It seemed like their End of the Summer camping trip flew by. Before they knew it they were back home unloading the truck. Mack was eager to continue packing and to embark on the next chapter in his life.

Sam was already preparing for this year’s science fair. He had a few ideas on what he wanted to do but he couldn’t decide on which experiment to conduct. He considered doing them all and whichever one yielded the more fascinating results would be the one he would use in the fair.

Jason, who had begun dreading the inevitable beginning of school in a week, was more concerned with the video footage of the angry shadow than any of his siblings. He was convinced that it was looking for the Prince but he had no way to prove it. Jason was eager to show Arayan the video and see if there was any light that could be shed on the situation, if there was any light shed.

Corrine was in a better place. The camping trip really changed her perspective on a lot of the things that had been bothering her. With her guilt now somewhat lifted, the unease that sat in her stomach was lessened. Now that she knew where she belonged in the family, she could now focus on what was in front of her. She had decided to begin studying to get her GED. Only then would she be able to land a job somewhere to help pay for college. She was optimistic and for the first time in a while she had a smile on her face.

Dye had a slight rolling of guilt eating him. It had been nearly three months since he talked to either Joss or Jenny. He felt bad. Last they talked, Jenny was planning on going to the Outreach Summer Camp. He wasn’t sure if she went. He thought about texting her, but he felt that would just make it weird. Just texting ‘Hey’ after three months of dead silence didn’t seem like a good idea.

He sat in his room with a blank message staring at him. He knew there had to be an ‘I’m sorry’ in there somewhere but getting to that line was the problem. He sighed, and began typing, hoping for the best.

Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. Where I was there was barely any cell reception.’ That was a good start, he thought. Technically it wasn’t a lie. He had been living inside a volcano all summer. I hope you had a good summer. There’s just one week left of summer vacation. You want to hang out? Let me know.

He read it and then re-read it. Was this the best he could do? He couldn’t really think of anything else to say. He really wanted for her not to be mad at him. Even more, he wanted to go back to how things were after their first date.

Just before the final fight with Griflore, they shared a kiss. Dye thought for sure that he had finally got the girl. But following that things didn’t seem right. They were both unsure of where they stood and after Jenny suggested they should stay friends it hit Dye like a big rock to the chest.

His phone buzzed.

Hey you

That was a good start.

I would love to hang out before school but I’m busy all week. I’ll just see you at school.

Not the answer he was looking for but at least it left the door open.

Oh, ok. Sounds good

It didn’t seem right that was all she had to say after nearly all summer without any contact from him. Maybe she was upset, or maybe she was busy with another boy.

Dye had now found himself back in the place he didn’t want to be.

Inside his head.

He sighed and dropped his head back.

“I’m an idiot…”

Mack was packing up everything he thought he would need for a cold Boston winter. Every piece of semi-warm clothing was a must, his jeans and sweatshirts, socks, all of his underwear, as well as sleepwear was being stuffed into a suitcase.

“Dude, you know you can buy stuff when you’re out there right?” reminded Jason, who lay on his bed still searching the internet for anything about the shadow creature he saw in his video.

“Oh, yeah, right…” Mack began re-thinking his wardrobe.

“A bit nervous, my dude?” asked Jason.

“A bit,” he replied.

“No worries brother. Once you’re there it’ll seem like you worried for nothing. Now hurry up and pack so I can have my room.”

“You do know I’ll be back Christmas and Summers right?”

“Which is why you need to pack faster and get a move on. I have a lot of moving around to get done.”

Mack threw a piece of clothing at him. Jason just laughed quietly.

“What are you doing anyway?” Mack asked.

“I’m just looking into our little shadow demon friend.”

“Still?”

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“Yes! ‘Still!’” Jason replied in a mocking tone. “I’m gonna prove how wrong you are.”

“Whatever!”

“Speaking of which,” Jason covered his eyes. “Arayan!”

Mack looked up confused as a bright light flashed, blinding him. Jason peeked through his fingers and just as he suspected there was Arayan standing right there.

“Damn it!” said Mack, rubbing his eyes.

“Are you okay?” asked Arayan.

Mack groaned. “Has anyone ever told you that you need to work on your entrances?” Mack rubbed his eyes, blinking to regain his sights.

“No,” Arayan replied calmly.

“Well, you need to work on your entrances.”

“I will try to be more discreet next time.”

Sam, Dye and Corrine came into the room.

“Is everything okay? We heard Ma—” Corrine stopped when she realized Arayan was standing right there. When Dye and Sam entered the room, they closed the door quietly to avoid alerting their parents.

“How’d he get here?” asked Corrine.

“Oh, I called him,” said Jason. “Funny thing, sometimes if you say his name with intent like Beetlejuice he just pops up.”

“I don’t understand that reference,” said Arayan. “You just need to remember to close your eyes.”

“Are we really doing this now?” asked Mack. His eyesight was starting to focus again.

“Yes we are! You thought you could just skedaddle without being proven wrong. No sir! Nice try!

“Doing what now?” asked Sam.

“Arayan, take a look at this.” Jason handed Arayan his phone. However, instead of watching the footage, Aryan simply looked at the device. His face turned impressed as he analyzed the object.

“The craftsmanship on this device is quite spectacular. The sleek design and the blackened metal is quite splendid.”

“No! Not the phone. The video!” said Jason.

“I don’t think Arayan knows what a video is,” said Sam. “You might have to show him.”

Jason snatched his phone back, hit the play button on the screen and gave it back to Arayan. As Arayan watched, a pair of red eyes passed in front of the camera which heightened Arayan’s attentiveness. The sibling saw the change and Jason looked smug as he turned to Mack.

“Where is the incarnate?” Everyone heard the creature say. A few more seconds passed and the video ended. Arayan remained looking at the screen. The siblings couldn’t tell if he was in shock, or if he was waiting for more footage to play.

“Yoohoo, Arayan,” said Jason. Arayan’s eyes left the screen and looked at Jason. “Well? What was that thing?”

Arayan handed Jason back his phone.

“It’s a bounty hunter that goes by the name of Shuriek,” replied Arayan.

“HA! See dude I told you! Now pay up!” Jason said, holding out his hand to Mack.

“We didn’t bet.”

“It was a verbal agreement,” Jason narrowed his eyes.

“What does it want? asked Dye.

“I am not sure. It called for something called the incarnate.”

“Jason thinks that could be the Prince Griflore was looking for.” Sam added.

Arayan pondered. “That could very well be the case. Though I cannot be certain. I can, however, be certain of one thing and that is Shuriek never acts without orders.”

“You’re saying someone sent it?” asked Corrine.

“It’s a strong possibility.” Arayan replied. “I haven’t detected any Ka since Griflore was defeated. If the Prince has been reawakened I would know about it.”

“So this thing is on the same cold trail we are,” said Jason.

“What are you talking about?” asked Sam.

“It’s obvious ain’t it? We have to find this Prince dude now. You heard what Griflore said. Those Super Xenton are still in the Lost Void for all we know. The Prince’s Ka is the only thing that can let them out.”

“I’m afraid Jason could be right,” said Arayan. “I’m not sure who could be looking for the Prince, but if Shuriek is here then my guess would be he is the target, if this incarnate is, in fact, referring to is the Prince”

“BOOOOM! Mic drop again Son!” cheered Jason.

“Well, how do we know where to start?” asked Dye.

“I do not know,” said Arayan. “Perhaps if my medallion starts detecting the same unnatural Ka as it did with Griflore then we will have a lead, but I must warn you, Shuriek is quite a formidable adversary. Nothing stands in its way in fulfilling orders. Someone is at play here, and if they want the Prince then Shuriek will no doubt get to him. It’s only a matter of time.”

The atmosphere became inauspicious. Searching for the Prince was like looking for a goldfish in an ocean, if and only if that goldfish had a sleeping entity within it awakened. The siblings looked at one another, unsure how any of this would work going forward.

The medallion on Arayan’s neck began to shine. Everyone caught the red glare of the glow.

“What is it?” asked Dye.

Arayan didn’t answer. The glow was familiar. He knew exactly what it meant. There was another Ka somewhere on the planet.

“Is it the Prince?” Dye knew that would’ve been one hell of a coincidence, but it couldn’t hurt not to ask.

“No,” Arayan said, looking at Dye and giving him a suspicious look. “This is another Ka.”

How was there another Ka? Everyone they knew who possessed a Ka was standing in this room. This made Arayan anxious.

“I must go. If I learn of anything regarding the Prince I will let you know.”

The siblings covered their eyes and in an instant he was gone.

Arayan was swept away through the portal of his making, the portal behind him closed and all was quiet. He was in a mountainous, canyon-like region. Before him was a grand chasm that must’ve been hundreds of feet deep. He stood on the cliffside, his cloak billowing in the faint wind, admiring the beauty of it all when he remembered why he was there.

His medallion was still engulfed in the red glow.

What was this?

“So you do have the Medallion of Ivor.”

Arayan turned around suddenly and to his shock it was someone he was not expecting.

“I knew I could get your attention. We need to talk,’ said the person. Arayan didn’t look away. His face froze with surprise.

“What was that about?” asked Corrine.

“Who knows?” asked Jason. “All I know is that I was right, ya’ll was wrong and somebody needs to pay up!”

Mack chuckled. “No one made a bet with you.”

“You! College boy! Pack up and get outta my room!” Jason said as he pointed at the door. Dye rolled his eyes while also smiling at Jason’s quirkiness. He left the room along with Sam and Corrine.