Eyes of the Sun (26 page)

The Lorkon laughed, raising her head, staring at her uncle. “You won’t defeat me.”

She jumped to her feet and Jacob watched in shock as her eyes darkened—even the white parts—and black lines snaked away from her eyes like blood vessels. Soon, her entire face was black and the blackness spread, turning her white robes dark.

The ground around her blackened, and even the air darkened. Then the tendrils coiled toward Azuriah. He jumped away—to a window—and stared at the sun. The darkness followed. He whipped around and locked eyes with the Lorkon.

She stumbled. The darkness withdrew from Azuriah. She snarled and forced her darkness forward.

Jacob’s mouth popped open as he watched the two battle with their eyes. Azuriah forced light toward Ara Liese and she pushed back, darkness nearly enveloping Azuriah’s light. The room started alternating between black and bright white, making Jacob shield his eyes.

The moment he looked away, he noticed that the “dead” bodies in the room were moving—trying to get closer to her, their hands reaching farther. And then their emotions were visible. It sickened him, seeing how much they longed for her.

At that moment, Jacob remembered that his father had been with them—how had he forgotten? Dad was slumped to the ground, facing Ara Liese, one hand raised, reaching for her.

“Dad!” he yelled, jumping over two bodies to get to his father’s side.

His eyes were darker than Jacob had ever seen before, and his desire to be near the queen showed so strongly, it brought a bitter taste into Jacob’s mouth.

Jacob grabbed his dad under the armpits, pulling him away from Ara Liese. “Come on, Dad. Don’t do this.”

He quickly found that he couldn’t pull his father more than a couple of inches away from her. The force connecting them was too strong. Instead, Jacob dragged his father closer toward her, but also toward the door.

He cringed when they started crossing the dead bugs. He struggled to put the crunching noises far from his thoughts and instead, concentrated on keeping Dad away from the battle of light and dark.

The moment Jacob was even with the Lorkon, the real struggle with his father began. Dad fought to get away from him, reaching for Ara Liese, and Jacob’s arms felt like they were being pulled from their sockets. How was he going to get them both out of the room? His arms started shaking from the exertion, and for a moment, he wondered if he should just let his father go—let him have what he wanted. But one look at the bodies in the room removed that thought.

An idea crossed his mind and he called for his Minya. She flitted to his side.

“Give me strength,” he said. “Help me get him out.”

Early nodded and disappeared and Jacob felt a spot on his back warm once more. He drew from it, willing energy and strength to enter his limbs. It wasn’t much, but seemed to help. Jacob slowly increased the distance between Dad and the Lorkon. Finally—
finally
—he dragged his dad through the doorway and out into the hall. As soon as Dad could no longer see Ara Liese, he struggled less. Getting him down the hallway, to the first floor, and out the front door was much easier than getting him out of that room.

Jacob shut the door of the manor and slumped to the porch near Dad.

Neither said anything. Jacob drew in big gulps of air. He couldn’t even tell if Dad was conscious. When he’d pulled in enough air, he looked around for Early.

Akeno rounded the corner of the manor and yelped with excitement. “You’re alive! Are you guys okay? I tried to shrink her, but—”

Jacob held up his hand. “Early told me.” He didn’t want to interrupt his friend, but he needed to find Early. She hadn’t followed him outside, and he had no idea when her energy had stopped giving him strength. His heart sped up again and he wondered if he’d killed her.

“I’ve got to find Early,” he said. “Take care of my dad.”

“What’s going on inside?” Akeno asked.

“Battling. They’re battling.”

As soon as Akeno had sat down by Dad, Jacob opened the door and stepped inside. He could hear the fight going on upstairs—Ara Liese shrieking and Azuriah yelling—but he ignored it, searching the air and floor for his Minya.

He found her on the stairs. She’d crawled to the edge—she couldn’t hold herself up enough to fly. Thank goodness she hadn’t passed out like usual! Her face lit when she saw him, and Jacob’s eyes watered. She’d love him regardless of what he did to her.

“Oh, Early, I’m so sorry.”

She didn’t respond, but smiled up at him, her dark curls falling away from her sheet-white face.

Jacob got out the container, then held his hand in front of her. She crawled onto it. He put her in the container, then took it outside and handed it to Akeno. “Make sure nothing bumps her. I’m going back inside to help.”

A cold sweat broke out across his back and chest when he thought about reentering that room. His breathing increased, making him lightheaded. He didn’t want to go in there ever again, but Azuriah needed him. Jacob pushed his feelings aside and took the stairs two at a time, ignoring his aching and exhausted muscles. He slowed when he reached the door, then looked inside. No sense jumping into the middle of the fight without knowing what was going on.

The battle continued. Light shot from Azuriah’s eyes, blinding to look at. Likewise, darkness burst from the Lorkon’s eyes, meeting Azuriah’s light. Their entire bodies were intent on pushing their power forward. Azuriah’s pole lay forgotten next to him, but Jacob could tell the Shiengol’s arms would be useless with every bit of his willpower focused on his eyes.

Jacob stepped into the room, standing against the wall, in a position where he could see both of them. Ara Liese looked just as freaky as before—the darkness of her face made Jacob cringe. But what concerned him even more was that she seemed to have a limitless supply of energy. Her body was lithe, able. Not weak and wearied like Azuriah’s.

She was going to win.

Jacob yanked on his hair. There had to be something he could do. He refused to watch his great-uncle get killed. But what could he do? He reached for Azuriah’s pole, but immediately dropped that idea—he was too inexperienced with it. Could he trip her? Push her over? Knock her out somehow? Jacob approached her, but as soon as he did, Azuriah shouted at him.

“Go, Jacob! I can’t protect you
and
fight her!”

Jacob knew that was true. But he had to help! A thought entered his mind and he bit his lip, considering it. He was part Shiengol. And Lorkon blood flowed through his veins. He should be able to enter the fight—touch the lightness and the darkness without getting hurt.

Without thinking it through further, Jacob sprinted to a window and looked at the sun until he couldn’t stand it anymore—thirty seconds at least. He whirled, then instead of running to Azuriah’s side, he stepped toward the spot where the lightness and darkness met.

Jacob reached both hands forward, putting them in the middle of the battling shades. With his teeth clenched and every muscle tensing, he separated the colors, pushing them toward their owners. His arms began shaking with the strain—it took all of his concentration not to lose his position.

Azuriah and Ara Liese didn’t seem to notice Jacob’s intervention, and that was probably for the best. As soon as Jacob had the black and white separated as far as he could, he focused all of his remaining energy and light, adding it to Azuriah’s. Without the dark touching them, the two lights built together until the room was so bright, Jacob almost closed his eyes.

Then, when he couldn’t hold it any longer, Jacob released both the black and the light. He pushed his at the queen, feeling Azuriah’s follow.

The force of both their energies hit her so hard, she flew backward and slammed into the wall behind her. She fell to the ground, unconscious.

Then she disappeared.

Jacob gasped in shock, but Akeno laughed from the doorway. “I got her!”

Azuriah stumbled forward, grabbing Jacob’s arm. “Thank you.”

Jacob felt his heart grow—he was sure those words were foreign to his uncle, and he appreciated hearing them.

Azuriah straightened. “Put her in the box.”

“Already done,” Akeno said.

The Shiengol nodded. “Let’s go.”

The three met Dad on the porch. He sat against the wall, holding Early’s container. He smiled up at Jacob. Jacob smiled back and relief flooded over him so strong his eyes prickled. Boy, his eyes had been doing that a lot lately.

Just then, Gallus and Mr. Coolidge rushed from the forest, followed by a bunch of humans.

Gallus reached the porch first. He was breathing hard. “What happened?”

“We could ask you the same thing,” Azuriah said.

“We found the snakes, but were completely powerless,” Gallus said. “They took us to a cabin in the forest. It was full—and I mean
full
—of dead bodies.”

Azuriah rubbed his chin. “That would make sense.” He looked at Jacob, then back to Gallus. “Anyone she didn’t want would end up there.” He frowned. “Why didn’t you return sooner?”

“We couldn’t escape at first. Then suddenly, the door opened. Something triggered it.”

Azuriah nodded. “Probably when Ara Liese was knocked unconscious.” He pointed at Dad. “Help Dmitri. We’ve got the Shiengol Lorkon, and it’s time to go.” He turned to Jacob again. “Take us to my fortress in the village.”

Jacob opened the link, and he and Gallus helped Dad through. They slumped to the chairs in Azuriah’s library with relief. Pambri was there already, which surprised Jacob. He’d expected her to be gone for hours.

“The Lorkon sent an army,” she said. “Molgs, Dusts, and humans again, along with human-like beings who could control fire.”

“Ember Gods,” Jacob said.

“Yes, well, we took care of them.” She put her hand on Azuriah’s arm. “We should be grateful the Lorkon themselves didn’t come.”

Azuriah nodded, and not for the first time, Jacob wondered what would happen when a Lorkon and Shiengol fought. The battle he’d just witnessed didn’t count—Ara Liese was part Shiengol.

“What now?” he asked.

“We regroup,” Azuriah said. “We need time to rest and ready ourselves to fight Lirone.”

Dad wiped his forehead. “When do we leave?”

“First thing in the morning.”

Jacob tilted his head, frowning, blinking past the haze that was trying to cover his eyes. “Don’t we want to go sooner than that? Won’t the Lorkon attack again?”

Azuriah shrugged. “Perhaps.” He looked at Jacob skeptically. “But are you ready to go through what we just did for a second time today? It’ll be similar with Lirone—pushing with your eyes.”

Jacob opened his mouth, then closed it. Azuriah was right. He hadn’t noticed the pain earlier, but it had built considerably since leaving the manor. It was like his eyes were straining to disappear inside his head and never be used again. He nodded. “Rest would be good.”

Azuriah dismissed them, then said, “It’s a risk, but war carries risks.”

Jacob, Dad, Akeno, and Gallus returned to Mendon. Gallus and his family were staying in Jacob’s family room, and Akeno slept in a tree not far from the house. Mom was excited to see them, and especially glad to hear they’d been successful. Everyone sat in the living room, talking.

Jacob didn’t have the energy to stick around. He trudged up the stairs and to his room and checked on Early—she was sleeping. The moment his head hit his pillow, he was out.

Chapter Sixteen: Eachan’s Own Mission

Eachan paced the front room of the town hall. Something was wrong—something was definitely wrong. He hadn’t seen the Ember Gods for a couple of days—he always saw them at least twice a day. Sanso, who seemed to be their leader, more often. And he hadn’t heard from Jacob’s group. He hadn’t even heard from the Lorkon.

Eachan dabbed at the sweat on his forehead, wondering what he should do. Had the Lorkon attacked? Had they demolished Dmitri and his followers? His eyes lit up when that crossed his mind—it sure would solve a lot of problems.

As soon as he realized what he’d just thought, he cursed. That wasn’t how he wanted this to end. He
wanted
Dmitri to win. He wanted the freedom which the country—no, the world—had previously enjoyed. Eachan leaned against the door when he realized that really was what he wanted. He no longer felt a sense of obligation to the Lorkon.

He took a deep breath, enjoying the feel of it entering his lungs. Freedom. Previously, it was such a distant possibility. But, if Dmitri won, it was just around the corner.

Speaking of around the corner . . . Eachan looked out the window. A few villagers wandered the streets, but not many. No Ember Gods anywhere. Something was wrong.

He looked at the bag he’d packed. He wasn’t running—he couldn’t. But it was time to make a trip to the castle. And for once, without the Lorkon knowing.

Eachan grabbed the bag and slung it over his shoulder. He had two purposes for going to the castle. First, to find out what the Lorkon were up to, and second, to figure out how they held him and the other villagers in place. He was tired of being tacked down. The experience last year of his insides stopping while his body tried to move forward was horrendous. He refused to go through that again.

The invisible Lorkon barrier held all the Maivoryl City villagers in place, but Eachan had been granted access to the castle. The Lorkon used to have him report in person before they’d entrusted him with beetles.

Eachan exited the town hall, locked it up behind him, and then walked through the deserted city. He passed the first barrier—the one that stopped the other villagers. His barrier was on the far side of the castle. He’d found it once before and learned not to try running away again.

He paused several times to lean against trees and catch his breath. He had to rub his joints frequently, trying to get the pain to leave long enough for him to accomplish his little mission.

Finally, he arrived at the castle’s outer walls. He stopped near the arch. There were Molgs everywhere. Since when had the Lorkon employed Molgs to guard their castle? And how would Eachan get in without them knowing?