It was a staring competition, and no one was backing down. Dakar's look was filled with fear, anger, worry, confusion, shock and horror. And Camper felt really downtrodden because of it. His best friend had totally changed from that day he disappeared over five decades ago, and he had succeeded in hiding everything behind a strong facade. How did he manage to stay within a shell for so long?Dakar finally looked away from Camper, tugged the cigar on a small ashtray beside him and placed his head on the wheel with his eyes closed.“Dakar,” Camper called gently. His friend stayed that way for the next one minute. Then he looked up with red eyes, moist eyes.“If you easily found out, then others would know too. Has it been that obvious? Avril, she must be in trouble if someone else already figured this out.” He blurted out hastily. Then his face stilled as if he remembered something horrific.“They paid people to hurt her. Could it be that she's already their target? Oh my God! No, this
“Mother told me that, I couldn't fight the demon on my own. That I needed to choose a helper. Someone to love me and give me the strength that accompanies love. When I fell in love with Avril on the island, I didn't look at her like the curse breaker. I loved her for her. And that love has given me immerse strength. Camper, if I never had Avril at the back of my mind all these while...then I would have broken down to the strong holds of Dojo,” Dakar expressed and his best friend smiled at him.“I'm glad you do have a ray of sunshine in your life, Dakar,” he said and smiled even brighter.“There is a huge journey ahead. One that I'm afraid of. But, I do know I can fight this devil. I won't let it...I won't let it consume me. Never,” Dakar muttered to himself.“Start this journey by bringing your strength closer to you. Don't push Fiorella away. Help her become stronger so you could quickly let her know what's been happening. I feel really bad she's in the dark. But I understand your po
Avril noticed that something was wrong with Ñiraka as they made it to the Ring. It was the semi finals, and she had worked so hard. Dakar was fully against her fighting, but he couldn't stop her. Instead, he decided to help her pass through the stages by training her at night. He had known about the method of the tournament's challenges for a very long time, and could predict the next challenges. After a week of it all, he was proud to see that Avril and Verona had reached the semi finals. Avril had been scared a little, because from here onwards the rules were reduced. Contestants could now use full power, or even mischief to win as long as they were fighting while at it. But Dakar assured her she was more mischievous than them. Besides, the greatest power they had over her was speed and shifting ability. But he had somehow managed to thwart that ‘speed’ aspect in the fighting arena. Their speed would be reduced drastically and they wouldn't be in control of it.“And as for the shift
Nobleman Adolphus stood up and stared down at his crying daughter with a frown.“Would you stop bawling like a baby? Don't disgrace me by being such a crybaby. I am your father and no one loves you like I do. Therefore, if there is anyone that would never hurt you it is me,” he scolded and she glared up at him.“Never hurt me? As far as I know and can remember, no one else has hurt me like you have. You keep blackmailing me, you keep ordering me around, you keep forcing me into a life I don't want to live. If not because of you, I would never have dedicated all my life to a lowly position as a concubine!” she retorted and he bent down swiftly, grabbed her cheeks with his hand through the iron bars and pinned them tightly together.“You ingrate! I have always been there for you. If I didn't love you, you would have been ice now after getting frozen to death on the North Pole where your mother abandoned us!” he barked and pushed her back. She whimpered and held her face. He exhaled deep
Verona led the girl's to the kitchen downstairs and closed the door. The kitchen was a place the Prince hated people entering so he wouldn't easily suspect she had taken them there. Besides, he seemed to be going to stay beside Avril for sometime.“Is something wrong?” Chidi asked as she suspected something awkward with the way Verona was acting.“Girls, Prince Dakar had been acting way too different lately. Do you know he almost killed Ñiraka back at the Tournament Ring? If not for Camper, there would be no Ñiraka right now,” Verona whispered to the girls.“What are you suggesting?” Nana asked.“That those two could truly be connected like we suspected. Right, Verona?” Chidi spoke up.“You are right, Chidi. I highly suspect Dakar and Fiorella are connected. Or that he is even getting bits of his memory back,” she replied.“You know, earlier when we ran to him. I said we were Avril's friends and he didn't even look confused when I mentioned her real name. He instantly knew we were tal
Nana finally reached Avril's house and went upstairs to meet the girls. They were taking out a few things from Avril's wardrobe like dresses and under wears. “What took you so long?" Xiao Wéi asked with a knowing smile. Nana exhaled and entered the room fully.“Nothing.”“Nothing? Can you see yourself, Nana? You look like you just saw the hottest man alive!” Chidi teased and she and Xiao Wéi laughed.“Maybe I did. Just maybe,” Nana said with a shrug.“Come to think of it, that Camper is extremely handsome. And those dimples of his? Killer ones,” Xiao Wéi mused and Nana frowned.“Hey, stop that fantasizing! He already asked me out on a date,” Nana burst in. Everyone's else widened except Verona who looked at her with a raised brow.“I always knew he liked you. I see him around the farm and mill sometimes. And it's only you he keeps staring at,” Xiao Wéi revealed.“You girls do know that Camper is the official womanizer of Remus, don't you?” Verona said as she zipped the bag they had p
Beta Federico looked at his brother and laughed. Nobleman Adolphus did not take that so likely. He frowned and exhaled hot air.“You want me to clear you out of the mess you created?” Federico finally asked after that long, dry laughter.“What do you mean?” Adolphus questioned. Federico drew nearer and glared at his brother.“I know what you did with Ñiraka. I know all the things you've been putting her through. The blackmail, the threats, the evil fruits you've been feeding that timid child right from when she couldn't even speak. You've ruin her life completely, Adolphus! And now you want me to come to your rescue all of a sudden? I thought you always had it figured out on what to do with your own daughter?”Adolphus smiled warily and ran a finger through his hair frantically.“I knew it. I just knew you would use this medium to give me another ‘big brother’ lecture about how carnal you think I am. That's what you always do.”“You have always been narrow-minded, Adolphus. And I hone
The morning of the second day after Avril got wounded, Dakar left his room having his hair down and very unruly. It didn't look like he had had much rest at all. Camper and the girls were hanging around more often after he requested they stayed closed to Avril. The girls cleaned their friend and changed her wears, while Camper acted like a kind gentleman and read her stories she loved from her room. He thought it was ridiculous to disturb Avril in her unconscious state with such noise. But then, he realized he would have done that for her when they were still back at the island.Stepping into the large, smooth floored hallway outside his room, he looked to the direction of Avril's room and heard little chuckles. It was from the girls and he thought they must be greeting her good morning and reporting what that girl, Nana had done which was silly. But he heard a voice that was all too familiar. It was so dim, cracked and weak. But he had heard it so before. With a mighty speed, he spri
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”