by Belle Malory
“Nothing is wrong.” He looked at me like I’d come to the wrong conclusion. “And I have no idea where Xander went, so I don’t know if he’s okay.”
It took a few seconds for both of his answers to register. Once they had, I blinked, more confused now than before. “Then why are you here?”
“Before he left, he asked for a favor.”
Xander was not the favor-asking type; he preferred handling even the most difficult tasks on his own, so that he would never be indebted to anyone ever again. “What does that have to do with me?”
“He said you need some training,” Cassius said simply. “And since he can’t be here to do it himself, he asked me to take his place.”
I stared through him, several emotions hitting me at once. For one, I was angry with Xander for not keeping the promise he made to train me himself. But at the same time, it was comforting to know he was still trying to look after me while he was gone.
“I appreciate it, Cassius.” I turned away, heading back inside my room. “But if Xander really wanted to help, he would be here.”
Cassius caught the door right before it closed, following me inside.
“Look, I get it—you’re upset. I’m upset too.” He glanced once at Ione’s sleeping figure, lowering his voice so he wouldn’t wake her. “He left without explaining anything, gave up his house leadership, and dropped all of his classes during what was supposed to be an epic senior year.” He winced at the last part, his tone slightly bitter.
I plopped back down on my bed, crooking a brow. “He really didn’t tell you anything?”
Cassius shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Then, he left us all in the dark.” I nodded toward Ione. “He didn’t even tell his sister.”
“Then we can agree he’s an ass. So, screw him.”
I blinked at that. “If that’s how you feel, why did you agree to help me?”
“I owed him a favor.” He shrugged. “And also, I don’t mind doing it.”
“I see.” I reached for my pillow, squeezing it to my chest. “Well, thank you again. Really. But he should keep his own promises. I’m going back to sleep.” I laid back down, closing my eyes, hoping that would be the end of the conversation.
“Get up, Sheridan.”
Man, this guy was relentless.
“I’m tired, Cass. I was up pretty late last night.”
He peeled back the curtains, sunlight flooding into the room. At that point, Ione groaned and pulled her pillow over her head.
“We are training today,” he insisted. “Put on something comfortable, and let’s get going.”
“Why?”
He paused for a long moment before answering. “Because by not training, you’re only hurting yourself. Not him.”
I swallowed. He could have said anything else, and I probably wouldn’t have cared. But for whatever reason, that seemed to do the trick.
“Okay,” I sighed, pushing up off the bed. “I’ll do it.”
Twenty minutes later, I was dressed in sweats and tennis shoes I brought with me from the human world, and we had made our way to a field just outside the woods. A perfect place to train.
“Call for your bow,” Cassius instructed.
That was the last thing I expected. “My bow?”
“Uh, yeah—how else did you think we would train?”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I was going along with this without much expectation.”
He chuckled. “Well, it’s a good place to start. Soul weapons are forged in response to the summoner’s purpose.”
“Purpose?” This sounded a whole lot deeper than I realized. “What does that mean?”
“For example, swords always go to heroes. Think about what the sword means. Historically, you think of defenders, warriors, and great armies of men keeping a duty to their nations. This is the will of the sword—to protect and defend.”
“Polaris,” I said, calling for my bow. It instantly appeared in my right hand, the quill attached to my back. “And arrows?” I said, wondering why I was given that particular weapon.
He tilted his head, a slight curve to his mouth. “The bow and arrow are less common. Most summoners receive swords, but there are always a few exceptions. For every ten swords, you’ll see the occasional spear, staff, or bow. Reina’s battle axe, for example, represents her soul’s purpose to wield her strength. What do you think the bow represents for you?”
My fingers drifted over the jewels encrusted in the gold, and I marveled at the way it glittered in the sunlight. “I have no idea.”
“Think about what the arrow represents. Usually, a direction. Historically, the bow is the weapon of a hunter. Your soul’s purpose is to hunt, to find, and discover. You’re not here to protect anyone, but rather, to journey toward something.”
I nodded dazedly, letting that absorb for a few seconds.
Cassius walked to the pine tree and pointed to the middle of its trunk. “To start, we’ll aim here.” Using his fire magic, he marked out an X to guide me.
I stood about twenty feet back, and then Cassius showed me how to hold my bow properly. The first arrow I released didn’t even hit the tree, much less its mark.
“Focus your strength here,” he said, guiding my elbow up. “Everything else is in your aim. Keep both eyes on your mark.”
I let the arrow fly, and this time, it hit the trunk of the tree. I sucked in a breath. It was below its mark, but still. I actually hit it.
“Nice,” Cassius said, grinning. “You’ve got natural talent.”
“Thanks.” I grinned back, proud of myself.
We spent the rest of the morning working on my archery, arrow after arrow, until my arms were so sore I could barely lift the bow. Even though it was painful, it was the kind of pain that made me feel as if I were pushing my arms to do what they were always meant to. Every ache reminded me of what I’d accomplished.
Once we were done, Cassius gave me a proud little bow. “You did well, Sheridan.”
“Thanks—and thank you for insisting on teaching me.”
“See you next Sunday,” he promised.
This time, I was looking forward to it.
23
The following months dragged on, but I got through them by staying focused on the plans for fall. In Mirror Realm, Ben and Mia struggled with their own problems. The two of them had only just started dating, but they were planning to attend different colleges, and they saw their time together as temporary. Ben’s ex-girlfriend kept making matters worse, showing up at inconvenient times, flirting with Ben all while secretly spreading rumors about Mia.
I didn’t know how to help them. I couldn’t figure my own love life out, let alone theirs. All three of us were hopeless.
“You sure you want to do this?” Jett offhandedly asked me in class. I had grown tired of trying to ignore her. Besides, answering her questions usually stopped her from invading my thoughts.
“Do what? Study?” We were supposed to be going over our notes for the upcoming final, and I wasn’t sure what she meant.
“Go to the Underworld.”
I tensed up, struggling to keep my composure. “Did ah…the spirits tell you something?”
How she knew was beyond me. Riley and I were so afraid of getting caught that we didn’t even discuss it with each other.
“No.” She half-snorted, half-laughed. “Petra asked me to transport you to the entrance.”
My eyes flared, and I gritted my teeth together. “Exactly how did you become her sidekick?”
I despised that the two of them still communicated. Jett fulfilled her purpose by abducting me when Petra was bent on killing Riley. I didn’t understand why they still kept in touch.
“Oh, that’s right. I never told you…” She smiled sadly. “My mom and your mom were best friends. Or they used to be, before my mom passed onto the spirit realm.”
I opened my mouth, unable to speak. Out of all the things she could have said, I hadn’t been expecting that.
“It was a long time ago,” Jett continued, teary-eyed. She cleared her throat, trying to force the emotion away. “Anyway, I think that’s why it’s been important for me to heal this friendship. That’s what my mom would’ve wanted.”
I was pretty sure our friendship was broken. But hearing that she lost her mom made me see Jett in a new light. It made it easier to understand why she had done the things she did. And why she had been so desperate to get her magic back.
“So,” I said in a lighter tone. “How are we getting there?”
She looked up at me and grinned. “Don’t worry about that—I know a guy.”
I shook my head, unsurprised. “Of course.”
24
Three Months Later
“Do you see the man sitting over there on the street corner?”
“The beggar?”
“That’s Toad, one of your bodyguards. He’s dressed like that to blend into the background, so passersby don’t notice him.”
“We have bodyguards?”
Petra nodded. “The other is Grey, whom I believe you’re already acquainted with. He’s standing next to the door to your walk-up. If you ever need anything, just ask him.”
Grey. He was one of the creatures that abducted me from Arcadia with Jett’s help. The sight of his splitting yellow eyes sent shivers up my spine.
“Why him?” I half-whined.
Petra clicked her tongue. “Why not him? He’s loyal.”
He wasn’t the worst of the lot from last time. There was a green creature who called me a dox and tried to cut off my tongue. I suppose of the two, Grey was the better option.
“Come now, Sheridan. There’s no point in holding grudges. Grey was only following orders. And as I recall, he stopped Ajax from slicing out your tongue.”
Riley, out of nowhere, started chuckling. “Sounds like an interesting story.”
“Yes, you would find it fascinating,” I said, my sarcasm ramping up. “Especially considering you were the one who should have been in my place.”
“Oh, that story.” She shivered, putting it together, then went silent.
We walked to the apartment building under the hazy purple sun, hoods pulled up over our freshly dyed hair. It was Petra’s idea to dye it dark brown, one of many precautions.
Curious, we looked around, taking in our surroundings. The Underworld starkly contrasted to our home on Spring Island. Unlike the picturesque setting we’d left behind, this place was cold, lifeless, and dreary. The mages and creatures weren’t friendly. No one smiled, no one met your gaze as you passed, and no one made polite conversation.
As we approached, Grey tipped his hat in our direction. Petra slid her key into the door; the lock clicked open, and the three of us climbed the narrow staircase up to the third floor. At the top, there was another door, this one with no visible keyhole. “It’s spelled,” Petra explained. She moved back to allow me passage. “Trace your finger around the grains in the wood, like this, incanting, tantum sanguine.” She demonstrated for me, and the door unlocked from inside. “It will only allow you and your sister entrance. No one else, not even Toad or Grey.”
“That’s comforting.”
When she said she was taking our safety seriously, she wasn’t kidding. So many precautions, and we had only just gotten started.
“Here we are. Come in.” Petra held the door for us. “It isn’t much, but it’s got everything you need.”
The apartment was tiny, only two rooms and a bathroom. The first room included a small kitchen with an old wood-burning stove, a table with two chairs, and not much else. The other was made up of twin beds that looked newly made with fresh linens.
“It will do,” Riley said, nodding.
“There’s food in the cupboards,” Petra continued. “I’ll have either Toad or Grey bring you up some groceries at least once per week. If you have any requests, all you need to do is ask one of them.”
Riley’s face dropped when she realized we were confined to these rooms. “Wait, are you saying we can’t ever leave? What was the point of us coming to the city?”
My chest tightened. This would be difficult for Riley. More than anything else, she craved her freedom. Those last few months in Davidson were almost unbearable because Dad regularly kept her grounded, eating up little pieces of her soul.
Petra took a step toward Riley, narrowing her gaze. “Welcome to the Underworld, my dear. Here, the trees whisper, the creatures keep watch, and the hills really do have eyes. There is almost nowhere you can hide without being noticed.”
For someone who wasn’t often intimidated, my sister nervously shuffled her shoes against the wooden floor.
“You wouldn’t survive three days out in the country, much less six months. Here in the city, you have a sliver of a chance,” Petra continued, her tone full of impending doom. “A lamp lit at night, shadows, bursts of laughter, footsteps—things that blend into the humdrum of city noise would only be magnified in the country. One little mistake, and the wrong creature will take notice. Next thing you know, the Hollowed Guard will have your heads on posts. Is that what you want?”
Riley swallowed and shook her head.
“I didn’t think so.” Petra’s biting gaze traveled between the two of us, as if she were debating whether we could pull this off. I couldn’t blame her. I was unsure myself.
“Just because it’s easier to blend in here, doesn’t mean you should unnecessarily draw attention to yourselves. It’s crucial that you stay undetected. Otherwise, it will all have been for nothing. Do you both understand me?”
We simultaneously nodded, like two scolded puppies.
“Good.” She cleared her throat. “That being said, I will ask Grey to take you outside for an hour once per week—if and when it’s safe to do so.”
An hour.
God, that was hardly anything.
“Six months,” she said, her tone softening. “Just make it through these six months, and this will all become a bad dream.”
“Let’s hope so,” I whispered, wondering what my life would look like six months from now.
“Very well, then. I’ll leave you two to get settled.” Petra turned to leave then stopped herself. “Oh, I almost forgot the most important feature!” She went to the bedroom door and swung it around to show us heavy duty metal locks on both sides. “In case either of you find it difficult to be in each other’s presence without going for blood…”
I swallowed, casting a wary glance toward Riley.
“We’ll be fine,” Riley insisted. “As long as there are no scissors in the apartment.”
Petra gave us both a curious look, and I choked back a cough. But she didn’t ask us to explain.
“I’ll check in later, but I’m afraid I can’t visit very often. Too many eyes on my back.”
I nodded, understanding.
She reached out to stroke my hair, just for the briefest of moments, then she reigned her hand back. It looked like she wanted to hug me, but she was afraid. I wasn’t exactly making gestures of affection easier with my standoffish nature.
“Take care of yourselves.” She left, and the lock clicked behind her, followed by the sound of her footsteps going down the stairs.
Once she was gone, the two of us hung there silently for a few moments, taking in our new home for the next six months. Riley ventured inside the kitchen, looking around, opening drawers and cupboards. “Oh, hey!” A smirk pulled at her lips. “She left us a deck of cards.”
I scowled, remembering how our last game ended. “Don’t even think about it.”
Later that night, we sat across from each other at the table with mugs full of steaming hot chocolate we found in the cupboard, playing several rounds of crazy eights to pass the time. Figuring out how to work the stove had been tricky at first. But by using our fire-magic, we got a decent fire going, and the chocolate boiled quickly.
“I like your mom,” Riley said offhandedly as she dealt a new hand.
“Rea
lly?” Coming from her, that was surprising. “You know her original plan was to murder you, right?”
She snorted. “Can you blame her? If my child was cursed, I would do everything I could to protect them. Your go.”
I discarded the seven of hearts, unsure I believed her. “Even if it meant killing their sibling?”
“Depends on the circumstances.”
I tilted my head to the side. “Petra worked as a hollow for the last seventeen years. She used to torture prisoners with her mind magic. What exactly do you like about her?”
“Yes, she’s a little bit evil.” Riley shrugged, as if that were no big deal. “And she’s a little bit sweet. Kind of like you.”
“Ha!” I threw down a six of hearts. “You mean like you.”
One corner of her mouth curved. “Everyone has a good and bad side. Even magic is made up of both dark and light.” She discarded the eight of hearts. “And just like magic, the only side that matters is whichever one you give more energy—I’m changing the suit to clubs.”
She made a really good point.
I’d been so focused on Petra’s negatives, I hadn’t given her positives much consideration. For that matter, I hardly even thought of her as my mother. “She tortured Xander,” I said quietly, tossing my three of clubs.
Riley looked up from her hand. “So? You and I have tortured each other in countless ways, we’ve both tried to kill each other, and yet here we are, playing cards and drinking hot chocolate.”
“That can all be blamed on dark forces manipulating our inner psyches. She doesn’t have the same excuse.”
“She’s not that bad, Sheridan. In case you haven’t noticed, she didn’t kill me. And had she been successful in abducting me, you don’t know for sure that she would have gone through with it. Her bark appears a whole lot worse than her bite.”
“She would have gone through with it.”
“You sure about that?” Riley crooked her brow. “Would you stake your life on it?”
