Discord

by E A Foley

  Discord

  A Through Dreams and Doorways Novel Book 4

  E. A. Foley

  Also by E. A. Foley

  Through Dreams and Doorways Novels

  Book 1: Discovery

  Book 2: Denouncement

  Book 3: Desperation

  Coming Soon:

  Book 5: Destruction

  Book 6: Destiny

  Contents

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Also by E. A. Foley

  Copyright © 2019 E. A. Foley

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover by Mibl Art

  About the Author

  http://www.eafoley.com

  Twitter: http://twitter.com/e_a_foley

  Facebook: facebook.com/E-A-Foley-558825077901250

  To those who knowingly or unknowingly helped inspire the characters within these novels

  Thank you!

  Chapter 1

  An ear deafening boom filled Iris Faye’s head. Her little self clapped hands over her ears in the Gallery of Doors. Her physical self flinched where she stood on the large meeting platform tucked amongst the branches of the oldest tree in Mothar Crann on Gemina Terra. Iris tightened her grip on her upper forearm and squeezed her crossed arms closer to her. She closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated on slowing her now racing heart.

  He can’t get you here. Jaden can’t get you here. You’re safe, she reminded herself as her breathing returned to a more normal pace.

  Iris opened her eyes and looked around to see who’d noticed the noise and her reaction to it. A few of her friends paused in their conversations with the elves and faeries they’d spent the day with. Several sought her out. They raised or furrowed eyebrows at her in surprise. A few even mouthed what was that? Iris shook her head at them and waved a hand to say everything was fine. But everything was not fine. It was far from it.

  Before another boom could reverberate throughout the Gallery of Doors and turn her already splitting headache into a migraine, Iris threw a new sound barrier over Jaden’s door. Her first attempt at assuring he, Zarina, and Morrigan weren’t able to hear anything going on in the Gallery already failed. It turned out she couldn’t request a sound barrier remain without being present to actively maintain it.

  A soft thunk proved the lining on the new barriers blocking Morrigan’s and Zarina’s doors worked. She was positive they used similar amounts of force as Jaden did on his door but she’d already fitted their doors with new barricades—complete with acoustic foam. A quick succession of thuds told her all three of her former friends attempted to break into the Gallery.

  It was her fault. Unfortunately, she’d made so much noise while replacing Zarina’s barricade that her onetime friend noticed. A few minutes later, Jaden’s muffled voice called to her through his locked door. When she didn’t respond, he took it upon himself to persistently test the barricade blocking him from entering the Gallery of Doors. Iris was more than a little perturbed at him.

  “At least you got Morrigan’s up without making too much noise,” she told herself within the domed room that was the Gallery of Doors. “Successfully replacing two out of three isn’t bad.”

  Jaden’s door vibrated. The only sign he’d tried breaking into her mind once more. Iris lessened the sound barrier she maintained around his door. She needed to hear enough to know when he got bored and stopped testing the integrity of her work so she could replace the old barrier with a new one.

  Iris hoped it would be soon. Exhaustion was taking over. She wouldn’t be able to sustain the sound barrier she held in place much longer let alone create a new one. When a soft thud showed Jaden’s most recent attempt to break into the Gallery, Iris relaxed a little and allowed more of her subconscious to join her conscious mind.

  She stood off to the side of the gathering platform in Mothar Crann and smiled at the sight of her friends mingling with the elves and faeries of Gemina Terra. They were the reason she would keep her vigil in the Gallery of Doors. Melancholy washed over her at the thought of the three missing friends and the precautions she now took against them.

  Violet looked up from a conversation she and Cirrus were having with a large contingency of young elves. She raised an eyebrow at Iris and jerked her head to indicate Iris should join her and Cirrus’s conversation. Iris shook her head and gestured to her temple. Violet nodded. Iris was thankful she didn’t need to explain anything.

  A few moments later a door in the Gallery opened behind Iris’s little self. She didn’t turn to see who it was. Violet joined her where she stood in front of Jaden, Zarina and Morrigan’s doors.

  “You almost finished with whatever you’re doing?”

  “Getting there,” Iris lied.

  Another soft thud hit Jaden’s door. It didn’t vibrate as much. He appeared to be losing interest.

  “What was that?” Violet asked.

  “Jaden,” she said simply. A loud smack made Iris change her mind about his attention span. He hadn’t lost interest—he was frustrated with her.

  Good, she thought. I’m none too pleased with you either. She made a few adjustments to the sound barrier she’d placed around his door.

  “Why did you add the sound barrier?”

  “Because without it he’d be giving me a migraine from all the banging and knocking. He’s relentless.” Iris glanced at Violet. Confusion crossed her friend’s face, so she answered the unasked question. “I made too much noise earlier. They heard me adjusting the barricades around their doors.” She gestured to Morrigan’s and Zarina’s doors.

  “Ah. Is there soundproofing around their doors too?”

  “Yup. I managed those two before the three of them figured out I was messing with the barricades.”

  “Why did you add the soundproofing?”

  “Because he knew when people tried talking to me through the doors while I was his prisoner.”

  “Creepy.”

  “Very. I have no desire to share any of our conversations with them. Besides, I figured if he could hear us, I’d be able to hear him. I decided having his voice in my head was a bad idea, so this is my solution.”

  “Makes sense. Do you want some help? Or are you ready to come back to your physical self?”

  “I’m fine. I have to wait for him to stop testing the integrity of the barricade so I can slip a new one into place.”

  “I can create and place a new one for you. You can’t stay in here forever.”

  “Thanks, but I’m good. I’d rather stay here and make sure he doesn’t break through.”

  “Then you’re
still his prisoner. If you can’t leave here and are always afraid he’ll destroy your barricades, then he wins.”

  “You don’t understand. If he makes it into the Gallery, he’ll be able to access all of your minds, not just mine.”

  “Yes, and when we go back to Davis, he knows where we live. Where we practice magic. Our majors. Where we work. Our favorite restaurants. Where we like to study or go to relax. He can attack us anywhere,” Violet told her.

  Iris clenched her fists and closed her eyes. Violet was right. Everyone was vulnerable all the time. She needed to figure something out. A way to protect everyone. To prepare them and strengthen them as magic users. Vi halted her thought process.

  “You won’t be able to protect all of us every second of every day. But you’ve taught us how to protect ourselves. If he tries to break into the Gallery, you’ll know about it first. Unless he can blast his door open and block you from entering the Gallery at the same time, you’ll be able to get here in time. Remember, we understood—understand—the risks associated with learning and using magic. And we’re still with you.”

  Iris nodded and turned to face Violet. She was right. If Iris let fear consume her, she was no better off than she’d been when under Jaden’s control. She’d done everything possible to keep him out of the Gallery besides destroying the three doors—something she wasn’t willing to do yet.

  “I’m still afraid of something happening to you guys but you’re right. I can’t let fear control me. Tomorrow we’ll start a training regime.”

  “Tomorrow. Not tonight. Come on, let’s get back to our friends.”

  Iris glanced at Jaden’s door. He hadn’t attacked it in a few minutes, but something told her he still stood on the other side. She’d have to leave part of her mind here to maintain the sound barrier.

  “Okay. Thanks, Vi.”

  “Of course!”

  Violet gave Iris a huge hug, and the pair moved toward their respective doors. Iris waited for Violet’s door to close before sending as much of her mind to join her conscious self. She left enough of her mind in the Gallery to maintain the sound barrier around Jaden’s door.

  Once most of Iris’s mind entered reality, she glanced around the platform. Violet caught her eye. She waved for Iris to join her and Cirrus’s conversation. Iris smiled and shook her head. She was content to watch the surrounding happiness—not to mention exhausted and unsure she could pay attention enough during any conversation to be polite. Even with most of her mind present. She tried and failed to stifle a yawn. Her energy stores were almost depleted.

  Cirrus caught her eye and grinned. He looked around, spotted his brother with Vitharr, and joined the pair. A few moments later all three of them looked in her direction. Nimbus gave her a soft smile. Warmth bloomed in Iris’s chest and eyes. Nimbus said something to Vitharr and bowed before walking across the meeting platform to join her.

  “Tired?”

  “Very,” Iris agreed.

  He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her head. Iris relaxed into his arms. She sighed at the sense of security emanating from his being. He felt right. Familiar.

  “Vitharr is sending someone to show us where we can sleep,” Nimbus added as he squeezed her closer to him.

  “Sleep sounds wonderful. Should we gather everyone together?”

  “Cirrus is taking care of that.”

  Iris looked across the platform and saw her friends wrapping up conversations. They joined her in twos or threes. A few moments later, an elf approached them. He bowed to Nimbus.

  “If you would all follow me, I will show you to your sleeping quarters.”

  Everyone grabbed bags and suitcases from the corner they’d piled them in and joined their guide. Nimbus took the pillowcase Violet used to toss Iris’s stuff in from her. He situated it on top of his suitcase before taking her hand. The twelve friends from Earth followed their guide as he crossed several bridges hung between the thick branches of the ancient oaks. Iris heard several admiring comments about the surrounding grove and infrastructure.

  “This oak has been chosen for you all to stay in as long as you wish.”

  “I hope we are not displacing any elves to stay here,” Nimbus told their guide.

  “No. This tree is reserved for guests or those awaiting their permanent homes be built. It has three levels moving up the branches with three units on the lower two levels and a single unit at the top level attached to a meeting platform.”

  Iris looked up the tree as their guide spoke. The units were attached to the tree’s trunk or settled amongst sturdy branches. As she entered the first unit, its resemblance to a studio apartment struck her.

  Inside there was a large, low bed that looked very inviting, a table with a washbasin, a set of drawers, a pair of chairs, and a curtained off area that must have contained the washroom. The room held no cooking facilities which made it more like a treehouse hotel room rather than a studio apartment like Iris first thought. It seemed odd not to have a kitchen, but then Iris realized there was no reason for one since they had no supplies. Besides, the elves had invited them to share all their meals on the large meeting platform so far.

  “Who would like to stay here?” their guide asked after everyone took a few minutes to examine the unit.

  All eyes turned toward Iris. She stared back at them, her mind too exhausted to decide. Thankfully, Thorin spoke up.

  “We will.”

  Iris looked at him and noticed for the first time he held Kyxy’s hand. She wondered if their relationship solidified during the New Year’s fiasco. It brought a smile to her face. She caught Thorin’s eye. He grinned back at her. His eyes flashed toward Nimbus and back to her. Heat pooled in Iris’s cheeks. At that moment, all her lingering feelings for Thorin disappeared. She was happy for him. And for Kyxy.

  They left Thorin and Kyxy and followed their guide to the next unit. Gavin and Sienna took it while Kylee entered the final unit on the lowest level with a wave of her hand. As the remaining friends walked up a staircase that wrapped around the base of the oak tree, Cirrus caught up to Nimbus.

  “You two should take the top unit. I suspect you have more right to it than the rest of us.”

  “How do you figure?” Nimbus asked over his shoulder.

  “You’re an elf and she’s The First.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean by that but if you insist—”

  “I do.”

  “Thank you, then.”

  “Of course,” Cirrus said as they crested the stairs.

  “Have a pleasant evening, everyone,” Aerianna bid as she walked in the first unit with no prompting.

  “Good night, guys,” Rozlynd and Rowen said before heading left around the tree to the second unit.

  Violet, Cirrus, Nimbus, and Iris followed their guide right to the third unit and a set of stairs leading to the uppermost level.

  Before Violet and Cirrus disappeared into their sleeping quarters, Iris pulled Violet into a hug. “Thank you again. I mean it. I owe you my life.”

  “You’re welcome and no, you don’t. Sleep well,” Violet added with a smile as they broke apart.

  Chapter 2

  Their guide led Iris and Nimbus across the meeting platform to the final sleeping unit. Even from the outside, Iris could tell it was larger than the ones below. Their guide held the door open for her and Nimbus to enter first. He gave them a few minutes to take in the two-bedroom apartment with its large sitting area at the front before speaking to Nimbus.

  “Will you need anything else, my lord?”

  “No. Thank you. The elves are too kind in their hospitality. There is nothing else we require tonight. We thank you and wish you a peaceful evening,” Nimbus added with a bow.

  Their guide returned the bow and took his leave. Iris moved to a window and looked out upon the upper canopy of the magic-imbued oak grove that was Mothar Crann. Lights sparkled amongst the dense foliage. It was stunning, but the lack of activity in the Gallery of Doors made it
impossible for her to appreciate the beauty laid out before her.

  Iris sent more of her mind to join her little self in the Gallery. She needed to create and place a new barricade in front of Jaden’s door before going to bed. Her tired brain kicked into gear. It called more of her conscious self to it. She formed a new, sound-proof barricade while maintaining the sound barrier she currently maintained around Jaden’s door.

  Once satisfied the new barricade was ready, Iris prepared to exchange one barrier for the other. In quick succession, Iris dropped the sound barrier, removed the current barricade, and slid the new soundproof barricade into place.

  Iris’s physical self slumped forward at the effort. She leaned on the windowsill for support as her little self secured the new barricade in place using a series of brackets she wrapped around the doorframe. Her body trembled at the amount of power she’d used. It appeared she hadn’t fully recovered her energy stores.

  As Iris maintained her grip on the windowsill to keep her body upright, her little self circled Jaden’s door in the Gallery. Ensured she’d properly welded the barrier in place. A hand alighted on her shoulder as her little self started a second circuit of Jaden’s door. Iris flinched. She pulled away from the touch. Her heart rate increased.

  “Iris? Are you all right?”