Chapter 38: Calder's Return
A sound caresses Serena’s ears. A door opening, but she can’t see where it is in the darkness of the room. The sound is distant, but it’s undoubtedly a door beyond the one leading into this chamber.
For a minute she entertains the hopeless notion that help has finally arrived. But then she scoffs derisively. They’ve been down here for two days. Who’s going to be able to find them down here?
In the darkness, she can here Pelagios shuffling about. He’s been more alert the last few hours, and a persistent scraping noise had been coming from his direction earlier as well. A scraping that has long since stopped, leaving her to wonder just what it was he was doing over there. But when she would ask, he would just give her another of his vague responses and they would settle into silence once more.
And yet, the sound persists. Hallmar certainly wouldn’t be coming to see them so late, so who could it possibly be? Hope fills her chest. Maybe, just maybe they’ll finally be rescued. The door opens, and the dim light floods into the room.
When her gaze finally adjusts to the light she sees Storm standing at the entrance to their little prison of darkness. Relief floods her system. I guess Pelagios was right. She glances over to him now able to see him a little better with the dim lighting streaming in from the open door. He looks relieved for the most part as he tosses aside a sharped piece of stone. What the hell was he planning to do with that?
Though, truth be told, she never thought she’d see Storm again. And it begs the question as to how Pelagios seemed to know him.
Her question is quickly answered. “Honestly brother, you cannot possibly expect me to come save you each time misfortune befalls you,” says an exasperated Storm as he picks through the keys he had stolen. “And to have dragged her into this as well?” He sighs. “What am I going to do with you?”
But Pelagios simply grins, uncharacteristically in Serena’s opinion. “And yet you still came,” he states pointedly. “And I did not drag her into this.” Then he shrugs. “She landed herself here all her own.”
Storm just sighs tiredly as he finally finds the correct key that fits into the lock. He enters her cell and quickly sifts through the keys again to find the one that’ll unlock her shackle.
A satisfying click greets her ears, followed by the sudden weightlessness of her tail. Storm doesn’t waste a single second, and proceeds to free Pelagios.
He frowns. “Next time I will not come. I have my own responsibilities.”
But Pelagios smiles. “Of course. Thank you.”
Storm just grumbles as he leads them out of the chamber and the passageway leading into it.
As they wait for some guards to pass, they’re suddenly engulfed in a familiar green mist. The guards, seeing this phenomenon, begin to cause quite a commotion out of surprise. The guards move to apprehend them, but they’re too slow. The three’s surroundings warp and flash until they find themselves outside the perimeter of Lord Hallmar’s home.
Before them stands Calder. Serena stares in shock while her companions try to gather their bearings. It’s been so long since she last saw him, but she certainly wasn’t expecting to see him again. And so soon. But his expression is grim, and she can sense something is wrong. Other than the fact that the nightmarish wedding of the century is to begin in a few hours time.
“Sorry to skip the pleasantries darling, but I require you to do something to forestall the coming disaster.”
Before she knows it, she’s nodding. After all, stopping this wedding means saving her and her brother’s hides. “What do you need me to do?”
He chuckles nervously. “I need you to stop the wedding by challenging Delmara.”
Her eyes widen, and her blood runs cold. “WHAT!”
Calder moves about his home like a frenzied crow, tossing things this way and that. Pelagios occupies himself with staring at some strange creature sealed in a jar on one of the many shelves. A creature that Serena can’t be certain if it’s even alive.
Meanwhile, Storm leans against a wall without a care in the world as his eyes follow Calder’s movements with barely any interest. And Serena is just sitting in the middle of it all, occasionally dodging out of the way when some strange objects come flying straight towards her.
They’ve been at this for a good two hours or so, and Calder has yet to tell them what it is he’s looking for.
After three more minutes of watching him she finally asks, “What are you looking for?” Though that’s just one of many questions she has.
Calder doesn’t even glance her way as he stares at a jar he’s picked off the shelf for half a minute before tossing it.
“As you are no doubt aware, I had been looking for Marina all this time,” he replies vaguely as his gaze flits across each individual item on the shelf. “A task I was forced to prioritize since I have been barred access to the kingdoms of the Aqueous Alliance.”
Storm perks up at this. “What do you mean you have been barred access?”
“Just that. I am not allowed entry. It could have something to do with my sister going missing, but I cannot be certain.” Calder sighs. “Then I hear about the mess in Aquaria, which further put my plans on hold.” Then he proceeds to release an angry growl. “There is far too much chaos going on in the sea! Why is it all happening now, and where is that damned pearl!”
And if she thought he couldn’t get any more frenzied, then clearly she was wrong. Calder powers across the shelves, tearing through everything in his way. Messes be damned. Serena can’t even recognize the floor anymore. The once mythical-looking room is in such a state of chaos that all she can do is gawk. Pelagios and Storm don’t seem too concerned as their gazes dart back and forth, always following Calder. It’s quite comical really, but she can’t seem to find the humor in the situation with so much at stake.
“Aha! Found the bloody thing!” Calder cheers as he holds up a small golden crystal pearl triumphantly.
Though Serena fails to see the significance of the tiny object. It looks like a simple pearl to her.
“So...” She moves closer. “What does it do?”
“Golden crystal pearls are one of the rarest of pearls in the entire sea. They are said to harness the power of the fifth element of spirit.” But Serena still can’t understand how the hell this thing is supposed to help them. “Though this little pearl is not so strong. But for our purposes it will be enough.”
Storm chooses then to ask, “And what would that be?”
“Serena is going to use this to trap Delmara,” Calder says as though it’s going to be the easiest thing in the world. And every nerve in her body is telling her otherwise.
“Trap her? Why do I get the feeling that Delmara’s not your typical egotistical, ditzy princess-type with violent tendencies?” Serena has a wary look about her expression as she regards Calder with less than confident eyes.
“Delmara has strong magical power, and will be no easy opponent to defeat.”
At this Serena shouts, “Then why the hell am I challenging her? I know nothing of magic, and I cannot even use it!”
But Calder waves a dismissive hand as he grabs a few more things and stuffs them into a bag.
“Worry not my dear. All you have to do is trap her in the pearl, and we shall take care of the rest.”
“That does not answer my question!”
“Trust me when I say there is a reason you were chosen,” he says mysteriously before swimming out of the chamber. “Come along you lot!” He calls after they stand there idly staring the entrance. Pelagios and Storm glance at each other, then her before leaving the chamber and she’s the last to follow.
Surprisingly enough, they swam all the way to Aquaria much to Calder’s dismay. Unfortunately for him, a servant of Proteus is apparently lying in wait at Aquaria, and Calder decided that discretion was their best ally. Yet it didn’t stop him from complaining about the long swim to get there. Still, if this servant could sense Calder’s magic, which he was certain of, then there was no helping it. Even if Pelagios, Storm and Serena had to endure nearly two hours of Calder’s incessant griping.
Before entering the Aquarian gates, Calder placed a spell of concealing on Serena and had her wrap a scarf around her head and mouth. Only her eyes can be seen, and that’s what Calder needed. He didn’t think it wise for her to suddenly pop up at the Aquarian gates and cause a ruckus, especially if Proteus’s dogs had been planning on bringing her back to the tyrant himself. For the time being, it’s best they think her to still be locked up, and the same goes for Pelagios much to his chagrin. He too, has to wear a covering and he’s expressed his dislike over it many times since they’ve arrived at the gate.
The guards immediately cross their spears over the entrance, causing Serena to roll her eyes at the outdated action.
“That is far enough! State your name and business!” The one on the right says stoically as his dark eyes pierce them with a suspicious look.
“I am insulted. After a long absence I finally return to Aquaria for the wedding, and am denied entry? Are you so blind as to have forgotten the face of Aquaria’s most respected sorcerer?” Calder’s tone is arrogant, and his stance matches it with an imposing aura that causes the two guards to stand rigid.
“L-Lord Calder! You must forgive us; it has been so long since we have seen you last!” The second one cries out hurriedly.
“Bah! I care not, I have lost interest. Let us through and all is forgiven,” he says cheerily and moves forward, but the guards remain firm in their stance. Calder huffs. “What now?”
The second one speaks. “Forgive us Lord Calder, but while you are permitted entry, we know not who these three are and cannot give them the same privileges.”
Calder rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “For the love of the Sea Goddess! This is the Princess Shelina of Tavia, and her two guards! What are you trying to lose your jobs?”
The guards glance at each other in bewilderment, and Serena can see their minds working to figure out where this “Tavia” was.
“It’s a small kingdom in the west! Quit picking your brains and let us through!” Calder growls impatiently, and the two finally relinquish. They pull their spears back and bow their heads apologetically as the four pass by them. Serena releases a few small giggles, thankful for the veil covering her face to conceal her amusement.
Looking around, all she sees are the most beautiful of decorations lining the various shades of aqua colored buildings. The people are bustling about in a most cheerful mood with celebrations occurring on just about every street. They dance and sing, cheer and drink. It’s all so very lively, that Serena almost feels bad that they’re about to disrupt all of the festivities.
But she shakes her head and stares forward with a hardened look. To save this kingdom, and her family what she’s about to do must be done. Otherwise, this whole kingdom will fall to ruin along with the entire ocean with it.
This may not be her world, or her people, but she’ll be damned if she allows it to die along with her family. No, no one will die, no matter what she has to do, she’ll ensure that everyone gets out of this alive.