Vengeance (Amagi Chronicles)

Chapter 1 The Return

The Return

With a shrug of my shoulders, I adjust my leather pack and step over the geode-littered ground.

“When I came to Earth, it was through the Gate of the Gods in Peru. It’s spectacular.

” I stare, unimpressed, at the craggy seven-foot-tall archway in the middle of the Arizona desert.

“I thought this one would be more impressive. It’s the Doorway to the Gods, capital letters implied. ”

“Doorway of the gods. Not to. But it is a doorway to Amagi, so quit complaining.” Val stares at the hand-carved quartz crystal ring resting in his palm and frowns.

“Or we hope it is and that this key works.” He squints up at the arch, lit by the early morning sun.

“You sure you want to do this? You don’t have to, you know. ”

I smile at my best friend. “Val, it’s time. I’ve hidden long enough.” I shake out my hands. “Plus, I miss my magic being at full power. No wonder they think magic is fake here.”

Val snorts. “Yeah, I do miss that, but you get used to it.”

“I’ve been here for five years. How long does it take?” He ignores my question because we both know the real answer is never. Not when you’ve grown up with magic at your fingertips. “I’m tired, Val. Tired of feeling like a kicked dog, cowering with his tail between his legs.”

He shakes his head. “Recovering. Regrouping. Not cowering. What they did to us, to you, was brutal, and you deserve all the time you need to heal. Plus, it’s given us time to find the Key.” He looks at the quartz and white gold filigree ring again. “Maybe.”

“We know where the Key is, even if they aren’t admitting it.” My words come out more angry than I planned.

Sighing, he moves closer to the gate. “We think we know. And when we have a few more things in place, we’ll take the Key back.” He mock glares at me. “And I meant this key, asshole.”

He holds out the ring, and I take it, giving him my own glare. “Fucker.” Our gazes meet, and he clenches his jaw, then pulls me into a bear hug. Which is awkward since he’s six feet tall and lanky, and I’m barely five feet, eight inches of compact muscle.

Tightening his ridiculously long arms around me, he kisses the side of my head.

“Be safe, Zayd. Don’t make me come home to kick someone’s ass.

Because after I do, I’ll kick yours for forcing me back before everything’s ready.

” It’s odd that after almost seven years on Earth, Val still calls Amagi home.

But I get it. I feel the pull too. Especially this close to one of the few doorways to our world.

“You can try. You were never as skilled as I am, and you never will be. You like to dance around and show off too much.”

He snorts. “That’s because I’m beautiful and worth showing off.” He squeezes me tighter, and I get the message: shut the fuck up.

I squeeze back. “I’m beautiful too, you ass.” We’re quiet for a moment, and the silence becomes overwhelming. There’s too much to say, and we’re not good at any of it. “I’ll be careful. They trained that into us. ‘Be careful or be dead.’ Right?”

“Stab Master Cosimo several times for me. Okay?”

I laugh into his shoulder, my throat tightening as my eyes prickle. “Definitely. And if I end up poisoning him instead, I’ll make sure it’s a slow, painful death.”

“Excellent.”

Reluctantly, I let go and step back with an embarrassed chuckle. “We’re getting all sappy, and we don’t even know if this will work. I could walk through the arch and still be in the middle of the Arizona desert.”

Val’s gaze sharpens. “It’ll work. You’ve met Ronan. I’m telling you, he’s the one we’ve been searching for. Even if he’s clueless about everything.”

“You’ll have to fix that.” I slip the ring on my left index finger, and the massive amplification of my magic catches me by surprise. Wide-eyed, I look at Val. “Whoa. It’s like being home!”

Val grins wickedly. “Right? I told you. Ronan’s the one. This’ll work.”

“How old is he?”

“Just turned thirty last September.”

I gawp at him. “He’s a baby! By the Founder, he’s strong.”

Laughing, Val waggles a finger at me. “Careful, your Amagi is showing.”

I flip him off. “I’m headed home, jerk. I’m practicing.”

Val’s smile fades, and his expression becomes serious.

“Good. You need to blend in so you don’t bring attention to yourself.

Once uncontracted bodies start appearing, they’re going to wonder why.

And who’s behind it. But there’re enough transplants from rescued covens to excuse any slips you might make.

You can tell people you’ve only been in Amagi for a year or less and keep forgetting local slang. ”

A year ago was right about when the last refugees were allowed in, and it’s believable as excuses go.

Though it’s probably better if I hole up and keep to myself until I get my slang under control.

And my contractions. And translation spells should take care of most slips.

Plus, keeping a low profile will give me time to familiarize myself with Panah City again.

There are bound to have been changes in Amal’s capital over the last five years.

After that, I’ll locate Master Cosimo and the handful of targets on my list, relearn their routines, and plan how best to painfully kill each of them.

Dropping my leather pack from my shoulder, I open the main compartment and pull out my heavy black wool cloak.

I slip out of my sweatshirt and settle the cloak over my shoulders, even though it’s a bit much for a late February morning in the Arizona desert.

It’s a fashion choice with my long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and hiking boots, but depending on where this door leads, I’ll appreciate the warmth once I’m through to the other side.

And it’ll help me blend in where I’m going—if this works.

I open the front flap of the backpack, pull out my phone and keys, and hand both, along with the sweatshirt, to Val.

“Wipe the phone and sell it. Or keep it. It’s yours now, along with the car.

” I glare at him. “Don’t wreck my baby.”

Val’s laughter rings out over the rocky terrain. “You act like it’s a sports car of some kind. Trust me, I won’t be out joyriding in a 2020 Kia Sportage.” His grin fades to a soft smile. “Though I do thank you for giving it to me. And I promise to take care of it.”

I close my pack and sling it over my shoulder as I stand, then pull him into one more hug. “You’ll be okay trekking back by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. As long as I avoid twisting an ankle on a geode or getting bitten by snakes while I haul my ass about twenty minutes east, find the dirt bike, and avoid getting arrested by border patrol while riding back to Tumacácori. Easy.”

Damn, I’m going to miss his sarcasm. “Take care of yourself, brother. And watch out for Ronan. If he is who we think he is, they’ll eventually come after him.”

“I’ll protect him with my life.” It’s said matter-of-factly, with no drama, which is unusual for Val, and once again, I wonder if there’s something going on there.

Either way, he’ll make sure Ronan is safe.

It’s what we were trained to do. Like me, he was acquired at a young age to become a Shade, a shadow assassin for the secret arm of the Onyx Guild.

It was kill or be killed, literally, from the moment training began.

Those of us who survived bonded like brothers.

I squeeze him once more and kiss his cheek.

“Alright. Let’s see if this works.” I step up to the archway, turn the ring so the gem is facing down, and place my palm against the stone.

A low hum rumbles from the structure. It vibrates through the ring, into my palm, quickly spreading through my whole body, making the hairs on my arms and legs stand on end.

I glance at Val, who stares, wide-eyed. He shoots me two thumbs up.

Laughing, I flip him off as the gateway opens with a whoosh.

Turning around, I stare at the rippling image of the world on the other side.

It’s nighttime there, and I shade my eyes, trying to adjust for the difference in light.

Based on the massive pillars and the sloping tiled roofs on the buildings, it looks like Seiiki City in Heisei.

It’s the wrong continent from where I want to be, but at least I’ll be in the right world.

I turn to Val. “It’s somewhere in Heisei.

So not too far off. I’m sure I can find a translocation circle to get me to Amal.

” I hold his gaze for another minute, my heart wanting to both stay and go. “Love you.”

He puts his hand over his heart. “Love you too, brother. Be safe.”

I take off the ring and toss it back. Then, firming my resolve, I face the gateway and step through.