Burning Shadows

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “Sometimes we do things we don’t want to. You know this all too well.” He squeezed my hand and released it. “After all, you’re willing to bear my child even though you hate me.”

  I placed my hand over his heart. “It’s the dark magic I hate. Not you.”

  “You’re in love with another man.”

  “Yes,” I answered, shocking myself. Because of the truth spell, I couldn’t hold back.

  “Yet, you’re willing to sacrifice yourself, give a part of you away, even though you don’t want to.”

  “I have to end the curse.” I felt his heart beating beneath my palm.

  He pulled my hand off his chest. “Don’t touch me. It’s too confusing.”

  “I do care for you.”

  “Do you want to sleep with me?”

  I didn’t answer because I honestly didn’t know. A part of me wanted to, and another part of me didn’t. This realization surprised me. I looked into Morlet’s stunning blue eyes. My head filled with fog, the smoke from the fire dancing around me.

  “Do you love me?” he gently asked.

  The smoke intensified, and an odd smell assaulted me. “I love Anders,” I whispered without intending to.

  Morlet’s hands balled into fists. He punched the bench, cracking it in two. Smoke engulfed me, and everything went black.

  Metal clanged, startling me awake. The king stood in front of my cell, a soldat on each side of him.

  “My, my,” Morlet said. “What a sorry state you’re in.” He cocked his head. “Can you even stand?”

  “No,” I replied, my voice coming out hoarse due to my broken ribs.

  “Hmmm,” he mused. “What to do? I can’t have you die on me.” This side of Morlet was so different from the one I’d just seen. “At least, not yet. You’re more than welcome to die once you’ve linked to your fellow Krigers. Until then…” He shrugged. “I have no choice.”

  He mumbled instructions to the soldats. One of the men unlocked and held the door open, while the other one lifted me up, carried me out, and set me on the ground near the king’s feet. I lay there, barely able to move. If Morlet intended to use his magic to heal me, it had to be out here instead of inside the warded cell. But why didn’t he do it last night? Maybe he didn’t want Norill to know the extent of our connection.

  “Give me five minutes,” Morlet said to the soldats.

  When we were alone, he knelt on the ground next to me, his face softening. “Why do you always get yourself into these predicaments?” He shook his head.

  “I don’t need your help.” I clutched onto the fabric of my pants, trying to keep myself from screaming in pain.

  “I’m not doing this out of pity,” he snapped. “I need to keep you alive.”

  “I’m fine,” I lied through gritted teeth. He had let this happen to me. He could have stopped it but didn’t.

  “You have broken ribs, a busted knee, and a fever.” Morlet held his hands over my body, mumbling words in a foreign language. I didn’t have the strength to stop him. His hands glowed, and then blue light slithered out of his fingers and into my knee, repairing it. The last time he healed me, the magic moved through my body like liquid. This time, it returned to him. Relief coursed through me as the pain in my knee alleviated.

  Morlet said a few more words. Once again, the light left his fingers, this time sliding into my ribs and healing them. The pain tapered off and my body eased against the ground, welcoming the respite. The magic returned to Morlet. His shoulders hunched forward, and he placed a palm on the ground for support.

  He’d only healed my most-severe injuries, just enough to make it bearable.

  A moment later, Morlet staggered to his feet, readjusting his cape to conceal his face. The soldats returned.

  “Put her in the cell,” the king ordered. “I want her monitored. Every precaution is to be taken to ensure she lives.”

  After the soldat laid me back inside, the other one closed and locked the door.

  “As always,” Morlet drawled on the other side of the metal bars, “never a dull moment with you, my dear.” He sauntered away, and I started shaking as the fever worsened.

  ✧

  I found myself beside a large lake. Cool air caressed my sweaty face.

  “Over here, darling,” Morlet said from behind me. He stood beneath the branches of a weeping willow. “This is where I buried your father.” He pointed to a mound of fresh dirt. A large rock had been placed atop it. Dropping to my knees, I ran my fingers over the words etched into the rock: Beloved Father.

  I closed my eyes. Images of Papa laughing as we sparred against one another swirled in my mind. He always loved when I learned a new move or technique. He especially rejoiced whenever I managed to best him—which wasn’t often.

  Morlet knelt on the other side of the mound across from me. “I want you to tell me something.”

  Ignoring him, I kissed the rock. “Rest in peace, Papa.” I stood and went to the edge of the lake. Branches from the weeping willow arched above my head, hanging into the water. “Thank you for burying him here.” My father would have loved this place. As far as I knew, he’d never been out of the capital.

  “You’re welcome.” Morlet came and stood next to me, staring out at the glassy lake. “I want to know why the two of us must create a child.”

  Stifling my thoughts of Papa, I turned my attention to Morlet. His cape was gone. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Standing side by side with him at this beautiful place, I had to stifle the urge to reach out and take his hand. I clasped my hands together, not wanting to let his act of kindness cloud my judgment.

  “Our child will have both your evil Heks magic and the good power that Grei Heks bestowed inside of me. Our child will have a choice about how to wield that magic, and he or she will be the first in a new breed of Heks.”

  Morlet squatted and covered his face with his hands. “When I think my life can’t get any worse, it does.” His arms shook.

  I gently placed my hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off.

  “You have to give yourself to me, a man you don’t love. I have to be with you, a woman who reminds me so much of the only woman I’ve ever loved. Then you have to kill me and raise our child on your own, hoping our child can wield this magic.” He held his hands out before him, staring at them. “I need a moment to myself.” He waved his hand and abruptly severed our connection.

  ✧

  “You’re looking good,” Norill purred.

  I was drenched in sweat, lying on the damp ground, shivering. “What do you want?” I croaked.

  She curled her fingers around the bars. “To see you suffer. There’s not much else to do in this forsaken kingdom.”

  Knowing Norill only wanted a rise out of me, I didn’t respond. Were all the Heks who wielded dark magic this cruel? It made sense why Grei Heks wanted Morlet and Linnea to create a child who was a blend of the two—in hopes of balancing it out.

  She smiled sardonically. “What? No wise words for me today? Do you honestly think keeping your mouth shut will save you from more misery?” She tilted her head. The veins below her eyes darkened, sending a jolt of dread through me. “Do you know that when I play with the assassin, he enjoys it immensely?”

  Fury ignited within me. I couldn’t let her see how much her words hurt me. I pressed my body against the ground, straining not to respond to her taunting words.

  Norill chuckled. “He is fun to play with.” Releasing the bars, she took a step back, watching me closely. “When I kiss him, he wails with pleasure. When I dig my fingers into his scrumptious human flesh, he screams in agony.” She leaned forward as if confiding a secret and whispered, “When I told him I had you in my clutches, he tried bargaining with me.”

  Anders knew I was here? Anxiety bombarded me. I didn’t want him to do something stupid to save me. I reminded myself that Anders had trained for situations such as this one. He wouldn’t bargain with Norill. He never wanted anyone to know his true fee
lings—especially his enemies.

  “He’s an interesting one,” she forged on. “Quite a lively past. Do you know anything about him? You seem to be such an innocent creature. Hard to believe you’d give your heart to someone so vile, someone so similar to my kind. You do know he’s an animal, don’t you? The things he’s done.” She shivered with pleasure. “The assassin is so intriguing I couldn’t help but sample him.” Her eyelids fluttered shut. “He is rather delicious.”

  If it weren’t for this warded cell, I would have struck her down. The only way she could know these things about Anders was by torturing him. What had he endured at her hands? I clenched my jaw shut and balled my hands into fists, trying to keep my temper and emotions under control.

  “You know,” Norill said, lowering her voice to a whisper, “when we frolicked in bed a few hours ago, he was screaming with pleasure.” The words rebounded off the walls of my cell.

  “You lie!” I lost control and shot to my feet. “If he was enjoying your company, he wouldn’t be bargaining with you.”

  “That’s why he shared my bed.” A cruel smile spread across her lips. A lump formed in my stomach. “In exchange, I promised to come down here to make sure you’re alive and well. Which, clearly you are. I think we’ll see what other deals we can strike. To sample him again, I might even agree to feed you.”

  Bile rose in the back of my throat. I reached through the bars to punch Norill, but she stepped out of reach.

  “You’re a child, Kaia. I’ve taken your assassin and made him mine. How does it feel?”

  There was no need to answer. The vindictive gleam in her eyes indicated she knew exactly how I felt. How much her words stung.

  “I want my magic back,” she snarled. “Morlet believes the Krigers will come willingly to rescue you. I am not so confident.”

  I tried to keep my face neutral so she wouldn’t know I agreed with her. If anyone came to rescue me, it would be Vidar, not the Krigers.

  “Let’s strike a deal. If you bring the Krigers here, I’ll release the assassin. If you refuse, he will be my toy. Permanently. What’s your answer?”

  “What are the terms?” I asked, my mind reeling with the possibilities and pitfalls.

  Norill leaned forward. “I will let you go. You will bring the Krigers here within a fortnight. Once the twelve of you are in the tower room, I’ll release the assassin.”

  I paced about my cell, considering her offer. Fourteen days wasn’t a lot of time to make it to Vidar and the Krigers at the tree house, train, and make it back here fully prepared to confront Morlet. If we rushed into facing the king, it could be the end of the Krigers forever. There was more to consider, more at stake, than Anders.

  “You will have to make a blood oath to me,” Norill said. “Since there’s magic in your blood, it will be binding.”

  She didn’t know all the elements to ending the curse. “I have to be pregnant with Morlet’s child before the Krigers can defeat him.”

  She sniggered. “I can arrange for that to happen before you leave. It won’t take but a moment. What do you say?”

  I bit my lip and came to stand before the bars. This was probably the only chance I’d have to get out.

  Norill lifted a finger, placing her razor-sharp nail along her wrist to slice it open for the blood oath. Her eyes shone with triumph.

  I leaned forward. “I’d rather die than allow you to have magic again.”

  She hissed and lunged for me. I jumped back, out of her reach. Norill latched onto the bars. “Perhaps you’ll change your mind once I start sending you pieces of the assassin’s body.”

  “Maybe I don’t care for him the way you think I do.”

  Her skin darkened, making it hard to see her black veins. “One of these days, I will gut you and eat your insides.” She turned and stormed away.

  ✧

  I was sitting on the bench in the courtyard again. Morlet stood with his back to me near the pile of burning wood, his cape billowing around him in the wind. The smoke stung my eyes, forcing me to blink away tears. The fire didn’t cloud my mind like the last time.

  Morlet turned around to face me. His black cape matched the night sky. The bright orange fire rose ten feet into the air, making him look like a shadow before the flames. “Kaia,” he said, his voice coated with amusement. I shivered—something was wrong. Morlet’s blue eyes glowed beneath his hood from having just used his magic. “I have something for you. Come, look.” He waved his black-gloved hand, wanting me to go closer to the fire.

  I stood and walked over. When I neared, I realized there was something in the middle of the fire. My pulse quickened. Morlet grabbed my arm, shoving me in front of him. On the center of the woodpile, Anders was tied to a flat wooden board. The flames engulfed his body. He screamed, struggling against the rope holding his arms and legs in place.

  “No!” I cried, my legs giving out. Morlet held me upright, forcing me to face Anders.

  “Run, Kaia!” Anders begged. “Get out of here!” The flames surrounded his body, his face contorted in pain.

  I lunged for him, wanting to seize him from the fire. Morlet wrapped his arms around my body, holding me in place. The intense heat made it difficult to breathe. How was Anders still alive?

  “Watch him burn with me, love,” Morlet whispered in my ear.

  “Let me go!” I stomped on Morlet’s foot and slammed my elbow into his stomach, but he didn’t even flinch.

  “Shh… there’s no need to panic. I cast a spell on his body—his flesh will burn for a fortnight so he may experience true pain, but it won’t kill him. Then, once the two weeks are up, the spell will vanish, and he will burn to death.”

  “Why are you doing this?” I cried. The smell of Anders’s burning flesh singed my nose.

  “You said you love him more than me.” Morlet’s grip tightened around my body. “We are going to have a child together. I can’t have you caring for another man, and I certainly can’t have another man loving you.”

  Anders lay on the board screaming, the sound echoing in the courtyard as he burned alive. I leaned forward and retched.

  I woke up covered in vomit. I had to save Anders from the magical fire. He couldn’t suffer because of me.

  A loaf of bread and water had been shoved inside my cell. Not wanting to think about what that meant, I forced myself to eat the hard bread and drink the warm water in order to regain my strength.

  Even though Morlet had healed my ribs and knee, several bruises covered my skin and my torso was still tender. Given that I was cold and shaking, it was safe to assume I still suffered from a fever. My weapon was lying in a room upstairs, and the medallion rested around Norill’s neck. My situation seemed bleak, but I vowed to make it out of there. I just needed a compelling plan. And fast.

  If a soldat thought I sustained a life-threatening injury, he would have to open the door to save me. In order for that to happen, I needed blood. My fingernails weren’t long and sharp like Norill’s. Although, one was a little jagged—it would have to do. Pulling up my sleeve, I exposed the underside of my forearm. I dug my nail into the skin, ripping it open. I smeared the blood over the side of my face and into my hairline. Satisfied, I laid on the ground.

  No one came by. Impatient and envisioning Anders burning alive, I screamed and stomped on the ground, hoping it sounded like I had fallen. Boots pounded as a soldat approached. I closed my eyes and made sure the bloody side of my face was angled toward the bars. Keys jingled, and the soldat unlocked the door. He rushed inside and cursed. Kneeling beside me, he shook my shoulder, trying to rouse me.

  The man was probably twice my size, I knew I had to be aggressive and act fast, surprising him. In one swift motion, I wrapped my arm around his neck and squeezed, hoping he would pass out.

  “What’s this?” he grunted. “You’re not hurt?” His hands frantically pushed against my torso.

  I cried out in pain, but didn’t release my hold. He dug his fingers into my arm. My grip loosen
ed. Seizing the metal water bowl, I smashed it over his head. When he wavered, I pressed my arm harder, just under his ear against his nerve center. He went slack.

  I shoved his body off mine. Not knowing how much time I had until he regained consciousness, I removed his red army tunic and put it on over my clothing. I used the edge of the fabric to wipe the blood off my face.

  Exhausted from the physical exertion, I wanted to lie down and rest. However, I didn’t have a moment to waste. Shaking, I exited the cell and locked the door, pocketing the keys. Not wanting Morlet to sense me now that I had my power back, I quickly called on it, wrapping a shield around my body. It wavered. I leaned against the bars, willing the shield to hold. My power surged in response, firmly maintaining the shield.

  If anyone glanced my way, they would see my shoulder-length hair and the red tunic used by men from the King’s Army. Hopefully, they would assume I was a soldat. However, if scrutinized, I’d be discovered as an imposter. Standing tall and confident as if I belonged there, I strode down the hallway passing several prisoners asleep in their cells.

  The first thing I needed to do was retrieve my bo staff. Once I had my weapon, I could access my full power, which I would need to counter Morlet’s spell on Anders.

  Boot steps echoed up ahead. I turned down the next hallway and flattened myself against the wall, hoping to remain unseen. A few moments later, a soldat walked by the adjacent hallway, not even noticing me. After waiting a couple of minutes to ensure he was far enough away, I continued.

  At an intersection, I peered around the corner. The right led to a stairwell, but two men armed with swords stood guard at the bottom, approximately thirty feet away. Using my power could alert Morlet, so I’d have to fight them without it. Taking on two burly soldats while weak with a fever would be difficult. There had to be a way to separate them.

  Rounding the corner, I kept my head angled down, so they wouldn’t notice I was a girl. “There’s something wrong with the Kriger prisoner,” I called out in a deep voice. “I need one of you to assist me.”