Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): (8 page)

T
REES, MOUNTAINS, AND
lakes sped by in a blur of color as Drake, Nightwing, Gertie, and Lyra tumbled from the portal. The chain of magic streaked across the sky like a floating river of light, pulling them forward at blinding speed.

“Something is attacking my magic!”
Dreamer howled.

“Dreamer!” Adriane tore her magic away from the rope to help her packmate.

Drake roared as the chain buckled in a flurry of sparks.

Tasha clung to Gertie as the bat screeched in agony. “We’re only through the third portal!”

In the distance, the fourth portal swirled into sight.

Ozzie hung on frantically as Lyra spiraled out of control, sharp pain searing through her.

Kara wrenched her magic from the rope and gave it to her bonded.

“Hold that rope together!” Zach yelled, trying to hold Drake steady.

“What’s wrong with the animals?” Lorren shouted over Nightwing’s screeches.

“What did you do?” Kara yelled at Adriane.

“Me? What did
you
do?” the warrior demanded.

“Their magic is being ripped apart!” Tasha clung to Gertie’s saddle with one hand, tweaking her magic meter with the other. “It’s coming from Emily!”

The group streaked across the sky, trailing magic like a comet.

“I thought you said her magic was weak,” Adriane called to Tasha.

“Something’s happened!” Tasha shouted back. “It’s been supercharged!”

“Agagagagagag,” Ozzie’s clenched teeth chattered as he tried to filter the thunderous power of Emily’s magic. “She needs our help!”

“Our only shot is to reach Emily through her jewel!” Tasha shouted.

“I’ve still got her!” Ozzie called, arms wrapped tight around Lyra’s neck.

“Channel your magic through the ferret stone!” Tasha instructed.

“I’ve got it!” Fiery unicorn power streamed from Kara’s jewel.

“I can reach her faster!” Silvery magic sprang from Adriane’s gem.

“I know what I’m doing!” Kara’s jewel flared with pink and red sparks as she struggled against the wolf magic.

“So do I!” Adriane’s jewel radiated rings of silver.

Glowing beams of unicorn and wolf magic zapped into Ozzie’s gem.

“g … a … h.”

The ferret stone blazed as wolf and unicorn power collided with explosive force. Magic sizzled over the rope, ripping it to shreds.

Roaring in pain, Drake plummeted to the ground.

Tasha and Gertie tumbled head over ear.

Nightwing fell from the sky, Lorren and Kara hanging on.

Propelled by the blast of magic, Ozzie and Lyra careened into the fourth portal.

“Ahhhh!”

T
HE AGONIZED SCREAM
tore through Emily as she burst into the operating room. The Stonehill Animal Hospital tilted at odd angles as the large creature thrashed on the table.

In shaky slow motion, a terrifying image came into focus. Lyra lay before her, the cat’s beautiful orange fur ravaged with deep burns.

“No!” Emily recoiled from the horrible sight.

That had been the first contact Emily had ever made with a magical animal—a discovery that should have been wondrous and joyful.

As if in a dream, Emily saw herself freeze, unable to help the injured cat.

I’m sorry, she wanted to scream! Lyra’s mangled body shimmered as the hospital melted into dizzying light—

Flash!

—the night sky blazed with magic. Lights illuminated the trees surrounding the portal field in Ravenswood. Heart pounding, clothes damp with sweat, Emily leaned over the purple bear-like creature lying on the grass. His weakened body was translucent, ripped apart by glowing Black Fire.

“Phel.” Emily could hardly breathe. The gentle fairy creature had taught her about healing. Now he needed her. Desperately she tried to summon her magic—but it wouldn’t come. She couldn’t heal him. Her worst nightmares had come to life, a chilling reminder of her helplessness and failure—

Flash!

—bright sun cut through the trees, tilting the world upside down. Gasping for breath, Emily hit the bottom of the muddy incline. An injured owl lay in the ditch: Ariel! The snow owl’s exquisite feathers were burned beyond recognition.

Emily knew she should do something. But in her secret heart of hearts, she wanted to run away.

Was she reliving these awful memories, or was something happening to her now? It didn’t matter. Touching the core of her magic was like exposing a raw nerve. It was agonizing, unbearable pain—

Flash!

—a white unicorn appeared, her magnificent horn severed. Confusion, shame, and fear hit Emily like she was seeing Lorelei for the first time. The beautiful unicorn had been injured, alone, without her magic, without her friends.

Yet sensing Emily’s need, the unicorn gifted her with a sweet melody, a healing song of friendship and love—the song she and Emily had made their own.

Frantic, Emily reached for the unicorn, allowing the bond to envelop her. The magic steadied, and she focused on the thousands of animals trapped in her web.

Suddenly, soothing cool greens and blues swept over her. It felt familiar and calming. It was her rainbow stone.

The screams of the animals fell away one by one—freed from her twisted web of magic. The song of Lorelei rang out, and it filled Emily with the truth.

Emily
had
healed Lorelei, just as she had healed the others. They were healthy and whole. But their pain was forever lodged in her heart, a dark fear that uncoiled each time she had to use her power. It was her burden, her job to keep everyone strong. But who was supposed to heal her?

“Em-il-ee,”
a voice beckoned.

“Indi?”

The sea dragon sat before her. Wide blue eyes seemed to fill with understanding. For the first time, she felt something solid and real coming from the shapeshifter. He flashed through dozens of animals, transforming in a blur of magic. Indi was tapping into her rainbow stone, trying to find the perfect animal. He was trying to bond with her. Dream-like, the creature that was Indi grew taller, shimmering, until the most beautiful unicorn she had ever seen was standing in front of her.

His silky coat shone purple, swirling like sunset skies. His horn blazed like a brilliant rainbow, a shining beacon guiding her from the dark places of her heart. It was magic only a true bonded animal could give.

“Emilee… ”

“Emily! Wake up!”

The healer came to herself with a start. Her head ached from the terrible strain of using so much magic. “Indi?”

“No, it’s me, Marlin!” His voice sounded far away, but when she turned her head, he was standing right there. “Hurry, you have to see this!”

“What happened?” Why did she feel so drained, like she’d just run a marathon?

“You were in some kind of trance.” Marlin brushed Emily’s hair out of her face, looking deep into her eyes.

“Trance… ” Emily scrambled to her feet. “Where’s Miranda?”

“Who?”

“The woman who came on board with us!”

Marlin frowned. “What are you talking about? There was no one else with us.”

Had it all been a dream? It’d seemed so real. All those animals crying out because her magic hurt them, and then Indi, her bonded, saving her. Emily hugged herself, suddenly cold.

“I don’t know how you did it, but you healed it, him, whatever.” Marlin pointed across the deck.

An amazing purple unicorn colt pranced happily about the deck. His horn sparkled with rainbow magic—her healing jewel!

“Indi?”

“Look at me!”
Indi the unicorn exclaimed, kicking up his glittering hooves.

Emily stared in wonder at the transformed shapeshifter. Instantly she felt the strong connection, unlike anything she had experienced before. It was as if a part of her danced within the creature. It had finally happened—she had bonded with a magical animal!

“Clamdoodle!” Cribby sputtered, frantically spinning the ship’s wheel. “Ya better get yer barnacles over here!”

Indi trotted across the deck, his horn swirling blues and greens.

Emily gazed out over the ocean, appalled.

The water was littered with bodies.

“The sea beasties are belly up!” Cribby pointed to the limply floating creatures.

Fear clamped around Emily’s heart like a vise.

“Are they all dead?” Marlin asked in horror.

She tentatively reached out, sweeping her magic over the waters. Red auras bloomed like a sea of blood. Their sickness was much worse. Had she done this?

“They’re not dead,” Emily declared. “But they’re so weak.”

Indi leaned his head over her shoulder, concerned and protective.

“Holy mackerel!” Cribby yelled.

“Where?” Marlin scanned the ocean.

“Over there!”

Black fins sliced through the water. Thrashing tails propelled sleek beasts toward the helpless animals.

“Sea wolves!” Marlin exclaimed.

A huge shark-like creature lunged to the surface, jaws closing around a squirming dolphin.

“They’re preying on the weakest animals.” Emily felt sick to her stomach.

In a whirl of motion, several wolves were suddenly knocked backward by a large green and purple creature.

“Oh, no!” Marlin cried.

Niva burst through the water, leaping into the air. She roared loudly, shaking the sails and rattling the rigging.

“Your sea dragon!” Emily exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

Wolf heads, slick with matted fur, broke to the surface. The sea wolf pack headed straight toward Niva!

“She must have followed us from Port Tuga! Emily, do something!” Marlin implored. “She’s too weak to get away!”

Emily swung her wrist up automatically, forgetting for a second that her jewel was gone. Bright patterns of magic shifted before her eyes. Momentarily, she panicked. What if her magic only made it worse?

“I… can’t.” She wrenched her power back from the chaos.

The wolves tightened their circle, snapping razor teeth as the weak sea dragon bravely tried to defend herself.

The glint of a knife caught Emily’s eye. Marlin was climbing out on the railing.

“Marlin!” Emily screamed.

“Niva!” Marlin dove into the water between his sea dragon and the snarling sea wolves. Emily looked on in horror as the merprince disappeared amid black fins and gleaming teeth.

“M
ARLIN!” EMILY SCREAMED
, frantically searching the thrashing waters. Magic surged inside her, struggling to break free. She shoved it aside, terrified of its power.

And then the merboy’s head surfaced amid the pack, followed by his dagger, slashing furiously.

“Stay away from my sea dragon!” Marlin smacked a sea wolf on its wide gray snout.

“Arrr! They’re gonna eat the merboy!” Cribby hopped from foot to foot.

Emily watched helplessly as the sea wolves bore down on Marlin and Niva. There was no way the merboy could fight off so many. She had to do something.

“I help.”
Indi’s wide eyes caught Emily’s gaze.

Instantly, the magic of her healing jewel soothed her, focused her thoughts. Maybe she could use her magic after all—with Indi.

“Okay. Keep the sea wolves away from Marlin,” she instructed, concentrating on the pulsing center of their magic, hers and Indi’s.

The unicorn nodded, guiding their magic over the water in a bright wave. Emily’s breath caught as a fierce bolt suddenly blazed from Indi’s horn. Water exploded as magic tore across the ocean like a rocket out of control.

“Stop!” With all of her will, she wrenched the magic back.

Amid the frightened animals, several sea wolves floated, their lifeless bodies twisted in unnatural angles.

“No,” Emily breathed. She had only meant to repel the sea wolves, not kill them. She turned wide eyes to the unicorn, horrified. “What did you do?”

“I’m magic animal now.”
Indi shrank back, head lowered in shame.

“Come on, lad!” Cribby gave Marlin a hand as he scrambled back onto the boat.

“Thanks.” The merprince slicked his wet hair back. “Emily, are you okay?”

Emily’s eyes were locked on the dead sea wolves, tears running down her cheeks. All she had ever wanted was to use magic with a bonded animal. Now look what she had done. “He… I killed them.”

“Emily,” Marlin said softly.

“I—I just wanted the sea wolves to go away,” she stammered. Her whole body shook. What if her magic had killed the entire pack? They were only acting on instinct, like they were supposed to.

“There was nothing else you could have done. Besides, the sea wolves would have eaten Niva.”

“Leave me alone.” She walked to the stern and slumped against the railing, head in her hands.

The rising sun gilded the water, covering the world in warm gold.

Shyly, Indi approached her from the shadows. The creature’s bright aura faded as he sensed her disappointment.

“
I do bad?”

Emily looked into his deep indigo eyes, and her anger fell away. Somehow he had used her magic and transformed himself into a unicorn, an animal she loved deeply. He had drawn her out of her trance and its dark visions, had brought her back to herself. But he wasn’t really a unicorn. He was just in the shape of a unicorn. He had no time to learn, to grow. How was he supposed to know how to use their magic? Kara and Adriane had spent months working with their bonded animals, learning together.

“I didn’t know your magic was so strong.” She brushed the forelock from Indi’s face. “Who are you, really?”

Big blue eyes watched her intently as his magic aura bloomed in bright colors.
“I’m your bonded. Am I pretty enough?”

“Yes, you are. Beautiful.”

“Friends forever!”
Indi spun around, tapping his hooves, horn alight with sparkles.

“We killed those sea wolves and we could have killed many more. That’s not what we are meant to do.”

Indi nodded quickly.

“We’re healers. We help,” she explained gently.

“Can I stay with you?”
Indi asked anxiously.

Emily smiled. “I guess we’re stuck with each other.”

Indi nuzzled Emily.
“Stuck.”

“But don’t use magic unless I say so.”

Indi danced across the deck, knocking Cribby over.
“I beautiful unicorn!”

“I can see that, ya swarmy sea nut!”

“Are you all right?” Marlin asked, coming to sit beside her.

Emily nodded, leaning against a coil of rope.

For a while, the only sounds were the creak of the boat’s timbers and the slap of the ocean’s waves against its hull. Marlin got up and leaned over the side of the boat, staring into the ocean. “Niva’s beneath us,” he said after a while. “She says you saved her life and the others’, too.”

Emily joined Marlin at the railing. Looking down, she saw a dark shape moving through the water. “You can really hear what she’s thinking?”

“Maybe.” Marlin’s response was measured, but Emily could see the excitement sparking in his eyes.

“I thought you didn’t have any magic,” she whispered.

“I’m not a dragon rider.” Marlin ran a hand through his hair. “Why did Niva rescue me?”

“I don’t know. Some humans and animals are just meant to bond.”

Marlin crossed his arms and glared at the horizon. Giant green eyes lifted from the waves. Emily could swear the dragon wagged her tail.

She caught an image of Marlin on the dragon’s back. “I think she wants you to ride her again,” Emily said, glancing at the hopeful dragon.

Marlin recoiled like he’d been stung by a jellyfish. “No way!”

The dragon’s eyelids drooped in disappointment as she sank dejectedly into the ocean.

A look of regret crossed Marlin’s face.

“That was a very brave thing you did,” Emily told him.

“Yeah.”

“You risked yourself to save Niva. You saved me back at Port Tuga, and you rescued Indi. I think you’re in danger of becoming a real person.”

He turned to Emily, fear in his eyes. “What’s happened to me?”

Emily smiled. “You’ve bonded with Niva.”

“But that’s impossible!” Marlin wailed. “I’ve never bonded before.”

“That makes two of us,” Emily said, and sighed.

The sea dragon leaped up one last time, spraying the ship with water before vanishing back into the depths of the ocean.

“What should I do?” Marlin asked, suddenly worried.

“Have a little patience,” she counseled.

Marlin slid to the deck, his back to the railing. “She’s still sick.”

“Easy.” Emily knelt by his side. Beads of sweat dotted Marlin’s face. Using her new power, she looked closer. Dim spots of red glowed around the merprince.

“All this sun has made me dizzy,” Marlin said, frowning.

“Marlin…” Emily stammered. “You have the same sickness as the sea dragons.”

“Ridiculous. I’m as healthy as a rock lobster,” he scoffed. “Besides, I’m not magical.”

“I can see your magical aura.”

Marlin blushed a deep green. “Well then, fix me.”

“I… can’t, Marlin. I don’t know exactly how.”

The merboy sat for a minute, then asked, “You’re sure I have magic?”

Emily nodded. “I didn’t think I was magical, either, at first.”

“But I thought magic had pretty much vanished among our people, kept alive only by those stubborn dragon riders.”

“It’s not a curse, you know,” Emily reminded him. “Magic is a gift.”

“I don’t know what to think.”

“I think you really care,” she said quietly.

“Do not,” he muttered.

“You care so much, you’re terrified. But when it comes down to what really matters, you’d do anything for your friends. That’s what it’s like to have a real bonded animal.” She glanced at Indi, eating Cribby’s hat.

“That’s crazy.” Marlin looked away, his mouth forming a sullen pout. “No one likes me.”

“I do.” Emily smiled shyly. “And Niva loves you.”

“Truth is… I kinda like Niva,” he admitted.

“I know.”

The sun burned like a red ember as mist began billowing over the Flyer. Abruptly, the boat was shrouded by dense fog.

“Ack! This fog is thicker than me mum’s chowder!” Cribby lit a wrought-iron lantern hanging from the mast. The bright light shone through the mist, illuminating dark shapes ghosting in and out of fog.

“I can’t see a thing!” Marlin exclaimed.

“Do you know where we are?” Emily asked anxiously.

Cribby scratched his knobby head. “Of course I know where we are. We’re right here!” He pointed a stubby finger at the chart. “Surrounded by deep waters, as far from land as—”

With a loud groan, the Flyer ground to a halt.

“Flibber me giblets!”

“Stuck,”
Indi announced, peering over the side.

The Flyer was wedged between two gigantic rocks, held in a stone vise.

Emily’s breath caught. Broken masts, tattered sails, and pieces of wood littered the rocks like a junkyard. Skeletons lay sprawled across the rotting decks. They were trapped in a graveyard of lost ships.

“Hooweee,” Cribby whistled. “I gots a bad feeling aboot this.”

Heavy mist hung over the water, making it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of them.

Beside her, Indi’s horn pulsed in dark colors. Something was very wrong. Emily shivered as magic tingled around her.

“In an ocean of tears, we wait.”

From the gloom, a lonely, singsong voice floated as if the ocean itself called to her.

“Waiting, longing for home.”

Entranced by the achingly beautiful sound, homesickness washed over Emily. She suddenly missed Ozzie and her other friends terribly. How would they ever find her? She needed to go home.

“It’s the most beautiful ting I ever heard,” Cribby said, swaying back and forth, his eyes glassy as he stared into the rolling fog.

Another voice joined in the eerie melody, then another, building into an otherworldly chorus.

“Cribby, snap out of it!” Emily yelled.

Indi poked the elf captain in the rump.

“YeowZir!” The elf covered his ears, eyes wide with sudden fear. “Sirens of the deep! They’ll lure us in and drown us!”

“There is no today.”

“No tomorrow.”

“No place to go.”

Spectral voices swept around them like ghosts. They seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.

“What do we do?” Marlin asked.

“Every seafaring elf knows how to protect himself from the siren’s lure.” Cribby leaped to the foredeck and started hopping around like a jumping bean. “Get wig-jiggy with it!”

The sea elf danced and spun, belting out his best pirate chantey.

“Cribby?” Emily turned and gasped.

The sea elf was frozen like a statue. His mouth gaped like a fish, his eyes wide in terror.

“Marlin?”

Marlin stood stone still at the railing, spellbound.

Someone was using powerful magic on them. Emily knew exactly what kind: spellsinging!

“Stay with us forever.”

“It is time to come home.”

She had never felt so homesick. Eyes half closed, she let the sweet melody fill the unbearable emptiness growing inside. “Where are you?”

“Come closer,”
the voices sang.

Iridescent sparkles passed under the surface. Something was moving toward her.

Reds, greens, blues, and oranges dazzled her eyes as shimmering fish-like bodies slinked past the boat. Wide tails flipped to the surface and slapped the water, then disappeared.

“Come to us.”

Dreamily, Emily gazed into the water, cool mist brushing her face, washing away all her worries, all her cares.

The water was her element, her home. Emily wanted to be immersed in the eternal depths. “I want to go home,” she said, not knowing if she spoke aloud.

Slowly, she climbed over the railing. She saw her reflection distorted in the black water. Then she saw other eyes staring at her. A beautiful face gazed at her from just below the surface. Cold, gleaming eyes, soulless and deep as the ocean itself, locked her in their spell.

Something wet and slimy slithered across Emily’s ankle as long claws reached from the waters. Cold, webbed fingers slipped around her arms, pulling her into the icy depths.

“You belong to us now, witch.”