I want to say goodbye, since I wont see my parents and my brothers and sisters for a while. Ive missed them. I wish I could tell them whats going on.
Maybe someday, you will. Obviously, theres magic in your family. Maybe theyll understand.
Thais face darkened. I hope this doesnt happen to any of them. I want them to have normal lives.
She watched his mouth tense with worry, and wished that she could touch his face and smooth the worry away. Its so good to see you.
Thais face softened. I know. Its not the same without you. No one to get me into trouble.
Ill be back soon. Tell Chisisi I said good-bye.
Bye, Valerie, Thai said.
She concentrated and let her mind be pulled back to the Globe. It wasnt until she sat on her own bed that she realized she had forgotten to ask him what he thought about choosing between the Guardians and the Knights. Shed have to visit him again tomorrow, she thought with a sleepy smile.
That night, she didnt fall asleep as soon as she lay down. She loved the Globe, and she knew that this was where she finally belonged, but something was missing. She wondered if she would always feel like a piece of her was still on Earth, at Thais side.
Chapter 20.
In the middle of the night, for no apparent reason, Valerie suddenly awoke from a deep sleep. It was almost as if a fire alarm inside her head had gone off. A feeling of panic seared through her like a flash of lightning, and she sat up straight in her bed, ready for an emergency. She wondered what in the world had woken her. Everything was as it should be in her room, and there was no sound other than Kantis soft, even breathing.
Then, without warning, the room faded before her eyes, and she saw the white walls of a strange closet, where she was curled in a ball, shaking. Instantly, she knew that she was in one of her visions like the ones she had on Earth when she was unconscious. But this time was different"she hadnt fainted, and she was still awake and conscious. If she concentrated, she could even feel her soft sheets clutched in her hands. This knowledge grounded her and allowed her to watch the scene unfold more objectively than she ever witnessed it before.
She heard Sanguinas voice, low and threatening. Where are you? Hiding? She popped into view, her face inches away. Valerie screamed.
You swore that you would stay away after I helped you last time!
You know by now that I will never let you go, Henry, Sanguina said, shaking her head as if she was disappointed. Im always here. And like always, I wont leave until you give me what I want.
No! Get away from me! Go!
Valerie was confused. Why was Sanguina calling her Henry? She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that was hanging on the door of the closet. But instead of her own face, she saw the face of a boy about her age. His black hair was oddly streaked with gray. His eyes were wide with fear, and his entire body was quaking with dread. He was terrified of what Sanguina would do to him, Valerie thought.
We need another monster, and youre the only one who can give it to us. And if you dont"
Valerie, wake up! Kanti was shaking her, and Valeries vision faded away. For the first time, she didnt feel weak and helpless, drained by her vision as she did on Earth. She was as strong as ever, and she had the power to save Henry.
It wasnt me! All along, in my visions, it wasnt me that Sanguina was after! I was seeing through the eyes of Henry. Thats why Sanguina didnt understand when I asked her why she haunted my dreams. But what does she want with Henry? she wondered.
What are you talking about? Are you even awake? Kanti asked, and then started to shake her again.
Valerie snapped back to the present, where Kanti watched her with genuine concern, and made a decision. Maybe it was important for her past to be a secret from almost everyone, but Kanti had shown Valerie nothing but kindness and deserved to know the truth about where she was from. Besides, she needed to talk about this right now. She was so close to solving this puzzle; she couldn"t let it slip away.
Im awake, Kanti. I need to tell you something. And youre gonna want to sit down for this, Valerie said.
Kanti sat, and Valerie told her story from the beginning. Kanti listened without interrupting, her jaw dropping further and further with every new detail. At the end, Valerie told her about her vision.
So it means that all along, my visions were real! And now theres a boy on Earth being terrorized by Sanguina. Its awful, Kanti. Hes my age, but his hair is already turning gray! It must be from Sanguina and her monsters terrorizing him every night.
Upon hearing this last detail, Kanti, who until now had been quietly absorbing everything Valerie told her, began to tremble violently.
It cant be! No, hes not my Henry! My Henry is dead.
Thats a pretty common name on Earth.
Yes, it was what you said about his hair"my Henrys hair was turning gray, too, from the time he was three and his mother died.
Shock reverberated through Valerie. But what were the odds?
No matter who he is, we have to find him and save him, she said, realizing for the first time the impact of what she had discovered. All of the horror that she had experienced when she was unconscious, Henry dealt with all the time. Its a miracle that he didnt die from the strain of being so terrified all the time. I dont think I could have survived it. The visions of Sanguina alone almost killed me. We have to find her. If she had to search every corner of the Globe, she would find Sanguina and stop her.
I have to go to the Guild and tell them about this right away. Theyll know what to do, Kanti said, already changing into her jeans.
Will anyone be there in the middle of the night?
Sure. Kids call on their imaginary friends at all hours, so theres always a supervisor on duty in case an apprentice needs help, Kanti replied. Want to come with me?
Valerie slowly shook her head. I want to try to remember more about my visions. Maybe it will give us clues to where Henry is, or where we can find Sanguina. Until tonight, I didnt know that it wasnt me experiencing those things. All that time, I was being pulled into Henrys mind. But why me?
Kanti shook her head. Before she left, she gave Valerie a quick hug. Thank you for telling me, for trusting me.
After Kanti left, Valerie decided that she didnt want to stay in her bed any longer. The s.p.a.cious room suddenly seemed stifling. She needed fresh air to clear her head.
She wandered the winding streets, not paying attention to where her feet led her. She was lost in her thoughts, trying to remember what Sanguina had said to her in the past. It always seemed as if she was coming to get something from her"from Henry, she corrected herself. What could that hag possibly want from a child?
She had reached the edge of town, and the shadowy forest loomed up in front of her. Somewhere deep in the trees, moonlight glinted on water. The mesmerizing sight seemed to call to her, slowly drawing her in. Without thinking, she made her way through the woods.
The water was farther away than she thought, and she walked for a long time before the trees opened up to reveal a clearing with a sparkling lake in the middle. She knelt at the waters edge and drank deeply. The water glittered in her hands, as if there were sparkles inside.
Satisfied, she looked up. She saw the white form of a unicorn against the trees. Azra nodded at her solemnly, her horn glinting in the moonlight.
I know what has happened, Valerie. The boy in your visions is real, and he is in great danger. Sanguina is in league with the Fractus, maybe even leading them. For some reason, they need Henry. For what, Im afraid to ask, Azra said, and the depth of her concern flooded through Valeries mind.
How do you know all this?
The water in this lake connects to the endless ocean of Illyria, and is therefore extraordinary. Have you ever heard of the Akashic Records?
Valerie shook her head.
It is all of the knowledge of the universe. Every thought, every feeling, every event that has ever happened has been recorded for all eternity in the depths of Illyria. And as time progresses, more and more of the story of the universe is written.
Like a giant underwater library, Valerie said, leaning forward so that she could stare into the water.
Yes. The Illyrians, the people of the water, are the keepers of this knowledge, and from time to time they will share pieces of it.
What have they told you? Valerie asked eagerly.
The Illyrians who live in this lake guard their knowledge jealously, and tonight they will tell me nothing. But over the millennia, I have learned to interpret a few small pieces of the records. On a clear night, like tonight, I can sometimes find answers to my questions. I was searching for knowledge of Sanguina, and I saw your vision.
Did you learn anything else?
Yes, but there is so much I dont understand. You and Henry share a special connection. I think it may be that Henrys power is psychic, and he is unconsciously reaching out with his mind for help. His mind must have connected with yours originally because you were the only other person on Earth with powers as strong as his. But it amazes me that his mind can reach yours now that you are here on the Globe.
But why do I only jump into his mind when Sanguina is near?
It is when Sanguina terrorizes him and his fear reaches its highest pitch that he unconsciously reaches out to you. When you were especially weakened by your own magic, he was able to pull you into his mind. I cannot discover why Sanguina is obsessed with Henry, but their names are linked in the records.
I hate her! Why wont she leave us alone? Valerie cried, rage filling her completely. She suddenly wanted to use her power, to destroy Sanguina, to crush her with her newfound strength. The thought of what Henry was enduring every day made her furious.
Azras expression changed, and she stepped closer to Valerie. Her soft mane brushed Valeries shoulder. There is much you do not know of her. I cannot excuse what she has done, but Sanguina was not always like this. Not so long ago, she went by the name Lydia and was an apprentice for the Guardians. She was hunting down a member of the Fractus who was haunting children on Earth. She found his lair on the Globe and went to fight him. She was over-confident, and went alone, believing that he wasnt a threat to her. But he was fast, strong, and had the ability to steal her magic. In the end, he defeated her, and changed her into what she is today.
Which is what?
Long ago on Earth, they were called vampyres. After her transformation, she gained speed and strength, but then she also craved fear. The myths on Earth are incorrect; in truth, vampyres feed on fear, not blood. The taste of terror gives vampyres immeasurable strength, and such a prize is hard to resist. Sanguina might have been able to fight that craving with the help of friends, but it was not to be. As a vampyre, she could never step foot outside because the light constantly pouring into the Globe is said to be fatal to vampyres for the first few decades of their lives. Even when they are older, they still shun the light because it weakens their powers.
She was forced into the shadows forever. The Guardians didnt allow her to stay in the Guild because she was useless to them. Without her Guild, she had nowhere to turn. I believe she turned to the Fractus because no one else would welcome her. She is who she is today because we abandoned her. Azras large, bottomless eyes were the saddest things that Valerie had ever seen.
That doesnt excuse what shes done to Henry, Valerie said with certainty. Still, learning about Sanguinas past drained some of her rage away. Sanguina had been abandoned by the Guardians, just as she had been discarded by her foster families, like a defective part. That crushing sense of loss was unbearable. But even though a part of Valerie sympathized with her, Sanguina had made her choice to embrace evil. Valerie was determined to do anything to save Henry"even if it meant hurting Sanguina.
Nothing excuses what she has done, it is true. But we will find Henry, and we will save him.
She suddenly remembered Kanti. Is this Henry the same Henry that was Kantis friend? Maybe she would know where to look for him.
I do not know if the two Henrys are the same"I have not found that answer in the records. But it occurred to me that when Kanti couldnt find Henry all those years ago, it could have been because Sanguina or one of the Fractus blocked him with a protective charm like the one they created for Venu. When Kanti couldnt find Henry and she saw the coffin, she a.s.sumed he was inside of it. But maybe that wasnt the case. Perhaps Henry lives.
It cant hurt for the two of you to project to his home on Earth and look around. I will continue to search the records. I will also work with the leaders of the Guilds, and they will lend us their resources. We will find him, I promise you. Tomorrow I will travel to the sacred pools on the island of Messina. The record keeper there has helped me in the past. I will return with answers.
Thank you, Azra, Valerie said, but inside she squirmed with frustration. She had spent so much of her life waiting"she wanted to save Henry now, today. The thought of Sanguina haunting that boy was more than she could bear.
Valerie returned to her room as the sun rose over the horizon. Kanti and Cyrus were waiting for her. The expression on Cyruss face was grim, and Valerie knew that Kanti must have filled him in on what had happened. She told them about her meeting with Azra.
We cant just sit around waiting! Kanti exclaimed.
There is another option, Cyrus said thoughtfully. The Oracle. We have a great need. Dont you think theyd give Valerie her prophecy?
Yes! Cyrus, youre brilliant! Kanti said, the panic disappearing from her face.
Thats what Ive been telling you, Cyrus said, trying to lighten the mood.
What are you guys talking about?
The Oracle is a group of Conjurors who can see the future. They deliver prophecies to guide people on their quests and give them answers to their questions. But theyre really picky about who theyll help. Only if your need is great enough will they prophesize for you.
Cyrus, how do you know all this stuff, anyway? You have answers for everything, Valerie said admiringly.
Whatever, he said, blushing.
Aw, you feeling shy? Kanti teased. Then she explained, He was elected to serve on Azras youth council. Its a really big honor, and she tells them a lot of stuff about the Globe that isnt common knowledge.
Thats awesome, Cy! Why didnt you say so?
Valerie was surprised he didnt jump at the chance to brag a little. Instead, Kanti explained, He thinks itll bother me because I also ran for the council position, but didnt get elected. Ive told you a million times, Im happy for you, not jealous.
I never said you were! The subject didnt come up, thats all.
Sensing tension in the air, Valerie changed the subject, hoping to prevent another argument. So, do we need to bring something to the Oracle? Like, an offering?
Kanti and Cyrus stared at her, surprised. Finally, Cyrus laughed and said, It doesnt work like that. Theyll help us if they think its the right thing to do. And if we can help them, we will.
Sorry. Earth thinking, I guess, Valerie said. She saw the shocked expression on Cyruss face and added, Kanti knows Im from Earth. Were friends, and I want her to know the truth.
Fine, whatever, Cyrus said, trying to sound casual. But his tone didnt fool Valerie"she had a feeling that Cyrus liked being the only one to know her secret.
Back on track, people, Kanti said. Lets pack up and get out of here.
Before we go, I want to fill Thai in on whats happening. When we figure out where Henry is on Earth, h.e.l.l be able to protect him. Kanti, if this is your Henry, why dont we project to his house? Maybe he still lives there and we can explain everything, Valerie said.
Kanti shook her head regretfully. I had the same idea. While I was waiting for you to return, I projected to Henrys house. It doesnt even exist anymore; theres a parking lot where it used to be. They must have moved quite a while ago. My guess is that theyre probably still in the same country, if not the same state. Maybe Thai should travel to America. By the time he gets there, theres a chance that the Oracle will tell you exactly where Henry is.
That would make things easy, Cyrus agreed giving a comforting squeeze to Valeries hand.
His words"and the squeeze"had the opposite effect that he intended, sending a shiver of foreboding through her body. Shed learned the hard way that in her life, things rarely came easy.
Chapter 21.
Cyrus and Kanti left to gather supplies for their journey, and Valerie immediately concentrated on Thai. She was amazed at how effortless it was to return to Earth.
He was sitting at a table with a huge group of people that she guessed were his parents and siblings. They looked like such a happy, fun group, laughing and playing around with each other. It was how she imagined the perfect family would be. She had pictured it a thousand times all those years while she was waiting to be adopted.
For a second, she panicked that they would see her and would wonder who she was and where she came from. Then she remembered her lesson from Cyrus on projecting to Earth. It was up to her to choose who could see her, and she only wanted to be seen by Thai.
She relaxed when his parents and siblings looked right through her. It was almost as if she were a ghost, and the thought sent a chill through her. It would be so easy for the Fractus to watch Henry without his knowledge and learn everything about him, including his greatest fears. Then they could use that information against him, to terrify him into doing what they wanted. But what would drive the Fractus to such lengths to control him?