Francis 

I took a moment to try and process what Z just told me. What? a spy? Who would even betray us? 

"That doesn't make any sense, why would any of them do that?",I said holding my hands up in the air as I thought about how determined everyone looked when Kyle was telling us the plan. Everyone was committed to the cause. Why would they betray us? And how did we not see that coming?

"Are you sure about this?", I said looking into her eyes as they normally tell the most truth. However I didn't see any doubt at the moment.

Z who was looking up at me purses her lips "I'm pretty sure King Maximus said it was one of your friends, the person had been telling him about everything that you guys do and will do but he wouldn't tell me about who it was. Not to mention he captured Kyle and I'm guessing everyone else", Z said.

"That would explain why he knew our every move and had people at our every location, not to mention when I left to get you healed I left my friends unprotected which just made it easier for him to capture my them. This is all my fault", I said looking down, my anger building for myself. That was a stupid decision but I couldn't let Z die.

"Hey, stop. Stop that look,my dad is cruel and he would have found a way to take you guys down one way or another, but I'm here now and I'm better, see, and I'm going to make this right. We're in this together", Z said, grabbing my hands to hold. I held on tighter and brought her hand to my lips to kiss, rubbing the top of the other.

I nodded then said, "We just have to focus on getting inside the castle. Where do you think he's keeping them hostage?".

"There is a dungeon in the deepest part of the castle below flying level. It's where we keep prisoners or anyone that's causing trouble. They are most likely being held there.  I could direct you", I nodded at Z.

"Sure tell me the directions", she told me all I needed to know about where we needed to be, apparently it is a secret passage near the West wing for visitors. Now I know why I was kept there in the first place. I could've ended up in the dungeon.

"Okay I'm going to teleport us there. Remember to be on guard because your father is maybe expecting us",Z nodded then held on to me as I teleported us inside the palace. Near the West wing.

It was cold and dark inside the castle, the walls of the new area I had never seen before in my previous exploration held a huge portrait of the royal family. I looked around and there was a fire torch on the wall. I looked down on Z to check if she was okay. "Come on Cass, this way", she said, grabbing the torch, to lit the portrait. " Wait! You gonna alert them", I said in a whisper scream to stop her. The portrait was not burning. She turns to me and smiles.

" I know what I'm doing", she said  walking into a newly appearing door. The door was slowly closing as she entered and I ran in immediately after her. 

"Woah", I said in amazement.

"Amazing right?", Z said as I looked around. The place was big and dark however streams of light could be seen seeping through the small holes to show little parts  green and gold walls. Huge stair cases going all directions could be seen and strange smells coming from all directions.

"What is that smell?", I said looking to her however it was too dark.

" Here is the torch. I can see but your eyes needs a little time to adjust, by the way follow closely behind me there are traps". She said walking off.

I ran up to her and placed my hand on  her back. Z laughs and said "Don't tell me you're scared?".

I looked at her trying to look serious." Me? scared, pfft no way, I'm just protecting you, it's an instinct you know?".

"Yeahhh, you're protecting me that would explain why you're digging your fingers in my back" she said giggling.

I realized I was grabbing her too tightly and pulled away. "Sorry Z".

"Haha it's okay, we both know I'm the brave one in this relationship" she said.

I snapped my head towards her ," So we're official now?"

"I thought it was obvious when I stuck my tongue down your throat multiple times".

I choked on air "Wha-what?".

Z laughed "You really are adorable".

I was about to tell her I'm not adorable when she stopped and started shushing me. I looked around but didn't see anything but I realized that I heard a sound. It was voices but I unfortunately couldn't pick up whose voice it was as yet.

Z and I exchanged looks and we went behind a wall as the voices came closer. They passed and we realized it was guards. They didn't see us so as soon as they were out of sight we continued.

"We're coming close to the cells". I nodded.

"Watch out", Z pulled at me and about a second later a iron javelin flew right past me at high speed. My heart rate picked up and I turned to Z with my eyes wide.

"Thank you, you saved my life".

" Well a life or a life. Whose gonna save you if I don't. Who else am I gonna spend my life with if not you. I can't allow you to die", I blushed.

" I'm speech less".

"Glad I could steal the words from your tongue, it ain't the only thing I'm gonna steal but that's for later let's focus now".

" You're right", I said. A minute later we saw cells that looked similar to the jails in Ogore Thelea. However the bars were solid gold and looked bigger and stronger.

I quickly ran towards them hoping to see my friend and his companions. "Kyle,Kyle",I called, running from cell to cell. It was dark so it was hard to see as the torch was dimming and my eyes had yet to adjust so I felt and opened a cell and entered it however to my disappointment Kyle wasn't there. 

I moved on with Z and she led me from cell to cell in search looking at each people in the different cells as she could see and I couldn't so well, when I heard more voices. "Francis, Francis, we're here, help!" ,The voices shouted. 

"Kyle?", I called. I quickly ran in the direction of the voice and saw everyone in a cell at the back. I sighed in relief, I found the guys, thank God.

"Stand back". I heard Z say.They stood back as Z broke the lock and opened the door to let them out. This is the first time I had seen Z use her powers infront of me and I almost  forgot that she is from the kingdom of giants and strength. I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing that.

 Blake was the first one out and he jumped to hug me. " Where were you man?, we've been in here for hours, we thought we were going to die", he said.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry something happened and I had to leave but I'm back now and it's not over yet, I just need to talk to Kyle, where is he?",I asked looking behind him to see if he's out of the cell as yet.

Fray was the last one out and she looked up at me in shock. "He's not with you?", She asked.

My heart dropped. "What do you mean he's not with me? I thought he was with you,where the hell is he, Fray?".

"How should I know?, we were separated. You should be the one to know where he is", She said looking at me with curiosity and anger.

I started panicking and walked up to Fray angrily. " I don't know, maybe you know where he is because you're the mole that has been ratting us out to King Maximus. I mean you are an Alycyonian, so I wouldn't be surprised if it were you. Is it?Is it you?".

Everyone gasped in horror and Fray looked even more angry. "What do you mean someone had been ratting us out, none of us here would do that, especially me. Everyone here knows I hate Maximus more than anything, he took everything I had from me. What would I gain from helping him?".

"I don't know, maybe wealth, position . Everyone knows about your obsession with vanity maybe being poor was getting to you former rich girl. You gold digger. How does it feel to betray the people who helped you ? You two timer".

Just then the wind picked up around us and I realized Fray was using her powers to try attack me. She didn't do much because her useless powers didn't have an effect on me, but Blake grabbed her to calm her down".

"Hey Fray, Fray, calm down, breathe", he said, trying to soothe her, rubbing her back. After which he walked up to me and had the audacity to point in my face. "How don't we know you aren't the mole and you're just pretending so we can fight against each other, I mean you are with the enemy's daughter over here".

 I was about to answer when Z stepped in front of me and looked up at him. "You want to find out?". She answered but Aquata cut in.

"Hey, hey, everyone calm down, we need to find Dawn and Kyle and take down Maximus. Fighting each other  is not gonna help us now Francis", Aquata said looking to me. She went on to further say. "I know you are Francis's friend but I trust everyone here with my life more than I trust you but we only got each other. Let's work together we only have one common enemy", Aquata said looking at Z. 

"So either you come with us or you stay but we are continuing with our plan", She said looking Both Z and I in the eye.

I looked at Z and she nodded. "I'm coming but I'll be keeping an eye on all of you".

We all walked together looking at the other cells. There were over a hundred cells so it took some time. We switched positions to keep guard and I was confused as to why no guards had showed up yet. There were a lot of men in these cells and yet other than the guards we saw on the way here none were present. At Least we can look for Kyle in peace, I thought.

About 30 minutes later we had finished checking every cell and there was no sign of Kyle or Dawn.

"What do we do now?We can't possibly search the entire palace without getting caught," Gaiah said.

Everyone looked down in thought. 

"There's a room on my parents Wing where they keep special hostages don't ask me why because I don't know, but Kyle could be there",Z suddenly says. Why didn't she say so earlier.

"Why didn't you say so?", Gaiah said. "Should we try it out?".

"It's worth a shot", Fray says. "We need to find them", Everyone looked at her and nodded. 

I teleported everyone to where Z directed me and we reached the cell but it had a door in front of it with a lock. Z broke it off and we entered the room with the cell. 

Someone turned on the lights and called Kyle and I heard shuffling. I ran over to the cell  and nearly cried in relief when I saw Kyle. 

I tried opening the cell but realized it had another lock on it. I was about to call Z when I heard multiple voices coming in the distance. They sounded like they were running towards us. "Z break the lock quickly", I shouted. 

"Hurry!", someone shouted.

"Z what's going on? break the lock".

"I-I, can't. My powers aren't working. " 

What?", I said in shock. Why now?

Gaiah ran up to us and tried using his powers but it didn't work. Everyone came and tried but it didn't work. "We have to leave them," Fray screamed as the guards started banging on the door.

"We are so screwed", Blake cried out. 

I tried activating my powers but it wasn't working.

"Bang!Bang!".

I tried again and this time I felt something. I managed to open the portal and everyone jumped through. I was the last to leave as I took one last look at Kyle and felt saddened because he hadn't said a word since I came here.

"I'm coming back for you",I said. Looking at him. The last thing I saw was him nodding as I jumped through the portal.

Thanks for reading🥰