Chapter 24♚The Water Attribute Gemstone

As if my feet has a mind of its own, I immediately run towards him regardless of what might happen. "Axel!" I screamed.

For a moment, I thought that he didn't got shot because he didn't seem hurt but when I'm finally standing next to him, I gasp at the sight. There's a red liquid soaking his right sleeve.

Bloody hell! He got shot!

Like a deja vu, I repeat the same words I told him when we're in Las Vegas. "Axel, you're bleeding!" I shouted.

I immediately fish out a long handkerchief from my pocket. With shaky hands, I was about to cover the wound, but stop when he told me something. "Get away from me," He said in a low voice. Like an old computer, it slowly processes in my mind until I'm able to comprehend his words.

My hand stops midway to his shoulder. I look up and meet his eyes, but froze when I saw two orbs looking at me furiously. 'He's mad but why?' I asked myself.

"But-" I started, but he cut me off by saying, "I don't need your help," and shove my hand away from him. His words stab me like a knife. I retract my hand in defeat and step backwards. He doesn't need my help.

"That's what happens when you don't follow my orders," Said the man who shots Axel and the people behind him just laughs.

Axel, who's on my side, regard them coldly. "Aquae quae sunt supra," He whispers.

'What's that language?' I ask myself. Even though he's only mumbling, I can hear them loud and clear. It's echoing inside my head like a mantra.

What's going on?

Suddenly, the sounds of rumbling thunder echoed throughout the place and then it starts raining. My clothes start to get soak from the rain. I shiver as I felt the cold air touch my skin.

"The forecast didn't say anything about raining today," Said the man with a bulky body.

"It's just a damn rain. Don't be such a wuss," Said the man who's holding a gun.

"But boss...my clothes are getting wet," The man complains earning a smack in the head from his friend. "You fool!"

While the guys are getting busy arguing with themselves, they didn't realize that the rain finally stops but what comes after stunned me.

Like crystal orbs that sparkle, the water droplets remain suspended in the air. It surrounded all of us like fireflies in the dark. It was like magic. The two man finally stops arguing. They must've seen this phenomenon unfold in front of their eyes and is shock beyond belief. Same goes for Benny. He is looking at the orbs with his mouth hanging open.

My eyes landed on Axel. "What did you do?" I ask him. I know he's responsible for all of this because it started raining after he whispered some weird language earlier.

Axel didn't answer my question and remained silent.

"What the hell are those?" The man said clearly confused as he looks around his surroundings.

"No, no..." The man with a hidden face says. "It can't be. You're one of them," He stated.

One of them? What does he mean by that?

Axel takes a step forward. The small water orbs move and gather around Axels body. It swirls around him like magical pixies I've seen in fairy tales. It's beautiful, but I can't help but feel uneasy because everything that is happening in front of me right now is beyond reality. It's impossible!

'Its right in front of you and you still refuse to believe it?' My subconscious speaks.

"Disperse," Axel said and the water orbs starts swirling around them.

On the outside, it looks like fireflies decide to play with them, but as you look at it more closely, you can see that they're struggling. One by one, they started to fall on the ground with their hands clasping their necks.

What's happening? Is this a kind of sorcery or something? Because whatever's going on creeps me out.

"Wha-what's this?" The big man said as he gasp for air. It looks like he's drowning. "I-I can't b-breath," He says before he loses his balance and is now kneeling.

The man who shot Axel loses his hold on the gun and falls to the ground. "Y-you're one of them," He repeated the same words he said earlier as he struggles to stand up.

One of them? What does he mean?

Axel just looks at the group without a hint of expression on his face. It's like he didn't care less whatever happens to them. Die or not.

"Tasha," Benny whispered. I almost forgot he's here with us because he's been silent the whole time. "Whatever Axel's doing, it might kill them," He said with his face masked with seriousness.

Thinking about it, he's right. I don't know what kind magic or weapon he's using, but if this continues, they'll die!

"Axel," I started and places my hand on his shoulder. My grip tightened when my eyes wandered to the current state of the group in front of us. They look like fishes out of water as they grasp for air. Some of them are already at the brink of losing their consciousness. "Stop or you'll kill them," I told him.

I caught his attention for a second but acted as if he didn't hear what I just said.

"Axel," I repeated, but this time, he didn't listen.

He's set on killing them!

"STOP!" I shouted before tackling him. Axel loses his balance making us both fell on the ground. The water suspended in the air like sparkling orbs lose their magic and fall to the ground

I did it!

Looking up, I saw two black orbs looking at me furiously. Instead of getting intimidated and cower by his intense gaze, my forehead creases. With the same intensity, I look at him furiously. "You almost kill them!" I shouted.

"Would you prefer us being killed instead?" He bit back.

He got a point but killing them is not an option. "N-no! But killing them won't solve everything. You'll just become a murderer!" I retorted.

Axel just stared at me blankly. The way his black orbs bore into me makes me drown like I'm submerged in a water.

It's suffocating!

"I'm more than a murderer," He told me in a whisper before gently pushing me aside and stands, leaving me sitting on the ground dumbfounded.

What does he mean by that?

"Are you okay?" I heard somebody asked. I look over my shoulder and saw Benny extending his hand. He's offering it to help me get up, but I refuse to take it.

"I-I'm okay," I told him before standing on my own. "Thank you," I said before shifting my gaze back at the group.

The only one who's left conscious is the man with a covered face. He's coughing heavily as he lies on the ground. Whatever Axel did, it gave a heavy toll on his body. I didn't even believed what I just witness. Is he a wizard like Harry Potter? My thoughts alone sounds insane. Someone will even think that I'm a perfect candidate for asylum admission.

The man looks up and saw Axel just a few feet away from him. He looks at him with distaste and said, "He will never welcome your presence here."

Who is he talking about?

"Where is he?" Axel asked ignoring his previous statement.

The man laughs bitterly. "Do you really think I'll answer your ques-" Before he could even finish his sentence, Axel mercilessly gave him a kick that send him flying on the bushes. The man let out a painful groan when he falls to the ground unceremoniously. He's now panting heavily as he struggles to get up but miserably fails.

"Where is he?" Axel repeated as he takes a step forward towards him.

"I will never tell you-ahh!" The man firmly says earning him another kick from Axel.

'I can't watch this' I told myself, but I can't take my eyes off of them.

Suddenly, an image of a chained little boy with bloody clothes flashes on my mind. 'Do not close your eyes! Watch!' The man scolded. 'Cowardice is for weaklings,' he said as he continues to whip the little boy mercilessly. The little boy, instead of crying and cower in fear, looks at the man with pure hatred. It stunned me to see a child, who looks less than nine, shows this kind of emotion towards a person and withstand the powerful whips without even wincing. 'Very good. Nice expression,' The man said in an eerie voice.

I was brought back to reality when I heard another wail of agony from the man whom Axel tortures without remorse. He looks all worn out and beaten. He's not even moving! Suddenly, the cloth covering his face slips off and revealed a face of a woman.

I gasped. No wonder I find something strange in his voice earlier. All along, he's a she!

I saw Axel approaching her. Thinking that Axel will stop, I was dead wrong. My eyes rounded when Axel grabs the helm of her shirt and lift her like a rag doll. Unable to move, the girl remain still. Her eyes are close and she's breathing heavily.

'Stop!' I wanted to scream, but I can't find my voice. I remained frozen on my spot, unable to think of what should I do in this situation. Seeing Axel like that makes me a fool for thinking that I know what kind of a person is he. All this time, I never knew him. The guy I'm seeing right in front of me is the merciless mafia leader they branded him to be.

"One last question, where is he?" He said coldly.

The girl remained silent. Probably unable to speak because of all the blows he received from Axel. He's about to throw the girl somewhere when we heard an unfamiliar voice.

"That's not the proper way to treat a woman," He said.

I look at the direction of where the voice is coming. I saw a tall man wearing a red shirt and ripped jeans. He got a tan skin and brown hair. Overall, he looks attractive on his bad boy get up, but what caught my attention the most is the odd color of his irises. I can't see it clearly, but I know it's not brown.

Axel drops the girl to the ground and mutters, "Marshall."

The newcomer takes a quick glance at the girl whom Axel disposes before looking at him with pure anger. "What are you doing here?" He spat.

Axel turns and faces the man. With a blank look on his face, he said, "You know what I want."

Marshall's about to retort when his gaze landed on Axel's finger, "I see, so you finally found yours," He stated then laughs bitterly. "Too bad, I don't have it," He started. "so get lost or I'll make you leave this place," He threatened.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew. I shivered when I felt the cold air touches my skin. It intensified because my clothes are damp with water. "Aachooooo!" I sneezed. I can't help it. Now I caught everyone's attention.

Axel's looking at me with a creased forehead while Benny looks at me weirdly. Marshall, on the other hand, looks at me in wonder. It looks like he's trying to figure out who I am.

Thinking aback, have we ever met? Because he looks oddly familiar, but I can't place him inside my head.

"Ana?" He said before rushing towards me and gave me a tight hug.

What's going on?

♚Chapter 24 End♚

A/N: I'm sorry for the VERY late Update. I'll post another 2 chapters tomorrow or the day after. For those who are asking if this is fantasy, yes it is. (It's in the tags since my primary focus is the adventure part) LOL.

Unedited Chapter.

Thank you very much for reading.

Enjoy!