Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cotton
The next morning, I expected to wake up feeling hungover, but I didn’t.
I remembered all the information about the Mystics and Celestials we’d learned last night, and things began to make a bit more sense as to why the Mystics seemed invested in bringing Gray here to safety.
I walked through the floral courtyard near the Learning Sanctum.
A breeze drifted down my loose white tunic and trousers, bringing with it the relaxing scent of lavender.
After I got out of the bath that morning, I found the soft clothing manifested from nowhere on the end of my mattress, just like the night before.
Never had I worn clothes so comfortable in my life.
I’d grown accustomed to fitted suits and gear.
This thin material felt like wearing a silk blanket in comparison.
In addition to the clothing, I’d found a hot cup of coffee waiting for me on the table in the small kitchen, along with a kind, handwritten note from Nell wishing me the best during my stay.
Scarlett made her presence known in the courtyard before she came into view. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Valik. You slipped a tree sprite in my tunic! It could’ve set me on fire!”
I could only assume that Valik was staring off into the trees as Scarlett laid into him.
“You see, I don’t understand why the Mystics just can’t come live at the castle,” he randomly pondered aloud as they came into view, leaving Scarlett gaping at him for the sudden turn of conversation.
“Imagine the parties I could throw there.”
“Fuck. Off. Valik,” Scarlett growled, her eyes searching around the courtyard until her gaze landed on me. She flashed a look that shone with relief, no doubt so that I could spare her Valik’s bizarre antics.
“Thank the gods,” she muttered as she reached me. “I can’t handle another fucking second of his madness.”
I chuckled. “I feel like you’ve dealt with worse. Cardinal used to drive you insane.”
“Yeah, but he was my brother. Therefore, I couldn’t kill him. Valik is not my brother, so I could technically kill him, but he’s one of the few allies we have at the moment.”
I analyzed Valik and his powerful, energetic aura from a distance. He gazed at a stunning maze of hedges and flower combinations, before bending down until he was nose to nose with a flower the color of the sun, which he simply stared at for an eerily long time.
“You ever think that someone so mentally unstable should not hold such a vast amount of power?”
“Relentlessly.” Scarlett and I both shared looks of confused bewilderment as we attempted to figure out whether Valik was trying to speak telepathically with the flower or studying it. Either way—odd.
I shook myself from my trance, turning to face Scarlett.
“So what’s the plan?” she asked.
“I have no idea. Talitha set up another session for me and Nell later today.” I supposed there was no harm in exploring the grounds.
For the first time, I took stock of Scarlett’s clothing, which was different from what she’d been provided yesterday.
Instead of a tunic and trousers, she wore a loose dress of the same material, which flowed around her ankles, and exposed her shoulders from the halter that crossed over her collarbones.
Simple yet elegant. Usually, Scarlett made it a point to be striking in her style, but she suited the more relaxed look, especially with her deep red waves coiling freely down her sides.
“Freedom looks good on you, Scar.” I smiled before I bit my lip to suppress my laughter.
“Thanks,” she said, tossing her hair over one shoulder. “I wonder if the men here are celibate.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Dude. They’re probably happily taken with the large population of women here. Didn’t you hear anything Talitha said last night?”
With a lift of her shoulder, she said, “I did. But they all seem like the magic version of monks and shit. I just can’t imagine Mystics having kinky sex. They seem too pure.”
“I wouldn’t be quick to judge. It’s always the quiet ones that surprise you.” I ran my hands over my face at her logic. “Let’s just take a walk, yeah?”
“Sure.”
We clasped hands, ready to set off on our stroll through the courtyard before venturing off into the rest of their territory.
Nell came sprinting down the pathway, barefoot and wearing a dress similar to Scarlett’s. We had to jump out of the way before she plowed through us. Her eyes were locked on Valik, who still stared at his flower, seeming completely oblivious to everything around him.
I snatched Scarlett to a halt, watching as Nell slammed her hands into Valik’s shoulder. “Did you not hear me, you flighty imbecile?”
As if he were frozen in place, Valik said, “Yes. I’m locating them.” His voice was monotone, holding zero emotion or inflection.
Nell pressed her hands over her face, exhaling through her fingers. “Hurry, Valik. It’s almost too late. The window to open the portal is closing.”
“I’m working.”
“Why must you lot be so damned difficult?” Nell appeared to be on the verge of an aneurysm. Whatever was happening was vital. “I’ve never worked with anyone of your kind who was simple.”
Scarlett watched the scene transpire with tense shoulders, alert as if we were about to be ambushed.
Unfortunately, we had no weapons, so magic would have to be our best form of protection if a threat came our way.
I could only assume that the Mystics’ territory was under attack, and they were depending on Valik to open a portal.
At last, Valik straightened from his awkward position with the flowers. His eyes were clear, sharp, and focused. “Found them.” The beautiful courtyard suddenly didn’t seem large enough for Valik’s presence as he took two steps back, spreading his arms wide.
Pure white light of the most blinding magnitude emanated from his body as he ripped open a seam in the universe with his abilities. He gripped one side as if it were an elevator door and began to pry it open.
“What’s happening?” I asked Nell as we all watched and waited for Valik to finish opening the portal.
“The Angels sent Ari a vision of the leading Elemental Hollow. They have been trekking on foot in search of the Celestial Castle. But they’re in trouble, and if we don’t get them here now, then all hope is lost. They won’t be able to withstand the attack that comes for them.”
“So we’re bringing an entire Hollow of Elementals…here?”
“Yes. It’s the only way.”
I nodded and relayed the information to Scarlett.
We stood impatiently waiting as Valik stepped through the portal to the other side.
Seconds later, he reemerged. Directly behind him, a muscular man with thick black locs stepped through, his deep umber skin shimmering gold.
His gaze was vacant with irises lined with two silver rings.
He paused, going preternaturally still for several moments before turning around, ushering in a large group of strangers through the halo of blinding light.
At first, I thought everyone was fine. Signs of haggard exhaustion clung to their energies like a wet blanket, but aside from that, they all seemed in decent condition.
Then the injured began to pour through. Some staggered with the help of a friend, while others were carried in on cots made from tree limbs and sticks.
As the courtyard grew overcrowded, Scarlett and I backed up further to make room for the incoming Elementals.
Just when I thought everyone had come through, a shock of blue hair that I thought I’d never see again flashed amidst the crowd. I gripped Scarlett’s wrist, squeezing it. No fucking way.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” Scarlett hissed.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to discern what the deal with her was. “She’s a prisoner being escorted.”
“Good. I hope they kill her.”
So did I. Not only was she a close confidant to Forest, she had been a nightmare as a teen when I had been part of the insurgency. The way she had used Onyx to obtain insider information to gain favor with the king…
“If they don’t, then I will.”
It took nearly five minutes for Valik and the lead Elemental to get everyone through the portal.
The second Valik let it slam shut, he dropped to his knees.
Scarlett and I rushed over to him, both of us helping him to his feet from either side.
Beneath the thick layer of sweat bathing his skin and soaking through his Mystic-vibe clothes, his tanned skin had paled.
“I’m fine. Just need to sit.”
I wasn’t experienced enough to be able to instantly tap into other people’s minds yet. With everything happening around us, I couldn’t focus on the cord with Valik to communicate, so I remained quiet.
“You overdid it, dumbass.” Scarlett dropped one of his arms over her shoulder while I did the same with his other.
“I’m sure you’ll be thanking me later,” Valik mumbled under his breath, his eyes barely open.
Nell rushed over to us, stopping long enough to say, “Take him to the Healer’s Hive so he can rest and recharge.” She dashed into the foray of Elementals, seeking out the most injured first.
I carried most of Valik’s dead weight down the path and to the Healer’s Hive. This time, we didn’t have the chance to marvel and take in its beauty. By the time we reached the door, Valik was unconscious.
“Do we know if he can actually die from this?” Scarlett asked breathlessly.
Before I could answer, Valik piped up, “No.” I breathed a sigh of relief as Scarlett and I struggled with getting all three of us through the door. “Worse.”
“Oh, great. No pressure.” Scarlett held the door open with her hip as we shuffled through the threshold. “Although life would be a lot quieter without your bullshit, old man.”
“You’d miss me.” Valik’s eyes remained closed as he grinned. “Admit it.”
Scarlett opened her mouth to retort, but was cut short by a petite, youthful woman who took control of the door and held it open for us. Her snowy hair mirrored my own, and she possessed ageless eyes that seemed to look through us. “Follow me.”
We carried Valik through a maze of hallways and flights of stairs, and by the time we reached the water users’ healing ward, my muscles burned.
The healer turned into a room on the left.
From the doorway, Scarlett gasped in awe.
The room’s entire floor was composed of water, not allowing us to see down into the room below, only wading water that seemed infinite.
Somehow, the healer walked right over the top as if she were Jesus himself.
“Lay him on the bed here,” she instructed as she pulled the covers down for Valik. When Scarlett and I didn’t move, she glanced up from fluffing the pillows. Realization dawned on her as she looked down at the floor. “Oh, right. The floor is spelled. You can walk on it without getting wet.”
At that, Scarlett and I carried Valik the few feet standing between us to the bed and laid him in it. Scarlett might as well have dropped him like a sack of shit, while I tried to have a bit more tact about it.
“He’ll be fine,” the healer said, as if this wasn’t the first time she’d taken care of Valik in this state. “He’ll be back to tormenting us all soon enough.”
“Try to keep him down as long as possible, please?” Scarlett pleaded.
The healer giggled. “I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks. You’re a gem.”
Scarlett grabbed my hand and pulled me from the room.
We speed-walked back the way we’d come to the entrance.
Other than Chrome and Gray, I’d never met an Elemental, and even then, I hadn’t known they were part-Elemental the entire time I’d interacted with them.
So this would be a first for both of us. Curiosity plagued my mind.
As we navigated the Healer’s Hive, we were met with traffic of Mystics and Elementals carrying morbidly injured individuals up to the various floors. I didn’t stop and stare, but I did glimpse what appeared to be black blood oozing from large open gashes.
“Endarkened creatures got them,” I said telepathically to Scarlett.
“You think the Mystics can help them?” Scarlett whispered to me as we kept our pace.
I shrugged. “I really hope so. For all of our sakes. At least there would be hope of survival if we are ever attacked.”
When we pushed out the front door of the Healer’s Hive, the crowded courtyard had dispersed into groups. I searched the Elementals, looking for Royal. The questions tumbling through my mind of how she ended up with them would surely eat me alive.
“You think Gray is with them?” Scarlett muttered, scanning the newcomers. “She’s their leader now, right?”
“I don’t see her. She is supposed to be—”
“Holy shit.” Scarlett breathed, covering her mouth with her hand. She stood frozen in shock, staring at one person in particular. I followed her line of sight and spotted a bright shock of red hair within the crowd. “Cardinal.”
Scarlett nodded before sprinting toward her brother. She slammed into him, almost tackling him to the stone pathway.
My heart swelled. She had believed her entire family to be dead. I smiled for her, glad she had the brother she had been closest to with her again.
I cleared my throat as I watched their reunion. No doubt they had a lot to catch up on.
Realizing I hadn’t spotted Gray yet, anxiety took over.
This was the main Elemental Hollow. Now that Chrome had turned into something else, she would be the sole monarch of both Kinetics and Elementals.
And given everything that had transpired between her and the Kinetics, it was clear she would lay her loyalties with the Elementals.
So where was she?
Battered Elementals walked past me, their gazes vacant.
Whatever they’d experienced, it was clear they had lost a lot.
Having never dealt with Elementals in the past, I noticed that even the golden sheen of their skin seemed wan, and the darkened circles beneath their eyes made their faces appear hollow.
They walked past, casting distrustful glances my way.
That was fair.
Familiar insecurity regarding my disability rose in me again. My silence felt like a sign of drawing battle lines between us.
I pushed it down past the lump in my throat. Guilt from my people’s bigotry and hatred against their people made me cast my gaze away. What I didn’t expect—and vacuumed the air from my lungs—was the pair of bright amber eyes I met from across the courtyard.
I stilled. Those molten eyes had always reached places I’d never wanted anyone to see. Instead of the playful yet fierce stare he used to behold, a hard and tired expression rested there.
Onyx Valor had been presumed dead. And with his death, a large piece of me had died with him.