by Shea Berkley
“Can’t you take him out? Right now. Right here,” Reece whispers.
“Yeah, but then we’d bring all his nasty playmates over here and we’re not prepared to deal with them. Not yet.”
“I don’t get it. Your dad knows we’re here, right?”
That he’s leaving us alone is telling. “He’s not interested in us. We’re a nuisance he’ll deal with when he gets all his gummy bears lined up.”
Reece grumbles, clearly insulted by Baun’s attitude. “Next time I meet him, I’ll be sure to make a better impression.”
We scurry away and meet up with our growing group in the woods. Not only have firsts arrived, but the humans from Teag the firsts tried to exterminate. I tell them about what we saw and a see a wave of disappointment rush through the crowd.
I go to Grandpa, who’s sitting against the old oak. A group of soldiers follows me. Grandpa doesn’t look at all disturbed by what’s going on. He just lays out the facts. “The men we have aren’t enough. Not compared to the monsters Baun has collected.”
One soldier speaks up. “If I may, those remaining within the city are there against their will. If we go in, I have no doubt they’ll join us if they can.”
“To know how to defeat him, we need to know how he is controlling those people,” Grandpa says.
“By threats and intimidation. It’s in the way he rebuilt parts of the city,” I tell him. It’s hard to explain. I have everyone step back, and with my magic, I build up a little miniature of the Ruined City using dirt and various forest debris. “He can demolish any of these areas whenever he likes. It just collapses, like each section is built on a huge trap door.” I have the section that Baun destroyed collapse. Seeing it makes it more real than just talking about it.
I straighten and the model of the city fades back into the forest. “It swallows everything and everyone in a matter of seconds. He said he built it as a deterrent for our enemies, but he obviously has no problem using it to intimidate his own people.”
Grandpa rubs his eyes and shakes his head. “What kind of sick puppy is this guy?”
Without warning, Lucinda appears with Leo in her arms, raising a huge commotion. Everyone converges on her. She screams as they drag her away from Leo, who sags to the ground, obviously hurt. The men have guns and swords pointed at her and she looks up at me, terrified. “Help him!”
I go to him, and when he rolls onto his back, I finally get a clear picture of what’s wrong, and it doesn’t look good. An audible gasp rises from the crowd when they see the knife. I’m not the healer. Kera is. It’s macabre seeing the long handle sticking out of his chest. My instinct is to pull it out, but when I make to do just that, Grandpa stops me. “Don’t touch it, Dylan. It’s stopping him from bleeding to death.”
Leo’s chest rises and falls erratically. I bend over him. “How are you holding up?”
He coughs and a sprinkle of blood rises to his lips. “I have a knife sticking out of my chest. I’ve been better.” His voice is weak; the pulse at his neck moves way too quickly. His face is pale and his lips are tinged blue.
“You can’t die, dude. You’re the only friend I have.”
He grabs my hand and squeezes. “Yeah, I love you too, man.”
Reggie, Leo’s dad, pushes his way through the crowd. His eyes swell with tears when he sees his son. “Get away from him,” he shouts at me. “Haven’t you done enough damage? Does my whole family have to die before you’re happy?” He drops beside his son, and I move to the outer limits of the circle that’s gathered around Leo.
Grandpa limps over to me. “Don’t mind Reggie. He’s got issues.”
“Issues I’ve created.” I pull my hands through my hair and feel a heavy weight against my chest, like I’m being crushed. I can’t breathe.
“Don’t do this to yourself.” Grandpa puts his arm around me, props me up when he can barely stand on his own. “Leo’s here with you because he believed in what you’re doing.”
I send Grandpa a look of honest desperation. “What am I doing?” I shake my head. “Reggie’s right, you know. I’ve done enough damage.”
“You can’t give up.” He clasps my shoulders and stares straight at me. His eyes are so intense, I can’t look away. “Anyone can survive a little adversity, but you’ve been given a great power. This is your test. How deep does your character go? Because when the price is high, some back up. Take cover. Hide. Men like Baun, they’ll take that opportunity to crush everyone in their way. You can’t stop. You have to finish this. Don’t let those who’ve already suffered so much suffer more because you got scared. Be fearless.”
He puts his hand on my head and we touch foreheads. I feel tears gather in my eyes. It’s impossible. I don’t cry. “And if your life is in the balance? Or Grandma’s?”
His hand moves to the back of my neck, and he gives it a tight squeeze. “Be fearless, because it will only get worse if you’re not. And that’s not a world anyone wants to live in.”
We stare at each other, him waiting for me to absorb what he’s said and me understanding that it’s too late to walk away from this. I nod. “Okay.”
I take a few steps back, knowing what I have to do, and then turn around, but I don’t get far when he calls my name. I look back. His eyes are strangely wet. “I love you, son. You’re a right pain in my ass, but I love you.”
A smile sneaks onto my face without my even realizing it. “I love you too, Grandpa.”
I make my way to Lucinda. She’s still on the ground, an emotional mess. I didn’t even know she was capable of this kind of misery. I help her to her feet. She looks at me, tears streak her cheeks…her hair is knotted. I’ve never seen her so untidy. She’s never messy.
“What happened?”
“I love him,” she says between small, sad little gasps. “I just wanted us to be together forever. It’s the one good thing I’ve ever wanted, but Baun did not agree.”
I should’ve known my dad was behind this. Whatever stupid, silly thing she did, it was for her love of Leo.
“Help him. Please. I’ll do anything…”
I take her over to Leo. “Take him to my grandmother. She’ll know what to do.”
Reggie stands as Lucinda kneels and wraps her arms around Leo, and they disappear. He looks at me. “My son said I need to give you a chance.”
I look away, unable to make eye contact. “You don’t need to do anything. Go home. Stay with Leo.”
“When a man gives his dying son a promise, he upholds that promise. I’m going to make your dad pay for what he did to my boy. Do you have a problem with that?”
I lift my head and look him square in the eye. “Only one. You’ve got to stand in line.”
I call Signe over. “Where’s Kera?”
“In Baun’s chambers.”
One of the firsts, a man I’ve never met before, steps forward. “We’ve been talking. The city is a trap for armies. Even a small one. We should know. We live there. Retaking the city is a job for a select few.”
They’re scared of Baun. Hell, I’m scared of him. “I know it seems impossible, but—”
“No, it is possible. What we propose will make it possible.”
He sounds confident, and a spark of excitement flares within me. “What’s your plan?”
“Our power is yours to use.” The man steps close. “My name is Thaul. I can make myself and one other person invisible.” He lays his hand on my forearm. A flash of heat skewers up my arm as he transfers his power into me. When he’s done, he steps back.
I catch his arm and force the words past the fear in my throat. “You can’t do this. What if I turn into my father?”
“If I thought that would happen, I would not be here. You have the heart of a king who cares for his people. How can we not give you our trust?” He slips away and another man takes his place. A line quickly forms behind him. One after the other, men, women, and even children state their names and the power they wish to give me. Some only give part of the
ir powers. Others give their all.
When the transfers are complete, a cheer rises. I’m humbled and terrified at the same time. My friends draw near. Reece slaps me on the back. “You know I’m coming with you.”
“So am I,” Halim pipes up.
Signe frowns. “If they go, I go.”
I could argue and list every reason they shouldn’t. Instead I give in. “Why not? I need people who are crazy enough to protect my back.”
“With us around,” Halim says, “you have no worries.”
“Except…” They look at me expectantly. I lean toward them and we huddle together so I can whisper. “If I die, all their power goes to Baun.”
Halim looks from me to Reece and Signe, then back at me. “Then don’t die.”
“Simple,” Reece says. Everyone seems to agree with him, and our huddle dissolves.
“Right,” I agree, but not really. It’s not going to be that easy.
As we search through an assortment of weapons, Reece says, “We do have one problem. If he has any brains at all, he’s protecting the gates.”
Halim’s head pops up, a contagious grin on his face. “Not all of them.”
Reece messes up the boy’s hair with his hand. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Hold on.” Signe’s hands land on her hips. “This is going to get dirty and smelly, isn’t it?”
Halim holds out his arms. His body is layered in filth. “I use the entrance all the time and I’m okay.”
Reece smacks the boy on his back and a layer of dirt flies into the air. “When we get back, we’re going to have a serious talk about personal hygiene.”
I have my sword and a short dagger. Reece picks up a stick that’s made up of hardwood. He spins it and brings it down on a nearby log, splitting it in two à la krav maga, and adds it to his sword. Halim has his little dagger and insists he doesn’t need anything else. I believe him. It’s Signe I’m worried about. There isn’t a mean bone in her body. She picks up one weapon after another and ends up discarding them.
“You don’t have to go,” I tell her so no one else can hear.
“I do. She’s my friend, and she needs me.” She twists the ring on her finger. “Besides, I’m the only one who can find her.”
She’s got a point. All any of us can do is guess where Kera is, but Signe can find exactly where she’s at. Under all the other weapons I see a slingshot. I pick it up and hand it to her. “Ever use one of these?”
“Most of my life was spent in a cave.” She tucks the slingshot in her pocket. “But even I can use a slingshot.”
I drop a small bag in her palm. “These balls explode on contact. Just remember to twist the balls before you shoot them.” Taking a step back. “Are you sure this is smart? You going?”
She puts her hand on my arm and stops me from saying more. “I would never go if I thought I would be in the way. You really do need me.”
I wish I had that kind of confidence. There has to be a way I can protect her, and then it hits me. I take her hand and transfer a small portion of my power into her. She gasps, and when I let go, she yanks her hand away. “What did you do?”
“I gave you the ability to turn invisible.” I smile at the shock on her face. “It’s not much, but go ahead. Try it.”
She closes her eyes and the next moment, she’s gone. Even the weapons she holds are invisible, but she’s still physically there. I can feel the weight of her in the empty space in front of me. The next second she pops back into view, a look of wonder on her face. “It worked.”
“It’s all I have to protect you. Use it if you have to. Just be careful.”
She nods and slowly backs away, then turns and runs to Reece.
I turn and come face-to-face with Reggie. He has two rifles slung over his shoulders, a revolver strapped to his hips, a semi-automatic pistol tucked into his waistband and several magazines stashed in his coat pockets. He’s so weighted down by metal, I’m scared he’ll sink if he steps in a puddle.
“I’m going with you.”
I don’t even try to argue with him. There’s a look in his eye that tells me either he goes with us or he’ll go on his own. Either way, he’s going. “You’ll do as I say?”
His lips tighten. “Most likely.”
“Good enough.”
When we’re all ready, I look at Halim. Reece puts his hand on the boy’s head and tips his face up. “Okay, Batman. Where’s your super secret entrance? And it better not have any guano in it.”
Fall In to Fall Out
Reece comes back from scouting out the area. “All clear. It doesn’t look like anyone comes this way. Ever. Just a bunch of rabbits.” He looks at the little clay people I’m making. The clay is a sticky brown, though it gets a little firmer when I take the hair I collected from Halim and add it to his mini-me. “What the hell are those? Wait, is that supposed to be me?” He pokes his finger at the one I made with his hair and the little man slaps Reece’s finger away. “Fiesty little dust balls, aren’t they?”
I finish molding the last figure and give it a shot of magic that makes him resemble Halim, clothes, weapons, and all. “These are tiny golems. It’s my idea of a warning system.” I put the last one down amid the others who are milling about and say, “Listen up, men.”
The figures, standing less than six inches high, snap straight and converge into a line facing me. All except the one that looks like Signe. “Men and lady,” I correct.
She immediately falls in line, and I deliver my orders. “Scout the perimeter. If anything or anyone approaches, immediately come back and tell me.”
They all scurry off in different directions. I look toward Halim. “So, where is this gate?”
He leads us to a section of wall, but there isn’t a gate that I can see, not until he points to the ground and announces, “The Fall Gate.”
We all stare into a six-foot gaping abyss. I raise my eyebrows at Halim. “It’s a hole in the ground.”
“It’s a gate. Trust me. Nobody ever uses it.”
Signe walks around it, studying its contours. “How did you even find it?”
“How do you think? I fell in when I was chasing a rabbit in the dark.”
Reggie kicks a bit of dirt into the hole, but the hole is so dark, we quickly lose track of its descent. “Alice’s rabbit hole.” His eyebrows snap together. “Why do I get the feeling Lewis Carroll’s been here?”
“It cannot be safe,” Signe says.
An exasperated groan slips out of Halim. “I use it all the time.”
A snort sounds from Reece. “That explains why you look the way you do.”
“Scared?” Halim challenges.
All of us with a Y chromosome shake our heads. Reggie buttons up his coat to secure his ammunition.
Signe’s red curls bounce as she nods her head. “Yes, yes, I am scared. It’s not normal.”
“This is Teag,” Reece mutters. “When is anything here normal?”
The skin on the back of my neck tingles uncomfortably. I look around the area again, but all seems quiet. If something were out there, one of my golems would’ve warned us. “We either use it or move on. We’re wasting time.” Why am I the only one who’s nervous no one is defending this area?
Halim stands near the edge of the hole and smiles. “Last one in buys me a horse.” Without warning, he jumps into the air, executing a tight forward roll, and dives headfirst into the hole.
Signe stumbles back, her hand to her chest. “Oh, no, no, no. I am not doing that.”
“Maybe not headfirst,” Reece says. “The kid’s a daredevil. You can jump in. With me.”
She presses her lips together and shakes her head no.
He takes her hand and pulls her forward. “Come on, baby. It won’t be that bad. I’ll hold you tight the whole way.”
As Reece sweet-talks Signe, Reggie adjusts his weapons. “Let’s do this.” He jumps in feetfirst, giving a little yip of surprise as he does. For a guy who’s never been to Te
ag, he’s embraced its oddities like a pro.
I can’t shake the feeling we’re being watched. I’m hyperaware of every sound. Every shift in shadow and light. From the tall weeds, it’s obvious the Fall Gate is rarely used, but that doesn’t mean it’s not watched from time to time. “Either you go now, or you go back. Make up your mind, Signe.”
“I just…I mean it’s so…” She’s freaking out.
“You’ve come this far.” Reece sweeps her up into his arms, even as she demands he put her down, and walks straight for the hole. When they’re at the edge, he shoots a glance at me. “See you on the other side.” Turning, he falls backward, carrying Signe with him. She lets out a sharp scream that’s quickly muffled.
I’m the only one left. The air is heavy with silence. It smells like wet earth and green. Nothing out of the ordinary about that. Too ordinary, considering all that’s happening.
Why is no one watching this gate? It’s a dumb move, and there’s one thing I know about Baun. He’s not dumb. Crazy, yes. Overly impulsive, absolutely. But he’s not dumb. A few yards away, I see the waist-high grass shiver as if something is moving. I draw my sword, and it flames to life. I crouch and slowly back away.
A sharp squeal sounds followed by a growl. The grass to my right quivers violently. Another squeal sounds and the grass to my left shakes and twists. Then two more squeals shatter the oppressive quiet.
From out of the weeds runs the golem shaped like me. Its face twists with fear and a high-pitched scream warns me we’re not alone. As it races toward me, two quills hit, piercing straight through him like he’s a pincushion. I’m very familiar with the animal that shoots the poisonous barbs.
Hell hounds are stalking us. The little guy doesn’t stop when he reaches me. He runs for the hole and jumps in.
Even golems are scared to death of hell hounds. That’s a sobering thought. I hear a familiar whooshing sound and a shower of quills rains down on me. I don’t think. I roll and fall into the hole headfirst. I tumble head over heels, air rushing around me as I fall, until I stabilize myself on my back. Time seems to suspend around me. I use my powers to move dirt to block the gate’s entrance. I’ve barely closed it off when a thump cracks the newly moved earth, and dirt sprinkles all around me. The hole is pitch-black except for a dim light at the far end. Several thumps sound and more dirt falls. The hell hounds are jumping in the hole and are digging. Fast. When I’m spit out the other side, I roll to a stop amid a pile of old wooden carts, rusty pots and pans, and other abandoned junk. I pop to my feet and quickly brick up the entrance. A second later, a number of thuds hit the wall on the other side, making the wall bow, but it holds.
