The MirrorMasters (28 page)

"What?"

"How do you manage to calm down so fast, and even laugh when you almost got killed?"

"Adventure makes life interesting." He shrugged and flashed me a smirk.

I made a face as I pulled back. "Interesting. Yeah, I guess it's as good a word as any to describe this adventure."

Brian slung an arm around me, dragging us onward. He was careful to avoid the odd swirly symbol I had stepped on. "Yes, it has. Glad you're okay, Korin. We'd miss bailing you out of all the scrapes you get into."

Korin arched an eyebrow. "What scrapes?"

I slid one arm around each of the boys. "Let's see...there was the thunderbeast that almost gored you."

"The time I had to keep you from falling to your death when Erik wanted to blast you off the tree village."

My eyes widening in shock before narrowing in anger, I faced Brian. "Erik did that?"

"Yes." Korin scowled and waved his hand to brush aside the memory. "Moving on. Just think of the times I've saved your hides."

"Point taken," I said with a chuckle.

Ten minutes later, we reached the transporter and made it to the final chamber, high up in the clouds. Inside, we found ourselves in a vast treasure trove of ancient alien artifacts: weathered leather-bound books with the same symbol writing on the front covers, crystal and metal sculptures depicting everything from buildings to strange animals, and even glowing, shimmering artwork hung on the walls. I shivered in the cold and wrapped my arms around myself as I surveyed the room. Brian offered his cloak, but I declined because I didn't want him to freeze. Already, my attention was on the eerie, yet somehow familiar, creations adorning the museum.

"What is this place?" Brian asked, openmouthed as he explored the artwork lining the nearest wall — expanses of silver oceans against a dark purple sky and tall crystal skyscrapers lit from within.

"It's a place to preserve their heritage." I turned back to him, eyes wide with understanding. "Their world is dying, and now they're finally running out of time. They meant to terraform Jantyr ages ago so they could live here, but someone from Jantyr, a wielder, has always gotten to the device first. That's why they're coming back now — to make sure one of them uses it this time."

"We can't let them succeed," Korin said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "If they stop you, they'll be able to make this planet whatever they want and destroy all of us in the process. They wouldn't be coming if they didn't have someone who could also use the device."

A cold feeling of dread settled in my stomach. Korin was right about what would happen. But could we condemn a whole other planet to be destroyed? "They should have found an uninhabited planet to colonize. Why do they care so much about Jantyr?"

"I don't know..." Brian sighed, letting the thought linger in the air.

As we ventured further on, I pondered the question but could come up with no answers. Soon, I discovered a monolith at the other end of the chamber and ran toward it. After everything we'd learned, I could keenly feel each second tick by and knew we were almost out of time. At least now we were so close, I could believe we had a chance of succeeding.

With Brian and Korin following close behind, I stepped onto the high platform and wielded the Protection crystal, reflecting for a moment on how it would leave me fully vulnerable to the Soul Crystal. No, I couldn't think of myself. Instead, I had to visualize the protection the genesis device would give as it stopped disasters, put into place defenses against the sky-gods, and transformed the world.

The device.

Once the device killed me, I'd be bound to it with no way out, except fragments of my soul would be scattered everywhere. I remembered my time in the Soul Crystal, the eternal solitude and terror of being trapped there forever. Trapped there, unable to communicate with anyone else. Cut off so completely, I'd be unaware of anyone else in there with me. Fragmented endlessly like the wielders before me had been.

No! I had to think of the people. They were the important ones; the ones I came here to save. I could see them all now, see their loves, their lives, their bright futures. All I had to do was offer myself, and they would have it. In my heart, I knew what I had to do. I could give nothing less for them.

The protection I'd had since the day I learned of the prophecy surrounded me, then extended outward from the monolith as far as I could see. I pictured the crystal's golden-white glow surrounding the whole planet and beyond. As the glow of the crystal faded, the protective feeling vanished, leaving me to experience the overwhelming effects of the other crystals. Staggering off the platform, I collapsed into Brian's arms.

My body rippled in and out of view as he sank down to the floor with me, and my skin alternated between a shimmering iridescence and its normal snow-pale hue. Korin knelt beside me, though I was barely aware of his presence. Exhausted and disoriented, my powers were going haywire. I couldn't stop the power of illusion from wreaking havoc with my body. The power of influence seemed to be controlling me, too — all around the room, priceless ancient relics exploded, their shards scattered everywhere as they fell in a tinkling shower. When I tried to fix the damage I'd created, it didn't work. The effects of the Healing Crystal weren't working for me.

"What's happening?" Korin asked, gripping my hand as though he could will me to be all right and it would be so.

"No idea." Brian's terse reply echoed in the chamber. He rocked me back and forth, feeling my forehead with one hand, kissing one flushed cheek. "She's burning up! Hang on, Leah. You're going to be all right. Stay with us. We need you. I need you."

The words barely registered. My mind was in a sort of fog where nothing made much sense, and I could see only jumbled, nightmarish images. Brian's kiss and the feel of his hand stroking my skin felt soothing, though. Through parched lips, I tried to ask why everything felt like it was on fire, but maybe I never said the words out loud — I never did get an answer. I was pale and feverish until Brian stabilized me, giving me his energy to heal as best I could. Minutes — hours? —later, the intense heat seemed to ebb from my body, and my mind cleared, leaving me drained and unable to move.

"I'm fine," I said, my voice soft as I rested my head against Brian's shoulder.

Korin watched our interaction, shifting from foot to foot. A beep from his data pad sounded, and Jaedyn's voice filled the cavern, telling of yet another disaster. Slowly, reluctantly, Brian passed me into Korin's waiting arms while he brought Jaedyn here. When Jaedyn arrived through the portal, Korin handed me back to Brian and embraced her. Jaedyn returned the hug, then rested a comforting hand on Korin's shoulder as she glanced between the two young men. Korin gave her hand a light squeeze, and they shared another moment of connection. Opening my eyes in time to see it, I knew. I could read it in his eyes. He was conflicted because he wanted me. Sure, he loved me and knew he was supposed to be with me — but he wanted Jaedyn more. He'd realized, even if he didn't want to admit it to himself, that Jaedyn was the one for him. The one he'd choose if he could.

Who would I choose if I could? Korin, the bold, adventurous one, fierce and loving, but who grew up with some romanticized idea of me that I could never live up to? Or Brian, the intelligent one with an artist's soul and an analytical mind, who wanted nothing more than to find his true home and a way for me to survive?

Jaedyn cleared her throat and scuffed the toe of her boot against the floor, awkward, as she glanced from me to Korin. Then, she shook her head, as if to dismiss her thoughts in favor of something more important. She held back tears, and from the pained expression on Korin's, face, I could tell this was bad news. She fidgeted with her hands, something I had never seen her do. "I'm afraid what I have to tell you couldn't wait until you get back," Jaedyn began. "There have been more signs that a pole shift is imminent — another mega-quake, and aftershocks, even in Astoria where they never get earthquakes. The death toll is high, because a lot of people refused to evacuate. There's more. Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna...they...they were killed. The building where they were being held collapsed. I'm so sorry, Leah."

“
W
hat
?" I blinked and shook my head. This could not be happening! "No, no, no. They can't be dead! They're in the stasis chambers, aren't they? They'll be fine."

My face fell when Jaedyn shook her head. Jaedyn cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably before delivering the news straight out, her expression grave. "The stasis chambers were destroyed, too. There was no way to save them."

Choking back a sob, I leaned against a wall for support. "I want to see...what I can. There must be arrangements to take care of. What about everyone else? My brother and best friend from Earth, Caleb?"

"They're all fine. A bit shaken up and bruised, but nothing major."

"Thank heavens everyone else is all right." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, seized with a desperate need to go visit my parents' bodies. Until I had the chance to pay my respects and see them buried, I couldn't go on with my mission. "We need to get back there."

"There's no time left. Prime Minister Drake will take care of all the arrangements." Korin frowned as he said this, the reminder of Caleb Drake's betrayal sounding bitter on the tongue. He drew closer to me and cupped my face in his hands. "More than anything, I want to go, too, but we have to finish this first. We don't even know where the final crystal goes."

"If the library is intact, it might be the best place to search," I reasoned, meeting his gaze and placing my hands over his. "We can still do both."

"If not, we'll take care of everything. Right now the only thing you should have to deal with is wielding the last crystal, using the device, and surviving — and you will survive."

I flashed Brian a grateful smile as Korin let his hands drop to his sides. The others nodded in agreement, a glint of determination to help me in their eyes. Even Jaedyn's. Once again, my heart overflowed with gratitude. "Thanks. Thank you all for taking care of everything. Listen, I need you to get David and Kara home."

Brian nodded. "I will."

"The library is intact, First Daughter," Jaedyn said. "Just barely, but it is functioning. Perhaps we should go there. It might be our last and only chance to find the last monolith — the device itself."

"Let's go."

We used the smooth metallic surface of the nearest wall to return to Astoria. To my shock, we were able to walk right into the Hall of Mirrors, where Caleb — Prime Minister Drake — sat on the throne.

When I saw him, my jaw clenched in fury. A white-hot hatred, all-consuming, suffocating, ignited within me. Swallowing hard, I glanced around in dismay at the state of the room. Most of the mirrors had been cracked, as had the floor tiles. Parts of the ceiling, once gilded with gold in ornate patterns, had fallen off in chunks. At least it had been cleaned up, because there was no evidence of debris on the floor, but the ceiling was ragged. None of the plants once adorning this great hall remained. "How were we able to get this close? I thought we'd have to walk awhile to get here." Though I asked this of Brian, his father answered.

"The Protection Crystal shattered during the last mega-quake. Our defenses are down now, not that it matters. Everywhere else is dealing with the same devastation." Caleb rose to greet us, his cloak billowing behind him as he swept down from the throne to embrace Brian. "Come. We are meeting in the conference room to discuss how to speed up the evacuation once the mirrors have been repaired."

"How long will the repairs take?" I asked through gritted teeth, still refusing to look at Caleb.

"At least another day or two before we get the materials."

Another day or two? No! Thousands of people would be stuck here during the delay instead of evacuating to safety. How many would die as a result? This was bad. "Brian, we should fix the mirrors ourselves after the meeting."

Caleb made to kiss my hand in greeting, but I snatched it away and stepped back.

"Don't touch me," I demanded. "You sold out my parents! How could you? They trusted you, and now because of you they're dead!"

"Enough! You forget your place. Now, we need to get into the meeting."

"My place? I don't care about my place — not when my parents were crushed to death in a prison cell because you betrayed them!" Raw anguish choked my voice, and for once I didn't bother regaining control over myself. Let him try to tell me what to do. I'd show him out of control.

Caleb blanched, as if he'd been punched in the gut at my words. "I did what was best for the people of Jantyr. You know that I never intended what happened…"

"Save it!" I shot back, raising my hand to forestall whatever else he might say. "Yes, I realize you never intended for them to die, but they did. They did. There is no excuse, no justification you can give, so just stop." Drawing a deep, ragged breath, I turned away and refused to look at him as I walked past. Out of the corner of I eye, I saw Brian shake his head at his father, silently urging Caleb to keep quiet. Good. I didn't want to hear anything he had to say. I would explode if he said one more word.

"Forgive me."

I froze as I heard his whispered plea, and a tear slid from beneath my lashes. Sure, he was hurting, too, but I couldn't. What he'd done was too raw, too painful. Closing my eyes, I pictured my mother reaching out for my hand during our heart-to-heart about my feelings for Brian. Then, I pictured my father laughing as he embraced me, his eyes lighting up in delight at seeing me again. A sob caught in my throat, and I shook my head.

"Maybe someday," I whispered back. With time and healing, maybe I'd be able to forgive him, but not yet — or maybe not ever. I had always believed in forgiveness, always considered it so important. Now, my capacity for forgiveness was being tested in a way I'd never imagined possible, and I just couldn't do it.

The second we left the conference room after the meeting, I was surrounded by my family and friends. Everyone started chatting all at once about what would happen now, and I couldn't keep up with the conversation. All I wanted right now was some peace and quiet, to go down to whatever was left of the library and finish my research. I was practically itching to find the last piece of the puzzle — the location of the final monolith and the genesis device.

"Leah, we all need to go as soon as the mirrors are ready. I hear it'll take another day or two, unless magic can fix them sooner. You should pack anything you want to take with you. " Clearly, David refused to believe I wouldn't be coming home to Earth with them when all this was over.

Sighing, I dragged a hand through my hair. "David, you know I can't go." Once, I would have let the subject drop, since it was likely a moot point. "I love you — I love you all so much, but I can't. Remember when I was little and you always said you'd protect me with your life? Then a bear tried to attack me the first morning of our first camping trip as a family, and you chased it off. Oh, I was so scared, but you said you'd do whatever it took to keep me safe. And you did. Now I have to do the same for everyone here. I have to see this through."

My words brought tears to my brother's eyes, tears he tried to hide by turning his face away as he nodded. But I knew. I saw his eyes turn red-rimmed, and I noticed when he reached up to wipe a stray tear when he thought no-one was looking. Kara slid an arm around his shoulders, and they stood clinging to each other.

Together, Brian and I fixed the mirrors.

When we went to the library, we found it in a dire state of disarray. There were cracks everywhere in the floor and ceiling, and the only people around were working to repair the damages and pick up overturned plants. My gaze travelled far overhead, where about ten brave souls plastered the cracks. I just hoped the high scaffolding would hold. Some volunteers had new pots and were either repotting plants or sweeping away broken plant stands. Most of the computer pads were destroyed, and only one appeared active.

"This was the one legend of old we couldn't find," King Korin rubbed his chin, gaze unfocused as though deep in thought. "In my research, I don't remember learning anything specific about it that could help us. We've searched everywhere in the datasphere for it, and it's not there. We may need to check the manuscript archives."

"If they haven't been destroyed." Leading the way downstairs, I held onto the railing as I picked my way through rubble. I raced down the steps, eager to begin the search. A smile of relief and joy lit up my face as I threw open the door to the archives and discovered everything there remarkably intact.

After about an hour of searching, Korin suddenly exclaimed, "This is it!" Everyone gathered around to read along:

"The seventh warrior journeyed to the seashores of Astra, so named for its expansive views of the horizon and the heavens. From the crystal reef rock, he fashioned a crystal sphere capable of holding the power of the soul, a necessary component of the device of renewal. But one must be careful, for anyone who touches that crystal unprotected will have his or her soul bound to it. Know that the crystal is capable of draining that soul to harness its energy for whatever purpose. The seat of the Soul Crystal is the device of renewal itself."

"Astra? That is the old name of Astoria," Caleb said.

"So it's here?" Brian and I said together, then smirked at each other.

"Yes, but this was written at a time before the great quake that plunged part of the land far beneath the ocean and raised up the other part into cliffs, as it is today," King Korin remarked, frowning. He consulted a map to find the device, his expression growing even more concerned.

My smirk faltered. "It's at the bottom of the ocean, isn't it?" Either the device wouldn't get used at all, or I would have to go into the ocean to use it. At the thought, my stomach clenched. Lightheaded and shaky, I sank down into the nearest chair.

Brian scowled, but his eyes tightened with fear as he met my gaze. "There's got to be a way to get it out of the ocean so you can use it. Maybe we can use a mirror to drag it back out."

Caleb rubbed his chin, his eyes distant and troubled. "We don't know whether the device will still work. First Daughter, you should not try it."

"It works," I said, my tone frosty. "I've seen it. The Crystal of Knowledge showed me."

"Listen to him, Leah. Don't even try it. Just do what you can to get as many people as possible evacuated." David placed his hands on my shoulders, staring into my eyes as he pleaded for me not to do this.

"Stop," I whispered brokenly, blinking back tears. My head started to throb with a major headache, and a lump made my throat sore. I couldn't deal with this. It was all too much. "David, please, I'm begging you to stop trying to tempt me not to go through with this. The thought of what's waiting for me when I do scares me more than anything. It's like my worst nightmare, but I can't let everyone go through it — I won't." Sobs wracked my body as I fought not to break down. Drawing several deep, ragged breaths, I managed to stay strong as David pulled me up and gave my shoulder a squeeze.

"You don't have to do this." King Korin pulled me into his arms and held me close, resting our foreheads together. Our breaths instinctively matched, and we clung to each other as we shared the same air.

But I did. I did.

"Whatever has been unleashed, it will destroy everyone else's soul if it's not stopped. I do have to do this — now."

"What?" Korin asked.

"Their device works by consuming souls. I saw it in the Knowledge Crystal, and when we were in the floating shelves. My sister and Erik didn't know what they'd unleashed, but I have to fix it." It would only take one sacrifice, one simple sacrifice, and everyone else would be safe.

"I wish it could be different. We could be great together."

"Yes, I know, but you and Jaedyn were meant to be. I see how you two look at each other, the little touches you share, how you two can complete each other's sentences."

"You would be all right with that?"

I nodded. "You two deserve every happiness." Reluctantly, I let him go, pulling back as Jaedyn came to stand beside him.

"And so do we."

I faced Brian, sniffling because I knew it wouldn't happen. "We do. Oh, I wish so much that we could."

"We will. We will." He pulled me into a fierce hug.

A strangled sob escaped my lips. Because I had come to accept my fate, I couldn't let myself think of all I would lose. "I love you," I whispered in his ear, knowing that Brian wanted me to promise I would survive. It was a promise I couldn't give.

"I love you, too." Brian held me tight, like he'd never let go. "Hold on to love. No matter what happens, hold on. It will be the hardest thing you've ever done, but never give up."

My eyes lit up, and I nodded, heart swelling with joy at hearing him say those words back. He loved me, too! This memory alone could get me through an eternity of fragmented solitude. Buoyed, I felt as though I could fly. "Got it. So...all I have to do is trust, hold on to love, and deal with anything that might bind me to the crystal in order to get free when the time is right. How hard can that be?" Giving a shaky laugh, I rested my head against Brian's for another moment before pulling away. I needed to do one last thing before completing my mission.

We had the funeral for my parents. Their bodies were already ash, as was the custom in Astoria. I carried an urn in the procession and scattered their mingled ashes around the memorial tree in the heart of the city, then released the rest into the wind at the edge of the cliff to drift into the sea. Everyone in the city had assembled once the announcement had gone out, and the crowd sang soft hymns until Caleb called the service officially to order.

Brian and King Korin sat on either side of me, each of them holding my hand in theirs. David and Kara sat together, holding each other. Kara wiped away tears with the back of her hand as she kept her gaze on the ceremony. Caleb was grieving, his eyes red-rimmed, and he kept to himself after delivering a short speech.