The Middle Realm

by Charmaine Theron

  Kyros shrugged. “The winged horse isn’t a problem. We should be concerned about the Ifrit and the book.”

  Elektra had since dismounted from Pandora and stood proudly at the creature’s side with her hand placed protectively on the arch of the mare’s folded wing.

  “It’s clear that the Ifrit wanted Elektra,” Ash reiterated worriedly, “there’s no one else here with red hair!”

  “Strawberry-blonde, actually,” corrected Elektra.

  “What the heck would it want you for?” said Zack bluntly.

  Elektra glared at him, taking his comment as an insult.

  Meanwhile Maksimos circled Pandora, but his intense scrutiny caused the mare to prance. She flung her head sideways, snorting profusely.

  “Master Maksimos…” Elektra stroked Pandora’s wing, calming her. “You’re making her nervous.”

  Maksimos shook his head, controlling his fascination with the magnificent creature. “Back to the Ifrit… back to the Ifrit.” He turned toward Ash. “What are we going to do with Elektra then?”

  Ash stared at him incredulously. Really! Had he just suggested that he wanted to trade Elektra?

  Elektra made a snorting sound in disgust.

  “That would be making a deal with the devil,” Ash said.

  “No… not to give Elektra to the Ifrit,” Maksimos corrected. He waved his hand dismissively in the air. “Another plan – if we have one.”

  A strained silence followed as everyone contemplated a solution.

  Elektra spoke first, breaking the tension. “What if we pretend to exchange me for the book? We have to get it back – without it our army is futile against Drakon’s power.”

  “What do you mean ‘pretend to exchange’ you?” asked Zahir.

  “We could dress one of the warriors up as a woman, pretending to be me. A shemagh could hide his face.”

  “And the red hair?” Kyros questioned. “Oh, sorry, I meant strawberry-blonde—” He glanced at Elektra apologetically. “Surely the Ifrit would notice?”

  Elektra tugged her thick, long braid from behind her back and pulled it over her shoulder. “I have plenty of hair… and it won’t take long to grow back.”

  “Ahhh… an excellent idea,” Maksimos agreed.

  Zahir cleared his throat and spoke earnestly, “Master Maksimos… I don’t know how to put this—” Zahir turned to face Ash, “And, no offence to you, Ash, but… I believe this mission should be left up to the experienced Hajaran warriors, especially after the last incident with the Ifrit, when it vanished along with the book.”

  “Mmmm… Ash you did act – well – irrationally,” Maksimos said.

  “But the Ifrit vanished when Zahir—”

  “Ash, I promised it that no magic would be cast… and then you went and created orbs,” Zahir responded harshly.

  “We can’t have this happening again,” said Maksimos. “It could jeopardise everything.”

  “But what if my orbs can harm the Ifrit? What if I can help – especially if the mission doesn’t go according to plan?” Ash spoke out determinedly.

  Zahir emitted a grunt.

  “Decision made… Ash, you can go…” Maksimos trailed off, distracted by Elektra’s shiny bracelet. Inclining his head, he stared at her arm. “Where did you get the Amulet?”

  Elektra glanced down at her arm. Her eyes clouded for a moment as memories of her father engulfed her. “My father – Hektor – he gave it to me as a gift for my apprenticeship as a Guide.”

  “Do you know what it’s for?” Maksimos’s expression altered, the deep frown disappearing as realisation set in.

  Elektra shook her head.

  Maksimos raised his thick eyebrows. “To ward off danger.”

  “Ha… that’s why!” exclaimed Ash. “That’s why the snakes’ eyes shine green… it’s to warn you that the enemy is near. Like what happened before Raven attacked—”

  “There’s more to it than that,” Maksimos interrupted in a low tone.

  “What?” Elektra said anxiously. “There’s no more to it… my best friend Alyssa…”

  “The Amulet, there’s more to the Amulet…” Maksimos corrected. “It’s believed to be magical and the magical powers protect the possessor of the bracelet. A mythical creature of the possessor’s unconscious mind can be summoned by this magic when death is imminent.”

  “Pandora – that’s why she transformed into the winged creature,” Kyros confirmed.

  “A Pegasus,” added Elektra breathlessly. “She saved my life. But… but how come Pandora never transformed into a Pegasus the day when… when Alyssa—” Elektra’s voice broke, as she tried to articulate the word but her throat constricted instead.

  “Alyssa was in danger of death, not you,” Ash said sadly.

  Elektra rested her head on Pandora’s arched neck. Tears poured unchecked down her cheeks, sliding onto Pandora’s golden coat and leaving silver trails over it.

  Kyros patted Elektra’s shoulder gently. “Elektra, you’re the possessor of the Amulet… a wonderful gift your father has bestowed on you.”

  “Pandora should change back to her former self within the hour now that her task is complete,” Maksimos informed them. “But the trick is that once the possessor can control the mythical creature consciously, she can summon it even when not in danger.”

  “All I get is a sword,” remarked Ash, “and you get a flying horse at your disposal.”

  Elektra burst out laughing.

  Kyros cleared his throat to regain their attention. “Getting back to the idea of the fake exchange… Elektra, you should start training a warrior tomorrow on how to walk and talk like you. He’s going to have to be small though… considering your size.”

  Elektra wiped the last of her tears away and nodded. “I’ll meet up with Rania. She’ll have an idea as to who we can choose.”

  Kyros shuffled closer. “And about Pandora… I’m sure a horse-warrior can prepare her for battle.”

  Elektra’s eyes sparkled and she turned expectantly to face Kyros.

  Kyros confirmed, “You are a horse-warrior now.”

  “Master Kyros…” Elektra said breathlessly as her smile spread from her eyes to her mouth, splitting into a wide grin. “That’s what I’ve always wanted to be.”

  Even though Elektra had narrowly escaped death and the loss of her friend had destroyed her spirits, Ash noticed that she was happier. Firstly, she had in her possession the Amulet that could deny her death and secondly, her dream of becoming a horse-warrior had finally come true – on a flying horse.

  Chapter 5

  Freedom for a Life

  The Third Realm

  So much had happened since the day Ash and the others had left the Third Realm. Rachel had documented the twenty-three days after Drakon and his followers, the Dark Legion, had won the Dark War. Thanos and Galene had surrendered, but Drakon’s army had still slain over a hundred Seraphians in the wake of the war. On the twenty-fourth day, Raven had arrested Rachel.

  Now six days had passed since her arrest and two guards had roughly escorted her from the dungeons to the amphitheatre in the Region of Aether. Behind her back, her tightly bound hands had turned ice-white. Rachel had begun to think that she’d be unable to hold her sword again due to the lack of blood supply.

  Intermittent wails escaped from the dungeons, echoing through the myriad of tunnels that lead to the heart of Aether. But Rachel refused to flinch, even though the anguished sounds ground through her bones. Instead, she focused on the agile figure circling her – like a wild cat on the hunt. Raven paced brazenly, flicking the sharp tip of her dagger against her index finger and drawing blood. Red rivulets streamed down her arm and dripped from her elbow onto the sacred Unity symbol, tarnishing it.

  Raven narrowed her eyes and a wicked grin played at the corner of her mouth. “Did I ever tell you what I did to your friend?” The red oval-shaped gem in the dagger gleamed.

  Rachel’s heartbeat quickened and she gasped, letting her s
trong outward facade fall for a moment. Chance, I pray it’s not Chance.

  “She never squealed when I killed her… but I’m hoping that you will…”

  Rachel was instantly relieved that it wasn’t Chance, but then she was appalled at herself for even thinking that. Much to her torment she realised that Raven must have killed one of her friends. Elektra or Alyssa? She attempted to hide her distress, but her eyes blurred as they pooled with tears.

  “So… you do cry – all the more exciting.” Raven slid in closer to Rachel. “They all escaped… along with that insipid-looking horse.”

  “Pandora?”

  “I don’t care about the horse. But what I do care about is the book.”

  Rachel remained silent; she refused to divulge any information to this evil woman. If she had to die to protect the last of her people, then so be it.

  “I see the game you’re playing. If you refuse to talk then my friend over there knows a trick or two.” Raven brushed Rachel’s hair off her shoulder and smeared her tears across her cheek with her bloodied finger.

  Rachel swallowed her cry of fear, doing her best not to show Raven her weakness.

  The warrior with the scarred face who stood discreetly by the marble podium stepped forward.

  Rachel shuddered at the memory of him striking her mother.

  “Raven,” he said in a gravelly tone, “may I?” He dipped his head as he waited for her acknowledgment.

  “Nikolas…” she said trustingly in a smooth voice, “…go ahead, with pleasure.”

  “You look like your mother, but I find your mother far more attractive,” he insinuated.

  “How dare you!”

  “But little lady I don’t need your permission. And I don’t need your mother’s permission either. We rule the Third Realm – and, well, most of the warriors are looking for someone to wed.”

  “Over my dead body! You’ll have to kill me first to get to her.”

  Before the war Rachel had trained as a soldier for the Arete Army. She had gained tremendous courage from her training. Once before when she’d been scared beyond her wits, trapped with Chance in the Groves of Dodona, where they’d narrowly escaped, the anonymity of their enemy had frightened her. Rachel preferred facing her adversary head-on, so she could focus her entire being on them. This was what drove her forward – fight, not flight – the instinct to protect herself and her allies.

  “But… little lady,” he drawled, “how’re you going to protect her… you’re here and she’s… well, there?”

  “I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” Rachel locked eyes with Niko, “But on one condition!”

  Raven kicked the chair that Rachel sat on. “We’re not following your rules.”

  Nikolas lifted his hand, indicating to Raven that he had the situation under control. “Go on, little lady.”

  “Release me to my mother and promise me that you’ll leave us alone.”

  “It depends on the information that you have for us – about the book’s whereabouts,” Raven said.

  Niko glanced at Raven and bobbed his head.

  “Okay,” Raven acquiesced, “your request is granted.”

  “At first the Seraphians spoke openly about the book – telling me that the book and Ash were our only hope. But the more I questioned them, the more they didn’t want to speak… they became suspicious. Perhaps they assumed that I was passing this information on.”

  “To who?”

  “Let her finish,” Niko intervened.

  Rachel remained silent for a few seconds, gathering her thoughts. Eventually she whispered, “Release me… and I’ll continue.”

  “You little—”

  Niko stepped forward with his hand out and Raven passed her dagger to him. Rachel cowered on the chair, ducking below the shiny blade as he lunged at her. Skilfully, he flicked the dagger behind her back and sliced through the cords that bound her hands. He slipped the dagger into his belt.

  Rachel rubbed her arms, stimulating the blood flow back into her hands. She flexed her fingers, easing the numbness. Looking up she stared straight into Raven’s dark, emotionless eyes.

  “Ash has the book,” Rachel declared.

  “Are you certain of this?” Niko questioned.

  “I can’t be… but an old Seraphian – she was hiding in the armoury at the time – is rumoured to have witnessed Ash and Master Kyros taking the book from the casket.”

  “Where is this Seraphian now?” Niko probed.

  “I… I don’t know.”

  Raven narrowed her eyes. “How convenient.”

  “It’s the truth. The rumour spread a few days before you arrested me. This crazy woman, who’s claiming to be a Prophet, said that Ash would return with the book to save us all. She claims she had a vision, but I’m not sure if it’s true. That’s what I heard.”

  Raven confirmed part of the story. “I witnessed them escaping through the tunnels. And Chance had a bag… the book might’ve been in there. I should’ve killed him along with your friend Alyssa.”

  Bile rose in Rachel’s throat. Alyssa was dead. That meant Elektra could still be alive.

  “Why didn’t the old woman escape with them?” Niko pressed Rachel for an answer.

  Rachel averted her eyes, not wanting to disclose the next part of the rumour as this would lead Raven to the old woman.

  “Tell us! If you don’t, I’ll renege on my promise,” Raven threatened.

  “This woman… this woman is believed to have a crippled foot.” Rachel’s shoulders sagged. She knew that by giving them this information she was trading her freedom for the woman’s life and it gutted her.

  Niko’s amber eyes glinted with satisfaction. “She should be easy enough to find.” He circled intimidatingly around Rachel, so close that his hip brushed against her arm. Rachel’s hand flicked out, the movement unnoticed by the others.

  “You know what to do,” Raven said directly to Niko as she smirked sadistically.

  Niko stepped away from Rachel. “Little lady… you’re free to go,” he drawled.

  Rachel heaved herself from the chair and hastened out of the amphitheatre. As she headed home her thoughts were in a whirl. Thirty days had passed since Chance had escaped and not knowing what had happened to him was destroying her, but she couldn’t sit around and do nothing. Rachel absent-mindedly touched the small dagger hidden beneath her sleeve. And in that moment, an idea burst into her mind.

  Chapter 6

  A Witch’s Trick

  Raven bowed her head before Drakon, her eyes riveted on the stone floor. Erebus waited nearby but Raven had ignored his entire presence when she’d entered the amphitheatre. Drakon was the one she faithfully and unfailingly obeyed, but she had failed to capture Ash and the other Guardian, Kyros, during the Dark War, so she knew she had to prove to Drakon that she was capable of other missions. She’d witnessed Ash unlocking the Book of Elements in the Groves of Dodona, but the discovery that Ash was the Guardian of Aether had overshadowed the importance of the book. After the war she’d informed Drakon and, when his interest had been piqued by the spellbook, it had become her number one priority to find it.

  “At ease,” Drakon said.

  Raven raised her head but focused on Drakon’s narrow mouth; avoiding eye contact was a sign of respect.

  Drakon lifted his hand and groomed his black moustache and goatee into shape. “Raven,” he greeted her warmly. “What news of the book?”

  She’d have to win him over if she wanted his permission to proceed with her plan. She spoke confidently, “Lord Drakon… new information has come to light.”

  “Go on,” Drakon prompted.

  “I’ve interrogated the girl Rachel – one of Ash’s friends. She’s informed me that Ash has taken the book through the vortex, but I need to confirm this by placing a reward for the citizen who finds a crippled woman – one who might have further evidence of this.”

  “A crippled woman?”

  “It’s believed that she
witnessed Ash removing the book from the armoury. Once I get all the facts from her, I’ll dispose of her.”

  “I’ve never heard of a crippled woman here,” Drakon said suspiciously. “Make sure it’s not a trap.”

  Raven’s eyes dropped to Drakon’s chest, fixing on the bronze locket that hung around his neck. She hesitated before replying. “The truth is that, so far, it’s only proven to be rumours, but there’s a chance that the book might still be here. I want to offer a reward… food and clothing would be best. I’m sure someone will hand her over.”

  Erebus, who had been silent the entire time, strode forward. He eyed Raven intently. Raven sensed his distrust of her which is why she trod so cautiously around him. She nodded her head in acknowledgment of him, since ignoring him further might be to her detriment.

  “Let her go ahead, Lord,” Erebus advised.

  Raven raised one eyebrow. Did Erebus have a hidden agenda?

  Erebus continued, “It’ll help single out the trustworthy Seraphians. And, might I suggest immediate execution for whoever is harbouring the cripple. That’ll teach them not to rebel against our rule.”

  “Our rule…” Drakon laughed. “My rule.”

  Raven smirked at Drakon’s correction of Erebus’s words.

  Just then an icy wind channelled through the cavern’s opening and the temperature plummeted rapidly.

  Drakon tugged his black fur cloak around his neck, pulling it closer to his body. “Do whatever you need to in order to find the book, but keep me informed.”

  “I will, Lord,” said Raven.

  “You’re excused.” Drakon smiled and bobbed his head.

  Raven exited the amphitheatre and went in search of Niko, who would help her track the whereabouts of the Book of Elements.

  Niko’s eyes glinted when the early morning rays caught the amber flecks in his irises. Raven had first noticed him when they were in the Under Realm, but back then she had remained guarded, watching him warily out of the corner of her eye. She had been aware of his dislike of her friend Agares, but when the Dark War had taken Agares’ life, Niko had stepped up and befriended her since they had conquered the Third Realm.