The truth of her own thoughts struck a nerve, but caution wouldn’t allow her to trust him just yet. At least, not completely. If this revelation had taught her anything, it only went to prove her judgement wasn’t always the best when it came to character. Perhaps she would never learn who to trust. As she looked on at the ball of fur who sat at her feet, so small and vulnerable, she remembered her dreams.
In her sleep she’d heard his silky, soft voice talking to her. Focussing on it now, she could recall his stories and remembered seeing images of her grandma as a young girl.
The more she thought about it, the more the world around her faded away. She thought back to his reassurances and how he had brought her water. This subtle change shifted her mood from one of fear. She still didn’t know if she could wholly trust Shadow but at this point, she realised how little it mattered.
There was no one else to support her or rely on. Plus, he deserved a chance to explain himself, to tell her why he had kept himself hidden. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be a racist? Was that word even appropriate here? She didn’t know, but treating all creatures as if they were monsters was wrong in whatever world you lived in, and by whatever name you called it.
Still sluggish, she propped herself up further. Nausea swept over her as hunger pangs gripped her stomach. Aero instinctively found herself hunching over. Immediately Shadow transformed. This time she didn’t shrink away as he bent down to help.
Aero found herself struck dumb. She’d been carrying around Shadow, or rather the playing card he’d transformed into, in her pocket for all that time. She touched the cards she still carried, unsure of the bittersweet emotion welling up inside her. A gentle tear rolled down her cheek mixing with the sweat already glistening there. Joanna had recruited him. Her body swayed at the thought.
She was grateful to Shadow for having gotten her something to eat earlier, only the Realm knew how much she had needed it. The rabbit like thing had tasted more like chicken and had staved off the nausea, but now the meat lay as heavy as a stone in her stomach.
Her grandma, even after all the time which had passed, was still looking out for her. She was trying to help from beyond the grave. Joanna was indeed the greatest magician of all time because this had to be the grandest illusion of them all.
Except it wasn’t really an illusion. Shadow was here and he was on her side. She didn’t really know what to do now, how to process everything or where to begin. Perhaps… yeah, maybe it was as simple as this.
“Hello again,” Aero said with a grin, though she carried on staring at him, still not quite believing his existence with her whole heart. She’d probably have to get her mother and aunt to pay for a whole heap of therapy later. If she could rescue them, and if therapy for witches was something which could be arranged. Hey, perhaps she’d just thought of a new venture. She gave herself a mental slap. Even to herself she was sounding a crazy hot mess.
“Hello, mistress.”
Her back felt stiff and sore, presumably from her time lying and sitting on the floor, but her legs felt renewed. With only a small groan, she got up. “So, you’re a Shadow Creature, hey? Well I’m a witch, though you already knew that. The point is, I guess we all have our pasts, huh? I won’t hold yours against you… if you, you know, reciprocate. How about you tell me everything you know, and we’ll take it from there.”
The Realm sounded too quiet. Aero realised it was because Shadow had stopped talking. She’d hoped, after he’d finished speaking, for some kind of plan to be whirring inside her head. Instead, there was silence. She’d come here with nothing, without thinking ahead or knowing what to do, as was often her way in life. Suck it and see had kind of become her own personal mantra.
Shadow revealing himself had given her a glimmer of hope, though, so the absence of some other final secret from her grandma, or some magical weapon did what you might expect and dashed her hopes and heart with a blow.
Storming a castle stronghold containing impervious beings was not the sort of thing you did on a whim. Or, better yet, without a weapon. Arthur had had the sword. Robin Hood had fought with a bow and arrow. And what did she have? A shape-shifting cat. Somehow, she doubted anyone had ever written a legend about that or would even contemplate doing so in the future.
“Yes, mistress, you have me. And don’t forget I can form a portal to Earth.”
“Thanks for pointing that out.” She’d momentarily forgotten they were connected, which meant he could hear her thoughts.
“But, can I be so bold, how does that help us?”
“Well, you were thinking about a weapon. How about we go and visit some of your grandma’s old friends?”
“You’re talking about Arianna?” Aero had to take a deep breath after saying her name.
Shadow nodded. “I know, mistress. But sometimes enemies can become allies. All things bend and mould given the right circumstances. We should also visit the unicorns, the fairies and the eagle-people too.”
Aero couldn’t help but wonder what he was going to suggest next. Were there going to be trees suddenly uprooting and wanting to join?
“You’re joking, right? Do Shadow Creatures even have a sense of humour?” It would have to be a stone-cold day in hell for that to happen. Her tone came off a little too aggressive. She didn’t want him to realise how out of her depth she really was.
“You should save that tone for those who truly deserve it.”
“Oh, Shadow, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just this whole thing is so ridiculous. It probably means nothing to you, but I’m just a girl. An awkward one at that. Even after I discovered my powers I didn’t suddenly transform into a superhero. Oh… you probably don’t know what a superhero is, but the point is, what am I doing here?”
“You’re here because you are a Westwood. Joanna was special, and so are you. But a witch is not strong because she is a witch. She is strong because she can unite others. She is powerful because she is a part of the Realm. The power of it flows through you now. If you only listen and believe, you will realise you are the axe. You are the weapon to bring peace.”
“Shadow, did anyone ever tell you you’re quite the philosopher?”
“I believe so. Her name was Joanna.”
She looked at him, aware her eyes were blazing with a mad hysteria. She laughed long and hard, until tears rolled down her cheeks and it was no longer clear if they were from laughter or sadness.
It was some time before she was able to recover herself, and it took her longer still to be able to meet Shadow’s gaze. She decided it was a better idea not to talk about what had just happened. Seeing the look of sympathy on his face, she remembered she didn’t have to. She didn’t know how he was able to hear her thoughts but at this point it became just one more thing she didn’t understand.
“Don’t worry, I feel it too,” Shadow said. His voice still sounded a little like a purr to her.
“Does that have an off switch?” she asked. Her overthinking was going to be a serious problem if he continued to listen in.
“Oh, sorry, mistress.”
She changed the subject. “So, how do you make decisions around here? What do you do if you want to have a meeting? Because we need to get everyone who is going to help us fight together, in one place.”
“Well, we’d usually ring the old bell, but I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Perhaps I could go and pay them a visit personally. Persuade them to help?”
Shadow opening a portal would undoubtedly be the quickest way to gather all the supporters, and those who might dare to resist the Shadow Creatures, together. She didn’t think of them as soldiers, not against this enemy. He could open a gateway and be back here as fast as his words could convince them, but Aero knew they wouldn’t trust him. She would need to go with him.
With so much on the line, her inadequacies resurfaced. It all felt too much. The world was suffocating, and her heart told her now was the time to take stock. To think things over. Hoping it wasn�
�t another form of running, she waited for Shadow to turn his back and crept away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
A Path of Fate
Walking absentmindedly in no specific direction, Aero concentrated with a fierce determination on keeping her thoughts clear. This only seemed to have the opposite effect, as a multitude of questions sprang into her mind. How would she escape. What could she do? How would they all come together. Would the creatures of the Realm stand and fight with her?
With luck however, Shadow would not be able to make head nor tail of them. How could he, when she could not? Except to say she yearned to be alone. Hopefully he would know that and not follow.
The moon began its descent against a bright backdrop of stars, bathing the world in silver hues. Walking on, Aero saw the trees were like white ghosts, standing guard over the Realm. Her thoughts haunted her and whilst her body moved with no conscious thought, her feet took on a bearing which would eventually lead to Joanna’s abandoned cottage.
Had this world been completely dark her feet would still have taken her there, for they were drawn by some unseen force. A powerful magnetism, whose allure was attracted to the magic which coursed through her veins.
Climbing a crest, Aero gazed into the distance and saw the reflection of Arcadia’s great water. Despite still being far away, its surface stood like a giant mirror reflecting in the moonlight. Even from this remote distance she saw how the surrounding forests stood watch like motionless guardians. The light shining through their leaves was like eyes searching for intruders, piercing her heart with their gaze. She pressed ahead, her face determined.
Aero sprang back in a sudden moment of fright. Her body had not moved back in astonishment, that came later, but acted purely on reflex. The sky above her head had opened and through this hole something plummeted to the ground. Aside from the hairs on the backs of her arms, which stood in frightful alarm, there was nothing else to alert her to this strange occurrence. She might have expected a loud boom or fanfare to accompany such a bizarre sight, but there was only silence.
Taking in what was happening, Aero became cognisant of her own concern and grew fearful. Awareness washed over her; she was alone out here, and vulnerable. This served to snap her out of her half stupor.
On the other side of the hole, which she only glimpsed momentarily before it closed itself, Aero caught the backdrop of a grey and desolate world. Peering upwards into the light which streamed through it, she squinted. A feeling of familiarity tugged at her, but then was gone, as was the hole. The sky remained unscathed, as if the temporary apparition had never occurred.
Aero blinked away the last remnants of bafflement, then cast her eyes downwards with dread at the thing which had practically dropped into her lap. Raising her hand, which shook, readying for a magical blast should it be needed, she ignored the feebleness of her weapon.
Simultaneously, the object began to move. As it scrambled to its feet, Aero realised with a cold, creeping dread that the thing was not a thing at all. Despite having its back to her, irrevocably this was a person, and whoever it was, they were blocking her path.
Aero could not see the face of this being who had come from nowhere, but her long white hair flowed freely down her back. A split second later, catching sight of only a hand, Aero realised it must be a woman. Thin, long fingers sat at the end of wrinkled hands. Deep furrows ran along the skin, which puckered as if barely covering the inner workings.
The woman favoured her left leg. Aero surmised that in the fall, her right ankle must have taken a hard knock. Not surprising really, given the way of her arrival. Despite everything Aero had seen, it was too much to be believed. But this was not all. There were more surprises in store. The unidentified woman began to hum and move her hands as a witch might, but the spell was something Aero had never seen. She moved the potent energy in her hands, casting it over her ankle, commanding her instrument as a surgeon would.
As the woman tested out her handiwork, she began to turn this way and that, experimenting with weight and moving the way you would when testing out a new pair of shoes. Clearly satisfied, it was evident the magic had healed the ankle.
Tucking her loose hair behind her ears, the woman turned to face Aero. Moving into the moonlight as she revolved, her face at once was bathed in fresh light. Aero could see the gaunt features staring back at her, and almost physically recoiled at the sight of so many scars, which told the tale of a hard life.
But… the face. Aero gasped. It couldn’t be. This woman was older and thinner, but the height was the same. The gait, the movement. And around the eyes, the similarity was uncanny. Yet, they stared back at her with a coldness she did not recognise. Could it be?
The woman picked up a small metal ball which must have accompanied her during the fall and placed it in a dusty shoulder bag before addressing her. “I don’t suppose you have anything to eat?” she asked.
The question took Aero by surprise and she could do nothing else except stand and gawp.
“Well, judging by the look on your face right now, I’m guessing I have a bit of explaining to do before I’ll get any sense out of you.” The voice was low and laced with urgency. Aero saw determination in her expression.
Finding something of a voice at last, Aero reasoned, “I don’t understand how you can be here. You’re dead.”
“Well, my dear child, that’s because I’m not who you think I am.”
Aero drew in a breath. If this wasn’t her grandma, she sure sounded a lot like her.
“I don’t understand. If you’re not Joanna, then who are you?” she asked in a throaty whisper.
“Well, first things first. Who are you? Joanna’s granddaughter I’d say, considering the likeness.”
Aero nodded.
“And your name?”
“I’m Aero.”
“Well, Aero, time is short, so let me get to it. My name is Jo, and I’m guessing I look a whole lot like your Joanna, but I’m not her, because I’m not from your Realm.”
The words sounded strange coming from this woman so alike and yet so alien to her grandma.
“You’re from another Realm?”
“Oh yes, my dear. There are many Realms, though few are anything which you’d recognise. I am from one of these.”
“But who are you? I still don’t understand.”
“I suppose you might call me an equivalent. I am the Joanna of my world, and where I’m from, you were a boy.”
Aero saw the first sign of softness, and swore the woman’s eyes melted for a moment, before she swiftly continued.
“I imagine there are quite a few other differences in this Realm too, but make no mistake, there is one thing which is constant, as certain as magic, and as dark a black soul. The Shadow Creatures, and in every Realm they win.”
Her voice was coarser, gravelly and full of hardship but whenever Aero caught her gaze, the expression in it was unmistakable.
“You must do as I tell you now. You have to put all thoughts away and trust me. Because your life and all those of your world are depending on it.”
“But how did you get here?”
“In my Realm, things are different. We have technology you don’t yet possess, but that’s why I’m here. You’re the last one, Aero. Even my own boy is gone. I’ve travelled through many Realms to stop you from making the same mistakes they did. You cannot face the Shadow Creatures, otherwise you too will die. I can’t… I won’t let it happen again. This is a mistake. If you take the deal with Umbria, if you work with MI-S, it all ends in disaster.”
“What are you talking about. What deal with Umbria?” Aero demanded.
“Do you know what it feels like to have to watch this happen again and again?”
Aero shook her head. “No, I don’t, but you’re going to have to if you don’t tell me what deal you’re talking about.”
“Umbria is going to come to you with a trade. He knows you’re here because Megan knows you’re here. Maybe the only way to w
in this war is for you to lose this battle. We haven’t tried walking away. Come with me now.”
The moment this version of Joanna told her these things she knew exactly what walking away meant. The sudden clarity of the sacrifice of those she loved and all the innocent witches who were held in the castle burned fiercely in her mind. Sometimes having an imagination is a bad thing. This was one of those times.
Thoughts of their suffering flew brightly through her head, vivid in her mind’s eye; the detail overwhelming. But there was a deeper, darker idea lurking beneath the surface. It buzzed like an incessant fly. A part of her wanted to run. The fear was so intense it threatened to take hold of her senses, choking away her sanity. The only question which remained unanswered was why the other Aeros hadn’t done the same thing. What force had they possessed which she did not? When comparing herself to them, her failure echoed across the Realms.
She so desperately wanted to tell this woman who looked so like HER grandma that she loved her. How sorry she was to have failed. If she could have asked her to take her in her arms and make all the pain disappear, she would have. Instead, Aero demanded to know what deal Jo was talking about.
The woman’s expression became hard to read and, in this moment, Aero knew that the woman who looked like her grandma, whose face had always been as open and honest as the day was long, was nothing like her.
But still the voice of doubt needled at her. Look what fighting did for them. There’s still time for you to run, girl. That’s all you are; a child.
But there had to be more. If the other Aeros had stood and fought, surely, she could too. But she wasn’t them; she was and always had been afraid.
“Umbria will come to you and offer an exchange: your life for the lives of your family. As for the other witches, he will keep them. But heed me well, Aero, if you give yourself up to them, it won’t be just the witches who die.”
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