Page 85 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“Nyx,” I yell, but it could’ve just been a whisper. I’m not sure if I formed the word properly, but I must’ve made a sound because he appears over me. At first, I see his lips move, but my auditory functions seem to be delayed now too, because it takes a minute for me to realize what he’s saying.

“How are you feeling?”

“Euphoric . . . yet grief stricken,” I tell him, and his eyebrows furrow. Maybe I didn’t tell him. I can’t be sure.

“It’s working. Hold her down and don’t let her move no matter what she says.”

I think Athalda is speaking, but it sounds scary and distorted, like she’s a monster.

Nyx’s arms come down on me, and his body presses against mine. It feels nice. A burning sensation breaks out across my side, and I think I’m on fire again. I think I scream.

“It’s okay. It’ll all be over soon.”

The room is spinning, and my vision is starting to tunnel, then I focus on my dad.

“You’re one step closer, my little pixie,” he whispers then places a kiss on my forehead. He starts to fade and wobble out of existence.

“Dad, wait, don’t go!” I yell at him, willing him to appear again, but he’s gone and my vision darkens again. The pain in my side fades into the background, and I start thinking about my childhood. I think about my father. All of a sudden I realize I can recall memories with perfect clarity, things I shouldn’t be able to remember start popping in my head and flashing across my mind like I’m right there again.

I’m four years old again and running around my dad's study.

“What’s that, Daddy?” I ask as he turns over an object in his hands.

He looks troubled, and I press my hand on his knee.

“It’s okay, Daddy. Don’t be sad.”

He pulls me into his lap and places the object over his face.

“Boo,” he says through the mask. It’s a brown and red mask made of some type of stone, and it has hallowed eyes and a hollow mouth.

“Ahh.” I jump then laugh. The mask is creepy.

“This . . . Lyra, is something very special,” he says, taking it off his face and handing it to me. It’s heavy and cold in my hands.

“Can I have it?” I ask, holding it to my face. It’s too big, and I can only see through one eye hole at a time.

Before he can answer me, the room starts spinning, and I look down again. I’m older, but not by much.

“Come on, pixie. It’s not much further,” Dad says, holding my hand.

We’re walking, but I don’t recognize this place. It’s dark, and I think I hear the sea. We’re in a cave.

“I’m scared,” I tell him, and he picks me up but keeps walking.

“Never be afraid, pixie. Remember, you hold all the power in here,” he tells me, pointing at my heart. Then he’s gone.

“Lyra?” Nyx calls to me, and I blink, trying to focus on his face.

“What?” I ask, but it comes out garbled.

He says something else, but I just see his lips move. I don’t hear anything, and he fades out of my vision again.

I’m back in the castle in Tempest Moon. I'm on my hands and knees outside my mom and dad's bedroom door, peeking through a crack. My mother looks so young, and my dad looks so troubled. They’re arguing.

“Euric, you need to stop this. She’s just a little girl,” says Mom.

“Damnit, Macy, she’s never been just a little girl, and she never will be. The sooner you accept that, the better it will be for everyone involved.”