by Tyler Wild
But that was never going to happen.
Her body disintegrated before I reached it. It turned into a fine sparkling yellow powder.
Fairy dust.
My eyes welled with tears, and my heart sank like an anchor to the depths of the blackest sea. I clenched my fists and I screamed again. A hollow feeling filled my soul. I should have been the one to die, not her.
Sophia staggered to me and knelt beside the pile of fairy dust. Sophia was tattered and bruised, and her eyes had the deep stare of someone who had been in battle for far too long.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She had red scrapes and blue bruises across her abdomen from the harsh grip of the pincer.
“Is anybody really ever okay?” she said in monotone. “Especially in a place like this?”
She had a point.
She wrapped her arm around me. “Sorry about Lily. She was really sweet.”
“She was, wasn’t she? You don’t meet many people with that pure of a heart.”
“I know,” Sophia said. She paused for a long moment. “But your heart’s not too bad either.”
I scoffed lightly.
“I mean it,” she said. “I’ve never met anyone quite like you. Lily told me what you did.”
“What do you mean?”
“The sacrifice you made for me. The potion you got from the witch.”
“I knew I had to save you, no matter what the cost.”
“Every day I live brings you closer to death.”
“Then we better make every day count.” She smiled and kissed me on the cheek as tears streamed down her face.
“We can’t leave Lily here,” I said. “She deserves a proper burial. Not an eternity in the underworld.”
“Agreed. Plus, you can’t just leave fairy dust lying around. It’s way too precious to let go to waste.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you were well-traveled and had been around the world?”
My quizzical eyes surveyed her.
“Fairy dust has magical properties.”
“Like what?”
Sophia whispered in my ear.
“Really? I had no idea.”
I glanced around the temple for something to contain the fine powder. Sifting through the tattered rags of the skeletons, I found a small leather pouch affixed to a belt that would do nicely. I dusted it off, and scooped Lily’s remains into it, then pulled the drawstring, sealing it tight.
I strolled to the beast and gave a last look at the carcass of the Scorpion Queen. Her red blood had pooled around her. I hovered over the body and gazed at my reflection in the crimson slime. A strange thought ran through my mind. It was a crazy idea. But I thought it just might work.
Sophia handed me the dagger, and I marveled at the blade for a moment. “Lily died for this.”
We exchanged a somber glance.
I climbed atop the scorpion’s carcass and pulled Asgoth from her back.
“That sucks about Lily, bro,” he said. “I liked her.”
“I did too.”
“And all for that pathetic little dagger.”
“Do I detect a note of jealousy?”
“Pfft. Please. Why would I be jealous of that trinket?”
I knew better. “Relax. You will always be my number one sword.”
“Duh. Of course. Doesn’t need to be said. You will find no better blade.”
“Indeed.”
62
Kron
I grabbed a bowl-shaped skull fragment and blew the cobwebs from it. Then I scooped up some of the scorpion Queen’s blood.
A disgusted look twisted on Sophia’s face. “What do you plan on doing with that?”
“You’ll see,” I said with a slight grin.
We made our way out of the temple back to the shoreline. I had my doubts whether the casket would survive another run across the river, but we had no other choice.
Sophia and I climbed back into the makeshift canoe, and I used the lid to paddle us back across.
Cassandra waited for us on the shore with worried eyes. Her brow crinkled as she scanned for Lily. She broke down sobbing when I told her what had happened.
She clutched me tight and wrapped her arm around me. Her chest heaved in jerking sobs for a while, and we all cried. I tried not to spill the skull filled with blood.
Cassandra couldn’t help but notice. “What you plan on doing with that?”
“It’s for you.”
“How thoughtful,” she said, her face twisted with revulsion.
“Drink it.”
Her eyebrows lifted, and a look of terror washed across her face. “What?”
“It’s the blood of a demigod with regenerative powers. Drink it.”
“Why on earth would I want to do that?”
Sophia finally realized what I had in mind. “You know, you’re smarter than you look.”
I scowled at her playfully. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“The Scorpion Queen has… had… regenerative powers,” Sophia said. “If you drink that, you will too.”
Cassandra arched a curious eyebrow. “Really?”
“I think so,” I said.
“So this is just a hunch?”
I shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“You want me to drink a bowl of a demonic creature’s blood on a hunch?”
“It’s up to you,” I said, handing her the makeshift bowl.
She gazed at it for a long moment, then sighed. “Here goes nothing.”
Cassandra brought the skull to her lips and tipped it back. She made a sour face after she guzzled a few mouthfuls down. “My God, that’s disgusting!”
She stood there for a moment, blood trickling down her chin, waiting for something to happen. After a moment, her face crinkled, and she tilted her head like a curious dog. Something was happening. Then her eyes brightened.
“You feel anything?” I asked.
She was silent for a long moment. “Indigestion?”
We watched intently.
“I don’t think it’s going to work,” Cassandra said.
“Maybe you need to drink more?” Sophia said.
“Not on your life!” Cassandra protested.
Then she burped.
“Excuse me,” she muttered, embarrassed.
Then her arm sprouted back.
We watched in astonishment as it took shape. Within a few moments, it had grown to its original size, fully restored.
Cassandra made a fist and extended her fingers, wiggling them. She did this multiple times, surveying her hand from all angles.
A delightful smile curled her lips.
She ran to me, jumped into the air, and wrapped her arms and legs around me, holding me tight. “Thank you!”
She sobbed tears of joy and didn’t let go. “I thought I’d never get to hug anyone again. Not like this.”
I squeezed her tight. She felt good in my arms. There was no doubt about it.
She kissed me on the cheek and offered condolences regarding Lily. But we didn’t have time to mourn. We had to press on.
We had even more purpose than before. The stakes were suddenly higher. I refused to let Lily’s death be in vain. She was one more on the long list of people I intended to avenge.
“Impressive,” Setia said, appearing out of nowhere.
Her presence startled me.
Cassandra released her tight grip on me.
“You now have everything you need to enter Valinsmor and complete your quest. I may, or may not, be going to the gates. If you choose to follow, I won’t stop you.”
She turned around and marched away. With a wave of her hand, a new passageway appeared, and she disappeared around the corner.
I exchanged a glance with the others, and we followed in the devil’s footsteps.
Setia sauntered down the corridor, her hips swaying from side to side. Her pointed tail waggled. My eyes were transfixed by her devious assets. Lewd and lasci
vious thoughts filled my mind.
I wondered if she was implanting them in my brain?
She led us into a small rotunda with a door at the opposite end. Demonic statues lined the walls. A fire pit in the center of the room flickered with amber flames.
She handed me a small vial.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Something rare and powerful. My tears. You will need this to incapacitate Xerius. Pour one drop in his wine. That will be enough to make him pass out.”
I took the vial and surveyed the clear liquid. “I didn’t know the devil cried.”
“It only happens maybe once every millennia.”
“These are a lot of tears.”
“I’ve been here for a long time.”
“I thought you weren’t going to help me?”
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” she said in a deliciously naughty voice, then winked at me. “Valinsmor is beyond that door. Only someone in possession of the Ring of Ulnör can pass through this gate. Not even I can open it.”
I stepped to the door. An image of Xerius was carved into the stone.
The devil whispered into my ear. “You must put on the ring in order to open the gate.”
I knew that if I put on the ring, I might never pull it from my finger.
“Don’t worry,” Setia said. “I won’t let the ring consume you.”
I exchanged a skeptical glance with the girls, then my eyes flicked back to the demoness.
She made a pouty face. “What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me?”
I chuckled.
I pulled out the ring and stared at it for a moment.
Setia’s hot breath tickled my ear. “Go ahead. Slip it on.”
I hesitated for a long moment.
“It’s the only way,” she whispered.
63
Kron
We had come this far and so much had been sacrificed. I didn’t have a choice but to put the ring on my finger.
From the moment I slipped it on, I felt amazing. Invigorated. Powerful. Omnipotent. The amount of joy and satisfaction I gained from having the ring on my finger was orders of magnitude greater than the immense pleasure I derived from the Happy Leaf—and that was pretty damn good.
I understood why no one ever took the ring off once they put it on.
I grinned from ear-to-ear. It was an explosion of joy. My body felt light, and a warm fuzzy feeling washed over me. I was quickly lost in a fog of pleasure and almost forgot my purpose in life.
I managed to snap to my senses, and I placed my hand against the door. The ring glowed, and the stone door rumbled and slid aside, revealing a dark passageway with a brilliant light at the end of it.
I stood there like an idiot, gazing at the light, mesmerized.
Suddenly, my euphoria faded, and reality came crashing back down. The light airy feeling was replaced by an unbearable heaviness. My heart filled with sadness and I felt like I was going to burst into tears. Hopelessness and despair filled me.
Setia had pulled the ring from my finger. She smiled. “I told you I wouldn’t let you fall into the abyss.”
“Give it back!” I demanded, like a junkie needing a fix.
“Touchy,” she said.
I glared at her, forgetting that she was one of the most powerful beings.
“Easy there, cowboy,” she said. “I need you clearheaded.”
She handed the ring to Cassandra. “I think it best if the elf becomes the ring bearer for a while. You’ve had too much of a taste.”
“Nonsense,” I grumbled. “I only had it on for a few seconds.”
“Try 30 minutes,” Setia said.
I was shocked when she said that.
Still, I wasn’t in my right mind. I tried to take the ring back from Cassandra, but Setia grabbed my hand. She scolded me. “Don’t make me have to punish you.”
I scowled at her.
A lewd grin curled on her lips. “Though I think you might like that.”
“I hate to admit it,” Cassandra said. “But she’s right. You need to stay as far away from this ring as possible.”
“Like you can be trusted with it,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed at me. “I can’t be corrupted.”
“She is the most pure among you,” Setia agreed.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Sophia grumbled, feigning offence.
“Please, sister. Your name is on the guest list here,” Setia said.
The cat-girl huffed. “Yeah, well, you’re not going to see me for another eight lives.”
“You’ve got a lot less than eight left, honey,” Setia said, dryly.
Sophia’s eyes blazed at her.
Setia seemed amused by irritating Sophia. She delighted in sowing the seeds of anarchy. “Once you reach Valinsmor, find Xerius. Place the ring on his finger. He will lose himself in the ring’s delights, and will no longer be able to interfere in the ways of man. Then you will be able to kidnap his daughter.”
With Xerius incapacitated, Setia would likely become the most powerful of the immortals. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
We moved into the passageway, marching toward the ethereal light. The stone door sealed behind us. My stomach fluttered with nerves for some reason. I had more trepidation about entering Valinsmor than I did the underworld.
Xerius could be a vengeful god when crossed.
We emerged from the passageway into a lush green valley at the base of the Everlong Mountains. Blue skies, rolling hills, thick forests, and clear lakes lay before us.
It was paradise.
I glanced back at the passageway to the underworld—it had vanished. All that remained was the rocky slope of the mountains.
Only the gods could travel back and forth between Valinsmor and the domain of man. Many had tried to scale the jagged peaks of the Everlong Mountains, but none had succeeded. Some odd twist of fate always befell those who attempted. A broken leg. An avalanche. Death from a high fall.
I wasn’t exactly sure how we were going to escape Valinsmor when, and if, we accomplished our task.
Best not to worry about that now, I thought. We’d surely die long before then.
64
Kron
We were dirty and grimy, covered in soot, ash, and blood. We looked like we’d just stepped from the underworld.
The lake ahead glimmered in the sunlight. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to wash the grime from our skin. We weren’t going to blend in otherwise.
We crossed the grassy knoll and followed the slope down to the shoreline. I peeled off my clothes and left them on the shore.
The girls did the same.
Even dirty and tired, they looked amazing. My eyes traced the curve of their bodies. Cassandra sauntered into the lake, taunting me. She flashed a coy glance over her shoulder to make sure I was watching.
I knew she was toying with me. The amber sun highlighted the sublime curves of her backside.
I followed the girls into the water. The lake was warm and felt like bath water. I plunged under the surface and soaked my hair. Washing the dirt and grime from my body made me feel like a new man.
We frolicked in the water for a bit, splashing and swimming, forgetting our troubles. It was a brief and needed respite from the arduous adventure.
“Mind if I join you,” a woman said, standing on the shoreline.
She had already started undressing, assuming the answer was going to be yes. She was absolutely gorgeous. Of course I was going to say yes!
She had long straight blonde hair, blue eyes, and an hourglass figure. Her beautiful breasts bounced as she trotted into the water. The sun back-lit her hair, creating a halo around her. She looked like a goddess. For all I knew, she could have been one.
She swam across to us and introduced herself. Her bubbly personality was infectious. In a way, she reminded me of Lily. Sweet and innocent. “Hi, I’m Joy.”
“Indeed you are.”
I introduced myself and the girls.<
br />
“I’ve never seen you around here before. Are you new?”
“You could say that,” I said.
“Welcome to Valinsmor,” she said with a smile. “I hope your transition was a pleasant one?”
I hesitated a moment. “It was… a challenge.”
She must have assumed we died and were rewarded with life everlasting in Valinsmor. There was no other way in for mortals—apart from the way we came. And we were certainly the first to successfully navigate the perils of the underworld.
“Are you a goddess?” I asked.
Cassandra and Sophia rolled their eyes. They could tell I was flirting with the girl and had said that just to flatter her.
Joy giggled. “No. I was mortal. Now I’m just blessed to live a life in service to the gods.”
“In service?”
“Yes,” she said, dumbfounded by my ignorance. “We must serve the gods in order to stay in Valinsmor. And it is my great honor and pleasure to do so.”
I frowned. It didn’t seem much of an honor to me. It sounded more like forced labor.
“Do you know where we can find Xerius?”
Joy chuckled. “Yes, silly. In the golden castle upon the hill. If you’d like, you could come with me tonight and serve him wine during the nightly feast.”
I exchanged a glance with the others, then regarded Joy. I smiled. “We’d love to!”
She smiled back at me. “You’ll have so much fun.”
“I’m sure we will,” I said.
It sounded like anything but fun, but I was thankful for a way into the palace.
Joy swam close, wrapped her arms around my neck, and pressed her gorgeous breasts against my chest. Her soft lips kissed mine, and my root stiffened, gouging her pelvis.
It took me off guard.
“What are you doing?” I asked when she came up for air.
She pulled away, and her face crinkled with embarrassment. “Oh, I’m sorry. Do I not please you?”
“No, that’s not it at all. I mean, yes, you are very… pleasing.” I could feel the jealous eyes of Cassandra and Sophia. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”