***
Enchanted Galaxy
“So you see,” Cem concluded as the Sphinx landed on his planet, “the Laxy Rebellion is on your side. Zak would like to be Raz’s ally.”
“Some Palers have sided with the Laxes?” Ann asked, making sure she understood what he was telling her.
“They have, and they want to see you succeed,” he replied then slid off the Sphinx’s back. “I hope you’ll consider their proposal.”
“You and the others from the Laxy Rebellion made it possible for me to leave Earth. But I have to admit, I’m not sure about Palers.”
“Not all Palers are like Seta and Omin.” Cem changed into his scorpion form. “My job is done, but if you need any assistance, you can depend on me. I am Scorpio, and am loyal to my friends. May you prosper as the queen of Raz.”
She thanked him as the Sphinx spread her wings and took off. The travel through the galaxies wasn’t as fast as it was when Hathor used his Book of Spells, but it was considerably faster than the Olympians’ spaceship.
“Do you know where the Dark Castle is on Raz?” Ann asked as the stars zoomed by them.
“Yes, I do,” the Sphinx replied. “All Olympians are familiar with your world. It comes in handy when we are called on to help the queen.”
Ann rested silently on the Sphinx’s back. She never thought she’d be glad to leave Earth, but she was looking forward to being back on Raz. The world was so unlike the one she’d grown up on. There’d be no cars, computers, TVs, or other technological things she’d grown up with. But it was full of magic and charm. And thankfully, there was plumbing. She honestly didn’t think she could spend the rest of her life without running water, even if the world was endearing.
The only thing she would miss was her parents. But like William, she had to let them remain in her past. And as she thought of them, she couldn’t help but be grateful that they’d been a part of her life. Because of them, she was much better off than she would have been otherwise.
When they arrived on Raz, the Sphinx landed softly in front of the Dark Castle. Ann studied the imposing black structure that loomed before her. It looked like no one had lived there in centuries. Though the structure itself was in good condition, vines had grown along the sides of it, and the whole area around it was taken over by weeds and wildflowers. The only place that was clear was the path leading to the front entrance.
Ann released her breath. Well, it was now or never. She slid to the ground and turned to face the Sphinx. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“It was my pleasure,” the Sphinx replied.
She scanned the area and saw she and the Sphinx were the only ones there. Or at least that was how it seemed. For all she knew, Seta could be in the castle right at this moment. Glancing at the Sphinx, she asked, “Will you find Hathor and bring him here?”
“This is something you have to do yourself,” the Sphinx kindly replied. “Only you have the right to the crown.”
“I know. It’s just…” She shrugged, not sure how to best word what she meant. “I’d be nice if I knew he was nearby, that’s all.”
Understanding lit up her eyes, and she nodded. “I will get him for you.”
“Thank you.”
As the Sphinx ascended into the air, Ann went to the path lined with onyx stones. She took a tentative step forward and waited to see if any of the horrible traps the fauns mentioned would snare her. But nothing happened. So far, so good. She took another step forward. Then another. And another. Once she was at the front door, she got ready to turn the knob when the door opened a crack.
Okay. That was a little spooky. But she didn’t fall through a trap door into a bottomless pit, so that was good. After taking a moment to strengthen her resolve, she pushed the door further open and stepped inside.
***
Laxy Rebellion Hideout
Planet: Pale
“At this moment, Ann Kerwin should be on Raz,” Zak called out. “Let’s celebrate!”
As the others cheered, Paff glanced at Halima. “I’m not sure he should be calling it a victory yet,” he whispered. “Ann hasn’t gotten the crown, and Seta is a worthy opponent.”
When the others around them grew silent, Paff looked in the direction they were staring at and saw Jaz. Surprised, he took Halima’s hand and led her forward so they could hear what Jaz said as she approached Zak.
“Are you the leader of the Laxy Rebellion?” Jaz asked.
“Yes,” he replied, standing to his full height, even if he was still considerably shorter than her.
“I come here seeking peace. Leader Seta and I have discovered something I believe will benefit all of us if we work together.”
After a tense moment of silence, Zak nodded. “What is it?”
“A little over two hundred years ago, Pale was covered in vegetation, and Palers could eat the food that grew here. I found some of this vegetation under the Great Prison’s floor.”
She produced a small container with the wilted specimens inside, and Zak took it so he could inspect it.
“Omin released a chemical called Xynon-TA into the air,” she continued. “This chemical destroyed the vegetation. I have created a chemical that will restore the atmosphere to what it used to be. This world can return to the way it once was. Palers will need to be injected with a litho-inhibitor so they can digest plants again. Then they will no longer be able to digest Laxes.”
“Surely, this can’t happen overnight,” Zak said.
“You’re right. It can’t. It will take two years for this world to produce enough vegetation to feed the Palers, and in the meantime, the Palers will need a food source. The litho-inhibitor will take at least six months to work.”
“Put your hand on the magic star over there.” He motioned to the star hanging in the middle of the room.
Paff watched as she obeyed and watched as the hunger in her eyes gave way to contentment.
“The star will only last for one more month,” Zak said. “If we could find more of these stars, we could get Palers through the following five months. After that, you’d need to find a planet with vegetation until the food here is ready.”
“The most logical choice for vegetation is Raz,” she replied. “While Olympia is ripe with it, Raz is closer and has a greater abundance of it.”
“I agree.”
She released the star and clasped her hands behind her back. “At the moment, Leader Seta is at the Dark Castle on Raz. Omin is also there.” She paused. “The plan is for Leader Seta to get the crown before he does, and once she has it, she’ll give it to Ann Kerwin.” She glanced at Paff and Halima. “I believe you’ve already sent for Ann?”
Surprised, Paff hesitated to answer but finally nodded. “The Sphinx should have brought her back by now.”
“Excellent. Then I will go to the Dark Castle and see what the outcome is. When I know, I’ll come back.”
“Wait,” Paff called out as she turned to leave. “May Halima and I come along?”
“Certainly.”
Jaz indicated for them to get closer to her and pressed the buttons on her transporter. In a flash, they were in front of the Dark Castle. From the looks of it, they were the only ones there.
“You think Leader Seta and Omin are in there?” Paff asked Jaz.
“They are.”
“And Ann?”
“If she isn’t already in there, she should be soon.”
Paff glanced once more at Halima who squeezed his hand. Giving her a hopeful smile, he directed his attention to the Dark Castle. All they could do was wait and see who got the crown.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dark Castle
Planet: Raz
Ann had spent the past five minutes exploring the castle, and there wasn’t a cobweb or speck of dust anywhere, which was strange considering the entire place seemed empty. She’d checked out three rooms so far, and all of them were bare. There weren’t even any curtains or drapes covering the windows.
And weirder yet, despite the sunlight that was coming in through the large windows, she couldn’t see outside. It was as if the castle was enveloped in a thick layer of fog. It wasn’t, of course. She’d just been outside and knew full well that it was a clear, sunny day. But in here, she had the sense she was all alone, far removed from everything and everyone.
She kept expecting some monster to pop out at her, but nothing happened. And while she figured that should be comforting, it only freaked her out that much more. She couldn’t even hear Seta, if Seta was in one of the other rooms. All she could hear was the eerie squeaking of her sneakers as she walked down the vacant hallway. She didn’t even know if she was going in the right direction. Where would a diamond crown be hidden in a place like this anyway?
“Beware, visitor,” a female voice said from above her.
Ann looked up but only saw the ceiling.
“I am Kathz, and you have entered my castle. State your business.”
She cleared her throat and forced out, “I’m here to get the diamond crown. Queen Basilia sent me.”
“There is another who claims the same. Beware. You may not survive the obstacles if you proceed. If you leave now, you may go in peace.”
As tempting as the offer was, Ann couldn’t turn back, not when an entire world depended on her. “I’m the next queen. I have to do this.”
“The crown is on the queen’s chair in the throne room. Tread with care.”
“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell me where the throne room is?” Ann ventured.
No answer came.
Well, it was worth a shot. She continued down the hallway. If only Hathor was here… No. She had to do this herself. Raz deserved a queen who was willing to die for it. She closed her eyes and imagined Hathor who would be telling her she could do it. Then she pictured Inno with his trusting eyes, Calhoun and Erin who wanted to be together, and all the others she had met on her journey here.
Strengthened, she opened her eyes. She could do this. She could get the crown. All she had to do was believe in herself.
As she passed another room, it occurred to her that this castle was an exact duplicate of the Royal Palace. She’d been to the throne room there. Unfortunately, she wasn’t given a tour of the Royal Palace, so she didn’t know how to get to the throne room from where she was currently standing. But if she went back to the entrance and went to all the rooms she went to in the Royal Palace, she should be able to find it.
She quickly found the entrance and turned to face the hallway. When Hathor and his mother brought her into the Royal Palace, they went to a small den. Which direction was it? After a moment, she remembered. Right. They went to the right. Instead of going straight like she had before, she turned right. Before long, she found the den, and to her surprise, it looked exactly like the one in the Royal Palace. Even the furniture was the same.
She started to leave the room, but an invisible force pushed her into a chair. When she tried to get up, the chair’s arms wrapped around her waist. And worse, it was trying to pull her deeper into the seat. Good grief! Whoever heard of a chair eating someone? Grunting, she struggled to get out of it, but it seemed the more she struggled, the deeper she sank into the seat.
As much as she wanted to panic and scream, she couldn’t because it would only prevent her from focusing. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, an action which stopped her from sinking further into the chair. After half a minute, her mind cleared, and she was able to concentrate. She scanned the room to see if there was something she could use to free herself.
On the floor beside her was a spear. It looked just like the one the awful fury used on Olympia. The fury had dropped the spear. At the time, she had wanted to grab it, but she let fear hold her back. Biting her lower lip, she leaned toward the spear, using all her weight to help tilt the chair in its direction. It worked! The chair rocked to the side…and kept rocking until it fell on its side. But it was still holding her.
She grabbed the spear and shoved it into one of the arms, making sure she didn’t poke herself in the process. She fully expected the chair to put up a fight, but it disappeared. In fact, all the furnishings disappeared and the room was empty. But she still had the spear. Guessing she was going to need it when the next obstacle popped up, she got to her feet and headed on out of the room.
Her next stop in the Royal Palace had been her bedchamber. As she expected, when she got to the right room, it was decorated just like her bedchamber had been. After she took a minute to gather her courage up, she gripped the spear and entered the room. She expected something to push her, but that didn’t happen this time. She searched the area. Maybe this time something would pop out at her.
Her gaze went to the bed, specifically the space under it. With a grimace, she approached it. How many nightmares had she had as a child in which something was under there? She wouldn’t put it past Kathz to put a deformed monster with large tentacles and razor-sharp teeth right at this spot.
“I can do this,” she whispered.
She grabbed the edge of the bedspread and yanked it up, ready to stab anything that reached for her. When nothing happened, she slid the spear under the bed, but she didn’t detect anything. She finally peered under the bed and saw it was clear.
Weird. She thought for sure Kathz put something there.
“Ann?”
She lifted her head and tried to figure out where the voice came from.
“Ann?”
Her gaze went to the hallway. From where she was, she couldn’t see anyone, but she thought she recognized the voice. “Hathor?” she asked as she straightened up.
“The Sphinx brought me here, and I thought I’d come in to see if you need any help.”
“It might not be a bad idea,” she admitted as she headed for the doorway.
When she got there, she didn’t see anyone. Pausing, she scanned the hallway but didn’t see him. Then it occurred to her. The voice had been a trick. Hathor hadn’t been there.
Before she could react, the floor opened up, and she was plummeting into a deep abyss. Dropping the spear, she reached out for anything she could grab onto. Everything passed her so fast, she almost missed the tree branch sticking out from the wall. She managed to get a hold of it, gasping as she did so. The world spun around her for a minute before she was able to see where she was. She was in the middle of a bottomless cave that was lined with torches of blue fire. It was just like the cave she’d been in when she and Hathor were on Red.
She regained her composure and tried to remember what the deal was with the cave. There was something unique about it. Right! It was full of illusions. So what seemed to be one thing was really another.
The tree branch was jutting out from the wall, and there was nothing she could climb up. She looked down and saw the torches that lined the walls. Except… She squinted. The torches weren’t as far away as they seemed, if she was seeing things right. In fact, the longer she stared at them, the closer to her they seemed to get. Maybe this wasn’t a bottomless cave. The other one hadn’t been.
That meant the only way out of this was to let go of the branch. She hoped. Squeezing her eyes shut, she let go of the branch and her feet hit a wood floor. Surprised, she opened her eyes. She hadn’t fallen more than two inches.
The cave disappeared, and she was back in the bedchamber, which no longer had any furniture in it. The spear was by her feet. With a mixture of relief and exhilaration, she grabbed it and hurried out of the room. The next room she’d gone to was the throne room. This was it. The crown had to be close.
She went to the room and saw the doors were closed. She grimaced. She hated closed doors. In a house filled with traps, this couldn’t be good. But she’d come this far. She’d passed two obstacles. Surely, she could pass one more. This had to be the last one since this was the throne room.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she flung the door open and prepared to either be pushed into the room or to fall through the floor
. But instead of what she expected, she saw that she was in the middle of a forest. She turned around, and the hallway behind her disappeared. Trees surrounded her and music filled the air.
“Forestaria,” she whispered.
But it wasn’t really Forestaria. It just looked like it. Her grip tightening on the spear, she proceeded forward. On Forestaria, the dragon had appeared. If Ann was right, Kathz would send one here as well. She found a path and walked down it, mindful of everything around her.
Up ahead, birds flew up from the trees, and she caught the shadow of the menacing figure. She licked her lips and took a deep breath. She could do this. She had to do this. The crown was in this room. All she had to do was get past this final obstacle, and she could get it.
Lifting the spear, she crept forward, doing her best to weave around trees so the beast wouldn’t see her. She made it close to the dragon’s chest when it saw her. Crouching forward, it blew blue fire in her direction. Shrieking, she rolled to her side to avoid getting burned. The spear flew out of her hands. She scrambled to her feet to retrieve it. Another blast of fire came and lit the trees around her. Ignoring how close she’d come to being burnt to a crisp, she snatched the spear and hurried around other trees, ducking under some low branches.
The dragon snorted and searched for her, but she kept low to the ground. Out of breath, she found a thick tree and hid behind it. She could do this. She just had to focus. The tip of the spear flashed as sunlight struck it. All she had to do was strike it in the heart with the tip.
The dragon roared and came near the tree. Don’t think about it, she told herself. Just do it. Grasping the spear, she waited until the dragon was right up to her before she jumped up from behind the tree and flung the spear at its chest. Then she covered her eyes in case she missed. But when the dragon let out a surprised gasp, she lowered her hands and saw that she’d succeeded. She’d struck it dead!
Before she had time to celebrate, the forest disappeared, and she was in a room with a single throne and a crown that rested on the cushioned seat. Right, she wasn’t done yet. Noting the spear, she retrieved it and hurried for the throne.
A Royal Engagement (Enchanted Galaxy Series Book 1) Page 22
