Water flashed a small pocket knife toward me as she sat up. “I had cut it before we landed, if I hadn’t it probably would’ve entangled us or something.” She was already standing by the time she finished so she offered me a hand up. I took it and smiled as I realized she was 100% back to normal, only the hyper Waterstar would’ve known to cut the rope.
We both looked around us; we had landed in a medium sized cavern that was perfectly smooth and circular. That wasn’t the most interesting part though. In the middle of the room there was a large mound that had been blowing air at a high speed, the air that had kept us aloft for so long.
“Whoever made that vent is smart, and obviously prepared for visitors to be…dropping, in.” We both smiled at Water’s terrible joke. “And this place was definitely made by something, there’s no way in hell the walls would be that smooth if it was natural.” She was about to rub her hand across the wall when something slammed behind us.
“Did someone say… hell?” A young man asked from behind me in a really corny fashion. A mischievous grin lit up his pale face. The slam we had heard earlier was a door that I had idiotically missed.
“Surprised?” The guy asked, gesturing over toward the vent. He stopped a few feet away from us, acting as if we were infected with a deadly disease. I could tell that this guy was going to piss me off the charts.
“Welcome, Darkstar and Waterstar, don’t ask how I know your names, I hate explaining things.” Before he could get in another sentence Waterstar butted in.
“Yea? Well I really don’t like listening to idiots. I guess we’re both out of luck though.” Her hand was resting just above her hip and she had a ‘I’m pissed so don’t mess with me’ look on, glare and all. Kind of like the one she was giving Firestar all of the time.
“Feisty eh? Fine by me.” The guy smiled again. This time I noticed that two of his upper teeth were pointed like those of a vampire you head about that plague the dead lands in Calsh.
I could tell that if I didn’t do something soon, a fight would start between them. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good fight like the next dude, but this guy creeped the hell out of me. “Wait, what’s up with the vents?” I asked, trying to cause a distraction. Really subtle, Darkstar. Water shot a glare at me since I had interrupted her fun.
“Oh? That?” The man looked over to the raised platform. “It’s just to give me time to get over here once the trip wire has been activated.” He flashed another smile at us. I think he had a spasm in his cheek or something.
“Trip wire?” Water questioned, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t remember tripping over anything.”
“Well, you didn’t. Darkstar was in the lead, was he not?” When I was about to say that I hadn’t tripped over anything either, the man held up a hand. “And yes, I know you didn’t trip either. My wire is like a spider’s web, it connects to the wall about six inches up and when someone walks into it the wire attaches itself to their leg. I can track the person’s movement along with stalling them with my vents because of the microchips on the wire. I invented it myself.”
Water and I skeptically looked at him. “Don’t believe me? Just check your left leg.” The man was grinning again, and that smile still creeped the hell outta of me.
I glanced at Water and she nodded to go ahead and check. I bent down and slid my hand down my lower left leg. A few inches above my ankle I felt something silky. Gently, I pulled it off my leg and sure enough, it was a trip wire, almost as good as one of Icestar’s. Almost.
“Surprised?” The man asked with laughter in his voice. “But no more questions, I think it’s about time to have some fun. Come here, boy.”
The man shot toward me at a ridiculously fast speed. I felt his arms grab my shoulders and he pulled me back to where he had originally been standing. My heart fluttered in panic; this most definitely was not good.
“DARKSTAR!” Water shouted as she started running toward me. Before she had taken seven steps, flames erupted around her.
She was trapped and I was probably going to die.
Chapter 6: Storm Brewing
FIRESTAR
“Are you in or not?” I asked Icestar, who was currently disassembling a laser they had found at the NOPCW’s base. Apparently Arctic had bribed him with the promise of machinery.
“You want me to defy Arctic, sneak out of HQ, then follow you into a death-zone?” Ice’s silver eyes pierced me as he considered my question. “I guess I’m in; Water isn’t just your and Dark’s friend, she’s quite loved here.” He paused for a second and I wondered if there was any hidden meaning there. You could never tell with Ice; he always seemed so isolated. “Who else is coming?”
“I’m not sure, no more than four of us total. I was thinking maybe Foreststar; he seems rebellious enough to join in.” The rebellious comment was only made off of my impression of his hair, which was a bit strange even for Star Rebellion.
“You did not just say that a Rebel was rebellious? That has got to be the craziest idea ever.” Ice had to add a smile at the end for me to realize he was joking. It seemed strange coming from Ice, but I liked it. We had talked a few times in the past, but he was more of Dark's friend than mine.
“Haha, yea it is a little ironic,” I said, a small smile joining his. “We’ll also need someone who has light powers. Things might get a little dark, mind the pun. Know anyone like that?”
Icestar chuckled at my poor excuse for a joke. “What about Sunstar? She’s recently graduated the Academy and is quite adept with her special. Her primary power is healing, though she has a quick temper.”
I cracked another smile. “Sure, she sounds great. Can you talk to her? I’ll ask Forest.”
Icestar nodded, reverting to his usual silent self. I gave the mechanic a final nod before leaving the garage. “One down, two to go.” I muttered. I was going to get in so much trouble for this, but hey, anything’s worth it when it comes to saving my friends.
While I was lost in thought I had somehow ended up in the mess hall. I could smell soup and chicken being cooked in the back along with Italian bread. Sometimes I wish I had been put on the ambassador team instead of the Mystic team; only ambassadors traveled to Earth and could experience the prosperity there, where Italian bread was common. I didn't even know what Italian meant, really. However, I wouldn’t give up either Water or Dark for anything.
I let a small sigh leave my lips before I looked at the large clock. It was half an hour before dinner would be served. My stomach growled at the thought of waiting even that long. “Shut up,” I growled back.
“Talking to yourself now?” I spun around, not realizing I wasn't alone. It wasn’t good that people were managing to sneak up on me now, I needed to be more aware. I blame the stomach.
I could feel the tension in my face relax as I recognized who the voice belonged to. “Yo, Forest. I was looking for you actually.” Foreststar was leaning against the door frame; the setting sun contrasting brilliantly with his black hair. It's like he knew it, too, judging from the expression on his face. Somehow he managed to look cocky without effort.
“I’m sure you were,” he said with a friendly snicker as he pushed himself off of the door frame. “Have you heard the expression ‘calm before the storm’? It’s quite popular on Earth.” Forest pushed a part of his green bangs out of his face, but the hair only slightly moved. I’d bet that he had gelled it there. I’d have to ask him about it sometime; the style was pretty cool. Not as cool as my pony tail.
“No, I haven’t. Are you an ambassador?” Curiosity spiked through me.
“Yup, it’s alright, kinda boring when we aren’t traveling though, we just sit here twiddling our thumbs.”
“Sounds painful. Why mention calm before the storm? Something up?” Something would be once I asked him to help me.
Forest looked up, feigning surprise. “There’s supposed to be a nasty storm coming, nasty even for us. I find it ironic that it’s such a nice day today.”
My head
jerked up as he mentioned the storm. I had a moment of deja vu as I remembered telling Water that a storm was probably coming. “Crap!” I slammed my fist against a nearby table. A thin crack erupted underneath my hand. That escalated quickly, but you know. Rebels and extremists.
“Woah dude, calm down…what’s wrong?” Forest was backing away from me with his hands in the air. There went his cocky expression.
“How the hell did I forget the storm!” My breath was coming quickly. “Come on, I need to tell you something,” I dropped my voice as I grabbed Forest’s arm and started dragging him out the door.
We ran the entire way until we had reached the dorms. “Slow down or we’ll look suspicious,” Forest said from behind me. His breath was coming in huge gasps; I had a feeling that he wasn’t much of a sprinter. I guess people outside of the fighting ranks didn't really condition.
As much as I hated it, he was right. I started to slow down to a jog, then reluctantly to a swift walk. My room was on the second floor, but we didn’t meet anyone on the way; everyone was probably going to dinner. I definitely wasn't getting any of that Italian bread now. I held the door open for only as long as it took Forest to get inside.
“So, what is it you wanted to tell me that involved us running all the way here like insane criminals?” Foreststar asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’d say criminals is a bit of an exaggeration… for now.” His eyebrow raised a bit more at the ‘for now’ part and I smirked while crossing my arms.. “I’m planning on rescuing Darkstar and Waterstar.” I looked Forest in the eye; trying to judge what his reaction was.
He hesitated for a second, “But that would mean…”
“Disobeying Arctic.” I finished when he didn’t.
“Is anyone else coming?” I winced at the question; I had been trying to avoid names incase Foreststar betrayed us.
“Yes… Ice and possibly Sun.”
Forest nodded his head then turned around and walked toward the window. “So that’s why you’re pissed at the storm. If you don’t leave before it comes, you and your friends are screwed.” He turned around to face me again. “I’m in, but we’re leaving a.s.a.p. Do you still have Ice’s headphone connection?” I nodded my head. “Good, Icestar hooks every ear piece he ever makes to his own and to Arctic’s. Just ask where he is, but make it so that it isn’t suspicious incase Arctic is monitoring you.”
I nodded again and flipped the switch on the tiny ear piece to broadcasting. The man spoke wisdom, I had to admit. “Ice, where are you? My watch is acting up and I was wondering if you could come and look at it, since it’s that prototype you made a few weeks ago.”
“Nice cover,” Forest whispered with a fake smile. I rolled my eyes at him, and if we were better friends, I would have flipped him off.
“I zz-t z-dinner. Sun zzz- I z-oming.” Ice’s reply was a little static-y.
“Got it,” I enunciate my words to try and clear the static on his end.
“So they’re coming.” Forest didn’t state it as a question, so I didn’t offer an answer. I flopped down back first onto my bed and Forest took the only chair.
“Should we make a plan? That way we could leave a hell of a lot sooner and know-“
I cut him off, “No plan, go back to your dorm and get everything you think you’ll need into a bag. I’ll tell Ice and Sun the same thing. Come back when you’re ready and we’ll all pretend to go scouting. A four person team is a little large, but not that suspicious. That’s how the Mystic team left last time, and it’ll work just as well tonight.” Of course I did have a plan in my head, but I still wasn't sure how much trust to bestow on this new ally.
As Foreststar opened the door to leave, a fist lightly tapped his face. Forest wasn’t a fighter, so of course he didn’t reel back into a defensive stance like Water or Dark would’ve. “Sorry, I thought that a door would be there.”
“No problem, Icestar. Fire has instructions.” I noticed that Forest’s voice was a bit chilly now. I’d forgotten that ambassadors always had a plan, and they were a bit OCD about it.
I sat up as Ice and Sunstar entered the room. “Hey,” I said to them, slightly lifting a corner of my mouth. Ice nodded at me and Sun smiled. When it was clear that they weren’t going to sit down, I filled them in on the plan that wasn’t a plan, keeping the details to a minimum.
“Try to hurry please; we need to leave here before the storm comes. Ice, do you have extra headphones that aren’t connected to Arctic’s?”
Icestar nodded. “Also, when you were talking to me earlier you saw the car I was working on,” he paused and I nodded, even though he didn’t state is as a question. Ice isn’t very communicative. “Well, I had a feeling earlier today that we might need it, so it’s ready. It isn’t Rebellion or NOPCW standard. It’s Hell-issued.” The last part he said as a joke, and for the first time I saw him truly smile.
“What do you mean, ‘Hell-issued’?”
“You’ll see.” Another mysterious grin lit up his face.
Chapter 7: Into Hell
WATERSTAR
“DARKSTAR!” I screamed while running forward. Suddenly flames erupted around me; smothering me in their heat. I was forced backwards from the sudden expanding head in the air. The unnamed guy started laughing as Darkstar screamed in pain. “Let him go!” I shouted, running back to the edge of the circle of fire, ignoring my watering eyes.
“Uh-uh-uh,” the man said; wiggling a finger at me. “Isn’t it so dramatic? I just love this part.”
This guy was really starting to piss me off, but it wasn’t like there was much I could do. Well… there was one thing I could try. “Fine then,” I muttered. I started pulling all the energy that I could and directed it to my hands. Water was soon drenching the fire, engulfing every single spark. I vaguely heard Dark scream again and the flow of water increased but the flames still weren’t going anywhere.
“What the FREAK!” I shouted to no one in particular. Last time I checked, water doused fire pretty well.
“Silly, silly, little girl,” the man said, an amused grin playing across his lips. I stopped the flow of magic; it was obviously pointless. “Nothing can stop my flames.” The man held Darkstar up by his neck so that I could see his mangled form. Dark was bleeding in multiple places and he was unconscious. Nothing was sticking out at weird angles, so I don’t think anything was seriously broken, nothing that he couldn’t heal in a few minutes at least. Even so, anger ripped through me as my hands clenched into claws. No one hurts my friends and gets away with it. No one.
“Nothing can stop my flames,” he repeated, “for I am the first and only son of Lucifer.” He let out a cruel, wicked laugh and my heart started racing in my chest. If Darkstar and I had an issue fighting this dude… how powerful was Lucifer himself?
So of course my smart ass side kicked in cause on the inside, I was panicking… MAJOR! “So… Son-Of-Satan, your dad must’ve really not wanted a son since he didn’t give you a proper name. I think I’ll just call you S.O.S.” I felt a smirk cross my face at this really petty, and quite stupid, joke. Plus I had to use a different name for Lucifer else the name wouldn’t have been funny. I really was slipping on my jokes.
S.O.S stepped forward. When he spoke, his voice was low and deadly. “Satan is a disgraceful name for my father, and do you really think you should be making jokes at me when I have your friend by the neck?” He shook Darkstar as if I couldn’t already see him. “Plus, I do have a name,” S.O.S’s voice returned to normal as a small, malicious smile lit his face. “You see, my father is really fond of shadows, and of course death, so he named me after his favorite things, Deathshadow,” he said this proudly with his head held high.
I had to try really hard, and I mean really hard, to not laugh. “Lucifer seriously named you Deathshadow?” I couldn’t resist laughing that time and Deathshadow frowned.
“This isn’t going as I planned…” He seemed a bit put out and his grip on Darkstar loosened. Man did this weird dude have
mood swings. “If you must know, I made up that name. I thought it would be freaking awesome, but apparently not.” He shot a glare at me and my uncontrolled giggles. “My real name is Vladimir.”
My giggles abruptly came to a halt as he looked up. Why was he being honest with me?
“What?” Vladimir-Deathshadow-S.O.S-whatever-the-hell-his-name-was asked in surprise.
“Why are you being honest with me?” I asked, thoroughly confused of why I had actually said what I was thinking. Maybe this cavern had an honest charm or something. I doubt it though.
“It’s a long story,” he said uncomfortably.
“Well I’m obviously not going anywhere,” I said while rolling my eyes. I think the heat was starting to get to me; he still hadn’t freed me from these damn flames. I had backed up into the center to avoid it as much as possible, but it really wasn’t helping much. They were wicked hot.
Vladimir shrugged and walked over to the vent. He laid Dark on the floor more-or-less gently, then sat with his back resting against the mound. “Then I guess I’ll start at the beginning.”
FIRESTAR
“Holy hell,” I said at the same time that Forest whistled. The Hell-issued vehicle was amazing. The wheels had shiny metal spikes on each of the four tires, the entire car was painted pitch black and the seats were aligned in a horizontal row. The width of the car was two feet at most and the length was about fifteen feet. The frame of the car was like a jeep’s; metal pipes and windowless, no roof either. From what I could tell the engine was top-of-the-line Calsh made, so for all you Earth readers, it was better than anything you could imagine.
Behind me I heard Sunstar saying, “Guys and their cars.” I’d bet you almost anything she was shaking her head.
Icestar ignored her and smiled. “I’m thinking about calling this baby Cerberus 99.”
“Cerberus?” We all turned toward Forest as his light voice spoke up. “Isn’t that the three headed dog that guards the Underworld Gates?”
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