Page 90 of Bound Paths
They’d agreed on their plan and split up to make final arrangements. It was now late afternoon as the Compass Points readied to cross beyond the veil again. Rose had been task-free after adjourning from the library, so she’d stopped by the bakery in Compass Lake Village to get everyone sustenance before their trip.
“All good,” Aaron said, squeezing Darren’s shoulder. “He’s still adjusting.”
Darren’s eyes flashed red, a traditional sign that Suden emotions were high. Rose handed out chocolate pastries with the best half-apology face she could muster. Darren was really only doing what was always meant to be his calling.
He nodded in thanks as he accepted the food.
“You’ll fit in fine,” she said, welcoming Darren. “Any questions before we go?”
“The plan is clear,” he said and took a bite. He swallowed. “All of the life choices that brought me to this point are in question, but the plan is clear.” He glanced at her and shrugged. “I doubt you can help me with that.”
Rose smiled. Working with Darren would be a pleasure.
“Here we go,” Rose said as Juliette and Carter arrived. She handed them each pastries as they walked toward the willow tree.
“Everyone good?” Carter asked, glancing around. A chorus of nods was their response. Carter finished his food in two bites and decided everyone else could eat as quickly as he had. He seemed eager to get beyond the veil, shifting into his veil cat form.
Darren took a step back from the Vesten Point. They’d told him what to expect, but seeing the large feline was a different experience than hearing about one. Carter’s growl sent the willow tree shaking. By now, Rose was familiar with how the dark tunnel opened, but her attention was on Darren, who, having just pulled his gaze from his first veil cat sighting, turned to see a giant willow tree split and open a tunnel into darkness. He rubbed the back of his neck, likely continuing to question his life choices.
Rose guided Darren and Juliette to Carter, showing them how best to hold onto each other or the scruff of Carter’s neck. He allowed them all a moment to position themselves, and then he was off.
This time, Rose counted. One, two, three. How long did it take them to pass through this void, even with Carter’s expertise? The space was vast—the darkness unending in all directions. Though Carter knew the way and easily led them, she could feel Juliette’s hand tighten in hers. Darren’s fingers accidentally bumped hers as he gripped a little more tightly onto Carter’s scruff. To these other fae with immense magic,this space was terrifying. Rose felt for her own magic. Whatever dampened the god’s power beyond the veil may or may not be at play here—she didn’t think it mattered. The overwhelming nothing of the void meant there wasn’t anything for their elements to manipulate. She loosed a breath. Gripping Carter’s fur a little tighter herself, she nodded. Their plan would work.
Rose hadn’t adequately prepared everyone for the plunge they took upon entering the realm beyond the veil. The river rushed around them as Darren shouted curses, and they all began swimming towards the shore. As Luc had teased her last time, Rose used her water magic to usher everyone across the river after the initial splash.
“A little warning might have helped,” Darren said as he pulled himself onto the bank.
“It only would have made you nervous,” Rose replied.
Darren glared as Juliette sent her wind rushing around them to dry their clothes. The city was before them in no time. Rose barely glanced at the familiar backdrop. What had first been the mysteries of the afterlife unfolding was now just another marker on her path to retrieve Luc and finally end this. The way to the drawbridge was familiar, and it was unsurprising that Cassandra leaned against the castle wall. They hadn’t sheltered their arrival. She waited with a host of veil cats prowling at her feet and her arms folded over her chest.
“Do you have a plan for this rogue god now?” Her cats paused their pacing, tilting their heads as if to listen for the Compass Points’ explanation.
Carter approached her, and she rolled her eyes. The cats growled. She unhooked her arms and began massaging her temples. She glared at Rose this time instead of Carter. “No matter how earnest the Vesten Point is in helping me, this realm isn’t a dumping ground. I won’t just hold Aterra here for you,and you can’t send him”—she pointed at Carter—“to plead your case.”
Rose wanted to laugh but knew Carter needed space to speak with Cassandra directly again. “He’s not pleading my case,” Rose said. “He’s the one who wanted to work with you. I suggest you talk to him about our plan.”
Cassandra’s brow rose—intrigued. The veil cat on her left sat back on its haunches, its tail flicking back and forth, keeping time as the seconds passed.
“You’re right. We do need your help,” Carter said. He wasn’t saying anything Cassandra didn’t already know, but his words seemed to soften something in Cassandra’s stance. “But we don’t want to dump the responsibility on you. We want a partnership. Help us hold him. Let us save our continent.”
“What does that entail?” she asked. “If not here, where will you put—” Her words were cut off as Carter took another step forward. The clowder of veil cats were in attack positions within seconds—hackles raised, and a rumbling chorus of growls echoed across the bridge. “They sense what you are,” she said as her arms unfolded and scratched the head of the animal closest to her.
“It’s not a secret here.” Carter smirked, taking another step forward. “We want to hold him in the space between realms.”
“That is questionable at best,” Cassandra said. None of the animals took their eyes off the Vesten Point, nor did they move to attack. It was clear they were waiting for some kind of signal from Cassandra. “What about the balance?”
“We’ve got that taken care of,” Rose said. Cassandra’s gaze raked over Juliette and Darren, likely sensing the strength in them both. She already knew what Luc was. She could put together the pieces of their plan as quickly as they had.
“It might work…” she started, “but there’s no guarantee.” She hesitated.
Carter held her gaze and pressed. “Help us do this. I know you haven’t asked, but think of it as insurance that I’ll do more than shepherd spirits. I’ll help you save your realm.”
Cassandra’s eyes hadn’t left Carter. She almost seemed like she hadn’t quite heard what he’d said. Or, possibly, she’d heard it but hadn’t fully processed the words.
“You don’t know what you’re offering,” she whispered.
“I know enough,” Carter said. “You cared more for your realm sooner than the gods of the continent. This realm didn’t have to be yours—it could have fallen after Celeste’s actions. You took responsibility anyway.” He sighed. “I can feel it—what you did.”
