Daunator narrowed his eyes and took her in. Asteria stood with her head held high, hoping the confidence she had in her own abilities assured him he should tell her his secret, not dismiss her as a foolish creature. After what seemed like hours, Daunator said, “You traveled here through a passage meant for someone else. Blue lights dance for good, for honor, not for sin and greed. But there is another way, one meant for evil. The devils dance from one world to the next, and in that passage, blackness dwells. Entrapment on Earth is fleeting; entrapment beyond our realm, in the never regions, could be eternal.”
Once he’d finished his statement, Asteria gave him a moment, not sure he was done. “What does that mean?” she asked once she was certain he would say no more.
Daunator did not answer her question, only shook his head. “You are doomed to failure, Holland. The evil creature within you should not be allowed to walk the Earth. I wish you luck in restoring the Ternion, but should you choose to destroy it instead, may all the ashes that fall be on your head.”
She stared after him, unsure how to respond, as he slowly began to fade from her sight. “Daunator!” she shouted, thinking he couldn’t possibly go, not now, not when she still had so many questions, not when she had no idea how to get out of this blasted cave. But he did not respond, and a moment later, she found herself in the pitch black again. And then she was falling.
Asteria tumbled down the mountainside, rocks and boulders of all sizes gashing her in the arms and legs as she continued to plummet. She ripped through small shrubs and careened off of trees until she finally managed to reach out and grab hold of a tree trunk only inches from the side of the mountain, the same one she’d pondered floating down from before Daunator’s hole sucked her below the surface.
“Asteria! Your Majesty!” Hines shouted from higher up the mountainside. “Are you all right?”
A slew of curse words came out of her mouth as she pulled herself up to standing. The child within her kicked in protest. She took account of herself and saw plenty of places that would’ve been bleeding if she were capable of such a thing, but she was fine, save a few aches and pains, and ready to get back to the castle. “Will you get down here!” she shouted at all three of them. It was time to leave this blasted mountain forever.
“But Your Majesty,” Nelo quaked as they rushed toward her. “I’m certain if we only look for a bit longer….”
He was still a long way off, but she hoped he could see her expression as she stared at him as if he were a complete moron. “What are you talking about? Did you not see me fall through the hole in the ground, you imbecile? I found him!”
The three of them continued to descend the mountain but looked at her with shocked expressions on their faces. At least she could see through the darkness again, she thought to herself, and to test her other abilities, she began to levitate a few feet off the ground. Satisfied that all of her powers had been restored, she came back to rest on the forest floor a few feet in front of them.
“Asteria, my Queen, whatever are you talking about?” Hines asked, looking at the others for support. “You just fell down the mountain. You didn’t go anywhere.”
“Don’t be absurd, you moron,” Asteria answered. “I fell into a hole, a deep one. Daunator and I talked for at least ten minutes. It wasn’t in the least bit helpful either. If you missed all of that, I don’t know what to tell you, but I assure you, I saw the monster. And he’s a right old bastard!”
The ground beneath them shook violently for several seconds, and Asteria remembered the falling rocks and what it felt like to be trapped beneath the surface of the mountain. For a moment, she regretted her words, but when the ground stilled itself, she only asked, “See?” and turned to go back down the path that had brought her to no good end.
“What did he say?” Hines asked, running to catch up with her after the scare of the shaking ground had worn off.
“So now you believe me?” Asteria muttered. The child kicked her, hard, in the ribcage, and she slowed to rub her side. “He said a lot of ludicrous, ridiculous statements. For example, he called my baby a demon child. He said that we should stop our pursuit of the Guardians, that there is no method that can change them, though he did admit that your discovery is valid, which seems like a huge contradiction to me. He also said that there is one way to entrap them—which is also in direct paradox to his previous statement that it wasn’t possible. Essentially, he let go a lot of drivel that did nothing to enlighten me and simply wasted my time.” She was floating now, going much faster since she was looking for nothing but the way out, and since she knew exactly where she was going, she didn’t pause for anything, only migrated around the trees and branches that would slow her should their wicked fingers reach out and snag her hair or gown.
“Could you tell us precisely what he said?” Venette asked.
Asteria stopped and turned to face the other woman. “No, I can’t tell you precisely what he said,” she replied in a snarl. “What, do you think I took notes or something?”
“Perhaps we should return to the castle, refresh ourselves and rest. Then, Asteria may be more inclined to discuss her findings with us,” Hines suggested, and the other two nodded, though the queen thought it highly unlikely. There wasn’t a word of usefulness in anything the old bastard had said, and it didn’t matter how many empty minds poured over his words. Wisdom could not be expelled from balderdash. She was looking forward to the refreshment Hines spoke of, though. She may as well drain the village girl when she got back to the castle. It wasn’t as if she’d have any use for her after this night. Tomorrow, she’d return to Melbourne, and everything better be exactly how she left it, or else she’d have someone’s head, and it would likely be a Guardian’s—one way or another.
