“Yeah, but the only way to do that is to let her back into the Otherworld,” said Seneca. She had repeated Jake’s thoughts verbatim. He looked at Seneca and nodded. She knew he was thankful she had spoken the words he was too afraid to say aloud.
The door opened only wide enough for two winged creatures no bigger than thimbles to flutter into the room. They moved in unison and hovered inches from Rileau’s ear. He nodded slowly as they spoke in a whisper. After a moment, he waved them off, indicating he had heard enough. The winged beings exited quickly, and the door shut upon their exit. He straightened his cloak and turned to face the foursome. From his expression, Seneca thought it best that she remain seated. The others stood at attention in anticipation of an announcement.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
She Shall Return
“Let us prepare,” declared Rileau as he led them down the quiet halls of the castle. They continued walking through the dimly lit halls until they reached a large brass door. It was located in an area that had remained off limits to them. He pushed back the heavy door, they entered, and their eyes scanned the room in awe.
“This is the place where we shall purge Brigara from the mortal realm,” Rileau explained. “Once I receive notice of her position from the arcane sprites, we shall begin the ritual.”
“Are you talking about those small winged beings we saw earlier?” Seneca asked.
“Yes, they have the gift to uncover what is hidden. Since Brigara is adept at avoiding detection, she has been quite the challenge. I am sure it was the sprites who assisted your parents in locating her, but that took many mortal years to accomplish. Since she has the Book of Grimoire, she is no longer concerned with renewing her detection-shielding spells.”
He gestured for them to enter the chamber. Shayna stepped into the room first, followed by the others. She spun slowly around, taking in the surroundings. She wrapped her arms in a tight self-embrace. “Amazing,” she whispered. “Fantastically amazing.”
The walls and ceiling were made of crystals in varying sizes. The floor was aged stone slab with various markings carved into it. Seneca recognized one of the symbols. The same engraving had been etched on her druid necklace. It made her wonder if her parents had ever been in the room.
“It’s like a prism in here,” said Jake. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
He moved along with the others to the center of the room. Each of them knew, without uttering a word, that it was the same arrangement used in Brigara’s banishment. A total of four chairs were positioned just as the elder druids had done: three on the perimeter and one in the center. They’d held her captive in the center chair as they wielded layers upon layers of magic charms at her. She had fought them with everything she had, but she had finally succumbed to their will. She’d been forcibly cast out of the Otherworld. Yet the plan to trap her in the Inbetween, a realm of suspension, had been unsuccessful. She had been clever enough to counter their spell and cross safely into the mortal realm. Shayna, Jake, Seneca, and Conner were now charged with opening the same gateway to allow her to return to the Otherworld, the realm where she vowed to destroy her enemies on sight.
They continued to survey the room. It was arranged just as they had been told; three ornate gold chairs were arranged just as described. An additional one, not as elaborate, was positioned in the center. The rest of the room was bare.
“I’m confused,” Jake said. “Keene Ardara told us that Brigara’s banishment happened at her home.”
“The ceremony for casting her from the Otherworld happened in the home where she once dwelled,” said Rileau. “To bring her back, we shall use this anointed chamber. Our objective is not to abolish but to retrieve. The chamber has been conjured as a means to transport. Unlike a portal, she will be forced to cross over. She will not be able to resist.”
“Just to be clear, we’re trying not to vanquish her but to trap her here in this little room?” asked Seneca.
“In this gorgeous place, you mean?” Shayna said. “Yeah, I agree—way too nice for her!” Her eyes scanned the room. She noticed a distinct pattern to the alignment of the crystals. Her assumption was that the alignment was created or at least enhanced by magic. Her mind drifted from the conversation as she examined the stones.
“This didn’t just happen. This chamber being prepped, I mean,” said Jake. “A lot of thought went into this.”
“That is true. The Elder Druid Council requested that I allow them to arrange an anointed chamber that would remain a secret,” said Rileau. “They anticipated there would be a time when Brigara would be summoned back to the Otherworld. They had the forethought to seek out a place where her magic could be contained upon her reentry.”
Shayna walked along the edge of the room. It expanded no more than ten feet in each direction. The room had no windows to allow natural lighting, yet it was well lit. Bright light illuminated the entire room. The source of it came directly from the walls. She ran her hand slowly down the sparkling calcite that formed the cascading walls of undulated stone. The feel of cold limestone sent a tingling sensation down her spine. She lifted her fingers but couldn’t resist touching it again. She wondered how the embedded crystals had formed inside the room. She had a fascination for gemstones and knew what it took to form them. She was well versed on calcite and how it formed as deposits in caves.
Every aspect of the room was covered in the light-emitting crystals. They varied in dimension and color. They ranged from nearly colorless to vibrant red, green, yellow, and blue. Some were opaque, while others were translucent, and most appeared to be in hexagonal forms. Each stone, regardless of size, twinkled and shined to contribute to the dazzling cast of light.
“Seneca, come over here,” Shayna said, beckoning to her.
“What is it?” Seneca replied.
“See this? These are Iceland spar! This room is covered in them!”
“What’s Iceland spar?” Jake asked.
Instead of replying directly to him, Shayna searched Rileau’s eyes for confirmation. He nodded, and she continued with even greater enthusiasm.
“Some actually call it sunstone because it can even reflect through fog. I’m right, aren’t I? The limestone is full of them. Every tiny inch of the walls is covered,” Shayna said exuberantly.
“Your declaration is true. The walls are of Iceland spar,” said Rileau. “Walk around and get acclimated before we begin.”
She was only partially listening to his response as she resumed the inspection of several larger gems. She noticed they weren’t as bright as the smaller ones but still reflected light. The tiniest and most colorless stones were the most brilliant.
“You guys have to check this out. It’s fascinating!” said Shayna. “This is like the limestone that was used to make the pyramids in Egypt.” She rubbed her hands across the way as she gleamed with a pageant-perfect smile.
“That’s cool,” said Conner flatly. He was nervous. Being inside the room caused an uneasiness in his stomach. All he could think about was coming face-to-face with Brigara. He shuddered as he worked to remove the image from his mind.
“It’s more than just cool, Conner. Iceland spar is like ubertastic perfection! There are no flaws. You know, no impurities,” she said, beaming.
Shayna wondered how the pure calcite crystals had formed inside the castle. As she cupped her hand along one of the larger crevices of the wall, she came to a sudden realization. She jerked her head around, her eyes wide with excitement. “Rileau, was the castle built around this limestone? Are we in a cave? They totally seem ancient, like they’ve been around forever. I mean, it would have to be. Iceland spar is like the gem that retracts light and makes everything look like its double.” She rambled without taking a pause. She gently placed her palm on the wall in admiration.
“That is correct. They do polarize light. This castle was built upon mounds of caves fille
d with these precious stones,” he explained. “The shimmering light you see comes from within the stones. It is trapped there and can only be released with the greatest of heat. If that were to happen, the gas the stones emit is lethal.”
“They’re super cold,” said Conner. “I bet it takes a lot to heat them up.”
“Would Brigara’s fireballs be the right amount of heat?” Jake asked.
“Only if they were separated from the wall. It is fortunate that these Iceland spars are surrounded by specks of crystals from the source of pure magic. As such, no amount of heat will penetrate them,” said Rileau. “It is ideal for what we must do.”
“They’re like billions of sparkling specks! Like a sea of glitter,” said Shayna. “It’s so beautiful in here.”
“Even with their beauty, they yield great power,” replied Rileau. “These walls serve as protection and capture any attacks of dark magic. The light of the crystals absorbs it all. In addition, the room has been enchanted to align the essence of the crystals to act in unison.”
“That makes sense when you think about it,” said Shayna. “Calcite stores carbon dioxide and traps heat like a greenhouse effect. The magic just gives them an extra boost!”
“You sure do know an awful lot about this stuff,” said Seneca. She couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice and her expression. “How do you know all of this?”
“Hello! Are you kidding? Shiny gems, crystals, rocks. You know—diamonds?” Shayna didn’t bother to wait for a response as she continued on her rant. “Anyway, you’ve gotta know your stuff when it comes to precious gems. You don’t want to get fooled when you’re shopping for that perfect charm bracelet, and the clerk tells you it’s a pearl, and you totally know that it’s an opal. Total scam alert!” Shayna snapped her fingers above her head and smirked.
“Okay, got it,” said Seneca with a slight snicker. “Good to know you’re a resource for all things shiny.”
“You seemed to have familiarized yourself with this chamber,” Rileau said.
“I’m guessing it’s time to talk about the crazy lady,” Conner grumbled. He shoved his hands into his pockets and braced for the news.
“Indeed, it is time. We must bring her to this place,” said Rileau.
“Rileau, if we do manage to get Brigara in here, will we be safe from her attacks?” asked Jake. The room grew silent as they turned their attention to the dragon.
“She will attempt an attack, but once she realizes she is powerless within these walls, she is likely to seek an escape,” he said. “Someone who feels trapped can be quite formidable.”
“You mean dangerous,” said Seneca.
“There’s only one way in and one way out too,” said Conner. His voice cracked. He could feel sweat rolling down his back.
“Remember, we’ve got to keep her in here. We can’t let her through that door, no matter what,” said Jake. “We need a strategy. We need to know what she might do before she does it.”
“Like the elder druids?” Seneca asked. “Look how that turned out. They couldn’t outmaneuver her, and that’s how she got away.”
“I just want to make sure I’m getting this. We have to somehow summon the teacher from hell? Then trap her in this cave with only one way out?” said Conner sarcastically. “I agree with Jake. We definitely need a game plan before we have to deal with her.”
“I think we should go over the risks first,” said Shayna. “I’m sure there are a ton of them, even if her powers are absorbed in the wall. Hopefully she doesn’t affect their beauty.”
“Aye, a strategy is necessary, but most of what you will encounter will be based on your gifts and instincts,” said Rileau. “You will first enact the spell that will return Brigara to the Otherworld. She will not leave the Book of Grimoire behind, as it is essential to her true quest. Once she appears, you must retrieve it from her. That is imperative!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m still not understanding exactly why we would bring her here. Isn’t everyone safer, including the source of magic, if we leave her butt in the mortal realm?” asked Shayna.
“I agree. Plus, what good can the book—the Grimoire—do for her there?” Seneca added.
“I’m struggling with the fact that she’s going to know it’s a trap,” said Jake. “She’s going to be prepared right from the start to counter whatever we’re trying to pull off.”
“You all have valid concerns and perspectives. Her ego will not be able to resist the challenge,” replied Rileau. “She is consumed by her desire to possess the source of magic. She will not be dissuaded from achieving what she seeks. She knows not of restraint. The Book of Grimoire will eventually be tasked with returning her to the Otherworld. Its vibrations have been felt across this realm, which means she is making attempts to return. We must not allow her to come without our intervention. By opening the portal, we can summon her within these walls and disarm her.”
“In other words, snatch that book right out of the grips of her grubby hangnails!” Shayna said.
“Surprise attack? Cool,” said Conner. “I’m ready for that.” He attempted to sound confident, but he knew he wasn’t fooling anyone.
“All of us are ready,” Jake said as he put his arm around Conner.
Seneca walked across the room and stood next to Rileau. She noticed that he had remained next to the door and hadn’t fully entered the room. She looked up into his eyes and suddenly felt uneasy. She swallowed hard as she mustered the courage to bring up what had been nagging her.
“We still haven’t talked about the risks. I’m sure there are a ton of them,” said Seneca. Her voice was airy, but there was no mistaking the seriousness of her tone.
“By opening the gateway from the mortal realm to the Otherworld, we jeopardize the veil that shields and separates all of the realms.”
“How many realms are we talking about?” asked Jake.
“As you now know, Arcadrom is the realm where the source of all magic originates,” replied Rileau. “It is known that there are four realms that exist. We of the Otherworld know of three. The fourth is beyond our reach and our comprehension.”
“Just as I was getting used to the idea of Arcadrom, you throw a mystery one in the mix,” said Conner. He folded his arms across his chest and let out an exasperated sigh.
“All realms will be vulnerable to Brigara if she escapes,” said Rileau. “Her priority will be to cross to the realm of Arcadrom. She is most obstinate in this mission.”
“If we let her escape, it will be like an open invitation to the source of all magic,” said Shayna. “There’s no way I’m letting that skank get out of this room!”
“She’ll act like a kid in a toy store if she gets to Arcadrom,” said Conner as he shook his head. “Why isn’t she satisfied with the power she already has? I really don’t get it.”
“I’m sure if she had all the power and magic in the universe, it still wouldn’t be enough for her,” said Jake. “She’s just bad wiring—all misfire and short circuits.”
“She’s like what Socrates said: ‘He who is not contented with what he has would not be contented with what he would like to have,’” said Shayna. “Before any of you fall down in surprise that I just quoted that, my dad made me memorize it when he thought I had gone on way too many shopping sprees.”
“I’m done with being surprised by you today,” said Seneca. “I’m actually impressed.” She smiled and nudged Shayna in the shoulder playfully.
“Seriously, though, now that I think about it, those words kind of sound like a curse or a spell,” said Shayna.
“That is because they are just that,” said Rileau. “Socrates was quite a prankster in disguising his spells in the mortal realm. Your father likely did not realize this when he caused you to memorize it.”
“It makes sense now. I missed all the sales in my favorite department store for the n
ext two seasons after that,” said Shayna. Her lips puckered in an exaggerated pout. “It figures that Socrates was from the Otherworld too.”
“He was missed while away. He once told me that he wanted mortals to evolve to the level of our kind from the Otherworld. He dismissed that notion and decided he could not teach anyone anything; he could only make them think,” said Rileau.
“You must be old if you talked to Socrates,” Jake replied with a sly smirk.
“That is enough for now. Our time is being wasted. We must prepare to open the threshold,” said Rileau gruffly, sneering at Jake. “The enchantment will force Brigara to cross, at which time we shall seize the Book of Grimoire. She will not be able to cross to Arcadrom without it.”
“Nab the book. Got it,” Conner said.
“I’m sure it’s not going to be that easy, even if she’s outnumbered,” said Shayna. Jake nodded in agreement.
“Nothing involving Brigara is ever easy,” said Rileau. “What have you observed, Seneca?”
“There are only three chairs,” she replied. “Who sits where? I know the center one is for Brigara, right?” Seneca agonized over whether or not she really wanted to hear the answer.
“Indeed, Brigara shall be positioned in the center. You, Jake, and Shayna are the closest in your bond and shall take the seats—that is not to dismiss your ties in any way, Conner,” said Rileau.
“Hey, I’m not offended at all. Just tell me what to do. I’m all about the team here,” said Conner with confidence. He was relieved to have a different responsibility. “Every player has a role, no matter how big or small, as long as we work together.” He let out a long sigh of relief.
“Excellent attitude. It is you, Conner, who shall have the greatest responsibility of us all,” Rileau said somberly.
Jake watched the color whisk away from Conner’s face as he stumbled a few steps back. At that moment, anyone could have knocked him over just by blowing.
“Huh? Me? I have the greatest—um, what did you say?” Conner stammered. He was light-headed and disoriented. He leaned on the wall to steady himself. The crystals felt cool against his heated skin.