“Very well,” Barbara said.
Nicole stepped away, watching as the small woman began yanking pots and pans out of cupboards, pulling food from boxes, and a handful of what looked and smelled like—Nicole couldn’t believe it—manure from a knapsack in the corner of the room. Rather than do everything separately, the woman threw it all into one of the bigger pots, then sprinkled some more of the manure on top. She muttered a few words, and with a poof, the stuff in the pot began bubbling and boiling.
The creature turned to Nicole and said, “Please excuse me while I continue.”
Nicole nodded, understanding that she was being dismissed. She and Sanso left, shutting the door behind them. They returned to Nicole’s group, silent the entire way. Nicole told her friends they would have food shortly.
She didn’t tell them about the manure.
Twenty minutes later, the woman entered the room, carrying a stack of plates which Sanso took from her while Nicole, Lizzie, and Jacob set up a table. Sanso put the plates on it, along with cups, bowls, and silverware that the woman brought next.
Rather than serve the food as Nicole had expected, the woman sprinkled a little bit of the dirt on each plate and bowl. Once finished, she clapped her hands twice, and food appeared, steaming and ready to eat. Nicole’s shoulders slumped in relief. It was perfect. It didn’t smell a thing like manure, looked exactly like what she and Austin had eaten—still whole, though—and she was too hungry to turn her nose up at soup, chicken, broccoli, and asparagus.
It didn’t take much encouragement for everyone to start eating. They were famished.
Nicole couldn’t help but watch her friends. Hayla carefully spooned the soup into her mouth while Lizzie, Jacob, and Azuriah ate like they hadn’t seen food in years. The Fat Lady had opted to stay in her cabin, reassuring Nicole that once everyone was gone, she’d be fine and that she’d send a Minya if anything happened.
Austin and Coolidge were still unconscious, as was the Silver. Nicole ached to help them, but it had been more than twenty-four hours since she’d last eaten, and she knew she needed strength. Once she’d taken care of herself, she’d turn her attention to them.
She’d nearly finished her meal when someone yelled on the other side of the room. A pillow was chucked through the air, narrowly missing hitting the table, followed closely by a book.
Nicole turned, seeing Sanso with his hands up, backing away from the Silver who had lunged to his feet, his chest rising quickly with his panicked breaths.
Chapter Twenty
“Hey,” Nicole said, jumping up. “It’s okay. You’re with friends—we’re not going to hurt you.”
The Silver stared at Nicole, his mouth working wordlessly. Then his eyes drifted across the room and landed on Lizzie. Nicole glanced at her best friend, realizing they hadn’t yet had time to clean up. Lizzie had dirt smudges on her face, and her hair was matted. It didn’t seem to matter—the man was looking at her like he was seeing an angel for the first time.
Lizzie met eyes with Nicole, a faint blush entering her cheeks. Her expression seemed to ask Nicole why the man was staring at her.
Nicole didn’t know. She returned her attention to the Silver and took another step toward him. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Nicole.”
The Silver’s eyes went back to her. He paused, then said in a deep voice, “Hi.”
“You do speak English,” Nicole said.
The man didn’t respond, but just stared at her.
Nicole resisted the urge to fiddle with her hands, unsure what to do. Was he trying to make her uncomfortable, or did he just not know how to respond?
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
The Silver’s eyes drifted to the table. Without waiting for an invitation, he stumbled across the room, took a seat, and started eating from an unclaimed plate.
Not knowing what else she could do, Nicole returned to her own seat and finished her meal.
Akeno sent Nicole an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry again that I couldn’t bring anything else. All of the Minya containers are being used, and we ran out of Kaede sap.”
Nicole shook her head. “Please, don’t worry about it. You guys have a lot going on too.” Her eyes widened. “Do you need to go back? Are the Makalos okay?”
He nodded. “Yes, in answer to both questions. We’re no longer in immediate danger—we’d forgotten about the hole in our wall where the Sindons come and go. It’s sealed up now, but we had a bad fight with some of Keitus’s men who sneaked through first. I’ll need to keep helping out. Making sure we really are safe.”
Akeno fell silent, and the rest of the meal was uncomfortable. It didn’t help that Sanso was there—he always seemed to make things weird—but with the Silver’s presence, it was even more awkward.
Finally, everyone finished. Nicole and Lizzie helped Sanso return the dishes to the kitchen, where the woman began cleaning immediately. She refused help, so Sanso and the girls went back to talk with those who were awake and well.
Nicole grinned when they entered the room. Jacob had opened a package of Kaede sap, and he and Akeno were applying it to those who’d been injured.
He looked up when the girls came in. “The Fat Lady found some sap in her cabin. It’s not enough to heal anyone completely, so we decided to spread it around—see if we can make them all more comfortable.”
Nicole felt tears prick her eyes. “This is so wonderful. Thank you so much.”
He nodded. “I just wish the stuff in the castle hadn’t been destroyed—Mom and Dad kept so much of it on hand.”
Nicole wiped her face. “I know.”
Keitus evidently knew about Kaede sap, and one of the first things he’d had his minions do was destroy it everywhere they went.
She took a breath and approached Austin’s cot. He was still unconscious. She peeked under the bandages—the wounds were already healing. This time, she didn’t try to stop the tears. She couldn’t believe how close her fiancé had come to dying.
Nicole picked up Austin’s hand—the one that wasn’t injured—and held it in her lap, rubbing his fingers, letting him know she was there. She felt someone’s eyes on her, and expecting it to be Sanso, looked up. It was the Silver. He was resting on a cot.
“So, what’s your name?” Nicole asked him.
He glared at her. “I remember you.”
“I’m not the enemy,” Nicole said. Why was he acting like this? She and her friends were on the good side. Those stupid Agarchs were the enemy.
The Silver let his gaze flit across the room to Lizzie, who was sitting in the corner near Hayla and Coolidge, pretending to read a book. Nicole didn’t blame her—this guy was seriously awkward.
“Abel. My name is Abel.”
Lizzie lifted her eyes from the book, meeting his gaze. “Like in the Bible?”
“Like in the Bible.”
“I’ve never met anyone named that before,” Lizzie said. “Is there a story behind your name?”
He frowned, turning away from her. “Yes. And that story is none of your business.”
Nicole and Lizzie looked at each other. Lizzie rolled her eyes.
“So, tell us about yourself,” Nicole said.
Abel glared at her before looking at Lizzie again. “Only if she wants me to.”
Lizzie raised her eyebrows. “Why me?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.” Abel suddenly found his hands very interesting.
Nicole frowned. “Why not? And why are you acting like you recognize her? It’s not like you’ve ever met her before. She’s never even been to that world—only I have.”
Abel didn’t look at her. “It doesn’t matter. I still know her.”
“How?” Lizzie asked. “How do you know me?”
“I’m not at liberty to say,” he repeated, his eyes on his hands again.
Nicole sighed to herself, sitting back down. “Well, what can you tell us?”
Abel scowled. “I’m from earth—all Aretes are, originall
y. The monsters who had me in their possession kidnapped me once they realized who I was and what I was supposed to do.” He mumbled something to himself, then said, “I performed certain tasks for them. And for other beings—things I . . .” He clamped his lips shut. “I’ve spent the last five years of my life acting as a slave to them.”
“Where on earth are you from?” Lizzie asked.
Nicole smiled to herself at Lizzie’s joke. Her friend didn’t catch the pun in her question, and neither did Abel, who ran a hand through his hair.
“I’m not sure, honestly. My parents moved around a great deal. I think my dad might’ve been in the American military.”
“Is anyone you know still alive?” Nicole asked. “Anyone you would like to go visit, let them know that you’re safe?”
Abel shook his head abruptly. “No. There isn’t. They were all destroyed five years ago.” He glowered, looking even angrier now than he had before.
Nicole and Lizzie looked at each other, and an unspoken agreement ran between them—they weren’t going to pursue conversation with this guy. He was a bit unhinged.
Once Azuriah finished checking a cut on his arm, he, Nicole, Lizzie, and Jacob pulled their chairs together to discuss their situation and make plans. Nicole had been disappointed to discover that Abel hadn’t Restarted yet, but that didn’t change the fact that he needed to be rescued. He’d refused Jacob’s offer to take him to visit Onyev, and no one was willing to force time travel on him.
Nicole took a breath. “I don’t even know where to begin. We need to stop Keitus. But how?”
“It’s not like we can rely on anyone else,” Jacob said. “We can’t expect some random, powerful creature to come along and save us, not when Keitus has already taken over so many worlds.”
“You’re going to have to go to the Great Ones,” Sanso said.
Nicole looked at the Ember God. He was sitting on the opposite side of the room from their group. She vaguely noticed that Abel was also paying attention.
“That’s what I’ve been saying,” she said. “But everybody keeps telling me we can’t do it.”
“Yeah, well, now we know it must happen,” Azuriah said. “You’re not doing it alone, though.”
“No, she isn’t,” Lizzie said. “All of us—all who are healthy—are going.”
“No way,” Nicole said. “There is no way I’m letting you guys come. I’ve already gone up against them, I know what to expect, and I’m not letting you risk becoming their slaves.”
Lizzie’s face turned red. “When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that you’re not supposed to do everything? You act like you’re a hero all the time, trying to protect me and everyone else from doing dangerous things, and I’m tired of it! I’m tired of being treated like I’m some prissy, delicate, inexperienced . . .” She turned even redder as she fumbled for words. “. . . silly girl!”
Nicole’s mind went blank. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came to her. Had she really been treating Lizzie that way? No, no. It wasn’t possible. Lizzie could obviously hold her own—she’d stood against Helen just fine. And every time Nicole had seen a need to have Lizzie there or had seen that Lizzie’s powers would help, she’d made sure Lizzie had been there.
“That’s not what I’ve been doing,” Nicole said. “You’ve come on many of these trips with us. I mean, you went to Salmon, you came with me to Romania, and you endured that horrible ladder to Renforth’s world. I haven’t ever deserted you!”
Lizzie started responding, but Jacob raised his hands, calming both of them. “Okay, okay,” he said. “You’re both right. Lizzie has been left out several times—”
“Not just because of me!” Nicole said.
“But she’s also gone on a lot of these expedition things. Probably more than I have.” He took a breath, obviously unwilling to let either girl take over the conversation again. “Nicole, you don’t have a choice—Lizzie, Azuriah, and I are coming with you.” He looked at Sanso and Abel. “The two of you are welcome to come as well.” His eyes landed on Akeno. “And I need to take you back to your family.”
Akeno nodded. “I’m really sorry—if I could help more, I would.”
“It’s okay. We appreciate what you’ve done.” Jacob rubbed the back of his neck. “Either way, it doesn’t matter who actually wants to go to the Great Ones’ dimension. We don’t know how to get there.”
“Yes, we do,” Sanso said. “I’ll show you the way when you’re ready to leave. They created a path to their world on every planet. I’ve never been there—I can only tell you where that path is.”
“What about the door to the kingdom?” Abel asked. “If the door doesn’t know or recognize you, it won’t grant you access.”
Nicole’s heart warmed—she’d been right. He would be the key. “You know how to get there?”
“Of course. I was enslaved by their servants for many years. I’ve held the door open multiple times, even for up to a full day.”
Nicole felt hope rise in her chest. If Abel had done this before, they’d be okay. They’d be able to reach the Great Ones and beg them for help.
Realizing she wouldn’t win this battle, she agreed to let the others go. They decided to head out first thing in the morning.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sanso showed everyone where they’d be sleeping, and as Nicole got ready for bed in a tiny room that she would be sharing with Lizzie, she couldn’t stop feeling panicked about having Lizzie and Jacob go. Was it because she felt they were weaker? No! That couldn’t be it. Jacob had proven himself multiple times, and definitely so had Lizzie. What, then? And was it her instincts warning her, or her protective nature?
Nicole lay across her bed, her feet hanging over the end of it, and stared at the dark stone ceiling above her. Like the walls in the other rooms here, this stone glistened like it was wet. She knew by now, though, that it wasn’t water, but an undrinkable substance not found on earth. It wasn’t poisonous, just annoying and pretty much everywhere. Seeing it on the stone was still a little weird.
Her thoughts drifted back to the argument she was having with herself. If she was being honest, she knew she really did want to save Lizzie and Jacob from having to interact with the Great Ones.
Wait. Interact with the Great Ones.
Nicole set up suddenly. Her instincts were right. Lizzie and Jacob couldn’t go. Nicole was a guardian of Shonlin because she had interacted with the Great Ones and had been left unscathed. She knew from experience that most people who came into contact with the Great Ones were murdered or forced to serve them forever. Promises of riches and power polluted their minds until they no longer had control of themselves.
Nicole also knew that Azuriah would become a guardian of Shonlin. The fact that he hadn’t been present at Lasia’s trial said that in the present time, he hadn’t yet met any of the Great Ones.
He was definitely supposed to go with Nicole. But what about Lizzie or Jacob? Would they be okay accompanying Nicole, but allow her to face the Great Ones alone? She knew they wouldn’t—they’d find a way to follow her or force her to let them stay with her just in case.
Nicole looked across the room at Lizzie, who had fallen asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. She slept peacefully, the worry lines erased from her face. Would she ever get over being left behind? Nicole bit the inside of her cheek, hesitating. This decision, especially after how Lizzie yelled at her earlier, might ruin their relationship. Lizzie might never trust her again.
It was worth it. Her friend’s life was worth it. Nicole couldn’t let anyone but herself, Azuriah, and Abel go. It was too dangerous.
After making sure that Lizzie was in a deep sleep, Nicole sneaked out of the room, softly closing the door behind her. The hallway was dimly lit. She stepped down it quietly, then opened the door on the other end, knowing it would lead to the little kitchen. Sanso was sitting at a small table in the corner, nursing what looked to be some sort of an alcoholi
c beverage. He glanced up at her. “I figured I’d see you pretty soon.”
“I can’t let them come.”
“I know. It’s not in your nature to put those you love in danger.”
“The Great Ones would never let them leave.”
Sanso shrugged, getting to his feet and setting the cup on the table. “Come with me,” he said, motioning for her to follow.
They went back to the main room, where all the tables and chairs had been put away and more cots pulled out so those who weren’t injured would have a place to sleep. The room was crowded now. Nicole took a deep breath, looking over the people in her stewardship. Please let the Great Ones listen.
Azuriah and Jacob were both sound asleep. Sanso pointed at the Shiengol, indicating that Nicole should wake him. She headed that way while the Ember God went to Abel’s side.
Nicole gently prodded Azuriah’s shoulder. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, panic crossed his face before he recognized her. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, then stood up. After he and Abel were steady on their feet, the four of them left the room.
Once they’d returned to the kitchen, Nicole turned to the Shiengol and Abel and explained her reasoning behind leaving Lizzie and Jacob behind. She fudged the truth a bit—saying Azuriah was much more powerful than the others, leaving out the detail about already knowing he was a future guardian of Shonlin. He’d probably figure it out on his own, if he thought about it hard enough. He looked too tired to think logically, though.
Azuriah and Abel were both willing to leave right away, and Sanso quickly explained to the three of them how to find the link to the other world. He gave them food and water—enough for a couple days’ journey. Nicole hoped they wouldn’t be gone longer than that.
“Do any of you know how to ride horses?” Sanso asked.
All three of them nodded.
“Good. You can borrow mine. I have two.”
Withhold Page 10
