Inherent Fate

by Geanna Culbertson

  I meandered across the room until I accidentally kicked something. It was a rubber ball. It had been lying in the center of a circle of chairs that all seemed to be pointed toward it.

  The rubber ball bounced off a futon and ricocheted back to me.

  As mentioned, I knew not to touch anything that looked valuable in this place. Every glittery, fine object was a booby-trap waiting to set off a cataclysmic chain reaction. But this ball didn’t look valuable. Moreover, I’d just kicked it and nothing bad happened. So I figured it was okay.

  “Daniel, what do you make of this?” I asked, picking up the ball.

  When an answer didn’t come, I realized Daniel was nowhere in sight.

  “Daniel?”

  I looked around but couldn’t see him.

  “Daniel?” I called a bit louder.

  Still nothing.

  I whistled to see if that would get a response. A moment later, I was knocked off my feet by a robust couch cushion, which had apparently interpreted my whistle as a summons. I would have landed face-first on the ground had it not been for a pink lawn chair that suddenly swooped beneath me.

  I panicked, worried that touching the furniture might set off the cave’s traps, but all remained calm.

  Sort of.

  The lawn chair was levitating half a meter off the ground. I sat up to discover that I was encircled by dozens of other floating pieces of furniture. Futons, couches, floor mats, and carpets swooshed in front of me with unbridled excitement.

  They seemed like they were waiting for something. Then a floor mat flew up close to me and nudged my hand with its corner.

  The ball!

  I was still holding the rubber ball I’d found. It had to be what they wanted. Just to be certain, I held it up. As suspected, the flying furniture swooshed about with even greater delight than before.

  “All right.” I shrugged. “Why not?”

  I wound my arm back and tossed the ball across the room. “Fetch!”

  Dozens of furnishings—including the chair I was sitting on—shot in the direction of the ball, bobbing and weaving with great haste.

  A shaggy red easy chair won the battle for the ball and presented it to me proudly. I patted it on the seat, taking the ball to throw it again. Just as I was about to, a shadow fell across the floor in front of me.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Exactly what it looks like,” I told Daniel. “Playing fetch with flying furniture.”

  “Would you stop fooling around. I think I found the caverns we’re looking for.”

  “Killjoy.”

  I turned to address all of my new, magical friends. “Guys, I’ve gotta go.”

  The rugs hung limply and the cushions on the couches drooped with disappointment. Nevertheless, they protested no further and flew away. The lawn chair I was sitting on popped its recliner all the way down and I used it as a ramp to step back to the ground.

  “Thanks,” I told the chair as I dismounted.

  The casual chair sort of bowed. Then it disappeared behind one of the mounds of futons with its other dispersed friends.

  Daniel glanced around at the piles of enchanted furniture. “Flying furniture,” he thought aloud. “That makes zero sense.”

  “I disagree,” I replied. “I’ve read a bunch of versions of Arabian Nights, as well as specific stories about Aladdin. One thing I always wanted to know is what’s the deal with magic carpets. I mean, they’re such random objects but plenty of folktales have them. A girl’s gotta wonder where they keep coming from. This place is the answer. The Cave of Mysteries literally has a flying furniture department.”

  “I take it back,” Daniel said. “This makes about as much sense as anything else on this adventure.”

  I followed Daniel into an adjacent cavern. This place glowed brighter than all the other rooms we’d been in thus far. That was because a pool of lava churned on the far side of the room. The magma gurgled and the rich yellow and orange light flickered off the rock walls.

  Although there were many tunnels converging into this cavern on the left side, the only route on the right was a single, narrow pathway crossing the lava. On the other side of the pool the path continued up a stone staircase until it reached a small alcove. The alcove was carved into the wall and had ragged vines concealing what lay within. I guessed it must’ve been where one of the cave’s great Mysteries was hidden, possibly the elusive flower we sought.

  Daniel and I approached the lava walkway. It was bordered by robust columns constructed of gigantic rubies. These columns were three feet high, allowing us to easily take a look at the contents they held.

  On top of each column was a wide-mouthed carved wooden bowl filled to the brim with luminous copper coins. The identical bowls were each marked with an explanatory placard.

  “Wishing Coins,” I read aloud as I examined the label of the first bowl, careful not to touch it or anything else. Unlike the ball and the furniture, these riches had booby-trap written all over them. “Every coin tossed into a well is a guaranteed wish come true.”

  “Why would anyone have gone on looking for a genie lamp or any of the other famous treasures in this place if they found these?” Daniel said. “I mean, a genie can provide three wishes; a bowl of wishing coins can be cashed in for dozens.”

  “I think that’s the point,” I responded. “Logically no one would go on looking for a genie lamp or any other magical knickknack when they found these. It’s the perfect final booby-trap. A test of whether or not you can focus on the one wish that made you strong enough to come this far rather than give in to the greedy possibility of having many others.”

  “A quality over quantity test,” Daniel summarized.

  “Exactly. What we really want is up there.” I gestured at the alcove.

  Together, Daniel and I carefully made our way across the lava then climbed the staircase. I pushed the vine curtains aside, allowing us to step through.

  We were now in a tiny pocket of a room. In the center was a display pedestal. This one was not fancy or bejeweled; it was made of stone. And it did not offer a bowl of enticing, wish-granting coins. In fact, it offered nothing at all.

  Despite there being no treasure here, there was a beam of light streaming onto the perch through an itty-bitty hole in the ceiling. That, and the placard at the base of the column, made it clear that there had been something of great importance here at some point in the cave’s history.

  “The Wondrous Lost Lamp of Vanatu,” Daniel read, “grants owners three wishes upon release of the immortal genie kept inside. Item: One of Eleven.”

  “I can’t believe it. This is where he found it,” I marveled. “This is where Aladdin found the lamp.”

  “Seems like,” Daniel agreed. “But that’s old news, Knight. Come on, we’ve gotta keep looking. I bet there are other caverns just like this that still have their treasures. And if we’re lucky that flower will be in one of them.”

  “You’re right,” I said firmly. “Let’s move on.”

  aniel’s prediction was right; there were many more caverns just like the one that originally held Aladdin’s genie lamp.

  Each was identical in layout—the lava, the wishing coins, the staircase. All that was different was the actual item inside the draped-off alcoves and the accompanying placard. Some items we discovered included rose-colored glasses that allowed one to see a person’s true intent, a golden lyre whose musical chords produced waves with hypnotic capabilities, and a wax candle that froze time when it was lit.

  These items were extremely tempting—any one of them had endless uses for us. But Daniel and I resisted from touching them, keeping in mind the advice of the ram’s head to only claim the object we’d come for.

  Unfortunately, finding that object was proving difficult. Each mysterious cavern had a myriad of other tunnels leading into it. As a result, we wandered in and out of interconnected treasure rooms without any direction. It was like endless shiny déjà vu.

  Bet
ween the Therewolves’ underground complex, the labyrinth within Adelaide’s cliffs, and this Cave of Mysteries, I acquiesced that “confusing tunnel systems” was a solid theme for the last few weeks of adventure.

  Daniel and I entered the sixth cavern. We proceeded across the lava lake, up the stairs, and pushed away the vines, stepping into the small cubby that housed this cavern’s treasure. When we did, we stopped.

  It was a flower.

  An actual flower!

  The gorgeous thing resting on the pedestal looked like a carnation frozen in full-bloom. Its petals were scarlet and the stem was olive green. The only elements that made it distinctly different than a normal carnation were the delicate golden leaves attached to the stem like peels of sunshine. Its beautiful radiance outshone much of the other pretentious contents in the cave.

  “The Carnation of Duality,” I read from the placard. “The petals are capable of strengthening magic and the leaves are designed to weaken it.”

  Emma’s instructions had said to locate a “Mysterious Flower Beneath the Valley of Strife.” If this pretty carnation was not enough to convince us it was what we sought, the description of its powers on the placard certainly did. After all, we were trying to construct a potion to break the In and Out Spell—one of the most impervious spells in existence. What better way to do that than by utilizing an ingredient specifically designed to weaken magic?

  “Looks like we found our Something One of a Kind,” Daniel said.

  “Yup,” I agreed. “Now here’s hoping nothing freaks out when we touch it.”

  Rather than letting my nerves delay the inevitable, I reached out and picked up the flower. Once the carnation was in my hand, Daniel and I froze as we waited for something to go horribly wrong. To our relief, everything in the cave remained still. The ram’s head had been right; the cave would let us take what we came for.

  I slipped the flower into my left boot for safekeeping. Then, assuming that our passage out was assured, Daniel and I headed down the stairs and began our journey back to the entrance of the cave.

  After making our way through various treasure caverns, we reached the magic furniture gallery. This time nothing stirred when we passed.

  I guess they only move when it suits them, or when someone whistles and lets them know it’s time to play, I thought to myself.

  We continued along the winding path through half a dozen more glittering caverns. As we neared the opening that would lead us to the next room, a shiver went up my spine. I held my hand up in front of Daniel, signaling him to stop.

  I glanced around suspiciously. The large mounds of gold and a rainbow array of jewels twinkled innocently from floor to peak just as they had in all the other rooms. But something felt amiss.

  When a few more seconds passed without additional cause for alarm, I convinced myself I was just being paranoid. We’d been attacked so many times in the last few weeks that it was understandable. Then again, paranoia was rooted in instinct acquired from real experience. And as such, I probably should have heeded mine a bit longer.

  As I turned the corner, I spotted Arian. My dark-haired, heroically-built hunter was at the other end of the cavern with a dozen men behind him.

  I didn’t know how Arian had made it down here with his men. Maybe the cave thought his mission to come after me made him worthy? I doubted it. More likely since the cave was bound to give Daniel and me passage unless we violated a rule, it would stay open even if more people entered after us.

  Just seeing the antagonist caused me to hesitate. Each time we’d crossed paths I’d faced him without fear or cowardice. But the more times we fought the more I realized that maybe I should be afraid of him. It was as much luck as it was skill that had allowed me to escape his grasp before. And the last time we’d met he’d won. I’d come at him with my best plans and he’d still sucked me inside the lamp.

  The lamp.

  One of Arian’s lackeys was holding the bag I’d seen back on Adelaide—the same bag he’d pulled the genie lamp out of.

  Arian’s intense black eyes locked with mine and I knew there was no time to waste figuring out how he’d found me again. If I didn’t get out of range, he was going to suck me inside that lamp. And this time there would be no escape.

  “Run?” Daniel asked under his breath.

  “Yep,” I answered.

  He and I turned on our heels and took off back through the cave.

  “Go!” I heard Arian yell after us. “She has to be within fifteen feet!”

  Daniel and I skidded across the gold-lined floor, barely staying on our feet as we maneuvered the tight corners. Eventually we entered the magic furniture gallery again and dashed past the collection of enchanted objects. When we made it to the cavern that once held the genie lamp we arbitrarily headed through the tunnel that lead toward the cavern with the golden lyre. I drew my wandpin as we ran.

  Lapellius.

  The weapon morphed in my hand as we searched for another route to the exit. Alas, when we reached the fifth cavern that guarded one of the cave’s Mysteries, we stopped in our tracks. Arian’s men poured in from the other connecting tunnels like rats into a sewer intersection, leaving Daniel and me with nowhere to go.

  Out of desperation we raced down the pathway across the lava lake and up the stone staircase. Daniel drew his sword and observed the dozen men approaching us from below.

  Arian entered through the center tunnel. His helpers maintained their positions at the foot of the boiling lava pool, awaiting his orders. When he saw Daniel and I trapped at the top of the stairwell, he smiled.

  “Honestly, Knight. I swear each time we go through this you just get more pathetic.”

  “Yet I keep managing to outsmart you,” I called defiantly. “So maybe it’s time you reevaluated your confidence.”

  One of Arian’s henchmen brought forth the dreaded bag and my enemy removed the genie lamp from inside. Its chrome shell glistened in the glare of the lava like the flash of a memory. He started moving across the pathway that led to the staircase.

  “I wouldn’t if I were you,” Daniel threatened, holding up his sword.

  “Stupid hero,” Arian said snidely. “I don’t have to fight you. I barely have to climb a handful of these stairs and my work will be done. My advice to you is to step away from the princess.”

  Arian continued making his way closer. “We’ve done our research and know all about you, Daniels. Every little detail of who you were, who you are, and who the Author has predicted you’re going to be. So in the spirit of pity, I’m going to make you an offer. Right now my employer’s interests lie in Crisanta Knight. So if you don’t attempt to fight us, I see no reason why we can’t let you go.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” Daniel scoffed.

  “Surprisingly no,” Arian replied, “My people have a soft spot for commons, and I am genuinely offering you a way out. All you have to do is take it.”

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Because you want Crisanta Knight out of the way as much as I do. Come on, Daniels, you know what she’s done to your life—what she’s going to do to your life. You can pretend to be her friend for a while. But we both know what you really want. And this is your opportunity to take it.

  “Think about it. Why throw away everything for her when you could change your fate right here? Forget the Author. With Crisanta Knight out of the way you’ll have nothing to fear. You’ll be free to go on living your life exactly how you want to—never having to worry about the likes of some volatile, uncontrollable princess potentially screwing it up.”

  Arian stopped and gestured upward, as if throwing the ball in our court. I glanced over and saw that Daniel had lowered his sword slightly. He was still glaring at Arian and that expression was hardening. However, when I looked closer I saw that it wasn’t a look of anger or concentration; it was reflection.

  Daniel was thinking. I didn’t know if he was seriously considering what Arian said, but I didn’t wait to find o
ut.

  “Daniel,” I whispered cautiously. “Take the deal.”

  He whipped his head toward me. “What?”

  “You heard me. While I’m not that keen on being shoved into a lamp again, and I’m not sure how I’ll get out a second time, I do know one thing for certain. You need to go.”

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  “No. Honestly, for the first time in a long time this isn’t my pride or my stubbornness talking. I’m thinking clearly and you should too. You stay here and they kill you. You go into that lamp again and you get delivered to the psycho queen who wants my head and the head of anyone in her way. And I’m sorry, but I’m not letting either happen. I don’t want you to die. And I especially don’t want you to die for me. So take Arian’s offer, for your own good and for Kai’s. Get out of here, find our friends, and don’t look back.”

  He stared at me, dumbfounded. “You’re serious?”

  I nodded.

  “Well then you’re even crazier than I thought. There’s no way I’d ever ditch you, Knight, especially not to save myself. As hard as it is for you to believe, I meant what I said earlier—we’re finishing this together.”

  I didn’t have time to reply.

  “Suit yourself,” Arian scoffed as he stepped toward us.

  My eyes darted back and forth, searching for an idea. There weren’t many resources within my reach. The only other things here were those columns with the bowls of wishing coin booby-traps and . . .

  Wait, that’s it!

  “After all this time you get that there’s a method to my madness, right?” I asked Daniel under my breath.

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Hold on to that thought.”

  Boomerang.

  I hurled my transformed wand down into the cavern. It flew over Arian’s head, knocked one of the bowls of wishing coins off its pedestal, and then ricocheted back to my hand.

  Wand.

  Arian looked at me, amused. “I hope that wasn’t for me.”

  “No,” I said with a grin, remembering the last time he’d said that to me—in Century City, right before I buried him beneath an avalanche of fruit. “But this is.”