by Peach, Hanna
Alyx moved around the chamber examining the walls and the floor with her eyes.
“Twenty seconds.”
She looked again, this time with her Soulsight, but there were no additional clues, no writing or symbols or hidden panels.
“Ten seconds…”
Alyx moved back to stand before the doors.
“Time’s up.”
“I-I don’t know. They both look identical and there’s no way to tell them apart.”
“Just open them both and see what’s on the other side of each,” said Do’hann.
“But…” This is when Alyx realized that there were no door handles, no visible locks on the doors. Did the doors have to be opened from the inside?
“Jesus Christ, just open one,” said Varian.
“We can’t just open one. This chamber has been silent and protected for centuries by hell knows what kind of magic tricks or creatures. God knows what’s on the other side.”
Varian grumbled and shoved her out of the way. “I don’t have all day to wait around for the stars to damn well align for you.” He strode up to the door on the left and reached his hand out, placing it on the wooden panel and pushing on the door.
It didn’t budge.
Before Alyx could say anything, an unfamiliar voice called out, “Oy, gee yee haaa orff mye nosh.”
Varian snatched his hand away from the door. “What was that?”
“I said, ‘get your hand off my nose’.”
Holy hell. This distinguished-sounding voice was coming from the door.
Varian unsheathed his weapon and pointed it around him. “Who said that?”
“Your shiny bit of metal won’t work on us.” This second voice, a deeper baritone, was coming from the other door. “Put it away before you hurt yourself.”
The first door was moving. The damn thing was moving. In fact it wasn’t just a door anymore, it had a small dimpled chin, a thin mouth and a nose, which it was wrinkling around. The second door had grown a face too, the one with the baritone voice. But this one had a soft round chin, cheeks like a cherub and thick lips under a trimmed brass moustache. What in the world…?
“Ahhh…” the first door said, his nostrils flaring.
“What in depths of Hell is it?” Varian said as he stepped towards it, peering at it closely.
“Varian, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” said Alyx.
“You don’t damn well tell me what to do,” he snapped.
“Ahhhh….” The door said again.
“But I think he’s going to…”
“Achooo!” A stream of pale droplets flew out from his nose and all over Varian.
Alyx smothered a laugh behind her hand. “…sneeze.”
Even Do’hann let out a snort that he tried to hide.
“Oh dear me, that’s better,” the first door said as he wrinkled his nose.
Varian yelped as he rubbed his face with his sleeves. “What the hell?”
“Sorry about that. But you did tickle the bejezus out of my nose when you pushed on it.”
Varian stared at the door for another moment before shaking his head. “What the hell are you?”
“I’m Righty. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“But you’re on the left.”
Righty screwed his mouth up. “Not if you’re facing where I’m facing. Learn to see things from the other point of view. You’ll be more likeable.”
“I don’t care about being likeable,” growled Varian.
“Obviously,” Righty stage whispered to Alyx.
“He’s always right, you know,” the other door said. “And when he’s right, I’m left without a right to argue with him.”
“Left, right, is anyone else getting confused here?” muttered Do’hann.
“So we have Righty. And let me guess,” said Varian, turning towards the other door. “You’re Lefty.”
“Lefty?” the other door shuddered. “What a horrible name for a door. No, my name’s Fred.”
Alyx smothered a smirk behind her hand.
“Whatever,” said Varian, his voice rising, “just…tell us which one of you is the right door to go through.”
“Well, we’ve already established I’m the right door,” said Righty.
“But on the other hand,” injected Fred, “if you’re facing the other way from us, then I’m the right door, right?”
“Right,” agreed Righty.
Varian growled, “God damn stupid doors.” He swung his sword over his head at Righty, screaming as he smashed down with full force.
“Varian, no!” Alyx yelled out.
Righty’s face sank back into the door, rendering it flush just as Varian’s sword came down upon it with a horrible clang. But his sword just ricocheted off the wood. It didn’t even make a dent. In fact, all the shock of the blow went into Varian’s arms as shown by the howl that he gave out as he dropped his sword and clutched his hands together.
Righty’s face pushed out through the door again. “Fred did tell you that your bits of metal wouldn’t work on us.”
“I did,” said Fred. “I did tell you.”
“The doors must be enchanted,” said Tii’la. “Which means we can’t get through them unless we unlock their riddle.”
Both Righty and Fred’s eyes lit up and Fred’s chin wobbled as he nodded approvingly. “Give that woman a knocker. She certainly knows her enchantments.”
Alyx turned to Righty and Fred. “Is Tii’la right? Do you have a riddle for us to solve before we can pass?”
“Indeed.” They said in unison.
“Why didn’t you bloody say that in the first place?” yelled Varian, red-faced and still nursing his wrist.
“Well,” Righty opened his eyes with feigned innocence, “you didn’t ask.”
Varian opened his mouth, probably to yell some more, but Alyx interrupted him. “What’s your riddle? Please.”
“Well…” said Fred.
“Since you asked so politely…” said Righty.
“A-hem,” the two doors cleared their throats in unison, then began to sing.
“To pass you have to decide,
Open door one or door number two,
Make no mistake, the fate is great,
Within this tune is your clue.”
“Enter this door,” sang Righty.
“Don’t enter the other door,” sang Fred.
“Listen to Fred, he’s always telling the truth,” sang Righty.
Then both together they continued,
“Beware of these words,
You can’t trust all you’ve heard,
As one be the truth and two be a lie,
Hurry, decide before you all die.”
The strands of their song died down in a slightly flat attempt at a harmony. Then both Righty and Fred grinned at each other.
“Good show,” said Fred.
“You were superb,” said Righty.
“Why thank you. So were you.”
“That’s it?” Varian interrupted.
“That doesn’t make any sense,” said Do’hann.
“Wait,” cried out Alyx, “what did you mean by the last line? ‘Hurry, decide before you all die’?”
Fred and Righty looked at each other, then both sighed in unison.
“So sorry.”
“Terribly sorry, you see…”
“It’s the rules of the riddle.”
“So hurry.”
“Yes, hurry.”
“You don’t have much time.”
Don’t have much time? A large stone slammed down, blocking the only passageway out. Dust billowed out from the base. A rumbling began and the entire chamber started to tremble. Pieces of stone fell from the roof and the chamber thickened with dust. The two sides of the walls began to move towards them, closing in on them.
Chapter Twelve
“This is the fifth incident where someone has lost their power in just two days,” Tobias said, rubbing his forehead with his fingers. Israel thought he
looked tired and his voice definitely sounded strained. “I can’t explain why our powers are disappearing. Our community members are starting to freak out. We can’t have a mass panic on our hands.”
Israel placed his hands on Tobias’ shoulders. “We’ll figure it out, Dad.”
At that, Tobias’ shoulders relaxed a little. He looked up from his fingers at Israel and gave him a small smile. “I’m sure we will.”
Israel was sitting in one of the sun rooms of the Castle Speranza along with Dianne and Vix, as well as the other two Speranza community leaders, Belle and Aaban. Tobias had called an emergency meeting after yet another Seraphim came to him with news that his powers had disappeared.
The room was in the higher part of the castle facing south with large windows overlooking the green forest surrounding the castle area. It was a long rectangular-shaped room with the longer side abutting the large windows to make the most of the sun. Stone benches were cut into the windows, making permanent window seats which someone had covered with colorful flat cushions. More cushions and low daybeds were scattered around the room among green leafy plants in clay pots. Israel hadn’t known about this room until now. He would have to bring Alyx up here when she returned.
“It started with Tebo, on the training fields yesterday,” said Israel. “I spoke to him just before and he said that his powers are still gone.”
“I am asking everyone who have lost their powers to stay in the infirmary just so we can keep them under observation,” said Tobias. He sighed. “But with Ana, our best Healer…not being herself, our resources are stretched thin.”
“I know of a WaterBearer, a girl in my old community, who has had some experience with healing. I can ask her to help,” Belle said.
Tobias nodded. “Thank you, Belle.”
“So,” Israel interjected, “we don’t know yet whether these effects are temporary or permanent.”
“God help us if they are permanent,” exclaimed Dianne. “I can’t imagine losing my powers.” Her voice got really quiet at the end, and her arms folded across her chest as if she was trying to keep her magic in.
“We don’t know anything yet, Dianne,” Tobias said. “We can’t panic.”
“Michael,” said Vix, “it has got to be that bastard.”
“We don’t know that,” said Tobias. “We can’t jump to conclusions yet.”
“Who else wants to see us suffering and defeated?”
“Is that even possible? Can magic do that?” Israel asked.
“Only GiftKeeper magic,” Tobias said, his face grim. “And Mayrekk is…gone.”
Mayrekk had been the last GiftKeeper and a friend of Alyx’s who had died because of Michael’s torturing. His gift was the only magic that could conceivably “borrow” or “steal” magic off another.
“What if someone is using GiftKeeper blood?” asked Vix.
“If Michael, or someone, was using GiftKeeper magic on us, how would that work?” asked Israel. “Wouldn’t he − or she − have to know where to localize their magic?”
“Indeed,” said Tobias. “The location of our community is unknown to Michael, at least,” he glanced around the room, “to the best of our knowledge.”
“It doesn’t seem like Michael’s style,” said Aaban. “It’s too minor and random. It’s not showy or big enough. If Michael knew where we were, he would have sent in an army, guns blazing.”
Israel nodded. “I think Aaban’s right.”
“Then who is stealing our powers?” Vix said.
“We don’t actually know if our powers are being stolen or just blocked,” Tobias said.
“So what do we do about it?” Vix leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.
Everybody was silent. Around the room, they shifted in their chairs or stared at their feet. What could they do? They didn’t know who was causing their powers to disappear or why. How could they stop it?
Chapter Thirteen
Do’hann and Tii’la ran against one of the walls, both trying to stop it from moving. It wasn’t working.
“What the hell is going on?” demanded Varian.
“I do believe the walls are closing in on you,” said Righty. “Duh.” Righty addressed Fred. “I think it’s obvious, don’t you?”
“It’s so obvious,” Fred agreed.
“He’s not very bright, is he?”
Varian growled and looked like he wanted to attack the door again with his sword. He obviously thought better of it and kept his sword by his side, choosing instead to glare at both of them.
“Alyx,” demanded Varian. “You better figure this out and do it now…”
All eyes shifted to her, including Righty’s and Fred’s. Great. No pressure or anything.
“Let me think.” Alyx licked her lips. There had to be an easy way to figure out this riddle. Two lies. One truth. But which statement was true? She thought over the three statements again.
“Hurry, Alyx,” called Tii’la as the walls squeezed closer and closer together.
Yeah, yeah, I’m hurrying. There had to be a way to figure out which was the truth and which two were lies. There had to be an easy way to figure out the truth. There had to be a trick to this riddle. A trick…
Her mind focused on Righty’s last statement, “Listen to Fred, he’s always telling the truth.”
An idea came to her. “Well…” she began, saying her thoughts out loud, “Righty told us that Fred is always telling the truth. If that statement was true, then Fred’s statement would also be true. But we know that’s not possible because only one of these statements is true.” She paused and glanced up. Varian was glaring at her. But Fred and Righty were beaming at her, go on, go on. “Therefore, Righty’s last statement is a lie and Fred never tells the truth. This makes Fred’s statement also a lie. Therefore the only true statement is Righty’s first one: ‘Enter this door’.” Alyx turned to Righty, who was grinning like a wildcat. “I think you were telling the truth when you told us to enter your door. You’re the right door.”
Righty glanced sideways at Fred and back at Alyx before saying, “If you’re sure, then knock on me.”
Alyx stepped up to Righty and lifted his knocker. “This won’t hurt you, will it, Righty?”
“Who cares if it hurts him? Just do it,” growled Varian. “The damn walls are about to shut on us.”
“Oh goodness gracious, no,” Righty said to Alyx. “Doors are meant to be knocked on. But thank you for your concern, young lady. So polite−”
“−such manners,” injected Fred.
“−unlike some of you.” Righty shot a searing look over her shoulder to Varian.
“Okay then,” Alyx said quickly, hoping to avoid angering Varian further. “Here goes nothing.” She hit the knocker against the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
She stepped back and sent a small prayer up to the sky.
The rumbling faded as the walls slowed to a stop. Tii’la and Do’hann both visibly sagged with relief.
Righty grinned. “Well done, Alyx. You are correct. Please enter.”
There was a great sound like a lock unclicking, then Righty swung open, revealing a slim passageway through solid rock. Alyx could see light coming from some sort of source at the end.
“And Alyx,” Righty whispered to her as she stepped to the doorway.
“Yes?”
“Good luck. We’re rooting for you.”
“Thanks, Righty.” She heard Fred clear his throat. “And thanks to you too, Fred.”
“Come on, come on, we don’t have all day.” Varian shoved her forward and she fell into the passageway, scraping her arm on the rough rock.
* * *
Jordan flew low to the choppy waves towards where Siana had claimed this mysterious island was, Lukas flying along beside him. They were out over deep ocean now. Based on where Ana claimed the island was, he estimated that they were less than half an hour away.
Something in the distance caught his eye. A
black smudge like thick black smoke was rising from the horizon. Jordan grabbed Lukas, halting them both midair. “What the hell is that?”
“I don’t know,” Lukas squinted. “But whatever it is, I think it’s coming from Ana’s island.”
Hang on. The dark smoke wasn’t acting like smoke. It was moving too fast, and it looked…alive, like a cloud of flies. Whatever it was, it covered more of the horizon, spreading like an ink stain as it moved closer and closer to them.
Oh my God. Jordan realized as he made out the shape of the creatures at the forefront. They were limbed and the size of mortals. It wasn’t a swarm of flies. They were a swarm of Seraphim dressed in black.
“Warriors!”
Lukas swore. “We need cover. Now.”
They dove into the water and down to where they could still see the sky through the surface of the water. Then they waited. They watched silently as the great dark army flew overhead, fuzzy and distorted through the surface of the water. Like a giant cloud they blocked out the sun. Jordan felt a shiver go through him.
Only when the last of them had passed and the sun’s light hit the surface of the water again did Jordan and Lukas begin to float slowly to the top of the sea.
Carefully, Jordan broke his head through the water to the air. He wiped water from his eyes and swiped his wet hair back off his forehead. Lukas’ face appeared beside his. They both watched the dark cloud moving towards the mainland from where they had just come.
They turned to each other at the same time.
“What the hell is going on?” asked Lukas.
Jordan shook his head, a knot of apprehension in his stomach. “It’s not good, that’s for sure.”
* * *
Alyx stepped through the end of the short tunnel. She had to blink to let her eyes adjust to the light. She was standing in what looked like a small section of valley squeezed in between two sheer cliff faces. Rock soared high above her towards an unnatural sky where the light was coming from. Alyx squinted but she couldn’t make out the source of the light. On one side of the pass was a perfectly round cave. Great, more dark, claustrophobic places. What’s the bet they had to go in there?
“What the hell is this place,” Do’hann said as he and Tii’la pushed through the gap in the rock to stand beside her and Varian.