Balance of the World
Chapter 12-Curing the King

Chapter 12: Curing theKing

“Elias,he won’t let us onto the ship,” Zoeyrecalled as he untied the rope holding the raft ashore from a tree trunk at theedge of the forest.

“Hemay,” Elias replied, tossing the rope aside. “He’ll want to make the kill himself, I guarantee it.”

Zoeyswallowed nervously and nodded but she frowned in wonder when she noticed alight flicker in the forest behind the beach.

“Elias,”she called, drawing his attention as he climbed onto the raft. “That looks like—Look out!”

ADark Fairy zoomed out from behind a tree just as Elias turned and smacked himin the head so hard it sent him to the floor of the raft. Zoey gasped and knelt down to try to helphim, but noticed the fairy recover from the stun it had received and zoomedtoward them. The red head lifted a handand swatted it with all her might, sending the fairy into the water where itflopped around a bit before slowly rising from the water and zooming back intothe forest.

Sheturned back to Elias and shook him, calling, “Elias! Wake up! I can’t drive this thing myself! I need your help! Wake up!”

Hedidn’t respond and she leaned forward, her ear at his nose and mouth to makesure he was still breathing. She sighedin relief when she felt his breath fan her ear then growled as she sat up.

“TheGreat Masked General, Elias Blackwood, taken out cold by a Fairy to the head!” she snapped, slapping his shoulder, which onlymoved him but didn’t wake him.

Zoeysighed again and looked around, suddenly realizing that the raft was driftingout to sea from all the movement. Shelooked to the beach to see the line on the shore, separating the waters ofmermaids and sirens.

“Rightis good, left is…” Her eyes widened in realization when she realized they weredrifting onto the siren side of the line. “Not good.”

Panicking,she looked around for something to paddle her way back to the safe side of thesea but found nothing.

“Whothe hell has a raft without somethingto steer it with?!” she snapped andknelt in the raft to start paddling with her hands.

Shehurriedly scooped water back as fast as she can, feeling like she’d beenfarther from the safe side than she’d first thought. She silently willed Elias to wake up so thathe could help her, but he still lay, motionless beside her. She started struggling to paddle the raft,but she froze in terror when she reached her hand into the water and feltsomething scaly brush against her fingers. She swallowed, lifting her hand from the water and looking around, theraft drifting to a stop.

Zoeycould only hear her own breathing and her thumping heart above the ripplingwater as she watched the surface closely. She was far from safe at the moment, and she just hoped that whatevershe might have touched was a fish or a wandering mermaid. She lifted a hand to Elias’s shoulder toshake it, making the raft rock, slightly but she didn’t take her gaze from thewater.

Ahiss suddenly sounded behind her and she spun around to be met by an airborneSiren with solid hazel eyes and black hair, claws and teeth bared and divingtoward her. Zoey tried to dive out ofthe way, but Galina grabbed a hold of Zoey’s leg as she tried to escape. She screamed as she felt Galina’s claws diginto her flesh and try to use it to pull herself onto the raft. Zoey turned and kicked Galina in the faceseveral times to get her off of her.

“Elias!”Zoey screamed, still trying to get Galina off of her. “Elias! Wake up!”

“YourHalf-breed General can’t help you now!” Galina snarled, still clamped ontoZoey’s leg.

Zoeyignored her as she grabbed onto Elias to shake him, but it made her lose hergrip on the raft to keep her on it and Galina dragged her overboard and intothe water. She screamed just before shewas pulled under the water and instantly started struggling. She kicked and punched at Galina who onlyheld her under the water, attempting to drown her. Zoey curled into a ball and thought of whichspell she wanted to use.

Galinawas thrown from her as a pulse ran through the water and the Siren shook theshock away to swim rapidly back toward Zoey as she tried heading toward thesurface for air. Zoey took in a breathof air above the surface, but screamed in pain when her injured leg was pulledon again and she was, once again, pulled under the surface. This time Galina gripped her shoulders andswam Zoey down, farther from the surface as Zoey struggled to be free.

Hereyes suddenly widened when she was released as a blurry figure tackledGalina. She watched them tumble throughthe water in shock before trying to swim toward the surface, not bothering tosee who had saved her and needing to breathe. She was halfway there when her lungs began to burn, and she reflexivelybegan trying to take in breaths.

Shesuddenly felt a pair of hands around her waist, pulling her toward the surfaceand she took in a deep breath when she broke the surface once more then lookedaround to see her savior.

“Liona!”she panted. “Did you tackle that Siren?!”

“Theleast I could do was save your life since yousaved mine,” Liona replied. “But thank me later. We need to get you to the raft and on boardthe Mela Ear.”

“Youknow why we’re here?” Zoey wondered in surprise as Liona pulled her toward theraft.

“Varentold me everything when he was heading back to shore,” the mermaidreplied. “He said you would needhelp. A long awaited war has beenbrewing under the surface of these waters, and this was just the trigger we needed to finally settle it.”

Theyboth reached the raft and Zoey stared up with wide eyes when Elias held hishand toward her to help her onto it.

“You’reawake!” she breathed as he and Liona helped her onto the raft and she threw herarms around him. “I was so worried aboutyou!”

“Ifinally awoke when I heard you scream before you disappeared,” he murmured,holding her close. “I sent Liona to helpyou. Mermaids are equals in strength toSirens.”

“I’mgoing to get you to the Mela Ear asfast as I can, Elias,” Liona reported. “Hold on.”

Theraft moved rapidly over the waters as Zoey refused to let go of Elias, and heheld her close as well, then he noticed the blood dripping from her leg.

“Zoey,your leg!” he breathed in wide-eyed horror, making Zoey look to her leg aswell. “Did that Siren do that to you?!”

“Yeah,”she sighed, shifting to bring her leg up to her reach. “She really wanted to kill me.”

Eliaswatched as she placed her hands on either side of her leg and a silver flashshone around her leg. Zoey smiled as shelowered her hands then stretched her leg out to see if there was any pain thenlooked to Elias.

“Allbetter,” she grinned, and they came to a stop, making them both look up to seethe Mela Ear looming above them.

“MaySeldarine be with you and the King,” Liona said, swimming away and catchingElias’s attention. “Long live KingKaysar.”

Eliasnodded, watching Liona dive back under water before looking to Zoey who hadbeen staring up at the ship they were next to with wide eyes.

“Zoey?”he called gently, catching her attention and she whipped her gaze to his. “Are you alright?”

Shenodded, but said nothing for a moment as she looked up at the ship andswallowed, hard.

“Let’sdo this,” she murmured, grabbing the ladder and starting to climb up.

“Zoey! Wait!” Elias whispered, hurrying after her asshe neared the railing. “We’ve not askedpermission! Do you wish to anger him further?!”

“Yes!”she hissed just as she reached the railing and climbed over it.

Twopairs of hands were instantly on her arms and pulled them behind her back, towhich she instantly struggled. Two othercrew members dragged Elias over the railing and restrained him in the same wayZoey was being held.

“Well,well…”

Thetwo recognized the voice and looked to the captain’s cabin to see Kaysarstrolling out of the cabin, his arm slung over Namir’s shoulders.

“Comefor me throne yourself, have you,Enuria?” he ground out, stepping within an inch of her face, making Elias startto struggle again as Namir stepped away, quietly. “Couldn’t wait until you earned it, eh?”

“Sir,”Zoey began, calmly. “You’re under aspell. You’re not in your right mind,Captain. I can help you. Let me help you, please.”

“Oh,I’m sure you’d love that, wouldn’tye, deary?” he smirked darkly, making Zoey’s heart race in panic as he steppedaway and drew his sword to examine it. “Render the King unfit for duty. You cure me, and you’re thehero, as if you didn’t have enoughrecognition.”

“Kaysar,listen to her!” Elias pleaded, not liking the way he was taunting them. “You’ve been sprinkled with Dark Fairy dustand if you don’t let her help you—!”

Eliaswas cut off when Kaysar flicked his sword to aim the point at his throat,making the general lift his chin to avoid the blade.

“Elias!”Zoey called, desperately.

“Youwill speak when I allow it,Blackwood,” Kaysar ground out before lowering his sword and strolling towardZoey again. “Tell me something,Enuria. Do you love General Blackwood?”

Zoeyfrowned at him as Elias stared wide eyes at him in disbelief.

“W-Whatdoes that have to do with anything?” Zoey asked, trying to dodge the question.

“Answerthe question!” Kaysar boomed, marching toward her and lifting the bladesideways toward her throat.

“Pitkam!”Elias roared, trying to fight against his captors but two more men rushedtoward him to keep him in place. “Getaway from her! Fight with someone yourown speed!”

“Iwant to hear her say it, and I know you’re dyingto know as well,” Kaysar called back through a smirk, not looking away fromZoey as she held her chin up to avoid his sword, trembling with fear. “Tell me, lass. Do you love him? If you don’t answer, whether you do or not, Iwill kill him.”

Zoey’seyes widened at him in panic before she looked to Elias, who had stoppedstruggling and was now staring back at her. He shook his head, silently telling her not to answer and she shut hereyes, a tear rolling down her cheek before she looked back at Kaysar.

“Noanswer?” he taunted, and Zoey took in a breath but said nothing. To her surprise, Kaysar laughed, heartily ashe sheathed his sword as she and Elias stared at him in confusion. “It doesn’t matter. I know that he loves you. Which will make this all the more traumatizing for him.”

Hewaved his men away as Zoey frowned at him but he only took her arm to drag herwith him.

“No!” Elias roared, starting to struggleeven harder now, and it made Zoey struggle as well, suddenly realizing whatKaysar was going to do. “Kaysar! Let her go, or, I swear, I’ll kill you!”

Zoeystill struggled, not wanting to use a spell out of fear that she would hurthim. Kaysar was steps away from hiscabin when the doors slammed shut and Namir stood in front of them, bringingKaysar to a screeching stop.

“Namir,get out of me way,” Kaysar ordered, glaring at the elf and she glared rightback at him.

“No,Sir,” Namir snapped back with mockrespect, making his glare burn deeper but she matched it.

“I’mwarnin’ ye,” he ground out, still holding onto Zoey’s arm in a death grip. “Out of the way…now!”

“AsFirst Mate, I’m deeming you unfit to captain this ship and this crew,” Namirreplied.

“Yecan’t do that!” Kaysar boomed.

Zoeyfelt his grip loosen on her arm and she quickly yanked her arm from his hand,drawing his attention to her again. Before he could react, she placed her hands on either side of his headand making his eyes widen in shock.

“DeireadhA Chur!” Zoey called, still holding onto Kaysar’s face and he suddenly beganseizing in front of her, but she held firm, closing her eyes to concentrate.

Eliasshoved the men off of him as they stared at the scene in wonder and he rantoward Namir when she moved toward the two to separate them. He gripped her arms and gently pulled herback, to which she tried struggling, but he entreated her to wait. The first mate and the general watched in aweas Kaysar seized a moment longer and Zoey opened her eyes to reveal them to bein a black fog. Zoey finally releasedKaysar, her eyes closing again and he stopped seizing as Zoey beganfalling. Elias hurried toward her andcaught her before she fell to the deck, and Kaysar collapsed as Namir rantoward him to cradle his head in her lap.

“Getthe surgeon!” she shouted at one of the men as Elias sat on with Zoey leaningagainst him, her head on his shoulder.

“Zoey?”he whispered, shaking her slightly when she didn’t open her eyes. “Zoey. Please tell me you’re alright, Angel. Open your eyes.”

Zoeygroaned with a slight frown as she stirred, turning her face toward his gazeand slowly opening her eyes. They shonea bright silver before fading back to her original color of ice blue and sheglanced around in confusion.

“Whathappened?” she muttered, holding her hand to her head to will away a startingheadache as Elias only smiled down at her.

“Yousaved our king, Angel,” he murmured and Zoey looked at him with wide eyes,suddenly remembering why they were there. “You need to rest now, Zoey. You’ve weakened yourself quite a bit.”

“Isshe…well?”

Eliaslooked up to his right to see Kaysar standing next to him, recovered but hishead bowed in shame.

“She’llbe better after some rest,” Elias nodded, looking back at Zoey who had curledup on his shoulder and fallen asleep.

“Bosun!”Kaysar called and one of his men ran up to him as Namir knelt in front of Eliasand Zoey to look at her friend. “TakeMiss Walsh to me cabin and guard it with your life. Namir, go with her and watch over her, aye?”

Namirlooked up and nodded as she stood to let the bosun take her place as Kaysarordered the men to get to work. Eliasreluctantly let the other man gather Zoey up and carry her to the cabin, Namiropening the doors for him and Kaysar turned to the general.

“Elias…”he began, then choked in a breath before murmuring, “Will ye…ever forgive mefor this?”

“Noharm was done, Kaysar,” Elias assured him. “Zoey is safe, and now so are you, my friend. I forgive what was not your fault.”

“Yesay that…but I don’t think me first mate will say the same,” Kaysar muttered,strolling toward the railing to look out toward the shore.

“Sheknew you weren’t in your right mind, Kaysar,” Elias admitted, which came as ashock to the captain as he looked to the general with wide eyes. “That’s why she went to Varen, who in turncame to us. We all feared for you, my friend.”

Kaysarlooked back out to sea in shock, breathing, “That’s why she…”

Eliasfrowned when he trailed off but had no time to question the captain before heturned and marched toward his cabin, past the bosun who was now standing guardand inside with Elias right behind him. Kaysar stopped just beyond the doors as Namir looked up with wide eyesfrom patting Zoey’s forehead with a damp cloth.

“Captain?”she frowned in wonder, but he said nothing as he marched toward her. She quickly stood, still staring at him as hetook her wrist into his and dragged her from the cabin.

“Privatediscussion, Elias,” he assured the general. “Ye understand. Gotta talk to mefirst mate here about some captainy things.”

“Ofcourse, Your Majesty,” Elias nodded as they passed him. “I’ll stay with Zoey.”

“Goodthinkin’, General,” Kaysar called back as he rounded onto the stairs leading tothe helm.

Hepassed it and continued marching until they were all the way to the railing ofthe sterncastle. He pulled Namir infront of him and she gave a squeak of surprise when he gripped her waist tolift her and sit her on the railing. Shestared at him with wide eyes but said nothing as he lifted a hand to place itright below her ear, his fingers resting on the back of her neck with his thumbstroking her cheek.

“Captain…?”she breathed before swallowing, hard in nervousness.

Hesaid nothing before pressing his lips to hers and her eyes snapped wide inshock at his gentleness before she melted into the kiss and slid her armsaround his neck as his other hand came up to the back of her head to deepen thekiss.

Meanwhile...

Eliasstood over Zoey, staring at her for a moment before he gently sat on the bed ather legs and still stared at her. Shegave a small groan and shifted in her sleep, her back turned to the room. Unable to help himself, Elias shifted to liedown with her, his arm wrapped around her waist to hug her close as he buriedhis face in her hair.

“Elias,”Zoey smiled, making him shift to look down at her as she rolled onto her backto look up at him, still smiling. “Whattook you so long?”

Hegave a scoff before lifting his hand from around her waist to stroke her cheek,asking, “Are you feeling better?”

Zoeynodded, snuggling her cheek into his hand before looking back at him andmurmuring, “What Kaysar said about…your feelings for me. Is it true?”

Eliassighed, deeply before lowering his hand and not taking his gaze from hers as heleaned toward her, pressing his lips against her ear.

“Itis, Angel,” he whispered so softly it sent chills up Zoey’s spine that made hershiver. “I love you, whether I was meantto or not, it’s true.”

Zoeyclosed her eyes and threw her arms around him to hug him close but said nothingas Elias shifted to lie on his side again, making Zoey roll onto her side andface him.

“MayI ask…what your answer would’ve been to Kaysar’s question?” he whispered,hesitantly, making Zoey smile and he swallowed.

“Iassume you want the truth?” she guessed, jokingly and still smiling.

“Thatwould be ideal, Angel,” Elias smirked, hearing her playful tone as he lifted ahand to stroke her cheek again and she snuggled closer to him, their gazeslocked.

“Ilove you, Elias,” she murmured, smiling when his eyes lit up and he gave a grin.

Hepulled her into a passionate kiss, making her giggle before she moaned andslipped her arms around his neck. Herolled her onto her back, pinning her to the bed as his mouth trailed down herneck and she sighed in contentment as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“Iwanted to tell you before,” he whispered. “Varen interrupted us.”

“Iwas going to tell you after all of this,” Zoey murmured. “I just—”

“Iknow, Angel,” Elias murmured in her ear. “It will only strengthen our bond when we go to Castle Dae to fightJellina.”

“Elias,”she urged, gently pushing him away to look him in the eye and he looked back ather in wonder. “You can’t come with me.”

“Imust, my love,” he argued. “I am your protector. It is expected that I would accompany you.”

“Idon’t care,” she replied. “She’s toopowerful. I can’t risk you gettinghurt.”

“AndI can’t risk you getting hurt.”

“Elias,are you really gonna make me say it?”she wondered, irritably making him look at her in wonder.

“Whatdo you mean?” he asked, honestly.

“Ijust told you I love you and then you want to throw yourself in harm’s way?!”she snapped. “I can’t lose you!”

“Oh,Angel,” Elias smiled warmly, running his hand through her hair. “You won’t lose me, my love. I promise you.”

“Romeo,don’t swear your love on something so inconsistent as the moon,” Zoeysighed. “You can’t promise that tome. You don’t know if you’ll—”

“Then,Juliet, I swear on nothing,” he interrupted gently, catching her referenceperfectly. “But you will not lose me, mylove. Now, we should get some sleep.”

“No!”Zoey squeaked in astonishment. “We arenot done with this conversa—!”

Eliasplanted his lips to hers in a passionate kiss and she tried to push him away,but he gripped her hands to hold them between them and pulled out of the kiss.

“Youwill not win out over my charms, my dear,” he smirked, playfully. “We can discuss it tomorrow morning.”

“But—”Zoey cut herself off and sighed in defeat, nodding, “Alright.”

“We’lldiscuss a strategy to take care of Jellina as well,” he murmured, pulling herinto his arms and snuggling her to his chest as she nodded again.

“Ilove you, Elias,” she murmured, snuggling closer to him, making him grin.

“Ilove you, Zoey,” he whispered, kissing her temple before he settled in to fallasleep and Zoey came up with a plan of her own.

Sunrise...

Zoeysighed as she stood next to the bed in Kaysar’s cabin where she and Elias hadspent the night. The sun was barelystarting to rise over the horizon as Zoey stared down at the sleeping general. She knew this was the only way to keep himfrom going with her, but she hated to leave him like this. Taking a chance, she sat next to him andslowly pulled his mask off to reveal his face.

“IfI…don’t make it back,” she whispered. “At least I can do this much for you, my love.”

Sheleaned over and placed her hand gently over his Ramran scales and took in adeep breath, hoping this would work. Shethought of the curing spell and concentrated on it until she saw the silverglow between her hand and his face. Herhad suddenly burned, making her wince and pull her hand away to look atit. Small streams of black smoke rosefrom her skin, even though there were no marks on her skin. She frowned in wonder as the smoke dissipatedthen looked to the mask in her lap and picked it up to place it back over hisface.

Shedidn’t want to look at how handsome he was or she knew she would stay and hewould end up going with her. He stirred,making her freeze as she pulled her hands away from his face, but he only gavea small groan and rolled over onto his side, making her give a sigh ofrelief. She stood and headed toward thedoors, opening the doors, slowly and quietly, then shut them behind her.

“Andwhere do ya think ye are goin’, MissZoey?”

Zoeyjumped and looked ahead of her with a gasp to see Namir and Kaysar standing infront of her.

“It’srather early,” Namir noticed. “Youwouldn’t be leaving without saying goodbye, would you?”

“Andwithout, General Blackwood,” Kaysarnoticed and tisked at her, shaking his head. “He’ll be so hurt and upset with you.”

“Captain,Kaysar…Namir,” she pleaded, stepping toward them. “Please, don’t wake him. You understand, don’t you? If I fight Jellina, I have to do it without Elias. I don’t want to risk him being hurt! I can’t lose him! And anyonecoming with me will end up hurt or dead. Please, please say nothing.”

“Weain’t tattlers, lass,” Kaysar grinned, slinging an arm over Namir’sshoulders. “We just came to wish yeluck.”

Zoey’seyes widened in surprise before she breathed, “Really?”

“Really,”Namir nodded, stepping out from Kaysar’s arm to hug Zoey tightly. “We all have faith in you, Zoey. If this is how you think you need to do this,then we will not stop you, my friend.”

Zoeyfelt her stomach tighten in nervousness as she threw her arms around Namir andhugged her in return.

“Whatif I can’t do it, Namir?” she whispered.

“Youwill,” Namir assured her. “You helped Kaysar before he was taken fromus completely. You will defeat Jellina.”

Somethingclicked in Zoey’s mind. She grippedNamir’s shoulders and pushed her at arm’s length, making the elf frown at her.

“Whatdid you say?” Zoey asked.

“Isaid, you’ll defeat Jellina,” Namir repeated, frowning even deeper.

“No,no, before that,” Zoey replied, shaking her head. “About Kaysar.”

“That,you saved him from being taken from us,” Namir replied and Zoey snapped herfingers, wagging her finger at her with a grin.

“That’sit,” she nearly sang, then clapped and jumped in a circle, chanting, “That’sit! That’s it! That’s it!”

“What’sit, deary?” Kaysar wondered and Zoey ran to Kaysar to place her hands on hisshoulders.

“Iknow how to beat Jellina!”

“Cheers,love,” he nodded. “Care to share?”

“Notime,” Zoey replied before turning to Namir and hugging her again. “You are a genius!”

Shesaluted them before running to the railing and climbing onto it with one stepto thrust herself into the air with a levitation spell. Namir and Kaysar watched her in awe as sheflew toward the shore and just as she was out of sight, the door to thecaptain’s cabin slammed open. They spunaround to see Elias with a seething look on his face as he glared at the two.

“Where’sZoey?!”