53. Tori

We met back at the field before the Torr. The whole camp had come out to watch our approach, Pallas and Abraxas at the forefront. Avlyn stood beside Abraxas, and I saw them subtly supporting him. I clenched my fist, but that wasn't something I could focus on now.

Ilooked over at Jun, and he didn't look back. His eyes were locked on the challenge before us. "Are you ready?" He said nothing but slid his fingers into mine. It eased my aching heart.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you." I squeezed his fingers but was surprised to see his face twist in displeasure, if only for a moment. Then, that hard expression vanished, and his brows relaxed.

"Let's go."

TheTorr stretched into the sky before us, its dark, rocky surface was dry and barren of all life. The grass stopped in a perfect line, immediately giving way to nothing but dust and ash. I took a deep breath and stepped over. Immediately, I felt my fingers clench around Jun's, and my legs shook, like a great weight pressed in on me over my whole body. I coughed and tried to keep my feet moving. I heard Jun whimper beside me as his feet faltered.

"Let's go back, we'll find another way."

Hestaggered, but then straightened his spine and grit his teeth.

"No, this is it." He locked his eyes with mine. "Together?"

Inodded. "One step at a time."

Ourpace was slow, but we kept moving. Every step brought that weight down on us more. My chest ached, it felt like my heart was fighting to beat while being strangled.

Wereached the lowest cave opening, the darkness surrounding us, but we did not stop. Our steps echoed off the hollow walls until I couldn't see anything. I tried to summon flames using Abraxas' and my bond, but nothing came. The bond remained, but it was muted, the curse of this place sinking its claws into it just like it had my heart.

"Should have brought a torch," I mumbled, and I heard Jun grunt in agreement.

"No fire then?" he asked. I shook my head, not that he could see. I felt him fumbling in his pockets, and he released my hand. I panicked in that moment of darkness until I heard the scratching of flint, and a spark lit the wick of a candle. The tiny flame flickered back and forth; its light caught in Jun's eyes. I gasped.

TheJun before me now wasn't the man I had entered with, but the little boy I had once known. He was smaller, his face and eyes soft with youth. He gave me a quizzical look and spoke with a high-pitched voice. "What's wrong, Tori?"

Ireached out and touched his face, my fingers tracing his cheeks that were still chubby and rosy. I didn't know what sort of illusion this could be, but he felt real beneath my touch.

Thecurse has warped the very fabric of reality. Who knows what you will see?

"Nothing. Let's keep going." I reached for his hand again, and his much smaller fingers slipped into mine.

Wecontinued down what felt like endless tunnels, trying to follow the path I had memorized. The only sound was our breathing until I could hear the faintest trickle of water ahead.

"The spring!" Jun's young voice squeaked, and he dashed off.

"No! Wait!" It was already too late, as I saw the light from his candle disappear around a corner. I ran after him, slipping on the rocky floors as I rounded the corner and nearly lost my footing. I set my hand on the ground to steady myself as I took the turn and stood, only to have my feet freeze in place as I was blinded by light.

Ithrew my hands up in front of my face, blinking furiously. The cave was filled with jungle plants, and I heard water. Was that the sky? No time to think on it.

"Jun! Jun! Where are you?" I crashed through the plants in front of me to stumble out into a well-manicured garden, the trickling of water from a fountain at its center. It shot a clear stream of water into the sky before it fell back down like rain into a shallow pond filled with large fish in nearly every color.

Itwas a fountain I had seen nearly every day for two hundred years. "Niata?" How could this be?

Iheard a soft laugh and spun to see Jun rolling on the grass on the other side of the pond, trying to hide behind a bush. I sprinted to him and grabbed his shoulders, hauling his small body up.

"Jun, what are you doing? We have to get out of here."

"Ha, you found me!" He giggled again and tried to pull away.

"What are y—"

Jun'sface dropped in horror, and a shadow fell over me. BeforeI could turn, pain laced itself across my face as the back of my father's hand collided with my cheek. I stumbled to the ground.

"Tori, how many times do I need to re-enforce this lesson? Stay away from your brother." I looked up as my father lifted his hand to strike me again. I was the child, small and helpless.

"Father, no!" My brother threw himself between us, but my father's eyes remained hard, and his hand quivered.

"Jun, move, or I will have to—"

"No, not my boy!" My mother wrapped herself around Jun, hauling him away.

"Tori!" He reached back for me, and our fingers met for just a moment before we were wrenched apart.

"Jun!" I tried to crawl after him as he struggled against my mother's iron grasp, but pain laced itself over my face again, and I fell back down into the grass.

Itwasn't grass but a rocky cave floor, and the sun winked out, and I was in total darkness again. I scrambled, screaming Jun's name over and over, only to be met with echoes. I stumbled blindly until the sound of water found my ears again. I slipped over the uneven floor as I scrambled towards it.

Theday broke through, golden and filled with the smell of ambrosia. I stumbled into the room of a fine palace. The walls shimmered in the early morning sun, and a fae wearing the flaming crown of the GoldenKingdom stood at the window. It wasn't Hadeon. In fact, this man looked nothing like him. The sound of water came from a slave pouring tea into a fine porcelain cup. The man took it from the slave's outstretched hand before slowly spinning towards me. I threw my hands up, ready to fight.

"You certainly enjoy keeping me waiting," the man said.

"Apologies, YourMajesty." I jumped nearly a foot in the air at the familiar voice behind me. I spun around to see LordPlagis standing next to… Pallas? LordPlagis was younger, his hair still dark and his face smoother, but still had that same slimy look to him, though.

"AsI have said numerous times, this work cannot be rushed, YourMajesty." The woman spoke with no deference to the monarch before her. She certainly sounded like Pallas, but it wasn't her. They were almost twins, but this woman was older and harsher. Her grey eyes were honed like daggers as Plagis shot her a withering look. She ignored him.

"What news do you bring me, Runya?"

"The evidence continues to support my previous conclusions. With every great beast felled, the animavita of our prisoners diminishes. It follows the pattern I have seen in my own magic." She hesitated, then added, "And in yours."

KingObion's mouth was set into a harsh line. "And you have not changed your opinion on the solution to this problem."

Runyastood tall and proud, and I admired her resolve against the male before us. "No. When a dragon is killed, the drop is tenfold than with any other beast. We must call off the attack on SacrignusTorr. The destruction of the dragons on that scale can only result in one thing, the loss of all magic."

Plagislet out a grunt of disapproval. "As usual, Runya continues to ignore the GreatProphecy. The boy continues to gain power, and he grows more popular among the rabble every year. His latest victory against the dragon Levania has the bard singing songs that will last through the age."

"I base my opinions on facts and alchemy, Plagis, not ancient faetales spun by drug-addled women." I would have cowered from the face that Runya gave the man, but his sleazy smile only grew.

"Yes, but I see how you have let that beautiful daughter of yours remain plastered to the boy's side. No mere coincidence, I'm sure. Tell me, has Hadeon's power diminished after he killed Levania?"

Runya'sface grew ugly, caught in her own logic. "No, but…"

"And there you have it. Proof enough for me, YourMajesty. The boy is destined for greatness."

Plagis' statement did not seem to ease the King's mind. In fact, his face grew even grimmer. He looked between his two advisors. "The attack will continue. Plagis, make sure everything is as it should be."

"Of course, YourMajesty." The man gave a sweeping bow and shot Runya one more satisfied smirk before leaving the room.

"YourMajesty, I must really—" Runya began.

"Do not think I have not also noticed your daughter's position beside my heir." She hesitated but did not cower.

"MyLord, it is simply an affair of youth, youngling love. I'm sure once Hadeon grows into his role as prince, he will leave her behind. I have warned her of this myself many times."

Theking's brow rose in thought. "Tell me, have you ever had absolutely nothing?"

"I'm afraid I do not understand, YourMajesty."

Obionlet out a chuckle with no humor. "You are a knowledgeable woman, but you have never been burdened by the curse that can be love."

"I knew enough to give him something to fight for, didn't I?" Runya responded, but Obion seemed done with the line of thought.

"No matter. Is everything prepared for after the battle?"

"The enchantment is complete. But as I have stated before, the likelihood of being able to return with a dragon's heart intact is—"

"You have told me the odds, Runya. It is your job to make sure that everything is prepared, nothing more."

"Of course. ThenI only need the last component." KingObion nodded as Runya stepped forward with a dagger. He pulled back his sleeve, and the blade flashed as it cut across his fair skin. Runya quickly stowed the weapon and pulled out a small vial. Glyphs flashed a deep grey around the neck of the bottle, and as the blood dripped from Obion's arm, it fell into the vial without a single drop going to waste, guided by the magic.

AsI stepped forward for a closer look, the scene dissolved into nothingness. The last thing I saw was Runya's face set in a look I had seen many times on Pallas. Stoney resolve.

Istumbled in the dark again until I heard the rustle of legs, and a familiar chitter in the dark.

"Spinner?" I scrambled after the sound until a soft blue light leaked from around another bend. I ran towards it, and a cavern was revealed.

Waterdripped down the walls of the cave, dropping in a steady rhythm off the end of stalactites into the glowing pool below. Wisps danced over the pool's surface, and it felt so familiar. This was where I needed to be, what I needed to destroy. I couldn't do that until I found my brother.

"Over here, Tori." I spun, and in the heart of the cave grew a cherry tree, the twin of the one in the gardens back home. This one blossomed virulently, sending waves of delicate floral aroma towards me. Below its protective branches, little Jun sat holding his youngling-sized harp, strumming a tune and humming. He smiled at me and waved as if this was just another day in the gardens of our marble palace.

"Jun, what are you doing?

"Shh, just listen." The song he played turned somber, a slow and lilting minor key melody that brought tears to my eyes.

"Why such a sad tune, brother?"

"Well, it is a dirge, sister."

"Who is it for?"

Hisface was hidden in shadow. "Everyone."

Thereality of the chamber shifted, and Jun pulled away from me. "No!" But it was too late. The branches of the cherry tree whipped down and held me like chains. No longer blossoming, they were gnarled and barren. Roots thrashed up from the ground, pinning me down as I fought fruitlessly to escape.

AsI was pulled below the earth, my mind was filled with even more visions. The images came at me too quickly; I only caught small glances, but I felt pain, pervasive and inescapable. The pain of an ancient body that fought on despite how Death clawed after her. Battered and broken but unwilling to surrender. With every new image, the pain flared.

Menin golden armor chased down a large, magnificent stag, whiter than freshly fallen snow and with antlers containing hundreds of splits. Arrows flew, piercing that vulnerable flesh, and blood stained the ground. The blood flowed into the VardaRiver, wider than any castle. But the blood didn't stop until the banks were overflowing and forests and towns were swept away.

Heatfrom the sun blasted at me as fae surrounded a cave carved in dry sandstone. Inside, a terrible rattling echoed off the walls as a serpent, nearly as large as a dragon, was poised to strike. His giant triangular head split as he flashed his fangs, but the fae shouted, and glyphs flashed, collapsing the cave on top of his head. When his rattle finally ended, sand pelted the fae as the wind whipped up, pulling all life from the sparse surrounding plant life until only heat and the scorched, cracked earth remained.

Amassive harpoon flew from the deck of a ship, this time finding its mark in the heart of a Leviathan smaller than the one I knew. His body flashed a terrified red before turning a ghostly white, and he floated listlessly in the waves. The waves grew, tossed by raging winds and pelting rain until a storm violent enough to rip apart cities swallowed everything. The rain was her tears. The tears of a mother, begging to spare her children. I heard it in my own mother's voice. Please, don't take my son.

Ifelt roots digging into me, wrenching me apart as they split the earth that was my skin. Those roots led to golden flowers, hundreds of thousands in neat rows, waiting for their fae master. They were not kind. It wasn't like the forest, where roots gripped the earth with reverence and danced between tree and fungi, life and death. Here, there was no rot, no rebirth, only death. The roots dug down and stole mana straight from the earth. Mana that had been stolen year after year after year for an age until what should have been rich soil was nothing but dust. The roots grew down, pulling the mana directly from the ley lines that flowed under Koron. They pulled and pulled until the lines barely had anything left to give.

Thoseroots kept growing until they spread everywhere across the continent, across our entire world. They reached into everything and everywhere, and I saw them climb up into the heart of every man, woman, and child, wrapping and squeezing them tight.

"No!" I tried to scream, but dirt filled my mouth. I thrashed, and I felt the dirt dig under my nails and the roots tightened, threatening to cut off my limbs and crush my heart.

"Tori!" Jun's voice called to me, and my heart flared, but not with green dragonfire, but instead a burning bright white light. It cut through the roots, and my fingers broke through the dirt above me. I gasped, pulling as much air in as I could as I hauled myself out of the hole.

Myhands gripped onto huge cobblestones, and I was standing on the mist district bridge, but it was shrouded in darkness. AllI could see was little Jun waiting for me.

Iran towards him, and as I did a shadow swept over him. He was back to himself, tall with his hair cut short.

"We have to fix this rift between us, Tori." An enormous crack formed in the bridge, separating us. He pulled away.

"Jun! What do I do? How do I fix this?" The bridge pulled further apart.

"Trust me." He held out his hand.

Iran to jump across that great divide when erratic violet light flashed off the metal around his neck, and I froze.

Outof the shadows, a hand curled around Jun's neck. Hadeon's wicked face appeared, and his tongue snaked over my brother's jaw.

"He's mine now, Princess. You should have been there to protect him, and now his heart belongs to me." Lightning erupted from Hadeon's fingers, and Jun's skin turned black as his power coursed through flesh. My brother didn't move or cry out. He just stood there, as his heart turned blacker before my eyes.

"No!" I screeched and dove for them. "Jun, please fight!" He let out a horrible scream that wasn't human or fae, and the bridge beneath me shattered. I was falling down into nothing. I tumbled, head-over-foot for what felt like an eternity until I stopped with a bone-crunching thud. My face collided with a dirt floor, and I felt my nose snap on impact.

Igot my hands beneath me and rose on shaking arms.

"Jun?" He wasn't there. Something else was. I felt hundreds of eyes latched on me in the dark, the creatures lurking just beyond my sight.

Fae! Traitors! Liars! Murderers! They emerged from the dark, dead, and horrible. They were the vestiges of the dragons who had once called this place home. Some were no more than skeletons given life while others still retained some of their rotting flesh. It hung off their frames in chunks, and every once in a while, a single eye would glow from inside a hollow socket. Talons raked into the earth around me as they came closer, some breaking off the hollow bones. I drew my sword, but it was pointless. There were too many, and in the back of my head, QueenSoraya whispered, you can't kill what is already dead.

Shadowsslunk between the dragon's legs, and I saw the fledglings. Some were larger than oxen and some were so small I could have held them in my arms. Children, the future of their people, all murdered.

Liars! Liars! Liars! They pounced, ghostly fangs and talons ripping into me. I didn't fight back. They were just babies, babies the fae had destroyed.

No, Jun was still out there. I need to save him. I needed to protect him. As those razor-sharp teeth flashed in the dim light and their tongues wrapped around me, I realized something for the very first time.

Ididn't need to save him; he needed to save me.

"Jun! Don't leave me, please!" I reached into my heart, deep into that well that now glowed with brilliant white light. It wasn't just my power but also his.

Jun, I need you.

Tori!

Hisvoice felt far away, but I could hear it coming closer as my body transitioned from pain to bliss. He would be too late, but I would get to see him again. It was selfish, so very selfish. I tried to tell him to run, but I couldn't even think the words.

"LEAVE!" The creatures around me retreated, and my body fell to the floor with another horrible crunch. My head throbbed, and my skin burned, but I felt a warm and gentle hand on my face.

"Tori, Tori!"

"I'm still here, Jun."

"We have to get out of here. He's coming."

Iwanted to ask who, but again, I couldn't find the words. Jun tried to help me stand, but my legs gave out beneath me. I felt his arms wrap behind my knees and I did my best to hold his neck as he carried me. I lay my head against his chest, and I could hear our hearts beating in sync. He ran in the darkness, but there was nowhere to go.

"Tori, can you call mana? We need to find—" The ground beneath us shook with a deep tremor, then another.

"He's here." Jun's voice shook in a way I had never heard before. The tremors continued until I recognized them for what they were. Great footsteps of a beast beyond my wildest nightmares. Jun's hands clamped around me in a painful vise. I pulled my face away from his chest and wished I hadn't.

Fromthe depths of the cave, all I could see were his eyes, eyes that glowed a red deeper than the heart of the earth. From the shadows, those eyes followed us. As his steps grew closer, I could hear his talons cutting into the rock below with an ear-splitting scratching sound that made my hair stand on end. Below his eyes, his heartfire started to glow, the red was so deep it was almost invisible. It illuminated his pitch-black scales, so dark I could only see the highlights where the red light reflected off them dully. He took a deep breath, and his fire illuminated his mouth and fangs as heat like nothing I'd even felt before scorched my skin.

Leaveher and go, little prince. She has already stolen something from me. Do not make the same mistake.

Hisvoice may have been in just our minds, but it was so deep and menacing, I felt it vibrate through my whole body. Jun's grip on me tightened further.

"Never!"

Deathgave a deep chuckle, and it reminded me so much of Abraxas my heart spasmed. There was no mischief here, only destruction.

Youcannot escape me. I am everywhere. I am inevitable.

"Jun." My voice was barely a whisper. I saw tears glinting in his eyes as I reached up to cup his face. "I'm sorry. I should have seen… should have seen how strong you are. How strong you have always been. You are soft and kind. I never understood how that took so much bravery. ButI see it now."

"Tori, stop. Stop talking like this is the end." He looked up, and I could see the deep red fire reflected in his eyes. I heard Death stalking around us, but I wasn't afraid.

"Go, Jun. It will all be alright."

Helooked down at me. "Of course, it will be because we'll be together. Together, we can always face anything."

Iput my hand on his chest to feel his heart beating and from beneath my fingers, a white bright light glowed. I pulled my hand away to see the beautiful light of his heart. I saw the shadows there too, still trying to hold his life in their deadly claws. This light wasn't the mana of the earth, but something that was uniquely ours.

Itwas his heart, but it was also mine. Two bodies, one soul. A soul split into its opposite parts, but fit back together perfectly. And when those two halves collided, we were stronger than even Death himself.

"I love you, Jun. I always have and always will, no matter what. I can't wait to see the man you have become."

Hesqueezed my hand in his, and I saw some of those entangling shadows burn away. They weren't gone; they never would be, but they didn't hold power over him anymore.

Deathspread his wings, and the cave was filled with deep red light. I felt his network of shadows closing in. They were just that, shadows. We were nothing but pure light. It was time to burn it all away.

Justbelow, I could feel the deep pool of mana, the deepest I had ever felt. Death tried to keep that power from me, his shadows blocking it. It was time to show him just who he was dealing with.

Ilaced my fingers through Jun's, and he squeezed back until my bones crunched. Death's throat burned as he called his dragonfire.

"Together?" I asked softly.

Mybrother squeezed my fingers one more time. "Always."

Death'sdragonfire swirled, ready to erupt. "Now!"

"brEAK!"

Theground below us split with a great crack, and Death stumbled. Blue-green light shot through the cracks below us, a network of light spilling into the cavern. I didn't hesitate. I pulled all of it into us. Light, pure and white burst from our hearts and the surrounding cave crumbled. AsI pulled more and more power from the earth, more and more cracks burst forth until it wasn't mana that flowed from beneath us, but magma.

Deathstaggered again, trying to find his footing as the ground gave out beneath him, huge chunks of rock sank down and were replaced by pools of glowing, molten rock. Everywhere he moved, his substantial weight would cause more of the floor to give way. He hissed like a giant serpent as the roof caved in.

Hespun toward me, and Jun and his eyes widened. Reflected in the darkness of his scales was our burning, white light. I watched in awe as our light spread above our heads, unfurling like a great feathered tail. It wasn't dragonfire, but a light that burned like the sun, and as great wings surrounded us, I felt more and more of the earth's power weaving through my heart and into Jun.

Deathgave a tight grin. So, it was you. I almost didn't recognize you.

BeforeI could question this, the floor beneath Jun and I gave out. I snagged him in my arms tight, and the light merged our hearts together. As boiling magma rose and the ceiling came down, our great white wings surrounded us. We shot through the earth and into the sky above as everything around us came crumbling down.