Dylan, Zeph, and Lir went to the temple in the jungle. Dehydrated from the heat, they took a dip in a pool within the ancient pyramid. Zeph explained his plan for dealing with the Darkfin to his brother and lir.
Zeph: "Lir, you'll be the look out while me and Dylan take our Elemental Forms. Let us know when the sea witch gets here."
Lir: "What makes you think she'll show up?"
Zeph: "I don't think she'll miss a chance to try and steal all three of our souls, and we're in a Pyramid full of ancient treasures."
Lir: "Fair enough."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804168135_24214a4b53_c.jpgZeph looked toward his brother. "When she arrives, I want you to put on an act. Make her believe that going deeper into the temple will get her what she wants."
Dylan: "That shouldn't be a problem. I know exactly what you have in mind."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561668_08099364cf_b.jpgZeph leaned in. "When she finally makes her way to us, we'll teleport beyond her reach. We'll pull a fast one on her, and if everything goes as planned, her associate will take notice of her failure and deal with the witch for us."
Lir: "How do you know her associate will show themselves?"
Zeph: "I have a feeling he's been watching everything similar to how I watch over the worlds as the Spirit of the Sky. He's probablly more powerful than the sea witch. And, I think he's the one responsible for her attempts at taking our souls. I suspect that she made a deal with her associate in exchange for the knowledge to cause us harm."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803804729_b4d935dc68_c.jpgZeph turned toward Lir. "I don't think we need to worry about her associate. We never made a deal with whoever is pulling the strings, but the sea witch did. That's how will stop her. She can only fail so many times before her associate gets tired of waiting for payment."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803804659_927a35d8d9_b.jpgDylan and Zeph changed into their natural forms to focus all of their energy on reconnecting with the spirit realm. In their elemental forms, it wouldn't matter if they had legs or not, and they could use their full elemental power.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804168040_bd49f4a77c_b.jpgLir left the Temple and kept watch. Although, he got a bit distracted by the Mood Berry tree.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51802490732_3872706969_b.jpgInside the temple, Dylan and Zephyr changed into their Elemental Forms. In this form, they gained all the powers of a ghost combined with their mermadic powers and natural skills.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804168035_535600cb7a_b.jpgJust like Zeph said, the sea witch showed up outside the temple. Lir ran for cover after warning the twins. The witch saw his blurred figure and went to the temple to investigate.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803562073_b0695c35a7_b.jpgSarah was less than friendly with the relics that guarded the path forward.
Sarah: "I'm very short on time, and I demand that you open the way forward!"
The Omniscan Sculpture scowled in disgust.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803446766_20c8a57f69_b.jpgAs it closed its eyes, a Bone Dust Curse blew into Sarah's face, but it unlocked the first lock blocking the path.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167965_9714e1977e_b.jpgWhen Sarah tried to open the next lock, the a bone dust storm swirled around her and dehydrated her.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803446311_a42731a6ca_b.jpgBut, the path forward opened after triggering the temple traps. A personal sun shined on Sarah, and she believed that she would finally succeed in ending the royal family lines of the Sapphire Queen and the Abalone King of old.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167920_ee0077c5ee_b.jpgIn the lower levels, she found the wailing ghost of one of the Sapphire Princes, Dylan. If the princes had passed deeper in the temple, their souls would be ripe for collecting. Sarah almost couldn't believe her good fortune.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561628_5c3d6731bb_b.jpgSarah belittled Dylan's despair: "After everything I've done to collect your soul, you end up losing your life in a place like this. It would have been so much easier if you gave me your soul in exchange for the cure to your curse. You're almost more trouble than you're worth."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803446681_f26d96eff6_b.jpgSarah: "But, you're death will buy me time to finish off the little merman that has gotten in my way one too many times. Tell me, did your brother suffer the same fate."
Dylan was taken aback by the cruelty in her words, but he maintained his act.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167890_c2d8c6dd9b_b.jpgDylan cried. "My brother tried to save me, but he fell vicitm to the temple traps too."
Sarah folded her fingers together. "This is perfect. After I collect your souls, I'll take the tomes that hold power over them. My associate will be pleased."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803446666_308476a311_b.jpgSarah enjoyed watching the young merman cry in dispair.
Dylan continued. "Lir is also down there. His time has almost come, and I was hoping to find someone that could help him."
Sarah smiled at the thought of all three souls in one place.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167880_ee888883da_b.jpgSarah didn't have the knowledge to effectively open the path forward, so she triggered traps left and right as she pursued her targets. The possibility of saving herself and accomplishing her personal goals pushed her recklessly forward.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803446651_1919bdd16e_b.jpgEventually, one of the poison darts hit her in the neck.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167860_ee8237f380_b.jpgShe didn't mind. She would just make another deal in excahange for a cure and the location of her next victim, the Bándearg Prince. She figured that the other royal families survived too.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167485_eb7f8ab2e4_b.jpgNear the heart of the temple, she found the Spirits of the Sea and Sky, but no urns. Dylan and Zeph channeled their spiritual energies and teleported out of the temple before her eyes.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561908_327e4e8694_b.jpgIn a blind rage, she blamed the temple guardian statue for her failings.
Sarah: "I feel sick, and I'm probably going to die from poison. It's all your fault. You and those temple traps."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561923_978306fe94_b.jpgThis time, the Temple Guardian called into the Shadows instead of unlocking th way forward. The Darkness in Sarah's Heart gave Damion a means to manifest himself in her presence.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561888_de782dc69b_c.jpgDamion lectured. "So you actually thought the Sapphire Twins would fall vicitim to temple traps! Those twins could have easily cleared this temple without triggering every single trap!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803804374_867c7c3d47_b.jpgDamion continued. "I can't ignore any more of your genius failures. I'm here to collect."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167465_3b057cfc1b_b.jpgShadows swirled around Damion and he changed into his Elemental Form. Sarah saw the Marks of several Curses, and she finally realized her mistake when she made a deal with the Elemental of Shadows. Damion had the merfolk tattoos for a human form on both legs, the Currupting Merfolk Curse on one arm, The Curse of Shadows on another arm, and his back had the Mark of Excile from the Elementals in the Spirit Realm. He was in deeper trouble with the Elementals than the Darkfins.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167745_2220d42197_b.jpgDamion saw her growing anger. "Turn that frown upside down. Your doomed no matter what. I'm just speeding up the inevitable."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561838_e233b78094_b.jpgDamion clinched his fist and pulled Sarah into the air with an invisible grip on her heart. "Your Heart has already been consumed by Darkness. By right, I'm taking what's mine. And, it's about time too."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51802490927_40f715a6af_b.jpgWhen Sarah fell to the ground, Damion celebrated. He never liked her, but her soul would be the perfect start to his collection.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803446516_811f0945c5_b.jpgDamion: "Thank you grimmy. Take it from here."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167665_4ce060557e_b.jpgGrim lifted his scythe and severed Sarah's soul from the mortal realm and placed it within an urn.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167655_be64d1dd03_b.jpgDamion couldn't contain his excitement.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167640_22e2224412_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803804279_370182c6ec_b.jpgDamion grabbed her Urn. After he got home, he would place her Urn in his catacombs. Her soul wouldn't be free though. He would bind her to the mortal plane to serve him.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803561753_b446883251_b.jpgAfter Grim left, Damion changed back into his human form. He missed the sea and the islands, but he preferred the darkness now that he was bound to it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51803804259_286acab2a6_b.jpgThe Sea Witch was Lir's greatest enemy, but he didn't want to celebrate. He went to a statue in Selvadorada and made a prayer for his fallen enemy and let go of the shadow that weighed on him. For now, his family would be safe from harm.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804167595_654dab08b8_b.jpg
