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Just as he’d done in Conde, Issah asked Tarek and Alyra to take hold of his cloak while he held his staff above his head. Alyra noticed this time, Tarek stayed close and held firm. Hopefully, he’d learned his lesson.
She’d never traveled through this part of the castle. Hadn’t even known it existed. The ancient markings on the smooth walls weren’t Racan. Maybe, the inscriptions were in the Curian language, but she couldn’t be sure.
Alyra hoped Ethan had returned to the hidden glade with Katrina by now. She hoped even more that he would remain there. Before they’d left, she’d sent a note to Stitch’s journal telling her brother to stay and protect Katrina and Brie. She hoped he read it.
Tarek’s breath became labored. Sweat poured down her own back. He’d been right, this place did feel evil. More evil, desolate, unnerving, than any other place in Racah. What had Darnel done awakening those otherworldly monsters? What if the barrier couldn’t be repaired?
They reached a plateau where the stairs ended in another round room full of doors.
For a moment, Tarek seemed lost. His sweaty face was red, perhaps from their climb. What she wondered about was the dampness pooling along his lower lashes. Maybe because she’d trained herself to tune out those whispering cruel voices, after hearing them so many times during her life in Racah, they no longer affected her as they once had. She laid her hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention. Moving closer while keeping her hold on Issah’s cloak, she circled her free arm around his waist and pulled him against her.
In a low voice, she said, “Think of how white the cobblestone streets are in Aloblase. Can you picture it?”
His free hand slipped around her, his fingers digging into the hood of her cloak. He nodded but said nothing. His breaths were labored. She felt his trembling and tried to calm him with a light kiss against his jawline. “I love you. Issah loves you. They’ll not be able to harm us. They were never able to harm me because of the medallion I’d kept. They’d torment me with threats and cruel, cutting words. But they could never touch me.”
He nodded again, closing his eyes.
“Think of beautiful places. Think about being in Shaydon’s throne room. Think of bright places and happy music. They can’t stand that.”
His trembling calmed, and he seemed able to breathe easier again. “Thank you, love.” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s keep going. To the door straight across, Issah. That’s the one that leads right to his lair.”
Alyra gasped. “It does?”
Before Tarek could answer, the ground shifted beneath them. A terrible wailing pounded against her eardrums. She released Tarek and Issah to cover her ears. A fissure opened between them. Tarek leapt backward, tumbling over as he too tried to block the terrible noise.
Issah remained standing, his face troubled as he stared up at the crumbling ceiling that sent bits of dust and rock down on them like rain. Alyra threw up a shield to keep the larger stones from striking them. Her heart pounded so hard, she feared her head might explode.
“What is that?” Tarek yelled. He tried to get back to his feet, but the ground gave another lurch. “Oh that stench! What is that?”
Alyra knew. She remembered that horrible sulfuric smell. She bolted up and raced around Issah. “No, no, no!” Darnel couldn’t be opening the passage yet. “NO! I’ll not let you do this! NOOO!”
She ran for the door Tarek had indicated, shouting at them to hurry. They might be too late. The stairs spiraled upward. A loud bang caused her to trip. No, no, no. He couldn’t be doing this. Had he lost his mind?
All along she’d hoped it was nothing more than a threat. A feeble warning to put fear in everyone. Those demons had scared Darnel as much as they’d frightened her. How could he even consider doing this? Without some way to protect himself? To contain the monster?
“Come on!” Alyra shouted. “We have to hurry.”
No answer came. She stopped and turned around finding herself completely alone.
* * * *
Ethan still had his sword. He said no more to Brie who continually watched him like a hawk. No need. Until Katrina showed signs of improvement, he didn’t plan to go anywhere.
The decision to stay came when Dez had brought him the pouch filled with slices of the red healing fruit. The scent brought Katrina back to her senses but didn’t calm the tormented fear in her dark eyes. Circling his arms around her shoulders, Ethan helped her to sit up while Dez urged her to let the fruit sit on her tongue.
Behind them, Brie worked on boiling water to make her a tea.
Katrina’s hand laid on Ethan’s chest beside where her head rested. “Your heart is thrumming like a woodpecker.”
It was. He wanted to think his rapid heartbeat was from the stress of being left behind. But when the Curian snuggled into his arms, he feared that would be lying to himself.
“I still cannot believe you came for me, yes?”
“I still cannot believe you survived that fall, dear lady.” She felt like a delicate glass figure in his arms. Something precious and worth so much. When had he started to care too much about her? And what was the point? Her kind would never allow themselves to love an outsider like him.
“Master Ethan must be heated under all his gear. Or perhaps he sits too close to the flame?” DezPierre brought him a cup of steamy tea.
Blast! Ethan breathed in deep of the heady sweet scent as he took the cup from the Okbold. Why was he allowing himself to think in such ways? Of course, he would always cherish her friendship, just as his sister and the centaurs did. She had become dear to him during his time here.
He held the cup to Katrina’s lips. Her hands circled around his holding it steady. Was he shaking, too? On top of the awful blushing?
“That’s so good. If I close my eyes, I can imagine being back in Aloblase, yes?” She took a better look around at her surroundings. “What is this place?”
Ethan urged her to drink all the tea. “I was hoping you might know. Tarek found it when he lived here before. He and Aly used to sneak away here.” And did what, he wondered. A frown creased his brow. He’d need to ask Tare when they met again.
He’d almost thought if. No, not if. When. Soon.
The earth shook. Brie screamed and cowered beneath a sprawling oak. Katrina sat up, her pale face almost ghost-like. “No!”
Ethan was on his feet, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “What was that?”
Katrina wept into her hands. “I did this. I gave him the words he needed.” She tried to stand, but her injured leg gave out, and she crumpled to the ground again.
Ethan was beside her lifting her back into his arms and doing his best to soothe away her tears. “Hush, you didn’t know what his real plans were. None of us did. Katrina, you cannot blame yourself for this.”
“I was such a fool, yes!” She wailed into his shirt, her cries dampening the fabric of his uniform. “So prideful we are. So sure we have all the answers. Dear Shaydon, I hope they’ve learned from the past eighty years. I hope I’ve learned now, too.”
Ethan tried to hush her rantings. They made no sense to him.
The mountain trembled again. A loud wail filled the skies and bounced off the mountain cliffs. An unearthly sound, unlike anything Ethan had ever heard.
DezPierre pressed his hands to the ground, then let out a horrified cry that nearly matched the other noise. “Nooooo! The door has been unlocked! They come.”
* * * *
Alyra waited a moment, wondering what was keeping Tarek and Issah. The mountain shook again, sending particles of dust and rock from the ceiling. She didn’t care to be trapped in this suffocating passage if the ceiling caved.
“Come on, come on.” She moved downward a couple of steps. “Where are you, two?”
A shadow moved.
Alyra paused. “Tare?” She hurried back toward the door when a menacing hiss stopped her progression. “Iss—”
The shadow moved again, forming like a black storm cloud rolling with pouring rain. She threw up a shield revealing a red-eyed creature made of what looked to be smoke and flames. It screamed and darted toward her.
Tumbling backward, Alyra scrambled up the stairs, the monster following. What kind of creature had Darnel turned that thing from? Or... was it something else entirely?
“No!” Alyra tore up the steps, hoping she’d recognize wherever this tunnel ended up.
Soon she came to another door and pushed her way inside, then slammed it behind her. Hopefully, that thing couldn’t pass through walls.
Please, Shaydon, help Issah and Tarek find another way through. She hated leaving them behind, but she couldn’t wait while Darnel unleashed those demons.
Alyra searched the small room, trying to gain her bearings. Where was she? They had to be near the tower after all that climbing. Tarek said the passage would lead to Darnel’s lair, which was what he often called their former master’s study. When she was a little girl, she used to love spending time up there. They’d have lunch on the balcony where she could look down on the town below. At the time, she’d been unaware of the people’s plight, and how they suffered so her Poppy could have all that finery.
Darnel had been kind to her in the beginning. At least until she grew older and more attuned to what was going on around her. That was when he’d started to steal her memories.
She grabbed one of the candelabras from a table. The more she could reserve her energy, the better she could fight when she found ol’ Poppy.
A whimpering cry came from the corner. Alyra spun around, holding up the candles until their light fell on a pale figure huddled on the floor. Long, graceful fingers covered his face and pointed ears. His brown hair hung in tangled strands.
“Who are you?” Alyra spoke gently as she crouched beside him. “I won’t hurt you. I swear. You look like Egan.”
At the mention of the Elf leader, the younger elf looked up at her. Bruises covered the side of his face. A trail of blood flowed from his nose and the corner of his mouth. “Egan? He lives?”
Fury burned in Alyra’s heart. “Yes. I met him in Wilderland. It’s a long story, so don’t ask for details.”
“Y-you’re g-glowing. Y-you’re the Illuminate he’s been waiting for. H-he made me watch for you in his stolen scope. I-I had to report on how far you and the boy c-came. Then he let loose the fire eidolon.”
“Where is he?” Alyra demanded. The elf seemed to be a victim. She didn’t fear him. Egan was good. Maybe this one was, too.
The elf’s face twisted and he seemed on the verge of crying again.
“Tell me!”
“It’s a trap. He is through that door, in the summoning room.”
Oh yes, Alyra remembered the summoning room.
He continued, “He uses it to call on the smaller demons. All they require is a sacrifice. He doesn’t even care who it is. Threatened to use me several times except he needed me to translate the summoning book.”
“The what?” Alyra had no idea what the elf was going on about. Was this the weapon he’d found to bring more of those awful things into this world? That one she’d encountered in the hall, they’d met before. Darnel had been using it to create his black powder. Now it was running loose. No wonder it came after her. “I don’t understand about this book.”
“He tricked the Curian girl into transcribing books that had the same words as the Summoning Book. It contains information about the beings from the netherworld. A few Curians had been studying them and investigating their powers. The Dark Master knew what was in the book, he’s part Curian himself. But he can’t read the language. So he stole the book from the Halls of Knowledge in hopes of finding someone who could read it.”
“Wait...” now things were starting to fall into place. “He found a book that—”
“Gave detailed instructions about how to call forth and control beings from the netherworld.”
Alyra, who’d been crouching beside the elf, collapsed onto her bottom. “That’s...insane. And the Curians were.... But why? I thought it was forbidden.”
“It is, my lady. And eventually, they realized their folly and stopped the experimentation, but I fear, the door had been cracked. Darsiderus learned about the practice and took it upon himself to explore the theories more. As one always seeking power, he doesn’t care how he comes about it, so long as he has it.”
Alyra couldn’t argue with that. “What’s your name?”
“Rolus, my lady. I heard the Curian say your name. Alyra, correct?”
She nodded. “Is Darnel still in that room?”
He nodded, then grasped her arm in his graceful hands. “He’s waiting for you, Alyra. I fear for you.”
“If I don’t go in there, he’ll release more than the little ones, don’t you think?” She started to stand but was hindered when Rolus refused to let her go.
“I know he intends to call forth a greater demon. I wait here for it to happen and plan to offer myself. How can I ever look my fair people in the face after what I’ve done here? I only obeyed because he promised to spare my kin, but now I’ve learned he lied. They were turned weeks ago.”
Alyra couldn’t listen to anymore. Dear Poppy needed to be stopped. Right now. Before he did something that couldn’t be turned around. As it stood, she had little hope the door could be closed once it was opened. “I have to get in there and do what I can to stop him.” She pried his fingers from her wrist. “You need to get out of here. If you happen to see my friends, two men in cloaks, point them in this direction, will you do that?”
Without giving Rolus a chance to answer, Alyra set the candelabra down on a desk then ran for the other door. His warnings were cut off as she pushed through the exit and into the room that often plagued her worst nightmares.
* * * *
“Tarek, you must break down this door.” Issah placed his hand on the wood and closed his eyes. “Yes, it’s been enchanted. He’s been watching you come, as I feared. He waited for the moment she would put a little bit of distance between us so he could trap her alone.”
“Sir? Maybe we should try another way. If it’s enchanted... but wait. How? Does he have special powers we were unaware of?” Time was wasting. They had to find her!
Issah shook his head. “He has imprisoned an elf.” Stepping away from the door, he looked around at the others. “They are closed as well, Son. At least we know where this one goes, and we know our Alyra went through it. You must try. The longer we stand here, the farther away from us she gets.”
He wanted to think Alyra would come back for them but feared she’d keep going, if she was even aware yet that they’d been separated. No, he’d have to blast his way through and get to her quick as possible! “Tell me what to do.”
“Consider yourself locked in jail, again.”
Tarek cringed. This was a lot like many of the jails he’d been in. Drawing his sword from its sheath, he pointed it at the door then sent his gathered energy toward the blade. A flash of light burst from the tip, hit the door, then rebounded. Tarek flew backward, smacking hard against the opposite wall. When he pushed himself up, Issah was just getting back to his feet.
“Well, that was not what I was expecting. He must have other help, as well. Perhaps he’s forced Orelia out of retirement.” Issah brushed the rubble off his linen shirt.
“Darsiderus, you will not be able to harm her.” He said to the walls, for all Tarek knew. Issah hadn’t raised his voice at all but spoke as if the Dark One stood right before him. “What do you hope to accomplish by drawing her to you?”
Issah retrieved his staff, then motioned Tarek to try again. “This time, do not try to destroy it. Try to think of melting, or wearing away. Like wind constantly blowing on a stone will eventually smooth the rough spots. We’ll need to try ebbing the barrier away.”
Tarek picked up his sword.
Blast! Alyra, you promised to stick with me! What had caused her to run off again?
“I suggest you put that away and use your hands this time, Son.”
But he’d always used a weapon. It helped him maintain better control.
“Trust me,” Issah said, motioning him forward. “Put your hands here on the door. Think of pushing through, not destroying.
“Sir, if Darnel was watching Alyra, then he must know I’m with her, too. And you, right?”
“I cannot be seen in those scopes, Tarek. He knows you are here, though. That is correct. He will want to contain you. Once he breaks down the barrier between that world and this one, he will send a couple of demons to deal with you.”
Tarek had no intention of staying here and waiting for that to happen, nor letting Alyra face Darnel alone. “Tell me exactly what to do, Issah and I’ll do it.”
“Good.” As Issah gave instructions, Tarek did his best to follow them. The light poured from his palms. He pushed forward, but the enchantment pushed back. Sweat poured down his back and his arms trembled from the effort to stand his ground. After several long minutes, Tarek felt a shift and knew he was beginning to wear it down. But illuminating with so much effort was wearing him down, too.
His arms trembled violently. Then his legs. He leaned in. Every muscle in his body began to scream with the exertion and sapping of energy. “I don’t know if I can keep this up, Issah.”
The prince placed his hands on Tarek’s back. A flow of energy seeped into his body, the light poured out brighter. “Yes, you can. When you grow weak, I’m still strong. Keep pushing, we’re almost through.”
Drops of sweat fell into his eyes. Tarek blinked. Where was Alyra? What if she got into trouble and he ended up spending all his energy trying to get through this barricade?
Just the thought of her sent a burst of blinding light through his hands. He didn’t know what he’d do if something bad happened to her. No, he’d not allow it. He loved her too much to let her down now. She held his heart in her hands. Always had and always would.
“You’re not keeping me from her!” He growled out, shoving forward with everything he had.
The door splintered. The wood cracked, creating great fissures. A pained scream came from the other side. Whatever blocked the door began to retreat.
“That’s it, Tarek. We did it.” Issah hugged him, pounding his back. Tarek stumbled forward. The door gave away. A shadow hovered in the passageway. Issah stepped forward and sliced his staff right through it. Particles of dust floated onto the stone floor.
“Hurry, Tarek. Darsiderus has broken through.”
* * * *
Symbols and ancient words were inscribed into the stone walls, but they proved useless in containing the monsters from the pit, as Alyra recalled. The only thing that did work, and they’d figured it out quite by accident, was her light.
She’d walked in on her Poppy one day when he’d been conducting one of his experiments. At the time, she’d only been around eight summers in age. The glowing apparition that smelled of sulfur scared her so bad, that she’d accidentally lit up. The monster screamed and backed away. Poppy had yelled at her to glow brighter, something he never asked her to do. He’d said if she didn’t obey it would kill them both.
She glowed brighter than she’d ever done before. Then everything disappeared when she’d passed out only to awaken later in her room with Poppy at her bedside. He’d been so worried and refused to leave, even when the village Healer had been summoned.
Alyra rested her back against the door, the vivid memories swirling around her like a tempest. Everything was so clear now. Darnel offered her all kinds of gifts to stop her terrified crying, but the memory of that horrid creature wouldn’t go away. Then one day, he’d brought her a bouquet of her favorite flowers that grew in the garden. And a book. He sat beside her and told her to write out everything that had happened, promising it would make her feel better to get it out of her mind.
At the moment, she wondered if his trickery hadn’t been in some way a kindness. At least afterward she’d been able to sleep again, to not fear every little noise and flicker of light. She’d forgotten the beast and what she’d done to stop it.
Until Darnel called her to his secret room again. And then again.
There he stood, before a glowing circle drawn on the floor. Her Poppy. How unfair that she’d lost so many years with her real father, only to lose him so quickly after they’d finally been reunited. As Alyra watched her fake father, the memories continued to pound in her mind. He’d had his kind moments. In a way, she knew he did care about her in the small capacity he had for caring for another person.
Designs had been drawn around the circle. Most likely in blood because he’d need something to draw the hungry monsters to the opening.
“Stop this!” Alyra shouted moving toward him.
His dark hair swirled around his head as hot winds blew through the room. He was surrounded by a strange greenish glow. Sweat covered his face. His icy-gray eyes were wide and held a sense of terror she rarely saw in his countenance. “Don’t...” He held up his brown-stained hand which trembled as if it took great effort to hold it up. “Don’t come any closer, Alyra.”
Her breath caught. She froze at his use of her real name. He’d never called her that before.
Gathering her resolve, she stood firm, determined not to cower this time.
“You can’t do this. Stop now.” She withdrew her bow and pulled a white arrow from her quiver. Her own hands shook as she tried to load it. “Either stop..., or I’ll make you stop.”
A feeble chuckle erupted from Darnel. “Always so obstinate. I wonder how he stands you.”
Darnel’s hand dropped to his side, and he turned his focus back to the glowing orb forming over the floor. “Even now, you’ve left the protection of your guardian, despite all their warnings, I’m sure. At first, I was having a difficult time keeping track of your progress with that army of fools. But I kept track of you and that... lying hunter. People talk about my deception.”
“You’re rambling.” Alyra managed to get the arrow notched. He didn’t even seem concerned. Blast him! What game was he playing now?
“Will you really try to kill me, daughter?”
“For the millionth time, I’m not your daughter.”
He turned toward her. “Look at me!”
She did and wished she hadn’t. A brilliant glow surrounded him. He was dressed in his usual white shirt, and dark trousers tucked into leather boots. Still beautiful, but now she knew why. He was part Logorian. And part Curian, like Katrina.
He’d tried to kill Kat.
He would probably end up trying to kill her, too. She lifted the bow and aimed the tip of the arrow at his heart. “I see you, Poppy.” She spat the last word like she would a mouth full of mud. “I see you trying to ruin this world. I see—”
“No!” He shouted back, then pointed down at his feet. “I mean look at what’s happening.”
Then she noticed the spiral of fire snaking up his legs like a blazing vine.
“I can’t stop this, Alyra. I-I was... that sneak of an elf. He didn’t copy the words correctly and now.... I can’t stop this. You must leave, daughter. Go while you can.”
“What?” The arrow dropped a fraction. He was trying to protect her? “Poppy? What have you done?”
“I’m sorry. I thought I had the means to control them, but I was wrong.” The fire moved upward, circling his arms. “Run. Please. While you—” A burst of light flew from the orb, forming into another one of those fiery demons. Alyra staggered backward, screaming.
It swooped toward her, mouth gaping, seeking to devour.
Darnel screamed. “No, Alyra, run!”
She aimed her arrow, pleading it to work as she sent a burst of energy into the shaft and released it. The demon paused as it flew right through its chest. Light exploded, flashing against the tall ceiling and knocking Alyra off her feet. The monster dissipated into a shower of burned powder.
Darnel let out a triumphant yell. “Magnificent! You’ve grown even more powerful my dear girl. Astounding!” He stared at her in amazement. “Still, daughter of my heart, you must go. The greater one is getting closer. I hope you’ll find a way to forgive me. I’m sure you came here to serve me justice.”
Alyra’s bow hung loosely in her hand. She’d planned to kill him, but deep down had known she’d not be able to. Blast! Nor could she leave him like this. She started to shake her head.
“Justice, it seems,” he continued, “will indeed be served. I’ve been caught in my own web and fear I’ll be the sacrifice they require. Now, go. Please for once in your life, please do what you’re told! Leave me.”
As if she ever did what she was told. “No. I’m not leaving you.” Holding up the bow made from the white tree, she sent her energy into the wood, then pushed it forward. Maybe, just maybe, she would be able to break Darnel free and close the entryway. She sent out a web of light over the burning circle. Her illumination broke the bonds surrounding Darnel.
He stepped backward, staring down at his freedom, then gazing open-mouthed at her brilliant shield. A slow smile pulled at his lips as he shook his head. “Exactly what I expected you would do. So predictable. So my daughter. Little has changed, except for your power, my dear. You have honed your abilities in such a satisfactory manner.” His laugh sent a chill down her back.
Alyra moved to pull back her light but was stuck. She could neither move forward nor backward. The fiery tendrils now moved toward her feet and slowly made their way up her legs. As they moved, she felt her energy quickly draining.
“Now, Alyra, I want you to stay right there.” He laughed. “Oh, as you’ve figured out, this time you cannot disobey. You’re entangled in the spell your Curian friend’s cult created. You will be the barrier between me and the High Eidolon. He’s coming, I’m sure you can feel his draw on your energy that calls him to the border of his land and ours. When he appears, I’ll be able to speak more reasonably with him while I state my purpose.”
Alyra’s legs trembled, but she couldn’t even fall to her knees. The force field held her locked in a frozen state. Rolus had warned that she was walking into a trap. He’d spoken the truth.
