The shortest one had pearly eyes, and her voice was small and tinny. “We were all sent here after our Fruit rituals, and they haven't let us leave since. I used to look up to the Sapphire Sisters, but it’s like they’ve gone mad!”
The oldest of the six was a stocky boy covered in black speckles. He motioned his hands in a circle and said, “Willow helped us bust the locks. It was incredible!”
“Just a regular day for me. No problem!” Willow bragged.
“As much as I hate to cut this reunion short,” Pir interjected, “we have to proceed with the next part of the mission.”
“The mission?” Willow locked his eyes on my gossamer rope and touched the part wrapped around my arm. “Are you telling me the coup is happening right now?”
“Obviously it's happening right now!” Sharp signed the word ‘idiot’ in Silvertongue. “Sometimes you have to think on your feet once the enemy knows who you are.”
Teal clapped his hands once to get out attention. “Speaking of which, Ivory and the others are laying low in the south wing. Tungsten says we should look in the throne room to identify the location of Pyrite and Obsidian.”
“I can't make everyone invisible,” I protested.
Willow released me from our casual embrace. “Exactly. That's why we're going to split up. We’re the ones they’re looking for, so we’ll be the perfect distraction.” He put a finger on my lips before I could continue my apology. “There will be time to talk everything over, but not now. It's showtime.”
I grunted. “Ten minutes, that’s all you get, then make your way back to us. Cause some chaos, but if you get hurt, I'll kill you.”
He saluted. “You have my word little Badger.”
As fast we were united, we were separated again, running in opposite directions towards the same goal. The children Of-the-Dark showed us where to go before joining Willow in the distraction.
We didn't run into a single soul on the way to the throne room, where a humble wooden chair was raised on a three-step dais, and colorful cushions covered the surrounding floor. Behind the chair was a wall of polished wood, carved with ten illuminated symbols representing the Divine Pantheon. Obsidian’s name was carved under an image of a tightening spiral.
“I'm going to rest my power for a while,” I said. There had been no soul in the Unseen, but when we reappeared, the room wasn’t empty. A man was slumped on the throne, a ghostwood crown on his head.
“King Obsidian!” Sharp tightened the grip on her blades. “I think… he’s dead after all.”
“No, unfortunately not,” croaked the old body. He was alive, and like his son Marrow, his soul was not present here. “Who are you kids?” he said in a rusty, ancient voice. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
Before we could respond, Marrow himself hurried through the door, holding an unconscious Ivory in his arms, Olivine and Tungsten right behind him.
The king turned his head, eyes catching the light. Their fogginess indicated both a lack and abundance of sight. His ears sagged with the weight of his rings. “You?” he croaked, voice tinged with sadness. “I thought you ran out and swore to never return?”
“Not quite. We’re sorry to have left you in this state, father.” He softened when he noticed us. “Where's your friend?”
“He'll be here soon,” Sharp answered. “Glad you’re alright.”
Ivory moved, blinked rapidly, and sprang from her husband’s arms. “We're here already?” She smiled at the sight of Obsidian, still sitting dumbfounded on his throne. “Good to see you again, your highness. Do you mind telling us where we can find Melodia and Molten?”
“Is that why you’re here?” He only moved his mouth when he spoke, like the rest of his body was made of stone. “I don’t know where those wretched sisters are, but if you’re looking for a fight, I’m sure you’ll find it.”
“You aren’t working together?” inquired Olivine.
“Don’t make me laugh. The only reason I’m still in power is because Puppeteer is keeping me alive.” His face cringed. It was clear he was unable to move on his own, stuck in a body that longed for death. “Ivory, I apologize most humbly for your exile. She has put Pyrite, me, and many others into a consistent state of hypnotic suggestion.”
His pleading, galaxy eyes noticed me for the first time. “These kids should move outside. Pyrite is in the anteroom of the dining hall with some guests he sneaked in under Melodia’s nose. They’ll all be in danger if she performs the coronation ritual against tradition.”
“What will happen then?” I ventured, shifting uncomfortably in this new ATMOSPHERE.
Marrow’s face twisted in anger. The silver skull dangling from his earlobe swung back and forth like a metronome. “The God Tree will reject anyone who isn’t in the Pantheon. It happened centuries ago, and the behemoth released an indiscriminate, hateful energy. Melodia will be marked, and bystanders could be injured or killed.”
Killed! I’d pushed down the fear for Willow’s sake, but now my blood was pumping double time.
Ivory put one hand over her heart, and the other on the king’s sleeve. “We can’t let that happen. Do you consent to relinquish the throne to me?”
The dying man’s eyes did not glow, but I sensed an echo of immense power. “What about this boy?” A knobbly finger extended to me, making me flinch. “That’s right, I know who you are, little Badger. I know the ways fate has brought you here today. Your claim is equal to Ivory.”
I gripped the gossamer rope. “With all due respect, your majesty, I don’t want the throne. Like, really don't want it.”
Marrow put a hand on my shoulder. “Blood does not entitle one to power, Obsidian. That way of thinking is why you’re in this situation in the first place. Do you really think our family will no longer be welcome in this palace? On this council? If Badger comes for the throne when he’s older, so be it, but right now the Dark needs a king who can't be defeated by corrupted powers. It must be Ivory.”
The commotion grew louder.
“Someone is headed right for this room,” said Sharp, a hand on her ear. “Wait a minute…”
Willow appeared in the threshold, alone, looking more disheveled than he did five minutes ago. “Hey everybody! Oh, Ivory, thank the Reaper! I uh, ran into some trouble. Melodia started singing… and all the other kids started following her. I bet they’ll head this way any moment.”
Ivory stood up straight. “Topaz Clan, head them off. Willow as well, since you’re clearly immune.”
She held the map-engraved ring in front of my face. “You need to go to the room marked in the northeast section. Find Pyrite but stay hidden. Take Teal if you have the energy.”
My breath was labored. “I’ll have to go by myself. But what am I supposed to do?”
A faint, haunting melody floated from further down the hall. Ivory erupted with orange light, dulling the sound. “She's coming this way… and she’s angry. Tell Pyrite what's happening, move his guests somewhere safe. I don’t know the state of his mind, but if you can, convince him to release Obsidian and return to us.”
She glided towards the old dying king and put a gentle hand on his arm. “What do you say, highness? What is your decision?”
