Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons (Dusky Hollows: Book 1)

by Nan Sweet

Chapter 17

  Carrie and the princess lounged in front of the fire, a favorite place because as the princess explained, only the very privileged were allowed flame under the world. It was too expensive to remove the smoke. The underground tunnels always tended toward cool and Carrie was used to an indoor temperature that was much warmer.

  “I have to go home, back to the overworld.” Carrie said. “I like it here, but my family will worry.”

  “Stay right here.” Minerva stood and with careful and precise steps left the room. Any other kid would go dashing out. Not Minerva. But at least they jumped on the bed. And Minerva spoke to Carrie like a friend.

  Minerva returned and sat primly back in her chair. Handing Carrie a bracelet, she said, “This is a portal to our world. My father bought three from the portal guardians. He gave me one and is holding the other ones. He's afraid I'll lose it.”

  That sounded more like a regular father to Carrie. “What do I do?”

  “If you're in the other world and want to come here, put on the bracelet. See that little ruby stone there?” The princess pointed to a glittering red stone set between two yellow stones. “Just touch that red stone on the front at the same time that you touch the yellow stone here on the side. You have to think really hard that you want to use the bracelet and where you want to be. It's smart so you won't accidentally end up traveling when you don't want to.”

  Carrie took the bracelet from Minerva carefully. The bracelet was beautiful with many sparkling colors that glowed in the firelight. “Thank you.”

  “Would it bring me to my world?” Carrie wanted to put the bracelet on right then and try it. But she didn't want to seem rude.

  “You can try it out if you want.” Minerva said. “The world you came from belongs to the yellow stones.”

  Carrie tried it on and then pressed the yellow stones while thinking hard of her room. Nothing happened.

  “It's still a beautiful bracelet,” she said, disappointed.

  “It works.” Minerva said, “When you want to come here, it will work.”

  Carrie left the bracelet on and changed the subject to the places they'd seen. Carrie started telling Minerva about camping. She was explaining to Minerva what marshmallows were and how to cook them over a fire when a loud screeching sound echoed through the roof.

  “We have to go.” Minerva stared at the fire while black soot and ash shook loose from the hole above and fell onto the flames.

  “What is it?” Carrie leaned over the fire and twisted her head to look up, but the hole was dark.

  “Don't. They're coming.” Grabbing Carrie's hand, Minerva tugged her until Carrie was running behind her in and out of halls. Everyone else had the same thing in mind. It seemed everyone in the underground gathered in the halls which were getting congested.

  One of the guards saw Minerva and started pushing people aside, yelling, “Make way. Make way for the princess.”

  Carrie heard a scream and then a surge in the crowd made people cram together as they ran through the halls. Once a woman in front of her stumbled, and Carrie felt the crowd behind her when she tried to stop herself. With one hand on the wall, she helped the woman up, thinking of the stories of people who were trampled.

  The crowd pressed until Carrie felt claustrophobic and wondered if she would suffocate in the mass of people. She had lost sight of Minerva who had followed the guard without hesitation even when the woman beside her fell. Carrie had stopped and turned and now she was alone in the crowd. While the people around her seemed to see in the dark, Carrie could only make out the shadowy forms of people in the dim light while she struggled to follow the masses.

  The hall opened to a large cavern. Sunlight filtered in from the roof, and plants grew on the ledges of the high rock walls. The room was filling with people, although it seemed that the cavern still had lots of space. She found the princess standing with a pair of guards high on the wall, out of the way of the crowds. If Carrie was right, King Glome was seated on a throne near where the princess stood.

  It seemed like a good time to escape. She wanted to know first what was going on. If all of the underground dwellers ran for this cavern, then Carrie was willing to bet there was something outside the cavern that was scary or dangerous or both.

  Minerva was searching the cavern for Carrie. From the place where Carrie waited, she could see the princess searching the crowd looking back and forth. Sinking back behind a large rock, Carrie sat down. She felt rude for hiding. She liked Minerva after the rocky start they had, but she needed to regroup.

  She watched the people coming in. Many of them were dressed in work clothes. Now that she could see, the difference between the working class and royalty was apparent.

  “Are you an overworlder?” A girl a few years younger than Carrie crept from her mother's side to take a seat next to Carrie.

  “Yes.” Carrie whispered. She didn't want to draw a lot of attention to herself. As the only overworlder in the room, it wouldn't take long for the princess to find her once she started asking others to look.

  “Why are you here?”

  “It's a long story.” One that Carrie really, seriously, did NOT want to tell.

  “There's another overworlder girl here, too. She's staying down the hall with Mama Merilee. Her name is Ivy. She has a funny bird.”

  For the first time since Carrie went underground, she had hope. “Ivy? She's my best friend. Do you know where she is?”

  The little girl grinned. It was a little disconcerting to see the length of the teeth above her nearly invisible lips. “Sure. Follow me.”

  Carrie had settled behind a boulder along the wall. Now she was darting and weaving among the folk milling about waiting for an explanation about what just happened. The cave was brighter than the tunnels and Carrie let out a whoop when she saw Ivy.

  The friends hugged while nearby underworlders looked on with amusement.

  “You're here.” Carrie leaned in close and whispered, “You would not believe what I have been through.”

  Ivy laughed, “I think I would.”

  A trumpet, just loud enough to get everyone's attention rang out from the front of the cavern. One of the generals, a tall distinguished gentleman in a long red overcoat stood on the raised rock that formed a natural dais.

  “The men will be going out soon to face the enemy.” The crowd roared in approval. Ivy pulled Carrie back into the tunnels, away from the people and waved to Merrilee to tell her everything was okay. Twif followed.

  “I'm so glad you're here. How do we get home?” Carrie allowed herself to be dragged into the dark hallways.

  “I have no idea. Mrs. Huffity brought me here, and we rescued Sparky and then there was a fight. I don't know what happened.” Ivy and Carrie slipped into the dark corridor.

  Twif fluttered. I don't like it in the dark. Can't we go back?

  Twif, can you find the surface? Do you have the ability to find the sky and lead us out of here?

  Yes, I think so. I smell daylight a few miles north. Twif landed on Ivy's shoulder.

  Ivy petted Twif's head. She was growing fond of the little bird. Please, lead us to daylight.

  Carrie heard Twif, too. She gasped. “Is that the bird talking to us, the way Sparky did?”

  “I know. Isn't it awesome? He's going to help us get out of here.” Ivy trailed a finger along the darkness of the wall. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Everything was blurry without her glasses anyway.

  “We'd better hurry. I don't know what the trouble is, but I was locked in a cage and only escaped by coming down here. We need to find Sparky and get out of here.”

  Twif gave Ivy directions, sometimes flying forward and back through the tunnels to make sure he was going toward the surface. They heard rumbling behind them and the sounds of clashing metal.

  “Looks like it's already happening.” Carrie said, with a glance behind her. “I hope Minerva is okay.”

  “Is there anything
we can do to help?” Ivy asked.

  “No. Minerva said the guards would protect them. She said they would wait in the cavern until the fighting was done.” Carrie frowned, “Which means we probably picked a bad time to come through the tunnels. We'd better get out now.”

  Twif understood what Carrie was saying and the girls started running. In the dark corridors, they ran into walls, banging their arms, knees, and foreheads a few times. “Watch out for that step.” Carrie said, as she caught her foot.

  “Twif says we can go up now.” Ivy rubbed her arm. “My arm still hurts.”

  “Ask him to go ahead and see who's up there. I don't want to be captured again.” Carrie took the second step and then the third. She didn't want to be stuck in the darkness, but stepping into a trap would be much worse.

  Ivy blew out a huge sigh, “And we don't want to get eaten either.”

  “I'm afraid to ask.” Carrie yawned and stretched. “Boy, I could use some sleep.”

  “I've been sleeping for a day and a half.”

  Twif called back and the girls hurried up the stairs, the stones ringing under their feet. The stairs opened to a tower. The stones were huge. Each individual stone as tall as the girls.

  “I wouldn't want to meet the builders.” Ivy said.

  “Sunlight at last!” Carrie did a happy dance.

  Twif flew outside, but his thoughts were scattered, and he seemed to be twittering in bird song.

  Ivy laughed and looked down at her ripped jeans and torn shirt. Merilee had cleaned them as much as possible, but they still looked bad. “Mom's going to kill me. I didn't realize how bad these were. Let's get going.”

  Carrie laughed, “I'm just happy to see light. Those tunnels are depressing.”

  The two girls found the exit and walked out of the stone castle onto a hillside with twisted and gnarled pines and huge boulders lying as if plucked by a giant and randomly dropped in the barren fields. “Guess it's winter here, too. I wish I had my jacket.” Carrie said. “Hope it doesn't get cold. It's actually pretty nice for being this high up.”

  “Me too. Maybe both of us calling for Sparky and Mrs. Huffity will help. I have no idea how to get home. Some rescue this turned out to be.” Ivy laughed and flipped her hair back.

  “Hey, you're not wearing your glasses.” Carrie exclaimed.

  “Nope. They're sitting at the bottom of a very tall cliff and I have no intention of going back for them no matter how many weeks of dishes I have to wash.” Ivy crossed her arms. “You know, a part of me wishes we could stay here. No school. No chores.”

  “Yeah...it would be fun for a while. But they don't have ice-cream here or chocolate cake, and I know my parents are a pain and my mom is acting crazy right now, but I kinda miss her.”

  “Me, too. But I don't get junk food anyway.” Ivy said. Still, she felt homesick. Her dad would be building up a fire right now and telling her they'd get her new glasses when they returned to civilization.

  Twif who soared in a circle above Ivy, asked about ice-cream and was given a long and vivid description of ice-cream with caramel and crunchy chocolate and all things delicious. He winged away with promises to return soon. All that talk of treats had made him hungry.

  As they trudged down the hill, Ivy said, “I'm scared, Carrie.”

  “That Sparky won't answer?”

  “Yeah, I mean, what if we're stuck here forever?” Ivy's green eyes were wide, and without her glasses, she seemed a lot younger.

  “Okay. I'm calling her now. You do it, too. If they answer, they answer. If not, well, at least we know where we stand.” Carrie closed her eyes. She had no idea how this telepathic thing worked. If she knew how to scream with her mind, she'd do it. She imagined herself with a loud and booming voice and called again and again. Mrs. Huffity. Sparky. Mrs. Huffity.

  Ivy called to Mrs. Huffity and Sparky the way she always did, calling them by name and asking if they were there.

  A quiet voice answered from a great distance. We're here. But we have traveled a long way, and Sparky is molting. You will both need to return to the gate alone.

  We don't know how to get there. Carrie said.

  Mrs. Huffity sent an image to Carrie and Ivy. It was amazing that she could send the landscape exactly as it looked. She showed them both the canyons and a river with three waterfalls. After following the river to the third waterfall, they were to turn and walk up the hillside.

  Ivy opened her eyes, her mouth open. “Whoa.”

  “That's going to be a long walk.”

  It was an incredibly long walk. They were almost at the gate when both Ivy and Carrie felt a spasm of pain from Sparky, quickly covered up.

  “Did you feel that?” Carrie was so sore even her arms hurt. She wanted to sleep for a year and find a nice civilized place where she could have hot baths and play computer games.

  “Sparky's in trouble. I don't think she wanted us to know.” Ivy looked longingly at the gate. “We can actually see it. We're almost there.”

  A shimmering in the air where the mist of a waterfall met sunlight made Carrie think of unicorns and magic.

  “We can't go home yet, can we?” Carrie said.

  “We can. I'm just not sure we should.” Ivy and Carrie stopped short of the mist.

  “I would really like to get out of this princess outfit.” Although Carrie had to admit, the dress was pretty and the shoes much more comfortable than any overworld dress shoes. Truly, they were more like padded slippers, like ballerina shoes, but large enough to actually feel comfortable moving in.

  “And my backup pair of glasses.” Ivy rubbed her eyes.

  “We might not be able to get back, once we leave.” Carrie thought she might stay, but Ivy had two parents who loved her more than anything. Carrie figured hardly anyone would even notice her gone, but the same was not true for her friend.

  “We can't leave Sparky alone here.” Ivy said.

  “You should go back. Your mom will be worried.” Carrie tried to be brave, tried to pretend that she could do it alone, but secretly she missed Ivy and hoped she'd have company.

  “So will yours.” Ivy flopped down on the ground. Until they decided finally that they were going to go home or save Sparky, she didn't want to accidentally stumble into the gate and end up back home.

  “Maybe. What do you think is wrong with Sparky? She was afraid.”

  “Her thoughts were jumbled. I think she was trying to hide it from us.” Ivy said.

  “How will we find her?”

  “Find who?” Twif alighted on Ivy's shoulder.

  “We've decided to find Sparky instead of going directly home.” Carrie said, wanting to stick a finger out to Twif. For some reason, the bird only responded to Ivy. If Carrie got too close, Twif would fly away without explanation.

  “We'll need to go north.” Twif fluttered his wings and a small feather drifted down to land on Ivy's back.

  “Wait. How do you know where to go?” Carrie asked.

  “The dragons are loud. They hurt my ears.”

  “I thought you couldn't hear them.” Ivy said.

  Twif looked down at his feet and then cocked his head, “Maybe I hear them.”

  “Great. We're going to be led on a dangerous journey into unknown territory by a lying bird.” Carrie threw herself onto the ground and dangled her feet over the edge.

  “I want to find Sparky.” Ivy said, even while she looked longingly toward the mist.

  “If we leave this world, we might never get back. But then if we leave the gate, we might never go home again.” Carrie leaned back and put her face up, feeling the cold speckles of mist fall on her skin. “You know, I kind of like it here.”

  “Wouldn't you miss your parents?” Ivy asked.

  “Yes. Sometimes I'm really homesick. I just like that there is something more than my boring life.” Carrie said. She pushed herself up, “Shall we go?”

  Ivy nodded, “I have a feeling we're going to regret this. Twif, lead
the way and don't forget how to get back to this waterfall.”

  “That's for sure.” Carrie giggled. It might not have been the appropriate time for a laugh, but something in choosing the adventure for herself made it seem great. “I wish our phones worked out here. We could call and tell our parents we are stuck in a parallel universe and won't be home for breakfast...or dinner. I wonder what time it is there.”

  “No idea. Only that I think staying might actually be an improvement to the trouble we'll be in when we finally do go home.” Ivy hugged Carrie, “I'm glad you're here.”

  But they didn't get far. Before they could leave the misty valley, Mrs. Huffity broke into their minds with her stern teacher voice. Sparky is fine. You two get home, right now. I'll see you back at school.

  Ivy and Carrie exchanged the glance they used when they narrowly escaped from getting into trouble. Ivy shrugged, “Guess we better head home after all.”

  “Yeah.” Carrie sighed. “I was kind of enjoying this place once you got here.”

  “Me, too, but I'm ready for home and food and my own bed.” Ivy looked up the rock face of the waterfall and then scanned the skies for Twif. “Twif? Twif! Change of plans.”

  The little bird circled back and swooped in front of the girls. Here I am.

  Twif, we need to say goodbye now. We're not going to see Sparky. Mrs. Huffity said we had to go home. Ivy watched Twif circle above and remembered her promise. Mrs. Huffity. I made a promise to Twif.

  Mrs. Huffity answered back, Tell him to wing his way here.

  Twif heard the dragon and said, Thank you. Dipping a wing as a final good bye, the bird flapped into the sky.

  The girls edged their way along the cliff above the waterfall. The drop was only about ten feet, and they had plenty of room while they were stepping sideways across the slippery rock.

  Carrie went through first. One minute she was sprayed with the light droplets of water that mist up around waterfalls, and the next she was standing in the snow shivering. She took another step forward, only to be knocked down when Ivy came running through.

  “Ommmph.” Ivy fell, hitting her chin against Carrie's shoulder.

  “Ow. In a hurry?” Carrie wasn't often snarky with Ivy, but her shoulder hurt.

  “Sorry. I didn't want to be left behind. You just disappeared.”

  “What time do you think it is?” They were in the empty lot between the furniture store and the bank.

  “I don't even know what day it is.” Ivy said. “Let's get home before anyone sees us like this. We're a mess.”

  Carrie looked down and nodded. Her yellow princess slippers were splattered with all shades of brown mud, and the dress was dirty, not to mention completely out of style for a small town...or a big town. Kids just didn't wear stuff like that.

  “Your house or mine?” Carrie asked. There was no question that they were going together. Both sets of parents would be angry. They might as well take them on at the same time.

  “Yours?” Ivy asked, a grimace on her face. She looked different without her glasses.

  The empty lot they had magicked their way into was on Main Street and the time was late, in the middle of the night judging by the emptiness. In small towns, you might get a car traveling through once every twenty minutes, less in winter.

  The air tasted different. That was the first thing Ivy noticed. Earth had a smell that was well, unique to Earth. Winter tasted like frozen water when a kid breathed.

  They trudged the mile to Carrie's house. Her dad's car was in the driveway and an unknown car had been parked on the street. “Hey, my dad's there. It's a miracle.”

  Ivy hesitated on the threshold when Carrie opened the door. It looked like her family had guests. It wasn't the best time in the world to be crashing a party. They didn't even know what time it was.

  “You're home!”

  Ivy realized at that moment the kind of trouble they were in. This wasn't talking in class trouble or even forgetting your homework...this was the serious grounded for life kind. When Carrie's dad said, “You'd better call Ivy's parents. I'll call the police and let them know the girls are safe.”

  Police? Ooohhhh...that is not good.

  That's what Ivy was thinking. And when she finished thinking the thought, she heard Twif ask What are police?

  And then Ivy thought. This is REALLY not good.

  But she couldn't explain to Twif or even figure out how the heck Twif was talking in her head now that she was home. Because everyone was hovering. Carrie's mom and dad and what looked like grandparents, an uncle and cousins.

  Carrie was busy being hugged. Her mom sobbed with huge breaths. “Where did you go? Why didn't you call?”

  Carrie's dad was busy explaining that the girls were safe at home and no, sir, no idea where they've been or what they've been up to, they just came through the door. He hung up and proceeded to call Ivy's parents.

  Ivy cringed listening in to that phone call. She overheard her dad crying. Her dad did NOT cry EVER. It was totally weird, perhaps not like hanging out three thousand feet above the ground in a bird's nest, but weird enough.

  “Yes, she's here. I'd be happy to give her a ride over.”

  Carrie was just pulling away from her mom when she overheard. She really wanted to talk to her dad. She said, “Ivy, want me to go with you?”

  Her dad would hear nothing of Carrie going out again. He said firmly, “You get upstairs and get to bed. We'll talk about what you were doing first thing tomorrow, but you're certainly not going anywhere else tonight. And if I catch you sneaking out of the house again, you'll lose access to so many electronic devices, you'll feel stuck in the dark ages.”

  “Doug, she just got home...”

  Carrie could see her dad's eyes squinting and his jaw harden. He was just about ready to start crabbing at her mom. And she'd nag him. And then Carrie would end up crying in her room wondering why the world hated her.

  “Hey!” Carrie said. She was actually a little proud of herself. She didn't usually get in the middle of her parents' fights. Using a princess's proper mode of speaking with head tilted just so, she said, “Dad, you're always gone and sometimes I just want to talk to you. At the moment, I am tired and going to bed.”

  She didn't storm. She walked with her head held high, princess style. After all princesses didn't need to cause a scene or slam their doors. They knew when they spoke someone would listen. It worked for Minerva. It would work for Carrie.

  Carrie's dad stopped talking in mid-sentence. He watched Carrie walk up the stairs. Shaking his head, he said, “We'd better get going.” From the top of the stairs, Carrie paused and listened, wishing he would apologize to Mom, but he didn't, and she didn't either.

  Her mom stood silently looking everywhere but at her estranged husband. The rest of the family chattered noisily, wondering out loud where the girls had been.