Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“I saw Decius,” I tell her. “He’s aware his time has been set back, and he knows you’re helping me.”
Beatrix looks all around, worry creasing her forehead. “Okay.” She nods, eyes on me again.
“He said something about Vakeeli being his world and having the control. No one can stop him here but the Regals. This is going to sound really, really crazy, but what if…what if I take Caz back to my portal and to my world, just until we figure out how to get rid of Decius?”
“It’ll be impossible getting rid of Decius unless we find the Regal Selah,” Beatrix says, head shaking swiftly. Right, Selah. The Regal who created all of Vakeeli and every single person on it. Decius put her in a deep sleep and the only person who can wake her is Caz.
“Well, where can we find her?”
“Only The Council would know,” Alora says, “and the person they sent to find her is lying on the ground.”
“There has to be a way to get to her that doesn’t involve Caz—something we can do,” I proclaim. “Can we not talk to The Council? They can’t wake Selah without Caz’s blood and if he dies, they’ll have nothing. Perhaps we can demand them to take all of us to Selah. We can’t just let Caz die!”
Everyone looks at each other, then they drop their gazes to Caz as the heaviness of my statement weighs on them.
“I suppose sending him to your world will create a lengthier delay,” Beatrix murmurs with a scratching of the head. “Decius is only powerful here because he works through Vakeeli soil. Without it, his powers aren’t very useful. He could move through other universes just like any other Mythic, but he’d likely use vessels—you know, animals and people with bad intentions. He’ll use whatever works in his favor to get him where he needs to be. And even then, he wouldn’t be able to fully use his powers to take the Cold Tether in your world. No vessel would be strong enough so he’d have to find a way to bring Caz back, which could take ages.”
“So there is a possibility then? An escape for Caz?” I inquire.
“Yes, but only if it works. It’s never been done before by a Mythic—sending a Vakeeli-born to another universe. It requires a lot of energy—energy I don’t even have right now.”
“Beatrix, we have to try,” I plead. “Look at him. He’s dying. I can’t just sit here.”
Beatrix’s misty eyes fall to Caz’s body again. She sighs, then gives me a slight nod. “All right. It may weaken me—possibly even kill me—but I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you.” I wish I could say I find relief in her words, but I don’t, and I won’t until I know it’s worked, and Caz is safe. It’s such a big ask and no, I don’t want Beatrix to die, but I’m willing to do anything for him right now.
Beatrix scurries across the room to one of her bookshelves, collecting several thick, leatherbound books into her arms. “Your portal remains in Blackwater, correct?” she asks over her shoulder.
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll perform the ritual there. Now let’s hurry. Time is truly of the essence.”
Chapter 5
CAZ
Blackwater is notoriously known for its cold winters. I’d like to think I’ve grown used to the chill, but what holds me now is a different kind of cold.
In my territory, where the wind would howl and the snow would cling to our skin, we’d still have our clothes, hats, and shoes to keep us warm—a barrier to protect us, if you will. But here, I have nothing. Isolated in a cold, dark place, wrapped in chains that feel like bent icicles digging into my flesh.
A weak groan escapes me, and I breathe as evenly as possible through my nose. It’s useless. My entire body shudders as the wind whips and the snow clings to me.
A blur of black dashes past, and I look to my left, watching the figure land several feet away. A dark cloak billows behind the figure, dark boots touching the ground. The figure shifts to a person, and he walks closer to me. The black cloak transforms to a stark white, and when I carry my gaze to their eyes, I have the urge kill him.
“You know, Caspian,” Manx says, approaching me. “You’re much luckier than you think you are.”
He snaps his fingers, and a chair appears right across from me. He sits on it, just out of arm’s reach. I can’t even headbutt the fucker if I wanted to.
“I was enjoying your memories,” he goes on. He looks me all over with eyes I used to trust. “Do you have questions?”
I grimace, look him up and down, then spit at his feet.
Manx chuckles, folding one leg over the other. “We have ten hours until I can claim you. Why not enjoy these last few hours we have together, just like old times? Look, I’ve shifted into someone you trust. That’s much better than my true form, which you do not want to see, believe me.”