Until, finally, the only thing left was this fragile hope of love.
My body sagged against the earth, muscles weary from the battle, while the thunder of the outside world grew dim. The only thing I could hear now was my own meager heartbeat. Meanwhile, the final chapter of the Legend circled through forest and field, as if testing the hearts and character of all who had been beckoned by the incantation. It whispered Yes, a thousand times, yes, and I tried to lift my head, to understand why it would say something like that at such a time as this. Why would it betray me and rejoice in my death?
Then suddenly, miraculously, the tapestry of Darkling flesh parted. Black wings no longer hid the sky from view and the sweet fragrance of life swept over the battlefield. Overhead, the moon broke through and cast beautiful silver beams down, drenching me in nocturnal brilliance. Then I was able to see what had parted the death throng that surrounded me. Two ghost-like figures sailed past the Darklings: two imaginary beings, transparent yet having substance.
They came with a fury, kicking and punching, knocking everyone aside, forcing the barbaric Darklings to move. Cries echoed and wings thundered and enchantments were cast in a flurry.
But none of the Darklings’ whispered spells could stop this pair.
I grinned weakly, for I recognized them. Maddie’s characters had been following her throughout the evening, her invisible companions, ever faithful to their creator.
Then they pushed and shoved against the wall of Darklings until it opened and she walked in with the ethereal carriage of a queen: Madeline, bathed in moonlight, her face and hands covered in mud, as if she had just been born anew from an earthen womb. Elspeth, Sage and Sienna followed her, while the werebeast clumped in behind them all, carrying the boy in his arms, holding the lad high where none could touch him.
At the sight of them, Thane stopped his feeding, a look of surprise and horror on his face. And in that instant, my heartbeat returned, became a natural rhythm again.
Perhaps my last dream could still come true.
Chapter 94
Crowned with Dreams
Thane:
The wall of Darklings parted as two diaphanous creatures cut through like scythes. These transparent beasts didn’t respond to any of my spells or songs. Relentless, they fought against my northern cousins until an opening appeared and the moon shined upon me. I cowered. Silver-white light poured down.
Exposing the sacrilegious ceremony and my hollow heart.
I crumbled to my knees then, at last, when the moon found me, when it scorched me as the traitor I truly was. I had turned against my own clansman. I couldn’t bear to look up, to see the brightness blinding me, to feel the wickedness in my own soul, and I held one arm over my head to shield my eyes.
Then Maddie walked in, crowned with dreams like sugar candy. Stained with mud and glowing in moonlight, she didn’t look human anymore.
Maybe she never had been.
“Him.” She cast a long finger at me and then, like vengeful ghosts, both of the transparent figures circled me. They grabbed me by the arms, their rough fingers digging into my flesh like claws. One of them kicked me in the leg, just for the fun of it, then giggled when I cringed.
These transparent creatures were as solid as any beast or person I’d ever encountered.
Moon magic.
“Take him to the Land of Nightmares and see that he never escapes!” Maddie cried.
“No!” I begged. “Please, not that, don’t—”
But pleading only made my captors laugh harder. They jostled, pulled and wrenched my arms, kicked and bit, then laughed in unison. They lifted me high in the air and swung me around and around until I begged them to release me. Then, when everyone had seen my true character and cowardice, they carried me away from the feasting field, away from Ticonderoga Falls, away from everything sweet and good and wholesome.
Into the clouds and the sky, toward the black empty terror that waits just on the other side of every dream gone awry.
Toward the Land of Nightmares.
Never to return.
Chapter 95
Faery Tales
Ash:
Elspeth came forward, tears on her face, her voice so strained she could barely speak. She knelt and wrapped her arms around me and Maddie stood beside both of us. Sage came nearer, tugging a vial that hung around her neck on a cord. She opened the slender flask, then placed it to my lips. The Nectar of the Hunt, the dreams of a hundred Sleepers. My sister fed me until my strength returned.