[Saphire Reign]

We moved through the dark forest quickly.

Finally around 11:45pm we came to a gigantic rock wall. Lecto cleared his throat “OK, master, 15 minutes.” Alec set me down and touched the wall. A small hole appeared in the wall and Alec smiled “Let’s go.” My eyes got big “How did? How? What?” Alec laughed “No one, I mean no one has ever been inside this wall, except me.” We walked through the wall.

Around ten minutes later, we sat next to a tree and Lecto built a small fire. I kept glancing at Alec wondering what was going to happen.

Finally, Alec sighed, “OK, enough Alexis, quit looking at me. It’s getting very annoying.” I looked down “Sorry, I just want to know what’s going to happen.” He smiled “Don’t worry, in about 60 seconds you’ll find out what happens to me, don’t watch me till then.” I smiled.

55 seconds later I looked over at him, he smiled “Well, here goes.” His eyes went from purple to a bright blue. I watched in amazement, as his eyes seemed to become less cold.

After a few minutes, he laughed, “OK, you can stop gawking now.” I blinked and shook my head “Sorry.” He smiled, again. That was twice in a few seconds. He slowly stood up “Do I really look that different?” I nodded; Alec stretched “I feel so weak.” Lecto glanced up at us “I’m going to sleep now. Master if you need help just ask.” Lecto closed his eyes. Alec glanced at me “Follow me.” He pulled me up.

He led me to a line of trees and stopped “OK, close your eyes.” I closed them tight. I felt Alec grab my hand and I let him pull me.

He stopped and whispered, “Open your eyes.” I slowly opened my eyes to see a fountain flowing with pink water. The moon light reflected off everything around it. The fountain sat in a stone courtyard with benches scattered all around. I smiled “Wow, this is beautiful.” Alec nodded “When I lose my powers, I also have stronger emotions. I like to come here because I think this place is beautiful and I normally don’t like beautiful things.” I walked to the fountain “Can I touch the water?” He nodded “Yeah.” I dipped my fingers into the cool water. It felt like little ants were crawling across my hand and I pulled back “That’s not normal water.” He laughed “No, it’s not. This is precious water, water that was used by the people who used to live here.” I turned to face him “What happened to the people who lived here?” Alec cleared his throat “They all died.” I stood up “Why?”
“A meteor hit this place five centuries ago and killed everyone. Now everyone call this unholy ground and no one is supposed to come here.”

All the sudden I sensed something in the forest “Alec-.” He interrupted me “Yeah, I sensed it too. LECTO!” Lecto came running over to us “Yes master?”
“Something else is here.” Lecto took two breaths and brought up his cane “OK, I’ll be watching. Do you both have your swords?” We nodded. Lecto cleared his throat “I’m going back to get our stuff, we should camp here.” Alec nodded and Lecto took off.

He came back a few minutes later and laid our stuff down “I’m going to try and go back to sleep, if you sense anything let me know.” Alec nodded as Lecto went to sleep.

I sat on the ground with my back to the fountain “I think I’m going to get some sleep as well.” Alec plopped down next to me “Might as well.” I closed my eyes and heard Alec sigh, today was going to be interesting.