PALACE OF VENUS

HOURS 2008

LOCATION - PALACE OF VENUS, AMOUR, VENUS

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I took the pitcher and roughly poured myself a glass of water, drinking just as roughly. I closed my eyes and turned to the wall.

'Tyler,' I tried again, I wasn't getting a response, I couldn't feel him.

'Ty, where are you, I can't feel you, are you okay, talk to me.'

Again, no response.

'Tyler, Tyler,' I was screaming into his mind now, but our connection felt flat, non-existent.

"Sapph, you okay," Jaz asked, hesitantly walking into the room. I whirled around, biting my cheeks. I stared at her for a moment and then ran out of the room.

"The King of Jupiter," I asked to the first royal I saw, "where is he."

Jaz was calling my name as I ran through the crowd. The king of Jupiter talked to a few other men and I spotted him, I weaved myself through the crowd. My heels hit the floor and people moved away, confused by my rush.

The king looked up and he met my eyes just I came within talking distance to him.

"Tyler," I said. His eyebrows pinched together.

"What about my son," he asked.

"I can't feel him, I cannot feel him," I said rushing through the words, my heart threatened to leave my chest, "I can't feel him, our connection. Somethings wrong."

The king excused himself from his companions and pulled me to the side.

"What do you mean," he asked.

"I told you," I gritted, "I cannot feel Tyler, somethings wrong with him."

"Maybe he just shut of the connection."

I tugged my hair, biting my lip as I glared at him.

"We can't do that, that's not how it works," I said, "I cannot feel Tyler, something is wrong, we have to do something, you have to find him."

"He would have, pressed the emergency button."

"What do you not understand," I yelled. The people around us, turned in our direction.

"Sapph, calm down," Jaz said as she reached me.

"Nothing bad has happened do not worry."

"What do you mean," I yelled as I grabbed his blazer and pulled him toward me, "what do you mean, nothing bad has happened, I cannot feel your son, I can't feel him, our connection."

"Leave me," the king said trying to remove my hands

"No," I said and shook him, "I will not leave you till you understand, your son."

"What happened to Ty," Jaz asked from the side.

"Nothing," the king said. My eyes widened and I pushed him back. I stare at him a moment, mouth open but no words came to mind to explain my anger.

"I will find him myself then," I gritted, just able to say the words before I turned around and walked out of the room. The servant opened the doors of the balcony as I waked in its direction.

The wind hit my face. I took a deep calming breath and took my phone out to read the list of places Ty would have gone to look for Eli.

"Princess," prince Paul said. I turned and inclined my head, not trusting my voice to speak calmly.

"There is something," he said, "My gift, it is to see emotions from objects."

"From objects," I asked, he nodded.

"How does this concern me," I asked. He looked nervous and then pointed the clip in my hair.

"Who touched that last," he asked.

"What?" I asked confused, "Uh, Eli put it on for me this morning, I mean I haven't even touched it."

Paul looked in to the ballroom, through the glass doors of the balcony before he took it out of my hair.

"Where is Eli," he asked quietly, rubbing the clip between his fingers.

"I don't know," I replied, becoming worried now.

"Sapphire," he said, "He's in trouble, I don't know what trouble but in real trouble."

"What do you see," I asked taking a threatening step toward him.

"I cannot explain it, but he is in trouble."

I cursed and gripped the balcony railing, wanting to scream.

"There is something else, that confuses me slightly," he said. I shook my head, breathing in the cool air.

"Your whole body, is also vibrating, like something is really wrong but you are fine," he said. My mouth hung open and I closed it as soon as I noticed. The name whispered in my head as I struck out again to find our connecting chord. Nothing.

"Sapphire," Jaz said firmly, "You better tell me what is happening."

I turned around; a smile plastered to my face. I took er hands in mine.

"Nothings happening," I replied quietly, "Nothing will happen, I will find them."

Before she could respond, I thanked Paul and ran back into the building, finding my way back to King Maximillian.

"I am telling you, Tyler is in trouble, listen to me."

Again, not waiting for a response, I left the ballroom and assembled a portal. Canli appeared behind me and took a hesitant step towards me.

"Is there a problem, your highness," he asked. I pursed my lips and then nodded.

"If I gave you a list of places to check, how fast can you check them," I asked.

"If it is important, around 10 minutes," he said.

"It's very important, would you do it," I said, sending the list of locations to him.

"Your highness, I can administer others to do this but I cannot leave your side."

"Please go, get amenadiel to stay beside me," I said. He thought for a second and then hesitantly nodded.

"I can arrange that, your highness."

"Good, I need an update e in 15 minutes then."

He nodded and disappeared. I turned around and typed the location of the last place I was sure Tyler was at in the illeminite cube. The portal sprung up and I walked through.

As my feet hit the ground of the location, I felt a chill but I shook I off as the location I had landed in was prestigious. It was one of the most guarded places on Neptune, all the highest-ranking officers of Neptune lived here.

The street was quiet, which was expected for this time of night but the plants around seemed to rustle eerily. I took a few more steps.

'Amenadiel,' I whispered to him, but no response. I walked a few more steps.

"Tyler," I yelled walking faster, "Tyler."

Hearing a distant echo, I froze and turned around towards the voice.

"Tyler," I yelled again.

I heard a response again, louder this time. I walked faster.

"Help, please," a voice screeched in the air and then a second later it continued but quieter, "someone, please."

I ran towards the direction as the second scream shouted in the air. Both of my hands clutched a dagger each, slicing the air as I ran. The yell for help, sounded closer. As I ran closer, I felt the soul within me disappear. The hauntings of a beast, just a few seconds away from my mind,

And then I saw it. Two Lamborns fighting a man. I ran towards the both of them not thinking twice. My dagger struck out and I deviated one of the Lamborns away from the man.

The Lamborn, green in color hissed at me and then speaking something I cold not understand, disappeared along with its companion. I stood waiting for it to reappear but nothing.

I turned to the man.

"Sir," I said. He had taken out his phone and was rapidly typing into it.

"Sir," I repeated. He nodded and then put his phone away.

"Sorry," he said and then smiled, "Thank you for your help."

I stared at him, trying to recognize him. He knew what a Lamborn was, that already meant he was of a high rank.

"What rank are you," I asked. He looked at me. His postured changed almost immediately and I mimicked it, keeping my neck and shoulders straight.

"Officer," I said, "which rank."

"I thank you for your help," he said, ignoring what I has asked, "Do not speak of this encounter to anyone."

"Sir, which rank are you."

Maybe there was something in my tone or maybe he recognized me, because he stood up even straighter and saluted.

"5th rank," he said. I paused for a moment, rolling down the ranks of officers in the army.

"Commander Rivers, I presume," I said stretching out my hand. He shook it.

He nodded, "Princess Sapphire West."

"You're the princess," A small voice asked form the corner of the house. A little girl stepped into the light.

I nodded and crouched down to her height, "I am, what's your name."

"Angeline," she said. From this height, she was not what I originally assumed her to be. I could see a small flame igniting in her eyes. The anger in her posture.

"I assume you called out," I said.

"Yes," she said, "I am not strong enough to fight them."

"You are not," I said slightly surprised by her voice, "But you can be."

I turned back to her father, "Commander, why did they attack you."

"I do not know, this our sixth attack this week, we even had one at gaylord," he said.

"I know, I was there," I said.

"Do you know what it is that they want."

He shook his head but I understood the meaning behind it. He was not allowed to reveal any sort of knowledge to me.

"If you would excuse me," he said, "I have to go sort this out."

"Of course," I said, "but before you leave, have you seen a boy my age around here."

"I have not," he said and then inclined his head.

"Well then, I'll allow you to go your way," I said. He saluted and was just about to leave when the sound of boots halted the both of us.

"Princess Sapphire West," a soldier said. I glanced at Commander Rivers and responded in the affirmative.

"What is it," I asked, feeling dread seep through me as I thought of Eli and Tyler.

"Please come with us," he said. I bit my lip and again turned for confirmation from the Commander.

"Why," I asked.

"The queen has ordered it so."

My gaze dragged along their uniform. There was nothing wrong with it but their aura seemed off. Evangeline stood next to her father and I could see his whole-body tense.

'If there is something wrong, tell Evangeline to come hug me,' I transmitted to him.

Just as I spoke, the Commander bent down to speak to Evangeline and she came running to me.

"Dad says, they are not form the army, they did not salute to him."

I nodded, thinking the same thing.

'Tell your dad to come hug me, say it loud.'

She understood what I was trying to say and copied my words aloud.

"Come on dad, hug her," she said. The Commander hesitated but she insisted.

"What should I do," I asked as the Commander put his arms around me.

"Follow with them, I'll keep tabs on you," he said.

"Hurry up, we have to go," one of the soldiers said.

"Where's your protection," he asked.

"he had to go do something," I whispered, "can't you use your position."

"No, if the queen ordered these two, then they must obey."

I nodded and untangled myself from him. Commander Rivers saluted once more as the two soldiers positioned themselves beside me. I followed them but I saw commander Rivers finger return to his phone.

"Move faster," The soldier said, pushing me along.

"Treat me well, I am the princes," I hissed as he pushed me again.

'Canli,' I said, 'I am in trouble.'

There was no response, but the soldier next to me snickered. I glared at him

"What."

"You will not be able to reach anyone."

I bit my lip, trying to control the whirl of anger. I stopped moving and glared at the both of them.

"I want a portal; I will not walk further."

The soldier with blonde hair, looked confused for a moment and then laughed.

"No need, we have you where you need."

"What do you want," I asked jumping away from them and positing myself to protect myself. My left hand moved for my dagger but it was no longer in my pocket.

"Take this," the other soldier said giving me a dagger. I shook my head but then thinking better of it, took it from his hand.

As my fingers touched the hilt, the whole dagger curved around me wrists and locked itself into place. Fear flashed in my head and I could feel my whole-body contract.

"Who are you," I asked. My voice wavered.

"What do you want," I said, desperately trying to remove the cuffs. I tried to find my element but again nothing. I hissed.

"Elemental cuffs, dear," the soldier said.

I took a few breaths, focusing purely on my breathing.

"You are going to have to come with us," he said. I took a step toward him. If I couldn't use my arms, I was going to use my legs. Just as the thought occurred, I struck out.

My legs flew in the air and the soldier collapsed to the floor. The glint of something sharp, shone from the fallen soldier's belt and I grabbed for it. The other soldier tried to push me away but I persisted until it was clasped between my fingers.

I twisted around and pushed it as far as I could but the distant between us was too great. The soldier cursed and his fist collided with my face and I landed on top of the other soldier. The world around me fading to black.

I felt my body roll to the ground.

"Get up," the soldier whispered. I blinked rapidly, trying to prevent myself from falling unconscious.

"Kill me," the soldier groaned. I was too far out to understand but then after hearing the sound of metal plunging into flesh, I felt my emotions disappear.

"What did you do," one of them yelled. I opened my eyes, just barely able to see the outline of a figure floating in the air.

"Queen Sharooka, will kill you," the other one said.

"We had to though."

The justification sounds lame even to my ears.

The name resounded in my head but in with the blackness dimming the edges of my vision, I could not piece together what was happening. I felt a pair of arms curl around me as all emotions left me.

I shivered and the darkness took me.

*OOMPA LOOMPA*