A Journey to Paris

Traveling toward the ship the group only stopped long enough to take a quick break or have a snack. They were determined to reach the ship as soon as possible. As they reached the shore Belial signaled the ship, calling the rowboats to came to ferry them back, the group eagerly boarded, their hearts filled with a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. Belial signaled for the crew to set sail once more, and soon they were cutting through the waves, leaving the Isle of Bones behind them.

Once they were underway, Belial called the girls aside, his expression serious as he explained his plans. "I must return to study the ring," he said, his voice low and grave. "But fear not, my dear girls. You have done well, and as a reward for your bravery and loyalty, I have a gift for each of you."

With a flourish, he produced an envelope for each of the girls, their names elegantly written on the front in flowing script. Curious, they opened the envelopes and found inside airline tickets and hotel reservations for a trip to Paris, along with a generous sum of spending money in euros.

"Paris?" Rachel exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. "But why Paris? Why are you giving this to us?"

Belial smiled, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Consider it a reward for your hard work and dedication," he said. "You have earned this opportunity to relax and enjoy yourselves, free from the burdens of our recent adventures."

"While I have no interest is activity I will honor the commitment I had made to reward you for doing a good job," Belial explained.

The girls exchanged excited glances, their minds racing with the possibilities of what lay ahead. Paris, the City of Light, held endless opportunities for adventure and discovery, and they couldn't wait to explore every corner of its storied streets.

As the four girls stood on the boat together, their minds drifting away from the trials of their journey, the idea of a trip to Paris began to take shape in their conversation. Clare, her eyes sparkling with excitement, suggested visiting the Louvre to marvel at famous artworks like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. "Imagine standing in front of these masterpieces," she enthused, "feeling the weight of history and culture wash over you."

Rachel, ever the adventurer, proposed exploring the city's hidden gems, like the quaint streets of Montmartre or the charming cafes along the Seine. "We could wander aimlessly," she suggested with a grin, "getting lost in the labyrinthine alleyways and stumbling upon hidden treasures."

Hannah, her heart yearning for romance, dreamed of strolling along the banks of the Seine at sunset, hand in hand with a special someone. "Paris is the city of love," she mused wistfully, "and what better place to indulge in a little romance than beneath the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower?"

Ellie, ever the pragmatist, chimed in with practical suggestions, like sampling delicious pastries at a local patisserie or browsing the stalls of a bustling outdoor market. "Let's not forget to savor the culinary delights of Paris," she reminded them, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

As they talked, their excitement grew, each one adding their own ideas and fantasies to the mix. They imagined themselves sipping coffee at a sidewalk cafe, people-watching as they soaked in the vibrant atmosphere of the city. They envisioned picnicking in the shadow of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the sound of church bells ringing in the distance.

In their minds, Paris became a playground of endless possibilities, a place where dreams could come true and adventures awaited around every corner. And as they continued to plan and scheme, their anticipation for the trip grew, filling their hearts with a sense of joy and excitement that banished the shadows of their journey, if only for a little while.

Belial looked at the four, "I will be sending you back now, I must again learn this new ring, I must learn how to use it power, how to blend it with the scepter and how to blend the two with my own power."

"Our work is not done, in fact the most dangerous is let to come." He added, " I will return for you when I am ready.

With that he waved his hand and the ship began to disappear around them and they were once again standing in Clare's attic. Standing there, their hearts were light with anticipation, eager to begin their next adventure together.

"Can you believe it?" Hannah, spoke first, "Paris."

Checking the tickets they discover that the flight is the next day. They would need to head home right away and prepare for the journey.

"This is so exciting," Clare said, "I can't wait to be walking the streets of Paris enjoying a glass of wine at a local cantina."

"We have to be at the airport by 4:30 tomorrow morning in order to catch our flight." Ellie explained to the others in the attic. "Will we all meet at the airport?"

Clare shared her idea, "its still early, why don't you guys go home and get ready and them come back hear. We could all spend the night here and then we travel together first thing in the morning."

Looking at each other they all thought that would be a good idea, they would be safe and would not have to worry about potentially missing the flight.

Each of them headed to their own home to get ready for the trip. As they packed their bags and prepared for their journey, they knew that no matter where life took them, they would always cherish the memories of their time spent with Belial and the incredible adventures they had shared. Once packed, one by one would return to Clare's home. 

Tonight they would be having a sleepover. Thinking back Clare couldn't help but thinking about that first night when they had met Belial for the first time. The four of them were in her attic and had been their for a sleepover.