Through the Never

by J. A. Culican

  Biting her lip, Julian mounted the steps and opened the door.

  Incense battered her nose like a putrid cloud. She doubled back, her stomach lurching into her throat. Nausea rose inside her, and she fought to push it back. She’d never smelled something so horrid.

  “Don’t leave the door open!” the woman snapped.

  Pushing down the twisting of her gut and saliva burning her mouth, Julian stepped inside and closed the door.

  Shadows bathed every corner. Only a sickly violet glow permeated the darkness faintly from the back of the room. Thick velvet curtains hung from every wall, and arched in the middle. The purple glow came from a glass orb atop a small table drowning with black cloth.

  “Why have you come to see me?”

  Julian jumped as a figure stepped from the shadows to her left. The faint glow illuminated thick wrinkles and sagging skin on the old woman’s face. Her eyes were dark, blacker than the shadows in the home. She raised a thick brow under a veil of dark lace. The magic burn in her chest remained dull, but ever present.

  Her mother told her stories of humans with magic, some went most of their lives without knowing it, others practiced dark arts, or healing. Those who embraced darkness were witches, and should be avoided, as they were known to be temperamental.

  “Well?” The hunched witch trudged across the room, a hand on her back, and a cane in the other.

  Julian cleared her throat. “I’m looking for someone.” She paused. “Someone who might have come by recently, or who you might know. A girl.”

  The witch looked over her shoulder. “How do you know a girl was here recently?”

  She didn’t, but the witch had certainly confirmed it. “I need to know where she is,” Julian said as her pulse quickened. “I need to find her as soon as possible.”

  The woman sat behind her glowing orb. Shadows ate her face, turning her already strange appearance ugly. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  Julian groaned. “Please, I need to find her.”

  Her brows rose and her eyes widened with wonder, as if she’d just realized something. A grin spread across her face, revealing missing and otherwise rotting teeth. “Ahh, that’s what you are.”

  Julian grimaced, and though disturbed, took a step forward. “Please, help me.”

  The witch tilted her head back and laughed. “Of course I can help you dearie. You wouldn’t have come here otherwise.” Julian began to sigh in relief when the witch continued, “At a price of course.”

  She froze. “A price?”

  “Yes, I don’t give magic away freely.” The witch stood and with a snap of her fingers, a dozen candles burst to life. Small flames flared across their wicks and cast firelight on the dark room. The shadows flew for their corners, but the rest of the room was revealed.

  A large table sat at the center of the room, many metal instruments atop it: some long and thick with tweezers at the end, others twisting and jagged. She had no idea what any of it was for. The left hand wall was made up of shelves with vials, bottles and jars filled with jewels, plants, herbs, tiny glowing balls no bigger than the nail on her smallest finger, and other things that might be eyes.

  “Come, take a seat.” A small wooden stool sat on one side of the large worktable. “I insist.”

  Julian swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d take a deep breath if it weren’t for the vomit-inducing scent of the place. After a moment’s hesitation, she sat.

  “It’s been a long time since I saw one of your kind, and here I am meeting two in one day. Oh, the chances are small, and no coincidence I wager.” The witch’s thin lips twisted in a smile.

  “Then you know… what I am.” Cold squeezed her lungs.

  “Of course.” She held up a finger. “But that’s a conversation for another day, now isn’t it? I will help you find the girl you seek, but first you must do something for me.”

  Julian gulped. She didn’t like the sound of that. “And how will you help me find this girl?”

  “You can’t sense her anymore, correct?” Her smile turned sly.

  “Correct.”

  “I made an amulet for this girl, an amulet to block her magic from even the keenest of senses. The only way to find her now is with a blood amulet of your own.” The witch leaned back in her chair. “I will craft one for you while you complete my task. When you return, it will be yours for the taking.”

  Her shoulders relaxed. “And that’s all?” She’d do anything to find the ashen she sought, even if it meant steering off course to find her.

  “Yes.” Her smile softened as she propped her elbows on the arms of her chair, her fingers laced just below her chin. “Do you accept my terms?”

  Julian sighed. “Yes, of course. What do you need me to do?”

  Again, the witch revealed her teeth. “Excellent.” She stood, and Julian stood with her. “There’s a cave a half a day’s ride outside the city. Inside the cave is a very special flower with magical properties. If it weren’t for my old age, I might be able to get it, but it’s far too difficult to find for me now.”

  A flower? That was all. Julian flashed her own teeth this time. What a simple task. “I can leave immediately.”

  “Now, now, I’m not finished.” The witch held up a finger. “The flower isn’t the only magical thing about the cave. A frost troll resides inside, a terrible beast akin to nothing you’ve ever seen.” She paused. “Well, maybe not for you.” She chuckled humorlessly.

  Julian’s lips snapped shut. A troll? She’d only ever heard stories of such creatures in tales from her mother. She never thought them real, just something her mother used to get her to bed on time when she was young. How was she to fight a troll? She had little fighting prowess, even though her mother had attempted to teach her swordplay long ago. Still, she had no sword, only her magic, and if she used the flames inside her she’d be confronted by the dragon again. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for that.

  “If it’s too difficult a task, you needn’t go.” The witch shrugged. “But it’s the only way I’ll trade an amulet as valuable as this.”

  A sigh burst from her lips. Angry heat licked her heart. “Fine.” Julian had to get that amulet no matter the cost.

  The witch smiled. “You may use my horse tethered out back. She’s an old broad like me, but she’ll get you to the cave and back.”

  Julian nodded. “Is there anything else I need to know about this cave?” She narrowed her eyes.

  “It’s east of the city. I’m sure you’ll sense the troll long before you find it.”

  “I will return in a day’s time then.” Julian made a move for the door.

  “Be careful, dearie. A frost troll’s bite isn’t something even one such as yourself wants to endure.”

  The witch cackled as Julian opened the door. Fresh air brushed her mouth and soothed her stomach. “I’ll be careful.” She stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Frost troll or not, she was getting that flower, and she was getting that amulet. Her mother’s life, and hers, depended on it.

  The glow of dusk faded atop the horizon by the time the cave came into view. A dark hole edged the hillside with a crop of trees surrounding the dip in the land. If she hadn’t known what she was looking for, she’d never have found it, but the witch was right, she’d sensed the troll long before she arrived.

  Instead of the hot burn of magic from the ashen, a thick block of ice sat in her belly, a cold she had never known before.

  Julian pulled up on the reins before the land dipped to meet the cave mouth ten feet from the tree line. The grass halted by the roots instead of descending over the packed dirt outside the black mouth. It didn’t seem natural to Julian, though she didn’t exactly know what was natural for grass.

  She took a deep breath and patted the thick mane of the black mare. The old girl snorted and shook her head, clearly glad for the rest. Julian swung down. “I have a feeling you’re a good horse to practice riding with,” she cooed to the mare. She tied the r
eins to a low branch and left an apple for her to nibble on. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Julian left her rucksack by the tree, and gave the mare one last affectionate pat before she stepped off the grass towards the cave.

  Cold brushed her skin the closer she came to the mouth. Icicles hung from above, and frost spread over the walls and floor. She pulled her jacket tighter and her sleeves down over her hands.

  She hoped the flower would be close and she’d never meet this troll, but the cold and dread in her belly told her she wouldn’t be so lucky.

  “You can do this,” she whispered.

  Her fists clenched at her hips. She stepped inside. Darkness descended on her shoulders, with only the dull starlight at her back to guide her. Julian reached out to feel her way along the wall. Cold bit her fingertips. She quickly pulled her hand back.

  For mother, she thought in an attempt to reassure herself.

  Julian continued forward slowly, inching her boots across the uneven ground until a faint glow permeated the darkness. She blinked quickly. A trick of the eye? She closed her eyes tightly, and opened them again. No, there was light up ahead.

  Sticking close to the wall, Julian wiped the sweat from her palms on her trousers and peered around the corner.

  A cavern opened up from the tunnel, the size of a house with a hole in the ceiling. Ice froze every inch of the cave, reflecting starlight in every direction. The icicles on the ceiling nearly glowed, as did the thick ice covering the walls.

  Her breath fogged the air and cold wormed its way up her sleeves. She shivered and clenched her fists to warm her fingertips. Tunnels broke off the main cavern, or maybe just smaller caves with narrow doors. It was hard to tell with frost coating every surface.

  A loud grunt sent her reeling back. Her heart flew into her throat as she pressed her back to the wall, clinging to the shadows.

  From one of the narrow doors, a large hairy creature pushed free. Its wide nostrils flared and its clawed fingers snapped ice-shards from the wall as it squeezed back into the large space.

  It shook its thick, frosted gray hair and stood, hunched with two arms the size of her entire body. It towered nearly to the roof, its beady eyes dark and angry, and its breath like steam.

  Julian gulped. So this was the troll. She did not look forward to fighting it. There wasn’t a chance she could battle it, even if she could find a dagger or a sword. She’d have to rely on her magic to defeat the beast.

  Her breath caught. Hundreds of dragons before her had been overcome by the beast inside them. They’d been swallowed by the darkness and spit back out an entirely new, ruthless creature, bent on the destruction of others. She didn’t want to be like that. She didn’t want power to consume her.

  The troll grunted, steam bursting from its nostrils as it stomped to the other side of the cave and disappeared completely around the corner.

  Julian’s heart raced as she peeked around the edge of the tunnel. Its wide shoulders squeezed through another narrow doorway. At least it would be slowed in reaching her, if only she could find that flower.

  Turning back to her hiding place, something shined from the other cave the troll had emerged from first. Some kind of treasure or metal glinted from within. Beyond it was a glowing indigo blossom with dark green leaves circling the long petals and sharp thorns sticking from the center.

  Her breathing quickened as she glanced back around the corner. The troll was nowhere to be seen. This was her chance. All she needed to do was quietly cross the room, grab the flower and flee.

  Julian’s fingers tightened and her breaths quivered from her numb lips. She had to escape before the cold became too great. She wasn’t dressed for winter.

  After taking one last look at the hole the troll had disappeared inside, Julian stepped from her hiding place. She held her breath, refusing to make a sound.

  Nothing.

  Not a sound came from the other cave. She took another step, and then another. Her heart raced as she came into the open. Cold light brushed the hair curling against her chest. She pushed her hair behind her ear and took another step.

  She froze. The troll’s hairy shoulder emerged from the corner of the doorway. His back was turned to her.

  Julian exhaled softly, thanking whatever gods might be listening that it hadn’t seen her. Carefully, she continued across the cave until she reached the opposite wall. The curved door was just tall enough for her to step inside without hitting her head. She couldn’t believe the troll could squeeze through, not with its shoulders the width of a whale’s neck.

  The glint of metal caught her eye. A shield leaned against the small ledge where the flower sat. The edge was trimmed with steel, and a red serpent was painted across the wood in between.

  A smile quirked her lips as she stepped closer to the flower. The room was wider than she had first thought, and stretched deeper before widening. At the back of the cave a mountain of bones climbed the wall, dozens, maybe even a hundred sets of human remains piled against the frosted wall. Teeth marks scoured the bones and pieces of armor lay torn to pieces beside them.

  How many men and women had lost their lives at the hands of this troll? How many had died trying to kill it?

  Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs as she backed into the wall. Her heel slammed against the shield, knocking it over. The clang of metal echoed through the cavern, reverberating in the hollow again and again.

  Julian stopped breathing. What had she done?

  A sound between a roar and a growl filled her ears. The troll was coming. Her entire body shook as she looked around the room, her first instinct to hide.

  But there was no hiding, nothing to protect her from the beast about to devour her. Her mind raced and every bit of heat left inside her fled. Her fingers went numb and her knees shook, threatening to dump her onto the floor.

  Claws scrapped the ice outside as the troll thrust itself back into the main room.

  She was going to die in this cave. She was going to die not having found the magic girl or saving her mother.

  Her eyes burned and her hands shook at her sides. The scrape of claws grew closer and the growl of the troll filled the room.

  Beady eyes met hers. A snarl pulled its lips away from its enormous mouth, revealing rows and rows of enormous sharp teeth. Its clawed hand reached for her, inches away from her arm. Those claws would tear right through her, leave her a bloody mound, only bones to be picked clean, just like the skeletons in the corner.

  No, she couldn’t go down like this. She couldn’t die without a fight. So much counted on her getting this flower and getting out alive.

  Julian snapped back and grabbed the shield at her back before the claws could reach her. The troll’s hand swung through open air, and it growled in frustration as it reached for her again.

  Gripping the metal handle, Julian swung the shield in front of herself. Another roar rocked the cave. The beast opened its mouth wide. Cold and heat flashed through her gut. Magic.

  She brought the shield up to protect her head and shoulders, dropping to one knee as she did.

  Frost flew from the mouth of the beast, pushing her across the floor and coating the shield in ice. Cold burned her fingers, and she let go just as the blast stopped.

  The shield clattered to the ground as the troll squeezed inside.

  “You’re going to regret coming after a dragon, troll.” Julian’s nostrils flared as she stared down the beast, her hands splayed at her sides.

  She had no other choice. Use her magic, and risk it overcoming her, or die in the cave. It wasn’t much of a choice at all.

  Orange, red and yellow flames burst from her palms. Heat ran from her hands up her shoulders and into her chest until it burned through her belly, awakening the dragon.

  The troll growled at her threat, and leapt forward with claws extended. Julian leapt to the wall, letting the troll slide past. It turned on its heels, far quicker than she expected.

  Julian ran for the main ca
vern. If she was going to fight this troll, she’d at least like the space to manoeuvre.

  She slid through the door seconds before the troll crashed against it. The troll roared and snapped its teeth. It slammed its hands against the walls beside the door, sending ice shards flying in every direction. Julian held up her hands to protect her face. Ice died within the flames embracing her hands and wrists.

  The troll pushed through, flying at her mouth first. Julian raised her hands, throwing fire from her open palms at the troll’s chest.

  The scent of burnt hair filled the cave and the troll reeled back, screeching in pain. It crashed against the wall, shaking the entire cavern. Icicles fell free, shattering against the frosted floor inches from her feet.

  Again, Julian pulled fire back into her palms. The troll snarled and fell to its hands, using its fists like the front paws of a lion, and racing across the cavern at her with its short legs.

  Julian’s eyes widened and her heart stopped as its head rammed her chest. Air exploded from her lungs as she grabbed its shoulder with flaming fingers. Burned hair fell onto her jacket as the beast roared and slammed her against the wall.

  Pain speared her arm as its teeth sunk right through her jacket into her flesh. She gasped, eyes burning and arm going numb. All heat fled her left arm. Frost burned her jacket sleeve and quickly numbed the wound. Hot and cold warred inside her arm while she slammed her fist against the beasts face.

  “Let me go!” she screamed, agony flared through every inch of her.

  The troll reared back as her flames passed before its eyes. It cried out, a sick sound like a dying animal.

  Julian slid to the ground, unable to move her left arm. Her breaths were ragged as she fought the cold filling her mind. The witch’s words returned to her:

  A frost troll’s bite isn’t something even one such as yourself wants to endure.

  She gulped and pushed herself back to her feet. No matter what the bite might do, she still had a job to do.

  Fire filled the air with crackling heat. She held up her hand before the beast. “I will kill you, troll.”