by M. L. Greye
“You sure you don’t want to come along?” He asked.
She gestured to Will warding off Talik. “And miss all the fun?”
Archrin snorted. “Fun?”
The door burst open and a tall, lanky figure filled its place. Olinia hurled the Velvitor back into the hallway with the mere extension of her hand. She forced a smile, panting a little. “Your turn, Archrin. I’ll be in touch.”
“Good luck.” He gave her a nod and disappeared into the portal as well.
: : : : :
It had been weeks since Zedgry had arrived in Evedon. His time in Ethon had been so short that it almost seemed like it had never happened. The absence of Olinia, Will, and the brother he had yet to meet, though, was a compelling reminder that he’d been in Ethon.
Zedgry released another volley of arrows into the target some fifty yards opposite of him. He was in the Courts of Willowvale, wasting his day away. The Courts was basically an indoor practice field for warfare, located just beyond Fuladrik’s home.
During the past few weeks, Arynn had been his usual companion at the Courts, but she’d ridden to Grennich with Dallyn the day before. She wouldn’t be back for another two days. With Yrond and Archelda at the Crystal Castle this week, Zedgry was left quite alone. Unable to sit still for long, he’d ventured to the Courts that morning to let loose his energy and to pass some time.
Zedgry really hated waiting, and that seemed to be all he did lately. He would’ve liked to join Arynn and Dallyn – it would be nice to see Sadree and Denon Ald again – but he needed to stay close to Willowvale in case Olinia or Legann showed up. Before Zedgry departed from his sister to inform their grandparents about the occurrences in Ethon, they’d deemed Willowvale their official meeting place. It had been a good idea. The only problem was that it left Zedgry feeling restless as he sat around for her to join him.
According to his grandmother – the last time he saw her – she would check her Vrylaen Stone every morning for his siblings. There was still no sign of Olinia or Legann anywhere within the Other Worlds, not even in the Vrenyx. This was surprising though because Legann exited Ethon to the Vrenyx at least three hours prior to Zedgry’s entering Evedon. In Zedgry’s mind, it would have made much more sense to find Legann in the Vrenyx at the same time he was in Evedon, but this wasn’t the case. Legann wasn’t there.
Because Zedgry had insisted that Legann was with Dagon in the Vrenyx, thinking that something must be wrong with Archelda’s Vrylaen, Yrond sent an undercover scouting group of Eves to discover the truth. The group was very thorough. Not only was Legann absent from the Vrenyx, but also the people of the world believed their emperor dead. No one had seen him since Olinia caused the destruction of his castle and Delvich Forest. In fact, the different lords of the Vrenyx were at war with each other, fighting over who should take Dagon’s place. Zedgry had been wrong. Legann was most definitely not in the Vrenyx.
Now, Zedgry really only had one question – where was Legann? Or possibly, when was he? Legann clearly wasn’t in the Other Worlds at the moment, so what time period did Dagon take him to?
Zedgry sighed and shot off another round of arrows mindlessly, not paying attention to where they lodged into the target. He sincerely hoped Olinia would join him soon. It would be a lot easier to figure out Legann’s location with someone who had been inside his mind before. And it wouldn’t hurt to have his sister around to talk with again.
: : : : :
Will was very much aware of the size of Talik. At the moment, all he could really think about was how large the Velvitor king had become. He would have continued in this observation if Sazx hadn’t interrupted his thoughts by flinging a short sword at his head after ordering him to catch it.
The blade quickly proved itself useful when Talik decided to strike at Will again. He managed to hit Talik’s paw away from tearing apart his flesh. He couldn’t help but wonder where Sazx had found the sword. The weapon was obviously an Other World creation.
A hand gripped onto his shoulder just as Talik let loose another ear-splitting bellow. Will didn’t have to turn to see who had grabbed him – his inner magnet was spiking. “Princess,” he exclaimed, “get back!”
She shook her head. “No, it’s time to go.”
“Go where?” He blinked.
“To the Other Worlds, of course,” she replied, giving him a quick yank backwards.
Olinia must have employed her gifts because her small tug on his collar sent him staggering after her. The scene of Talik the enormous bear filling a cramped room snapped shut, leaving behind nothing more than a thin sliver of light in the new darkness that surrounded him. Will stared as Olinia slid in front of him and passed her hand over the portal, closing it.
He didn’t get the chance to ask her where she’d taken him. Huge drops of rain – the size of golf balls – splashed onto his head and shoulders, drenching him instantly. Wind – the strength of which Will assumed only a tornado could produce – blasted Olinia and him to the moss-covered ground, causing him to lose his hold on the sword.
Using one arm as a shield from the onslaught of water, Will stole a quick glance upward. This world was essentially dark except for pockets of shimmering light scattered throughout the space high above him, suspended in what appeared to be nothing but air. The light was below the thick clouds so it obviously wasn’t from any stars. He still wasn’t sure where he was, and the puddle beneath him was growing deeper, completely hiding where the sword had landed.
Suddenly, Olinia was crouching above him, her hand latched onto his. She squeezed his hand and began pulling him up beside her. He vaguely heard her yell under the roar of the wind, “This way!”
Will followed her as she half-ran, half-stumbled straight ahead, her hand still tightly enveloped by his own. They fought the wind and rain the best they could as Olinia led Will to what he hoped was safety. She reached some sort of leafy barricade and ducked down against it. Will quickly joined her.
Placing her mouth next to his ear, she shouted, “We’ve got to go up before the storm gets worse!”
This can get worse?! Will found that hard to believe. When she mentioned going up, though, he finally realized where they were. Olinia had brought him to Sivean – the first world in her realm that he’d ever visited. The shimmering lights above them made sense now. Olinia had told him that during storms the Astrilites of Sivean would hide in the bark of the gigantic trees for cover.
“Come on!” Olinia hollered and began the long climb to the Hidden Mansion.
Just like the only other time Will had ever ascended the vine staircase, Olinia walked partially ahead of him. However, on this occasion, they clutched onto each other and the nature-made railing for support. The wind grew fiercer the higher they rose, and the steps were slick beneath their feet. It was as if the staircase had transformed into a miniature river from the downpour. He’d thought scaling the tree while saturated in sticky sap had been difficult, but basically swimming against the current in a typhoon was proving far more exhausting.
It felt like hours before they arrived at the little landing that signified the entrance to the Hidden Mansion. Olinia nearly fell back the way they had come when she slipped on the last stair. Will managed to catch her though with one hand while he latched onto the railing with the other. He yanked her to her feet again and decided it best to keep her close against him until they were safely inside.
Shifting her to the side that he gripped the railing with, he freed his right arm to reach out where the circular door lay disguised within the bark of the tree. Then, at the top of his lungs, he called out, “Krea ettee!”
The silver outline of the door appeared. Will threw Olinia and himself at it, pushing it inward into an even deeper darkness than that of outside. They collapsed onto the wood floor, the wind still howling around them. Will rolled onto his side and brushed his fingers over the door, this time saying, “Evelle eemtt.”
Will watched as the circle of wood shut by itself, castin
g the entryway into pitch black. He didn’t even care that he couldn’t see anything. Relieved to be no longer stuck in the cyclone, Will dropped onto his back, panting.
From somewhere to his left, Olinia clapped. Almost instantly, the room filled with light. Golden little pixie-like figures swarmed the air above Will and Olinia.
“Hello, Astrilites,” Olinia breathed.
He turned and noticed she was on her back as well – her chest heaving and hair plastered to the edges of her face. They both were lying in a pond of their own creating. He laughed, wiping his eyes with one hand. “You couldn’t have picked a dryer world perhaps?”
She grunted and pushed herself onto her elbows. “How was I supposed to know there was a storm going on?”
“Next time I pick the world,” he said, staring at the dancing Astrilites. They seemed happy to see him and Olinia.
After a moment, Olinia sat all the way up. “Now what?”
“You can do as you please,” he retorted, “but I’m going to sleep right here.”
“In your soaking wet clothes?”
He smiled slightly. “I have not the energy to remove them.”
“And I have no intention to help you with that.” She stood. “I’m going to go take a hot bath.”
Will heard her begin for the stairs at the back end of the entryway and sighed. “Wait. I’ll change. Remind me where my room is.”
Forty minutes later, Will was in the sitting room off of the entryway, clean and dry. Several Astrilites chatted together in a cluster on the arm of a stuffed chair across from him, their little voices sounding like the chiming of tiny bells. An Eveon fire blazed in the fireplace to his left while he lounged on the sofa, fingering two Ethon devices.
One was the cell phone he’d had in his pocket when he left Ethon. It was worthless now after being practically submerged outside in the deluge, but not to mention there was no way he’d have any sort of service in Sivean. The other device was the black iPod Classic he’d left here at the Hidden Mansion months ago. The battery in it had long since depleted. Even if either item were still in working order though, Will wouldn’t have much use for them. The Other Worlds was not a place for Ethon technology.
He set the phone and iPod on the short table in front of him that separated him from the Astrilites’ chair, and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. Exhaustion was plaguing the corners of his mind. When Olinia finished bathing he would say goodnight and retreat to his room for a long nap. He and Olinia were stuck in Sivean until the storm cleared anyway – might as well make the most of it. Thanks to Legann’s kidnapping, the last time Will had slept was over twenty hours ago.
“Sleepy?”
Olinia’s voice brought Will’s head up. She was on her way down the large staircase that opened into the entryway. Her still damp hair fell around her shoulders in waves. Will had expected her to change into Other World garb as he had done, but she hadn’t really. She wore a pair of loose, gray Eveon trousers that were meant for men and the pale blue tank she’d worn under her Ethon t-shirt earlier. It looked like she was in a pair of pajamas. Her bare feet peeked out from beneath the trousers, revealing toes painted a color that matched her tank.
Will let out a short laugh. “Yeah, I just stayed up this long to tell you I’m going to bed.”
She lowered herself onto the couch beside him, tucking her feet underneath her. “Right now?”
He nodded and stood. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
As he passed her though, she grabbed his wrist, pulling him back around. “Will, wait. There’s something I need to ask you.”
“What’s that?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Why don’t you ever mention your family to me? I think you’ve only done it once.”
This wasn’t a question he’d seen coming, nor was he in any mood answering. He stiffened. “I’ve just never seen the need to.”
She dropped his wrist. “Why not?”
He released a deep breath slowly. “They’re a part of my past that I don’t really like to think about. It’s like why you don’t bring up being a slave.”
“No,” she shook her head, “I don’t talk about being a slave because you never ask. What would you like to know?”
“That’s not exactly the point I was trying to make.” Will stared into the fire, suddenly too tired to move. “It hurts just to think about my family, let alone talk about them. Why are you asking me this now?”
Olinia hesitated for a moment. Then, “I was thinking about it upstairs, and I felt guilty. I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”
“About what?”
“Two things actually,” she replied softly. “The first is something I probably should have told you earlier. Trenton never sold your house.”
“What?” Will choked out.
She grimaced. “He believes that when you have kids you’ll want to show them pictures and things from when you were growing up. So, he didn’t get rid of your house, or anything in it.”
Will sank back down beside Olinia, feeling like he’d just been punched in the gut. His house was still out there. The main reason he told Trenton to sell it in the first place was because he wanted nothing to do with it anymore. He’d desired to put all the painful memories behind him for good. Yet, come to find out, fulfilling Will’s one request had never been Trenton’s intention.
“How long has it been?” His voice caught in his throat on the last word. He was suddenly anxious for the answer. He’d been avoiding calendars and any conversations regarding the year for weeks now. He hadn’t wanted to know, but now he needed Olinia to tell him. “When did they die?”
She didn’t meet his eyes. Instead, she watched the fire. “You were only in the Other Worlds the first time for a week. It’s been about two years since your family’s accident.”
A tiny part of him had expected as much. Will took a deep breath. Even though it had been two years in Ethon time, it hadn’t been even a full year yet for him personally. Their deaths were still fresh in his mind.
“The second thing is something I’m really sorry for,” Olinia said quietly, interrupting his thoughts. “I’ve seen your sister, Will. I saw Ariel. I saw her when I Globed with Tiara.”
“You said I was studying.” Will sat frozen in place, not fully comprehending what Olinia was saying.
“You were, but so was Ariel.” She pulled a face. “I should’ve mentioned it.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Olinia bit at the inside of her lip. She could almost see his thoughts churning over what she’d told him. His eyes were a tempestuous gray. She winced inwardly. “I didn’t tell you because, at the time, I’d lost my trust in you. You’d been gone. I was hurt.”
“Did Ariel and I say anything?”
She nodded. “It was about DS. Apparently some guy from DS approached Ariel about being able to predict her opponent’s next move. You thought he was a-”
“Talent scout,” Will finished for her. “I remember.”
“I think your sister was gifted.”
“Too bad her gift couldn’t save her,” Will spat out bitterly, surprising Olinia. He was glaring into the fire again.
“Will,” she breathed, “it wasn’t her fault that she died. You’ve got to let it go.”
“Let go?” He ran one hand through his hair. “Let go of what? My family’s already gone. It’s not like I’ve got much to hold on to. Oh, except for my old house apparently.”
“That’s not true,” she whispered.
“Isn’t it? Other than Trenton, I have no living relatives. The cemetery is filled with my family members.” He spat out the words – his voice steadily growing louder. “I’m all alone, Olinia. I don’t have any long-lost brothers like you did. When Trenton dies, it’ll just be me.”
Olinia stared at him. Since the moment she’d first met him, she knew Will was suffering. Even though he was good at keeping his pain below the surface, every once in a while he’d let it slip through his eyes. To
see him now openly share with her his vulnerability made her heart ache.
Before she really knew what she was doing, she blurted, “I love you, Will. You won’t be by yourself because you can make me your family. You told me you’d follow me anywhere. If I’m with you, why would you ever feel alone?”
Will didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed her, his hand reaching out to her neck, pulling her to him. Olinia clung to his shirt. His kiss was ravenous. Never had Olinia experienced anything like it. He wanted her, needed her, couldn’t live without her. Words were not necessary – the passion from his lips betrayed his true emotions.
Both she and Will had endured tragedies in their lives. Broken dreams and regret would hold a part inside of them forever. Yet, from each other they had discovered a revitalizing strength.
Olinia loved Will. At that moment, all Olinia cared about was Will. With him, she could face her fears. She could decide to become the queen she was expected to be. She could one day win back her rightful throne – just so long as Will was there right alongside her. She’d been to several realms now. The one thing she could say with a certainty was that no one was like Will.
A few minutes later, Will pulled back, breathless and panting. The beautiful eyes she could gaze into for hours were peering at her, running over her features. He brushed her cheek with his thumb, and said softly, “Olinia, be my wife.”
“Y-your wife?” She stammered, completely taken off-guard.
He nodded. “Even if you don’t choose to be queen of Caprith or the Other Worlds, at least please choose to be with me.”
Olinia could feel herself beaming. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You want to marry me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He smiled crookedly. “From the second I first saw you, I knew you were unique. As I’ve told you before, I love you, Olinia Reien.”
She grinned, unable to contain the burst of pure ecstasy that coursed through her. “I would love to be your wife. I couldn’t marry anyone else but you.”
