by S A Edwards
Kyne sneered. “Not just any blood. His blood. The blood of an Ancient, harnessed from the dagger used to spear his hand.”
I fought the urge to gag.
“What have you done?” Siren gasped.
I spat on the ground. “I don’t understand.”
“Clara,” Siren said, “the blood of an Ancient carries very strong, magical properties.”
“But then, why didn’t you drink it yourself?” I asked.
Kyne grinned. “That would not help me. It can enhance the gifts of a Mage one-hundred-fold. Even if they’re gone. Even if they’ve been removed by, say, a whisperleaf.”
A shiver ran through me and then another and another, growing stronger and stronger.
The land seemed to vibrate beneath me, filled with magic, with power.
My vision sharpened. Colours became crisp.
I could sense every particle, every inch of life.
Every Gate in the world.
“But, if my gifts return,” I said, “if they’re enhanced, that means …”
Kyne’s smile grew wider. “Exactly.”
Power blasted from me. It propelled me skyward, forced out through my arms, my chest, in uncontrolled waves, coursing across the land.
Magic crumbled, leaving the remaining Gates no more than pretty landmarks.
More Hellions appeared. Rage, glee, and desire flooded me. Their emotions. Their need for blood.
I cringed at the feeling.
The earth below me cracked, crumbled, melted away, and the darkness of the Underworld gaped, unhindered.
Lightning flashed above me, and a swirling ball of grey and black appeared, pulsing and roiling.
The Void.
A flash of light and blue-jewelled forests filled my mind. The images kept coming: The Preserver mountain from home, fields and crimson deserts, towering structures and dilapidated farms. People walked on golden streets and creatures of the dark lurked in rocky borders and valleys, and seven crystals the colours of the comets gleamed.
Wind whipped at my hair, sticking my clothes to me. I couldn’t move, trapped by my gifts and the battering gale. I fought to control the power, but it slipped through my mind, a rushing whirlwind of confusion.
“Be ready!” Kyne shouted.
Below, his followers gathered to him, every eye on me.
A roar pierced the wind.
A shadow shifted in the darkness of the Underworld beneath.
Then, a huge, black creature ascended from the depths in the shape of an Ancient. Long, black fur covered its body and wings, and large eyes shone out above its nose.
Eyes I recognised.
I squinted through the overwhelming power. “Charlie?”
He beat his wings and shot past me, bashing me with his tail.
Pain spread through my side.
Then, I fell toward the Underworld, watching helpless as he disappeared through the Void.
54
Hellions rushed past me in a blur, soaring through the gaping Void with screams of glee.
Something slammed against my back, knocking me aside. I collided with the ground.
Footsteps pounded, and Siren pulled me up. “Clara.” He surveyed my face with concern, then the power waned.
“I’m okay. It’s easing. I’m okay.” But the world wasn’t.
Hellions in all shapes and forms billowed toward the Void from within the Underworld, carried by a vortex of freezing wind.
Kyne grabbed one by the tail as it emerged and was hauled above us and through the Void. Below him, his followers did the same.
The Hellions didn’t attack them or us, probably too determined to escape through the Gate.
“No.” I struggled to stand on trembling legs. “We have to stop them.” I jabbed my palms out. A blast of blue flame billowed from my skin and bashed against three of his followers.
Their grip failed, and they fell, disappearing into the gulf of the Underworld, but the crowd of Hellions didn’t slow.
Dizziness washed over me. I staggered.
Something warm nudged my back, pushing me upright.
I turned to huge opal eyes. Chimera stood before me, his head level with mine. His mane bristled over bulky, more defined muscles, and a ridged tail arched over his back like a scorpion’s.
I stared at it. “Chimera,” I whispered. “You’re so different.”
He nudged me again, as though assuring me he could still be trusted.
“Clara.” Siren took my shoulders. “Can you close the Void?”
“I …” I turned my focus to connecting with the Gate, then jolted. “No. I can’t. I …”
Hellions continued to stream through the vortex.
“From the other side,” I said. “I’ve got to go through.” I ran forward, but Siren grabbed me, and a rush of panic flooded through me.
“What are you doing?” Worry emanated in his words.
“Charlie. Once I’m through I’ll try to close it, but I can’t leave him. He’s … an Ancient, now.”
“Not exactly,” Siren said. “The power he’s been absorbing has changed him. He’s not the person you once knew.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Light and shadow flashed beside him, and the Keepers appeared. Lux took in the gravity of the scene in an instant. “You can’t close it yourself. There must be two Keepers.”
“Can you do it?” I asked.
Umbra nodded. “Once you’ve gone, the Gates will be back in our power.” They raised their hands, and streams of light and shadow spun to the Void from my feet.
“Make haste,” Lux said.
Siren took my hand. “I’m coming with you.”
I nodded, unwilling to argue. I didn’t want to be without him, without an ally.
A sapphire-scaled Ancient alighted beside me and transformed into human form. A grave expression darkened Amicus’ eyes. “As am I.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “You may never get back.”
“I’ve made my decision,” he said.
“Then, go,” Umbra ordered. “There’s not a moment to lose.”
I grabbed Siren’s hand, half afraid I’d lose him when we passed through, leapt onto the stream and was surged upward. Amicus and Chimera followed.
Light flashed through my mind, and the Void engulfed me.
Emerald-green fields stretched before me, the blades whipped flat in the tearing wind. Hellions broke through the swirling Void and scattered over the land and into blue-jewelled forests on my right. There was no sign of Charlie.
Siren, Amicus and Chimera emerged beside me, shooting flame and lightning at any Hellions who ventured too close.
I spun toward the Gate, surprised at the sight of the world we’d just left, at the gaping Underworld below, as clear as though I looked through glass.
Lux and Umbra stood with their hands raised. The ground rumbled, and slowly, the Underworld closed, sealing any Hellions remaining inside.
Lux stumbled, and Umbra sank to his knees.
Behind them, Hellions soared and trampled over the land, racing back to the Void.
Weakness stabbed within me. A failing life source. Could that be possible? Could I be sensing the Keepers?
They struggled to stand again, and my hands trembled. “They’re not going to make it,” I said.
“What’s going on?” Amicus asked.
“They’re dying. If they try to close the Void, they won’t survive.”
“They said they could do it.”
Siren stared at the Void. “No, she’s right. I see them, too. I feel their weakness.”
I blinked. How was that possible? Because of his link to me? “I have to help them.”
I closed my eyes and focused on the power of the Gate. A swirling ball of light and shadow churned, connected to all seven worlds. The crystal cave from home stood, clear as glass in my mind. It would be so easy. All I had to do was step back in, and I could return.
Power tingled through me. A stab of weakn
ess.
“Stop,” I pleaded, desperate for Lux and Umbra to hear me. “You’ll die.”
Umbra’s voice touched my mind. “It is a Keeper’s job to protect the worlds. We would gladly give our lives for that.”
“But what about the Hellions still lose over there?” I asked.
“It is better that one world should fall than all of them perish.”
I grasped the ball, willing it to close, to seal the breach and protect the worlds. It slipped from my grip. My eyes flew open.
The power weakened, and the Keepers fell. My connection to their life source ceased.
“No,” I breathed. All they’d tried to do was the right thing. And now they were gone. Without the Keepers, the world would fall. Tears pricked my eyes.
The Gate’s magic surged. Then, it weakened. New power flowed through it, sending tingles through my skin. New Keepers?
Then, seven people stepped through wearing a crystal, each one colour of the comets.
I gaped at the Healer. “Sil?” The oldest of the Mage in my world, his eyes matched the sapphire-blue of his crystal. Because of him, I had been able to master my Healer gift.
He stepped away from the others and touched my shoulder. “Verum said you needed us.”
“Verum?”
“The Dark Keeper you helped create. Turns out he can see through the Void. He prophesied it failing weeks before it did.”
The Void ebbed, then closed.
The tingling eased, drawing power back to its owner. Behind me.
I turned.
Two people, a man and woman, each clothed in long, white robes stood before me, their eyes wide. The woman stepped forward, a tender eagerness in her expression. “Celeste.”
Questions exploded in my mind, but all of them hazed at the sight of Kyne standing behind them. His black eyes and relaxed stance filled me with dread.
The woman’s brow furrowed, and she followed my gaze.
Kyne smirked. “Hello, Mother.”
Acknowledgements
I must thank Renee and Kelsie for their remarkable insight into the early drafts.
Many others provided valuable reactions as well. Thanks to Cally, Dawn, Katherine, Mum and Tristram, for finding the little things and mistakes that otherwise would have ruined the story.
A special thanks to Natalie Kelda for the time and relentless enthusiasm you brought into helping me edit and polish up the novel. Without your input it wouldn’t be what it is.
As always, I owe so much to my family for their love, support, and patience while my mind was otherwise engaged with the characters and plot. My children bring such joy to my life, and my husband is my biggest and constant support. My parents and siblings have been a great inspiration to me, as well as providing amusement. Especially you, Sam.
And finally, thank you, reader, for returning to Clara’s world for the next part of her adventure. Without you, writing would be a very lonely endeavour.
Sophie Edwards is the author of The Nephilium Lands. She has worked in many fields and gained qualifications in Hairdressing, Childcare, Photography, and is now undertaking a BA(Hons) in Creative Writing. She lives in the UK with her husband and four home-schooled children.
Books in the Nephilium Lands Series
Mage: The Guardian’s Oath
Mage: The Ancient’s Might
You can find out more about Sophie at:
www.facebook.com/SAEdwards91/
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