by Kristen Pham
The next day, she decided to visit the Knights’ Guild to see if there was any news about the mission to rescue Jet and Kellen. When she arrived, the Guild was in an uproar.
Kellen was surrounded by Knights who wanted to welcome him back. He flushed as if he were pleased by the warm reception. She noticed Gideon across the courtyard and headed over to him.
“You did it! I knew you didn’t need me,” she said. But then she noticed Chrome at Gideon’s side. His breathing was labored, and he flooded her mind with images. She saw their desperate search in Dunsinane, where they were attacked multiple times by the invisible men, Zunya and his team, and figures in hoods that wielded lightning. Four Knights were killed. But among all of the images he showed, there was no trace of Jet.
“He wasn’t with Kellen?” she asked, reeling from the knowledge that so many Knights had given their lives. If she had been there, could even one have been saved?
Chrome showed her how they found Kellen, beaten, tied and gagged, behind a rock.
“So he never even saw Jet?”
Gideon shook his head. “He has no memory of how he was taken. It is likely they used sleeping sand on him to keep him unconscious. It only works on fairies, and very few even know it exists. He doesn’t know why he was taken.”
An image flashed through her mind of Chrome examining Kellen, and the image was tinged with suspicion. She almost exclaimed out loud, but she sensed that Chrome wanted that to be something private that he shared only with her.
“We’re going to continue our search for Jet, now that Kellen has been escorted home,” Gideon added.
“This time, I’m coming with you,” she said.
“It is time,” Gideon agreed, and a pang of Chrome’s relief and gratitude washed through her.
“But not as a leader,” she quickly added. “I’ll just help the best I can.”
Gideon nodded. “Know that while you may not consider yourself leading the Knights, they may view you that way whether you wish it or not. You must prepare yourself.”
Kellen had fluttered over to the group and caught their last words. “I won’t have you rushing off without a plan.”
Chrome’s rage was instant, and an image of Jet’s broken body filled her mind, the image laced with his intense fear that any time lost could make that image a reality. But Kellen’s face was stone. “We can’t throw away the lives of more Knights on a wild goose chase. We’ll send another search party when we have a more solid lead. He must be in the Black Castle, and we’re not getting in without an escort.”
Chrome raced away from them into the woods. She watched him leave, imagining how she would feel if Thai had been taken. Or Cyrus, Kanti, Henry, or Dulcea, for that matter.
“I have an idea that might give us some direction,” she offered tentatively.
Kellen eyed her sharply. “Go on.”
“My brother has powerful psychic abilities, and I knew Jet. I thought if we joined our minds, we might be able to sense him somewhere. At least it would give us a hint of where he is.”
“Have you ever done that before?” Kellen asked her.
She shook her head. “We’re only beginning to understand how his powers work. But he’s willing to try.”
“It can only help,” Gideon agreed.
Kellen nodded. “Bring him to the Guild in a week. I need to get a few things in order, and I want to be present when you do this.”
The next day, Valerie went to visit Azra to tell her that she would be helping with the search for Jet.
Perhaps that’s best. Her voice in Valerie’s mind sounded weary. Soon we must decide what course of action to take about the Excision, but until we do, you will be safer outside the Capitol building. But don’t travel alone—always have a friend with you.
“I will,” she said.
There is another piece of information I have wanted to tell you. You are beginning to understand the expectations that come with being a vivicus. But there is a responsibility that you don’t know of, one that I had forgotten myself until I searched the Akashic Records.
Her heart speeded up with dread. “What is it?”
A vivicus cannot take a life without sacrificing her own.
She sighed with relief. “I wouldn’t want to kill anyone. Look what happened when I fought Sanguina.”
For yourself, I know you that is true. But when defending your friends, you will do well to remember it. Henry would not thank you if you sacrificed your life to save his.
“But I would, in a heartbeat.”
Azra’s eyes were troubled, and she bent her head, hiding in her mane. You must learn that you are precious, too. Protect and love yourself as you would your friends.
She nodded, but she wasn’t sure that she agreed. It seemed wrong, selfish somehow. And she knew from experience that without friends and family, her life didn’t have the same value.
That is not the only price that your vivicus power will exact from you. There is something else.
“Something worse?”
Azra flicked her tail uncomfortably. You are not the only vivicus on the Globe.
“But I thought you said there hasn’t been a new vivicus since the Globe was created.”
That is true. But one came with us, and still lives. You know him well.
She was perplexed, but then it dawned on her. There was only one other creature who could bring someone from the brink of the grave. “Darling,” she breathed. “But what could be bad about that?”
Darling wasn’t always the creature he is now. He was a wise and eloquent leader of our people for decades. But each time he used his power, he lost a piece of himself, his intellect. Now he is a creature acting purely with his heart, saving life after life with no concept of self. He is goodness incarnate, but he is no longer the friend I once cherished.
Valerie shook her head, refusing to absorb the meaning of what Azra was telling her.
Every time you save a life with your power, you trade a piece of yourself. Eventually nothing will be left except your power.
All Valerie’s breath left her body. She couldn’t imagine her mind turning childlike, as Darling’s had. Would she even recognize her friends, her family? And what about Thai? How could he ever love her romantically when there was nothing left of her other than her power?
“Something was being ripped from me when I used my power, but I didn’t understand what it was. But I wouldn’t change the choices I made. How can I let someone die when I can save them?”
The choice is yours. And know that it took many years for Darling’s mind to dissolve away and leave only his beautiful beating heart.
As Valerie left the Capitol building, she tried to process what Azra had told her, but she couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She was grateful to sense someone rushing after her, welcoming the distraction. She automatically assumed a defensive stance as she turned in case it was an enemy, but relaxed when she saw that it was only Chern.
“Dear me, would you mind escorting me home? I was so afraid that I would have to go alone, but now that you’re here, and with your fighting power, I’m sure you wouldn’t hesitate, that is…”
“Of course, Chern. Lead the way.”
They left The Horseshoe and walked through the winding streets. “Have you come to any conclusions about who the spy might be?” he asked her abruptly after an awkward silence.
“You know about that?” she asked in surprise.
“Of course,” he said, with a sniff. “I’m on the Council. Not much escapes my notice.”
“Well then, who do you think it might be?”
He leaned toward her conspiratorially. “My money’s on the crazy Conjuror leading the Society of Imaginary Friends.”
“Rastelli?” she said with a laugh. “He’s so scattered. And he’s not even a member of the Council.”
“But he’s good friends with young Calibro—his daughter is her best friend. Who knows what he might have overheard?”
She nodded thought
fully, remembering Dulcea’s discomfort with the Grand Master. “Thanks, Chern. I’ll check it out. Do you know anything about what Sanguina’s been up to these days?”
He shuddered dramatically. “I give her a wide berth. They say she’s reformed but I doubt it. I’m just waiting for her to find me alone in a dark alley.” He was working himself up.
“No, surely even if she isn’t reformed, she has bigger fish to fry,” she said soothingly. But anger flashed across his features before he could hide it. “Not that you’re not important!” she added lamely.
“N-no, I’m sure you’re right. Though you’d be surprised how often I find signs that I’m being followed. It’s important work, keeping the Globe’s history.”
“Absolutely,” she said, hoping her enthusiasm would soothe his wounded ego.
They arrived at an unassuming cottage with a small garden and a white picket fence. It was the American dream come to life.
“Home sweet home,” he announced cheerily. “Come in for a cup of tea.”
“I’m afraid I need to get home before my brother worries,” she said.
His face hardened, and she feared she had offended him. “Surely, you have a few minutes. You could make sure no one has been messing with my things.”
A prickle of discomfort made her back away. “Maybe another time.”
He turned on his heel and walked away in a huff, without saying goodbye. Typical. Cyrus was right, there was something very self-serving about Chern.
Chapter 20
The rest of the week went by quickly, as Valerie spent her time strategizing with Gideon and Chrome on their next move and putting renewed effort into her training.
Finally, the day rolled around when she brought Henry to her Guild so that they could use his psychic power to search for Jet.
“I don’t know what everyone’s expecting,” he said nervously.
“You can only help. The worst case is that we find nothing.”
“I hope Chrome’s hopes aren’t up,” Henry said.
Valerie involuntarily winced at his words. “Maybe a little.”
Chrome’s hopes were sky high, because without new information there wasn’t much more they could try.
“He thinks I’m the answer, doesn’t he?” Henry said, chewing on his already ragged thumbnail.
She nodded. “I know it’s a lot of pressure. Thank you for doing this.”
His face relaxed a little. “Of course, sis. You know I’ll do everything I can.”
Kellen, Gideon, and Chrome were all waiting for them in the courtyard. As usual, Chrome was pacing restlessly, and his eyes lit up at their approach.
“Why don’t we do this in my office, away from prying eyes?” Kellen asked.
They followed the fairy to his corner office. It was large and beautiful, with tinted windows that let in a gentle light. Inside was a tiny desk on a pedestal that was clearly where Kellen did his work. There were also a number of chairs in all shapes and sizes. Henry and Valerie pulled two of the larger chairs together, facing each other. Kellen and Chrome hovered nearby.
“Tell us if you need anything,” Gideon said.
“A little space would be great,” Henry said, and Kellen and Chrome reluctantly moved back.
Valerie gripped Henry’s hands and fully opened her mind to him. She showed him what Jet looked like—black and sleek, racing through the forest as he tracked invisible magic trails that only he and Chrome could sense. She also remembered what his personality was like, courageous, smart, and loyal. He was a little less serious than Chrome, and knew how to make her smile.
She could see Henry absorbing the information. “Ready?” he asked, and she nodded.
He opened his mind to her, and for the first time in weeks, the connection returned in full force. All of his worry, self-doubt, and sadness flooded through her. She had no idea how much he had been holding in—the grief over missing his father, his rage at whoever had attacked her, insecurity about Kanti, and an overriding terror that Sanguina and Zunya would find him again.
Before she could react, he turned his thoughts toward the problem at hand, and she tried to help him focus. Together, they concentrated on Jet. At first, it was forced, almost silly. Henry was pushing outward, as if there was a wall in his mind that he could knock down.
Suddenly a vibration of magic hummed through her, and his mind seemed to expand, sweeping across the Globe. They watched in amazement as rivers, valleys, and forests rushed through their minds. She was in awe at her brother’s power, but she guided his mind toward the purple mountains of Dunsinane.
He homed in on Jet like he was a beacon of light in the darkness. Henry’s mind saw the Black Castle and rushed toward it, inside it, through the dark halls and into a room with a blood red throne that she recognized. It was where she had fought Sanguina.
A figure stood by the throne with his back turned. In the dim light, she could barely see his tall form, but his dizzying, dark power was unmistakable.
“I’m done with him,” Reaper said, his voice laced with disgust. For the first time, she saw Jet, lying on his side, breathing shallowly. His coat was no longer black. Whatever Reaper had done to him had turned it entirely white. If she had stumbled upon him, she wouldn’t have recognized him.
Henry gently probed the wolf’s mind. He almost immediately recoiled at what he found. There were broken visions of a tall, robed man sending excruciating waves of pain through his body.
“I’ll take it from here,” Zunya said, stepping into Jet’s line of sight. The wolf didn’t even have the energy to move away as Zunya reached out and touched his fur. It would have seemed like a gentle pat if she hadn’t known that he was ripping away the remaining shreds of Jet’s magic.
Henry forced himself to reenter Jet’s mind as his very life force was ripped away. When Zunya finally pulled back, Jet was unconscious and barely alive. She doubted his magic would ever return. Valerie forced herself to keep her horror in check so that she didn’t accidentally sever Henry’s mental connection with the wolf.
“Boy, take him to his cell,” Zunya commanded. A boy about her age stepped from the shadows. It was Shade, one of the crew who attacked Conjurors and stole their magic. She suddenly remembered that Chern had said he had come looking for her, and a wave of guilt washed over her. Maybe he’d been trying to help her, like he had in the Black Castle with Sanguina. She should have tried to find him sooner.
She could see the fear and pity in Shade’s eyes at the sight of the wolf. He and another boy gently picked up his body and headed down to the cells in the dungeon.
She had a burst of inspiration. They had to send Shade a message. Henry immediately caught her intent and approached Shade’s mind.
They sent an offer of immunity if he would come to Arden and help them. She swore that he and his gang would be taken care of, given food, shelter, and help developing their magic if they wanted it.
He seemed stunned, and stumbled. “Valerie?” he whispered. There was hope in his voice. “We’ll come.”
They saw him carefully, almost tenderly lay Jet on the ground. In the adjacent cell, a whimper caught their attention. Her mind reeled at the sight of Darling curled up piteously. He was in chains.
Her shock severed Henry’s connection with Jet, and abruptly they were back in Kellen’s office. Henry slumped back in his chair, exhausted.
Chrome ran over to her and put his front paws on her knees. He stared into her eyes, waiting for answers.
“Jet’s alive,” she said, and Chrome’s eyes lit up. “But he’s hurt. He’s in the Black Castle. And Darling is trapped there with him.”
She registered the alarm on Gideon’s face, but noticed that Kellen seemed distracted.
“So we’re no better off than we were before,” Kellen fluttered nervously around Valerie’s chair.
“Not necessarily. Along the way, we met an old—friend,” Valerie said, stumbling on the word. But she realized that Shade—Jack—had been a friend to her. Sh
e didn’t know what happened in his life that drove him to follow Zunya, but she would try to suspend her judgment. He had proven that the good in him outweighed the bad.
Kellen narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying?”
“She’s saying that you will finally have your guide to the Black Castle,” Henry said. His voice sounded weary, but she also sensed his underlying satisfaction that he had been able to help.
A cascade of disconnected images raced through her mind from Chrome—the morning sun on fresh green leaves, wind tickling gray fur, and Jet leaping over a smoldering fire. Chrome was sending her thanks—they had given him hope.
“Do you think it was wrong that we didn’t give them all the details?” Valerie asked Thai. He was himself for the first time in days.
“No, it would only make Chrome insane. That’s how I’d feel in his shoes.”
“Me, too,” Valerie agreed. Picturing Thai being tortured by Reaper and Zunya made her flesh crawl.
“Do you think—” she started to ask him another question when suddenly Thai began to shiver.
“What is it?” she asked.
Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead and he groaned. Then he fell back against his pillows.
“Chisisi!” She screamed, searching for him in every room of the house. She found him in Joe’s tiny greenhouse. He took one look at her face and raced to Thai’s bedroom, where he was thrashing on the bed, mumbling.
“The crisis has come. It is time,” Chisisi said.
“What can I do? I have to help!”
He turned to her with sympathetic eyes. “There is not much either of us can do, young miss. But stay with him. The sight of your face can only comfort him now.”
Thai screamed in pain. “Please make it stop!”
“Let me die!” Though the voice was similar, there was a childlike quality to it that made her selfishly hope that it was Tan who had spoken.
Valerie fell to her knees beside Thai’s bed, frozen on the outside, and burned alive on the inside. She had never felt so helpless in her life—not when Zunya robbed her of her powers, or Sanguina controlled her mind, or when she had been brutally punished by her foster parents.