Chapter 20

TWENTY

Turi’s heart thumped as she raced through the dimly lit tunnels beneath the fortress. The air was cool and damp, and the walls were tight around them, but she didn’t slow down. Ara, her shadowy companion, led the way, her form flickering in the faint light that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. Turi’s breath came in short, sharp gasps. She clutched the heavy cloak tightly around her shoulders, the fabric soft against her skin. Beneath the cloak, nestled securely in a sturdy pouch, were the journals—Ellion’s lost memories, a record of his past and possibly the key to their future.

The tunnel seemed to stretch on forever, a steep, twisting path that delved deep into the heart of the mountain. Turi’s legs ached with the effort, but she pushed on, fueled by a desperate urgency. She knew that the Axis’ shuttle was on its way, and with it, the promise of a fate worse than death for both her and Ellion. She wouldn’t let that happen. Not if she had anything to say about it.

Finally, they emerged from the tunnel. She stumbled out into the open air. Turi blinked at the colorful light of the setting sun. The sky was a tapestry of fiery oranges and purples, while the tunnel they had just left behind was shadows and gloom.

They had arrived in the Skrac lands. But as Turi looked around, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dismay. The landscape before her was a desolate wasteland. It made the tired lands of her home settlement look lush in comparison. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their branches bare and lifeless. The ground was cracked and blackened, as if scorched by dragon fire. There was no grass, no sign of life, just an endless expanse of barren, blasted earth.

“Welcome to Rakid,” Ara said, her voice breaking in the stillness. “This is our home.”

Turi turned to Ara. “How do things live here,” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“The land is alive,” Ara assured her. “It’s different from every other biome on this planet. Here, life thrives in unexpected ways. The trees may look dead, but they are very much alive. This is their healthy, normal state. The ground, too, is full of life, if one knows where to look. That life is different from that on your side of the mountain.”

Turi took a hesitant step forward, her eyes scanning the seemingly dead land. She could feel the faintest traces of warmth radiating from the ground beneath her feet, a gentle pulsing that seemed to resonate with the steady beat of her own heart. It was as if the land itself was alive, a hidden world of wonders disguised by the harsh, unforgiving exterior.

As they moved deeper into Rakid, Turi noticed small, hardy plants poking through the cracks in the earth, their leaves a vibrant shade of blue that seemed to glow in the dim light. Strange, insect-like creatures buzzed through the air, their translucent wings shimmering with iridescent colors. Even the trees, with their twisted, gnarled branches, were home to a variety of birdlike creatures, their calls echoing through the stillness like a haunting, otherworldly melody.

Ara led Turi to a small, sheltered area nestled among the twisted trees. Here, the ground was covered with a soft, spongy moss that absorb the impact of their footsteps, muffling the sound. Ara’s form shifted and changed, taking on the appearance of a Terian once more. She moved to a low, flat rock and lifted it, revealing a dark hole. “We’ll be safe in here,” she said.

Turi was well past doubting Ara. She was eager to be out of sight. The Axis could send drones out to scan the surface. Without a word, she lowered herself into the hole and let go. With no ladder, she clung to the side.

“Let go, Turi,” said Ara. “It’s soft below.”

She closed her eyes and dropped, landing on soft, spongy ground. It was a good distance. Enough to jar her bones despite the soft landing. Ara followed, closing the hole above and plunging them into darkness.

“Just a moment,” Ara said, then light illuminated a cavern much larger than Turi expected.

It was not made for beings like Turi. There was no furniture like chairs and tables, but rather, large, flat cushions lay on the ground that was also covered in that same soft moss. It was warmer down here. She let out a shaky breath of relief.

“Welcome to my home,” Ara said, moving to the cushioned area. “Or rather, one of my family’s homes. I brought you here because this one is currently unoccupied. Most of the Skrac are in the Ugkan region this time of year, where it’s warmer.”

“Your people migrate?” Turi asked, walking around in awe. The ceiling was high. The lights were organic, vine-like things that snaked along the perimeter of the chamber.

“Yes, when it suits them,” Ara replied. “Some of us prefer to stay.”

Turi sat on a cushion, unfastening her cloak. “Do your people approve of your association with Ellion?”

“They believe it is wise to have peace with an overseer of the Axis. He is considered less dangerous because of me.” She settled on a cushion beside Turi. “I don’t want Ellion to get on the Skrac’s bad side. We can be a dangerous force when necessary.”

Turi’s body trembled with a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline. The heavy cloak was comforting, but growing hot. She placed the pouch containing Ellion’s journals on the floor beside her. The weight of them was a reminder of the male she ached for. “Could the Skrac help rise up against the Axis?”

“The Skrac would only fight if our lands were directly attacked,” Ara replied. “And our numbers are not great enough to defeat the Axis. We like the shadows.” Ara’s form still resembled that of a Terian female, but it was softened by the fading light, giving her an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality. “You’re safe here, Turi,” she said, her voice a soothing whisper against the stillness. “The Axis have no power in Rakid.”

Turi nodded, her grip on the pouch loosening slightly. “I trust you, Ara,” she replied. “But what about Ellion? He’s out there, facing the Axis alone.”

Ara’s expression hardened, her eyes reflecting the same worry that gnawed at Turi’s heart. “Ellion is strong, stronger than even he realizes. He has a dragon’s heart—fierce, unyielding, and full of fire.”

Turi’s thoughts drifted back to the fortress, to the last time she had seen Ellion. His wings had been spread wide, a magnificent sight against the backdrop of the setting sun. His eyes had held a fierce determination, a promise that he would do whatever it took to protect her, to ensure her freedom. She could still feel the warmth of his lips against hers. It was a searing memory that she clung to like a lifeline.

“I know he’s strong,” Turi said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But the Axis… They’re cruel and relentless. They’ve taken so much from him already. I can’t bear the thought of losing him.”

Ara reached out, her hand resting gently on Turi’s arm. “I know Ellion well, and I know when he has a plan. Let him do what he’s doing and we’ll find our own way to help.”

Turi turned to Ara. “What can we do, Ara? All we have are these journals, which…” Her gaze locked on the datapad. “Which we need to read.”

Ara nodded. “Let’s do that now.” She picked up the first journal. “I’ll start with the one you and Ellion have looked through. You go with the datapad.”

Turi’s pulse increased as a flicker of hope winked to life despite the despair that had settled over her. “Let’s get to work,” she said, picking up the datapad.