by Ben Hale
The liquid magic filled the trough, and flowed around her until it found the opening. Then it poured down to her. Its touch on her feet was like a branding iron, searing into her flesh and seeping into her pores. The pain ripped a scream from her lips. She struggled to pull away, but the shackles held her down as the magic climbed up her body. She strained her neck as it reached her waist . . . and then her chin. Panic burgeoned within her, rising with the mounting agony.
She fought her fear with every shred of willpower she possessed, and clenched her eyes shut as the liquid covered her head. Relentless, the magic seeped into her face and eyes. Like thousands of needles piercing her flesh, the horrendous agony mounted. Rending and tearing her shaking form, the liquid sank into her bones, splitting and fraying every inch of her.
Blood poured from her and mingled with the terrifying liquid, and became altered before seeping back into her body. Where it flowed the excruciating torture heightened. She fell to her knees inside the liquid, her consciousness shrieking for relief. Unable to hold her breath any longer, she opened her mouth to scream . . .
The horrific liquid poured into her lungs, scorching and rupturing. She collapsed, fighting to breathe, begging for relief. Each second was an eternity of torment as the liquid magic redefined the makeup of her flesh.
Every argument she'd used to convince herself was gone, too weak to hold up against the onslaught of pure torture. She clung to her memory of Jack. In her mind he dared her to survive. His expression was of loving scorn.
You are the great oracle, Siarra, he seemed to say. Are you going to let this defeat you?
She willed herself to fight as the seconds stretched into hours, and then days. If she survived she would live to fight the war her mother had foreseen, a war with the Dark.
If she survived.
Chapter 2: Visions of the Future
Tess flinched away, her mind returning to the present. Siarra's memory had been vivid to the point of painful, and Tess struggled to breathe. The agony faded with the images, allowing her to face her ancestor. Siarra's expression was of sympathy.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It was the easiest way to show you. The weight we carry is heavy, and yet we are gifted with the capacity to protect worlds. I knew from my mother that you would have need of me, and so I endured the guardian spell."
"How much time do you have before you . . .?" Tess asked.
Siarra shrugged. "Perhaps a few days before this magic consumes me."
Tess met Siarra's gaze, and realized why she had shared the memory. It was a reminder of what they were capable of—what Tess had to endure for victory. Siarra had withstood an agony that had killed lesser creatures, and the lesson was clear.
Fulfill your birthright, Tess.
Tess was stunned to silence, and after a moment released a breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't understand."
Siarra flashed a faint smile. "I feared that you would not be ready earlier, and that my aid would prove futile. Hawk and I decided to wait until you had proven your abilities. Now that you have, you must look ahead. Focus on the prophecy and allow your magic to seek the talismans."
Tess nodded, and took a deep breath to steady herself. Then she delved into her farsight. She was pleased to see that it was beginning to come faster. The grayness of reality swirled from clouds into shapes. As they materialized she began to recognize where she stood . . .
She exited a vault. Stepping through a high archway, she and Siarra stood on a mountain with the Dark rising in the distance. Swarms of Twisted bats filled the air, blocking their passage to safety. They were trapped. They launched themselves into the air and tried to evade, but the thousands of bats became millions. Screaming and fighting, they went down. Tess cringed, and wished she'd stayed on the ground—and the image shifted. This time they exited the vault and Tess caught Siarra's arm.
"Wait," Tess said in a rush. "If we fly out, we die. We need to stay in the trees, where the bats won't catch us."
"Are you certain? Time is against us," Siarra said.
Reaching into her pocket, Tess withdrew a tiny red object, the object that would carry them to safety . . .
The scene changed and she saw herself plummeting from the sky in a massive ball of white fire. Siarra flew beside her, calling forth a tornado of immense proportions. Rather than draw the air upward, the cyclone accelerated them toward the Earth. Then Tess caught a glimpse of her own expression. Rage and hatred contorted her features in a way that terrified her, and she shied away from the image . . .
Now she stood in the Recollection with Siarra. With their combined power they separated the sword of King Tryton from the fused rock, and the blade rose into the air. Tess felt a rush of pride and hope as the glittering weapon brightened, its light shining brighter and brighter . . .
Now she saw herself beside Siarra. They stood on the summit of a great mountain. Snow and ice were whipped into a clear night sky. Then another figure appeared, and Alice rose up to meet them. The rage on her face sparked fear in Tess's gut.
"You have doomed us all, Tess . . ."
Tess summoned her magic and called to Siarra—but she did not answer. Desperate, Tess sought to find her—but the view had shifted. Now she stood on the top of Auroraq. Instead of floating in the sky, the city lay smoldering on the Earth. Bodies littered the city, the region, and everything beyond. Twisted and auren alike, everything on Earth had perished. Tess alone remained alive. The Dark had been defeated, but too late.
Tess had failed.
Guilt assailed Tess, and her vision snapped back to the present. Breathing hard from what she'd just seen, she looked to the World Room. Living trees formed the pillars to the roof, and streams flowed across the walls and floor, gurgling softly. Instead of the intended serenity, Tess saw the room in the rubble it would become. Without prompting, Tess told Siarra what she had witnessed.
Siarra released a held breath. "It appears that we must shift our focus. If we seek to defeat the Dark first, we will be too late. The races of Earth require help to survive, help which you can give them. We will retrieve Tryton's sword and the object from the thief's vault in due time."
Weary and afraid from the effort, Tess shook her head. "I don't know how much more I can bear. I've seen our world die."
"You can stop it, Tess," she said. "You must craft a plan for what will give the races time, and then verify if it succeeded. It is the only way."
Tess wiped the sweat from her brow, and sought to delve into her farsight once more. Impeded by her fatigue, her magic was slow in coming. After several attempts she finally managed to calm her heart sufficient to see the future.
She tried a dozen ideas, but each failed. They couldn't enchant the aurens' weapons or help them defend themselves, nor would any barrier slow the Dark's advance. She even considered surrendering in order to gain time. Cringing at the holocaust of that choice, she kept trying. Some showed promise, but in the end they all proved futile.
"I can't," she finally said, her voice cracking. "No matter what I do they all die. Even if we destroy the Dark, Alice wins by the time the sun sets."
Siarra shook her head. "We cannot accept that. I know that together we can—"
"Wait," Tess said, and held up her hand. "I have an idea."
She had considered ways to empower the aurens or mages, and strategies for them to shield themselves. In every attempt she had considered what she could do alone. But she had Siarra now. Renowned as one of the most powerful ancient oracles, her magic had been magnified by the guardian spell.
A thread of hope touched Tess as she realized what she must do. Diving into her farsight, she once again sought an answer, this time for what they could do together. Without fear, without doubt, her certainty glided past her previous barriers. Like shadowy figures rising from gray clouds, she saw the future unfold . . .
The Twisted overwhelmed the aurens, slaughtering countless millions. Too late, a mighty weapon was constructed, and rained the power of heaven upon the black horde.
Tess felt a deep regret, and wished the weapon had been built earlier . . . and it was.
Everything she'd previously witnessed faded, and was replaced with a defiance unlike any ever seen on Earth. Inspired by the mighty weapon, the gathered races fought as a united people. For the first time since Siarra had stepped from her statue, Tess smiled, and then opened her eyes.
"You know what must be done," Siarra said, and a knowing smile creased her lips.
"I do," Tess replied, and turned to leave the World Room.
Since the battle for Auroraq she'd felt lost. She'd pinned her hopes on stopping the Dark then, but she had failed. Then Hawk had died defeating the Iseonix. Now her perspective had shifted. Now she had a plan.
"We need to talk to Derek," Tess said as they stepped outside into the darkened paths of Tryton's. Then she came to a stop and met Siarra's expectant gaze. "He's the architect."
"Of what?" Siarra raised an eyebrow.
Tess thought of what the weapon would become, and how much it would defend. When the gathered armies were on the verge of defeat, it would defy the vast army that Alice had assembled. A smile spread on her face as the name came to her.
"The Halo of Dawn."
Chapter 3: The Architect
Siarra surprised her by smiling. "Commander Braon was the man I leaned on for such things. Even Tryton's Academy of Magic was his idea."
Tess was shocked to see that it was still night. She'd discovered Siarra at just after midnight, which meant only a few hours had passed since Siarra had turned to flesh. Tess clenched her jaw and reminded herself the battle would begin in forty-eight hours.
"I don't know what I'd do without Derek," Tess said, and resumed walking.
Her heart tightened as she considered that. She cared about him more than she knew how to express. If she lost him it would kill her. Subconsciously she jumped into the air, intent on flying to Derek's room. Abruptly she recalled her companion and glided to a stop.
Spinning back to Siarra, she said, "Sorry . . ."
"I discovered gravity magic," Siarra said, hovering at her side. "Remember?"
It was a reminder of what Siarra could do, and it eased the tension in Tess's heart. Siarra kept pace with her easily, and they glided through the night. Tess threw her a glance and saw that Siarra's expression was of intense satisfaction.
"It's been a while," Siarra admitted. "I'd almost forgotten how inspiring it is to fly."
"I never tire of it," Tess said.
"I discovered gravity magic at the end of the Second Draeken War," Siarra said, "but it took me a decade to learn to apply it on my own body."
"Afraid of heights?" Tess guessed.
"I was," Siarra replied. "To learn the purpose of that fear without a teacher was . . . difficult. You cannot imagine the joy I felt when my body pulled free of the Earth." She laughed. "Or perhaps you can."
They reached the dorms of Tryton's and Tess descended into the gigantic trees. After a moment of searching she found the cabin that contained Derek's room. Alighting on his balcony, she knocked on the door. A moment later Derek appeared.
"Tess?" His expression was haggard, worn. "Everything okay . . .?" He caught sight of Siarra, and his mouth locked open. Inwardly Tess cringed. In her haste to get to him she'd forgotten how recognizable Siarra would be.
"Mind if we come in?" Tess asked.
Still staring at Siarra, he swung the door open and waved his hand to brighten the room. His roommate, Warren, jerked upright.
"I know what's going on," he snapped, "but really? You can't have your girlfriend in here. Do you know how little sleep we've had?"
"We have visitors." Derek had to force the words out.
Warren sat up, his expression furious. "I know exactly—oh."
Siarra was busy examining the memory frames on the wall. The one above Derek's bed showed him flying with Tess, Iris, and Rox on the way to their first battle with the Dark. The one above Warren's bed showed him kissing a girl.
"I can't believe it's her," Derek whispered.
Realizing there was no going back now, Tess nodded. "The statue in the World Room was a guardian. She endured the spell so she could help us now."
"Oh," Derek said.
Still in shock, Warren mouthed, WOW.
Tess resisted the urge to smile. With the Dark about to destroy everything she cared about, humor felt wrong.
"I need your help," Tess said.
Derek tore his gaze from Siarra and rubbed his eyes. "Anything. What do you have in mind?"
"I need to build a weapon," Tess said, and told him about the Halo of Dawn.
"Just how much do you want it to protect?"
Tess's eyes gleamed. "The continent."
Derek snorted in disbelief and jerked his head. "There's no way . . . I mean that's not . . ." His eyes darted between Tess and Siarra, his expression distant. "But with two oracles?" A sly grin spread on his features and his eyes flicked back to her. "Maybe, but it will require the Order of White and a whole lot of battlemages." Then his eyebrows knit together. "What about South America?"
Tess's gut tightened. "The countries that joined Brazil chose where to make their stand. As much as I would love to help, there's nothing we can do for them except destroy the Dark. This is the best way I can do that."
Siarra joined them. "Where are we going to build this weapon?"
Instead of answering, Derek took two steps to the back of the room and pointed out the window. Visible in the distance, one object rose taller than anything on Auroraq.
The Spirus.
Tess almost smiled. It was exactly what she'd seen in her vision. "Derek? Dawn is a few hours from now, and it has to be done before the sun rises in two days."
His jaw tightened. "Then let's get started."
Tess stopped him. "No one can know about her." She jerked her head to Siarra.
"I'm not about to tell anyone that a ten-thousand-year-old oracle is alive."
"You too, Warren," Tess said, and threw him a sharp look.
Warren, who hadn't said a single word, gave an emphatic nod. Satisfied, Tess led Derek and Siarra onto the balcony. Tess wrapped her magic around Derek and lifted him into the sky.
"Er, Siarra?" Derek shifted uncomfortably. "You could pass for any of us, but your elven ears are a dead giveaway."
Siarra flashed a rueful smile. "I forget that my people no longer exist."
She reached up and ran a finger over her ear. The motion resembled putting a stray hair in place, but as her finger passed the point on her ear smoothed out. She turned her head to them.
"Better?"
"How did you do that?" Tess asked.
Siarra did the same with the other ear. "Magic can do much more than mages realize, but few are willing to endure the cost of learning."
Tess was stunned. Without the pointed ears the ancient elf had shed her identity. Now she could have passed for a blond woman with angular features.
"I'm glad you're here," Tess said.
Siarra flashed a wry smile. "To see the changes mankind has wrought is a wonder to behold. I only wish I could view them under different circumstances."
They reached Tess's balcony, and she opened her door with an odd mixture of excitement and worry—and found find Iris standing an inch from her. Startled, she jerked back, nearly knocking Derek off the ledge.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me," Iris seethed. "Siarra herself is alive and here—and you didn't tell me first?"
Tess rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry, Iris. I was a little preoccupied with meeting my ancestor." She considered asking how she'd found out so fast, but realized it would be a waste of breath.
Iris launched into a tirade of how bizarre this was, until she was interrupted by a knock at the balcony door. Iris yanked the door open the rest of the way.
"Hello Iris."
Iris spun to face Tess and mouthed, She knows my name!
Tess cringed from the mental scream that accompanied it, but before she could comm
ent Derek said. "Iris, I just found out two minutes ago. Are you coming or not?"
Iris frowned. "Of course." She joined them, and Tess lifted her into the air. Iris glared at her, waiting for an answer.
"I'm sorry, Iris," Tess said. "I know I should have told you the moment Siarra appeared, but she wanted me to use my farsight. It’s how I saw us building the Halo."
"My apologies for detaining her," Siarra said.
Iris rounded on her. "If you ever tell her not to trust her friends, you'll answer to me."
Siarra blinked at the audacity from Iris, and then flashed a smile. "Iris, I would never try to separate her from those she calls friend."
Iris flipped her purple streaked hair. "Good," she said curtly.
As they flew toward the Spirus, Tess asked Derek, "What's your plan?"
"A combination asunder hex and meteor charm," Derek said, "except on a much larger scale. If Auroraq is positioned in the center of the United States we should be able to reach the coast through a Gate."
A thread of excitement touched Tess as she recalled certain images in her vision that she had not understood. "You want to create a weapon that fires here, but the blast goes through a Gate to hit somewhere else?"
Derek nodded. "You'll have to build two Arcs. Each will open the Gate on the other end. The question is, can you two enchant a portal?"
Siarra and Tess exchanged a look. On her own Tess would have said no, but with Siarra at her side?
"Do you know the spell?" Tess asked.
Siarra's expression had become thoughtful. "Perhaps, but as he said, it will require both of us to cast one of that magnitude. There is a reason that Gates are uncommon."
"Can you do it in time?" Derek asked.
"We have to," Tess replied, and met his gaze.
Or Alice wins.
Chapter 4: Commander
"Why does he want to speak with you?" Kate asked.
