by C. Ellsworth
Inch by inch, she moved. Little by little. Burning. Aching. Pain. Desperate tears stung her eyes, blurred her vision.
Then her hand rose over the ledge.
Spirelight, she’d done it! She cried out, nearly laughing as she pulled herself over the top and onto the broken floor. She rolled onto her back, gasping. Her lungs burned. Her limbs were weak as jelly. She could barely move, but she couldn’t stop now. She couldn’t stop to rest, not even for a moment. Ryan was injured and possibly dying. He needed her!
The floor heaved again, and the crevice beside her widened. It hadn’t crossed too far yet into the middle of the room, but at any moment the whole place might disappear into that bottomless chasm. She rose to her hands and knees and scrabbled away as quickly as she could before it swallowed her again.
Everything was in ruins. The floor had separated at seams she hadn’t noticed before, some sections jutting up at sharp angles. The domed ceiling was cracked, revealing more of the strange, black vines that dangled loosely, some arcing blue and white as they touched, sending golden sparks showering to the floor. The air smelled of upturned earth and something that tickled the back of her throat, like when lightning struck too close.
The Affirmation Stone remained in the center of the room, Kergen’s blade still embedded in the dark surface. And there was Ryan, lying heavily against it, looking as pale as a corpse.
“Ryan!” He didn’t respond. He didn’t move. With the floor shaking and her head throbbing painfully, she dared not try to stand, so she crawled on all fours to his side. She pulled him into her lap and felt his neck for a pulse like Erabelle had taught them. It was faint, but it was there. He lived still.
Addy watched him for a moment, vision starting to blur through the tears welling in her eyes. “Ryan?” He was limp in her arms. “Ryan?” He remained still. She gave him a shake. She caressed his cheek. But he never stirred. He never opened his eyes.
Pulling his face to her chest, she cried. All around her, the room shook and crumbled. Huge chunks of the ceiling broke free and crashed to the floor. Sparks rained down from above. And amid the chaos she sat, rocking him, her cheek pressed against his.
Then she began to hum.
It was yet another tune Mama used to sing. There were so many that she had forgotten, refusing for so long to even bring them to mind for fear of what harm she might cause with her Power. That didn’t matter now. There was nothing left for her to break. And so the song flowed, and a calm fell over her.
A loud metallic bang sounded from above, and Addy’s eyes shot open and upward. Lines of harsh red light formed in the ceiling, splitting it into sections that hinged open. Wind howled through the widening spaces as they grew and grew, until it whipped her hair and sent debris flying all around her.
Soon the tempest roared in the sky above.
“Adele!”
The voice called out in her mind, and Addy’s breath caught. “Mama?”
“Adele, in moments the Tower will release its fury upon the world, and all things will be reduced to ash!”
Addy stared upward, heart pounding in her ears louder than the roar of the wind. She had to shout to hear her own voice. “What do I do?”
The floor shifted beside her, and the Affirmation Stone began to sink into it. In a few short moments it had disappeared, and in its place rose a solid plate that closed the hole as if it had never been. She clutched Ryan to her chest. He was growing cold.
A beam of blinding, white light shot down, bathing Addy and Ryan in its harsh glow. A loud hum accompanied it, and the floor vibrated. Addy looked upward, blinking, but it was too bright to see.
Mama’s voice filled her head again. “To stop the destruction, you must give yourself to the Light! But know, my daughter, that if you do, you will be leaving this world behind.”
Addy looked down at Ryan. His face was ashen, his lips pale. Leave this world behind? Leave Ryan behind? A cold vise gripped her heart. He would die if she didn’t help him, and she wasn’t going to let that happen.
She reached for the spark.
“Adele! There is no time to help him now. You must make your choice, or all is lost!”
Addy shook her head. “No! There has to be another way. I have to help him, Mama! I won’t let him die!”
There came a pause before Mama spoke again, this time in gentler tones. “He may die without you, Adele. But he will die for certain if you stay.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at Ryan. She brought a trembling hand to his face and caressed his cheek with her thumb. So this is what it had come to. I’m so sorry!
She looked up into the light and paused. Gevin, you’ll be all right soon. I love you so much! Then she gave a nod. “I’m ready, Mama. I’m ready.”
A moment passed, and then a warmth began to fill her, soothing, calming. It seeped into her skin and muscles and bones. It washed away her pain. It washed away her fatigue. It filled her with hope. And her heart soared.
Some of that warmth began to flow from her fingertips, and she focused. Could she control it? Yes! Yes, she could! She let the Power flow into Ryan, slowly, carefully. If it had the same effect on him as it did her then perhaps . . .
She looked down, and a tearful laugh escaped her lips. Ryan’s eyes fluttered open. He was alive!
Ryan looked up at her, brows furrowing in confusion. “Addy?” His voice was soft, sounding sleepy almost. He reached up with his left hand and touched his palm to her cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb. “Are you all right?”
Addy’s throat grew tight. She leaned slightly into his strong hand and smiled. “Yes,” she whispered. “Everything is going to be all right.”
His eyes washed over her, lingering first on her lips, then her eyes, and then her hair. Then he looked into the light shining down from above, squinting at its brilliance. “What happened? I was . . . I thought . . .” His body started to grow tense, and his voice took on an urgent tone. “Kergen!”
Addy pressed her fingers to his lips and made soft shushing sounds. “It’s all right, Ryan. He’s gone. He can’t hurt anyone anymore.”
He relaxed, resting his head in the crook of her arm. His eyes found hers again, staring deeply. Blessed Spirelight, he was beautiful! Dirt and all. He swallowed. “Addy, I . . . I thought I lost you.”
Addy’s heart cracked, and tears streamed down her cheeks. If she opened her mouth, only sobs would come out. He had lost her! Oh, Lord, he had! Just not in that way. If only she could stay with him, stay and hold him in her arms and kiss away his pain and his fears, but that wasn’t possible. It wasn’t possible! She had to set things right, to rid the world of the Faege. That was what she had to do. For Gevin, for everyone!
Addy’s lip trembled. She swallowed hard, her vision blurred through tears. How could she say it? It would crush him! She should never have let him get close to her! She should never have . . . fallen in love!
“I can’t stay, Ryan.” Her chest grew tight. “I can’t stay.”
Ryan frowned. “What do you mean? Where are you going? I won’t—”
“I have to fix the Faege. I have to remove it from the world for good! Ryan . . .” Her voice became a whisper. “I have to make things right again.”
Tears welled in Ryan’s deep brown eyes. His jaw clenched. His lower lip trembled. Addy’s heart clenched. It wasn’t fair that he had to endure this. But he would be all right in the end. He would!
He opened his mouth to speak, but the light from above grew suddenly brighter, drawing his tear-filled gaze away for a brief moment. And when he turned his eyes back to hers, they were wide and desperate.
Addy took his hand from her face and held it to her chest. Liah’s necklace slipped from her shirt. Oh, Liah. Had her gift made this moment possible? Had it really brought good luck after all? With her free hand, she removed the little stone figure from around her neck and pressed it into Ryan’s hand. “For luck,” she whispered.
Ryan regarded the necklace in his hand
for a moment before returning his gaze back to her, but he said nothing. His teeth were clenched, his eyes welling with tears.
Addy picked up his hand again, closing his fingers over the stone, and then she brought his hand to her chest. A warmth spread outward from her middle, and her heart raced. “We will see each other again, Ryan.” Then she bent low and pressed her lips to his, lingering for just a moment before she drew back. “Watch for me, Ryan. Watch for me in your dreams.”
Their eyes locked, and the light grew. It grew ever brighter, its warmth filling her more and more. Her heart raced, and her breath quickened. The light filled her wholly and completely, through and through, fusing to the core of her being. She became one with the light. She became the Light. And then the room faded. Ryan faded.
Everything faded to white.
Epilogue
Addy’s eyes fluttered open. The ceiling above was wooden with large crossbeams. Her bedroom? She was lying in her bed atop the covers, while birds chirped from somewhere outside her window, and bright sunshine peeked through the crack between the curtains.
The Tower. That bright light. How did she get here? Was this just another dream? But everything seemed clear and focused. Her mind was clear and focused. But if this wasn’t a dream, then how had she survived? How had Ryan gotten her home? Papa would know.
The smell of warm, baking bread was in the air, and her stomach grumbled. When was the last time she had eaten anything except rations? She slid her feet off the bed and sat up, frowning slightly at the complete lack of aches or pains. How long had she been in bed? After all she had been through, she should have been in agony!
Addy’s hand slid across the blue fabric of her dress. It was Mama’s dress, the one that Sorsia had torn off of her at the barracks. Someone must have fetched it for her while she was away. She smiled. Lucile had done a very fine job stitching it back together. It looked like new.
From the standing mirror nearby, she caught her reflection, and her breath caught. Her dark, chestnut hair fell past her shoulders in waves, and not a scratch, bruise, or blemish touched her skin. This simply had to be a dream!
A sound emanated from beyond the closed bedroom door. She crooked an ear. Was someone . . . chopping vegetables? Papa must have been preparing lunch. She stood and made an attempt to smooth the wrinkles in her dress. Why hadn’t Papa dressed her in a nightgown or a shift at least? No matter. There were answers to be had.
Addy pulled open the door, the hinges not squeaking in the slightest. Papa had somehow found the time to grease them. What else had he done while she was away? She stepped into the short hallway, Papa’s bedroom clearly visible through his open doorway. It was unusually neat and tidy, bed made and curtains open to allow the sun to shine through. She shook her head. Things were certainly unusual this morning!
She turned and took the few short steps to the end of the hall, where it opened into the living—
Her jaw dropped to her toes. Her breath froze in her lungs. There was a woman standing in the kitchen, a woman who couldn’t possibly be there.
Mama?
Addy trembled, on the verge of tears. It couldn’t be, and yet, there she was. She was right there. She was standing at the table, chopping vegetables! A soft cry escaped Addy’s lips, and she pressed her hands together over her mouth. Her knees nearly unhinged.
At the sound of Addy’s cry, Mama gave a start and glanced over her shoulder. “Oh!” She turned, wiping her hands on her apron. Then she smiled the most beautiful smile ever. “Hello, dear. You startled me. Did you sleep well?”
Mama was a tall and slender woman—standing perhaps an inch taller than Addy—with raven-black hair pulled up and pinned atop her head. The coppery skin of her oval face was soft and healthy, her eyes a dark amber. Some might say she was more handsome than pretty, but to Addy she was the most beautiful person alive!
Addy stared, tears stinging her eyes, but though her lips moved behind her hands, no words would come out. What could she say? How had Mama returned? How was she standing right there in the kitchen like nothing had happened? Lord of Light, there were simply no words!
Mama laughed, sounding like a song. She placed the knife on the table, untied her apron, and set it beside the knife. Her long, dark blue dress flowed around her ankles. She hadn’t changed. Not a whit. She turned back and brushed a strand of misplaced hair from her face and smiled again. “Yes, Adele, it’s me. It’s really me.” She opened her arms. “Now, come here and give me a hug. I have waited so long to hold you, my beautiful daughter.”
Addy laughed, a sound somewhere between a giggle and a sob, and tears ran freely down her cheeks. She lowered her hands and ran the short distance to Mama, throwing her arms around her and burying her face into her shoulder. Mama was warm and soft and smelled of lavender and hot bread, the way she always had. Mama was alive!
Addy broke into sobs, and for a long time she cried while Mama stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort. And when the tears finally subsided—leaving Addy hiccoughing softly—Mama held her at arm’s length and beamed. “My, how you’ve grown!” Tears glimmered in her eyes now too. “Last I saw you, you were half as high and skinny as a twig! But you’re a child no longer, Adele, are you? You’ve grown into beautiful, young woman.”
Addy wiped the moisture from her cheeks and took a long breath. “Oh, Mama, I have so many questions! What happened? How did I get here? How are you here? And where is Papa and Gevin?”
Mama’s smile softened. “Have a seat, dear.” She pulled a wooden chair from under the table and motioned for Addy to sit. “There is so much I need to tell you, more than I can say in one sitting.”
Sniffing back the tears, Addy sat down, stomach suddenly aflutter. “Is something wrong?”
“No, dear.” Mama pulled a second chair from the table and placed it before Addy, her expression serious as she sat down. “What I’m about to tell you may come as a bit of a shock, though.”
A shock? Addy’s heart lurched. All that she had gone through—the old witch, the canth, being betrayed by her friend, kidnapped by skeg, facing Kergen, and then the Tower . . . All that had been a shock! What else could there be?
Mama reached over and took Addy’s hand, her eyes filled with sympathy. “You’re not at home, dear. This isn’t home. Not really.”
Addy blinked. What? Her gaze moved to the things in the room she had known since she was a child. Everything was as it should be, everything in its place. No, not everything. Those things . . . the jars on the shelf, the cupboards, the sink, the very chair she sat on . . . all of them were in perfect condition. She reached over and gave the table a shake. The loose leg that Papa was supposed to fix was loose no longer. Her stomach sunk. How was this possible?
She turned back to Mama, tears threatening again. “Then . . . where are we?” Her voice was a whisper.
Mama gave her hand a squeeze. “This place was . . . created . . . by the Tower. It was created to ease the transition. It’s familiar, comforting.”
Addy looked through the front window, to the yard and street outside. “Then I’m really . . .”
“Dead? No, sweetheart.” Mama took her by the chin and turned her face back to hers. Then she placed a hand aside her face. “You’re not dead, just . . . in a different form. In a different place.”
“Then . . . can I go home? To my real home? Can you come with me?”
Mama paused. Then she shook her head. “I’m afraid not, sweetheart.”
Addy pursed her lips and gritted her teeth. That was absurd! What was keeping her here? If the Tower could bring her to this place, why couldn’t it also send her back? She heaved a sigh and relaxed her jaw. It didn’t matter. If there was a way, Addy would find it. “Is the entire town here? Are there others?”
Mama’s face brightened. “Oh, there are plenty of others! And yes, the entire town is here, just not exactly as you remember it. There is no Faege here, Adele. There never was! Nothing is . . . rotten or broken. Old Town is new! Eve
rything is as right as sunshine, as your grandmama likes to say.” Then, at the quirk of Addy’s brow, she continued. “Yes, Grandmama is here, along with her cousin Pawl, Pawl’s papa, and so on. Adele, the Tower has been bringing people like us here since the beginning. That’s what it was built for!”
Built? By whom? Addy’s head started to spin with questions. “The Tower brought us here? What about the Lord?”
Mama sat back in her chair, eyes considering. “There is so much to learn, dear. The things I’ve discovered over the years . . . things I never would have thought possible. I don’t know where best to begin, but I’ll try to put it into words that you can understand. . . .”
Addy sat and listened, brows rising higher and higher as Mama told the tale. As the witch from the Twisted Lands had said, The Tower was created, not by the Lord, but by man over a thousand years ago. It was created to stop the contagion—the Faege—that afflicted both the land and the people, a contagion that man itself had conjured completely by accident. And in order to find the cure, the Tower had to . . . collect samples, samples from hundreds and hundreds of people, generation after generation, through the process of the Affirmation. And those samples were but small pieces to a very large puzzle.
Mama paused finally, eyeing Addy as if wondering whether any of it had gotten through. It was a lot to take in! “You were the last piece of the puzzle, Adele. Your blood contained the final markers. You were the key to completing the cure and bringing an end to the Faege.”
Addy leaned forward in her chair, thoughts scrambling in her head. She placed her hands over her face, elbows propped on her knees. Then she let out a long breath and sat back, hands falling into her lap. “Is that . . . is that why I’ve always been able to . . . do things? Things that others couldn’t? Do the others here have . . . magic? Do you have magic?”
Mama grinned. “Yes, everyone here has magic like you, some more strongly than others.”
Addy shifted in her seat, her eyes falling to her hands resting in her lap. “I have only just begun to control it . . . But even when I can control it . . .” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “People usually get hurt.”
