She might be hurt, but she should make it, even before the other shifters arrive.
I know that the wound looks nasty and I'm worried that she might get an infection. In my world, there are herbs in the forest that have healing properties, but here, I really have no idea what to expect. Everything is dead and filled with darkness.
"Fine, fine. I'll look for it," I say more to myself. This is crazy. I still have to find Jorgen, then get back, but at the same time, I can't leave her like that. Shifters or even mages might show up here. They know that she has an egg, and they wouldn't hesitate to kill her now that she’s wounded.
At the same time, I know that I wasn't supposed to alter the past, that she was meant to remain on top of the tower.
I start looking for healing herbs in the ground, uprooting everything that I can find. There aren’t many green plants, but I continue searching. That takes a while, but I use my intuition to locate herbs that are still thriving. By the time I return, sweat’s dripping down my face, and my whole body is smudged with ash.
The beast allows me to get closer and after turning the herbs into a paste, I apply it to her burns. The beast doesn't move at all, only watches me while I work. Time is running out, but that shouldn't matter right now. In my head, I know I'm the reason that the entire future might change, and it's my duty to help her.
Once I'm done, she roars loudly, and I want to believe that it's a happy sign. Then she lifts her tail and touches my face. The connection burns right through me. I sense her magic, it's flowing steadily and I think she's trying to thank me. Dragons are intelligent creatures, filled with compassion and love. The world has never understood them, and they were killed almost to the point of extinction.
I walk away from her and the egg, knowing that soon she should be able to get back to the tower.
By the time I start moving through the forest, I'm exhausted and all my muscles are sore. I stop for a moment to rest, even my legs are aching. I haven't eaten for a while and my stomach is rumbling. The future of Rivenna, people in the camp and maybe the entire shifter race lays in my hands, but first I need to find Jorgen. He should be around here somewhere, because according to the warlock witch he's not been hurt.
I take out mirror and move it in my hand for several moments. This is the past and if the red-haired bitch managed to slip inside this world, then maybe I can too. If I could track down the man who took baby Ruscal away, maybe I can change his entire future.
"No, you need to find Jorgen. The camp was attacked and Hans is dead," I say to myself.
My scar is hurting at little, but I open the mirror and place it on the ground. I'm hoping that the warlock won't be free once me and Jorgen cross back into the real world. She might be in the past or in present. Either way, she's stuck. I sit on the ground and close my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. Jorgen’s out there, so I ask the mirror to guide me, thinking about him, imagining myself being reunited with him.
The fire magic mixed with blazing energy drifts around. When I open my eyes there’s another portal in front of me. Somehow, I'm controlling the mirror, controlling its enormous power.
"Thank you, Hommis," I whisper.
I shoot back on my feet and walk through it. Warmth caresses my cheeks, and the next thing I know I'm walking into the heart of the city. The flakes, the darkness and the empty streets remind me that I'm still in the past. Disoriented and a little freaked out, I spot someone laying on the pavement. My heart skips a beat, and I run, realising that it's Jorgen.
"Hey, hey, Jorgen. Wake up! Please you have to be all right," I say, turning him over and checking his pulse. Luckily, he’s still warm and breathing. I put some herbs into my mouth, chewing it quickly. It's one of the old tricks that Jared taught me when I was still training to be a huntsman. Thankfully, I had some in my bag.
I rub the back of his neck with it and then slap him a few times. He finally opens his eyes as the wind blows, ruffling my hair.
"Astri, what the hell happened? What are you doing here?" he asks, and I want to kiss him badly. I want him to forget what I've done for a second. Maybe then he can take me into his arms and tell me that he still loves me.
"It's over. We can go back to real Rivenna now. The warlock witch sent the three-headed dragon to separate us," I explain and then go over what happened after I passed out. Jorgen listens to me carefully, and his eyes widen as I end my story, telling him that I locked the devious bitch inside the mirror.
He looks down at the palm of my hand and his eyes gleam with admiration. Maybe we needed to be separated, maybe now he’ll see that I never intended to hurt him.
"I woke up on the street with no recollection of how I got there. I tried to get back to the castle, but I felt drained. My energy was gone and then someone attacked me. Humans could see me, and they hit me with something," Jorgen explains.
"The warlock must have sent you here to confuse you. We need to return to the camp. I'm worried about my family and the other shifters. We have no idea what happened to them after we left," I say, thinking the worst.
He grabs my hand all of a sudden, and I look at him with surprise.
"Astri, I’ve been a fool and I'm sorry for everything," he tells me, and my heart swells in my chest.
He cares for me, he always did, but he was hurt. I appreciate that he wants to talk, but we mustn't waste any time. I feel the heat rising in the pit of my stomach reminding me that maybe we’ll never get a moment like this ever again once we return to our world.
"I hurt you, betrayed you, and I shouldn't have expected anything else," I say, dropping my head. I want his respect and strength back.
The past several weeks was tough for both of us. And he lost his father. Ruscal murdered him right in front of his eyes. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that the mirror's energy forced him inside the portal.
It was some other magic beyond my control, but we’re going through this together. The city needs its leader back.
For a long moment we stare at each other, and I can't bear to think that I might lose him.
We still have a long way to go, and this is only the start, but at least he doesn't hate me anymore.
"Yes, but you thought that I had murdered your parents, Astri. Maybe none of this would have happened if you told me the truth. I lashed out at you way too much," he says and I allow the heat to encompass my hand. His blue eyes are drifting over my features. I’ve missed him so much, for so damn long.
"The warlock witch is trapped, and we need to head back to the camp, Jorgen. I'm sorry about your father, and I promise you that Ruscal’s going to pay for all the evil things that he’s done," I assure him, with determination in my voice. There’s only so much strength left inside me, the rest is love and devotion.
"Speaking of which. It looks like this whole absurd prophecy was more twisted than I thought. You were always meant to cross me and my brother's path. This must have been written in the stars, and yet I was the one who fell in love with you, not him," he says, and my heart kicks me in my chest.
I never told him how I really feel about him, thinking that it was too soon. Now I regret it.
We need to build trust with each other again and that will take time.
"He won't believe in it, and he’ll probably deny it too. That warlock witch was trying to save him, but someone stopped her. Did you recognise the shifter? I couldn't tell if he was a mage or a human?"
Jorgen shakes his head and exhales sharply. He pulls away from me lifting himself back to his feet. I guess our moment is gone. It's all about business again.
"No, I’ve never seen him in my life. But he might have been sent by Sergiej, the mage who brought him up. It’s the only thing that comes to mind right now," Jorgen says.
"I think we can talk about it on the way. We need to use the mirror again," I tell him, and he seems to agree with me.
My hormones are letting me know that it's been a while since he showed me any kind of affection. We’ve both been through hell, bu
t right now we need to focus on what's important.
We reach the courtyard on the castle grounds, noticing the guards. A white flag is waving on the highest tower. It's a sign of a newborn child, a boy: the future ruler of Rivenna. The guards are talking about Hans returning soon, about seeing his son for the first time.
"Maybe if my brother was never taken away, then none of this would have happened," Jorgen contemplates when I pull out the mirror and circle my shaky fingers over the surface. My scar still hurts, but it's more of an aching pain rather than the usual stinging sensations. "I'm proud of you Astri, and I don't regret anything. It's going to take me a bit of time to come to terms with what's happened."
I nod and use my energy to create the portal. The lights radiate around me until we cross through it, leading us to the world on the other side. The truth is, that I'm dreading to find out what's out there. Dreading to see if my friends have been captured again.
Chapter Twelve
The return to the world that we used to know.
I slam on the ground, hitting my head over something solid. For a split second I just lay there, waiting for the pain to pass, trying to breathe in at the same time. I wonder how many more damn times I’m going to hit my head. If I keep this up, it could cause lasting damage, shifter or not. The world around me is spinning away. The ground is wet, and my clothes are soaked.
"Astri, are you all right?" the familiar voice asks the question that I’ve been asking myself the past several moments. Then I see a pair azure eyes staring at me. It looks like we managed to survive going through the portal the second time after all. The red-haired warlock witch is still securely locked inside the mirror. I squeeze Emilia's gift tightly in my hand.
"Not really, but I'll survive. Do you know if we’re anywhere near the old camp?" I ask, when he helps me get back on my feet. I clasp my fingers around his, still having flashbacks of us together—very inappropriate flashbacks.
We’re back and it’s day time. Somehow, I feel better, seeing the sun again. After hearing the birds and sensing wild animals deeper in the forest, I'm certain that we’re back in the world that we know so well.
My heart is still racing away, trying to push away the last several hours.
"No idea, but I think we should start moving," Jorgen responds and grips his sword. Apparently, he brought it back from the world of the dead. I owe him my life.
I should have never trusted a warlock of any kind. They’re crazy beings filled with greed and the need for more power. I guess that I learned my lesson the hard way.
"Yes, I hope they had time to escape. The wild shifters attacked the camp out of nowhere. I think Edvard had forgotten about his protective spells," I add, and a cold shiver moves down my spine.
I have a bad feeling about going back to the old camp, but we can't head straight to the city.
My senses are much sharper now, but I’ve never felt more exhausted. Maybe the aftermath of shifting into a dragon is finally catching up with me in this world. I don't sense shifters anywhere and I begin to lose my confidence a little.
The location seems familiar, and I'm certain that I’ve been hunting here in the past. It must have rained because the ground is still muddy. We keep moving through the forest, and after an hour, we find the camp or what's left of it.
"For Hommis," I gasp, seeing that the place looks completely deserted. There are several dead bodies behind the trees.
My heartbeat speeds up as I approach them. The smell is horrendous, the bodies must have been here for a while. We have no idea how much time has passed since we left, but to me it feels like only a few hours have gone by, not days.
"Do you recognise any of them?" Jorgen asks, and I shake my head. I glance at him, seeing that he's working hard to remain calm. Deep down I'm freaking out, wondering if Edvard, Aria, Emilia and the rest of the group managed to escape to safety. I can't be sure, there’s a possibility that they might be dead too.
"No, but they were with Tom, the group that I joined after they found me," I explain.
We wasted enough time in the Neverworld, and now we have to join the others. I want to fight the wild shifters, fight anyone who stands in my way to Ruscal.
"You're right. I suspect that none of them deiced to stay in the forest. This territory is still dangerous. We have to head back to the city," Jorgen suggests, and I can't help but to agree.
He seems much more alert now, filled with fresh determination and desire to fight. I hope it's not temporary, and that he’s willing to defeat the enemy. Some sort of energy forced him to join me earlier on and maybe there was a reason behind it. I just have to help him get his beast back and then maybe he can finally forgive me.
"We should bury them, it's the least that we can do for those who lost their lives out here," I suggest and Jorgen nods.
This takes a while, and I know that we’re wasting time, but these shifters gave their lives to protect Jorgen, to protect their city. Once I start digging graves near the old pine tree, my hands are itching to fight. I want to run to the castle and challenge the scum who caused so much pain and suffering in my life.
"I know what you're thinking Astri, but this isn't going to be easy. We need an army to defeat Ruscal. Duncan and Vacalav detest him and I know they’re going to help us. I’ve fought alongside their troops, supported them when they were attacked by Sergiej," Jorgen says, and I stop what I'm doing, trying to figure out if during our trip to the past he gained some mind reading abilities.
"How did yo—"
"I'm quite familiar with that fierce look on your face. It can only mean one thing," he chuckles.
We don't talk after that, trying to respect the dead around us. Once we’re done digging the graves, we place the bodies inside and bury them. Jorgen says a prayer to Hommis, our God, and then we head back towards the city.
It's a distance away, but several hours later we arrive without any complications. The sun is slowly beginning to disappear behind the horizon. We have to be vigilant, and use the route that takes us through the human populated area. It's not safe, especially for Jorgen to show himself in public.
Word can spread quickly and then Ruscal will send his people to find us. I hope that Edvard and the rest of the group have chosen to go back to the old mill. It’s the only safe place left where Edvard can use his protection spells.
I'm nervous walking through the allies, and on edge every time some human glances in our direction. I want to use my invisibility spell, but Jorgen doesn't know that my abilities are so advanced. It's another secret that I’ve been keeping from him.
Now isn't a great time to reveal to him that I’ve not been honest with him, but it’s now or never.
"I can guide us through the city, but I think it's better if I disappear. We’ll have a better chance to find the others. Besides, wild shifters suspect that we’re travelling together," I tell him, following the narrow path behind the housing estate. A squirrel moves past us and Jorgen glances at me, looking slightly confused.
"You want to separate?" he asks.
"There’s something that I can do that others can't. I’ve gained a certain ability that’s proven to be useful in the past," I say, biting my lip. Ruscal must have convinced a few humans to spy for him in exchange for some sort of reward. For now, Jorgen’s the most wanted man in the city.
"Ability?"
"I can become invisible anytime I want. Before the contest, I got my hands on some dragon venom and wanted to use it to remove my scar. Unfortunately, the spell didn't work and I ended up being able to become invisible," I explain, rubbing my deformed cheek. Over time I got used to the fact that my own magic scarred me. I was weak and insecure, but I grew, proving to everyone that I wasn't just some scarred girl with insecurities.
Jorgen stops me and looks at me with a deep frown.
"Invisible? That's not possible, Astri. Only elder mages who have been studying magic over many years can replace shifting into invisibility," he tells me, obviously knowing mo
re than I do on this subject.
I step away from him, and then concentrate on my usual spell. We’re partners, and I still believe that we have a future together, so I'm done with all the lies. We’ve had too many secrets between us since our paths crossed.
Then I vanish right in front of his eyes and he nearly falls, backing away a little. It's been a few months and I’ve learned to control my ability a bit better with some much needed practise.
"Wow, Astri. This isn't possible, and you're not even a mage," he finally says, shaking his head, looking truly disturbed.
"I just wanted to let you know. It's better if you’re seen alone in the city. Ruscal has his people everywhere," I say.
"Incredible, and you just confirmed that Wyvern shifters are truly more powerful than any mage," he adds, staring at me with his eyes wide open.
It's just a theory and I don't believe that it's necessarily true. I gained this ability when I messed around with fake dragon venom.
"I trusted that some stranger had sold me real dragon venom. I was silly, and very insecure at the time," I say. "But, let's not dwell on it now. I just wanted you to know. We need to get back to the old mill. Edvard and the others would have gone there after their other location was compromised."
"I hope you're right," Jorgen mutters, still a little shock.
We carry on moving through the narrow alleys. The city seems quiet and we don't see many people around.
At some point, we have to walk through the busy streets, passing several shifters going about their day. I use my invisibility spell; other shifters aren't interested in a single human wondering around their area. To them, Jorgen isn't a mage, and right now him not having his beast works to our advantage.
Ten minutes later, we start walking down the human street. There are modern houses on each side of the road, expensive cars and it's obvious that we’re in the wealthy part of the human side of the city.
My heart skips a beat when I realise that it's my street. And ahead I see my aunt and uncle's place. I’ve been so focused on Jorgen and the others that I didn’t even realise where we were going.