by Dawn Brower
Luckily for her, she was saved from saying all of that. With perfect timing, the umercorn jumped from the water and gracefully landed on the boulder. Her rainbow hair curled around her in wet waves, and her perfect features remained ethereally beautiful. A locket rested around her neck. It had a ruby glistening from the center. Elodie didn’t doubt it was hers, and if she opened the clasp, miniatures of her parents would be inside of it.
“Give it to me,” Elodie demanded.
“I said I’d retrieve it. Not that I’d give it to you.”
Fury unleashed inside of her. How dare the creature dangle her amulet in front of her and then deny it to her. Fair enough… If the umercorn wanted to fight so be it. Her magic was running low, but she’d fight for what belonged to her. She started to raise her fist to the sky, but Daire held her back. She turned to him, surprised by his action. “Not yet,” he said quietly.
“Why is it you don’t want to tell us your name? That doesn’t seem normal. Everyone else in Malediction has been forthcoming with who they are, but not you.”
“What does that matter?” the umercorn asked in a nonchalant voice. “My name is inconsequential.”
“You don’t just have Elodie’s necklace, do you?” He stepped forward. “You have both items—you kept saying trinkets and planned on retrieving both all along. That’s why you needed both of us. Our combined magic brought them forth for you to locate.”
Daire was far more perceptive than Elodie had ever given him credit for. How had he discerned that from the umercorn’s actions? Where was he going with all of this? What did it matter what her name was? Personally, Elodie didn’t give a damn. All she wanted was their lost items so they could be on their way off this island and the hell hole that was called Malediction.
“Is that true?” Elodie asked. “Do you have Daire’s broach too?”
The umercorn uncurled her hand and revealed a broach with a giant dragon depicted on it with ruby fire extending outward—Daire’s family crest. Elodie couldn’t make out the finer details, but from a distance it appeared to be the item Daire had lost. The creature closed her fingers over it keeping it safe inside her palm. “It’s mine,” she said. “I found it and don’t have to share.” If Elodie had any doubts to the authenticity of the broach, the umercorn’s reaction sold her on it.
“How about we make a new deal,” Daire offered. “If I can guess your name, you’ll give us both items.”
“That’s unlikely to happen,” the umercorn replied. “It’s as unique as I am.”
The umercorn thought way too highly of herself. She was pretty, in a strange way. Elodie couldn’t really get over the weirdness of a mermaid-unicorn combination. At least the creature was comfortable in her own skin, and she appeared quite deadly in her own right. Still, what were the chances Daire could guess her name correctly? It could literally be anything.
“She’s right,” Elodie replied. “Don’t take the risk of guessing wrong. We can overpower her.”
“It’s not necessary,” Daire said calmly. “We can win this without bloodshed. I’d rather neither one of us be injured pointlessly.”
He still wouldn’t look directly at her. Elodie hated the tension that had grown between them because of the umercorn. She wanted to make the creature pay for that. Daire and she had a decent and amicable relationship. Sure, they had shared a few kisses, but that wasn’t a declaration of anything real. Was it? She chewed on her bottom lip as the uncertainty wrangled itself deep inside of her. Brushing it off as nothing hadn’t seemed to work. It was stupid and hopeless. “Fine,” she told him. “Do it your way first.” She fully expected they’d have to resort to that violence he was trying to avoid.
“Very well,” the umercorn replied. Arrogance nearly dripped from her voice as she spoke those two words. “You think you know everything. What is my name?”
“That’s the easy part,” Daire declared. “You yourself told me you are one of a kind. It’s more than your heritage or who your parents are. It’s the meaning of who you are and what your name is founded on. Malediction is filled with those kind of ironies. Your name is Uathúil, which literally means unique.”
The umercorn—Uathúil—screamed loudly. The screech made a resounding boom through Elodie’s eardrums. She placed her hands over her ears in an attempt to block it out. After Uathúil stopped screeching she flung the necklace and broach at them. Daire caught her necklace in midair. His broach hit the edge of the cliff and started to roll back toward the water. Elodie stumbled forward to catch it and slid toward the edge. She closed her hand around it as it slipped over the cliff. Her heart beat heavily inside her chest because if she’d been a second too late it would have been lost again.
“You have your trinkets,” Uathúil said menacingly. “But you won’t live to use them.”
“Doesn’t Malediction have rules?” Elodie said. She distinctly remembered them being mentioned.
“Yes,” Uathúil replied. “But the rules have all been met. Now it doesn’t matter if you both die.”
Uathúil dived into the water heading straight for them. Daire turned to her and yelled, “Run!”
Elodie didn’t need to be told twice. She bolted from the edge of the island and headed toward the cottage. They had nowhere else to go, and her magic was nearly depleted. The little light show she’d done earlier had been just that—a show of her power. Combining her power with Daire had practically drained her. She needed a serious recharge if she were to fight the umercorn. They didn’t stand a chance unless something or someone intervened, and she seriously doubted they’d find that kind of luck.
13
Love Begets Love
Elodie had to think an umercorn wouldn’t get very far on land. If they made it far enough onto the tiny island they might be safe enough from it. The problem of course was they were also trapped. The way back to the mainland was to swim or fly. They didn’t exactly have the option to fly. They neared the cottage and skidded to a halt at the door. She yanked on it, but the damn thing wouldn’t budge. The replica of Paige’s home started to disintegrate before her. It had been nothing but a mirage, or message from home. Paige, or someone with her skillset, had gone through a great deal to send Elodie that warning. She wasn’t sure if that meant someone cared about her a great deal or had decided to make sure she never made it home.
“It’s gone,” she said and glanced at Daire frantically. “What will we do?”
His breathing was as ragged as hers. He looked behind him and the sea where they’d left the umercorn, then back at her. “I don’t know. Promise me one thing.”
“What?” Elodie asked. It didn’t seem like the time to stop and discuss anything. They had to prepare for the impossible. A umercorn lived in the water, or so she assumed. She had a feeling Uathúil would surprise them somehow.
“Don’t let her in,” he demanded. “She overtook your mind once. It can’t happen again.”
She’d almost forgotten about that. The danger of dealing with the umercorn had pushed it from her mind, but an invasion of that kind wouldn’t ever fully leave her. It made her feel—violated. Before Uathúil had possessed her, she’d been staring outside lost in her own thoughts. She hadn’t had the time to do that since she’d awoken from the umercorn’s power. Daire was right. Uathúil could not regain control over Elodie’s mind again—it would be awful if that happened. For her, and those traveling with her… She couldn’t let another creature of Malediction control her in any way. She had to focus on building an impenetrable wall around her mind. “I won’t,” she agreed. “That would be disastrous.”
“Yes,” Daire said flatly.
Elodie stared past him. In the distance, she could make out Uathúil’s rainbow hair. Somehow the umercorn was on land and heading toward them. They had to move. She unsheathed her short swords preparing for battle. They didn’t know how skilled a fighter the umercorn was or what magic it possessed. Elodie had to be prepared for anything.
Daire’s bow rested at his
back. He’d managed to keep it secure during their swim, but his quiver had nothing in it. The arrows were the first thing to go once they’d hit the water. How had she not noticed that sooner? He didn’t even have a dirk he could use against the creature. She tilted her head and asked, “Tell me—how did you guess her name?” Elodie hadn’t thought about it at the time, but that had seemed odd.
He turned toward her and shrugged lightly. “I’d like to say it was a lucky guess, but that’s not true.”
“Then how?” She scrunched her eyebrows together. “It’s a peculiar name.”
“She let her guard down,” he said. “Let me inside her head for a brief moment. I think she wanted me to have it.”
“But…” That didn’t make sense to her. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” he said. Exasperation filled his voice as he spoke. “But we don’t have time to figure it out. Let’s go to the other side of the island.”
The umercorn continued to move toward them. Elodie could almost see her full body now. She’d formed legs and walked with a fluid grace. The cloth that had covered her bosom had grown into a tunic that stopped below her knees. The feet that had replaced her tail remained bare. In her left hand, she carried a elongated thin blade. Each hand had grown long pointy nails that appeared deadly. What did she need a weapon for when those could easily slit someone wide open? Elodie didn’t know why she even stopped to consider that. They had to find a way off the island and fast.
“Go,” she said pushing Daire as she started toward the direction he’d suggested. “That creature is as insane as any other thing we’ve encountered in this cursed world.”
Daire didn’t stop to question her. Truthfully, she didn’t know why she’d taken as long as she had staring at the umercorn. She sent up a silent prayer they’d find a way out of this mess. They had their items and now they needed to find Cale, then the portal home. That was if they could escape a murderous she-demon hell-bent on slicing them open…
They halted at the edge of the island. She glanced over her shoulder. Uathúil still kept a steady pace heading in their direction. Elodie raised her short swords preparing to fight. “Any other ideas?”
“If we hit the water, she’ll follow.”
“That’s not an idea,” she retorted. “We need a way to go by air. She won’t be able to fly.”
“Hate to tell you, but that’s not happening, princess.” He tilted his head to the side as if something had suddenly occurred to him.
She knew it—really, she did—but a girl had to carry hope, or what did they have to fight for? Somehow, some way, they would find a way out of this mess. Her energy was already starting to build up, and if she could hold Uathúil off for a little while, perhaps they would stand a chance. “What are you thinking?”
“Not thinking, princess,” he said. “Communicating. You’ll be happy to know you are going to get your wish and fly off this bloody island.”
A roar echoed through the wind, then boomed as if hitting a wall and ricocheting back. What the hell was that? Whatever it was stopped Uathúil in her tracks. Elodie didn’t know if she was glad or terrified. Uathúil tilted her head upward, staring at the sky above her. Elodie started to do the same, but didn’t have a chance to finish before a stream of fire ravaged the ground separating them from the umercorn. Uathúil screamed and ran in the opposite direction as Elodie took cover. Daire placed his arms around her as if using his body to shield hers. “What the heck is going on?” Elodie asked.
“It’s Cale,” he explained. “And Donia is on his back.”
Elodie wrenched herself out of his arms and glanced at the sky. A large purple dragon drifted above the island. Its massive wings filled the sky and its fire lit a path behind the umercorn. Uathúil had been walking slowly toward them as if she were determined to stake Elodie and Daire. Now she scrambled to return to her hidey hole in the sea. What a difference a little fire power made.
A whoosh of air rolled over her, sending her hair back off her shoulders. Cale landed several feet in front of her. Once settled, Donia slid off his back and hit the ground with a grace Elodie envied. She stood straight and then headed toward them. She wasn’t sure if Cale would shift to his human form or not. Probably the latter since they’d have to make a hasty exit from the island.
“How did you know where we were?” Elodie asked her as she slid her short swords back into the scabbard on her back.
“This is my world, princess. There’s not much I don’t know about what’s happening in Malediction. Are you ready to leave?” She gestured toward Daire. “Cale’s been tracking him for a while. He just didn’t bother speaking until we were close by.”
“He had a few expletives for me as he descended. I could have gone without hearing those.” Daire nodded toward Cale. “I’ve never been so glad to see a dragon in my life though.” He met Donia’s gaze. “I trust you didn’t have any issue.”
Donia shook her head. “I’ll explain later. For now, the dragon and I are in agreement. Hop on his back so we can exit before the umercorn decides to retaliate. She’s a vicious beast.”
Elodie couldn’t agree more. They all climbed on to Cale’s back. Once they were all safely there, he lifted his wings and rose to the sky. Donia was in the front, with Elodie sandwiched between her and Daire. His warmth spread over her and filled her with an awareness that made her—uncomfortable. She wanted to lean back against him and envelop herself in his closeness. They were in the middle of the sky, and she wanted to rub herself against him. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she figure out what she wanted once and for all? The sea flashed by in an instant and led to a beautiful green tapestry in a variety of shades of green. She couldn’t say how long they’d been in the sky. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, and the rest of the trip blinked by. Cale flew them far away from the dangerous island and then landed near a patch of trees. The three of them slid off Cale’s back and headed toward the shelter of the trees.
“Why here?” Elodie asked.
“The door to your home is in this tiny forest. We have to find the right one.”
Elodie stopped and turned toward her. “There’s more than one door?”
“Yes,” Donia replied. “The wrong one and you’re in another loop and have to repeat everything again. It might even be more disastrous than each time before it. Either way though, I’m sure you don’t want to have the entire Malediction experience again.”
“Trees though?” Her first experience with trees in Malediction had not been a good one. They’d have chewed her up and spit her out if she’d let them. How could she trust that a blasted tree would help take her home?
“A tree is a version of life from beginning to end. It’s a cycle between us and nature—one that bonds us. The roots are our foundation and the branches our future. There is a certain power in that connection.”
She’d never look a tree the same ever again. Donia did have a point. There was a certain symmetry to that. “So, how do we figure out what the right one is?”
Daire came to stand beside her. “I don’t think there is a simple answer to that, is there?” He turned to Donia. “What do you know?”
Cale shifted in a swirl of magic and walked over to join them. His face was hard, and his eyes almost seemed distant. He wasn’t the knight she remembered, and Elodie didn’t think he’d ever be the same again. “Love begets love,” he said simply. “In order to find the right one, you must first open your heart and choose.”
That had not been what she’d been expecting. How was she supposed to choose? She assumed he meant between him and Daire, but what if that wasn’t true. What if there was another type of love she was supposed to choose from? She shook her head and started to pace. So much pressure, and so little time… Maybe she wasn’t fit to be queen if she couldn’t handle this. “I…” She took a deep breath. “Show me the possibilities.”
Donia nodded in approval. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. I trust the beastie gave you your missing
items?”
Elodie turned toward Daire—he had her necklace. She didn’t know what he’d done with it after Uathúil tossed it. He pulled the pendant out of his pocket and handed it to her. She unclipped the broach from her tunic where she’d secured it and gave it to him. She stared at her pendant, happy to have it back in her possession. The ruby stones glistened in the sunlight. Cale stepped forward with his ring dagger—it too had a ruby. Once again, she had the feeling that had to be important somehow. Daire handed her the locket, and she clenched it in her palm. It had been a part of her for so long, and losing it had been like fracturing her soul. Now that she had it back... “Thank you,” she said to him, then turned toward Donia. “Where are the trees?”
“Follow me,” she said.
Elodie did as she said, with Cale and Daire close behind her. As they walked in silence, she reflected upon her time in the cursed world. She’d learned a lot of things being trapped there. Survival, trust, betrayal, and love—yes, even that. Things weren’t quite the same and never would be again. She cared about both Cale and Daire, but she wasn’t sure how far her feelings went for the prince. She’d always be grateful to the knight, but her heart didn’t belong to him, had never had if she were to be honest with herself. She’d wanted someone to love badly enough to pretend it was more than it ever could be.
Donia stopped in front of a row of tall billowy trees. Their branches reached high in the sky and their leaves all had different shades as if they were on the brink of falling after a long hot summer. The tree on the far left had bright yellow leaves, the next one had brilliant orange, and the middle one a vibrant red, on the right radiant green. They had different styles on the trunk to. One was rough, another smooth, and then dark. The red one though—it had a mixture of all three. Elodie stepped toward it, and a hole opened up in its center that grew with each step she took. “This one,” she said almost hypnotized by it.