Scion of the Sun

by Nicola Marsh

  Without Maisey to fill my head with conspiracy theories, I analyzed Brigit’s obsessive behavior logically. She was America’s leading parapsychologist. Wouldn’t it be the coup of a lifetime to have access to something like this? To prove biokinesis existed?

  I’d done a heap of reading, including the science journals lining her office, and nowhere was there conclusive proof that biokinetics worked. Altering human DNA? Rearranging and controlling genes inside the body? Immortality? Nada. If Brigit could prove it existed, she wouldn’t only be famous in this country, she’d be renowned worldwide.

  Not that Brigit’s motives mattered. As long as I let the Sorority and Brigit think I was the model pupil, an obedient lackey doing their bidding, I could work on my own plans.

  As I picked up my trans-channeling crystal to chat with Joss, a brief knock sounded at the door before Quinn and Raven bustled into my room.

  “Hey, did you hear RPatz and his latest are on the rocks? We’re in with a chance.”

  I laughed at Raven’s optimism, but Quinn, intuitive as ever, knew something was up. “Damn, I was supposed to pick up half a leftover red velvet cake from the dining hall.”

  Clever ploy. Quinn knew how much Raven loved red velvet cake.

  “And you wait ’til now to tell me?” She glared at him. “Back in a sec.”

  She was out the door in a flurry of black silk before we could blink. Quinn didn’t hesitate, crossing the room to sit on the floor next to me. “What’s up?”

  I wanted to tell him about tomorrow: my fears, my hopes, my insane sense of impending doom. Instead, I mumbled, “Nothing.”

  “I tried a psychometric analysis in magic-woo-woo class today and I’m not half bad at it, if I do say so myself. So spill before I practice on you.”

  I glared and he laughed.

  “Come on, Holly, I know it’s something big. You’ve been buried in the books for the last few weeks, and on the weekends you’re with your Nan. Supposedly.”

  He wouldn’t let up, so I held up my hands in surrender. “Okay, fine. Remember that group I mentioned?”

  “Yeah.”

  He’d lost the teasing sparkle the moment I brought up the Sorority, and I knew why. He was thinking of Joss.

  “Something big is going down tomorrow and I’m worried.”

  He frowned. “Dangerous?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Then I’m coming.”

  His instant protectiveness, his willingness to help, warmed me. But I’d have a hard enough time knowing the guy I loved would be standing beside me when I faced Cadifor, let alone my best friend too. “You can’t.”

  Uh-oh, wrong choice of words. He rarely backed down from a challenge.

  “You’re in danger. Of course I’m damn well coming!”

  Jeez, how would I get myself out of this one? The only thing that would explain why he couldn’t come was the truth, but …

  “There’s nothing you can say that’s going to stop me.” He folded his arms, his mutinous glare almost funny if I’d been in the mood for laughing.

  “Actually, there is something—”

  “Nope, nothing. Don’t waste your breath. I’m coming.”

  I would have to tell him. I didn’t want to—it would change our friendship forever. But I’d jeopardized our friendship enough. I took a deep breath, and blurted, “When I said you can’t, I meant it literally.”

  Confusion clouded his eyes. “Huh?”

  “This group I’m a part of? They’re based in Eiros. The Innerworld. Kind of like a parallel existence behind a veil over New York City. I—I—teleport there.”

  Silence. Long, drawn-out, uncomfortable silence as my best friend stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

  “Long story. When the sun or intense heat hits my forehead, I teleport to this place linked to a sun god.” His frown deepened and I rushed on. “Apparently I’m a descendant of this sun god, the only one who can find an icon a bad guy wants. So that’s what I’m doing tomorrow. Facing off with this guy. In Eiros.”

  Quinn leaped to his feet and took four steps toward the door before swinging back to glare at me. “You could’ve just blown me off.”

  “It’s true—”

  “Save it!”

  Raised voices I could cope with, but the disbelieving glare he shot me, like I’d betrayed him, cut deep. I pushed up off the floor, wanting to … what? Calm him? Hug him? Convey the relief I’d finally told him the truth and bone-deep sadness he didn’t believe me?

  “It’s the truth—”

  “The truth is I care about you. The truth is I value our friendship. The truth is you must think I’m an idiot to spin me a story like that just so I don’t get to meet your boyfriend and his crazy friends.”

  His face flushed an angry red. I wanted to shake him, to make him believe me. But if the truth hadn’t convinced him, what would? I swallowed my disappointment and tried one last time. “I value our friendship too. It’s why I told you the truth.”

  “Your version of the truth sucks. Screw that.”

  He stormed out the door and misery wormed its way into my heart.

  I didn’t sleep all night.

  My overactive imagination envisaged how the confrontation with Cadifor would go down, what I would do if Arwen didn’t miraculously appear when the sun hit the stone altar covered in spiral symbols I’d seen in my vision. Joss had a backup plan to get me out of there pronto if Arwen didn’t materialize, but I knew better.

  If I couldn’t produce Arwen, I’d die.

  The Sorority didn’t believe that. When we’d gone through every possible scenario, they thought Cadifor would spare me because I was his main chance at finding Arwen fast. But Joss was wary. Something about this meeting felt off. Like I was walking into a trap.

  I closed my eyes, and saw an image of Nan lying helpless in the hospital, closely followed by Mom’s face dunked in a bowl of blood emulsion.

  I had to do this.

  I clutched the trans-channeling crystal in my hand and pressed it to my forehead. Last check-in with Joss before I teleported in an hour. Unnecessary, I thought, but he’d insisted, wanting to ensure everything was in place before I arrived.

  Hey, Warrior Boy. This is Scion Chick checking in from the control tower before coming in for a smooth landing shortly.

  I smiled at his laughter.

  All in readiness. You’ll be here in an hour?

  Yeah. Meet you at the cave entrance?

  Fine.

  Our mental conversation came to an abrupt halt. I hated the stilted nature of our chats these days. We used to spar in the midst of all the chaos.

  Any more visions?

  No.

  You’ve mastered all the tasks. You’re ready for this.

  ’Course I am.

  I hesitated, wanting to ensure Joss was clear on who’d be doing the confronting in that cave.

  You know this meeting is between me and the monster, right? I know you want to avenge your dad, but I just need you to be there for me.

  There was a long pause.

  I’m going to be with you every step of the way.

  I know.

  What we didn’t know was how powerful Cadifor really was, or how far he’d go to get his hands on Arwen.

  I know I’ve been a jerk these last few weeks, but it’s for our own good. Focusing on what we need to do, you know?

  While I didn’t agree with his tactics, now wasn’t the time to lay a guilt trip on him. We’re focused. We’re ready. Let’s do it.

  See you soon. And Holly?

  Hmm?

  I’ll always be there for you.

  As I eased the crystal from my forehead, I now had another clear motivation to stay alive.

  Joss. Soulmates. Entwined destinies.

  Keenan met us at the cave entrance, his mouth twisting into an evil grimace that passed for a smile.

  “Welcome. You’re expected.” He held up a lantern, illuminating a narrow, dark passageway. “Follow me.”


  Fear jagged through me, raw, potent, and I dragged in deep breaths, trying not to hyperventilate.

  Joss touched my arm. “You don’t have to do this.”

  Grateful for his presence, I shook my arms out and squared my shoulders.

  “I do.”

  I hesitated for a second, thinking how great it would be to turn around and walk away from all of this. Back to a time before visions and teleporting and Arwen.

  “We can wait—”

  “We’re out of options.” Not a convincing declaration, considering hysteria edged my voice. “I can do this,” I muttered.

  Keenan swung back to face us, held the lantern high. “Is there a problem?”

  “No problem,” I said to Keenan, grateful my voice had steadied. No point tipping off the enemy I was scared witless.

  “We must hurry. The sun will be in place shortly.”

  And point the way to Arwen, supposedly. The Sorority, Brigit, and I had been over this a thousand times, had scoured books, the legends, even picked Dyfan’s brain. We thought we had all the answers. But how could we, when no one had ever seen Cadifor, let alone knew what he was capable of?

  Keenan stopped, held up his hand. “Wait here.”

  “Don’t—” Leave us in the dark, I wanted to say, but he’d already vanished, taking the lantern with him. My terror flared, burning bright, threatening to consume me.

  “I’m right here.” Joss stepped up behind me, so close I could feel him pressing against my back, solid, reassuring, a comfort as always.

  “What’s he up to?” I whispered, edging closer to Joss as I heard a faint scraping up ahead.

  “Trying to intimidate us,” he growled, resting both hands on my shoulders as footsteps came toward us in the dark. “Don’t let him see your fear. It’ll only feed his power trip.”

  Easy for you to say.

  He squeezed my shoulders in response and eased away as Keenan rounded a corner, the lantern illuminating his hateful face. “Cadifor is ready for you.”

  How nice, the monster is receiving now.

  The route we took to the Cave of the Sun was circuitous and winding. Cadifor was taking no chances; he wouldn’t want a Sorority army storming down here if things went wrong. The closer we got to the end of the corridor the lighter it became. As we rounded a corner, the passageway widened, the ceiling considerably higher. My eyes slowly adjusted as we stopped on the threshold of a large chamber.

  “This is where I leave you.” A hint of annoyance flashed across Keenan’s face. “Cadifor does not allow anyone to enter the Cave of the Sun without permission.”

  Uh-oh. What about Mom? I’d seen her there alongside him in my vision. She needed to be there.

  Joss touched me lightly in the small of my back. “You expect us to believe the dark lord will be alone?”

  Keenan shrugged. “It’s not my place to question. I follow orders.”

  Not buying his dumb act for a second, Joss said, “Let me guess. Your orders are to block the exit just in case we make a run for it.”

  Straightening to his full height, Keenan glowered. “I don’t answer to you.” He pointed to a narrow stone archway at the opposite wall of the chamber. “Through that door is another chamber, larger than this one. The Cave of the Sun leads directly off it.”

  “Is my mom in there?”

  “I don’t know.” Something flickered in Keenan’s eyes. A hint of sadness? Of guilt? Who knew, maybe the bad guy had a conscience and there was something humanitarian in his approaching me in the glade.

  When he moved to pass me, I stepped in front of him. “Has he harmed her?”

  He glanced away. “She’s alive.”

  I clenched my fists, ready to pound something. Joss held me back and I let Keenan go.

  “You’ll get nothing more out of him, he’s a lackey.”

  “He sidestepped my question.” My voice shook. “Must be bad.”

  Joss cupped my chin. “She’s alive. Cadifor will make sure of it.”

  Only so he can get to me.

  Dropping his hand, he glanced over my shoulder. “You know he’ll try to use her to manipulate you?”

  I nodded.

  “You have to stay strong, whatever happens.”

  All perfectly logical and doable in the light of day, but down here in the cold, dank dimness, my steely backbone had turned to rubber.

  But I’d come this far. I had to do this. Now.

  “Come on, we’re wasting time.”

  He grinned at my sudden bravado. “That’s my girl.”

  I had to lighten the mood, do anything to detract from the fact my knees had started knocking together. “I could be, if you weren’t so damn stubborn.”

  His thumb brushed my cheek for an all-too-brief moment. “We’ll debate it later. For now, we have a job to do.” He assumed his usual position, on my right and slightly behind, ready to protect me.

  We stepped into the chamber. It was empty, eerily so. We crossed it quickly. Our footsteps were muffled by the dirt floor. If our approach couldn’t be heard, that didn’t bode well for whatever nasties that might creep up on us.

  I paused at the arched doorway. Though Joss stood close, the chill of the stones seeped into me, strumming my spine with frosty fingers. I couldn’t see beyond the archway, but the miasma of evil permeating the air raised the fine hairs on my arms.

  “Ready?” Joss’s steady tone didn’t betray an ounce of fear. I admired him for that. With his solid heat at my back, I could do this.

  I nodded. “Let’s do it.”

  Willing my legs to stop quaking, I peered into the inky darkness.

  One step.

  Two.

  With my third step, I entered the Cave of the Sun.

  And screamed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Blood covered the walls.

  I stopped dead, gawking at the spirals, triquetras, and triskelions etched in vivid crimson.

  “He’s trying to psych you out,” Joss murmured in my ear.

  It’s working. I balled my hands into fists to stop from grabbing Joss and making a run for it while we still could.

  “Welcome, Holly Burton. So nice of you to finally join me.”

  I flinched despite my best efforts to appear calm. I hated that voice, that flat, cold monotone, so much scarier live than in my visions. It ripped through my fake bravado and tied my insides in painful knots. Fear churned like scalding acid in the pit of my stomach.

  No way would I give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he terrified me.

  Determined not to show my fear, I took a step forward. I couldn’t even see him. “Where’s my mom?”

  Cadifor’s glacial chuckle draped over me like a frigid cloak, intensely suffocating. “Impatience in one so young. Not a good trait to possess if hoping for a long life.”

  Joss stiffened at my back, his implied threat obvious.

  “Let’s cut the chitchat. You have something I want, I have something you want. So I repeat, where’s my mom?”

  “Your mother is awaiting our presence in the next chamber. I will call her in shortly. But first, step forward toward the altar.”

  I took a step forward and Cadifor bellowed, “Alone!”

  Joss stiffened, but didn’t budge.

  It’s okay. We need to do as he says. It’s the only way we’ll have a chance of getting out of here alive.

  Joss traced the word NO on my back.

  He won’t try anything until I have Arwen, and that won’t happen until the sun hits the altar. It’ll take a few minutes. Play along.

  Joss didn’t like it.

  “Now!”

  We both jumped at Cadifor’s shout.

  I took the next few steps without Joss. He listened, his presence a comfort despite the increasing distance between us.

  “I’ve waited a long time for this moment, Holly Burton.”

  It really pissed me off how Cadifor kept saying my surname, but what was I going to do, complain?
r />   “I hear you’ve been down here a long time.”

  Oops. Maybe not the smartest move to antagonize the monster.

  Joss snickered softly.

  I couldn’t see Cadifor beyond a robed shadow several very welcome feet away, so when he moved into the light I braced myself.

  “As a descendant of the infidel that put me here, you’d know exactly how long I’ve been incarcerated.”

  Another step toward me.

  “Robbed of my powers.”

  Another step closer.

  “Forced to exist here rather than rule the Inner and Outer worlds as I should.”

  This time, he didn’t yell. He didn’t have to. He punctuated every precise word with venom.

  I still couldn’t see his face beneath the hood and that unnerved me as much as his restrained rage.

  “So tell me, descendant of Belenus, how long is too long to wait for justice?”

  A loaded question. “You’re immortal. Time means nothing.”

  “Does it now?” He swung away from me, his cloak bellowing out behind him like an oil slick. “If time means nothing, tell me this. Have you spent the last sixteen years wondering where your precious mother was? What she was doing? Who she was doing it with?”

  My stomach churned at his taunts, but I couldn’t let him see how his poison stung.

  He swung around so fast I took a step back. “Take your sixteen years, multiply that by a hundred thousand, and you’ll have some idea of the torture I’ve endured being cooped up here.”

  “I’m not doing a thing until I see Mom.”

  “Very well.” He inclined his head. “Enter, my Elphame. We have guests.”

  I’d mentally prepared for this moment for weeks. Years, in fact, counting all those secret wishes I’d harbored that one day I’d get a chance to see Mom again.

  Now that the moment was here, I felt empty and drained and unprepared.

  My mom stepped into the Cave of the Sun. She looked exactly the same as the photo I had by my bed at the cottage: long auburn hair flowing past her shoulders, blue eyes so dark they bordered on navy, flawless cream complexion. The visions hadn’t done her justice. She’d appeared vague, fuzzy, washed out. In reality she was still stunning. And still the woman who’d run out on me and stood by this monster for sixteen years.