Chapter Eleven

Red Jasper

Fire World

Where was she?

Dorotea stared around in shock. She was in a small cavern full of mirrors, her hand touching the largest mirror she’d ever seen, one with four different panels.

She looked down at herself and gasped. She was wearing different clothes, a dull gray dress instead of turquoise robes. Who had dressed and undressed her? Her skin crawled. And where had they found such a dress? Its cut and style was different from any she’d ever seen before.

When she glimpsed herself in the black mirror, the creepy crawlies worsened, because it both was and wasn’t her face. Her eyes were the right color, her chin the right shape, her hair the same dark brown, but her hair was too long, and her features were gaunt, the cheekbones stark.

She scrambled backward, and her hands came away smeared with grime. A layer of fine, black dust—no, ash—covered the room, and instead of regularly spaced light squares, a single light tinged everything red. Smoke filled her nostrils.

The light came from a long, horizontal recess in the wall. It contained neither burning candles nor lighted squares. She looked out through the opening, and her breath caught in horror. The whole ceiling was red. No, it wasn’t a ceiling; it was the sky of this place. She wasn’t in a cave, at all. She was Above! The red light came from the burning sun.

Dorotea cowered away from the window. All her life she’d heard tales of Above’s dangers: the burning sun, the lack of water, the endless wind, and the sandstorms that could flense the flesh off bone.

What was this place? How had she come to be here?

She closed her eyes and tried to remember. The gargoyle had led her away from the Cathedral to a small cavern with no entrances. She’d gone to sleep and had a nightmare—only to wake and find the gargoyle on the verge of murdering her. She’d struck out, and the collar had punished him and then—

Then what? She’d heard a voice inside her head telling her to look into a mirror. She’d met her reflection’s eyes in the tiny pool and fallen…here.

She’d entered her reflection.

It sounded mad. Impossible. But she had no other explanation for finding herself here in a different body.

Another terrible thought occurred to her. If she was here, did that mean her reflection, her other, was inhabiting her own body right now? She wrapped her arms around herself, shuddering. This was so, so wrong.

A gust of wind blew more ash inside, and her fear ratcheted higher.

The mystery of what had happened could wait. Right now she was in danger. Above. Exposed.

The need to find true shelter consumed Dorotea. She hurried down some steep steps, but they only took her to the same level with the ground. She was still Above. Where were the stairs underground? Her feet left tracks in the black ash as she darted from room to room.

She found beds and tables, evidence that people had lived here once. She also found a door to the outdoors, gaping open. She shut it, but almost every room had a square opening to the outside, letting in the hellish red light. Kitchen, pantry, laundry room—she investigated each chamber but couldn’t find any stairs leading down.

Was this why the other had stolen her body, because her world was uninhabitable?

The hopelessness of her situation sent Dorotea to her knees in the middle of the floor. Her breath came in ragged pants. How long might she be trapped here? She’d started all this to save Marta, and now her sister might well die before Dorotea ever saw her again.

And that finally made the tears come. She curled up on the floor of this horrid world and cried.

…

Stone World

Leah kept her gaze on Jasper and away from the small seep of water. Luckily, the cave was otherwise devoid of reflective surfaces, so it should be easy to avoid being ousted by Dorotea. Nevertheless, Leah knew she couldn’t keep her Stone self out forever.

“So the Goddess is causing earthquakes?” Leah asked, wanting to verify that she understood. “The lords of this world, the Elect and the priests, are trying to keep the Goddess asleep?”

Jasper nodded. He began to walk around, whether pacing or just stretching his legs, happy to have freedom of movement after years locked in a statue, Leah couldn’t tell. The thought of what he’d endured brought tears to her eyes.

She blinked them back and tried to focus. “The earthquakes are very worrisome. I bet Qeturah’s the one causing this. Did I tell you about her? She’s the reason I’m here. She’s an evil woman from my world, who wants to shatter Stone World.”

Jasper stopped. “I know why the Goddess is angry, and it has nothing to do with other worlds. Will you listen? Dorotea would not.”

“Of course I’ll listen,” Leah said, chagrined.

“It’s very simple. The Goddess carved out every cavern from her own body. They are her children.”

Like the Volcano Lords on Fire World were the children of the Goddess in the Lake of Fire, the caverns were the children of the Goddess of Stone. Leah nodded.

Jasper continued, “The humans mine the gold that is the Cave Lords’ blood. The Goddess’s children grow weak and silent. The gargoyles warned the humans to stop stealing the gold. When they didn’t listen, we prepared to go to war to defend our kin. That’s when they declared us traitors and used the collars to enslave us.

“The worst betrayal came from the Stone Hearts, who we thought were our friends,” Jasper continued bitterly. “The bracelets were a gift from us to them, a way for them to call on our aid if there was a need. They perverted our gift and used it as a weapon against us. They made us mine and dig for them.

“Twelve years ago, some of the Stone Hearts softened toward us. They secretly freed some of the gargoyles. But before the rebellion could gain much ground, they were discovered. The rebels died in the fighting, and all the gargoyles were permanently imprisoned in the Cavern of Gargoyles.”

His words prodded to life faint memories of Dorotea’s, enough for Leah to realize their stories didn’t match. Dorotea had been told one set of “facts” about the gargoyle rebellion and Jasper another set. Who was right? Perhaps the truth lay somewhere in the middle.

“Do you remember anything from personal experience?” Leah asked tactfully.

He shook his head. “Just hiding. And voices being silenced, one by one. It’s strange. When I stood immobile in the Cavern of Gargoyles, I could hear my brethren’s thoughts, but now that I’ve left the cavern, I am cut off from them. It feels…odd.” He tilted his head to one side. “And now I’ve come full circle, back to where I started.”

Leah sat up straighter, startled. “Do you mean you were born here? Or that this is where you hid during the rebellion?”

“Both.” His eyebrows lifted. “Perhaps you cannot see in the dark.”

“See what?”

He beckoned her over to the wall and flattened his hand against it. “The stone is red jasper.”

She brought the candle flame closer and saw the rock matched his shade exactly, down to the black stripes. She touched it reverently. “So…your father is a Cave Lord, this cave here?” Gideon’s father had been Thunderhead, a young volcano. This was no stranger.

“Yes. The other Cave Lords have stopped having children; they’re too weakened by blood loss.”

“But your father is still aware?”

Jasper hesitated. “Cave Lords live in slow time. He’s drowsing now, but he spoke to me when I first arrived and brought forth the spring.”

Leah nodded. Another thought occurred to her. “But…there’s no entrance to the cave, how did Qet—I mean, your mother, ever find her way here?”

“One of the other gargoyles, Flint, took her here. Though born an Elect, she believed deeply in the gargoyles’ cause.”

Or like Qeturah, his mother had wanted to have a child with power. Leah didn’t say that part aloud. From the pride and affection on his face, Jasper obviously loved his mother.

“Where is your mother?” She prayed he wouldn’t say she was dead. Two otherselves on the same world created a dangerous dissonance, but if Qeturah’s Stone self was dead, Qeturah would be able to come and go as she pleased on this world.

Jasper’s brows drew down, forming a shelf over his eyes. He punched the stone wall; a crack appeared. “I don’t know. When the rebellion faltered, Flint hid us both here. He said he would return, but his voice fell silent. A few days later, a collared gargoyle and her master caught us. They carried me to the Cavern of Gargoyles and froze me in stasis. They exiled my mother Above. So many years have passed…I must find her.” Jasper clenched his fists.

Leah grimaced. “Actually, it might be better if you didn’t.”

He took a quick stride toward her, expression fierce, fangs showing. “What do you mean?”

“There’s something I didn’t tell you. Your mother’s otherself is Qeturah.” She watched closely for his reaction.

Jasper just frowned. “Who is this woman again?”

“Qeturah was born on the True World but was exiled to Fire—my world—for the crime of killing her Fire otherself. Qeturah is power-mad. She and her master, Malachi, want to shatter the Mirror Worlds and drain them of their magic—steal their magic and use it on the True World. Qeturah believes that all the inhabitants of the Mirror Worlds are only ‘copies’ with no value, and that killing them isn’t a crime.

“She deliberately bore a dragon son so she could use him to become queen of Fire World. When her plan failed and an army killed Gi—the dragon, she took advantage of her son’s death to drain magic from Fire World. Then she killed her Water self and went to that world to shatter it. She tried to kill her otherself’s son. I stopped her, but she’ll keep trying. She’s obsessed. I’ve sworn an oath to stop her.” And save Jasper. And the best way to do that was to keep Jasper far away from his mother.

But Jasper didn’t see it that way. “So this sorceress will try to kill my mother and take over her body, as you have done to Dorotea?”

Leah winced. “I’ve only assumed temporary control of Dorotea’s body. Qeturah will kill your mother and take her place.”

Jasper started to pace again. “Then it’s doubly important that I find my mother and warn her.” His voice grated. “If she isn’t already dead from her years in exile.”

“She’s probably not dead.” Leah could at least give him that.

His gaze flew to hers, and she explained, “If your mother were dead, Qeturah would be able to travel here at will as she can to Water. Instead, she sent Sabra to do her errands here.” Sabra had been one the duke’s daughters fostered with Qeturah. She’d died when Thunderhead erupted.

“That is good to hear. There is still time, then, to find her.”

Oh, no. Misgivings filled Leah. She tried to steer him away from this line of thinking. “Shouldn’t stopping the earthquakes be our priority?”

“Personally, I couldn’t care less if all the humans die.” Anger smoldered in his eyes.

“Even the children?” Leah asked with quiet reproach.

He flinched. “No, you’re right. Dorotea’s sister and the others are innocent.”

Dorotea had a sister? Was she another Jehannah?

“But don’t you see? There’s nothing we can do here, except be caught and re-imprisoned. My mother took part in the rebellion. She may have allies and resources that we lack.”

“You have a point,” she conceded. And Leah didn’t know this world well enough to concoct a plan of her own. Obviously, the Elect—which seemed roughly equivalent to the nobility—and priests needed to be removed from power, the gold mining stopped, and an effort made to save the Goddess’s children, but two people couldn’t do all that alone.

“You may do as you like, but I’m going to find my mother,” Jasper said decisively. From his militant stance, there would be no changing his mind.

For Leah there was no real choice. “I’ll go with you,” she said quickly. The terrible truth was that his was the life she truly wished to preserve. The world was secondary. She knew she shouldn’t feel that way, but she couldn’t help it.

…

Fire World

(look in the mirror)

Dispirited and puffy-eyed, Dorotea tramped back upstairs to the Mirrorhall. Perhaps she could find some way back through the mirror. She had to try, for Marta’s sake.

A shadow in the ice mirror made her lean forward. Dorotea’s heart quickened—the girl had her face—but a moment later, disappointment hit when she saw that the girl was wearing a short-sleeved red top and trousers. This must be another reflection. Dorotea felt dizzy. How many others were there?

Smiling, the ice girl held her hand to the mirror. One lock of her hair was bright pink.

(hey, Leah, I brought you more supplies)

Leah. Was that the name of this body? Hesitantly, Dorotea also pressed her hand to the mirror, but a layer of cold ice separated them.

(you forgot the drop of blood)

As if on cue, her thumb throbbed, and Dorotea saw the red line of a healing cut. She poked at it, and a drop of blood oozed out. When she put her hand back on the mirror, a small hole melted and something bumped her palm. She pulled out a narrow bottle of strangely flexible material instead of glass and several wrapped packages. The hole immediately closed up again.

(I figured you could use some more water by now,) the ice girl chattered. (and some junk food to cheer you up.)

Dorotea experimentally shook the bottle. There seemed to be liquid inside. “How do I open it?”

(just unscrew the lid.) Her reflection cocked her head to one side. (did you forget—?) Her eyes widened. (oh, crap, you’re not Leah, are you?)

Should she lie? This girl seemed to be helping Leah.

(which otherself are you? Audrey or Dorotea?)

On the other hand, this girl might be able to help her. Dorotea felt as if she were drowning; any straw was worth grasping. “I’m Dorotea.”

(I’m Holly. I’m from Water. so what happened? why are you on Fire World? where’s Leah?)

Fire World. An appropriate name for a hellish place. “The owner of this body pushed me out of my body and took control.”

Holly’s eyes widened with outrage. (again? ooh, that girl makes me so mad. she promised me she wouldn’t do this, that she’d just warn you and Audrey. I suppose you didn’t do what she wanted, and she took over in order to protect Gideon’s otherself, huh?)

“Who is Gideon? What are otherselves?”

Holly rolled her eyes. (if you don’t know who he is, then she didn’t tell you anything. crap. um, let me think how best to do this.)

Hope ignited inside Dorotea. “Can you help me get back into my body?”

(absolutely,) Holly said without hesitation. (Leah had no right to take it over—I mean, unless Gideon’s otherself was in physical danger right then?)

“I don’t know who that is,” Dorotea repeated.

(even if that was the case, she still ought to have given you back control once the danger was past,) Holly said. (okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll find a gold mirror, Call Stone World, and try to talk some sense into Leah. in the meantime, do me a favor and access her memories about Gideon. you can’t really understand what drives Leah unless you know about Gideon.) Holly grimaced. (just remember that what happened to Gideon doesn’t have to happen to your soul mate. Leah and I will help keep him safe.)

Dorotea didn’t understand all of that, but she nodded. “Know your enemies” was always good advice, and the promise of aid was Goddess-sent. “How do I access the memories?”

(easy, you just— ah, hang on. first you should have a drink, eat a little, maybe visit the toilet…? Leah’s memories are pretty intense. they knocked me flat on my back for a couple of hours. oh, and whatever you do, do not wander around outside. it’s not safe. there’s lava and volcanoes erupting everywhere.)

Dorotea wondered what lava and volcanoes were, but ultimately, it didn’t matter. “I have no desire to go out under the burning sun,” she assured her otherself fervently.

Holly blinked. (ah, good. so, anyhow, when you’re ready, try to think about the first time Leah heard of the dragon. then just keep following the memory chains until Gideon dies. clear?)

“I understand.”

(great, then I’m off to bend Leah’s ear. uh, are there many mirrors on Stone?)

“No.” Dorotea shuddered. “Especially not where she—I—was.”

(well, don’t worry, I’ll just keep trying to Call her until she answers. I’m good at being stubborn. oh, and if you want to check in with me, just lay your hand on the ice and think ‘look into the mirror’ and I’ll answer if I can. okay?)

Dorotea wasn’t entirely sure what “okay” meant, but the other girl seemed to be looking for reassurance. “I will.”

Her otherself vanished from the mirror, and Dorotea gratefully removed her hand from the cold surface.

She did as Holly had suggested, eating and drinking. It took her several tries to open the bottled water, which tasted strangely flat but satisfied her raging thirst. The foods were also interesting. She ate a number of round crunchy things that tasted like very dry, salty bread. They made her more thirsty.

The brown rectangular object she examined more dubiously. Some of it rubbed off on her fingers. She sniffed it, then cautiously licked. It tasted intensely sweet; she savored every nibble. To her disappointment, it was the only package of its kind.

Then there was no more putting the moment off. She lay down on the mattress and tried to think of the first time Leah had heard of the dragon.

Two men-at-arms threw her, trembling, at the duke’s feet…

And then Leah’s memories grabbed her and carried her off in a horrible, inexorable river current, each memory bleeding into the next. Dorotea lost herself beneath the raging waters. Drowning, she became Leah, complete with all Leah’s knowledge of Fire World. She relived…everything.

How the dragon had angered the Volcano Lord of her valley and threatened their people, how only Qeturah had been able to drive it off, how the duke had tricked Qeturah by sending Leah, his byblow, to foster with her in place of his legitimate daughter. Living in Qeturah’s tower and spying on her. Hiding behind the four-part mirror and discovering the boy in the Aerie.

On a bed slept a young man with black hair. He had strong cheekbones and a well-shaped mouth. His lips were cracked, and fever had flushed his cheeks with hectic color.

Falling in love with Gideon only to find out he was cursed to become the dragon night after night. Flying on dragonback…

Frigid air whistled past her face, but the dragon’s tremendous heat kept her warm. A tracery of orange outlined its immense black wings as if its veins ran with magma. The dragon banked its wings, turning left, and she smiled in delight.

Entering Holly’s world, Water, in an attempt to break the curse, only to learn that Qeturah had deceived her… Armies marching on Thunderhead’s valley. Trying to escape with the dragon but being pulled back by Qeturah’s talisman.

Then, worst of all, like a knife through her heart, the memory of the death of the dragon, of Gideon.

The dragon’s eyes opened, but a mist dulled their color. He sighed, his eyes closing again. He’d only clung to life this long because he’d been waiting for her.

[Soul mate.]

He breathed his last.

Grief fell like a hammer blow. On the mattress, Dorotea curled up in a ball, weeping, but still the memories swept her on: the vengeance of Thunderhead and the eruptions of his fellow Volcano Lords. Qeturah’s exultation at the shattering of Fire World. Her plan to do it again, by killing her otherselves’ sons, and how she’d almost succeeded on Water World.

Dorotea opened puffy eyes and slowly sat up. One thing was crystal clear: Qeturah had to be stopped.