Shadow Hunter (Court of Life and Death Book 2)

by Melody Rose

  “I know that’s scary,” Myrcedes reassured us. “But it’s a long time away. I’ve experienced loss more times than I can count.” She smiled sadly as she said that, and I wondered if memories of her past lives were now on her mind. “I’ll help you through it. Then I’ll come back, and we’ll get to do this all over again.” She leaned over to Daath and kissed him and then did the same to me.

  “So,” Daath began, “what do you want to do next? We can send out word to the realms announcing you as Queen-”

  “No,” she shook her head quickly. “No, that won’t work. Every one of them is different. They have different politics, different respected positions. It’s going to take a lot of time, but I need to work on things one at a time. I’ve still got so much work to do on Earth, where I still can’t just announce myself as Queen and fix everything.” She laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. Her laugh was magical…

  “Very well,” my brother nodded, a smile on his face as well.

  “We can wait as long as you feel is necessary for most of the realms,” I pointed out. “But as one of your trusted Kings, might I suggest… you should focus soon on the realm of the fae.”

  “Oh,” Daath nodded. “Yes, he has a point. The other council members are very unsure of what’s going on, as is the rest of the country. Given that we have eight of the ten people they trust to run their world locked up in the dungeon, I don’t quite blame them…”

  Myrcedes was silent for a moment before a slow smile pulled at her lips. “I think I know what to do…”

  28

  Kalian

  “Kalian?”

  I looked up from my reading, an autobiography of Graia, the ogre architect responsible for most castle design, to see Myrcedes at my door. I dropped the book and rushed over to her, wrapping my arms around her and stroking her hair. She returned the gesture, and I sighed with relief.

  “I’m so relieved to see you again.”

  “I told you I’d be fine,” she laughed. Her laugh brought a smile to my face.

  “I was still worried.” I pulled back so I could look at her. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

  She smiled and nodded. “I did…”

  The purple-haired Queen and I sat on the bed in the guest room of the Moonstone Castle that I’d been staying in. It was a place I hadn’t quite gotten used to yet. Even once I’d opened up to Myrcedes and allowed myself to feel less disagreeable, the place still felt foreign to me. I’d grown used to the stone walls, the bed was actually quite luxurious, and the clothes Myrcedes had gotten me from Earth were surprisingly comfortable despite being the most hideous things I’d ever seen. Even so, I felt a sense that something here was lacking.

  As we sat, she recounted her journey to me. And to say it shocked me… that would have been an understatement.

  That clearly wasn’t the response she was looking for.

  “What are you thinking?” she frowned.

  I hesitated. I didn’t know, but I was sure there was nothing that would sound right. “It’s just a lot to take in. But what matters is how you feel about it. How… how do you feel?”

  “I feel like everything finally makes sense,” she sighed with relief. “I understand who I am. I still have a lot to figure out, but I know what matters. I finally know what my dreams mean, why some things bother me the way they do.”

  “What do you mean?” I frowned.

  “I mean the fae realm.” I perked up at that. “Ever since your trial, I’ve felt compelled to help.”

  I barely managed to keep from scoffing. “Myrcedes, you locked up everyone qualified to rule the fae realm for revenge. Was that your plan to help?”

  I could see a look of shock on her face as she registered what I’d said, and I immediately regretted it. Shit. I should have kept my mouth shut…

  “Kalian, I was trying-”

  “I know,” I shook my head quickly, trying to walk back my dig. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I, um, I suppose what I meant was just - uh - your announcing yourself suddenly as Queen of the fae realm, not long after killing Minerva, coupled with the sudden disappearance of the council, has the potential to look… suspicious.”

  Myrcedes paused as she processed what I said. I felt slight relief at having talked back my slip of the tongue, and more than a little guilty for having dropped my composure in the first place.

  “I guess you’re right,” she sighed. “They have no reason to believe me. But it’s not like I want to move into the palace and start ordering people around.”

  “Of course. But there’s still going to be doubt, no matter how far you remove yourself from actual power. People are already unhappy with the fact that Death showed up and appointed a reaper to a temporary position of power; she’s a fae, and people are still angry about it.”

  Her silver eyes looked down as her brow furrowed above them. “Shit. Shit… You’re right. I don’t have any way to prove this. I can’t take everyone one by one to the Bay of Souls and have a dead spirit explain my place in the universe to everyone.” She rolled her eyes. “Daath and Syrion will back me, but if people of the fae realm are already frustrated with them, that won’t help.”

  I watched as her brain ran through ideas and came up blank. “The prophecy should have been officially recorded so that something like this wouldn’t be an issue.” I ran a hand through my hair in thought. “But Minerva killed her before that.”

  Something connected when I thought of Minerva. I remembered what Raya had said about her being too far from the edge, and how she’d found that out. “Seers’ logs,” I muttered.

  “What?” Myrcedes jolted.

  “Seers’ logs. In order to make sure the prophecies are accurately recorded before they’re officially archived, the Seers will write them in their own words. It’s sort of like a diary-”

  “Where are they?”

  “Hold on,” I hesitated. “They’re all in the fae palace. But they’re all written in different languages, to avoid prying eyes. The Seers hide them somewhere private until they prophesy their death, then they’re moved to a vault the rest of the Seers keep.”

  The Queen paused, conviction forming across her expression. “Fine. Then we’ll go find it.”

  “Myrcedes-”

  “And I want to call a meeting amongst the fae realm to inform everyone of the decisions I’ve made.”

  “Hold on,” I frowned. “What decisions?”

  She smiled, and confidence returned to her face. “It’s complicated. Don’t worry about it.”

  I stared at her, dumbfounded. Why would she not want to tell me?

  Before I could question her, she shook her head. “Just trust me, Kalian.”

  29

  Myrcedes

  I walked into the fae castle; apparently, this place was called the Jewel Palace. Kalian thought I should know the name if I was going to address everyone in the realm for a big announcement about their leadership. Daath, Syrion, and Kalian all wanted to accompany me, but the entire ensemble didn’t help us look any less conspicuous. Unlike the first time I’d entered this place, now all eyes were on me.

  “The Kings of Death and Life, the Queen of the Universe, and a disgraced General walk into a palace,” Daath chuckled behind me. “That sounds like the start of a bad joke.”

  I rolled my eyes but smiled. I may have laughed if I hadn’t been so nervous. Everyone was watching us, and the gossip made its way through the halls of the palace before we did, so it didn’t take long for a welcoming party to arrive.

  We began to ascend a large staircase, following Kalian’s direction, heading for the Seers’ tower, when a voice from below halted us.

  “What are you doing?”

  We all turned, and at the bottom of the stairs stood the pale blonde Seelie guard I remembered from Kalian’s trial and from the vision on the Floor of Dreams. My blood ran cold as I recalled the image of him dragging Serriah toward a guillotine. He had his sword clutched in his hand, prepared to attack if
necessary. He wore that same chiseled gold armor I’d seen Kalian in the first time we’d met, and the hilt on his weapon matched.

  “Bahz,” Kalian called. “We-”

  “You were banished,” Bahz growled. He had seven soldiers behind him. I wondered if this reception was exclusively because we had brought Kalian or if we would have received the same treatment without him. “And the rest of you have no reason to be here.”

  I saw Daath and Syrion’s expressions shift to ones of haughtiness and displeasure. The Lord of Death scoffed. “Watch to whom you’re speaking, boy. I’ve any reason I like.” As he spoke, Daath took a single step down the stairs, and I watched all eight soldiers on the ground flinch in fear. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “My companions have the same privilege.”

  Bahz hesitated before regaining his composure. “The Jewel Palace is closed to all visitors, from the fae realm or not. With the recent disappearance of almost every council member, the remaining two have moved into the palace under the protection of the royal army. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about the others, would you?” His eyes narrowed into a sharp glare, and I swallowed hard.

  “We’ve no idea,” Syrion answered coolly. They were both so calm. Then again, they weren’t afraid of the events that I’d seen in the Floor of Dreams. I remembered what the reflection had told me the second time, that there was a revolution, and that in it, Kalian was the first to die…

  “I’ll believe that the day Minerva comes back from the ashes you reduced her to,” the Seelie scoffed.

  Syrion’s expression didn’t twitch a muscle as he responded. “I don’t care what you believe. We have business to attend to now, so if-”

  “No, you don’t!” I couldn’t help but flinch at the shout. “You have no authority here, no right to march in and decide our palace is your playground for meetings and whatever the fuck else you’re trying to pull!” The soldiers behind Bahz began to reach for their own weapons slowly.

  We can’t fight with them, I spoke to Daath and Syrion mentally. Too many people will get hurt.

  I opened my mouth to speak and try to diffuse the argument when a voice from above me cut me off.

  “Your majesties.”

  The soldiers below us all raised their gaze, and the rest of us turned to see a tall woman who looked positively ancient standing at the top of the stairs. She very slowly began to descend them, and I was half concerned she was going to trip and fall in her frail state.

  “I’m glad you accepted our invitation.” Her voice had a soft tremble that many old people had, but she spoke with confidence and didn’t seem to have any difficulties moving or speaking. For a second, I tried to remember if she was right and we had been invited and I’d just forgotten. After a moment, I realized she was merely covering for us. “General Bahz, your men are preparing the courtroom for this afternoon, aren’t they?”

  I turned back to see Bahz and the rest of the soldiers. The Seelie looked frustrated, perhaps even disappointed, but he nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I apologize for the interruption.”

  Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Kalian bow his head toward the woman in a similar fashion to the rest of the soldiers. I glanced at Daath and Syrion, but they both gave a slight, almost imperceptible shrug.

  I have no idea what’s going on. Syrion sent his voice into our heads.

  She seems to be covering for us, Daath answered, but I don’t know why.

  “Come,” the woman said. I whipped my head back around to see her turning and ascending the steps, which made me even more nervous that she was going to trip in her long yellow dress. It looked like something I’d see in a bad play about the renaissance. Her gray and white hair looked long, but it was hard to tell because she had it pulled up into a thick bun.

  I glanced at Kalian as we walked, trying to find any answers he might have, but the ex-General seemed just as confused as we were. At least he knew who this woman was. The last thing I wanted was to disrespect her directly after she’d helped us by asking a question I felt like I should have known the answer to.

  We all remained silent until we reached the top floor. At some point, it dawned on me that this woman must have been a Seer. The Seers were the reason we were here, after all, and Kalian hadn’t corrected us on our path but rather had let her lead. We stepped into a hall with two doors on either side and one at the end of the hall. The inside of the Jewel Palace didn’t live up to its name; most everything was made of stone and wood, much like I’d imagine a castle built on Earth to look like, but the architecture itself was very grand and impressive. The hall had high ceilings, and on each door was a wood-burning of an image. They all had words around the side of the door, but they were written in that same old language I recognized from Oli’s dagger, the one that seemed like an older variation of Latin.

  Once we all reached the hall, the yellow-clad woman turned to face us.

  “Welcome,” she bowed. The action looked difficult for her, so I felt like telling her not to bother, but Daath began his questions immediately.

  “Who are you?”

  “I am the Seer you want to speak to,” she said slowly as she straightened up. “I knew you’d be coming, and I knew Bahz would give you trouble.”

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  The woman blinked and looked to Kalian. “You haven’t told her my name, have you?”

  He shook his head. “No. Myrcedes, this-”

  “Don’t,” she held up a hand to stop him. I frowned. Why couldn’t he tell me her name? She sighed at my clear frustration. “I apologize, your Highness. This is complicated. Perhaps I am not the one you’re looking for.”

  I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I’m confused. Can you please explain? Anything?” I tried to refrain from getting frustrated with her, but I was close to feeling like shouting.

  The old fae smiled. “Yes. I’ve been wondering if you would come ever since the General’s trial.” I saw Kalian take a sharp breath at being called the General again. People at the Moonstone Castle said it to him all the time, but either they were joking, or he would tell them not to use the title anymore since it wasn’t his. “I became a Seer a long time ago when I was very young. When I did, I met a much older Seer who took an interest in me. She said there was something I should have, and one day, someone would come to get it from me. There was a Seer a long time ago who died before she could send her log to be archived.”

  It dawned on me at that moment what she meant. “You have Alless’s log.”

  She smiled and nodded. The woman seemed satisfied that I’d said something right, but I could tell she had more to say. “Alless left her log somewhere only one other Seer knew of. Upon reading the log, that Seer realized what it said, and why she had died. Alless had written inside the cover to pass the log down amongst trusted Seers until the right person was to come to claim it.”

  “Thank you,” Syrion said. “Myrcedes needs the log. Where can we find it?”

  “It’s hidden,” she nodded. I sensed a shift in Daath and Syrion’s demeanors, steeling over at the lack of forthcoming on her part. “And it will remain hidden until you can tell me the name of the Seer Alless wanted the log to reach. My name.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Daath frowned. He looked to Kalian and nodded toward me. “Just tell her the damn name.”

  “No,” the Seer shook her head. “Queen Myrcedes, you want the log so you can prove that the prophecy exists. You need it. You and I have both seen what will happen if the people of the fae realm think they’re being taken advantage of.” I took a sharp breath. So she’d seen the same vision I had, the guillotine glinting in the sunlight, the crowd screaming for the death of someone who only wanted to help, and the empty palace full of dead bodies.

  I nodded; my mouth felt so dry I couldn’t even swallow. “If Kalian tells me your name, someone could claim we fixed this.”

  “But the General can not lie,” she smiled. “If he testifies that you didn’t know my name until y
ou heard it from Alless, that I received the log from trusted Seers, unaltered since the day Alless last touched it, then he must be believed.”

  This is ridiculous. Daath’s voice rang throughout my mind. It’ll only take me a second to figure out her name.

  No, I answered back. I don’t need it.

  “Alless left the log for Tawney,” I smiled at the memory of our final moments together in the Bay of Souls. She’d interrupted my question to tell me how fond she was of the name. “That’s you, isn’t it?”

  The yellow-clad Seer’s face seemed to elate upon hearing her name, and I almost thought she was tearing up. She nodded slowly and then sped up to a rapid pace, her excitement getting the best of her. “Yes, my Queen.”

  She laid one hand flat in the air and snapped with the other. A very old, plain leather journal materialized in her open palm. The cover was umber, but the back of the book was several shades darker than the front like it had been sun-bleached. The binding was loose, and some threads keeping the leather together were frayed. The pages looked faded from the side, save the bottom outer corner, which was darker. I tried to imagine how old this was, but it was hard to imagine. While I had existed as long as the Kings of the Night, my life hadn’t been continuous, and the past twenty-three years certainly hadn’t prepared me to grasp the concept of something millions of years old. I couldn’t even imagine what sort of lengths generations of Seers had to go to in order to keep it in one piece as it was passed down.

  I watched her stroke the cracked, umber cover with her bony thumb, a nostalgic look in her eyes. She took a deep breath before handing the journal to me. As I took it, she gripped my hands with hers and squeezed them. “I am so honored to meet you, Your Highness. If I could ask you one favor in return-”