by Peach, Hanna
“What are you doing here?”
“Alyx came to me, asking for my help in finding a cure for your poison. I told her what I knew. She is now trying to save you.”
“Alyx…” Israel’s voice trailed off. The feeling of her name rolling off his tongue sent an ache through him. He wanted so desperately to touch her, to tell her that he was here… what if he never woke up? What if he never got to see her again? He pushed these thoughts away.
“Why can’t I reach her? Our bond… it feels…” Israel couldn’t say it. The bond felt broken.
The Elder nodded grimly. “I doubt that the Guardian-bond is broken, it will just feel like it while you are… here.”
“And for her? Does she feel its absence as well?”
“It is very likely.”
The thought that she may slip away from him sent a rush of fear through his soul. “If she can’t reach me, how come you can?”
“I have been alive since the dawn of time. My DreamWalker powers can extend to… this place. But even this is a dangerous and strenuous feat for me.”
“How do I get back?”
“I’m afraid it’s not up to you. It’s up to her.”
Israel growled in frustration. Alyx. Saving his life… again. There had to be something he could do to get himself out of here… he glanced back at the invisible wall and placed a hand on the surface. He imagined Alyx standing on the other side with her hand pressing back in a mirror image.
He gritted his jaw. He had to get back. He had to. There had to be a way past this wall. Perhaps he could punch through it..?
“Don’t do it, Israel.” The Elder’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“I have to go back. She needs me.”
The Elder sighed. “She needs you alive. This is the safest place for you now.”
“And I do what? Just wait around here until she rescues me?”
“You won’t be sitting around. You have work to do,” the Elder said. “We must be ready should she succeed.”
“Ready?”
“I am here to help you continue your training of your gifts. Should she succeed in waking you before…” he stopped what he was about to say. But Israel knew what was coming next… before you die. “In any case, you must be ready. This will not be the greatest ordeal you will have to face.”
Israel stared at the Elder. His eyes were kind yet firm. This Elder, he knew things… but Israel knew better than to ask. This Elder never gave away anything he didn’t want to.
“Are you willing, Israel?”
“Sure, let me just check my schedule…” Israel tapped a single finger to his chin. “Nope, still in a coma.” Israel shrugged. “Why not? It’s not like I have anything else to do.”
Chapter 12
Alyx and Jordan moved through the forest on a small rocky island in Halong Bay, Vietnam. The water of this bay was a shimmering mirror reflecting many other islands, haphazard piles of rock, sand and trees fringed with clusters of sleepy junk boats. It was a perfect spot for a race. To Alyx, the air smelled salty, but underneath she could detect the faraway smokiness of fish roasting over sweet coconut husks.
“You’re not seeing the RaceKeeper first?” Jordan asked.
“No,” Alyx said. “I want to see my friend first.”
It had been a while since she had checked in on Sparrow. She felt guilty about this, but things had been so crazy that she hadn’t had time. She hoped that Sparrow wouldn’t be too upset with her.
“So who’s this friend?”
She was about to reply when a dark shadow swooped in front of her. She heard Jordan’s blade sing as he pulled it out of its sheath.
“It’s okay, Jordan. It’s just Piki,” Alyx said as she recognized the chirping bird.
Piki flitted around her head, obviously excited about something, before settling on Alyx’s outstretched fingers. Alyx pulled at the Animale bloodink on her ribs, and his chittering became something she recognized.
…so worried about you. Have been trying to find you and imagine my shock when I came to your human-nest and found it burned to the ground.
“I’m sorry, Piki. I didn’t mean to make you guys worry. I came as soon as I could.”
Piki tilted his head at Alyx. If she didn’t know any better she would say that he was frowning at her.
Sparrow was losing his mind about what might have happened to you. He tried to break his bracelet, which got him into a lot of trouble. But you didn’t hear it from me. You know what he’s like.
Alyx’s heart lurched when she thought of the RaceKeeper punishing Sparrow. She should have come sooner. “I promise I won’t say anything.”
Piki turned his attention to Jordan. Who is this other wingless bird? Another Alyx?
“No, this is Jordan. Piki, I don’t have much time. I need to see the RaceKeeper and I need your help.”
You can have my help. Anything. But you can’t see the RaceKeeper.
“Why?”
I’ll let Sparrow tell you. Piki hopped on her fingers. Wait here. He chirped again as if to emphasize his instruction. Then he flew off through the trees.
“What just happened?” asked Jordan.
“I think I just got told off by a swift. They have something that we need to hear before we see the RaceKeeper. We have to wait here.”
“They?”
She told Jordan about Sparrow and Piki in hushed tones as they waited.
Minutes later, little Sparrow came bounding along behind Piki through the trees. Alyx had to hold back a smile. Someone had obviously given the boy their old long-sleeved shirt. The sleeves were so long that it fell over his hands, even as he kept pushing them up. He seemed to remember himself when he saw Alyx and slowed his pace, forcing a coolness to his face.
Piki landed on Alyx’s shoulder as Sparrow approached. He stopped when he spotted Jordan.
“Who’s he?” Sparrow squinted and pointed a crooked finger at Jordan.
“He’s a good friend of mine, Sparrow. I trust him with my life. Anything you can say to me, you can say in front of him.”
“That’s an unusual name, Sparrow,” Jordan said, and flashed him what Alyx had come to think of as his disarming grin. “Your parents chose well.”
Alyx cringed.
“My parents are dead,” Sparrow snapped causing Jordan to shuffle with uncertainty. Sparrow ignored the hand that Jordan reached out to him and turned back to Alyx, frowning. “You shoulda come sooner. Piki was so worried. I had to put up with him chattering away and being all nervous. I could barely get any work done.”
“I promise you that I came as soon as I could.”
“I heard The RaceKeeper talking to a bad man. A really bad man. I sent Piki out and when Piki returned without you and all he brought back was a burned piece of wood, I thought…” Sparrow paled.
“It’s okay. We’re okay. I’m sorry I made you worry.” Alyx lightly brushed Sparrow’s head. “What happened? Who was this bad man?”
Sparrow nodded as he composed himself. “An Elder named Michael.” Alyx’s blood turned to ice. “He has put a price on your head. A big one. A lotta gold. The RaceKeeper has ordered his guards to capture you on sight. The RaceKeeper instructed me to tell him if I ever saw you around here.”
Alyx cursed silently. Her most lucrative source of information had been cut off.
Jordan shifted forward, his muscles tensing as he scanned the trees. “And would you?”
Sparrow scowled. “I ain’t no rat. Alyx is my friend. I would never tell on her. Even if they beat me again and again.”
“I believe him, Jordan. Please, back off,” Alyx said. Sparrow looked smug.
Alyx could see the flash of emotion across Jordan’s face. Then it was gone. He nodded once. “Very well. If you trust him, I do, too.”
“How do you feel about dealing with the RaceKeeper?” she asked Jordan.
“They’re also looking to bring in any of your known accomplices,” Sparrow continued. “Most likely this tagalon
g,” he jerked his head towards Jordan, “is on that list.”
So much for sending Jordan in to squeeze information out of the RaceKeeper. Looked like they had to rely solely on Piki.
“Thank you, Sparrow.” Alyx bent down to the boy and, before he could protest, gave him a quick kiss on his forehead. “What would I do without you?” Sparrow blushed. “I need Piki’s help with something. I hope you don’t mind if he comes with us for a while?”
Sparrow shrugged. “Sure. Saves me feeding him, I guess.” But she could see the wrinkle of hurt in his face that he couldn’t come with them, too.
They said their goodbyes and took off into the air. Alyx glanced back to see Sparrow watching them, a sight made more sorrowful by the drop of his lips and his sleeves so big they swallowed his hands. She made him a promise in her mind. Soon, I’ll take you from the RaceKeeper and you’ll never have to come back.
* * *
Jordan, Alyx and Piki stood on the edge of the forest surrounding Michaelea. Being this close to her old home, Alyx felt her whole body erupt into a jangle of nerves. She tried to ignore it and focused on explaining what she needed from Piki.
Piki chirped. How do I know what the one you call Mayrekk and the one you call Michael look like?
“Well, Mayrekk has…” Alyx trailed off as an idea struck her. “I could show you.”
Alyx ran her fingers over the inside of her left forearm where the remains of a tattoo inked with Moloko’s blood lay as a reminder of her failed plan to capture Samyara. Alyx closed her eyes, pulling at the blood. It misted through her like steam, warm and moist. Immediately her mind began to fill with anxious whispers. She tried to ignore them and focused on Mayrekk’s face, not as it had been in his DreamScape, weak and dulled, but as she remembered it, bright and alert.
Jordan made a small noise. And she knew her idea had worked. Her face had miraged over with Mayrekk’s.
She swallowed and cast her mind to Michael’s icy features. A chill settled in her bones and the frightened whispers grew more frantic, threatening to distract her completely. His image blurred in her mind. She felt the last of the blood begin to draw away from the tattoo. This snapped Alyx’s focus back, and Michael’s features cleared. She felt the mirage over her face shift to reflect the image held in her mind. The last of the magic burned up in her blood and she could feel the mirage fading.
Alyx opened her eyes. She spoke to Piki using Animale. “Mayrekk was the first one, Michael was second.”
Piki chittered in acknowledgment and flew off into the canopy towards Michaelea.
When Alyx turned to Jordan, she could see the strain on his face. “You could have warned me about what you were going to do.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it would upset you like it has.”
Jordan pulled her against him and leaned his chin on her head. “I’m not upset, beauty. I think it just shocked me, that’s all, seeing Michael’s face again…”
Alyx leaned against Jordan’s frame, letting him support her, grateful that he had convinced her to let him come. When she exhaled she felt as though she was almost melting into him.
All they could do now was wait.
* * *
Piki flew to Mayrekk’s hut, where Alyx had told him to check first. Swooping around the thatched roof, he saw nobody standing guard. Flying low, he landed on the sill of the only open window. The air inside stank of blood and infection which caused his feathers to ruffle in fear.
A moan came from inside, but Piki could not see who made the noise past all these shelves and things. He had to be sure it was Mayrekk. But every one of his instincts told him not to enter.
Piki chittered nervously to himself. Alyx was brave enough to save me from the eagle. Piki must be brave to help Alyx.
Stealing his courage he puffed his chest out and dove into the hut. Piki followed the stench through the jumble of shelves like odd shaped tree trunks.
In the back corner of the hut Piki found Mayrekk laying across a small bed, partly covered with a sheet. His face was pale and gaunt and etched in hurt. Piki wished there was some way he could reassure this Mayrekk-creature. At least he was alive.
Piki made his way back out of the hut and up to just above the canopy. He flew towards the main buildings of Michaelea, peeping up like brown stones above a green sea.
As he flew over the city, there seemed a great energy vibrating of the inhabitants. Piki likened it to when the seasons were changing and Piki and his brothers and sisters began to feel the pull to travel to warmer airs. There was always a great energy that built as they twittered and fussed around until they all took off in flight. These wingless creatures all seemed excited about something.
Alyx had told him to fly straight over them to get to the top of the hill, but something told him that this event that they were all excited out may be important. He flew down until he landed in the lower branches near where three female creatures were lying across a large colorful blanket sharing a bunch of grapes.
“…can’t believe it, Constantine. Finally, you will be entwined with Daniel,” one of them said.
“By the light of the full midnight moon. How romantic!” another one said with her hands clasped to the side of her face.
“Romance has nothing to do with it,” said the one with flaming red hair, who Piki took to be the one called Constantine. “Daniel and I should have been matched in the first place. Not with Alyx. That traitorous whore.” These last words were spoken with so much venom that Piki couldn’t help but chirp.
“What were the Elders thinking?” said the first one.
“Daniel explained that it was all a sham anyway,” said Constantine as she twisted her long hair around her finger. “He was working undercover for his father. They knew that unsanctioned nobody was going to betray them.” She made a disgusted noise. “Poor Daniel. Imagine having to pretend that he actually liked her.”
Piki felt his claws digging into the branch as he glared at this red-headed creature. How could she talk about Alyx like that?
“Your entwined is so brave,” swooned the second. “And you are so beautiful by his side. Oh, you and he are so perfect together.”
“Wait, there’s more,” Constantine leaned forward, drawing the other two closer. “Daniel told me that in return for his service to his father, he will be made successor of Michaelea.”
The other girls gasped and began fussing in obvious delight. Piki had heard enough. He launched from his perch towards the main building.
He hadn’t gone a dozen flaps away when an idea struck him. Piki swooped around and began to circle, his eyes watching the ground. He made a few passes and tightened his circles until… he clenched and let his bowels loose.
There was a screech from the redhead below. “My hair! Errrrgh, disgusting.”
That’s for Alyx, Piki thought. He couldn’t help twittering with satisfaction as he flew up the mountain.
* * *
Piki flew along the trees along the unoccupied side of the mountain, letting the wind catch under his wings. His eyes were peeled for any larger birds and the wingless creatures, however, since he had entered this section of forest he had seen neither. This isn’t good, Piki thought as a current of nerves flooded him. An area devoid of animal life was usually a warning to stay away. Along with this awareness, something was squawking in the pit of his stomach to turn around.
No. He fought the urge to turn back and remained firmly on his course. He promised Alyx that he would help her. Piki twittered nervously to himself in an attempt to calm his beating heart. This was not a good place.
Piki swooped over the area that Alyx had spoken about. He made several circles over the forest under the canopy, letting his eyes wander all over the place. This place looked like any other in this forest, trees and bushes growing out of the sloped mountain, littered with large boulders. Alyx said that he should look out for any type of structure or hiding place, but Piki could see none. Strange. Alyx was adamant that there was some
thing here.
A rustling had Piki jolting in the air and flying into the nearest cover of leaves. He crouched close to the small branch that he was clutching. He saw movement and flashes of pale featherless skin.
It was a wingless one, moving through the forest below, moving closer. Who was this wingless one who was moving through this part of the forest? Was it a coincidence that they were here?
Then Piki caught a glimpse of his face. The recognition almost caused him to chirp in shock. It was the same face as Alyx had shown him earlier. The one that looked carved and as hard as the rock that made up this mountain. Michael.
Piki darted from cover to cover as he followed Michael through the forest. He dared not get too close. Finally, Michael stopped at the side of a particularly large boulder that looked like a roughly shaped tomb pointing its craggy finger to the sky. Piki thought he could see Michael drawing lines on the rock with his fingers. What was he doing?
Piki hopped as quietly as he could down to a lower branch to get a better look. He thought he saw a flash of pale green. Michael stepped forward and… How could this be?
Michael had disappeared.
Chapter 13
“There must be some kind of chamber there hidden by a mirage,” Alyx said, looking around at Tobias, Jordan and Dianne in the cramped compartment at the Saint’s Revenge. Vix hadn’t returned from her mission scouting for new community locations. “It makes sense that after I had been able to break into his chambers, he would find a safer, hidden place to hide his important artifacts.” Like Mayrekk’s prisoner’s apex and Raphael’s charm.
Dianne had taken a copy of Piki’s memory of Michaelea and had “gifted” each of them around the table a copy of this memory. Piki was now on his way back to Sparrow.
“We have to get in there. The apex is in there somewhere and that’s the key to freeing Mayrekk. He can tell us what kind of poison it is. Then we just have to retrieve the Threads of Dark for the cure.”
“I don’t see how it’s possible, Alyx,” Dianne said. “You’re considering not just breaking into one Seraphim city, but two.”
