Curseborn Saga - Fade to Black Page A

windows, just random notches, and Remi felt that if a skilled Sorian were to try and climb it, one might actually succeed – had they absolutely no fear of heights at all. High upon its sides, colossal black chains connected the tower before them to the central one, as if forever shackling itself to the side of its master. She shivered at the thought of walking upon the eerie chains, a thousand feet off the ground, and wondered if it had ever been done.
    Why they would summon us to the Valyti ? Remi thought. She had heard rumors of the Valyti many times. It was a magical place, and a place of bloodshed, a place where great duels and battles had taken place. She imagined a dark prison with terrifyingly huge warriors wielding blood-splattered axes, glaring at her with gleaming eyes. She wanted more than anything to know the reason they were being summoned. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t come to a conclusion that wasn’t negative. It was practically the same as being summoned to meet with the Empress. Well, maybe not quite that extravagant ,she thought . Nonetheless, the call seemed to have come out of nowhere. Surely, neither Maile nor Baelie’s actions could have brought forth such an occurrence.
    The warmth of daylight blanketed them as they stood upon the grass, gazing about in different directions.
    “Um …” began Remi, “there’s no door.”
    Baelie pushed her way past. “Duh, Remi, they can fly.”
    Maile’s eyes widened. “They can?”
    Baelie beamed. “Oh yeah.”
    “Oh great,” said Remi. “They think we can fly too?” She placed her hands on her hips.
    The three pondered silently. And then suddenly, as if the tower had heard their curious thoughts, the ground began to shake around their feet.
    Maile screamed and Remi grabbed her hand. “What’s happening!?” shrieked Remi. Great tremors rippled past them like the intense shaking of a volcanic eruption. Remi heard the clank of armor as Baelie fell onto her behind, and then, there before them like the parting of a sea, the ground creaked and split, revealing a narrow dark path that led downwards into the earth and toward the tower. Then all was silent. Puffs of dirt floated on the wind as the girls regained their balance and Remi fixed her hair.

    “I can’t believe we’re entering Lady Scylla the Valiant’s tower!” exclaimed Baelie.
    Remi stared at her sister. “The ground just opened up to us as if it heard and answered our thoughts and that’s what you’re thinking about?! And you don’t have to say her entire title every time you speak her name, it’s weird.”
    “You’re weirder,” said Baelie. “And I’m going to tell Lady Scylla the Valiant you said that.”
    Remi glared at her sister before turning to look at Maile. The poor girl was clearly bewildered and terror-struck.
    “It’s ok, Maile,” Remi said. “I’m sure this is normal… .” She wasn’t even sure if she believed her own words.
    Maile glanced up at her with panic-stricken eyes and nodded. “But what if they’re monsters in there?” Her words were shaky and she soon noticed her older sister wasn’t paying attention at all. In fact, Remi was watching a shredded piece of her book that had fallen out of her pocket flutter through the air.
    “Remi …?” whispered Maile.
    Remi snapped back to reality. She was still angry that her favorite book had been diced into tiny little pieces. “I’m here, Maile. Don’t worry. I’m sure they wouldn’t tell us to come if there were monsters. The Empress would be most displeased.”
    Maile took one look into the dark thin crevice they were to walk down into and stood there, shaking her head. “I wish they didn’t have such a scary entrance … maybe there is another way?” She looked around with little hope, trying to find a way inside. High above, what seemed like an entrance caught her eyes. But the spiraling stairs that led toward it did not start at the ground level, and what little hope she