Chapter 8
Iclutched a little mercury rock in my hand with aching fingers. My eyes were squeezed so tightly shut that not a single ray of the intense sunlight above me could slip through the cracks. I felt locks of hair floating around my face, energy surging inside me.
Take me to the Rebellion base. I need to know where the rebel base is.
I repeated the same version of this mantra with each deep inhale. But I sensed nothing. In frustration, I opened my eyes and tossed the useless rock into my bag.
I’d sat cross-legged in the sand for so long my limbs had gone numb, with Erebos’s book open in front of me. The worn pages showed a faint drawing of a man whose position I was currently mimicking.
Tap into the energy of the Moon
It is ancient lore that the Moon must be complete to perform Moon magic. The Moon will always be whole, only the position from the sun is everchanging. Tap into the unseen, as you would the seen. Close your eyes, visualize the power in front of you. Let the light absorb you.
Your hands will fall open. Let the Moonlight illuminate the lines on your palms. With each inhale, sharpen your intention. With each exhale, release that intention, and trust that it will find Goddess Nyxe. The Moonlight will carry her answer back to you… if you’re patient.
Unfortunately, my patience was running thin. It’d been a week since I left the prison. Nothing but sand and the burning sun had kept me company, along with the few objects Boaz’s guards had stuffed into my bag before I left.
I let out an annoyed huff. My exposed thighs burned from the hot sand.
Boaz hadn’t provided me with a new outfit, so I was stuck with my prison uniform.
I’d tried and tried to contact the rebels without luck.
The book didn’t mention the use of mercury, but as the guards had thought it useful, I figured it’d be worth a try. I was wrong.
Stupid Boaz with his stupid guards.
Rummaging through my bag, my fingers curled around the thing I was looking for. I pulled out the piece of canvas, smoothing it out as I laid down on my back. A wet tear slid down my cheek, situating itself in my hairline.
I felt the prickle on my forearm as I tried to reach my little sister. “Lili?” I whispered, staring into the darkening sky. Nothing.
Closing my eyes, I clutched the drawing to my chest. “Archie?”
The knowledge that they were together was the only comforting thought I allowed myself. I knew they could only hear me if they touched the crystal, and that was only if I was even strong enough to form the bond.
Lili? I tried again, sending the vibrations of my voice through the bond instead of my throat.
Prue?
I sat up straight, staring down at the glowing tattoo. Lili, is that you?
Yes, it’s me!
Her voice was full of excitement. I couldn’t help the tears flowing freely, wetting my cheeks.
How are you? How’s Archie?
We’re both fine! I’m living with him now. We eat a lot of fish.
I let out a shaky laugh, wiping my nose with my bare arm. Does he salt it at least? I smiled, imagining Lili laughing.
No. But I do.
Smiling so much my face hurt, I thanked the Goddess for finally letting me reach them.
I miss you so much, Prue. We both do.
I could feel her agony through the bond, feeling tears running down my face that weren’t my own.
I took my own hand, pretending it was hers.
I miss you too, so much. But I’m working on coming home to you. I can’t say much.
I hesitated, wondering how much to tell her. I wouldn’t want to burden them with my worries.
They’re sending me on a mission to try and find the rebels, Lili. Then I’ll come get you.
A moment passed before she answered.
Is it dangerous?
I suspected she conveyed every word to Archie He was probably sitting beside her, turning into a nervous wreck with every word I uttered.
Not at all. Are you still drawing those beautiful masterpieces?
I stared at the drawing, trying to imagine how the two of them looked in this moment. Archie. Wrapping his protective arms around her, asking every few seconds what I said.
I am, and guess what? The Royalists love me. They all want a Liliana original.
I actually laughed out loud, my cheeks straining at the odd movement. A feeling of proudness unfolded inside me before the familiar over-protective nervousness replaced it.
I’m so proud of you. I have to go now. Tell Archie to go shower, I can smell him from here.
Another laugh, then Archie’s voice filled my head.
I heard that.
How?
Magic, he purred back.
Can Lili hear me now?
No, not when I have the rock. Why, what’s wrong?
He knew I’d tell Lili anything but the worst news.
Archie… this mission. It’s not risk-free. I’d say it’s borderline insane, actually. They’ve sent me to find the rebel base to steal something.
I paused, listening to the silence pulsating through the bond. It urged me to continue.
I have six months. If I succeed, I get to come home, but if I don’t…
I let the silence fill the blanks.
I’m not going to let anything happen to you. His response was immediate.
If you don’t hear from me anymore, take Lili and go. Go anywhere, just don’t stay in Erobred. Please, Archie.
Okay. But do me a favor?
I took a deep breath, wondering what he could ask of me from this distance.
Anything.
I could almost hear him take a deep breath before speaking.
Come back alive.
When I woke up the next morning, my entire body ached in pain from the seemingly endless walking. I shook my legs in annoyance, trying to wake them up as they carried me further away from the prison. Further into the nothingness that was sand.
Nibbling on a dry bun, one of the last ones provided by Boaz, I tried to force my heavy head to think up a plan.
The dry bread stuck in the back of my throat, stealing the last bit of moisture from my mouth. I took the last bottle of water from my bag and took a tiny sip, gurgling the water around in my mouth before swallowing.
The strap of my bag dug fiercely into my shoulder and leaned heavy against my opposite hip. The magical items made it ten times heavier than it usually was. I was tempted to dump it all in the desert and never look back. Though I wondered briefly when I’d last had this much loot.
Maybe when I was nineteen and had run into a herd of drunken ladies in fine attire at the market. Their jewels had gleamed tauntingly, hanging loose on their slinky wrists and fingers.
My heart leapt as I caught a glimpse of green in the distance. A vibrant splash of color against the endless sea of sand. It looked almost surreal after seeing nothing but gold for so long.
I quickened my pace, longing to feel the soft grass between my toes.
I craved the relief from the sun under the huge trees.
After traveling the desert for a week, I knew the distance was longer than it looked, so I willed myself to keep a good, but manageable, pace.
Still my steps felt lighter than air as I closed in on the Goddess-sent haven ahead of me.
After walking patiently for a few more miles, I couldn’t wait anymore. Breaking into a run, I closed the last bit of distance in a few minutes.
The trees grew taller and fuller as I stepped from sand to grass. I flung my bag aside and collapsed on the soft surface, savoring the coolness against my sunburned skin. I ran my hand through the meadowy bottom.
Then I heard a new blessing in the distance and nearly shrieked in excitement. My feet stumbled as I followed the faint babbling of a stream. I could drink greedily. I could bathe.
Almost laughing in relief, I turned into a clearing. An enormous mountain stood tall, a gushing waterfall running down its rocky side.
Levels of frothy water plunged into pools before connecting to form a beautiful pond at the bottom.
The clear, fresh water ran smoothly over my skin as I dipped my arm into it, the cooling sensation nearly overwhelming. I cupped my hands and brought the water to my mouth. My throat burned as the water ran down it.
I caught my own reflection in the pond’s surface and gasped. My braided hair was a mess, and the dark circles under my eyes were more prominent than ever.
Pulling my shirt slightly to the side, I winced at the sight. I’d known it would be there, but the display of it still disgusted me. An angry, red scar ran from the base of my neck and stretched to the middle of my shoulder from where Boaz had burned me with his bare hands.
I pulled my shirt over my head and turned, glancing over my shoulder at the reflection. Thin lines ran down my pale back, reminding me forcefully of the Defender who’d caught me. Kenric.
I had to snap out of this miserable state of mind. Looking around, I decided to enjoy the wonderful scenery instead. The mist sprayed the rocks, creating little rainbows everywhere near me. The moss surrounding the pool looked pillow soft. The green was a welcome change in scenery.
I stripped bare then sunk slowly into the water, inhaling deeply to adjust to the cold sensation. I’d barely ever felt cold before. Goosebumps erupted on my skin as the soft waves caressed me.
The infinite crashing of water over rock had me in a mesmerizing trance. Moss and pine infiltrated my nose, and I inhaled deeply. In the desert, I could smell nothing but my own unpleasant body odor. Here, nature erased all the traces of my foul, human scent.
I submerged myself fully, scrubbing my face with my hands, then running them through my hair.
I resurfaced, finding a tall rock to sit on. I let the water wash away weeks of sweat and stress. It was glorious, the fleeting peace filling my body as I sat naked, surrounded by gorgeous greenery.
As my worries quieted, I could focus on the impossible task lingering at the back of my mind. This would be the perfect time to try and contact the rebels again.
Hauling myself from the pool, I tried to shake the remaining water off. When my hands were dry enough, I grabbed the old book from my bag, studying its fragile bindings.