Shifters And Glyphs

by Bauer, Christina;

  The Colonel’s silver eyes fill with pity. “According to the records, after Calibur gave his bounty—after he was willingly drained of his magic—he died.”

  The walls of the room seem to press in around me. I can only repeat the Colonel’s last word. “Died.”

  Knox steps before me and cups my face in his hands. “That won’t be you, Bry. Never you.”

  Nodding, I swallow past the lump of terror in my throat. If there’s any chance for me to survive, it will be because I learn how this whole ceremony thing works. “And what happened to Calibur’s magic?”

  “According to the records, Calibur’s magic was stored in the pyramids. Every year, a little magic was released during the ceremony. In the ritual you saw, the First Wardens tried to let all the remaining magic out and consume it. Instead, the magic made them into the Shadowvin.”

  For the first time in my life, I can truly guess my real fairy-tale life template. “The fountain of magic is born once every five thousand years. On the autumn equinox, I give my bounty. And then, I die. That’s my real fairy-tale life template.”

  Before me, Knox leans in, pressing his forehead against mine. “No, Bry.”

  The Colonel resets the book into the wooden chest and slams it shut. “I read everything I could on this subject. As long as the Void and the Shadowvin didn’t rise again, I thought you’d be safe. That’s why I tried to hide you. No one needed to know who you really were. But the Shadowvin did rise again. And the equinox takes place tomorrow night. I’m so sorry. Magic created you for a purpose.” Heaving out a sigh, the Colonel sits on the closed chest. “I’ve done all I could. You’re going to have to live out that story now, sugar.”

  My lower lip quivers with sadness. “I have to die for you all.”

  Knox pulls me against his chest. “I don’t believe that. My wolf doesn’t believe that, either. There’s something we’re missing.” Knox looks to the Colonel. “Tell us more about what happened with Bry.”

  The Colonel gives me a sad smile. “You were my little golden-skinned girl, toddling around down here. The ruby strands of your hair glistened so brightly. And let’s not forget your lovely silver wings. They rippled behind you as you ran. I wanted to keep you here with me, but I couldn’t hide you forever. Soon, you figured out how to escape this place and roam the grounds.”

  He chuckles. “We had a few close calls, and that’s when I realized the sad truth. I had to give you away. If Jules so much as saw you, he’d have figured out what you were: the incarnation of the fountain.”

  “And he’d have killed me on the spot.”

  The Colonel nods. “I couldn’t let that happen. I had to change the way you look.”

  Another realization appears. “You took my wings to change my appearance. It was the same thing that happened to Elle.”

  The Colonel stares at the floor. “It burned my soul to take your wings. But it had to be done. Changing how you looked required a sacrifice.”

  “Then you locked my magic inside my soul with the curse.”

  “Now, that part was easier to do. Once you were disguised and your magic was locked up tight, I told Jules that I’d found a human orphan with magical potential. Jules did the rest. It was his usual thing. He blackmailed your aunties into raising you until you were old enough to be a decent feast. Once you were gone, I couldn’t stay here anymore, not alone. I had to go back and face my troubles in the Faerie Lands. I didn’t think I was away for long, but you know how time goes in Faerie.”

  “Hours there can pass, while decades go by here on Earth,” I say.

  “That’s right. It was too late by the time I figured out what had happened. You were almost seventeen years of age, and Jules had started taking notice of you. He’d figured out how powerful you were and wanted to make you one of his special wives.”

  The Colonel shakes his head. “If Jules had realized who you really were, you wouldn’t have lasted a day.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “Sorry for taking your wings. I couldn’t find any other way to hide who you were.”

  “I understand. You had to change the way I looked.”

  “Then I chose your life template and named you Bryar Rose.”

  My gaze lands on the sandbox in the corner. Just like in my dreams, it has wooden versions of the pyramids in it. I gesture toward it. “What was that for?”

  “You asked me to conjure it up for you. Every day, you’d tinker with the placement of those silly wooden pyramids. It was like you were trying to figure out how they worked. You wanted me to make a little model of you, but you kept calling yourself the fountain.” He nods toward the chest. “I’d found some records about the old geyser, so I made that for you. That way, if you ever called it the fountain in front of a stranger, no one would be the wiser.”

  “And I drew pictures of pyramids in the sand, all with eyes above them.”

  “That you did,” says the Colonel. “Never could figure out what those meant, either.”

  Knox rubs his neck. “Eyes and pyramids. I’ve seen them before, too.” He shakes his head and focuses on me. “What about your trip through time with Scar … any clues there?”

  I think back to my trip through time. “There were pyramids in South America as well. They all exploded. Do you have any idea how they work with the fountain?” I shake my head. “I mean, with me?”

  “I don’t. And I asked you as well. You said you didn’t know, and I believed you. My girl never lied to her Poppa.” His voice breaks as he speaks those last words.

  This man was my Poppa, and I hardly remember a moment of it all. None of this seems real.

  “So I have to go to the pyramids tomorrow night. Alone.”

  Knox pulls me closer against his chest. “No. I’ll be with you.”

  The Colonel nods. “As will I.”

  This has been a day of terrible realizations, and the next is the worst. “This is why magic has been killing you,” I say to Knox. “It knows I have to die, and the power’s trying to protect you.”

  “No way, Bry.” Knox’s voice turns rough and fierce. “Our connection is real because I’m a warden and you’re my fountain. I’ve been protecting you all along.”

  “Then why am I making you sick? How can I be the one who’s placing your animal at risk … and mine as well?” All of a sudden, I realize why Colonel Mallory went ahead and put my inner wolf on a time out. She wouldn’t be handling this very well. It was wrong of him to do that without my permission, but he was doing it for the right reasons. Leaning back, I gaze up into Knox’s ice-blue eyes. “If magic is protecting you, isn’t that what I should do, too? After all, I am magic.”

  “It’s like I’ve said, Bry. We have to trust in what we feel for each other.” He kisses the top of my head. “Think, Bry. You’ve figured out so much. I know it’s in your mind somewhere.”

  Closing my eyes, I sift through everything I know. My mind keeps returning to images of the Void. “The Void never said he wanted to destroy anything. He just wants to find the fountain. Find me. Maybe he doesn’t want to consume my power. Maybe he’s here to help me somehow. The Codex Mechanica interacts somehow with the pyramids to drain my power. Meanwhile, my three wardens watch over everything while it happens.”

  “So we all go to the pyramids tomorrow night,” says Knox. “We just need to get the three wardens together.”

  “Trouble is, we only have two,” I say.

  A small smile rounds the Colonel’s mouth. “Now, I think I can give you some good news at last. You’ve got the warden of fae magic waiting back in the temple.”

  For a long moment, I can only stare at the Colonel. Then, the answer appears in my mind’s eye. “It’s Elle. She’s the warden of fairy magic. No wonder all the fae kids at school follow her around.”

  “Does she know?” asks Knox.

  “Heavens, no,” replies the Colonel. “If that girl knew the full extent of her powers, she’d flatten all of us while just trying to cast even a basic spell.” He points at me. �
�Except you, darlin’.”

  Knox links his fingers with mine. “We can’t wait around here, Bry. We need to get our friends together and leave before the Shadowvin return.”

  “Agreed,” I say. Now that I know who I am and what I need to do, my heart fills with a kind of steely resolve. “We have a day to plan our trip to the pyramids. Let’s get started.”

  Knox brushes a gentle kiss across my lips. “We’ll make our own story.”

  I can’t help but smile. “Yeah.”

  But even as I say that word, part of me counters with another term.

  Maybe.

  Chapter 30

  A few minutes later, Knox and I step back into the temple. The Colonel follows us. Once inside, we find Elle and Alec standing by the geyser and decidedly far from Reggie, who’s grinning manically from ear to ear. Everyone looks up as we enter.

  “You okay?” asks Elle.

  “Fine,” I reply. “We have a lot to talk about.”

  Alec gestures toward Knox. “And you look like death warmed over.”

  Unfortunately, Alec is right. Whatever healing magic the Colonel had given all of us, it’s already failing my mate. Not that it’s polite of Alec to point that out, but that’s Alec and Knox for you. If they hugged and said, “Love you, man” when greeting each other, I wouldn’t know what to do.

  Alec frowns. “Technically, Reggie here actually is death warmed over, and you look way worse than him. So there’s that.”

  Knox barely lifts his right brow. “Great story, Alec. Thanks for sharing.”

  I brace myself, waiting for my inner wolf to start her commentary. She doesn’t. Apparently, the stasis spell from the Colonel is still in effect. On the way over here, I’d asked the Colonel when my wolf would awaken. He said the spell is set to protect my animal until I’m ready to explain my status as the fountain to her.

  Guess I’m still reeling from the news, because my wolf is most decidedly still in stasis.

  Everyone stands around, staring at me with expectant expressions. I realize they’re waiting for me to say something here.

  That’s right. I went to talk to the Colonel.

  I clear my throat. “Well, everyone. The Colonel spoke with me and Knox.” I pause. There’s so much to say here; I’m not sure where I can even begin. I decide it’s best to start small and lead up to the big stuff.

  “Elle, I have good news for you.”

  Reggie moves to lurk over Elle’s shoulder. She takes a pointed step away from him. “Tell me we’re sending Reggie away.”

  “Not that. So.” I rub my palms together, waiting for the best speech in the world to appear in my mind’s eye. It doesn’t. “You’re the warden of fae magic. How about that?”

  Elle’s normally animated features fall slack. “I’m what?”

  “The warden of all fae magic, sugar.” The Colonel tips his hat. “Congratulations.”

  “Don’t con a con artist.” Elle flips her hair over her shoulder. “How would you know I’m the warden of fae magic?”

  “Did you know Blackaverre and I are good friends?”

  Color drains from Elle’s face. “No, I didn’t.”

  “We are. In fact, Blackaverre did me a great service. She helped me escape the Faerie Lands when I was entrapped by my enemies. In response, I promised her a boon—one request. No matter what it was, I couldn’t say no.”

  “What boon did she ask for?” Elle’s face crumples with confusion, but she rubs her shoulder blade, right where her wings would be attached.

  “I think you know, sugar. Blackaverre had a charge who needed to escape from a terrible situation.” The Colonel lets out a long breath. “I didn’t want to take your wings, but it was the only way you could change the way you look and escape. Just like what happened with Bryar Rose, the spell required a sacrifice to work. I had to take your wings. But there was no other way to hide what you truly were. The whole reason your captors imprisoned you was because they knew you were the warden of fae magic. I’m so sorry.”

  Elle’s hands ball into fists. “Why didn’t you ever tell me I was the warden? Or Blackaverre, for that matter?”

  “Now, that one’s on me,” says the Colonel. “I made one condition after taking your wings. Magic usually chooses close friends for wardens or folks that magic knows will become close friends. I forbade Blackaverre from telling you because, well, you might have figured things out with Bry here.”

  Elle rounds on me. “Figured out what?”

  Worry, fear, and excitement battle it out in my nervous system. Once again, I wish I had a great speech at the ready. I don’t. I steel my shoulders and meet Elle’s gaze straight on. “I’m the fountain.”

  Elle glances between me and the geyser top. “You don’t look like a fountain.”

  “The fountain isn’t a thing,” I explain. “It never was.”

  Knox steps closer to Elle. “The glyph for fountain can also be translated as geyser or form. That means it can be a person.”

  Reggie’s huge smile grows even larger. “Cheers, tears, hopes, and fears. A fountain is born every five thousand years.”

  I stare at Reggie in disbelief. “You knew I was the fountain? How long has this been going on?”

  “The Colonel told me,” says Reggie. “Ever since, I’ve been trying to tell you over and over.”

  “Next time,” I say, “you might want to stop with all the cryptic singsongs and just say stuff.”

  Reggie lifts his chin. “That’s what I get for helping the living.”

  “When it comes to Reggie,” drawls the Colonel, “I needed his help to protect you, so I explained things a little. Plus, I knew he’d never be able to explain what he knew, even if he wanted to.” He focuses on Reggie. “Your communication skills are thankfully limited.”

  Alec goes into one of his men’s catalog poses. This is the classic one where he sets his hands in his pockets and looks up. “Wait a mo’. I remember Knox talking about the autumn equinox. That’s tomorrow night, isn’t it?”

  Elle narrows her eyes. “Why do I think I’ll hate whatever comes after that little equinox comment?”

  “The fountain—that’s me—is supposed to give its bounty on this autumn equinox. And yes, that’s tomorrow night.” The way I say the words, it’s like I’m reading my own obituary.

  Elle’s voice takes on a dangerous edge. “What happens when all this bounty giving is over?”

  “Red, thread, trials, and bread,” sings Reggie. “After the ceremony, Bryar Rose will be dead.”

  Nice. Of course, Reggie shares that little piece of information, no trouble.

  “Now, now.” The Colonel raises his hands so his palms face outward. It’s his motion for calm down. “Knox here thinks we can try to change that. Maybe there’s some way to keep Bryar alive.”

  Reggie starts singing again. “Red, thread, trials, and bread—”

  “Can it, Reggie,” snarls Knox.

  In reply, Reggie closes his mouth with a popping sound.

  Elle focuses on me. “What do you think happens after the ceremony?”

  “I don’t know, but …” I swallow hard past the knot of fear in my throat. “I hope I can write my own story. Get a happy ending for all of us.” I sneak a glance at Knox. A look of pain flashes in his ice-blue eyes. For once, I know it has nothing to do with whatever magical spell is draining his energy.

  It’s me.

  All this time, Knox has been so patient and solid. He didn’t believe magic was punishing him for choosing me. Later, he refused to believe that I had to share the same fate as Calibur, the last fountain.

  We can write our own story.

  With all my heart, I wish I could believe that was the truth. But this isn’t like anything else I’ve ever encountered. Before, my worst challenge was fighting Jules. Sure, the guy was an evil mummy-zombie and had an army, but he was still a person. And the rules of what it meant to be Denarii were pretty clear. Now, I’m facing down all the power of magic—and it’s inside me
. No one knows how any of this works. I just can’t pretend everything will work out right.

  Stepping to Knox’s side, I rest my hand on his lower arm. He gives me a small smile and whispers three words: “Our own story.”

  I force a smile in return. “We’ll give it everything we’ve got.” Turning, I focus on Elle and Alec. “Knox and I are going to the pyramids. We’d like your help, but we totally understand if you don’t want to.”

  Alec rolls his eyes. “Like I’d be anywhere else.”

  “I’m in, too,” adds Elle.

  “Try, fly, pretty little cry,” says Reggie. “This is where I say goodbye.” With that, he skips out the door. Nutjob.

  One by one, my gaze moves across everyone in the temple. There’s Knox, Elle, Alec, and the Colonel. Here in this place stands everyone in the world that I truly care about. And they’re all risking everything to help me. And if we screw up? The totality of magic may get drained from the world, I’ll end up dead, and so will everyone’s shifter animals. No pressure.

  Knox inhales. “I smell your fear.” His gaze locks with mine. “Whenever you get afraid, just look for me. I’ll always be here.”

  Stepping closer to Knox, I wrap my arms around his waist and lean into his embrace. This man is everything solid and strong in my life. “Thank you.”

  Across the room, Alec reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of gems. “Let me guess. Now, you need me to transfer everyone over to Egypt and the pyramids.”

  “Actually,” says the Colonel. “I was hoping I might be of service in that regard.”

  “You’ll magically transport us?” asks Alec.

  “No, I was more thinking that I’d loan y’all my personal jet and pilot,” says the Colonel. “We need to keep up our magical strength up for whatever comes next. Transport spells are a drain.”

  For some reason, my brain stays stuck on one fact only. “You have a personal jet?” I ask.

  The Colonel shrugs. “Why wouldn’t I? The pilot is a troll, so be polite. Don’t stare.”

  I’m not a hundred percent clear here. “Do you mean a troll as in ugly?” I ask.