her. However, she did not have time to focus upon that. She looked up to see the dragon’s head racing down upon her. She dived out of the way and flicked out a punch into the creature’s eye. 

It let out a roar 

She took a moment to look at the other two for help. However, she could see that by the look on their faces, that told her that they would not. Seeing she would not get any she looked back up and ducked out of the way of another line of fire.

She then looked up and hit the dragon with one of her bags. Then as the dragon cried out she reached into the mouth and pulled out a tooth. She then put down the bags and jumped up to the jaw. She could feel the heat of the fire brush against her knuckles. She still gripped the jaw until she felt the fire stop. She pulled herself up and climbed into the mouth. She thrust the tooth into the flesh of the inner throat. Seeing that it was about to let out some more fire. She let go and dived out of the way as it's throat exploded. Then it fell down.

Lasta looked at the bags and let out a sigh as she noticed that they were unharmed.

“Good work!” They both commented.

She nodded as she panted.

“Thanks. Now let’s get this over with.” She panted.

They nodded as she took the bags, knowing that Salynara would make sure that she would hear about it if she did not, up and over her shoulders. She tried not to show just how tired she truly was. She could feel her hunger has increased too.

Salynara turned to the door. She cut her own hand this time and put her hand to the door. They opened.

Lasta looked up at a sapphire orb that was made from the most beautiful stone that she had ever seen. It glowed a shade of gold. That was soft to the eye. So anyone could look upon it.

“Beautiful!" She whispered. 

“One down, four more to go!” Salynara sang. “Right, time for lunch!”

The Tower Of

The Isle Of Apples

After lunch they all hopped to their feet and walked to another door that led to a staircase. Seeing that there was no other way up, they climbed up and up and up. They soon came to another door with a plaque near the centre.

In My Room Lies A Riddle

This told them all they needed to know as they entered a room with a bed and a single desk. On it was a single scroll with a glass case Salynara walked up to the desk and opened the glass case. She unrolled the scroll.

I Open,

I Close,

To My Master’s will,

All Must Pass Me,

Either To Enter,

Or Leave 

She then looked around then at the other two. She smiled for a moment and read out the riddle.

Lasta looked down and traced the words in her head. Yet she could not reach the answer. So she muttered the words under her breath.

What opens and closes to its master’s will? And what must all pass to be able to enter or leave? Honestly if only there was more that would give me more info. Something that would help give me a clue. Something that would open up a door. Hold on! A door!

“A door.” She said out loud.

Suddenly, beside the door that they came in another door appeared. Then suddenly, the scroll in Salynara's hands lit up with a flash. Then, when the light died down in her hand was not a scroll but a key!

They walked to the door and she unlocked the door. This led to another staircase. They climbed on and on. Soon they arrived at another door with another plaque.

In My Room Lies A Puzzle

They walked in to see another bed and desk. On it was a glass chest. Yet as they looked down they saw a pile of metal shards in. Yet as Otb looked at it he sat at the desk and opened the chest. He then looked at each shard carefully and spotted that they all had a straight side. He placed it down at the edge of the desk. He looked at all the other pieces and soon found one that made his eyes light up. He placed it next to the first one. Only for there to be a light and soon the two pieces were one! He smiled as he looked for more and found one that sat next to that. He did this again and again slowly and carefully until he had a border. He then turned his attention to the other pieces, he took more time this time as he found the piece that sat in the corner of the border. Yet as he went in he took longer and longer until the next layer of the jigsaw was complete. He continued to join piece after piece. Even though it took a long time, eventually the puzzle was complete. Revealing the picture to be of a strange creature with the head of a lion and a tail of a scorpion and large bat wings.

“A manticore.”

“But that looks nothing like a minotaur!”

“‘Manticore’! Not ‘minotaur’!”

That was when the puzzle lit up and turned into another key. Otb picked it up and gave it to Salynara. She walked up to the door next to the one that they came in from. She unlocked it and then revealed another set of stairs. They reached the top to another door with another plaque.

In My Room Lies A Foe,

Revealed By The Puzzle

At this, Salynara looked at Lasta. For the first time, she had concern in her eyes. Yet she knew that this was not out of care. She knew that she was seeing her as a liability. Yet she placed her hand on the door.

“This one is mine. Otb, guard the girl and ensure that she does not get involved. You know how much she likes to play the hero.”

He smiled and nodded.

“Play the hero”?

The moment that they walked in Lasta saw the claw reaching to Salynara.

“To your left!”

She looked just in time to dive out of the way and she flung out a hand to the creature releasing a blast of fire. This caused it to roar out in pain. It then turned to the fairy witch and lounged at her. She dived down and sent a blast of fire at the stomach. It flew back out of the way as it put out the flames.

It then drove the long scorpion-like tail at her. She dodged strike after strike, laughing as she did. She then pulled out a knife and rolled under it and, as she spun up, sliced the tail clean off!

Then the manticore and she flung the knife at the chin. It hit the lower jaw and then the head was set alight. It fell and she let out a breath as the creature lit up and soon there was the key in the flames. Salynara put out the flames and picked up the key. She then collected the blade and gave it to Lasta to clean.

“Wow!”

She smiled as they walked to the next door. She unlocked it and they soon came to the next door. She looked down to the next plaque.

To Get Out, The Treasure That 

Lies In My Room, Break The Spell

They then walked into the room with a bed in with a desk with a key inside. Salynara looked at the case. She tried to open the case but to no avail. She looked around it and then threw it to the ground to smash it but it did nothing. She then knew what to do. She put it back on the table. Then she closed her eyes. She gathered all her will and focused it into opening the case. Yet this proved useless.

“Why is this not working?” She snapped.

“What are you trying to do?” Otb asked.

“Open it of course!”

“Don’t. It says ‘break the spell’.” Lasta pointed out.

“What?”

“The thing that was on the door says to break the spell, not open the box.” She said, not knowing the word plaque. 

Her eyes widened as she realised what she was saying. She looked at the case. She then gathered all her will and directed it at the spell. Suddenly she felt a pushback. At this, she smiled, knowing that this was a sign that she was on the right track. She then forced her will on. She soon could feel the pushback become greater but she knew better than to relent. She continued, not giving in once. She then felt something break and she fell down sweating.

“Look!”

Her eyes rolled and yet she looked back, as soon as she did, she saw the second fairy orb in front of her. She then took it in her hands.

She got up to the next door and opened it, revealing it was a portal. Which they soon walked in. 

The Journey To Atlantis

They soon appeared at a doc. Lasta looked to Salynara as she took out another map. She then looked at a ship. It was made of a light shade of wood and had cream sails like ice cream. She then looked at the doc.

“We need to get on that ship.”

They soon walk to the line, leading to the ship.

“Don’t we need tickets?” Lasta asked.

“Not for that ship.” She said as the line went on. 

They had to wait for a while before they walked onto the deck. They soon find a place to sit and they set off.

As they sailed Lasta felt sleepy and found it difficult to resist the embrace of slumber. She, not wanting to get hurt, tried to resist but her eyelids dropped. She blinked a few times before the wave of tiredness overcame her and she fell asleep.

The next moment she was woken up by a slap. She soon spotted the knife and dodged out of the way

She looked up to see a man with a sunburnt face and brown eyes. She then saw the jolly Roger on his hat and knew what this man was.

She looked at Salynara and saw her fighting and then threw a punch at his loins. He let out a cry as he threw his hands to her and rained down two punches. She went to throw a punch at his throat. Yet he caught her wrist. Her eyes just managed to see the punch before it hit her. She felt momentarily stunned and dazed. Yet she could not have a moment to recover for she felt another punch and another and another. Yet the fourth time she was able to dodge. Only for the pirate to thrust his knee into her gut. With one hand she caught it and thrust her forehead into hot stomach.

Suddenly he let go and she was able to hit him in the loins again and again and again then up into the stomach. She returned to punch him again and again and did not stop even when he was blue in the face. She continued punching the stomach. Soon the pirate started to sweat and dived out of the way of the last punch. He clutched his stomach and let out a projectile of vomit the colour of rum and cherry. She used this to her advantage to hit him in the back of his neck. Then his body burst into flames.

Then Lasta looked for more pirates. She took the dagger of the dead pirate and looked for the next one. Yet she soon felt a blade press against her chin.

“Drop it.” She heard from behind.

She looked back to see that she was looking at the very eyes of the captain of the pirates!

She felt the blood trickle down as he pressed the blade in deeper. She, knowing that she had no other options, dropped the blade. He smiled as she had to take a step back. She felt a hand on her shoulder and gripped her hard. She could do nothing as she felt it become harder and harder, causing her to cry out once it had become painful. Yet he continued. She let out a scream as she felt her body rise. He put away the blade, she swung her feet back, hoping that they would hit something and it did. She dropped to her feet. She then twisted and drew herself up and punched the captain right in his loins.

“Why you!"”

She hit him in the stomach and then the throat. She felt him grip her by the neck. She was soon choking as he lifted her. She hit him in the wrist again and again yet it did nothing! She soon kicked almost instinctively. Yet she knew that the only hope is if she kicked higher. She felt him walk back with her. Yet she could see the ship in the corner of her eye. 

He wants to take me away from here! She concluded. At this, she felt a moment where she relaxed until another thought that came to mind. I let them take me away then, Salynara and Otb will be mad at me and they will hurt me.

At this she thrust the back of her head into his throat. He fell and she spun and thrust a kick into his loins again and again. She did it until foam came out of his mouth. At this she thrust her fist into his throat again and again until he passed out.

She stood there, panting as Salynara and Otb reached her. She suddenly felt ill as she dived to the bags and checked all that was in it. She let out a sigh at seeing that nothing was taken. 

“Did you take these down all by yourself?” Otb asked.

She smiled and nodded, yet she felt too tired to speak.

“Did they take anything?”

She shook her head.

“What were they after anyway?”

“Why don’t you ask them when they wake up?”

She nodded and waited for one of them to wake. The moment he looked at Salynara with absolute terror.

“Tell me, as you did not take anything from me, what were you after?”

His eyes rested upon Lasta.

“Why did you want to take the girl?”

“We were paid.”

“By who?”

“Don’t know. He wanted us to collect her and give her over to him. He wore a purple hood so we didn’t see a face.”

“And how were you going to do that?”

“Don’t know. He told us that he would pick her up the moment we had her away from you.”

Salynara frowned with an angry glare.

“And what was his plan for her?”

“Dunno. Kill her, I guess.”

“Why?”

He was about to open his mouth to speak but Salynara slit his throat. Sye then went on to throw the rest overboard.

Lasta would have asked that was all about it she wasn't far too afraid to. So she looked for something to focus her mind upon. That was when she saw a spire of white. She then saw tubes flying in the sky. Next she saw the city clothed in white. That was in the shape of multiple circles going in the larger outer circles.

“Is that Atlantis?”

“Yes.”

“What a beautiful place.”

“Yes, yes it is!”

Orb Of The Tower 

They walked along the shore for not that long before they walked in front of a white tower. It has a light at the top like a lighthouse. Yet Lasta knew that this was no lighthouse, it was too far from the docs. It had a single white door with a pointed top and a crystal doorknob. With a stained glass window in the centre of a white rose and snow bells at both sides of the rose. The only windows were at the top which surrounded the top, almost like a giant staff with a glowing crystal at the top. With a floral engraving going up from the bottom to the top in a spiral. 

“What a beautiful tower.” Lasta gasped.

“Yes. I guess that it is.” Otb commented.

Salynara raised her eyebrow and smiled as she extended her hand. Then she clicked a few times. Then she groped the doorknob. She twisted and the door opened and they walked in. 

That was when a man walked down. The moment that he saw Salynara he drew his sword and ran to her but she was faster. She shot a shard of ice from her palm and hit his throat. He fell.

They walked to the stairs and another ran down. He drew his crossbow. He fired at her only for the arrow to stop in midair. She looked down at the arrow. He then let another go just as she looked up. This too stopped in midair. He fired another. Yet he fired another at his arrow causing it to split. Yet this caused it to reach further. However it stopped before it even touched her.

She smiled wilder and wilder. Then the arrows in the air turned and sprang at him. And another one fell.

She raced only for another man then he saw the others. He then saw the shard of ice and was able to descend. He pulled out his sword once he reached her. He swung at her but she was able to stop it with her dagger. She pulled out another and with a flick, blood burst out of his throat and he fell. 

She raced on as Lasta looked at the dead bodies. She felt her heart ache as she looked at the dead bodies. Yet, she knew better than to let her emotions show. She had to force herself on. Yet as she looked up, another man fell.

She wished that she could do something but she knew that she was powerless against Salynara. She was too weak and she did not have magic. So there was no way she could do anything! Yet even if she tries, she would only get hurt even further. So she had no choice but to let her drop man after man.

They soon reached the top, where there was a single trap door above them and a single ladder, leading to the door.

She was greeted by seven or eight men. The front pointed their spears at them. Then a shower of arrows fell upon the fairy witch. Yet all fell before they could even reach. The three at the front took this destruction to charge at her. She jumped and as she was about let her magic out until she was hit by the spear. She felt the blood fall down her cheek.

She drew her daggers and blocked the arrows at them. She then flung her foot into his loins of the middle one and he dropped his spear. At this she slid the left dagger in his throat. That was when she saw the arrows heading to her and she parted them. All hit the two remaining spear holders and they fell.

She then turned to the two archers and then set their bows alight. They dropped them, then drew their swords and charged at her. She simply threw her daggers at them and then four fell. Leaving only one left. 

His knees gave way under him. He was shaking uncontrollably. As she walked up to him he let out a scream. He backed away from her. She came closer and closer to him. He felt the stone wall behind him. He drew his dagger and just as he was about to slit his throat her hand gently on his knuckles.

“N-no, no!” He could barely mutter.

She then placed the other hand on his cheek. She leaned in and nudged the hand away. Her lips parted and he felt her lips. He felt something give into this advancement. He then returned the kiss. As the kiss went on he felt his body heat rise and he suddenly relaxed. That was when he suddenly felt his body become cold. Yet he knew that he should pull away but he didn't. He didn't want to. Yet as he continued to kiss her his body became colder and colder. He soon found his energy started to fade away. Yet he could not part his lips from her's. Soon his hand fell. He continued to kiss her. His pulse became slower and slower. Then his pulse stopped. She pulled away. She pulled away. His face was blue and his eyes were frozen in place.

Lasta shivered as she instinctively drew back. Then Salynara climbed the ladder and opened the trap door. She was about to follow when Otb placed a hand on her. She looked back as he shook his head. So she stayed and waited for Salynara. She soon came down with the third fairy orb. She then looked at Lasta.

“What is wrong?”

She shook her head, daring not to say anything. Salynara placed a hand on her cheek like a mother would. She looked at her in a false sympathetic and concerned look, like a mother.

“What is it?”

Her eyes glanced at the dead bodies but closed her eyes. She did not want to look at them nor did she want to give anything away. Yet she heard Salynara chuckle as she felt her eyelids open and she looked at her in her eyes.

“It’s alright! They will be taken care of. I am sure that they have families that will bury them.”

“Did you have to kill them?”

“No! But it was fun!”

At this her tears fell. She took out a flask and collected her tears. At this she tried to stop herself from crying but she could not. She just could not. She could not stop herself from falling either. However this did nothing to stop the tears. They fell until the flask was filled. She put the lid on. Then she took out another. She still did not stop until the flask was half filled. Then she stopped and put the lid back in it.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

She nodded. With that she took the girl’s hand and they left. 

Nobles Seven 

They had travelled for over a day since Salynara had taken the third fairy orb and they arrived at a castle. It was a white structure with stained glass windows that were tinted blue with seven white roses in the centre. They arrived at a set of silver doors who's ends met in a single point. Salynara outstretched her hand and the doors opened. They walked in.

The moment the first man saw Salynara, he walked up to her. Yet upon Lasta’s surprise she saw that it was a fairy.

“Salynara.”

“Hello Janeson.” She said as she thrust an icicle at him. He outstretched his hand and it melted before it even reached him.

“You did not think it would be that easy, witch?” He shouted as he took out a snow white staff with a blue orb at the top.

It lit up and he drove it forward and a jetstream of water flung at her. She dived forward and he flung his staff to her face. She dived out of the way and pulled out a dagger. She drove it to his shins yet moved them out of the way. Then drove the heel of his down upon her. She brought the dagger to his waist before it hit. This caused the blood to spray out of his body. He looked at it with wide eyes. He quickly froze over his wound. He drove the staff down to her left foot. She pulled it up and drove the toes into his loins before he could do anything else. Hwr hand flicked out and he fell.

“One down, six to go.” She sang as she crouched.

She then took a pendant from his neck. She walked to Lasta and put it around her neck. 

“Thanks?”

“No need. After all, I need my hands free.”

“Want me to fight the next one?” Otb asked.

“Sure, if you want to.”

He smiled as he looked at the girl.

“And what about the girl? Do you think that she might join the fun?”

Her eyes widened as fear entered her heart. She looked at them with pleading eyes. Yet the cruel smile on her face told her all that she needed to know. She looked down, knowing that her words would fall in deaf ears.

“Sure, it would be very entertaining, especially as the Nobles Seven made a vow to never harm a child.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I used to be part of this order when I was younger. Yet obviously I was cast out once my true nature was revealed.”

“You must have been after these orbs for a long time.”

“Yes Otb, I have.” She said as they walked on.

They soon met a fairy with blond hair and orange eyes. She was dressed in red and had a crimson staff. At the top was an amber orb.

She saw Salynara and was about to send fire to her when Otb ran up to her and hit her in the face. She fell yet managed to throw her feet at him. He caught both of them. At this she flicked her staff to him. He let go as j dodged the fire. She was about to hit him but he ducked and thrust his hands around her throat and hit it. She fell as he dug his knees into her abdomen and forced the heel of his hand into her chin. He hit her in the throat again and again and again until blood flowed from her mouth. He took the key as her body twitched despite all brain activity ceasing.

He then walked to Lasta and put it around her neck. He gave her a smirk that filled her with dread.

“Her next?”

She smiled.

“Why ever not?”

She bit her lip as she felt her heart sink.

“Please don’t!”

She let out a chuckle. Yet she looked at her like a predator eyeing her prey. She placed a hand on her cheek and raised her face to her.

“Do you remember what I did in the tower?”

She felt her throat tighten. She nodded as she felt as cold as ice. She felt the tightness of her throat increase. She could feel her body shaking as she looked away.

“Look at me.”

Her eyes moved back to her.

“You will fight the next one and I expect you to win. If you do, then I will think about giving you a proper bedroom. Without any tricks this time. Yet if you lose, I will move you to a colder cell. Have you got that girl?”

She looked down for a moment and nodded.

“Seriously? You still have her sleeping in a cell? She’s still only a child!” Otb exclaimed as the next one arrived.

He wore a dark green tunic and had a dark green staff with an emerald orb at the top. 

The moment that he saw the dead body he drew his green staff and then looked at Lasta. 

“You unhand that child now, Salynara!”

She smiled and placed a knife into her hand.

“As you wish!”

Lasta felt a tear fall as she looked at the fairy dressed in green and white. 

“Please she’s-”

Suddenly she found that she could no longer speak.

“Win this fight.”

She bit her lip and ran to him. He saw the dagger and dived out of the way. She slashed and slashed and he dodged and dodged. She then slashed to the right and then to the left as she felt the tears fall and fall. She was soon blinded by them. She thought that this might help but it did nothing as she raced on and on. She soon arrived at his throat. He dodged just in time and then he raced to Salynara. Lasta felt her hand slip to the back of his skull. 

Her tears flowed as he collapsed. Salynara placed a test tube under both eyes. She kept them there as she cried and cried. Each eye released enough tears to fill them both.

“I want my mum! I want my mum! I want my mum! I wanna go home! I just wanna go home! Why won’t you let me go home to mum and dad and-”

She felt her legs give way beneath her as Salynara put a cork in the top of the tube. She then threw her arms around her and stroked the back of her head as she pulled her in closer and tight.

“It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright. Don’t worry, you’ll be alright. You’ll be alright. I won’t ask you to do that very often, I won’t ask you to do that very often.” She whispered as she did, she felt Lasta calm down. That was when Salynara pulled away. 

She collected the third key and put it around her neck. They then walked on and they climbed a flight of stairs. Then they came to the top floor. Where a man dressed in brown, red, yellow and white stood. He has bright green eyes and a grey staff.

“I thought as much.” He remarked as he drew the staff down.

Then the wall next to them flew to the fairy witch. She dived forward. She rolled and flung out a spray of fire that hit him. He hit the ground. Then the floor beneath her opened up causing her to fly in the air. She flung out a spray of ice at him and he drew his staff down in front of him. This parted then and the next moment he saw her right in front of him and she slit his throat.

She soon took his key and flew back to Lasta and Otb. She put the key around her neck and picked them both up and flew over the hole. Then when they landed she gripped their hands as she ran on. She was greeted by another fairy dressed in light. She had a cream staff with a yellow stone on the top. 

The moment that she saw the group, she drew herself up in a fighting stance. Otb walked up to the fairy. He breathed in and out as the crystal shone bright. He closed his eyes as he ran to her. He threw his fist into her nose and the other in her stomach. She dropped her staff and he picked it up. Then hit her in the neck with the head. She flew back and her neck broke as she. Hit the ground.

He then took her key and skuleg as he put it around Lasta's neck. He placed a hand on her shoulder. He looked at Salynara with a smirk. She nodded as he looked back at the girl. She wondered what that was all about, yet she soon deduced that they meant for her to kill again.

His expression changed to look less cruel.

“Look, if you are able to beat the next one, then how about me and Salynara give you something in return?”

“Yes. A good meal and bedtime stories too.”

“R-really?”

She smirked and nodded. She soon took out a dagger. They soon walked on and she spotted a fairy dressed in black and had a black staff. With a black orb at the top.

He looked at the girl. He had a predatory look in his black eyes.

“I see that you are still experimenting on children.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me, do you still keep your secret ladies?”

“Yes. Speaking of which, will I be able to add her to them when she comes of age? After all, she looks like she could be quite the heart breaker!”

“Depends.”

“Depends on what?”

“If you can beat her!”

He looked at her and licked his lips. 

“Alright girl. How would you like to study the utmost darkness?”

“Not very.”

She charged at him and drew her dagger to him. He caught it and then looked at her as she drove a foot to him. He caught that too. This left him wide open and she thrust her free foot to him and hit him in the rib. He let go and she picked up his staff and hit him in the gut. He curled over and caught the staff and drew her in. 

He placed a hand on her forehead and suddenly all the memories of all the torture, misery and pain came to her all at once. All her good memories were frowned out and some were wiped out. She could feel the blood on her hands of those that she killed. She could feel the cuts and bruises from all her battles. She could feel her anger and fear flood her senses.

Suddenly she threw a fist at him. She hit him again and again and again. Yet this did nothing. She then hit the throat. Then hit him in that again and again and again. She could feel tears completely blind her to what she was doing and even after he was blue and dead she still punched. She punched and punched until her mind became calm and her anger and sorrow were satisfied.

She got up and took the key and put it around her neck. As wiped her tears away and picked up the black staff.

“Good work, girl!” Otb exclaimed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She gave him a weak smile.

“Thank you.”

Then Salynara turned to her and hugged her.

“That was extremely well done.”

She felt her smile widen.

“Can I keep the staff?”

“Sure, you have earned it.”

“Salynara! How dare you show your face here!”

“Head Noble. It seems like you are the last one.” She declared as she looked at the staff. In it, was the fourth fairy orb.

“Why you!”

He thrust the staff down. The ground opened underneath her. She flew and was almost hit by ice. She flew out of the way just in time. He threw fire at her but she flicked it away setting a sheath of tapestry on fire. She then threw a large ball of fire at him and then threw another at him. He looked up momentarily shocked. He had no time as he gathered the ice as the fire flew at him. He thrust the staff down and the ice grew out into a wall that protected him. He ran to her and hit up and whacked her with a staff. The staff lit up and momentarily blinded him. He threw a ball of fire at her. She ducked and then, as he struck up, she hit him in the throat. She dug the dagger in further and pulled it out.

She caught his staff and plucked the fairy orb off it. She plucked the key and put it around Lasta's neck. Then they walked to the top floor. 

The King Orb

They soon came to the door at the top. Salynara took all of the seven keys from Lasta's neck. She placed them in their designated hole and turned them. Then the door opened and they walked in.

They were greeted by a man that had a crown of many colours. He looked at them with his deep blue eyes. His hair was white as snow and was long and hung loose.

“Salynara, I must admit it has taken a great deal of guts to show up here. Even more so with a child such as her!”

Lasta frowned. Yet Salynara shrugged.

“What can I say? Now I will be collecting the last fairy orb.”

“Over my dead body you witch!” He shouted as he drew his sword.

She giggled. She then walked to Lasta and put a sword in her hand.

“Kill him.”

Her eyes widened as she looked at her. He ran to the fairy witch and she blocked his blade before he struck Salynara. She felt her body move between her and the King. She went to slide the blade forward, but his power was just too strong.

“How dare you hide behind this child, Salynara!” He roared.

Yet Lasta thrust her foot into his. His power wavered and she almost hit him in the chest. However, with a whip of his sword, he blocked it. He then blocked swing after swing, yet he backed away as he did. She was about to slash up but he was able to block that one too.

“I am so sorry about this.” He said as he pushed her back. 

He thrust his foot into her gut. This caused her to fall and despite wanting to clutch her stomach, her body climbed to her feet. She then went to hit him in his loins but he caught her ankle. She jumped up and went to hit him in the face, yet he caught that too. She clasped her hands and threw herself forward and hit him in his head, making his crown fall and he let go.

She landed and took up her sword and went to slash his throat but he dodged as he slid. She quickly noticed that he was about to hit her in the stomach again. She spun away and threw her blade at his temple however he blocked her blade. He was about to move to his next move until Lasta thrust her hand into his knuckles again and again and again until he dropped his sword and she flicked up. Soon blood flowed rapidly yet it was too shallow to kill him. 

He was about to punch her in her face until he looked at her and he stopped. She could tell that she had no choice but to kill him. There was an inferno of angels in his eyes. He closed his eyes and placed a hand over her head.

“Please keep her alive and send someone to save her!” He prayed as she drew the blade into his head.

He fell and she looked away, not wanting to look at the dead body.

Salynara walked to the throne where she plucked the final orb from the top of the throne. She then put it into her bag.

“Time to go.”

Lasta soon collected her staff and then joined hands with Salynara as Otb held her hand too. They walked into a mirror. They were soon back in Fairyland and they made their way back to Salynara's castle.

There Lasta and Salynara cooked a feast. Much to Lasta's surprise, she joined the table and soon dug in. She felt a tear fall as she could not remember the last time she had tasted something so good.

Yet, as she did, she took out a test tube and collected the tears. She gave the tube to Salynara and continued to eat. She looked at the girl with a smile as her eyes widened. She took the tube and put it into her pocket.

“Thank you.” Salynara exclaimed as she threw her arms around the girl.

“No, Mistress Salynara. Thank you for the meal.” She replied.

As this Salynara placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Come. You must be tired after that meal. Allow me to show you to your room.”