Page 122 of Taming the Kraken

“Bella and I will also come with you,” Brian added and patted Ryker’s back.

“Same with Terra and I. Just in case the area is heavily guarded, we can help.” Jasper looked up at Alexa. “Let Derrick know where I am, please.”

“I will.” Alexa nodded.

“We will have to move on foot. If we hurry, we can get there before nightfall.” Ryker watched the others nod their heads.

Mikah walked over to Alexa, who stepped away from Ken so he could tuck her into his arms. “My princess … I know you’re safe with Ken. I won’t be away from your side for long.” He let out an airy laugh. “Gods, I didn’t think leaving you was going to be so hard.”

“I’ll come with you,” Alexa whispered.

“No. Go back to Elysia. Speak with your mother and grandmother. I’ll come back to you soon.” Mikah rested his cheek on top of Alexa’s head. “I love you, Lex.” He squeezed her tight and glanced up at Ken. His silent stare spoke words he didn’t need to voice. He didn’t want to leave Alexa, but this pool of power was also something he needed to see for himself. It wasn’t just about helping Ryker, though that was a big part of it. He also wanted to analyze this himself.

Mikah straightened up and ruffled Alexa’s hair. He felt his chest tighten, and he couldn’t say anything else. Swallowing, he forced a smile and looked at his princess one last time. He took a few receding steps before turning and walking away. He didn’t look back. He couldn’t.

Alexa watched as everyone sprinted away, disappearing into the woods. She wasn’t sure why, but she had a sense of dread deep inside her.

“Lex …”

Alexa turned her head toward Ken and shrugged. “It’s silly of me, huh? He’s supposed to be my protector, but I’m the one worrying about him.”

“He’s very strong. Stronger than even he knows. Come on … we need to speak with your parents. They have news about Mikah, too.” Ken rested his hands on her waist, and while Alexa kept her gaze fixed on the distance where Mikah had disappeared, he teleported them away.

The group sprinted through the thickly wooded area. The tops of the trees were so full it was almost pitch black under the canopy. The dark green and rich brown blurred as they ran in silence. On occasion, a small patch of light would flicker through the leaves. The tops of the trees swayed in the breeze and bent back and forth. Some of the older trees began to groan in protest as the wind picked up.

They reached an area where the undergrowth and bushes were tall and thick, making it more difficult to keep up their fast speeds. Ryker slowed down as they came upon a ravine. The gorge was narrow, and it had steep sides that were almost vertical. The bottom of the ravine was a pile of debris, where the plants in the area had been ravaged by natural forces.

“We go down. The ravine will split into three paths. The path on the far right will lead to an open area that leads to a swamp. That’s where they were making this pool.” Ryker moved to the edge and, putting one foot in front of him, slid to the bottom. Brian held onto Bella, and they both followed suit. Jasper went to do the same to Terra, but she scoffed at him. With a smirk, she jumped down into the valley, nimbly landing on her feet.

“Damn, I love her.” Jasper grinned as he and Mikah jumped down as well.

The group gathered at the bottom of the ravine. The opening on the far right was surrounded on all sides by steep, high walls. It narrowed, and they had to follow the path single file. They could hear the faint sound of water from up ahead. The wind blowing through the ravine amplified the sound. They could smell the swamp as they got closer, but that wasn’t all. A strong, potent smell of brimstone wafted through the air as it became heavy with a suffocating aura.

When they approached the swamp, they all froze. The air was thick, and a dark energy swirled in the center of the swamp. The water was black and stagnant. The foul stench of the pool filled the air, coming from the sinister power feeding it.

Ryker’s lips parted in shock. “It’s …” He shook his head in shock. “It was the size of a puddle before.”

“What are they summoning with this much dark energy?” Mikah’s eyes traveled over the corrupted water, his jaw tense from anger. What type of army were they trying to bring here? Was it already too late to stop it?

Ryker shook his head. “Damn.” He gazed over the dark energy and his hands curled at his sides. This was the last thing he’d warned Fisher about before he lost his memories. “I know now for certain there’s at least one traitor in the Thunders. I have to go talk to Wendy. But we need to keep an eye on this location. We need to see who’s still feeding this pool.” Ryker looked up.

“I’ll stay. Brian and Bella can fly Jasper and Terra back to Elysia. You can fly to the Thunders. I’ll wait here. Levi needs to see this.” Mikah looked up as Brian frowned.

“We can’t leave you here alone.” Brian listened as Mikah chuckled quietly.

“I’ll be fine. I’m a guardian. You guys should go before someone shows up. We need to find a way to shut this pool down. Levi and Ken are the best ones to handle this now.” Mikah watched as the angry energy swirled in a menacing circle. It was definitely a beacon to guide something to it. Whatever it was calling, he didn’t want it to come. But it might already be too late for that. Whatever was coming could mean nothing good.

“I’ll show Levi how to get here.” Brian reached for Mikah’s hand. “Don’t fight. Just hide yourself.”

“Don’t get all choked up on me. I’m not a damsel in distress here,” Mikah teased with a quiet laugh. He could see Brian’s concern, and he smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay out of sight.”

“It’s almost nighttime. We have very little daylight left. I’ll try to hurry, Mikah.” Brian stared at Mikah’s blue eyes and pursed his lips. “Please be safe …” He turned and looked at Ryker. “I’ll meet you at the Thunders after I bring Levi here.” Ryker nodded, and the group started to go back the way they came. Brian glanced back once more and looked at Mikah’s smiling face.

“You’re really ‘dragon’ this out now,” Mikah teased with a white toothy grin.

Brian chuckled and nodded his head. “I’ll see you soon.” He then turned and left, leaving Mikah alone in the swamp.

Mikah smiled and shook his head, watching them until they disappeared. Looking around the area, he saw a spot that was thick with brush. He moved into the dense thicket where he could sit and hide but still see clearly. He’d been in this position for only an hour when he felt the shadows creeping in, the sounds of screeches and strange clicks drawing closer. Then there was something else. A few strong, suffocating auras approached.