Chapter 8 #3
A strange feeling of emptiness settled over me.
Once we were back, once we delivered the codex to Gideon, Cypher would go his way and we would go ours.
He would search for his answers, and I would use my payment to free my father.
Our paths would diverge, likely never to cross again.
The thought bothered me more than it should have.
"I should rest," I said, standing abruptly. "If I'm going to get us back through that portal, I need to recover my strength."
"I'll walk you to your cabin," Cypher said, rising as well.
"I can manage—"
"I insist," he cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument.
We left the galley in silence, the ship humming around us as we navigated the narrow corridors. Click poked his head out of my pocket, and I stroked his soft head.
"Are you all right?" Cypher asked when we were out of earshot of the others.
"Just tired. It's been a long day."
"That's not what I meant." He stopped, turning to face me. "What you saw when you touched the crown... it disturbed you."
I hesitated, not sure how to explain. "It was like seeing ghosts. But they weren't just memories—they saw me, Cypher. They looked right at me, as if I was really there."
"I wish I could give you answers," he said, something sad flickering in his eyes.
"That crown is made of anchor crystal, so maybe the power was just waiting for a way out and being a rift, you're the perfect vessel.
The First Anchor you're wearing," he said, gesturing to the crystal hidden beneath my shirt.
"Keep it close. It chose you for a reason. "
"What do you mean, 'chose me'?"
"First Anchors are semi-sentient, or so says our history. They respond to compatible users. The fact that it glowed for you means something." He started to say more, then winced, his hand going to his injured shoulder.
"You should be resting too," I said. "That bite isn't getting any better."
"I'll rest when we're safely back through the portal." He hesitated, then added, "Thank you. For understanding why I kept my identity secret."
"I understand why you'd want to hide who you are. The Assembly has never been kind to Nytherians, especially those with claims to power." I'd seen how Nytherian refugees were treated, with suspicion at best, open hostility at worst.
We reached the door to my quarters, and I turned to thank him again, but the words died in my throat. He stood closer than I expected, his broad frame nearly blocking the narrow corridor. The crystal lamp above cast shadows across his face.
Something in the air changed between us. The silence stretched, and turned heavy. I couldn't look away from his face, couldn't ignore how his gaze dropped to my lips for the briefest moment.
He moved closer, so gradually I might have imagined it. My heart fluttered as he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. I found myself rising to meet him.
But at the last moment, Cypher froze. Something flickered across his face—doubt, perhaps, or caution. He pulled back slightly, and I did the same, suddenly aware of how reckless this was.
"Good night, scavenger," he said, then turned on his heel and strode away, leaving me breathless and confused outside my door.
I collapsed onto my bunk, exhaustion claiming me almost instantly. When I woke hours later, I felt more clearheaded. Whatever had happened—or almost happened—between Cypher and me would have to wait. Getting everyone safely out of Nytheris came first.
I dressed quickly, tucking the First Anchor beneath my shirt where it rested warm against my skin. Click chirped sleepily from his makeshift nest in my discarded void mantle. I scooped him up, letting him settle in my pocket before heading to the upper deck.
Zoya and Cypher stood at the helm, bent over the astrolabe. They straightened as I approached.
"You look better," Zoya observed. "Ready to find us a way home?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, avoiding Cypher's eyes. "Where are we?"
"Circling the area where the portal should be," he said, his tone strictly professional. "But the currents have shifted it. We need your abilities to pinpoint its location."
I nodded and moved to the railing. The shattered realm of Nytheris stretched behind us, while ahead lay only the darkness of the Gallery. I closed my eyes, reaching out with my rift senses.
The currents appeared in my mind like rivers of light flowing through darkness. I followed them, letting my consciousness drift through the void until I felt it—the familiar distortion that signaled a portal.
"There," I said, pointing. "Bearing forty-three degrees starboard, about half a mile distant. It's stable for now, but the cycle is faster than before."
"How long do we have when it stabilizes?" Cypher asked.
I concentrated harder. "Twenty-five seconds, maybe less."
"Cutting it close," Zoya muttered.
"We'll make it," Cypher said. "All hands! Prepare for the portal transition!"
The crew burst into action. I remained at the rail, keeping my senses focused on the portal as we approached. It appeared ahead, a shimmer of sickly light against the void.
"Ten seconds to stabilization," I called, feeling the shift. "Nine... eight..."
Cypher's hands were steady on the helm. "Omri, full power on my mark!"
"Five... four... three... two... one... NOW!"
The Night-Piercer surged forward as the portal stabilized. We hit the threshold at full speed, and the world around us twisted and bent. But this time, the transition felt smoother, as if something was guiding us through.
The First Anchor at my chest grew hot. I gasped, clutching the railing as power surged through my body.
Then we were through, bursting back into the familiar darkness of the Gallery.
The crew erupted in cheers, but I barely heard them.
The First Anchor continued to pulse against my skin, its warmth spreading through my chest.
"That was..." Zoya began, her voice filled with wonder.
"Different," Cypher finished, his eyes on me. "What happened?"
I touched the crystal beneath my shirt. "The Anchor. It... helped somehow. It felt like it was stabilizing the portal as we passed through."
Cypher's expression changed, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"Well, whatever it did, I'm grateful," Kora said, appearing at my side. "That was the smoothest transition I've ever experienced."
Cypher moved closer to me. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About the Anchor. About what you can do with it."
"And about last night?" I asked before I could stop myself.
His eyes met mine, and for once, I saw no barriers there. "That too. But first, let's get far away from Nytheris. I've had enough of that place to last several lifetimes."
I nodded, a strange mix of anticipation and trepidation settling in my stomach. We'd survived Nytheris, retrieved the codex, and made it back to the Gallery. But I had a feeling our journey was far from over.
As the Night-Piercer sailed deeper into the Gallery, putting distance between us and the shattered realm, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen when we returned to Gideon. Would Cypher really hand over the codex? Would I get my payment and free my father?
And then what?