Portia (7 page)

“The Sacred Trees,” I whisper.

“Yes,” says Tempest, his voice tight.

“What’s wrong?”

“My dragon is on edge. We aren’t alone.”

A man steps out from behind one of the massive trees. “Hey, there.”

I take one look at this guy and then blink hard. No way can this be real.

The stranger is tall and fit with a picture-perfect tan. He’s totally my type, what with his short blond hair, bright blue eyes, and thousand-watt smile. He even has khaki pants with pleats. The sleeves of his white button down are rolled up to his elbows.

“I’m Alden. Pleasure to meet you.” The guy steps closer and what I see makes me gasp. He has tribal marks around his right eye. They’re just like mine, only his are white.

I stare at him, open mouthed. “What? How?”

“I know, I know,” he says with a laugh. “Pretty crazy, right? I’m one of the Marked, too.” Alden turns to Tempest. “And you must be her Gatherer.” Tempest nods. Alden offers me his hand. “Pleased to meet you, too, uh…”

“Portia.” I shake Alden’s hand. The touch sends a rush through me. Or more accurately, out of me. Liquid energy flows from my body into his. I pull back my hand like it’s on fire. “What was that?”

Alden shoots me a puzzled look. “Don’t you know? I’m the last Marked. I’ve done what I can for the Firmament. Now my magic’s tapped out. You’re here to replace me.”

My skin still tingles in strange ways. “That doesn’t explain what just happened.”

“I used to carry Firmament energy inside me, just like you do now. But I finished my quest and sent all my power into the Sacred Trees. I’m running on empty these days. Guess I took a little charge off you by mistake.” His blue eyes narrow with suspicion. “How come you don’t know any of this stuff?”

“I study the Firmament,” I say slowly. “I’ve never found any information about the rules of being Marked.”

“Of course not. We’re a super-secret society,” says Alden. “But your Gatherer was supposed to prep you on everything.”

I stare at Tempest. My mouth hangs open with surprise. He called himself my Gatherer when he opened the door. “You knew about all this?”

“I’m your Gatherer. It’s my job to know.”

His answer stings. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I shared everything I could, Portia. My instructions were followed to the letter.” Tempest’s eyes glisten with intensity. “You have to believe me.”

I shiver under the strength of his stare. Only a few minutes ago, I was cradled in Tempest’s arms, feeling cozy and safe.
Was that my lonely mind creating someone who wasn’t really there?
A sad weight settles into my stomach. “It’s hard to know what to believe.”

Alden steps between us. “Look, we don’t have much time.” He turns his thousand-watt smile on Tempest. “Thanks for gathering her here, man. Great work. You can show yourself out whenever you’re ready.”

My breath catches. “Show himself out?”

Alden shrugs. “Yeah, the Gatherer never goes on the quest.”

My revolving opinions on Tempest take another turn. Whatever he did or didn’t say, I feel better with Tempest along. “Not this time. He goes with us.”

“That’s not how we do things,” says Alden. He tilts his head, considering. “But sure, if it makes you feel better, he can come along for a while. Help us get started.”

Tempest folds his arms over his chest. The sleeves of his leather jacket creak ominously with the motion. “What things are we starting?”

“The quest,” says Alden.

“Any more specifics?”

Alden’s tan complexion loses some color. “We’ve got to rush. Let’s talk about it on the way.”

I frown. “I’m with Tempest on this. I’d like to know what we’re supposed to do.”

“Sure, fine.” Alden laughs again. This time, it comes out a little too loud and forced. “Portia is Marked, just like me. We were chosen by the Firmament to carry its power. Our job is to open four seedpods, one for each of the Sacred Trees.” He counts off the trees and their realms on his fingertips. “Heaven, Hell, Earth, and Purgatory.”

“What’s inside the pods?” I ask.

“Golden energy. Firmament magic. Liquid power. That’s what rejuvenates everything.”

I hug my elbows. So many questions fly through my mind, I don’t know where to begin. “How do I find the seedpods?”

Alden shrugs. “Oh, I’ll help you.”

“That’s rather vague,” says Tempest.

“There’s a sphere we use. You ask it where the next seedpod is and it shows you. I’ve got it somewhere safe.”

“It’s Portia’s now. It’s safest with her, don’t you think?”

“Sure,” says Alden slowly. He turns his palm upward and whispers a quick spell. A small wicker sphere materializes in his hand. “This is it, see?”

“I do. Now, give it to Portia,” says Tempest.

A long pause follows. A little too long for comfort. Why is Alden stalling about handing it over? I reach out to him. “I’ll take that, thanks.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

Alden hands me the sphere. “Sure. Whatever. So, are we leaving now?”

Tempest rounds on me. “I need to talk to you alone, first.”

Alden frowns. “Do you have to? It’s critical we leave right away.”

The fact that Alden doesn’t want me talking to Tempest? It only makes me want to have the conversation more. “Actually, we absolutely need to talk now. Will you excuse us, Alden?”

“I don’t like it, but it’s your quest.” Alden stomps off into the trees.

Once Alden is out of earshot, I focus on Tempest. “What’s going on?”

Tempest sighs, like he knows what he’s about to say is downright crazy. “Do you know the angel Verus?”

“The oracle angel? Sure. She had a prophecy for my parents.” My brows furrow with confusion.
Not sure where he’s going with this.

“She asked me to be your Gatherer.” Tempest sighs. “I know this will sound barking mad. Just hear me out.” Tempest scrubs his palms over his face. “Verus said that you and I can save the Firmament. However, we have to do it in a very specific way. I must become your Gatherer. And the two of us must complete the quest alone.”

A chill moves across my skin. Alone? Alden’s the only one who knows what to do. “Anything else?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Best for last, luv. Before we open the final seedpod, we must go to Furonium. There’s a special room that you need to visit. And you must wear a formal dress. Those are her instructions.”

“Wow.” Ball gowns. Special rooms. Oracle angels. Tempest doesn’t look unbalanced, but that’s a whole lot of crazy. And I have the after-realms to save. There’s no room for distractions.

Alden pops out from behind the trees. “Well, now. Ready to go?”

My gaze shifts between the two men. It kills me to say this, but I have to put my responsibilities first. “Yes, I’m ready. Thanks for everything, Tempest. I think it’s best if I go with Alden.”

Tempest’s gaze turns pleading. “Don’t do this, Portia.”

My heart clenches. This feels wrong. I remember Tempest carrying me away from the ruined Hearth. His presence calms me. It’s like we’ve known each other for years. That doesn’t make any sense. Still, it doesn’t make the reality of the feeling any less. I press my palms against my eyes, like I can squeeze a good decision out of my head. “This is so hard.”

“That’s enough,” says Alden. “We’re done wasting time.” He lunges forward, grips my wrist, and whispers a quick incantation. The world around me disappears.

Chapter Nine

The next thing I know, I stand in a darkened graveyard. The ground is covered with tombstones and fog. Shock and anger pulse through every nerve ending in my body. I did
not
say it was okay to take me here.

Alden stands a few feet away, his complexion pale with worry. “Sorry about that transfer spell. We couldn’t waste any more time.”

“Waste time?” My voice drips with anger. “You kidnapped me, Alden.”

His voice quivers with regret. “I’m so sorry. I just needed to get us started.”

Every inch of this guy looks miserable. My heart softens a little. It’s not okay to go around kidnapping people. Although with so much on the line, I suppose that anyone can lose it. And all Alden’s really wanted to do is start the quest.

I scan the rolling countryside. “Why did you bring me here? Is this where the first seedpod is?”

“No, there’s something else we need to do. Every quest starts off with a small ceremony at this graveyard.”

I shake my head. Quest ceremonies and abductions? Really? Alden’s acting just as crazy as Tempest. “What’s this ceremony for, exactly?”

“It’s for you, Portia. I’ll give you some magical energy and help you get started on your way. It’s for your own safety.”

“You’ll give me magical energy?” My eyes narrow with suspicion. “I thought you said you were drained after your quest.”

Alden sighs. “I’ve got a little in reserve, just in case. I know you’re angry with me, but we need the ceremony. You need that energy. I don’t trust your Gatherer. What is he, your ex-boyfriend?”

“No, I hardly know him.” Even as the words leave my lips, I know that’s a lie. Something about Tempest has always felt familiar.

“Well, whoever he is, he won’t be at the ceremony.”

A low roar breaks the quiet. My pulse kicks up speed. That sounds a lot like a dragon. “You might be wrong on that one.”

“What?” The roar sounds again. “Is that the guy?”

“It’s a safe bet.”

“And he’s a damned dragon? How could he follow us? I thought most of them didn’t know magic.”

In a weird way, I’m glad that Alden is quite possibly the only other person in the after-realms who doesn’t know who Tempest is. “He’s a wizard.”

“Must be a pretty good one, if he can track my spells.”

“He’s the Emperor of the Furor. Greater demons have all sorts of abilities.”

“What?” Alden’s blue eyes stretch wide with alarm. “Damn!” He grabs my sleeve and starts dragging me into the mist. “We’ve got to hustle.”

I pull my coat free. “Not until you tell me what this ceremony is about.”

Alden’s mouth trembles. “Millions of people are depending on us. You can’t second-guess every little thing I do. Have you forgotten? I finished my quest. I had a Gatherer train me for it, too. You need to get with the program, and that means holding this ceremony. Am I making myself clear?”

Cold fingers of dread creep down my spine. The longer I spend with this guy, the higher the creep factor gets. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

A breeze kicks up around us, clearing away the mist. A dark shape blocks out the sky. It’s a dragon with a sleek, black body, stout legs, broad chest, and a tail that’s lined with spikes. There’s no mistaking the sharp features, large eyes, and long scar by the jawline. Excitement and relief battle it out inside my chest.

Tempest is here.

He came for me. Sure, both Tempest and Alden have some crazy ideas. But one of them abducted me while the other flew to my rescue. As choices go, this one’s looking pretty clear. I’m flying away with the dragon.

“You’re leaving with him, aren’t you?” Alden’s shoulders slump. “Don’t go. You need that ceremony, Portia. You need me.”

Do I?

The weight of the decision presses in around me. Alden says I need his help and this ceremony. Tempest tells me to follow the guidance of Verus, even though her plan sounds insane. I turn over both directions in my mind. Two facts become clear. First, Verus and her prophecies have crossed paths with my family before. She’s always been right. And second, going with Alden feels too easy. I don’t have the kind of life where someone swoops in and fixes everything perfectly. No, I’m the girl who gets the mysterious angel and oddball plan.

Alden grips his hands together tightly. “You have to give me another chance. I’m your best bet to live through this. Hell, I’m the best bet for everyone. Please don’t go. For all of us.”

I straighten my shoulders. “Thank you for your offer. My mind is made.” Turning on my heel, I walk toward Tempest at double-speed.

Tempest ruffles his wings and shoots me a crooked smile. A sense of rightness settles into my soul. My decision is made, once and for all. I climb up Tempest’s foreleg and swing onto his shoulders. “Hi, Tempest.”

“You okay, Portia? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine.” Alden keeps staring at me. Every line of his body seems to droop with sorrow. “Let’s go.”

Tempest beats his wings in a regular rhythm. We rise into the clouds. I run my fingers over his scales. They’re warm and leathery to the touch. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“I’ll always come for you, Portia.”

My heart stutters in my chest. It’s like I’m on the balcony again. My feelings for Tempest are too strong for me to sort through right now. The after-realms are more important. I slip the wicker sphere from the pocket of my duster.

Time to get my mind back into saving the after-realms.

I set the wicker sphere onto my palm. “Show me where to go first.”

The thin lines reform in the shape of a twisted iron gate. I smile with recognition and relief.

“What’d you see?” asks Tempest.

“The Onyx Gates.”

“We’re off to Heaven, then.” He angles his body in a new direction and pumps his wings with more speed. Every beat of his wings brings me closer to the first seedpod. Will Tempest and I be able to open this thing on our own? A shiver of fear twists down my spine. Did I make the right decision to turn Alden down?

I certainly hope so. The after-realms are depending on it.

Chapter Ten

Tempest and I stand before a set of towering black gates made from intricately twisted iron. The whole thing looks hopelessly run down and rusted. My forehead creases with worry. Something here feels off.

“Are you sure these are the Onyx Gates?” I ask. All around us, I can only see waist-deep clouds in every direction. Overhead, the sky’s a single sheet of white light. “Pops has taken me to Heaven before. It was all white towers, crystal walls, and blue skies.”

“It’s like this, luv,” says Tempest. “There are the nice bits in Hell, like Furonium, and then, there are the dodgy spots in Heaven.” He nods toward the gates. “Like this right here.”

Odd shadows shift in the clouds around our feet. This whole place gives me the creeps. “Have you ever been inside?”