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  Darius begins to pace and gesture with his hands. “I was trying to come up with a mode of air transport that was faster than the airspeeds. Something we could produce quickly. But no matter how many hours I spent running the calculations, calibrating the crystals, nothing came to fruition. It was then that I decided to work on a prototype on a smaller scale.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Because maybe the reason I hadn’t been successful was because I wasn’t using enough crystals.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier to just procure more crystals?”

  Darius’s expression morphs into a grimace. “I couldn’t hoard such large quantities when Emerald City needed every piece of stone in order to defend itself from the Raven Witch’s forces.”

  “Ah, I see. So, crystals power all your technology? You don’t use solar or wind energy?”

  Darius stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Less-developed countries still rely on those old technologies, such as the munchkins.”

  I raise both hands in a sign of peace. “I meant no offense. I was just wondering.”

  New Earth still uses solar and wind energy. I don’t consider them obsolete technology, but I don’t know enough about the crystals to make the comparison. Maybe technology powered by them is better.

  “So, what happened when you reduced the scale of your prototype?” I ask to get back on track.

  “The most wonderful thing. It happened by accident actually.” He gives me a shy grin, making my heart do a backflip.

  Settle down, Dorothy. Now is not the time.

  “Shrinking the size of the prototype didn’t immediately work as I’d hoped. The war was in full swing, and our allies were losing ground to the Raven Witch’s armies. It was only a matter of time before she invaded Emerald City. One day, after listening to a grim report about the battles, I lashed out and struck the small prototype with my magic. Instead of destroying it, it came to life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The composition I used on its parts were all organic. I didn’t realize that I had created a living creature that needed a spark of energy to take its first breath.”

  “Are you saying your starships are real beings?”

  “Not only that, but they’re also sentient.”

  My jaw drops. The idea of sentient starships was a theory widely discussed in the halls of academia. In fact, many scientists believed that the use of artificial intelligence in starships’ operating systems would turn them into sentient beings.

  “Do they also have a heart?” I ask.

  Darius nods, smiling from ear to ear. I pull my hair back, thinking of the ramifications of such an invention. But then I stop.

  “What happened to your project? Why didn’t you continue?”

  His smile wilts. “Because my magic wasn’t enough to animate the bigger starships.”

  “But you’re not the only one who can yield magic, right?”

  “No, but the kind of magic needed isn’t something one can learn via the study of alchemy. You must be born with it.”

  “Wait. What about the wizard? Isn’t his magic like that?”

  Darius looks away, his jaw locked in a hard clench. “Yes, but … he can’t help us.”

  “Why not?”

  Darius rubs his face, putting some distance between us. “He just can’t, Dorothy.”

  “That means that I’m back to square one. Why did you tell me about your starships if we can’t make them work?”

  “Because maybe we can.”

  “But you said …”

  “I said you have to be born with magic, and I believe you were.”

  I snort. “What? I’m not a witch.”

  “Then, explain to me why you can purify tainted crystals.” He raises an eyebrow.

  “I have no clue why.” I throw my hands up in the air. “But trust me, there isn’t an ounce of magic coursing through my veins.”

  “Are you saying you don’t even want to try?”

  His question makes me pause. I don’t answer for a few beats. Of course I want to try anything that can get me to Mirus. So, why am I so reluctant to take Darius up on his offer? What do I have to lose? Could I be afraid his theory is true? Nonsense.

  “Okay. Take me to your starships.” I put more enthusiasm in my reply than I feel.

  I expect him to reciprocate my emotions—even if they’re fake at the moment. But his reaction is exactly the opposite. His mouth turns into a perfect O while his eyebrows arch, almost meeting his hairline.

  “Oh, we can’t right now.”

  Like a balloon, my forced positivity deflates. “Why not?”

  He glances at the floor. His cheeks show a hint of pink. I’m not sure, but he seems embarrassed now. Honestly, the guy is impossible to understand.

  “Because I don’t remember where they are. The lab is in a top-secret location in the palace. Only Lennox and I have access to it.”

  “So, you’re saying we need him.”

  “Yes.” He peers at me from under his eyelashes, almost as if he’s afraid to make eye contact.

  “Great. He already lied about the existence of the starships. He clearly doesn’t wish to help me.”

  “No, that’s not the case. Lennox is not a bad person even though it might seem that way. Once you get to know him, you’ll see.”

  “I suppose if your project is top secret, it makes sense that he doesn’t want to disclose it to a bunch of strangers.”

  I nibble on my lower lip, thinking of how I can prove to Darius’s cousin that he can trust me. A second later, I notice how Darius fixes his gaze on my mouth. I stop biting my lip, but that doesn’t make him stop staring.

  “Darius?” I snap my fingers in front of his face.

  He blinks, as if awakened from a trance. His face gradually becomes redder. I sense my own face getting warmer and curse my awakened hormones.

  “Sorry. I … what was your question?”

  “I haven’t asked one yet. Besides not trusting us, is there another reason your cousin would lie to us?”

  Darius shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Dorothy. I can’t answer that.”

  Feeling antsy and frustrated, I walk to one of the windows. The last thing I need is to wait on the whims of a mysterious prince. Mirus might depart Oz’s orbit at any time—if it hasn’t already. If so, all my sacrifices would have been in vain. The urge to cry hits me again. I don’t recognize myself anymore. Who is this woman who lets her emotions take control? I’m Dorothy Hanson, the top student at the Space Academy. If I can best the top students in the entire Star Freedom Alliance and steal Commander Gulch’s beloved ship from right under her nose, then I can find a way to convince Prince Lennox to help me.

  “What are you thinking?” Darius stops next to me. I didn’t even hear him move.

  “That I’m not going to give up now. I’ve traveled across galaxies. I survived a starship crash. I killed an evil witch, for crying out loud. I will find a way to convince your cousin to help me.”

  “Knowing him, he’ll ask for something in return.”

  I spin around, only to find Darius looking at me with a guilt-ridden expression. “Like what?”

  He breaks the connection, gazing out the window. “It’s hard to say. But we’re at war, and he’s growing desperate. I don’t expect it will be anything easy.”

  I follow Darius’s line of vision, not minding the view. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  “Careful, Dorothy. Don’t make any promises you might regret.”

  34

  Lennox

  Now that I’m alone, I can finally let the mask drop. I snort at my own thoughts as I stare at the mask I’ve been forced to wear since the change to my skin began. I couldn’t let anyone see what was happening to me. I couldn’t give them a reminder of my bloodline. So, when part of my face turned green, my parents decided it was best to keep it hidden behind a mask. To not raise suspicion, they made my sister wear one, too.

  I can’t bear to star
e at my reflection in the mirror, but not because I find the mark an aberration. It’s because of what it represents, of what I have to deny. It’s also a reminder of what I fear the most. Turning into a monster, hungry for power.

  I’m glad Darius has returned to the palace in one piece. I was afraid I’d never see him again. What a foolish thing to do—run away from the security of Emerald City to look for a quack in Scrape Town. To think of what could have befallen him makes me ill. But it’s my fault Darius feels inadequate, lacking. Not because I mock him or treat him as if he’s less. It’s because of what I did to him when we were young.

  Clenching my jaw so tight that it hurts, I put my mask back on. Now that I know there’s a way tainted crystals can be purified, the urgency to find the answer I’ve been searching for throughout the years has increased. Dorothy, the beguiling woman Darius brought home with him, might be the key to destroying the Raven Witch once and for all. If she killed the Red Witch and purified the crystals that had enhanced the woman’s powers, she can defeat the other sister. That means the Raven Witch must be searching high and low for Dorothy.

  I tried my best not to show her too much attention when we met. I didn’t want her to suspect how interested I was in her. It wasn’t only her ability to purify crystals that caught my attention. There was something peculiar about her that called to me. Probably the same aura that has made Darius so enamored with her.

  But that’s not the immediate problem that requires a solution. I must deal with the whole Great Wizard of Oz situation. I didn’t expect his reputation to come back to bite me in my ass.

  Oh well. I’m sure I’ll come up with something by tomorrow. Or maybe Darius will. He’s the genius in the family, after all.

  Filled with turmoil, I head out, deciding to spend some time in my secret study. The moment I step foot in the hallway, I sense his presence. The hellioncat is lurking just around the corner. I make a point to pretend he’s not there to see what he does. Sure enough, he decides to follow me.

  Interesting.

  It should aggravate me that a guest is spying on me, but maybe I can find out more about the king of Hell-Ion if I let him. Besides, I could do with some fun. It’s been a while since I pranked anyone.

  Instead of going toward the north tower, where I was headed initially, I take the stairs that lead to the palace’s dungeon. It’s not as horrific as the name suggests. Emerald Palace doesn’t have a prison or torture chamber in its bowels. But it’s beneath ground level and spooky. No one has ever used it, so years ago, before the Raven Witch declared war against us, I turned the unused space into the perfect chamber of horrors. I spent months creating props and sound simulation to give anyone a fright. The last person I pranked was Esmeralda. She didn’t speak to me for weeks afterward.

  There’s a small voice in my head telling me that maybe I shouldn’t get on the hellioncat’s bad side. He could easily slice me open with his claws. But I stomp on the cautionary thought until it dies. So, down I go on the spiraling staircase. I can’t hear the hellioncat’s footsteps, but I know he’s still following me. He’s stealthy—that much I give him. It’s not his fault I’m extra sensitive to auras, and I can feel his presence behind me even if I can’t hear or see him.

  After going down for several minutes, I finally reach the end of the stairs. A wide, oval chamber opens up. There’s nothing here besides a few cobwebs in the corners and five exit points. They all lead to narrow corridors, which in turn lead to separate rooms. To this day, I’m not sure what the architects meant this space to be used for. Maybe they did want to build a prison here.

  After my improvements, these chambers are no longer empty but are filled with their own nasty surprises. I peer at each of them for a moment, debating on which one I should choose for today’s prank. My favorites are the ones with the horde of giant rats and the ones with the army of the undead. I brought Esmeralda to the chamber with the rats, but I don’t think oversized rodents will scare a hellioncat. Army of the undead it is.

  Having made my decision, I cross the room toward it, hoping my guest’s sense of smell is as good as I think it is. I press the hidden button at the entrance that will activate the special effects, before I disappear through a secret passageway. Now, all I have to do is wait for the show to commence.

  KEVVAN

  I curse in my head when I realize the prince is headed to the palace’s dungeon. I have half a mind to turn around, but I can’t let my phobias stand in the way of learning the truth about him. Dorothy needs a starship. If the prince has one, I must discover where he’s keeping it. I’m not opposed to stealing it if necessary. In the short span of time since I met her, Dorothy has become dear to me. She’s worth facing my fears.

  It’s one thing to repeat the mantra in my head and quite another to actually follow through. The winding stairs seem to go on forever. The farther down I head, the more my chest becomes tighter. The air is stale, which means I must be below ground level already. Great. Absolutely great. I try not to see the similarities with the mines, but it’s impossible. My mind keeps juxtaposing what is in front of me with my memories of my time as a slave.

  I can no longer hear the prince’s footsteps, and his scent is becoming stronger, which means he must have paused. I stop and wait with bated breath.

  Toto follows my lead and freezes as well, peering at me as if to ask, What’s next?

  I wonder if the prince finally realized he was being followed. The moment of suspense seems to last forever. Finally, the sound of his booted feet echoes below, turning faint with each step. He’s not coming in my direction.

  I continue down my track, coming to the end of the staircase in another minute. An oval chamber illuminated faintly by green-colored light greets me. Empty. There’s no sign of the prince. The chamber leads to five different directions, each one dark and ominous. Toto begins to sniff around, but I doubt he’s searching for the prince. Taking a deep breath, I know exactly which way the prince went. But other than his scent, I don’t pick up on anything out of the ordinary. Regardless, my heart has not received the memo. It still beats in a staccato rhythm, as if it wants to escape the confines of my chest and run back upstairs.

  Okay, Kevvan, you’re not in the mines. There aren’t any overseers or guards ready to zap you into submission.

  I force my feet to move, heading after Prince Lennox. Once I reach the arched exit, the automatic lights provide the same greenish illumination, revealing a narrow corridor. I can’t see the end though, as part of the way is still in darkness. Swallowing hard, I continue despite the cold drip of sweat that runs down my spine. The merciless vise of panic begins to take a hold of me. It’s for that reason that I don’t notice I can no longer hear the prince’s footsteps until I’m deep into the tunnel. His scent is still in the air, albeit fainter than before.

  I whirl on the spot, trying to pinpoint what I missed. The lights suddenly go out. My heart jumps up my throat. Toto lets out several barks and then grows quiet. In the darkness, there is nothing keeping my mind from believing I’m back in my cell in the mines. I shuffle backward until my spine hits solid wall. Opening and shutting my hands, I attempt to concentrate on my breathing, but it’s no use.

  Out of nowhere, a shriek comes from my left, making the hairs on my arms and neck stand on end. My eyes have adjusted to the lack of light, and what I see coming in my direction is horrifying. A monster of decomposing flesh and exposed bones. Its eyes glow red, and its bony, claw-like hands are extended forward, ready to lash out at me. I ought to run in the opposite direction, but my entire body is frozen. Air becomes scarce, and I realize I can’t breathe right.

  Right before the monster reaches me, I shut my eyes, clamping my jaw so hard that I taste blood in my mouth. Instead of the sharp blow that would for sure tear me to pieces, all I sense is a cold touch before the monster cackles away. My legs give out in that moment, landing me flat on my ass. Without reopening my eyes, I bring my knees up, holding them for dear life.

&nb
sp; I can’t help the onslaught of terrifying memories that bear down on me. Ky-Ren’s death, followed by time in the pit where the overseer took his time torturing me. I relive the pain of every whiplash that lacerated my skin, of every bone breaking. My ears register a soft whimper, and only later do I realize that it is coming from me.

  LENNOX

  From the control room, I watch the hellioncat’s progress in my corridor of doom. I’ve installed several hidden cameras along the way. They’re equipped with night vision, allowing me to capture the moment when the action takes place.

  I wait until the hellioncat realizes he can’t hear my footsteps any longer. Surprisingly, he walks halfway down the corridor before he stops and whirls around. I expected him to come to the realization sooner. Oddly, he seems to be spooked already. His back is pressed against the wall. I zoom in on his face, but it’s too dark to discern anything from his facial expression.

  Don’t tell me he’s afraid of the dark. No matter. It’s showtime.

  I press the button that will activate the first scare. I’ve installed several in this course. I can’t wait to see how long the hellioncat will last before he puts his tail between his legs and runs for the hills. I bet Dorothy’s robo-dog will last longer. I chuckle, the sound echoing in the small room. I managed to use two ancient popular sayings in one sentence. My Ancient Civilizations instructor would have been proud.

  Leaning closer to the monitor, I watch with rapt attention as the hellioncat discovers he and the dog aren’t alone after all. The first undead creature comes barreling down the corridor, almost as if it’s floating. In reality, it’s attached to a cable mechanism hanging from the ceiling. The hidden speakers provide the shriek only a monster like that could make.