by Nina Walker
I was unfazed. “Jessa has been through a lot. And quite frankly, you’re not going to get anything out of her tonight. Just let her get some rest. We can start her training tomorrow.”
“It’s not your call.”
“Actually, if you’ll remember correctly, it is my call. Your king, my father, put me in charge of overseeing Jessa’s training. Not you,” I said.
“That may be true,” Faulk responded. “But he wants her in the GC. And as the head of that program, I’ll also be making sure that this girl stays in line. If she doesn’t get through the basic training, there will be no initiation.”
I doubted that. If Richard wanted Jessa in the GC, it would happen.
“And how are you planning to keep her in line?”
The younger guardian stepped forward, smirking. I frowned, having forgotten that he was still in the room.
“I’m Reed. I’ll be working with you both from here on out.”
“He’s my eyes and ears.” Faulk said. “Your father already approved it.”
Great. Faulk’s spy kid was going to be following us around. That was the opposite of what I needed right now. If I was going to get Jessa to help me, Reed needed to be out of the picture. But what choice did I have? As much as it bothered me, I knew this wasn’t a battle I could win. At least not right now.
“So, Lucas,” Reed continued boldly, “when do we start?”
I studied them both before turning on the kid. “You’d be advised to call me Prince Heart. We’ll start first thing in the morning. I’ll find you.”
I turned and strode away before I lost my temper completely. It was only once I was out of the room that I let myself consider the implications of everything that had just happened in there.
There were a few things I knew for sure.
First of all, Jessa was dangerous and talented. She wasn’t afraid to put up a fight. She had a fierce spirit and, despite everything, it still wasn’t broken.
Second, I wasn’t the only one who wanted something from the girl. Faulk, Reed, and my father all had their hooks in her. She was a valuable resource. She had separated purple into primary colors, which was unheard of. Alchemists could access variations of five of the seven colors: purple, blue, green, yellow, and orange. And all the shades in between. White and red remained a mystery. Black, as well. Jessa had accessed red that night at the ballet. This could change everything.
Moreover, it was possible that separating color wasn’t the only remarkable talent hidden inside Jessa.
I admired the fight in her. Her vulnerabilities echoed my own. But she had no idea what she had gotten herself into. The last thing was hard to admit, if only to myself. I wanted to protect Jessa Loxley with my life.
Man, what in the world has gotten into you?
I found Jasmine in the now-empty GC dining hall. Realizing that Jessa must still be starving, I quickly ordered some food to be sent directly to her room. Jasmine watched me with curiosity as I stood in the doorway.
I slid the slatebook back into my pocket and walked over to the old woman. She picked at her salad, distracted.
“What do you do for the GC?” I asked, sliding into the chair next to her.
“I teach. And I heal. I used to help out with your skinned knees as a child. Boy, did you get those a lot. I even fixed your broken arm once. Do you remember that?”
I laughed. I’d forgotten all about those experiences. But they came back instantly. “Actually, now that you mention it, I do remember.”
Jasmine was so different to me now. Back then, her hair had been brown instead of gray. And she’d dressed in the customary GC black, instead of the casual clothing she now wore. I still wondered how she’d managed the trade.
“But you grew out of your clumsiness. So you stopped needing my help.”
That was a point we seemed to differ on.
“Why do you want to know what I do here?” she asked.
“I was really impressed with how you handled Jessa just now.”
“Thank you. I was just doing my job.”
But it was more than that. She cared. She put Jessa at ease in a way that I just hadn’t managed yet.
“You teach? Can you tell me about that?”
“I’m a strong healer, so I focus on working with green. Teaching others to heal is a delight. These young children that come here—they don’t know what’s going on. They’re practically babies. Their minds are so open and vulnerable. I always do my best to teach them the difference between right and wrong, to teach them to use their gifts for good.” She glanced at me quizzically. “That’s what the GC is all about, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said, though I knew differently. I knew it was really about the royals being able to control the kingdom. “That’s what it was designed to do—help people. And I was wondering if you would help me.”
“What do you need?”
“I’m not an alchemist, but I’ve been tasked with training Jessa. Yes, I have extensive knowledge on the subject, but I can’t possibly do it alone.”
“And nor should you. The royal officers governing us guardians aren’t alchemists, either. That’s why they have people like me teaching. Someone needs to know what they’re doing.”
I thought I heard a hint of something troubled in her voice, but I could have imagined it. “Yes, exactly. We have an alchemist named Reed assigned to help us. But I don’t trust him. He’s working for Faulk, and I certainly don’t trust her.”
“Trust is a delicate thing.”
“So that’s why I want you to join us in Jessa’s training. She likes you. I could tell immediately that you would be the perfect mentor for her. Will you do it? Will you help us?”
“What’s so important about this girl? She is probably too old to be starting this process.”
“Yes, she’s about ten years late. But she’s special. When she was discovered, it was because she’d accidentally stumbled upon purple alchemy. But what was remarkable about it was that she separated the blue and the red.”
“Red? But no one has red alchemy.”
“Yes, I know,” I said. That was a color that seemed to be untouchable. “She didn’t actually do anything with the red, but she accessed it. It was there. Right there. I saw it myself.”
“I can imagine your father wants to get to that.”
I nodded but didn’t say more. I needed to tread carefully.
Jasmine looked down at the plate of barely touched salad, a small smile tilting her mouth upward. When she hovered her open palm just above the green leaves of lettuce and spinach, delicate tendrils of emerald magic danced in the air. It was like watching light take on a physical form. It swirled and played beneath her fingers, haunting and mysterious.
“Yes, Lucas. You really do need my help.”
We sat in silence for a long minute.
“How’s your mother doing? Another headache today?”
How did she know?
She lifted the green even higher into the air before allowing it to fall back into the leaves below, like raindrops.
“Are you the one who helps her heal?”
“I try,” she said. “It appears to be a chronic condition, unfortunately. We haven’t found a cure, as you know. But I help with the pain.”
“You’re probably with her often, then?” I asked, trying to push for more information. I should know this, but hated to admit that I avoided my mother. It was just too hard to see what she’d become.
“Too often. She’s a good woman. With a kind heart. Don’t ever give up on her, okay?”
Before I could comment, Jasmine stood up and nodded.
“We’ll be seeing each other soon.”
5
Jessa
After Faulk’s threat against my family, I decided to keep my mouth shut. Fuming on the inside, I forced myself to stay calm. Alone, I was now lying on a large bed, trying to process the many thoughts battling inside my head.
After finishing my conversation with Faulk, I’d
been led to a guest suite. When the tray of food arrived a few minutes later, I’d devoured every last bite. Then I took a long shower, wrapped myself in a plush bathrobe, and curled up like a kitten under the heavy white duvet.
I wasn’t content, but I could breathe steadily again. Did I have Lucas to thank for that? He confused me. He didn’t seem to care about what I wanted, and yet he’d ended the conversation with Faulk for me. Also, he had told me he was the one who’d gotten me out of prison. The memory of the short time spent in the dark room wasn’t one I wanted to revisit.
I had to admit that this room was much nicer than anything I expected. Faulk would have put me up in a dank closet somewhere if she’d had a say in the matter. Luckily for me, Lucas was the one who gave the orders. Once again, he’d come to my rescue. A part of me questioned his motives, while another part warmed at the thought that Lucas was on my side.
The suite was large, with dark, polished wood floors and trimmings. The walls were a soft white, and a large four-poster bed sat next to a wide floor-to-ceiling window. The drapery and linens, also white, contrasted nicely with the rich wood.
The bathroom itself was larger than my bedroom. The glass shower was sleek and modern, with an expansive set of buttons on the wall. Most exciting was the claw-foot bathtub, cutting an impressive figure in the center of the white marbled floor. The entire place was calm and luxurious.
But I still couldn’t decide how I felt about all this. Part of me felt guilty for enjoying it. The gorgeous amenities were unlike anything I’d experienced. Sure, we were well taken care of in New Colony. We had a nice home. Anything we needed, we had. How could I enjoy this suite when all I longed for was my own lived-in bedroom?
The palace was beautiful, yes, but it was not my home.
I didn’t know who I was anymore. Nor did I know what I was capable of. Tomorrow I would start my training. Maybe then I would be able to find answers. With no idea of what to expect, I stared blankly out the window. The bright moon floated in the darkness. It was full tonight, and watching it made me feel extra lonely. The tears came back again, pooling on my pillow. It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning, when the black night began to turn blue, that I finally fell asleep.
“Slow down,” the sweet voice calls behind me as my child-self runs through the grass. My bare feet press into the lawn and leave small tracks as the blades fold in on themselves, a cool imprint of my movements. Instead, I move faster, my little legs rubbing together.
“To the special place! To the special place,” I singsong, calling behind me to the girl following. She catches up quickly and grabs my hand. Instead of stopping me, she runs with me, fueling my excitement. A head taller, her blond hair streams behind her like ribbons of light in the sea of blue sky.
“Okay, Jessa,” she says, “let’s go to the special place.”
She leads me out from the back of the lawn and into a thicket of trees. They stand tall, their trunks papery white with branches that reach out to the sky. The leaves dance together, making a sound like fluttering wind chimes on the afternoon breeze. Once inside the cropping of trees, we are hidden, the shadows our only playmates. But that’s okay. These games are played in secret, anyway.
“Show me the magic,” I say, whispering.
She always wants me to whisper.
She smiles and picks a dandelion flower peeking through the grass. Its stem separates from the ground with a little pop. Holding it in front of her face, she fixes her shiny blue eyes upon it, concentrating. When she squeezes, the yellow petals stain her fingers.
And then the flower’s color begins to fade, as the hues of yellow puff out into a cloud of smoky light. It floats on the air, waiting for her command.
“Can I touch it?” I ask.
She smiles and blows. The color drifts to me as I eagerly reach out to meet it.
I floated through that place between sleep and waking. Exhaustion pulled me down. My body was heavy, my mind dense. Somewhere, the world was going on, moving, without me. I wanted to stay here in this garden, in this happy dream of giggling children, but a stark thought jolted me back into consciousness.
Where am I?
I sat up, my eyes adjusting to the strange surroundings. Then the flood of memory filled me, and I fell back into the sea of pillows with a groan. This had been happening too much lately!
Since when did I start remembering my dreams?
Someone lightly knocked on the door. Before I could respond, a girl dressed in a maid’s outfit shyly entered the room. She was young, petite, and carrying a tray of breakfast items. The salty smell of bacon wafted through the air. Bacon, like most meat, was a luxury food that my family didn’t often eat. My mouth watered as I imagined the taste. Since I was still wearing the bathrobe from the night before, I considered excusing myself to quickly dress, but my stomach growled in protest.
The maid placed the tray on a small table in the corner of the room, peering at my rumpled appearance. “Excuse me, would you like anything else?”
I gaped at the feast of eggs, potatoes, cheese, pastries, fruit juices, and, of course, crispy bacon.
“It’s perfect.”
Skipping to the closest chair, I reached out a hand and introduced myself to the young maid. “I’m Jessa. What’s your name?”
“It’s Eliza, miss.”
“Well, Eliza, you don’t have to call me that. Just call me Jessa.”
She smiled, eyeing the plate of food.
“Would you like some?” I asked her.
She blushed and looked down. “I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you can. Here.” I lifted the basket of pastries. “Take one.”
She gingerly took a chocolate-filled croissant and nibbled at the edge. I laughed and grabbed some bacon. When she grinned back, I wondered if she’d be bringing me more meals. Maybe she could be my friend. My mood got lighter than it had been since this whole nightmare began.
A heavy knock sounded on the door, and it abruptly swung open. A guardian dressed in black marched into the room. I immediately recognized him as the one who’d come in with Faulk. He was young—probably around my age—with sandy blond hair, dark-brown eyes, and, I had to admit, adorable dimples.
“There is such a thing as privacy,” I said. I was in my bathrobe, after all.
“I knocked.”
Actually, he’d knocked once and then walked right in. But I decided not to belabor the point. Given his inviting smile, maybe he wasn’t as bad as Royal Officer Faulk. But still, I knew I couldn’t trust him. Or anyone else in the palace, Lucas included. When all was said and done, fancy room notwithstanding, they were my captors and I was their prisoner.
“Whatever. Why are you in here?”
“On behalf of Faulk and the Guardians of Color, I’ll be overseeing your training.” He smiled even more widely. “I’m Reed.”
“Already? You don’t waste any time.”
“Well, you do need to learn how to control color alchemy, and I happen to be a great teacher,” he replied, practically laughing. Was there a joke here? Maybe this was Reed’s idea of flirting but I wasn’t having it.
“I’m not ready,” I said. “I just woke up.”
“I’ve been waiting all morning for you to get ready. I guess you’re a stereotypical teenage girl. Sleeping all morning long. You’ll probably need two hours just to do your hair?”
I stood from behind the table and folded my arms. Judge much? But I immediately regretted the gesture when I felt the cool air on my bare legs. Reed drank me in, stepping back. He scanned my under-dressed body.
On my tall frame, the bathrobe I’d slept in was entirely too short. As a dancer, I was used to people looking at my body. But the way Reed was staring at me with his flustered boyish expression was different. Embarrassing.
“Can I help you?”
“It depends on what you’re offering.”
Eliza stood off to the side during this whole exchange. She coughed on her croissant and scurried out of
the room without a goodbye or an apology.
I eyed Reed, annoyed again at the interruption. I was making a new friend in Eliza until he had shown up and ruined it.
“I’m not offering anything. I was forced to be here. Or did you forget about your little eavesdropping stunt already?”
I hadn’t forgotten that he was the guardian with Faulk last night. They had listened in on my conversation with Lucas. I was still not sure how he was able to do it, given the seemingly impervious walls and the fact that I hadn’t seen any visible devices that would’ve clued me into the possibility of spies. As much as I didn’t want to care, I was curious.
“Impressed?” He plopped down into the chair across from me. He tried to reach for the last piece of bacon, but I slapped his hand away.
“Hey! Where are your manners?”
“I’m a growing boy. I need my second breakfast.”
He grinned, snatching it up, then split the bacon in half and handed me a piece. Somehow, I found myself laughing.
I let him eat with me while I questioned him. He was seventeen. He’d lived primarily at the palace for eleven years now, training in color alchemy. Soon he would be sent out on long-term assignments. When I asked him what that meant, he clammed up and changed the subject.
Just as we were finishing up, there was yet another knock. Prince Lucas stepped inside. He was dressed casually in dark jeans and a black t-shirt. The shirt was cotton, and on a body like his, it created the perfect male contrast of soft and hard. As much as I hated to admit it, he looked incredible. The royals always did look great though. Most often they weren’t dressed so casually. In newspapers and on the news feeds I’d always seen him in his royal uniform.
“Are you ready?” Lucas asked.
I couldn’t read his blank expression. “Wait, are you training me, too?” I looked from Lucas to Reed.
“I’m overseeing your progress,” Lucas said. “I’ve assigned one of our healers, Jasmine, to train you. Reed here will also help.”
He spoke of Jasmine as if I hadn’t already met her. I guess because of the fact that I’d knocked Lucas out, which was still a secret. Was that even possible with someone like Reed following me around?