The plane ride was four hours long and everyone slept on the ride. Everyone but Seth who simply watched Jessica with the utmost fascination. He couldn’t find a single thing about her that he didn’t like. Her calmness while she slept was the definition of beauty, every pour in her skin was smooth and glistening.

Jessica was fast asleep in the seat next to Seth, her head on his shoulder. Every so often, she would shift in her sleep curling closer to Seth with every shift. Seth didn’t know if it was a natural motion or she was subconsciously looking for support. He placed an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. In response she curled into his lap and nuzzled his chest. Seth was at a complete loss because he had never had such a beautiful woman in his arms. He resolved to simply staying where he was and waiting out the flight.

The plane touched down in Alaska for refueling. To save time everyone stayed on the plane. Borris was playing a game of chess with Ali while everyone else simply sat doing their own activities. Jade was reading a book that she’d found in the bag her mother had packed for her. Austin was still going over the Will that Seth had given her, the tears were long since dry while she went over the numbers. Kaythanos was sharpening his knives in a corner of the plane with the joy of a school kid. Griffin was still asleep with Gonza as his support while she watched a movie on the small screen, behind one of the seats. Anne was polishing her shield and constantly inspecting it. Kasakierin was seated in the rear of the plane simply staring at the ceiling. Seth and Jessica were in the front seats looking over each other, asking questions about each other’s lives.

Seth’s life had been severely normal up until the point that his parents were killed and he became a walking god. He had to explain what it was like to grow up stronger and faster than everyone else. Jessica told of how she had traveled the world with her parents, who were professional fighters. They only ever taught her how to fight in self defense while they traveled, but Jessica picked up a few tricks from their friends here and there. They eventually settled down in Idaho Falls where they ran a successful dojo. Then the territorial battles started behind the scenes of everyday life. Other dojos would challenge theirs and the masters would fight in the ring for the right to profit from the other. Her parents had been very successful in the bouts until a fight club from New York came in and started taking everything over. Her parents had been the only ones able to stave off the assaults, but they shipped in a fighter from out of country, one that her parents knew that they couldn’t defeat. She knew that they couldn’t dismiss a challenge but tried to tell them not to. He wound up killing her parents, leaving her with nothing. At first, she’d tried to keep the dojo alive but the New York group moved in as quickly as possible and she wouldn’t have anything to do with them. So, there she was in a plane with a man she had no idea why she loved.

When she said the word, Jessica became flustered for a second but the calming smile of Seth soothed her nerves. He leaned in and gripped her hand, “Don’t worry, I love you to.” Then he kissed her.

As Seth looked up everyone had stopped what they were doing and were looking at the two of them. They all spun awkwardly as they noticed Seth looking at them. He just sighed and looked back to Jessica, who was turning a shade of red from the attention. He chuckled and lay back in his seat. Jessica curled up into a ball giggling as she looked at Seth.

Then the captain of the flight came on the intercom, “There will be a few additions to the flight after this refueling. Please enjoy the rest of the flight to Russia.”

Kasakierin and everyone else turned from where they were to Seth. Seth looked up from where he was sitting, “If anyone is dumb enough to attack us on our own plane, they deserve what’s coming for them.” Then he closed his eyes and went to the dream world.

When he did, everyone calmed and waited for the group to get on the plane. There were ten in total making it a full flight for the small personal plane. Each of them was dressed differently as if they were tourists or headed home, but there were no families, no children. Everyone gave them a small greeting as they entered.

Kasakierin was the only one who didn’t say anything, simply glaring at them as they came onto the plane. Anne only glared at Kasakierin for glaring at the new passengers. He shrugged back and relaxed back into staring at the ceiling.

The new passengers took their seats and the captain came up on the intercom, “Welcome everyone to the flight beginning in Anchorage, Alaska and landing in Russia. Those of you who just boarded, please read the pamphlets in the seats in front of you and buckle your seat belts. We will be taking off shortly.” As he said it, the plane lurched forward on the tarmac.

Everyone seemed to relax once the plane was in the air. Griffin and Gonza cuddled in the two seats that they were in, Austin and Jade were asleep in their seats, Borris was passed out with Ali’s head in his lap, Kaythanos was ogling Jade, and Kasakierin and Anne were eyeing the rest of the passengers. Seth was simply sitting in thought, observing everything that went on around him. The new passengers, however, were beginning to get a little fidgety. Seth could tell that they were uncomfortable for some reason. Their heart beats were starting to elevate, as if they were hyping themselves up for something. Seth chuckled as he imagined them fighting on the plane.

The plane lurched forward, and everyone was forced to the backs of their seats. The plane started up the runway and the pressure increased a hair, before the plane leveled upward and took off toward Russia. As they ascended into the sky, the passengers unbuckled their seat belts and started to relax, but Seth could still feel the build up of excitement in them.

Then one of them stood and started walking back to the onboard bathroom. He was a rather big fellow, not as big as Seth was now, but still on the larger side. He brushed past everyone on the way, bumping into Kasakierin loudly at the end.

Kasakierin gripped his forearm and grunted, “If you don’t give that knife back, you’ll lose the hand that took it.”

Everyone on the plane was instantly awake and ready to fight. All was silent as the newcomer reached into his jacket and removed the knife that he’d stolen from Kasakierin. He went to give it back but tried to stab it into Kasakierin’s chest instead. The blade shattered on his skin and the hilt was left in the man’s hand.

Kasakierin looked down at the blade fragments and chuckled, “That was my favorite knife.” He stood and broke the man’s neck in one solid motion.

The other passengers were on their feet with weapons in hand, but the only one to rise from their seat of Seth’s little group was Seth himself. Because of his new height, he had to hunch his shoulders a bit so he didn’t hit his head. “If you decide to get on our plane simply to kill us. Make a better plan next time.” He strode up the aisle and the passengers made their move toward him.

The first was a big fellow that had a small knife. Seth punched him in the face so hard that it caved in on itself and he folded on the ground like a sack of potatoes. The rest moved closer to him and he struck each one down as if he were a paper dummy, until there was only one left. He was a shorter man but was very stocky. Seth picked him up by the collar and brought him face to face.

“What was your goal behind this? You must have known that it would fail.” He turned around, keeping the man right where he was in his grasp. “Even if you were just expecting me, there was no way that you would have completed this little mission.” He slammed the man against the back wall. “Ok, who do you work for?”

The man spat at his feet, “I never talk.”

Seth flipped his grip to the man’s throat, “Let’s try this again. Kasakierin was it? Got a way to make mister no talk, talk?”

Kasakierin stood from his seat and walked over to the two of them. He looked the man over and smirked, “I’ve got a couple of ways. Let him go.” When Seth let go, Kasakierin grabbed him and shoved him into the bathroom stall, slamming the door behind them. Everyone heard a bit of a scuffle, before blood curdling screams that were sporadic. After only a minute, Kasakierin walked out, with blood on his hands. He had a grave look on his face as he walked up to Seth. “It would seem that the Dark King was the one who ordered this little expedition.”

Everyone froze and turned to Seth, who was completely emotionless. He crossed his arms and looked at each and every one of them. “This isn’t the first time this has happened.” His gaze fell on Austin and he cringed, looking away and sitting in a seat. He put his head in his hands and sighed deeply.

Austin stepped up next to Seth and placed a hand on his shoulder. “He ordered a hit on our family. Our parents were killed. For some reason, this Dark King wants Seth dead.”

Borris was the one to speak up, “It’s not some reason. He wants Seth dead because he is The One. The only person out of all the dimensions that can defeat him, given time. When the Dark King feels threatened, he destroys that threat with all the wrath at his disposal.” He put his hands on his hips and started pacing up and down the aisle. “He has entire armies at his disposal. He could conquer an entire dimension if he had the slight urge to.”

Ali put a hand on his shoulder as he passed her. He turned to her and hugged her immediately. Ali looked up from his shoulder, “He has fought against the Dark King before and it did not end well.”

Seth sighed as he strode to the rear of the plane and saw himself in the mirror. He was disappointed with what he saw. He was no longer himself and he didn’t like what he had become. As his thoughts continued, he slowly morphed back into his old self and his clothes shrank with him. He chuckled as he saw his old self looking back at him. Then, he saw the looks that he was getting from everyone, Jessica especially.

The look that Jessica gave him seemed a mixture of disappointment and hope. Seth sighed and walked to her, far shorter now that he was his original five and a half feet tall. His hair was still white and his eyes a blaze of fire, but he was himself. “I know that it’s not as buffed out as the other one, but this is me, the real me.” He patted her on the shoulder and walked over to Borris. He placed a hand on his shoulder, “I may be The One, from all those tales that you have heard, but I will not accept that as a reason for the Dark King to kill me. Definitely, when I have just found a higher purpose to this life of mine.”

As Seth finished Elania appeared behind him. Kasakierin was the only one who reacted, with a scoff no less. Elania tossed him a sidelong glance and chuckled, “So, you have finally accepted the fact that this is your destiny?” She had her hands clasped in front of her.

Seth sighed and took a seat in the nearest chair, “I guess I have. So, where are we going in Russia?” He put his hands behind his head and relaxed back.

Elania bowed forward, “You are going to need to go to the Northern mountains, where you will find a man named Ajax in the ruins there.” She turned to the group that was watching, “Please take care of him.” Then she turned to Jessica, “Cherish him as I know that you will.” Then she disappeared out of thin air.

Jessica looked to Seth and sighed, “How does she do that?”

Seth seemed confused, “Do what?”

Jessica strode over to him and sat in his lap, curling up into a little ball, “How does she say exactly what I need to hear?” She snuggled her head against his chest and started to fall asleep.

Seth sighed, “Yeah, she does that. Everyone try to get some rest while we finish the flight.” As he stated it, everyone went back to their seats and tried to get some sleep. Then Seth said to himself, “I have a feeling we’ll need it.”

Jessica looked up at him, “That goes for you too you know.” She chuckled as he nodded, then went back to sleep.

Seth ran his fingers through her hair until he too succumbed to the fond pull of his dream world.

When they landed in Russia, they handed the group of men to the authorities and got two large trucks from a rental service. Ali drove one while Kasakierin drove the other. Borris was finally able to get some sleep in the passenger side of the truck that Ali was driving. Griffin and Gonza were wrapped in Griffin’s wings in the back with Anne seated next to them. Kaythanos sat shotgun in Kasakierin’s truck, with Jade looking him over from the back. Austin and Seth were in the back, Austin asleep on his shoulder. Jessica was on the other side of Seth looking him over with a smile.

Kasakierin’s truck was first because he had an idea of where they were supposed to go. “There’s a vast ruin that is hidden in the Northern mountains. If we’re going to find this Ajax anywhere, it would be there.” He turned onto a long dirt road that went up the mountains as he said it.

Kaythanos chuckled, “How would you know that?”

“If this is the Ajax that I’m thinking, he’s a great Atlantean warrior lost to time. Rumor has it that he’d faced an entire army with only his shield and spear.” Kasakierin looked him right in the eyes, “And I’m a few hundred years old.”

Kaythanos went a shade of white as he listened to the last statement. He remained silent for the rest of the trip, until they reached the top of a high rise.

When they reached it, there was another group parked in Humvees but they were military men. They decided to park off around twenty meters away. While everyone else got the gear out, Seth asked if Jessica would like to go ahead and make sure that they were in the right place. When the group watched them walk off, they decided to let them have the time together and started to relax around the SUVs.

For a way, they simply walked together, sharing in the silence. Then Jessica stopped, “How are you doing?” She asked it just as they came upon a cliff face.

Seth sighed, “I’ll be alright. My parents were a security guard and a teacher. They loved each other dearly, which was more than most could find in a lifetime. The two of them were best friends to the end. ” Seth casually picked Jessica up and leaped off of the edge. Jessica letting a small squeak escape.

When they landed, Jessica was looking up at the edge they’d just jumped from, still trying to understand how they survived that fall. “How did they die?”

Seth stopped dead in his tracks, still holding Jessica in his arms and for the first time outside his dream realm, tears came to Seth’s eyes. “They … uh.” Seth stumbled to his knees and rubbed his eyes on his shoulder. “They were murdered while I was in another house on our property. It was only a couple of days ago.” He lowered his head, “I didn’t even get to say anything to them.” Seth closed his eyes and hugged Jessica close.

Instead of reeling back, Jessica wrapped her arms around him and started sobbing into Seth’s shoulder, “I know it hurts. Trust me I know.”

After a time, Seth sniffed and shook it off before he stood, with Jessica still in his arms. “But now is not the time for mourning, that will come with time. At the moment, we have an Atlantean to find.” Seth continued walking up the new ridge with Jessica still in his arms, as if nothing had happened. Jessica had her head lowered in sorrow for Seth. When they reached the top of the ridge, Jessica scrambled out of Seth’s arms and they both gaped at the ruined city that had appeared. The city was vast and old, very old, centuries even. Some of the buildings stood but were decaying or covered in vegetation. Most of the buildings had caved in on themselves. It was a sight to behold.

The cobblestone was still intact on the streets, so they started walking through the ruined city. “Do you really think that this Ajax guy lives here? It looks like nothing has lived here in centuries. I don’t even think that archaeologists have found it yet.” Seth said it and Elania appeared next to him.

“You have come to the right place.” It was all she said before disappearing.

That was when Jessica put a hand to the air and seemed to look all around them, “There is a spell of concealment around the entire city.” Jessica blurted as she started down the street, looking around at everything.

Seth teleported directly in front of her and crossed his arms, “How do you know that?”

Jessica looked from where Seth was and to where he had been. She looked between the two points several times, before looking back at Seth with her own arms crossed. “How did you do that?”

“How did I do what?” Seth seemed genuinely confused about the question.

Jessica waved her hand back to the point that he was at earlier, “How did you teleport from behind me?” She kept pointing back at the previous spot.

Seth smiled and stepped close to Jessica, wrapping his arms around her. Jessica had her arms over Seth’s shoulders as she looked down into his eyes. Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. “Close your eyes.” Seth whispered up to her. Jessica complied and braced herself. Only after a few seconds, Seth chuckled, “Open your eyes.”

When Jessica did, they were on the top of the largest building in the city. There was a steeple directly beneath them. Jessica looked off the side and nearly jumped up into Seth’s arms, again, “Ok! Ok! I get it!” She screamed as she squeezed Seth’s head to her chest.

“You do know that I would never let you fall, right?” He stammered from being smothered.

“Well, it’s always a possibility.” Jessica said into Seth’s hair. “Can we please go back down now?” In a flash of light, they were back on the street. Seth was peering up into Jessica’s deep blue eyes and Jessica was staring down into Seth’s blazing eyes. They leaned in and kissed each other.

Then, Seth heard a high-pitched whistling noise and a dull thud followed by a cracking sound, at the center of his back. When he looked, there was a broken spear lying on the ground and down the street was an old man, who was hefting another spear over his head. The man started to edge forward until he was just outside the door. “Who are ye? If yer the One, ye be welcome. If ye not?” The man lifted the spear the last bit for a throw, directly at Seth’s chest.

Seth turned and spread his arms to protect Jessica, if he did throw the spear. “I am the One and this is my close companion, Jessica.” Jessica popped her head out from behind Seth and smiled, with a small wave.

The man dropped the spear and chuckled, “Then come inside. I have equipment fer ye. I’m the Ajax that ye’ve been looking fer.” He said the last as he turned back into the house that he’d been guarding.

Seth offered his hand to Jessica and she accepted it gladly. Together they walked into the house to see the equipment that Ajax had spoken about. The interior of the house was like a cabin with an antler chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling and a wood table in the middle of the room. A shield was lying against the far wall and another on the opposite. One was a golden brown with a bear’s head at the top and the symbol of Atlantis at its base. The other was a silver black with skulls and skeletons covering it from top to bottom.

Ajax had left the room into another on the opposite side from them. Seth guessed it was a storage room of some kind for the equipment that Ajax was looking for. Seth and Jessica decided to take a seat at the table as they waited for Ajax to return. “So,” Seth began, “How much do you know about this Ajax guy from your new ability?”

“Well, I know that he was a legend in the Atlantean army and history as a whole. He killed thousands of men in his day and then simply disappeared after around a hundred and fifty years of bloodshed and war. When you said that we were headed for Russia I was a bit confused, but that was before Kasakierin told me about the ruins and I did my own research.” Jessica reached over and took hold of Seth’s hand, “This guy is dangerous. I do not like being here.”

Seth put his hand over hers and sighed, “It’ll be ok. I have a hunch that we can trust him.”

Just as Seth said it, Ajax came back in and set a pot of stew on the table. As he set out three bowls and spoons, Ajax began, “The equipment that ye’re here fer is that shield.” He jutted a thumb at the shield covered in skulls. “And the sword out back.” He pointed a thumb at the rear door.

Seth and Jessica continued to hold hands to begin grace when Ajax started digging in. After a couple of bites, he stopped and stared hard at Seth. “There is no need for you to thank God for this meal. He is giving thanks that yer still alive and kickin. Just keep to the right track.”

Seth was stunned at the meaning behind what he’d just said and started running theories through his head. “What do you mean by that?” Seth demanded after a time.

Ajax chuckled, “I mean ye don’t have to give thanks.” He started back to eating.

Seth and Jessica shared a glance before beginning to eat. They ate slowly at first, but after a time they dove right in. It was a rush to their taste buds. Both Jessica and Seth chowed down on the mystery soup as if it was going to be their last meal. It only took about ten minutes for the three of them to finish eating all of the soup. That was when Seth asked about the sword. “I told ye it’s out back.” That was all Ajax gave him, so he went out the back door. Instead of a storage space, the door led to a kitchen area and then to a small courtyard, with a massive sword sticking out of the cobblestone. The sides of the blade were covered in skulls exactly like the shield.

“If ye really are the One, then yer the only one who can lift that sword out a the ground.” Ajax said from the door back into the house, then he turned back into the house again.

Seth quizzically approached the sword until he came to the hilt. Seth’s name was engraved on the eye of the skull at the end of it. Seth hesitantly gripped the hilt and black flames shot out from the blade. Seth shot back a few paces and reassessed the sword. It was just as he’d seen it before. Seth stepped back up to the blade and closed his eyes, with a small prayer. He gripped the handle and quickly yanked it from the ground. The sword itself was light in Seth’s hand and the flame slowly died down after a time. Then, as he watched, the blade morphed from light and changed into a katana from ancient Japan. The hilt still had skulls for decoration but that was all. The blade was pitch-black. To Seth’s surprise, it felt perfectly balanced in his hands and he started swinging it around as if he’d been training his entire life.

Instinctively, he placed the blade on his back and a scabbard appeared to sheath it. He nodded his approval and started inside. Jessica was thumbing through books at light speed, while Ajax was cleaning the dishes in the kitchen area and putting everything away. “Go and get everybody else that is with ye. Ye can sleep here fer the night.”

Seth looked to where the shield had been but found a backpack instead. He tilted his head in confusion but took it as the transformation like his sword. “I’ll go get everyone.” He told Jessica, who simply gave him a wave of the hand for her approval. He chuckled and teleported back to the others. He found that the military group from before had surrounded them and had weapons ready. He could tell that they were asking questions but he had no idea what the questions were. He’d appeared behind a big oak about fifty meters away from the circle of men. Seth straightened his collar and jacket, before walking out into the open.

When Griffin saw Seth walking toward them, he took Gonza and got into the back of one of the SUVs. Borris and Ali were seated on the hood of one of the vehicles, playing cards. Jade and Austin were asleep in the back of one of the SUVs. Kaythanos was seated on the roof of the same vehicle that had cards on it, chowing down on some food. Kasakierin was sprawled out on top of the other vehicle, under his cloak. The circle of men all had rifles up and aimed, most of which were shaking in their boots. They only had their rifles aimed at three people, Ali, Borris, and Kasakierin, the three most dangerous.

As Seth walked up, he noticed that he wasn’t making any noise, so he walked right up to the only guy with a pistol. “How’s it going fellas?” Seth began as he saw every single Russian jump out of his skin and turn to him. “These are friends of mine. What’s all this about?”

All the men shifted the circle so that it surrounded Seth instead of everyone else. After regaining their composure, the only man with a pistol stepped up, “Drop the sword and step back.”

Seth chuckled and pointed to the sword on his back, “You mean this old thing?” Seth said as he unsheathed it and stabbed it into the ground. He put his hands on his hips, “You still haven’t answered my question. What is this all about?”

The man holstered his pistol and stepped forward, “My name is Malkova, and you are trespassing.”

Without skipping a beat Seth crossed his arms, “No! We aren’t.”

“Yes, you are. This is government property and only authorized personnel are allowed into those ruins.” He explained it as he walked up to the sword, “And you are not allowed under any circumstance to take artifacts away from the ruins over the mountain, even if you are authorized personnel.” He put his hand on the hilt of the sword and gave it a good pull, but the blade didn’t even budge. He adjusted and put both hands on the grip and tried to pull it out for all he was worth, but still the blade didn’t budge. The man stepped back soaked in sweat, “Must be stuck in some ore below the surface.”

Seth chuckled, “Nope.” He gripped the hilt and plucked it out of the ground like it was a toothpick in a sandwich. “I’m simply the only one who can lift it.” He placed it on his back and crossed his arms again. “Also, your brochures say that this is public property since it is in the great northern mountain range. If you don’t know that then I’m pretty sure that you aren’t actually Russian.”

As if on cue, all of the men fired on him. This time, Seth didn’t even let the bullets touch him. He launched himself into the sky like a rocket. Most of the men shot their comrades but lucky for some they were bad shots. About half a dozen were still alive and well.

When Seth landed, everything was in slow motion. He threw the head man at the farthest soldier, sending them both flying into the tree line. With one step Seth smashed two more heads together, dropping them to the ground. Seth coiled himself up like a spring and launched himself at another, then he simply shoulder checked the last soldier into the trees. Everything happened so quickly that only a few heart beats had passed. Seth stood as he watched all the men falling into the tree line away from all of them. Slowly, time sped back up and he heard every distinct crack of their necks.

Seth sighed and started walking over to the military vehicles that were a ways off to see what he could salvage. When Seth opened the first one, he yelled out to everyone, “Kaythanos, Ali, Kasakierin. You guys figure this one out.” There was a stack of knives and other weapons inside. Seth moved on to the next one and shouted again, “Griffin, Gonza, get your buts out here and sort these.” There were tents and sleeping bags inside. The last vehicle had a pile of survival packs in it. “Hey Borris, come help me sort through this. All the bags had winter gear with them.

As Seth threw the bags to Borris, who tossed the bags into his shadow and appeared in the shadow of the person Seth called out. When everyone had a bag, Seth had all the rest of the bags strapped together and hoisted them onto his back. All of the sleeping bags and tents were in a neat pile next to Seth, while Griffin and Gonza walked back to the SUV. Ali, Kaythanos, and Kasakierin had put together vests of throwing knives and swords for everyone, placing them on top of the tents and sleeping bags. Seth took one of the cargo nets out of one of the vehicles and wrapped up all the extra gear and threw it over his shoulder with the other bags.

Seth sighed and walked over to everyone, “Gather round. Jessica and I found Ajax in the ruins over the hill. I’ll teleport everyone over there.” Everyone placed a hand on the pile of gear and waited for Seth. “Now, don’t freak out. I’m not sure how everyone else’s bodies react to the power. Also, watch out for thrown spears from Ajax.”

Before anyone could ask any questions about the last bit of information, Seth teleported everyone outside of the building in the ruins. Seth had to catch a spear thrown at him once again and sighed as everyone drew weapons, even Austin and Jade. Ajax was standing in the doorway chuckling, “Good, you teleported them to their bedroom. You and Jess have a room for yourselves upstairs.” He winked at Seth and went back inside.

Seth stood there, thinking over Ajax’s words. Then, he shrugged it off and dropped the mound that was on his back, “It’ll be late soon so go ahead and set up tents and bed down for the night. We leave in the morning.”

Seth went inside and Ajax was standing on the right next to a staircase. “Jessica is already upstairs. You leave for the Sahara in the morning, in search of a man, names Musalon.” Then he disappeared into the next room.

Seth went up to the stairs to find a small room with a single bed on the inside. Jessica was lying on top of the blankets in a bra and panties alone. Seth couldn’t help but stare for a while. “I wonder what I did to deserve this.” Seth smiled as he leaned his sword against the wall next to his new bag and peeled off his trench coat and vest. As he laid down next to Jessica in his pants, bare chested, Jessica snuggled up to Seth.

“I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to.” Jessica leaned in and kissed Seth, “I think I love you.” She was blushing so much Seth could feel the warmth of her cheeks on his chest.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m pretty sure that I love you.” Seth pulled the bearskin blanket over them and pulled Jessica closer.

As Seth did, Jessica snuggled in as close as possible, “It does, very much so.” She wrapped her arms around him and sighed.

Seth kissed her on the top of the head, “Good.” It was all that she needed to hear. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, Jessica dreaming, Seth in his dream world training more so that he could protect Jessica.

When they woke up, Ajax had a breakfast for everyone, “After you eat, start ruckin’ it to the Sahara.” When he stated it, everyone froze and looked at him in utter confusion. Then they all looked to Seth.

Seth just shrugged, “That’s the next spot and I don’t want to run into more people from the Dark King.” He started getting winter gear out of a pack and handed it to Jessica. Once everyone was done eating, Seth got his sword and the backpack from the room upstairs. He took the cargo net with all the extra gear and started tossing it into the pack. Everything fit easily into the pack as expected.

Seth tossed in his baldric full of knives so he was bare chested under the trench coat that he wore. Everyone else was fluffed up like a polar bear, except for two Kasakierin and Gonza, who were still wearing everything he had. Gonza looked like a Russian stripper for Griffin’s benefit. Seth always wondered what Kasakierin was hiding under those thick leather clothes. He shrugged off the thought and finished packing. Once everyone was ready, they started west for Africa.

Seth was giving Jessica a piggyback ride, while Austin and Jade were riding on Kasakierin’s back. Borris was shadow traveling with Ali and Kaythanos. Griffin was flying with Gonza on his back and Anne next to him. They went for quite some time, before Austin and Jade were complaining about being hungry. Griffin agreed with them and began to descend to the ground, until Gonza wrapped herself around him and smothered him with kisses. They wound up plummeting to the ground directly in front of Seth, who stopped dead and set Jessica on the ground. He did it gently because she had fallen fast asleep during the run. Kasakierin stopped so Austin and Jade could jump off. Borris appeared out of the shadow of a tree with Ali and Kaythanos.

With a wave of his hand, Borris started a fire then started tending to it with a stick that he’d found. As everyone gathered around the fire, Seth smelled something that he’d never smelled before. He insisted on investigating and left everyone eating before they could object.