The four of us trailed Elder Harcourt down the stairs to the cool, dry sand. He led us to the massive opening of the cave’s entrance, while the tattered Mysticals gradually shadowed us, their expressions curious as they did not understand where we were. They weren’t fearful though, the protection clear.
Our group stopped there.
Once again placing my gun under my shirt in the waistband of my pants, I stared at a cluster of ten Mages down the beach, who were glowing brightly with their hands high in the air as they chanted, their low murmurs only an undertone on the increasing breeze.
“What are they doing?” Jack questioned.
“They’re sending a message to all Mysticals to seek shelter,” Elder Harcourt answered, and my gaze found his. He nodded, his lips pursed. “Attacks have occurred at Awakenings, businesses, or homes, worldwide.” He perused the injured behind us. “There will be many more arriving from the call. But if they can’t travel here safely, I do hope they take sanctuary in other places closer to their homes.”
Rolling my shoulders, I felt a weight I had only barely held off rigidly settle.
It was one thing to assume the attacks weren’t contained to the general area, but to hear it spoken as truth — he was speaking truth, since I had scented his words — was another condition entirely.
We were the Prodigies.
The soon-to-be Kings and Queens of our people.
By all accounts, we were heading into war.
Elder Harcourt smiled compassionately, and for the first time his eyes darted to Pearl’s and Jack’s foreheads before glancing toward Ezra and me. “Why don’t you four go rest.” His words were quiet. “You’ve had a very trying day thus far, and I believe you’re due your quiet.” His hand slipped into his pant pocket. “You saved these people today, but I can handle it from here.”
From the depths of his pocket, he extracted four large skeleton keys with black ribbons tied at the end of each one. “The keys will guide you to your rooms, which Elder Farrar specifically handled himself.” His golden brows furrowed. “He told me to tell you, the first step’s a doozy.”
Pearl and Jack each instantly seized a key, obviously ready to hand the reins over to the Elder, and swiftly began their trek across the sand to the wide mouth of the cave.
Ezra and I took our keys more slowly.
Elder Harcourt’s golden eyes were kind, his words soft. “Go. They will need you.”
My chin quivered, but I clenched my jaw, hardening it.
Studying his skeleton key, Ezra’s gaze was lowered, but then his eyes rose. Met mine.
Our chests heaved.
We moved forward together.
Toward Jack and Pearl, where they were waving for us to hurry. They stood just beyond the fully-armed Elemental and Shifter guards who, on either side of the entrance, were oblivious to our trepidation. Our best friends’ impatience would soon be exchanged for unconditional suffering.
King Cave was pure black. From the floor to the arched walls, which curved to the tall ceiling, the hue was magnificent. The only illuminations were the enchanted golden sparks glowing on the walls that were suspended in midair and placed periodically, creating a stunning ethereal luminosity the further we traveled on level ground.
A hundred and fifty yards inside, we came to a stop.
Gawked.
“Whoa,” Jack murmured, his brown eyes darting.
As I recalled Antonio’s bedtime stories, my own gaze was dancing. “It’s the living quarters.”
Ezra nodded, pointing to various locations. “There should be pools, entertainment rooms, and conference rooms, through those openings.”
“It’s beautiful,” Pearl whispered, staring straight up.
Yes, it was. Even if it was a cave. No Shifter would have a problem living here, especially with the woods outside to run and hunt in. The founding Elders had outdone themselves.
I gaped at what at first appeared to be a vast hole, which extended far into the depths of the earth. Around the edge of the enormous circular drop-off was a wide, continual walkway, with a slight slope, coiling against the wall. Suitably, a black railing was in place so you could travel safely.
Golden doors stood flush against the shimmering black walls along the black circular walkway, flowing down to the very complexities of the cave. Decorated above those doors and appearing oriental in nature were red tiled overhangs, giving each door a more personal, colorful touch. The places Ezra had been referring to were ones with gold tiled overhangs and without golden doors. Instead, they were oversized openings leading to other chambers of the cave. Sparks of golden Mage magic brightened the cave’s wall all the way down, shimmering on the reds and golds and making the area festive and enchanted.
Then there was the ceiling.
The enormous arched expanse was spelled to reflect the sky as it literally was, creating indoors an illusion of the outside. It currently showed the moon and stars twinkling down on us, with a spattering of lingering white-gray clouds. The picturesque night sky appeared so real that I wanted to touch it just to verify the Elders hadn’t stolen a piece of heaven.
Jack mumbled, “I can’t wait to see my room.”
Oh yes, you could.
Jack had no clue, nor Pearl, what they were about to experience.
They turned left, strolling down the walkway where my own key was leading me.
If we were to turn right on the footpath, we would enter a pronounced open space across the abyss of the cave where tables were set up. Mysticals could sit and converse comfortably while watching others move below. The walkway ended there, the real activity below ground.
Glancing once at Ezra, I saw his lips were pinched. Same as mine.
He and I shoved our feet into motion to follow our other besties, our awe fading from the splendor as we listened to Pearl and Jack ramble about the majesty of King Cave, including the different tales they had heard. The place had been specifically used during the war. Ezra and I walked close enough that our arms rubbed back and forth against each other’s; the contact was a must right now as it was our only way of consoling each other.
My brows furrowed as I absently detected that Jack’s and Pearl’s voices didn’t echo as I thought they might, even though we seemingly had the enormity of King Cave to ourselves for our first viewing. More than likely, it was another spell to keep the noise level down.
After hiking downward and circling the large expanse five times, but still very much toward the top of the cave, we all stopped beneath one of the gold overhangs. The cave opening was gigantic where we now gazed, the branching sector merrily lit.