Chapter 1
THE MASQUERADE BALL
The day had finally come. In a few minutes, I would arrive at the Masquerade Ball. By the end of the evening, I’d be a Knight. I’d come to the Castle three weeks ago, but this journey had begun long before that. I felt like I’d been preparing for this my whole life.
“We’re going to be Knights.” I liked the way the words sounded, so I said them again. “We’re going to be Knights.”
Nevada looked at me, grinning. “I know. It’s so surreal, isn’t it?”
The two of us were in my new room at the Castle, making ourselves ready for the Ball. Dress: check. Hair: check. Makeup: check. Pretty shoes: check. Ornate mask covered in sparkly bits: check.
“I almost can’t believe I’m here,” I said. “I have to admit, there were a few times I didn’t think I’d make it.”
“I’m glad you made it out of Fenris’s fortress, Savannah. I was so worried about you. I wish I could have been there to help you.”
I didn’t. I was glad that when Zenik had messed with my portal, my best friend hadn’t been teleported along with me. Fenris’s fortress was not a nice place.
“Thanks for getting a dress for me, Nevada.” I slid my hands down the dark, deep blue gown. It was covered in sparkles, but it wasn’t rough or scratchy. The material was soft, stretchy, and oh-so-comfy.
“We’re very lucky that there were any dress shops still standing after that horrible man blew up larger parts of the Magic Emporium.” Nevada tied her sparkly mask around her head. “Ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
We made our way toward the ballroom. The Castle had a lot of stairs.
We had to lift up our skirts. I felt like I was living in a fairytale.
We reached the final staircase, a wide, curving, downward spiral above the ballroom.
We stood there for a moment and just breathed it all in.
The classical music and pleasant conversations.
The Knights and Apprentices dressed in ballgowns and tuxedos.
The magic and hope and anticipation swirling in the air.
“This is where we belong.” Nevada took my hand, and we descended the staircase together.
Troy Davenport, her date for the evening, waited at the bottom, holding a corsage.
He just stood there, gawking at Nevada. She did look beautiful in her dress.
It was sleeveless and pink with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt of folded chiffon and delicate tulle, arranged in cascading layers. It was so her.
Nevada smiled at her stunned date. He snapped out of his daze.
He tied the corsage around her wrist, then the two of them shared their first dance.
A waltz. When had Nevada had time to learn how to waltz?
My gaze panned across the couples on the dance floor.
When had any of the Apprentices had time to learn how to waltz?
I stood there, at the base of the staircase, suddenly feeling very alone. There were so many couples here.
“What happened at the Monolith?”
The question rose above the background chatter.
I tried to figure out who had said it, but there were so many people here: Knights and Apprentices and Rebels.
Rebels? I saw Vivi with her little sister Evie.
Angel was hugging one of the other formerly-missing Apprentices.
Cedar and a Rebel I’d never seen before were talking to one of the Knights.
The Rebels had come here to see their friends for the first time in what was, for many of them, years.
It was touching and heartbreaking, and I really hoped the General didn’t crash our party and ruin it.
“Kato hasn’t been himself since he came back from the Monolith.”
“Neither has Conner.”
I looked for Kato and Conner, but I didn’t see either of them anywhere.
“Something very strange must have happened during their mission to the Monolith. I asked Conner about it, but he isn’t sharing.”
“Kato’s not talking either. He’s being even more taciturn than usual.”
“There is one other person here who knows what happened there: Savannah Winters.”
The Knight and the Rebel looked straight at me.
“Do you think she did this to them?”
“No idea, but they were both perfectly fine until she came around. That girl has weird magic. And she’s always dragging them into danger.”
“More like they’re always dragging you into danger.” Kylie put her arms around me. “What are you doing standing here all alone, Savannah?”
“Hopefully not dragging anyone into danger.”
Kylie laughed. She had such a warm and genuine laugh. “Don’t listen to those grumpy old gossips. They’re just jealous.”
“Jealous of what?”
“Jealous of you. You saved the Spirit Trees. You rescued the Apprentices. You’re the hero of the story.”
“So you don’t believe all of the terrible things they say about me?”
Kylie laughed again, and her full skirt bounced. Her dress was sky-blue and so vibrant. It was so full of energy, just like Kylie.
“Of course I don’t believe them,” she said. “I know the kind of person you are. You’re someone who will do anything to help your friends. You found us. You saved us from that wretched vampire. All of this is possible because of you.”
Kylie indicated the Knights, Rebels, and Apprentices—friends and family finally reunited.
This was how we were supposed to be: together.
United, not divided. It was time to heal old wounds and mend broken friendships.
It was time for the Knights to be one again.
There were so many bad people out there, so many enemies.
If we didn’t stand together, we were lost.
Vivi stood with her arm around her sister Evie. Evie didn’t look so great. She was so pale and weak. Vivi was supporting most of her weight.
“Is she going to be all right?”
Kylie’s smile faded. “Fenris really did a number on Evie. Killjoy is still waiting on her test results to see what he can do for her.”
“If only I’d found you guys sooner.”
“We’re grateful that you found us at all, Savannah. Every single one of us owes you a great debt. You rescued us from that awful place.”
“It wasn’t just me. Capricorn and Scorpio got us out of there.”
“You called them there. And you fought Fenris. Without you, we wouldn’t be standing here today. You are a hero, Savannah Winters, and we’re going to make sure that everyone knows it.”
“Thank you for sticking by me.”
“Thank you for not giving up on us.” She looked at me like she wanted to say something. Opened her mouth. Closed it.
“Out with it, Kylie,” I chuckled.
“I’d hate to ask you for another favor, especially after everything that you’ve already done for me.”
“You’re my friend, Kylie. I will always do everything in my power to help you.”
“Thanks. And right back at you.”
“So what do you want to ask me?”
“It’s about Asher. I was hoping that you…could find him. And save him too.”
Our teammate Asher had disappeared through the Spirit Tree during the battle with the Techno Knights. The tree had brought him to another realm. I had no idea where he was.
“I will do my best to find him and bring him home again,” I promised. “We can’t lose anyone else.”
“Hello, ladies.”
Ansel walked toward us. Yes, walked. He was wearing a new armor suit. So that was the ‘special project’ he’d been working on.
He extended a hand to Kylie. “May I have this dance?”
“Of course!”
Ansel and Kylie joined the other couples on the dance floor. They waltzed right past Rhett and Zoe and the other shocked Victory kids standing on the sidelines.
“Hey there.” Dante sauntered up to me, dressed in a classic black tuxedo with a black bowtie. His mask was black too.
“Hey there, yourself.” I looked around. “Where’s your date?”
“I decided to go solo tonight.”
“Oh, really?”
“It was the only fair solution.”
“To what problem?”
“All the ladies wanting to enjoy the pleasure of my company.”
I smirked at him. “Don’t look now, Romeo, but two of your admirers are coming this way fast. Maybe they’ll fight for the honor of being the first to dance with you.”
He patted me on the back, chuckling. “I’m glad the vampires didn’t eat you, Sav. I missed you. Though I must admit things got a lot quieter the moment you disappeared.”
The only response to that was an eye-roll. Dante seemed to find that even more amusing. A mischievous twinkle lit up his eyes. I knew that look. I was in for a lot more teasing.
Or at least I would have been if his two admirers hadn’t just arrived in front of us.
“Dance with me, Dante,” they said over each other.
The fire in each girl’s eyes promised drama if he didn’t pick her.
“Why, of course,” Dante said smoothly.
He extended two hands. Bewildered, the girls each took one. Dante led them onto the dance floor, where he proceeded to dance with both of them at the same time. He led them into spins and turns, and very soon, they were laughing and enjoying themselves, their battle rage totally forgotten.
Not far from them, Eris and Orion were dancing together. They smiled at me. I smiled back. At least they didn’t think I was a bad apple.
Not all of the Knights were as cordial. Kato and Conner were well-liked, and the rumor that I was somehow responsible for their odd behavior was spreading fast.
The music stopped.
“May we have your attention please.”
I knew that voice. Kato! He stood in front of the orchestra. The six mentors stood with him. Knights and Apprentices gathered around them.
“This is the big day,” Kato said. “The day Apprentices become Knights. The day you join your Tribes.”
Anticipation buzzed in the air. As far as rites of passage went, this was a big one.
Altair stepped forward. “Joining the Alchemists are Ansel, Parker, Chris, Lara, and Tristan.”
The crowd applauded as the named Apprentices joined Altair. Ansel’s placement in the Alchemist Tribe was no surprise. He was a genius.
Eris was up next. “Joining the Nymph Tribe are Nevada, Wayne, Georgia, Ryan, and Cindy.”
“Go, Nevada!” Dante and I shouted over the lively applause.
Though I did not envy her being stuck with Georgia. What the heck had happened there? Georgia was Zoe’s trusty sidekick and one of the Victory kids. Nymphs were supposed to be kind, calm, and harmonious. The kids from Victory were none of the above.
Next, Orion welcomed the new Dreamweavers into the Tribe. “Jack, Noah, Troy, Mona, and Kylie.”
“They actually placed me,” Kylie gasped. “How? I missed so much of the training.”
“I guess you’re a natural.” I winked at her.
She joined her new Tribe, grinning.
Ainsley was next. She stepped to the front, looking as glamorous as always. “How are you, my lovely Elves?”
A few of the girls squealed with excitement.
“Joining the most fabulous Tribe of all are Victoria, Sophia, Sophie, and Amber!”
The girls went to Ainsley, then they all shared a big group hug. They jumped up and down, chanting over and over again, “The Elves are the best! Better than all the rest! The Elves are the best! Better than all the rest!”
They nearly ran into Kato on his way to the front. “As Knight Commander of the Polymages, I am pleased to welcome Savannah into our Tribe.”
Everyone stared at me. The silence was deafening. Then some people started clapping, mostly my friends and a few other people I’d managed not to annoy in the past three weeks.
Conner was standing slightly off to the side of Kato, at the edge of the crowd. I positioned myself between him and Kato.
“Red.”
“My dress is blue,” I teased him.
He chuckled. “You’ll always be Red to me.”
Conner and Kato each took one of my hands, and thus united, we lifted our linked arms over our heads. This time, the crowd broke into applause. I grinned. I guess they’d noticed what I had. Conner and Kato appeared to be back to their old selves.
“Looking good, gentlemen,” I told them.
The boys were dressed in identical tuxedos with white bowties.
“Naturally.” Conner flicked his hair aside.
“So you guys are all right?”
“Of course,” Conner replied. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
That’s when I noticed it. My heart sank. “You’re still holding that weird ball.”
It had changed color since I’d last seen it, but it was the same squishy, glowing ball.
“It’s no longer orange,” I said. “It’s yellow now, teetering on the border of green. Like it’s counting down to something ominous.”
Conner tossed the ball to Kato, who caught it.
“Ominous countdowns generally go in the other direction, Seven: green to red.”
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
“Elliot, Sara, Tari, and Cyrus: you’re with me.”
The named Apprentices joined Nala. They were the Castle’s newest Sorcerers.
Next, it was Jareth’s turn. The other Metamorphs cheered him on with very manly hoots and chest thumps.
“Joining the coolest Tribe of all are Dante—”
Thump-thump-hoot.
“Rhett.”
Thump-thump-hoot.
“Zoe.”
Thump-thump-hoot.
Boom.
Wait, what? Boom?
There was another boom, and this one shook the whole building. The ball in Kato’s hand flashed green, and then the Masked Metamorph punched through the wall. He moved toward us, a bulldozer of magic, a terrible force of nature. The debris from the broken wall retreated, fleeing from his presence.
He opened his mouth. “Now.” His voice was deep and terrifying, powerful and primal. It hit me like a punch to the gut. Just that one word was enough to make the walls shudder and the ground quake. “It’s time.”