by Emma Glass
Nikki took a kneel in the chamber, whisking her fingers through the glow. Her eyes barely glowed with curiosity.
“Be careful,” I reminded her.
Nodding distantly, she whipped her hand up, drawing a trailing handful of the glow. It spread out and dissipated, not unlike dust, slowly twinkling out in the air around her. She took a deep breath and stood up again, wrists down at her sides, fingertips idly dancing at the ends of her hands.
Valentine leaned in. “What is she doing?”
“Nikki?” I steeled my jaw. “What are you thinking?”
My sister turned back. “If the temple is the prison, then this is the lock. Something extraordinarily strong has been sealed here. And it’s coming. Right now.”
We took a half-step back. “Nikki…”
She lifted her head. “Clara? Is that… you?”
I dove forwards and grabbed my sister by the forearm, tugging her back out of the glowing light. She came to her senses at the edge of the chamber, not a moment too soon.
And now, the pulsing light flooding the floor painfully throbbed—glowing both brighter yet darker in each fresh new tremour. Something was changing.
Something was coming.
“Elliott,” Svetlana took my arm. “We need to go. Now.”
Even if there was anywhere to go, I wasn’t leaving this place now, not after what Nikki just muttered in her daze. My boots were planted to the ground, and I had absolutely no inclination to leave the obvious trouble.
“Did you see Clara?” I asked Nikki. “Where is she?”
Nikki murmured, almost deliriously.
“Tell me!” I pulled free, shaking her shoulders.
“Lord Craven! Control yourself!” Svetlana snarled.
“She’s here,” Nikki confided sadly.
“Where? Where, Nikki?”
Valentine growled a warning. “Calm down, Elliott…”
I sighed; steadily, my fingertips released her shoulders. Grief flooded my senses. What am I doing? What is this grief making me become? In the back of my head, I wondered just how right my vassal Kinsey had been about Clara’s effect over me… “I’m sorry, Nikki. Please understand me—I have to know where she is. Do you sense her here, right now?”
Nikki glanced down at the floor behind us. A pained expression slid across her face. “I told you that this room is a lock, brother. Your beloved human is, well…”
I held my breath. “What is it?”
Her eyes saddened. “The witch is on the wrong side. I fear that she might be already facing her destiny.”
“Her destiny?” Valentine glowered.
“Right now,” Nikki said, “Clara is below this spell.”
I swallowed agony, starting down at the glowing floor. “The cruelty astounds. To retrieve Clara Blackwell, then, is to break the seal. How remarkably clever.”
“How would we even do that?” Svetlana asked.
I raised my broken stare up to the stained glass, and I seethed at their twinkling beauty. They had no right, being in a place like this. They were much too beautiful for this environment of resolute malevolence. They mocked me.
“It’s simple, really,” I replied bluntly. “We don’t.”
Chapter 20
Nikki
My brother stood defeated.
I turned to him. “Surely, you have a plan.”
He smirked—but I saw the pain in his eyes. “Oh, I didn’t say I didn’t…” He turned back to the others. “For years, Clara Blackwell has feared this moment, since her visions of the Calamity. I don’t really think any of you can grasp how the nightmares affected her, day in and day out. They were… ceaseless, really. And all of them were of this moment—the moment the Calamity comes.”
“We’’re inside her nightmare,” Lord Lovrić said.
“This wasn’t the only one. The forest dream stalked her on her own world. But I’ve seen her cry out in the middle of the night—crying my mother’s name. Clara wept in her slumber for the end. For what happens now, if we choose incorrectly…”
Elliott turned back to the pulsating magic.
“To break this seal and free Clara would be to undo all of reality as we know it,” he remarked bitterly. “Assuming that any of you even allowed me to consider the option…”
I watched him, pushing myself out of the magical daze. You really do love her. This emotion, brother, I’ve long thought you incapable of—for the entirety of the time I knew you. But I see it in your eyes. I see how badly you pain for her. And I can’t help but wonder if you wish you hadn’t met her—if you could’ve been spared this moment, this fate…
“I know she would never stand for it,” he continued. “For me to choose her over the worlds? It is inconceivable. I think that’s enough for me.”
“So… what, then?” Lord Song asked quietly.
He didn’t reply quickly. I leaned in. “Elliott?”
“All of you, return from whence you came. The rest of this, I fear I must do alone.”
A few looked devastated to hear it. Well, would you look at that? After all this time, it seems you made a few allies in the end. Better literally at the last second than never, I guess…
Chandra sighed. “What do you intend to do, Elliott?”
“I can’t leave her. I can’t free her, but I can’t leave her.”
Lord Krum stroked at his chin, his eyes thoughtful as ever. “You would forsake your own throne? Your people?”
For a moment, I thought that got through to him.
But then he looked up. And he turned to me.
“No,” I snarled, shaking my head. “Don’t you dare…”
“There’s still a vampire lord available for Stonehold.”
“Don’t do this,” I ordered him sinisterly.
“You have already undergone the Ascension rites. The circumstances solve themselves, as far as I can see.”
“She is unfit,” Valentine protested. “She’s mad!”
“I am,” I immediately agreed with her. Oh my gods, I am agreeing with her. This really is the end. “I can’t do this.”
He ignored me, addressing the others. “Nikki Craven ventured into enemy territory with the most formidable of us all; when they failed, she single-handed brought him back to us. She has trekked through the most inhospitable regions of our world—devoid of rations and provisions—chasing after the creature who would undo our realm. The second she found her, she fought her, again, before us all. Nikki survived passing into Clara’s world relatively intact, a feat even I cannot claim. All these things, and her sadism has been challenged. Tell me, any of you, that you do not sense that these experiences have changed my sister…”
I hated him for it. But the compliments stunned me.
“I-I…” I stammered. “I don’t know what to say.”
Elliott planted his hand on my shoulder but continued speaking to them. “I am willing to admit that, at this point, Nikki Craven may very well be eminently more qualified to serve Stonehold than I ever was. Initial appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, I consider my sister here the true successor to the legacy of Lorelei Craven.”
I quietly asked him: “Do you… really believe that?”
“Of course, Nikki. With all of my heart.”
The others stared between us; their faces were a collage of expressions from shocked and impressed. Some looked at him in a blatantly different light than ever before. Some, I realized, did the same for me as well.
Others? Well, they’re a work in progress…
Surprising nobody, Lord Vasiliev counted herself in the latter crowd. In an embittered tone, she cut the two of us an obscenely ugly look. “Such an astounding speech, Lord Craven, to be sure. You make a fine orator.”
He scowled. “Despite your misgivings, she is ready.”
“I do not believe so. Nor, do I think, am I the only one.” Squaring her shoulders like a cockatrice might spread out its feathers for a petrifying glare, Valentine Vasiliev took in the entire chamb
er’s attention. “I am not ready to hand the entirety of Stonehold over to a deranged lunatic who killed the rightful ruler! Nor will I allow this unworthy sovereign to simply cast free his responsibilities for… what, exactly?”
Elliott smirked distantly.
“What?” She snapped at him. The others started to look between themselves uncertainly. “What’s so funny?”
Defensively, I shifted my weight a little closer towards him. Though he and I already stood together, I wanted us to present a visibly unified front to the others.
“Oh, nothing,” he spoke dryly, watching the floor.
Speaking of the floor… is it still growing angrier?
“Out with it, young Lord Craven,” Valentine snarled.
“It’s just...” He chuckled darkly, lifting up a hard glare. “What a funny time for you to finally grow a backbone.”
Valentine’s eyes flared with war. Oh boy. Here we—
They probably would have torn each other apart, had a startling noise not filled the chamber right there and then. My blood went cold with ice—everyone’s did, as our stares snapped up at the source of the hysterical laughter, seated up on a pillar behind us.
Sabine wiped at an eye. “Please, don’t mind me…”
* * *
I could have killed her with my own bare hands.
The traitor slipped down to the floor; the pulsing light quieted down. Nobody made a move to strike her down; it would have been a stupid move anyway. She quite clearly did not fear any of us, nor all of us, and felt comfortable in our stead. Obviously, we’re on your territory…
“I see you found the seal…” the sorceress purred. “You will have to forgive me for being late, though I hope your path here kept you enlightened. Isn’t it quite remarkable?” She waved at the floor. “That such power is held back here, in this magnificent place…”
From right behind my eyes, a presence pressed into my mind like a grinding thumb, or maybe expanding ice. I felt its growing impatience; I sensed its rising hunger.
A whisper tried to prod me. Kill her.
I shivered—either in fear or agreement. Trust me. I want to. Badly. But now isn’t quite the right time…
Sabine took in a deep breath, raising her hands.
She has taken so much from you. Make her suffer.
“You can feel the crackling in the air! Unfathomable. As we all dream, the rightful saviour of this world awakens. It won’t be much longer now. Soon, the wrongs of days long since passed will be repaired—and not a moment too soon. Our worlds cannot bear to be fractured…”
Now. Before she can summon her master. Kill her.
For a second, I thought Sabine looked directly at me.
The moment passed so fast, I thought I imagined it.
Before this thing is finally over, Sabine will know our wrath. I want so little more than to squeeze the life out from her throat. But I’m probably only going to have one shot at this. You and I need to make it count… we’ve gotta do it the right way.
“We will stop you, Sabine,” Elliott firmly noted. “Even if we all die here, we cannot let you summon your master. Traitor of two holds… this ends here and now.”
I held back a hard, downward twist of my neck.
You have restrained me for too long. I need this.
You need to be patient. Please. I’m begging you.
I have done nothing but protect you, Nikki. Why do you not feed me anymore? Why is it that you deny me? Have you… forgotten what we really are?
As Sabine and Elliott bickered, guilt flooded me.
My best friend and most reliable ally in this world was this insane little whisper, crawling around in my mind… and it was right. All that I had done for the past few years was deny it satisfaction. I struggled to keep relatively sane; I hunted whenever convenient, but such times came fewer and further between. The tribute of blood was long dried. I had not fulfilled my half of the bargain, and I knew it.
Granted, I’d been a little distracted in recent years…
“It matters not! The survivors of the saviour’s children have come to the appointed place, and the harbinger rests where she should be. You are powerless now. But soon, the ones among you to see the light. Those who step aside will all be granted power beyond your wildest dreams…”
If you won’t do it, I will.
Do not. Jeopardize. This. You’ll get both of us killed.
Elliott’s eye caught mine. I needed to contribute—fast. “Children?” I scoffed. “What are you talking about?”
“Have you not yet figured it out?” She tilted her head. “It’s an honest question. When I learned the truth myself, it startled me as well. The reality of our world was right in front of us all, all along! Our entire history, built upon a lie! Our kind, the inheritors of fallacy! A fractured world, built by fractured hands—sight unseen, sculpted by the blind. It is no matter now. As clay cracks and wood rots, there must come a master artisan to restore us before we all perish…”
I started to agree with my whisper. Maybe strangling her to death is the right move to make—even if attacking her here will undoubtedly fail. Maybe it’ll shut her up before she finishes waxing poetic on us all…
Yes, Nikki. Feed your bloodlust. Feed me.
I suppose a little strangling couldn’t make things worse…
I took a step closer. But I didn’t get the chance. A loud, damning chime burst into the chamber—with it came such a feeling of dread that I nearly grew woozy on my feet.
Sabine looked stupefied, staring down at the glowing tiles beneath her boots. “It’s… time…” Her dumb, shocked expression took me by utter surprise. Did she… not believe this would actually happen? Did she expect this to fail?
I told you to kill her! Do you see what we’ve done?
The sorceress’s slackened gaze lifted to face us all.
I… but we couldn’t… not here… it wouldn’t have…
Her maniacal laughter ascended. “It’s TIME!”
The pulsating magic burst into a horrendous throb. The light in the room shimmered purple now, pouring dust out into the air as circular sigils of light, large enough to fill the floor, blazed into life. The light blinded; they turned within one another like locks sliding into place. Even without the power to innately measure magic with my mere senses—if only the wild mages had taught me that little trick—there was no mistaking the sheer, raw magnitude of what came now.
Oh boy. If we weren’t in serious trouble before…
“Stand back, everyone!” Elliott called out to us.
I couldn’t bring myself to move. Something about what I felt now was remarkably familiar—and I didn’t like that. I can’t put my finger on it… but I recognize this…
Suddenly, I felt a blind panic that didn’t belong to me. Nikki! Something’s happening!
Trying to shield my eyes from the pulsating magic that overwhelmed my vision, I shouted back: Obviously! Do you not have eyes? Can’t you tell?! This onslaught of the senses was too much to handle; the others, I only imagined, fared worse than even me. I couldn’t think—I couldn’t breathe…
You don’t understand! Something… I can’t… no!
Wait—what? I reached inward. What’s happening?
Nikki! NIKKI! Don’t let it TAKE ME!
Terror filled my lungs. I tried to grasp for it in my head, just as I’d felt my dark whisper clasp my hand to save me from collapsing into the same painful abyss of magic that once crippled the proud Mattias Blackburn…
When I couldn’t find it, I dove in after it.
I envisioned myself standing in a black void—and only a circle of doors to keep me company. All of them, open; in the space behind, a swirling light, trying to reach me. From the doorways, grasping tendrils of light tried to extend in. Each of them struggled; something was tugging them back away from me, where I could no longer find them.
No, I declared. Give it back.
I picked a door and ran.
But the door
slammed shut halfway there. I turned—at my glance, the next door slammed, then the one after.
Nikki! Help me! PLEASE HELP ME!
“I’m TRYING!” I cried out.
I rushed to the next door—it slammed shut. Each time, I could feel the voice behind grow weaker—the swirling of the colours behind faded thinner. I only had seconds now, or else my beloved friend could be lost to me forever. I needed it now, more than ever before…
It had saved me countless times. It was my turn.
I screamed, running for another door. But it, too, only snapped closed in my face. I struggled against the knob, to no avail. The door was locked shut and tight.
They were all locking shut.
There was no time. Glancing back to the others, I took count of all the remaining doors. Another three snapped shut when I turned. Only two remained… both of them opposite of me now.
I’ll never make it.
I ran for the further one, expecting the nearer door to shut. It did, most of the way down—but I closed my eyes and hid behind my forearm, feeling outward with a hand. Maybe they close on sight. Maybe this is the way…
Just barely, my hand grasped the door.
Oh thank—
NIKKI!! PLEASE DON’T LEAV—
The door slammed, nearly taking off my hand.
My eyes snapped open, glancing at all the surrounding doors in the darkness around me. “Are you still there? Can you hear me?! Please! Answer me!”
But no reply came.
Within my own head, I sank down to my knees against the ground, my heart drowning in despair. The whisper of madness in my mind, my dearest friend—whatever it was, in the end—had somehow been ripped away from me.
I couldn’t remember ever being so alone.
And it has something to do with this coming… thing.
Furiously, my eyes slowly opened—my real eyes. I saw only blinding purple light, a light that penetrated into my very being. It corrupted. It pulsated.
It didn’t feel evil. Only… beyond my comprehension.
I wasn’t aware of where we were anymore; it looked as if we still stood in the sealing chamber. The purple haze, unlike anything I’d seen before, choked the dark space. At our boots, concentric rings beamed in white light, slowly turning within one another; each circle, edged with ancient runes that defied anything I’d ever encountered. I couldn’t study the archaic etchings along the wide circles for long…
