Chapter 11

Coriakin's mansion was as incredible and magical as everything else in Narnia. We were walking down a long, dark hallway. He was leading us to somewhere—not quite sure where, but I stopped asking questions and walked between Caspian and Edmund. Lucy ahead of us, talking to Coriakin.

"What did you mean when you said you made them invisible for their own good?" Lucy asked him.

"Well they're not exactly threatening looking," I commented. "A bunny with a twitchy nose could have them running for cover."

"Indeed," he said with a sigh. "It seemed the easiest way to protect them from the evil."

"You mean the mist?" Edmund asked.

"I mean what lies behind the mist," Coriakin explained ominously.

Oh good because I thought that evil green mist just wasn't enough to be afraid of.

He stopped and we entered what appeared to be a large study. There were books everywhere, but the freakiest part was that above our heads, in different sections, were rotating blue shimmering lights that looked like the night sky.

"Wow," I said softly. I looked back to Coriakin just in time to see him dramatically unroll a long scribe. He barely flicked his wrist and it unrolled, landing on the ground where the most incredible map shone. The center of it was more clear and lifelike than a television set.

"It's quite . . . beautiful," Eustace said, surprising me. Maybe Narnia was doing as good for him as it was me.

I looked closely at the scribe. I could see many tents and a centaur blowing into a horn. My jaw dropped when I realized that it was actually moving. There was some kind of battle going on. Creatures were running at each other. I could hear dogs barking and a lion roaring from it.

"I mean, for a make-believe map of a make-believe world," Eustace continued.

"You were this close to saying something that wasn't annoying, kid," I said with a sigh. "Now we're back to square one. But don't you worry, I'll have you believing soon enough."

"You're just as crazy as the rest of them," Eustace said brusquely.

Keeping my cool, I replied, "If that's true then how come you see what we see?"

"I can separate fantasy from reality," he shot back.

I just shook my head at him, not bothering to retaliate. He'd come around eventually.

Maybe.

"There is the source of your troubles," Coriakin said, putting an end to me and Eustace's spat. "Dark Island." The center of the giant map was shifting to show us this said island. "A place where evil lurks." It zoomed on it. It definitely lived up to its name. It was like a giant, dark floating rock with an eerie green glow in the center.

"The name's at least comforting," I tried to joke. Even from the map I was getting all kinds of bad vibes.

"It can take any form," Coriakin said, walking forward to where Edmund and I stood. "It can make your darkest dreams come true."

I swallowed thickly and looked at Edmund, his face was more serious than I'd ever seen. He knew what his darkest dreams was, I could see it in his eyes. I laced my fingers through his and he squeezed my hand tightly.

Coriakin wasn't done scaring us yet, though he at least turned and started doing the stare down to people other than Edmund and I. "It seeks to corrupt all goodness. To steal the light from this world."

"How do we stop it?" Lucy asked, sounding far braver than I felt.

"You must break its spell," Coriakin said. He turned back to us and pointed at Edmund.

"That sword you carry, there are six others."

"Have you seen them?" Edmund asked. I didn't bother telling him that if he squeezed any harder he'd break my hand. I just rubbed my thumb across it, trying to soothe him.

"Yes."

"The six lords," Caspian said, "they passed through here?"

"Indeed," Coriakin said.

"Where are they headed?" Caspian asked.

"Where I sent them," Coriakin said simply. "To break the spell . . ."

Well, obviously, they didn't do such a good job. I wonder if it'd be disrespectful if I said that out loud . . .

I didn't get the chance. "You must follow the blue star," he said, pointing to what I assumed was the star floating above the map. "To Ramandu's Island. There, the seven swords must be laid at Aslan's table. Only then can their true magical power be released."

All of us exchanged uneasy looks as he continued speaking in his creepy, morbid way.

"But beware," he said. "You are all about to be tested."

"Tested?" Lucy asked. Coriakin turned to her.

"Until you lay down the seventh sword, evil has the upper hand. It will do everything in its power to tempt you."

He leaned closer to her. "Be strong. Don't fall to temptation."

I felt my eyes move to Edmund and saw him looking back. He nodded, trying to look reassuring. I leaned against him.

"To defeat the darkness out there, you must defeat the darkness in yourself."

What did that even mean?! Since I'd gotten here, I'd been nothing but happy. My past was nothing but a blur. Now here he was telling us things that would probably give me plenty of nightmares to prepare me for the damn real thing.

No, I could do this. I would do this. For Narnia, for my new friends, and for Edmund.

Not that I'd be much help, but it's the thought and foolish attempts that count.

I looked at Caspian, who was staring intensely, deep in thought. Lucy looked as fearful as I felt, though we were both attempting a brave face.

The model of the blue star glowed brightly. Staring at it made my heart pound.

I was so screwed.

AN: Hope you liked this chapter! Review my lovely Narnians! It encourages me to update faster!