I peeked at Lucas and I could see the longing in his eyes. He was the oldest of the three of us at one-hundred-ninety-two years old. Oliver was ninety-two, and I was the youngest at seventy-two. Typically, Guardians found their Meraki sometime between twenty and forty years old. The three of us had been the exception and bonded over that fact. Who needed a soulmate when I had these two men for best friends?
We also aged much slower than humans once we turned twenty. We weren’t immortal, but unless we died in battle, Guardians could live for over a thousand years.
Lucas ignored my ribbing and got down to business. “I was in the Otherworld a few days ago and saw the chaos. I’m surprised we weren’t asked to step in sooner. Everyone was on edge; hostile, even. I’ll ask Lorelle for some dark magic blockers to take with us, so we’re not affected by whatever is happening.”
Lorelle, the town healer, was also our go-to person for all things magical. Her abilities far exceeded any of our own, and that included the eight Elders who acted as the governing body of the Guardians living in our world of Arvata.
Arvata resided between the Otherworld and Earth. Guardians were mostly responsible for helping keep dark magic out of Earth, but on occasions like this, we also stepped in to help maintain the balance of the Otherworld. I didn’t mind it. I enjoyed a good battle. It was why Oliver and Lucas had accepted me as one of them. They knew it was better to be on my good side than my bad.
“I’m heading back to my house to pack. What time should we meet in the morning, and where?” I asked.
“Want to spar tonight as a warm up for the trip?” Oliver asked with an evil gleam in his copper eyes.
“You’re on. Just remember this was your idea when you’re crying on the ground later,” I taunted.
“Sparring’s a good idea. We can go over time and place afterward,” Lucas said, ignoring mine and Oliver’s teasing.
“Sure thing, Dad,” I mocked. He was always the responsible one, keeping Oliver and me out of trouble. “I’ll see the two of you in an hour. Don’t forget your tissues.”
Without waiting for a reply, I walked out of the house and ported home. I already had a ‘go bag’ for situations like this, so I didn’t need to pack much. Just a few essentials and I’d be all set. One thing I was always prepared with was clothes. My wardrobe filled three closets. The guys liked to tease me about my obsession with shopping, but I didn’t care. I’d lived through decades of fashion trends and couldn’t help myself.
I ventured into the kitchen first to fill up on some good grub before sparring. I’d need the extra calories before then.
Technically, I didn’t live in my house. I considered it home since it was where I spent most of my adult life, but it actually belonged to my pseudo-parents, Brooks and Dalila Atwater. They had been best friends with my parents before my mom died while giving birth to me. Since my parents were Merakis, bonded together for life, my dad had passed just moments after her.
My aunt and her husband technically became my adoptive parents. It was custom in Arvata if a minor’s parents died and their parents had siblings, then the young were taken in by the sibling. My aunt had agreed to the responsibility, but they hadn’t been the best people to help me through the transition of coming into my powers.
My aunt had never wanted kids. She and my uncle had traveled a lot and continued to do so, even now. They loved me, but they never wanted me.
Brooks and Dalila had stepped in without a second thought. I moved in with them as soon as possible after that. Currently, they were on Earth raising their daughter Kaliah. They’d be back with her in eight years, on her twentieth birthday. I planned on moving out at that time. I didn’t want to intrude on their family any more than I already had all these years.
I made a turkey sandwich with all the toppings and added a salad on the side. Making myself comfortable on the couch, I ate my lunch with a smile, thinking about all the fun we were about to have in the Otherworld. I hadn’t faced a dragon before, but I was sure excited about it.
“Dammit, Jordan!” Lucas yelled at me and I snickered. “Take it easy.”
Oliver was pinned beneath my staff, choking from lack of air. I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Say ‘Jordan is the best fighter ever’ and I’ll let you up.”
He shook his head while trying unsuccessfully to buck me off him. “Never,” he groaned.
I dug my feet into his sides, hitting a pressure point. “I can do this all night, Ollie.”
Lucas might have yelled at me, but I heard his low chuckle from across the field. He was enjoying this almost as much as I was. Oliver’s face was turning ten different shades of red. I gave it less than a minute before he caved. His feeble attempts to beat me at my ground game had been cute the first few times, but really, he should have known by now that there was no point in trying to out-maneuver me when we sparred.
“Fine! You’re the best fighter,” Oliver coughed out, and I slightly lifted the pressure of the staff.
“You forgot one part,” I taunted.
“Seriously, Jordan?”
I pressed the staff back down, watching his eyes bulge. He tapped my leg and I let up once more.
“Jordan is the best fighter ever,” Oliver said, glaring at me.
“That’s a good boy.” I patted his chest before jumping up and taking a few steps away. I had no doubt he’d retaliate eventually.
“Was that necessary?” Lucas asked me.
I grinned. “It absolutely was. I have to keep you boys in check and remind you that I’m no damsel in distress.”
Lucas laughed so hard, he bent over holding his sides. “I think we can manage that without you beating on us.”
I shrugged my shoulders, walking away. We were on the training field outside the town hall. I grabbed my water bottle from the table and gulped down the whole thing. We had been sparring pretty hard for the last couple of hours. I enjoyed practicing with Lucas and Oliver. They never took it easy on me, instead treating me as one of the guys. They were the brothers I’d never had.
Lucas was a little over six feet tall, with bronze hair and forest green eyes. He was handsome and as sweet as they came. Oliver had deep copper eyes, blond hair, and muscles for days. The dude was built like a brick house. Each of them was attractive in their own way, but I never felt anything other than friendship for them. As soon as I learned I had a Meraki out there somewhere, boys never again crossed my mind. I may not be a damsel in distress, but I was a sucker for an epic love story and I would have mine. One day.
“You boys ready to call it a day? My beauty rest is just as important as my training is.”
“Yeah, I’d rather not have my ass kicked again. My ego can only handle so much of it,” Oliver whined.
“Your ego needs to be put in check more often,” I laughed. “My house, tomorrow morning at five?” I cringed at my own words. I hated getting up that early. My body protested. A lot.
“If we met anywhere else, you’d be late, so that works,” Lucas jested.
I rolled my eyes, grabbing my bag. “See you asshats then!” I called out as I ported home. A steamy, hot shower was calling my name.
Within the half-hour, I’d cleaned up and was ready to head straight to bed. I may not have faced a dragon before, but I’d heard the stories. Our strengths were going to be put to the test over the next few days. If we weren’t one-hundred-percent ready for this, we were about to become dragon snacks.
2
I made my way downstairs, driven by the sweet aroma of coffee. The boys were smarter than I gave them credit for sometimes. If they had some sort of food waiting for me, too, they’d really be on my good side.
When I made it to the bottom of the stairs, I was assaulted by the scent of cinnamon rolls. I raced around the corner and snagged one before even muttering a polite good morning to my friends. The gooeyness melted in my mouth, causing me to make inappropriate noises.
“You’re welcome.” Oliver grinned smugly.
“Have I t
old you lately that I love you guys?” I asked around my mouthful of sweet deliciousness, hoping they understood me.
They laughed at my ridiculousness, but they really did know how to make sure I was in a good mood this early in the morning. Decades of friendship had taught them well.
“As soon as you receive your morning dose of caffeine, we’ll take off,” Lucas said between bites of his own breakfast. “The earlier we start scouting, the more time we’ll have to find somewhere to stay for the night. I doubt we’ll wrap this up in one day.”
I let out a small sigh. “A girl can dream, though.” I attempted to savor my breakfast, but Lucas tapped his foot impatiently at me. I ignored him for as long as I could before he became relentless.
“Okay! I’m done. Let me go grab my bag and sword. At least I packed already. Jerk.”
Lucas smirked at me. “I didn’t say anything.”
I rolled my eyes and ported to my bedroom. It was too early to argue with him. I grabbed my bag, attaching my sword sheath to it before swinging it on my back. Normally, I preferred knives, but dragons were huge, and I wasn’t going to get any closer to one than I had to. This sword was definitely a second favorite, though. It was lean and light, making it easy to handle. The hilt had detailed carvings of the Falls and its surrounding area. The Elves had made the sword from special metals that absorbed my power and allowed me to funnel extra magic through it. I had never figured out why I was chosen for the sword, but I didn’t question it. The blade complemented my badass-ness perfectly.
After adjusting the straps on my bag one last time, I ported to the kitchen. “Alright, boys. Let’s get this show on the road,” I said.
Oliver quickly stuffed another cinnamon roll in his mouth, nodding his head. The guy had no manners.
Hurriedly, I made sure nothing was left on downstairs and the breakfast mess was cleaned up, just in case Brooks or Dalila made an appearance. They’d been known to show up without notice for a quick check-in with the Elders. Even though they’ve always told me to treat this as my home, I still kept it as nice as I could at all times.
Once we were outside, we ported to the gateway that would take us to the Otherworld. Porting only worked within the world we were on and without large obstacles like oceans. We used gateways to get to the many different parts of the two worlds around us. Arvata sat right in the middle of the Otherworld and Earth. Waterfalls were used as the entrance to each gateway and provided an exceptional view. Cascading water and rolling streams, along with an assortment of trees of every shape and size, surrounded the gateways.
“Ladies first.” Lucas gestured toward the entrance. I had no qualms about going first and walked through without question.
The travel time between worlds was short, but stunning. I floated along the course surrounded by twinkling lights and a dark sky. It was as if I was flying among the stars.
A bright light emerged in front of me and I knew I was almost to the Otherworld. I closed my eyes against the glare of the blinding light, and before I knew it, my feet made contact with the ground.
I walked forward immediately, not wanting Lucas and Oliver to come toppling down on me. I surveyed the area, relieved to not see anything out of the ordinary. It was fall here, and there was an assortment of colors all around. Reds, yellows, oranges, and browns weaved their way through the landscape, making me want to curl up with a warm blanket and a cup of coffee.
“What the hell?” Oliver groaned. “Why is it so cold?”
“Don’t be such a wuss,” Lucas said from right behind him.
“Children,” I scolded, “we just got here. I don’t want to hear any whining yet.”
“Yes, Mom,” they both replied in unison, and I grinned haughtily. They’d be so lost without me.
“Should we go to the Trade Center or head on out?” Oliver asked both of us.
For once, I had no desire to go to the Trade Center. I was hoping to get this dragon business done with as soon as possible. Lucas spoke up before I could, though.
“We brought all the supplies we need, and I doubt there is anything we can glean from anyone there that we haven’t already learned from the Fates. Let’s get started.”
I nodded and led the way. We needed to go through the Quad Valleys and the Forbidden Tunnels before we’d make it to the Serpentine River, which would lead us to dragon territory in the Eastern section of this level. The Quad Valleys consisted of four very different terrains. The first one was Meadow Valley. Most of the time it was safe, but that didn’t mean we could be lax. There was nothing safe about the Otherworld unless you were within one of the main areas surrounded by guards or fortresses.
The second was Web Valley. It consisted of a jungle-like atmosphere. There was no easy way to the other side, except to ram through it in as straight a line as possible. Next would be Mineral Valley. The only dangers in Mineral Valley were ourselves. We needed to be physically fit enough to tolerate the steep terrains and rugged paths. Lastly, and certainly most dangerous, was Inferno Valley. Of all the Guardians I’d known to be lost in the Quad Valleys, Inferno was the one that usually did them in. We needed to be extra vigilant as we traveled further along.
“Where should our stopping point be for the night?” I asked.
“Depends on how long it takes us to get through the first two valleys, but I’d prefer to stay in one of the caves in Mineral Valley,” Lucas answered.
“I agree,” Oliver chimed in. “We’re going to be exhausted after Web Valley. Even if it’s not night when we get to Mineral Valley, we’ll need the rest.”
Alright, we could do this. We just had to put one foot in front of the other and move as swiftly as possible. I pulled a map from the side pocket of my pack. There were eight levels in the Otherworld. The further down the levels went, the darker and more sinister they became. Currently, we were on the fourth level, which was considered common ground. As long as they behaved, both light and dark races were allowed to frequent this level and the Trade Center we saw when we first arrived.
“According to the map, we’re about an hour away from Meadow Valley. There are two forks in the path on the way there. We need to take the left fork first, then the right. After the last turn, we’re only ten minutes away.”
I put the map back into the side pocket of my pack and picked up speed.
“In a hurry, Princess?” Oliver teased.
“We’re sitting ducks out here. Of course, I’m in a hurry. The only time I like visiting the Otherworld is when we go to the Trade Center or the upper levels.”
Realizing I had a point, they turned their heads from side to side, looking for any danger. Nothing was out there that we could see, but I had no desire to wait around to find out if there was.
“Jordan’s right,” Lucas agreed.
All of us picked up the pace until we were jogging down the path, headed toward the Quad Valleys. I almost suggested that we run, but I didn’t want to waste the energy just yet.
Within a half-hour, we reached the first fork and took the left I’d seen on the map earlier. So far, so good. We hadn’t come across anyone else, but our guards were still up. We didn’t speak the entire time, choosing to stay focused on our surroundings.
We came around another bend and I could see the next fork in the road. I threw my arms out and pushed Lucas and Oliver off the path, behind some brush.
“You could have done that a little more gently,” Oliver droned, while rubbing his knees where he fell.
“There’s a Centaur up ahead. He’s standing in the middle of our path. I’ve never dealt with one. Have either of you?” I asked.
Oliver shook his head as he stood, but Lucas nodded. “Once, but it’s been decades. He was a hustler. They usually turn a blind eye if you have something to bribe them with.”
“Well, crap. Did you guys bring any valuables? I just brought clothes and food.”
Oliver rolled his eyes. “Why is that not surprising?”
Lucas grinned, and I didn’t like
the way he was eyeing me. Whatever was about to come out of his mouth was not going to make me happy.
“Actually, you brought one valuable thing. Your sword.”
“Hell no! That’s my favorite sword. No way.” I crossed my arms in a pout. “You better find something else in your bag.”
Lucas shrugged. “I have some gold pieces. We could try that first, but when he starts turning an angry shade of red, I’d suggest you hand over that sword.”
“Ugh.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Fine, but you better get me a new one.”
“Sure, whatever you say, Princess.”
I jabbed Lucas in his stomach with my elbow, garnering a painful grunt from him as a smile of satisfaction appeared on my lips. “Well, we don’t have all day. You guys coming?”
“You’ll pay for that one when you least expect,” Lucas grumbled and they both joined me back on the path.
We made it several more yards before we caught the Centaur’s attention. He was as large as a Clydesdale horse with muscle upon muscle covering his torso. His horse body was a charcoal grey color which matched perfectly with the long hair that hung down his back in wild waves. His eyes were a piercing silver that watched every step we made as we continued closer to him.
“What business do you have on this path?” he demanded, voice deep and grumbly.
I glanced at Lucas, gladly letting him take the lead since he’d dealt with one before.
“We’re headed to the Quad Valleys, and our business is with the dragons. If you would grant us access to the right fork, then we’ll be on our way and you can go about your day.”
“Don’t you know better than that?” the Centaur chided. “This is my path, and nobody gets by without payment. Show me your offering.”
Damn, the Centaur was a demanding asshat. If he wasn’t eight feet tall and ripped like the world’s strongest man, I’d be begging Lucas to let me kick his ass. But I didn’t feel like eating dirt today. Lucas was right. I’d have to say goodbye to my favorite sword. Thankfully, I had also tucked my prized dagger in my bag as back up. Seemed as though I would need it sooner rather than later.
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