Eternal Promise (Between Worlds Book 3) (19 page)

The trot of a horse came behind me. I spun around to find Kallan and Drake riding toward me on horses. Kallan stopped next to me and extended his arm. I grabbed it and he pulled me up. “I thought we’d need a faster way to get out of the neutral land.”

“Good thinking. Who did you leave in charge?”

“Zanna and Olwydd. They’ve got it covered.”

“What’s your plan?” Drake asked.

“Google is my friend.” The horse started galloping ahead. The neutral land was brown. The flowers were already dead and the trees were halfway there. “My parents will both be working right now. I’m going to go inside my house and use my laptop.”

“What did the Aurorian tell you?”

I repeated what she said.

“That’s it?”

“Yes. Just someone’s name.” Nausea and dizziness settled in and my body sagged. Kallan gripped me tighter.

When we reached the tree line in my backyard, Kallan and Drake tied the horses far enough in for them to stay hidden. I scanned the driveway and made sure nobody was home. I wanted to see my parents, but I didn’t have time. Using the hidden key, I unlocked the door and let us all in. “Let me grab my laptop and we’ll sit at the table.” I hurried upstairs and picked it up off my desk. I glanced at my bed and pictures. I missed my room, but not as much as I thought I would. I went toward the door, but stopped and fixed something that was out of place on my dresser.

Back downstairs, I sat at the table and opened my laptop. I did a Google search for Aurora Leon. Some realty sites came up and some images of women with the name. How was I supposed to figure out which Aurora Leon it was?

“How old would this woman be?” Kallan asked.

I sat back in the chair. “I didn’t even think about that. If the last Aurorian knew this person, she must be…dead?”

I looked back at the matches and found a couple that were for someone in the 1800s. “Here’s a genealogy website. Says an Aurora Leon lived near here and died in 1848. She’s buried in Brockwood Cemetery. Should we go there?”

“Good as place as any to start.”

Looking at the clock, I texted Sierra. She would have just started the school day, but I knew she wouldn’t want to miss this and I could use her help.
Bored? Want to pick us up at my house & join us on a quest?

The reply came immediately.
OMG YES! Be right there.

I put the computer back and wrote my parents a quick note.

Sierra pulled up ten minutes later. I let Drake get in the front with her and I took the back with Kallan. I scooted close to him and laid my head on his shoulder.

After covering Drake’s face with kisses, Sierra asked, “Where are we going?”

“Brockwood Cemetery.”

She turned around and looked at me. “You want to go to the graveyard? Why?”

“To find someone,” I answered.

“This isn’t going to be creepy, is it?”

“It shouldn’t be.”

Sierra started driving.

When we arrived, I scanned the area. It was a big cemetery. How was I supposed to find one person in all of this? I started wandering around looking at the different names. It wasn’t set up by dates or names. There was no system. “How do we find her?”

“Ask,” Drake said and trotted off to a small house down the road. There was a person standing next to a tractor. The man went inside the house and came back out with a book. He opened the book and then pointed. Drake nodded and sprinted back to us. “Down about eight rows, fifth to the left.”

We headed that way. I counted the headstones as I walked down the row. “Five,” I said out loud.

The four of us stood in front of Aurora Leon’s gravestone. I didn’t see anything other than the name and dates. I checked around the back and the sides of the stone and then threw my hands up. “Maybe we have the wrong one?”

“There was only one listed,” Drake responded.

“Wait,” Sierra said. “What’s that in the corner?”

“Where?”

Sierra knelt down and pointed to a star at the bottom right corner of the gravestone. I squatted next to her and ran my finger over the etching.

“It’s like the one on your face,” Drake commented.

My hand instinctively bolted up to touch my birthmark. Then I traced the etching on the stone. Nothing weird happened. I stared at the star again. There seemed to be something underneath it. I pushed down the dirt and grass.

“What’s under the star?” Kallan asked.

“Some sort of arch?” I wondered.

“Does arch mean anything in the faery world?” Sierra asked.

“No,” Kallan answered.

“What could the arch stand for here?” Drake questioned.

“McDonalds?” Sierra suggested.

I laughed. “I’m sure the Aurorian faery hid it at a McD’s.”

“Faeries are all about nature, right? So wouldn’t it be more logical for it to be somewhere natural?” Sierra said.

“That’s a good point.” I tapped my finger on my lip. “There’s an Arches National Park out in Utah. Could it be that far?”

Sierra’s eyes darted back and forth and then she exclaimed, “The natural bridge here. It looks like an arch. I went there as a kid. It’s not far.”

“Are you sure the bridge is still there?” Kallan asked.

“It’s been there forever and I don’t have any other ideas right now,” Sierra answered.

“We should definitely rule it out before going all the way to Utah,” I said.

We climbed back in Sierra’s car and she started driving. I pulled the natural bridge up on the maps app on my phone and it led the way.

We were there about an hour later. Sierra parked and we got out of the car. After buying tickets, we followed the signs and found ourselves standing in front of a natural arch carved out of limestone. It was a stunning sight. The top of the arch was way above us—maybe two hundred feet high.

“So now what?” Drake asked.

“Rylie, any special Aurorian feelings?” Kallan nudged me.

“Nope.” I walked toward the bridge. A serene nature trail went under the bridge. I ran my hand along the stone as we walked through. I kept on the trail that eventually led to what was left of the waterfall.

“Do you see anything?” Sierra questioned.

I looked back. “I think the answer is at the bridge.” I headed toward it again, my eyes scanning the enormous arch. A soft wind played with my hair. Near it again, I squatted and examined the stone. About two feet from the ground, there was an area covered with moss and other greenery. I matted it down and found a handprint with a star in the middle. The same star that was on the gravestone. The same star as the one on my face. I felt a glimmer of excitement.

I placed my hand on the handprint and the whole stone began to glow and then pushed in and to the side to reveal an open chamber no bigger than a breadbox. A white stone lay on the floor. Carefully, I picked it up and cradled it in my hand. One side was rounded, while the other was jagged. Broken in half.

The chamber door shut. I put my hand on the greenery and made it grow again to cover the handprint. The beautiful stone was cool in my hands. I placed it in the satchel I had and stood up. “Let’s go.”

“That’s it? We’re not going to mention how cool that was?” Sierra asked.

I rolled my eyes. “It was cool. Now can we go?” She was right, though. It really was.

She laughed and purposely bumped into me. “Yes.” We all started walking. “Now what?”

“Now we have to get the other half of the stone,” Kallan said.

“And I don’t think it’ll be quite as easy as putting my hand on a stone.” I sighed.

“Do you know anything about it?” Sierra asked.

“Just that Satine has it and is using it to expand the dark boundary.”

“How are you going to get it from her?” Sierra unlocked the car.

“I don’t know.” That was our biggest problem right now. How did we get the stone from Satine? If we went to battle, would she even show up? Could we trick her and take it? Use magick against her? What would be the best way to get our hands on the stone with the least consequences?

Once we were back in the forest behind my house, I said goodbye to my best friend while Kallan waited by the tree line.

“You have to go back now?” Sierra asked.

“Yeah. I’ll see you soon.”

“Can’t you stay a little longer?” Her voice cracked.

“No. I have to deal with this, but as soon as I can, I’ll be back.”

“Take me. Don’t leave me here.” She looked from me to Drake, pleading with her eyes. “Please.”

I felt so bad, but I couldn’t let her come. “It’s too dangerous. Satine has already threatened you. I won’t risk your life.”

“Nor will I,” Drake said. “We will get you when it’s safe.”

I nodded. “Promise.”

Tears streaming down her face, she hugged me and said, “Hurry. Not seeing you every day sucks.”

“I’ll try.” I walked away to let her be alone with Drake.

Once in the cover of the forest, I mounted the horse with Kallan, already dreading the ride home. Leaving her behind broke my heart, but I knew I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

Chapter Eighteen

K
allan, Drake, and I sat around Azura’s table discussing the next step. “What’s the best course of action?” Drake asked.

“Do we attack first? Wait for her to come at us?” Kallan’s eyes looked droopy. I could tell he wasn’t getting enough sleep—none of us were.

“Could we use Olwydd to find Satine?” I uncrossed my legs.

“I don’t see why not.”

“What if just a few of us go with Olwydd and try to find her? Catch her off guard? Maybe we could get the stone from her and then talk to her. Get her to listen?” I suggested. The thought of us going into a battle—and losing people—scared me.

“I fear she’s too like my father to just give up. She has a dark heart. I don’t think there’s any talking to her.”

“Always worth a try,” I said even though I didn’t believe it.

“I suppose,” Kallan responded. “But what happens if she doesn’t listen?”

“Then we fight,” I stated firmly.

Kallan and Drake exchanged a look and then Kallan said, “We’ll try it your way. Find the stone first and try talking to her.”

My eyes lit up as Azura set down a plate of cupcakes on the table. I grabbed one and took a bite. She joined us at the table. “May I see the stone?”

I reached behind me into my bag, took out the white stone, and placed it in the center of the table. We all gazed at it.

“Growing up, never did I imagine the stone that holds us all together would be on my kitchen table.”

After staring at it a little longer, I asked, “So when do we go?”

“If it’s the element of surprise you’re looking for, then we go now. Less time for her to prepare.”

“Are our armies ready?”

“Yes,” Drake replied.

“Then let’s do this.”

Half an hour later, I scanned the meadow as about a third of our light guards dressed in fighting gear and carrying swords mounted their flying horses.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” A look of concern crossed Azura’s face.

“Yes.”

“Abrax is yours. He’s been waiting for you.”

I ran my hand down the white flying horse’s body. “He’s beautiful.”

Abrax neighed like he understood.

“Do you think you’ll be okay riding him?” Azura asked.

I stood in front of him and looked in his eyes. “Yes. We’ll be a good team.”

“Rylie!” Lena came running with a cup in her hand. “Here.”

“What is it?”

“It’ll help in the neutral land. You won’t feel so drained.”

“Awesome. Thanks.” I drank the concoction and mounted Abrax. I turned to the meadow full of creatures willing to fight and hollered, “Are we ready?”

Shouts filled the air.

“A few of us are going ahead with a tracker. I want you to stay on guard here and we’ll call for you if you’re needed. I don’t want to fight her unless it’s necessary,” I told the fey and other creatures.

Ready?
I asked Kallan.

Yes.

We’re on our way. Meet us by the waterfalls.

“Okay, Abrax, show me what you’ve got…gently.”

Abrax trotted ahead and his huge wings flapped once and we were flying. I was going ahead in the air; the others stayed on the ground.

My stomach did a flip-flop as Abrax took me higher. “Not too high, buddy. This is my first flight.” My own wings fluttered behind me. “Must be nice to be able to use your wings for something,” I joked.

I almost didn’t notice the waterfalls. Rather than flowing abundantly like before, there was just a trickle of water. The flowers were wilted, the tree branches drooping low against the ground. It was almost as through a fire had swept through the area. I narrowed my eyes at the thought of Satine taking life from such a beautiful place.

Kallan was waiting for me, a look of anger on his face as well. “I’ll get this place back to normal for you, Ry. I know how much you wanted to get married here.”

Pain rippled through me. Even though Lena’s drink kept me from being drained, I could still feel the pain of the dying land. I was nauseous and the dull ache in my head was getting stronger by the minute. “I can’t stay here, Kallan. We must go now.”

Drake, Kallan, Olwydd, and I hunted for Satine. I couldn’t feel her, couldn’t find her by digging my fingers into the dirt, which was fine by me, I didn’t want to feel her, but made it harder to track her. Instead we relied on Olwydd.