The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld

  Halston held the rusty rail and kept an eye on those vines. Their little black eyes watched him curiously, from snakelike faces. He brushed one off his shoulder and it coiled back with a shriek that made the other vines vibrate.

  “How many times do I have to remind you not to touch them?” Tristan scolded.

  Halston shrugged. “It touched me.” He watched the other vines huddle and share a steady glare at him.

  Tristan shook his head and stopped at the bottom of the staircase. Halston recognized the long, narrow, hallway. Vines, and moss, covered the stone walls. They became thicker and thicker and he had to squint to see the base of the Alchemist’s tree with the wooden door.

  Tristan sauntered over to it, ducking down as the ceiling became lower and lower. Halston had to do the same.

  Halston let out an annoyed breath. “I do hate this part,” he grumbled.

  “Ah,” Tristan said. “It’s not so bad.”

  The further they walked. The lower the ceiling became, until they were on their elbows, pulling themselves through.

  Halston felt squished. He was sure the big War-Breeder didn’t enjoy it either, despite his comment. They grunted and forced their way through, all while the vines gripped at them and tugged at their legs.

  “How much longer?”

  “He must be busy. He has to open the gate for us.”

  Halston felt smothered. He didn’t have time for this. “What is he doing, anyway? Taking a nap?”

  “I told him that we were coming.”

  Halston grumbled to himself. The Alchemist had to open the gate in order for them to finally make it to his door. He was clever and not just anyone could approach his lair. This entire hallway was specially designed to keep out intruders and deter unsuspecting loiters.

  Before Halston could blink, he found the ceiling morph back to normal. He looked up as it ascended. He stood and dusted his pants. The Alchemist had accepted their visit and they now stood before the vine covered door. The vines pulled back and the door swung open.

  Music planned inside. Drums. Halston forgot how…eccentric the Alchemist was.

  “How appropriate,” Halston said out of the corner of his mouth.

  Tristan grinned. He started bobbing his head to the beat. “I kind of like it. It’s odd, but it sets the mood, right?”

  Halston made a face. The drums played fast and strong, in an almost hip hop rhythm. “If that’s what you want to call it.”

  “Hey! Halston,” the Alchemist called. “No one asked for your opinion.”

  Halston shrugged and the small boy, barely four feet tall came from a back room and wiggled a finger at him. Halston wasn’t surprised. The Alchemist still had the face of a ten year old. It was odd, being scolded by a child.

  “And it’s nice to see you again too, Roderick.”

  Roderick folded his arms. He wore black pants, and a white shirt with red suspenders. He was thin and pale, with short, wild, black hair.

  “Payment first,” the Alchemist held out his hand. “Then we can be friends again, even though you haven’t visited me in far too long.” He raised an eyebrow when Halston started to speak. “And messages on your little silver pen thingy don’t count.”

  Halston gave Tristan a look and walked over to the boy. “I like to buy in bulk,” Halston replied. “What can I say?” He searched his jacket’s inner pocket. He felt around and grabbed an iPod.

  Roderick’s face lit up when he saw it.

  Halston felt a little silly giving the Alchemist something that anyone could buy in the human world, but the boy was obsessed with human toys and technology. One could tell that just from looking around his front room. There were posters of boy bands, cars, actors and actresses all over the cement walls.

  Roderick examined the sleek design of the iPod and a grin stretched across his youthful face. He giggled. The Alchemist, a grand wizard and immortal being, feared by all creatures…giggled.

  Halston and Tristan stood back while Roderick put the ear buds into his ear and closed his eyes as the music played. He continued to grin and bounce his head to the music. 90’s rap. That’s what the Alchemist had requested.

  Tristan chuckled and gave Halston a sidelong glance. “He’ll never grow up, will he?”

  Halston sighed and shook his head. “No. I’m afraid not.”

  They watched the boy start dancing. He jumped up and down and slid across the floor. Tristan was in hysterics by the time Roderick started trying to break dance.

  “What is he doing?”

  Halston was a little impatient. He had to get Koa in and out of the prison before third click. Halston checked his watch. “He’s been observing human culture. He wants so bad to be human.”

  Tristan made a face. “Why? I’d rather be immortal than like the weaker race up there?” He nodded his chin up towards the ceiling.

  Halston shrugged. “They have a few advantages, I suppose.”

  Roderick finally stopped dancing and swirled around to face them. “All right, let’s get on with it.” He swiped his lab coat off the back of a chair and put it on with grace. He was all business when that coat went on.

  Halston nodded. He was ready. They followed the Alchemist into his laboratory. Wooden bookcases stretched all the way up to the ceiling that was at least a hundred feet high. There were cubbies along the walls that housed vials of ingredients. The equipment looked ancient, it was old and rusted, yet Halston thought that it was probably more efficient than what most humans used in their world. This lab was one that rivaled Halston’s.

  Halston wasn’t a chemist or anything of that sort. He created weapons. He dealt with raw materials. Roderick dealt with magic and science. He practiced an ancient art that most creatures had never even heard of. Halston still didn’t know where the boy even came from. He was an anomaly. He didn’t really belong in either world.

  “So, you need an advanced varnish of glamour, an orichalcum stone, and a fire stone, correct?” Roderick put on his goggles and looked to Halston with oversized eyes.

  Halston nodded. “Yes, if you could make that for me, I’d certainly appreciate it.”

  Roderick nodded, his face serious. “Thank you for the music. I will make whatever you ask.” He grabbed flasks of colored smoke and liquids and started mixing in two cauldrons. Then he pulled a black strand of light from the center of his small palm. It stretched and stretched and Roderick continued to swirl his hand so that the light coiled on the silver slab before him.

  Halston watched in stunned curiosity. He had no clue where the boy had learned such things. How was it possible?

  Roderick’s face was completely focused. His big, brown eyes watched the light until it created a tall, spherical apparatus that he smashed down into the slab. He sprinkled white dust onto it and the light started to sizzle and pop. Roderick nodded and left it to sizzle and bubble. He was pleased with the results and returned to his smoking cauldrons. The first cauldron emitted a blue gas that illuminated Roderick’s pale face.

  “Why won’t you let me see her?” Roderick asked.

  Halston was taken aback by the question. “I didn’t think you cared.”

  Roderick lifted a brow as he stirred in sand and salt. “What an odd assumption.” He gave Halston a pointed look. Something in the boy’s eyes displayed a wisdom that you wouldn’t notice otherwise. “Of course I want to see her for myself. Stop being so stingy with her.”

  A child had put him in his place…again. He couldn’t help but nod. “I suppose I can bring her by next time. Although, I hope we never have to return to this part of the Netherworld.”

  Roderick cracked a knowing grin. “You’ll be back.”

  “If you say so,” Halston said. He knew that Roderick was right. If they survived tonight, they would have to return eventually to finish what they’d started.

  “Don’t play coy with me.” Roderick chuckled. “I get messages from the Oracle sometimes too.”

  Halston stood up straighter. “Since when?” r />
  Roderick thought a moment. “Can’t really remember. But yes, she speaks to me too.”

  “Who’s the Oracle?” Tristan asked.

  “I guess you’ll meet her one day,” Halston replied. He was more interested in what the Alchemist had to do with the Oracle. He wondered if they were from the same race. If so, then perhaps Halston had just solved one of the greatest mysteries.

  “She will need to drink this one down in one gulp, while holding the enchanted orichalcum,” Roderick ladled the mixture into a vial. He covered the two stones in a protective material and handed them to Halston. He looked up at him and they met eyes. “The fire stone is for in case she runs into trouble.”

  The purple cloth felt warm in Halston’s palm. He tucked it away into his inner pocket and nodded. He wanted to ruffle Roderick’s wild hair, but he had to remind himself, that he may look like a child, but he was not. He did look so innocent and Halston wouldn’t dare say it out loud, but the Alchemist was quite adorable.

  “Thank you.”

  Roderick nodded. He smiled. He looked tired now. Halston wondered how much what he had just done took out of him. There were dark circles under his eyes that weren’t there before.

  “You’re welcome, Halston.” Roderick tucked his arms into the sleeves of his lab coat. “Do bring her to me next time. I hate being left out of these things. You’ll make me feel like you don’t trust me or something.”

  Halston sensed something off in his voice. He really did want to be included. He’d never thought about it. The Alchemist was lonely. Perhaps he wanted to be a part of the team. It was an interesting idea. He could always use someone like Roderick.

  “I will,” Halston said. “I promise.”

  Roderick smiled. “Good.” He looked at Tristan. “This is for you.” He handed the War-Breeder a small token. “You’ll have a harder time leaving without this. Give it to the Jem.”

  Tristan lifted a brow. “Thank you.”

  Roderick nodded. “Don’t mention it.” He met Halston’s eyes. “We are friends after all, right?”

  Halston nearly did it again. He almost ruffled the boy’s hair. “We are.”

  Roderick smiled again. There was a pain behind his eyes. “See you soon. Now leave before you run out of time.”

  As if on cue, the second click rung. The three of them looked up. Time was quickly running out.

  Koa. Halston needed to get to her.

  Chapter 27

  The door opened and Koa beheld a massive man. He blocked the entire doorway and had to duck to enter the room. She and Evina had been drinking an odd blend of blood that Koa had never tried, yet she loved it. She didn’t like it more than human blood, but it was almost as good. It was almost enough to make her forgive Evina for what she had done.

  Koa came to her feet and tensed when the large man glanced at her. He gave a nod and stepped out of the way. Koa’s heart leapt.

  “Halston!” She ran to him. She frowned, despite her happiness at seeing his face again. It hadn’t really been that long, but she had been stewing over whatever secrets he was keeping.

  “Koa.”

  She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down to her level. “What is happening? I want to know what you are hiding, and what you are planning, right now!”

  Halston nodded to Tristan. “Meet Tristan, our very own War-Breeder, he will help us defeat Greggan’s army.”

  Koa looked at the large man. She almost asked if he expected to do it by himself and she stopped herself. His muscles were bigger than any she’d ever seen. Tristan smiled at her. He had a warm smile. That surprised Koa.

  “You know Evina, she is a temptress, and you can’t ask for a better skill than that when it comes to getting other vampires on your side. Al is recruiting others topside to infiltrate Greggan’s organization. And Jax,” Halston paused and Koa tensed at the name. “You are going to free him, because he is the key to killing Greggan and freeing your mother from her curse. Your mother, she is the only one who can stop Bund.”

  Koa didn’t say anything. Halston had just revealed his plan, in simple terms. She didn’t know what to say. She stepped back and let his collar slip out of her hands.

  Halston searched her eyes. “Feel better?”

  Koa let out a sigh. She was nervous but she nodded. “I just don’t want to be left in the dark. I mean, it seems like I have to do the hard part and break this fool out of prison.”

  “Fool?” Evina made a face.

  Tristan chuckled. “She’s kind of funny.”

  Koa looked between both of them. “Well yes, I am not going to hide the fact that I don’t think highly of him.”

  The War-Breeder and the temptress shared a look.

  Halston pulled Koa back around to face him. “We don’t have much time. Let’s get going.”

  Koa thought about Raven. She knew that Jax could change her back and that he had valuable information for her.

  “Whatever. Let’s just get it over with.” Koa shook her head and stared up at Halston. She felt like a puppet being controlled. She had her own motives, and she would get what she wanted.

  Halston reached into his jacket and put something into her hand. Koa raised a brow. A vial. Koa touched the glass. The gravity of the situation was settling in. Things were about to get dangerous. Koa thought of Galena and how Halston had given her one of his vials weeks ago.

  Koa eyes widened when he put two stones into her other hand.

  “You went to the Alchemist?” She was awestruck. She felt a little cheated. She’d always wanted to meet that notorious being.

  Halston nodded. “Yes. Drink this down in one gulp.”

  Koa swallowed. “You sure, it’s safe?”

  “Yes. He is the best at this. I promise.”

  Koa sighed and pulled the top of the vial open. A tiny spurt of air escaped and she smelled something foul. She gave Halston a look. “What will this do to me?” She licked the roof of her mouth as she imagined what the potion would taste like.

  “I am not sure. It will transform you for a few hours so that you will be able to enter the prison without being questioned. If they saw you trying to go inside, they would immediately arrest you.”

  Koa thought of all of the possibilities. She could only imagine what she’d be transformed into. She didn’t like the idea.

  “Wait a minute,” Evina cut in. She stepped closer to them and pointed to the Vial. “Won’t it wear off the instant she enters Jax’s portal?”

  Halston ran a hand through his hair. “Yes. That’s when she’ll use the stones to escape.”

  Koa held them up. “How do they work?”

  “She’ll have to fight her way out,” Tristan said.

  Evina leaned against the wall. “Well, at least she’ll have Jax by then.”

  A torrent of warnings flooded her mind. She felt strong, but she had a worrisome knot in her stomach.

  Halston put a hand on Koa’s shoulder. “Go on. Take it, Koa. We will be watching for you. We will all be outside and prepared when the time comes for you to escape with the prince.”

  Koa cleared her throat and eyed the contents of the vial. She felt queasy but the certainty in Halston’s eyes gave her the courage to gulp it all down. It wasn’t as disgusting as it smelled, but it was thick and she could feel it slowly creep down her throat and into her esophagus. It worked immediately. It burned her from the inside out.

  She clutched her throat as it clogged her airway. Her eyes widened as she felt something enter her and take over. Her skin started to crawl and she felt her eyes roll into the back of her head.

  Halston held her up. “You can take it Koa. It will all be over in a moment.” Koa felt comforted by Halston’s embrace, but the pain was almost too much. She cried out as a powerful force morphed her body into something that felt foreign. She fell to her knees with a crash of metal.

  Koa opened her eyes. She heard Evina gasp. Koa gasped when she saw her hands. They were covered in metal. Her fingers were lo
ng and sharp. Koa felt fear enter her heart. She was afraid of herself.

  “Halston,” Koa called, but her voice was not her own. It had a robotic tone that made everyone cover their ears. Koa widened her eyes. Everyone looked odd. She saw them as colors now.

  Evina was red. Tristan was green and Halston was yellow. They still had their forms, yet she could see their inner aura, the difference between their races.

  Koa stood. She sucked in a breath when her head hit the ceiling. She bent over and towered over them all. She saw that her legs were covered in black metal as well and her metallic boots were sealed to her gaiters. She wore a metallic breastplate and she touched her face to feel it covered in metal as well. As far as she could tell, she was completely covered in smooth, black, metal. She felt heavy, yet strong.