It was becoming clearer that only Primordials and those with their power were able to open stable portals anywhere. Jay had tried, then Ema, then Nikki. None of them hit their target. They ended up calling Xix, the Terpolite woman trying very hard to not laugh at the predicament the three were in. She managed to open a stable portal to Ziri, legendary home to Orura's Spring and the Goddess Orura herself. She was by far the easiest to track and one of the kinder Primordials. Surely she'd help them track down Vivus. Or Thecuras. Or Ixasis. Any of the three would do at this point.

This world had a surprisingly common look: a bright blue sky, white clouds dotting all over, dark green grass. However, it had two bright yellow suns in the sky. Thankfully, it wasn't too hot despite this. The planet was far enough away for it to be a pleasant temperature. The grassland extended to the edge of a cliff which overlooked a forest, their target. If the stories—and the old map currently in a protective sleeve in Xix's backpack—were anything to go off, the Spring was somewhere down there.

Ema rested her foot on a rock, raising a hand as she looked over the forest. "Oh, yeah, this won't be difficult at all."

Xix pulled her from the rock. "First thing we have to do is find a way down."

Ema groaned dramatically. "Why didn't you just open the portal at the Spring?"

"I tried. Something stopped me."

"Oh."

Jay crossed his arms. "Does the legend say anything about a protective barrier?" The two women shrugged. "Right, they didn't have that sort of thing back then . . . So, how do we get down?"

"Find a path, I suppose," Ema said.

Nikki raised a hand to her head. "You guys remember I'm a Shifter, right? I can fly us all down."

"Path it is," Jay said.

"You guys suck."

* * * * * * * *

Xix held the map as the group walked through the forest. It was much darker down here, the thick canopy blocking out most of the sunlight. Ema held an orb of white light above her hand, providing Xix with the light she needed to read the map. Jay and Nikki followed behind them. Jay held a book, a light of his own floating above it. Nikki, as the sole member of the group with nothing to do, was bored senseless and beginning to question why she had agreed to even come to Ziri. Seriously, finding the Spiring or Orura? A place only mentioned in The Chronicles and only found on very old maps? Sure, Nikki had seen her fair share of mythological locations over the three thousand years of her life, but there was no way this one was real. No effing way.

Nikki moved to the side to avoid a tree and yawned. If only something exciting would happen. Maybe then she wouldn't be so bored—

"Ow!" Jay was sitting in the grass, rubbing his head. "Stupid tree . . ."

Ema came over, hands braced on her hips. "And that is what happens when you read and walk."

"What are you even reading?" Nikki asked as she and Ema helped him up. Jay handed her the book and pointed to a certain passage. Nikki scanned it then eyed her friend. "Seriously?"

He took it back. "The map alone isn't enough."

"He's right," Xix called from up ahead.

Nikki blew hair from her face. "Nerds."

Jay placed a hand over his heart. "I choose to take that as a compliment."

Ema pat his shoulder as she passed. "You do that."

As the group continued on, the forest around them begun to change. Leaves on the trees changed from shades of green to shades of gold. Light filtered through them, causing patches of grass to glow a bright green. Flowers of every colour imaginable were dotted around the roots of trees and growing on large bushes. Strange and familiar animals alike ran this way and that. The power of life itself was in the sweet-smelling air. The sound of a river trickling came from nearby, but no one could find it.

Jay read aloud from his book. "'And so I came across the Spring, the home of Orura, life herself. It hid among the wildlands, with streams of silver and trees of gold. The power of life filled the air. The path of light shows the way. Find where water changes from silver to sapphire, where grass turns to flower, where vines hang from trees. The place where the clearing glows. Follow these steps and you will walk in my path to bask in the light of Orura, your life blessed forever.'"

Xix zipped the map back into her bag, the parchment now useless. "Now comes the hard part," she said.

Nikki braced her hands on her hips, looking around. "Well, we've got 'trees of gold'. Maybe if we figure out where that stream is and follow it backwards . . ."

Ema nodded. "Good idea."

"Hold up, ladies." Jay looked up from his book. "It says something about the guardian of Orura's Spring but I can't tell what this word says."

Xix peaked over his shoulder, looking at the line Jay pointed at. "'Orura'Idia Temp é Vexaeĩ' means 'Guardian of Orura's Spring, Vexaeĩ'. I'd assume that's a name. 'Kalno na Lako Irru é Irsi Mora'ad ü Irsi Tesna' means 'Beast with five heads of elemental power and mystery power.'"

"A beast with five heads," Jay murmured. "Would be pretty hard to miss."

Ema cautiously armed herself with her dagger. "So where is it?"

"Closer to the Spring, going off what this says." Xix turned in the direction of the sound of running water. "It's probably a test of sorts, or some warning to keep unwanted visitors away."

"And if it's an actual beast?"

Jay closed his book, putting it into Xix's backpacks. "We've been dealing with beasties for years. This'll be easy."

"Famous last words," Nikki said. "Famous last words."

As the group walked toward the sound, they couldn't shake a strange feeling. The power of life was all around them, but they could all sense something else. A shadow looming on the edge of the power, trying to break its way through. Vexaeĩ, perhaps, or something else? But how could there be a dark power surrounding a place blooming with life? Had they let something in when they entered the forest?

They reached the silver stream within minutes. It flowed out of the forest so they followed it backward, moving deeper into the realm of gold. Animals stopped in their motions to watch the group as they passed, all waiting. It was as though the inhabitants of the forest knew something the group did not.

The strength of power increased, the sweet smell becoming almost sickening, but the forged onward, following the silver stream. Its colour slowly begun to change to a pale aquamarine, a sign they were getting closer but that they were still far from their goal.

The thickness of the golden canopy only grew more intense until the group was surrounded by flowers and animals glowing in the darkness. Even the stream let off a light of its own. The path of light, perhaps? It made sense. Despite the lack of sunlight, the forest held its warmth. Small birds glowing with rainbow light flew around the group, chirping their greeting in song before disappearing into the trees, the heavy leaves blocking their light.

The stream continued on, weaving its way around rocks and trees. Slowly but surely, the shade of blue darkened. The world around them grew bright once again, the golden canopy becoming thinner. Either this was just a strange patch, or they were close to the clearing.

"If the beast is a snake," Ema was saying, "I hope you know I will be running from it."

Xix rolled her eyes. "Yes, Ema, we all know you're afraid of snakes. Everyone figured that out the last time we dealt with one. Shortly after we all became allies, if I recall correctly."

"Hey, that thing was fucking massive!"

"Handled the dragon better."

"The dragon was actually cool."

"Still pissed you didn't let me keep it."

"And I'm pissed you went back for it."

Xix smiled smugly. "What can I say? We bonded."

Nikki and Jay exchanged glances, knowing full well where this was going. Nikki bowed dramatically, gesturing to Ema. Jay got the message loud and clear. She's your mate! He took Ema's arm and dragged her further ahead, saying something about recon. They vanished with speed only the Fae had. Nikki hung back with Xix. Someone needed to keep the Terpolite Queen from meeting her doom via nature. After all, unlike Nikki and Jay, Xix and Ema were still very much mortal.

"Sooooo," Nikki said in a lame attempt to start a conversation, "how's things?"

Xix smiled. "You mean aside from the threat of impending doom via falling into the Void or via Void Beast?"

"Yup."

"Things are good."

"Good." This is so fucking awkward. "How much further do you think?"

"Hmm. Not sure." Xix looked down at the stream. It was certainly darker, but they were yet to reach any sort of clearing. "Hopefully not long."

"And this beast thing, uh—"

"Vexaeĩ?"

"Vexaeĩ! Yeah, that. What do you think it is?"

"Something with five heads?" She pushed her hands into her pockets. "There are only so many creatures out there with five heads: snakes, dogs, dragons. It could be anything."

Nikki shivered. "Because that's not worrying."

"Surely you have faced worse than a beast with five heads?"

"Yeah, probably, but that doesn't make it any less freaky." She sighed. "Oh, well. Things will probably go horribly wrong no matter what we do."

Xix nodded. "That does tend to happen."

The leaves around them rustled. Nikki immediately went on alert. Something was following them.

Jay and Ema returned to the pair, both grinning madly. "You'll never believe what we—"

Nikki held up a hand, cutting Jay off. She raised a finger to her lips and pointed to the trees. They were moving but there was no breeze. Jay and Ema understood immediately.

Xix, however, did not. "What are you—" Ema slammed a hand over her mouth.

They all listened. The rustling in the trees came from every direction. The very ground shook. Somewhere nearby, a creature roared. Golden trees were torn from their roots. Animals went flying into the distance.

"We should probably run," Nikki whispered.

The roar sounded again.

"Yeah," Xix agreed, lowering Ema's hand. "We should run."

The creature crashed through the trees and roared in the faces of the four. It was massive, dragon-like, and terrifying. The thing had five heads, all ten of its eyes blazing with anger. Three tails whipped around its large, black-grey, scale-covered body. Its four feet were tipped with large black claws. This was Vexaeĩ, and it was a—

"Hydra?" Xix exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hydra has nine heads," Jay countered.

Xix shook her head. "The name of the species, not the actual creature the Olympian Demigod Heracles battled. That was just one of many. Their head number varies."

"Not a snake," Ema decided. She pulled a sword, a ninjatõ, from its place on her belt. "Good. That I can take out."

Xix held out a hand. "Wait!" But it was too late.

Ema jumped into the sky. With a twist, she angled herself toward one of the creature's heads and sliced straight through its neck. She landed on the ground flawlessly, the move having been practiced many times. Under any other circumstance, she would've been surprised her sword worked. But it was Terpolite metal based on an Earthen design. The acidic blood of the creature had no effect.

"Great job, Ema!" Xix cried. "Now you've made it worse!"

"I took out a head," Ema countered. "Only four more to go. You can help if you want."

"A Hydra's head grows back after you cut it off, and it comes back with twice the amount!"

Ema blinked. "Oh." She turned around. Two heads had, in fact, grown back in the place of the one she'd cut off which remained on the ground. "Might need to update the book to seven."

Nikki felt her claws flick to life. "How do we kill it?"

Jay and Xix exchanged looks. "That depends on which version of the story," Xix said.

"In one version, Hercules cut off the one immortal head. In another he had help from Iolaus who cauterised the wounds to stop the heads growing back," Jay said. "But this is Vexaeĩ, not the Hydra from those stories—"

"Not stories," Nikki muttered.

"—We might not be able to kill it at all," he finished with a glare.

"I don't think we should," Xix said. "This is the Guardian of Orura's Spring. Maybe it's a test."

"What, let the thing live and hope it doesn't kill us?" Ema laughed. "When has that ever worked?"

"That running plan is sounding pretty good if killing isn't an option." Nikki looked over her shoulder to Xix. "You're the one the Goddess is most likely to listen to. Your call."

Xix looked up at the creature. It returned her gaze with so much intensity she had to look away. She turned to the river, following it with her eyes as it vanished into the forest. Its colour continued to grow darker. She then looked to the canopy. It was certainly thinning. The forest was brighter. They had to be close to—

Wait. "When you two came back, what were you going to say you found?"

"The clearing," Jay answered. "But no sign of a spring."

That didn't make sense. It had to be there. Xix frowned in thought. Maybe. Just maybe . . .

"What are the chances we can get it to chase us into the clearing?"

Nikki grinned. "Pretty fucking likely. I see where you're going with this."

"I'm sure we can make it mad," Ema said.

"It's already mad at you."

"Madder."

Crimson smoke danced at Xix's fingertips. "Well then, ladies and Jay, let's do this."

As one, they attacked.