Chapter 36
I’m too shocked to speak, and I’m too terrified to open my mouth.
The creature can’t possibly see me. The Rigils still show on my hands, gripping the shelves. I should be invisible; I should be undetected. This can’t be happening.
I stare into its hopeless eyes. My heart races, my legs feel numb, and I can’t blink. The markings are dry and sealed to my body.
Realization travels through me.
My face is covered in sweat, and my forehead is soaked. It’s not sweat that’s dripping down, it’s blood. The blood that is supposed to be guarding me from the creature staring directly into my eyes.
I open my mouth to speak, but words don’t come out.
“Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?” The words echo in my mind.
The creature’s mouth doesn’t open. It only stares, and I realize it’s speaking only into my mind, not into the open. My hands tremble, and sweat now pools around my palms. I won’t be able to hold on much longer. I cut my eyes to the book, still glowing in the darkness around us.
“I…I’m Briar,” I say, failing to keep my voice steady.
Its tongue flicks out, taking in my scent even more.
“And what are you doing here?” it asks, its voice rumbling in my head.
“Seeking answers,” I force out.
“As many come here to do and fail.” The creature angles its scaled face.
“What are you?” I ask.
The massive serpent lowers its head, creating just enough space for its sizable body to move closer. A large claw glides over the shelves, lightly brushing the leather spines of numerous ancient books.
“I am the protector, the guardian. I am Eldursyth, the creation of the God of Darkness himself. I am death and destruction.”
My face pales, but I remain as calm as possible, even though that feels pointless.
“Nice to meet you,” I squeak out.
I start to move, the uncomfortable position beginning to weigh on my aching body. The creature notices my flinch.
“Allow me to assist you down so we can converse better,” the creature hisses.
The beast's face shifts downward, creating room for its large claw to grip my body, lifting me momentarily toward the red book. I scan above the towering bookshelves and see the table in the middle of the room. I’m not far from the exit.
I quickly extend my hand and grasp the worn leather, snapping it to my side while praying that the creature didn’t notice.
The sharp talons bring me to the ground, but don’t release me.
“Thank you,” I say politely, as my feet touch the solid ground again, and I smile.
Eldursyth shifts his massive body to get a better view of me. I stand face-to-face with a creature larger than anything I’ve ever encountered. Its tongue flicks out again, almost making contact with me, prompting me to step back.
“You don’t smell like the others. You smell odd and ancient yourself,” Eldursyth says. “The better question is, what are you, little one?”
I step back again. “I am a Dusk Wielder. That is what you smell. I possess powers of both Gods.”
Eldursyth hisses. “That is not all you possess.”
“It definitely is.”
“You have a rider deep within you, a leech. A creation of the Gods, like me.”
I continue to move backward, each step small and nearly motionless. If I can get to the passage's end, I can run again. I need to keep the creature speaking so the distraction will grant me more time.
“Nothing possesses me,” I lie. “I am merely a Dusk Wielder seeking answers on this crimson moon.”
He slithers closer, and I hold my breath.
“Do you take me for a fool?”
“Gods, no! Only sheltered,” I respond, regretting the words as soon as they leave my mouth.
The snake only stares for a second, and sweat beads on my forehead.
“I’ve been guarding the Archives for many centuries, preventing those who have questions from ever finding answers. What is written here should remain forgotten, Briar.”
I squeeze the book behind my back and nod. “And you’ve clearly done a great job.”
The serpent moves closer and raises its head, ensuring I remember its size.
I awkwardly grin and feign calmness. The true size of this creature is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
The legends are true; a beast of this magnitude exists, and I’m somehow standing in front of it, trying to steal a book from its ancient collection.
Eldursyth’s head slithers forward. “Are you frightened?”
“Nope,” I lie.
“Brave or foolish?”
I shrug. “A little of both, I suppose. Depends on who you ask.”
“Foolish.”
“I do think I’ll be going now,” I say, taking another step back. “It was extremely nice to meet you.”
I glance behind me and find that I’m only a few feet away from the edge of the bookshelf. I begin to tap into my magic, praying for a blast of light to momentarily blind the creature of darkness, allowing me time to rush around the corner toward the entrance.
“You won’t save him,” Eldursyth whispers, stopping me in my tracks.
I narrow my eyes. “Save who?”
“The one like you who also carries a rider. Except, he isn’t in control anymore, is he?”
“How do you know anything about that?” I grow defensive, knowing exactly who he refers to.
“I know everything—past, present, and future—little one,” he speaks into my mind. “I also know what hangs around your neck, but you don’t, do you?”
I instantly touch Fen’s necklace and grab it in my hand. “Will you tell me?”
The snake smiles, again. “If you return the book.”
I think for only a second, knowing his offer and my life may expire at any moment. I place the book on the ground in front of me, slightly kicking it in his direction. “Fine. Tell me.”
“Impatient,” it hisses.
“I’ve heard that before.”
A dark laugh coils into my mind, and I shudder at the sound. The serpent looks at the book, and back at me before speaking.
“The resurrection stone isn’t the only powerful crystal in these realms,” Eldursyth begins. “The Gods created a stone for each kingdom centuries ago, which was given to the kings at that time. The resurrection stone was bestowed upon your family, while stones with other gifts went to the others.”
I feel the tingle of the stone against me.
“You currently possess the stone of Andorwood.”
“What does this stone do?” I press, but can’t hide the panic I feel. The others have the resurrection stone, and what if they obtain more?
“You possess a powerful one, but it is not as powerful as some others.” Eldursyth slithers closer. “Andorwood was bestowed with the Stone of Truth. Many seek answers when they journey to Andorwood, desperate for the truths of the realms, but few ever acquire that knowledge.”
I move backward, nearly outside the passage and into the open space, but I keep my gaze on the book. I can’t leave without it.
“What is the most powerful stone?” I ask.
Eldursyth grins. “That is up to the Wielders in possession, I would say. Each is powerful and deadly if you are creative.”
“How are they destroyed?” I dive into my magic again and think of light—only light.
“Oh, little one, only a God can destroy the stones,” the serpent hisses.
“A war is coming—one like none other. I will be here long after the war ends, but you won’t be.
There is no use in trying.” Eldursyth rises higher in the air over my small body.
“There is no use in praying for a God for help. They abandoned you all long ago.”
My magic simmers within me, and I can feel the painful need for it to escape.
“What does this stone do? How can I wield it to help us?” I ask, attempting to hide the desperation in my voice.
The creature ponders me before answering, “The stone you possess is the most interesting of all the stones, but telling you upfront would be giving away too much. Information costs you; I hope you know.”
I cut my eyes toward the book. “What is your price?”
“Nothing you would be able to give me,” the serpent hisses. “What I want is freedom. I grow so tired of being in here alone.”
“I understand, but you do such an amazing job at guarding these books,” I say, creating distance between us again. “And I don’t want to interrupt you any longer.”
“Oh, little one, you’ve provided me with such entertainment today. I’ll think of our encounter for centuries to come, but I'm also growing tired of your pestering. I believe our conversation is coming to an end.” Eldursyth opens his wide mouth, revealing thousands of teeth.
“We aren’t the only ones that the Gods may have abandoned, Eldursyth.” I open my palms, letting a bit of light dance on my hands.
The serpent angles its large head.
“You’ve been trapped in this library for centuries, guarding books day in and day out. A creation of the God of Darkness, Raddnoke. The Gods may have abandoned us, but they abandoned you, too.”
“I will wait for him to return for me.”
“And if he doesn’t come?”
“He’s already here.”
Panic surges through me, and I step backward one final time.
I extend my palms forward, allowing a blast of light to fill the dark space with a blinding glow.
Eldursyth hisses in pain, turning its enormous frame into a bookshelf.
The large shelf tips sideways, barely staying upright from the force of the beast. I lunge forward, wrapping my hands around the spine of the book, and watch in terror as the creature tries to see from its glowing orange eyes.
The creature’s chest begins to turn the same shade of orange as its eyes, and that’s when I notice it.
A spark of fire ignites in its chest, and it’s willing to burn down the library completely rather than let a book leave.
I bound around the corner toward the front of the library.
Nothing will slow me down in this moment.
I propel my body forward, running faster than I ever have.
Hissing screams fill the air. “You foolish thing. You will never leave this library. Fire will rain down upon you. You will die. I will kill you.”
I see the final corner standing between me and the center of the library. Just a few feet beyond that lies the exit. I can do this. I’m going to make it.
“I will burn the world around you.”
I round the corner, and the library opens back up into the vast space. The book stays tucked under my arm, and despite the pain in my arm, I push myself into a dead sprint.
I look toward the exit, the shimmering doorway to my safety, and dread fills my already-pounding heart.
No. No, this can’t be happening, I think to myself.
Silas, Larkin, and Maines stand at the entrance and exit from the library. Their eyes land on me and widen at my state.
Silas steps forward while Larkin steps toward Maines.
“Run!” I scream at them. “Get out.”
“I see you have company, Briar. This must be my lucky day,” the serpent’s raspy voice shouts from behind me. “Let me introduce myself.”
They remain frozen, and that’s when I realize Eldursyth is behind me, ready to breathe fire upon me and the entire Forgotten Archives. I race forward, unwilling to drop the book to move faster across the vast space.
I can’t stop. I have to keep moving.
Silas screams, “Don’t look. Keep your eyes forward.”
The heat of Eldursyth’s breath begins to warm the air around us, but I keep moving, my feet slapping the smooth floor. I look at Silas and know my face reflects the same terror that he feels.
“Eyes on me,” he shouts.
Silas watches in horror as my feet can’t move fast enough, and I fight the thoughts that swirl in my head that we’ve done this before. He pushes Larkin and Maines closer to the exit and starts sprinting in my direction—the opposite way I wish he would go.
Larkin lunges for him, but Maines slaps her hand around his forearm, stopping him from entering further. Silas charges toward me and the serpent.
Eldursyth locks eyes with Maines, Larkin, and Silas, and speaks, “A beautiful female Shadow Wielder, a warrior Lumor Wielder, and you…a man… a Shadow Wielder, but not.” The snake halts, and the entire library vibrates. “It can’t be.”
Silas doesn’t stop.
He moves toward me, and we collide. A sob escapes my throat, and my chest heaves with desperation for rest.
“Almost there, my love,” Silas says, grabbing my arm and pulling me into another dead sprint toward the exit.
Eldursyth breathes in once more, collecting fire in its throat. “Liars! You two are deceitful liars. Show your true selves!”
We are a few steps from Larkin and Maines when fear floods their eyes.
“Liars!”
A whoosh of fire bursts from the serpent’s mouth, and we dive through the wall.
The library around us fades, along with the heat of the flames.
The walls collapse around us, and we move through time, back into the castle of Andorwood.
The pressure takes my breath away, and I close my eyes, allowing the wall to crush me once more.
Through the wall, I hear a scream that could shatter a mountain of glass.
It's not Silas or Larkin. We materialize on the opposite side of the wall, collapsing and gasping for air. Without thinking, I open my eyes and desperately crawl in Maines’ direction, hoping what I heard wasn’t real.
It can’t be real. My nails dig into the stone, but I push.
My body screams at me to stop, but I can’t.
Maines.
What happened?
She lies face down, her clothes almost melted away, with fresh, deep burns covering most of her legs.
“She’s not moving,” Fen shouts, covering her mouth. “No. no.”
Warrick shouts, “Get her to Silas’s house now!”
Oak pushes from behind Warrick, nearly clawing his way forward, and a bone-chilling sob escapes his throat. He crashes to the ground next to her, his knees ripping against the stone. Without hesitation, he picks up her burned body and shifts into a million bright lights.