Hidden Paradise

HER O_O

DIANA'S POV

"I could feel the cold air as I awoke from my slumber"

A good opening line for a great day, don't you think so? Everyone else were still asleep, both Amaris and Athena huddled in a blanket beside me while Oliver, Jason, and Alex were on another bed. The room was still dark, only small hints of light were from outside.

Slowly, I got out of bed and tiptoed my way to the door, careful not to wake them up. I managed to get out of the room and close the door as slow and quiet as I could. Shoes were placed next to the door outside as I took my pair of leather boots. These were my favorite for a reason.

As usual, the hallways were dark. Chelsea took us on a small tour yesterday-according to her, the tour didn't cover half of the place. The hallways were dark as usual- Chelsea explained that Elena's close relative betrayed the family and now roams in these hallways. That's the reason why the hallways are meant to be quiet and dark, because the ghost could hear and sense everything that's happening.

The story's a bit funny for me, if I'm going to be honest. Luckily for me, the front door isn't far away from the room we were staying in. I slowly opened the gigantic wooden door and shut it nicely. The air was cold and the wind was harsh, blowing through my white dress. I slightly hug myself as I walked through the grass field. Some lanterns were lit up on the side and the sun barely lit up the sky. It must be around 5 right now. I touched the ground before taking a seat. Isn't this romantic?

A girl in a white dress, sitting on a grass field early in the morning as she watches and waits for the sun to rise. While tall cobblestone walls surround her, like a princess! Yes... I hug my legs close to me as my head lied down on them. Seems a bit dramatic, but who doesn't like drama?

"Hey" I slowly turned around to see Elena approaching me and sat next to me, her legs crossed. "You're up early" I simply smile at her and nod my head "I guess I'm a bit excited for today, what about you?" her arms went behind her, supporting her body as she leans backward. "Well, I am the General assigned for this mission so I have to monitor everything." She lets out a sigh.

"Come on" Elena quickly stands up, which surprised me a bit. "You're probably cold, huh? We still have a lot of things to do so, we can't just sit here all day. Although, I do wish too?" we both let out a small laugh before she offers her hand to me.

I look at her and a smile was on her face, I was a bit hesitant to accept help. But I accepted it anyways. Her hands were soft and warm as she pulls me up. "There will be new uniforms for you guys. You should go and wake up the others while I prepare the ship we'll be using"

"See you" Elena hurriedly runs off and I stood there, slowly caressing my hand. Hold on, why am I thinking like this? Elena's probably way older than a hundred years. I mean, it's not like I'm attracted to her...or whatever

I was able to touch her hand again as she guided me into the ship. "Come on everyone, we have to hurry up" Elena tells the others. The sound of my boots hitting the wooden deck gave me confidence that this was going to be a pretty good day. The sun was slowly rising and the water reflected the scenery before me.

"Diana, do you want to you know, sleep for the whole ride?" Elena looks at me as Athena pass by her, looking sleep deprived as she got inside the cabin. "No thanks" I smile at her but worry could be seen on her face. "Don't worry, I slept early last night so I think it's a natural reaction for me to wake up early" I try to reassure her as Elena nods her head.

"There's a few beds below the deck if you want to get some rest, alright?" I nod my head at her and watched as she makes her way to the steering wheel of the ship. Another sigh came out from me.

No one else was awake except for a few who volunteered to keep an eye out and arrange the goodies AND those who are currently making breakfast. Elena assigned us tasks earlier but I didn't get any so here I am.

Elena also gave us new uniforms earlier. A black sleek looking suit that had a line filled with Paraiso's colors on the side. If my hair was in a ponytail, then I would have looked like those spies in movies.

Slowly, I made my way towards the edge of the boat. I don't have much knowledge on boats or ships but I think it's a bit amazing how the wheel controls a whole ship. There are more things that I am amazed about like for example-

"Hey" I jumped a bit as my hands grip unto the boat more. It was Oliver. "You good?" he looks at me. I held a hand unto my chest and I could feel my heart beating loudly. "How are you always quiet when you approach someone?" he laughs at me

"Aren't you going to sleep?" his voice sounded a bit rough and low in pitch, he sounded gruff. "No, I don't think so. I mean, I'm alright right now, I don't need sleep-.." A yawn escaped from me and I could feel Oliver staring right at me. "Are you SURE?" he asks, leaning a bit more forward towards me.

I hesitated for a while as another yawn escaped again. "Is there still enough room downstairs?" A huge smile was on oliver's face before he motions me to follow him.

We went to the side of the main deck as he opens a tiny trap door and carefully went inside. "Close it after" Oliver whispers as I follow after him. The place didn't have much light but it wasn't too dark either.

I could see the other's sleeping faces and a smile was on my face. "There's one vacant bed over there" Oliver whispers beside me and pointed at a bed near a window. "Thanks"

"What about you?" I turn my back as he shrugs "I'll try to help out outside. Plus, I already feel MUCH more energized than you" He smiles before waving goodbye.

I adjusted myself in the bed and turned to the window. The water reflected the small rays of sunlight, along with the small corals that glowed underneath the surface. Slowly, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

"Diana" someone slowly whispers and I could feel a pair of hands touching me. "Hm?" my eyes slowly opened and the rays of sunlight greeted me. I immediately placed my hands a few inches away from me, covering my eyes away from the harsh light.

Athena sat beside me "We're near the border of Yellow's Island. I thought you might want to see the view" I smile at her, she's always been thoughtful. "Thanks, I'll be there" Athena nods her head before walking away and went up to the main deck.

A yawn escaped from me as I stretch my arms out. The place was empty and small lights were coming from either cracks or from the windows. Wooden boxes were also on the corner.

I slowly opened the trap door and pushed myself out. "How was sleep?" Oliver approached me and gave me a wooden comb. "Oh, thanks. Well, it was good" I started to comb my hair as he hands me an apple slice. "There's more food on the table" I hand him back the comb and finished the apple slice whole.

After breakfast, Elena gathered everyone on the main deck. "Okay so, the gifts for Binibining Bituin are already prepared" she places her hands on her hips as a sigh came from her "I'll only need a few to come with me, though. About...10 people should come along with me while the rest stay here to guide the ship. So, who want to come?" Elena glances at me and Athena slightly nudges me at the same time and gave me a look.

"I want to" I sounded a bit hesitant and slowly raised my hands "I want to come" Elena nods at me before turning to my friends "I'm guessing you guys are coming too?" they all nod their head. "Okay, that's six people. Who else want to come?" A few more raised their hands "Chelsea, I'll leave the leader role to you since you're the only one who knows how to drive the ship" Chelsea stands next to her.

"Well, here we are" I look behind and spots the Island. The place was somewhat covered in yellow and it shined more as the sip approaches it. "We're here" the boat approaches a docking area as she stops the ship. One by one, we started to get out. "You're in charged here, alright?" Elena looks at Chelsea one more time.

Meeting Bituin would make my childhood dream come true. Even though I'm not a child anymore, it would be...exciting still, right? I somewhat felt uneasy as I stared at the castle that stood behind the gates. "Something feels wrong" I heard Amaris mumble as Alex looks her at her.

"Look..it's her" I could hear small gasps as I stare at Bituin. She looked like a goddess. Her hair looked smooth, covered in both gold and silver. She wore a long dress with loose sleeves with a cup of tea on her hands. Elena bowed as soon as she saw her and the rest of us did the same. Bituin gestures for someone as the gates soon opened between us. She slowly gets up and went inside her castle.

"She looks so beautiful" I said in awe "She is" Elena agrees as we went inside. Flowers were beautifully blooming on the side. The gigantic doors of the castle opened and revealed Bituin sitting inside.

"What brings YOU guys to visit me?" Her voice slightly echoes throughout the room. Although she looked beautiful, her eyes looked angry. "Well, my lady, I'm sure you've heard about Apoy stealing timepieces, right?" Elena started as a butcher offered Elena a cup of tea.

"Hm...what about it?"

"Well, I was sent to ask for your timepieces and-.."

Bituin tsked "And what's going to happen if I give you my timepiece? How can I possibly trust you guys to guard it? My timepiece is safe with me and my island is secured with my magic which doesn't allow Apoy to enter. So, what's the point in giving you my timepiece?"

Elena cleared her throat "Well, the Elders gave me the mission to ask for each Chroma Leader's timepieces" The butler poured Bituin more tea into her cup "What's going to happen after?"

"I don't really know, I'm just following orders" Elena admitted and Bituin scoffed "So you took a mission without possibly knowing what's going to happen or what's gonna happen because of what?" Elena stayed silent for 3 minutes. My hands felt cold and sweaty as I looked at her. Her head was down and she wasn't saying anything while Bituin continued to drink her tea. "If you don't have anything to say, leave" I watch Bituin as she motions her hands for us to leave. "Don't come back until you have a valid reason"

Suddenly, I got pulled back fast and fell unto the ground. My arm supported me from complexly lying down and it hurts so bad. It felt like I was actually getting pulled behind by someone and thrown outside. The doors of the castle slowly closed along with the gates.

"Are you alright?" Amaris turns to ask me. A golden bubble then starts to form around the castle , blocking us off "She turned on her security" I try to get through it but it was solid. "We should go" Elena sounded cold as she got unto the ship. "Come on" Amaris held my hand as we got in too.