Poppy looked at Gray, then back to Lou. She might not want to rely on her own judgment so much, but she did trust Will's judgment. "Gray's not really human. What sort of effect will it have on him?"
"To be honest, I don't know what side effects he may experience. It would be taking a chance for him to use it."
"I'll do it," Gray said.
"But, Gray--"
"Don't, Poppy. I'm willing to take the chance. It could put you and Will at risk if I don't take it. And I won't have that. Nothing more to say about it." He rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm. "Do it, Lou."
There was nothing more Poppy could do. Gray could be his stubborn self even in human form.
"All right then," Poppy said as she rolled up her sleeve.
"Seven days you say," Will said. "So you think we'll be out of there before a week is up?"
Lou laid out three syringes and then prepared the first injection. "You'll need to move fast. If you stay in there for a week, then there's going to be trouble. We'll give the drug an hour to take effect and I can see whether there will be any adverse problems, then we'll head out."
Poppy turned to Gray, concerned about what sort of effect it was going to have on him. But the expression on Gray's face told her that he was determined to do this.
An hour later, though slightly light-headed and dizzy for the first ten minutes, there seemed to be no ill effects. There was a warmth in Poppy's internal system, a zinging that felt like her blood was bubbling inside her body, and for a minute she thought she might explode. But then things seemed to settle. She put on her parka and stepped outside. The weather seemed almost balmy.
"Has it warmed up?" she asked Lou.
He smiled. "Nope, it's the izilene taking effect. Don't be foolish out there and do keep your skin protected. Even izilene has its limits. Any other questions before we head out?"
"I guess this is it," Poppy said. Excitement and fear were the two emotions that seem to clutch at her insides.
Chapter 6
* * *
They accompanied Lou to his boat. Before starting the motor, he pulled out a strange looking object similar in appearance to a sextant used for navigation.
"What is that?" Will asked. "I don't think I've ever seen anything like it."
Lou opened up the reddish binoculars and gazed off into the distance. As he studied the landscape, he adjusted the sliding brass scale. Poppy saw three beams of red light emit from the instrument and as she watched and Lou adjusted, the beams intersected to form one straight line. He then locked the reading into place.
"Ah, now we have it." He looked at the reading. "The location of the Fantasmic Corridor is always shifting. In this part of the world hardly anything ever stays the same." He held up the instrument. "This is a fantasnigator and helps to fix the current position of the corridor. Now we can be off."
He put the fantasnigator away and then, pressing a button, he started the motor. He expertly steered out into the waters, passing through channels littered with bits of ice looking like jagged shards of white gleaming glass. Poppy leaned over the side to scoop up one of the pieces that looked slightly different from the rest. It appeared to be an actual piece of looking glass.
"This isn't ice, is it?" she asked, holding it up for Lou to see. He slowed the boat, quickly glanced down at the shard in her hand, then out at the sea of pieces scattered across the surging dark blue water. He idled the boat and then donned a pair of round red-colored spectacles and studied the sharp piece more closely.
"Just what I thought," Lou said. "This one is a piece from the goblin's broken mirror. Dangerous and you shouldn't be handling it."
"You mean that magic mirror that Moira told us about?" Poppy asked.
"Yes. Good thing you have your gloves on. If it had cut you, we might have been in for a whole other set of problems." Lou reached beneath the seat and pulled out what looked like a green fishing tackle box. He opened it and tossed the piece inside. "Don't want anyone else coming into contact with it. Then he took off his glasses and turned his attention back to steering the boat out across the water.
The air was brisk, but probably not close to being as cold as it would have been had they tried this in the middle of winter. And, of course, the drug apparently helped with their body temperature.
It was an eerie feeling as they glided through the still waters, the ghostly presence of icy glaciers surrounding them. Lou said they were headed to a place called Snowy Inlet. From there they would trek across the ice to the location of the Fantasmic Corridor.
Poppy saw a white bird soaring overhead, wings outstretched, and she surmised most of the animals blended in almost seamlessly with the arctic environment.
Lou docked the boat and they got out. Poppy had thought there was a barrenness to the environment before--but here it was a stark isolation that went far beyond anything she knew. The land was so vast--open and big and pristine. Beautiful and yet frighteningly desolate.
"Here, take these," Lou said. He handed each of them a set of lightweight black goggles with red eyeglass, similar to what a swimmer might wear. "Put them on when I tell you. It's the only way you'll be able to navigate the Corridor, both going in and coming out.
Thirty minutes later, goggles in place, Poppy was shocked when she suddenly saw a kaleidoscope of colors erupt in front of her eyes. If felt like she was wearing a pair of those strange sixties psychedelic spectacles, except there was only one area where the odd aurora borealis-like imagery appeared. If she looked in other directions she saw white ice and blue sky and water.
"This is weird," Gray said.
Poppy peered down the strange Corridor of undulating lights. She finally realized that there were several entry points along the corridor and each was a different color, yet distinctly at odds from the undulating lights in the sky.
"Do you see them?" Lou asked.
"You mean the portals?" Poppy said.
"Yes, that's it."
"But which one do we go through? And more importantly how do we get back?"
"The goggles will help you to identify the correct gateway in order to return. Once on the other side, walk toward the sun and eventually a guide will meet up with you and escort you to the palace. The passageway you're looking for is sky blue. Just remember that. The other portals will take you to other realms and you don't want to go there. There are different rules to each realm. And it gets very complicated."
"This is just so strange," Poppy said. "I never would have guessed."
Lou turned and smiled at her. "You aren't supposed to guess. That's the whole point. Let's get your gear out of the boat and then you'll be on your way."
It took them the better part of another hour to get things organized and the small lightweight sled repacked. Will donned the harness for the first leg of the trip.
"Looks like you're all set," Lou said.
"How will we get back to you?" Poppy felt panic begin to set in. Lou put an arm around her and hugged her.
"You'll be fine. I'll know when you return. It's my job to know the comings and goings of the Corridor."
Lou hugged and kissed each of them before sending them on their way.
"Thank you for everything, Lou," Poppy said. Somehow within the last twenty-four hours Lou had become an integral part of her family and she hated the thought of leaving him behind.
He grinned. "My part is finished and yours is beginning. But I think it's me who should be thanking you. You're marvelous, Poppy. I'll miss you." His look took them all in. "I'll miss all of you." There was a twinkle in his eye that had Poppy blushing. Well, she had to admit her time in Griesefiord had been quite a rare and pleasant interlude.
Poppy, Will, and Gray headed toward the blue portal that wavered as though caught in a breeze that didn't seem to originate in this world.
"Well, I guess this is it," Poppy said. She took a deep breath and then stepped toward the blue gateway.
"No," Will said as he grabbed her arm and stopped her from
being the first to pass through the portal. "I'll go first."
"It doesn't matter," Poppy said.
"It does to me." And then he moved ahead, dragging the sleigh behind him before she could argue further. He disappeared from view and for a moment Poppy panicked as she lost sight of him.
She quickly followed, and Gray brought up the rear. They found themselves in what looked like a long icy tube, the floor slick as ice. Pressure seemed to suck at Poppy, making it difficult for her to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. Gray squeezed up next to her and grabbed her arm, guiding her forward. It was with a sense of relief that they finally reached the end of the tube and found themselves in a place vastly different and yet eerily the same as the world they had just left.
Once settled into this other icy realm, they removed the special goggles and replaced them with regular snow goggles. The first thing that struck Poppy was the stillness. A complete and utter silence. And then she turned her attention to the sky. Dark swirling clouds shot through with streaks of gold and red. The colors merged and separated, every now and then offering a glimpse of the fierce, almost blinding glow of an odd undulating orange sun.
"Well, I guess we go this way," Gray said as he shaded his eyes and looked up at the sky. "The sooner we're on our way, the faster we finish up and get back."
And thus they began their careful trek across the unknown barren land with only the fiery sun above as their guide. Passing huge rubbles of ice that Poppy had at first taken for land mass mountains and hills, forging across bridges of ice that spanned deep leads of surging sea beneath, they trudged along cautious of the living land beneath their feet. After what seemed like a long time, Poppy's legs felt like rubber, but she didn't feel the cold.
"We should stop shortly to give ourselves a breather," Will said. Something told Poppy he only suggested it because of her. Even toting the sled, Will didn't look as worn out as Poppy felt. Working out regularly at the gym helped some, but not as much as the constant, rugged mountain activities that Will engaged in. Or Gray's lean fitness from days foraging in the forests as a wolf. Their survival instincts were honed to a much finer edge than hers.
"I've not seen a hint of anything that even looks like a palace let alone someone to guide us there. This place must be at the outer reaches of no place," Poppy said as she collapsed onto the ground and ripped open a pemmican bar.
Gray leaned back and basked in the sunlight, eyes closed, a small smile upon his lips.
"You like being human?" Poppy asked more than a little curious about what it must feel like to transition from animal form to human.
Gray opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. "So far it's not so bad. Can't travel quite as fast as I'm used to and my scent and hearing are a bit off from what I'm accustomed to." He winked at her and then glanced quickly at Will. "But there are other compensations that make up for it."
Suddenly Gray's whole demeanor changed, turning to one of tense alertness. He stuck his nose in the air and then jumped to his feet. "Then again, maybe my instincts aren't quite so far off," he murmured.
"What is it?" Will asked as a hand went to the hunting knife on his utility belt.
Gray walked forward a few steps. He made a motion with his hand. "Stay here." He sniffed the air once more, then peered off into the blindingly white snow-and-ice-sheathed landscape. He jogged away from them, then he quickened his pace to a full-out run, a hand to the knife at his utility belt.
Poppy jumped up, then stuffed the pemmican wrapper into her pocket. "Where's he going, Will?"
"I haven't a clue. Stay here. I'm going after him."
"Forget that," she said. "I'm coming with you."
This section of land was level and seemed solid enough. Leaving their belongings behind Will and Poppy took off after Gray, who was now barely a distant speck on the stark landscape.
They slowed their pace when they spotted what had attracted Gray's attention. It was a sight out of a prehistoric movie--two large white shaggy animals crouched not too far in the distance. Long, dangerous fangs, feral black eyes, but so much bigger than what might be considered current-day arctic wolves. Their attention was focused on Gray. Heads lowered to the ground, fangs bared, low rumbles emitting into the air, Poppy knew they meant to have him for lunch.
"Gray, don't! They'll kill you."
"Stay back," Gray said without turning. He yanked off his gloves and threw them to the ground. Warily he stalked the wolves, his knife clutched firmly in his hand. "These boys know only one way. You don't know them; I do. They're bigger, but I'm faster. Whatever happens, don't interfere. I know how they fight."
Poppy took a step forward, but Will grabbed her arms and yanked her back. "Do as he says," he told her in a low voice. "These are his kind and he's going to know best how to deal with them. If he's worried about you it will only make him vulnerable." But Poppy noticed that Will stood ready with his knife gripped in his hand.
"He's one man against two of--them."
Will's fingers on her arm tightened, locking her in place, just as the two animals lunged at Gray. Poppy screamed as she saw Gray twist away, almost like an Olympic figure skater in the midst of a complicated routine.
"Gray, look out!"
The wolves spun back, but Gray was ready, his look aggressive, not defensive. Knife raised, he lunged forward with a speed that took Poppy's breath away. He was on the back of the first wolf, legs wrapped around the animal's hindquarters, one arm snaked tightly around its neck, yanking back with all his might. His other arm was a blur as he plunged the knife into the vulnerable throat. Blood streamed from the wound. They were man and beast--in a fight to the death. Poppy saw red blood spill onto the pristine white snow. Gray roared, the wolf yelped, yet it was a gurgle of sound just before it folded to the ice.
Gray quickly turned to the second wolf. This one was smaller than the first. It lunged and clamped onto Gray's leg, dragging him down to the ice. In a superhuman twist that had Poppy gasping at his speed, Gray broke free, vaulted into the air with a move that Poppy had only seen in Japanese films, and landed behind the wolf before it could even think to turn to confront its adversary.
She saw a rent in Gray's thick jacket, blood on Gray's face, more dripping down the front of his pants. Thank God for the polar outerwear that offered him at least some padding.
"Oh, God, it's going to kill him."
A growl erupted into the still air. Something feral entered Gray's expression, not the least bit human. His eyes narrowed, his lips curled back to reveal his long canines. He dropped the knife and advanced on the wolf.
"What's he doing?" Poppy asked, not really expecting an answer from Will.
Gray crouched and then launched himself at the wolf, mouth opened impossibly wide, he brought the wolf down and sank his teeth into the animal's neck, locking his jaw tightly. He ripped at the flesh, tearing out its throat. It was a vicious and savage victory. Poppy lifted a hand to her throat as she watched the animal twitch in the last throes of death. It happened so quickly--both animals dying, thick blood coating the white snow and ice, even as Gray tossed the second wolf's lifeless body away.
Gray didn't spare a look to the fallen predators. He turned and slowly trudged back to Poppy and Will. He made it halfway before he dropped to his hands and knees, head bowed. Only then did Poppy and Will race toward him. Poppy scooped up Gray's gloves and shoved them onto his blood-drenched hands.
"Where are you hurt?" she asked, even as she searched for wounds. Quickly she unzipped his torn coat, but there was no evidence of blood that she could see. Yet lower down, on his thigh there was a great gash, the thick pants ripped wide open.
"We have to take care of this right away," she said, even as she pressed the palm of her hand against the wound. Gray let out a long hiss of sound. "I'll be fine," he said in a tight voice.
She ignored him and turned to look at Will. "We need to set up camp. Can you do it? And I need the first aid kit."
"Rig
ht. I'll get the kit from the sled. Wait here."
"Damn you, Gray. You could have gotten yourself killed."
He gave her a weak grin. "I don't know how I knew, but something told me I could take them. They were just looking for an easy meal. Unlucky for them, they picked on the wrong humans."
"I've never seen anyone fight like that before. You moved--I've only ever seen stuff like that in movies."
Gray's eyes were glazed as he looked past her. "I don't know," he said slowly. "Can't say I've ever fought like that before. It must be something in the air."
"Or in Moira's magic, or maybe a result of the izilene injection."
He turned and looked at her. "Or maybe all of the above."
Will got the freestanding tent set up and anchored quickly. It would be a while before the stove would heat the tent. In the meantime he put down a ground cover and spread out the sleeping bags, zipping them together. Once that was accomplished, he set about securing the rest of their belongings while Poppy tended to Gray.
"Lie back," she said once they were settled inside the tent. "We need to get your pants off. I want a better look at that bite."
"Well, jeez, Poppy, you should have said sooner you wanted to get me out of my pants. I'd be more than happy to oblige."
Poppy frowned at him. "I thought it was Will's pants you wanted to get into."
The expression in his eyes turned heavy. "I think by now you know it isn't just Will's pants I want to get into."
Poppy caught her breath as she looked at him. Her own arousal now glowing warmly to surpass the heat being generated by the small stove. She tried to focus on Gray's injury.
Gray lifted his hips and Poppy helped to slide his damaged clothing carefully down over his thighs. His cock popped free, tempted her in ways she should not be tempted. Especially right now.
"You're as bad as Will. No underwear, huh?"
"Never even thought of it. It's only because of this frigid climate I'm wearing any clothes at all. The outer gear keeps me plenty snug and warm. That and the izilene, of course. Not so good as fur though. I'll admit I miss that."
Fantasmic Tales: Poppy Rider And The Glass Shards Page 6
