Crystal Heart

by Whitney Morris

  I put my arm through again. Something grabbed me, and I screamed as I was pulled through. I slammed into Greg, who was laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” I yelled.

  “You and your girly screams.”

  I pulled my arm from his grip and shoved him, but he didn’t move. With my hand on his chest, I felt the muscles hidden by his jumper. He wasn’t as gangly as I first thought. Putting more force behind it, I shoved him again. He moved ever so slightly and laughed even harder.

  “We’re going to have to work on your upper body strength.” He looked me over. “We will have to come up with a proper workout schedule for you.”

  I threw my arms around myself. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “That you obviously haven’t spent your entire life under a strict training regime.”

  Did he just call me fat? Because it sounded like he did. I couldn’t help twisting to look at my butt. It was rather plump. This was ridiculous; I didn’t care what he thought.

  “What do you think?” Greg asked.

  “Think of—” I forgot what I was about to say as I finally looked at my surroundings. No longer was I in the sad little wood at the edge of my village. I was standing in a giant forest. In front of us was a river like no other I had seen before. It curved gently through the forest, making no sound as the water gushed downstream. The setting sun bounced off the water in a multitude of colours. The smell of pine and damp leaves filled my nostrils. I turned on the spot. The trees were full and green, swishing gently in the breeze. Twinkling lights glimmered throughout their branches. A twig snapped under my foot, bringing me back to reality. Greg had a smirk plastered on his face.

  He held his arm out to me. “Shall we explore, my lady?”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  I kept my hands firmly at my sides and walked to the water’s edge. He followed, leaving a small distance between us. It took everything I had not to run like an excited child in a play park. The water was the clearest I had ever seen. Multicoloured fish glimmered beneath the surface. My eyes widened. “Eritque arcus,” I exclaimed.

  “You have these on your side of the veil too?” Greg asked.

  I bit my thumbnail. “No, I don’t think so.”

  “But you’ve seen them before? Not a lot of people know what the technical name for rainbow fish is.”

  What was I saying? It was like my mouth was moving and words were coming out without my permission. I hadn’t seen these fish before, but it felt like I had. “I feel like I’ve been here before, in a dream.” I shook my head. I had just lucked out on the name of the fish. It was a good guess. I grabbed his arm. “I can’t swim,” I blurted out.

  “What? Well, I didn’t plan on going in the water.” He put his hand over mine.

  I pulled my hand away. “I don’t know why I said that. I’m a great swimmer.”

  Greg’s eyebrows pulled together as he rubbed his chin. Great, he was looking at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was. I put my hand on my forehead. It didn’t feel warm, but something was wrong with me. I was remembering things that hadn’t happened. Had I really dreamt them? Dreams can feel real, so why not a memory from one?

  “Are you feeling okay?” Greg asked. “Maybe we should head back.”

  He walked back the way we’d come, and I followed. I stared at my feet as I walked. I didn’t want to go back. We had barely started exploring, but for some reason, I couldn’t find my voice.

  Laughter chimed through the trees. My head shot up, searching for the source of the sound. More laughter flittered through the forest. There was more than one voice, and they sounded young. Without caring to see if Greg had also heard them, I twisted round and ran toward the sound. I pushed my way through branches and leaves. Something snagged my hair. I tugged it free and kept going. A bramble scratched my arm, drawing blood as I forced my way through a bush. I came out at a different part of the river. To my right was a stone bridge. On the other side of it was the source of the laughter. There were people playing in the water. I rubbed my eyes to check I was seeing clearly. They all had pale blue skin.

  The bushes rustled behind me. I spun round, grabbing a stick, ready to strike whatever creature came at me. I swung as Greg stumbled out of the bush.

  He stepped to the side, dodging my swing. He put his hands out in front of his chest. “Why are you attacking me?”

  “I thought you were a wolf or something.”

  “Well, I’m not. Why did you run off?”

  I pointed my stick at the water. “To see where the laughter was coming from.”

  He looked in the direction I pointed. “You could have said. I would’ve told you there was a water nymph village nearby.”

  “A what village?”

  “Water nymph.” He sounded out every syllable. I wanted to punch him. Just because I hadn’t heard him properly didn’t mean I was stupid. “It’s what they are, like how I’m a changeling.”

  “I guess they have water powers?”

  “Why else would they be in the river? They’re teaching their young the different techniques for manipulating water. Let’s get a closer look. I’m sure they won’t mind.” He walked toward the bridge and I followed.

  As we reached the bridge, the laughter stopped, replaced by worried whispers and big splashes. The water nymphs ran out of the river. Some older-looking nymphs had come running from the stone buildings in the distance. They appeared to be hurrying the others along.

  What were they so afraid of? I looked around for what they were running from when a harsh shiver shot down my spine. My chest tightened, and I struggled to get a breath. For all the beauty of the forest, there was something dark lingering over it. It felt like something awful was trying to push its way into the wood and snuff out all the goodness.

  Greg grabbed my arm. “We need to go.”

  He pulled me back through the bush, toward the tear. My whole body was trembling, and my legs wouldn’t move the way I wanted them to. He was too fast. I could barely keep up. My heart was pounding, my breathing harsh. Greg jumped over a branch. Even though I saw it, I fell. God, I was majorly unfit. Greg pulled me up, and I threw my arms around him.

  He went stiff in my arms. “What are you doing?” His voice broke at the end of the question.

  “I’m trying to get us out of here.” I squeezed my eyes shut and pictured my room. Now that I wanted to teleport, it wouldn’t work.

  “Well, it’s not working. Maybe we should go back to running.”

  I released him, and he seemed to relax. “I can barely keep up with you. My lungs feel like they’re about to explode.”

  “I’m not above dragging you.” He took my hand and tugged me forward. Greg came to a sudden stop, throwing up a barrier. I screamed as fire exploded in front of us.

  “Get away from her,” yelled a voice from behind the fire. I knew that voice. A fist made contact with the barrier, and it cracked. The fire cleared, revealing a person.

  “Matt,” I squeaked. He was untouched by the fire. Even his clothes were fully intact. Matt punched one hand into the other and pulled a whip of fire from his hand. He whirled it around and brought it down on the barrier, shattering it. Why was he attacking us? Greg muttered something. Matt wasn’t attacking us—only Greg. I just happened to be beside him.

  Matt whirled the fire around again. As he brought it down, I stepped in front of Greg. “Matt, stop this!” I shouted.

  Matt’s eyes widened. He looked like he was trying to stop the fire but couldn’t. I threw my arms up, preparing to burn. A heavy weight forced me to the ground. My nose and mouth filled with dirt. I turned my head to the side and spat it out. Greg was on top of me, with a barrier above us.

  “Are you crazy?” he yelled. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or Matt.

  Greg’s weight shifted, and I was pulled up by my arm. My whole front was covered in mud, and half my hair was caked in the stuff. I wiped the dirt from my face.

  “Matt, what the hell?” I said
.

  Matt ran toward me but crashed into another barrier. He glared at Greg. “Lower this now,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Greg threw his arm to the side, pointing at me. “You almost burned her.”

  Matt clenched his fist, and his top lip curled. “I was aiming for you. Why she would protect her kidnapper is beyond me.”

  “He didn’t kidnap me,” I said. So that’s why Matt came here, fire blazing. A shiver ran through me again. We needed to get out of here. I turned to Greg. “Lower the barrier.”

  I could tell by the look on his face that he could sense the darkness approaching too, but he also looked like he wanted to kill Matt. His better reasoning appeared to kick in as he lowered the barrier.

  “We need to get—”

  Greg’s voice was cut off by screams. I spun around. I couldn’t see anyone but us. The darkness was approaching. What if someone had gotten caught in it?

  “Save us!” a voice screamed through the trees. “Your Majesty, we need you.” Pleas for help echoed around me. Someone was shaking me. All I could hear were the pained cries. Where were these voices coming from? I dropped to the ground, clutching my ears.

  “I can’t. I’m sorry,” I yelled into the forest.

  Matt came into focus in front of me. His mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear him. I focused on him and tuned everything out. “What’s wrong?” he shouted. “Who are you yelling at?”

  “Don’t you hear the screams?” My voice sounded hoarse.

  Matt’s brow creased. “No one’s screaming.”

  Greg put his hand on my shoulder. “We need to get moving. The shadow is almost upon us.”

  Matt looked at Greg like he wanted to snap his hand off. I was pulled to my feet, my legs like jelly. Matt put his arm around me, supporting me as I ran. The screams got louder. My ears were burning, and I stumbled, falling against a tree. A jolt of energy shot through me. It was like nothing I’d felt before.

  “Don’t leave us. We have been waiting for you to return.” It was the tree talking to me. “You can save us. You are the light in the darkness.”

  “I don’t know how,” I whispered, leaning my head against the rough bark.

  “Embrace your role,” the tree responded.

  Matt wrapped his arm around my waist, supporting my weight, trying to get me to move again. I pulled away from him.

  “I can’t.” I patted myself down and pulled my pockets inside out. “No. No! I’m such an idiot. I left it at home.”

  “Mellissa, you’re scaring me,” Matt said.

  Greg tugged my arm as he pulled something from his pocket. “Are you looking for this?”

  “The Heart Crystal,” I exclaimed. “How?”

  “Did you really think I would let you leave it behind?”

  “How do I activate it?”

  He shrugged. “It’s been said the words will come to you if you’re worthy.”

  “Well, let’s hope I’m worthy.” I grabbed the crystal from his hand. Sparks of light shot through the forest. The crystal burnt with heat. A vortex of wind surrounded me. I wrapped my hands around the crystal, but it didn’t dull the light in the slightest. Power surged through me. My body tingled all over. My mouth began to move on its own. “Crystal Heart, I bind to thee to protect the land and keep the balance.” That voice—it was mine but someone else’s at the same time.

  Gregory

  As soon as Mellissa took the crystal, the forest filled with light. Greg was thrown back by the storm surging around her. He slammed into a tree. White light blinded him. Gusts of wind whipped around, trying to drag him off his feet. Greg put up a barrier, but the force coming from Mellissa cut through his magic like it was nothing. He clung to the tree, trying not to be blown away. Mellissa’s voice echoed through the storm. The winds died down, and Greg could see again. Mellissa was still surrounded by light, but it wasn’t as blinding. Her eyes glowed green. She pushed her arms out. The Heart hovered above her hands.

  “Release the light.” Her voice echoed with one that wasn’t hers. A pulse of light surged from Mellissa. It passed right through Greg, filling him with a warm feeling. The light spread through the forest, and the approaching darkness disappeared.

  The lights receded. Mellissa’s glow dulled. She stumbled forward, rubbing her head. “I have no idea what just happened.”

  “That was amazing,” Matt’s voice came from beside Greg. He hadn’t realised how close they were standing. Mellissa squeaked as the Heart Crystal threw out two orbs of light. They shot up into the sky. One flew south. The other plummeted back down toward them. It whipped up Greg’s hair as it sped past him. Matt yelped as the light struck him. Light surrounded him, and his eyes glazed over.

  “Matt!” Mellissa screamed. She tripped over her feet as she attempted to run to him. Greg was at her side in an instant. She pushed onto her knees, supporting herself on his arm. “What did I do to him?” Her voice croaked as her eyes filled with tears.

  “You didn’t do anything.” Greg looked back at Matt. Lights swirled around him. “It was the crystal. I think it’s deciding if he’s worthy.”

  Mellissa’s hand tightened around Greg’s wrist. “Worthy of what?”

  “Worthy of being your guardian.”

  Why would the crystal think this hot-headed fool was worthy? He was reckless and had almost harmed her in his foolish attempt at a rescue. Matt had been a part of her life for years. Maybe the fates had put them together. The lights burrowed into Matt’s body, and his eyes came back into focus.

  “That was intense.” He slid his fingers through his hair.

  Mellissa was on her feet in a flash and throwing her arms round Matt. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to. What happened?”

  Matt patted her back. “I’m fine. The lights were just explaining a few things to me.”

  “Explaining what, exactly?” Greg asked.

  Matt’s jaw tensed. He pushed Mellissa behind him. “I’m her guardian now. You can leave.”

  Rage bubbled in Greg. He’d never met someone who could anger him so much. “You may be her guardian, but someone needs to teach her the magic to seal Kadon.”

  “And what makes you think you’re qualified for the job?”

  “I have two degrees, and I am a qualified healer. I am an expert in defensive and sealing magic and speak over fifty languages. So far, all I’ve seen you do is almost burn the person you’re meant to protect.”

  Something like a growl came from Matt as his hands formed flames. Mellissa whipped round, putting one hand on his chest and reaching out with the other toward Greg. “No more fighting.” Matt mumbled something under his breath as he put out his flames. Mellissa let out a long breath. “Okay, can we get out of here? We can talk about all of this craziness back at mine.”

  Matt grabbed her wrist, spinning her around. “You cannot be serious about letting him know where you live.”

  “He already knows where I live,” she replied.

  Matt tugged at his hair. “Mellissa, why must you make yourself such an easy target?”

  Mellissa kissed her teeth. Matt wasn’t only getting under Greg’s skin, apparently. Hopefully Matt’s dislike of him wouldn’t harm the progress he’d made with Mellissa.

  “Let’s just get out of here,” Greg said.

  Mellissa nodded, heading south, back toward the tear. Matt gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to set Greg alight. He shoved past Greg, following Mellissa. This was going to be a long night. Mellissa had finally accepted the Heart Crystal, but her newly appointed guardian was going to be a problem.

  They walked back in silence. Matt kept close to Mellissa while shooting daggers with his eyes at Greg every couple of minutes. When they got back to Mellissa’s house, Greg was ordered to transform. Earlier, she had moaned about him not using the front door; now she wanted him to fly through the window. Matt, of course, got to waltz in with her. Admittedly, her dad already knew the warlock; he just didn’t know what he was. In order for Greg to
accompany them, there would have to be some sort of explanation as to who Greg was. If her father really didn’t know he had a part-elf child as Mellissa claimed, it would be a long conversation—one they didn’t currently have time for. Mellissa opened her window, and Greg flew in, shifting back to human form.

  “We’re going to have to have a long talk about your safety,” Matt said, scowling.

  Mellissa rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure if he wanted to kill me, he would have done it by now.”

  The room fell into awkward silence. The only sound was the ticking of a pink butterfly clock. Matt sat in the desk chair, swinging side to side and frowning. Greg had taken up position in the window seat. Mellissa was cross-legged on the end of her bed, looking between Matt and Greg.

  “Now what?” Mellissa said, finally breaking the silence.

  “We start your training,” Greg replied.

  “There is no we that includes you,” snapped Matt.

  “Are you going to teach her sealing magic?” Greg asked.

  “Yes—well, my mum will.”

  Greg folded his arms and leant against the window. “Your mother already told me sealing magic isn’t her expertise.”

  Matt jumped to his feet, hands on fire. Mellissa shot between them, hands up.

  “There will be no fire magic in my bedroom.” With a flick of his wrists, Matt’s flames went out. He sat back down, scowling at Greg.

  “Since when have you had a temper?” Mellissa asked, hands on her hips, looking down at Matt.

  “Since you started making terrible decisions regarding your safety,” Matt replied. “Why didn’t you tell me about him, anyway? I asked you about that rabbit. I knew he was a changeling.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe if you’d told me you were a warlock and I was an elf when a weird rabbit guy approached me, you would’ve been the first to know.”

  “It’s not that simple. We were forbidden to tell anyone about magic, and I had no idea about you. My mum kept that from me as well.”

  As much as Greg liked seeing Matt squirm, their argument wasn’t getting them anywhere. They needed to start training. Mellissa needed to learn sealing magic as soon as possible. The sooner he taught her what she needed to know, the sooner she could go reinforce Kadon’s seal. The world would be safe, and he could go home.