Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2)

by Nicole Knight

  Just like that, it was over.

  I dropped to the ground, and I was no longer multi-colored. I immediately threw my hand up, and a ball of fire was sent upwards to the stone ceiling.

  “Well, that was a little stronger than I expected,” I said, embarrassed.

  Trin ran to me, squealing and threw her arms around me.

  “You’ve got it back!” she said.

  “Yes, I do, and I don’t plan on ever losing it again,” I told her.

  “Congratulations,” Wisdom told me with a smug smile. He was clearly proud of his handy work.

  “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you,” I told him sincerely.

  “I’m sure you would have found a way, you don’t give yourself enough credit.”

  “Maybe you are right,” I teased. “Are you ready to do it again?” I asked.

  I looked over to Axel to see if he was ready.

  His face was red, and he looked more nervous than I had seen him in a long time. This man would charge headfirst into battle without thinking but is afraid to drink the potion and confirm what his mother told him.

  I kind of understood where he was coming from. Not too long ago, I didn’t believe I had magic either; but here I am happy that I have been reunited with it.

  He has spent his whole life as the guy who is immune to magic. When in reality, he has had blocked magic this entire time. This had turned his whole life upside down, just like I did when he met me in the fields in Morthsoul.

  “Let’s do this,” Axel said after taking a deep breath.

  Wisdom repeated the same steps he did with my potion, including adding his blood, and then Axel’s.

  I could feel the anticipation in the room as Axel had repeated my words.

  “Ashes to ashes, blood to blood, my magic has dried up to dust, so restore it, you must. Renew the magic that runs in my veins, now that I have healed my body’s pains. I cry out to the Goddess to replenish my soul with magic’s touch.”

  His potion had turned silver instead of the rainbow, like mine. He drank the potion and had similar effects, except his skin, turned silver, and there wasn’t as much smoke. Either way, it was extremely cool to watch.

  If only I had a mirror in the room when I drank my potion.

  Before I knew it, the effects were over, and Axel gracefully landed on the ground.

  Of course, he landed gracefully. There wasn’t an ungraceful bone in his body.

  “How do you feel?” I asked him.

  “I’m not sure,” he said while holding his hands out and looking at them.

  “Well, you aren’t dead, so that means you have some magic in you.”

  “What?” he asked me in disbelief.

  “If you weren’t born a magic worker, that potion would have killed you,” I said.

  “You are telling me that now after I drank the potion?” he asked in shock.

  “Yes, because it worked. I was confident that it would, especially after taking it myself.”

  “I can’t believe you,” he told me.

  “Believe it, I made the hard decision for you, and you are better off for it.”

  He rolled his eyes at me and then returned his gaze down to his hands.

  “Try something,” Trin told him encouragingly.

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “Your mom said you would move items around as a baby. Try that.”

  “But how?” he asked.

  “You have to figure that out on your own,” Wisdom told him before I could.

  Wisdom was wearing a Cheshire cat grin. He was enjoying poking fun at Axel, and I couldn’t blame him.

  Axel pointed his hand in Wisdom’s direction, and Wisdom stumbled backwards a few steps before he caught himself.

  “Impressive,” Wisdom told him.

  “Really?” Axel asked.

  “No boy, I’m just playing a trick on you. Try waving that weapon of yours somewhere else, preferably at something not breathing.”

  That was it; I lost it. I was crying so hard I had tears streaming down my face, and I was bent over wheezing. Trin didn’t sound like she was doing any better. When I looked over to her, she was lying on the ground, rolling around laughing. Wisdom had a shit-eating grin.

  At first, Axel looked slightly pissed, and then that quickly slipped away, followed by his own laughter. We all needed a good laugh. Axel was a good sport, as this was at his own expense.

  When we all stopped laughing and could breathe again, Axel tried sliding the drinking glass across the table, and it moved just slightly.

  His face lit up as if he hurled the glass across the room and shattered it on the wall. He was so excited.

  “I made that move with my mind!” he shouted, jumping and throwing his hands up in the air.

  “Don’t get too excited, a draft could have made it move that slight amount,” Trin said.

  He turned to her and shot daggers at her with his eyes.

  “Let’s celebrate,” I told him while grabbing his hand and leading him out of the room.

  I have no doubt I just saved Trin’s life.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  I hoped to have a few days of no eventfulness before moving forward with our attack on Tate, with Corone as a diversion, but I am never that lucky.

  I was lying in bed and drifting off to sleep; except, I didn’t wake up in my apartment. I was in a land I had never been to before.

  The area seemed almost like it was a forest at twilight. Still, I couldn’t be sure as the area surrounding me was a dense combination of mist and clouds ranging in blue, purple, and pink shades. Fireflies were dotting the space, and the sound of flowing water was somewhere nearby.

  Not that this place isn’t beautiful, but where am I? This better not be another Kingdom I am expected to step in and save. The two, and my life back home have me stretched thin as it is, I can’t handle any more than this.

  I continued glancing around when I saw someone walking through the clouds on my right. Movement out of my peripheral vision also told me someone was approaching on my left.

  Out of instinct, I got into a fighting stance and brought my fists poised in front of my chest, ready to block a punch or throw a fist.

  “There is no need to fight here,” said one of the figures as she finished emerging from the clouds to my right.

  I had to keep blinking because my eyes were playing tricks on me. I was staring at another me.

  But the longer I looked at her, there were subtle differences. She didn’t have my freckles, and she was slightly shorter than I am.

  “Victoria?” I asked. That was the only explanation my mind could grasp onto.

  “Yes, my dear, my kin,” she said as she smiled at me.

  She looked to the other side of me, where another female stopped to my left. One glance at her had me confused. She also looked like me, but she was a little taller and wispier than I. Her eyes were also a glossy grey color that pierced straight to your soul. She was so beautiful she was hard to look at.

  “Are you confused by me?” the look-alike asked.

  I nodded in response.

  “I am also you, or the more true statement, you are a form of me. So is she,” the woman said, nodding towards Victoria.

  I stared at them both in amazement.

  “The Goddess?” I asked her, my intuition was right; I could feel it.

  “Yes, my dear warrior, I am your Goddess, but call me Venia. My people have long since forgotten my name and only remember my title.”

  “I will remember your name Venia, and spread it to my people if that is what you wish,” I told her while mesmerized.

  “That would be lovely,” she said.

  “I don’t understand what is happening. Did I accidentally take a hallucinogen? I am talking to my dead great grandmother and a literal goddess.”

  I hastily added, “It’s nice to meet you both.”

  I didn’t want them to think I was rude, but I was just so shell shocked. I would rank this
right up there with discovering I had magic. This should not be possible at all…

  “It’s lovely to meet you,” Victoria said, smiling to me.

  “We met, long before you were placed in your world, for you are a peace of me. I sent you in a time of great need, not just for your Kingdom but for all the Kingdoms. They forget who put them here. Now one of the Kingdom’s is power hungry and will do anything to gain more power, including manipulating, killing, and enslaving my people. I will not stand for this, and this is your true purpose.”

  “I thought I was here to overthrow Eduard,” I told her.

  “Oh dear, you are, however, that was never meant to be difficult. Victoria asked Eduard to guard the Kingdom; he just got very carried away. That task was just the beginning. You see, the prophecy is for us to know, not mere mortals.”

  “Mere mortals?” I asked.

  Am I not mortal, I’ve nearly died almost several times?

  “You are a direct piece of me and a divine entity. While you can die, it will take much to keep you dead. If within my power, I will find a way to keep you going until you fulfill your full purpose.”

  “What is my full purpose?” I asked.

  “You are to kill the entire Smart Klan. One or two members are worth saving if they prove their worth to you, but use your best judgment,” she warned.

  “You are speaking of my father, and his father, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I speak of both. Your father has lived most of his life in the grey, never truly picking a side. If he leaves the grey and joins you in the light, you may choose to spare him.”

  “Thank you,” I told her.

  I didn’t want to have to kill my father. Now I just needed to convince him to leave everything behind and join me.

  “Victoria, I have to say thank you. Your writings in your journal have helped me so much,” I told her.

  “Ah, so you have restored your magic?” she asked me with a smile.

  “Yes, thanks to you. How did you know that I would lose it?” I asked her.

  “I saw the exact moment you lost it in a vision,” she said.

  “So, you saw Wisdom save my life?” I asked.

  “Yes, my love saved your life, and I am grateful, even from the afterlife. I could never tell him about it while still alive, as it could uncoil the plans that destiny had in store.”

  “I understand, do you want me to tell him now?” I asked her.

  “That won’t be necessary. Look in your hand,” she told me.

  I looked down, and there were three letters. One was addressed, “my love.” The other was addressed, “duckie,” and the last one was addressed “my warrior.”

  I looked back up to her for clarification on who the last two letters were for.

  “Duckie is Beetie, my daughter. My warrior is you,” she told me.

  I felt so many emotions in the blink of an eye. I was so happy; she cared enough about me to address a letter specifically to me. This woman spent her later years writing journals to help guide me through my journey, even after she had passed. Now she continues her guidance through another letter. She also gave me a nick-name that I wasn’t sure I deserved but hoped to earn.

  “Thank you,” I told her.

  “You are welcome, love. Things are going to get rough, but you have more journals to comb through. They will give you the information you seek as you need it, but let me give you a hint. There is a page that mentions an Emerald Mountain. You should seek these mountains when you can. It is where your emerald comes from, and it has more answers for you.”

  “I will, I promise.”

  “Violet, I have plans in store, and once again, I will need your help, but I think you may have this partially figured out already,” Venia told me.

  “I have?” I asked, confused.

  “Yes, you discovered the connection between you and Axel. You are true soul mates, which unfortunately is incredibly rare these days.”

  “Oh, that. Yes, I did, again with Victoria’s help,” I said as I smiled over at her.

  “Well, I plan on reversing the damage that Eduard and the others have done to destroy magic and those who are gifted with it. In recent years, since I put you on Earth, I have started making more soul mates. However, many have fled to the edges of the Kingdoms under Eduard’s rule and the Smart Klan. I want them to find each other and meet their soul mates. They are to bring more magic workers to the world. You and Axel, are my example, and my gift to this world.”

  “So you want us to bond as an example to magic workers in all of the Kingdoms,” I asked her?

  “Only if that’s what you wish,” she told me.

  “So I have free will in this,” I asked her.

  “Yes, you do, but he was hand made for you by me,” she told me.

  “Then we will do exactly as you ask. I quite enjoy him,” I told her teasingly.

  I hope it is ok to tease a Goddess?

  “I’m glad,” she said while smiling at me.

  “You must also address your people, and tell them of your true purpose. They will support you in your efforts, I am sure,” Veina told me.

  “I will, I had already planned on filling them in on what is to be expected, but I will now have more to share with them, thanks to you. Is there anything else I should know?” I asked while looking between them.

  “Just know that you have not reached your full potential,” Victoria told me.

  “You will truly be tested in the times to come. Just know that you are equipped to handle what comes next. You will ready the world for the next in the prophecy.”

  “Will I get to know who that is?” I asked.

  “You will when it’s your time to know. You will see her in visions when the time is right,” Veina said.

  I nodded in understanding.

  “We must leave you now, to your many tasks. I know you didn’t ask to be brought into this, but know that you will have a marvelous life after you have accomplished your goals,” Victoria told me.

  “Thank you, Great Grandmother, and you were never crazy, for the record,” I said, getting misty-eyed. I had only just met her, and now she had to leave.

  She smiled at me, knowing what I was referring to.

  “Don’t forget about my letters,” she said, pointing to my hand before backing into the purple clouds behind her.

  “I won’t,” I told her.

  Venia backed into the blue clouds behind her before giving me one last smile.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Iwoke up in my apartment, full of wonder at the dream I had just had. Except it really didn’t feel like a dream, I am sure of that. I must have been transferred to whatever realm that Venia lived in.

  I guess that means I’ve been to three different worlds now.

  That was amazing and terrifying at the same time. How much really went on beneath our noses without us knowing?

  Also speaking of terrifying, is that I haven’t heard from my mother in a while. I need to check in on her, especially since she doesn’t know that her boyfriend is a murderer and tried to kill me.

  I picked up the phone and selected her name. She picked up on the third ring.

  “Hi, honey, how are you?” she asked me.

  “I’m good, Mom. I’ve been busy, but I noticed I didn’t have any missed calls from you and wanted to make sure you are all right.”

  “I’m fine, honey. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my boyfriend. Speaking of which, he feels like you guys didn’t start on the right foot. He wants another opportunity to get to know you better.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to think of an excuse.

  “Mom, I want you to be happy. You could literally have your pick of anyone, but you chose him. I’m sorry, but I think he and I started off exactly how we should have. I did some digging into his past. Mom, he’s dangerous, and I want you to be careful.”

  “What are you talking about, he’s dangerous? I think you are paranoid.”

  “I am not Mom. H
e’s not a good guy. He is working with that Kennan guy who was following me to school, Mom. He’s just trying to find another way to terrorizing me,” I told her honestly.

  “How dare you try to make this about yourself. I am so disappointed in you, Violet,” she told me, sounding truly sad.

  “I’m disappointed that I have to be the parent, and you the rebellious child. I love you, Mom, and I want what’s best for you. That guy will only hurt you and me.”

  “We can talk about this another time. Is there anything else you called for?” she asked me, changing her tone to one of business.

  “No, I was just calling to make sure you are ok.”

  “Well, I am ok. I need to go. I’m going out to run errands. We will talk later, ok?”

  “Sure, Mom, I love you.”

  “I love you too, kiddo. Stop trying to reverse our roles. I’m the mom, got it?”

  “I got it, but no promises,” I said, laughing as I hung up the phone.

  Well, that was just as rough as I expected it to be.

  She’s my mother, and I won’t ever stop worrying about her, especially because this is about me. He is with her to terrorize me, under Kennan’s orders.

  I left a unanimous tip by phone for the police department to look into him. I am hoping he has something in his background they find worth looking into. If not, at least he would be under police scrutiny for a little while.

  He wouldn’t harm my mother while being followed by police, would he?

  While waiting in my apartment for Axel to wake up here, I paid my bills in advance for next month. I had a stockpile of savings from the gold that I made back in Morthsoul and then brought here. I sold the gold and put the money in the bank. It wasn’t enough to raise any eyeballs from the IRS, but enough to sustain me.

  Finally, Axel woke up here, meaning he fell asleep in Morthsoul.

  “Finally,” I said when he sat up in bed.

  “Don’t finally me,” he said back. “I had so much to do before going to bed.”

  “I know you did,” I told him.

  “I have ideas on what we could do now…” he told me with a seductive smile.

  “Me too, and I don’t think it’s along the lines of what you are thinking. I spoke with the Goddess.”