***
Chapter 23
Little did I know, my excessive “sleep time” had consequences. I had induced myself into a week-long coma. My Awakening involved a hospital bed, uncles, and best friends. They bombarded me with stimulation and hugs. All the while my tattoo was burning to return to Nightworld; this thing really needed to make up its mind. Once my labs were thrice checked, I was cleared to go home to Hummingbird Hollow. As to be expected, our car conversations were verbal tiptoes. But talking was a must now. I had to have them on my side before going back to Falconbridge. If my uncles and Detective Zatorre were helping me, this wouldn’t be a suicide mission.
After dinner cleanup, I opened up to my uncles. They obviously knew parts of it. So I was hoping I didn’t sound completely off my rocker. I mean, Dad transforming into the God of Nightworld? Aza held hostage in a waterfall castle? But part of me knew she wasn’t there anymore. Their agreement was to keep me only in Reality, right? As long as Aza served the Sea Mistress until Waker death. So when I returned, that meant she died. Right? But if Dad sacrificed himself in her place, wouldn’t that have gotten Aza off the hook? I was still missing pieces of the story. Whatever the case, I’d only find my truth by confronting the Falconbridge white coats. After all, I had read the last page of Dad’s journal.
“Aza told us to trust her,” Uncle Mason said. The three of us were sitting together on the porch swing, watching the sunset. “She thought, as a Waker, she could get your father to listen.” He stopped and shook his head. “To think she got trapped there for eighteen years.”
“And Darian,” Uncle Hugo sniffled powerfully and spilled tea in his lap. The sun before us was turning orange-red, with fiery threads reaching skyward. It even influenced the underbelly color of the clouds. I thought of my family’s courage, the kind that I was told could shine for eternity. Maybe if it existed in Aza and Dad, I had some inside of me too.
“When the trials were going on, they took you,” Uncle Mason said. “Doctor Miru brought you home. She told us to never let you go back there.” Though all of this was startling and upsetting to hear, my uncles had indeed kept these secrets to protect me. And they had kept me safe all this time by keeping me in the dark.
After a pause, I told them I had to go to Falconbridge now. To find Dad and Aza, there was no other option. While taking a sip of water, I waited for an ambush of dissent. But none came. Uncle Mason continued to rock us on the swing, using one foot. Then two arms hung around my neck like scarves. One skinny, the other meaty. My uncles squeezed me like an avocado-lettuce-tomato sandwich. “We’re going with you,” they said in unison.
“Let’s call Detective Zatorre. She’ll need mindful persuading.”
“I vote we dress as two ninjas,” Uncle Mason chuckled, scratching his beard. “That way, we can be your combat backup if needed.” Startled and moved at once, I downed the rest of my glass.
“Okay, on one condition,” I swiveled a pointed finger to both of them. “No turtle headbands.” Detective Zatorre came over that night, reluctantly onboard. She brought over Mauricio, Clover, and Jax. We all sat in the living room together.
“We’re going to carry out a sting operation,” she told the group. “Lava will be our bait. She’ll sneak into the Falconbridge manner and get caught. We will have her hooked up to trackers and audio devices, so her location and conversations will be known to us at all times. When Lava has collected enough information to determine the whereabouts of her family, and convict the perpetrators, we will get her out safely. Any questions so far?”
My intrepid army looked tired and uneasy. Uncle Hugo took it upon himself to make tea to perk everyone up. But even this had limited effects. Detective Zatorre gave the group sting assignments. Mauricio and Clover would monitor the tracking devices, while she kept tabs on the audio system. Jax would escort me into the mansion, and then stay close at a distance.
Meanwhile, my uncles, and a team of armed police forces, would stand watch on the outer premises, and intervene via combat if necessary. Though I wasn’t thrilled about their frontline positions, Mason and Hugo did have extensive cage fighting histories. Trust me, I wouldn’t have believed it without pictures.
When everyone understood their positions, they got ready to leave. Jax shrugged on his coat by the door. “So. Is your dream boyfriend coming to help us out?” He asked. I thought of Nez’s memories, and all that I had seen.
“He’s done enough,” I finally said, opening the door for Jax. “It’s my turn to help him.”
***
Since I was no longer Rooted to Seawall, I returned to the Aril River. It was a much simpler bed compared to my palace chambers, though I’d almost forgotten this. I took an extra moment to appreciate it, now knowing that I shared this place with Kiki. And also with Nez.
I started for the Carri-Sect landing site when something about the river startled me. Usually bright with creature life beneath, half of the water was completely black. It was like the underwater light switch had been turned off. A chill crept into my chest.
Queen Piria and Garth found me en route, and were my escorts to Skyplume. With broken branches and tattered leaves, it looked like the sad remains of a plunder. Or in this case, a Squit raid. The people milling about looked just as damaged as their home tree.
Quanita was at Jeba’s place. With mouth muzzled, her facial features were more bug-like than when I had last seen her. Hakim and Earth Earl were also there, stoic and somber looking by the fireplace. Queen Piria buzzed up to them. “The Zeal Zeremony muzt commenze,” she said, clapping her legs. Jeba came over to examine my hair clip.
“Aye, the last trinket is mine then.” She searched around in her cloak and handed me a small prism earring. Its rainbow colors stained my palm. “It’s made from the inner shell of a nut here,” Jeba said as I secured it to my ear. “Hand-fashioned by yours truly.” So this was it, huh? What I had been trying to do since I got here. With all the trinkets, wasn’t I supposed to be super powerful? So why did I still feel so lost?
Hakim placed a paw on my shoulder and guided me out of the house. The moon hung heavily above Jeba’s landing. We looked up at it together. “In a few minutes, we will Seal you before our Supreme Deity,” he explained. “This will make you a demi-god, having Guardianship over every territory.” I swallowed loudly as Hakim faced me. “We look to you to lead us now.” Perfect. As if I didn’t have enough big shoes to fill.
I shrugged. “My sister must have been the first. Demi-god, I mean.” She had to have been.
But Hakim shook his head at me. “The Czar would not make her last trinket,” he said, lowering to my level. “It is time that you stop comparing yourself to her. Remember, there are some things only you can do.” Queen Piria flitted past us and performed an elaborate bee dance before the moon. She attracted all of the Skyplume Wakers, as well as the Carri-Sects from Nestutha. While they marveled at her, Jeba stepped past us on the landing. Hers was the highest point of the tree, which gave her a regal position when she addressed the crowd.
“We will now Seal our new Guardian, who has collected all five of her trinkets.” She began chanting in a language I didn’t understand. As Hakim pushed me forward, the other Wakers followed Jeba, their voices echoing throughout the canopy.
A wave of blue light swirled up the tree. It weaved around Wakers while making its way upwards. As Hakim placed my hands on his paws, the light encircled us, slowly at first, and then faster when Hakim also started chanting. The trinkets became hot against my skin.
Faint whispering began filling my headspace. A male voice. A very familiar one. The light wave loosened its tornado spin, and ascended skyward, disappearing into the clouds. When it left, I felt my brightness intensify. The whisper finally became clear: Break my glass and sever my chords.
And then the voice left me. The Wakers began to cheer and applaud loudly as the territory leaders and Quanita stood beside me. Jeba cleared her throat. “Our demi-god will defeat the rival demi-god; the Sea M
istress will finally meet her end!” While the Wakers were still celebrating, we returned to Jeba’s house.
“That waz a moving zpeezh.”
“And misleading,” Hakim said grimly. He turned to me. “What did He tell you?” He? Oh, the whisper voice. In other words, God.
“Break my glass and sever my chords,” I repeated thoughtfully. “That’s all.”
The Earth Earl sat down. “Souns like someting she must do on the Other Side,” he said. “But what ter do here?”
Jeba elbowed Hakim. “And what exactly did God say to you?”
We all waited in his pensive prophet silence. “Kill Nightworld,” he finally said. “And all will live.” Those were some heavy words.
“Zo how doez that work ezactly?” In response to Queen Piria, Hakim shrugged and scratched his chin.
Jeba threw her hands up. “How useful prophets are,” she said. “Giving us half the answers to questions.”
Hakim looked at her amusedly. “And what answers have you contributed thus far?”
She raised her stick at him. “I don’t argue with know-it-alls.” I stood between them and clapped my hands. We really needed to focus here. Since the Squits were transformed Wakers, we couldn’t harm them if they attacked. All we could do was buy time while I found a way to destroy Nightworld in Reality. Buy time… what could we do?
“How about a net?” I said. “Something very strong to wrap around the Skyplume tree and keep Squits out. We can gather all of the territories here.” While the leaders considered this, Quanita stepped into my space. Behind her muzzle were sharp mouthparts.
“What did the Czar have to say about all of this?” The words shouldn’t have stung me, but they did. Just hearing his name alone made my heart ache. But I had to keep it together, especially if he was against me now. For the sake of those I needed to save.
“He said there will be a mass Binding soon. To transform the entire first generation of Wakers.” I took a deep breath, trying not to notice their grave expressions. “And the Czar says he will fight against us.” I got close to him. I earned my trinket. I found out what happened to Aza here. This was all that I was asked to do. So why did I feel like a failure?
I told them to call me when Renezen arrived with the Squit army. On the Other Side, I would figure out a way to destroy Nightworld. Everyone seemed onboard. As nerve-wracking as it was, from here on out I’d have to steer the helm.
***
Chapter 24
“Lava? Can you hear me?” Detective Zatorre was practically shouting in my ear. I turned the volume down while Jax adjusted his own earpiece.
“Yes, and let’s keep it that way,” I said. My uncles were in the corner of the van, head to toe in ninja attire, eating raw celery while hacking the mansion blueprint.
“Lava, Jax, your code word for trouble is hope,” said Detective Zatorre.
“Who picked that code word?” Jax asked, opening the van door.
“Me!” Clover sang over the audio, just a few decibels higher than comfortable. “In times of war, we have to stay hopeful.” I could almost hear her give us the peace sign.
Once everyone was ready at their stations, and my uncles at their watchpost, Jax and I made our way towards Falconbridge. Like before, we climbed the fence and entered through the backyard. Our familiar hidden passage entry-point was still accessible, so we took it.
“Lava,” this was Mauricio, tracking my location. “Take a left at the next fork. That passage will take you to the offices.” And he was right. We emerged from the bookshelf between Bensimhon and my dad’s old office. Though it was Friday night, Bensimhon’s door was ajar, with a strip of light extending into the hallway. Jax stayed in the secret passage while I walked towards her office.
“Lava,” he whispered. “Remember, you’re not invincible. So don’t act like it.”
Every wall was filled with screens: there were huge trees, illuminated sea creatures, and also Wakers. From every territory. These screens were essentially Nightworld TV stations. Then that meant what he said before was true: the water has eyes.
I went over to her desk, which appeared too normal compared to the rest of the room. Once I sat down, I felt around the oak until I caught a side lever. Upon pulling it back, her deskspace slid away to reveal a switchboard beneath. Aerial monitors appeared in front of me, as if manifesting from vapor. There was Nez and Jasper, suited up as Seawall guards. They were in the courtyard with about a hundred Squits.
“Nez,” I called into the mouthpiece. He whirled around in alarm, gazing at the spot where I knew the fountain to be. “Please stop this.” From the way his eyes softened, I could tell he recognized my voice. I touched his face on the screen. Nez must’ve known all along how heavily watched he was. I bet he filtered everything he said to me.
Someone grabbed my wrist. “Are you lost, my dear?” It was the voice from Nez’s memories: the Sea Mistress. Bensimhon’s eyes were gleaming from the screen brightness. “Don’t worry. I’ll take you to your family.” With a forceful hand she guided me down the hall. Like a cooperative sting agent, I let her with little resistance.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked.
Her grip tightened. “For millions of dollars, Lava,” she said, grinning. “And not just that. This treatment will be the pinnacle of my career.” Dr. Bensimhon stopped and spun me around to face her. “The next generation of Wakers will be much easier to manage. If a rebel stands against me, I’ll just add her to my Squit army.” A buzzing noise came from her coat pocket. She removed a small gadget while pressing a button. A screen formed midair. Jasper and Nez were flying on the backs of Squits. En route to Skyplume, no doubt. Dr. Bensimhon winked at me. “Watch this,” she said, slipping on a holographic glove.
With an upward swipe of her hand, the ocean below tornadoed upwards. It barrelled into a handful of Squits. They were knocked out of the air, landing with loud splashes into the sea. Jasper and Nez stopped their bugs. “What was that for?” Nez asked, looking irritated. When Dr. Bensimhon wiggled her fingers, watery curls began stroking his face.
“I’m putting on a show,” she said. “So your girlfriend understands how I can be in two places at once.” While laughing, Jasper started waving grandly. Bensimhon waved back while eyeing me. She placed the gadget into her pocket again and the screen disappeared. “I’m not a Waker, Lava,” she said. “So those annoying rules don’t apply to me.” When she opened the door to Ganji Lab, I yanked away from her.
“Then what exactly are you?” Aside from a monster that is.
Bensimhon took a few steps closer to me. “I’ve engineered myself into the infrastructure,” she said. “I am part of the fabric of Nightworld.” Well, that wasn’t good. Not at all.
I almost couldn’t believe what Ganji Lab had transformed into. Instead of scattered high tech equipment, all of the machines were hooked up to one central mechanism, which appeared to be a cylindrical fluid chamber fixed to the floor. When a semicircle of scientists dispersed, I saw the human form inside of it. Shriveled, barely clothed, and bobbing lifelessly with wires flaring out from the cap on his head. Two smaller chambers flanked his. And behind them all was a human fish tank that took up the entire back wall. There must have been at least a hundred unconscious people in there, suspended in fluid, with chords extending from their bodies like tentacles. Even here, monitors of Nightworld were displayed all around.
I froze in place, not wanting to believe it. This was the dream, right? It couldn’t be real. A woman in the chamber beside Dad suddenly opened her eyes and banged her fists against the glass. She was screaming wildly without any sound and grimacing in pain. There was no doubt about it. That was Aza. My body went numb. Bensimhon pointed to the largest chamber. The man inside was white-haired, with the physique of an eighty-year-old. No. There was just no way this could be him. “Say hello to Daddy,” she whispered into my ear.
So this was the price of Godship. To be locked away forever in Reality, to exist solely in Unreality? Dad,
was that how this worked? I was too stunned to react. My eyes were glued to the chamber. “Oh, sweet girl,” Bensimhon said. “There’s no need to be upset.” When I felt a prick on my neck, I knew I was in trouble. My eyelids started drooping. “You’ll soon be replacing him.” Before I knew it, I became limp in her arms.
Break my glass and sever my chords. What was the code word for trouble again? My words were slurred: “Is there still hope?”
***
Back in Skyplume, Wakers from every territory were gathered, tethering a net around the huge tree. I found Hakim first after I dismounted Garth. “I can’t do this,” I declared. All around us, Wakers were hustling and working. They seemed so organized, but somehow my thoughts had become so scattered. My Dad and sister had been turned into floating puppets. The strongest, most capable people I knew had failed. Bensimhon was practically unstoppable at this point. So how could I stand a chance?
Wakers: Sayonara Sleep Page 18