Uncle takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “She and your father believed in his vision. They loved the island and knew that darkness affected its life.”
“Do you believe we are going to be destroyed by Aru?”
“I believe in my sister.”
It is hard to control my rising anger, but somehow I do. “That is not an answer.”
He sighs. “I believe it is possible.”
“Maybe it is better to let Aru destroy the island.”
Uncle grabs my arms and turns me to face him. “All life is precious. Even to the end.”
His conviction slams through me.
“You must think me horribly selfish.”
I am surprised there is no judgment in his feelings.
“Life offers many challenges to overcome. To master destiny is the most difficult.”
I cannot master my destiny.
A long time later, we catch up to Daniel and Bryntar. They stand on a high platform of solid rock that juts over a large cavern far below. Broken stone and boulders scatter across the cracked floor. Uneven walls sparkle with iridescent flakes that flicker red in torchlight. I do not see the lagoon and panic. It cannot be that patch of swirling mist in the corner? I risked our lives for that?
A few shimmers of lagoon peek through the fog, striking me with a sensation of great age—as if something under the silver water surges with intelligence.
A shudder jerks through Bryntar. “The ice is gone.”
“That’s because of the lava flow.” Daniel points to a stream of molten rock that curves around one side of the cavern and vanishes into the ground.
Dreams of fire and ice surface and I shudder.
Daniel removes the rope from his waist. “Undo your ropes so I can knot the pieces together.”
Daniel ties one end of the rope to a sturdy rock.
“I have not seen that kind of knot,” Uncle says.
“It’s a bowline knot, a sailor’s best friend. Easier to untie when we leave.”
Daniel’s fingers tie one knot after another down the length of rope. “These are half-knots.” He reaches the end of the first rope and joins the two pieces in a different knot. “This is a stopper knot. So it won’t come out.”
“What are the half-knots for?” I ask.
“Your hands and feet. You won’t slip. Easier to support your weight.” He throws the rope over the edge and peers down. “Don’t think it’s long enough. We’ll have to drop the last few feet.”
Uncle says, “I will go first.” He smiles, hands his torch to Bryntar and throws his spear over the edge. It clatters on the rocky floor.
My heart jumps into my throat when he disappears over the edge. I lean over and watch his body descend into darkness. He lands with a small crunch of rock.
Bryntar throws the torch to him.
“I’ll go next.” Daniel grabs the rope.
Heartbeats thump and my throat constricts in a lump.
He climbs down the rope with ease.
“You go, Elandra.” Bryntar clasps my arm. Her face is rigid, the purple tint almost white.
“I cannot leave you alone,” I say. “You next.”
She hesitates.
I touch her arm. “Thank you for bringing me. I know how you feel about this place.”
“Reconsider,” she says.
“I cannot save the island.”
“Conquer fear.” She throws her torch to Uncle and heaves her huge body over the edge.
Darkness swallows me. I control the panic at the edge of my mind, but am unable to conquer the deeper fear of my unknown future. Hurry, dear Bryntar.
She thumps when she lands.
I snatch the rope with both hands and slowly climb over the edge. My arms still ache from rowing. I move carefully before releasing a hand or foot.
A sudden vibration rumbles through the rocks. The rope starts to swing. I slip a few feet and cling to it with my legs. “Help.” A whispered terror as I dangle in darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Shocking
Daniel yells, “Grab the rope, Bryntar!”
The rope jerks and stops. I cling in terror.
Daniel calls up at me. “You okay?”
His voice is so far away that I look down. Shadows leap in torchlight and swirl around and around and around.
His voice penetrates my panic. “Move one hand at a time.”
I do not want to move. I cannot move. I can barely breathe.
A sudden weight on the rope makes me squeeze tighter. I hold in screams as it swings back and forth. Sweat slides down my neck and inside my gloves, but I cannot control the chills.
And then I am in Daniel’s arms, his warmth seeping into me. “You’re okay. We’ll go down together.”
I hold in tears that will burst if I say a word.
“You’re fine. I’ve got you. Move one foot down.”
“How? We are using the same knots.”
“I’m not using the one where your foot goes.”
My voice squeaks. “Where are your feet?”
“I’m only using my arms.”
“We are going to fall!”
“Calm down. Sailors are good with their arms.”
And their hands and their lips. Concentrate. I block out everything except Daniel’s whisper in my ear. “Slide your foot down. It’s not far.”
I do as he says. The knot is so small only the shaking toe of my boot touches it.
“Good. Hold on. I’m moving down.”
“No. Please.”
“You’re going to be fine. Listen to me.”
He lets me go and before I can feel his loss, he says, “Move your hands down.”
I close my eyes, think only about his words, and slowly inch down the rope. When we reach the end, Daniel jumps first and lifts me down. The ground is solid under my feet, but my knees buckle. Daniel grabs me by the waist.
“Easy there.”
“Thank you.” My voice cracks.
His smile hits me full force. “Don’t make it a habit, okay?” For a moment, he does not guard his feelings of real concern for me. I do not even try to ignore the flutters in my chest.
Lava hisses in the corner.
The hairs on the back of my neck prick. “There is something alive in there.”
“Take it easy,” Daniel says.
I watch the molten lava sizzle around boulders and feel stupid. Except when Bryntar’s nervousness seeps into me.
Uncle moves to my side. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Facing Aru is certain death.”
“You don’t know that,” Daniel says.
“Your control grows,” Bryntar says. “When time comes . . . ”
“I will still not be ready.”
“Is this transformation dangerous?” Daniel asks.
Steam furls from Bryntar. “Unbearable pain.”
“What!” Daniel stares at her, horrified. “Have you been in the lagoon?”
Bryntar closes her eyes, remembering.
I quickly shut off her feelings and experience Daniel’s hot anger instead.
He whirls on me. “You’re ready to become a monster?”
“Accident,” Bryntar says.
Daniel paces. “What difference does that make? Elandra has no clue, no guarantee that she’ll get what she wants.”
“Taroc saved my life,” Bryntar says.
Daniel yells. “Look at the cost!”
She turns away, trembling.
“Who is Taroc?” Uncle asks.
“My mentor. An Enchanter.” I choke up and cannot continue.
“There is more than one of you?” Uncle asks in surprise.
“He died.” I push my guilt deeper.
“Not your fault,” Bryntar says.
“Does that matter, now?” I ask.
I step toward the lagoon. It is larger and more menacing than I thought. Writhing shadows of mist shift over the surface. An ancient intelligence surges beneath the still water with
detached interest.
I shudder.
Daniel grabs my arm. “What happens if you die?”
“I can die either way. Why does it matter to you? You made your thoughts about me perfectly clear.”
“I care.”
“For your survival.”
His face reddens. “Not true.”
“What is the truth, Daniel?”
“I-I don’t want you to change.”
Yet you are afraid of me. Although maybe you are as confused as I am. I shrug off the thought and turn to Bryntar.
“Should I remove my protective shirt?”
Daniel whips me around. “Please don’t do this.”
It is difficult not to respond to his pleading eyes. I struggle against my love for him and don’t react.
He turns toward the lava river. “I give up.”
Bryntar glides a hand down her leathery face. “Remove everything. Might become permanent.” Waves of horror pulsate through me until she shuts off her feelings.
My hair and body shoot unbidden flashes of light that disappear into the fog. “What is happening?”
“Perhaps a reminder of what you are and what you will not be,” Uncle says.
There has been little chance to consider the possible repercussions of my decision. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“It is to make you realize what you are giving up,” Uncle says.
Every heartbeat in the cave starts to magnify in my head: mine clawing its way out of my chest, Daniel’s beating with worry, Bryntar’s erratic thumping, Uncle’s steady beat, and suddenly, many more.
“We are not alone,” I say in warning.
Sturdy, dark-skinned animals slither out of crevices in the walls. White, unseeing eyes revolve in their sockets over long noses that sniff the air. Sharp claws scratch rock as their stubby legs stalk toward us.
“Sloats,” hisses Bryntar.
Daniel shakes his head. “Let me guess. They’re blind and dangerous.”
Uncle lifts his torch and his spear. “Be careful. Their bite is deadly—if they do not shred you to pieces first.”
“Great.” Daniel opens the blade on his knife.
“Use this to keep them away.” Kydaka tosses his torch to Daniel.
“Thanks,” Daniel says.
“Can we make them leave?” I ask.
Uncle backs toward us. “They hunt together but have no leader. Form a circle back to back, and do not take your eyes off them. Our only chance lies in their blindness.”
We prepare for the attack, our arms touching. The animals creep closer and screech in such high-pitched howls that excruciating pain shoots through my head. Their hunger almost overrides my concentration. I know there can be no mercy. I shoot a beam of light at the largest one. It moves so fast that I miss and lightning crashes into the walls shattering rock. It leaps for my throat.
Bryntar snatches the creature midair and flings it against a boulder.
The next few moments whirl by faster than I can think: lightning, flashing torch, jabbing spear, shrieking. A sloat leaps from the top of a boulder, so close I can see black venom drooling from its fangs. Terrified, I disintegrate it.
I cannot discern the screeches of the creatures from the yells of my companions. My only comfort comes from the knowledge that I can feel they are alive.
Soon, burned flesh sours the air. In an instant, silence comes like a blow. The creatures that survive back away from us and vanish into the crevices.
I whirl away from the dead. “Is anyone hurt?”
Uncle’s hand hangs limp. Blood drips from the tip of his little finger. “One bit me.” Venom drips from an already blackened finger.
Bryntar screeches and snatches his hand.
“You do care for me,” he says.
She rips Daniel’s knife from his hand and knocks Uncle to the ground. Pins his finger and severs it in one hard blow. He screams once.
I shriek, pain slamming through me. The cavern blurs.
“Seal it!” she yells at me, tossing the poisoned finger into the lava.
I stagger in agony.
“Elandra! Control!”
Daniel shakes me. “Now. He could bleed to death.”
Barely able to focus, I lurch away from Daniel and center my thoughts on the pounding of my heart, shutting out everything else. I touch the bleeding wound and a tiny, hot ray closes the wound. Uncle passes out without a word.
I crumple to the ground next to him.
Bryntar barely croaks, “Heal him. In case poison spread.”
Taking his strong, weathered hand, I touch Uncle with my fingertips. Overflowing love fills me for this man who has risked his life for my dream. Icy energy surges with greater strength than I have ever experienced. Thank you, Taroc. “I could have saved his finger.”
“No,” says Bryntar. “Poison spread too fast.”
“He’s lucky you could heal him,” Daniel says. “Why do you want to waste your talent on some stupid dream?”
Uncle opens his eyes. He staggers to his feet, but does not show the suffering and loss we both feel. He faces Bryntar. “I would not be alive but for your quick action. I am your grateful servant.”
Bryntar blushes. “Good it was not your head.”
Uncle chuckles and she actually smiles at him.
“Let’s ditch this place before something else happens,” Daniel says.
“How can I leave when we have come this far?” I look at my uncle. “And sacrificed so much?”
“Are you nuts?” Daniel asks. “You don’t get it. If you don’t value who you are, you don’t deserve to be an Enchantress.” He turns away in disgust.
I never thought about losing my abilities to protect and heal. Guilt pricks my conscience. “Maybe Aru will disappear once I become normal.”
Daniel glares. “You’re kidding yourself.”
Bryntar hugs me and chokes on tears.
“Be sure you are ready to lose your gifts,” Uncle says, his face grave.
“Get it over with.” Daniel marches toward the lava river.
The lagoon ripples, attracting my attention.
Bryntar shudders and backs away.
Every step toward the lagoon takes me farther and farther from help and closer and closer to the unknown. Muscles clamp tight against my chest. This is the right decision for me. Bryntar did not die. I will die if I fight Aru.
The water beckons with an undercurrent that laughs at my fear. Breath squeezes out of me. I lean over and barely touch the smooth silver surface with a fingertip. Instant desire and greed pierce my feelings. They are not my own.
Bryntar suddenly rips me away from the lagoon. “NO.”
I struggle against her tight hold on me. “Let go. I need to do this.”
“No,” she says.
I glare at her. “The choice is mine. Do you think I came all this way and risked all of our lives to give up now?”
Her blue eyes flash. “Hoped heart would change mind.”
“You were wrong.” I pull away, anger jabbing through me.
“We will die.”
The ground shakes under my feet. I jump away. A wide gap rips across the floor, trapping Uncle on the other side.
He yells, “Watch out, Daniel!”
I look up to see a molten cloud growing out of the lava—a writhing lump of rock, smoke and fire. It explodes and throws Daniel to the ground. Smoke hides everything.
“Run to the rope,” I scream to Uncle. I race over the rolling, groaning ground to find Daniel.
Flares streak out of the bunching cloud like a hundred fiery eyes. It this Aru? I struggle in the foul smoke.
The cloud swarms toward Daniel.
Too late, I remember the words from Taroc’s diary, Leave the waters unmolested or risk the sacrifice that will be made.
I touched the water.
Daniel cannot die because of me. I shoot a burst of light into the cloud. A yawning mouth of hungry fire consumes it. I dive to snatch Daniel
’s hand before it disappears in the billowing smoke. He grabs my hand and jumps up. We stagger over the undulating ground. Sparks bore into my coat and Daniel snuffs out the flames. We struggle through the choking fumes.
“I cannot see Bryntar.”
He snatches my hand once again. “Hang on.”
The swelling clouds spit hot rocks through the air. Lava overflows its banks.
“Bryntar! Where are you?”
“HERE,” she roars.
I yank away from Daniel and run.
“Stay with me,” he yells.
Bryntar’s shadow wavers in the haze. I scramble over cracks that split the ground. In an instant, molten rock blasts through the fissures under her. Thrown into the air, she crashes over a boulder and disappears in the steam.
“BRYNTAR!”
I plow into the blinding ash, disintegrating anything in my way. Struggling around the boulder, I stop in horror. Bryntar’s unconscious body slides into the lagoon.
Chapter Thirty: The Transforming
“Bryntar! No!” Please. No.
I kneel next to her and long to touch the one clawed hand that rests out of the water, to let her know she is not alone. Even though Taroc held her the first time, he was a greater, more experienced healer. I dare not touch her. My stomach twists to think that she can die from being exposed a second time to the waters of change. Can she transform while unconscious? How will the lagoon know what she wants?
“Dear Bryntar. I never should have made you bring me here. I am so sorry.” Tears pour down my face unheeded. I deserve to pay the ultimate price for my selfishness. Please, not at the cost of her life.
I jump up and yell. “Take me, Aru. I am yours. Please, spare her.”
With a bellow, the twisting clouds slither into the broken ground and vanish leaving silent, falling ash.
“Elandra! Elandra! Where are you?” Daniel appears, frantic, covered in soot. “What happened?”
“Daniel, Bryntar could die in the lagoon!”
“Let’s pull her out.”
I grab his arm. “We cannot interfere or it might kill her.”
Daniel coughs and rubs ash from his face.
“It should be me,” I say. “I cannot escape my destiny.”
“You believe that?” he asks.
“There is nothing else to believe.”
Enchantress Sacrifice Page 14
