Descending deeper into the black market, Archer was practically fused to Bren’s side. They both kept their hoods up, Bren’s hands hidden under his cloak. His pulse was racing as he weaved through other mysterious figures, no one making eye-contact. No one was a friend here, everyone careful and vying for themselves. 

The further down Bren led Archer, the more tense they both became. Bren could feel his muscles quivering with stress, Archer’s fingers biting into his upper arm where he clung to him. It was nerve-wracking getting further and further away from the surface, their only exit slowly disappearing from view as they spiraled downward between stalls and small hollows in the stone. There was a pit in the center of the staircase; a straight drop down to the bottom of the cave where a pool of blue light rippled listlessly. 

After what felt like endless searching, the two of them nearing the basin of the cavern, Bren was beginning to lose hope. Though they’d passed vessels higher up, Bren could feel how cheap they were; objects that had little magic and would be depleted after only a few uses, like his coin. They needed something stronger. 

Finally, after what seemed like far too long a time, Bren stopped, turning toward a display that glinted in the lamp light. These vessels were carefully arranged and guarded by magic, some contained in shimmering, domed barriers, just like the city above them. Standing this close, he could feel the power and magic coming off of them, like a magnet pulling his hand closer to reach out and make contact. 

Resisting the intrusive thoughts and instinctive urges, Bren looked up through the shadows of his hood and stared at the merchant, assessing her. She was older, with short gray hair and thick muscles straining her common clothing. She wore sturdy leather gloves, hands on her hips as she raised a brow at Bren and said, “Gonna buy somethin’? If not, keep walkin’.”

Bren didn’t move, though he could feel his brother’s hand squeeze him in nervous warning. Staying calm, Bren murmured, “I’m looking for something… Better than what you have displayed.”

Her interest seemed piqued as she moved her hands from her hips and crossed them over her large chest instead. “Is that so?” She glanced at Archer for a moment, then around at the other patrons near the surrounding stalls as if she were trying to assess if this was some trick or ploy. Luckily for her, Archer had ensured their intentions were genuine.  

She leaned in closer toward Bren, asking in a hush, “How powerful are we talkin’ here? Ya know it will cost you a pretty penny.”

Bren nudged Archer, muttering quietly, “Show her what we have to offer.”

Archer let out a shaky breath, Bren praying his brother’s hand wouldn’t tremble as he reached into his pocket and held out the diamond cufflinks at a distance. He kept them protectively close to his chest as if she might try to snatch them out of his hand. 

She took out a jeweler’s loupe, beckoning him closer as she said, “Just pass me one. I need to make sure yer not tryin’ to swindle me.”

With a nod from Bren, Archer placed a diamond in her hand, the brothers both watching her inspect the cut gem. After a moment she nodded, saying, “Don’t see many of these around here. An interestin’ find you boys have.” She pocketed the diamond, Bren’s pulse jumping as Archer snarled, but both were silenced as the woman raised her hand and said, “I’m not tryin’ to swindle ya either. Just makin’ sure I have a bit of insurance before forkin’ over my best item of the day.” She grinned, giving Bren a wink as she whispered, “I think you’ll want to see this one.”  

Bren and Archer remained silent as they watched the woman disappear behind a curtain in the back of the small cavern, only to return with something glinting in her hand. On an intricate chain was a blue jewel, bright and iridescent in its silver setting. In the cool light that bathed over the pendant, Bren could see it flash with different colors, small particles shedding off of it as if there was too much magic for the pendant to contain.   

Almost transfixed by the vessel, Bren could feel the magic in his blood itch under his skin. Even from such a distance, he could feel the power radiating off of it, others stopping along the path to look at the glistening, icy jewel; the same color as Bren’s eyes. 

She brought it closer, so close Bren could almost take it, but not quite; his fingers twitched beneath his cloak, longing to grab it and feel the incandescence fill his tainted veins. He didn’t dare reach for it, not wanting to expose his hands…but he wanted it, desperately.

“That…should do,” Bren murmured, stepping closer to the stall. He beckoned for Archer to hand over the other diamond. 

Archer hesitated for a moment before he held out the clear gem in offering, his opposite hand reaching for the pendant as if to make the trade in unison. 

They were too trusting.

The woman seized the diamond out of Archer’s waiting palm before he could close his fist around it. She snatched the vessel back, tittering as she murmured, “Not so fast.”

Bren’s heart sank in his chest, his throat filled with acid. He gave Archer a scathing glance, letting out a huff as he tried not to let his anger and irritation show. Instead, he turned back toward the woman. “I thought we had a deal?” Bren asked cooly, attempting not to snap the words. He still wanted that vessel, and as he registered all the curious patrons surrounding the stall, the quicker he got his hands on it, the better.  

The merchant narrowed her eyes at Bren, looking him over before her gaze moved to Archer, doing the same. “You boys have a lot of gold and finery on you. Give me the rest of what you carry…and I’ll give you the vessel.”  

Anger coiled in Brennon’s stomach, his long fingers curling into fists under his cloak as he narrowed his eyes at the woman. “This is hardly a way to do business. You robbed us once, how do we know you won’t just take our possessions and keep the vessel?” He was itching to grab the pendant, wondering if he could close the distance and take it… But, even if he did manage to snatch it, getting out of such a crowd would be unlikely.   

The woman grinned, her expression sly and cunning as she answered, “I suppose yer just gonna have ta take that risk, huh?”

Before Bren could instruct Archer to remove his gold and accessories, Archer had already leapt into motion. There were gasps from the crowd as a gold glow radiated not just from Archer’s hands but all of him. Stepping up onto the ledge, he jumped the stall, tackling the woman to the ground. 

The crowd drew in closer, bumping Bren as they neared the stall to seize the opportunity in the chaos. Bren’s eyes were wide as he tried to shove his way around the stall to get to Archer. He could feel his palms burn as he readied his magic, prepared to activate it even without a vessel.

He was taken aback when Archer appeared from the ground, the merchant screaming something after him from where she crouched behind him, but it didn’t matter… Clamoring back over the ledge, Archer stood there, triumphant, and holding the incandescent pendant in his hand. 

Stunned and at a loss for words, Bren saw other cloaked figures reach out for the pendant, desperate to steal it for themselves. As if there were a forcefield of light around Archer, no hand could touch him, each greedy struggle for the pendant met with some form of invisible barricade, like Bren’s shield. 

It didn’t stay that way for long.  

Archer’s Manos light shedded off of him like waves of glittering dust, shaping into massive gilded wings. It lit the whole cavern with golden rays, Archer looking more angelic than Bren had ever seen him. 

Jaw practically on the floor as he scanned over his brother, there was no time for Bren to comment or question. Archer reached his hand out for Bren, grabbing him tightly. Bren was pulled closer, his brother’s strong arms wrapping around him. 

“Hold on,” Archer shouted over the tangle of harsh voices before his massive wings of magic unfolded to their full span and beat a gust of wind rushing through the cavern. 

They shot straight up like an arrow through the center of the spiraling staircase, each beat of Archer’s wings taking them higher. The speed of their flight was impossibly fast, the wind blasting back Bren’s hood and sending his dark hair into turbulent tresses.  

Though Bren thought they’d stop their flight as they reached the entrance of the cavern and run the rest of the way on foot, he was mistaken. Archer kept going, higher toward the crystals hanging from the cavern ceiling. “Brennon! Take the vessel!” Archer called over the rush of cold wind, his voice echoing off of the stone and quartz. 

Fumbling in Archer’s vice around him, Bren grasped the pendant that was still clutched tight in Archer’s fist. The cold chill shuddered through his veins as he felt the surge of power fill him to the marrow of his bones. Without needing instructions from Archer, Bren thrust his monstrous hand outward toward the ceiling, lightning manifesting around his arm as it struck the crystals above them in a shattering, thunderous blast.  

Huge cracks formed in the ceiling of the cave, massive spikes of rock and shards of minerals falling past them in near slow-motion. Archer grunted, shouting as he swerved to miss the falling debris, powerful wingbeats pushing them farther. 

There was an opening; the very ground above crumbling before large chunks plunged into the vast pit below. 

They soared up out of the ground and into the night, the light of Archer’s magic creating rippling waves of luster across the narrow, rundown streets and buildings of the outskirts. Though Bren looked down at the rugged gap in the earth, wondering about the people in the black market below, his pounding heart had no room for hesitance or sorrow. Their fates were their own. 

Archer glided over the rooftops, almost touching the thin clouds as he headed away from the city core and even past the outskirts. 

Bren dug his claws into Archer’s arm, his pulse hammering in his chest and skull. “Archer…we’re almost at the barrier.”

Below them the buildings grew sparse, thick wooded areas replacing the winding streets. 

Archer didn’t stop.

Panic seized Bren as he craned his neck to look up at Archer. His brother’s eyes were a hot, glowing white as if he were in a trance…like the Umbra at their manor. 

“Archer! Stop!” Bren shouted louder, harder. 

It did nothing, Archer still soaring straight toward the domed wall of magic that surrounded the city.  

Out of options and with no way to guide them to a slow and steady halt, Bren clutched the pendant tighter in his fist. He squeezed his eyes shut as he threw out his hand, forming a shield around them. Each muscle in his body tightened, his teeth gritted as he prepared for impact. 

They hit the barrier at full force, stopping dead in the air as there was a shower of sparks and fragmented shocks of lightning. Bren let out a cry of anguish as he felt the shield around them crack from the force of the collision, the blow shuddering through his nerves. 

Desperate to hold their last line of protection up around them, Bren watched as they tipped back…with nothing to stop them as they plummeted toward the earth.