by Kristen Pham
She was forced into the shadows forever. The Contego didn’t allow her to stay in the guild because she was useless to them. Without her guild, she had nowhere to turn. I believe she turned to the Fractus because no one else would welcome her. She is who she is today because we abandoned her. Azra’s large, bottomless eyes were the saddest thing that Valerie had ever seen.
“That doesn’t excuse what she’s done to Henry,” Valerie said with certainty. Still, learning about Sanguina’s past drained some of her rage away. Sanguina had been abandoned by the Contego, just as she had been discarded by her foster families, like a broken toy. That crushing sense of loss was unbearable. But even though a part of Valerie sympathized with her, Sanguina had made her choice to embrace evil. Valerie was determined to do anything to save Henry – even if it meant hurting Sanguina.
Nothing excuses what she has done, it is true. But we will find Henry, Valerie, and we will save him.
She suddenly remembered Kanti. “Is this Henry the same Henry that was Kanti’s friend? Maybe she would know where to look for him.”
I do not know if the two Henrys are the same – I have not found that answer in the records. But it occurred to me that when Kanti couldn’t find Henry all those years ago, it could have been because Sanguina or one of the Fractus blocked him with a protective charm like the one they created for Venu. When Kanti couldn’t find Henry and she saw the coffin, she assumed he was inside of it. But maybe that wasn’t the case. Perhaps Henry lives.
It can’t hurt for the two of you to project to his home on Earth and look around. I will continue to search the records. I will also work with the leaders of the guilds, and they will lend us their resources. We will find him, I promise you. Tomorrow I will travel to the sacred pools on the island of Messina. The record keeper there has helped me in the past. I will return with answers.
“Thank you, Azra,” Valerie said, but inside she squirmed with frustration. She had spent so much of her life waiting – she wanted to save Henry now, today. The thought of Sanguina haunting that boy was more than she could bear.
Valerie returned to her room as the sun rose over the horizon. Kanti and Cyrus were waiting for her. The expression on Cyrus’ face was grim, and Valerie knew that Kanti must have filled him in on what had happened. Valerie told them about her meeting with Azra.
“We can’t just sit around waiting!” Kanti exclaimed.
“There is another option,” Cyrus said thoughtfully. “The Oracle. We have a great need. Don’t you think they’d give Valerie her prophecy? “
“Yes! Cyrus, you’re brilliant!” Kanti said, the panic disappearing from her face.
“That’s what I’ve been telling you,” Cyrus said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Wait, what are you guys talking about?”
“The Oracle is a group of Conjurors who can see the future. They deliver prophecies to guide people on their quests and give them answers to their questions. But they’re really picky about whom they will help. Only if your need is great enough will they help you.”
“Cyrus, how do you know all this stuff, anyway? You have answers for everything,” Valerie said admiringly.
“Whatever,” he said, blushing.
“Aw, you feeling shy?” Kanti teased. Then she explained, “He was elected to serve on Azra’s youth council. It’s a really big honor, and she tells them a lot of stuff about the Globe that isn’t common knowledge.”
“That’s awesome, Cy! Why didn’t you say so?”
Valerie was surprised he didn’t jump at the chance to brag a little. Instead, Kanti rolled her eyes and said. “He thinks it’ll bother me because I also ran for the council position, but didn’t get elected. Sheesh, I’ve told you for a million times, I’m happy for you, not jealous.”
“I never said you were! The subject didn’t come up, that’s all.”
Sensing tension in the air, Valerie changed the subject, hoping to prevent another argument. “So, do we need to bring something to the Oracle? Like, an offering?”
Kanti and Cyrus stared at her, surprised. Finally, Cyrus laughed and said, “It doesn’t work like that. They’ll help us if they think it’s the right thing to do. And if we can help them, we will.”
“Sorry, Earth thinking, I guess,” Valerie said. She saw the shocked expression on Cyrus’ face and added, “Kanti knows I’m from Earth. We’re friends, and I want her to know the truth.”
“Fine, whatever,” Cyrus said, trying to sound casual. But his tone didn’t fool Valerie – she had a feeling that Cyrus liked being the only one to know her secret.
“Back on track, people,” Kanti said. “Let’s pack up and get out of here.”
“Before we go, I want to fill Thai in on what’s happening. When we figure out where Henry is on Earth, he’ll be able to protect him. Kanti, if this is your Henry, why don’t we project to his house? Maybe he still lives there and we can explain everything,” Valerie said.
Kanti shook her head regretfully. “I had the same idea. While I was waiting for you to return, I projected to Henry’s house. It doesn’t even exist anymore; there’s a parking lot where it used to be. They must have moved quite awhile ago. My guess is that they’re probably still in the same country, if not the same state. Maybe Thai should travel to America. By the time he gets there, there’s a chance that the Oracle will tell you exactly where he is.”
“It would be out of his way,” Valerie said, hesitating.
“This is important. It can’t hurt to ask him. And from everything you’ve told me about him, he might have a few ideas himself.”
“Ideas, yes. But maybe not much time.”
Chapter Ten
Cyrus and Kanti left to gather supplies for their journey, and Valerie immediately concentrated on Thai. She was amazed at how effortless it was to return to Earth.
Thai was sitting at a table with a huge group of people that she guessed were his parents and siblings. They looked like such a happy, fun group, laughing and playing around with each other. It was how she imagined the perfect family would be. She had pictured it a thousand times to herself all those years while she was waiting to be adopted.
For a second, she panicked that they would see her and would wonder who she was and where she came from. Then she remembered her lesson from Cyrus on projecting to Earth. It was up to her to choose who could see her, and she only wanted to be seen by Thai.
Valerie relaxed when his parents and siblings looked right through her. It was almost as if she was a ghost, and the thought sent a chill through her. It would be so easy for the Fractus to watch Henry without his knowledge and learn everything about him, including his greatest fears. Then they could use that information against him, to terrify him into doing what they wanted. But what was so special about Henry that the Fractus would go to such lengths to control him?
Thai looked up and almost choked on his noodles when he saw her. Valerie giggled. He said something to his family in Vietnamese, and then quickly left.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I can come back later.”
“It’s fine, we were finishing up anyway. Something’s wrong, I can tell.”
Her lighthearted mood evaporated as she remembered why she had come. She quickly explained to Thai what she had discovered about Henry and her visions. To her surprise, he didn’t seem shocked.
“I knew you were seeing something real. I watched you when you had your vision at Stonehenge, and whatever you were experiencing was so real to you. I remember that you were so afraid that you were shaking in my arms. And no regular dream sends someone to a hospital.”
“I have a huge favor to ask. When we figure out where Henry is, will you go to him? I’m so afraid that Venu will be after him next. And Henry has no idea of what’s happening to him! He’s never heard of the Globe. He must think that he’s going crazy, or that monsters are really trying to hurt him.”
“That’s horrible,” Thai said with a shudder. “I can’t imagine going through my cha
nge without the help of the Conjurors. I would have lost my mind.”
“I’m so scared for him.”
“Of course I’ll help in any way I can.”
“What about Tan? Will he be able to handle this trip? I know that you’re sharing your body with him more and more, and I don’t want you to sacrifice his – or your – health.”
“Tan will be okay. He’s getting stronger every day, and he’s beginning to understand more of what’s happening. I’m sure he’ll want to help you too. So consider us both in on your plan,” Thai said confidently. “Now, where was Henry last seen?”
“Well, if Kanti’s right and this is her old friend, then he used to live in America. Also, in my vision he spoke English without an accent of any kind, so I think chances are he probably does live there.”
“I’ll go straight there. And as soon as you find him, I’ll be ready.”
“Thank you so much. I feel so much better knowing that you’ll be there to protect him.”
Valerie let herself be pulled back to her body on the Globe, and she opened her eyes. Kanti rushed around the room, yanking clothes out of drawers and throwing them into a silver box that stood in the middle of the room. Valerie looked inside and saw that it was full of food, clothes, a water jug, and an assortment of other strange objects.
“How will we carry that box on our journey? Wouldn’t backpacks be easier?”
Kanti put the lid on the box. “It’s a call box. We leave it right here in this room, and when we need something, we call for it and it appears wherever we are on the Globe. I packed you some clothes and food, and Cyrus is grabbing his stuff as we speak.”
“That is so cool,” Valerie said as she bent over the box to examine it more closely. It seemed like any ordinary silver box, but she felt the slight hum of power that indicated that it had been touched by magic.
“It makes traveling much easier. Plus, someone is bound to stop three kids wandering around with suitcases and ask where they’re going. And trust me, there is no way Dulcea is going to be okay with us traveling to another country on our own.”
“Shouldn’t we let Dulcea know we’ll be gone? I don’t want her to worry.”
“Not going to work. She will insist that we have a chaperone, and that could take days. She’ll probably punish us when we get back, but this trip can’t wait.”
Valerie shook her head regretfully. “I know you’re right, but let’s at least leave her a note so she knows we haven’t been kidnapped or something.”
“Good idea – she won’t be back for a couple hours anyway. Can you write it, Val?”
Valerie quickly jotted down a note for Dulcea explaining their quest and apologizing. When she was satisfied with what she had written, she turned back to Kanti. “So how do we get to this Oracle, anyway? I’m guessing it’s not by bus.”
“You’ll see,” she said with a grimace. “It’s not my favorite way to travel, but Cyrus said you’ll love it.”
Before they left, Valerie took the flower of light from her nightstand and slid it into her pocket, where it glowed through the fabric. It somehow didn’t feel right to leave it behind, and she might be glad to have a light at night during their journey.
Cyrus met them gliding down the stairs and hopped on to their platform. “I dumped my stuff in the call box. We’d better hurry; the next car leaves the station in fifteen minutes.”
“Car, huh?” Valerie said curiously. “I thought you said–”
“It’s a surprise!” Cyrus said, and then refused to add another word.
Before they left, Valerie dropped off the note for Dulcea. Minutes later, they arrived at the station, which seemed ordinary enough, like a train station on Earth. But when they reached the tracks, the sight made Valerie’s heart leap. “Conjurors travel by rollercoaster cars?!” she shouted with glee.
Stretching into the distance, the silver track was full of twists, turns and loops. A red rollercoaster car was waiting at their station. Valerie boarded and sat between Cyrus and Kanti, and a conductor came over and strapped them into their harnesses.
“It’s totally safe, too. The harnesses are something to hold on to; the magic in the seat will prevent you from falling out,” Cyrus explained.
“Sure, you won’t die, but the magic won’t protect you from getting hit with my puke,” Kanti said. “So if I start turning green, be prepared to duck.”
“Disgusting!” Cyrus said. “Thanks for that image.”
“Last call, Ephesus!” the conductor called, and then the rollercoaster inched slowly forward.
Once the car had exited the station, it immediately whooshed forward at top speed. Valerie felt the wind yank her hair straight back, and she screamed with joy. It was so much smoother than the old wooden rollercoaster she had ridden two years ago on a school field trip. That time, she had been jostled so much that she left the ride with a headache. But not this time. Every loop and corkscrew was as smooth as glass, and Valerie could enjoy the speed and the thrill without distractions.
At one point, the rollercoaster sped next to the lake where Valerie had met Azra the night before. They came so close that Valerie could reach out and touch the water, sending a spray all over Cyrus, who laughed and repaid the favor. Valerie was drenched, but she felt herself quickly drying in the wind.
Finally, the rollercoaster slowed down at the edge of the shady woods as the sun sank behind the horizon. Even Valerie had her fill of riding at that point, and solid ground had never felt so wonderful. Kanti looked green from nausea, and Valerie hoped that she wasn’t going to throw up.
“We’re definitely walking home,” Kanti said grumpily. “You’ll never get me on that thing again!”
“I feel a little dizzy, but that was so worth it,” Valerie said. “I have to hand it to you, Cy, you know how to travel in style!”
“I knew you’d love it, Val,” he replied triumphantly as the rollercoaster took off, roaring as it zoomed away into the distance.
“Where are we? I don’t see anything out here,” Valerie said. The rollercoaster had stopped at the edge of Arden’s forest, and stretching out before them were a smattering of trees that gradually became sparser and more ghostly, giving way to nothing but the yellow sands of a vast, barren desert.
“This is as far as we can travel by rollercoaster,” Kanti said. “Travelers to the Roaming City in Ephesus must enter on foot.”
“The Roaming City is where the Oracle Conjurors live?”
“Yes – not many Conjurors ever get to see it,” Cyrus said, clearly excited by the prospect of the adventure ahead of them.
“How far away is the Roaming City from here?” Valerie said, straining her eyes to see anything other than miles of sand.
“That’s the tricky part. You don’t find the Oracle, the Oracle finds you. It’s called the Roaming City because it’s never in the same place twice. It can only be found by those in great need of guidance. People have come here searching for the Roaming City until they go crazy, but you’ll only find it if the Oracle wants you to.”
“Well, our need is great, so we’ll find it for sure,” Valerie said with determination. “Let’s go.”
But before they could take a step, she heard a rustling in the trees behind them, and what sounded like the whimper of a wounded animal. Instinct told her that someone was in danger.
“Did you hear that?” Kanti asked.
“Let’s check it out.”
“But Val –” Cyrus protested, but Valerie interrupted him.
“Someone could be hurt!”
She made her way back through the trees quietly. After she had walked for a couple of minutes, she heard a boy’s voice say, “We’ve been waiting a long time to get our hands on you.”
Again, Valerie heard the weak whimpering. Peering through the trees, she saw a lanky older boy who wore grungy clothes that were full of holes and looked as if he hadn’t washed in weeks. The small creature he was talking to was no larger than a baby bear cub, and looked like
no animal Valerie had ever seen on Earth. He had wide, innocent eyes and was covered in soft golden fur that was trembling from fear. But the strangest thing about him was that it looked like something was glowing deep inside him. It was his heart, Valerie realized with surprise as she watched the red light pulse softly under his skin.
“It’s Darling!” Cyrus said in surprise. Seeing Valerie’s confusion, he explained, “He’s a haelan, the last of his kind, like Azra. He has healing powers, and he visits sick children all over the Globe.”
Seeing a helpless creature at the mercy of someone much bigger unlocked an anger inside of Valerie that made her feel fearless. After all, this scraggly boy would hardly be a threat when she unleashed her powers. She stepped out of the trees.
“Valerie, wait, no!” Cyrus called behind her, but it was too late to turn back.
“Really? Picking on someone one-fifth your size? You’re such a coward that it makes me sick,” Valerie said, stalking over to the boy.
The boy laughed, saying “You have no idea the world of trouble you walked into, just to help this little rat.”
“You’re not the first person to underestimate me and regret it,” she snapped back. Never breaking eye contact with the boy, she knelt down and felt Darling run into her arms. A wave of protectiveness washed over her, and she hugged him close. Darling’s safety was more important than her urge to fight this thug, so she turned to leave.
But before she could take two steps, the boy’s voice said mockingly, “Going so soon? We haven’t got a chance to get to know each other.”
“We’re not going to let you hurt him,” Cyrus said harshly.
