Into the Unknown (The Djinn Kingdom Book 4)

by LJ Andrews

  “Well, he acts as if you’re a god, but I think he’s forgotten a Djinn mingled with you, a mere mortal as you say.” She crossed her arms, feeling angrier the more she spoke of it.

  “Hmmm, a god you say? I like the sound of that,” Varick teased, but Nova rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay, sorry. I don’t think he’s forgotten, love. Perhaps he just knows how important you are to Lurlina. I am not the one she needs, so he puts more pressure on you. I wish it weren’t that way. I wish I was the one carrying the burden you carry. Maddox has so much invested in this battle.”

  “Don’t we all?”

  “Yes, we do. Let me ask you something—when you lash out at others, why do you do it? What makes you most angry?”

  “Many things. When someone I care about is threatened, when I’m threatened, when I see something unjust, when I think of what my actions have done to Mother…”

  “Right there,” Varick said quickly. “Is it safe to say you blame yourself for your mother’s situation? Which, I completely disagree with by the way.”

  “I blame myself for everything that has happened to her,” Nova admitted.

  “The guilt you feel runs through Maddox as well. He’s angry, but mostly at himself.”

  “Why?” Nova asked.

  Varick shifted slightly, adjusting his position on the table. “When Maddox returned to Dia with Hadwin years ago, he went to free Talia but there were others left behind. And Lurlina is not known to show mercy on those who try to escape.”

  “What others?”

  “Maddox has a wife and young daughter the Djinn took hostage when he tried to take his family. He blames himself. There’s no telling what will happen to them now that his betrayal to the temple has been made clear.”

  Nova gasped at the truth, imagining Maddox sailing away with his child behind on the mountain and the pain it must have caused, but she understood the guilt he must be feeling all too well.

  “Lurlina would bring harm to a child?”

  Varick raised an eyebrow. “Nova, Lurlina would do anything to get what she wants. You need to be prepared for what she might do when we meet her.”

  Her father’s words sent a tremble down her spine as she considered what she might see once they arrived at the temple. As the weight of the burden pressed harder against her chest, the air seemed to seep from her lungs and caused her to falter on her feet. Her father wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close.

  “We’ll make it, love. I promise I won’t stop until my family is back together.”

  Nova closed her eyes tightly, praying he was right and hoping the torture of not knowing the outcome of this looming fight would soon pass.

  Chapter 15

  Into the Unknown

  The storm raged for two days, the winds blasting across the surface of the island, rocking it where it floated in the Launi sky. Waiting for the danger to pass was torture enough as each person waited for the time when they would sail away from the island and face their fate.

  The morning was dark as the storm clouds thickened even more. Nova angrily pushed out of the heavy doors blocking the main tunnel from the docks. Her hair whipped her face as soon as she stepped into the furious torrents raging along the islands. The trees bent against the force of the winds, and the fine, black sand formed cyclones along the coast, forcing her to keep her eyes tight as she pushed onward.

  People were huddled inside using resources they would need on their journey to Mount Dia. Her mother was two days longer under the control of Lurlina. Raine was two days more in the Unknown, facing endless horrors alone, unarmed. Nova was frankly tired of the storm wasting her time.

  She climbed high on a grassy mound, which now had tufts of sand dotting the surface from tufts of grass ripping from the roots in the storm. Holding her hair off her face, she wobbled slightly as a gust of wind tried to throw her from her perch. Staring deep into the eye of the storm, she took a deep breath until the darkness began its journey through her veins. The burning spread and it seemed the wind around her responded.

  Her feet were steadier, her body was stronger against the wind. With her shoulders squared, she allowed the power to give her fresh energy. Smiling arrogantly, she faced the black wall of storm clouds.

  “You think your winds are powerful. You think you can keep us here, but you’re wrong,” Nova said, her frustration at the delay the storm had caused boiling to the surface. With each breath, her power seemed to pulse from her, like an invisible army facing off against the storm. “I will not leave those counting on me for another moment. It is time for calm.”

  She focused her energy as Hadwin had taught her. Fate was a tricky thing, and if she wasn’t careful, her manipulation would backfire. She had to speak gently, giving fate a reason to change, a better plan.

  Nova imagined the different paths fate could bestow them in the Unknown, but how could it happen if they were stranded upon the micro-island even a moment longer. Her body was fatiguing as the storm continued to bellow through the lower kingdom. The island pitched in the sky as a blast of North wind slammed against the side.

  Nova lost her footing and gripped a tuft of dead bush branches, which stopped her from rolling down the hill. She kept her thoughts on the Unknown—what was going to happen, how would she be able to play fate if she had no preconceptions of what she was going to face? It was better to let the ships disembark, rather than allowing the storm to continue to rage.

  Slowly, it seemed the whistling calmed, the shrubs stood more upright, and the cyclones of sand dissipated into simple waves along the coastline. The storm was still there, but the dangerous fury of the black clouds drifted into nothing but a gray thunderstorm. Bursts of distant lightning lit the sky, but the ships tied to the dock no longer pounded against the sides.

  Nova smiled, drinking in the thrill of using her power to control. She knew it was dangerous to revel in the power too long or she would risk becoming as Lurlina. But it was undeniably exciting to change the fate of the day. She looked at the ships; several had severe damage to the side hulls. Frowning, she rushed down the hillside into the tunnel. They had to repair the ships soon. It was time to leave the island behind.

  The Dachians loaded the ships first, Sabryn towering over the men still patching the holes in the side of the ships. Her long, black hair was straight like an ebony waterfall down her slender back. Malick and Amoni each stepped onto the other two ships, coarse ropes tying small vials of herbs and strange liquids in place. Each of the Dacians had their jagged blades on their hip as the herbalists took their positions on their assigned ships.

  Sabryn stood against the rail of Nova’s assigned ship, her gold eyes looking to the horizon. The Dachian race had beautiful faces, with narrow, defined jawlines. They were beautiful people and their brown skin seemed to glow in the sunlight, but despite the strength of their features, Sabryn’s face gave away her concern for what was to come.

  “I said I be loading the guns. I ain’t comin’, though I could fight ten times whatcha could, ye little wee man,” Kobb’s crass voice cut through the dark tunnel.

  Nova couldn’t help but smile as the man came wheeling through the tunnel, dragging a heavy trunk filled to the brim with swords, guns, and knives. A man with a short-cropped cut chased after him, his protests of Kobb coming on the journey silenced.

  “Do ye have the compact dagger I gave ye?” he asked Nova once several crew took the heavy trunk onto the deck to evenly disperse the weapons amongst the three ships.

  Nova nodded. “I have it, Kobb.”

  “Well, don’t be afraid to use it girl. Ye have a pride about that dagger of yers, but the one I gone an’ made be the better one. I don’t care whatcha say.”

  Nova scoffed and looked ahead at the hordes of people dressed in black saying good-bye to those being left behind. Nova bit back the emotion of families parting for what could be the final time. She caught Jenna standing back from the sorrowful goodbyes with her brother and father. Captain Tucker took
her in his arms while Kale tossed Theo in the air, laughing as the child squealed in delight.

  Jenna’s face was a stone as she released her father and traded Theo’s place in Kale’s arms. Captain Tucker took his grandson in his left arm, while his right was still bandaged. Both Kale and his father were lined in weapons. They were both skilled fighters, and Nova had to remind herself they knew how to handle themselves in battle.

  Jenna caught her eye. Nova seemed to burn beneath her gaze. To her chagrin, Jenna pushed through the crowd until she was face to face with Nova.

  “My entire family is going into the Unknown,” she said briskly. The laugh lines she once had on her smooth face had faded, only to be replaced with downturned frown lines.

  “Jenna, I tried—ˮ

  “You are part of my family, too, Nova,” Jenna interrupted. “I need you all to come back. Promise me.”

  Jenna didn’t let her respond before she wrapped her arms around Nova’s neck and held her tightly. Nova returned the embrace, gripping her thin back with all her might. Jenna was the sister she’d always wanted growing up, and she was at risk of losing her. She made a vow to herself: they would return. She would not let Jenna and Theo be left alone.

  Jenna released her and wiped her eyes, her bottom lip trembling. Nova smiled faintly, slinging a leather satchel over her shoulder.

  “We’ll be back, Jenna,” she said softly.

  “I’ll keep you to that promise, Nova.”

  “Ready to go, love?” her father said behind her.

  Nova turned. Briggs and Varick stood with Maddox and Hadwin close behind. Atlas was at the helm of the ship she was loading with Talia in command of the other behind them. The third ship was filled with shades of black clothing as band of shadow warriors loaded their belongings up the gang plank.

  “I suppose as ready as I’ll ever be. Are the ships ready?”

  “Kobb’s doin’ the last of the inspections,” Briggs said. “Come here, Miss Jenna. Don’t ye go on worryin’ yer pretty face. That boy needs ye to be the strong one for his sake. We will be back. Now don’t cry.”

  Briggs took Jenna against his burly chest as the tears fell freely. Nova smiled as her grouchy, brisk uncle melted beneath Jenna’s soft sobs.

  “It’s time, Varick,” Hadwin said in barely a whisper. He was looking up at the sky as if he could see something they couldn’t.

  Nova gave Kale’s hand a tight squeeze as he walked by with his father toward the gangplank.

  “Wait. You would not leave without us, would you?”

  Nova swallowed the disgusting taste that coated her mouth at the voice. Patus, Co, and Virtus sauntered into the opening of the cave. The pallid brothers seemed to shrink beneath the sunlight trying to break through the gray clouds.

  “You are not coming,” Nova insisted.

  “Oh, but we are,” Patus said.

  “Nova, they must come. They are the ones who can help us look beyond what we can see. We could use their abilities,” Hadwin said.

  “They will stab us in the back faster than we can blink,” she hissed.

  “So little trust,” Virtus said maliciously. “Perhaps we should leave them to the Unknown and keep the stone for ourselves.”

  “It is an option, brother,” Co responded, his voice a breathy snarl.

  “We didn’t even get your blasted stone,” Kale scowled at the three creatures.

  “Oh, do none of you open your eyes and look past your own ignorance,” Patus said, his tight, dry lips pulling over his yellowed teeth as he sauntered toward them, stopping in front of Captain Tucker. “Sir, may I please see your hand?”

  Though Patus took his good hand and forced it to his eyes, Tucker didn’t resist.

  “I’ll be needing this. It is for your benefit I have it,” Patus said, taking a ruby stone ring off Tucker’s ring finger.

  “No, that is from my wife,” Captain Tucker said.

  Patus ignored him, and with surprising strength, snapped the gold surrounding the gem.

  “No! Get your hands off it,” Tucker shouted, while Hadwin stepped between him and Patus.

  “I assure you, it is for your safety I have the seer stone. Though I would love to learn how your wife came to have it. Quite unusual.” Patus turned, his sickly eyes glaring at Nova. “So, you see we do not act at random. We have a purpose for everything. You saved your beloved friends on Silva, while we retrieved the stone. Do not continue to question us, or this stone may simply stop working.”

  Patus led his two blind brothers up the gangplank of the middle ship, while Captain Tucker glared at their every step. Nova’s lip curled as they buried themselves below deck. How she despised them.

  “What are they doing with that stone?” Kale asked Hadwin.

  “The brothers have not shared all their plans with me. I only know the power of a seer stone, and they have also informed me they have an Eye of a Beholder. Both items are extremely powerful. I only hope it helps us survive the Unknown.”

  Hadwin stalked up the gangplank of Nova’s assigned ship, leaving Kale looking baffled.

  “So that is why they wanted the Eye,” Kale said, remembering the first quest the brothers sent them on to help find the Island of Bones. “What do they need both for?”

  Nova shook her head. “I don’t know, but I do know I don’t trust those three with anything.”

  He nodded, twisting his fingers with hers. “Well, this is it. Are you ready?”

  “I’ll never be ready. Stay alert, Tucker. I refuse to see anything happen to you.”

  “The same for you, feisty,” he teased, kissing her quickly before leading her up the gangplank.

  From the rail of the ship, she scanned the island. The coastline was filled with dark-haired people and small children waving goodbye to their families. Jenna stood out with her pale face and tall figure. Theo smiled and clapped his hands when they released the triangular sails and hollered for the final boarding.

  Atlas tipped his hat from the quarterdeck as Hadwin gave the signal to pull away. With a turn of the helm, their ship pitched from the dock, dipping low in the clouds and drifting out into the open sky.

  Nova bit her lip, waving once more at the small boy who smiled and waved in return. The clouds soon wrapped around the ship and Theo and the island disappeared.

  Hadwin wrapped a long cloak around his shoulders. Her father had the golden pistol on his hip and stared out at Hadwin’s side watching for something which Nova couldn’t see.

  “Get ready to hold her tight, Atlas,” Briggs shouted while he pulled tight to heavy rigging.

  The air was tense and silent as the three ships sailed calmly through the rain-filled clouds. The damp air dripped along Nova’s face as she held her breath. She couldn’t hear what her father said to Hadwin as he pointed out into the empty sky, but her stomach churned. Leaning over the rail, she saw the dark border to the Below. Just beyond those clouds they could be in the temple’s kingdom.

  “Why don’t we simply go down?” she whispered to Kale. “Why must we go through the Unknown.”

  “Many reasons.” It was Sabryn who answered for Kale. She stood still and serious, her hand tightly covering the blade on her hip. “Least of which, is not your companion in the Unknown?”

  Nova felt slightly guilty. “Yes, I believe Raine is there.”

  “Then we must make haste and retrieve her. It may have seemed like years to her. There is not clear time in the Unknown. It is a space between worlds; it has no seasons, no rules, no order. If you have not already lost her, she will have experienced things we cannot imagine.”

  Nova swallowed hard. “And what are the other reasons?”

  “If we simply went down, we would continue falling, never to end, until we slipped into a forever sleep. The Djinn who divided Launi from the temple never wished anyone to find the temple. They made certain the way back was treacherous and difficult.”

  “Good enough reasons for me,” Kale said.

  Sabryn nodded, and h
er attention once again turned to the gray clouds which encompassed them.

  Maddox leaned on his sword across the deck, his eyes closed. He appeared to be lost in meditation, and she wondered at his calmness while her insides were threatening to explode to the surface. Maddox’s head was covered and only his face was not covered in black material. The band of shadows was prepared to disappear into the dark the moment the need arose.

  The clouds parted and the ships rose into the brightness of the sun. Nova marveled at the sight. Directly ahead was a long, wavy line of what appeared to be clouds, but they seemed misty and sheer. The clouds were dotted with purple, green, and orange as if all the colors had meshed into one line of bordering clouds.

  “Is that it?” Kale whispered.

  This time, Malick stepped forward. His voice boomed in a low baritone. “The Unknown is beckoning us to cross through. Prepare yourselves. This is the moment we have all joined together for.”

  Nova unsheathed her dagger, and Kale cocked the pistol’s hammer as Hadwin raised his hand toward Atlas.

  “Take her down quickly, but do not deviate from the course, not even slightly. Everyone ready, hold tight to the sails. Go!”

  As the words left his mouth, a gust of wind shook the sails of the ship. Like a bullet blasting from the barrel of a gun, the ship darted toward the line of clouds. Nova planted her feet firmly beneath her as Atlas fought against opposing currents, making certain he held the ship steady in the current they rode.

  The air went from hot to cold back to hot and humid as they pushed through the haze dividing Launi from the Unknown. Nova’s eyes watered as the ship fought against the squeezing pressure of the border clouds. It was unlike anything she’d experienced. It seemed as if the force would split the ship in two as they pushed forward. A jolting dip sent her tumbling to her knees, and her shoulders over the side rail. Kale caught onto her belt, holding her tight.

  Her eyes watched in terror as several crates fell overboard as she dangled dangerously over the side.

  “HOLD IT STEADY!” Her father’s voice roared through the muffling pressure.