deeper into the stomach lining.
I felt its power, even from here. I reached inside, my fingers tightened around a smooth surface, and I pulled out a gleaming silver wand. My breath caught in my throat at its beauty, so stunning that I was sure it was never meant for mortal eyes. I didn’t want to hand it over to him, but this was why we’d come here.
I held it out to him. “I hope I can trust you with this kind of power.”
Chapter 55
Marroc
The power of Levateinn flowed into me. I closed my eyes as a thick metallic taste filled my mouth. It was a magic like I’d never experienced, smooth and silent. Quicksilver, I realized, was its basis. This, I knew intuitively, was the wand’s innate power of transformation.
The wand’s energy continued to thrum in my fingers. My senses expanded. I could hear the movement of Nidhogg’s blood, feel the flex of her massive muscles as she swam. I could even sense the movements of jellyfish floating in the sea.
My perception narrowed. From here, I could feel Ali’s beating heart. I could sense her mixed emotions, her fear and excitement at being so close to this relic of the vanquished gods. And in the center of everything, I could feel her soul and mine. Entwined together. A perfect pair.
At that moment, I had but one desire: keep Ali safe. I drew magic from the wand. While my magic was powerful, it was nothing compared to Levateinn. Ancient and primordial, the wand was a direct conduit to the power of the gods.
This was the kind of power that could drive a person mad.
Chapter 56
Ali
“Do you have the crystal?” asked Marroc.
“Why?” I asked, my mind no longer working logically. All I could think was: We have to get out of here before we suffocate.
“I’ll use a spell to send it back to Boston.”
A sort of euphoria blazed in my mind, so overwhelming I was on the verge of hysteria. “Oh, right! The wand. The wand can get us out of here.”
A maniacal sort of laughter escaped my throat, which I regretted instantly. I wasn’t sure I could ever be in an enclosed space again after this. Which meant I definitely had to find a way out of the Shadow Caverns.
With shaking hands, I dug in my pocket for the crystal. I tried to hand it to him, but he stopped me.
“Not yet. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”
As I stood by Marroc’s side, he waved the wand in a complex series of runic shapes. The air around us glowed, brighter and brighter. Once again, I could breathe. We’re getting out of here. At last, this horror would be over. And if he was telling the truth, I’d finally get to Galin.
Slowly, a circle of blue light formed in the air, growing wider and wider. The ring expanded, revealing a portal. Through it, I could see a much cleaner place: a rug over a wooden floor and a blazing hearth. Marroc’s living room. Oh, gods, it looked nice.
Marroc turned to me. “All right, put the crystal into the portal.”
I lifted my vergr crystal and began to shove it toward the glowing portal.
“Watch your fingers. This magic is powerful.”
Carefully, I reached through the hole into Marroc’s living room and placed the crystal on the floor of his hall.
“Are you clear?”
I nodded, drawing back my hand. Then, with a blinding flash of light, the portal vanished.
“All right,” he said. “Now all you have to do is teleport us to your crystal.”
I turned to him, wrapping my arms around him, then quietly spoke the word that would save us: “Fara.”
Chapter 57
Ali
I lay on a soft rug before the hearth and breathed in the clean air of Marroc’s home. I couldn’t help but grin as I opened my eyes. Wood crackled in the fireplace, and its warmth wavered over my skin. The soft chairs looked inviting for my exhausted muscles. Through the windows, I could see stars shining against a pitch-black sky.
I sat up straight and looked at Marroc, smiling broadly. But he was still gripping his stomach, looking like he was in pain.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
He was supposed to be able to heal fast. I looked down at myself. Marroc’s magical light had cleaned some of the muck away, but I was still desperate to clean myself after the whole Corpse Shore situation.
Never again. I wanted to scrub myself for days.
“Marroc, I’m going to take a quick bath, okay? And