Bluestone shadows, p.18
Bluestone Shadows, page 18
“You said she was dead.”
“Aye. That I did. But the Yfel have her.”
“Where are they holding your mother?” Alden asked.
Gabe silently shook his head and sniffed back tears. “I don’t know.”
“Alden, is there another way to handle this?” Chance asked.
“Your sister’s life is at stake because of this traitor,” Benedict answered sharply. “You waste time discussing this matter. Gabe must be dispatched, immediately.” He turned to Alden. “Do your duty, brother.”
Alden nodded and raised his hand toward Gabe. “This will not be painful.”
“Wait, you can’t do this!” Chance yelled out. “He’s kin!”
Alden’s hand fell on Gabe’s head and the man disappeared.
“You reduced him to dust, you bastard!” Chance yelled.
Alden casually brushed debris from his suit. “I did no such thing. Your cousin is suspended in a different dimension. He still lives.”
“You should have killed him,” Benedict rebuked.
“Perhaps, but at least the situation has been handled for now.” Alden turned to Chance. “You and I will search for your crystal while Benedict searches for Hilly. Time is truly of the essence.” He turned to Benedict. “Be well, brother. I will inform you when I can join you.”
“Be well, Alden.” Benedict abruptly disappeared.
“Chance, we should get started,” Alden instructed as he strode to the edge of the hill and gazed across the moor. He waved his hand, releasing the force field holding Chance to the ground.
“Thanks for not killing Gabe,” Chance said as he joined the Cererian.
“Death is still a possibility. But banishing him was the easiest decision considering our urgent timeline. Now, let’s find your crystal.”
Chapter 21
Hilly’s Torment
The three ravens flew north toward Yr Wyddfa.
We have shaken the world by stealing the Firewalker witch, Aaron telepathically boasted to his soldiers. Soon Lord Stygian will be released.
Hilly dangled from Aaron’s beak as he rocketed toward the summit of the mountain also known as Mount Snowdon. Having blacked out, her eyes had rolled back into her head and a blue tint spread across her skin.
Minutes after taking Hilly, Aaron and his henchmen landed near the peak. When their feet touched the ground, they shapeshifted back into their Cererian form. Aaron kicked Hilly, and she rolled like a rag doll along the ground.
“Balor, bring the witch into that cave,” Aaron barked. “Cary, seal the area with cloaking magic. Be quick about it!”
Balor lifted Hilly into his arms and carried her inside as Aaron followed behind. “Over there,” Aaron ordered as he pointed toward a large rock. “Bind her to that boulder.”
Balor held Hilly’s body against the rock as he mouthed binding magic. Instantly her body spread eagle against the boulder, her hands and feet held by an invisible force.
“Step aside, Balor,” Aaron directed. He faced Hilly and lightly stroked her lips with his index finger until her mouth grew faint and disappeared.”
“The cloaking magic is dispensed, Lord,” Cary advised as he joined the others in the cave.
“Good,” Aaron replied. “Now, no one will find her, and no one will hear her.” He stepped back and scrutinized his captive. “To think that such a pitiful creature could ensnare Stygian. I’ll soon remedy that!”
“Lord, did you hear the Guardian boulder’s message?” Cary asked.
“Idiot!” Aaron screamed, slapping the soldier across his face. The Cererian careened into a nearby wall. Cary regained his footing and held his cheek, stained with a crimson imprint of Aaron’s hand.
“Of course I heard it,” Aaron raged. He clenched his fists and menaced the soldier. “It means Ryan has failed, and the second crystal has been restored.”
Aaron eyed Hilly. “That means we will need to expedite our plan for the witch.”
Jake gasped and sputtered. His eyes bulged, and he clawed at the sky.
“Roll him over, quickly,” Darrius ordered.
Fen and Kai pushed Jake onto his side right as he vomited black bile. He retched several times while Fen rubbed his lower back. Her fingers inadvertently brushed one of the tattoos
She snatched her hand away.
“Ow!” she cried out.
“What happened?” Kai asked.
“One of those symbols bit me.”
“His body is healing,” Darrius observed. “The Prophecy is protective of the Word, and you must have come in contact with an important passage.” He studied the shaman as he lay panting on his side. “You and Kai have witnessed an event no one is allowed to see. The Prophecy and Jake share a body. The tattoos are alive as much as your friend or you and me. To look upon the sacred symbols is blasphemous.”
“We were healing Jake, not being disrespectful,” Kai argued.
Darrius held up a hand. “I did not accuse you of sacrilege. I am informing you of the Word’s importance. Now, I have a dilemma.” Darrius touched Jake’s temple, causing the shaman to shudder and mutter.
“What’s your dilemma?” Fen asked.
“You and Kai can’t tell anyone about what you witnessed today—not even Hilly or Chance. The only way I can ensure that will never happen is to erase your memories.”
“No way, Darrius!” Kai stood and glared at the Cererian. “Fen and I can keep Jake’s secret.”
“Under pain of torture?” Darrius probed.
“What do you mean?” Fen asked.
“If the Yfel capture you, they have methods for extracting information, and if that occurred, Jake’s life and the existence of the Prophecy will be compromised.”
“They…won’t…tell,” Jake sputtered in a hoarse whisper as he lay on his side.
Darrius looked down at the shaman. “You can’t take that chance, Jake.”
“We won’t tell,” Fen asserted. “Kai and I would never betray our friend.” She gently stroked Jake’s forehead, and he sighed.
“Have faith in us, Darrius,” Kai added. “Fenny and I can be discreet when we need to be.”
“They’ll be fine,” Jake croaked as he struggled to sit up. “I know they won’t talk about what happened today.”
“What happened?” Kai asked winking at his friend.
“Very well,” Darrius said. “I will not erase your memories, but I will be watching.”
“Hilly’s…in…trouble,” Jake said haltingly. He spit phlegm onto the ground.
“She’s been taken by the Yfel,” Darrius revealed as he wrapped a cloth around Jake’s shoulders. “You need more time. The Word is still healing.”
“There’s no time,” Jake replied in a husky voice. “She needs my—our help.” Jake sat hunched with his chin on his chest. He wheezed slightly.
“I heard her cry out,” Fen blurted. Kai and Darrius stared at her. “When Jake sat up and screamed her name. I, too, heard her cry for help.”
“Interesting,” Darrius replied. “You and Jake were the only ones who heard her. Not even Benedict or Alden knew she was in trouble.”
“How?” Kai asked.
“Jake was on the threshold of death,” Darrius replied. “And Fen…you’re a healer who hovers between the veils of the dying and the living. In the realm Aaron has taken Hilly, only those who walk in the shadows can hear her.”
“I need to go to Hilly.” Jake struggled to stand, then fell back to the ground. He stretched his hand toward Darrius. “Help me up, Darrius. Get me to my feet.”
The Cererian grabbed Jake around the chest and lifted him effortlessly.
“Where are my clothes?” Jake asked. “I can’t leave like this.” He dropped the cloth and exposed his naked body. Ashen scars snaked everywhere. Most of the tattoos were black and no longer flashing, but a few of the symbols near his chest pulsed a somber gray, indicating their healing was ongoing.
Darrius snapped his fingers and a pair of jeans, a button-down shirt, and a pair of boots appeared on the ground.
“Those look like the clothes Jake was wearing earlier,” Kai noted. “Perhaps when this adventure is over, you can whip up some new clothes for me, Darrius.” Kai wiggled his eyebrows at the Cererian who stared back unamused.
“They are exact duplicates,” Darrius replied as he handed them to Jake and steadied him as he got dressed. Jake’s fingers cramped while buttoning his shirt, so Fen took over. While fastening the buttons, she gazed into his bloodshot eyes, the sclera completely red. “Jake, is your father dead?”
The muscles in Jake’s jaw bunched. Finally, he released a long sigh. “I don’t know, Fen. I honestly don’t know how I even got back to this dimension. All I know is I don’t sense him around here.”
“What happened?” Kai asked.
“Ryan and I battled each other through different dimensions…so many parallel worlds that I lost count. Time was measured in nanoseconds. But we can talk about that later. Right now, I need to find Hilly.”
Jake stretched his head to the right and then to the left. He lifted his arms up and down. “I’m a bit stiff, but I think the kinks will work out once I get going.”
“You’re not ready,” Darrius cautioned. “The Word is not fully healed.”
“I need to leave whether it is ready or not. I can’t let anything happen to Hilly.” He frantically searched the ground. “Where’s Cathal and Cadmar? Did they come back with me?”
“Easy, Jake,” Kai said as he stepped forward with the battle swords. “They dropped out of the sky like you did.” Jake looked at Kai with a puzzled look. “Long story, Jake, we’ll discuss it over a drink once this is said and done.”
“Where do we go?” Fen asked.
Jake smiled gently and placed a hand on Fen’s shoulder. “You are going nowhere. The healer needs to remain out of harm’s way.”
“Fen, you’ll remain with me,” Darrius instructed.
“You’ve changed your tune about me leaving?” Jake asked the Cererian.
“I don’t think you should go in your state, but I can’t stop you,” Darrius replied. “I’ll send Kai with you.”
“You will?” Kai asked, his eyebrows arched.
“Yes,” Darrius responded. “You and Kai will travel to where you think Hilly is located. Fen will stay with me in case Hilly calls out again. That way I’ll know where to go. Where will you start?”
Jake closed his eyes and drew in a long breath. He recalled Hilly’s cry for help. He analyzed the pitch, the distance, the emotions. When he opened his eyes, he firmly announced, “I’m going to the summit of Yr Wyddfa. Aaron is holding her there.”
“Very well,” Darrius commented. “Be well, Jake. Be well, Kai.”
Jake clamped his hand on Darrius’ shoulder. “Be well, Darrius.” He turned to Kai. “Come on, brother. Be prepared to fly fast.”
The two men launched into the night sky and disappeared.
Hilly awoke to a distorted world. She struggled to see, but her eyes wouldn’t focus. With her strength sapped, her head lolled side to side. When she tried to speak, her mouth wouldn’t function.
She grunted in frustration.
“Ah, the witch is awake,” Aaron purred as he slid a finger down the side of her face. She pulled her head away, and he chuckled. “No sense in trying to scream, you need a mouth to make noises.” He jabbed a finger into her face.
Clarity filled her mind, and her eyes widened in fear and anger. She thrashed against the invisible restraints pinning her to the boulder.
“There, there, magician, it will soon be over,” Aaron cooed as he leaned closer and stroked her hair.
She recoiled. The heat and stench of his breath sickened her.
What do you want! she screamed telepathically.
A twisted grin spread on Aaron’s face as he pressed his forehead against hers. “I want Stygian,” he hissed. “And you will deliver him to me.”
Aaron pulled away and brushed her cheek. His finger trailed down the curve of her jaw and then down her neck. He toyed with the fringe of the scarf she wore around her neck before he yanked it off revealing the blue opal.
The nugget nestled securely in the notch in Hilly’s neck. “What do we have here? A gift from Denali? Is this the stone that quiets the voices?” Aaron circled the base of the gem with his finger.
Hilly shivered at his touch and goose bumps rose all over her body.
Aaron placed his hand on her forehead and shoved her head back. With his other hand, he gripped the blue gemstone. “What do you think would happen if I removed this beauty?” he teased.
Hilly’s eyes widened. She twisted under his hold.
Aaron dug his fingers into the skin around the gemstone, his fingernails penetrating a quarter inch into her neck, and he ripped out the blue opal.
Aaron held the jewel in front of Hilly’s face. “Behold the beginning of your end.”
Once the nugget was removed, voices of all the murdered souls Hilly had inhaled during her battle with Everild raced forward screaming for help. The blue opal had quieted the restless souls but now their pleas reached a piercing pitch. Blood trickled from her ears as the mournful howls echoed in her head.
She swung her head side to side. In desperation, she thumped her head on the boulder. Anything to quiet the screams.
“There, there, my little Firewalker,” Aaron soothed as he gripped her head in both hands. “I will replace the opal once you have released Lord Stygian. The voices will be quiet once again if you’ll only give me what I want.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead before he turned around and walked away.
“Just scream when you’re ready to release Stygian,” he called out.
Chapter 22
Crystal of Earth
Alden stood on the edge of the cairn and faced the moors, head bowed.
Chance observed the Cererian. Alden’s signature bowler hat had vanished in the rush to find Hilly and streaks of gray matter—the result of the wind and rain—coated his black suit. A slight smile softened Alden’s face.
The Cererian hummed a melody and rocked gently.
A cockeyed grin popped up on Chance’s face. Minutes earlier Alden had shoved him to the ground and exiled Gabe to another dimension. Now, he appeared peaceful and harmless.
“This is what Cererians do to center ourselves,” Alden whispered.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“No need to apologize.” Alden glanced at Chance and then resumed his reverie. “I enjoy your company.”
They stood in silence.
Alden’s eyes flashed open. “Darrius is on his way. He’s bringing Fen with him.”
“Does that mean Jake is healed? Or does that mean he died?”
“The shaman lives. He and Kai are flying to Yr Wyddfa to find Hilly.”
Gravel crunched behind them, and the men whirled.
“Chance!” Fen cried as she ran to her brother.
Chance threw his arms around her and lifted her into the air before carefully setting her back down. “Hilly’s been taken by the Yfel,” he said solemnly.
“I know,” Fen replied. “I heard her cry for help.”
“What?” Alden exclaimed.
“Yes,” Darrius affirmed. “Both Jake and Fen heard Hilly’s cry. Nobody else did. I can only ascertain that it’s because Jake and Fen are both closer to the veil of death. The realm Aaron has imprisoned Hilly must be in the land of the shadows.”
“At least you and Kai were successful with the crystal,” Chance added.
“We would have never found the Guardian boulder without Jake’s help,” Fen replied.
“How is Jake?”
“The shaman has left with your brother against my wishes,” Darrius interjected. He turned to Alden and whispered, “The Word is not completely healed.”
“What Word? What are you talking about?” Chance asked.
Darrius glanced at Fen who looked away. “It is our word for something sacred,” Darrius explained.
“Oh, I see,” Chance replied. “It’s Cererian jargon.”
“Something like that. And it does increase the urgency for what we need to do. Where do you stand on searching for your crystal?”
“Chance will switch Carn Menyn with Carn Breseb to expedite his search,” Alden explained. “But we must deal with the doppelgangers on Foel Drygarn.” He pointed toward the hill fort in the distance.
“Will they attack?” Fen asked as she stared at the three figures who gazed back at her.
“Most definitely,” Darrius replied. “The imposters will act in the exact manner of their host forms—Aaron and his soldiers. Any departure on our part will compel them into action.”
“The Prophecy prevents us from killing the doppelgangers, but we can distract them,” Alden added. “While Chance and Hildred search for the crystal, we will need to create a ruse.”
“Who’s Hildred?” Fen asked.
Chance took Fen’s hand and led her to the cairn’s entrance where the immense white stag rested. As Chance approached, the buck snorted awake and stamped his hoof.
“Oh, my goodness!” Fen exclaimed. “He’s so beautiful!”
Chance stroked the buck’s muscular neck and invited Fen to join him. “Come meet Hildred,” he urged.
Fen reached up to Hildred’s muzzle and gently rubbed the sensitive skin around his nose and lips. The animal didn’t pull away. Instead, he lowered his head and allowed Fen to slide her hands up to his ears and tickle the base of his antlers. She massaged his forehead and hummed.
“You’re putting him to sleep,” Chance observed.
“He’s such a lovely stag. Where did he come from?”
“Lord Yr Wyddfa sent him to me. He’s my spirit animal, and he’ll help me find the family crystal.”
“What a clever buck you are,” Fen said as she stroked both sides of its face. Satisfied grunts filled the air as the creature’s eyes slowly opened and closed.
“Lord Yr Wyddfa sent this stag?” Darrius asked.
“Yes,” Chance replied.
