The Other Worlds (The Other Worlds Series Book 1)

by M. L. Greye

  She snapped and Illein’s head jerked up. The light from the torch was a dramatic change from the blackness. Olinia couldn’t help but smile as her uncle’s lover gaped. “Evening, Illein.”

  “Who are you?” Illein demanded, leaping to her feet.

  “Not a lying whore like yourself, that’s for sure,” Olinia smirked. She’d noticed her brother’s head hit the floor after Illein left him.

  Illein’s eyes dropped to Zedgry and then lifted back to Olinia. “You’re his twin.” It wasn’t a question.

  “And you’re to be my aunt.”

  “What are you smiling for?” Illein raised an eyebrow. “If you came here for your brother, then take him. No one is stopping you.”

  “First, give me the vial.”

  “This vial?” Illein dangled it in front of her. “Why ever would you want this?”

  “Nia?” Zedgy croaked.

  “Zedge,” Olinia breathed, both startled and relieved at the sound of his voice.

  He stared up at her through glazed eyes. “Are you real?”

  Olinia crouched down beside him, wiping back the greasy hair that clung to his damp forehead. “I’m real.”

  Above her, Olinia heard Illein toss the vial to the side, smashing it on the stone floor. Apparently Zedgry had received enough after all. But now what were Illein’s intentions? Olinia reached out to both the familiar landscape of her brother’s mind and the unchartered labyrinth of Illein’s. She entered Zedgry’s first. Her own mind practically released a sigh of pleasure at once again experiencing the comfort of her twin. It was like returning home – or what Olinia imagined returning home would feel like.

  Zedgry must have noticed the linking, because a slight smile turned his lips upward. It is you.

  Of course it is. Olinia grinned, but the smile didn’t touch her eyes. Zedgry was still under the drug’s power. His mind was drowsy and unclear, thinking incoherently.

  And then suddenly she was inside Illein. The image of herself and Zedgry on the floor came to her so fast it was startling. Olinia blinked, completely unsure of how she managed to finally find Illein’s inner voice. But that didn’t really matter at the moment. The next image from Illein’s mind made Olinia’s head jerk up.

  Illein had pulled a dagger from her bodice and was ready to wield it. Olinia raised her eyebrows. “What do you intend on doing with that?”

  “Haven’t quite decided yet,” Illein replied, feigning innocence. A lie. Olinia could see exactly what she planned. Unlike with Zedgry, Olinia had kept her linking with Illein silent and undetectable.

  Zedgry looked up at the temptress. “It’s alright, Illein. This is my twin. She’ll help us escape.”

  Olinia rolled her eyes. “She was never a prisoner, Zedge.”

  But she was, Zedgry protested.

  No, Olinia let out a short laugh. Meet our future aunt.

  Aunt? Zedgry frowned. His head was pounding, making it hard for her words to connect. Olinia grimaced. He was wondering if he was even awake.

  “Get up, Olinia.” Illein’s voice brought Olinia’s attention back.

  “And do what, Auntie Illein?” Olinia mocked, straightening. “Do you honestly intend on hurting me with that?”

  “Your uncle would have liked to witness your death.”

  “What makes you think I’m about to die?” Olinia muttered. This wasn’t exactly the situation Olinia had in mind. Illein wanted to fight her, intending to win before turning her blade on Zedgry.

  Illein smirked, poising her knife for attack. “What makes you think you won’t?”

  “I don’t have time for this.” Olinia grunted and snapped her fingers, returning herself to paused time. “I’m a Wend, Illein. You had no chance.” She crouched down again and grabbed Zedgry’s shoulder.

  He turned to her, surprised. Weren’t you just standing?

  “You can speak out loud, Zedge.” She chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get up to someplace warmer.”

  “But Illein…” His voice trailed off as he glanced up at the red-haired beauty.

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Olinia replied. “I’ll make sure to lock her in here for safe keeping.”

  * * * * * *

  Once they were out of the dungeon, Olinia brought her and Zedgry back to the present, but invisible. She wasn’t willing to be found by any of the castle’s inhabitants. And Zedgry was heavy. He was also filthy. The scruff on his face was thick, but it did nothing to help hide his stench. Worse yet, he was still drowsy and unable to walk by himself. He was relying almost entirely on Olinia for support, and she was struggling. Apparently, he had needed all of the vial’s contents in order for the drug to leave him completely. Olinia groaned as she took another step. She was practically carrying her twin by herself.

  “Why are you here anyway?” Zedgry slurred his words. It was as if he was drunk.

  “I heard the Vrenyx was nice this time of year.”

  “Nice? The Vrenyx?” He pulled a face. “I would get someone else’s perspective.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” Olinia shook her head. Zedgry was definitely still out of it. But at least he was still alive.

  A few Nagreth suddenly rounded the corner up ahead and sped by. She wondered what their hurry was. Had Will and Sazx begun their duel with Dagon already? Olinia grimaced. If that was the case then she needed to double her pace. Will might be in need of her help. Letting out a moan, Olinia forced herself forward with a somewhat renewed vigor. Sadly, that wasn’t saying much. Even with the added effort, she was still moving at a snail’s tempo.

  “Is that Dallyn?” Zedgry pointed out ahead of them.

  Olinia turned. It was Dallyn. He was hiding in the shadows of an archway, sword in hand. Olinia let out a sigh of relief. He could help her carry Zedgry. She snapped her fingers and stepped into his sight.

  “Dallyn,” she hissed.

  He whirled. “Zedge?”

  “I’m here too,” she retorted.

  “So I see.” Dallyn grinned. He slipped beneath Zedgry’s other arm, relieving Olinia of her twin’s weight. “Need any help?”

  “Yes, please. How was Caprith?”

  “At the moment it belongs to you,” he replied. “The Dreens and Nagreth were no match for Eveon warriors.”

  Olinia rolled her eyes. “And the Dark?”

  “In the process of being unloaded of any living.” Dallyn pulled a face. “Awful work. Glad I’m not there to do it.”

  “Don’t blame you.” The image of the Dark was still far too fresh in her memory.

  “So, where are we going?”

  “To find Will.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Dagon’s study,” she answered. “Or at least that’s where he was the last time I saw him.”

  They continued down the stone hallway. Olinia was grateful for Dallyn’s help. It was nice being able to breathe again, even if she was still in range of Zedgry’s stench.

  “So, I’m guessing the shields are down,” Olinia noted out loud.

  “Shields?”

  She frowned. “Yes, the ones that were meant to keep out Eves.”

  He let out a short laugh. “Then, yes, they’re down.”

  Good work by Treveri and Caiden, Olinia mused. They managed to pull off their goal. Now, it was her turn. She was suddenly anxious to find Will. It was at times like these she longed to hear his mind.

  As they passed by a paned window, Olinia glanced out. She stopped in her tracks. Within a hundred yards from the castle was a dark grove of twining trees. The place gave her an eerie feeling.

  “What’s wrong?” Dallyn asked. He must have noticed her hesitation.

  “Those trees, what are they?”

  “Delvich.”

  Zedgry’s voice brought Olinia’s head around. “That’s Delvich?”

  He grunted. “It’s just as ugly on the inside as it is outside.”

  Olinia stared down at Delvich as Sazx’s words came to her. He’d said to destroy Dagon’s hold over Caprith
. That had been the Dark. Well, what was Dagon’s power source on the Vrenyx? It had to be Delvich. There was nothing more frightening than Dagon’s forest prison. It had to be destroyed. Olinia took a deep breath and released her brother, leaving him to Dallyn.

  “You’ve got to take Zedge to Evedon, Dallyn,” Olinia told him. “Have Fuladrik wake him up from whatever drug he was given.”

  Dallyn blinked. “Where are you going?”

  “To destroy Delvich.”

  “Alone?”

  “Will’s great-grandmother decimated Balinorre all by herself,” Olinia retorted. “Why can’t I do the same to some little forest?”

  “What?” Dallyn looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “How do you plan on destroying it?”

  “The same way she did,” Olinia tossed over her shoulder, hurrying past the Eve. “Get Zedge out of the Vrenyx.”

  “What about Will?”

  “Come back for him when you’re finished.”

  He sighed and shook his head, pulling out an Enblith from a small leather pouch at his belt. Just before Olinia rounded the next corner, she watched Dallyn and her twin disappear.

  * * * * * *

  The shields were down and Yrond’s troops were readying for invasion. Legann watched as each devatte emerged from Trevalon, marching for the castle. Dagon was in for a treat. Nearby, Treveri and Caiden were straddling a horse, whispering about something. Legann rolled his eyes. Why was he always stuck with a couple?

  “Legann, my boy.”

  He turned at the sound of Yrond’s voice. The king was approaching him atop his gray stallion, a truly monstrous beast. Legann avoided its eyes to subdue the sudden temptation to hear its thoughts.

  “I have another assignment for you. I am afraid it will take you away from the battle, though.”

  Legann shrugged. He didn’t really care. “That’s fine.”

  “I need you to find your sister and bring her to me.”

  “What about Treveri and Caiden?” Legann glanced over his shoulder at the pair.

  “I will be sure to keep them safely in the rear.”

  “Alright.” Legann tightened his grip on his horse’s reins. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Legann guided his horse around the troops toward a side entrance of the castle. Nagreth were just beginning to form loose ranks to meet the Eves. Legann frowned. There were no Nagreth leaders in command of them. Where was their captain? Legann neared the entrance, forcing his way through the scattered courtiers and servants struggling to run away from the castle before the inevitable battle broke out; he slung himself off his horse and began up the front stairs.

  Inside, the throng of bodies pressing up against him was even stronger. Legann gritted his teeth as he shoved his way through. Too many nervous Vrenyx locals. It was odd to see so many courtiers and no Nagreth among them. Were they really that unprepared for an invasion? Well, then again, this was the first one since the fall of Balinorre. The Vrenyx had become too comfortable with their reign of terror. Legann grunted at the irony as he observed the disarray. Even the Kendrens were more organized than this mess.

  “Legann?”

  A hand on his arm yanked him around. He blinked. “Olinia?”

  She’d spotted him when he was the one looking for her. She stared at him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came with our grandfather.”

  “Yrond’s here?” She blurted, perhaps a little louder than she should have. The crowd let out cries of distress and hurried to their exit with newfound speed. Legann and Olinia were caught up in the current. Within moments, they both were thrust outside onto the stairs Legann had just taken.

  Legann grabbed her wrist. “Come on, Yrond wants you.”

  “No, I’ve got to go to Delvich.”

  “Delvich?”

  She nodded. “I’m going to destroy it.”

  “Destroy it,” Legann repeated slowly. His eyes turned to the front of the castle. The Eves and Nagreth were facing each other. Even with the distance between the two forces, though, Legann knew he could never make it back to Yrond with Olinia before the sides met. He sighed. “I’ll come with you.”

  “No, you could get hurt.”

  “But you can’t?”

  “I might not get hurt?” She offered, smiling sheepishly.

  “Not even. I’m going with you.”

  She sighed. “Fine. But you better not stop me.”

  “I would never.” He grinned.

  Olinia led the way around the rear of the castle, avoiding the sudden outbreak of screams. She could hear the clang of steel. Was there a battle somewhere? If there was, then that was a perfect distraction. Her grandfather, whom she had yet to meet, would keep the Nagreth busy and far from her in Delvich. Relivaynt was not the only world under attack that night. How ironic. Even if the Nagreth conquered Relivaynt, they would have no home to return to. Their escapade would have been in vain.

  When Olinia finally rounded the last corner of Dagon’s castle, Delvich appeared. Legann pulled up alongside her as she hesitated before leaving the cover of the castle. High above them both, the moon shone brightly, giving them a clear view of the path to the forest. She frowned as the realization of what she was about to do impacted her.

  “You ready?” Legann asked, his voice hushed.

  She gulped. It was now or never. “We’ll have to run for it.”

  “I figured we would. How are we going to destroy it?”

  “Not we, just me.” She winced. “I’ve got to sacrifice my gifts, just like Tyra.”

  “How?”

  She let out a short laugh. Good question. There wasn’t exactly a horde of Crystal Gems lying around her for her to choose from. And even then, who knew if they would actually work on a Wend? No, she would have to do this on her own once she got inside.

  “You’ll see.” She tore off across the flatland.

  It only took Legann a moment to catch up to her. Olinia offered him a smile as they ran. Small thorns and thistles stuck to the hem of her gown from the rough undergrowth, but she didn’t dare slow her pace. Nor did she turn her head to watch the Eves and Nagreth as they fought. That would only distract her.

  They reached the outer line of trees and dove for its cover, panting. Olinia gulped in air, leaning one hand against a tree, while Legann bent over with his hands on his knees.

  Once they caught their breath, Legann raised his head. “Now what?”

  “Now, we go in.”

  His eyes scanned over the wall of twisted branches, vines, and bark. “How?”

  “Delvich was created to keep people inside, not out. I’m sure we can find some way in.”

  “I never said we couldn’t. I’m just wondering how you plan on doing it.”

  She stared into the mess of wood and greenery. “What if we shut our eyes and pretended it’s not there?”

  Legann laughed. “Really?”

  “What?”

  “That’s your idea?”

  “Not really.” She frowned. “It was just the first thing that came to my head.”

  “Should we try it?”

  It was her turn to laugh. “Are you being serious?”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “No…”

  “Then, let’s try it.” He smiled. “I’ll go first. If I disappear then you know I got in.”

  “Or you went through a portal,” she muttered.

  “Guess you had better follow me through fast,” he tossed over his shoulder as he headed into the twined forest.

  With a roll of her eyes, Olinia ran after him. “Wait up! I’m coming.”

  She latched onto his arm and clamped her eyes shut just as she reached the wall of trees. Afraid she’d end up smacking into something hard, she held out her hand in front of her. She wondered how they must look, suddenly feeling silly. The possibility of her grand idea actually working was slight. She prepared herself to hit a barrier, but it never came. Instead, she felt a shift in temperature, and an eerie silence
took the place of the distant clang of steel. Either the battle had come to a halt, or she had left the Vrenyx. Olinia opened her eyes, surprised. Beside her, Legann did the same. They both were greeted with darkness, barely brighter than the back of their eyelids.

  “I think we made it in.” Legann’s voice was a whisper, but he might as well have been yelling. “Did you end up closing your eyes?”

  She nodded. “Did you?”

  “I felt a little foolish, but yes.” He glanced over the forest. “So, where do we go from here?”

  The image of Tyra standing on a parapet, arms extended upward, drifted into Olinia’s mind. Tyra had produced a bowl around Balinorre by simply sacrificing her gifts. Couldn’t Olinia do the same? Taking a deep breath, Olinia released her brother’s arm and stepped away from him, lifting her eyes toward the roof of branches. She already knew what she would give up first, and the thought of letting her treasured gift go tore at her insides. How had Tyra managed to destroy all of her gifts? The pain of no longer having them must have been excruciating. Poor Tyra. Olinia was struggling with the thought of releasing just one.

  “Olinia?”

  She could hear the frown in his voice. She forced a small smile, even though it was obviously too dark for him to see. The smile was more for her own benefit – a failed attempt to calm her growing anxiety. “It’s alright, Legann. I know what to do.”

  “And what is that?”

  Olinia didn’t answer him. Instead, she took another step deeper into the mist encircling them. In her mind’s eye, she visualized her gift. It was her strongest, her most beloved. And she was about to forever rid herself of it. Olinia moaned softly as the memories surfaced. She saw her months of preparation, her weeks of experimentation, and finally her hours of perfection. She relived the moments she had spent in between time and felt again the absolute thrill of witnessing events that had already occurred. Then, she remembered her trip to Balinorre with Will. An adventure of a lifetime. Olinia flinched. That was one memory she shouldn’t have recalled. Globing with Will had given them a unique connection. To dissolve that connection seemed almost wrong. Almost. Olinia still knew she had to destroy Delvich.