I grabbed the remote and turned the news on. “Have either of you seen this?”
“What is it?” they both chimed in unison.
“It’s called the news, and it’s how we see what’s going on in the world around here.” I turned the volume up to drown out their questions.
“…reports are still being sent in from all over the island as black fog continues to cover the area. Here’s a brief clip…”
I could barely make out the ruins. Darkness enveloped them. Police and firefighters were racing around, trying everything to combat the Shadows that were steadily seeping through the cave’s entry.
Lexi gasped, wrapping her arms around her stomach in comfort. “Is that water they’re spraying onto the Shadows?” I turned to look at her. Her voice had perked up with hope.
“Yeah, it looks like it,” said Fenn, turning away from the TV and grabbing a soda from Soothe’s fridge.
“The Shadows can be defeated by the elements. The water will hold them back at least until we get there,” Zane explained groggily.
“When should we go?” I asked eagerly.
“Whenever you’re ready.” He winked, but his face scrunched in pain as he stood. “Damn Harpy poison.”
“Are you even going to be able to move?” I questioned, noting the beads of sweat lining his forehead.
“The sooner I get home, the better I’ll be.” I didn’t know if I should mention the prophecy or not. The part about another potential death.
“Harpy poison has to be counteracted with a potion. The spell we did will only keep the poison from spreading,” Lexi explained as she started to pick at his side again.
“Yeah, I know,” I muttered. I had read about that in The Races of Our Realm.
“What about this?” Fenn asked, pulling the vial left with Soothe’s letter from out of his pocket.
Lexi reached for it. “Where did you get this?”
“Soothe left it with the letter,” I quickly explained.
Lexi grinned. “That rotten Harpy. He knew this was all going to happen. This is the potion to counteract the poison.”
Zane cleared his throat. “Can I please take it then?”
Lexi handed it to him. He pulled the cork out and downed it in one sip. His eyes rolled back in relief as the potion took effect.
“Better? Lexi asked.
“Much,” he said with a sigh. He walked around, testing his wound “So you got everything you needed in the letter?” he asked.
I exchanged glances with Fenn. “Yes,” I said a moment later. I looked over at Zane. We filled them in on what the missing piece was. “You need to be careful, Zane. Keep yourself from getting killed and the Stone will be safe.”
Zane looked at me funny.
“The spilling of the firstborn blood thing? It’s still a necessity in order for the Stone to be taken. You are his firstborn so don’t get yourself killed and all will be well,” Fenn explained.
“Something about that doesn’t make sense,” Lexi threw in.
I turned to her. “How so?”
“You said the prophecy said between two younglings of a Fate’s son. Is it talking about Zhax too? Only one can protect...I thought that was Fenn’s job. I don’t know.” She shrugged.
Zane shrugged. “Standing here isn’t going to help us figure it out.” He reached for the door and Lexi followed.
I turned to face Fenn, the light from the window highlighting the hollow purple pockets under his eyes. “That came in handy.”
“Thank god for Soothe.”
I threw my arms around him, reaching on tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips. His eyes sparkled with love, and he smiled a small smile. “Love you,” he said as he grabbed my bookbag and we walked to the door. I shoved the packet of photos into the bag and then we met up with Zane and Lexi around the back of the motel.
We ported just outside of the ruins, immediately encompassed by darkness. Light strained through the black mist as a choking fear began to rise up. I felt the scales surfacing along my skin as I shifted and a taint of uneasiness lingering within.
Eerie, faint moaning noises carried on a stale breeze. It sounded like mourning souls, weeping for their lost loved ones. I felt a chill work its way up my spine, resting in the back of my head.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I whispered to Zane.
“Towards the light, I guess.” I could barely make out his figure as he wobbled along in front of us. Fenn’s ring was glowing brightly now. Something was going to happen. Something that would change everything.
Lexi glued herself to my side, her trembling hands gripping my scaly flesh. “Do you know what the Shadows can do to you? They can drive you crazy,” she fretted, painfully squeezing my arm. “They can seep into your mind and make you see things that aren’t there. They are everything that you hate about yourself and more. And you never know when one will attack. That’s why they normally take on the form of a mist, because it’s hard to tell where the heart of the mutation is.” Her words spilled out of her, filled with terror.
“How can you tell?” I asked, trying to keep her talking. Fenn walked on the other side of me, holding my hand tightly. He kept an arm out, feeling for the large pillars of rock that made up the ruins.
“You hear the moaning?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“It gets louder as we get closer. That moaning is coming from the heart. It’s all the stolen memories of its victims.”
I shivered, stumbling over a root that stuck up out of the ground. Fenn was quick, steadying me.
“We’re nearing the edge of the mist,” Zane called from behind him.
“We’re lucky,” Lexi murmured. “It must be distracted with the firefighters so it hasn’t sensed us.”
The strained light began to stream through the thick mist. Heavenly fresh air hit us, coating our lungs. We came out on the edge of the forest, just before the cave. The Shadows were streaming out of the cave above us, drifting through the air.
“Are you going to stay in your dragon form?” Fenn asked, gliding his fingers along my scales.
“For now, yeah.”
I stalked forward and looked around, trying to figure out where Soothe might be. He said at the ruins, but they were plagued with Shadows.
“I’m sure Soothe will show up if he wants to, but we really shouldn’t wait around for him. We got what we came for,” Zane said hastily.
“You’re right, but I need to find him. Lexi,” I said, facing her, “take Zane back to the cave.”
“WHAT!” Zane and Lexi shouted in unison.
“You got what you needed, Aurora. What do you need Soothe for?” Zane spit out through clenched teeth. Fenn stepped forward, blocking me.
“I need to know, Zane. I need to understand, because frankly, I don’t. If I have to choose a life to spare, I would like to be a little more prepared, especially when that choice will forever change the fate of these two realms. Are you faced with that choice?” I challenged him as my voice heightened in anger. Smoke billowed out from my nostrils and lips.
He glared at me, an understanding registering in his eyes. “Fine. Come on, Lexi. If Aurora wants to sign her death warrant, so be it. I’m not signing mine.” He walked away.
Lexi looked stuck. “Go,” I eased, forcing a slim smile.
“Just hurry up, okay? If a Harpy shows up, we’re screwed.”
“We’ll be right behind you,” Fenn reassured. “Soothe has to be nearby.”
She hesitated, and then kissed his cheek, huffing as she hugged me goodbye. “I’m serious. Hurry up,” she said one more time as she turned to follow Zane.
When she disappeared amongst the trees, we turned back towards the Shadows. “He’s got to be somewhere close. SOOTHE!” I shouted, h
oping he would hear me.
“Do you think shouting is a good idea?” Fenn said, raising his eyebrows.
“None of this is a good idea, Fenn.” I continued to stubbornly shout Soothe’s name.
Minutes passed by, and we entered the filmy gloom. I was so consumed with finding Soothe that I didn’t pay attention to the fact that the moaning kept growing louder.
“Something’s not right,” Fenn said wearily, tugging my arm to keep me from walking forward. “Listen for a minute.” He was whispering now.
I turned my ear up. A faint heartbeat was stifled by the incessant moaning. It was so weak I almost thought it was my imagination, but the unmistakable cadence was there. “We’re getting closer.”
“Let’s go back, Rory. This is dangerous.” He tried to pull me away from the heartbeat.
“No…I want to see it,” I said distantly, enthralled with curiosity.
“Rory, please,” he begged, not letting go of my arm but moving in step with me as I skirted forward.
“Wait, I hear something.” I took a few more steps forward. “It’s saying something…hold on.”
The moaning shifted and evolved into something I never wanted to hear. Zordon’s voice. “Stupid girl. You never listen to those who know best,” the voice heeded, followed by a menacing laugh.
Anger flared up. I was going to kill him once and for all. “What are you doing?” Fenn shouted, grabbing onto my ankle as I jumped up and flexed my wings.
“I’m going to kill him,” I barked.
“You think you can kill me?” The poisonous voice was moving closer as the dark mist swirled around us.
“Kill who? Rory, what’s going on?” Torment suddenly infected Fenn’s voice. His muscles flexed as he tried with all his might to pull me back to him. But I was stronger.
“Show yourself,” I shouted into the choking mist.
The laughter echoed as an inky black figure appeared in front of us. Zordon’s figure. My deepest, darkest fear. “Come to die, Progeny?” the voice taunted as it swirled back into a fog. It reappeared behind Fenn, the mist forming into a knife that slid along his throat.
Fenn’s eyes widened in horror as I screamed, flames erupting from the pit of me. “Let him GO!” I shouted, directing the flames towards the fog around us. It immediately retracted as if the fire had hurt it. The elements.
The laughter continued as Fenn’s hands shot up to his throat, checking for blood.
“Ouch,” the voice mocked, suddenly sounding like Mily. Her figure appeared and was sobbing black gloppy tears.
“Mily,” I choked out.
“It’s not her, Aurora. It’s the Shadow. It’s playing with you. Stay focused.” Fenn hands began to glow the same color as his ring. “The elements, Rory,” he hinted as he began to chant, “Obtestum Aqua.” A ball of water formed in his palms as Mily’s figure slowly faded back into Zordon, his fire-lit eyes piercing my resolve.
“No more games, girl,” his voice threatened. Fenn threw the conjured water in the direction of his form, but he disappeared before it connected.
“Where did it go?” I asked, flames lining my fingertips. Fenn moved to stand beside me as I lowered myself to the ground.
“Here,” the voice whispered into my ear.
“FENN!” I screamed. I felt the mist ooze into my ear. My dragon form shifted back as I dropped to my knees, and then everything went black.
Chapter 19
A Death from the Truth
I SLIPPED IN AND OUT of consciousness as Fenn carried me away from the ruins. One moment I found myself floating in darkness, chased by Zordon’s menacing laugh. The next, I would hear Fenn pleading, calling my name as my eyes fought to stay open.
“You’re going to die a slow, painful death,” Zordon called after me. My eyes closed again, and I found myself chained to a table. Tiny daggers traced along my skin. I couldn’t contain the blood-curdling scream that ripped from my throat as my blood spilled out of me and into nothingness.
“Fenn,” I cried, begging for the pain to end, clutching onto the sheet he had conjured and wrapped me in.
“Rory, I’m right here,” his angelic voice called. I surfaced, barely seeing his distressed face. “Hang on, okay?”
“It hurts. My head…it’s inside…my blood is boiling.” My hands pulled incessantly at my hair, trying to ease the blinding pain.
“I know,” he soothed, carefully tucking me further into him.
“You can’t escape me.” Zordon’s voice melded with Fenn’s. I was back in hell, my scales being ripped from my skin one by one. I screamed uncontrollably. His laughter resumed as his dark energy sparked along my exposed flesh. “I know all your secrets, all your doubts. You can’t defeat me. I’m destined to rule both realms. And you will be the sacrifice I use to retain my soul from the Dark Saar.”
“NOOOOO!” I fought against the chains, trying with all my might to break free. A white light broke through the hollow pits of my mind, wrapping around the chains and melting them. I sat up. “I won’t let you win,” I pledged as I felt an unsteady strength flow through me.
Flames licked my fingertips and I threw them at Zordon’s figure, banishing him from my mind. “Wait! Stop!” the figure shouted as it shriveled into a small wisp of black smoke.
He isn’t real, he isn’t real, I repeated over and over again, trying to tune out the awful howling of the Shadow in my mind.
“Aurora, wake up,” commanded a stern woman’s voice. I knew that voice. “Aurora, I command you…wake up!”
“Rory? It’s working…Rory.” I was being shaken. Fenn’s faraway voice floated towards me. “Rory, wake up.”
I felt myself being pulled from the nightmare. But the pain remained. My head pounded continuously as I kept my eyes squeezed shut.
“We have to get her back in order to expel the Shadow from her. I can’t hold it back for long,” said Eve.
Great, I thought.
“The cave is not far from here. Follow me,” came Soothe’s voice. So he decided to join us after all. I opened my eyes for a second, just to make sure. His usual drab expression frowned down at me. “You can’t seem to keep yourself out of trouble, can you?”
White-hot pain shot throughout my body with every step that Fenn took. I shut my eyes again. I felt the Shadow within fighting against Eve’s magic, trying to pull me back into my hellish nightmare.
“Please,” I begged softly.
“You should have listened!” Eve’s harsh voice scolded from behind Fenn. I couldn’t see her through the blinding pain. “You have put everyone—magical and non-magical–in danger! You can’t even begin to comprehend what you have set in motion.”
I felt verbally whipped. I bit down on my lip, trying to find relief for the pounding behind my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I squeezed out, gripping Fenn’s arms.
“Now is not the time, Mother,” Fenn threatened murderously. I would have to remember to thank him for that later.
“It wasn’t the time for her to go and make decisions on her own either, but she did it anyway,” Eve said harshly. I winced, more from her words than from the pain.
“Eve, please. She’s paying for it now,” Soothe said.
I heard her huff in return. “We’re almost to the cave,” Fenn whispered in my ear. His voice seemed to be the only thing that eased the pain. I struggled to open my eyes, the light from above searing the pain inside my head.
“WAIT!” Eve whispered loudly. “Something’s not right. Where’s Alexis?”
“She went ahead with Zane,” Fenn snipped.
“Get DOWN!” she shouted as Fenn tucked me into him and dropped to the ground. I winced again with another round of stabbing pain.
I felt a rushed breeze swoop over us as a high-pitched cackling
voice shouted, “Loot!”
“Rory, it’s a flock of Harpies,” said Fenn, fear tinting his voice.
“Tell her to shift, Fenn!” Eve commanded from somewhere behind him.
“She can’t,” he said in my defense, pain lacing his words. I struggled to keep my eyes open.
“She has to try,” Soothe echoed. I heard Soothe and Eve run forward towards the flock of shrieking Harpies.
The Shadow was so deep in my mind, it was hard to access the part where my dragon resided. I summoned all the strength I had and reached for my amulet, gripping it for dear life. I felt the heat build inside my palm as the anchor between us lit up.
The strength poured into me, pushing the Shadow out. “It’s working,” I said to Fenn as the pain ebbed away. Flames licked across my skin and the scales surfaced.
Fenn jumped up, energy pouring from his palms as one of the Harpies neared us. “Immoblatio!” he shouted, sending his energy into the Harpy’s chest. It squawked, thrown backwards into a tree, but it didn’t hold it down. Our magic wasn’t as powerful here.
I sat up, the flames building within me as my wings stretched out, lifting me into the air. I spotted Soothe near the water, fighting against three others. White energy sparked in all directions as the Harpies hovered around him, swooping in and out with their talons at ready. Fenn was below me, summoning rope to bind the paralyzed Harpy.
Where was Eve?
Lexi emerged from the shelf of the waterfall, her eyes widening as she took in what was happening. She jumped into the air, somersaulting to the rocks below, landing as softly as a tigress. One of the Harpies was sneaking towards Soothe, her talons dripping with poison.
“Pulsecto,” Lexi shouted, throwing her energy. When Lexi’s energy hit her, the Harpy’s body wildly bucked and shuddered, the surge of electricity ruffling her feathers. The blast didn’t last long and the Harpy was back up, screeching in anger.
Embracing the Flames Page 21