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Daciana bolted. Racing across the plain, she chased nothing—heading straight for the edge.
“Oh no, the illusions got her again,” Ionna cried. “Stop her!”
We sprinted after her, bellowing and begging her to snap out of it. Theron pulled ahead of the pack, bursting into speed.
Daciana jumped, snatching something out of the sky. She dropped down right on the edge of the cliff. Arms windmilling, boots teetering on the rim of the world, she tipped over.
“Ahh!”
Theron grabbed her belt, snatching her back. They collapsed in a pile in the mud.
“Guys, are you okay?” I slid down next to them. “Daciana, what were you doing?”
Inexplicably, she smiled at me, straddling Theron as she sat up. “I was getting this.” Resting on her palm, was a golden key stamped with a swan. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“With pleasure.”
THE DOOR WHISKED USaway from the hurricane-drenched cliff’s edge, and dropped us on sandy shores.
I blinked at the pristine white sand beneath my boots, and the crystal clear water lapping at them. It was something right out of a Bora Bora postcard. Dancing palm trees. Rolling mountains. Warm, radiating sun drying the clothes on our backs. It was paradise.
“A beach? A beautiful beach?” I shook my head. “Wonder what nightmare is waiting for us here.”
Tycho collapsed.
“Tycho!”
I reached him first. Flipping him over, I lifted his tunic and hissed. “Oh, no. He’s bled through his bindings. Guys, he’s in really bad shape. He can’t take any more of this.”
“F-fine...” he croaked. “I’m... fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Daciana said firmly. “All right, I’m sorry, guys, but we’re going to have to split up again. Tycho needs time to rest and proper treatment for his wound. Jason, you’re staying back with me and Tycho. You wash his wounds with salt water, and cut up fresh bandages from your tunic.
“Jason, now,” she ordered.
He got to it, not wasting another second.
“I’m going to search the island for honey, yarrow, turmeric, anything that can slow down the bleeding and fight infection.” Daciana gave a trembling smile. “Field medicine. Who knew that class would come in handy so soon?”
“Of course, we need to stop and take care of Tycho, but why are we splitting up?” Theron asked. “Two people searching for yarrow works even better than one.”
“We’re splitting up because what’s going to help Tycho the most is you guys finding and taking out whatever’s lurking on this island, waiting to kill us. What’ll help Tycho is taking the beast or challenge down quickly, so we can keep moving on, get out of this place, and bring him to a proper healer.”
“F-fine fine, I’m fine—” Tycho jerked, body spasming on the sand. “F-f-f—”
“Tycho!” Nitsa was on the verge of tears, dropping down and holding his head. “What’s going on?”
“The strychnine,” I said through numb lips. “Tycho, hold on. We’re going to get you out of here, I promise. You’ll make it through this.”
I drew back, taking Nitsa, Ionna, and Theron with me. “She’s right. The best thing for Tycho is Healer Helena, and we’re only halfway through. There’re still six more gods, and six more keys, to go.”
“Only halfway?” Nitsa sat down hard. “How can we be only halfway? We’ve been in here a lifetime.”
It certainly felt that way.
“That’s why you four need to go,” Daciana called. We hadn’t walked far enough for her wolf ears. “Ionna, your visions have been saving our ass. You’ll see what’s coming and protect Nitsa, Theron, and Aella.”
“My visions have been clearer here,” she admitted. “More focused. More accurate. I think it’s this place. We’re literally standing in a place of pure, godly power created before they scattered. It’s making all of us stronger.” Ionna glanced at me. “But I’m going to stay here with you, not Jason. He’s a Titan. It’s better having someone on your side who can fight what’s coming, instead of only seeing it.”
