Eternal Sacrifice (Mortal Enchantment Book 4) (9 page)

I flipped to the next page.

As I read the first paragraph, I straightened my back. There was a way I could contact the deceased akashas. According to this journal, there were seven planes of existence. All living creatures inhabited the physical plane until we died. The astral plane was our subconscious—basically every emotion that we each experienced within our lifetime. A place where all of our memories were stored. I had the power to access that realm and also communicate. I raced through the next few chapters, making notes as I went.

I had to go to Avalon’s nexus. It was the place where all four courts converged. The very center point of the isle. That’s where I’d find the akasha temple. A sacred place that’s hidden from all other elementals. Even the royal families didn’t know of its existence. My power was strongest there. My heart swelled with hope. This had to be the answer I was looking for. I closed the journal, slid the book inside my leather satchel, and headed out of the library. I questioned whether or not I should tell anyone where I was going.

No.

They might’ve thought it was too dangerous for me to go alone. There wasn’t any time for second guesses. Rowan had been risking his life to try to find a solution, and I couldn’t do any less than that. Time to create a portal. Collecting core energy into my fingertips, I made a circle with my hands. I increased the size until it was large enough to walk through. I made my way inside, focusing on the central nexus point of Avalon. I kept going until I saw a patch of grass in the distance.

I stepped out and took in the scenery. I saw the three land territories with streams of water running in between them. This had to be it. I’d transported myself exactly where I’d wanted to go. It was my most precise portal to date. I hoped that meant I was becoming stronger or even just getting a better handle on my abilities. Excitement grew in my belly, and I made a weird, giddy kind of noise. I set the leather bag down and fished out the journal. Now I just had to make the akasha temple appear.

The directions said I needed a blade, which I pulled out of my back pocket. They said to cut myself and let a drop of blood fall on each of the territories. Was my blood the secret to everything in Avalon? I shrugged away the question. I had to focus. I opened the switchblade and sliced open the tip of my index finger. I winced at the pain. As the blood dripped down my finger, I held it over the three land territories and then let a droplet fall in the water stream. There was an earthquake-type rumble. I trembled. Worried I’d done something wrong, I grabbed the book and ran. After I’d distanced myself, I spun back around.

Nothing happened.

My spirits sank. Had the temple been destroyed? Clearly, the quake was meant to stir something. I made my way back to the nexus. I stood close to the central point, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Everything was the same, but the area felt colder. When I held my hand over the nexus, part of my arm disappeared. I screamed. When I pulled back, I looked down and my hand was still there. Intact. Curious, I repeated what I’d previously done and my hand was gone once more. Okay, something was definitely in there. I took a deep breath, and stepped inside the nexus.

I gasped.

Beneath the hidden veil, a three-story structure stood that appeared more like a fortress than a temple. The exterior was made of polished silver bricks. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Against the sunlight, the temple gave off a multi-colored hue. It was like I was looking into a prism. I counted one entrance along with twelve windows, all on the higher floors. Above the door was a large archway that was inscribed with words in the same language as the journals. Translated, the inscription read, ‘I am the unknowable force. The fifth element’.
The fifth element?
There are five elements, not four? Holy shit! I was my own separate element.

I slung my bag over my shoulder, heading toward the entryway.

As I hurried through the doorway, a rush of power whipped through me. I stopped, dropping my bag on the glimmering silver floor. My skin pulsated with energy. All the strength I’d used to get here was returned to me. The world around me was alive. I closed my eyes, and felt wind blowing through the wings of a bird from miles away. I experienced the sensation as if it were happening to me. A single worm digging into the earth, pieces of soil rubbing against my body. Dolphins leapt out of the water on the other side of the planet. The waves splashed against my skin. As a child warmed beside a bonfire, my hands warmed.

They were all connected to me.

It was like the whole world was inside of me. For the first time, I really understood what it meant to be the akasha. I’d been given these abilities to balance the elements. But more importantly, to protect the world. I opened my eyes, excited to see what else I’d find in this temple. Gazing up at the ceiling, I admired the massive stained-glass windows. Each one represented a specific court. The red stained glass had a symbol of three balls of fire. A blue pane had three waves representing the water court. Green glass with a large tree was meant to symbolize the woodland, and of course, the air court had a yellow pane with winds that formed a circle. Above them all, there was a much larger silver-stained window with all four court symbols. No doubt this was meant to embody the akasha.

I made my way up a set of steps that seemed to shimmer in the light, entering a room that was the length of the temple. My eyes widened. Venetian-styled mirrors floated around the space a few inches off the ground. Each one was taller than I was. I had to move in between them as they shifted around. I had no idea why but I got the sense that they were alive somehow. Mirrors didn’t float. Then again, who knew what was normal in this place? I took a glimpse into each one that glided by. They only showed my reflection. When I stood still, I noticed one had broken away from the group and motioned toward me.

“Are you going to show me something?” I asked.

Okay, I’d officially lost my mind. I was trying to communicate with a mirror. To no one’s surprise, there was no response. Zero noise of any kind. Once the mirror was right in front of me, I stared at something as it materialized. There were two forms coming into view. My eyebrows rose. It was Marcus and Ariel. Was the mirror showing me things that were happening right now? I put my hands over my mouth when Marcus bent down and held out a ring. He’d proposed to her. Before I could see her response, the image clouded.

“No, no, no,” I said aloud when it was gone. I couldn’t help feeling disappointed. I wanted to see what else happened.

Another picture came into view. It was Rowan, but he wasn’t in the fire court. He was with Britta in the water territory. What was he doing there? I touched the mirror, and I heard everything that she’d told him. My heart sank. Merlin couldn’t help us if Valac cut the mist. But Rowan refused to believe that the situation was hopeless. He planned to free Merlin even though he’d tried to sacrifice him as an infant. Was Rowan in danger? Would Merlin try to kill him again? There was nothing I could do from here. I wasn’t even sure if this was a current image or something that had already happened.

Pain rippled through me in waves. “Let me help him,” I screamed. “Show me how.”

“You can save them all,” A soft, female voice replied.

I worked my way through the room, but couldn’t find anyone else. “Who are you?” I asked, as I searched the enormous space.

“We are what was, what is, and all that will come to be,” the voice echoed.

Out of breath from running around, I asked, “Are you here with me?”

On the opposite side of the room, I discovered a mirror that had been hung. It was the largest one in here, taking up most of the wall. The voice was coming from within the mirror. “We are always with you.”

Relief spilled over me. I’d found what I was looking for. “You must be one of the akashas.”

My reflection faded. Something else took its place. I stared at a glowing ball of light that appeared within the mirror. The voice said, “When you are in need of guidance, you will always find us here.”

Now it all made sense. The books weren’t meant to teach me everything. They were meant to get me here. I was able to get all my answers directly from the spirits of the former akashas. “Can you tell me how to stop Valac?”

“Your blood is the key,” she answered.

Did she mean that there was no way for us to stop Valac? That my death was the only answer? I lowered my head, and let out an exaggerated breath. “Is there any other way?”

The swirling orb of light changed colors as she spoke. “This is the way of the akasha. Everything in life must balance. Light and dark. Life and death. Power and sacrifice.”

The truth of her words burned into my soul like a hot iron.

I was given these gifts at a cost. Greater power in exchange for the ultimate sacrifice. My surrender would ensure that the world continued on. This was my destiny. My confidence and optimism deflated like a balloon. In my heart, I’d lost a battle I was never meant to win. Although my chest ached at the thought, some part of me had known all along. I’d tried to push those feelings aside, but I couldn’t. This was certainty. This was my whole purpose. The reason I was born.

“I understand,” I told the voice. “I know what I must do.”

I returned to the air court castle before anyone had realized I was gone. As I made my way through the winding halls, I sensed my time was running out. I wanted to memorize everything that I saw. Every nook and crevice, in case it was the last I’d seen of it. In all the months I’d been in Avalon, I’d barely ever stopped long enough to truly appreciate its beauty. Everything had always moved so fast. We’d solve one problem only to discover we had three more to deal with. It was a never-ending cycle.

And now it was coming to an end.

“Kalin, I’ve been looking all over for you,” Ariel yelled. She held her hand to her chest as she seemed to float toward me. I’d never seen her so happy.

I forced a smile. “What’s going on?”

She leaned forward, displaying the ring Marcus had given her. I pretended to be excited. There was no way to explain that I’d already watched him propose without discussing the akasha temple. The ones before me had done a great deal to keep its existence a secret, and I would do the same. “Is that what I think it is?” I asked, matching her elation.

Her eyes warmed as if she were reliving the moment in her head as she spoke. “I still can’t believe it happened. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

“I’m so happy for you both,” I replied, genuinely.

I listened as she went through every detail of the proposal. She’d said that Rowan was there. I hadn’t seen him in the mirror but I was glad he was a witness. Marcus had probably planned it that way. Those two were the best of friends. I hadn’t known anyone that had been through more and still managed to remain as close as they were. It was a comfort to know that Rowan would have him to lean on once I was gone.

I jolted out of my thoughts when Ariel let out a dreamy sigh. “I know we’ve only known each other for a few months, but I want you to be my maid of honor.”

“Of course,” I replied, with eagerness in my tone.

Her expression grew serious. “Once we deal with Valac, we’ll start planning the wedding.”

My stomach sunk. I’d be dead by then. But I couldn’t tell her that. I wouldn’t ruin the best moment of her life. Did that mean I had to miss my best friend’s wedding? No, I wouldn’t. I wanted to be part of their big day. I wanted to watch her stroll down the aisle. I wanted to see Marcus’s face as she strode toward him in a gorgeous dress. I wanted to witness them saying their vows. To see all my friends enjoying life just one last time. Their happiness made my sacrifice worth it. “I don’t want you to wait.” I grabbed her hands. “Let’s make your wedding into the greatest celebration any elemental has ever seen.”

Her eyes widened with surprise. “Won’t that be dangerous?”

She was always thinking about everyone else before herself. “We’ll make sure the event is heavily guarded.” I assured her.

“I don’t know, Kalin.” She bit her bottom lip. “I was thinking we’d do something small.”

Ariel had spent a lifetime making other people happy. She’d even gotten close to marrying someone she wasn’t in love with, just to elevate her parents' position in the court. Not to mention everything she’d done for me. Without her, I would’ve never survived. The debts I owed her were endless. It was time something wonderful happened to her. That she was the princess she deserved to be. “I want to do this for you and Marcus. After all you’ve been through, you deserve the most lavish wedding of all time and I can make that happen. It would mean so much to me.”

She must’ve seen the desperation in me. “If it means that much to you, then let’s do it.”

I pulled her into the tightest hug. “Give me twenty-four hours and I’ll give you a wedding fit for a queen.”

Rowan

I was about to free someone that had once tried to kill me.