Lesley: First off, you need to find the Kin bond within you. You have two bonds. Don’t mess with the other one–actually send your love for Jonah through it. You’ll know which one I mean when you find it.

  “I don’t–”

  Lesley: Time is wasting!

  “Fine!” I cried, sitting and concentrating. I sighed and took a deep breath, using meditation to center myself. I felt the tugging and brought two strings towards me. One was glowing gold, and the other a clear, bluish white like Mille’s eyes. I was curious to where the other led, but I wanted to have my convo with Mille too.

  I ran a hand down the gold thread and smiled when it hummed harder and slowly thrummed. I sent my lo-CARING through the gold thread that smelled like Jonah and home. Safety. Then I concentrated on the blue thread and sent some of Lesley’s power down it.

  “That tickles my brain, Young One,” came a distinct female voice that sounded as entrancing as Siren’s.

  Chammie?

  Yes, but I would rather go by Mille like my last owner called me. I know what you ask for and I agree. Here, let me bring in the others.

  A strange noise, unlike static, was heard, and then I heard a growly voice. “Mille, you sure about her?”

  I am, Grapan. She is the one I spoke of about liberating us.

  Another sleeker voice sounded. Well, if you're sure, then I am. We’ve been incarcerated far longer than you, Mille.

  A gruff voice tuned in. And the little ones need the help.

  Do you know how to bind yourself to others, Young One?

  No Mille, I’m still wondering how I bound myself to you!

  Lesley: That’s what I am here for. Tell them to bind themselves to you. Tell them you can make it temporary.

  Mille? Can Grapan and the others bind themselves to me? I can make it temporary.

  Yes, Grapan, Draconis, Emmeris? Can you bond with her? She says she can make it temporary.

  My destiny lies that way anyway. I, Grapandeena, bind myself to Myra, the savior of Sapherine.

  So does mine. I, Draconis, bind myself to Myra, the savior of Sapherine.

  Mine is yet to be decided, but I will follow. I, Emmeris, bind myself to Myra, one of the saviors of Sapherine.

  Lesley: Myra, I know you're hurting, but ya gotta rvm/nnnnnnepeat this. I, Myra, one of the saviors of Sapherine, bind myself to Grapandeena, Draconis, and Emmeris so long as they don’t have a true Kin bond with any other.

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  “I, Myra, one of the saviors of Sapherine, bind myself to Grapandeena, Draconis, and Emmeris, so long as they don’t have a true Kin bond with any other,” I gasped and managed to pant out between one breath and the next. The pressure lessened to a dull throb, and I felt my soul shudder and open for the three souls reluctantly. I shuddered along with it, feeling four different types of healing energy sent my way. I absorbed it and was instantly healed.

  Lesley: Good. Now send a message to them to meet you by the big cypress tree. You can now help Jonah with these bonds. Crush that woman!

  I nodded.

  Meet me by the big Cypress tree we gonna kick their collective butts.

  All: About time!

  All: Atta girl! Go get her!

  I stood and jumped from the shadows to the real world, waiting for the Kin Beasts to arrive. Four ball of lights landed and transformed. One was a bear horse hybrid with the body of a horse and the head and torso of a bear. One was a black Leopard, Coyote, and Hawk mix with giant black wings, fur, and talons for feet.

  The last was a lion, wolf, eagle, mix with massive white wings, a mane surrounding a bird face, a wolf body, and a lion tail. It was the closest thing I’d ever seen to a griffin. The last was the massive Mille, just as beautiful and majestic as before, being half elephant and half tiger. They were all massive beasts. The griffin bowed its head.

  I am Emmeris, and you shall ride on me, he said gruffly. I nodded and climbed on his back, holding onto his fur like hide.

  The bear/horse smiled, showing serrated teeth. I am Grapandeena.

  I glanced at the leopard hawk creature. I am, as you’ve deducted, Draconis. Dracon for short.

  Hang on. Looks like your mate is in trouble.

  “Let’s go!” I shouted and whooped as Emmeris and Dracon started flapping their wings, then zipped forward.

  “Whoa!” I cried as the scenery rushed passed. I zeroed in on Jonah fighting the woman with a round object in his grasp. He had the mirror, like he said he would.

  Emmeris, close in on the woman. I have a surprise for her.

  I concentrated on Ether again. “Benny! Let’s try again! Let's try for Crognag this time!”

  Benny: On it!

  Magenta bolts of power ripped into the metasphere, and slowly, a purple and gold space rift whirled a few feet behind the woman. I summoned more Ether to wrap her in a bubble of time and send her off-world to wherever. The portal opened. A giant tentacle burst through, and she screamed as a giant eye opened. Several tentacles stretched and dragged a few guards to its beak-like maul, which opened to show a purple tongue and long serrated teeth.

  The guards screeched as they were gobbled up. The woman screamed and tried to evade, but a tentacle wrapped around her foot and hoisted her up. It grabbed the screaming woman, and she vanished within. The others stood scared, before high-tailing it out of there. I sat astride Emmeris, shocked, but I had the mind to close the portal.

  I headed to where Jonah was.

  Jonah smirked, sighing and blocking one last guard’s attempt to steal command. “As if,” he muttered, stabbing him. “Only one commanding anyone is up there. I forgot I barely have to do a thing with your powers back.”

  “Oy! Those people were eaten by a monster! You could’ve done that!” I said as Emmeris flew down. Dracon followed, breathing fire at the remaining guards who were hightailing it. Jonah slipped his arms around me and hauled me from Emmeris’s back, spinning me and laughing.

  “Jonah! We aren’t done yet!” I huffed as he set me down on the ground.

  “Nearly done,” he said, grinning, showing the mirror to me. “Won’t be needing this anymore, though I am keeping it. Don’t want it in council hands.”

  “Nope,” I sighed, coming to pet Emmeris on his crest.

  Thank you

  No problem, Young One. Remember the others.

  On it!

  We walked towards a huge mine guarded by Morgans. I glowed white and let it spread, searching out all the Morgans within the area.

  The three monsters reverted to slaves, and inside the cave, there were children of all ages, mining. They all looked sick with pale skin and malnourished bodies. And they stank. The cave stank of filth and sweat and iron and Saphron, a thickly sweet scent like syrup or sugar cane as it was melted.

  A small cherub child with curly blonde hair and green eyes walked to us.

  “Are you the new guards?” they asked shyly.

  I bent to her level and smiled. “No. I’ve been sent by the gods to free you.”

  “Truly?”

  “Yes.”

  There was a murmuring within the cave, and a bigger child approached with jaded grey eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

  More murmuring.

  “Believe what you want, Pinto, but she is here to free you and others,” came Noali’s voice from the dark corner. She appeared wearing her usual attire plus a purple cape.

  “It’s the witch!” came the voices as more children appeared.

  The Oracle!” cried others.

  Soon, the cave was alight with voices arguing.