“Calla?” I hear Lumethon’s voice out in the passage. “I think I found it,” she says, walking into the room with Gaius behind her. I leave the sketchpad on the bed and walk to her side so I can see the book she’s holding. She points to a page with a drawing of a cloud of smoke alongside a drawing that looks very much like the demon labyrinth creature. “It’s a morioraith. They’re only supposed to be found in the Dark North. First, in smoke form, it paralyzes its victim. Then it shifts into bodily form so it can bite and scratch. Its venom causes hallucinations based on any wrong you’ve ever caused anyone, which is exactly what it wants because then it shifts back to smoke form and feeds on its victim’s despair, guilt and shame. Once satiated, it leaves the victim to die from the poison.” She looks up. “Sounds like it’s one of the few things that can actually defeat Chase.”
“Morioraith,” I say, testing the word out. “Where did you find this book?”
“Underground. At the witches’ shop.”
My mouth drops open. “You went in there? Are you crazy?”
“I believe I asked her the same thing,” Gaius says, taking the book from Lumethon and paging through it.
“No, I’m not crazy.” She walks to the side of the bed and places her hand against Chase’s face. “The witches have no reason to hurt me. They don’t know who I am or who I’m connected to. I found a book that was for sale, so I bought it, and that was that.” She moves her hand to his brow. “I think his skin is cooler than before. Still warmer than normal, though.”
“Okay, so we know what this creature is called now,” I say, “but that doesn’t tell us why Chase isn’t awake yet. It’s been a week now since he was poisoned. His magic is far more powerful than mine, so why isn’t he healed already? This feels like it’s taking too long.”
“He was bitten far more than you were,” Gaius points out.
“I know, but … a week? A normal bite would heal within hours.”
“It isn’t just the physical effect of the poison,” Lumethon says. “I think his body has dealt with that already. It’s his mind that’s still fighting. We’re all aware of Chase’s past. If he’s facing the guilt of everything he’s ever done wrong, then he could be battling nightmares for some time still.”
I push my hands through my hair. “That’s so horrible to think of. I wish we could wake him up somehow.”
“I know,” Lumethon says. Then she asks, “What’s the time? I think I’m supposed to be downstairs now. Darius finally got the Terrendales out, and now he doesn’t know what to do with them.”
“Oh, yes, I found a location,” Gaius says. “I’ll give you the details.”
I wish I could ask them what they’re talking about, but I know it’s all part of that Downstairs Stuff I’m not supposed to know anything about. I’ve seen a few people coming and going—always down the stairs and through that door Chase opened with his handprint—but they never do more than nod in my direction and continue on their way.
“Um, I won’t be here for dinner,” I call to them as they turn to leave. “I’m meeting my dad and my brother.” Gaius waves to show me he’s heard, and he and Lumethon continue discussing the Terrendales, whoever they are, as the two of them leave the room.
I climb onto the bed, but I don’t open the sketchbook yet. I watch Chase for a while before my eyes fall, as they always do, on the telepathy ring sitting on the low table beside the bed. I’ve contemplated putting it on several times, but I know that accusing Angelica of sending Chase to his death inside the labyrinth wouldn’t exactly be helpful. Looking at it now, though, I’m filled with a sense of restlessness. The days are moving by, and I’ve made no effort to find the Seers because Chase hasn’t woken up yet. But why do I have to wait for him? Surely I could do something useful on my own.
I reach over Chase and pick up the ring. I place it on my palm and stare at it as I think. Angelica said she no longer had an access stone to give Chase, but perhaps she knows where I can find it. If I can get my hands on it, then Chase and I can easily go straight to the labyrinth chamber when he wakes up. Or I could go with Lumethon if Chase still hasn’t woken up in the next few days.
Before putting the ring on, I decide what my story will be. I need to know exactly what I’m going to tell Angelica so the wrong thoughts don’t end up coming to mind. When I’m clear on the details, I pick up the ring and slip it onto my left forefinger.
Hello? I wait for an answer, but none comes. Louder, as if I’m shouting the word, I say it again. Hello?
I count to six before—Nathaniel! Why the hell did you stop communicating? Did you forget all about your prison break-out plan for me? Was your goal simply to use me to get information and then leave me here?
I focus on thinking each word clearly, as if I were saying them out loud. Hi, Angelica. I work for Ch-Nathaniel. I’m aware of his plan to get you out of Velazar. I’m working on it at the moment. I just thought you should know that he’s unconscious after an attack from a morioraith in your labyrinth. He’s been like this for a week now, which is why you haven’t heard from him.
Silence is my only answer. For a few moments, I wonder if she’s taken the ring off. Then she says, I thought you sounded different. Who are you? What’s your name?
My real name comes immediately to mind before I’ve even had a chance to think of the fake name I chose just minutes ago. Chase was right about deception being difficult when you’re communicating with thoughts.
Calla, she says. Why should I trust you?
Do you want to get out of prison or not?
Of course I do, but how exactly are you going to make that happen?
Unbidden, the thought of my Griffin Ability rises to the forefront of my mind. I tug the ring off my finger before I can give away anything more about myself, but then I decide that this is actually a good thing. If Angelica senses my honesty, hopefully she’ll trust me. I quickly put the ring back on.
What a fascinating Griffin Ability, she says.
It’s what helped Nathaniel get into Velazar to see you.
Thank you for that. And I’m sorry about the morioraith. I didn’t know it was still there. The men who’ve been running things on the outside for Amon and me are in control of the labyrinth now. It turns out Nathaniel needn’t have gone in there. When the prison cell cycle took me past Amon’s cell again, I discovered the Seers are no longer there. They’ve been moved to a lighthouse. Brigham Lighthouse just outside Kagan City.
I tug the ring off again to hide my immediate reaction. Chase is trapped inside his nightmares for no reason. No reason! We could have both died because Angelica gave him the wrong information. I force myself to calm down before putting the ring back on. You had better not be lying about this.
Why would I lie? Nathaniel and I have an agreement. We’re in this together now, which is why you’re going to be freeing me from prison. If you don’t believe me, go and find the Seers first. Then you’ll know I’m telling the truth.
Fine. Nathaniel or I will be in contact soon.
I remove the ring and clench it in my closed palm. Angelica seemed quite certain that her new information is correct, but what if Amon was lying to her for some reason? Only one way to find out, I suppose. Which means I now need to find out where Kagan City is.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
I pull several books off the plant-laden shelves in Gaius’s study, but none of them mention Kagan City. There are hundreds of books in here, though, so I probably just haven’t found the right one. After stepping around a small, wheeled contraption that glides in random patterns across the study floor while stabbing the air with a hairpin, I head out to the lakeside house and then to Creepy Hollow forest.
I come out of the faerie paths a short distance from Raven and Flint’s tree. I don’t want to arrive directly outside it in case someone from the Guild happens to be watching their house. I also want to spend a few minutes out in the open with the endless forest stretching for miles in every direction. I
miss it. I miss breathing in fresh air, watching glow-bugs come out as darkness settles, and walking between giant mushrooms and luminous flowers and plants hiding exotic creatures. Now that I think about it, most of the forest should be safe for me to walk through. I only need to avoid the places where guardians are likely to be—the old Guild ruins, the homes of the people closest to me, the shoppers’ clearing. Of course, the rest of the forest is home to all kinds of potentially dangerous creatures, but as far as I’m concerned, they aren’t nearly as much of a threat to me as guardians are.
I don’t notice anyone lurking near Raven and Flint’s tree, but I decide to conceal myself anyway. It’s good practice, if nothing else. I reach their tree and bend closer to blow gently against the rough bark. As I straighten, gold dust floats away from the tree to reveal a door knocker beneath. I take hold of it and knock twice. Moments later, a doorway-shaped portion ripples and vanishes. Flint looks out. “Hello?”
I slip quickly past him into the house before dropping my illusion. “Hey, it’s me. Just taking precautions.”
“You know,” Dad says, crossing the room, “I’m really glad you didn’t figure out you could make yourself appear invisible when you were younger. You would have got up to all sorts of mischief.”
“Me? Never. Ryn was your naughty child, remember?”
“I heard that,” Ryn shouts from another room.
“Ah, you’re here,” Raven says. She stands up and shifts Dash to her hip. “Dash has been waiting for a goodnight kiss from you.”
“Oh, you little charmer.” I kiss Dash’s pudgy cheek, and he rewards me with a shy smile. Then he spreads out both hands and reaches for me.
“No, no, no, it’s bed time for you,” Raven tells him. To the rest of us, she adds, “I’ll be back down just now.” She heads for the stairs, and Flint follows her.
“Cool. If you need us to help with the food or any—Whoa.” My eyebrows shoot up and my jaw threatens to hit the floor as my gaze lands on Vi standing in the kitchen doorway. “Ho-lee pregnant lady. You’re enormous.”
She places her hands on her hips. “Thanks. That makes me feel so much more attractive than I already feel.”
I slap my hands over my mouth, then say, “No, sorry, that came out wrong. I’m just … a bit shocked. I mean, it looks like you could go into labor right now. How the heck did that happen? You’ve only been gone—I don’t know—a week?”
“Four and a half months,” Vi says. “Approximately. It’s the first time in six years that the time on Kaleidos has slowed down for so long. It’s just changed the other way, speeding up on their side. That’s why I came home.” She walks across the room and sits down, rearranging the cushions behind her before leaning back. I sit opposite her. “There’s also this ceremony thing at the Institute next week. I’m one of the people they’re honoring for all the work I’ve done there. It would be rude to miss it. I’ve got about a month left, but I’m happy to spend it here. I’ve missed Ryn,” she adds as he joins us. “More than words can describe.” Ryn takes her hand and kisses it as he sits beside her.
“Why did you do it then?” I ask. “Are you really so work obsessed that the idea of spending months alone on a faraway island seemed better than missing a few months of work?”
“Calla.” Ryn frowns at me.
“I’m sorry.” Darn my stupid runaway mouth. “I didn’t mean for that to sound rude. Never mi—”
“It’s fine,” Vi says. “You’re not the first person to ask. Before we knew about the baby, I committed myself to being part of some important changes that are soon coming up at the Institute. I don’t want to let down all the people I love working with so much by stepping out, but I also don’t want to miss out on time at home with the baby when he or she comes along. I didn’t want to have to choose, so I found a way to have both.”
“I honestly didn’t think it was going to work out,” Dad says.
“Neither did I,” Ryn says.
I give Vi an apologetic look. “Neither did I.”
“Thanks, everyone.” Vi pretends to be offended. “It’s nice to know that Tilly is the only one who thought my idea was a good one.”
“Of course she did,” Ryn says. “We all know Tilly’s just the tiniest bit crazy.”
“The best kind of crazy,” Vi says with a smile.
“Oh, Dad, where’s that letter for Calla?” Ryn asks.
Dad removes a small folded piece of paper from his pocket and leans over to hand it to me. “It came by private messenger this afternoon.” It looks like he might be about to say something else, but then his focus shifts. “Flint, is that the new KarKnox multi-tool?” He stands up and crosses the room to examine whatever it is Flint is bringing downstairs. I unfold the paper.
Calla, I’m sorry about everything. Please meet me on Saturday night at 10 pm where we used to do our target practice. Z
Saturday. That’s tonight. Zed obviously assumed Dad would be able to pass this message on quickly.
“If this Z person is a friend from the Guild,” Ryn says, “then I’d say don’t go. There’s a chance he or she is luring you to this meeting on behalf of the Guild.”
I cross my arms and frown at him. “You read my letter?”
Ryn eyes shift to the side before returning to me. “Dad read it first.”
I puff out my breath. “You’re so immature sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?” Vi asks innocently.
“This guy isn’t from the Guild,” I tell them. “I trust him, but I’ll go with caution.”
“I think I should go with you,” Ryn says.
“No thank you.” I stand and walk away quickly before I can get into an argument with Ryn. I think I can handle a meeting with Zed on my own. Besides, Ryn probably wouldn’t be pleased to discover that ‘this Z person’ is the prisoner who escaped the Guild while I watched and did nothing.
* * *
Zed and I used to do our target practice near a deserted beach somewhere in the human realm. We felt safe there. We were invisible to human eyes, and the chances were slim that anyone from our world would come across us. I arrive there ten minutes late so I can sneak up on him rather than the other way around. I walk quietly between trees that bear the scars of our many hours of practice. Knives, daggers, throwing stars, axes, spears. I learned them all out here.
Where the trees end and the dark earth mingles with light beach sand, I stop. I see a lone figure sitting just out of reach of the waves, watching the moon hanging above the water. I look both ways along the beach. Finding it deserted, I walk across the sand to join Zed. He stands the moment he sees me. “You actually came,” he says. “I thought you might be too angry after the conversation we last had. And then with everything that’s happened to you since then …”
I look around once more to check we’re still alone. Then I sit. “You know about what happened?”
“Yes. People talk.” Zed sits beside me. “I don’t think there’s anyone in Creepy Hollow who doesn’t know what went down at the Guild.”
“Terrific,” I mutter.
Zed looks at me and says, “I’m really sorry about all of it, Calla.”
I meet his turquoise gaze. “Why? You never wanted me to be part of a Guild.”
“I know, but I didn’t want it to end this way for you, with your name on the Griffin List and your ability revealed for half the Guild to see.”
I let out a long sigh. “Well, that’s the way it happened. I can’t change it, so now I have to move on.”
“You’ve always been the optimistic type,” he says with a smile.
I lift my shoulders. “Not as much these days, but I’m trying.”
“I sent you a lot of messages, but when you didn’t reply, I realized you’d probably thrown your amber away.”
“Yes.” I scoop up a handful of sand and let it run between my fingers. “I had anti-tracking spells on it, but I don’t know how good they were. I still need to get a replacement, actually. I’ve been using one th
at’s so old it only communicates with one person.”
Zed laughs. “I thought ambers like that only existed in museums.”
“Apparently not.”
“Well, do you want one of mine?” Zed asks. “I have two.”
“You have two? Why?”
“I’ve always had two. One’s personal and one’s for business.”
I can’t help laughing. “Business? What business?”
He shrugs. “Maybe I just like having two.”
“Well you won’t have two anymore if you give me one.”
“I’ll get another one. It’s fine. Besides, my ambers have the most superior anti-tracking spells on them, which you definitely need.” He leans to the side and reaches into his pocket to remove a rectangle of amber far slimmer and smoother than the one I’ve been using. “I’ll delete all my stuff off it.” He takes out his stylus. I watch the waves tumbling onto the shore while he deletes any information left on the amber. Messages from his girlfriend, perhaps, or from those guardian-haters he seems to like hanging out with these days. “Here.” He hands it to me. “It’s been wiped totally clean. It even regenerated a new amber ID so you won’t be bothered by messages from all my business associates.”
“Business associates,” I say with a snort. “Right. Well, thank you. Once I’ve disguised myself and changed my name and moved far away and started making new friends, then maybe I’ll start using social spells again.”
“Is that what you plan to do? Move away, I mean?”
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