Orsika glanced from Danú to me one more time, then strode out the door. Sabra nodded to Danú and followed.
There wasn’t any way she’d let me stay, I could tell.
I stepped to the edge of the bed and roamed my gaze over Gus’s features one more time, hoping he’d open his eyes and come with us. But he didn’t.
I squeezed his hand. No matter what, I’ll be back to make sure you’re safe.
For a swift heartbeat, I thought I felt him squeeze back. Convincing myself I’d imagined it, I left the room without looking at Danú.
In the corridor, I found Orsika, Sabra, and Georgia Anne waiting for me. I nodded my thanks to them for their support, and we headed to the courtyard.
Georgia Anne looped her arm through mine and smiled up at me as we strode away from Gus’s room. It was a ridiculous gesture, but I couldn’t help but smile at her. Instead of pulling away like I’d started to, I patted her hand and soaked in her genuine concern.
When we arrived in the square where all the announcements were made, it was full of novitiates forming into groups and awaiting orders. There was no sight of the portal or the demons.
Luca stood as leader with a group that was a mix from all the sectors. Jacob headed a different group. When I looked around, it appeared that all the groups were mixed. It was a good strategy, and would ensure all the sectors’ survival.
Aurora was on the platform above everyone, speaking to another Illuminator master. Donovan and Carlos were nowhere in sight. As I scanned the groups, I noticed that none of the third levels were present.
“They must have sent the others away already,” Georgia Anne said, noticing the same thing. “Everyone here is a second level . . . I don’t see any first levels. There were only four when we ate in the dinin’ hall two nights ago. They kept to themselves, though, so I don’t know ‘em very well.”
“Perhaps you should join Jacob’s group,” Sabra said.
Georgia Anne and I both turned to her. I was confused, but Georgia Anne’s face flushed pink.
“I saw the way you were staring at him last night at dinner.” Sabra pumped her eyebrows, and I couldn’t believe she could joke around at a time like this.
Georgia Anne seemed like she wanted to hide in a hole.
“You four will need to join one of the other groups,” Tarnan said as he approached us after speaking with two other Arbiter novitiates. “Spread out among them, not all of you can go into the same one.”
“Why can’t we stay together?” Sabra asked.
“We have assigned leaders to each of the groups, and we need a mix from all the sectors within each.You’re all Mystics.”
I’d never seen Tarnan smile or sound anything but formal. He was a battle commander to the core.
“I can lead a group,” I offered.
That earned a cold stare.
“You’ll join one of the others.” Tarnan spun and strode for another Illuminator novitiate, who seemed lost.
“I’m not up for babysitting someone else’s group,” Orsika said. When I glanced at her, she had a slight curl to her upper lip.
“Why do you think they’d split us up?” Georgia Anne asked.
“Because they want to make sure enough of us survive to carry on the sectors if something happens,” Sabra said. She sounded as irritated as Orsika, and I was right there with them.
“Oh,” Georgia Anne answered.
I glanced at her and noticed she had paled. I didn’t move from my spot. Regardless of what the others did, I wasn’t leaving until I had confirmation that Gus was safe.
If they don’t want me to lead, they don’t need me.
Aurora still spoke with others on the platform, and Danú wasn’t anywhere in sight.
Without a word to the others, I strode for the stairs of the platform. I heard Tarnan call out to me, but I didn’t care. I hit the stairs and took them two at a time. A commotion broke out behind me, and as I darted a glance, I saw that Sabra, Orsika, and even Georgia Anne had put themselves in Tarnan’s path.
The fact that I had friends willing to do that for me almost made me stumble, but I clenched my teeth and zoned in on Aurora.
“What are you going to do about Gus?” I demanded when I reached the top.
I hadn’t waited for her to finish speaking with another, and she completely ignored me.
“Make sure that this area is closed and we don’t leave anything behind,” Aurora continued to the Arbiter at her side.
“Aurora, I’m not leaving here without Gus, or at least proof that he’s been safeguarded in some way.”
All the smaller conversations on the platform stopped, and everyone stared at me. At least I’d finally garnered her attention.
“You,” she stepped closer to me, “are a novitiate who will do as she’s told.”
“I’m a Valkyrie who will not follow anyone blindly.” Not anymore.
Aurora smiled at me with another step closer. “You are welcome to go back to Valhalla, if that’s what you feel is best for you.”
A lump burned in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe, but I stood tall. “Gus needs your protection. Danú said he’d be safe, and I need to be convinced before I will leave..”
The druid stood directly in front of me. Neither of us spoke. I clenched my hands at my sides, not because I was going to fight, but to keep the shake in them from showing.
“He will be glamoured. Whether by Danú or myself, it will happen. You are never again to question the authority of any High Council member, or the High Priestess.”
There was no hint of kindness or compassion in her tone. I’d crossed a line, and there was no going back from it.
I was okay with that.
“I need proof.”
“It will be done, now go back with the others.”
“Where are you sending everyone? After you show me proof that Gus is safe, where am I going?”
“At the moment, that’s debatable for you.” Her glare pierced me to the core, but I wouldn’t back down. “The others will be spread to different areas for their safety.”
“I don’t do well on Midgard. If I’m there for any length of time . . . “ I finally swallowed the lump in my throat and flicked my eyes to the sky for a second. “I fall apart.”
When I met Aurora’s stare, her expression had softened somewhat. “The reason you suffered before is because of your fae heritage. It battled with the human side, which had been turned Valkyrie. I can help you with that.”
My what?
19
What did Aurora mean, my fae heritage? Would there ever be a time in my life when I’d get a straight answer from anyone who claimed to be in authority?
“Explain what you mean?” There wasn’t a lot of time and I had no more patience.
She twisted her neck and gave a slight nod to the others on the platform. Everyone left, either through a door to the side or down the stairs, leaving only the two of us to stare at each other.
“Odin felt it was best that you learn of your father from us, however, with all that has happened, it wasn’t a top priority. However, you do have the right to know, and I can help alleviate your suffering when you travel.”
There were chairs along the back of the balcony. One had a taller back with velvet cushions, while the others were less grand. Aurora gestured for me to sit on one of the smaller chairs.
I hadn’t even realized I’d stepped closer to them, but I sat all the same.
“Many years ago, the Vergence did not exist, because it wasn’t necessary. All the gods lived in harmony. Many even chose to live in the human realm. Then there was a rebellion among our people that ended up causing a civil war. The Tuatha split, with some moving here to Breasal, and the majority moving to the underworld, called the Sidhe. Regardless of which choice we made, we remained fae. Sadly, living under the mounds of the Sidhe changed the attitude and, in some cases, the appearance of many who moved there. The Tuatha retain our true form. We are cousins to the elves
of Alfheim and Vanaheim—did you know that?”
I did not, but I only shook my head and adjusted my wings. Gus needed a glamour, everyone was being sent away, and she was speaking of ancient history.
“This will not take long, Niasa. Have patience.”
I bit my cheek and gave a tight smile that we both knew wasn’t genuine.
Aurora continued her story. “We did not learn until much later that there was a third faction: those who had chosen to stay among the humans, disguised to fit in. They called themselves the Milesians because they believed that they would be the only Tuatha to survive for millennia. This is the group to whom your father belongs.”
Aurora turned her attention to the courtyard below for a brief second, and I followed her gaze. A portal had opened near the center, a shimmering oval that viewed into another realm. One of the groups, the one headed by Jacob, was stepping through it and disappearing.
I snapped my eyes to Aurora. “You have to glamour Gus, you can’t leave him unprotected.”
I didn’t care about who my father was or how many times the Tuatha had split themselves apart. Time was running out for my friend.
“I will make sure it is done. You have my word.”
We stared at each other for several heartbeats. I nodded even though I wasn’t completely convinced. Danú had promised his protection also, but no one was giving me proof.
Aurora reached over and took hold of my hand. “We will have to finish this discussion later, but for now, you will need to trust me.”
A calm spread through my body by her touch, and against my will to stay strong, my shoulders slumped. She put the fingers of her free hand against my temple, and we both closed our eyes.
Flashes of light sparked behind my eyelids. I tried to pull away but couldn’t. My blood began to sizzle, as if armies of ants scurried through my veins, leaving a trail of fire. Mentally, I wanted to scream, but physically, I couldn’t move. I thought it would consume me. The pain threatened to melt away any resolve I had left.
Then, as fast as it began, it was over.
“Open your eyes, Niasa. I have awakened your fae blood. The two sides of your heritage will now flow together harmoniously.”
Not only did I open them, I snapped them wide. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’ll no longer suffer in the human realm, and it’s time to go. Not everyone knows how the current world works, so you can help the others adjust while you wait to return.”
She stood and I immediately followed, wanting to ask more about what she meant, both about my blood and where we were going, but a commotion broke out at the base of the steps.
Orsika battled against two Arbiters, while Sabra had changed to her leopard form to square off against a Master Illuminator. Aurora strode to the railing and stared down at the melee.
“Enough!” Her voice echoed off the stone walls surrounding the square, and everyone halted. “There will be order.”
I stepped close enough to peer over the edge. Luca held the tunic of one of the other Mystic novitiates in his hand, and Georgia Anne’s hair was sticking out in all directions, as if she’d been through a windstorm. A faint smell of something burning floated in the air, but I couldn’t tell where it came from.
“Return to your units and continue the evacuation.”
No one moved at first, then one by one, they put aside their protest and gathered themselves back into groups as she’d commanded. Then she faced me.
“I will confirm that Gus is safe. Now go with the others.”
There wasn’t any more I could do, that was clear.
I gave a quick nod and headed to the stairs as nausea rattled my stomach. Odin had lied to me. Something told me trusting Aurora and Danú would be equally unwise. All leaders had their own agenda.
As I reached the bottom step, Tarnan grabbed me by the arm and rushed me toward the portal. Sabra, Georgia Anne, and Orsika stood waiting. “You need to hurry to catch up to the unit that already left. Stay out of sight, if possible, and don’t interact with any of the humans.”
With a shove, he sent me through the bright opening. I felt someone grab onto my tunic as I stumbled over my feet and fell through the air.
I landed on my backside in the middle of a stand of tall pines, only to have another body crash into me a second later. The flash of red hair made me groan.
Georgia Anne scrambled off my lap and plopped onto the ground with her legs splayed in front of her. She stared wide-eyed all around her without a word.
“Where are the others?” she asked, turning my direction.
I hopped to my feet and made a slow circle as I scanned the area. Forest sounds of birds and skittering animals could be heard, but no voices. It was just the two of us.
“Do you think they sent the others somewhere else and just made it seem like we’d stay together? I grabbed onto ya, so maybe they were held back.”
Her reasoning didn’t seem wrong. It very well could have been a ploy to send me through first. There was supposed to be a unit here also, though I couldn’t hear anyone. From the way Aurora had mentioned ‘current time,’ I’d expected sidewalks and coffee shops, not a forest.
“We should stay together, but search the area for anyone else,” I said, then chuckled under my breath.
My words and tone reminded me of Gus’s cadet-voice. I wished he could be here, too.
“What’s so funny?” Georgia Anne had picked herself up from the ground and was trying to calm her wild hair.
“Nothing.”
She wouldn’t understand, and I didn’t feel like sharing. I, too, tightened the string on my curls. I didn’t need that added aggravation.
“How’s your sense of direction?” I asked.
“Pretty good, actually. I used to go huntin’ with my daddy and brothers. They taught me how to manage in the woods. Where’s your wings?”
I realized with a start why she asked. I was in corporeal form because we were in the human realm. My wings would only become accessible if I changed.
“I have to be in ethereal form to use them here. Do you feel any different? I don’t know how it should feel for you. I’ve never met a human who has traveled from another god-realm before so I don’t know how it works.”
Georgia Anne’s eyes shimmered with tears. “I don’t know either, but I feel the same.”
“Let me shift and see if I’m still visible to you, alright?”
She nodded and appeared to be using all her energy to keep herself from having an emotional breakdown.
That was helpful and appreciated. I changed quickly before she lost her control. It felt good to stretch my wings. I fluffed them and waited for Georgia Anne’s reaction, but she seemed lost. “Can you see me?”
She stared at me and nodded, then narrowed her eyes. “You’re all shimmery red around the edges now, though.”
“That’s my aura, it happens . . .” I trailed off.
I wondered why she didn’t have one. I could usually see them on others when I was in ethereal form. When I’d claim souls, those without an aura were either too young, or their destined afterlife wasn’t settled yet. I decided that living in Breasal must have made her different.
“Actually, I’m not sure what happens anymore,” I admitted.
I changed back to corporeal form because it would be easier to travel through the trees. It also seemed like Georgia Anne might need some time to adjust, and appearing as a human like she was seemed more polite.
“Do you think they all would have landed in the same spot? Or is it like we were pushed through without a parachute, and all landed scattered-like?” Her voice sounded like a child’s who had been left alone, verging on tears that I wouldn’t have the patience to deal with.
I had no idea what a parachute was, but it was possible we’d landed in different areas.
“I don’t hear anyone near us, so we’ll have to pick a direction and see where it takes us. Any suggestions?”
She put her hands on
her hips and thought for a moment. “If we’re on Earth again, then I’d say we should head west. It’ll give us the most amount of time in the daylight, and maybe we can find out where we are.”
I raised my brows at her response. It was the most logical, precise answer I’d ever heard from her.
“Let’s go, then.”
We came across a game trail not long after, and followed along as it wound through the trees. I could hear the rushing of water not far ahead and welcomed the idea of a drink.
When we came to the top of a steep embankment, Georgia Anne came up beside me, and we both stared at the view. Ahead of us was a river, but it spanned at least a hundred feet, and rushed by with a swift current. There was no way across that I could see.
The trail went straight down to the water’s edge at a steep angle. I could fly down and see what was there, but since we couldn’t get across the river, the effort didn’t seem worthwhile.
It hit me then that I felt strong. A little worry flitted through my mind that it would go away, but I shoved it aside.
“We’re going to have to follow the edge for a while, I guess, and see what we find. Any suggestions of going north or south?”
Georgia Anne let out a big exhale and turned one way and then the other. “I don’t think it matters.”
I could see the way she fidgeted and kept flicking her fingers against her thumb. She was helpful, but I needed to be a better leader. “Let’s go north. I’ve got excellent hearing, so I’ll lead. You let me know if you see anything, alright?”
She nodded and I tried to reassure her with a smile. Though I knew from experience that I couldn’t conjure enough of a curve to my lips to make it anything more than a creepy grimace. I saw in Georgia Anne’s expression that I’d done it again. I patted her shoulder.
“Thank you for being so transparent. I know my smile isn’t what others find comforting,” I said, and started walking.
“We all have things we can work on,” she replied. “Maybe try showin’ your teeth.”
I considered what she said. When I was relaxed and having fun, I knew my smile was genuine. But, at the moment all I could picture in my mind was the ragged teeth of the draugar that had attacked Gus and I the last time I was on Midgard. That wouldn’t be going in the right direction.
Time Academy Page 11
