Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 02:51:48 +0000
From: Mark Larner <markalarner@live.com.au>
Subject: Elemental Circle chapter 12

This story is a work of fiction, none of the characters are based on real
people, any similarities with people or places are coincidence, this story
contains sexual activities with consenting adult males, if the content of
this story is illegal in the area you are in to read this content read at
your own discretion it is illegal to copy this story all right are reserved
to the author

For comments and feedback contact me at markalarner@live.com.au

...........................................................................

Pete woke with a cry.  He pushed his long tangled hair away from his face.
"You ok little one", Greg ran his warm hand up Pete's leg.  Pete nodded.
It had been five days since he had told Rob about what he was doing.  In
that time he had been having bad dreams every time he closed his eyes.
"The dreams again", Pete took a deep shaky breath and nodded again.  Greg
sat up with him pulling him into a tight hug.  "I think I will go get some
air", Pete said as he moved away from Greg.  Greg knew better than to
follow Pete.  He had learnt that if Pete wanted time alone it was best to
let him have it.  "I think Jim's out on deck as well", Pete nodded and left
the cabin he was sharing with Greg.

Greg had been right Jim was standing at the rail of the boat looking out at
the ocean.  Pete stood next to Jim.  Jim didn't take his eyes of the ocean
as he pulled Pete into a side hug.  "Do you feel it", Jim asked in a hushed
whisper.  Pete cast his mind out into the water he knew what Jim was
talking about.  Pete found the massive sea serpents mind sleeping.  "He's
very old, from what I've read he is one of only maybe a dozen".  Jim turned
to Pete not sure what he was talking about.  "What you are feeling is a
very old sea serpent.  We are lucky he's asleep".  Jim looked at Pete not
sure what to say.  "Is he like what we went up against, a sea snake and a
water spirit"?  Pete shook his head.

"No sea serpents have been around much like dragons.  However they to my
knowledge have never left the seas and oceans".  Jim looked out over the
water, secretly he wished they had the time to stop and investigate the sea
serpent further.  Pete looked at the distant look in Jim's eyes and smiled.
"Perhaps one day after this is all dealt with".  Jim turned to his Fifth
and grinned hugging the smaller male.  "Thank you little one", Pete just
nodded against Jim's chest.  "What made you come out here in the first
place"?  Jim asked realizing that Pete had obviously left his cabin below
for some reason.  "Bad dreams again".  Jim looked at his Fifth sadly.  The
entire circle knew that Pete suffered bad dreams.  "Are they getting
worse", Pete nodded.  "Do you think it's to do with us getting closer to
the temple"?  All Pete could do was shrug he wasn't sure what was causing
the bad dreams.  "You should go back and try to get some more sleep,
tomorrows going to be a hard day".  Pete nodded and turned to leave.  "What
about you"?  Jim turned back to the water and sighed.  Sea serpents would
have to wait.  "I will be right there", Pete nodded he understood how Jim
felt.

...............................................................................

Pete lay with his head in Bren's lab.  Bren was focusing on running his
hands through Pete's hair.  Of all the Elementals Bren had been the most
uneasy about being at sea.  "How far to the Temple"?  He asked.  Pete
smiled contentedly sitting up and facing Bren.  "An hour", Bren took a deep
breath.  "You were listening when I told you that it was in all likelihood
under water right".  Bren got a very green look about his pale face.  "It's
alright Bren I will hold your hand", Jim gave Bren grief over his obvious
discomfort.  "I'd rather Pete held my hand, you go hold Si's.  I can't
imagine he's keen to be under water".  Jim frowned he hadn't really thought
about how uncomfortable Si would be.

Si walked over shaking his head at Jim troubled face.  "Did you pair ever
listen in science or were you just goofing off".  Pete grinned at Si's
comment.  "Let me give you pair a refresher.  Water contains many of the
same molecules as the air around us I will be fine.  You Bren won't be able
to set fire to anything though".  Si said smugly, Pete frowned and then
whispered into Bren's ear.  Bren broke out into a huge grin.  "True but I
can still make things really fucking hot so they melt or explode".  Si
looked at Pete and mocked glared.  "Little one if you always share your
intelligence how will they learn".  Si laughed as Bren and Jim disagreed
with his assessment of their intelligence.  Pete just grinned.

................................................................................

The location of the Temple was as Pete had thought nothing but water.  "Are
you sure it's here", Greg asked.  Pete nodded.  "So how do we do this",
Derik asked looking out at the water.  Pete looked at Jim and Si before
answering.  "Jim's going to create a bubble in the water that Si will fill
with air".  Jim and Si nodded in agreement with what Pete had said.  "I
think we should just get on with it", Pete said to his circle.  The others
all agreed.  None could see any reason to delay.

Jim created half the bubble they would be using.  The six entered it.  As
Jim lowered the bubble they watched as the water surrounded them.  As Pete
had said Si drew oxygen from the water around them and ensured that they
had plenty to breath.  Derik held the now frantic Bren tightly.  Greg also
went over to comfort Bren.  Pete would have as well if he had not had to
guide them to the Temple.  From what Rachael had said the Temple had once
been on a relatively large island surrounded by an ancient city.  Pete had
joked with her about it being like the lost city of Atlantis.  Apparently
the Temple and the city had been one of several cities that had sunk into
the sea.

Pete was stunned when he saw the Temple and what remained of the city that
had sunk with it.  It was clear that some kind of magic had been used to
shield the entire area from the water.  It was however clear that the area
that had been protected had not been the entire city.  What really
impressed Pete were the trees.  It was clear that the gardens had still
flourished in what remained of the city around the Temple.  That and the
artificial light that the shield around the Temple was giving it was like
they were descending into daylight.

"Pete is it a kind of magic you know" Si asked.  Pete shook his head, he
had no idea how such a shield could be created or maintained.  "Perhaps it
is something to do with the artefacts or the temple its self".  Jim said
quietly, Si and Pete looked at each other neither had expected some kind of
shield outside the Temple.  "We aren't sure, both are possible", Si said
quietly as they approached the shield.

.........................................................................................

Pete looked at Greg who nodded once understanding what Pete intended to do.
"Stop here I will investigate the shield".  Pete didn't wait for a response
from the others.  Derik nodded once as did the others.  That is except for
Bren, who struggled to get out of Derik's arms and stop him.  "You can't do
that what if the shield has some kind of defence mechanism or something".
Pete looked at his struggling Fire Elemental.  Pete knelt down in front of
Bren.  "Don't worry so Bren, you know I'm the only one who can go".  Pete
lent in and hugged Bren who pulled him in tightly clearly not happy with
Pete leaving the relative safety of the bubble.  "Be safe little one", Bren
murmured into Pete's hair.  Pete tried to smile and nodded as he stood up.

Pete turned to go only to find Greg standing in his way.  Greg also pulled
him into a tight hug.  HE tilted Pete's head up and kissed him
passionately.  Greg didn't need to say anything Pete understood.  Taking a
deep breath Pete exited the bubble and created himself a smaller version of
the bubble that sat close to his skin.

Pete carefully approached the barrier.  Pete cast his mind out searching
for what the barrier had been made of.  What he got back was a shock.  The
barrier was sentient.  There was a light musical laugh inside Pete's head.
Pete felt the barrier suck him into its self.  He was too shocked to stop
it even if he could.  The last thing he was able to do before the
shimmering of the barrier surrounded him was communicate to the others to
not approach the barrier.

Pete looked around and was surprised to find himself in what appeared to be
a very nice sitting room with a bright fire burning in a large fire place.
"Sit little one I have waited a long time for your arrival".  Pete spun
around and saw small women with almost translucent skin and heavy looking
dark hair flowing down her back.  "Where is"?  Pete couldn't finish his
question to stunned to think properly.  "Sit Pete, have some tea".  Pete
felt numb as he sat in a very comfy chair, "Tea", the women handed Pete a
delicate cup of tea.  Pete hastily put it on a side table.  "Pete just sit
relax and drink your tea everything is as it should be".  The women
strangely reminded Pete of his mother as he found himself responding to her
in the same way he had his mother.

"Now before you work yourself into a mess of worry.  Your circle is fine.
They will see you come out on the other side of the barrier no more than a
few moments after you went in".  Pete looked at the women sceptically.
"Who and what are you", the women smiled and somehow shifted her form into
a tall leggy blonde women to rival any model.  "I am whoever you want me to
be big boy", Pete rolled his eyes.  The women laughed and morphed back to
the pale dark haired women.  "I'm an artificial intelligence fused with
magic and given the task of ensuring the temple was protected hence the
barrier".

Pete stared at the women not sure what to say of all things he had expected
her to tell him that was not one of them.  Before Pete could ask anything
she went on.  "I can't tell you anything more, to do so would risk the
mission".  Pete raised an eyebrow, "It's imperative that the mission go as
planned".  Pete waited, when it became clear she wasn't going to say
anything else Pete spoke.  "And who has given you this mission that can't
be spoken of".  The women grinned it was as if she had known he would ask.
"Sweet, sweet little Pete, it was you of cause who else".  Pete glared at
the women who just sat watching him.  "Is this tea real"?  The women
grinned and shook her head, "Is anything here real"?  Another shake of the
head.  Pete couldn't help it he laughed "Damn I've been sucked into the
Matrix without being asked what pill I wanted to take".

After his laughter had stopped the women looked at him pointedly.  "This
may be difficult to except at the moment however I do have a message for
you".  Pete raised an eyebrow waiting for her to go on.  "I can't tell you
who sent the message however I was told to tell you that there will come a
point where you will have to trust those you think are your enemy and that
your real enemies are also your truest allies".  Pete shook his head none
if made sense, nothing had made sense since he had first spoken to the
dragon.  "I will send you back now, we will meet again little one".

With that Pete felt the barrier take him again.  The whole experience had
been out there even for him.  Looking around Pete found himself safely
inside the barrier standing on a cracked road that appeared to lead
directly to the Temple.  Pete looked around at the decaying building tall
trees and felt the warmth of the fake sunlight.  If he didn't know he was
under the ocean he would have thought it was a nice spring day.  He
contacted the others and was shortly joined by them.

The six looked at each other not sure what to about their current location.
"Well I for one like this better then all that water.  Fuck I hate
swimming", Bren announced to the group.  This got a few chuckles and
smiles.  "We've come this far we might as well continue to the temple",
Derik said softly.  He looked around uneasily.  They could all fell the
unnatural nature of the city around them.  The city had warmth and trees.
However there was no other life no other noise not even a bit of a breeze.
The whole area just felt wrong to them all.

...................................................................................

The six approached the temple lost in their own thoughts.  Each were
confused by the existence of the temple.  The High Fifth had not been able
to explain its existence to them.  All anyone really knew about it was that
there was a temple.  However nowhere in recorded history was there ever
mention of the circles worshiping the elements or there to be a need for a
temple.  The only explanation that anyone could come up with was perhaps
prior to the guild they had worshiped the elements.

The temple its self was a huge building with a massive domed roof.  Derik
tried to push the doors open.  Unsurprisingly they didn't budge.  "I guess
this is your job", he turned and grinned at Greg.  Greg approached the
doors.  He felt a tingle in the palms of his hands.  He reached out to push
the doors.  Before he could make contact the doors swung open soundlessly.
Greg looked at the others as surprised as they had been by the doors.

"Well that was easy", Bren said quietly looking around nervously.  The
others all looked nervous.  Pete could tell they were waiting for him to
take the lead.  He stood up straighter and walked through the doors.  It
was a small thing; however it marked a change in Pete a change he had
wanted for some time.  The other five all smiled as Pete walked into the
temple.  They had all known that Pete had the strength to lead.  "Are you
five coming or are you just going to look at my ass all day".  The five
laughed, and followed their little fifth into the temple.

.................................................................................

The interior of the Temple was like nothing they had ever seen.  The
exterior had made it appear as an ancient building carved from stone.  The
interior was not.  Where they had all expected to see stone there was
smooth polished metal.  The metal was like nothing they had seen before and
was seamless like a skin.  Instead of rooms and floors it appeared that
apart from the entrance hall the whole temple was just one large chamber.

"Well this was unexpected", Pete spoke his annoyance clearly evident.  The
others nodded distractedly.  Pete frowned as they started to drift toward
different parts of the chamber.  Derik stoped first he held out his hands
and appeared to summon raw elemental power.  As he did so a podium appeared
to grow out of the floor.  Its sides were carved with the elemental symbol
of earth.  Pete watched as each of his circle made his own podium appear.
Even Greg had one it was carved with all the elemental symbols.  Once the
podiums appeared each of them held their hands out over the flat surface
still radiating power, it was as if they were waiting for something.

Pete knew instinctively what they were waiting for.  He walked to a spot in
the middle of them.  He let his own power connect them.  First creating the
connection between himself and each member of his circle.  As he did so the
others also reached out to him with their power.  The power he felt was
incredible.  He then connected the other five in a circle, resulting in the
ancient symbol of a full circle.  The chamber filled with power and light.
As the light faded each found their left arm covered in the symbol of their
element.  The symbols glowed.  Pete looked at his circle they were all
clearly stronger now.

Greg was the first to move.  He walked over to the stunned Pete and hugged
him.  "Do any of you have any idea what we just did?"  He asked the others,
they all shook their heads except Pete who had a faraway look on his face.
"Pete do you know something?"  Si asked, Pete nodded he remembered a story
his mother had once told him about a true circle and its joining with each
other.  "It was just a story my mother used to tell me.  She told me about
something called a true circle.  She said that there had not been a true
circle in hundreds of year.  Most had forgotten about them.  As they had
about Keys.  Or what a Key really was", Pete smiled at Greg.  I should have
thought of it sooner when Greg first joined us.  She always said that a
true circle has six in it.  I was so young when she told me the story I had
forgotten until now.  I think it means we are now stronger and can work
better together."

The six turned to the sound of clapping.  None were overly surprised to see
Richard and what had to be his real circle.  His circle consisted of four
beautiful women.  Each had a predatory smile on their face as they watched
the six boys.  "Well done boys you have managed to stumble your way through
something we have been working on for decades.  Now the only real thing I
need from you is the information on how you created your key".  Richard
grinned over at Greg, "Unless yours wants to join me, I'm sure I could find
a place for him in my circle".  Richard leered at Greg suggestively.  Pete
summoned power to himself, everyone noticed his sudden glow.

"Why don't you back off Richard, you will never have what we have".  Pete
lashed out with his power, only to be blocked by Richard.  It was as the
two Fifths clashed that the chamber suddenly glowed again.  Richard and
Pete found themselves being pulled together and unable to disengage from
each other.  Greg tried to hold onto Pete.  The two circles watched as if
in slow motion as the two Fifths were pulled together and vanished in a
blast of light.

As the light cleared the remaining nine looked at each other confused and
worried for their Fifths.  "Can you still feel him is he dead"?  One of the
women demanded.  The five boys each focused on Pete and could feel him; he
wasn't dead just very far away.  "Yes we can still feel him, although it
feels as if he is very far away".  The four women nodded in agreement it
was obvious they felt the same way about Richard.

...........................................................................

"What the fuck have you done?"  Pete demanded of his unwanted companion.
Richard looked ready to hit Pete.  Pete just glared at him almost daring
the other Fifth to hit him.  "I didn't do anything it must have been you".
Richard spat back at him.  Pete felt the urge to cry, he could feel his
circle getting further away.  Instead of giving into his urge to cry he
focused his mind on the space around him.  It felt as if they were moving,
the question was to where.

The pair sat in silence glaring at each other.  They both knew better than
to try and attack each other again.  "Do you have any idea where we are
going?"  Pete asked softly, Richard looked over at the boy, sometimes he
forgot that Peter and his circle were just boys.  "No I'm as confused as
you".  Pete tried to smile, "When I see that bloody dragon again she is
going to get it".  Richard looked at Pete in surprise.  "You don't mean the
golden female one", Pete frowned and nodded.  "Damn we have been played
from the beginning".  Pete looked at Richard confused for a moment until he
realised that Richard had been talking to the same dragon.

"We should have known that Dragon had its own agenda", Richard said.  Pete
nodded as different pieces of the puzzle about what was happening fell into
place.  "It's all her doing she wanted us to be against each other, she
doesn't want us to work together".  Richard nodded his agreement.  "Do you
think we can reverse this go back the way we came".  Richard frowned at
Pete's suggestion and then shook his head.  "I think the best we could hope
for is stopping it", Pete nodded waiting for Richard to tell him how he
thought they should go about doing that.  "Just follow my lead ok", again
Pete nodded and did as Richard said.

It took time to slow and stop.  Once they had stopped they had to work out
how to get out of their little pocket reality.  A pocket reality was the
best way that Pete could think of where they were.  "I think the only way
out is to tear a hole in the side like a doorway", Richard nodded at what
Pete said.  "However I think we should create a protective bubble first",
Richard suggested Pete agreed quickly.  Once the bubble was created they
tore a hole in their pocket reality and moved back into what they hoped was
there reality.

Both knew instantly when they were back in their real reality.  Pete gasped
in horror at what they found.  Richard was too stunned to react.  They had
expected to see the Earth or at least be on the Earth.  What they found was
the stuff of nightmare.  The Earth's crust had been shattered resulting in
many floating islands.  You could see molten lava flowing around what must
have once been the Earth core.  There was also a large body of water
somehow floating between the islands and the core.  Somehow it appeared
that the atmosphere was still intact.  "I get the feeling your boys are
holding what's left of the world together by brute force".  Pete nodded his
agreement, the Earth was no longer a planet it was the ruins of one.

To be continued

................................................................................

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