by Trevor Darby
“You’re in no state to fight a Cerberus, I’ll help you by holding him off for a bit, but only because you didn’t know any better, rude little boy. Now go! Run!” she shouted as she shot out of my ear and towards the creature.
I turned back towards the cave where the broken golems were and broke into a sprint, feeling weaker by the second. Raven was gone, and I was out of my depth. With a Cerberus on the hunt and me in this state, I stood zero chance of finding her and getting her back home tonight. I needed Twee Twyla's help, and without the golem arm to pay her for the last time she'd assisted us, she likely wouldn't even speak with me.
Legs churning faster, I glanced over my shoulder to see the massive animal running behind me, jaws snapping, red eyes gleaming, fur caked with blood. Every few steps, though, it would stop and shake its head furiously and paw at its ears as if plagued by demons, slowing it down.
Thank you, little pixie.
A moment later, the cave came into sight.
Come on, Chace. Almost there...
The sound of jaws snapping seemed closer than ever, and I resisted the urge to look back again as I slid the last few feet to snatch an arm from one of the fallen golems, praying that I had enough energy left to get back home.
I closed my eyes and focused my magic, calling on the energy inside me. The topsy-turvy feeling swirled around me, but then a fog of breath that smelled like hot garbage and rancid meet washed over me, ruffling my hair.
My concentration wavered, and my eyes flickered open. I found myself staring into the gaping maw full of razor teeth, just feet away.
“Go, you imbecile!” a tiny voice howled into my left ear.
The creature lunged at me, but before its teeth could rip me to shreds, a shimmering, purple wall of energy snapped to life between us.
At first, I thought I’d done it somehow...that I’d managed to access some terror-based defense mechanism that I hadn’t known I’d possessed. But as I looked on in shock, I noticed the tiny pixie floating right in front of me, hand extended, a look of determination on her scrunched face.
“Now, dang it!”
“Thank you!” I said as I pinched my eyes closed, still shaking with fear as I focused the last of my energy on getting back to the Human Realm.
This time, I didn’t let the sounds from the Cerberus distract me. All I thought about was Raven. She needed me, and if I died here and now, she’d never get back home.
The world spun, and my stomach churned. A moment later, I was back in the hospital bathroom, a large golem arm in hand that seemed to shift colors from a fleshy pink to a metallic bronze with each jolt of pain that shot through my head.
Slick with sweat, I swayed on the toilet seat and tried to keep from upchucking the final remnants in my belly.
I was still trying to get my bearings when a firm knock sounded at the door.
“Chace, are you here? Please answer, I’m going to have to call for security to open this up if you don’t answer soon,” a woman’s nervous voice shouted from outside the door.
"Just a second," I said, glancing down at my pants, which were covered in mud and grass from sliding on the ground earlier. I stood, yanked them off, and put them next to the door. I covered the golem arm with my jeans . To the nurse, it would look like a human arm which would cause all kinds of new problems I didn’t need.
Not gonna get any better than this, might as well get it over with.
I walked back to the toilet and flushed it before opening the door and waving to the nurse, smiling sheepishly. “What’s up?”
“What’s up? I must’ve called for you a dozen times, what were you doing?” she asked, looking past me into the bathroom.
“When you gotta go...” I said, shuffling quickly back over to the bed to pull my hospital robe on over my shirt and underwear. “I think it was the soup from the cafeteria.”
She winced and nodded. “I hear you. The food is brutal here. Sorry to bug you, I was just worried. Next time get one of us to help you with the IV and all that, okay?”
She reconnected my line, did a quick check of my vitals, and then turned off the light before padding out of the room.
My head was pounding, and my whole body ached, but the last thing on my mind was sleep. Where was Raven? How could I find her and, even if I did, how could I gather enough strength to get us back from the Magical Realm together when there could be Cerberuses and whatever humanoid creature had left that massive footprint to fight off first?
I didn’t know the answer to any of those questions, but I knew someone who probably did...
Chapter 3
“How you feeling, little buddy?” Mom said, handing me a granola bar as I wiped the sleep from my eyes.
“Much better,” I lied, “I think I just needed a good night’s sleep.” My head was throbbing even more than the day before, and my body felt like someone had put on the spin cycle after dropping me into an industrial washing machine.
“Good, we’ll have you out of here in a few minutes. Just waiting for the nurse to come to check your vitals once more and bring me the discharge papers. You can get changed while we wait,” she said, handing me a plastic bag full of clean clothes.
I grabbed the bag and headed to the bathroom, happy for the excuse to slip out of my sweat-stained t-shirt and underwear from the previous night before she had to see them under my robe. I got to the bathroom and quickly stuffed my filthy jeans and the golem arm into the bag before beginning to change into my clean set of clothes.
It didn’t take long before the nurse came to check me over. Once she gave me the all-clear, we headed out. I made light conversation with mom on the ride home, but my mind was elsewhere. Every minute I spent here recovering increased the risk of Raven being hurt or worse. It was eating me up that I wasn’t strong enough to go back to the Magical Realm right away.
Eating me up. Like that Cerberus beast could be doing right now to Raven...
“Sure you’re feeling okay, Chace?” Mom said, putting her hand to my forehead as we parked in the driveway, “you look pale, and still seem out of it.”
“I feel great. I’m just still hungry,” I said, hopping out of the car. Making my mother worry would only increase the amount of time she spent staring at me. I needed her to relax the reins as much as possible if I wanted to get on with saving Raven.
As we walked up the pathway, I saw Max’s face pressed up against the window closest to the door. I went to wave, but he was gone before I had the chance.
"I'm back," I said, smiling at Max, who was now sitting on a chair at our kitchen counter.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were still gone,” he said coolly, glancing up from his iPad.
I walked over and ruffled his hair.
“Happy you’re okay,” he mumbled, standing up and moving away from me as he headed to his room, still staring at his iPad.
Mom smiled at me and dropped her tone to a whisper. “He was worried sick last night, barely slept a wink. I still have to work today, but I can stay home for a few more hours if you need me?”
“Nah, I’m just gonna try to squeeze in a few more hours of sleep,” I said, grabbing a pack of Pop-Tarts. In actuality, I just wanted her to leave as soon as possible. I had a fae I needed to see...
“Okay, make sure you don’t just eat junk food all day. I have some leftover tuna casserole in the fridge from last night.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” I said, crossing my fingers behind my back. If there was one thing I needed right now, it was junk food. And lots of it.
The second I heard Mom's car pull out of the driveway, I sprang out of bed with the golem's arm in my backpack and went into the kitchen. "If you need anything, go ask Pop. I gotta go somewhere," I shouted to Max, who was in his room. I had no time to spare, even though my body was still aching.
I opened the door to Pop’s part of our house and called for him.
“Everything okay?” he said as he hobbled to the door.
“Yea, um, I was w
ondering if I could borrow a little money to get some more chocolate bars. I am headed to talk to Twee Twyla, but I'm going to have to go back to the Magical Realm later."
“Did you go back last night?” he asked, frowning.
“Yes.” I shoved back the returning panic and tried to stay calm. “Raven is in danger. When I got there, she was gone. There was some blood and some tracks...I don’t know. Before I could find her, I had to leave because a Cerberus was after me,” I said after a brief consideration about whether to lie or not. I hated to worry him, but if anyone knew what I was going through, it was Pop.
“Understood,” he said, shaking his head as he pulled his wallet out and handed me some bills, “I’ll spring for an Uber, too. Just be careful, Chace.”
I took the cash with a nod of thanks. That was good. Twee’s house wasn’t super close, and riding my bike in this condition would’ve taken a lot out of me.
When I pulled up to Twee Twyla’s house twenty minutes later, I let out a sigh of relief, already feeling calmer. She would know what to do.
As I walked toward the pathway, I noticed hundreds more carvings on the wooden gate than last time. Even the enchanted trees seemed more alert, turning to keep their eyes on me as I entered the yard. Many of their branches looked like they’d been cut and whittled into sharp stakes. I gulped back my fear and continued walking, raising my head confidently at the hundreds of birds above. The trees seemed to be leaning in towards me, but they allowed me to reach the porch without incident. The door creaked slightly and slid open a crack.
“Risky move, boy,” Twee Twyla’s cracking voice said when I entered. She beckoned me down the hallway and into her living room, which still looked like it belonged in a show about hoarders. “I’ve had to increase my security since I found out the Sorcerer of Sumeria had been in town without my realizing it. The trees could’ve killed you if I hadn’t seen and called them off.”
"I handled the sorcerer," I said, meeting her eyes.
The stooped elderly woman I had met the first time was gone, replaced by her true form that I had only seen a glimpse of last time. Her eyes widened. Her lips quirked up in a faint smile. “Ah...You’ve grown, boy.”
“It’s been less than a week,” I said, giving her a quizzical look, “and I’ve been a bit too busy to measure.”
She stepped forwards, flicking me with her finger right between my eyes. “Not in that way, stupid. Your powers. Even though you seem tired, your magic feels much calmer and more controlled. That’s good,” she added with a satisfied smile. “Now, what did you come here for? Do you have what you promised me?"
I opened my bag and handed her the arm. “Of course. A deal’s a deal.”
“Good,” she said, inspecting it with interest as she took it further down the hall and into the living room. After a few minutes of watching her flip it around and examine it from various angles, I cleared my throat loudly.
“You’re still here?” she said with irritation, making a shooing motion at me. “Go on, then.”
“I actually have something else I came here for,” I said.
"Well, get on with it, boy. I don’t have all day.”
“It’s Raven. She got stuck in the Magical Realm after we defeated The Sorcerer.” Shame made my stomach ache. “I went back and followed her trail last night, but it stopped suddenly. I'm worried, and I need to get back and find her.”
She tossed the golem's arm onto a table and nodded gravely. "I'll see what I can do. You seem like a trustworthy kid. Plus, Raven has been a good customer over the years, and I would hate to lose her. So, this one’s on the house. Now leave. I’ll contact you when I find something out.” She turned and walked over to her desk, splitting it open and revealing the massive computer inside. I headed out the door while she clacked away on her blank keyboard, wishing I could stay and wait but knowing she’d never allow it. She had her process, and it was an effective one. I wasn’t about to interrupt her flow. But waiting was killing me.
I’d been inside for such a short time, I was able to get the same Uber driver that had dropped me off. He pulled up less than three minutes after I had called for him. I hopped in the car and had him take a detour to the supermarket near my house so I could grab some candy. I planned on using this time to replenish my magical energy so I could head out as soon as Twee Twyla got back to me. I bought enough candy and chocolate to stuff my backpack full and began eating them right as I left the store. Two chocolate bars were gone before the three-block ride back to my house was over.
Max was playing a game on his iPad in the kitchen when I got back. His face lit up when he saw the chocolate bar in my hand. I reached into my bag and tossed him one before heading to my room.
Twee Twyla called before I was done eating, and I picked up the phone quickly with chocolate still in my mouth.
“Hewllo,” I mumbled.
“Hey kid, I have good news and bad news,” she said, launching right in. “The bad news is that Raven was kidnapped by a troll.”
I’d barely gotten a second to even let that horrifying news sink in before she continued in a rush.
“But the good news is that she was definitely still alive a few hours ago. A contact of mine spotted the troll and her moving North. Luckily for her, it’s probably just keeping her as a slave. They’re inherently lazy creatures, but they typically don’t eat humans. They are usually quick to anger, though, so keep your fingers crossed that she hasn't said anything that would make it angry,” Twee Twyla added, seeming uncharacteristically nervous.
Twee was pretty unflappable, so if she was nervous? I was terrified. But, if what she said was true about trolls being quick to anger, she had good reason to be concerned. Raven would definitely not make things easy. I could imagine her talking back and fighting him every step of the way, already.
Please, Raven, read the room and bite your tongue for once.
I was still grappling with that initial fear when another popped into my head. How would I save her even if I managed to figure out where she was? How would I manage to survive without returning to the Human Realm if another creature like the Cerberus attacked? I would've died without the help of the Pixie, even with the option to return to the Human Realm. And if I wasn’t strong enough to get us back this time? We could both wind up dead.
“Make sure you have everything you need to save her this time. You don’t have time to keep going back and forth,” she added.
"Thanks a lot," I said. Twee Twyla seemed to really be worried about Raven, so I added, "I'm definitely going to save her, Twyla. I promise."
"That's Twee Twyla to you, boy," she said after a long pause, "and I'm sure you will,” she added with a sniff. “Good luck, kid.”
She disconnected, and I pocketed my phone, head spinning. This was a lot. So much was riding on me to get this right. Raven's life hung in the balance. If only I didn't have to go it alone...
I cocked my head, deep in thought.
Who said I had to?
I tugged the phone from my pocket and prepared to beg.
Chapter 4
Raven
“Move faster, human,” Klugg rumbled, yanking my chain, sending me flying towards him and dropping me to my knees. My stomach lurched and heaved, but there was nothing left in there after hurling so many times during the never-ending march.
It had been a rough couple of days. I was still sore from my battle with the golems, although my wounds seemed to be healing well, despite the fact that I'd had little time to tend to them what with my new job that seemed to consist of being a pet to a troll.
“Can you just carry me?” I pleaded, panting. I had no desire to be closer to him than necessary because he smelled like a sewer that had been stuffed with hot garbage and sweaty gym socks, but I was exhausted.
“No. Human just want to take pretty and run like last time,” he said, pounding his chest heartily. My amulet was tucked snugly in his filthy shirt pocket, and he'd been checking for it every half hour or so, ever
since I'd tried to nab it back from him and escape.
When he'd first found me, limping away from the cave, I'd tried to put up a tussle that I'd handily lost. He'd taken my amulet, slapped a collar around my neck, and started dragging me around like a dog.
Who carried a bag of collars in varying sizes with them, just in case they ran across a creature they wanted to enslave? And what had happened to the previous wearers of all those other collars? Because as far as I could tell, Klugg and I were flying solo.
It had been precisely those thoughts that had stopped me from continuing the fight. Plus, once I realized he wasn't going eat me—at least not right away—I vowed to wait and make another attempt at escape when I gathered my strength again and had an opportunity to get back the amulet at the same time. At this rate, though, walking what felt like fifty miles a day, that would be approximately never.
“I promise, I won’t take the pretty. Just carry me, Klugg. Please.” I was so tired that I wouldn’t be able to do anything with it even if I managed to get my hands on the thing, but there was no use wasting time explaining it to the daft beast. Once he got that stubborn look on his block-like, misshapen face, there was no changing his mind. I gritted my teeth and kept moving forward, trying to keep pace with him, which, given that he was the size of a small skyscraper, was impossible.
“Cave just ahead,” he said, pointing at the mountain ahead of us.
By the time we got to the massive opening, I was as tired as I’d been on my first day of training to be a Protector. I had pushed so hard that the pain in my legs had turned to a cold numbness. My jelly-like limbs flopped beneath me as I sat down where Klugg was pointing with his big, ugly finger, just beneath a massive sycamore tree that dwarfed even Klugg. He wrapped my tether around one of the gigantic trees and then studied his handiwork.
My chain was strong, and I suspected it was imbued with some sort of magic as all my efforts to get free of it had netted zero in the way of results. I glanced up at the branch and knew that it, too, would be futile to try to break it with magic, as weak and tired as I was. Even the smallest branch of the massive tree was beyond the size of any tree I could remember seeing in the human realm.