by Jamie Magee
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Sometimes it is just beautiful to see how the universe works out our inner turmoil.”
“So it’s in the palace?”
“There are many mysteries in that residence, including the one you are seeking to unravel.”
“Does, um, that First know I’m gunning for her—um, him?”
“Horace? No doubt. He also knows Drake’s weakness. And obviously yours.”
“What weakness does Drake have? And here’s a clue: do not say women.”
He had to hold in a grin. “I told you already: anger. Now you have to ask yourself, what would escalate to the point of erupting the wrath within his being?”
“Are you saying that Horace dude will take me? Put me through all the crap Charlie and Willow have been through?”
“He has tried. More than once. You have outwitted him. Out of the seven, beyond Willow and Landen you and Drake have progressed the farthest.”
“The seven?” I said with a gasp, remembering the hypnosis I was under and the words I said.
“Seven. Seven dark emotions that cannot be handled in their purest form by human souls. Seven sovereigns and their lines were meant to reprieve that emotion, and several of them have failed…therefore, the Creator has found the next souls needed to reign—but you see, there is a process to every transition. Your emotion is obsession. You, along with Drake, have nearly reached the point you need to take down that sovereign. You came so close that the other sovereigns have stepped in and entangled Drake, along with you, into the others. The point is for you to hurt yourselves.”
“Is that the only point there, Vade?”
He moved his head slowly from side to side as anger engulfed his god-like image. “No. They want to take me down, for once they do, they will have the power to invade your reality—the one you were sent here from. My fellow kings are addicts. They see no reason at this point. They have a target and desire, and they will reach it one way or another, unless they are stopped.”
“Then why don’t you stop it?”
“Because I trust my Creator. I trust that it was meant to hurt me and that those who came from my essence will not be a dagger of death, but a blade pointed at victory.”
“Let me sum this up. Drake belongs to you. He was stolen. You didn’t know that, but it didn’t matter because he and I managed to throw a few blows at this King of Obsession person, but then they got wise and started to crisscross us all so we would be too confused or mad to fight who we were after. What I need to kill, is in that palace.”
“A quick mind. I like that.” He cleared his throat. “Madison Marie Blair, there is more I must caution you about.”
“Listening,” I uttered weakly.
“The sovereigns and those that rank highly in their line can imitate any soul for a short time. They will confuse you and do everything in their power to twist you into the emotions you are at war with.”
“Obsession?”
“Jealousy. Anger.”
“All too true,” I admitted.
“My advice to you—instead of daring Drake to step off the stage he is on, join him.”
“Join him? Are you telling me to be cool with him acting like he has a thing for Willow and I am nothing but a look-alike?”
“I adore your anger,” he said with a leer. “I am telling you that several dark souls have their stares aimed at the pair of you, and right now they see Drake as a win. They feel that lifetimes ago they permanently hindered the two of you. The moment they doubt that, they will aim their blows in your direction, just as Drake fears.”
“What exactly did they do lifetimes ago?”
He let silence reign for a moment or two as he carefully chose his words. It was clear that he did not want to lay this all out for me, which made no sense considering I wasn’t supposed to remember any of this anyway.
“When you or any soul such as yours crosses The Fall—Heaven’s gate—you have an immense amount of power within your vessel. Your soul absorbs every part of the flesh; it is meant to protect you, to propel you forward. In your case, that did not occur.”
“I guess bad luck has a knack for following me,” I said.
“On the contrary. The last thing the sovereigns expected was for you to walk into those palace doors to save Drake. Luck is not always blissful; sometimes it manifests as tragedy.”
“Okay, so I guess they killed me then, huh? How did that have anything to do with what has happened since then? With the reason why I am fighting jealousy?”
“Everything. If your vessel had been returned to the Earth properly, if the universe felt you return, it would have diligently guided you into every lifetime past that point…there would have been no reason, purpose, or way that Willow ever would have crossed Drake’s past lives.”
I was speechless. Was he saying that because I died in some weird way in the past that caused a loophole—a way for them to embed Willow next to Drake? If so, all I could say to those other kings was, well played. By doing that, they not only jacked up me and Drake, but also Willow and Landen; well, they gave us doubt.
“I can’t really do much about the past, now can I?” I boldly managed to say.
“Oh, but you see, that is where your answers lie. You have to go back to that moment, recover what you lost…and when you do, jealousy will leave you. And of course, you will have changed the game in so many ways.”
“Sounds like a lot of work to get over jealousy. I think I can manage without looking for a vessel of mine that can be nothing more than ashes at this point.”
Slowly, he stepped forward as he let his crossed arms fall. “This is not the first time that you and Drake have chosen to put on a show for all those who care to watch—having them believe that you are enemies instead of soul mates.”
“And why would we have done that, then, if there was no Willow to contend with?”
He gazed at me witheringly. “I heard what you said to Willow a few days ago, how you fear that if you completely commit to another soul that you will lose yourself and give evil every reason to take that away from you…tell me how deeply you believe what you said to her.”
I swallowed nervously, hating that this guy had been watching any part of my life. “Deep.”
“Our deepest fears resonate from past lives. They are often altered as the soul tries to unlock them. You feared that before, and before you chose to play a part and act as if there was no devotion to be found.”
“Didn’t work out so hot then, did it?”
“It worked beautifully for a while, but Drake was betrayed just before your final act, and because he was your vessel he did not find rest leading the sovereigns to continue their pursuit across several lifetimes.”
I couldn’t even fathom what I was up against. “Was that by luck, or can they see the future?”
“When you are around for a few eternities, you can almost guess—predict is probably a better way to say it—what will occur, so yes then, they did plan to challenge you in every way, in every lifetime…but you see, now they are all addicts; they have forgotten the ploys they had then, the details of them. Now they just know who they want to end, and how they plan to do that in the short term.” His eyes rapidly moved across my focused image. “Karma is eternal law. You see, when sovereigns dwell on this plane they adapt to the time cycle. They forget the deeds they have done and underestimate the memory of time. Drake was forced into a situation to fake love, and now with his true lover he will fake hate and that will bring him nothing less than supremacy over his enemies.”
“We have to fool them,” I said quietly as my eyes widened. “We have to make them think that the damage they have done is permanent.”
He nodded once, then moved closer. “Righting wrongs is never an easy task to conquer. Find your beginning. Find it in that palace. Trust your heart and soul.” He reached for my temple, and when his skin touched mine I felt a burn, followed by a sick dizziness. “Now, you will be able to sense your traitors.”
“What did you do to me?” I mumbled as I swayed.
“Rest now.”
And with that, my eyes fell shut.
Chapter Seven
~Drake~
Someone shaking my shoulder woke me out of one of the best dreams I’d ever had in my life. Zander. I clutched Madison to me in an automatic defense; he just smirked and nodded his head, telling me to meet him downstairs.
I tucked Madison in, rushed through a shower, and put on the clothes that my brother must have left out for me before going downstairs to meet him.
“I give you a promotion, and you decide to take the morning off?” I teased. Right then, I heard an alarm going off in the kitchen and took off in that direction. Preston, my near infant brother, had turned the burners on the stove on, and had pans sitting on all of them. I rushed to him and turned the heat back and the fan on before opening the back door. I turned to him and signed, “What gives? Hungry? Just ask me.”
He grinned at me and signed, “Pancakes.”
Zander was leaning in the doorway, shaking his head. “Are you ever going to use words with him?”
“I do on occasion,” I said as I pulled out a stool for Preston to sit on and searched for something to give him to drink. Preston had only gained the ability to speak and hear recently, something I didn’t want to think about now. “You ready to tell me why you took the day off?”
“Not day; afternoon. Preston wanted someone to take him home. My new boss Chrispin gave me that job.”
Must mean Chrispin trusted him. I felt a wave of guilt. When I left to come to Chara last night I thought Preston was in Chara already. Even as crazed as I was, I doubted I would have left him behind. He was like a son to me. Every move I’ve made since he was born was done to protect him.
“How is everything there?” My dimension was far ahead of this one in time, so I had no doubt by now Alamos had figured out I had abandoned ship.
“Quiet for the most part,” Zander said as he stared at me.
“Anyone recognize you?”
“Only as a warrior.”
Preston giggled as he looked up at Zander.
I shook my head. Clairvoyants surrounded me, yet not one of them saw fit to tell me my future.
Preston signed, “I’ll just take cereal. You don’t have time to cook. Landen is coming to talk to you, and after that Zander is going to take you to get inked.”
“Inked?” I said, utterly confused.
They both glanced to my arm. I pulled up my sleeve and had to force myself not to gasp. Madison had used me as a canvas—in permanent marker, no doubt. My shower didn’t faze her marks on my skin. I barely noticed the names that were more symbolic than I could express. My eyes focused on ‘first, last, forever.’ Creator help me, I had actually made some headway with that woman. Why the hell did that terrify me? Oh, I know: because if this was all a game, I would be ruined for lifetimes to come.
“Not a game,” Preston signed. I moved my head from side to side as I gazed at my six-year-old brother’s innocence. He terrified me sometimes. He really did.
“It would be a nice gesture to make it real,” Zander prompted.
“You think you have to talk me into this? That I would not have found a way to ink myself?”
Zander shrugged. “You would not have had the idea if you were still asleep.”
“So now I am to thank you for pulling me out of the bed with Madison Marie?” I taunted as I made us all cereal.
“What did Alamos say?” I asked once we were all settled around the breakfast bar.
“Which one?”
I’d lost my appetite. I pushed my half-eaten bowl away from me. I was going to have to kill Alamos, and I didn’t want to.
“The evil one told me to bring you back if I wanted to keep my head, but the nice one hasn’t come out of his chambers; therefore, we are in the same spot as before.”
If Zander had something of Alamos’, he could cast a spell that would cause whomever was mirroring him to surface, ensuring that I did indeed strike the right man.
Preston pushed his bowl away and hopped down from his stool. “Where are you going?” I signed.
“Zander wants to talk about grown up stuff. I’m going to find Libby.”
“Are you allowed to roam here?”
“Just over the hill. Safe. Promise.”
He hugged me, then ran out the door. I watched him until he disappeared over the hilltop.
Just as I went to open the door and follow him to ensure he got to where was supposed to go, Zander spoke.
“He’s already inside Libby’s house. Safe and sound.”
I glared back him. In the palace, I never let Preston roam alone, and the idea that he could in this dimension caused jealousy to erupt in my soul. Perfect. Little. Chara.
“What grown up stuff do you want to talk about?
“Five sacrifices, but only three concern you.”
“Do what?”
“Your next trial, my liege.”
“You mean Willow and Laden’s trial. A curse that should be null and void at this point.” That curse was cast to ensure that Willow was my queen. Donalt had eleven shots at it. I knew it was also cast to ensure he had dwindled me down enough to take over my body, but I never really focused on that aspect; I had enough reminders of that siege.
Willow and I had both made a decision. I wanted that to mean the spell was over. I wasn’t surprised that it wasn’t that easy. I just wasn’t looking forward to being pulled to Willow’s side again. Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t want her life at risk—and I knew if I was guarding her, Madison Marie was at risk.
“Not until it is fully played. This trial’s going to test all of you in some measure.”
“What three sacrifices are you asking of me?”
“I’m not asking; I’m warning.”
“Are you telling me she’s at risk? That I should run with her?” We both knew I was talking about Madison Marie.
“You cannot run, your—”
“My heir is not in place. I get it. Is she at risk?”
“I think she’s been coached. She should be fine as long as your temper doesn’t get in the way.”
“Mine? That woman makes me look like a lamb.”
A bellowing laugh that was out of character came from him.
“You cannot lock her down.”
“She is not roaming out of my sight.”
“Drake, she is not Clara, a toy you can put aside at will.”
Before I struck him, he held his hand up to tell me to let him go on. “Meaning she has a strong mind, one that will put your mother’s to shame. You hold her back, and you will put her in greater danger—force her to make rash decisions. If she is to be your queen, she has no choice but to be fearless.”
“A widowed queen,” I said, doubting my brilliant plan to bring her into my world.
He didn’t deny it. His stare was placid. He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know how.
“For Creator’s sake, just tell me. If I only have days, I plan to enjoy them.”
“I’ve always told you to live in the moment.”
Yep, he did, and that advice pushed me to try and do things with Willow that I never would have done otherwise. If I were a weak man, I could easily blame Zander for my reckless actions. But they were mine and mine alone. I heard what I wanted to when I wanted to.
“And you meant what by that?”
“Live like there is no tomorrow. Give her the last test, Drake. She will pass with flying colors.”
I had to look away. It’s hard having a best friend that can see right through you, literally. I never spoke of any test I was putting her through, but we both knew that was exactly what I was doing. I’m not a trusting soul. No secret there. Like Madison, I wanted proof she was not an evil ploy.
I even went as far as asking Draven exactly how all of their abilities worked. I knew what she could and could not see when she looked at me, and that was be
fore the last trial when she was dwindled down to near nothing in the way of supernatural abilities. Zander wanted me to let her all the way in, and I’ll be damned if I didn’t want to.
“Plan to. You’re deflecting. What do you not want to say to me?”
He cleared his throat. “Your mother spoke the truth over you last night. You are an original Blakeshire.”
I raised my brow, telling him to go on. I trusted him more than my mother.
“Shortly after Donalt turned dark, his bloodline sent you to the palace. They assumed he was dying and that there was no heir in place. When you arrived, you discovered that was not the case. He had been overcome, and you had to take the stage. Play the part of a blind prince.”
“This have anything to do with a glass boat?”
No response to that question.
“In that life, you refused to be a widower. You were valiant, yet imprisoned anyway. Madison Marie has been coached to undo that past, and when she jumps you are going to let her. If you love her at all, you are going to trust her to come back to you.”
I had no idea how literal he was being, and pushing him was not going to get me anywhere. He’d clam up faster than I could slug him.
“Who’s coaching her? Can I trust them? And why hasn’t she told me about them?” Madison was by no means a chatterbox, but surely she would have mentioned someone speaking to her about a past that centered on us, especially considering that was our one issue.
“They have your best interests in mind. And I doubt she is fully aware that she has been gracefully guided.”
“Gracefully,” I repeated. Zander chose his every word carefully. Could the Creator Himself have woken from his slumber and decided to finally show mercy on my world? I’d believe it when I saw it.
Zander nodded to the doorway. “Landen just pulled up.”
Meaning conversation over.
Chapter Eight
~Madison~
Wicked dreams are not new to me in any way, but this one was almost too much for me. I saw black ink taking the place of the faces that were around me. It would wave slowly, daring me to stare deeper into the wicked darkness of it. There were so many aromas in the air, but I couldn’t take them all in; the stench of sulfur was too overpowering.