The Elementals of Sacred Lake: The Stones of Imprisonment Book 4

By Michele Skaggs

Still reeling from the aftermath caused by the Hole of the Undead, the Elementals must overcome the horrors they witnessed and the darkness they're still battling inside themselves.

Melody is currently trying to conquer the shadows not only growing in her mind, but within her heart as well. Aaron Sanguis, the Blood Elemental, makes it harder for her to banish dark thoughts when he continues to fill her head with bloody nightmares.

Calder also is dealing with pain as he recently lost his best friend due to the journey down in the Hole. He must regain the light he has always held inside, while finding his place in this magical world.

However, the Hole of the Undead has had a different effect on Ashton, for it has made him grow stronger in power. But will his magic eventually become too much for him to control?

Dustin struggles with the fact that he may never become who he is supposed to be, especially now that Zaltic has passed on. And the tests he must face next will prove if he can be a true Air Elemental.

Zander has been hiding his real intentions from his friends, but it begins to get harder for him when he realizes Melody has an inkling as to what he is up to. Where does Zander's true allegiance lie? With evil or with his friends?

In this fourth installment of The Elementals of Sacred Lake, the Elementals will travel to hidden realms in search of The Stones of Imprisonment. They will encounter new friends, but also, new enemies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887635750

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgements

The Prophecy of Mystic Cavern

Part One

Colossal Secrets

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Part Two

Hidden Realms

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Part Three

Danger Grows

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Part Four

Darkness Conquers

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Three

Epilogue

To be continued in book 5, The Elementals of Sacred Lake: The Dragon of Deadlock Woods

Read on for a sneak peek of book 5.

Chapter One

About the Author

cover.jpg

The Elementals of Sacred Lake: The Stones of Imprisonment Book 4

Michele Skaggs

Copyright © 2023 Michele Skaggs

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88763-574-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88763-575-0 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

This one's dedicated to my amazing cousin, Alex Skaggs. I appreciate the awesome backstory you wrote for the evil king, Axel Cole. I hope I wrote him in a way you envisioned him being. It was with your help that I was able to imagine such magical scenery for the Emerald Woodlands.

And as always, this entire book series is written in special memory of my dearest friend, Allen Gene Richards Jr.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Newman Springs Publishing and my publication director, James Gordon, for everything they have done for me and for making my books real.

I thank all my readers, followers, supporters, family, and friends. You guys are great, especially my Instagram community! Thank you for all your kind words and support. Every day, you encourage me to keep writing.

A special thanks to an amazing author who I am proud to call my best friend, Carmela Dutra. As always, you're the first person to read my stories and give your feedback. You help me in more ways than you know.

To my husband and best friend, Chad Carlson. Thank you for supporting me and believing in me like no one has ever done before. I love you forever and always.

And last, I thank my children, Jesse, Makenna, Ashton, Genevieve, and Sariah. You have helped me keep my imagination strong all these years. You have given me the hope to keep going through the battles life has thrown at me. Without you, I would not have all the love I do have in my heart.

The Prophecy of Mystic Cavern

In the shadows of the night,

There is a tiny brave light.

This light, made to be of fire,

Shall be extinguished in the final hour.

Flames of destruction shall appear,

Destroying two souls many hold dear.

Deep inside a cave of black water,

Darkness shall overcome light's bright power.

Shortly later, the traveler will decease,

Letting many forces of evil increase.

A creature of death dies;

Under the floorboards, their body forever lies.

The immortal spirit shall then subside,

When an equal power emerges from the divide.

Who is dead but alive

Will lose what is needed to survive.

In the Hole of the Undead

Lies a tomb covered in red.

Blood of water shall be shed

Upon this grave of evil dead.

After the blood has trickled its course,

One shall recite the spell of No Remorse.

Next, they use the crystal and stones that are secretly keys;

Place them right, and they shall finally be free.

Meanwhile, another shall die a painful death,

Betrayed during their last breath.

But the truest love of all

Takes the final fall.

After a period of guilt and misery,

The Book of Magic shall no longer be a mystery.

Using their greatest power of love,

Halfway shall one succeed, with help from a dove.

To conquer evil that appears at night,

Another shall steal back the pink light.

Last but not least, in order to slay the biggest beast,

All will use their magic right,

For then it shall be the Last and Final Fight.

Part One

Colossal Secrets

Mysteries continue to increase

Soon, everything hidden shall cease

They must be revealed in a set sequence

The long train of colossal secrets

Chapter One

Aaron

Eternal Blood

Exploding out of the earth like a volcano, I force my bloody form to become human. Wiping the dirt and debris from my body, I then gaze around to find my home once more—the Forest of Misery.

Obscure shadows dart between multiple dead trees, knocking their broken branches to the ground. Numerous crunching sounds as cruel beings step on twigs.

The forest's appearance is still sinister. The sight fills my dark soul with an immense pleasure.

I breathe in the scent of torment present in the air, and sigh.

A gremlin approaches me. Her yellow eyes grow wide, taking me in.

Rubbing my hands together, I give her a malicious grin.

I feel the panic course through the creature's gray body. Even though she most certainly has no idea who I am, her body warns her to be afraid. Just the look I give to anyone can set fear within them.

The gremlin tries to flee, but I know I'm faster than her. I can hear her heart pounding in fright with every step she takes, and it excites me. I love when my prey is terrified.

I chase her through the foggy forest. Blood to my blood, hear my call! I shout. Hither unto me, thee shall crawl. From thine confines, thee are free. Come to my aid and consume me.

The gremlin falls to the ashy ground. The scent of her blood is stronger. It puts my senses into overdrive. I need her life fluid more than before.

Grabbing the gremlin by the wrinkled neck, I bring her eye level to me, glaring at her. I think of the delicious blood coursing through her veins—the sensation it shall bring to my body once I drain her of every drop.

The gremlin gasps as I squeeze her throat, her bright eyeballs popping out. My spell begins to work, and I watch the blood run out from her eyes, nose, and mouth.

The gremlin shrieks. How she is able to with my hand around her neck, I haven't the slightest clue.

Once every drop has been absorbed through my skin and into my own blood, I release the pitiful creature. She falls to the ground, a lifeless husk.

It is good to be back, I think.

With the new blood circulating through me, I am stronger than before. I feel great, powerful once more. It's been about 147 years, give or take, since I last had any blood. I still cannot fathom how I was able to move as I did in the Hole. Taking just the bit of blood from the Earth Elemental before I left the Hole truly helped me, for Elemental blood is the purest, the strongest.

Realizing I need some clothes, I scan the area. At least no one else appears to be around. Many used to panic from my appearance when I turned from blood golem to human being, as if they never saw a naked person before.

That's certainly the only thing that's loathsome about my powers. If only I could become a clothed human when I come out of my blood form. I blame the witch on that one. She could have at least added that capability for me when she made me. I hope she is long gone.

Imagining my usual wardrobe, I snap my fingers, saying, Vestire!

A long-sleeved red cotton shirt now hangs down to my waist, complemented by a black vest over it. Silver designs are etched into the fabric of the vest, outlining it. My trousers and boots match the vest.

I take great satisfaction at the normality of my appearance once more.

Making my way through the inky forest, I step over twisted tree roots protruding from the gray earth. This place seems as if it has actually grown more trees. I do not see how, considering this place is dead. But even I am still unfamiliar with some magic, especially the dark power that radiated from Cypherus. That is how the Forest of Misery was created, from that beast when he rose out from the terra.

The Forest of Misery, at one time, was joined with a place called the Emerald Woodlands. This evil place used to be almost as green as the Woodlands, until that day Cypherus was born. The moment he broke through the earth, his vile essence soaked the land around him. It then turned gray and black, drained of its beautiful life.

Trudging through the slightly softer terrain, I grimace as mud splashes up my pants.

Ugh, I was not planning to bathe, but that might need to happen. I just came back from traveling thousands of miles on water. The thought of bathing causes me to shudder.

I remember what I had to do to escape the Hole of the Undead. How I had to drink from that kraken. I hadn't the slightest inkling as to why it was that far north. Normally the water beings stay in the deepest part of Sacred Lake. Not even they like to swim in the death water that resides in the Hole of the Undead. I knew that kraken was what I needed to survive. Even though the thought of drinking the monstrous creature's blood was almost unbearable.

It thought I was its dinner, but in the end, it came out of our fight with an injured tentacle that eventually fell off. That is what I had to drink from—such putrid stuff. I never want to consume something as wretched as that kraken's blood again. Still, the horrid taste of it remains on my tongue.

I grunt. The things I do to survive.

I should have drunk that gremlin's blood instead of absorbing it. I need rid of this foul residue in my mouth.

As I approach Goblin Woods, I find demons roaming its perimeter.

How odd.

I have never seen this many demons on earth at one time. Someone must be summoning them. I wonder who, and shall they become a problem for me?

A demon stops before me. He glares at me with red-orange eyes, trying to puzzle me out, I assume.

Concentrating on the blood within his muscular body, I change its flow. He begins to walk toward me, trancelike.

I smirk. Then I grab him and bite down into his midnight flesh with my fangs.

Lifting my face to the moonless sky, I let the demon's black blood run down my chin and soak the front of my shirt. I breathe in the misty air, grinning.

Damn, I love blood. The eviler the being, the better the blood tastes.

The demon squirms, and excitement rushes through me again. I have no need for any more, though. I only needed something to rinse my mouth with. I let the demon go. He immediately teleports out of sight.

Facing Goblin Woods again, I realize the other demons have disappeared.

Good, they should fear me, the Crimson Nightmare.

My eyes remain locked on the bright-blue waters that belong to Whispering Creek. The spectral candescence the thin river produces has always amazed me.

I do not remember much of my life before becoming this golem of blood. The only thing that stuck out was my name—Aaron. After I died, I was just a lonely spirit drifting through ghoulish waters when the witch found me and made me who I am today—the Blood Elemental.

When I reach Courters Village, I find the clade still guards it to keep the defenseless humans within its walls. Wanting my return to remain a secret from everyone for now, I shed my human skin, changing to blood again.

I travel right between the clade's feet, and they have no idea. I stop when I make it to the back of the village, only letting my face come forth from my liquid state.

I find my old cottage still stands. Although it appears as if it might collapse any moment. It has more of a tilt to it now. I can tell no one had ever moved into it, for it has a giant sign in front of it that reads:

Condemned! Evil! Keep out!

A barbed wire fence encircles the premises to block out everyone from entering my cottage. At least I do not have to worry about anyone coming in uninvited.

Emerging my head back into my puddle form, I pass through the fence like a ghost. I slide up the rough terrain which used to be the front lawn. No grass covers the land anymore. It's like a pack of wolves came and dug up the earth my cottage rests on.

Sensing no one around, I change back to a human. I don't bother to put any clothes on this time, though. I know I need to bathe.

Ascending the steps to my front porch, I open the door, causing the old rusty hinges to squeak loudly. A cloud of dust travels out of the front room and into my face from the new breeze of air rushing from outside. I wave it away. Age-old cobwebs cover every inch of the place. Separating them like curtains, I make my way to the back room. The floorboards creak loudly with each step I take. Other than the weathered damage and dust, the inside of my cottage seems to be in perfect shape. Nothing has been touched.

Entering my bedroom, I find nothing out of place. It is all as it was when I had left it, which is such a relief for me.

I cannot believe all my stuff is still here, or that the village did not set this cottage ablaze. They must have been too scared to even go near it. Everyone did fear my blood magic, as they should.

Padding into the bathroom, I turn on the water in my tub. It's brown, so I let it run for a moment.

I was one of the only beings who had the luxury of running water years ago. The witch set it up for me as a gift for my loyalty to her and Cypherus. But feeling the temperature of the water now, I find it is ice-cold.

I grimace. Marvelous.

The water now turns clear, so I put the plug over the drain. I climb in when the tub is halfway filled and begin scrubbing myself fast.

Damn, this water is freezing.

At least the water in the Hole was warm.

Once I'm clean, I get out and dry off. Going to the mirror above my sink, I stare at my silver-blue eyes.

I run a comb through my wavy brown hair. The light from the dirty window near me reflects on my finer strands, illuminating them honey blond.

I trim my beard a little, making sure it only covers my chin the way I like it. I decide to leave the mustache this time.

Dropping my towel, I say, Vestire.

My clothes from before reappear on my body. I then go back into my bedroom in search of my blood book. I soon spot its dark-red cover under my bed.

Picking it up, I grin down at its worn cover. All my blood spells are housed together inside this leather binding. How I missed this little book.

Journeying out to the front room, I take a seat at my small brown desk. Blowing the dust off its surface, I set my open book down on top of it.

Checking all the drawers near me, I soon come across my small knife. Wiping the blade on my pants, I then run it across my palm. I squeeze my hand, letting my dark blood drip onto the top of my desk near my book.

Focusing all my attention on the small puddle of blood, I command it to travel several feet away. It does exactly so.

I chuckle to myself. Yes, I still got it, even without the spells.

My plan is finally coming together. I will get her to believe me this time around, and if that's to happen, I need to become the person she can depend on. I need to get close to her mentally and physically, which means I get to have great torturous fun in doing so. She deserves it—trapping me down in that hole of madness.

And if worse comes to worse, I'll control her this time, just like I demonstrated with my own blood. I am not letting the darkness overtake the world. I am Aaron Michael Sanguis, the Blood Elemental—the Crimson Nightmare—and I should be the only darkness ruling this pathetic earth. After all, I am the Eternal Blood. I never die. I shall be the only one remaining in the end.

Chapter Two

Emma

My Last Visit with Kassandra

Waking from a peaceful slumber, I stretched my arms and yawned. Loud pops sounded from my aching joints. I jumped when I heard a different noise. It must've been what had awoken me to begin with.

Poking my head out of the fairy-sized cubbyhole holding my bed, I realized there was someone in my room. They were standing in front of one of the paintings on my wall.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I focused my attention back on the intruder, straining my vision. At first, I could not make out who it was until I spied the red cloak around them.

Kassandra? I called in question.

The person turned to me. They pulled down the hood of their cloak to reveal who I suspected.

Kassandra spread her long brown hair over her shoulders. She gazed at me with dark eyes. Yes, Emma?

I glanced from her and then to the painting she was facing. I noticed it was of the Emerald Woodlands, my homeland. Realization dawned on me, and I averted my eyes to Kassandra's hands. She was holding a glowing green stone. Its luminescence cast a dim light upon her face, revealing the green flecks within her brown eyes created from the earth magic running through her veins.

Shaking my head, I covered my mouth.

Kassandra sighed, throwing back up her hood. She turned to the painting once more. You know I must leave. Farewell, Emma.

My wings beat against my back rapidly as I flew in front of Kassandra's outstretched hand. If you go in there, you can never come back.

She nodded triumphantly. Precisely. It means no one shall ever find what I do not wish for them to. She slipped the green stone into her pocket and reached out to the enchanted painting yet again.

I drifted down onto her hand. But I'll miss you so.

Kassandra smiled in a gentle way as she held me against her chest. And I you, Emma. It must be this way, though. I have too many things to protect. She let me go to rub the small bump in her stomach.

Flying down, I hugged the unborn child. How shall they ever be free of the painting?

Kassandra giggled. That, sweet Emma, is a secret only I know. This child can be free, because they'll be born to be.

I frowned.

One day, you and I shall be together again. It'll just be in a different time, person, and way. Take care, sweet Emma. She placed her hand upon the painting.

As soon as Kassandra's fingers touched it, a golden shimmery light soared out from the illustration. It engulfed Kassandra, and then she and the light faded from view, traveling into the painting.

The moment it happened, it felt like the light had disappeared from the entire world around me. The darkness within my room suddenly became suffocating. I could scarcely breathe. Kassandra was my best friend. I knew I would never see her again.

I began to ponder on what she said. That I would see her again but in a different time, person, and way. I wonder what she meant by that.

I stared at the painting in sadness and swore a golden light twinkled from it. Then I hear Kassandra's laughter—Melody's laughter.

Gasping, I sit up in my bed. Melody!

Chapter Three

Zander

Melody's Confused Mind

Melody! I exclaim.

Jumping out of bed, I rush to the girl standing in my doorway. Gazing out the threshold past her, I find no shadows hovering in the faint light. None of the mermaids have awoken, good. Yanking a zombielike Melody inside, I slide the bookcase door over to the left, closing my bedroom off from the rest of the underwater cave. Then I pull Melody onto my bed with me.

She sniffs, petting the cover on my bed as if it's a cat.

I peer into her dark-brown eyes, speckles of green winking within them. Melody, what's wrong?

Melody's entire body trembles. They're gone forever. They're never coming back. I should've saved them.

Sighing, I hold her. You can't save everybody.

Her back goes ramrod straight under my fingers. I'll return.

I let her go to tilt my head. Return where?

Melody gets a blank expression on her face as she says, I'll return to the Hole of the Undead. You can even help me! We'll swim to where Leo's body landed and find it. I still have the Dark Crystal. I can bring him back.

Picturing that cursed purple rock, I tighten my hands. Master's angry with me that I didn't get it. I need to think of some way to steal it from Melody, but I hate the thought of stealing anything from her.

Melody, you just can't go around putting that crystal on any dead person, I say. It won't work.

Her facial expression remains blank. Necro—

Has the magic on him for it already.

I remember the joy of seeing my guardian again. I thought his Dark Crystal must've stopped working because he had never come back to life. His body stayed underneath the water in the City of Illusions. Several days after we left the city, though, he came swimming up by the ship. I felt so horrible I didn't wait for him.

Magic? Melody questions.

To use a Dark Crystal to bring back someone from the dead, a spell needs to be cast first, I reveal. A spell only the witch knows. That spell was cast over the entire City of Illusions by the witch, and over Necro by Thackery Rivers.

I miss Leo, she says in a dull voice.

It's like she completely ignored what I said to her. I know you do.

I miss Killian. I miss Lucas. I miss them all so much…Damien, Jester, and Zaltic too. Jester's where he is now because of me. It's all my fault.

Thinking of the death pixie, I run a hand over my face. No, it isn't.

Yes, it is. I changed Jester. I made him good. I should've left him alone.

He wanted to change.

I'm evil—evil just like Zander.

I gape at her. Z-Zander?

Melody nods. Yes, Zander.

What do you mean by evil?

Exactly what you think it means. You should've heard what that mutant guy, Joshua, said. I mean, I already had my suspicions before. Leo did too. I think Zander was after the Dark Crystal the entire time.

What's wrong with Melody? Doesn't she know I'm Zander, and that she's talking to me right now?

I missed you, she continues. But, Leonidas, why were you gone for so long?

Leonidas? Who in the hell is Leonidas?

I wave a hand in front of Melody's eyes, but she doesn't respond to the movement at all. I realize she must be asleep. She is sleepwalking and talking.

I brush the black hair out of my eyes. Melody, it's me, Zander. Please wake up. You're sleepwalking.

Zander… she trails off.

Yes, Zander. Now wake up.

Melody's eyes close, and her head falls back onto my pillows. Shaking my head in utter disbelief, I scoot her over a little and cover her up. Then I lie next to her.

I wish I could fix Melody. Ever since the City of Illusions, she has been a wreck. It's like how the members from the Fairy Army were when they would return from the Hole of the Undead. Thinking of them gives me hope, though. It took some time, but their minds eventually recovered.

Right when I'm on the brink of slumber, Melody starts to whimper.

Leave me alone, Aaron! she shrieks. Why won't you go away? You attacked me first! Stop haunting me! Get. Out. Of. My. Head!

Sitting up, I find Melody is now shuddering and sweating uncontrollably. Her body begins to glow white, and that's when I realize she is now stuck in a premonition.

Melody! I yell, jostling her. Melody, wake up now!

She mutters, All no trees.

Not knowing what that means, I shake her harder. Wake up, Melody! You're scaring me! Come back!

It's no use. Melody still won't wake, and it seems as if she's getting worse. There has to be something I can do or someone who knows how to help her.

Scrambling out of my bed, I race to the door. Shoving the bookcase over, I cause the mermaids to awaken.

Melody hollers, Zaedyn, where are you?

Avalin frowns. Is that Melody in your room?

What's wrong with her? Oceana tries to peer over my head.

I don't know! I shout. Where's Caspian?

The small blond-headed water fairy hovers in front of my face. Right here. What's going on?

Melody's stuck in one of her premonition dreams! I answer in panic.

Caspian's green-blue eyes grow large. Is it of the future?

I pull at my hair. I don't freakin' know! Find Jeremy now!

Caspian salutes me and then zooms into Sacred Lake.

Yelling at Caspian won't help Melody, Oceana scolds, flipping her blond hair over her shoulder. It falls in long waves behind her back as she makes her way into my room. She sits on the bed with Melody.

Gazing in my room, I watch the mermaid push Melody's brown hair off her sweaty face. I feel so bad for Melody. I'm beginning to think her premonition dreams aren't helping much anymore. They seem to be causing her too many problems.

Necro slithers out of his tunnel, opposite side of my throne. The black serpent stares at Melody with his yellow eyes.

She has been a wreck since the City of Illusions, I recall to my guardian.

Ashton told Blaze that Melody has been having problems with her vision dreams for quite some time now, but I never thought it to be this extreme, Necro reveals. Remember on the ship, this had happened to her also?

Yes, I reply.

We were not in the City of Illusions then yet.

A memory comes to me from the morning the day my friends and I had left for the Hole of the Undead. Melody had a dream of a vampire named Harley killing Ashton. Melody's body had illuminated white then too. I thought the dream was going to kill her. I also thought it was only because of what she was dreaming at the time, but now, I know it wasn't.

You're right, I agree with the sea serpent. I remember this had happened right before Melody left to go to the Hole too. It just hadn't lasted quite this long.

Melody screams, and I wish I could help her.

The City of Illusions did mess with Melody's head more, though, Necro says. It seems that now every time she has a dream of the future, it corrupts her from the inside out. Her mind has been through a lot, has seen too much at one time. It needs time to heal.

Or she needs to strengthen her mind, Braxton tells us, now in the room, trotting up to us with Jeremy and Caspian.

My nose wrinkles. Strengthen her mind?

The white unicorn nods, causing his white mane to flop around. Yes. He turns to the fairy dressed in blue. Caspian, get Ashton.

Right then, there's a hissing sound as Ashton emerges from the water. Don't bother, he says. I'm already here.

Ashton shakes like a dog, making his red hair stick up in places. He ignites his skin into a hot fire, ridding himself of any leftover water on his pores. Then he extinguishes the flames on his arms and legs, heading over to my bedroom.

As he passes me, I scoff. Show-off.

He scowls but continues toward Melody, ignoring me.

Ashton has gotten stronger in power. He can submerge himself in water and survive because he has heightened his fire magic. He can conjure flames in the heaviest of rainstorms. Perhaps what that deceased vampire, Harley, put him through made him stronger. I don't really know. All I do know is he thinks he's the greatest person to grace this earth now. You can see it when he walks and talks. I still don't like him, and I never will.

Braxton stands beside Ashton. Try to communicate with Melody through your mind. It's the only way to release her from her own thoughts.

Ashton glares at Melody as he connects to her psychically. He closes his green eyes.

After a few minutes, he sighs, and it seems like he's about to break down in tears. I hope he can get Melody to wake up.

What in the world could be happening inside her head to make Ashton this upset?

Ashton

Closing my eyes, I focus harder on Melody's mind. Her guards are up, but eventually, I break through them.

Surprised, I find I'm watching her dream. We have never been able to do something like this before—watch each other's dreams that is. She's dreaming of a dark forest I've never seen.

Melody, can you hear me? I question.

I sense her mind jerk in shock. Ash, is that you?

Yes. I need you to listen to me carefully.

Wait, hang on. I'm talking to the trees about something important.

Trees? What do you mean you're talking to the trees? What trees?

I feel myself transported somewhere at a fast speed. In no time, I find myself not picturing the dark forest in my mind but literally standing inside it.

Stumbling, I stare down at my body. Whoa! Awesome! I'm in Melody's dreams now! I laugh. Ha, now I can tell her I knew she still dreamt about me.

Rose…bark? Melody asks.

Glancing ahead, I spot her standing in front of three giant trees, leaves greener than my eyes. I have never seen trees this big before. They're taller than Sequoia, the Tree of Vitality. And their trunks—a color as rich as the dark soil their roots thrive in—are enormous, much thicker than Sequoia's.

Melody is holding a red rose in her left hand and a piece of wood in her right. She looks stumped.

Mel! I shout.

Once Melody spots me, she smiles. Dropping the flower and bark, she runs into my arms. Oh, Ash, this is so unreal! You're actually here with me, but how?

Umm…you brought me here. Letting her go, I tap the side of her head. Your mind brought me here.

She seems amazed. It did? Wow!

What's wrong with you?

Melody's expression is of pure puzzlement as she opens her mouth.

I hold a finger up. And don't say you don't know what I'm talking about, because you know very well you do.

The trees around us disappear, memories from Melody's mind taking their place.

The gremlin, Iver, appears right behind Melody. He has a missing hand, and in his other still-intact one, he holds Jester. Smirking in a dark way, he runs into a shadow soul by the name of Sethos. The three of them disappear.

Melody sniffs. I failed Jester, Ash.

Melody, you didn't fail him, and it isn't too late to save him, I assure her. We'll find him.

Melody is quiet for a moment. It isn't only Jester who makes me sad.

We're now standing on the boat back in the Hole of the Undead. I spy myself appearing lost and confused, hiding behind Melody as we watched a vampire, Harley Valtorra, and Luke Demonater fight before us.

Seeing myself through Melody's eyes is painful. I didn't look like me anymore. I seemed broken, afraid. I hate what Harley did to me. She took the flames right out of me. She extinguished my combustador. I never thought it possible.

But what I hate more is how Harley had the power to make me forget Melody. How could I, Ashton Embers, ever forget Melody Grace? She is my true love. I'll never love anyone as much as I do her. I can't believe I thought I loved a vampire.

Luke fired his dark magic at Harley in the memory.

The vampire blocked his power, smiling at him. Farewell, Luke. May your death be horrible.

She chomped into Luke's neck, ripping off a giant piece of flesh. Blood and bits of skin flew through the air. Then she stuck her fangs back in him a second time, drinking from him.

Luke's eyes drooped like he was going to pass out. Before he could, Harley picked him up, hurling him into the poisonous waters.

I swallow.

This is painful to watch. In the end, I really did like Luke. He turned out to be a decent guy after all. I wish he hadn't died. I wish there was a way we could have saved him.

I feel somewhat responsible. Melody told me she saw the future. It had showed me turning into a vampire and then dying instead of Luke. But since she managed to change the future, someone else had to die. Luke was my substitute.

I just watched him die, Melody says.

You had to, I tell her gently. Melody, you knew if you left me, Harley would capture me again. Don't feel guilty. You did the right thing. Luke knew what he was getting into. He wanted to be good, and in the end, he proved that because he was.

Now the memory changes to one of Leo, the first and last Spirit Elemental. He was running to retrieve the Dark Crystal. He got to the edge of a cliff before he finally managed to grab it but ended up slipping off the edge in the process. Melody caught his hand before he fell. It was too late for Leo, though.

Leo! Melody shouted. Hold on!

Melody, you must let me go! Leo told her with sad indigo eyes.

No, do something with your magic! she cried. Help me save you!

There's nothing I can do, he calmly replied. I'm not meant to be alive. I am ready. Now let me go.

How can you expect me to do that to you? I don't want you to die!

But, Melody, I am—

I can't lose you again! she cut him off.

Leo started to cry, his voice changing when he said, I love you. Now, Melody, you must let me go.

I still think about this all the time.

What happened between Leo and Melody?

I know not to ask Melody because the slight mention of Leo's name hurts her. I don't want to hurt her, but I do want the answer to the memory that hurts me.

Why did Leo tell Melody that he loves her?

I remember he had kissed her, but she made it seem as if it was nothing—just a peck on the cheek. Maybe it really wasn't, after all. Maybe she did feel something for him.

No, Leo! Melody screamed in the memory.

That's when I came out from behind the boulders. I yelled for Melody to let Leo go, or she would die. I remember hearing her hesitation out of happiness that I had returned to her.

Leo and she argued about letting him go again. I had leaned down by Melody to hold her so she wouldn't fall. I tried to help her pull Leo up, but I had no strength left. I was too weak to be of any use. Leo knew it. He nodded to me, showing that I needed to get Melody to let him go. So I told Melody to let Leo go. I told her how much I needed her to stay with me.

Melody knew she wanted to stay with me more than dying with Leo. She knew Leo had no chance of survival. It was too late for him. She chose me over him, and I think she would still do it again without question.

The last words Leo said to Melody were, Goodbye, angel. She and I watched him plummet to his death once again, this time landing on top of Cypherus's tomb, his old master.

I stared down at the huge tomb. All I could think about at that time was the prophecy from Mystic Cavern. One of the lines had said:

In the Hole of the Undead, lies a tomb covered in red.

I shudder at the thought of it.

It definitely was red after that battle with the Undead Army.

The memory disappears, revealing Melody in front of me. Tears threaten to burst from her. I let him go, Ash. Leo's dead because of me. Her tears now fall, flowing down her face like tiny glistening waterfalls.

I take Melody's wet face in my hands. I peer down into her big brown eyes, catching sight of the green within them that remind me of summer leaves. Leo isn't dead because of you. You couldn't save him because he was already dead. He was trying to tell you that.

She turns her face from me. There were more deaths than there should've been.

Damien and Zaltic's bodies lying on cots in a cabin on the ship appear now.

In the vision, Melody ran her fingertips along the ends of Damien's dirty blond hair. She set a hand to his cheek. Jerking back, she covered her mouth. He's so cold.

In front of her, Calder gritted his teeth. Because he's dead! Now bring him back!

Melody frowned. What?

Calder's sea-colored eyes grew in anger. Don't you dare tell me you can't, because I know you can. You know spells. Bring Damien back now, Melody!

Calder, it isn't that simple.

He ignored her. Bring him back!

Calder…I-I can't, Melody stuttered. I'm sorry.

If you were sorry, then you would bring back my best friend!

Calder, I—

Damn it, Melody! he sobbed. Please, bring him back!

That's the first time I ever heard Calder curse. I had never seen him that upset before.

Tears poured from Melody's eyes in the memory. She became lost in thought for a minute. Then she pulled the Dark Crystal out of her pocket.

Zander shook his head. It won't work on Damien without a proper spell. He faced Calder and said, One we don't know, so you should quit causing Melody more sadness. Besides, would you want Damien to be undead like some vampire?

Calder yelled in frustration, storming out of the cabin.

The scene now shows Zaltic.

The poor ice wolf looked horrible. His white fur had taken on a red color from the blood that covered his body. I can only imagine the pain he was in when he died.

Melody had stared down at Zaltic, softly petting his head. He knew he was going to die.

From the corner, Dustin uncrossed his arms. What?

Zaltic traveled to the future all the time, she recalled. He knew what the words of the future meant, because he knew Sequoia and the wolf guarding her and the Dark Crystal would die. He said it had to happen. So I know he knew what the other line meant, if he knew about Sequoia and his own brother dying.

What was the line that predicted Zaltic's death? Zander questioned.

Melody closed her eyes. Shortly later, the traveler shall decease, letting many forces of evil increase. She reopened her eyes. Zaltic first introduced himself to me as the Traveler of Time.

I hung my head down in the vision. Letting many forces of evil increase… I repeated in sorrow.

Zander must have felt everyone's worry, because he changed the subject. Did you know you're the very first person to change the future, Melody?

Melody seemed surprised. Really?

He nodded. Not even Carson Skye had changed the future.

Wow… she muttered.

Dustin scoffed, moving his fair hair out of his face. He hopped off a table, making sure to hold up his broken leg. The evil creature changed the future before.

But we always have managed to get it back on track, Zander reminded him.

Dustin rolled his eyes. Take me to my cabin, Zander. I need to get away from this place.

Zander obeyed Dustin, helping him to his room.

The cabin fades from my eyes, and now Melody and I are standing near a lone bench on a sidewalk.

Dustin hates the fact that I changed the future and that he never has. He hates me.

Her words stun me. Dustin doesn't hate you. He's just jealous of you.

Melody ignores what I said. It isn't just him who hates me. Calder hates me also.

Calder, for sure, doesn't hate you. He's just upset right now. Damien was his best friend, someone who was very close to him. Imagine if I had died.

She presses her lips together in a firm line. I don't want to imagine that. Thinking about it only brings utter darkness to my mind. There would be no light—no love left in my world.

See? That's why Calder acts so angry. He feels just as upset as you do now, maybe more.

Melody pulls me down on the bench to sit with her.

I scan the area around us. Where are we anyway?

This was where we first met.

Taking in our surroundings once more, my eyes grow. We're in California!

It's amazing how clear this memory of Melody's is. It's exactly what my hometown looked like the last time I saw it. How awesome!

I can't believe I've actually known you for eleven years and not nine. Trying not to let new tears escape, Melody stares at the ground.

I sigh. Look, Mel, I know you're depressed, but you need to be happy again.

She gazes up at me. What's there to be happy about?

You have the coolest best friend in the world.

She laughs.

I smile at the sound. You also have Dustin and Zander. You'll survive this sadness.

Melody appears heartbroken. But I don't have you anymore.

My face falters. What do you mean by that?

She fumbles with her fingers. It's against the rules. It's against what is right.

Grabbing her hands tightly, I make her look at me. The feelings I have for you are right. We are right when we're together.

Melody pulls her hands out of mine fast, as if they hurt her. No, Ash. It isn't. I'm sorry.

Swallowing the knot in my throat, I shake my head. No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you feel this way.

She turns from me.

Sitting there in silence for a moment, I think of how I'll never give up on her. You know, I'm upset just like you.

Melody stares back at me, concerned. You are?

I killed an ice wolf who was just doing his job. I set Sequoia, the Tree of Vitality, on fire. How do you think I feel about that?

It wasn't you, Ash.

But it was, Mel. They both died by my hands, no matter if I was under a spell or not. Jester wasn't taken because of you. Luke, Damien, Zaltic, and Leo didn't die by your hands.

I feel like Leo died by my hands…

He was already dead, Melody!

She darts her eyes back to the ground, not saying anything once again.

Your sadness is affecting everyone and everything around you. You walk by a plant, and it wilts. Your friends see you hurting, and it makes them hurt too. It's even affecting your mind.

Melody makes eye contact with me again. What?

I move my face closer to hers. Remember, you're in a dream. I said you brought me here with your mind, didn't I? You're trapped in a dream, Melody. You're trapped inside your own mind. Now will you wake up?

Huh?

The bench and everything around us vanishes, being replaced with a bright-white light.

Wake up for me, Mel, I say mentally. Please, wake up.

Awakening myself, I realize everyone is watching me intently.

Did it work? Zander asks impatiently.

Is she back with us? Braxton questions.

Right as I'm about to answer them, Melody opens her eyes. Cautiously she sits up. What's going on?

Braxton no longer looks worried. He seems angry now. Tomorrow, after Zaltic's funeral, you'll start mind strengthening, and Ashton is going to help you.

Melody glances at me, sighs, and then lies back down on Zander's pillow.

Chapter Four

Rosco

Future Plans

Clutching the brown sack in my hand, the rough fabric bites into the flesh on my palm. I slide that minor irritation to the side, focusing on pushing my body to move faster.

Ahead, I notice some of the cobblestone has broken away, giving over to the wild plant life. I jump over a rotted-out log.

Picking up my pace once more, I run through Treasure Marketplace. The skirts of many stalls sway as I race along the streets.

Behind me, Viola knocks over a booth of oranges. Sorry! she yells to the vendor as she catches back up to me.

Viola! I complain.

She appears flabbergasted. It isn't as if I intended to knock over those oranges!

Maybe you should pay more attention to where you are go— I don't get to finish my sentence because I find myself tripping over a rock, landing in an open crate full of cabbages.

Viola tugs on my arm. Get up, Rosco! They're coming!

Grabbing ahold of the sack again, I duck right as a clade guard swings around his heavy axe. The blade of it nearly strikes me. But instead of connecting with my skull, the axe gets lodged into the wooden crate. The clade pulls with all his might, trying to get his axe free.

A few light-colored strands drift through the air in front of me. I pat my head, gasping. My hair!

Viola grasps my hand, dragging me out of the crate. Who cares about your hair? Come on!

We set off running again.

I care about my hair, thank you very much! I inform her.

Worry about it after we get away from the clade, or you won't have any hair to worry about.

Right. They would cut it all off then.

Viola hits her forehead. No, the clade would cut you into pieces if they caught you. Then you wouldn't be able to worry about your hair because you would be dead.

True. They would more than likely cut off my head, though. If they managed to do that, I hope my hair would still look okay.

Rosco, Viola grumbles.

What? I ask.

Maybe you should pay more attention to where you're going.

Realizing she is mocking me from earlier, I give her a sly expression.

As we approach the giant weeping willow tree known as Gremlin's Willow, Viola and I snicker. Our laughter is soon cut off from another clade jumping out from behind the gremlins' tree.

Viola screams as he grabs hold of her. Swinging my sack over into my left hand, I run, swooping down into the dirt. I slide in between the clade's legs, latching onto one of Viola's arms. By the time I make it on the other side of the clade, I have yanked Viola free from his clutches and into my own.

Viola and I take off once again. As we leave gremlin territory, we peer behind us at our pursuers. That's when we find there are seven clade after us. Running faster, Viola and I dodge fallen limbs and giant rocks scattered across the ashy ground that is the Forest of Misery. We soon enter a huge clearing and stop.

Frantically I glance from the brown wooden bridge leading into Goblin Woods, over to the tops of the buildings, protruding from the trees, belonging to Courters Village. I wish we didn't have this large sack right now, I gripe. We could shrink ourselves and make an escape.

Sadly we cannot do so without hurting the magic in the growing powder, Viola says. We cannot return to the village until we lose the clade. There is too great a risk of someone finding our safe house.

I chew on my bottom lip. Know of any good spells? I'm thinking explosion, but creating an explosion here may not be a good idea.

No, it would not. How about levitation?

I give her an odd look. Levitation? What's that going to do for us?

She points to Whispering Creek. What happens when anyone decides to go for a dip in there?

Uh, they get held prisoner by the angry souls who inhabit those waters, and then drown.

"Relax, Rosco. I'm not telling you to go swimming in the creek. I am only explaining how the Levitation Spell shall work on the clade."

Thinking of the ugly guards hovering in the air, I picture them falling into the creek, drowning. I chuckle darkly at the thought. Your plan is excellent, Viola.

She flips her raven ponytail around. I know. Now follow my lead.

I accompany Viola to the edge of Whispering Creek. Hearing eerie sounds, I dart my eyes down at the haunting bright-blue water. It still baffles me how the creek itself appears ghostly. There are many souls in there just waiting for one of us to fall in. They can keep on waiting, because they aren't getting me anytime soon.

The clade enters the clearing. The big burly creatures become excited when they see Viola and me standing before them.

One blinks his yellow eyes, stepping forward. Rosco Fredrick and Viola Allura Hayworth, you are hereby sentenced to death!

After the displeasing look I have from hearing my horrid middle name disappears from my face, my mouth falls open. On whose terms?

King Ryder's and Queen Lyra's.

I don't believe my mother would have me killed. Now my father, yes.

The clade is expressionless. When King Ryder sets terms, they are also Queen Lyra's.

And why are we being sentenced to death? Viola pipes up. We haven't even a trial yet.

Not like trials are fair anyway, I mumble.

Viola nudges me to be quiet.

You are being sentenced to death for abandoning your kingdom and stealing from the Palace of Death, the clade tells us in unison with each other.

I scowl. I didn't steal from the palace! Whatever is within its walls is mine, too! I am a Knight!

Not anymore. King Ryder and Queen Lyra have disowned you. He brings down his axe in front of him. Now prepare to lose your head.

Never! Viola and I shout at the same time. We throw our hands out in front of us, reciting, Rise high into the air. Defy gravity as if it isn't a care. Drift and soar like a dove. Levitate suspended above.

All seven clade have run. But once the spell is complete, it still takes hold of them, levitating the clade in the air.

Viola and I slowly move the herd of clade above Whispering Creek with the movement from our hands. Then we drop our hands to our sides, causing the clade to fall into the creek with a large splash. But as the last clade tumbles through the air, he latches onto Viola, bringing her down into Whispering Creek with him.

Viola! I shout.

Ros…co! Viola bubbles out before she goes entirely under the water.

I'm about to jump into Whispering Creek when I think of how I'll probably go down and under like Viola did.

Damn it! I curse.

In a panic, I search around me to find anything I can use to my advantage. After spotting a tree to my right, I move my eyes down to the brown sack I stole from the Palace of Death. Viola had tied a long rope around the top of it to keep it closed.

As a plan forms in my head, Viola bursts through the surface of the creek. She tries fighting against the ghostly hands that are keeping her prisoner. There are too many for her, so she ends up losing the battle. The ghouls pull her back under the water.

I decide to put my plan into motion. I know I am about to risk my life for Viola, but she's all I have left. I have no family anymore, and I shall never be with Emma again. I need to face that truth. Besides, within these past months, Viola and I have become closer. I believe we could end up being great friends. So I must save her.

Pulling the rope off the bag, I wrap it around the tree near the water. Picking up the other end of the rope, I tie that part around my waist. I then jump into Whispering Creek in search of Viola.

The minute I feel the chilling water touch my skin, I sense other things. Many souls grab hold of me, but their touch is odd. I know they are tugging on me, because I'm trying my hardest to swim away from them, but they feel like air, like wind that can grab hold of you.

More spirits latch onto me, and I begin to drift deeper. The souls start screaming the Deafening Screech at me. I have heard this scream so many times that it hardly fazes me now.

This is bad, though. These spirits must be close to evolving into shadow souls if they can use the screech. They'll be stronger than ordinary ghosts and harder for me to fight off.

As I struggle with the souls imprisoning me, I scope the area for Viola. I find her right away, trapped by a group of ghosts like myself. She appears unconscious. She probably has less than a minute of life left.

Adrenaline kicks in from the sight, and I fight harder against the souls, finally prying myself from their ghoulish grasp. They scream their Deafening Screech louder in anger.

I swim toward Viola, the water becoming a darker blue the deeper I get.

The spirits around my friend look prepared to battle me. The adrenaline continues to pump through my veins, and I sense the last bits of air leave my lungs. Those two things make it to where I find the energy to fight the second group of souls, freeing Viola. Then I swim her and myself to the surface.

Breaking through the water, I cough up the vile fluid. I manage to make it to shore, setting Viola on the ground.

As I climb the rest of the way out of the creek, the souls grab my legs. Gripping my rope, I try to pull myself away from the screaming ghosts. Then I hear a deathly sound—the ripping of fabric. I flip my head over to where the rope is tied to the tree. I gasp when I see it's about to completely snap in half right above the knot.

Shit!

What can I do? I cannot give Viola CPR. She isn't going to wake up either. She has no energy to cough up the water in her lungs.

Wait!

Turning back to Viola, I reach my hand out to her. I say in a rush, Time is running out too fast. Reverse it to the past. Give her faith. Lend her my strength. Send life to Viola!

Viola continues to lie there, and I watch my lifeline finally snap from the tree. Holding my breath, I am drug back under the water to die. I use the rest of my strength to struggle with the ghosts, but it's no use. They finally have me this time.

Just when I think it's the end, someone grabs my hand, hauling me to the surface. With the hardest yank ever, I am thrown onto the bank of Whispering Creek.

In awe, I stare up into Viola's red eyes. How in the hell did you do that?

She grins. "Maybe you should learn the enchanted word for strength."

I chuckle. Perhaps I should.

Viola's mouth drops.

What?

She pulls me to a standing position. "Hurry, we need to go! We're about to be battling something a lot