“I knew Supay,” she said. The rest of the room remained quiet, eyes darting between me and Boudicca. “We met at a gathering to debate the wisdom of returning to our homes. He was full of himself, that one. He relished his god status and didn't want to give it up. I wonder if he made it home.”
“I believe he did,” I said. “Mama Pacha seems to be the last of her kind on Earth, and she’s in her homeland. I’m so sorry, but if there's nothing else you can think of to prepare us, I insist that we go. I have no idea what my husbands encountered when they went to the land of the Supay, and I want to get that portal open for them to be able to return.” Axoular stood and bowed again.
“Do we have your leave?” His tone was kind.
Morcan and Boudicca glanced at each other before Morcan replied. “You may go, Axoular. Be safe and be wary. It will be a dangerous place for you, for we don't know if anyone is watching for our return.”
“One last thing,” I said. “Who were the creatures that were after you?”
“They were shapeshifters, skinwalkers. Many names have followed them throughout the centuries, but they called themselves the Humbaba.” Boudicca stood and walked over to us. “Be careful. They can take any form.”
I’d never heard Michael, Anthony, or Elias mention shapeshifters. Humbaba was a character inThe Epic of Gilgameshthough, I was sure of that. I wondered if they stole the name from the book or if the book was calling them out?
We were finally allowed to leave the room. I opened the door to a cacophony of sound. The crowd had grown larger while we talked. They’d managed to stay quiet during our debate but couldn't contain their excitement when I came out.
Euphoria washed over me, and I knew I was picking up their emotions. Inside, when tempers were rising and everyone was upset, it caused a physical reaction in me. I was uplifted in response to the exuberant crowd. I raised my hands, asking for silence.
“People of Sárkány, I hear your hope. I will find a way to help you. I understand your food is almost gone, and your lives have been sparse. I can’t promise to be some superhero, swooping in to save everyone. I promise you, though, with my last breath, I will try everything in my power to help you. You won’t be forgotten or lost. I must return home, but Axoular is going with me. We’re going to settle my affairs and begin a search for a solution for you.”
I started down the stairs and they parted in front of me like Moses parting the sea. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by their expectant faces. Soft palms and fingers darted out to touch my clothes and skin. A few times, the rough touch of knuckles brushed my arms. I only saw a few disapproving faces and vowed to eventually speak to those that disapproved of me. I wanted to know why.
My tired legs burned as we climbed up the hills toward the cave. I felt a little hitch in my lower back, indicating I was pushing myself too hard. Since I’d left the hostel that morning, I’d trekked across theIsla Del Sol, traveled to another world, hiked down a mountain, and was beginning to head back up. I was terrified, worried about Elias and Anthony and where they’d gone, heartbroken over Boudicca’s story and the fate of the Sárkány, and I still missed my children.
I stopped and turned as we passed through the entrance to the village and looked down over the buildings. I’d been there only a couple of hours but was reluctant to leave. Those poor creatures needed someone to save them. More than likely, nothing in this world could be salvaged. Their world was built to house thousands of Sárkány. With only a couple of hundred left, there was no one to maintain the greenhouses that fed the livestock, that in turn fed the Sárkány. The world itself was hot and barren, with little to no natural sustenance.
Axoular said they’d searched the world over for more Sárkány that might be hanging on somewhere, and they were here now. I knew I would have to find a way to bring them to Earth, there was nothing else to do. How we would manage that, I didn’t know.
A small group of Sárkány followed us to the caves. They vowed to keep vigil beside the portal until we returned. I didn’t like the thought of them sitting in that dank cave, but they insisted. They asked me many questions about my homeland as we walked up the hills. I was moving at a snail’s pace, exhausted, but I answered as much as I could. They were most interested in rain and water. They dug deep wells to find water, and then they used it sparingly.
We reached the cave and Axoular drew out a knife. I turned to the four remaining Sárkány. “Whatever you do, don't follow us. We may end up leaving the portal site immediately after entering my world, and we wouldn't want you to come through without me there to guide you and help you. Stay in this world until we return, please.” Four heads nodded their consent, and I walked over to Axoular and the portal.
“Are you ready?”
Axoular nodded his head. “I'm ready to save my people.” I drew in a deep breath and cut my finger again. I dabbed a bit of blood on the same stone that we used on the Earth side of the portal. It again took a few seconds, but soon the stones were glowing red. When we’d come to Galdiart, I’d felt dry heat and excessive wind. As the stones glowed brighter, a gentle, chilly breeze teased my cheeks. I could smell the fresh, clean scent that came right after a misty rain. My emotions calmed, it smelled like home and family. If I didn’t know I was travelling to an island in Bolivia, I would think I was going to walk straight into the Appalachian Mountains on a cool spring morning.
I smiled one last time at my new friends and stepped over onto the invisible floor of the portal. My body became weightless again, but I didn’t feel fear. I opened my eyes to the stone walls of the Inca ruin.
Chapter 18
I stepped over the sides of the ancient well and was immediately grabbed from behind. My training kicked in, and I reached over my shoulder and grabbed my attacker by the ears, flipping him over me and onto the hard stone floor. As his body flew over me, I realized it was Michael. In the split second he was in the air, I wondered why, with his Supay reflexes, he didn’t stop me from flipping him.
As soon as he landed, I was beside him. “Oh my god, Michael, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”
He coughed and laughed at the same time. “I’m fine, Baby.” He spotted something behind me and jumped up. “Get behind me, Riley, hurry!”
Axoular was appearing in the well. “Michael, it’s okay! I brought him with me!”
“What? Why? You weren’t supposed to bring anything back with you! How do you know you can trust it?” Michael was out of control. He tried to push me behind him, to shield me. Normally, I would have found this endearing. Even though women could do anything we put our minds to, it was nice to feel protected sometimes. In this case, I was more irritated that he didn’t trust me enough to listen to me.
“Michael, stop! He’s safe, I promise you!” I stepped in front of Michael and put my back to Axoular’s form as he appeared in the well. I heard his feet hit the ground as he climbed down. My hands were on Michael’s heaving chest. His eyes flashed and his entire body was tense; he was furious.
A low growl erupted from his chest, something I’d never heard him do. “Michael? What’s going on? Why won’t you listen to me? Michael!”
His eyes snapped to me, and his voice deepened. “Move, Riley.”
I backed away from him, toward Axoular, frightened of Michael Effler for the first time in our lives together. I heard a growl behind me and pivoted. Axoular was crouched in a fighting stance. I took a moment to admire his dark golden skin. In the human world, people would assume he was from a middle eastern country. He was stunning, but he was also frightening in his anger. I stepped out from between the two, and they spoke to one another in a language I didn't understand.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying!” I cried. They moved to the side, closer to the center of the room and away from the portal. As they moved, another figure appeared in the center of the well. Michael’s eyes darted between Axoular and the portal, wary of who might come through next.
