by Cory Barclay
“Haven’t seen him since your burial.”
Richard frowned.
“Enough!” Geddon shouted. Eyes turned to him, away from the familial conversation taking place.
“Where is Tetsuo?” Geddon asked. “Where is our leader?”
Richard turned, nodded to Misty, and she went back into the carriage. A moment later, Tetsuo appeared, his hands tied behind his back. His wispy mustache and goatee fluttered in the breeze. Misty pushed him along. He walked down the steps until he was alongside Overseer Malachite.
“Wait a minute,” Jareth Reynolds called out, clenching his fists. “We still haven’t decided on the marriage—what is going on here, a hostage negotiation? We must conclude the business at hand!” He screamed, drawing a few raised eyebrows from the audience. It was clear he had lost his cool and wasn’t presenting himself in a very lordly manner.
“That business was concluded,” Constantin said, “when I found out you killed my son. You know my answer, Lord Onyx.”
Jareth raised his clenched fists. “You can’t do this!” He faced the Overseer. “You can command this marriage, my lord. You have the power to wed my son to his daughter. You should use it.”
Richard Remington melded back into his position of authority as Overseer Malachite. He frowned at Jareth. “Do you give me orders now, Lord Onyx?”
Jareth’s mouth snapped shut and his face flushed. “N-No, of course not, my lord,” he said.
“Good. It does not befit one of my senior Councilmen to harp on this situation. While I do have the power you say, I won’t use it to force this girl’s hand to marry your son.”
“But—”
“Why does this marriage mean so much to you, anyway?” Richard asked, raising one eyebrow and dipping his head.
Jareth had the grace to lower his eyes and look away from his overlord, embarrassed. He could not say why this marriage meant so much to him, and Steve realized why.
He had overheard Jareth Reynolds’ conversation with Constantin Lee. Jareth planned to oust the Overseer from his position. With the added votes of the Lees, they could strip Steve’s father of his power.
Steve was about to say as much, but then he shut his mouth. He had no proof of that: it would be his word against a senior Brethren Councilman, and that might not go well.
Maybe in the future I’ll tell Dad of Jareth’s ploy . . .
Steve shook his head. But why would I do that? If it’s up to me, I’ll never see my father again after today . . .
The audience grew restless as Overseer Malachite scrutinized his subject.
“It matters not,” Jareth said at last. “I will find another, high-born woman to marry my son.”
“That’s the spirit,” Richard said with a smirk, slapping Jareth on the back.
Jareth thrust his finger toward Constantin. “But this is not finished, you weasel—”
Constantin took a step forward in anger. He was held back by his wife.
“Hold it!” Geddon said from behind Steve. He stepped up beside his friend, putting his arm around Steve’s shoulder and gripping so tightly that Steve winced.
The audience’s focus turned back to him.
Looking at his leader, Geddon said, “How do you fair, Tetsuo?”
The old samurai-looking man smiled weakly. “Other than a few bumps and bruises and a sore rump from sitting in that uncomfortable carriage for so long . . . I’m fine.” His eyes flashed over to Selestria, who seemed in a trance. “My love, it is so good to see you.”
The hand that gripped Steve’s shoulder flinched. Geddon’s face had become tight and unreadable. It was an odd sight, one that made Steve furrow his brow in confusion. He followed Geddon’s eyes and realized his friend was staring at Malachite’s face, not Tetsuo’s.
“Well?” Richard said at last, holding his arms out wide. “You said you wanted to parley.”
“Yes,” Geddon said.
“And here we are. But I’m going to make you say it.” A mischievous grin flashed and disappeared from the Overseer’s face.
At that moment, Steve knew something was wrong. His eyes became unfocused and his heart started beating faster. He looked over to Annabel and she seemed as confused as he felt.
Steve tried to shrug away from Geddon, but could not. The man’s grip was iron-tight on his shoulder.
Geddon sighed. Still staring ahead at Overseer Malachite, he said, “Whatever it takes.”
“Give him the terms, Geddy,” Steve said, nudging his chin forward a bit. “Tell him how we plan to dissolve—”
“Overseer Malachite,” Geddon interrupted, not looking at Steve. “I have brought you your son, as you asked months ago, to exchange for our leader, Tetsuo. Will you make good on your promise?”
Richard nodded. “I will. It is a fair swap.”
Steve’s eyes bulged as Geddon’s words came out. His world came crashing down and all he could do was stammer in disbelief.
His heart felt like it was going to explode from his rib cage. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing—this was almost more surprising than learning his father still lived.
“G-Geddon, what are you doing?” Selestria asked, stepping forward.
“I concur, Geddon,” Steve said, using his formal name rather than “Geddy” for the first time in a long time. “What are you doing?”
“This wasn’t part of the plan, mate,” Aiden said, moving alongside Selestria.
“It was,” Geddon said, refusing to meet Steve’s stare. His voice was strong but sad. “This has been the plan all along, my friends, and I’m sorry to do it. But it must be done.”
A wave of rage passed through Steve as he came to the sudden realization that Geddon was betraying him.
He’s been my friend all along . . . making me earn his trust . . . watching as I did things for him to further the Kinship cause. Risking my life! And all along I should have been the one seeking his trust!
How the fuck did I not see this coming?!
“You fucking bastard!” Steve cried out. Blackguards were suddenly alongside him and prodding him with their spears, forcing him down the aisle.
Tetsuo squeezed passed Steve, coming from the other direction, also led by blackguards.
Steve’s helpless, pitiful gaze met Annabel and he saw fear plastered on her face. She so badly wanted to do something.
“Nawao! Strike now!” Steve called out desperately.
But the treeline didn’t move or stutter—the only movement came from a few branches blowing in the wind. It wasn’t his order to command.
Steve felt panic rising up inside him like vomit. He wasn’t sure if his life was in peril any longer, but he knew he was being separated from everyone he’d learned to love . . .
Annabel was part of a family no longer associated with the Brethren, because Steve had broken up their union.
Does that mean I’ll never see her again? Where will my father take me? Am I a prisoner?
A million other questions rippled through his mind, but he couldn’t focus on any of them, so lost was he in his blind rage.
He struggled to push away the blackguard soldiers, but they were familiar with rowdy rebels. They kept their spears leveled near his neck, ready to stab him if he tried anything violent.
Steve felt his head sway and he thought he was losing consciousness. No one would stick up for him. This was it.
Then Annabel screamed.
It was an ear-piercing, shattering wail filled with dread and anger and blasphemy—a sound so loud that it brought everyone around to their knees.
Steve thought his eardrums would burst, his hands instinctively covering his ears. He tried to look at Bel but her eyes were clenched shut, her hands in tight fists in front of her. Her mouth was open impossibly wide.
The banshee’s shriek swept over the congregation like a tsunami barreling through the woods.
“Argh!” Overseer Malachite cried out, going to one knee.
The two guards with spears on Steve lift
ed their weapons, needing to cover their own ears.
This wasn’t a random act of unfocused rage from Annabel, Steve understood. This was a diversion.
Steve used it to his advantage. He leaped away from the encircling blackguards and sprinted toward Annabel.
Constantin Lee stepped in front of Steve. The vampire seemed the least affected by his daughter’s screeching. He’d probably heard it plenty throughout his life.
Steve reached out, under Constantin’s arm, toward Annabel.
Annabel’s eyes opened as her shrieking died. She reached out too, gripping Steve’s forearm.
Constantin roared and bared his teeth to bring down on Steve’s neck—
And then Steve was gone.
Steve looked around and saw only Annabel and a translucent ghost of Constantin. Everyone else in the congregation had vanished.
Constantin’s head darted around, fear on his face, wondering where Steve and his daughter had gone.
Steve had managed to dream-leap in his moment of distress, and he’d taken Annabel with him.
She embraced him. “Oh, Steve, what is going on?”
“I don’t know, my love.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” a voice called from nearby.
Steve jumped out of Annabel’s arms and stood in front of her, to shield her.
Steve’s father stood before them. Overseer Malachite—Richard Remington—whatever you wanted to call him. Somehow, Steve had dream-leaped into his own father’s mind.
And Richard didn’t look too pleased.
“What do you want with me, father?” Steve asked. “Why do you want me and why did you trade Tetsuo for me?”
“I want you to join me here, son. Is that so much to ask? For a father and son to work together?”
“We’ve never gotten along,” Steve said.
“That can change. I have changed.”
“I can tell,” Steve replied. “And I still don’t like it. If anything, you’ve become worse. You’ve become a monster.”
Richard flinched. His face formed into a vicious grimace. “How dare you!” he screamed, stepping forward toward Steve and Annabel.
Steve blinked. When he opened his eyes, he was back at the wedding, surrounded by Constantin and Mariana Lee, and the rest of the audience.
He had lost his connection to Ethereus.
Did I do that myself? Did I lose my power?
He feared Annabel would be taken from him again, so he turned around and embraced her, gripping her tight.
“I won’t lose you again,” he whispered in her ear.
Constantin stepped toward Steve and Annabel.
Steve backpedaled, pushing Annabel behind him.
Another shriek roared over the crowd. Steve’s head swiveled—following the sound—as did everyone else’s.
It wasn’t as loud or powerful as Annabel’s wailing.
It was a shriek of dismay.
And it came from Selestria.
“NO!” the nymph cried.
Steve squinted, trying to see what was going on.
His eyes widened.
Tetsuo and Geddon were embracing, like friends who’d been parted for so long ought to do.
But something shiny reflected off Tetsuo.
It was a dagger in his back.
“W-What?” Steve stammered.
Tetsuo sank in Geddon’s arms, falling to his knees. Geddon gently guided his body to the ground.
Tetsuo reached up, the old samurai’s mouth agape, his body shaking. Blood spilled down his chin.
Selestria ran to her fallen husband, hands on her head. To Geddon, she screamed, “You monster! H-How could you?!”
Geddon put his hands together as if in prayer. He stepped forward and tried to take Selestria in his arms, but was rebuffed and pushed away.
“Sela, I love you!” Geddon cried out for all to hear. “I’ve been doing this all for you!”
“I love my husband!” Tears streaked down Selestria’s face.
“He was weak, my love, and stifling us—don’t you see?” Geddon said. “With him gone, you and I can lead the Kinship together!”
“Soldiers, I’ve seen enough,” Overseer Malachite said from the other side of the aisle.
The stupefied blackguards came to their senses and put their spears forward.
Then all hell broke loose.
“Koa!” Geddon shouted at the top of his lungs.
Arrows flew in from the darkness, rippling the air from the midst of the trees. As blackguard bodies fell from the barrage, Nawao warriors came into view.
Steve ducked as an arrow whizzed past him.
On the other side of the clearing, Barns let out a great roar. He stampeded down the aisle, his battleaxe arched in his hand. He charged toward Overseer Malachite.
Jareth Reynolds stepped in front of Barns’ terrible charge and raised his hands. His eyes glowed red and steam rose from his clothes. His tuxedo burst into flames and his skin seemed to melt away, replaced by molten, orange skin. He grew in size. The heat emanating from his body was enough to make Steve and Annabel back away in fear and disbelief.
Jareth transformed into the Hulk, except instead of being green he was orange and red and covered in flames. All notion of humanity left him. His face became gruesome and demonic. Curved horns spiked from his head.
He looked like the Devil incarnate.
Mid-charge, thick tufts of fur sprouted from Barns’ skin. His body grew as he shifted into something like a two-legged bear. He roared and swung his axe at Jareth.
Jareth caught the blade in his fiery hands. The steel turned neon orange and then melted, oozing to the ground like magma.
“I think it’s time to go,” Steve yelled behind him, to Annabel. She said nothing but grabbed hold of his shirt.
Steve pulled Annabel with him. He didn’t know where he was going—anywhere away from the heat of Jareth’s molten skin.
A blackguard stood in his way to blockade his passage.
Steve took out his flimsy little butcher knife and gritted his teeth.
The blackguard’s eyes opened in surprise.
A split second later, something shiny smacked into the blackguard’s forehead, embedding itself above the bridge of his nose. His eyes rolled back and he fell.
Aiden ran up alongside Steve, another gold coin ninja star in his hand.
“You two seem to be the only ones with any sense around here!” the leprechaun said. The trio ran past the fallen body of the blackguard.
Steve glanced over his shoulder as he ran. He saw Jareth Reynolds’ fiery hand grip Barns’ hairy arm and yank it away from his body. Barns screamed as his arm detached at the shoulder and was thrown aside like a burning log. After an initial spurt of blood, the wound cauterized and blackened.
The great warrior took a step back in shock, his berserker bear form failing him. His face showed sudden recognition of his human form.
Jareth’s hand circled around Barns and lashed out, grabbing his face. Barns screamed in agony, his head bursting into flames. The big man’s fiery, headless body dropped to the ground like a smoldering tree.
Steve winced and looked away, watching to see where he ran.
Misty the cat-turned-spy was in front of him, wagging her long, pointed nails. She staggered like a feline. Then she hissed and stepped forward.
Steve lunged—an unexpected tactic—and punched the witchy woman in the face.
Misty went down clutching her jaw, crying out for her master.
All around them, the battle raged. Nawao and blackguards fought each other with spears and arrows. Noblemen and women from the Brethren Council tried to flee the violent, chaotic scene in any direction, dashing into the woods.
Steve was running toward the carriage. He didn’t know why, but that’s the direction he was going, and he was so close . . .
Then Tiberius was in front of him.
“Godammit!” Steve cried out, annoyed that so many people blocked his passage. His fe
et came to a halt and he put up his fists, drawing a cruel smile from Tiberius.
“You aren’t going anywhere, thief! That bitch is mine!” Tiberius snarled. The young man put his hands up, as if to challenge Steve to a game of fisticuffs, but Steve was in no mood.
Aiden and Annabel spread out and went into fighting stances also.
A flash tore through the sky.
Startled, Steve jumped back. Tiberius was no longer standing and no longer in front of him.
Steve looked to the ground. A wolf was on top of Tiberius’ chest, snapping its jaws at his face. It had come flying through the trees and tackled the young man. Now he struggled with all his strength to keep the jaws of the powerful wolf at bay.
Saliva dripped from her teeth.
“Fuscia!” Steve yelled. He knew this was his chance to escape. He grabbed Annabel’s hand, gestured toward Fuscia, and said, “Looks like that bitch is yours, Lord Amethyst! You’re the one who killed her lover!”
Fuscia either growled or chuckled. Steve dashed past them, leaving Tiberius to fight for his life against those snapping jaws.
Steve would have liked to help Fuscia, but he had no time—Let the woman who lost her lover avenge Charles’ death, like she’s always wanted to.
Steve made it to the carriage and swung the door open. Annabel still gripped his hand. Aiden pushed on Steve’s back, forcing him up the stairs.
“Son!” a voice called from outside the carriage, downstairs.
Steve spun around and saw his father bounding toward him.
He shut his eyes again. When he opened them, he was back in Ethereus—back in Richard’s mind. The intense wedding-turned-battleground faded all around him.
How the hell does this keep happening? Steve wondered. Is my dream-leaping on the fritz?
There was no time to contemplate his Ethereus predicament. Richard was running up the stairs behind him.
“Join me here, son! Rule with me!” his father yelled.
Steve shook his head. “Neither of us belong here, Dad!”
Richard’s face twisted angrily. “Then you leave me no choice!” he screamed, reaching inside his tuxedo pocket.
He came out holding a handgun.
Steve wheezed and pushed Annabel and Aiden behind him, up the stairs.
Richard leveled his arm toward the carriage and squeezed the trigger.
