“Who are you?” Atlanta had stepped in front of Darian, as if to protect him, her hand lingering dangerously close to the dagger in her belt. Inside, a small voice shouted in warning, letting her know that their journey had not yet ended. That their escape from the labyrinth did not necessarily mean they were safe.
I know her. The thought hit her like a sudden revelation, her brain straining under the force of trying to place the woman’s face. I think. She felt Darian’s hand on her arm, as if reassuring her, and she drew strength from the touch.
“I’m Lenore,” the woman said, “and I’m very pleased to see you.”
“Yeah, you throw one heck of a welcome party,” Atlanta shot back.
Lenore laughed. “I see you have your uncle’s sense of humor.”
Atlanta froze. “How do you know my uncle?”
“I know a lot about you, Atlanta Skolar,” Lenore said. “More than you think.”
“I know nothing about you,” Atlanta replied tightly. Except that you like to trap people and play games. “So you have me at a bit of a disadvantage here.” Atlanta’s hand tightened around the hilt of her dagger.
“That’s true,” Lenore said, smiling. “But all will be clear soon.” She looked back and forth between the two of them. “I never thought I’d see you both again, let alone hand in hand.”
“Again?” Darian’s voice broke in anger. “What do you mean, again?”
“Yes, again, my dear boy,” Lenore replied, unfazed by Darian’s outburst, “That, unfortunately, is a question to be answered later. I’ve been waiting for this moment for years.” Lenore took a few steps until she was standing right in front of them.
Atlanta’s hand tightened and began to pull her dagger out, when something suddenly made her stop. She was speechless, but at the same time her mind was racing. Something about Lenore made her fears subside, as if staring into her eyes made everything better. Like Lenore could stop Adelaide. Bring James back. Fix everything.
But that was impossible.
I know you. How do I know you?
She searched her memory for a sign, any conversation with James that might have brought up Lenore’s name. A picture, even. Anything. But no matter how hard she tried, the answer remained just out of reach.
“It’s nice to meet you. We’re sorry you’ve been waiting so, uh, long. But we’re getting out of here,” Darian said, his grasp on Atlanta’s arm tightening. He began pushing past Lenore, and just before he stepped into the stream of light gushing into the corridor he bumped into a stiffness of the air. It glowed green.
“I didn’t wait all this time for you to walk away now,” Lenore whispered, her words drowning in a tone of mockery and playfulness. “I haven’t said what you need to hear.”
“You have nothing we need to hear.” Darian glared at her. “Is that why you had us locked in that labyrinth?”
Atlanta felt his frustration. “Where’s Raul?”
Lenore held up a hand to silence them. “Relax, your friend is safe. He’s not a prisoner here, and neither are you.”
“And yet you won’t let us leave,” Darian said, at the same time Atlanta said, “That labyrinth of yours says otherwise.”
“That labyrinth was a test.” Lenore shrugged. “Each puzzle you solved was there for a reason. You were forced to work together, to use brains over brute force and magic.”
“You tampered with my magic,” Darian said, more as a statement than a question.
“Everlore tampered with your magic,” Lenore replied. “People do not know of us, of this city. It exists merely in the minds and hearts of its inhabitants, and those foolish enough to seek it out. It is but a fragment of time and space which, if not known, cannot be seen.” She paused and gazed deep into Atlanta’s eyes. “You know of it because of your uncle, and because of your connection to it.”
“My connection?” Atlanta asked.
“Stop,” Darian cut in. “You’re playing with us. If we’re not prisoners, let us go. Let my friend go. It was a mistake coming here.”
“On the contrary,” Lenore said. Her face turned into an expressionless canvas. She frowned for a moment, then turned back to Atlanta and smiled once more. “You came here to try to save your city, and I can help you. But first you have to follow me.” She turned her back to them and walked past the green glow of the invisible wall.
Darian turned towards Atlanta and squeezed her hand. She looked at him and, in silence, nodded. There was no choice. They followed cautiously and glanced at each other as they passed through the green glow onto the brightly-lit path.
The ground was a series of cobblestones colored green and blue, with red stones scattered in between. The stones glowed bright red whenever they came near them. They almost looked like rubies, and the intensity of their glow was blinding.
Lenore was taking graceful, soft steps, walking in front of them. Her neck and back were straight and her dress glistened with white sparkles as it draped behind her, leading their way to follow her.
Atlanta watched her carefully, unable to tear her eyes away from the woman. I know you.
The words circled in her head, over and over, but try as she might she still couldn’t find an answer. A part of her wanted to ask Lenore straight out, to put her confusion at ease, but something told her that the woman wouldn’t be quick with answers.
“It’s a shame you both don’t recognize me,” Lenore said in a soft tone. “Especially you, Darian.” She turned to face them, and her blue eyes seemed to glisten in the sunlight.
Atlanta looked at Darian, the deep frown on his face, and knew that he was trying to place Lenore as well. She could almost feel his mind at work, and just as she was about to ask him he stopped.
You recognize her, she wanted to shout, a spark of envy racing through her. She turned back to Lenore, watching as the woman’s eyes fixated on Darian and her smile widened.
Darian shuddered and Atlanta pressed her hand in his, squeezing to get his attention.
And suddenly it all made sense.
A rush of images flashed through Atlanta’s mind. Just as before, she was pulled out of her body, out of her current setting, and thrust into a world she barely recognized. She was back in the hut, surrounded by Darian’s memories, crawling underneath the table once more as she watched Adelaide make her attack.
She gazed at the young boy hiding under the table beside her, Darian’s blue eyes staring back at her yet not fully taking her in. She reached out to touch him, to comfort him, but her arms wouldn’t move. Darian’s head turned back to the scene before him, and Atlanta did the same.
She watched in horror as green flames licked at the walls around them, the struggle between Adelaide and the woman Atlanta knew to be Darian’s mother. She sat helplessly as Adelaide lifted the dagger and struck, and flinched when Darian began to scream. She was about to rush to him, to take him into her arms, when her eyes caught the face of the dying woman.
Bright blue eyes looked in her direction. There was no mistaking them.
Lenore.