Encircled

by Laurie Lucking

  I stand on a wide metal disc, Spark at my feet, with an opaque energy field pulsing around us. But it’s not protective and comforting like Milos’s. A dissonant chord ripples through the field, and a touch of my finger against its surface elicits a jolt that rocks my body.

  Milos. Did he escape the fire? I strain my eyes, a tightness rising in my chest, but I can’t see anything through the field.

  I slap my wristband. “Tegan.”

  No answer. Great. I’m stranded who knows where.

  Spark’s hackles go up, and a low growl rumbles in her throat. The energy field grows translucent. Beyond the field stands a woman with auburn hair flowing down her back, a crown on her head, and a scepter gripped in her hand.

  She approaches me, her lovely face twisted by a sneer. Her glistening yellow gown plunges at the neckline, and pink lace hugs every sinuous curve. My mind replays the swirling storm on the planet’s surface. Shimmera. I shudder.

  At least she’s in her humanoid form. A serpent might just undo me.

  Her glance rakes over me. “Who are you?”

  I grit my teeth. “My name is Astrid. Astrid Jakob.”

  “You’re obviously not magical. How could you hope to break my curse?”

  “I didn’t know about the curse. I landed on Zephyr Moon Base by accident.”

  She tilts back her head, exposing a pale throat, and laughs. “Oh, Milos. All that waiting for nothing.”

  My temper flares. “You shouldn’t have killed his father before shipping him off to the moon.”

  “And Milos should’ve agreed to my terms.

  “Where is he?”

  She motions to her left, her fingernails long and red—and my gaze follows her gesture. Milos stands on a circle like mine. Relief surges through me. He faces me, shaking his head, moving his mouth, but no sound penetrates through the field. His fingers are splayed against the energy field. And his bare arms and chest—covered in burns. I wince.

  I turn back to the sorceress. “Let him go. He needs medical attention.”

  Her brittle laugh shatters through me. “First, you must meet three challenges. If you succeed, you will break my curse, and I will free him.”

  I moisten my lips. “If I don’t?”

  Shimmera narrows her violet eyes, and the energy field crackles around me. “Then you’ll both die.”

  “What do I need to do?”

  “Extricate him from the energy field.” She disappears.

  My shoulders slump. How can I do this? I don’t have magic, technical knowledge, or even Tegan to fall back on. I tap the energy field gingerly. Another painful jolt.

  Spark howls, and a numb sensation spreads over my feet. I glance down. A clear substance, like hydro-gel, pours onto the circle at an astonishing rate. Already it’s up to my ankles. I sweep up Spark, her fur sodden. Then I look over at Milos. The gel is past his knees.

  Stars above!

  I turn in a circle, the gel sucking against my calves. No control panel, no valve to shut off the flow. Punching the energy field only sends a huge shockwave through me and incapacitates me long enough for the level to rise to my waist and Milos’s armpits. I transfer Spark to my shoulder and keep my arms lifted. What could possibly destroy the field? I have nothing.

  The gel surges to my chin, chilled and clammy against my skin.

  My knife!

  I plunge my hand into the gel—Spark’s claws dig into my neck—wrestle my knife from its sheath, and stab the blade into the energy field.

  The freshum crystal glows red and hot. The energy field explodes, and gel flies in all directions. I stagger toward Milos, my feet slipping out from under me. The gel covers his mouth, his nose. I grip the knife and puncture the energy field imprisoning him. It collapses rather than explodes. A goopy wave crashes Milos into me and knocks us to the floor. I cling to him as a river of hydro-gel sweeps us into another room. We land in an ignominious heap at Shimmera’s feet.

  Milos lies prone, facing me, his eyes closed. Is he breathing? Mindful of his burns, I roll him over. He retches.

  Shimmera eyes my blade. “Now you must—”

  Coughing, Milos shakes his head. “No, Astrid. No more of her sick games.”

  “I have to.” I brush back a strand of his dark hair plastered to his forehead. “It’s the only way to break the curse.”

  “But I can’t protect you. My magic is gone, and hers is too strong.”

  “He cares for you?” Shimmera purses her lips. “Interesting.”

  I scramble to my feet and put my hands on my hips. “What’s the next challenge?”

  “How well do you know him?”

  “Well enough.”

  Before I can blink, Milos is gone, and a door slides open. Shimmera points to it. Heart pounding, I step into a circular chamber hung with dozens of mirrors, Spark at my heels. Reflected in every mirror is Milos. The door slams shut.

  “Choose the true Milos!” Shimmera’s voice echoes hollowly.

  At first glance, each reflection is identical. But as I walk around the chamber, I notice subtle differences in the Milos in each mirror. One has slightly shorter hair, one longer. Another has a small scar above his eyebrow. But all of them entreat me.

  One Milos holds out his hand. “Astrid. It’s me.”

  Another Milos shakes his head. “No. I’m the real Milos.”

  “Don’t listen to them.” This one thumps his chest. “I’m Milos. Pick me.”

  I pace the room, covering my ears. They all sound like him. But did he have a scar above his eyebrow? Were his eyes more golden? Was there a cleft in his chin?

  Shimmera breaks into my musings. “Choose now. Ten, nine…”

  This one? He smiles at me. Or the next one? I run my fingers through my sticky hair. How can I decide?

  “..eight, seven.…”

  Spark yips, and I spin around. She sits in front of a mirror, her tail fanned.

  “…six, five…”

  I dash across the chamber. This Milos looks like all the others. How can I be sure?

  “…four, three…”

  Spark noses me.

  “This one!” I shout. “I choose this one!”

  The mirror evaporates, and Milos stumbles into my arms. Before I can breathe, we’re whisked away and again prostrate at Shimmera’s feet. Except now she’s seated on a throne.

  And she doesn’t look happy.

  She leans forward. “Your final challenge will not be so simple.” Simple? My trousers and blouse are soaked with goop, sweat beads my forehead, and every muscle trembles. “You will not be able to rely on your knife.” Her lip curls. “Or your hundar.”

  I stand, my legs unsteady, and help Milos rise as well. Anything is better than groveling before her.

  Shimmera turns to him. “You believe your planet to be poisoned, your people destroyed. But they’re not. Drestin can be whole again. And your people—including your father and brothers—are only in suspended animation. Like you were.”

  Milos’s mouth is agape. “How’s that possible?”

  “Because I’ve made it so.” Her violet gaze focuses on me. “You’ve done better than I expected. But now comes the test everyone fails. In order for Milos’s planet and his people to be restored, I must have blood. Your blood. You will die, but the curse will break.”

  “No!” Milos pulls me against his chest. “That’s not going to happen.”

  I stare into his golden eyes. Could I die for Milos and his people? A lump rises in my throat. Me in exchange for a whole planet? What’s to consider?

  He leans in, his full lips brushing against my temple. “Don’t even think about it.”

  I glance at Shimmera. “The curse will break and you’ll leave Drestin?” My voice wavers, like my quivering insides.

  Milos’s arms tighten around me. “No.”

  A slow smile spreads across her face. “I swear.”

  “Then I’ll do it.” Will my death be quick? What if she turns into a—oh, stars—the yellow dres
s becomes scaly skin crusted with pinkish scabs, her waist thickens, and her arms meld to her sides.

  Milos steps forward, shielding me. “Astrid, run.” But I’m rooted to the ground, mesmerized by the transformation.

  Spiny ridges erupt from Shimmera’s back, and she loops her tail around Milos. Slithering closer to me, she grins. Fangs as long as my fingers protrude from her mouth.

  “Offer me your arm.” She circles me, Milos in tow. I gag as a putrid stench fills my nostrils.

  Milos writhes in her coils. “Don’t do it!”

  Bracing myself, I hold out my arm.

  She sinks her fangs into my skin, just above my wrist.

  I scream. My arm throbs. The room spins.

  Darkness closes in.

  Epilogue

  “AND THEN WHAT happened, Daddy?” Four-year-old Hedda bounces on my knee and pushes her dark hair away from her face. Her twin, Liv, leans on my other knee, holding her breath. Six-year-old Roth looks up from his puzzle and sighs loudly, his green eyes bored. He’s heard this story so many times.

  “Well.” I glance across the bridge at my wife’s bright red curls. She tilts her head to the side, listening to my tale, and I imagine the smug smile on her face as she pilots our cruiser, the Zephyr.

  I turn back to our brood. “The maiden was so pure, so unselfish, that the wicked sorceress choked on the tiny drop of blood she extracted and burst into a million pieces. The curse was broken, the prince’s kingdom was restored, and all his people woke from their enchanted sleep. Although he was the youngest son, the prince married the maiden, and they ruled Drestin as king and queen for many, many years. The end. And now…”

  “Bedtime.” Roth sighs again. “We know.”

  “We’ll come tuck you in.”

  They scamper off, squealing down the hallway as Spark and her latest litter playfully chase them. I stand and stretch.

  Astrid leans against my back, twining her arms around me. “They ruled Drestin for many, many years?”

  I turn around, take her hand, and drop a kiss on the two round scars above her wrist. “Doesn’t that sound more exciting than ‘even with the death of the sorceress, the prince’s magic was never restored, but the King revived, and he ruled Drestin for many, many years’?”

  Astrid grins, and my breath catches in my throat. “I still like our ending better.”

  “That we got married, had three children, and spend our cycles transporting freshum crystals and breeding hundars?”

  “Exactly.” She traces the burn marks on my forearms, pulls my head down, and presses her warm lips against mine.

  I melt into her embrace as the Zephyr races through the galaxy, beyond the stars, and past the moons.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, Jebraun Clifford lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island surrounded by thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering identity and living without fear and enjoys creating fantastic worlds. She loves coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and harbours a secret penchant for British spelling.

  There’s More from the Authors of

  Encircled!

  Laurie Lucking

  Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

  Nothing distinguishes Leah from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia. But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter when Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason. Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

  To find out more about Common and other works by Laurie Lucking, visit www.laurielucking.com

  Fantasy Adventure, Fairy Tale Romance.

  J.M. Hackman

  “Please don’t ask me who I think I am. I’m Brenna the Firebrand, fulfiller of the First Prophecy. For better or for worse.”

  THE FIREBRAND CHRONICLES

  Brenna is just a normal teen. Going to school, hanging out with friends, shooting fire from her bare hands...um, what? When her mother disappears, Brenna will do anything to find her. Even travel through a portal. But life on the other side involves intimidating griffins, cryptic prophecies, and elusive enemies. Brenna must choose wisely whom to trust or lose everything.

  Spark, THE FIREBRAND CHRONICLES (Spark, Flare, Burn)

  For more books by J.M. Hackman, check out her website, jmhackman.com

  And if you enjoy her stories, please leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. One or two lines about the book are one of the nicest things you can do for an author. Thanks!

  True North Fiction

  E.J. Kitchens

  Jane Austen Romance Meets Fairy Tale Adventure in

  THE MAGIC COLLECTORS

  One curse won’t cure another, or will it?

  The Rose and the Wand

  The story of the enchantress from “Beauty and the Beast”

  The legendary Magic Thief has come—for their treasures, their weapons, and her. Who can stop him?

  To Catch a Magic Thief

  To find out more about E.J. Kitchens and her books, visit www.elizabethjanekitchens.com

  Adventure and Romance Are Only a Page Away

  S.E. Clancy

  Traded away as a young girl by her father, True relies on no one but herself. She knows the enemy army is coming—General Kohl repeats it each night, after he puts the money on her bedside table.

  When two foreigners show up at her door, True hides the men from the soldiers who arrive with a presidential search warrant. Colonel Holoke vows her life will be spared, along with any family members who are inside her house, when his army returns. The rest of the city will be annihilated.

  True must reconcile with her father’s disastrous choice and convince the family who turned a blind eye to save their lives. But as drones arrive and circle the city, True’s trust in Holoke’s God is tested as the walls to her city tumble down.

  S.E. Clancy’s debut novella, “True: A Contemporary Retelling of Rahab,” is now available on Amazon, and at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores.

  Fellowship of Fantasy Presents

  Eleven Tales of Magical, Mysterious

  Mythical Doorways

  Step through portals and into adventure as the authors of the Fellowship of Fantasy take you on another journey into fantastic worlds. Travel through time, space, and realities to encounter monsters, mechanical foxes, and the Fates themselves. You'll fly with dragons, save implausible beasts, and perhaps find your true home. Choose your path wisely, for dangers lurk in the lands beyond. In the third anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy, eleven authors promise you journeys into fairy lands hidden within the modern world, futuristic universities, and lands of ancient myth. So what are you waiting for? Cross through our Doorways for the adventure of a lifetime!

  Includes “Everwild” by J.M. Hackman and

  “Threshold” by Laurie Lucking

  Fellowship of Fantasy tackles fairy tales from once upon a time to happily ever after in

  Tales of Ever After

  Rescue a princess, meet a mermaid, win your reward.

  Explore twists on old tales and brand new magical stories. Meet feisty mermaids, friendly lampposts, and heroes who just might be monsters themselves.

  This fourth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy will lead you on a quest for entertainment and storm the castle of your imagination. So make a wish and enter the deep dark woods to find stories that will make you laugh, shiver, and maybe even fall in love.

  Includes “The Greatest Adventure,” a Firebrand Chronicles short story, by J.M. Hackman and “How to Hide a Prince” by E.J. Kitchens

  Table
of Contents

  INTRODUCTION

  EDGED IN SILVER

  A HEART’S DESIRE

  THE SONGBIRD’S CITADEL

  THE LAST MRS. BLUEBEARD

  A SPELL’S END

  BEYOND THE STARS, PAST THE MOONS

  ADDITIONAL WORKS BY THE AUTHORS