1.23

Athena nodded, "Yeah, it was weird. At first, I thought I should let it go since they are cousins and it's none of our business. And secondly, Lucian looked sad."

The seven of them discussed a plan. Rowan suggested, "What if we get a mask and pull him into an empty room?"

Athena replied, "What—"

Felix added sarcastically, "Yeah, amazing plan. And what if we also tie him so he can't escape?"

Athena, exasperated, said, "Are you guys serious right now?"

Rowan shushed her, "Shh, Athena, we're trying to think of a plan."

Flint contributed, "And then close the room light."

Fed up, Athena decided to search for Lucian herself. She found him and took his book.

Lucian protested, "Hey! I was going to read that."

Athena confronted him, "Do you know where Evander is?"

Lucian shook his head.

"You liar," Athena accused, "I know that you know where he is."

Lucian shook his head and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Athena threatened, "If I were you, you'd better tell me where he is or I'll take all your books for years."

Lucian screamed, "HE'S IN THE LAVENDER CASTLE IN HARBIT!"

Athena demanded, "Why is he there?"

Lucian stammered, "Because—because he..."

Athena shouted, "Tell me!"

Lucian shouted back, "I already wanted to tell you!"

Athena persisted, "Then why is he there?"

Lucian explained, "That—that lady is a wizard killer. She's a half-ragion. Some ragions believe if you kill a wizard heir's son, you get stronger."

Athena asked, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Lucian shouted, "He didn't tell me everything! I got the information just yesterday!"

Athena whispered, "Liar. You whispered in his ear not to do it."

Lucian, confused, asked, "Huh? What do you mean? I'm not lying. He told me that he was going to talk to his father about an accident he caused."

Athena raised an eyebrow and said, "So he lied to you?"

Lucian said, "I guess so."

Just then, the guys walked in. Rowan demanded, "Tell us where Frost is."

Lucian rolled his eyes and said in a deep voice, "You hang out with them?"

Athena sighed and said, "Yes."

Lucian responded, "Don't want to get in your footsteps."

Athena laughed a little and said playfully, "Yeah, what a nightmare."

They both laughed, and Felix asked, "Is there something funny?"

Lucian said, "Yeah, your face."

Athena added, "And the manner of you guys. There's a door for a reason. Can't you knock?"

Felix rolled his eyes and said, "Well, looks like you guys are having fun in here."

Lucian said, "Yeah, so jealous?"

Felix retorted, "Never. Pfff."

Meanwhile, with Evander, Nemoris slapped him and spat, "Useless son of a bitch. Don't have some info? Are you going to talk or not?" He grabbed Evander's chin, forcing him to look up with one eye closed.

"You still won't talk?" Nemoris sneered, raising his hand to slap Evander again. But then Evilinda intervened, saying, "Let him talk. Just leave him for now."

Nemoris, annoyed and angry, said, "Fine. But if he won't talk, you know what will happen." He laughed evilly and walked out the door.

Evander struggled to breathe, but then a fairy flew in, exclaiming, "Those evil monsters! Torturing a kid is just evil! If I were free, I would send them to Ragalas myself!"

Evander asked, "What is Ragalas?"

The fairy replied, "Ragalas is worse than Bemine."

Evander tried to talk again, "Is there something worse than Bemine?"

The fairy nodded, "Yes, Ragalas. I would have sent them there if they hadn't cast a Relivias spell to trap me here." The fairy shouted, but her voice was so tiny that nobody heard her except Evander.

Evander tried to sit up, but his whole body hurt. "Aghh," he groaned, struggling.

The fairy asked, "Are you okay?"

Evander replied, "No, it all hurts."

The fairy said angrily, "If we get out of this, I will tell everything to the head of Ragalas. They won't get away with this!"

Evander, sounding sleepy, said, "If we get out of here... but I think I want to sleep now."

The fairy, still angry, said, "What? Sleep? We need an escape plan!" But before Evander could respond, he felt a hand on his stomach. He started to say, "Wait a moment—" but was cut off by Thorn, who put a finger to his lips and said, "Shhhhhh, they might hear us."

Evander asked, "How did you guys get in here?"

Athena, revealing herself from her invisibility shield, said, "The password was so easy. It was their birthday mixed with his pretend death day mixed with his mom's birthday."

Felix, now visible too, asked, "How do you know his mother's birthday?"

Athena hesitated, "Uhm, ehhhhhhh..."

Lucian, becoming visible, said, "Stop talking before we're all dead meat."

They heard footsteps and quickly got back into their shields. Evilinda walked in and asked, "Who were you talking with, Evander?"

The fairy quickly replied, "We were imitating voices."

Evilinda, unimpressed, said, "Kidnap a fairy and this happens," and then stormed off.

They all sighed in relief. The fairy said a little angrily, "Do one of you guys know how to get this Relivias spell off me? It would be nice."

They all laughed at that, except for Evander, who was in too much pain. Athena called Professor Limunos on the magic mini mirror she had received from him and asked, "How do you cure a Relivias spell?"

The professor said, "Well, take your wand."

Athena took her wand and pointed it at the fairy.

Then Professor Limunos said, "Say 'Rambina Lavarik.'"

Athena softly said, "Rambina Lavarik." The fairy's bubble broke, shattering like glass, and the fairy flew happily around.

"Alright, thank you! Okay guys, let's get out of here," the fairy said.

Rowan added, "Yeah!"

Athena, Rowan, Thorn, and Felix activated their shields, but Athena then whispered, "Thorn, can't you get Evander off that metal thing?"

Thorn grumbled, "Do I really have to?"

They all whispered back, "Yes!"

Thorn freed Evander from the restraints and grabbed him, turning his shield on.