On the wall’s opposite side, light blinds me and I am forced to shade my eyes until they, once again, adjust. After a few blinks I scan the scene. Hundreds of Mine Fairies bob in the air, their natural light flickering on and off and off and on, making them appear and disappear again. The sight stirs something in the back of my brain, but I ignore it. Just ahead lies a crystal-clear pool and at the pool’s center a maple tree, the leaves in vibrant hues of pink, orange, and green.
I tread with care, craning my neck. A vertical tunnel above the tree goes on for miles. We must be in the mountain’s core. I’ve heard stories of Fairy Fountains. They’re said to be Thresholds, though I’ve no idea where this one might lead.
And if the Fairy Fountains are real, what else, or who else, might be?
I skirt the pool to find Gage standing on the other side. A beautiful woman with white-blonde hair and porcelain skin unties his restraints. She wears an airy gown the shade of onyx. When she turns toward me her pleasant smile does nothing to mask the menacing intent behind her eyes. “Why, Joshua David. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever grace me with your presence.”
I stop a few paces away, keeping my weapon hand ready. “I have come to make a trade, Isabeau. The life of your servant”—I jerk my chin toward Gage—“for one of your objects.”
“I’m not her servant. We’re equals.” Gage growls the rebuttal, but the way he stands behind Isabeau, rather than beside her, lets on he’s either inferior or afraid.
“Hush now, Jonathan.” When she moves it’s like a dance, graceful, yes, but more akin to a tiger on the prowl. “And I’d much rather you refer to them as artifacts, David. Each one took great effort to acquire, you see.” She lifts two fingers, positioning them like a perch.
“Fine then.” My neck pulses. Enough with the niceties.
“What is it you seek?” A Fairy flits over and lands on her fingers.
“A bottle made of mirrorglass.”
“You get right to the point, don’t you? That is a rare item indeed.” She strokes the Fairy’s wings. The Fairy titters. “As providence would have it, I do possess such an item. However, it comes at a price. Are you willing to pay?” She lifts the Fairy to her lips as if she might kiss it, but instead she snaps her mouth over the Fairy and swallows it whole.
I try to hide my revulsion. If I wasn’t aware Isabeau is a monster, I most certainly would be now. “What more do you want? I’ve delivered your henchman.”
“Three gifts.” She dabs the corners of her mouth with the hem of her sleeve. “I have Jonathan returned, yes. This fulfills gift number one. For your second offering, I desire something only you are able to provide.”
Should’ve known. My hands fist. “How much?”
“Only a small vial’s worth.”
“Done.” My Ever blood is useless at the moment anyway, but she doesn’t need to know this. Still, when did my life turn into one of trades and barters? My days are comprised of running from one place to another, extracting information. At least with Nathaniel I wasn’t required to pay a price, and all Rafaj wanted was my truth. But not everyone is so generous.
Isabeau snaps her fingers, and in an instant Gage exits through a wall of vines behind her. When he returns he brandishes a small syringe.
Not her servant, my sword. Servant is exactly what he is.
Teeth and muscles clenched, I offer my arm and he draws my blood. He then injects it into a small bottle, corks it, and shuffles away once more.
“Excellent.” Isabeau’s eyes sparkle. “Now, for your third and final contribution.”
I bristle. “I’ve given you your man and my blood.” Not that it will do her much good. “What else could you possibly want?”
“Only one thing more.” She lifts her dress and dips a toe in the pool.
This ought to be good. I nod. “Go on.”
“You will be headed to the Fourth, where my dear old friend Countess Ambrose resides. She has something of mine. Something I would like returned. She will not part with it easily, I am sure, so you will have to steal it.”
My mouth turns down. Steal? I suppose I’ve proven there is nothing I won’t do for El, and that includes employing unconventional methods. “What is it?”
“A rose.”
“You want me to steal . . . ? I am afraid I don’t follow.”
“A rose,” she repeats. “It is mine and I want it back.”
I shrug. Can’t be too difficult to acquire, though my gut tells me there’s more to this “rose” than will meet the eye. Still, what’s the harm? “Agreed.”
“Superb.” She wades into the water, dress pooling around her like black tar. Then she vanishes, just as she did at the coronation, leaving the dress floating in her wake.
Where did she—?
“Follow me,” a tinkling voice says.
I look down. There, tiptoeing on the water before me, is the most beautiful Fairy I’ve ever beheld. She wears a crown laced with jewels, and her wings glow a brilliant shade of red. She dives and I go in after her.
So this is her third Mask form. This is how she seemed to disappear at the coronation. How the supposedly invisible attackers—her servants, the Mine Fairies—shot at the guests out of sight. No wonder Isabeau expends all her efforts to keep it a secret.
Isabeau isn’t a Mask, the Calling is simply her cover. A way to deter everyone from knowing her true identity.
The Fairy Queen.
TWENTY-EIGHT
A Talent That I Always Have Possessed
Day three aboard the Seven Seas and I’ve been ill the entire time. Ugh. I’m so sick of puking. Literally. Suck it up, El. Don’t let them see your weakness.
To get my mind off my stomach, I peruse Dimitri’s account. A bucket waits on standby, hidden behind the crate where I sit. I’m supposed to be on deck swab duty, but I had to sneak away. Ky will cover for me. He knows our mission to end the Void is more important than a clean deck.
Now where did I leave off? Oh yes. Here.
First Day, First Month, Tenth Year of Count VonKemp
I have been at sea for months but have yet to discover what I seek. I once held out hope my faith in true love might be restored, but alas, the voyage may be futile . . .
I roll my neck. What time is it? I glance out the porthole. Clouds for miles and miles. We’re sailing to the nearest Threshold leading to the Fourth. Ky thinks this Countess Ambrose person retains information vital to our mission. The captain has remained true to his word and hasn’t tried to sway me since he played my song the other night. This doesn’t make much difference though. Turns out Ky just being Ky is enough trouble of its own.
I chew my thumbnail. Moving on . . .
I have visited the Second and Third Reflections but have uncovered nothing of consequence. Now I venture through the Fourth on my way to the Fifth. Perhaps it is in the more distant Reflections I will find my gem. I must dive deep if I ever hope to rise . . .
There it is. That saying. The one etched into the bell. I knew it seemed familiar. Did my Scrib memory pick up on the phrase when I skimmed these pages at first glance?
I turn the book upside down to save my place and mull over Dimitri’s words. So far I haven’t learned anything new about the Kiss of Infinity. I could skip through his entries, but what good would it do to begin a story in the middle? No, to get the whole picture I have to go in order.