Embracing the Flames (13 page)

Chapter 9

Home Court Advantage

WE ARRIVED IN THE HALL of Knowledge still holding each other’s hands tightly. As the blue glow that transported us subsided, Astral protectively stepped in front of Fenn and me. Taking on his true form, he grew to an immense size. I almost couldn’t tell if he was growing or if Fenn and I were shrinking.

I peeked around Astral. It took me a moment to absorb the sight before me. The never-ending walls that made up the Hall met in tall arches carved out of a gray marble with specks of silver in it.

The arched stone windows were open, showcasing the clouds floating by and letting a sweet-smelling breeze waft through. The floor beneath us was black marble with white swirling patterns and vines of ivy that seemed to move beneath our feet. The ivy climbed up the ancient stone walls and reached to the very end of the hall where a lone balcony perched out. Promising a secret conversation, black velvet curtains hid the balcony.

Rows of people dressed in white billowing robes stood at attention along the either side of the hall. Shadows were all I could see behind their hoods.

I nudged Fenn in the side. “They aren’t moving,” I whispered. My voice echoed throughout the hall even though I whispered, and I felt heat behind my cheeks.

“Weird,” he tried to whisper back. “What title do you think we’ll get? I’m going for Archion.” His eyebrows wiggled mischievously.

I quietly giggled. “You can’t skip over Sage and Grand Mage, Fenn.”

Astral took a few steps forward, stopping just before the balcony. Fenn and I quickly followed suit. I looked down as he linked his hand through mine and noticed his ring glowing. He looked down at it, his brows scrunching.

“You are late,” a deep, pitiless voice bellowed inside the hollow Hall. I looked away from Fenn’s ring to the balcony from where the voice had boomed. A man in a crimson robe gripped the edge of the balcony, his hood pointed in our direction.

A hushed murmur broke out amongst the white-hooded people. I turned and glared at them.

“We are truly sorry, Council. We were under the impression that you would be visiting us,” Astral said, his tone even.

This was the Council?

“Please, call me Artemus.” He pulled his hood back, revealing a shiny, bald head. The crowd of white robes began to murmur again. Their murmurs felt closer, like they were whispering directly into my ear, but I couldn’t make out a thing they said. I turned to swat away the noise, but it disappeared all at once, the hooded spectators still standing at attention.

Artemus chuckled wryly. Above his crooked nose, his left eye was sealed shut with a long scar etched across it. As if he felt me staring, he flicked his hood back over his face and sneered. The seconds agonizingly crept by without even the faintest breath. Finally he said, “You do know why your presence has been requested.”

“I do,” Astral answered for us, standing strong under the glare of the Council.

“Good. Celestians, please, leave us.”

All at once, the white hooded figures vanished behind a sliver of white light that ripped through the air in a flash.

“Who were they?” I whispered to Astral, my voice echoing once again.

Artemus chose to answer. His thick hands gripped the balcony as he leaned forward. “They are the Army of Light. The protectors of The Fates. The chosen. The fallen. One day you will do well to become one.”

I side-eyed Fenn who remained rigid.

Artemus spun once, twirling his crimson cloak, and then appeared before us, his feet lightly tapping against the cold marbled floor. He smiled, his gnarled grin reminding me of Sayer, Zordon’s Seer.

I frowned.

He walked around Astral without even looking at him, and proceeded to look me up and down. I kept my eyes forward, my fists clenching at my sides.

“The Progeny,” he said from behind me, the words rolling off his tongue distastefully. “You are the one causing all the problems?”

“I beg your pardon?” I objected as I jerked my head around to face him. I felt Fenn’s anger flare up.

Astral scowled at me and nimbly shook his head.

Artemus’ arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes taunting me to go against him. “Have you followed The Fates’ commands?” he asked smugly.

“Are you talking about the summons to return my Oraculus?” I asked.

Artemus chuckled. “Bright girl, Astral.” He walked around me and stood back in front of Astral, perking up his eyebrows at him.

Astral held his own and countered with his own question that needed to be addressed. “Shouldn’t you see them first before we get into this, Artemus? They deserve their title like every other Mage. That is, after all, your sole purpose, isn’t it?”

The grin vanished from the Artemus’ face.

Fenn took my hand.

“You dare question me?” Artemus said through thin lips. In an instant he was on the side of Astral, inches away from his face as his fury seemed to radiate off him.

Astral’s chest puffed out with pride. “I question why you are not fulfilling your duties. These two Magelings deserve their chance at a title, Oraculus or not.”

A slick smile appeared from under Artemus’ hood. “Up here, Astral,” he said, looking around the Hall, “your questions do not matter.”

Astral’s head snapped in Artemus’ direction.

It was just the response Artemus was looking for. “That’s right,” Artemus continued, his grin wider now, “Now that we understand each other —”

He snapped his finger and another Ancient appeared next to him. He was larger than Astral with cropped white hair and glowing red eyes. A rounded face showed the years he had lived, wrinkles carved around the corners of his eyes. His thin lips were pressed into a scowl.

“Nexius,” Artemus said to the Ancient, “Astral here has betrayed us all. He has harboured the Progeny and her Oraculus and refuses the requests of The Fates. I hereby banish him from the Hall and revoke all of his duties. Take him to the Inferno.”

The Ancient looked confused. His eyes met mine, shame meeting my gaze. My heart gave a faint flutter before taking off into a pounding pace.

“Astral?” I said, my voice trembling. I reached out to take his hand, but Nexius blocked me from touching him. “Move!” I shouted, trying to shove him out of the way. It was a stupid decision. He shoved me back and sent me flying into the hard, marbled wall. It cracked behind me, knocking the breath from my lungs and sending stars dancing before my eyes.

Fenn growled and then tackled the massive Ancient away from Astral. “You will NOT touch her,” he yelled, standing over the Ancient who looked perplexed that Fenn was even able to move him.

The Ancient sat up, his eyes glowing with power like Astral’s. Anger flared from his nostrils as he swung a mighty punch. It landed against Fenn’s jaw with a loud thud and sent Fenn to his knees.

Artemus touched Fenn’s shoulder with one finger. Instantly, he stumbled forward and fainted. “Wrong move,” he sneered. Fury overtook my senses as I shifted, barely noticing Astral’s angered war cry. Nexius was squaring off with him, the magic from their eyes meeting head to head in a splash of colors. This was all happening too fast.

And then everything stopped as an ear-piercing shriek sliced the fragrant air of the Hall. My hands sought my ears mechanically.

Not again.

“Little Flame, take Fenn and run!” Astral bellowed in between the horrific shrieking of The Fates. It was a small taste of relief from the boiling pressure of their voices. They appeared on the balcony, four beacons of a blinding light. Artemus snickered as he turned to me, reaching his evil finger out.

No, no, no, I thought as I leapt into the air. “Immoblatio,” I shouted, directing my energy towards Artemus. He was shielded by his own magic. The spell deflected and rebounded in my direction.

I noticed just in time to cast my own shield and was thankful when it absorbed the spell. I focused in on my energy, which was quickly depleting, and tried to calm myself.

Another spell shot off from behind me. Fenn.

Artemus put his hand into the air, catching Fenn’s spell and absorbing it. He spun in a circle and threw it back in our direction.

I wobbled as I was again assaulted by the shrieking of The Fates. Fenn was hiding behind a high-backed wooden chair, motioning for me to hurry. The spell slammed into the chair just as I dropped to the ground and slid on my side to Fenn.

He caught my arm and pulled me back up. “Protectio,” I chanted, using the spell to surround us both.
Remain calm
, I told myself, trying to monitor my energy. We ran through the stone archways to the far left, avoiding the series of spells that Artemus sent flying in our direction.

Nexius and Astral clashed together against one of the archways by us. Bits of stone flew in our direction and we dropped, using our hands as shields over our heads.

Fenn yanked me up and pulled me forward. “We have to get Astral,” I said, trying to keep up with him.

We came to an abrupt halt, hiding behind one of the last archways. “I know,” he said indecisively, his eyes darting all around us.

“There’s no way out,” I answered for him. He tensed up, unwilling to succumb to defeat.

He deliberated for what seems like an eternity. “There’s always a way, Rory.” He sounded determined.

“Come out, come out, young Magelings,” Artemus taunted. “There’s nowhere to run.” His haunting laughter followed his words, filling the Hall and seeming to surround us. As if on cue, the Celestians appeared in front of us and moved from their stagnant positions, driving Fenn and I back towards the  center of the Hall. I tensed up as the ripple of his laughter died off.

Astral was on his knees, held down by the invisible restraint of Nexius’ magic. He looked up as we rounded the corner and faced Artemus. His eyes were filled with sorrow, the same sorrow that had been there the night he sent me to the other realm. He looked away. Why was he was giving up.

“No,” I said weakly, feeling the flames dance along my fingertips. “We have to go, Astral. Get up and fight.”

Astral’s head tilted towards me, eyes glowing the most brilliant blue I had ever seen. Nexius placed his hand on Astral’s shoulder, ready to take him away. Astral smiled as his voice rang through my mind. “Now is not the time. Trust in me. Please…run.”

As if compelled by the magic in his eyes, I did what he said. I turned and grabbed Fenn’s hand. The shrieking rose, and my eardrums felt on the verge of blowing. We sprinted for the arched window.

My amulet lit up, searing against my scales, strengthening my magic. I threw up another protection bubble, pushing it out to surround us both.

We were almost to the window when my energy began rapidly depleting. I tried to calm my thoughts, but it wasn’t depleting because of me. It was from a force that I could never fight against. The Fates. I had to use my dragon strength to keep from doubling over in pain.

Their magic pressed against me like a hand squeezing the innards of fruit, and then my shield vanished with a loud pop.

Nexius took the opportunity and struck me with his magic, causing me to stumble and fall, pulling Fenn along with me. I was as stiff as a board.

“GET HER!” Artemus shouted crisply.

More shrieking pierced my ears. I squeezed my eyes as tightly as I could, wishing this would end quickly. A trail of blood drained down the side of my face and onto the cold marbled floor.

I felt something on my shoulder. This was it.

I opened my eyes in a moment of courage and found Fenn crouched just behind the archway, only feet away from me. He was motioning to the window with his eyes. “On three,” he mouthed.

I nodded as the large hand on my shoulder flipped me over. It was Nexius, his eyes glowing red.

“You pay!” he raged.

I felt his spell lift as his hand swung back. I counted inside my head. One...two...three.

I braced myself as Fenn tackled Nexius and then yanked my arm to pull me up.

“Now!” Fenn yelled. We swiftly jumped into the air, my wings beating for dear life. I caught Fenn’s hand and then flew as far as I could go, ignoring the instant fatigue that set in. I couldn’t ignore it for long because all at once, the strength in my wings vanished, and we plummeted towards the earth. The Fates had finally caught up with us.