Page 99 of Princess Avenged

I look back up to the clouds. While they’re moving in different directions, it’s not like they’re swirling in different layers of atmosphere. There isn’t any discernible pattern. It’s almost as if the clouds are sentient beings, moving independently of each other and the environment.

“What is this place?” Crusher says.

Pushing on his arms, I coax him to set me down. I try to push away from his hold so I can turn to take in everything. But instead, he turns us both, and we survey our strange environment, while I remain housed in his arms.

Far, far off to one side, it’s utter darkness, almost like there’s a black curtain on the horizon that extends all the way to the heavens and as far to each side as my eyes can see. The black barrier is still, less like a curtain and more like a massive wall of onyx or obsidian. But no light shines off it. It’s as if there’s no light in this world to create reflections. Even the strange clouds don’t venture close to the blackness.

To our other side, and closer—at least I think it’s closer—another barrier hangs in the air. This second barrier is also dark, but instead of being still, it’s rippling as if there is wind or atmosphere near it, contrasting the utter stillness around me. Fabric or veil are the only words I can think of to explain what I’m seeing, although the veil extends so high and so wide that it’s impossible to imagine there’s anything supporting it.

And as I focus more closely, I realize that what I perceived as ripples, might be something moving in front of it. Low clouds?

Phil groans, and I return my attention toward him. Not far away, he’s holding his head and moaning.

“Phil!” I tug against Crusher’s hold. “Are you okay?”

“He’s not,” Crusher says softly. “You and I need to go back through the portal. Now.” Crusher carries me toward the hole in the ground.

“No!” I struggle against him.

But then Phil’s hands drop off his head, and he walks toward us. “Fuck. Sorry about that. The demon gave it one last college try.” He winks then shakes his head. “Idiot. Fucker’s gone now.”

“Don’t believe him,” Crusher says.

I twist in his hold.

“Ember told me you’d lie,” Crusher says to Phil. “The witches told us that the demon would have more control of you on this side of the portal, not less.”

“Ember doesn’t know shit.” Phil makes a face as if what Crusher’s saying is crazy. “Only I know what’s going on in here—” he taps his head “—and in here.” He slaps his chest. Then he looks directly into my eyes, and I struggle to read what I see.

His words seem so much like Phil, and every part of my being wants him to be his old self again, wants him to be the man I love, but something is off. Something about him isn’t quite right, and it scares me. Scares me even more than when he tried to attack me.

“What the fuck is that?” Crusher says, drawing my attention.

The closer barrier parts, and a blinding flash of light shines out of the gap. I squint against the intense brightness that, for several seconds, illuminates the world down below. The landscape isn’t as deserted as I first thought. Below us, creatures lumber around, sluggishly moving as if dying—or… No, as if they’re waking up!

Crusher nudges me toward the portal, but somehow, I fight him.

I’m not leaving here. Not until I’m certain the demon has left Phil, and I’m sure my love is in the portal too.

Something moves through the break in the barrier. Then the gap closes, turning off all the light.

Whatever came through the gap is huge, and it’s moving rapidly toward us.

Ana

“What is that?” I say, my words barely audible.

Whatever it is—some kind of oddly-shaped plane?—it’s massive and flying toward us, and it seems even more massive the closer it gets.

“Through the portal,” Crusher says. “Now.”

“No.” I turn toward him. “Don’t be a coward.”

He flinches, but I don’t have time to feel bad about hitting below the belt. Challenging Crusher’s courage was uncalled for, especially since I’m still protected by his superior size and strength.

Phil…Phil looks terrified. He turns around, as if looking for a place to hide on this flat surface.

And in the few moments I spent glancing at Crusher and Phil, the flying object has come closer.

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