Chapter 20: Heinous Betrayal

            J’vonte’ slept with her hair tangled in her face, tossed around from yet another night of little sleep. Cold air swept through the crack in the door, chilling her face. A small crinkle in her features, due to irritation, drew her awake. Her eyes met the sun pouring through the window, it was later than expected. Sitting up right, her eyes scanned the room for the members of her group. Jasper, Taya, and... they were missing the taller, untrustworthy man. Sighs left J’vonte’s mouth as she shook her head, Taya tried to tell them, and now they were for sure done for. 

 She let the others rest a little longer, gathering up anything they had removed from their person. As her back faced the door, a sound crept from behind her. Whipping around, she stood on the balls of her feet ready to pounce. There in front of her, standing tall, was Zoeloft. Taking a step toward her, he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to startle you miss.” His eyes looked soft as if he was innocent of all of which he was blamed. “Was just getting some fresh air, need a hand.” J’vonte’ dropped her eyes, drawing a line from him to the two still asleep on the hard dirt ground.

“Wake the others, I’m going out to scout.”

“The elves are packing up and moving, I overheard a conversation between the older gentlemen and I’m presuming the leader of the dark elves.” 

“They got what they came for then? Hurry, we haven’t much time, wake the others.” J’vonte’ peeked through the door, looking for the direction the elves had rested. Inside the small abode, Zoeloft gently woke Jasper, who then woke Taya. Soon the three of them took a stand behind J’vonte’, ready to begin on their travels. Jasper rested his hand on J’vonte’s shoulder, his touch much friendlier than his companies.

“We’ll rescue him... we will rescue them both.” Jasper’s words cooled J’vonte’s temperature, she would put her trust in him and Taya. She turned to face Jasper, staring into is golden complexion; Jaspers face was full of trust. She could not help but linger in his gaze, even for a second. There was a gentleness behind his eyes that J’vonte’ had not seen before. She turned to face the doorway, the cold stone arches urging her onward. She mentally shook off the warm feeling and refocused her thoughts. They had to find Raymond, that took priority over warm feelings. 

The four of them started creeping forward, trying to stay out of direct view as much as possible. Zoeloft had fallen behind, J'vonte' had kept an eye on him since he came in. There was something suspicious about this whole situation, she couldn't tell if he was with or against them. Handing the lead to Taya she dropped back between the boys. Zoeloft caught her gaze and he shot her a smile, one that read he was with them, ideas filled J'vonte's head. Taya had history with this man, she had seen tension between him and Raymond, and even a little bit with his main company. The group came to a stop, Taya waving Zoeloft to the front, he passed J'vonte' sliding his hand upon his back for reassurance. Shivers crawled of her spine, if only Bastian was here, he would know. 

"There, Akeldama and Mythra." Zoeloft carried his words smooth, he seemed to not fear the dark elf. 

"What's the new Gem?" Jasper tried to focus his eyes on the blue jewel comfortably in the elves hand. "That's Elise's!" The expression overwhelming Jasper was non-explanatory, he seemed hopeful, scared, sad, and guarded all at once. Zoeloft comforted his friend by reaching into his pocket and pulling out the matching sister. He placed it in Jasper's hand. 

"It was all that was left of her." Zoeloft whispered, "I never found the other, I'm sorry." J'vonte' examined the expression being shared by both men, she knew not of the story between them, but Jasper's face seemed to be non forgiving. As though he believed she was alive as this time, but with Akeldama holding her earring there was nothing but confirmation of her death. Jasper threw the earring on the ground, starring down the power hungry elf.

"Lets go, He can't have Raymond too." Taya glanced to see the angry and bitter expression written on Jasper’s face.

J'vonte' smoothly picked up the earring, placing it in her side pouch.

The group rounded back to the front of the castle where they had left Zenith and Ennadia. One by one they began climbing over the castle wall, where it had be just worn down enough to grip. Taya looked down from the top back at Zoeloft, she didn't approve of his presence but there was no sign of going their separate ways. She landed gracefully on the other said, there steps away stood proud was her dragon, instantly he bowed his head, letting her hand to cascade down his snout. She whispered. All of them had been over the wall by the time she finished, Zenith looked up and saw Zoeloft. Despite the words he had just heard he thundered on instinct towards him, pinning him against the wall, wings around him. Letting out a great roar to the rough, evil man, the only thing that looked back were innocent eyes. Zenith didn't think twice before letting out another cry, he had him now, and was gong to deal with it before more trouble was stirred up. Lightning quick Taya slipped beneath his wings, between dinner and her dragon.

"We need him." Zenith’s eyes grew from thin slits to a wider glaze as Taya spoke. She looked back at Zoeloft who was pretending to tremble and begging to be saved. Face to face with Zoeloft she addressed her dragon once more, "For now." Zenith turned back in a huff, allowing Taya on his back.

"We'll have to both take one." J'vonte' announced, "Ennadia is smaller than Zenith, we'll take Zoeloft..." Taya thanked J'vonte' with her eyes, as she offered Jasper’s hand on board.  

Zoeloft made an attempt to make light of the days events, nervously offering J’vonte’ his friendship. The small talk, relating to the rainy weather and the armor of the elf guards lasted only moments and Zoeloft’s voice faded away, the wind taking his place. After a short while Zoeloft pointed out a clearing to J’vonte’.

“I know this place well, we can rest here safely, and in the morning we can set our trap for the elves. They must travel not ten minutes walk from this clearing.”

“Perhaps you do offer some wisdom” J’vonte’ responded hesitantly. The marauders landed in the cool grass, Zenith the happiest of all, rolling the thick field. Night began to fall, and the warriors set up two shelters, made of vines and brush that had been collected. Zoeloft volunteered to take first watch, J’vonte’ to follow when the moon had reached its peak, Taya would relieve J’vonte’ as the moon fell below the mighty belt, and Jasper would take watch just before the sun would break.

The crickets could be heard, singing their songs and laments. The mice scurrying about in an attempt to avoid the great night owl. Zoeloft sat, quiet and still, awaiting his new master. And at length, Akeldama appeared; behind him followed Azar, Mythra and several other elves that Zoeloft did not recognize. The shifty shapes of the elves baffled Zoeloft, and he wondered how they trended so lightly; the illusion disguised them as ghosts.

The pale elf, now a sheet of white because of the light that shone from the moon. Not a sound was made as the elf moved close enough to Zoeloft to speak without being heard. 

“Where is the jewel?” His voice had an erie ring, as he attempted to whisper. Zoeloft imagined the air traveling through the elf’s throat without even touching upon the vocal chords. 

He stuttered: “I do not know...” Akeldama gripped the man by his overcoat lifting him off the ground. “But I can take you to the one who possesses it.” Akeldama lowered him. “That tent” Zoeloft said, pointing to the tent that Jasper was asleep in. Zoeloft brushed himself off, taking a step back from what would be his greatest and most heinous betrayal.

It was a blur, as Taya awoke to several elves, including the one called Azar rushing to restrain her. J’vonte’ had woken at the same moment, and called to Taya to break through the back wall and escape. In a split second Taya without looking back had broken through several branches, fighting her way through the brush until finally breaking through to the other side. She heard the deadly sound of J’vonte’s blade falling at least one elf, and her cry has she was brought to her knees. Taya did not think, or turn, she had one impulse, and that was the only thing she acted on. Her feet met perfectly with the ground the grooves allowing her to move in silence. Torches and voices could be heard behind her as they searched for the remaining warrior. Taya called out to Zenith, and he was not a moment too late, swooping in and Taya leaping to his back, almost without him needing to land. Zenith soared high into the clouds for cover, the cold night air leaving its mark upon Taya’s face. She whispered into Zenith’s ear and they flew back to the city of Garitarc.

Chapter 19: The Darkest Heart

            The room the group had made a temporary home had gone to rest, only the sound of shifting dirt could be heard as somebody rolled. Tension was thick, although everybody was sleeping it was apparent their dreams carried visions of fear and distrust. Every so often one of them would cough, clearing their airway from the dry dirt of which they rest upon. Zoeloft was restless, and the little noise emitted every so often crawled up his spine like a nest of spiders making it impossible for rest. Laying there, nothing but awake, his mind began to wonder. He was not a very educated man, and did not know much about lands outside of his own, despite having travelled through caves. Places he knew of, but population and history always a mystery. Pulling himself to an upright position he rested against the wall, sweat ran off his forehead. Thoughts of the dark elves were taking over, as well as the lies he had whispered to his comrade. The more the thoughts raced through his mind, the more they took on characteristics of a parasite, consuming any other thought. He had to know what the elves were after, it called to him, without any idea of what it was, he needed to possess that power. Jasper rolled over,  his face met a flicker of light peaking through the window from a torch just outside. As it flicked across his face, Zoeloft only saw a distorted man, one that no longer believed in him. Jasper would not know of the new ideas festering behind his smile, he knew his back would turn and the small tear between them would be tugged until all gave way. The ideas turned to dreams as finally the tainted man shut his eyes, relaxing with the corruption that he was becoming. 

Zoeloft was the first to awake. The sky was a dull grey, the light from the torch illuminating the room ever so slightly. His companions were asleep, and there was no sign of movement throughout the kingdom. Zoeloft left the house, the echoing thud of his footsteps resounding through the stairwell. The doorway was an ugly brown, the wood was rotten and termites crawled across the repulsive frame. Still, Zoeloft knew the old courtyard lay behind the door that he had once known so well. His hand rested on the cold and rusty handle, as the man paused; he wondered if this was who he was, if this man with his hand on an old and rusty handle was the innocent boy who rode horses until dusk. A soft, yet audible creek could be heard as the sound of an old and rotten door was pushed forward.

The courtyard was as Zoeloft had remembered, but it was not a happy place, it encompassed the depressing colour of grey. The fountain had dried up, and the sun would not show its light to sparkle and dance on the pale stone. A cold wind from the west filled Zoeloft’s lungs. Inside Zoeloft realized that each breath was filled by the cold act of malice and fear that was brought about by his anger, his jealousy and his lust for power. Several stones lay on the tiled courtyard, a sign of a crumbling empire. Zoeloft kicked one; the stone flew to the far side of the yard making a soft sound as it bounced off the ground. As Zoeloft began to retrieve the pebble he heard footsteps and several voices. He cocked his head in an attempt to hear what the voices were saying. He was unable to make out anything as the wind blew its cold lament in his ear.

Through pillars Zoeloft caught a glimpse of the dark elves, a shiver once again crawled through his spine. He enjoyed it though, as if this was how a Werewolf felt on a full moon, howling, praising what had brought him to his darkest yet finest form. The wind echo’d the idea of the howling wolf, Zoeloft had to get closer. Step following step the man got close to what he desired, voices became clearer, squeezing through a small ally the visions and voices became one. Akeldama stood his back to him, he was holding something that Zoeloft couldn’t make out. Intensively listening a picture formed in his head, not knowing if it was in fact the truth, either way power existed and Zoeloft felt his own crying for it. 

“The stone, it’s here.” Akeldama crushed whatever he was holding and dropped in the courtyard. 

“I feel it to.” Zoeloft knew not of either men, the elf was obvious, but the old man responding was that of a wonder. He made up the idea of this being J’vonte’s father. “Do you think with the three we possess they hold enough power to locate it?”

“You are a very wise man Mythra,” the elf placed his hand on the elders shoulder. “I am glad you came to join forces.” A grim smile creased on Zoeloft, J’vonte’s father wasn’t captured as he was told, but a lying deceitful man, one just like himself. 

“If all five can restore the wonders of the lost, I am certain they are meant to find one another.” As the men stepped together, pressing three unknown objects into one another, what the elf had dropped uncovered itself under Akeldama’s foot. Zoeloft eyes grew wide as they glanced upon the sister of the gem in his pocket. Reaching in, he held it there in his hand, his way to the elves, Elise’s earring. 

He drew the earring from his pocket. The blue light that Akeldama and Mythra knew all to well lit up in Zoeloft’s hands. In an instant Akeldama had seen the light and rushed to the source. Zoeloft was brought to his knees by the power that the earring held. Something he could not explain pressured his legs, unhinging them and lowering his body to the cold stone. 

“What you have belongs to me” Akeldama said, his fist emanating the same blue light. 

“It does not belong to either of us, elf.” Zoeloft responded, remembering the day when Elise had worn the elegant jewelry.

“How dare you!” Akeldama extended his arm to strike Zoeloft down. When Myrtha’s voice was heard above the commotion.

  “Leave him, Snake! He has not done anything to you.” The blue light in Akeldama’s hand began to fade and a calm expression could be seen upon his face.

“What do you want?” Akeldama asked, his voice cold. 

“I want to join you” replied Zoeloft.

“And why would I let you join my elves?” 

“Because I have the power that you desperately long for.” Replied Zoeloft holding the earring infront of him, blue light again glowing brighter than before. Akeldama sneered, but could not find a reason not to accept the man’s proposal.

“If I allow you to join in the ranks of the elves, you must first rejoin your friends, and deliver them to me. I knew the moment that you and several other had come to Garitarc. I have sensed the final gem; it is your friend who carries it.” “Jasper” Zoeloft thought. “He has the final jewel.” An anger welled up inside Zoeloft, one that he remembered ever so plainly the day that he lost Elise. Jasper had not trusted him, he had not told him of the power he possessed. Zoeloft’s eyes became sharp and fierce and a determination swayed whatever good was left inside his soul to a place deep down in the darkest hole of his heart. The cold face attached to the shell of a man who kneeled on the ground looked up at the pale elf who towered over him.

“It shall be done.” Zoeloft bowed his head, the blue light disappeared, and its knew owner smiled the evil smile of success.