by LJ Andrews
“All I will say to you ungrateful people,” Virtus began, “join those who give you aid to find the answers you seek.”
Nova groaned in frustration. “Do you ever speak plainly? Or do you love to torment us with your riddles?”
Virtus chuckled but said nothing.
“What about those who fought with us against the Strake?” The suggestion was Captain Tucker’s. He rubbed his bandaged shoulder, looking fatigued and weary, but with a strange determination in his features.
“What do you mean?” Varick asked.
“Join those who give you aid. Those…people or whatever they were gave us aid. Perhaps we should follow after them.”
Nova’s lips curled up into a smile. “That must be the answer,” she said excitedly. “Think about it, Father, did you ever expect to see a soul other than monsters in the Unknown?”
Varick shook his head. “I never witnessed anything apart from the horrors this place holds.”
“One problem,” Briggs said, folding his arms. “Where’d they go, huh? Ye all saw it, too. They disappeared into nothin’.”
“There are tunnels in the sea which lead to other places,” Maddox said softly. He hadn’t said much since the attack, but Talia was bandaging a long gash across his knee. “It’s possible they took a tunnel.”
“It was just over there,” Kale said, pointing to the port side of the ship.
Hadwin paced along the deck, clasping his hands behind his back. “If everyone agrees, we will go. If not, we will find another way to Dia. Agreed?”
The crew mumbled. Hadwin quickly lit the flame on the candle, signaling the message to the other ships. Nova waited impatiently for the other ships to discuss what was said. She glared at the brothers, wishing they would return to their former ship. She didn’t like them so close to her.
After what seemed like hours, three short flicks of a flame came from one of the ships. Then after another long pause came three from the third.
“That’s all,” Hadwin said. “Everyone is in agreement. Brothers, if you would use the stone and see the tunnel, we will continue our journey.”
Patus removed the stone and the Eye of Madame Vix she’d once given to them, and they placed them on the deck. The brothers circled together, clasping hands again. Nova folded her arms, watching them hum and hiss their chant. Finally, they parted and Patus stepped forward.
“Take the port side, traveling at full speed until you see the three gold stars. This is where you will turn.”
Atlas wasted no time. Turning the helm, the dark ship, pummeled with holes and dents from its life in the Unknown, sped away searching for their mysterious rescuers. Not long after the brothers’ vision, the three ships arrived at a strangely empty spot of sky, although twinkling about them were three beaming stars. They shone brighter than the others, with a gilded sheen cast from each one.
“Now what?” Briggs shouted. “I don’t see no tunnel.”
“Oh,” Patus said snobbishly. “Did we forget to mention there are three tunnels you could take? We cannot see which one is the one you seek, due to the mysterious wall in this wretched place.”
“What happens if we choose the wrong one?” Talia asked.
Co scoffed. “Do you really wish to know? All I will say is we will be much smaller numbers if we go where some of the tunnels lead.”
Nova released a grunt from her throat in frustration and jabbed her dagger beneath Co’s jawline. Her eyes flashed in fury, while her shoulders heaved from the anger flowing through her blood. “You love watching us spin around in circles. I say we have no more use for you and your brothers. What do you say to that?”
“Nova,” her father said sternly. “Leave them be. They forget they will get what is coming to them.”
She turned around fiercely, forgetting all the control and calm Hadwin had taught her. “You want to keep letting them lead us to our deaths? How many lives will be lost to their sick, twisted minds?”
“Nova, I need your help. Leave them and come,” Hadwin commanded, snapping her from the fury which was consuming her in darkness.
Slowly, Nova lowered the dagger and stepped backward across the deck, never taking her eyes from the brothers.
“You must decide what you will use your energy on and determine if using the power of anger is worth the effort it demands,” Hadwin said in a low whisper once she joined him.
“I can’t seem to keep my head on straight around those three,” she admitted.
“Well keep your head now,” he responded sternly. “We don’t need them. I’m confident we can determine which tunnel to take. Now take my hand and concentrate. Focus on the good, and find the thoughts and memories of Raine that are good, not those that incite anger.”
Nova closed her eyes, feeling humid air blowing from the three tunnels against her face. She remembered Raine as the queen. She’d saved her when Nova had broken into Insel’s palace the first time. She imagined Raine and her carefree expression when they’d stayed at the Tuckers’ home. How long ago it seemed.
Her arms trembled, but Hadwin gripped her tighter to steady her power. For a moment, her mind was pulled away and three dark orbs filled her mind’s eye.
“Good, Nova,” Hadwin said. “I see them too. Now, focus, which one shall we take?”
“Hadwin, what if I lead us wrong?” she whispered.
“Have confidence in yourself, Nova. You must abandon the fear you carry. It only hinders you.”
Taking a deep breath, Nova clenched her eyes tightly. The tunnels seemed to blur at the edges until, slowly, the two outer spots melted and faded to the center, leaving only one dark orb in her mind. She took a deep breath, releasing Hadwin’s palms. “I think I know where to go.”
He smiled and stepped to the side, allowing her to step forward to direct Atlas.
“Take the center tunnel, Atlas,” she said loudly. “It will lead us where we need to go.”
Atlas smiled, and maneuvered the ship forward, catching the breeze from the dark tunnels in the sky. The ship caught the current and spun through. It was a rough ride, the boat pitching and dipping as the tunnel’s pressure pushed down on them, causing the wood planks to groan and moan like lost souls.
Finally, the ship broke free from the tunnel. Atlas cried out in surprise as a tall jagged cliff appeared directly in front of them. He couldn’t turn in time, and the crew watched in fear as the ship slammed against the tip of the mountain.
Nova’s heart sank as she felt the stones rip along the hull, forcing the ship to dive dangerously toward the ground.
The air was hot and dripping with moisture as the ship took its fall through waxy leaves and heavy forests. Nova gripped the rail, keeping her head low. The crew followed suit, bracing for impact as they flew through the forest. The foliage slapped the sides of the ship, tearing the sails and fracturing the mast. The ship slammed hard against the mossy ground, finally coming to rest in a small clearing full of long blue grass.
No one spoke for a moment, everyone reeling from the dangerous docking. The two other ships, thankfully, had seen the rocky impact and were able to veer away. The ropes connecting the ships had snapped from the violent sinking, and the two other ships slowly lowered through the sky, coming to rest nearby in the clearing.
“Are you all right?” Amoni shouted across the clearing.
“All’s well, though our ship took a beating,” Varick said after taking a quick inventory of the crew. “Hadwin, any telling where we are?”
Hadwin looked up, scanning the trees, but Maddox spoke first. “We’re in the Jungle of Amissa. The trees are native plants to the jungle.”
Nova looked closer. He was right in that she’d never seen trees like those surrounding them. The trunks were thick and twisted in heavy braids. The leaves shone with a waxy coating, and the edges were spikey with tufts of fuzz on the ends. The colors were dark green, blue, and smoky gray, which reminded her of growing storm clouds. The clearing was alive with chirps from insects and distant creatures roaming
the jungle.
“We should make camp here. A clearing like this is the safest place, especially if we can create a circle with the ships somehow,” Captain Tucker said.
“Agreed,” Varick responded. “We will continue our search after we rest and eat. It will do everyone good. Sabryn, can you prepare remedies for the wounded?”
Sabryn nodded and rushed to find her supplies.
“I will create a barrier around camp,” Malick said, dumping dried leaves which smelled strongly of cinnamon and lemon around the edge of the clearing.
Once others in the fleet settled in to rest, splitting bits of hard rolls and salted meat, Nova realized how exhausted she was. Her legs felt heavy, like boulders on iron chains dragging in sand. She leaned back against one of the twisted trees on the edge of the clearing and felt the weight of sleep pull at her eyes.
“You did great back there,” Kale said, waking her.
“Back where?”
His brow furrowed as if he were trying to remember. “It seems as if it happened so long ago all of a sudden. Didn’t you help bring us here?”
Nova shrugged. “I hardly remember the name of this cursed jungle. One of the most frightening parts of the Unknown is feeling as if something is stealing my reality out from under me. Come, rest and forget about how we came here, for we most likely won’t remember our names in the morning.”
Morning in the Unknown was much like the night, apart from a pale orange tint to the wispy clouds floating throughout the heavily starred sky. Kale brushed Nova’s hair from her face and brushed his hand over her cheek.
Blinking her eyes open, Nova took in her surroundings curiously. “Where are we again?”
Kale gnawed on his lips, watching white smoke float through the sky from a small fire in the center of the large clearing.
“The Jungle of Amissa,” Maddox hissed as he walked by, adjusting his long blade. “Keep your senses or you’re worthless to us all.”
“I see someone’s attitude hasn’t changed,” Kale said, rolling his eyes.
“Amissa…now I remember,” Nova said, stretching a kink from her side from sleeping against the braided trunk. “We need to find Raine. What do you know of her?” she shouted out, stomping toward the Three Brothers who stood far off from the rest of the camp.
“Why would you suppose we would assist you anymore?” Patus snarled. “After what you pulled yesterday.”
“Yesterday? I threatened your despicable brother eons ago,” she argued, resisting the urge to strike Patus on his sagging, gray cheek.
“If you are not strong enough to resist the confusion of the Unknown, you are not strong enough to save your fallen companion, nor fight the Great Djinn.”
“Nova, come on, we need to move,” Atlas called out from the fire.
Nova offered one final glare at the brothers before jogging to the center of the clearing.
Varick was leaning over the yellow scroll again, pointing to a spot near the border of the Mount Dia.
“We be nearly there,” Briggs cried with excitement.
Sabryn stood next to the older man, rolled her eyes, and handed him a fuzzy leaf. “Eat this, it will clear your mind.”
“Briggsy, we must find Miss Raine first,” Varick reminded gently. “But we should take heart that we are so close to Dia.”
“When do we leave?” Atlas said.
“Captain, would you care to offer your plan?” Varick said, pointing to Captain Tucker.
Clearing his throat, Kale’s father stood. “In past rescue missions, it was always advisable to split into groups. Cover more ground and such. But the Unknown is not like other places. The Three Brothers have offered their assistance, though they demanded to be addressed with respect,” Tucker said, glancing to Nova briefly. “We will move out in small groups, with the brothers using the seer stone and the Eye to keep watch on us, though they refuse to say how it’s possible.”
“Figures,” Atlas hissed under his breath, drawing a smile to Kale’s face as the brothers glared in their direction.
“If we begin to lose ourselves in the alternate reality the Unknown offers,” Captain Tucker continued, “we will be called back to camp, and a second party will go out. If a group falls under duress, we will be able to assist them.”
“The Jungle of Amissa has dangers, but if there is anywhere to be in the Unknown, this is the place,” Hadwin added.
“I will be in the first group,” Atlas said.
“I would like to go as well,” Captain Tucker said.
“Of course, I’m going first,” Nova said. Kale nodded as well and signaled his volunteer position with a quick flick of his hand.
The greatest difficulty of the plan was everyone wished to go first. Finally, Varick took command and divided into groups. Sabryn and Maddox were joining them in the first group, as well as Hadwin and Briggs. Nova’s stomach twisted in concern as she feared losing touch once she traveled through the jungle. She jumped back, startled when Varick tapped her shoulder.
Varick smiled. “Nova, I am staying behind in the camp on this group. Your uncles are going with you which is my only comfort, but you must promise me you will be careful. Please.”
Nova wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, holding him tight. “I will. But you must also promise the same.”
“Nova, time to go,” Kale said gently behind them.
Varick’s eyes seemed red, even in the dim light. “Keep a watchful eye out, Love.”
“I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
Kale stumbled down a stone slab. Maddox slid down gracefully, not stopping to help Kale to his feet. He looked around, taking in their surroundings as the rest of the group landed near Kale at the bottom of the rock wall. Nova wiped her brow while helping Kale up. The air was hot and stuffy. Her leather canteen was near empty, and from the flushed faces of the others she suspected theirs were as well.
“It’s getting dark,” Atlas said.
“Then light the torches,” Maddox shot back.
“Where does he come off, commanding us around,” Atlas snarled under his breath.
“Take it easy. We can’t turn on one another. Remember, he’s been in the Unknown before,” Captain Tucker said, slapping Atlas on the shoulder.
Nova held her newly lit torch. They’d fallen below a steep rocky ledge. The stone cliffs towered high above the waxy tree tops. Some of the leaves on the braided trees were jagged and spiked, while others were smooth with bits of blue fuzz along the surface. With each step, the ground gave just slightly as if the moss-covered soil was covering a damp sponge.
Nova held the torch firmly in her hands, whipping it back and forth against the darkness. Something inside told her those strange people who had saved them from the Strake were near. The strength of the topsy-turvy feeling of the Unknown was beating against her mind, however, and it was unclear why she’d even led their fleet to the Jungle of Amissa. What were they searching for?
“Is this the way to the temple?” Atlas’s hoarse voice croaked somewhere behind her.
“I’m not certain I know what you’re talking about,” Kale responded.
“The temple you idiot, the…the…you know the temple with the…people we’re…just the temple, you fool,” came the frustrated response.
Nova shuddered. It was like a distant memory. It seemed they’d been wandering the wilderness of the Unknown for decades. She was certain she should be an old woman by now. But the promise she’d given her father had repeated in her mind since stepping out of the camp.
Nova’s lips pulled into a wide smile as she paused at the base of a rocky ledge. Spikey leaves and moss blanketed a fallen tree. Pushing away some of the foliage with her boot, she clapped her hands. The memory flooded back to her mind. Someone else had rescued them during the Strake attack. It was a small skiff, not a tree buried beneath the leaves. It had a mast made from wrapped vines, and the sail was nothing more than woven leaves. But how someone had cut down the thick braids and knots of the tree
s, she would never know. Even with the sharpest ax, it seemed like the trees would be relentlessly difficult.
“Over here,” she called out to the rest of the explorers.
“I saw this…it seems like it was so long ago,” Atlas said, running his hand along the edge of the skiff.
“I know it,” Nova beamed. “Someone else is here in the Unknown.”
“Tread carefully, Lass,” Briggs said, holding his painful shoulder for a moment. “Could be a trap for all we’s know.”
“Everything is a trap here,” Kale murmured.
“What ye mumblin’ boy?” Briggs shouted in agitation which was out of character for her uncle.
“I said everything is a trap here,” Kale shouted. “Or haven’t you noticed yet? We’re in a death trap.”
“Well I think I needs to show ye some respect,” Briggs said, raising his cutlass.
“Uncle Briggs!” Nova shouted, her voice shrill enough to catch their attention. “What are you doing?”
Briggs paused, stunned as he looked around and took in his behavior. “I…don’t know what came over me,” he said slowly returning his cutlass to his belt.
“We cannot lose our heads. I know the Unknown fights to confuse us every moment we’re here, but we cannot give in.”
“Well said,” Captain Tucker said, nodding. “Now, let’s get on with it so we can get out of here.”
From the ledge above there was a glimmer of light. It cast ghostly shadows along the surface of the gray stones. Nova checked to be sure her weapons were properly stowed, then taking the first step, she climbed the rocky cliff.
The others followed, Maddox quickly catching her and passing by without a glance. Those in the band of shadows could climb without a sound, and most standing on the top of the ledge were those dressed in the black band of shadow clothing by the time Nova rolled over the edge.
Briggs huffed behind, cursing everything as he pulled himself up. Captain Tucker had stayed down below with two of the band of shadows to keep watch since his shoulder would not allow him to climb such a steep ledge.
Nova swallowed hard while Maddox and several others silently surrounded a makeshift door built into a crag in the rock wall. She unsheathed her dagger, ducked low, and slowly pushed against the dead wood blocking the entrance.