by Dyan Chick
“Yes, that,” I said.
We stepped into the room and closed the door behind us. I walked over to the tear. I’d gone through once and it had been painful, but I’d survived. But I had magic. What would it do to Rose? "How did you get here?”
“What do you mean?” Rose asked.
“To the Under,” I said. “You said you followed me to Faerie but like I said, this isn’t Faerie.”
“I’m not sure,” she said. “I was in the woods, then I was in a cage.”
I took a deep breath. Had she even made it to Faerie or had Amala found her and brought her straight to the Under? “You don’t know how you traveled here?”
She shook her head, worry lines crossing her forehead.
“It’s alright. We can figure this out.” I had a feeling I needed to protect her in the tear but how was I supposed to do that? When I’d gone through, I felt like I was drowning.
“I know what I need to do,” I said. “You’re going to have to hold on to me and you’re going to have to trust me.”
She nodded. “I trust you.”
“I’m going to use magic. Please don’t panic. I’ll explain it all to you once we’re safe.” I had no idea how she would react or what my shield would look like to her. Would she be able to see it or feel it? How did magic affect humans?
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
I grabbed her, pulling her close. “Arms around me. Don’t let go.”
Rose grabbed me around my waist, hugging me tight. I summoned my shield, pushing it out around us the way I had when the training rooms flooded. Hoping it was strong enough, I guided us toward the tear. As we got closer, I could hear the buzzing sound of the magic it was using. It sounded different in the Under than it did in Faerie.
Wrapping my arms around Rose, I held onto her tightly. “Don’t let go. No matter what.”
She buried her face into my shoulder and squeezed me tighter. Sending all my energy into the shield, I stepped into the tear.
I felt like I was being squeezed as the void of the tear pressed in around me. Pushing back, I maintained the shield, feeling my magic struggling against the pressure of the tear. The air around me felt stale, but it was still there. Rose’s breath was hot and quick against my shoulder, but she was still breathing. The longer we stayed in here, the more my magic wore down. Exhausted, I struggled to hold on.
Finally, the pressure eased, and we hit the ground, knocking my focus from me. I dropped the shield, then felt for the magic again in a panic. There wasn’t enough left to build it again. Then, I realized the surrounding air was moving. There was a cold breeze and something wet landed on me.
We were back in Faerie and it was snowing. I sat up, watching as huge flakes drifted to the ground. A fine layer of snow dusted the grass, sparkling in the dim light. At first, I thought we’d landed in the Winter Kingdom, but I could see the Autumn Palace in the distance.
“Did we make it?” Rose asked.
I stood, then grabbed her hand to help her up. “We made it.”
“It’s so beautiful here,” Rose said. “Everything has a light to it that we don’t have back home.”
“It does,” I said, remembering back to when I first arrived. “Just wait to you see the rest of it.”
“Is that a palace?” Rose asked.
“It is,” I said. “And that’s where we need to go.”
“You’re staying in a palace?” she asked.
I smiled. “I’m trying to be the next queen.”
“I have a lot to catch up on,” she said.
“You do,” I said. “And I want to tell you everything, but we have to find the queen and the princes. If the Under isn’t here yet, they will be soon,” I said. “Come on.”
The two of us ran toward the palace, but as soon as we turned the corner, I realized we were too late. Dragging Rose behind some bushes, we hid from the monsters standing outside the palace doors. A hundred Sodalis, dozens of griffins, and other creatures I didn’t recognize, were actively pacing in front of the entrance. It was an army of monsters. I didn’t see any sign of Amala or any other Fae. Had she already taken the palace? “I hope we’re not too late.”
“Look at those things,” Rose said. “What are we going to do?”
“I have no idea,” I said. “We need help.”
“We need an army,” Rose said.
A snowflake landed on my eyelashes and I brushed it away. Snow. I knew exactly what to do. I turned to Rose. “We have an army. We just have to let them in.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
I knew everything had to go right for this to work. My only hope was the connection I had with Tristan. Of all my princes, he was the one I could communicate with the easiest. So often it seemed like he knew what I was thinking before I even knew it myself. I was hoping this was another one of those times.
Tristan, we need you and your army. The Under has invaded.
I thought the words over and over, putting as much of my remaining magic behind them as I could. If he could get here, we had a chance. But in order for that to work, I had to break the shield around the palace. I didn’t have enough magic to shatter that even if I knew how to do it.
I looked at Rose. “I need your help. And it’s not going to be safe.”
“I’m pretty sure I left safe behind when I followed you here,” she said.
“That’s true.” I felt awful for dragging her into this and I wished I had another way to get the help we needed.
“I need you to find some important people for me,” I said. “They’re probably in the palace.”
“How do we get past the monsters?” she asked.
“I’m going to draw the monsters away from the entrance and you get inside. You have to find a prince or the queen. Tell them we need the shield down. Tell them I sent you,” I said.
“That sounds impossible. How will I find them on my own?”
“You have to. I can’t risk you drawing away the monsters,” I said.
“But you can?” She asked. “They’re going to kill you.”
“I hope not,” I said. “You can do this.”
She looked over at the hoard of monsters in front of the palace. “I can’t use the front entrance.”
“Yes, you can. Once I distract them, you go inside. They’re attracted to magic. They won’t notice you. You’re dressed like a servant. Keep your head down and walk through there like you belong,” I said.
“I can do that,” Rose said.
I looked back at the monsters guarding the door and took a deep breath. I hoped I wasn’t walking to my death right now. If Amala was controlling the creatures, she was the one making the call. Her confident nature made me think she’d want to face anyone who tried to enter the palace herself. I had to hope my read on her personality was accurate, otherwise, I was about to take my last breath.
I turned back to Rose. “As soon as you see an opening, get in there. Walk like you belong. Find a prince. We have to get that shield around the palace grounds down or we’re all done for.”
Without waiting for an answer, I left the safety of our hiding spot and walked straight toward the monsters, hands out where they could see them.
Amala didn’t think Rose would survive the trip through the tear. She’d believe she’s dead. Me, on the other hand, I’m a prize. The changeling she worried would undo her, the daughter of the queen she’s attempting to overthrow. She had unfinished business with me, and I was too valuable to let her monsters chew me up. I hoped.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on edge as I walked closer to the monsters. My breath came out in clouds and my cheeks stung from the cold. I should be shivering but I was too focused on what I was doing to worry about how I felt. I was numb from fear.
With every step, I started to doubt my plan. So far, I hadn’t been noticed. I could still turn back but I knew I wouldn’t. This was our only chance.
Just as the lump in my throat made it difficult to swallow, a Sodalis t
urned to look at me. A low growl rumbled through the air and more creatures turned their gaze on me. They shifted, slowly moving toward me.
I stopped moving and narrowed my eyes, challenging them all to charge. That’s right. Come and get me.
Standing my ground, I waited, hands balled into fists. I had no way of fighting these creatures, I just needed to get them away from the door.
One of them broke from the others, racing toward me. This was my chance.
I took off at a run, leading them away from the palace. Risking a glance behind me, I saw that they were all breaking rank and giving chase.
I had to outrun them. I had to get them away from the door. I flew past the bushes we’d been hiding in and looked for Rose. She wasn’t there. It was all up to her now. She had to succeed, or we were all dead.
Sliding on the wet ground, I steadied myself as I headed back toward the cave where I’d started the day. I knew there were twists and turns and places I could lose the creatures. Or I could end up in a dead end and eaten.
Either way, it was my best shot.
I could see the entrance. My lungs burned as I pumped my arms and legs, running faster than I’d ever run. The cold wind stung my cheeks and my eyes watered.
I could do this. The cave was so close.
Suddenly, I was on the ground as sharp claws dug into my ankle. I struggled, turning as best I could to face my attacker. A Sodalis growled above me as it dragged me toward it.
The cave was right there. I was so close I could almost smell the damp air.
Remembering the small knife Jaya gave me, I pulled it out of my waistband and quickly opened it. Then I sliced the Sodalis’s paw. It yowled and let go of me. Two more closed in on me, limiting my entry to the cave.
I swiped the knife through the air as I sucked in air through my nose to catch my breath. “Get back.”
The creatures growled, lips pulled back, revealing their teeth. Drool dripped down their chins and I could smell rotting meat on their hot breath.
My ankle was already swelling as pain radiated up through my leg. I would need healing, but I didn’t have time for that now. It had to wait.
I couldn’t fight them all and every second I stood here I was allowing more to join us. Gripping the knife tighter, I bolted through them just missing the snapping jaws of one of the monsters.
Somehow, I dove into the cave, crawling forward toward the path that Lilian had taken. Growls followed me into the cave, but I didn’t look back. Hands stretched out in front of me, I moved as fast as I could in the dark, letting the sides of the cave guide me along the twists and turns.
The deeper I got, the less I heard of the creatures. It was possible they didn’t follow me, or they took a different route. Not caring what the reason was, I continued carefully through the tunnel for several more cautions footsteps. Then, I stopped to listen.
The only sound was the steady drip of water from somewhere deep inside the tunnel. My eyes fought against the darkness, begging for a return to light. Unsure of how safe I was in here, I worried about igniting a flame and drawing attention to my location. I also wasn’t even sure if I had the magic needed to make fire.
I was sure I’d gone along one route, not making any drastic turns but I couldn’t be certain. Would it be better to creep back the way I came or keep moving forward?
I took a few cautious steps forward, hoping there was something I could see or sense to help me make a choice.
Suddenly, the ground gave way and I was in free fall. I landed hard on the stone ground before I even had time to scream.
Groaning, I rolled to my side, hoping that nothing was broken. I’d dropped my knife in the fall but other than that, I seemed to be in one piece.
A light flickered into view. “Who’s there?”
It took me a minute for my eyes to adjust and as soon as they did, I laughed. My situation wasn’t any better, but at least I wasn’t alone.
Lilian did not laugh back. “Well, as long as you’re stuck down here too at least I’m not losing to you.”
She didn’t know. “You think the trial is still on?”
“Of course,” she said. “Wait, why do you look like you were chewed up and spit out by a dragon?”
“Sodalis,” I said.
“What now?” she asked. “More tears to the Under?”
“A lot more,” I said.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I found our assassin,” I said.
“I’m listening,” Lilian said.
“Amala.”
“From the council?” Her brow furrowed in disbelief.
“It gets worse. She’s a Dark Fae, from the Under. She’s created multiple tears around the palace and is staging a coup as we speak.”
“You can’t be serious,” Lilian said.
I adjusted my position, wincing as I brushed against the claw mark on my ankle. “Why do you think you’re down here?”
“I made a mistake,” Lilian said.
“Amala sent you here. The trials have been a trap all along. She’s been doing everything she can to set it up to this moment.”
“Why now?” Lilian asked.
“I’m not sure. She mentioned a prophecy about a changeling,” I said.
Lilian covered her face with her hands then dropped them. “Of course. I should have known. I read about it in the human history books. It’s part of why they cut off the relations with humans. There was an ancient prophecy about a human who brought about the end to Faerie as we know it. And there was something about a changeling.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, shifting nervously. “Because I just sent my human sister into the palace to help us.”
Lilian jumped to her feet. “We have to stop this. I’m pretty sure you just caused the end of Faerie. This has to explain the weather. I swear I saw snow.”
I stood, slower than Lilian, as I took the weight off my injured ankle. “Is snow bad?”
“Very,” she said.
“Well…”
“I knew you were trouble,” she said.
“There’s nothing we can do about any of that right now. We have to help stop the Under from taking over.”
“And how are we supposed to do that from down here?” Lilian set her hands on her hips, a definite challenge in her tone.
“I sent my sister to take down the shields around the palace so Tristan can bring the Winter army in to help,” I said.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” Lilian said. “You just ruined all of us.”
“I’m trying to save us all.”
“By giving the keys to the kingdom to the Winter King?” The glowing orb she was holding got brighter, seeming to mirror her emotions.
“We can trust Tristan,” I said. “Trust me. Please. Or none of us are getting out of this alive.”
“You’re going to get all of us killed,” she said.
“No, I’m going to save all of us,” I said. “Now quit complaining and help us get out of this hole.”
“You think I haven’t been trying?” She asked.
“Can you make things grow?” I asked.
“Grow?”
“Vines. We need something we can climb out with,” I said. “Or can you make us float or can you slide?”
“Sliding would get us kicked out of the trials.”
“I told you, the trials are over,” I said. “We’re at war.”
“If I find out you’re lying to me, I will kill you with my bare hands,” she said.
“I’ll hand you a weapon myself.” I said.
She offered her hand. “Where are we sliding to?”
“Can you get us to the training rooms? I doubt they’re being guarded.” I set my hand in hers.
“Hold on,” she said.
I braced for the slide, holding my breath as we descended into darkness. When this whole thing was over, I wanted to be in rooms full of light all the time. No more voids, no more queasy feelings as I was pulled through darkness. I wanted my feet on
solid ground and lights making everything visible.
We landed on hard floor and I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out, as pain shot from my ankle up my leg. Wincing, I hopped to the nearest wall and leaned against it, waiting for the throbbing to ease.
“What happened to you anyway?” Lilian asked.
I waited until the spots cleared from my vision then looked at Lilian. We were back in the training room where Lilian and Rose had promised to beat me. Now, the Trials were a disaster and Rose was dead. So much had changed. “Sodalis claw.”
For a moment, a flash of what looked like sympathy passed over Lilian’s face. Then, she reclaimed her usual grim expression. “You know they’re poisonous, right?”
“Yes, I know,” I said.
She frowned. “Sit down.”
I stared at her, not fully understanding her command. “Why?”
“Because if it’s as bad as you say, I can’t do this alone and I can’t have you dying on me before it’s over.”
I slid down the wall until I landed on the hard ground.
Lilian walked over to me and knelt down next to me. She lifted her hands so they were hovering over my injured ankle. I felt the hum of magic as she sent healing waves through me. It was warm and soothing, reminding me painfully of when Ethan had helped me heal. A rush of sadness flowed through me as I wondered how he and the other princes were doing. Were they safe?
I had to hope that since I hadn’t felt anything signaling that they were in danger, that they were still alive. Then again, I wasn’t sensing magic lately the way I should be.
“Try it now,” Lilian said.
I lifted my leg and turned my foot, making my ankle move. It felt better. Only a lingering soreness instead of intense pain. “You’re very good at that.”
“We all have our talents,” Lilian said. “I hope yours is strategy because if what you say is true, we’re now inside a palace surround by and full of enemies. So where do we go from here?”
That was a great question. I’d sent Rose in to find the princes and I had no way of knowing if she’d succeeded. Our best hope was to find a way to help with the eventual fight.
