by Simone Pond
Chapter 14
Isabella and I tumbled out of the golden-white light and rolled across pavement. I blinked a few times to clear my vision and found we were at the bottom of the rickety staircase in the alley. We stood up, gasping to catch our breath. I examined my body for burn marks from the dragon’s flames but found none. Isabella had no puncture marks from the fiend’s horns.
“What do you think, real Endor?” I asked.
“Definitely the real Endor. Where your lover was sent,” said Isabella.
“Can we please not say lover?”
She giggled. “Matthias is somewhere around here. But remember, this place is as horrible as the other—if not worse—since it’s not an illusion. We must make haste and get out of Endor altogether.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said.
“I suggest we start at the top of the stairs and follow the breadcrumb trail.”
By this point, I’d had enough of breadcrumbs, illusions, and witches. I didn’t want to walk up those creepy steps and possibly vanish into yet another realm. I sat down and clasped the golden star in my palm. Was there a way I could use it to guide me to Matthias, or the other way around? The star started to glow in my hand and a wind picked up in the alley.
I stood. “What’s going on?”
Isabella shrugged.
A strong force tugged at my hand, like the star was pulling me up the staircase. I followed its lead and ran up the narrow steps. Isabella trailed behind, asking what was happening, but since I didn’t know I stayed quiet.
At the top of the stairs, we looked onto a barren, ash-ridden landscape that stretched for acres. But high above I caught a glimpse of golden wings spreading in the morning sunlight.
“Benjamin!” I called.
“Shh.” Isabella grabbed me close. “Don’t draw attention to us, please.”
I held up my hand so the golden star reflected the sun’s rays and caught the attention of the eagle soaring overhead. Benjamin swooped down in a flash of brilliant light and shifted back into his human form. He was wearing a pair of trousers and a simple button-up shirt, no longer clad in the gentleman’s attire he’d been forced to wear earlier.
He squeezed me into his arms and lifted me. “Thought I’d never see you again.”
“I’m not that easy to get rid of,” I said.
He set me down and handed me my drawstring purse with the remaining three golden stars. “Here, I don’t want to be responsible for these things.” He paused and studied Isabella. “I see you found the Overseer.”
“Isabella; charmed, I’m sure,” she said, holding out her dainty hand.
Benjamin’s light brown skin flushed as he clumsily took her hand halfway to his mouth, and then decided on a regular, but incredibly awkward handshake.
“No luck on Matthias?” I asked.
Benjamin shook his head. “This place is insane. I’d be surprised if … well, I mean … He might not be alive.”
I refused to believe that even for a second. “He’s here. I know he is.”
“I couldn’t find him. And that’s with a bird’s eye view. You think you’ll have better luck?”
“No, but we can use one of the stars.”
Though I didn’t know exactly how to use the star in that capacity, I figured I’d toss it into the sky and hope he’d see it like the guiding star.
“That’s actually a good idea,” said Isabella.
I smacked her shoulder. “I told you not to do that!”
“What’s going on?” asked Benjamin.
“Guard your thoughts, this charming enchantress can read them.” Though annoyed, I smiled and removed one of the stars from my purse. I squatted, then flung it high above so that it soared into the gun-metal sky like a gleaming discus. It flew higher, gaining momentum, then arced into a glistening golden rainbow. Three stars left. I hoped my decision was worth depleting my supply.
“Well, you’ve alerted every warlock and witch in Endor,” said Benjamin.
“Among other things,” added Isabella.
The star faded out of sight as it dropped somewhere far off in the distance, leaving behind a slight trace of the arc in the bleak sky. It happened so fast, but I trusted Matthias had seen it. That he knew we were in this realm with him. Hopefully he’d trace the trajectory back to its place of origin: the staircase in the alley between the merchant and textile buildings.
***
Those early morning hours remained still as we waited for Matthias to answer our call. I found a quiet spot on the pavement and sat down, resting back against the textile building. Isabella and Benjamin sat on the stone staircase chatting and flirting. I needed some alone time to think about the big decision hanging over us. The calm wasn’t going to last. Soon another one of Glendora’s storms would hit, and we’d have to make a choice. Would we wait for Matthias or leave the real Endor? It wasn’t an easy choice. But none of them were.
I got up and walked over to the stairs, asking Isabella, “Tell me straight up, does he have any chance of survival?”
“Depends. Is your boyfriend clever?” she asked.
I nodded, ignoring the boyfriend comment.
Benjamin added, “Like nobody else I know.”
“It’s only been a day,” she said, pausing a moment. “Many of the stranded ones were in here much longer before I was able to help them out. And some of them weren’t the brightest stars in the sky, if you know what I mean.”
She smiled and Benjamin let out a bellyful of laughter. I didn’t think it was that funny, but apparently Isabella had charmed the pants off the eagle shifter. I stared up to the gloomy sky, watching the rays of yellow sun fighting to break through the veil of gray.
“How long do you want to wait?” asked Isabella.
We needed to get back to our ships. We’d already spent enough time in Endor, and we had what we needed to move on. Matthias’s voice whispered in the back of my mind … expendable. I didn’t want him to be collateral damage in this side mission, but if we didn’t get back to our ships soon, Magnus would send out more attack cruisers. The Ancients would be able to defend themselves for a brief period, but they needed Levi and Benjamin. More than anything, they needed me.
“What are Matthias’s chances of figuring a way out of the real Endor without your help?” I asked Isabella.
She glanced down at her bare feet, blackened with ash and soot, and clasped her small hands together. I didn’t need to be a mind-reading enchantress to know what she was thinking. I kicked the wall adjacent to the staircase with my filthy bare foot. Fortunately my magic shield protected me from the painful impact.
“I could kill that witch for sending him there!” I said.
I kicked the wall again and large chunks of stone crumbled to the pavement, almost smashing my toes. I jumped back a few feet, watching as a crack splintered up the side of the wall. More rocks began to tumble down, and the lower portion of the stone staircase wobbled a bit as though I had upset the very foundation. Benjamin snatched up Isabella and pulled her away from the rumbling, quaking structure.
The three of us stood back and watched as the walls that flanked the steps began to cave in and topple onto the staircase. Within seconds the entire teetering edifice became an avalanche of crumbling stone, pebbles, and dust. We inched our way backward out of the alley before it engulfed us into a cloud.
“Nice move, Temple,” a familiar voice said from behind.
I turned around and ran straight for Matthias. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him so tight, he coughed.
“You saw the golden rainbow?” I asked, gazing up into his pale gray eyes.
He nodded, then motioned to the staircase. “See what I mean about flying off the handle?”
We laughed for a second, staring at the heap of rocks that used to be the staircase. He was right, I’d need to work on tamping down my temper.
“Can you teleport us out of here?” asked Matthias.
My powers of teleportation would
n’t work in this alternative realm. I had some of my magic abilities, but not that one. And I didn’t want to use another golden star if I didn’t have to.
“There’s only one way out of this hellhole,” I said.
“Yes, sweetness, but your ride out of here just got delayed.”
I turned around and my stomach dropped. Isabella was in the grip of the hideous Glendora. The High Witch pressed a black dagger made of onyx into the girl’s neck. Benjamin was spread out on the pavement in his eagle form, his golden wings covered in tar. I thought about running to Benjamin’s aid, but stayed close to Matthias instead. The resolution to this scenario was limited. I knew what needed to happen.
“An even trade,” I called to Glendora.
“What are you doing?” whispered Matthias.
I turned around to face him. “We need Isabella. The High Witch needs me. It’s done. You take Isabella to the ships and get through the canal. It’s the only way. I’ll figure out a way back to the ships.”
Before Glendora had a chance to respond, an icy wind whipped through the alley and with it came a funnel of red smoke that swept down and zipped between the two buildings where we stood facing off. The spiral of red slowed down, then uncoiled to reveal Counselor Magnus. My shield automatically went up around Matthias and me. I considered applauding his dramatic entrance, but decided to be a silent observer.
“You!” screeched Glendora as she shoved Isabella away.
Magnus stood in his long black coat, holding his cane with the Red Ruby gleaming and casting beams of crimson all around him. Isabella quickly scurried away from both of them, scooping up Benjamin and bringing him over to us. I lowered my shield to allow them inside. The pain from my magic wrenched her body, but she fought through it and handed Benjamin’s tarred eagle form to Matthias.
“Get us out of here,” I said to Isabella.
She squatted low and began to draw in the layer of dust on the pavement with her index finger. Another one of her etchings that would open a portal out of the real Endor. As she drew her symbols and designs, I watched Glendora raise her knotted and bony hands toward her cousin.
“The Red Ruby is mine!” she screamed.
Magnus chuckled as he made a slow approach toward the gruesome witch. I glanced down to Isabella to see where she was with her etching. Hurry, I whispered in my mind. She started going faster and drew with more determination. Matthias held onto Benjamin, stroking the eagle’s head.
I looked back over to the standoff between the two cousins of Endor. They stood only ten feet apart. Glendora kept her hands raised, and Magnus continued aiming the cane in her direction.
“You’re a fool for thinking you could outsmart me, cousin,” said Magnus.
“You’re a fool for entering the real Endor. Your powers are weakened here, dear cousin. And I will get back what’s rightfully mine!”
Glendora aimed her sharp claw-like fingers at Magnus and shot off a stream of black tar, but he deflected it with the cane. His laughter echoed throughout the alley. She tried again, and that time he sent it back to her so the inky goo splattered over her entire body.
“I’ll rip you apart with my bare hands!” Glendora ran toward Magnus, tar dripping from her face, fingers, and hair.
Magnus held up the cane and fired off a blast of red lightning that flung Glendora backward so her tar-sodden body smashed up against the old merchant building. She dropped to the pavement and began crawling toward him, refusing to give up. It was a pathetic sight.
“I’m torn, cousin,” said Magnus. “Shall I end you now or allow you to live? Without the power to create your illusions you’d be stuck in this despicable city. Killing you seems to be too kind.”
Glendora hacked up a bubble of tar and spit it onto the ground as she continued crawling toward the High Warlock. She released a high-pitched cackle. “If you kill me, you lose the power of the Red Ruby,” she spat.
Magnus stopped gloating as he registered that bit of news. “You’re lying.”
“Want to test it out, dear cousin?” she goaded him.
A cold shiver rippled down my spine and my core trembled. Something huge was about to happen and we needed to get out of Endor immediately. Before the two cousins destroyed the city with us in it, or the two monsters decided to join forces and come after us. I glanced down at Isabella again.
“It’s ready,” she said.
The three of us held hands, propping Benjamin’s body over Matthias’s shoulder. Isabella shook from the pain our magic was causing her. We felt it too as her magic sent prickling thorns through our fingers. Matthias yanked his hand out of Isabella’s.
“You have to hold on. It’ll be quick,” I said.
She closed her eyes and once again began rapidly spouting out a bunch of gibberish. I glanced into the alley to see Magnus and Glendora quickly turn to face us as a cyclone of emerald green encased our circle and burrowed downward into the pavement. The last thing I saw was Glendora trying to pull the cane from Magnus’s tight grip as he smiled right at me.
Chapter 15
The portal Isabella had created offered a smooth landing right back into the alley we had just escaped, only this wasn’t the real Endor. We were in Glendora’s elaborate illusion, but the veneer was starting to peel away around the edges and a grayish haze hung in the air.
Matthias’s face was pale from Isabella’s magic mixing with his, and though my muscles felt like they were deteriorating, I fought hard to keep it together. We still had to teleport out of this awful place. The three of us continued holding hands as I closed my eyes and pictured Sawyer’s quaint cottage hidden far off in the woods. I focused deep into my core and called forth what little magic glimmered inside me. But I didn’t have enough to get us out.
“I need your help,” I told Matthias.
He gave a weak nod and placed one of his hands on my head to replenish whatever magic he could. Together we were able to push back Isabella’s black magic, and once my energy started pulsing stronger, I grabbed his hand and called on the Ancient One. A burst of light expanded through the alley and boomeranged back to us so we exploded into a billion flecks.
We rejoined in a flash right in front of Sawyer’s cottage. A fit of nervous laughter welcomed us back from our journey as Sawyer dashed over to us, wearing an elaborate lavender three-piece suit trimmed in black.
“Hehehe. You did it! You rescued my Isabella! Hehehe.”
Isabella collapsed to the grass. Matthias and I dropped down to our knees, too weak to stand. Matthias placed Benjamin in the grass next to him and reclined back. Sawyer knelt down next to Isabella and gently placed her head in his lap.
“What has happened? Hehehe. Is my true love dead?”
“No, but she’s weak. We need to rest,” I said.
“I must tend to my dearest Isabella.” Sawyer lifted the girl and carried her to the cottage.
Levi and Binx ran over.
“Dude, what happened?” asked Binx.
“It’s a long story,” I said. “But I need you guys to get this tar cleaned off of Benjamin.”
“You got it, boss,” said Levi.
I was too drained to argue about him calling me boss and lay back in the grass next to Matthias. We stared up at the blue sky and puffy white clouds, breathing quietly. No more illusions or cursed cities with filthy air and hideous witches. I inhaled the fresh pine scent of the surrounding woods and soaked in the sun to restore my strength and magic resources. Matthias scooted closer and slid his arm underneath my neck so my head rested in the crook of his shoulder.
“Endor sucks,” he said.
I laughed and glanced up, kissing his neck and nestling closer against his warm body. Our magic started doing its thing, spiraling together and charging through my limbs. My heart shot back to life, sending warm energy all around my chest. It wasn’t just our magic blending together, but a shock of hormones kicking around and jumping all over the place. He reached down and turned my face upwards so our lips met and he k
issed me. Slow and soft at first, and then with a more focused determination to devour my mouth with his. His hands stroked my hair, down my back to the curve of my waist, and back up underneath my camisole. Warm, strong hands that wrapped around my body and pulled me in tight. The grass tickled my shoulders as he laid me on my back and leaned over me, smiling and panting, as though we were the only two people in the front yard.
“How about getting a room?” teased Benjamin.
I shoved Matthias off me and sat up, folding my arms across my chest. Benjamin, Levi, and Binx were standing over us. I’d never felt more unprofessional. Making out with someone while we’re in the middle of a mission. I felt ridiculous, and the bloomers and camisole weren’t helping. Matthias chuckled and stood up, and reached out his hand to help me, which I ignored.
“Glad you’re okay,” I said to Benjamin, standing up on my own.
Levi patted Benjamin’s broad shoulder. “The tar didn’t cause any damage, it didn’t have much of a charge to it.”
Glendora’s powers must’ve been weakened when she fired that blast at Benjamin’s eagle form. I wondered what happened between her and Magnus in the alley. The stipulation the Oracle had set up around the Red Ruby would force Magnus to keep his cousin alive if he wanted to keep using its power.
“We should head back to the Jericho,” I said to Matthias.
“You strong enough to take the four of us, plus the girl and the hyena?” asked Matthias.
“Benjamin should take Binx and Levi back to the Sinai. You and I will go back with Isabella and Sawyer.”
“Sure thing, boss,” said Benjamin. “I’m ready to get the hell out of this circus.”
He shifted into his eagle form in a whirl, and flew up into the blue sky. Then he made a sweeping dive into the clearing, hoisting Binx and Levi with his talons. He flapped his majestic golden wings and they gleamed in the sunlight as he headed northeast toward the River Elin.
