“How does this help me control my power?” She crossed her arms.
“You’re getting better every day. You just need to learn not to rely on that band so much.”
The outer door burst open as Darius rushed in. “The rift on Migara just expanded, and a mass of land fell into it. We’ve got bigger problems now.”
Chapter 26
“What do you mean the rift expanded?” Nyx asked as she, Darius and Ambrose hurried out of the great library.
Darius pushed his long hair of his face and called for Sirin. The dragon swept down like a silent phantom. “Exactly that. The rift expanded, and everything fell into its depths.” Darius scrambled up onto the dragon’s back. He pulled Nyx up behind him.
“I’ll meet you there.” Ambrose drew a circle around himself and tapped his staff on the ground. He then vanished in a flash of light.
Nyx gripped onto him as Sirin took flight.
Darius raised his hand and caught hold of an air current and channelled his magic. Flying all the way from Migara took time since it was on the other side of the realm. They didn’t have time to waste.
Wind whooshed past him as he used the current to catapult them forward.
Nyx screamed and Sirin screeched. “What are you doing?”
Migara finally came into view. The great expanse of the wilds stretched out before them.
“Using the air to make us travel faster.” Darius patted the dragon’s head. “Sorry, girl.”
Nyx gave him a shove. “Hey, I deserve an apology too. I almost fell off.” The dragon screeched. “See, even she agrees with me.”
“Fine, I’m sorry to both of you,” Darius grumbled. “But we need to get there fast.” He urged Sirin to the ground.
The glowing green light and toxic fumes were visible even from up here.
Once they reached the ground, Nyx ran off in the direction of the rift. The wilds lived up to its name. Thick foliage covered the rocky terrain and trees stood in every direction. Everything here was wild from the trees, plants and the land itself. Unlike the majesty of Eldara, this realm was untamed and alien.
Leaves caught his tunic and branches groaned. Nyx yelped and dodged one as it made a grab for her. The trees on Migara had always moved and been unpredictable, but with the open rift, their energy had become much darker.
Darius pushed the branch away. “Maybe you should fly.”
“Good idea.” Nyx spread her wings and took to the air. More branches made a grab for him.
Nyx leaned down and grabbed hold of his arm.
Darius bit back a cry of alarm as she lifted him off the ground. Then her wings buckled. Darius hit the ground again with a thud. “You can’t carry me. Go. I’ll catch up.”
Nyx hesitated then flew off above the tree line.
Darius raised his hand and sent out an invisible burst of energy. The branches at once retreated, clearing his path. He bounded ahead until the green shimmers and dark shadows came into view. Darius coughed as the fumes hit him and headed over to where Nyx, Ambrose, Alaric and Lucien were standing.
“This is not good.” Ambrose leaned on his staff. All of them stumbled backwards as more earth fell away.
“Wait.” Darius caught hold of Ambrose’s arm., both to hold himself upright and to stop the other druid from falling in. On the other side of the rift trees groaned as the side of the embankment gave way. People screamed, and several ran away or took to the air.
Nyx clutched her head. “Oh no, I left my bracelet behind.” She sank to her knees.
“I’ll conjure a shield.” Ambrose raised his staff.
Darius made a move to go and help her. Holy spirits, she hadn’t been overwhelmed like this for a while. Had she been relying on the bracelet the whole time?
“Not you.” Nyx winced and used her free hand to motion to the rift. “It’s from there.”
Alaric glanced at Ambrose. “How can she be hearing thoughts? Has anyone fallen in?”
If they had, Darius doubted they would still be alive.
“No one has fallen in that we know of,” Lucien added.
“Unless they fell in before we got here.” Darius went over to Nyx and put a hand on her shoulder. She relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.
“We need to report this.” Several people from the Forest Guard were already there trying to help. Darius knew most of the people that lived in the wilds wouldn’t stick around and would retreat into hiding.
“The Archdruid must know,” Alaric added.
“He’s not here,” Darius reminded them.
“Then the queen and your brother must know. Migara is in danger of being swallowed by the rift,” Ambrose said. “This cannot continue. All of the islands are in danger.”
“I agree, but they both ignored the problem.” Darius kept a hand on Nyx as she scrambled up.
“This can’t be ignored. Summon your brother here.”
Darius hesitated. He alone had the power to summon Gideon, but despite the danger part of him did not want to do it. “What about Nyx? He will sense her power.”
Ambrose pulled an amulet out from under his robes. “Here.” He slipped it off and held it out to her. “It’s spelled with Darius’ blood. Put it on.”
Nyx frowned at him. “I knew you were blocking me out.” She put the amulet on and hid it beneath her tunic.
Darius hesitated then raised his hand, reaching for the familiar feel of his brother’s presence.
Light flashed as Gideon himself appeared. His dark eyes narrowed. “Brother, what do you think you’re doing?” His voice held a hard edge.
“Look.” Darius motioned to the open rift. More earth fell away, crumbling into the fumes and turned to ash as it went. Gideon frowned, but Darius caught a flash of surprise in his gaze. With a groan, more land fell away. Fae and dryads screamed as they turned into ash in the rift. “Still think this isn’t a problem, brother?”
Gideon’s jaw tightened, and he edged closer. He raised his hand. “The veil… It’s fractured.”
“We have been telling you that for weeks.” Nyx raised her chin.
Careful. Now is not a good time to push him, Darius warned her.
“You’re the closest thing we have to an Archdruid, prince. What are you going to do about it?” Nyx arched an eyebrow.
Gideon glowered at her. “I —”
“The rift must be closed,” Ambrose spoke up. “Everything we’ve tried so far has failed.”
A darkling shot up and out of the rift. It hovered for a moment, its skeletal body shimmering in the sunlight. Gideon raised his hand and hit it with a ball of energy. The darkling screeched and dived back into the rift. “Gods below,” Gideon growled.
“So, how are you going to fix this?” Nyx put her hands on her hips.
Gideon turned his scowl onto his brother. “Can you keep your slave in line?”
“She’s not a slave,” Darius said without thinking. “And she’s right.”
“Fine, then I’ll close the rift.” Gideon raised his hands and light flared between his palms. The ground beneath them groaned and trembled. More land fell away, forcing them to step back. Darius grabbed his brother’s arm and pulled him back. Gideon yanked his arm away. “I don’t need you to save me.”
Darius shrugged. “You’re welcome.”
“Your power alone isn’t enough, my prince.” Ambrose clutched his staff tighter. “The veil is fractured. We need to find another way.”
“We need the power of the Archdruid,” Alaric spoke up. “He’s the only one who has a connection to Erthea itself.”
Gideon turned his glare onto the overseer.
“He has a point,” Darius agreed. “Father has the power. Nothing we’ve done so far has worked.”
True, Fergus did have a connection, but Darius dreaded to think what might happen if Fergus used his power. With his dark magic, what kind of damage would he do?
“We need to talk to Father.” Gideon gritted his teeth. “He won’t like it.”
“Summon him or call him. We can’t ignore this problem anymore.” Darius pushed his hair off his face. “Neither can he, or all of Andovia could be swallowed up in a matter of days.”
Gideon blew out a breath. “Fine.” He motioned with his hands and light flared between his palms. It swirled around until a life-like image of Fergus appeared.
Fergus Valeran’s expression hardened at the sight of them. “What is the meaning of this?” Fergus hated being summoned by anyone.
“Father, we have a problem.” Gideon motioned to the growing rift behind them.
“Migara is being swallowed up by the rift and the tear in the veil has grown worse,” Ambrose told the Archdruid.
Fergus’ gaze flickered to the rift. “What do you expect me to do about it?”
“Father, your power could heal the rift,” Darius spoke up. He didn’t want to endure his father’s ire, but he would do whatever it took to fix the rift. “Dark creatures are coming through.”
“He’s right,” Gideon admitted. “If we don’t do something, all of Andovia will be destroyed.”
Fergus rolled his eyes. “Nonsense.”
“Father, look around you.” Darius motioned as another mass of the land gave way behind them. “You’re the Archdruid and the only one who can fix this. You don’t want to lose your entire realm, do you?”
Fergus gritted his teeth. “Let Migara fall. It’s a useless wasteland.”
Darius bit back a sharp retort. Hundreds of people still lived on Migara and would die if the rift consumed the island.
“But, Father, what about when it spreads further?” Gideon protested. “The crown jewel in your empire will be destroyed.”
Fergus laughed. “All lands belong to me, boy. Losing a couple would be no loss.”
Nyx pushed her way forward. “What about all the innocent lives that will be lost? Your sons are here.” She motioned to Darius and Gideon.
Fergus laughed again. “Evacuate, then. I have more important matters to contend with. Do not summon me again if you know what’s good for you, boy.” Fergus backhanded Gideon so hard the prince fell to the ground. Then, the image of Fergus winked out.
Darius knew then they were on their own. He muttered an oath and turned to his mentor. “Now what?”
“I can’t say I’m surprised.” Ambrose shook his head. “The Archdruid will do nothing to help us unless it serves his own purpose.”
“How dare you —” Gideon thundered.
Darius put an arm on his brother’s shoulder. “He’s right, and you know it. We need to figure out our next move.”
“Leave us,” Gideon snapped at the others. “All of you. I want to talk to my brother alone.” As Ambrose hesitated, he spat. “You too, you old fool.”
Ambrose, Alaric and Lucien all wandered off.
“I said alone.” Gideon scowled at Nyx.
She raised her chin. “I’m his servant, remember? I go where he goes.” She inclined her head to Darius. “I also stay where he stays.”
“You —”
“Gideon, enough. Leave her out of this.” Darius stepped between them. “We both knew Father wouldn’t help. For all we know, he could have caused this.”
Gideon turned his scowl on his brother. “He wouldn’t —”
Nyx scoffed. “Oh, he would, and you know it.”
“You need to keep this girl in line, brother.”
“I have about as much luck controlling her as I would the wind.” Darius chuckled. “There has to be a way to fix this.”
“What do you suggest?” Gideon snapped. “We can’t —”
A scream made both brothers turn to see Nyx had fallen in the rift.
“Nyx?” Darius bounded over to the edge, but she had already disappeared.
Now he didn’t know how, but he would get her back.
Chapter 27
Nyx screamed as she fell into the toxic fumes of the rift. She flapped her wings to slow her descent, but it didn’t help. She reached out and grabbed hold of a rock ledge, gasping as she finally stopped. Gods, how could she have fallen? She hadn’t been anywhere near the edge when the ground gave way.
Nyx gripped the ledge tighter and heaved herself up. All at once, the rock gave way and she found herself falling again.
“Druid?” she yelled.
But it was no good. She couldn’t sense either of the Valeran brothers anymore.
The blackness swallowed her; she fell through emptiness. Would she keep on falling forever? Rocks and any sign of landmass had faded. There was nothing left to grab onto in her descent. Her stomach recoiled at the sensation. She flapped her wings. Still they did nothing to stop her fall.
Make this stop! Nyx screamed as the wind rushed past her, and she hit the ground with a thud. Mist surrounded her.
A figure appeared, and Harland’s grinning form came towards her. “Nyxie, you have finally come to join me in death.”
Nyx’s wings drooped. “I’m not joining you in anything, Harland. You’re dead. You can’t hurt me anymore.”
He laughed. “Oh, you know I can and will.”
Her heart pounded in her ears, reminding her that she wasn’t dead yet.
Nyx scrambled up. “I’m done being haunted by you.”
Gods, why couldn’t Ambrose or the druid have told her more about spirits and how to defeat them? Why hadn’t she confided in them about Harland?
Harland chuckled. “You always were the defiant one. You will be mine.” He grabbed hold of her throat. “You just need to give in and let go.”
Get away from me! Green light flared between her hands and she sent him stumbling backwards. Somehow this felt familiar.
“I — I hit you with light that night at the tavern,” she realised.
“Yes, when you killed me.”
Nyx shook her head. “No, you — you were different. The darkling — I remember now. The darkling possessed you. I used my power to protect myself and Kyri.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “The darkling killed you, not me.”
Harland stumbled. “Lies. If it weren’t for you that thing would never have taken me. You are responsible — it was there for you.”
“How do you know that?”
Harland gave a harsh laugh. “I know more about you than you even know about yourself. If I hadn’t kept you hidden away in Joriam these past few years, you would be dead already. I protected you.” “What else do you know about me?” she asked. Her power roared to life. Her hand ached to reach out and use her influence on him. Harland grinned. “Why don’t you join me? Then you can learn what you need to know.” He reached out for her again. “It doesn’t have to hurt.”
Nyx took a step back. “And then what?” She narrowed her eyes.
“The veil is breaking – you know that. Someone has to control the other side. Why not us? With your powers, we would be unstoppable.”
“That’s why you want me.” Nyx shook her head. “You’ve always wanted power – that’s why you kept me and my sisters. No one is ever going to control me again.” More light flared between her fingers. Nyx might be able to fend him off, but for how long?
This place was unnatural. She didn’t want to stay here and knew she needed to find a way out, or at least get away from Harland.
He lunged at her again.
Nyx struck him with her light, and Harland screamed. She glanced at her hands. Whatever the strange light was must hurt spirits. If only it could destroy him.
Harland screamed as static rippled over him and his face contorted with pain.
Nyx decided it was time to run. She turned and fled, mist enveloped her like a heavy blanket of grey, cold and impenetrable.
Nothing but greyness stretched out before her.
She would call this place The Grey.
Nyx glanced behind her to make sure Harland hadn’t followed. Her heart pounded in her ears. There had to be a way out of here. She pushed through; the mist so thick it felt like something tangible. Nyx didn’t want to think about what it might b
e. She needed to get out of there.
Gods, help me to find a way out. Nyx had never been much of a believer in the gods her tribe worshipped, but she needed some divine intervention now. Or perhaps she should call on spirits as the druids did. Those were real enough from what she’d seen. Okay, spirits, please help me find a way out of here.
Light shimmered around her, and she stumbled out of the mist and into inky blackness. Nyx raised her hand to illuminate her path and chase away the shadows.
Something moved in the darkness.
“Put that light out,” a scratchy voice hissed. “Get out of here.” The creature’s face looked like it had been carved from bone. Its eyes were black, lidless holes and sharp pointy teeth peeked out from its mouth. Its body was covered with a black cloak with what looked like mist draped around it.
Uriel. The name came to her, but the strange creature’s thoughts remained silent.
The Uriel hissed and backed away. “Soul seer — how did you get into my domain?”
“I’m trying to find my way back to…” Nyx trailed off. “What did you call me?” She didn’t want to let the Uriel know of her ignorance. Instinct warned her to be on her guard.
“Soul seer,” the creature rasped. “I will not yield to your touch.”
“I’m not here to hurt you. Gods, not all mind whisperers are bad.” She crossed her arms. “Where am I?”
The Uriel lowered its gnarled hand. “You don’t know?”
“Would I be asking if I did?” She put her hands on her hips. Nyx didn’t get the sense of where The Grey was, but it didn’t feel like Erthea. The Uriel fell silent and turned away from her. “Hey, I will use my touch on you if you don’t give me answers.”
The creature shuddered. “You don’t know whether your power will work on me.”
“Ha, I know you are fae of some kind. My power works on anything living.” She sounded more confident than she felt. Nyx raised her hand and power simmered beneath her fingers, aching to get out.
Despite knowing the thing’s name, Nyx didn’t know what a Uriel was or what they could do. She didn’t want to touch the creature unless she had to. The thought made her stomach churn.
“The veil is splintered. This is a gap between Erthea and the world beyond.”
The Calling (The Andovia Chronicles Book 1) Page 25