Wrap your head around that shit.
Trying to make sense of the temporal shenanigans between these worlds is giving me a migraine worse than the one I get after listening to Lucian running his mouth. It's just another piece of the batshit crazy puzzle that is my life, and I'm starting to think I might need a PhD in quantum physics just to keep up.
"And Emily, if you ever pull that summoning shit again, I swear to every deity in existence, I will personally come back and haunt your ass. If you need me, find another way to reach out. Carrier pigeon, smoke signals, interpretive dance—I don't care. Just don't yank me across dimensions like a cosmic yo-yo. Capiche?"
Emily nods vigorously, her eyes wide with amusement and genuine understanding. "Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye—wait, no, fuck that. I've already died once, and it wasn't fun. But I promise, Dani. No more surprise summonings. Scout's honor."
I raise an eyebrow, "Em…" I warn.
She grins, "Fine, then. Witch's honor. Or is it Demon Hunter's honor now? I'm still figuring out the proper terminology for my new supernatural status."
I can't help but chuckle, shaking my head at her antics. Even amid all this chaos, Emily always finds a way to make me laugh. It's one of the things I love most about her.
"Just promise me, Em—no more magical kidnappings. I've got enough on my plate with the whole 'fate of the world' thing. I don't need to add 'surprise interdimensional travel' to my list of worries."
She nods again, this time with a more serious expression. "I promise. I'll find another way to reach you if I need you. No more portal-pulling or dimension-dragging. You have my word."
I smile, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Thanks, Em."
We embrace, holding each other tight. I breathe in her familiar scent, lavender, and something uniquely Emily. It's a smell that always makes me feel safe, even in the craziest circumstances.
I pull away. "Alright, gang," I say, clapping my hands together. "Let's get this show on the road. We've got a world to save, memories to restore, and powers to master—just another day in the life of Dani and her merry band of misfits."
I focus on conjuring a portal, tapping into the power deep within me. It responds immediately—eager to fulfill my request. But I need a specific location, a direct path to Rhyland. If he's sailing with Gideon, I have no idea where he could be. So, I try a different approach. I concentrate on Rhyland himself—his chiseled features, Nordic blue eyes, commanding presence, and the love that binds us together. A shimmering gateway begins to materialize before me, rippling like water, glowing a brilliant blue.
Lucian gasps beside me, his eyes wide with awe. "Well, fuck me sideways and call me Gandalf! That's some serious Lord of the Rings shit right there, Honey Pot!"
"Shut up," I hiss, my brow furrowed in concentration. "I need to focus, and your constant yapping isn't helping." I close my eyes, pouring all my thoughts and emotions into the image of Rhyland. The portal shimmers more intensely, expanding in size. Opening my eyes, I'm greeted by a vast expanse of nothingness. "Okay, that's new," I mutter under my breath.
Lucian leans in, squinting at the void. "Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't portals supposed to lead somewhere? Because this looks like the entrance to my ex's soul—empty and devoid of any signs of life."
I glare at him, "You're not helping." But he's right. This isn't what I usually conjure. Still, there's no turning back now. I glance at Lucian, my voice filled with determination. "Let's go."
He grins, rubbing his hands together. "Alrighty then! Into the abyss we go! Hey, do you think they have chimichangas on the other side? Because I could really go for a chimichanga right about now."
I roll my eyes. "You're about to enter an unknown realm, and all you can think about is Mexican food?"
Lucian shrugs. "Interdimensional travel makes me hungry. Plus, we'll need our strength for whatever's waiting for us on the other side of this thing."
I hate to admit it, but he has a point. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the unknown. "Okay, on the count of three. One... two..."
"THREE!" Lucian shouts, grabbing my hand and leaping into the portal with a whooping battle cry.
And just like that, we're hurtling through the shimmering gateway, the world we know disappearing behind us as we plunge into the mysterious depths of the void.
We then land on a slick, wet deck. The loud sounds of gunfire and cannon blasts assault my ears. I scramble to my feet, taking in the chaotic scene around me. It's like a war zone, with pirates rushing in every direction.
Suddenly, I hear a faint whistle, growing louder by the second. Before I can react, Lucian tackles me from behind, sending us both crashing to the deck. A cannonball whizzes over our heads, missing us by mere inches. It slams into the ship's side, creating a gaping hole, splinters of wood flying everywhere. The impact reverberates through my bones as I struggle to catch my breath.
"OH MY FUCK!" Lucian yells above me."Did we just stumble onto the set ofPirates of the Caribbean? Because this shit looks way too real to be a movie!"
I shove him off me, my heart racing. "No, you dumbass. This is Aquaria, and it looks like we've just crash-landed in the middle of a goddamn pirate battle royale."
Lucian's eyes light up with a manic gleam. "Well, blow me down! I always knew I was destined for a life of swashbuckling and plundering booty. Both literally and figuratively, if you catch my drift."
I shoot him a withering glare, ducking as another cannonball whistles past our heads. "Can you maybe save the innuendos for a time when we're not actively being shot at? Or is that too much to ask from that one-track mind of yours?"
My eyes scan the chaos for any sign of Rhyland. I can feel his broody presence, tantalizingly close. Just then, he comes sprinting from the ship's bow, his eyes fierce and alight with battle. Another cannon fires off to my right, and I cringe instinctively. Rhyland moves in a blur, his supernatural speed carrying him towards me. He wraps his arms around me, his embrace gentle and protective, as he ducks us to the deck. The cannonball screams past, missing my head by a hair's breadth, and slams into the ship's floorboards.
