The Middle Realm

by Charmaine Theron

  Drakon’s face crumpled in rage and he bellowed at the guards. “What’s going on here?”

  The guards promptly scurried toward them, muttering apologetically, and hauled Ash to his feet.

  When Ash entered the temple the mustiness itched his nostrils, causing him to sneeze. He eyed the oracle warily but she was oblivious to his stare. She patted Lykou energetically; the wolf had loped in behind them.

  Drakon slammed the door. The two guards stood to each side, their shiny spears pointing to the roof.

  “Move the benches,” Drakon ordered.

  Four guards appeared out of nowhere and lugged the heavy wooden benches aside.

  Calypso flapped her wings huffily and flew to her perch. Ash never looked up; instead, he stared at the bare floor. There, faintly engraved in the stone was a large triangle, measuring ten foot each side. The third portal had been right beneath his nose all along.

  From the back of the temple a movement caught Ash’s eye. A small figure emerged from the shadows and indigo blue eyes stared back at him, mirroring his own. Ash’s heart lurched.

  The child approached and Ash let out a cry.

  A cloth firmly bound the child’s mouth. The girl stumbled when she reached him and her tiny arms encircled his waist for support. Ash scooped her up, hugging her tightly and ruffling her hair. But, as he was about to remove the gag, Drakon strode over and tore Myra from his arms.

  “I have an ultimatum for you,” Drakon said.

  Ash’s sister would always come first, even before the Guardianship. There was no way he could turn his back on her. He’d agree with anything that Drakon wanted him to do.

  Chapter 37

  The Vanishing Book

  Drakon held Myra by the back of her tunic. She struggled, but this only caused Drakon to tighten his grip on her. The guards restrained Ash. He stared intensely at Drakon, so much so that the Dark Guardian took a tentative step backward.

  “Go ahead,” Drakon indicated the portal, “don’t let me hold you back.”

  Ash remained motionless even though the guards had now released him.

  “If you don’t, she’ll lose her eyesight,” Drakon threatened.

  Drakon waved the Onyx in front of Myra’s face. Myra twisted away from the red-hot stone. Strangely, the heat did not cause any injury to Drakon’s hand.

  A tormented expression clouded Ash’s face. Breaking his eye contact with Drakon, he caught Myra’s pleading eyes. He had to do it. Drakon left him no other choice. But his instinct was to protect the Realms, to protect his people. The warning sounded like Aether’s brass bells ringing in his ears. The Guardianship’s immense energy pulled him in the opposite direction. Conflicted, he didn’t know what to do. Would he be the agent of their downfall?

  But when Drakon inched the burning stone closer to Myra’s eyes, Ash raised his hands in surrender. He stepped onto the first vertex. The ground vibrated under his feet and grit from the stone walls showered the floor. He took a hesitant step forward, and behind him, a section of the triangle fell away. Fire flared up through the crevice. More confidently, he strode to the second vertex. Once he reached the corner, he turned at a right angle and paced himself along the next length of the portal. The triangle blazed and its luminescent light lit the temple walls and floor. But Ash wasn’t mesmerised by it, instead, he clenched his fists and his jaw set in a rigid line. Only ten feet to go. When he reached the final vertex, the fire erupted around him and he leapt off the burning portal.

  Myra’s tear-stained cheeks glistened and her shoulders shuddered silently. Drakon removed the gag and released her from his grasp. She raced over to Ash where he nudged her protectively behind him.

  Drakon smirked. “The portals are ready.” He strode along the edge, admiring it. “It’s all just a matter of time until the August Moon makes its appearance tomorrow night.”

  The oracle bowed her head. “There’s an ancient proverb scribed by our forefathers: It’s impossible to escape from what is destined.”

  Drakon waved his hand at her. “This isn’t the time for fortune-telling.” The owl hooted. “Will someone shut that damn bird up?”

  A wild flapping of wings followed another hoot and a guard took aim, launching his spear into the rafters. The weapon grazed Calypso and clattered to the ground among a shower of silver feathers. Calypso screeched and took flight, landing safely on the oracle’s shoulder.

  Drakon thrust the Onyx forward and a bolt of lightning shot out of the stone, hitting the guard squarely in the chest. The guard lifted off his feet and slammed into the wall behind. His limp body slid to the floor in a heap.

  “I didn’t mean it literally, you fool,” Drakon roared.

  But the guard never heard. Within seconds, he combusted, leaving only a dusting of black ash in his place.

  Myra’s entire body trembled against Ash’s legs. “W-what’s going to h-happen to us?” she stammered.

  Ash squeezed her shoulder. “We’re going home.”

  Myra sniffed.

  “A homecoming party?” Drakon responded mockingly. “Myra can return, but you’ll remain in the dungeons until the ritual.”

  The snivels grew louder.

  Drakon spoke harshly as he turned to Myra, “If Ash does as he’s told then you’ll see him again. If not, well… say your goodbyes now.”

  The guards surrounded them and steered them toward the door. When Ash passed a niche notched out of the stone wall, he noticed the Book of Elements lying within it.

  The oracle observed silently from nearby, her staff clutched in her bony hand.

  “That book has been nothing but a curse,” said Drakon.

  Ash turned his head slightly and glanced over his shoulder. Myra shuffled closer to him.

  “Time to get rid of it.” Drakon marched over to the niche, scooped the book up and tossed it into the solid centre of the burning portal.

  The book vanished.

  Ash swung around and Myra lost her balance, stumbling under his feet. “Where’s it gone?”

  The oracle thumped her staff against the floor. “Oblivion.”

  Myra grabbed Ash’s tunic, regaining her balance. Her eyes were as wide as Calypso’s.

  “It didn’t burn?” Drakon said, stunned. The book’s disappearance wasn’t what he’d expected.

  “Where… where’s Oblivion?” Ash’s hand locked onto Myra’s shoulder. He vaguely remembered the name from a conversation he had previously engaged in with Kyros.

  “Nothing is meant to pass through the portals…” the oracle explained, “… and, if it does, then it’ll disappear to the end of the Realms.”

  “You should have warned me,” bellowed Drakon.

  Ash shuddered. “This place… what is it?”

  “Hell!” replied the oracle.

  Ash’s mind jolted. He stared at the burning portal. If only he could throw Drakon into it, it would solve everything.

  It was as if Drakon read his thoughts. He tutted his tongue and waggled his finger. “Don’t even think about trying that.”

  A cackle rose in the oracle’s throat.

  Drakon glared at her. “The masquerade is over – reveal yourself, Dione.”

  The owl took flight, her silver wings beating the air. The oracle tapped her staff three times and twirled in a circle, transforming into Dione.

  Dione’s green eyes twinkled. “At last I can rid myself of the old hag forever,” she announced.

  “Raven… she wasn’t lying,” said Ash. His eyes darted between Drakon and Dione. “All this time you’ve been lying to the Guardians – you’re on his side!”

  Dione sashayed around the portal, her staff clasped in her hand, swinging it freely down by her side. The emerald glittered on her forehead and her tousled, auburn hair bounced around her shoulders.

  “Drakon and I go back a long time,” declared Dione. “My loyalty lies with him.”

  “You’re meant to serve all the Guardians. Not just one,” said Ash.

  Dione paused
at the apex of the portal. The flames flared up in front of her. She swished her hand through the fire and calmly turned her palm over, examining it. No mark appeared on her hand.

  “The August Moon is a sacred time as we’ve been told by our forefathers. Not only is it a time for the ritual to be performed which will unite the Spheres, but it’s also a time when our people can profess their love for each other during the moon’s phase,” Dione proclaimed.

  “Drakon is about to destroy everything and you… you talk about this.”

  “You know nothing about what you speak of, boy,” Drakon lashed out. “Shut your mouth.”

  Ash stepped forward. “Kyros warned me about you.”

  “Kyros… Kyros warned you?” Drakon tilted his head questioningly. “And you believed him?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? He’s my mentor and I’d believe him any day over a tyrant like you,” Ash retaliated, spitting the word ‘tyrant’ out with venom.

  Drakon threw his head back and guffawed. “I’m hearing that word a lot lately.”

  “Isn’t ruling the Third Realm enough for you? Are you never satisfied with what you have?”

  “Your mentor’s been feeding you stories about the prophecy. Let me guess.” Drakon stroked his black goatee, his dark eyes flickering in the firelight. “He told you about the prophecy that the Realms will cease to exist if we open the Hecate.”

  “Yes, and if you go ahead with this madness, everything will end. And we’ll end up in Oblivion like the book. There’ll be no ‘us’. All of it will be gone!” Ash flung his arms around wildly.

  “What a load of hogwash!”

  Ash shuffled his feet and an uneasy feeling overcame him. Myra squirmed behind him. But before he could answer, the Guardian flicked his hand and the guards swarmed around them, boxing them in. Myra’s shrill scream tore his heart as they separated her from him. They pushed Ash out of the temple into the dappled night and, in no time at all, they were heading back to the City.

  Chapter 38

  A Bestowing of Blood

  Raven paced the amphitheatre as she waited for Drakon’s return. The anticipation of finding out what had happened was too much to bear. After she’d informed Drakon where the third portal was she had expected to accompany him on the quest. But instead, much to her dismay, he had sternly ordered her to remain behind and protect Aether. She had an inkling that he was testing her. Would she obey and remain here, or defy him by going to the temple?

  As nightfall descended, Drakon strode in. Raven hung back nervously, waiting for him to approach. His black cloak swirled around him like the black veil of mist outside. There was something different about him, his dark eyes were alight and there was a spring in his step.

  “It’s done,” Drakon confirmed excitedly.

  “It’s all falling into place,” Raven replied flatly.

  The mist lapped at the ledge’s lip and Raven shifted her gaze, entranced.

  Drakon scrutinised her intently, sensing her subdued demeanour. “What’s on your mind?” he probed.

  Raven looked back toward him, but her gaze fell at his feet. Afraid to ask the question, she hesitated. Her mind replayed Thanos’s words, ‘You want the power of all three Realms in the palm of your hand. You want to be the One.’

  Raven wrung her hands. “When you told me about the Hecate, you mentioned another prophecy, but you failed to tell me what it is.”

  Drakon ambled over to her, and lifted her chin so that their eyes met. “If I told you then, you wouldn’t have believed the true reason why I want the Hecate opened. Saving the Spheres, saving the Realms ultimately saves us. If people talk about other prophecies, you need only believe the one I’ve told you.”

  Raven could tell by his stance that she shouldn’t broach this subject again. “I never doubted you Lord Drakon – I know you can save us. It’s just that…” Raven trailed off.

  “Is Niko planting strange ideas in your head?”

  “N-no, no he isn’t.”

  Drakon released her chin.

  He towered over her but Raven stood taller, confident that Drakon wouldn’t be angry at what she was about to tell him. “I’ve a confession to make.”

  “Let me guess. You’ve told Niko everything,” Drakon replied perceptively.

  “Not intentionally… it all just came out,” Raven admitted. “But he knows a lot already, more than you can imagine.”

  “In what way?”

  “He has this theory about the Guardians.”

  Drakon inclined his head.

  Raven continued, “That they use meditation as some sort of control. At first it sounded like a crazy story to me, but the more I think about it, it could possibly be true.”

  Drakon steepled his fingers.

  “Is Niko making this up?” Raven asked.

  “I remember Niko from long ago… a strange man,” Drakon said. “Always sitting on the sidelines, watching the others – he thought he was better than the rest. So when Thanos took him under his wing, he became more – how can I say – arrogant. He wanted to be chosen as the Guardian of—”

  “Pyr,” Raven finished his sentence. “He told me that too.”

  “I guess he wasn’t impressed with the rejection at the hands of Aether when Kyros was chosen, so he became one of my followers, one of the Fallen. He’s looking for other reasons to justify this rejection.”

  “But Niko’s on our side. I trust him.”

  “Like I trust the oracle.”

  “That old hag?” Raven retorted with a hint of jealously.

  “That was only a guise…”

  “I knew your story never added up.”

  “Dione’s here to help us.”

  “The Guardians won’t let her live when they find out – not after what she’s done.”

  “And what would you consider that to be?”

  “She’s a traitor… the same as Erebus. There’s no difference between them.”

  “She hasn’t been traitorous to us,”

  “I find that hard to believe. She warned the Guardians when you were approaching the temple.”

  “She’s been playing them along all this time.” Drakon stroked his goatee, looking thoughtful. “Pretending to be on their side…”

  Raven huffed.

  “As long as you’re on our side,” Drakon added. “No matter what.”

  Raven shifted uncomfortably.

  “From now on there’ll be no more secrets between us.” Drakon placed his arm around Raven’s rigid back. “Oh – I forgot… there is one more. But it’ll be revealed at the ceremony tonight.”

  “Tonight?” Raven raised an arched eyebrow. “But the ritual is only tomorrow night.”

  “Not for that, this is for something else that I’ve decided.” He waved his hand flippantly at her. “Inform the Dark Legion and the Fallen to attend the ceremony here at Aether in two hours’ time. And tell Niko that it’s good to have him on board.”

  Raven bowed and stepped backwards. Spinning around, she flitted out of the amphitheatre to relay Drakon’s orders to the warriors. As she headed toward the chambers, something that Drakon had said didn’t make any sense. What did he mean when he’d said ‘No matter what’? She had never once given him any reason to believe that she wasn’t on his side.

  Raven found Niko in her chambers and informed him about the ceremony. “He wants to choose a commander.”

  “There’s no doubt that it’ll be you,” Niko assured her.

  “There’re others who’ve followed him far longer.” Raven frowned worriedly.

  “After they sided with Erebus, they know they’re treading on thin ice with him. Drakon doesn’t trust any of them anymore – including me – so they’d accept his decision. You’re his most trusted follower.”

  “He does trust you.”

  Niko shook his head.

  Raven recounted Drakon’s words to Niko. She confirmed with him that Drakon had indeed welcomed him into their alliance.

  “I find that odd. He�
��s never been this forgiving before. Look what he did to Erebus!”

  “That was different.”

  “You went against his word,” Niko reminded her. “He didn’t want you to tell anyone about the symbol.”

  Raven broached the next subject with caution but her curiosity around Niko’s relationship with Thanos was like an army of ants colonising her brain.

  “Why didn’t you tell me before about Thanos?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Niko turned away, but not before Raven could see the hurt in his eyes.

  Realisation crossed her face. “Thanos and Kyros… both never recognised you. Why?”

  Niko whirled around and his expression morphed into anger. “I TOLD YOU, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Raven had never been scared of anyone before, but this time she lurched back in fright when Niko seized her arm. She hadn’t expected that reaction from him. Twisting out of his grip, she marched to the door.

  Niko apologised profusely. “Raven, I’m sorry. Raven forgive me... I never…”

  But she didn’t hear his last words as she stormed out of the chamber, leaving him behind with his scarred face buried in his hands.

  Raven arrived at the simmering, overcrowded amphitheatre. Even the gusty wind that fanned the cavern’s opening couldn’t cool the stifling tension in the air. Raven’s hands shook. Blinking away her tears, she quickly crossed the amphitheatre. Weaving through the throngs of restless warriors, she headed to the podium where she joined Drakon and the Fallen. Annoyed at letting Niko get to her, she smoothed her damp palms on her hips, willing herself to calm down.

  “Where’s Niko?” Drakon whispered. “He should be here by now.”

  “He’s on his way,” Raven replied stiffly.

  She wasn’t sure if he’d even show his face after their tiff. Hell, but she loved his face! His negative reaction to her question had upset her enormously. Why had he closed up about Thanos? What was he hiding? He was the one who’d betrayed the Guardians, not the other way round.

  Drakon moved in front of the fifth bronze chair and stretched his arms out like an eagle spreading its wings. The stately chair silhouetted him, crowning his head in gold. Silence descended and all eyes focused on him.