“A new tattoo?” Jatred grinned, pointing to the back of Lusia’s neck, where a small Celtic symbol embellished her skin, right below her hairline.
“Yeah.” She laughed, touching the spot with her fingers.
Bogdan took his glasses off and wiped his face with the hem of his shirt.
“Bogdan got one too. The same, actually.” She glanced at her boyfriend, smiling.
“Now it’s your turn, bro,” Bogdan chuckled.
“You never know. I might. What do you think, Uncle? You’ve got one yourself. Now I’m feeling left out.”
“It’s your skin, and you are almost an adult. So don’t ask me.” Tyrrell shrugged with a lopsided smile.
“I wasn’t asking.”
“I know.” Tyrrell clapped Jatred on the back. “Just don’t ink your face, hands, or the front of your neck.”
“Did the storm do that?” Bogdan pointed at the broken branches by their feet.
“Uhm… no. I had to release some negative energy. Sorry.” Jatred winced, embarrassed.
Everybody looked at the tree. Their eyes slid along the trunk toward the top branches. One by one, the Shifters lifted their heads to see the upper parts of the tree. They had to shield their eyes with their hands from the rain.
Lusia nudged Jatred and grinned. “That was some serious negative energy. Huffing, and puffing, and blowing the tree down. Hmm.”
“That’s the wolf in me.” Jatred smiled, pressing his lips together, uncomfortable with the damage he had caused.
“Yeah, and where are the three piggies? Hopefully this whole mess will be over soon, so you can go shift in the woods and run off this negative energy,” Tyrrell commented.
“That would be awesome.” Jatred stuck his hands in his pockets and started to rock back and forth on the balls of his feet.
The other two teens fell silent. Tyrrell looked from Bogdan to Lusia to Jatred and back, and then said, “I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be soaking wet. I’m going inside.”
“We’ll be there in a minute,” Bogdan said. Lusia nodded in agreement.
They watched him climb the stairs and disappear inside. Lusia was the first to break the silence. “Jatred, what the heck is going on with you? Since you fought that nasty beast in the Realm, something has changed. You’re not the same.” She was frowning, her small face serious.
Jatred opened his mouth to say something but decided otherwise. He scratched his head and looked away. Finally, he regarded Lusia, and then Bogdan, and said, “Jasmira called me.”
“When?” Lusia asked, relaxing her eyebrows.
Jatred told them about Jasmira trying to coax the memories out of him and succeed a little, but not enough to make a difference. His friends offered suggestions for the events from the past that involved him and Jasmira, but nothing rang a bell. They decided to go back inside.
In the distance, a large clock on one of the neighborhood’s banks chimed eleven. The wind and rain came to a sudden halt, and the air seemed to thicken. Jatred turned to Lusia and Bogdan. He noticed a dazed expression on their faces. All three of them looked around in alarm. Lusia pressed her back to the wall of the house, standing two steps from the stairs. Bogdan instinctively moved in front of her, shielding her with his body.
“It’s so creepy,” Jatred said quietly. “So quiet and… still.”
“I know,” Bogdan whispered. His voice, although soft, seemed so much louder than it was.
Lusia clutched his arm with both hands. “We should go inside. I have a bad feeling about this. Whatever it is we are feeling here.”
“Yeah. Let’s go.” Jatred ran up the stairs with the Shifter’s speed. His friends followed, closing the door behind them.
“Mom, Dad,” still whispering, Bogdan rushed to his parents. “There is something freaky going on outside.” He explained what they had just experienced.
Andy Tornwood stood up and walked to the window. “It looks fine to me. You guys need some sleep. Bogdan, why won’t you take your friends upstairs, so they can rest?”
“Dad, I know what I saw. And what I felt. They did too.” He pointed at Lusia and Jatred.
Abruptly, Jatred dropped to his knees and disappeared. Everyone in unison shouted his name. They descended onto the spot on the floor where Jatred fell a moment earlier, patting it with their hands, as if trying to find a small piece of him.
“No!” Tyrrell shouted. “No! She summoned him again.”
“But why?” Ivona gasped. Tears rolled down her face.
“This is horrible. She will make him fight another Garhanan.” Lusia clasped her hands to her mouth.
“No, this can’t be. He didn’t do anything this time. Did he?” Bogdan looked frantically from face to face.
Andy sat on his heels, chewing on his bottom lip, deep in thought. Ivona touched his arm. “Andy? It’s time, isn’t it?”
“For what?” Bogdan’s voice was unusually high. “Time for what?”
“Tyrrell, where is the Amulet?” Andy tried to sound composed. His hands were shaking, so he took Ivona’s hand in both of his and gently squeezed.
“In the vault. In our basement, as always. Why?” Tyrrell’s black eyes were on Andy.
“I have a feeling Crystal wants Jatred to get the Amulet so he’s ready,” Andy said.
“For what?” both, Tyrrell and Bogdan shouted.
“For whatever she and Amber are about to do. You know Amber’s plans. Crystal will never allow the scale of the Universal powers to tilt to Amber’s side,” Ivona explained.
Tyrrell shot up from the floor with swiftness only possible in a double-natured being. “I’m going home. I think you’re right, Andy.” He was already at the door when he turned and said, “Be safe. All of you.”
***
Winter Realm.
“Prince Jatred.” Crystal strode toward him, her face solemn, dark brows drawn together. “You will get the Amulet. We need it now.”
Jatred looked around in confusion. The snow-covered Winter Realm seemed serene and solid, as always. He squeezed his eyes shut, digging the heels of his hands into them. When he looked again, the scene didn’t change at all. Jatred turned his head and saw the first Royal couple, Freki and Geri, in their wolf forms, sitting in the distance, and watching him.
“Not you two again,” he moaned.
“Go now and get the Amulet. I will get you there quickly. Be strong for your Race and your Goddess. This is the time of the trial.” Crystal voice lilted through the frosty air. She appeared both, physical and otherworldly. Her body was constructed of millions of shimmering snowflakes, and then solidifying into the form of the Celtic goddess, Morrigan. Dark tattoos covered her pale skin and seem to slowly crawl over it.
“A trial? What trial? You’re not making me fight another of your creatures of torment. Are you?” Jatred’s heart thudded against his ribcage.
“Go now.” She flicked her wrist. A whirl of thick snow enveloped him, cutting off all the sounds from the Realm.
Jatred yelled in frustration, thrusting his fists through the spinning wall of snow. There was no resistance to his blows, as if he punched the air. Then all went still, and he stood in darkness, shaking.
CHAPTER 53
Human World, November 18, late night.
Jatred’s Shifter’s eyes immediately adjusted to the dark. He realized that he was in front of the basement vault. He took a step forward and stared at the door. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to touch the Amulet. This is bad, I can feel it.
An image of the Amulet snaking over his arm with an unexpected, terrifying speed invaded his thoughts. He remembered the feel of an icy-cold pressure around his arm, and how the chain of the Amulet twisted around it and bound him to Jasmira’s wrist. Jasmira! The Amulet and Jasmira? When was that? Where was that?
Amber’s feline eyes with thin vertical pupils flashed in his mind. He looked around in panic. There was nobody there. His imagination played some cruel game with him. He wiped the
beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The trial. What did Crystal mean by that?
Jatred turned around and walked to the room opposite the gym, maneuvering between workout equipment. He reached to one of the metal shelves, behind a large plastic container labeled, “CLIMBING EQUIPMENT” and patted the wall. He hooked his fingers onto a small metal circle and pulled down a five-inch square flap. Behind it was a tiny lens. Jatred pressed his left thumb to it, and a beam of light scanned his fingerprint. A thin drawer popped out from underneath of the lens. Inside was a regular-looking key. He picked it up and walked back to the gym area. He crossed the floor and inserted the key into the door.
“Here we go,” he whispered to himself. He allowed for another scan—this time not only to his hand but also his retina. The heavy gate slid to the side with a whoosh. Jatred walked into the small chamber. He had been there with his uncle just two nights earlier. So much had happened since that evening. The memories swirled in his mind, making him dizzy. He grunted and rolled his shoulders, wincing at the recollection of his last visit to the vault. The Amulet was gone then, and he was summoned to the Winter Realm, so Crystal could give it back to him. She made him feel miserable, irresponsible, and stupid.
A now familiar feeling of an overwhelming anger started to claim him. Jatred took a few deep breaths, pushing it aside. I have to do this. Don’t know why, but I have to. I have to.
His fingers moved with supernatural speed over the keypad of the safe. The heavy door clicked open. Pallid-blue rays punctured the darkness, the only source of light in the vault. You are so much paler than I remember you. Almost colorless. Why?
He touched the Amulet, gently sliding his fingers over the jewel and the chain. It felt cold, like a block of ice. But there was more—Jatred heard whispers of voices from afar, growing and multiplying in amount and volume. When he removed his hand, the voices ceased, and the silence resumed. He experimentally touched the Amulet again, and then withdrew his fingers. Same thing happened every time, the voices returned, cunning and tempting, and then ceased.
Jatred grabbed the Amulet and quickly fastened the clasp around his neck. He slid the jewel under his t-shirt. The voices didn’t come back this time, but the Amulet felt as glacial against his skin as always. “Man, that was weird,” he said to himself. He secured the safe and stepped outside the gate. Jatred closed it and locked the door with the key, touching the Amulet with his hand through the fabric of the shirt.
After returning the key to its hiding spot, he sprinted up the stairs. The front door banged open, and Tyrrell rushed inside, yelling, “Jatred! Are you in here? Jatred!”
“Uncle!”
They ran toward each other, Jatred shouting, “She summoned me. She wanted me to get the Amulet. I have it here!”
“What? Why?” Tyrrell stretched his arms forward to grab Jatred’s shoulders. But in a split second Jatred disappeared into thin air. “No!” his uncle shouted.
***
Winter Realm. The time in Human World: Sunday, November 18, before midnight.
Jatred tumbled onto the snow-covered frozen ground. He slammed his head and back painfully against it. Two huge black ravens circled overhead, cawing loudly. Crystal’s face swam into view, momentarily obscuring the birds. Jatred squinted at her. Her face was covered in brown tattoos running down her forehead, nose, across her cheeks and above her eyebrows. There was a small half-moon painted on her chin. He reached to touch the back of his skull and winced.
“Take your Amulet. I got it, as you wanted,” he said in a rush, sitting up.
“It is not mine to take, my Prince.” The Goddess’s voice was icy. Her pupils swelled until her eyes were entirely black.
A tight red top, cut low over her breasts, covered only half of her lean stomach. She stood up and put her fists on her hips, pushing back a long black coat. It was made from shiny raven feathers. A short brown-leather skirt and a pair of laced up thick-soled leather boots completed her outfit.
Jatred stared at her, feeling small and insignificant. She emanated power and authority, standing ten feet tall, strong and muscular. “Get up, Prince Jatred. It’s time to get you ready for the battle.”
“What?” Jatred shrieked, falling back onto his elbows. He felt nauseated with fear.
“The ten-thousand-year mark is upon us. Amber won’t accept a peaceful exchange of the Amulet. She gathered her army and is ready for a fight. No waiting for the winter solstice this time around.” Crystal sounded determined.
He stared at her with incredulity, his mouth open. “This is some kind of a joke, right? A battle? An army?”
The ravens flew toward the ground, shifting mid-air into huge, growling wolves. They landed softly on their massive paws without leaving imprints in the snow. The wolves trotted to Crystal and sat on either side of her. A deep rumble reverberated in their throats, their teeth bared.
“Oh, come on.” Jatred scooted back on his butt, trying to put some distance between himself and the animals. He frowned at them and protested, “I can do that too, you know… growling and all. I’m not impressed.”
Three Spirits of the Realm appeared from nowhere as tiny balls of light. They moved fast toward Jatred, long comet-like tails of fire trailing behind them. Before he could protest, one of the Spirits zoomed right into his chest. The contours of his body shone brightly for a second or two. He sensed a surge of strength and instantly felt calm, the panic gone. Thoughts of order and discipline occupied his mind, and he forgot about the Spirit inside his body. The pair of ancient wolves watched him in silence.
“Stand up, my Prince. Time to go” Jatred heard Crystal’s voice in his head.
The Goddess turned away, her raven-feather coat swinging right over the snow. The first Royal couple followed closely behind her. She strolled off. Jatred noticed her long hair was braided into a tight plait, and two sword hilts were sticking up above her coat collar. They looked ancient—power and magnificence forged into one. Jatred felt a pang of longing to hold one of these beauties in his hand, to spin it around, and thrust, to strike, and parry. These were not his thoughts or memories. His Spirit of the Realm was preparing him for the battle.
Jatred stood up and looked from side to side. Out of nowhere, hundreds of Shifters materialized all around him. The Spirits of the Realm feverishly buzzed within the crowd, choosing the right match. Every time the match was made, a Spirit entered a Shifter’s body, briefly outlining it with bright light. More Shifters continued to arrive in the Realm, thousands of men, women, and teenagers. All that could already shift were there, the youngest barely fifteen.
In the distance was a series of small hills. Crystal stood atop of one of them. The first Royal couple in their wolf forms sat by her feet. She kept her watchful eyes on the increasing crowd of Shifters and the Spirits of the Realm making their matches. Freki and Geri looked like ancient sculptures, slowly moving their heads, as if inspecting the process.
The Realm was a loud place now, with Shifters’ voices and thoughts, unobstructed by mental shields. Jatred realized that, for the first time ever, the Realm reminded him of the Human World. It’s like a ski resort, Heavenly or Vail in high season. But that would be just too many damn skiers. He chuckled to himself, taking in the crowd and the beauty of Winter Realm. Jatred felt a rush of excitement running through his veins. He didn’t feel any fear. He actually embraced the opportunity of a battle. These definitely were not his feelings.
A half dozen Spirits dashed by him, followed by a single one that didn’t hurry as much. This one almost seemed as if it was looking for someone in particular, and not just the best match. Jatred stared at it in amusement, one corner of his mouth lifting in a crooked smile. A large group of teenage Shifters from Australia and India stood a few yards away from Jatred. The Spirit slowly moved around the gathering. It bobbed up and down by each person until it stopped by a tall boy, and then zoomed straight toward Jatred. It halted two feet in front of his face and started to grow larger, more transparent, until it lo
oked like a glittering shadow of a woman.
She lifted her hand and touched Jatred’s cheek. He felt a warm, gentle caress and saw the woman’s eyes—blue and shaped just like his own. He gasped, “Mom?”
The Spirit nodded, smiling. She swirled around him, and her human shape distorted into a blur of light. Jatred heard his mother’s voice in his head, “I found you. I was looking everywhere, but I finally found you.”
CHAPTER 54
Winter Realm.
A series of emotions washed over him—some were his own and a few came from the enhancing Spirit inside him. He didn’t trust himself to speak, so he only watched his mother’s Spirit restlessly floating around him. It slowed down, and he saw an outline of his mother’s body again. It shimmered in and out of sight.
Jatred heard her voice in his mind again, “We will guide you in the In-Between. I know you will be even braver than you are, thanks to your enhancing Spirit. He is the best of the ancient warriors, very skilled, and knows many great tactics. But your dad and I will still watch over you. My darling. My dearest son.”
His eyes burned with unshed tears. But then she moved a few steps away from him, as if walking off. The enhancing Spirit regained control over Jatred, decreasing his feelings for the mother he had lost so long ago.
When she turned her smiling face to Jatred again, another Spirit materialized next to her. It started to grow in size, stretching and changing, just like she did before. Luther, Jatred’s father, stood next to her, grinning at his son. His eyes danced over Jatred’s face and body, proud and amazed.
“Dad?” Jatred’s voice cracked, but the enhancing Spirit kept a strong hold on his emotions this time, not allowing for them to take over. Jatred cleared his throat and tried again, “I can’t believe this. Dad, Mom, you guys are really here? Really?”
They floated around, becoming either more or less materialized. “We have to go now, but we will come to you in the In-Between,” his father said. “You may not see us, but we will be there. Together with other Spirits that didn’t make the match. There are many of us in the Realm.”
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