Disclaimer: All credit for everything except the plot go to Libba Bray's brain. What a nice brain. Also, this chapter is like, the longest so far. Huzzah!
That night, after all the girls, and Henry, have gone to bed, I sneak out in my nightgown. I have a strange sense of deja vu tiptoeing down the halls after curfew, though without Felicity and Ann, but they will join me soon enough. However, I cannot wait for them to visit the realms, so I quietly escape to the East Wing. I have not attempted to summon the door of light since the night of the battle, and I see it as a futile effort on my own.
I wave my hand in front of the stone slab and the outline of a door appears. A current of warmth enters my bloodstream and I smile, taking the handle and pulling it open.
The realms are as beautiful as I remember them to be. I race to the garden, rejoicing as I follow the sparkling river toward the colorful sunset. The last time I saw the garden it was ablaze, trampled and destroyed by the Winterlands army, but it has long since returned to its former glory. My fingers trail across the leaves of hedges, turning them into dripping rubies and emeralds that fall onto the grass, where they sprout into beautiful lilies.
I let out a great whoop of joy, falling back onto the soft grass, which accepts me warmly. I swear I can hear it hum in my ears as I roll down down a hill toward the river.
"Most High!" I spring to my feet. Gorgon walks around the riverbend toward me.
I wave at her. "Gorgon!" I feel sixteen again.
"It is good to see you." It is still strange to see her apart from the ship. I feel rude, not wanting to stare at her body but not being able to meet her eye. I am not long to turn to stone today, thank you.
"It is good to be back. How are you enjoying your freedom?"
She stops looking out over the realms. "It is wonderful to see the realms for myself again. I have been traveling much since your last visit."
"And what have you seen? Anything out of the ordinary since I left?"
The snakes around her head watch me carefully, their forked tongues flickering in and out of sight. Gorgon is calm. "Nothing worth noting. Even the Poppy Warriors have been scarce in the years past." I blush, turning my attention toward the river. It sparkles in the bright sunlight.
"I will have need to visit them soon. But for now, I would like to ride to the Forest of Lights, if you will guide me." She nods, leading me to the boat she was tied to for so many years. The river is calm as we make our way through the golden curtain and emerge on the shores of the forest of lights. The trees are still sharred from the fires that engulfed their land, but they have rebuilt and their camp looks stronger than ever.
I disembark the ship, heading straight for Philon's tent. He emerges, his face lighting up when he catches sight of me. "Priestess! You have returned to us."
"I have. It is high time we gather the creatures of the realms and form an alliance."
"The Hajin will join us, as will many of the other tribes. Though I fear the Poppy Warriors will take some convincing." The other creatures gather around us, listening intently.
"It is high on my list of priorities. If you will, please send word to the other tribes that we should meet tomorrow. There will be much to discuss."
He bows to me, and I return his gesture. "Where shall we meet?"
I think for a moment, pondering my options, choosing the easiest of them. "The garden shall do nicely, I think."
"Tomorrow, then. We eagerly await your return." I smile and weave my way through the crowd back to the shore, where Gorgon waits.
"Where to next, Most High?" she asks from the bow of the boat.
I think over my possibilities. "I would like to visit the Temple, if you please."
The Hajin are most delighted to see me, especially Asha. "Lady Hope, my people will accept your offer to join the alliance."
"So Philon said. We are meeting in the garden tomorrow with the other tribes to discuss how to go about ruling the realms. We would be most grateful if you would join us."
Asha bows ceremoniously, presenting me with a pristine poppy, unknowingly sparking my residing anxiety. "We will be there. Thank you, Lady Hope." I am at ease knowing that the realms tribes are so at peace with one another. However, I cannot put off my most important visit tonight.
I tell Gorgon to sail for the Poppy Warriors' cathedral.
As we near the deceptively golden structure, its glamour fades, revealing its true face, an old, rotting ruin. Black birds circle overhead cawing at us and Gorgon's snakes hiss and rattle, but she steers steadily. The bird settle on the boat, slowly taking the form of the rugged troupe I have not missed. Though their numbers are significantly smaller, there are enough that should I have to, I would not be able to fight them single-handedly, especially with the magic readily at hand for all of them.
The one I recognize as Boaz approaches me like a hunter stalking its prey. "Boaz," I greet him coldly.
"Hello, poppet." His eyes, rimmed with thick black kohl, are like ice, the hatred in them piercing. "We meet again."
"Before you run me through, please hear me out." The men all cackle and the sound is disturbingly similar to the cawing sounds they make as birds.
"We are not here to listen, poppet. We want revenge!" He thrusts his fist into the air, stirring the men surrounding us to loud jeers and angry calls.
"What Kartik did was wrong, but I am here to set it right! I want you all to join the alliance and receive a share of the magic." Boaz laughs, circling me closely. One of his long, dirty nails trails my cheeks and I nearly gag, but manage to hold myself together.
"We've already got the magic, love. What else is there to discuss?" He rips his hand away, slicing my cheek. It stings, but I push the pain down.
"Not for long. If you will join us, you will never be without magic again. With conditions, granted."
"And why, poppet, should we allow you to restrict us? After all, you are outnumbered." A chorus of chuckles sounds and it chills me to the bone.
"Because I am not alone." Gorgon comes to flank me, staring a poppy warrior dead in the face. As I watch, he is drawn in by gorgon's gaze and slowly turns to stone. She breaks their eye contact just before he is gone, but it still leaves him weak and frightened. The men are unsettled. Boaz sizes me up. Though my heart pounds loudly in my ears, I stand tall.
"Very well then, priestess. But do not think we are so easily won. I shall join you in this meeting, but we will play by my rules."
"We will play by the rules I choose. It will be my way or no way." He chortles, unsheathing his sword and carving a strange figure into the wood of the mast.
"We shall see, poppet." Some of the men abscond, their arms morphing into flapping wings that beat against the air. Boaz turns to leave but I stop him.
"And one last thing." He turns and meets my eye with a bemused expression. "Kartik will be with me when we meet with the tribes, but you are not to harm him in any way. He does not intend to do any more damage than he has already done. Are we understood?"
Boaz bows condescendingly, throwing me one last spat phrase before flapping into the sky. "As you wish, poppet."
Gorgon and I are alone on the boat again, and once we are out of sight of the cathedral, I find it easier to breathe again. Upon closer inspection, I realize that the figure etched into the mast by Boaz's blade is the sword and the skull, the mark of the Rakshana. It sends a shiver down my spine. What could it possibly mean? In an attempt to shake it off, I cup my hands over the wood, feeling it return to its original state under my fingertips. But the image is burned into my mind, and it shall take more than magic to remove it.
"Thank you," I say to Gorgon, whose stare does not stray from the river ahead.
"Of course, Most High."
We stand in silence for a moment, the waves gently lapping against the stern the only sound. "You will be there tomorrow as well, won't you?"
"I have no use for the magic, Most High."
I take a step closer. "But you are the sole representative of the gorgons. Why should you not be there?"
"I have my reasons." She does not say any more and I do not push her further. She steers us to the garden, where she lets me off.
"Thank you, Gorgon. You have proved a most reliable friend," I call from the shore.
She nods. "Until tomorrow, Most High." She disappears around the riverbend and I slowly make my way back to the door. As I pass the path to the Borderlands, I find myself drawn to it. It seems wrong to go without Ann and Fee, but perhaps they will not want to go back after Pippa's final fall from glory. I find myself traveling the familiar path toward the old cathedral. The one that fell, trapping our old friend beneath its weight.
I am unsurprised when I round the final corner and come upon a pile of undisturbed rubble. It brings back so many memories, welcome yet chilling as the mist that envelops me with its icy fingers. I slowly approach the ruins, thinking of my friend trapped within. Is it possible for her to die? If she was to stay in the realms forever, is she still trapped? If so, the body of our old teacher, Miss McCleethy, is also buried under the debris. A chill runs down my spine and I back slowly away.
I should not have come here. I sprint around the ruins toward the Winterlands. The door of bone opens for me, revealing to me a land changed.
The dreariness of the Winterlands has been replaced with a fruitful land of light. The once-bare trees now sag under the weight of their limbs, laden with fruits, some of which are not familiar to me. As I make my journey, every bit of the land has changed, showing not a single inch of charred or frozen ground as I make my way toward the heart of the Winterlands. No longer do the dead hang from the trees, and for that I am immensely grateful.
I enter a large clearing. Before me stands the Tree of All Souls. The last time I was here, I could hear the wind whispering my name through its branches, felt its leaves trail across my tear-stained cheeks. Now, the tree stands tall and silent and empty.
I approach it with confidence, placing a tentative hand against its rough bark. Before, the tree whispered to me of power, of love, belonging. Now, the tree is silent. It has no heartbeat, no rushing pulse of blood beneath its surface. It is still. A wave of relief washes over me.
"Thank you," I whisper, "for giving him back to me."
It does not reply.
The hallway to the door is dark and my eyes slowly adjust as I feel my way out. Suddenly, a shadow appears, trapping me against the wall. My heart races in my chest.
"I shall scream!"
The shadow laughs. "Four years and still the same threat."
I can finally breathe again. "Kartik? Goodness, you scared the devil out of me!" I chide as I raise my hand to my beating heart.
"My apologies, Miss Doyle." His voice is husky as his lips press against my forehead, my eyelids, my cheeks, and finally my lips.
"Surprisingly peaceful. The tribes are eager to join hands." It is difficult to speak with his mouth on mine.
"That is wonderful news."
"I even spoke with the Poppy Warriors." I wince as his fingers brush across the long-forgotten cut on my cheek.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Kartik's voice is laced with worry as he retrieves a handkerchief, dabbing at the nearly congealed blood along the cut.
"I am fine. They will join us, but they are reluctant. I am afraid they will betray my trust." Kartik's fingers run through his hair. Even in the dark, he looks as if some sleep could do him well. "However, I warned them that I want you with me to assemble the tribes and that they are not to harm you. If I have any say, you are a free man in the realms."
"That is also wonderful news, for I should like to see the Caves of Sighs again soon." A wicked blush works its way up my neck and into my cheeks as he leans close. Our lips tangle in matching grins and I am suddenly so filled with joy at his return that I cannot help the tears that begin falling down my cheeks. In the darkness, I feel his cool hand on my cheek. I reach up, slowly trailing my fingers along his cheekbones, his jaw, his lips. "What's wrong?"
I shake my head. "I still can't believe it's really you," I whisper. "Having you here, it feels like a dream. Like it's too good to be true. Are you sure I will not wake soon?"
His fingers grip mine, taking them from his face and pressing my hand against his heart, which beats steadily into my palm. With it comes a sense of relief. Then I am seized by a sudden terror. This heartbeat is so precious yet so fragile. It stopped once and I was powerless against it. I feel such a surging sense of responsibility for Kartik that it takes my breath away.
I collapse into his chest. "Gemma, I promise that you will never have to be alone again. I am here for you and Henry now, and I do not intend on ever letting myself be torn away from you as long as I live." With a light finger, he tips my chin up so that he may look me in the eyes. "We have been given a second chance, Gemma. I am not going to let it slip away from me."
The tears flow heavier now and I clutch him so tightly I am afraid I will hurt him, but he simply presses me against the wall, letting me cry myself out as he whispers soothingly into my ear in Hindi. As the minutes roll by, my sudden onslaught of emotion has me slumping into his arms, drained of all energy. He gently sweeps me into his arms and carries me silently through the damp hallway, across the lawn, and into Spence. Wordlessly, he delivers me to my room and tucks me into bed next to Henry.
"Goodnight, Lady Hope," he whispers before letting the door click quietly shut behind him as I slip into a deep slumber.
Yay for more Karma times! Karma makes me sane and so do reviews! No but seriously thank you for reviewing and stuff, they make me super happy. And I also kinda get the urge to update when I get a new review, so you should definitely do that thing. Plus I just finished college for the spring so I'll have a lot more time to update over the summer! I'm sorry I haven't been updating, but now that I have mon can return to Kartik and Gemma. Thank you guys for all the reviews and love!
Lady Hope