by Cora May
As the fog cleared more and more, Addy started to see lights flickering around the boy. They were blue and purple in color, faintly glowing and flickering on and off. They swirled around him, dancing in the wind until Addy realized that the wind had not been a natural occurrence at all. It was emanating from Douglass himself. It was his power.
Douglass’s head finally snapped down.
Addy jumped at the movement.
Douglass turned his head left and right, as if he was contemplating something. Or, perhaps, as if he was looking for something. He was looking at the lights around him, but not in awe as she had just been. He was searching through them like he knew what they were for. When his eyes settled on one, it stood still, frozen in the wind like an unmoving statue. He searched through the lights for a few moments until he picked four of them to be still in the whirlwind around him.
With a nod of his head, he dismissed the other lights. They faded, all of them still swept up in the wind, until they were no more. All that was left were four purple lights.
Another movement of Douglass’s head and those four lights moved forward. He was commanding them, Addy realized. And, oddly enough, they were listening to him. The lights flew together, colliding into each other to create one big light. They glowed, the flickering coming to a halt as the power they held combined to make them solid. The glow became brighter and brighter until it was no longer purple, but a burning yellow and then a smoldering white. Addy watched for as long as she could, but as the light got brighter, brighter, and brighter still, she had to look away.
She wasn’t the only one who averted her eyes, either. She struggled to look past the imprint that the light had left on her eyes, but she could tell that all three of the boys she came with had already looked away. She tried to peer at the professors, too, but her eyes were too spotted to get a clear picture of them.
She was sure they had protective eyewear, though. They had seen this before. They had already known what to expect. She wasn’t even shocked that they wouldn’t have thought to bring anything for the students in the army. It was more likely than not on purpose. A move meant to keep them in the dark—to literally keep them from seeing—what secrets Douglass gave to them.
Addy started to feel heat from the glow. It was creeping toward her like a growing fire. It wasn’t unpleasant, though. It was like a warm blanket. It would have soothed her in any other situation. Instead, she found herself trying to lean away from it, trying to lean back into the chill of the natural night. It didn’t matter, though. The warmth always crept back to her.
Besides that, she knew she could only go so far. She knew she was being watched by the people that could still see through the light.
Too long, she stood waiting. Her legs were beginning to shake as she wondered what was going on. Her mind was racing, filled with various different scenarios, none of which made sense, while she kept her eyes squeezed shut. Her skin seemed to become super alert, as if making up for the fact that she could not see. Her hairs were raised, alerting her to every movement of the air, every shift of the wind.
Until, finally, the air grew still. Still and cold, like a stale night in the desert. The wind was gone, the heat was gone, and, though her eyes were still closed, she could tell the light was gone, too. She kept her eyes shut for a few more moments, giving her body a little bit of time to adjust to what had just happened and to prepare. She didn’t open her eyes again until Viktor subtly nudged her.
She started at the touch, her eyes landing first on him.
Then they landed on something new in front of them.
It glowed, but not nearly as bright as the purple light of the four combined smaller lights.
It was essentially no more than a big, yellow light suspended in the sky. The edges of circular shape were like tongues of flame, whipping out in every direction, and it was still bright enough that she had to squint to really be able to look at it. As her eyes began to adjust, though, she saw something happening behind it. Or, perhaps, inside of it was a better way to put it. There was movement in there. Shapes like shadows glided back and forth, going nowhere it seemed, but also having very determined missions at the same time. They must have been the Anam, Addy realized. This was the portal to their world, and she must have been looking through and getting a glimpse at what they were doing.
Her heart was beating wildly in her chest.
“The Anam Hunters are human,” Nessi told them. “They are hunting the dead, Solas and Dorcha alike. You have been charged with the first mission into the afterlife. Your mission is to obtain information that will lead me to the capture of the Hunters.”
Addy gulped. Her mission, then, was to obtain information that would convict her in Nessi’s eyes. Would the professor even care if she told her that she had no idea she was involved? She doubted it.
That didn’t matter, though, she told herself. She had a job to do, and no choice but to do it. She reminded herself of that as she passed through the portal with Viktor right behind her. She wondered if he felt the same way. The whole situation reeked of sinister vibes, but the only thing that mattered in that very moment was to come back out of the portal.
And to do it alive.
There was a giant, blinding white light as she passed through the portal entrance, like a giant flash that shined directly into her eyes. She tried to keep her eyes open, but the white light took up her entire vision, and her lids flew shut without her permission. Behind her closed lids, she watched as the light dimmed to something more bearable before she opened them again.
The first thing she did was look directly behind her to make sure that Viktor was there. Not too surprisingly, he was. He was blinking against the light like she was as his own eyes began to adjust. She gritted her teeth and turned back to the Province that she was now in.
The first thing she noticed was that it was like a cave. A giant, oppressive cave, albeit it was well-lit with flames. Every surface seemed to be covered either in flames or in ashes, and everything seemed burnt. Even the walls of the cave were either burnt or burning. Was this what she had to look forward to once she passed on to the Province? Or was this only where this specific portal led to?
The second thing she noticed was the Anam that were looking back at her. Several of them stopped in their tracks, as if they were stunned to see four students standing before them. And, surely, they should be, as they looked nothing like the students. Each of these Anam had long horns, like goats, but each set of horns was unique. They had long noses and pointed ears, and their skin looked as burnt as the walls around them.
A pit suddenly opened up in Addelai’s stomach. These were Anam Dorcha standing before her.
Viktor smiled beside her.
“Finally,” he said quietly. “We’re about to see some action in this war.”
“Don’t be so thrilled,” Jace said, standing just in front of them. “This could very well be the first battle of it all.”
“And we could be collateral damage,” Kameron told them all. Addy thought his voice sounded far away, like he had already surrendered in his mind. “Nessi doesn’t think of us as much more than expendable pieces, after all.”
Addy felt her eyes begin to burn. She quickly wiped at them, not wanting to appear weak in front of the boys. She was glad to hear that Kameron, at least, thought along the same lines as she did.
She was also terrified that her fears were mirrored in another mind.
“Where should we start?” Viktor asked eagerly.
“Why are they just watching us?” Jace questioned. “This feels wrong.”
“We’re wrong,” Addy told them. “For being here, I mean. This is an intrusion, and they don’t know how to respond.”
“Why aren’t they attacking?” Jace continued. “If we’re intruding on their territory—which this rightfully is—why haven’t they attacked?”
“I… don’t know,” Addy asked. Her head turned to the side as she studied the faces of the Anam in front of her.
Jace was right and she knew it. They should be attacking, but no one was making a move. The students weren’t, and the Anam weren’t. Was it an impasse?
“We should talk to them… Right?” he asked.
“For Province’s sake,” Viktor said. “No wonder Nessi doesn’t want to put any of you in charge. Bunch of pussies.”
Viktor stood tall, puffing his chest out as if he was trying to convince himself he was a threat. He strode in front of the group and stood directly in front of the Anam, squaring his shoulders as he swallowed hard.
Addy wasn’t fooled. She could feel his fear from where she stood. Still, she said nothing. She was in no hurry to take the lead or prove herself to anyone in the war. She would happily concede that burden on Viktor.
If, that was, Viktor ever found the words to speak. He simply stood where he was, opening and closing his mouth. No more than empty huffs of air ever seemed to escape his throat. Addy found herself growing impatient as each moment ticked by. She wanted to go back to her dorm sooner rather than later.
But that would mean taking the lead.
So instead, she elbowed Jace. Perhaps she could get him to step up instead.
He looked at her, his eyes questioning her rather than using words. She nodded her head toward Viktor and the Anam, communicating equally as silent. She didn’t need any more words than that—Jace understood her quite well. He didn’t answer her, though. He simply turned back to study Viktor as he chewed on his own bottom lip, but Addy could see the gears turning in his head. He understood her.
Jace looked down at his feet. He didn’t bother watching Viktor as the boy stood sputtering in front of the Anam. He contemplated his next move, his words, and a strategy of some sort. Ultimately, though, he had no idea what he was about to do. He would just have to wing it.
He took a breath and stepped in front of Viktor. The Anam shifted their focus on him, their massive bodies twisting in unison. The movement scared Jace, but he hid his reaction well. Addy watched Viktor visibly relax once the attention had left him.
Jace cleared his throat.
“We have come to ask you for information,” he told them. His words sounded as awkward as Addy was sure he felt. “We do not wish to harm you in any way.”
The Anam squinted their eyes at his words. Addy wondered if they believed him, or if they were even capable of being afraid. Perhaps these Anam saw the approaching students as a joke and nothing more.
Although they were not laughing. The general atmosphere of silent brooding did not escape her notice.
Jace swallowed back his next words, whatever they might have been, and his mouth went dry. Now it was he who stood before the Anam, sputtering like a buffoon.
Addy could not help but roll her eyes. At least he had gotten further than Viktor, but clearly none of these boys had a military mentality. They would not be able to lead the army like they had hoped. She knew it was her turn to speak up then. She stood by Jace’s side.
“We have come in search of information leading to the capture of the Anam Hunters,” she bravely stated. She hoped that none of them would recognize her as one of the Hunters.
One of the Anam, with horns that curled around to make two full, sloppy-looking loops, took his place in front of the rest of the Anam, establishing himself as the leader as he squared up in front of Addy. He looked her dead in the eyes.
Half of his lip twitched up as his red eyes sparkled knowingly.
Addy swallowed hard.
“You come in search of information you don’t need, don’t you?” he asked her. His voice was deep and booming and echoed off the flames in the walls. Then he turned to address all four of the students. “You come for information you do not want, don’t you?”
He laughed.
The Anam behind him echoed his laughter.
The whole cave seemed to shake with the noise, causing all four students to stumble backward. They didn’t reclaim their balance until the laughter had ended.
“We come nonetheless,” Addy stated after the laughter had settled down.
“Ah, so you do,” he said. “You come because of my girl.”
Addy stared back in confusion.
“What girl?”
“The portal opener,” he said with a smile that showed his sinister canines, which were overgrown for a human-like creature. “Did you think it was luck that you happened to find a way into my domain?”
“This is not your Realm,” Addy answered him in deeper confusion. “You are not… Not him.”
“Dimonis? His name has no power here,” the Anam laughed, but the students all felt the shaking in the foundation that proved otherwise. The entire Realm reacted to the mention of his name. “I am Donlarr, son of Dimonis, and ruler of the Dorcha. I am a god to you, and you are a meager child with a small Blessing. But it doesn’t matter how many Solas you have behind you—you have not the strength it takes to defeat me. So tell me, Jasper child, why should I care what reason you came here for? Intent to harm or not, you are no match for me.”
“Well, we don’t intend to harm you,” she stated again.
“Of course not, as there would be no point. But isn’t that what you do in the Realms?” he asked with a smirk.
Addy was beginning to fluster. He knew her secret, and she could feel it. She noticed, though, that he was watching his words carefully. He knew that she wanted to keep it a secret.
“Who is this girl?” she blurted out in an attempt to change the subject. She had to come away from the situation with information to give to Nessi, or else the other students were sure to make her look suspicious. She felt utterly confused, and she felt like he was, too. Maybe he thought he had all the answers, but all he seemed to really know was that she was a Hunter. She decided, though, that she would ask questions. Any information might get her closer to leaving the war. “What do you mean about her? Why did you pick her?”
“I didn’t pick her,” he said. “I didn’t pick any of them, not really. Yet they are out there, my little demons. They hold more power than they are aware, you know. Why don’t you help her unleash hers?”
He grinned again, and it reached his eyes in a sparkle that Addy did not like. He was taunting her somehow.
“You’re lying,” she accused. She wasn’t even sure why she said it. It felt more like a denial. She didn’t want to hear his words anymore. The reality of the situation was pressing in on her.
“Oh, but I’m not. Why don’t you see how far you can push her? Unleash the power, then you’ll know I am not lying.”
“Who is she?” Addy begged.
“She’s the key,” Viktor said. Addy looked over at him, her eyes wide. It was as if she had forgotten they were there, receiving the same information that she was. “She’s the answer, isn’t she?”
“No,” Addy argued. “That doesn’t make any sense. Who is she?” she demanded of Donlarr.
“If you don’t already know,” Donlarr began, “then I think there are plenty of questions you should answer before that one.”
Addy didn’t know what to say.
“She leads them, doesn’t she?” Jace asked. “The Anam Hunters. She is their portal, right?”
The Anam just stared at them and grinned.
“Okay, look,” Addy said, stopping the conversation before it went any further. “We have questions for you.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk to you. You should leave now.”
He acted like he was about to turn away.
“The Hunters are coming,” Addelai quickly said, calling him back. She wasn’t sure why she said it, either. She wasn’t even sure what she meant by it, but the words just kept pouring out. “They have come before, haven’t they? And you thought yourself so prepared. How many did you lose then? They are only in the Realm of Light now, but do you think they will discriminate against the dead? They want every last one of you gone. They want to rule the Province, and they want you out of it. And no matter how strong you are, you are no match for the Hunters. T
hey are not Anam, nor are they human. They are their own breed, and they will be coming for you. Watch your back.”
That was all she felt led to say, though. She didn’t feel the need to continue the meeting anymore, whether or not they got the information that Nessi wanted from them. The meeting with the Anam Dorcha was over for now, and Addy turned away from them.
She strolled past the three boys, whose mouths all hung open in shock. She wasn’t sure where the shock came from—either from the information she shared or from her sudden leadership assertion—but it didn’t matter. She made her way directly into the portal and stepped through to the Jasper field.
Addy walked out of the portal with confidence this time, strolling right past the professors without even bothering to check to make sure the boys were following her. Both of the professors started, as if to ask her questions, but held their tongues when she strode past with purpose. She heard the boys pass through the portal behind her, and for that she was glad. She didn’t want them to have stuck around and asked the Anam more questions.
And she didn’t want the Anam to have answered those questions and risk revealing her secret. She wasn’t even sure why she had said what she did.
She could hear the boys begin to converse with the professors, but she kept walking. She had to assume that every little bit of information that had been revealed was being shared among the entire army, including what she had said. She would have to deal with that later.
No one stopped her as she went back to the castle.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: BAS SINISTRE
T he fever was spreading through his entire body. He lay on his bed, eyes closed and limbs spread out so his own body didn’t touch itself in any place. He was sweating from his brow, and he wanted to wipe it away. He couldn’t lift his hand, though, to do that. So instead, the sweat just beaded and rolled down his forehead. He was miserable.
He was dying.
His chest struggled to rise and fall as he struggled to take in air through his open mouth. The air felt like fire going down his throat. There was a glass of water at his side, but he didn’t reach for it. It wouldn’t have solved the problem, even if he had the strength to pick it up. He didn’t even understand why he had felt the need to conjure it in the first place. Perhaps it was for a bit of comfort. The humans did it, why shouldn’t he?
