Page 114 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

A tear ran a track down Sybil’s face. “He most certainly died trying to protect something.” Her moss green gaze gently lifted to Kellen before asking, “Can you do something for me?”

Kellen hesitated for a second. “Yes?”

“You have magic, right?” Sybil asked outright, and Kellen’s eyes widened at her being so direct. “Maybe the magic that runs in your veins will be old enough to feel this kind of power. Seers are of such ancient magic that they can bring forth things my elemental magic can’t. I think you could help.” Her stare burned through Kellen. “Can you place your hand over this page and tell us if anything comes to you?”

Kellen’s lips parted like he was going to protest, but he ran a hand through his dark brown hair and then held out his hand. “I don’t know what I am doing.”

Sybil placed her hand over his, and his unusual eyes locked on to hers. “I am not versed in the magic of a True Dreamer, but I will help guide you anyway I can.”

A few of the other men looked on, intrigued by what was happening. Sybil’s lips parted as she closed her eyes, Kellen copying her. They were vulnerable in this state, and Gods knew what still lurked here.

Gideon looked up to where the other clan members stood watch, and he nodded to them to keep their posts. Sybil began to chant something in a language that was unknown to Gideon. The lanterns of the room began to flicker, and he looked all round them as an easy breeze blew whispers through where they stood—spirit magic

“Breathe,” Sybil coached Kellen. “Let your magic come to you in a daydream and push it forward into my mind.”

Kellen’s chest began rising and falling more quickly and his eyes scrunched shut, pulling lines onto his face that were not there before. His body jolted slightly and his head threw back.

“Be careful, Sybil,” Gideon said. “He doesn’t know how to harness anything yet. He has never practised.”

Her gaze met his and she nodded, confident in her ability to keep Kellen safe. Kellen’s head turned to the side and his hands began a shake that led all the way up his arms. He noticed Sybil’s grip tighten around his brother’s.

“I can…I can feel…something,” Kellen panted, his eyes scrunching up.

“Good. Now explore that feeling. What does it show you? Call it forth, like a spirit.”

He craned his neck at an uncomfortable angle. “I can’t see anything; it’s dark. It’s more of a feeling.”

“Ask your vision to come forward into the light. Speak to it like I speak to my earth magic. Encourage it forth. Hold its hand.”

Gideon hadn’t considered Kellen’s magic to be as simple as that or as similar to elemental magic. This could be a dead end, but it was better that they tried everything that they could whilst they were here than nothing at all.

Kellen’s grip tightened on the paper, and a transparent glow peeled from his body like a ghost of the Otherside. Gideon stumbled back, and Marcus swore under his breath. He had never seen anything like it before.

“Kellen,” Gideon breathed, “you are glowing.”

A few of the men around them muttered.

“Yeah, I tend to do that,” he quipped, his eyes still shut.

“By the Gods,” Marcus whispered.

“Don’t panic,” Sybil coached. “That’s a good sign. Your magic has been ignited.”

Suddenly, Kellen took a breath and stepped away from Sybil, breaking their magical bond. Sybil stumbled back a little, but she caught herself as the jolt of magic left her body.

Kellen turned to face Gideon, his face too pale. “What is it, Kellen?”

“What did you see?” Sybil asked.

Kellen’s eyes met Gideon’s. “I saw Balan. I saw the King of the Underworld.”

“Balan is here?” Sybil squawked.

A cold shiver ran over the whole of Gideon’s body.

“But how can that be?”

“Get them out of the Mother God’s tomb.” Kellen gulped, trembling. “Get them out.”

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