Unearthed (9 page)

My jaw dropped. “Absolutely not, Gav. Not after all this time, after all we’ve done to create a peaceful life here. Are you kidding me? Just like that, you want to throw us back into everything we fought so hard to destroy in the first place?”

“Like Anastasia said,” he urged me softly, gripping my arms, “Gérard and Samira aren’t hybrids anymore. Gérard’s gone, and Samira is on our side, now. We have no one to fear this time. We’re not going to create an army of frozen souls, Cam. If we have just enough power to protect ourselves until this is all over—”

“I said
no
. I mean it.” I glared at them both. “That’s an extreme solution, and one I’m not willing to risk when we have Ava to worry about. Not to mention the uproar it will cause when word gets out that we’ve brought back the curse.
Can you imagine?
If you think those people are angry now, just imagine what will happen if we do that!”

Anastasia stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “Okay, Camille, I’m sorry I even mentioned it. Please, just forget it. We can think of some other way. Maybe we can simply bluff about the hybrid plan. We don’t actually have to go through with it. Maybe tossing around the threat will be enough.”

I shook my head adamantly. Peace was priority. I wouldn’t let what these rebels were doing ruin all we’d worked so hard for. “No. I still say we go out there and call a meeting. Go to the Haven. Tell everyone the truth. Once everyone knows we’re about to be set free, maybe this whole thing will blow over.”

“That’s still a risk,” Gavin said quietly.

“But it’s a risk we can live with. The alternative is too messy. I won’t agree to that.”

What felt like an eternity passed as Gavin thought, his brow wrinkled in concentration. “Okay.” He pulled his hands from his pockets. “If that’s really what you think is best, I won’t push you. Anastasia?” He shot her an earnest look, one full of need. “We’ll need all the protection we can get. Can we count on you to do your best to keep us safe from those rebels? You can teach Camille and me how to work some spells. We know some basics, but we’re limited at best.”

Anastasia smiled sympathetically. “I will do all I can, Gavin. You have my word. But I cannot guarantee anyone’s safety. I may be an original, but I am only one witch.”

“I understand. Fair enough.”

My whole body sagged in relief. The very
last
thing we needed in this situation was the return of the frozen soul curse. The mere idea of it sent fine shivers down my spine, and the fact that Anastasia was privy to such dangerous information didn’t sit well with me, either.

The three of us sat on the dusty bunker floor surrounded by our low-lit lanterns. I felt calmer knowing that Ava was snuggled safely behind the nearby boxes. Her soft breathing whispered to me from just around the corner, putting me even more at ease.

I tucked my legs underneath me and was beginning to feel that I could rest easy for a while when Anastasia thrust her hand forward to grab me. I could feel her thumping pulse beat through her palm, and saw a matching flicker of alarm in her eyes. They focused distantly over Gavin’s shoulder.

“What is it?” I asked, flinching as her fingers pinched my skin.

“It’s happening.”

Gavin bristled, then froze on the spot. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know how…there’s no crescent moon.”

“Anastasia,” I pressed, placing my hand over hers. “Tell us what’s happening.”

“Samira. Your friends.” She finally blinked, turning to me with a dazed look. “They’re here.”

Red-hot adrenaline zipped up my arms and straight to my head, the blood pounding deafeningly in my neck and chest. Gavin was on his feet, and then so was I, turning for Ava to lift her from her slumber. “You’re sure,” I said to Anastasia.

“Positive.” She nodded quickly, her expression shifting between joy and sadness, as if it couldn’t settle on an emotion.

“Well, let’s move,” Gavin said, a blinding smile spreading across his lips. “Come on!”

Hastily concealed in our black cloaks, we ran off into the night. Ava clung tightly to me and Anastasia kept a protective arm around us as we headed straight for the place I’d never thought I’d visit again.

The portal entry.

***

Our trip down into the village’s valley and up the hill to the castle had never felt longer than it did right then. I didn’t have time to worry about the villagers who’d attacked us earlier, if they’d see us or what they’d do if they did, because all my brain could process was what we were running toward and what it would mean for my life and Gavin’s. For Ava’s, and for the Amaranthians we’d lived with, who hadn’t been lucky enough to escape the realm before I drove that dagger into Gérard’s heart.

Passing the castle, our feet pounded the grass. The dirt kicked up around us as we hightailed it over the verdant green grounds. Ava was wide awake and giggling, amused by our joyful marathon and the bouncy ride she was receiving in my arms. She laughed harder, hearing how out of breath I was from the sprint. I plucked her nose playfully and kept chugging on.

We darted through the space that once harbored the mind-bending English maze and reached the old portal door, which was now covered with overgrown weeds and long, wild green and brown grasses. We all slowed to a halt, our panting loud in the cool night air. I let Ava slowly slide down my body, planting her feet firmly on the ground, and then I doubled over, bracing my hands on my knees.

Gavin did the same, wiping his sweaty brow and face with his shirt. Once he managed to gain control of his breath, he straightened and took Ava’s hand. “I guess this is it,” he said, locking eyes with me. The deep brown of his irises swirled and melted like luscious chocolate, overflowing with intensity. “You ready for this, Cam?”

“No,” I answered honestly, my breath skipping along with my heart. I’d resigned to the reality that I’d never see my friends again long ago.

A heavy thud sounded from the other side of the portal door, at first loud and sharp, then suddenly urgent—harder and more relentless. One more loud pound caused us all to take a tentative step forward, freezing when the door cracked open. A plume of dirt billowed like a ring of smoke around the edges, as the door pushed against the strings of weeds and rebellious grass covering.

And then I saw a face. A familiar, yet different, handsome face.

“Damn, who’s been doing the landscaping around here?” Gabe said, giving the door one final shove. The portal’s low lighting illuminated his freshly-shaven face as he stepped out and went stone still, his gaze dancing over us and landing on Gavin.

“Gav…” His throat choked with emotion, his voice splintering as he said his best friend’s name.

I wanted to rush forward, wanted to collide with him, but my feet were cemented to the ground.

More voices came from behind him. First Josh—my God, he was just as sweet and good and pure as I remembered him to be—then Arianna, her full, golden waves rustling with the wind, her classic beauty stealing my breath. Next came Samira, almost unrecognizable in modern, earthly clothes—a pair of black, tight jeans and a matching long-sleeved sweatshirt, soaked, just like the rest of our friends’ clothes. Still chilling, still fierce.

Anastasia’s gaze speared her twin sister and Samira stumbled, reaching out and holding on to Josh’s shoulder for support. She couldn’t look away, just stared back at her sister with haunted, teary eyes. My mind wouldn’t allow my attention to rest on their tense exchange for long, though. I scanned the line of people emerging from the portal for Audrey, my hands clutching my chest.

And there she was.

Appearing behind Samira, her wide, beautiful eyes finding me and holding me there, rooting me to the ground. A ragged breath moved in and out of my lungs, my hands dropping to my sides. I studied her, fascinated by the way she hadn’t changed. Not one bit. With the exception of her hair being shorter than I’d ever seen it, she was a preserved, precious memory. Untouched by time, standing there, staring back at me in equal wonder.

The first tear to fall from the corner of her eye gave me the push I needed to rush forward and wrap her in my arms. That tear was so small, nearly invisible in the dim light of the night, but it was everything.

“Camille,” she cried, dropping to her knees with me, letting our weight sink us. “I never thought…”

“I know,” I sobbed, the sound of her wails causing me to cry harder. I touched her wet hair, her back, her shoulders, feeling to make sure she was real. It felt like hours passed before we both found the strength to stand. Josh and Arianna smothered me with hugs, Arianna holding my chin and looking long and hard at me, shaking her head in disbelief. Our quiet, teary-eyed exchanges were wrought with unspeakable feeling.

I spun to find Gavin and Gabe stunned, just staring at one another, their hands on each other’s shoulders, holding one another at a distance as if to convince themselves that they were real, too.

“Where’s my mom?” Gavin finally managed to ask, turning to face the group.

“She’s home, safe and sound,” Gabe said, clapping him on the back. “She would’ve come—she was dying to come, Gav—but we didn’t have anyone to watch our little munchkin.” He turned and winked at Audrey, and she beamed while my heart swelled at the news.

“Tanner,” Audrey said. “He’s hell on wheels. Two years old.”

“Mommy?” Ava’s small voice came from behind me, and I felt her tug on my shirt. “Who are these people?”

I laughed and bent down to take her hand, guiding her in front of me, into Audrey’s line of sight. “We have a little munchkin, too. Ava, meet Audrey. Mommy’s best friend in the whole world. I’ve told you lots about her, remember?”

Audrey gasped and crouched down, holding out her hand. “Ava,” she said quietly, so softly I almost couldn’t hear her. “Nice to meet you, beautiful girl.” Ava gave her a cheeky grin and stepped forward to shake her hand.

I proceeded to introduce her to the rest of our friends, noticing that the tension between Samira and Anastasia wasn’t going anywhere. They both remained silent and still, feet away from one another.

Gavin took notice, too. He cleared his throat and moved to stand between them. “Samira, we can’t thank you enough for awakening Anastasia. For coming back for us, like this. We weren’t sure what to think first, when we found her. Couldn’t believe you never told us you had a sis—” Gavin went silent for a moment. He snuck a glance at Anastasia and redirected that line of thought.

Thank God.

“Anyway, how were you all able to travel here, with no crescent moon?”

“I have reversed Gérard’s spell entirely.” Samira shrugged smugly. “In doing so, I have written a few new rules of my own. It was the least I could do,” she said, her accent still as cold and biting as ever. “Do accept my apologies for not having told you about my sister. It was something I kept from Gérard—as you can imagine, the punishment would have been severe had he discovered the secret passage and what I’d hidden inside. Surely, you can understand my need for secrecy. Have you informed the people of our arrival yet?”

“Uh, about that…”

“There are some villagers who aren’t very happy with us right now,” I said. “A lot has happened since you’ve awakened your sister.”

“Is that so?” Her piercing blue eyes flicked to Anastasia.

“Yeah,” Gavin said, “we were just getting ready to tell everyone the news before you showed up. It seems a rebel group has stepped forward. They’ve been around since you all left the realm years ago, but they’re just now coming forward, threatening us. They blame us for trapping them here.”

Samira rolled her entrancing azure eyes. “Oh, what fools.”

“We’re hoping giving them the news that they’re free will help dispel the tension. But as a back up, Anastasia seems to know a lot about Gérard’s old hybrid spell, and we assume between that knowledge and having your original powers on our side, we can defend ourselves and placate them.”

Samira’s head snapped to her sister and Anastasia stiffened. “Hybrid spell?”

Anastasia began to stutter. She couldn’t look directly at her sister. “Yes, well, the spell—the spell that—”

“The spell that created me?” Samira demanded, stalking forward, forcing her sister to look her in the eye. “Since when do you have knowledge of this?”

Anastasia found her courage, finally making and holding eye contact with Samira. “Since the beginning.”

Samira’s expression seemed to soften. It was her turn to avert her eyes this time. But her voice was still hard. “I should have known. He gave you everything.”

We all fell silent. There was no more delaying this confrontation.

“That’s not true.”

“Is it not?” Samira huffed, lifting her gaze back to her sister.

“Oh, come now, Samira,” Anastasia quipped, crossing her arms, “you can’t seriously still think I wanted your throne. I knew what he was doing was dangerous, knew he was no good.” She dropped her arms and moved forward, positioning herself directly in front of Samira. “I only studied the spell to protect you.”

“To
protect
me?”

“Yes! To threaten him, to let him know his secret wasn’t safe. I considered everything, Samira. Creating a hybrid of my own to take him down, exposing the spell to the other originals...I wanted leverage, that was all.”