Chapter 23 #2
“You wanted me to be more direct, so here’s my proposal,” Professor Yevar says. “Come with me and fight with the Xalgrith, and I’ll return the abducted students right here to the academy. That’s more than a fair trade.”
My mouth opens and closes like I’m a goldfish struggling for air.
I know I should automatically refuse, but how can I?
He’s talking about the lives of numerous students.
How many did he take over the years? “For all I know, they’re already dead,” I rasp, hardly able to get the words out. “Including Jensen.”
The professor watches me calmly. “I can assure you, they’re very much alive.”
I want to assume he’s lying, but I can’t help but believe him.
Are they really alive? I think of Jensen’s easy laugh and the way he has helped me during training.
What if I’m the only one who can save them?
My mouth goes dry. No, Shade, you can’t.
If the Xalgrith have you, they’ll be able to use you.
I think of the prophecy and my guys. I can’t make us lose this war.
No matter how badly I want to save the students.
“Just because they’re alive doesn’t mean they’re not close to death,” Elgen reasons, and I know she’s right. They might be alive, but for how long?
“Do not let him trick you, child,” Tarlaz adds, and I’m glad the shadows are with me. Even if they can’t really do anything to help.
“I won’t go with you,” I rasp to Professor Yevar. “I won’t be the reason we lose this war.”
The change on his face is instant. “You disappoint me. After what happened at the graduation games, I thought you would hate Queen Krosia just as much as I do. I’d hoped you might be reasonable, but no matter.
While I had thought you might come willingly, this will do just as well.
” He reaches into his pocket and clasps something, and a sheet of white light gathers at his side.
It’s not the same as a shadow pathway. No, it’s more like I’m staring at a foggy floor-length mirror that’s missing the frame.
Energy ripples from the portal, and I don’t need to ask to know where the gateway leads. The realm of the Xalgrith.
“Is that the fold?” I say in horror as sweat breaks out on my brow.
“What, this?” He laughs. “No. Though it works using similar magic.”
I use my shadows to test the shadow dome, but my power can’t penetrate the barrier. Damn it.
Two of Professor Yevar’s shadows shoot out toward me, and I yelp, dodging them just in time. He sends out a couple more shadows, and I dart away from them too.
He growls in frustration. “Oh, come now, are you really going to be this difficult?”
This time, six shadows race toward me like outstretched hands, and without thinking, I change into a crow. My creature’s egg that was in the sling across my chest, drops as I launch into the air. Before my shadows can catch it, Professor Yevar snatches it away.
His smile is cruel when he holds the egg in front of him.
No! Panicked, I fly across the dome before landing and returning to my human form. “Put her down!” I shout, the urge to protect my creature overriding my fear.
“Now, why would I do that?” He holds the egg up to his face, marveling at the onyx and cobalt shine. “The idea of saving the students didn’t get through to you, but perhaps this will instead. Come with me or your creature dies before she’s even hatched again.”
“Don’t,” I plead. “Please.”
He gestures toward the portal.
I take a step forward before stopping again.
“Shade!” Knox’s faint whisper reaches my ears, and Professor Yevar cocks his head like he can hear it as well.
The ground rumbles under our feet, and the shadow dome begins to tremble. My mates have found me. A trickle of relief cuts through my fear, but I know even if my mates do break through the dome, it doesn’t change the fact that Professor Yevar has my phoenix.
“It’s now or never, Shade,” Professor Yevar tells me as he holds my egg.
My bottom lip trembles. Too late. My mates will be too late.
I need to make a choice. Do I risk it all to save my phoenix and the abducted students?
If I go with him, I might also be able to find out what the Xalgrith want, but the chances of me escaping their realm all on my own seem pretty low.
I think of my portal ring, and how Galen said he may have found a way to create a portal to the realm of the Xalgrith. Could my mates find me?
“Tell me what I should do,” I say to the shadows.
“For the good of the shadow realm, you should stay, child,” Tarlaz reasons.
“Or for the good of the shadow realm, you should go,” Elgen counters. “We know as much as you do. There is no right or wrong.”
“That’s not helpful,” I reply in a sing-song voice.
“I can’t go,” I say to Professor Yevar. “If I leave academy grounds, Queen Krosia will know, and there will be war between the demons and the shadow warriors.”
He exhales sharply. “Not that it will matter in the long run, but if it helps to appease you, that won’t be an issue for now.”
“Why not?”
He stretches his arms wide. “How do you think I’m here?
The academy barrier isn’t as secure as it seems. I’ve had a hole in it for some time.
The shadow queen’s magic will not detect you passing the barrier, and she won’t know you’re missing while that hole remains.
Not unless someone else raises the alarm, and I’m positive your mates will ensure your absence is not immediately noticed. ”
Elgen cackles. “Clever professor. Galen could use his illusion power to make it seem like you’re still on academy grounds, so the other originals don’t get suspicious.”
“They won’t be able to pretend forever,” Tarlaz points out. “But it could buy your mates time to rescue you.”
It’s too risky, and Professor Yevar must see the moment I’ve made up my mind.
“Wrong choice, my dear. Let me change your mind, shall I?” His hand moves, and he tosses my creature’s egg toward the portal.
“NO!” I yell. My shadows shoot out, reaching for the egg, but I’m too late. With a flash of blue and black, my phoenix’s egg disappears into the gateway. Before I know what’s happening, Professor Yevar’s shadows are curling around mine. I try to pull away, but more shadows wrap around my body.
“Knox! Raith!” I scream for my mates.
Raith’s claws pierce through the shadow dome, but I know they won’t make it.
My gaze drops, and I have just enough time to scoop up Jensen’s severed finger before I’m dragged into the portal.