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A few days later, Ella had finally convinced Luc to help her move the bodies back to the citadel, and now set about examining them in her makeshift lab. Master Griffin hadn’t been happy when he’d heard what she’d done, but she’d argued the find still had historical significance and might help them learn more about the Esrac. Despite their terrifying nature and appearance, they seemed fascinating. She wondered how they fed on blood, and how different their bodies were to that of a human to allow that.
Sara had been eager to learn more about the gate room and where the bodies had been found after she’d found out about Ella’s discovery—albeit with all mention of magic, avatars, gateways and Esrac edited out—but Griffin had made an excuse for her not to go and instructed her to help with the examinations instead. Ella doubted Griffin’s excuses would last for long, but knew she’d created the problem by accidentally releasing an Esrac, so she’d fix it.
Sara greeted her as she came in.
“How did your excavation go? I heard you found some bones. Hey, was Master Griffin angry when he heard you did an unsanctioned dig?”
Sara loved it when Ella told her stories about the things she discovered. Ella guessed it was because she rarely left the library back in Celestas. In some ways, Ella envied her friend. Sara never had to hide magic that would potentially get her killed.
“Er—eventful,” Ella admitted. “And yes, I found two skeletons, one male, one female, but I haven’t got much from them yet.” She moved into a smaller room that she’d turned into a makeshift office area with her comp unit and scanners.
“Ooh! Details?” Sara went over to the auto chef and programmed it to dispense tea.
Ella didn’t feel like drinking any but poured herself a cup anyway, out of politeness. “It–I...” She struggled to find the right words and wondered if she should tell Sara anything at all.
She wouldn’t be hiding everything since Sara knew of her magic. She’d found out when Ella had taken her on a dig. They’d become stuck in a cave. And when she thought Sara had been distracted, Ella had used magic to blast her way out. Unfortunately, Sara had seen the whole thing. It had almost been a relief to finally share her secret with someone; she remembered.
“Come on, spill,” Sara encouraged.
Ella hesitated and sighed. “I did something bad, and it could have devastating consequences.”
“What did you do? Break off a few bones of a long dead person?” Sara smiled.
Ella didn’t return her smile. “Have you heard of avatars before?”
“Sure, but they’re just a myth. They were supposed to have lived about a thousand years ago. Why?” Sara leaned forward. “Have you found something to indicate they might have actually existed?”
Ella shook her head and rose, motioning for Sara to follow her into as she retrieved her bag.
“Ella, what’s going on?” Sara asked hesitantly. “You’re starting to creep me out.”
Ella pulled the rune stones from her bag as she described what had happened. Griffin wouldn’t be happy, but Eric already knew part of their secret, and she needed to talk to someone who she trusted.
“Let me get this straight. You opened a portal and let a weird creature through who fed on blood, then Luc killed it with a magic sword?” Sara laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “Ella, I know there are a lot of stories about the old city, but even you have to admit that sounds ridiculous. The ancestors used advanced technology! They didn’t have magic, not like the rebels.”
Ella felt a pang of sadness. She’d hoped Sara of all people would have believed her. “Never mind, forget I said anything.”
“Wait, you were being serious?” Sara gasped.
“Have you ever known me to make things up?” she asked.
“No, but...Blimey!” Sara breathed.
“Sam, I created this mess. I need you to help me find a way to fix it.”
“I’m good with history, not fighting scary monsters. Besides, if your theory about the ancestors having and using magic is true, the Chancellor won’t react well to our findings. What does Master Griffin have to say about all this?”
“Not much. He and Luc are being secretive.” Ella sighed and took a sip of her tea. “What do you know about avatars?”
“Just rumours. They were apparently powerful beings who travelled to other worlds—your story makes it sound like that could be true.” Sara said. “I’ll see what I can dig up on them and those Esrac things you mentioned, but I think you should talk to Luc too. Sounds like he has some of the answers you need.”
Ella shook her head. “I can’t.”
She glanced around, wishing Fidget was there, but he’d scurried off for the night on one of his usual hunts.
“Personal feelings aside, he can help you.”
Ella shook her head again. Yes, they’d have to start working together if he was going to be training her, but that didn’t mean she had to spend more time with him than necessary.
“It still feels strange being around him. I thought it’d be easier by now.”
“Now you have magic in common. Maybe he’ll start opening up to you. I mean, that’s why you broke up with him, right? The secrets?”
“That doesn’t mean I want him back. We had major problems, and they won’t just disappear because of our gifts.” Ella paced up and down, running her hand through her long hair.
“You still love him, don’t you?”
She looked away. She didn’t want to think of what she felt for Luc, let alone feel it in the first place. He’d broken her heart. There would be no forgiving that.
“He’s still a person who can help more than I can.”
Ella returned to her chamber that night, changed into a silk nightie, and climbed into bed. It still felt strange without Luc sleeping beside her. She scowled at the thought, turning over and closing her eyes as though she knew sleep would be a long time coming. Images of green skinned Esrac had wandered in and out of her dreams since, and she would often wake up in a sweat, scanning the dark corners of her room for signs one.
She lay still, thinking about the Esrac, the gate, her dreams and what they meant until sleep dragged her under.
Within seconds, Ella found herself standing at the top of the balcony. Gulls cried overhead, and a salty breeze filled her lungs.
Dozens of white stone towers rose up around her, shining like beacons under the burning sun.
This place felt safe, like home in a way the shining towers of Celestus never would.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind as someone kissed her cheek. This person felt safe, loving, and made her heart soar.
“Time to go, love. Are you ready?” said a familiar voice.
She turned to face Luc and smiled. He took her hand and led her toward a doorway.
A symbol shimmered above the doorframe. It had been carved into solid stone, a circle with a wavy line through the centre. Two halves of a whole.
It’s a gate, Ella realised, as she watched Luc touch the arch. Light filled the room as it flared to life.
The image faded, and she found herself in a dark room. She shivered as icy cold seeped through her bones, making her breath visible in the air. This room didn’t feel safe or welcoming in the slightest.
“Ella?” a voice called. “Ella, where are you?”
She couldn’t make out if the voice was male or female, but it sounded far away. Darkness hung over her like a heavy blanket, making it impossible to distinguish anything around her.
“Ella?” the voice called again.
It sounded familiar, but she couldn’t tell who it belonged to.
“Who’s there?” she called. “Where are you?”
“Ella? I need your help.”
“Who are you?” Ella raised her hand. No magic came to her. “What do you want from me?”
“I’m the one who led you to the gate.”
An image of the doorway flashed through her mind. She shuddered. “If you’re one of those things that came through, forget about it. I won’t help you.”
“I’m not an Esrac, I’m trapped. You must help me...” She caught a glimpse of a face in the darkness, but it was too dark and too far away to make out clearly.
Ella jerked awake with sweat running down her face. Her hair was plastered to her forehead and sticking to her arms and neck. She pushed it back, wiping her face with her bed sheet.
“Lights on,” she ordered. The crystals overhead flared with orange light, illuminating the room with a warm glow. A movement she spotted out of the corner of her eye made her freeze, but she quickly realised it was just the curtains fluttering where she’d left the window open for Fidget.
She shivered as she rose and went over to it, feeling goose bumps spread down her arms despite the heat.
“Fidget?” she called, hoping his ears or tail would suddenly appear, but there came no sign of him. She would have felt better having him there, even if he did pester her for treats and complain about his cage. Sighing, she closed her window and locked it. Fidget would still find a way in. He always did.
She returned to sit on her bed, now wide-awake. Sleep evaded her, her body fearing more dreams, like the ones that had led her to the strange figure and the gate in the first place. They still made no sense to her, and she hadn’t told anyone about them either, not even Sam. Only one person would know what they meant and where they came from. The one person she didn’t want to see.
