Crisanta Knight: To Death & Back

by Geanna Culbertson

  Kai wheeled on Daniel. “Do you remember when we were twelve and I taught you how to swim?”

  The first four magic hunters burst out of the forest twenty feet away. Four more were right behind them.

  Daniel shot a puzzled look at his girlfriend. “Taught me how to swim? Kai, you pushed me off a—”

  Before Daniel could finish his sentence, Kai shoved me from behind. It was hard to say whether I was more surprised, terrified, or enraged by the move. But figuring out my exact emotional state hardly seemed important as I plummeted to the water below. In those kinds of situations, screaming tends to take priority over pretty much everything else.

  t’s difficult to start a friendship with someone when they push you off a cliff.

  I’d only met Kai once before—when Daniel had brought us to her house in Century City. She and I hadn’t become instant besties or anything, but she’d seemed like a cool person and I’d liked her just fine. Now though, was a different story. As I dragged myself out of the river, I was not happy with her.

  After the visceral drop to the icy waters, I was roughly dragged under the current and had come very close to smashing into some partially submerged rocks. It had not been fun. Thankfully, the current had leveled off downstream and I was able to wade to the riverbank. Silver sparks from SJ’s SRB whirred around me.

  I looked around. Beyond the gorge swallowing us, the twilight sky had turned cloudy. The day was over and night was setting in.

  Exactly one day left until the Vicennalia Aurora.

  I continued to cough up water as Kai and Daniel paddled out of the river behind me. Kai started wringing out the water from her hair but stopped when she saw me.

  “Why aren’t you wet?” she asked. She turned and saw that Daniel was suddenly dry too. A few fading silver sparks danced around his clothes. “Why aren’t either of you wet?”

  “This is an SRB,” he said, holding up his wrist. “It’s a bracelet that’s been laced with a potion to keep us clean and dry no matter what kind of mess we get into.”

  “Where’d you get that?”

  “SJ made them,” Daniel said. “Here, give it a try.”

  Daniel removed his brown rope bracelet and placed it around Kai’s wrist. Then he kissed the top of her head. A slew of sparks skimmed across Kai’s body as he pulled away. A blink of an eye later, she was dry.

  “Wow. Okay, so that’s one good explanation. Now I need about a dozen others,” Kai said as she handed the bracelet back to Daniel. “Where are we? What am I doing here? And, Daniel, what kind of greeting was that?”

  Daniel grinned. “Sorry.”

  The two of them exchanged a brief kiss. It was short, but it irritated me.

  “How about we start with a question for you,” I replied, crossing my arms. “What were you thinking pushing me off a cliff like that?”

  “I was thinking about saving our lives,” Kai countered, crossing her arms as well. “It’s not like we had any other option.”

  “You could have at least warned me.”

  “There was no time. You might have argued. Besides, the drop wasn’t so bad and we can all swim.”

  “You assumed I could swim,” I countered. “What if you’d been wrong?”

  Kai shrugged. “Yeah, you’re right. I knew Dani could swim, but with you I did kind of assume. Sorry. Everything still worked out though, didn’t it? So no harm, no foul.”

  “That’s not exactly how I would phrase it,” I replied. My gaze narrowed and drifted to Daniel. “Of all the people you could’ve summoned to help us—Jason, SJ, Blue, Peter Pan, Eva in Oz, heck, I would’ve even taken the Headless Horseman—you used Merlin’s potion to bring her here?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kai asked defensively.

  “Nothing,” Daniel intervened, putting his hand on her shoulder. He glanced at me and I saw remorse in his eyes. “Knight, I didn’t choose to bring Kai here. I smashed the vial on the ground like Merlin said and the person that we needed most showed up. You saw Kai; she saved us both. If it weren’t for her sword skills,” he gave her a small, affectionate smile, “and quick thinking, we would have been toast.”

  Kai smiled back at him and the two bumped shoulders.

  “Yeah, I know.” I sighed, feeling frustrated. “But what are we supposed to do now? We’ve still got a mission to complete and since the Gwenivere Brigade has my Hole Tracker, we have no way of finding a portal to send her home.”

  “Home?” Kai repeated. “Forget it. Ever since the lot of you came by my house and told me about your mission to find Paige Tomkins, I’ve regretted not going with you. It sounded then like you could use some help, and now I’m sure of it.”

  “Reason with her, please,” I pleaded to Daniel. “She’s not safe here.”

  Kai raised her eyebrows. “I’m not safe here? I just took out half a dozen magic hunters while you were trapped in a net. If anyone’s not safe here, it’s you.”

  For a split second I wondered if punching Daniel’s girlfriend would violate my promise to protect her. Deciding that it would, I let the matter drop. It was cold and getting darker and we needed to make camp.

  “I’m going to get some wood to make a fire,” I said, drawing my sword from its sheath.

  Daniel stepped toward me. “Knight, you shouldn’t—”

  “Relax,” I said, waving him off. “I’m not going far. Just fill her in on the story. A lot has changed since we saw her last. If she’s going to stay, she needs to know exactly what she’s getting into.”

  When I got back with the firewood, it was too little too late.

  During the extra time I’d taken to cool off, Kai had chopped firewood, done some fishing, and cooked us dinner while Daniel caught her up on our tale. Unlike the second granola bar from Merlin that I had to choke down, Kai’s grilled fish with wild herbs was delicious. I didn’t compliment the chef though. I accepted that she was stuck with us, but I was still mad at her for pushing me off a cliff. Daniel clearly noticed my irritation.

  After dinner, Kai decided to take a short stroll along the river to process everything we’d told her; she promised not to wander out of sight. I sat on a log by the fire staring at the flickering flames. Daniel sat next to me. We sat in silence for a minute.

  “You’re mad at me,” he said eventually.

  “No, I’m not,” I responded without looking up. “I’m just frustrated. You know why Kai shouldn’t be here.”

  “You think I wanted this?” Daniel replied earnestly. “All I want is to keep her safe. Now she’s stuck in the thick of it with us. You said it yourself; we have no way of finding any portals right now. Even if we found one, I doubt I could make her go.”

  “She’s that stubborn?”

  “No more than you.”

  “Then it’s a lost cause.”

  I sighed. While I was upset with Kai’s actions, I was more upset with myself. I felt so guilty. If I hadn’t been caught in that net, Daniel wouldn’t have used Merlin’s gift. What were we supposed to do now? I attracted danger and death like flowers attracted bees. My promise to help keep Kai safe was in jeopardy and I hated that. Daniel had been there through the thickest of perils with me and I sincerely wanted to return the favor. After everything he’d given me, I owed him that. I wanted to give him that. However my story would end, I wanted to make sure his ending was a happy one. He deserved to be with the girl he loved. Hence my promise to help make that happen.

  But now with Kai a hundred feet away, deep in the bowels of Camelot, I wondered if I had been kidding myself when I promised Daniel in Neverland that I would help protect her. I couldn’t even protect my friends from the treacherous path I’d set us on. How was I supposed to guard the fate of a girl that prophecy literally predicted I had the power to bring down?

  “I’m sorry, Daniel,” I said, the words escaping my lips before I even realized I was saying them. “I promised I’d help keep Kai safe and all I’ve done is brought her closer to danger. If it wasn’t for those
stupid magic hunters, she wouldn’t be here.”

  Daniel shook his head. “Knight, I know you feel bad, but this isn’t your fault. Neither of us could’ve known Merlin’s potion would summon her.”

  “Maybe not,” I said. “But that doesn’t mean that all of this,” I gestured to the general area around us, “isn’t my fault. I know you and the others are committed to being there for me. But be honest, did you really know what you were signing up for when we became friends? Magic hunters, antagonists, monsters—someone is always trying to kill us. And every sundown is just another tick of the clock closer to the next impossible quest we’re embarking on.”

  I sighed deeply. “Maybe you were right all that time ago when we were trapped in the Therewolf camp. Maybe I did ruin your life. All of your lives.” I shook my head bitterly. “I was in this from the moment my prologue prophecy appeared, or probably years before that when my godmother gifted me with magic in the first place. But you guys didn’t have to be. I just keep entangling you in it further. Now look at us. Look at you. You’re in constant mortal danger and the person you love most is now in it too. Of course I feel bad. It is all my fault.”

  Daniel stared at me for a moment. A frog or something croaked in the distance. Then he abruptly pushed me off the log.

  I toppled backward and landed on my butt in the dirt. Confused, I looked up at him. “Daniel, what the heck was that for?”

  He shrugged. “You needed to be knocked off your high horse. Knocking you off this log seemed like the next best thing.”

  I blinked in surprise.

  “Knight, you need to understand something. You may be an important part of all this, but don’t kid yourself into thinking you’re solely responsible for everything that’s happened. None of us—not me, SJ, Jason, or Blue—were dragged into this situation. We chose to be here. Not for you, but for us. Because defending our home, stopping the antagonists, and protecting those we care about matters to all of us. So stop talking about yourself like you’re some kind of virus that’s wreaking havoc on those around you. The five of us have been infected by the same fate since the start. We’re all responsible because we’re all in this thing together.”

  Daniel helped me back onto the log, keeping hold of my hand after I sat down.

  “And as far as Kai goes …” he went on. “I’ll admit I was hesitant at first when you offered to help me protect her. But now I’m grateful that you did. She’s strong and skilled and beyond brave, but Camelot’s nothing if not unpredictable. So if she is going to be traveling with us, honestly it would make me feel a lot better knowing there is someone else actively looking out for her too. That is … if you’re still up for it.”

  “Um, yeah.” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Sure thing.”

  “Knight, I’m serious,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “I know the two of you didn’t exactly hit it off, but I need to know whether or not I can count on you.”

  I placed my hand on top of his and we locked eyes. “Daniel, I told you. I keep my promises. Whatever it takes, I will do everything in my power to keep Kai safe. You have my word.” Then I cracked a smile. “Just promise me that from now on, I hold onto the magical objects we’re gifted with. For someone who was poor as a kid, you’re a bit of a quick spender.”

  Daniel laughed. I did too. For a moment it looked like he was going to say something else, but our time alone together came to an end. Kai was heading back toward the campsite. Daniel moved to join her. I didn’t realize until he stood up that we’d been holding hands this whole time. The warmth had felt nice and I hadn’t noticed it until it was gone.

  As I slept, my brain struggled.

  The more magic I used, the stronger my visions were. However, Merlin’s granola bars must’ve warped my ability to see the future because I only had one clear complete dream.

  The scene took place in a forest. It was night, but the setting was not dark. Fluorescent teal caterpillars the size of foxes wiggled across the dirt and up tree trunks. Luminescent pink foliage hung from the branches. The contrast of colors against the black sky was startling.

  Blue, Jason, Chance, and Girtha were standing in a small clearing within the enchanting setting. Chance and Jason were hanging back a little as Blue and Girtha argued.

  “If you’re wrong, then we won’t save her and we’ll all end up dead,” Girtha protested.

  Girtha’s massive size would have intimidated most girls. But Blue stood her ground and talked to Girtha like this large younger sister of the Hansel & Gretel twins was an unimposing elf.

  “Girtha, I’ve been friends with her way longer than you have. You may be a main character back home, but in this storyline, you’re a supporting character at best. So stop acting like you have as much of a say here as the rest of us.”

  It was hard to tell whether the comment made Girtha angry or sad; both emotions flashed across her face. Jason took a risk and stepped forward.

  “Blue,” he said gently, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe you should take it easy.”

  She glowered. “Why?”

  “Because you need to get over yourself,” Chance responded. Having found his voice, he stepped unapologetically into the conflict as well. “I get it, Blue. Girtha and I both do. You’re protective of her because you’ve been closer longer and you’ve had stakes in the game since the beginning. But just because we weren’t an integral part of this story when it started doesn’t mean we can’t influence the outcome. And it doesn’t mean we don’t want to.”

  Blue’s fists were clenched, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself. She looked at each of the people around her, gears turning in her head like they did when she mapped out the terrain in a battle before charging in. My friend was fueled by instinct, and she could be hotheaded and impulsive. But she also had the intelligence and experience to fully assess a situation before she made the decision to jump in. She was fire, but fire that moved with purpose and understanding.

  “I know what happened is my fault,” Girtha said softer, trying to extend an olive branch. “But I—”

  “No,” Blue said suddenly.

  Girtha blinked.

  “It’s not your fault. It’s mine and the lot of you have been too nice to say it.” Blue swallowed hard and a veil of guilt fell over her face. “I’m the reason Crisa’s not with us anymore.”

  The dream blurred and disappeared. My mind tumbled through tons of disorienting, bright flashes. I only managed to make out a few images amongst them.

  First, a high tower with a bronze turret. The background was a red sky with moving swirls of black. A horrible wailing pierced the air as shadowy blobs swarmed the tower, encircling it like a storm.

  Then a mahogany house in a forest. Gold braziers held flames that crackled brightly. Daniel stood in front of the house and reached for the handles on the grand double doors.

  Lastly, a woman. She was tall with bronzed skin and dark, curly hair, and her eyes were icy blue. She was somewhere in her late twenties and looked familiar.

  The woman ran as a group of men chased her. The background was fuzzy, but for a split second I saw Arian. The attackers caught up with her and tackled her to the ground. The woman attempted to scream, but a hand was clasped over her mouth.

  I sat up and put my hand to my head. Trying to dream while under the influence of Merlin’s granola bars had given me a headache. And a backache. I must’ve been tossing and turning a ton. I was glad I had Daniel’s jacket wrapped around me. Since I was only wearing my red sleeveless dress over my leggings, and he and Kai both had outfits with long sleeves, he’d offered me his jacket to keep warm for the night. He’d done the same thing last night when we camped out by the lake.

  I looked over and saw Daniel asleep on the ground a slight way over. Kai, however, was leaning against the log facing the fire pit. She had volunteered to take the first watch while Daniel and I tried to get some rest.

  I got up quietly and went to sit beside her.

  “Hey,” I
said.

  “Hey,” she whispered back.

  I looked up at the stars—glistening sparks of light that worked together to form the most beautiful constellations. The clouds had rolled out of sight, and the sky and moon had an uninhibited view of our world.

  “Nice night,” I offered, trying to make conversation.

  “I’m sure you’d find it a whole lot nicer if I weren’t around,” Kai commented. “You’ve made it pretty clear that you don’t want me here.”

  For the sake of Daniel, I took a deep breath, thought about what needed to be done, and met her gaze. “It’s not that I don’t want you here, Kai,” I responded. “Really. I was just upset before. But I’m over it now, and I owe you an apology for losing my temper. You saved us and I’m grateful. Sorry for not saying it sooner.”

  The way Kai looked at me reminded me of how I used to look at Daniel—like I appreciated what he was saying but also wondered whether or not I could trust it.

  “It’s okay,” she replied hesitantly. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “While we’re on the subject … I probably owe you a couple of apologies too. The first is for going off on you earlier. It wasn’t right, and I knew it. But I get really ticked off when people think I can’t fend for myself. It’s sort of a sore spot.”

  “Yeah,” I huffed in amusement. “Believe me, I practically wrote the book on the subject.”

  “Okay, good,” she replied. “You get it. So that only leaves my second apology. One I should’ve opened with. I really am sorry for pushing you off that cliff, Crisa.”

  “Don’t be,” I said flatly. “In all honesty, if the situation were reversed, I probably would have done the same thing.”

  Kai nodded. “Daniel did say you and I are a lot alike.”

  I tilted my head. “Did he now? What else did our brooding hero tell you about me?”

  “A bunch of stuff,” Kai replied nonchalantly. “Not just today, but during the semester when we write to each other from school.”