The Dark Forest Read online

  “How? Didn’t they search you?” Richard asked.

  “They did, but I have a special magic that hides it between my boobs.” Azure informed him, enjoying the uncomfortable expression that sprang to his face.

  “Oh. Well, I guess we should meet formally. Is that why you’re here?”

  “No, and introductions can wait until just before I kill you,” Azure said, checking over her shoulder. They were good for now, but she did hear a shuffling sound one cell down.

  “I can see how you would think that was fair, but maybe I’ll earn your favor between now and then.” The man who was her father wasn’t as creepy as his brother, but there was cowardice behind his eyes.

  “I need my mother’s soul stone. I realize that you don’t have it here, but I need to know where you keep it. She needs—”

  “I don’t have your mother’s soul stone at all.” Richard interrupted.

  Azure drew in a sudden breath. “Wait, what? You don’t have it? But I thought she gave it to you in exchange for me?”

  He shook his head. “No, you misunderstood. Your mother, she gave her soul stone to my brother the Duke in exchange for you. Well, actually she gave it to him in exchange for keeping our secret, which I must admit he did.”

  “Phillip.” Azure spoke his name bitterly. “Why would he want my mother’s soul stone?”

  “Because soul stones are powerful. Others besides witches and wizards can pull magic from them. Phillip has been using her soul stone to fuel his own magic,” Richard said.

  Azure remembered the reveal charm Phillip had cast on her in the stadium during the Harvest Celebration. She’d thought it weird at the time that he was able to reveal her for who she was—a witch, not a citizen of Terran. Now she realized that he’d been using witches’ magic.

  “The little fucker kept your secret in exchange for Mum’s soul stone. Well, since the secret is out now, seems like he needs to give it back,” Azure said, her eyes falling to the gray stone floor as her mind raced. Now she’d have to break into the palace and steal the stone.

  “Azure, there’s no way to retrieve the stone. Phillip keeps it on him at all times.” Richard hesitated a bit on her name. This situation was a bit strange, but they had to ignore that for now. More pressing matters deserved their attention.

  “You leave that part to me. I just need your help getting into the palace. But first you’ve got to help me figure out where they’re keeping my soul stone,” she said, her words coming out in a rush. This was getting more complicated by the minute. Had Ever, the half-Light Elf, come after her already as he’d said he would? She almost hoped he hadn’t, because his presence would make things more dangerous. However, she had to admit she needed more help.

  Azure pointed her wand at the bars, and the door unlocked. She’d considered turning Richard into a cat and just strolling out with him, but the spell probably wouldn’t work quite right on humans. He might retain a cat’s tail permanently or something.

  Just before they exited the cell, a voice nearby said, “If you want to get your soul stone back, then I can make your job a lot easier.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Azure and Richard froze, exchanging cautious looks. Azure craned her head around to the next cell. In it stood a guy she recognized, strangely enough.

  “You?” she exclaimed, blinking at the person before her. It was the guard who had allowed her to enter the Land of Terran. Robert.

  “Yes, me.” His hands gripped the bars. “Guess how I landed myself in jail? I’ll give you a hint, it had everything to do with falling for your flirtatious act.”

  “Oh, so they discovered that you didn’t check me out when I entered the border, huh? Man, that sucks.” Azure laughed softly. She’d offered to meet this guy for a date in order to persuade him not to call the customs office when she’d entered the Land of Terran.

  “It really sucks,” he agreed, “but today is your lucky day.”

  “You’d laugh if you truly knew what kind of day I’ve had,” Azure told him.

  Robert’s eyes darted to the man beside Azure, and he bowed his head slightly in respect. “Emperor Richard, a pleasure.”

  “I’m actually not—”

  “That’s not important presently.” Azure focused on Robert. “You said you could help me retrieve my soul stone?”

  “I can. Most of the other guards don’t know I’ve been put in jail. If you let me out of here, I can retrieve your soul stone from the confiscation room. I’ll be able to slip in and out, no problem.”

  Azure regarded him for a long moment. “What’s the catch? And it’d better not include a date this time. I should think you would have gathered by now that I was going to stand you up.”

  “I did figure as much,” Robert said. “Just magically put me into my guard’s uniform, and I’ll go in there and grab your soul stone. Then we’ll all walk out of here free.”

  Checking the hallway, Azure confirmed it was still empty, but that wouldn’t last much longer. “Okay, fine, but when you leave here, lie low. Don’t attract any attention to the fact that you’ve escaped. As soon as they figure it out, they’ll have the palace on lock down.”

  “Hey, I’m here to make things easier. Don’t worry!” Robert smiled.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Azure and Richard stood silently, backs flat against the brick wall in the alley behind the jail. Azure had used magic to put Robert into his guard uniform, something neither he nor Richard could do because their magic reserves were depleted. They were waiting for him to get through security and grab her soul stone from storage. According to Robert, the guards there when he was booked weren’t the same ones on duty now, so he should be fine.

  Squinting against the evening sun, Azure stared at her father. He was still in the suit he’d been wearing at the press conference. Worse, he was the most recognizable person in Terran. She aimed her wand at his face and muttered an incantation, and his features shifted, his eyes turning to brown and his thin nose enlarging. The hair on his head also faded until it was a solid dirt color.

  “What did you do?” he asked in a whisper, hands darting to his face.

  “I changed your appearance. Don’t worry, it won’t last for long.” She grimaced at his drab head of brown hair. Then she pointed her wand at herself, reluctant to do the same thing to her own hair. Finally she pressed her eyes shut and turned herself back into Candace Smith, with her blonde hair and brown eyes. Instantly she missed her blue tresses.

  “Wow! I will never get used to witch magic.” He shook his head in disbelief.

  Azure had so many questions. Like, who was this guy? What was he like? How had he and her mother come to be together? However, those would have to wait…maybe forever.

  “Okay, so how are we getting into the palace?” she asked.

  “The good news is, we won’t have to. Tonight is the unveiling of a new monument on the far side of city. I’m guessing my brother will be giving the opening address in my absence, so if we can get backstage, you can use magic on him when he’s alone. Just before he goes out.”

  “Okay, that will have to work as far as a plan goes. What’s this a monument to? Is it Phillip’s face scowling at everyone in disapproval?”

  Richard actually laughed at her remark, his expression looking strange with his new nose. “Actually, it’s funny that you say face. At Phillip’s request, the sculpture was modeled after a famous monument on Earth. The one there is of the faces of famous people, so here we did the faces of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Oprah, and Hillary Clinton. It’s called Crushmore.”

  Azure could only shake her head. “I have no idea who those people are.”

  She heard someone approaching at her back and whipped around, only to let out a sigh of relief. Robert strode in their direction, an easy smile on his face.

  She snapped her fingers at him, impatience oozing from her.

  “Here you are,” he told her when he reached them. He dropped the soul stone from his hand but held onto the
chain, making the gem sway in the air.

  “Thank Merlin!” Azure reached forward and ripped the chain from his hand. She fastened the necklace around her throat at once, feeling the stone warm against her skin.

  “One day I’ll let you buy me a drink to thank me.” At that, Robert backed up, turned, and sped off in the opposite direction. He needed to get out of there before he was seen, and she and her father needed to get out of view and across town.

  Azure turned to Richard. “Lead the way,” she said, holding out a hand.

  He nodded and stepped forward.

  “Not so fast there, Princess Azure,” a voice said behind them.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Azure froze, but then a smile broke across her lips. She’d recognize that voice anywhere. As she turned to the other side of the alleyway, a laugh of relief spilled out of her mouth. However, as soon as she saw the guy standing in the opening to the alleyway, her smile faded.

  Before her stood a man who resembled Ever with his black hair and slanted blue eyes, but this one didn’t have pointed ears. He looked like Ever when he was on Earth. What stunned Azure was the guy with pale mousey-brown hair next to him. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt with a smiley face on it, but she recognized the grin he wore.

  “Monet?” She squinted at him.

  “I know, I look like toad poop. Believe me, I’m really not okay with this. You’ll pay for the things I’ve done to rescue you.” His voice was his own.

  “You have brown hair,” she remarked, taking a step nearer to him.

  “Don’t remind me. And I’m wearing a T-shirt with a fucking smiley face on it,” Monet said.

  “It’s an emoji,” Ever corrected.

  “Emo-whatever.” Monet brushed him off.

  It felt so good to see Monet, and even Ever, but Azure didn’t allow herself to get distracted.

  “Did you go to Earth to change your appearance?” Azure asked.

  Monet’s eyes swiveled to the man at her back, curiosity written in them. “I wish. No, Negative Necromancer over there wouldn’t allow it,” he said, hooking a thumb in Ever’s direction. “Instead I changed my hair and borrowed some of his clothes.”

  “Well, just try not to look at anyone directly. Your eyes aren’t a natural shade for here,” Richard advised from beside Azure, referring to Monet’s mint-green eyes, which had previously matched his mint-green hair.

  “Is that…” Monet asked, inclining his head at her father.

  “Yes, and unfortunately he doesn’t have my mother’s soul stone. We just broke out of jail, and now we have to steal the stone from the Duke.” Azure rushed through her sentences, trying to catch these guys up fast.

  “Jail? That sounds fucking awesome.” Monet’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

  “It’s just a place full of gray,” Azure informed him.

  He grimaced, shaking his head. “Man, humans are the worst.”

  “Uhhh, I’m right here,” Richard remarked, garnering everyone’s attention. His blond hair and blue eyes had already returned, and his nose was back to its original shape.

  “Wait, I transfigured him. Why’d his face…” Azure asked, her words trailing off as she studied Richard, who looked confused.

  “Transfiguring humans is a bit more difficult. They don’t take to it as naturally, since they aren’t purely magical,” Ever explained.

  “Well, how are we going to get into this event to retrieve my mum’s soul stone with him looking like that?” Azure asked. “Richard, you’ll be recognized, so we’re going to have to leave you here.”

  “You can’t leave me here. I’ll be imprisoned again! There’s no way the Duke will grant me a pardon for having a witch child.” Panic had crept into his voice.

  “I’ve got a brilliant plan,” Monet declared with a triumphant smile.

  “Well, that’s a first,” Azure shot back dryly.

  “Hey, I scaled the walls of this place to rescue your ass, so shut it!”

  “Those walls were charmed to prevent that,” Richard stated.

  “Yeah, about that. Humans really suck at charms, but hey, you’ve made some nice shiny buildings,” Monet told him.

  “What’s your plan?” Azure asked. Her heart started to beat faster in anticipation. If they were caught here, they wouldn’t escape jail as easily the next time.

  “I’ll take the emperor to the border, where we’ll pass into the Dark Forest. I’m a master at disguise and sneaking around, so getting him through the city will be easy-peasy. You two,” he indicated Azure and Ever, “will retrieve the stone. We’ll meet up just outside the border. Ever knows the spot. It’s where we left Gillian.”

  “Gillian is still with you?” Azure asked, shocked that the grumpy gnome hadn’t disappeared.

  “Actually, the little munchkin gave us this,” Monet said, holding up a small disc. It had a tiny red dot on it, inside a black circle.

  “What’s that?” Azure asked.

  “It’s a finding device,” Ever supplied.

  Monet pointed to the red dot. “That dot is you. The black circle is us. We just had to keep moving until our circle met your dot. It was pretty cool.”

  “Wow, Gillian actually helped you?” Azure asked.

  “Don’t tell the little guy that I said this, but I think he missed you.” Monet cupped a hand at the side of his mouth in a fake attempt at stealth.

  “He just wants me to become queen so I’ll supply the gnomes with our honeysuckle crops,” Azure guessed.

  “Probably. Gnomes are so self-serving,” Monet agreed.

  “Which makes me think you’re half-gnome,” Azure said before turning to her father. “Monet will take you to safety. You’ll most likely be okay with him, although his stories are dangerously boring and he’s offensive enough to piss off an orc. Try and stomach him while you’re together.”

  Richard nodded, pressing his lips together. This wasn’t like anything he was accustomed to, but he was making a show of being brave.

  Azure slid her gaze to Monet, giving him a half-smile. “Don’t get caught! No messing around, just go straight to the border.”

  “Yeah, totally. Don’t worry your little blonde head.” Monet winked at her and strode forward, waving for Richard to follow him. “Hey, do you have any money? I need to pay the toll in the Dark Forest.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “So you’re telling me your mother gave away her precious soul stone to make the Duke stay silent?” Ever asked as they strolled through the city. Azure had wanted to run to their destination, but that would have drawn too much attention. They pretended to be model citizens instead, sauntering through the streets.

  “Yeah, so now we have to sneak into this monument ceremony and take it from him. I think I can figure out how to do the last part, but getting the Duke alone will be difficult,” Azure said.

  “Leave that part to me.” Ever nodded reassuringly. She would have thought his bright blue eyes would have set him apart in Terran, like Monet’s eyes did, but people didn’t notice them. Everyone acted as if they were preoccupied, something she’d noticed yesterday when she’d entered this land. Strange to consider it was only yesterday that she’d stepped into Terran.

  A bike cut them off, and Azure held up her fist. “Watch where you’re going, buddy!” she yelled.

  Ever shot her a look of disbelief.

  “I’m trying to help us blend in. The people of Terran have awful tempers,” she told him.

  “Probably because they’re all coming down from sugar highs,” Ever said, observing the shops and restaurants as they passed. The stores all had displays in the windows or posters showing the food they sold.

  “Yes, the people here love sugar. They actually manifest all their food from it,” Azure said, fondly remembering the way the donut she’d had at Heidi’s house had melted in her mouth. “I mean, it’s delicious, but it has no nutrition. And the people of Terran don’t eat any vegetables.”

  “That explains so much. It appears th
ey’ve misconstrued much of the information from Earth.” Ever smirked at a shop they passed.

  “I kind of sensed that, but since I don’t know much about Earth, I couldn’t figure out what-all they’d gotten wrong.”

  Ever paused. “Well, for one, you see this store?”

  Azure read the sign. “Pot Dispensary.”

  “Right. We have these all over Los Angeles, which I’m guessing the people of Terran learned one way or another. However, the ones on Earth sell a drug that is fondly called pot.”

  “And they took it literally.” Azure laughed, staring at the large pots lined up in the store’s window.

  “Yes, and their Apple store sells artwork of actual apples. And if I’m not mistaken, they’ve named all their banks ‘Starbucks.’” Ever shook his head, his eyes sparkling with laughter. “Wow, these people are thick.”

  “Well, if you’ve never been to a foreign planet, and had only received bits and pieces about it through the Dark Market, I guess there could be a lot of confusion,” Azure said.

  “Yeah, but why not just be yourself, right? Why imitate another planet?”

  “My thoughts exactly, but I’m guessing that’s why everything is out of whack for them. They overuse their magical resources and have bad nutrition because they refuse to be who they are. They’re humans on Oriceran, not Earthlings who live on a foreign planet,” Azure mused, the ideas occurring to her as she said them.

  Ever sped up as they approached a large grassy area where people were starting to gather. “Think we’re getting close.” He paused when they came to the artificial grass.

  “Yes, this should be the ceremony for the Crushmore monument.” Azure noted a large object covered with a tarp next to a stage. The platform was much like the one she’d seen at the emperor’s press conference, with a podium and a navy-blue curtain at the back.