"What do you mean?" I asked, the wind swaying between the trees. It felt eerie, too familiar. "You know why Merle needs the blood of the kings, right?" Wren spat surprised. I shook my head, looking at Luca. He blinked wide eyed, I didn't think he knew either. Wren put his head in his hands.

"Seriously? You've been chasing that bird wizard and you don't know what he's up to?" He scolded. I rolled my eyes, "Well we didn't have much time to think about it." I bit back.

Luca leaned forward, "Why does he need the blood of four kings." Worry creeped over his face. Wren tilted his head back, "You saw it back in Discord, his transformation. I don't know the specifics of the spell he used but I know it had a lot of bird blood. Everytime he taps into it, morphs him, changes him."

"Ya we noticed." I huffed. Wren lifted his finger, quieting me. "Yes sure, but what you don't know is four kings is a common ingredient in perfecting spells. He's trying to perfect his time bending ability, and once he does he'll be unstoppable."

Luca hung his head, "So it is hopeless."

Wren shook his head, "Not quite." Wren smirked, "He still has to enact the spell and even then it can take time to settle. Spells like that can be quite fickle in their formation."

"In that case we need to strike now." I concluded, tightening my fists. Luca looked grim, his posture stiff. "Let's finish this then." He nodded.

Wren grinned, "Wonderful, everyone's in. We'll get a plan together and pin down that bird." He clapped his hands, excitement growing over his face.

"We find Merle, figure out an appropriate distraction, and set Phyn up to kill him. Easy as pie." Wren declared.

I shook my head, "Not easy as pie. We basically tried that and it didn't work." I scowled, crossing my arms. Wren shook his finger, "But you didn't have me. I have a particular flare for navigating these sorts of situations." He replied.

"Do you now? How do you suppose we should start then?" Luca stated, a touch of annoyance in his tone.

"I don't mean to sound arrogant but I understand how they work, both Merle and Augustine." Wren backtracked, losing the grin.

I frowned, feeling fed up with his half-information. "How do you know that?" I asked. Wren gave a nervous grin, his face twitching."Does it matter?"

"Yes." I concluded, "It really does."

Wren frowned, his eyes blurry, as he bit back a sour expression. "I-"

He stopped, his face twitching worse. "I can't tell you." He hung his head. Luca sighed, bringing his hands to his hair. I gave Wren a wary glance. I wanted to trust him but if he was going to be secretive I couldn't.

"I can't tell you because I don't know. I don't remember." Wren’s voice shook. Luca lowered his hands, studying his expression. Wren let out a nervous breath, "I don't remember hardly anything, especially from my time in Arcane." He muttered.

"What do you mean your time in Arcane?" I returned, sitting straighter.

"You know the Remedy is made up of six bloodlines. Apparently I'm someone's heir. Took me away from my village when I was a child. After that my life is a blur, up until the day I met your friend Freya." Wren echoed, his voice vulnerable.

"I have no complete memories of that time. Sure I remember things...but I don't remember events. I know it sounds crazy-"

"It's not the craziest thing I've ever heard today." Luca shrugged. I still felt uneasy. Wren sounded genuine but the stakes were high.

"If you need to find Merle I can probably do it." Luca said. Wren turned his head, surprised. "I'm a Dreamer." Luca replied. Wren let out a chuckle, "Ah I see, that makes a lot of sense, but I don't think finding Merle will be a problem."

I stared in surprise, "Why not?" Wren met my eyes, "There's only one place he'll go to finish a spell like that. He's going to Arcane." A shiver ran down my spine.

"Where is Arcane anyway? It's not on any of my maps." I said, pulling the atlas from my pack. "Southern Border, within the wastelands." Luca offered. I paused staring up at him, turning back to the book. Luca was Merle's grandson, it shouldn't surprise me that he knew where Arcane was.

I flipped my Atlas to the Southern border, flipping back and forth realizing the pages weren't there. Rough edges of torn up, someone had ripped them out. Specifically the pages detailing the south border and the wastelands were missing from the book. I was shocked that I never noticed it before.

"It's not here." I muttered, tracing the edges left in the book. Luca leaned over, "Strange." He said, frowning over it.

"Can you still get there without it?" Wren asked. I shrugged, "I should. It might help to have something to direct me. If you can describe somewhere within Arcane I should be able to pull us there." I answered. Wren nodded, "Good, I should be able to do that." He returned, sitting back. I closed the book, putting it back in my pack.

"I think the real issue is how we're going to distract Merle. If he's stopping time you can't do anything Phyn." Luca grumbled.

Wren tapped his chin, "Yes that is the crux isn't it. Leave that up to me." He nodded.

"Wait what?" I blurted out.

"I'll keep birdbrain busy." He shrugged.

"What will you do?" Luca raised his eyebrows. "It will take too long to explain. We need to get going." Wren, looked at me.

"We do? But we don't have a plan yet." I said, surprised. "Yes we do. We have everything we need." He took my arm. Luca frowned, looking like he wanted to argue. He sighed, taking my other hand. This all felt terribly rushed. Leaving stirred a bittersweet feeling inside me. As much as this place brought up painful memories, it was my home. I couldn't dwell on it. We had to keep moving forward. I wasn’t about to get distracted. I had to keep fighting.

"Give me your mental image." I waited. Wren looking up thinking. "The center room has a large clock head, large ceilings. The room is circular." Wren listed the details. I closed my eyes, feeling nothing in his description.

"No, no, no. Tell me what it feels like." I corrected.

Wren tilted his head, "Oh, okay… It's kinda eerie, like spiders crawling up your spine. It's cold, serious, stifling. Does that help?" He asked. I closed my eyes again. "I think so.." I said, re-shutting my eyes. I listened for my heartbeat.

Following Wren's words, I found the deeper pulse. We left the forest, my feet finding the hard stone floor. I opened my eyes to the brownish beige stones.

I let go of Luca and Wren's hands, turning back to see a giant clock face. It stood still, not keeping time, it's hands made in a bronze-coloured metal. A key hole was built into its base, it stood out of place, the metal unpolished, almost rusty. In front of the clock a circle was indented into the floor, four slots ran in a line with twisting pathways leading towards the clock. Turning to the opposite wall a large circle existed, the colour different than the rest of the wall. It looked about the size of the looking glass Augustine had. A strange feeling in the air, there was something unsettling about this place.

Wren looked sick, nervously scratching his head. "I don't want to be here any longer than we have to." He said, directing us to a door along the wall.

"Merle will have to come here to complete the spell. It has exactly what he needs." Wren muttered, opening the door, leading us into a side room. A long wooden work bench, the room had shelves with glass and ceramic containers. Very tidy, everything stood in order, neatly put away.

Luca looked uncomfortable, following in behind me. "I don't like the feel of this place." He whispered. I fought back a chill, watching Wren pull open a large drawer and rummage through it.

"No…" he mumbled, closing it he opened another cupboard. "What are you looking for? I asked, walking further inside. "This." Wren said, pulling out a sword, a golden hilt, with a mirror-like blade. It shone with an unearthly light. I gaped at it in awe, it was beautiful. Wren walked over, putting it in my hand.

"I think this is better than that crossbow you were using." He gave a serious nod, leaving me with the masterful blade. "It's incredible." Luca mused. I lifted it up admiring the gleam. "I don't know what to say. I'm not sure if I can use this." I gawked at it.

Wren chuckled, "Of course you can. It looks a lot closer to destiny anyway." He shrugged, taking the crossbow and leaving me with it. My hands trembled slightly. The image of the mural Emery showed me burned into my mind.

Luca stepped forward, "So how are we going to do this?" He pressed, looking at Wren.

"Well when Merle shows up I'll walk out there with my devilish charm and get him to head in here. Phyn can be waiting, standing on this box." Wren slid a crate behind the door. "And when he walks in, you can jump down with one deceive strike and kill your bird." Wren smirked.

"Will that work? What if he's still using his ability?" Luca asserted. Wren rolled his eyes. "It will work. He's been using his ability extensively, he'll need to stop. He's not going to expect that you're here, he's never seen us together." He argued, stepping back.

I hopped up on the crate, judging the distance. I had to get a grip. I could do this. I had to do this. I took a breath, Luca still settled with a frown. "Won't he find it suspicious that you're here?" Luca questioned. "Yes and I'll handle it." Wren stood confidently.

Luca's concern unsettled me. I watched growing worried, Luca moving his eyes to mine. "I don't want this to go wrong. We've failed before. I can't-" Luca stopped, his voice breaking."

You can't what?" I said, watching his shoulders drop. He gave a pained smile, "I don't know…" he averted his gaze, his eyes looking watery. "I...I can't lose anyone." He muttered.

Wren stepped back, his posture stiffening. I opened my mouth to speak but stopped. I couldn't say he wouldn't lose anyone. Maybe I wouldn't make it through this. I couldn't hide the weight in my eyes.

"No one's losing anyone." Wren declared. "Be ready, Merle won't take long. In fact I'm surprised he's yet to darken our door." He remarked, walking back into the larger room.

My eyes resting on Luca, my messy haired dreamer. "We've got this." I said quietly. He nodded, not convinced. I could sympathize, things looked bleak. I would still believe those words even if they felt like a lie.

A distant sound locked my attention. Something in the air changed, It felt stiffer. My heart trembled, I knew he was here. The sound of a huge door closing, echoing up. I could hear the sounds of someone climbing the steps. It reminded me too much of that day in the clock tower. Except I wasn't frozen in place, I could breathe, my heart was beating. My limbs felt stiff but I could still swing the sword in my hand. Wren might be right, Merle may have to stop his ability. Luca raised his eyebrows, surprised as well.

I peeked my eye through the crack in the door. Watching Merle creak open the entrance. My heart started pounding frantically. Breathe. I told myself. Luca's eyes, telling me the same thing. I could still move, this gave us a better chance than before. Merle's footsteps stopped, the room deathly silent.

I looked out into the room, Merle standing still in the center. "Playing shy?" He squawked, looking around the room. "I wouldn't test my patience." He hissed.

"I merely didn't want to surprise you." Wren's voice came in. I watched tensely, Wren walking into view.

"Back again Kendall's heir. You certainly like to live on the edge." Merle mused, staying where he was. Wren chuckled, "Yes, well I don't know when to quit and that's certainly the truth." Again? Something was off. I was missing something.

"What do you want Leo?" Merle scowled.

"Don't call me that. My name is Wren."

Merle grew stiff, he paused. "What do you want Wren?" He recoiled at the name.

Wren sighed, "You proved yourself trustworthy with our last deal, I want to make another." My heart stopped. Another deal? I flicked my head to Luca, his eyes were wide as well. "Hmm...Interesting but I don't have the time." Merle concluded. Wren laughed, "You have all the time in the world."

"That's an oversimplification." He spat. I didn't know what was going on.

"I heard you've been looking for this." Wren stepped forward in my view, holding up a rusty key held on a string around his neck. It looked like the key described in Freya's story. Wait...It couldn't be. This was insane. The story couldn't be true. Was the Looking Glass...the gate of Sheol? Merle's eyes bugged out, stuck on the swinging key.

"You have it...how..." He muttered.

Wren shrugged, "It's always best to have things people want."

“Slithery snake." Merle hissed, a new desperation in his eyes. "What is it you want? I already got you revenge."

Wren's voice grew cold, "Off your hit list. I know you're coming for anyone connected with the Remedy. I want to be an exception to that rule." Merle, relaxed his expression. Was that relief on his face?

"Alright, son of Kendall, you may have your life." Merle replied, holding out his talon-hand. "Only because you're part of this in merely name."

Wren tossed the key, Merle caught quickly locking his talons around it. "Thank you." Wren remarked, casually walking away.

He turned, "Oh and by the way I would avoid going into the side door, I think someone was expecting you..." He added, exiting. Merle turned his head, eyes locked on the doorway. I trembled, stepping off the crate. He left us alone with Merle. He left us.

I looked back to Luca in horror. Luca's eyes were fire, his fists clenched. He sold us out! I trusted Wren. I trusted him!

I didn't care about Merle right now. I wasn't letting Wren get away. I ran quickly, grabbing Luca's hand. I leapt into the pulse, landing at the base of the building right outside the door. I let go of Luca's hand, raising the sword.

Wren slipped out, I was ready for him. Startled, his eyes wide in panic. "Phyn!" He jumped, stumbling back, I swung the blade, landing it right beside his head. It stuck in the wood of the door.

"Liar! Traitor! Cheat!" I shouted at him. He raised his hands in defense. "Relax Kid." Wren bit, squirming back. "Don't tell me to relax, you sold us out!" I growled.

"Phyn, quieter." Luca warned. A smile grew on Wren's face, "Yes quieter, or the monster will hear you." My rage grew, I pulled the blade out threatening him.

"I...trusted you." I bit back tears, staring up at his pitiful face.

Wren frowned, reluctantly he met my eyes "It wasn't personal but I have my own interests to think of." He asserted dryly.

"You save yourself over the world. What would Freya think of you?" I snarled at him. Wren raised his eyebrows, "I'm a disappointment, I get it. From how I see it killing Birdbrain isn't saving the world, it's failing to do it." He stood straighter, from his cowering position.

"How is that?" Luca returned, causing my head to turn. He was so calm about this. I couldn't understand it.

"I may have a foggy memory but I am certain of this. If I had to pick between Augustine and Merle I would choose Merle anyday.” Wren’s eyes lit up, fear in his tone.

“After he destroys the Remedy, he'll be done, rain of terror over. Auggy on the other hand has bigger plans. I don't want to live in the world he wants. I would rather die."

"We can't just let him kill people. " I kept my glare.

"We can if it's a better alternative. I don't like Merle but Augustine is worse."

"He killed my family!" I cried, Wren pushing past me, "Exactly, your judgment is clouded. Let him win, find somewhere safe to hide. That's my advice to you." He turned to leave, bumping into Luca. He glared at Wren stopping him from leaving.

Wren scowled, "Listen I wish the best for you two I just-"

"You do something like this again and I'll gut you like a fish." Luca snarled, staring him down.

"Understood." Wren raised his hands defensively.

"No I don't think you do. I may be young but I have no problem coming after you, or don't you remember who I'm related to? They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, do you want to find out if that's true?" Luca locked his eyes in a feverish glare. It sent shivers down my spine.

Wren dropped his expression, he stumbled back. An empty fear staying on him as he walked off wide eyed.

"Luca." I put my hand on his shoulder.

He took a breath, losing his tough composure. "I needed to scare him. If we can't trust him, we should at least trust his fear."

I nodded, watching Wren walk away. He didn't look back. I felt sick to my stomach. Wren betrayed me. Betrayed all of us, and I didn't understand why.

"I'm sorry he turned out to be such a weasel." Luca, pulled his eyes away from him.

"First day I met him, he told me I couldn't trust him." I muttered, letting the dull pain settle. I wondered what Freya had ever seen in him.

"What do we do now?"

A sudden loud noise ripping through the air. Starting with a giant bell, the sound of cogs shifting, the ground shaking. Luca grabbed onto my arm. What was happening? I nearly fell off my feet. "He's starting the spell." Luca yelped, wide eyed looking up at the tower. We were out of time.