The MirrorMasters (29 page)

Next, Caleb asked me to deliver a eulogy of my own. Steeling myself and squaring my shoulders to face this, I approached the crowd. I had no idea what to say, so I spoke from the heart about how wonderful my parents were, how amazing our reunion was, and how heartbroken I was that we had so little time together in this life. Brian wrapped one arm around me when I returned to my seat and fell apart against him.

Now Jaedyn had tears in her eyes, her head resting on King Korin's shoulder while they stood together, their hands clasped. Commander Lars appeared dismayed and solemn, I noticed as I glanced around the crowd. Though I wanted to be as angry with him as I had been earlier with Caleb, I couldn't muster any emotion but grief now. Everyone in the crowd was grieving and concerned for the future, I knew. Even Caleb seemed not to care that Brian, Korin and I were going against our places in society. None of it mattered now.

The MirrorMasters had evacuated everyone they could, but time had run out, so there was nothing left for them to do once the ceremony ended. As the crowd dispersed, I returned to the throne room with them, along with David and our friends. It was time for Janice and her king to go to their time. King Alec went first. Janice turned back to me as she stood in front of the mirror, and gave me a half-smile and a nod. Then, she followed her new love into the past.

Once all the MirrorMasters from other times had returned to when they belonged, a message came in from Brisa. The scientists there were predicting at most a day remained before the pole shift. Major earthquakes had already begun in the jungle region — mega-quakes even stronger than the one that killed Prime Minister Roland and First Lady Rhianna. It was only a matter of time before it would strike Astoria again, and by then I wouldn't be able to prevent the pole shift or stop the sun bursting apart.

"It can't wait — I have to do this now."

Brian pulled me to him and kissed me passionately, whispering he wanted to do more, wishing we could have a lifetime together. "I believe in you. You will survive this. Remember, hold on to love."

I nodded, inhaling the scent of him and memorizing the feel of his body against mine. Even after we reluctantly ended the kiss, I could still feel the gentle pressure of his lips on mine. "No matter what happens, I will, so I'll be all right — wherever I am." Beaming, radiant, I finally pulled back.

I turned to Korin and Jaedyn, throwing my arms around them both and kissing Korin's cheek. "Take care of each other."

Caleb stood off to one side, and I sought him out. Standing before him, I said simply, "I forgive you."

I refused to carry bitterness and anger with me into the Soul Crystal, and I knew I'd regret denying him — and myself — this small piece of healing.

He clasped my hands in his. "Thank you. It means a lot to me that you could do this. You're an amazing person, Leah, and you would make an excellent queen or first lady one day. I pray you will get that chance."

I took a step back, but thought the better of it, and threw my arms around him, too, in farewell. "Look out for Brian, all right? Share your stories with him. He needs that."

"He needs you."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

I gave a small smile, then faced the mirror. Brian stood beside me, holding back the water as we opened the portal. His face and body strained with the effort. Before I could plunge myself into the ocean, Aedalina and Erik arrived, joined by their army. They shouted at me to stop.

I didn't listen.

Brian held the ocean back long enough for me to walk through, and the portal closed behind me. A golden glow as brilliant as the sun rose up from within the depths of the sea, the device responding to the Soul Crystal's call.

At the bottom of the ocean, I found myself encased in a silent tomb of crushing pressure. Acting fast, I managed to wield the Soul Crystal while I still could. The resulting light blinded me, searing my eyes with pain, but I couldn't scream. My body writhed, desperate for air. It took only seconds for the pressure and lack of oxygen to take their toll. The light faded, until it was gone, and I could see nothing. Unable to resist any longer, I gasped, drawing in water. I coughed and choked, writhing more violently now. It hurt. It hurt to die like this, here in the blackness, unable to get one last glimpse of the sunlight far above.

No. At least I would save the people. I would carry their love with me even into the darkest depths. With all my strength, I clung to this hope even as my thoughts turned sluggish, everything grew dim, and I took my last breath.

Trapped again inside my stark white solitary prison, I could see all around me the shimmering, rippling lights of the Soul Crystal surrounded by the water. I could feel the life leave my body and the intense pressure and pain ebb as I drowned. Alone, cut off from everything, I pushed away an overwhelming despair as the machine activated. Now I could only watch that light leave me as my soul fueled the crystal, and the crystal drained me.

Then, I experienced a moment when all the crystals came together, and I gained the clarity to see and create in the dying world. This moment came just in time, because the pole shift had begun. Somehow I could sense the world slipping on its axis, the motion rocking me back and forth even as the water cradled me. I remembered what I learned in the forest. Trust that this would work, and everything would be all right. Hold on to love. Deal with anything holding me back so I could free myself when this was done. Casting all fear aside, I let myself go, let the magic work to heal and renew the world, and trusted that I would be put back together, too, along with the souls of every wielder before me. All things were possible, even this.

This thought was my last awareness before I fragmented into splinters, a final explosion of light scattering me to the winds and sea. My awareness seemed to be everywhere at once — in every blade of grass, every grain of singing sand, every house, tree, person, flower, everything that had been flash-frozen, everything ruined by the devastating winds of tornadoes, everything broken apart by earthquakes. Now I saw and felt it all healing, renewing. I had literally powered the creation of a new world and gave everyone in it a fresh start, a chance to free themselves of corruption: the excesses that plagued Astoria, the fanaticism and prejudice about non-magical people, the political disputes among nations.

When it was all done and the light faded, I stood on the shores of the ocean, astonished to find myself alive and whole. Everyone ran to me. Brian caught me in his arms and twirled me around, and we kissed fiercely to the applause of the crowd.

"You were right," I whispered. We laughed, still clinging to each other as though never wanting to let go.

But eventually we had to let go as others came up to us, first David and Kara, and finally Korin and Jaedyn. I hugged everyone, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt and receiving bone-crushing hugs in return.

"Hey." Aedalina stood in front of me, grinning. "You did it."

"I did." Laughing, I pulled her into a one-armed hug. When we let go, I glanced around. The sea was no longer purple, but a coral color, brilliant against the shimmery blue sands and golden sky. The city of Astoria seemed even brighter somehow, gleaming in the midday sun of brilliant green. "Wow…"

"All right, all right. You did a good job. Happy now?" Aedalina smirked, but then her expression turned solemn. "I never meant for it to get this bad. You should have fixed it — you should have brought back everyone who died."

"I couldn't. Bringing back the dead wasn't up to me. The power was only borrowed and was never meant for them."

"So how are you here?"

I smiled and lifted my gaze heavenward. "I guess I found the way back, with help."

A
edalina and Erik
later slipped away in all the commotion. The escape didn't surprise me. They faced a public trial — their first one happened behind closed doors — for their role in unleashing the apocalypse. They had enough support for now to remain, provisionally, the official leaders of all of Jantyr. Caleb was named to succeed them should the council decide to remove them from power.

A celebration banquet was held that night, and everyone who had evacuated offworld joined in the celebration virtually, their parties displayed on holographic projections in the sky. They planned to start the return to Jantyr the following day. The crowd fell into silence as floating lanterns rose high into the air, and a show of light and music accompanied them.

I stood on the beach, arm in arm with Brian and Korin, as we watched in silence, remembering all we'd been through to get here.

The threat to the galaxy had ended, the sky-gods' power destroyed. I had survived, had a future, had a whole galaxy to explore, and had two worlds to call home. Right now, I had no idea what the future would bring. College student or First Daughter, Earth or Jantyr. Those decisions could wait. Tonight, it didn't matter. Whatever our choices, our generation didn't have to do what the generations before had done — I would follow my heart, wherever it would lead.

L
ora Palmer
writes
science fiction and fantasy for young adults. Bucks County, Pennsylvania is her home, where she resides with her wonderful husband and their mischievous cat. She has earned a graduate degree in Psychology and works at a local residential facility serving autistic children and teens. In her spare time, she also sings in a praise band, Chalice Sounds.

• @lorareedpalmer