Chapter Eight

“We need go C-pring now.”

Finley pointed in the direction from which they’d come. Gabriel knew Finley meant Carissa Springs, from what Rakur had told them. Finley raced downhill, hopping through foliage and jumping over moss-covered rocks. The morning light beamed through the tree leaves, and a small stream trickled nearby. Piper pointed out some animals in the distance, grazing in a field of grass. They looked like deer, but smaller.

“Look at that,” she said. “They’re so skinny you can even see their ribs. But there’s lots of grass and stuff. Why don’t they just freaking eat already?”

Brent paused to watch them, eyebrows twisted. “They look confused. They’re just walking in circles.”

“That’s strange.” Piper chewed a strand of her hair. “I guess that’s part of the problem here.”

Gabriel walked on ahead without replying, deep in thought. Dead leaves and glittering gold dust fluttered across the ground. With every step, Gabriel’s feet sunk in an inch or two, making the hems of his jeans glitter too.

They walked for a while in silence. Everyone had a lot to think about. After several hours, Finley stopped, peering around. “Quiet now. Finley need think.” He knelt and felt the soil, bringing some to his nose. His eyes darted around. “Me no like smell of land here.”

As he finished speaking, the earth heaved, tossing Gabriel and the others high into the air. Gabriel dug his fingers around looking for something to hold on to. He grasped what he thought was netting—invisible netting. It swung around, making them tumble into each other. They dangled in midair, swinging back and forth like a pendulum.

“What’s going on?” Gabriel yelled.

“Trap!” Finley screamed, “Traaaaaap!”

They clung to the net as it swayed wildly. When it came to a stop and they could see straight, they searched the ground far below. Two of the creatures with the gazillion eyes stood beneath them, speaking in an odd language.

“Eeker!” screeched Finley.

Gabriel’s blood roared in his ears. He couldn’t breathe. One of the creatures reached into its pocket and grabbed a device, like a control pad. The seeker turned a dial on the front, then flipped it over, and pressed a button on its bottom. The button flashed green at his touch.

Something snapped, then they fell. They landed with a thud, still tangled in the invisible net. Gabriel’s knees stung from hitting the tiled floor. Wait. Tiled floor? Gabriel gulped when he realized they were in a new location; somehow the seekers had transported them somewhere else. He shook his head, trying to shake loose from the net. Piper rubbed her wrists. “What the hay?” Gabriel whispered.

Gabriel looked around. The forest had been replaced with a building. The ceiling soared at least three stories high. Grand pillars towered from the floor to the ceiling throughout the room. The hand-painted ceiling shone in shades of blue, purple, yellow, and white. Stained-glass windows ran the length of the walls. In the middle of the room, looming up from the polished marble floor, towered a large fountain with a tall statue of a beautiful woman wearing a long, flowing dress, and a crown.

Brent gazed around in disbelief. “Where are we?”

“Me not know here,” Finley said.

“This looks like a palace,” Piper whispered. “I just hope they didn’t bring us here to be their next meal. I’ve been bitten enough for one lifetime, thanks.”

Gabriel tried breaking the ropes apart, but they were too thick. He wished he’d brought his pocketknife with him. “This sucks.” He sighed and dropped his head in his hands.

Before long, a woman’s voice called, soft and misty, “Release them.”

Gabriel looked around, but couldn’t see anybody.

“Sounds like an angel,” Piper murmured. “Maybe we’re in heaven.”

Then the seekers reappeared from out of nowhere, untying the netting until it fell around them in a heap. They stood, brushing themselves off.

The woman spoke again, her voice as soft as a down blanket. “Come to me now,” she said. “I promise I will not hurt you.”

Gabriel looked at his friends and shrugged. Piper took Gabriel’s hand, then Brent’s. They walked, unified, toward the voice. Finley hopped ahead of them. When they rounded one of the pillars, a beautiful woman waited for them at the end of the room at the top of a staircase, smiling at them.

“It’s the woman in the statue,” Piper whispered.

The woman stood in front of a plush purple velvet chair trimmed with gold. A sparkling crown sat on her long blond hair, hair that fell to her waist in loose curls. She wore a flowing turquoise gown with a high waistband trimmed in gold. The golden hem brushed the white marble floor. She smiled at them, her sea-blue eyes fixing on each of them in turn. Her head tilted to the side in perfect curiosity.

Finley perked up and made ecstatic, squealing monkey sounds. Then he bent on one knee and bowed his head. He motioned for the others to do the same. Gabriel and Brent bowed, and Piper curtseyed.

From his bow, Finley peeked up at the woman. “Empresssss … ” Finley slathered the letter s as he tried to sound out the word. “Malina,” he whispered as his tail swished from left to right.

The empress motioned for them to stand. “Please stand, Fegan and friends. There is no need to bow before me. Please, come and sit beside me.”

“Empress Malina?” Gabriel whispered, looking to Finley for an explanation.

Finley nodded. “Empra Malina, master! You know, Finley tell you bout.”

“No, you didn’t tell us your master was a freaking angel princess!” Piper said with a sigh. “She’s so beautiful.”

Brent stood, and climbed the ten steps to her in silence while the rest of them followed closely behind. As they neared the top, a huge white tiger stalked from behind the empress’s throne. Finley squealed, and they all jumped back a step. They hadn’t seen it because it blended in with the marble floors perfectly until it opened its pure, blue eyes.

“Don’t be afraid,” Empress Malina said. “This is Andimian. He is my guardian. He won’t hurt you—unless I ask him to.”

The empress petted the magnificent creature’s head and he purred. Andimian’s striking blue eyes watched their every move. “Will you all join me outside in the gardens for lemonade?” She pointed to a doorway in the castle wall.

“Sure,” Piper said.

Gabriel nodded, mesmerized, and Brent licked his lips.

“Me love lemonade.” Finley bounced around, then froze as he met Andimian’s glare.

The empress laughed and ushered them outside to a sunny garden with white benches. Mossy rock walls surrounded the garden, and hummingbirds flitted from tree to tree. Multi-colored roses bloomed all around them, though many seemed to be dying. Gabriel couldn’t tell why.

The empress sat on one of the benches, pulled the tail of her long dress to one side, and patted the seat beside her. Before Gabriel had a chance to sit, Finley bounced up next to her. “And who are all of you?” the empress asked.

“I am Gabriel Stone, of Willow Creek,” Gabriel said, mesmerized by her sweet voice and the tiger that swished his tail around her seat. He placed a hand over the crystal under his shirt. This can’t all be a coincidence.

The empress smiled at him. “And you?” she asked, turning to the others. They recited their names. Empress Malina counted as she looked them over. “Gabriel Stone, Brent Chapman, and Piper Ramirez? I thought there were four of you.” She tapped her finger against her lips.

Gabriel was about to tell her she must mean Zigzag, but before he had a chance, she spoke again.

“And Finley of the Fegans.” She tapped Finley’s nose. “You are all so lovely. I sense your kindness and goodness of heart. I was told by one of my seekers that some humans had traveled to our land. I have been trying to find you ever since then. These are dangerous times in Valta, even more so now that our world is dying.” She looked to the ground.

“Dying? I thought it was just sick right now,” Gabriel said. Heat rushed to his cheeks. Total dork. Like I know better than the empress.

“When things are sick and you cannot heal them, they die,” Empress Malina whispered, like it was painful to say the words too loudly.

“Why is Valta sick?” Gabriel asked. “And why can’t it be fixed?”

“Seriously, what could be so terrible it can’t be fixed?” Piper added. “I was sick, and Leejor fixed me.” She fidgeted in her seat, looking as uncomfortable as Gabriel was with the conversation.

Empress Malina sighed. “There isn’t a potion that can fix Valta. But oh, how I wish it were that easy.”

“I just remembered, these are for you.” Gabriel reached behind him and took off his backpack. “Leejor sent them. He said you need them.”

“Thank you, darling.” Empress Malina peeked into the bag of potions, then set it beside her. “These will certainly be helpful. If only they could cure what is wrong with our land.”

Gabriel felt sorry for Empress Malina, her huge responsibility, and how much she must be worried for her world. Then a scary thought occurred to him. It sank from his head to settle in his gut.

If they were stuck in this world—and it was dying—then he and his friends were dying, too.

“Empress Malina,” he said, “I’d really like to help if I could. Please tell us if we can do anything.”

Brent nodded.

Piper arched her brows. “Can we help, Empress?”

The empress smiled widely. “You really are darlings. I don’t expect you to help. It is dangerous. But still, I think you may be clever enough … innocent enough … ” She stared into the distance, pondering. “If you help me, help our land, perhaps I could help you in return.”

“Really?” Gabriel asked, excited. “You mean, help us find our way home, right?”

“Why yes,” Empress Malina answered. “I know where you came from. You slipped through a portal opened mistakenly because of Valta’s sickness. It is closed now, but if things are made right again, I would be able to reopen the portal and return you home.”

She paused to inhale a deep breath before continuing. “My wicked brother, Duke Malgor, has been trying to seize my throne. He’s stolen Valta’s very life force because whoever controls the life force controls all of Valta. That’s what he wants of course—what he’s always wanted … ” She sighed. “He’s hidden it somewhere that neither I nor my seekers can find it.” She frowned and looked to the ground.

As she spoke, some of Empress Malina’s seekers came into the garden and passed around cookies and lemonade. Gabriel shifted back a step at the sight of the seekers, and shook his head when offered a cookie. Brent stretched his arm and quickly snatched two from the plate and offered one to Piper.

“Without the life force, our world will surely die. My seekers have been searching, but many of them are becoming ill and will be unable to hunt soon.” She sighed. “I am sorry to burden you, darlings. I will call the princess. She will show you the castle. It will be dark soon. Tonight, you must stay and be my guests.”

“Princess?” Piper asked.

Empress Malina raised her finger to her lips, motioning for them to be quiet. She closed her eyes, becoming very still. “She is on her way now.”

Soon they heard a scuffling sound, and a young girl with long blond hair like her mother hurried into the garden.

She must be our age, Gabriel thought.

“No, I don’t think so,” the girl said, looking at Gabriel. “How old are you, anyway?”

“Evangeline! You know it is impolite to read people’s thoughts without permission,” Empress Malina scolded.

“Sorry, Mother,” Evangeline said. “I couldn’t help it. His thoughts are so strong.”

Gabriel felt heat race to his cheeks. “Uh, that’s okay … I’m twelve. How old are you?”

Evangeline smiled. “I will be eleven in two weeks.”

“Very good, darling. These children are very special. They’re here to help us. Please be a dear and take them on a tour of the castle, and show them to the guest rooms. Remember, do not go outside after sunset. Dinner is at seven.”

***

Evangeline led them through the castle. “This is where we used to have parties,” she said as she danced to the center of one room, her voice echoing off the stone walls. Evangeline’s tone turned wistful. “There hasn’t been time for parties lately with everyone being so preoccupied.”

Piper wrinkled her nose. “Wait. What? You don’t have parties? Not even to celebrate birthdays?”

“No,” she replied sadly. “Not even my birthday.”

Piper ran to join Evangeline. They spun in circles, arms outstretched, in the middle of the massive room. It seemed to cheer the princess up. Evangeline grabbed Piper’s hand. “Let’s get out of here. There’s so much more to see.”

As they walked down the long corridor, they passed an open door. A pair of feet hung out from under the sheets on a bed.

“Who’s that?” Piper asked.

“Oliver,” Evangeline whispered. “My brother.”

“You have a brother?” Brent paused, looking in the room.

She motioned for them to follow her past Oliver’s room. “Yes, but he isn’t well. Mother is very worried. We think he is under an enchantment.”

“That sucks,” Gabriel said. “It must be boring, having to lie in bed all day. How old is he?”

“He’s sixteen. He will be emperor one day … if he gets better.” The princess frowned.

Piper squeezed Evangeline’s hand. “He’ll get well soon. We’ll make sure of it.” They walked into another large room at the end of the hall. Large portraits covered the walls. Underneath each one sat plaques inscribed with names.

“This is the chamber of memories,” Evangeline said.

“Cool,” Brent said. “There are so many pictures.”

Gabriel looked at one plaque that read: Quan Rubal. Above it, a picture of an older woman with gray hair, blue eyes, and a long, thin nose seemed to watch them.

“My great, great grandmother,” Evangeline said.

“Who’s this one?” Piper pointed to a man with wavy, shoulder-length brown hair, and gray eyes. The plaque beneath the picture read: Sir Landon Braddock.

“My father.” Evangeline looked to the floor. “He was human, and never accepted by our family. He’s gone now. Duke Malgor did it. I know it was he who killed him. Everyone knows it. Malgor has been trying to take over the throne since Mother married Father. Malgor thinks she tarnished our name—and our blood.”

“I thought you were human,” Gabriel said in amazement. “You sure look human.”

“Well, I am half-human and half-Zeveron,” Evangeline explained. “Besides, Zeverons look human, but we have … differences. Unique gifts. Powers. My mother is a Zeveron. Malgor doesn’t like humans or half-breeds.”

“What’s a Zeveron, exactly?” Gabriel asked.

“We are empaths. We can sense the sincerity of one’s inner being. We can also communicate through mental telepathy.”

“Mental telepathy?” Brent asked. “What’s that?”

“She means they can communicate with their minds without speaking aloud,” Piper answered.

“That must be how the empress summoned her to come and how Evangeline, er, read my thoughts,” Gabriel said.

Evangeline giggled. “Yes, sorry. Mother’s powers are very strong. Some can read minds, change form, or even fly. I have some of my mother’s powers.” Evangeline gave them a toothy grin.

“Can you fly?” Piper asked in amazement.

“I wish!” Evangeline spun in circles, flapping her arms like a bird.

Brent and Finley had been browsing around the curious room, listening to Evangeline. Finley suddenly squealed and jumped up and down, pointing to a portrait. “Me no like, me no like!”

They all ran to see what the problem was. The painting portrayed a man with wavy, dark-blond hair, parted in the middle. The filthy-looking mass hung to the middle of his back. He had a long, pointed nose, and sinister blue eyes that seemed hollow and empty, even in the painting.

“He’s scary looking,” Brent said.

“I know, right?” said Piper, backing away.

“That,” Evangeline said, pointing at the picture, “is—”

“Duke Malgor,” they said in unison, reading the plaque beneath it.

Gabriel arched his brows in surprise. “Why would his picture be here?”

“He’s my uncle. Unfortunately.” Evangeline wrinkled her nose, like she smelled something bad. “Mother says we must remember all family, even if only as a reminder of what we do not want to become.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” She ran to an open door on the other side of the room. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”

As they left, Finley grabbed Gabriel’s hand. Taking one last glance over his shoulder at Malgor’s picture, Gabriel hoped he’d never have to see that face again.