by Dana Gricken
“You may visit this place any time. All you must do is think. It is yours as much as mine,” the Cardinal said. “Reach your hand out. You can control the Quintessence with the palm of your hand.”
“I won’t do what you say, Cardinal. I won’t!”
When I yelled, the energy trembled, shaking the ground beneath my feet. My anger seemed to have an effect on it.
“Your power is manifesting,” the Cardinal said, “and it gets stronger with your rage. You are untrained and unpredictable. Come to me, and I will teach you everything. I will show you how wonderful this power can truly be.”
I stood up, trying to get away from the voice, but it was everywhere. As I moved, I only sunk deeper into the strange energy. “Go away, Cardinal. I don’t want to talk to you!”
“But you will,” he continued, “once you realize our bond cannot be stopped, and that we were made to conquer. This world will bow at our feet. Your friends will die if they are weak or unworthy.”
That pushed me over the edge.
My anger bubbled inside of me, and I screamed. It must’ve been enough to break out of the Quintessence, because I felt something shift inside of me. With a flash of light, I returned to my living room, finding myself once again sitting on the couch. It looked like a tornado had ripped through the place.
Had I done this again, just like the bomb? Opened a portal and caused an explosion?
The Cardinal didn’t reply. He was gone for now. If he knew what was good for him, he’d stay away forever.
“Riley?” Caleb asked, walking through the front door. “Riley, where are you?”
I rose to my feet. I was desperate to talk to someone—anyone who wasn’t the Cardinal. “Caleb, I’m in the living room!”
“Riley, I was worried,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “It’s been two hours. I looked everywhere for you. I feared the worst, you know.”
Two hours? But it felt like I had just gotten here! Time must’ve passed differently in the Quintessence.
“What were you doing here?” Caleb asked.
“I…think I spoke with the Cardinal,” I whispered. “He’s been talking to me in my mind. When you asked who I was talking to when the bomb almost exploded, it was him. I was afraid to tell you.”
Caleb was quiet for a moment. “I see. That’s troubling.”
“I know,” I replied, feeling the tears well in my eyes. “I didn’t ask for any of this, Caleb. I want it to stop. I want to be normal again!”
“Take a deep breath, Riley,” Caleb said, holding me tight. “I’m going to figure out why this is happening and fix it, okay?”
I wanted to believe him, but the Cardinal was powerful. There might have been no fix.
I held up my wrists. “Put Restrictors on me, Caleb. Stop me from using this terrible power.”
Caleb shook his head. “Restrictors don’t work on the Cardinal, Riley. He’s too powerful. My mother learned that the hard way.”
“Then we have to try something else. The Dark Queen locked the Cardinal away once,” I replied. “She put him in a tomb for all eternity. Maybe…maybe you could do the same to me. I’m losing my mind, Caleb.”
“Riley, that’s absurd. You’re not losing your mind. You’re just confused and overwhelmed. You don’t need a tomb.”
“Why not? I’m just like the Cardinal! I can control the Quintessence, and that makes me too dangerous to walk free.”
“You’re not like the Cardinal. He’s a conqueror—a murderer!” Caleb said, shaking me. “You are better than him, Riley. That’s clear by how much you want to stop this!”
Jacob walked through the front door a second later, holding his cell phone in his hands. When he saw us arguing, he cleared his throat.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he began, “but this is important.”
I wiped my tears away, taking a deep breath. “It’s all right, Jacob. What’s going on?”
He held up his phone. “Do you remember when the Dark Queen called the headquarters? Well, I think I’ve finally tracked her down.”
I smiled. “Jacob, that’s great news! Where is she?”
“Well, it’s not a perfect signal,” Jacob began, “so if I’m wrong, don’t blame me, okay?”
“Jacob?” Caleb asked, a little too harshly. “Just tell us.”
“Sky Radio Station,” Jacob replied. “Which makes sense when you think about it.”
I nodded. “She’d need a connection to call us. A radio station would have a stronger signal than anywhere else in the city.”
“So, what’s our next move?” Jacob asked, smirking. “I’m ready to go right now. I’ve been dying to use my crystals again…”
I shook my head. “No, we’re not going without backup. The Dark Queen is angry, and her power has evolved with Doctor Zero’s experiments. It’d be too risky to go alone.”
I might not have been able to locate or stop the Cardinal, but maybe I’d have a better shot with the Dark Queen. She was still a problem, one I had caused by letting her get away.
And right now, with anger still coursing through my veins, revenge was the only thing I had on my mind.
When we returned to the headquarters, the bickering hadn’t stopped—it had only changed locations. Instead of the basement, our people were arguing in the lobby now. As we approached, I heard what they were yelling about.
Me. Or, more specifically, my new power.
“Could be dangerous,” I heard Patrick say. “Controlling the afterlife? Opening portals or whatever? It’s bad for us all, you know—real bad.”
Violet nodded. “And I worry about her state of mind. What if…what if she isn’t fit to be the General anymore?”
“Excuse me,” I said, standing on a nearby desk. “If I could have your attention, please?”
“What’s going on, Riley?” Mom asked, walking toward me. “First King Bane tells us you can control something called the…Quintessence, and then you disappeared.”
I nodded. “It’s all true. I didn’t want to believe it myself, but I can control the Quintessence somehow. I still don’t know how I managed to stop the bomb, but I think my power is developing. The Cardinal has been sending me messages, talking to me in my head.”
“What kind of messages?” Marissa asked. “Happy ones, or mean ones?”
“Both,” I replied. “The Cardinal wants me to work with him. His goal is to open the Quintessence, and he keeps calling me his Prodigy. He wants my help to conquer the world.”
“Then it’s true,” Caleb muttered. “The old legends were right. Riley, we have to stop him. If he opens the Quintessence, our world will die. It can’t handle the merge!”
“If he can do that, why hasn’t he done it already?” I asked. “I think the Cardinal needs me in a way I can’t explain. I’m the key, like Wanda said. If I stay away from him, maybe the world will be safe.”
“And if he finds us, or attacks us head-on?” Tyler asked.
“Then I’ll run,” I replied, shrugging. “I’ll do whatever I have to in order to stop the Cardinal from bringing spirits into our world.”
“Tell them about the Dark Queen, Riley,” Caleb whispered. “It’s why we came back.”
I nodded. “There’s more. Jacob’s found a possible location for the Dark Queen. I want all our soldiers with us—the strongest of our people—to visit it.”
The crowd was silent.
“Not that we don’t support you, kid,” Patrick began, “but damn, this is a lot to process. We just stopped the Darkhunters. Now we’re jumping back into the thick of it for the Dark Queen?”
“I know you’re tired, but this is our only chance,” I replied. “It’s been days since the Dark Queen called me, and she could’ve moved by now. We stopped the Darkhunters already, but we have more enemies—and if we can stop one, we can stop them all.”
The crowd grumbled, but eventually nodded.
“All right, kid, you win,” Patrick said. “But if we see the Cardinal, we’re out of there.
Got it?”
I nodded. “Got it.”
Jacob walked around the corner. “Great speech, Riley…but can you make one more? I just connected with the United Nations again. They want to talk to you.”
I sighed, hopping off the table. “Let’s go. I’m eager to hear what they have to say.”
“Maybe don’t mention the whole Quintessence thing, okay?”
I nodded, pulling open the door to the communications room. Caleb followed, but stayed out of the camera’s view. I looked up, seeing the entirety of the world’s leaders in front of me. The tone in the room felt somber and dark.
“Hello, Miss Stark,” the Canadian prime minister began, clearing his throat. He seemed afraid of my black irises. “We’re sorry we took so long to get back to you.”
“It’s been a few days. I was worried about you.”
He nodded. “Yes, well, we had to think it over. Politicians don’t always agree, you know. And Geneva was hit by a terrible snowstorm. It affected our communication access.”
“What have you decided? Will you lend us your support?” I asked. “Even if you can’t spare extra soldiers or vehicles, just letting the world know you believe in our mission would mean a lot. It would show the people soulless aren’t to be feared—not all of them, anyway.”
The room was dead silent. That couldn’t have been a good sign.
“It’s not that we don’t want to lend our support, Miss Stark,” the British prime minister began, “but surely you can see our predicament. General Grissom, President Lang, and Vice President Vaughn are missing in action. Your country has no leadership—no direction.”
“They did that to themselves,” I replied. “They were the ones who left us, not the other way around.”
“And to add insult to injury, you are soulless now,” the Nigerian president said. “The last of the Stark line, corrupted. Can you see why we have no faith?”
Corrupted. That was what they now called me, unable to look past my eye color.
“So, there’s nothing you’ll do for us?” I asked.
“Unfortunately not,” the Australian prime minister replied. “We are declaring a state of emergency. No one will be allowed in or out of the United States. We’re suspending all travel and closing our borders.”
The New Zealand president nodded. “With New York City and Washington destroyed, we fear the rest of the country will fall in time. We must protect ourselves. We hope for the best, however. If anyone can do something, it can only be you.”
The line went dead. Jacob sighed.
“I’m sorry, Riley. I lost them. I don’t know if it was storm interference or if they hung up.”
I took a deep breath. “That’s okay. We weren’t getting anywhere, anyway—and they couldn’t offer us anything.”
“Should I tell our soldiers to move out?” Caleb asked.
I nodded. “Yes, we’ll be leaving right away. And I want Spencer, Rachel, Dad, and the other Darkhunters to come with us.”
Jacob chortled. “You really trust them by your side? I thought you said they’d be behind bars for an eternity.”
“It’s tempting to let them rot in a cell,” I began, “but they’d be more useful out in the field. Besides, if I’m risking my life, they are too. Give them each a dagger, but keep their guns and other weapons hidden. I want someone keeping an eye on them as well.”
“And if we find my mother? What are your orders?”
“She dies. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
Caleb shook his head. “I’ve wanted her dead since she made us fight in the Depths. I’m sorry it’s taken so long to do it. Besides, Wanda may never be whole again if we don’t.”
I was glad he agreed. We had the chance to take out two of our enemies in the same day, and I was more than willing to risk it. And if the Cardinal made an appearance, I wasn’t going to run like I had told the others. I had only said that to make them feel better.
No, I was going to fight him. I had to.
14
Fear Itself
As I walked to the trucks with Caleb, Bane, Jade, Jacob, and Ruby behind me, Patrick exited the building. He had brought Dad, Spencer, Rachel, and the rest of the Darkhunters with him. He handed them each a Deathblade before removing their handcuffs. I had tried to stop Jade from coming with us—telling her she needed her rest after getting shot—but she wouldn’t listen to me. She limped behind us, as stubborn as ever.
“No funny business,” Patrick said. “We’re killing the Dark Queen only. If I catch you hurting Riley or any other soulless…”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “How could we? You took our good weapons. And besides, you outnumber us—we’ve only got twelve members. How stupid do you think we are to try something?”
“You don’t want me to answer that, girl,” Patrick mumbled before he turned to me. “Want me to keep an eye on them, kid?”
I nodded. “Yes, please. Do you mind?”
“No, not at all. If they try something, it won’t have much of an effect on me. I’m the best guy for the job,” Patrick said before he leaned in. “You sure you want them to come? What if they do something—run away or fight back?”
“I’m sure. After everything they’ve done, they deserve to be put to work. And if they try to attack us, well…I know you can handle it by any means necessary.”
Patrick nodded. “Got the memo, kid. I’ll do what I have to.”
As he turned to walk away, I reached for his arm. “Are you still mad at me for lying to you? You know, about the Cardinal and his connection with me?”
Patrick sighed. “I’m not happy you’re the Cardinal’s pet. Still don’t know who is he or what he wants from you, but I can’t stay mad at you, kid. Hell, we’re practically family by now. Think you’re off the hook.”
“I feel the same way, Patrick. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Does anyone want to tell us what’s going on?” Spencer asked. “We don’t like to be in the dark.”
“You don’t need to know anything,” I replied, “just that we found a lead on the Dark Queen, and we’re going to investigate. Remember—her power is stronger, and she’ll be angry. Be careful. Wanda’s life is at stake, and she’ll die if the Dark Queen gets stronger.”
“Wanda? The soulless woman?” Dad asked. “Why would we care about her?”
I balled my fists, walking toward him. “Because I do. Wanda saved my life many times, and she wants the Dark Queen stopped as much as you do. As the General of the Samaritans, you will follow my orders.”
The Darkhunters didn’t talk back this time. I hoped I’d proved my point. Maybe Jacob had been right—I was starting to think bringing them had been a bad idea.
Patrick turned to the Darkhunters, a snarl on his face. “All right, single file! Get in the truck. If I see any of you out of line, I won’t be so nice anymore.”
“When were you ever nice?” Rachel mumbled.
As Patrick and the Darkhunters piled into the truck, I got into the driver’s seat of mine and sped away. I had my regular team with me, and I felt good having them by my side. They were some of the few people I still trusted.
The others in the backseat chatted among themselves, not even paying attention to Caleb and I sitting up front. It was the perfect chance to ask him a few questions about us—and our future.
“About what we said before the bomb exploded…” I began, and Caleb looked over at me. “That was the first time we said ‘I love you.’ Do you think we said it too soon?”
He shook his head. “No, not at all. Look, I didn’t just say it because I thought my life was ending. I said it because I felt it. Are you having doubts?”
“No. I know how I feel about you. I was just worried you might think we’re moving too fast. I don’t want to pressure you, or worse—lose you.”
Caleb chuckled. “You’re not pressuring me. I said it first, didn’t I? And you couldn’t lose me even if you wanted to, Riley. New York City was destroyed. Where else
could I go?”
“Gee, thanks,” I muttered.
Even joking, Caleb still had that somber, deadpan look on his face. He shook his head. “All kidding aside, I’m here for you. I meant what I said before. Soulless or not, Prodigy or not, I’m still in love with you. There’s no one else for me—no one else who could know me like you do.”
“What about the future? If we win this war, of course—what do you want for the two of us?”
He placed his hand on mine. “Whatever happens, I want to stay by your side. What we have is special, Riley—and I couldn’t bear to lose it.”
Caleb was right. What we shared was worth fighting the Dark Queen and the Cardinal for.
The Sky Radio Station was a small building near Central Park. Some of the front windows looked smashed, and the door was wide open. But as I looked closer, it seemed empty. Were we wasting our time? Was the Dark Queen even still here?
As we pulled up, hiding our truck in a back parking lot, I wrinkled my eyebrows in confusion. “Sky Radio Station,” I muttered, turning to the others. “Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
Jacob nodded. “It’s owned by Starla Sky’s parents. It’s where her music was first played. Don’t worry, they won’t be here—Starla and her family were rescued after Doctor Zero’s attack. They’re back at HQ.”
“How do you know so much about Starla Sky?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jacob blushed. “I might be a big fan of hers. Her music isn’t just for teenage girls, you know—she sings about real stuff too.”
I chuckled. “Right. Any idea why the Dark Queen would come here?”
“Look at it,” Caleb said. “It’s small and inconspicuous. No one would think to look here for her. It’s downtown, which gives her the perfect view of New York City.”
“What is the Dark Queen after, anyway?” Jade asked.
“What she has always sought,” King Bane began. “Ultimate power.”