Removing his medallion from his wrist pouch, Jaden stared at it. “I’m almost reluctant to part with it.”
“Stop wasting time! Act!” Taz’s commands startled them. Kayla glanced up at her glider. “My people are dying while you tarry!”
“Sorry!” Hurriedly, Kayla placed her medallion on the pile and motioned for Iri and Atu should do the same. Jaden’s was the last, his medallion forming the final piece in the rectangle, ready to support the second-to-last item that went on the pile.
Carefully, Kayla carefully balanced Awena’s book on the four supporting medallions. Breathing a relieved sigh when the pile didn’t fall over, Kayla glanced at Iri. “I need my relic stone back.”
“Oh, sorry!” Iri snatched the ring off her finger and handed it to Kayla.
“Thanks.” Kayla didn’t put her ring on. Instead, she addressed Jaden. “See those little dots on either side of the pyramid?” Jaden nodded. “That’s where our relic stones go. I’ll do this dot, and you do that one.”
“Are you sure?”
Kayla grinned at Jaden’s bereft expression. “Here I thought only girls got attached to their jewelry.”
“It’s not jewelry. It’s a weapon! No surprise I’m attached to it.”
“Either way, let’s do this.” Kayla spared another glance at their gliders hovering overhead. “Our friends up there are getting more antsy by the second.”
Sighing, Jaden pulled his ring from his finger and placed it on his dot.
Kayla placed her ring on her dot. “Now for the final piece. I would suggest you all take a step back. I’m not entirely sure what will happen, but Ruby’s key is the trigger.”
“Really, that too? We have to surrender everything?”
Jaden was so distraught, Kayla would’ve laughed if the situation weren’t so desperate. “Not everything. This is the last piece for whatever it is Zareh had in mind for the medallions.”
“Banish the Gaptors.” Atu’s quiet statement only highlighted the huge impact this tiny action would have.
“Here goes nothing.” Kayla placed her hand above the medallion pyramid, gripping the key tightly. She angled it so the ends pointed directly at the relic stones on the outer edges of the pile. Holding her breath, she placed the key on the book.
When the key glowed white-hot, Kayla jumped back. Hissing, it burned its way through the book and burrowed down into the pile of medallions, melting all the way down to the leather piece. The instant the key touched it, a fierce wind gusted up through the hole left behind.
The wind didn’t dissipate. It spun around the medallions, gathering momentum. One, then two medallions were caught by the wind. In a bright flash, the rest followed, the wind licking the medallions up in a line that spiraled into the heart of the vortex. The wind intensified, giving voice to its velocity with an otherworldly howl.
Kayla shivered. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off the swirling mass. Glints of pearly, shimmering white and sparkly obsidian on the outer edges were the only sign the raging wind still held the medallions within. Then even those disappeared as dazzling light blasted through the center of the funnel. With a wailing shriek, the wind morphed into a brilliant line streaking straight up.
The four voyagers watched, awed, as the streak darted toward their gliders, then veered away, swerving this way and that, searching, searching, searching.
When the streak of light found the first Gaptor, the light wrapped around it, forming a bubble of pure energy. The bubble popped. Audibly. The streak reappeared and speared onward.
After the brilliance of the light, it was difficult to see. Kayla waited impatiently for her eyes to adjust. No sign of the Gaptor remained. Kayla’s eyes tracked back to the streak.
Finding another straggling Gaptor, it wrapped itself around the monster. Once again, when the bubble popped, there was no trace of the Gaptor. The light darted toward a group and wrapped around them, like it was no more challenging than a single monster.
The bubble formed, burst, and thinned into a ribbon again, leaving empty sky. Silent, swift, fatal, the streak flowed from one group of Gaptors to the next, dismissing them all with the same ambivalent ease.
“Do you think it’s killing them or just sending them back to Zareh’s world?” Atu breathed.
Jaden grunted. “We’ve always associated their deaths with the light and sound the relic stones or DDs generated. This streak isn’t doing either.” He glanced at Iri. “Can you tell if they’re dying?”
Iri shook her head. “No. The Gaptors are there before the light gets to them, and then they’re gone. There’s no trace of color that might confirm their fate. And it’s too far for me to smell anything.”
Kayla squealed. “Look!”
They did. The streak flared golden, splitting into countless ribbons. The ribbons weaved through the entire battlefield and grew impossibly brighter. Not even Sven’s goggles could block out the light. The voyagers turned their heads. Popping sounded all over the sky, like hail on a tin roof, drumming to a crescendo. Then silence. Darkness. And all was still.
Chapter Fifty-Six
A single ray of light lanced the sky, making Jaden think the deadly ribbon had returned. A second ray joined the first. Then a third, and a fourth, and then too many to count, bursting forth, stunning and unique. Painting the sky gold and tangerine and lavender. Surprised, Jaden realized what he was watching. Sunrise.
Dawn had broken. Jaden stared at the sky. Not a single Gaptor against that glorious backdrop. Gliders wheeled about, chittering excitedly. Jaden knew better than to rely on his own eyes. “Han, are the Gaptors really all gone? What are the gliders saying?”
Han shot him a familiar, toothy grin. “Yes, the Gaptors are truly gone.” He listened to the surrounding twittering, then interpreted. “The Legion never thought they would see the day where their obligation to this world would end. But you did it—you and Kayla and the others.” Han stopped, listened again, and then laughed out loud. “They’re looking forward to going home after being away for so long. They’re already planning the celebration party.”
Boom! The roaring sound crashed against the surrounding mountains, reverberating up and down the valleys between, generating more noise and shaking the ground. Jaden glanced up at the source—far to his right, but unmistakable. Another ring had opened. A gate. He’d only seen one once before, when Slurpy sent his army through.
His nerves on edge, Jaden leaped back when Zareh flashed into existence beside him. Jaden wasn’t sure where to look—at the giant hole in the sky or at Zareh, the annoying gnat. His gaze settled on Zareh. “What are you doing here?”
“Your mission, unfinished is. Achieved ultimate victory, you have not.”
“What do you mean? Slurpy’s gone. We destroyed the Gaptors.”
Zareh only pointed at the sky. Jaden turned, muttering. But the sound cut off when he saw an all-too-familiar blackness creeping around the rim of light defining the circumference of the circle. Oozing past the radiant barrier and leaching into his world. Bringing death with it. Jaden held his breath, expecting Gaptors to pour through.
“Become the Gatekeeper, you must, if forever your world to save you are. Restore this world, you must. Sealer of the breach, be.”
Jaden glared at Zareh. “Really? After everything, you spout more nonsense?”
“Nonsense, it is not. Already within your grasp, the answers are. Your mission, complete! When gone we are, understand, you will.”
“Gone?”
“Leave the gliders in this world, believe you I would?”
Jaden froze. “Han’s leaving?”
“Take up his own mantle, he must. The princess’s consort, officially become.”
He was losing Han? Jaden squeezed the words past the lump in his throat. “And when you say ‘princess,’ you mean Taz?”
“Referring to who else would I be? Yearn for their princess, her people do. Return she must, now that her role here fulfilled she has.”
Jaden couldn
’t stop the chuckle, garnering a sharp stare from Zareh.
“Funny, it is not.”
“Oh, but it is. Do you think you can make Taz do anything she doesn’t want to?”
It was Zareh’s turn to laugh. That annoying chittering sound. “Know her well enough, you do not. Her duty above all else, she places.”
Things suddenly weren’t so funny anymore. Jaden did know Taz. Zareh was right. All Jaden had to do was think about the way Taz had protected Kayla. Kayla! It will devastate her when she realizes Taz is leaving.
Jaden realized Zareh was studying him, curiosity coating his beady little eyes. “What?”
“Understand, she will. Fret not. Your goodbyes, say. Leave we must, before taint your world irrevocably the usurper’s device does. For your service, thank you, we do. Once beyond sight we are, close the gate, you must!”
Jaden’s gaze flitted back toward the gate when Zareh mentioned Slurpy’s device. Expecting Gaptors, he was relieved to find none. But the blackness oozing from the gate was spreading across the sky. A dark stain, oily and foul, marring the beauty of the sunrise. “Is that the same thing that made the animals here start changing?” No reply. Jaden turned. There was no sign of Zareh. “Ugh, how am I supposed to close the gate, you nitwit? Couldn’t you just tell me?”
Kayla appeared at his side. “Was that Zareh?”
“Yes. Where’ve you been?”
“Checking on the medallion pile.”
“And?”
“Everything’s gone.”
“Did you really expect that wind would leave anything?”
“I suppose not. I was hoping, though . . .”
Jaden grinned. “That it might’ve spared your medallion?” Kayla nodded. “Now who’s the one getting sentimental about their jewelry?”
Finally, Kayla smiled. It lit Jaden’s world and brought joy to a desperate situation. Jaden sighed.
Kayla eyed him. “What’s wrong?”
“We have to figure out how I’m supposed to close that gate. The last time I came into contact with that thing, I didn’t do so well.” Jaden scowled. “It was a rather shocking experience.”
Kayla’s voice was calm, but Jaden saw her apprehension. “That’s not all. What else aren’t you telling me?”
Jaden sighed again, then took her hands in his, facing her squarely. “Our gliders are leaving. Going back to their world.”
Kayla’s face was a palette of varying emotions. Shock. Disbelief. Anger. And finally, sorrow. “I suppose it was inevitable.”
Her voice was so small. Jaden pulled her into his arms, embracing her, wanting to ease the hurt. “I can’t remember life without them,” Jaden murmured into her hair.
Tears wetting her face, Kayla nodded, pressing herself into his embrace, her own arms wrapping around him.
“What’s wrong with you two? You look like we lost instead of won,” Atu commented.
“It’s not the quest. It’s something . . . personal,” Iri noted, joining them.
Jaden shook his head at Iri, struggling to tell them what they needed to know. He didn’t let Kayla go. “You could say that. Personal to all of us. Our gliders are going home.”
Atu frowned. “Home?”
Jaden clarified. “Back to their world.”
Iri overshadowed Atu’s crestfallen expression by crashing to her knees. Giving Jaden a last tight squeeze, Kayla extricated herself from his arms. She hurried to Iri’s side, crouching next to her and cradling her friend. Iri’s shoulders shook. She glanced up at Kayla with a tear-stained face.
“I was just getting over Tinks. Now I’m losing Rozie too?” Sobs rocked her again, enough to break Kayla’s own resolve.
Jaden surveyed the distraught girls, his own grip on his sorrow wavering. We can’t all lose it! Or can we? If we don’t grieve now, then when? Much as he wanted to give in to his own heartache, he couldn’t. He glanced at the gate again. The black patch was growing at a steady rate. Not huge, still confined to the area directly around the gate. But if it’s caught in the jet stream, will it spread beyond containment?
Soft plops near them made Jaden turn. He had been so engrossed in his own thoughts he hadn’t noticed their gliders coming in to land.
“You already know what we’ve come to tell you?” Taz’s voice was soft. Nothing like her usual imperious tones.
“You’re really a princess?” Jaden asked, more to stave off the avalanche of emotion threatening to bury him than because he didn’t know.
“I am.”
“Not just a princess. The future queen,” Han added, as though they should be aware.
Jaden raised an eyebrow. “And that makes a difference?”
Taz shot Han an irate glance. “It’s why we can’t stay. If there was someone else to lead my people, perhaps they might’ve permitted me to stay. But since I am the only one . . .”
“They might have allowed you to stay?”
Kayla sounded so hopeful, Jaden almost hated Taz for giving Kayla false hope. “Taz, don’t lead us on. You’re not staying. Nor is Han. Or any of the others.”
Taz deflated. “I wasn’t trying to mislead you. From the moment we arrived, I hoped there might be a way for us to stay in contact. That when this ended, we might continue to spend time together. That the end of the quest wouldn’t be the end of our friendship.”
“But it’s not to be, is it?” Jaden’s tone was clipped.
“No.” Taz sighed, her massive wings drooping. “Zareh said that once you close the gate, all contact between our world and yours will be forever severed. There will be no way our worlds can interact ever again. It’s the only way to ensure the safety of your world.”
Taz’s forlorn expression had Jaden backing off. The humans weren’t the only ones devastated by the news. Swallowing his grief, Jaden glanced at Han. “I guess that means you get to be king?”
Han’s muted laughter rumbled across the mountainside. “I suppose I do.” He stopped laughing and glanced at Taz. “That’s if Taz will have me.”
Taz batted him with a wing. “Who else could ever take your place?”
Jaden grinned. “Dude, if that’s her way of showing affection, then perhaps you might be better off with someone else.”
Taz turned stony eyes on him. “That’s not amusing.”
This time, Jaden wasn’t the only one laughing, even though tears stained their faces.
Kayla went to Taz and wrapped her arms around her glider’s neck. “I will miss you—terribly.” She leaned closer, her lips moving but her words too soft for any of the rest of them to hear.
It was time he said his own farewells. He placed a hand on Han’s shoulder. Han’s neck dipped, and Jaden rubbed the soft ridge near his ear. “Who will do this for you once you’re back home?”
“With any luck, Taz.”
Han’s unexpected response had Jaden chuckling. “I hope so.” Jaden wound his arms around Han’s neck. “I don’t know if I remember how to live without you.”
“You will.”
Han’s voice was gruff. He wrapped a wing around Jaden’s back. Jaden nuzzled his face against Han’s neck. “It won’t be easy. Words can’t express how much I’ll miss you.” Jaden’s voice broke. He had to try a few times to get the rest of the words out. “Thank you for always having my back. For making sure we reached the finish line. For risking your neck for our world.”
A rumble from Han that Jaden had never heard before. He raised his head, searching Han’s face. Jaden found his own sorrow etched there. The sound came again, and Jaden noticed Han’s throat bobbing.
“Sorry, clearing my throat.” Han’s voice was even rougher now. He straightened his shoulders. “It was an honor to share this quest with you.”
“Likewise,” Jaden answered, his own voice shaky.
Han cocked his head. “Zareh is summoning us. Take care, Jaden Jameson! I will never forget you.” Han removed his wing, stepped back, and launched himself skyward.
“Nor I you!” Jaden yelled.<
br />
His vision blurred. Jaden swiped a hand across his eyes. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—miss their last flight. His eyes remained glued on Han, now joined by Taz, Aren, and Rozie. Jaden felt Kayla’s comforting hand slip into his own.
Hand in hand, they watched their gliders join the Legion, then take their place in front, along with Pallaton. The gliders circled the area once. Han dipped his wing in a final salute. Then the gliders were flying away. Not streaking away and gone in an instant, like the first time Jaden and Kayla met them. Slowly, as though they too were savoring every minute of the sight of their voyagers.
Their gliders grew smaller and smaller and became indistinguishable from the others until the entire group was just a tiny pinprick in the azure sky. Then the sky was empty. Between one blink and the next, their gliders vanished.
Jaden’s heart cracked in two. He glanced at Kayla. She clutched Iri’s hand, with the one that wasn’t holding Jaden’s and Iri’s other hand gripped Atu’s. The four of them. Together. Supporting one another. Still a team, even though they would never see their other halves again.
A shadow flitted over the group, then thickened and solidified. Jaden glanced up. Horror soaked him.
The poisonous cloud blotted the sun out. What had been a contained pool of blackness oozing around the gate now gushed out in great black waves, rolling into their world.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Jaden heard Kayla’s sharp intake of breath.
“It’s growing. What do you think it is?”
“A failsafe Slurpy left in place in case he never made it back to his bunker—where he could’ve deactivated it.”
Kayla’s green eyes were wild, ocean waves worked into a froth by a storm. “Unless we close the gate, that poison will continue leaking into our world until it destroys our whole planet!”
“I guess Slurpy decided if he couldn’t have it, neither could we,” Jaden muttered. “Vindictive man.” He gazed at the rapidly expanding toxic pool. “Yes, time to close the gate. Any ideas now that we can’t fly up there?”
Flinches from the others told Jaden he wasn’t the only one still grappling with losing their gliders. Their distressed faces made Jaden wish he’d thought before speaking.
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