Ascension

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  In front of us, carbon copies of ourselves mirrored our stances and expressions. I tilted my head to the right and my doppelganger imitated my motions. My skin crawled, and I bit down on my tongue until my mouth filled with a coppery tang to keep the deafening scream I wanted to release inside my lungs.

  “I…I don’t understand.” Curtis and his double’s postures were ramrod straight and their voices cracked.

  “Are these the Aswangs?” Lucian and the other Lucian scratched their chins. Then, Lucian’s doppelganger attacked with a loud cry, swinging a sword at Lucian’s waist. As one, the other Aswangs followed the first’s assault.

  My double jumped into the air with her katana slicing over her head. I met her blow, the metal of our weapons clanging. Every move I made, she mirrored almost as if she knew what I’d planned to do. All of us were locked in the throes of battle, but as I dropped and kicked my double’s feet out from under her, I noticed my reflection in her emerald gaze was upside down. She hissed, and my face melted from the creature’s form. In its place was a bear-like animal with slimy pale flesh covered in red veins. Its eyes were ebony bottomless pits and its lips split to reveal three rows of jagged teeth on both jaws.

  The other creatures dropped their facades and showed similar forms to the others. Allie leapt backwards as her opponent swiped a five-toed paw at her face. She pirouetted and brought her butterfly swords under the Aswangs chin, pulling in different directions. Its head rolled forward and stopped at her feet as her chest heaved. The other Aswangs roared and the fight amped up. Allie joined Austin and they took down another creature with ease.

  My opponent rolled to the side and leapt to its feet. It feigned right then turned left. My katana met resistance for a moment but sank deep into the creature’s heart. The luster in its dark eyes dimmed and it fell backwards when I tugged my weapon free. Around me the others dispatched the rest of the Aswangs and each of us stood there, breathing heavily as we stared at each other.

  Linc was the first to break the silence with a bark of laughter as he wiped the red goop from his sword on the creature at his feet. “Well, that was something.” The rest of us joined in as we cleaned our own weapons.

  “Let’s get out of here before the dryads come back and demand that Kitra play their game.” Ryn sheathed his sword and walked towards the direction the Aswangs came from. I couldn’t agree more and ran to catch up.

  Chapter 14

  W E WALKED FOR TWO hours without any more dangerous encounters when in front of us, we came to a massive wall of thick, thorny vines. It extended as far as the eye could see. The dense, brown lifeless cords grew halfway up the yellow tree trunks, braiding together and created a maze. Zander touched the tip of one of the wicked thorns and hissed, drawing his bloody finger into his mouth. After Zander’s injury, Lucian, Uncle Kalen, Ryn, and Caden agreed to search for a way around the monstrosity. The rest of us took a break and stayed at the only entrance we had seen into the twist of roped plants. The others spoke in low whispers, but I laid down with my head on my pack. The Creator’s words were on constant repeat between my ears as I laid there with my eyes shut.

  He wanted me to trust him. All my life I’ve trusted myself, my family, and slowly my friends. After my parent’s murders and up until this point, my trust had to be earned. For me, trust didn’t come easily, and I never gave it away blindly. Trusting someone took time and now the Creator wanted me to throw my reservations away, for him. How did one do it? He had taken my wolf and magic away and left me more human than ever. Did I tell the others I was a liability for them until he gave both back? I’d thought we’d rush into Oberon’s Forest, fight our way to the weapon, and save the day. End of story. I dug deep once more, but nothing happened. No wolf or magic.

  My lips lifted in a silent snarl. I would have to rely on my wits and fighting ability to survive this forest. All the while trying not to get the others killed and finding some way to surrender my future to the will of the Creator. He must’ve known, with me, it wasn’t going to happen in an instant. Is that why he stripped me of my shields and exposed my vulnerability? My friends stirred around me and I sat up and saw the others returning.

  “Did you find anything?” Curtis stood and brushed off his brown pants. Sometime during our break, he’d tied his shoulder length blonde hair back at the nape of his neck.

  “No.” Uncle Kalen took a sip from his canteen. “This is the only way in.” I joined him at the maze entrance and peered down the gloomy path.

  “Do we turn around or go into the scary corridor of knives?” Linc’s hand lifted for his chest, but he dropped it when he noticed me staring.

  “The dryads and Hounds are back the other way.” Lucian shrugged and picked up the pack he had left with us earlier.

  “Corridor of knives it is.” Linc slung his own pack across his shoulders. “It’s not that I’m not up for going in guns blazing but dying once has maxed out my quota. Anyone got a plan on how to do this?”

  “Follow the leader.” Ryn took a deep breath and his gaze landed on mine. He took another deep breath and the left side of his mouth lifted. “I’ll go first.”

  “Be my guest.” Linc’s arm swept out and as Ryn stepped into the dim maze.

  I scurried to the entrance behind Ryn and Linc fell in line behind me. A low growl came from somewhere near the middle of the group and I saw Caden’s black hair farther back between Austin, Allie, and Curtis. The others followed close behind and the single file line ended with Uncle Kalen and Lucian guarding us at the rear. Several grunts and hisses punctuated the air and I pulled my arms tighter to my sides, avoiding the large thorns jutting out from the gnarled walls.

  The maze wove between the ethereal trees in odd directions which sometimes doubled back to the same trees before branching out into another route. We’d followed the tiny paths until it seemed the sharp protrusions were fingers of the dead desperately reaching for their next victim. Ryn sped up and I quickly followed, trying to stay near his back but Linc refused to keep up with us as he navigated his broad form past the multiple obstacles without injury.

  “So, are you going to tell me?” Ryn turned to the side and I mimicked his motions as the corridor narrowed and then opened back up.

  “Tell you what?” I eyed a sinister thorn that came close to slicing open my forearm.

  “What that voice was at the awakening?” The path constricted up ahead and Ryn unsheathed his sword. “I also heard you tell Kalen we got away from the trees by divine intervention. Kitra, I know you are not telling us something important. So, out with it.” Was this the opening I needed to confess my mission?

  My mouth opened to spill the beans, but all the warnings I had heard since first meeting the Creator halted my tongue. “I only assumed that was what saved us. How else did we get free? I’ll tell you what I told Aunt Mauve. I heard a noise during my awakening, but I was kind of out of it, so I don’t remember much.”

  “Hmm.” Ryn’s green eyes rested on mine for a split second before he faced an impassable section of the maze. He slashed at the woven structure and I stepped back as he swung several more times until he created an opening through the thicket. “Do you think it was the Creator?” He shoulders heaved with each breath as he stooped to walk underneath the torn vines.

  “Who else could have saved us?” I bit my lip with my eyes on my feet and trailed after him.

  “Well, if it was the Creator, then he seems to have a special mission for you since you were called the Chosen One while you were on the altar.” He gaged my reaction as his gaze examined my unblinking one. He turned once more and continued slashing at thorns obstructing our movement.

  “Maybe he wants me to get rid of Aelfric like we’re already trying to do.” My golden armor tightened as I took a deep breath. The secret was easier to keep if my focus stayed on my feet.

  “Only time will tell.” Ryn opened the maze wider once again. “Just know you can tell me anything. You don’t have to keep secrets from me. I want to he
lp.”

  “Thanks, Ryn.” I stopped before I walked into his back and lifted my eyes. His were narrowed, studying me once again. My lips lifted, and I tucked my hands behind my back, so he couldn’t see the tremble. “If I find out what’s going on with the voice, I will tell you and everyone else.”

  Ryn’s head tilted from side to side like he could see past my dodging, but he nodded once when Linc caught up with us.

  “What’s the hold up?” Lucian’s question echoed from the end of the line.

  “Got to clear more vines before we can proceed.” Ryn’s slashing took on a new fervent life as he decimated the thorny blades.

  No more questions came from anyone as we continued through the twists and turns the maze presented. The canopy thinned the farther we went, and the apricot sun rose high overhead. Sweat beaded near my temples and I swiped the moisture away with the back of my hand. Spinning the cap of my canteen off, I tipped the container to my lips. Lukewarm liquid trailed tracks of relief down my sandpaper throat. I wanted to drain the contents, but with no end of the maze in sight I knew I needed to ration what I still had.

  After another hour in the maze, everyone’s complaints resounded off the walls of vines which led to some snarky comments from Allie focused on the whiny males. If we didn’t reach the end of the maze soon, the thorns weren’t the only things that would shed some blood. Ryn created another hole in the thicket and burst out into a field. A large lake with deep blue water carved into the land on the right and a dirt path stemmed from it towards a thicker set of yellow trees with white leaves.

  “Thank the Creator!” Linc pumped a fist in the air and ran for the shade cast by a gigantic tree whose leaves skimmed the green grass around the lake. He dropped against the yellow trunk and closed his hazel eyes.

  We found spots in the shade and I took off my boots, wiggling my toes. As I massaged the ache in my arches, a shadow engulfed me, and I looked up to see Caden’s smiling face. He sat in front of me and held his palms out for my foot. I arched a brow as he took over the massage but relished his foot rub and leaned back on my elbows. I watched his ministrations and sighed when he rubbed over the throbbing pain in circles. His lips lifted, and he shook his head. I was always relaxed around Caden and didn’t have to fill the silence with inane chatter. I could live in the moment without worrying if I did something embarrassing.

  Butterflies took flight when I opened my eyes and watched him focus as he switched to my other foot and started all over. Another presence joined us to my back, and I tilted back to see the light dusting of freckles across Ryn’s nose. He reached for my hair, combing his fingers through the strands. Caden’s grip near my toes tightened, but the touch softened when my gaze landed back on him. Sitting with both, I searched my heart, wanting to know how they made me feel without my wolf and fae side drawing me to them.

  Ryn was confidant, but after years of thinking he’d never find his other half, I knew he hid from rejection behind a well-placed mask. He was sweet and kind, but his past left me with doubts on his sincerity over our bond. I wanted to know what made him who he was and about the parents who raised him. Did he have any siblings? There was so much left unanswered, and I hoped to bridge the gap between us by getting him to open up to me. Without my fae side saying I belonged with him, the pull was still there and was something I planned to pursue but it wasn’t as strong. Without it, I questioned every interaction we’ve had so far because before he saw my mark, Ryn was flirtatious, but that was as far as it went. Were our mate marks the only reason he sought a relationship with me, or would he have pursued me without it? With Ryn, it was hard to know up from down.

  With Caden, the draw towards him without my wolf claiming him as hers was as easy as breathing, even if I did want to murder him at times. I knew it was due to our history together as children and the relationship we’d built then, but it’d slowly outgrown our past. Just the thought of hearing his name or seeing him sent my heart flying to new heights, but I sometimes worried he was more caught up in the competition with Ryn than the actual meaning of our marks.

  Being more human gave me a clearer insight on where I stood. When the time came, my decision had to be about more than physical attraction. The man I chose had to gain my undying trust without me questioning their intentions. My heart was heavy as I contemplated my feelings, but I knew I wanted to give both Ryn and Caden the chance they each deserved to prove me wrong.

  I relaxed into both and enjoyed my time with them. Today, was about just being in the moment and focusing on our search.

  A few minutes later Caden laid my feet in his lap as I gulped down the rest of the liquid from my canteen. I shook the empty container and when I capped it again, Allie claimed she also needed more water. Lucian told us not to fill up our canteens until we boiled the lake water to kill any bacteria or invisible parasites living in the dense blueness.

  I slid my boots back on and Caden helped me to my feet. “Let’s look for some firewood.” He held my hand as we walked to the tree line. He peered over his shoulder once we entered the dimmer surroundings and pushed me up against a tree trunk. The bumpy bark scraped against the wings of my armor when his soft lips crashed into mine, surrounding me in mint and fresh cotton. What had started as hungry and demanding changed in an instant. Instead of claiming, his lips slowed their domination and Caden cradled me in his arms, pulling me against his hard chest. I wrapped my arms around him, and warmth spread from my head to my toes as he placed one last peck on my swollen lips. “I have wanted to do that since Allie interrupted us.” A smile stretched against my tender mouth and he pulled back, staring into my eyes.

  “I should’ve known firewood wasn’t on your mind.” Ryn stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his mouth pulled down at both corners. “Who’s a better kisser, Kitra? Me or Caden?”

  My cheeks warmed, the redness burning the tips of my ears. Rumbles vibrated Caden’s chest as he clenched his fists.

  “I’m not doing this Ryn.” I moved past Caden and tried to get by Ryn, but he caught me by the arms.

  “I’m sorry, Kitra. I shouldn’t have said that.” Ryn’s face fell as Caden pulled me from his reach. “It’s just…I hate seeing you with him. I hate sharing. It’s tearing me apart.” His skin took on a green hue as his Adam’s apple moved up and down and his cheeks puffed out.

  “Listen.” I held my hands up and turned, facing them both. “This has to stop. Ryn, I know how long you’ve waited for answers, but remember that I’m seventeen years old.” I waved between the three of us. “No more kissing.” Both of their mouths dropped to their chests. “I mean it. We’re focusing on us instead of finding the weapon. This forest has already tried to kill us multiple times and you two are more concerned with marking your territory.”

  “Kitten, that wasn’t what I intended.” Caden’s lips clamped shut when I held up a hand.

  “And it wasn’t what either of you intended when Linc was hurt, was it?” Their heads dropped and Caden paled, shaking his head. “Let’s focus on the task at hand, not on a decision that may take me years to make.”

  I snatched up pieces of broken branches and marched back to the others. My heart laughed despite my words. It knew Caden and Ryn wouldn’t just give up their pursuit, but hopefully they had something else to motivate them for the moment. Uncle Kalen’s brows drew together when I dumped my offering at his feet, but I shook my head and rolled my eyes as the two objects of my ire joined us. Lucian was a master at starting the fire and he used three large branches to build a stand to hang a metal pot from his pack.

  Zander carried the pot to the water’s edge and dipped it in. “What is that?” He sat it to the side and leaned over the water. Bubbles surfaced from the depths and popped, disrupting the calm mirror of the liquid.

  Two large nostrils connected to a silver horse’s snout breached the shallows, and two luminous pale green eyes peered up at Zander. A bubblegum pink mane dripped with water and was flicked to the side, splashing Zander in the
face as it released a neigh. The silver body curved below the lake, but no hooves were seen; only pink fins matching its mane. Zander threw his head back, laughing and reached forward for the creature’s snout.

  “Zander! Back up slowly.” Zander’s hand froze in the air at Austin’s warning. “That’s a kelpie and they aren’t friendly.”

  “Kelpie?” Lucian’s eyes bugged out of his head. “Like the Scottish mythical sea horse that drowns its victims?” He crept towards our friend when Austin answered him with a firm, quick nod.

  I was closest to Zander and moved one foot at a time when the kelpie’s stare turned to me. The creature’s eyes narrowed, and its lips pulled back as a puff of air blew from its nose. The kelpie’s mouth opened, revealing flat blunt teeth that latched onto Zander’s outstretched hand and tugged him off his feet with an immense splash. Zander’s scream cut off as they submerged, and I pulled my katana from my back and dove into the water.

  Zander’s mouth was open as he beat a fist at the kelpie’s head. Claws extended from his fingers and his canines descended, and I kicked harder as Zander sliced at the kelpie’s smooth silver skin. Both of us paused when we watched his claws snap off on contact with the creature and it shook him back and forth in its mouth like a ragdoll. Zander’s muffled scream carried to me and I jolted back into action as the kelpie dragged him deeper. After two powerful strokes, I was beside the creature and one green iris turned towards me.

  My katana glided through the water like molasses, stabbing at the creature’s hide but bounced off it. Zander’s thrashes calmed, and his eyes slowly closed. I was watching another friend die in less than two days, and this time there wasn’t any way for Austin to help. I begged the Creator in my mind to help me and told him I knew I couldn’t do this alone. A niggling started in my brain and was sure without a doubt that the creature’s only weakness was the soft flesh under its upper fins.