The Middle Realm

by Charmaine Theron

  Dumbstruck, Raven crouched motionless between the stone benches. Moments beforehand she had accidently overheard Drakon and Thanos’s conversation. After the guards had taken Thanos away, Drakon had roamed aimlessly around the cavern muttering under his breath. But now he too had left and Raven was alone.

  She couldn’t wrap her head around what she’d just heard. Thanos might be right; Drakon wanted the power of the Realms. He’d purposely not told her about the other prophecy and this could be why. Raven’s mind whirled between the different scenarios. After pondering a while, she decided to continue her search for the portal. She examined the Unity symbol on the floor for the umpteenth time, tracing her fingertips over every square inch of it. Exhausted, she finally collapsed onto the stone benches.

  Holding her head in her hands, she drummed her fingertips against her cheekbones, thinking aloud. “A sacred place he said… but there’s nothing here...”

  “This isn’t the only sacred place,” a husky voice drawled from within the tunnels, startling Raven.

  Leaping off the bench she spun toward the familiar voice.

  Niko stepped haughtily out of the shadows into the lambent candlelight. A smile curled at the corner of his mouth and his amber eyes raked Raven. “If you want… I can help you look?”

  Raven’s mouth flopped open, speechless. How was she going to explain the symbol to him? Drakon’s strict instructions were not to tell Niko. The familiar tightening of her chest squeezed her lungs, she gasped for air and her head spun. Dizziness overcame her and she staggered sideways, crashing against the stone benches. Before Raven even hit the floor she was out cold.

  Raven awoke with a cold compress over her forehead. She was in her chambers, tucked up in bed. After removing the compress, she prodded the tender lump that had formed on her temple. Grimacing, she replaced the compress.

  Niko stood at the end of her bed, gazing intently at her. “You shouldn’t go fainting like that. It scares people.”

  Raven folded her arms over her chest and hugged herself tightly. “I fainted?”

  “You sure did.”

  “But, that weird feeling… I’ve had it before. It’s like… like I’m suffocating.”

  Niko turned and strode over to the window. He stared out into the blackness. “After the Awakening, something happens to us.”

  “After? What do you mean?”

  “The Sphere here is unlike the other Spheres.”

  “I don’t get where you’re going with this.” Raven looked confused. “Are you saying that you and I are different… because you’re from here and I awakened in the Under Realm?”

  “The Spheres are different, but it doesn’t make us any different. They heal and rebirth us in the same way. The reopening of the vortex made it possible for the rebirthing of the recruits – for your awakening. It had something to do with the reconnection to the Realms.”

  Niko paused for a few seconds, before swivelling around to face her. “Here, in this Realm, this Sphere has a plasma core filled with immense energy – the energy source that the Guardians tap into and use to control the elements. As we know, the Guardian of Aether uses this energy in his healing. He’s the most powerful – that’s why he can heal himself and others in all the Realms. It has to do with the Trinity. But… there’s more to this. I just haven’t figured it out yet.”

  “What would it matter anyway? They’re probably all dead.”

  “Hmmm… but they’re not. They’re alive.”

  Raven raised an arched eyebrow questioningly. “Drakon seems to think so too.”

  “But you don’t look convinced?”

  “How can I be without proof?”

  Niko’s face remained impassive.

  Flinging the fur blanket aside Raven clambered out of bed but a dizzy spell forced her to sit back down and she clutched her head. Gradually her vision cleared.

  Niko stepped toward her, but Raven ignored his gesture to help.

  “Think about it logically, Raven. Aether hasn’t chosen any new Guardians yet. If they had died, new ones would have come forth by now. Maybe not all of them, but at least one.”

  She couldn’t figure out if Niko was telling her the truth. First Drakon had divulged that Ash was alive, and now Niko was implying the same thing. Was this a coincidence?

  “You’re so self-absorbed in getting the one thing that you want that you haven’t noticed anything else around you.”

  “What are you talking about?” Raven glared at him.

  “The strange feelings that you’re experiencing… that you’re resisting.”

  “Am I undergoing some kind of transformation?”

  Niko laughed. “You’re not changing into a Guardian if that’s what you think. It’s something else.”

  “Can you make it go away? It’s driving me crazy!”

  Niko faced her square-on and she squinted in the wavering candlelight at his disfigured face. She longed to trace his scars and feel the raised surface beneath her fingertips.

  “You’re the only one who can fight it.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because I did,” Niko revealed. “It starts deep in here, before it moves here.” Niko tapped his chest first and then his head in succession when he said this.

  Confusion flashed in Raven’s eyes. What was Niko on about? His irrational talk was making her head spin even more.

  Niko dropped his arm to his side and explained further. “The Seraphians meditate – they’re taught this after their Awakening. They believe it’s to suppress negative energy. But this is untrue. During this process they’re told to visualise the Sphere, the centre of their core.”

  “But that’s not such a bad thing for them. They’re always trying to live a pure life.” Raven pulled her mouth askew. “It actually makes me want to vomit.”

  “But they use the meditation as a form of control.”

  Raven narrowed her eyes at this.

  “Before I was exiled I used to monitor the neophytes closely. I’ve always been fascinated with the Awakening. At first, they acted normal; confused, but normal. Then gradually over time, the more they meditated, the more suppressed they became. They’re like sheep following their shepherd in a perfect world. But little do they know. Their world isn’t perfect.”

  “Where’re you getting this mumbo jumbo from?”

  “It’s not mumbo jumbo. This is from my observations over time. What I’ve gathered is that some Seraphians can resist it. Particularly the more resilient ones – like you and I.”

  “Resist what?” Raven questioned. “You’re not making any sense at all.”

  “There’s more to this than meets the eye, Raven.”

  “Maybe one of the Guardians wants to be their shepherd,” Raven added thoughtfully. “That’s why they introduced the meditation in the first place.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Niko replied hesitantly, shaking his head. “I’m trying to figure it out. I’m getting closer to the answer each day.”

  Raven chuckled. “So you’re throwing around your unfounded theory about what this strange feeling is that I’m having. Well, just so you know, I’ve never meditated a day in my life and I certainly don’t plan to… so you might as well toss your theory right off the mountainside.”

  “But this Sphere—” Niko pointed toward the second cavern. “—this Sphere is more powerful than ever before.”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “Evolution.” Niko’s eyes locked onto Raven’s eyes.

  The hairs on Raven’s arms rose.

  “So, do you want me to help you look for whatever you’re searching for?” He flashed her a broad smile.

  Raven frowned. “Can I trust you to keep a secret?”

  “You can.” Niko raised an eyebrow as he waited for Raven to continue.

  Raven paused for a moment. “Drakon wants me to find a symbol.”

  “What kind of symbol?”

  “A triangle engraving, a portal of some sort.�
��

  “It must be important to him?”

  “He specifically instructed me not to tell anyone.”

  “Then what are we waiting for – let’s go find it.”

  Chapter 29

  The Keeper of the Keys

  The greatest obstacle for Raven and Niko would be to cross the Wall. In Aer Region, the Seraphians had repaired the broken Wall while they were under Drakon’s dictatorial rule. Raven had suggested that perhaps they should climb the Wall, but Niko had said it was impossible. The only other option left to them was for a Guardian to open the doorway. Raven suggested Thanos, but Niko wasn’t keen on this idea. Eventually he buckled under her persuasive persistence.

  “It’s risky,” Niko advised. “If a guard discovers that he’s missing—”

  “Not if we’re back before sunrise.”

  “Are you sure they’re not guarding the dungeons at night anymore?” Niko asked.

  “Not since the lock-down.”

  “Useless bunch… their gambling and drinking is more important.” Niko shook his head in disgust.

  Raven and Niko snuck into the chamber where the guards slept. Niko waited by the door. Raven tiptoed past the two guards who were sleeping sprawled on the floor on straw mats. She reached out and lifted the iron ring of keys from a hook on the wall. So much for being the keeper of the keys, Raven thought.

  The guard on her left snorted and shifted position. He grabbed Raven’s ankle, but she didn’t flinch. Bending over she pried his grimy fingers from her leg. Careful not to knock over the empty wine chalice on the ground, she wriggled out of the man’s clutch. Glancing over her shoulder, she grinned wryly at Niko.

  Niko rolled his eyes and mouthed to her, “Close call.”

  Nimbly she leapt over the two guards and exited the chamber.

  They headed toward the dungeons. Raven approached the iron-grated cell door with the keys in her hand. Niko hung back in the tunnels keeping a lookout for uninvited guards. Trying hard not to rattle the keys too loudly, Raven eventually selected the right key after four tries.

  Thanos had already woken and had perched himself on the corner of his bed. He stared at Raven, his brown eyes questioning. Dishevelled and exhausted, his long grey hair was a tangled mess and his tunic was creased.

  “What’s going on?”

  “You’re coming with us,” Raven instructed. “And be quiet.”

  Thanos shuffled in front of them along the winding tunnels. Niko skulked in the shadows, staying out of the oil-lamps’ glow. Soon they reached the amphitheatre and descended the stairway.

  “What’s happening?” Thanos asked persistently. “Where you’re taking me?” His forehead furrowed when he caught a glimpse of Niko. “Do I know you?”

  Niko shook his head, turning the scarred side of his face toward Thanos.

  “I told you to be quiet,” Raven hissed. She shoved Thanos down the last few steps.

  They made their way to the Agora where a harnessed black stallion and cart waited.

  Raven stroked the horse on his forehead on the white star marking his coat. Untethering the horse, Raven sprung onto his back. Niko assisted Thanos into the cart.

  Raven clicked her tongue. “Let’s go Abrax.”

  Abrax’s hooves clip-clopped on the cobbled street and the cart’s wheels squeaked with each turn.

  Thanos stared unrelentingly at Niko.

  “No one will come outside,” Raven said, as she tilted her head at the noise. “They’re too scared of what’ll happen to them if they get caught on the streets.”

  When they reached the Wall in Gaia Region, Raven dismounted. She unharnessed Abrax from the cart and let him loose in the orchard. To the right of the boulder valley was an overgrown trail that led to the doorway.

  Niko ordered Thanos. “Open it.”

  Thanos gazed up at the massive Wall in front of him with his arms outstretched. He squeezed his eyes shut. A glimmering crack appeared in the stone, but only a small doorway opened.

  “Not too bad, old man.” Raven patted Thanos on the back. “You’re coming with us.”

  They ducked through the gap, but Thanos was too weak to close the doorway so they had no other choice but to leave it open.

  Weaving between the enormous oak trees they headed in a southerly direction toward the Groves of Dodona. Once on the pathway their pace evened out and their journey became easier. Thanos selected a strong oak branch, using it as a walking staff. Raven eyed the staff suspiciously, even though she knew it couldn’t be a magical one.

  As Niko led them deeper into the woodlands, Thanos questioned him, “Do you know the way? Have you been here before?”

  Niko shrugged non-committedly.

  They passed the dead Hamadryads and Thanos remained silent. Tears streaked his ashen face and he turned away from them.

  Raven glanced around, but her face remained impassive to their cruel death.

  Niko’s hand shot up and they stopped abruptly. Raven bumped into his broad back and she stepped backward unsteadily.

  “Something’s not right,” Niko murmured.

  In front of them the stone temple loomed up through the swirling mist.

  “I never trusted that evil witch.” Raven shivered at the sight of the stone temple.

  Thanos breathed heavily. “It’s only a bit further…” he trailed off.

  “Shhhhh,” Raven hissed when she heard a rustling sound.

  Red eyes peered out of the darkness. Raven slid alongside Niko and he thrust his arm out, preventing her from passing. She disregarded his attempt to stop her and shoved his hand out of the way. Raven strolled forward. Kneeling down on one knee, she stretched her hand out. The eyes blinked in recognition and the animal came closer. A wet muzzle thrust into her open palm. Unexpectedly the white wolf launched itself at Raven, knocking her to the ground. Raven tried pushing the wolf off, but the animal wouldn’t budge.

  For a moment fear gripped her heart, but when the wolf planted a wet tongue on her cheek, her fear subsided. A low whistle in the distance dislodged the excited wolf from her.

  Chapter 30

  Scars of Betrayal

  Niko lunged forward but the wolf leaped sideways, followed by a long, low whistle. Raven laughed and wiped her cheek. Confused, Niko hesitated, unsure of what was going on. The wolf scampered down the pathway and disappeared inside the temple.

  “That wolf.” Raven said. “That’s the wolf that saved me.”

  “The alpha wolf?” Niko replied incredulously.

  Raven bunched her eyebrows together. “Where’s Thanos?”

  Niko’s eyes scanned his surroundings but Thanos was nowhere in sight.

  “You let our prisoner escape?” Raven shoved herself off the damp ground. Spinning in a circle, her eyes searched the darkness.

  “You were being attacked.”

  “The wolf wasn’t attacking me. It was happy to see me.”

  “Happy? Wolves don’t know how to be happy. All they know is to hunt and kill.”

  “This wolf’s different.”

  “The wolf’s name is Lykou,” a voice boomed from behind them and Raven jumped.

  Maksimos stepped out of the shadows and sauntered toward them. “Nikolas… fancy meeting you here – in the woods of all places.”

  Niko’s dark face paled. “You’re… you’re not dead?”

  “Surprise, surprise.” Maksimos flung his hands into the air.

  Niko rubbed his eyes.

  “I promise you, I’m not an apparition.”

  “How… how’s that possible? Drakon stabbed you.”

  “He did indeed, but the Hajaran tribe saved me.”

  Niko thrust his hands through his hair. “So all this time you’ve been alive?”

  “And so have you, sadly,” Maksimos remarked, and then added, “a traitor in my eyes.”

  Niko’s tone was low when he replied, “Is that what you call me now? Doesn’t it depend on whose side you’re on?”

  “Ahhh… I should have
killed you when I had the chance.”

  “But sadly you didn’t. I survived instead – with the scars as a bitter reminder of you.”

  “The scars are not enough,” Maksimos retorted harshly. “They only left a surface mark… they didn’t teach you a lesson here.” Maksimos tapped his finger against his temple.

  Raven’s eyes darted between Maksimos and Niko. She swallowed her fear in a large gulp. They knew each other. And what had Niko done?

  Raven’s mind flashed back to when she had overheard the Dark Legion talking on the first night when she had awakened in the Under Realm. Niko’s venomous words rang crystal clear in her head. “No, the other Guardian… the one who Drakon killed. I blame him.” He had been talking about Maksimos.

  Niko clearly despised Maksimos. And Maksimos despised Niko.

  Niko’s husky drawl startled her back to the present. “And you never learnt your lesson by returning to the Third Realm.”

  Maksimos chuckled but never answered.

  “And why did you come back anyhow? To kill Drakon or the others?”

  “The others?” Maksimos questioned curiously, as he stroked his platinum beard.

  “Playing dumb doesn’t work with me. You know very well that they’re going to mess up your plans.”

  “There’s only one who needs to be eliminated.”

  Niko inclined his head. “Me?”

  Maksimos guffawed. “You think highly of yourself – you’re not that important. You’re only one puzzle piece in this whole thing.”

  “They’ll never forgive you,” Niko retorted bluntly.

  “Do you even know what that word means? You were the one who colluded with Drakon – you sold the Guardians out. They’ll never forgive you.”

  Maksimos towered over Niko, but he stood his ground, refusing to back down against the imposing seven-foot tall Guardian. Partly hidden behind Niko’s broad shoulders, Raven crouched in such a way that she could sneak a glance at Maksimos’s explosive face.

  “Thanos had nothing more to offer me.”

  “You were his right-hand man. Thanos held you in the same esteem as a son… his own son, the one he’d never have. We’re only meant to serve Aether, but he devoted his life to you.”