by L. M. Fry
Julia left Valera to check on Gideon, and she ran back to Eli. He leaned against the boulder, holding his head. She knelt down beside him. He smirked.
“Don’t worry about me. The boulder broke my fall.”
“Very funny,” she grumbled.
“Are you okay?”
Her arm stung from where the specter had touched her. Her chest ached from holding her breath inside the blob, and her skin felt as if she had the worst sunburn of her life. She wasn’t okay. She pulled her shirt off her shoulder. Three blackish wounds slashed across her arm. Eli tore the sleeve of his shirt and wrapped her arm up. Then, he took her chin in his hands and kissed her.
Chapter Seventeen
Theo
Theo bent over Victor, crying. The wound on his neck still bled. Blood bubbled from between her fingers. Nessie ran to help, wrapping Victor’s neck in rags. Julia limped over with Eli.
“Is he… dead?” Julia muttered.
Theo looked up through blurry eyes. “No, but this is bad.”
“We need to get help,” Valera wailed. “We need to contact the Elders.”
A bruised Gideon held Valera against his chest. Julia picked up the scepter and held it out to Theo.
“You can help him. Remember in Pacifica, you can use Maera’s staff to heal him,” Julia urged.
Julia placed the scepter in her hands, but Theo shook her head. Theo couldn’t do it. Pacifica was a fluke. She didn’t know what she was doing.
“What if I hurt him?”
“Just try.”
“I… I can’t,” Theo wept. “I might kill him.”
Julia sighed, “Then try on me first. I have faith in you.”
Theo looked at Julia as if she were crazy. She couldn’t be serious. Eli knelt beside Julia and shook his head.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Julia smiled at him and gently pushed him away. “It’s okay. I know she can do this.”
Julia removed her bandages and revealed three deep, blackened cuts around her arm. Even though Julia was acting strong, Theo saw her wince, and knew she had to help. Her hands shook. Theo touched the scepter to Julia’s arm and poured aether through it. Julia flinched.
Through gritted teeth, she urged Theo on. “You can do this.”
The gem on the scepter glowed with a soft light. Julia went rigid and sucked in a breath as the light passed into her wounds. Theo watched as the skin stitched itself back together, and soon, Julia was sighing in relief.
“I did it!” Theo smiled behind her tears.
She crawled over to Victor and placed the staff on his neck. His body twitched. His wounds were deeper, but they had stopped bleeding. The gash knit together, but he didn’t wake. Theo slumped over him.
“Victor, wake up. Please.” Theo cried.
Nessie felt Victor’s pulse and took a deep breath. “He’s breathing. He lost a lot of blood, but he’s alive.”
Theo sat on the rocks. Exhaustion ripped her in half. Theo looked at the archway. It had to lead somewhere. They were so close. Then, she looked at her friends. Victor was still hurt. Valera couldn’t stop crying. Julia, although better, looked like she was about to pass out. Battered and fearful, they couldn’t go on. Perhaps, they should have heeded the warnings.
Since the sea monster had destroyed the Blowfish, they had no way of getting off the island. Theo searched Victor’s pockets for his telecom and found it in several pieces. She tried to piece it back together and failed miserably. Gideon also tried, but the device was damaged beyond repair.
“There has to be something we can do,” Theo groaned.
“If we concentrate, we may be able to send Parmelia a message,” Julia suggested.
Valera sighed, “We’re too far away. It won’t work.”
“Well, it’s worth a try. Link arms, and we’ll combine our strength,” Julia held her hand out.
Theo figured it couldn’t hurt, although she doubted linking or combining would make any difference. They weren’t satellite dishes. She took Julia’s hand, and Valera took hers. Theo focused on sending a message to Parmelia.
Parmelia, if you can hear us, we need your help. Please, come, she chanted.
Julia and Valera did the same.
Julia added an image of their location on a map. Theo projected the same image in her thoughts. They continued trying until they couldn’t hold aether any longer. They waited for a reply, but got none.
“It was worth a try,” Julia shrugged.
Theo rubbed her eyes. Ever since coming to the island, Danu’s voice had quieted. Theo would do anything to get a little sleep, but she feared that the nightmares would still be there. Footsteps raced over the rocks behind her. Thinking it was another specter, Theo pulled in aether and spun around. Dr. Lawless stopped in his tracks. His eyes were swollen and red. A purple, fist-sized bruise covered half his jaw, and dried blood crusted on his lips. His hair stuck out everywhere. He fell on his knees and prostrated himself in front of the archway.
“You’ve done it! Oh, precious Danu. We’re coming. Open it! Open it now!” He raved and laughed.
Theo shook her head at the man. He was out of his mind. Standing, he grabbed Theo’s shoulders, digging his nails into her skin.
“Release her… release Danu…” He shook her.
Pain and frustration took hold of her, and she zapped his hands off her. He screeched and let go, but his glare became demonic. She backed away from him.
“We’re leaving this cursed place. We should never have come,” she yelled.
“NO, you can’t do that!” Dr. Lawless moved toward her again.
Theo formed sparks in her hands, daring him to touch her. He retreated.
“Look around, Lawless. Victor’s hurt. We’re exhausted. We’ve already called for help,” she lied. She threw her hands in the air and turned to the others. “Why do you think there are so many booby-traps? It doesn’t make sense. First, the sea monster, then the mist? What next? Face it, Lawless, we’re not supposed to open the tomb. There has to be a reason the sister’s put so many wards to keep people out of the tomb.”
Julia and Valera groaned their agreement, but Lawless wouldn’t relent. He picked up a stone and held it up like a weapon. He backed up to the entrance of the archway. Glowering at all of them, he hissed like one of the blue snakes.
“You’re just like the others! You are jealous of Danu’s power. You want it all for yourselves. You don’t deserve her!” He cackled, “But I know what to do… I know…”
The man whipped something out of his pocket. He held the Trinity Key above his head. Surprised, Theo searched her pockets.
“How did you get that?”
Theo moved to take it from him, but he stepped inside the arch. Julia ran at him, throwing shards of ice. Valera had her fireballs in hand, but he was too quick. He laughed like a maniac, slamming the key into the stone. The three girls reached him at the same time, grabbing his arm. They pulled on him, trying to remove the key from the arch. But it was too late, the key activated and melded with the stone. With a sudden jerk, Theo felt her muscles clench. Aether rushed through her, even though she attempted to release it.
“I can’t stop,” Julia yelled.
Theo felt the aether flow from the three of them, through Lawless, and into the key. Theo couldn’t let go. Dr. Lawless trembled as the power flooded his system. His eyes rolled into the back of his sockets. The Trinity Key drained them all until the archway shimmered like a mirror. Then the key freed them, and they fell to the ground. Still twitching, Lawless clawed his way through the portal. Part of Theo wanted to remove the key and lock him inside, but Julia growled and leapt into the opening after Lawless. Theo had no choice but to follow Julia inside.
Theo stepped into a room made of glass. From within the tomb, she could see the outside world and a sparkling white energy that surrounded everything. Aether. A blue light floated around the inside of the burial chamber radiating from a crystal block in the center of the room.
“Get Lawless and let’s get out of here,” Theo whispered to Julia. “I don’t think we should be in here.”
The translucent white crystal encased the body of a beautiful woman. She appeared dead, but at the same time, the whole block seemed to breathe.
“It’s pure, solidified aether.”
Valera stepped up behind Theo, startling her. She gasped. “Is that her?”
“Valera, we need to get out of here. I have a bad feeling…”
Dr. Lawless reached out and touched the crystal. The second his skin connected with the smooth surface, his fingers sizzled and blistered. He screamed. The blistering spread across his hand, smoldering and shriveling. Theo grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him away before the rest of him burned. He held his scorched stub and whimpered.
“Let’s go—
Theo’s voice was cut short. A voice boomed inside her mind, calling to her… begging her.
Touch the aether, Maera. Release me…
“No… I can’t… This isn’t right,” Theo stammered.
The body inside the crystal turned to look at her. The eyes drew her in. An invisible tether reeled her in, and she moved closer to the block. The eyes inside bored through her. She had to touch the aether. The crystal glowed brighter and brighter. Her hand reached out in front of her. Just one more step, and she would be free.
Maera… come to me, daughter…
“Theo?”
Someone shouted her name from outside, but outside didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. Theo had to feel the crystal under her fingers. She had to touch it. She longed for the sweet sensation that filled her when she held aether.
The light radiating off the crystal blinded her. Theo felt as if she were on a merry-go-round, spinning out of control. Exhilaration overtook her, and then it contorted into something dark. A wisp of aether left her hand, soaking into the block.
More… give me more… touch the aether…
Theo’s senses returned. She tried to lower hand. She tried to keep away from crystal, but her body wasn’t her own. Danu ripped aether from her. Her heart raced. Beads of sweat rippled down her body. She couldn’t breathe.
Chapter Eighteen
Valera
Valera’s vitality drained out of her, and she couldn’t stop it. She didn’t know if she would survive her skin connecting with the block. The crystal hummed and vibrated as the threads of energy filtered out of her hands. Her knees buckled.
Two strong hands grabbed her around the waist and dragged her back. She felt a sudden sense of loss, but also relief. Fresh air and sunlight hit her face. Gideon held her in his arms on rocky ground. He was speaking to her. Her ears rang so loud that she couldn’t hear him.
“Valera, come back to me.” He tapped her cheek.
Her senses returned in a rush of pain and chaos. The voices deafened her. Joe dragged Theo out of the archway. Julia shook in Eli’s arms. Dr. Lawless screamed profanities at Nessie and Rusty, who held him back from the portal. The shimmering light between the arch disappeared. No light, no sound, no movement.
“I’m sorry, Gideon. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened,” Valera wept.
Gideon rocked her. “I know. Don’t worry, we pulled you out in time… I think.”
Valera felt something pass over her leg. The blue snakes had returned, swarming around the archway. She shuddered. Their hissing grew louder and louder.
“We need to get the girls away from here,” Rusty shouted.
Gideon nodded. As he helped Valera stand, she saw a flash of light from the arch. No one seemed to notice. She pulled away from Gideon. Dr. Lawless shrieked with glee, pushing over Rusty and Nessie. He ran to the arch, rubbing against it as if he were one of the snakes.
“No… please, no,” Valera muttered.
The portal flickered. Then, an ear-piercing, high-pitched hum blared in Valera’s mind. She screamed and grabbed her head. She heard Theo and Julia scream as well. The others looked at the girls with furrowed brows. Couldn’t they hear it? Valera writhed on the ground. The earth rose and fell beneath them, knocking them off their feet. Gideon scrambled to his feet and faced the doorway. The chime stopped inside Valera’s head. The portal opened, and fragments of solidified aether exploded from the rippling mirror.
A woman emerged from the tomb. Her flowing green dress spilled around her like puddles of water. Her bare feet didn’t touch the ground. Fresh green grass sprouted with each step, but shriveled and died just as quickly. Her face outshone the sun, and her amber eyes cut sharper than razors. Her long silken brown hair blew in a non-existent wind.
The blue snakes slithered around her ankles. She picked one up and kissed its head. It wrapped itself around her arm.
“The Azure Serpents, how long you’ve awaited my return. Rise again, my faithful guardians,” she sang.
The snakes at her feet writhed beneath her. Their bodies formed limbs and grew. Their scales transformed into leathery skin. The serpents stood on two feet as men. Blue tattoos covered their bodies. Disheveled hair and beards covered their faces.
“It’s true,” Julia muttered. “The ancient stories of the Order are true.”
“Ealga, why do you appear surprised to see your brothers-in-arms?”
Danu moved to touch Julia’s cheek, but Eli stepped in front of her. Danu tilted her head and smiled. Her pack of human-serpents growled and hissed behind her. Her finger brushed across Eli’s jaw.
“This brave, stupid boy moves to protect you from me?”
Danu’s face contorted into a scowl. With a wave of her hand, Eli fell to the ground. Danu’s eyes passed over the others, and one by one they dropped. Nessie, Rusty, Gideon, and Joe crumpled like broken dolls. Only the trinity remained conscious. Valera crawled over to Gideon and touched his neck. His pulse beat strong under her fingers. Danu laughed.
“My beautiful daughters, fear not. The mortals merely sleep. I desire a word alone with you.” Her voice was like music, however her perfect downturned lips defied her tranquil tone.
Danu was awake, and she wasn’t happy.
Chapter Nineteen
Julia
Julia moved closer to Valera and Theo with her hand on the hilt of Ealga’s sword. This wasn’t how she imagined facing Danu. She’d grown up listening to the legends of the Order. The academy prided themselves on their lineage to Danu’s guard, but the azure serpents were metaphorical – or so she thought. Aetherians praised Danu as a benevolent, loving goddess, but the creature in front of her felt twisted and wrong.
As Danu approached them, Julia’s grip grew tighter. Theo’s knuckles turned white around the scepter, and Valera held aether. Danu’s pointy-nailed fingers rose to touch her, and Julia lifted the sword. The strange serpent-men inched forward, but Danu held her arm in the air, and they calmed and backed away. The goddess laughed. With a simple swipe of her hands, the weapons were thrown to the side.
“Those toys are not needed, my children. You need not fear me,” Danu chimed.
Holding her arms out wide, she wrapped them around all three girls and kissed each on the forehead. A warm sensation filled Julia. . . a memory flashed through her mind of her own mother cradling her as a baby.
“My Ealga, Maera, and Aeda, I’ve missed you so.” Danu looked down at their faces and frowned. She gripped Julia’s chin between her fingers and stared into her eyes. “No, not Ealga. A daughter long past Ealga.”
She released the girls and looked them up and down. She touched Julia’s hair and the material of her shirt. Her amber eyes flickered over those on the ground.
“How long have I slumbered?”
Julia stammered, “A… a long… time.”
Her answer didn’t seem to please Danu. Julia felt a vibration in the air, and the serpents cowered away. Then, Danu calmed.
She sighed, “What may I call you, daughter of my daughter?”
Julia swallowed the lump in her throat. “I am Julia, descendent of Ealga. This is Theo, descendant of Ma
era, and Valera, descendant of Aeda.”
“Strange names indeed,” Danu mulled and nodded. “So it shall be. You heard my call and came to me, therefore you shall rule at my side. Come, my children.”
In the middle of the sleeping bodies, Julia heard moaning. Danu stepped over the bodies and found Lawless, semi-awake and groaning. Her smile widened.
“Who is this man?”
“A mad man named Lawless,” Julia hissed.
Danu frowned. “I can sense his adoration. Could one so loyal be mad?”
She woke him. He sat up and looked around frantically. When he saw the other unconscious forms on the ground, he grinned. Then, his eyes saw Danu. He bellowed and bowed before her. His stump of a hand reached to caress the hem of her dress. Danu touched his head.
“Rise, loyal servant.”
He stayed on the ground before her. “I cannot, for your beauty paralyzes me.”
“Oh, please,” Julia lashed out. “He’s a dangerous maniac. He nearly killed us.”
Danu spun around and held a sharpened fingernail inches from Julia’s nose. Her amber eyes turned black. Julia stumbled back and rubbed her eyes.
Danu sneered through fang-like teeth, “Hear me, child. All who revere me are my wards and shall serve. Those who do not, shall be punished.” Danu turned back to Lawless. “Will you serve?”
Lawless stood and gripped his arm, moaning. “I will serve you for all eternity, my goddess.”
She looked at his blackened hand. “Your sacrifice will be honored. You shall stand at the head of my devotees.”