“What?” Jalee shot up. “And my sister?”

  “She’s the one who caught the hostage. Jack says she was quite eager to hear about you, and I assured him you were quite all right.” At our confused looks, he explained, “I’m able to communicate with the Protector, and therefore thought I’d have him check in on your friends, considering you said you’d met him yesterday.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  He motioned to the hills, holding up the Liahona. “Shall we progress to the monster world portal, then?”

  I glanced at the others but nodded. “I think that would be the smart move here.”

  “Do you plan on coming to our world again?” I asked.

  Arthur considered and shook his head. “One can never predict the future, but I’m at a point where staying here might make the most sense.” He looked at each of us, then asked, “And you? What do you do out there, when not traveling through other worlds and battling these magic stealers?”

  “I… make visual novels,” I said, and laughed at the look both gave me. “It’s my thing. Don’t judge.”

  “And you?” he asked Jericho.

  “Actually, I’m sort of in training mode,” Jericho replied. “School, politics, all of that.”

  “How’s that related to training?” I asked, thinking he meant it was training for all the supernatural fighting stuff.

  He blushed, looking away. It was Steph who answered, saying, “They want to make him a senator or something. Maybe more.”

  “More than a…” It hit me what that meant. “President?!”

  Jericho shrugged. “It’s been mentioned. That’s a long ways off, however, if at all.”

  “Quite commendable,” Arthur said, nodding, impressed. “If you ever need pointers on ruling or leadership, I’d be happy to help in any way that I can.”

  Considering I was traveling with the most famous king of all time and a man who was being groomed to become president, I suddenly felt like my answer had been very inadequate.

  Our discussion on the matter stopped there, however, because we’d come across a point where the mists moved across the grass in front of us, swaying as if beckoning to enter.

  “Not much of this land remains in the mists,” Arthur said, “but certain parts have been harder to penetrate than others.”

  “I’m guessing the mists here aren’t really what they seem,” I said, watching as I moved my hand near the mist, and it followed as if trailing me.

  “Correct,” Arthur said. “Within we will find strange creatures, Shades, and remnants of dark magic. As long as we are together, you shouldn’t have to worry. I cannot, however, pass through beyond. Likewise, if you come back through at the same point, it’s not likely that I’ll be in the same spot you left me.”

  “Understood.”

  “What’re we waiting for?” Jalee said. She at least sounded more eager now and less worried.

  For my part, it was starting to finally hit me that this was the King Arthur. As in, I was traveling with King Arthur, and might be fighting at his side if anything came along to bother us.

  “Wait,” I said, turning to him. “Pardon my rudeness, but…”

  “You’re wondering if there’s any chance I’ll have a craving for blood and sink these into your flesh?” He bared his fangs, then covered them with a serious look. “Let me allay your fears. No, not a chance. The Protector helped keep that curse at bay, and now I’m only vampire in appearance, you could say. Even when I was ‘vampire,’ it was more of a curse and dealt with magic rather than any modern supernatural reasons such as the type your society likes to obsess over. Yes, I’ve seen Twilight, and no, I’m nothing like Cedric.”

  “Ah, think you have the character names mixed up there,” I said, about to correct him. Seeing Jericho’s humored glance, I waved it off. “Not that it matters. Fears allayed.”

  “Wonderful, then.” He gestured for us to follow, then took the first step into the mists.

  9

  The second we stepped through the mists, I understood his warning. We might have been in Avalon, but it was nothing like I expected. Oddly, Megha said, “Oooh, now this is the Avalon I came to know as home.”

  “Thought I’d never be back,” Jericho countered. At my curious glance, he added, “I met Megha in some sort of upside-down version of this place. Before restoring it and all that, and whatever remodeling Jack’s work did here.”

  “I never would have imagined everything was so interconnected,” I admitted.

  “Ah, but it always is. You just don’t see it until someone shines a light, then all the threads—”

  “Will you two shut it,” Steph hissed, and we turned to where she crouched ahead, motioning us down.

  I felt the presence of the beings before I saw them. When they became visible, it was too late. Shades, without a doubt, judging by their shadowy forms, the way they didn’t quite have solid bodies but were like moving shadows.

  Arthur was nowhere to be seen, so I crouched, advancing to sidle up next to Jalee and Milrae, while Kinara was there with Steph. I was about to consider an attack since three of them were moving toward us, when Arthur appeared behind them and held a hand through one of their bodies. The creature vanished as if struck by light. When I saw him deal with the next one, I observed what had really happened—he absorbed them.

  The third turned on him to try and attack, but I ran out, thinking I could help somehow. A shadowy hand reached for me, but Arthur reached it first, leaping between us. When it was gone, he turned and said, “Without magic, that wouldn’t have ended favorably for you.”

  I gulped, nodded, then muttered, “Thanks.”

  He continued to lead the way, but in silence and with more caution this time. The land curved around large rocks, and at one point I looked up to see a large statue, the type that might have once belonged in an ancient temple. With the heavy mist, all I could make out were the legs and ass of the thing.

  With my attention up there, I almost didn’t see the river until one leg was over it. My arms windmilled as Arthur said from nearby, “Careful, there’s a river.”

  I wanted to say, “No shit!” but was too focused on not falling in. To my relief, Kinara was there, pulling me away from the edge.

  Her eyes focused on mine in a way that seemed to say, “Focus,” then she kissed me briefly before leading me along, hand in hand. Jalee and Milrae walked behind us, but there was something else scurrying beyond. The first time I heard it, I spun and scanned the area, but could barely see Milrae’s tail, let alone anything past that.

  No more sound came while we stood still, but within a minute of us starting to walk again, it came loud—this time from my right. I dropped to one knee. Hand out to call upon my sword, I cursed softly when it didn’t come.

  “Most of the monsters left these parts,” Arthur said, walking back to join me. “What remains are creatures that act out of primal instinct, not evil. Still, that won’t stop them from trying to chew on your bones.”

  “Very comforting,” I replied.

  “I wasn’t trying to comfort you, only to let you know that we’re in their territory, and if taking a life can be avoided, it’s preferable.”

  “Sure, yeah…” Not that I had any tools with which to take lives, anyway.

  The scurrying kept coming, but so far nothing was attacking. Even if Suiko and Basty weren’t able to help, their presence gave me comfort. We kept on, soon moving through an area that reminded me of the Huntington Gardens back home, full of tall grass, streams, and flowers in full bloom. We were surrounded by trees blooming with flowers that were red with purple centers, others in a patch of pure white.

  “We always talked of visiting Japan someday,” Jericho said. “I guess this is as close as we’ll get any time soon.”

  “You should go,” Kinara replied.

  Milrae nodded enthusiastically. “It’s amazing.”

  “Oh, you went?” he asked.

  “Actually, yeah.” I grinned, hating how much this felt like bragging, but loving that it was true. “We pretty much just got back. Hit up Mt. Fuji, some onsen…” My thoughts were naturally lost at that point, a shiver running through my body at the way I’d taken Ahlaksiz while Koharu watched, then how Suiko had experienced it. What memories!

  “Dude, Fuji-san!” Jericho laughed, shaking his head. “The levels of jealousy running through me are insane.”

  “Did you get to go to Hokkaido?” Steph asked. “That place and Okinawa are on my wish lists in terms of places I want to visit.”

  I shook my head. “Honestly, it was ‘work’ related. Although, we somehow managed to squeeze in a morning at Tokyo Disney.”

  “Shut up!” She clung to Jericho, pulling him down to her eye level. “Hear that, they went to Tokyo Disney! We’re going—this year. Understand?”

  “Yes, of course.” He looked relieved when she released him.

  She did a little skip, earning her a humored glance from Arthur. When she noticed, she stopped, then said, “Ever been?”

  “To Japan?” he asked and shook his head. “In my day, the world was a different place. I spent most of my life here, in Avalon.”

  “I see…” She glanced around. “’But it’s not like that’s something to complain about.”

  “No,” he admitted. “Though things were dark for a while.”

  She was lost in thought, while I turned back to my ladies and shared smiles, likely all of us remembering our trip to Japan.

  “My only regret,” I said, “is that I’d love to have spent more time. Maybe hit up that Ghibli theme park, or Mario land.”

  “You don’t go to Japan for the theme parks,” Jericho said with a laugh. “For me, it’s all about Kinkaku-ji, the Nikko temples, and—”

  “We did that one,” Jalee cut him off. “Nikko. But what’s Kinkaku-ji?”

  “A golden temple in Kyoto,” he explained, and I grinned at the thought.

  “Question,” Megha said, “are all of you human men into this place?”

  I considered. “Maybe just the nerdy ones?”

  “Nerdy?” Jericho shook his head. “Nah, the cultured. It’s an important part of our world, places an important part of Earth’s history, too. Idea—maybe we should all go someday when things calm down?”

  “I’m so in,” I replied.

  “Oh, back at the mansion we have a couple friends who lived there,” Milrae said, referring to Yuki and Greg. “They could help plan the trip, maybe even go—assuming STP is out of the picture.”

  “They will be,” I assured her.

  Another scurrying sounded, and I realized I’d completely forgotten about any danger. To my surprise, something leaped out of the tall grass. A small, lizard-like creature. Arthur caught it, tossed it into a stream, and gave us a shrug. Thing is, he’d been at least twenty feet ahead when that happened.

  “How’d you move like that?” I asked.

  “Ah.” He moved his hands as if showing off a creation, then burst into shadow and appeared on the opposite side of me. “Vampire. Shadow magic is one of my talents.”

  I nodded, impressed, and we kept following him.

  “This is bullshit,” Jalee whispered into my ear, indicating Arthur as he scoured our surroundings for signs of more possible attackers. “He gets to show off his skills while we walk around like helpless babes.”

  “You still have those talon-like fingernails,” I countered. “You’re not helpless.”

  She frowned my way and kept on.

  “What is it you want?” a voice whispered in my ear.

  I spun, confused to see nobody there. My team was ahead, and for a second I thought it might have been Suiko or Basty. Instead, a figure appeared, and I recognized her from somewhere.

  As quickly as she appeared, she was gone. We kept watching, me with my attention on our surroundings, hoping to see the figure again. Passing over a green knoll and pausing while Arthur again checked the Liahona, I thought I caught a glimpse of her on a swirl of dust, then she was gone again.

  Megha glanced my way with a raised eyebrow, and I gave her a smile as if everything was normal. We kept moving, and I found myself walking closer to the others, in case there was trouble.

  “You sense something?” Kinara asked.

  “Maybe,” I replied. “Stay alert.”

  She clicked her tongue, eyes darting about. “Always.”

  Jericho and Megha were walking up closer to Arthur, and I overheard Jericho asking him about the old days, Arthur explaining that he’d had some others with him who were vampires for a while. The king’s voice trailed off, then, leaving the conversation in awkward silence for a bit.

  “To be clear, you live here now?” Megha asked.

  Arthur glanced back at her, took a breath, and said to me, “Live is an interesting word choice. Like that being that resides in you, life for me is fleeting.”

  “Suiko?” I said.

  “That’s right.”

  “Can you hear me?” I muttered, hoping Suiko hadn’t left or been banished when the tech hit us.

  “I’m here,” she replied. “But seem to be trapped.”

  “Not good,” came another voice, and I reached up to check on Basty, who seemed to also be stuck in his form. Whether that had to do with this world or with the STP attack, I wasn’t sure.

  “Alone?” Megha asked, putting the focus back on Arthur.

  “Let’s just say that’s complicated,” he said.

  Again, that silence.

  But this time it was interrupted by Jericho abruptly turning to look behind him.

  “You heard her?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Someone, yes.”

  “That would be Queen Ma’ab,” Arthur explained. “Maleficent is another name she goes by. And if she’s here, I’d have to ask her to stop playing with you and reveal herself.”

  As if in response, a winding mist appeared, and when it was gone, she was there. Tall, and based on the way she held herself and with those wings, this had to be Maleficent. She turned to eye me with confusion, but met turned to motion to another figure who had just materialized behind her—the Protector!

  “Fancy finding you here,” the Protector said, wrapping Maleficent’s arm in his, and taking in their surroundings. “This doesn’t appear to be a part of Avalon I’m familiar with.”

  “No, we wouldn’t have had reason to come here,” Arthur admitted. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your arrival?”

  “The others asked me to check on them.” The Protector turned our way. “It seems they’ve managed to hold off the STP for now, and I’ve agreed to take residence in the compound, at least until your return. Rest assured, we have our best on it.”

  “Thank you,” I replied.

  “Actually, this is good timing,” Arthur said. “Jericho and his team have to be returning, and you can act as their guide, ensure they reach their destination without incident.”

  “Gladly,” the Protector replied.

  “Don’t we need the Liahona as a map?” Jalee countered.

  “Ah, but not anymore,” Arthur said, gesturing to the other side of the hill beyond him. You see, we have arrived.”

  Stepping up next to him, I saw the crater filled with unnatural darkness that moved within and had a slight red glow. Spooky as hell—literally, as it reminded me of hell.

  “You’re sure this is right?” I asked Arthur.

  “The Liahona guided you here, not me,” he replied.

  It was actually him, with the Liahona. But I didn’t need to point that out. Considering who he was and his connection to this place, I needed to trust his interpretation of the Liahona’s magic.

  “That story you keep dodging?” Jericho asked Arthur. “No summarized version before we all go our separate ways?”

  “If you ever want to hear me rambling about my past, come back and spend some time with me at the lake,” Arthur said. “Maybe when less is at stake, and you’ve dealt with this STP group I keep hearing mentioned.”

  “I look forward to that day,” I said, and Jericho mirrored my response. He accepted the Liahona, bowed, then his group said their farewells to us.

  “See you back at the compound,” I said, giving him a nod. They turned and were gone with a step.

  “Ready?” Arthur asked. “I won’t be able to help you from here.”

  I eyed Kinara, Jalee, and Milrae, then put a hand to Basty. We were ready, and as he gestured for us to go, I took the first step that led into the dark portal.

  10

  Everything felt wrong. While we had entered a land of stone and darkness much like the monsterverse, even I knew it was off. Even more so, when a flash of light appeared next to us and several figures came crashing down, landing in a heap at our feet.

  “Jay?” Kinara asked.

  I stepped forward to help them up and saw she was right. Jericho.

  “It might have been the effects of that item, the one the STP agent used,” I said.

  “Or another,” the Protector said, brushing himself off. “When we were leaving, I sensed something. Like a magnetic pull.”

  “And if they used it on you, they might have used the same on us,” Jalee said.

  “This isn’t our world,” Milrae added, licking her lips as her eyes darted about.

  “No?” Jericho asked.

  I shook my head, then looked at him with confusion. “Where then?”

  “Wherever that STP agent wanted you, and us, to end up, would be my bet,” the Protector said.

  Now that they were all standing, I saw that Jericho had Steph and Megha still, but the Protector was all alone.

  “Where’s Maleficent?” Kinara asked, eyes darting around.

  “That’s the second question,” the Protector said, also searching. “My guess is, same reason Arthur didn’t get pulled in. She’s of that world, Avalon, and the item that STP agent used wouldn’t have affected them.”

  “Can you make a portal and get us out of here?” Jericho asked. He held up his staff, the Liahona back on it. After a second of focusing on it, he said, “Because I sure can’t.”