Myth's Friend (Book 3 of Seven Series)

Chapter 14- Eira's POV

"Hello," Laura said when we reached the doors of the house with a soft smile on her face. She bowed her head and cleared her throat while she lifted her head and looked at Zanaya, clearing her throat. "I am Laura. You must be the new Holder." She held her hand out so that Zanaya could shake her hand.

Zanaya hesitated before she slowly nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line. "I am," she confirmed before she cleared her throat and shifted on her feet, becoming very nervous while she looked at me before she looked at her. "I am Zanaya."

Zanaya looked at Laura's hand before she looked at me. Her eyes were wide and filled with worry and nervousness, and I had a feeling that she didn't know if she should shake Laura's hand or not.

Laura bit back a small chuckle and let her hand fall to her side, not phased at all. "It's nice to meet you, as well, Dear," she said before she looked at me. "Are you ready to take her to Katie?" she asked, changing the subject, and I nodded in confirmation.

"Can you make sure that we have food ready for after our return, please?" I asked. "And make sure that David doesn't place the box on the top shelf again." I flashed David a small smirk and a wink when he rolled his eyes and cleared his throat.

Laura bit back a small chuckle and slowly nodded. "Of course," she said and opened the front door before she cleared her throat and grew serious. "I already placed the box on the table in the dining room. All you have to do is open the lid and whatnot to get there."

I nodded and pressed my lips into a thin line, not liking the thought of the box being out in the open like that without anyone to tend to it.

David cleared his throat, and I looked at him with something in my eyes that had him bowing his head, and submitting. "This will be our last time leaving the box unattended, Your Highness," he said softly and glanced at Laura before he looked at me again, "even though nothing will happen to the box if left unattended."

I wrinkled my nose and pursed my lips in annoyance while I shook my head. "But you don't know that, David," I said and walked into the house with Zanaya following me close behind and Daniel after us. "Something could still happen to it."

"She's right," Ralph said, and we looked at him. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, sheepishly. "Something could still happen to the box even if it is in a safe place like this. There's only two of us left that need to be collected."

"After we finish with Zanaya, and that won't be until the near future," I said. I bit back a small sigh and moved a hand across my face and through my hair with a small shake of my head. "I am afraid that Yervon will be a lot harder to get into than the other realms."

"And you two are not doing it alone," David said with a small scowl on his face. He narrowed his eyes and stared at me with a warning look on his face, and I had to hold back an eye roll as well as an annoyed sigh.

"Unfortunately, that is not up to you or I to decide," I said with a small shake of my head. I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. "If the Gods and Goddesses "say" or "suggest" that we do this alone, then we do this alone."

"Then what do we do?" Daniel asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "I hope you aren't suggesting that we sit and wait."

I shook my head no. "I am going to need you and Ralph to watch the borders while we are doing this," I said. "I am going to need you to talk to Arzon and see if there is anything that we are missing."

I hesitated before I cleared my throat and licked my lips. "I also need you to make sure that there are not any more Brïthirs here."

Ralph and Daniel looked at each other and stayed silent. They grew tense, and I could tell that they did not like the idea but understood why I wanted them to do that.

"And what did you want us to do?" David asked, and I looked at him while I raised an eyebrow in question.

"I don't know," I said while I shrugged and grimaced. "Watch?"

Laura coughed to cover a snort while David scowled and narrowed his eyes. She grinned but didn't say a word while he looked at her and then back at me.

David bit back an annoyed sigh and shook his head, silently relenting. "Then be careful, all of you," he said, looking at each one of us before he looked at me. "I am sure that you will not be able to ask for help from us, but please, do if you need it."

I bit back a small smile and slowly nodded. "Even if I wasn't able to do it, I would have asked for your help, David," I said.

We entered the dining room, and Zanya took a deep, shuddering breath when she saw the box on the table.

I gave her a weird look, growing very concerned for the female. "Are you ok?" I asked, my voice filled with concern while I stared at her.

Zanya hesitated before she slowly nodded, not looking at me. "I've seen this before," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, and walked over to the box with a confused look on her face, "in many dreams."

She hesitated but reached out to touch it before she instantly pulled her hand away with a small gasp.

I walked over to her side and stopped at her shoulder. "You can touch it, if you want, Zanaya," I said gently. "Nothing is going to happen to you if you do."

"Bu- Oomph." Ralph grimaced and glared at Daniel but didn't say a word. He held back eye roll before he looked at us and watched me shake my head at him, silently telling him to shut up.

Zanaya hesitated and took a step back while she clutched her hand to her chest. "But what?" she asked and looked between the three of us through narrowed eyes with a small scowl on her face. "What is going on? What was he going to say?" She looked at me when she asked that.

I bit back an annoyed sigh and shook my head. "It's nothing bad, Zanaya," I replied before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. "He just wanted to let me know that you might be transported into the box, but that won't happen unless it is opened." I gave Ralph a pointed look before I looked at Zanaya with a small smile on my face. "And right now, it isn't open, so it can't transport you anywhere."

Zanaya furrowed her brows and slowly nodded before she turned her attention back to the box. "Can I open it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She took another step toward the table and was practically leaning against it while she looked at the box that seemed to be calling her name.

"You can," I confirmed and nodded. "That is up to you, Zanaya."

She furrowed her brows further and slowly nodded before she reached out and touched the box, not pulling away like I thought she would. "After I do, and we are done with this... can I inspect the box..?"

"Yes," I confirmed and nodded before I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I stared at her. "Why?"

Zanaya shook her head and didn't respond. She moved her hand to the lid and placed her other hand on it but didn't open it.

Instead, she looked at me with wide eyes filled with fear and hope, and I had a feeling that she was still wondering if she could open it herself and not have one of us do it.

"Go ahead," I said and nodded, silently urging her to do it while I bit back a small chuckle. "Go ahead and open it up and then touch the glowy circle thing that will appear after you do so. Once you do and open your eyes, you will be transported into the box and in another dimension."

"With you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper while she furrowed her brows and cocked her head, studying me.

I nodded in confirmation with a small smile on my face. "You will see me in the box as well," I promised.

Zanaya nodded and bit the inside of her lip before she turned her attention back to the box.

She took a deep, shuddering breath before she did what she was told to do and...

...opened the box.