Searching for the Key

Chapter 27

Nathan, Celia, and Damien stared directly into Akur's deep black eyes. All around them the Elictis were emerging from their tents and taking their positions. The three of them also noticed defensive weapons around the perimeter.

People began to walk calmly with their weapons. Others who had flawless aim climbed the trees with their bows in hand and sheaths full of arrows on their backs. Nathan saw Amanda, Lizzy, and Laura walking together while David and Mike headed over to the left side of the clearing. Nathan watched Jason run up to catch up to them. He looked terrible. It looked like he hadn't slept in days, and he kept on fidgeting around. Nathan hoped it wouldn't be the last time he saw any of his friends.

"This is a very nice welcoming party, but unfortunately it won't be enough," Akur told them all, raising his hands in greeting.

Everyone was silent as they stared at him with a mixture of anger and disgust.

"It will be," Nathan said defiantly, his voice ringing around the clearing.

Akur just continued to smile down on them with mock pity in his cold eyes.

"Really? You think you can defeat me when I took something you so desperately needed?" Akur said mockingly.

He laughed in a crazy way and motioned to someone hidden in the mass of Hunters. The others parted to let the person through. She stepped into the light, the sun shining off her wavy brown hair and the necklace hanging around her neck.

"Katia," Nathan gasped.

A wave of relief washed over him as he saw her standing before them. She looked a little worse for wear but she was alive. Celia and Damien stared at her in shock.

"Katia!" Celia shouted out, but Katia just continued to stare at them blankly with an angry expression. It was like she had no idea who they were.

The three of them stared at Katia in confusion. Something was wrong. She was just staring stiffly ahead of her. Katia didn't smile at any of them or show any signs of herself. She wasn't even trying to get away. Nathan looked closer and noticed something weird in her eyes. They were no longer a deep chocolate brown. They were a dark, shining gray.

"What did he do to her?" Nathan asked in horror.

Saladin answered from behind and walked up so that he was standing next to them.

"Akur has put Katia under a really powerful curse. It affects her soul and makes it evil. She now has to follow Akur's every command," Saladin said in a strained voice. He seemed to know a lot more about the curse than he was letting them know.

Damien and Celia both let out a long line of curses, and the ground started to quake lightly.

"Can we break it?" Nathan asked hopefully though he looked close to breaking down.

Saladin sighed. "It's nearly impossible. Only Katia can break it and her memory of her past will most likely be gone by now."

"Katia will break it. I know she will," Nathan said. He was desperately grasping on to the last strand of hope he had. He couldn't bear to lose her.

The entire time, Akur was watching with glee at all of their distressed faces at seeing Katia. It was just the effect he was hoping for.

"Might as well say your goodbyes now," Akur said giving them time, but everyone was just silent and refused to move. "No?"

He turned to the Hunters around him and pointed down at the Elictis gathered around.

"Kill them all."

Akur ordered the Hunters to attack while he and Katia stayed on the small cliff overlooking the clearing. Everything broke into action. All around the Elictis, the Hunters were charging at them with incredible speed. They were severely outnumbered, but they were skilled.