by Brenda Drake
“Good morning,” Bastien said all chill-like. Though he didn’t act entitled, he did have an air about him that said he was royal. Gian’s disdainful attitude never bothered him.
“Let’s hope it remains that way,” grumbled Gian. “Gia, may I have a moment?”
I gave Bastien a confused look.
He shrugged.
“Certainly,” I said, and slid down the side of the bolder and followed him. “You’re going kind of far from the cave, aren’t you?” I teased. He’d forbidden any of us from going past the boulders surrounding it after one of the beasts had snatched a goat from the entrance two days ago.
“Here will do.” He stopped abruptly, catching me off guard and causing me to take a few steps ahead of him.
I turned to face him. “So why all the secrecy?”
“You are special, Gianna. You’ve handled yourself well in the face of adversity. I know I don’t always show my emotions.”
Like never.
He shot me a glance and I wondered if he could do that mind thing Uncle Philip could.
“Yes, I too am as intuitive as this professor you think of, except I might look like I’m in my fifties, but—”
More like sixty.
My thought must’ve interrupted him, because he laughed, which I’ve never seen him do the entire time we’ve been here. It looked good on him.
“How we view ourselves does not always agree with how others see us,” he said. “Does it? I’m a few hundred years old, so my intuitive skills are more enhanced. Your young Romeo has the skill, as well.”
“Bastien? He knows what I’m thinking?” I peeked over my shoulder at Bastien kicking back on the rock as he watched us intently.
“He feels things, but isn’t sure what they are. He’s young, not even a senior wizard yet.”
“So you can hear all my thoughts?”
“When I choose to listen.”
My cheeks warmed. Shit. Did he read my thoughts about Bastien?
“Those are thoughts I choose to ignore.” He chuckled, a deep guttural sound. “I will say, though, suppressed feelings are never fully buried. They are merely seeds planted deep in the soil of denial that will sprout when the truth nourishes it.”
I tried to keep my thoughts blank, but I knew he was referring to Arik. But he was wrong. I was over him.
I sighed. “You didn’t drag me out here to talk about my love life, did you?”
“No. I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you.” He slanted his eyes at me and smiled. “I wish I had known your mother. Her mother, my daughter, Rosetta, was a toddler when I disappeared. My first girl. I truly loved my second wife. You look very much like her, Gianna.”
“You were married before her?”
“Yes. Terrible woman, that one. It was an arranged marriage. We never had any children. She passed away young, and I was free to follow my heart and marry Constance. She gave me a beautiful girl. What became of my daughter?”
I couldn’t tell him my grandmother and mother were both dead, but apparently, my silence said more than words.
“I see. There will be time to talk of such things when we are free of this place.” He lowered his head. “I am thankful, I have you. I hope in time we will grow closer. Forgive me for my oddity. I once was a jovial man. I’ve been in this place too long, I’m not sure how…” he trailed off, looking across the valley.
The freeze was moving in. I wrapped my arms around my chest to ward off the chill.
“I would like to learn more about my great-grandson.”
“Nick? What do you want to know?”
“His powers. Has he mastered them, yet?”
“His powers were suppressed until recently,” I said.
He twisted the end of his beard between his fingers. “I see. How about his temperament? Is it controlled?”
I cut him a curious eye, wondering where he was heading with that. “He hasn’t been the same ever since he discovered Conemar was his father and the curers released his magic. He gets angry easily.”
“Keep a watch on him. I’m aware you care for him, but don’t trust him. He could turn on you.”
“He won’t.”
“Heed my warning,” he said. “Conemar is devious. Stay alert and don’t let your guard down around Nick.”
“Okay, but he won’t.”
“That isn’t why I brought you out here. I wanted to talk about tonight.” He heaved a deep sigh. “No matter what happens, you must get Royston through the trapdoor. For everyone you love in the worlds, you must get Royston to safety, even if it costs you losing Bastien—or me.”
I swallowed hard. “I can’t—I won’t leave you guys behind.”
“It is your destiny to protect the one. To protect Royston. If you fail, many will die. A split second decision could cost you more than what you’d lose in that one choice.”
I nodded, tears forming in my eyes. But if it came down to that, I wasn’t sure I could do it. Leave them to this world.
Leave Bastien?
And in that moment, between anxious thoughts of Bastien lost forever, I knew my feelings. I was falling for him, and I would do anything to save him.
“When Bastien and I open the door,” Gian continued, “you jump with Royston. It may only open for seconds, and not all of us will make it through. You are not to look back.”
“Why can’t Royston help? Isn’t he a wizard?”
“Royston’s mother was an enchantress. After her father betrayed her, she placed a curse on her haven, Esteril. Every wizard thereafter was born without powers. She never realized it would affect her own child. Royston is her son. He was born without magic.”
“Wait. Do you mean Athela?”
“You’ve read of her?”
“Actually, she’s haunted my dreams.” A blast of brisk air raced across the valley and hit me, blowing tea-colored strands wildly around my face. I pulled the tie off my wrist and tied up my hair. “Her father was a real narcissist. He used deceased warriors to create the Tetrad.”
His startled glare surprised me. “Are you certain?”
“I’m not certain about anything. It’s a dream I had. Uncle Philip said it was from a spirit seer or something. It felt like I was actually Athela.”
“Athela was a powerful enchantress. Some said she had the gift of the Seers.” He slanted his eyes at me. “Her spirit found you. Most likely to show you truths.”
The wind slapped my face and I sucked in a startled breath. “That means Barnum is Royston’s father. Oh my God, that’s awful.”
“Why is that bad?” he asked.
“One of the warriors used to create the Tetrad was Barnum. That’s why Athela cursed her father and his haven. I wonder if Athela ever told Royston about his father’s fate.”
“If so, he’s never mentioned it to me. She must’ve wanted you to know this for a reason.”
“Royston has to kill his father. Athela had a painting of Barnum with her when she fled her haven. Royston grew up knowing his father’s face.”
Royston’s words from one of my dreams rang in my ears. I cannot suffer this. Remove this cross from me.
“She prepared Royston to sacrifice himself to destroy the Tetrad.”
Gian surveyed the sky. A cloud just above his head was a crescent shape. “You must find a way to save him.”
Our brands. Royston’s and mine. Athela showed me her writing in a journal while picnicking with Royston and her maid. Nana’s ancient charm book must’ve belonged to Athela. She wanted me to have it. There must be clues in it.
“We should go inside, and you can tell me more about the dreams while we wait for the sun to set.” He headed back to the cave.
Tell him more? He read my thoughts again.
I stayed behind for a brief moment, thinking about Royston and our joined fates, and the possibility of having to leave Bastien behind.
There’s no way. We’re all getting out. I can’t live knowing Bastien is here in this hell without me. He wou
ldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.
Bastien came up from behind and wrapped his arms around me. “Hey, mon amour, what are you doing?” I rested my chin on his arms. “It’s time to go inside.”
“You know, I care about you,” I whispered, needing to tell him in case these were our last hours together. It might have been love, but I wasn’t sure. I loved many people—all in different ways—Pop, Nana, Afton, Nick, Uncle Philip, and even Arik. I just didn’t know where Bastien fit in the spectrum of it.
“I feel the same about you.” A deep sigh expanded his chest against my back. “Care to share what Gian told you?”
I twisted around to face him. “We just discussed the jump. He wanted me to make sure to help Royston. He said it’s my destiny to protect him.”
“Whatever happens, we’ll survive it.” He kissed my forehead. “Follow Gian’s instructions.”
I just nodded, staring at Momo and the other ferrets darting in and out of the crevices between the rocks. I hoped he was right.
...
Before we started out for the lights, Royston let the goats loose. It saddened me to think what might become of them. We couldn’t leave them tied up in the cave or they would die. Out in the wild, they most likely would become a meal for the beasts. As soon as Royston had untied them and shooed them down the hill, the goats moseyed back to the cave.
I clopped across the snow in Royston’s handcrafted snowshoes. The guy had talent. He could whittle or tie sticks together to make all sorts of useful things. My bones felt tight against the cold. The blue lights of the trapdoor flickered just above the hills. It reminded me of the Northern lights I’d seen in a geography video Mrs. Anderson had played for our class.
The ferrets darted around us, Momo sticking close to me. I wondered what would happen to her, my heart imploding at the thought of leaving her behind. My thigh muscles strained with each heavy step forward. The darkness grew bright and a blue hue danced over the white snow as we approached the lights.
Gian halted directly under the lights and right in front of where they touched the snow. For being old, the man could really move. Struggling to survive each day did build muscles. My biceps were fierce and my thighs more defined from all the laborious work. It was good cardio, too, since we had to complete all chores within the few hours of warmth each day.
The blue lights flickered and began to turn silver.
“It’s happening!” Gian yelled over the yowling wind. “Remove your snow shoes!”
I struggled against the force spinning around me. It felt like weights were on my arms. I finally got the contraptions off my feet and treaded through the snow to the others.
“Bastien,” Gian hollered over the howling wind. “Instead of us hitting a force of energy in the middle, aim it at that side”—he pointed it out—“and I’ll blast it from the other side. Gianna, stay with Royston in the middle. When the trap opens, you’ll feel a pull much as you feel with the gateway books. Jump with the feeling and the energy will take you up. And don’t turn back.” He looked sternly at me. “You hear me? Whatever happens, don’t turn back.”
I nodded and tramped over to the lights with Royston. Momo scurried after me and jumped at my legs. I bent and picked her up, then tucked her into my jacket. How could I leave her behind? She had watched over me. It was the least I could do to pay her back. Besides, I sort of loved the little thing.
Bastien and Gian’s electric charges hit the side of the lights, an image flickering in and out with each blast. I could barely make out the library on the other side. The next impact tore a hole in the lights and the library was right there.
An intense energy pulled at me. “Now!” I yelled over the howling wind, gripping Royston’s arm tight. We jumped and flew through the door, hitting hard against the marble floor and then rolling until we collided into a display case.
I scrambled to my feet and slipped across the floor to the trap. The roars of many beasts came from the other side of the door. Bastien and Gian battled the deep snow, the beasts coming at them from all sides. The trap flickered.
“NO!” I screamed, as if I could stop it from closing.
Royston slid to my side. “We have to help them. Those animals will maul them.”
I didn’t have time to think. My battle globe formed on my palm and I tossed it at the door. A pink membrane bathed the opening. A blast of light boomed across the library, rattling the bookcases and pushing display cases across the tiles. The floor shook violently and the windows exploded.
Royston and I huddled together, covering our heads from the shattered glass spraying across the reading room. I fell backward, my arms and legs shaking out of control.
Bastien and Gian jumped into the library, a beast on their heels.
Chapter Twenty-seven
“Close the trap!” Bastien yelled.
“Why isn’t it closing?” I threw another globe, knocking the beast back but not closing the door.
Two other creatures jumped into the library. Bastien zapped one with his charge. The other one tackled Gian. Royston jumped on its back, barely avoiding a long, sharp tooth. He pulled a dagger from the waistband of his pants and stabbed the animal in its side.
“Bastien, block the trap,” Gian panted, holding tight to the beast’s saber-teeth, straining to keep it from chomping down on him. “Conjure an electric cage.”
Bastien kindled a charge between his hands and casted it out like a net at the trapdoor. An energy screen covered the gap. Royston stabbed the beast again, and the animal collapsed on top of Gian. He pushed it off him and it flopped onto the floor.
Bastien ran his fingers through his hair, surveying the damaged library. “For going utterly wrong, this actually worked out.” He spotted me trembling on the floor, darted over, and dropped to his knees beside me. “What’s wrong with her?” He looked to Gian for an answer.
“I’m not certain.” Gian stared down at me, his bushy brows pushed together as he studied me. “That was a very powerful surge of energy. Her globe must’ve removed the trap door’s charm.”
“Please m-m-make this stop,” I forced out. It was difficult to speak with the tremors quaking my body.
“We must get her to a curer,” Gian said.
Bastien touched my cheek. “I’m going to pick you up, all right?”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck. He lifted me into his arms.
“Gian, the gateway book is in that bookcase over there.” Bastien nodded toward it.
I leaned my head against Bastien’s chest and closed my eyes. His clothes smelled of smoke and outdoors, the beat of his heart soothing me as he carried me through the gateway.
...
The curers’ chamber in Asile reminded me of an old Frankenstein laboratory. Beakers and bottles lined the shelves, stacks of heavy leather-bound books stood in tall piles on the tables, and several bubbling pots rattled on top of an old stove. The aroma swirling around the room smelled of sulfur and rubbing alcohol.
I sat up against the pillows and stretched my arms out. The uncontrolable shaking had stopped. I was in a glassed-off room with two hospital beds. One window let in bright light. Everything in the glass room was white and clean, and everything outside was brown and worn.
An older woman, hunching over one of the tables, looked up. “Ah, you’re awake.” She hobbled over using a knobby cane to keep herself upright. “The boy will be delighted. He’s stopped by so many times to check on you.”
Bastien. I smiled.
“How long have I been here?”
“Just barely two days now.” She smiled wide, her teeth crooked and yellowed. “You must be thirsty, dear. Something to eat would do you well, eh?”
“Yes, please,” I said. “I’m starving.”
“I won’t be a moment,” she said, and hobbled away. The door opened before she reached it. “Ah, we speak of the boy and he appears. The girl is awake. Looks mighty fine, she does.”
I almost fell off the side of the bed
. Standing in the doorframe wasn’t Bastien but Arik. I didn’t know what to say. He’d been the last person I’d expected to be “the boy.”
He walked cautiously over to the glass room. “You do look well. Everyone’s been worried about you. I should have never given Nick a window rod. He’s been ringing constantly for updates on you.”
Nick. I wanted desperately to see him.
I choked back my emotions. “Where…where are the others?”
“May I?” He indicated that he wanted to sit on the foot of my bed.
I nodded.
“Bastien was summoned to Couve. Gian and Royston are here being treated for small ailments they acquired while in the Somnium. Royston had an abscessed tooth and bunions. Gian had lice. They were taken in secret to a curer outside of the havens to protect them.”
“What month is it?” I asked.
“It’s the fourteenth of March.”
“It feels like I’ve been gone for an eternity.” I scratched at my scalp.
He quirked a smile. “You have no lice.”
“Thank God.” I sighed. “And Momo?”
He gave me a confused look.
“The ferret I had with me?”
An enlightened look crossed his face. “Oh yes. Royston is caring for the creature.”
“So they’re all safe, right?”
“Yes, they’re being well cared for.” He smiled. “Your father and the others will be happy to have you back. I’ll take you home in a few days.”
There was something different about him, but I couldn’t place what it was. Maybe it was me who was different. I didn’t have that gut-clenching feeling I used to have around him.
“I can’t wait,” I finally said. “Is everyone okay there?”
“Everyone is fine. They’re relieved to have you back. We thought—” He cleared his throat. “I can’t stay long. I have to get back to the human world. When you used your globe on the trapdoor, it released all the charms on the traps, leaving them all opened. We’ve closed them and captured most of the creatures. But we’re having a difficult time locating all the prisoners that escaped.”