Exhausted, Ursula sat on the damp earth, the soil cool beneath her bare thighs. She rested her back against the cliff face, pulling her knees up to her chest for warmth. I guess I’m going to have to wait for Bael and Kester after all.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when the boulder suddenly rolled to the side, revealing the cave entrance.
A familiar voice pierced the silence. “Ursula, is that you?”
“Cera?” Ursula hopped up.
“Ursula!” The little oneiroi woman hurried toward her, frowning at her singed dress. “What are you wearing?”
“Is that really your biggest concern right now?” She lifted her hands. “Not, you know, the manacles binding my wrists?”
Cera hopped from one foot to another, muttering to herself as she stared at the singed hem, her silver hair cascading over her back. Apparently the hem was the main concern.
Ursula nodded at the cave’s opening. “Cera, can you tell me what’s going on? Where are we?”
“We’re at the Grotto. You’re perfectly safe here.”
“Is there any chance we could go inside? I’m freezing.”
“Of course. It will be an honor. Everyone is very excited to meet you.”
“Everyone?”
“You’ll see.” Cera hurried back into the tunnel, and Ursula followed, ducking her head to pass under a low stone archway.
“Bael hasn’t arrived, I take it?”
“He’ll be joining us soon,” said Cera. “Not to worry.”
Cera led Ursula down the tunnel, carved straight through the side of the cliff. It looked similar to the tunnels in Bael’s and Abrax’s manors—narrow with smooth walls. Glowing fungi illuminated strange runes and twisting designs engraved into the walls. Voices began to carry through the cave, growing louder as they walked. The tunnel curved sharply, then opened to a large, well-lit cavern.
Ursula gasped. This cavern teemed with people.
Not people, she realized as her eyes adjusted, but oneiroi. They moved among a small collection of stone dwellings, like a miniature version of the city at the foot of Asta.
Cera began to lead her down a rock slope, and toward the closest structure.
“What is this place?” asked Ursula.
“This is the Grotto.”
“Why is it here?”
Cera stopped, turning to look at her. “It’s the last free city of the oneiroi. I’m taking you to Xarthra. She’ll explain everything.”
As Ursula digested this information, Cera led her into the city. Oneiroi filled the streets, each one wearing thick robes, with hoods covering their silver hair. Ursula’s eyes widened. I know these outfits. When she’d seen a group of oneiroi reviving a golem in the mushroom forest, they’d been wearing these robes.
Cera led her through winding streets until she stopped at a small stone dwelling.
“This is where Xarthra lives?” asked Ursula.
Cera laughed. “No. But there is absolutely no way you can go to an audience with Xarthra wearing mud and a singed dress.”
Cera opened the door, revealing a modest bedroom. A small bed and dresser nestled in one corner. Dominating the center of the room stood a table covered in myriad colorful fabrics, sequins, and sewing equipment.
“Have you always lived here?” asked Ursula.
Cera shook her head, her eyes darkening. “No. I used to live in the great crater. After Bael went into exile, my little home in the crater was destroyed. Punishment for serving him. So, Xarthra moved my belongings here. I had nowhere else to go.”
Ursula bit her lip. “I’m sorry. That must have been hard.”
Cera shrugged. “It’s all right. I didn’t have much.” She yanked out a patch of green tulle from the pile on the table. “And they saved all my dresses and sewing supplies.” She loosed a long sigh. “Let’s get you something to wear.”
She turned, rummaging through a basket of clothing at the far end of the room, muttering to herself the whole time. While she searched, Ursula peered outside the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bael and Kester. No such luck so far.
After a moment, Cera scrubbed a hand over her mouth. “Somewhere, I’ve got a cream silk dress for you. I hope that will be suitable?”
“Cera. You are amazing, and I’ll wear anything you have. Assuming you can get it on me.”
It took Cera only a few minutes of rummaging before she pulled out a long, pearly gown—strapless, and slashed up to the thigh.
Ursula blinked at it. “Are you sure it’s not too…fancy?”
Cera tutted. “You cannot meet Xarthra looking like you might plan to assassinate her. And most importantly, it’s strapless. Your manacles won’t get in the way.”
She had a point. Ursula turned her back, and Cera ripped the tattered, singed dress off her. Cera spent a minute scrubbing the dirt and grime off Ursula’s body while Ursula shivered in the center of the room, goose bumps all over, until Cera directed her to step into the dress. Cera helped to pull it up her body, and it fit like a glove. A pair of cream high heels were the finishing touch.
“There,” Cera said, stepping back. “That looks gorgeous. But before we leave, we just need to fix your hair and face situation.”
“My face situation?” Ursula bristled.
Cera smiled. “You just need some cosmetic enhancements.”
Ursula’s stomach clenched. At this point, she just really wanted to get off the moon, and submitting to Cera’s meticulous grooming might be the only way forward.
Chapter 10
Cera led Ursula into the heart of the city, along a winding path that curved between humble homes, their facades lit by glowing mushrooms.
In the center of the Grotto was an open cobbled square that reminded Ursula of an Italian piazza. At one end stood a tall building carved from a single pillar of rock, beneath a peaked column that hung from the grotto ceiling, nearly touching it. A giant stalagmite.
Violet light glowed over the swooping runes and sigils that covered its surface—similar to the ones she’d seen in the tunnels, but with pictographs: curling creatures that looked like caterpillars and bats. Ursula shivered at a carving of an eight-legged beast: the Molok.
Cera led her up a flight of sloping steps carved into the stalagmite, and Ursula’s new heels clacked off the stone. At the top stood a pair of oneiroi guards dressed in blood-red cloaks and holding spears tipped with silver axe-heads. They nodded curtly at Cera. I guess we’re expected.
Teetering slightly in her heels, Ursula followed Cera inside the stalagmite building, where she found herself in a single room. An ancient oneiroi woman with long, silver hair and glittering violet jewelry sat on an onyx throne on a dais. It took Ursula a moment to realize that Bael and Kester were standing in the shadows near the dais, and she smiled with relief at the sight of them.
Cera bowed before Bael. “My lord. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting—”
“Cera,” said Xarthra. “The demon’s name is Bael. He is not your lord within the Grotto.”
Cera scowled. “Yes, of course, Xarthra. I forgot.”
If Bael was upset about the lack of honorific, he didn’t show it, instead giving a short bow. “Thank you for brining Ursula here.” He smiled at Ursula, his eyes gleaming with that deep, familiar gray. “We were just making introductions. Xarthra, this is Ursula. She and Kester are here to help us restore the moon to its rightful owners.”
Ursula smiled, nodding as if she had any idea what the hell Bael was talking about.
Xarthra stared at her, tapping the armrests of her throne. “I have heard of your exploits, Ursula. Is it true you defeated Abrax at the Lacus Mortis?”
Ursula shivered, thinking of how she had almost died that day. “I was able to drain his magic, but I’d be lying if I said I knew how.”
Xarthra cocked her head. “A stupendous feat in any case. Abrax poses a great threat to our society. If we are to retake the moon, he must be defeated.”
“Thank you.” Ursula cleared h
er throat. “Sorry—where exactly are we?”
“I am Xarthra. Daughter of Zeth. Oldest living descendent of the Shining-Haired.” Xarthra’s eyes flashed. “And I will rid the moon of the demons and lead my people to freedom once again.”
Ursula stared at her. “Right. Of course. And Bael and I are helping you.”
Xarthra blinked slowly, retaining her regal bearing. “As you know, Bael has his own reasons for assisting.”
Ursula smiled, nodding again. Of course I don’t know. That would involve Bael having filled me in.
Bael stepped forward into the candlelight. “When I returned to the moon after Abrax stole my wings and attacked my manor, I was lost. Alone. Eventually I would have succumbed to Hothgar and the other lords. But, with Cera’s help, Xarthra showed me a new path.”
Okay. Ursula couldn’t quite play along any longer. “Let me get this straight. You’ve been working with the oneiroi resistance this whole time?”
Bael nodded. “I didn’t see any reason to fill you in. After all, you work for Emerazel.”
Frustration simmered in her chest. “Any of you happen to know which oneiroi planned the attack on my room the last time I was here? The bomb with the note?”
Bael looked confused. “A bomb with a note?”
“An oneiroi on a white bat threw a bomb through my window. There was a note too. It said that I wasn’t welcome on the moon, and that next time they wouldn’t miss.”
Concern furrowed Bael’s brow. “I don’t know who that was.”
Xarthra raised a wrinkled finger. “That was my doing. I sent one of my men to try to scare you away. We worried that your presence—” She paused as she carefully considered her next words. “We worried that you might distract Bael from more important matters.”
“Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” Kester interrupted. He looked exhausted, with his hair plastered to his face and smudges of dust on his cheeks.
Ursula let out a long sigh. “Demons and oneiroi are working together to defeat Nyxobas. That’s the long and short of it.”
“Righto,” said Kester, looking down at his cuffed hands. No one but he and Ursula seemed bothered by the cuffs.
Ursula turned back to Xarthra. “Is there any chance you could get Kester something to eat and drink? He’s had a rough couple of weeks.”
Xarthra nodded at the nearest guard, who scurried off. Then, she tapped her fingertips together. “Bael and I will raise an army of oneiroi to defeat the demon invaders.”
Ursula frowned. “What about Abrax’s golems? He has his own army.”
Xarthra smiled for the first time since Ursula had met her. “The golems will be neutralized.”
“Neutralized?” Ursula stared. “I nearly lost my life to one. A single golem killed at least three of Nyxobas’s most powerful demons with nothing but a knife. How are you going to neutralize them?”
Bael scrubbed a hand over his stubble. “She’s not going to believe us unless we show her.”
Ursula lifted her manacled hands. “As much as I want to see the golems straight away, I don’t suppose anyone could help with this situation?”
“Oh. That.” Xarthra narrowed her eyes. “We’ll get there.” Without another word, Xarthra rose and began striding over to the piazza, her movements shockingly smooth for someone who looked so ancient. “And you’ve probably never seen exactly how the oneiroi can really fight, either. Follow me, and I will show you.”
Chapter 11
With a regal bearing, Xarthra led them toward the cobbled piazza, where violet light gave the dark stone an eerie hue. As they walked, two oneiroi servants bustled up to Ursula and Kester, thrusting cups of water and mushroom sandwiches into their arms. Ursula did her best to tuck the water into the crook of her elbow while chomping into the sandwich, but it wasn’t her most elegant moment. Crumbs littered the top of her cleavage in her strapless gown.
At the edge of the piazza, lined with stone buildings on all sides, Ursula took a seat by Kester’s side on a bench. Kester looked exhausted as he bit into his sandwich.
“Are you feeling okay?” Ursula asked.
Kester nodded. “I’m fine. It’s just that Abrax enjoyed starving me. Between the missing calories and all the running from giant spiders, I’m a tad fatigued.”
Ursula smiled faintly. “I’m just glad I found you.”
Kester flashed her a sheepish smile, his cheek dimpling.
Movement at the far end of the piazza turned her head, and Ursula watched as a pair of guards led a hooded figure over the cobbles. Ursula’s stomach clenched. Those creepy, fluid movements were definitely the movements of a golem.
The guards led the hooded golem into the center of the piazza, where a stone block stood with an iron loop attached to it. The guards tied the golem to the block, then slowly backed away.
“I need volunteers.” From just in front of Ursula, Xarthra’s voice boomed over the square.
On cue, three oneiroi guards in blood-red robes stepped forward. Chained to the cube, the golem strained against its bonds. Ursula’s stomach clenched. She knew how lethal the bloody thing was. She and Bael had barely defeated one, and she couldn’t see how three little oneiroi could fight the beast. Hard to defeat something that can’t feel pain.
Between mouthfuls, Ursula leaned in to Kester, whispering, “I’m not sure this is the best idea.”
Xarthra apparently overheard it, because she shot Ursula a sharp look. “My soldiers are highly trained.”
Before Ursula could reply, one of the oneiroi reached into his robe and withdrew a small dagger. Ursula’s eyes widened. The blade was identical to the ones the golem had used to carve Sallos into a quivering mass of flesh. The oneiroi tossed the blade at the golem’s feet.
Like a serpent striking, the golem pounced on the weapon. Simultaneously, the three oneiroi dropped their cloaks. Ursula had been expecting a trio of men, but these oneiroi were all female. They wore tight-fitting black outfits, each with a small sword at her hip. With a rasp of steel, they drew their swords in unison.
With the sound of shearing metal, the golem ripped free from its bonds. It held its dagger lightly in one hand, then froze completely. Slowly, the oneiroi women approached it, and Ursula’s pulse raced. If Xarthra was wrong—if her oneiroi weren’t a match for the golem—the creature would attack them next. And Ursula and Kester were still stuck in the bloody cuffs.
The hair on Ursula’s arms rose, as a low keening growl emerged from the back of the oneiroi’s throats. Like a pack of wild dogs, they encircled the golem. Ursula’s knuckles clenched around the remains of her sandwich. She was no longer focusing on her food. The golem’s movements looked predatory, almost bestial.
Then, with a shout so sudden that she nearly jumped, the oneiroi attacked.
The golem swung for the nearest oneiroi, but the woman was faster, dodging under the golem’s blade. With a vicious scream, the oneiroi sliced her sword upward, severing the golem’s arm at the elbow. Simultaneously, the remaining pair of oneiroi tore into the golem’s opposite side. In a blur of black cloth and silver hair, they slashed the golem’s free hand from its wrist. Without any arms, the golem had no way to defend itself. An instant later, the three oneiroi had pinned the golem to the ground and pulled back its hood. Ursula shook her head in disbelief. The entire attack had taken less than ten seconds.
Xarthra’s clapping echoed off the cobblestones. “Well done.”
Bael nodded solemnly, but didn’t speak.
A few more oneiroi guards came out, then bound what remained of the golem with rope. Moving swiftly across the cobblestones, the three oneiroi fighters approached Xarthra, heels clacking off the stones. They moved stiffly—almost as if they were fighting against their bodies. They didn’t speak, instead making growling noises in the back of their throats.
The hair rose on Ursula’s arms again as she realized where she’d seen oneiroi like this before. Cera’s blood-crazed brother had acted like this when he’d attacked Ba
el.
Bael rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “They won’t hurt you, I promise,” he said. “But you’re going to need to hold out your hands.”
“They’re corrupted,” Ursula hissed.
“Xarthra has trained them to control their hunger. The corruption is what allows them to defeat the golems. It gives them extraordinary strength.”
“Bael speaks the truth,” said Xarthra. “The oneiroi are in control of their bloodlust. In fact, they have made a great sacrifice. For as long as they live, the craving will curse them.” She nodded at the three oneiroi. “They took the curse willingly—to fight for the freedom of their people. Do as Bael asks and hold out your hands.”
Ursula flicked a quick gaze at Bael. She did trust him. Slowly, she extended her manacled wrists. The oneiroi walked toward her, their bodies twitching, growling louder. Hunger flashed in their silver eyes. When they’d moved within reach, all three of them grabbed her manacles. Gritting their teeth, they began to squeeze all at once.
The manacles glowed brighter and brighter, but they were no match for the vise-like grip of the oneiroi. With a blinding flash, the manacles disintegrated. Already, they were moving on to Kester’s golden cuffs.
Ursula rubbed her wrists, loosing a long breath. “Thank you so much.”
As the oneiroi freed Kester, Xarthra reached into her tunic and pulled out a roughly carved obsidian bowl, about the size of a large mug. She crossed to the oneiroi, then knelt and placed the bowl at their feet.
Ursula stared as Xarthra drew a short obsidian dagger from her belt. She tightened her fingers around the blade, then ran it sharply through her palm without hesitation.
Eternal Magic Page 6