Page 15
Outside were the twisted halls of the castle I’d wandered for years. Was this just an ongoing illusion or would I get somewhere? I wanted to talk to Rune. I would demand it. And for once, she would listen to me instead of leaving or shutting down.
She had to.
It was time for her to grow up and take some responsibility. Eerie and silent halls felt wrong no matter which way I turned. I stopped my progress and drew in a deep breath. What did I want to happen? Inside, I felt the now familiar rise of power answer my call. I want to see what’s happening, I repeated my earlier wish silently but with as much intention as I could.
When I opened my eyes, I knew what I had to do. I ran back to Rune’s room and out onto the balcony where I used to sneak in. Without hesitation I climbed over the railing onto the top of the stone gargoyle and leaped for the tree branch that hung above the moat. But instead of landing, I continued sailing onward, flying by using the air currents. Though I tried not to think too hard about where those were coming from and just be grateful they were there.
I continued through this strange, empty version of my world until I reached the citadel. There, I landed on top of the turret I used to sit on to watch the moons and far off mountain ranges. Now I knew they were filled with elves and dragons and many other wonders.
As I sat, legs dangling over the edge, the entire reality around me shifted. The dual silver orbs in the sky slowly moved closer, shrinking and evening out until I could peer through them like glasses.
A gasp erupted from me. I was seeing through Rune’s eyes! And right in front of me was Rivven’s beautiful, angry, beaten face.
Weeping, I reached out, but Rune did not lift her arms. Of course she didn’t. She probably didn’t even know I was there. Still, I’d received my wish, and I thanked Revka out loud for allowing it. To be fair, I had no idea where this strange magic had come from, so I added in a thank you to the other gods as well.
Rune’s gaze alternated between Rivven and Torvo, and I wished I could hear as well as see. When the former’s face paled, and we swung toward the hall to find Rufus and his guard, I climbed to my feet and screamed.
“Let him out! Hurry!” But no matter how much I begged, Rune gave no indication she heard my pleas. And when she marched past the guards and toward the steps, I began beating on the stones of the turret, knocking bits of rubble off that cascaded down the side. “Turn around!”
What had she just done? No. No. No. This felt worse than knowing nothing at all. I had to save him. Think, Nyah.
Once again, I closed my eyes and called to the magic. I have to speak to Rune. Yet when I opened them again, I did not find my sister anywhere. Why wasn’t it working? I paced across the edge of the wall as I wracked my mind, searching for a solution. Something, anything, I could do that might have an actual effect on the outside world.
What did I have? I had Tromodian elemental magic, as Torvo had made clear during his visit. I had the illusion magic of Centos. I had healing abilities that I shouldn’t. And…and I had Astridonian dream magic as well.
That was it.
Excited to try my new plan, I sat back down on the edge and looked out through my sister’s eyes. I watched as she hurried past the outside guard and back into her rooms, collapsing on the giant bed. Perfect.
“Sleep,” I said, and my voice echoed into the emptiness.
The view became unfocused, then darkened to black. I smiled. Now I just had to do what Torvo had done so well and find her in her dreams.
Eight
Leuruna
“How did you get here?” I sprung up out of bed, heart beating like the wings of an alicorn. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Had I accidentally called out my shadow hand again because of the stress of almost being caught? Did it matter how it had happened? She was here! But the look on her face stopped me from jumping up to throw my arms around her.
She approached me, only a few inches taller, yet somehow, the way she was looking at me made me feel like she towered ten feet above me. I clenched my hands together to keep from trembling.
“You’re pretending I don’t exist, but I do,” she said, her voice shaking as much as my limbs. Her pale eyes—exact matches for my own—searched my face, darting back and forth as though she wanted to find something that wasn’t there.
“That’s not true—”
“Don’t you dare make any more excuses!” Nyah screamed, grabbing me by the arms and yanking me off balance.
I gasped. Surely a being created by my own magic couldn’t hurt me. Could she?
“You are my sister,” she held me tight but leaned in close, tone softer now, desperate. “You care about me—I know you do. You love me as much as I love you, Rune. Please don’t lock me away anymore. I can help you. I can help everyone. Just let me out.”
“Let you out? But here you are. I…I don’t understand.”
Nyah stepped back, releasing me slowly. Brushing her long dark hair from her face, she drew in a deep breath.
“You’re dreaming. I called you back inside your mind so we could talk.”
Oh. I dropped onto the edge of the mattress, glancing around. I blinked, and Torvo appeared beside Nyah. Had I done that? Yes, judging by the fact that he was shirtless. If Nyah was right about this being a dream, I had conjured him. The sudden fear he’d try to kiss me in front of Nyah made my pulse stammer.
