by Linsey Hall
“And that’s why they’ve hunted us. They’re the ones my mother was hiding from.” A dark desire for vengeance rose in my chest.
They’d killed my mother.
“Exactly. After the last DragonGod died three hundred years ago, they lay low. They have their own magic, but not enough to fuel their work. But when you were born, their purpose was revived.”
“What do they do?”
“Their main avenues of interest are murder, enslaving, and kidnapping—all meant to grow their wealth and power. To have influence over the earth and mortals.”
I grimaced.
“If you find them and beat them, I believe that will be enough to prove that you are worthy of your wings. But you must use everything at your disposal. You are not just your wings, and it will take everything you’ve got to beat them.”
“Beat them? Like, kill all of them?”
She laughed. “That is impossible. They are as eternal as the gods or DragonGods. But perhaps you can destroy one of their strongholds that exist in the ether. They use halfway points between the godly realms and the earthly one. These are places where they can walk and so can humans. In rare cases, a god may walk the earth, but it takes great power. Strongholds in the ether are the answer to that.”
“I’ve never heard of them,” I said. This magic was way above my pay grade.
“They are places that should not exist,” she said. “But with great magic, they can be built. From the strongholds, the Rebel Gods send their minions out to do their bidding. If you can destroy one of these places—and the records they contain—then you could save some of the people that they are inevitably trying to hurt. It will set their operation back by months. Maybe years.”
“Okay. I can do that.” I wanted to do that. To put the hurt on these evil jerks.“But where do I find a stronghold?”
Sigrún turned to the Valkyrie who stood behind her. “Gunnr, what do you think?”
Gunnr, a Valkyrie with shining red hair, stepped forward. “Our records suggest that there may be an entrance to a Rebel God stronghold in one of the ancient Phoenician cities. Byblos, Carthage, or Tyre, perhaps. It is hard to say where exactly. You may be able to find the entrance in one of those cities, most likely through a temple, as the Rebel Gods are obsessed with being worshiped.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“You must hurry, though,” Sigrún said. “Your wings will only become more painful. Eventually, you won’t be able to use them at all.”
Chapter Eight
We arrived back on the main lawn at the Protectorate around noon. The sun shined brightly, a beautiful late summer day.
“Thank fates for transportation charms.” I stared at the castle, grateful we hadn’t had to travel back down the world tree.
“If only we knew where we were going all the time,” Cade said.
True. We could only use them when we knew exactly where we were headed. “That’s okay. We survived, didn’t we?” Delayed excitement thrummed in my chest. “And we got to meet Níðhöggr the serpent, Ratatoskr, the Fire Giants, and even the Valkyrie.”
“You haven’t been this excited about mythical creatures on our past adventures,” he said. “Quetzalcoatl, the giant flying snake at Texochtatlan, didn’t suit your tastes?”
“Ha. Definitely not. I suppose it’s just that this is my history. So now it means something.”
He smiled. “Makes sense. Ready to show off your new wings?”
I moved them slightly, then winced.
“Still hurt?” he asked.
“Never stopped. I need to finish the drill and earn them.” I tested folding my wings back into my body. Pain shot through them, a weird feeling since it was a body part I’d never had before.
“You aren’t going to be able to hide them that way,” Cade said.
I frowned. He was right. Hiding them was an issue. I wanted to be able to go out and about in the human realm, after all. Unless I was willing to pretend to be a movie extra at all times, this wasn’t good.
I closed my eyes and visualized my wings disappearing into my back, becoming totally invisible to the eye.
“Good job,” Cade said.
“They’re gone?”
“Aye.”
I imagined them flaring out of my back. Magic sparkled across my shoulders.
“They’re back,” Cade said.
I looked behind me, catching sight of my silver wing feathers wavering in the breeze. “Cool.”
“Let’s go alert the others.”
“Yeah, good idea. I don’t want to waste a second.” I set off across the lawn, hurrying toward the castle.
A bark sounded from high on the castle roof. I looked up. Mayhem fluttered in the air, the sun glinting on her blue form.
I waved at her. “Hey there!”
She zipped down to me, flying faster than should be possible for such a little dog. But then, who was I to say what was possible for a ghostly PugDragon?
When she arrived, Mayhem butted her head against my arm, then followed us toward the great front door. It swung open, and I stashed my wings, hiding them.
Just as we entered, Florian ran into the great hall, a large book in his hands and his wig slightly askew.
His gaze landed on me and his eyes widened. “Bree! Just the person I wanted to see.”
“Good news?” I asked.
“Yes, indeed! I’ve translated the book of the Rebel Gods.”
I grinned. “That’s great news.”
“Yes, yes. Let’s call a meeting. Jude and Hedy will want to be apprised of my progress.” He scowled. “And probably that no good Saddle-goose day librarian, Potts.”
“Fopdoodle?”
“You think he’s more of a saddle-goose?”
“Um…”
“Scobberlotcher?”
“Hmmm…”
“Lubberwort?”
Okay, now he was just naming off old-timer insults. “Definitely a saddle-goose.”
“That’s what I thought.” Florian grinned. “I’ll go gather the others. We shall meet in the round room.”
The round room again? Of course it made sense, since this was a matter of vital importance. But still, it emphasized the pressure of the situation.
Cade and I headed for the round room.
“Do you know what a Fopdoodle is?” I asked. “Or a saddle-goose?”
“Not a clue.”
“As I thought.”
We arrived at the round room just as Jude and Hedy did.
“Florian is fast,” I said.
Florian appeared in the doorway at that moment. “Of course I’m fast. Centuries as a ghost…. Do you not expect me to learn the quickest ways around this place?”
I grinned at him.
Jude met my gaze. “Did you succeed?”
“Mostly. There’s still work to be done, but I’m on the right track.”
The five of us took our seats around the circular table as Ana hurried in, followed by Caro, Ali, and Haris.
Ana ran toward me and threw her arms around me. I winced, pain streaking through my shoulders. It seemed that even though my wings were stored away, they still hurt.
She pulled away and frowned at me. “Are you okay?”
“Fine, fine.” Mostly.
“Caro, Ali, and Haris, what are you doing here?” Jude asked. “Shouldn’t you be on a case?”
“Lunch break,” Caro said.
“We want to know what’s up with Bree.” Ali nodded toward me.
“Personal interest,” Haris said.
Jude nodded. “All right. You may sit.”
They grinned at me and sat. Ana took the seat next to me.
Jude leaned forward. “What did you discover? Are your powers anchored within you? Do you have control?”
I sucked in a steady breath, realizing for the first time that the magic in my chest felt more secure. More stable. It was like something had been missing, but now it was there. I’d been so distracted by my wings—and
the new ache of them—that I hadn’t felt it.
“Yes,” I said. “I do have more control. Not sure how much yet, but I’m on the path to figuring this out.”
“How?” Hedy asked. “What helped you anchor your power?”
I pushed my chair back and stood up, then commanded my wings to unfurl.
Everyone gasped, leaning back in their chairs. The awe on their faces made me grin. Okay, this was actually pretty cool.
“You have wings?” Ali demanded.
“They’re awesome.” The awe in Ana’s voice echoed in the room.
“Quite impressive.” Jude nodded.
“A gift from the Valkyrie?” Hedy asked.
“Not a gift,” Cade said. “She earned them.”
“Of course.” Hedy smiled.
“I’ve almost earned them,” I said. “I’ve completed the first task to actually get the wings. Now I have to prove that I deserve them. I have to use them in battle for the greater good, thereby becoming worthy and cementing them to me.”
“Did they have any suggestion about what this greater good might be?” Jude asked.
“Yes. I could destroy one of the Rebel Gods’ strongholds.”
Jude’s eyebrows rose. “Impressive. That would put a dent in their operations and potentially save lives if they lose a base to run their operation from. It takes an immense amount of magic to create a stronghold. They won’t recover quickly if you destroy one.”
Florian leaned forward and put the book on the table. “That’s where I come in. I’ve translated the book. It’s in Phoenician. We don’t have all of the language—not all of it survived the test of time—but I think I may be able to help you find them.”
Excitement thrummed in my chest. I absorbed my wings into my body and sat. “The Valkyrie said that the Rebel Gods likely operate out of a stronghold that is halfway between the godly realms and the early world.”
Hedy gasped. “That would take incredible magic.”
“They have it,” Florian said. “They are rising again, as we know. They’ve found great magic to jump-start the process.”
“From where?” Cade asked.
“I don’t know.” Florian frowned.
“Where could their stronghold be?” Jude asked.
“The Valkyrie believe that the entrance is through a temple in one of their greatest cities. They suggested Carthage, Byblos, or Tyre, but it may be another entirely.”
“The Phoenicians built temples to their gods,” Cade said. “If we can determine which god they’re particularly obsessed with, that could give us a clue.”
Florian leaned forward. “That’s where I can help. One name kept appearing in the Rebel Gods’ book—the god Melqart. I didn’t know why the name kept appearing, but now that you mention this Valkyrie theory about temples and ancient cities, I believe that you will find the entrance to their stronghold through a Temple of Melqart.”
“How many temples were built to him?” I asked. “Didn’t the Phoenicians create a great sea-trading empire throughout the Mediterranean? There must be dozens of temples, maybe more.”
“None that survived,” Cade said. “Except for the one at Kart-hadasht.”
“Where’s that?” I asked, remembering his fondness for history.
“It’s located on the south coast of Tunisia, not very far from Carthage, the Phoenicians greatest port city. But Carthage was a human settlement. Thousands of years of habitation have occurred there since the Carthaginian Phoenicians built their temples. They’re long gone. But Kart-hadasht was the supernatural city that operated near there. It was on the same shipping line, which was vital to the Phoenicians, but protected from humans. The remains of the city are still there. I think.”
“You haven’t been?” I asked.
“No, but I have two friends who work in the area. Archaeologists.”
“Could they show us where it is?”
“I believe so.”
Excitement swelled in my chest like a balloon. “So this is our best bet. We go to Kart-hadasht and find the temple entrance to their stronghold.”
“I’m coming,” Ana said.
“Me too!” Caro added.
“You’re not getting rid of us.” Ali leaned forward.
Haris grinned.
I smiled at them. “Thanks, guys.”
Having friends—having backup—was awesome.
“Hold on,” Jude said. “This is just recon—not the big fight. You know as well as anyone that too many people on recon can blow our cover and lose the info we seek.”
“But it could become the big fight,” Caro said.
“What if Bree needs us?” Ali added.
“Bree is smart enough to bail if it’s about to become the big fight,” Cade said. “We follow protocol here at the Protectorate—you know that. It saves lives.”
Caro huffed, but nodded.
“We’ll perform recon,” Cade said, taking over as security expert. He looked at Jude. “It’s safe to assume that this can count as one of Bree’s training tests for the Protectorate?”
A small smile tugged at Jude’s mouth. “Bree must do this to keep her wings and her magic. If she can destroy a Rebel God stronghold, then yes, it will count as one of her tests to join the Protectorate.”
“Two tests,” Hedy said. “It’s really only fair. She’s proven much more than normal trainees.”
Jude gazed at me, eyes sparkling like stars. “Yes, she has.”
I shifted, both pleased and embarrassed. “Let’s just get through this first. Cade and I will go to Kart-hadasht.”
“And me,” Ana said. “You’re not leaving me behind this time. I’ve got your back.”
I reached for her hand and squeezed, genuinely wanting her to come along.
“That would work,” Cade said. “We should keep it small.
Caro frowned, then met my gaze. “We’ll be at the big fight.”
“Assuming I don’t fix this without a big fight,” I said.
She grinned. “I have faith in you, but that’s a tall order.”
“Yeah, don’t leave us out of the fun,” Ali said.
“Fine, I’ll try to save some demons for you.” Or whatever we’d face.
“In the event that we must return to the Rebel Gods’ stronghold in their halfway realm, you should create a portal at the entrance,” Jude said. “I can only imagine it won’t be easy to get through Kart-hadasht. Once you’ve found it, create the portal so that we can access it more easily.”
“How do we create a portal?” I asked. “Isn’t that difficult magic?”
“Very.” Hedy leaned forward. “But I’ve developed a spell that can create a temporary portal. It will appear in Edinburgh and connect us to wherever you deploy the spell. Only Protectorate members will be able to use it. But be sure not to deploy it within the halfway realm. It’s not strong enough to cross realms. Neither are our transport charms.”
“We can do that,” I said.
“That’s settled, then,” Cade said. “We should leave soon. I don’t know how long it will take to get to Kart-hadasht.
My stomach growled loudly. “I like that plan. Let’s get a bite to eat then get out of here.”
“Did someone say eat?” Hans bustled into the room. The skinny cook wore his white apron and chef’s hat, an affectation he wouldn’t let go of. “I heard from Mayhem that our fighters returned from the field and would appreciate a leg of ham.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t Mayhem who would appreciate a leg of ham?” Cade asked.
Hans chuckled. “I did think that was the case. So I made you sandwiches. And juice. Juice is good for the soul. And coffee. I thought you might need a pick-me-up. This will revive you.”
I wouldn’t hate a pick-me-up, that was for sure.
He laid a tray laden with sandwiches on the table.
Jude glared at him. “You know you’re not supposed to interrupt meetings, Hans.”
“Psst.” Hans waved a hand at her, clearly unconcer
ned. “I’m not interrupting. Just delivering sustenance.”
I eyed the peanut butter and jelly that I knew he’d made just for me. I grabbed one. “Thanks, Hans. You’re the best.”
He bowed, then hurried from the room. The first bite of PB&J was divine, reminding me how long it’d been since the breakfast porridge.
“Eat,” Jude said. “Then get cleaned up and come to the main entry hall before you go. I’ll be sure to get transportation charms for you so that you can get to Tunisia quickly. If you aren’t back in twenty-four hours, we’ll send backup. Agreed, Cade?”
“Agreed.”
I swallowed and nodded. It looked like the adventures would never stop. As long as I earned my wings, that was fine by me.
After a quick shower, I changed into my hot weather clothes and met Cade and Ana.
Cade held up a small black stone. “Jude delivered the transportation charms.”
“Great.” I smiled. “We’re headed to Carthage first?”
Cade shook his head. “To a desert settlement in southern Tunisia, where Doug and Veronica live. It’s the closest town to Kart-hadasht.”
“They’re the archaeologists?”
“Aye.” Cade held up a transport stone. “Ready?”
Ana and I nodded.
He counted down to one, then hurled the transport stone at the ground. The silvery gray cloud burst up, and we stepped through the cloud.
A moment later, we appeared in a bustling village. The sun beat down harshly, and I was suddenly glad that I’d changed back into my Death Valley clothes. Ana always said it made us look like we were in Mad Max, and fortunately, I fit in well in this supernatural village.
“Wow.” Ana spun in a circle to take it in.
I followed suit.
We stood in the central square, surrounded on all sides by merchants with their colorful goods laid out on blankets. Ceramics and cloth, spices and fruit. Dozens of people filled the square, all kinds of supernaturals from what I could see. Except for vampires—because boy, would this sun murder them.