“Grab her!” Moke said.
The Queen lunged, but Moke pinned her to the bed. “You, do it again!” Moke pointed at Rayna.
We each pinned her down and Rayna didn’t hesitate. Her magic filled the Queen, and even though I felt it seeping back into my veins, the Queen didn’t respond. Instead, she cackled, fighting against us and breaking free of my grip. “Your magic has played its part. That moment’s solace only let the poison soak deeper into my mind. You will all die! Just like me!” Her laughter was insidious and crept into my veins, sending chills to spiral down my arms.
“It’s not working,” Rayna said. The Queen broke free of my grip and slashed out in the air. Rayna dodged the claws and jumped onto her arm, holding it down. “Chase, do something!”
“We will be remembered for your death! There is nothing you can do, even without this madness there is not a drop of forgiveness in my heart for the fate you will face!” the Queen shrieked.
Those words were déjà vu. Elyas’s words flashed in my mind. What may appear to be infuriating madness may only be a water drop away from resolution.
“Water!” I shouted.
“In the other room, on the desk,” Moke said, struggling to hold down his mother’s arm.
“No, not water to drink, water magic—that’s the key!”
Vincent, Tiki and Rayna all spouted off questions, but I ignored them. I reached out my hand and placed it on the Queen’s back. Black fluid trickled over my fingers and I closed my eyes, calling forth the healing element. I could heal her. I could cleanse the Queen of the Brothers’ poison. I knew I had the power to. And if she wasn’t on her deathbed, there would be no Death Throne.
My blood moved as a cold liquid through my veins. It was icy and refreshing in the dry heat of the palace. The change in temperature formed tiny bumps over my skin and they raced down my arm to my fingertips. The Queen’s back arched and she screamed as the water slipped into her skin. Everybody around her jerked back, as if an invisible force shot into them. I didn’t try to guide the magic; I pushed it into her all at once. I envisioned stems of blackness filling her body and climbing into her mind—tiny dark hands that clawed at her from the inside out. The blue magic that spiraled through absorbed the darkness, washing it away and purging her soul.
The water splashed inside her, spreading its power throughout her body. The Queen screamed in madness, but it was cut off as I pushed the power deeper. She stopped struggling and the muscles in her back relaxed. Her back rose and fell with slow breaths and the orange color returned to her eyes.
He’s healing the enemy.
That fool will get us all killed!
I ignored the voices, swatting them away like I would an insect. The Queen squirmed over the tattered blankets, but I didn’t stop. The pus and blood that ran from the torn spikes in her shoulders stopped and the broken skin closed in around the bone. The white stumps that jutted from her flesh didn’t grow back, but the discolored skin around them returned to a warm tone.
The magic returned to me, no longer cycling through her body. I pulled it back and stepped away, sweat beading down my face. More voices screamed inside my mind, but with my invisible hand I shoved them away from my soul. They put up more resistance than before, but eventually they quieted and my mind became peaceful.
Everyone was hesitant to let the Queen go. I nodded as they looked to me for answers and they each stepped away, making sure they were out of range of her claws. The Queen remained still with the exception of her breaths. Her neck was cranked to the side and orange eyes were locked on me.
“What have you done?” she whispered.
Everyone turned to me, waiting for a response.
“This is my magic. The magic of a hunter and the power of the Protector.”
The Queen studied my face. After a few minutes she placed both hands to either side and pushed herself up. She adjusted her robe, wrapping it tightly back against her form. Her forehead creased and she looked back to Moke. “It’s gone…the magic that poisons me is gone.”
“Are you certain?” Moke’s face showed his disbelief.
“Of course I’m sure!” she snapped, adjusting the crown on her head.
Moke’s eyebrows rose and he nodded. “So it has.”
“You did this!” The Queen jumped from the bed and stormed toward me. My elements arced, ready to defend, but she stopped a few steps away and stared in my eyes. “Why? Why would you do this?”
“I didn’t do this for you; I did this for us. We need to leave and we can’t do that if there is a Death Throne. If you’re not dying, there is no need for a fight. That means Tiki’s status remains and we are free to leave.”
“What makes you think I’ll let abominations such as yourself leave? You are my prisoners.”
I cleared my throat, not letting her intimidating gaze fluster me. “Because if you don’t, that magic that saved you will be the power that kills you and all of your sons in the Death Throne. That power will strip the throne from the Suriattas clan forever. You think your husband and eldest son were shamed being defeated by a single abomination? How do you think your family will be remembered when a hunter is responsible for taking their lives?”
Streaks of blue and red magic appeared in the air, spiraling around my arms; fire and water battling one another for the opportunity to attack. A red hue filled my eyes and the Queen stepped away. She didn’t break her gaze and a growl started deep in her throat. I stepped forward, closing the distance between us and whispered. “If you want to be remembered, join us. Fight for the lives you lost in Ithreal’s war. He forced you to fight. He killed your people until you conceded to his will. We are not your enemies. Together we can stop him from rising up again.”
“You can’t stop this, even with the power of the gods inside you.”
“I will stop this. I’m the only one who can. But I cannot do it alone.”
Our eyes were locked and I couldn’t tell how much time had passed. We were in a contest of wills and I wouldn’t back down. Magic flared around me, green and white streaks now mixing with the blue and red. Lightning arced between my fingers and magic pressed down on us with a gravitational force. The Queen’s breath became shallow and quick, before she finally turned away.
“Moke,” she said in a firm and commanding tone. “Guide these…things through the city and allow them safe passage.”
Moke nodded. “Yes, my Queen.”
“And Moke,” the Queen said, turning back to me. “Prepare everyone. We are no longer on the verge of the Death Throne, but there will be a battle. Revenge for our fallen will be had. We are going to war.”
Chapter 23
Word of the Queen’s health had spread across the city before we’d set foot onto the streets. There were no problems getting through the city with the Queen’s orders. There were whispers and stares, but no retaliation from the other demons. Moke led the way with his weapon drawn in case anyone got any ideas. When he saw there was no threat, he led us through the city on a cart, this time pulled by some legless cow-like creature. It dripped yellow fluid out of slits in its skin, leaving a slug-like trail behind.
To my relief, Rai found her way back to us, clinging to my shoulder and pecking at my face as we made our way toward the cliff. Vincent had remained oddly quiet since the events of the Queen’s room. In fact, he hadn’t spoken a word, and anytime I glanced at him, he turned away. I wanted to ask what had gotten into him, but this was the longest we’d gone without some kind of whining or snarky display. I intended to bask in all the tiny victories that hung around us today.
At the top of the cliff, Moke put his pendant in the door. The sand was sucked away layer by layer, and the door sighed as it opened. He guided us up the poorly lit stairwell and back into the desert. The wind was calm and the heat was intense compared to the dome, even if the sun had been swallowed by some of the angriest clouds I’d ever seen. Black pools rolled through the sky, bubbling within one another. Flashes of red lightning tore
down in jagged arcs, blasting sand into the air.
Moke stood before us, smiling at the storm and then at his brother. “It was good to see you, Tiki. I should hope it not be a millennia before it happens again.”
Tiki nodded. “I’m not sure Mother would allow me to visit. I believe this will be the length of her kindness.”
“Perhaps you are right, but that does not mean I cannot visit you. If we survive this war, I shall make an oath to see you again.”
“I look forward to it.”
I expected a hug, but they shook hands and gave one another a nod. Moke thanked us for our help and said he’d be proud to be fight alongside us. I felt a glisten of hope, knowing we had such creatures on our side. Part of me still dreamed of being able to stop all this before it came to that, but deep down I knew that wasn’t possible. There was going to be a fight, and I would face off against Riley. That thought made me nervous and I pushed it away. Staying focused was all I had going for me. And right now all that mattered was Drakar.
Tiki prepped us and we all linked arms as his power built up around the group. Bit by bit the sand below fell away, and a black portal opened beneath us. Sheets of lightning filled the sky, and as the earth below us expanded and stretched, it gave way, sucking us into another world.
******
Although the pressure of the portal was intense, I stayed focused on Drakar. A wash of purple and red spiraled below, a sweet scent filling the air. It circled around us, reminding me of being in Serephina’s presence. It brought with it warmth and comfort, but all that serenity was stolen when the portal spit us out into the sky.
The air wrapped around me as I carried magic up from my soul. The earth came quick and we were headed straight for a patch of jagged boulders. I flexed the air element, trying to stretch its reach around the group. The magic spiraled and I pushed as hard as my focus would allow. The air shifted and our direction changed, slowing our fall. All our feet hit the dirt at once and the remaining force caused me to tumble over. A cloud of dust brushed up, making the air I craved taste dry and raw.
There was little recovery time needed before we were on our feet, taking in the new dimension. Rocks were sharp and jagged, jutting from their peaks. We stood at the base of a mountain and a desert stretched around us. The ground was deep red and on one side of us, a single blue sun set in the distance. On the other, two yellow suns vanished beyond the horizon. The sky was no longer the green I had come to remember. Instead, each sun tinted the sky in streaks of color.
I took in a deep breath of the fragrant, refreshing world. I let it roam in my senses and I basked in the comfort of being free. There were no glassy walls, no piercing sand, and no decrepit-looking demons wanting to throw me in an arena. In all the glory that was my current independence though, there was an underlying stress in the back of my mind.
Marcus was at home and by now, possibly under duress. I didn’t know if he was safe or even alive. The pain in my stomach was slightly from hunger, but mostly from fear. It was a nervous ache that swelled through my torso and caught my breath in my throat.
“You okay?” Rayna’s hand touched my arm.
I nodded, but I couldn’t force any words out just yet.
“I’m worried too. He’ll be okay.”
“I am proud of you.” Tiki stood in front of me, his eyes wide and focused. “You kept your anger at bay and maintained a level head. My mother reasons with no one.”
“Thanks. Right now I just want to get this over with and get back to Marcus. He needs us.”
“We’re on a different level of Drakar. Much like when we first met. We must find the doorway that will take us to the market.”
“Does everything lead there?” I asked.
“Many of the gateways do. The market’s gateway is the main level in Drakar. Think of this world like a high-rise building. Each floor contains a different setting, and in some cases, different creatures. The market is the main floor, the floor in which all other floors are built. There are doorways to other floors here, but I do not know of their locations. From here, I only know the main entrance.”
We walked for more than an hour with Tiki leading the way. Vincent trailed behind us once again, but this time when I looked at him he had his eyes on the dirt. I didn’t bother whispering, it wouldn’t do any good with Vincent around, so I nudged Rayna and acknowledged the vampire with my eyes. Rayna looked back but only shrugged. It seemed she wanted to appreciate the silence as much as possible too. Rai nudged my face, staying glued to my shoulder, and I ran my fingers along her back.
“Here we are.” Tiki pointed out into a wall of darkness.
We stood on the edge of the world, literally. The red dirt ended in a sharp cliff that dropped off into the unknown. A pastel moon in the distance rose into a sky full of white dots. It floated on nothing like a massive planet hanging in the darkness. A stone archway hovered in the light of the moon, sitting on the black air below it. It looked to be easily three hundred yards away. There was no ground, only space, and it turned clockwise on an invisible axis.
“If you’re about to tell me to reach for the stars, it’s not funny,” I said. “How do we get across?”
“Our opportunity will come in the form of a narrow bridge. We will have but a short window of time to get on it and across before our chance is spoiled.”
“That’s a long way. How much time is a short window?” Rayna asked.
“I don’t know, but here it comes,” Tiki said. “It won’t stop for long, so it’s best if we get on before it stops.”
A long stretch of blue stone slid across the darkness with ease. Tiki ran toward it and Vincent moved right behind him. They disappeared in a blur and Rayna and I ran after them. I pushed myself as fast as I could and I hadn’t realized the added speed the gods’ souls had given me until I turned to see Rayna back in the distance. I stopped to wait but she waved me onward.
“Go!” she shouted.
Vincent and Tiki were already on the bridge. It was too narrow for them to run, but they moved at a steady pace, struggling to keep their balance. The platform moved alongside me and I let it go past. I wasn’t getting on without her.
“Don’t be an idiot. I told you to go,” Rayna snapped as I jogged beside the platform, waiting for her to get closer.
“Not without you.”
Rayna cursed at me and jumped onto the bridge, and Tiki and Vincent were nearly to the end. It glided over the dark space in a smooth and steady line and as Rayna started down it, I stepped on. It was wobbly at first, but with one foot in front of the other I moved forward. My heart thudded in my chest and I found myself holding my breath. I wasn’t halfway across the stony platform when it closed the final feet to the spinning arch. The archway slowed, finally stopping with a loud click as the two joined.
“Hurry, we only have a few moments,” Tiki shouted.
Neither Tiki nor Vincent hesitated. They stepped through the portal at the end and disappeared with Rai fluttering in after them. Rayna was nearly there and I was three-quarters of the way. My chest shook with anxiety, and sweat formed on my brow. I pushed myself faster: left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, focusing on my steps. With my next step, my foot hit the edge and my body dropped. My heart flew into my throat and panic hammered against my ears. I caught myself with my hands, clinging to the side of the bridge. I pulled myself back onto the platform, steadying myself with my hands. Regaining my balance from this position was difficult. The bridge was less than a foot wide and there wasn’t much space to brace myself. Slow and steady breaths came through my lips and I pushed with my steady leg, using my hands to balance myself.
“Come on, Chase!” Rayna screamed.
“Go through, I’ll be right there.”
Rayna was at the end but she wasn’t walking through. I slowly stood, keeping my arms extended to balance myself. I progressed closer with slow and steady steps. My body trembled and I felt a countdown echoing in my mind. I tried to move faster but my f
oot slipped again, this time I caught myself before I fell. The pinholes of light that shone through the sky vanished below me, leaving nothing but an endless pool of blackness. I stayed focused, watching each step and trying to ignore the emptiness below. My feet were too big for the walkway and I wanted to stop and catch my breath and rebalance myself, but there wasn’t time. I was almost there when the click came again.
“Chase!” Rayna screamed.
“Go!” Adrenaline surged through my body and I forced myself to speed up. By the end, I was almost lunging forward, hopping from one foot to the other. My arms remained outstretched to keep my balance and the platform shifted away from the archway. “Now!” I screamed, and Rayna hesitated before jumping through the portal.
The stone archway began to move as I reached the end. The distance wasn’t much of a jump, but the doorway was spinning. I didn’t have time to prep or brace myself, the platform moved farther with every second I waited, widening the gap. I steadied both my feet as best I could and jumped. The archway rotated faster with each turn and I panicked, worried I wasn’t going to make it, but it was too late. I’d jumped and there was no going back. I was going to hit it and it would knock me into the black abyss below.
I braced for the impact when a pale hand shot through and gripped my arm, tearing me forward through the air. A tingling sensation slid over my arm, then my face, and finally my body as the doorway consumed me. I had almost made it through when the spinning arch smashed into my ankle from the other side. A searing spike of pain drove into my leg, and I pulled it against my body.
I hit the dirt and cursed between clenched jaws. My leg pulsed with flashes of heat and pain, and I wanted to drive my fist into the ground as though that would alleviate the pain. Vincent’s hand remained wrapped around my forearm, his yellow gaze glowing in the dark night sky. I think I was in shock seeing his hand on me. He would’ve been the last one I expected to do anything heroic.
“Thanks,” I said, trying to contain my surprise. Vincent didn’t respond, he nodded, released his grip, and walked away.
Endure Page 21
