Dark Oceans (Ocean Series Book 1)

by Rhonda Nelson

  The voices got louder. "No! Don't go – what about our wedding? It was all in the past – I love you now!" the girl pleaded desperately. The gruff masculine voice didn't reply, but Leo heard a door slam on the corridor.

  Leo hated arguments, even more than people disturbing his sleep. It brought back too many memories; the argument was the only clear thing in his mind. But it was such a long time ago; there was no way it could resolve. Fifteen...sixteen years since it had happened, he remembered the date – he remembered how he had felt. Everything he loved was taken from him that day, all those emotions at once...they felt like they were crushing him to pieces.

  "How do you cure madness?" Kelsie asked the physician; the heat of a candle warmed her fingertips.

  Dimitri smiled at her. "There is no cure for madness. None."

  Shock flooded into her. "But – but there must be a way!"

  Dimitri shook his head sadly, writing something down on a piece of yellowish paper. "Not even the strongest magic can cure madness. It's not something like a leg wound or a bruise; they are physical things and can easily be solved with magic. Madness is in your mind – it's not something physical and neither is magic. Put two non-physical things together and nothing happens."

  So, Leo has no hope then? Kelsie down casted her eyes to the tabletop. "But...there can be a way..." Dimitri said, twiddling his quill around his fingers. "If there was a physical potion or elixir that could cure madness – it might work. But no one has ever discovered how to make it. Not even I can make it and if I can't then there's no chance." Big headed much... "An object or even a person could probably help though – it might be easier. It might make the diseased person regain his sane memories..." Dimitri continued in a bored voice.

  Kelsie's eyes lit up. That's it. If Leo could somehow tell her someone, he knew...maybe Kelsie could find him or her and Leo will be cured. "Thanks," Kelsie said getting up from the table.

  "Anytime sweet cheeks," Dimitri replied giving her a dazzling smile. His perfect white teeth momentarily blinded her. She rolled her eyes and turned her back to him, making her way towards Leo's bedroom. He was still under the influence of potions and was in a semi-conscious state. Pushing open the small creaky door, her gaze fell upon Luke's slightly misshapen figure. Looking closer at him Kelsie could barely recognize him. His usual bright red eyes were shut as he lay peacefully on the bed. His greasy hair wasn't so greasy anymore and it was turning a lighter color – more like blonde. Was it her imagination or was he taller? It was hard to tell when he was lying down, but he looked more slender and graceful.

  Though the most change was his nose. Before it had been just a spotty snub with black goo dripping out, but now...now it was sharper, more pointed. Most of the spots had disappeared. It was like looking at a cross between an elf and a goblin. "You've been a good friend," she whispered softly to him, though she knew that he couldn't hear her. "It's going to be hard saying goodbye...I can't imagine life without you. You've got such a unique heart – I'm...just going to miss you when you go. Don't ever change."

  "I won't." Kelsie jumped in alarm; her eyes narrowed in anger. "You've been listening the whole time?"

  Luke opened his eyes, which were now a light purplish color. "Yes. Didn't you want me too?"

  "Uh..."

  "It was nice what you said," Luke cut in. "You're a good friend as well."

  "You still weren't meant to listen," Kelsie pointed out, glaring at him.

  "Then why did you say it right in my ear, then?"

  "It wasn't in your ear."

  "Was!"

  "Wasn't!"

  "Was!"

  "Wasn't!"

  "WAS!"

  "WASN'T!"

  "Can you buy me some chocolate?"

  "No! It's nighttime," Kelsie said, folding her arms.

  "But I'm hungry! Pleeeeese?" Luke gave her big eyes.

  "The shops won't be open."

  "Yes, they are! They stay open all the time in Alltalos – so please can you buy me some?"

  Kelsie sighed. "Only this once."

  Luke grinned happily. "Yay!" With a groan, Kelsie got up from the floor and picked up a small bag of coins, leaving the dungeons hurriedly. She ran up the spiraled staircase, not looking back once at the cobweb infested tunnels. Her footsteps clanged heavily on the metal steps and then softened as she started walking over the cold mosaic coated streets of Alltalos. It surprised her that there were still a lot of elves wandering around; there was a massive crowd of them gathered round an open fire.

  Someone was talking from the middle of the circle, gesturing wildly to the audience. His story telling voice rang loud and clear, that even Kelsie could hear it from far away. "– a story of betrayal and devious enchantment. Although is this really a story? Or some twisted history that happened not that long ago...so gather round, gather round -" His voice got quieter and quieter as she turned the corner and headed down a narrow street, where the shadows were longer and more sinister the further she walked. A burning torch of green fire was hung next to a sign that said, 'Beauregard's finest chocolate'.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Kelsie smiled when she saw Azura's little sweet-smelling shop. The lights were still on inside and a sign on the door said 'open' The chime of a bell rang as she pushed open the door. Her eyes fell upon the many shelves of neatly wrapped chocolate and truffles. "Needing any help?" The haughty voice startled her. Kelsie spun around to face a tall black-haired boy with an eye patch over one of his eyes. He was standing a bit too close for liking and his hand was dangerously near her bag of coins.

  "Are you a pirate?" Kelsie spurted out before she could stop herself. The guy smiled cruelly.

  "I take that as a yes?" Kelsie said, irritated that he didn't answer.

  "Yes...so...if you've got any gold you better hand it over, before I..." he swiped a finger across his throat.

  Kelsie almost laughed at his failed attempt to look scary. "Did Azura put you up to this?"

  "No, can I have your bag of gold?"

  "Uh – no," Kelsie said backing away from him; she gripped the bag in her left hand tightly.

  The 'pirate' pouted. "But I need it – Captain K is going to kill me if I don't!"

  Kelsie nodded slowly and sarcastically. "Captain K? Can you stop pretending now? Who actually are you?"

  "Ethan, Ethan Nakamura...and for your information I am a pirate – but don't tell Azura though! She'll sack me and then I won't be able to rob all of her customers whilst she's away," he looked terrified at the thought.

  "Ooook...can I buy this bar of chocolate?" Kelsie held up a ribbon tied chocolate bar. Ethan's brown eye sparkled in glee. "Yes! Of course! That's twenty gold coins."

  Kelsie gaped. "No way! You're lying, it's not that expensive – I'll give you four coins, ok?" she dropped them into his outstretched hand. His face fell.

  "But...Ratzu will kill me if I don't steal enough – I'm a hopeless pirate..."

  "You could just not be a pirate," Kelsie suggested.

  "He'll kill me if I quit, anyway I'm stealing all of your gold if you don't give it to me." Without warning he pounced on her, toppling her to the floor. She rolled to the side as a sword came down on her head. Jumping up she unsheathed her own sword and blocked another charge from Ethan. He was quicker than she thought he was, but Kelsie was still faster and stronger. She kicked him right in the head, sending him flying into a table, splitting in into two. Packets of chocolate tumbled down from the shelves as he crashed into them; sprinkles of white topping decorated his hair like dandruff.

  He stood up murderously and leaped not to gracefully over the broken table, slashing repeatedly at Kelsie. A small line of blood appeared on her arm, making her grit her teeth in pain. Quickly she sides stepped one of his strikes and hit the flat of her blade on his head. Ethan stumbled backwards falling out of the door and into the street. Kelsie charged again and stabbed multiple times at Ethan, blocking each of his weak attempts to thwart her, at ease.

  "You
can't defeat a pirate!" he yelled. "Ratzu will find you, you can't hide forever!"

  "Then let him find me!" Kelsie, kicking him again and making him fall to the ground. "See if I care." Night guards were running towards them, their torches eerily lighting up the narrow street.

  They carried shields and swords, engraved with pictures of tridents. "He's a pirate!" Kelsie called, pointing her sword at Ethan's neck. "He tried to rob me!"

  The guards hoisted the barely conscious pirate up and half dragged him away from Kelsie. "Pirate, huh? Let's see how you survive in the dungeons," a guard growled.

  Ethan's nose dripped with blood. "Ratzu...will...find...you..." he managed to say, before he got taken away down the road. Kelsie snorted, not in the least bit scared of his threat. She pocketed the chocolate...and bumped straight into a short obese man.

  "Waaatch where yer goinggg," he mumbled, his breath smelt strongly of wine. "Not nice to beat uhp dee – defenthless civiliaannns... "

  "Drunk civilians more like," Kelsie muttered.

  "I'm...I'm nott drunnk," he slurred, almost falling headfirst in Kelsie. "Come on inthide – I've gert free beerrr for eveeryone tonight. Maajor party..."

  "Uh – I've got to get back," Kelsie told him, trying to maneuver around him. The guy promptly threw up on her feet. Lovely. She pushed him away from her.

  "Don't goooo!" he persisted, stumbling towards her. "The – thhe king even likes my wine, hee gert a whol' crateful off me the other dayy."

  "The king did?" The man nodded drunkenly; his eyes rolled in the back of his head for a split second. "ee said somefing 'bout ferick leeaves – dunno why, think 'ees a bit crazy if yer ask me..." Ferick leaves. The name rang a bell in Kelsie's mind, but she couldn't think what it was.

  "I need to go."

  "Nooo!" he grabbed her arm. Kelsie harshly flung him off her and he went sprawling on the ground, as soon as his head hit the mosaic patterns, gigantic snores heaved out of his mouth. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, Kelsie strode away, returning her sword back to its sheath.

  "Azura! What's the matter?" Alyssa said, her eyebrows tilting upwards in worry. The tear faced girl flung herself into Alyssa's arms, crying openly. "Do you want to tell me," Alyssa said kindly, as she let go.

  They both sat on Alyssa's large poster bed, Azura dabbed a well-used handkerchief to her eyes. "I've been so – so horrible..." Azura said through gulps. "Charlie left me. Our wedding is over." The candlelight flickered as Azura continued to sob.

  Alyssa put a reassuring hand over her shoulders. "What happened? Maybe he'll forgive you."

  Azura shook her head. "I... I c – can't undo the past...he th – thinks I'm a... whore now...I should n-never have told him that I-I use to sleep with other g-guys." She put her face miserably in her hands, the tears dripped between her fingers.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Alyssa's brain kicked in, though it wasn't exactly hard to figure what to do. "Apologize, don't shout at him. Just tell him you're sorry and if he doesn't accept that, then leave him."

  "B-but what if he doesn't forgive me? I can't just leave him, he means everything to me," Azura fretted. Her eyes were big and nervous, full of despair.

  "A true love would never let you go so easily," Alyssa stared firmly into her pale blue eyes.

  "If he can't forgive you, then he's not the guy you thought he was."

  Azura sniffed and adjusted her hair. "Thanks Alyssa, I'll-" The window suddenly burst open. Azura screamed as a cloaked figure jumped inside the chamber. The person pulled down their hood, revealing Ben's handsome features that glowed slightly in the candlelight.

  "Ben!" Alyssa squealed angrily. "I'm in my nightgown!"

  Ben smirked, putting his hands over his eyes but Alyssa could see him peeping through his fingers. "Sorry! Guess I shouldn't look then."

  "Just what are you doing here at midnight?" Alyssa demanded; hiding herself under the bed covers.

  Ben took his hands away from his face, suddenly serious. "I saw two shadows creeping along the battlements – they're heading this way now." A chill seemed to fill the room making Alyssa shiver.

  "Alyssa, is that Benjamin?" Azura squeaked in awe.

  "I prefer Ben, if you don't mind," Ben said, smiling at her, not really noticing the dried tear stains on her face.

  "Although he doesn't have a proper name," Alyssa added helpfully. "So, who are these people?"

  "That's what I want to find out," Ben said, looking out the window again and then retreated inside. "I don't know what they're doing, but they seem pretty suspicious."

  "Can I follow as well?" Alyssa said, longing for an adventure.

  "What about me?" Azura said in a small voice.

  "You can join in the fun as well," Ben said, winking cheekily at her, making her cheeks flush red. Good thing that Beck didn't see that...

  "I need to get changed," Alyssa said. Ben looked at her. Alyssa sighed. "I would appreciate it if you didn't watch."

  "What if I want to watch?" Ben asked innocently.

  "Creep," Alyssa muttered. She lifted the covers off herself; luckily Ben had gone back to looking out the window. Alyssa hurriedly pulled on some riding wear, since it was the only practical thing she had. There was no way she was going out in the wind wearing one of her many flimsy dresses.

  "They're going past anytime soon," Ben said urgently.

  "Ok – ok I'm ready," Alyssa hurried over to the windowsill that looked out onto the battlements.

  "Do we have to follow them?" Azura whined. She looked down at her elegant dress, which was damp from the tears.

  "You don't have to," Ben said.

  "But what about Ann-"

  "Shh...They're going past," Ben put a finger to his lips. He checked outside again and then motioned them to follow him. Alyssa jumped down from the window ledge onto the stone battlements of the castle, the wind whipped her hair around her face. Azura looked out the window at them nervously, and then she hesitantly jumped down holding her billowing dress in the process.

  They kept to the shadow of the wall, crouching down just like the elves in front of them. A tremor of excitement washed through Alyssa; her heart beat loudly in the silent slumber of night. A narrow staircase led them down off the battlements and through some streets; the figures led them down the market street and into a posh well-built area of Mylvehil.

  "They're going to Kelsie's house," Alyssa whispered with confusion. Why were they going to Kelsie's house? Ben nodded, though his eyes were focused on the grand mansion they were sneaking towards. The two dark figures entered the gate at the start of the driveway and made their way up to the double doors of the mansion.

  "Wait here," Ben commanded, stopping them at the large iron gates.

  "What? We're coming as well," Alyssa retorted quietly, glaring at him.

  "You can't use magic, your friend can keep you company here," His voice sounded firm and left no room for debate.

  "So, you just dragged us two down here for no reason?" Alyssa asked angrily, gesturing to Azura.

  "It was your own free will," Ben muttered. "But I have to do this on my own, ok?" Alyssa scowled, retreating into the foliage. Ben smirked and clicked his fingers, vanishing into thin air.

  The moment his body disappeared, he walked right through the gates as if they weren't there. Ben still couldn't believe that Alyssa still got angry at him – it was like she took every opportunity to make everything difficult. There was no way she is 'head over heels' as Rachel put it. Pushing the thoughts aside, Ben ran hastily down the driveway, crunching the gravel as he went. Inside the mansion a new light flickered on in a room, he could see three men walk into it, in deep discussion.

  Drawing up his energy he passed through the solid stone wall and into the large fire lit room. Ben's eyes widened at the sight of the three men. The Duke and the King of Alltalos – he recognized the third beefy man as Alyssa's bodyguard. What was going on?

  "- got ferick leaves? We need them for next week - urgently," The king of Al
ltalos was saying, in a hushed tone.

  "No, they haven't arrived yet-" The duke said twisting a finger in his neatly trimmed beard.

  "Why not? They should be here by now – do you want this to work or not?" The Kings' eyes shouldered with anger.

  "Yes, of course I do -"

  "Then get those ferick leaves delivered quickly. I want them here in before the Royal Banquet."

  The duke nodded slowly, his eyebrows furrowing. "Ares' men are working hard – it's probably a three-day journey back from the west coast."

  The King nodded grimly. "They better have started their journey by now, then."

  "They have – most likely they will be here in two days," the Duke replied hurriedly. There was an awkward silence.

  The king tilted his head upwards as if sensing something, his eyes flashed. "Do you sense that?" he asked, though it sounded as if he were talking to himself. The duke shook his head in confusion.

  "Sense what?" The king paused again; his eyebrows scrunched together as if he were working out a puzzle.

  "In this room...there's something familiar about this room...something in this room...I can't put a finger on it..." The duke shrugged. Ben froze, holding his breath. The Alltalosn king shook his head.

  "Anyway, it doesn't matter; I hope you get those leaves soon enough or else..." The duke gulped. He looked petrified of the tall imposing King. He nodded hastily. And all around them an evil lurked in the air.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  She saw his pale blue eyes from across the courtyard; they stood out from the crowd, like gemstones in a rubbish heap. Tristan stood on the opposite balcony that looked out over the huge square yard; Alyssa felt his eyes penetrating hers. She pulled her gaze away from him and stared down into the abnormally crowded courtyard.

  A circle in the middle was free of people, apart from one. He was chained to a post, though he wasn't struggling any more. Tension brewed silently in the atmosphere, as the crowd muttered and tried to lean over other people’s shoulders. Alyssa stared down in curiosity at the man in the middle. His appearance was an elf in the mid-twenties, but she knew that he was probably much older. A parting suddenly split through the crowd; a slow drumbeat started playing. The audience whispered nervously; some were crying.