A Kingdom of Shadow

by Clara Johnson

  “But she survived the blood, she’s the first to ever do it. She may be able to put an end to the Darkness once and for all,” Fendrel argued.

  Jared shook his head. “No, I won’t allow it.”

  Anger rose in me again. What in the name of the Goddess were they talking about? Training? Putting an end to the Darkness? There’s a way? “What are you talking about?” I demanded.

  Fendrel and Jared exchanged glances then Jared took a deep breath. “The blood vial you drank from promises to give you some of the Darkness power, but it is barely a spec of its total power. The stories of its existence have been nothing but that: stories. Somehow, Fendrel found one of the vials locations and convinced you to drink from it. You are the only person who not only found the vial, proving its existence, you also survived its poison. You should be dead, Ellyn.”

  “You’re right. I should be dead,” I said then took a deep breath. Fendrel’s eyes told me that this was the right path. That’s when it came to me. By training and finding the other vials, I could have my vengeance and gain the power I needed to end the Darkness once and for all. And Jared wanted me to have no part of that.

  I stood. “But I’m not dead and if that means that I must train and find the other vials then so be it. I will not stand here while you try to decide my fate for me and ignore the danger. The Darkness has returned. And your people are in danger. Those inferniwulves have killed your men—my brother. If I hadn’t save your life, I never would’ve been put in this situation to begin with.”

  Jared was silent for a moment before he said, “I know. I’m sorry.” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. He tried to hide his hurt feelings from me and I instantly regretted saying those words.

  “I don’t regret saving your life, Jared. I’m glad I did because I may be the only one who can save your people. But . . . if you continue to lie to your people and ignore the threat then I have no other choice. If you won’t help me stop it, if you won’t help me destroy it, then you need to stay out of my way.”

  I turned on my heel and walked out leaving the kings behind.

  CHAPTER 32

  After I stormed out on Fendrel and Jared, leaving them to fight like children, I wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of my lungs. Jared wanted to, yet again, throw this under the rug and pretend it wasn’t happening. He’d wanted to decide my fate for me and tell me I couldn’t train. Did he truly not understand what was at stake here? People—his people have died because he didn’t take this seriously. How can I convince him to face the truth that the barriers are no longer working? What is it going to take? How many more lives must be lost?

  I clenched my hands into fists as the black flame encased them. This power was the only thing stopping the Darkness from killing everyone. If I could harness it, control it, then I can prevent any more lives being lost.

  Somehow, deep within me, I knew the Darkness had grown more powerful. It was the only explanation why it had sent scouts to Mightrun. And to my home. That dream I had . . . there was more to it than I originally thought. Someone was behind these attacks. I just didn’t know who it was. That man with the white wolf . . . was he behind it? Is he the Darkness?

  Voices interrupted my thoughts and I rushed to a nearby bench, hiding my hands under my arms as they approached. It was two servants chatting, ignoring my entirely. When they passed, I relaxed and my hands returned to normal. The cold, black fire gone.

  I had to calm down and think logically. Jared knew the danger but was determined to believe he could managed it. I supposed he did that because the last thing he needs is to prove to his people that he is incapable of protecting them. This was his way to ensure that there isn’t a rebellion or backlash.

  I guessed I could understand his point of view, but all it did was increase the need for me to do this. I was the only one who could stop it. The fate of the kingdom and its people had to rest on my shoulders while their king played their figurehead.

  I looked out past the railing to the bright green grass over the hills. The trees were alive, soaking up the sunshine. The sky was clear, with no sign of the upcoming storm. I knew was coming. One day, this land would become corrupted and die by the claws of the Darkness.

  That dream I’d had was a warning. About what I would become and what had lurked in the shadows of my mind. I’d wondered if Fendrel knew more than he was letting on and I would need to get that information if we are to succeed. No matter how insignificant.

  That mark on his chest. There was more to it than he’d let on and I’d have to get it from him, but suppose it isn’t what I think it is and I end up hurting him by bringing up painful memories? He had been scarred and I had no right to demand to know what had happened to him. I would have to learn to trust him and let him tell me when he was ready.

  Someone sat beside me, but I knew who it was without looking. The familiar musky scent filled my nose.

  “You were right, you know,” Fendrel said, casually. “If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t even be here.”

  I shrugged. “I would’ve died anyway. Then my family would’ve starved without me.”

  “Then it was a blessing that you came to us.” He smiled.

  “I suppose so.”

  He shifted in his seat. “There . . . was a small mining outpost on the outskirts of Isilda called Silver Veil that was hit about ten years ago. The entire outpost only held about fifteen people, but none of them survived. I deemed it an attack by bandits and their wolf companions to avoid a panic, but I was at Jared’s doorstep the next day. Even then, he did not heed my warnings.”

  I looked at him. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “I understand why Jared is doing what he’s doing, even though it’s not right. Sometimes as a king you have to lie to your people until you can figure out what’s happening. While I know it makes us both frustrated, he is doing what he can.”

  “I know,” I said. “The barriers. They failed and your people were slaughtered.”

  “Yes.” He lowered his head. “They aren’t walls as you may understand them. Jared’s ancestors placed them there centuries ago during the last uprising of the Darkness. They’re invisible to the naked eye, but they’re a protection spell of sorts. They are meant to keep evil at bay from entering our lands.”

  “And they worked. Until recently”

  He nodded. “Yes. I don’t know how they are managing to get past them after all this time, but there is no way I can find out for sure unless Jared decides to empty his closet of family secrets.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  Fendrel continued. “Jared’s bloodline is the only one who can control them because it was his family who put them there to begin with. They can’t be changed or altered without him. Only he can manipulate them.”

  That probably explained what I’d seen the day he brought me here. He’d been opening the barrier to let us through.

  “So what do we do?” I asked.

  “We do as I said; train you to control your newfound abilities. You survived drinking the Darkness’ blood. I have no doubt that you will survive the others,” he said, his voice filled with confidence and new aspirations. What I would give to see what goes in in that mind of his.

  “The other vials?”

  “There are three fountains each of which have their own vial of the Darkness’ blood. You will need to drink all of them before you can fully control it. I only found the location of the one We will need to search to for the others.”

  Wonderful, I get to go through that two more times.

  We sat there in silence for a few minutes, staring out at the beautiful view. My mind filled with memories of the old man’s story about his family and the men who died at Mightrun. This was only the beginning. Many more will follow.

  We were at war.

  I remembered my brother. We’d fought the last time I spoke to him. I should’ve told him how much I loved him. I should’ve spent mo
re time with him. I should’ve been faster. Stronger. If I was, none of this would’ve happened. All the family I had left was Mother. It was too late for me to fix my mistakes in the past, but if I am to have a future here, I would have to fight for it.

  I’d have to become something more than myself. More than the young woman that spent her life caring for her family.

  “So, in order to defeat the Darkness. I have to become part of it. And I may lose who I was in the process.”

  Fendrel took ahold of my chin, staring into my eyes.

  “I promise you this, Ellyn. I will do everything in my power sure that doesn’t happen. You’re a strong woman and I know you can do this.”

  I nodded, unsure of what to say. I stood and walked to the balcony, welcoming the warm breeze that caressed my skin. The cool darkness that resided in my heart would be the only thing stopping all this from happening. I would embrace it, make it my own, bend it to my will. I would have my vengeance for the death of my brother, no matter how this played out. This was the first step to a long journey and I would be ready.

  Fendrel stood beside me, his hand resting next to mine. His face was sad despite our success. It was as if something plagued his mind. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but decided against it.

  We both had our secrets, but we would need to learn to trust each other. We were all we had in this war so instead, I offered him my hand and Fendrel took it anxiously. Perhaps he needed my support as much as I needed his.

  “We’ll get through this; together,” I told him. “No matter what happens, Fen. I’ll be here for you as you have been for me.”

  His smile spread. “You just called me ‘Fen.’”

  “Yes . . . I suppose I did.”

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  To be honest, I never thought I would write a book and much less publish one. So, I was never prepared to write this. There are several people I want to thank for all of their love and support:

  To Jackson: the love of my life, my other half and without him, this book never would have started and much less finished! You gave me the confidence to push forward even when writer’s block prevented me from going further or when I felt as though I could never write a good story.

  To my beta readers: you helped me see through better lenses to polish this book to its final state. Thank you for being brutally honest and supportive.

  To my father: you inspired me to be better and fight past the barriers that life gives each and every one of us. You are with me in both mind and spirit. RIP Dad.

  And of course, to all of my readers: thank you for being here with me as we go through this journey with Ellyn Cromwell and her friends. You guys are the reason I write and I can’t wait to share the rest of this story and many other stories with you in the future! You guys are awesome!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Clara C. Johnson is a small-town girl who never thought she would write a novel. With her love of fantasy and the endless possibilities that come with it, she wanted to be a part of the imagination in creating a world where readers could lose themselves in. She currently lives in Pennsylvania, US with her fiancé.

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