Bellators

Hansan island was inhabited by elves, they had white hair and long pointed ears. Some uncanny animals dwelled in that island along with the elves such as foxes which breathes fire and lions which fly!

Two brothers, Evan and Aaron were traveling in their private yacht in the vicinity of the Hansan island. They are the sons of prominent businessman Jason taylor, who owned the popular perfume company called Magnas.

Aaron taylor was in the upper deck of the yacht, he was laying in the swimming pool, clear water reaching up to his shoulder. His fingers were ruffling his damp brown hair.

He was suspended from the college previous week, but he was not bothered, because this was not the first time he is getting suspended, he gets suspension often, this time he was suspended for beating up one of his classmates.

Evan taylor helped his younger brother in the fight. Therefore he was suspended along with his brother. That's when both of them set off for an expedition in their private yacht.

Aaron turned to Evan.

"Why only we got suspended? He started it. Shouldn't he get suspended as well?" Aaron snarled.

Evan was taking a sip from his coffee.

"I will get him dismissed from the college." he said by placing his coffee back on the table.

"How?" Aaron asked curiously.

"I would..." he paused and he squinted on the table, He saw a strange silhouette on the table.

"What the hell is that?" He said and gazed upward promptly- A strange creature was flying overhead, it had an eagle's head and a lion's body and it had two enormous wings.

He peered at the creature shifting his sunglass atop his head.

"What...is...that?" he frowned at it curiously. "Look at that," he said to Aaron by pointing to the sky.

"What ?" He looked skyward. "What is that thing? " he slowly stepped outside the swimming pool fixated at the creature.

"Is it a lion?... with wings?" Evan muttered incredulously. The creature was flying to faraway.

"Where is it?" asked Aaron strolling out of the swimming pool, "There" said Evan pointing towards the sea.

"There. It descended in that island" Evan pointed. Aaron peered and saw a small island far away.

"Sir?" a voice was heard from behind. Both of them turned back

"Sir, your coffee" a servant standing behind them wearing a white uniform with a bow tie, he was holding a tray with two white cups and a small bowl. He placed the tray on the table in front of them. Vapor was raising from the hot coffee. And the ceramic bowl was filled with cookies.

Aaron again averted his gaze towards Evan ignoring the servant "Let's go to that island." he said

"Why?" Evan shrugged.

"Let's just go there and checkout. I am curious to know what that creature is."

"Alright. If you want to go then I will come with you." said Evan.

Aaron turned towards the servant "Ask helmsman to veer the yacht towards the island" he said to the servant.

"Island?...er...which island sir?" asked the servant perplexed.

Evan pointed to the island "look over there."

Servant craned his neck and saw the small island "Ok sir, I will inform the helmsman" he seemed quite bewildered with the sudden change of plan, he descended to the lower deck silently.

Evan picked up a cup of hot coffee and took a scalding sip.

Aaron got up from the sofa "I will go and get the camera. I want to capture a picture of that creature in case we see it there." Aaron went to his bedroom to grab his camera, bedroom was plush with a double bed with blue silk bed sheet laid over it, walls of the room were adorned with paintings.

He rummaged the drawer of the bedside table and took out the camera.

As he began to leave the room he noticed his pistol laying on the table, he picked it up and checked if it's loaded and then put it inside his trousers pocket. In case that creature attack them, It would come handy.

The yacht was veering towards the island, slowly island was becoming closer and closer to view. After a while yacht halted on the shore of the island. Aaron and Evan disembarked on the shore of the island.

Several short trees were strewn on the shore, they were covered with tiny blue flowers.

Sea waves lashing on the shore periodically was the only noise heard in the island.

Evan strolled towards one of the short trees and plucked a stalk of blue flower, it had a sweet pleasant aroma, while he was relishing it's aroma, he didn't notice two green eyes gazing at him from behind another tree.

Rustling of leaves grabbed his attention, he averted his gaze towards the noise, a little boy was standing there, he was about ten years old, His ears looked strange, they were too long and pointed, and it looked like two horns on either side. His long white mane was flying in the wind behind him.

His startling green eyes kept gazing Evan and Aaron.

Evan and Aaron exchanged glances seeing the boy. They stood there silently, minutes passed by.

Then Evan waved at the boy hesitantly "Hey", boy gazed back at them. Evan slowly paced towards the boy, suddenly an arrow whizzed past nearby his chest. Evan jumped startled.

He turned towards the direction from where the arrow came, A sinewy man was standing there wielding a bow and arrow aiming at him scowling, his ears were also strangely long and pointed and he had long white hair like the boy.

Evan thought that the man shot arrow at him because he went near the boy. He quickly raised his hands and stepped away from the boy.

Evan's eyes were fixated on the arrow which was menacingly aiming at his chest, he stayed still without even blinking, suddenly he noticed a fox standing beside the man like a pet, but something was strange about the fox, it had nine tails, and they were wagging in the air.

It slowly walked forward and stood in front of the boy as if sheilding the boy. It growled at Evan, showing it's sharp fangs.

Aaron hastily rummaged in his pocket and took out the gun "Evan" he called out and then he tossed the gun to Evan and seeing the gun the fox's grunt grew louder and the next moment wisp of fire emanated from it's mouth.

Before Evan could realize what happened he was again shocked by seeing fire emanating from the tip of it's nine tails.

Evan and Aaron stumbled backwards horror struck. The fox just breathed fire. Both of them were stunned.

Before they were out the shock,

The man paced forward aiming the arrow at them "Who are you?" he asked in his hoarse voice to Evan.

But as Evan was stunned by seeing all these uncanny scenes, no voice came out of his mouth. After a few minutes he replied.

"er...I...am Evan.. this is my brother Aaron" he beckoned towards Aaron "We accidentally reached here during our expedition" Evan stammered he glanced sideways at the fox still thinking- "How did it breathed fire?"

"Is there anyone else with you?" the man raised his voice pointing the arrow at them.

"No....no.. Just us" Evan stammered.

"Then who is this" a voice was heard behind them, a burly man was pacing towards them, clutching helmsman and the servants of the yacht, they were trying to loosen his tight clutch by yanking.

"That's... that's our yachts helmsman" stammered Aaron

"How dare you to trespass in our island?" he shouted furiously. "We didn't knew...." Aaron began to say.

But before he finish, servant jerked forcefully and escaped the burly man's clutch and began to dash towards the yacht frantically.

But the burly man promptly dashed behind him and thrusted him fiercely to the ground and as soon as he fell, he took out a dagger from his waist and slit the servants throat within a blink of an eye.

Servant began to twitch in the ground and soon he died due to blood loss..

Evan was transfixed seeing this. His body trembled from head to toe.

These long eared people are vicious. This place is not safe.

Evan have coldly beaten up many but it's for the first time in his life he is seeing someone getting murdered.

Burly man rose to his feet, wiping the blood shrouded on the dagger in his cloth."This is what happens to the one who trespass in our island" he said menacingly.

Evan and Aaron were horror struck. One after other they were getting spate of shocks.

Aaron's heart was throbbing at a rapid pace, sweat broke out in his palms, his mouth was parched.

The man approached Evan poising the dagger "What are you here for pretty boy?" he placed the dagger on Evan's neck "Tell me" he grunted. Evan felt the coldness of the knife on his neck, he stopped breathing.

"Alfred. Stop, I don't think it's necessary" said the sinewy man by beckoning to stop.

"Why not? They could be here to loot the cascade or something" replied Alfred.

"Loot the cascade? How could we loot a cascade?" helmsman muttered to Aaron.

"Or whatever they are saying might be true" continued the sinewy man to Alfred without noticing helmsman.

"Bellators have strictly said to keep out the humans from the island Carter." said Alfred.

"Who is Bellators?" Evan whispered to Aaron.

Aaron shrugged in reply gesturing that he doesn't know.

"Why are you asking me? How could I know?" he said to Evan.

"Request to that man to let us go" Aaron whispered in Evan's ears and he nodding towards Carter.

"Sir, we are not here to loot anything, we saw a strange creature- ...er...a...a lion with wings flying towards this island and we followed it. We don't even know about any cascade. Please let us go" Aaron implored to Carter.

Carter mulled for a while then said "Alfred, leave him"

Alfred glared at Carter in response.

"I said leave him" Carter raised his voice.

Alfred still stood adamant, holding the dagger close to Evan's neck.

Carter snatched the dagger from Alfreds hand forcefully.

"Bellators also do not like to hurt innocent people" he said.

"Then let's inform the Bellators. Let them decide what to do with them." said Alfred.

"all right." Carter agreed .

Alfred turned his gaze to the amidst of the island and called out loudly "Laia.."

"Laia..." he repeated in his guttural voice. Aaron expected a lady, but what he saw was the cluster of trees shaking as an enormous creature flew past above the trees.

It was that strange creature which they saw in the yacht - lion with wings.

This time it was close and he could see it clearly.

It's enormous wings were waving in the midair and it had two claws in front and two legs in the back. It had an eagle's head, it was half lion and half eagle.

It descended on the ground beside them, it's flailing enormous wings created wind which brushed past everyone ruffling their hair and clothes.

Aaron covered his eyes from the dusty wind blew towards him with his palm.

Immense creature craned it's neck and let out a screech, which made Evan recoil.

It once again flapped it's enormous wings and paced towards Alfred and stood beside him like an obedient pet. "Good girl" Alfred said by ruffling it's enormous brown feather.

Then Alfred strolled towards a tall tree and then ripped off a long vine clambering on it and cut them into three pieces then he tethered the hands of three of the trespassers with it. Vine was pretty strong and unbreakable and it clamped their hands so tightly when Evan tried to wiggle his hands and break the vine, he failed.

Alfred glared at Evan and said "Mount on the griffin." by beckoning menacingly with his dagger.

"Mount on what?" Aaron asked perplexed.

"GRIFFIN." Alfred said by nodding towards the creature.

Aaron gazed at the creature and then he walked stealthily towards the griffin, he halted beside it.

"Bow " Alfred ordered to the griffin.

Mighty creature lowered it's head promptly at his behest.

Aaron clambered over the creature stealthily by stepping on it's claw and clutching it's immense feather using his clamped hands.

Then Alfred beckoned to helmsman and Evan to mount on the creature after Aaron.

Promptly both of them clambered over it. After them Alfred clambered on the griffin and sat on the griffin.

"Fly Laia.." he said to the griffin by slightly tugging the plumage on it's neck.

Soon the griffin waved it's enormous wings and soared to the sky carrying four men.

Alfred was veering the griffin by tugging it's feather to left and right occasionally.

Carter was standing on the ground he gazed upward at the griffin as it soared high. Then he walked towards the fox

"Come on Blake " he called the little boy by mounting on the fox.

But Blake was nowhere around. "Blake..." Carter looked around and called again. He was nowhere to be found. Carter scoured the surrounding for his little brother.

Blake was standing beside a tree trying to pluck some fruits dangling on the branch overhead, he was standing on his toes and streching his hands.

He somehow managed to pluck one fruit and took a bite hastily.

"Blake. no...don't eat it" Carter bellowed from behind. "They are poisonous" he strode to Blake and swatted on his hand frantically, fruits fell down from his hands.

But it was too late, Blake's face began to swell up and his mouth started to burn. Tears welled up in his eyes and he started to bawl in anguish.

"It's okay" Carter said. "I have told you to not to swallow every fruit you see." he wiped the boys tears with his palm.

"We will get home soon and Emily will get you some medicine for this. don't worry. . Come and mount on kitsune." he said by climbing on the fox.

Blake walked towards the fox sobbing and wiping his tears and then mounted on the fox after him . Fox waved it's nine tails and then dashed to the amidst of the island like an arrow.

Evan and Aaron were cowering on the ground, their hands were still fastened with the vine.

A crowd of elves were surrounding them.

Everyone were intriguingly gazing at the trespassers with short ears and strange outfit.

Carter waded through the crowd and reached near Evan.

He saw Alfred standing beside them poising the knife. "Bellators will only reach after a few days till then we should keep them somewhere, locked" said Alfred to Carter.

"Who are Bellators?" Evan asked to Aaron again curiously.

"How do I know?" Aaron said irritated by shrugging.

" Will you keep them in your house till Bellators arrive?" Alfred inquired to Carter.

"But remember, don't let them go out" he said by wagging his forefinger, warning him.

"Okay.." Carter said nodding. "I will keep them in my house." his eyes fixed at Evan and Aaron crouching on the ground.

"Get up.. get up" Alfred kicked them and gestured to get up.

Evan and Aaron rose to their feet, haggard.

"Everyone leave" Alfred said to the crowd of elves.

Crowd of Elves dispersed but some still stood there gazing at the three of them. "I said LEAVE..." Alfred said raising his voice.

Other elves strolled away reluctantly looking back at the three.

"You three, go with him" said Alfred nodding towards Carter.

Aaron and Evan were tired, They staggered towards Carter.

"This way" said Carter beckoning to a trekked path. They followed Carter and Blake, Blake was still sobbing and wiping his burning mouth occasionally.

Carter walked through the trekked path through a forest. Everyone strolled behind him one after another.

There were tall trees on both sides of the trekked path and small shrubs covered with red resplendent flowers beside them.

After some distance they came across short trees with bunch of ripe fruits dangling on them

Aaron plucked a bunch of fruits and passed some of them to Evan and the helmsman who were trudging behind.

They walked through the narrow path behind Carter nibbling the fruit, it was very sweet, and it subsided their hunger.

After a while they came across an stone wall, it extended to a long distance, as they walked nearby it Aaron noticed a strange image of an animals engraved in it. It was of a horse with long mane, it had a long horn on it's forehead.

Something was written below the image of the animal in capital fonts but the letters were obscured by algae.

Beside the image of the horse there was an image of a bird with enormous wings, it resembled a peacock.

As they walked past the image next there was the image of a gruesome creature with sharp fangs crammed in it's mouth and with two enormous wings. It had four claws. It was of a dragon.

Next to the dragon, there was the image of another creature, half lion and half eagle. It was the Griffin.

Next picture was of a fox with nine tails. It was depicted with fire on the tips of it's tails and fire emanating from it's mouth as well. It's the image of the same fox which they saw on the shore earlier.

After walking for some more distance they came across a village, there were several houses, all the houses were triangle shaped, and all of their roofs were white in colour.

As they came close to one of the house they could see that it's roof of the house was covered with white flowers, like jasmine, air was filled with it's pleasant aroma which invigorated them.

House was too small and was made of wood and straw and It had a intricately carved wooden door. Carter knocked on the door and a girl came out. She had long ears and her white hair was tied up behind. She was beautiful with bright green eyes and long nose.

"Where were you?" she asked by looking at Carter.

"Oliver fought with a leprechaun today. He is wounded badly." she said.

"Why?"he asked.

Suddenly the three strangers standing behind him grabbed her attention, her eyes darted from their short ears to their outfit, then to their shoes.

"Who are they?" she whispered to Carter.

"My friends" he averted his gaze towards them. We will have to keep them in our house for few days, until Bellators arrive"

"Okay" she looked at them and gave a sham smile "Come in" she said by beckoning them to come inside the house.

They entered the house, it had only one room and there was staircase on the corner leading to underground.

"Follow me" she said and walked towards the staircase. But she suddenly noticed Blake who was clinging to Carter "Blake, what happened to your face?" her face contorted by seeing his swelled mouth.

"He just ate blue oramon" Carter said nonchalantly.

She touched Blake's cheek softly and scrutinized the swelling "Why didn't you stopped him Carter?" she asked to Carter.

"I tried but he ate it before I reached near him."

She turned to Blake "It's okay. I will give you some medicine for it. Stop crying" she wiped Blake's tears and stroked his forehead to console him.

Then she turned her attention to Evan "Come, this way" she said beckoning to Evan and descended down the staircase. Evan, Aaron and helmsman pursued her.

Stairs was lit up with lantherns dangling on the ceiling. Foot of the stairs they could see the ground floor which had several spacious rooms unlike the upper part of the house.

The girl went to one of the room. Evan and Aaron looked around and checked out the place.

There was a small fountain in the middle of the room, tree stumps were placed around it to sit.

Vines were hanging down from the ceiling it had tiny blue and white flowers. Aroma of the flowers kept the room fresh. a glass box was mounted on the wall green light flickering in it, which illuminated the room. Helmsman walked towards it and took a closer look at the glass box, it was awash with fireflies, green light was coming from the fireflies crammed inside the glass box.

"Come on Blake" the girl said strolling out of the room. There was a stalk of red leaves, some fruits and a wooden bowl on her hand.

She kept it on one of the tree stump and took the leaves and crushed it between her palm and then smeared it all over Blake's face.

"Would you like to have some food?" she asked to Aaron, while continuing smearing the crushed leaves on Blake's face.

"You look quite tired" she said kindly extending three fruits towards him. He grabbed it. Then she passed the fruit's to others and gave them the wooden bowl. It was filled with clear water.

Aaron took a big bite of the fruit, it was very sweet. Evan gulped the water hastily and quenched his thirst.

"We will provide you food and water but you can't go out of this house. " said Carter.

They nodded.

" I will have to lock you inside a room and make sure that you don't go out until Bellators arrive." said Carter.

"Get inside." Carter said by opening a grilled door of the adjacent room.

Evan and Aaron exchanged glances. "Do we have any other option? No." Evan muttered to Aaron. Three of them walked inside the room silently . Carter locked the room from outside.

Carter gave the key of the room to the girl and said. "Emily, don't let them go out."

"Okay" she nodded little confused. "but you said they are your friends then why are you locking them up?" she whispered in his ears.

"They are not my friends they trespassed the island and we caught them" he replied.

"Oh...." she said glancing at them sideways.

"Yes, we are waiting for Bellators. They would decide what to do with them." he muttered to her.

Aaron and Evan were listening to their conversation.

"Who are Bellators?" Aaron again asked to Evan.

A teenage boy descended down the staircase of the house. His eye was blackened and cheek was bruised. "Carter, I have been looking for you" he said walking down the stairs "where were you?"

"Carter, look at his face" Emily came forward "he fought with a leprechaun."

Carter gazed at his face "why?" he asked surprised.

"For some gold coins" Emily said.

"Today gold coins poured through the cascade ...." the boy said.

Aaron gazed at Evan hearing this "Did you heard that? Gold coins poured through cascade." he muttered. "how could gold coins pour through cascade?"

Evan shrugged "...Hush.. keep quiet let me hear what they are saying." Evan beckoned by keeping his forefinger on his lips.

Boy went on " ...and I went to collect some. A greedy leprechaun tried to snatch the gold coins which I took from the cascade. So I punched him on the face and he smashed me back" he whined by showing his bruised cheek.

"Oliver, you got thrashed by a leprechaun he is barely three feet tall. You couldn't even handle him?" Carter asked by shooking his head.

"No, it was not just him, his friends joined with him, and they attacked me together" he said.

"Why didn't you used a clove. You know they are scared of cloves as it would diminish leprechauns power."

"How would I pluck a clove in the middle of a fight?" he scoffed

" If they were attacking you together you should have given them the gold. You know leprechauns are crazy about gold. They would die or kill for gold, It's the source of all their powers."

" We need gold too. We have expenses. Don't we?" he said.

"Of course we do, but you can't get into fight with those gold crazed leperchuns and get thrashed. You are so badly injured." Carter said by touching the boys face.

"No i am not kind enough to donate them gold. They took the gold which I collected and I want it back"

"Alright. I will go and get it from him" said Carter.

"How? You are going to ask them? do you think he will give it to you?"

"If he doesn't then we would complain to Bellators and they will take care of the matter."

"leprechauns usually say that they are very virtuous and they don't even lie, now they have snatched gold from you. Such hypocrites."

"Hey" said a short bearded man descending down the stairs he was wearing a green hat and coat. he was only three feet tall.

"Where is my gold?" he said furious.

"Your gold? You took Oliver's gold. He told me that you snatched gold from him. I didn't knew that leprechauns were this much virtuous" Carter said sarcastically.

"I...I...snatched gold from him?" he glared at Oliver "liar" then he stared at Carter "this little brat is lying he is the one who snatched the gold from me, gold which I collected from the cascade. When I asked it back he punched me on the face, fortunately my friends were there they joined me and thrashed him together. But they could only retrieve two bag of gold he ran away with the rest of the gold. I am here to get my gold back. Where is the rest of my gold?"

Carter turned to Oliver "Oliver. Is he saying the truth?"

"Yes. he is." some more short men descended down the stairs. They were wearing green coats and hats like the first leprechaun. "We saw Oliver snatching gold from him. everyone who were standing beside the cascade saw it " they said furiously.

"Are you going to give it back or should we inform Bellators?" other leprechauns asked enraged.

Oliver was now hiding behind Emily. Peeking at the leperchaunss like a theif.

"Oliver...come here" Carter grabbed his hand and pulled him away from Emily and frisked him. There was a cloth bag dangling on his waist. Carter took it out and rummaged it. There were four gold coins inside the bag. He stared at the gold then at Oliver. "So he was saying the truth, you are one who actually stole and you called him theif." Carter gritted his teeth.

"Here is your gold, I am sorry." he handed over the cloth bag to the leprechaun.

He snatched it furiously "You better teach your brother some manners or else we will have to teach him." he glared at Oliver and flounced up the stairs, other short men followed him furiously.

Emily said to Oliver "Why did you stole Oliver? How many time I have told you to not to steal? When would you change this habit? You always steal from others." she gave a smack on his shoulder angrily "Although you are poor you shouldn't steel."

"Never steal again. NEVER" she said furiously.

He stared on the floor without looking up at her.

Her eyes darted from his head to toe "why are you covered in dirt? were you fighting in the mud with the leprechaun? Go and clean up yourself in the lake." she said trusting him.

He started to walk out.

"Thief" Blake called out behind him.

"Shut up" Oliver looked back at him and retorted.

"Stop fighting. Go and clean up. now" Emily gave Oliver a thrust on the back.

Oliver threw a glare at Blake and then strolled outside wearing a scowl.

"Stop staring at him. Come with me."Emily grabbed Blake's hand and walked to the nearest room towing him behind her and Carter followed her.

"Did you heard what they said something like leprechaun...?" asked Aaron

"Leprechaun?" repeated Evan.

"What is that?"

"How the hell could I know?" Evan said irritated.

Evan heaved a sigh "We shouldn't have disembarked in this island. now look, we are locked up here and who knows they might even kill us. it's all because of your stupid curiosity. I shouldn't have listened to you." he said shaking his head disappointed.

"Bellators will decide what to do with us. they might be some freaks like these people. Everything... I mean everything is so awkward about this place. This island is crammed with freaks." he said.

Blake was standing near their room gazing at them curiously "Why is your ear so short?" he asked innocently nibbling his finger.

"er...because we are not elves like you. We are humans." answered helmsman.

"Hoomans..? hoomans means?" he asked intriguingly

"I will tell you if you tell me what Bellators are."

"Oh Bellators? they are the guardians of this island they have super powers. They protect the elves from all the perils."

Evan elbowed Aaron "I told you, I told you They are also freaks."

"Super powers means ?"

"They can create fire and ice with their bare hands."

"What?" Aaron said incredulously. "They create fire?...with their hands? Like with their bare hands?" he said with widened eyes.

"Yes. I have seen them burning a mermaid with fire. Fire emanates from their hand, they created a ball of fire and threw it on the mermaid."

"Mermaid?... There are mermaids in this island?" Evan asked incredulously.

"Yes, of course Why are you so stunned? As if you haven't seen a mermaid ever."

"er...no...actually we haven't seen a mermaid ever." Evan said.

"Why did Bellators killed the mermaid?." asked Aaron.

"It attacked an elf and that's why Bellators burned her. Elves and mermaids are enemies for centuries here in this island"

"Why?"

"I am not sure why, Emily said that elves had stolen something from the mermaids centuries back. Since then elves and mermaids are enemies."

"What was stolen?"

"The crown of mermaid queen."

"And what are these leper..chens" interfered Evan.

" You mean leprechauns? Oh...They were here just a while ago. they were quarreling with Carter, those short men with green coat and hat. Didn't you saw them?"

"Yes, I saw them, Why were they shouting?"

" Oliver snatched some gold from them, you saw my brother Oliver huh? Stay away from him, he steals things from others, he is a thief. Don't even talk to him."

Evan chuckled. Aaron smiled and nodded "yes. we will stay away from him."

Blake nodded gladly and went on with his lecture about leprechauns

"Leprechauns are obsessed with gold, they collects gold and store it in their house in mud pots. Emily said that gold gives them super power and if they ran out of gold they will lose their power."

"What power?" Evan asked intriguingly.

"Shapeshifting they have the power to shapeshift and they have the ability to become invisible." Blake said.

"Those little men can become invisible?"

"Yes." Blake said.

"I don't believe him." Evan whispered to Aaron.

"Emily is your sister?" interrupted Aaron.

"Yes. Oliver, Emily and Carter are my elder siblings"

"Where are your parents?"

"We have no parents. My mother and father were killed by a mermaid."

"Oh sorry to hear that." said Evan.

" Mermaids kill?" Aaron said puzzled "But in the folklores they are calm beautiful women who sings and all"

"er...no..they are only beautiful when they shapeshift as a woman to come to the land, but naturally they are grotesque with sharp fangs and bulged eyes." he said.

"Why did they killed your parents?"

Blake heaved a sigh "mermaids tries to breach into our island occasionally and kill the elves. My parents tried to stop one such mermaid, who was trying to sneak into our mysterious forest but mermaid attacked my parents and killed them." his eyes welled up as he recalled the demise of his parents.

"Since then we four were orphaned." he said sadly, heaving a sigh.

"What is this mysterious forest?" Aaron tried to change the topic.

"Mysterious forest is...." Blake started to say but suddenly

Emily ambled in to the room "Blake come here." she beckoned him.

Blake sprinted to Emily, she bent down and whispered in his ears "Don't tell them any secrets about the island, they are outsiders. don't tell them about the mysterious forest. Did you said anything?"

"No" Blake nodded his head.

Then she stood straight and gave Evan a sham smile "Would you like to have something? Like Food or drink?"

"No. thanks" Evan shooked his head.

"Ok" she said and strolled to the other room towing Blake behind her. Blake looked back at them and gestured that he will continue his lecture later.

"Ok" Aaron mouthed, and nodded.

Evan turned to Aaron "whoa, this place is full of uncanny creatures. Mermaids, leprechauns, griffins."

"We would be lucky if we reach back home safely from this freak island." said Aaron

"I want to go back home right now. I don't want to get killed by a mermaid or something." Aaron sat on the ground touching his forehead distressed.

Evan rubbed his chin thoughtfully "I have an idea to reach back home." said Evan

"What sir?" asked the helmsman intriguingly..

"May be we can get out of this place tricking them. We will tell them that one of us is injured and wants to see the doctor. When they take us out of this room we will run away."

"Oh that's funny. You think they will care about our injury. They killed our servant." scoffed Aaron.

"The girl seems kind. We would try. We would tell her to take us to the doctor. I think these elves are quite kind. They served us food and treated us well. Right?"

"But we don't have any injuries." Aaron said.

"It's not that hard to make a gash. It will hurt but still it's better than getting roasted by those Bellators alive."

Aaron groped his pocket and luckily there was a nailcutter in his pocket. "this could make a gash "

Then he slit his forearm with it, closing his eyes.

"Ouch" he then groaned in agony.

"Are you okay?" Evan swatted his shoulder.

"No.. it hurts." Aaron said clutching his hand.

"Is everyone alright?" Emily dashed towards them "I heard someone crying."

"er...my brother was wounded " Evan said by pointing at Aaron's hand.

Blood was oozing out of the gash.

She came close and take a look at the wound "oh that looks really bad."

"er... He hit his hand on that nail in the wall. He is bleeding severely. can we see any doctors?"

"Sure, sure." she opened the lock of the door "come, there is someone in the island who takes care sickness and wounds." she beckoned them to come after her. Then she ascended the staircase and strolled out of the house three of them walked after her.

Outside it was raining slightly, sky was clouded and thunder was rumbling.

"Follow me" she said looking at them and then strolled out of the house. They walked past many other triangle shaped houses, Emily halted beside a tree house. Tree house was made of wood and there was a ladder dangling beside the tree house to go to the top of the tree house. Emily held the ladder which was slightly swaying in the wind and then she clambered through the wooden ladder. She halted at the middle of the ladder "Come on" she beckoned to Evan and then continued to climb up the ladder.

She went inside the tree house and they followed her. There was an old elf inside that tree house.

"Oh Emily" he rose from his chair. "How are you? ." he greeted her exuberently.

"I am fine Ethan, these are my friends, one of them is wounded badly. could you please treat him?" she said by showing Aaron's bleeding hand.

"Oh the wood is deep. Come sit here." he beckoned to Aaron.

Aaron sat beside the elf. He wiped his wound with a leaf.

Then he clapped his hands twice and suddenly a bird flew towards him it was as large as a peacock, it had bright red and yellow feathers, it sat beside the old elf.

Ethan took a wooden bowl and placed it below the birds beak.

"Tears." Ethan said to the bird.

Promptly tears rolled down from the birds eyes and Ethan collected the tears in the wooden bowl.

" Give me your hand" He said to Aaron. Aaron extended his hand perplexed. Ethan poured the tears on his gash. Promptly bleeding ceased and the wound vanished promptly leaving a small scar.

Aaron and Evan gasped together and looked at each other. Aaron ran his fingers over the scar . Wound was completely healed.

"That's... that's." Aaron stammered "How did the gash vanished?" he said gazing at the scar.

Suddenly he noticed the bird it was covered in fire. it's whole plumage was shrouded in fire. Within a fleeting moment it burned into ash.

Aaron recoiled and jumped up from the seat.

"It's okay. nothing to worry, phoenix will burn itself and reborn from the ash. Watch." Ethan said calmly.

There was a pile of ash on the floor and Aaron could see something moving inside it.

It was a baby bird with no feathers.

"See?" said Ethan smiling at the baby bird. He scooped up it with his hand and caressed it's soft body fondly.

Aaron grabbed a fistful of ash and observed it and then tossed it on the floor. Then he looked at Evan who was standing there dumbfounded gazing at the baby bird.

"Thank you Ethan, for helping me."

"Are they humans?" Ethan asked Emily gazing at their short ears.

Emily looked at Aaron and nodded "yes, they are humans."

"How did they entered into the island? Does Bellators know about this?" Ethan asked to Emily

"Yes. now we have to go. Thanks for the help" she bid him goodbye hastily.

"Oh that's just my job" he waved "be careful" he called out as she began to descend down the wobbly ladder.

Aaron and others descended after her. They headed back to home.