Heart of Avalon (Avalon: Web of Magic #10): (11 page)

The rushing roar of the falls engulfed the boat as they approached the magical doorway.

“Everyone stay sharp,” Adriane ordered. “If there’s a power crystal in there, we have to be ready for anything.”

Water churned up and over them as the Flyer entered the open veil.

“My hair is going to be a frizzy mess,” Kara shouted. “Good thing I know magic.”

“I see light ahead,” Marlin cried.

Rumbling thunder threatened to shake the Flyer apart as the waterfall crashed closer and closer on either side of the boat.

“We’re almost through!” Cribby said, dancing from foot to foot.

“Hurry!” Zach called out.

The Flyer broke through the final layer of mist. With a resounding boom, the veil closed behind them.

“We made it!”

The group was thrown forward as the horrendous sound of splintering wood and metal screeched through the air.

“Ferret overboard!” Ozzie screamed, sliding across the deck, paws flailing.

“Hang on.”
Lyra darted in front of him.

Gasping for air, Emily wiped the mist from her eyes. “Oh no,” she breathed.

The boat ground to a halt, tilting sharply. Snagged on sharp rocks, a gaping hole ripped along its side. This time, the Fearless Flyer had found its final resting place.

“O
H, THE MERMANATEE
!” Cribby cried as Lorren and Zach dragged the sea elf off the boat.

The group huddled in a wide grotto, staring at what was left of the Fearless Flyer.

Tattered sails drooped from the broken mast, draping the wreckage like a shroud.

“Maybe we can fix it,” Zach suggested hopefully.

WhoomPH!
The Flyer collapsed like a house of cards, leaving only a pile of splintered debris.

Cribby fell to his knees, sobbing.

“I’m sorry about the Flyer,” Emily said. “She was a good… boot.”

“None like her!” Cribby wailed.

“If we make it back to Aquatania, we’ll build you a new one,” Marlin promised.

Cribby sniffled. “With a bilge pump?”

“Yeah.”

“And a poop deck?”

“Yes, yes, whatever. Now let’s get moving.”

Dappled blue light filtered through the waterfall, dimly illuminating a cavern of dull brown rock. Behind them, the falls thundered down, an impenetrable wall of water. Before them a small lake reflected sparkling light from its glassy surface.

“These are the Crystal Caves?” Marlin’s disappointed voice echoed along the curving walls.

Emily’s heart sank. Where were the magic jewels she had seen in her vision? Had she come all this way for nothing? “The Rainbow Veil
must
be guarding something,” the healer insisted.

Taking a deep breath, she rested her hand on Indi’s silky neck and closed her eyes. Focusing deep into the cavern’s gloom, she searched for the magic. Indi leaned close, supporting her, his aura shining bright purple and blue. Suddenly a swirling emerald light wavered in the distance.

Indi nosed his horn toward the far side of the cavern.
“That way.”

“There’s something on the other side of this lake,” Emily said.

“Dreamer, check it out,” Adriane ordered.

The mistwolf padded down a narrow path skirting the lake.

“What gives?” Kara looked at the eerily calm grotto. “Power crystals always create chaos. Shouldn’t there be some magical craziness, some sign of total pandemonium, some—”

Dreamer’s howl echoed in the cavern.
“Magic.”

“This way.” Adriane moved stealthily down the narrow pathway around the lake.

The others followed, jewels raised and ready.

“Are you all right?” Emily glanced at Marlin’s strained face.

“Yeah.”

She rested her hand against the merprince’s cheek. “You’re burning up. You have to rest.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Lorren asked.

“Maybe he has the flooie,” Kara suggested.

“It’s the water sickness,” Emily explained.

“Don’t worry, it’s not contagious unless you have a fin or two,” Marlin said, chuckling.

Zach walked beside the merboy. “You need some help?”

“No, thank you.” Marlin smiled weakly. “Hey, when this is all over, you guys all have to come to the Wave Fest. It’s a great party—really.”

“Beach parties are the best!” Kara agreed.

“Mmm, clam-on-a-stick.” Ozzie smacked his lips.

“Your father seemed pretty upset with the dragon riders,” Lorren reminded the merprince.

“He’ll have to get over it.” Marlin raised his head high. “I was wrong about the dragon riders. And I’m sorry to all of you for everything. I… just didn’t know any better.”

“Join the club.” Zach slapped him on the back.

“What about the sea dragons?” Adriane asked.

“That’s Emily’s department,” Marlin said. “She’s the best healer I know.”

Emily glanced back. “I’m the only healer you know.”

The group encircled Marlin, keeping him steady.

Emily followed Indi, her senses tingling. There was powerful magic ahead. But what if it wasn’t enough? What if she still couldn’t heal the water magic? Everyone was counting on her to fix the oceans and save the sea dragons.

Emerald eyes gleaming, Dreamer appeared in front of them.
“In there.”

Silvery blue light glowed faintly, just enough for them to see an opening in the cavern wall. Tiny crystals littered the floor, sparkling like stars.

“Okay, everyone into the creepy tunnel.” Kara pushed Lorren and Adriane in front of her.

Once inside, the tunnel narrowed—soon they could only pass single file. Adriane, Zach, and Dreamer took the lead, followed by Emily, Ozzie, Marlin, and Indi. Kara, Lorren, Lyra, and a despondent Cribby brought up the rear. Their shuffling footsteps echoed as the sound of the falls faded away.

The tunnel’s walls seemed to close in around her. Emily shuddered.

“Hope there’s nothing living in here,” Ozzie said, grimacing as he sidestepped puddles of brackish water.

“Are there any beasties we
haven’t
seen yet?” Cribby cried out.

“Manticore,” Adriane offered.

“Demons,” Zach continued.

“Werebeasts,” Lorren said.

“Bedbugs,” Kara added.

“Criminy!” Cribby held his hands to his ears.

Suddenly Indi raised his horn. Magic swirled in bright rainbow colors.

“Magic, dead ahead,” Adriane announced as the group barreled into one another.

Wolf, unicorn, dragon, and ferret gems sparkled brightly, reflecting light from the broad opening.

Emily’s breath caught as they entered another hidden cavern. Glowing stalactites hung from the arched ceiling, shimmering in shades of silver. Water fell behind crystal walls, swirling patterns of light across the cave.

Kara followed Lorren out of the tunnel, eyes wide. “Wow.”

It was like they had stepped into the middle of a shining rainbow. Hundreds of giant jewels twinkled on the cavern floor, pulsing and sparkling with magic.

“We found it.” Emily smiled, her eyes locked on the luminous, basketball-sized jewels. Beautiful green, turquoise, and silver auras swirled around the gems in twisting patterns, exactly as she had seen in her vision. Indi nuzzled close, his horn reflecting brilliant prisms of light.

“This is amazing!” Kara twirled around, taking in the wondrous magic.

“Yeah,” Adriane agreed. “It’s—”

“Bootyful!” Cribby slid across the slick floor, diving into a pile of jewels. “Look a’ the size a’ these mammas!” He hugged armfuls of glittering gems.

Zach picked a particularly large one up in his hands, turning it over slowly.

Cribby’s eyes opened wide. “I’ll be rich! Rich, I say, with more magic than I can waggle a wand at!”

Adriane studied the swirling colors carefully. “These look familiar.”

“There’s something very peculiar about these jewels,” Ozzie said, sizing up several dozen that were bigger than he was.

“These aren’t jewels,” Zach announced. “They’re eggs.”

“D
RAGONS!” ZACH EXCLAIMED
, smiling in wonder. “There must be hundreds of them.”

“What the—!” Ozzie hopped away from the multicolored eggs.

Adriane knelt beside Dreamer. “They’re smaller than the egg Drake came from, but the markings are similar.”

Colors swirled as the warrior’s hand passed over the eggs.

“Ooo, they come in fuchsia.” Kara picked up a glorious pink egg.

“Wow,” Emily gasped.

“What?” Kara asked.

At the blazing star’s touch, the egg’s shifting aura brightened to gleaming gold.

“I wish you could see their magic. It’s incredible.” Emily stretched her arms wide, letting the dragon magic wash over her—bright halos, sparkling and pure. “They’re totally healthy.”

“No trace of the water sickness?” Marlin asked anxiously.

“None,” Emily confirmed, glancing at the merboy. The red glow in his aura had dimmed. The eggs definitely had a healing effect on the water virus.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Amazing! Actually,” Marlin answered.

“This magic is helping you,” Emily said with a smile. “I can see it.”

“I don’t sense a power crystal here,” Adriane observed, her wolf stone lying coolly on her bracelet.

Ozzie frowned. “If there’s no power crystal twisting the magic, then where is the sickness coming from?”

Emily didn’t have an answer.

Lorren shook his head, amazed. “Zach, how long do you think these have been here?”

“From what I’ve learned, dragon eggs can incubate for thousands of years.” Zach carefully examined a pile. “There are—well, there used to be—all kinds of dragons.”

‘Wyverns, which walk on two legs,” Adriane said.

“Flying dragons,”
Dreamer chimed in.

“Dragonflies,” Kara added. “Although they’re technically fairy creatures.”

“Unbelievable.” Ozzie whistled. “So what kind are these?”

Zach shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Sea dragons,” Marlin said without hesitation.

The healer froze. In all the excitement, it hadn’t occurred to her that the magic of the Crystal Caves—the magic she was supposed to use to heal the water—was contained in these dragon eggs. But how could she just take magic away from these innocent creatures?

“Okay, everyone give Emily some room,” Kara instructed. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

“I can’t.”

Her friends stared at her, confused.

“Isn’t there enough magic?” Lorren asked.

“Plenty, but—” She gazed into the merprince’s dark brown eyes. “Marlin, if we take it, we risk harming the eggs.”

Marlin nodded ruefully. “She’s right.”

“Then how are we supposed to heal the water?” Kara asked.

“I don’t know.” Emily bowed her head. “I can’t take this magic.”

“But I can.” A steely voice echoed through the cave.

At the entrance, a shimmer appeared in the shadows. Eyes gleaming beneath her hood, a tall figure strode into the cavern.

“Miranda!” Emily gasped.

“That’s far enough!” The warrior was already in fighting stance, wolf stone raised and sparking. Dreamer growled at her side.

Lyra hunched low in front of the other mages, ready to strike.

Miranda paused, surveying the cave. “Impressive.”

“Who are you?” Adriane demanded.

“As I told the healer, I am a mage.” She covered her eyes with the back of her hand as Kara shone blazing sunlight over her. The woman’s features warped under the strong magic, then flickered back.

“What did you do to me?” Emily demanded, Indi close by her side.

“Looks like I gave you what you wanted,” Miranda said, glancing at the unicorn. “Bonding with animals does have its uses.” Her hungry eyes fixed on the eggs.

Emily’s stomach twisted. “You used me to find this place.”

“Consider it a fair exchange.”

Adriane fired a warning over the woman’s head. The silver bolt hit the crystal wall, showering fragments over the floor. “Who are you, what do you want?”

“Careful, girls,” the woman sneered.

“AgagaH!” Ozzie cried out. “The eggs!”

Emily whirled around. Jagged cracks ran over several eggs.

“They’re hypersensitive to magic.” Zach carefully ran his palm over a few.

“Adriane. Stop!” Emily commanded.

The warrior lowered her jewel, eyes still locked on the stranger. “How did you get in here?”

“The same way you did.”

“Oh, and we just didn’t notice you tagging along?” Kara challenged.

“Precisely,” Miranda smiled. “Tell them, Emily, how easy it is to make people see what you want them to see.”

Kara and Adriane looked at the healer questioningly.

“That doesn’t explain how you found us,” Emily said coldly.

Miranda held up a small object with blinking lights. “Fascinating device.”

Lorren gasped. “Where did you get that?”

“I didn’t presume you’d let me just walk in and take this magic.” Miranda raised her slender hand. “So I brought along a little insurance policy.”

With a flick of her wrist, the air beside her shimmered, revealing a second figure.

“Tasha!” Lorren cried.

The goblin girl stared blankly into space.

“Let her go!” Kara raised her unicorn jewel.

Miranda shoved the entranced Tasha between herself and the mages. “I don’t think so.”

Tasha whimpered in pain as sparks flared around her. Kara lowered her gem, unable to get a clear shot at the mysterious mage.

“That’s better. Now step away from the eggs,” Miranda instructed.

“I don’t know who you really are,” Emily said, “but a real mage would protect this magic.”

“So the Fairimentals can use it?” The woman’s cat-like eyes glittered dangerously. “It’s only fair I take something
they
want.”

“You don’t expect us to believe the power crystals were yours?” Adriane asked.

The woman eyed the mages. “I used to be like you, a mage with friends, animals, and jewels. My friends betrayed me. The Fairimentals stole my magic and left me with nothing. I taught myself how to be a magic master. Now I take magic as I please.” Her gaze shifted to Emily. “Just like I showed you.”

“You’re not taking
this
magic!” Adriane shouted defiantly.

“You didn’t seem to mind taking magic from me, warrior. Or have you already forgotten my gift?”

“I’ve never even seen you before.”

“Not in this face, perhaps.” Her features blurred, softened.

Miranda tossed back her hood. A jagged white streak zig zagged in her long brown hair. It shimmered into gleaming silver. Her suddenly bloodred lips curled, revealing vampire teeth. Green animal eyes glittered. The Dark Sorceress stepped forward.

“You!” Emily stepped back, horrified.

Adriane and Kara instinctively raised their jewels. Dreamer and Lyra sprang into position.

“Easy.” The Dark Sorceress held Tasha closer. “We’re on the same side, you know. It’s a shame you can’t see that. Soon, it will be too late.”

“Never,” Emily said between clenched teeth.

“We both want to stop the Spider Witch from reweaving the web, yes?”

“She’s next on our list of worst-dressed villains,” Kara snapped.

“Everything I told you was true, healer,” the sorceress said smoothly. “My friends and I spent years accumulating magic, storing it in nine crystals. But the Fairimentals hid them. They planned it so only someone with two fairy maps and a powerful unicorn could find the crystals. Then they waited—for you.”

Emily was shocked. Why hadn’t the Fairimentals told them this?

“What happened to your friends, the other mages?” Zach demanded, keenly interested.

“They’re around.” The sorceress stared intently at the blond-haired teen. “No, your parents were not mages. They were… something else.”

“You knew my parents?” Zach asked, astonished.

“Tragic, really.” Her slitted gaze flickered to Adriane and Kara, then back to Zach. “Once you develop a taste for magic, it’s never enough. They were obsessed with the darker arts.”

“You’re lying!” Zach cried, his jewel flaring red.

Adriane held the boy back. “Don’t listen to her.”

“You think you know what using magic is about? Magic will change you and everything you touch. The only way forward is through darkness. But you know that, don’t you, healer?”

Emily flinched.
One will see in darkness
.

“You took magic from the animals and you released Black Fire!” Kara shouted, cheeks flushed with anger.

“Yes, an unfortunate side effect,” the sorceress admitted.

“You almost killed the mistwolves,” Adriane growled.

The sorceress shrugged. “That’s magic under the bridge. If the Spider Witch reweaves the web,
all
the magic will be hers. None of us wants that.”

Then she faced Emily, eyes gleaming. “Know this, healer. Your power for weaving magic surpasses even hers.”

“Say whatever you want.” Emily’s eyes flared. “You’re not getting these eggs.”

“I can’t fight you alone,” the sorceress sighed.

“You got that right!” Adriane snarled.

The Dark Sorceress smiled evilly. “Level Two, you may be.” She raised her hands, magic flickering from her fingertips. “But I have powers you’ve never dreamed of.”

Droplets condensed, covering the crystal walls in a watery sheen. The girls’ reflections distorted and multiplied as if they were inside a house of mirrors.

The cave suddenly shook with a loud rumble.

“Criminy!” Cribby dove behind the pile of eggs.

Warily, the mages held their magic in check as the sorceress backed away, Tasha in tow.

Without warning, a surge of water crashed through the cave entrance, flooding across the floor. Red magic sparked from the sorceress’s raised hands and the water rose, spinning into a towering cyclone.

“With enough of my power crystals in the Fairimentals’ hands, I only needed a magical boost, which the healer was kind enough to provide in our short time together.”

The sorceress waved her hands. The tower of water twisted together, forming a bulky figure. Sculpted by dark magic, a terrifying beast came to life, limbs rippling from the water itself. A dozen hissing snake-heads sprouted from its body.

“Crimawager!” Cribby screamed.

“What is that?” Lorren shouted.

The enormous monster heaved forward. Its multiple sinewy necks looped through the air, heading straight toward the mages.

“It’s a hydra,” Marlin gasped.

“You have done well, mages,” the hydra hissed.

The mages exchanged panicked glances.

“Marina!” Emily cried.

The hydra’s voice belonged to the missing water Fairimental! Marina was being controlled by the Dark Sorceress. That’s what had twisted all the water magic, not a power crystal. Unwittingly, Emily had strengthened the sorceress by providing her a source of magic.

Lightning fast, the writhing snake-heads swept over the mages and struck like vipers.

“No!” Emily cried out as two eggs shattered, their brittle shells hurling across the cavern.

Glowing magic funneled down the hydra’s throats, collecting in its thick, clear body. Faint screams echoed along the walls as the life was taken from the baby dragons. As their magic drained into the monster’s stomach, vibrant colors warped into bloodred.

The Dark Sorceress laughed. “The magic will be mine!”