The villagers responded quickly to Kalla’s instructions. They scattered to their homes and gathered their most precious belongings—only things they could carry through the tunnel. Every single blood reserve was bottled in wooden flasks and handed over to the Seniors, who would hold on to them in order to ease the villagers’ passage to the west coast. We all needed supplies, and we wouldn’t be able to risk returning to the surface along the way.
“How long do you think we’ll be in the tunnels?” Thayen asked me.
“I’m not sure. A few hours at least.”
“Then why are we taking the food with us?” he replied.
Rose had an answer for that. “We don’t know what kind of conditions we’ll find once we reach our destination. The less we have to travel for sustenance, the better.” She looked at me, and I could see the concern drawing a deep frown between her delicate eyebrows. “We’re going to get through this,” she said, and I found her attempt to comfort me endearing. I knew she was anxious and angry—just as I was—that we had no way of reaching Derek anytime soon.
“And I’ll be coming with you,” Thayen sighed.
“You don’t want that?” I asked.
He nodded. “I do. I was worried you might leave me behind, since you’ll be getting Derek back soon.”
Kneeling before him, I gripped his bony shoulders and smiled gently. I had to make things as clear for the boy as I possibly could. “Thayen, I’m not returning you to your mother unless it is truly what you want,” I told him. “Not only because I am deeply fond of you, but also because I cannot bear the thought of you becoming infected by Danika’s malice. She has done enough harm already. I want you to stay with us if you’re willing… do you understand me?”
“I do.” Thayen sighed, nodding slowly. “Thank you, Sofia.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We’re nowhere near the finish line.” I got back up and took his hand in mine.
Rose shot me a grin. “You’re really good to him, Mom.”
“I’m instinctively very protective of him. He doesn’t deserve any of this.”
“He’s safer with you,” Valaine said, tears gathering and glazing her dark eyes. “We’re all safer with you.”
I felt the urge to hug her, to tell her that everything would be okay. But I couldn’t make such a promise—not to Valaine, who needed to find a way to shed her Aeternae shell and remember who she truly was. I worried about her, just as I worried about Tristan. He’d fallen in love with her, with the Unending, and I didn’t see it ending well… for either of them.
Esme and Kalon had troubles of their own. They’d grown closer. I could tell. Both physically and emotionally. But Petra and the Darklings threatened to destroy everything. Hell, Petra was dying to tear Esme’s head off. And to think we’d come to Visio simply to find a day-walking cure. Things had certainly evolved—they’d long since gone from slightly complicated to an endless maze of intrigue and suffering and bloodshed.
We couldn’t walk away from this fight now. The day-walking cure had become a peripheral concern. We had bigger problems now. As I watched Lumi and Kailani make their way to the western edge of the village, I knew we were in for one crazy ride.
Esme
I’d awakened early this morning to find Kalon’s arms around me, and now I was in the midst of deadly danger, surrounded by the enemy’s forces.
The Darklings had Orvis surrounded, and they were determined to get to us. To get to Valaine. We’d made incredible progress in helping her remember who she truly was, but our work was nowhere near done. And with Corbin quite literally at our doorstep, we needed to get her as far away from here as possible.
Leaving the Visentis boys with Thayen and Sofia, I took Kalon with me to help with the evacuation. On the western edge of the village, Lumi and Kailani got to work. Their bodies lit up white as they summoned the Word’s power and knowledge, the air vibrating and tickling my skin. The Seniors were gathered around, waiting to assist, while Kalla’s hushed orders could be heard somewhere behind us as she encouraged her people to hurry and not load their satchels with more than they could carry.
I listened to the muffled cries of children—Rimian, Nalorean, and Aeternae alike—as they stayed close to their mothers, preparing for a most dangerous voyage. We’d have to be careful even once we were safely in the tunnel due to the way the Darklings had a habit of foreseeing all sorts of situations. It would only be a matter of time before they figured out what we’d done and tried to track our path.
Lumi’s and Kailani’s lips moved, and the magic began to take physical effect. The ground rumbled and mildly shook beneath our feet before it gaped open approximately five yards ahead. I wondered how far the shake-up spread. Looking towards the edge of the village, I didn’t see anyone on the enemy side reacting to any tremors. Maybe we’d get away with this. As I turned my attention back to the hole, I marveled at its dark mouth stretching wider, the dirt pressing back to form rounded walls as the opening descended deep into the ground.
A low whisper was exhaled from the bottom, dust rolling out. The witches stood still and continued with their chanting, the tunnel opening wider until we could all see it clearly. Ridan went in first, using his flaming breath to light several torches before mounting them in the hard walls. So far, so good.
“Our turn,” Mira mumbled as she made her way down, accompanied by Arya, Kemi, and a couple dozen Seniors who’d borrowed tools from the villagers. They moved fast, carrying wooden beams and arched pieces of metal that they quickly fashioned into a relatively sturdy structure. The first hundred feet soon looked safe enough for passage, and I breathed a sigh of relief when the rest of the Seniors joined them.
Lumi and Kailani descended as well, opening the tunnel further. It became a synchronized collective effort to build it up, and I couldn’t believe how fast they were progressing. There was a rhythm to their movements—a beat they were all following—and it paid off. We’d have the first mile of tunnel ready before the hour’s end.
“They won’t stand there forever,” Kalon said, nervously eyeing the Darklings who’d gathered along the protective shield. “Corbin will get tired of yelling for Valaine.”
“I know. But it won’t be easy for them to break the spell,” I replied. “They’ll be able to do it, but it won’t be instantaneous. The more we get done below before that happens, the faster we’ll get everybody out of here. And the more likely we are to avoid being followed.”
Some of the villagers had already gathered a few yards behind us, their satchels packed and their children quiet, ready for a perilous journey. It was either this or certain death, and I felt sorry for them. In a way, our people had brought the danger of Darklings here—though, judging by what Corbin had said earlier, Orvis wouldn’t have lasted much longer even without our presence. The evil would’ve found its way through the Nightmare Forest eventually, and every single villager would’ve been killed or enslaved for rebelling and living outside the empire’s norms.
An Aeternae feeding on animals was unfathomable to a society that had become dependent on Rimian and Nalorean blood. A whole village of Aeternae, Rimians, and Naloreans living in harmony like they did in Orvis was an abomination, and Corbin would be perfectly fine with killing them all. Just one more reason why I couldn’t bring myself to leave this place behind. I knew Kalon would’ve come with me, no hesitation, but I couldn’t walk away from these people that way.
Sofia, Rose, and Caleb brought the kids over. To my surprise, Thayen seemed to be leading the Visentis boys, who constantly stared at and listened to him with great interest and fascination. If Thayen made it through to the very end of this horrific tale, I envisioned a grand life ahead for him. The boy had the makings of a true leader, and I was willing to bet he’d learned it all from his father, Acheron. Danika was too far down the rabbit hole to be anybody’s role model.
“How’s it going?” Sofia asked, glancing into the tunnel. Amber lights flickered as Ridan continued with the illumination d
eeper underground. Amane reached him quickly, refusing to let him out of her sight. He could stand on his own now, the healing potions working their literal magic, but even so, she didn’t want to be away from him.
Amal and Hunter were busy emptying the shuttles of everything valuable that they could carry. Once all the supplies and portable tech were cleared out and ready for transport, they would set up explosive charges on both vessels, loaded with pulverizer pellets. It was the only way to keep the magi-tech out of the Aeternae’s hands.
“Surprisingly fast,” I said to Sofia. “The Seniors are really good at this.”
“Yes, the subterranean structure is solid,” Kalon added. “Once the first three miles are ready, we’ll be able to leave.”
“Can’t we evacuate sooner?” Sofia asked, her brow furrowed. “I worry the Darklings will start their attack soon.”
“We need room down there,” Kalon said. “If we’re going to seal this access point, that is.”
Seeley came over, joined by Rudolph and Nethissis. “The farther out we dig, the better,” the Reaper chimed in. “We’re limited by the Darklings’ death magic. I estimate at least a couple of miles out before we can even teleport.”
“Where are the other Reapers?” I asked, looking around.
“They’re helping the Aeternae boys with some fire spells,” Seeley said. “Our own explosive charges, let’s call them, placed all through the village. When the Darklings breach the protective shield, they’ll be in for a hot surprise.”
Tristan and Valaine moved away from the northern gate, their footsteps rushed and their faces paler than usual. “It’s starting!” Tristan hissed. They ran toward us as a flash of light burst upward against the protective shield.
My heart jumped into my throat. This was it. The moment we’d all hoped would fail to come. The Darklings had begun their offensive maneuvers against Orvis, determined to get past the cloaking spell.
On our side of the village, they’d all raised their scythes, whispering chants and slashing at the barrier. Every blow caused iridescent ripples to spread out. Soon enough, the entire dome glowed, overwhelmed by the flurry of death magic attacks. They couldn’t see through, so the chances of them figuring out what we were doing were relatively small. It wasn’t a guarantee, but it was the best we had in these circumstances. The tunnel entrance would be sealed once we were all out, anyway.
“What do we do?” I asked.
Rose and Caleb brought the remaining villagers out of their homes and grouped them with the others. Kalla spoke to them, trying to reassure them as best as she could, but the Darklings’ attacks weren’t helping. They were terrified.
“We hold them off,” Seeley said. He handed an extra scythe to Nethissis. “We’ll cover the north gate. Sidyan will take the east with Kelara and Soul—“ He paused, his ears twitching as he listened. The other Reapers were communicating with him, I realized, mobilizing for the defense strategy. “Night and Morning will handle the south, and Widow and Phantom will join you here in the west.”
I nodded, watching Seeley, Nethissis, and Rudolph rush to the north. They brushed past Valaine and Tristan, who finally reached us, almost breathless.
Rose and Caleb flanked Sofia and the boys, their pulverizer weapons locked and loaded, their backpacks filled with everything they’d been able to get from the shuttles. Amal and Hunter came back, carrying several bags loaded with more pulverizer ammo and swamp witch spell paraphernalia. We took a few minutes to distribute the weight around, each of us with a backpack or a satchel ready. Even Thayen and the Visentis boys were given a load to carry.
The more we did to prepare for what would come next, the more anxious I became. The loud bangs erupting from the protective shield startled me. I could see Corbin’s figure between the black stone houses as he continued striking the barrier with one crippling blow after the next. The tension was rising. The air crackled with an uncomfortable mixture of dread and anxiety.
“How are we looking down there?” Sofia called out.
Kemi rushed up, his face and white silk garments covered in dirt. “Start bringing the people down. We’re two miles in.”
Kalon and I stepped back. Kalla and the villagers were the first to descend. About two hundred innocent lives depended on us, and I was determined to make sure they all reached the west coast safely.
Reapers’ scythes glimmered white at all four cardinal points around the village. They released flurries of pulses that burst outward and beyond the protective shield. We all ducked as Phantom and Widow launched their own. The defense worked—each shot threw the Darklings back and broke several bones in the process. On our side, the Knight Ghouls snarled and scratched at the barrier, desperate to get through.
Small fissures formed, gradually spidering across the surface, spreading and deepening as they reached for the top of the dome.
“It’s not going to last much longer,” Sofia murmured, staring upward. Her eyes filled with horror as she clutched Thayen closer.
“Mom, take the boys and go!” Rose said.
“What about you and Caleb?” she replied, suddenly alarmed.
“We’ll be right behind you,” Caleb assured her.
Though hesitant, Sofia did as she was told and nudged the boys down into the tunnel. Their figures became black against the amber lighting backdrop. Moments later, they were gone. The village of Orvis was now empty except for some Vision horses and what remained of our troops.
With all the violence around us, I finally saw the tranquility of the Nightmare Forest. In the absence of Darklings and evil, it was a beautiful yet dangerous place. The sabre tigers and the poisonous vipers, the creatures that lurked between the old trees with sprawling crowns seemed harmless—mere creatures of wilderness struggling to survive and prosper. The Nightmare Forest was not a welcoming place. Not at all. But it didn’t deserve to be soiled by the Darklings’ presence. Heck, the entire planet would be better off without them.
Kalon looked at me, his cold blue eyes set on mine. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said with a heavy sigh.
“We’re moving!” Caleb announced, taking Rose with him down into the tunnel.
Amal and Hunter were next, with Kalon urging them along. The Faulty gave me two small controls, each with a red switch and a wireless transmitter antenna. “Once we’re all down there, flip them both,” she said. “It’ll detonate the shuttles.”
Kalon and I held our ground and scanned the area around us. The Reapers were hard at work, while the remaining ghouls darted through the homesteads and scared the Vision horses out of their stables.
“What the hell are they doing?!” I croaked.
It soon became obvious, as the horses galloped toward us and into the tunnel. I counted twenty, and they would come in handy later. The ghouls chased after them, growling and snickering to one another. This was quite the feat they’d accomplished, considering that Vision horses and pretty much any other animal were a natural food source for the ghouls. They’d been instructed to do this, though. I could see Trev Blayne smiling as he watched the last of the former Reapers descend. He went after them, whistling and guiding them deeper underground.
“The shield will come down soon,” Phantom said, looking at me from the edge of the protective spell. “I’m calling our people back.”
“I’d love nothing more than to take all these bastards on!” Widow scoffed. “But the Master of Darkness is not someone to trifle with. Not until we figure out exactly how much death magic they know and what spells they might have learned from the Spirit Bender. They keep surprising us, and I’ve had enough of that.”
“No one is going to blame you if you run from the Darklings,” Kalon said. “We’re all in this together.”
Widow shook his head. “It’s not something I would be proud of.”
“We can whimper about it later!” Phantom snapped and pushed him away from the shield just as a piece of it came shattering down like broken glas
s. Several Knight Ghouls snuck through.
“Fire at will!” I shouted.
Kalon and I unloaded several pulverizer pellets into the ghouls and the Darklings who tried to follow them through. Seconds later, they were reduced to puffs of silvery ashes, and Phantom managed to patch the broken area with a death spell of her own.
“It’s not going to last!” Phantom said, grabbing Widow and joining us by the tunnel opening. She slid to her knees and drew several symbols on the ground with the tip of her scythe. “I’ll break these when we’re all down there.”
Parts of the shield came down, more shards of glowing magic falling from the dome. Light danced across its surface, now visible and luminescent. The protective spell was failing, finally succumbing to the Darklings’ attacks. Seeley and Nethissis returned, followed by Rudolph. Soul, Kelara, and Sidyan reemerged, as well. Night and Morning appeared last and were adamant that Tristan and Valaine go down into the tunnel immediately.
“Come on!” Morning said. “Your turn, sister!”
“What about you?” Valaine asked.
Night smiled. “We’re coming with you, of course.”
“Esme…” Tristan said, breathing heavily. “Don’t linger for too long. Please.”
“I’ll be fine,” I replied, nodding at Valaine. “Get her out of here.”
“The Darklings have breached the barrier,” Soul announced. “They’re coming.”
The Reapers quickly took Nethissis, Valaine, and Tristan into the tunnel, leaving only Kalon and me to handle the detonation. I took a moment to look at everything one last time. The black stone walls. The looming tower. The narrow and beaten paths. Orvis had been a good place to live, despite the dangers surrounding it. Despite the Nightmare Forest breathing over it with its rustling leaves and hungry growls. It had brought me closer to Kalon, and it had forced me to face the very truth of this world. I would miss it.
A Shade of Vampire 84: A Memory of Time Page 2
