Athena felt weak. Her throat was raw and her eyes were dry. She couldn't produce any more tears even if she wanted to. She laid still on the cold floor of the cell. Her stomach still burned and her burns were still fresh. She estimated that they dropped her back in here a few hours ago, but the burns still felt like they were fresh. 

She tried to sit up, but pain shot through her stomach. She whimpered as she kept pushing herself up and rested her back against the wall. Looking down at her stomach, she sighed as she saw the burns. They were red and most were already forming blisters. 

The torture didn't last long. They eventually got bored and stopped, bringing her back here and leaving as quick as they arrived. 

She didn't know what power King Buledal was talking about. She couldn't do anything special. She couldn't even speak demon. The only spell she learned was what Professor Samson had taught her, and she didn't really know what that spell did. She was positive that King Buledal had the wrong person. She was positive that she couldn't do anything and that he was wrong, but she wasn't going to tell him that. He was going to have to figure that out himself. 

Athena leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She wanted to see Celso. Every minute she was without him, the more she wanted him. She wondered if he felt the same way. 

Suddenly, the darkness she was seeing turned into different colors and soon she was able to see people walking through a red barren land. Willing the image closer, she recognized three of the seven figures walking across. The figures came closer and she was able to see the darker heads face clearly.

She opened her eyes. "Celso!"

-

"I thought it would be hotter than it is," Derek commented behind Celso.

Celso rolled his eyes and chuckled. "We're not where you think we are."

"Oh," he breathed. "Where are we then?"

"There world," Yong jogged up to them. "We're not allowed to say its name for fear of unleashing more demons than necessary into the world."

Derek looked at Yong with a confused expression. 

"Just trust us," Yong told him while placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't want to know the name anyway."

Derek looked over at Celso and shrugged. "Alright. So what's the plan exactly? How are we going to save Athena?"

"Simple," Celso told him. "Sneak into the castle, find Athena, get her out, and get back to the cliff without being seen."

"Yeah, simple," Derek huffed. 

"It's always harder than the plans say," Yong explained. "We'll get her back." 

Celso looked ahead of them and noticed them walking towards a small village. He stopped and turned towards the group. "We need to be quiet now, if we blow our cover now, we won't get anywhere near the castle. Follow me." He walked quickly towards a small hill and crouched beside it. He made sure Derek was close to him and pulled his along until they stopped beside a small, run down house. Celso looked around the corner of the house and looked around the village. 

He saw one demon standing in the middle of the village talking to something. He was looking down into a pond and speaking. Celso felt a tap on his shoulder and looked behind him to see Derek and the rest of the crew crouching behind the building. He looked around to see the path clear. He grabbed Derek and pulled him along until they were behind another building. He watched as the others safely arrived behind the building with them. 

Celso looked around and saw a tiny path beside them. Tall grass grew around it and would be perfect to hide them. He closed his eyes and willed to see the outside of the castle Athena was in. Willing the picture to zoom out, he saw that the path led close to the castle. He opened his eyes and motioned towards the path. Jay nodded in agreement and that was the only permission he needed. 

He stood up and ran towards the path. Once he was safe in the tall grass, he stood up straight and looked behind him to see the rest of the crew followed suit. Derek opened his mouth to speak when Jay clapped a hand over his mouth. Derek looked surprised at Jay as he shook his head and took his hand away from his mouth. 

Celso turned back around and continued to walk through the path. He was very careful wherever he stepped. He didn't want any kind of demon to find them yet. He wanted to get to the castle as quick as he could.

-

The sun had started to set by the time they felt safe enough to take a break. The found a few fallen trees and decided to rest there. Everyone sat down and rested their feet except for Celso. He kept his hands on the handles of his swords and paced around the trees. 

"Celso," he heard a soft voice behind him. He turned around to see Coleen standing behind him. She walked up to him and place a hand on his cheek. Her eyes quickly flashed silver before returning to normal. "We'll get there. There's no need to worry."

"You know that's not what I'm worried about," he told her quietly. 

Coleen sighed and nodded. "I know." She looked behind her and grabbed Celso's arm. She pulled him forward so they were out of hearing. "She's fine. From what I've heard, she's a strong woman. You don't need to worry."

"I know how these demons are," Celso said through clenched teeth. "I know the pain they can inflict upon people. They'll hurt her."

"But they won't kill her," Coleen finished. 

"Why would they take her?" Celso ran his hands through his hair. 

Coleen took a deep breath. "Maybe Professor Samson would know the answer to that."

Celso looked at her then back at where everyone else was sitting. He turned around and walked towards them. He stopped where Professor Samson sat and sat down next to him. "Why did the demons take Athena?"

Professor Samson looked at him confused for a moment until realization sunk in. He put his hands in his lap before answering. "Do you remember when I told you that she has something special inside of her?"

Celso nodded. 

"I sensed it the first time I met her. She has a certain kind of magic in her that's very supernatural." He turned towards Derek and asked him, "Has she been possessed before?"

Derek shook his head. "No, I have. She wasn't possessed by that spirit."

Professor Samson scratched his chin. "Strange. Was she in contact with you the time you were possessed?"

Derek nodded. 

"I assume then that's where she gained these powers." Professor Samson turned back to Celso. "Her power is very unusual for a human. The power that's inside of her is demonic. Very powerful. King Buledal can't take on the whole world without her kind of power. She doesn't know that she can do what she can do, but King Buledal wouldn't believe that. He wants her and he will do whatever he has to do to make sure that power comes out of her."

Celso ran his hands through his hair again and pulled at the ends of them. "We need to get moving quicker." He stood up and looked over at Derek. He saw a quick movement behind him and unsheathed his swords. "Derek, duck!" 

Derek flew to the ground as Celso connected his swords with the demons. He pushed the demon back as Jay tackled it to the ground. He kicked the sword out of the demon's hand. Coleen came beside them with her hands out and blue circles dancing around them. One word came out of her mouth and one circle sliced through the demon's neck. Jay quickly got up and looked down at the demon. 

"Um, guys," Derek spoke up. They all turned to see him pointing towards the trees. They all followed his finger to see another demon standing in the tree line. 

They stared at it for a moment. It was smaller than its dead friend on the ground. Most likely a young one. Its eyes were wide and mouth wide open. It took one look at Celso before turning around and running through the trees. Celso was quickly on its tail. He followed the demon through the trees. He did not let up no matter how many times the demon tried to loose him. 

Finally, they ran out of the trees and into the open. He didn't see the wall of demon soldiers waiting for them until it was too late. He stopped in his tracks and heard the others stop behind him. He gripped his swords tightly as the demons circled around them. Derek was pushed into the middle of the circle. 

"Hand over your weapons," one of the demons ordered them. He stood tall as he stepped out of the circle and closer to Celso. "There's nowhere to run now, little humans. I repeat, drop your weapons."

"Obey him, Celso," Coleen's voice whispered to him. 

Celso sighed impatiently and threw his swords down in front of him. He heard the people around him throw their weapons down as well. Two demons came up to him and gripped his arms. They locked his hands behind his back and pushed him forward. He glared at them which earned him a hard punch to his face. He fell to the ground and was roughly pulled back up. The demons continued to push him until the castle came into view. 

The castle was huge and dark looking. It loomed over the horde of demons and the small group of humans as they passed under its shadow and throw the large open doors. They were pushed down a narrow stairwell and into the dungeons. Each was pushed into different cells. 

Celso was pushed inside a cell as his hands were untied. He didn't get a chance to attack before they locked the cell door. He grabbed the bars and banged against them. He gave up when he couldn't get them loose and rested his forehead against them. 

"Celso?" Athena's voice sounded.