296 Sarcos versus Marath

As the night was creeping over the Wetlands Sarcos and Marath went to talk in the office.

"I'm returning Underworld and your son to you," said Sarcos seriously.

"Thank you, you did a good job..."Marath noted..."You are free to go. Our deal is done and over..."He nodded.

"I have something else to discuss..."Sarcos bit his lips. He took the Sienna's picture from his clothes. He unfolded it carefully as he placed it on the table. The cheeky smiling handsome face was revealed on the rough paper... 

"So, are you ready to fight the Golden Scorpion?"Marath smirked at him.

"Why did you wake him up? "Sarcos looked at Marath a bit upset.

"He awoke as Sienna kissed me, her scorpion mark reacted with my magic. As you were in the wind, the next responsible person was the Golden Scorpion from whose tail is the golden leaf you used for the mark. You gave it to her!"Marath looked firmly at him."He offered to pay, it was a good deal. I did not want Sienna to be tainted with magic...I wanted to give her a chance to wait for you..." he said seriously.

"But he will hunt her!"Sarcos said worriedly.

"Or will you be more satisfied if I mated with her?"Marath licked his lips. His red eyes stared into Sarcos's dark ones hungrily. He was playing with him!

"Would she really mate with you....?"Sarcos asked not wanting to acknowledge the answer which hurted his heart enormously.

"Trust me I could. She was trembling in my hands as a little leaf wanting to mate. I could feel her irresistible hot body...and wild soul..."Marath chuckled as he was tearing apart Sarcos's heart.

"Did you enchant her?"Sarcos stared at him.

"Don't you think I still look strong for females?" Marath furrowed his brows.

"Hm, probably."Sarcos shook his shoulder. He felt a bit stupid...

"No enchanting, it was natural chemistry," Marath chuckled."It happens sometimes as you surely know by yourself..."

Sarcos bit his lips uncomfortably..it felt so bad to be told off again from him!

"Besides, if you as a Crystal Scorpion can't fight him who can? Take care of the World if you are able."Marath chuckled.

"You are right in that! Thank you for saving Sienna's life."Sarcos finally nodded.

"You failed her and your brother. You are so lucky she loves you so much."

Marath said seriously.

"My brother?"Sarcos asked with furrowed brows.

"You will see on your way back."Marath noted."Only I have the right to use my own antidote."He chuckled darkly. "You should know that, but you did not. Be more careful next time and don't repeat your mistakes!" he hissed.

"Do not lecture me!"Sarcos was getting upset...the blue crystal-like sparks flashed brightly in his eyes...

"Be careful, Sarcos," Marath smiled a bit wickedly..."You are too proud..." he shook his head"...So stupid these youngsters..."

"What?"Sarcos halted suddenly. He felt something must be off by the way Marath dared to talk to him! The Black Lizard was sneaky but not stupid and Sarcos knew it. But he liked to speak in riddles, so Sarcos was losing his already worn-up patience...

"Ask your Queen...I will take care of her when you are gone and done! "Marath nodded coldly...

"You are way too good for the dark sorcerer."Sarcos grinned wildly. This was a bit too much, but Marath had taken care of his Queen before, so he did not want to explode...

"You have a lot to learn Sarcos, go check your own library...the kid's books section...."Marath curled his lips victoriously. He said it satirically but meant it seriously...

"Did you just call me a kid?" The Scorpion King was puzzled by the Black Lizard sorcerer.

"Playing games father? "Mathyas came in suddenly. He was listening behind the door for a bit but the conversation did not make much sense to him. Marath and Sarcos felt he was there but did not care at all, Sarcos just wanted it done and over and Marath did not feel this should be a secret from his son anyway...

"Sure son. The more deadly, the better. I like the thrill!" Marath nodded.

"I need to get out of here."Sarcos thought and took back Sienna's drawing..." I'm finished then, stay well Marath, and you Mathyas..." he said and left...

"What did you tell him father?"Mathyas asked curiously.

"Nothing good son," Marath nodded..."We see if he can prevail..."He took Mathyas around his shoulders fatherly.

"Do you mean the Golden Scorpion?" Mathyas stared at him.

"That's the least of my worries...!"Marath chuckled darkly.

"Come, let's go see your mother. We will have a dinner to celebrate...!"

"Yes, just let me send off Miriam and Ramse with Xander."Mathyas nodded.

"Sure son, we will see you in the dining room," Marath noted and let him go.

Meanwhile, Ramse and Xander packed Miriam. She received a lot of dresses, cosmetics and sparkly trinkets. They packed the stuff from Sienna's room and something extra too. She got presents for all her family! They took everything to the Underworld's scary entrance where Sarcos was waiting for them...

Mathyas came shortly too, so they figured out he wanted to send them off...

Ramse and Xander looked at Mathyas...

"Stay well," Xander said to him.

"Be a good King."Ramse bit his lips. This just felt so wrong to him!

"Stay fair to live," Sarcos noted and his strong glare pierced into Mathyas's red eyes.

"Say hello to your little Queen..."Mathyas smiled innocently.

"Don't provoke me..."Sarcos shook his head seriously.

"Stay well my King! Feel free to visit me at any time, should you need my help again."Miriam gave Mathyas another bear-like strong hug! She was so proud of him!

"Sure, stay well Miriam."Mathyas sat her on Xander who just changed into a big Black Panther.

The three Kings were finally free to leave the Underworld! They went inside the dark forest with relief in their hearts. They felt as if they spent years in that dark messed-up place...

" Thank you, brothers. I will see you in Sand City at your convenience. Have a good way, and you stay well, Miriam."Sarcos parted with them as they entered the misty wetland Crocodile Lands.

Sarcos could feel the wind in his steps...he just wanted to fly home...

Ramse and Xander with Miriam walked cheerfully. It felt so fresh and free for them in the dark night. 

They reached Moss City around midnight and Miriam just slipped into her old house. "What a journey, thank you! I was definitely not bored."She kissed Ramse's and Xander's cheeks. "Visit me sometimes if you can. And bring your Queen with you. I'm curious."She smiled.

"Bye, Miriam."Xander and Ramse rather went.

They felt free and somehow tired. It felt as if a huge stone fell off their hearts...No King liked to be bound by his word to a place for so long...

They watched the sleeping dark Moss City as they walked through when Ramse remembered something and turned to Gaius's Palace...

"What's up? "Xander followed him curiously, but they were already at the greenish Palace gates.

"Hey, call me King Gaius, "Ramse said to the door guard. The guard recognized the friendly Kings and went without a word.

"What are you doing?"Xander stared at Ramse.

"Just checking."Ramse bit his lips staring into the night around them.

Soon the young Crocodile King Gaius came a bit sleepy to the gate. "What is going on?" He stared at them surprised but then he sobered up.

"Welcome King Ramse, Xander...Is Queen Sienna with you ?" he asked eagerly...

"No...you see she is not! "Ramse shook his head a bit impatiently. I have a question to ask...Did you see anything unusual?"

"No."Gaius shook his head..."Like what?"

"Crodius, the hustler...Did you burn his body as Sarcos said?"Ramse asked firmly...

"He is buried already..."Gaius said carefully.

"Good. Stay well."Ramse noted and went with Xander out from Moss City. They ran quietly through the forest till their ways parted. Ramse went to Waterfall City and Xander to his tribe in the moist forest lands...

Gaius felt weird. He went to check the burial tomb straight as the Kings left and saw the empty sarcophagus..." What the hell!" he cursed and bit his lips...but there was nothing he could do! The hustler was gone...

Meanwhile, Sarcos was at Sienna's Treasure Caves staring into Marco's cold face! The Sea Eagle King was sitting under the tree waiting for him as if nothing happened!

"How did you get out?"Sarcos asked surprised.

"What are you talking about? I'm waiting here for you to go Sand City, to see our Queen." Marco furrowed his brows.

"Change to eagle then, "Sarcos asked him shocked.

"Sure."Marco changed into a perfect eagle.

"Not even a sign of chimera."Sarcos thought.

"Who was here with you?"Sarcos asked.

"You were obviously." Marco shook his head and looked at Sarcos as at the crazy person."Why he is asking me so weirdly?" he thought. "I found your note to wait next to me as I awoke. So, I was waiting." he furrowed his brows and daze changed into a human again. Marco picked up the note from his clothes and gave it to Sarcos. But as the Scorpion King touched the note it changed into a black smoke and got lost in the windy darkness of the night...

"Use better paper next time..." Marco shook his head." So let's go, no?" He changed to eagle again.

"Sure! Our Queen is waiting!"Sarcos climbed onto the Sea Eagle's back a bit dazed...

In the sandy desert land far away, Sienna, Bran, Ziran and Volroire arrived in the Sand City. Rem was eager to welcome her back. He helped her to get down from the huge eagle. Sienna took his hand and pressed it strongly."Sarcos is coming!" she whispered excitedly to him. Rem nodded happily.

All of the Sand City is waiting for his return." he smiled. He pulled Sienna to watch from over the Castle wall. Sienna watched in awe as people were excited. The Sand City was busy preparing for the return of their King. Rem made sure the city was decorated and people informed. Everything was cleaned and arranged, fireworks prepared...Rem was just waiting for a signál from the Watchtower...

"Tomorrow the King is returning!"The people were shouting at each other excitedly...Sarcos was a big deal in his Sand City because all his people loved him...he made them feel protected...

Sienna went to her room and had a hot bath, she put on a nice nightgown, brushed her hair and walked around the room frantically. Then she sat on the bed with a loudly beating heart. Sarcos is coming tomorrow.!!!!

Sarcos had been flying high in the night dark sky for a few hours already...He was getting impatient, the flight felt to him like forever even strong Marco was fast as the Northern winds and took all the dangerous shortcuts...The strong Sea Eagle just get used to them...

" Can't you fly faster? It is taking forever..." Sarcos sighed to Marco.

"Well, can you fly faster than me?" Marco called to him coldly. He was also rushing to Sand City to see Sienna at least from far away. He was not sure if Sarcos would let him see her straight away because he felt the strong Scorpion had a longing dark cloud seeping from him...

Sarcos missed Sienna badly, he felt as if his heart would get ripped from his chest.

"Well, I can make you fly faster..."Sarcos smiled a bit darkly.

"So, what are you waiting for?" Marco called to him.

"The spell has strong backlash for a few days after," Sarcos said seriously.

"Who cares!" Marco shook his head."Just do it!"

"As you wish."Sarcos used a spell on Marco to make him go faster..." If he was as fast as an aeroplane before, now he was a fighter jet...

The eagle flew by enormous speed to the Sand City eloped in blue protective flames...

Marco liked the feeling a lot...it felt so powerful...and very fast...

"How long it will last? " Marco asked. He felt pumped up raw!

"Not forever...You will be very tired tomorrow. Go rest in your mountains after you drop me off at Sand City at least for two days. I will see you in the week." Sarcos noted to him. He just wanted to be with Sienna on his own...