“Right again. I’m only going to take what we need, if we find it, and this place is going to remain our little secret.”
I nod, even though I don’t know if he can see me. “What kind of crystal are we looking for?”
“Oh, she’s a beaut. You’ll sense its energy as soon as we get close enough. It’s a crystal packed with divine power. At its fully grown size, it’ll sprout spires in all directions, but smaller, it’ll be little clusters. The tips will appear translucent, but the body is stunning shades of purple. We need—”
“We’re looking for Angel Aura Amethyst?”
“Well, don’t you continue to surprise me. How did you figure it out that fast?”
“The purple. It’s the most gorgeous shade I’ve ever seen.”
“You’ve seen one?”
“Not in real life. Only pictures in books. My parents…” I trail off.
“They what?”
I swallow and shake my head, pleading with myself not to get upset just from speaking about them.
“They taught me about it. My dad is a random facts guy. He just knows things and always had an answer to my questions. The first time he talked about the Amethyst, we were walking through the woods that connect Edistoia and Darlander. Mom spotted some angel orchids and went over to smell them.
“I knew the word ‘angel’ once upon a time meant ‘a blessing or message from the Valories.’ Like if the Valories spoke to a being, that being would say they received an angel. Then when the gods went to the nonmagical realm, they basically had the mortals calling them blessings. With all of that in mind, I didn’t understand where the name angel orchid came from when it was just a flower. I asked and my dad told me they were named after the Angel Aura Amethyst because of their matching colors.”
“In the little flowers’ defense, they may not receive messages from the Valories, but they were blessed with some pretty powerful properties. Pop those bad girls in with some other ingredients and you’ll get yourself a nice poison or love potion.”
“Love potion?”
“Never mind, we’ve got work to do. Amick would like one for each of us, but if we can’t find a good cluster or decent amount, we’ll only take two. One for him and one for you.”
“Me?”
“That’s what he said. The only true way we’re going to be able to find this Binding is by wandering the streets of the regions and sensing its energy. It’ll be the strongest power we felt, like the Veils. He wants, or at least hopes, that these assist in that.”
I follow along as he carefully makes his way through the crystal maze scattered across the floor. It’s difficult not to step on any, but we manage as best as we can.
His humming grows contagious, and my throat vibrates with the sounds I’m producing. Our melodies don’t match, but they harmonize in a comforting way.
I don’t realize I’ve ventured a good bit away from him until I no longer hear his voice.
My heart rate spikes as I whip around, searching every corner and straining my ears for any sound.
The silence and darkness closing in have me spinning around. Fear clogs my throat, but a scream bursts free when I accidentally slam the torch lamp against the wall. The glass casing shatters, and a rush of liquid hits the ground.
“No, no, no, no. Riven!”
My bellow echoes through caverns and chambers I can’t see as I shuffle my feet back until I hit a wall. The stench of oil invades my nose, making my eyes instantly water.
The disorienting sight heightens my panic, and I cover my ears as the haunting sound of menacing laughter fills my mind.
No. Fuck no. Don’t do this to me, brain.
Not in a cave alone. In the dark.
I crane my neck back, staring at the crystal shards above me, just like I used to look for the stars in the arena.
“Riven!”
A scream tears free and my fist flies forward as I’m jerked from the wall. My punch connects with a chest as soon as warmth surrounds my very being.
