I nodded. “Did you share that memory with Kai and Daniel?”
“Yes. I regret mentioning it though. It notably upset Daniel, and Kai’s face was wrought with panic.”
“Understandable. And we can come back to that. But I brought the subject up because I want to make a point to you. When Crisa woke the dragon to save Kai, a lot of people were hurt and killed and the city was significantly damaged. Crisa felt terrible—and probably still feels terrible—but she didn’t live with sorrow and regret constantly dragging her down, making her feel ashamed of herself. She held her head high and just committed to making better choices and doing greater good with her magic.”
Mauvrey frowned. “Kai paints a different story. She told me that Crisa has continued to use her magic unwisely. She has killed and captured a lot of commons.”
“Commons who were rebels and had caused their own fair share of death and destruction,” I corrected. “But that isn’t the point. The point is that good people don’t always make good decisions, but they don’t have to let the past dictate how they live in the future. You don’t have to keep punishing yourself for the pain you caused, Mauvrey. I know you feel bad about it—we all do—but instead of wallowing in guilt and things you can’t change, consider committing to being better moving forward.”
Mauvrey sighed and took a sip of tea. “It would be easier to embrace the perspective you are putting forth if I only had you and Javier for company. I have too much history with Blue, Girtha, and Chance. All I want to do is apologize when they are around. And Daniel is fine, but Kai is always by his side and she is . . . well, she is not the most sympathetic person.”
Mauvrey blinked like a startled woodland creature. “I am sorry. That was unfair of me. I do not really know her. She may be a bit intense at times, but I am sure she is only trying to help.”
I nodded. “Let me try and do the same.” I stood up and extended my hand. “You should get some rest. You’ve played the piano more in the last two weeks than many musicians do in a solo career. I’ll walk you to your room.”
Mauvrey smiled gratefully and took my hand.
It was two o’clock in the morning when I sat up in bed, soaked in a cold sweat from a nightmare. Crisa and I had been in a large white void. She had on the same clothes she’d worn in Dreamland, only more tattered. She called out my name and I ran toward her, but the harder I ran, the farther away she seemed until she disappeared completely.
My body ached a bit. My heart stung.
She’ll be fine. She’ll be back soon.
I wasn’t ready to go back to sleep, so at a small growl from my stomach, I headed to the kitchen. Walking through the darkened gold hallways, I was close to my destination when I heard giggling. I peered around the next corner.
“Evette, shh, you’re going to wake up the Darlings,” Pietro whispered, slinging his arm over her shoulders.
Evette smacked Pietro on the arm. Their clothes were covered in paint splotches. “You’re the only darling I care about,” she whispered. Were her words slurring? “You’re my darling fiancé. Honestly though, did you have a good time tonight?”
“The best,” Pietro said. He leaned down to kiss her. “Paintball with our friends—just like our first date.”
“And who was the MVP then and now?” Evette tapped him playfully on the nose.
Pietro pretended to look thoughtful. “Your cousin Zachary.”
Evette scoffed. “If you think so then maybe write your vows to him.”
“Nah,” Pietro said. “He’s a good-looking guy, but you usually smell like peppermint and have much nicer eyes.”
The two of them laughed and headed down the hall arm-in-arm. I waited until they were out of sight before continuing on my way. My distress over my nightmare was pushed back as I marveled at Pietro and Evette—the only successful long-term relationship I had personal experience with.
My dad had abandoned my family before I was born. My mom never remarried or even dated seriously while I was growing up. Once my older brother Jack got rich from his beanstalk excursions, he became a ladies’ man, but I don’t think he ever went on more than three dates with the same girl. Even Lord Channing had never married; it was part of the headmasters’ job requirements that he and Lady Agnue remain unmarried while serving their posts.
Hence my interest in Pietro and Evette. As my feelings for Blue developed, it was nice to know that it could work—that two people could be so devoted to each other, and that being with someone forever may actually be possible, not just something we read about in fairytales.
In the kitchen, the moon’s glow streamed through the big window. I tore a chunk off a baguette and sat on the edge of the counter across from the window. The moon was so bright I couldn’t spot any stars. The only other visible lights were the ones set along the edges of the castle runway, which I could see from here. I stared out at the evening quiet . . . and then I saw something.
On the runway, a cloud of ghostly white light moved toward the dropoff. It surrounded a person, a girl in a white nightgown. I narrowed my eyes and took in the details of the figure.
Was that . . . Mauvrey? What? Why? How?
She was headed for the edge of the runway. I dropped the bread and bolted.
Professional sprinters would have been impressed. I navigated through rooms and corridors with unmatched speed. I passed Daniel in a blur.
“Jason, what—”
“It’s Mauvrey!”
Daniel didn’t need any further explanation and took off after me. I burst through the doors that led outside. The moonlight revealed collapsed guards all over the plateau. I vaulted over one as I chased Mauvrey. She was almost at the end of the runway.
“Mauvrey!” I shouted.
She didn’t stop. She didn’t even look back. Her nightgown flowed behind her as she continued to move forward, consumed in ghostly fog.
“Mauvrey!”
I reached the halfway point, but she was barely a handful of strides from the edge. The tiny runway lights lit my path as I ran harder. She lifted her foot to take one of her final steps.
“Mauv—”
A small knife whizzed by me and straight into Mauvrey’s calf. She cried out and fell to the ground, arm dangling over the edge of the runway. I lunged forward, grabbing her other arm so I could be sure she wouldn’t roll over into the plunge.
I heaved the girl back. Mauvrey’s eyes were shut, and I held her crumpled body close to mine. The white glowing mist enveloping her form dissipated when she opened her eyes. Daniel and Blue skidded to a stop next to me.
“What the heck just happened?” Blue asked, panting.
Mauvrey winced and sat up. Her face was pale and she looked like she was about to throw up. She saw Blue’s throwing knife in her leg and clenched her eyes shut.
“Hey!”
We turned at Pietro’s voice and saw him and Evette heading toward us. “What’s going on?”
“Check on the guards!” I answered. Pietro immediately knelt by a collapsed man and Evette ran to check on another. Then I looked to Blue and Daniel. “Let’s get her into the castle. Mauvrey, put your arms around my neck.”
She obeyed as her eyes opened and closed weakly. I picked her up and carried her down the runway, remnants of the white haze dripping off the girl’s body as we went. Daniel led the way to a sitting room and I set Mauvrey on a couch. Her eyes were fully open now, but she was very pale. Blue roughly pushed between us and squatted next to Mauvrey to examine her leg.
“I didn’t hit anything major; the strike was only enough to cause you pain and make your body react naturally. I figured better you go down on the runway versus falling off it.”
“Should we call the castle doctor?” Daniel asked.
“No. I got this. Mauvrey, hold onto that pillow.”
Mauvrey did as she was told and barely a second later Blue ripped the knife out of the princess’s leg. Mauvrey yelped. Blue hastily tore a strip of material from her own pajama shirt and began
to wrap it around the wound.
“Good thing we learn first aid at Lady Agnue’s, am I right?” she said dryly.
“We also learn bedside manner, Blue.” Mauvrey winced from the pain. “A little more of a warning next time you rip a blade from my body, please.”
“A little more warning next time you are about to throw your body off a mountain,” Blue retorted. “You’re lucky I was awake.”
“Why were you awake?” I asked.
Evette and Pietro entered.
“Forget it.” Blue didn’t look up from her bandaging efforts.
Okay . . .
I turned to Pietro and Evette. “The guards?”
“Unconscious, but alive,” Pietro replied. “They were snoring pretty heavily.”
“We’ll help them in a bit,” I said.
“There,” Blue announced. Mauvrey inspected her leg. Blue hesitated, then awkwardly patted the princess’s shoulder. “I’m sure SJ can fix you up with a potion in the morning. Now back to the bigger picture.” She stood and addressed all of us. “What just happened?”
“Seriously, Mauvrey,” Daniel said. “What was that? Did you just try to commit suicide?”
She, Daniel, Pietro, Evette, and I glanced down at Mauvrey.
“Yes, because that is how I want to add insult to the injury that is my life,” Mauvrey snapped. “I want to be the girl who died like a pancake at the bottom of a mountain, wearing a nightgown. Is your respect for my constitution so low that this is what you think of me?”
Daniel’s face was dumbfounded. Mauvrey took a deep breath and fear replaced the frustration in her expression. She looked at me with panic.
“I am sorry. I should not have lost my temper, but I am frightened. I honestly have no idea how I ended up on that runway. You must believe me.”
“What do you remember?” Evette asked gently.
Mauvrey paused to think. “I was dreaming. It was a dream about my sister June. She died when I was young. In the dream she kept calling to me, asking me to play with her, to come see her. I was following her through a field of flowers outside my castle. I could hear laughter and . . .” She shuddered.
Evette sat down beside her and squeezed her hand. “I understand,” she said somberly. “My sister was taken from me too. I know it can be hard to talk about. But you are safe here. Please, go on. What happened next?”
Mauvrey nodded. “I saw a woman,” she said. “She had long black hair braided to the side. Her face took up the entire sky and she said a strange word.” Mauvrey wrinkled her brow, concentrating. “Daus-vid-an-ya. That is what it sounded like. Then the woman hummed a melody that I could hear beneath my sister’s voice. The song was . . . hypnotic.” Mauvrey began to hum a creepy tune. “When I woke up on that runway with Jason, I could still see the woman in the sky for a second.” Eyes closed, Mauvrey shook her head. “That is all I remember.”
The others and I glanced at each other.
“I don’t know what to do with that,” Blue said.
Pietro looked thoughtful. “Was that episode a side effect of the sleeping curse or . . . something else?”
“If by something else you mean the antagonists trying to kill Mauvrey, then my bets are on yes,” Daniel said.
“Can you even be certain the antagonists know Mauvrey is awake?” Evette asked. “She has not left the castle and everyone staying here is meant to keep her existence a secret.”
Daniel shrugged. “If so much as one guard is a spy, then the secret is out. Plus, that kid Mark was under the same sleeping curse. If the antagonists got word he is awake, then they’ll suspect she is too.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Mark!” I looked to Blue. “What if they went after Mauvrey and Mark the same way?”
“Here.” Evette pulled a magic compact from her overalls and tossed it to me. I flipped it open and spoke the name of my friend’s mother. The compact buzzed twice before she picked up, looking more frazzled than I had ever seen her.
“Jason, dear,” the queen said, eyes red. “You are calling at a terrible time, but you and your friends have been so helpful with these strange events, perhaps you may be able to help. Mark has just had an . . . episode. He was sleepwalking and nearly jumped off the bridge that leads to our castle. The guards barely stopped him. You know more about his curse than we do, is this connected to that?”
“Uh, we are not sure, Your Majesty,” I said. “But the same thing happened to our friend Mauvrey, who was under the same curse. Is Mark okay now?”
“Yes, he seems to be fine,” she said with a sigh. “It is like he woke from a dream. We are having doctors examine him.”
“I’ll be there in the morning, if that’s all right with you.”
“Yes, dear. Please do come. The king and I, we are distraught over this . . . and Mark’s revelations.”
“What revelations?”
“It is best explained in person. I must go. Good night, dear.” The queen hung up.
“If something’s happening to Mark and Mauvrey, I’m with Daniel,” Blue said. “This has antagonist written all over it.”
“So, now what?” Mauvrey asked glumly.
“Now you get a roommate,” Blue said decidedly. “Pietro, if you could carry Mauvrey to my room, she’s going to stay with me. Evette, can you wake SJ? In retrospect it’s probably better if we fix Mauvrey’s leg now. Knowing SJ she probably has healing potions whipped up in her lab for emergency. Maybe she can help us wake the unconscious guards too. As for you boys,” Blue pivoted toward Daniel and me, “you should investigate the status of the other guards on duty. It’s bizarre no one else saw Mauvrey in peril. We’ll tell everyone else what happened in the morning. No sense in worrying the Darlings at this late hour. I feel like we’re already walking on thin ice here. We’ve brought too much danger to this palace for one summer.”
We acknowledged our jobs and began to move. Daniel and I headed down the hall toward the soldiers’ galley where the men clocked in and out of their watch shifts. Although the runway was always guarded, there were fewer men outside for night duty. Most of the guards who worked evenings were stationed on the upper floors where the royal family slept. But just as I’d spotted Mauvrey from the castle kitchen, surely some of the guards should have been able to see the runway. Had they been taken out of action too?
“Will you do me a favor?” I asked Daniel. “Will you come with me to see Mark tomorrow? I know you said you were busy, but I could use some backup. If the antagonists are responsible, it’s best that none of us go it alone.”
Daniel hesitated for a second, then responded. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you need, Jason.”
I wondered why he seemed so reluctant . . .
We arrived at the galley. The lights were on, and two guards sat asleep on the couch.
“Hey,” I said.
They didn’t stir.
“Hey!” I said louder, nudging one soldier in the leg with my foot. He only snored again and then tipped over onto his buddy as he kept sleeping. I went and poked him in the face.
“They’re out cold. And are literally cold. They must’ve all been drugged the same way.” I glanced at the used coffee mugs on the table next to the couch. There were several more on the counter. “I’m guessing with whatever’s in that.” I pointed at the coffee pot.
“We should go check the towers that overlook the runway,” Daniel said. “I have a feeling we’ll find the guards there in the same state.”
We did, and they were. A total of ten guards—all of whom had an assignment that would’ve put the runway in their sights—had been knocked out. They lay asleep in their towers and the stairwells leading up to them. At least they weren’t dead.
“You know, I get where Blue was coming from,” Daniel said. “But this is a huge infiltration. I think we should wake the Darlings.”
“Agreed. If we don’t tell them now it could put more people at risk, and they’d never trust us again. Let’s start with Daphne and Cereus. They’re like junior in charge a
nd it might be easier to talk to them than the king and queen.”
Daniel and I headed for the twins’ sleeping quarters. “While we’re on the subject of luck,” I said, “Blue wouldn’t get into detail, but why were you up at two in the morning?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Daniel said. “I’ve been having some nightmares the last few days.”
“I get it. A bad dream woke me up too. I guess we all have something to be stressed over that’s bringing them out in us.”
We arrived in the hall that led to Daphne’s room. Two guards—awake—were stationed in front of her door.
“Any chance this is a bad dream?” Daniel said as we approached.
“We’re not that lucky,” I replied.
The palace doctors examined the guards and discovered traces of a hefty knockout potion in their systems. As suspected, the same concoction was found in their coffee. All men who’d clocked in for the late shift had passed out shortly after draining their customary cups of joe.
Thankfully, they’d be fine. Regrettably, SJ—along with the castle doctors—could not find any potion in Mauvrey’s system. Whatever had caused her episode was not the result of something she’d been dosed with, which meant her plight was a mystery.
The king and queen were not pleased.
They decided to double guards during all shifts for the foreseeable future. The king and queen also forbade the younger Darling children from going to the festival in the village for the rest of the weekend. There was a traitor in the castle, and they couldn’t have their smallest kids—not old enough or strong enough to defend themselves—at risk in big crowds.
We were fortunate that’s all the Darlings did. What happened to Mauvrey and the guards may not have been our fault directly, but everything shady that had happened in this castle was connected to us being here. As kind and accommodating as the king and queen were, and as strategic as it was to support us, I imagined this was our last strike before we became more trouble than we were worth. If anyone had died, we likely would already be out the door.
I was glad we only intended to be here until Crisa returned in about a week. Then we’d pack up and head to school where we’d be our headmasters’ problems again. I’m sure the Darlings were looking forward to it.
Midnight Law Page 16