“How is the tea?” our new friend asked.
“Sweet,” I replied.
“Sour,” Mauvrey responded.
Yunru laughed. “Come. I’ll show you to your rooms. You may bring your beverages with you upstairs.”
We jumped down from the counter and followed Yunru with cups in hand. “I should probably find Daniel before we retire for the evening,” I said. “He will want to know about Mauvrey and the Magic Mite.”
We paused at the base of the stairs. “Do not worry,” Yunru responded. “I came upon Daniel and Kai already and explained Wang Shu’s theory about the insect, and that if she is right the Magic Mite will leave Mauvrey in twelve hours. Your friends are in their own rooms now.”
Yunru took us up a flight of steps. At the top, we discovered a perfect line of shoes along the wall. Our hostess asked us to remove ours, and we aligned them with the others.
“SJ, you may have this room,” Yunru said, coming to a sliding door. “Mauvrey, please continue with me. The next available bed is in a different corridor. Good night, princess.” She bowed to me a final time. I mirrored the respectful gesture and thanked her.
Yunru continued down the hall with Mauvrey as I pushed aside the sliding door. It was lightweight like a screen and moved without making a sound. The room was simple, square, and small. My closet at home was at least six times this size. There was a bed in the corner perfectly made up with crisp white sheets and an equally pristine pillowcase. A wooden chair and desk with a bamboo plant on top of it resided on the opposite side of the room. One lantern hung overhead and provided a soft, warm glow converse to the darkness of the jungle outside, which was visible through a single window.
Though the hour was not late here, the bed called to me like a long-lost friend. Daniel and Chance had enacted Midnight Law at midnight our time, after all. Craving a bit of connection to the familiar, on a whim and a hope I took out my Mark Two and tried to call Blue.
No answer.
I tried calling Jason, Chance, and Girtha as well, but they did not answer. Defeated, I set my potions sack and slingshot on the desk and turned off the lantern. Hazy light coming from the hallway through the screen door prevented the room from being completely dark. I lay back and stared at the ceiling
I wondered where in all the realms my friends were right now, why they were not answering, and if they were okay. I drifted to sleep at the mercy of these thoughts. Their possibilities gave me as much hope as they did fear.
was hoping to find you,” Crisa said.
She met me in the white void. Unlike before, the immediate area was now populated with desks from one of our classrooms at school. A blackboard and window frames floated in the background, moving around us gradually like drifting ghosts.
I closed the distance between us and gave her a tight hug.
“Considering the amount of magic it takes for you to communicate through dreams, and that I know how you are generating that magic . . .” I cleared my throat. “I am sad to see you here, though I am glad to see you in general.”
“I’m glad to see you too. And honestly, don’t worry about it. Sleep is an escape for me. When I am in dreams with you guys, I feel like myself. I don’t feel the darkness of my Shadow and I can’t feel the pain from Arian’s tests on my body.” Fear crossed her face a moment before she cleared her throat and summoned a small smile. “Do you want to see something cool?”
She snapped her fingers and the classroom setup vanished—replaced by an ornate couch, a roaring gold fireplace, a plush rug, and a glittering coffee table. A mug of steaming hot chocolate appeared in my hand. The steam coming off it looked so real. Curious, I took a sip. It was real! And delicious.
I gazed at the surroundings. “This looks like one of the rooms in Chance’s castle.”
“It is. At least this is how my memory recalls it. My magic is getting stronger. It’s what Arian wants, and it makes me unstable and vulnerable when I’m awake, but here—where I can think clearly—I can take advantage of it. My potential is stretching. I’ve even started to—” She cut herself off.
“What?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “You know, never mind. It won’t matter if I’m dead by the time you find me, so we’ll cross that bridge later. It’ll be a fun problem for another day if I live to see another day.”
I slammed the mug down on the coffee table. “Do not talk about it so casually, Crisa. Do not make jokes. Merlin showed us what you are going through. Death and suffering and struggle are not abstract thoughts anymore; they are real and they are painful.”
Crisa met my gaze, eyes hard. “You don’t think I know that? I am trying to keep it light for my sake, as well as yours, SJ. Because death and suffering and struggle—they’re my whole existence right now. Making jokes helps me cope, but being blunt forces us to be realistic about the situation. If I talk about death casually it’s only because we both need to get used to the idea that just because we’re heroes doesn’t mean we are going to win every time.”
I swallowed my sadness and sank back on the couch. “You do not trust that we can save you,” I thought aloud, full of disappointment. “That is why you came to warn Daniel in that dream—you doubt we can find you.”
“SJ, no!” She rushed over and sat next to me, taking one of my hands in hers. “I genuinely believe you and our friends can fight through any challenges you come up against, and that you can find where I’m being held. You’re strong, brave, and amazing, and I would gladly trust my life to you any day. But the problem is that our days don’t equate to the same thing. The twenty-fours of Book time that Midnight Law gave you equal about twenty full days for me.”
She sighed and shook her head, leaning back on the couch and staring into the distance. “Arian didn’t bring me to Earth right away. He and his team entered Dreamland through a portal in Camelot. When he captured me, there was still a while to wait before an exit portal to that realm opened. I lost track of time for a bit when we were moving realms because he kept me pretty heavily sedated, but I have been on Earth for many weeks now. I don’t have a calendar in my cell, but I think it is close to two months and honestly . . . I’m not sure I can last much longer. That’s why I warned Daniel. Because I wanted to be realistic with you all. I may not be able to reunite with you, not because you don’t eventually find where I’m being held, but because I may not have the strength to hang on until then.”
“But Crisa, you have to hang on . . . We still have so much to do together. ”
Crisa looked at me grimly. “Time doesn’t care about what people have left to do.”
“Well, I do not care about time.” I stood purposefully. “It comes for all of us at some point, so it is almost an irrelevant factor. What I care about is you, and this,” I gestured at her person, “is not you. I cannot imagine what you are going through, Crisa. Part of me does not want to. But being realistic was never a quality you were known for. You are the girl who makes people—even logical, no-nonsense types like me—believe in the crazy and the impossible. I have faith we can save you and that you can hang on despite the terrible odds. You would advocate the same belief if our roles were reversed.”
Crisa stood slowly. Then she nodded.
“I am sorry if I disappointed you,” she said. “I know this isn’t the me you’re used to. Arian said he’d break me and . . . he’s doing a good job.”
I hugged her again. “Keep fighting,” I said, holding her tight. “I know it is a lot to ask since you already have for so long. But standing up to strife is what has made you strong; that is what has made you who you are. If anyone can get through this, it is you.” I pulled away from the hug and held her by her shoulders. “I believe in you.”
“And I believe in you.” She sighed and paced for a moment before turning back to me with a minor smile and her arms crossed. “You’re turning into quite the leader, you know. Very inspiring.”
“Perhaps in certain situations,” I replied.
She ra
ised her eyebrows. “Meaning?”
I shook my head. “It is a whimsical complaint in comparison to what you are dealing with, Crisa.”
“Oh come off it,” she said with a wave of her hand. “You act like this is the first time I’m in mortal peril.”
Now I gave her a look.
“Levity, remember,” she said. “Now seriously, what’s wrong?”
I sighed. “Crisa, I am only inspiring in areas that are traditionally my department. In areas outside of my comfort zone, I fear I will never be taken seriously, let alone be qualified or depended on to take the lead. I am a product of the old fairytales; it is not in my nature to adapt like more modern heroes do. Perhaps my training is too hammered into me for that.”
Crisa made a face. “SJ. That’s stupid. You arguably have adapted better than anyone in our group to everything that’s happened. Blue, Jason, Daniel, and I were always running toward change—we wanted it, and that made us better prepared to lean into the new elements that came at us. For someone like you who was more traditional, and more or less happy with the way things were, the fact that you came along for the ride and have come out the other side as strong as the rest of us is super inspirational. I can see that. Plenty of other people can see that too. It makes them respect you and follow you because they know you can take it even if the world gets turned upside down.”
I tried to let her words into my heart; Yunru’s words were already trying to worm their way in, but my inherent doubt was stopping them. “But what if—”
The room started to vibrate. The fireplace abruptly disappeared and so did the coffee table, causing the mug of hot chocolate to shatter and spill on the floor of the white void. Crisa grabbed her head and took several steps back.
“What is it?” I asked.
She glanced around. “I don’t know. It’s like I’m getting some interference, like there’s some strong magic nearby that’s disrupting my hold on you.”
“Magic? From where? From who?”
Crisa clenched her fists and her eyes flashed gold for a second. “I think I should wake you up. Something is happening on your end. You need to check it out. You ready?”
My heart fell. “No.”
Crisa looked pained. “Me neither.” She gulped. “But I’ll see you soon, right?”
“Right.” I echoed.
With that, Crisa raised a hand and a burst of golden light encircled us like a tornado.
A moment later, my eyes snapped open. I sat up in my cot and adjusted to the darkness. Moonlight streamed through the window; bright mist had risen and curled around the glass. I stood up and peered outside, looking to see where the surreal mist was coming from. My eyes looked down, scanning the ground level of the property until I saw it. Until I saw her.
“Mauvrey!” I shouted.
The girl was walking in a trance with her arms outstretched. White, ghostly energy exuded off her like she was a steamed bun fresh out of the pot. She disappeared into the trees of the surrounding jungle. I thrust the sliding door to my room aside and bolted.
“Help! Daniel! Kai! Yunru!” I yelled as I ran up the hall. I did not know where their sleeping quarters were, nor did I have time to search. Lights flicked on in various rooms, but I could not delay to wait for assistance either, let alone put on my shoes when I reached the stairs. I raced down the steps barefoot and traced my memory of the space to find the closest door that connected outside.
Which way did she go?
I glanced up at the building, trying to match the area of my room to the angle I had seen Mauvrey from. I settled on a route and continued to run.
“Mauvrey!”
My feet crushed leaves and dirt as my heart quickened. Thankfully, I soon spotted her stream of white, glowing mist. She was close.
I pushed aside foliage and came upon a stone path sloping upward, mist curling along it. I dashed up the path until I came to the crest of a hill. My lips released a horrified gasp. At the bottom of the hill was a lake, and in that lake up to her stomach was Mauvrey—ethereal suicide fog trailing after her as she slowly walked deeper into the water.
“Mauvrey!” I sped down the hill. Something dark moved in my peripheral vision and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Over my panting breaths, I heard a whoosh behind me too, but I did not slow my pace. I let the adrenaline take me.
The water was already at Mauvrey’s shoulders! Curses! I raced onto the embankment.
“SJ?!” Daniel’s voice was distant.
I paused at the water’s edge and looked back. He was somewhere nearby, but I could not see him. “Over here! By the lake!”
“Stay there! I’m coming!” he shouted.
Mauvrey’s head was about to dip below the surface. I did not have time to stay here. Daniel was stronger, though. He would be better at this.
Mauvrey sunk below the water.
Oh, forget it!
I raced into the water and plowed clumsily forward until it was deep enough to push into a dive and I swam down. Mauvrey was still surrounded by white mist, so I could follow her like a glowing beacon as she sank lower and lower. I paddled until I grabbed the girl under both her arms. Then I yanked and kicked with all my might. Huge bubbles churned around us and the surface seemed so far away, but I refused to give up. With all my strength and will, I kicked until we finally broke through. Our heads bobbed up in the middle of the lake. Mauvrey’s eyes burst open the second we hit the air and she coughed and flailed, gasping for breath. I struggled to keep both our heads above water. Something splashed toward us, and a moment later Daniel was there.
“Here, let me take her,” he said.
“I can help you,” I said, continuing to sustain Mauvrey partially as Daniel put one of her arms around his neck.
“SJ, it’s fine.”
“Is everyone okay?” Kai called from the embankment. She and a dozen or so of the warrior women stood at the edge of the lake. More of the Mount Aborra students ran down the hill to join them, many with weapons in hand. I opened my mouth to call back when one woman shouted, “Look out!” She raised her staff and smacked away a giant shadow with wings.
“Núcái!” another warrior shouted, raising her spear and aiming it at the sky.
I glanced up at dark spots descending toward the embankment, rushing toward the warriors’ defensive line. One of the shadows broke away and circled above Daniel, Mauvrey, and me in the center of the lake. Flapping its wings mightily, it bore over us and I got my first good look at the monster.
The Núcái was an eight-foot owl with a wingspan even wider than that. It was covered in black feathers except on its face, which shone ghostly white. It screeched like a demon then dove at us with its claws outstretched. Daniel and I dunked under the water, bringing Mauvrey with us and narrowly avoiding the creature’s grasp.
When we popped back to the surface, gasping, the Núcái hunting us was gone, but there were many others swooping through the night after our allies. Fortunately, it seemed the warrior women were well-prepared to handle this threat. They smacked and stabbed. Some had ascended trees to better protect their companions on the ground. Other warriors fired arrows relentlessly.
Soon most of the monsters were either fleeing or dead—their big black bodies splashing into the lake. Daniel and I retained our position to be safe, watching the fight finish up. However, just then one of the last Núcái in the area descended to the embankment behind Kai.
“Kai!” Daniel shouted.
But it was too late for her to get out of range. She turned around as the massive demon owl spread its wings and closed them around her. The moment it did—POOF—the monster vanished, Kai along with it. At that, all remaining demons shot into the blackness of the sky with a screech and disappeared. The night turned quiet and it was like they had never been there.
Daniel and I swam back to shore with Mauvrey, who was weakly trying to assist us, despite being in shock at having nearly drowned. When we were near the bank, various warriors rushed in t
o take Mauvrey from us. They eased her to the ground. She panted there on her hands and knees. Daniel—swift to recover as always—headed straight for Yunru. SRB sparks trailed off him as he marched up the bank to meet her.
“What happened to Kai? What did that thing do with her?”
“Those were Xēshēng’s demons, the Núcái,” Yunru responded. “They teleported her back to their domain beneath Mount Aborra. Xēshēng will feast on her energy at twilight tomorrow unless someone saves her.”
“Okay, which way to the mountain? I’ll save her.”
“You may not be able to.” We all looked up at the sound of Nian Zhen’s voice. She stood at the top of the hill, robes glistening in the sheen of the moon. The warriors parted as she strode down to the bank with Ray and Whisper on either side of her, their green eyes glowing brightly.
“As is custom, our Bixie and Tianlu decide which two warriors will face Xēshēng to save his latest victim,” Nian Zhen continued. “Only those warriors will be blessed with the spiritual energy necessary to wield our ancestral blade and face the monster.”
“Nian Zhen, I have a sword of my own. Trust me. It’s effective. I don’t need your spiritual energy or whatever to tell me when I can and can’t go after someone I care about.”
“Daniel, you do not understand. Xēshēng is a demonic creature and therefore only a sword blessed by the heavens can weaken it, and only warriors blessed by our heavenly guardians can wield that weapon. It is prophecy, destiny, and tradition we respect. Now then.” Nian Zhen looked at her full assembly of warriors. “Ladies, at attention.”
Every warrior stood upright, hands at their sides. The Bixie and Tianlu stepped away from Nian Zhen. Their eyes glimmered more vibrantly, as did the gold in their wings. Their horns also began to glow as they approached Daniel, but they moved past him after a brief sniff.
They walked by many warriors until they parted ways on the bank. The Tianlu strode to where Mauvrey remained crouched and paused in front of her. The Bixie stopped in front of me. Their horns increased in luminance until the creatures puffed out their chests, spread their wings, and flapped once. Powerfully. A gust of shining energy impacted Mauvrey and me, though instead of blowing me back it seemed to absorb into my body. The creatures returned to Nian Zhen and sat beside her.
Midnight Law Page 40