We disappear from the playing fields, and I take us up into the Mountains of Darkness. A place we’re not normally allowed to go. The mountains are in Scotland and are on land owned by the academy. They’re used for conducting magical experiments which need to be done somewhere more remote than the densely populated area of London where the school is situated.
“Damn, this place is a little scary,” James says, looking out at the nothingness surrounding us.
No plants except the purple flowers grow here. Everything is dead, and I don’t know whether it’s from the years of magical experiments being carried out here, or the fact, I swear, it’s the gateway to Tartus. The evilness of this place hits you as soon as you step foot on it. I can feel it already twisting its way into my body.
“We need to find the flower and the next clue so we can get the hell out of this place,” I order.
“Agreed.” Lucas’s eyes dart around like he expects the demons of hell to jump out at any moment. “Any idea where this flower is?”
I’m ashamed to admit I know exactly where the flower grows. “I once came to this place for a dare when I was in my junior year. It grows at the entrance to that cave up there,” I tell them, indicating where we need to go.
“You came here for a dare?” James questions as we make the short journey to the mouth of the cave, being careful not to fall on the jagged rocks on the ground as we walk. “Who would get you to do such a thing?”
I let out a wry laugh. “Juniper. She wanted the flower and didn’t believe I’d get it for her.”
“Jesus, you were in love with her even then. How come it’s taken you two so long to get together?” James asks.
“Life and Juniper’s father got in the way and threw so many ordeals at us.”
“But you survived.” Lucas claps me on the back.
“I wouldn’t say that, but we’re trying.”
All three of us stop when we see the flower we need, a stunning lotus blossom on the summit of a dying mountain in Scotland. It’s an odd sight. Next to it is a folded piece of paper. I reach down to get it but freeze when a growling sound comes from the back of the cave.
“Please tell me that was someone’s stomach,” James queries with a quiver in his voice.
“Not mine,” Lucas replies and backs away from the entrance to the cave, accompanied by James.
I grab the sheet of paper and follow them as the growling gets louder. “You know this place reminds me of Tartus? Well, what guard’s Hell?”
“Run,” Lucas orders.
The three of us leap down the mountain and away from the cave as quickly as we can just as Cerberus jumps into view, its three dog heads snarling and growling their way towards us.
“We’re going to die,” James screams, and he’s right.
We’re no match for the speed and size of the dog, and I’m not close enough to the other two to teleport us out of here. I can save myself, but I won’t leave them behind. The huge dog catches up to us in an instant. I look back over my shoulder just as one of the heads opens its huge jaw and closes it over me. The other heads are doing the same to my friends, and I say goodbye to the world and shut my eyes as everything goes dark, but I don’t feel dead.
Eventually, I take a peek out of the corner of one of my eyes. I’m still on the mountain in Scotland, holding the piece of paper with the clue, and James and Lucas are beside me, looking as equally confused as I am.
“What the hell just happened?”
I wave my hand and feel a strange magic in the air.
“It was a test. The dog was never here. It was just a vision. I think someone’s making our hunt a little harder.”
I barely finish my words when I’m bent over in agony as a painful vision spears its way into my head. It’s a vision of Juniper and Michael together, kissing passionately.
“No,” I scream.
Michael’s lips are on hers. It’s something I can never do because of the curse that’s been put on us.
The vision disappears as quickly as it arrives, and I struggle to catch my breath.
“You all right?” James questions.
“We’re definitely being played with by the King and Michael. They can get to us anywhere. We have to find Juniper and Emmie, and quick. Just remember nothing we’re going to see is real. Don’t believe anything.” I struggle to get my words out through gasping breaths. I hand the note to James. “What’s next?”
“In the depths of the place you believe safe will be the clue to give you hope,” James reads aloud.
“Safe?” Lucas muses.
“What do we believe is safe?” I try to think. I’ve recovered my breath, but the headache from the vision still remains.
“Is there any place safe?” James puts the note in his pocket. “I used to believe Caspian Academy was my safe place, but I don’t know anymore. Too much has happened with Sebastian.”
I shake my head. “No, he wouldn’t.”
“What?”
“They’re playing games with us. The dog, and the vision I just had of Juniper kissing Michael. Those aren’t about testing us, they’re about weakening us. Our challenge is different to everyone else’s. James, I think I know where the next clue’s going to be, but you’re going to have to be brave because it’s going to hurt.”
“Where are we going?”
I hold my hands out for James and Lucas to take them.
“Sebastian’s room.”
James freezes the second we land in the room, the sadness in his eyes immediately evident.
“Lucas,” I nudge my friend, “you look for the clue, I need to speak to James.”
“Will do.”
I step towards James. “What do you want to know?”
“What do you really think happened that day? Did he have an underlying medical condition?” James asks, staring at me.
I shut my eyes and shake my head. “Sebastian had information that someone didn’t want me to know. The truth about what I really am. He was trying to help me, and I had to watch him die. I couldn’t save him. There was dark magic in this room. I can still feel it now. Something or someone killed him.” I kneel down at the spot where Sebastian reached out and took his last breath.
“Who was it? What’s happening, Jacobi?” James kneels beside me.
“I don’t have any proof, but I think it was the King.”
Another vision slams into me out of nowhere, and I fall to the ground, screaming. This one is even more painful than the last. It’s a vision of Juniper and Michael getting married. She looks so happy, and they kiss again to seal the vows they’ve made to each other.
“Jacobi?” James is shaking me, a look of terror on his face.
“I’ve got the clue.” I’m vaguely aware of Lucas shouting out.
“We need to get out of here.” James leans down and pulls me up from the floor. He opens the door to the room, and with Lucas’s help, I feel myself being dragged outside. My head instantly starts to clear.
“You okay?” James asks.
“Yes, I think so. I might need a couple of pain killers before this day is out, though,” I reply, rubbing at my temples.