Thirty-Four: Chimia

The entire cart shook, recoiling from the force of its stop.

I had no idea what Fen's plan was after this, but I had no choice but to trust him. I hurled myself at the door to the cart three times, ignoring the shouting outside, until it finally burst open and I scrambled to usher everyone outside. "Quickly. Get out, and run as far away from here as you can. When you get to the gates, tell them the Queen gave orders to let you through. Have them call for Reus if they don't allow you." I saw them all outside before walking out into the commotion. Fen and Kako were in the street dueling. I couldn't tell from our surroundings exactly where we were, but it looked not altogether different from Apo, and the buildings around us appeared to be residential.

Fen's maniacal laughter filled me with hope as he disappeared from the vicinity of Kako's attack, a shot of blue fire that looked akin to Hadesfire. "You're going to need to work harder," he called from the air. "I'm a demon of immeasurable power."

People began to emerge from their homes to watch, and I made my way to the front of the cart. I needed to find the stone my powers were bound to, but what I found was horrific. Under the seat where Seft had been sitting was a burlap sack. It was filled to the brim with pink stones just like mine, the powers of countless enchanters bound to them. I lifted the entire thing, threw it over my shoulder, and hopped down just in time to survive a misfire from Fen. Frantic, I watched him fighting and realized he was not doing so at full capacity. I had to do something to help; he wasn't going to last long.

Near me, inches from the burning cart, there was a rock as big as my head. I hoisted it up and threw it. It missed Seft's head but hit him in the shoulder. I heard a loud cracking noise and a hoot of laughter from Fen. He took the opportunity to envelop the distracted enchanter in darkness, then came to me, lifted the bag of stones, and took my hand so we could flee.

"Where are we going?" I huffed, begging my mortal limbs to carry me faster.

"To Mal and the others," he answered. "Don't worry, Chi. We have a plan. But we need to get out of here quickly."

*Malfizan.*

I wanted to be angry. To protest. But if I was being honest, he was the person I wanted to see most now that Fen was beside me again. I heard shouts from the people and noticed that there were Palace Guards everywhere. Some of them were arguing with the residents. What had become of Echelon in the last few hours? My heart pounded against my ribs as we ran until we finally came upon the group. They looked just as frenzied as we did.

Hades, Nero, Presta, Reus, and Mal stood before us. Hades frowned deeply. "Alchimia, why do you look like this?"

"This man Seft took my powers and bound them to a stone," I explained, my voice harsh and out of breath. "I have it...I think. But there are at least 500 stones in this bag."

"I see." Hades sighed deeply. All around us, the city was in disarray. "Alchimia, you will go with Fen and Malfizan. There is neither time nor liberty to stay here and say precisely what is happening or what will happen. So long as I stand here, you may have a few minutes to say your goodbyes or give any instructions you may have, but make it swift. I will go to Olympus to plead my and Bia's case for your aid. The first thing you need to do is restore your power. Seek out Poseidon. He will be able and willing to assist you. I hope when I see you again, Alchimia, it will be to take back your city."

I nodded, then ran to Presta and enveloped her in a hug. She felt foreign to my strange body, but her warmth was the same. "I love you," I whispered. "I promise I will be back. Stay well, please. I'm sorry for having dragged you into this."

"No," she asserted, her voice raw with emotion as she pulled away from me to look into my eyes. "I walked willingly into this for you, Alchimia, and I will proudly walk into battle for you."

"Battle? I-"

"Hurry, Alchimia," Hades goaded.

"Yes. Nero, Reus. Thank you for all you've done. Reus, there are people tricked by Seft trying to leave at the gates. Please meet them there and allow them passage. Their powers are bound like mine, and they will be in danger here." Reus's eyes, nervous, flickered toward Hades for direction, and he nodded. My spirit was burning with what I did not know. I hugged him and kissed his cheeks, then wrapped my arms around Nero.

"Keep Malfizan safe," he begged of me, his voice a shaky whisper in my ear.

Tears filled my eyes as I moved to look into his. "With my life," I promised.

And that was all there was time for. Fen told Malfizan that was I injured--I realized for the first time that I was--and so he picked me up in his arms and carried me to the passage from Echelon to the mortal realm. I don't remember getting there or going through it, however, because the warmth of Mal's arms and the solid beating of his heart lulled me almost immediately into sleep.

When I woke, we were in an airport. I blinked rapidly at the two men in front of me. One who was shaped like Malfizan but lacked his violet tint to his skin, horns, and natural height and bulk. A just-slightly larger-than-most human man with a ridiculous heft and bulk. He was dressed, hilariously, in a blue zip-up hoodie with no shirt underneath and a pair of pink skinny jeans. His hair was, however, the same mauve color as usual. Amber eyes blinked back at me, studying me closely as I moved. Next to him was Fen looking....exactly like Fen, only dressed in a full 3-piece suit and wearing a massive straw hat.

"When does our plan leave?" I asked.

Malfizan squinted down at a watch. "In a couple of hours."

"Perfect. We need to go shopping." I looked down at myself to find that I was still wearing the same filthy clothing from back in Echelon. Apparently, they didn't think I needed a wardrobe change on account of looking human. "And Fen," I scolded, squinting my eyes at him. "You're going to have to disguise yourself, too. The hat does not hide red demon eyes."

Fen grinned, the void of his face cracking open to reveal a white sliver of a smile. "Sure, but they'd have to make eye contact to see them, and I can just convince them to see whatever I want."

I shook my head. "No. We have to be careful, Fen." I realized with a pang of nausea that I still didn't know all of the details of what was going on, so I had no other reason for this than my intuition. "Let Malfizan change you. I'll go and get him some appropriate clothes." I looked around us and noticed a complete and utter lack of baggage. "And some carry-on bags so we don't like total creeps. Has neither of you been to the mortal realm? Ever?"

"Never!" Fen chirped brightly.

"Liar," Mal groaned. "Alchimia, I--"

"Wait," I stopped him. "We need mortal names. Fen is fine. But you should be...Mitchell. I'll be Ally."

"Okay, then...Ally. We're not going to split up. We'll go shopping with you and we'll go to this bathroom together."

*Oh my God.*

"Okay, on the plane, we're going to have to have a quick lesson on human customs."