“But we’ve come all this way and waited so long, can’t you just―” Penny began in frustration, but stopped when Della shot her a dangerous look.
“Of course your curiosity is strong, little Penelope, and I understand how you must feel, but for the fate of our three worlds you must remain ignorant. I can only promise you that one day you will know everything,” Della assured her. The witch took a deep breath and seemed to draw from something long awaited.
“As long as I have lived, I never thought that I would come to see the threat of the End Times. I speak not of the momentary death of a world, but of something much more profound. Worlds die and are reborn, as are Angels and all the living things of the land, sky, and sea. But certain things cannot be destroyed; things like energy, souls, and magic are eternal. At least, I had thought they were…but everything must have its antitheses,” Della said, her eyes haunted.
“What exactly does that mean?” Simon looked sick to his stomach.
“It means that when light came into being, shadow was left behind in its absence. Because there was a means of creation, there too must be a means of destruction. Angels are not responsible for creation, no, no…they are mere sculptors and shepherds of what was given to them. Creation is something entirely different, as is destruction. And that is exactly the threat that we face now.”
A spike of fear entered Penny’s heart. Hector’s face was ashen. The reality of her words had yet to take full effect, and already unpleasant thoughts stirred in Penny’s mind.
“What are you talking about? What does any of this have to do with us?” Simon bellowed, fear apparent on his face as he stared at a serene Della.
“It has everything to do with you―each one of you,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Be silent and I shall tell you how this all came to be.”
“Seival, Adrielle, Nestor,” Della repeated the names of the three Angels. “They are the lords of our worlds. They are siblings, just as their worlds are. But eternity weighs heavily, even on the divine. Four years ago Nestor turned with murderous intent against his own brother. It is an impossible feat to murder an Angel, but that did not stop Nestor from trying.”
“He…he killed Seival?” Hector whimpered, looking devastated.
Della shook her head. “He tried to kill Seival. An Angel can only truly die by their own volition. Instead, he dismembered Seival and with the divine flame, scorched the remains and all of Nelvirna.”
“You mean to say that it was that it was Nestor who destroyed my home?” Hector clarified. Della nodded and he shut his eyes tight, enduring a fresh wave of pain.
“Indeed. Nestor tore Seival and his world apart. The flesh of the Angel burned away and left nothing but his ruined stump of a body lying entombed deep within the ruins of Nelvirna, where it still exists to this day,” Della continued, but Annette stopped her.
“But what happened to Seival then? If he’s not dead, then―”
“He is shattered―and that is precisely why you are involved, my dear,” Della answered. Annette looked terrified and bewildered. “Four years ago, when Seival was torn limb from limb, what happened to you?”
“Four years ago I―”
“You woke up feeling like your mouth was on fire?” Della finished for her, her white eyebrow raised, and turned to face Hector. “And you? Four years ago, as Nelvirna collapsed around you, what happened?”
“I…pulled myself out of my world and onto Earth.”
“Something only an Angel can do,” Della added, watching as understanding lit his features. “Yes, you are what happened to Seival. His soul and his body lives on in you two, and that is why you are able to do such extraordinary things. Annette, my dear, the tongue of Seival is part of you ―that is how you can persuade others to do your will―and Aín, you possess both of his hands.”
Penny looked around to see whom she was speaking to and was shocked to see Hector looking down at his own hands in disbelief.
Aín? Why did she just call him Aín?
“And that’s why I can travel between worlds? That was the reason I lived, and everyone else died? ” Hector breathed, drawing his hands into fists.
“You were selected by Seival himself before his death. All of the souls that were to harbor his fragments were.”
“Well, what about me? Why am I involved in this insanity?” Simon demanded.
“Because you ran away all those years ago, Simon. Because of Oliver and Sam, and your dream to learn tricks, and because you said yes to Deimos. When you took the wand and went to find Penny, your fate was sealed. And as for you, Argent―” Della faced Argent and he looked up with a small start. “I think you know why you’re here.”
Argent flinched and looked away, his yellow eyes shifting about.
“Well, why am I here? Why does Nestor want me dead? Why have I been having those dreams? Why do I produce so much magic, and why was my old life and everything in it taken from me? Please…” Penny begged, leaning closer to Della. The old witch laid her bony hand on top of Penny’s clasped ones.
“Penelope, I cannot tell you. I am physically prohibited from sharing this knowledge…I swore an oath of deep magic, an oath which cannot be broken.”
Penny felt her heart crumble. She wanted to stand and scream at the top of her lungs, to kick the vases and boxes that overflowed with flowers and break them into thousands of pieces, but instead she pointed her face away.
Della let go of her hand and turned to face the others. “Now is the time for you all to listen carefully. It is your duty, as the ones chosen by Seival, to reassemble his body. Nestor has already realized his mistake and has begun to collect the pieces of Seival to ensure Seival is kept in his shattered state. He already has Seival’s head, legs, and spine,” Della informed them.
“You must find those who remain alive and undiscovered before he does, then persuade them to join you. Two eyes, two wings, and his heart are still lost in Elydria. Find them and take back the other parts stolen by Nestor―then to Nelvirna you must flee. But be wary of Nestor, because although he is weak now, he can do everything that Aín and Annette can, and more. He can see the pieces that you hold within yourselves. Find the remains of Seival and resurrect him so that Nelvirna may also be reborn. Only then can you stop Nestor. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
“Yes,” Hector said, fire in his eyes. Annette nodded with determination.
Simon looked sideways at Della. “Erm, suppose I just go home now and―”
“You will most likely die a horrific death should you decide to do this. Stay with them, Simon, it is your only hope of survival,” Della insisted.
“Wonderful,” Simon grumbled, hanging his head for a moment before he nodded his acceptance.
Penny studied Della, chagrined. “And what about me? Will I also die if I choose to go home?” she growled, feeling a strange pain in her chest.
Della offered her a blank stare. “Whatever you choose, Penelope, you will always be bound to your destiny. You will be just as safe at home as you will be in Elydria. Take that as you will.”
Her answer surprised Penny, and the anger pain that had building in her chest drained away, leaving a raw emptiness.
Della stepped back and clapped her hands together. As she drew her palms apart, a tiny case, like a miniature treasure chest with a golden latch, appeared floating in the air between her hands. The box zoomed from between Della’s hands and stopped midair before Penny.
“Take it,” Della instructed and Penny grabbed the chest, inspecting it. It had a golden lock keeping it from opening. “When this box opens, you will gain a tool that will help you awaken Adrielle. Keep it close and safe, Penelope, my dear. And now the time has come…soon I will have my long-awaited reward.”
“Tonight will be an especially difficult one, you must act with caution. Always remember—the future is never certain, only likely. Destiny is as a current of water—difficult to struggle against, but possible to overcome. One slip and the fate of all three
worlds could be changed forever. Gather around me, please.” Della waved her arms and they obliged.
“I have one last piece of advice for each of you before we depart,” Della told them, and looked to Annette, who wore an expression of blank resolve. “Annette, you are not helpless. You are not selfish. Remember that.”
The witch looked to Simon, seeming to ponder her next words. “Simon, the left-most corridor and up the stairs. Got it?” Della said with unusual spunkiness. Simon opened his mouth as if to contest this strange set of directions, but thought better of it and nodded.
Della looked to Argent. “Mr. Clemons. When you wake up you must go straight to the Air Harbor. Don’t stop for anything and tell the captain to take off immediately. Fly to the castle.” She turned to Hector, sizing him up. “Aín… I know this will be difficult for you, but you must forgive yourself,” she reprimanded gently, her words seeming to pierce Hector to his core.
Penny watched him out of the corner of her eye as he shifted in place. It was her turn.
“Penelope Fairfax. You have no control over what you are afraid of, but you can control how you react to that fear. Trust others, but more importantly, trust yourself,” Della advised. “Now it is finally time. Prepare yourselves. This may very well be the most important night of your lives.”
The world around Penny began to melt away, looking like dripping paint. There was a moment where everything went black and quiet, and then a misty scene reformed. They had been spirited back to the edge of Mulgrith woods, the city of Hulver just visible in the distance.
Annette gasped. “How did we get here―where’d our things go? Penny―your bag, and all that stuff from the campsite!”
Penny looked down at her side and realized her bag was, in fact, missing. Della stepped forward, looking up at the yellow autumn sky with a sad smile.
“I sent them to the airship, everything will be waiting for you there.” Della’s voice had a bittersweet quality as she stared into the sky. The sun was sinking between two massive black hills, and Della stood transfixed by this, a quiet stillness in her body as the white-hot color reflected off her glassy eyes. “I had forgotten how beautiful it is, the sun. How warm it feels, even in autumn…”
Penny stepped up beside Della. The frustration and anger she had felt toward the witch softened somewhat as she saw Della’s wrinkled face painted orange with the light of the sunset.
“I am glad to have met you,” Della said to Penny with a light smile on her pale, cracked lips. “I am relieved…but I will miss the green woods and the wind and the sky. I leave everything to hope. Farewell. ” She smiled again at Penny, and without hesitation turned around with her unearthly grace to face the last light of the blazing sun. She walked out from the trees and into the meadow.
“What are you doing?” Hector called after her.
From out of the gathering dark, a human silhouette with a bristling ponytail trudged up the side of the hill with wariness in his gait, holding a rapier out at an angle. He was searching, prowling around the woods for something. As the figure drew closer, it spied Della standing on the dusky hillside and grew rigid. They regarded each other for a moment, and then Della spoke to him, her words were too quiet for Penny to hear. She pointed back toward where Penny and her friend stood together. The man lifted his rapier.
It happened all too quickly. Della made no movement to try and avoid the attack, standing with open arms as the man thrust his sword through her chest with lightning speed. A noise of shattering glass sounded and a brilliant, white-blue explosion of light erupted from Della’s chest. Penny froze, helpless but to watch.
Did Della plan this?!
The man kicked Della’s body away as a shimmering soul escaped and rocketed toward the sky. He lifted his rapier once more and glanced in their direction. He strode away from Della’s remains, emerging from the shadows into the flame burst of orange light.
“It’s Deimos! RUN!” Penny screamed. Hector and Simon did not waste a second racing away. Argent pulled his puppet’s controls from his pockets as he followed them into the forest.
Why would she bring us right to where Deimos was? Penny thought as she turned to follow. She could hear Annette’s panting and the rustling of petticoats behind her. Penny slowed so that they ran side by side, diving back into the trees of Mulgrith.
It seemed as if their escape might be successful when, with a heavy thud, Annette tripped and fell face first to the ground. Penny skidded to a halt and whisked around to see Annette’s foot caught in an overgrown root, her leg bent at a strange angle as she winced. Penny rushed back to help.
“Come on, Annette! We need to move!” Penny grasped Annette’s foot, trying to free her leg.
“It’s stuck!” Annette screamed and her face contorted in pain. Penny looked back in the direction their friends had fled. Her heart clenched; there was no sign of them. She yanked at the root, trying to force Annette’s foot free. Penny had gotten it halfway out when angry shouts and the pounding of footsteps clamored in the distance. Annette whipped in the direction of the sound like a deer noticing the presence of a hunter.
“I’ve almost got it, hang on!” Penny lied, strained.
Annette looked at Penny, her eyes searching. She opened her mouth, her bottom lip quivering with fright as she hissed with forceful Angelic power, “Hide. Don’t make a sound.”
Penny’s heart sank. She wanted to scream at Annette and refuse outright, but her jaw had already clamped shut and the air in her lungs stuck. Her body moved of its own accord, throwing her unwillingly into the underbrush and curling up on the ground.
Trapped within her frozen bones, Penny watched from a gap in the tall grass as a man burst into the clearing and threw himself upon Annette before she could even scream. He ripped her free from the root.
Penny felt tears burning in her eyes as she recognized the wild eyes and cruel smile of Phobos. The tall, burly man wrapped his thick hand around Annette’s mouth as she squirmed and fought. Deimos caught up a moment later, panting as he beheld the restrained Annette in cold disbelief. Phobos clamped her against his chest and brushed Annette’s corn-silk hair from her eyes, which were huge and streaming with tears.
“It’s her! I can’t believe it―it’s actually her,” Deimos gasped. He stared at Phobos. “We’re saved.”
Phobos smiled back, displaying an uneven set of teeth. He seemed to be enjoying watching Annette thrash and squirm feebly in his vice-like grip. He indulged himself, mimicking her squeals of terror. “What are the chances? Now Little Miss Celebrity is all ours…” he proclaimed in a malicious tone and let out another harsh laugh. Penny’s insides squirmed in disgust.
“Phobos, get your head clear. We need to get her back to the palace immediately. Lord Nestor needs her by nightfall―in perfect condition. She’ll need to have her energy to steal the names of all those filthy goblins at the speech tonight.” Deimos paused, admiring Annette’s beauty. “Patience. After tonight is over and her tongue has been removed―that’s when we’ll have our reward.” His white lips curled up in a wicked grin as Annette regarded him with horror.
A throb of adrenaline rocked Penny’s frozen body as Nestor’s plan became clear to her at last. Deimos reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of what looked like ground green quartz and nodded to Phobos, who removed his hand from Annette’s jaw as Deimos tossed the powder in her face. Annette went limp in Phobos’s arms, and he threw her over his shoulder as Deimos rummaged around in his pockets again.
“What about those others she was with? They’re still out there somewhere, eh?” Phobos leered out at the trees as Deimos fished a small vial out.
“Undoubtedly. We’ll deal with them later―Lord Nestor needs her now or he’ll have to attempt to do it himself.” Deimos poured the vial out in a quick spiral around himself and his brother. Water rose up in a tornado of spray and mist, and when it receded, Deimos and Phobos had gone with it.
Penny lay immobilized, her mind racing since her body
could not. A few minutes passed before control seemed to be returning, and she emerged from the shrubbery, shaking.
Why Annette? Why did you do it?
Penny stood in the clearing, holding herself and staring into the trees. She wanted to call out for Hector, Simon, or Argent, but was terrified of being caught by the goblin rangers. Her entire body ached and shook as she tried to swallow tears and keep her mind off what was about to happen to Annette.
A blessed sound rang in her ears. Argent’s voice was calling her name from the murky shadows, and her knees went weak with relief. Moments later Argent leapt through the moss, Hector and Simon trailing him. He caught Penny by the shoulders.
“What happened? Where’s Annette?” Argent demanded, panting and holding Penny steady as she shivered.
“They took her―Deimos and Phobos―they got Annette―” Penny sputtered, knowing she sounded pathetic as she sunk to the ground, Argent following as he tried to brace her.
“No,” he said in a hollow voice.
Hector was asking over and over if she had been harmed, but she did not have the strength to answer him. She sat on the forest floor as the light faded from the sky, feeling as if she had suddenly been emptied out and left as a miserable, empty shell. She’d let Annette be abducted. She had already let Della and Adrielle down.
Hector’s fingers snapping in front of her face roused Penny out of her stupor. “Where did they say they were taking her?” he demanded. It took a moment for Penny’s lips to cooperate and move.
The Angel of Elydria (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 1) Page 36
