Between Kage and Doppelgänger Cian, the tire was sure to be changed fairly quickly, so I took my time. Stalling was really the only tactical move I had at the moment, and I fully intended to make the most of it. After I had finished my business, I simply walked in a different direction than the SUV. About fifteen minutes later, I heard the footsteps faintly crunching through the forest floor. Running crossed my mind. Instinct does that, urges you to escape a potentially harmful situation. Sometimes you have to go against that instinct. I had initiated a plan to establish trust, and if I tried to run and didn’t succeed, it all would have been for nothing. And I knew my odds if I ran.
“Hey! I’m over here!” I called out. “I hope you used a tracer t’ find your way back,” I said when Kage was within eyesight. “Because I couldn’t, and I got a little turned around.”
Kage stopped where he was and waved me toward him, slightly annoyed. “I can get us back. C’mon.”
Slowly, I made my way toward him. I had to be satisfied with having stalled nearly a half-hour—I made a mental note of the amount of time I’d bought. It was better than nothing. I tried to make small talk back to the SUV and walked slower than my usual pace. Would my stall tactic make a difference? No idea. But I had to do something. And the longer I could manage to be without The Sorek Shackles, the more likely I would be able to draw upon my powers when the time came.
When we arrived at the SUV, Kage reached for the shackles.
“Do ya think we could forego those?” I requested. “You and I both know what they are, and as weak as I feel, I’m guessin’ I had them on for a while before I woke up. So, however long that was, ya know I got nothin’. Besides, I’m not a hostile. I’m open t’ hearin’ your plan for makin’ the world a better place. There’s no point in me trying t’ run. So, whaddaya say we let me sit in the back seat without my hands fallin’ asleep again?” I reasoned.
Kage pressed his lips together and glared at me with one squinted eye. It seemed my efforts to establish trust were working. “Fine. But even a hint that you’re up to something, the shackles are back on.”
“Seems fair. Thank you.” I climbed into the back seat and buckled up. Doppelgänger Cian had left me a snack and a bottle of water next to my seat. He glanced at me and I gave an appreciative nod as the SUV roared back to life and we started back down the road. Seemed I was also gaining favor with the natives.
Overhanging branches sunk lower as the path disappeared deep into the forest. For a brief time, a smoky mist hung thick in the air. Wiper blades swished the mist aside and then just as quickly as it had begun, it was replaced by a clear, but darkening sky.
According to the clock on the dash, we had driven forty-two minutes when Kage stopped the SUV. That meant it shouldn’t be getting dark already, yet there it was. It also meant I’d gotten another forty-two minutes without the shackles.
“Are we there? Or here?” Doppelgänger Cian asked as Kage shoved the transmission into park.
“Sort of,” Kage offered. “We go on foot from here.”
The minute he shut off the engine, the headlights began to fade, and an unsettling darkness closed in around us. We weren’t in Kansas anymore.
“Not sure how I feel about this,” Doppelgänger Cian mumbled.
“Same,” I whispered under my breath as I stared into the darkly foreboding trees. I closed my eyes and said a prayer. “If you’re listening, please send help.”
“We should get going. I’m not sure how long it will take, but we need to find it first,” Kage insisted.
Kage got out and opened the hatch of the SUV. He handed the shovel and rope to Doppelgänger Cian, then grabbed the backpack, shuffled through the books, and put the two Keeper journals into the backpack. He stuffed a few bottles of water in the mesh pockets on the sides before slinging it over his shoulder. The water made we wonder just how long he thought this would take.
He attached The Sorek Shackles to a clip on his belt and shifted his gaze to me. “Just in case.” I made a mental note to keep an eye open for the opportunity to get my hands on those shackles.
No more words were exchanged. A compass was pulled from a clip on his backpack and he began walking. Doppelgänger Cian waited for me to follow Kage then trailed behind me.
We trudged through thick undergrowth choked with brambles. Stiff branches sprawled from smaller trees that made it difficult to maneuver through a narrow and barely visible path that twisted deeper into the forest. I listened intently for . . . well, anything. Wanting to hear the sound of something that might offer some hope. Instead, only the ominous echoes of trees creaked in the wind, almost whispering as the swayed. Fallen branches crunched beneath our feet. There were no birds chirping. No scurry of small woodland creatures. Only the faint hum of a distant waterfall offered any solace.
The sound of running water soon joined the subtle symphony and grew louder as the trees grew thinner. We finessed our way through a sliver of thick underbrush and came out in a clearing. The moment I stepped from the forest into the opening, a stream of energy washed through me as though I had moved through a veil of some kind. With a slight side-glance, I tried to gauge if my traveling companions had noticed the change in atmosphere. My guess was no. Kage could have easily masked his reaction if he’d noticed, but Doppelgänger Cian was another story. I’d have made a sizable bet that he couldn’t hide his reaction to something so powerful and unexpected. The lack of reaction didn’t mean Kage hadn’t noticed. But if he had, and he wasn’t hurrying to slap the shackles back on me, then he wasn’t as smart as I had come to think. Regardless, Fae magic coursed through me once more—not at full strength, but it was there. And it might be enough.
Kage stopped a few steps into the clearing and knelt down to get something from the backpack. I zoned in on the contents—what I could see—as he rummaged. Aside from the journals, all I could truly be certain of was an engraved wooden box and a dagger-shaped object wrapped carefully in a heavy, wool material. The dagger-shaped object could have been a cross, depending on what artifact Kage needed to accomplish what he’d set out for—acquisition of the Kanna Stone. To my surprise, he pulled neither of those from the backpack.
From the bottom, he extracted a small item wrapped in silver velvet. He pushed it into the pocket of his canvas tactical jacket, closed the pack, and returned to a standing position. My curiosity got the better of me . . . again. Another of those nine lives gone, but who’s counting.
“What’s that?” I blurted out.
Doppelgänger Cian smirked. I think I amused him.
“If you must know, the Lunar Ruins are protected. This item will allow us entry without facing the possibility of physical harm.”
So, he did know about that. And he came prepared. Again, smarter than I thought. “I see.” More playing dumb on my part. “And . . . where exactly is this entrance?” The only thing as far as I could see was a waterfall and the small river it fed into.
“We enter through the waterfall,” Kage explained.
“Yeah, I’m not dressed for swimming, Kage.”
“I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. See that stone slab over there?” He pointed to the edge of the river just at the base of the waterfall.
“Aye,” I replied.
“That’s where we place our gift.”
“Hmph. So, the Wolf deities can be bribed. Good t’ know.” I scoffed almost silently, but not silently enough.
Kage glared at me. “It’s a gesture of good will. But . . . we shall see.”
“And if they don’t accept?” I asked.
“Then we’ll have to do it the hard way.” Kage began walking toward the stone slab.
I began to wonder if I’d been brought along for more than translating. My imagination could easily see the stone slab as a place for a gift . . . or a sacrifice. I wasn’t liking my active imagination at the moment. I raised an eyebrow at Doppelgänger Cian and his shoulders rose and fell in a short action. He motione
d his hand for me to go ahead, and I felt slightly stronger as I took a cautious step forward.
Twenty-Seven
The walk across the clearing felt longer than the hike through the woods. Maybe because the moment we crossed into the ruins, my time to make something happen was growing short. Maybe because the closer we got to that slab, the more it looked like a sacrificial alter. Granted, sacrifices were more of a Witch thing than a Wolf thing. Did I mention I hate my imagination sometimes?
As we approached, I noted the sequence of moon cycle symbols chiseled into the slab along with a series of unusual glyphs I’d never seen before. If I’d had my phone, I would have taken a photo so I could look it up later. If I had a later, of course. I wasn’t naïve enough to think my chances of walking away from this weren’t still slim.
Kage reached into his pocket and brought out the object wrapped in silver velvet. I watched intently, more than a little curious as to what was hidden inside. He placed it gently on the stone slab and unfolded the material, laying it out smoothly, revealing a small glass ball. Fine, it was probably made of crystal, but how cliché would that be? Besides, this didn’t appear to be an ordinary crystal ball. Coils of magic swirled within, materializing in silver and iridescent twists and curls. It was mesmerizing. Almost hypnotizing. I shook my head to loosen its hold on me and looked away. Never had I seen anything like it.
“What is that?” I whispered to Kage.
“A Moon Orb. Only eight exist,” he replied as he took a step back from the stone slab.
“And what exactly do they do?”
“Protection, in various forms. They have been said to hypnotize your enemy or create light in the darkness. Some stories have said a Moon Orb can heal or restore,” Kage explained. “Truth is, there are no consistent histories about them.”
“Hmm. And . . . you’re just happily giving this one away?” I questioned, knowing he had to have an ulterior motive. This item seemed too powerful for Kage to simply offer it up as a gift unless there was something bigger in store.
“I never said happily . . . but it’s a small price to pay to acquire the Kanna Stone.”
Thank God there wasn’t another surprise on this unplanned adventure. I did not need another element to factor in. I hadn’t even figured out how to factor in the ones I knew about.
We stood for a while, waiting. But nothing happened.
I leaned toward Kage. “Were you supposed to do something else? Chant a mantra? Sacrifice a virgin?” I glanced over at Doppelgänger Cian and grinned, sizing him up with a squint. “Nah. That’s not why he brought you, right?”
Doppelgänger Cian snickered, thankfully. I had no idea what he looked like without the facade, and I was trying to keep the situation light, not insulting. Something told me he might be persuaded to help me out under the right circumstances. Maybe. Then again, he might be a diehard Kage fan—fight you to the death if he had to. But it didn’t hurt to keep trying to endear him, just in case.
Kage didn’t find my humor quite as amusing, but he didn’t appear pissed either. Instead, he took a step toward the Moon Orb, but was stopped in his tracks when the glyphs chiseled into the slab began to glow. Seconds later, a figure materialized above the slab. She was breathtaking. Her smooth, iridescent skin was draped in a dark blue dress, and her hands were clasped at her waist as if it were the most natural position to be in while one floated above the ground. A crown of succulents wrapped around a mass of chocolate curls that cascaded down her back. A half-moon pendant resting just beneath her collarbone caught my eye. This had to be the one they referred to as the Lunar goddess.
Kage immediately stepped back in line with me, and the otherworldly figure locked her stare on him. I watched her eyes narrow then relax into an expression of decision. Without moving another muscle, her head angled in my direction and her deep, brown gaze softened.
“Aisling O’Cléirigh.” My name sounded almost heavenly as she spoke, but I caught myself blinking rapidly. I was certain her lips hadn’t moved. “They cannot hear me, child. This message is for you alone. I simply need for you to listen.”
I never said the word aloud, but in my mind I automatically responded. “Aye.”
“Oh, good. You can communicate via this method.”
My eyes widened just slightly, but I held my expression tight to avoid giving anything away to Kage. Doppelgänger Cian stood several inches behind me and had no line of sight.
“Umm . . . This is new for me, but I am listening,” I expressed.
A hint of a smile formed on her lips. “You are a pure heart, Aisling O’Cléirigh. It is for this reason that I will grant entry to you and your . . . companion. I trust these are not companions by choice. You have a purpose here tonight. It has been foretold by the highest authority that you search for the Stone of Two Brothers. You must not fail. When you enter the sanctity of the ruins, seek out the moonwater fountain surrounded by four pillars. Drink from it, and at the peak of the Silver Moon your powers will be fully realized.”
“Midnight is quite a while t’ have t’ wait.” I fumbled over the thought, processing all she had relayed, and I still had questions about the Stone of Two Brothers.
“Dear one, midnight is not your objective. The peak occurs when the Silver Moon is directly reflected in the fountain. There will be no mistaking the appointed time.” She paused, and I wondered if Kage and Doppelgänger Cian were growing suspicious of how long she’d been staring at me. Then I noticed they seemed to be frozen in a time pause, unaware.
“Understood,” I acknowledged. “But what is this Stone of Two Brothers? I’ve never heard of that. I’m in search of the Kanna Stone. And my . . . companions. How am I t’ thwart their objective on my own?”
“What you seek and what I say are the same. But you are not alone, Aisling. Find your soul’s reflection and nothing will hinder your quest.” She folded the silvery velvet cloth back over the Moon Orb and picked it up from the stone slab. I never even saw her move, but at once she was before me, placing the orb in my hands. “Take this. Keep it hidden until you need it. Your unwelcome companion is right regarding the stories of the orb’s power. There are eight orbs, one to represent and reflect each moon phase. This is the Full Moon Orb. It harnesses all of the powers of the other orbs combined: healing, protection, illumination, water manipulation, and so much more. If you are in tune with the lunar powers, your instincts will reveal what you need. Trust them.”
She didn’t allow time for me to reply or ask more questions, only slip the orb out of sight. The time pause was lifted, and she was staring at Kage as though she’d never stopped. “Your gift is accepted, Kage Mazoku.”
The orb was no longer where Kage had placed it. It appeared as if she had used some otherworldly magic to accept the orb and whisk it away before our very eyes.
I knew the truth; it was already hidden in the pocket of my jacket.
“You and the Fae may enter. The one bound to an unfamiliar countenance must stay,” she informed Kage. “You would do well to remember that you are a guest in our sanctuary, Kage Mazoku.” The words were elegantly laced with warning. “Do no harm, and none shall fall upon you.”
Kage nodded his understanding and thanked the ethereal being. I glanced over at Doppelgänger Cian. If his expression was any indication, he wasn’t disappointed at being left behind. He almost looked relieved.
The Lunar Goddess then turned her focus to me, gave a slight bow of her head, and offered one last message. “Nothing happens by chance, Aisling. All that you need to complete your quest and fulfill your purpose will be made available to you. Trust that and trust your intuition.” With that, she was gone.
Kage turned to Doppelgänger Cian. “I guess you will wait here, friend,” he said and took the rope and shovel that Doppelgänger Cian had been carrying, then turned to me. “You ready?”
A shovel would double as a great weapon. “Want me to carry that?” I asked.
“I’ve got
it,” Kage smugly assured me.
“I can carry the backpack then. Doesn’t seem fair for you to carry everything,” I offered. Surely something in that backpack could be used to defend myself. I had to try. But he wasn’t falling for it.
“I invited you along on this adventure. Wouldn’t be very polite of me to ask you to carry the luggage.”
Invited. That was rich. I wanted to say as much, but I had to maintain that friendly, trusting vibe.
“What are we waiting for then?” I gushed. “Let’s do this.” I turned to Doppelgänger Cian. “See ya on the flip side. Though, I’m not sure I’ll recognize ya without the costume.” I didn’t even know his actual name. Kage had been careful and smart. Not that it mattered. Doppelgänger Cian was likely not a threat on his own. But it would have been nice to know just in case.
The desire to get this over with surged through me. My little chat with the Lunar goddess sparked something. She’d given me hope. A lot of confusing information . . . but hope, nonetheless. I began walking toward the waterfall. “Chop chop!” I called back over my shoulder at Kage, who I assumed was still giving instructions to his lacky. Moments later, I caught movement behind me as he tried to catch up.
I’d resigned myself to the idea I was about to get wet when I discovered an opening tucked at the back corner of the falls between a grouping of rocks. I glanced at Kage and pointed. “There.” We had to squeeze through, but when we emerged on the other side, I found myself in awe. Slowly, I followed the short path down the side of the pool created by the waterfall and moved around until I was standing at the base of a set of broken steps. The steps led up to a stone altar protected on each side by massive stone wolves. Autumn foliage and thick vines crept over the moss-laden structures giving the place a very Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Wolves feel. I fought back a chill as mist from the waterfall settled on my exposed skin.
Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) Page 21
