Chapter 8

My first thoughtupon setting foot in a new dimension: We must have used the wrong door because we stepped into a place that looked just like Earth. If I had to name the location, I'd have said Nevada given the hard-baked soil, rocks, and tufts of dry brush and grass. In the distance, I could see the lights of a town. However, I was pretty sure the desert-like state didn't have stone arches with a solid center standing in the middle of nowhere.

I extended my hand, and it went through the rock as if it weren't there. At least the portal seemed to work two ways. Kind of reassuring. If something happened to me, at least my siblings could get home.

My initial impression of the place being like home fell apart at the sight of the fist-sized, bright green glowing thing that went scuttling away from my feet. Jinx wiggled free from Typhon's arms and went chasing with excitement, only to turn tail and yip when the thing flipped around and hissed. My dog went flying into my arms, where I hugged her tight. Meanwhile, the critter farted visible poufs of pink before taking off with dragonfly-type wings.

Definitely not in Nevada.

Overhead hung a cluster of five moons, two of them much brighter than the others, hence why we could still somewhat see. And stars—so many stars—but not all of them twinkling white. I saw red, blue, even purple.

"Where are we?" I breathed.

"Ask Frieda. She's the one who led us here," Enyo stated, slinging her bag to the ground so she could scrounge inside and load herself up with weapons. An impressive amount, I should add, from the sword that got shoved in a sheath down her spine, to side holsters with pistols, and armbands with throwing knives. Another larger-bladed weapon went inside her boot. My sister came to do war.

As for Bane? He stripped, and I turned away quickly before I saw his naked bits. Enyo tended to get a little angry when she caught us looking. In our defense, the man had an incredible physique. Not that I'd admit I noticed if she asked.

"This is where we need to be," Frieda replied. Enough validation for me given the circumstances.

Typhon glanced at Frieda. "How did you know to come here?"

"I saw it."

The simplest answer she could give, yet Typhon frowned. "I didn't know your gift would extend past Earth."

"Me neither." She shrugged. "It hit me suddenly in that hallway. We had two choices in that moment: Get massacred when the building collapsed with us in it because we couldn't get away from those guys in the armor, or continue our quest by coming here."

"What is here?" I asked Typhon. "Do you know this place?"

"Yes. It's called Zuzamenn, a pocket world created a long time ago as a nexus point for travelers between dimensions," Typhon explained.

"So a crossroads of sorts?" I summarized. "Doesn't seem too welcoming. Where's the signs pointing where to go next?"

Typhon snorted. "Those who come here already know which arch they want next. Those that aren't looking for a new world settle in the town."

"Is Ariadne here?" Enyo asked, frowning at her bag, which still contained a lot of stuff.

As Typhon shook his head, I knelt with my satchel and opened it wide. We stuffed the rest of Enyo's bag, as well as Bane's, within. As a leopard, he couldn't carry anything, and I wanted Enyo's hands free to protect us. John had a knapsack on his shoulder that he held on to, while Frieda had a purse slung cross-body.

"So from here we can go anywhere?" I questioned as I stood up with my still very light satchel.

"Not entirely. Some dimensions are tricky to reach. My former prison, for example, only aligns with Earth under specific conditions." Typhon grimaced. "Ariadne knew what she condemned me to when she trapped me there." With that said, he stared off into the distance.

"How are we supposed to find her? You said someone might be able to help," I reminded.

He shook himself before he replied. "We must bargain with the oracle."

"A seer?" Frieda perked right up.

"She does more than see the future and past. She creates prophecy. Can decide fates. She can be finicky with her aid. If she doesn't like you, or thinks you lack respect, you could find yourself in a great deal of trouble," Typhon cautioned.

"In other words, don't get on her bad side. Got it," Enyo stated. "I'm going to scout around with Spot. Holler if you need me to kill something." She disappeared, a trick she had that allowed her to blend with shadows. Her feline lover went with her.

John eyed Frieda. "How's your wall doing?" He spoke of the mental one Frieda had learned to build to cushion her mind from the millions of possibilities she encountered.

"It's holding steady," Frieda murmured. "But this place is weird. Even with my walls up, I keep seeing phantoms of the past. This spot we're standing on used to be a village, and the whole area used to be a lush forest."

"What happened to it?" I asked, rubbing my face in Jinx's soft fur. It probably hadn't been the best idea to bring her, yet what choice did I have?

Frieda glanced at the sky as she murmured, "Space invaders."

I almost mocked her proclamation, but given how disturbed she appeared, I bit my tongue. "What of the future?" I asked instead. "See any trouble?"

"There are blank spots when I try to look." Her forehead wrinkled. "It's the strangest thing."

John patted her arm. "I get the impression this place messes with magic. Don't force it."

I glanced at Typhon. "Where is this oracle? Cave at the top of a mountain? Guarded by a three-headed dragon?"

"In the town you can see up ahead. She has a small flat above a bread shop."

"Wait, I thought you said she was uber powerful. How is it she doesn't have her own house or a palace?" I questioned, because personally, if I had a cool title like oracle, I'd be sitting on a giant cushion being hand-fed fruit and other yummy stuff.

"She eschews wealth and other accoutrements," Typhon explained as we began to walk.

"Then what are we supposed to bargain with?"

"That will depend on who she's dealing with. Some get away with simple chores such as cooking her a meal or tidying her space. Others have to go on quests and fetch dangerous items. She might even ask for a favor at a later date."

That twisted my lips. "I don't like vague promises of future aid, and I suck at dusting."

"I doubt we'll be given a menial task for what we demand," Typhon murmured as Frieda strolled ahead, arm in arm with John.

"Should I worry?"

"There wouldn't be any point. She will demand. We will have to decide if the price is worth it."

"And if it's too much?"

"Then we will have to find Ariadne another way."

I cast a glance at him. "Not going to try and force us to give the oracle whatever she wants?"

"You are my champions, not my slaves."

"Why, Reaper, I never took you for a benevolent god."

"I'm not. But I'm also not stupid. I can hardly expect you to willingly serve me if I mistreat you. Although call me Reaper again and I might change my mind," he said with a glower.

My laughter echoed louder than I liked in this place. The very quietness of it had me wondering. "Do I have to worry about our magic attracting monsters here?"

"Nothing too dangerous. The true threats have long been extinct. However, in the town, we will likely encounter some beings that might find themselves drawn to you and your sisters."

"Meaning, hold tight to the magic."

"Yes. And whatever you do, don't react first. The guardians of this place respond harshly to violence."

"So let them take the first shot. Got it. Anything else I should know?"

He pursed his lips before sighing. "You may want to inform any who ask that you are claimed."

"Excuse me?"

"Females of power are highly sought by some of the cultures we might encounter. There are many who will see you as a prize worth taking if it is assumed you are not claimed by a male or accompanied by your father or brother."

I couldn't help a snort. "I can't believe I'm hearing this. Misogyny, alive and well in alien places."

"Not all. But some, yes. Females, as the carriers of life, are the most likely of a breeding pair to impart power."

"So is this your way of telling me we have to act like boyfriend and girlfriend while in town?"

He made a face. "That is a repugnant way of describing an intimate relationship."

"So sorry. Would you prefer I call you daddy?" I batted my lashes, and his jaw got that tense look to it again.

"It would be too easy to disprove our lack of shared blood. You will refer to me as your mate."

Again, I couldn't help but laugh. "Mate. Makes us sound like animals."

"All living things are animals. To the fae, we hold less value than their steeds."

"You know, I realize this is a quest to get back your power and get the monsters to ignore me and my sisters, but this is fascinating. I mean my studies of the arcane never led me to realize the vast worlds that existed outside of Earth. Heck, I never expected to encounter things that were considered myth."

"Where do you think legends come from?"

"I would have said imagination."

"How can you imagine something that doesn't exist?" he countered.

"Interesting question." I kicked at the hard ground. "So, this mating thing… Exactly how am I supposed to sell it? Will just saying it be enough, or should I be expecting some PDA?"

"What is PDA?" he repeated.

"Public displays of affection," I explained while grabbing his hand and lacing my fingers with his. "Touching each other in a way that only couples do. Kissing. Intimate smiles and looks that exclude others."

His fingers tightened around mine. "Not necessary, but those would make it convincing. We will also be sharing quarters should we spend the night."

"Awesome. You make a great body pillow."

He growled.

I smiled. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll interrogate you again?"

To my surprise, he stopped dead and spun me to face him. "You play a dangerous game with your teasing, witch."

"Dangerous how?" I queried, stepping close and tilting my chin. Despite appearing once more like a gentleman, he towered over me.

"You don't want to know."

"And if I did?" I whispered, floating myself upward so our faces aligned.

I don't know what he would have replied because Enyo chose that moment to return, huffing, "Save the kissy faces for later. We've got company."