by Jaymin Eve
“Yeah, some friend you are. Abandoning me to them.” Brace dropped down next to me, handing over a new glass of crandy.
“Better get used to it, Princeps.” Fury gulped down a mouthful as she half sat, half fell onto the ground. “Goooo, Dune.” Her screech had us all jumping. She was cheering for the next swimming race.
“He’ll never beat Talli,” she drawled. “But men have fragile egos. Got to show support.”
I snorted.
Brace pulled me closer, his lips nuzzling into the side of my face. “My ego is very fragile,” he said. “Do you have anything encouraging to say to me?”
I turned my head until our lips met. “Oh yes, Brace baby, you have a massive …” I pursed my lips, and he grinned. I lowered my voice. “Really massive … ego already.” I stuck out my tongue. “Enough for two … maybe three people.”
He laughed as he captured my lips. I groaned as he stroked my tongue with his. I could taste the tart cranberry flavor on his lips. Just as our kiss was deepening splashes of icy cold water flickered over us. I gasped, jumping back. Talina and Dune were finished their last swim, both soaking wet and laughing as they joined our group.
“You did great.” Fury for once had shelved her snide tone. She threw her arms around Dune. “I’m so proud of you.”
Dune grinned at her. “How many glasses have you had? I came dead last and had to be rescued halfway through the race.”
She patted him on the arm. “But at least you tried and that’s the most important part.”
“We should keep Fury permanently drunk,” Lucy said, “she’s much more agreeable.”
“Well, if you’re so clever, Lacey, then how about a challenge?” Fury leaned over Dune’s knee.
“My name is Lucy, you drunken half-wit,” Lucy drawled back.
Although these two were friends, it was complicated.
“And what’s your challenge? As long as it doesn’t involve the ability to light a fire without wood or a match then I think I’m up for it.”
“Okay, then I challenge you to find my father.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Fury.
“How is that a challenge?” Lucy demanded. “You just want me to do your hard work.”
Fury sighed. “No, I honestly can’t find him. I don’t think he’s here.”
Dune hugged her close. “I told you that he hid away and became a recluse after he left your mother.”
“That’s not good enough,” Fury snarled. “He abandoned us and my mother wasted away. He needs to know that he took the coward’s way out.”
“You’ll find him one day.” Lucy was staring off into the lake again.
Fury opened her mouth but before she could reply a commotion had us spinning around. A group marched into the area. Their presence had the mingling Doreen Walkers parting around them. I found myself pulled to my feet by Brace and I knew why. The group wore masks and robes, black with the tribal marks of Abernath flashing across them. They came to a halt and as one started to chant.
“Oh, for eff’s sake,” Lucy snarled. “It’s an Abernath cult.”
Colton stepped closer to Brace. “Tag,” he said slapping Brace on the back, “you’re up, Princeps.”
“What are they chanting?” I murmured.
“They’re asking the originals to return and wipe clean the scourge of the worlds,” Colton said cheerily.
“And who are the ‘scourge’?” I asked, even though I had a good idea.
“Anyone who’s not Walker,” Brace said. “And of course it has to be the Abernath faction that decided to show up.” With a sigh he stepped forward. “Leave now, return to Abernath and when you get there pull your heads out of your asses.”
Their chanting cut off. One stepped forward, breaking their formation.
“You’re not our chosen Princeps; we don’t answer to you.” A male voice spoke.
“Long live Que,” they all shouted as one.
“Jonathon,” Brace drawled. “I’ve known you for three hundred years. I’m going to recognize your voice.”
The man who had spoken shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Brace moved then and faster than we could track he ripped the mask off the front man. He was young with hair of golden browns, and small-set dark brown eyes.
Suddenly a blast of energy shot from the center of the group and hit Brace in the chest. I gasped as he was thrown backwards, landing across the open area. I stepped forward, my rage about to bubble my energy over. But before I could react Brace was at my side. He placed a hand on my arm to stop me.
“They’re just stupid kids, Red, I’ll deal with them.”
I snorted. Anyone less than four hundred was a kid to him.
Jonathon lifted his arms then. “We didn’t mean harm. It’s just our duty to spread the words of the originals.”
This had to be the group that had been harassing Lucy and us half-Walkers during the entire gathering.
“I’ll give you one chance to leave.” Josian stepped forward with a few Doreen elders. “If we have to ask again, you won’t be leaving in a conscious state.”
The group hesitated, but as they glanced between Josian, Brace and Colton they must have decided they were outmanned. With one last glance, Jonathon reached down to grab his hood.
“If I hear of your extremist actions again,” Brace called after them, “I’ll exile you from Abernath. Keep that in mind.”
“You don’t know who we are,” one of the hooded said.
Brace grinned. “But I know Jonathon and I know how to make him talk.”
“Squeal like a bitch actually,” Colton added. “Might be fun.”
They were just turning to leave when suddenly Jonathon turned back to us and started to speak. But this time his voice was different, flat, as if he were reciting a speech.
“Children of Gods, born unknown and alone,
the seven are needed to eliminate. Take heed,
for baby will not live till four and one year
unless removed from the world here.
The youngest and strongest to collect.
Lost and alone, a god-man is the key.
Gather the halflings, stone and fear.
The end of days is written in mineral.”
“Oh, eff,” Lucy said, “that’s the prophesy from Frannie, right?”
I nodded, trying to figure out what was happening.
He continued to repeat it over and over and suddenly he added a few words to the end. Words which were not in English.
“What did he say?” I asked Brace, an edge of panic in my tone. I was getting one of my bad feelings about this.
“He added two extra lines to the end,” Brace said, his tone short. “Death is near and will come on swift winds, unless the first half meets a fiery end.”
“First half? That’s me, right?” I attempted to swallow the huge lump in my throat.
Suddenly Jonathon flung his hands forward. He was still chanting and from his finger tip these red and yellow sparks emerged. I had to look twice because the first time I hadn’t realized that the spark was actually solid, until it shot toward me with the force of a missile and hit my shoulder with a thud that knocked me backwards.
“Detain him.” I heard Brace order before he dropped to my side. “Josian, is that what I think it is?”
His expression wasn’t giving me much hope that this was nothing to worry about.
“The scepter of Klaus,” Josian muttered.
I was about to start yelling, demanding someone tell me what the hell was sticking out of my arm, when I felt it beneath my lace marks. My blood started to pulse, and it burned suddenly, as if my very skin was on fire.
“What’s happening?” I gasped out.
“The scepter was a weapon developed early on by the Seventine. I thought the originals destroyed it all.” Josian looked panicked.
“What does it do?” Lucy all but shrieked.
Josia
n ran his hand through his hair in an agitated manner. “When they knew that they couldn’t kill an original they found this. It literally turns a Walker to stone. A living statue.”
“Keep her heart beating,” Brace bit out. “I know Que still held a few bottles of the cure.”
“But you can’t leave,” Talina said, sitting close by, a few tears running down her face. “The moonstale is up for another ten hours.”
“She doesn’t have ten hours.” Brace stood abruptly. “Just keep her heart beating.”
I couldn’t feel my left arm anymore. The burning was lessening, but so was any sensation there.
“Stay with me, baby girl,” Josian said from one side. “Your mother and I will feed you our energy to fight the spread.”
My parents each took my hands, although I couldn’t feel anything anymore. I just lay there watching their perfect faces shimmering under the moonstale dome. Warmth started to spread through me again, and I could feel the warring within my blood. And then Josian’s lace marks flickered a few times before disappearing. Noise erupted around us in a huge conglomeration of sound. The moonstale had fallen.
“Brace is badass,” Lucy said.
And then in that moment Josian’s mark reappeared. Brace must have figured out a way to disable the dome to allow him enough time to open a doorway. I mentally urged him to hurry. My parents were helping but the loss of sensation was still slowly creeping along my body.
“Her marks have stopped swirling,” Fury snapped out. “Brace better move his butt.”
The words continued over me as everyone spoke, but my ears seemed to have suddenly stopped working right. I kept missing parts of the conversation. And then the burning sensation moved to my eyes, and I couldn’t move them around any longer. My stare was locked on my father’s face as he continued to pour his energy into me. I guessed I looked calm on the outside, considering I couldn’t move my face anymore, but on the inside I was screaming. The claustrophobic sensations ripped through me. I was unable to move my body, but was still aware of my surroundings.
Josian moved out of my line of sight and my desperation grew. Now I could see nothing but the darkness of the First-World sky. How much longer until I was a statue? At this desperate thought, Brace was there, filling my view. A dash of hope flared. He leaned close to me, his lips moving, but I caught none of what he said. Except the last word. Sorry.
Oh, crap.
Something struck me hard, right in my chest above my heart. The fact I felt anything at all told me the force used. And then I was on fire. If I’d thought the burning sensation before was painful that was only because I didn’t have this new pain as a comparison. My skin was charring off my bones, lava flowed through my veins and embers repeatedly stabbed through my body.
I screamed, or attempted to, but no sound emerged. And then when I was mid-wail my screams started to echo around. My vocal cords were free; the paralysis was starting to wear off. Whatever Brace had done was working. Halting my wails, I gritted my teeth and rode out the pain.
“You’re doing great, Abbs, it’s almost over now.”
I could finally hear Brace’s voice and the sound was more soothing to my pains than anything else would have been. And then I could feel his warm hand wrapped around mine. Piece by piece my body became my own again, until finally I was able to stand.
Lucy ran at me, wrapping her arms around me tightly. Talina was right behind her and then on a very unusual note Fury was the last to join our group hug.
“I thought you were gone,” Lucy said, her voice muffled. “Your skin went this stunning shade of gold, but I could see the life disappearing from you.”
“Don’t do that again,” Fury bit out as she pulled back. “Us halves need our fearless leader.”
I laughed then. “Okay, I’ll try not get hit by some weird, ancient unheard-of rock and turn to stone. Seriously, how many times in one life could that happen?”
“You’d be surprised.” Colton grinned. He was standing next to Brace.
Taking two steps, I threw my arms around Lallielle and, as always, Josian joined in. I could hear him muttering about gray hair again. When he pulled back he addressed the many Doreen members who were gathered around us.
“I think it might be time to call it a night,” he started. “Brace and I have a few Abernaths to deal with.”
I could see five of them standing to the right of us, their hoods still in place and Doreen men around them, keeping them in place. The rest must have escaped in the uproar.
“I’ll take Red to our tent and make sure she’s fine. Don’t start without me.” Brace’s words were tense. He was not happy, his eyes black as pitch, and I wouldn’t like to be in those Abernaths’ robes when he got to them.
We moved through the dispersing crowd, and I had to say I felt completely fine, as if nothing had happened.
“You’re trying to give me a heart attack, Abigail. I didn’t think I’d make it in time.” He pulled me closer.
I looked up into his face. “What would have happened if you hadn’t? Is it permanent?”
“I’ve never known anyone to come back once the heart is frozen. The curative liquid only works if the organ can still pump it around.”
My blood chilled again at the thought that I had almost become a living statue.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “I don’t know how you managed to break the dome, but I’m so glad you could.”
Brace managed to laugh. “Don’t ask. I’ll probably be in shit over that soon. Worth it, though.”
We reached the tent and Brace made sure I was safely inside on our blow-up bed. “Don’t leave; I need to know you’re safe, just for five minutes.” His expression pleaded. “Please.”
“I’ll be right here waiting for you,” I promised.
He hesitated, before a grin crossed his features and he reluctantly moved out of the door. “See you soon, Red.”
My pulse raced as I watched him leave. I couldn’t wait for him to return.
Chapter 4
The next morning I felt great as I got ready to travel to Regali, the ominously dubbed ‘planet of the beasts’. Colton’s sister, Magenta, had been there before and, using her knowledge, Colton was going to open a doorway into the jungle of Artwon. Apparently this was the most likely place to find the half, as it was the most densely populated.
I’d traced from the field to my room in Angelisian the moment the moonstale dome had fallen on the gathering. My head was pounding a little, but I seemed to have recovered pretty quickly from the previous night. Brace and Josian had not gleaned much information from the Abernaths. They didn’t seem to really know anything of importance. And Brace was sure that Jonathon had no idea how he’d come to possess the scepter of Klaus.
I was in my closet, just collecting a few essential clothing items, when I felt Josian’s presence enter my room. I was getting much better at not just sensing the energy, but also individualizing it to fit with its owner. I popped my head out of the wardrobe door.
“Dad.” I smiled as familiar bronze eyes locked on me. “What’s up?”
He stood straighter, his ivory skin glowing softly as always. “I know you’re in a hurry to gather the next girl, and try that ritual for the four, but we have to do one thing before you leave.”
I tilted my head to the side, waiting for him to continue.
“Lucas is to be inaugurated tomorrow night at dusk. All of us have been requested to attend.”
I attempted to keep my expression calm, despite the tumultuous storm brewing inside. Lucas’ father had died a little over a week ago, a debilitating immune disease taking its final toll. After the days of mourning and farewells for Emperor Christian, it was now time for his son to take the throne. Lucas was a friend of sorts, but a friend who wanted more. He believed I was his destined Empress, despite my clear melding bond with Brace, and at times it made for tension and awkwardness. But he would expect our attendance and I owed him that much respect.
“Okay,
” I finally said. “I guess we can delay another day.”
What I really wanted to say was: hell no. But First World was my home and I needed to make sure I didn’t piss Lucas off too badly. Josian grinned. He couldn’t read my guarded thoughts, but my expression probably gave me away.
“We’ll take the buggies to the castle tomorrow morning. Lucas has also requested no doorways or tracing with so many people around,” Josian said, his tone dry.
Walker’s didn’t like orders, even if they were phrased as polite requests.
After Josian had left me to finish my packing, I opened my mind to Brace. I already missed him and he’d only been away on Abernath for a few hours. He was trying to help maintain a semblance of order, and assist in the decision for appointing the next Princeps.
Something told me it was going to be Brace and there was nothing we could do to stop it. He had told me he didn’t want the position because he would be gone so much. But I had encouraged him. If nothing came of the ritual for the four I had no choice but to break the bond, so maybe a little distance was for the best. My heart tightened inside my chest, as if someone had reached in and grasped it tightly before slowing squeezing the life out of it.
Red.
His voice washed over me. I quickly locked the negative thoughts away.
Are you okay?
I hadn’t quite hidden everything. He could feel my worry.
Yep, just missing you like crazy.
I poured all of my love into those words, without even meaning to.
I’d much rather be with you than trying to wrangle these Walkers. I swear not one of them can make a decision without ten hours of discussion.
He paused.
Well, in regards Princeps, there seems to be no doubt about who they want.
I sighed. They chose you, didn’t they?
I felt him hesitate. Yes. He paused again. But I haven’t accepted yet.
Why?
Because it’s a big job. Not always, of course, as you can see from Josian. Walkers manage themselves mostly fine, but someone has to sort out the mess Que made … I’m going to be gone a lot.
