Chapter 1 Somber Ritual
JULY 12
THE ONCE VIBRANT WATERS of Samodivi Lake appeared to weep as a gentle breeze disturbed the still surface and sprayed its golden droplets over Diva like a shroud. She lay beneath a weeping willow that stretched toward the water’s edge. A bed of the tree’s slender branches, entwined with colorful flowers, enfolded her lifeless body like a mother’s tender embrace.
In death, Diva’s pale face resembled marble. A basil wreath encircled her wild curls, which had been braided to form a crown, acknowledging her newly discovered status of princess. Someone had thoughtfully clothed her in a clean, white robe, without any embellishments, replacing the blood-soaked garment, as if to erase the reminder of the battle they’d all only recently fought. However, Theo couldn’t forget watching in horror as Lamia swung her sword-sharp tail and stabbed Diva in the chest. The girl he had come to know and love now looked like a frightened, fragile child, not the strong, brave warrior she had been.
With his shirt sleeve, Theo wiped away a tear that trickled down his cheek. He had changed out of his own bloody, battle-torn clothing to pay his last respects to the sister he had found and lost in the same moment. If only they had had time to embrace the fact they were family.
Theo wasn’t the only one who mourned Diva’s loss. At his side, his father gulped in air, and Theo tore his eyes away from Diva’s face as Zmey stumbled toward the daughter he had never known he had, until it was too late. Pavel, as well as Diva’s sisters, Sava and Ula, stepped aside to make room for the king of Zmeykovo to kneel at his child’s side.
Zmey held Diva’s hands. His voice cracked as he spoke. “My daughter. Zunitza, our lovely daughter. How could my sister do this to her? And your sister … Magda. Such betrayal. We showed them only love. The apple … the robe … could have revived our beautiful child. Now it’s too late. She’s gone to join you.”
Theo clenched his hands into fists. The Golden Apple had the power to restore Diva’s life. Now, it was missing. It had to have been Magda who stole it. She must have removed Zmey’s key when he was sleeping—or when she’d intentionally made him unconscious. After Theo and his father had discovered the empty box where the apple had been, Zmey had raced to his bedroom and thrown open the cupboard where he kept Zunitza’s wedding ensemble. Her robe and belt held Samodivi healing powers. But those items had disappeared. Magda had even taken Zunitza’s wedding dress. His aunt had taken everything that could have restored Diva’s lifeforce. Theo berated himself for returning the belt to the cupboard. He’d thought for certain Magda wouldn’t dare touch it again, after pretending that Diva had stolen it the first time.
Blinking away tears, he glanced at the others who stood on the shore. The Samodivi had gathered around the magnificent weeping willow. Near the women, Jega with his Kukeri brothers stood tall, their spears thrust into the ground. The men wore ceremonial attire made from animal pelts, and heavy bells girded the men’s waists. The Kukeri, too, had suffered the loss of one brother recently, while the eldest remained in hiding to keep the book of secrets hidden from Lamia. The men even believed that their father had perished. Theo knew the truth, but he’d sworn he wouldn’t betray Jabalaka’s secret, in order to keep the man safe.
Other friends huddled around, as well. Sitara and Drakus were both victims of Lamia’s wrath and were desirous of revenge. Even the witch Baba Yaga had arrived in her broken-down Chutura, with the chicken-like being Kikimora at her side. Sur, Diva’s deer companion, had brought his entire herd, and they formed a protective circle around the mourners. The energy in the globes between the antlers of the six-winged deer sparked purple with hues of yellow, displaying both their anger and sorrow.
In the water, the green-haired Rusalki had gathered. Garments of finely woven silver nets shimmered throughout the water for as far as Theo could see. The Rusalki’s ghastly queen, Vodna, floated in front of the group. Her eight tentacles, embedded with emeralds, dipped in and out of the water, as if she were impatient to be away. With his dragon hearing, Theo listened to the gems rattling, and he shivered, remembering his encounter with her. He still regretted having to give her a kaval that had belonged to Zunitza, even though he’d learned that it had only been a temporary gift for his mother. His Rusalka friend, Ruslana, and her sister, Dimana, floated on either side of the Queen of the Water Kingdom.
A flutter of wings drew Theo’s attention back to Diva. The magpie Boo hopped close to his fallen friend and laid a single white blossom over her heart. Smil, the magical, healing flower that grew only in Zmeykovo. It was the harvesting of this flower that had originally brought Boo to Zmeykovo, back when he was only a fledgling. Now, the magpie had become the Samodivi’s trusted messenger.
“Zmey.” Sava, the eldest of Diva’s sisters, addressed her king. “All may not be lost.”
The dragon king squeezed Diva’s lifeless hand and placed it over his heart before standing. A spark of hope lit his mournful eyes.
“We know of a sacred ritual to revive the spirit.” Sava looked down at Diva, and then back to Zmey. “Even now, I can feel my sister’s presence hovering around her body. However, we mustn’t delay, for her essence weakens even as we speak.”
Zmey clasped the nymph’s hands. “Do what you must. Please bring my daughter back.”
“We’ll do our best.” Sava bowed her head, and then raised her voice to those gathered. “It is time. Gather closer.”
Beneath the sliver of a moon, the Samodivi drew near. Their bare feet barely seemed to touch the sand as they formed three circles around Diva and the willow. Behind them, Sitara and Drakus joined the Kukeri to create another circle.
Pavel reclaimed his seat beside Diva, and Theo glanced at his father, who nodded. Theo sat at his sister’s other side, while Zmey took his place by Diva’s feet. Theo and Pavel each took one of Diva’s hands. Boo nudged Theo, as if wanting to offer comfort, but the magpie remained silent. Grateful for Boo’s presence, Theo stroked the bird’s feathers with his free hand.
Golden droplets from Samodivi Lake continued to sprinkle those gathered. Theo squeezed his eyes close for a brief moment, thinking about how Diva had once administered the lake’s water to heal forest animals. Would the life-giving liquid now achieve the same benefit for her? Could it bring her back from death with the assistance of the Samodivi ritual?
So much about the magical land of Zmeykovo remained a mystery. This ritual would have been something Diva would have explained to him if she hadn’t been unresponsive and at death’s door. He tightened his grip on her cold hand as thoughts of the many things she’d taught him about her homeland raced through his mind. Only a little more than a year ago, she’d befriended him and assisted with his quest to save his human sister, Nia. Back then, when he’d landed for the first time in this strange, mystical land, he’d been a scrawny boy, unsure of himself.
Pleading with his eyes, he begged Sava in his mind. “Please, let this work. Bring back my friend, my sister.”
A hush fell over the shoreline as Sava raised her arms toward the moon. The breeze stilled, and the lake calmed, ceasing to scatter its golden dew. Within the surrounding forest, animals halted their nocturnal scampering. Not a twig cracked. Not a bush rustled. Not a creature made a sound. Glowing pairs of eyes blinked amid the trees. Waiting. Listening. Watching.
A chill swept over Theo, certain he’d felt fingertips grasping his shoulder. Across from him, Pavel shivered. He raised red-rimmed eyes toward Theo. “Did you feel that?”
Theo gave his best friend a small nod. Ever since Theo had entered Pavel’s mind to save him from the song of Sirin, one of the birds of paradise, the two boys had been able to communicate with their thoughts, the way Theo and Diva talked to one another.
“Was that you, Diva?” Theo sent the question to her.
His heart sank. No affirmation or words of encouragement penetrated his mind. Was Diva’s spirit truly hovering the way Sava had claimed?
Theo lifted his head to see what Sava was doing. The Samodiva swayed slightly as she continued to hold her hands aloft. Then she began to hum. Low at first, the melody sent vibrations through Theo’s body. As the tune intensified, the air thickened, becoming heavy with a hazy golden moisture, as if Sava was pulling the lake water toward her. She glided her hands through the air, and the mist swirled, undulating like a snake. Long tendrils twisted around each other over Diva like a hypnotic circle, growing smaller as they reached toward infinity.
Sava added words to her song, the melody reaching into Theo’s soul. “Bendis, Goddess of the Moon, hear our melancholy tune. Look down upon our sorrow. Come to us before the morrow. We beseech your aid. Let not our beloved fade.”
One at a time, the other Samodivi joined their voices with Sava’s. The Kukeri began to dance in place. It wasn’t the frenetic dance filled with hopping and flailing limbs that they performed to chase away evil, but rather the movements were slow and mellow. Bells around the men’s waists banged against each other, a low clanging, adding a muted background to the nymphs’ melodious voices. In the water, the enchanting, hypnotizing voices of the Rusalki intensified to mix with the other sounds.
The moon rose higher, growing fuller as it ascended. Twinkling stars brightened as they danced across the heavens.
The Samodivi joined hands and performed a slow horo, a circular dance, around Diva and the willow. Each circle of participants moved in the opposite direction to the one in front of it. The tree’s branches joined in and rustled and swayed in time to the nymphs’ fluid, graceful movements.
On the ground, the golden mist spread out and gently covered Diva. Electrical pinpricks crept up Theo’s fingers where he held her hand. When he looked toward Pavel, his friend nodded, acknowledging he’d experienced the same feeling. Boo squeezed himself closer to both Diva and Theo, as if being ready to protect his friends. Zmey, meanwhile, stood immobile, his hands clasped in front, as he continued to gaze at his daughter’s pale face.
When the moon was nearly full, the Samodivi’s dance sped up, and their voices rang louder. The Kukeri’s movements became more chaotic, their bells swinging and clanging, this time loud enough to chase away any evil intruder. The lake churned with the tumultuous activity of the Rusalki. Even the willow branches thrashed about, and the leaves twisted and turned as if disturbed by a whirlwind. Within the forest, creatures growled, hissed, and squealed. The animals’ glowing eyes flashed from one location to another, barely remaining still.
Boo pressed even closer to Theo, who gripped Diva’s hand harder, not knowing if she’d somehow float away toward the moon. Across from him, Pavel had grabbed hold of Diva with both hands. His mouth was pressed into a tight line, his face had reddened, and his brow was creased. Zmey, too, appeared anxious, as he twisted his hands.
The dancing became a whir. The nymphs’ and Rusalki’s voices merged into a melodic, hypnotic hum, like a swarm of bees. Theo’s heart raced with the commotion. The ritual appeared to be reaching its peak as the moon became full.
When the moon’s light brightened the sky, all dancing and chanting ceased at once, as if choreographed. Each Samodiva thrust her hands skyward with the last ring of the bells. The women lifted their faces, their lips silently moving, as if communing with the spirit of the moon.
Sava raised her hands and face along with the others and shouted once more, “Bendis, Goddess of the Moon, hear our melancholy tune. Look down upon our sorrow. Come to us before the morrow. We beseech your aid. Let not our beloved fade.”
A beam of moonlight shot down, engulfing the willow with a silver glow. Branches rustled, and leaves dropped one by one. Each turned into a white butterfly that surrounded Diva like a tight cocoon. Specs of the golden mist peeked through as the insects hovered above their charge.
Now silent, the Samodivi and Kukeri tightened their circles around Diva, while the Rusalki gathered close to the shore. Nocturnal and daytime creatures swarmed from the forest, wending their way to the gathering, where they mingled among the Samodivi and Kukeri. Birds flew above, chirping, peeping, cawing, and hooting. Grunts, growls, hisses, and other sounds came from beasts, some of which Theo had never seen before.
Above them, the wind rustled, and the creatures ceased their noises as one.
Theo glanced toward the canopy of the starlit sky. Two pure white winged deer with shimmering, ethereal wings pulled a silver carriage. Intricate designs of serpents made from sapphires adorned the vehicle. Inside, two priestesses, dressed in flowing white robes, flanked the goddess Bendis. Her image glowed like the moon she ruled.
As she passed overhead, the goddess scattered sparkling silver dust. It swirled in circles, speckling the butterflies. They shook their wings, sprinkling the dust over every part of Diva. Silver sparkled within the golden mist.
Theo held his breath as the mist began to dissipate. “Diva, come back to us,” he thought to her.
Silence reigned on the beach and throughout the forest. Theo couldn’t hear anyone breathing, not even with his dragon senses, as everyone waited for a sign of life from Diva. Her pale face remained translucent, and the hand Theo held had warmed only because of his tight grip.
Sniffling, Pavel gently tapped Diva on the cheek. “Come on. Wake up. We need you.”
A moment later, Zmey dropped to his knees next to Theo. “My daughter, please return to us.” The dragon king kissed Diva on the forehead and stroked his fingers over her braids.
Diva’s sisters murmured chants, reaching up once again to the now vacant sky, pleading toward the moon for Diva’s protection and cure. The magpie Boo laid his head against his fallen friend’s side. Jega, Sitara, and Drakus had somehow made their way through the crowded space, and they, too, lowered themselves to the sand around Diva. Theo’s friends all placed their hands on the unmoving girl as if infusing their own magical powers into her.
Everyone was pressed so close Theo almost missed it. A soft thump. He drew in a quick breath, wondering if it had come from one of the animals or his friends who surrounded Diva. He shook his head to clear his mind and focused all his dragon senses on Diva, blocking out everyone else.
He waited. One. Two. Three. Thump. A heartbeat. Still soft. Still weak. But a sign of returning life.
Zmey must have heard it, too, because he rose. Everyone quieted when he cleared his throat.
“Diva.” His voice cracked. “My daughter … The ritual has merged her spirit with her body.”
“Yay, Diva.” Pavel wrapped his arms around her. A weak smile lit his exhausted face.
“The power of the moon was not enough to restore her fully,” Zmey continued. “The Golden Apple is the only certain cure.”
“What about Mom’s robe and belt?” Theo asked. “You said they have healing power.”
Zmey nodded. “They do. A Samodiva’s clothing, especially that of the queen, is quite powerful. However, if the Moon Goddess Ritual couldn’t completely revive Diva, it’s unlikely your mother’s robe will have enough power either.”
Jega rose and bowed to Zmey. “My brothers and I will assist you in retrieving the Golden Apple in any way you require.”
“As will I and the Samodivi,” Sava added.
The Rusalki remained quiet and silently slipped away, back to their underwater world. Just like before. Theo recalled how their beach had remained untouched during Lamia’s rampage through Zmeykovo. Whether they had some hidden agreement with the beastly dragon, or whether they preferred to remain neutral, he wasn’t certain. At least they had attended the ritual and provided Diva what support they could.
“I need …” Zmey looked at his unresponsive daughter. “I need someone to care for Diva.”
Ula stepped forward. “I shall stay with her. I’ll take her back to her room in our fortress.”
“Thank you.” Zmey lowered his head to Ula. “My daughter couldn’t ask for anyone with a kinder heart.”
Theo was torn. He wanted to go with his father, but he didn’t want to leave Diva. Pavel hadn’t spoken, but, of course, he would remain with their friend, so Theo made up his mind. He could do both.
“Father, I will accompany Ula. I can be her eyes and ears until we get to the fortress. When everything’s settled there, I’ll return to the castle to help with battle preparations.”
Zmey nodded. “Well spoken, my son. Guard them well.”
In moments, the area had cleared of warriors and forest animals alike, leaving Theo, Pavel, Ula, and Diva alone. Boo had remained as well. Sur, Shar, Whirl, and Ula’s deer stood by, ready to transport everyone back to the fortress. As Ula mounted her deer, she cradled Diva in her arms.
“You ready, Pavel?” Theo asked.
His friend nodded and climbed onto Whirl, stroking the animal’s neck. “Let’s bring Diva home.”
Theo wrapped his arms around Shar, feeling the comfort of the deer’s beating heart. Soon, he hoped, Diva’s would beat as strongly. He mounted the deer, and took one last look around, wanting to ensure no dangers lurked to follow them. As he scanned the forest, he stopped and stared at a gap between two towering oaks.
There stood a creature no higher than a tree stump. He resembled a man, but with branches and leaves sticking out all over him. The being’s green glowing eyes stared at Theo before it disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
