Page 47 of Forging Bonds: Part Two

“That’s a great idea, my phone died days ago though,” Raiden mutters. “Is anyone else still alive?”

Everyone shakes their heads, indicating that all of their phones are dead, and since there is no traditional electricity in the castle, and by that I mean the kind of electricity that we’re used to in the Earth Realm, there’s nowhere that we can charge them.

“So that’s something else that we’re going to have to wait to do until after the Choosing,” River growls, his expression dark.

I think it’s safe to say that none of us are happy about having to wait even longer to help Coen. We walk through the giant gates of the castle in silence. The night wrapping around us, and the chill in the air making me wrap my arms around myself to try and keep some of the warmth in. The frustration that we’re all feeling is obvious in all of our body language.

“I might have an idea,” I announce, as I pick up my pace and jog through the doors of the castle.

“You can’t kill him,” Ransom says from beside me, easily keeping pace.

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye and smirk. While his words were teasing and he is smiling and looking amused, there is a thread of seriousness in his tone too.

“Don’t worry, that’s not my plan. Not yet, at least,” I grin, making the guys chuckle.

“I love that you are being serious,” River grins, and I wink at him.

His dark side is pretty fucking intriguing especially since it’s such a contrast to his usually light and playful personality. It was a surprise that he handles the more violent methods of interrogation, although probably not as much as it should be if I really think about it. They’re all violent, they’re all capable of doing the same kinds of things that I am.

I like it more than I should.

“Care to share the plan?” Reed asks, keeping his voice low since it is really late and in theory everyone in the castle should be asleep.

“Oh yeah, so you know Ribit,” I ask.

“Who?” Ransom asks.

“A frog?” Raiden grins.

“No, the ghost. The maid that used to work here,” I frown with my explanation, “I told you about her.”

“You didn’t. I would definitely remember you talking about a ghost,” Griff replies.

“She was the one who confirmed who was in the painting,” I reply as we continue up the flights of stairs to take us to the fourth floor.

I don’t know why, but I’m just assuming that is where she’s going to be, probably because that’s where I have found her the last few times.

“I thought the voices said who they were?” Van asks me curiously.

I shake my head, “No, they confirmed who they were to me, but Ribit is the one who told me that they were the king and queen of Trieneliea.”

“To be fair, I’m not surprised that Ribit wasn’t mentioned. We were all sort of focused on what they were to you,” Doc replies carefully, just in case we’re being listened to, and we don’t know it.

Chapter Seventeen

Neith

Iabsolutely do not think that it would be a good idea to allow anyone other than my most trusted people to know who my parents are. They’re royalty so they have enemies, and besides that we have no idea how far the Blue Fuckers reach goes and who he has working for him. He must have people working for him because how else could he have started the war? I have no idea how he is even in this realm since the whole point of closing the gates was so that the war, and more importantly, he, couldn’t get into the other realms.

My parents sacrificed themselves in order to keep the rest of the realms safe.

Although, having said that, I have absolutely no idea how Pete is here, he shouldn’t be, he should be in Trieneliea with my mother. The whole situation is confusing.

“Neith?” Raiden asks.

“Sorry, what?” I reply.

“We were wondering what your idea was and what it has to do with the ghost,” Raiden reminds me.

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