Emerald Wars (The Dream Traveler Book 3)

by Nicole Knight

  “Grandma Beetie, you said I have magic. What in the Goddess’ name are you talking about?” I asked, and felt a wave of nervousness slam into me.

  “Exactly that dear, you have magic. Those scrolls and books you were lecturing me on before we left. One of those is strictly about your type of magic. If it had been left behind, it would have been lost forever. Like Violet’s, your magic is rare.”

  I shook my head in disbelief.

  I’ve been here my entire life, and I’ve never had my world turned so upside down as it was today. Fleeing my home that was under siege, and learning I had a cousin from another world was nothing compared to learning that I had magic.

  Violet once shared that every other time she was with Grandma Beetie, she felt that her world got “rocked.” Now I understand what she meant. Grandma Beetie had been hiding the twin’s magic, and my own.

  “But how?” I asked in shock.

  My jaw was left open, and I shared a look with Thomas. He looked concerned for me, but not incredibly upset or angry.

  What did he think about me being a magic-worker? Would that upset him? Would that keep him from pursuing me?

  I thought back to the look he gave me a moment ago, after seeing me in my armor. No, I don’t think my magic would undo the feelings my appearance had given him.

  I sat down, and put my head in my hands, feeling a lot like Violet. Now I feel even worse about keeping our blood relationship a secret from her. If the realization felt anything like this, I still had more to apologize for.

  We heard voices outside and everyone fell silent.

  I heard a cart being rolled down the cobblestone streets. The horses' hooves were loud and the sounds echoed off the walls. There were two men in the cart by the sound of the conversation. They were talking about the siege on the castle. I thought I heard the word “fire,” but I couldn’t be sure. Hopefully it wasn’t actually on fire like the man implied.

  I felt defeated leaving the castle behind. All of our belongings, my hard work, it was all left behind.

  The cart passed by us, and it was silent again.

  Thomas sat down next to me on a broken chair.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Besides the obvious? You know, we are now on the run and homeless. All of our things, our plans, Violet’s gifts from Queen Clarissa, they are all gone.”

  I hung my head in shame.

  I wish I had time to retrieve them.

  Violet would be so upset. Hopefully her items would be left alone.

  “Actually, picking up your armor was not the only stop I made,” Thomas said with a smile.

  He reached into his bag and placed my leather spiraled journals in my lap, all three of them.

  “I was looking for you everywhere, including your office. I saw these on the desk and grabbed them, knowing you keep your important documents in them.”

  Right then and there I launched myself at him. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed tight, and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. I was so grateful that something of mine had survived. Not to mention, our plans wouldn’t fall into enemy hands, all because of him.

  I pulled back. His face was slightly pink from blushing, and I imagined mine looked the same.

  “Thank you,” I told him.

  My heart felt full. My hard work, and some of my dress designs made it out.

  Thomas bent over and pulled out a box from the bag, handing it to me.

  I opened the box, and two of the three most important of Violet’s belongings sat in front of me. Her teacup, and her tiara, which had belonged to Clarissa.

  “You realize that after this save, you might have Axel’s job?” I asked him.

  “I’d decline it, I prefer the one I have,” he said, while he stared into my eyes.

  Now I get it.

  Violet and Axel’s relationship wasn’t as disgusting as I thought. I got that same intensity from Thomas, and I was really starting to enjoy it. Who would have thought I was capable of feeling this?

  I didn’t.

  I looked away breaking the chemistry that had developed between us.

  Grandma Beetie was staring at us with another twinkle in her eye. Then she opened her mouth to ruin my bliss.

  “Do you want to know more about your magic?”

  What kind of trick question was that?

  “Of course I do,” I answered.

  “No, seriously Trinity. Think long and hard about this. There is a reason you are finding out at nineteen and not nine about your magic.”

  I swallowed hard.

  Could it really be that bad?

  It’s too late, the curiosity would kill me before anyone from Tate could blink an eye at me. I had to know, even if my magic was considered bad, or dark.

  “Yes, I’m ready.”

  “You are a necromancer,” she said while handing me a book.

  I gasped while looking down at the book she placed in my hands. I felt the urge to drop it to the floor, like a dish that burned my hands.

  It had a female with dark hair sitting on the ground with her legs crossed. Her hands were raised in the air to her sides, with the palms facing up. Black mist floated up from her palms, and skeletons were popping up from the ground beside her.

  I looked up to Grandma Beetie and tried to avoid becoming sick.

  Now her warning made sense.

  Chapter Three

  Axel

  Why was I wet?

  I had just woken up; I had fallen asleep slouched against the outside wall of the mountain.

  That dream was the most realistic one I’d ever had. The water that clung to my clothes was further evidence of that. The air and my clothes were cold and I shivered. The air hadn’t been this cold when I fell asleep I was sure of it. Today was the coldest day of the year so far.

  Now that we were close to the southern coast, the wind that came off the water made it feel even chillier. A light mist still hung around the area, I felt like I was stuck in a scary movie that Violet had forced me to watch back in her apartment.

  I wish Violet’s light had hung around here to help keep me warm.

  There wasn’t much to do but sit and wait for her. I debated looking for firewood to make a fire to build for warmth, but I also didn’t want to give away our location in case anyone was out here looking for us.

  My stomach growled and I went searching through my bag for some dried smoked meats. It was a little salty, but I must admit it tasted good.

  I sat in silence for about an hour considering what our next steps would be. Everything had been silent for so long that when I heard a howl pierce the quiet that surrounded me, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Another howl followed right after and a shiver of fear hit me. They didn’t sound far off and it spurred me into action.

  I quickly got to my feet, threw my bag over my shoulder and lifted my sword from its place on the ground. I tried to enter the cave to get to Violet, but I was blocked by invisible magic that felt like a wall.

  I bounced right off of it, landing on my ass. It felt similar to the shield Violet trapped me in when she faced off with Eduard’s magic-worker.

  Shit, now what?

  I need to get to cover. Violet and I will have better odds against the werewolves if we are together.

  I tried striking the shield with my sword and it just bounced right off, sending vibrations up my wrist.

  Ouch.

  I tried over and over to get through the shield. I kept glancing over my shoulder to make sure I wouldn’t be attacked from behind.

  The longer I tried to get through, the more panicked I became. Werewolves travel in large packs. While I could take on multiple human foes at once, I would be at a very, very large disadvantage, even facing just three wolves. I was totally screwed if I couldn’t get through this shield.

  I heard another howl that was close enough that I felt like my eardrums might burst. At the same time I felt a piercing pain in my chest. It felt like I was stabbed through the hea
rt. I looked down and behind me, and there were no sharp objects sticking out from my body.

  What gives?

  Then I felt the emptiness that only meant one thing, and it brought me to my knees.

  Violet, I couldn’t feel her deep in my chest, she was just gone. I leaned on the magical wall for support, but it wasn’t there. I got my wits about me for a brief moment and dove through the cave entrance. Seconds later, I felt the magic in the air as the barrier closed behind me.

  While the shield was invisible from the outside, on the inside it looked like a wall of transparent bricks stacked to the top of the opening. It was stacked in the same pattern as the castle walls. Sometimes magic is cool, and sometimes it's a giant pain in the ass.

  Violet’s sayings are really rubbing off on me.

  Violet. Violet.

  Why can’t I feel her, what’s happened? She can’t be gone, she’s just further in this tunnel. There has to be some other explanation.

  Thinking of her brought a new wave of pain.

  Suddenly werewolves were pressing their snouts against the wall showing their teeth. Their jaws kept opening and snapping shut, trying to find any weak spots in the barrier.

  I hope it doesn’t give way for them, like it did for me.

  My attention was brought back to the hole in my chest, and the burning and emptiness I felt there.

  I turned around and started sprinting for the back of the tunnel. It was darker than the night sky in here, and I had no idea where I would even find Violet. I wasn’t sure if I should call out for her? What if there was a predator in here? What if I only made things worse?

  I ran as quietly as I could for a few minutes before I tripped over something. I fell to my hands and knees, and I felt a body underneath me.

  Violet’s hair was spanned out beneath the palms of my hands, and she was quiet, too quiet. She should have cried out in pain as I fell on her.

  I was only greeted with stillness and silence.

  I tried shaking her awake, and she felt cold.

  I moved to a sitting position and pulled Violet into my lap and tried to get her warm. I couldn't feel her heartbeat, and I lost it. I rocked her back and forth in my lap, with tears streaming down my face.

  How did she survive multiple attempts on her life, only to have it all end here, in a cave that was supposed to help her? None of this was fair. We were supposed to make it through this, rule the Kingdom together, and have children. None of that was possible now and my heart ached. What was left of it.

  The Kingdom, what would happen to the Kingdom without Violet? Now that we were bound it became mine. I don’t want it without her. A coronation was just a technicality, but it didn’t matter. I never wanted any of it without her.

  I started sobbing uncontrollably unable to hide the pain and loss I was feeling. I knew that my tears were falling on her face, and I wanted to stop crying, I wanted to be strong for her, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength to do anything but hold my soulmate and wish that I’d follow her quickly into whatever after life there was.

  It felt like the darkness of the cave swallowed me whole, and I would never see the light again. I felt angry, everything that had been promised to us by Venia would never be and I felt such a strong resentment towards the Goddess that I almost cursed her name.

  I held Violet for a long time before a voice brought me out from my deep pit of despair. I looked up and there was a face in the walls made of emerald. While it was still dark in here, my eyes had adjusted. The face was looking at me, and it didn’t look happy.

  “You are not supposed to be here,” the face told me.

  “This is my soulmate, I deserve to grieve for her,” I told it in defiance. I felt angry, and this emerald face felt like a good target for my rage. I wanted to smash it until it was nothing but crumbled stones beneath my feet. He caused this, I was sure of it.

  “You don’t deserve anything,” the face told me. It looked like it had lost all of its patience long ago.“Violet has chosen her destiny. She chose to accept her part in the prophecy. She chose to participate in the trials. She chose to sacrifice herself in the last trial. The only thing that can help her now is the Goddess herself,” it added.

  I let out another sob.

  “You are upset, I understand. Your soulmate is cold and dead in your arms, but you can’t stay here. You need to take her and leave. Something is happening and you are both in danger. You need to leave.”

  “I don’t get it. How is Violet in danger? She is already dead,” I scoffed. I was fine just sitting here, let whatever danger was out there finish me off so that I could join Violet, wherever her spirit was.

  “Do I have to spell it out for you? She may be dead now, but she may not stay dead. The Goddess may be able to help, but she can’t be brought back if her body is ripped to pieces by the wolves who are trying to rip through the barrier. They have a magic-worker with them and they are working through the defenses.”

  “How do we get out of here then?” I asked.

  “Keep going to the other end of the cave. There is an exit to the beach. Take her and go, they are breaking through the cave entrance now.”

  I pulled myself up to my feet with Violet still in my arms, then I ran like hell.

  I picked my feet up high to avoid tripping and dropping her. I couldn’t see where I was going, and scraped my arm against the sharp cave walls.

  I can only imagine what this is doing to Violet’s legs.

  I could finally see the light at the other end of the tunnel. But I could hear the wolves smashing through the barrier at the other end of the cave. The sounds did nothing but echo in here, and it was a good thing, it spurred me to pick up my pace.

  I had no doubt the wolves were faster than me. They’d be on me in seconds. I needed to get out of here.

  I finally made it through the exit and stumbled out onto the beach, just feet from the water’s edge.

  If I went left, I would be in Corone. If I went right, then I’d be back to Morthsoul. If I went right, I’d be walking around the mountain, between it and the beach, and would eventually pass in front of the entrance to the cave. Were there more wolves waiting at the entrance? How suspicious would I be walking on Corone’s border with a dead Queen in my hands? I didn’t want to think about what they would do to Violet’s body, or to me.

  I prayed that the wolves would be gone, or trapped in the caves.

  To Morthsoul it is.

  Chapter Four

  Violet

  I’m actually dead. I didn’t know for sure if what happened in the trials affected real life, but apparently it did. That was a lesson learned the hard way. I hoped I’d never have to go through the trials again. Now I felt more grateful that I never stopped trying to revive my family after they drowned in the first trial. I was so grateful that the Goddess and magic itself decided to help me save them. I felt a little more confident that they were safe in their beds back in the castle. Except Axel, he was here with me, just not dead.

  The thing about being dead was, it was nothing like anyone theorized. It’s not peaceful, its chaos. You die, and then what? You get to follow those you love, without being able to interact with them. You got to watch them be miserable, with their hearts broken, and you couldn’t do anything to heal it. Not a single thing.

  Had I known that I would die in real life if I died in the trials, I would have tried a little harder to kill him another way first. I wouldn’t have let my fiery wings carry me to my death. I would have fought harder. I had been so upset when I saw those I love lie dead on the ground, that I lost my sense of rationale.

  No matter how much I screamed at Axel, or tried to trip him, or hit him with a solid object, I couldn’t. It was the single most frustrating thing that had ever happened to me. I would have much rather watched Kennan try to kill me again. That was less painful than this.

  Screw all that ‘death is peaceful crap.’ Apparently not. My reward for killing Kennan to save my kingdom was
to hang out in limbo while my soulmate carried my lifeless body back to our home.

  I could only hope that when I took that nose dive, and super novaed, that I took Kennan out with me. If that was the case, maybe Axel, Trin, and the rest of the family, stood a chance against Samantha and her father.

  I feel completely useless.

  I knew it seemed stupid. Yeah, I’m useless separated from my body; but my consciousness was here. I wanted to just jump back into my body and pop up and say “just kidding, I’m alive.” I couldn’t even try to cross over to see Victoria, Thanian or Clarissa.

  I was stuck, and feeling bitter.

  Trin

  “I didn’t know necromancers were real,” I said in disbelief.

  I felt all the eyes in the room on me.

  I didn’t ask for this, no wonder she kept this secret from me.

  “They are dear, and incredibly rare, like Violet’s sight,” Beetie said.

  “I don’t want to be rare. The tall-tales always depicted necromancers as evil or bad. I don’t want to be like that. I just want to be normal,” I said.

  I shuddered at the thought of me turning evil. I don’t want this.

  Legends had it that necromancers could raise an army of the undead to do their bidding. I didn’t want people to fear me for dark magic. I wanted people to respect me, and what I did for my Kingdom and my Queen.

  “When did you find out?” I asked her.

  “I’ve known since you were born. The day you joined us was the day I had a very limited vision. I saw you bringing a wounded knight back from the dead. Don’t ask me how I knew it was you, I just did. As I saw you grow older and your image began to match the adult version I saw of you in the vision, it only confirmed my vision,” she explained.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She ignored my question entirely and decided to try to spin this into a positive situation.

  “People fear what they don’t understand. There is nothing wrong with being a necromancer if you do the right things with your magic.” Her words were stern.