“You shouldn’t have done that, child,” Shakrah said with a pained look in her eyes. “Where is the stone, Ria?”
Ria was silent.
“He’ll kill you, Ria.”
No matter, Ria remained silent.
Ria suddenly sat up and gasped.
It was only a dream. She thought as she let out a sigh of relief. It was her last night of sleep before the trolls and Ria would enter the Kingdom of Euron to kidnap Princess Nefertiti.
There was no time to allow old emotions to get in the way.
Past: The Guy at the Dance
I nanna went with that Keith guy to the dance. It bothered me a lot. It took a lot of energy to control my powers and emotions. I think what I did was wrong, but I just needed her to get away from that Keith guy.
I knew she was attracted to me.
I knew she could sense me - she was drawn to me.
I think she knows I’m around, even when she can’t see me. I drew her to the ocean with our connection.
It was so powerful.
I’ve never felt anything like it. She has no idea the power she has. She is so weak - trapped like a real human.
She actually drowned.
I almost killed her!
What in Universe’s hell is wrong with me?!
I’m supposed to be protecting her. I used a lot of my powers to bring her back, and thank the Creator it worked. I would’ve died right there with her if I hadn’t been able to save her. I can’t stay away from her anymore.
I must speak to her.
I won’t allow Kah to find her.
Present: Jenna Goes Back to Florida
T here was a knock at the door. Marjorie numbly stood up from the couch to answer it.
“Jenna – hi,” she said in disbelief.
“Hi Marjorie. Can I come in?”
“Yes, yes, of course…”
Jenna’s dark circles and puffy eyes were sad. Marjorie hugged her.
“Jenna, have you heard anything else? What are you doing here?” Margie asked.
“I moved back. I couldn’t bear being away anymore, especially after everything that happened. I’m staying with my parents for a while.”
“Oh…”
Marjorie’s heart sunk. She had hoped that Jenna had come with news of Ina.
“I just wanted to come and say I’m sorry. I’m sorry Ina is missing, and I’m sorry about everything that happened between us.”
“Well,” Margie took a deep breath, “you two were best friends. It hurt Ina a lot when you left, but I know Ina would never hold a grudge. The past is the past. All we can do now is look forward, and hope Ina is found okay.”
“Right. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”
“I will Jenna, thank you,” Margie said with a tired expression.
Jenna hugged Margie and left in a hurry.
Past: Ria and Zech Fight
“W hy would you do that, Ria? Why would you follow me like that? I’m not a child! I don’t need your protection!” Zech yelled.
“I know that. I wasn’t there for you. I was there to protect Ina.” Ria was insulted.
“What?”
“She can’t know who we are, Zech, or who she is for that matter. I’ve been watching her to make sure she’s okay. I think she’s the lost princess. Why else would she be so drawn to us? You should see her energy fields glow when we are near her!”
“You’ve seen her glow?” Zech asked in disbelief. “The lost princess – what are you trying to say?”
“She has to be the lost princess. Why else would there be a mysterious orb that led us directly to her? Someone on Cova must know about her, so they’ve placed the orbs exactly where she is. Someone must be hiding her. I felt the need to look out for her, so I did,” Ria said.
“How can she not know she’s one of us then? Humans don’t glow, do they?” Zech asked.
“No, they don’t. Which is why I erased her memory and powers. She can’t technically use her powers or glow right now,” she answered.
“How could you? Why would you do something like that? And why would you not not tell me? Do you know how dangerous this is? You’ve known all this time! And you put both your lives at risk by doing what you did!” Zech growled angrily.
“I didn’t think you should know for your own good. You know what Kah would do if he found out where she is. He’d kill her. He’d kill us, too,” Ria defended.
“So, you hid it from me? Did you ever plan on telling me? I thought we were best friends?”
“We are. I was going to tell you when the time was right, I suppose. I’m telling you now, aren’t I?” Ria questioned.
Zech angrily began walking away.
“Wait, where are you going?” Ria inquired.
“Home.”
“Zech…”
“Good bye, Ria.” said Zech.
“Zech, wait!”
But Zech had already disappeared out of sight.
Present: Nefertiti’s Vision
N efertiti stood looking out over her balcony.
“Nefertiti,” Salixz called out.
“Salixz? How did you get here?” Nefertiti asked, alarmed.
In an instant, Salixz had already climbed up to the balcony. They stood there, staring at each other in disbelief for a moment. Had the news been true? Was Salixz really there to rescue her? It had been so long that they had seen each other. Salixz smiled with joy, and Nefertiti inevitably ran into his arms and embraced him. They held each other for a long while, and without words told each other how happy they were to be back together.
Nefertiti pulled away to look at Salixz’s face once again, and the tears strolled down her cheeks. Her smile not being able to contain her joy.
“It’s really you,” she said.
“It’s me.”
“I waited all these years and I refused to marry. Did you find my sister?”
Salixz just kissed her.
Suddenly, a troll stabbed Salixz in the back and blood started coming out of his mouth.
“Salixz!” Nefertiti yelled, and woke up gasping.
Past: Awake from the Dead
T he planetary squanter was almost over. Cova would soon wake from their four thousand-year slumber. Meretseger had remained alone for all these years. Working diligently, studying the roots and soil, using all of her energy to build portals across Cova that would connect them to their only hope, planet Earth. Successfully, with great effort, she opened the several portals connecting to Earth. This would allow for easy travel between Cova and Earth when the time was right, and not all of Cova could know of this. Covians still had to be careful. They didn’t know how Earthlings would react to newcomers. The mission for healing Cova would begin soon, but if the people of Earth caught on, it could become a universal disaster. Closing the portals would also mean sure death for both planets, for it became like an umbilical cord. Cova and Earth were now connected through the small pockets in time, or wormholes as some called it, but moreover, there was no turning back. If the portals were destroyed or closed, both planets would break the energy fields, causing a cataclysmic explosion, ultimately sealing their fates. It was a temporary fix for Cova, as the ocean waters of Earth provided nutrients for Cova’s core. However, humans had evolved. They’d evolved so much so, that their technology and pollution was slowly destroying their planet too. Global warming posed a threat to Earth, and in turn, Cova had to be careful to keep the portals from being overused. Each time they were used, pollution from Earth entered Cova. It was a complicated arrangement.
Meretseger had been the only one roaming Cova for all these years – or so she thought. Jeneka had already been aware of the squanter, and she remained awake all four thousand years. Many times, Meretseger was tempted to go and capture both princesses herself! She knew they’d be the answer to saving Cova, and she could raise them herself. Their stones, with the help of their powers, could be buried deep in Cova’s core. She knew taking the princesses herself woul
d be impossible. There was no way of breaking the princesses’ squanters until the planetary squanter had been lifted. If Kah found them once the squanter had been lifted, it would ruin everything. She had to think wisely – not on emotions.
The day finally came. The long planetary squanter was finally over. Four thousand long years of Meretseger feeling lonely and overusing her energy, had caused her to age greatly. But now, it was time to make a plan with ENSA. They needed to capture Inanna as soon as possible. Meretseger was sure to place orbs strategically. She was not going to divulge where they all were. As far as Kah was concerned, he’d think there was only one entry. And it would be far from where she knew Inanna would need to be in order to be safe from Kah’s hands. So, she created several entries in North America. This would give ENSA the opportunity to find the best suitable family for Inanna. The only entry Kah would be advised of, was the one in Egypt. The same original entry point. Meretseger would explain that it was the only point of entry she could save.
It was the only way.
Present: Ina and Zech Awaken
I nanna and Zech were both reunited in a different realm.
“Zech!” she called out running to him.
They hugged each other gratefully.
“Where are we now?” asked Inanna.
“I’m not sure,” said Zech.
They were in a beautiful land, with fresh grasslands, colorful flowers, mountains, and waterfalls.
“Zech, I understand now why Ria is so hurt.”
“You can’t feel sorry for her, Inanna. She betrayed us.”
“I’m not so sure she has. Maybe we’ve betrayed her,” Ina said.
“You can’t be serious right now, Inanna?” Zech asked, insulted.
“I saw all of your past – and your memories, Zech. She cares about us. It was her all along who protected me from being discovered.”
“No, Ina; I protected you. She would’ve brought you straight to Kah if I hadn’t placed that force field!”
“Zech, listen to yourself. Of course, she wouldn’t trust you anymore…your love for me has blinded you.”
“What?” Zech was in disbelief.
“All I’m saying is, I think there is still good in Ria.”
“What power do you have to know that?” he said angrily.
“Oh, is that what this is about? Me not knowing my full powers?” Inanna defended.
“Well you sure haven’t proven you can handle them.”
Zech’s words really hurt Inanna.
“When you’re angry, you don’t listen. This is probably why Ria got tired of explaining things to you. I mean, I saw when she followed you to Arizona. I remember that. I remember her finding me in kindergarten, at the school yard, and protecting me from being discovered! She took my memory away to protect me, Zech.”
“Then why did she put you in this trance, and then leave, huh? Where is she now?! Why would she throw you in the ocean and risk your life –”
“To make it believable? Who on Earth – would understand – or could even wrap their head around all this?! Do you really think anyone would believe any of this was true?”
Zech was silent.
“She could have killed me, Zech. She didn’t.”
“I think we should figure out how to get you out of here, and you should go back to Earth. Clearly, Ria knew what was best for you then. Just go back to Earth, and forget about Cova.”
“And then what? Leave Cova to die?”
“You can finish your duty here, and then go back. Do what you have to do to save Cova, and go back to your own life. Live your life the way you always knew it, the way you were supposed to, the way Ria knew it should be. That way none of us have to second guess any of this anymore, or worry about what’s right or wrong, or who to trust and who not to trust, or worry about who will survive this game.”
“Game? Is that what this is to you? A game?” Ina asked, incredibly hurt.
Zech knew he didn’t mean his words, but he felt it would be the only way to rectify all that had happened. How in any universe could he and Inanna be fully happy? He knew Kah would want his head – there was no way to defeat him and his men. It was only a matter of time before one of them would die. Inanna deserved better than what Cova had to offer. There was no way Zech could escape to Earth with Ina without always running from danger.
“If that’s what you really want,” Ina said, choking back tears. “I’ll do my job and I’ll be out of your way; forever.”
Past: Vanished
T he same night that Inanna had been captured by ENSA and sent to Earth, Meretseger was awakened by a bird’s desperate cry in the forest. Something in the pit of her stomach made her jump out of bed and run towards the woods. Thorns ripped at her dress and ankles, barely letting her make her way through the heavy roots and vegetation. Finally, there it was in the distance. The bird was perched on a low-lying branch of a tree, right above an empty hole in the ground.
“No!” Meretseger cried, kneeling on the ground, taking in two fistfuls of soil.
“Kaahhh!” she yelled out.
Present: Zech Awakens
J ust like that, Zech opened his eyes in Meretseger’s cave. He didn’t feel pain or confusion; he simply opened his eyes and began sitting up.
Salixz and Meretseger stood up quickly and came to his side.
“Brother! Are you okay?” Salixz called as he ran towards him.
“I’m fine,” Zech reassured, looking over to see if Inanna was still sleeping.
“We were trapped in our own minds,” Zech said with a grasping expression, one that showed he was grateful to be alive.
“We?” asked Meretseger.
“Yes; I was with Inanna this whole time, but we were trapped in our memories. I can’t explain it properly.”
“So, she’s okay?” Salixz said in shock.
“What did you see?” Meretseger demanded.
“A lot. I think Inanna saw more of my past than what I could see of hers.”
“Is she okay?” asked Meretseger.
“I don’t know. We need to get her out of there, quick! Being stuck in there consumes your powers; I could feel myself getting weaker,” said Zech.
“Meretseger, Zech and I must find Ria. It’s the only way to break this curse,” Salixz commanded.
“I agree,” said Meretseger. “I’m afraid there is no other way. Without my cane, I am useless.”
Past: Cries in the Night
I t was the middle of the night. Febus and Shakra could hear a baby’s cry. The sound was becoming a nuisance to Febus.
“It sounds like an atavan,” said Febus. “Maybe it’s a trap. Surely, it’s a scheme to get us out of bed and be killed.”
“What if this baby is hurt and needs us?” asked Shakra.
“Are you seriously feeling sorry for the very atavans that banished us? No atavan will welcome a troll into their land. It’s not my problem,” hissed Febus as he turned on his side giving his back to Shakra.
The baby’s cry grew louder and stronger. Neither Febus nor Shakra could ignore the sound.
Angrily, Febus walked to the front door, and cautiously opened the peep hole. Suddenly, the night was silent; it sent chills up his spine. Febus grabbed a club, in case any intruders were near, and he stepped outside. All that could be heard were the sounds of the night. There it was again, a small cry this time. He walked towards the sound. He tried not to make any sudden movements, careful to not get caught in any hunting traps. In the distance, there it was. Something, a small creature perhaps, was shining brightly. It glowed green, then red, then green, then red. Febus had to blink several times before adjusting his vision to make out what he was actually seeing. He approached cautiously, making sure to avoid being seen. It was too late. Whatever it was – it turned its vision.
The piercing green glow met his eyes.
Present: Ina has a Revelation
I na paced. Contemplating all she had discovered. Suddenly, bits and pieces of her childh
ood came to mind. Her head pierced for a moment as she dropped to the ground.
“Recess, fourth grade,” she kept repeating. “Recess, fourth grade…”
Ina knew there was something she needed to figure out. There were memories that were surfacing. Her powers were awakening, and the truth was coming out slowly.
“It was Ria,” she suddenly realized.
Ria was her protector before Zech came along. Ria had made her forget about her powers and who she truly was, but it had all been to protect her all along. If it hadn’t been for Ria, Ina would have been discovered by humans when she was younger. It was also Ria who introduced her to Jenna. But what had gone wrong? Something was still off.
“It was all a set up,” Ina said in disbelief.
Jenna had been Ria’s pawn from the start. Ria was a manipulator, and she did whatever she needed to do to ensure Cova’s survival. Even if it meant sacrificing human lives.
Past: Ria and the Herd Trolls
S alixz had returned from his mission of finding Princess Inanna’s stone from the walls of Euron. Torn, he had spoken to Zech first about all that had transpired. He explained how his heart ached that he could not return to Euron to be with Nefertiti. He knew that if he handed Kah the stone, he would find the lost princess and take over all of Cova. So Salixz decided to go against Kah’s back and leak information to ENSA; by giving them a lead to find Inanna on Earth. It would be the only way to find the princess on Earth, and ensure she wouldn’t die in Kahnroch. Salixz couldn’t bear betraying Nefertiti by putting her sister at Kah’s mercy.
Zech quickly volunteered to take on the mission of finding the lost princess. Of course, Salixz didn’t know that Zech had already been visiting Earth to protect Inanna all along. In his heart, Zech knew Inanna was the lost princess all along. He was deeply connected to her, and it was all he ever thought about. He would protect her with every fiber of his being – even if that meant sacrificing his own life.
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