Hi Guys,

Firstly I would like to send out a huge thankyou to those of you who have sent me emails that I have yet to reply to, asking if I am okay. I am perfectly fine, thankyou for your concern! :)

Secondly, I would pretty much just like to repeat what I sai on my Facebook fan page and apologize for being away for so long again. I don't have an excuse, I have just been slack at bumping my writing up on my list of things to do. Something as big as this becomes harder and harder to come back to, the longer you stay away - I understand that i have upset a few of you and I am very sorry for that.

I want to thank deeply, all of you who have been amazingly understanding. I owe you guys so much! I will not promise anything to do with this story, however I will finish it, and if you are willing to stick around then great!! If you aren't, I'll be sad, but understand. I just ask that you take your unkind comments somewhere else, and turn them into positive feedback for another author!

Thanks very much for your patience, your understanding and your kindness!

Love Daisy xxx

* * *

Re-cap (Because it has been along time)

Basically, the past few chapters have been about Circe's journey to to Water Kingdom and most importantly, to meeting her mother! Her and Obsidians relationship is growing, while she has finally told Cobalt that they will never be anymore than just friends.

Amoung other things, the important details that we need to pick out is that, Nathaniel has a twin brother somewhere, Unabonan and Zalas are brothers, (its complicated, re-read that chapter), and Circe is not human, but a mixed breed of Air &Water Sprite and Siren.

In the last chapter we saw Circe ride into battle upon her Dragon Anthemin, the young Dragon that she bonded with in the Air Kingdom. They were fighting a Water Demon, that had been born from the storm.

To find out the outcome, ENJOY THE NEXT CHAPTER BELOW!

* * *

Circe's P.O.V

Death was inches away from me.

We lifted upwards and slightly to the side, Anthemin thinking on his feet faster than I. I was still frozen in time, the shockwave that had forced us back immobilizing me. I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe. The Demons jaws missed us by centimeters; it's sickly breath washing over my face, stinking of death and decay. The poison crawled into my nostrils, choking me, paralyzing me further.

I gagged and felt bile rise up from in my throat. Somewhere in amongst the howling gales and thrashing seas I could hear someone calling my name, willing me back to reality. But they were too far away, their cries too weak to pierce through these walls of fear that had sprung up around me in ambush.

And then,

Vanima.

Unabonan's voice was like a bucket of cold water, gushing into my mind and bringing me back with a jolt. Suddenly everything was ten times louder and ten times more forceful than before. I looked behind me through haze filled eyes, Anthemin was pushing himself, we were in front of the Demon, but it's soulless whirlpool eyes had locked on us again and I knew it was only a matter of time before ...

Watch out!

The cry came from everywhere and suddenly something else was rising from the ocean, atop a quickly building turret of swirling water. But wait, not something.

Someone ...

At the speed Anthemin and I were flying, it was hard to get a good look at exactly who this person was, although they had a frightful aura spinning around them, at such a speed too, that it looked almost like a shield.

We were suddenly underneath Unabonan, the massive Dragon flying over top of us, his position purely protective. The great white scales blocked my line of sight for seconds, but when the person came into view again, the tower of water upon which they stood had doubled in size, now effectively blocking the path of the Demon.

The hideous beast roared out it's anger, swiping with one great claw, but the tower of water bent in the middle to avoid the blow, before twisting back into an upright position so fast that I could barely believe such a massive body of water was capable of such swift maneuvers.

The person that the water hurricane seemed to be growing out of, was now building something in their hands, similar to what Zalas had done with his ball of air, although there was a twisting in my gut that told me this was something much, much more powerful.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as, with a war like cry, the ball of water; which had grown to about the same size as Unabonan's skull, was released with a powerful bang. I realized then, that Zarska had come up from behind the person at the very last second and shot out a spear of ice-cold wind that hurtled the ball with the speed of a cannon ball, straight towards the whirlpool in the center of the Water Demons chest.

Look Vanima!

Anthemin was focused on the ball and I gasped as I watched, its shape changing and hardening at the very last second, into a frosty dagger that drilled straight into the 'heart' of the Demon.

The hideous beast let out an unearthly wail that sounded as though all of the winds of the ocean were being sucked down a drain and bottled away for eternity. The image of the beast blurred and shook in my eyes and suddenly there was nothing but a giant wave in its place, the massive body of water holding upright for slightly longer than it should have before it fell straight back into the ocean with a colossal splash.

"The boats!" I cried out in fear, reaching my hand out as though I could somehow move them out of the way.

Do not fear Vanima.

Unabonan's voice was quiet and it calmed me. Although the little boats rocked dangerously, I could see the ever-pale figures of the Air Sprites onboard, still in formation as they manipulated the air in front of the boats to push back the wave, forcing it to fall in the other direction.

"You came just in time." Zalas's voice was one of gratitude and it caught my attention. I turned my head to face the figure, still standing regally atop the swirling vortex of water, and watched as they nodded their head in acceptance of Zalas's thanks before gesturing downwards with a slender hand.

It had to be a woman, although Air Sprites also had such slender bone structures in both the woman and the men that I was unsure. Clearly he or she was not of the Air but of the Water and I did not know enough of their people to be able to judge them just yet.

It seemed though, that I would soon find out, because without my realizing it, we were slowly descending downwards, Anthemin's wings beating tirelessly beneath me. He had become much stronger and I did not hide my feelings of praise and gratitude towards him as he carried me towards our ship. He had been amazing, breathtaking and incredible.

We did it together Vanima, came his reply. We were one. Our part in the victory is ours to share equally.

I smiled softly, leaning forwards to lie down on his neck, his scales cold and salty and the taste brought me more into myself, although my mind still couldn't quite believe yet that the fight was over. That we had won. That I had not died in the process.

The ships were coming into more detail now and even from the height I was at, he caught my eye. Cobalt was standing beside him, waving frantically and yelling out words that were lost on the still dying wind. I waved back; a movement that seemed to require much more energy than it should have, to let him know that I was fine, but my eyes were glued to him.

His face was devoid of all emotion; his arms were crossed across his naked chest in fury and resentment. But it was his eyes, his eyes that burned as brightly as the sun across the distance that separated us that gave him all away. They were glowing so ferociously that they were all that I could see, and through my chill I felt my body begin to heat up from the inside out, warming me all the way down to my fingertips. I shuddered, and, unable to hold his gaze any longer, I looked away.

His eyes were still there though however, branding themselves into my skull.

Unabonan had reached the water now, slipping into its folds as though he belonged there and not in the air. Zalas leapt lightly off his back and onto the deck, extending his hand out to help the mysterious person up after him. Aranel followed, her face tired for once, instead of angry.

The sailors cleared a space as Anthemin lowered himself carefully onto the deck. The ship groaned and rocked slightly as he shifted himself around to face the new comer. He lowered his head so that I was able to slip off his neck with ease, although the fatigue that overwhelmed me suddenly, was strong enough that I had to lean against him for support.

He nudged my side with his snout, his mind voice concerned. Vanima, you should replenish your energy. You still have your pendant.

I looked down to see my beautiful blue stone still hanging safely around my neck, glowing dimly. With a sigh of relief I clutched it in my hand, drawing on its energy.Immediately I felt better, although I only took enough so that I could stand squarely on two feet without feeling like I was about to topple over, energy was precious and I did not want to waste it when I could sleep and get the same results later.

The new comer was talking quietly with Zalas, a few feet away and they had both turned in my direction when I had slid off Anthemin. Now Zalas spoke, his face tired but pleased.

"Circe, we have some good news, allow me to introduce-

"Aisling!" The cry came from behind me and the next thing I knew, Hobbson was rushing past me to gather the cloaked figure up in arms. The hood fell back and pearly white waves of hair spilled out from beneath it, bouncing in gentle curls that eventually settled around the most erethreal face that I had seen yet.

The woman laughed and instantly I was happy and everything was well in the world. Hobbson's face was one of complete bliss as he reached up to tenderly kiss the woman on the lips. She returned it with equal tenderness and the love between them seemed so private suddenly, that I had to drop my gaze, shock registering in my emotions. Hobbson was married? I supposed that I shouldn't really be surprised, it was just that I had never thought about him as a husband, and maybe even a father, before.

"Bernard, what on earth have you been doing?" The woman's voice was scolding and I lifted my gaze back to the two. Her expression was teasing though, as though he was a small child that she was disciplining. He laughed loudly, a big rounded laugh that reminded me of full bellies and joyful occasions. I smiled too, some of my strength coming back with it.

"Nothing that you couldn't fix," He teased back. Turning to face me, he smiled proudly. "Circe, everyone, allow me to introduce my wife, Aisling."

I opened my mouth to speak but before I could utter a word, a pair of muscled arms crushed around me, cutting off my air supply momentarily as the words that I was about to say were squeezed out of me with a weird kind of deflating sound.

Cobalt's voice blasted its way through my eardrums making me wince. "Circe! We were so worried about you! You were amazing, but don't ever do that again? Are you okay?? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine-

"Circe!" Nathaniel's worried voice came from somewhere to my right and I was yanked from Cobalts arms as my brother pulled me into an embrace that was just as suffocating as the first. "Are you alright? What happened?! Don't ever do that again!" He held me out at arms length, peering at me as though I was about to drop to the floor at any moment.

"Really I am okay, I just oh!"

The breath was knocked out of me yet again as I was swept up by a pair of all too familiar arms and slammed, none too gently, up against a wall. Obsidian Bones towered over top of me, his body blocking everything from sight. I heard Nathaniel's cry of outrage, but the growl that came from Obsidians chest was one that no-one was willing to mess with.

"Back off."

His chest was heaving up and down, dripping with the rain that had quietened into a drizzle around us and yet the heat coming from him was causing wisps of steam to drift up off his skin slightly. His arms had me caged in and his voice was raw when he spoke.

"Look at me."

I paused, still staring at his chest, shaking slightly. Was he angry? He shouldn't be acting like this in front of our current audience, it could cause suspicion.

"Please Circe." His voice broke slightly on my name and I caved. Raising my eyes to meet his, he took my breath away. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out, his face torn between emotions that I couldn't find the words for and I felt a lump build up in my throat as his eyes conveyed what he couldn't seem to say.

You could have died.

His hand reached up to catch under my chin lifting my face upwards and his head had just begun to bend down towards mine, when he suddenly seemed to realize what he was doing. In an instant, he had dropped his hand and stepped away from me, his hands clenching in anger and his golden eyes flashing.

He looked at me tensely. "We will discuss this later." His voice was rough and full of promises.

I tried to hide the shiver that ran down my spine at the implied meaning behind his words, my thoughts frantically moving back to what I had been focused on before my welcoming party had arrived. I could not risk Anthemin reading my thoughts and although I loved him dearly, I did not know which would win out, his loyalty to me or to his own kind.

I turned to face everyone, forcing an easy smile on my face as I looped my arms around Nathaniel's waist, reassuring him that I was fine. He gave me a questioning look but I ignored it and he seemed to get the message. Although it didn't stop him from sending a dirty look towards Obsidian, a look which was gladly returned with ten times more anger.

"So!" I said casually, breaking the awkward pause. "Who knew that Hobbs actually had it in him all this time?"

Cobalt sniggered and Hobbson threw me a dirty look. "Watch who you are talking to young lady," He teased. "There is more to learn from this old man yet."

I laughed and the Aisling laughed with me, stepping forward and extending her hand, her deep sea blue robes parting as she did so. I took her hand and shook it, trying not to stare too much. Underneath the robes she wore a dress of material that appeared to be made from liquid, so smoothly did it encase her skin. The material was slightly see-through, enough for me to notice that underneath the material she wore no undergarments to cover her breasts. I blushed and adverted my eyes quickly, looking instead at her face. She smiled knowingly.

"I am Aisling, child. Bernard's wife. It is a pleasure to meet you. In your Mothers Kingdom, our customs are such that there is great shame in hiding our bodies from one another. It is something you will have to grow used to quickly as future Queen. But we will talk more about that later. You must be hungry, yours was a great fight."

The words that came from her mouth were like water pouring into the sea. Everything about this woman was fluid. There were no straight lines in her body or her face, apart from the bridge of her nose. But even that reminded me of a waterfall flowing straight down to the blossoming foam that was the roundness of her mouth. She was captivating. She had to be a Siren.

"Actually, child, I am both Siren and Water Sprite." She smiled at me as I blushed, caught red-handed. "Get changed and we will talk over dinner." She looked around to Hobbson. "Dear? I do hope that you have a cook aboard this ship?"

Hobbson grinned and rubbed his belly. "Do you think I would be looking this good if we didn't?" Everyone laughed and Hobbson put his fingers to his lips and whistled. "Boys! Go and get the kitchens hands working! And those of you who are still lolly-gagging can set up tables on the deck." He raised his arms above his head. "Tonight we celebrate a great victory! We are almost at our destination! It is time to feast!"

Cheers rose up from our ship and the two on either side of us, the Air ships crew calling out in their cheerful, but ever haunting voices. Not one man had been lost in the storm and the battle that had followed, tonight was a night for celebrations.

*

I rushed down to Lacey's quarters, Nathaniel hot on my heels. Just as I reached her door, Leo stuck his head out, his face lighting up in a grateful grin.

"I heard the commotion above deck and figure it to be either good or bad, I was just about to go and check but judging by your appearance I trust the outcome was good?"

We nodded at the same time, squishing up against the wall so that sailors could move past us, heading for the kitchens. Already fantastic smells were beginning to waft up from the depths of the ship and my stomach growled hungrily.

"You will never guess what happened," Nathaniel said excitedly, pushing his way into the room. "Hobbson has a wife! And she is ..." He trailed off, his eyes clouding over and I grinned at Leo.

"She is pretty gorgeous." I finished for him.

Leo's mouth fell open, but it was not him who spoke next.

"Hobbs is married?" Lacey's squeaky voice rose up from the bed. "Hobbson? Hobbson is married?"

I looked at her little face, still pale from the horror of the storm and nodded in conformation. "Yes he is, but how are you doing? Do you feel better?"

Lacey ignored me, instead looking at Nathaniel. "And his wife is really pretty? Like amazingly beautiful?"

Nathaniel nodded, a dopey grin still on his face. Before I could say another word Lacey was in stitches on the floor, as she laughed so hard that tears began leaking from the corners of her eyes.

I looked at Leo. "Should we ...?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know? Maybe it's shock?"

"Hahaha! Hobbson is so old! And you can't even get one girl and he is married to ... hahaha!"

"Hey!" Nathaniel suddenly realized that he was being made fun of and snapped out of his day dream. I sniggered behind my hand.

"It is true you know, he has more game than you."

"Hahaha! He has like, a century on you and he managed to pull her. Maybe you should be taking lessons from him instead of Circe!"

Leo snorted and tried in vain to turn it into a cough, I was trying to keep a straight face but the corners of my lips just seemed to keep wanting to pull upwards. Nathaniel was not amused. Grumbling about his right to freedom of thought, he moped out into the hallway and was quickly snatched up by someone who needed an extra hand carrying a table.

"Meet you out on the deck lover boy!" Lacey yelled out after him. His reply was very rude and thankfully most of it was lost in the shouting of crew members.

Suddenly Samson appeared in the doorway. Or at least he tried to fit as much of himself as he could in the doorway, which, was a great struggle considering that the door was simply far too small and he was far too big.

"Circe! There you are." His tree trunk of an arm reached through the doorframe and ruffled my hair. "Good to see you alive little lady, you had us worried for a moment there."

I beamed at him. "Thankyou Samson, but I am just fine."

He nodded. "Captain Bones wishes to see you in his quarters immediately." He looked at me sympathetically. "And by immediately I mean right now. I'm sorry."

I sighed, "It's alright Samson, maybe you could take Lacey and Leo out onto deck and introduce them to Aisling? I assume you have met her?"

He suddenly seemed at lost for words and I looked at him knowingly. His wide smile shone as he grinned at me sheepishly. He reached up to scratch his head and shrugged his giant shoulders.

"Who hasn't?"

"Yes," I said dryly. "Indeed."

Lacey sniggered behind me and I smiled at her over my shoulder as I squeezed past Samson out into the hallway. "I'll see you later."

She nodded her head. "Don't be too long or all the food will have gone!" She rubbed her tummy. "I'm starving!"

I laughed to mask the anxiety that I felt at the thought of being alone with him. My stomach was flipping restlessly and I hurried off down the hall before anyone could notice my fear.

* * * *

(Obsidian's P.O.V)

I paced up and down my quarters, resisting the urge to punch something. To throw something across the room. The golden devil gem throbbed on my chest like an extra beating heart, relishing in my anger. We were growing close to our destination and it was getting restless, it thirsted for blood. For revenge.

I clasped it in my hand and squeezed tight, willing everything to disappear. All of my confused thoughts, all of my nightmares. All of my feelings for her. If I had known what would happen, would I have taken this job if I had had a choice?

I thought back to all of the past moments, the first time that I had looked upon her face and her defiance and courage. Finding out what she really was, finding out who I really was and what I was destined to do. I had been so hard back then, so impenetrable in my hatred. I had been Obsidian.

And what now? What now, now that this woman was on board who knew exactly what I was in for once we reached the Water Kingdom. What now, now that an extra set of eyes had been added to those who thought and cared only of Circe's welfare as a future Queen? Would she be told? Would she find out? What would she think of me?

I could tell her the truth. No. I couldn't do that. Perhaps part of the truth? Part of it might not be so bad.

A door opened behind me and I turned, already knowing who would walk through. Her head appeared first, looking nervously around the room. She wouldn't see me though, not when I was concealed in such dark shadows, and perhaps that was the part that would not be so horrible for her to know. Wasn't she, after all, familiar with the power that the pendants possessed?

I stepped towards her as she came fully into the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. She walked straight past me and I turned, watching the way she moved. Taking in all of her, breathing in her scent. Her clothes were still wet from the rain and they clung to her slender body, outlining her curves and increasing my desire. I was close behind her now, she had paused at my desk, still looking for me and as my shirt brushed her back she froze, goosebumps rising on the skin of her neck.

I breathed out and let the shadows disappear, the pendant falling from my hand to hang back around my neck as I stepped back into the real world. I couldn't tell her yet.

She spun around and I caught her before she could bang into me, her pink lips forming a round 'o' of surprise. She squeaked and then cleared her throat, her cheeks blossoming a beautiful seashell pink in her embarrassment. No, I couldn't tell her yet.

*

(Circe's P.O.V)

He appeared behind me from nowhere, his arms capturing and steadying me and my confusion at his appearance disappeared almost as soon as his hand touched my face, stroking down the length of my cheekbone. His eyes burned hungrily, the scar that marred his face looking deeper in the dim light as he studied me with such intensity that I felt as though he was looking right into my mind.

"You had me so worried." His expression was dark, his voice crushed velvet. "I could have lost you, you could have died." His tone turned accusing. "Zalas had no right to allow you to join them, you should have stayed with me, where it was safe! Where I could protect you!"

His arms constricted around me as he grew more agitated, his tone rising in fury. I tried to find my voice, to tell him that I was perfectly capable of looking after myself, that nothing would have happened to me but when I opened my mouth all that came out was, "I'm sorry."

My hands found his chest and he inhaled sharply. He had put a shirt on, one of his soft white ones with the high collar. The buttons were only done up halfway and I played his bare skin, being careful to avoid his pendant. The gem was glowing brightly, and the resemblance to his eye was uncanny. Shaking the feeling aside I looked up into his face.

His eyes were hooded, his full lips parting slightly as his bent his head down, one hand coming up to tangle in my hair, the other pressed against my lower back, holding me to him. His breath tickled against the side of my face as his nose nuzzled at my jawline, a deep grumble of pleasure emitting from his chest. I reached a hand up to touch his hair, running my fingertips down to his ears which were pointed at the tips, something that wasn't unusual for him nowadays. He raised his head, his eyes focused on my lips, his own top lip lifting slightly to show me his pointed incisors.

"Elven blood." He whispered. Reaching down, he closed the last gap between us, his lips finally capturing my own. His kiss was desperate and filled with need, but at the same time it was so incredibly tender that I did not know what to do other than kiss him back and hope that my emotions were conveyed just as strongly.

He gathered me up in his arms, placing me up on his desk as I wrapped my legs around his waist, my tongue flicking to tease his pointed teeth and making him moan in pleasure. My hands explored his tightly wound shoulders and muscled back as though I had forgotten the pattern of him entirely and had to memorize it all again. His fingers grappled with the wet material of my clothes until there was a sharp tearing noise and my dress peeled off around me, leaving my skin bare and cold.

His shirt was long gone, the last remaining buttons torn off in my haste and we were skin to skin, a burning frenzy of passion and a need that seemed to consume us both with an insatiable hunger. It was only when my shaking hands found their way down to his belt buckle that he stopped me. One of his hands was enough to encase both of my wrists, and he lifted them above my head, to rest on the bed that in our want for each other, we had somehow managed to end up upon.

He shifted to lay on his side beside me, tracing the line down the middle of my stomach and outlining the material around my undergarments with one finger. Everywhere he touched, burned with fire and I squirmed under his hold.

"Obsidian I-"

"Not yet." His voice was rough with desire and I did not understand his hesitation.

"Not when we are hiding this from everyone out there Circe. You won't be able to pretend anymore." He raised his golden eyes to mine. "I won't be able to pretend anymore."

I nodded reluctantly, unable to shake the feeling that there was a double meaning hidden behind his words that I did not understand.

"Alright." I reached up to capture his lips once more, tugging gently on the bottom one and his body melted back to mine, because when it came down to it, neither of us could deny the other.

He rumbled with pleasure, running his calloused hands up and down my naked sides. I let go of his mouth to kiss his face, his nose, his eyelids, that terrible scar ever so tenderly. To show him that I was here, that I was his, that he never had anything to worry about.

Eventually though, we had to pull apart, to put space and clothes between our bodies, to go out onto the deck and join the others before they came looking for us and discovered what both of us were feeling but neither of us could say to the other.

That we were falling in love.

*

The mood out on the deck was one of joyful celebration. Tables had been created from barrels and planks, seats made from mattresses and more barrels, but despite the put togetherness of the furniture, the food that was laid upon the tables, made the feast as grand as any other.

Obsidian and I blended into the festivities as soon as we stepped through the door, our appearance was barely noticed until we drew closer to the head of the table where Hobbson and Aisling were seated.

I could feel Obsidian close behind me and did not bother to tell him that we should keep our distance from each other, I would not be leaving his sight any time soon. Aisling smiled at me as we stopped at her husbands side. The last few dishes were being placed on the table as Hobbson spoke.

"Ahh there you two are, we are just waiting on a few more and then we can dig in! Aisling, allow me to introduce the Captain of her Majesty's vessel, Obsidian Bones."

Aisling's smiled was guarded as she extended her hand, her voice cold. "We have met previously."

Obsidian took her hand and raised it to his lips, planting a delicate kiss upon the back of her hand. His lips twitched upwards in a dangerously smile, his eyes flickering with secrets. "Yes we have. A pleasure, as always."

Her smile was more than forced as she withdrew her hand, gesturing that we take a seat. I went to take a place beside Obsidian but she stopped me.

"No Princess, take a seat beside me." Her tone was gentle but held no room for argument. Obsidian was seated opposite me, beside Cobalt, who beamed happily at me before resuming his conversation with Leonardo who was seated opposite him and beside Lacey.

Obsidians dark gaze burned at me across the makeshift table and I could hear his thoughts loud and clear. This is why we stopped. This is why we must be secret. It would never be allowed.

Aisling turned towards me, her beautiful face curious. "Forgive me child, but you have much to learn and to adjust to before we reach your Mothers lands. You will be expected to know much as future Queen."

There is was again. Future Queen. It was not something that I had had a proper chance to think about, but now that I did I felt a twisting in my gut. What was I sailing into?

"You must have many questions," Aisling continued. "Most of which will be answered over the course of the night, I encourage you Princess, if you wonder anything, ask and you will receive the answers if the time is right."

"What are you?" I blurted out, before I could stop myself. "I mean I know what you are, but how do you know my Mother?"

Aisling chuckled. "Your Mother and I have been close since child-hood, we grew up together and have seen and dealt with a great many trials to our friendship. I am the head of her council, one of the Elders in-fact. This is why partially why I am here, to make sure the rest of your journey to the Water kingdom goes smoothly. We weren't supposed to meet for another couple of days, but when Bernard alerted me of the danger you were in, I used ... other means to get here faster."

"Other means?"

She smiled. "Water Sprites are curious creatures." Was all that she said before Hobbson was calling everyone to attention.

"Tonight we celebrate a great victory! We thank our brave crew and Prince Zalas and Princess Aranel for the risk to their lives! We thank Aisling for her timely arrival! We give thanks to Circe and the great Dragons that lifted those chosen few into the sky to fight for our lives! And we give thanks that the great Water Demon was defeated, for now our path to the Water Kingdom is clear of obstacles!" He turned his raised glass towards me, his face cheerful but his eyes grave.

"Soon, our destiny's will be upon us."

My smile faltered slightly at his words and Zalas, who had slid into the seat beside me at the beginning of Hobbsons speech lifted his hand to rest upon my shoulder.

His ice cold voice tickled my ear, and something about his words made me look up and straight ahead to capture Obsidians gaze.

"And destiny is not afraid to watch the world burn."

* * *