“Use the portal,” Derek said. “And be safe.”
“I will. Like I said, I won’t stay long, but since we’re about to go chase after Death’s scythe, I might as well see my parents before we leave.”
“Just don’t make it sound like it’s the last time you’ll see them,” Raphael remarked. “I may not be the poster child for optimism, but even I know it’s not healthy to go into our next mission with that kind of mindset.”
“Relax, dude,” I shot back with a smirk. “I just want to see him and make sure he’s okay, given the circumstances. My psyche is still strong.”
Who was I kidding, though? My father was anything but okay, comatose and sealed inside a charmed crystal casing, and my resolve, while strong, still buzzed with a throng of insecurities. Kabbah had been amazing in his support, since he’d given us Eirexis’s location. But even I had to face it: there was an uphill battle ahead of us. I wasn’t one to succumb to nihilism. There was no need, since the reality of it all was so brutal. But I kept my chin up, nonetheless.
Eira stood up, looking at me. “Do you mind if I come with you?” She pressed her lips into a thin line, in anticipation of a potential rejection. However, that never came.
“Sure,” I said.
“I just… I don’t feel right letting you go anywhere on your own,” she mumbled, looking away. There was something endearing in what she’d just said, something that made my skin warmer by a degree or so.
Glancing around the table, I welcomed the sympathetic smiles coming from my crew. Derek was right. They were all extraordinary creatures, each of them special, unique and essential to our final objective. I had to admit, I felt blessed and fortunate to have been put on this team with them.
Eira and I left the meeting hall and walked back to the portal, once more surrounded by towering redwoods. It was a full moon tonight, and I caught the occasional glimpse of it in some of the tree crowns’ gaps—enough to remind me of how beautiful this world was, and how badly I wanted it to keep existing, much like my Fire Star and all the other planets whose civilizations stood to be wiped out by the ritual.
After I set our destination on the portal’s frame, I took Eira’s hand in mine. It felt soft and warm and comforting, just what I needed as we walked through the now-reddish mist, the universe opening up ahead of us with its myriad of stars and swirling galaxies.
With my parents in mind, I kept moving. Quietly, Eira stayed by my side—a source of unexpected energy for me. I thought of a world free of the Hermessi’s threat, one where she could go on with her life and do anything she’d ever wanted, knowing that there was still a tomorrow for her to look forward to. Eira was a surprisingly consistent part of my motivation, I’d noticed. And it didn’t bother me at all.
Eira
This was my first time in Taeral’s world, and it was a welcome change from the thunderous experiences we’d had so far. I took it all in. Every stone brick and gilded detail, every fiery fountain and inch of luscious silk and velvet that composed the garments of the fire fae… It was beautiful and breathtaking. The palace seemed to stretch on forever, with tall ceilings and sculptural columns that reached for the heavens.
The heavy scarlet curtains were pulled back, and the sun bathed every hall and corridor in its amber light. We walked through the palace, taking turns here and there as Taeral led me to the secret passageway that connected the building to the fae sanctuary.
Understandably, the overall mood was grim. The Royal Guards had been temporarily changed and replaced by GASP vampires, werewolves, and dragons, given that the fae were susceptible to the Hermessi’s influence. Other species had begun working for the Hermessi as well, but the vampires, the werewolves and the dragons were somehow much more resilient against their doctrine, which left us with a bit of a safety net in terms of manpower. Those we did come across along the way were silent and had a hard time looking at us—whether it was fear or sadness or both, I wasn’t sure. But it broke my heart to even think how Taeral was taking all this.
Fortunately for us, he knew every inch of the place, choosing the least traveled paths in order to get us into the sanctuary. In the meantime, I feasted my eyes on every decorative detail in my proximity—the chandeliers and wall lamps made of gold and gemstones, with flames flickering delicately as they cast their lights in a playful dance with the shadows; the splendid paintings adorning the walls, depicting everything from Fire Star scenery to the royal families that had led the empire before Sherus and Nuriya; the porcelain vases and rich floral arrangements in shades of red, orange, and white, their scent filling my lungs and my mind with dreams of hot summers and refreshing drinks on the beach…
“That’s my grandfather,” Taeral said, pointing at a monarch’s portrait. We stopped in front of it for a while, long enough for me to register some of the similarities. There were physical features that had been passed down to Sherus and, later, to Taeral. The cheekbones, the shape of the lips, the way the brows arched above the eyes… yes, I could see the faint resemblance. I found myself wondering if we’d ever see the day when Taeral’s kingly portrait would join those of his parents, his grandparents, and all the other rulers before them. That, of course, was dependent on the success of our mission. “My father had to have him removed. He was executed.”
I gasped, my eyes widening upon hearing that. I hadn’t seen it coming. “Whoa… Why?”
“He was a terrible king.” Taeral sighed. “Reckless. Tactless. He fueled a long-standing conflict with the water fae until it exploded into an all-out war. My father led the rebellion against him, though, rest assured, he took no pleasure in doing that. There was no other way. Granted, some of my father’s earlier choices as ruler were equally doubtful, but at least their purpose was achieving peace, not amplifying the war.”
“What happened? What do you mean?” I asked, all the more curious. Given the speed of every development that had been thrown at us, I hadn’t had the time to dig into Taeral’s past, or his parents’, for that matter.
He resumed walking, and I followed. We headed for the door at the end of the corridor. “My dad entered an alliance with the ghouls. It’s ancient history. I’ll tell you about it someday, I promise. It’s just… it’s a long story, and given what you’ve been told about ghouls, I imagine you’ll need more context in order to make up your mind about my father’s past decisions.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “You make it sound like he torched the planet or something.”
“It could’ve been worse,” he said, wearing a faint but bitter smile. A moment later, he turned his attention on me. “How are you feeling? I know our literal brush with Death was insane.”
“Oh. I’m okay. I am. It’s just a lot to take in, and quite fast. Fortunately, everything is moving so fast around us that I don’t have time to be traumatized.”
He laughed. “I totally get it. Here,” he said as he pushed the door open for me. I stopped in front of him with a questioning look. “It’s okay, it’s just another corridor. I know this place like the back of my hand.”
That was a true reminder. I walked in, welcoming the slight chill of this part of the castle. For a moment, I did wonder why he hadn’t teleported us straight into the sanctuary the moment we’d passed through the portal, but as soon as he took my hand in his again, I realized I didn’t mind walking through the palace.
It was an opportunity for me to be with him, disguised as a brief tour of the place. Besides, I figured he’d missed the palace, too, with its intricate, gold-brushed details and perfumed flowers and flowing silks. The touch of his hand made my skin tingle, bringing me closer to thoughts I’d tried to keep away from my central focus. My heart pounded whenever he came near me, and my stomach was inundated with raucous fireflies at every smile he gave me. I’d been fascinated by him from the moment we’d met, but I knew he’d had his crush on Inalia at the time.
I hadn’t dared get between them, because I loved and respected Inalia more than anything. But now, she was a Hermessi, forever parted from him. Her sacrifice had cleared a path for me to try to get to his heart, but I had no idea how to do that. I’d never felt like this toward anyone, and the troubles we’d been dealing with had made it all the more difficult. Nevertheless, I could no longer ignore how I was feeling.
Taeral had wiggled in and established himself at the core of my existence, and he probably didn’t even know it. If I were to be honest, I’d let him. I’d opened myself up to the possibility, and I was now stuck in a peculiar limbo, where I wondered whether I should act on these feelings or sit back and hope they might pass. Then again, there was a high probability that we might not survive this. Why shouldn’t I give it a shot? Worst-case scenario, he’ll give me a friendly and polite no, and I’ll respect that.
I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. It got a brief sideways glance and a timid half-smile—but it was already more than I could’ve hoped for. Maybe there was something between us, something that had not been there before.
He opened the door into the sanctuary, and I took a deep breath, instantly overwhelmed by the view before me. Ever the careful gentleman, he stilled by my side, firm in his grip, waiting for me to acknowledge the dozens of glowing crystal casings that had been laid out in four long rows. This was the imperial sanctuary, reserved for those who’d belonged to the upper echelon of the Fire Star. A couple more sanctuaries had been built outside the city for the common people who’d fallen under the Hermessi’s influence. This one had been kept small because of the important positions that many of its patients in the planet’s leadership held.
The caskets were fitted with feeding and fluid tubes, a combination of medical care and magic that I instantly recognized as the work of knowledgeable witches. Inside, the affected fae lay dormant, their eyes closed and their skin shimmering bright orange, like beacons of crystal fire. It made me cry a little on the inside, for their lives were hanging by mere threads.
At the end of the first row to our left, I recognized Queen Nuriya—she was just as Taeral had described her, basically impossible to miss, and there were pieces of him I could see in her. I’d never seen a jinni before, not with the lower half of the body manifesting as mist. It was difficult not to stare. Riza had told me about the jinn’s traditional appearance, and how she’d chosen not to adhere to it.
Nuriya stood by Sherus’s casing. Taeral gently pulled me toward them. The closer I got, the better I could see the fae king. He was handsome, much like Taeral, tall and noble even as he slept. Nuriya had kept the crown on his head—according to Taeral, she’d said that a sleeping king was still a king. I could only imagine the toll that this was taking on her.
Between the rows, several witches moved around, making sure that each of the affected fae was well looked after. Following my wandering gaze, Taeral sighed. “The Hermessi clearly don’t discriminate,” he said slowly. “Kings, nobles, warriors, and common folk alike. All here, waiting to be reaped and used as weapons.”
“All the more reason for us to kick the Hermessi in the face, right?” I said, and he chuckled.
He lit up at the sight of his mother, and Nuriya opened her arms to welcome him in a tight embrace. They hugged for the better part of a minute, while I waited quietly by Sherus’s casing.
“What a wonderful surprise,” Nuriya murmured in his ear. “You’re a sight for my sore, sore eyes.”
“I missed you too, Mom,” Taeral replied. He glanced at his father while Nuriya pulled back and gave me the warmest smile. I nearly melted. “This is Eira,” he added.
