by Sariah Skye
Kiarra nodded hesitantly as she wrapped her hand around the case. “Gotcha.” Even she took in a breath at the power the knife wielded as she grasped it. She blinked and set it aside, obviously rattled by the burst of power. She got to her feet and clapped cheerfully. “Well. Since you'll be leaving soon, let's get some food in you before you go!”
“Best idea I've heard today!” We all followed Kiarra into the kitchen and dining area where she had already set out a full meal: roasted chicken, cheesy potatoes, pasta salad and steamed broccoli. We ate in an uncomfortable silence, not wanting to talk about the impending events, but feeling too foolish to discuss trivial things. Maxxus eventually left us to gather his things, assisted by Finnian, who would help him collect supplies, and Daniel finally woke up—barely—and incoherently allowed his brother to help him to the infirmary area for Evie to look over.
Just Kiarra and I remained—and Sona. I curled up on a Kiarra’s other twin bed; my cat perched on the pillow at the head. I reached over and gently stroked her fur as I lay, her tail twitching back and forth.
“If something happens to me, you'll make sure she gets to Kit, won't you?” I interrupted the silence with that droll, depressing thought.
Kiarra, who'd been straightening up a dresser, clicked her tongue and turned to look at me, scolding. “Leo, that is not going to happen. I know Finn—he'll have all sorts of escape measures. If something goes wrong, there will be ways out. It will be fine.”
I chuckled dryly. “I wish I had your confidence.” I said no more though, allowing Sona's light purring to lull me into an uncomfortable sleep.
Chapter 12
Shortly after dusk, we gathered near the spot on the outskirts of the magical wards that hid Castle Danger from prying, human eyes, where just mere days ago we'd come over from the portal in Minnesota. Apparently, though there was no longer an actual portal there, it would be easier to form one in a spot where one formerly existed.
Gabriel was deep in concentration, feeling for the magical arcane residue of the portal, his hands outstretched like he was feeling around in the dark blindly for a light switch. Finally, after pacing around for about five minutes, he stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes flew open. “There. It was right here.”
“Are you sure?” Finnian questioned.
“Of course. I wouldn’t take this lightly. Portal summoning is very tricky. In the wrong hands, you could end up somewhere else entirely, or spliced between two locations,” Gabriel spoke grimly. “Do you have a lot of arcane users in Anarach?”
Kiarra, who was assisting Finnian with supplies, spoke up even though it hadn't appeared she was listening. “Oh yes. But hardly any of them can actually summon a portal.”
“It’s a rare skill, like Maxxus' weapon making,” he explained. “Well, a little more common than that. Arcane users can maintain them, but not summon them. I don't think there is any risk, as there are very few portal summoners.”
“Connor is one,” Daniel spoke up, sounding perkier than I'd heard him today at the mention of the mage's name. He still appeared tired, but he assured me repeatedly it was fine; he hadn't even needed any of Esmè's tonics or rejuvenating vitamins. All he needed was a nap—and a visit from the mage from earlier who promised him a beer later.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, you...” I just said, with a chuckle.
“Only the best of arcane magic users are able to summon one, let alone maintain them. They require a dose of magic every so often—arcane magic—so they don't become unstable. This portal only went to certain locations, so as long as we don't try to force it somewhere else, we'll be fine,” Gabriel explained.
“So, no dumping us in the Mall of America in the food court?” I snapped my fingers regrettably as my stomach growled, thinking about all the food located in one general area.
Gabriel smirked. “No, I don't think so.”
I sighed in mock exasperation. “Boo.”
“So how are we opening this thing again?” Maxxus questioned. He had apparently finished gathering what we needed, and a small backpack sat on the ground near his feet. He was wrapped a strip of leather around his waist that contained a leather sheath for his sword. He wore all black—a fitted black tee, black jeans, boots and black robes he wore open but fastened at his neck. It'd be chillier in Anarach than here, so they were necessary for warmth. I noticed his hair was slicked back and somehow darker than before. I cocked a brow and assumed he'd had some sort of temporary dye put in. His face was clean shaven, which I hadn't recalled seeing in a long time. It made him appear so much younger.
I snapped myself back to Earth and quit staring at him, though Maxxus smirked mildly under my gaze approvingly.
“That's where I come in, again.” A semi-familiar deep voice spoke up. Connor Styles, mage and obvious crush of Daniel, entered the clearing through the treeline. “I rip it back open and as you guys go through, you toss a vial in it that will temporarily re-direct it to your dragon place and there you'll be. Couldn't be simpler.”
Gabriel narrowed his brow and crossed his arms over his chest. “Simple, huh?” he mumbled, frowning. I chuckled to myself; the sorcerer didn't like being shown up magically.
I stood next to him and nudged him gently. “Shoot him with a plasma ball and see how simple things are, huh?” I kidded quietly.
Gabriel stifled a laugh. “Port that, bitch.”
I snorted rather loudly. “Now, now...that could be your brother in law. Be nice.”
He rolled his eyes, slapping his forehead in dismay. “Oh hell...”
Finnian coughed pointedly, calling everyone to attention. “Are we ready?”
Gabriel and I snickered guiltily, avoiding his heated gaze like we were two goof-off children. He motioned for me to come nearer and I did.
He thrust a small pouch towards me. “This is everything you might need to help your magic: some vitamins and things from Esmè and two potions to help tear open a portal to the Shadow realm to push Nicodemus through.”
I took it gingerly. It was about the size of my hand and I did not understand how so much could fit in there.
A pair of arms were wrapping around my waist and I jumped about three feet in the air.
Maxxus stood in front of me and winked. “Sorry. A sheath for your dagger. You have it?”
I patted the black backpack slung over my shoulder. “Yeah, of course.”
He adjusted it so the sheath at at my hip, and he unzipped the pack and instantly found the weapon and put it in its holster. I struggled to avoid looking at his face and give into melting into him with his close proximity. “Everything okay?” he asked suspiciously.
“Yep.” I looked everywhere but at him—the cloudy moonlight in the overcast sky, some bats flying around overhead looking for those last mosquitoes of the season, whatever. I finally breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped back.
“Ready?” he asked. He looked my body up and down with scrutiny. “Are you sure you're warm enough?”
I looked down at my fleece lined black leggings, dark red long sleeved T-shirt and charcoal gray robes with slits cut into the back strategically if I needed to call on my wings. I had borrowed some knee high black boots from Kiarra with black fur trim and I frowned. “I'll be warm enough, but I wonder now if I shouldn't have gone all black like you.”
“No. No one really wears all black there—I'll probably stand out more than you. Besides, shut your robes all the way and no one will see, right?”
I felt another set of arms wrap around my shoulders. “Oh, Leo—please be careful, okay? Come back as soon as you can!” Kiarra sniffled as she hugged me.
“You can count on that part,” I said with a snort. I had no plans to linger over there longer than I had to.
Daniel, who'd been conversing with Connor, was next to offer a hug. He whispered into my ear, “I'll be seeing you soon. Don't worry, you got this.” I nodded appreciatively at him and he stepped back, allowing his brother to say his farewell.
He stepped
closer to me before pausing. “I—uh—” he trailed off.
I threw my arms around him and pulled him in for a tight hug. He tensed briefly before relaxing and allowing the embrace. He spoke quietly into my ear before stepping back from me. “Be careful,” he said.
I nodded. He quickly offered me the briefest peck on the cheek, all the while avoiding Maxxus’ eye. Maxxus just ignored him and kept looking elsewhere.
Maxxus just nodded at everyone—his serious demeanor was intimidating and I think everyone was too afraid to try hugging him.
Finnian thrust a small vial at me that resembled the one that helped bring us here in the first place; blue swirling liquid with a hint of green. “The second Connor pulls that portal open, toss this in and jump.”
“You'll feel a slight jerking sensation as the portal tries to go back to its original destination—Pineville, was it? But it'll keep going and dump you in the dragon world. Now, since it was a destructed portal it won't feel as smooth, but the path is still there. It won't be in the exact spot that the other portal was—do we know if it's even still there?” Connor questioned, looking at us dragons in turn.
“They wouldn't have shut it down, hoping that one of us or Leo would try to get back through and get to her Grandfather,” Maxxus explained. “It's still there, guaranteed.”
Connor nodded slightly. “Okay then.”
Maxxus outstretched his hand and I nervously grabbed it, regretting that now my palm was sweaty with nervousness.
“See you soon, guys!” Kiarra called, and there was an immense roaring noise from before us as Connor ripped open the scar of the portal and brought it to life once more. It looked a little more than a black hole in the night so far, but with some manipulating it glowed a dark blue.
Maxxus squeezed my hand tightly and prepared to jump as I took the vial in my hand and tossed it in. It popped and hissed and the portal glowed brightly and turned a bright blue color. Maxxus and I exchanged brave faces and he jumped in, pulling me behind him as he leaped.
It was like riding a roller coaster in the dark. Freefalling for a moment, jerking and pulling and nausea-inducing before finally jerking to a stop. Only instead of stopping gently, we were thrown out on the other side with such force I tumbled head over heels, skidding ass first into Maxxus who was face down on the ground.
I had little time to right myself, knowing that even at night the portal would be guarded. I pulled myself upright and closed my eyes, envisioning an invisible shield around us that'd hopefully act as something to blur our presence until we could grab our bearings. With a wide gesture over my head, I felt the slight heaviness now in the air, like a night with full fog and humidity.
“You okay?” I questioned him as he struggled to pull himself to his knees. He tried to push himself up from the ground, but winced the second the slightest pressure was applied to his left arm.
“Oh no...” I whispered, hushed. I helped him to a kneeling position and he cradled the arm across his chest, holding it still with the other. I wanted to heal him, but I needed to get a fix for our situation first.
It was pitch black in Green Knoll, thank the Gods. The portal behind us had fizzled out and disappeared after expelling us like it'd been ill. Not quite the same desperate darkness of the Shadow realm, but, still plenty distressingly dark. In fact, too dark. And too quiet.
“Something's not right here,” I said, scanning the surroundings further. The small shack like building made from brick stood nearby—about the only discernable feature of the area, marking there was anything here, the rest was a small clearing outside of the woods and it stood silent. Normally there would be crickets or frogs croaking, but I heard nothing. No wind rustling the grass, no stillness of night.
Maxxus craned his head up towards the sky. Normally, the stars are brighter here in Anarach than Minnesota since we are nearer to the Arctic. I was puzzled by the fact that they were dimmer than usual. There seemed to be scattered clouds moving about the sky and shrouding the moon, but they appeared to be stationary. “That is not right.”
“What's going on?” I wondered and noticed that somehow everything seemed like Finnian had been here with his Loremaster magic and paused the skies.
“Wait—there's a star—” Maxxus pointed up towards the sky with his good hand, but quickly let it fall back down to his side. “Huh. Never mind. I thought I saw one twinkle.”
“This is odd,” I said, taking one more glance around us. Everything appeared still for the time being, no immediate danger. “Well, let's take advantage of this good fortune.” I crouched in front of Maxxus and gently pried his tender arm away from his body. He sucked in a pained breath and I tried not to wince at his discomfort. “I'm sorry,” I said sympathetically. Maxxus tried to grin through gritted teeth, but was unsuccessful.
I slowly with careful fingers moved the wide sleeve of his robe up his arm as far as I could go, nearly up to his elbow before he groaned again. I bit my lip seeing the immediate swelling of his forearm; somehow he had appeared to jam his elbow in the fall.
“I'm just going to touch, carefully...okay? Just hang on.” Maxxus nodded once as I slowly placed my palms over the injured area. If it was painful—which I'm sure it was—he didn't let on, staring stoically up at the sky. I closed my eyes briefly, and pulled the healing magic from deep within. It surged quickly from my center and out towards my hands. In the dim light I could see a dim, pink glow emanate from my palms. Slowly the blue hue of his injury began to fade, but through to the corner of my vision I could see Maxxus cringing. “Sorry, sorry!” I said guiltily.
“It's okay,” he said, his voice strangled in the back of his throat.
I blew gently on the area, hoping for an extra boost. I closed my eyes, willing the magic stronger. My hands warmed intensely as I pushed the tangible magic from my breath down towards his injury. I let my eyes open and the glittery mist spun around Maxxus’ arm quickly, erasing the swelling and the discoloration. Maxxus exhaled them after a moment and stiffly moved his elbow.
“Oh, so much better, thank you,” he said with a smile.
“Must have been quite a fall,” I said, with a chuckle.
Maxxus stood slowly and put both his hands out to help me to my feet. I slid my palms into his grasp and he pulled me gently to my feet until I was only mere inches from his body.
I peered into his eyes momentarily and he smirked. I briefly inhaled his earthly scent and felt instantly secure with him nearby. I almost allowed myself to sink into his embrace and forget my surroundings, but that was a bad idea. I shook myself from my reverie and stepped backwards. He appeared momentarily disappointed, but took it in stride.
“Now what is going on here?” I asked no one in particular.
We heard a light titter from in the distance. Or was it distant?
“Did you hear that?” Maxxus asked. His hand flew to the handle of the sheathed sword on his hip as he slowly spun on his feet, scanning the darkness.
“Sure did.” I flicked my hand opening, summoning a small ball of light in my palm, not only for illumination, but to shoot at the owner of the suspicious sound if need be.
Another low titter then, almost like a laugh. Maxxus stood ready on his toes, sword at the ready, pulling up a mass of earth with his free hand that hovered lightly over the ground.
“What the—” Maxxus raised his sword as something—or several somethings—darted out of the darkness.
One of them seemed to land on my shoulder. My stomach sank into my feet and I swear I jumped about five feet in terror.
“So sorry, pink dragon,” a tiny voice spoke in my ear.
I breathed a sigh of relief, and lifted my palm to my shoulder and let the owner of the tiny voice climb in.
“Is that a...brownie?” Maxxus inquired suspiciously.
I grinned at the tiny humanoid creature and nodded. It was a male wearing a brown tunic, messy brown pants, bare feet and a floppy brown hood. His face was worn and wrinkled but his smile was bright and
brown eyes sparkled with mischief. “It sure is. Are you guys doing this—whatever it is you're doing around here?”
The brownie nodded fervently. “Brownies no like what going on here. Brownies scared. We try to find pink dragon to help, but she gone.” His lower lip puffed out lightly, but he didn't appear wholly miffed. Brownies rarely ever got angry. Most dragons were bothered by them—they liked to play pranks on people that bothered them, or disrupted their villages (which usually appeared as clusters of mushrooms and stumps in the woods or alongside swamps) or just for fun. I caught them in our home many a time and always employed them to help play pranks on my parents. Harmless stuff like hiding dishes, smearing windows, misplacing objects you swore were just right there five seconds ago. In exchange, I allowed some a space in the gardens behind our home, and when I'd been living there full time, I frequently brought them little gifts like old socks, broken pencils, fruit peels, things like that. They loved to gather junk. As long as you treated them kindly, they would leave you alone.
“I'm sorry, guys. I had to move out some time ago, you know that,” I explained to him. “What's your name?”
“Gleep,” Gleep responded.
I felt something pull at my pant leg. I looked down to see another brownie—this time a female, and probably Gleep's wife (or mate—however their relationships worked, I had no idea). I carefully held Gleep in my one hand and bent over slightly to allow the female brownie into my hand. She obligingly climbed in, with her dingy white bonnet, gray apron and dress. She appeared somewhat younger, but age was relative with all mystical creatures. “Who are you?”
“Feezel, ma'am.” Feezel managed an awkward curtsy with her skirt; pretty good for a brownie. Most had rudimentary speech and manners. Feezel was clearly a cut above the rest.
“Feezel and Gleep. It's good to meet you. How many of you are here?” I asked them.
Maxxus let out a low whistle. “Quite a few, Leo,” he said, motioning around us. A couple dozen or three brownies bounced and danced around us, darting playfully in and out of our feet. He leaned into me and whispered quietly. “No offense, but are you sure they're safe?”