by Anthea Sharp
“We’ll have to clean up in a minute, ok?” Tam said.
His brother made a pouty face. “I wanna show you how to make one. Please, Tam, please.”
“Alright.”
He sat beside the Bug, his hands busy folding paper—but he couldn’t help glancing at Mom’s closed door. It started this way. She’d go off her meds and sleep and sleep. And then, one morning, they’d wake up and she’d be gone. Or they’d come home from school to an empty house, the space where she should be cold and aching.
His fingers clenched hard around the plane he was making.
“Aw, Tam,” his brother said. “You ruined it. Now you have to start over.”
“Yeah.”
Wasn’t that always the way.
CHAPTER SEVEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM
The next morning, Jennet wanted to wait in the VirtuMax lobby for Tam, but her dad hustled her along to the testing hub. Everyone was there—except Tam and Zeg. She glanced at the glowing numbers on the wall and bit her lip. Three minutes before the townies were unforgivably late.
Roy nudged her. “Maybe if your boyfriend had some modern tech, he’d be able to keep up with the basics. You know, like telling time.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and pointedly turned away.
Spark, looking sleepy, cradled a cup between her hands. Did she stay up late at night, gaming? Jennet used to, especially last summer, when she’d first discovered the prototype version of Feyland. It was exhilarating, exploring an immersive new game while the rest of the world slept on, oblivious. Too bad the experience had nearly killed her.
Now, she and Tam had to make sure the treacherous magic of the fey stayed bottled up. But how?
The last time they had been in the Realm, their allies, Puck and Thomas, had spoken of dangerous quests and a foreboding place called the Twilight Kingdom. The memory of it made a prickle run up her spine.
Mr. Chon surveyed the assembled team and frowned. One minute left. Jennet heard the warm rumble of Zeg’s laughter in the hall, and let out her breath. They’d made it.
A moment later the pair joined them, just as the clock hit the hour. She smiled at Tam, and Zeg winked at her. It wouldn’t surprise her if he’d timed it so close on purpose.
“Today, we’re trying something different,” Mr. Chon said. “The main city of Stronghold features multiple options for adventure. Once you reach it, I’d like you to split into smaller groups so we can study the mechanics of several quest lines simultaneously.”
“Great,” Roy said. “I’m with Spark.”
“I will accompany you as well,” Coranne Smith said.
Roy made a face, and Jennet swallowed her laugh. Hard to get all romantic with the sour Ms. Smith along.
“Tam and I will quest together,” Jennet said. She shot a glance at her dad, hoping he wouldn’t feel the need to invite himself to join them.
“Excellent,” Mr. Chon said. “Mr. Carter and Mr. Fanalua will make up the final team.”
Jennet leaned back. That would be interesting. And at least Dad had a healer to pull him out of trouble.
“We’ll be switching up the player configurations once you reach the end of these quest lines,” Mr. Chon continued. “So don’t get too comfortable.”
“Good plan,” her dad said.
He seemed a bit easier around the team leader today. After working with him on the data last night, the lines of tension on Dad’s face had eased.
“Gear up and head in-game,” Mr. Chon said. “Stronghold awaits.”
A minute later, Jennet’s character materialized in the meadow at the beginning of the cobblestone road. The rest of the team assembled around her, and she shared a quick glance with Tam. It was a huge improvement over the magical version of Feyland, where your character would go back to the starting faerie ring again if you didn’t complete the key quests at that level.
Jennet’s dad strode out onto the road, his orange robes swirling. Wind stirred the tall meadow grasses, and a soft, golden haze filled the sky.
“It’s better to let the tank lead,” Roy said, pushing past him. “In case of evil monsters.”
“I thought I was the tank,” Tam said in a low voice.
“You’re a better one than Roy,” Jennet said. “But it’s not worth arguing over. We’ll reach the city and split up soon.”
He set a hand on his sword. “There are supposed to be dangers along the way.”
“Yeah. I hope my dad doesn’t die again.” She glanced ahead, to where the rest of the party had started down the road.
She and Tam caught up as the group crested a rise. The road descended to a small valley, then forked. At the junction sat two figures. One was a beautiful young woman wearing a shining silver gown, the other was a stooped old woman in a tattered grey dress.
“They don’t look dangerous,” Jennet’s dad said.
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Spark said.
“Greetings,” Roy said when they reached the women.
“Welcome, travelers,” the younger woman said, her voice as warm and smooth as sunlight. “Do you seek the way to the city?”
“We do. Which direction is it?”
The woman lifted her arm and pointed to the right with a graceful finger. “Your path lies that way.”
“Thanks.” Roy turned and started off in the direction she had indicated.
“Wait,” Tam said. He nodded to the old woman dressed in rags. “We haven’t heard from everyone here.”
“Right.” Zeg bowed to the old woman. “Greetings, goodwife.”
“Ha!” Her voice was like the caw of a crow. She nodded toward Roy. “Swayed by pretty ways and words, that one is. Tell me, travelers, what do you seek?”
“The best road to the city of Stronghold,” Jennet said.
The old woman bent over, her cackling filling the air. “Now there’s one who speaks well and wisely. The best road lies in that direction.”
She lifted a gnarled hand and pointed to the left.
“Our thanks,” Zeg said. “Come on Roy, we’re going this way.”
“No, we’re not,” Roy said. “I’m taking the first road.”
“Now, Mr. Lassiter,” Coranne began. “I think it’s best if—”
“Hey, we’re supposed to split up and explore the game, right? We can meet again once we get to the city, since apparently both these roads lead there.” Roy put his hands on his hips. “Who’s with me?”
“One moment,” Coranne said. “Let me get authorization.”
Her character wavered, then disappeared.
Roy rolled his eyes. “As if I need permission to play this game.”
“It’s called a beta test for a reason,” Tam said.
Roy opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by Coranne’s returning figure.
“Mr. Chon has agreed,” she said, a sour note in her voice. “The heavy armor classes are splitting up. Roy goes right, Tam left. Miss Jaxley and Mr. Carter, you’re with Tam. Miss Carter, myself, and Mr. Fanalua will accompany Roy. Once we reach Stronghold, reconvene at the Lucky Tavern.”
Jennet tightened her grip on her mage staff. Great—she was stuck with Roy, while Tam got her dad. She glanced at Tam and he shrugged, the light glinting off his silver armor. They both knew arguing would get them nowhere.
“See you in town,” Roy said. “Come on, gang.”
“Good luck,” Jennet said to Tam. “Take care of my dad.”
He gave her a level look from his green eyes. “You be careful. It’s not a coincidence that your party has four players.”
Jennet nodded. It was obvious to everyone but Roy that his choice of road was the more dangerous one. But if Mr. Chon decreed they were taking it, what could they do?
The road started innocently enough, meandering through the open fields, but ahead of them a dark forest lurked. Zeg fell back to walk beside her.
“Interesting that this group includes the healer,” he said. “And excludes the least experienced member of the
team.”
Jennet nodded. “We’re in for trouble.”
The sense of menace intensified as the road led them into the forest. The golden light of the meadow faded behind them while shadows deepened on either side. Tall, tangled evergreen trees blocked out any view of the sky and fleshy-leaved purple bushes edged the road. Roy lost some of his swagger, and the four of them drew closer together. Ahead, the road narrowed, the cobblestones cracked and discolored.
“Nice choice, Roy,” Jennet said.
He slitted his eyes at her. “Always have to be right, blondie?”
“No bickering,” Coranne said. “We have a forest to get through.”
Roy let out a huff and stalked ahead, Coranne at his heels. The road forced them to go single file, and Zeg gestured for Jennet to pass him. Apprehension tickled the back of her neck as the trees pressed close, filled with watching eyes.
Between one second and the next, long silken cords appeared over the roadway. Roy shouted as they wrapped around his limbs and hauled him into the air. Coranne vanished, using her rogue ability, and Jennet whirled, her mage staff at the ready. Before she could fire off a spell, or even identify where the enemy was, she, too, was wound in sticky threads.
Above her crouched a bloated spider, each hairy black limb at least five feet long. She struggled to get her staff free, but it was wrapped tightly in the webbing. The spider pulled her up with quick, jerky movements, and she caught sight of more spiders skulking in the nearby trees.
“Watch out!” she called to Zeg.
Two spiders scuttled along the branches, firing gouts of webbing at him. He dodged and darted, managing to stay clear of the strands.
Jennet pushed at the webbing. It gave a little, then sprang back. Using her fingernails she began shredding the strands, which worked somewhat better, though the sticky grey stuff stuck unpleasantly to her skin. Near her, Roy swung back and forth, his sword trapped uselessly on his back.
“Do you have another blade?” she asked.
“A dagger in my boot, but I can’t get to it.”
She managed to tear out more of the strands, enough to poke her mage staff through. Carefully, she extended it toward Roy until the glowing crystal at the tip hovered a few inches from his webbing.
“Hey,” he said, “don’t blast me.”
“Don’t worry.”
She didn’t need fierce arcane bolts of energy for this. Instead, something like a static shock to sizzle away Roy’s bonds without harming him. Much.
In the earlier version of Feyland, she’d been able to focus her mind and harness the mage power in different ways. Could she do that now? She closed her eyes and imagined a quick arc of power, reaching out and burning away the webbing holding Roy captive.
He let out a yelp, and she opened her eyes. Several of the strands had charred.
“It’s working,” she said. “Hold still.”
“While you fry me?”
“Hurry,” Zeg called up to them. “The mama spider is coming. And she doesn’t look happy.”
A huge arachnid scuttled down the road toward them. Her sharp jaws clicked together, and she was covered in a slick-looking carapace the color of old blood. The spiders in the trees drew back, though one got a lucky hit in, binding Zeg’s arm to a nearby branch.
A heartbeat later, Coranne appeared, slicing him free with one of her wicked-looking daggers.
“Be quick,” she hissed up at Jennet. “Zeg and I can’t take her on by ourselves.”
“We can,” Zeg said, rubbing his arm. “But it won’t be pretty.”
Jennet concentrated again, imagining a bright trickle of power severing the web strands. They parted abruptly, and Roy hit the ground with a thump. Before he could get to his feet, the spider was upon them. Green goo dripped from her fangs, and she raised her forelegs, displaying razor-sharp talons.
“Keep me alive,” Coranne yelled.
She dashed in front of the spider and stuck her dagger into the joint of one leg. The creature let out a high shriek and swiped at Coranne, grazing her side. Coranne stumbled. Then a flash of emerald light surrounded her, and she straightened. Still, even the best healer couldn’t keep a rogue alive for long in a fight like this.
Roy scrambled to his feet and drew his sword, ready to dive into combat.
“Wait,” Jennet cried, “cut me loose.”
He turned and sliced through the webbing holding her, dumping her unceremoniously onto the ground.
“Thanks,” she said, but he was already charging at the spider, sword raised.
She scrambled to her feet in time to see Coranne stumble and go down. Zeg waved his hands furiously through the air, preparing some heavy-duty healing. The spider poised to deliver a death bite to the rogue slumped on the ground.
“Get away!” Roy yelled, slashing at the spider’s mouth with his bright sword.
The spider hissed and scuttled backwards a few paces, then hesitated, head swinging between Coranne, who was now covered in healing light, and Roy, brandishing his blade. Coranne disappeared, and the spider settled on Roy. Raising her sharp talons, she lunged forward.
Roy darted to the side, making their enemy turn, and Jennet fired off a magical bolt. Blue flame exploded against the spider’s carapace, but didn’t do any damage. She’d have to aim for the tender bits.
“Turn it at me,” she called to Roy.
He parried the spider’s attack, then danced back around, pivoting the creature toward Jennet. This time, her magical fire hit the spider square in the face. The spider screeched and reared up, waving her forelegs.
Quick as thought, Coranne materialized under the spider’s belly. She stabbed upward, a dagger in each hand, and their enemy screeched again, even louder this time.
The branches above them rustled, and hairy black spiders began dropping out of the trees. A dozen of them advanced, their eyes gleaming eerily.
“AOE!” Roy yelled, ducking under the red spider’s slashing attack.
Area of Effect spells—yeah, definitely needed. Too bad Jennet only had one in her arsenal, Sheet of Flame. Raising her staff, she sent a wall of fire toward their enemies. Three of them died instantly, flipping onto their backs, legs curled in and lifeless. The others kept coming.
“Again,” Coranne called.
“I can’t—it’s on cooldown!”
Sheet of Flame took thirty seconds to reset. And they only had about ten seconds before the wave of spiders overwhelmed them.
CHAPTER EIGHT - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM
Heart pounding in her throat, Jennet targeted the closest spider and released a single bolt of magic. The spider stumbled, then flipped over dead—but she didn’t have time to take them out one by one.
Coranne sprinted toward the creatures, a vial in her hand. She flung it to the ground, and noxious green smoke rose up. The first couple spiders to encounter it halted, and then started to spin around in circles, but the rest kept coming. Jennet managed another bolt, but that still left four of the spiders, advancing to where she and Zeg stood their ground on the cracked cobblestones.
Zeg lifted his hand and conjured one of the priest’s rare damage spells. A flare of purple light sped toward the spiders, and two of them keeled over. Jennet used the end of her mage staff to knock one of the creatures back, but the other darted in, hissing. It sank its fangs into her leg, and she cried out at the sudden stab of pain.
Then Coranne was there, covered with green spider blood, her blades flashing. The last of the smaller spiders curled up, dead on the sticky roadway.
“Are you all right?” Coranne asked.
“Yeah.”
It hurt, more than Jennet expected it to. The game interface was supposed to simulate small amounts of pain—a sensation like tingling—but the point of Feyland wasn’t to inflict pain.
So why did it feel like she’d been jabbed in the leg by a poisoned fork? She rubbed the puncture wounds, smearing green blood onto her hands.
Healing light surrounded her and
the pain eased, but didn’t entirely fade.
“Hey,” Roy called, his voice strained. “A little help here.”
Zeg muttered and instantly busied himself with healing Roy, who was taking serious damage from the big spider. Coranne dashed back, pulling out her Morningstar mace, and Jennet raised her staff. Blue light sizzled out, scorching the spider. Roy sliced and Coranne bashed and Zeg healed and slowly, excruciatingly, the spider began to falter.
Jennet disliked fights that turned into grinding the enemy down. Win or lose, finish it fast was her preference—and with a full party, they would have beaten the mama spider a lot earlier.
Finally, the creature staggered. Roy let out a victory yell, cut short by the sudden gush of yellow ichor the spider spit out. Coranne leapt to the side, but Roy got the stuff full on. He fell to his knees, his sword wavering.
“Kill it,” he said, “kill it now.”
Jennet summoned up Sheet of Flame again and sent it scorching forward, just as Coranne aimed a vicious strike at the spider’s eyes. With a screech that made her ears ring, their enemy collapsed. The spider rolled onto its back, its legs drawn up stiffly. Dead.
“Took long enough,” Roy said, staggering up. “Can you cleanse this stuff off me?”
He grimaced and brushed at the yellow goo covering his breastplate and arms. Jennet would bet serious credits he was glad Spark wasn’t there to see him covered in spider ooze.
Zeg nodded, and sent emerald light to surround Roy.
“That was rough,” Jennet said, glancing at the thirteen spider corpses littering the forest floor.
“We handled it though.” Roy sheathed his sword. “Come on. Let’s get to the city.”
The rest of them followed, giving the red spider a wide berth. The thing might be dead, but Jennet sure didn’t want to touch it. Her leg still ached where the spider had bitten her.
“We handled it,” Zeg said quietly, “but that was pretty damn near a wipe. Coranne’s quick, I have to give her that.”