"Stop Japheth." I followed him down the stairway. He leapt down the silver metallic steps sending an echo upwards.
Behind me was Joshua and Chris who also wanted to halt his sudden quitting.
"I made up my mind." He spoke while storming away. "You guys can either follow me or stay with that guy."
We all stopped and looked at each other.
"He's our only help against Donavan." Joshua reminded him.
"All we need is Darren." Japheth objected. "Those bastards only have money..."
"And information." Joshua spoke up. "If we all leave now, how would we find the next fury and how would we get there?" Joshua fixed his glasses. "We would just be waiting for that guy to get stronger and be killed later."
"He's right Japheth." Chris agreed.
Silence took over us for a moment. I can see Japheth's thoughts wrestling within his mind. Soon one of them was the victor
"I've already made my choice." Japheth went to his room and gathered his belongings. "I'm not staying in this place any longer, if you need help just call." He walked towards the buildings exit no matter how much we pleaded he left.
"He's gone..." I slumped to the floor.
"He's just angry." Chris pointed out. A nervous chuckle followed, as if trying to cheer us up. "You know how he gets when he's like this."
"Just give him time and a fishing line, he'll be back to normal." Joshua shrugged.
Japheth always took his mind to sea once he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Just throw your issues into the ocean." He would laugh.
Step by step the anger was subsiding, Japheth constantly told himself that this was the right choice. He was no longer in a state of betrayed rage, what now held him back from saying he was wrong held even more power than his temper. Pride was one thing that would be the death of anyone and Japheth was no stranger to allowing one of the deadly sins to overcome whatever logical idea he had. This too was being fought by the urge to turn around and apologize.
From the wind came a small pamphlet, on it was an ad giving great detail of a getaway cruise. Japheth's eyes lit up a bit.
"Maybe I should tell the ocean my problems." He sadly chuckled.
"So he's really gone?" Samuel's disappointment was plain to see. "Well we can't change a man's mind once made up. Still a great job indeed T-Squad, thanks to you one of Donavan's furies are gone and Rusi has joined our cause to help this world of ours."
My teeth tightened, stopping any form of disagreement with joining hands with those guys. A bad taste had taken refuge in my heart from the Rusi.
"For now it is best to rest yourselves for the next mission."
Me, Chris and Joshua looked back at the Greek Institute before going our separate ways. Joshua said he was going to do some training while Chris had a date in mind.
As for me, I had hell to pay for not answering three days worth of text...
Between the yelling of Mom and Amber I couldn't decide which was gonna destroy my ears first. Those two still worry about me, and with the bandages across my face and arms, from the remaining injuries Samantha couldn't heal, the volume increased. Samantha was out for the day so we weren't gonna get any treatment until next month or so.
"What happened to you out there?!" Maternal instincts were in over drive, when she saw my wrapped face. "Look at you, how did this happen?!"
"Well..." I chuckled with an aloof expression. "I fell down some stairs." As cheesy as that line was it was better believed than me fighting monsters and Gods.
"Amber is waiting upstairs." She sighed. "You may not worry about yourself or how I worry about you, but don't break that girl's heart, ya hear?"
"I never thought of that." I reassured her.
Each step made the creaks of my stairs more suspenseful, my room door carried a weight that felt uneasy of what was behind it.
"Wait I live here."
On that notion my hands twisted the doorknob and asleep in my bed was the girl I feared to see, all of those what if's disappeared as I gazed at her under the setting sunlight that perfectly resonated about her. By the looks of her school clothes she came straight to my house after classes.
I huffed and sat in the bed beside her, a quick pull caught me off guard.
Amber had wrapped her arms about me, the smell of perfume was strong yet subtle as we closed our distance it grew.
"I told you." She came closer. "To not go missing like that." A quick kiss then another soon she pulled me in for a make-out section. Her sudden attack made me wince as she didn't care about the wounds I sustained.
"We should stop for now." I rubbed the aching part of my body. "Plus...
Amber got up and walked to the door locking it, those emerald eyes reflected my fearful expression as she got closer.
"No calls or text, even coming back hurt." She got closer. "You also lied to your mother about the stairs..."
"Y...You were listening?" I stammered.
"Darren..." She sang my name menacingly. "Your mother said she was going to the store soon."
As if on cue the front door slammed shut and I heard mother's car leaving the driveway.
"Now we're alone." She kissed me again.
"Amber I'm hurt you know." I smiled nervously.
"Yeah me too..."
After being taken hostage by her, she suggested a date for us now that I had free time from any mission. Even if it's just a regular park, with a few benches and swings, it held a grand amount of memories for us. This was the first place I let her know how I truly felt, I was sweating buckets just by being near her. Once we had taken a seat on a red bench in the center I began to speak.
"I was attacked." I stated.
"I'll do it again if you disappear like that." Amber smiled brightly. "How was Brigaden?"
"A bit..."
I remembered how Japheth leave because of what happened to Mary Ann.
"Well we did stop the person in charge, but we were lied to by Samuel." I grimaced.
Amber listened to my recollection of the events.
"...Do you... still trust Samuel?" Her arms tightened around mines.
"I... I don't know anymore." I sighed. "Japheth isn't going to come back to the institute anytime soon."
"Well." Amber's head was on my shoulder. "You know how Japheth is, he likes to keep to himself when he's upset."
Memories of the past came, we were always an adventurous bunch. Time and time again we found ourselves bickering and most of the time it was in relation to Japheth.
Our last one was when our ages were between 12 and 13. Chris had found a tunnel near his home in the pine forest. A name was being decided among all of us and Japheth didn't agree with the one Chris came up with.
"The Key Keepers?!" Japheth exclaimed. "What about the Black Hat Pirates Club."
"Well I found it!" Chris shouted back. "And I say it's going to be named Key Keepers Club."
"Why don't we vote?" Joshua interrupted.
At the time Japheth's favorite show was based on pirates with super powers and Chris loved a certain game involving a Key as a weapon. Now our biased vote did cause him to be angered cause I was all aboard the Key Keepers Club, even Joshua.
Japheth was pissed and ran into the tunnel eventually getting lost, we followed and got lost too.
"I still recall the yelling I got." I sighed. "Even then he apologized and said he needed to clear his head because of how mad he was. He always enjoyed the sound of the ocean."
"I still think it's weird the ocean calms him down." Amber chuckled. "He reminds me of an old man."
We both laughed.
"Hey... look at that guy." Amber pointed out.
In the distance was a familiar man, his light brown skin covered in sweat. His Arawak attire was also drenched.
"Mike Ol?" I got up.
Once he had me in his gaze, I saw Mike Ol smile and galloped towards me.
"Hoi Darren!" Mike Ol waved. "I was at your home and your mother seemed very nice to point me here."
"How did you..?"
"Your friend... Japheth I think, was going to the docks near our forest and I caught him there." Mike Ol explained. "I was on my way to the Greek Institute to call you, my father has a surprise."
"Japheth is by the docks?" I asked. "Did he say anything?"
"Only your directions."
"Then... I'll see what your father is saying." I turned to Amber. "Wanna see the Arawak village?"
"Really?" She beamed. "I've always wanted to see it, but I heard they don't allow outsiders."
"You are our hero's guest." Mike Ol smiled. "Now I'll meet you there." He took a sprinting position and dashed at a mind boggling speed.
"He... He's fast!" Amber exclaimed.
"So am I." I swept her from the ground into a princess carry. "Hold on tight." I warned.
When her hands clamped onto my black shirt
Trees blurred about us as I dashed through the forest.
"This is amazing!" Amber exclaimed loudly because of the roaring wind. "I'm wondering what else can you do?!"
Soon, my eyes saw the burning campfires of the Arawaks village and before us was an even more sweaty Mike Ol.
"My... My father await in his hut for you." His hunched figure panted. All of the girls of the village surrounded me and Amber. Flowers rained down and took residency on our heads, they were pulling Amber away from me to join their play.
"Hey..." She turned to me for help, but I smiled to let her know it's fine.
Strong smells of fragrance loomed about Ren Ol's tent, he took a deep breath of the pipe lighting whatever herbs he crushed into it.
"Darren." A puff of smoke came from him. "After some time we have finally came to a conclusion of how you'll be rewarded." From behind his body, Ren Ol grabbed an object the size of my forearm from behind him.
"It is an Arawak custom for men of the village to have their own tomahawk." Once he uncovered it. I looked at the wooden handle that choked the sharp piece of metal at the top with it's twisted roots. "This wood is enchanted to hold onto the metal like so. You are basically an Arawak now, so I wanted you to have this."
"Really." I smiled and grabbed the tomahawk.
"Inside of that wood lies the spirits of the trees and metal." Ren Ol Began. "Listen closely and you will hear the name of your weapon."
"Listen closely you say?" My vision was concentrated onto the tomahawk. It's detail magnifying as I dived more. Soon all grew quiet about me, the laughter outside was distant, even Ren Ol's smoke seem to have vanished. It was just me and the tomahawk now in our little void.
"...Jareb..." A small voice called out.
"Jareb?" I looked about my surroundings realizing that my mind was back in reality.
Ren Ol's face lost it's smile, not a trace was left.
"That name..." He furrowed his brow. "Are you sure you heard it?"
"Y...Yeah..." Concern came over me. "Hey what does that name mean."
"It means there is a hard road for you ahead." Ren Ol led me to the front of the hut. "That name has two meanings either a vengeful future or a thorny path in which you must struggle."
Four young girls danced about Amber, bringing their flowers and straw dolls for her to see or keep. Her smile was making me forget the ominous feeling Ren Ol brought up suddenly.
"A hard road?" I repeated inquisitively. "If she's there I can make it."
Japheth took in a deep breath, his surroundings were a bit different than he remembered. Rotten and soaked wooden railings were all about him now, he recalled the polished and smooth railings of the cruise he was on.
"Where am I?" He slowly got up.
His gaze was filled with the seemingly endless horizon where blue stretched in all directions. Realization of being on another ship came to his mind, still he had no clue how he got on this thing. The black wood replaced the luxurious light brown the cruise ship had.
"He's awake!" A voice loudly exclaimed.
"Huh?"
No matter where his eyes went an owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen.
"Still you think he might challenge the captain?" Another exclaimed.
"No way he's strong enough to do so I mean look at him." A female's voice giggled.
Three figures emerged from the wall, scaring Japheth with their transparent figure.
"G...G...Ghost!" He screamed.
"Oh hush now." The female ghost groaned. "Not our fault we're bound to this ship."
"Now, now Sharrel." One of the male ghost quieted her. "He doesn't have the foggiest idea what's going on."
"And what's about to happen." The next ghost howled in laughter.
The three shared a laugh, but Japheth was becoming angered by their jesting.
"Where am I?" He growled.
"No your name is the first answer to our question." Sharrel rolled her eyes. "I'm Sharrel, the laughing oaf over there is Lock."
"And I'm Bhok." The calm one flew about. "You have been caught in the Charybdis whirlpool."
Japheth finally remembered.
He was on the cruise and everything was fine until the ship dived headfirst into the water. His last view was the twisting whirlpool taking him and many of the passengers into it. Before him was a hideous creature that seemed to be the reason for the disaster. Still, he doesn't know what happened after he was swallowed by the twisting waves.
"Charybdis must've gotten full." Lock chuckled. "But still you surviving it is incredibly lucky."
"Charybdis is that monster that caused the whirlpool right?" Japheth went into deep thought, it was soon interrupted by Sharrel putting her hands through him, this caused an uncomfortable chill to run through his body. "Hey! Quit it!" Japheth exclaimed while jumping back.
"Name." Sharrel's face focused on a frown.
"J...Japheth." He sighed. "Now, can you tell me where I am, please?"
"You got manners?" Bhok's eyes widened. "I thought Charybdis ate that too."
The three went into a fit of laughter.
"I'm serious!" Japheth growled. "You guys need to..."
"Your aboard my ship." A man's voice drifted through the salty air.
Japheth was met by a person who was covered in a red attire, his clothing was reminiscent of a pirate's back in the olden days. An eyepatch and parrot would make him ideal for any movie about pirates. Flashily his cardinal clothing carried weapons about it, swaying on his slanted belt that held three blunderbuss, they gave a chime of death as their metal parts kept hitting together from the man's movement.
"I am Davy Jones." He bowed with the courtesy of removing his flashy red hat. "You were adrift after Charybdis attacked your ship, foolish to head in the direction of Atlantis. That matters not, however, you are now a member of my ship."
"Hey!" Japheth scowled I didn't agree to this.
"Once on board your life is mines." Davy walked about the confused young man. "Only way off is to duel the captain." From his side he removed his scimitar. "You can forfeit if you like and live to challenge me another day, however once your dead you'll be bound to this ship, like those sorry lot." He pointed at Lock, Bhok and Sharrel.
"Then consider this duel over." Japheth stomped...
Nothing happened.
"What the..."
The realization of no rocks about caught him suddenly. He couldn't trigger his element without even a morsel of dirt.
"I can't use my power..." His mind was forcing itself to form a plan to help him in this situation. "I... I'm strong already... I can handle him without my rocks."
Without thinking, he ran into Davy with tightened fist.
"He's fast!" Bhok exclaimed.
"Your a pugilist aren't ya?" Davy asked while dodging each attack. "Still your movement is way too sloppy."
Japheth felt gravity shift from Davy's sudden sweeping kick. Another kick landed straight into his stomach removing air from the lungs. Oxygen was depleting making him dry heave for some kind of respite.
"Do you yield?" Davy asked.
"As if!" Japheth leapt up and sent flurries of mixed attacks, first his feet were about slicing the air, then his fist was coming in continuing off of this randomness.
It had no effect however.
Davy kept knocking Japheth off balance or pushing him into a corner, it felt like he was being played with. Each time the ground was greeting Japheth, Davy's words would come as if taunting him.
"Do you yield?" He repeated.
"Yield ya idiot." Bhok giggled.
"Yeah hurry on the sun's about to set." Sharrel rolled her eyes.
"Bed time is in order." Lock went through the same wall they appeared from.
"This damn place!" Japheth growled. "I'll smash this ship instead!"
A cold gust of wind gently went about his neck, Japheth's eyes slowly descended onto the silver steel under his neck. They then turn to the stone face of Davy Jones, his eyes piercing after a deep sigh he calmly asked one more time.
"Do you yield?"
With no choice Japheth slowly nodded and said aloud.
"I yield." He grimaced.
"Good." Davy sheathed his sword. "You are expected to be awake early tomorrow, there will be no tardiness. Well then Japheth welcome aboard."
Another patch of souls were transferred into Donavan, he grabbed the obsidian prison and tried once more. Failure was something he was used to when it came to destroying those wooden bars holding him within that cell.
"So, Mary Ann has also fallen." He sighed. "I felt her soul enter, but she refuses to be reborn again."
"How dare she!" Daphne fumed. "Life was given to her she should be grateful eternally to you!"
"It is her choice to continue to be alongside me." He leaned on the bars. "Still we have Davy Jones and Zhong, they are enough to help me. I don't need a weakling who gives up to emotions."
"Then shouldn't you be rid of Davy Jones as well?" Daphne asked. "He is a man of emotions."
"Leaving power for love is one thing." A smirk appeared. "But using it as power is what drives him, once I'm free he and his wife can live in peace."
"You are right." She neared the dark metal keeping her lover trapped. "Love is such a crazy thing, I can't bear the idea of not seeing you anymore."
Donavan's hand caressed the smooth olive skin of his wife, those emerald eyes only saw him in it no one else can even exchange a glance with her.
"Our place in the world will come." He promised. "Once I am done there will be no such thing as mankind. Before she faded away I did find out about the little pest who has been trying to halt my freedom. Mary Ann said they fought with fire, the earth itself, winds and a certain element I thought had been erased from Mortals history." Donavan sat near the entrance of his cell. "A young man seems to have the power of darkness just as Malvick did all those centuries ago."
"Impossible!" Daphne exclaimed. "The Age of Power is gone after the gods sealed man's potential and that dark art should have died with its owner." Worry ran through Daphne. "You don't think he knows of the firmament?"
"It doesn't seem so." Donavan added. "Strange, but it makes no difference."
"Your right my love." Daphne's arms held him through his prison. "If only our bodies can touch like this."