Chapter Eight Jones Lock

 Welcome To Jones Lock

They opened their eyes to see that they were no longer on the Island Of Coral. Bash and Chashathrophogh looked around to see where they were. The ground was dry and there were several arches upside-down like the bottom of a ship out the top of a church. With a flat aria in the center. They could see dry coral around them that had never been touched by water in decades. Then when they looked up at where the sky should be, they saw a body of water above them as far as the eye could see! They could see sharks and kraken and all kinds of fish swimming above them.

Upon seeing this and feeling like he was the end of his tether, Chashathrophogh looked at Cerpheres. He wasted no time and ran up to him. Before he could even do anything he grabbed the man by his collar and pulled him in. He drew a dagger and dug it under his chin. His face was completely taken over by both rage and anger. Meanwhile Cerpheres looked at him shocked but also amused at the same time.

"Where are we? And none of your usual minotaur dung!"

"Oh? Couldn't you tell? This, my dear Chashy, is Jones Lock."

"It's 'Chashathrophogh' alright. But does it matter? Now tell me, and do yourself a favour and give me a good answer, why don't I kill you right here and now?"

Cerpheres smiled and kicked his lips. His face became red as he looked aside.

"Well I assume you want that sorcerer that cast that spell on you?"

"Yes and that box of his! Why?"

His eyes widened almost as if he had figured out something.

"What! Are you telling me-"

Cerpheres chuckled playfully, looking at the man as if he was a cute animal.

"Oh dear no! But I do know him. In fact I'm his most troublesome son!" He laughed playfully, waving his hand around.

He then let out a laugh.

"What!" Chashathrophogh exclaimed, his grip loosening slightly.

"Yes. Although, I can't say I know where he is, however I do think that if you keep me around…" 

He licked his lips and leaned closer.

"Maybe you could find him easier. And do me a favour and once you do…"

He cupped his cheek.

"Could you kill him for me?"

At this Chashathrophogh punched him.

"Aw! That wasn't very nice." He moaned, pouting. "For that I might not help you!"

"I don't care. Also I would like you to know, once we find him and make him break his spell. I will kill him and then you're next. Have you got that?"

He smiled drunkenly with a nonchalant look on his face. He shrugged.

"Of course."

"Then wipe that look off your face. It's getting me irritated."

His flirtatious look intensified.

"What?"

"You look so cute when you're angry!"

At this he threw the blade at him. He dodged, just missing his cheek. His eyes widened as he looked at the blade and him. He smiled, impressed by this.

"Next one won't be a warning!"

He smiled to himself.

"Alright. I'll think about behaving!" He sang.

Yet his red cheeks told Bash that he read only saying it in jest. She knew that the longer that he stayed around the more of a liability he would become. She also knew that she would probably be the only one to keep her uncle calm and try to make Cerpheres behave. Yet she could not know if it was something that she could do, well alone at least.

Best change the subject.

"Tell me, is your physical appearance part of your curse?"

He looked at a stand of his hair. He pushed it back.

"No."

"Then why does it change along with your voice?"

"What? Can't I have a little fun?"

She rolled her eyes.

Don't entertain it. Just get him to keep talking about anything that won't anger Chashathrophogh.

"So what was your original hair and eye colour?"

"Well the hair that is…" his hair changed to the colour of royal purple garnet and emerald eyes. "...this colour I use this voice but.." his hair changed to emerald and amber eyes. "...when I use this voice this is my hair and eye colour. Although my original eye colour is amber and the purple hair is my original eye colour."

She nodded.

"Right. Now where's civilization?"

"Here!"

They followed him to a small town with buildings made of old coral and shipwreck wood making up the doors and window doors. Underneath each of the windows were a row of plants. All of the coral buildings were off all colours. There were flat roads and none had any gardens. They could see that there were several towers that were so tall that it even touched the water. There were several men and women swimming at the bottom and some caught some fish in a net and then swam down and grabbed the top of a ladder and pulled themselves down and climbed down. Then they would walk down and give them over to a group of children. They walked to a table, where they gutted the fish. 

They noticed a child tug at the rim of his father's coat. He had brown eyes and light brunette hate and wow nothing but brown and cream clothing. He looked down and the child pointed at them. He looked up at them. Then others noticed the group. Some stayed where they were yet others started to walk up to them.

"Hello, I am Jonoh. I can tell you must be new."

"Yeah."

"We just arrived."

"Then welcome to Jones Lock."

"Come! We have new residents!"

Jonoh's children and their friends took them and pulled them to a group of adults.

"Let go of me!" Chashathrophogh snapped.

"Oh come on! Just go along with it. You might find it fun!"

"Cerpheres, please don't push him like that!"

"Why not?"

"He would try to kill you."

He raised his eyebrows as he smiled. He would have looked pleasant if it was not for his red cheeks. She noticed that his breathing had become heavy.

"You would like that, wouldn't you!"

"Maybe!"

"Come on! There are children around!" Snapped Chashathrophogh, hitting him with the bottom of his first.

He sighed.

"Alright! I'll try to keep a lid on it. Although I'll make no promises!"

They were soon dragged to a restaurant.

"Come on! Get some fish! We've got new people!" A boy shouted.

"We have!"

Soon they were eating fish and seaweed and they drank into the night.

"Here's to the new ones!" 

"Here, here!"

Some danced. Cerpheres then took Bash and pulled her in and taught her more dance moves, while Chashathrophogh looked at them, carefully monitoring them. Yet a girl walked up to him.

"Urm…could you dance with one of us?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I prefer to keep a close eye on him."

"Why?"

"I do not trust him with her."

"Alright."

Yet soon they soon walked back to him. Bash was looking sleepy.

"Is there a hotel here?"

"No hotel. Just choose an empty house and live there."

They then walked out and found one on the outskirts, they walked up and sprouted that it was a small house with a kitchen to the left and the living room to the right. In the center was a curved staircase that looked to two small bedrooms.

"Cerpheres, you're with me." Barked Chashathrophogh sleepily.

"Alright!"

"Bash, you can have a room to yourself!"

"Right!"

There they walked up the stairs and were all soon asleep.

Cerpheres's Secret

The following morning came before they knew it. It only seemed a moment ago that they had fallen asleep before they were waking up. Although, part of Chashathrophogh hoped that the events of the day before were some strange fever dream after seasickness got to him or a vision of some sort. Yet reality disappointed him as it usually did. Yet the only bright side was that he did not have to put up with the pirates anymore.

Neither he or Bash knew what time they woke up, just that it was morning. Judging by the light outside and their hunger it was mid morning at least. When they walked down the stairs they saw Cerpheres cooking away, humming a happy and upbeat tune.

"Good morning sleeping beauties!" He sang.

"What do you want?" They said in unison.

"I think I've already said. However, right now, I'm cooking for you!"

Chashathrophogh and Bash sighed.

"Alright." They said, yawning.

They looked at each other for a moment.

"But I will kill you if there's any poison-"

He chuckled.

"How scary! But never fear, I don't like to waste food like that. Although, you're quite cute when you look like that."

He growled and gave him a look that if looks could kill…

This was met by a light-hearted giggle.

"And when you're angry too!"

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes as his hands rested upon the weight of his dagger.

"Calm down! After all, if you kill him we will never get out of here!"

"See? That's a good reason to keep me around!"

"Also, I think he'll like it far too much."

"Guilty!"

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes.

Can't believe he would actually admit it! Then again I can.

"Alright, but after this I will-"

"Kill him to your heart's content."

Chashathrophogh smiled.

Cerpheres chuckled.

"I see how it is. I'm on your list now. I like that."

"Unless there's a hefty bounty on your head. If so, it'll be sometime after bringing you in."

"Sure, it'll give us a head start."

"Speaking of which, Cerpheres you have been here before and you were able to escape. So how did you get out of here?"

He looked up as his cheeks became red, looking drunk despite being sober. He liked his lips.

"Well I will tell you if you want."

Bash suppressed her annoyance and mild fear.

"Just try to tell it without sounding like you need some alone time."

He chuckled.

"No promises! Well when I was a child, my mother and stepfather never showed me any love. In fact neither did my wet nurse, nah she was too busy earning the money and not doing her job. Yet the only one who showed me any kind of parental love was the court jester. Who I modelled myself on-"

"Just get to the part where you escape!"

"Oh! Well that came much, much later!" He said, pointing at her and waving it back and forward playfully. 

Chashathrophogh tapped the weight with his finger. He looked down and smiled to himself as he shrugged playfully.

"See, as I've already said, I love greatness."

"Too much if you ask me." Chashathrophogh said under his breath.

"So I wanted to surround myself with great people. So I gathered a crew, a great crew…I wanted to cultivate all the seeds of greatness that they had."

"Yet!" He sighed."Even though some became great, some could've become greater but they stunted their greatness irreversibly. So they had to go."

"Strena, take it to the Demon Realm! Calm down!"

He let out a shaky and long breath.

"Well some of them showed such greatness that…that…I could not contain it!"

Then a knife buried itself into the wooden table next to his hand. He looked down and then looked at Chashathrophogh, who still had his hand on his knife. They then looked at Bash who had her hand extended. He opened his mouth and smiled.

"Just get to the point that you escaped." 

He shrugged as he let out a long and deep breath, calming himself down.

"I'm getting to that! Anyway, there was one that I had a close and intimate relationship with, mainly because I knew that it would bring out the greatness within her. She wanted to impress me, see? It was during this time that she told me of an interesting quest."

He licked his lips.

"That if it was completed it would put our names down in history. Even though I was not interested in the game, I knew that it would make us the greatest crew and…and…and…I had to do it!"

"Cerpheres!"

"Alright alright! I'll calm down. So this is what put us on the quest for the Pieces Of Eight. We set off, finding piece after piece. Soon we had them all! Every single one. Then I easily completed the puzzle. After all, it was an easy one to do. Even a child could do it! And that led us here. We stayed here for a good number of years before I found a way out. It was only the sea death god Deavay that could get us out of here. So I met up with him. He told me that he could let me go at a price."

"And that was?"

"You know, you interrupt quite a lot! You really ought to let a gentleman tell his story!"

"Just keeping you in line! And I hardly would call someone like you a 'gentleman'!"

"Yes, well, he gave me a choice: stay here and live the rest of my long, long days here or sacrifice my crew and leave them to whatever fate each piece would have provided."

That was when Bash remembered the old man and that pig. She remembered how each of them looked at Cerpheres like he was their saviour. With a sink of her heart, she now knew why. She could not help but feel sorry for each and everyone of them. All of them dreamed for the moment that their Prince Captain would save them, only for them to either die where they were out to be killed by that man.

"And you accepted."

"Of course."

She frowned.

"How could you? They trusted you and one of them loved you! How could you betray them like that?" Chashathrophogh shouted.

Bash looked at him, shocked. Yet Cerpheres too looked shocked before he chuckled.

"I see you're not good with betrayal. I never could have imagined that! Anyhow! They were, admittedly, becoming stale so I was starting to lose interest. And you saw what happens when that happens. Although, I could say the same thing to you about your killing of Gurter." He said  putting the plates in front of them.

"Well I never loved her in that way. In fact, I don't think that I loved at all."

"Oh? And you call me cruel!"

He let out a sigh.

"Well, we're going to have to find another way out." She said, looking at him, again noticing just how handsome the man was.

She tried to picture him looking ugly in anything but quickly failed. She had to look away as she took a bite. Her eyes widened as she tasted the food in her mouth. This was better than anything that she had ever tasted before. She looked down, wondering how he could make the food taste so good.

Suddenly she could understand why that woman could fall for such a creep.

"What is it girl?"

"It tastes great!"

He took a bite suspiciously. It was the best thing that he had ever tasted, even better than that grey stew his friend would cook for him.

"You're right!"

The Coral Tower

Chashathrophogh and Bash were exploring the town. Mainly to take a break from having to put up with Cerpheres. Yet, even though they wanted a break from Cerpheres, they knew that he was tailing him. They could feel his presence, making them cringe. They tried not to show it and all they could to ignore the man as they wanted to lose themselves in their own thoughts. 

They looked around and saw the men and women swimming in the water above them. Catching fish after fish and they climbed down with their catch. Something that they were determined not to get used to. They went to look for a market place only to find that there was none. They soon found out, the people here, did not even have a currency!

"Why?" Bash asked.

"Simple, most people here come here with nothing. So what would be the point?" A woman replied.

"Good point."

They looked up again at the seabed above them. Chashathrophogh narrowed his eyes as he looked up at the light.

"How thick is that water?"

"I don't know. Yet none of us have been able to reach the top. All that have tried either drowned or been eaten." A man said, next to her.

"Right."

"Is there a place here that is older then the rest?"

"Yes. The Coral Tower. It's the one building that none here has built and it's the tallest." He said, pointing to a high tower at the edge of town.

"Right. We will be going there next."

"Why?"

"It might have what we need."

They then walked away from the group before the townsfolk could put them off. Yet as they walked on. As they did, they could not help but feel creeped out as they could sense Cerpheres looking at them both. Bash curled her fist, again, trying not to show just how uncomfortable she was. They walked on, trying to ignore this as they walked on and on. Yet as they did the feeling put them more and more on edge. Soon they could not handle it.

"Cerpheres, stop it!" They both shouted.

He let out a playful giggle.

"So you noticed?"

"How could we not!?"

"Now stop it!"

"Oh! Do I have to?"

"Yes? We can not think. So go away!"

"No!"

Bash rolled her eyes, but she noticed the men and women swimming above them.

"Cerpheres, would you mind catching some fish? That way, we will have a good meal when we get home."

He smiled.

"Alright!"

He looked up as he did, he pulled out a locket. They looked up to see the fish swimming down. They swam and swam and soon broke out of the water surface and fell down in front of them. There were soon more and more falling down. They soon had enough for a good meal.

He then gave them a bow.

Looks like that did not work.

"Looks like we're stuck with him."

"I still could kill him."

"Oh? But what about-"

"Yes, I hope that you do not make us forget it. Now we need to get to the Coral Tower. I think that it will contain at least one thing that will get us out of here."

"Right."

"I wouldn't bet on it!"

"You shut up. And stop looking at us in that manor!"

"What? You're both cute when you're angry!"

Chashathrophogh pulled out a blade and painted it at his throat. He pulled him in and pushed him on. He put the tip of the dagger to the back of his head.

"Oh, do you have to be so rough?"

"Shut up and walk."

"Alright!"

They walked on. Bash could not help but feel disgusted at the fact that she could not help but notice just how attractive the man was. She could not help but notice that he was enjoying himself far too much. She knew that she would have to keep a close eye upon him. 

She would dread to think what her mother would do if she was here. Knowing her, she would have her married off to the man as soon as she could. She looked aside, as her mind flicked over the events that led them to become an exile.

"Tell me, does your father have the ability to shape shift?"

He looked at her with a smile.

"Yes. Yes he does."

"What are you getting at girl?"

"I think that the sorcerer turned into you. Then he ensured that he was seen in the castle when he killed my father and brother. So that he would trick my mother into killing us."

"Why?"

"I don't know." She admitted as they arrived.

They soon walked in.

"So, my birth father wants you dead…then you must be destined for greatness, indeed!" He spoke with a low tone and smiled.

"You better calm down."

Inside there were several floors, all filled with many scrolls. With a coral staircase spiralling in the centre of the inside leading to a floor in the top. With a single bannister going around the staircase.

"Right. Let's see if there's anyone at home shall we?"

Bash looked back.

"Hay does anyone live here?" She asked.

"No ma'am. That building's for the records of all who have lived here."

"See? Is this open to all of the public?" Chashathrophogh asked.

"Yes sir!"

They then turned back to the tower.

"See?"

Cerpheres moaned.

"Why take the fun out of it?"

They rolled their eyes as they walked to the stairs. They kept quiet as they reached  the top. So, when they reached the room, they saw that there were tables and chairs in the centre of the room, next to the staircase. With a stone floor.

They looked all around the room. They spotted that the upper floors had the older records and Cerpheres took out a scroll and gave it to Bash.

"Here you go! You'll find this one quite interesting."

She then looked at the scroll and opened it suspiciously. The moment that her eyes rested upon the name at the top her attention was gripped.

Phorap Philosopher

So Phorap The Mad was once here! I wonder if that had man found a way out. If so, then how did he do it? Did he do the same thing at Cerpheres? No, he had to have found another way out.

So she sat down. She took out a pair of arrows to weigh the curl down. She continued to read.

I had arrived in this strange place three days

ago. It was after I had made a strange prophecy.

I do not know what I had said, however, whatever

I had said angered the gods and goddesses. They

created this place for me.

I do know that there must be a way out. I just have

to find it

She then put that scroll away and soon found another.

A way has opened up to me. This place is ruled by

the death sea god Da Vé Joh. I hope to make an

agreement with him in the morrow.

She turned the page.

Phorap Philosopher

Is that it? She thought, looking up.

She saw more writing on the back.

The negotiations did not work. It led to a fight. 

To my surprise I won. I killed a god! Now I still have 

to go. So do not expect anything from me. 

I will have to find out how I was able to find out

how I was able to kill a god. Which, if you are

reading this, then I warn you to that once every

fifty years the sky of water comes down and kills

everyone who had the misfortune to find themselves 

in this place.

At this her eyes widened, and she felt her blood run cold.

"Tell me, how old is the oldest person that lives here?"

"You know I don't know!"

"Well we have to find out as soon as possible."

The Gathering

"Tell me." Chashathrophogh spoke to the local townsman.

"Do you know where the person that has lived here the longest is?" Asked Chashathrophogh.

He nodded as he pointed across the road.

"Over there."

"Thank you." Said Bash.

They walked to the door and knocked. A middle aged woman with silver hair and eyes walked out. She had a dark muddy green lace dress soon several layers. With a dark blue lace cardigan over her shoulders that tied at the centre front by a thin white rope.

She looked at Cerpheres and took a step back and looked slightly afraid.

"What-what do you want?"

"To know a few things. Don't worry Agatha, it's not too bad! Depending on your answer, you might not even need to work your pretty little head!"

She nodded, her breath becoming faster.

"Urm o-okay!"

"How long have you been here?" Bash asked.

Her eyes glanced back to Cerpheres.

"I was born here." 

"And how old are you?"

"I will be fifty in a couple of months."

"And your parents?"

"I buried them three years ago."

"No, I mean when did they arrive?"

"H-half a year before I was born. I-is that all?"

"No, do me and yourself a favour and I want you to gather all the people that live here." Chashathrophogh told her.

"W-why?"

"Because we need to get out of here."

"Why?"

"I will say once you do." He told her, handing her the scroll. 

She read the writing on it. She became pale as she looked up at the seabed. She had noticed that it had begun to drop already. From looking at the scroll and the seabed, she knew that they must have at most four days at least one. She looked at them both in gratitude and shock.

"I will do this at once." She said as she left.

Cerpheres laughed.

"What?"

"You're going to need to do more than that I'm afraid! Not all the people here are as reasonable as Agatha!"

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes not even wanting to entertain his game.

It hardly took them an hour to gather the entire town. Once they were gathered nowhere Bash or Chashathrophogh knew where to begin. So they decided to start with the start.

"So what names should we use?" Bash asked.

"Our false ones. Sure, I highly doubt that anyone here would know who we are, however, I prefer to be on the same side. After all, you never know when all these people arrived here or for what reason."

"Alright."

"This should go well!" Crephetes laughed, mockingly.

"Shut up Cerpheres. We do not need to become uncomfortable. Not right now. So shut it!"

"Sure!"

"Right."

Chashathrophogh walked to the front. Bash suddenly realised that he was not as tall as she first thought, but opposed to the town, he was tall enough. In fact Cerpheres seemed to be taller than him. Yet the moment her uncle cleared his throat and let out a deep breath, she no longer focused upon his height.

"Hello. My name is Borevers Scar and this is my dear niece Cari. We arrived here yesterday afternoon. We have been looking for a way out. So we looked for one in the Coral Tower. There, my dear niece, found a few scrolls belonging to the First Legend Phorap The Mad, who seems to be the first to live here."

"And?" Agatha asked.

"And I found one. See Phorap The Mad was able to kill a previous Sea Death God Da Vé Joh and was able to escape." Bash explained.

"And why would we believe that? Everyone knows Phorap was a mad man!"

"Just because he was mad does not mean that he was a liar. In fact, he seemed to be known to be an honest man whenever it counted." Chashathrophogh pointed out.

"Good point."

"And also, it was during this time that Cari found out that one every fifty years that seabed above you." He said, pointing up at it. "Comes down, which will down all that are currently trapped here."

"What?"

"No! I don't believe you!"

"Why only fifth anyway?"

"We do not know. But for those who do not believe it, look up. You must notice that the water has already started to drop."

"Yeah."

"Hold on! You're right!"

"What do we do?"

"Well is it not obvious? We have to kill the current sea death god."

"What?"

"No!"

"We can't do that! Can we?"

This caused some to leave.

"Nah! You can try to do that yourself!"

"Yeah! Count me out!"

"And me!"

"And me!"

This caused more and more people to leave. Yet soon they were the only ones that were there.

Cerpheres laughed.

"Thought so!"

"Fine. Looks like we will have to do this on our own."

"Alright! That ought to be fun!" Cerpheres sang, clapping his hands and rubbing them together.

He looked at them and locked his lips.

"Let's see if you can!"

They rolled their eyes. They walked away. Bash pulled out the map. She looked at it to find out where they needed to go. She soon saw it was a place in the cliff face called Black Glass Cave. So they returned to the house they were staying in. Soon gathered their belongings and set off, leaving the town behind. It took them two hours to arrive and by that time the seabed had already dropped ten inches. They could tell that within two days the seabed would have completely fallen. Which meant they needed to work quicker…

The Black Glass Cave

They walked in and, as they walked on, it became far too clear that Cerpheres was enjoying this far too much. He to hum as he took glances at them, in a way that made them feel uncomfortable. They could not help but feel that feeling of nakedness as he looked at them. They could feel all their hairs stand completely on end. They could see him looking up and down. Hardlyntaking them long to figure out what he was doing.

"Cerpheres, keep your eyes on what's ahead." They both said, sternly.

"I am! And I can't wait!" He sang, licking his lips.

"That's not what I meant!"

"I know!"

Their fingertips touched their weapons. Both wondering if they should kill him right here and now. However, what stopped them was the simple fact he was the only lead they had on the sorcerer that put the spell on them. Making him the only step forward in breaking it. Thinking about this steadied their anger and helped them not give into their building frustration.

"Just try not. It will distract us from our goal." Chashathrophogh said, taking a step closer to him.

"After all, how can our greatness be out on display if we have little distractions in our way?" He whispered into his ear.

His smile widened as he looked at him in awe. He started to look drunk as his cheeks became reddened.

"Alright. I'll try not to."

He nodded.

"You better. Or you will have a terribly boring time. Also you are our prisoner, but you need to ensure you do not become dead weight. Alright?"

"Alright!"

I'm looking forward to killing him off!

They turned around and walked on. They soon came to a large chamber. There was a set of weighing scales in front of them. Beside it was a cup of water and the other was a pile of stones. Opposite were a set of double doors.

Chashathrophogh walked up to the weighing scales and looked around. He put the stones in one. He scored up the cup of water and poured it in. He did this again and again and again. Until both plates were parallel. 

Then the scales dropped and were covered by a set of sliding doors. Then the stone beneath them spun and spun. Then seven beams quickly ficked out of the tube-like structure. Bash, Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres took three of them. They pushed forward causing the stone pillar to twist and twist.

Then the doors opened. Once they were, the three of them ran as fast as they could to the doors. Yet they spotted that the doors were slowly closing as they heard the pillar turning automatically. Yet they could not afford to stop. They ran and ran. The doors were moving, getting closer and closer to choosing. Yet they only just made it as the doors closed behind them.

"That was easy!"

"Do not make comments like that."

"Oh? And why not?"

"Because the chances are that when people make statements like that at the start, it would become increasingly difficult later."

He smiled wider at that.

"Oh good! I hope so."

He rolled his eyes.

They came to another room. There were three tiles in front of them. One had a heart, one had a moon on it and the last had a face carved into it. They looked up and spotted that there was a stone slab above a door. It had three engravings that seemed to match each of the stone tiles. The stone slab had writing beneath it.

The path ahead can only be opened,

By one thing that that one can,

Never live without,

That which makes the blood flow

Cerpheres looked at him like he was a cute kitten.

"You were saying?"

"Shut up!"

He rolled his eyes as he reached out and picked up the stone. The one that contained the heart. Cerpheres then walked up to him and took the other side. They walked on and he helped raise it and they gently slid it in.

"There we go!" 

"Come on!" 

Chashathrophogh was suddenly hit by something and flew into the doors and out of view. Bash took out her bow and ran in after him.

She looked to the side to see a large snake coming right at her. She ducked and then went to load her bow, but then she saw the tail again coming at her. She had to drive back and she felt a hand upon her. She loaded her bow and pointed it at whatever was behind her.

She soon saw a handsome man with green eyes and long black hair.

She almost dropped her guard when she saw the black serpentine tail coming from his hip. She then jumped back as she saw a spray of venom come from his mouth. She went to load her bow again, but again, the tail came right at her. She slammed the arrow to the bow. Drew it back and fired at him.

He let out a hiss as it hit. He then dived at her. She dived out of the way as several small blades flew at the creature. He looked back and dived out of the way as she did the same. She was able to punch him in the face, causing him to roar out. She saw several more coming at him. Knowing who was throwing them, and the creature would drive out of the way once he saw them, she plunged hey foot into the chest of the creature. This caused him to be drawn back and they all hit him in the back.

He soon hit Chashathrophogh with his tail. He was hit back and landed. He then jumped back upon his feet as soon as he landed. He soon spotted the tail coming at him. He jumped back and pulled out another dagger and drove it into the tail. He then twisted it making the creature let out a cry of pain.

He pulled the tail away. He then drove his claws down, bringing them to Chashathrophogh's chest. He dodged out of the way, but the claw skimmed his chin. He then ducked and drove forward and then out his hand. He wrapped his hand around the creature's throat.

"I'm going to enjoy this!" He declared.

Fire sprouted from his hand. The creature screamed and screamed out in pain. He then let go, leaving the creature to writhe in pain. He then summoned a ball of fire and threw it at the tail, seeing it alright. This caused the creature to roar out in even more pain. Then the fire spread throughout the body. He then put the fire out. He drew out a dagger and as the creature slivered away from him he hit it. The creature was dead before it could get too far from him.

He did there, panting. He then heard clapping coming from behind. He rolled his eyes as he looked back. Only to see Cerpheres smiling, red in the face with that slept drunken look on his face.

"That was good!"

He let out a huff.

"We have no time for that. We still have one last battle to fight before we get out of here."

Then the doors opened.

"Speaking of, let's get this over with!"

The Death Of The

Sea Death God

"Cerpheres, you better pull your weight in this fight."

He shrugged.

"Don't worry, I will! But it will be for my entertainment."

He looked at the man in sheer disgust. He shook his head as he rolled his eyes. They soon walked in. They soon walked up the flight of stairs that led to another set of doors. They opened on their own.

"Looks like someone's expecting us."

They soon walked in.

They soon were looking at a man with blue scales instead of skin. There were three fins stemming from the top of his back to the lower back. Around his hip was a skirt of tentacles with his on the suckers. His thin blue scaly hands were webbed and sharp red classes for nails. His eyes were as black at night. His mouth was wide and had no lips and his teeth were like piranha's.

"Who are you?" He asked.

His voice was strange. It sounded more like a buzz like a fly.

"You must be the current sea death god."

"I am." He said as his eyes slid to Bash.

Suddenly he smirked as he looked at her, clearly eyeing her up for his next meal.

"You are here to make a deal, I assume?"

"No. We are here to defeat you." Said Bash.

She loaded her bow and fired. To her shock, he caught her bow before it could even hit.

"I thought so."

She then did what she could to hide her shock as she used her magic to set the arrow on fire. But to her utter horror it did nothing. She tried again but, again, nothing happened. She tried again and again and nothing happened!

"I see…so magic doesn't work here?"

"No."

Looks like we're going to have to do this without magic.

With that she ran in and loaded another arrow. She fired only for him to catch her arrow. She fired another. He caught it with his tentacles. She then fired another. He turned along with her. He then started to move along with her. She fired another and another as he came closer and closer to her.

That was when several tiny blades struck him in the break. He turned back as he was about to be hit by another set of tiny daggers. He quickly got each of them out of the way with his tentacles. He then dived at Chashathrophogh. He dived back to stop him from landing on him.

That was when Cerpheres took out a long and slim sword and ran to him. He then tried to strike the sea death god. However it seemed that to summon a trident out of thin air! He wedged the sword in between the prongs. Cerpheres smiled as he licked his lips as his eyes widened. He threw out a kick which was blocked, when he grabbed his ankle. He was about to flick a kick to his hip. Yet this was stopped when he wrapped his tentacles around his legs.

Then an arrow hit the sea death god in the side. He then turned back to Bash. She ran to the arrows that he had dropped. She quickly loaded two she then fired and this pierced the tentacles that held Cerpheres. He let go of the man and he rolled away.

His hand flicked out and grabbed his sword. He then went to slice one of the rentals off but he was hit by the trident. He spun as he flew away. 

Meanwhile Bash used this to her advantage to load three more arrows. She fired at the tentacles and he caught every one. Yet as soon as he caught them, she loaded and fired at the tentacles that held her arrows. However they were all caught. He jumped at her. She loaded her arrow and fired at him as she dived back. Then loaded more arrows and fired even more at him. He caught them all as they landed. She fired at all the tentacles that were occupied. Yet even though he could catch some of them most of them hit. 

He dropped all of her arrows.

He threw himself at her. He soon had his good tentacles around her waist and ankles. He threw his hands around her neck. He then gripped her neck harder. She could feel his claws dig into her flesh as she choked. She felt her breath being cut off from her as she started to feel a pounding in her head.

Then she was dropped and he picked up his trident and threw it directly at her but Chashathrophogh dived in between them and kicked her out of the way. His neck was wedged between the prongs and he flew with it until it dug into the coral. This pinned him in place. 

Knowing that he could do nothing more, he threw her arrows at her.

He turned his attention back to her as she ran and caught her arrows. She then sliced to the side and sliced the nearest tentacle with the arrow. She felt another around her waist. She could feel the hooks plunging into her flesh as he tightened his grip. She dropped her arrows as she felt the pain engulf her. She felt agony as she was lifted up. She felt his hand around her neck again. She could feel the air being cut off again.

She, shakily, raised her hand to her quiver. He whipped the back of her hand with his tentacles. She forced herself to ignore the pain as she felt the flesh being torn from the break off her hand. She could not cry out, but the pounding in her head became worse and worse. Her arm raised again, but he whipped her again.

She suddenly had an idea as her vision started to blur. She raised her arm again and he whipped her, her hand quickly gripped her arrow and stabbed the tentacle. She then quickly pulled it out and then drove it up into the scales under his chin. She then drove it up higher and higher and higher. Until it reached his brain, before he had the time to respond. She was soon spotted and she picked up another arrow and plunged it into his heart.

They both collapsed but, before she could not the ground, Cerpheres caught her. She looked at him. To her amazement the only blood on him was coming from the corner of his mouth. Yet there were traces of blood on him. Yet she could not help but notice the drunken smirk on his face. He looked completely intoxicated, his cheeks looked like they had been burnt by the sun.

"That was good! That was so very good! Don't worry, you can rest now." He sang with a whine to his voice.

He kissed her on her cheek. He picked her up and carried as he walked over to Chashathrophogh. He then used his magic to pull the trident out of the coral.

"Take that will you? You'll need proof that he's dead!" He moaned. 

"How are you able to-"

"It was the sea death god. He was blocking it."

"How-no. I don't think I want to know. It'll just get weird."

He nodded, picking up both trident and head as they left the cave.

Finally Land

Cerpheres carried Bash, who weaved in and out of consciousness as they walked on and on. Chashathrophogh took a few concerned glances at her. Sometimes checking her temperature to ensure that it was steady. He noticed that she had started sweating and shivering.

"Here you go!" Cerpheres said, taking off his coat and wrapping it around her revealing a slender but well built frame. "Wouldn't want you to die just yet!"

Chashathrophog flicked a blade to his throat. He looked at it and let out a giggle. He let out a playful sigh.

"Don't worry. I don't want you both to die until I have seen your full greatness. Although, you are further along than the lovely young lady."

He, knowing that he just did not have time for this, put the blade away.

"We need to gather the rest."

"No. I will gather everyone. You stay here with Cerpheres and rest. After what you have done, you deserve it my dear niece."

"Then good luck my dear uncle!"

He smiled as he looked up at Cerpheres.

"Make sure you watch her. And don't do anything questionable!"

He smiled playfully.

"Okay!"

He soon left and had all gathered.

"We are getting out of here. Do not fear, the sea death god is dead!" He declared.

"You what?"

"Don't make me repeat myself. I am far from in the mood."

"Prove it!" 

Chashathrophogh huffed and threw the head at them. They all looked at it and, a moment, looked at it with a frown. Then, upon realising who that head belonged to, screamed and looked at him and it with horror. Meanwhile others looked in awe. Yet another group looked at it still trying to process what they were seeing and others could not believe what they were seeing!

"But I have to admit, I did not kill him. It was the girl, my dear niece." He said, pointing to her. "Which is why she is in the shape that she is in the shape she is now. This means that we can leave. For all of you that do not take this offer up. I remind you that water is coming down. If you do not want to come, that's on your own heads! Just do not stop anyone from leaving and do not show us down!"

"Now come on. Time to go."

"Yes sir!" Cerpheres sang.

They then turned and walked away. They then made their way back to the Black Glass Cave. Seeing this they followed. Mainly out of curiosity. Meanwhile outlets looked up to see just how low the seabed was and ran off after him, picking up as many children as they could carry. This gave others the courage to follow. Yet, for some they were too scared or too attached to Jones Lock to leave, regardless of what others said. Yet some tried to grab their children as they ran off after the crowd but failed. Some followed their children, but seeing that there was no point in running back, they continued. 

However a good group of people stayed.

The ones that followed them to the Black Glass Cave, they soon made it. However they could see that the seabed was gripping lower and lower. Their hearts sank knowing that by the end of the day,  everything would be under water. They quickly ran into the cave and all ran through the doors that were being held open by a group of men. Once all wetter through the men ran through after them. They then team on past the decomposing corpse of the snake man. Then they ran up a wide flight of stairs. 

They soon saw the rapidly decomposing corpse of the sea death god. Some took a moment to look at it and others had to poke it, just to make sure that it was even real. They all looked at it in complete disbelief as they all looked at it, checking that it was not a fake. Seeing that it was not they looked at Bash in even more awe.

Yet they, remembering that there was a time limit, ran off after them. They came to a set of blue black double doors. Chains bound the doors together, held in place by a padlock with three holes for a keyhole. Chashathrophogh looked at the trident and then shoved it in. Then spun out stone and the chains fell and the doors opened.

They then ran on and the others followed. They ran up a hallway and they could feel by the bend in their legs that they were ascending up a long and gentle ramp that appeared to be flat. They did not want to stop and fathers carried their sons and daughters in each arm, meanwhile women carried other children that were not theirs. So the others helped the elderly along. Some caught them on their back. As they ran on and on they could feel the path getting steeper and steeper. Yet none dared stop.

Then they came to a day of stairs. They soon ran and climbed up them. Fathers gave the children to all the other women and helped carry the rest of the elderly on their backs. They climbed and climbed. As they did they could feel their muscles starting to ache. Yet they all pushed on and on with all their will. They climbed and climbed and they rose higher and higher. None of them still dared to take a break. However, some soon fell, completely exhausted.

Chashathrophogh noticed this, however he was about to do nothing until he took a glance at Bash. He then willed them all to their feet and to clutch onto the ones that they were carrying. Then he willed them all to continue. Yet as they ran on and on, he noticed more and more dropping, causing him to use more and more magic to make them go on. 

At first, he was able to handle this. It was as easy as breathing, but as he ran on and on, and as more and more fell, he had to use more and more magic to keep them going. He kept this up for a long time before he could feel an internal strain. Yet he was able to push on and on. He had become used to this strain as he ran on and on. Yet he could feel it getting worse and worse and soon it was theming to get to him. He could feel the sweat that he was caked in fall from him like water. Yet he still continued but he soon knew that there was so long that he would be able to hold on.

Then, finally they came to the top. They reached a large room that, once they were all at the top, could easily hold them. Soon the townsfolk collapsed and they all were rendered completely unconscious.

"Who said you could leave?"

A man walked in front of a pair of large double doors ahead of them, blocking their way. He was dressed in ink blue robes with green lining. He had skin so pale that one wondered if he had even a touch of sun in his life. His brown eyes were almost eclipsed by his pupils.

"The sea death god is dead." Chashathrophogh panted.

"No! I do not believe you. My god can not be defeated by the likes of you."

He threw both the head and trident at his feet. He looked at it with fury in his eyes.

"How did I get these?"

"They were stolen. Give them back. And the rest of you either return it or die, now!"

Nothing we say will convince this fool.

You know what, I don't have time for this and I'm far too tired for this.

"Cerpheres, take this. You can deal with this one!"

He smirked, walking to him and, gently, rested Bash down next to him?

"Gladly."

He grabbed the trident. He jumped to him. The man moved to the left. Cerpheres flicked to the right and this caused a shallow cut into his side. He then drew a knife and went to stab him, but he spun and hit his side with the side of the trident. He went to fall forward and he went to stab him in the back but he raised his foot and planted it upon his stomach as fast as one could blink. He fell and rolled as he landed. He then was on his feet. He then looked up to see the trident flick up, slicing his face. He was thrust back and he was able to land a kick upon Cerpheres's pelvis

He fell and the man drove down the dagger. Cerpheres looked up and flicked his hand out and grabbed him by his throat. He then thrust up and lifted the man off the ground, keeping his legs bent. He then let out a giggle as the man struggled in his hand. He punched the man in the stomach again and again. Making the blood flow more and more as the shallow cuts were split further and further.

The man then drove the dagger up. He then pulled back and his eyes widened. He looked at Cerpheres. Cerpheres licked his lips as he smirked. His lips parted as he pulled the man in. He picked up the trident and then struck the bend of his neck and blood squirted out his neck. He let the man go. He backed away as his body trembled. He then hit him again and again, cutting his chest, again and again.

"Get up."

The man rose to his feet and Cerpheres then hit him in the pelvis and blood followed from it. Cerpheres tensed his eyes slightly.

"So men really do share that pain." He moaned. "No matter."

He then drove the trident down and cut more wounds into the man's chest. He then struck his chest again. He then kicked him in the chest again and again, draining more and more of the man's blood. He got up again but his legs were shaking as his pale skin started to become grey.

He ran forward and then clutched the man by his jaw. His body was getting colder and colder.

"Tell me. Who are your parents?" He asked.

"I-I-I don't know."

"Shame. Do you know where you're from?"

"I don't know."

"Seems you don't know many things. Do you even know your name?"

"No."

"Shame, after all, you're going to die not knowing who you are or where you came from. All because you refuse to acknowledge that the sea death god is dead." He moaned.

"No! I will- I will-"

Cerpheres let out a high pitched sigh. He walked over to the stairs, where the water had flooded. He threw the man in and held him under the water. He struggled and shook and wriggled under the water. He then pulled the head up. He gasped and he plunged him back in. He wriggled again and again. He pulled him out and he gasped. He was thrust back in but longer. He pulled him out and just as he gasped. He was back in and he stayed in. He did this again and again. The man became colder and colder.

He then pulled him back out. His face became blue and he threw him down, letting out a sigh. He then looked down, looking calm. He saw all the light die in the nameless man's eyes. He let go, all the blood was drained from him. He then kicked him in the pool.

"Better." He panted.

He then looked on and the doors opened and they were able to leave the room only to find that they were back on the Island Of Coral. They soon loaded all the treasure and buried all that had died there. They all looked up as the town saw the sky for the first time in their lives.