The Eternal Series Book 3 Part 1

Chapter 6

Even though the survivors couldn’t go with the Guardian of Earth because of the Basilis, they did what they could to help around the shelter. Lunch was over, and a group of Diggers cleaned the kitchen and the dining area. While the Diggers cleaned, Ray, Haven, and Isabel stayed at their table and discussed their plan.

“What’s the first thing we should do?” asked Isabel with curious eyes, setting her glass on the table.

Ray thought for a moment. Haven sat in the middle of the table, hugged her knees, and shrugged her shoulders.

“I think our first objective is to find Dig,” stated the Earth Guardian, and Haven looked at him and Isabel.

“But where could Belhazur be keeping him?” asked the fairy, and Ray and Isabel looked at the table.

Suddenly, Isabel inhaled and looked at Ray and Haven.

“The old prison under the castle. He could be there.”

The Fairy guardian sighed and gave Isabel a knowing look.

“The prison has been shut down for centuries. How would Dig have gotten down there?”

Isabel shrugged her shoulders. Ray didn’t know much about the Earth World Realm, so he didn’t even know where to look, but Isabel’s idea seemed like a good place to start.

“Maybe Belhazur opened it. Besides, the prison does seem like a good place to start,” stated Ray, looking at Haven, and Isabel blew a breath.

“Think about it. If you wanted to hide something from everyone, where would you hide it?” she asked, and Ray shook his head.

“You would pick a place where you would think nobody would look. Who would think to search the prison if it’s been shut down for centuries and only a few knew about it.”

“Makes sense,” said Ray, and Haven looked at them with wide eyes.

“We don’t know what’s down there.”

Isabel looked at the fairy for a moment and nodded nervously. Ray looked at them and sighed heavily.

“What choice do we have?” he breathed.

After a moment of Haven arguing with herself, the Fairy Guardian straightened and nodded.

“Then we will start at the prison.”

Ray smiled and gave Haven a clipped nod.

“Question is, how do we get down there?” Isabel asked as she leaned over the table.

Haven sighed, and Ray looked at her in question.

“Come on, I know the way,” said the fairy, fluttering in the air and heading toward the door.

Ray and Isabel exchanged looks, shrugged their shoulders, and followed the fairy.

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Back in Halondelle, the skies were darker than ever, and the kingdom’s people barely saw the sun. Despite everything the villagers did, the crops, livestock, and food supply started dwindling. The domain started limiting how much they ate, how much water and electricity they used, and if one of the livestock animals died, they would process the animal immediately. Even Gale ordered the kitchen to make smaller meals. Gale would go without if that meant his people could eat, and Liam felt the same way.

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One afternoon, Liam and Chelsea took the boys to the pool room for some fun and much-needed relaxation. With everything currently going on, Bruce, Cellic, Simon, and Sam hadn’t had the chance to be kids, so that morning, Liam suggested going swimming, and the boys were thrilled with the idea.

The pool room was located in the back of the castle and was quite spacious. The room was made of glittering black and gray bricks from the ceiling to the floor. The floor was coated in a transparent soft material, so the rugged texture of the bricks wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feet. The large square pool was filled with crystal clear water in the middle of the room. A stone carved diving board was at one end of the pool, and a carved staircase at the other.

Bruce, Cellic, Simon, and Sam squealed as they walked into the room and ran for the pool. Chelsea and Liam chuckled, watching the boys toss their towels on the floor and jump into the water.

Liam happily took Chelsea by the hand and led her to the pool’s edge. They took off their shoes and socks and put their feet in the water. Chelsea smiled, watching her boys play, but then heard Liam heavily sigh. She turned her head and looked at him in question.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Liam glanced at the boys and then at Chelsea, taking her by the hands. Suddenly, the boys felt a tension in the air and stopped playing. Curiously, they looked at their mother and Liam, watching them silently.

“Listen, Chels. I care deeply about you and the boys, but if we are really headed for war, then I will be joining the others to defend our home,” Liam explained.

Chelsea searched his eyes momentarily and then sighed as she nodded.

“I was thinking the same thing. We are all going to have to come together and defend this place. Especially since the guardians aren’t here to help us.”

Liam looked into her eyes, putting his palm on her cheek.

“And we are coming with you!”

Chelsea and Liam jumped and turned their heads to see four determined-looking boys staring at them. They were too busy in the conversation that they didn’t realize Bruce, Cellic, Simon, and Sam had heard everything they were talking about.

Chelsea’s heart began to race, and she swallowed hard. Did her boys volunteer to join the war?

“Excuse me?” she asked after regaining her senses, and Cellic gave his mother a bold look.

“As you said, the guardians are gone, and this is everyone’s problem. We want to help!” he stated, and Bruce, Simon, and Sam agreed.

Liam let go of Chelsea’s face and turned to the boys with a serious look.

“Boys, we appreciate you wanting to help, but this isn’t a game. You could very well die.”

“We know that! We might be kids by how old we are, but we are more grown up than you give us credit for!” scoffed Simon, rolling his eyes.

Chelsea looked at her sons in awe, and Liam looked at her with care, raising his hand.

“No, it’s okay. Let them express themselves,” he breathed, and Chelsea looked at him.

After a moment, Liam and Chelsea looked back at the four boys.

“It’s a very noble thing you are willing to sacrifice your very lives to save our home, but the thing is, your mother and I don’t want to lose any of you,” stated Liam.

Bruce, Cellic, Simon, and Sam looked at each other, and Bruce nodded to Simon. Simon cleared his throat and looked at Liam confidently.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we will protect our mother, no matter what anyone says. That is something we have to do,” the boy stated, and Liam looked at him for a moment.

Liam looked at the boy’s mother and searched her eyes. Chelsea sighed heavily and looked at her sons. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at them with pride, She was proud to have raised strong and independent children, and the bad things they went through never changed their hearts.

“Alright. If that is what your hearts desire, but just remember, you can back out at any time,” she said, and Bruce looked at his mother oddly.

“That’s cowardly,” he stated, and Chelsea looked at her son with love, shaking her head.

“No, not at all. That would be smart, knowing to leave a battle you can’t win,” Chelsea explained, and Bruce only nodded.

The boys looked at each other, cheered, and swam away, acting like they were in a war. Chelsea and Liam chuckled, watching them, and then Chelsea looked at Liam with tears. Liam searched her eyes and blew a breath. They knew they had no choice but to let the boys join.

Chelsea knew if she didn’t, the boys would figure out how to join and get seriously hurt or worse. By letting them join the war, they would be trained and ready to help. Both Liam and Chelsea had a bad feeling in the pit of their stomachs, and Chelsea feared she was going to lose one of them.