Chapter 28

Avalon stood just behind me as I bent down and knelt over the dirt on the side of the riverbed. Mountains rose up around us and the sound of running water came from the river that divided the vampires from the demons. The water had run purple long ago and trickled down into Isramorta. Long strands of his hair blew across his face as he gazed over the mountains toward where the vampire's temple stood. His eyes glowed in the dim late afternoon light. The mountains cast shadows over us, and a cool wind whipped around. From here I could smell the salty sea air mixing with the warm steamy air of the Swamp Lands.

"I don't think I'm getting what you're saying." His voice was gentle beside me as he watched what I was doing.

"I didn't get it at first either." I drew a circle in the sand. "But I get it now."

"You're not making any sense, love." He dropped down to his knees next to me.

"When Padonya said I had to pray to Abba, I was thinking about it too much in terms of like how people on Earth pray to whichever God they choose. But Abba is here, in the now."

He nodded. "Yes, she's everywhere."

I drew a picture of a tree within a circle. "Years ago, when Rhode and I went to the temple, there was a gorgeous white tree there, and I feel like if we can just make something like that, then maybe we can get her attention and ask for some help."

"I'm not sure she can just give us the answers to these things."

I sat back on my heels and stared down at my little drawing. "Yes, but I don't have a better idea. I get that if we touch Dacio with the Summer Court leaves, it should counteract the Winter Court magic in his armor, which will help us kill him, but what about after that? What next? How do we free our demons from the restraints on their clans?"

He rubbed his hand over my back. "Perhaps the answer isn't going to happen now? Perhaps it will have to reveal itself in time?"

"But we have to try now, right?"

"Absolutely we do." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Green smoke seeped around him, and his face smoothed out.

I opened my hands and my purple magic drifted up from my palms. Tiny petals drifted and spun around the two of us. The cool breeze ruffled my hair, and for the first time since I got here, serenity overcame me. I tried to put everything out of my mind and only focus on the things around me: the smell of the mountains and sea, the sound of the trickling water as it moved over the riverbed, the feel of the shadows on my skin . . . and I thought only one thing.

Abba.

A bright white light shined and I blinked open my eyes. There stood Abba in all her glory. She was beyond beautiful, with long, wild purple hair and bright lavender eyes. She wore a long white dress that reminded me of something a Greek goddess would wear. The breeze ruffled her dress and sent her long hair drifting to the side.

A light smile played on her lips. "Hello, demons."

I bowed my head lower. "Abba, thank you for answering our prayers."

Avalon too bowed his head. "Thank you, Abba."

"Why have you asked for me?" She folded her hands in front of her.

"We need to ask you, how can we free the demons so they can move unrestricted among the clans? Padonya told me I was the spirit who unites them all, but I have no idea what that means. Or how to make that happen."

"Hmm." She sauntered past us and walked into the river.

"I always find a dip in a pool sets me right, like the one that used to be behind the castle. There"s something special about it. It feels . . . cleansing, resting my soul to where it's supposed to be. Back where everything started." She turned and pointedly looked over her shoulder, then back at me. "Can't you feel it, Morgana? Doesn't it feel like all your problems float away in the pool?"

"I . . ." I frowned and then glanced to Avalon who was scowling at her. "The pool? I haven't been in the pool since I came back to Terrea."

"Oh." Abba bent down and scooped up a handful of water. "Perhaps you should return to the pool and . . . take a dip."

"Abba, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying just what I said." She bent down again and swirled her hand in the water, making a circle. I could've sworn she was just playing, but everything she said and did felt like a message. "I've also always said that whenever you feel stuck on a problem, it's important to take a step back to where the problem started."

Return to the pool. To where it all started. The blast point was where it all started. I arched one eyebrow at her. Is that what you're telling me, Abba?

She smirked and gave me a single nod, a nod so subtle no one else would have noticed it. "Fresh eyes. Fresh magic."

Avalon's brow furrowed so low it looked painful.

I held my hands up and summoned my purple petals to my palms. "Fresh magic. I didn't have this the last time I was in that pool."

"And what magic it is." She looked over to Avalon. "Same goes for you too. You have new magic now as well."

"I'm not sure what this has to do with anything?" Avalon tried to sound respectful, but he seemed to be confused by her behavior and words.

"Oh, magic has to do with everything." Abba looked toward the Swamp Clan, then swept her gaze all the way over to the Cinder Clan, like she could see all of Isramorta. "Four types of magic and a very special fifth. Actually, the two of you together have three out of the five elements."

"Yeah, too bad we don't have all five together, then we might actually beat Dacio."

"Yes." Abba walked through the water, her dress floating behind her as she came toward me. "I wonder what would happen if you had all five."

Avalon scoffed. "I'm pretty sure that's what Valandril was attempting with the root he tried to plant in that pool. And look how that turned out."

"Ah, but he was one man trying to take it all for himself." She met my stare and held it. With purpose. "That is not who you are or what you would ever do."

"I wish we could give the damn magic back."

Abba chuckled and scooped water into her hands, then she pointedly tossed the water back into the river five times. "Just scoop it off the ground and throw it back to where it belongs."

I gasped.

Avalon shook his head. "If only it were that easy."

"I know what he did was wrong and awful, but if you think about it, what the magic did to the land was kind of incredible." She walked out of the water and stopped right beside me, but her eyes were watching the mountains around us, then she wiped her hands off on her dress. "Well, you've got your hands full, so I will get out of your way."

"Wait, Abba, our question—"

"Thank you for the temple drawing you made, Morgana. It allowed me to actually answer your prayer." She let out a deep sigh. "Make a real temple and maybe the rest of the demons can pray too."

I smiled. My brain was moving far too fast. She'd given me a clue, now I just needed to sort it out. "I'll do that."

Abba held her hand up. A small pouch, a few pieces of parchment, and a piece of charcoal appeared in her hand. She strolled out of the water and dropped them on the ground. "I must be going."

"Thank you for taking the time for us." I gave her a small bow.

She winked at me. "Good luck."

Then, before either of us could say another word, she was gone in a bright flash of light.

Avalon cursed. "Well, that was helpful."

"Yes, it was."

"Did you hear different words than I did?"

"Only if you weren't listening and reading between the lines."

"So you have some idea what the hell she was talking about?"

"I think I do. We have to return to where it all started, to the pool where Valandril planted the root and the blast happened."

Avalon nodded. "But what else has to be done? It can't just be as easy as that."

"It's not. I think we need something from each of the elements to bring with us to put in the pool, a piece of earth from each clan." I ran over to the parchment and picked up the chunk of coal.

"Why earth?"

"Because it is the magic of the land that is keeping the demons bound, and it will be the magic of the land that will free them." I held the parchment close to my chest and walked around the waterside searching.

"What are you doing?" Avalon stood over me as I made my way to the smoothest rock I could find.

"It's time to call in the troops. I'm going to send word to Lundra, Padonya, and Malotte. They can ready their demons for battle." I knelt down and laid the paper out on the rock.

"But how can they battle when they're trapped in their clans? That's why there's never been an uprising."

I glanced up at him. "That's why we have to free them first. I'm hoping that somehow we'll be able to distract Dacio long enough to get to the pool and break the magic holding the demons in their clans."

His lips pulled up in a full smile and he reached for a piece of parchment and broke off a piece of coal. "I know some allies who would love to help us with that."

I paused in my writing. "Who?"

"The vampires." He chuckled. "Varan and Rhode will come."

My heart leapt at the thought of finally getting to see my sister. There were too many emotions swirling through me when it came to my sister: worry, sadness, excitement . . . They all ripped through me too fast. "Rhode, I . . . I need to see her."

"I have no doubts she'll be here," Avalon scribbled across the page, "because Varan will be here for us. How are you planning on getting these across the lands?"

"With my very best friend who I trust more than anything." I reached behind my ear and gathered Monty in the palm of my hand. He unfurled and yawned, stretching his arms and legs out like a starfish. "I need a favor, my friend."

He leapt off my hand and grew to the size of a small dog. He shook himself out and his fur puffed out in all directions before he spun in a circle and smoothed himself out. He sat there looking up at me with wide, eager eyes. I tied the pouch around his neck and shoved my three letters in. Avalon handed me the one for the vampires, and I tucked that in there too.

"Can you get these to the leaders?"

Monty gave me a little chirp, and I petted the top of his head. "You ready?"

He gave me a little nod and took off flying out of sight faster than I could track. Avalon knelt down next to me. "I think you missed one."

We had to go gather a piece of earth from each clan, but there was one clan I needed to go to myself. "There's one I need to deliver in person."

I rose to my feet and Avalon stood up next to me. He threw his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. "What a fool I was. How could I ever make amends with you for the way I behaved."

"You thought I was just as bad as Dacio actually is." I shrugged. "I'd say we're working our way well past amends."

He pressed a kiss to the side of my head and held me close. "Not yet, but I'll spend a lifetime trying to."

"Good, then let's start with tomorrow. Today, we have a war to win."

"We do indeed." He burst into flames all around me, and we took off to collect our pieces of Isramorta to free it once and for all.