My eyes are filled with tears and I am unsure how I can leave her. I see Mysteria now as she hovers nearby, looking on. No one seems to notice her, except me... and Shade. He looks up to her and she nods to him and his magic surrounds Shadowen like I've never seen before. She holds up the Chalice in her hand tipping it over as if to show me that it is empty. My heart stops in my chest. I'm no longer breathing. I'm no longer feeling anything.
Mysteria's eyes which are the most incredible silver turn black with rage and she points towards the direction of where Phantom fled and I know what I am to do. I bite back my tears and my hand slips into his wake. I'm hunting...
There is nothing that can adequately describe the rage that fills me. There is nothing I can pinpoint to even compare it to. However with all my training and all the years I have hunted I have never felt this way before. I can taste Phantoms taint even though he's moving through the shadows so swiftly his taint leaves an unmistakable residue.
There is something else I realize. I feel anger, but not from Phantom. I feel anger in the shadows and the walls and the very ground I am standing on. With each shadow I pass through I see several shadows move with me. Now I see them move ahead of me and I'm not exactly sure if they are guiding me or spies for Phantom. His wakes are easily found now. His wounds are slowing him down. Perfect.
I have him just a shadow away. But I know I must be prepared. Just as I step through he is waiting for me with his own stov-vo-kiev. He slashes my arm but I swiftly counter his move and now I've slashed him and my shadow blade is ready. I lunge but he moves too quickly. Now he begins matching my moves and no one is as fast as me or as skilled so I know he's been ready and he's prepared himself with magic. I'm just not sure how.
I move to his left and he counters it. I slip into a shadow and he's ready when I come out the other. He's weak though and now I feel it hit me. His blade is poisoned. I cannot waste my time on him. I must kill him quickly then purge this poison from my body. I feel Myst tremble under my feet and he laughs. He actually laughs which is very unlike a Mystic. It's a sinister, evil sounding hiss, but a laugh all the same.
His voice is a low hiss filled with evil joy and his magic is sticky evil as it streams towards me. “Do you feel that? That's the life of your child being swept through Myst.” He hisses his laugh again. I know he speaks the truth because the rumbling is Shadowen's pain. I feel her pain and loss of our child. Myst trembles because of her.
I see them in the corner of my eye, shadows forming. They are black shadows not gray ones. More and more of them appear and now Phantom sees them as well, I also note fear in him with these new shadows. I have no words for Phantom, only his death is what I speak to. I quickly pour my magic into my blade and I notice several shadows come to float in between us. I'll have to go through them to reach him. I can feel nothing but violence from these shadows. It's like they are hovering, just watching and waiting for the carnage.
My body becomes still and now I know what to do. I reach ahead of me just barely slipping my hand into the shadow and it parts as I watch it do for Shadowen and as I slip in I feel it pull me through not just one but four shadows so quickly when I come out I am directly behind Phantom and my stov-vo-kiev and my shadow blade instantly pierce his flesh. He cries out a horrible agonizing hiss, his hands flying upward, his weapons falling from his grasps. He's frozen by my blades. My shadow latches onto his shadow and I see how very strong he is. How very tainted and corrupt he is. His shadow fights, struggles against me, but he is no match for me and he knows it.
I finally speak, “You have been sentenced by the Royal House to die for your crimes against the Royal Chalice. Phantom I carry out this sentence for the Royal House, for the Royal Chalice and for Mysteria herself. I pray you never find rest in Shadow Hall.” I twist my shadow blade and pull against his struggling shadow and soul until I pull my blade and his life from his body. His body collapses as my stov-vo-kiev leaves him.
The shadows turn then twist around me and suddenly I'm thrust into one and further propelled through to end up standing several feet away from Shadowen. She is still lying on the ground. My heart now speeds up and I rush to her.
Her eyes are closed and Shade, the Royal Conjurer and Royal Healer are all hovering over her doing everything they can to keep her alive. I feel Myst still trembling under my feet. I see the silver blood coursing through our hollows dim. Shade doesn't stop or move as I kneel down picking her up into my arms.
She is so very cold and lifeless. I move her veil back pulling her up into my arms. I wrap my magic around her to hold her to me. I now feel Shade's magic sweep over me and I feel the poison dissolving from me. I want to tell him to not worry about me and to concentrate on Shadowen but it's already too late the poison is gone and my wounds are healing. I stroke my gloved hands along her hair pulling it away from her face. Her lips are pale and her cheeks look so gray. Shadowen do not leave me. I need you.
Her eyes flutter open and my heart leaps with joy and sorrow. I feel her sorrow overwhelm me as well as the ground and walls begins to tremble and shake fiercely. “He's dead. He will never hurt you again.” I whisper unable to keep the emotion from my voice.
The chanting fades as everyone gazes upon her. Her voice is soft but the emotions spilling from her into me is unbearable. “He stole our child from us.” I cannot speak so only nod my head. It is the Royal Chalice who speaks. I see the knowledge in her eyes. Shade now kneels next to her. She turns to look at him and he shakily holds her with me.
The Royal Magistrate says quietly, “We are sorry for your loss, all of Myst grieves with you.” My heart suddenly feels more than a slice of pain and I look into Shadowen's eyes realizing he doesn't even know the truth in his words. I lift her up into my arms and Shade stands with me. I nod to everyone because my emotions are too thick to speak. Quickly everyone dispatches as Shade and I return home with Shadowen.
Epilogue
Several months have passed since we lost our daughter to Shadow Hall. Shadowen is more than quiet, she is silent. I'm giving her this time to grieve but it worries me her silence. She will not speak of what happened. I have lived with the guilt of losing her and not protecting my consort and our child. The Royal Chalice is no longer sitting on our bed it has simply vanished.
Shade I notice doesn't speak as well, so I'm now living in a silent house. The servants talking to each other are the only voices I hear. Shadowen didn't get out of bed today but I feel her moving in our room. I've done everything I can think of to give her time and space but I need her back with me and Myst needs life.
I can't seem to concentrate on my papers so I think I will go for a walk. I'm dressed and veiled in less than a moment. I shift up to Shadowen. She's still in her night gown. Her hair is neatly brushed though. Her face has more color to it yet still the deep sorrow in her eyes. “I'm going to go for a walk. Do you want to join me?” I say moving towards her. She gently shakes her head no. I turn away slightly disappointed but her hand reaches to me. I look back and I see big tears in her eyes. “Shadowen, what's wrong?” I say removing my veil pulling her to me.
“Don't leave me.” she says barely even audible.
“I will stay if you want.” I wrap my arms around her and this is the first time since that horrible night she has turned to me like this. My heart is swelling with love for her and need. My fingers touch her cheek and I lean in slightly brushing my lips to hers. She returns the kiss gently and now I feel her hands remove my cloak. I say nothing as she does this. Our time together recently has been quiet and silent and if this is what she needs to heal then this is what she will have.
No magic sparring between us, which is unusual. Only our bodies making contact with each other. She pulls my cloak allowing it to fall to the floor. Now her hands work on my shirt, slowly removing my buttons. No magic, not even a hint of magic flowing from her to me. It's an odd sensation and I'm not sure what to do without our magic flowing. My shirt is open and her hands roam along my chest and I ta
ke a breath as I feel my body as well as my magic respond. Now her hands move to my pants and I find myself stilling her movements by bringing her hands to my lips. I kiss them then look down into her face. “I need more than this.” I whisper to her.
“I know.” she says to me in response.
“Are you ready for me?” I ask hopefully.
“I need you Reis, I need my Consort.” She whispers to me. I lean in lifting her chin up to me. My mouth captures hers and gently I release my magic to allow it to flow around her. Her body shivers in my arms and I know it's from need and pleasure. I release more of my magic and now our lips are moving more hungrily and passionately together.
I quickly remove the rest of my clothes and hers with magic as my mouth trails along her neck in need. Her skin is as lovely as the very first time I tasted her and now she releases her magic to me. I not only gasp from the feel and taste of it I groan as it fills me up. Shadowen I need you so much.
I need you Reis.
We are quickly on the bed and any amount of pleasantries we could have done is lost because I need to be inside her. I feel my need as strong as hers. It's the joining of bodies we need to pull us closer to where we want to be. Her magic sparkles inside me and I cry out as she writhes beneath me. Our bodies move in perfect unison to meet our needs heightening our passion.
There is this gentle pounding in my heart that moves through my body into her and now I'm so close to the edge and Shadowen doesn't wait to savor this moment she plunges in deep pulling me along with her. My body is shaking as I spasm along with hers and now I feel it. I feel her arms wrapping around me like a dream. She's pulling inward to her. I taste her life, her love, her soul... But it's too raw, too unhealed for me to be here and yet, she pulls me in anyway. Now she shows me that I am too raw, too unhealed as she is.
Together we are torn to pieces inside our heart and soul. I find the words I could never ask aloud. Do you forgive me for not protecting you and our child?
You are forgiven. Is her response and now I know that I must forgive myself.
Do you forgive me for not protecting our child? She whispers to my soul.
You are forgiven. Is my only response.
I wrap myself so fully around Shadowen and now she is fully wrapped around me. I know that together we will get through this loss because we are already finding our way back to each other. What I don't know is if Myst will survive it...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shireen lives in the beautiful city of Williamsburg, Virginia with her lovely teenage daughter and their two wonderful but demanding cats. She loves reading, writing and learning. The type of books she reads range anywhere from paranormal romance to quantum physics.
She has plenty of more books coming out soon. Please check out her Facebook Page and be sure to follow her on Twitter.
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The Royal Assassin: Shadows of Myst Page 19