The Three Furies (Erec Rex) (30 page)

251

of the sets as half-closed intervals--I know that's not it at all, but it's just the easiest way to explain--that led me to the idea that the derivative I talked about being the counterexample which--"

A loud crack cut her off, and her head jerked to the side as if she had been slapped hard.

"If you continue to speak gobbledygook, then you will be punished again."

"No! Really . . . like I said, I was only nine when I wrote this out. I disproved all of it later. It can't be important, because it was wrong!"

Erec ground his teeth, furious. How dare Baskania treat her like this! It must have irked Baskania that Bethany had to talk down to him to explain all the math she knew. Fists clenched, he watched as Baskania grudgingly started the movie again. It played in fast forward through her entire life, but Baskania slowed it down whenever something interested him. "What was this thing you were so intently looking at? Did you notice something written on that candy wrapper?"

Bethany was reliving her past enough to recollect everything. She coughed, her voice thin. "I was reading the ingredients. Earlier that day Mrs. Shapiro had told us that some candies were made with an ingredient just like shellac. But that wasn't as bad for you as some of the coloring chemicals in them."

Baskania continued to sift through her mind. "Soon we'll stop and do another test of your reactions. Then you'll spend a while telling me anything that comes to your mind about magic, especially your unique understanding of it. Then later, another brain scan." He rubbed his chin. "Maybe I've been letting you off too easy. If you were less comfortable, maybe you would have more reason to help me, and we could end this all sooner."

Bethany stared ahead, defeated. Erec was amazed that she didn't answer. Her lips chattered as though she was freezing, and she was thin as a rail. Baskania probably was starving her slowly.

252

He threw off the glasses and flung himself onto the bed, not able to bear any more. He would put them on later, keep trying until Baskania was gone and he could talk to Bethany. A hot tear ran into his ear.

At least she was still alive, he told himself. He wasn't too late. Danen had used his magnet on her, and Erec had done most of his fifth quest. He just had to go back and rescue Wandabelle to finish it, he was sure. Why did it matter if he had completed part of that quest before saving Bethany? He wondered if he would ever know.

Now everything was in place. He even had the vial of dragon blood for her to drink. So, no matter how she was feeling now, he would make it all better soon.

After saying that to himself over and over, he fell into a deep sleep.

It was dark when he woke. Erec fingered the glasses. Out of habit, he had slipped their chain around his neck. They would be safe for sure that way.

Baskania had to be gone by now. There must be a time difference, he thought, between Americorth North and Jakarta in Upper Earth, but he wasn't sure what it was. In fact, Americorth North could be in any time zone at all, as there was no real sunrise or sunset. The lighting was artificial.

When he put the Seeing Eyeglasses on, light filled the huge room. Math books were strewn around the floor. Pads of paper were piled on the desk in front of her with notes and jottings. Bethany slept sitting at the desk, upright. Her cheek drifted toward her shoulder, but when it drooped too far she jolted upright again.

She looked so pathetic that Erec didn't want to wake her. On the other hand, if he waited too long, Baskania might come back.

"Bethany!" he whispered.

253

She made a humming sound and her shoulders jumped, but she did not open her eyes.

"Bethany!" Louder. "Wake up! It's me."

"Mmnh." She fought to turn over and lay down, but her arms were fastened tight at her sides. It looked awful.

Erec wished he could touch her hair, lift her face to wake her. He got close to her ear and shouted, "Bethany!"

She startled. "Wha--?" Then she looked around. A deep frown etched on her face and then she closed her eyes as if to shut the world out.

"Wake up! Bethany--it's me."

Her eyes jerked open and she looked around. "Erec?" Then her lids filled with tears and she choked down a sob.

"Bethany, can you hear me?"

"Stop!" She looked around at the empty room. "I'm going crazy."

"No. I've got my mom's Seeing Eyeglasses. I'm right next to you, you just can't see me."

"Erec?" She sat up straight. "Is it really you?" Fat tears streamed down her face. "Or am I hearing things? I think I've gone over the edge."

"No, it's really me. I promise. This is the first time I've had the glasses since you disappeared, or I would have used them sooner. Bethany . . . I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I should have come back sooner and been with you in Alypium. Then this never would have happened. Can you ever forgive me?"

She smiled, but she looked so weak and worn out that Erec's heart crumpled. "Now I know it is you. Only you would make this all out to be your fault." A faint laugh escaped her lips. "This is Baskania's fault, Erec. Or that stupid prophecy's fault. I have no clue what information he needs." She sighed. "It's so good to hear your voice. I really miss you."

254

"I miss you, too. But don't worry. I'm coming to get you. It won't be too much longer. I found out you're in Jakarta--"

"No!" Her face got hard. "Don't come here, Erec. Don't even think about it."

"Bethany, do you think I'm going to let you stay a prisoner there? Of course I'll come get you out."

"You can't, Erec," she pleaded. Her eyes flashed around the room, not sure where he was. "This is Baskania's most highly guarded fortress. I'm sure you can find your way in--he'd want you to. But you'd never come out again." Her voice shook. "The only thing that is getting me through this is knowing that you are out there somewhere, doing okay. You're going to be a king someday. And I'm happy knowing that. Just promise you'll always remember me. That's all I want now."

"But the Fates said--"

"Forget the Fates, Erec. Forget me. Okay? Move on. I'm done here. The best part of my life was my time with you. I wouldn't change a thing that we did together." She cocked her head toward the movie screen. "In fact, I'm looking forward to reliving that part again, when we get there. That will be the grand finale before my life is over." She paused. "I just hope there isn't anything you've told me that we don't want Baskania to know about, or he'll see it on the screen."

Erec wanted to scream, throw things. But he understood how she felt. He would have said the same to her if he had been captured.

Not that it would stop him from coming to Jakarta, of course. "Bethany, I went to the Oracle and asked just what I had to do to get you out of there alive. They gave me a list of instructions, and all of them are done. I'm not just going to wander in there, clueless," he said, trying to laugh, despite the fact that he would, indeed, be completely clueless.

255

Her voice became very soft. "Erec, answer one thing for me."

"Yes?"

"The Fates told you what you could do to let me escape alive?"

"Yes, Bethany. They did."

"Did they say that you would also escape alive?"

Erec was silent. No. Of course, she was right. They had not mentioned that at all. It made sense to him now. The fortress was impenetrable. How could they both escape? For the first time, he had doubts.

So maybe it would be a trade-off, then. Her for him.

He would take it.

"Don't worry, Bethany. It will all work out all right. I'll make it."

He wished he believed it himself as much as he had before.

256

CHAPTER TWENTY One Impossible Thing Before Breakfast

HEN EREC WOKE again, it was midday. Griffin continued to sleep, after having slept most of the previous day. Erec was sure sleep felt wonderful after centuries of being awake in a living nightmare. Finally Griffin rose, dusted himself off, and bowed to Aunt Salsa. "Aye, me lady. I'm at yer service for yer hospitality." He lifted her hand to his lips. "Yer but a beautiful rose, my sweet. Anything you need, just ask old Griffin, here."

257

"Oh, my." Aunt Salsa's fingers fluttered over her lips. "You're so sweet to an old lady." She plumped her black, spiky hair.

"Old? Ye must be kidding. Yer but a child in the dew, Salsa." Griffin winked at Erec.

Erec lowered his eyebrows at Griffin, hoping Griffin wasn't becoming attracted to all the jewelry hanging around Aunt Salsa's neck and dripping from her clothing. As much as Erec liked Griffin, he was a rough sort. Wolfboy liked him too. Erec noticed that Griffin snuck the dog some food from the Serving Tray every chance he got.

Four magical items now swung around Erec's neck: the Doubler charm that Wandabelle had given him, the Trwyth boar vial with four tiny colored spheres attached to it, his Amulet of Virtues that kept track of what quests he had finished, and now the Seeing Eyeglasses. As much as Erec wanted to keep watching Bethany with the glasses, it wasn't helping her escape. Being with her when Baskania was there was just too painful and didn't do either of them any good--but he would try to talk to her every night when she was alone.

How would he get Bethany out of Baskania's fortress? He wished the Hermit was going with him. What did he mean when he said he'd be there in spirit? And that strange remark about the cat? The Hermit suggested that Erec take friends with him. Help sounded like a great idea, but he didn't want to put anyone else in danger. Stealing a prisoner from the world's most powerful sorcerer's fortress would not be a walk in the park.

He wished he could ask Danny and Sammy to go with him. But he knew that would be wrong. They were destined to be the other two rulers of the Kingdoms of the Keepers. If he didn't survive, at least they could still be king and queen.

He didn't want to risk anyone's lives. Griffin insisted on coming with him, which was great. Maybe that was all the help he needed. Still, Erec remembered going on adventures with Jack, Jam, and

258

other friends. He would like to have more company. Should he listen to the Hermit? Or keep his friends away from danger?

Then Erec almost laughed, remembering talking about this very issue with his friends on his last quest. They were on the Path of Wonder collecting the five Awen--the magical crystals that he attached to the Trwyth boar vial. He had wanted to protect all of his friends and climb across a crumbling ravine by himself to get one of the Awen. Jack had told him that he wasn't the only responsible one, and they all wanted to help. He had pointed out that they had a better chance if they all worked together.

Which probably was the case now. Erec decided he would let Jack know what he was doing and leave the decision up to him.

He was sure Jack was in Alypium somewhere. The cell phone that had been implanted in Jack's finger had stopped working, so he couldn't call him. But Jack usually spent afternoons in Paisley Park with his magic tutor. Erec might be able to find him there.

"Hey, Mom. Are you going to stay here with Jam's aunt?"

"I suppose we might for a while. She is so sweet, and we can't go back home until things are safe there. Now that that Dumpling Smith woman can't track Danny and Sammy down, we can go out and explore Americorth North. It will be like a vacation." She sighed. "As much as I've been working the last few years, I could use a break with you kids."

"You deserve it," Erec said. "It looks like I'll be here a while longer. Danny and Sammy can use a break too; once they find out they're going to be king and queen, things will be a little harder for them."

June's eyes flew open wide. "
Shhh!
Come here," she whispered, dragging him into an empty bedroom. "How do you know about that?
I
don't even know all the details. And at this rate, it might not happen."

"I saw it through my dragon eyes."

"Well, don't breathe a word to them, understand me? Like you,

259

they're in hiding here, to be safe. It's bad enough that people are already starting to come after them. I've made a promise to your father to keep things under wraps."

"I know. I'm sorry to say anything here about it. And I won't tell them. But does it really make sense now for all of us to go back to New Jersey? The other kids would like living in Alypium too." He thought about the hordes of people after him there and realized that might not be the best choice of places to stay. "Or at least here in Aorth you could do magic, and you wouldn't have to work so hard."

"Let me talk to King Piter, and think about it. For now we'll just take a little break."

Erec cleared his throat, nervous about breaking the news to her. "I have to go for a while, Mom. I need to help Bethany." He hoped saying it in the least threatening way might keep her calm.

But it didn't work. "No, Erec," she cried. "You of all people can't waltz into one of Baskania's headquarters and expect to get out unharmed. It's too dangerous. I'm sure your father would agree with me."

"Mom, the Fates said that I could. I've found Danen, the man with that strong people magnet, and he's turned it on Bethany. I've finished most of my fifth quest. I even have a vial of dragon blood ready to give her. Everything is set. Now I just need to go there."

June shook her head firmly. "I can't let you do it. And this time, don't try to sneak away. I'll be watching you."

"But it's the only way, Mom. I can't just let Bethany die. You understand that, don't you? The Fates said it would work--"

"What did they say, exactly? That she would escape alive?"

"Yes."

"Did they say that
you
would escape alive?"

This was exactly what Bethany had asked him. But that wasn't