Stone of Hope

Chapter 33

As the sun rises, we approach a stream. Up to that point, Drake and I had enjoyed a pleasant walk among the rezurc; however, now my hair stands on end and tingles with magic as a white portal comes into view. Calla’s words tap dance through my memory.

Don’t fear the white, it is the door to your past.

The rezurc herd and Drake don’t seem to sense the danger I feel standing this close to the portal. Drake sits next to where I stand on the bank of the stream and rubs his hands together as the temperature drops. My skin gets colder and I rub my arms to stop the tingling. Suddenly, the rezurc stomp their feet, uneasy, and the rancid smell of death wafts to us. My stomach plummets with dread.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Darkland’s army appears on the outskirts of the stream and a man clad in black appears on the other side of the river.

“King Gus,” Drake growls.

Holding one hand out, King Gus curls his fingers and beckons me to come to him. I shake my head and Drake grabs my hand, his Elder magic infusing me with strength.

The Darkland men around us hiss.

I squeeze Drake’s hand tight, finally finding my voice. “No!”

The curling of his lips tells me King Gus believes he will get his way. “No harm will come to you, Jewel, but if you don’t come willingly, those you love will no longer be safe.”

A sudden movement from the shadows reveals Timber, Destine, and Ash being shoved forward, their hands bound behind their backs. As they are forced to their knees, I step forward with a strangled cry. I want to go to them, but Drake stops me by tugging on my hand and shaking his head at me. I quickly glance at the three of them as dread weaves its way into my heart.

Where’s Miko? Does this mean he didn’t make it?

I turn pleading eyes to King Gus, but I don’t have a chance to beg and plead before he sprinkles a plume of black dust from a pouch at his waist. Drake abruptly drops my hand. This time, I’m the one stopping him from crossing the stream. He chants ‘Fither’ over and over as if in a trance; even the rezurc start backing away from Drake until he stops his invocation. I turn to Drake, but his eyes are glued on the scene unfolding in front of us… one from which there seems to be no escape.

I watch warily as the black dust spirals in the air over the water. “What is that, Drake?”

His eyes remain fixed on King Gus as he says, “That dust is what made the rezurc sick in the first place. I’ve traveled far and wide and was convinced I’d eradicated all traces of it. It seems I was misinformed.”

I glance behind Drake at the rest of the herd, seeing the stomping feet and snuffling breath of the restless rezurc.

King Gus has won. I know what I must do. No one shouts at me to stop. Drake doesn’t hold me back. Standing tall, I turn to King Gus. “If I leave with you, will you let them go? Right here, right now?”

“You have my word,” he assures me, holding out his hand.

I raise my chin defiantly and force my voice to be strong with great difficulty. “Your word means nothing to me, but if you do this, you will have my cooperation. But no harm must come to them.”

He nods his confirmation.

Turning to Drake, I give him back his necklace and kiss his check. When he starts to say something, I interrupt, “It’ll be okay; I understand what I’m doing. This was never mine to begin with, and I think you should have it back. Your sister was an amazing person.” I know my friends can’t protest about me giving Drake the necklace, because they don’t want King Gus to know it contains the stone. I look at them and put on my bravest smile, though it trembles at the edges. “Goodbye.”

Turning, my body quakes as I make my way toward the terrifying figure of King Gus. The white portal flickers to the left of him, teasing me with the possibility of escape to another realm.

Is this my way out? Can I get there in time? If I escape, will he hurt Ash, Timber, and Destine, or will he run after me? Will my fate be worse in this other realm?

Gus must sense my hesitation, because he meets me halfway and whistles loudly, calling a massive, tan rezurc that charges directly at us. Scared, I back up and crash into King Gus, but the beast stops just before it slams into us, huffing and shaking his lustrous mane. King Gus makes a slashing motion with his arm and the animal kneels beside us obediently.

King Gus grips my waist and lifts me up, placing me on the rezurc’s broad back. I scramble up and grab a tuft of its mane, and Gus mounts behind me in one fluid motion, pressing firmly against my back. When I try to scoot away and create distance between us, his arms reach out and lock me into place. He grabs a fistful of the rezurc’s mane and emits a harsh whistle, and the rezurc turns to leave.

I glance behind us, relieved to be past the portal but hoping for one last glimpse of those I care about. Everyone is staring at me… everyone except Ash. I follow his astonished gaze to the portal one second before an arrow whizzes past my ear, landing a direct hit into Drake’s heart. I scream and try to wriggle down, but Gus’s hand clamps onto my middle, forcing me to remain in place. The Darkland army files in behind us.

I turn back around and see Drake’s lifeless body on the ground, then gape in amazement when a woman appears from within the white portal carrying a bow. Jogging over to Drake’s body, she breezily plucks the necklace from his curled fingers. I claw at Gus’s arm, trying to get loose. Seeming to read my mind, her eyes find mine across the clearing and her malevolent smile deepens. Her walk back to the portal is relaxed, daring anyone to come after her. Suddenly, she opens her palms and flames appear. With one big wave, she controls the flame, turning it into twining snakes of iridescent blue. Creating a blue-wreathed flame that flickers around the outer edges of the portal, she throws one last glance at me over her shoulder and escapes.

I dart surprised eyes to Destine and see his eyes are as wide as mine. I know he’s thinking the same thing I am. The fluid way she controlled the flame, so similar to my own Gift, means I must be what she is. One of the Fallen.

Our speed increases as the rezurc bounds across the landscape and soon, black fog engulfs us, hiding us as we ride. I no longer see the scene that will plague my waking dreams, turning them into lurid nightmares. I start to gag on the stench of death heralded by the murky fog.

When the fog finally dissipates, it still reeks of death, rotten plants, and fetid air. Dead trees intertwine with one another, making a wall too dense to enter. Sharp, elongated thorns stick out, waiting to impale their next victim. Terrified, I realize the rezurc has no plans to stop as we head straight towards the wall.

“Make him stop!” I screech, backing against Gus as I try to further distance myself from the impending thorns. He doesn’t listen. I thrash and scream, trying to get loose so I don’t end up being shish-kabobbed, but it’s no use.