Regali (A Walker Saga)

by Jaymin Eve

“What has happened?” She reached out to enclose the soft-looking paws in her hands.

  Klea responded with lots of roaring yowls. They just sounded like animal noises to me, but clearly Ria understood. Her features paled; as she turned back to us she was chalky white.

  “It is the sacred one; we must save her.”

  We were all on our feet, ready to go. I wondered who the sacred one was.

  “There is no time to waste.” Ria flung her hands skyward. “We must travel quickly and avoid the packs.”

  The room was suddenly flooded with light as the roof lifted up. I hadn’t noticed that it was created from a series of overlaying tree branches. Vines descended in through the opening and threaded around our waists. I found myself flung up and dropped to land on top of Artwon’s canopy. Somehow the dense canopy of the trees had flattened to form a path that we could travel on.

  “Follow me,” Ria yelled as she dashed across the path, looking like a flying fairy.

  I was just about to move when a bright red globe caught my attention. This was the first time I’d seen the sky of Regali. The canopy was generally too thick, but standing there it felt like I was practically a part of the night and we were surrounded by seven large moons. They were massive, six blue and the largest of all was a red. Its beams of light cast the purple tint to the sky. They were one of the most mesmerizing things I’d ever seen.

  “Abbs, come on. We can stare at the sky later,” Lucy said as she dashed past me with Colton.

  Brace stopped and waited for me. He knew we could catch up to them quickly.

  “It’s almost as beautiful as my house in the sky.” I smiled at him.

  There were no stars here, or I couldn’t see them over the light of the moons. Stars would have made the picture perfect.

  “Ready to go.” I held out my hand to Brace.

  He took it and then we were running, although it was fast enough to feel like flying.

  We caught up to Colton and Lucy easily.

  “Enjoying yourself, Luce?” I laughed as we broke even.

  Colton had her arm and was dragging her along. I don’t even think her feet touched the ground.

  “Oh, yeah, loving it,” she muttered. “My right arm was just for looks anyways. It had no practical use, so it’s fine for dog-boy to dislocate it.”

  I could see Ria now. The moonlights reflected off the sheen of her hair. The jungle below us seemed to be alive, although there were fewer noises now.

  “This is so awesome,” I blurted. “It’s as if we’re running on top of the world.”

  “I feel so close to the sky.” Lucy had her free arm out to the side, her face raised. “Like I could fly.”

  I let out a screech. “You are flying, Lucy.”

  It was true her feet were now far off the ground. Colton only had the barest hold of her hand. The moment I spoke she looked down.

  “What the eff?” she stuttered, her eyes huge. She hit the ground hard then. “How did I do that?”

  “I have no idea, Lucy, but it might be time to do some investigating into you.” Colton was watching her closely. “There’s no way you’re an Earthling, not with your abilities.”

  “I agree,” Brace said. “There’s a strange energy inside you. I always thought it was your gift as a soothsayer, but there’s something more.”

  “How could I be anything else?” She sounded confused. “I had parents. I was born in the adult compound.”

  I snorted. “That’s what Olden told you. How old were you when you were left at the junior compound?”

  “I was two,” she said. “And you’re right: I don’t remember my life before that. I’ve only had Olden’s word.” Her face clouded over with anger. “Shame she was killed before I could torture her for answers.”

  Ahead of us, Ria slowed and then suddenly disappeared. My heart started to beat faster. Where had she gone?

  When we reached the spot, I could for the first time see the edge of Artwon. It was a massive forest, spanning forever around us. As we slowed, the canopy opened and I gasped as vines shot forward and secured us again. We were lowered to the forest floor.

  It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the dimmer light under the trees. But I felt them before I could see them; the Seventine were here.

  Once my vision cleared the scene became alarmingly apparent. There were three men. They stood at the base of the largest tree I had ever seen. It was at least fifty feet across and rose up higher than I could see. It looked to sit above the canopy, and yet I hadn’t seen it when we’d run across the branches.

  Was this the sacred one Ria had referred to? The way she felt about nature, it would make sense. And if I focused I could feel a large thrum of energy vibrating through this tree.

  “What is everyone freaking out about?” Lucy said in a low voice. “It’s just three men.”

  “Three men possessed by the Seventine,” Brace bit out.

  If I zoomed in my eyesight to its full capabilities, I could see the fine cracking fissures on the men’s skin. The power would not be contained for long, so right now we just needed to find out what they wanted.

  “You must not harm the sacred tree.” Ria strode forward until she was mere feet from them. “It is the lifeblood of Artwon.”

  “Oh, we know, Queen.” I recognized the voice which came from the middle man. The first. “That’s why it’s our next energy tether. We did have a nice little gathered amount of power back on First World, but we understand that’s no longer available, so we need a huge influx to free the fourth.”

  He must be talking about the room of horrors. I would have thought he’d be more visibly upset, but his tone was matter of fact.

  “It houses the tree spirits,” Ria cried.

  And I remembered that was where her mother existed.

  He laughed. “Even better.”

  At that point the three humans joined hands and faced toward the giant tree. Ria rushed at them but was thrown back, along with all the vegetation she was sending their way.

  “Help me!” she screamed as we reached her side and Brace pulled her to her feet. “How can we stop them?”

  I shook my head. “I told you the only way is to lock them back up. They’re the original power; we have no way to stop this.”

  Suddenly the tethers of the sacred tree were now visible. And there looked to be thousands if not hundreds of thousands. It was old and it was powerful, and before my eyes the Seventines’ power was cutting through the ties. At first I couldn’t see any change in the ancient and sacred tree, but as the tethers disappeared it began to shimmer. And then the leaves were the first to go –they simply vanished – followed by the branches.

  “Oh, my sacred gods.” Ria dropped to her knees. “This cannot be happening.”

  It took them two minutes. Two minutes to completely undo a tree that was probably –

  “A million years,” Klea moaned. The leon was back in her other form and was crouched beside Ria. I hadn’t noticed how many of the pack surrounded us. “It has stood here for a million years and now it is gone.”

  And it was gone. Fading from our sight like mist in the sun. The first, housed in the body of a First Worlder, turned to face us.

  “Time to free the fourth,” he said.

  The shells they wore exploded before us. It was nothing like the power of Que, but it still knocked almost everyone down.

  Brace was on his feet. He reached down and pulled me up.

  “We have to hurry, Red.” He gripped my chin firmly before leaning down and kissing me soundly on the lips.

  “Uh, what?” I stuttered as he pulled back; he’d said something right.

  He gave me a heart-stopping grin. “I said we need to hurry and perform the ritual. Before they release the fourth.”

  Screams started behind me. I spun quickly, my eyes darting left and right to find the problem.

  It was Ria.

  She stood before the sacred tree space and as I moved to her side I noticed what had
caused her anguish. It was barely discernible, but spanning out from the newly untethered sacred tree, slivers of brown threaded the vines.

  “They’re dying,” she sobbed. Leaves and vines were wrapping themselves around her in comfort. “If the tree is not restored all of Artwon will die.”

  I reached out and, pushing through the foliage, found her hand and gripped it tight. “I don’t know for sure, but our research indicates that if the Seventine are re-imprisoned all the tethers will be restored. So if you leave and help with the fourth ritual, it might be over today.”

  “And if the ritual does not work?” Her violet eyes bored into me.

  “Then we have to beat them in the final battle.” And I had to give up Brace and my very soul.

  She turned away to stare at the faint signs of Artwon’s death.

  With a sigh she nodded. “Yes, I will join you. There is no point ruling only to let my world die around us.” She raised her voice. “Packs, unite.”

  They moved from all over to circle around us.

  “I am leaving to try and restore the sacred tree. I authorize Klea as interim leader, but she will confer with each pack elder on all decisions. Abby will bring me back as frequently as possible, so if you can wait to do anything major I will be around.”

  Noise exploded from the pack members. Klea’s growls silenced them again.

  “Yes.” Ria started to answer their questions. “Artwon will die without the sacred tree. I would not leave if it wasn’t this important. I promise I will do everything in my power to save our land.”

  She flicked her eyes up to lock on me. “We have no time to spare, right? I can’t spend one last night giving Klea instructions.”

  I pursed my lips before shaking my head. “We have to perform the ritual before they release the fourth. It’s our only chance.”

  She sighed, turning to Klea. “I’m sorry, old friend. But I trust you, and I know you will rule fairly and with compassion in my stead.”

  “I will try my best.” Klea nodded her head toward her Queen. “Just hurry home. I am not a ruler; I do not have the temperament. You are the true Queen.”

  Ria pulled herself free from the plants to hug her friend.

  “If I don’t make it back, get them to safety,” I heard her whisper. “Find somewhere else on Regali for them to live. Stay together as one strong unit.”

  Klea growled once as she pulled back. Ria then turned and, touching one finger to her brow, she seemed to salute the rest of the pack members. Everyone in the clearing dropped to their knees before her, a united sign of respect. Ria gave an audible swallow.

  “Let’s go,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

  I didn’t waste any time. I couldn’t afford for her to change her mind.

  I traced the five of us back to our house in Angelisian. I chose the front white room as our landing place and as soon as everyone started to move I used my power to sense who was around. There was a faint feeling of Talina’s energy coming from the direction of the ocean, but that was all I could detect.

  “Now what do we do? What is the next step to finding and destroying these Seventine?” Ria’s voice was as hard as timber.

  I figured it wasn’t the time to remind her that we couldn’t destroy them, only imprison them.

  “I need the other half-Walkers: Talina from Spurn and Fury from Crais,” I explained. “Then we go to the entrance of their prison to perform the ritual of the four.”

  She stared at me for an extended moment. And her expression said that I was doing too much talking and not enough moving.

  “Alright then, I’ll go get Fury. You all can wait to see if Talli surfaces.” I threw Lucy a deadpan look.

  She returned it with the slightest grin. Ria was not a happy camper.

  I spun around and lifted my face in anticipation of Brace’s kiss. He did not disappoint. It was brief, but so hot as he slipped his tongue between my parted lips I was practically panting when he pulled away.

  “Shouldn’t we get dinner if there’s going to be a show?” Colton drawled.

  Lucy laughed in one short burst. Those two were far too similar for my liking.

  “Behave.” I waved my hands at them. “I’ll be back soon.”

  I traced my way straight to the room of horrors, but it was empty. Staring around the space I realized that now it was empty of the thousands of bodies it was absolutely massive. The walls appeared to be made of a reflective white surface and somehow light shone from tiny spaces along the joins. It was cold and sterile. But there was no time to examine the ins and outs. I needed to find Fury. I lowered the shields of my mind.

  Dad, where are you? I called for Josian.

  His presence filled my mind immediately. For some reason he never seemed to have a shield up. I’d ask him about that one day.

  Aribella, nice to hear from you, baby girl. We’re at the castle, in the throne room.

  I’ll be right there, I said as I reshielded myself.

  I wasted no time tracing into a corner of the castle’s throne room. My sudden appearance was unseen as the large area was filled with crying and screaming people, which I assumed were the awoken victims from the horror room.

  “Hey, Abby, how is everything?”

  I spun to face the person with the soft calm voice. It was Francesca.

  “Crazy, isn’t it?” She nodded to the hysteria. “Half of them are family and friends who thought their loves ones were lost.”

  I took a deep breath. “Are you okay? I’m sorry you ended up in that situation.”

  She gave a strangled laugh. I wished I could read more from her eyes, but as usual the pure white globes gave away nothing.

  “Que found me, tried to turn me into his own personal oracle. He broke me down, built me up again and broke me again. I’d have done anything to make it stop, but my powers had other ideas. I haven’t had a vision in months.”

  “So that’s why he strung you up for your energy?”

  She nodded. “Yes, he said I might as well be useful to him.”

  “Tell me about Samuel?” I said, my voice hardening. “Why did he betray us? And why did you never warn me that he was in with Que? Surely you saw something?”

  “Why don’t you just ask me yourself, Aribella?” Samuel said as he stepped out of the crowd with Lallielle and Josian right behind him.

  “I never saw anything.” Francesca’s voice was a whisper. “My power has forsaken me.” And with that she started to wail and sob.

  I left Lallielle to comfort her while I faced Samuel.

  “You have two seconds to speak or I’m going to break your nose again.”

  He laughed. It sounded harsh with his husky voice. His throat had been damaged during his imprisonment on Earth.

  “I didn’t betray anyone. Or I wasn’t aware that I was,” he said, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “At some point on Earth Que must have done something to me. He rolled my mind. When I returned to First World I was mostly in control of my actions, but occasionally I’d find myself waking up with missing time. I’d have eight or ten hours I couldn’t account for.”

  His eyes implored me to believe him. But I didn’t.

  “Where’s Lucy?” he finally asked after a few moments’ silence.

  “Stay away from her.” I pointed my finger at him.

  “You don’t believe this, right?” I spun to face my silent father.

  He shook his head, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “I’m reserving judgment. Que definitely had the energy levels for something like that, but it’s also a mighty convenient excuse.”

  He leaned down close to my ear. “Your mother believes him, though. She’s insisting he come home. But I’ll be keeping a close eye on him.”

  I sighed. Of course my soft-hearted mother would be taken in by his con. He was her son and she’d never believed he could be so evil.

  “Have you seen Fury?” I asked Josian, getting back to the most important part. “Ria’s at our home. We’re
ready to perform the ritual.”

  “She said she wasn’t breathing the same air as a punk-ass backstabber,” Samuel said, overhearing my question. “I believe she and the red man went out into the courtyard.”

  I caught the slight grin on his lips.

  I couldn’t help my own grin as I turned away. That was so Fury.

  “Contact me when you’re back at the prison,” Josian said. “I’ll come and make sure nothing goes wrong.”

  “And be careful,” Lallielle added over Francesca’s shoulder.

  “You got it.” I blew them both a kiss.

  I made my way through the masses of emotional people. I didn’t feel any Walker power in the group, so I guessed they’d already left for other worlds.

  As I passed by one expressive and stricken face after another I wondered if any of them would truly recover from this ordeal, or were there just some things too all-encompassing to come back from?

  I thought of Lallielle’s face when she’d talked of losing me and Samuel, and I knew there were definitely some things that would change you fundamentally. You could never be the same person again.

  Chapter 12

  I found that tiny courtyard without any more distractions. It was relatively unadorned, besides one thud tree in the center, its branches casting off spheres of shade in the sunlight. I strode out to stand beside the thick trunk, looking around. It took me a few moments to notice them. They were tucked into the corner, and they were very busy.

  And then, right in the middle of their kissing session, Fury burst into flames. Dune threw his head back, her rejuvenating flame working on his energy levels immediately. It always amazed me the physical changes I could see when he absorbed the fire.

  I waited until they were done, and as I watched them something occurred to me. Why didn’t their clothes burn? I knew there was nothing special about them. They were just First-World fibers and should be flammable. But it was as if whatever touched their bodies didn’t burn. That was odd and convenient.

  “Are you just going to stand there like a weird creeper nomad?” Fury swung her head to grin at me as her flames disappeared.

  I snorted. “An audience doesn’t usually bother you … don’t tell me you’re having performance issues.” I raised one brow.