by Jordi Burton
“We’re the Ancients.”
Surprise flooded through Anastasia. They were the Ancients? How could that be? Wouldn’t they have known?
“That means one of us is the Vatis, and can take the List from Chris,” said Dani.
Isidora frowned. “I’m sorry, but what’s happening here?”
“When this is all over, head to Síthe,” said the Fairy Queen. “We shall discuss there.”
Mohan looked between them. “So what do we do now?”
“Maybe we should all hold hands or something?” Hughie suggested.
Figuring it was worth a shot, Anastasia stepped forward. But when they all grasped hands, nothing happened. Frustrated, Anastasia swore. This was not how all this was supposed to go! They needed to find the Vatis, to get the List from Chris. It didn’t matter who was on the List anymore, seeing as she knew now who the Ancients were, but he was still blinded by it. There had to be a way to unearth the Vatis and free him.
She had to admit, she wasn’t so surprised she was an Ancient. She’d figured, when Tamo had hunted her all those months before, trying to imprison her for Anistes Droun, that he had to have some inkling that she was on the List. And, the more she’d thought about it, the more sense it made. Why else would she have the power to see the future, if not for being an Ancient?
But Dani? And Chris? Did it mean they had powers, too? Was there something each one of them could do that no one else could?
“Well,” mused Mohan. “How do we get out of here?”
“We have to Awaken,” said the Fairy Queen.
Hughie sighed. “And how do we do that?”
“The Vatis is supposed to Awaken us.”
Dani threw up her hands in frustration. “Well, how are we supposed to figure out who the Vatis is?”
Suddenly, a circle of light rose into the air. They all stepped back, staring at it. It gave off a faint heat and wavered in the light emanating from the Gardens.
“What is it?” asked Isidora.
“Maybe some sort of Ancients magic?” Mohan offered.
“Or something from the Gods and Angels,” suggested Dani.
Whatever it was, none of them moved towards it. Anastasia stared at it, wondering if it really was from the Gods and Angels, like a prompt, egging them forward. Not for the first time, she wished she better understood the Ancients and their powers. Perhaps she would’ve been able to figure out what to do now if she had.
Mohan nodded to Anastasia. “You’re the descendant of the woman they called the Vatis. Why don’t you go touch it?”
Anastasia frowned. “You’re the second most powerful sorcerer in the realms. You touch it.”
“I don’t have permission from Zeus for any of this,” Isidora said, backing away. “There’s no way I’m going to touch it.”
“I’m a ghost,” said Hughie. “That thing could tear me apart.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Gods and Angels, I’ll do it.”
She stepped forward, reaching out a hand to touch the light. With a loud crack it flung her backwards. She rolled to a stop at the base of the round window, holding her injured hand to her chest.
“Let me try,” offered Chris.
Stepping forward, he touched the light. When nothing happened, he stepped inside the circle.
“Great,” said Isidora. “The blind guy can enter the lightning circle.”
“Well, he’s got the List,” said the Fairy Queen. “If this is a way for the Vatis to take it from him, he’s got to be able to enter.”
With a sigh, Anastasia stepped forward. “I’ll go.”
Reaching out, she brushed her fingertips against the light. When nothing happened, she stepped inside the circle with Chris. Surprise shot through her; she hadn’t expected to be the Vatis. If that were the case, why couldn’t she have taken the List from Chris ages ago? What had stopped them?
But before she could think of an answer, the light intensified, lifting them both from the ground. Chris cried out, his body arching painfully. As she reached for him, she found she couldn’t touch him. Suspended like she was, she felt like time had stopped altogether. It was like every moment of time happened at once, and yet not at all. Every past, every future, wrapped around her, displayed as her present. She comprehended nothing as it flashed before her, overwhelming her mind. And then, an indeterminate amount of time later, she dropped to the ground beside Chris.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself on the floor in the jail, surrounded by Durse, Hayde, Balan, Gerrard, and all the others. Beside her, Mohan, Chris, and Dani were stirring.
“What happened?” asked Gerrard.
Anastasia ignored him, rolling to her feet. “Did it work?”
“Did what work?” asked Vlad.
But all Anastasia did was watch Chris as he slowly reached up and removed the length of cloth binding his eyes. As it fell, he took a deep breath. Then, for the first time in months, Chris looked up at Anastasia. Shock flooded through her at the deep color of his eyes; she’d forgotten just how green they were.
“By the Gods and Angels,” Dani breathed.
“It worked,” murmured Chris. “I can see.”
Durse frowned. “As beautiful as I’m sure this moment is for all of you, we need to go. Joey won’t wait forever.”
“But wait,” said Lili. “Did you find the Vatis?”
Anastasia shared a look with Chris. “We did better; we found the Ancients.”
“Gods and Angels,” Hayde murmured.
“We can go home,” said Ericcen.
“Not just yet,” said Anastasia. “We have to Awaken the Ancients, first.”
Aelnold swore. “It’s always another step, isn’t it.”
“Just the one more, then we can return to Sehir.”
Vlad stepped forward and held his hand out to Anastasia. “Well, then, in the meantime, let’s go get my son back.”
Getting to her feet, Anastasia turned and faced the people around her. She was an Ancient. Not just any Ancient, but the Vatis, the vessel of the Gods and Angels. It was her job to Awaken the Ancients, to bring them to their power.
She couldn’t help the smile that tugged her lips at the thought.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
D urse stepped up to the door of the jail, peering out into the darkness. “Joey will have them in the Great Hall. He’ll be expecting at least Anastasia to come for William and Aagney.”
“So we’ll need to take them by surprise,” said Hayde.
“There’s no telling how many guards he’ll have on him.”
Vlad growled, “It doesn’t matter. No one will stand between me and my son.”
Durse looked at Chris. “Are you well enough to fight?”
Chris nodded. “Aye.”
Anastasia squared her shoulders. Now that she knew she was the Vatis, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was the thing standing in Joey’s way. She would to whatever she could to keep him from achieving whatever he wanted by bringing them to this world. And she would do everything in her power to rescue William. Like Vlad said, there was nothing that would stand in her way.
Turning to the others, she surveyed them. They seemed grimy, malnourished, and exhausted. But they were strong; they could do this. After all, she, Dani, and Lili had managed to save Sehir from the Shadows. Then, they’d only had four others with them. This time, they practically had an army.
“Where is the great hall?” she asked Durse.
He pursed his lips. “First floor, fifth door on the right.”
As one, they stepped out into the night. Candlelight spilled from the castle windows, giving them enough light to make their way up to the castle square. Anastasia pushed thoughts of William standing there with her from her mind.
Dani pulled her and Mohan aside. “You said you performed a location spell to find the Vatis, and it brought you here?”
“Aye,” said Mohan.
“But if Anastasia’s the Vatis, why would that have happened?”
/> Anastasia nodded. It didn’t make much sense.
“We used William’s blood!” Mohan suddenly said. “It must’ve brought us to you, Dani, since you’re an Ancient. The spell must’ve not been specific enough.”
Before either of them could respond, however, an alarm rang out. Anastasia gripped her dagger, leaping out of the way of an onslaught of arrows. “Run!”
Unfurling her wings, she took off into the air. Chris and Durse followed, while Hayde and Dani took on the archers. Mira and Balan huddled together for a moment, before they both released handfuls of liquid into the air. It hung there, as though suspended, little droplets shining like stars upon the dark night sky. As Nadmilise guards flew near it, Mira and Balan shouted, “L’tzrov.”
The liquid burst into flames, dousing the guards. Ducking through the flames, Anastasia, Chris, and Durse landed on the main floor. Guards blocked their way to the great hall. Tightening her grip on her dagger, Anastasia leapt forward with a fierce battle cry.
Fighting one-handed proved difficult, but not impossible. She slashed out and lunged, cutting her way towards the doorway. The sorcerer guards stood on the perimeter, sending explosions through the air. Chris managed to take one out with a good swipe of his bo staff, while Durse took on three Nadmilise guards. He used his wings like weapons too, forcefully unfurling them and driving guards into the walls on either side of him.
Anastasia flung her dagger through the air, catching one guard in the shoulder. Pulling the second dagger from her belt, she cut the legs out from underneath the next guard.
Freeing her first dagger, she leapt onto the next guard and used her body’s momentum to drive him to the ground. Rolling away from him, she sprang to her feet, drawing her dagger through another guard’s belly. He dropped at her feet, freeing the way to the Great Hall.
“Go!” Durse yelled. “We’ve got this!”
Not needing to be told twice, Anastasia shouldered open the door to the Great Hall. The door slammed closed behind her, sealing off the sounds of battle out in the hall. Glancing around, Anastasia was immediately reminded of the premonition she’d had in Sehir: When I open my eyes, there are two rooms reflected as though on opposite sides of a window. Three of my doppelgangers stand in the Sehirian throne room on the left, while the other three stand in an ancient throne room, complete with a checkered floor and pale red walls.
The ancient throne room was here, in Armol. But there were no doppelgangers, no pendants. Just suits of armor lining the walls, up to where Joey stood with his back to her at the head of the room.
Between them, splayed on the cold stone floor, was William. It took her a moment to understand what looked odd about him, but once she understood, bile coated her throat. Joey had plucked all the feathers from his wings.
An acidic rage built within her as she looked up at Joey. “How dare you.”
He shushed her. “Not so loud, dear cousin. You’ll wake the baby.”
Icy dread dripped down her spine as she understood. Slowly, Joey turned to face her. Cradled in his arms was Aagney. Thankfully, he was fast asleep.
“Don’t you hurt him,” she hissed.
Joey tilted his head. “That’s entirely up to you.”
“What do you want?”
“Give me your throne.”
She needed to bide some time till Durse and Chris finished with the guards out in the hall, or till William woke. If he woke. No. She wouldn’t let herself think that way. William would wake; he had to.
In one fluid motion, she flipped her dagger around and threw it. It embedded deep into Joey’s forearm; he cried out and dropped Aagney. Flying forward, Anastasia caught Aagney before he hit the ground. He began to cry, his shrill screams echoing through the room.
Joey swore, pulling her dagger from his arm. She had just enough time to put Aagney down with William before Joey was upon her. Bringing her good hand up, she blocked his attack. He drove her back, until her back was pressed against the sword of one of the suits of armor. Bracing herself, she punched outward with her injured hand.
It connected with his jaw, driving him back. Thankfully, whatever Durse had used to numb her kept her from feeling any pain.
Wiping blood from his mouth, Joey raised a hand. Thick black smoke shot from his fingers and wrapped around Anastasia’s throat, crushing her windpipe. It felt like thick fingers gripped her throat, sticking her with little pinpricks of acid. She gasped for breath, falling to her knees. Joey stalked towards her, a smirk tugging his lips.
“That’s one advantage I have over you, Anastasia. I actually have access to my magic.”
Her fingers pressed against the bare stone of the floor as she struggled to breathe. He was right. The only times she’d ever used magic was by accident, in times of danger. She only hoped now would be one of those times.
Closing her eyes, she focused on the feeling of magic in her veins, the way it had felt to make that door explode in the Shadow compound, the way it had felt when she and William were plummeting towards their deaths when they fell from the Sky Temple. She hadn’t tried to use magic then; it had just burst forth from her when she’d least expected it. Maybe that was the trick? Try to not use it? But she was losing her sight. Joey was strangling her to death.
What had happened in her premonition? Her doppelgangers had smashed their pendants, and magic had exploded from them. But there were no other pendants here but hers. And there was no way she was going to smash her pendant, not until she was sure it would help. She needed something else, something to distract him enough for her to get away.
It was then she remembered the sword at her back. She reached behind her and worked the blade loose. With her last bit of strength, she drove it into Joey’s chest.
He staggered back, but he didn’t release her. She collapsed on the ground, clawing at the smoke around her neck. Joey just laughed and pulled the sword from his chest. Inky blood trickled from the wound.
“You think a piece of tin could kill me?”
She felt herself losing consciousness. As she choked, she looked over at William.
Joey laughed. “I told you I’d kill you in front of him.”
The doors to the Great Hall burst open in a shower of magic and dust. Her friends leapt into the room and ran at Joey. He stepped back but didn’t release Anastasia. She was losing consciousness, her vision darkening. There had to be something she could use against him. Something they could use to hinder him.
At that moment, she felt the vial from the Fairy Queen pressed against her chest. What had the Queen said when they’d talked about it? That it could save someone? Perhaps it could save Joey.
It took everything she had to pluck the vial from her bodice. But then it just sat there in her hand, utterly useless. What could she do with it, chuck it at him? She had no strength left; she was fading fast. This time, however, she wasn’t ready to give in to death.
Struggling, she slid the vial across the floor. It hit the toe of Lili’s boot. As she bent to pick it up, Anastasia collapsed. Then, in one fluid motion, Lili tossed the vial into the air, raised her bow, and shot the vial. It shattered, spraying the arrow with its silvery liquid as it rocketed towards Joey. It hit him square in the chest, and, for a moment, everything froze. Joey stared down at the arrow sticking from him with a bemused expression; Anastasia fell into the darkness.
But then, Joey staggered back, releasing Anastasia. She came-to, gasping, just in time to see Joey explode in a shower of gray dust. An unbidden shriek tore from her lips, mixing with Aagney’s pained wails.
A moment later, the dust cleared. In its wake, were two unconscious men, one sorcerer, the other Nadmilise. Both looked like Joey.
No one moved. They, like Anastasia, were entirely unsure of what to do next. But then the sounds of guards reached their ears. Anastasia knew they needed to act, needed to get out of there. But what would they do about Joey? Better yet, what had she done to him? Why was he split into two people? And what was each individual like?
“Mohan!” she shouted, her voice hoarse. “Cast a circle!”
He quickly set to drawing one in the drops of blood from Joey’s wounds. Balan and Mira helped him, while Lili dragged the sorcerer Joey over. Ryke, Durse, and Hayde faced the doors, ready to take on the guards. Behind them, Dani knelt beside her brother, her hands glowing with pale green healers’ magic.
“William?” she murmured.
“Ready to go!” called Mohan.
Staggering to her feet, Anastasia scooped Aagney into her arms and headed for the circle. Dani looped her arms under William’s and dragged him over, as well. The others all gathered together inside the circle. As Mohan took to chanting, the doors to the Great Hall opened and guards spilled into the room. Anastasia held Aagney tight, squeezing her eyes shut as the floor fell out from under her. A moment later, she felt soft grasses beneath her feet.
Opening her eyes, she found herself standing in a large meadow. Massive trees, larger even than the oaks at the Lakes in Sehir, spotted the beautiful grasses around them. They were carved with doorways and walkways, reminiscent of the fairy castle in Sehir.
Turning, she spotted William a few feet away, surrounded by beautiful white flowers. She turned towards him, drawing a painful breath. But before she could touch him, the Fairy Queen stepped into her path. She was dressed in polished silver armor, but looked much like she had in the realm of the Gods and Angels.
“Welcome to Síthe.”
Sitting up, Anastasia looked around. There were beautiful meadows and large oak trees as far as they eye could see. Other fairies, similar in look and stature to the Queen, frolicked through tall grasses alongside short-legged, caramel-colored canines.
Turning, Anastasia took in her friends. They were all battle worn, but mostly unharmed. Awe flooded from them as they took in their surroundings.
“Why don’t we get you all a bath, some fresh clothes, and something to eat?” offered the Queen.