“Did Melanie figure out a way to send them back?” I asked, walking up behind him.
Ophi jumped and spun around. “I thought you went with Bobson and Avery.” His voice was shaky, and he looked like a kid who’d been caught sneaking a peek at his Christmas presents.
“Bobson sent me back to help Melanie.” I was still trying to catch my breath.
“Of course.” Ophi’s eyes were full of fear, but I didn’t know why. He scratched his beard. “Sorry. You startled me. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be out here.”
“What were you doing with Serpens and Scorpius? Did they try to get away? Is the netting coming loose?”
“No. Nothing like that. I was just checking on them. Making sure they’re secure.” Ophi glanced at the trees to the right, and I followed his stare to a sack on the ground.
“Were you planning on going somewhere? It looks like you’ve packed yourself a bag.”
“Um, yeah. I was going to search for the missing boys. Someone should, and I doubt Melanie cares to do it. I packed some food in case I got hungry.” He hurried over to the sack and grabbed it.
Did the constellations actually eat? “Need help?”
He shook his head. “It’s safer for you to stay here.”
He was acting strange. Secretive. I really liked Ophi. He was easier to talk to than Melanie or Bobson, and he’d helped me out more than once. But this wasn’t the Ophi I knew. Something was wrong.
“We caught the three rogue constellations, so it’s not dangerous out there anymore.” I squinted at him. “Ophi, what’s going on? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
His gaze fell to my left hand. “You’re fading.”
I raised my hand and squeezed it into a fist. I couldn’t get over how weird it was that I could move it, even though it was barely there. “Yeah, we need to get all the constellations back in the sky soon so I can get home before it’s too late.” I met his stare. “You probably want to get back too, huh?”
He flinched, and the expression on his face made everything frighteningly clear. He didn’t want to go back, and he hadn’t been on his way to look for the missing recruits when I got here.
“You’re running away.” I tried to stay calm. “Ophi, you know you can’t. We can’t put Serpens and Scorpius back in the heavens without you to keep them in their places.”
He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at me. I’d never seen him look this way before. So…mean. “Do you have any idea what it’s like being stuck in the sky babysitting those two?” He gestured over his shoulder at Serpens and Scorpius. “Serpens is all right most of the time. He and I used to work together before we were banished to the heavens. But Scorpius. Him I could do without. Always trying to sting my foot. I can’t let my guard down for a second.”
I couldn’t believe it. Ophi had been so nice to Melanie and so willing to help us. I thought of the way Hercules had pretended to be near death to fool Draco. Turns out Ophi had twice the acting skills as Hercules.
“Everything you told me about the Pritchards being your protectors, that was all a lie. You don’t feel that way at all, do you? You see Melanie and her parents the same way Serpens, Draco, and Scorpius see them. As prison wardens.”
Ophi stepped toward me. “How would you see them if you were me? You don’t like Melanie. That’s obvious. She brought you here and made you fight her battle against your will. That’s what the Pritchards do. They make others do their work for them.” He turned toward Serpens and Scorpius. “Keeping them in line is Melanie’s job. I’m tired of doing it for her. And look at you.” He motioned to my hand. “You’re fading. You can’t tell me that doesn’t make you angry with Melanie. She’s killing you. All of you.”
I could see his point. I wasn’t about to defend Melanie, but I couldn’t let him go either. If he ran away, I’d never get home. The problem was I didn’t know what to say to make him stay, and I wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to keep him here by force.
“Were you in on the whole plan to begin with? I mean, there’s no way Serpens and Scorpius could have come up with this idea without you knowing about it.”
Ophi laughed. “I have to admit, I thought everyone would’ve figured that out right away. I mean, did you all really think Serpens and Scorpius could have gotten away from me that easily? No! They wouldn’t have been able to grab those meteors if I hadn’t given them a little push.”
“That’s how you knew you could throw us out of the crater earlier. It probably wasn’t much different than throwing Serpens and Scorpius toward the meteors.”
Ophi smiled, but it wasn’t his usual friendly smile. He looked at me the way Serpens looked at me. “I was glad to be rid of those two. The freedom was—well, it was freeing.” He laughed at his own joke. “But if you remember correctly, throwing you and the others out of that crater was your idea, Ella. I merely complied with your request, as I have been doing since you asked me to come here.”
My stomach lurched. I felt like a fool for playing into his game. “You knew we’d eventually ask you to come to Stellaris to help us with them, didn’t you? They were your ticket out of the heavens.”
“Don’t feel bad.” His voice changed, and he sounded sincere. “None of this has anything to do with you. I never meant you any harm. In fact, I liked fighting alongside you.”
I knew he meant it. His grudge wasn’t against me. I was just getting in his way. “So did I, but you tricked me. When we went after Serpens and Scorpius, you let me think you didn’t want to go along with my plan to act as bait because you didn’t want me to get hurt. I thought you threw yourself into the fight because you were trying to protect me. But you weren’t. You knew Serpens wouldn’t kill you. You said you used to work together, which means you two aren’t enemies.” I could’ve smacked myself for being so blind. “You’re the serpent bearer. Of course you and Serpens get along.” Ugh! I’d been so stupid.
“Oh, Serpens and I got in a few nice shots against each other. We fight like any friends do. And as much as I might wind up missing him, I’m not going back to the heavens with him again.”
We’d been talking for a while, but no one had come outside. I could’ve used Hercules’s help, but who knew what he and Melanie were up to. I had to keep stalling, waiting for Bobson to return. Maybe, between the two of us, we could figure out a way to keep Ophi around.
“I can’t stop you from running away.” That was true, at least for the moment. “But I have to know something before you go.”
He nodded. “Ask away. I guess I owe you that much for deceiving you.”
“Did you help the others push the meteorites to the top of the hills? Were you going to help them send Melanie and her parents into the sky?”
Ophi folded his hands in front of him. “I’m not going to lie to you anymore, Ella.” His voice was low, and he seemed so calm it was scary. Like when I’d first met Serpens and he didn’t chase after me. He had moved slowly and calmly because he knew he’d catch me. Oh God, Ophi was so much like Serpens. He’d been the snake in the grass the whole time, making me think I could trust him.
What was taking Bobson so long? I had to keep Ophi talking. Lucky for me, he was the chatty type. I wracked my brain, trying to figure out when he would’ve had time to move the meteorites. It had to have been when the army and I were in the guestroom pretending to rest. I swallowed hard, trying to keep the fear from creeping into my voice. “You did it when you were supposed to be chaining Serpens and Scorpius to the trees, right? That’s when you moved the meteorites. But the army and I hadn’t been inside for very long, which means Draco must’ve flown you to the hills and back again. Am I right?” My mind was spinning as I pieced it all together.
He moved closer to me, and I backed away.
“Please, stop.” I hoped I could appeal to the part of him I thought I knew, the Ophi who had fought alongside me.
He smiled—a crazy serial killer kind of smile. “I’m trying to answer your question,” he said w
ith fake sweetness.
I backed up farther and bumped against the castle wall. I shuffled sideways, not taking my eyes off Ophi. So much for not showing fear.
“It wasn’t my idea to show Melanie and her parents how it felt to spend eternity imprisoned in the heavens, but, yes, I did help the others with the meteorites. I thought the irony was justifying.”
I was almost to the edge of the castle wall. What were the odds I could slip around the corner and duck inside in time to lock Ophi out? “I guess you missed the day at preschool when they teach you two wrongs don’t make a right?”
“I like you, Ella. Which is why I really hate what I have to do.”
“What do you have to do?” My voice shook.
He sighed. “Unfortunately, I have to use the meteor I rode here to launch you into the heavens with the Pritchards.”
20
Instinct took over, and I ran for the castle doors. I hoped Ophi would take pity on me and let me go. But, in an instant, he grabbed my arms. He yanked me back and whispered in my ear.
“I really am sorry about this, Ella. It’s nothing personal, but you aren’t giving me any other choice.”
“You always have a choice. You’re just making the wrong one. I’m not the one you’re mad at. I’m not Melanie. Taking this out on me isn’t going to stop her from trying to send you back!” I shoved my elbow into his ribs, but he only laughed at my attempt to hurt him.
“Feisty, aren’t you? I like that.” His breath was hot against my ear, and it gave me goose bumps on top of the goose bumps I already had from being terrified. “Really, I do like you, and I feel bad about this, but I know you want me to go back to the heavens so you can get home. So you see, it’s either you or me. And I’m sorry to say, you’re going to lose this fight.”
“Get your hands off her!”
My eyes shot straight in front of me, and my jaw dropped. Avery was standing about twenty feet away, aiming a bow and arrow at Ophi. He wasn’t completely faded anymore, but he wasn’t completely back to normal either. He looked sort of hollow, like his skin was faintly transparent.
“Avery?” My eyes flashed to Bobson, who was standing next to him. He was supposed to take Avery home. Bobson avoided my eyes and stared at Ophi.
Ophi took a step back, dragging me with him. “Don’t try to play hero, Avery. Turn around and go home before it’s too late. You may have bought yourself some time, but it won’t last. You’ll fade even quicker now.”
“What?” I whipped my head around to see Ophi. “What do you mean he bought time?”
Ophi rolled his eyes. “I’d forgotten how much mortals like to talk.” He sighed. “Guess it can’t hurt to explain. None of you are powerful enough to stop me.” He locked his eyes on Avery. “You stepped through the portal and back into your world, right? But Bobson here kept the gateway open so you could come back to Stellaris after you…recharged, so to speak.”
“Is that true?”
Avery nodded. “I couldn’t leave you here, Ella. I told Bobson I had to stay, and he said there was a way to do that.”
“So you took it. You went home for a few minutes so you’d become visible again.”
“After all we’ve been through, did you really think I’d just say good-bye and leave you here? You know me better than that. I’m going to make sure we get home together.”
I was so angry I could’ve hit him—if Ophi didn’t have my arms pinned to my sides. But I understood why he’d come back. I would’ve done the same for him.
“But now you’ll fade quicker?” I looked at Bobson for confirmation.
“Yes, he will, which means we need to get all the constellations back in the heavens as soon as possible.” Bobson glared at Ophi.
“Yeah, about that,” Ophi said. “You see there’s been a change of plans. I’m going to stay here. You can do whatever you’d like with the others, but I’m finished babysitting for all eternity.” He backed up, using me as a shield. “I’ll be taking Ella with me to ensure my safety.”
“That’s what you think.” Avery aimed his bow and arrow at Ophi’s head.
I leaned my head to the side, trying to give Avery a clear shot.
Ophi laughed. “You wouldn’t shoot me.”
“I shot your friends. What makes you think I see you as any different from them?”
“Because I’m human. You don’t have it in you to shoot a human.”
Avery lowered his bow and arrow. Ophi was right. Avery was too good a person to hurt another human being. Ophi loosened his grip on me and smiled. I wished more than anything that I could’ve smacked the smile right off his face, but I didn’t need to.
Avery shot an arrow into Ophi’s thigh. Ophi yelled and doubled over in pain. He let go of me, and I ran straight into Avery’s arms.
“Correction. You were human,” Avery said. “You obviously don’t have a soul left in you or you wouldn’t be willing to hurt Ella to save yourself.” He hugged me with one arm and held the bow in the other.
I squeezed him, loving that he felt whole again. But I knew he’d fade soon, and I was already in the process. We had to move quickly.
Bobson was tying Ophi’s arms behind his back when Melanie and Hercules came out of the castle with Cerberus on their heels.
“You couldn’t have shown up a few minutes sooner, could you?” I said, nodding at Ophi.
“What’s going on?” Melanie’s eyes flew back and forth between Avery, Ophi, and Bobson.
“Ophi was trying to run away,” Bobson said. “Apparently Ella attempted to stop him, and he was about to—well, what were you planning to do with her?” All eyes fell on Ophi, but he stayed silent.
“He was going to tie me to a meteorite and send me into the heavens along with Melanie and her parents,” I said.
“What?” Melanie, Avery, and Hercules asked in unison.
Avery hugged me tighter.
“Ophi helped the others push the meteorites onto the hills so they’d be able to use them to launch the Pritchards into the heavens. I caught him trying to sneak away, and he decided I had to join the Pritchards.”
Melanie walked over and stood in front of Ophi. “What’s gotten into you? You’re a healer. You have the power to bring back the dead. You’re supposed to do good.”
This was news to me. I pulled away from Avery, but I took his hand in mine. I didn’t want to let go of him. “Ophi, you’re a healer? That means you can heal Andrew and Kevin.” I stared into his eyes trying to find the friend he’d once appeared to be, but all I got were more questions. “Why haven’t you healed them yet? You helped us rescue Andrew. You fought alongside us. But you’re letting people die right in front of you, when all along you’ve had the power to stop it!”
I was squeezing Avery’s hand so hard he tugged it away from me. I mouthed a quick “sorry” before stepping closer to Ophi. “I’m waiting for some sort of answer, and an explanation for why you’re being so selfish with your powers and your duty to guard Serpens and Scorpius.”
Ophi glared at Melanie. “I’ve already told you why I’m doing this, Ella. Because of her.”
I slapped Ophi’s face as hard as I could with my non-fading hand. “Not good enough! We aren’t Melanie. The army is a bunch of kids who are being kept here against their will. What did we ever do to you? If anything, you should sympathize with us.”
Ophi smiled. Not the reaction I expected after I’d hit him. “You’re right. I was wrong to use you and the others to get back at Melanie. She’s the one I should be taking out my anger on.”
Hercules put his arm around Melanie, as if it would protect her from Ophi’s words. “Enough, Ophi! Melanie and her parents protect us. They aren’t the reason you were placed in the heavens.”
“He needs someone to blame and punish for what he’s been through.” I understood the way Ophi viewed the situation. I could even understand why it was easy for him to blame Melanie.
Everyone stood in silence, not knowing what to do or how to fix this. T
here had to be a way to get Ophi and Melanie to work together. Returning the constellations to the sky would be too difficult if we didn’t have Ophi’s help.
“Ophi, what if Melanie could do something to prove she really is on your side? What if she could make life in the heavens more bearable for you? Maybe even enjoyable.”
Melanie turned toward me, looking appalled that I—a mere nobody as far as she was concerned—was telling her what to do. “What are you talking about? I’m not going to—”
I put my hand up to stop her and addressed Ophi. “You have the power to heal, right? How exactly do you do that?”
Ophi nodded in Serpens’s direction. “Remember I said we used to work together? Serpens’s venom can either kill or cure—or in the case of the dead, it can restore life. That is if you know how to use it, which I do.”
I should’ve realized he would need Serpens. He’s the serpent bearer. This complicated things, but I had to make it work. “You and Serpens could be extremely useful to Melanie and her parents.”
Melanie cocked her head, trying to figure out where I was going with this.
“Melanie, you said most of the Stellarians died in battle against the rogue constellations.”
She nodded, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. She blamed herself, and I couldn’t help but feel glad she took some responsibility for what had happened.
“Ophi, you could bring them back from the dead. Help Melanie get Stellaris back to the way it was. That would give you more time here.”
Ophi shook his head. “She’d send me to the heavens as soon as the job was done. No deal.”
“Please, Ophi. Can’t you remember who you really are? You’re not a monster. You can control Serpens and use his powers for good. Isn’t it better to come to a compromise with Melanie than to make an enemy of her? She protects you, whether you want to see it that way or not.”
“Ella’s right.” Avery stepped toward Melanie, and Hercules tightened his grip on her. “Melanie, having Ophi and Serpens on your side would mean Stellaris would have access to healers all the time. No one would have to be hurt or die.”
Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances Page 53