“Wait, we’re going through a sketchy gap in the wall of a massive mountain?” I raised an eyebrow in disbelief, fearing it would all tumble down around us the moment we set foot inside.
“There’s a ventilation shaft inside. It’s not just rock,” he said as he pulled away the last of the twisting vines and stamped them down on the floor of the fissure, covering his tracks. This place wouldn’t stay secret for long if someone came by and discovered a pile of torn-away weeds.
Still dubious about the structural safety of the crevice, I let Navan lead the way, holding on to his hand as he led me through the darkness beyond. Using my free hand to cling to the walls, I shuddered each time something fell around me, stone clattering to the ground. However, after a moment or two, the ground became more solid, the shadows lightening to a barely discernible dimness. Just as he’d said, the rock gave way to a secure, square tunnel of sheet metal. Our footsteps echoed as we walked along. It was tall enough to walk through in a standing position with my shoulders a little bit hunched, but Navan was bent over.
“Did Seraphina say anything else?” he asked as we moved on through the ventilation shaft.
I contemplated telling him about her request, but I couldn’t get the words to come out. It was like my heart was reaching up and grabbing at them, pulling them back down into my voice box, leaving them unspoken. I had to tell him, but now didn’t feel like the right time. I was still processing what she’d said myself.
“She told me she’d trigger the evacuation, and that Gianne was building a weapon of some kind,” I replied, even as I felt bad for delaying Seraphina’s request. The more I thought about it, the more I understood her perspective. She wasn’t asking to be cruel to me. She was asking because she feared for her own happiness. And, if I were being forced to marry a man like Aurelius, I’d probably be desperate for any other option, too.
Navan’s head snapped back to look at me. “You didn’t say it was a weapon!” he whispered sharply.
“Didn’t I?” I murmured, realizing I should have mentioned it. “I guess I thought it would have been obvious. I mean, what else is a queen going to build after she’s obliterated her sister’s prized possession? She’s got to expect payback of some sort. I presume she’s preparing for it.”
“You really have to tell me these things, Riley.” He sighed.
“Miscommunicator Riley,” I mumbled, shrugging. “I’m sorry.”
He gave me a wry look before continuing ahead. Ten minutes later, with my brow dripping with sweat from being smothered in the surprisingly stuffy vent, we reached the end of the tunnel. A grate faced us, looking out on the underground hangar where we’d arrived on that fateful first day. A twinge of sadness rippled through me as my mind drifted toward Kalvin and the rest of his team, whose fates were still unknown. Kalvin had been loyal to the end, giving us a chance to survive by offering up his own life. Yet, here we were, back in the lion’s den, putting ourselves in danger. If he could see us now, I was fairly sure he’d be rolling his eyes or making a cutting comment about Navan’s “ineptitude.”
I squashed in beside Navan, and we knelt on the floor, peering out at the hangar. What we saw chilled me to the very core.
Scattered across the vast, cavernous space was a fleet of brand-new ships gleaming like smooth pebbles at the bottom of a riverbed. One of them had its hood popped open, revealing the inner mechanics of the shiny new ship. An engineer tinkered with the interior, making notes as he worked.
A harsh breath surged from the back of Navan’s throat. “No… it can’t be,” he whispered.
“What?” I asked, my mouth dry. Mechanical engineering was my forte, but my experience didn’t exactly extend to alien technology. I had no idea what I was looking at, and the panic in Navan’s eyes alarmed me.
“She’s figured it out,” he breathed, his voice catching. “There—that’s the engine required for deep-space travel. I’d recognize it anywhere.” He gaped at the open ship, its metal innards gleaming ominously.
I gasped in horror as my eyes settled on something else, tucked away in the farthest corner of the hangar. It was a pile of scrap metal that looked out of place among the sleek new ships. There, on the side of one of the discarded panels, was the word Asterope.
I realized with a crushing feeling what had happened. Gianne had used the Asterope to figure out how to conquer deep-space travel.
If what Navan said was true, the engine was noticeably different. An engineer must have been working on the Asterope and spotted the discrepancy, reporting it back to their queen. Through trial and error, they would have figured out what the difference entailed, by dissecting the technology used in their own ships and adding this extra element. In opening up that gateway in technological advancement, they had evidently realized the untapped potential in their own fleet, prompting Gianne to build a new one entirely.
If that were the case, then it was only a matter of time before Gianne found Earth. It would be mapped on the Asterope somewhere. If she didn’t understand the significance of my small, seemingly weak little planet now, she soon would, and the thought of that filled me with gut-wrenching dread. Why did human blood have to be the stuff that worked? Was it because of our position in the universe, on practically the exact opposite side from the Vysantheans? I had no idea, but it angered me regardless.
“We need to get this back to Brisha, pronto,” I muttered bitterly, my eyes narrowing with rage.
Navan nodded. “We need to stop this before the fleet is fully functional.”
I glanced at him. “It’s not yet?”
“Not by the looks of it. They have some kinks to work out, but it will be finished soon enough. We need to get Brisha to step in or we’re all doomed. With that number of ships, there’s no telling what Gianne could do. That sort of armada could take over the universe,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Then there’s no time to waste,” I whispered, taking his hand. We rushed back through the ventilation shaft, bursting back out into the bitter Vysanthean landscape.
I pictured the explosives we’d abandoned, their electrics frazzling in the icy water, and sighed. Maybe we could have damaged these ships. Then again, the hangar was crawling with coldbloods. We’d never have managed to pull it off without being spotted.
No, we needed to get back to the North as soon as possible. We couldn’t risk a moment longer here. Seraphina and her wedding would have to wait, too. There were more important things at stake… like the entire universe.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Should we head straight for the border or go back to the others?” I asked, aware that the rest of the soldiers would likely be done planting explosives by now. They wouldn’t know what had caused the sprinklers to malfunction, I hoped, but they would’ve hurried to complete the mission if they thought the authorities sensed any suspicious activity. The bombs would still blow, regardless of whether or not any people remained inside.
“We have to rejoin the others,” Navan said heavily. “Commander Korbin will think we’ve deserted the troop if we don’t get back soon. We can tell him we’ve found important intel for Brisha,” he added, stretching out his wings. I mirrored the motion and took to the sky, Navan soaring beside me.
With the wind whipping at our faces, we sped away from the mountain range that surrounded Regium. I glanced back to witness the twin behemoths that guarded the entrance to the city—the old king and queen, I remembered, from Navan’s personal tour, the last time we were here. They really were impressive, towering over both settlements and mountains, keeping watch over those beneath. I wondered what Vysanthe might have been like back then, before the sisters tore the planet in two. Had it been a better place? All kings and queens had their faults, but I had to wonder which the Vysanthean people preferred, the past or the present.
This time, we didn’t veer off toward the barren wastelands that flanked the main route from Regium to the neighboring districts. There was no time for caution, not if we wanted to
meet up with the other soldiers before Korbin questioned our prolonged absence.
As we drew closer to a settlement, the pretty houses ringed by a glimmering river, the trees more luscious here, I became aware of a sound behind us. It was almost like a kite flapping in the breeze.
Turning sharply, I thought I saw a figure disappear behind a dense canopy of treetops. However, with the clouds rushing across the sky, trailing in front of the sun, it was hard to tell what was real. It was only when the creeping sensation refused to leave me alone that I realized my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.
“I think we’re being followed,” I whispered to Navan, flying in close to his side.
He frowned, casting a subtle glance over his shoulder. “I can’t see anyone,” he replied, though he looked uncertain.
My pulse quickened as I was reminded of our nerve-wracking journey from Alaska to New York. “Whoever it is, they’re good at hiding.”
Passing across the icy flow of the river, Navan took my hand and led me off toward the left, straying from the central route that led back to the Observatory. Using the shadow of the nearby trees to shroud us, we peered through the gaps in the boughs to see who was on our tail. My anger pricked as I spotted the skeletal frame of Aurelius, his single wing flapping double speed to keep him in the air, while a fake wing trailed hopelessly, rising up and down only when it caught a current of air. Despite his disability, he seemed like an adept flier. His rheumy eyes scanned the landscape, narrowing as they glanced into the forest below.
Why had he followed us instead of sounding the alarm? After all, he wasn’t exactly a prime specimen of strength. Could he be working for the rebels, like Pandora, reporting from Gianne’s side?
Suddenly, he took out a gun, the metal barrel glinting in the sunlight. A moment later, a projectile shot through the air, whizzing past us before exploding into a tree behind. The wood burst outward in a flare of splinters. I clutched Navan’s hand, confident now that Aurelius was not working for the rebels. If he were, he wouldn’t be trying to kill us. Maybe Aurelius was just trying to use a heroic deed to impress his beloved queen—or even Seraphina.
Swooping low, Aurelius hovered on the outskirts of the forest, his gun raised to the dense canopy. “Who goes there?” he called, firing another shot into the darkness.
He didn’t know whom he had been tailing. Pulling the hood of my jacket farther over my head, I signaled for Navan to do the same. If Aurelius hadn’t spotted who we were already, I certainly didn’t want him finding out.
“No one of concern,” Navan replied, altering his voice to a higher pitch as he spoke. “Allow us to leave, and we will say no more about it. We are harmless merchants, come to visit Regium on business!”
I realized the only way to escape was to keep the advisor talking, so we could rocket past him unawares. Already, Navan was gesturing for me to brace against the tree trunk behind us, to increase my momentum outward. Meanwhile, he was doing the same on a neighboring tree.
“You are trespassers!” Aurelius bellowed, though his voice wavered. “You are trespassers, and you will be punished!” With that, a round of bullets peppered the surrounding area.
“Go!” Navan urged.
I bent back as far as I could, before pushing forward with all my might. I shot up through the trees like a bullet, perfectly streamlined, my wings tucked flat against my body. Navan followed straight after, and we stretched out our wings only as our momentum faded. As we’d hoped, the sudden burst of movement took Aurelius by surprise, causing him to tumble downward before he regained his composure.
We flew away as hard and as fast as we could, but Aurelius twisted his body around, aiming his gun straight at us. I could hear the unmistakable whistle of the projectiles as they surged past, one narrowly missing the tip of my ear, the screech of the bullet deafening me for a moment. Even so, I pressed on, desperate not to be shot out of the sky. Navan was just up ahead, leading the way, letting me know where to go. With my heart thundering in my chest, I kept my eyes on him, my wings beating hard, churning the wind behind me.
On the steep incline upward, I tried to find camouflage in the cloud cover, but a sudden twinge of pain made my blood freeze. It was a dull ache, just below my scapula, leaking forward into my chest cavity. It was a sensation I immediately recognized. The wing serum was starting to wear off. I could feel it in the way my wings were slowing, my body struggling to keep hold of them.
In a panic, I pawed at my pockets, trying to find the one that held the last vial of wing serum. I delved into my jacket pocket and pulled out the vial, but my hands were too sweaty, my fingers too shaky. It almost slipped from my grasp, but I held on tight, determined not to drop it as I took out the stopper and lifted it to my lips. The liquid was almost in my mouth when a shot tore through my right wing, knocking me off balance, sending the vial plummeting toward the ground. I watched, horrified, as it hit a stretch of stone below me, the glass shattering on impact.
A moment later, I followed the vial, my wings disappearing completely, leaving me exposed and helpless. I flailed my arms, as if it might miraculously keep me in the air, but there was nothing I could do to stop myself from falling.
I closed my eyes, bracing for impact, when I felt Navan grab me under the arms, holding me up. Lifting my gaze, I saw him above me, his wings beating steadily as he lowered me carefully to the ground. Shots were still firing all around us, but his focus was entirely on me.
“Meet me at the house with the silver archway,” he said hurriedly, before dropping me down into what looked like a Vysanthean garden, the landscape too manicured to be naturally made. Letting go before I could say a word in protest, he flew upward once more, his expression determined.
From my vantage point, I watched as Aurelius approached, forcing Navan to feint away from the projectiles that were firing from the barrel of the advisor’s silver gun. Twisting around in the air like a tornado, Navan drew the two blades from his back, using them to deflect the projectiles as they hurtled toward him. With each explosive impact, a shower of sparks erupted into the sky, looking like fireworks on the Fourth of July.
I had always known Navan was skilled, but seeing him fight in a true battle was as impressive as it was terrifying. The blades whistled through the air, cutting through the shots, whipping across his body like ever-moving shields. I could tell that Aurelius was growing frustrated by the sudden turn of events, as his sole wing flapped vigorously in Navan’s direction. Fortunately for me, this frustration meant that Aurelius didn’t bother to look down. Each swipe of Navan’s blades edged Aurelius farther and farther from the spot where I stood. He was drawing Aurelius away so he could fight him without having to worry about me getting hit by a stray bullet. I wished I could be up in the air with him, but I was entirely human again.
As the ache of the lost wings pulsed in my shoulders, I began to feel nauseous, clutching at my stomach as the last of the serum worked its way out of my system. Black spots danced in front of my eyes. My knees buckled, and I stumbled backward, trying to find something to grab onto. My foot caught on a twisting root, sending me careening backward into what felt like a bush. Fortunately for me, it was surprisingly soft, the leaves velvety, the branches spongy. As my vision and clarity returned, I struggled to wriggle out of the bush I’d fallen in, but the more I moved, the more I could feel a hot prickle bristling along my arms and legs, like brushing against a nettle. Only, this was far worse. This was like searing pins and needles, all the way along my body. Peering closer, I saw small, ice-blue flowers embedded within the leaves. At their very center, each one was blowing out a glittering white mist, which seemed to soak through the fabric of my clothes, burrowing to the flesh beneath.
I managed to wrangle free of the burning bush, brushing away any of the remaining mist by pulling my sleeves over my hands. I pushed up the cuffs of my jacket to see a rash emerging, the skin blistering as if it had been near a naked flame. It stung like hell, but I hoped it would end there. The last th
ing I needed was to be infected by some alien bush.
Feeling utterly disoriented, I wandered through the Vysanthean garden, taking in the striking flowerbeds scattered with blooms of unusual colors and sizes. In one, there was a rose-like flower as big as my head, each petal the size of my palm, the color almost holographic in the way it shifted with the light. In another, I noticed a twisting tree bearing blue fruit similar to the one Gianne had fed me in my first few days on Vysanthe.
Hearing the approach of voices, I hurried out of the gate at the back of the garden, taking off down the forest road at a sprint. Gradually, it stretched out into a much wider, cobbled street, with elegant sidewalks that seemed hewn from gleaming marble.
On either side, enormous buildings came into view, making me realize I was on a residential street of some sort, only it was filled with some of the most extravagant mansions I had ever seen. They towered above their endlessly rolling lawns like castles from a fairytale, spires glinting in the sunlight, and a thousand windows staring out at me as I passed. Some were built from an exquisite dark stone that I had never seen before, while others were pure opaleine, the pale marble shot through with veins of sapphire.
Now, where the heck is this silver arch?
I wandered along, hoping nobody would notice me. I still had my hood up, but, in a place like this, I had a feeling that made me even more conspicuous.