Heartless Heirs

by MarcyKate Connolly

  The tunnel continues for a long time, almost imperceptibly spiraling downward, until we finally round a corner and a large, cavernous room opens up before us. This time there are no mechanical lights on the walls; only our torch shows the way forward.

  “Fiero,” I say, and light bursts in my palms. I send the light floating upward to illuminate the space better.

  What we see leaves us all speechless.

  The ceiling is very high—did we really circle downward for that long?—and before us a stone bridge crosses an immense black gulf. On the other side a huge gate rises. Moss and vines cling to the unusual red stone of the gate’s columns, draping like curtains. It’s granite of some type, but in a hue I’ve never seen before. The columns flank a black door.

  Zandria and I gape at the sight before us.

  Remy eyes the bridge and the dark void beneath it nervously. “Could this be a trap?” he says.

  “Not a trap,” I say slowly. “But probably a test of some kind. Be on your guard.”

  Those words have barely left my lips when a terrible screeching echoes throughout the cavern.

  Zandria tenses next to me. “It’s coming from down there.” She points to the gorge.

  Metal creaks alongside another screech, gradually growing louder. I shiver. I’ve never encountered a machine that makes a noise quite like that before.

  Then the sound bursts from the black void, quickly followed by the thing that made it: an enormous mechanical beast. It flies out of the gorge on wide steel wings that nearly knock us over with the force of the wind they command. Its head and body remind me of a serpent’s, but its spine is crowned with sharp triangular ridges. Its maw gapes wide, but this time no screech comes out. Instead, it almost looks as if it’s taking in gulps of air . . .

  “Forges!” Zandria exclaims, shoving me and Remy back toward the corridor. Seconds later, heat blasts into the tunnel and bright flames scorch the edges of the wall.

  “It breathes fire,” I say, shocked. I shouldn’t be, after having seen the Technocrats’ war machines. This is definitely not what I’d hoped would greet us at the library.

  “It must be a guardian,” Remy says, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt off his pants. “Put here by the Alchemist Alliance.”

  “Of course, because Magi alone would have difficulty getting by it. A Technocrat would have a better understanding of the machine’s weakness and could overcome it more easily,” I say.

  “But a Magi could do something against those flames,” Zandria says.

  “So, in order to defeat it, you must have knowledge of both the machines and magic,” I say.

  “Or just magic like ours,” Zandria says.

  The truth shivers through me. “This test is specifically for us.”

  “How could they know?” Remy says.

  “Their experiments. They must have hidden whatever is down here to be found by the result of a successful experiment, or by no one at all. They wanted to keep it out of everyone’s hands, even regular Magi,” I say.

  “But why?” Zandy asks.

  I shake my head. I have no answer. But we have more pressing matters at hand.

  “Maybe we’ll find out once we get past that mechdragon and through the door,” I say. “Remy, can you cast a water spell at the flames? Zandy and I can take care of the rest.”

  An odd expression crosses Zandria’s face. “Should we . . . should we really destroy it?” She scuffs the toe of her boot in the dirt. “It was left here by the Alliance. If someone were to follow us . . .”

  Like Darian. With the mechdragon gone, nothing would stop him from walking right in. And it’s safe to bet the Alchemist Alliance didn’t want their secrets to fall into the hands of someone as power hungry as he is.

  “Good point. We won’t destroy it. We’ll only disable it. If you can keep it frozen, I can locate the power source and remove it. I’ve worked with havani before and I know what it feels like.”

  We cautiously edge closer to the tunnel’s exit. Another blast of heat sends us skittering back. We press forward again, this time with Remy in the lead and a water spell at the ready. Before the mechdragon can try to roast us, Remy sends a pillar of water right into its gaping maw. The beast staggers back as we rush toward it, a spell on my lips and magic spinning from Zandria’s fingertips. It tries to move, but Zandria’s spell holds its metal pieces firmly in place. My magic probes the innerworkings of the machine, searching for that familiar sickly feeling of havani, the fuel that runs the Technocrats’ creations. But I find no hint of it. The surprise nearly causes me to drop my spell.

  But then I remember: this wasn’t made by Technocrats; it was made by the Alliance. Havani isn’t the only thing that could power this. I begin the hunt again, but this time I’m searching for something different, something with a hint of magic.

  My persistence is rewarded. Deep in the belly of the beast I find it: the magic-infused black marble. There’s so much of it here that I didn’t notice at first. But it isn’t exactly like the others we’ve encountered. The large orb of black marble inside the mechdragon contains much more magic than the marble vein Remy and I found underground near the Chambers. And more than that strange door that stymied me and Zandy and set us on this path.

  This marble contains more than enough magic to power the beast for a very, very long time.

  I don’t understand how that is possible, as it flies in the face of all we’ve been taught about magic, but clearly it is. With any luck, our answers will be behind the guarded door.

  “I’ve found it,” I say, a little short of breath. Extracting the marble orb from this beast without damaging it takes more effort than I expected. I pull a side panel off the creature and remove some of the clockwork from its guts, creating a hole large enough for the orb to move through. Then I rest it on the other side of the bridge.

  “We’ll put it back together later, after we’ve discovered what’s inside,” I say to my companions.

  Together, we cross the bridge, feeling a little giddy. There’s something about defeating a monster that raises one’s spirits.

  Zandria marches right up to the door in the gate—but before she can open it, she’s yanked off her feet.

  The moss and vines we thought were just overgrowth writhe, slithering off the pillars and onto the ground, holding my sister aloft.

  “Help!” she screams as an appendage made from moss covers her mouth.

  Two tests. One for machines, one for magic. We should’ve anticipated that.

  Remy uses his magic to slice off the arm suspending Zandria, and she drops to the ground, landing on all fours, then bounds toward us. Meanwhile, I hum a spell to make the moss freeze in place. “Glacio!”

  The moss stops writhing, and we duck under it cautiously as we approach the door again. This time, we’re more on guard. Fortunately, no other challenges present themselves as we push through the gates.

  The door creaks open. Beyond is a sight to behold: a library, grand and gorgeous, extending for what feels like miles in all directions. It is at least five stories high, and every row is crammed with books and scrolls and wonders. Exquisitely carved red stone columns hold up each level.

  A dizzy thrill overcomes me. I grin so wide it almost hurts.

  The Magi’s lost library, found at last.

  “We really did it,” Remy says. “I always thought it was just a legend, a false hope.”

  Zandria scoffs. “I’d think we deserve more faith from you now.”

  Remy grins—the first he’s given since we left the Chambers. “You both have it in spades, I swear.”

  We stand on a midlevel balcony overlooking the entire expanse. Zandria lets out a whoop and leaps down the stairs two at a time until she reaches the bottom. I laugh and run after her. No one, not even the machines, could’ve followed us all the way down here. We’re safe, surrounded by our past, our history, everything we have longed to find.

  I haven’t felt a lightness like this since that nigh
t in the garden with Aro. Happiness. Joy, even. We’ve lost so much, but it was all to gain this. I only wish Aro was here to see it. I’m sure he’d be enthralled as well.

  Worry twinges in my chest. I hope he’s safe and making progress toward thwarting Darian. I have no way of knowing until it’s too late. My parents’ deaths made it clear: when one half of a bonded pair dies, so does the other.

  When we reach the bottom, I stand by Zandria in the center of the room and crane my neck to take in the full scope of what we’ve uncovered. Another laugh escapes my lips. Then another. Until I can’t stop.

  I can hardly believe we did it.

  Zandria laughs too, unable to help herself, her coldness temporarily warming. At first Remy looks at us as if we’ve lost our minds, but soon he joins in.

  I’ve never felt this free in my life.

  I never want to leave. I want to remain here and read every book in this library from cover to cover and perfect every single spell. One glance and I know Zandria wishes the same.

  Remy’s laughter chokes off in a gasp.

  “Remy, what’s—” My own voice vanishes when I see what he sees. Zandria grabs his arm, and a hint of jealousy washes over me along with the surprise.

  A woman stands in an archway just below the stairs. She has brown skin and silver hair pulled back into several long braids. Her clothes are white and wispy enough that I’m almost ready to believe she’s a ghost.

  She glides toward us, a curious expression on her face.

  She stops a few feet away and holds out her hands in a welcoming gesture. “Greetings. Welcome to the Sanctuary.”

  CHAPTER 7

  “THE SANCTUARY,” I SAY, EYES WIDENING. “Just like it said on the map.”

  The ghostly woman laughs. “Ah, you found the map. Good. Only those indoctrinated into the Alchemist Alliance know of the Sanctuary’s existence, and even then, only a handful ever knew the location. I assume they have long died off by now.”

  Zandria frowns. “I’m sorry, but who are you?” She glances behind us, as if she doesn’t trust that there aren’t more people here. “And how did you get in here?”

  The woman holds up a finger, indicating silence. All three of us stand stock-still while the woman hums and weaves a spell we’ve never heard before. I suck my breath in sharply as my own magic rises to the surface, making my skin glow for a moment. Zandria’s skin glows too. Remy’s, however, does not.

  The woman smiles. “Wonderful, two of you are just what I’d hoped you’d be.” She gives a quick sidelong glance at Remy. “My name is Catoria. I’m the Sanctuary’s guardian, and I’ve been here a long time.”

  “How old are you?” Zandria asks. I kick her ankle, but she rolls her eyes at me.

  Catoria raises an eyebrow.

  “Sorry,” Zandria says sheepishly.

  “I’m old enough to have lived through the great wars. Old enough to have watched the Technocrats rise to power and then thoroughly abuse it. You have much to learn if you hope to overthrow them.”

  Zandria and I exchange a look with Remy. There’s nothing we want more. Even if we already know it’s a futile effort. The mere hope of something that can put the Technocrats in their place, and raise up the Magi again, is worth fighting for.

  “We’re eager to learn,” Zandria says.

  A slow smile spreads across the old woman’s face. “Good. I’ve been waiting for you. I will be your teacher. Come, let me show you the Sanctuary.”

  She motions for us to follow, then heads for the archway under the stairs that leads out of the library. I take a lingering glance behind—I hate to leave all these fascinating books when we just found them. But hopefully we’ll return to this sector soon.

  Catoria opens a door in the archway, and another tunnel presents itself. Like the columns in the library, this one is built from red granite, and a flowering moss clings to these walls. There’s no sun since we are deep underground, but a soft light emanates through everything, not unlike the Magi-made sunlight that once lit the Chambers.

  How I wish we had found this sooner. We could’ve brought all of the Magi here to hide, safely away from Darian, the Technocrats, and their infernal machines.

  But we were too slow, too late. And now they’re gone.

  “How have you survived down here for so long?” Remy asks.

  Catoria glances over her shoulder at him, an inscrutable expression on her face. “The magic of this place keeps the Guardian alive for as long as needed.”

  “What do you mean?” Zandria presses. I reach out to restrain my sister but quickly draw my hand back. She wouldn’t appreciate it. Besides, I’ve missed Zandria’s inquisitiveness, even if it is often unwise.

  “These ruins were built by our ancestors long, long ago. Once, this was all aboveground. As the Magi grew in number, they spread out across the continent. A new dynasty was installed on the throne, and they made the city of Palinor their capital. This place fell out of use and grew untamed. Its original name is lost to time. The wilderness swallowed it up, but there were those in the Alchemist Alliance who had heard the legends of a place where magic was still wild and whole, not split like it had become with the rise of the Technocrats. A handful of us led an expedition. It took years, but eventually we uncovered this place and preserved it.”

  She pauses as we reach a break in the tunnel and enter a new expanse. This is a large hall, filled with shimmering black marble columns amid statues carved from the red granite. The walls are lined with strange instruments I can only assume are weapons. Some I recognize—like swords, daggers, maces, and spears—but many others are unfamiliar.

  I want nothing more than to learn how to wield each and every one.

  Catoria places a hand on one of the black marble columns. “This was how we preserved it.”

  “With that strange marble?” Zandria laughs. “How on earth did you manage that?”

  “Alchemy, of course. The combined knowledge of the Technocrats and the Magi is a powerful thing. We found a means of infusing the marble still living in the earth throughout the country with a spell we found here, in fact. One that would allow it to maintain its magical, protective properties long after the spellcaster had turned to dust.”

  “But that’s impossible,” Remy says, arms folded across his chest.

  Catoria chuckles. “Are your friends here impossible too?” She glances between us. “I assume you know about their magic, yes?”

  Remy’s eyes narrow. “I do, though I’m having a hard time understanding it.”

  “I assure you it is quite possible for a normal Magi with the proper spell to keep the marble alive even after it’s removed from the earth and crafted into other, useful things.”

  My mouth drops open. “So that’s how you did it.” I reel from the implications. There must be many powerful spells here, just waiting to be uncovered. “And you used it in Palinor too.”

  “We did. Some of our members had access to the Great Library. We were fearful that Technocrats were planning an attack and secreted out as many of the important books and scrolls as we could. And we reinforced the basement library level with the marble.”

  “And the hidden room even deeper than that.”

  “Indeed.”

  Zandria examines one of the statues. It’s of a woman with a grave expression and a hunting cloak. Her hand extends into the hall, just like the rest of the statues, toward the center of the room.

  “That’s all well and good,” Zandria says. “But it doesn’t explain how you’re still here.”

  The old woman’s eyes flash. “Doesn’t it though?” She sighs. “You have much to learn. Come.”

  Catoria marches us through the hall filled with silent stone sentinels from a time long past. If this was once the capital of the ancient Magi world, perhaps this was the throne room. Maybe the statues are kings and queens of long-lost legends. She leads us into another connecting tunnel similar to the last, and I begin to realize we’re going from hill to hill to hill. Eve
ry one must contain a room or building of some sort, all of which are connected by these corridors.

  When she reaches a doorway, Catoria pauses.

  “I have been waiting for you for many years. I was tasked with guarding this place, armed with the most powerful spells ever known. And no one else to keep me company. Everyone I knew and loved has long perished. They’re only vague memories and ghosts that haunt me now. Sometimes, I’m not even certain they were real.” Catoria pulls her robes around her, even though there is not the slightest hint of a chill in the air. “There is a spell that can pull the life force from one living thing into another. It is a slow-working spell, otherwise the caster will go into shock. That is what has kept me living for so long. The earth itself has kept me alive.”

  I suck my breath in sharply. The rocky landscape where nothing seems to grow anymore. The petrified trees. I assumed this all had been caused by Technocrat bombs. But Catoria has slowly been stealing the life from her surroundings for more than a century.

  “The landscape above—that’s because of you?”

  Catoria hangs her head. “I am not proud of this. It goes against Magi doctrine of revering all life. But I had no choice. I had to wait until our experiment succeeded. If it failed, then eventually all magic would be extinguished.”

  It was a terrible choice to make, with quite a price. “When you . . . if you die, will the land return to normal?”

  She shrugs. “I do not know. Eventually, I hope so.” Then she opens the door and lets us into another huge, cavernous chamber, filled with all sorts of strange contraptions. I’ve been in the Technocrats’ workshops, but I’ve never seen the likes of these. The space reminds me of a research area, though larger than I’ve seen before. The tables are filled with glass tubes connected to small metal boxes and orbs. Most are gathering dust, but some look like they’ve seen recent use. This room has a rounded ceiling as well.

  “What exactly is all this?” Zandria says, frowning.

  “A laboratory,” Catoria says. “The place where alchemicals were first discovered and where the ancient Magi manipulated them. And later on, the Alchemist Alliance.”