by Jordi Burton
“This world, and everything in it, is mine.”
She glared at him. “For someone who can see the past, you understand very little of it.”
“I understand enough, dear cousin.”
Whirling, he threw the pendant down. Anastasia shrieked as it shattered, feeling like a part of herself had been torn to pieces. She fell to her knees as pale white shards skittered across the stone floor. A wave of magic flew from the pendant, shattering the windows as it shot outwards. Anastasia threw up her hands to cover her face; shards of glass sliced her skin.
“There is nowhere you can hide,” Joey cried.
Anastasia pushed herself to her feet, tears streaming down her face. “What have you done?”
“I got what I wanted, cousin.”
“You wanted the power from the pendants! And now you’ve ruined it!”
“Have I?” He grinned. “See for yourself.”
Turning, Anastasia sprinted from the room. Panic fluttered through her. He needed the power of the pendants for himself. Why would he break the pendant? In her premonition, the Ancients had broken their pendants themselves, not Joey. And then they’d all been turned to stone. She needed to find them!
Skidding around a corner, she ran smack into Deera.
“You’re alright!” Anastasia cried, throwing her arms around her.
Deera cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
But then Anastasia realized what it meant, if Deera was up and walking around. Horror flooded through her as she understood what Joey had wanted all along. He didn’t need all the pendants to exert his rule as King of Jacqueline; he just needed one or two. But Anastasia’s pendant served another, far more sinister purpose.
Even as Anastasia thought it, her blood ran cold.
Joey had unfrozen the Shadows.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
A nastasia returned to the throne room, but Joey was gone. Anastasia turned around and around, struggling to figure out what to do next. The Shadows were free, which meant they would be moving on the realms. There was no telling where they were, seeing how the time between the realms and the Old World moved so strangely. They could be converging on Sehir as she stood there, thinking.
With trembling hands, she scooped up the pieces of her pendant. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tucked them into the purse at her waist. Her pendant was gone. Joey had broken it. And now the Shadows were marching on the realms. Her mind just kept repeating those three things over and over again. She couldn’t seem to move past it, frozen in place in the throne room. They’d lost. For everything they’d accomplished, they’d lost. Joey had succeeded in his plan. They were trapped.
“Anastasia!”
She looked up, but hardly understood what was happening as William raced towards her. But then he grabbed her in his arms and she melted into him. Her fiancé. William.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Joey, he… the Shadows. They’re coming.”
“The High Council is here,” he said. “They’ve held a meeting.”
Vaguely, Anastasia wondered just how long everyone else had been back in Sehir. For her, it was mere minutes. But it seemed like William had had time to clean up, change his clothes. Gods and Angels, what had Joey been able to accomplish in the time she was gone?
“They’re trying to enact Anistes Droun. They’ve imprisoned the Ancients. They’re coming for you.”
It took Anastasia a moment to understand. The High Council was coming for her. They were going to lock her up, just like Tamo wanted to do all those months ago. It was the only thing they could think of, seeing as they hadn’t come up with a plan to stop the Shadows. They were outnumbered, and turning them to stone hadn’t bought them as much time as they needed. And now Joey had the Shadows and access to the pendants.
But there was a place where Shadows didn’t exist, a place where they could regroup and figure out how to save their home. A place where the High Council couldn’t control the Ancients.
She grabbed William’s hand. “Come on!”
They raced through the throne room, spilling out into the hall. Anastasia ran as fast as she could, taking the stairs two-at-a-time. A part of her wished she still had her wings; flying would certainly be much faster.
Finally, they reached Valdon’s chambers. Anastasia pushed her way inside, not surprised to find the room empty. William bolted the door closed behind them, fixing her with a curious look.
“We can’t barricade ourselves in here forever.”
She turned to Valdon’s bookshelf. “Not forever. Just long enough.”
She tore through the books on the bookshelves, searching feverishly for what she sought. William hovered behind her, keeping an eye on the door. Anastasia knew that Valdon came from an ancient family, seeing as Mohan was an Ancient. And Valdon always had the answers, about things Anastasia had never understood. It would make sense that he would have the answers now.
With the very last book on the shelf, Anastasia found what she was looking for. She held it aloft, a cry of excitement leaving her lips.
“What is that?” William asked.
Sitting on the bed, Anastasia flipped through the pages. “A grimoire.”
“From the Old World?”
Anastasia nodded. “There has to be a spell in here that can take us back, one that doesn’t require spinal fluid and murder.”
“You want to go back to the Old World?”
“It’s the only chance we’ll have.”
A moment later, the door opened. Anastasia and William looked up to see Valdon. Elation flooded Anastasia, and she leapt up and threw her arms around Valdon. He returned her embrace, holding her tight.
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” he murmured.
She nodded. “You, too.”
“You need to get out of here. The High Council is coming.”
“We need to get back to the Old World.” She turned and grabbed his grimoire. “Can you help?”
Valdon pursed his lips. With a snap of his fingers, the grimoire returned to his hands. He flipped through the pages for a moment, before handing the book back to Anastasia. She perused the pages, reading the spell. It had a number of ingredients, ones Anastasia wasn’t sure they could get. But, it was a start.
She looked up at him. “What do we do?”
“You and William need to go to the elemental realm. I’ll get everything else.”
***
Moments later, Anastasia and William stepped through the direct portal to the elemental realm. As it was far from Jacqueline, it was likely that Joey’s spell hadn’t reached the Shadows gathered there yet, and there were still some encased in stone.
The thought of going near the Shadows, even as statues, made Anastasia uneasy. They were running out of time! What if they statues had already unfrozen, and they were too late? She was running from the High Council, once again, on a whim that they might have a way to return to the Old World. But, this seemed like it was their only choice, to keep everything they knew from being obliterated.
Thankfully, William didn’t speak. He just stood by her side, silently offering his support. It filled her with a confidence she didn’t really feel.
They reached the edge of the jungle, tumbling through onto the sandy beach. Anastasia stared up at the massive stone statue in front of them, covered in moss and vines. The Shadow’s claws were extended, its razor-sharp teeth bared in a howl. Even though it was frozen, the sight still made her shiver. Perhaps it was because she knew firsthand how deadly the Shadows were in battle, or because the beast could come to life at any moment.
She knew of a tale that whoever managed to break a Shadow statue would become the next King of Jaqueline. It was something children made up, to cover up the fear of having these grotesque monsters so close to home, she supposed.
She understood the urgency with which they needed to work, but she just couldn’t bring herself to touch the statue. Every inch of he
rself felt wrong without her pendant.
A soul-piercing roar forced her to step up, despite her uneasiness. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she turned. A Shadow raced across the beach towards them, its blood red eyes trained on her. Pulling out her dagger, she took up a fighting stance; the cold heat of battle washed over her, driving her forward.
“Figure out a way to smash that thing!” she called to William.
Racing forward, she met the Shadow. They collided in a clash of bronze against claws. Anastasia fell back into the sand and rolled out of the way as the beast’s claws shot out at her. Still, it grazed her shoulder, drawing blood. She hissed in pain as she leapt to her feet.
Behind her, she heard clanging as William stabbed at the Shadow statue with his dagger.
Stumbling back, Anastasia ducked beneath the Shadow’s claws. Coming up behind it, she sliced through its back. Inky blood splattered across her face. She wiped it from her eyes as the Shadow fell forward. Its claws raked against the statue, taking out a chunk of stone. Anastasia leapt onto its back, driving her dagger through its head. It roared once, bucking her. She tumbled to the ground as it died, soaking the sand with its dark blood.
Lying there, she stared upwards. Fluffy clouds moved slowly across the pale blue sky. Anastasia watched them, as William continued to hit the statue. Gathering herself, she sat up and sheathed her blade.
In one fluid motion, William cut one of the Shadow’s claws from its hand and drove it into the statue. The stone fissured, cracking with a deep rumble. Leaping up, he kicked out his both legs, slamming his feet against the claw. It went clear through the statue as William dropped into the sand, making the entire beast crumble.
Wordlessly, they gathered the stones into a knapsack and turned back to the jungle. Hurrying forward, they stepped through the portal that awaited them.
They stepped through into the throne room, where Mohan and Valdon was grinding up ingredients with a mortar and pestle. Salt was sprinkled around a pentagram, and a chalice of blood sat inside it. Anastasia handed him the knapsack. He just gave her a slight nod in response.
Anastasia looked at the windows. Frigid autumn air filtered through, chilling the room. Glass crunched under her boots as she moved towards the thrones. It was nearly impossible to believe that mere months before, she’d sat there, condemning William to prison. And before that, her grandfather had been murdered by Shadows on these very steps. Such history this room had seen. And it would stand to see more history, long after she had been forgotten.
Her body vibrated with urgency. They needed to act, before Joey returned, and the Shadows reached the city, and the High Council locked her away.
At last, Valdon stepped back from the circle. “I think we’re ready.”
Anastasia held her hand over the chalice, drawing her dagger across her palm. Her blood dripped down, swirling through the cup. William quickly did the same, before joining Valdon in the middle of the circle. Their blood would count as the essence of an angel they needed.
A soul-piercing roar tore through the air. The Shadows had arrived in Sehir. As deep rumbling tore through the city, Anastasia thought back to when the Shadows had attacked all those months ago, when she and William had gone off on a quest to find her grandmother. Then, she’d run to warn the High Council. Now, she was running from them.
As she joined Mohan and Valdon in the circle, the door to the throne room burst open. The High Council, along with all of Anastasia’s family, spilled into the room.
“Grab her!” yelled Tamo.
Anastasia stepped back within the circle as guards ran into the room, surrounding them. Anastasia met her mother’s gaze, silently trying to convey what they were doing. If they returned to the Old World, they would all be safe!
William drew his dagger.
Valdon raised his hands and started to chant. “Elet g’dolah, bevakasha l’hachazir otanu el haolam ha’ishen. L’hachazir otanu el ma hashu ha’aber shelanu.”
Nothing happened.
Panic fluttered in Anastasia’s chest. It hadn’t worked? Maybe there wasn’t a way to return to the Old World. Maybe Valdon’s magic wasn’t the same as the sorcerers of the Old World. Maybe Anistes Droun would be the only way.
But then, she remembered her premonition: I break free of my window and charge him, managing to take the shards back from him. Whirling, I drop them into a goblet of blood and shout words in a strange language. Light surges, once again, and the Sehirian throne room disappears, leaving us all in the ancient throne room.
Taking the shards from her purse, the dropped them into the chalice.
“Try again!” she shouted.
The guards lunged forward. Tamo shouted, “Don’t move!”
Valdon repeated his chant as the guards broke through the circle and grabbed William and Anastasia. Wind whipped through the room, tearing at their clothes. As it felt like the floor was dropping out from under her, Anastasia turned to William.
“I’ll find you! I promise!”
But then, everything went dark.
When Anastasia awoke, she turned and vomited everything in her stomach. Once she could breathe again, she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. A long wooden table was covered with maps and parchments, bright against the stone walls. Pops of color lined the wooden ceiling beams, carved crests proudly displaying house colors and sigils.
Turning, she rushed to the looking glass. Though it was warped and colored with age, she could still make out her reflection. Once again, she was utterly naked, but this time, she wasn’t afraid. When she heard a rustling noise behind her, her smile widened.
They’d done it. They’d returned to the Old World.
Taking stock of her surroundings, she realized she was again alone. But then, she remembered the last of her premonition: But when I turn, my doppelgangers are gone. It’s just me, holding the six repaired pendants. But I’m unafraid by the sudden loneliness. Somehow, it gives me hope.
They’d returned, they were safe. She wouldn’t be alone for long.
As soon as she was dressed, she ran out into the frigid evening and threw herself into the air. Her wings unfurled with a snap, carrying her into the sky. Breathing deep, she crossed the water and landed on the opposite shore. Everything was just as it had been when she left, the houses built, the marketplace set up; there were even candles flickering in windows. Anastasia took it all in, feeling both excited and concerned. Yes, by returning to the Old World, they were protected from the Shadows. But they were also once again bound by the restrictions of it.
Crossing the street, she ducked into the inn. Chairs were scattered around carved wooden tables, topped with mugs and plates of food. Anastasia grabbed herself a blanket from upstairs, wrapping it around her shoulders to ward off the chill. Slipping behind the counter, she grabbed a tankard and filled it with Mistress Couland’s rich ale.
She took a long drink. The next steps were clear: unite the High Council and the Ancients, find a way to defeat the Shadows, and return home to the realms. All she needed do to now was wait.
Grabbing a chair, Anastasia dragged it outside. Planting it in the center of town, she sat down and took a long drink of ale. Pale flecks drifted down around her, and she blinked in surprise. The first snowfall in Bahail. She wondered if it was as magical in the Old World as it was in Jacqueline.
Something told her it would be.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I have to thank my parents, Cat and Bernard, for their unconditional love and support. You guys are the reason I’m able to write books, much less share them with others. I’m not sure there are enough words to give my thanks. But I hope this is a step in the right direction!
To my editor and beta reader, Lissa. You have stood by me through all different iterations of these books and have given me such incredible advice and support. I’m glad I have someone like you in my corner, keeping me from using the same phrases 300 times in one book. I am truly grateful for your dedication and the wa
y you treat my books like pieces of art. I feel like you often see the beauty in them before I do.
I want to give a shout out to Josh and Anna, who not only let me vent to them when I have writer’s block, but who also give me imaginative ways to get out of it. You should see pieces of yourselves in these books. You inspire me.
Aaron Lambert, your cover art is phenomenal as always. Thank you for taking my ideas and turning them into incredible pieces of art. You’re a phenomenal artist; I’m so glad to have you be a part of this journey!
Last but not least, I do what I do for you, my dear readers. If it wasn’t for you, my words would be empty. You motivate me to be more, to grow, so that I can give you the best story my imagination can conjure. Thank you for reading what I write!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordi Burton grew up in Plantation, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida in December of 2017 with a degree in English, and a minor in History. She started her first novel at age ten and has since worked on forty-six others. She is published in Virge Literary Magazine, and P'an Ku Literary Magazine.
An ardent science fiction and fantasy enthusiast, Jordi can usually be found geeking out at comic conventions, binge-watching anything Marvel or DC, and obsessing about her next creative project. Her hobbies include: showering her Boston Terrier with love, mentoring new writers, holding deep conversations about the real-world application of fictional characters, and searching for her next great written adventure.
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Visit Jordi online at www.JordiBurton.com