Chapter 4

The tunnel smelled like unwashed bodies, dirty laundry, and urine all rolled into one. I hadn’t noticed the noxious smell on our arrival. Maybe because we’d been too sticker shocked upon landing in this world. The escaping from monsters trying to rip us apart. You know, all that stuff.

But now, after finding a spot to settle down and sleep in the overcrowded tunnel, the smells wafting over me made my stomach churn.

I stared around the room from my spot against the tunnel wall, half hidden beyond a crumbling barrier. The concrete platform underneath the thin blanket I sat on, bit uncomfortably into my butt cheeks. Not quite sure how much sleep I was going to get tonight. I never was any good at camping. I preferred the finer things in life. Like a mattress. And pillows.

But not like I had much choice right now. At least Jill had a sleeping bag. She was already passed out. Sound asleep and softly snoring. I guess after being guarded by a foul-smelling Grimner for weeks, this didn’t bother her at all. Starke and I had only been given a threadbare blanket. We shouldn’t complain, I guess. These people didn’t have a lot to choose from.

My knees pulled up to my chest and my hands tucked between them to try and keep them warm, I watched the people in the tunnel settling down for the night. Luke and Kip’s words echoed in my head about how they lived. What they did to survive. No wonder they appeared so weary and worn out. Always on the move, never being able to settle down anyplace for longer than a couple of weeks. Always looking over your shoulder and trying to stay ahead of the creatures hunting them. Hunting them for food. It was enough to wear you down. It was no surprise Bixby and Luke had qualms about accompanying us to Niagara Falls in the morning. This tunnel may not be much to look at, but at least they were safe in here for the moment. And now we were asking them to give up that safety. To help us, three visitors from another world. To help us do something they didn’t even believe in. To go back out on the road and help us get to the falls in one piece. Even I realized that was asking a lot.

I sighed and looked around the tunnel, trying to occupy my mind. Despite the aura of despair that permeated the tunnel, not everyone had the defeated look about them. A couple of low chuckles drifted on the nasty air as people murmured amongst themselves. A few children quietly played jacks the next platform over, their tinkling laughter subdued and hushed, like they knew laughing out loud wasn’t acceptable. Something they had to get used to in this new world of theirs. I watched them in silence, wondering what kind of world they would grow into. If they grew up. If they made it that far.

A family gathered around one of the burning barrels. The mother and father stared at the flickering flames, too occupied with their own worries to notice us, I guess. But the two pre-teen boys, so much alike they had to be twins, stared at us with all the curiosity only children could possess. The dark wool hats and dirt streaked faces only enhanced the whites of their eyes flickering over us. One raised a hand and timidly waved our way. Such an ordinary little gesture, but it ripped at my heart as the enormity of their situation suddenly washed over me. These people had suffered so much. So much fear. So much loss. Yet they refused to give up. They still kept fighting, no matter the enormous odds that outweighed them. They were fighters. They deserved to make it. They deserved our help. If only we knew what to do.

“Starke,” I whispered, trying hard not to let the tears gathering in my eyes, drip down my face. “We need to help these people. This is no way to live.”

“Agreed,” Starke replied bleakly. “But first things first. We need to focus on finding the ley line. Then we help. As soon as we figure out how.”

I digested his words in silence. Then, “What if they say no about helping us get to the falls?”

“If they refuse, then we strike out on our own. Either way, we leave in the morning. We have no choice.”

I sighed again, trying to push that thought out of my head and raised a hand to wave back at the kid. Pain shot through my shoulder, radiating down into my arm. Dang it. I’d forgotten about Asha’s magic bolt hitting me. I waited until the kids had turned away before giving into my grunt of pain. Starke realized it for what it was.

“Damn it, I apologize, Jette. With everything that’s happened I forgot you were injured. Why didn’t you say something earlier? Let me have a look.”

“No, I’m fine, really. Just a little sore.”

“Don’t argue with me. You won’t win.” His half smile distracted from his bossiness. “Let’s have a look.”

I yanked away from his reach.

“I said I’m okay. Stop being so bossy.”

“I demand you let me assess your injury. And you have to allow me since I’m bigger than you.”

I snorted. “Yeah? Well I’m meaner.”

“I’m stronger,” he countered.

“I’m smarter.”

“And I have a very big sword.”

He even said that with a straight face.

“Oh, don’t even go there.”

“I’m sorry?” His brow creased in confusion.

“You know, the innuendo thing.”

“Still do not understand, Jette.”

“That thing you guys do? I have a very big sword.” I mimicked him with my best doofus voice.

He glanced down at the sword laying on the blanket. “Well I do. What exactly do you mean?”

I stared at him for a moment, the heat rushing to my cheeks. “Freakin’ fine,” I grumbled, fighting the embarrassment at his lack of understanding at what I was insinuating. “You win. Take a look.”

I swear I saw the tiniest hint of amusement flitter across his face just before I turned my back to him, and I had the sinking sensation that I just got played.

“Glad you see reason. Now, remove your shirt.”

I glanced around at the packed tunnel. “What? Right here?”

Starke glanced around as well. “Yes, here. It’s only your shoulder I’m asking to see. Not like I’m asking you to run around naked, little rabbit.”

“For the last time, stop calling me that. And just so you know, humans aren’t as keen to show off flesh like you Fae are, okay? We like to show a little more decorum.”

He chuckled softly. “You and decorum do not belong in the same sentence, Bridjette O’Hare. Come on. I need to see what we’re dealing with.”

“Fine,” I grumbled, actually relieved when he settled himself in front of me to shield me from any curious eyes. With Starke’s help I pulled my arm from my coat sleeve, then undid the top buttons of my shirt. Gingerly I slipped the shirt and bra strap down over my throbbing shoulder, pulling my hair to one side and giving him access to my back. His sharp intake of breath made me look.

“What? It’s not that bad,” I muttered at the blue and purple bruise blooming over my shoulder and down my arm.

“Yeah. You can only see the exit point. Trust me, you don’t want to see the entry.”

“Crap, seriously?” I tried to look over my shoulder but moving it only caused more pain.

“Stop moving,” he whispered as he examined it. His fingers brushed lightly over my bare shoulder and neck, and the goosebumps that pebbled my skin had nothing to do with the frosty tunnel air.

“What is it? What did she do?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe just a simple jolt of magic to try and stop you.”

I heard the uncertainty in his voice. “Or?”

“Or maybe some kind of tracking magic.”

“Seriously?” I twisted my neck so I could see him. “She can do that?”

“She is a Fae queen, Jette, stealing magic from all other supernaturals. She can do whatever the hell she wants.”

“Aww, man. Can we do something with it?”

He sighed, his breath stirring my hair and tickling like a feather on my neck.

“This may hurt a little. I apologize.”

I raised my gaze from the bruise to meet his. “What are you going to do? I thought you didn’t have any magic left?”

His lips tilted in a tiny smile. “I don’t. Nothing major. But I can pull enough from my sword to use blood magic, I think. Bear with me.”

“Blood magic? Like you used to help us escape? Didn’t you say that had consequences? Maybe you shouldn’t—"

“Let me worry about the consequences, okay? This won’t take much. You’re in pain. I can help you.”

I watched as he picked up his sword from the floor where it laid, shivering involuntarily as he lightly slid his palm across the blade. A sliver of crimson appeared before he closed his fist, stopping the flow.

“Turn around.”

I did as he asked. His palm met my shoulder blade with the lightest of touches, yet it felt like he’d just driven claws right through my skin. My breath hissed between my teeth as I tried not to yelp. He started mumbling under his breath, words I didn’t understand. The same kind of words as when we escaped the tower. He leaned closer, his lips against the side of my head as the lyrical words caressed my ear. One word in particular stood out as it shimmered over me.

Heligheas.

Within moments, heat from his palm encased my shoulder, seeping through the skin and melding with my own blood, turning it to lava. It seeped sluggishly through my veins, down my arm and into my neck. Along with the heat came a blessed relief and I almost wept as the excruciating throbbing ebbed to a dull ache.

He continued whispering a few more minutes, then, apparently happy with his handiwork, he pulled his hand away. My skin felt the disconnection as did my blood. It instantaneously began to cool, like ice chips had replaced the lava, and a wave of disappointment flooded over me at the loss of contact. I leaned into him, my body unconsciously begging for the connection back.

Mortified at my lack of willpower, I forcibly yanked my body away from his, hoping desperately he hadn’t noticed.

“Well that was uncomfortable,” I snapped, trying to cover my embarrassment. I twisted on my butt and turned to face him. “Did it work?”

He glanced up, and for a moment I swear his usually brilliant green eyes were as dark as the bottom of the ocean. I blinked and tried to get a better look. Must have been a trick of the light for the illusion disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

“The healing magic? Yes. The concealment magic? Not sure. Hopefully it was enough to mask your trace if this is a tracking measure.”

“How will we know?” I asked, shrugging back into my shirt and buttoning it up.

“When we make it through the night without morquals attacking.” He grinned.

“Not funny,” I mumbled.

“But accurate. As potent as blood magic is, it can also be the most unreliable.”

“But it is strong?”

“The strongest.”

I mulled his words over. “Can you teach it to me?”

His grin dropped as he flexed his injured hand. “It is not something I would wish for you to learn, Jette. Blood magic, while intoxicatingly powerful, is also controlling and invasive. Nothing good ever comes from it.”

“Hmm, that’s ominous. I take it you learned from your mother.”

“You could say that.”

“And that’s evasive.”

He shrugged. “That’s all you’re going to get from me on the subject.”

“Hmph. Another time then.”I reached for the hand he was flexing. “Your turn. Let me see that cut.”

“I’m fine,” he responded, but didn’t protest as I pried his fingers away, exposing the sliced palm. Already the cut was shrinking, the blood slowed to a tiny trickle.

“You can heal so quickly without magic?” I questioned in surprise.

“Fast healing of a wound is intrinsic if your injury is non-magic related. Part of the genetic makeup of our kind. You carry it as well.” He reached out with his other hand and touched the cheekbone under my left eye. “The mark Asha left on you with that blow is almost gone.”

The amusement in his eyes dissipated as he cupped my cheek and studied my face in all seriousness now.

“I’m sorry, Jette.”

I arched a brow in question, fighting the urge to place my hand over his on my cheek and keep it there.

“For what?” I squeaked.

“For not being strong enough to keep you from Asha’s wrath.” The green eyes darkened to hard emerald as his deep voice thrummed over my skin. “For failing you. For not protecting you.”

I cocked my head to the side, into his hand. “Uh, newsflash, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty badass in my own right. I don’t need protection. And you could never fail me. What you have already sacrificed for your people and for those you love, it is true courage. I could learn a lot from you.”

I gave in and covered the hand on my cheek. I stared into his eyes, knowing damn well I meant every word of what I’d just said. I’d never met anyone like him in my entire life. So valiant. So honest. So… good. Didn’t matter who his mother was or what blood ran through his veins. Starke truly was a good person. I felt it right down to my bones.

The rings on my wrist pulsed in time with my heartbeat, like our two hearts were beating as one. For a moment his jade eyes were locked on mine, and I had the wildest sensation I could get lost in them and not want to find my way back out. My pulse raced even harder as he leaned toward me and my breath caught in my chest.

“For Pete’s sake you two, get a room will you.”

Jill’s amused remark was as dousing as a bucket of cold water. I drew back, dropping Starke’s hand like a hot brick.

“I…I didn’t realize you were awake,” I stammered, trying to hide my heated cheeks.

“Duh, obviously,” she snorted. “The way you two were all up in each other’s business, you weren’t aware of much of anything.”

“Wha… we weren’t up in each other’s business. We were just talking.”

“Oh, is that what it’s called?” She rolled her eyes at my sorry-ass explanation.

“Anyway,” I said a little too sharply. “Sorry we woke you with our talking.”

Starke didn’t appear to be the least embarrassed. Of course he wasn’t. He leaned back against the concrete wall and grinned like he was enjoying this way too much.

“Well, you should be. It’s not like we don’t have a huge hike ahead of us tomorrow to get to this so-called ley line.” She huffed indignantly before flipping onto her back, her red hair spilling around her as she stared up at the ceiling. “This all seems so surreal. I mean, I knew I was always different. I knew being able to create fireballs with your mind was not something everyone could do. But I still had a normal life. For Pete’s sake, only a month ago I was worried about Danny Cornwell not inviting me to the school dance. Now I’m stuck in a world with blood-sucking aliens and a magic Fae prince who doesn’t have any magic.” She shot Starke some sideways shade. He didn’t seem to take offence.

“Are you sure this falls place is our ley line? What if we get there and it isn’t? What then? Will we be stuck here?”

Her sarcasm evaporated, allowing the naked fear to come through. Jill was scared. I got that. I totally understood.

“If it isn’t, then we find the correct place. Every world has ley lines. We will not be stuck here. There is no need to fear that, Jill.”

Starke’s voice was soothing, calming the girl’s fears. Trying to, anyway, but without his magic to add to his charm, it didn’t work as easily.

“Alright, but then what. If the falls are a ley line and we can regenerate our magic, all we do is jump to another world, yes? Then we have to rescue two more elementals and take them back to Endova and beat your mother to restarting the prism. Not exactly a trip to the grocery store, know what I mean? I didn’t sign up for this.”

She sighed and laid her arm across her face, baring her wrist. Her wrist with the same rings as mine. Only hers contained three. Starke’s black ring wasn’t as prominent on hers as it was mine since he didn’t imprint on her, but my blue and her red were as clear as day.

I pulled the leather strap away on my own wrist. Sure enough. The three bands were there as well, intertwined. Almost glowing with intensity. The fire elemental sigil added to mine and Starke’s.

“Jill, I of all people know where you’re coming from.” She removed her arm at my words and stared up at me. “Trust me, I don’t understand all of this either. Or why we are who we are, or why it’s up to us to help save these worlds. Hell, saying it out loud makes it sound that more unbelievable. It’s like we’re stuck in some weird, alternate world, video game. I mean, does Jumanji ring a bell?”

All I got back for my awesome one liner was a blank look from Starke and a puzzled shrug from Jill. Okay, then. I cleared my throat.

“Moving on. You’ve seen what’s happening, right? Endova is dying. The worlds we come from are dying. This world…” I spread my hands out around me. “This world is already dead. And the people here will be as well if we don’t help. We need to find the other two elementals and help restart the prism so that all worlds stand a chance. And I know that sounds insurmountable and unattainable and any other big words you can think of, but bottom line is, it is up to us. Look at your wrist.”

She sat up and flipped her arm over. Her eyes grew big as she stared at the raised rings on her flesh. “What the heck is this?”

“It’s our birthright. We are the elementals. Born from the prism. My grandmother told me that once we are all together again, our rings will intertwine and give us the power to restart the prism.” I snorted as the words hit my own ears. Could I have sounded any hokier?

“Sounds…well, silly. I know. But from what we’ve already seen and what we’ve been through, we both know anything is possible, right? Just like we know we have to do whatever it takes to find the other elementals and restart the prism. We don’t have a choice. If we don’t do it ourselves, Asha will force us to do her bidding and gain control. There’s no backing out now, even if we wanted to.”

She sat up; her look of fear replaced with a tiny smile. “Yeah, put that way I guess we don’t.” She tossed her hands up into the air. “Okay. What’s the next step?”

“We get to the ley line.” Starke looked excitedly pleased having us both on board with his plan. “We get to the other worlds and find the earth and air elementals.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Jill questioned. “We have no idea how to survive on this world, and no magic.”

“Oh I wouldn’t say you don’t have magic,” Gordo came bouncing up over our platform, a smile plastered from ear to freckled ear. How did he manage to stay so dang cheerful in this horrible place? Dude was obviously a few aces shy of a whole deck. “We are pretty darn magical if you ask me. Right, Bix?”

“Shut up, Gordo. You sound stupid, and you know how much I hate stupid.”

Bixby didn’t beat around the bush. I smothered the grin on my face at the poor guy’s crestfallen expression. Bix had her daughter in her arms again. The little girl was a spitting image of her, right down to the mossy green eyes. Her cherub face lit up when she saw me and I couldn’t help but smile back as the chubby arms reached for me, fingers grasping.

“Hi, darlin’,” I cooed as I stuck my finger out and she latched on with all the force of a vise grip. A sharp pang ripped through my belly as her innocent laughter rippled over me. So little and unaware. She didn’t deserve to grow up in a world like this.

Bix’s eyes narrowed at the contact and she pulled the kid gently away like she still didn’t trust us. Her cool gaze roamed over our faces. She opened her mouth to speak, but Gordo, not able to stay quiet any longer, interrupted with a cheeky grin.

“We’re going with you.”

My brows shot up in surprise. I was so not expecting them to agree.

“Seriously? You guys are going to get us to the falls? You promise?”

“Uh, yeah. Pinky swear, dudette,” Gordo jabbed his hand my way, pinky stuck out like he was about to take high tea. I couldn’t help laughing as I hooked his pinky into mine. This guy killed me.

“As Gordo so elegantly stated,” Bixby rolled her eyes his way, “We have come to a decision. As much as I still think your story is a crock of shite, there has to be some truth to it. To you. Something is happening here that none of us can explain or believe. But I believe in Amy. She says we need to help you so you can help us. Get some sleep. We leave at daylight for the falls. I hope you people know what you’re doing. Don’t make us regret this.”