Feeling my arms brought behind me and bound by heavy chains, as you lock them tightly in place so I can’t move with a lock that has no key. Knowing that no-one except you or I can see those heavy chains that are binding me, as I hear you ask me how long I might be able to hold my breath as you hoist me over the tank, and will I be able to hold your breath as well? As I feel the water slowly rising up around me,-You’re won...

Standing here at the foot of these ancient worn stone steps, that lead up to those massive black iron doors of the gate that stands there. Flanked on both sides by walls having rough hewn images carved on them which have been nearly erased and blackened by time and by age. Yet the walls and the massive gate they support still stand. As I turn slowly and survey the that empty snow covered square in front of me, and looking...

There is a legend about the Atlantic, that some call the animal, that says she never gives up her dead when the January winds hit heavy and turn the skies gloomy. The USS Saipan was a “gator freighter” bigger than most and came from some yard near Pascagoula Mississippi. But, it was just a bone to be chewed when those January winds came slashing with a vengeance-- The Saipan left fully loaded for Rota, after picking up th...

It's all my fault. No matter how much I blame the GPS it was still my mistake. Trusting technology over common sense got us into this situation. Damn! I can call it a situation, but it's more serious than that would ever convey. We're lost. Stranded and freezing. We could soon die, if we don't do something. If I don't do something. It's all my fault.The sandy surface of the California shore was burning our bare feet as we...

Chapter Twenty Noah looked down at his map and sighed. “You know,” he said, “I don’t know if I am going the right way or not.” “And you’re asking me for directions?” Primordious asked. “Well I mean I never have been to Saeyune before, remember I went straight from Uryaen to Aeon Torris. Not many magicians do that you know. Still this map has none of the roads marked out on it; it’s very vague I was extremely ripped off.”...

Looking back on things, I can see where I could have handled things at that point a bit better. Blurting out, “Are you shitting me? Who are they for?” probably wasn’t the best route to take. Especially if the look on Teagan’s face was any indication. Not one of my smarter moves at all. He turned and looked at me in disbelief. “They’re for me, Aislinn,” he snapped. I recoiled in surprise at his tone. Even at his angriest w...

Chapter Nineteen Draco returned to the waiting room, exhausted and covered in sweat and some of his own blood. His battle with Noah was intense, it was easily the greatest obstacle he had to overcome yet. The fight may not have been as long as some of his previous fights, but it took everything out of him and he barely won. He knew at the end of the fight it was all or nothing and he was gambling everything on Noah’s char...

Chapter Eighteen Darwin Petral stood at the top of the small hill looking over his home town of Laudrin, enjoying the last of the summer air. Before long his two older sisters, Edwin and Lesa, had come up the hill to grab him for supper. He pleaded with them to stay and watch the setting sun before going home and they obliged in his wishes. Together they sat down on the grass on both sides of Darwin. Ever since their pare...

Chapter Seventeen The Exhibition matches were held in a completely other coliseum that was closed off to the public and only open this one time of year. All of the contestants, Noah included, were to be paired at random match ups everyone fighting up to five times a day. There was no telling how many fights you had so if Noah didn’t get in his five fights before too long he would be stuck waiting around in case his number...

Chapter Sixteen The boat was filled with passengers of all ages and from around the continent. In fact it was anything but luxury cruise, as the boat was so full that passengers had to share a room to two people per a unit. Although Noah found out sharing a room wasn't so bad, there was plenty of space inside the room and there were two separate beds. Noah put his key on a string and tied it around his neck after getting...

Chapter Fifteen The next day Draco began traveling northwest to the capitol of Targoria. Since they had time before the tournament officially reset that year Lienna didn’t try and force Draco to ride on her back so that it would be faster. But she and Galrin stayed outside the whole trip; usually off doing their own thing but they always returned to Draco before he was going to sleep. It was always comforting for him to k...

Chapter Thirteen The arena that Noah was competing in was filled with healthy green grass and small thorn plants combing the side walls. There were also dozens of stone structures placed around randomly and throughout many parts of the arena were small canals with a constant stream of water running through them. The Tri-elements Arena, this place was called. And now Noah knew exactly why. It favored nature, stone, and wat...

Chapter Twelve Slowly Draco opened his eyes. He was staring at the moon, it was full, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight, only stars. He tried to get up fast, but fell back down and realized he was extremely dizzy. Trying again but much slowly he managed to stand on his feet though everything was spinning. Looking around he saw several small islands off across the waters around him, he recognized the area from his map; he...

Natasha and Damon meet and fall in love. Natasha sat at her desk listening to "All I Want to Do Is Make Love to You" by Heart on her iPod. The phone interrupted her reverie, but she did not mind. Cricket, Cal, Stefan and Monica were at an offsite meeting going over her performance under their tutelage. She had been doing well in every subject except assassination. She hated killing people; it ran against her moral upbring...

Chapter Nine Noah traveled East in a weeklong trip moving as fast as he could to get close to the edge of the continent. When he got to the point where he could see the edge, where the land connected to the ocean, Primordious told him he was there. Noah got a short rest until three large storm wyverns approached from the distance. Noah flew up into the air moving around charging energy. He tried circling around them but t...