“Elysian would be the one to know,” I said.
Raiya pursed her lips. “If we can go back to Aleia’s star, we can go down the Rabbit Hole,” she said. “That’ll get us there faster. We might be able to stop his body before it gets back to the rest of him.”
Elysian and I exchanged glances.
Finally, he wrinkled his long nose. “Fine,” he said. “That’s a good plan.”
“I thought I was the one who had to begrudgingly give Starry Knight praise,” I said, chuckling a bit at Elysian’s demeanor.
“The Sinisters were child’s play compared to Draco,” Elysian insisted. “This is no time to be funny.”
“Let’s just get back inside,” Raiya said, interrupting. “We’re going to just end up wasting time if we’re allowed to argue.”
I nodded and hurried after them, glancing around at the damage.
In addition to dents and destruction around the castle, the moat area looked like it was bleeding white blood. I faltered somewhat, stunned that this had been allowed to happen. It was clear that Alora had command of an impressive power and a significant duty. Why had she been allowed to be hurt and betrayed?
I felt like some of this was on Adonaias as much as Orpheus and Alküzor.
“You okay?” Raiya asked, coming along beside.
“Just looking at the damage,” I said. “This is not good.”
“No, it’s not.” She sighed. “But that doesn’t mean something good can’t come from it.”
“That seems rather silly,” I scoffed.
“True love seemed silly to you, before it happened to you,” she reminded me curtly.
I took her hand and gripped it, trying to reassure myself as much as I was hoping to reassure her. “Alright, you’ve got me there. But this still looks bad.”
“That’s why we have to do something.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked. “Draco’s only going to get more powerful.”
Raiya shook her head. “We can figure it out one step at a time. The first step is to make sure Alora is alright. And then we can go down to Earth again.”
While I still had my doubts, I didn’t want to dwell on them. Sometimes there are questions that demand answers, and then there are other questions that will just plague you.
We entered into the atrium of the castle, and I saw Alora was inside her time pool, much as I had been once. Her gown had changed from a pure white to a shining red, but other than that she was the same as the first time I met her. Her green eyes were once more alive with energy, though it looked as though the rest of her was struggling to make a comeback.
“Hello, Wingdinger,” she said. Her face slightly tightened at the sight of my friends. “Starry Knight, Elysian; it’s good to see you again, too.”
I had to hide my smile; I knew that Alora and Raiya had their problems. “Likewise,” I said.
“I understand I have you to thank for my rescue,” Alora continued.
Before I could assure Alora there was no thanks necessary, Raiya spoke up. “It was my fault that you were attacked in the first place. I shouldn’t have left you alone with Orpheus.”
“Orpheus deceived us all,” Alora told her. “He tricked us, and he took advantage of our nature.”
“He is gone now,” Elysian said quietly.
“I’m sorry, Aleia.” Raiya stepped forward. “I know that your trouble was caused by me, in part.”
Aleia shook her head. “He has finally paid his debt with his life’s blood, but he was truly gone a long time ago.”
“It’s still sad,” Raiya insisted.
“Mourning will have to come later,” Elysian said brusquely. (Seriously, I even almost hit him for his insensitivity.)
“Alora, how are you feeling? Will you recover?” I asked.
Aleia and Alora exchanged uncertain glances. I suddenly wished I hadn’t said anything.
“I need to stay in here,” Alora finally said, gesturing toward her time pool. “When Orpheus attacked, he managed to quite a bit of damage. I lost control of my power. It is still hemorrhaging out of me. If it is not contained, others will suffer.”
“The time stops were disrupting the world,” I remarked.
“I’ll need to stay in here, in my time pool, to keep me from succumbing to Orpheus’ influence.”
“What do you mean?” Elysian asked.
“You know as well as I do that life is complicated, even in a fallen world, even in a fallen realm. When things don’t do what they are made to do, problems occur.” She sighed. “My integrity has been compromised. I need to be contained in order to prevent such a thing from happening again.”
“But your containment on Draco’s body didn’t hold up,” I argued. “Staying in there doesn’t mean that you won’t run into problems.”
“Staying in here means I will have protection in place and help managing it,” Alora told me. “I have known for a long time that my role would be a temporary one. This is the beginning of the end for me.”
“You’re going to die?” I gasped.
“Time, by its own nature, has its own limitations,” Alora reminded me. But then she smiled. “But no, I won’t die; I will be made new.”
“In the meantime, she won’t be alone to fend for herself,” Aleia said, stepping forward. “I’m going to stay here and help her while we wait for Adonaias to come.”
“You’re leaving us?” Raiya asked. This time, she was the one whose mouth dropped open in shock.
“Time and Memory work together,” Aleia reminded her. “It is our duty and pleasure. Besides,” she said kindly, “I’ve done for you all that I can. It is up to you to stop Draco and Alküzor, and capture the last Sinister.”
She grinned as she glanced over at me and Elysian. “You already have a good team.”
“You’re the reason we are a functional team,” Raiya insisted.
“Then honor my request, and maintain your friendship and sacred vows.” Aleia placed her palm on the time pool, as Alora reached for hers. “This is not a sad good-bye. We will meet again.”
“And we will still be able to help,” Alora said. She held up her scepter, its pointy top glowing brightly. “I’ll be able to keep time still while you travel back home. Once you’re there and safe, I will allow it to resume.”
Elysian, Raiya, and I all looked at each other; I felt as if we were all secretly wondering if we would be able to go on the same as we had before, or if we were destined to fail.
Either way, we would have to worry about it later, I decided.
“Alright,” I said. “I know what it’s like to have a sibling in need.”
Elysian nodded. “I will miss you,” he said to Aleia as he nuzzled her shoulder.
“I’ll miss you too,” Aleia said as she caressed his chin thoughtfully and placed a loving kiss on his forehead. “But it is only temporary. We will be together again.”
“We will?” Elysian looked pathetically hopeful.
“If you wish it so,” Aleia promised. “And if you are willing to do what is needed.”
“What is needed?” he asked.
“The same thing that is required of the fallen,” Aleia said. “You must repent and be born again.”
He grimaced at her message, but allowed her to hug him once more. I was just confused by it.
Raiya stepped up to Aleia. “I’ll miss you.” She reached out and hugged her. “I can’t thank you enough for coming to help.”
“It was fun,” Aleia said. “And I’m glad I could help.”
Alora stepped forward. “Starry Knight,” she said. “We have unfinished business, you and I. Now is not the time to settle it, but it must be settled.”
I frowned at Alora’s words, but when Raiya only nodded, I accepted that it would have to wait; we had a dragon to stop.
“Aleia,” I said. “We need to get down to the city fast. Can we go through the Rabbit Hole again?”
“You may,” Aleia said. She turned to Raiya. “When you are the
re, you can find the memory that you seek. Wingdinger will know what to do.”
“Thank you,” Raiya said, grasping her hand once more.
“Go,” Aleia said. “St. Brendan is waiting for you.”
*☼*
St. Brendan picked us up silently, and it weighed on me heavily as we passed over the destruction scattered around Time’s castle.
“I think everything will be alright,” I said, trying to cheer him up and helping him back into being his usual self.
“Aye,” he said listlessly. “They say on Earth that ‘time heals all wounds,’ but it’s not true.”
“I agree.”
“Lady Time will need some time to heal,” St. Brendan quipped. “But alas, the sadness will go on.”
“Not forever,” I said quickly.
“No, not forever,” he agreed. “I’ve seen millions upon millions of places; I’ve seen Stars and the Reborn, and others. Time has an end, and Eternity is all the more breathtaking. Once they are together and Time is recreated, I can only imagine what it will be like.”
“No need to wonder until then, right?” I joked.
“Hardly, lad.” He didn’t seem to catch my kidding. “It’s all the more important to keep imagining. Our possibilities are nothing compared to the realities of truth fully revealed.”
He turned to me. “It’s grateful I am, that you were able to help Lady Time,” he said. “She is a most beloved Star and servant of my master.”
“No problem,” I said. “I only wish I could have saved her before Orpheus attacked, so Aleia didn’t have to stay behind.”
“Aleia and Alora have always been close. It is no surprise to me that she would stay. It was a choice for her, too.”
I only nodded.
“We’re coming up on her star as well,” St. Brendan said. “I’ve a feeling there’s no need to get you to surf over there this time.”
“I’m going to stay with my team,” I said. “But if circumstances were different, I would take you up on that.”
He smiled, his blue eyes gleaming with mischievous fun. “We’ll save it for next time’s adventure.” He nodded toward Raiya, who was leaning on the mast. “We’ll bring your lady along too, just to see if she’s still got her skills about her.”
“Absolutely.” I grinned.
The landing on Aleia’s star was completely different from landing at Alora’s, and I was grateful for this. It was literally just like Martha had said: There’s no need to make your life more difficult.
I held Raiya’s hand as we waved our good-byes to St. Brendan and watched the Meallán slip into the torrent waves of space. I was so glad to see her again, to be with her again—even if the situation we were facing was growing more grim by the moment.
She seemed to realize it, too, from the expression on her face.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
“I don’t know,” she admitted.
“What’s wrong?” Concern etched its way into my words. I knew she couldn’t be happy with the situation; we were both tired, and we knew our job still demanded more from us yet. “Was it Alora? What did Alora mean, telling you that you still had unfinished business?”
She shook her head. “That’s nothing big. It’s not that I’m upset about,” she said.
“What are you upset about then?”
“I have a feeling,” she said, “a feeling in my heart that has been growing for some time now.”
“Tell me.” I was starting to get nervous.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Grandpa before.”
I almost laughed. “That’s nothing. He was always irritating. It’s not a surprise that he’s irritating on two or more levels in addition to the one I already I knew of.”
“That’s not it.” Raiya hesitated. “I’ve been wondering if he was corrupted by Draco.”
“What? When?” I asked. “How long?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But he knew about us,” she said with a blush, “and he’s always around Rachel’s. He would know about Logan and the observatory, and he would know about Mikey’s infatuation with Starry Knight. He could have sent him that night.”
“Mikey said that Grandpa Odd had visited him in the hospital, too,” I said. “Along with Patricia Rookwood.”
“Yes. Aleia said I could check the memory. I wanted to see if he was the one who told Mikey. I thought that might prove he was at least working against us.”
I tugged her along behind me as I turned toward the river. “Come on then,” I said. “If that’s true, then we’ll have to hurry and get back. When Draco gets his full power back, we’ll have a harder time saving your grandpa from him.”
“Thank you.” She gripped my hand back in hers. “I was worried you wouldn’t want to help him. I know you don’t like him much.”
“That’s true; he is a terrible pain to deal with,” I replied, “but I know what he means to you. And despite his goofy teasing, he doesn’t deserve to have his soul swallowed up by some dragon bent on unleashing hell on the world.”
Elysian was waiting for us by the Rabbit Hole. “Come on,” he said, clearly agitated. “There isn’t time for you to be making out.”
“We weren’t making out,” I bit back.
“We’ve got to check a memory,” Raiya told Elysian. “Give me a moment.”
“Hurry up,” he grumbled.
“If you want to help,” Raiya said, “go and keep Folly and Foolishness busy. They like to talk too much. It’s distracting.”
He only grunted in reply, before folding his arms across his chest indignantly.
“Do you want me to take care of them?” I asked Raiya. “I can do that.”
“I’ll need your help,” she reminded me. “I’ve never caught a memory before.”
“Oh. Come on, I’ll show you. It’s easy.” I grinned at the momentary pleasure. It was a soft moment after hours of difficulty.
Together, we picked up one of the crystal clusters which flowed freely from the river’s heart.
It was, just as Aleia’s orb had been, small and smooth. Holding it together in our joined hands, I looked at her. “Ready?” I asked.
Raiya nodded. “Ready.”
I pushed my power into the memory; alongside me, I felt Raiya’s power surge. It was a sweet and tender moment when we worked together as one, side-by-side and soul-by-soul. I could almost hear the sound of her music move inside of me, the melody that had first called to me.
I smiled as the memory awakened and pulled us inside, allowing us to slide into the moment it was created.
I wasn’t surprised to see that we were inside of Rachel’s Café. I saw Mikey come into the café.
He’d just returned from seeing his dad.
“I can’t believe he didn’t say anything,” Mikey hissed to himself.
Okay, so he didn’t actually talk with him.
That narrows it down to who sent him to see us at the observatory, I thought.
He moved through the café, his gaze looking across the room. I realized he was probably looking for me, and when he didn’t see me, he grumbled some more and headed for the bar.
“Mikey, my lad,” Grandpa Odd said as Mikey sat down. “Why are you here?”
Beside me, I felt Raiya’s body tense up. Did she suspect Draco was actually using her husk of a grandpa for soul fodder? Evil or not, I would’ve used someone more powerful or young or at least domesticated.
“Just … just looking for my friend,” he said. “Have you seen him?”
“Who is it you seek?”
“Uh, my friend, Hamilton Dinger,” he said. “You know, the one that comes in here all the time to parade himself around like a star?”
I frowned and decided I would remember to correct his thinking on the matter later.
“Ah, I see your loyalty knows no bounds,” Grandpa Odd said approvingly. “Just as Arthur trusted Lancelot.”
“Ugh, sure,” Mikey asid.
Does he seriously not k
now about King Arthur? I shook my head.
“He went to the observatory,” Grandpa Odd said. “Apparently, there’s someone there waiting for him.”
How did he know that?
I heard Raiya’s response inside of my head. He knew I would go to check in on Logan and the meteorite from time to time after Logan was attacked. He was the one who told me to watch it, in case it attracted other demons. But then, I don’t know if he knew exactly when I would go.
I watched as Grandpa Odd took a drink of his coffee. “Maybe you should go catch up to him. He didn’t leave that long ago.”
“Alright, thanks.” Mikey turned and walked dejectedly out of the room.
Raiya relaxed. “It was just an honest mistake,” she said. “That’s—”
“Hold on a sec, lad.” Grandpa Odd came over and handed him a coffee cup. When Mikey took it, Grandpa Odd grabbed his wrist.
A shockwave of angry surprise washed over both of us as we saw a red glow leak from his hand to Mikey. Mikey’s eyes glazed over, and I could almost see his mind grow blank.
No, not blank. His mind was being altered and protected.
The flood of power into the memory stopped, and Raiya and I found ourselves standing in the River of Life once more.
Before I could stop her, Raiya slumped onto her knees, letting her tunic flutter along with the river’s ripples. “So, he has been attacked by Draco.”
“We’ll free him,” I said, pulling her up and hugging her close. I was sure of it as I said it. “He doesn’t know that we know yet. We can get to him before Alora resumes time. We can beat him before he gets a hold of his dragon powers.”
Raiya straightened. “You must promise me,” she said, “that we will. We don’t know how long Grandpa has been captive. Draco could know anything about us.”
“Anything?” I was skeptical.
“Grandpa knew about me, about you, about Elysian and Aleia, and—”
“And Mary,” I added.
“Who’s Mary?” Raiya asked, and then she nodded. “Never mind, I remember. Yes, Mary too. Grandpa would know if it was me or not. But my point remains. He easily has the upper hand, and if he gets the rest of his power, we’re at a severe disadvantage.”