A skylos lak was merely one of the prison’s many nefarious guardians, which bent knee to only one master—who was currently sitting on a throne in a different and faraway part of the palace.
Shall we intercede? asked the brother.
Achak now stood just a few paces from the girls, their body a cloud of smoke hovering between the stone wall and hallway.
Not yet, answered the sister.
The brother shifted uncomfortably, dominating their form for a moment. But there may not be a later to which that “yet” will apply, he pointed out.
There is always a later.
For us, perhaps, but for those like them—
Just then the beast seemed to sense the three little intruders, for it made a sound between a growl and a croon of delight as it picked up speed, its tentacles slapping forward in blurring motion.
“It’s hideous,” said Niya as Arabessa pulled Larkyra to her feet.
“Yes, and it also looks angry. Quick, take out the portal token.”
“I don’t think it will work down here,” said Niya, her eyes glued to the approaching beast.
“Sticks.” Arabessa turned in a semicircle. “This way!”
The sisters ran down a corridor, Achak following in the passing shadows as the occupants in the cells moaned and screamed, begging for their own quick deaths.
Though the children were racing for their lives, the skylos lak was a great many sizes larger and was quickly on their heels.
The sense of nearing fatality must have touched the girls, for a trail of orange began to seep from Niya’s hurried form, giving a metallic sting to the air.
Magic, thought Achak.
“Ara!” screamed Niya, chancing a look behind them as a drop of something wet from the beast’s tentacle hit her legs.
“I know! I know!” Arabessa pulled Larkyra forward. The child glanced back, getting a full view of what chased them, but did not cry or scream. She merely watched, with curious eyes, the monster that followed. “Sticks!” Arabessa cursed again, skidding to a halt before a large onyx wall—a dead end. “I thought this was the way we came.”
“It must have changed.” Niya swiveled. “What of our powers?”
“Yes, yes! Quickly!” shouted Arabessa as she began to bang on the walls, the sound echoing waves of purple magic that burst from her fists.
“I cannot get my flames to work!” growled Niya, flailing her hands in frantic circles as the beast tumbled closer.
There is still much they have to learn, thought the sister.
Indeed, replied the brother. But they need to be alive for such lessons. Would you say it is “yet” yet?
It is, said the sister.
But Achak had barely edged their feet forward when a high-pitched sound pierced the tunnel.
Larkyra had wiggled from behind her sisters to stand between them and the beast, sending a single world-shattering note from her mouth straight at the oncoming monster.
Both Niya and Arabessa crouched together, covering up their ears as honey-yellow tendrils of magic soared from Larkyra’s tiny lips, smacking against the guardian.
The skylos lak howled in agony, trying to back away, its sides ripping against the grating walls.
She was a sight to behold, such a tiny thing: innocent in a white gown, standing in this dark hall, forcing back the hulking monster. But Larkyra did not look at all doubtful in her abilities as her note kept streaming from her lips, higher in pitch until even the powerful Achak had to plug their ears as well.
The sound was simple but held a storybook of meaning. It was laced with despair, loss, and anger. Its essence was a sharp energy, a powerfully uncontained one. Achak could hardly imagine the pain one might feel if the sound were directed solely at them.
But they didn’t have to wonder for long, for in the next beat, the hall filled with sweat-dripping heat as the corridor shook and the beast roared its last; Larkyra’s hot yellow magic was cooking it from the inside out. The skylos lak exploded with a sickening splash, coating the walls and floor in black blood and guts. A severed tentacle landed with a plop in front of Niya and Arabessa. The girls jumped back, glancing from the limb to their baby sister.
Larkyra held her tiny hands in fists at her sides, her breath coming heavy and fast, as she stared at the space where the skylos lak had once been.
“Larkyra?” Arabessa cautiously stood. “That was—”
“Incredible!” Niya hopped over the tentacle to hug her sister. “Oh, I just knew you had magic in you. I kept telling Ara you must, didn’t I, Ara?”
“Are you hurt, Lark?” asked Arabessa, ignoring Niya.
“No,” came a melodious reply.
Arabessa and Niya both blinked.
“Did you just speak?” Niya twisted Larkyra to face her.
“Yes,” answered Larkyra.
“Oh!” Niya hugged her sister once more. “How wonderful!”
“Yes, wonderful . . . ,” said Arabessa, watching a string of intestines fall from the wall to the floor. “Why don’t we find our way home to celebrate?”
As they discussed which way might best lead them to their destination, Larkyra adding in one-word responses, to her sisters’ continuous delight, they once again failed to take note of the slight shift in energy along the far wall, where Achak had spun themselves invisible.
Children should not be here. A deep voice laden with a thousand others filled the ancient ones’ minds.
We know, my king.
Remove them. The Thief King’s order held no room for mistakes, especially when blackness began to block out Achak’s vision in a suffocating warning. The twins’ soul shivered.
Yes, my king.
He was merely a grain of an apparition from where he still sat on his throne, but Achak could sense the king’s energy shift to watch the three girls, holding longest on the youngest.
Her gift completes the trio, they offered.
The king’s power churned in response. Let us hope some good will come of it.
Then, as silently and quickly as his presence had filled Achak’s mind, he vanished, snapping the prison back into focus.
Achak took a deep breath.
Shall I? asked the brother.
Let me, said the sister, forcing herself to solidify their form as they finally stepped from the wall. Achak now stood barefoot in a deep-purple velvet gown, her head shaved, with delicate silver bracelets snaking up her arms.
“Who are you?” asked Niya, spotting Achak first.
“We are Achak, and we are here to take you home.”
“‘We’?” asked Arabessa.
“We,” replied Achak.
The brother quickly shifted forward, expanding his sister’s jewelry and dress to fit his muscular arms and revealing a thick beard.
All three girls blinked.
“Are you the same one or two different?” asked Arabessa after a moment.
“Both.”
Arabessa paused, considering this, before adding, “And were you a prisoner here who escaped?”
“Would my answer have you trust us more?”
“No.”
“Then don’t ask useless questions.”
“Oh, I like them,” said Niya.
“Hush.” Arabessa glared at her. “I’m trying to decide if they are worse than the thing that just chased us.”
“Oh, my darlings, we are much worse.”