Chapter 26
Winnie wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and followed Cyann deep into the cave. Her sandals clacked on the stone floor to an eager beat. This passage had to lead to an opening between their worlds. How else could they communicate with Mikey/Takka?
Neither spoke. Every ten yards, Cyann lit a small lantern tacked to the wall. The farther they walked, the eerier the cavern became.
“Is it safe down here?” Winnie asked.
“A bit chilly but otherwise free of danger.”
Winnie definitely agreed with the chilly part. The temperature had dropped considerably since they started. Her bare toes were freezing. With each step, the damp air grew colder. At a bend in the passage, the temperature plunged from chilly to frigid. She gripped the blanket tighter around her shoulders.
“How much farther?”
“Almost there.”
The tunnel slanted downward. At the next turn a green glow emanated from an opening on the right. Cyann headed toward it. They entered a chamber cold enough to store ice cream. Neon-green light splashed down on them. The room held enough light that Winnie’s breath came out in foggy puffs. She glanced upward at the light source and bit back a scream. Thousands of writhing, fluorescent worms clung to the ceiling.
“What are they?” Winnie covered her head with her blanket. If one of those slimy things fell on her, she was out of there.
“They’re called orba,” Cyann said, steam puffing from her mouth. “They gain nourishment by absorbing heat. We can’t stay long, or they’ll freeze us too.”
“Too?” Winnie shuddered. “Who else did they freeze?”
“They’re preserving Takka’s vessel.”
Winnie swallowed hard. His vessel?
“Here we are,” Cyann said in a proud voice.
Winnie faced a giant slab of ice, ten feet tall and five feet wide. Something filled the inside. She leaned closer. A frozen beige toad man dressed in a maroon uniform with gold epaulets stood within.
Winnie couldn’t look away. “My brother is a—I mean…” She pointed a quivering finger at it. “That’s what’s living inside his head?”
“Takka’s essence resides in the vessel you call brother.”
Winnie slowly circled the ice block, studying it from all angles. “But, um. If Takka’s essence is inside Mikey”—Winnie was almost afraid to ask—“is Mikey’s essence frozen in there?”
“Takka merged with the other form before it could develop an essence of its own.”
“What? Are you saying without Takka, Mikey’s an empty shell?”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
A cold shiver, icier than the air around her, rattled up her spine. She took a nervous breath. “What happens when Takka goes back to his original body?”
Cyann looked up at the ice block.
Winnie gripped her arm. “Please. What happens to my brother?”
Cyann gazed back. “No form can live without an essence.”
“If Takka takes back his essence, does that mean it’ll kill Mikey?”
“Takka’s essence was supposed to return in his new, matured form to fight the lurkin,” Cyann replied. “After he won the battle, it was never clear which form he might retain.”
“But am I right?” Winnie said desperately. “Would Mikey die?”
“If Takka chooses to return to his original form, then yes.”
“He can’t do that!”
“The decision rests with Takka.”
“People from my world are involved now. Not just me. Mikey’s mom. Even my dad.”
“Remember, Takka also has family here.”
Winnie spun away, puffing for breath. Her mind flashed on the memory of Mikey peering up at her with those big sad eyes. Tell my mom I love her. She shook her head. “It’s cruelty. All of it. He never should’ve jumped into Mikey’s body in the first place. He looks strong enough as he is. Why didn’t he just stay and fight like that?”
“It wasn’t just about strength. You know that. Besides, began don’t fight.”
She faced the blue-eyed voga again. “I don’t care. It’s all wrong.”
“When the next opportunity arises, I shall contact Takka and remind him of all consequences.”
Sudden heat pulsed through Winnie’s face. Tears burned her eyes. She refused to let them fall. She gulped for breath. Warriors never cried. “He can’t even begin to know the consequences. Dad loves him like a son. He lost my mom five and a half years ago. He can’t lose anybody else.” Neither could she, but she kept that to herself.
“Things do have a way of working themselves out, you know.”
Winnie shook her head. “I’m sorry. Send me back home. I can’t help your people.” How could she, if her reward for defeating the lurk in was the death of her little brother?
“There are many who believe in you, including my sister, the oracle.”
Hot anger shot through Winnie. “Excuse me if I don’t trust the oracle. She’s the one who messed everything up in the first place by getting the timeline wrong.”
“I know it seems like she made a mistake, but I know Maggenta. She might have intentionally sent Takka to the wrong time so that a true human would come in his place.”
Winnie folded her arms. “Maybe that makes sense, but if she’s so clever, how come she doesn’t even know what lurk in look like?”
“Perhaps she does yet refuses to tell.”
She scowled. “That’s just mean.”
“Maybe she wants you to use that clever human mind of yours.”
“My clever human mind thinks they’re spiders.”
“Then prepare accordingly.”
“Right now, I’m too busy worrying about him.” She pointed at the toad man in ice. “He’ll murder my brother if he comes back to that body.”
“You’re focusing on the wrong thing.”
“I thought we were coming to talk to Takka. Can’t we do that now? I’d be able to focus better if I had his word that he’d stay inside Mikey forever.”
“I feel certain,” Cyann said in a soft voice, “that Takka will do whatever is necessary to ensure your success. That would include agreeing to your request.”
“Promise?”
“In exchange for the lurkin’s defeat.”
Winnie’s optimism turned to despair. Mikey’s life depended on her victory? She slumped against Cyann. “How can I promise that? We don’t have enough manpower. Besides, the queen will probably try to have me killed again.”
“Because of your other relationship, your status with Queen Bogen has changed.”
Winnie frowned, confused. “I don’t get it.”
“Takka is your brother, is he not?”
Winnie nodded.
“That had never been made clear to the queen. Takka’s preferred title is general. His other title is prince.”
Winnie’s mouth dropped open. “You mean my brother is…”
“The queen’s son. One could say that makes you kin to the queen.”
Winnie’s head reeled. “I have a toad lady for a stepmother?”
“Not just any toad lady. The queen.”
Winnie groaned. “It just gets better and better.”
“It does,” Cyann said. “Before, Queen Bogen thought she was turning her back on a troublesome general. Would she do the same to a daughter? I think not.”
“If I’m a step-princess, does that mean she’ll do things my way now?”
“Gracious no. You still must convince her to strengthen her troops.”
Winnie’s shoulders fell. “I’ve been trying to do that ever since I got here. Nobody wants to listen to me.”
“Go to the Brothers Ky who guard the spring under the castle. Something there might open your mind to higher awareness.”
“Have you ever had a conversation with the Brothers Ky? There’s nothing high aware about them.”
“Open your mind,” the voga repeated, “and you’ll find your answer.”
Winnie hugged herself and shivered. If she had to rely on help from the Brothers Ky, Frama-12 and Mikey were doomed.