by S. L. Wilson
‘Amber?’ His voice was a mere whisper before his eyes rolled back in his head.
Amber clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle the scream that had risen in the back of her throat. She clearly remembered the day when Mrs Cassidy had wandered into the magic shop looking for her son and now here he was, lying in front of her, bleeding out. Fear coated her insides as she watched Carl’s every movement with wide eyes.
‘BRING FORTH THE BLOOD FOR RENEWAL!’ Loso’s voice boomed across the silent hall as another soldier stepped forward carrying a glass vial. She watched helplessly as the Guardian inserted a thin needle attached to a clear tube into his artery. Thick black blood began to pump through his veins and orange sparks danced and caressed his torso.
‘We have to move,’ hissed Connor, pulling on her sleeve.
She stumbled back as Carl’s body convulsed, the strange purple tattoo of the Guardians beginning to swirl across his freshly shaved scalp and twist down his neck. He jolted, bracing himself against his restraints, screaming out in agony as his body stretched and his limbs lengthened. His cries echoed off every surface to fill the air. His body writhed and bucked against his bonds until his shoulders began to swell, growing broader, and his chest expanded. Muscles developed along his arms and legs until Carl, who had looked so frail moments ago, resembled a Guardian; a heavyset warrior designed to kill.
The world began to spin and she needed Connor’s help to walk; her legs were jelly and her vision was impaired by a veil of hot tears.
They slipped through the courtyard door unseen, and Amber crumpled as the door closed behind her. Collapsing to her knees, she shook violently and wept.
Connor knelt down beside her. ‘There was nothing we could do,’ he said, stroking her hair.
She looked up into his purple eyes, his fae magic softening her pain. Nodding as she wiped her eyes she said, ‘Thank you, Connor, but if I’m going to beat Loso and free my friend then I need to feel the pain.’ She shrugged his hand away and felt the sharp sting in her heart once again.
‘Amber!’ Redka rushed across the courtyard but she held up a hand to stop him.
‘No!’ She glared at him as he came to a halt. ‘She said the ceremony was tomorrow, your mother said…’ She spat the words at Redka, her face clouded with rage, before her voice broke.
‘She didn’t know…’ he whispered, avoiding her icy stare. ‘She couldn’t help it.’
As Amber watched the range of emotions pass across his face, she was filled with a deep sense of foreboding.
Redka looked her in the eye. ‘They moved Tom and…Loso took Myanna.’
Amber felt her world begin to slide away from her as she saw Redka spring forward to catch her, then everything went black.
A LIGHT breeze caressed her cheek and she feebly shielded her face against the brightness that pressed against her eyelids. A figure stood over her as she tried to break through her dream state.
‘You are safe, little eye.’ Lavanya’s musical voice drifted over her and settled like a comfort blanket.
‘I couldn’t stop it,’ she sniffed. ‘Carl…a boy I knew from school, he’s gone and Tom’s next. I stood by and watched them hurt him, watched him suffer, and I didn’t do anything’
Lavanya cradled her as she cried, gently rocking her until Amber was spent.
With an exhausted sigh, Amber looked up into the ancient oracle’s face, finding only affection there and no judgement.
‘What should I do?’
Lavanya laughed, a beautiful melody which melted some of the ice on Amber’s heart.
‘You know what to do, tap into your power, little eye. You can see the right path if you concentrate. Remember your lessons; access the chakra point relevant to that which you seek.’
Amber thought back to her lessons with Connor in a tiny shop, in a tiny town. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
Seven chakras, seven powers - she remembered. Strength, elemental magic, leadership, healing, knowledge, sight and her expanded consciousness.
‘What do you seek?’ Lavanya’s voice coaxed as Amber closed her eyes to feel for her powers.
‘I need to find my mum and Tom.’
‘You know how to find them, little eye.’
She concentrated on her third eye and cloaked herself in the golden light Connor had taught her about. Her hands and feet began to tingle, and she could feel the power coursing up through her. She focused on the seven colours and pushed her mind out to the chakra of knowledge.
A picture formed in her mind, cloudy at first then becoming clearer. A dark room cut out of black stone, the walls damp. She could see figures, two…her mum was there.
She opened her mind wider until she could see the door, then the corridor, wider and wider until she was seeing a map of the labyrinth of corridors.
The colours unravelled. ‘I know where they are,’ she yelled.
‘Then it’s time for you to return, little eye.’
Lavanya pressed a delicate finger to Amber’s forehead; everything went black.
IT HADN’T taken long for Connor and Redka to grab their weapons and be waiting by the map table for instructions.
Amber felt a glow of pride in her new abilities as the three of them studied the yellowed paper.
‘The stronghold was designed to snare any invaders. The corridors look confusing, but for someone who has grown up running through these halls it’s a simple one way in, one way out design.’
‘I agree, the dungeon is placed at the furthest point from the entrance so that anyone lucky enough to escape couldn’t possibly make it all the way out without a head to head with a few hundred Guardians.’
Amber’s gaze flitted between the two as they bent over the map, heads close together as they strategised their rescue plans. Connor pushed his thick hair out of his eyes, tracing a finger along the map with his spare hand. He had bulked up since they had arrived in Phelan. He and Redka had been training constantly in Alia’s garden, practising their sword skills and hand to hand combat. He had a wonderful glow about him that made his eyes twinkle. She wondered what India would say if she could see him now, a bold and strong young warrior.
She turned her attention to Redka; he was handsome in every way. His long white hair was braided down his back with leather cord, and he absent-mindedly swung it over his shoulder as he leant in closer to the table. His blue shirt barely concealed the sculpted muscles beneath and Amber felt her cheeks heat up as she let her gaze take in his physique. She always sensed a great pull in her heart whenever they were near each other, as if they were connected by an invisible piece of string.
Amber felt a gentle hand press against the small of her back jolting her out of her daydream state; Alia smiled at her and gently coaxed her away from the boys who were absorbed in their battle plans.
They walked to the open doors leading to the garden; a large stone fountain, surrounded by wildflowers and apple trees, dominated the centre.
‘Your mother is very strong, little eye, do not worry for her. She has survived Loso’s dungeons many times before.’
Amber was stunned. ‘When?’
Alia patted Amber’s hand as they both sat on a low stone bench overlooking the forest.
‘Many years ago, when your mother first arrived, she withstood General Loso like no other had. He punished her for that by beating her and making her spend a week in the dungeon. On the day of her release, when the Guardians collected her, she was waiting for them, her shoulders back, chin held high, and she walked through the fortress like a princess.’ Alia chuckled at the memory. ‘Loso was furious, he had wanted to break her spirit but failed, and Loso never fails.’
‘What happened?’
‘Once a month your mother had to endure two nights in the dungeon without food or water, and once a month she went without question and walked back out again as proud as ever.’
Amber laughed, her heart bursting with pride.
Alia laughed too. ‘Loso gave up in the end and chose
to ignore her existence instead…until now anyway.’
‘So why is he suddenly so interested in my mother again?’
‘He isn’t, he suspects that something is wrong and senses that I am involved as he shares my blood. He has eyes and ears on our every movement: my court, my servants, Myanna and my son. I believe he senses that we will attempt to escape.’
‘You never refer to Mum as one of your servants, why?’
Alia held Amber’s hands in her own and gave them a squeeze. ‘Your mother saved my life, and she nursed me back to health when I surely would have died. At that time I wanted death, I even begged her to help me, but she wouldn’t listen. Her herbal magic is the finest. She watched over Redka during my sickness, she schooled him and taught him her own magic skills until I was strong enough to teach him the way of the fae. She stood up to Loso for me and I will be eternally grateful.’
‘For you?’
‘Yes, he was taking too much of my blood, which was slowly killing me; a very rare phenomenon for a royal fae. She told him to stop or she would poison my blood, which would in turn have poisoned him. He didn’t like being told what to do.’
‘How do you cope with that evil man taking your blood and forcing you to do spells on those boys?’
Alia bent her head closer to Amber’s. ‘He soon realised that Myanna wouldn’t poison me as we had grown so close, but he did seem to listen to her argument and so he agreed to let her take a smaller amount of my blood when he needed it. Myanna agreed to his deal, even shook on it.’ She laughed at the memory. ‘What he doesn’t know is that she has been taking blood from lavahogs and passing it off as mine.’
Amber’s jaw hung open as she looked up at the queen, her face a picture of girlish joy, as if she had just told the story of two friends braiding each other’s hair and gossiping about boys.
‘But…that means Loso isn’t immortal.’ The realisation hit her hard: he could be killed.
‘Exactly…we knew something was coming. I could feel it in the magic I weave, so we had to prepare. We just didn’t realise that the “something” was you.’ She smiled again and released Amber’s hands to straighten her skirts.
‘Redka is quite smitten with you,’ she added with a slight smile.
Amber blushed and looked at her feet; her tattered Converse looked odd next to the delicate silver slippers of the queen.
‘I sense a connection to him,’ she said carefully. ‘Ever since he found me in the forest, I feel like I’ve always known him, like he’s a part of me, but I don’t understand why.’
‘Soulmates come together when they are in need.’
‘Oh, we’re not soulmates or anything, just friends…’
Alia smiled at her. ‘In the human realm a pairing like this can be a true love or a family member, but in Avaveil it is a magical bond; it is someone you have shared many lifetimes with. It simply means that your emotions are linked; he feels your pain and you feel his. Sometimes soulmates never discover where their connections came from. Just understand that Redka is bound to you for as long as you need him.’
Before Amber could ask any more questions, the boys stepped out of the doorway and strode over to where they were sitting. She could feel her cheeks still burning as she sensed Connor staring at her, but when she met his gaze, his eyes had a faraway air about them, like he was looking straight through her at another time and place. His smile faded abruptly and he walked back inside.
Redka cleared his throat. ‘We will wait for dusk and then make our way to the dungeon. More shadows to hide in and less Guardians on the prowl.’
Amber nodded and made her excuses to leave. She needed some alone time to gather her thoughts. Being in such close proximity to Redka was addling her brain. She had such strong feelings for him and they confused her. What had Alia meant when she said they were bound to one another? She had a mission, to rescue Tom and her mother and return safely to Hills Heath and join India’s search for her dad. Redka’s path was a different one from her own; she had even argued with her mother because of it. He was destined to travel to Avaveil with Alia.
She could see no solution. It was obvious to anyone that they weren’t meant to be together, they lived in different worlds. He was fae and she was an oracle. Their bond was merely coincidence and a way to join forces to save the people they loved, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more, something that was bigger than both of them.
The shadows of the fortress offered ample hiding places as they wound their way through the labyrinth of tunnels. Cobwebs clung to the low ceilings and danced in the faint breeze as they hurried past. Each passage was cloaked in darkness, the unnatural black candles spaced out far enough to light only a minuscule section at a time.
‘How do you not get lost down here?’ Connor asked as they passed what he thought was the same statue they had seen ten minutes ago.
Redka’s lips curled up in a mischievous smile. ‘I spent my childhood following the Guardians through these tunnels, hidden from sight, until I learned where every stone was in this place. The Guardians thought I was an evil spirit, they never did find out it was me.’
Connor snorted.
‘My mother told me that a warrior would come to free us and aid our return to Avaveil, so it made sense to familiarise myself with the fortress. Luckily Loso just saw me as an inquisitive child, roaming his corridors and great halls, playing at being a soldier with my wooden swords.’
‘Let’s hope Lady Luck is on our side today.’
Redka chuckled and carried on down the stone corridor leading to the turret steps. The cells were in the lower section of the rotund building. A spiral staircase directed them to a small hallway where the first of the guards would be posted.
‘Ready?’
Amber looked into Redka’s purple eyes and nodded. She was shaking inside but there was also a sense of something else – exhilaration. She was actively doing something good, saving her mother and Tom, when she hadn’t been able to save Carl from his terrible fate. For a brief moment she also felt a sense of belonging, a belonging to a strange world of fortresses, demons, faeries and Guardians.
‘Let’s go!’
‘GOOD EVENING, General Loso, how can I be of service?’ Maggie bustled across the courtyard towards the towering bulk of the general, her pink wings fluttering as she walked. His red eyes were fixed on her every move. She kept her chin up and a bright smile on her face as she stopped in front of him.
‘Where is Alia?’
‘She is resting, General. The unexpected bloodletting took it out of her, and having to perform two protection spells in such a hurry, well she just…’
‘Bring her!’ His voice remained low, but there was no mistaking his tone, and Maggie curtseyed then hurried through to Queen Alia’s rooms.
Alia had sensed his arrival before Maggie could even confirm his presence. She had known he would come for more blood. With Myanna locked up in the cells, she was vulnerable and he revelled in that. They had all counted on it for their plan to work.
She scooped up the glass vial from the table and swirled the blood around several times, then pulling off the stopper, she dropped the ground herbs into the blood, replaced the lid and swirled the contents again. She looked at Maggie, who stood patiently at the door, and smiled.
‘It’s time.’ Maggie nodded and disappeared into the back rooms to collect their belongings as arranged. Alia smoothed her deep green velvet gown and glided to the courtyard door.
‘My dear general, I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow evening.’ She smiled at him as he bowed in greeting. The strangest combination of murderous warrior and court gentleman, she thought.
‘My captains from the south are due here in two days, and I want to ensure I am at full strength.’ He glanced at the vial she was holding. ‘May I?’
Alia handed over the small object and moved to the seating area. She invited the general to join her as she splayed her skirts around her.
&nbs
p; He sat across from her and lay his sword on the long table which separated them. Alia flinched at the sight of it.
Loso’s laugh was cold. ‘In all these years you have never got used to life in a demon realm, my dear queen.’
‘I should hope not, General. A member of fae royalty has no need for such barbaric weaponry…’
‘Nonsense!’ he bellowed. ‘Your own boy is as skilled as any of my soldiers, and is he not in line for the throne of Avaveil?’
A veil of sadness settled over Alia as she looked at the general with glassy eyes. ‘My son will never have that opportunity unless you allow us to leave, my dear general.’
Loso stood abruptly and began pacing the room, his heavy black boots scraping on the tiled floor. ‘I am not having this discussion with you again, Alia. You need to realise that this is your home now. If only you would accept my proposal, we could be husband and wife and rule this realm together. Your son would be King of Phelan one day.’
Alia shook her head. ‘Avaveil is part of my heart and I can never forget it exists, just as my people will never forget that I am their queen.’
He studied her for a long moment. ‘Your people have long since given up all hope of your return, my queen. Trust me when I say that Phelan is the only home you have now.’
He took the stopper out of the vial and drained the liquid in one gulp. Alia watched as he swallowed its contents and willed herself to remain calm.
‘It will take me some time to think of Phelan as my home, General, and not my prison.’
He sat opposite her once more, his great size filling the ornate chair. He leant forward holding his hands out towards her in an open gesture of hope. ‘I only ask that you try, my queen.’
Alia smiled up at the general and nodded. ‘As you request, I shall try.’
He squared his shoulders and nodded, satisfied that once again he had managed to manipulate her.
Maggie bustled through the door with a tray of food and two glasses of wine and set them on the table next to the general’s sword.