Unity

by Jessica Wayne

  “Okay, so I follow the mountain around until the stones become climbable. Then I climb to the top and the entrance is there?”

  “Yes. But be careful, the rocks are steep.”

  “Why not just portal?” Nix asked, not meeting her eyes.

  “Because I don’t want them seeing I have power. Not yet, anyway. It needs to be the spare card up my sleeve.”

  “Makes sense,” he said. “Good luck, and I hope you don’t perish.” Turning back, the Guisnow-turned-Jaitu-king disappeared into the clearing.

  “Thanks,” she whispered once he was gone. It was the closest thing they’d had to a conversation since he’d reappeared the day before yesterday.

  “Are you sure I can’t go with you? I can wait outside. If something goes wrong—”

  Anastasia touched Tony’s shoulder lightly. “Nothing will go wrong. Just trust me. I’ll lure one out and portal it back to where Em found us last night.”

  Jaw tight, Tony nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”

  “Good.”

  Strapping her backpack on, she handed Tony her sword. “Keep it safe.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “I’ll have Kaley and Vincent with me.”

  “Still don’t like it.”

  Anastasia kissed him on the cheek. “I will be back, Tony.”

  “You better be.”

  “Good luck, little one.” Em bowed her head and stepped back behind the curtain.

  “I’ll see you all soon.” Anastasia turned and, with Kaley and Vincent at her side, began to follow the mountain.

  The early morning sun shone down through the canopy of trees, and Anastasia couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of it. Even in the midst of so much destruction and chaos, seeing the light was a sign to her.

  A sign that what she was fighting for wasn’t lost.

  For nearly two hours, Vincent strode beside her in silence, Kaley padding softly on the dew-covered grass. Nerves swam in her belly as she got closer to the place Em said the rocks climbed up, but she pushed them down.

  Everything will go the way it’s supposed to. It had to.

  “Looks like we’re here.” Vincent looked up, and Anastasia followed his glance.

  The rocky mountainside opened up slightly, revealing indentations in the stone that disappeared up past the trees. There was no way Kaley would make it up, so Anastasia knelt beside her and cupped both sides of the feline’s face.

  “I have to go up alone, girl. Wait here for me.”

  Kaley growled softly, and Anastasia rubbed the top of her head one last time before tightening her grip on the straps of her pack.

  “Well, this ought to be fun.” Holding on to the sides of the mountain, she stepped up and stuck her foot into the first slot.

  “See you at the top,” Vincent said just before disappearing.

  “Must be nice,” Anastasia muttered as she continued her climb.

  Never one for heights, she did her best to not look down below as she moved up the mountain. The sun grew brighter, letting her know she’d passed the canopies of even the tallest trees, but still, the mountain spanned above her.

  Sweat beading on her brow, Anastasia continued to move, careful to not lose her footing. She was pretty damn sure she could conjure a portal to catch her if she fell, but better to not take that chance.

  Finally, after what felt like forever, she looked up and breathed a sigh of relief, then hoisted her body up over the edge of the cliff.

  Rolling onto her back, Anastasia let her shaking muscles recover and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. The air was thinner up here, and it took her a lot longer to recover than she’d counted on.

  Before she knew it, the sun was sinking lower in the sky, signaling her that night would be falling soon.

  “Glad to see you made it.”

  Anastasia opened an eye. Vincent stood just above her, looking down. She gave him a thumbs-up, then sat up to grab water from her pack. “Can you let Tony know?”

  “Already did the second you reached the top.”

  She drank deeply, letting the cool liquid soothe the burn in her throat. “Thanks.”

  He didn’t answer, just turned to stare out over the edge of the cliff. “Terrenia is a beautiful place, isn’t it?”

  “It is,” she agreed, pushing to her feet. “Shall we find this entrance?”

  “No need.” Vincent pointed behind her. “We’re already here.”

  Anastasia turned slowly and stared up at a giant stone door decorated with strange carvings she didn’t recognize. “What are those?”

  “Terrenia’s original language,” he told her.

  “Can you read it?”

  “I know some—my mother insisted Gregory and I learn it—but it has been quite awhile.”

  He stepped toward the carvings and lifted a hand. While he couldn’t actually feel the stone, she imagined it brought him a false sense of solidity to pretend.

  “These are old. It’s a warning of some kind, but some of the characters are worn.”

  “A warning? That’s welcoming.”

  “It’s not meant to be. Whatever is inside was never meant to be found.”

  “Could it be the life core?”

  Vincent shrugged. “At this point, I’d say anything is possible. But it would be damn lucky if we found it on the first day.”

  “Or unlucky, if Thames is already inside.”

  “Or that,” he agreed.

  “Any idea how to open it?”

  Vincent looked back at the sun, squinting in the light, before turning back to her. “I think we’re going to have to wait for nightfall.”

  “Why?”

  He gestured to a sundial positioned at the top of the door. “I think it will open on its own.”

  “And if not?”

  “Then we find another way in. Unless you feel like trying to portal in.”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t want to alert anything inside as to who I am.”

  “Didn’t think so.”

  He walked to the edge of the cliff and stood, staring out over Terrenia again.

  The sadness of his face was evident as he stared out, and it hurt her heart. She’d reflected quite a few times on the emptiness he must feel being only partially there, but other than when he looked at Vinny, he hid it well.

  “So, tell me about your mother. My father never talked about her.”

  Vincent let out a laugh. “Can’t say I blame him there. She wasn’t the warmest after our father left. Honestly, I always had the feeling she hated Gregory and I for it.”

  “Why?”

  “We had power that she feared, and if it weren’t for us, our father would never have known she was magical.”

  “Is that why he left?”

  “One of the reasons, I imagine.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Vincent shrugged. “I’d say out of the two of us, you had the worst childhood.”

  “Yeah, Mitch was no peach.”

  “I am truly sorry for what happened to you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I do hope you get your happy ending, Anastasia. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”

  The sun began to set, and she watched it begin its descent, her uncle standing beside her.

  24

  Terrenia

  Anastasia

  “Should be any time now,” Vincent said softly as the sun disappeared. Darkness fell easily, a smooth blanket over their world, and Anastasia took a deep breath.

  Turning to face the heavy stone door, she stared in complete amazement as it slid up into the mountain above, nearly soundlessly, revealing a large opening.

  “That’s amazing.”

  “That’s old magic,” Vincent said almost proudly.

  “Shall we?” Anastasia lifted her pack and secured it onto her back before stepping inside. “This is nice and dark.”

  “You could light a torch.”

  “Not yet, I don’t want to reveal anything
.” Stopping, she faced him. “Speaking of, we should probably not talk anymore yet. I don’t want to alert whatever is in here to your presence.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Anastasia turned back to the dark cavern lying ahead. This is going to be awesome. She moved further inside, taking small, calculated steps that wouldn’t give her away. As soon as she found one of the creatures, she could capture it and portal out to Tony.

  Easy, peasy.

  The stone door behind slammed shut, and Anastasia spun as she was thrust into complete darkness.

  “I think they know you’re here,” Vincent muttered. “Move cautiously and be ready.”

  She didn’t answer, just did her best to peer into the darkness before her. Not that she could see anything no matter how hard she tried.

  “Why have you come?” a booming voice thundered through the cavern, sending a chill up her spine.

  Clearing her throat, Anastasia spoke, while trying to discern where the voice came from. “I was seeking shelter for the night.”

  “Lies. We sensed you waiting on the ledge. So, why have you come, Sorceress?”

  “There goes the element of surprise.”

  “Shit,” Anastasia muttered. At least she could get some light now. Snapping her fingers, Anastasia illuminated the space around her with tiny lights floating above her. She was still unable to see anyone other than herself and Vincent, so she continued moving forward. “How about you show yourself, and we can speak.”

  “I’ve no interest in revealing myself just yet.”

  “Why not? Are you working with Thames?” She continued moving, and the cavern split into two sections. Both were dark, so she chose the right.

  “Thames? Who is this Thames?”

  “Now who’s lying.”

  “We do no such thing.”

  “We? I know you didn’t show up here until recently, and if you know who I am, he must have told you.”

  “Foolish girl.”

  Her foot banged against something hard, and Anastasia gasped. Looking down, she covered her mouth with a shaking hand as she saw the human bones littering the cavern floor, and the skull her boot had contacted with.

  “That’s promising. Maybe we should go,” Vincent said, but Anastasia shook her head.

  She was too close—no way in hell she was giving up now.

  “Anastasia,” Vincent pressed.

  The narrow cavern began to widen slightly, and Anastasia started walking faster, desperate to get out of such close quarters. Claustrophobia was not something she struggled with, but she still wasn’t a fan of feeling trapped.

  Eight pairs of glowing green eyes blinked ahead, and Anastasia sent her lights fluttering further into the cavern and up to the ceiling.

  Gaping, Anastasia tried like hell to wrap her mind around what she was seeing.

  Horse-like bodies.

  Cloven hoofs.

  Humanoid torsos.

  “You’re centaurs,” she said almost breathlessly.

  “Yes. And you’ve made a grave mistake if you’ve come for the life core.” The one in front stomped his black hoof, and the ground began to shake.

  “Wait!” Anastasia called. “You don’t understand!”

  “Now’s the time to portal out!” Vincent yelled, but Anastasia stood her ground.

  “I’m not here to steal it!”

  “You expect me to believe that?”

  “Yes!”

  The ground began to steady, and Anastasia slowed her breathing and tried to gain control of the nerves stewing in her belly.

  “Why should we believe you?”

  “If you know who I am, then you know I would never wish to bring harm to the worlds.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “To stop the one who is.”

  “This Thames you speak of?”

  “Yes.”

  “You accuse us of working with him, why?”

  “You show up suddenly after he’s stolen two other life cores and wonder why I might suspect you’re connected to him? Then there’s the Faeres you’ve been murdering when they’re only coming into the mountainside for sustenance.”

  “Faeres?”

  “Yes.” She clenched her fists. This plan had gone sideways so damn fast she still hadn’t managed to come up with a backup. They needed to know what they were up against, and if these creatures weren’t working for Thames—then just why the hell were they here?

  “I fear we’ve had a grave misunderstanding,” the creature in front of her said and took a step forward. “Allow me to introduce myself, I am Armes.” He bowed slightly, bending at the chest, his front horse-like leg lifting and tucking beneath him. “Guardian of the Terrenian life core.”

  “Guardian?”

  “Yes, Sorceress. These are my comrades.” He gestured to the other seven beings in the room, and they lowered large heads as well.

  Some had long flaxen hair, others were dark, but each watched her with intense emerald green eyes.

  “Come,” he said softly and turned to head down another hall. One look at Vincent, who looked more nervous than she was, and Anastasia began to follow.

  She could portal out if things got dangerous, but if they didn’t, she wanted to know just where the hell the core was, and how these beings planned to protect it.

  “You say you’re the guardians… why have we never seen you before?”

  “Or heard of you?” Vincent muttered.

  “We have long been slumbering as the mountain itself is also a protector of the core. It is only in times of grave danger the world awakens us to shield it.”

  “How long have you been sleeping?”

  “We are immortal, so I truly could not tell you. I know it has been centuries, as the world below has changed much.”

  Her lights followed her, illuminating the cavern as she walked. The other Centaurs had fallen into step behind her, completely trapping her between them.

  “I don’t like this, Anastasia,” Vincent said, keeping close as if he could protect her.

  She couldn’t answer, but she wasn’t caring much for it either.

  “What woke you up?”

  “We awoke to find the core in distress. Terrenia is under attack, though from what, we do not know.”

  “I can answer that.”

  He paused, turning quickly to face her. “Then tell me.”

  “Thames.”

  Scrunching his handsome face up, he shook his head. “You say that name as if it should mean something to me.”

  “Thames is a Luxe who is stealing life cores to try and heal his world. A world he destroyed in the first place.”

  The creatures behind her gasped, and Armes glared past her. “He has been stealing the cores?”

  “Yes.”

  “How many?”

  “Two that we know of, though I suspect he destroyed Luxe’s as well.”

  “This is not good.”

  “I know.”

  Armes turned back around and continued moving. Light shone just up ahead, and when they stepped into a well-lit cavern, Anastasia let her lights go out.

  “Are those—”

  “The Faeres you believed us to have murdered.”

  The light inside wasn’t coming from any natural source, but from the water pooled in the center of the cavern. It was so bright Anastasia squinted her eyes in order to look directly at the surface.

  Dozens of Faeres filled the space with dozens more Centaurs, each splashing in the water or lounging on the side of the pond.

  Green grass sprouted up from all places and large trees loomed above.

  “You didn’t kill them.”

  Armes laughed. “No, Sorceress. We merely offered them shelter when they came seeking their power source.”

  “There are more, starving just outside for fear of being slaughtered.”

  “If you leave, perhaps you can tell them they will be safe here.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “If?”

  “I canno
t let you leave until I can trust you.”

  “You don’t?”

  “Why would I? You do not trust me.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Tell me, Sorceress. Why are you here?”

  “I told you.”

  “You told me you wished to protect the life core, but how did you plan to do that?”

  She hesitated. If she told him she planned on taking the power for her own, she doubted he’d take it well. But if she lied, that would push her further from the trust she needed in order for her plan to work.

  “I wanted to absorb the power.”

  The cavern around her quieted instantly. “You wished to steal it.”

  “No, I wished to borrow it. Thames already has two life cores. Each time I’ve come up against him, I’ve lost. My plan was to take the power and add it to my own. Once he was gone, I planned on finding a way to put it back.”

  “The Terrenian life core is not to be ‘borrowed’ for these matters.”

  “If I don’t stop him, Thames will destroy everything. The Jaitu, Guisnow, and Pickrie worlds are already gone. There’s no telling if he’s managed to reach the others yet. It’s only a matter of time before he gets to Terrenia, and by then, he may be too strong to stop.”

  A large roar filled the cavern, and Anastasia covered her ears. By the looks of shock on the Centaurs’ faces, it was not them who caused it.

  “Come!” Armes ordered and ran back down the hall they’d come through originally.

  Running behind him, Anastasia was cautious to not get too close to his thundering hooves, while still staying close enough she didn’t get lost.

  Instead of returning where she’d met them, he turned to the right, then left, then right again, down the labyrinth of caverns inside.

  Armes slowed to a walk and disappeared down a corner. Anastasia turned, following, and nearly fell over as a dizzying wave of power washed over her. Getting back to her feet, Anastasia stepped inside the cavern and stared, jaw falling open, at a bright red light floating just above an alter.

  The life core.

  25

  Luxe

  Dakota

  Dakota shot to his feet when the door to his cage creaked open and Thames stepped in.