The Royal Assassin: Shadows of Myst

by Shireen Nemnich

  I sigh deeply looking at her lovely face. I’m not sure she is asking me or making a statement but I couldn’t use her in such a way and I am hoping she knows this. “No, but it sounded good.” I wink and a grin spreads along her lips. I then pull her to me swinging her around in my arms and she giggles even more. “Dance with me instead.” I say.

  “Dance?”

  “Yes dance.” I sweep her around with me and she clings to me.

  “I don’t know how to dance... Mystics don't dance.” She says suddenly her eyes bright and her shadows swirl wildly.

  “Nightelves do. So I will teach you.” I say spinning around with her in my arms as she giggles and clings to me. I feel her joy, which is so much better than the fear I felt only a moment ago. Now I’m feeling so wild with magic. We reach the bottom of the stairs and I pull her close to me and kiss her sweet mouth so deeply leaving her and I both breathless when I lift my head.

  I take a step back from her and lift my hands up and instantly my stov-vo-kievs fling themselves from the walls and with a quick flick of my wrists I store them. Now my shadow blades fling in the air to my hands and I store them as well. I see the awe in her eyes and I have to admit I'm really feeling awesome with power. I grab her again spinning her around then I pull her into my arms. Her soft whispery giggles are like liquid magic to my soul so I press my lips again to hers.

  I spin her away again lifting my hand and my veil flies through the air towards me. I see and feel her excitement when I use my magic in such a way. I can even hear her heartbeats speeding up as well. I reach for veil to don it but she rushes into my arms pressing her sweet lips to mine slipping my veil from my fingers. Her lips linger along mine and my arms instinctively hold her body to mine. I feel her hands slip my veil up onto my head and as she releases my lips she gently lowers it over my eyes letting it fall into place.

  I lift my hand and her veil flies through the air and she snatches it before it reaches me and I laugh. She quickly slips it on excited she will go with me and not be left alone when I speak with Phantom. I do not need to learn my lesson twice. She will never leave my side when he comes calling. I will also never leave her side either. I feel a little mocking tone in my voice once she is fully veiled, “Shall we see what daddy wants?”

  She giggles and nods. I sweep my protective magic around her and she nearly purrs with appreciation and I think something sexual but I’m really trying not to think about that right now. I slip her arm in mine and together we step out our front door. I can see Phantom’s annoyance that we took our sweet time to come see him. Good!

  “Phantom.” I say with a small nod.

  “Royal Assassin.” He snorts, then his voice takes on a different note when he says Shadowen’s name. It’s soft, sultry… magical, “Shadowen, my dearest.” My magic shoots straight out swirling in a display of disapproval at his conjuring.

  I know that it has no effect and she is still safe but I now realize he used his voice to magically enforce obedience from her. Not going to happen ever again.

  “We haven’t all day. What do you want?” I say quickly.

  “I have matters that I need to discuss with my daughter, from one Heir to another.” He says smoothly.

  “Speak.” I say.

  “What I say is for her ears alone as one Heir to another not for assassins or mixed bloods.” He says still sounding smooth with magic.

  “Not ever going to happen.” I say quite firmly.

  He lifts his hand to her as if she will take it and I suddenly feel her fighting the urge. I sweep my magic firmly around her and yet I feel her struggling not to accept his offered hand.

  Now his voice is amazingly soft, sultry and the most alluring sound I ever heard, “Shadowen… come child.” I feel Shadowen losing her struggle and now I feel her reaching out to me. Help me Reis.

  I slip behind her and slide both my hands around her waist. A very intimate display of affection and I feel her breathing ease. I also feel Phantom’s outrage and when he is angry his concentration is divided. I lean over her shoulder lightly, whispering for her ear alone, “Shadowen… did I mention you smell so good right now. You are so lovely and so beautiful that you are distracting me so much that I need to take you to bed as soon as we are done with him. Then we will make sweet love until tomorrow.”

  She leans back into me and that is exactly what she needs to break the hold he has. I do not understand why he has this hold over her? I feel her sexual magic sweep along me and the best part is I know Phantom sees and feels it. This makes his rage increase one hundred fold. He now shows his true colors, “You allow him to bed you! You disgust me! Do not bed him again!” His hand reaches out again even more fiercely to her.

  This is the first time I ever heard her speak to him and I am so stunned by her voice being so soft and so incredibly sensual, but most of all it’s her words. “You no longer control the power and so you think you can continue to control me through this vessel. Not anymore. You no longer control me.”

  “Shadowen? No!” he hisses.

  I’m shocked as she takes a step forward raising her right hand in his direction and he immediately drops to his knees writhing in agony. I slip to the side and look at her. I cannot see any magic or feel it but it’s obviously there streaming from her towards him. It’s then I see it shining in her left hand, the Royal Chalice. She is holding the Royal Chalice and it is speaking through her to him. I drop down to one knee once I realize I am in the presence of not only the Heir but the Royal Chalice herself.

  She points her finger at him. “Leave this vessel alone!” Phantom weakly stands then without another word he shifts quickly away into a shadow. She turns to me and I bow my head as her voice touches me. “Royal Assassin...” her hand gently lifts my chin. “You are now Royal Consort to the Heir of the Royal Chalice.”

  “Thank you.” I say with the utmost gratitude.

  “You will not stray and you will protect her with your very life.”

  I vow. “I will never stray and I will protect her with my very life.”

  “I...” She pauses in her words, her voice so soft, “She is your destiny, as you are hers.”

  I look up at Shadowen and magic is swirling around her like silver shadows. “She is my destiny and I am hers.” I say firmly. Her veil lifts magically and the most incredible smile touches her lips and I feel like I am being bathed in her.

  A shadow forms and the Royal Seer reveals himself not more than three feet in front of her as her veil slips over her face once more. He drops to his knee, lowering his head. His magic is amazingly powerful and thick with shadows. I'm stunned to feel his magic and see him here. He's never been to my home. He's never visited me that I can ever recall. But then I realize he's not here to see me; he's here because she is here. How did he know she would be here? Then it dawns on me that he's the Royal Seer. Of course he knows.

  His voice is warm, filled with magic and even I feel the effect. I never knew he held such powerful magic. “I come as pledged, Royal Chalice.”

  She lifts her hand towards him and it's a beckoning of sorts and he immediately rushes forward dropping again to his knee. Now he's close enough for her to touch and I'm not sure how I feel about all this, but I keep silent and watch. She lifts his veil with a magical gesture and he keeps his eyes lowered. I've never seen the face of my father and now I'm not sure if I should. Perhaps I should turn my head away, but I don't. I can't look away from her. I am after all her protector.

  “My Royal Seer...” Her voice nothing but a sultry whisper and it makes my blood burn with jealousy. Yet I feel nothing in the way of sexual emotions from her or my father. Her hand gently strokes along his chin and suddenly he groans in relief yet his breath is coming out in gasps. I study him a moment and I can only pick up relief from him, nothing but pure relief. “You may seek solace in me.” she further whispers.

  He lifts his head and I see his eyes for the very first time. I have his eyes, save for my shadows are near black, but we sh
are the same face and eyes. I note his lips are the only thing different, that and his hair. His hair is dark black, not one speck of silver or white, which surprises me. Now she strokes along his face and his eyes flutter closed, his lips parting in ecstasy as she speaks again, “You see, I have forgiven you.” Forgiven? What has my father done?

  “Thank you, oh thank you.” He murmurs, not once opening his eyes.

  “Your service however is not at an end.” Service? What does she mean by service?

  “Yes, of course. I shall serve until I die.”

  “Has it been so terrible?” She asks in this wistful whisper.

  “It has been difficult.” He says and I hear the truth with each syllable of his voice. “But I understand.”

  “You have respite until evening.” She says letting go of his face and he pulls his veil back in place slipping into a shadow without another word or even a glance in my direction. Now she lowers her hand, the magic dissipates almost instantly and Shadowen collapses as the Royal Chalice slips from her fingers.

  I rise instantly embracing her before she even touches the ground along with snatching up the Chalice before it falls. I hear her breathing softly. I know she isn’t exactly asleep but I feel her struggling to remain awake. I lift her up into my arms and take her back inside. I quickly mount the stairs and lay her on the bed. I set the chalice on the headboard above her. I sit next to her and remove both our veils.

  Her eyes flutter open and a soft smile crosses her lips and she says in a very sleepy voice, “I must have passed out. Did my father do something? Is that why I don't remember?” I smile down at her a bit shakily for I fear to speak over such a huge thing as the Royal Chalice speaking through her. I’ve not heard of that actually happening for centuries and I'm not even sure she knows.

  “No little one. We sent him away.” I stroke her cheek gently and she closes her eyes. She lifts her eyes open again taking my hand in hers. I'm simply staring at her shocked yet elated that the Royal Chalice spoke to me.

  I'm not exactly sure what to think about the Royal Seer but when I think on everything what really stands forefront in my mind is that she has chosen me to be Royal Consort to her Heir. I am smiling as the tears begin to stream down my face. I touch Shadowen’s face again with my fingertips. Her eyes flutter closed as she sighs softly, “Why do you cry when I feel such joy from you?”

  Her arms reach for me and I fall right in them my head on her chest. I listen to the soft sounds of her heart as she slips off to sleep. Now my tears turn to weeping with joy since I’m holding my destiny and she is holding me.

  Thirteen

  Shadowen sleeps so soundly that I finally leave her to her rest. It must be exhausting for her to have the Royal Chalice speak through her. I head down stairs and decide to cook her something because she will be starved when she awakes.

  I’m so amazed that I have her and we are together after all this time. I’m swiftly cooking and suddenly I feel Shade outside our property. I turn down the cook top and swiftly go out to greet him. I don my veil and out the door I am. He is leaning on the gate and once he spies me he stands much straighter. His voice is as lovely as Shadowen’s but in a more masculine undertone. “Royal Assassin.” He bows briefly. I’ve not seen him nor Shadowen seen him since she was fourteen. I know this has been hard on them both.

  I return a swift but courteous nod of my head, “Shade.”

  “I would like to speak with you, if you would allow me such gratitude?” He says gently. I’m not sure about inviting him in and he must realize my hesitation and why because he says, “I do not think it wise for me to come in your home at this time, but I would like to speak with you. Here would be fine, if you are agreeable?”

  “Speak then Shade, brother to my consort.” I say more formally but still friendly.

  Interesting enough I do not feel nervousness from him and since we’ve never spoken I thought there would be something from him. “Royal Assassin…” he pauses, “it’s odd, I feel myself wishing to call you by Reis.” He tilts his head in thought then says, “That is Shadowen… of course. She speaks of you so much. You occupy her thoughts always.” This surprises me, but he continues. “I will get straight to the point as time is slipping away. I can only keep him away from my thoughts, but not from thoughts of Shadowen or thoughts of you. I have spies inside me that I need for you to remove.”

  Of course he has spies! Phantom is a wretched thing. “I can remove the spies… but… he will place them back the moment he realizes they are gone.” I say.

  “Not if I am not living with him or if you allow me to come live here with you and my sister.” He pauses then says, “I am to be trained by the Royal Conjurer to be her apprentice. Her home is…” He tilts his head then gestures to the east. “...several homes in that direction.”

  “I know where she lives.” I say.

  “She’s offered her home to me, but I mentioned you and…” He stops abruptly. “She has cast a spell on me that's allowing me this small communication with you. Please do not speak of this to Shadowen or he will know. If you decide I can live with you or if you prefer I stay with the Royal Conjurer, meet me tomorrow at the Royal Court at daybreak. I will be there with the Royal Conjurer and together you can get these spies out of me. Then maybe we can discuss more once they are removed.” He takes a slow step backward and I feel the first sign of apprehension from him. “I have to go he is waking and so is Shadowen.” He turns and I watch the shadow part as easily as when Shadowen parts them and he is gone.

  I turn swiftly shifting into my home. This could be a trick to get Shadowen. I hear her magic reaching for me and she finds me in the kitchen. I send my magic to her telling her I’ll be up in a minute, for her to stay in bed. I fix the tray of food and take it up to her. She is still lying in bed with her eyes closed. I place the tray down and cover it with magic to keep the swey-cakes warm and the ponafruit and ponamilk nice and cold.

  I sit on the edge of the bed kissing her forehead and immediately her arms slip around me and she practically devours me in kisses causing me to chuckle. “Oh dear. What have I done to deserve this?” I ask savoring each sweet kiss. She leans up and whispers, “I see Shade’s magic around you. You spoke to him.”

  “How do…” I look down at her in shock. She just smiles and leans into me and I see her milking his magic off of me. He put his magic on me and I didn’t even notice. I’m slipping. I should have been aware.

  “Shh, it’s fine.” She feels my distress. “He won’t know. It’s a secret. We know how to keep secrets from him.”

  “And from me it seems.” I say a bit harsher than I intend. She ignores my soft grumbles pulling me into her arms. I’m promptly atop her on the bed with her soft and supple body enticing me. “You wouldn’t be trying to distract me would you?”

  “No… why would I do that?” she says in the sweetest but most mischievous voice I’ve heard to date.

  “I don’t know.” I say moving intimately against her. Two can play this game. Her breath increases and I smile down at her. “You will miss your breakfast surprise…” I add softly leaning down into her neck suckling her soft skin.

  “Surprise?” she asks with her whisper all breathy sounding.

  I press more fully into her parted legs and my need is growing. But I whisper, “Tell me about Shade.”

  “Shade?” She asks moving her magic intimately over me. “Shade who?” she asks softly and I lift my head to look into her face.

  “You recall your twin brother?”

  “Oh him…” she’s so playing with me.

  “Oh… you’re good.” I say stilling her hands and she giggles.

  “I can be better.” She purrs and I don’t know how but those words of promise mixed with her magical caress put me from playful to seriously needy of her.

  “Shadowen…” I start to say but she feels my need and changes her magic to sooth me instead. I lean over and rest my head to hers.

  Her voice is much more lovin
g than sensual or playful. “I’m sorry, Reis.” She presses her fingers to my face and lifts my head. Her eyes are so expressive that I can't seem to look away when she speaks. “His magic is just to let me know that he is well. You see… we got into a small argument the other day and...” She sighs then says, “I do not know how or why, but we are able to speak to each other and I know you’ve seen me do this.” I nod and she continues. “Father has done things...” Her lips and nose scrunch up then she finally says, “Reis, he wants to get away and I told him to get out now. He has this opportunity to be the apprentice under the Royal Conjurer. It’s a great opportunity you see… I told him to do it. Get out now before it becomes worse and maybe I can see him if he does…”

  I’m listening to her explain when suddenly she stops then says, “Reis, he needs me. He’s afraid to do this because he’s afraid to leave or go out or anything like that. I can’t explain it but he needs to get out of there before it gets worse and I lose him. I told him but he wouldn't listen. So we argued and that was it… nothing. He dropped our connection and I couldn’t get him back he refused me.”

  She reaches up lovingly touching my hair. “He came out though and he touched you with his magic. That’s at least a first step. He came out and he touched you so I would know he came out.”

  “You really do need him though, too. You say he needs you, but you need him too?” I ask even though I know the answer.

  “I do need him, but I have you. He only has me.” She then smiles and peeks past my shoulder. “Swey-cakes?” she asks and I chuckle. This conversation and intimacy is over obviously. I nod. She squeals, my cue, so I roll off her. Next she surprises me by using her magic to lift the tray to her.

  “Oh very good little one. I’m impressed.” And I am.

  “If that impresses you wait until later when I do some real magic for you.” She tosses the tray lid with her magic and I watch her fling it into a shadow and it disappears. She winks at me saying, “Don’t worry, it’s in the kitchen.”