by L. M. Fry
“Traitors!” Someone screamed.
Without time to waste, the girls ran for the exit. The workers turned on them and tried to stop them. Julia blasted the room with ice, pushing past outstretched hands. Theo shrieked when someone grabbed a fistful of her hair. Julia saw sparks light up the room and heard someone cry out. The smell of burnt flesh hit Julia in the face and made her gag. Joe and Falen knocked bodies to the ground and ploughed through the crowds. They forced their way to the exit only to find themselves confronted with Eli, Victor, and Gideon. The boys stood in their path along with an army behind them.
“Danu demands your surrender,” Eli shouted.
Julia stepped forward, “Please, Eli, don’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”
His eyes glazed over. Her words couldn’t penetrate Danu’s control over him. Eli pulled a pistol from behind him and aimed it at Julia’s chest.
“Danu demands your surrender,” he shouted again.
“Please, Eli, stop.”
He pulled the trigger and a shot tore through the air. A streak of lightning shot out in front of Julia and exploded the bullet inches from her body. Before he could get another shot, Julia formed a wall of ice. A mob appeared behind them. They were surrounded. Julia looked at Theo and Valera. They put the aether stone rings on their fingers.
“Together,” Julia hissed.
Theo blasted the wall of ice. Chunks flew out at the crowd in front of them. The power behind the blast knocked most of them to the ground. Valera hit people with fireballs. More people ran over the fallen. Julia saw Eli’s unconscious body covered in blood. She wanted to stop and help him, but Falen urged her forward.
Julia made her way to the industrial district – the only part of the city still in ruins. The bomb-mangled door to the old graveyard was close. Danu’s people recovered quickly. They gained ground. Julia felt aether being yanked away from her. Danu stood on top of a building. The ground shook beneath Julia’s feet, and a glimmer filled the air. The walls of Subterria crumbled in front of them. Julia drew on the aether stone and kept the falling rocks away with an ice tunnel. She reached the opening and waited for the others to pass. She collapsed the tunnel, and the cave-in of rocks blocked the exit. And halted Danu’s pursuit.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Valera
Valera came to the end of the skull-laden catacombs. Light shone in from the crypt above them, but the exit was blocked by the broken door. Falen gave her a boost through a small gap. There was no way Joe or Falen would fit through.
“Back up. I’ll clear the block,” she shouted.
She grabbed a corner of the metal plate and heated it up. The steel glowed red hot and became pliable. With a tug, she bent the door out of the way. Far below, she could hear Danu’s outburst in the form of explosions. A guilt-ridden worry crept into her thoughts. She’d left Gideon, Victor, and her mother behind. She knew the cost of Danu’s anger and couldn’t imagine what the sorceress might do to her family. The only way to save them now was to stop her.
The serene landscape around her betrayed the torrential storm that she’d just escaped. They only had a short time before Danu would surface with her army. Running across the pastoral fields of cattle, they made it to the abandoned village on the island. The humans had evacuated long before Danu’s awakening. The ground was littered with the remains of the refugee camp for Subterrians, who were now Danu’s slaves.
Valera entered a tiny shop, which used to house the liaison between Subterria and the rest of Aether. They rummaged for something to eat and something else to wear, since the old rags couldn’t protect them from the harsh climate of the island. In the back of the shop, Theo found three old oversized flannel jackets. Valera slipped into one, then searched for the telecommunication device. An old rotary phone sat on a desk. She picked up the receiver, hoping for a dial tone and found silence.
“It’s dead.”
“The power’s down all over,” Theo said. “I think I can help.”
Theo stepped outside. A bright flash of purple blinded Valera. Seconds later, the lights flickered on and the buzz of electricity filled the store. Valera picked up the receiver and heard the glorious beep. She dialed Nessie’s telecom and waited.
“This is Captain Vanessa of the AV Cornelius.” Nessie’s booming voice sounded like heaven.
“Aunt Nessie, it’s Valera. It’s time.” Valera cried. “Please hurry.”
“Hang in there, kiddo. The cavalry is on the way. We came early, and I brought your army.” The line went dead and cut their call short.
Valera dropped the phone. “Nessie’s coming.”
“We should get away from the village. It’s the first place Danu will look,” Theo suggested. “We should make a run for the cliffs to the west.”
A thunderclap erupted in the sky. Valera didn’t know if it was natural phenomenon or Danu’s hissy fit. The downpour that followed turned the road to mud. They slogged through, although the thin coats did little to shield them from the rain and wind. Valera touched aether to surround herself in warmth, but Julia stopped her.
“Don’t. It will give us away. We have to wait for the right moment,” Julia said.
Valera nodded and tucked her blue fingers inside the pockets. Behind the thunder and rain, she heard the song of the waves. The road ended, and they continued over the hillside. The ocean crashed on the rocks below with such force that their mists crested the cliffs.
“How will Nessie see us in this weather?” Valera chattered.
“I’ll try to calm it. Danu did say I had control over the tempests and tides right?” Theo half-laughed.
Valera tried to smile, but her thoughts were on her family and their safety. Danu would use them against her. Danu would use her entire army against them – an army of innocent people trapped by her spell. Julia handed Valera Aeda’s Sextant, and pocketed the Trinity key. With the sextant in her hands, Valera felt a connection to Aeda. The feeling bolstered her nerves. Aeda and her sisters imprisoned Danu once, which meant Theo, Julia, and Valera could do it again. Now, if only it would stop raining. The five of them huddled together. Joe and Falen kept watch for Nessie. The girls kept watch for Danu.
“I see her!” Joe shouted.
A strange, white fog appeared among the black storm clouds. The massive balloons of the Cornelius capped the unnatural formation. Her roaring engines drowned out the rolling waves. Dozens of flying machines flanked the ship. Single inflatables and dirigibles, two engine airplanes and metal-winged ornithopters fought the harsh winds. From the oceans below, two wings erupted from the ocean like a monster. The Manta Ray lead an army of submersibles and boats. The weather fought them back, making it impossible to reach the girls.
Valera, Julia, and Theo held hands and channeled aether. Their rings shone, enhancing their power. Theo raised her hands in the sky and shouted at the tempest. Little by little, the wind subsided and the waves shrunk. Valera sent a pillar of fire into the sky as a beacon to everyone. The Cornelius released two flares in acknowledgement. The girls cheered.
Grappling hooks grabbed the cliffside and men flooded the fields. Ropes lowered people from the skies. Valera recognized many of the mechanically-enhanced men and women from Aetherland Isle village. One ship deposited an army of automatons made in Aetherland’s warehouse. Captain Stoddlemeyer raised a sword, and a swarm of Pacifica City men stormed the island.
Valera saw her aunt’s cropped flaming hair fly down a ladder. She ran to her aunt and held her close.
“How did you get so many?”
“I’ve acquired a lot of favors,” Nessie joked. She pointed at a mob of white robes and Elders. “Looks like the boring brigade is here.”
“How can you joke around?” Valera scolded.
Nessie jabbed Valera in the ribs. “The skies are clearing, the waters are calming, and we’re storming the castle. Life is grand.”
Valera shook her head. Her aunt was a true sky pirate. Parmelia and the Elders approached the girls.
Nessie and Parmelia were the only ones who didn’t look as if the world was ending. Parmelia hugged each of the girls, and shook Nessie’s hand. Captain Stoddlemeyer joined the leaders with his chest puffed, and his brass buttons polished. The always cantankerous Rusty walked alongside him.
“I still say she ain’t nothin’ on me poor Blowfish, may she rest in peace,” Rusty grumbled.
“Pacifica City Naval Fleet at your service.” Captain Stoddlemeyer bowed to the girls and Parmelia.
Nessie slapped him on the back and hooted, “Good to see you, old man!”
He huffed and stammered, “Yes… well… I’m pleased to see you as well, Captain Vanessa.”
Valera detected a hint of a smile on Parmelia’s face. The elder cleared her throat. Someone in the ranks shouted. Everyone froze. Valera looked up and saw Danu rising from the earth like lava from a volcano. Her army of slaves stood behind her.
“I hope you’re ready, girls,” Parmelia whispered.
Valera’s whisper was barely audible. “I’m not.”
Chapter Thirty
Theo
Danu looked like the goddess she believed she was. Her dress flew in the wind as if it were her banner. Her hair was as wild as her pure black eyes. With a deafening roar, she approached. The free Aetherians formed ranks behind the girls.
“Remember that Danu’s people are our brothers and sisters, who are under her spell. Try to save lives, not take them,” Theo shouted to the people behind them.
Theo saw fear in their eyes. They were witnessing Danu’s power for the first time, and it scared them. Only the heartless automatons were unmoved by her display. Theo reached for aether and created her own demonstration. She whirled Maera’s Scepter around her and formed a huge whip of electricity. It crackled and charged the air. The Aetherians cheered.
Parmelia leaned toward the girls. “We need to protect these people from Danu’s summons. Hurry.”
“We’ve only done it twice,” Valera squeaked.
“And on one person at a time,” Theo added.
Parmelia grabbed Theo and Julia’s hand. “We don’t have time for that. You’ll have to do everyone at once.”
“We’ll try,” Julia said.
They took one another’s hands and touched Parmelia. They recited the spell. Theo could feel aether passing from her to Parmelia. Nessie took Parmelia’s hand, and the spell passed to her as well. One by one, people added to the chain. The girls continued to chant the spell and pull on aether. The energy it took drained the girls, but they kept going. Soaking more and more aether through them, they covered the entire army. Sweat beaded Theo’s brow, and her palms dripped. Then, it was done.
Danu’s voice floated on the breeze like a whisper. “Come, my children. Come stand at my side and be rewarded.”
The Aetherians didn’t move. Danu’s face contorted into an angry grimace. A shrill scream flew at them. With a wave of her arm, creatures stirred from the ground. Beetles, spiders, and ants bubbled from the dirt. The insect swarm charged at the Aetherians. Before they reached them, Valera cast a wall of fire. The bugs popped and ruptured like popcorn. From the skies above came birds. They attacked the airships and swooped at the Aetherians.
Two of the smaller aerial vessels crashed into the seas, landing on the boats below. Theo could hear the screams of people trapped on the downed ships. She whipped at the birds with bolts of energy. Feathers rained to the ground. The Aetherians fought the animals off with blades and guns. Julia lifted a hand toward the animals and seemed to fight Danu’s hold over the creatures with her own. Danu’s hold on the animals waned, and they flew off.
“Move forward,” Julia shouted.
Their army marched. Danu’s followers charged. The two armies clashed on the fields. Theo did her best not to kill anyone, but she left a trail of injured and burned people behind her. Shards of ice flew past her head, hitting a man in the legs. He went down in agony. Rats poured from the gaps and crevices to the surface and attacked Danu’s people.
“They’ll help fight Danu’s army,” Julia said behind Theo. “We need to go after the witch.”
Theo nodded and moved through the enemy. A herd of cows stampeded into the line of automatons, sending mechanical parts flying in the air. Even in pieces, the CHAD units fought back.
“Julia, the cows,” Theo yelled.
Julia released them from Danu’s grip. The herd slowed and stopped. The army washed around the tamed animals.
Gunshots rang out around the girls. Bullets whizzed past Theo’s head. The ground shook beneath them, and Danu’s firing squad buckled and dropped their guns. Valera formed cracks in the earth under the weapons, sucking them into the abyss.
Both the Aetherians and Danu’s people fell to the ground. The clash of metal and the screams of people deafened the field. The Aetherians inched forward toward Danu, but the cost was high. Theo stopped to heal people with the scepter.
“There’s no time. We’ll heal them later.”
Julia pulled Theo away. Theo sighed. Julia was right, they had to rid them of Danu’s summoning first. Theo felt a sudden loss of aether. She could feel it flow in Danu’s direction. Julia growled. Valera’s fire dwindled. They halted and looked at each other. Danu lifted the ground beneath her, so she stood above the oncoming army. Theo saw her trying to hold control over her people. The amount of aether it took to keep them under her spell was siphoning too much power.
Her illusion of beauty fell, and the true Danu was revealed. Her skin wrinkled and shriveled. Her body shrunk. The luxurious hair that flowed down her back thinned and turned grey. Soon she’d have to give up or risk losing her vitality as well.
Theo held up her scepter and slammed it on the ground. Aether surged back to her like a tidal wave. Using the staff and ring both, Theo felt more power than she’d ever held on her own. Julia held up Ealga’s Sword of Ice. She stomped on the ground and icicles ruptured from the earth. A pillar of fire blew from Valera’s outstretched hand. It charred a line right to Danu’s feet.
Danu shrieked. Theo saw fear in her face. Danu retreated, leaving her people defenseless on the field. The girls pursued her into Subterria. Theo took one last look at the field. She recognized several faces. Harmony, Benji, Adora… She was more worried about the people she didn’t see – her family.
Chapter Thirty-One
Julia
As Danu’s power drained, so did her ability to maintain Subterria. The aether lights flickered, casting shadows all around the girls. Buildings crumbled under the force of the battle above. Julia led the way through the streets until they reached Danu’s palace.
Julia’s stomach dropped, when she saw Eli, Victor, and Gideon standing guard at the doors. Although Danu had revived them, she hadn’t healed them. Blood flowed from a gash on Eli’s head from where the ice had struck him. Danu’s dwindling power held them in place. She stood behind them grinning.
Julia inched forward and put her hands up in submission. “Eli, it’s me Julia.”
“Kill them,” Danu grit through her yellowed fangs and disappeared into the palace.
Theo called out to Victor, “You don’t want to hurt us. I know you don’t. You’d never hurt your sister or me. I know you, Victor.”
He growled at her, but a flash of reluctance crossed his face. Julia could see him struggling against Danu’s persuasion. Eli took staggered steps forward. The pain on his face tortured Julia. Her smirking Eli was in there somewhere trying to break free. Danu’s power dug in deep. With a shake of his head, he and Gideon charged at the girls. Using the sword, Julia encased them between four thick walls of ice. They smashed into the barrier, unable to break through.
Julia’s action triggered Victor into action. He grunted and ran at Theo. With Maera’s scepter in hand, she hit him with a thin jolt of electricity. His muscles contracted, and he fell over in a twitching mass. Theo knelt beside him.
“I’m sorry, Victor.”
“He’ll be okay. We need to get to Danu.”
Danu sat on her throne smiling. Her illusion was back. Her courtesans and serpent men surrounded her. She’d outsmarted them. Her army above ground were the unwilling victims of her power. The army below was far more dangerous. They chose to fight for her. Theo’s parents and Victoria stood in front of the throne like a living shield.
“I knew you’d come back to me, Daughters,” Danu trilled.
The girls stepped closer. Danu lifted a finger, and Theo’s mother fell to her knees, screaming.
“I think you’re close enough,” Danu yelled.
Lawless cackled beside her with his arm in a sling. “Kill them… kill them all.”
The girls stopped moving forward, and Danu released Theo’s mom. Marjorie sat on the floor crying and trembling. Danu leaned back in her throne and tapped a fingernail on the arm.
“You see, my children. I’m a fair and forgiving goddess,” Danu cooed. “Come back to me, end this war, and we’ll rule the world together.”
Julia looked at the courtesans. “She’s not a goddess. She’s lied to all of you.”
The courtesans and serpent men laughed at her. Danu joined them. Julia knew if they saw her true form, they wouldn’t be laughing. She felt a slight pull and knew the sorceress was testing their strength. Danu’s eyes fell on Julia’s ring.
“Where did you get that?” she wheezed.
“It was a gift,” Julia sneered. “From my grandmother… my real grandmother.”
“Give the rings to me, or I’ll kill them all,” Danu hissed, pointing at their families.
Theo and Valera touched their rings while their eyes remained fixed on their families. Danu sneered. Valera’s mother hit the ground with a sickening thud. Seizures contorted her limbs. Valera screamed, and Victoria’s body went limp.
“Is she… dead?” Valera whispered.
A low moan passed Victoria’s lips. “She’s alive,” Julia said. “We can’t give Danu the rings.”
Theo looked between her mother and father. She mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.” Tears streamed down her mother’s face, but she and Theo’s father nodded at her and smiled. Theo sobbed, and released her ring.