Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3) (24 page)

“Don’t worry. I’ll fix everything,” Valera whispered.

Her mother smiled and brushed a piece of hair out of Valera’s face. “I surrender myself to Danu’s majestic will”

Valera sighed, “I’m sorry, Mother. This is all my fault.”

Victoria partially snapped out of her stupor. “Do you think Danu will come visit with us? I should clean up.” Victoria stood up and walked around the room tidying up. “Come now, Valera, we must look our best for Danu.”

Valera took her mother’s arm. “It’s late. I don’t think she’ll be coming tonight. Why don’t you get some rest?”

She led her mom to the bed where Vivi snored. Her mother sat on the edge and let Valera remove her shoes. Valera gently pushed her mother to lay down and covered her up.

“Of course, you’re right. I want to look my best,” Victoria yawned.

“Yes, you want to look your best.”

Valera kissed her mother on the forehead, and the woman drifted off into a deep sleep. Valera stayed with her, watching over her family until she too fell asleep. She jumped when a hand touched her shoulder.

“It’s just me,” her brother whispered. “How are they doing?”

Valera shrugged. “Under Danu’s spell, like everyone else. I’m sorry, Victor. This should never have happened.”

He squeezed her arm. “The truth needed to come out. Aetherians have been living in a lie for centuries. We’ve been deluded, thinking we were somehow more evolved than humans.”

He shook his head and closed his eyes. Valera hugged him. Her twin had always been there for her, and in return, she was ruining his life. She sobbed. He stroked her hair and patted her back.

*

Valera woke the next morning on the foot of the bed. Her mother and Vivi were already gone. She stretched out the kinks in her muscles. She was still wearing the silver dress. Although she’d slept in the gown, the fabric remained perfect. She was growing tired of perfection. If she could get away with it, she’d burn the dress to ash. She’d burn the whole palace down. Instead, she straightened her hair and went to the throne room.

Danu was in her chair with Vivi on her lap. She patted Vivi’s head as if she were a prized poodle. Her mother was on her knees next to Theo’s parents and Dr. Lawless. Theo emerged beside Valera and growled.

“I hate seeing my parents like that.”

“Danu’s proving a point. We’re at her mercy,” Valera sighed.

Julia grabbed both their arms. “Just play along… for now.”

The three of them swept into the room and bowed in front of Danu. The woman grinned and waved her hands toward their miniature thrones.

“Sit,” Danu commanded.

They did. The girls spent the day watching their families grovel and fetch. Danu lavished Vivi with gifts, endearing the girl to her. Each minute made Valera more anxious for the time when she could fight back. She couldn’t wait to free her sister, but worried about the bond she was forming with the evil witch.

“Victoria, I should like to keep this child as my own.”

Vivi giggled.

“Mother of all Aether…” Victoria strained against saying the words. “I surrender… myself to your… majestic will.”

Valera smiled. Her mother was stronger than she’d ever thought. Theo’s parents also seemed to fight the spell. Her mother cringed at the mantra every time she heard it. Danu scowled at Victoria and waved a hand over her head. Once again, Victoria was a good little puppet. Danu’s illusion of beauty fluctuated. Valera saw dark circles under her eyes, and fine wrinkles creased her forehead. She stood and sat Vivi on the throne.

“Am I the queen, now?” Vivi squealed.

“Yes, child. You are queen… for now. I should like to rest.” Danu glared at the girls. “Keep watch over the palace, daughters.”

Although she looked at the girls, Valera knew she was speaking to her guards and courtesans. Danu left the room with Lawless on her heels. A thick haze fell over the palace. It was the same spell she’d used before to make them sleep. This time, Valera knew Danu’s tricks. She held aether around herself and Gideon, forming a protective barrier against Danu’s influence. Theo and Julia did the same over Eli and Victor. The courtesans dropped where they stood, falling into a deep sleep. Valera kissed her mother’s cheek goodbye and picked up her sleeping sister.

“Remember to ask for help. Return here before morning,” Julia said before teleporting away with Theo.

Gideon kissed Valera and stepped away. Valera formed the image of Aetherland in her mind, pushing away all worries about leaving Gideon and her family behind. The world seemed to blast by her. When she opened her eyes, she stood in the center of four tapestries inside her home. Danu’s smiling face looked down at her from the cloth. The image was a betrayal.

With a single look, Valera lit the bottom of the tapestry on fire. She watched the fibers fizzle and burn until Danu’s face was nothing but a blackened string. She extinguished the fire and went upstairs and laid Vivi in her bed.

“What… are you doing here?” Joe yawned behind her.

“You’re back!” Valera hugged him.

“Yeah, Parmelia and Nessie’s crew came for us after we didn’t return. Turns out, the Blowfish’s tracker box was still intact. Enough about that though. We’ve been worried sick about you girls.”

There was a shuffle behind him, and a brunette with severe bed head popped up behind him. She pushed Joe aside and blinked through her glasses.

“Valera!” Theo’s Auntie Grace squealed. “Is Theo with you?”

“No, she went to Pacifica to ask the Elders for help. We’re in trouble.”

“Go get Nessie and meet us in the library,” Joe said.

Valera went to Nessie’s room.

“Nessie? Are you in here?”

The room was quiet. The bed made. No doubt, Nessie was sleeping on
the Cornelius
or at the village pub. Nessie would have to be informed later. Valera didn’t have time to track her down. She waited for Joe in the library, pacing back and forth. CHAD-4’s gears whirred as it came into the room. He bowed. Valera didn’t realize how much she had missed the mechanical butler. She hugged his cold metal body.

“Mmmm…mistress Valera, how may I serve you?”

Valera shook her head. His cold automaton voice reminded her of her mother’s blind devotion to Danu. Being back in the mansion, she felt foolish for ever believing it was a prison. Danu’s palace was the real prison.

“CHAD-4, I need you to stay with Vivi in her room. Watch over her, and don’t let anyone near her. Keep her safe,” Valera said.

CHAD-4 bowed and left the room. He wasn’t built to fight, but knowing he was with Vivi brought a little comfort. Valera crumpled to the floor.

“Valera, is that you?” Nessie stumbled into the room.

Valera’s aunt fell to the ground in front of her and grabbed her shoulders. The strong odor of ale and sweat made Valera’s stomach turn, but she held onto her aunt. Nessie’s short, cropped red hair stuck out in every direction. She missed Nessie’s boisterous attitude and terrible sense of humor.

“Valera, I thought… I thought you girls were dead… Am I dreaming?” She pinched herself in the arm and yelped. “You’re here… you’re really here,” she slurred. She pulled away, tearing up. “I have some bad news. Victoria and Vivi are missing. I’ve looked for them everywhere, but they just disappeared overnight. Poof!”

“Danu kidnapped them. Mother’s in Subterria, but I brought Vivi home.”

Nessie blinked until the information worked its way past her inebriation. First, she smiled. Then, she growled.

“Danu’s ass, I should have known… only… I don’t understand. What would a goddess want with our family?”

“Oh, Nessie. Everything is so messed up,” Valera blurted. “Danu’s no goddess. She’s evil. She’s holding our family hostage to keep Theo, Julia, and me in line. We have to do something, and soon. Before she has the world at her feet.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you came home,” Auntie Grace said, marching into the room with Joe and Theo’s Uncle Falen.

“It’s good to see you again, Valera,” Falen said.

“Wow, you look much better than the last time I saw you. Looks like your stint in the Order of the Azure Serpent’s dungeons didn’t leave any permanent scars.” Valera smiled. Then, she turned serious. “I can’t stay for long. I have to get back before she realizes I’m gone.”

“You can’t go back. Let Joe and the others take care of it,” Grace said.

“You don’t understand. I have to go, but I do need your help. You have to gather as many people as you can. When the time comes, we’ll find a way to fix everything. We need you to be ready with an army.”

“An army?” Auntie Grace gasped.

“Danu’s taken over Subterria. Some people are faithful to her. Some people she forces to be faithful, but it will take an army to beat her.” The clock on the wall chimed three times. Valera’s time was running out. “I have to leave. Just please get everyone you can… and stay away from Subterria until we signal you. It’s not safe. Grace, please take care of my sister.”

Valera stood up and prepared to travel. Nessie grabbed her arm.

“Wait! Bring Joe and Falen with you.” Nessie turned to the two men. “Keep hidden, but watch over the girls.”

Her aunt kissed her forehead. Valera took the hands of both men and pictured her room in Danu’s prison. Before she teleported out, she heard Nessie’s voice shouting to her.

“We’ll get you an army, Valera. I promise.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Theo

Shortly after Valera blinked out of existence, Theo and Julia teleported to Pacifica City. They arrived directly within the council chambers, where Parmelia and the scholars poured over stacks of ancient books. The girls’ sudden appearance in the room sent everyone into a panic. The scholars scattered like insects in the girls’ presence. 

“You’re already back!” Parmelia hugged Julia.

Theo cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt. Danu’s taken our family, Parmelia. We’re out of time.”

“I’m sorry, child.” Parmelia reached out to Theo. “We think we may have found something useful.”

They gathered around a table where old yellow-paged books were open. Parmelia scanned her finger over a passage and smiled.

“I believe we found a counter spell to Danu’s persuasion. This book was copied from Maera’s journal. Read this passage.” She pointed to a paragraph of gibberish.

Theo couldn’t even begin to process the language. Julia smiled and stepped in.

“I learned old Irish at the Academy. You really should have gone to the Academy. Aside from the uncaring staff, the dreadful living conditions, and the constant life and death battle for control, it was a great place to go to school.” Julia quipped, and then read the passage. “De réir an cumhacht ag an Tríonóide, beidh thoghairm Danu bheith adh. Roughly translated, it says ‘By the power of the Trinity, Danu’s summons be silenced.”

“Well okay then. How does it work?” Theo asked.

Parmelia turned a few pages back and read, “Only together were we able to protect the people from Danu’s persuasion. By laying hands on the person and speaking the words, they were deaf to her summons. However, once under her spell, the victims were immune to the counter spell until Danu was entombed.”

“So there’s nothing we can do for my mom and dad?”

“Not until Danu is defeated,” Julia responded.

“And how are we supposed to do that?” Theo snarked back.

Parmelia put her hand on Theo’s shoulder and squeezed. “I know this is hard, but you three must stand together. I had something made for each of you.”

She waved to one of the scholars. He left the room and returned a minute later with three ring boxes and a large bundle wrapped in cloth. Parmelia opened one of the boxes and held it up to Theo. A silver ring with a blue stone shimmered inside.

“It’s a rare aether stone. It will help you absorb and control aether, which might give you an edge over Danu.”

Theo slipped it onto her finger and felt the sweet jolt of aether flow through her. She removed it, put it back in the box, then tucked the box into her pocket.

“There’s one more thing I need to give you. I picked these up when we found Nessie and the others at the tomb.” Parmelia unwrapped the cloth and revealed the three relics of Danu and the Trinity Key.

Theo grinned. “You have them! They were useless around Danu.”

“Not if you can bind her powers long enough to use them. With the rings, you may be able to weaken her…”

Theo felt something slither into her mind. She tried to push it away, but the persistent tugging didn’t relent. Danu was waking. Julia’s eyes widened. She felt it too. Theo grabbed the relics and the rings.

“We have to go, now!” Theo screeched.

She closed her eyes and didn’t wait to say goodbye. Within seconds, she was back in the room at the palace. Valera, Falen, and Joe were waiting. Julia appeared beside her.

Daughters, come to me…

Inside her head, she heard Danu calling. Theo tried to sound tired as if she had just woken up.

Yes, Mother. I’m awake, but so tired.

Ah, Theo, my child. Bring your sisters to the throne room. I’ve something to show you.

“Uncle Falen, Joe,” Theo hugged them both. “It’s not safe here.”

“We’ll stay hidden,” Joe rumbled.

“Theo, we should test Parmelia’s spell on them,” Julia said. “Valera, we’ll need your help too.”

Theo nodded and put her hand on Joe’s shoulder. Julia put her hand on his back. Valera touched his chest.

“Repeat after me,” Julia said. “De réir an cumhacht ag an Tríonóide, beidh thoghairm Danu bheith adh.”

Theo and Valera repeated every word, although a bit awkwardly. They said it three times over, and then did the same to Falen.

“Did it work?” Falen asked.

“I don’t know. Nothing really happened…” Julia said. “Do you feel any different?”

“Not really.”

Daughters, come…

“We have to go,” Valera yipped.

They left the men behind, hoping that their spell worked. Theo’s hands shook. She could feel Danu’s anger building, and she worried about her family and Victor.

“Valera, have you seen the boys?” She asked.

“No, they were gone when I got back.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Julia

Julia was the first one to enter the throne room. The instant she saw Danu’s frown, she knew they were in trouble. Danu’s face twisted from a dark scowl into a fake smile. The glint of red in her eye sent ice through Julia’s veins. Dr. Lawless sat at her side, giggling like a fool. Danu hissed at him, and he stopped. Julia looked around for the boys, but didn’t see them or Theo’s parents anywhere.

“Come my daughters, I’ve been waiting for you,” Danu’s singsong voice trilled.

The girls walked slowly to her throne. The courtesans chittered behind their hands. A sense of anticipation blanketed the room. Julia followed Theo’s lead, trying to appear half-asleep. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“Good morning, Mother. What time is it? It feels so early.”

“Poor, child. You look as if you hadn’t slept at all.”

Dr. Lawless erupted in laughter. He rocked back and forth on his heels until Danu glared at him. He threw his hands over his mouth, but his eyes lit up in glee. The crowd tittered. Danu snapped her fingers and two of her guards disappeared.

“I, uh, had bad dreams,” Julia stammered.

Danu’s smile faded. Her illusion slipped, revealing blackened eyes and sharp teeth. Julia shuddered. Danu knew. Every part of Julia told her to run, but she stood with Theo and Valera.

“I grow tired of this charade.” Danu whispered. Her court held their breath. “Did you not think I would discover your treachery? I’ve given you everything, and yet, you turn against me?” Danu screamed.

Her two guards dragged a battered Professor Scrod into the room. The woman whimpered in agony and fell onto the ground in front of Danu’s throne. Her clothes were stained with blood and torn. Her face looked as if someone had used a bat on her. Dr. Lawless poked at her like a child poking a dead animal.

“Not so special now are you,
Professor
?” He sang.

She curled into the fetal position and groaned. Danu’s eyes blazed. She made a fist and squeezed. Professor Scrod shrieked and writhed on the floor. Danu’s gaze stayed on the three girls. Julia heard Valera crying next to her. Theo covered her eyes.

“Stop it,” Julia yelled.

“Traitors don’t deserve mercy.” Danu hissed.

With a final tightening of her fingers, Professor Scrod’s body contorted and cracked. Every bone in the woman’s body seemed out of joint. Her breath shuttered and stopped. Her lifeless eyes fixed on Julia. Dr. Lawless cackled. Angry, Julia lashed out at him with a blast of ice. One of the shards caught him in the shoulder, slicing through flesh and bone. Lawless held his shoulder and crumpled.

Danu’s anger rattled the palace. “How dare you use aether against me!”

She threw a hand out to Julia, and a searing pain flamed through Julia’s body. Julia fell to her knees. Valera dropped to the ground next to Julia and tried to help her. Instead, she got a jolt of whatever it was Danu was doing and shrieked. Danu released control over both of them and Julia’s pain ebbed. Stepping down from her throne, the sorceress bent over, placed a finger under Julia’s chin, and kissed her forehead.

“I don’t want to punish you. You are my beloved daughters, but you must learn. I will not stand deception. Know that you’ve forced my hand.”

She waved to someone behind her. Eli, Gideon, and Victor walked out from behind the throne and knelt where Lawless had been. In unison, they bowed to Danu. Julia’s heart stopped. She crawled over to Eli. He wouldn’t look in her eyes. Transfixed on Danu, he smiled.

“I live to serve you, my goddess.”

“Eli, wake up. It’s me, Julia.”

He ignored her and waited for his mistress’s command. Danu sat on her throne and grinned. She seemed to delight in the girls’ pain. Julia wanted to lash out again, but held herself back. She returned to her position beside Theo and Valera. Her action seemed to bolster Danu’s joy and ego.

“Traitors deserve no mercy.” Danu hissed. “But I’m a benevolent mother. Take my daughters to the dungeon, so that they may reflect on their folly.”

Eli stood and grabbed Julia’s shoulders. His fingers dug into her flesh. She tried to jerk out of his grasp, but he crushed her arms. She couldn’t use her power on him without hurting him. She glared at Danu, whose smug grin grew. Eli pushed Julia toward the doors. The courtesans cheered. She stumbled down the stairs and past the cells filled with the dying forsaken. The girls were taken to an area in the furthest, deepest part of the palace. They were locked in three separate rooms without light, without food, and without comfort. The last thing Julia saw was the shadow of Eli’s smirkless face.

She’d been in a place like this before. She could do it again. This didn’t affect her. She was strong. A foul smell filled the room, and Julia dropped to the cold hard ground. Her lungs burned in her chest. She scrambled to find aether, but couldn’t grasp it. It was as if the room were devoid of air. Then, somewhere in the distance she heard her father’s voice.

“Julia, get up. Stop acting like a child,” Lazarus shouted at her.

“You’re dead… Theo…” Julia couldn’t think. Theo? Theo who?

Lazarus yelled, “What did you say to me?”

“Nothing Father,” Julia warbled.

Her inside curdled. He wouldn’t tolerate laziness or childishness. She stood up and saw her father’s imposing form walking toward her. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw him. She looked around the room. The dark cell was gone. She was in the Subterrian Order of the Azure Serpent Headquarters. She tried to remember why she was here. She looked down at her clothes and pulled at the blue academy uniform. This wasn’t right. She remembered wearing different clothes in a different place.

“I’m not pleased with the reports I’ve been getting from your instructors. I expect better from you,” Lazarus ranted.

She wasn’t prepared for the pain of his hand striking her face. Her cheek stung. Taking a few steps away from him, she held in tears. He wouldn’t tolerate tears.

“I’m sorry, Father. I tried my best,” she said, standing at attention.

“You’re best isn’t good enough.”

His words struck her seconds before his fist. She doubled over. A quiet whisper in the back of her mind told her this wasn’t right, but she couldn’t get free. She was afraid. He didn’t tolerate fear. She recovered and put her arms at her sides. Her stomach churned. She swallowed the pain.