Chapter Twenty: A Whole Other World

I stared at the note in my hands. It was so unexpected, but helpful nonetheless:

Dear Mrs Juniper Santiago

I know I had said I’d written my last letter to you, but alas, that isn’t the case.

As I mentioned to you before, your case intrigued me. I have, quite frankly, never met a being like you, despite me knowing all. I took it upon myself to see if I could find out more about your mission so that I could give you some starting points.

I have found two locations of grave importance to you, but for your own safety, especially in your condition, I would suggest that you take someone with you. I would suggest you take Maximillan with you. I will also stress that you go to these locations sooner rather than later. I do not know what you will find at these destinations, but I do hope that they can at least be of some help to you.

Safe journeying,

The ‘Flamboyant’ Vaulsino

I was coming to check in on my baby girl when I found the letter. The two locations were scribbled on a separate piece of paper. The one location was on Vista pack lands, while the other location was all the way in Scandinavia.

“What you got there?” my best friend asked me. I figured out that Max secretly likes his Naturalist form more because he’s chosen to stay that way since I’ve had to change as well.

His witch’s name is Millen.

“Just the person I wanted to see! I’ve got coordinates,” I informed.

“Coordinates for?” he questioned.

I fluttered my eyelashes. “Clues to my mission. It’s been suggested that I not go alone to these locations, so I kind of need you to come with me.”

“Put those things away! It’s not like I’d let you leave by yourself in any case,” he said as he rolled his eyes, making me laugh.

“I figured!” I giggled.

“So, where are we headed, and when are we leaving?” he asked.

“We’re going to Vista and Scandinavia. I don’t know about the when part, but it has to be soon,” I replied.

He raised an amused eyebrow. “Scandinavia?”

I shrugged. “Hey! I didn’t choose the place.”

“I know! It’s just such a random place,” he chuckled.

“You’re telling me! Anyway, when do you think we should leave?” I asked him.

“Well, you would obviously have to eat and take a nap before we leave, and then there’s also the dinner, so I would suggest after the dinner,” he replied.

I’d forgotten about the dinner.

“How’s my mom?” I asked. She must be going crazy.

“She’s going crazy!” he said my very thoughts.

“How far is she?” I asked.

“Last I checked, she’d sent your dad and grandad out for some rare herbs. I left the kitchen when she threatened to cook Mark’s toes to feed to the hounds of hell,” he informed, scowling. He looked so adorable.

“Hounds of hell? It’s rough then,” I concluded.

He shook his head. “You don’t know the half of it!”

“And where’s my baby girl?” I asked.

“She’s with your mom actually. I don’t think there’s anyone who’s capable of being mean to Rose,” he laughed.

“She tried to kick her out of the kitchen, didn’t she?” I asked knowingly.

“Rose looked at her with her big blue eyes and your mom’s command disappeared in her throat!” he confirmed.

“I thought as much! Well, let me go and check up on them,” I said before leaving the room.

It was only eleven thirty in the morning when I got to the kitchen to find Rose sitting still at the kitchen counter, while my mother moved around the kitchen like a mad woman. She was cooking so many things. I couldn’t understand how she was keeping up with everything.

“Hey Mom,” I said warily.

“Oh Juniper! Is your father back?” she asked without looking up at me.

“Not that I know of! How are you coming along here?” I asked.

“I’m doing fine, except I really need the things I sent those men out to get,” she said as she stirred something. That’s when I noticed that my daughter seemed to be a million miles away.

“Hey baby,” I said softly as I touched her shoulder. She looked up at me with shining eyes before they returned to normal.

I’m the only one who knows about that.

“Mommy!” she beamed before hugging me. I’d missed her so much.

“How are you my angel?” I asked her.

“I’m okay! How are you and my siblings?” she smiled as she rubbed my belly.

“We’re doing good, but we’re hungry,” I replied.

“You’re allowed to have a sandwich,” my mother warned.

“A large sandwich it is then,” I cleverly played, earning myself a glare. She didn’t want me to spoil my appetite, despite it being morning still.

It’s not my fault I can eat enough food fit for three men.

“Mommy, where’s daddy?” Rose asked.

I hadn’t seen Mateo in three days since we met the Werewolf Royals. He’d left on a mission from them, but last I’d checked, he would be back in time for the dinner tonight. It’s a no-brainer that I was missing him terribly.

“He’s gone on a mission, but he’ll be back tonight,” I replied.

“For the Royals?” she asked. I nodded.

“Have you told him about me yet?” she asked.

I sighed. “I’ll get around to it soon. I promise.”

“Did Mateo confirm that he’d be back tonight?” my mother asked. I was about to reply, when someone else replied for me.

“He’s back already,” the man himself walked into the kitchen. I squealed and jumped at him and he caught me as best as he could.

He laughed before kissing my forehead. “Hello to you too, baby doll.”

“I missed you so much!” I whispered, inhaling his scent.

“I think I can tell,” he teased.

“Alright you two! Not around my food!” my mother scolded.

“Rose?” he questioned when he spotted our daughter.

“Hi Daddy,” she smiled, delight dancing in her eyes. Mateo looked to me in pure confusion, perhaps looking for the answers in my eyes.

The evil girl is cornering me.

“How about I make my sandwich and then we can head up to my room?” I suggested.

“I’ll make you the sandwich,” my sexy husband smirked.

“Well then, I’ll be waiting in my room where my feet won’t swell from standing too long,” I smiled.

“Baby doll?” he called to me as I was about to leave.

“Huh?” I turned, only to have his lips smash onto mine in a sweltering kiss.

“I missed you too,” he said breathlessly on my lips.

I wasn’t aware of the fact that Rose was dragging me away until I stubbed my foot at the foot of the stairs. I hopped up and down, but I couldn’t reach my toe because of my belly, much to Rose’s amusement. We finally made it to my room and I sat down, before she followed. She grabbed my injured toe and started massaging it.

“I’m sorry Mommy,” she giggled.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “What for?”

“I’m not sorry for calling daddy exactly that, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said evilly.

“Why would you do that?” I whined.

“You weren’t going to tell him if I didn’t push you,” she pointed out.

“I so would’ve!” I defended.

“Sure,” she mocked.

“You’re a mean little girl, you know that?” I asked.

“No! I’m a very sweet little angel,” she pouted, making me giggle.

“Now you’ve put me in a corner and I don’t know how I’m going to handle this situation,” I whined.

“Just tell him the truth,” she suggested.

“Which truth?” I cheekily asked.

“The one that isn’t a lie,” she replied just as cheekily.

I shook my head with a smile while she laughed. “I ought to disown you.”

“There’s a sound I haven’t heard in a long time,” my husband said as he walked into the room with a tray. There was a sandwich and orange juice on the tray.

“What sound?” I asked.

“The sound of Rose’s laugh,” he replied.

“Oh,” Rose said as she blushed.

“Now, are any of you going to tell me why you’re here, and why you called me daddy?” he asked as he joined us on the King-sized bed.

“Well, when I met Rose, I instantly fell in love with her. When I learnt that she’s an orphan, I adopted her as my own. When you realized this, you let her adopt you as her father,” I explained.

“So we only adopted her verbally?” he asked.

“No, actually! She’s legally Rose Phyllis Santiago,” I replied. It had become legal two weeks back.

“Oh, alright then!” my mate smiled.

“That’s it?” Rose and I asked simultaneously.

“Uh yes? Was I not meant to agree?” he chuckled.

“Well no, but we didn’t expect you to be this calm about it either,” Rose said the exact words I was thinking.

“I trust your mom, Rose, and I trust you too. You’re the most important girls in my life,” he said.

“What about Val?” we both asked. Rose actually surprised me with that question.

“Well Val too, even though she’s mad at me,” he mumbled.

I scowled. “Still?”

“I haven’t exactly been home to fix things with her,” he pointed out.

“True! But you could always link,” I countered.

He sighed. “She’s shut me out, so that’s a no.”

“Well, at least you’ve got us?” Rose offered with a shy smile. He made her day by putting his arm around her and pulling her into his chest.

“I’ve got you guys,” he agreed with a smile.

For the first time since we adopted Rose as our own, we actually spent time with her. The three of us spent the entire afternoon together and, for the first time, I truly learnt about everything my daughter likes and wants to be. She confided in us that the uncertainty of her future scares her, but that as long as we’re with her, she knows she’ll be fine.

Mateo and I vowed to never leave her.

“Kiddo, you have important guests downstairs!” Boris said as he walked into my room.

“Who?” I asked.

“They said not to tell you, but I wouldn’t keep them waiting if I were you,” he replied.

I nodded and got off the bed before making my way downstairs. When my guests came into view, I smiled the biggest smile ever. King Tristan was standing there with a very dashing Draxlon. The King was dressed casually in white linen pants and a baby blue button down shirt with sandals.

Draxlon on the other hand, looked like the little bad boy he is, although the word ‘little’ wouldn’t be the right word to use. He was dressed in dark jeans, a black T-shirt that showed off muscles I didn’t even realize he had for his age, and black sneakers with a white base. When he saw me, he came straight up to hug me.

“I’ve missed you!” I giggled as I hugged him. He’s as tall as I am.

Let us note just how fair life is for that.

“I’ve missed you too! I only remembered what you told me today, but I didn’t use it because I figured I might as well wait to see you in person,” he said, smiling. His dark purple orbs shimmered in the late afternoon light.

“I’m glad I got some love too,” King Tristan said sarcastically, making me bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“Hello King Tristan,” I giggled as I hugged him.

“Hello Mrs Santiago,” he winked.

“Ahem!” Boris said out loud.

I frowned. “What?”

“Aren’t you going to make introductions?” he asked.

“You know who we are, Boris,” King Tristan pointed out.

“Not for me,” Boris said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. It was King Tristan, Draxlon, Boris, Mateo, Rose and I in the room, which only meant one person.

“King Tristan, Drax, meet my daughter Rose. Rose honey, this is King Tristan and Prince Draxlon of Atlantis,” I introduced.

The two kids had their eyes stuck on each other. It was like the rest of us didn’t exist whatsoever. I don’t even know if mermaids have mates like we do, or if whatever Rose is, also has mates. I knew one thing for sure though - there was definitely something that sparked between them.

“Drax,” he introduced himself to her.

She gave a small smile with tinged cheeks. “Rose.”

“Well then,” Boris chuckled.

“Your Highness,” Mateo greeted the King.

“Mateo,” King Tristan responded with a nod.

“Are you guys staying over? We’re having dinner altogether tonight,” I informed the King and the young Prince.

“We’d love to! Now, is that Gail’s cooking that I smell?” King Tristan asked. I had no idea he knew my mom.

But then again, she is older than she looks, and so is he.

“You always knew, didn’t you?” my mother smiled as she appeared from the kitchen.

“I haven’t seen you in twenty-two years woman!” the King chuckled as he hugged my mother.

“Once you know why, you might rain down fury on some people,” she admitted.

“Is the table set?” I asked.

“No, why?” my mother asked.

“Drax and Rose can go do that while you and King Tristan catch up,” I told her. The two kids blushed at my suggestion.

“That’s a wonderful idea! Tristan has always been the only person I allow in the kitchen,” my mother beamed.

“Well, you go do that then! Rose, you know where the tableware is, so you can direct Drax,” I smiled at my daughter. She sent me a side glare with a clear message.

We’re going to talk about what you just did later!

“Well, we’re going to make out and what not,” I said, grabbing my husband’s hand once Rose and Draxlon had disappeared.

Boris sent me a disgusted look, making me laugh. “Not that I needed to know that piece of information kiddo!”

Mateo and I didn’t really make out, but we did teleport back to Vista to take a very long and relaxing bath together. When we were done, we got dressed for the dinner. My mother had requested that it be semi-formal, so we had to dress the part. We both just dressed in blue before teleporting back to the busy house. Everyone was there already and my mother led us to the dining hall that Rose and Draxlon set up ever so perfectly.

Seriously, it looked like a restaurant here.

“So Mateo, any luck?” King Rixon asked. I thought he would ask him in private, but I guess not.

“Well no. The lead that you gave me leads nowhere, but I’m going to be following up on some other leads that I picked up on the way,” Mateo replied.

“Tristan, I didn’t think we’d see you here,” Leona told him with a smile.

“I didn’t think I’d see you either, but it would seem Marissa is associated with some very influential people in the supernatural world,” King Tristan said as he winked at me.

Domitius chuckled. “We are all connected through her, aren’t we?”

“Marissa is awesome guys! Get with the program,” Max announced, making us laugh. Mateo was staring at him weirdly.

“What is it?” I asked him.

“It’s nothing! It’s just that your best friend resembles mine a lot, except mine had hazel eyes and black hair,” he said. Almost the entire table froze, which went unnoticed by him.

“Which best friend?” I asked.

“Max Halesworth,” Mateo replied.

“Oh, he’s the one who recently died?” I asked. My husband nodded in response.

“I’m sorry,” I said before kissing his cheek.

“It’s okay,” he sighed.

“Millen, Millen Beinvenido,” Max ‘introduced’ himself.

“Beinvenido?” Mateo questioned.

“Rissa’s my cousin. Balthazar is my uncle,” Max coolly played off.

“Nice!” I linked him.

“You know me,” he replied.

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Mateo commented.

“Well, now you know,” Max said, to which Mateo nodded in agreement.

The rest of the dinner went by with lots of stories and laughter. It was really cool to be bonding with everyone, especially with my husband there. When I think about how depressed I was at the thought of not being like this with him again, I smile.

I had the upper hand on fate.

Max sent me a look that clearly read ‘you’d better go and sleep now’. I nodded before yawning beside Mateo. He immediately suggested that we leave. We hugged everyone farewell while my mother made us promise to have the dinner as often as possible.

These people are my family.

King Tristan had to go back to Atlantis, but he left Drax behind. I learnt that mermaids could be out of water for a long time, but had to return every now and then to retain their nature, so Drax could actually stay for a while. He looked more than grateful for the opportunity, and he and Rose really looked like they hit it off.

“I’m still going to get back at you by the way,” Rose whispered in my ear.

“I was getting back at you for what you did,” I reminded.

“Ah darn it!” she pouted, making me laugh.

“Are you going to come back?” Draxlon asked me.

“Yep! I’ll be back to fetch you so that I can show you the pack lands,” I said as I hugged him.

He beamed. “Alright! I look forward to it.”

“Alright Mrs Santiago! Up you go!” Mateo said before picking me up bridal style.

“Take care of my baby Santiago!” my mother warned.

“I will,” Mateo chuckled before I teleported us back home.

“We’ll meet at four A.M.,” Max linked me. It was half eleven at night now.

“Got it!” I linked back.

We had decided to start with the location on Vista. I knew the pack lands quite well, but I wasn’t too sure about the coordinates that The Vaulsino gave me. I don’t remember there being anything there, but I guess that’s the beauty of it all.

“You looked beautiful tonight, mi amor,” my husband purred.

“Put it away,” I groaned when my body started humming.

“Put what away?” he asked in confusion.

“Your seductive voice! I’m supposed to be resting!” I scolded, making him laugh.

“My seductive voice? Do you think about some of the things you say, or do you just say them?” he chuckled.

“The latter definitely,” I confirmed.

“You’re adorable,” he smiled.

“So are you!” I teased.

“Men aren’t adorable, Rissa!” he scolded.

“My man is,” I purred, making him groan.

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Your man huh?”

“Uh huh!” I bit my lip as he stepped closer. Just as he was about to kiss me, I dashed for the closet.

“Oh come on!” he said in frustration.

“I’m supposed to sleep, husband,” I giggled as I stepped out, changed into my pajamas.

“You don’t play fair, wife,” he pouted.

I shrugged. “Too bad, so sad, get over it!”

“So mean,” he said before sticking his tongue out at me.

“Goodnight Mateo,” I giggled.

“You don’t deserve a goodnight from me,” he sulked before disappearing into the closet, with me still laughing at him.

The moment my head hit the pillow, I realized how truly tired I was. Being pregnant with twins at this stage is exhausting really. I faintly felt my husband pull me into his chest and mumble something before I gave into my fatigue.

When my link was nudged at four in the morning, I was beyond annoyed. I didn’t even want to get up, but I did anyway. I changed into a pair of yoga pants, a T-shirt and Mateo’s jumper. Since my pregnancy, his jumpers actually fit and they don’t swallow me whole anymore.

I went downstairs and was about to walk out of the door when I was confronted.

“I knew there was something off about you!”

I turned to find Valentine glaring at me.

Yay!

“Valentine,” I said, deadpan.

“Where are you going so early in the morning?” she asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see how that concerns you.”

“It concerns my brother, so it concerns me too!” she snapped.

“What exactly about this concerns your brother?” I asked curiously.

“You sneaking out to probably cheat on him,” she spat.

Really?

“Is that the best you can come up with?” I asked amusedly.

“This isn’t funny! I should tell my brother!” she said thoughtfully.

“Tell me how that goes,” I said, adding a wink, before walking out.

The early morning breeze wrapped itself around me, and I welcomed it. Valentine is truly becoming a pain in the ass. I understand why she hates me as June, but her hatred for Marissa is unnecessary and childish.

I closed my eyes and tracked Max before teleporting myself to him. He had already looked at the map of the pack lands to find the location. When I reached him, he was standing amongst lots of trees. The trees in this area were taller than any of the ones on the territory, and they were definitely creepier.

“I don’t know what we’re meant to find here. Hell, I don’t even know where to start looking,” he told me as we looked around us.

“Why is it so dark here?” I asked. The skylight wasn’t even shining through.

“I have a bad feeling about this place June,” he mumbled. There was warm air around us all of a sudden.

“I would too.”

Max and I’s heads snapped towards the voice, but there was nothing there.

“You heard that, right?” I asked my best friend warily.

He nodded. “I did.”

“Asking each other won’t get you anywhere really. Coming here was a bad idea,” the voice said.

“And why is that?” I dared to ask.

“Because you might not like what you find,” the voice replied.

“Who are you?” Max asked.

“Roman,” the voice replied in what I assumed is its true voice. It sent shivers down my spine.

I wasn’t sure whether it was good or bad shivers.

The warm air disappeared, and Max and I figured that ‘Roman’ had disappeared. We looked around for clues on what the heck we were meant to be looking for, but we couldn’t find anything that was peculiar.

Max suddenly jumped up excitedly. “June! I’ve got it!”

“What?” I giggled.

“You said it was suggested that I come with you, right?” he asked. I nodded.

“Well, what if the reason wasn’t just for safety?” he asked.

“I’m not understanding,” I admitted.

“June Bug, we’re Naturalist witches!” he hinted.

“You think we’re supposed to use our powers together?” I asked.

“Precisely!” he agreed.

I shrugged. “Eh, it’s worth a shot!”

I created fire from my palms and the whole place brightened. Suddenly, glowing marks appeared on some trees, but that’s when we realized that they weren’t trees at all. Max created water and splashed it onto those ‘trees’. Slowly, their ‘disguise’ started to fall away.

They were poles.

“They’re aligned in some way,” I commented.

“There are five of them. Do you think they form a pentagon?” he asked.

“They probably do. Max, don’t these symbols look familiar?” I asked him.

“They don’t look familiar. They’re Old Naturalist symbols. They just came to us, but we’ve never actually seen them before,” he replied, as he also created fire from his palms. We moved the flames towards the different signs.

“What do you think they mean? I don’t understand them,” I said.

“I don’t know either,” he admitted.

We spent another thirty minutes trying to figure out what the hell we were meant to do. We didn’t even know what the alignment of the poles meant, although I remembered my father telling me that five was an important number for Naturalist witches.

“Dad?” I linked him.

“June? Are you okay?” he panicked.

I was, after all, linking him at five in the morning.

“I’m fine; well not really! I’m on a mission and we’re stuck,” I told him.

“What are you stuck with?” he asked. I like how he understands that this is important, and how he doesn’t question the time we’ve chosen to go on this mission.

“Well, we’ve arrived and we’ve uncovered five poles with Old Naturalist symbols on them. They are aligned in a pentagon shape. We’re not sure what’s supposed to happen next,” I informed him, only to be met by silence.

“Dad?” I called.

He sighed. “Juniper, you need to leave that place.”

“We’ve already been warned before, but we’re not going anywhere,” I replied.

“Who are you with exactly?” he asked.

“Max,” I responded.

“Were you perhaps given another location to go to after that location?” my grandad linked me. I guess we’re having a family conference.

“Yes, why?” I asked.

“Where was this place?” he asked.

“Scandinavia,” I replied.

“And who told you to go there?” he asked.

“The Vaulsino,” I replied honestly.

“Juniper, listen to me carefully. Where you are right now doesn’t pose a physical threat, as much as it does an emotional and mental one. You are more important than we originally thought if that’s where you’ve been led. We’re not sure what you’re going to find there, but we have an idea of what you might find in Scandinavia. Please be careful little one,” my grandad pleaded.

I’m more important than they thought? What on earth does that mean? Instead of helping me, they’ve only made me panic more!

“I promise, but I still don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing here,” I pointed out.

“Max has to shift and knock into all five poles until the symbols glow blue. When they do, you must set them on fire,” my father instructed.

“The poles?” I asked.

“Yes, and it must be white fire,” my father replied.

White fire?

“Dad, what the heck is white fire?” I asked.

“You’ve never created white fire before?” he asked in shock. I’d mastered being a Naturalist witch for the most part, but there were clearly things I was missing.

“No! How do I do that?” I asked.

“Okay, I guess I’ll take you through it. You’ve grasped everything else pretty quickly, so you should be able to get this. Has Max shifted yet?” he asked.

“No! Hold on!” I told him before turning to my confused best friend.

“Max, you have to shift and knock all the poles until the symbols turn blue,” I told him.

“Ah man! Every time you and I do something, I end up getting hurt,” he grumbled.

I considered his words and found that he was right. When we took a walk together, we were kidnapped and he was shot. When the rogues attacked, he was used as bait. Now he has to bash into titanium poles.

I hugged him. “I’m so sorry Maxi.”

“It’s okay June Bug! I’d do anything for you,” he smiled as he hugged me back.

And I knew that he would - just like I would for him. He’s my true best friend above all.

He undressed and shifted, and his wolf had changed color. While it used to be grey, it was now as white as mine. He’d also grown in size. He was huge now. He sent me one last look before taking off for the poles. Despite them being titanium, I could see them shaking.

“He’s doing it!” I linked my dad.

“Alright! You need to create the fire from your palm. For the white fire, you need to think about everything white, preferably a blank painting canvas and focus on that until you are certain that you’ve got it. Once you’ve got the image, focus it on the flame. You’ll know that you’re doing it right when the flame turns green before turning white. If you’re doing it wrong, the flame will turn red,” he instructed.

“That’s it?” I asked.

“Yes, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds Juniper,” he warned.

I had no idea what he was talking about since it seemed easy enough to me. That was until I actually had to start doing it. My mind always floated to other things. For instance, I thought about white roses, and then ended up thinking about how pretty roses are.

It was definitely harder than it sounded.

“Are you getting it?” my dad asked.

“No! This is my sixth red flame,” I said in frustration.

“I know it is frustrating, pumpkin, but try harder. Clear your mind of everything first before thinking about anything white,” he suggested.

Max had already made three of the poles glow blue and was working on the last two. I did as my dad said before thinking about a blank canvas. It took a good forty-five minutes before I was fully focused. The flame in my hand slowly turned green, before it blazed into a bright white light.

“I’ve got it!” I linked my dad just as Max hit the last pole.

“Is Max done?” my dad asked.

“Yeah, but he looks a little exhausted,” I admitted.

“That’s expected, but he’ll be fine in a few minutes. You won’t need him for a while, but he must stay at your side nonetheless,” my grandad jumped in.

“Oh okay! So what do I do now?” I asked.

“Aim fireballs at the symbols on the poles. You have to hit the symbols though,” my dad replied.

To think I thought fireball training was ridiculous!

I fired the fireballs at the poles as Max got dressed. They rattled as the symbols lit up with the fire. Max held my hand, which calmed the racing heart I didn’t realize had taken off. Light shot from the one pole and connected with the other pole, which caused a chain reaction until we were trapped in the pentagon created by the poles.

For a while, nothing happened after that. Max and I were beginning to wonder what the heck was going on, until the ground started to descend. Only the ground we were standing on, in the perimeter of the poles, was moving. I clutched onto Max’s hand tighter as we disappeared into the dark ground.

With his free hand, he lit a fire from his palm.

Around us, as we continued to descend, more symbols became lit. He and I really need to learn more about our ancestors and ancestral language. We waited for the ‘elevator’ to stop moving. When it finally did, the symbols stopped glowing.

“Dad?” I linked him, but I got no response.

“Grandad?” I tried him. Still, no response.

“We can’t link anyone Max,” I whispered.

“Are you kidding?” he groaned.

“It’s just the two of us,” I replied.

“So what do we do?” he asked.

“We make a brighter light,” I told him as I let go of his hand. I concentrated and found it easier this time. The two flames in my palms switched to a bright white.

“How are you doing that?” he asked.

“Focus on something white and then direct it towards the flame,” I told him. He nodded and closed his eyes. After a minute, the flames in his palms changed to green, before they became white.

“Got it! What took you so long?” he smirked.

I glared at him. “Show off!”

“So what now?” he chuckled.

We looked around us until we managed to spot torches on stands planted in the ground. We sent fireballs to them before the whole place lit up. What was before us was not at all what we expected.

“Is this an underground city?” he asked wide-eyed. I was just as amazed.

It wasn’t so much a city as it was a village, except it was underground and there was no sky. It was like some kind of detention area. There was a street, as well as houses and all. It looked like there hadn’t been anyone down here in years.

“We stick together, okay?” Max told me.

“Like you even have to mention!” I said as I took his hand back in mine.

We slowly walked down the street, lighting the other torches we came across. With the white flames, it looked like we’d used florescent lights on the place. We started to see different places like shops and entertainment halls. I started to notice though that the further in we walked, the more used the place became.

“Maxi, I don’t think we’re on Vista territory anymore,” I whispered.

“I figured that out when I saw how clean the windows of that hair salon were,” he mumbled back.

We were screwed!