by Marisa Mills
Dorian drew out his pen and handed it to me.
I drew silvery lines on the gem, trying to keep my hand from shaking.
This time,” I whispered, holding the gemstone closer to my lips. “It’s a choice. I’m freeing you because I want to, not because I have to.”
The sigils glittered for a second, before the gemstone burst apart in a flurry of sparks and smoke. Lucian emerged with a roar. His sleek, black scales were split with threads of red-orange fire that burned brightly in the darkness. He stretched his black, feathered wings and snarled, displaying his long, white teeth.
Briar and Dorian took a few steps back, as I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I thought I’d lost you!” I exclaimed.
A deep purr rumbled in Lucian’s throat.
I’m sorry, he murmured, looking ashamed. Celeste was too strong.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I explained quickly. “You weren’t just fighting her, she had the power of four demons. She was stronger than all of us. We wouldn’t have beaten her either, if my father hadn’t used decay to crumble the tower out from beneath her feet.”
Your father? Lucian asked. I wondered how much he’d been aware of inside the gemstone. Not much, apparently.
“The Chancellor was Nicholas Armenia in disguise. He and Celeste were working together, but then… then he changed sides.”
I’m just glad you’re okay, Lucian said.
I looked over my shoulder at Dorian, watching quietly. His face was carefully blank, and I realized he’d never seen Lucian’s true form. Most mages couldn’t see past the demon’s monstrous exteriors, but then, most demons couldn’t talk to them.
“Uncle, this is my friend Lucian,” I said. “Lucian, my uncle Dorian.”
Dorian glanced between me and the scaled demon at my side, wrapping me in a mantle of smoke and sparks. The rings were glowing through the folds of my dress, casting an aura of colored light around me.
“Charmed,” Dorian replied, inclining his head.
I suppose you expect me to be nice to him now? Lucian asked.
“Yes,” I replied, “Please.”
As Lucian approached, smoke puffing out of his nostrils, Dorian tensed, his hand drifting towards the hilt of his sword. I smiled encouragingly, and Dorian awkwardly raised his hand.
“May I?” he asked.
With a snort, Lucian twisted around and brushed his flank against Dorian hand.
Tell him that if he smudges my scales with his fingerprints, I’m going to take a chunk out of his shoulder.
My face warmed, and I awkwardly passed along the message. That seemed like the sort of dark humor my uncle would enjoy, assuming Lucian was even joking.
“Well,” Dorian said, with a wry smile, “I suppose it’ll go nicely with the chunk Wynter carved out of my thigh.”
Lucian snorted and swept into my sword. Its surface sparked with blue flames, before quieting into a subtle blue glow.
I still don’t like him, Lucian said.
I bent down and took Briar’s hand in mine. He seemed anxious at the gesture, and I felt his muscles tighten, but then slowly he sighed. And that was fine. For the first time in a very long time, everything was fine. My father’s rings seemed to burn against my skin, accompanied by the murmuring of demons. Now, I just needed to stop Celeste. Stop her and save Reverie. And after that, I’d save the Scraps, too.
Twenty-Two
I WAS IN A FOREST, blanketed in snow. My breath made small white puffs in the dark air. I shivered and crossed my arms, putting my hands in my armpits in an attempt to keep them warm. When I walked, my boots sank into the snow. My breath came in sputters. Icy wind struck my face, burning my ears and nose.
I stumbled forward through the trees, until I came to a wide ledge looking out over a sweeping mountain range. Fall below, a canyon stretched so deep I couldn’t see the bottom.
You’re a long way from home, a feminine voice murmured.
I spun around, a shiver trailing down my spine.
“Who are you?” I asked.
The shadows moved, and a massive, white cat with long fur stepped from between the trees. They parted around her like blades of grass. I swallowed as her sharp claws pierced into the frozen ground with a snapping noise. She leaned down over me, her blue eyes sparkling like crystal mirrors.
I am Freya, the feline said. I knew your father.
I was dreaming; I realized. This was one of my father’s demons.
And a lot of good knowing Nick did us.
A raven, easily the size of a house, screeched through the air before crashing into the snow on one side of the ledge. Freya sat and swept her tail over her paws.
Yes, she said, in the end, I fear he was like all other mages, stringing together promises he had no intention of keeping.
My heart ached. “What did he promise you?” I asked softly.
To free us, the raven replied, and here we are, years later, and no better for it.
The demon’s beak curved dangerously, like a black scythe. It was too easy to imagine it taking off my head. Could it do that in a dream? I took a step back, towards the ledge. The ground shifted, as rocks broke off from the cliff, tumbling into the abyss behind me. Smoke drifted up from the crevice, filling the air. I shivered as it formed into a winged snake with shimmering, silver scales. It was so massive, it blocked out the mountains behind it, and I couldn’t even see the full length of its long body before it faded into the darkness below.
Guinevere’s daughter, the snake hissed, how much trouble you’ve caused.
“You served my father,” I said meekly. “if you help me—”
“Nick was a powerful mage,” the raven said, its black eyes narrowed. “You are not him.”
“You think you can control us?” the snake said, rising even higher into the sky until the light was swallowed up by his shadow. “You’re just a girl.
“But if you help me—”
If we help you, you’ll free us, a fourth voice cut in. We’ve heard that one before.
A sleek, white goat appeared, dark veins pumping beneath its nearly translucent skin as it jumped across the canyon and came crashing down near us, shaking the ground with its thunderous hooves. It shook its head, displaying a heavy set of dark, curved horns.
So many times, Freya sighed, looking bored. “Maybe we’ll just keep you here, instead. I can make a little cage for you. It’s been so long since I had something to play with.”
I shivered, as the four demons crowded around me, their hot breath stinging my exposed flesh like acid. Blue fire burst through the woods, singing the trees, and Lucian appeared beside me. He coiled himself around me and nudged me close to him, but next to these great demons he was like a small dog barking at the moon.
And have you promised to free him, too? The raven asked,
She’s already freed me, Lucian replied. Twice. She will keep her word.
I drew my hand over Lucian’s warm scales, in silent thanks.
The other demons hissed and muttered to one another.
“What do you require?” Nyx asked, leaning forward with a gleam in his eye.
“The woman who was working with my father, Celeste; she’s planning to free all the demons and destroy Reverie.”
The demons roared with laughter, causing the ground to tremble.
“And you think we’ll help you stop her?” Freya smiled. “Why wouldn’t we just let the mages fall?”
“Because it wouldn’t change anything,” I said. “Not really. They may be free from their prisons, but they could never return home. Neither could you. Plus, the other floating kingdoms would remain. Aubade would grow more powerful. The wars and fighting would continue. It’s not enough to just free a few demons,” I said, remembering Nick and Gwen’s enthusiasm in the meadow. “The whole system has to change.”
“And you think you can change it?” the snake said, leaning close and flicking a long, forked
tongue towards me.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But if you help me try, I will make sure you find the freedom you deserve, as well as help you return to your true homes.”
Even those of us trapped within the chambers beneath the kingdoms? Freya asked. And in the mage weapons? And in the brooms, appliances, anti-rust and anti-rain charms… all of it. The mages may have to get their hands dirty. They won’t like it.
I took a deep breath, considering what I was promising.
“I’m not afraid of dirt,” I said finally, “or hard work.”
The raven swept back into a tree and tilted its head toward us.
I have been hopeful for far too long now, he said. I’m not sure I have the energy.
We all have, Nyx, Freya said thoughtfully, but if she has freed this demon here, she’s already done more than her father ever did.
The raven Nyx ruffled his feathers and considered me. Sibyl, Hyacinth, what do you think?
The winged snake slithered over the snow.
She has spoken well, the snake hissed, I might be willing to give her a chance.
“Thank you,” I replied.
Sibyl? Freya inquired.
If you are willing to try, I am, too, the goat replied. If she fails, we can always corrupt her mind and keep her here with us.
I will lend you my ice, Freya replied, and take your word in good faith.
“I won’t fail you,” I said. “Thank you.”
I have mastery over plants, the snake Hyacinth said.
My powers are over death, Sibyl said.
Decay, I realized. “I’m familiar with your powers,” I replied.
Sibyl tossed its antlers and narrowed its dark eyes.
Then, you’ll realize they are not given lightly.
“I do,” I replied.
I looked at Nyx. The raven clicked its beak a couple of times, and ruffled his giant wings above me. My power is over flame, he said. I will lend it to you in the hopes of a better future, although I’m tired of mages and their games.
I bowed. “Thank you,” I said. “I promise I’ll keep my word.”
She always does, Lucian murmured, his wing brushing my shoulder.
“I’m afraid your word will not be good enough,” Hyacinth said. “We will require a sacrifice.”
I shivered, pulling my cloak tighter around me.
“What kind of sacrifice?” I asked.
“The blood of someone you love,” he hissed.
“No,” I said quickly. “I can’t give you that. You can have my blood.”
“Giving yourself is easier than giving up someone you care about,” Freya said. “We need to know how devoted you are to this cause.”
“Do I… do I get to choose?” I asked, my lip trembling.
“No,” Nyx said. “But don’t worry, most of your friends will probably die in battle anyway. If we succeed, we will consider the debt paid. If we fail, we will strip you of every companion and ally, until you are alone and barren.”
I nodded, numb to the cold. I hated the deal, but what choice did I have? I’d just have to make sure my friends stayed safe.
With a fierce flap of his wings, Nyx took to the skies. Sibyl trotted away, and Hyacinth vanished into the canyon again. Only Freya remained, her blue eyes watching, her white fur fading into the ice and snow behind her.
You’re young, Lucian, she said, her voice filled with a profound sadness. You don’t realize what it is to be trapped for centuries.
Demons were supposed to weaken the longer they’d been trapped. If these demons were still so powerful after so long, they must have been truly wondrous when they were free.
I’ll not deny you’re suffering, Freya murmured, but there are dangers of allying yourself with mages. For them as well as us.
Wynter isn’t like most of them, Lucian said.
Perhaps, not, Freya replied, but one girl isn’t going to change everything. Even if we’re freed, most of us will never be able to return home. The ancient magic that once allowed these mages to access our realm has been lost, and we never had such powers to begin with.
“But there must be some way,” I said. “If Lucian was captured so young…”
Nick was working on a charm once, for your mother. But it takes a great deal of power.
“So the king could access that realm,” I said, my eyes widening.
It didn’t look like… Lucian trailed off.
“He might’ve been younger,” I replied. “He’d have looked different.”
Lucian lashed his tail. I felt the maelstrom of emotions and thoughts twisting about in his mind. He did…look a bit like your princeling.
You’ve allied yourself with a prince? Freya asked tiredly.
“Alexander,” I replied, “The youngest prince of Reverie. He…he’ll help us.”
Doubt flashed in Freya’s eyes. For your sake, I hope so, she murmured. People with power are never inclined to give it up.
“He’d do it for me,” I said. My face warmed. I consciously avoided Lucian’s eyes, but I felt the heat of his gaze upon me, considering.
We are with you, Freya said, sounding very tired. We hope this ends well.
We’d see. Even if these demons agreed to help me, we still had to fight Celeste and save Reverie. There was still a very long way to go.
***
I woke up gasping for breath, Alexander and Sterling were standing over me, shaking my shoulders. Tatiana had began to cry in the background. My fingers clutched fresh grass, feeling the coolness of the earth beneath me, the warmth of the sun on my face.
“What happened,” I said groggily, trying to sit up.
“We couldn’t wake you,” Alexander said with a tense smile. Sterling beamed with relief, pulling me up in a hug.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack, Wynter,” he whispered.
The campsite was already clean and mostly packed up. I realized it was already late morning, which meant Celeste had a head start on us. I stood up so quickly my head spun.
“Hold on,” Alexander said, steadying me. “Before we rush off, we need a plan.”
“Stop Celeste,” I said. “We can figure the rest out later.”
“But do you even know where she is?” Jessa asked.
“She must be heading back to Reverie,” I said, securing my belt around my waist and grabbing my weapons. “She has my blood, and Nick’s.”
“But is that enough?” Tatiana asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “But Nick made her a charm as well.”
“Even if she got in,” Dorian said, “she couldn’t loose so many demons at once. It would take days…”
“There was an attack on the school,” Francisca said, pulling on a wide-brimmed hat. A green scarf nearly covered her face. “Dozens of demons got out.”
Dorian nodded, his face solemn.
“We think they have some kind of device to unseal multiple demons,” Alexander said.
“Even so it would take a lot of power,” Eleanor said. “She’s just one mage.”
“She has four rings of my father’s rings,” I said. “And we barely defeated her last time.”
“But remember, Nick had all eight before. She’s only half as strong as he ever was.”
“That’s still four times stronger than the average mage,” Jessa said quietly.
“She’ll go after the king first,” I said. “For my mother’s pendant. It’s the most powerful thing Nick’s ever made.”
Alexander’s face paled. “My brothers are out there fighting,” he said. “We have to warn them.”
“You want us to save your father?” Francisca scowled. “After he sent Dorian to his death?”
“I know,” Alexander said. “My father has a lot to answer for. He will never agree to free the demons, but maybe I can convince him to give us the pendant, to stop Celeste. Maybe he’ll listen.”
“Because he listened so wel
l last time?” Viviane scoffed, folding her arms.
“He’ll give us, the pendant, to save Reverie. He has to. If he knows the Chancellor of Aubade is dead and Reverie is exposed, maybe he’ll end this war and bring his troops home. Then we’d have any army facing Celeste, and not just us.”
I frowned, looking at the sky. From this level, I couldn’t see above the tree line.
“Is there any way of knowing where the fighting is now?” I asked.
Eleanor pulled out a small scrap of metal etched with a map of the Lower Realms. She drew sigils across the surface, whispered a spell and held a crystal up to the sun. The light caught in the thin slices of the metal, projecting across the ground.
We gathered around Eleanor’s map of the Lower Realms and she tied the device to a tall stick so her hands were free. Already, the map had been filled with scribbles—notes about water sources, army positions that Francisca and Eleanor had been able to observe, and trade routes. Dorian added a couple notes about the subway routes, and Sterling threw in landmarks he recognized. If Reverie fell, a quarter of the map would be destroyed. I eyed the large swathes of forest surrounding Plumba on either side. If Reverie had to fall, maybe we could at least push it towards a less populated area.
“Last we saw, they were east of here,” Francisca said, pointing on the map. “When Lady Sherrinford and I came through, I was able to catch glimpses of some scouting parties.” Francisca moved her finger along the map, tracing the fence that outlined the Dregs, located directly beneath Reverie.
“But we don’t know if the fighting has moved since then,” Alexander said.
“Between all of us, we could prolly cover a lot of ground real fast,” Briar said.
“Sure,” Alexander replied, “but the more we split up, the more time we’ll have to spend finding one another. I don’t like the idea of us diminishing our numbers.”
“I don’t think they’ve moved,” Dorian said slowly.
“And what makes you say that?” Eleanor asked.
“Aubade probably still has agents in Reverie. Those agents either have exactly what they need to open the chamber, or they will soon. Once that chamber is opened, the demons will be released, and Reverie will begin falling,” Dorian said.