“See?” said Viktor. “I can wield this power easily. We are done here.”
I raised my pointer finger. “Let’s give this one more minute.” I stepped in for a closer look. Sure enough, a puff of gray smoke engulfed his hand. More magick. Viktor’s skin quickly transformed from a pale sheet of flesh into a bubbling glob of tar-like ooze. I lowered my hand. “As I suspected. You need me.”
“I need nothing!” Viktor’s face flushed. “Do you know what will happen at the end of this Martyr’s Comet? You’ll die anyway.”
“That may be, but I’ll tell the Sire and Lady all about you first.”
“Really?” Viktor chuckled, and it was a chilling sound. “I’ll let you in on a secret. Those two got rather attached to me, raising me themselves and all. Right now, they see me as the reformed son. I’ve spent my days meditating here in this empty world. As a result, I’ve officially seen the error of my ways.”
“They can’t really think that.”
“They’re like anyone else. They believe what they want to believe. Besides, my transgressions are nothing compared to yours. I tried to harness a bit of hybrid power. I stored a scintilla on some in insects that I left lying around. I channeled a little more into some Changed Ones. But yes, I’ll admit it. You are right. My abilities are nothing compared to the power you and Rowan could wield. Hybrid magick with a human mage. It’s quite a trick. I tried it, you know. A mate bond with a mortal.”
“Tristan told me that you had a mate.”
“It was a failed experiment, I’ll admit that too. My connection with Hannah wasn’t like anything like what you have with Rowan. We could barely share a whit of power. When our parents found out, they determined that my so-called mate had to die. Those two are terrified of the kind of mate bond you’ve already forged. In the end, I put up a good show of weeping and carrying on at Hannah’s execution. Despite their shortcomings, our parents are still rather protective of our feelings while we’re alive.”
“You watched Hannah die?”
Viktor lifted one shoulder. “It was for the best. I needed to give up on my mate bond tests and consolidate my power in other ways. Hannah’s death led to my experimentation with Bone Crawlers and ultimately, to success.”
Bile crawled up my throat. “You have a strange definition of success.”
“Do I? Once you recharge the gateways, I’ll grab the Sword of Theodora, kill our parents, and rule this realm. True, it’s not as exciting as ruling every world with sentient life. Still, as consolation prizes go, it isn’t terrible.” Viktor’s eyes lit up with pure rage. “And I’ll have the extra joy of watching you die.”
Images flashed in my mind. The Meadow of Many gateways. Me on my knees with the bronze-robed figure above me. Viktor watching on with delight, ready to kill our parents. Did I really think I’d learn enough about hybrid magick to heal the gateways on my own? Wasn’t I better off teaming with Viktor? That way, at least I’d be sure that Rowan and I survived.
“I can see that you’re considering it.” Some of the tightness and rage seeped out of Viktor’s face.
I sighed. “There’s still a half day before the Martyr’s Comet disappears.”
“Meaning you’ll figure out something else, since you have so much time.”
“Wouldn’t you in my case?”
“Obviously.” A flash of energy pressed through the air. A totem ring on Viktor’s hand had come to life. My brother had just cast a spell.
“What did you do?”
“Awarding out my birthday gift for you, dear sister.” The way he said the dear sister part, the words dripped with malice. I had the overwhelming desire to run for cover. “Consider my offer carefully. It’s the only way for you and your Caster pet to get out of this catastrophe alive. In fact, as a sign of good faith, I’ll do you a favor now. When you leave here, I’ll make one of the gateways light up and show you a vision of your physical, non-ghostly Rowan. You can merely gaze upon his manly beauty under the arch or step through to see him. Your choice.”
Some small part of me was tempted to say thank you. After all, I would enjoy seeing Rowan in a gateway even if I didn’t step through it. Still, I doubted that whatever Viktor was doing would truly be a favor to me. My brother was evil to the core. “Goodbye, brother.”
“Remember my offer, dear sister.”
As I stepped back out of gateway, I realized that Viktor had pulled me in order to convince me to follow him, but instead he gave me critical information. Viktor confirmed that Rowan and I wielded enough hybrid power to heal the gateway, and that it’s also possible to do so.
Mlinzi and Walinzi’s promise echoed in my thoughts. Once I had the Sword in my hands, Rowan and I would get our memories back. And then, if the tricksters’ promises held true, that would be the moment when I’d also know exactly how to wield hybrid magick to heal the gateways.
I simply had to trust in that. Plus, the Sword was so close now. All I needed to do was figure out some way to pry it out of that damned wall.
Turning about, I marched through the gateway that led back to the temple, determined to do exactly that.
Chapter Twenty-Five
With fast steps, I walked through the gateway and back into the temple. Glancing about, I noticed some things here have remained the same. Smaller arches still lined the walls. None of them were lit up, though. I cursed under my breath. Viktor promised to activate one of the gateways that would lead to Rowan. Not that seeing Rowan would help me right now, but the spell was supposed to be cast as a sign of good faith.
Viktor lied.
I scanned the chamber and gasped. There was no sign here of Nan, Mrefu, and Jicho. Viktor said that would be safe and protected. Rage tightened up my spine.
More lies.
Turning around, I inspected the large gateway behind me. This was the same archway I just passed through to meet Viktor. The light was gone and the gateway sealed shut.
If only that meant I had truly gotten rid of Viktor so easily.
No time to fret over my evil brother. I inspected the walls, searching for the Sword of Theodora. If I had enough hybrid magick to heal all the gateways, surely I could come up with some spell to pry one Sword off a wall.
But the Sword of Theodora was gone. An empty indentation sat in the wall now, the only sign that the blade had recently been there.
Damn.
Perhaps Nan, Jicho, and Mrefu had woken up and gotten the Sword free somehow. My Necromancer mind said that was the most logical explanation. I began the long trek back to the temple’s entrance.
“Stop. You are forbidden to leave this temple,” called a woman. I’d know that voice anywhere.
Amelia was here.