Salem of the Sway

     Within the confines of the cell, Salem sat shoulder to shoulder with his father, glued to his side in fear of losing him again. He would have been desperately clutching his father’s arm, if he allowed himself to, but he still sat in conflict with his own War of the Obelisk happening in his head. Seekers versus Sway. Lambert versus the Dutchess. His father versus his leader. He didn’t know who to bestow his loyalties to, anymore. He did what he could to push it out of his head in the meantime and toyed with the dust as he appreciated his father’s company.

     Lambert knew of his conflict, but he remained patient and understanding; he too just happy to be with his son again. One of his ears lifted at the middle, as though the end held a weight. “Well, I tried picking the lock. I didn’t have much hope there. But my apprentice is here somewhere. And another of my fellow Seekers is around here, too. Either one of them will…”

     “No.” Hot air flowed from Salem’s nostrils, lifting up a patch of dust at his bare feet. “We will not be getting out of here. The Duchess will not allow it.” He fiddled with his claws.” “W-What are you going to tell the Duchess?”

     “You mean about joining the Sway and giving her control of the Seekers? Oh, I’m not going to let that happen.” The Gnorbu formed a smirk that only made a rock form in Salem’s stomach. “She can do what she wishes to me, but I won’t let her power infiltrate my Seekers.”

     “It already has.”

     The professor blinked a few times, his frames gleaming in the dark candlelight. “What do you mean?”

     With a brief shiver carried throughout his body, Salem convinced himself to crawl back to the initial subject and away from the question. “The Duchess doesn’t take no for an answer. She’ll hypnotise you into joining. She’s only keeping you down here so you’ll come to your senses and she won’t have to put in the extra effort.” His eyelids lowered as he watched the dust settle back into the spot. “You don’t have a choice.”

     “I…” Lambert leaned his head back against the stones making up the wall. “I know.”

     “Yet you still plan to refuse?”

     “The day I willingly merge with the Sway is the day I deem that I am no longer a Seeker.” A long sigh lifted Lambert’s chest. “But, hypnosis or not, I have faith in Chainlitz and Mr. Bite.” They’ll be here. I know it.”

     In the meantime, Bee delicately made her way through the secret canals on hands and knees. I kept my distance, still convinced that I would be snapped into the jaws of her tail if I carried on any closer, but I still did what I could to keep at her pace. I could hear what used to be voices, bent and dissolved with distance, trickling softly through the tunnels. They were far too distorted to be recognised at first, but I was soon able to hear the raspy voice of a Krawk and the soft voice of a Gnorbu.

     Just as Lambert’s final words left his tongue, Bee and I arrived at an opening just a little ways away from their cell. My excitement leapt when I recognised his voice, and as soon as Bee detected that it was safe to jump down, I followed behind and ran to the cell. “Professor!” I squealed, still taking heed not to let my voice carry.

     “Chainlitz! You clever Xweetok, I knew I could count on you!” Lambert hopped up and sprinted to the front of the cell, nearly colliding with the bars out of enthusiasm.

     I grinned ear to ear and I pulled the key out to find its place within the hurdle of darkness. “I have Bee to thank for that. She helped me sneak to you and get the key.”

     “Is that so?” He adjusted his glasses.

     “Yes, sir. I would have been caught long ago, if not for her. ” I glanced to the side as the Mutant Ogrin covered me and kept an eye out for approaching Sway members. “She’s brilliant.”

     Bee grunted and huffed out of her tentacle ears out of her face. “Sure. Whatever.” Her hand fiddled with her ring, only for her unbanded fingers to slip it off and drop it into a thick pile of dust. “I’m done for. I may have helped you slip past the others, but there’s no hiding this. I’ll be revoked of my position and punished further, so what’s the point?” she growled in the back of her throat.

     Lambert tilted his head as the cell door clicked and unlocked. “A brilliant mind. I do believe it.” He smiled. “There is room for such brilliance in the Seekers, Bee. We could benefit from such a learned mind, if you ever wished to join.”

     All three of her eyes widened. “Join… the Seekers?” she asked and pulled open the cell door, allowing me to run over and hug him with glee. “Am I qualified?”

     “Of course you are! I know great minds when I see them. So does Chainlitz.” He patted my back and I pulled away to help hold the door open.

     Bee was stunned, not ever expecting such a request from the head of brilliance. She looked back and forth between the dusty ring and the Gnorbu. “I… I might have to think about it.” She swallowed hard. “For right now, let’s just focus on getting you two out of here.”

     “Of course.” The professor looked back and stopped, realising that Salem wasn’t directly behind him. He remained seated against the wall with anxiety flooding his veins. The professor held a hoof out to him. “Quickly, my boy. Let’s get out of here,” he bleated.

     With another shiver, Salem dug his claws through the dust and rapidly shook his head.

     Lambert got on his knee and placed his hands on the Krawk’s scaly shoulders. “Please, my boy. I can’t leave you here.” His hooves slipped away to reach for his trembling hands. “Come with us.”

     Salem hesitated, his sharp teeth chattered together with mountains of confusion, before finally grabbing onto his father’s hands and allowing himself to be lifted to his feet.

     “Move quickly. If we’re lucky, we should be able to beeline right to the secret entrance leading to Moltara.” Bee carefully inspected every corner with care and precision, keeping her hand out until she was sure all was safe. Salem dragged his feet at the very back, in the meantime. He felt like rocks were attached to his ankles, but even with the added difficulty he wanted to keep up with his father and the rest of us.

     “What about Mr. Bite?” Professor Lambert whispered to me as another hallway was given the all-clear. “Did you see him while you were looking for me, Chainlitz? We can’t leave him behind! Oh, I hope he’s okay!”

     My face softened into guilt as his blissful ignorance gnawed at my stomach. Oh sweet Fyora, how could I tell him? The disloyalty. The betrayal. It was nothing in my gut compared to how Lambert would feel. “Sir…” I began, swallowing a lump in my throat. “Mr. Bite… he’s… he’s not…”

     “Oh dear, heading out so soon?”

     That voice. That sinisterly cheeky voice. We whipped our heads around to see the Werebuzz coming up behind us, still cloaked in his supposed disguise. His head bobbed joyously as he approached with almost a skip to his step, his Petpet eyeing us with just as much amusement. “You seem to be forgetting something.”

     “Bite, my friend! Oh, how happy I am to see you safe!” With quiet enthusiasm, Lambert started towards the Werebuzz to greet him, but I jumped in front of him to bring both to a halt. I let out a hiss as my fur puffed into a threatening display.

     Lambert was instantly taken aback. “Chainlitz, what are you doing? That’s Mr. Bite!”

     I kept my eyes glued to the traitor, who had paused his approach as soon as Lambert did. He seemed to be in shock as well, but I couldn’t read him well enough to know if he was still attempting to play innocent. “He’s not a Seeker, professor! He’s a spy! He’s part of the Sway and has been since the beginning!” I finally managed to spit out. “He was toying with us, this whole time!”

     Lambert’s face drained. “W-What?” He stared at Mr. Bite, believing my words but wishing them not to be true. “Mr. Bite… you’re…”

     The mask of astonishment instantly shattered at my words. The Werebuzz lifted an eyebrow as he pulled down his hood, prompting a short and spiteful meow to rise from his Schnelly. “You knew.” His eyes narrowed and he took a few steps closer, smirking as I let loose another hiss. “You were hiding in the armour room, weren’t you? You heard me talking to Ms. Bee. Well, paint me impressed with your stealth.” He chuckled and let his yellow gaze fixate on the Ogrin at the front. “Speaking of Ms. Bee, my oh my. Only just initiated and already you’ve broken your vows? You should be ashamed of yourself for your disloyalty. Just wait until the Duchess hears about this. But until then…” He withdrew his cursed claws. “I’ll have the honour of taking care of you, myself.”

     One final step was one step too many, and through his own betrayal he saw a cyan glow in the corner of his vision. Water rose up from Salem’s feet and engulfed him into a Water Krawk before stepping before us and blocking Mr. Bite. The Werebuzz’s eyes widened. “Salem, what in the Duchess’s name are you doing?” He bore his own sharp teeth, now finding himself in a state of easily being overpowered. “Your loyalties lie with her! Your loyalties lie with the Sway!” He backed away as Salem’s arms expanded into crushing waves. “Don’t you dare defy her!”

     Finally, Salem lunged forward, thrusting waves of water down the hall and sending Mr. Bite flying back in the roaring current. He hissed alongside the spitting waters. “Traitors! Traitors!” his head shouted above the surface. “You know how the Duchess feels about disloyalty! You’ll be punished for this!”

     “We have to hurry. No doubt that caused a commotion.” Bee pulled on my arm as Salem reverted back to his original hue, his face plastered with as much physical panic as he held in his body. “Oh n-no,” he whimpered and stared down at the ocean he created. “W-What have I d-d-done? Th-The Duchess… she’ll b-be so…”

     “It’s alright, Salem.” Lambert wrapped his arm around the frozen Krawk and quickly led him along behind Bee and I. “Everything’s going to be alright, but we must get out of here.”

     The secret entrance arrived in our sight, still slightly cracked open from our previous disturbance. “They haven’t locked up the entrance yet, thank Fyora. No time to waste!” Bee threw open the door and waved us down to follow, and the professor and I did so without question. But, with far too many rocks now tied to his feet, Salem stopped in the doorway. He clutched onto the wooden frame and stared at us with a desperate desire to follow that his legs wouldn’t listen to. “I… I can’t do it.” Salem’s claws dug so hard into the wood that indentions were starting to form. “I can’t. I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

     “Salem.” Lambert’s eyes wrinkled with sorrow. “I know you’re scared. I know you’re conflicted. I know you were raised to put your loyalty in the Duchess. But I promise, if you come home, everything is going to be okay. We’ll be together again.” His eyes were pleading through his glasses. “I beg of you. I can’t lose my son. Not again.”

     Yes. Please. Take me with you. I want to go home. The words buzzed and sobbed within Salem’s brain but refused to leak out. More tears darkened the scales under his eyes as every fibre of his being told him to run to his father and leave the Sway behind.

     “I…”

     His hand reached out to the professor, yearning for his grasp, only to dart to the side and grip the door.

     “I’m sorry!”

     In an instant, Salem yanked the door shut, eternally severing them from the headquarters.

     Each wave of the echoing door sank Lambert’s heart farther into his stomach. Once more, the Sway saw fit to separate him from his son, and he would have run back into danger if I didn’t grab his arm before he did. “We have to run, sir. I’m so sorry,” I squeaked with sorrow and gave him a pull. Lambert’s lip quivered and his eyes glazed over, but he knew that we couldn’t stay. With a final look to the door and a mental beg that it would swing open and allow Salem to exit with us, he turned and ran with us back to Cloven’s mansion; back to Moltara; back to Brightvale; back home.

     ****

     Nearly a month had passed since our time in the headquarters. While we were armed and expectant of the Sway to show up at Brightvale, none ever came. In fact, when King Hagan received our letter about the location and sent his knights to go check it out, the entire mansion had disappeared. The secret passageway led only to a crater, as though a massive hand had dug under the foundation and placed it somewhere else. But, the mere day of its disappearance, there was a package delivered to the head seeker’s name. King Hagan’s crown lay within, spick and span and cleaner than when it was taken. All dust removed. All smudges cleaned. All fingerprints washed away.

     In the meantime, Bee took Lambert up on his offer. She entered her apprenticeship under Hugo Fairweather, and was given the opportunity to help him in his studies of the island of massive Petpetpets, as well as his lectures and other areas of study.

     The mystery was solved and studies went on as it had before. But, understandably so, Professor Lambert mourned for his son and missed him more with every passing day.

     “Sir?” Bee and I both poked our heads into his office, one afternoon. We caught him with his cheek resting against his hoof, looking at the framed picture of him and his son with sorrow and longing. He wanted to cry, but he pushed the desire away when he noticed our presence and quickly threw on a mask. “Chainlitz! Bee!” We could see right through his joyous tone. “What can I do for you both?”

     “Are you alright?” Bee mumbled as we both slipped inside. She no longer donned her Sway cloak, instead finding comfort in a dark blue blazer, a collared shirt, and a pair of black dress pants. She seemed more relaxed as a Seeker, finding true enjoyment in our studies and with helping Professor Fairweather. It brought me joy to see her so happy.

     Lambert’s fake smile melted as quickly as he had put it on. He allowed his eyes to roll one last time to the picture. “I’ll be alright. I just… miss him.”

     “I know, sir. I’m sorry.” My ears drooped, allowing room for Fae to jump up onto my head. “Hopefully you’ll see him again, sometime.”

     “Yes. Hopefully.” He pushed his hands into his coat pockets. “Well, what can I help you two with?”

     Bee and I both quickly stood up straighter. “King Hagan sent one of his knights for you. He says that he needs you at the castle, and that it’s an emergency,” I cooed rather nervously.

     “An emergency? Oh dear. I shouldn’t waste another moment then, should I?” Professor Lambert straightened his shirt and brushed himself off in a hurry, and then Bee and I watched with heaps of pity and curiosity as he pushed up his glasses and hurried from his office.

     “Still no signs of the Sway headquarters. I have my knights keeping surveillance of the area, but they have yet to find anything but a crater.” The Great Green Skeith walked through his royal corridors with his claws behind his back, his crown now in its rightful place between his ears. “But I don’t doubt that they are still out there. With their power and hand covering so much of Neopia, they must be ready for any inconvenience. Though, with how perfectly their plans fall into line, I’m sure such an inconvenience must be rare.”

     Lambert trotted at his side, his legs mirroring the king’s with each step. “To be honest, I’m quite shocked that they haven’t turned up at our own headquarters. I mean, they have every reason to. The Sway chooses who it wants, and as far as I’m aware, there are repercussions for even THINKING about abandoning.” He sighed and let his shoulders sink down. “Have you noticed more Crokabeks around Brightvale lately? More than usual? Especially around the Seeker headquarters.”

     “I have, and I’m positive that the Duchess has something to do with it.” King Hagan sucked in through his teeth. “You still should not let your guard down, Professor. We know what they're capable of, so you should be just as ready as they are.” He straightened up his posture, prompting the Gnorbu to do the same.

     The two passed paintings and regal decorations as they made their way to a guarded hallway leading to a dark staircase. “On the contrary, I appreciate you meeting me on such short notice, but I felt that this couldn’t possibly wait. You see, a Neopet came to my guards this morning, claiming to have been the one to steal my crown and pleading for an audience with me. When they brought him to my throne room, he told them that he had run from the Sway and wished to atone for the crimes they had ordered of him. But he mentioned you by name, Professor. He wanted an audience with you, as soon as possible.”

     Professor Lambert’s eyes widened two sizes larger as they arrived down to the dungeons. Two Draiks opened the doors for the two of them. His tongue felt swollen. “Sire, is it… him?”

     “I suppose that’s for you to decide, Professor Lambert.” Hagan took the Gnorbu down the hall of cells, passing by criminal after criminal before arriving at a specific one. There, sitting with his shoulder against the front bars, was a Blue Krawk with an orb around his neck.

     “SALEM!” Lambert could not restrain his tears at the sight of his son and ran to the front of the cell.

     The Krawk looked up instantly upon hearing the Gnorbu’s voice. “F-Father!” He shot up just in time for Lambert to throw his arms through the cell bars and hug him as well as he could. Salem clung to his father with all of his strength. “I’m so… I-I’m so sorry… I couldn’t…”

     “It’s alright. I understand, I asked a difficult thing of you. You were scared and conflicted.” The two hugged as long as they were physically able to, not wanting to let go for even a second. When they finally did, Lambert smiled ear to ear before placing his hands on Salem’s shoulders. “But I’m so happy to see you safe, my son.”

     Salem glowed with relief, metaphorically and physically. Oceans of yellow and blue lights fought over the surface of the orb, causing golden patches to sprout on his blue scales like stars in the night sky. He could relax and feel a starry sense of happiness.

     From the outside of the dungeon looking in sat a single bundle of black feathers that blended in so perfectly with the shadows that surrounded it. A Crokabek, its eyes glowing from the corner, watched Lambert and Salem with an unblinking stare. It ruffled its feathers with displeasure and disgust before the shadows spat it from its maw, allowing it to take off from the castle grounds.

     The End.