A Ride of Peril

by Bella Forrest

  After we ate, we followed Inon inside the volcano, into one of the chambers closest to the lava core. Draven took out the translated notes from the swamp witches’ books, while Hansa and I sat in front of him, quietly watching as he prepared for the fire protection spell.

  He laid out all the ingredients we’d brought from the mansion, a variety of herbs, seeds, and dried roots. He used a wooden bowl to mix them all together. He looked up at Inon, towering behind us with a curious expression.

  “This is the fire protection spell we talked about, courtesy of the swamp witches,” Draven explained. “Do you have the powder I mentioned earlier?”

  The Deargh nodded and reached out, revealing a small black leather pouch in his hand. Draven took it and poured its content into the bowl. The dust scattered over the herb mixture like bits of glimmering charcoal.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “Remains of a fallen Deargh.” Draven looked at me. “The volcano only accepts Dearghs. The spell is meant to fool the fire into thinking we are Dearghs, basically.”

  He then placed his hands above the bowl, palms facing down, and recited the words that would bring the spell to life. “We are not what we seem. We are spirits in stone bodies. We do not burn, for fire is our crown.”

  He clapped his hands twice, and the mixture instantly caught fire, a vibrant green flame that died out almost immediately. It left behind a dark green paste with limestone and crystal particles, reminding me of the mineral cleansing masks that Aida had once brought back from the American mainland.

  The more I learned about this spell, the more I appreciated the swamp witches. In the absence of magic flowing through their veins, they’d learned to trick the elements with formulas and chemical combinations, fueled by the power of the word. The concept was extremely fascinating, and I was eager to understand it better.

  I made a mental note to figure out a way to read through the swamp witches’ book once we got back.

  “I must say, Druid,” Inon said, “you’re either extremely brave or extremely crazy to do this.”

  “Do what, exactly? Swim through hot lava or sneak into Azazel’s dungeons?”

  A moment passed as the Deargh carefully measured his answer.

  Hansa and I glanced at each other.

  “Both,” he replied.

  “I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, especially not when we’re so close to defeating Azazel once and for all,” Draven said.

  “I know you’re young and motivated now that you have the swamp witches’ spells, but don’t let that go to your head, Druid,” Inon said. “Azazel has seen many centuries come and go before you. He knows how this world works. He knows Eritopia’s weaknesses and strengths, and he knows how to use them against anyone looking to undermine him.”

  Draven nodded, his eyes focused on the bowl.

  “I’m not looking to discourage you in any way, Druid. I am merely trying to prepare you.”

  “I understand that, Inon, and I greatly appreciate it.”

  “That being said, do not underestimate the snake. It slithers, and it spreads its poison with great skill,” Inon continued.

  “So, what do you suggest we do, then?” Hansa rolled her eyes and looked up at him.

  “It takes a snake to fool a snake. Be quiet. Be one with the darkness and one with the walls.”

  “We have a trick up our sleeve. Worry not, Inon,” Draven replied.

  “Be timely. The snakes sleep as the moon begins to set. Leave tonight, as the best time to infiltrate Azazel’s dungeons is at dawn. My brother, Zur, is waiting for us on the other side.”

  “Us?”

  “I am coming with you, Druid. You cannot swim through the fire alone. You wouldn’t know where to go. The fire only listens to the Dearghs.”

  “That makes sense,” Draven replied, then stood up with the wooden bowl. “We need to eat this.”

  Hansa was the first to take a fistful of the mixture and swallow it. The look on her face told me it tasted somewhere between horrible and repulsive, so I scooped up a serving of my own and tried to eat it as quickly as possible. The pasty combination of foul-smelling herbs, crystals, and limestone dust didn’t exactly go down easy. Draven was quick enough to hand us both some water to wash it down. He did the same, and then we all stood there, watching each other.

  “What now?” I asked.

  “Now we wait for the spell to kick in,” he said.

  We each took our satchels and tied our weapons to our backs and belts. We followed Inon through a series of narrow tunnels with incandescent lava veins that served as ambient light guiding our path.

  We reached the core of the volcano, a massive circular area that shrank its diameter upward. Liquid fire bubbled up in what resembled an amber-colored pond that hissed and gurgled. It was bright and unbearably hot in the chamber. I broke out in an instant sweat, and my throat felt like it was closing. I was ready to tear everything off me.

  “Hang tight, Serena. This will be over soon,” Draven whispered and held my hand.

  As if listening to his words of comfort, the spell started to kick in just as my face felt like it was melting off. A cool wave washed over me, and I suddenly felt like I was at a very normal room temperature. A little chill ran down my back as my fingers tingled and my skin rippled. I could breathe again.

  I first looked up at Draven, and my jaw nearly dropped. A warm golden light emanated from inside of him, spreading outward like an aura. My heart skipped a beat, as I realized how the spell worked. It had to be ingested before it could manifest as a protective layer. Everything we wore and touched, including our satchels and weapons, was covered in that golden light.

  The nuance reminded me of his energy, and it created a beautiful impression in my mind, as if I was seeing him for the first time, a creature made of golden light who smiled down at me with such warmth that my soul ached.

  I then looked at Hansa and was surprised by her appearance. She too was bathed in the same golden light, giving her a different look. Her otherwise silvery skin glistened in shades of amber, amplifying the colors in her eyes—two beacons of emerald and gold.

  I looked at my hands, my arms, and down at the rest of my body. I wore the same spell effects. I marveled at the way in which light emanated from my skin, making my insides feel cool and energized.

  “I take it the spell kicked in?” I asked.

  “Could be, although I’d give it some more time, just in case.” Draven smiled, seemingly unable to take his eyes off me. “I must admit, you look incredible, Serena. Like a goddess of Eritopian legends.”

  I felt my cheeks catch fire, and my lips pulled into a smile.

  “You’re not too bad looking yourself, Druid,” I quipped.

  “By the Daughters, you two need to spend some time alone. It’s clearly long overdue!” Hansa chipped in.

  I automatically let go of Draven’s hand and looked away—the instincts of a girl caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to. I wasn’t sure whether Draven was okay with people knowing about us, about what was blossoming between us. Given the way his gaze jumped from me to Hansa and back, I had a feeling he didn’t know either. It made sense to me. Draven had spent his whole life living in isolation and certainly had no idea how new couples behaved. He looked awkwardly adorable to me.

  “Oh, please, stop fidgeting like two little kids! I’ve known from the moment I laid my eyes on you that you were made for each other.” Hansa rolled her eyes at us. “Wear it with pride!”

  A moment passed before Draven looked at me again. My heart was filled with warmth as I saw his gaze soften and settle on my face, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Something flowed between us then—something I’d never felt before but resembled millions of diamond threads gently caressing my skin, my lips, and my very soul. The sentry in me had picked up on something that Draven was sending my way, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

  Inon cleared his limestone throat, kindly remindin
g us that he was still standing there, waiting for us to get on with this mission.

  “Okay, let’s see if this works!” I said, a little too loudly.

  I stepped forward and dropped to my knees, left hand grasping the black stone edge while I lowered my other hand toward the lava.

  “Serena,” Draven called out. “Be careful, please.”

  “It’s okay. I can’t feel the heat at all,” I replied, surprised by how close my skin was to the searing liquid.

  I couldn’t feel a thing as I dipped a finger, then submerged my whole hand.

  I felt nothing other than a tickle, as if I’d just put my hand in burbling water.

  I pulled it out and gasped at the sight of my perfectly intact hand.

  The spell had worked.

  “How long is it supposed to last?” I asked.

  “The notes say for about an hour,” Draven replied. “There’s enough for us to use on the way back as well, including Sverik.”

  “All three of you must climb on my back,” the gentle stone giant said as he descended to one knee, leaning forward to make it easier for us.

  One by one, we climbed onto Inon’s back. I took the left shoulder, Draven took the right, and Hansa pulled herself between us, grasping the back of the Deargh’s neck. Inon then stood.

  “Close your eyes and hold your breath. It will be a very short trip as I jump into the liquid fire and emerge on the other side at Mount Zur, but you shouldn’t witness any of it, as you have never done it before and might experience panic,” he said.

  None of us said anything, and Inon took it as a silent agreement. He jumped into the lava, and I followed his instructions, closing my eyes and grabbing a lungful of air right before he submerged us. I felt the liquid fire the same way I felt water, moving against my skin as the Deargh made his way through it.

  It was over in less than a minute, as Inon breached the surface on the other side. Traveling through lava had nothing to do with distance, I realized. The volcanic cores were magical, like portals across space—a rudimentary form of teleportation, taking us from point A to point B in seconds, with no regard for the miles between them.

  I opened my eyes and noticed the inside of the volcano, different from Mount Inon, as it proudly displayed deep reflections of indigo, obsidian, and yellow striations streaking from the top. Several Dearghs waited for us on the edge. They wore the same stone colors as the mountain.

  Draven and Hansa still held on tightly, gradually opening their eyes. Inon swam toward the Dearghs and pulled himself out of the lava. We jumped off his back, and I felt relief at finding the ground beneath my feet again.

  “Welcome, Brother Inon,” the Deargh in the middle said. “Welcome, fellow travelers. I am Zur, guardian of this mountain.”

  Draven and Hansa bowed politely, and I followed suit. Customs seemed to be precious among these creatures.

  “Thank you for having us, Zur. I am Draven. This is Hansa, and this is Serena. We are honored to be in your company.”

  Zur looked at us, measuring me from head to toe before he tilted his giant stone head to one side.

  “You are different,” he murmured.

  I wasn’t sure what to respond with, so I just smiled awkwardly.

  “I see a Druid, and I must admit, I am pleased to see one still standing while the rest of the species has been swallowed by darkness and poison,” Zur continued, nodding at Draven. “I see a succubus, as tall and proud as I remember her mother to be.”

  Hansa’s eyes grew large.

  “You knew my mother?” she asked.

  “All the people north of the River Pyros knew Dorna of the Red Tribe. Her beauty was passed on to you, and, I hope, so was her bravery and determination.”

  Hansa smiled and bowed once more with reverence.

  “But you, young lady,” Zur turned to look at me again. “You are not of this world, are you?”

  I shook my head.

  “No, I am not. But my brother and my friends are inexplicably tied to it. And so, I am too,” I replied, hoping to leave the inquiry there.

  “I understand. Then your brother and friends must be the Oracles that everyone has been talking about,” Zur replied.

  “You know about the Oracles?” Draven asked, his voice low and cold.

  “We’ve all heard of the Oracles,” Inon said. “Word travels fast around the mountains from here. Azazel is desperately looking for them, burning and torturing his way through the land to get to them.”

  “Our mountain is the closest to his castle. We hear more than others,” Zur added.

  The thought made me nervous, but I took comfort in the fact that the Daughters’ protective shield made my brother and friends impossible to find.

  “You should get ready to leave soon,” Zur said. “There is about a mile to Azazel’s castle, and nightfall will keep you safer than daylight. If you leave within the hour, you will reach your destination before dawn, when the monsters sleep.”

  We followed Zur through the mountain corridors. He led us to the western edge, where the ridge opened up to a grassy plateau, where a small camp fire burned, with water and pieces of seed bread waiting for us.

  Draven opened his satchel and started taking out more ingredients from their small leather pouches, along with the Daughter’s notes. I watched as he followed instructions and mixed everything into another bowl.

  “This is the invisibility spell,” Draven said. “It will keep us cloaked throughout this mission. We should ingest it, to be safe.”

  “Oh good, another delicious midnight snack,” I replied, and Hansa chuckled at my side.

  “Whatever it takes for us not to get killed, I will gladly eat,” she said, a shadow passing over her face beneath the giant moon above. “I have a score to settle with the Sluaghs, and I’ll be damned if I’ll die before I get to crush their wormy heads with my bare hands.”

  Zur and Inon nodded.

  “We heard the Destroyers as they returned from the northern mountains. They were quick to boast about how they had wiped out the entire Red Tribe,” Zur said to Hansa. “Little did they know then that the Red Tribe survived, for here you are, standing before us.”

  She looked up at the stone giant and grinned.

  “It’ll take more than a handful of snakes and worms to kill this succubus, Deargh. Don’t you forget that!”

  Half an hour later, the invisibility spell was ready. Hansa was checking our supplies and weapons, stocking up on poisoned arrows by dipping their tips in the purple toxin she’d brought from the mansion. I was filling up the water bladders for the road while Draven was busy sharpening his knives, when he looked up, his gaze finding mine. He stood up, took my hand and pulled me away from the center of the grassy plateau, leading me to the edge.

  We were slightly obscured by darkness, as the camp fire’s light faded with the distance. Before I could open my mouth to ask what this was about, Draven wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him, his expression firm.

  I felt his heart thudding in his chest as he tightened his grip on my body.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Absolutely nothing,” was his reply.

  “Then why did we stop?”

  “Because I might not get to tell you what I want to tell you later.” His voice was low and raspy in my ear.

  My breathing accelerated as I felt his lips on my neck. His mouth moved upward along my jawline, until it found my lips and ravished me with a hungry and unapologetic kiss. I lost myself in the moment, grateful for a few minutes in his arms. Draven’s hands gripped my hips and pulled me closer, beckoning me to feel every hard line of his body.

  “I need you to be careful, Serena,” he said hoarsely, breaking the kiss for a moment. “I simply can’t fathom the thought of you getting hurt on this mission, and I need you. I desperately need you to make sure you come out of this alive and unharmed. Do you hear me?”

  “I hear you, Draven,” I whispered, my breath ragged, and my lips
tingling for more.

  I raised my hands to his face, cupping it firmly. His words plucked invisible strings in my chest, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, our bodies melting in a long embrace. I realized I’d started having a hard time picturing my life without him in it. The thought was frightening, because I’d never been so close to someone before. But, at the same time, my whole being was exhilarated by him.

  “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to keep myself away from you, and I can feel you going through the same thing. Your body and your soul talk to me in ways I’d never thought possible, and I…” He drew in a breath. “I want to hear the whole story,” he whispered. His lips moved down my neck until they reached my collarbone.

  “I’m still trying to figure out the whole story, Draven,” I replied.

  My heart pounded, and I wanted to tell him everything that was weighing on me in that moment, especially the idea of never seeing him again. He belonged in Eritopia. He was fighting Azazel so he could free his home, restore order, and lead it back to prosperity.

  Where did I fit in? What would happen if we defeated Azazel? Did we mean enough to each other for one of us to follow the other into a foreign world, or would it end here? And if the answer to whether we meant enough to each other was yes, which of us would be the one to leave their world for the other? These questions had started to eat away at me since Mount Inon.

  “Tell me,” his voice trickled into my ear, his breathing heavy.

  “I don’t belong here in Eritopia. I’m from a different world,” I sighed. “But, at the same time, every time I see you, everything makes sense, and I don’t feel like a stranger anymore, like there could be something here for me other than death and cruelty.”

  I was telling the truth. My body and my heart were pulling me closer to him. I loved our debates and even our arguments, and I looked forward to peeling back another layer of who he truly was on a daily basis. I enjoyed the discovery, and he surprised me every time.

  Each time he looked at me, and I lost myself in his gray eyes, it all disappeared, leaving just the two of us standing in front of each other. There was an invisible line connecting us, ribbons of our souls intertwined and tugging, yearning for more. All the contradictions went away, leaving only Draven and me together.