Part Three
This issue probably has my favorite deleted scene. Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t yet read the FT up to Book 4, chapter 7…where this scene was originally cut…ya may want to come back to this part later. You’ve been warned! 😊
Kyle briefly mentions that the group had only stopped to get some treasure, the Paleces stone. In the original version, Gabriella actually goes with them to get the stone. Admittedly, the scene read A LOT like Indiana Jones, so I cut it. It’s still a good fun though…enjoy!
We rode after Father for some time before we came upon a huge temple, almost invisible in the trees. Its stone walls were hidden behind dark moss and long, draping vines and plants. I wouldn’t have even seen it if I didn’t know what I was looking for. Behind a tall waterfall, I could make out what looked to be a smaller temple, carved into the cliff wall. The area was atop a high mesa; through the trees I could see the ground just cut off and another thick wood stretched far below.
“While we are here,” spoke up Father suddenly. “Let us go get the second Paleces Stone. I believe this is where it is. We could use the extra money.”
Stony nodded to show he agreed with Father. “Make haste though.”
We jumped off our horses and followed Stony and Father behind the waterfall. The temple doorposts were stone carvings of two Amazon tribe gods.
“Islthe the long-faced sun god and Thiel the skull with a round crown on, the fire god,” Angel named.
The temple was dark and damp. Sunlight was pouring in through a jagged hole in the roof and because of the mist and fog, its golden rays turned light blue. Moss covered the dark room and the green algae over the rocks made them feel as smooth as soap. Father lit three torches and handed them out between him, Stony and Sean. There was little noise, just the wind blowing over the hole above and the dripping of water. We went down a sloppily carved staircase and down a narrow and dark tunnel. After a few minutes, I could make out a bright light ahead.
“There is the stone.” Stony’s voice was low, but still echoed off the walls. “Do not move.”
A glass stone with rainbows inside of it glowed brightly, sitting on a brass stand. Skeletons were scattered all around it. Apparently, we weren’t the first to try to get it. Father went slowly ahead. A small, iron ball appeared in his hand and he rolled it down towards the stand. Spears and darts came from everywhere, firing at the ball. Father grinned, and nodded towards Stony.
“It is not in your possession yet, Renard,” Stony growled, arms crossed. “I would not get too disdainful.” Father rolled his eyes and turned back to look at the stand. “I think its motion censored…”
“So have Stony get it,” Ryan said. “Let him use that odd power he’s got.”
Father shook his head, still staring ahead at the stone. “Those spears will fire at the stone and it is sure to shatter.”
“So how?” asked Angel.
Father rubbed his face and waved his hand. Two iron balls appeared and Father rolled them towards opposite sides of the room. The spears only shot at one of the balls. Father snapped his fingers.
“That’s how.”
A huge ball appeared before him. He put it next to him, and took a deep breath. He rolled the ball a second before he ran himself. The spears fired at the ball as Father made his way to the Paleces stone. The iron ball slowly stopped rolling and Father froze. He didn’t even breathe. He was stuck where he was.
“Nice one,” Kyle laughed. Stony rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. Another ball started to form before Kyle. Father was staring at his nose. Beads of sweat covered his face and ran down his nose, forming a large drop at the tip.
“Kyle, you want to hurry up with that ball?” I cried out. Kyle pushed the ball as hard as he could away from Father. Father jumped up, grabbed the stone and rolled back to us.
“That was easy,” he laughed.
Kyle huffed. “Yeah, easy. Remember, you owe me your life. I’ll accept your gratitude in seventy-five percent of what you make off that stone. ”
Father gave him a weak grin as we turned to follow him out. Everything started shaking. The ball that Kyle made had rolled into a button hidden behind the vines on the wall and sprung a trap.
“There goes your commission!” Father joked as we ran towards the exit. Mother wasn’t in a joking mood and demanded we run faster. The large, stone bricks that made the ceiling dropped to the floor behind us, sending a cloud of dust over everything. The smooth rocks were now a hazard; we had to walk so slowly over them or we’d slip.
A huge, pointed rock fell before me, stabbing my skirt into the ground when I jumped back. I tugged and tugged, but I couldn’t pull my skirt out or rip it. The cave made another violent shake. Above me, another pointed rock dangled dangerously. I screamed and tugged harder at my skirt.
Father spun around and tugged with me. My eyes kept traveling back up to the shaking point. He aimed his hand at the rock and in a blue flash, it flew to pieces. He dropped the stone. He reached for it right as another point fell. He sighed, but pulled me out of the way and we caught up to the others who already leaped out of the cave. Father half-pushed, half dragged me to the waterfall entrance and we jumped through, just as the temple collapsed.
“Thank you, Father,” I said as we sat on the bank, wringing out our clothes. It was so awkward. He was my father; it was his duty to save my life, but I had never experienced anything like it before. It seemed only right to thank him. “I am sorry about the stone…”
“You are very welcome,” he said quickly. It was awkward for him too. “Of course I couldn’t just let you get killed. You and Angel are my most precious possessions…not some stone. Who cares if I missed it?”
“Thanks,” I grinned, walking alongside him behind the others.
“You’re my daughter, after all. Besides,” Father tossed the stone in the air and caught it in his pocket, “I’m not that careless. Let’s get going.”
Fun Facts
The part where the three are running through the hallway with the “arm” chair and then through the hall of pictures…that was actually a nightmare I had. I learned to keep my notebook at my bedside. When life gives you lemons…