Baleful Betrayal (28 page)

"You're a little jumpy," Elyssa noted. She acknowledged the salute from the Templar on duty at the portal station. "Portal to the Three Sisters, please."

"At once," the soldier replied.

"Fjoeruss's golem said we'd receive help today," I said. "I hope it's not one of his tricks."

"Do you think he'll show up?" Elyssa asked.

I shrugged. "No telling with him. Our army is useless if we can't breach the fortress shield."

The air above the yellow square split open, revealing the control room at the Three Sisters. We stepped through the gateway and travelled thousands of miles from Atlanta to Australia in the blink of an eye. We stepped out of the niche lined with omniarches and walked down the large center aisle to reach the Alabaster Arch rising high above the smaller black arches all around it.

The portal to Seraphina was still open so we stepped through onto the skylet of Kdosh. A stiff breeze bent the tall red grass to the side. Clouds of aether in shades of red and gold billowed up from the vortex below, casting sunlight in brilliant hues.

The
Evadora
crouched like lurking monster on the north side of the island, clawed feet holding the flat-bottomed hull several feet off the ground. I saw Victus and Conrad leaning over the railing at the top deck. The boy looked amazed, and for once, seemed awakened from the stupor he'd demonstrated on the last occasions I'd seen him. Delectra stood at the bottom of the ramp leading to the ship, a sullen frown on her pale face.

"Looks like someone didn't get the tour," Elyssa murmured.

I hoped that wasn't a bad sign for us. "I forgot Cora was giving a tour. We should wait until it's over."

Motion at the base of a nearby tree drew my attention to Cora's first mate, Illaena. The sera wore her black hair in a tight ponytail. Her tight red uniform stood out nicely against her dark olive skin and outlined wide muscular shoulders and thick legs. She looked as though she could leg press a bus.

Illaena rose and splayed her fingers in greeting. "Well met, Destroyer and Elyssa."

"Howdy, Illaena." I spread my fingers toward her. "Call me Justin, please."

"I would know what you did to draw the wrath of my Captain," the sera said, wasting no time getting to the point.

I didn't see any use beating around the bush. "I betrayed a secret."

"She has many secrets," Illaena said. "We have often wondered if she was royalty in her home realm."

Elyssa's eyes flashed. "What do you mean by that?"

"Cora would have us believe she is Seraphim, but clearly she is not." Illaena folded her arms across her chest. "She is a good captain, wise and patient, but when it comes to her homeland she is somewhat irrational."

"Why don't you tell her you know?" I asked.

"If she wishes to tell us, she will," the sera replied.

"We figured out she wasn't Seraphim during the trip here," Elyssa said. "She told us about herself, and asked that we not tell the crew."

Illaena raised an eyebrow. "Did you tell anyone on the crew?"

I shook my head. "No, but we told some people on our war council. Cora found out and rescinded her offer for the Mzodi to help us."

The first mate nodded. "I understand why she is vexed with you."

"Me too," I said. "But we really need the help of the sky fishers, and I think you need us if you don't want to be overrun by dragons or worry about Cephus unleashing the Beast in Seraphina."

"We are in agreement," Illaena said, "but I am not the one who needs convincing."

"Can you help us?" Elyssa said. "At least tell Cora that the crew knows she's not Seraphim."

"Would that I could," the sera replied, "but admitting that would not mend Justin's honor. Only he can do that."

"In other words, you'd rather lose your homeland than speak a few simple words to gain us the help we need?" I stepped closer, maybe in an attempt to intimidate, but Illaena stood nearly as tall as me, and she didn't look the least bit cowed by my nearness.

"Death is better than dishonor," she said in a tone that brooked no argument.

"I'm sure you'll feel that way when a dozen dragons tear your ship apart and disembowel your friends right in front of you," Elyssa said. "When your captain has her head bitten off as the
Evadora
plummets in flames to the ground."

I added my own two bits. "How honorable is it to become dragon poop?"

Elyssa gave me a disbelieving look. "Really, Justin?"

Illaena looked a bit unsettled for once. "It is not a pleasant prospect, but I cannot interfere."

We'd obviously hit a brick wall that Illaena wasn't willing to break through or climb over. That didn't mean others on the crew wouldn't be willing to help. I saw Victus walking down the ramp. Conrad lingered at the top with Cora who gave him a hug and then sent him on his way.

Victus spotted us near the portal and headed over without waiting for his son to catch up. Delectra waited on Conrad, an uncharacteristic smile on her face as he ran for her open arms.

"I wish you luck," Illaena said, and walked away.

"Good news," Victus said as he drew near. "Cora is amenable to helping us again. She seems to enjoy children."

Certainly more than you like kids.
I tried not to get my hopes up. "Did she actually say the fleet would join us?"

"Not in so many words, but she said she'd reconsider." Victus put his hand on my arm. "Perhaps it's not a good idea for you to talk with her. She's still a bit miffed."

I pulled my arm away. "Are you forgetting who told her in the first place?"

Noticeable anger, though quickly quenched, flashed in Victus's eyes. He flashed a plastic smile. "If you truly blame me, then let me be the one to mend fences."

I wondered if he'd told Cora anything else to piss her off more. "I think I'll take my chances."

Hand-in-hand with Conrad, Delectra approached, her step noticeably lighter, face flushed with happiness and a rare smile. "He had a wonderful time, Victus. Can he do it again soon?"

Victus maintained his smile and shook his head. "I don't know, dear. Why don't you give him his toy and we'll be going?"

Delectra's face fell. "But, I thought—"

"Really, dear, we must be going." Victus's voice sounded strained, as if he were barely holding back anger.

A tear trickled down his wife's cheek as she removed a small blue object spiked on all sides like a sand burr, though it looked soft rather than sharp. She gave it to Conrad who rolled it in his hands.

"My favorite toy," he said, and suddenly seemed to lose all interest in the world around him.

Victus gripped Delectra by the upper arm. "Good luck, Justin." He stepped through without waiting on a reply, pulling his family along with him.

Elyssa hooked her arm through mine and led me toward the ship. "Something is horribly wrong with that family."

I couldn't stop thinking about the odd change in Conrad the moment he started playing with his toy. "That's the most emotional I've ever seen Delectra."

"Yeah, it's like something switches off and on inside that woman." Elyssa shuddered. "Must be mental issues."

I suspected it was something else. The odor of brimstone hung around that family like they used it for body wash. Being half demon myself, it was an odor I'd grown used to. Though others found it unpleasant, most of my kind actually liked it. But not all demon pheromones were made equal. What I smelled on Kassallandra was far different than what I sensed on my father.

In short, some demons smelled worse than others. Whatever nether creatures Victus dealt with smelled sour and slightly rotten. I'd confronted him about demons before, and he'd freely admitted he consorted with them. As an adult, he was free to do so, but if his association with infernal spirits was negatively affecting his son, I had to put a stop to it. Now was not the time, but soon. We might need Victus and his battle bots for the war, but I wouldn't let that stop me from ensuring his son was safe.

Elyssa nudged me and nodded up. Cora stared coolly down at me from the top of the ramp.

"Permission to come aboard," I said.

Cora didn't answer, instead walking slowly down the ramp to meet us. "I thought I made myself clear, that I didn't wish to speak with you."

Her comment rubbed me the wrong way, but I struggled to remember Thomas's advice.
Be humble.
"I'm sorry I dishonored myself, Cora. I spoke without thinking and betrayed your confidence to others."
Should I drop to one knee? Nah, too melodramatic.
I met her gaze and held it. "Forgive me, please, and don't punish the entire realm of Seraphina for my mistake."

Cora pursed her lips and seemed to look inside me, probing for sincerity. "Well spoken, Justin, but it does not absolve you."

Damn, she's stubborn!
"Can you punish me alone and ask the Mzodi to help our army?"

"I have already considered it," she said. "My decision to rescind the offer of help was perhaps too hasty."

I tried not to let the relief show on my face. "Thank you, Cora."

"Do not thank me yet," she said. "You must accept your punishment."

I felt like a student sentenced to a paddling in the school hallway. "Whatever it is, I accept."

"Bravely met, but I will give you a chance to back out," she said.

"If I did, would that mean the Mzodi would no longer help?"

"This realm must be saved despite my disappointment with you." Cora crossed her arms. "Should you decline, however, your dishonor would be complete."

Elyssa squeezed my hand three times.
I love you.
She knew I'd do the right thing.

But what if she wants to paddle me?
I had an unholy fear of paddles, especially the ones with holes in them that sucked your butt cheeks through and doubled down on the pain. That fear stemmed from the childhood trauma of a severe whacking I'd endured at the hands of Mr. Buck McGillicuddy in sixth grade. With my supernatural powers, a paddling wouldn't hurt much at all, especially compared to what else I'd been through.

I swallowed hard. "Name your price."

She held out a small green pebble similar to the one she wore on her necklace. "You will travel alone to the Glimmer and deliver a package to my daughter, Evadora."

"Alone?" Elyssa's tone took great issue with that condition.

Cora's face softened. "Your love for him is admirable, Elyssa. Should you choose to accompany him, you may. Please know the risk may be great."

"I'm used to that," she said. "When do you want this done?"

"Now," Cora replied. "War brings great uncertainty, and I would hate it if Justin died before fulfilling his oath."

"What are the risks, and how do I reach the Glimmer?" I asked.

Cora held out the flat of her hand. "Press your hand to mine if you agree to fulfill this."

I pressed the flat of my hand against hers and flinched when vines beneath her robes spread along her arm and bound our hands together. A thorn extended from the top and pricked each of our fingers, drawing blood to mingle between them. The vines vanished and Cora withdrew her hand.

"The oath is sealed by nature, bound by blood." Cora licked the blood from her finger.

I looked at the blood on my finger. "Uh, do I have to lick it?"

She nodded. "Lick it, Justin."

Uneasily, I licked the blood off my finger. "Hey, that didn't taste so bad. In fact, it tasted kind of good."

Cora looked satisfied. "Having tasted my blood, if you break your oath, you will have no honor."

I had a feeling she meant that in a literal way, but had no intention of backing down. "Tell me what to do and how to survive this quest."

Cora motioned us to follow her onto the ship, and then led us down into her inner sanctum for cups of sweet nectar. "The best way into the Glimmer starts in Queens Gate. From there you travel through the reflected world and into the crack in the world."

By the time she finished explaining the dangerous route from our world to hers, how to safely navigate the Glimmer, and how to find her daughter, I felt a deep sense of dread pooling in my lower gut. This wasn't going to be a cake walk. The package she gave us was bound in leaves and vines.

"May I ask what this is?" Elyssa said.

"A tear catcher," Cora said. "A gem master crafted it for me, and I have spent years filling it for Evadora."

Elyssa's forehead wrinkled. "With tears?"

"Be sure she opens it," Cora said. "When she does, all will become clear."

I pocketed the small green stone and stood up. "We'll start right away."

"May the moon shine favorably upon you," Cora said. She held my hands and kissed the tops of them, then did the same for Elyssa. "The blessing of the Glimmer Queen keep you safe."

"I hope that's more than a saying," I said.

"It is a very real blessing," Cora said. "But it will only last twenty-two hours."

My forehead pinched. "Why not twenty-four?"

"I always tell people less so they don't cut it too close," she replied.

"Wait, others have tried this before?" I asked.

She nodded. "Three others have braved the Glimmer, though not to visit my daughter. They sought fragments of the anchor stone."

"What happened to them?" I asked.

"Naeve, most likely," she said. A tremble passed through her shoulders. "Is it strange I call her by my name?" The question seemed directed at herself, not us, so we didn't answer.

"We'd better get started." Elyssa gripped my hand. "Cora, please make sure the Mzodi fleet gets here."

"They are already on the way and should be here tomorrow," Cora said. "No matter what happens to you, they will help your army."

Elyssa set the timer on her phone and the seconds began to count down.

Chapter 26

When we arrived back in the underground hangar at the Ranch, I noticed a small squad of gray men standing at attention near the cars.

"Sir, they marched through a portal that wasn't one of ours," the Templar stationed at the portal zone informed us. "One of them told me it had a message for you."