The Inner Circle (Return of the Ancients Book 3) (22 page)

A ripple of foreboding ran down my spine. “What is it?” I asked.

But neither Rafael was really paying any attention to me. Their gazes had locked onto each other.

Slowly, the real Rafael, still dressed in bloodstained clothes, stretched his arms wide and spoke a single word in a language I could not understand.

Nothing happened at first.

And then I saw it.

A crack. A crack in the center of the mirror.

In moments, it snaked across the mirror to cover the entire length, and as it did so, both Rafaels fell to their knees and screamed in pain, their faces twisting in agony.

I’d never heard such pain in a cry. It was the sound of pure torture, ripped from someone’s soul.

In an explosion that shook the floor and threatened to deafen me, the mirror shattered into a multitude of tiny fragments.

I fell to the floor and covered my head.

As soon as the vibrations faded, I cautiously lifted my head.

There was only one Rafael now, the real one. He swayed unsteadily on his feet for a time, and then suddenly pitching forward, he collapsed onto the floor.

I rushed to his side as Jareth’s words rang through my ears.
Breaking my mirror would be like dying. It would be like giving up my soul, what I really am, everything I’ve ever had and all of my dreams.

I stared down at Rafael in complete horror. I could see the utter devastation in his face. I couldn’t even ask why he’d done it. I just held his hands.

Slowly, he sat up, looking completely exhausted. Loosening the collar of his bloodstained shirt, he said in a ragged voice, “A moment, please. I can’t speak … yet.”

“You don’t ever have to talk if you don’t want to,” I answered in a rush. That was the least I could do.

He caught my fingers in his hand and cradled them tiredly to his chest. We stayed there like that until the color slowly returned to his face.

I heard an unexpected voice from behind us. “Move, Sydney. Let me have a look at his shoulder.”

I whirled to see Jareth standing there, looking pale himself and deeply shaken.

“Are the queens coming?” I gasped.

“No,” Jareth answered in a low voice. “No one is. We all heard that mirror break. It rang through the entire city.” He looked like he was going to be sick.

I shuddered. I didn’t understand the full ramifications of what Rafael had done, but I understood enough to know that it had been catastrophic.

Struggling to my feet, I got out of Jareth’s way. I didn’t ask him where he’d been and why he hadn’t answered when I’d called. It was too late now, anyway. Now, I just wanted him to help and heal Rafael as fast as he could.

Rafael sat there, mute, as Jareth knelt beside him. He was clearly affected by the loss of his mirror. He didn’t even move as Jareth created his healing light.

After a few minutes, the ball of light disappeared, and Rafael dropped his head into his hands.

Jareth stayed where he was, crouched by his side and shaking his own head in profound disbelief. “I thought you were the predictable one, Rafael. Why did you do it? What—”

Suddenly, his mouth dropped open, and his eyes locked above Rafael’s head.

“Rafael, your Blue Thread!” His voice was strangled, and he swallowed several times before he managed to form the words. “It’s
gone
.”

I froze. Actually, none of us moved.

Rafael turned even whiter, and after several attempts, he finally whispered, “And … the outcome?”

Jareth didn’t answer.

It clearly wasn’t good news.

Rafael lifted his head and ordered sharply, “Tell me. Spare nothing.”

Jareth expelled a long breath. “Your fate line ends in … destruction.” He bowed his head and whispered, “You … destroy the Tree of Life. And … soon.”

I stared at Jareth, unable to believe it. Even I knew destroying the Tree of Life meant the three dimensions would be obliterated: the Brotherhood, the Earth,
and
the Fae.

I just couldn’t believe it. “You’re wrong, Jareth. You’ve made a mistake.” He
had
to be wrong. The Earth simply couldn’t be destroyed, especially anytime soon. The destruction of the Earth was supposed to be a comfortable billion or so years away.

Jareth didn’t say anything. He looked just as tortured as I felt inside. We both turned back to Rafael.

Rafael had bowed his head and buried his face in his hands. It was a gesture of complete defeat.

None of us knew what to do.

Finally, Rafael choked on a bitter laugh. “I clearly made the wrong choice,” he said in a strangled voice. Every line of his body was taut. “I have condemned us all. It doesn’t matter what either of you do now. I’ve already sealed the destruction of the Tree of Life.”

I started shaking. “What choice did you actually make?” I rasped. My throat was dry. “What was it?” It was important for me to know, but I’d already begun to suspect.

Neither of them answered.

I closed my eyes and spoke the horrible truth. “Then it was me. He should have given me up to the queens.”

“No,” Rafael disagreed in a harsh voice. “It isn’t your fault, Sydney. It’s so much more than just you.”

I couldn’t believe him.

Rising to his feet, he toed some of the broken shards of mirror with his boot for a minute before saying, “The choice was, in fact, the decision to walk my own path. I had several choices. And I … chose the wrong one.”

His voice was soft and intense, and filled with so much emotion that I thought my heart would break.

Jareth crouched down and picked up a piece of broken glass. “But still?” he asked roughly, holding the glass reverently in his hands. “What kind of choice could end like this?”

Rafael remained silent for such a long time that I thought he wasn’t going to reply. But then he answered grimly, “I was forced to a crossroads: to join Marquis, to walk with Melody, or to continue my journey with the Queens.”

The first two were clearly out of the question.

Jareth must have been thinking the same thing, because he asked, “What could have possibly possessed you to betray the Queens?”

It was obvious that Rafael didn’t want to answer. But he finally did. “If I stayed with the Queens, I would have your blood on my hands,” was his reply. “And Sydney’s, as well. It’s only a matter of time before they discover the blood of the Brotherhood runs in your veins, Jareth. And they believe they see danger in Sydney.”

Jareth started looking sick again.

“The only way to protect you both was to walk my own path.” Rafael finished grimly. “My intention was to use my heritage for the greater good, and to protect you both until the Queens’ minds opened to possibilities other than fear and destruction. I’d never planned on … this.”

“If my Blue Thread choice is anything like yours, may the fates save us all,” Jareth said under his breath and with uncharacteristic gravity.

I didn’t want to hear anymore. And I suddenly couldn’t hold still. Wanting to be alone, I ran past the rows of Rafael’s clothing to lean my head against the soft gray wall at the other end of his massive closet.

But no sooner had I touched the wall than a small hole appeared in the center to form into a doorway.

I stood back in alarm, expecting someone to step through, but no one came.

“That’s strange,” Jareth said from behind me.

I whirled. I hadn’t realized that I’d been followed. I didn’t say anything as he grabbed my arm. The Fae classification bracelet still encircled my wrist. I’d grown so used to it that I had forgotten it was there.

But now, it was glowing. And I could see a sparkle of golden light circling the bracelet like an aura, a rainbow of colors.

“It’s pretty,” I said numbly, unaware that I’d even said anything at all.

“You
see
it?” Jareth asked, stunned.

I just looked at him. I was freaking out about Rafael’s dilemma, and the fact that my existence had forced him to make the ultimate sacrifice. I didn’t really care to talk about a silly Fae bracelet.

And I still felt like running even though I didn’t know where to run
to.

Upset, I shoved Jareth aside and stepped through the doorway into Rafael’s living room.

I glanced around at the gray walls and the picture windows showcasing the floating islands drifting by. After a moment, my eyes fell on Ajax sitting in the middle of the circular couch amidst a sea of red pillows.

“Ajax,” I cried out his name as I bounded across the room to throw myself down beside him and hug him as hard as I could.

The Doberman laid his long elegant muzzle on my shoulder, and we just sat there, drawing comfort from each other. Somehow, through all of the madness, Ajax had turned into a cherished, trusted friend.

I don’t know how long I sat there. I just know that sometime later, I heard the dim muted chimes announcing someone’s arrival, and I turned to see Jareth and Rafael striding through an open doorway.

They looked pale and grim, but still strong and in command. Somehow, it ignited a thread of hope deep inside my soul.

“I can only wonder why Melody didn’t inform the Queens of my defiance before this,” Rafael was saying.

Jareth crossed his arms and scowled. “Perhaps, it’s simple,” he said. “Maybe she wanted to see Sydney suffer the Queens’ wrath for guiding you astray. But then again, who can fathom her reasoning? I can’t, and I am her creation, though for what purpose …” His voice trailed away.

I stood up, suddenly nervous. “What now?” I asked, twisting my hands together.

They both looked at me.

Rafael shrugged. “Well, I can do what I wish now,” he said. “I have nothing to lose.”

Jareth cocked a curious brow.

Lifting his trion, Rafael spoke a single unintelligible word.

Almost immediately, three white-clad Fae appeared. They must have been waiting for his call. I recognized one of them as Brock, the young Protector who had masqueraded as me for a time. Slapping their arms across their chests in a respectful salute, they fell upon bended knee.

“My king,” they said in unison.

“Rise,” Rafael ordered. “And I am not your king.”

They rose, appearing confused.

“I serve the Queens,” Rafael continued. “And I will see them protected, as you would protect me.”

“My lord,” one of the Fae objected fiercely. “We wish to follow you. The majority of Avalon desires that—”

“It is not my desire nor my fate to rule Avalon” Rafael cut them short with a sharp look.

“But have you not started a war of restoration?” Brock burst out.

Rafael’s face hardened into a mask of ice. “Have I?” he asked coldly. “I’ve given no such order.”

“But now is the time to strike, my prince,” the other Fae inserted forcefully. “You can’t live as you did before. The Queens will never allow it.”

“The Queens fear me, as they should. They know I have the Protectors behind me. So I am safe enough,” Rafael replied calmly. “For now, my order is that you protect the Queens and enforce peace in this land. Not one drop of blood is to be spilled. And I will hold each of you accountable for that.”

They were clearly unhappy but agreed. “As you wish, my lord.”

“Then go.” Rafael turned away.

They left.

And no sooner had they gone then Rafael said, “The time has come to force Melody to act.”

“That‘s a dangerous game,” Jareth replied a bit hesitantly.

But Rafael simply shrugged. “I no longer have anything to fear,” he said. Nodding in my direction, he added, “Guard her well, Jareth. I’ll return soon.”

Taking Ajax with him, he shifted.

I shook my head as if to clear it. With all of the Fae popping in and out, the room had filled with a substantial amount of mist.

Jareth locked his hands behind his back, and striding my way, sank tiredly onto the couch next to me. “It’s becoming impossible to hate Rafael anymore,” he admitted, shaking his head with begrudging respect.

I just sighed.

But Jareth wasn’t in the mood to be silent.

“Of late, I seem to understand the Brotherhood better than Avalon,” he said, his tone turning darker. “Perhaps I really
am
one of them.”

“That’s a horrible thing to say,” I disagreed, even though I knew what he meant. So I added, “You can dream just as well as I can, Jareth. Create your own place to belong.”

I picked up his arm and put it around my neck. We both knew it wasn't romantic. And we just sat that way for a time before Jareth started feeling chatty once again.

“If my Blue Thread is as fragile as Rafael’s, then I’m going to fail, Sydney,” he confessed in a resigned tone.

His ominous words struck terror through my soul even as it made me wonder what my own choice be.

We sat in companionable silence after that, each lost in our own thoughts. A short time later, Rafael returned.

“It’s best to get Sydney home now,” he said the instant he reappeared. “When Melody discovers what I’ve done, she’ll be out for revenge. I’d rather not have Sydney in Avalon when that happens.” Frowning at Jareth, he added, “Or you, either, for that matter.”

To my surprise, Jareth only nodded. “Then I’ll meet you on Earth in ten minutes,” he said. “There’s something I must do first.”

Rafael locked gazes with him and then said, “Ten minutes. No longer!”

Jareth didn’t waste a second. He shifted and was gone, leaving only the telltale cloud of mist.

Rafael was moving away through a new doorway opening up in the wall.

Not wanting to be alone, I ran after him.

I found myself standing in his bedroom, and in spite of the horrific events of the day, or maybe perhaps because of them, I felt a sudden moment of awkwardness at the intimacy of the place.

I watched Rafael cross his room to the far wall. Giving it a gentle tap, he stood back as a small opening appeared to reveal a white tray holding a single gray cube. Picking the cube up, he dropped it onto the floor and slowly and methodically, ground it under his heel until it was a little pile of gray dust.

“That cube held everything the Queens had wished to know,” he explained quietly. “All that I’ve learned. But now, such knowledge is better left forgotten.”