AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Underworld and Otherworld are connected. They are two sides of the same coin. A coin I’m starting to think was melted together at once point. All one land. All one single world. And parts of it all got stuck when it was ripped apart.”
Rafe gave Bree a blank stare. He watched her continue to pace, mind whirring. She was jumping to conclusions, but it was that map. It made so much sense that it almost knocked her off her feet. Why else would Underworld be drenched in darkness? Why else would part of Otherworld be stuck in ice and snow?
“All right,” Rafferty finally nodded. “I can see how that might be possible. There are still a lot of questions in my mind, though. How and why? And what can that do for us?”
Bree stilled. She knew exactly how it could help. “We find a way to rejoin the fae realms.”
* * *
Of course, there were still some holes in Bree’s plan. Holes she pondered over as they continued their trek south to Munlin. How did one rejoin entire realms? It seemed impossible and far beyond anything even Taveon could do. And even if they managed, then what? They still had the same problem as before. The demons could just wait for nightfall before attacking.
After two days spent wandering through the fields, a city rose on a distant hill, back-lit by a shimmering sea. Moonlight danced along the waves, joyful and free. But the city itself was something out of a nightmare. Every building was made from slate grey rock in utilitarian squares. An endless expanse of them, bunched up together in the shadow of a spiky tower. Splashes of red painted every wall. Brown and dried, like old blood.
Bree wrinkled her nose as the stench of rot reached them.
“What the hell is this place?” she muttered.
“This is Munlin. The home of King Worm. He hates visitors and likes to spend every moment hidden away in his tower. The court leaves him alone. None of the dark fae like being around him, either.”
“Why?” Bree almost hated to ask. If the horned dark fae didn’t like King Worm, then there was something horribly wrong with him.
“You’ll see,” Rafferty murmured. “Just…be on your guard. He enjoys showing off his library, but he can be a little unpredictable.”
They approached the city on tired feet. Even with the enhanced power Bree had gained, she still grew weary, like any ordinary human. She could use a bed and a feast, but she had a feeling she would get neither of those here.
The city walls were piles of dried mud. Two guards lazed at the gated entrance. When Bree and Rafe drew closer, they snapped to attention.
“Who are you?” one of them barked, face hidden behind a steel helmet. He levelled a spear at them. “State your intentions here.”
“We’re travellers,” Rafferty said easily. “We’ve heard all about this wonderful library here, and we were hoping to have a look around.”
The guard muttered under his breath before turning to the other. He gave a shrug. “All right. You have one hour to take a look around, and then you must leave.”
“Leave?” Bree asked. “We’ve been travelling for days. Surely there’s an inn where we can rest?”
“No inns,” the guard barked. “We do not entertain visitors in Munlin. See the library and be on your way. Or don’t. Up to you.”
Bree shared a glance with Rafferty before nodding. The guards stepped aside, allowing them to pass beneath the spiked wooden gate into Munlin. The muddy street snatched at Bree’s boots, threatening to trap her there, along with the sad, rotting roofs above the grey stone buildings. The guard suddenly grabbed her arm and jerked her toward him, and her heart rocketed up into her throat.
“One hour. If you’re not back through this gate by then, we’ll have to find you and use your head to feed the crops.”
Bree swallowed hard.
The guard let go and returned to his post, leaving Bree with her stomach in knots. This place was nothing like the castle where she’d spent most of her time in Underworld. Everything about Munlin was dreary, damp, and sad. Every building they passed looked as if could collapse beneath a strong wind, and the streets were empty. Only mud kept them company as they made their way to the tower at the center of it all. Silence crept through the winding paths like venomous spiders.
Bree cut her eyes Rafferty’s way. “So, I can see now why none of you like to come here.”
“There are many beautiful places in Underworld. This is not one of them.”
They came to a stop just outside the tower. There were two sets of double doors that led inside. One right beside the other. The first was manned by two more guards, while the second sat wide open. The scent of parchment and ink wafted toward them, chasing away the cloying scent of mud.
“The library?” Bree arched a brow.
“As I said, he’s proud of it.” Rafferty went first, taking the lead. “He hates visitors. Just not here. Not for this.”
When they stepped inside, Bree could understand why. A domed ceiling rose up high above, elaborate paintings covering every surface. Along each wall, towering oak bookshelves held leather-bound books that gleamed beneath the flickering chandeliers. Ladders curved toward the top shelves, and a catalogue sat in the center of the room, a lot like the ones from back home before the internet took over the world. Bree let out a low whistle. It was shockingly large, beautiful, and pristine. The opposite of the entire city outside.
“How? Why?” Those were all the words she could find.
