Isaiah held onto Arias like life itself. He was almost close to tears from the joy of having his son in his arms. Even the Zira’s scent all around him was keeping him calm.
“Bugga, I missed you.”
“I missed you, Daddy,” Aries said, with his arms wrapped around Isaiah’s neck.
Isaiah turned to see Hunter holding Malachi down as Chris tied his hands behind his back. Lana was helping Mary stand up. Something must’ve happened to Zed, Isaiah thought as he checked to make sure she was OK. Afterward, he walked over to Percy, who was still staring at the portal.
“How do we get through,” Isaiah asked him, but Percy shrugged his shoulders while shaking his head. He ran his hands through his hair with frustration. Isaiah could relate. “It won’t do us any good to blame yourself for anything.”
“She was right there,” Percy said to himself, pointing to the empty space. “I was so close and I just…”
“Percy.” He looked at Isaiah. “We still have time to get to her. We just have to focus. How do we open this thing?”
“Blaze. He was the one that opened it for us last time.”
“Alright, alright. Step back,” Celeste said, walking up to the portal. “This looks like a job for a dragon.”
“If she turns into a dragon, I could die a happy wolf,” Hunter smiled.
Celeste took off her jacket, revealing the powder blue halter bodice. It showed off the many tattoos that covered her chest and arms. Her skin glimmered and, for a second, Hunter could see the scales underneath her skin. She placed her hand on it and closed her eyes.
“Ahh!” She started with a low roar before getting louder. She opened her eyes, which turned a bright purple, only for the portal to do...nothing. Celeste looked around at everyone who was waiting with anticipation. She cleared her throat and rubbed her hands again before placing them on the portal again. “Ahh!” She tried again and still nothing.
“This isn’t working,” Percy growled. “How could I let this happen? She was so close, and I couldn’t…”
“No one could, Percy, but we will find a way,” Isaiah said, feeling a bit hopeful now that he had Arias.
“Nah, he’s right,” Celeste said, sitting next to the portal. “This portal wasn’t going to open for me no matter how hard I try.”
“So, all of this was for show,” Councilman Faulkner asked before mumbling under his breath. “Just another disappointment from a woman.”
“Why are you even here,” Lana asked him, fed up with his judgment. “What do you even contribute to the team besides your unwanted commentary?”
“I’ll have you know, traitor, I am a representative of the Elders,” Councilman Faulkner said while adjusting his clothes. “I will report everything that has happened in case disciplinary actions need to be executed.”
“You need to be executed,” Lana said, rolling her eyes.
“Besides,” Councilman Faulkner continued over her, “it’s not like you can help either. You’re basically human.”
“That’s it!”
Lana lunged for him just as Mary and Chris moved to hold her back. Councilman Faulkner calmly ignored her attempts as they moved her to the other side of the room. Percy touched the portal and closed his eyes, trying to see if he could feel anything from it, but nothing came. Everything started to feel hopeless. He felt a presence and opened his eyes to see Lana. He sat down and leaned against it and Lana followed suit. They watched Isaiah with Arias in silence.
“I’ve seen that look before Percy. I hope you’re not giving up already.”
Percy ran his hand down his face and leaned forward to place his head between his knees. “You of all people know I’ve been through worse than this. I won’t lose her again.”
Lana placed a hand on his shoulder. “Percy, she’s not Niamh. You know that, right?”
“I know,” Percy said with a half-smile, “but every decision Zira has made reminds me of her so much. I just feel like I’m reliving the past for a reason. Like I should be doing something different to change the outcome. It can’t end like last time.”
Well,” Isaiah said, getting everyone’s attention, “we can’t stop here. There has to be another way there.”
“Well, of course, there is,” Celeste said in a nonchalant way as everyone turned to her. “I said this portal wasn’t going to open for me. It’s attuned only to Blaze. Mine, however, is a bit high off the ground.”
“Seriously, you could’ve told us that ages ago.”
“Well, I’m telling you now,” she snapped back while walking towards the door. “We can go if you want, but fair warning, it won’t be comfortable for everyone," she said, smiling over her shoulder.
Moments later, screams could be heard stretching across the sky, some from terror and most from excitement. Most from Hunter, who had his arms spread wide taking in the weightlessness he was feeling. Hunter could barely hear the question from above, but he caught the end of it.
“Yes, for the love of the goddess, I am perfect,” he yelled back.
“Speak for yourself,” Chris screamed as he wrapped his arms and legs around Saphyra’s claw.
Isaiah couldn’t help but laugh at them both and the joy on Arias’s face was priceless. Everything was finally turning in their favor.
*****
Blaze led them through the cave until they came upon the open area with the platforms and trellis. Everything was the same as when Zira and Percy first arrived, with a small exception. The fountain in the middle was alive with shadowy rings swirling around it. The light from the book shone through the bag on Clary's shoulder. Blaze cleared his throat and Clary looked at him.
Clary nodded and led Zira over to the wall with two symbols drawn opposite each other. She took off her necklace and placed it in a hole in the wall. A noise could be heard behind the wall. She motioned for Zira to do the same. Zira hesitated, not sure what was going to happen.
“We don’t have all day, Zira,” Clary said, flicking electricity from her fingertips.
“Then you do it,” Zira said, taking off the necklace and throwing it at her.
Clary laughed while picking up the necklace. Unlike the one she was wearing, the necklace didn’t glow as it did with Zira. “As you can see, it doesn’t respond as it does with you.” She walked over and placed the necklace in Zira’s hand and then placed it in the hole. Immediately, the wall moved and revealed a room. It was small and only had one window that brought in enough light to see what was inside. Blaze hurried into the room.
“I can’t believe it,” he said, walking to the first huge egg of seven. “They’ve been here all this time.”
“Those are…”
“Dragons,” Blaze finished for Zira. “Well, fossilized dragon eggs. I was one as well until Niamh. I was able to find more but bringing them to life took a lot from her. Celeste was the last one before…the tragedy happened, and the rest have been trapped here.”
While Blaze examined the other eggs, Clary pulled Zira out of the room. “Well, don’t say I’ve never done anything for your friend, Zira,” Clary said. “Now he can be with his precious eggs forever.”
Blaze turned around just as Clary pulled her necklace out of the wall, closing a glass wall, and trapping him inside. He banged against it, but the glass didn’t give any leeway. Zira could see the smoke seeping from his mouth as his eyes changed to a bright orangish red. He opened his mouth and blew a stream of fire at the wall. Still, the glass remained untarnished.
“You can’t leave him in there,” Zira shouted at Clary.
Clary waved her off. “He would be fine. He needed to cool off anyway.” She walked towards Ezekiel who was finishing a little bridge that connected them to the platform with the fountain.
“Just us,” Clary said, leading Zira toward the fountain.
“Zi…” Zira ran to Zed and pulled him into a hug.
“It’s going to be OK,” she said to Zed. “I’m going to get us out of this. I have a plan.”
Zed couldn’t stop the surprised look on his face. Oh no! Zira with a plan was never a good thing. She was pulled away before he could ask anything about it. The closer they got to the fountain, the brighter the crystal glowed. Like the wall, there were two holes the same shape as the necklaces. Clary took out the book and placed it on the edge of the fountain. The fountain came to life and glowed the same way it did in Zira’s dream.
The platform rose where the book lay and each side of the ceiling above crumbled and opened up. The book disappeared and, in its place, a keyhole appeared. Clary stepped up and placed her necklace over it.
“Your turn.”
She looked at Zira to do the same. Zira hesitated and grabbed the necklace around her neck. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen if she did this but maybe she could stall for some time. Zira stepped up to the platform. She took this chance to reach over and grab Clary’s wrist. Clary locked eyes with Zira, trying to figure out what she was doing as Zira held on fast.
I might not be able to figure out your plan, Zira thought, but at least I can take away your power.