by Alana Grerig
***
Evangeline and her strange company landed in a glade full of bluebells and daisies. Keisha and Sapphire had a short conversation in their unique way, and then, after bowing to Jericho and Caleb, the bronze owl came and rested her forehead against Eve’s.
It is time for me to return, young one. Remember what I told you: darkness cannot survive in the light, Keisha projected. Eve promised to remember. Taking one last look at the group and clicking her beak at Caleb just to see him flinch, the great protector gracefully ascended into the cloudy sky and was gone.
Jericho took in his surroundings, and admitted that he had no idea of the exact location of the border. However, he pointed off to the left, explaining that this direction ‘felt right.’ Not sure how he could not know where the border of his own realm lay, Eve and Caleb exchanged a look.
“Right, so we walk blindly around the Forrest until we find the wall?” Caleb challenged. Ignoring him, Jericho continued towards the tree line. “Unbelievable!” exclaimed Caleb, turning to look at Eve, who in turn shrugged and followed the Miscurt’s retreating back. Though reluctant to get lost, Caleb didn’t follow right away. After a second, he felt a jab to his back. Jumping forward, he looked over his shoulder to see Sapphire apprising him. Caleb rolled his eyes and made his way after Eve.
“Are you coming then, Sapphire?” he asked as he reached the tree line. She shook her head and took off to soar over the trees. Picking up his pace, Caleb soon caught up with Jericho and Eve. The forest was teeming with life, and even though the trees were tall, they were not heavy with branches, so plenty of daylight reached them. Brown rabbits with fluffy white cotton tails scampered through the mulch and wild flowers. Their feet kicked up clumps of the loam as they played chase.
“It is a wondrous place that you call home, Jericho; I would love to come back and visit some more once my quest is complete,” Eve proposed, eyes bright with joy and cheeks flushed with colour. Smiling at her enthusiasm for his homeland, Jericho nodded.
“You will be most welcome, Eve; there are many beautiful areas to explore.”
They continued in companionable silence. Sapphire’s shadow kissed the ground occasionally, so they knew that she was close by. As beautiful as the forest was, there didn’t appear to be a wall, which is what Eve and Caleb had expected since that had been what they had found upon entering Olia. Caleb was about to ask how much further when Eve stopped.
“Jericho, there is a mirror just off to the left of where I am standing. It’s a few feet away,” Eve whispered, knowing he would hear her and not wanting to draw too much attention to the anomaly in case it was a trap. Walking over to her, Jericho looked in the direction Eve had indicated and saw absolutely nothing. Looking puzzled, he was about to say that maybe they should take a break and eat if she was now seeing things that were not there. Before he got the chance, Eve boldly took his paw and walked to the left, until they were in front of the mirror.
“I am not seeing things, which I know you were about to say. Just look. If that is not a mirror, then how am I both here and there?” she asked, pointing to her reflection.
“Ah…” Jericho replied. Looking up to see where Sapphire was, he was pleased to see that she was already coming into land. “Eve has found a portal,” he explained to Caleb and Sapphire once they had reached them. Caleb was a bit put out that he had not been next to Eve when she saw it, but nature had called, and he had dashed into the trees to relieve himself.
Sapphire would not fit through the portal. She would have to fly further and hope the connection she shared with Evangeline would be enough to allow them to meet up at another gate once the business in Gloria was completed. She explained this to Eve, and though her face clouded with sadness that Sapphire could not come with her, she understood, and they agreed to test their link every few hours to make sure it held.
“Sapphire won’t be coming with us as she quite clearly won’t fit through that portal, so she will meet us at another portal once we are finished searching for Eli,” Eve relayed to the others. Secretly pleased, Caleb schooled his expression into one of mild disappointment and concern. Jericho noticed and chuckled as he approached Sapphire to collect the bags she had so kindly carried while they had travelled on foot.
As he passed he whispered to Caleb, “You are a poor actor, witch.”
Turning red with indignation, Caleb turned his back on the Miscurt and headed towards Eve to discuss her plan for this next leg of their journey.
Since the portal was magical, it was decided that Caleb would go first to see if he could feel any magical wards protecting the mirror that might prevent them from entering Gloria. Feeling that now was his time to shine - as neither Jericho nor Eve had the first clue about how this mirror portal worked - Caleb finally felt useful. Striding purposefully over to stand before the mirror, he was about to begin the revealing spell to show any wards that might be protecting it, when he felt the hum of a cloaking spell. Moving slowly, he stopped in front of the fallen tree and an unaware Jerry. Knowing that there was someone cloaked there who had not yet attacked them, Caleb gathered that whoever was hiding was not interested in them, so he moved back to the mirror.
“Make this look impressive, Cal,” he murmured to himself. Raising his arms over his head, he began moving them in circular motions and chanting quietly. In reality, he was saying random nonsense. There were no spells protecting it. Clearly, the cloaked creature was meant to be guarding the entrance and doing a poor job of it, which was all the better for them. After what Caleb deemed to be long enough, he turned and faced his two companions.
“The portal is clear and ready to pass through,” he announced rather grandly.
Looking rather impressed, Eve moved forward to stand beside Caleb. She looked at her friend and wondered how much longer he was going to compete with Jericho. It was something she didn’t understand and found both amusing and tiresome.
“How do we pass through, Cal?” Eve asked, anxious to begin their search of Gloria. Caleb looked at the girl beside him and wished he could tell her how he was feeling right then. With the sun muted behind cloud cover, her hair was still flashing with fire, and her mystical eyes were captivating. She was mesmerising, completely open and innocent. Shaking himself, he smiled and pushed his thoughts away. Now was not the time.
“You just step through. I know it looks solid, but it’s not. It will feel strange, cold, and wet, but you will remain dry. Once you pass through, wait just on the other side for us,” Caleb explained, putting extra emphasis on the waiting part. He knew how impulsive Eve could be.
“Maybe I should pass through before Eve to make sure it is safe,” Jericho injected, not liking the idea of Eve wondering through a portal without knowing what waited on the other side.
“You are right; I will go through first,” countered Caleb.
Rolling her eyes at the fact that, once again, the two males had begun another testosterone competition, she waited until she was only inches from the mirror and then called to them.
“While you two fight about which of you is the more gentlemanly, I am going through. Feel free to join me once you have finished your disagreement.” Smiling at the sight of their comically stunned faces, Eve gracefully leapt forward through the mirror. It rippled like a pond that had had a pebble tossed into its centre and then returned to its original state. Jericho and Caleb looked at the mirror and then at each other.
“Women!” they both muttered and quickly leapt through after Eve, hoping she was waiting for them and had not wandered off.
***
Grimmer pushed open the heavy iron door to the portal room. It was a wondrous place to behold. Around the octagonal space were opening; within them were what appeared to be holes in the floor. These were the portals: the links to other realms. The master was extremely proud of this network, and it allowed his minions to slip between the realms without being detected.
Grimmer, being a high-ranking demon, carried a crystal around his neck m
ade from a point of hematite. This allowed him to open a portal back to his master’s fortress without the need of potions or spells, unlike the unfortunate underling Chashoc who would never again transverse Orea. He approached the portal directly to his right and stood before it. Gloria, the land of the Fae was at the other side of this one. The fuchsia swirls of this cosmic cyclone were nauseating to the demon. Knowing that he could not stay long in this realm, he paused to make his plan. The light alone would burn his skin, and the pureness of their magic would weaken him.
Taking one last look at the vortex at his feet, Grimmer felt for the potion vial his master had given him. Finding it secure, the demon stepped into the portal and vanished.
Chapter Ten
Passing through the portal was both exciting and a little disturbing. The journey was quick and no harm had come to her. However, Eve felt like someone had poured cold water all over her. Rubbing her arms vigorously to rid herself of the phantom chills, Eve glanced around quickly, making sure that no threat was near. Once she was sure of her safety, she waited for Caleb and Jericho to join her.
Can you hear me, Sapphire? Eve thought, projecting her question skywards. She had no idea whether their telepathic bond would hold now that she was in a different realm. After no answer was received, Eve realised that, until Sapphire found another entrance into Gloria, they were on their own.
Jericho and Caleb appeared moments later, both wide-eyed and ready, it seemed, to do battle with any unsuspecting creature that happened to cross their path.
“Stand down, gentlemen. There is, as far as I am able to tell, no immediate threat to us here,” she said, trying hard to keep the smirk from her lips. Caleb walked over to the edge of the tree line. It seemed that in some sense, the mirror was just that; this forest looked identical to the one they had just left. He peered through the thick shrubbery, not expecting to behold a thriving village that couldn’t have been more than a mile away.
“Look! We can make it to that village by tea time, which I have to say is mighty good news for my tummy. It hasn’t shut up complaining in hours!” Caleb grumbled while rubbing his abdomen, which let out a thunderous rumble in protest. Jericho and Eve both had a look at the short distance and agreed that a warm meal, the possibility of a wash, and a clean, comfortable bed would be most welcome indeed.
The village was quaint, with single story cottages snuggled up together, their grey shingle roofs shimmering in the last of the afternoon’s muted sunlight. The trio entered the village and headed towards the first fae they saw. Deciding that Evangeline would do all the talking, the two men hung back and kept watch in case of sudden attack. After having a short chat with a lovely fae by the name of Olga, the companions made their way through the village’s winding streets until they came to the address Olga had given Eve.
The owner of the home was a rotund female fae with wisps of grey hair that looked as though it was trying to fly away, cheerfully rosy cheeks, and dancing brown eyes. On seeing the odd group at her door, the woman did a double take and then called back into the house.
“Albert! Get yourself to the door. We have visitors!” Turning back to the now concerned trio, she smiled sweetly at them while they all awaited the arrival of Albert. Once he appeared at the door, looking a bit crumpled and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he addressed them.
“Good af’noon, and what can we be doing for you?” he inquired, peering at each of them in turn. Looking to Eve to answer once again, Jericho and Caleb hung back and kept quiet.
“Good afternoon, Sir, Madam. My friends and I are travelling through Gloria on our way to the Royal city. We have been on the road for some hours.” Eve paused to smile at the couple and continued. “We were looking for a place to stay just for tonight; I asked in the village, and Olga said to come here. I hope that we are not imposing.” Eve smiled her sweetest smile. Albert and the brown-eyed woman, who Eve assumed to be his wife, exchanged whispered words. Turning back to Eve, Albert confirmed that this was indeed the place to come. Asking them to wait, he disappeared back into the cottage.
“Sorry, I haven’t introduced meself. I’m Betty; Albert’s me husband. He’s just gone to get the key to the guest accommodations,” Betty explained. She seemed to bob on the spot as she spoke, which Eve found endearing, although by their muffled coughs and sniggers the men found it amusing. Thinking she would have to remind them of how to behave in public later, Eve returned Betty’s smile and complimented her on the lovely flowerpots she had lined against her wall.
“Here we are; follow me please,” Albert instructed as he shuffled down the street. Thanking Betty once more, they followed Albert’s retreating form. Five doors up, Albert stopped and inserted the brass key into the door, pushing it wide and mumbling’ maidens first.’ Eve preceded the men into the cottage. Albert closed the door and explained the house rules to them, and then, handing over the key to Caleb, he left.
“Well that was different,” Jericho said as he looked around the sitting room. It was a cosy room with plump chairs and a sofa practically hidden under a mountain of cushions. There were two doors other than the front door. One led to the kitchen at the back of the cottage and the other to a short hallway, off of which there were a bathroom and two bedrooms. Not happy that he would have to share a room with Jericho, Caleb headed back towards the kitchen, hoping he would find a tasty morsel that might satisfy his grumbling stomach. Caleb was most disappointed, finding nothing but veg and some strange bottles of Goddess knew what. He gave up his pursuit for sustenance and made his way back to the sitting room. He flopped down into one of the chairs.
“What on earth is the matter with you, Cal? You have a face like sour milk,” Eve remarked as she entered the sitting room. She was wearing a pair of cropped trousers and a tunic she had found in the wardrobe. Thankfully the Fae were not under the misconception that elves were wee folk like the witches had been before the alliance. Combing her fingers through her damp hair, she waited for Caleb to answer her.
“Nothing. Bath any good?” he replied, not really answering her question. Eve nodded. Caleb then got to his feet and headed down the hall to find his room and prepare for a bath.
“He is hungry,” Jericho stated, throwing himself down on the sofa.
“How do you know?” Eve was confused as to how being hungry could be a reason for such a sullen mood. Chuckling, Jericho explained that males behavedthe same when hungry wherever they were from. Not fully understanding this, but not wanting to offend him, Eve went to the kitchen to find something for their tea.
***
Jericho gave Eve the ‘I told you so’ smirk later that evening when, after two bowls of steaming vegetable soup and bread Eve had found in the larder, Caleb was more himself. Although it was lovely to have a comfortable place to rest for the night, it bothered Jericho how easy it had been to enter Gloria. He knew full well that Caleb had not performed any elaborate spell before the mirror - that it had been an act for Eve’s benefit. There should have been a guard or a trap of some kind; the Fae were known for being ultra-careful. He voiced his concerns to Caleb and Eve.
“I did feel someone cloaked by the fallen tree, but whoever it was didn’t attack or prevent us from entering,” Caleb admitted. Jericho was incensed; it was incredibly foolish to have not shared this information. Regardless of how confident he felt, what if the hidden person had harmed Eve as she approached the mirror? Caleb paled at the thought. He really had not considered the possibility that it was a ruse to get to Eve. After all, they had encountered werewolves already, and Eve had said she felt they were being watched by something or someone that night. Caleb took the lecture with good grace, because, this time, Jericho was undoubtedly right; he had placed everyone in unnecessary danger just to boost his ego.
Eve sat quietly through the whole exchange, feeling bad for Caleb but also understanding that Jericho had a very important point. She made an internal promise not to rush off without them again. Without her, the prophecy could not come to pass,
and her brother would be lost forever.
“I think I will head off to bed; we have a fair journey to the Royal city tomorrow. Goodnight Eve, Jericho,” Caleb mumbled, as he made his way to his shared bedroom. The door clicked quietly behind him.
“I understand why you admonished him, Jericho. I really think he will be more mindful in the future. It didn’t occur to me that I could be endangering both myself and the two of you when I passed through the mirror. I, too, will be more careful, and I will never go anywhere without one of you with me,” promised Eve, looking into Jericho’s black eyes. Letting out a sigh and pulling on his ears, the mighty Miscurt nodded.
“I think a lesson has been learned today. It would be best if we made it known to Betty and Albert tomorrow about the cloaked creature. It might have been a guard or something more sinister,” Jericho suggested. Nodding and hoping it was a sleeping guard rather than a hidden foe, Eve bid Jericho goodnight. Before turning in himself, Jericho checked all the locks on the windows and doors. They might be in a cosy cottage with comfortable beds in which to sleep tonight, but they were also in a foreign land, and the Fae were well known for their trickery. Something told Jericho that their time spent in Gloria was not going to pass without incident.
***
Grimmer made his way through the royal city. He already knew that the companions had not arrived yet; this pleased him. Finding his way into the city park that was overlooked by the castle itself, he cloaked himself in darkness, checking once again for the vial in his pouch. Tomorrow at dusk, they should arrive. Tomorrow he would trick them all and end this quest forever. Grimmer wanted this girl dead; she was more powerful than she could ever imagine, and if she found her brother… He would not allow that to happen.
“I will destroy the prophecy, and before I kill her, she will know how close she came to finding her twin.” A sadistic smile spread across his grotesque countenance, causing his scars to distort his features further. “Yes, I shall break her, kill her twice. First I shall kill her soul with the news of her brother, and then I shall give her the poison and watch her agony.” Grimmer quickened his pace; he wanted to find cover for the remainder of the night.
