by K T Munson
He had to find her.
A hand touched his arm, bringing him out of his thoughts. Nanette was still against Ethandirill’s chest, but she was looking up at him, her hand on his arm. She must have seen the distress he was feeling. He reached across the put his hand over hers, a silent thank you.
The moment the storm subsided, Ki jumped to his feet. Ethandirill and Nanette did the same. Ki hurried around the tree and looked at the path of destruction. There were upturned trees and torn up ground—all leading to the way out.
“Why did he take her?” Ki asked as his eyes scanned the wreckage.
“She has a guide; he needed it to get through the Nowhere Gate safely,” Ethandirill explained. “She had one, and I have the other. We need to get back to Morhaven and warn my brother. I know where the Black King will take her.”
“That explains how you can talk,” Ki said, glancing back at him. “You’ve found a way to lift your curse with your brother’s help?”
“A temporary reprieve,” the Det Morian replied vaguely.
Ki nodded before following the path of destruction the storm had left. After a moment, Nanette hurried to stand next to him. Her expression was hopeful. She was exactly as he remembered her, long black hair, petite features, and upturned eyes.
“She won’t stop fighting because she knows you are alive,” Nanette said, trying to comfort him.
“How long have I been here?” Ki asked.
“Months,” Nanette replied. “She has spent all of them finding a way to rescue you.”
Ki clenched his jaw, emotions hitting him. He had gone into that gate loving her but certain she hadn’t felt the same for him. Actions couldn’t be denied. It wasn’t just a sense of obligation on her part. Elisabeth had to care greatly for him to risk such peril.
“Where will he take her?” Ki asked, glancing back at Ethandirill.
“The Dusky Woods,” Ethandirill replied. “It is the best way to get into Morhaven with little to no resistance. The Poppy Fields are too exposed, and he would lose some of the element of surprise. I don’t think he would risk it. Not even he is foolish enough to try Old Haven.”
“You don’t think he will hurt her, do you?” Nanette whispered.
“I don’t know.” Ethandirill put an arm around her, but she didn’t look reassured.
“I won’t let anything happen to her,” Ki said as they reached the end of the devastation.
Nanette took Ki’s hand and slipped out of Ethandirill’s hold. Her entire attention was on the small tear that would lead them off the planet. “We need to find her,” she said, looking determined.
Ki nodded. “Before we do, we need to make a stop.”
“Nothing is more important than protecting Elisabeth,” Nanette said, sounding outraged that he should suggest going to any place but Morhaven.
“Don’t worry, it’s on the way,” Ki said.
“You have a plan,” Ethandirill said with a half-smile.
“I have plan,” Ki confirmed.
Chapter 44: Morhaven
Elisabeth returned to consciousness amid chaos, screams rousing her. She was in a dimly lit forest with dark trees. What had happened? She had been looking for Ki. They had entered a planet that had reminded her of Lyreane and then…Aryan. She sat up at the memory. It all came rushing back. She had seen Ki, but then Aryan had swept her and everyone else away. Elisabeth remembered fighting with him within the spinning vortex before she’d been eventually ejected after a well-timed strike. She jumped to her feet. Villagers from the other world wandered around, speaking in a language she didn’t understand. She was momentarily disoriented by the strange grayish lavender of the trees. She blinked. The Dusky Woods! She felt chilled. A child started crying.
“Stay close to me!” Elisabeth called, waving at them.
They all seemed in a daze. Some, seeming afraid, moved further away from her while others just stared. None of them came closer to her. Elisabeth could feel the forest. It knew they were there. It wouldn’t be long before the creature of this place came for them. She had to get them out of there.
“This way!” Elisabeth yelled once she realized which way was out. They glanced at each other, terrified, as she hurried away, but none of them moved.
A screech sounded from within the forest. It was behind them. The villagers started running, but in the wrong direction. Elisabeth waved for them to follow her. A second, much closer, shriek echoed through the forest. Many of the villagers quivered in fear.
With a heavy sigh, Elisabeth wedged herself into the group and started pointing for them to flee in the direction she’d indicated. This time she steered them in the right direction. They ran like a herd of fleeing deer. A startled noise came from behind her and then abruptly ceased. Elisabeth glanced back over her shoulder. A pack of creatures were on their heels and had taken one villager. The woman screamed. The villagers stopped running, but Elisabeth pointed ahead.
“Keep going,” she yelled before running back.
The villager’s blood and organs splattered the ground. They seemed almost black in the strangely gray world. When the massive wolves ripped into the woman’s body again, Elisabeth lifted her hand and focused her will. The wolves were thrown back. One hit a tree and yelped in pain.
The others growled at her. Their mangy fur was matted with blood. Elisabeth sneered at them—she was not in the mood. As a shadow passed over them, its great sweeping wings swishing through the air, they stopped growling. Elisabeth gaped at the giant birdlike creature. Its talons extended out of paw-like feet, and it had a head of a lion.
One of the dogs lashed out at Elisabeth, but she jerked back, lifting her right hand as the wolf’s claw cut her left shoulder. Her will threw the creature backward, and the rest of its pack retreated.
She rushed to catch up with the villagers, who were still heading toward the safety that lay beyond the Dusky Woods. Elisabeth pushed a branch out of her way and leaped over a fallen tree. As she landed on the other side, she saw the creature that had flown over them. Its massive mane had hidden massive horns similar to those of a goat. When it had passed overhead, she had thought it had a long tail but now she saw that the appendage was a snake. It snapped at the fleeing villagers.
Elisabeth helped a woman to her feet as the lion’s long teeth dug into one of the villager’s bodies. His scream froze her blood. The snake tail swung around and sunk its teeth into the man’s face, silencing him. A woman screamed as the snake tore off the man’s head. It tossed the head up in the air and opened its mouth. The head slid down its gullet in one smooth motion.
Coming to her senses with a start, Elisabeth yelled, “Keep running.”
They scattered in every direction as the creature roared. It raised its front legs. When it brought them down, the trees shook. The barest light snuck in through the thick canopy as they swayed. Elisabeth struggled to keep her feet as the ground rumbled. As she stumbled toward the creature, she wished she had some sort of weapon beyond her wits and her will.
“Over here!” she yelled at the creature.
The creature didn’t give her a moment’s glance as it continued its assault. She made her way over to an overgrown fallen log. Obviously yelling wouldn’t work, so she would need to be a little more forceful. She lifted a hand and she focused a moment until her will struck the side of the creature. It roared in pain and tossed its great head around toward her. Its wings extended and contracted, and the snake-like tail hissed. At least she had gotten its attention.
“Come on,” Elisabeth said, glaring.
The creature crashed toward her, trampling the underbrush. Elisabeth rushed behind a tree and darted to one further away. The creature’s anger reverberated through the forest. She peered around the tree to see its claws curled around the tree trunk she had just abandoned. She darted from that tree to another one as the creature roared and flapped its wings. Carefully picking her way across the landscape, she circled back around in the direction from which the villagers had fled.
She had already lost a few of them, but there were still more to save. There was no time for guilt or anger.
She found trample marks from where they had rushed through and followed them. The creature roared behind her. She could hear it searching for her, but by the time it figured out where she was, she should be free of the Dusky Woods and all its horrors. Something dripped on her head, and she looked up. The dead eyes of a man with a crumpled body stared down at her, his face set in a last look of terror before the creature disguised as a tree had eaten him.
Elisabeth sprinted for a few minutes until she heard singing. It was beautiful and entrancing. Instantly, she was on high alert. She had read about creatures that could enthrall anyone who wandered into the Dusky Woods. They had been created in the Netherworld but had been too dangerous to be left to roam. Sirens swam in a deep water lake to the east, and snake demons like Tiss fed on the souls of men who fell in love with them.
When she came to the clearing, she found a handful of the fleeing villagers dancing around a woman who was singing. She was naked and had thick long hair that fell past her waist. Elisabeth knew exactly what she was—a lower demon known as a Blood Drainer. They fed on the living to sustain their lives and gained eternal youth by taking parts of their dreams. Dreams danced like whispers above each of the dancing villager’s heads for an instant before they flowed into her.
Elisabeth came out from behind a tree. The singing woman caught sight of her and reached out her hands, curling her fingers as though beckoning her. Elisabeth stomped right into their circle. The singing woman showed a flash of concern, and an instant later Elisabeth’s fist connected with her face. Her song stopped instantly. She stumbled backward, holding her bloodied nose, and hissed at Elisabeth, exposing her long canines.
“I don’t have time for this,” Elisabeth said, exasperated, as the creature stumbled away.
The villagers shook their heads as though dazed. One of the girls reached toward her. She grabbed Elisabeth’s leg and started crying, her fingers digging into the fabric. Elisabeth looked around at the weary group. The fear and confusion in their eyes broke her heart.
“Come with me, and I’ll do everything to keep you safe,” Elisabeth said slowly.
They gave her blank stares. Without their planet being connected to the Netherworld, Elisabeth couldn’t communicate with them. Elisabeth reached down and took the girl who was clinging to her by her hands. Slowly she helped her stand. Tears streaks ran down the girl’s face, and she sniffled.
Elisabeth put a hand on her chest and said, “Elisabeth.” Then she pointed at the girl. “You are?”
The girl’s eyebrows furrowed together. Elisabeth repeated the motion and the words. The girl looked confused, and then suddenly her eyes went wide. She pointed at Elisabeth. “Elisabeth,” she said, followed by words Elisabeth couldn’t understand.
“And you are?” Elisabeth asked.
The girl proudly put a hand on her chest. “Jane.”
It wasn’t much but it was a start. She took in their haggard looks and expressions. There were some women and children, but most of the group were men. They didn’t understand where they were or who she was, but they seemed to understand that she had protected them. Jane gave her a lopsided, almost hopeful, smile.
“I’ll do my best to keep you safe.” Elisabeth spoke slowly. “Come with me.” She turned and began walking them toward the edge of the Dusky Woods. It might not be safe in the rest of Morhaven, but anywhere had to be safer than their current location.
Someone screamed in the distance, and a screech followed. Elisabeth sighed.
Chapter 45: Morhaven
Nanette knew something was wrong. The peace and serenity that normally surrounded the Divine Court was gone, replaced with chaos. She stayed close to Ethan as he hurried them through the door. The elementals were leaving, their caretakers leading them safely away from the palace. Guards marched down the hall. Ethan slipped past him toward his brother.
Ethan stopped one of the fleeing members of the Divine Court. “What has happening here?”
“The Black King is here,” he responded, his horns curled back like a ram’s horns.
Nanette felt sick at the mention of his name. When Ethan let the demon go, he continued running, his hoofed feet striking the floor rhythmically. Nanette couldn’t stop thinking about the Black King and what he was going to do. If Morhaven fell, all the worlds would be affected.
“Do you think Elisabeth is here as well?” Nanette asked.
“He wouldn’t have brought her all the way here. She would only add resistance. He likely left her in the Netherworld or the Dusky Woods.” His expression was troubled.
They had followed the cyclone’s trail to the edge of the Dusky Woods. Ethan wouldn’t risk their safety so they went further north and followed the trail. Nanette hadn’t liked the Dusky Woods, but it hadn’t seemed nearly as terrifying as the Black King. Following Ethan’s instructions, she had stuck to the path and ignored everything that called out to her.
“What do we do?” Nanette asked as a member of the Divine Court rushed by. Her wings shimmered, and her long teal and lavender dress danced in ribbons of color.
“If the Black King is here, he will challenge my brother, but there is little I can do,” Ethan said, lifting his arm. “My time is almost up, and I have only enough power to do one more thing.”
“Save it,” Nanette said, putting a hand on his arm, “for Elisabeth.”
He studied her face a moment with his piercing green eyes. “Very well,” he finally said.
Nanette sighed as another group ran by. When a girl stopped in the hall and pointed toward the door, Nanette froze. A second girl stepped in, talking to the first girl. Startled, Nanette put a hand on Ethan and peered around him to see them better.
The first girl stood as tall as her companion. Her brown hair was tied in a braid. Nanette could just make out the Hysterian marks along her hairline. She was maybe a few years younger than Nanette—probably fourteen or fifteen. The other girl wore all green, and Nanette recognized her immediately when she turned her head sideways.
“Fanta?” Nanette called.
Fanta turned, and her face lit up. “Nanette!”
Fanta rushed down the hall and threw her arms around Nanette’s waist. She didn’t feel like Fanta knew her that well or that they were that close, but Nanette was too happy to see a familiar face to question it. She didn’t hesitate to embrace the little caretaker.
“Where is Elisabeth?” Fanta asked, leaning back and peering up at her hopefully.
“She isn’t here, but she must be nearby,” Nanette said before glancing at Ethan. “At least we think she is.”
“We need her now more than ever,” Fanta said before waving to the young Hysterian girl who smiled shyly at Nanette.
“Greetings,” she said to Nanette as though she knew her, but Nanette didn’t know who she was.
Although it grated on her to be so impolite, Nanette asked, “Do I know you?”
“It’s me,” the girl said, putting a hand on her chest and looking hopeful, “Kerrigan.”
For a moment the name didn’t register because the only Kerrigan she knew was a disembodied soul sharing a body with an old man named Jinq. Then her eyes narrowed on the girl. She was exactly how Elisabeth had described her being before the Black King had taken over her form.
“Kerrigan?” Nanette took a step forward. The young girl nodded, and Nanette didn’t think as she wrapped the girl in a tight hug.
“Elisabeth is going to be so happy.” Nanette fought down her tears of joy. “She won’t believe it.”
“I can’t wait to see her.” Kerrigan’s voice was muffled against Nanette’s hair.
Nanette put her hands on her shoulders as they separated. “How is this possible?” Nanette asked.
“She is part of Morhaven and the Netherworld. The King and The Fates returned her body to her, but she cannot leave here for long,” Fanta answered for her.
&n
bsp; Kerrigan frowned at that. “I was trying to leave, but Fanta was explaining that unlike Elisabeth, who needs to draw on life force to fuel her abilities, I need it to live. Either I remain in the Netherworld or I die.”
“She will have to return regularly,” Fanta warned. “Or she can be given life force from a member of the court.”
“Take mine,” Ethandirill said, and Nanette jumped. He had been standing so quietly that she hadn’t realized how close he was to her. “Unlike planet dwellers, I have redundant layers of life force.”
Kerrigan’s expression showed her worry. Nanette forgot how Ethan appeared to other people. He was bald, tall, and covered in tattoos. His voice was all heat, and he emitted a power that everyone could feel just by being near him. Nanette felt that heat for other reasons.
“He is a friend,” Nanette reassured her.
Nanette moved out of the way as Ethan put his hands on Kerrigan’s shoulders. Kerrigan nodded her acceptance. “Relax,” he said softly.
“I’ll try,” Kerrigan whispered, not looking at his face but a fixed point in the center of Ethan’s chest.
Ethan cleared his throat. “Unlike planet dwellers, you won’t have to take life force from me.”
She met his gaze in surprise. She glanced at Nanette, who hadn’t known this either. Then it made sense. His powers were active right now. They weren’t being suppressed by the runes on his body. He could simply speak the words, and Kerrigan would have the power.
Ethandirill closed his eyes and spoke softly in what sounded like a foreign language. His hands glowed softly, and his face relaxed in concentration. Suddenly, Ethan jerked away from her with a grunt. Nanette gasped in surprise as steam rose up from him. He coughed and fell to one knee.
Nanette rushed to him. “What is it?” she asked as her hands touched the areas that were steaming. “What is wrong?”