Kalesius!

Kale surfaced. What?

Kale? asked Vera.

Kale’s knee-jerk reaction was to pull back, but Ferrox held him in place until he took in what was happening.

Just so you know, Ferrox said. I’ve been trying to wake you forever.

He slipped away so Kale could have full control of his mind and body. Around him was a misty forest. Ferrox had brought him to Acadia. Addamas lay unconscious on the ground, but he was still breathing. Vera hung by one arm from the grasp of a cyclops.

“Let her go,” Kale said.

The cyclops’s forehead pulled down. “Hers?”

The creature attempted to grope Vera. Like he wanted to verify her female status. Kale didn’t get a chance to intercede before Vera struck the cyclops’s hand with her newly formed scorpion barb. The male howled and dropped Vera, who scrambled away like a crab. She kept her eyes on the cyclops, and her tail ready to strike again.

“It stingings me,” howled the cyclops.

“What meanings you?” asked the cyclops’s mate, juggling two wiggling bundles as she backed away.

“Meanings I am eatings her inners before she beings dead.”

“Find a different dinner,” Kale told the cyclopes family. “This one is not for you.”

“Who beings you?” asked the male. “I’m eatings you next.”

“You wouldn’t want that,” Kale promised.

The creature took a lumbering step forward. With Ferrox’s help, Kale speared into both cyclopes’ minds. He formulated an image of himself and what he would do to them—beginning with their offspring—if they didn’t take his advice. The female took off running, not even waiting for him to complete his storytelling. The male seemed less inclined to leave behind his supper, no matter how gruesome the imagery.

Kale noticed Vera cringing and realized she was still linked to him with a front-row seat for the show. Kale cut off the assault. Blast.

Vera must have caught his regret. It’s fine. Believe me. I already pictured doing half of that to him myself.

Kale made his mind blank. Until she or Ferrox severed the link, he didn’t want her to catch anything else. Vera threw him a strange look as the cyclops shifted toward her.

“Come one step closer, and I’ll sting you in your twaddle next,” Vera threatened. “Or is it twiddle?”

Vera stood, and the cyclops finally took off after his smarter half.

“What is with you and weird names for male anatomy?” Addamas pushed himself into a half-seated position. “I feel like I ran into a wall.”

“Yeah, they look softer than they actually are.” Vera squatted next to the satyr. Her kargadan horn flared before Addamas knew what was coming.

Addamas squinted and turned away. “Why’d you do that?”

“I was checking for a concussion,” Vera answered.

In response, Addamas lunged away from her and puked. Once his stomach was empty, he lay back on the ground.

“Congratulations, you have one,” she said gently. “You need to get back to the meadow. How long before you can make a path?”

“Probably not long since I just heaved the last of the no-go from my system. Along with my spleen.”

“Can you path with your head scrambled like that?” Kale asked.

“Not well. Getting three of us home will be a challenge.”

“Then just get yourself home,” Vera told him.

“What about you guys?”

“I have a friend to help first,” Vera said. “And then Kale can get me to the world-gate.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Kale preferred she go straight home.

“Shocking,” Vera replied. “Good thing I didn’t ask your opinion.”

Kale clenched his jaw and refocused on keeping his mind empty.

“Yeah, I’m too tired to wait for you two to figure this out.” Addamas hunched over, grasping his head like he was trying to keep it attached. “Maybe a little time together will be good for you.” He took a step and was swallowed by a path.

Ferrox, take over, Kale instructed.

Vera stiffened and turned to glare daggers at him. “I swear, Ferrox. If you let him run away and hide right now, I will sing boy band songs until we get back to the meadow.”

Ferrox recoiled and settled more firmly into the back of their mind. There was no way for Kale to dislodge him. Vera seemed to understand that she’d won because her lips curved up smugly.

Can we at least cut off the two-way radio? Kale asked them both, but neither answered. Vera? She didn’t answer. Ferrox was already asleep. Apparently, that was enough to cut the connection between them.

“Who exactly do we need to save?” asked Kale.

“Addamas’s sister.”

“Where’s that book?” Vera asked as soon as Idan answered his door.

He bent to look outside behind her. “Where’s my son?”

“Home. Safe.” And Kale was hiding at the edge of the village. The rope bridge system was not meant for a man his size. She waved a hand to get Idan’s attention. “The book?”

“Come in. Half the mountain must know you’re here—it’s the middle of the day.”

Vera was going to argue but stopped short when she spotted Airlea propped up on a couch. The bleeding hadn’t stopped. It stained her entire clear body. “I didn’t know she was here.”

“Where did you expect me to take her?” Idan moved to a shelf lined with books that belonged to a nymph. “That cave in the side of the mountain? She would’ve fallen from that ledge and killed herself. If she doesn’t revert soon, she’ll die anyway.” He shoved the book at Vera. “Page two-sixty-seven.”

Vera opened the book to the correct page and took in the painted illustration. It depicted a monstrous snake rising from the center of a pool. Women fled in different directions, each with something glowing between their fingers

“I recognized the story of how the nymphs spread across the kingdom. No one knows how they picked up roots, but I thought this looked like a good place to start.”

Vera scanned the writing. The order of words was odd, but she got the gist of it. “They each took a piece of their home with them. It wasn’t enough to let them wander forever, but long enough to find a new home.”

“That’s all?”

Vera scanned. “Looks like it.”

“I wonder why they didn’t just pick up and leave before now,” he said.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with you satyrs making sure they forgot their history, and then moving into their homes where all of their books and records are. I mean, it could have something to do with that.” Vera gave him her best evil eye.

He was good enough to look abashed. “I’ll collect some water from the pool for her.”

“No,” Airlea cried.

She’s not worried that the guy might decide to take a sip, is she?

The nymph tried to stand. “I’ll go. Only my people should touch the water.”

Apparently, that’s exactly what she’s worried about. “Lay down. I’ll go get the water.”

The offer didn’t seem to console Airlea. “It’s too risky. The call…” she eyed Idan, obviously not willing to divulge more about the properties of the water.

“I’m in touch with my inner nymph,” Vera reminded. “I’ll be fine.”

Idan cleared his throat. “The Aegis has decided to deny your request to unlock your nymph powers.”

“Gee. I’m shocked.” Vera rolled her eyes. “But it’s already done. Not that it’s any business of the Aegis.”

“You should revert,” Idan counseled Airlea. “This is unnecessarily dangerous.”

The young nymph wouldn’t answer.

“She doesn’t trust you,” Vera translated. “Can you blame her?”

“I’ll make sure she is taken care of.”

“What about Delia?” Vera challenged.

“Who?” he asked in confusion.

“Isn’t she your other daughter?” Vera turned to Airlea for confirmation. “I thought…”

“We are half-sisters. We share a mother only.”

“Oh.” But shouldn’t she still matter to the man? It didn’t seem like she did, though. Delia was just a nymph to him. “If you knew the kind of truth Airlea does, would you want to forget? Or would you want to stay alive and restore your people?”

“I’ll get a vial,” Idan replied. “And while you are gone, I’ll summon an arca to carry Airlea to the gate... I should probably come with you.” It was obvious the idea of accompanying them scared the pants off of the satyr. After seeing the cyclops firsthand, Vera understood why.

“No need,” Vera told him. “We won’t be traveling alone.”

“The Guardian is here,” Idan concluded.

Vera narrowed her gaze. “How do you know that?”

“I keep up with the rumors and news from off mountain. My son hangs around the Guardian, so I like to know what’s going on with him.” His lips thinned. “Nothing I’ve heard has reassured me lately.”

“What exactly have you heard?” Vera asked.

“The meadow is closed. No one knows why, but plenty of people are planning to find out.” He nodded at her. “Meanwhile, your escapades across the realms are widely spoken of. You are the girl who’s collecting magic like coins. And asking lots of questions about a lost kingdom.”

So far none of what he knew was too revealing. They hadn’t expected to keep the world in the dark about the meadow being closed off, but as long as the other secrets—like where the new meadow was located—were not being discovered…

“There are also rumors that the Guardian has fallen to the siphons.”

Vera’s heart stuttered while Idan considered her.

“Some believe they have turned him into a creature from before the unraveling. And that you might be one of the siphons responsible.”

Well, crap. “I haven’t turned Kale into anything,” she said truthfully. “Neither has anyone from Earth.” Truth. Although a deceptive truth. Technically, the person responsible was not from Earth, even though Suzie had lived there for a while. Vera was still trying to pinpoint where her foster mom had come from. Once she did, she could hunt down whoever might be furthering her plans for world destruction. “I am not a siphon. Kale is not evil.” Not anymore.

“I suppose not if he’s here to help you save my daughter and her people.”

Vera tried not to look relieved. “That vial?”

“How will you get into the pool?” he asked. “It’s guarded. No one goes in there, not even me.”

“The tunnels will lead her to the pool,” answered Airlea.

Idan paused on his way out of the room and asked, “Have you spoken with the oracles?”

“There are oracles?”

“One born to every race at any given time. If anyone knows about a lost kingdom, they would. Why is it important?”

“Because I think someone from there is working to destroy my realm and everyone I care about.”

“Oracles tend to be reclusive, but some believe that one resides in the Noble Valley. At the Alchemist Academy. There’s no telling who they are, but if you do find one, they might have some answers for you.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“It’s my repayment to you. For saving both my son and daughter today.” He disappeared down a hallway.

Airlea turned to Vera. “You are part nymph, but the water will call to the part that is other. If you listen, you will spend the rest of your days craving more.”

“Yeah, I have enough cravings in my life. I won’t go sipping your toilet water.” Vera winked, but inside she was concerned. Her siphon craved less, the more she unlocked, but it was still a force to be reckoned with. The last thing she needed was to get addicted to something else.

For the second time that day, Vera crept along the stone ledge overlooking a deadly drop.

“Carefully,” Kale chanted above her.

She didn’t see a root sticking up and hooked her foot on it. She squeaked and reached back to hold on to the wall until she stopped trembling enough to inch forward. Kale paced. She didn’t dare look up, but she could imagine him running his hands through his hair.

“Easy.”

“Shut up, you’re stressing me out!” she hissed.

Kale fell silent. She took a dozen more shuffling steps and sank into the cave with relief.

“I’m good,” she whisper-shouted up to him. “I’ll meet you on the edge of the village when I’m done.” Vera turned and called, “Delia?”

She hoped the nymph was around to give her directions to the pool. The candles and fire had all been put out, but a glowing orb in the corner lit the room. It looked like Delia had tidied up. Vera edged closer to the light and called again for the nymph, wondering if she should wait. Then again, the alternative was wandering the caves without directions and getting lost forever. She could wait a couple of minutes.

Vera bit her lip impatiently. It’d been ten seconds, and she was already debating whether to go ahead. Then she noticed a pile of familiar fabric beneath the orb. It was Delia’s clothes. Vera took a step back. Either the nymph was streaking through the caves, or that orb was her. The latter seemed a safe bet. That meant the old nymph had reverted. When she emerged in several hours or days, she wouldn’t remember anything. Airlea was the last nymph with the knowledge to protect her people. Vera just hoped that she could find the pool and a way out before it was too late for her.

After a quick eenie-meenie-miney-mo, Vera headed down the same tunnel Airlea had taken earlier, using her built-in headlamp. When she came to the first fork, the vines to her left shook and spontaneously burst into bloom. Vera made sure to keep out of reach and decided to take the path where the vines were sleeping still. As she did, the bare vines shot across, blocking her way, and the flowers behind her shook almost violently to get her attention. Okay. Is this a follow the flower brick road thing? Honestly, it wasn’t like she had a better idea.

“Fine. But you better not try anything.” She felt like an idiot for talking to plants.

Vera followed the trail of blooming flowers, and the ones she passed closed again. They led her down a few twists and turns before they suddenly stopped opening. Seriously?

A vine wrapped around her from behind. It pinned her to the wall, winding over her like the rabbit. In seconds, all that was left unbound were her eyes. Even the light from her horn had been blocked out. Just as she tugged at her kargadan to form a horn and stab her way free, a beam of light flared through a hairline crack in the cavern wall. It was followed by muffled voices on the other side of the thin rock. Vera snuffed out her light, and the vines released her. Farther along the path, a new flower burst open, beckoning her on. Vera’s heart still raced from being bound.

We really need to work on your method of communication. Vera ducked under the beams of light, so no one would notice a flash of girl, and hurried after the flowers. She kept her headlamp dim and knew to go dark whenever the flowers sucked closed. They guided her around corners and down so many tunnels that Vera was hopelessly lost.

At the end of a corridor, the flowers ended at a hole about chest height and covered in vines. It was just big enough for Vera to squeeze through—as long as the vines didn’t lasso her when she passed through them. They didn’t lead you all this way to digest you. They could’ve done that twenty times already. Vera put her hands on the rim of the hole and heaved herself up. The vines parted for her.

On the other side was a warm room that smelled like a neglected bathroom. Vera tugged the neckline of her shirt over her nose. Nasty. Delia had been peeing here for over a century, so it made sense, but it stung her eyes. The room was a simple round room with what looked like a sunken bathtub at the center and a single door.

As Vera stood looking down at the filthy water, she desperately wished for rubber gloves and hand sanitizer. Across the room, a different patch of vines shifted. Voices floated through the door. No time to think about it, Vera dipped out a vial of grossness and sprinted for her exit hole. Except the vines wouldn’t let her through. They wove together in an impassable mat.

Meanwhile, the voices on the other side of the door were accompanied by the clanking of a key in a lock. Have mercy. Someone’s coming in. They said no one ever does that. The vines across the way that had shifted a moment before, parted like curtains to reveal a crevice just deep enough for hiding. Vera leaped for it. The vines fell closed around her just as the door opened.

“All clear,” said a nasally voice. Vera imagined them pinching their noses. “If I ever see that traitor again, I’ll toss him in this pool for making us have to patrol this disgusting hall now.” The door closed and the vines opened. Vera frowned when the ones over the hole parted again. Obviously, the coast was clear enough for her to slip through without revealing the caves. So, so creepy how the vines knew that.

Back in the caves, Vera began to head the direction she’d come. After one bend, though, the flowers led her a different way. By this point, she knew better than to balk and just followed along. When they led her to a way out, it was straight up. She held onto the vines and climbed up with a little assistance. Her head and upper body emerged through a hole in the ground. Hands grabbed her from behind, around the middle, and pulled her the rest of the way out. She flailed until Kale twisted her around so she could see him.

“How did you know I would come out here?” she asked.

“I didn’t,” he replied. “I was here watching Idan’s house—I don’t like him.”

Vera didn’t care for Addamas’s biological dad much either, to be honest. “Well, that’s convenient.”

“Did you get it?”

Vera held up the bottle and scrunched her nose. “Yeah.” She tried to hand it off to Kale, but he took a step back and shook his head. “Since when did you become squeamish about body fluids?”

“You don’t want to drink that?” he asked.

Vera made a gagging face. “No.” Then she stepped away from him suspiciously. “Do you?”

“Yes.”

“It smells like a hundred years of piss,” she pointed out.

“And still I want it.”

“Eww, but okay. I’ll just keep it here.” She shoved it into her pocket. “And we know it’ll be safe there because you won’t touch me, let alone put your hand in my pocket.”

“Vera…”

“Don’t bother. We don’t have time for this right now, but I am seriously pissed at you.”

“I know.”

“You don’t know. You left me. For three months.”

“I had to.”

“You didn’t have to. You chose to.” She spun around. “Now, let’s go before Airlea gets any worse.”

“Wait Vera.”

“What? What do we have to talk about right this minute?” she asked with acid in her tone.

“I was only going to say that I’ll meet you on the path. I can’t go into the village.”

“Oh, yeah.” She felt stupid, which was not the best way to storm away from a sort-of argument. “We’ll meet you on the northern path.”

With the most dignity she could muster, she marched away.