“It must be lonely,” Lucia mused, half to herself. “Being here all by yourself with the burden of all of these secrets.”
“It is,” he replied, but when Lucia looked up to meet his gaze, he had already glanced away.
“I want to see Melenia’s chambers.”
“Why?”
“Because . . .” She thought about how to rationalize the need to see where her enemy, the woman who had plotted her death since before Lucia had even been born, had spent her existence. “I just need to see it.”
She thought he’d argue, but instead he nodded. “Very well. Follow me.”
Timotheus led her to a long corridor with doors that opened on their own as they approached and shut softly behind them as they continued down the hall. Lucia traced the white walls with her fingertips. She could feel Timotheus’s eyes on her as they walked.
“You have questions, many questions,” he said.
“A lifetime of them,” she agreed.
“I can’t tell you everything, Lucia. While it’s true that you’ve reached out a hand in friendship today—”
“You still don’t trust me,” she cut him off. “I know.”
“It’s not that. Not entirely, anyway. So many secrets have died with the other elders, and now that I’m the only one remaining, these secrets are one of the few weapons I have left to protect myself.”
“I understand,” she told him. “I really do.”
He frowned at her. “How is it you’ve managed to mature so much in so little time?”
She almost laughed. “Don’t sound so confused by that.”
“The new life growing within you must have made all the difference in helping to change the childish, spoiled behavior and previous tantrums I’m more accustomed to with you.”
“Timotheus, such compliments. They will go to my head.”
He let out a soft snort of amusement as they approached a set of gleaming golden doors. Timotheus pushed them open to reveal Melenia’s chambers.
Lucia gaped at the sight of the expansive room, the same size as the one in which she’d met with Timotheus. But that room was stark and barren of any personal touches. This one was just the opposite.
It felt like walking into the chambers of a queen in the finest palace. There was a regal seating area in the center of the room with soft white velvet lounges. Overhead a crystal chandelier sparkled, catching the light streaming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the room. Lucia looked down as she walked, taking in the intricate floor made of silver and inlaid jewels.
There were flowers in every color imaginable, as fresh as if they were picked that day. They peeked out from a dozen large vases placed upon glass tables throughout the room.
Lucia walked past all of this grandeur to the far wall. It was overlaid with a checkerboard pattern of silver and glass. Etched into the silver tiles were the elemental symbols—a simple spiral for air, a triangle for fire, a circle within a circle for earth, and two parallel wavy lines for water.
“A shrine,” Timotheus explained. “Many immortals have one in their homes so they can pray to the elements.”
“I’ve heard that some old witches do the same,” Lucia mused, brushing her fingertips over the symbol for fire.
“Not exactly the same,” he said. “But similar.”
“Melenia prayed here to Kyan, wanting him to return to her.”
“I’m sure she did.”
“And he was able to speak to her, in her mind, telling her lies. Making her promises that they’d be together when he was released if she helped him.” Timotheus didn’t reply to this. He didn’t have to. “I hate that I feel even a little bit sorry for her now that I know how Kyan manipulated her. It was so much easier just to hate her.”
“Don’t feel sorry for Melenia. She could have fought harder against him.”
“How do you know that? Perhaps she tried and failed.”
“Perhaps,” he acknowledged.
Lucia touched the other elemental symbols. “Have the other three Kindred ever been released?”
“Not to my knowledge. Not in a physical form, anyway.”
Had Alexius known any of this? she wondered. He must have come there to meet with Melenia. This was where the beautiful elder had told him what to do. He’d been corrupted with her words and magic right here in this very place. Yet Alexius had fought in the end.
Lucia wanted to believe that he had fought from the very beginning.
“You told me Alexius was your friend,” she said.
“Like family to me.”
“I haven’t said this before, but I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“And I’m sorry for yours.”
She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, trying to focus on something else. She placed a hand on her stomach. “I’ve been thinking about what to name the baby, and I’m struggling to find something that fits. I want to choose something strong, something worthy. A name my son or daughter will come to appreciate as they grow older.”
“You have plenty of time to decide.”
“Yes, I suppose I do.” Lucia absentmindedly picked up a small golden chest sitting on the nearest glass table. It was about the size of the jewelry box Lucia had found in Princess Cleo’s Auranian palace bedchamber. She lifted the lid to see a shining golden dagger lying within. She picked it up and studied the blade.
“Is this what Melenia used to carve the obedience spell into him?” she asked, breathless.
In one smooth motion, Timotheus plucked the dagger from her hand, put it back in the box, and closed the lid.
“It is,” he said, looking down at the box with a furrowed brow. “If I destroy it, I worry that would release the dark magic trapped within. I should put it somewhere else, somewhere no one will ever be able to find it again. The worlds will be safer that way.” He paused. “Are you finished looking around? I assure you, there’s nothing to find here except unpleasant memories and regrets. I would know better than most.”
Lucia exhaled shakily and nodded. “I’m finished.”
“Then I will have Mia show you around the city. After my unexpected announcement, my fellow immortals will want to see you again before you must return to your home.”
As if by magic—and Lucia had no reason to believe it was because of anything else—Mia was waiting for her at the base of the tower. She already knew what Timotheus had suggested. Mia appeared nervous. Despite however many centuries or millennia old she might be, she seemed younger than Lucia herself. Lucia gave her a warm smile.
Mia smiled back and, taking Lucia’s arm in hers, accompanied her outside.
While the pressure of finding Kyan when she returned to Mytica weighed heavily on her mind, Lucia was curious to learn more about this city and its occupants—including what immortals did to pass their time.
She took in the sights around her as they walked. A couple dozen Watchers were crouched on the ground. They worked diligently, creating an expansive piece of art directly on the mirrored city square by placing tiny colored crystal fragments in intricate patterns.
“This piece represents air, and they’ve finally finished it,” Mia said, taking Lucia to the top of a nearby building so they could see the artwork from above. “Isn’t it lovely?”
“Very,” Lucia agreed. The design was of detailed spirals in many different shades of blue and white, and it reminded Lucia of a beautiful mosaic she’d seen on the wall of the Auranian palace library. Only this was ten times that size and had to have taken the artists months to produce.
The artists stepped back from their work, smiling at each other and wiping the sweat off their brows.
Then, to Lucia’s surprise, they each took a golden-handled broom and began to sweep away the crystal shards, destroying their impressive work.
“What are they doing?” she exclaimed.<
br />
Mia just looked at her with a frown. “Clearing the space so they can begin again, of course.”
“Such a waste of a beautiful piece of artwork!”
“No, no. This is how it’s meant to be. It shows that everything that exists must one day change—but what is destroyed can be created again with patience and dedication.”
As Lucia pondered this, still disturbed that an incredible piece of beauty couldn’t be made to last, Mia took her to the group of immortals. Their eyes filled with hope at the sight of her, and they asked if she would like the honor of beginning the next mosaic. Lucia chose a handful of red crystals, as fine as sand, from a long golden tray. She sprinkled some in the center of the area, eyeing Mia to see if she’d done this correctly.
Mia smiled and clapped her hands. “Excellent. I’m sure you’ve now inspired them to make an incredible dedication to the fire Kindred.”
Lucia’s stomach sank at the thought that she’d unconsciously chosen red rather than any other color.
Well, of course I did, she thought. It has nothing to do with Kyan. It’s the color of Limeros.
“You must be hungry,” Mia said, leading Lucia to an outdoor courtyard where fruit hung heavily from the trees. Lucia looked around, realizing just how very hungry she was. She reached up to pluck a dark red apple from its branch. Mia did as well, taking a big bite out of the piece of fruit and prompting Lucia to do the same.
When she sank her teeth into the crisp skin, the taste of the apple made her eyes widen with shock. She’d never experienced anything so sweet, so pure, so delicious.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted!” she said aloud, nearly giddy.
She devoured it quickly, having to force herself not to eat the core and seeds as well. As she boldly reached for another, she felt a sharp and unexpected twinge in her belly. She placed her hand over it and looked down, frowning.
“What was that?” she murmured.
“Are you all right?” Mia asked, concerned.
The twinge was only momentary, and Lucia shook it off. “I’m fine. Likely my stomach was just expressing gratitude for some food after so long.”
Lucia decided to take strength from this food, from the immortals who looked at her with hope rather than fear, and from the friendship of Timotheus and Mia, as she waited impatiently to return home.
It was impossible to judge the passing of days in a place where it was always light, but Lucia enjoyed two deep sleeps while she was in the Crystal City.
Then Timotheus had Mia bring her back to the tower. Lucia gripped her new friend’s hands. “Thank you for helping me.”
“No.” Mia shook her head, meeting Lucia’s gaze with such sincerity it nearly stole her breath. “Thank you for coming here. Thank you for being someone we can believe in. One day I know we will meet again.”
“I hope you’re right.” Lucia reluctantly released Mia and followed Timotheus into the crystal tower.
This time, the doors he guided her to slid open into a dark, cavernous place.
“We’re underground,” Lucia guessed.
“We are.”
She was about to ask another question when she saw something fifteen paces away, an object that glowed with violet light. As they drew closer to it, Lucia realized what it was.
“A monolith,” she gasped. “Like the one in the mountains.”
Timotheus nodded, his features shadowed by the uneven light. “There is one of these in each of the seven worlds—yours and mine being only two of them.”
“Seven?” Lucia’s gaze shot to his. “You’re saying that there are five more worlds beyond ours?”
“Your mathematical abilities are truly impressive.” He raised a brow. “Yes, seven worlds, Lucia. My kind was created to watch over these worlds before Damen destroyed everything we held dear. Now we only watch over your world.” His expression darkened at the mention of the truly evil immortal. “These monoliths were created to allow travel between the worlds. Damen drained that magic so he could easily walk between worlds at his whim. This destruction is what made the mountains void of life, and it’s the cause of your kingdom turning to ice and Paelsia turning to stone.”
Lucia stared at him as he delivered this gigantic piece of the mysterious puzzle of Mytica in a single breath. “Why, then, is Auranos still beautiful?”
“Because of the goddess they worshipped—that some still worship. The goddess who was once an elder like myself.”
“Cleiona.”
He nodded. “She managed to protect the kingdom she’d claimed while Valoria failed to do the same. Sometimes it seems as if it was only yesterday that I last saw them both. We’ve all lost so much, never again to be found . . .” Timotheus grimaced as he spoke of the goddesses. Then he blinked hard, as if to clear his mind. “You’ve been here long enough, Lucia. You must go now and attempt to stop Kyan.”
Lucia almost laughed at his consistently harsh tone. “I think I’ll miss your candor. And I’m not going to attempt to stop him, I will stop him.”
“I hope for all of our sakes that you’re right.”
She looked up at the glowing monolith. “How do I use this to help send me back?”
“Press your hands to its surface, and the gateway magic will do the rest.” When she hesitated, he raised a brow. “Don’t tell me that you’re doubting my word.”
“If I thought you were lying to me, you’d already be dead.” A small smile crept onto her face as his eyes widened. “Two of us can be blunt, Timotheus.”
“Indeed.”
“Farewell,” she said, ready to leave. Ready to return to her home, find her family, and ensure Kyan would never harm another soul.
Timotheus’s surprised expression faded, replaced by something she could only describe as sadness. “Farewell, Lucia.”
She pressed the palms of her hands against the cool, glowing crystal monolith. The light emanating from it quickly brightened to a pure white glow. Lucia forced her hands to keep pushing while she squeezed her eyes shut.
The very next moment, Lucia found herself on the ground with the wind knocked out of her and her feet swept beneath her. Gasping for breath and more than a little confused, she quickly pushed herself up from the dry, brittle earth and spun around in search of Timotheus.
But she was no longer in the Sanctuary. One brief glance at her surroundings told her that she had returned to the place in the mountains where she’d battled Kyan. Though it was day, she still recognized the place, and the air was every bit as cold as it was when she was there last. Cold—and rippling with an unsettling sensation that she instinctively knew to be an atmosphere of impending death.
Damen, an immortal, had caused this by leeching the magic from the monolith. His touch may have been all that was necessary to cover it in stone, hiding its magic for all these years until Kyan burned that stone away. There was nothing here—no birds, no mammals, not even a single insect crawled upon this land. There were no trees or shrubs of any kind here, save for a small oasis where they’d found the monolith.
For a moment, she felt such dread in her heart that it seemed certain that Kyan had been there the whole time, waiting for her to return. She froze, looking around, her fists clenched and ready to fight.
But there was nothing there. No one. Only Lucia.
And it was well past time she left.
As she walked across the scorched ground littered with crumbled rocks, she discovered with a flash of happiness the purse she’d thought was lost. It still contained more than enough coin to pay for an inn for several nights.
Continuing on, she came upon the gaping hole in the ground where Kyan had exploded. At the bottom of the deep depression in the rock, something sparkled even in the meager light this deep in the mountains.
Nothing ever sparkled here.
She moved toward it tentatively, lean
ing forward to pick up a smooth rock: the source of the strange glinting. Lucia brushed a thick layer of ash from its surface. She staggered backward, clasping a hand over her mouth when she saw what was underneath.
An amber orb.
Kyan’s prison was no larger than the apple she’d eaten in the Sanctuary.
“Oh,” she gasped, turning her head in every direction to once again make sure she was truly alone.
She held the thing up, squinting as she tried to catch it in what little daylight was able to emerge from behind a curtain of clouds above the mountains. The amber orb was transparent straight through: no cracks, no abnormalities, no imperfections.
Once, she might have thought such a treasure was beautiful. Not now. Not this treasure. But it was a sign that she had the lead, and for that she was grateful.
If she possessed this crystal, she had the means to stop Kyan before he put his plans of world destruction into play.
After allowing herself a small grin at this victory, she made her way out of the mountains and started upon a several hours’ journey west for a small village she knew, where she and Kyan had made their plans to trek into the mountains. There she’d learn if anyone had seen or heard about Kyan since they’d been there last.
She would redeem herself for her past mistakes, and aligning with the fire Kindred had, by far, been her biggest mistake of all.
• • •
Near dusk, Lucia finally entered the familiar inn and warily glanced around the busy tavern, half expecting to see Kyan slurping from a bowl of soup.
Exhausted from her travels, she took a seat at the very same table the two of them had shared the morning after she realized she was pregnant.
“I remember you,” spoke a female voice. “Welcome back.”
Lucia looked up at the barmaid approaching her table. “And I remember you. Sera, yes?”
This barmaid had seen Lucia and Kyan together. She’d been the one who told them that the answers they were looking for could be found in the mountains—and she’d been right.
“Yes, that’s my name,” Sera said with a smile. “Where’s your handsome friend?”
Crystal Storm Page 11