Gates of Eden: Starter Library

by Theophilus Monroe

  Principal Shields pulled me aside. “Mr. Wadsworth…”

  “It is over, sir. The fires are out. The girl is gone.”

  “And Miss Royce…”

  “She is gone, too. She will be fine…” It was a half-lie. I didn’t know if she would be fine or not. But I was determined she would be, no matter the cost.

  “The officer here would like to speak with you.”

  “Elijah Wadsworth, Tyler Harvey, and Joni Campbell, correct?” the officer asked.

  “That’s right,” I said.

  “Do you know who the red-haired girl was? What happened in there?”

  “She was someone from my past. She was just trying to get to me.”

  The officer rolled his eyes. “A jealous girl from your past, I presume?”

  “You could say that…”

  “Very well, I won’t keep you now. You should see the medics, they’ll check you out.” He handed me a card. “Please, call me later. We’ll need to meet in my office, you know, to get a statement.”

  I pocketed his card. “That’s fine. I’m fine, I didn’t inhale any smoke… We’re good.”

  “Very well, but let us know if anything happens. We need to find this girl. Could you at least give us a name?”

  “I’m not entirely sure…”

  “This is a girl from your past, and you don’t know her name?”

  “Yeah… I guess I wasn’t very responsible.”

  “I see. Well, call me as soon as you can.”

  I nodded and walked over to the Escort, Tyler and Joni beside me.

  The drive back to the Shire seemed to fly by—faster than before. We were trying to discuss ways we could save Emilie, but nothing seemed promising. We just didn’t understand our abilities well enough to know what we could do. Still, we were going to try.

  I unlocked the front door and we proceeded straight to the balcony. The spiral staircase from before had been reset into the twisted railing that separated the balcony’s edge from the steep decline below. I tried to recall what Nesbitt had done before… I retrieved my staff, willing it back to its proper size. I tapped the railing. It responded as before, forming a spiral staircase downward.

  “Well, that was lucky,” I said.

  “Luck… we’ll need a bit more of that before today is done,” Tyler added.

  “I don’t believe in luck,” Joni said. “But I believe in you, Elijah. We can do this.”

  “I hope you’re right, Joni,” I said. Her sentiment was nice, but realistically… I didn’t see any way I could convince Lily to let Emilie go. Call me a cynic, but my sister seemed determined.

  We proceeded down the staircase and into the cavern beneath the Shire. “Joni, mind helping me with these torches?”

  “It’s my pleasure, hon.”

  I gripped my staff and Joni targeted her wand. “Fyr!” we said in unison, evoking a flame that she carefully guided with her wand from torch to torch until the whole room was once again aglow.

  We stepped up to the pool.

  “Do you have any clue how to open up this gate?” Tyler asked.

  “Well, Lily told me to use the salmon sigil…”

  “Lily said to?” Joni asked. “Are you sure you can trust that?”

  “Well, she wants me to go there, and that’s what we’re trying to do. Since we’re walking headlong into this trap, we might as well give it a whirl.”

  I gripped my staff and pointed it toward the bubbling spring. I focused, envisioning the salmon sigil in my mind. “Iet!” I shouted. A golden beam of light flooded the pool.

  Joni followed suit. “Iet!” She targeted the beam toward the gate’s center. Nothing.

  “Let me try something,” Tyler said. He fastened his glove to his hand and opened his palm toward the spring. Again, the spring revealed five swimming salmon within. “Look carefully. The fish are swimming in a circle at the heart of the pool. Remember, when your sister opened that gate or whatever it was, she twirled her staff in the air. It may be something like a combination lock.”

  “Alright. Let’s try this again. Joni, I’ll cast into the pool. Direct the beam in a circle. I can’t exactly get in there and spin… Treading water with my staff overhead seems impossible.”

  I directed my staff toward the pool again, this time illuminated by Tyler’s gauntlet. “Iet!”

  Joni followed suit and guided the beam in a clockwise circle, along the path that the salmon swam. The water began swirling with the beam, and a cone of light emanated from within reaching toward the cavern ceiling.

  “It’s working,” Tyler said. “Keep going!”

  As Joni spun the cone faster and faster, the light grew brighter and brighter. Finally, the cone separated itself from the energies we channeled, taking on a life of its own and spinning without our guidance. “I think we did it,” Joni said.

  “Only one way to find out,” I said. “Should we try this together?”

  I tucked my staff neatly back into my pocket—after shrinking it down, of course—and Joni did the same with her wand. We joined hands, Tyler to my left and Joni to my right. “Here goes nothing,” I said. “One… two… three…”

  At once, all three of us jumped into the spiraling cone. Holding onto each other tightly, we were sucked downward into the water. I held my breath, trusting that they were doing the same… Once we reached the bottom of the pool, it suddenly felt as if the cone were propelling us upward again. As we reached the surface, we each gasped for air.

  I looked around. We were no longer in the cavern. Five hazel trees encircled the pool, and the five salmon swam just beneath our feet.

  “We did it!” I said. “We’re in Annwn.”

  “Welcome to the Garden of friggin’ Eden,” Tyler said.

  “Friggin’ Eden?” Joni asked.

  “What can I say? It felt right.”

  We swam over to the shore and pulled ourselves onto a patch of green grass. I inhaled deeply. The air was incredible here. It was pure, and my body was taking it all in. I could feel the energies of the place filling me with energy, with life. Everything here was like that. Every blade of grass, every leaf on every tree rich in color. A gentle breeze filled the air—but the temperature was perfect. We were soaking wet, but didn’t feel cold. Nor did we feel especially hot as the sun above us shone brightly on our skin.

  “Hey Joni, my shirt looks amazing on you,” I said, noticing how the wet t-shirt contoured to her body.

  She grinned and added a wink. “Behave, darlin’.”

  Tyler wasn’t sure if he should stare or block his eyes… so he just turned the other direction. “Which way do we go?”

  “Lily said we have to travel due west, just beyond the border of Annwn’s grove and Samhuinn.”

  Tyler looked around. “Well, I’m pretty sure this way is west,” he said, pointing off into the distance.

  “How can you tell? The sun is in the middle of the sky.”

  “Because in your dad’s vision, when we followed the unicorns and flew here, you could see a blighted land off in that direction. That must be the west.”

  “Ah, good thinking,” Joni said.

  I retrieved my staff. It just felt right holding it in its proper form here. We turned the direction Tyler indicated, and there, standing right in front of us, was Lugh. He looked concerned, but oddly pleased to see us.

  “Lugh? We came for…”

  “You came for the Bard.”

  “How did you know?”

  “I can sense your sister’s presence. She shares your blood. She is almost entirely corrupt, but a seed of the Tree of Life remains within her. Until she relinquishes that, I can sense her magic, just as I can sense all that you do.”

  “Then… you knew? You knew my sister was alive, and that she had been corrupted? Why didn’t you tell…”

  “Druid, it is not my place to trifle in your family’s affairs. The daughter of Grainne has been with us for some time. Her heart has gradually grown darker, colder. She has given he
rself almost entirely to the Wayward Tree.”

  “How can we stop her? Can you help us?”

  “I can do nothing beyond the groves of Annwn. My task—”

  “Is to guard the Tree of Life. I know… but surely you can give us something. Some advice.”

  “There is one thing that those who follow the Wayward Tree cannot account for. The Wayward Tree bends its adherents toward the self. They are blind to others. In turn, they are blind to love. The Morrigan, your sister… any who fall prey to the tree. That is their weakness. I cannot tell you how to exploit it, how to use love to your advantage. But I can tell you, the only way you will overcome the Dark Druidess is with love.”

  “Thanks, Lugh.” I have to confess, his answer was less than satisfying. How in the world could I “love” my way out of this situation? Still, I wasn’t about to let the Dryad berate me again. I wasn’t in the mood for it. I wished I had my sigil stone with me. Surely my father would have some advice, some knowledge vested in the stone that would help. Lugh’s advice seemed… theoretical, ideological, and trite. I wanted something practical. If only I knew what all these sigils on my staff really meant…

  “Do what you must, Druid. I must confess,” Lugh continued, “I have been cynical about you and all that has come to pass. Still, you remain your friend’s best hope. Only I must implore you—no matter what happens, do not give into to your sister’s temptation. If you do, all will be lost.”

  “And Merlin, the gatekeeper. Where is he now?” Tyler asked. “Since we’re not on Earth, can he come to help?”

  “He cannot come here. Not at this time,” Lugh said.

  “Why not?”

  “What constrains him is not mine to reveal. Still, it seems he has confidence in you, son of Grainne.”

  I nodded. “So, Lily told me she could not cross the border… But we can?”

  “I cannot speak for the Wayward Tree. I suspect, however, that since your sister has bid you to come, passage across the ley lines will be readily granted. Though I should warn you, if you become infected by the blight while there, you will not be able to return.”

  “What do you mean? How does one get infected?”

  “If the cursed blight settles into your soul, if you harbor it there, the ley line separating Annwn’s groves from Samhuinn will not allow you to return to the garden groves. You must avoid contact with the Wayward Tree—and if you do manage to rescue Emilie, you must find a way to purify her soul before she, too, can come back.”

  “I guess we’re on our own… and things just got more complicated.”

  “They always do,” Tyler replied.

  Lugh ignored our pessimism. “Whatever you do, do not forget… love will see you through.”

  “Again, thanks. This way, right?” I gestured the direction Tyler had predicted.

  Lugh nodded, then sank into the soil.

  “That guy,” Tyler said. “I’m never sure what to make of him.”

  “I like him,” Joni said. “He is odd, but in my experience, his words are wise. Still, I’m not sure what to make of his advice…”

  “Yeah, love is great and all,” I said. “But I have no idea what to do with it in this situation.”

  “Perhaps it’ll become clear when we get there,” Joni said.

  “Let’s hope so,” I replied, taking the first step in the direction we were meant to travel.

  The journey was long, but my feet didn’t ache at all. The air here, the life surrounding me, made everything seem painless. Every now and then a bird would pass through the sky, soaring gracefully above. I was hoping we might see the unicorns, but they never made an appearance. Still, the place was no less incredible. This was what life on Earth was supposed to be like: beautiful, painless, and noble. As I pondered the contrast between Annwn and the world I knew—a world that had inflicted me with so much pain and loss—I became more resolved than ever. Until this moment, a part of me was considering it. I’d give up anything… anything… for Emilie. But it was clear I could not give myself to the Wayward Tree. I could not give my sister what she wanted. Emilie would rather die than see me align myself with evil. Still, I feared the worst—defying Lily might cost Emilie her life.

  It wasn’t long before we reached the divide between Annwn’s groves and Samhuinn. The stark contrast was impossible to miss. The luscious, green world of Annwn’s groves was suddenly and immediately blighted by the dry, arid soil leading toward the Wayward Tree—though the tree itself was still too far beyond the horizon to see.

  Nesbitt had said he never dared travel here. Who was I to think I could come away unscathed? Still, my resolve to save Emilie was greater than any fears. I stepped across the border… and the sensation suddenly changed. The hope I’d felt as I walked through the garden glades of Annwn felt like despair here. The air was dry, and it burned in my throat when I inhaled.

  I turned; Tyler and Joni still stood on in Annwn’s groves. “This isn’t exactly nice, but are you guys coming?”

  “We can’t,” Joni said.

  “Something is preventing us from crossing,” Tyler added, finding it impossible to move past the ley line separating Annwn from Samhuinn.

  Your friends are not invited, Elijah…

  Lily’s voice resonated deep within my mind. I turned, expecting to see her nearby. She wasn’t there. I shouted back, “What do you mean?”

  No one can cross the ley lines unless invited by one committed to the Great Tree on either side. Only you are invited, brother. You must come alone…

  “Elijah?” Joni asked. “Is everything okay?”

  “It’s my sister. She says that you have to be invited to cross the ley line…”

  “Then we need to get a goddamn invitation! You are not doing this alone. Your power… you can’t control it by yourself. You don’t stand a chance against her,” Joni insisted.

  “I wish you could come… but apparently only one already consumed by the Wayward Tree can issue an invitation… I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have to do this…” Tyler added.

  “I do. You know I do.” I turned my gaze to Joni, whose eyes welled up with tears.

  I stepped back across the ley line into Annwn’s grove and grabbed Joni’s hand. I kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Joni.”

  “I love you, too… but… whatever you do, don’t give in. If you can’t save her, please just save yourself. Come back to me.”

  “You will see me again soon,” I said as a tear fell down my face. In truth, I wasn’t sure if I would ever return.

  Joni nodded.

  “And Tyler… thanks for everything. Wait here with Joni. I’ll be back, hopefully with Emilie.”

  “Elijah…” He gave me a hug. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I really do. You know I do.” I turned, trying to hold back my own tears as stepped back across the ley line into Samhuinn.

  I proceeded across the bare, arid plains. Each step now struck violently against my soles as the heat radiated from the surface into my shoes.

  What dampness remaining in my clothes from the spring was quickly sucked away, and it was only moments before I was completely dry. I continued walking, each step more painful than the last, in the direction of the Wayward Tree. I willed my staff to its full form. There was nothing at all magical about it at this moment. I simply used it to aid my journey across the blight.

  The Wayward Tree was supposed to be near the border of Samhuinn. I suppose “near” is a relative term. The lifeless plains extended as far as the eye could see. So far, there was no sign of Lily, Emilie, or the Wayward Tree. I continued trekking forward, each step more painful than the last. I was sure blisters were forming on my feet, but I resolved to press on. It couldn’t be much farther…

  Then, I spotted something on the horizon. A dark mass, alive, flying my direction. Finally, something… As the creature drew nearer, its shape and frame were unmistakable. I had never seen one before, but one only need know of the legends to recognize
the beast. Its skin was black and scaly, glistening in the light of Samhuinn’s scorching sun. Its wings were vast, spanning a width more than twice the creature’s length. Its eyes glowed red as it fixed its gaze upon me.

  A dragon was charging my position.

  20. Dragons, Decisions, & Destinies

  I GRIPPED MY staff, digging my feet into the blighted soil as the flying beast approached. I quickly surveyed the various sigils carved into the staff. There had to be something I could use.

  There was one sigil I had previously avoided when “training” with Lugh back at the Shire. The sigil resembled a dragon’s form. It became immediately clear what the spell might do. I focused my will upon the sigil and gripped my staff tightly, a green glow enveloping my entire frame. “Draig!” I shouted, the proper word instinctively escaping my lips. I saw the red eyes of the black dragon glow more brightly as it drew nearer, and my own frame began to change. My bones expanded with one loud crack after another, my back broadening and my neck lengthening. My skin tightened, hardening into green scales.

  My vision became sharper, clearer. As the black dragon drew nearer, I could tell I was no match for it. It was more than double my size, even as I gathered all my spirit and flesh into my dragon form.

  I needed more… my own body’s mass was not enough. It was risky… Nesbitt had warned me about it, but I had no choice. I reached out with my will, searching Annwn’s energies for something I could use, something from the Tree of Life. I felt an energy beyond my own spirit respond to my request. A foreign force prodded at my spirit. I inhaled, gathering what it offered into my form. My frame expanded, each of my wings broadening and my long, winding tail lengthening. My claws dug into the soil beneath my feet… I felt something stir deep within my gut.

  Instincts. I now had instincts that were not my own, a reptilian obsession with survival and dominance. As the feeling in my abdomen churned, a burning sensation traveled up my throat. I opened my massive mouth, releasing a barrage of flames in the direction of the black dragon, who immediately responded, meeting my flames with her own. Our molten breaths exploded as the flames collided, scorching the already blighted ground between us.