The Kingdom

[crimson92]

Max had wasted no time in leaving the room once the King had materialized, deciding that she would have a better time staring at a wall for three hours in solitude than be anywhere near someone who disliked her before really getting to no her. Sparks watched her leave wordlessly before sighing and looking at the king from the corner of her eye.

"I really wish you two would try to get along. I know she said some things that offended you, but seriously, she was just being honest and observant. Plus, she had just arrived and knew next to nothing of the situation other than what I told her. You can't blame her for being a little ignorant...you wouldn't have blamed me, I don't think."

She got up then and walked over to the window, staring out at the darkening sky with the splashes of pink, orange, and yellow on the horizon where the sun was setting. She sighed softly and shook her head, pink and blue locks falling into her emerald green eyes.

"My whole life has been an adventure," she said aloud, watching the maids and servants go about their duties, "and I thought this would be no different. I would come and do what I was supposed to do, get it done, and then continue with my travels. But now...my heart just hurts. It hurts when I think about Vesper and everything he's going through. It hurts when I think about him being hurt."

She sat down in the window seat then, propping her knees up and placing her chin in her hand, "I still don't really know what I'm supposed to do and no one will talk to me, no one will tell me anything...am I just supposed to sit here and wait?!"

She was then silent for a while, chewing on her bottom lip before a hollow laugh passed through her lips, "I would try to go talk to him, but I'm afraid he would just kick me out too. I mean, he already kicked out his own mother, so why would he treat me any different?"

She sighed one last time before turning to King Rajus with a forced smile, "I'm sorry, King, this isn't about me and I shouldn't make it that way...how is his father different now than from what he used to be? I mean, the king seemed genuinely worried about Vesper after he returned from Gunther's, but then things got heated and the throne came up...everything just seemed to fall apart then."

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper fingered the ring in his pocket as he stood in the cabin of the Dancing Nymph watching Rofus and the captain talking. The skies had remained relatively clear since he'd taken the ring off and no matter the emotion he couldn't change his eyes. They remained a deep scarlet red with barely perceptible black streaks to darken them.

"Young Prince-"

Vesper looked up to see the captain dipping his head to him and slightly bowing. He took a shaky breath.

"Contrary to belief, it should only take two weeks to get to the Native Islands. Possibly a few days more to get to the capital."

Vesper nodded and pulled his attention to Rofus who was walking to one of the two doors and opening it.

"Captain Armi has set this spare room for you to reside in on the way there. I'll be bunking with the crew."

He smiled and Vesper nodded slowly, walking to the door and stoping only to dip his head to Armi. He then continued on to enter the room and shut the door behind him, exhaustedly stumbling to the bed. He kicked his boots off but the rest of him remained dressed. He was simply to tired to care. The bed was soft and the rocking was gentle but he couldn't help the tears he felt falling from his eyes. But even if he'd made a mistake, he must stand by his choice. He sighed and fell asleep holding the ring in his fist. Tomorrow he'd start learning about fighting with swords and other non-magical forms, from Rofus.

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Rajus stared at Sparks, searching for the right words and eyeing the rapidly darkening sky.

"Anthony, the king, used to be more... caring. I used to chide him about his heart getting in the way of his rule too often. But it seems as though things have become strictly business... He loves Vesper and would die for him but, he just pushes Vesper too hard. I suppose we should let Vesper alone until morning. He probably just needs time to wind down."

Rajus moved closer to Sparks and sat down across from her on the window seat in the excess space left. He watched her closely and looked her in the eye.

"And it's alright to worry about those things. You're not being selfish. Trust me. I would know selfish."

He frowned at the smile she gave and looked out of the window.

"As far as Max goes though... I simply lose my temper too often. However, unlike when I was alive, I don't get angry over the smallest things anymore... I just made the mistake of admitting my guilt at putting this on him in front of Max. And I'm sorry for the comments I made about her being a witch... and about Vesper's father... none of that had any place in the conversation."

He reached out and patted Sparks' hand smiling bittersweetly.

[crimson92]

Sparks looked up at the king, noted his bittersweet smile that seemed a little forced before she gave a gentle smile herself and put her other hand on top of his, squeezing it a little.

"You know, you do seem a little rough around the edges," she admitted in good nature, "But I can still see how much you care for Vesper and for this kingdom and for everyone in it. You've got a good heart, King Rajus, and you're a good man...I wish I had a father like you."

They sat in silence for a little while when the door suddenly opened and Max was seen in the entryway. When she caught sight of King Rajus, she had turned to walk away again, but Eli's voice calling her name sharply made her stop. She gave a huff before turning back around and marching over to Sparks and King Rajus. Standing in front of them, she seemed as calm and unfazed as ever, but if one were to look at her tense shoulders and her fidgeting fingers, you would see how nervous and unsure she was.

"King Rajus," she started, faltering a little, "I just wanted to...formerly...apologize."

She glanced at Sparks to see the girl smiling encouragingly at her, then she looked at Eli, the dragon nodding his head for her to continue.

"I am harshly honest sometimes because that's sort of what I believe in, but at the same time, I shouldn't have responded to you the way that I did and for that, I am sorry. I hope we can at least be civil with one another, if not friends."

[❖Amani❖]

Rajus eyed the girl carefully and threw his hands up in the air.

"Well in the subject of being honest, you have incredible timing Max. I was just talking to Sparks about you and-"

He swallowed as if tasting a bitter drink and held out his hands.

"And I apologize as well. Never in my life- or afterlife, have I met someone as straightforward with me as you. My sharp temper and your honesty didn't mix I suppose."

He stood and elaborately bowed to her.

"But on the subject of starting over, I must say you are very powerful. I saw what you did to control Vesper. Never before in my life have I seen something so... dark and strong."

He smiled genuinely and looked to Eli.

[crimson92]

Max smiled back and Eli gave a very dragon-like grin at the praise; "Thank you, King Rajus," Max replied with a bow of her own, "I was just grateful to have Eli there with me; he helped by wearing Vesper down and holding him while I restrained him further. Vesper was strong and I didn't want to hurt him, so Eli was our saving grace."
"Thank you, Max. It's always wonderful to hear praise," the dragon said, filling the room with a chuckle.

The light atmosphere in the room was suddenly broken when one of Max's shadow dogs, Troph, appeared next to her, his teeth snatched onto her shirt and tugging it. Max looked down and seemed to be listening to a conversation with him before her eyes widened and she almost seemed to pale. Sparks noticed the sudden change in her and looked at her worriedly.

"Max? Is everything alright?" she asked.

Max looked up at her and opened her mouth, "Troph says...Vesper's gone."

"Gone? What do you mean gone?!" Sparks pushed.

"Gone, as in not here! As in not in his room! As in not in the entire castle!" Max answered, waving her arms around as she looked at Troph again, "He says he went to go see if the prince was alright when a few of the maids and servants went running past him, shouting to each other to find the prince and that he was missing and nowhere in the castle or even on the castle grounds."

Sparks stood and stared at her friend for a long minute before she took off out the door and down the hall to where she remembered Vesper's room to be. She burst in through the door and found the room empty, as if no one had ever been in there. She walked to his bed, touching the sheets lightly, as if afraid if they would disappear along with the prince and shook his head.

"He went somewhere," she whispered, "He went somewhere by himself, probably to try and fix everything...and he didn't even tell me anything about it. He's treating me like a damsel in distress...he's not trusting me!"

She became angry as her fists clenched and the air hummed with furious electricity, the sparks flickering all around them as her eyes began to glow again. Before it could get out of hand, Max stepped forward and put her hand on her shoulder. Sparks turned sharply to her, noted Max's calm, stern gaze and forced herself to relax. Sparks shook her head and looked at the ground.

[❖Amani❖]

Rajus felt a cold panic slipping down his back and he eyed Sparks with shocked blue eyes. He looked back to Max and Eli.

"Take note that I am asking, not telling, but perhaps you could go fetch the Queen Max. I'll get Anthony."

Rajus began backing away toward the door and carefully eyeing Sparks.

"Sparks, I would appreciate it if you go with one of us. It would make me feel better. I'll be able to take you to their hall but we'll have to split up since they have separate chambers."

Rajus looked at Sparks.

"If it's okay with the both of you I kind of need Sparks with me. You put off electrical currents and it seems I use that for energy. Trust me, it takes alot of energy to show myself to the living. What do you say Sparks?"

[crimson92]

Sparks said nothing as she continued standing there.

Feeling that they were losing time, Max spoke for her; "That's fine and I would be happy to oblige with your request. Sparks will go with you and Eli and I will go look for the Queen."

Grabbing hold of Sparks and dragging her over to King Rajus, she made the girl go with King Rajus but not before taking her by the shoulders and shaking her a little bit.

"Listen to me, Sparks," Max started firmly, making the emerald eyed girl look up, "Snap out of it, okay? I know this is upsetting you, but remember your self-control. If you don't, you'll be hurting a lot of innocent people...again."

Sparks blinked then and let out a gust of air that she didn't know she was holding back before she nodded stiffly. Max returned the gesture and let her go, heading out into the hall where two other shadow dogs along with Troph all materialized, each of them panting as they waited for Max's orders.

"Okay, you guys, find the Queen and take me to her," she commanded, the dogs barking and then taking off down the hall, Max following after them.

Sparks turned to King Rajus with a hard look in her eye, "Let's go, your majesty. The faster we find the king, the faster we find Vesper, most likely and the faster I get the satisfaction of ringing his neck for leaving me behind."

It looks as though anger was still very much alive in her blood, boiling her body to the point where she was fighting hard to keep her control.

[❖Amani❖]

Rajus nodded and motioned for her to follow him, taking off down the hallways and heading for the King and Queen's chamber. They took many different turns and twists and the air grew extremely thick with Sparks beside him.

He stopped her as they reached the corridor that the King's study resided on. He looked her in the eyes and put his hands on her shoulders steadying her.

"Now when we get in there I'll nod to you and I want you to send me some of your electricity so that I can use it to appear ok?"

She nodded and he rubbed her arms trying to calm her before turning and walking down the corridor. When he came to a large door he shot Sparks a glance and opened it to see King Anthony bending over some books and reading them. He looked up and smiled through Rajus at Sparks.

"Can I help you young miss?"

Rajus turned to her and nodded. She walked over to the side of him and immediately Rajus felt energy flowing thorugh his veins. He sighed and used it to flood through himself and make his body become thick enough to appear to the King. However, the King dropped everything in his hands and very nearly lost his voice. Rajus simply held his hands up.

"Anthony, its been a long time."

The King stepped closer not believing his eyes. Rajus smiled.

"It really is me. I promise you. But there's something you need to know about Vesper..."

The King froze and looked panicked. Rajus simply sighed and proceeded to explain the situation in a hurry, mindful of Sparks getting tired. When he finished however the King was sitting and wringing his hands. Rajus walked to him and leaned down to look in his eyes.

"Let Sparks and I go find him. We'll bring him back I promise."

The King still sat speechless and shocked but nodded.

"Thank you Anthony. And- I'm sorry about your father. I know you'll miss him."

Rajus back ed up and barely managed to get that last part out. He had the most disgusted taste on his lips and it was hard for him to say that but he knew it would be good for the king to hear.

He then motioned for Sparks to follow him and they left, waiting back at Sparks' room for Max and Eli to show up. When they finally did Rajus sighed and held his hands up.

"You know you are still alive Sparks. You have to rest at some point in time. I can see your eyes drooping. Look, there's nothing we can do right now. It's pitch dark outside. Get some rest tonight. That way we can all think straight when we start deciding what to do tomorrow."

[crimson92]

"I think she already knows what she's going to do tomorrow," Max commented as she and Eli watched Sparks pacing back and forth in front of the bed.

"I swear, the minute I get my hands on him, I'm going to kill him. I'm going to wring his skinny neck dry of any life blood and watch him wither away and die on the ground. Leave me behind, will he? Oh, he's in such hot water!" Sparks muttered under her breath.

Max shook her head before approaching her friend and grabbing her by the shoulders. Before Sparks could do anything, she covered her eyes with her hand and began whispering an incantation, blowing what looked like a cool, blue mist into her face. Within seconds, Sparks was asleep as Max hauled her into the bed and under the covers.

"There, now she has no choice but to sleep," Max declared, watching as Sparks breathed in and out rhythmically, "She didn't sleep at all the night before and has been up all day today. Poor girl, if she doesn't take care of herself, her body will fail."

Max then turned to the king and nodded at him with a smile, "We'll all turn in for the night," she glanced at the door, remembering the beast that was trying to claw its way in, "And we'll all get our sleep. Something tells me that we'll need the rest."

She approached the door and raised her hand, seeming to make odd symbols on the wooden surface with an orange light. It flashed gold before it disappeared and Max turned around again.

"Whatever was trying to get in before will most likely try to get in again. So I put a barrier up to keep it out," she explained when she received a confused look from the king, "We'll be safe for the night."

With that, she crept into the bed along with Sparks, since it was big enough for the two of them, and curled up to go to sleep, Eli curling up on the pillow in the middle of the two girl. The night came and went and soon, the sun was shinning through the curtains. Sparks felt the warm rays on her face and stirred, blinking against the light before she sat up and looked around, confused for a moment as to what was going on.

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper hit the deck with a heavy thud and opened his eyes to see a blade coming straight for his head. He managed to move just in time though and dodged the blade as it chipped up some of the wood. Vesper managed to twist both feet around his assailant's ankle and jerk, knocking the man off balance and stunning him. Vesper blanked out for a moment though, and when he came to he realized he had Rofus's neck pinned to the deck with one clawed hand and another raised, ready to slit his face open. His fangs were pushed all the way out and he felt the raspy hiss dying out.

He quickly jumped off of Rofus and felt his teeth and clawed nails returning to normal. Rofus simply smiled at him and laughed despite nearly being mauled. Vesper simply frowned and looked questioningly at him.

"Young Prince, you don't need me to teach you anything! Apparently your lessons with my brothers have paid off."

He winked and Vesper smirked, hanging his head and remembering all the nights Rofus would take him out for secret training for the King's Men. Training with fighting that was being ignored by his father. Vesper had a scar or two to prove it as well.

"And you have unique abilities too..."

Vesper looked up, scarlet eyes flashing, and turned around to walk back to his quarters. He ignored the curious looks from the crew and pushed into Armi's cabin, nodding to the man as he tapped an odd looking figurine to get it to level out. Vesper stopped and looked at him oddly, grinning when Armi huffed in frustration. He chuckled and paced over to him. He reached out, still grinning.

"Let me."

Vesper put his finger tip on the figurine to get it to stop rocking and slowly let it up, the thing staying still save for the rocking. Armi just released a heavy breath with a smile on his lips.

"Just like Rajus. You have finesse!"

He began chuckling and didn't stop until Vesper gently shut the door to his room and threw his sword to the side. He slowly whistled and walked around a few times, trying to figure out what to do to drive away his boredom. Then Sparks' face clouded his vision and he hissed in frustration. He stepped over to the bed and fell onto it, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I just need time! Time to think and time to get used to this whole different political system... I'm not trying to shut you out Sparks."

He sighed and turned over on his side.

--------------------------------------------------------

Rajus looked back to the sound of rustling behind him and smiled at Sparks' confused face. But a frown soon took that place and he stretched out on the window seat, the bright noon-time sunlight shining through him.

"How do you want to go about this? Where to start..."

He ran a hand through his raven hair.

"I tried searching for him... He's blocked us out. I can't find him..."

[crimson92]

Sparks stared at the king for a moment, still a little confused, before she gasped and her energy was renewed, along with a bit of the fire from her anger.

"We'll find him, he couldn't have just disappeared," she said, swinging out of the bed, jolting Max and Eli awake in the process as the girl shot up and stared around blankly, "Max, come on, focus. We need to find Vesper and figure this thing out. We've already wasted half the day!"

"Well excuse me for still having human tendencies and needing sleep," the girl mumbled as she got out of bed, yawning and stretching towards the sky.

"Well, hurry and wake up! We don't have much time and-"

"Hush, we need a shower!" Max cut her off firmly, shoving her arm none too gently; she wasn't exactly a morning person, "No matter what time period we're in, we're still girls and we still need to shower regularly, now let's go!"

With lots of pushing, Max had Sparks in the bathroom with her and water could be heard running. A half hour later, the two girls emerged from the washroom, showered, smelling nice, and dressed for the adventure they were to embark on. Max was dressed in a tight, short sleeved, forest green tunic with a black vest over it, black shorts that came to mid-thigh, and black riding boots. Sparks was dressed in a tight blue tunic with a brown vest over it, black tights and brown riding boots. Max felt a nudge at the back of her leg and turned to see Troph sitting there with a basket of fruit, bread, and cheese in his mouth. The girl took it while thanking the little shadow dog and handed it to Sparks after taking a pear.

"So...what do we do? You're one of the best at tracking, Max, if not the absolute best," Sparks said to her friend as the king joined them.

Max stopped and thought for a moment, slowly eating her pear before she pointed to Troph, "We can have the dogs pick up his scent from yesterday. It should still be lingering around town and Troph will be able to pick it up."

"Great, let's go."

With that, the group promptly left the safety of the room and ran out of the castle. They followed the shadow dogs all the way to an old, run down carriage that was on the edge of the forest. It looked like Vesper's trail stopped there. Sparks and Max entered the wagon carriage and were met with the sight of an old gypsy woman sitting in front of a crystal ball.

"Hello," Sparks greeted her, stepping forward, "I'm looking for someone and I was told that the last anyone had seen him was towards this wagon. Prince Vesper?"

The old woman looked up then and grinned a black grin at the two girls before nodding, "Ah, yes...the prince was indeed here."

They both smiled in relief; "But I'm afraid he's long gone by now."

"What?...Where did you he go?" Sparks questioned.

"That, I do not know my child."

"Please, you have to tell me!"

While Sparks and the old woman went back and forth, Max noticed Troph nudging his way past the woman and behind the blue curtain she had up. A moment later, the dog came back with some kind of vile with an orange substance inside of it. Max took it discreetly and slipped it into her pouch.

"Alright, well, she doesn't have the information we need. Let's just go," she said aloud, turning to leave.

Sparks looked ready to protest, but a look from Eli quieted her and she turned to leave as well. Before they got very far, the old gypsy spoke again.

"Beware the dangers, young girl," she called aloud, "There are things following you and they will stop at nothing to have you and your dragon friend."

Max snapped back at her and stared the old woman down, only being met with that black grin again. A cold shiver ran down her spine, but she said nothing else and left and the carriage. Once outside and a safe distance away, she pulled the vial out and showed it to everyone.

"What is that?" Sparks asked.

Max shook her head, "I don't know, but it has something to do with Vesper."

With that, she uncorked it and let Troph sniff it. The dog soon took off running, the others following him and they came to a dock with ships being loaded. Sparks and Max looked out at the sea.

"He left by boat," Max said, watching as Troph kept getting closer to the edge and then backing away, as if trying to follow the scent and yet afraid to do so because of the water.

"Then let's get a boat."

[❖Amani❖]

Rajus looked out to the ships and narrowed his eyes at a slightly medium sized one. He nudged Max with his elbow and nodded to it.

"Do you think your shadow friends could help us manage that one?"

He was eyeing it with a sort of longing mixed with an idea.

"Maybe..."

He turned back around and eyed the vial, slowly thinking.

[crimson92]

Max grinned at his request, "Are you kidding me?" she cracked her knuckles, "That's child's play."

She told them to stay quiet and follow her as they made their way over to the medium sized boat. Making sure that no one was in view, Max wrapped a scarf around the bottom half of her face to conceal most of it before she jumped into the ship and made her rounds to see if anyone was on. She found three crew hands.

"Hello boys!" she greeted them, her eyes narrowing as she grinned under the scarf, "Lovely day for sailing, ain't it?"

"Madame, please leave the boat. You're not supposed to be on it," one of the crew members told her as all three advanced towards her.

Max merely stood there before she chuckled and said, "Oh...I think I am..."

The next thing they knew, she was depositing their bodies over the side of the boat, all three men knocked out cold. She hurried the king and Sparks onto the boat before anyone could notice that something was wrong. Her shadows dogs got to work preparing the boat for sail, Sparks doing the same as Max looked to King Rajus.

"Alright, your majesty, we're on the boat and it's almost ready for sail. All we need now is to find a good scent to get to Vesper," she told him, looking out over the ocean at the calm, gentle waves. She grinned an adventurer's grin as the excitement built in her chest, unaware of the possible dangers lurking about.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Not too far away from them, on a boat that seemed to be covered in a dark aura, was a figure dressed in a black cloak. The figure smiled maliciously as a giant beast with blood red fur, wild golden eyes and razor sharp teeth and nails with horns on its head appeared, snarling by the figure.

"That's her...she's the one we want," the figure said in a deep, dark voice as his eyes stayed transfixed on Max.

"But sir, what about the pink haired one?" a little, ugly man inquired as he looked at Sparks with greedy eyes, "She could be worth a pretty penny."

"Yes, perhaps a gold coin or two, but that one, the girl with the dragon, she'll make me rich. Such a girl with beauty and dark power such as hers is rare and in demand. She's our main target, the others are just complimentary prizes," the cloaked figure turned to the beast, "Make sure you capture her, Fang, and bring her to me."

The beast snarled again before he seemed to give an evil grin before roaring and slinking back into the shadows.

[❖Amani❖]

Vesper shot up in bed and tried to catch his breath, chest heaving as the savage images still danced before his eyes. He'd been dreaming of Max and Eli and Sparks, all cornered by a giant beast with fur a similar color to his eyes, teeth longer than his, and claws just as sharp. The roar from the beast's throat as it had lunged for the trio had struck fear into Vesper's heart as well.

He pressed a hand into his stomach and held it there to help alleviate the nausea he felt. But in a few minutes he'd managed to make his way out of his room to see Captain Armi. He looked at the captain, scrutinizing his every move and slightly opening his mouth.

"Captain how far away from Annalei are we?"

Armi looked up, very confused and slightly wary.

"Why? Missing her or in a hurry to get away? Haha!"

Vesper forced a smile and walked closer to him, looking down to the ground.

"We need to head back. I don't want to stay but there's something that I have to do."

Armi's head shot up from the map he was drawing on and looked up to him, incredulous.

"Are you ins-"

"Look, I'm sorry but we have to! There's something wrong! I have to stop it!"

Armi stepped closer to Vesper and Vesper stood still eyeing him and feeling the tips of his teeth growing.

"You have no idea what you're doing here Vesper! I'm not going to stop this ship just so you can run back home to-"

"I'm the Prince! I demand it!"

"Yes! you are the Prince! Not the King!"

Vesper froze, shocked and fury put on hold. But the fire of his anger soon warmed him up enough to step forward and growl at him though long fangs. His dark scarlet eyes flashed with an intensity and he saw the surprised fear in Armi's eyes.

"Well I'm King now. Rajus is dead- has been dead for years now. So I'm crowning myself and taking my place. Now turn this ship around and set your course for Annalei. That,"

Vesper stepped closer and leaned forward inches from Armi's face.

"Was an order."

Armi, frightened and shocked at Vesper's sudden assertiveness, slunk around him and shot out of the door. Rofus came in a few minutes later, frowning and tilting his head at Vesper.

"What in the devil just happened here?! And why do you look so, angry? You remind me of Rajus standing there..."

Vesper looked coldly at Rofus and opened his mouth to speak, feeling his teeth retracting as he did so.

"Good then. Because I've just crowned myself."

Vesper ignored Rofus' utterly shocked face and swirled around to return to his room. He felt a cold adrenaline flooding through his arms and he couldn't help but fall onto the bed, frightened of what he'd just done. He reached into his pocket and produced the ring, slipping it on and lying back again. He closed his eyes and managed to drift off slowly again.

--------------------------------------------------

Rajus smiled back at Max and walked over to the railing of their boat, looking over into the waters. He tapped his fingers on the wood and leaned back up pointing to the dogs.

"Well didn't, uh, Troph is it? Didn't Troph follow his scent here? Couldn't he continue?"

Rajus stepped away as Max let her shadow dog try to catch the scent. Rajus simply dematerialized and reappeared in the shadows just outside of the small captain's cabin. He watched for a few hours as the dog tried to catch a scent and the wind picked up. He was about to say something when he felt a strange tugging in his chest, pulling to the south slightly.

He sat up and took a deep breath before closing his eyes and dematerializing, opening them to find himself standing before a green-eyed Vesper on the balcony of his old palace. Once he felt himself completely there, he stepped forward and frowned at Vesper.

"Vesper! Where did you go! Why'd-"

Vesper looked at him with a scared, empty face.

"I invoked the right of Sovereign Rule, Rajus."

Rajus looked to Vesper and slowly shook his head, holding out his arms for Vesper to collapse into. He held to boy close and sighed.

"By choosing you as my heir I'd hoped to avoid you doing the same thing I did."

He rubbed Vesper's back slowly and closed his eyes.

"Why did you do that?"

Vesper took a shaky breath and pulled back.

"I had a dream. Rajus, something is following Max, Eli and Sparks. Something beastly and powerful. I tried to get Armi to turn around but when he wouldn't I invoked my right... We're only one day away though. Where are they?"

Rajus looked out over Vesper's head and his eyes grew wider.

"We just set out trying to follow you."

Vesper took a breath and put his fingers to his head and moaned.

"Alright, well we've just turned around so keep moving towards the Native Islands. Towards your palace. We could probably meet up in the next day."

Rajus smiled at Vesper and put a hand on his shoulder before puling back and bowing to him.

"Of course Your Majesty."

Rajus wasn't sure what happened after he uttered those words, because within seconds he was back on the deck with Max, Eli and Sparks. He shot out onto deck and flagged Max down. When they met, Sparks was already there and listening.

"Max, I just spoke with Vesper. He must have put his ring back on. We need to keep heading straight. And we need to go as fast as we can. He's turning back... He said something is following us."

Rajus looked to Max and studied her face, keeping the news of Vesper's crowning to himself.

[crimson92]

Max blinked slowly before she nodded her head and looked out over the sea. She walked towards the rail and stood there in thought for a few seconds, Eli looking at her with a knowing glint in his eyes. Sparks approached her, worrying a little with the silence of her friend.

"Max...what do you know?" she questioned, glancing at the king.

Max smirked a little before turning back to the two, "Not much, just that I had a feeling that something was going to be coming after us. Remember those scratches on the door back at the palace? Whatever made those isn't of this world and it ain't dead...I'm just wondering who's controlling it. It's not smart enough to want to go after us with its own agenda."

"So what do we do, Max?" Eli questioned, his tail lying lazily over her neck.

She put her hands on her hips and looked between Eli, Sparks, and King Rajus with a mischievous glint in her eye, "We continue to where Vesper is, but we keep an eye out. Sparks, I need you to electrify the water so that anything coming from below us will get the shock of its life. King Rajus, please tell Vesper to find land and wait for us there. Whatever is after us will most likely try to get us while we're on the water and that puts us at a-"

Before anything else could be said, the ship suddenly gave a violent lurch and Max, Sparks, Eli, and the king went sprawling to the ground. Max stumbled back up with Sparks and looked around, tuning into the sounds around to find out what was invading their ship. Another powerful lurch an the next thing they knew, the ship was wrapped up in a large tentacle, small, disgusting little creatures crawling onto the ship.

"Too late," Max muttered, her eyes turning black as her hands heated up with fire and she shot out three balls of fire from her arms.

She hit the beasts dead on, hearing them scream as they evaporated in a curl of black smoke. More came on board; Sparks' eyes began to glow a bright green as the air hummed and electricity gathered in her hands. She shot her arms out, striking the creatures that were surrounding her before aiming for the big tentacle that was trying to break the ship in half. Max joined her, trying to dislodge the tentacle while her shadow dogs tried to assist her, most of them firing dark purple balls of fire from their mouths. The monster that was attached to the tentacle gave a loud shriek, retracting its arm for a mere second before three more shot out of the water and wrapped fully around the ship. Everyone stumbled as Max unwound Eli from her neck.

"Time to get out of here and take to the skies! ELI!" she shouted, throwing the dragon in the air as three rings of red fire surrounded him.

The rings gathered together to encase the dragon, the ball growing larger and larger and larger still until a full grown dragon was floating in front of them, the black wings flapping and creating massive wings.

"Get on the dragon! Now!" Max commanded, watching as King Rajus helped Sparks onto Eli's back and then followed suit.

Max moved to get on as well when a sudden dark aura encased her and made a cold chill run down her spine. Turning around, she was just able to catch the sight of a hideous beast with red fur before it snapped at her with its large, razor sharp teeth.

"Max! Hurry, get on!" Sparks called to her frantically.

Max moved off to the side and tried to get on Eli, but not before it sunk its teeth into her arm. She gave a mighty scream of pain, but grit her teeth and pulled her other arm back, sending it forward and punching the beast in its nose with a powerful punch. The beast howled and let her go, Max stumbling back as she held her injured arm. The little monsters came after her again and she fended them off by creating three whips out of water and slicing them all into pieces. She was quickly losing concentration of her powers, though, when she sensed a horrid burning in her arm and turned to see that the beast had injected some kind of venom in her arm and it was working quickly through her. Max fell down on one knee, pain coursing through her and making her dizzy. Sparks took this moment to jump down from Eli to help her, creating a barrier of electricity between them and the monsters. The red beast tried to snap at her, but it couldn't get past the barrier. Two shadow dogs appeared and Sparks helped Max onto one of them while getting on the other, both girls taking off onto Eli's back while the dragon finally took flight and was in the air. Max had just enough sense to look back at the sinking ship, her eyes catching sight of a peculiar thing. A ship not too far from theirs and covered in darkness. Max stared at it a little longer to see the red beast appear on the ship right next to a figure cloaked in black.

"Max? Are you alright?" Sparks asked her, looking at her injured arm.

"...Never better," the girl replied sarcastically, already working on evaporating the venom from her arm, although finding it difficult with her deteriorating focus, "Just make sure that Vesper finds land soon and doesn't try to meet us on the water. We're safe...for now, but I'm not sure for how much longer."

She let out a painful groan and clenched her hand around the wound, Sparks starting at the sudden action as she held onto her friend for fear of her falling off.

"It's okay, Max. We'll get there soon and we'll get you some help...don't worry," Sparks told her, looking back at King Rajus, green eyes bright with worry.