I hesitated, just for a moment, to look between the weapon in my hand and Mallum. He almost killed me.
But he didn’t.
There were two options: kill him, and have blood on my hands, or let him live, and risk this whole thing happening again.
“Please,” he repeated desperately, “just kill me.”
My decision was made.
With a new, fierce determination, I thrust the sword, blade first, into the dirt next to me. Mallum watched silently, but I could almost see a million questions swimming in his mind.
I stood there for a moment, then shrugged. “She wouldn’t want you to die, would she?”
“Let me spare you the trouble,” a familiar voice said from behind me. Mallum’s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open. “The answer is no.”
I turned to see her. She looked the same as the last time I saw her, excepting a few small cuts on her arms and a slight limp. Her owl, covered in glowing blue, rune-like symbols as always, flew next to her.
Lena.
Mallum stood slowly, not taking his eyes off of Lena for even a second. “You’re dead,” he accused. “King Bimaedonis told me so himself. Lena Zelak is dead.”
“I’m not dead,” Lena insisted calmly. “I never was.”
“Then how—”
“King Bimaedonis lied. He didn’t want anyone to know that I escaped from his dungeon, especially since it’s the one that is rumored to be inescapable.”
Mallum rubbed his eyes, then blinked rapidly to refocus them. “That’s it!” he exclaimed. “I have officially gone insane!”
Lena shook her head. “No, you haven’t. I’m not dead!”
Mallum looked at me as if to ask if I saw her, too.
I nodded. “Lena is really there, standing right in front of you.”
He shook his head. “It’s impossible. There is absolutely no way this can be happening. This has to be some sort of prank!” He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “How much more do I have to suffer? How cruel do you have to be?”
“It isn’t a prank!” I told him, pushing him away. “I didn’t even know that you and Lena know each other! Honest!”
He looked back at her, his eyes wide in disbelief. “But that can only mean…”
Lena nodded silently.
“You’re—you’re real?” he stuttered.
“As the sun,” she responded, her eyes glistening with tears.
Mallum didn’t hesitate for even a moment; he covered the distance between them in one bounding stride and threw his arms around her. Lena returned the embrace.
“He said—he said you were gone,” he breathed, pulling her closer to his chest.
“He isn’t getting rid of me that easily,” Lena breathed back.
Suddenly, I felt really awkward just standing there. Although this moment warmed my heart, I felt like I needed to give Mallum and Lena some privacy.
As if on cue, Silva landed next to me, her wings folding into place. Felix dismounted and pointed his sword at Mallum and Lena. “CHAR—wait a minute, why are they hugging? What did I miss?”
All four of us—Mallum, Lena, Silva, and I—laughed. Although Mallum’s face was red and tear-stained, he wore a huge smile. “A lot,” he responded. “You missed a lot.”
I grinned. “No kidding. I almost died, Mallum almost died, and Mallum thought Lena died—”
“Say what?” Felix interrupted, his brow furrowing. “I am so confused. Who fake-killed Lena?”
I laughed. “I’ll explain later, Potato Brain.”
He grinned. “I’ll be ready to have my mind blown to mashed potatoes!”
Both Mallum and Lena gave the two of us funny looks, as if to say, what is wrong with you two?
I shrugged, unable to suppress a grin. “I call him Potato Brain for a reason,” I said.
Lena laughed. “Felix will be Felix.”
Mallum chuckled, a sound I never thought I’d hear coming from him. “There’s nothing we can do about that.”
“And there never will be,” Felix added. “I’m Potato Brain for life!”
Chapter 42
The battle ended like no other in history.
In the challenge, both opponents survived. In the battle around us, more minor injuries were caused by food than swords. Yeah, the swords still caused the most major wounds and deaths, but food had them beat for the bruise count. Now, the Legendary Keepers, Mallum, Lena, and I were at Legendary Keeper Headquarters, talking.
“...and that’s how I got Joe,” Felix finished, holding up his potato. I still couldn’t believe he’d kept that with him during the entire battle and even brought it home with him.
“Hey, Mallum,” I addressed him. “I still don’t understand why you didn’t kill me when you had the chance. You hunted me for two years, just so you could kill me. Why would you just...give up?”
His expression saddened. “Lena has always been my only friend. She cared about me, even though my own family didn’t. She befriended me, even though the other kids told her not to. Her kind heart saved me more than once. Then, I lost her.”
Lena’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean, that night at Teresa’s…”
He nodded and continued his story. “Lena and I were with the Rebels of Emparadroy at Teresa’s house five years ago.”
“I knew them because Cheryl, Gabrielle’s mother, taught me potions and healing until her death,” Lena explained. “I brought Mallum that night because I knew that if I didn’t, he would be alone with his sister, Esora.”
“Esora never liked me,” Mallum stated. “Anyway, that night, the Lulins chose Emparadroy to raid. They were in the streets, shouting for the Magenta to be handed over to them or they would burn Emparadory to the ground.”
“Many buildings in that part of Emparadroy were made of wood,” Lena added helpfully. “That included Teresa’s house.”
“Valida, you were with us,” Mallum said. “You were eight, almost nine. You were going to turn nine in about a month and were talking about it nonstop. But when you heard the Lulins, you knew something was wrong. You knew who you were. You knew they were here for you.”
“The adults were panicking,” Lena said, continuing the story. “They didn’t know what they were going to do. Cynthia wasn’t going to hand her daughter over to the Lulins, but she also didn’t want to be responsible for Emparadroy being burned to the ground. They couldn’t seem to figure anything out. I was the one who offered a solution.”
“What was your plan?” Selene asked, on the edge of her seat.
“I would go out to the Lulins in her place,” Lena explained. “I would declare that I was Magenta Valida and that I would rather surrender than let Emparadroy burn. Mallum protested, telling me that there had to be another way, but I was firm. I carried out my plan and was imprisoned by the Lulins. King Bimaedonis told everyone that he had killed Magenta Valida when I escaped.”
“I still remember the last thing you told me,” Mallum said to her. “You said, ‘I forgive you, even if you can’t forgive me for what I’m about to do.’ Then, you were gone. I did what my family always did when they had to cope with something: sought revenge. I was going to kill Valida for being the reason behind your death. I was so angry that I became blind. I didn’t fully grasp what I was doing. I just wanted her dead.”
“But why didn’t you finish the job?” I questioned.
“Because of what you said,” he answered. “You said, ‘I forgive you, even if you can’t forgive me for living.’ That was too close to what Lena had said. The pain of losing her hit me again with so much force that I was done. I couldn’t kill you, not after that. It hurt so bad that I wanted you to kill me, rather than vice versa.”
“But I wouldn’t,” I said.
“Yeah,” Mallum said. “Speaking of which, why didn’t you kill me?”
“I was only fighting because you were a threat to the Dimensions and my life,” I answered. “And when those reasons were gone, I had no reason to kill you. And to
be completely honest,” I told him, “I’m glad I didn’t kill you.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
“I’m glad, too,” Lena added.
“Does this mean we can have pie with dinner?” Felix asked.
“You’re an idiot, Wilson,” Tom informed him.
“And you’re a grumpy warthog,” Felix retorted. “So, pie?”
Gabrielle smiled and stood. “You’ll have to wait and see,” she teased, heading to the kitchen.
“Psst, Steven,” Felix said. Steven jumped. Steven hadn’t really spoken during our entire conversation. “Can you go into the kitchen and look for pie?”
Steven nodded with a faint smile. “On it,” he said.
He went into the kitchen, but didn’t come out. I assumed Gabrielle had put him to work, tasting food for dinner. That was her favorite job to give out.
“So,” Abigail began. “I’m sitting in a cave with people who wield magical objects and one of them cooks and is possibly making pie?”
Darren smiled, relaxed for the first time in a while. “Yep.”
Abigail grinned. “I don’t think I’m ever leaving.”
“Fine by me,” I said. “I doubt your parents would be very happy about that, though.”
“Well, for now,” she said, “I’m staying here.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
“Hey guys,” Felix asked, looking around him, “where did Joe go?”
“Maybe Gabrielle is cooking him,” Samantha suggested teasingly.
Felix put his hand over his heart and dramatically acted shocked. “Gabrielle would never!”
Gabrielle poked her head into the living room. “Don’t worry, I’m not cooking potatoes tonight,” she assured him. “Dinner’s ready. And yes, Felix, I made pie.”
Joe was temporarily forgotten in the excitement of pie. I smiled as I followed my friends into the kitchen.
For the first time for as long as I could remember, I knew for certain that the Darkness had no power over me.
And it never would again.
Glossary
Akevul (AWK-e-vul) - goodbye, farewell
Akezo (AK-e-zō) - a dingvar; Darren Tavello’s uncle
Amea (uh-MAY-uh) - Regina’s middle name
Avak (uh-VAK) - Principal Tavello’s first name
Ayaklo (uh-YAK-lō) - spring
Ayam Laka (uh-YAWM LA-kuh) - a grand ship that was sunk; similar to the Titanic on Earth
Ayamo (uh-YAM-ō) - Tom’s middle name
Bimaedonis (buh-MĪ-yuh-DŌ-nis) - the Lulin King; aka “King Bimey” and “King Laser-Eyes”
Capserra (cap-SER-ra) - the Starch province of Sibolana; the province that Queen Buttercup rules over
Dingvar (DING-vawr) - a shapeshifter; mostly live in Nightmare County
Dyseo Fa’ema (DI-see-o fī-YEM-uh) - what Sekarra calls Regina
Eikosi Tessera (ay-KŌ-SI TESS-er-uh) - translates into “twenty-four”; a group of elite agents led by Agent Alpha
Emparadroy (em-PAWR-uh-DROY) - the Dimension that the Fronds rule; the first Dimension conquered by the Attackers
Equestralan (e-KWE-struh-LAN) - ruled by Queen Krystalla; the Pony Folk dwelling
Esora (e-SŌR-uh) - the older of the two Frond children; enchantress
Flammak (FLA-mak) – “fire”; a Zajahani spell component
Isacarona (IS-uh-kuh-RŌ-nuh) – the Elven queen
Kahmea (kah-MAY-uh) - the meat/poultry province of Sibolana; ruled by King Colton
Kaikayn (KAI-kayn) - king of Numelua; Makeki’s arch nemesis
Kalolana (ka-lō-LAY-nuh) - the dessert province of Sibolana; ruled by Queen Makeki
Krystalla (kris-STAWL-uh) - the ruler of Equestralan; Silva’s sister
Kulaya (koo-LAY-uh) - the vampire girl that attacks Valida in Vampousai
Kulo (KOO-lō) - the vampire boy that attacks Valida in Vampousai
Lena (LEE-nuh) - a healer in Treeterra; has an owl named Merlin
Lono (LAW-nō) - King Kaikayn’s advisor
Lulin (LOO-lin) - a lunar goblin; lives in Lunaka; ruled by King Bimaedonis
Lythacan (LAI-thuh-can) - the Werewolf Dimension; ruled by King Bryan; destroyed by the Attackers
Maikarra (mai-KAW-ruh) - the carbohydrates province of Sibolana; ruled by Queen Cindy
Makeki (muh-KEEK-ai) - the Candy Queen; King Kaikayn’s arch nemesis
Malianna (MAL-lee-AN-uh) - Queen Makeki’s advisor
Mallum (MAL-luhm) - the younger of the two Frond children; aka “the Hunter”
Nelak revulik (NE-lak RE-vul-ik) – half-creature
Numelua (noo-meh-LOO-uh) - the dairy province of Sibolana; ruled by King Kaikayn
Okevina (Ō-ke-VEE-nuh) - a desert Dimension; where Sekarra resides
Olakina (ō-luh-KEE-nuh) - the produce province of Sibolana; ruled by the Produce Parliament (which includes Queen Alani)
Opatay clekavra (ō-PAW-tay kle-KAW-vruh) - “open portal”; spell that opens portal
Rekala (re-KAL-uh) - a light-based being who sometimes resides in Valida’s mind; the Legendary Power
Saviena (SA-vee-EN-uh) - the Dimension in which the Great Valley of Saviena is located
Sekarra (suh-KAWR-ruh) - one of the few sphinxes left that live in Okevina
Sibolana (si-bō-LAY-nuh) - the Food Dimension; a Dimension made entirely out of food and divided into provinces
Surget (SER-git) – “awaken”; a Zajahani spell component
Sygopsis (si-GAWP-sis) - the Lulin General; a Lulin
Tavello (tuh-VEL-lō) - Principal Tavello’s surname
Umarek (OO-muh-REK) - the Darkness; Darkness Guy; the Dark Power
Vampousai (vam-POW-sai) - the Dimension in which the vampires exist
Vulik (VUH-lik) - “monster”; a Zajahani insult
Zajahan (ZAW-juh-HAWN) - the Lost Dimension; the Dimension in which all magic and other Dimensions originated
Zajahani (ZAW-juh-HAWN-ee) - something that originated from Zajahan; the language of the ancients/magic
Zela (ZEE-luh) - “light”; used as the verbal spell that shoots a beam of light where aimed; it can also make something glow
Zelak (ZEE-lak) - Lena’s surname
Zykno (ZAIK-nō) - the first infamous Frond who had “darkness in his blood”; first Frond who got the Dark Power; killed by Roy Smith
About the Author
CASSIDY BENNETT is a novelist from Mesa, Arizona. Her hobbies include writing, spelling, and learning as much as she possibly can. She enjoys memorizing everything from facts to poems to pharmaceutical terms. The Magenta is her debut novel. It took five years to write.
The Magenta (The Legendary Keepers Book 1) Page 19