by Amy Sumida
“Gods,” Declan whispered with a faraway look.
“Have you heard of this?” Torin asked Declan in surprise.
“I think so.” Declan frowned. “It was a long time ago, but I seem to recall my grandmother talking about the Gods who ruled Tír na nÓg.”
“Gods; plural?” I asked. “Kukulcan did say that some realms had multiple gods.”
“How did Kukulcan know so much about them?” Gage asked.
“He claims that the Aaruns killed their god because the god was taking their children away and placing them on other planets,” I said.
“I don't remember Grandmother saying anything about children,” Declan murmured. “But there was something romantic about the story.”
“Romantic?” I asked in surprise.
“Tragically romantic,” Declan clarified. “I remember being fascinated by it as a child, but I can't recall what the tale was precisely. Something about separated lovers, I believe.”
“That is tragic,” I whispered.
“Whatever the story was, I think we should make this visit short and then stay away from the Coral Court altogether,” Torin declared. “I don't like this; it gives me that feeling of dread again, Elaria.”
“I agree,” I said sadly. “The Coral Court is so beautiful; I wish it didn't have to be this way.”
“Your safety is worth it,” Declan said. “Let's return the Girdle and then conduct any future meetings with the Water Fey in another undersea location.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “At least I won't have to stay out of Sgáthan entirely.”
“Honestly, I'd prefer it if you did,” Declan's tone went deadly serious. “But I understand the importance of this alliance, and asking the Sea Fey come to shore is a difficult proposition.”
“We'll work something out,” I said as I started heading outside. “But let's discuss it another time; I want to get this trip over with.”
We went down to my private strip of beach, and I slipped my backpack on. I had my borrowed dress inside it, along with the Golden Girdle—once more in its snake form—all ready to return. Declan passed out the potions, and we drank up before wading into the cool water. The sun was bright overhead, but it was still early in the day in Hawaii, and the shallows hadn't been warmed yet.
I strode toward deeper water but only went as far as I needed to go to get submerged. As soon as I was beneath the surface, I breathed in, and the water was changed into air; we were good to go. I nodded to the others and pulled out my traveling stone. They all nodded back and did the same. In seconds, we were treading water outside the courtyard of the Coral Court.
Since we were arriving unannounced, we had decided to approach from a distance so we wouldn't startle them. Despite our precautions, the guards on duty were still surprised by our approach. As I mentioned; this was the first time that this technique had been used to travel underwater. When the guards saw who we were, they relaxed and escorted us to the main entrance. But we were asked to wait outside while Danyon was fetched.
As we waited, members of the Court swam by; several stopping to offer us greetings. Some of the men paused longer than others and smiled at me in ways that now seemed suspect. Torin looked at me with a smug look, and I rolled my eyes. Damn him for telling me that shit; now I'd never be able to speak to another man without wondering what they're thinking. And down there, that could get me into trouble.
Queen Elaria! Danyon exclaimed in my mind. You're back so soon.
Really? I nervously tried to not think about what he was thinking about. It's been nearly a month.
Generally, situations which require this level of protection take time, Danyon said. I didn't expect your return for months.
Fair enough, I conceded. And thank you for the loan; it saved us and the Blooder race.
You are very welcome, Your Majesty. Danyon bowed his head to me, but when I started to remove the Girdle from my backpack, he held up his hand. Not in the open. Please, come with me down to the Coral Cavern.
I hesitated and glanced at my consorts. I don't think that's such a good idea.
I assure you, I've made changes since your last visit. The orb has been moved to a more secure location in the Cavern.
Oh. I sighed in relief; bubbles trailing out of my mouth. Good; I can't risk coming into contact with it again; I've had some unsettling revelations about the orb.
Danyon looked surprised. From who?
An Aarun, I said gravely. He felt the trace of it on me and recognized it.
Recognized it as what? Danyon looked around us at the curious water fey who were gathering and then took my hand. No, don't speak of that here either. Come with me, Your Majesty. I'll let your consorts know that we won't be long. Someone will come to escort them to a waiting room.
Okay. I looked at the men and nodded.
Gage gave me a thumb's up; making me smile. Then Danyon slid me in against his side and clutched me close before he sped off through the winding hallways of the Coral Court. Again, he went so quickly that I was soon lost. I knew it was to confuse me, and I even understood why he needed to be so careful, but I hated the sting in my eyes. I hid my face in Danyon's neck as I had the last time.
I didn't open my eyes until I felt us descending. Then I looked up to see the same slick walls of the shaft we'd ventured into before. The deep crimson coral slowly lightened until we were completely within the containment coral; the pure white heart that guarded the Water Fey's treasures. Sure enough, I didn't see the orb anywhere.
All right; we're guarded here from everything, even the other members of my court. What did the Aarun say about the orb? Danyon asked me.
He said that it held a piece of a god; a real god—one of the creators of the realms. I watched his reaction closely.
Danyon looked uncomfortable and uncertain. There were indeed real gods once, and the possibility that the orb is connected to one sounds plausible, he finally admitted. The orb has been with us for a very long time; long enough for all of its specifics to grow hazy within the minds of its keepers. I was told that keeping it hidden was integral to the well-being of our world; that it was a key to a prison. So, if it is a piece of a god that the Aarun felt, then the orb must unlock the god's cage.
The Shining Ones really did imprison a god? I asked in surprise. Was it only one or two of them? Declan said he once heard a story about there being multiple gods here.
I'm not sure about the number of gods, or about who did the imprisoning; only that it was necessary. He said grimly. What else did the Aarun tell you?
That if its touch on me was strong enough to linger, it was awake and growing in strength, I said. He was certain that it would break free of its prison soon.
No; we cannot allow that to happen! Danyon exclaimed. A god loose in Tír na nÓg? No; that would be catastrophic. Especially if this god is evil.
Then keep it well hidden, Danyon, I suggested. Perhaps we should even discuss destroying it.
It cannot be destroyed, he said gravely. All avenues have been considered in the past, Your Majesty. If our ancestors believed the orb needed to be protected, they did so for a good reason. Destroying it could end up harming whatever magic is imprisoning the god.
All right, I gave in. You have been guarding it for all this time; I will trust you to continue to do so. But if you need help, you can call on me.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
And if anything happens with it, please notify me at once.
Absolutely.
Thank you, Danyon. I took out the borrowed dress and the Golden Snake (I just couldn't call it a girdle when it was in that form). Can you make sure this garment gets back to its owner as well?
Of course, Queen Elaria. Danyon took them both from me and placed the Snake on its shelf. Now, let's get you back to your consorts and as far from the orb as possible.
Indeed.
Chapter Fifty-Six
We didn't linger in the Coral Court this time. None of us wanted me anywhere near the orb. So, as soon as I wa
s united with my consorts, we bid farewell to Danyon and traveled back to Hawaii. We stepped out of the ocean, onto my back lawn, and took a deep breath of fresh air together.
“I'm so glad to be done with all of that,” Gage declared as he reached behind him to unzip his suit and then peeled it off his torso; letting it hang from his waist. “I prefer the sky to the sea.”
“Poor griffin,” I teased him as I headed inside. “I'm going to go shower off. You guys wanna hang around here for a bit; maybe grill some steaks?”
A chorus of agreement followed me into the house. So, I made a quick detour to the kitchen and pulled some steaks out of the freezer. I threw them in the microwave to thaw before I headed upstairs. I was humming to myself as I went; more lighthearted than I'd felt in ages. I took the stairs two at a time—trying to drip as little water on the carpet as possible—and went into the master bathroom. I put my wet backpack in the tub, and it landed with a solid thump.
I stared down at the bag with a frown. It was empty, so why did it sound as if something were inside it? Now that I was thinking about it, it had weighed more than it should have too.
That's when I felt it.
“No,” I whispered. “There's no fucking way.”
Run! Kyanite shouted.
But his warning came too late; I was already reaching for the bag. My hands functioned as if they belonged to someone else. I saw them unzipping the backpack and watched in horror as they removed the black orb from its recesses.
Elaria, my love; you're stronger than this, Kyanite tried to reach me.
Bitch, snap out of it! RS shouted. Drop that thing and run!
But I couldn't even answer them. All I could do was lift the orb and run my hands lovingly over its smooth surface. Power thrummed through it and into me, and through that power, I felt his touch. It was warm and safe, but also terrifyingly strong. Kyanite and RS faded away as a new voice filled my mind.
At last. I have waited millennia for you, Elaria. I have watched you in every lifetime; your struggle to breach the boundaries of humanity imposed on you. Every incarnation became more powerful than the last until finally, you left humanity behind and grew strong enough to reach me. You have collected all the magic you need to free me, and now we will finally be reunited.
I fell to my knees as images bombarded me; a sky filled with stars that began to spin, a zipping movement through that spinning sky, and then a dark void where a world should be.
Who could hide an entire planet?
Only you can break through the darkness that contains me. Only your song and your strength. Finding the hidden planet is the first step. You must bring the key here, my beloved, and sing for me. Sing me free of this prison, and then we shall make magic together.
I clasped the orb tightly to my chest and took out my traveling stone.
Keep reading for a sneak peek into the next book in the Spellsinger Series:
Deadly Duet
Chapter One
Where was I? I peered around the strange jungle at the rubbery plants and monstrous blooms. A heady fragrance filled the air, and moisture collected on my skin. I was wearing a thick, tight garment and my hair was wet. I had just come from the sea, hadn't I? I frowned down at the thing in my hands; the orb.
I had come here to turn the key.
“The key,” I whispered. “But first I have to find the lock.”
I felt him then; the pull of his power and longing. I knew—deep down—that I was being manipulated, but at the same time, I recognized his touch. I knew him. I felt as if I'd known him forever. And not in that poetic way, but actually forever—from the dawn of time. I could see the edges of his face if I concentrated hard enough.
I moaned and held a hand to my head. The memories were elusive. Why couldn't I hold onto them?
It has been far too long, my love. His voice soothed me. You will remember everything when I hold you again.
My heart raced at his words and a profound sense of rightness filled me along with a heart-wrenching longing. The barest recollection of a fluttering touch filled my mind; the swirling of a fingertip across a body that had once been mine but was now gone. Then came a flash of sparkling blue shifting to deep sapphire. I had always loved blue eyes.
You've been searching for me in other men. It's all right, Elaria; you were only trying to fill the ache our separation caused. They tried to erase me from your memories, but our love is too strong for that; traces of me lingered in your soul.
“They?” I whispered, but he heard me.
The Shining Ones; our children.
I stumbled.
You'll remember more when we are united.
My head spun with his words, his power, and the memory of him that tried to burst forth. This was the god Kukulcan had sensed; the one who left a trace of himself inside me when I was near the orb. But had he really touched me then? Or had he been with me the entire time?
Neither; I did not touch you then, nor was I what he felt. It was your own essence emerging.
I couldn't even process what he was saying; I just kept walking forward. Then I found what I was looking for; the mouth of a cave nearly hidden by vegetation. I pushed aside the thick branches and entered the cave. It was dark and damp inside, with the smell of soil heavy in the air, but I made my way through the passage as if I had walked it a thousand times before. I could see the smooth walls in my mind, and the torches that were hung there.
With my thought, the torches burst into light; fire—the element I'd always felt an affinity for—leading me further into the cave.
Because you are fire, beloved. You are the first flame; the fire that warmed my cold heart. I could not exist without you, and I have frozen here in my despair that you would never share your heat with me again.
I strode ahead more confidently, knowing what I'd find at the end of the path. And there it was at last; a wall of volcanic glass. In its center was a bowl-shaped depression; the exact size of the sphere I held. I went to stand before the wall and lifted the orb. I moved the key toward the lock slowly; there was a weight pushing it back.
Sing! You must use all the pieces of your power that you've been able to collect. Join them together with your enchanted voice. Sing to me, my Eternal Love, my Goddess, my Faenestra.
With the speaking of my true name, I felt my magic gather together into one shining beacon, and I began to sing. It was a song that had been trapped within my soul, and as he freed it with my name, I would use it to free him. I condensed my magic into one spell and used it to pierce through the barrier between my lover and me.
The orb slid into place and the glass cracked open.
Grammar Giggles
And just for a little giggle, here are some grammar mistakes found during the editing of this book. If you missed my author's note about the word “Maya” and you think I've missed a hell of a lot of mistakes, please go back and take a look at it before you roast me.
Correct Line: It was a massive room, so even though there were quite a lot of us, we still fit fine.
Giggle: It was a massive room, so even though there were quite a lot of us, we still fit dine.
And please feel free to write me at [email protected] if you spot any grammar errors yourself. I'm a poor self-published author who must rely on the kindness of my super-smart friends for help in editing. Please have mercy on my writing.
Pronunciation Guide/ Character List
I'm trying to limit these to characters who appear in more than one book.
Adam MacLaine: Human client
Aoide: E-da, Elaria's aunt and siren
Arnet: Are-net, Knight of Flourite
Ava: A-vah, Queen of Sapphire
Banning: Ban-ing, Gheara of the Kansas Gura
Barret: Bare-it, Commander of Chrysocolla Army
Bran: Bran, King of Garnet
Branna: Bra-nah, Duchess of Jade
Carrick: Care-ick, Knight of Onyx
Cerberus: Ser-bur-us, Demi-god dog-shifter
Cyrus: King of Copper
Danyon: A leader of the Coral Court
Declan: Deck-lan, King of Alexandrite
Diana: Blooder of the Sofia Gura
Edmond: King of Jet
Eileen: I-lean, Queen of Copper
Elaria: Eh-lar-ee-ah, spellsinger
Finbar: Fin-bar, Duke of Sapphire
Gage Saeiqa: Gauge Sah-E-kah, griffin
Galen: Gay-lin, King of Sapphire
Garret: Gare-it, King of Topaz
Gerard: Jare-rod, Knight of Onyx
Giovanni Borgia: Blooder gheara
Hugh: Hew, Knight of Onyx
Isandra: I-san-dra, Queen of Diamond
Jack Armstrong: Loup
Jameson: Jay-meh-son, Knight of Fluorite
Janae: a mermaid
Jarlath: Jar-leth, King of Diamond
Jonah Malone: Human gangster
Kalliope: Kah-lie-oh-pee, Elaria's mother and a siren
Kean: Key-in, Knight of Howlite
Lorcan: Lore-can, King of Copper
Maeve: May-ve, Queen of Peridot
Moirin: Moy-rin, Queen of Tiger's Eye
Mrs Chadwick: Adam MacLaine's housekeeper
Niall, Nigh-all, King of Citrine
Odran: O-drawn, King of Howlite
Oonagh: Oooh-nah, Queen of Snowflake Obsidian
Parthalon: Par-tha-lawn, King of Jade
Quinlan: Kwin-lahn, Alchemist
Riona: Ree-oh-nah, Queen of Malachite
Sara: Sare-rah, pink tourmaline fey.
Shani: female sphinx
Shauna: Shah-na, Queen of Amethyst
Shevaun: Sheh-von, Queen of Chrysocolla
Sorin Iliescu: Blooder King
Teagan: Tee-gan, Queen of Jet
Tell: Asrai of Sgáthan
Tír na nÓg: Tier-nah-n'awhg, Realm of the Fairies, the Land of Youth
Torin: Tore-in, King of Onyx
About the Author
Amy Sumida is the Internationally Acclaimed author of the Award-Winning Godhunter Series, the fantasy paranormal Twilight Court Series, the Beyond the Godhunter Series, the music-oriented paranormal Spellsinger Series, and several short stories. Her books have been translated into several languages, have made it to the top seller's list on Amazon numerous times, and the first book in her Spellsinger Series won a publishing contract with Kindle Press.
