by Valia Lind
"Maxwell?"
"Yeah, I can't get a read on either one either. What do we think?"
Turning back to face the two doorways, I allow myself to feel the space around me. I've tried this before, especially in the forest, to see if I can push my majyk without creating a disaster. There’s a tug on my subconsciousness, as if something is pulling on the bottom of my dress, but I can't see what it is because it's lost in the folds. Closing my eyes, I allow myself to be pulled in that direction. I have no idea if what I'm doing even makes sense anymore, but it's as if the instinct inside of me is taking over.
Every time I let myself go off without full control, I scare myself. But if trusting this other part of myself is what's going to get us through this, then I have to try. I'm already in way too deep and will have a number of questions to answer if we get out of here alive.
The whisper of majyk I carry within me shakes itself awake, stretching out through my whole body. It doesn't take much for it to make itself known. I just need to give it a bit of leeway, and there it is. Which terrifies me as much as it excites me. Even now, I still don't know how I feel about that, or what that says about me. But the fear, it always holds me back. I'm scared of what I will become if I let myself go.
Right now, I have to take that chance, for I don’t have a choice.
We're behind enemy lines. I already showed my cards a little by using the spell from Baba Yaga's book. Let's see what else I can do.
Opening up, I push my majyk out, feeling the space around me. Brendan and Maxwell are behind me and I know they're watching me, but neither one says a word. I allow my majyk to wrap around them, before pushing past. Even with my eyes closed, I can feel each of the guys and I wonder if they can feel me. However, I don't linger. As if unfurling my fingers, I guide the majyk into the opposite doorways. It pours out of me, hungry, searching. Racing through the hallways, there is no doubt the moment I know I'm on the right path. I can feel Jemma, and the moment I recognize her, she becomes a physical pull.
I open my eyes, twisting around on my heels.
"I know where she is."
They don't question my words, falling into step beside me as I race to the left. My hand tightens on my sword, my feet sounding too loud in the quiet dark hallway. But I don't slow down. Now that she's so close, I can't allow anything to stand in my way. I am almost a second too late in realizing that something is in our way.
Halting in my run, the boys run past me, before turning to me. I raise my left hand, stopping whatever questions they had, as I allow my majyk and my ears do the searching in front of us. They hear it the same moment I do.
"We're not alone."
The moment the words leave Brendan's lips, the space around us lights up like a Christmas tree on fire. The hall, much like the one we came from, is lined with gold and jasper and torches on every side. It's beautiful and deadly. Two opposites rolled into one. But whatever is around us, what caused our pause is what is in front of us.
A row of Frankenstein's monsters.
I don't hesitate as I take a step, raising my sword to my body, Brendan and Maxwell flanking me. But before we can attack, that annoying self-righteous voice sound from behind the creatures.
"Welcome, Calista."
The creatures part as Cornelius steps through the opening. He's dressed up as if he's going to see the Queen. His robes are dark, outlined in gold and silver, a large necklace full of rubies covering most of his chest. He looks larger than life in his ceremonial garb and the fear at seeing him is not diminished by the fact that I could destroy him with a flick of a hand. He needs the orb for power and he knows what power I hold. Yet, I am afraid of the knowledge he possesses, of the station he holds. I’m afraid of what he knows about me.
"Where is she?" I ask, thankful my voice comes out hard and fast.
"Now, now. Such terrible manners. Here I thought we could be civilized about this."
"You kidnapped my best friend. I'm already civilized by not ripping your head from your shoulders on sight," I say, my lips curling up in a sneer. My hand flexes over the hilt of the sword, my skin tight in anticipation of the fight.
"Tsk, tsk. Is that really any way to talk to your elder?"
"You may be older, but you aren't my elder. Stop playing games."
"Who says I'm playing games?" He's really good at the questions game, but my patience is growing thin.
"I'm not stupid enough to think that you didn't know the moment we arrived here. So what's the holdup? Why the theatrics? Are you lacking in entertainment around here?" The more I talk, the bolder I feel. It's as if that dark part of me that I try keeping under wraps is emerging and she's having a blast. My hands itch to shed some blood across this pristine floor. Without having to look, I know the guys are just as tense as I am. I can feel their need for action as much as I can feel my own. We're finally close enough to do something worthwhile and we're ready for a fight.
"There is so much you don't know, Calista. About this place. About your own powers. Do you honestly think you can beat Glava by sheer willpower?"
"You forgot determination. I got plenty of that too."
"There's that spark," Cornelius comments, smiling. There's nothing I'd like more than to wipe that grin off his face. By physically removing it, would be my preference.
"Are you actually going to share some relatable information, or can we fight now?" I growl, my muscles tensing even more with the words.
"I'm not going to monologue—" He starts out, but that's all I need to hear. I'm done with these games. One barely there nod and the three of us shoot off toward the army.
It's stupid. It's reckless. It's our only choice.
Cornelius is only surprised for a second, before he waves his hand, sending his creatures toward us. My sword comes down on the closest one, slicing his arm off, before plunging it thru his neck. The next swing clashes with another sword, and I twist around, crouching as the third attacks from behind. I spin on my heels, taking the creature behind me by surprise, before plunging my sword into his eye. Blood and goo splatter around me, covering my skin and clothes, but I'm grinning.
My memory hiccups may still be there, but my training is like an extension of me. If nothing else, I feel like myself, stabbing the next creature through the heart.
The thought makes me pause, allowing an opening. One of the monsters kicks me in the stomach, sending me flying to the ground. I hear shouting, and a wave of...something rushes over me. The creatures we're fighting are strong, stronger than natural. The pieces of flesh that have been sown together are not the only enhancement it seems. The majyk that's keeping them alive, is also keeping them powerful. Once again, I'm filled with questions that may never get any answers.
Pushing myself up on my elbows, I try to keep the room from spinning. My vision is blurry, my head feels as if it weighs a ton. Confusion sets in, as I struggle to my knees. The kick shouldn't have hurt me this much. I may have hit my head, but even so, I should be able to push through the pain. A fist comes out of nowhere before I can get my wits back and I go flying another few feet, landing on my back.
Anger burns like a flame within me. I am not powerless. I refuse to be powerless. There may have been power behind every swing, but now there is also rage. Pushing off the balls of my feet, I launch myself to the closest opponent, and we go tumbling to the ground.
Another wave of majyk hits me from behind and the tiredness is instantly back in my limbs. So I wasn't imagining it. There is another power here at work. My brain registers all of this as I drop to all fours, trying to regain my strength. My breathing is heavy, my body fighting whatever spell is put upon me and for a second, I think I won't be able to overcome it.
Then, the majyk inside of me reaches out, pushing past the orb within me, and to the part of myself I've been trying to hold locked away. The whisper of strength washes over my exhausted body and I don't hesitate. As the majyk reaches for me, I reach back. The sensation is like of touching an open flame, the fire
pumps through my body with a speed of light. For the first time in I don't know how long, I'm completely in tune with my body. And my majyk. All of it.
All of this takes a manner of seconds and I'm still on my knees when Cornelius breaks through the crowd and stands beside me.
"So much power, and so unlearned," he says, looking down at me. The battle still rages around me, and I can hear the guys shouting for me to get up.
"Years of lies and repression," Cornelius continues, "All for what? The fear of those who don't understand. I can teach you how to hone your skills. You don't even know the power you hold inside of you."
Raising my head, I stare right into his eyes, "I have a pretty good idea."
My hands drop to the floor, shattering the marble with their strength, my power reaching for the ground below. Cornelius' eyes flash with fear as I grin up at him. His minions snap to action, rushing at me but I have found my anchor. I feel my body heat up and then the majyk blasts from within me. The creatures around me are thrown off their feet, but their bodies never hit the floor as my majyk evaporates them.
Cornelius is still pushing through the soldiers, trying to put some distance between us. I rise slowly, my hands tingling from the raw power flowing through my veins. Throwing my hand to the right, I disintegrate the two monsters gaining up on Maxwell. Another flick of my hand and the three creatures surrounding Brendan are gone.
But as I turn my attention to Cornelius, he steps through an invisible door and is gone.
A scream of rage emirates from me, followed by a blast of majyk, until Brendan, Maxwell and I are the only ones left standing. There is awe and fear on their faces as I turn to meet them head-on. But I can't deal with their emotions now. Maybe I'm a coward for running this long, but I'll run a little longer if I can.
"Come on, I know where Jemma is," I take off in the direction my majyk is leading me before I can be bombarded with a million questions.
My feet pound on the stairs, with theirs close behind. I don't hesitate to blast open every door we come across, desperate to get to Jemma before more reinforcements arrive. When we finally burst through the doors and into the dungeon, my heart is pounding a mile a second. With the flick of my arm, the bars disintegrate.
Jemma.
10
I'm covered in sweat and blood, but she doesn't seem to notice. She launches herself into my arms and I drop my sword so I can catch her. Holding onto me as if her life depends on it, her sobs rake her body and my eyes begin to swim with unshed tears.
"You're okay. I've got you." I whisper the words into her hair, cradling her against me as a mother would holding a child. We don't have much time. They'll be right on our heels, but I can't deny her this moment of comfort. Or myself.
"I knew you'd come," She manages against my shoulder, her body shaking against me.
"So did I."
The husky voice come from the cell beside Jemma's and the boys and I turn to the sound as one. Maxwell steps protectively in front of Jemma, as I stand to meet the threat head on.
An older woman steps into the light. She's beautiful in a blinding way, even in her torn and dirty clothing. Her silver hair spills around her shoulders and down her back in waves, as her dark eyes latch unto mine.
"Hello, Calista," she says, her lips curling up in a knowing smile. There is something about her that seems familiar and I'm mesmerized by her beauty before I can put up any kind of a shield.
"Who are you?" Brendan asks, coming up to stand beside me, sword drawn. His voice shatters the small pull her smile has on me and I answer his question for her.
"Baba Yaga."
"What?!" Both Brendan and Maxwell exclaim, glancing between me and her.
"Smart girl, you are," Baba Yaga smiles, keeping her eyes on me. "I see someone couldn't leave my book behind." She looks past me to Maxwell. The boy has the decency to look somewhat apologetic.
"It was helpful."
"I know. I felt you using one of the spells. I had no doubts about you." Her voice is just as mesmerizing as she is. I take a step around Brendan, coming to stand closer to the bars that separate the two cells.
"How do you know so much about me?"
"I've been around a long time."
"This is great and all," Brendan says, pulling on my arm and keeping me from moving farther forward, "But we have to get out of here. We have to get Jemma out."
His voice does the trick once again and I look over at my friend, huddled against Maxwell now. Strengthening my resolve, I say.
"We're leaving."
"Not without me, you're not." This comes from the sorceress.
"What makes you think we're letting you out?"
"You have to. That portal you opened won't allow you to walk back through without me. I forgot to add that part in the journal."
I exchange a look with Maxwell, before I turn to Brendan. My decision making isn't at its best at the moment, considering I seem to not be immune to Baba Yaga's powers. To be honest, after my display of power, I don't know what to think about myself. I can already feel it draining and I know we have to get out before it becomes impossible to do so.
"Brendan?"
"Would she lie to us?" He answers with a question. I glance over at the woman, who hasn't taken her eyes off me.
"I don't know. I think that she wants out of here bad enough that she wouldn't."
"Smart and pretty. You've got yourself a winner here, Brendan." I narrow my eyes at her words, as Brendan stiffens beside me. It's Maxwell who speaks up this time.
"If you're so powerful, why are you still in that cage?"
"Because only Cali can get her out," this comes from Jemma, who has stopped crying and is now watching me carefully. I can't tell if her words mean she knows exactly who I am, which is possible if the witch talked. Glancing over at Baba Yaga I wait for her to confirm or deny.
"The girl is right. Only your...supercharged majyk can break through the protection they put around me."
"Why?"
"Can we do this after you get us out of these wretched walls? I want to see sunshine. I won't double cross you."
Not yet is as loud as if it's been spoken, but we have no choice. If there is even a slim chance that she's telling the truth about the portal door, we need her. Needing someone like her will come back to bite us, but I'm not seeing another option. I step up to the prison bars, my eyes on hers.
"If you try anything," I say, keeping my voice low so only she can hear me, "you know what I am capable of. I won't hesitate."
"I would expect nothing less," she almost purrs.
Even though it sounds like I have the upper hand, I'm not stupid enough to let my guard down. Or to think that we're not actually being manipulated. But I have to get Jemma out of here and at this point, I'll use every advantage I can manage.
"Are you sure about this?" Brendan's voice tickles my cheek as he comes to stand by my shoulder.
"No," I reply, not looking at him.
"What do I need to do?" I direct my question to Baba Yaga. A part of me is waiting for more protesting, but I think we all know we don't have a choice anymore.
"So unlearned," Baba Yaga asks, making my fist curl.
"Yes, so I've heard," I growl. "Let's get a move on, ved'ma."
"What is that saying? It takes a witch to know a witch. Or has no one told you?"
The noise that escapes me is nowhere near ladylike and Mother would be horrified. The thought brings a smile to my face. I can't wait to see my parents again.
"Take hold of the bars, child," I want to snap that I'm not a child, but that would just prove her right. I'm not about to give her the satisfaction. Especially considering she seems to have plenty of upper hands on me already.
I study the cell in front of me, wondering if there is some catch I'm missing. The sound of shouting comes to my superhuman ears and it's decided for me. Tentatively, I reach for the metal, not sure what to expect, wrapping my hands around it. It's cool to the touch, but otherwise, I
don't understand how they hold a powerful sorceress in place.
"The bars are ordinary, but the majyk is anything but. Allow your majyk to reach out to the metal, to the majykal binds around and in it."
"I don't feel anything," I say after a second.
"Concentrate."
"I am!" My voice echoes around us and then I hear something else. Stomping of boots.
"They're coming," Maxwell warns, being the opposite of helpful. I throw a glance over my shoulder and see that Jemma is now standing up next to him.
"Okay," Brendan says, stepping up beside me so he can look into my face. "You can do this. Remembering the last time your power manifested? You were feeling panicked for Jemma's safety. If emotion is what you need, focus on the feeling of finding Jemma, on the urgency of getting her out of here. Allow yourself to feel, zaichik."
The use of the endearment is what does the job. The moment the word enters my body, I feel. The majyk pours out and I push it towards the bars, shutting down that part of me that I keep dormant and using the majyk I think I'm supposed to. The exhaustion sets in instantly and I realize it's the orb.
"Not that one, Calista," Baba Yaga says, watching me carefully. It's as if she can see inside of me and knows exactly which road I'm choosing. "You know who you are. Use it."
Just like in the hall, the majyk inside of me begins to whisper, begging to be set free. And just like before, I allow it.
The metal shatters into a million pieces under my fingertips. I jump back, Brendan's arms reaching out to catch me. Clinging to him, I look over my shoulder and at the smiling woman on the other side of the now nonexistent bars. She steps through the disintegrated barrier, and the same moment, waves a hand over her clothes, transforming them into a beautiful gown of deep blue velvet.
