by R L Medina
I sucked in a breath. My memories. What else had I forgotten?
Mom touched my wrist. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
My heart raced. I used my magic to calm my nerves. My eyes flicked to Baba Yaga. The Witch blinked back at me. Mom followed my gaze and frowned.
“Renée, what happened?” Her voice was steady, but I could sense her fear.
Meeting her eyes, I sighed. “I locked away my memories. Just until we deal with the Raj’ani. And…” I hesitated.
Baba Yaga’s eyebrow arched, amusement flashing in her eyes.
“I maybe gave her a little, tiny bit of my magic.”
Mom’s face turned stormy. “You did what?”
Aunt Cindra frowned. “How is that even possible?”
Baba Yaga smiled. “A witch never reveals her secrets.”
Anger radiated from Mom. “Renée.”
I flinched. “Look, it was our only choice, Mom. That was the deal she wanted.”
Mom shook her head. “That was a dangerous move.”
Irritation stirred inside me. I was doing the best I could. Why couldn’t she see that? It wasn’t like I was being needlessly reckless. I knew the consequences of my actions, but I had made the only choice possible.
“She’s here.” Baba Yaga held a finger up.
We turned her. Her eyes grew milky, making Mag squeal and jump behind Sacha. I suppressed the urge to shudder as well. Her trick was creepy.
“The queen?” Gena breathed.
I gasped at the front door opened on its own accord. The queen strode in, her face stony as she looked around the apartment. Her eyes landed on Baba Yaga, her lip curled.
Baba Yaga returned the stare, her brow furrowed.
“Do you have the creature?” Aunt Cindra demanded.
The queen waved her hand and a large cloth bag floated in behind her. Baba’s front door slammed shut.
I stared at the bag, guilt filling me. How long had she been carrying the Raj’ani in there? I tried to sense if it was awake but didn’t feel anything. Worry gnawed at me. What if we couldn’t wake it in time to stop the abyss?
“Now that you are all here, let’s open the portal, shall we?” Baba smiled.
My heart thundered in my ears. This was it. We were going home. Hope flared to life inside me. We had done it. If we could make it back in time, there was still a chance we could save everyone.
“It can only remain open for a minute so everybody must get through at once. All of you.”
I glanced out the window. “What about Fearless?”
Baba followed my gaze. “Yes, the dragon too.”
“But how are we supposed to get him through if he’s outside?”
She waved a hand, dismissing my concern. “He will go last, and I will move the portal through the window. Easy.”
I looked around, gauging everyone’s reactions. Sacha, Mom, Mag and Aunt Cindra were ready. Fearless’s open mouth suggested he was ready too, but Des and Gena’s faces were blank. My heart twisted. Had Des decided to stay after all?
The queen sighed. “What are you waiting for? Summon the portal,” she demanded.
Baba Yaga’s eyebrows scrunched together at her rudeness. “I don’t take orders from you, elf. You are not a queen here.”
Her words hit a mark. The queen’s eyes flashed as the air grew chilly around us. Mag scurried closer to me, her eyes wide with fear.
“Please, we just want to go home,” Mom intervened.
The witch’s lips pursed together. “Very well. Let’s begin.”
We watched as her eyes turned milky once more and her hands moved in a blur. She held up a black stone pendant and started chanting. Her words echoed in the room, sounding deep and strange. Power shook around her.
I gasped. The air shimmered, like something big and invisible was swirling in front of us. My eyes bugled.
The portal.
“Let’s go.” Aunt Cindra whipped to Des.
Before Des could answer, the queen stepped in front of the portal. She raised her hands and sent her power blasting into all of us. Cold struck me hard in the chest, making me stagger back. Surprised shouts echoed from the others. My body froze. I struggled against her hold, trying to break free.
Anger rippled through me. “What are you doing?”
Her lip curled. “Saving Feylin. Without you.”
Mom jerked, trying to get free of the ice. “You need us to control the Raj’ani.”
The queen held up the wooden wand. “Not anymore.”
Baba Yaga’s eyes turned murderous. “That is mine! Give that back to me.”
The queen sneered.
“That won’t be enough to control it.” I scoffed.
Her eyes narrowed on me. “There’s still one of you with mental magic in Feylin. If this doesn’t work, I’m sure that pesan can do it.”
Belle.
Aunt Cindra roared, trying to summon her magic to melt the ice. “Why are you doing this? We will break free and when we do, we will be coming through that portal.” Her eyes flashed. “And when we do, I will destroy you.”
The queen laughed. With a wave of her hand, she turned around and dragged the bag holding the unconscious Raj’ani through the portal.
Dread punched me in the gut as they disappeared. No. The portal wavered and wobbled before it too faded.
“Where did the portal go?” Aunt Cindra demanded.
Baba frowned at her. “I can’t summon a portal if my hands are frozen, elf.”
I shivered as the cold crept its way under my skin. I glanced at the others. The ice was spreading and if we couldn’t stop it… I shuddered.
Fire erupted from Aunt Cindra. She burst free from the queen’s hold and directed the flames to disperse to all of us. I sucked in a breath as the ice shattered and fell. My skin burned from the cold and it took a minute for the fire to warm me.
Screams erupted from outside. My eyes shot to the window. Oh no.
With the Queen gone, the cloak had faded and Fearless’s cover was blown. I pushed against the restraints. I had to get out and get to him. My heart pounded.
Gena shook her head slowly. “The GRIMMS will find him.”
Fear shot through me. “We have to get to him first.”
I looked out the window as Fearless flew off, hopefully to hide.
“We should have known this would happen.” Mom stared at the floor.
Aunt Cindra turned her frown on her. “How? How were we supposed to know she’d try to trap us here? And what is she thinking? That we’re going to stay here? We can get through the portal and go after her.”
Baba Yaga chuckled. “The portal cannot be used any time you want, elf. Magic is much slower here. It has to recharge.”
Aunt Cindra grunted. “And how long does that take?”
The witch shrugged a shoulder. “Should be ready in a week.”
I blanched. A week? How were we going to hide Fearless for a week?
Mom sighed. “She’s going to banish us. That’s why she did it. She would have time to stop the abyss with Belle and block us from returning.”
Dread coiled in my gut. No.
Aunt Cindra shook her head. “The king would have to help her perform that spell. He wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t banish us all.”
Mom scoffed. “She has the wand, Cindra. She could make him.”
My aunt scowled and turned to me. “But that’s your power, isn’t? You don’t have the strength to command him.”
Baba Yaga clucked her tongue. “Of course, she does. The mental link with the Raj’ani has opened up her full potential.” She laughed. “There is so much power in there.”
Everyone fell quiet as the horror of our situation hit us square in the face. Had she been planning this betrayal all along? Anger surged within me. Why hadn’t I read her mind? I could have seen it coming.
Tears welled in my eyes. Again, I had failed. It was my magic that she was using to ruin us.
“Don’t cry, child. You will
find your dragon.”
“And then what? Wait a week before we can try to get back to Feylin?”
My head dropped to my chest. Their emotions spun around me.
Pity. Sorrow. Anger. I shoved them away, not wanting to deal with any of them. I had to think of a way out of the mess the queen had left us in.
The door burst open, making my head snap up. I froze. Men and women in black bodysuits and armor stormed in. A strange mix of swords and guns surrounded us.
My heart dropped. GRIMMS.
A brown-haired man strode forward. “Got them. Six elves. One brownie. And you’re not going to believe this.” He spoke into a cell phone.
He grinned at Baba Yaga. “We got her. Baba Yaga.”
The witch hissed at him.
His grin widened. “Been looking for you for a long time, witch.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I make it a habit to avoid GRIMMS.”
They fanned out around the room, their boots thumping on the tiled floor. I flinched as one stepped toward me and waved a strange looking object over me.
The woman grunted. “This one has been hopping through portals like a rabbit.”
My nose scrunched as I tried to figure out her meaning. Is that what that cylinder device in her hand did?
“Probably the one we want.” The man turned to me. “You bring in a dragon?”
I tensed. Fearless. Had they caught him? Fear spread through me. My hands grew sweaty.
Aunt Cindra and Mom spoke at once, their voices tumbled together. The man glanced at them and back to me. “Is that your dragon?”
“Yes, but he’s a nice dragon. He’s just a baby!”
The GRIMMS scoffed. “Dragons are not pets. They eat and burn, and they are not allowed in the Outer World.”
“I didn’t mean for him to follow me. It was an accident.”
The man’s face hardened. “Well your accident could cost us innocent lives.”
My brow furrowed. “Fearless hasn’t hurt anyone. He wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
Would he?
The man shrugged. “We’re not taking any chances.”
My blood turned to ice. “Let me take him home and I promise he will never come back here.”
His partner gave a harsh laugh as she continued swiping her device over everyone else. Des stood in front of Aunt Cindra, a knife in his hand and Sacha spread his legs in a ready stance too, though he didn’t have his sword.
My heart pounded. There were too many of them and their weapons were not ordinary weapons. I could sense the magic flowing through them and it was strong. No, we couldn’t fight our way out of this and with Baba Yaga captured, the GRIMMS were our only chance of getting back to Feylin now.
“Please. I can help you get him. He will come if he hears me and we will leave right away.”
The woman frowned at me. “I don’t think you realize how much trouble you’re in, elf.”
Her words startled me. It was the first time I’d been insulted by a human. It almost made me laugh at the absurdity of my situation, but judging by their strict demeanor, this was not a group that would find anything humorous.
“She’s only a child. And she’s a halfling.” Mom spoke up. Her voice was calm and steady.
My eyebrow arched. She was trying to use her magic on them. Why hadn’t I thought of that? She caught my eye and gave a slight shake of her head, a warning for me to not try it.
The woman caught the exchange and whipped her gun in front of Mom’s face. My heart dropped.
“No! Stop!” I yelled. My magic, pushed by emotions, struck her and made her body jerk and freeze.
Three GRIMMS leapt toward me and surrounded me, their weapons trained on me. The man, the one I assumed was their leader, stood in front of me with narrowed eyes.
“Release her.” His voice was low and dangerous.
Sacha rushed toward me but was struck down by another GRIMM. I watched in horror as the man threw a strange orb at him and chanted something I didn’t understand. Sacha fell face first onto the ground with a loud thud. Mag screamed, her fear rippling in the air.
Aunt Cindra’s hands lit with flame. Surprised shouts erupted from the GRIMMS. Gena wrapped Mag up and ducked behind Des, who still had a blade in his hand, his eyes flashing. Mom’s eyes widened in fear, her pleas for everyone to calm went unheard.
My heart raced. Fear and anger. There was so much fear and anger and if I couldn’t get them to calm down, it would only lead to something horrific. I used my magic to push away my own fear and send a wave of peace to everyone in the room.
Baba Yaga raised her own hands in a chant. She glanced at me and at the leader. “Kill them. Before they kill your friends.”
Her voice rang through me. I shook my head. No. I couldn’t kill them.
His jaw clenched, his sword ready.
I raised my hands in surrender. Two men grabbed me from behind, yanking my arms behind me. I winced in pain.
Mom ran at them, anger pulsing from her. “Stop! Don’t hurt her.”
The woman threw something at Baba Yaga, sending the witch flying into the wall. Fire blazed in the apartment. A noise went off, the sound shrill and piercing.
Fear spread through me. Things were getting out of control fast. I had to do something before it turned deadly.
25
“They got the dragon.” The woman turned to the guy.
My heart sank. No.
“Please, just listen! We’re not here to hurt anyone. Our world is dying. We must get back to save it. We will take the dragon back with us.” Mom’s voice echoed in the room.
“Oh, don’t worry. We plan to send you back where you came from.” The woman glared at us.
“And the dragon too?” I asked.
The man strode toward me. “You’re lucky we have a new policy. Usually dragons are killed on sight.” His jaw twitched. “The dragon will be sent back with you. And you, all of you”—his eyes roamed over us—“will be banished from the Outer World.”
His words chilled me to the core.
Gena reeled. “But, I’m a citizen here. I’ve been here forever. Please. This is my home. I’ve never caused trouble.”
Her terror choked the air around me.
The woman sneered at her. “You should have thought about that before you got involved with this lot.”
Gena’s eyes shot to Des. He flinched under her stare. My heart twisted at her sorrow. It wasn’t fair.
The leader turned to Baba Yaga. “As for you. We have a nice cell waiting for you. You will stand trial for what you’ve done.”
The witch snorted. “No cell can hold me.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “We’ll see about that.”
Guilt flooded me. It was our fault that she’d been caught. I opened my mouth to protest, but Baba Yaga shot me a silencing glare.
“Line them up,” the man demanded.
The other GRIMMS moved to obey his order. I flinched as they dragged me to the middle of the room. My eye shot to Sacha’s motionless form.
“What did you do to him?” I glared at the man.
He followed my eyes and lifted his chin. “Just a sleeping potion. He’ll be fine.”
Relief flooded me. I glanced at the others. They stood next to me, their emotions clashing together. Anger. Fear. Mag clung to Gena’s hand.
The GRIMMS shoved Baba Yaga beside me, her hands tied behind her back.
“Here,” The witch leaned into my ear. “In my pocket. Take this. You’ll need it.”
I frowned at her and glanced at the GRIMMS. They stood in front of us, watching as they waved their weapons.
“Use your magic to make them blind, child,” she hissed at me.
My eyes slid to her. Did she want me to cause more trouble? I couldn’t draw attention to myself. Not if I wanted them to help us get through. My chest tightened. I was banished from returning. Though I couldn’t remember why that mattered so much, I knew that it did.
“Hurry before they take us to t
he portal,” she insisted.
Gena and Mag who stood on my other side gave us curious glances. I sucked in a breath and calmed my nerves. My magic roared to life, filling me with warmth and energy. I closed my eyes and let it spread. One of the GRIMMS gave a startled cry.
I shot my power out. Don’t freak out. We’re not doing anything. We are just standing here awaiting your orders. That’s all you see. That’s all you hear. Compliant. Peaceful. Nice elves… and witch and brownie. And the dragon too.
The men and women blinked at us, their bodies visually relaxing. I blew out a breath. It worked.
“Good. Now get this out of my pocket,” Baba Yaga instructed.
I edged closer to her trying to reach her. My hands were tied like everyone else’s and my skin burned against the cold metal as I slipped my fingers into her pocket. My fingers landed on something smooth and hard.
I snatched it and held up the dark stone. “What is it for?”
Her eyes sparkled. “It’s a banishing rock. You banish someone through a portal and throw this in with them and that will block them from ever returning.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Her eyes flitted to one of the GRIMMS. “Don’t thank me, thank them. I stole it from them.”
I glanced at the GRIMMS, heat rushing through me. They stared at us with their serious expressions while the man and woman whispered together on the other side of the room.
My eyes snapped to hers. “So, they can’t banish us now?”
She shook her head. “Oh, I’m sure they have more. No, this one is for you.”
I blinked at her. “What do I need this for? I don’t want to banish anyone.”
She grunted. “You’ll need it. Trust me.”
I frowned. Did she think we should use it on the Raj’ani? Was that what she meant. I shrugged and shoved it into my pocket, throwing another glance at the men and women.
She chuckled. “Don’t worry. These are not the brightest GRIMMS. They don’t even know it’s gone, and you’ll be long gone before they even notice.”
