Diana and the Island of No Return

by Aisha Saeed

  And then she hit a roadblock.

  Diana grew still. Worry snaked across her mind. Until now she’d managed to find something, no matter how small, to prop herself up and keep on climbing. The rock before her, though, showed no more ridges or ledges to hold—at least not as far as she could see.

  Diana held on tight and looked around frantically. Mira flashed her eyes to help her search—but there was nothing to grip; the cliff here was as smooth as marble. Diana’s feet strained against the small outcrop beneath her toes. With each passing second, her arms grew heavier and heavier as she tried to balance on practically nothing.

  Diana stretched her body and reached as far as she could, hoping desperately for something to grasp. It was too late to try and get back down to Augustus and Sakina—she was very high up now. She needed to jump, to literally take a leap of faith and see if she could grab something above. Diana’s heart hammered in her chest. Here goes nothing, she thought. Gritting her teeth, she fanned out her fingers and leapt.

  Her fingertips brushed against something—or, rather, they slipped into nothing. There was a gap in the flat rock above her, a fracture so thin that it was impossible to see from her current position. Relief coursed through her body. Gripping the fine edge with one hand, she pulled herself up. It was a narrow crack straight through the rock. It tore up the cliffside, seemingly to the top. At least, Diana hoped it did.

  Diana painstakingly worked her way up until she could securely wedge one foot and grip the upper edges of the gap with her palms. Gritting her teeth, she scooted her body up inch by inch toward the top edge of the cliff. Drenched in sweat, she finally reached up a hand and felt the welcoming touch of grass beneath her fingers.

  She’d made it.

  Diana wiggled herself over the edge and rolled onto the safety of the ground.

  I did it, Diana thought. She caught her breath and peeked at Augustus and Sakina below. From this vantage point, the duo looked as small as ladybugs. For the first time she fully grasped the height she’d managed to climb and the true peril of this summit.

  Diana stood and, glancing around, took in her surroundings. Flowers bloomed at her feet. She was in a small clearing surrounded by a thicket of woods. To her left, fifty yards away, she saw the pathway that led from the second plane up to the third. It was heavily guarded. Seven villagers paced the entrance, shovels and metal pitchforks gleaming in their hands. Straight across from Diana was a low stone fence that lined the edge of the forest, separating the woods from the town square. A fire crackled in a large stone pit in the center of town—she could make out the outlines of homes and shops around it. Diana shivered. The demon was likely nearby, lying in wait.

  Diana scanned the trees closest to the cliff edge for vines. At last she found two, attached to a gnarly tree with low-hanging branches. She unwound the vines until she’d gathered enough length from each to reach the ground below. Then she hurriedly lowered both over the side, giving more slack until she felt a tug from each—Sakina and Augustus had grabbed hold. Digging her heels into the earth, Diana grasped one vine in each hand and pulled. Her arms strained. Her wrists ached. Looking over the edge, she saw Augustus and Sakina pulling themselves up. Sakina’s face strained with the effort. Diana’s own arms felt like they were being stretched to their very limits. But she thought of her mother, the enchanted women, and the demon and his cackling laughter. Diana pulled at the vines with everything she had, taking one backward step after another, until at last both Sakina and Augustus tumbled onto the grass.

  Sakina’s hair had come undone from her braid, falling messily around her shoulders. Augustus gulped in air and wiped his brow. They looked at her with wide eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Diana asked softly. “Don’t talk too loudly. We’re pretty close to the town center.”

  “I’m okay. But you were amazing,” Sakina said in a low voice. “You scampered up the cliff like it really was an olive tree on Themyscira.”

  “No one has ever done that before. Not ever,” said Augustus.

  Diana glanced back at the cliff. It was a long way up, and it was dangerous. If she hadn’t regained her footing after her one slip, she’d have been done for. But she had found her toehold. She’d scaled the impossible.

  “Well, the good news is that we’re in the forest that houses the icta seed.” Augustus looked at the firelit area in the distance and paused as he studied the men guarding the pathway to their left. “But the bad news is that the demon’s likely on the other side of that clearing. Are the petals still in your ears?”

  Diana grazed her ears with her fingers to check and nodded.

  “Well, there’s no time like the present to find the icta seed,” Sakina said.

  “Hold my water container?” Augustus turned to Sakina and handed it to her. “I can kneel better without it digging into my waist.”

  He dropped to his knees and began combing through the ivy coating the ground.

  “What does its flower look like?” Sakina asked, kneeling next to him.

  “It’s purple and yellow,” he told her. “Hard to make out in the dark, but there’s definitely some around here.”

  “I’m going to approach the edge of town,” Diana said. “See if I can locate where exactly this demon is lurking.”

  Mira swooped down and sat on Sakina’s shoulder.

  “Stay low,” Sakina whispered to the bird. “When we need you, we’ll call you. I don’t want to risk your safety, understood?”

  Mira chirped softly in response.

  Diana tiptoed to the edge of the woods, which was lined with small, smooth gray boulders that formed a low decorative wall, stopping just at her knee. Taking care to stay hidden behind a tree, she took in the landscape. Augustus was right—the gods had paved the top plane completely flat. From this vantage point she could clearly see the town square, which was framed by a cobblestone street and quaint shops. There was a veterinary clinic. A tailoring shop. A bakery with a hanging wooden sign carved in the shape of a loaf of bread.

  A bonfire crackled in the center of the square, and just then, something suddenly floated from behind a building and over to the flames.

  Diana’s stomach dropped.

  She took a step backward.

  Because there he was.

  His back was toward her. The robe he wore hung loose and long. A sharp, jagged line of orange trailed from his head down the back of his robe. The skin on the back of his neck and his hands was translucent and pale. His body levitated inches above the ground. A vapor rose from his skin.

  She held her breath. He was close, no more than five yards away. So close that even the smallest of movements could alert him to her presence.

  Three brawny men carrying large, rusted pitchforks circled him slowly, their eyes blank. The rest of the villagers—some children as young as toddlers—stood motionless along the perimeter of the bonfire, waiting.

  Diana glanced back at Sakina and Augustus. They waded through the ivy, frantically searching. Now that she knew where the demon was, she needed to join them and help find the final ingredient as quickly as possible. But before she could move a muscle, the demon swiveled toward her.

  His eyes met Diana’s.

  His face broke into a wide, red smile.

  “Why, hello there,” he said. His voice was deep and gravelly. “I was wondering when you would arrive.”

  Diana grew still. She stared at the hundreds of people who awaited his command, standing in even rows stretching four columns deep beneath the night sky. Save for the sound of flames flickering in the bonfire, silence filled the air.

  “Tsk, tsk. Not very polite, are we?” The demon tilted his head. “When someone says hello, I do believe the correct protocol is to respond with a greeting in kind.”

  Diana’s mouth felt as dry as sand. His words were muted because of the peta
ls stuffing her ears; nevertheless, they chilled her to her core. The demon’s eyes were gray and swirled like two dust storms in his pale, translucent face. Though he was a good five yards away, he seemed to tower over her. His lips were spread wider now. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. It was one thing to plan on defeating a demon to save Augustus’s people and her own, but it was another thing entirely to look evil in the eye. What exactly were they up against?

  “I must tell you,” the demon continued, “you have managed to keep matters interesting for me. A remarkable endeavor, as I have seen a feat or two over my two centuries of living. But I confess that you will be my favorite capture thus far.”

  “Apparently I’ve kept matters so interesting that you actually haven’t bothered to capture me yet,” Diana responded coolly. She tried her best to keep her fear from showing, but his words shook her. Two centuries of living? Did she honestly believe that she, Augustus, and Sakina could truly destroy a creature that had managed to terrorize humans for that long?

  “Not yet. You are a clever one, I shall grant you that much.” The demon chuckled. “Perhaps it is why the reward for your capture was the highest he has ever offered.”

  “Reward?” Diana repeated slowly.

  “Oh yes, a splendid one.” The demon nodded. “Once I take you to him, he will be quite pleased, and you, my dear, will make me richer than I could have ever imagined.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “Oh, you most certainly will.” His lips twisted into an ugly smile. “There are few things I am more certain of than this. And my townspeople here will be thrilled to ensure your compliance.”

  “They’re not your townspeople! You’re forcing them to do your work!” Sakina shouted from behind Diana. She rushed to Diana’s side and put her arm tightly around her friend’s shoulders. Her eyes blazed with anger.

  “I would be careful how you speak to me if I were you.” The demon’s eyes narrowed. “And I must say, as pleased as I am that the boy delivered Diana like he promised, I could have done without the extra baggage. No matter. You can be taken care of easily enough.”

  Augustus. Diana turned her head slightly to check on him. The trees obscured him from the demon’s view. Furiously, he ripped through the ivy, searching for the flower. Her heart raced. Clearly, he hadn’t found it yet. And without its seed, they had no hope of destroying the demon.

  “Thea.” The demon snapped his fingers. “Over here.”

  A ginger-haired woman in a cotton dress stepped out of the line. She hurried over to him.

  “How may I help you?” she asked in a wooden voice.

  “It appears my work here is done. Be a dear and get my belongings. Package them properly, will you? I will be heading out shortly, with my bounty in tow.”

  The woman nodded, curtseyed, and hurried off.

  “You both.” He pointed to two motionless people standing in the crowd and snapped his fingers again. “Over here.”

  They stepped out of line and walked toward him, their eyes blank.

  “After admiring your lovely chariots, I have decided I would like one as well. The best you have. Preferably one encased in gold—the more luxurious, the better.”

  “We have only one in gold, sir,” one of the men said flatly. “It belongs to the god of us all: Zeus.”

  “Ooh.” The demon clasped his hands together. “Fit for Zeus? Even more thrilling. Yes, it will do nicely. Please prepare it for my departure, on the dock.”

  Diana stared at the demon, horrified. Most people trembled at the thought of facing Zeus for any wrongdoing. This demon was not just flagrantly disrespecting a city protected by the gods; he was now stealing from the gods. Zeus would not easily forgive this slight. Taking down the demon grew more and more urgent with each passing second. If he was bold enough to insult Zeus, what else was he capable of?

  “Thank you for your help. You all are such an amiable lot.” He smiled as the two men obediently trotted away for their mission.

  “They’re only listening to you because you’ve hypnotized them,” Diana said.

  “They may be hypnotized, you are correct. But you cannot deny they are content in obeying my orders.”

  He turned to the townsfolk and spoke again. “People of Sáz, your allegiance does not go unnoticed. You will certainly be rewarded for your assistance.”

  The townspeople mumbled their gratitude, their eyes fixed on empty space.

  “You aren’t going to win,” Diana said. “This plan, whatever it is, will not work.”

  “But it already has.” He laughed. “You are here, are you not?”

  Diana clenched her fists. She hated how smug the demon looked.

  “What do you want with me? Where do you want to take me?”

  “You shall find out soon enough. Now, ah, let us proceed.” He snapped his fingers a third time. “Follow along. Our chariot awaits.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” Diana responded. She planted her feet on the ground and crossed her arms.

  “Perhaps I did not make myself clear.” The demon cleared his throat. “Diana, the time has come for us to depart. Do follow me at once.”

  Diana watched him coolly. She felt grateful to Sakina for knowing exactly how to outsmart the demon’s tactics and to Augustus for finding them petals to protect their hearing.

  The demon frowned. And then he shrugged.

  “Very well, then,” he said. “If my words don’t work on you—it happens at times—then never fear. I will simply capture you the old-fashioned way.”

  He moved toward her. The closer he floated, the more anger coursed through Diana’s body. He was so arrogant and entitled, so certain he’d already triumphed. And the way he spoke about taking her with him, as though everyone were an object he could obtain or discard or use to his own advantage.

  No. Diana clenched her jaw. He could not swoop in and claim her as a prize.

  “You’ll have to catch me first,” she shouted. She glanced about for something—anything—to throw at him and noticed a boulder, loosened from the fence. Gripping it, she heaved it up and hurled it at the demon. The rock flew through the air, whizzing toward him—and passed straight through the demon’s torso and out the other side, landing with a sharp crack on the street beyond the bonfire. The demon glanced down at his midsection and then up at her. His face broke into a grin—and then he roared with laughter.

  “Impressive toss. From where I stand, the boulder looked quite heavy. Though I suppose looks can be deceiving if a girl as little as you could lift it so handily.”

  Diana glared at him. She was still afraid of him and all that he could do, but she longed desperately to wipe the smug expression off his face.

  She glanced into the woods. Augustus no longer sifted through the grassy floor. Instead, he stood straight as the trees. Their eyes met. Imperceptibly, he nodded.

  He had found the seed!

  Diana fidgeted. It was one thing to have all the ingredients, but that meant nothing if they weren’t combined at the exact right time. But how were they going to complete the potion under the demon’s watchful eye? She could grab the canteen from Sakina and run to Augustus. She’d be there in a matter of seconds, but the mushroom wasn’t something they could simply grab and toss into the canteen. It required care and caution. Even one small mistake could ruin their plan completely.

  “Now, as for you,” the demon hissed, his gaze turning to Sakina. “Listen to me, girl.” The amusement in his voice was gone. He snapped his fingers once more. “There is a jagged cliff beyond the tree line. Take a leap off it.”

  “I’m not doing anything you tell me to do.” Sakina glowered at him.

  “Hmm. Dance,” he ordered, snapping his fingers again. “Turn in a circle four times.”

  Augustus gingerly moved through th
e woods toward them, but he was still far. Too far. Diana tried to keep her eyes trained on the demon so he wouldn’t notice Augustus inching closer.

  “Stuffed your ears, eh?” the demon said, recognition flickering in his face as he studied both girls. “Common trick. No matter, though. There are other means. Brutus—come here. Get rid of that girl over there, would you?”

  Sakina’s eyes widened. Before she could say anything, another voice cried out.

  “No!” Augustus gasped. The man approaching them was thin, his shoulders rounded. Blond hair swept his forehead.

  Diana winced. Augustus was meant to stay hidden. How else would they stealthily mix the ingredients? But it was too late. The demon’s eyes were fixed on Augustus now.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the man of the hour.” The demon stared at Augustus and grinned. “I must admit, I was of two minds about whether you were up to the task. You performed remarkably.”

  “You gave me no choice,” Augustus shouted.

  “Choice!” The demon threw his head back and scoffed. “Completely overrated. Now, Brutus.” He snapped his fingers. “The girl. Get on with it. Toss her over the cliff. I think that’s the simplest solution.”

  Sakina trembled like a leaf in a storm. Diana jumped in front of her. No one was laying a hand on her best friend.

  “Father,” Augustus cried out. “Don’t do this!”

  His father?

  Augustus rushed toward the man, passing Diana and Sakina.

  “It’s me.” Augustus tugged on his father’s arm, though Brutus continued stalking toward Diana and Sakina. “It’s Auggie. Please don’t listen to this demon! He’s evil!”

  “Evil?” The demon’s eyes glinted. “Now that hurts my feelings. Truly. I am here to help your village, to give you order and purpose. How is this evil?”

  “It’s not true, Father! You can’t trust anything he says!” Augustus shoved at his father, pushing him, trying to get him to stop his relentless walk toward Sakina. “You’re better than this, Father. You’re strong! You can ignore him. Please, try!”