J.E. Hunter - The Circlet

C opyright 2017 by J. E. Hunter

Cover Art by Leah Keeler

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Created with Vellum

F or Vanessa

S he was in a cage . She could tell from the feel of the cold, round bars beneath her hands. The floor was solid, but it swayed. The cage was hanging, it had to be. Which meant she was in the air. The only question was: how high up was she? She swallowed a shaky mouthful of meagre saliva. It had been days since shed last drank, or at least it felt like days. But in her cage, in the pitch black darkness, there was no way to tell. She couldnt even see her hand if she waved it past her eyes.

Two days, four days, what did it matter anyway? She would die here, in the cage, alone. Her plan for vengeance had failed. She had no way out. No skills. Her uncle would have been thrown from Avalum and they would not let him return. And that was if they had kept their word and let him live Either way, she would never see him again.

Yet, she was not dead.

She had been abandoned, but not slain. Maybe they would let her die of starvation then, and hang her bones as a warning. Part of her wished to die, if only to escape the eternal blackness. But there was something else in her, something that beat along with her heart, something unknown within her soul that kept her going.

Her stomach cramped in hunger. If it was to be starvation, then she hoped it wouldnt take long. She laid down on the floor of the cage, curling into a ball just small enough to fit. Her back pressed uncomfortably against the grating. She watched the visions that came to her in the dark: vestiges of dreams, memories, images of the outdoors, of light and sun and cloud and rain. She watched as the images formed into feathers, each a single ray of hope. The feathers of hope began to float away from her, further and further into the blackness. But then, just as they were about to disappear, there was a blinding crack of light from below.

The last feather halted its retreat and dropped back down to the floor of the cage. She picked it up and tucked it into her heart where she would do everything she could to keep it alive.

I woke up on the hill in the dark. I was lying next to Garret. I jumped up, brushing my arm where it had rested against his.

Rory? he groaned, rubbing at his eyes.

Im not going back to Edinburgh, I said, crossing my arms firmly over my chest. We need to go back for Ivy.

How? Were banned from Avalum. The portal will be guarded. Garret pushed up to his feet.

I looked up, and realized that at some point, likely when wed been sleeping in the middle of nowhere, the fog had rolled in. The stars were no longer visible, which meant the portal would be open. The memory of the past few days rolled over me: leaving my home in Saskatoon to travel with my best friend and the man I thought was her brother to Scotland, all to free him of a curse. Its been hours. The guards have probably left. We can sneak back in and get her. We cant leave Ivy there. Dont you love your niece? Or is it your sister?

Garret dropped his arms to his sides and glared at me. You know shes my niece.

I glared right back. Does Ivy know the truth?

Garret sighed, then reached up and rubbed a hand over his buzz cut. She found out about two years ago, when she began getting suspicious and Gil decided she was old enough to handle the truth. She had become a less willing pawn. When Gil told her that hed killed her parents, that he would kill her, kill me, if we didnt do what he wanted, she became more willing to help again. Obviously she had her own plans. Now, come on. Its at least another hour before we get to the car.

I shook my head. My stomach soured. How could Garret be so willing to leave his niece with the evil king in a long lost land? I still couldnt believe that Gil, who I thought was Garrets strange and creepy assistant, was the king of the druids. Who knew what would happen to Ivy in Avalum? No. Were not going to the car, were going back for Ivy.

Garret sighed and turned on his foot. With what? We dont have swords, we dont have guns, we dont even have a knife! You know nothing about Avalum. How are you going to rescue Ivy?

It was dark, and I couldnt see that far in the fog, even with my flashlight. But I felt like I didnt need to see, because I could feel Avalum calling. I could feel it tugging on my soul. Now I understood how Garret had found the portal the day before. He must have been able to feel it, too. We cant leave her there. For all we know, Gils going to kill her. I turned and headed back down the hill. Back into the Scottish highlands and toward Avalum. I didnt know much about that strange land, but I knew enough, and I cared enough to break my best friend free. After all, she was the only thing I had left.

Rory! Rory, stop! Garret yelled after me, but I broke into a jog. I could feel the portal calling. I knew Id be able to find it. I knew it would be open, waiting for me to return to the mystical land wed just returned from. I couldnt just go back to Edinburgh like nothing had happened. I couldnt go back to the hotel and pretend that Ivy was fine, that she would somehow find her way back to me. I didnt care for Garret, so I didnt care if he came with me. I would rescue Ivy on my own if I had too.

Garret caught up with me. He grabbed my arm and pulled, making me stumble and then stop. You cant go back there.

Let go of me. I hate you. Youre such a coward, I spit at him. She could already be dead. Garret was a few inches taller than my five foot ten, but I started up at him like it didnt matter.

She isnt dead. Garrets face hardened. His lips were pressed into a perfectly smooth line.

How do you know?

Because I know Gil. I was his prisoner for eighteen years. I know what he does to the people he captures. What can I say to convince you?

I pushed Garret away. You cant say anything. Its what you can do. Garret held my gaze, then relented, and a half hour later we were back at the portal.

This is a mistake, Garret said as I stood in front of the sparkling, murky doorway.

Just the night before, Id hiked through the hills with my best friend and the man I thought was her brother, who turned out to be her uncle. Garret had been cursed by Gil to live like a vampire. While Garret hadnt aged for eighteen years, Ivy had grown up. Ivy had become my best friend when Id had none. I couldnt leave her behind now.

There wont be any guards, I said.

In that case, why dont you go first and then come back and get me once youre sure. You know theyll kill me if they see me, whereas you might be lucky enough to get a second chance.

Garrets words made my mouth dry. Was this stupid? Was it pointless to even try? I shook my head. If I didnt try, Id hate myself as much as I was beginning to loathe Garret. Hed been the one to put Ivy in this position when she was just a baby; it was his fault she was a prisoner, and now he was too much of a coward to rescue her.

I took a deep breath and stepped through the portal. I felt the pull on my body and the tingle on my skin, but the next moment, I was in Avalum. It was daytime, and the white sun burned brightly overhead, illuminating the violet sky.