Chapter 8: In which the mercury drops
While Jim joined Toby and the trolls in the dark safety of the dungeon the following morning, Claire returned to her studies. She knew he needed time with the guys and she had usurped enough of his first day. Standing by the mahogany table in her room, she kept her eyes closed and mouthed words before cracking a peek at the book. Her face twisted with dissatisfaction and she mulishly returned to memorizing the symbols.
"Harder than it looks, isn't it?"
Her head snapped around and she glared at the unwelcome guest in her room. "How did you get in here?!"
"Door was unlocked," Zoe said blandly, walking over to inspect the various books all over her table. "I cushioned the air around me so that you didn't hear a thing when I came in."
"Which I would call being intrusive. I didn't invite you here and I'm certainly not going to offer you tea." Claire slammed the books shut. "Get out!"
"Who's being rude now?" the pink-haired girl asked rhetorically. "I wanted to see what everyone does with their time since I'm stuck here until you guys decide to return to Arcadia. I can't find anything to do in this place and the boredom is driving me crazy."
"Toby would be happy to chat with you, I'm sure. He loves the idea of wizards."
"That assumes I want to talk to him," she said with a wry face. "Besides, it's nerve-racking being the only girl in a roomful of guys. I don't know how it doesn't bother you."
"I guess actually being capable of acting friendly makes a big difference," Claire said lightly as she picked out a new book then sat down by the window, raising it between them as though it was a shield. Tension had stretched her muscles taut but she pretended to be relaxed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to get something useful done."
"Somehow I doubt you'd be able to accomplish much on your own. And just try kicking me out."
This comment, said in such an arrogant tone, was one jab too many. The book dropped to the floor as Claire leaped up. Brilliant violet light burned around her hands and she let out a cry as she attacked.
Zoe looked surprised and sprang back but then smiled. Claire threw a ball of swirling shadow magic at her, only for the other girl to twirl aside with ease. More blasts were equally ineffective. She barely had to look as she dodged and danced around the room, heedless of the chaos left in her wake.
How could that witch be so fast?!
But worst of all was Zoe's infuriating expression of amusement that made the entire situation humiliating on top of everything else. Claire uttered a scream, eyes suddenly turning from brown to deep amethyst. Underneath them both, the floor turned into one giant shadow portal.
When Douxie burst inside a moment later, having felt haphazard magic being hurled about, no one was there.
Terrified, Zoe flung both arms over her head as she fell. Soft, almost-liquid pressure was all around but she could still breathe. After a few moments of absolute silence she looked up. A tumbling stone came racing toward her and she barely managed to push it away in time with a current of sparkling air. What little light there was showed her an "undersea" world of shadows filled with loose rocks—dark and devoid of life.
"Wh-Where am I?" she called, growing fearful. "Shadow witch?"
There was no answer.
"Look, I was just… just fooling around!" Her breaths came quicker with no response. "Fine, I was being stupid, okay?! You guys swept me up and dumped me in that castle and wouldn't let me leave. I was ticked about it."
The half-lit world continued to slide around her, pressing down with numbing emptiness and a host of drifting stones. She was completely alone.
Minutes ticked past and the pink-haired girl continued to talk to herself in a voice that grew more and more frantic. Whispers had begun to float around her, glimmers of memories reflected from dark mirrors that weren't really there, and things she wished to forget drew closer…
Panic clawed its way up from Zoe's stomach. She curled into a ball, fingers digging into the sides of her head in an attempt to feel anything real in this horrible nightmare. A scream burst from her lungs, born of unfettered terror.
Hands grabbed hold of her arm. "Zoe! I've been searching everywhere! I had the hardest time getting a fix on you since… well, you're not much of an emotional anchor."
Seeing Claire relieved to find her was startling, but Zoe couldn't make herself fall back into the usual aloof persona. She shook her head, not able to fight back the tears still streaming down her face.
"Just get us back!"
Claire started to raise her hand to open a portal, but stopped in surprise. "Wait… Do you see that?"
Zoe followed her pointing finger. An image had appeared nearby, revealing the Green Knight leveling his sword at Douxie. The wizard had fallen to the ground with hands held tightly to his side. Blood leaked between his fingers. Teeth gritted in pain, he forced himself up and started to cast a spell, but there was the sense of words being spoken by the knight. Douxie suddenly swayed and held his head, the charm bracer's symbols going dark. There was no way to defend himself as the sword plunged downward.
"No!" both girls cried out together at the very moment the image burst into shining flakes of violet light.
Not wanting to see anything else, Claire gripped Zoe by the wrist and pulled her through a new portal. They stumbled back into the bedroom.
"What was that?!" Zoe gasped. "Is Douxie… dead?"
"It was a vision. Something that may happen in the future," Claire explained, but she was just as shaken. "I saw one of Jim too. It frightens me, but I don't know if there's anything I can do to change what I've seen. Douxie says even if I try, it may not work or it might end up even worse."
"I don't see how anything can be worse than that!" she sniffled, trying to wipe her face clean of the tear stains.
Claire gently guided Zoe to a chair, which the other girl allowed simply out of shock and exhaustion. They sat side by side without a word for several minutes. Finally Zoe spoke.
"I'm sorry for acting the way I did." She rubbed her arms uncomfortably and didn't raise her eyes. "Most wizards I've met outside of Arcadia heckled me for being nothing but a hedge witch. To see someone stronger than me working on the rudiments of magic was… I don't know. I guess I wanted you to feel as miserable as I did when they treated me that way."
Claire quietly observed the pink-haired girl for a time. "How did you dodge all my attacks?"
The question was so unrelated to her apology that Zoe stared at her, wondering if she was serious. But when Claire continued to wait expectantly for an answer, she shrugged.
"Most aeromancers focus on skills like windstorms, air-blades, solidifying air into shields, vacuum-pockets… that sort of thing. I never had much strength so I developed skills to heighten my own reactions. Using a windsprint, it took me fifteen seconds to get from Douxie to the bookstore the other night." She offered a little smile. "When you were throwing balls of shadows at me, all I had to do to avoid them was feel the ripples in the air. Not that hard with enough practice."
"Did you have a teacher?"
Zoe raised one eyebrow. "We're not quite at the point where we're going to swap personal histories, shadow witch. Look, I wasted enough of your time. I'd better go."
Remaining seated, Claire felt she'd intruded into territory where she wasn't welcome once again. The other girl was nearly to the door when she called to her. "Hey, if you're ever bored, I guess it would be okay if you come here."
"I'll think about it." There was a pause and she spoke without looking back. "Tell me honestly… is Douxie really old enough to have known Merlin before the Battle of Killahead Bridge?"
"Yes. He was Merlin's apprentice for four years before it took place, and the reason he hasn't aged in all that time is because of the Heart of Avalon."
What this information meant to Zoe was hard to determine. Her shoulders went slack but her fists tightened. Then with an emotionless "Thanks" she was gone.
Jim mounted the last step and came out on the very highest tower of Camelot. By the Heart of Avalon's light, the ever-vigilant Galahad could be seen leaning against the parapet. At the sound of armored feet, he turned and greeted the Trollhunter jovially.
"Still awake, I see. Trying to make up for lost time, are you?"
"Trolls are mainly night-creatures," he shrugged. "This is morning for me."
"I suppose it would be, at that." The old knight stretched and gave a yawn before setting one large hand on Jim's shoulder. "I can see a desire for solitude in you, boy. I will return in an hour."
Grateful for his understanding, Jim assured him he would keep watch until Galahad came back. Finally alone, he let out a long breath and ran one hand along his unkempt hair, inadvertently bumping into one of his horns. That simple action made him freeze.
His mind felt jumbled and confused. Being with his friends was pleasant, but he needed time to work out his own thoughts once in a while.
High-altitude winds up here would have chilled him in human form, but his stone skin didn't even feel it. The gyrating rings around the bronze metal sphere there had a mesmerizing effect. He lost track of time, just staring.
So many questions and half-faded memories crowded in on him. How much of his life before becoming trollish had he forgotten already? And… how much would he have left if it kept happening? Would he eventually lose everything? The sudden fear of not knowing his mother's face made Jim instinctively tuck his arms tight around himself. He'd made a promise to her. Even if he had to leave, he always intended to go back.
After a few moments he pulled out his phone and flipped it open. The number of missed calls was intimidating. He tapped a button and put it to his ear. She answered after one ring.
"Jim! Is it really you?!"
"I'm here, Mom, and I'm okay."
"I'm just glad to hear from you," Barbara Lake sighed over the phone. The background noise of gurgling babies suddenly escalated into hysterical laughter. "Claire told me you've had a lot to do lately and I was afraid something really terrible had happened."
Jim listened to his mother's voice, naturally speaking softer as he answered. "I didn't want to worry you, Mom."
"I'd rather be worried about something I know than something I don't," she responded in a firmer tone. "Having no idea what was wrong has been… well, trying to say the least. What happened? Please tell me. I've had enough lies this past year to last a lifetime."
He felt his throat constrict and leaned against the upper battlements of the castle. Denying it didn't feel right. Not when she was practically begging him for the truth. "I guess you could say I was blindsided by some spell. Merlin had to freeze me to keep me safe for a while."
"And you thought I would be better off in the dark, is that it?"
"I didn't have much choice, Mom. It was a do or die moment."
Instantly he wished he could erase the words. She was quiet and the only sounds from the other end of the phone were those of assorted happy or cranky babies.
"How are the kids?" he asked, deftly trying to change the subject. "Sounds like you've got your hands full."
"We decided to hold onto six babies. Mrs. Domzalski has three for now, and the Nuñezes are in charge of the other twelve." The strain in Barbara's voice was still there, but it was lighter now. "They've been finding suitable homes in Arcadia Oaks so that we can keep a close eye on them in case something unexpected happens. You'd be surprised how many families want to help once they found out these children were kidnapped and kept in a Darklands prison. I get the feeling nothing surprises the people who live here anymore."
"I thought you said before that you were only going to keep two or three."
"Oh Jim, I couldn't bear to part with them! I'm taking a break from work for a while, naturally, and after everything that happened a few months ago, the hospital understands. I only do a couple night shifts a week now, but Walter has everything practically taken care of here, especially in terms of finances." He could hear the sudden warmth behind her words as she said the changeling's name. "Did you know he has several overseas accounts? I suppose being around a few centuries makes you sharp with money and— Oh, no you don't, Wally! This is my phone!"
Jim felt a grin take over his mouth. "You kept Strickler's familiar, huh?"
"Of course! He was the first one we decided on, you know." There was a pause in the conversation as his mother got distracted returning the baby to his playmates. When she was done, she spoke more earnestly. "When can I see you again? It's been so long."
"I'm sorry, Mom, but we can't go back to Arcadia for a while." He hated to say it, especially when he desperately wanted to be there. "Merlin thinks it's too dangerous because someone is hanging around there waiting for us to return."
"Then give me another destination and I'll be on a plane tomorrow!" He could hear her undertone of worry. "I want to see you again, even if it's just for one day."
"I'm sorry," her son repeated. The word felt hollow even though he meant it. "I think we're near Virginia right now, but we might be headed for Brazil or Europe or even back west by morning. We're trying to avoid some kind of wizards who are tracking us with troll-sniffing bats or whatever they are."
"That would be niffins," came Strickler's voice, somewhat more muffled since his mouth wasn't directly beside the phone. "I've had a few run-ins with them myself over the last couple weeks. I was wondering why they've been so active since it's unusual to have so many even this time of year. Usually their eggs only hatch in high temperatures, but the numbers of them I've seen… It's disproportional."
"I don't know, but because of them we can't slow down or stop anywhere."
When Barbara spoke once more her tearful tone was unmistakable. "Jim… it's so nice to hear your voice. I'm glad you're safe and I wish I could be there with you. Come home as soon as you can."
"I will. Love you, Mom."
"I love you too, Jim. Always."
He let her be the one to hang up, then he continued to stare at the screen until it timed out and faded to black. The motion of the revolving, green-lit gears created an endless whoosh of white noise behind him. Jim raised his eyes up past the scraps of half-torn clouds where a crowd of stars watched back.
It was after midnight the following day when the alarm bell went off once again. Accustomed to defending Jim in the throne room, everyone automatically gathered there. One look told them more than simply a glow-harpy attack was on the horizon. Deep, roiling storm clouds billowed, glaring flits of lightning highlighting the creatures as they sped closer. Howling winds picked up and carried cries of mad bloodlust toward Camelot.
By now everyone had learned to deal with niffins. They assumed their usual positions, and even Zoe took up a spot near one window.
Jim tried to summon Daylight, but nearly doubled over at the attempt. The onyx shard pulsed just enough to warn him against a second try. Instead he stretched out his hands to make the red-veined glaives spring into them and stood beside his girlfriend.
This time Claire was ready with a new strategy. Niffins hurled themselves against the barrier and it buckled after half a minute. As they came streaming through, Claire gave a battle cry and threw out her hands. A portal opened directly in front of them and many plunged headlong into the Shadow Realm without realizing until it was too late. By the time it swirled closed, only a quarter of the original number remained, and they fluttered crazedly about.
"Yeah!" Toby called, fist-pumping. "Go, Claire! This is gonna be the easiest fight yet!"
At that very moment the storm blasted into Camelot. Polar winds tore through the halls, setting teeth a-chatter and making everyone shield their eyes so that nobody saw the culprit until he had entered. As designed, the suits of armor started to attack, but all the dark figure did was look at them—weapon glowing blue—and they collapsed like so many heaps of scrap metal.
Then Aaarrrgghh charged forward, only to find himself encased in a block of ice. All the niffins flapping through the room clustered around as he stood there helpless, beginning to rip and tear at him. But before anyone could leap to his defense, the one who had entered jerked one thin hand commandingly. They instantly flew to the upper reaches of the room and chittered to one another in quieter voices.
"Do any of you others desire to attack me?" he asked almost pleasantly, his bare feet not even touching the floor. "I wish to get that out of the way now so that we can get down to business."
Claire's breath hitched. That pale skin, tattered cloak, frostbitten fingers and the pair of bleached bone antlers were exactly the same as one of the people in her vision!
"Who are you?" she gasped out.
"Skrael of the North Wind," he answered with a nasty, quirking smile as his blue eyes swept around to survey them all. The weapon in his hand had a deadly aura around it with a coal-black shaft and the diamondlike, curved blade resembling a scythe.
"What is your purpose here?" Blinky called.
As the stranger opened his mouth to answer, Jim threw the glaives. Skrael's scythe flashed and the spinning blades were knocked aside. Intense cold rushed throughout the throne room, capturing everyone in crested waves of ice.
Douxie struggled, Archie trapped beside his feet, but he knew at a glance that this was no ordinary ice. Ancient symbols etched into its surface dimmed and brightened, dampening the strength and magic of those imprisoned inside. Even his familiar couldn't shapeshift into a fire-breathing dragon. The group's cries of fear and protest were met with a mocking smirk.
"Why do mortals always choose to prove themselves against a god?" He drifted above the decorative flooring to approach Jim. "So, the mongrel hasn't quite succumbed. You will. But first you will tell me where the Forest Child is."
Jim stared at Skrael, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Nari!" he snarled, all traces of ridicule gone as he leaned close enough to bite. Douxie went rigid at the name. "Do you think me a fool? Underneath Merlin's stink I can smell the residue of her magic on you, Trollhunter!"
While Jim continued to look puzzled, Claire strove desperately to move her fingers. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not fully access her shadow magic. Still, she was afraid of what this intruder would do to Jim unless he was distracted.
"Stop it! We don't know any 'Nari' so you're just wasting your time here!"
Skrael's narrowed eyes panned around the room, coming to rest on Zoe and Claire. "I believe mortals hold females in high esteem, do they not? Perhaps I should let all of you watch these two be disfigured beyond recognition."
Wicked spikes of ice extended from his blackened fingers. He caressed Claire's face with a smile of absolute malice, jerking suddenly. She flinched back as thin lines of blood dripped down her cheek. A few steps away Jim let out a roar and everyone else cried various threats and pleads while Douxie kept his head down, eyes squeezed shut.
The dark-cloaked figure snorted in disgust at their responses. "So it is true you do not know of her, which makes these females useless to me. I might as well kill them both."
Icy claws suddenly stretched out to seize Zoe by the throat. Douxie had been trying to block it all out, but at the sound of her whimper he couldn't keep it in any longer.
"I know where Nari is!"
The chill intensified as Skrael came to hover before him. "If you want anyone here to remain breathing, you will tell me all you know."
"She… she was left in a safe place thousands of miles from here," he said, keeping his face angled toward the floor.
A disbelieving sneer met these words. "Do not toy with me, time-numbed wizard. Tell me the truth or those two will suffer the acute pain of suffocation."
Douxie glanced left and saw the glaze of ice creep higher on Zoe and Claire, covering their necks and mouths. Panic shone from their eyes as they made wordless noises.
"Nari… Nari is—"
"Right here, brother!" came a voice devoid of timidity.
Everyone saw Merlin rush into the room, preceded by a woman so small that she looked more like an antlered elf than anything. Her amber-colored eyes flamed with anger as a mixture of green and pink magic hovered around her hands. Merlin's own staff sparked with light behind her.
But Skrael flicked one hand with a smirk. Every niffin hiding in the rafters descended in a single throng of biting, scratching madness. Mobbed as they were from above, both Merlin and Nari were taken by surprise. The wizard lost hold of his staff and a gust of magic locked it in impenetrable ice.
The little figure with leaflike clothing raised her arms with a groan of great effort, causing vines to invade the room. Now the niffins found themselves snatched by tendrils of greenery immune to their claws and teeth. Little explosions littered the floor with glowing blood and entrails moments later.
But Skrael watched this with disdain in his eyes. "Nari, do you truly believe you will be able to face me with what power you have left?"
Uncertainty touched her features but she held steady. "Skrael, there is another way! All we have fought for—it can be recovered without the Seals!"
"Lies!" he spat, then flung one hand out to point at the near-powerless Merlin. "That hypocrite has filled your head with twisted promises!"
"No, it is true! The Trollhunter—"
"The Trollhunter?!" he interrupted in a fierce bark that drowned her out. "I will show you what Merlin's pet is now!"
Skrael flew toward Jim, hand closing on the onyx shard. Blazing agony ripped into his chest, making him cry out. Nari's vines streaked across the room and the stranger snarled as he released the onyx to beat them off. But Jim's eyes had turned a savage red behind him.
One arm broke free of the ice and lashed out. Trying to reach his enemy, his stone fist missed but caught the staff and sent it flying.
In an instant Skrael's expression changed from surprise to horrified dread as he watched his staff tumble through a shattered window. He shot a glare of pure venom back at Nari before diving after it. Dumbfounded, the little green woman gazed at the window where her brother had disappeared.
Merlin laid a hand on her shoulder, staring too. "He considered his staff more important than capturing you."
"Merlin… this means…"
He nodded. "He sacrificed his magic to cast an incredibly powerful spell the same way I did to imprison Morgana."
"But what spell would he have given up so much for?"
A/N: I've seen a few different concepts that show Zoe as having lightning-based powers (mainly in a tumblr account belonging to one of the storyboarders who's a major Zouxie shipper), but to be very honest there really isn't much you can do with that element outside of attacking and messing with electronics. Again, I wanted to try something different with her and explore the idea of how a witch with less magic than most would be able to still do useful things.
Another thing the time travel bit undermined was the opportunity to get to know the Arcane Order. They're the villains. We need to know them! Even Nari herself wasn't fleshed out even though she was supposed to be a major character. Part of the problem is that we hardly get to see Bellroc and Skrael, and the two of them are always shown together until they finally unite with the Titans. That doesn't give us a chance to see them as anything other than half of a pair and made their separate personalities hard to pin down. Based on a couple scenes, I guessed Skrael is full of suspicion and has a slight sense of humor, but everything I ever saw of Bellroc was impatience and sudden fits of anger. I've done what I could with this even though it's not much to go on, so most of what you'll see is my interpretation of their characters.