The Tops

  Many of the citizens were unable to transform or pretend to be human. As a result places had to be created for them to live such as the Labyrinth, Hidden City, and the Tops just to name a few. The Tops however was one of the more unique places in Shadow Wood for them to live. It was located in a place no one would ever think to look. The sky.

  Creatures that you will never see in town live in Tops. This place was built specifically for the flying type citizens. It consisted of many different platforms all connected by small bridges. This made for treacherous footing if you couldn't fly. To hide it from the humans it is surrounded by illusions. We also made sure that it wasn’t in any flight zones or there would have been some pretty tragic consequences.

  I glanced around looking for the feather marks that lead to the magic portal to get to Tops. Weaving my way through the allies behind the buildings in the center of town I lost them. Yes I lost the trail that lead to Tops. [ Really… Sigh ] Looking around to make sure that no one was nearby I closed my eyes and imagined Tops. Taking a step forward the air cooled and the wind picked up.

  Opening my eyes I saw that I was on one of the platforms next to an orange tree. [ Why didn’t I do this from the start? ] Shaking my head to clear my thoughts I looked for the bridge that would lead me to one of the main platforms. Trees were usually placed on the outskirts of Tops to work as a barrier against the wind. Finally spotting the way I paled. A thick rope that branched out connecting several other tree platforms lead the way to a larger area.

  [ Sigh, that’s why you take the portal. ] I steadily made my way to the rope. The rope was about 50 cm ( 19” ) around getting bigger halfway down where more ropes intersected. [ You can do this. ] Taking a deep breath I hesitantly made my way across the rope. I’m not afraid of heights and even if I did fall nothing would really happen it just made me feel greatly uncomfortable. I much prefer the the ground where I can feel the steady and reliable earth not the playful pranksters wind. “Sigh...”

  Thankfully my tight rope performance didn’t last long. Glancing back the way I came I let out a breath of relief. [ Next time I’ll take the portal. ] With that silent promise I moved forward to the center part of Tops. All around you could see buildings built on floating platforms listing around. Some of them had bridges to them while others just had really thick ropes. With every strong gust of wind the ropes would creak ominously.

  I jumped onto a free moving platform that acted like public transport and sat down waiting for it to reach my destination. The hardest part about the public transport would be the fact that it never stops. To use it you have to time it just right and jump on and do the same when you get off. Fortunately there are no walls so you don’t have to worry about jumping into a small opening to get on. However there are no walls so nothing will stop you from falling off the edge. Yes Tops was truly a dangerous and entertaining place.

  Finally I reached the stadium the Skull Ball Tournament will take place in. Taking note of the speed of the platform I jumped off. Walking through the large archway to the stands I gazed out into the Tournament’s field and burst out laughing. [ Truly this years Tournament will be difficult. ] The field consisted of seven platforms made out of see through material. One large one in the center of the stadium. The next two where just above the center one floating at the edge on opposite sides. Just above those and a little off to the side giving it a staggered step like feel are the next to. The last two are the highest of them all with the goals located on them. The way this field was set up made it so that the game would be played all over without being able to tell where the skull was going to go.

  Taking my eyes off of the field I looked at the stands that the specters would sit in. They lined the outer edge of the field while extending above and below making it so that you could see the field from almost any angle. However the bottom and top was still open. This made the wind wipe around the area in strange patterns. The stands where built like old Roman colosseum seats. The stone that made it up had runes carved into it to reduce there weight. The sitting area was decorated with pillows to make the seats confutable. Carvings in the walls and on the steps depicted the brutal Skull Ball games from the past seven years.

  [ There will still need to be a barrier around the field so that the skull doesn’t leave the stadium. ] Looking up I saw the sky begin to darken.

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  Authors Note

  Sorry this chapter is a bit shorter then the others but I hope you enjoyed it.

  Charetor List

  SpoilerKaz - Mayor of Shadow Wood

  Self proclaimed 'Green Spirit'

  'Embodiment of forest'

  Past names: Mor, Amke, Raul

  Can create Green Men and trees

  Redirect Magic

  Violent tendencies...

  Terrry - Necromancer

  Cause of the Zombies

  Kaz's Assistant

  Babysitter

  A Bosh

  'Resident' - Lives in a crypt

  Friend of Kaz

  Farries the Dead to the Underworld

  Replacement Mayor

  Door to the Underworld

  Controller of Shadows

  Lisa - Cat Sidhe

  Kaz's secretary

  Has a crow familier named Eitilt

  Ali Baba - Witch

  Twin Sister to Baba Yoga

  'Alba'

  Inta is her daughter

  Usor is her son

  Baba Yoga - Witch

  Twin Sister to Ali Baba

  'Bayo'

  Jasmine - Leader of the Water Fae

  Van - In control of the Power Plant

  ....'Human'

  Alchemist

  Dirk - Employees of Power Plant

  Golems (created by Van)

  David Baker - Mayor of Redroad

  Human

  Missing

  Clara - Little girl from National Park

  Living with Kaz

  Wood Elf

  Akuji - Wizard

  Head of Magic clan

  Looks like a little kid

  Kraken Family - 3 in total

  Live in the pond

  From Chaos dimension

  Baby Loves Ice Cream

  Badru - Head of the Library

  Sphinx (Cheetah variety)

  Translating Kaz's Book

  Seth - Alpha of Werewolf Pack

  Tasked with investigating Zombies

  Loves animals (especially fluffy cats)

  Ching is his Wife

  Constantine Dracul - Lives in a Castle

  In the Court of Life

  Husband to Juliana

  Vampire

  Juliana Ann Dracul - Necromancer

  Terry's Master

  Wife to Constantine

  Dragon

  Jared Dracul - Son of Constantine and Juliana

  Chasing Viola

  Half Dragon Half Vampire

  Viola Heart - Daughter of the King of the Court of Life

  Being Chased by Jared

  Nicolas Flamel - Alchemist

  1 of the Order of 9

  Immortal?

  Kaz's Stocker

  Experiment maniac

  Human?

  Mori - Little girl dressed in white

  Terry's friend

  The Undertaker

  Has a Teddy Bear that walks and talks

  Corey Einar - Elf

  Lives in the Hidden City

  A cross between a Light and dark Elf

  King of Life - King of the Court of Life

  Hates anything that is Undead

  In a feud with the Shadow Assembly

  Grisha - Wizard

  Only survivor of the wizard massacre

  Jim - Old Leader of Hidden City

  Zara's Master

  Zara - a Caazotz

  New Leader of the Hidden City

  Nox - Vampire Leader

  Member of the Counsel

  Kígyó- Basilisk

  Keeper of the Labyrinth

  Referee for the Skull Ball Tournament