He took them back the way they’d come when Jacob had first keyed them there, then opened the door to the outside world. Nicole saw immediately why the Ember Gods didn’t go outside often. Three moons brightened the sky, casting blue light on the scene that greeted them, and that scene wasn’t pleasant. More of that water-like stuff coated everything, and instead of dirt and paths, the ground was covered with jutting stones. Gnarled trees barely clung to life as their roots snaked through the rocks, struggling to find nourishment.
Sanso noticed Nicole looking at his front yard and explained, “I’ve tried several times to tame it, but the rocks here grow just as quickly as weeds do on your planet.”
Rocks that grew? Fascinating. Nicole wished she could learn more about them, but instead of asking questions, she motioned for him to lead the way.
Sanso led them to a small barn behind the little house they’d just exited. The barn was carved into the side of the rocky hill.
“How do you keep the rocks from destroying it?” Nicole asked.
“Part of selling a dwelling on this planet includes a law to make it inhabitable. It’s a magic that has been lost for hundreds of years, but the man who built this house set up the protections against the stone. I don’t know what he did, but it has worked.”
Sanso ducked into the small barn and emerged a few moments later, leading horses that also had to duck to exit. Nicole looked more closely at the barn, wondering how the horses survived in it. The thing was squat, windowless, and very dark. If these creatures didn’t suffer from depression already, nothing would get them down.
“Just the two,” Sanso said. “I wish I had more.”
Nicole, Azuriah, and Abel looked at each other. Nicole groaned inwardly. She didn’t want to ride with a strange guy who went back and forth between glaring at her and offering to help, which meant riding with Azuriah. But man, that was not something she would have chosen to do under different circumstances.
Sanso handed over the reins, and Nicole gave the first horse to Abel, then glanced at Azuriah. He seemed to know what was on her mind and was just as uncomfortable as she. But he didn’t contradict her.
When Sanso brought the saddle and blanket out, Nicole got the horse ready, glad to see equipment she was familiar with. Without waiting for approval, she hoisted herself up into the saddle, then glanced at Azuriah. “Would you rather ride in front of me or behind?”
Azuriah glared at her. “Behind.”
He took hold of the saddle and pulled himself up easily. She was relieved that he didn’t put his arms around her. This whole situation was uncomfortable enough without that.
Sanso reviewed the instructions on how to reach their destination. Basically, they had to follow the trail in front of his house—the one Nicole still couldn’t see, but which Sanso assured her the horses knew—for several hours, taking the left fork at every opportunity. Eventually, they would end up in the Great Ones’ dimension.
“It’s so close to where you live,” Nicole said.
Sanso nodded. “This world isn’t very big. And humans here come and go frequently, so there’s more than one link.”
“How will we know when we’ve reached their dimension?” Nicole asked.
Sanso pointed at Abel. “That’s why you’re bringing him, isn’t it? I’ve never been there.”
“Thank you so much for your help,” she said.
Sanso frowned. “I’d still prefer it if you had come alone.”
Nicole chuckled, then realized with a start that he hadn’t flirted with her once since she’d arrived. He’d hugged her, but it hadn’t really been flirtatious. He really had figured out that she wasn’t interested in him, then.
After goodbyes and good lucks were exchanged, Abel kicked the flanks of his horse and started down the path. Nicole’s horse followed without any encouragement on her part.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The horses had followed the path for nearly thirty minutes before Nicole could see it. The only thing that differentiated it from the rest of the terrain was the fact that the places where the horses put their hooves had been smoothed out by years and years of travel. Those were only little sections here and there, but the horses seemed to know exactly where to step. She couldn’t imagine walking this “path” on her own, without a horse. It would be pretty much impossible.
A few stars peeked through the clouds. Nicole found herself admiring the scenery—sure, it was rocky, dark, and a bit scary, but there was beauty in the ruggedness.
No one said anything for quite a while, and Nicole was okay with that. She was still uncomfortable with the Shiengol sitting directly behind her and could tell he did everything in his power not to touch her. She was grateful for that.
After about an hour, they reached what must have been the first fork. The trail to the right seemed to have more of the permanent hoof prints in it, while the way to the left obviously hadn’t been traversed in a long time. The trees were thicker, their branches entwining together over the path, making it so travelers had to duck close to their horses to get through.
The next fork came twenty minutes after the first, and Nicole was relieved to find this part of the trail easier.
It seemed like hours before the third fork came, and Nicole drifted off over and over again. By the time they finally reached it, her stomach was growling loud enough for Azuriah to hear. He grunted in annoyance after every growl, which irritated Nicole in turn.
Luckily, both of the men were hungry too, so they stopped to take a break. Abel dismounted first, then helped Nicole off her horse, catching her off guard. While he didn’t meet her eyes, she could sense a sort of compromise. He must’ve finally forgiven her for whatever it was that she did.
Their meal consisted of beef jerky, cheese, bread, and cold chicken broth. It was good, but Nicole knew she’d quickly tire of it.
Conversation was short, and Nicole found herself wishing Lizzie was there. She didn’t regret her choice to leave her best friend behind, though.
Once they’d finished their meal, the three of them mounted the horses and continued onward. After about thirty more minutes, Abel pulled his horse up and glanced back at the other two.
“We’re in the Great Ones’ dimension now.”
Nicole hadn’t even realized they’d gone through the link because their surroundings looked exactly the same as they had before. She hoped Abel knew what he was talking about. Even if he didn’t, Sanso had said they’d get there soon enough if they followed his directions, which they had.
Able urged his horse forward, and after a few minutes more, the cragginess of the trail gave way to smooth sand, and they started down narrow switchbacks into what looked like a deep and long valley. There was so much fog that Nicole wasn’t sure where they were headed.
Abel pointed. “Those are the walls to the Great Ones’ kingdom.”
Nicole looked, straining her eyes, trying to see where he was pointing. All she saw were small mountains and rocky hills.
Able must’ve been able to tell she couldn’t see because he said, “Don’t worry. Your eyes will adjust soon.”
As they continued down the switchbacks, Nicole watched as the area Abel had pointed to finally revealed something. A massive black wall jutted from the ground. How had Nicole not seen it before, and how had it been hidden? It was so obvious, so blatant.
The horses picked their way across the valley, following the trail, and those walls practically grew the closer the party got to them. They loomed over the entire valley. She understood why the Great Ones needed such huge walls. She hadn’t been able to see anything other than their legs the one time she’d met them.
Nicole wondered if she would see more of them now. Her fingers started to feel numb, despite the pleasant night air. Fear tingled down her back, making her heart beat erratically. This was either the bravest thing she’d ever done in her entire life, or the stupidest. Why had she volunteered? An even better question—why had it been her idea?
&nbs
p; The closer they got to the doors, the more Nicole could sense the presence of other creatures, including magical beings. Their prints were different from hers. While her magic pulsed, these powers trickled through the air like sand. She couldn’t tell if the magic she felt was from the Great Ones, or if it came from their servants.
The doors towered over them, casting huge shadows across the valley. At first, Nicole thought the wall was near, but as they continued following the trail, she saw it was large, large enough that the shadow it cast would take at least half an hour to cross.
Nicole couldn’t help but stare at the wall as they approached. She could tell it was different, but she wasn’t sure why.
Abel dismounted and approached the door on shaky legs. The poor man needed a year of food and rest, not more work.
As Abel stepped closer, Nicole gasped. The walls weren’t made of wood, stone, or anything like that, but of living creatures. They shifted and roiled, tentacles reaching for him, faces and eyes appearing, staring at him. Sharp teeth jutted from the side of the wall, gnashing, trying to bite him. A tongue licked up his leg, and the creatures began howling.
Abel put his hands up, trying to quiet them. “It’s all right, it’s all right. You know me.”
Nicole looked back at Azuriah. He met her gaze with a worried expression. She couldn’t believe what they were up against. What would’ve happened if just she and the Shiengol had approached?
Abel stroked a few of the faces, blowing into the mouths and noses of many of the others, letting them catch his scent. He turned and glanced back at Nicole and Azuriah. “They recognize me, so we’re good to go—at least, you are. I can’t tell you how to reach the Great Ones from here, as I’ve never been beyond this point.”
He turned to the doors again. “I am ready and willing to sacrifice my body to keep this door open while my guests visit the Great Ones’ kingdom.”
As soon as the words left Abel’s mouth, a three-fingered hand snaked out and grabbed his arm. He shivered, an intense expression of distaste on his face. Many tentacles and other hands reached for him, grabbing him, pulling him close to the door. As soon as his whole body was in contact with the door, it slowly started opening.
Nicole and Azuriah dismounted, tethering their horse near Abel’s. Once the door had opened far enough, they stepped through.
She didn’t know what to expect when they got on the other side, but what greeted them definitely wasn’t it.
The air was sticky and thick, difficult to breathe. Nicole’s airways were quickly coated, and she couldn’t help but cough to clear it. Little creatures floated through the air, squirming and wriggling. Nicole gasped, hands at her mouth, when she recognized several of them—or at least recognized their species. These were the things that had haunted her visions back when she and Austin weren’t able to touch each other. It made sense, as she was now in the Great Ones’ kingdom, that she’d find the sorts of creatures they’d sent to torment her.
Nicole and Azuriah had only been inside the walls for a few seconds when people rushed at them, grabbing their clothes, touching their arms, pleading for help. Nicole struggled to shrug them off, noticing Azuriah doing the same. She didn’t know why these people were persisting. Was a trick of their masters, or did they really want help? She couldn’t allow herself to wonder about their circumstances—too many other people needed her right then.
She and Azuriah got separated multiple times until he finally linked his arm through hers. They didn’t have to ask where the Great Ones’ palace was—it dominated the entire city, bigger even than the doors they’d just entered, sharp spikes jutting into the sky. Why hadn’t they seen it over the walls? Perhaps the Great Ones had something rigged up that would prevent that.
The two of them followed the crooked and jagged streets toward the palace, multitudes of people still begging for help along the way. As they continued, Nicole recognized a few faces—Tarians, from when the great battle in Idaho had taken place.
Instead of feeling victorious over these people who had gotten their wish in such a bad way, Nicole felt only pity for them. They were so obviously miserable. She wondered if any of them recognized her too. So far, no one had said anything.
Then she heard something familiar—a woman’s voice, calling her name over the sounds of people begging for freedom. Her heart began pounding so heavily inside her chest, she thought she would pass out. She pulled in several huge breaths, trying to control the fear and panic that nearly overwhelmed her the moment she spotted her great-great-grandmother.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nicole hesitated. “Rebecca?”
The woman looked horrible. Her hair was knotted and messy, half of it clumped to her skull, the other half tumbling past her shoulders. Her clothes were dirty, ripped, and worn, sticking to her. Her face was gaunt, her eyes sunken in, dark rings around them, making her look like she’d been punched multiple times. Like everyone else, Rebecca clung to Nicole.
“What are you doing here?” Rebecca asked.
Nicole only shook her head. She didn’t know if Rebecca still had any powers, but the less she knew of Nicole’s plans, the better. She shrugged out of the woman’s grasp.
“You won’t leave this place,” Rebecca said. “You realize that, right? There’s no way they’d allow it.”
Nicole stopped trying to get away from the ghost. She met Rebecca’s gaze, pondering what she’d just said. Her heart skipped a beat. Her grandmother was correct. The Great Ones wouldn’t let her leave. That had been their promise—that if they ever ran across her again, she’d become their prisoner as well, or worse.
Crushing despair dropped on Nicole, making it hard to breathe. She allowed herself a moment of grief, thinking about the friends she’d left behind and the life with Austin she might never have. Then she squared her shoulders and said, “I’m willing to do what I must.”
Then she turned her back on the woman, and arm still linked with Azuriah’s, headed toward the palace again. The closer she and Azuriah got, the more diverse the creatures around them became. Several races Nicole had met from Jacob’s world were there, including Shiengols, Makalos, and those little creatures that had run around Jacob, clambering for his attention. She couldn’t remember what they were called. She also saw Molgs, Sindons, tons of Croents, and even a few Minyas.
She and Azuriah were nearly to the palace walls when the Great Ones recognized her. The connection between them must have still been active because she felt their shock at her coming, especially since they’d threatened her if they ever saw her again.
You need to hear what I know, she thought at them as hard as she could. She almost tagged on a plea that they release her after she delivered her message, but it felt like she’d be pushing her luck before they’d even granted her audience. The most important thing was them stopping Keitus.
Nicole was grateful she was still holding on to Azuriah because the moment the Great Ones caught her thoughts, the streets around them disappeared, replaced by the insides of a massive room. This cathedral-like monstrosity had to be the palace. Pillars, the tops of which Nicole couldn’t see, lined the room. Stained-glass window let in brilliant light. Little pews were arranged to face the front of the throne room, where Nicole found herself surrounded by what she assumed were huge legs.
The Great Ones were not happy to see her. She felt their displeasure, anger, and frustration all being directed toward her. The weight of the emotions was crushing, and she struggled to stay on her feet.
Little one, you realize the danger you’ve put yourself in by coming here?
Nicole recognized the thought as coming from the Great One she’d communicated with most during their last encounter. And even though the question was bordering on playful in tone, she knew a threat when she heard it. “Yes, but I have no choice.”
Are we to trust what you have seen and heard? This thought came from a second Great One.
Obviously, they’d seen what was going on with Keitus in her
mind. “Of course. But please, question Azuriah too.”
The Shiengol looked at Nicole, fear on his face. She couldn’t blame him. Just the size of the Great Ones was enough to cause fear. But the fact that they were huge and powerful was enough to make a weak person pass out from fright. Any idiot would be able to sense the magic that radiated from them. Knowing they created all of the powers in existence was just icing on the cake.
Well, Azuriah? The first Great One was back in charge of the conversation.
“What you’ve seen in Nicole’s mind is the truth,” he said. “I invite you to search my experiences as well.”
The Great One chuckled, and the rumble made Nicole’s heart feel funny.
A nice sentiment, considering we would have done it without your consent.
Nicole sensed the probing thoughts leave her mind and she felt it when they recognized the truth in Azuriah’s. The curiosity and almost light-hearted feelings that had dominated the conversation were replaced with rage and fury.
Why have we not seen or heard of this?
Are we to be pushed over so often by our servants?
It is time we destroy what we have created. All magic must return to us.
No, the time has not come. We must allow them to continue.
Surely not this one.
Nicole saw Keitus in their thoughts.
The conversation between the Great Ones began going so rapidly that she could only catch brief snippets here and there. Their anger turned into determination, and they began plotting and planning. Nicole caught a bit of fear and that was followed by panic as the Great Ones recognized just how powerful Keitus had become. For the first time, she worried that they couldn’t stop him. If the Great Ones were afraid, could Keitus destroy them?
She gasped when the Great Ones suddenly disappeared, leaving the room completely vacant. She looked at Azuriah, wondering if he and Nicole would be allowed to leave.
The moment the question was in her mind, though, Azuriah stiffened, his eyes glazing over. Tentacles sprang through the cracks in the stone floor, wrapping themselves around Nicole’s legs and up her body, holding her in place. She shrieked for help, holding on to Azuriah’s arm tightly. He didn’t hear her. The tentacles stopped moving, and Nicole dragged in a breath, trying to control her panic.
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