Someone grabbed hold of my waist, yanking me backward, as the yeti swung one of its massive arms in my direction. The beast’s claws only just missed me, as I fell to the ground in a heap with my rescuer. I looked up to find Dash scowling down at me.
“What the hell are you doing?” He pulled me to my feet and started to drag me away from the yeti and the sleigh point. Its focus was no longer on me though. The protectors had emerged from their hiding places around the square and were shooting at the creature. The bullets seemed to do nothing more than irritate the yeti, and it let out a bellow as it started lumbering toward the closest clauses. The yeti’s footsteps were so heavy that it shook the ground around us, and it picked up speed so quickly that the protectors nearest to it had no chance to retreat. The yeti swiped its huge claws at them, hurling the poor clauses up and into the air before they came crashing to the ground.
“We have to get out of here!” Dash said.
But I was already shaking my head. “We can’t just leave a yeti wreaking havoc in the North Pole!”
“The protectors will stop it.”
But the protectors didn’t seem to be doing anything to stop the creature. It was stampeding easily through their defenses, and their attempts to slow it down seemed like no more than a nuisance to the beast. Bullets clearly weren’t able to pierce the yeti’s thick skin.
The protectors must have come to the same conclusion because they were beginning to summon other weapons to try to take the creature down. Arrows and swirling balls of fire started flying toward the yeti. The creature swatted them away like it was nothing but then let out a pained moan as one of the fireballs hit it firmly in the chest.
“Come on, Clio, we have to get out of here.” Dash pulled my hand and tried to drag me toward the sleigh point. I stuck to my ground though, not wanting to abandon the protectors.
“Dash, we can’t…” I could barely drag my eyes away from the chaos before me. I wanted to help, but I wasn’t sure what I could do that the protectors weren’t already trying.
“The protectors are trained for this and have it in hand,” Dash said. “We need to fix the barrier so this can’t happen again, and you’re too important to risk.”
“Screw that,” I said, as I came up with an idea. I yanked my hand out of Dash’s grasp and started racing toward the yeti. My golden magic swirled in my hands as I ran, and I continued feeding my power into my fists, knowing I’d need a lot of it if I wanted my plan to work. I came to a stop only a few meters from the yeti and threw my magic up into the sky so it spread over the top of the creature.
My magic dispersed as the huge steel net I’d summoned appeared over the yeti’s head. The net dropped over the massive beast, covering it from head to toe. Stunned, the yeti immediately started to stumble backward. It fought against the steel netting, thrashing its arms as it tried to free itself, but that only made the creature’s situation worse. As it became increasingly tangled in the web, it tripped and came crashing to the ground with such force that the quake from the impact almost knocked me off my feet. The yeti lay on its back and angrily tried to tear the steel netting with its claws, but the metal was too strong even for the creature’s sharp talons.
Ropes started flying through the air, landing on the beast as protectors moved to secure it to the ground. One by one the thick ropes were secured, giving the creature less space to move until his body was almost entirely restricted. The yeti bellowed in irritation, but its struggles grew weaker with each attempt it made to get free.
When the dark creature could no longer move an inch, it finally gave up and remained still on the ground. It moaned its frustration, but the yeti could do little more than that now it was secured tightly. I wasn’t sure what the protectors planned to do with it next, but at least the beast was no longer causing mayhem in the town square.
“Okay, can we go now?” Dash asked.
I turned to find him walking up behind me with a seriously irritated look in his eyes. I took half a step backward as I recoiled from his glare. An elf had just brought a marauding yeti and dumped it in the North Pole, and yet all of Dash’s anger was directed firmly at me. “We couldn’t just leave when there was a yeti wreaking havoc here.”
“We could and we should have,” Dash said. “What were you thinking? That yeti is only the beginning, and if we don’t find a way to close these barriers off, far worse things will be coming through here. You’re our one hope of fixing them right now, and what you just did was stupid.”
His words finally sunk in, and my stomach dropped as I realized how reckless I’d just been. Dash was right. I shouldn’t have gone charging into battle when I was the only one the nameless one would speak to about the barrier. If we didn’t fix it soon, one yeti would be the least of the protectors’ worries, and I’d just unnecessarily endangered my life.
“I’m sorry, Dash,” I murmured.
He let out a breath, his expression relaxing with it. “Just don’t do it again. It was pretty cool though. Good thinking with the net.” He turned and started toward the sleigh point, not waiting for a response.
I lifted my hands up in the air. I really couldn’t win with Dash. “So, am I cool or irresponsible?” I called after him. I didn’t get a response though.
I huffed out a breath and slowly followed him. My pace was dragging as I searched the faces of the many protectors who were still frantically running around the square looking for sign of our friends. I couldn’t leave the North Pole until I knew Melody wasn’t hurt.
Finally, I caught sight of Melody and Coop emerging from behind a car. Melody looked shaken while Coop was transformed into his reindeer form. Neither of them appeared injured, and Melody gave me a wave to signal she was okay when she caught me watching. I let out a breath and waved back to let her know I was okay too.
“Clio, they’re both safe, now come on!” Dash called to me.
I glanced over and found he was already standing at the sleigh point, his arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow lifted as he waited for me.
“All right, all right, calm your hooves,” I muttered, as I jogged over to meet him.
I took in a breath to try to calm myself as I stepped into the sleigh point at Dash’s side. Adrenaline was still pumping through me after the encounter with the yeti, and I needed to clear my mind before I tried to transport myself to the coal mine. I went to close my eyes and picture the destination, but I caught sight of movement at the base of the ancient pine tree that loomed over us.
A beautiful tree nymph materialized out of the trunk of her tree. The nymph’s skin was the same rich brown color as her tree trunk and seemed to have a luminous glow to it. Her long green hair brushed against the ground, and her eyes were filled with sadness as she looked at the devastation in the square surrounding her.
I’d heard of Sage, the nymph who lived in the ancient tree, but had never seen her before. There was an innocence to her pained expression that I didn’t expect, and I found it tugged on my heart, making me share in her sadness.
Her eyes flicked over to meet mine, and her expression became graver still. Her gaze was soft and yet penetrating, and although her eyes were kind, it felt like she could see into my soul with just one look. Stories said that she was the most ancient creature in our world and that her tree had been standing since the dawn of time. And right now, as she stared at me, I believed them. There was wisdom to her eyes that was impossible to ignore.
Sage raised a hand in a small wave. “Good luck, Clio,” she mouthed to me. I had no idea how she knew who I was or what I was off to do. I wanted to leave the sleigh point and ask her, but the nymph gave one last saddened look at the fallen yeti before her body started to dissolve as if it were being blown away in the wind. I watched, mesmerized, as she returned to her tree. It had been hard to see her reaction to the fallen dark being. They were supposed to be our rivals, but the tree nymph’s sorrow made me feel like the yeti was no enemy to her.
I was still confused by Sage’s
appearance and the way she’d wished me luck as the strong smell of peppermint magic rose up around me. Dash clamped his hand onto my arm, and the ancient tree disappeared as I was yanked from the Northern Realm.
I squinted as I felt the tug of magic and was surrounded by the swirling vortex of the sleigh line. My body always felt like it was being pulled in a million different directions as I was transported from one sleigh point to another, and the feeling was only intensified as Dash towed me along. He wasn’t nearly as good at using the magic of the sleigh lines as I was, and it showed. I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t let me transport myself, but it was probably because he was fed up with my delaying.
I felt the intense heat of the coal mine before I’d even opened my eyes. The hot sun was beating down on me, and my pale skin seemed to prickle with irritation at the sudden heat.
“What took you guys so long?” Vixen asked.
I blinked and found her waiting just beyond the edge of the sleigh point, her arms folded across her chest as she tapped her foot impatiently. Dash let go of my arm as he stepped out of the sleigh point and went to join her and Blitz.
“Clio decided she wanted to fight a yeti before we left,” Dash replied, as he joined the two shifters who were waiting for us.
“She did what?” Vixen shouted.
“Awesome,” Blitz said at the same time.
Vixen started shaking her head. “Dash, this really isn’t the time for you to grow a sense of humor. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I wish I were joking.” He shot me an irritated look.
“Don’t scowl at me, the yeti’s dealt with,” I said. “Now, what are we waiting for?” I started across the black rocks and gravel that the mine was covered in toward the slope that led to the top of the huge opening in the ground. I already knew it was where the entrance to Incarceror was, and I wasn’t going to hang around and answer the barrage of questions I felt certain Vixen and Blitz would have. I’d let Dash handle those since he had decided to tell them about the yeti in the first place.
There was no shade to relieve us from the intense sun as we climbed the slope, and sweat quickly began to bead across my forehead as we continued toward the top. The shifters didn’t look bothered by the hike or the heat. Vixen and Blitz peppered Dash with questions about the yeti as they walked, and none of them sounded the least bit tired by the trek.
I slowed when we reached the top of the mine, and the large golden arch that marked the entrance to Incarceror appeared before me. I’d tried not to worry too much about returning to the prison since I’d volunteered to go, but right now, my heart was racing, and I knew it wasn’t just from the hike. What if the nameless one called in his favor and asked something horrible of me? I’d initially assumed he’d want help escaping from the prison, but what if he wanted something else? Something I wasn’t willing to give or something I couldn’t achieve?
I swallowed as the others passed me and forced myself to trail after them, each of my steps feeling heavier than the last.
In a swirl of bright golden magic, Jack, the frost who guarded the prison, appeared to us. His icy-blue eyes were bright as we approached, but a rare frown briefly crossed his forehead as he glanced upward at the intense sun that was beating down on us. His discomfort disappeared quickly though as he returned his focus to our small group.
“My friends, you’re back,” he said, grinning as we stopped before him. “This has been an exciting few weeks.”
“We need to go into the prison,” Dash said.
“I’m sure you do,” Jack replied. “Though I’m surprised you’re so eager to return, young one,” he said, glancing in my direction. His eyes were skeptical, and I was surprised by how much he appeared to disprove of my decision to return.
“Why do you call me young one?” I asked.
“Because that’s what you are,” he replied, winking at me before turning his focus back to the others. “So, who are we after this time?”
“The nameless one,” Dash said.
“Again?” The frost tutted at us with a small shake of his head. “You shifters need to broaden your horizons a little.”
“Can we please just have the wristbands?” Vixen asked. I was glad she’d said something; my nerves were shot, and I needed to get our visit to the prison over with. I couldn’t deal with Jack’s running commentary right now.
The frost grinned. “Why, of course,” he replied. “Now remember the rules. Do not stay longer than twenty-four hours, keep the wristbands on, and do not eat or drink anything within.”
He walked around the group, placing a hand on each of our wrists as he conjured a golden entrance bracelet for us each to wear.
“You’re sure about going in there again?” Jack murmured to me, as he focused on my wrist.
“Yes,” I replied. “Why are you so concerned?”
“Because things far more dangerous than me are bound by this prison,” he said. His playful tone was gone, and his voice was serious as he addressed me. “And I fear your powers could help unleash something that even I’m afraid of.”
My eyes widened at his comment, and my heart quickened a beat. I had no idea why Jack believed I was powerful enough to unleash anything in the prison, but he was looking at me like he knew there was more to my magic than I was letting on. The frost had to be mistaken though. I was powerful but not that powerful.
His words concerned me, but I had no choice but to enter Incarceror. I had to return to the prison whether I liked it or not. Coop had said there was only one week until the barrier around the Northern Realm was destroyed, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t try everything I could to fix it.
“I’m not that powerful,” I replied. “I think you’re mistaken.”
The frost shrugged. “I’ve been around a long time, young one,” he replied. “You might be right, but it’s not often I’m wrong.”
His hand dropped from around mine, and his jovial expression reappeared as he faced the others once more. His words still raced through my mind though. I owed a favor to the nameless one; was he the powerful creature Jack feared I would unleash? All the nameless one could do was tell the future. Was that something so terrible? Was it something to be feared? I wasn’t sure.
I followed the three shifters toward the prison entrance, feeling more confused than ever. My stomach was swirling with a mixture of worry and fear. I glanced over my shoulder before I walked under the large golden archway and found Jack was staring after me. His eyes weren’t bright with laughter like they normally were. Instead, the concern he’d looked at me with before had returned, which really didn’t make me feel any better.
I took a deep breath before I turned and stepped through the golden arch and into the prison, hoping desperately that I wasn’t making the biggest mistake of my life. I found no solace in hope though. Only time would tell if I was doing the right thing. And I knew I wouldn’t have to wait long because I was about to face the nameless one, and I had a feeling he would be waiting with a favor to ask.
Chapter Six
The prison world seemed different than the last time we’d been there. The blood-red sand that covered the lifeless wasteland was darker, and the ashy stench that wafted through the air had become more concentrated. The weather was what really caught my attention though. More lightning flashing in the distance, and the deep rumble of thunder was so loud it vibrated through the ground, and the earth quaked.
A harsh wind whipped the sand against my legs, and I could see swirling columns of dust rising from the ground in the distance. The hot and humid world had been uninviting before, but now, the bleak and desolate wasteland made me nervous. I worried that perhaps the exploding star had something to do with the change, and I really hoped I was wrong.
“We should probably get moving.” Dash nodded toward the black jagged peak of the mountain that housed the prison cells. It was at least an hour’s walk away, and I wished I’d brought some water with me. Our powers didn’t work in Incarc
eror, and the air was so heavy and hot that I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was sweating.
Dash took the lead with Vixen at his side while Blitz and I trailed after them. We were quiet for the most part, but the silence was slowly driving me crazy. All I could think about was what waited for me inside the looming mountain we were walking toward, and I needed a distraction. Thankfully, Blitz decided to provide me with one and started talking.
“I hate this place,” he muttered.
“Yeah, the combination of thunder, lightning, and heat isn’t great,” I agreed.
He shook his head though. “No, it’s more the lack of magic in here. It feels so unnatural being constricted to this form when we’re in a dangerous situation.”
“Ah,” I said, as understanding dawned. “You miss your antlers.”
Blitz smirked and nodded. “Something like that.”
“I always thought reindeer herds were bigger than just four shifters.” I focused on Dash and Vixen up ahead of us. It felt weird seeing the three of them without Coop. They had always felt like a package deal.
“We were once a part of a larger herd,” Blitz explained. “But the four of us have always been really tight. When Dash wanted to strike out on his own, we were always going to follow him. No question about it.”
“Why would Dash want to leave the rest of your herd?” I asked.
“Dash’s father is the leader of the herd, but Dash hasn’t always agreed with his rule. They had a big disagreement a few years ago, and both decided it would be better if Dash left,” Blitz explained. He looked thoughtful, and his eyes were distant as if he could vividly remember the day it happened.
“Dash could have fought his father for his position and then remained with the rest of our people, but it was better this way,” he continued. “We still have a lot to do with our old herd, but none of us are bound by its decisions anymore.”
Christmas Chaos (Christmas Magic Book 2) Page 6
