by Jessica Cage
“What?” Ardyn snapped into focus. It was the first thing she’d said that he found useful.
“We never ended it.” She paused, allowing her breathing to level out before continuing, “I think we just disrupted it. I believe it’s still working. Everyone involved in that spell is still being affected.”
“That doesn’t explain Rosie.” Bruto grunted. “She wasn’t put under any spell, and yet she has changed.”
“Or Zaria.” They all looked at her as if needing verification when Ardyn spoke her name. “She isn’t ill.”
She shrugged. “I feel fine.”
“Rosie is sick?” Praia asked. “No one told me that.”
“Something like that,” Jinn responded. He didn’t really know what to classify her as. Everyone else had weakened, and yet Rosie seemed stronger than ever.
“Maybe it transferred to Rosie. Perhaps that is why she is affected?” Nitara offered. “She wasn’t a part of the spell, but clearly there is something wrong and something tells me that this is all connected. We didn’t understand the magic, maybe interrupting it changed the way it worked.”
“That would make sense.” Praia shifted through some papers in front of her. “The spell required an anchor. Akasha died. Could Rosie have taken her place?”
“How the hell do we fix this?” Bruto looked as though he would break something. “There is no way in hell I’m going to let that asshole use Rosie as some platform to get back here.”
“I think we need to go back to the Peak. There has to be some type of evidence available there.” Praia tried to stand, but fell back into her seat.
“We? I’m sorry but you don’t look up to traveling.” Jinn shook his head, denying her request to join them. “You need to stay where you are and rest.”
“I’m fine. A little tired, but I can handle myself.” Her halfhearted attempt to cover her disappointment failed to convince any of them.
“We will go there first and scout out the place. I’ll send you whatever we find. I’m not comfortable with you going there like that. If there is something, who is to say that it won’t affect you and make things worse for you than they already are?” Jinn took on that overbearing tone that made Praia roll her eyes because she knew it meant that she wouldn’t be getting her way.
“Fine, you’re right. At least hurry it up.” She waved her hand in defeat. “I’ll just sit here, by myself, researching and wasting away.” Praia attempted to use the guilt trip, but she knew it would never work. If anything, it would only make him more eager to deny her what she wanted.
“Of course.” Jinn smiled before closing the portal.
“Look, we just came from there. You may want to brace yourself for what you’re about to see. It’s not pretty,” Ardyn told them. “The entire area has been devastated, and the people there aren’t exactly our fans after how we left things.”
“How bad is it?” Nitara asked.
“Let’s just say, you may want to keep your feet off the ground. The Scorched Lands were a better place to be.”
“Fuck, okay. Let’s go.” Jinn shot Bruto a look to be sure he was good for the trip, and when he nodded in return, they left.
“You weren’t exaggerating when you said how bad this place was.” Jinn and the others hovered above the desecrated lands that were once lush with greenery and thriving with life. Everywhere they looked, as far as the eye could see, was darkness, ash, and death. Something sinister was devouring the place from within. Parts of the ground had begun to sink and crack, leaving fissures in the surface that leaked a toxic stench.
“Unfortunately, no I was not.” Ardyn waved his hand in front of his face in hopes of alleviating the smell. “Believe it or not, in the short time we’ve been away, it’s gotten worse.”
“I don’t understand. I thought Magua and his men wrapped this area up. All reports said it was okay.” Bruto scoured the area just like the others. “This place was nothing like this when we left it.”
“That was before we left. Apparently, they came back after we had gone in hopes to get the area ready for the ones who were evacuated to return. That is when all hell broke loose here. It started with Bukai. Something happened near the altar and he snapped. Lost hold of himself, and from the description Magua gave, I would say he was the first to go feral, but we can’t confirm that. Once they subdued him, the polars took off with his body. Since then, he’s been kept in hiding within their territory. No one in or out to see him.”
“And you said this is expanding?” Nitara asked as she waved her hand in front of her, which covered her face in a band of woven lilacs to stop herself from gagging at the smell. She had been unusually nauseous, and the smell of death wasn’t helping that feeling ease up. Zaria smiled and did the same before sighing, thankful for the relief from the horrible odor.
“Yes, whatever it is, it seems to be carried like a virus.” Zaria had done some quick research while they were at Felidae, and though it gave her a bit more clarity, it proved to be just as troubling. “Shifters who weren’t anywhere near here when that spell was happening have been affected. They’re turning on their own kind, losing themselves entirely. The problem is, we can’t tell if it’s airborne or if it’s transmitted through bite. For that reason, the contaminated have been isolated far from the others. Though Ryesen is in close contact with members of her pack, and for now it doesn’t look like anyone else has been affected.”
“How immediately is this happening?” Jinn questioned. “The change, how quickly does it take over them?”
“Takes place in stages. Some progress faster than others. The healers in the wolf territory think it depends on how strong the bond is between human and animal. Weaker bonds allow for a faster change,” Zaria recounted what she learned while with the wolf healers.
“Do we know how many have been affected?” He shot off another question, and this time Ardyn provided the details.
“No, there is so much secrecy between the regions. There is a log, but we cannot rely on the reports being accurate when certain communities refuse to cooperate. We have no idea if anything is going on in the bear territories. The birds have reported nothing. We know for a fact wolves and felines, though not how many throughout the different subregions for the felines. Reports show that there are now three wolves, Ryesen being the worst case now. The others were with her on the trip. They have been acting oddly but haven’t turned. Kamshi has them been isolated as a precautionary measure.”
“Damn, I’m so sorry.” Bruto placed his hand on Ardyn’s shoulder. He knew the level of guilt the young djinn carried with him.
“We need to figure this shit out. Nothing else matters right now. I don’t want this to continue to spread. Shifter territory is already weakened without the felines having chosen a leader yet. Anything else could warrant attacks from the outside.”
“Do you think that will happen?” Nitara asked. “I didn’t know that there were any immediate threats to the shifters from the outside world.”
“You remember what Akasha said about the land’s natural resources?” Ardyn responded. “Think about how much is here in this land, untapped treasures that others, especially those who are magically inclined, can use to their benefit. There are so many places here that have gone unexplored, they are ripe with possibilities. I know for a fact that an attack is possible. Just for the opportunity of getting their hands on something valuable. I keep telling people we are no better than the humans we evolved from.”
“What do we do now?” Zaria asked. “We have to protect these people. We have to protect the pack.” She laced her fingers into Ardyn’s. She would be by his side; she would fight his fight. They were in this together.
Ardyn growled just low enough for her to hear, the appreciation and love of his wolf. In return, her palm warmed, soothing him and the beast within.
“We need to get Rosie.” Jinn turned to Bruto. “I know you’re against this, but it has to be done. We don’t have time to find another way. There is way
too much at risk here and too many lives on the line.”
“Yeah, whatever. Do what you must,” Bruto conceded. There wasn’t much else he could say. He was still against bringing back Genesis, but to what end? If they didn’t do it, and countless lives were lost just to save his pride, he would never be able to live with himself.
“Do you even know how to summon this guy?” Ardyn’s mind was already at work trying to build a strategy to help them.
“Yes, but we’re going to need help to do it.” Jinn took one last look at the land beneath them before he and the others vanished. He hoped that they could make it back in time.
“Back again so soon?” Sybella smiled as she entered the room. “What can I do for you this time?”
“I need your help with something that I know you aren’t going to want to do.” Jinn stood in the room alone. The others had gone to prepare for the summoning. “I also know that you know exactly why I’m here but you’re content with making me go through the song and dance of asking anyway.”
“Well, if you know so much, why didn’t you come prepared?” She looked down at his boot-covered feet. “Those don’t look like dancing shoes to me.”
“I need your help, to reach into another realm and bring back a demon, a true djinn.” The grin that stretched across his face was sinister and meant only for effect of the moment.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Jinn?” Sybella rolled her eyes. “Wipe that stupid expression off your face.”
He did as she asked. “Look, I know this is a difficult thing to ask of you, but if I had another option I wouldn’t be here. We were trying to find another way, but time is ticking, and it seems there are a lot more lives at stake than just Rosie. If it were just her, we would take more time in trying to figure out a way around this.”
“Difficult,” she guffawed. “He calls this thing of ripping a demon across realms difficult! Talk about a damn understatement!”
“You saw this in your vision, you knew I would need your help.” Jinn threw the fact in her face. “That is why I’m here, you told us this is what we would need to do.”
“I figured you would find another way, or hell, find another seer. You know, someone who is dumb enough to go peeking in on demonic realms! Otherwise known as not Sybella.”
“If you know someone, please point me in their direction.” When that got him another exasperated eye roll, he continued, “Look, Rosie is messed up, and the shifter territory is under attack by the spell Akasha started. We didn’t finish it and we can’t unless we have Rosie on our side. They are also all at risk as long as they are without a solid leader. We need to get this shit in order. It’s our fault that this is happening. If we had taken the time in the first place to make sure we handled things the right way, none of this would be happening.”
“You’re going to need a lot more than Rosie for what you’re trying to do.” The short, spunky woman sighed defeatedly. She would give in, of course she would. That is what she always did when it came to Jinn. It didn’t help that more often than not, he played on her moral heart strings.
“You’re right. And right now, we’re going to need your help.”
“Dammit, Jinn, why can’t you ever come with good news, or pastries?” Pulling her hair up out of her face, she pinned it in what she referred to as her battle bun. “Hell, even if it’s bad news, bring me some damn pastries! Buttery croissants preferred!”
“I promise the next time I’ll bring cake and one hundred croissants.” Jinn laughed because they both knew that there would definitely be a next time.
“Double chocolate with whipped cream and strawberries.” She moved toward the door but paused before opening it. “Those croissants better be buttery!”
“You got it.”
“Let’s go summon your demon.” She groaned. “I know I’m going to regret this.”
“This is the best place you could think of for us to do this?” Sybella rubbed her hands against her arms to warm herself. Even beneath the layers of fabric of the three sweaters and the oversized coat that wrapped her small frame, the cold ripped through her. She was one of a tropical nature, which was why her quarters in the fairy city were kept at a balmy 78 degrees at all times. Jinn had taken her to her own version of hell—to the ice cap that was once Bruto’s hideaway from the world. Before they’d left he actually told her to watch out for polar bears!
“It’s isolated,” he shrugged, “and if things go wrong there is less chance for casualties and better chance for containment.”
“Right, smart.” She tapped the side of her head. “Still, I’m sure there was somewhere more tropical where we could have achieved the same thing.”
“It’s warmer inside, I promise.” Jinn lifted his hand to the wall of ice that was in fact a hidden door able to be unlocked only by the magic of a djinn. It shimmered and then disappeared, opening to a long, wide hall. They could hear the echoes of music. “Sounds like Bruto has made himself comfortable.”
“Opera?” Sybella seemed shocked by the sound of the high notes that reached her ears.
“He’s a weird and yet complex guy.” Jinn laughed as they entered the hall and the wall appeared behind them, locking out the world and the cold air that came with it.
“I can’t believe you stayed here, by yourself, for so long,” Zaria spoke to Bruto. “I would have gone insane.”
“Oh, I didn’t mind the solitude. Hell, with all that’s happened since I left, this place is looking like paradise,” he joked. “Actually, I found plenty of ways to entertain myself, time just flew by. It really wasn’t that bad at all being here alone, away from the drama of the world.”
“You would volunteer to stay here again?” Jinn asked as he entered the space with Sybella by his side. “I mean, we could definitely make the arrangements.”
“And escape this messed up new world order? In a heartbeat!” Bruto boasted. “Hand me a drink and leave me be!”
“On second thought, that might be too easy of an out for you. Besides, what would we do without you?” Jinn teased him and inspected the set up the group had put together. He’d given them specific instructions before leaving them with the task of preparing for Sybella’s arrival. “Looks like you guys made a lot of progress here.”
“Yeah, we’re nearly ready, just a few more minor adjustments.” Ardyn was tinkering with something in the corner of the massive space. He hadn’t just followed Jinn’s orders, but he made some technological adjustments to the design of the altar they would use to reach Genesis. “You know, conjuring this amount of brimstone wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to do.”
“Oh, I know. Why do you think I asked you all to do it?” Jinn laughed as he crossed the massive hall to where Ardyn was squatting in the corner. “What’s all this?”
“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to put some monitoring in place. Opening a new realm is bound to have some effect on the electromagnetic forces. This may help us keep tabs on everything that is happening while we work the spell.” It was Ardyn’s way of feeling like they had some control in a matter that was very much not within their control. It would also get him some fun data to work with when they were done.
“That’s actually a pretty good idea.” Jinn rubbed his chin. “How exactly is this controlled?”
As Ardyn explained the workings of his machine, complete with handsfree tablet that would react on command of his thoughts, the women swarmed Sybella who had been abandoned by the doorway.
“Sybella, thank you for coming.” Nitara welcomed her with a hug, which was quickly followed by one from Zaria. Sybella happily accepted both embraces. “I was afraid you’d deny Jinn after all we’ve asked of you lately.”
“As if I had any other option. Trust me, I would have avoided it if I could.” She sighed. “But I felt this insane urge to try to save the world and all. You know how it is.”
Nitara smiled. “Right, it is our continued plight.”
“Are you okay? You look a little under the weather.” S
ybella raised a brow.
“Yes, I’m just tired. It’s been a whirlwind since I was freed from Tyrellis, and I don’t think I’ve ever fully recovered or become adjusted. I’m sure when I can finally get some rest, I’ll be okay.”
“Good. Though I doubt it will happen anytime soon, I hope you get the rest you need. We all could use a good spa day! For now, it looks like you all have everything in place.” Sybella eyed the set up that was created in the heart of the room where a grand table once sat. There, they had fashioned a dark altar, one that would give passage to the darkest reaches of existence.
The altar was constructed of brimstone, ash, and the petals of the Black Magic flower. The darkest flower known to man and a rarity in the new world. They couldn’t conjure the damn things, they had to be real, fresh, and plucked from the earth. Surrounding that were unlit candles, one for each of them. “I gotta say, I was hoping you weren’t going to be able to find those damn flowers.”
“It wasn’t easy.” Zaria shook her head. “I damn near broke my neck trying to get into that hidden little world. It’s crazy how much there is out there to explore, how many resources go untapped.”
“Hell, I hope it stays that way. We don’t want to do to this world what the humans before us did,” Sybella commented.
“So how long until we get this over with?” Bruto interrupted their conversation.
“As it seems the altar is nearly done, I’ll just need a few moments to prepare myself for this. Is there anywhere I can have some privacy?” Sybella asked gingerly. She realized how difficult this was for Bruto, she’d seen it in her visions. She knew that what he feared would happen, was exactly what they were headed for.
“Yeah, let me show you the way.” Bruto ushered Sybella away from them to the far corner of the room where a door sat. Just beyond that was what he used as a bedroom. Massive and fitting for him. He closed the door behind her and returned to the others.