Chaos Descending

You Take My Breath Away

Chapter 18 -

I heard heavy footsteps coming down the long hall way — the kind of footsteps that could only be made by walking on an old wooden floor, the sound echoing eerily in the royal bedchamber — angry footsteps...

"Where's Chaos?" Thomas said.

"She's in the lavatory," Vycandor replied. "I'm afraid she's still not feeling well."

"We have to go, there's not much time," Thomas insisted.

"Did the King tell you the truth about Robert?"

"He did. That's why we have to go."

"I don't understand. Why would you put Chaos in danger?"

"Because the King knows about Jade," Thomas admitted, voice grave.

Vycandor gasped, sounding surprised. "You didn't tell him, did you?"

"Of course I didn't tell him. But he knows something's wrong. If Jade does not return in time for her celebration, I'm afraid there's going to be hell to pay."

I appeared in the doorway, attempting to act normal when I felt like absolute crap. "What celebration?"

"I almost forgot with everything that's happened," Vycandor replied without meeting my eyes. "We need to find her and bring her back."

Feeling more than a little wobbly, I moved to stand beside the bed — using one of the four huge pillars holding up the enormous canopy for support. "What celebration?"

It's hard to explain," Vycandor began.

"Try," I insisted.

"In order to become Queen of Maple Island, Jade must assume her father's authority and, even more importantly, the responsibility of serving as protector of the animal spirits."

"Meaning?" I still didn't get it.

"It means, Jade must become a Walker in order to undergo a specific rite of passage if she is to assume the throne."

I quirked an eyebrow. "How is she supposed to do that?"

"By going on a Spirit Walk where she will encounter her ancestors in order to gain their approval before she can rule. It is a necessary means to connect to the lineage of all of the animal's spirits who have come before her. Passing down of this authority from one ruler to the next is a richly textured series of supernatural spiritual ceremonies, which can endow the Walker with certain characteristics, including unyielding strength and infinite power. It is a necessary process for the legitimate transfer of title from father to daughter. From King to Queen." Vycandor looked pale. Well, paler than usual and genuinely scared for the first time. "If her ancestors do not accept her as supreme ruler, Jade will die."

I gasped in surprise. "But Jade is your Watcher. Your protector. She's physically linked to you."

"Not physically," Vycandor corrected. "I'm psychically linked to Jade. She is my Watcher and I am hers."

It was Thomas' turn to ask questions. "I must be missing something. What's a Watcher?"

I beat Vycandor to the answer, proud of myself. "They're spirit animals. Vycandor is a Siberian Tiger and Jade is a Black Panther."

Thomas stared at Vycandor in disbelief, trying not to laugh. "You, a Siberian Tiger?"

"Correction, I used to be a Siberian Tiger," Vycandor admitted. "I don't actually ever recall shifting. Although, I probably would have had I remained a Drinker like my mom."