After their successful rescue, Isla split from Rydin. He claimed some unknown responsibility to all the children and sought to deliver them home—Vale and Sena included. And given the paranoid and watchful eye he fixated on Leef, he would be long.

She had followed Rydin till they encountered a steady stream of midnight vagrants then veered away. The trek avoided the darkened and filth coated slums, back to the inn's familiar sign and stench.

Ascending the steps, she pushed opened the slab preventing her access. The external smell coating the entrance had distorted her mind. For inside, the seats were barren. Only the presence of Callum deterred her gaze, his back leaning against the bar's middle column.

"Ye back," Callum greeted. "Where be the boy? Your friend."

She paused her quick retort, closing the door behind her. Walking forward, Isla stopped before the counter. "We aren't friends."

His brow rose. "Aye?"

"He's with his brother."

"Good, that be good. A success then," he mused while brushing his beard.

Isla concluded their small exchange, heading for the bar's back corner.

"Ah, wait a second lass," Callum interrupted, stopping her mid-stride. "Quick ta run, aren't we."

She turned, facing him and glared. "What?"

His jolliness remained unfazed by her venom laced tone. "Arcadia. You and the boy are tryin' tae go, right?"

Isla righted her stance and crossed her arms. "And?"

"I can help ye."

"Help? I thought you already rejected Rydin's request."

He chuckled. "I had ma reasons. Can't have the boy be runnin' to his death. How could I face his old man when death claims ma soul."

"Why do you think that?"

"The betrayers be a prime target for the Gods. Who knows when they will fight."

She snorted. "It's been centuries since they isolated themselves. If the Gods wanted to return their control over the Seraphines, why would they wait?"

"Who knows what they think. They different than us common folk. Wouldn't ye know?"

"They're insane," she derided. "Manipulative, arrogant, brutal. You name it."

"That be true. But that ain't what I was askin'. Don't ye know, lass? The Gods ha'e a bounty on yer head. Kill on sight."

The Gods created her bounty? Interesting. Did this mean both Skye and her father were Gods? But still, her a God? If true, how laughable and character condemning her existence would be.

Still, background as a God wouldn't explain the reincarnation. She never heard of Gods attaining the rights to immortality. Forget a second life, even their regeneration became worthless when faced alongside their demonic counterparts. Information? Not a chance. Especially when this gigantic gap existed within her newfound reasoning. And even more so, a disgusting after taste.

"A warnin' lass, there be greedy eyes about. And they already know ye here."

She clicked her tongue. Dammit, those men from yesterday. They hadn't been chasing her because of this kidnapping incident. Truly, they had sights on her life.

Isla cocked her head, staring left. "So they've already found me."

"If ye stay, ye'll die," he remarked.

Her gaze returned to Callum and she smirked. "She was right,"

"What ye mean?" he asked, brow creasing.

"Eve's description of you," she added while her mind stitched ideas together beneath her stiffening mask. "Either way, if I can't go to Arcadia, I'll figure something else out."

"Don't ye worry. I'll help ye. Think of it as payment for helpin' with those louts. Ye did the cleanin' for us. But take care of that boy, okay?"

"I can't make any promises given my situation."

"Aye, ye be right. Just do what ye can, that's all I ask."

The clammed door inched open, the misty dew drifting inside. Quiet steps shuffled through the gap, revealing Squirt as he returned the gap to nill.

Callum propped his arms against the counter, watching Squirt join them. "How'd cleanup go?"

"Well enough. The docks be swimmin' with the guards. The schooner be dead in the waters. It went quick with their base covered." Squirt glanced her way, before returning his attention. "Smalls bits left, nothin' more."

"Smooth sailin' be good. Aye, very good. Take the lass and boy to the darks when ready."

Squirt jumped, reclining forward, his voice low. "Boss, ye sure?"

"Aye. Do the deed."

"As soon as possible, right?" Isla added.

Callum acknowledged her direction. They both knew if she stayed, the dirt would pass through soon.

Squirt frowned but nodded. "We leave when the lad arrives."

"Good," Isla replied before returning her course towards a shadowed table.

She deposited her body on the hard wooden bench and watched Callum discuss his dealings with Squirt. Her hearing gathered murmured conversation shards, piecing them together. Well, she understood Squirt's worry. He was justified. The transportation between worlds required an unbelievable amount of aura. Not to mention, they risked discovery by the Gods. No sane person would award an invaluable service for a minimal price.

A good man, huh? Eve's words repeated. Suspicious or not, she had no choice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A yawn escaped Isla's mouth as the first fleeting rays of morning silenced the night. Given Detra's dreary weather, natural light seemed a miraculous illusion.

Again, the inn's door crept open, and the clumsy footsteps of Rydin slid past the entrance. His gaze first garnered Callum and Squirt, the two pointing her direction. His head transitioned from a subtle bob to tilting her way.

As he neared her position, she opened her mouth. "All done?"

"Yeah. All the kids are home," he responded, plopping down across from her. "Thanks again, Isla. You know there's no way I could have rescued Leef and the kids alone. Honestly, I thought you'd abandon us."

Isla shrugged. "I already thought that back before Bartez."

Rydin's eyes widened. "Are you serious?" he stated before rubbing his face. "Ah, jeez."

She covered her mouth, a faint chuckle escaping.

His downtrodden face glanced up. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Hate tae bother ye, but we should be goin'," Squirt interrupted.

"Where to?" Rydin questioned.

"Aye, the boss grants ye passage to Arcadia. That's yer next place, right?"

"He changed his mind?" Rydin looked between her and Squirt, frowning.

"Callum agreed after our rescue," Isla voiced.

"Really?" He arched an eye.

She overlooked the unspoken questions flashing across his face, his skepticism showing. Instead, she stood, strolling past Rydin and Squirt. "Let's go," she called.

Squirt lead them to the inn's rear, opposite a storage barn. He unlocked the latch, swinging the narrow plank open, and stepped through.

Isla exchanged a glance with Rydin. He nodded then followed Squirt, his frame disappearing into the building's darkness. She paused, her gaze flickering upon the alley's ends and tops. One second more, and she entered, ousting their retreat.

Her vision adjusted as their narrow path passed barrels topped by hay bales. Nearing the passage's end, they faced another blockade, a heavy metal door. But one knock and rap later, the squeaking door hinged open, the culprit already invisible.

They crossed the threshold, descending a steep spiral staircase with limited light guiding their footing. A stale musty aroma stained the air reminding Isla of forgotten tombs or much-remembered prisons, but places better off omitted.

Reaching the narrow staircase's exit, the frame expanded into a tall ceiling-high room, the bulk illuminated by flaming torches. Though their feet remained free and visible, shadows concealed the corners and ceiling heights. The room diverged into three directions, the central route closed.

A grime-covered elderly man approached Squirt, the two exchanging minor words. "This way," the man's coarse voice intoned. "We be ready."

They followed their guide through the central gated pathway. A water dripping silence overcoming their walk. Ahead, situated on a round pedestal, was the aura generated movement sphere. On equivalent distant edges, tiny claws maintained the semi-transparent liquid orb, appearing to hold the mass upright. Only a bright light survived from within, the core suctioning and swirling the surrounding contents.

"The location be in. As soon as ye enter, we close it down," Squirt explained.

"That's fine," Isla voiced as they stood before the pedestal bolstering the movement sphere. "We'll find our own way back."

"Wait, are you sure?" Rydin grabbed her arm then flinched backward from her fierce glare. "Ah, nevermind. Forget it." His head tilted downwards and he ruffled his hair.

"Stop fretting, we need to go." She stepped forward onto the pedestal and surrendered her sight. Her other senses overtook her visual absence, guiding her entrance.

With each step, her heart thumped louder, filling her ears. The sound amplified and transformed from a low drum to a high pitched buzz. Together, the pressure elevated and pain stretched further into her eardrums.

She was inside.

Without the physical effects, she would never have known. The liquid had no texture, residue or temperature. She felt nothing. Not wet, not cold, and not a prick against her skin. Even her breathing endured the transition, albeit a small discomfort, but still not inhibiting like she could imagine.

A few steps further, and the strange reactions ended. Isla opened her eyes, discovering Arcadia's welcome. She blinked repeatedly, the light change overwhelming. Still, she adjusted a second later.

She inspected her destination and the simple, empty room. At each corner stood stone columns, their ceiling-high connection points forming an elaborately designed arch. Her fingers trailed the picture grooves of people and extravagant species. They accompanied words drafted upon the Ancient language, a minor link between Arcadia and the past.

The sound of footsteps distracted her perusal of the craftsmanship. Isla turned, staring at Rydin.

He keeled over, his arms wrapped around his stomach. He looked at her, his face pale and scrunched. "Ugh, that was awful. Is your stomach made of iron or something?"

"No," she voiced then added, "more like gold."

"I wouldn't be shocked. It would explain why those guys were after you."

"It would, wouldn't it," she jested.

"You're never going to tell me why, are you?"

"Never."

Rydin rolled his eyes. "Right."

She chuckled. "Ready?"

"Fine, fine. Let's get out of here."