Page 64 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Elena

I t had been hours, and I was still staring up at the stark white ceiling, trying to escape my spiraling thoughts.

With a frustrated growl, I fisted the sheets and kicked my feet. After my mini-tantrum was over, I realized sleep was obviously not going to happen for me tonight.

Dragging myself out of bed and into some warmer clothes, I decided not to heed Eloise’s warning from a few nights before that I should stay in at night.

I’d been sneaking out at night to practice my dynamis in the queen’s garden. She had caught me making my way down to the garden one night and scolded me.

I’d heeded her warning for one night, but then had fallen straight back into my routine. The practice was nice, but staring at the stars was the best way for me to clear my mind, and I knew the perfect bench to do it.

Grabbing my thick cloak, I zephyred down to the garden. A whoosh of air shuddered around me as I said a prayer to the gods that my face would not end up slammed against the door. Zephyring through solid objects still made me nervous.

Peeling open my eyes, I sighed in relief to find myself inside the garden walls.

The air was chilly tonight. I could see my breath as little clouds of white swirled in front of me with every exhale. Wrapping my cloak around me, I admired the beautiful scenery.

The lights flickering inside of hanging lanterns illuminated the vibrant garden. At this hour, the only sounds I could hear were from the cicadas and the roar of the waves as they crashed into the shore. For once, my mind was at ease.

As I lifted my head towards the night sky, blanketed with what looked like millions of tiny glistening fireflies, I proceeded to tell them everything that had happened since I had left my hometown.

When I finished, my shoulders sagged as if I had physically removed the weight I had been carrying on my shoulders this entire time. Sitting in silence, enjoying the peace surrounding me, my eyes begin to feel heavy. I made the decision to head back to the castle to sleep.

As I rose, my body jerked back, and I realized my cloak had gotten caught on something next to the bench.

I tried giving it a tug, but whatever was attached to my cloak wasn’t letting go.

With a huff, I squeezed my body through the peony bushes surrounding the bench, then lowered down to the ground to see what was keeping me attached.

With one hand, I reached underneath the bush, feeling around for the root that my cloak was probably hooked on. Cool metal grazed my fingertips, and I jumped back in surprise. Why would there be metal underneath a bush?

I leaned even further down into the ground, my face now flush with the mossy dirt. I had to blink a few times to make sure my tired eyes were seeing what was in front of me. My cloak seemed to be wrapped around a latch for a door.

Why is there a door in the garden?

Since the stubborn cloak refused to detach, I pulled out my dagger and released it with a slice. Curiosity overtook my decision-making abilities, and I cut away the moss to reveal more of the latch.

Digging my heels into the ground for leverage, I attempted to pull the latch. The ground cracked slightly, but not enough. This door hadn’t opened in a very long time, and it was now sealed shut with soil and moss.

Crouching down, I began to feel around in the soil, looking for the edges of the door. Just when I was about to toss my hands up in defeat, I felt what must be the corner. A rush of adrenaline began pulsing through me.

I frantically searched for edges with my fingers as I used my dagger cut into the earth to release them. I grabbed the latch and pulled with all my might.

To my surprise, the door released itself from the ground.

Sheathing my dagger, I stood and lifted the door all the way open and tossed it backwards into the soil.

Wincing at the thud it made, I froze, waiting to see if anyone was alerted.

After a few minutes of uneasy silence, I assumed no one was coming.

Below the door was a narrow stone stairway. Darkness loomed beneath, and a chill seeped out from within. Goosebumps rose over my arms and legs.

Beside me was a tree full of hanging lanterns. Standing on my tiptoes, I grabbed the closest one. With my dagger in one hand and the lantern in the other, I made my descent down the stairs.

With each step the air became heavier, mustiness overpowering my senses. I had to pause every so often and take deep breaths to not retch from the pungent smell. Just when I thought these stairs were some cruel torture device that led to nowhere, the lantern light illuminated the stone floor ahead.

Thank gods.

Lifting the lantern, I did a slow spin. Moss-covered walls were lined with bookshelves filled with ancient leatherbound texts, like the one where I had learned about the original Light Phoenix.

There was a desk in one corner. Parchment lay on top in a stack, a quill sitting in its inkwell.

On the opposite wall a long table held bottles filled with assorted liquids and items. Above the table hung dried herbs and plants, along with several tangled crawler webs.

Minus the layers of dust and webs, this place looked like the owner had just stepped out for a quick dinner, then never returned.

My fingers trailed over the books as I walked over to the desk. I lowered myself onto the wooden stool, hoping it would hold my weight. It creaked but held firm.

I riffled through the stack of papers. It appeared to be endless lists of flowers, plants, and herbs.

Perhaps this was where the keeper of the garden had their office.

There were multiple drawers in the desk, so I pulled out the rectangular drawer first. Inside lay a leather notebook that seemed to be overflowing with loose pieces of parchment.

Pushing the drawer closed, I cleared off a space on top of the desk and slid the notebook on top.

A leather strip was wrapped around it, holding it together.

Once I unraveled it, the notebook exploded, papers flying all over the desk. Of course.

Rolling my eyes at my clumsiness, I gathered up the papers while glancing over their contents as I went. These looked like letters. Interesting .

Once all papers were collected in a stack, I started reading.

They were letters. No names, just the initials, L and S, penned at the top and the bottom of each letter. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, just conversations between two friends. Until it became something more. As I read, my pulse quickened.

Dear L,

I’m afraid our time has finally run out.

We’ve received word from our sources that he knows what we have been up to these past few months.

I know that we’re very close to finding a solution to our dynamis problem, but I fear we’re running out of time.

We’ve given it a good fight, and I’m confident that others will continue in our place, should anything happen to us both.

Please, protect yourself and your boys. Get out of that place while you can.

Someone has punctured a hole in our defenses, and information is leaking out. We will do everything in our power to snuff out any leads to Oria. Trust no one, L. Eyes are watching.

Once you’re all safely hidden, send a raven. May the light always guide you, and the gods surround you.

Until our paths cross again—S

The parchment slipped out of my trembling hands. Dynamis problem? Was there a problem with our dynamis, or was the problem with the discovery that it was rooted in our emotions instead of elements?

What was Oria? If I remembered the old language I’d read about once, the word could be translated to “gods’ light.” Was this a person, a euphemism, a place?

Intrigue pulled me back to the pieces of parchment littering the dusty desk. I began scanning once more, pulling out information that leapt out at me.

“…they’re disappearing at a rapid rate. We need to do something before it’s too late, L.”

Were they talking about Elysians…or humans?

“…we’ve noticed as well. It seems after each Ascension ceremony Elysians keep coming out with lesser dynamis.”

I’d always thought something wasn’t right.

“… he’s found a way to suppress dynamis.”

Gods. Sweat began to bead on my forehead.

“…we are moving groups of humans out, a few at a time. Your boys have been a tremendous help. We couldn’t have done any of this without them. Thank you for sending them our way. Thank the gods we started building so long ago.”

Boys? This was the second mention of them. What had these two been building?

“You’ve done it! I can’t believe we’ve finally figured out a cure.

Gods bless us that the first test was successful.

I would have never thought to use the gods’ tree.

I’m beginning to think you were right about there being a connection.

Please be careful and make a few more batches so we can test again.

This just might be it, L, we might finally be able to turn the tide. ”

My eyes wandered over the date penned in the corner of the last letter. This one had been sent just before the first one I’d read.

Someone had found a way to suppress our dynamis.

I’d always questioned why those who lived outside of the great cities of Ehora seemed to have lesser dynamis.

Even more puzzling was the fact that elders, those who had fled the cities, were also beginning to lose their strength as well.

It appeared, however, that these two mysterious rebels had figured out a way to solve that problem.

Something snapped inside of my brain with such force, I slapped my forehead.

Gods. How had I not pieced this together sooner? Will and I, that day of our Ascension, we’d come out of it with dynamis stronger than anyone had seen…especially from those living outside of the cities.

Had we been given something to unleash our powers, something to take away the suppression?