by Sarah Noffke
“Tests? What are you talking about? Are you the one who caged the Orc?” Azure asked, repulsed. She reached for the knife the Orc had given her and felt a bond with it. Witches and wizards were not trained to use a knife, but she was going to try if she had to. Being in the Dark Forest had proven that she couldn’t just rely on her magic.
“Oh, no. I’d never cage a magical race or creature. I live by the laws of the treaty. I think I know who is behind it, though, and you’ll meet them once you enter the Land of Terran,” Ever said, casually striding forward, sparks still trailing him.
“The humans of Terran? You think they set that trap? asked Monet He stood at Azure’s shoulder looking both protective and skeptical.
“I do,” Ever confirmed. “I’d also venture to say they are behind this great wizard’s death, but I can’t prove it.”
“Charmsgood? You think the humans killed him?” Azure asked, her blood starting to boil in preemptive anger. If that is true, I will burn down Terran. How dare they? Who were these people, that they caged other beings and killed ancient wizards?
“I think they did, but it’s only a guess,” Ever clarified.
“What good is a Light Elf’s intuition on this matter?” Gillian asked.
“Well, about as good as a human’s, which I happen to be as well,” Ever said.
He’s both human and Light Elf. That made sense, Azure thought, studying the sharp features that were reminiscent of a Light Elf’s, especially his nose and ears. He did resemble a human in some ways with his softer features. He was tall like a Light Elf.
“You’re a hybrid?” Gillian asked.
Is that what half-beings are considered? Azure hadn’t really thought about it since finding out she was half human. Really, she’d only considered herself as cursed.
“I think of myself as something in between. That’s why I mostly spend my time here.” Ever gestured vaguely around.
“You mean in the Dark Forest?” Azure asked.
“I think he means between the Land of Terran and the Light Elves’ Castle,” Monet whispered to her.
“But you can’t get into the Land of Terran, can you?” she asked.
“No, and with your current appearance, neither can you. However, I think I can help you with that,” Ever assured her.
“Are you offering me your assistance?” she asked, remembering that Charmsgood’s dead body was only a few yards away. She moved farther away from the decaying man.
“I guess I am,” Ever said.
“But why?” she asked.
“Because you rescued a Orc and got through the Sinner’s Muck easily enough and figured out how to pay the toll,” Ever said.
“You’ve been watching us that long?” Monet sounded offended.
“I have.” Ever kept his eyes on Azure, “And I know that Azure has a noble mission.”
“Princess Azure,” Gillian corrected.
“Yes. I know that Princess Azure has something important to recover from the Land of Terran,” Ever said.
“Her father.” Gillian clapped his hand to his mouth as if he had misspoken…again.
Ever nodded, his eyes still pinned on Azure. “Yes, her father, but something else of importance as well.”
Does he know? But how could this Light Elf know I’m seeking my mother’s soul stone? I haven’t mentioned it since entering the Dark Forest. She thought Ever held a deep wisdom in his eyes, and there was a purity about him that slightly endeared him to her.
“Okay, you can help,” she finally agreed. “What can you offer?”
The Light Elf pointed to the forest floor beside her, and a light sprang into the air, spiraling again and again as it enlarged.
“An illegal portal!” Gillian yelled, shock on his face.
“Indeed it is, but no need for you to report it,” Ever said to the Gnome before turning to Azure. “I can offer you the secret of going unnoticed into the Land of Terran. I can get you in there, but you’ll have to follow me to Earth to do that.”
Without thinking, pulled in by the hovering light, Azure took a step forward. Monet caught her shoulder, spinning her around. “No! Did you hear what he said?”
“Yes, he said he’d help me get into the forbidden land. That’s one of the many things I hadn’t figured out how to do yet, and he’s supplying the answer,” Azure said, adamantly. She didn’t know this character, but she knew he was helping them since they’d entered the forest. She felt his presence in the canopy, and wondered why there weren’t more creatures attacking them. It was because of Ever. Something about that told her she could trust him. And she passed his tests without even knowing she was going through them.
“Where are you taking her?” Monet asked sharply, looking at Ever.
“She needs new…well, everything. Her entire appearance needs to be changed,” he said, sweeping his hand at her.
“Why don’t you look in the mirror before saying such things? Your hair is the color of coal.” Monet crossed his arms on his chest.
“That’s exactly what I mean. There’s no way she’ll get into the Land of Terran like that. That hair color gives her away as a Virgoan. On Earth I can get her clothes, change her hair, and secure the necessary forms.”
“Why can’t you do that here?” Monet asked, still not budging.
“Because, my dear Wizard, we’re in the middle of a gigantic forest. But if she comes with me through this portal here, I can remedy her Witch look.” He pointed at the spiraling white light.
“I’m going too,” Monet declared, taking a step forward.
Ever held up his hand. “I really must insist you stay here. I can’t take more than one through the portal. It’s illegal, as you must know. The more who pass through, the more risk that I’ll be caught. However, what if I promise to bring you back a souvenir?”
“I’m listening,” Monet said, crossing his arms on his chest again, his chin held high.
“I hear that in some stores on Earth, they have supersized bags of Cheetos,” Ever said.
“I deem this venture to Earth completely safe.” Monet rounded on Azure. “We’ll be here when you return.”
She let out a disappointed sigh. “I see your intentions are in the usual place,” she said, stepping forward until she was even with Ever, who stood before the white light. She wanted to trust him, and she really didn’t have much of a choice anyway. This was just part of the journey. If it would get her closer to saving her mother, she’d do whatever it took—even venturing to Earth.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Azure watched the light spiral around her as she stepped through the portal. If my mother knew I was on Earth…well, she’d probably laugh. Soon I’ll either be queen, or outcast. Why does it matter what I do at this point?
Her stomach sank to her knees when her feet met the ground and she thought she’d be sick, but instead she rose to her full height and shook her head. She refused to get sick on a foreign planet. But as soon as I’m back on Oriceran I’m puking on Monet’s boots, she thought.
“Made the journey in one piece, did you?” asked Ever.
She looked at Ever and nodded. Strangely, his ears were suddenly less pointy. “Wait, if you can do that, then can you get into the Land of Terran?” she asked.
“Probably, but I have no reason to risk it. One reveal charm, and the people of Terran would have me thrown into a dungeon or jail or whatever they do with trespassers,” he said, waving her forward as they walked through a shiny hallway crammed with people.
The area around her wasn’t just strange—it was unworldly. Lights hung in the sky, which wasn’t a sky at all but rather a sort of ceiling. And around her people hurried by carrying strange square bags and holding things to their faces.
“Phones,” Ever supplied. “Nearly everyone on Earth has a cellphone. You’ll see them pressing the things to their ears or tapping on them excitedly. There’s a lot of that, especially in Santa Monica, which is where I’ve taken you. Humans are obsessed with phones.”
>
“What’s Santa Monica, and why have you brought me here?’ Azure wondered.
“Because you have blue hair and look like a pirate. I had to take you somewhere where they wouldn’t judge your look, and where better than Santa Monica where freaks are welcomed?” Ever said.
“Sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time on Earth,” she told him as a woman carrying a tiny dog in her purse passed them.
“My mother is from here, and I visit her in the summers. She actually lives down the road from here in Malibu.” He pointed over his shoulder. “However, we are here to make you look human enough to pass in the Land of Terran, so follow me. First things first—we’ve got to fix that hair.”
“Are you kidding me? My hair? I love my hair,” she complained as he pulled her along by her elbow.
“It’s great. I love it too. But show up in the Land of Terran with blue hair and they will chuck you in jail faster than you can pull out your wand. Believe me, there’s no easier way to spot a witch than by her radical hair color.” He tugged her in the direction of a high desk where a bored girl sat.
Ever grinned at the girl, who immediately smiled back. “Hey, baby. How are you today?” he asked, leaning over and sliding his arm around his shoulder.
The girl batted her extremely long eyelashes and blushed. “I’m good,” she replied. Ever’s eyes dart to the book on the desk next to her.
“Oh, good. Well, hopefully I get to hear more about that later. For now, Ms. Lennox is here for her color appointment,” he said, indicating Azure with his hand.
She wanted to protest, but instead just watched as the girl nodded, picking up the phone next to her. “Ms. Lennox is here for you, Allison.”
Ever leaned in close to Azure. “When the real Ms. Lennox shows up, I’ll take care of her. I have a way with women, so don’t worry. We needed to take her appointment.”
“I have no idea what’s going on here,” Azure whispered. “I don’t know why this planet smells so funny, why the people are so drab with their dirt-colored hair, why they are standing on these strange shiny floors, or why everything around them is slick and looks brand new.”
“All things to talk about later.”
“Ms. Lennox! You look different…” Allison walked up beside the desk.
“She had a tummy tuck. How dare you mention it!” Ever exclaimed, gasping and feigning shock.
“Of course. I only meant—”
“You only meant to be quiet,” Ever told her, as he checked over his shoulder for the real Ms. Lennox. “Change her hair to blonde and give her beach waves. Don’t listen to a word she says. She’s still on painkillers from the surgery.”
The lady nodded and led Azure to her chair. Azure remained completely silent until it was over.
***
“What have you done to me?” Azure asked, pulling a blonde strand in front of her face and eyeing it.
“It’s called blonde, and you look great,” Ever reassured her.
“My hair should be blue!” she insisted.
“And blue hair is only for witches and not humans. In the Land of Terran—”
“I am human, though,” she said, cutting him off.
“Yes, but the witch in you rules your features. You’ve got the strange light blue eyes of a witch, and the hair to match. That’s why we need to stop by an optometrist’s office. But first we’ll change your wardrobe. And if you’re good, I’ll buy you frozen yogurt at the end,” Ever promised.
“Frozen yogurt?” she asked, not sure she wanted the answer.
“Don’t worry, you’ll thank me later. I might even come up with a better surprise for you, but only if you stop gawking at all the people passing by,” he said.
“I can’t help it. Did you see what that woman… Wait, that was a woman, right?”
“It was.”
“That woman had some sort of enchantment done to her chest!”
“Boob job. Yes, those are common here. Not really enchantment as much as enhancement. Very painful too, I’m told,” Ever imparted.
“Why would anyone want to enhance their boobs?” Azure asked.
“I can think of a reason or two.” Ever gave her a sideways smile. “Okay, we’re here. I’ve set you up with a personal shopper. She’s going to get you out of the explorer-wear into something hip that will pass in the Land of Terran. Don’t come out of this store until you’re cool enough to be in Vogue.”
“I don’t understand most of what you just said,” Azure told him, staring at Ever checking out a girl who dropped a large shopping bag. These people must all be setting off on great expeditions.
“This. Is. Bloomingdales. And. You. Must. Enter. Now,” he said, his words clipped. “There’s a woman named Monica who will help you. Go.”
Azure made to move, but didn’t. “Wait, why are you helping me? You just showed up, and now you’ve taken over. What’s the deal?”
Ever looked at Azure. Really looked at her, for once not distracted by the flashy lights around them. “I saw your face when you were in the forest. When you were talking to Monet,” he said. “Azure, this is about more than the crown, isn’t it?”
“What did you see?” she asked.
“I saw a willingness to face danger that only the one who either wanted the crown for selfish gains would take, or someone who wanted to save another would dare. Your boots were mostly clean when you exited the Sinner’s Muck, so I’m guessing you aren’t doing all this for the crown, are you?”
“It’s my mum,” she said, taking mincing steps. Ever made her stash her wand in her shoe, making walking uncomfortable. “She’s sick. Really sick.”
“That’s along the lines of what I suspected, and that’s exactly why you need to get in there and put on clothes that pinch and hurt. They will make you look human, and that’s how you’re going to get into the Land of Terran.”
“What will you be doing while I’m undergoing torture treatments?” she asked.
“I’m having your documents forged. You have to have the correct identification and forms to enter the Land of Terran. We have to go to a special place to pick them up, and I suspect you’ll get a big laugh out of the whole thing,” he said.
“I seriously doubt it,” she assured him, stepping into the store with its strange artificial lighting and ladies wearing too much makeup who stared at her as if she was the alien.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“How am I supposed to walk in these?” Azure asked, carefully stepping out of the store.
Ever had given the lady a hard green rectangle and she allowed them to walk away with the clothes and new shoes. Now Azure’s hiking clothes, which the saleswoman had said should be washed pronto, were in a plastic bag.
“Try walking heel-toe,” Ever suggested, pulling Azure onto a staircase that moved.
“What the hell?” she exclaimed, trying to jump but realizing that the new shoes with thick heels wouldn’t allow it.
“It’s called an escalator, and unfortunately I’m going to tarnish your simple Oriceran world a bit more. I need to take you to Universal Studios—which means nothing to you—where you’re going to see a whole lot of things that will challenge your concept of everything,” Ever said.
“Huh? What? Why?” Azure stuttered, her attention on the tight jeans that were making it tough to breathe. The see-through tank-top over a black bra was perfect for her, according to the saleswoman. Azure tried to pay attention as best she could, but as soon as she was shoved into a closet and told to dress, she went into a daze. Ever had told her that magic on Earth was hard to come by, and so for the first time since she was a child, Azure pulled garments over her head. It wasn’t at all pleasant, especially since the clothes all fit tightly and the shoes were a joke. Not at all, serious business, according to the saleswoman.
“Wedges are the newest trend,” the lady said, sliding Azure’s foot into the shoe.
The young witch grabbed her wand in time to slide it down the back of her pants. Hiding she was a wi
tch was becoming tougher and tougher.
“What are those?” Azure asked as they exited the gigantic structure into another gigantic structure.
“Those are cars,” Ever explained. “They take you from place to place.”
“Like magic?” she asked.
“No, like science,” he corrected, holding up his hand as one of the large moving things slowed down beside him. He opened a compartment door for her. “Get in.”
Azure slid into the thing, really detesting the way it smelled. Everything on Earth smelled strange, artificial.
Ever muttered something to the guy in the front and sat back next to her. “So when you’re in Terran, don’t use witches’ magic. You’ll notice they have their own brand, but you’re not ready to use it yet.”
“Humans draw from Oriceran, don’t they?” she asked.
“Yes. Their magic is elemental, but that’s why it has restrictions.”
“Restrictions? Like what?”
“Well, your magic comes from within, right? You’re limited by what’s inside you and what spells you know.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Well, humans are limited by the plants and materials around them,” Ever continued.
“But those items are finite!” she said.
“Exactly, which means?”
“That they run out of magical sources,” she finished.
She was quiet for a moment. “You said you were half human. Your mother—tell me about her.”
“She’s just a human. Not from Terran. Not even from Oriceran. Just a crazy hipster wanna-be in Malibu,” he said.
“So that mean that your father opened an illegal portal and came to Earth, right?”
“Yes, and after my birth, he went back. I’ve been living between the two planets, but I swear if you turn me into the Silver Griffins I’ll haunt you,” Ever threatened. The Silver Griffins were the council responsible for policing magic on Earth, ensuring that humans didn’t realize it existed.