Chapter 12
Bryce touched his throat. "My voice…" he said slowly.
Watch, Bryce, Tira, and Amy had rested only forty minutes. Once the alarm sounded on one of Watch's watches, signaling them to awaken, Bryce soon found he had mysteriously healed.
"The bruising is gone too…" Tira noted suspiciously.
From the far side of the log that the four of them had rested against, Amy explained. "My blood," she said.
"…It's part of your wish," Bryce realised. "How you're immortal. I helped bandage your wrist and came into contact with your blood."
Tira turned to Watch. "You did too. Have you noticed anything?"
Watch had. When Amy was shot with the arrow, he had been covered in her blood. Once he awoke in the clearing and replaced his glasses, he noticed the prescription was suddenly too strong. Amy's blood, to a degree, had repaired his eyesight – something he was notoriously sensitive about. That he had only rarely let Ann Templeton help him with it did not bode well for Amy.
But for now Watch paused. Then shrugged. "We should really go now," he said, looking at a watch.
And they did. It was imperative they find Naia more than ever considering the troubles they had with the foreign creatures. Bryce, Watch, and Tira were experienced in the paranormal and yet they had almost met death quite a few times that day. They could only hope the townspeople were faring better, but it seemed unlikely. It was the most dangerous threat the town had faced in a long time. If not ever.
The four of them reached the edge of the forest in less than ten minutes. Beyond the trees, other than a few patches of grass, there was nothing growing – dirt and gravel surrounded the town's reservoir. This had always given rise to Sally's belief the water was poisonous, and given that it was also grey in colour, it seemed likely despite the fact Watch had drank from it once. Nevertheless, it was surprising that there were far fewer creatures by the water than they had expected. The reservoir was the largest body of fresh water for miles. There were no harbingers, and none of those zombie-resembling creatures; just a handful of little animals that looked something like possums, and some of those giant butterflies that they had come across on the way to the grocery store. After quickly surveying the scene, Bryce spoke.
"I suppose we want to go towards the glow," he said. There was no need to point to what he meant. At the south end of the reservoir, where a path led over a few hills and through the forest to some caves, there was a piercing red light – presumably coming from one of the rock formations. Since Saline had told them Naia preferred caves, this was likely. They began their trek out of the forest and toward them.
"Shouldn't we have a plan?" Tira asked, voicing one of their major concerns.
"The last fairy I ran into just made Adam, Sally, Cindy, and I invisible," Watch said. "It was a minor spell to get back at us for drinking fairy water. Fairies aren't even supposed to be as powerful as Naia is rumoured to be."
"Well, 'fairy' is just a word," Bryce said thoughtfully. "Some words that are used in two different languages on our earth, or even two different countries with the same language don't have the same meaning, so definitions can't possibly be expected to transcend inter-dimensional portals. It's quite possible that Naia is actually what we call a witch. It would explain her apparent powers."
"Thinking of it that way makes our situation seem all the more dangerous," Tira said worriedly.
"It does," Watch agreed.
They decided to just walk into the cave and reason with the fairy, or witch, or whatever Naia was. It was really the only thing they could do because none of them had the power to send the Jarethcomb creatures home and then close the Secret Path, which was being held open. As a precaution, however, Bryce made sure the laser pistol was at hand.
Though Watch told them to be on guard, the small possum-like animals turned out to be as harmless as they looked. They ran away to hide in the forest as Tira, Watch, Bryce, and Amy approached them. This was the first time something had gone their way that day and they all hoped it would be a pattern to its end.
Once they reached the top of the first hill, they found that the red light seemed to be coming from every direction. It soaked into their skin, their hair, every leaf, every trunk. As they approached the cave, the red light slowly began to fade. No doubt it was supernatural. In its place a questionable smell began to escalate.
The cave they were looking for was set a hill back from the Haunted Cave, which had been created from lava. Set higher up, Naia's supposed hideaway turned out to be created by boulders that must have been deposited during the last ice age. The opening of the cave was narrow, so each of them had to squeeze in.
Though sunlight dappled through the openings between the boulders above them, the light was dim. Fortunately, the cave was shallow, and a woman was sitting towards the back of it, meditating under a soft beam of sunlight and the mess of her bright red hair. In front of her sat a bowl with mush, and varying plants and bottles of different sizes and colours. This is where the stench resonated.
"Naia?" Bryce called. The woman opened her eyes. Then frowned.
"Who are you?"
Watch spoke carefully. "We're from the town down there," he began, pointing north. "We thought we could be of help. Saline told us where you'd be."
But Naia remained silent. She just stared at them.
"We are quite resourceful," Bryce offered.
"I can see that," Naia waved off. "Your auras."
There was an awkward pause then. Naia continued staring at them. The four of them stared at one another.
"So…can we be of assistance?" Bryce asked. "I mean both our worlds are in trouble."
"It is the lilais's fight," Naia said. "Ask them."
Watch was taken back. "But you brought them here – you brought all the creatures from Jarethcomb here. You even changed the Lilais into the Harbingers that are ravaging both dimensions. Both our dimensions will be damaged. Maybe even destroyed."
"Yes…" Naia said thoughtfully. "I suppose I was a bit angry last night."
"So this isn't about revenge at all – it's just about the shops," Bryce said.
At this, Naia's carefree look faded. "I know that's what I told Jarethcomb, but this is not about revenge for being banished. I once wanted to change human society, but it is pointless – you humans were created to destroy, fight, and taint. You are not worth the effort revenge calls upon.
I do not consider myself banished either. I remain in Jarethcomb because I like it, and I have now left because a man seeks my power. Not so much to build shops."
"Why doesn't Saline know the truth?" Tira asked.
"A fight over magic would be catastrophic, and one that would certainly come about if Jarethcomb knew exactly what is going on," Naia said sternly. "Humans use and build on practical technology, while fairies use advanced natural studies. Those are just the different paths our two races chose.
This man – Duke van de Ryn – he has help. For him to succeed in harnessing my power – it would be like giving the power of life and death to an ill-mannered child. That is plenty of reason to fight."
"So this is your fight," Bryce argued.
"No." She said. "You do not understand. It is too risky for me to be near that man and his associates. I am a fairy. Not a god. I do not snap my fingers and whatever I wish to happen happens. Magic cannot do everything the imagination dreams despite rumours and legends. They could very well be capable of their goals – I may not be able withstand them should we meet."
Slightly disconcerted, Naia stood and walked the short distance to a crack between the boulders. A window overlooking the ocean. If time were not of the essence, the four of them would have been enjoying it as Naia seemed to be. But at this point they were crushed; they had come all this way, gone through all that trouble, and it looked like there would be nothing to show for it. The long silence that followed hung heavy on their shoulders.
"We all almost died getting here," Amy suddenly said. She scoffed. "And you're just going to continue to hide here? We're trying to help. We're not being greedy. We're not looking out for number one."
"Almost?" Naia asked, turning around. She was amused by Amy's first comment.
Again she stared at each of them. It was a stare similar to Ann Templeton's; one that pierced the surface of their skin. "You. You died." She said to Amy as her eyes came to rest on her again. The fairy was not fazed by how she came back from the dead. Naia turned back to the window. "In either case, yes, I am hiding. It does not bruise my ego or my pride to admit that. My reasons are sufficient."
Watch cleared his throat. "We understand the danger," he began, looking sideways at Amy. "But if there is anything that you could do to help us, that would be great. This is a dangerous and complicated matter that we don't know how to resolve. But it needs to be resolved," he reminded her.
Naia continued to stare out at the view. Better at that than them again. "If you walk down to the road back to your village you will find one of your metal carriages. The key is in it. It should get you back to town," she said as though the conversation had lost its amusement. It was certainly finished.
"Nothing?" Bryce asked in disbelief. He shook his head. "Not even advice, or a hint?"
But Naia remained silent. She rested her head against the side of her little rock window. The four of them could only leave.
Tira was the first to speak after they had left the cave. This was not until they had almost reached the reservoir. "I can't believe…" she trailed off. "The nerve of her! She doesn't seem concerned in the least about the damage she's causing."
This angry outburst was certainly a first for Tira, but it was wholly justified after nearly losing her three companions. Even her own life. Watch.
Watch placed a hand on her shoulder. "We always find a solution," he said, trying to give her hope.
"We do," Bryce agreed. "I'm sure Adam, Sally, and Cindy are faring better than we are."
"They better be – a car doesn't solve this harbinger problem. Or the ecosystem problem with these worlds colliding," Tira added.
"Or the problem of our government finding out that other dimensions exist and stripping each place of their resources," Watch added.
It wasn't long before they came across a nice sports car. A hot little number with its nose in some thick bushes. They had been wondering how the fairy drove up there – apparently not well.
Disheartened as they were, the car did little to improve their moods despite the lack of time and effort it would now take to get back to town. Sally, Cindy, and Adam would be long ahead of them in the dimension beyond the Secret Path so to catch up to them would be a long shot. Not to mention that it might take well into the night since Saline had explained quite clearly that Aulora was far. It was currently four o'clock, and although there was no deadline, they all felt they were running over one.
Time, however, was not the only factor. The three of them felt perfectly fine other than requiring a lengthy shower, and both Bryce and Watch probably owed that to Amy's apparent wish and definite healing abilities. Despite her own powerful blood, Amy had been seriously injured and would undoubtedly not be able to make that trip to Aulora. They were not crazy about leaving her somewhere. Not when the harbingers could sense people with abilities that could help their cause.
"As depressing as listing the problems this whole harbinger thing is causing, it does make apparent the gravity of the situation," Bryce said. He hesitated before continuing. He looked in the rearview mirror at Watch and Tira. "I believe we should start thinking about trying to seal the Secret Path."
This got everyone's attention, including the weary Amy. It was a well known fact that Bryce had been not only interested in, but also worked to close the Secret Path permanently since before Adam and Cindy had even heard of their friend. Sally had also listed this goal as the reason for Bryce's disappearance into the demon world back when they were twelve. None of them, however, knew how close he was to knowing how to do so. Of course, if he knew exactly how, it would most likely have been done already.
"I don't think I like that idea," Tira said slowly, clearly having her other three best friends in mind. This was not to say Bryce did not.
"We don't need to like it," Bryce said. He swallowed thickly. "I just don't see how we can fix this. Many townspeople are hurt, maybe dead. The number's most likely still climbing. And what if this leaks out like Watch supposed?"
Watch's stare burned into the back Bryce's head. "I'm tired of how we make all the damn sacrifices," he muttered. "We're not closing the Path. At least not until Cindy, Adam, and Sally come back. I don't care if those emaciated creatures take over the world."
Bryce avoided the rearview mirror now. "Okay," he agreed. His voice barely above a whisper.
Spooksville was now a ghost town. The streets were empty of people; a few cars were abandoned in odd spots. They hadn't decided where to go, but Bryce was heading in the direction of the graveyard.
"Shit!" He suddenly swore. He swerved the car – jarring them all to the left. Once he hit the brakes they jolted forward.
"Is everyone okay?" Bryce asked shakily. He looked to each of them. All their nerves were shot, but they were fine – they had not been going fast. Looking up, the four of them saw what Bryce missed. It was Naia. She was walking toward them.