Henry and Valerie held hands as they jumped into the glowing pool. The warm water enveloped her like an embrace. Beneath the surface, she opened her eyes and watched in astonishment as the water turned gold. Without thinking, she inhaled, but instead of water rushing into her lungs, a tingling warmth raced down her throat and circulated through her entire body.

The magic spread down her arms and legs and shot out of her fingers and toes. The terrifying thought entered her mind that she would disappear forever. She had barely formed the idea when the magic receded up her arms and back into her core. The water was no longer gold. In fact, it was much colder, and she realized that she was deep underwater.

She swam up, up, up, scared that she would never reach the top. Was this how Zaki had felt when he drowned in the pool? She kicked her legs in panic. Seconds later, she was gasping for air. She saw that Henry had already surfaced and was staring up.

Above them was a sky full of thousands of stars. It was a dazzling sight, but she couldn't appreciate it knowing the price that had been paid to get her here. It was a debt she could never repay, but she promised herself that she'd never forget Zaki's sacrifice.

Welcome, Henry. And welcome back, Valerie, Azra's voice chimed softly in her mind. She was standing on the shore, her elegant silver horn glinting in the starlight.

Valerie registered that they were in the middle of a deep pool of water that looked black in the darkness. She and Henry swam to the edge, and she wrung out her hair. In the moonlight, the streak of silver at the back that she usually kept hidden in her ponytail shone brightly. It had appeared after she had saved Sanguina's life with her vivicus power, and every time she saw it, she was reminded of what she was capable of—and what she was giving up.

She gave Azra a hug and buried her face in her mane, which smelled like lilies. "I missed you."

And I, you.

"It's an honor to meet you in the flesh," Henry said formally. Valerie could see that he was a little dazzled to meet a real unicorn.

The feeling is mutual, she said with a kind twinkle in her eyes. There are towels and clothes in my pack. She pointed her nose toward a brown bag hanging over her snow white back. They quickly dried off and dressed.

"Where are we?" Valerie asked. "And where's Cyrus?"

I had to come alone. The reason that this portal to the Globe was closed was because the entrance here is in the heart of Dunsinane, which is crawling with Fractus. I suspect their Black Castle is nearby.

"Isn't Sanguina gone from here now?"

Yes, but we know that she didn't act alone. At the very least, Zunya is still here, and we have reason to believe an even more powerful enemy considers it home.

"Why doesn't an army of Conjurors go and take over the castle?" Henry asked.

It cannot be found unless someone is invited. Now, we must quickly travel to a nearby wood on the border of Dunsinane. I have a friend there who will help us get back to Arden.

"I have to tell our friends we made it safely," Valerie said. Azra nodded, and Valerie gripped the crystal around her neck. With the Globe's magic to power the charm, she saw a little image of Thai inside, smiling at her. She gripped it tightly, and was by his side, on the ledge outside of the cave where they had been only minutes earlier, but which was now a universe away.

"You're safe!" he said when he saw her. "I had hoped you were, but you both just vanished and the light went out, and we were worried you had drowned—"

"We're fine," she gently interrupted him. She yearned to touch his hand, and even though he had held her less than an hour ago, already it was almost physically painful to be separated from him.

"Thank goodness," Joe said.

Chisisi nodded in relief, but his face was drained of color. He was almost swaying on his feet.

"I can't stay—we entered into an area that's a little dangerous, so we have to move quickly. I'll visit you as soon as I can."

She was suddenly jolted, and her mind came back to the Globe. Henry was shaking her. Zunya was only a few yards away from them.

"You should have stayed on Earth. You would have lived longer," he said, his yellow eyes connecting with hers.

The Laurel Circle was very cold on her thumb. Zunya could take her magic, leaving her defenseless. He raised his hand in the air, and her power began to drain away. She clutched her chest, and next to her, Henry did the same thing.

But then Azra stepped in front of them both, and Valerie's magic returned in a flood. It was a sweet relief, like she had a gasp of air after being underwater for too long. But if Azra was shielding her, then she must be in incredible pain.

"Azra, no! It's okay, I'll go peacefully. Don't let him near you," Valerie said.

His void cannot touch me. Leave this place, Zunya, she commanded with a toss of her mane.

"Don't test me. My powers have grown since we last met," he said, and his yellow eyes glittered dangerously.

But Azra calmly stepped forward, aiming her horn at his heart. Her pure white coat began to dim as she walked closer, but she continued to approach him. Zunya held out his hand, and he began to pant with effort. He was focusing all of his attention on Azra, and Valerie saw an opportunity.

Grateful to have her full strength and energy back now that she was on the Globe, she stepped back into the shadows, and then quietly circled behind him. With a swift spin kick, she knocked her heel against his temple, and he dropped to the ground.

Before she could give him the final blow that would render him unconscious, he was back on his feet faster than she would have thought possible. Valerie launched a punch on his jaw, but instead of fighting back, he retreated into the darkness.

"Guess he's not immune to a good, old-fashioned punch in the face," Henry said with satisfaction, and brother and sister prepared to go after him.

But Azra dropped to her foreleg, and her head touched the ground. Henry and Valerie hurried to her side. Azra's usually iridescent mane was streaked with dull gray. There were white spots on her eyes, as though she was blind.

Children, I am sorry, she said, and then stumbled, falling completely to the ground.

"No," Valerie said, but instead of panic, she was filled only with determination. On the Globe, she was her own mistress, and no more of her friends would be lost. Somehow she knew what to do without thinking. Gently, she cupped Azra's face and threaded her fingers through her mane.

"Valerie? What's happening?" Henry asked, stepping toward her. She opened her mind to him, and he gasped.

Her magic pounded in her veins like a heartbeat. It threatened to flood her, devour her, but she channeled it out of herself and into Azra. Electricity crackled in the air, and Azra lit up in a blinding flash. With effort, Valerie tried to release her grip on her magic before it consumed her, but it was as if a dam had burst inside her. It was like she was being pulled to the bottom of a vast ocean by an inescapable undertow. She had gone too far, and she wasn't coming back.

Before she was lost, her resolve suddenly strengthened as her brother's mind joined hers. Together, they pushed back the flood of magic, and to her relief, it receded. She registered the shock on Henry's face and Azra's cool breath against her cheek before her mind went dark.

The dream was back, but this time instead of Sanguina's eyes, she saw Azra's. They were filled with resignation. She had traded a part of herself that she could never have back, and with that trade came a choice—give into the oblivion or fight her way to the light.

The darkness pressed on her, as if she was deep underwater again. It was harder than ever to remember what waited for her if she could fight her way to the surface. Family, friends, love.

The pain this time was like being torn apart from the inside of her mind to the tips of her toes. She couldn't repress her scream.

It wasn't Thai who waited for her when she opened her eyes this time, but Azra's gentle, dark eyes. Her warm breath blew against Valerie's face and she revived a little.

"I'm here, too," Henry said, leaning over her. "We have to get out of here before Zunya comes back with reinforcements. I'll keep you safe; I swear it."

As gently as he could, he draped her across Azra's back. Then he climbed behind her, holding her waist so that she wouldn't fall off. Azra's hooves made a gentle clopping sound against the stony ground.

Despite the uncomfortable position, she slid back into unconsciousness. When she awoke, she saw that they were approaching a grove of trees. Her vision was blurry, and she was as drained and exhausted as she ever had been on Earth.

"I thought this wasn't supposed to happen now that I'm on the Globe and I can use my magic," she whispered.

Using magic, especially the amount you used to save me, has a price. No one's magic is limitless, and you used up your store. It will take time for it to build back up again.

"It was worth it."

Thank you, Valerie. I am glad my time here is not yet over.

"She'll fully recover, right?" Henry asked.

Yes. But being a vivicus is a rare and powerful manifestation of magic. It is a power that must not be used lightly. Valerie's life, and even yours, could be at stake.

She stopped in front of a giant tree. The trunk was five feet in diameter. After Valerie and Henry got off Azra's back, they looked up, amazed, at the endless branches and leaves that blocked their view of the stars.

Azra touched her horn against a knot in the side of the tree, and a door swung open, revealing a wooden staircase that led up toward an orange glow. She ascended the stairs with Valerie and Henry behind her.

At the top was a simple room with a fireplace providing warmth and light, and a table covered with fruit and other food that Valerie couldn't name. Sitting in a chair by the fire was an elegant man with dark skin, wearing a tunic made of soft white material. When the light hit his face, she could see that his skin was brushed with gold, just like the trees in Arden's forest. It was unusual but beautiful.

"The People of the Woods give you permission to pass through this land," he said formally, rising to his feet. He stood a little taller than she did, and his build was slight but graceful. "You may call me Elden."

Thank you for your hospitality.

"I wouldn't call it that. I welcome you, Azra, but these two humans have not proven themselves. I am here to guide you safely to Arden, it is true, but also to guard my people from any danger they may bring."

I have vouched for both of these children. You may trust them. It was the first time that Valerie had ever seen Azra's eyes flash with something approaching anger. They are not a part of your feud.

Elden nodded, but the alert way that he held himself told her that he was still wary of them. "What happened to you, Azra? I sense that you have been through an immense change. The afterglow of powerful magic is coming off of you in waves." His eyes widened. "You were touched by a vivicus! Who?"

Azra said nothing, but his eyes were drawn to Valerie. He dropped to one knee. "I am at your service. And so are all of the People of the Woods, once they know who you are."

Her skin crawled and she flushed with embarrassment. If Azra hadn't warned her about the reaction of the Conjurors to the news that she was a vivicus, she would have been sure that Elden was mocking her. She saw Henry stare at Elden in astonishment, and then he burst out laughing.

"Please get up, you're going to give her a heart attack," he said.

Elden rose, but he flashed an irritated glance at Henry.

What you say is true; Valerie is a vivicus. But she is still a child. I ask you not to tell your people she is here. She needs rest and safe passage.

Elden shook his head in disbelief and turned to Valerie. "Is this what you want?"

She nodded. "This is all a misunderstanding. I'm only beginning to understand what my powers are and how to control them."

He squinted, examining her. She squirmed, feeling like a bug under a microscope. He shook his head. "I had hoped you might help us to defeat Reaper at last. But I can see you are not the person we need."

"Reaper?" Henry asked.

The name tickled the back of Valerie's mind. She was sure she'd heard it before.

"He has old, powerful magic and has ruled the Black Castle for a very long time. Once he kept to himself, but now he has begun sending his minions into our woods, attacking our people with powers we have never seen before."

You never told me of this. What does he want?

"We don't know. He took two of the oldest in our community last season. He sent some strange invisible creatures to take three of our children several nights past, but we were able to drive them back. A life was lost in the battle, and several were wounded."

"Why didn't you ask for help?" Valerie asked.

"We ask no favors from Conjurors, and grant no favors in return. We wish to live apart from your politics and corruption."

"Then why help us now?" Henry asked.

Elden's face softened. "Azra saved my daughter from death with healing waters from her horn. There is nothing she may not ask of me."

Azra bowed her head, and her mane shimmered in the firelight. Valerie was starting to think that there wasn't anyone on the Globe whose life hadn't been touched by Azra. Though Zaki's life had been lost tonight to protect her, she had saved Azra's. It didn't make up for his loss, but it was something to comfort her and be grateful for.

"For tonight, there are beds here for you. In the morning, we travel," Elden said.

Valerie tossed and turned that night, thinking about Reaper, until at last something clicked. Reaper was the name that Zunya had mentioned when he found Valerie on Earth. Whoever he was, Zunya answered to him. She couldn't stop the chill that came over her, trying to imagine an evil powerful enough that even Zunya obeyed.