“The worst betrayal came from the Stone Hearts, who we thought were our friends,” Jasper continued bitterly. “The bracelets were a gift from us to them, a way for them to call on our aid if there was a need. They perverted our gift and used it as a weapon against us. They made us mine and dig for them.
“Twelve years ago, some of the Stone Hearts softened toward us. They secretly freed some of the gargoyles. But before the rebellion could gain much ground, they were discovered. The rebels died in the fighting, and all the gargoyles were permanently imprisoned in the Cavern of Gargoyles.”
His words prodded to life faint memories of Dorotea’s, enough for Leah to realize their stories didn’t match. Dorotea had been told one set of “facts” about the gargoyle rebellion and Jasper another set. Who was right? Perhaps the truth lay somewhere in the middle.
“Do you remember anything from personal experience?” Leah asked tactfully.
He shook his head. “Just hiding. And voices being silenced, one by one. It’s strange. When I stood immobile in the Cavern of Gargoyles, I could hear my brethren’s thoughts, but now that I’ve left the cavern, I am cut off from them. It feels…odd.” He tilted his head to one side. “And now I’ve come full circle, back to where I started.”
Leah sat up straighter, startled. “Do you mean you were born here? Or that this is where you hid during the rebellion?”
“Both.” His eyebrows lifted. “Perhaps you cannot see in the dark.”
“See what?”
He beckoned her over to the wall and flattened his hand against it. “The stone is red jasper.”
She brought the candle flame closer and saw the rock matched his shade exactly, down to the black stripes. She touched it reverently. “So…your father is a Cave Lord, this cave here?” Gideon’s father had been Thunderhead, a young volcano. This was no stranger.
“Yes. The other Cave Lords have stopped having children; they’re too weakened by blood loss.”
“But your father is still aware?”
Jasper hesitated. “Cave Lords live in slow time. He’s drowsing now, but he spoke to me when I first arrived and brought forth the spring.”
Leah nodded. Another thought occurred to her. “But…there’s no entrance to the cave, how did Qet—I mean, your mother, ever find her way here?”
“One of the other gargoyles, Flint, took her here. Though born an Elect, she believed deeply in the gargoyles’ cause.”
Or like Qeturah, his mother had wanted to have a child with power. Leah didn’t say that part aloud. From the pride and affection on his face, Jasper obviously loved his mother.
“Where is your mother?” She prayed he wouldn’t say she was dead. Two otherselves on the same world created a dangerous dissonance, but if Qeturah’s Stone self was dead, Qeturah would be able to come and go as she pleased on this world.
Jasper’s brows drew down, forming a shelf over his eyes. He punched the stone wall; a crack appeared. “I don’t know. When the rebellion faltered, Flint hid us both here. He said he would return, but his voice fell silent. A few days later, a collared gargoyle and her master caught us. They carried me to the Cavern of Gargoyles and froze me in stasis. They exiled my mother Above. So many years have passed…I must find her.” Jasper clenched his fists.
Leah grimaced. “Actually, it might be better if you didn’t.”
He took a quick stride toward her, expression fierce, fangs showing. “What do you mean?”
“There’s something I didn’t tell you. Your mother’s otherself is Qeturah.” She watched closely for his reaction.
Jasper just frowned. “Who is this woman again?”
“Qeturah was born on the True World but was exiled to Fire—my world—for the crime of killing her Fire otherself. Qeturah is power-mad. She and her master, Malachi, want to shatter the Mirror Worlds and drain them of their magic—steal their magic and use it on the True World. Qeturah believes that all the inhabitants of the Mirror Worlds are only ‘copies’ with no value, and that killing them isn’t a crime.
“She deliberately bore a dragon son so she could use him to become queen of Fire World. When her plan failed and an army killed Gi—the dragon, she took advantage of her son’s death to drain magic from Fire World. Then she killed her Water self and went to that world to shatter it. She tried to kill her otherself’s son. I stopped her, but she’ll keep trying. She’s obsessed. I’ve sworn an oath to stop her.” And save Jasper. And the best way to do that was to keep Jasper far away from his mother.
But Jasper didn’t see it that way. “So this sorceress will try to kill my mother and take over her body, as you have done to Dorotea?”
Leah winced. “I’ve only assumed temporary control of Dorotea’s body. Qeturah will kill your mother and take her place.”
Jasper started to pace again. “Then it’s doubly important that I find my mother and warn her.” His voice grated. “If she isn’t already dead from her years in exile.”
“She’s probably not dead.” Leah could at least give him that.
His gaze flew to hers, and she explained, “If your mother were dead, Qeturah would be able to travel here at will as she can to Water. Instead, she sent Sabra to do her errands here.” Sabra had been one the duke’s daughters fostered with Qeturah. She’d died when Thunderhead erupted.
“That is good to hear. There is still time, then, to find her.”
Oh, no. Misgivings filled Leah. She tried to steer him away from this line of thinking. “Shouldn’t stopping the earthquakes be our priority?”
“Personally, I couldn’t care less if all the humans die.” Anger smoldered in his eyes.
“Even the children?” Leah asked with quiet reproach.
He flinched. “No, you’re right. Dorotea’s sister and the others are innocent.”
Dorotea had a sister? Was she another Jehannah?
“But don’t you see? There’s nothing we can do here, except be caught and re-imprisoned. My mother took part in the rebellion. She may have allies and resources that we lack.”
“You have a point,” she conceded. And Leah didn’t know this world well enough to concoct a plan of her own. Obviously, the Elect—which seemed roughly equivalent to the nobility—and priests needed to be removed from power, the gold mining stopped, and an effort made to save the Goddess’s children, but two people couldn’t do all that alone.
“You may do as you like, but I’m going to find my mother,” Jasper said decisively. From his militant stance, there would be no changing his mind.
For Leah there was no real choice. “I’ll go with you,” she said quickly. The terrible truth was that his was the life she truly wished to preserve. The world was secondary. She knew she shouldn’t feel that way, but she couldn’t help it.
…
Fire World
(look in the mirror)
Dispirited and puffy-eyed, Dorotea tramped back upstairs to the Mirrorhall. Perhaps she could find some way back through the mirror. She had to try, for Marta’s sake.
A shadow in the ice mirror made her lean forward. Dorotea’s heart quickened—the girl had her face—but a moment later, disappointment hit when she saw that the girl was wearing a short-sleeved red top and trousers. This must be another reflection. Dorotea felt dizzy. How many others were there?
Smiling, the ice girl held her hand to the mirror. One lock of her hair was bright pink.
(hey, Leah, I brought you more supplies)
Leah. Was that the name of this body? Hesitantly, Dorotea also pressed her hand to the mirror, but a layer of cold ice separated them.
(you forgot the drop of blood)
As if on cue, her thumb throbbed, and Dorotea saw the red line of a healing cut. She poked at it, and a drop of blood oozed out. When she put her hand back on the mirror, a small hole melted and something bumped her palm. She pulled out a narrow bottle of strangely flexible material instead of glass and several wrapped packages. The hole immediately closed up again.
(I figured you could
use some more water by now,) the ice girl chattered. (and some junk food to cheer you up.)
Dorotea experimentally shook the bottle. There seemed to be liquid inside. “How do I open it?”
(just unscrew the lid.) Her reflection cocked her head to one side. (did you forget—?) Her eyes widened. (oh, crap, you’re not Leah, are you?)
Should she lie? This girl seemed to be helping Leah.
(which otherself are you? Audrey or Dorotea?)
On the other hand, this girl might be able to help her. Dorotea felt as if she were drowning; any straw was worth grasping. “I’m Dorotea.”
(I’m Holly. I’m from Water. so what happened? why are you on Fire World? where’s Leah?)
Fire World. An appropriate name for a hellish place. “The owner of this body pushed me out of my body and took control.”
Holly’s eyes widened with outrage. (again? ooh, that girl makes me so mad. she promised me she wouldn’t do this, that she’d just warn you and Audrey. I suppose you didn’t do what she wanted, and she took over in order to protect Gideon’s otherself, huh?)
“Who is Gideon? What are otherselves?”
Holly rolled her eyes. (if you don’t know who he is, then she didn’t tell you anything. crap. um, let me think how best to do this.)
Hope ignited inside Dorotea. “Can you help me get back into my body?”
(absolutely,) Holly said without hesitation. (Leah had no right to take it over—I mean, unless Gideon’s otherself was in physical danger right then?)
“I don’t know who that is,” Dorotea repeated.
(even if that was the case, she still ought to have given you back control once the danger was past,) Holly said. (okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll find a gold mirror, Call Stone World, and try to talk some sense into Leah. in the meantime, do me a favor and access her memories about Gideon. you can’t really understand what drives Leah unless you know about Gideon.) Holly grimaced. (just remember that what happened to Gideon doesn’t have to happen to your soul mate. Leah and I will help keep him safe.)
Dorotea didn’t understand all of that, but she nodded. “Know your enemies” was always good advice, and the promise of aid was Goddess-sent. “How do I access the memories?”
(easy, you just— ah, hang on. first you should have a drink, eat a little, maybe visit the toilet…? Leah’s memories are pretty intense. they knocked me flat on my back for a couple of hours. oh, and whatever you do, do not wander around outside. it’s not safe. there’s lava and volcanoes erupting everywhere.)
Dorotea wondered what lava and volcanoes were, but ultimately, it didn’t matter. “I have no desire to go out under the burning sun,” she assured her otherself fervently.
Holly blinked. (ah, good. so, anyhow, when you’re ready, try to think about the first time Leah heard of the dragon. then just keep following the memory chains until Gideon dies. clear?)
“I understand.”
(great, then I’m off to bend Leah’s ear. uh, are there many mirrors on Stone?)
“No.” Dorotea shuddered. “Especially not where she—I—was.”
(well, don’t worry, I’ll just keep trying to Call her until she answers. I’m good at being stubborn. oh, and if you want to check in with me, just lay your hand on the ice and think ‘look into the mirror’ and I’ll answer if I can. okay?)
Dorotea wasn’t entirely sure what “okay” meant, but the other girl seemed to be looking for reassurance. “I will.”
Her otherself vanished from the mirror, and Dorotea gratefully removed her hand from the cold surface.
She did as Holly had suggested, eating and drinking. It took her several tries to open the bottled water, which tasted strangely flat but satisfied her raging thirst. The foods were also interesting. She ate a number of round crunchy things that tasted like very dry, salty bread. They made her more thirsty.
The brown rectangular object she examined more dubiously. Some of it rubbed off on her fingers. She sniffed it, then cautiously licked. It tasted intensely sweet; she savored every nibble. To her disappointment, it was the only package of its kind.
Then there was no more putting the moment off. She lay down on the mattress and tried to think of the first time Leah had heard of the dragon.
Two men-at-arms threw her, trembling, at the duke’s feet…
And then Leah’s memories grabbed her and carried her off in a horrible, inexorable river current, each memory bleeding into the next. Dorotea lost herself beneath the raging waters. Drowning, she became Leah, complete with all Leah’s knowledge of Fire World. She relived…everything.
How the dragon had angered the Volcano Lord of her valley and threatened their people, how only Qeturah had been able to drive it off, how the duke had tricked Qeturah by sending Leah, his byblow, to foster with her in place of his legitimate daughter. Living in Qeturah’s tower and spying on her. Hiding behind the four-part mirror and discovering the boy in the Aerie.
On a bed slept a young man with black hair. He had strong cheekbones and a well-shaped mouth. His lips were cracked, and fever had flushed his cheeks with hectic color.
Falling in love with Gideon only to find out he was cursed to become the dragon night after night. Flying on dragonback…
Frigid air whistled past her face, but the dragon’s tremendous heat kept her warm. A tracery of orange outlined its immense black wings as if its veins ran with magma. The dragon banked its wings, turning left, and she smiled in delight.
Entering Holly’s world, Water, in an attempt to break the curse, only to learn that Qeturah had deceived her… Armies marching on Thunderhead’s valley. Trying to escape with the dragon but being pulled back by Qeturah’s talisman.
Then, worst of all, like a knife through her heart, the memory of the death of the dragon, of Gideon.
The dragon’s eyes opened, but a mist dulled their color. He sighed, his eyes closing again. He’d only clung to life this long because he’d been waiting for her.
[Soul mate.]
He breathed his last.
Grief fell like a hammer blow. On the mattress, Dorotea curled up in a ball, weeping, but still the memories swept her on: the vengeance of Thunderhead and the eruptions of his fellow Volcano Lords. Qeturah’s exultation at the shattering of Fire World. Her plan to do it again, by killing her otherselves’ sons, and how she’d almost succeeded on Water World.
Dorotea opened puffy eyes and slowly sat up. One thing was crystal clear: Qeturah had to be stopped.
Chapter Twelve
The Children’s Ball—
In Which Everything Goes Horribly Wrong
Air World
The royal palace perched on the pinnacle of Donlon like a glittering ornament. It had three turrets, large domed gardens, smoked-glass walls, and a multitude of balconies open to the sky. The Siparese zipship spoiled the picture, bobbing at the end of its mooring rope like a child’s inflated bladder.
Audrey had plenty of time to admire the palace because it was ages before their pedal car had its turn around the crescent. Jem handed down Audrey and Lady Bethany, then pedaled away. Audrey felt horridly conscious of their lack of escort.
Her father had not joined them for their traditional light supper of crepes at Guillarme’s or when they returned to the townhouse to change for the ball. Her mother affected not to notice his absence, but Audrey knew she’d taken special pains with her appearance.
Lady Bethany looked elegant in a blue ball gown with a white underskirt and an ermine wrap. Diamonds dripped from her neck and ears. “You look beautiful,” Audrey told her, since her father wasn’t there to say it.
Audrey didn’t understand him. Grady’s mother had a pretty face, but she was as plump and round as a dumpling.
Her mother hugged her. “You look very nice, too.” For once, she refrained from lamenting Audrey’s short hair.
“Thank you.” Audrey rather liked her dress. It was teal green and had short, puffy sleeves, a square neckline, and a deep blue underskirt.
> In the large vestibule, their paths diverged. Lady Bethany continued up the green-carpeted steps between the pillars into the ballroom, where strains of stately music could be heard. Audrey went left through the glass doors leading to the royal gardens for the Children’s Ball.
A rush of humid air greeted her, fragrant with the smell of green, growing things. Fanciful blue glass lights in the shape of dripping icicles decorated the bushes. This year’s theme appeared to be winter.
Snowflakes floated down from a spinning device overhead—only to promptly melt on the warm ground.
Donlon seldom had more than one cold snap a year because the Grand Current kept them warm despite their mountain altitude. Audrey had played in true snow twice. She remembered its crystalline coldness, soon followed by slushy stickiness. Prince Hans, who probably had no memory of snow, was obviously enchanted. He raced around catching “snowflakes” on his tongue.
Most of the older girls watched with amusement, but Audrey tipped her head back and sampled several. The shaved ice melted on her tongue.
Audrey greeted Katie Henderson, but the rest of her circle had already graduated to the adults’ ball. She wished the little prince many happy returns of the day but didn’t join in the game of blind man’s bluff. Instead, she meandered through the gardens. The Phantom had said he’d bring her the button tonight. If he did, she wanted to have privacy.
At the parade, she hadn’t had an opportunity to pass on Leah’s dire warnings about Qeturah’s plans to shatter Air World.
She didn’t truly believe The Phantom was her soul mate, but she couldn’t deny her pulse fluttered at the thought of talking to him again. He made Franklin’s or even Piers’s company seem…tame.
It wasn’t that she was fool enough to fall in love, she argued to herself. Merely that The Phantom represented intrigue and excitement. Bad enough that she’d never be allowed to pilot an airship, but in a year, she’d be formally presented at court and become a young lady. Soon after, she’d be expected to marry and have children of her own. Was it so wrong to want a little adventure first?
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