Chapter 5

The village Galt lead us through was a myriad of oddities. While the homes resembled more of something one would see in nature, the amount of stuff lying about was definitely more human and Fae made. There were what looked like old engines and mechanical parts placed everywhere, yet I’d never seen a moving vehicle on Endova. One home had a bookshelf standing next to its entrance filled with a collection of tattered, old books. I had to quell my curiosity to go check out what wolven considered a good read. Then, another had a green, plaid couch sitting in front of it, occupied at the moment by two old wolves that had bald patches in the white fur on their faces and short snouts, making them appear like two wrinkled old men. Their appearance may have been aged, but the eyes watching us with their mixture of curiosity and hopefulness were bright with vitality.

The Ca-ni themselves were fascinating. They resembled wolves, no doubt. Wild animals, yet there were a few, like the two old coots, who looked less wolfish and more… human? Unlike the wolven that had brought us here, these creatures walked totally upright, and some even wore clothing. They sat in crudely erected chairs, worked at work benches, some of the young even crouched in the dirt, playing with what looked like marbles. Every single one stopped what they were doing as we approached and watched us with their expressive eyes, some even nodding in respect. They weren’t simple creatures. Their intelligence radiated as bright as the sun above our heads.

Starke had been right. These beings may have been helped brought to life by his mother ages ago, but they were evolving on their own. Or, if Galt was to be believed, with help from the auctor. The prism. Which would explain why the prism caused Amy to dream about them. All worlds connected and all that shit. It was enough to blow one’s mind.

I believed I was totally right in my assumption that the Ca-ni were no doubt the ‘big dogs’ Amy had dreamed about. The rest of my crew thought the same. If only Starke were here for me to discuss this with. He would have been so proud of me and my deduction skills.

Well done, little rabbit.

His voice echoed in my head like he was standing right next to me. The sound of his deep timber caused a warmth to encapsulate me. Like he was sending me a hug from wherever he was. It felt nice. A lot nicer than the memory of black-eyed Starke stabbing me to death. A memory I really needed to push from my head and my heart. Stabby Starke had not been real, I knew that. Just a representation in my dream. The love child of my messed-up brain and my oversized guilt. I needed to understand that to have a clear head to figure out our next steps. But only if my heart could get that.

Bish and Kara had fallen back in step with us so we could discuss my epiphany, even as we kept following the big wolf.

“Are you sure the wolven are who the girl meant when she mentioned the Earth’s saviors?”

Bish whispered over to me.

“It has to be,” I whispered back. “Where else are we going to find ‘big dogs’ trying to help save the multiverse? It is the only thing that makes sense.”

“So, does that mean our plans are changing?” Jill asked, her eyes wider than normal with surprise. “Are we going to save Bixby and her crew first?”

I shook my head. “Amy said in her dream we were all there. Us three, Sash, and Starke, along with the dogs. I don’t know how precise her prophecy was or even if it was a prophecy, but I think for it to work, we need to get Sash and Starke back on the team.”

“Easier said than done,” Zoe added.“Starke is now evil Starke, and according to you, Sash is not going to want to leave his precious world. Plus, the fact that we need to convince these guys to jump through a portal with us and help fight alien monsters. Don’t think that’s going to be a walk in the park.” She eyeballed Galt’s massive girth.

Crap, she wasn’t wrong. Nothing about this was going to be easy. A shiver of panic tiptoed down my spine along with its friends uncertainty and despair. There was no way we were going to be able to do all that.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, yes?” Bishop’s calm voice floated over me like he knew of the panic invading my soul right now. “We focus on one thing at a time. We retrieve the last elemental, then everything will fall into place. Once you are all together, the prism will take care of the rest. We cannot worry about what may come.”

I swallowed the panic and it sat heavy in my gut. Bishop was also correct. Dwelling on the ‘what ifs’ served no purpose. Bish, my guardian angel.

“One thing at a time,” I agreed. “Although, I wish I had as much faith in the prism as you and Starke.”

“You will, Jette girl. You have not bonded with the prism yet. Once that happens, all doubts will be lost.”

“Bonded? With a rock? That’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one.”

He sighed. “The prism is much more than a rock. You know that. It is the center of the multiverse. You are all Endovian, whether you are bonded or not. It will happen. You will be one with the prism as you are one with each other. You will gladly and willingly serve the prism and do it with honor.”

“Yeah, I find that hard to believe, pops,” Zoe interjected, her voice filled with sarcasm. “I consider myself more Asidian than Endovian. I’m here for one thing and one thing only, to help my world. Once that damn prism is up and running and the magic balance has been restored, I have a resistance to get back to.”

“Understandable you feel that way, Zoalyn, but we shall see what the future brings, yes?”

Bishop was a master at cryptic comments. Almost as bad as my dream mom. He sounded as if he already knew. What the heck did that old man know that we didn’t? Before I could question what he meant, Galt and his buddies came to a dead stop ahead of us. I guess we were at our destination.

He raised a shaggy finger and pointed to the strip of grass meadow about twenty feet ahead of us. The field was flanked on either side by trees so thick they looked like a wall plastered with green wallpaper. There was nothing spectacular about the field. Nothing that stood out or gave it a mysterious look. It was just a meadow. Yet, the power emanating from the field pulsed against my skin and vibrated my bones, the force of it hitting me like a fist. I suddenly felt in tune with the wolven, with the field mice in the grass, even with the damn mosquitos buzzing around the evening sky. I swear my teeth rattled from the immense power, and for a moment, dizziness whirled my head and I had to steady myself on my knees for support. I knew right away what it was. I’d felt the same thing on Bixby’s world at Niagara Falls. We were at a ley line. An untapped one from the powerful waves it expelled. No wonder the wolven had magic enough to stay hidden from Asha. They had found themselves their own little magic supply.

“Is anyone else feeling that?” I asked as I took a deep breath, pulse racing, and straightened back up.

“Oh yeah,” Zoe breathed, her voice tinged with wonder.

I understood her awe. I’d felt the same way at the falls. Experiencing that much power at once was mind fracking.

“What is it?”

“A ley line,” I replied to her. “An artery of the prism.”

“Not quite sure what that means, but I love the aura of this place. What my people could do with this power. The Preservers wouldn’t stand a chance against this.” Zoe’s eyes glinted with a mixture of envy and sadness. She rarely spoke of her life before, but I suddenly wondered if she had left behind someone she cared about as much as I cared for Starke. I kind of felt she did, and that was her driving goal behind her cooperation. I got that. I bit my tongue from asking. I knew she’d just tell me to shut up and mind my own business. Another time. Besides, I was more curious about something else at the moment. I turned my attention to Galt.

“How is it Asha has not discovered this ley line? Starke told me she can pinpoint any use of magic anywhere on this world and travel air morqual to it in no time.”

Galt studied me with his usual stoniness, processing my question. Finally, he answered, “Auctor provide. She not… know.”

That’s it? Auctor provide? Was he saying that the prism was siphoning energy off to the side for them under Asha’s nose?

“So, you’re telling me a sentient rock that supposedly created the universe is slipping the Ca-ni a little something-something on the downlow?”

Galt tilted his head to the side, and I sighed. I knew my words had just totally confused him, but well, join the club. I was so confused a throbbing ache was developing in the middle of my forehead.

“This is so messed up,” Zoe grumbled, and I couldn’t agree with her more.

“Girl, you got that right.”

“It matters not how the ley line has come to be, only that it is able to provide what we need.” Good ol’ Bishop. Voice of reason.

I quirked a brow at him. “Did you or my grandmother know about this?”

“I did not. I cannot speak for Lady Athena, but my best assumption is no. The Ca-ni have stayed hidden and isolated for years. I assume this is the reason. To protect this energy source for the elementals’ return. We do not question them keeping it secret, we just do what we came here to do.”

“Forget the why and focus on the task at hand. Got it, Bish.” I checked the weapons at my hips, gaining comfort from the sai sturdily set in their sheaths. I needed all the comfort I could get right now. My nerves were fraying at the edges faced with the realization we had to do this jump without Starke’s help.

“Something is bothering you.” Bishop’s comment was gentle, but his gaze was sharp enough to see through my cool façade.

I glanced around at my fellow companions to see if anyone was listening. “Can’t hide my fear from you, can I? Never could.”

“A certain amount of fear is to be expected. I would be more concerned if you had none. You are scared to do this jump without Starke’s guidance. You are afraid to take the lead. Be in control. That you will fail.”

“Okay, get out of my head, Bish. There’s only room up there for me and my chicken-shit other self.”

“Do not fear, Jette girl. You do not have to carry the burden of this battle alone. It is a burden we all carry since we are in this together, and we will see it through with you until the end.”

I sniffed and blinked hard, trying to keep my shit together. Bish had no idea how much I needed to hear that right now. Or maybe he did and that was the whole point.

“We doing this?” Zoe yelled out. I wiped the stupid tears from my eyes before she could see and ducked my chin at Bish in a silent thank you. Clearing my throat, my façade fell back into place.

“Yup, this is it, bitches. The next world awaits. We all know what we must do: focus on Sash and let the portal take us to his nearest point of magic. You guys ready?”

I ignored Jill’s look of pure panic. I was used to that by now. Instead, I focused on Zoe’s steely determination, Kara’s assuredness, and Bishop’s calm. I needed all three to help settle my own nerves.

“No time like the present,” Zoe grinned. “Let’s freakin’ go.”

All of us started heading for the meadow, away from the wolven, but I stopped after a couple of steps and glanced back at Galt.

“Once we retrieve the last elemental, will we be able to jump back here, or will we be blocked from entry?”

Galt snorted, his snout rising slightly into the air. “The Ca-ni welcome the elementals… always.”

That was a yes. Good. I smiled at the creature. “Thank you for all your help, Galt. If this works, it will be because of you and your kind.”

I swear his black fur bristled with pride as he ducked his head.

“It is honor… water wielder.”

I hoped he still felt that way when the time came to ask them to help overtake a world of blood-sucking aliens. I’d worry about that later.

Joining the rest of my crew in the field, I began to pull out my sai, but stopped halfway. “Jill, Zoe said you can open portals now. Would you like the honor?”

She startled at my question. “I don’t think—”

“You can do it, girl.” Zoe grinned at her. “Besides, you only have to open the portal. All three of us will choose the destination.”

Jill hesitated for a moment.

I nudged her shoulder. “Come on, you got this. Zoe said you mastered your whip in no time. Have a little faith.”

When she finally smiled, it came straight from her soul. You could see the confidence building as she pulled her whip.

“Okay, I’ll give it a shot. Just yell at me when.”

“Thatta girl.” Zoe slapped her on the back as Jill moved to the center of our circle, grabbing my hand. I reached for Zoe’s and she let me take it with no reluctance.

“Focus on Sash. Picture his face, his aura, his world. The rest will take care of itself. Word of warning: the hall of doors comes at you with the speed of a bullet. Don’t freak.”

She quirked a brow. “What did I tell you? We’ve practiced. This is not our first rodeo, girl.”

“Right. Okay, let’s do it.”

I closed my eyes, allowing my mind to alternate to the next level of consciousness. It was as inherent as breathing now. Within moments the hallway of doors came rushing at us with its excessive speed. I felt Jill’s fingers grip mine a little tighter as the familiar whiplash nearly knocked us from our feet, but I steadied her.

Picturing Sash exactly as he’d appeared in my visions of him, I waited for the door to make itself known. A niggling thought wormed its way into my head, pushing Sash to the side. Would we be able to do this without Starke? I might appear all together to everyone else, but that fear ran deep. He was our guiding hand. Our strength. Without him, I had this sickening sensation that we were going to screw this up royally.

Focus, Jette. Starke isn’t the issue right now.

A door came to life with an array of colors so intense I knew it had to be Sash’s door. Even his cosmic conscience was happy. Go figure.

“There.” I motioned with my chin, and the other two nodded. We reached the door at the same time. Jill flicked her whip and the door creaked open with no resistance.

“See? You did it no problem. Hell of a lot quicker than I did at first. Now we go back and open the physical portal.”

“Okay, that was easy.” She grinned at me just as she popped from our astral existence, Zoe close on her heels.

Just as I was about to open my eyes and exit the metaphysical plane myself, cold fingers prickled over my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stood to attention. I could feel eyes on me, even if I couldn’t see them. Movement occurred at the end of the dark hallway, and I twirled around. Zoe and Jill were already gone, back with the rest of our crew. It wasn’t them. I peered down the long corridor.

I swear a face peered back at me. A face I knew well. It couldn’t be.

“Starke?” I called into the darkness, my heart pounding against my ribs. I inched my way down the corridor, hope competing with the fear in my chest.

No answer.

But I knew he was still there. I sensed his presence deep in my soul. This was no dream.

“Starke,” I called again.

“Jette, girl,” a voice not Starke’s yelled in my ear as a hand gripped my shoulder, tossing me about like a rag doll. I was yanked from my cosmic conscience as my eyes popped open to Bish’s worried face.

“Nooooo,” I wailed. “Bish, I thought I saw Starke—"

“We have to go,” he interrupted me, pointing to the ring of blue flame already dwindling. The others had already gone through.

“Go,” he yelled, shoving me toward the portal.

I knew he was right. No time to wallow in my misery. I ran toward the ring, Bishop on my heels, and tried to convince myself seeing Starke was just wishful thinking. A fantasy. He wasn’t really there. Reality hit me like a punch to the gut as I sucked in air and jumped into the unknown.