The Middle Realm

by Charmaine Theron

  Elektra patted Pandora’s neck. “Are you ready Pan?”

  The Guardians surrounded them, and the soldiers waited in anticipation to witness the phenomenon of the flying horse. The old oracle waited in front of the temple doorway with Calypso on her shoulder and the white wolf, Lykou, by her side.

  Two magnificent wings sprouted from Pandora’s shoulders and audible gasps sounded all around. A thrumming noise filled the air as the mare beat her wings. Elektra leaned slightly forward, interlacing her fingers through Pandora’s white mane – there were no reins or saddlecloth so as not to encumber Pandora. Elektra gently nudged her with her heels and the mare trotted down the pathway. Once she reached the gap in the oak canopy, Pandora increased the tempo of her beating wings and she rose majestically, soaring through the opening and into the dappled sky. Elektra glanced over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of Ash standing in the clearing below, where only a few hours earlier he’d magically rained oak leaves over them. He waved and Elektra’s green eyes flashed with exhilaration.

  Pandora glided over the Wall and circled high above Mount Hieros, where they sailed through the black cloud that covered its topmost peak. The air rushed against Elektra’s face, transforming her pale cheeks into scarlet rosettes. Peering at the landscape below, she held her breathe at the sight beneath her – the ancient City was translucent in the moonlight. They circled a few times, as instructed by the Guardians and, when Elektra was satisfied that they were in the clear, she flew Pandora down to the stables in Aer Region.

  “This was your home,” Elektra whispered. “Do you remember it?” She led the mare toward the empty stable at the end.

  Pandora whickered softly and the stabled horses mirrored her. Her folded wings retracted and she morphed back into the gentle palomino horse.

  “I promise you’ll be safe here...”

  After stabling Pandora, Elektra left the stables and snuck along the cobbled road, heading in the direction of the houses. There weren’t any guards in sight which she found odd. Chance had explained to her where she would find Rachel’s house and she soon arrived at the front door.

  “Psssttt… Rachel,” Elektra called in a low tone.

  The house was quiet and no movement came from inside.

  Elektra picked up a loose stone from the cobbles and tossed it at the closed wooden shutters. It clattered and she ducked around the side of the house.

  “Damn, she sleeps like a log!”

  Glancing around, Elektra spotted a long pitchfork lying near the animals’ enclosure. That should do the trick! She scooped it up and proceeded to push a wooden box against the wall. Standing on the box, she reached with the pitchfork and tapped the tines softly against the wooden shutters on the second floor. Tap, tap, tap. Rachel did not appear. She had no choice but to bang the pitchfork against the shutters. The shutters swung inwards, hitting the inside with a clatter. Rachel’s alarmed face appeared at the open window, staring out toward the road.

  “Down here.”

  Rachel glanced down and her sleepy eyes widened in disbelief.

  Elektra placed her finger over her lips indicating for Rachel to be quiet. She pointed at the front door and propped the pitchfork against the side of the house. The door bolt unclicked and Elektra stepped inside.

  Upstairs in Rachel’s bedroom, the two conversed in hushed whispers.

  “I can’t believe it! My mother will be delighted! She always said you’d return.”

  “The others… they’re hiding at the oracle’s temple.”

  Rachel swallowed a huge lump that had formed in her throat. Scared to ask the question, her hands shook slightly as she smoothed her tunic down. Her words came out in a stutter, “Is-is Chance with you?”

  Elektra nodded.

  Tears swam in Rachel’s huge hazel eyes and coursed down her cheeks unchecked. “Tell him that I miss him.”

  “I will.”

  The friends hugged and, while Rachel wiped her tears away, Elektra explained how she had infiltrated the City.

  “Pandora – a Pegasus?” Rachel said in astonishment. “I can’t wait to see her.”

  “Shhhhh… Not so loud, you’ll wake your mother.”

  “Don’t worry about her. She’s with us every step of the way and it’s not hard to twist her arm anyway.” Rachel laughed softly.

  Elektra’s voice took on a more serious tone, “There’s a verbal directive from the Guardians.”

  “A directive?”

  “To spread the word that they’re back, but the message mustn’t reach Drakon or his men. They also want confirmation on the status of Thanos and Galene. Are they in the dungeons?”

  “They are. They’ve been helping us – the rebels that is – smuggle weapons out of the armoury.”

  “Good thinking ahead Rach. How many weapons so far?”

  “Not yet a hundred. But we found a loophole to get past the guards… gambling’s their main priority now and what they can win. Greedy brutes!”

  “We’re going to need a lot more than that,” Elektra said gloomily, but then her eyes lit up. “The Hajaran army… our army, we have extra weapons.”

  Rachel inclined her head. “Extra weapons?”

  “Yes, plenty. You know the book – the Book of Elements – Maksimos and Ash cast the element spells on our soldiers. They don’t need their swords anymore.”

  “So Ash had the book all along,” Rachel replied smugly as she tossed her blonde curls.

  “It’s come in handy.”

  “Raven’s been on the hunt for it here,” Rachel scoffed.

  “We’ll need your help to distribute the weapons throughout the City,” Elektra said.

  “Drakon’s men are everywhere during the day and we’re on lock-down from sunset until sunrise,” Rachel informed her.

  “Well I have news for you, while you’re on lock-down there isn’t a guard in sight.” Elektra pointed outside. “How do you think I made it here in one piece?”

  “A night mission. That’s what we’ll do!”

  “We’ll need to formulate a plan,” Elektra advised.

  “Alexis is the person to talk to about that.”

  “There’s one other thing though. There’s a stone, a magic stone called the Onyx. Maksimos lost it in the vortex long ago and we’re sure Drakon has it.”

  Rachel frowned, puzzled.

  “The possessor of the stone can control the weather-force and who knows what else. Remember the tornadoes during the Dark War – they were created from the stone’s powers.”

  “I haven’t seen a stone like that around.”

  “Drakon would keep it hidden. More than likely on his person – I doubt he’d leave it lying around.”

  Rachel touched her neck, jarred by a memory. “He wears a bronze locket around his neck.”

  “It’s possible that the stone’s inside.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing more… spread the word and make sure Drakon doesn’t find out.”

  “You have my promise. We’ll be ready here.”

  “In two days I’ll make contact with you – I’ll return here at midnight.”

  Rachel hugged Elektra.

  But as Elektra turned to leave, she swung back. “There’s one last thing I need to know. Abrax… is he at the stables?”

  Rachel’s face clouded over. “I’m sorry, but Raven has him.”

  As Rachel closed the door, Elektra moved off into the darkness and disappeared around the corner. Her visit had been successful and she was sure that Chance would be itching to know everything that Rachel had said. But her mind reeled at the thought that Raven had her beloved horse.

  Chapter 27

  A Dangerous Undercurrent

  Galene returned to the dungeons a few weeks after the guards had escorted her away when she’d fallen ill. Thanos was pleased to hear her shuffling around in her cell.

  “Galene… I’ve been worried about you. Your return, even though it’s back to these despicable dungeons,
has made me the happiest Guardian alive.”

  “In a weird sort of way Thanos I’m happy to be back too, but the stench here is unbearable.”

  “You’ve been gone too long….” Thanos crinkled his nose at the stagnant air. “I can’t even smell it anymore.”

  “I must tell you, Elethea is amazing. It’s close to a miracle that she healed me. She’s the next best thing to the Guardian of Aether.”

  “I thought I was the next best thing.” Thanos chuckled, while shifting his bed sideways. The wooden legs scraped the stone floor.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Making projectiles.”

  “To use against Drakon’s tornadoes?” Galene tittered. “It’s not going to work.”

  Thanos lowered his voice, “I’ve been thinking a lot while you were gone... there’s a reason why the guards said you mustn’t die or they’d be in trouble with Drakon.”

  “A reason? What reason?”

  “The Hecate,” Thanos whispered. “I’m positive he wants to open it.”

  “That’s crazy! He knows the risks – he knows of the prophecies.”

  “Shhhhh… keep your voice down.”

  Galene’s footsteps shuffled closer to the iron-grated door. “You might be right,” she replied in a hushed tone.

  “He wants to be the One.”

  “And that would destroy everything we’re working towards,” Galene said, her eyes darting up and down the passage in panic. “We must stop him.”

  “We’re planning a revolt… we’re smuggling weapons through the western tunnel with the help of Rachel and Dom.”

  Galene clasped her hands around the bars. “Who’s Dom?”

  “A friend of Rachel’s, but there are others who have joined the mission too. And when Kyros returns, he’s on our side already. Then there’s only Ash to persuade.”

  Galene gasped. “Drakon needs all the Guardians—”

  “I know…” Thanos trailed off.

  “All the Guardians…” Galene repeated. “But Aella’s gone. Maybe there’s still hope… hope that Aether doesn’t choose—”

  Thanos interrupted, “Aether will chose a new Guardian of Aer. In the prophecies it’s written that there’ll always be five Guardians present at the August Moon so, even if one dies moments before, a new Guardian will come forth.”

  “Which will be to our detriment.” Galene tapped her long fingernails on the iron.

  “Not if we unite. We can defeat him – I have faith in Aether.”

  Galene wasn’t so sure and she tutted softly to herself.

  Unexpectedly, heavy footsteps reverberated along the tunnel.

  “They’re coming,” Thanos warned. He hobbled over to his bed and dragged it across the excavation. Once it was in position, he lay down and curled up, pretending to be asleep.

  Meanwhile Galene perched herself on the rickety chair. She tugged her long, blue-tinged hair over her shoulder. Braiding always calmed her nerves.

  The guards arrived and Scrawny unlocked Thanos’s cell door.

  Gruff barked orders. “Get up! Lord Drakon wants to see you.”

  Galene discarded her braiding, lurching off the chair which clattered to the ground, breaking into pieces. “Thanos don’t go… I have a bad feeling.”

  “What choice do I have?” said Thanos dejectedly.

  The guards led Thanos away toward the amphitheatre. Shuffling behind them, he hunched his shoulders, muttering incoherently.

  Drakon entered the amphitheatre in a whirlwind, his black fur cloak flying around him. Sauntering purposefully across the Unity symbol, he stopped dead centre on the emblem of Aether. A tight cord restrained Thanos’s hands behind his back, but the two guards flanking him still held their swords at the ready.

  Thanos stared at the Dark Guardian, his back now erect, refusing to appear subservient to him.

  “Dismissed.” Drakon flicked his hand.

  Gruff and Scrawny retreated, disappearing into the tunnels.

  “Our symbol means unity, a unity that no longer exists. A rift between the Guardians brought on long ago because of influences far beyond our control.”

  “You are the only Guardian who divided us,” Thanos replied scathingly.

  Drakon ignored his rebuff. “There’s a dangerous undercurrent… an undercurrent that many don’t even know exists. But if we can find a way to fight it, to fight it together…”

  “An alliance will never work. You belong in Oblivion, Drakon.”

  Drakon clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “That’s not a nice wish for your Lord. You know that treason is punishable by death.”

  “You execute those who do you wrong. Making an example of Erebus hasn’t portrayed you as the formidable leader that you want to be. All its done is shown that you’re a coward – afraid of anyone who challenges you.”

  “Ahhh… word spreads quickly in the dungeons.”

  “It certainly does and pretending to care about the Seraphians is all a lie. You broke your promise when Galene and I surrendered. How many more Seraphians did you murder?”

  “Erebus refused to obey my command,” claimed Drakon, “and look where it got him.”

  “Your cunning tricks won’t work on me,” Thanos said calmly.

  Drakon threw his head back and guffawed. “Tricks! The only one playing tricks on anyone is the oracle. She snuck in here under the guise of a cripple, wanting to warn me.”

  “A cripple?” Thanos shuffled his feet wearily.

  Drakon indicated that he should sit.

  Thanos seated himself reluctantly on the marble podium; not liking the fact that Drakon could see his weakness.

  “She suggested that I release you and Galene. Have you ever heard of such an outrageous proposition?”

  Thanos remained silent.

  Drakon continued unabated, “She said our Realm is – what was the word that she used – unbalanced. That’s it. Unbalanced!”

  Thanos cleared his throat. “You know very well that the Realms thrive on harmony. Unbalance the natural cycle and it’ll be the end of us! And don’t forget, you have great experience at that – look at the Under Realm – it took you a mere two centuries to destroy it.”

  Drakon stroked his goatee as he carefully pondered his next words. “Don’t you get it? No one has destroyed the other Realms. Why do you think the Sphere is so strong here?”

  A puzzled expression flickered across Thanos’s face.

  “I see it’s getting to you too.”

  “What is?” Thanos asked.

  Drakon flapped his hand toward the enormous second cavern which housed the Sphere. “Every time the vortex opens, it drains the life from the others.”

  “The others…” Thanos said, shaking his head in disbelief. “…the others… as in the Realms?”

  “This Sphere here is evolving.”

  Thanos tugged at his beard. “Ash was never taught how to open the vortex and yet, somehow, somehow…”

  “And when we were exiled two centuries ago, that’s all it needed to start the slow destruction of the Under Realm,” Drakon stated.

  “So if the Hecate is opened—”

  “All can return to what it was before, once the energy is redistributed evenly between the three Spheres,” said Drakon.

  “But we don’t know if that will happen,” Thanos said.

  “The five Guardians must perform the ritual… together in unity.”

  “Are you preaching to me about unity?” Thanos’s voice thundered around the amphitheatre. “You, of all people! The Guardian who betrayed the Guardianship—” Thanos rose from the podium, “—the Guardian who murdered his friend.” His frail form reached its fullest height and he strode forward to stand on the outer edge of the Unity symbol, challenging Drakon.

  “You can’t see it… you’re blinded by it. This is why I returned. Not to rule your Realm, but to save it. To save all the Realms. To save us.”

  “To save us?” Thanos laughed hysterically. “You don’t want to s
ave anyone but yourself.”

  Drakon’s dark eyes narrowed, anger flashing through them. “How dare you… you don’t even know me anymore!”

  “You’ve gone stark staring mad – that’s more than enough to know.”

  “I’ll force you to perform the ritual… all of you. You cannot defy me.”

  “I was right! You want the power of all three Realms in the palm of your hand. You want to be the One. Even when you were the Guardian of Pyr you were never satisfied with having one gift – with only being able to control fire.” Thanos’s eyes darted around the symbol and focused on the Pyr emblem. “I should have known back then – Aether chose wrong. And Kyros was a worthy replacement for the likes of you.”

  Drakon’s rage exploded. He lunged forward, leaping over the circle and struck Thanos across the face. Stumbling backwards, Thanos fell onto the stone floor and bellowed out in pain.

  The commotion alerted the two guards who appeared in seconds, bolting between their Lord and the fallen Guardian. Drakon’s hands trembled as he rubbed his stinging palm. Thanos dragged himself into a sitting position, his hands still bound behind his back. The guards grabbed him roughly by each elbow, hauling him to his feet.

  “You seem to have forgotten, I am the Guardian in power and no one can stop me.”

  Thanos glared at Drakon refusing to back down. Pointed bones jutted from beneath his cloak when he squared his shoulders.

  “There is one who can,” Thanos replied resolutely.

  “When the August Moon appears in three days’ time, for each minute that a Guardian refuses to perform the ritual, I’ll kill a Seraphian, starting with Ash’s family – Myra, Emma and Hunter. The choice is yours. Either you help open the Hecate or you’ll be responsible for tainting a sacred event. Not only will the blood of the people I kill be on your hands, but their blood will taint the August Moon forever.”

  Drakon nodded toward the guards and, at his command, they hauled Thanos back to the dungeons.

  Chapter 28

  Mumbo Jumbo