Chapter 13
As soon as the sun turns the Dread Woods from black to a hazy grey, we continue on our way. Guided by my blood’s link to the Oracle, we make our way through the nightmarish forest.
“I don’t understand why that thing didn’t tear you apart last night,” Ryder says out of nowhere.
“Maybe not every creature here is a murderous beast thirsting for blood,” I offer.
“Yeah. I doubt that,” he says dismissively.
I stop walking. “You of all people should know what it’s like to have people believe that you’re something you’re not, simply because they were told so.”
It takes a second for him to fight his ego before he admits I have a point.
“You’re annoyingly wise for your age,” he mumbles as he starts to walk down the path again.
“Okay, grandpa,” I snicker.
“For that comment, you’re doing extra push-ups when we get back.”
“Worth it,” I say with a smirk.
“Let’s see if you say that once the time comes.”
I turn in front of him and begin walking backwards. “Hey, you see these muscles?” I point to the very small bicep I’m attempting to flex through my torn jacket. “I could probably lift you with one arm.”
“I’d say we should test that theory out, but if I break you that will put a real damper on this mission.”
“Sounds like you’re just too embarrassed to be lifted by a girl.” I turn back around before I trip on a root and embarrass myself.
“You’re right,” he says behind me. “My ego is simply too fragile.”
“The big, bad prince has an image to protect.”
“Exactly,” he hisses when he appears in front of me. His black shadows create a vortex around us, making it impossible to see the forest.
“Is this supposed to scare me?” I cross my arms and tilt my head to the side, unimpressed.
He slowly creeps around me. “It should.”
The shadows fall away and when I whirl around to look at him, he’s nowhere to be found. I don’t bother playing his game, so I wait for him to reappear.
“If this is your idea of hide and seek, it’s not funny,” I shout into the open space when he doesn’t show himself. “Seriously, are you done?”
“What’s the matter? Misplace your Prince Charming?”
I whip my head around to find six women standing behind me, each one holding a silver staff.
Their piercing, diamond eyes and long, silver hair stand out against their matte black skin.
Illuminating, silver shapes and symbols mark up their petite bodies.
Whoever, or whatever they are, I am unfamiliar with.
“What did you do with him?” I demand, reaching for the flame in my heart.
“Nothing. He’s been right here all along,” the one in the middle says.
She lifts her staff and slams it to the ground. Ryder appears between us, frozen in place.
“What have you done to him?”
“We haven’t done anything. He’s simply on a different plane than us.”
She motions to her right, and one of the other women twirls the tip of her staff in the air.
As she does, Ryder begins to turn, but when he does it’s as if he’s stuck in between two pieces of glass.
One second, I’m looking at him and the next, all I can see is a shimmering edge. It’s almost as if he’s been flattened.
“Let him go!” I order as panic builds in my chest.
“We’ll let him go when you hand over the piece of Verenite Stone you’re hiding.”
I instinctively reach for my pocket, feeling the stone’s indention. I’ve kept it with me ever since I found it in the caves, knowing it’s too valuable to hide somewhere it could be found. However, now I’m wishing I had taken my chances and left it back at the house with the others.
“No!” I shout, trying to buy myself time to come up with a plan.
“Wrong answer,” the middle one warns. With the tap of her staff, Ryder vanishes once again.
“Bring him back!”
“You know the price. The stone for his freedom. I’ll give you one last chance to hand it over.”
She lifts her staff slowly in warning and somehow, I know the next time she slams it into the ground they’ll all be gone and so will any chance of me saving Ryder. I unwillingly reach into my pocket and pull out the small relic.
“Smart girl. Bring it here.”
I walk to the woman who must be in charge and hand over the precious stone.
Every part of me fights it, but I don’t have a choice.
I’m out numbered, and I don’t know how their magic works.
If Amaya were here, maybe she would be able to help, but she’s not.
The only hope I have of getting Ryder back onto this plane is to hand over the stone.
Once she has it in the palm of her hand, she motions to the woman on her right once more. She lifts her staff one last time, slamming it down. When she does, Ryder reappears in the forest. A wave of dark shadows lashes out around the six women, but when he pulls them back, they’re already gone.
“Are you okay?” I ask, running up to him.
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“What were those things?”
Ryder looks over to the empty space they just stood. “Serenities. I’ve heard of them but have never come across them myself.”
There’s a grim look on his face that makes me feel uneasy.
“What was it like?” I’m not even sure I mean to ask the question.
“It was like being a ghost. I could see and hear everything, but I couldn’t reach you.”
“That’s awful.”
I wait for him to ask about the Verenite Stone, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he acts as if he wasn’t just trapped on another plane and asks me which way to go.
The two of us walk side by side in silence.
Whatever it is he’s feeling right now, has him lost in quiet rage as we continue our journey through the dark, monster-ridden forest.
Hours pass and night has begun to fall. Ryder is just about to call it a night when I cut him off.
“Look!” I point down the left path of the forest blanketed in fog. “Do you see that?”
“See what?” He asks, looking in the same direction.
The invisible pull is stronger now. It’s almost as if it has a hold on my body. I hurry down the path, following the calling. Ryder stops searching for a place to rest for the night and follows behind me.
The closer we get, the more I’m able to see through the dense haze. In the middle of the forest lies a giant glowing circle. Vibrant blue, electric energy dances around the large ring. Filling the middle is a galaxy of stars winking back at me.
I turn to Ryder. “What is it?”
He takes a step closer, reaching his hand out as if he’s going to touch it.
“It’s a portal,” he answers, pulling his hand back. “This is it. The Oracle must be just on the other side.”
“What are you saying?” I point to the portal’s center. “We have to walk through there?”
“That is typically how a portal works.” He must sense my hesitancy because he reaches for my hand, taking a less sarcastic approach. “We’ll go at the same time.”
I tighten my grip around his gloved hand as the two of us stop just inches from the buzzing portal. He gives me one last look of encouragement before we both step into the endless pool of stars.
I expect it to feel like I’m falling through space like how it did when I ended up in the Shadow Lands during Section Assessments, but instead it feels like hopping off a tall step. When we land, Ryder’s grip holds me up, so that I don’t go stumbling.
The room is dark and small. It’s slightly cave-like, but a few feet in front of us lies three stairs leading up to a concrete slab.
Four large, crystal columns mark the corners of the slab, but that’s not where my attention is drawn to.
The ceiling above is an inverted dome. It’s filled with what looks like the night sky.
Millions of tiny stars twinkle against the black space, and it feels like they’re almost close enough to touch.
“Well, now what?”
Ryder’s about to say something, but a deep voice cuts him off.
“I’ve been expecting you, Reign Calloway.”
In the middle of the four columns, waves of light begin to appear.
They wrap around, forming a sort of cloak.
Unlike the one Ryder wears, this one is light and almost iridescent.
It reminds me of Amaya’s Elemental Sphere.
The rainbow-like cloaked figure that starts to take form has no face.
Only gleaming iridescent light lies beneath the hood.
It moves like a dress in water, flowing effortlessly in the open space between the crystal pillars.
“How did you know I would be coming?”
“Your father came to me years ago. Once you triggered the magic of the map, I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed up here. I’m sure you have many questions, but first, I think it’s best for me to tell you how this story began.”
Ryder turns to me and gives me a reassuring nod.
“Okay.” I let out a deep sigh, bracing myself. “Tell me everything.”
“Your mother and father came to me asking for guidance.”
Images of my parents appear within the illuminated cloak.
It’s been so long since I’ve seen my mother’s face that I instantly collapse to the ground.
I was so young when she died that I’m not even sure if my memories of her are real or just a figment of my imagination.
I watch as my father and her embrace one another in the place I once called home.
I can’t hear their voices, but it feels like they’re right in front of me.
“They had been trying to get pregnant for years but had no luck,” the Oracle continues.
“By the time they came to me they were desperate. They had taken the pregnancy elixir every month for three years. They prayed to The Mother every night. Your parents wanted a child more than anything in this world and they were willing to pay the price for it. You see, my services have a steep cost. The only reason I’m sharing all of this with you now is because your father made sure to pay the price for it in advance.
It was your mother though, who was the first to make the sacrifice.
In exchange for her magic, I would gift them the child they had always dreamt of. ”
“You made her give up her power?” My tone is accusatory and the moment it leaves my mouth the room around us begins to shake. I quickly get to my feet, trying to steady myself. Ryder rushes to my side and wraps a protective arm around me.
“She knew the cost and agreed to it. She made a choice, and she was willing to live with it. I only take that which is willfully given.”
“So, what then? She got pregnant with me?”
“Not quite.” The room stops shaking and Ryder lets go of me.
“You see, I had knowledge of a baby girl who had been found in the woods of Avelion. An old woman who had gone to visit the tree her husband had been buried under, heard the cries of a baby and followed the sound.” The visions of my parents fade, replaced by an elderly woman strolling through a lush green forest. “She was much too old to care for a baby, so I sent your parents to her. After that, they raised you as their own. I can say with certainty you were as much their daughter as anyone they might have conceived themselves.”
“I don’t understand. Did my real parents not want me? How could they just leave me all alone? What if no one had found me? Who are they?” The questions pour out just as quickly as they come rushing to my mind.
“There is much to your story, girl. You were not born from another. Just as the Elders, you were born from The Mother.”
“You’re lying!” Ryder bursts out.
The Oracle turns to him. “I do not lie, Prince. Her life comes as a gift from The Mother. Actually, it’s interesting that you should be the one to bring her here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ryder demands.
“Now, now. Even if I were willing to accept payment for such information, this part of the story is simply too fun to spoil.” The Oracle’s voice is suddenly low and haunting.
“What does he have to do with any of this?” I ask as more questions start to come flooding to the surface.
“I’ll leave you with only this.” The gleaming light beneath the cloak’s hood where a face should be is fixed on Ryder. “Immortality is one hell of a loophole for death.”