Page 13 of Living Legend

Nicholas put a hand on his friend's chest. “We can’t risk you wandering around on your own, and flying will make more of a commotion than we want. We don’t want to alarm anyone. Besides, no one has flown to Oculus in years.”

“So, what’s your plan then, Nicholas?” I asked, trying to catch his attention. For a moment, his eyes latched onto mine, but he looked up at the sky after a minute.

“We use a portal,” he responded.

I pulled my eyebrows together. “How do you have access?”

Nicholas reached his hand into the front of his shirt, pulling out a necklace with an amethyst gem at the end. “Jonah gave me access to one of his, but only for this trip. I’ll have to return it when we come back.”

“Didn’t portals get you into this mess in the first place?” I tilted my head to the side and bit my bottom lip.

Nicholas shook his head. “That demon got in without anyone’s notice or prior access. Jonah already knows you’re coming with us, just like how Ariel brought you through before.”

Reese cleared his throat. “Nick, I’m bored as shit over here. Let’s go.” He pointed at the open space in front of us. He had his back to us now, and I noticed his bow and arrows strapped to his back, strikingly different from Nicholas’ sword. “Do the magic thing.”

Nicholas unhooked the necklace and pointed it in front of him. He started from the top and began to draw a circle, white light pushing through with every inch. Once he finished, the middle turned white, wisps of light and gold sparks pulsing out, spinning like a whirlpool.

The sentries finally stepped in front of us, unlocking our handcuffs before silently making their way back inside. “Ladies first,” Reese said, motioning for us to go in front of him.

“Then I suggestyougo,” I found myself saying.

Elise shot a strong smile my way before turning back to Reese. “You heard her.”

Reese narrowed his eyes at her, his hair pushed back from his face with a slim headband. “I saidgo, so go, demons.”

I met his hazel eyes with my brown ones and walked past him. Nicholas, securely fastening the necklace back around his neck, watched as I quickly walked into the portal.

Those white wisps caressed my legs and arms, and I could feel the electric warmth even through my leather leggings. It didn’t burn, but it made my spine shiver. I continued forward, trying to keep my mind straight as I felt that back and forth, off balance sensation.I took another step and blinked.

I was here.

The sky was no longer bright. The air didn’t smell of flowers or freshly cut grass. The trees didn’t stand tall and proud. There were no sounds of wings flapping gracefully above me. It felt as if time stood still here, as if time were preserved.

Oculus was just as I had always imagined it would be, although I’d never given it much thought. The Enchanters in Purgatory had never spoken much about it, not that I ever asked.

I heard feet behind me, and I turned around to see Nicholas pull out the necklace and turn the gem counterclockwise. The portal quickly closed in on itself and disappeared.

“Jonah placed a timer on the portal, so we only have about two hours to figure something out before we have to be out of here.”

I pulled on one of the branches of the weeping willows to my right. “You aren’t afraid of being stuck here, are you, Nicholas?”

“Of course not, but that’s not the plan.”

Elise stepped in front of me, trekking forward. “Can we get going? We won’t figure out anything just standing around.” She made sure to step over thick puddles of mud, which seemed to be most of the pathway. It was quiet – almost deathly so.

Big stones shot from the ground in random patterns and ivy wrapped around the tilted pillars of the rundown buildings and shops. The slight breeze that touched my skin almost felt like a song whispered in my ear. It smelled like rain and wet grass.

“Shouldn’twelead the way?” Reese asked, taking a few long strides to catch up to her.

“Aren’twesupposed to be the ones who keep your asses alive?” Elise countered.

“Believe me, you aren’t needed.”

I walked in between them, placing my hand on Reese’s bow. It was made of ash gray wood and the bowstring had the gloss of silk. “You think your weapons will save you here?”

Before he could answer, Elise commented. “You’re bringing swords and bows to a mind fight, you idiot. Enchanters don’t need weapons to drop-kick you.”

Reese let out a long sigh of frustration but moved on ahead of us. I slowed my pace so Nicholas and I were walking in sync. He didn’t look at me, just ahead, his face unreadable.

---