by J. E. Taylor
I tried to give her a smile to calm her nerves, but her sad eyes bore into me almost as if she wished I were going alongside her instead of her mother. As soon as the carriage pulled away from our home, two guards stepped in place, flanking the front door.
The back door held the same type of sentries, and I closed the door on their stark stares. I would figure out a way to get to the stables tonight if it was the last thing I did.
I grabbed the saddlebags from their hiding spot, marveling that Lady Githa hadn’t found them. I paused before I climbed the stairs and turned each one of the bags upside down, just in case she hid something deadly inside. Nothing came out, even when I shook them. I brought one bag close enough to the lantern to see there was no surprise inside. With an exhale, I hauled them upstairs into the attic. My lantern lit the way through the array of boxes to the back corner where my father’s ornate trunk sat.
I dropped the bags as the familiar vibration filled me. When I laid my hands on the top of the wood, the sigils on the outside began to glow. I crouched to look at the lock, energy filling my form.
“This would be much easier if this thing wasn’t locked,” I muttered. My body jolted as the lock clicked open. Pure adrenaline filled me, along with a healthy dose of fear that made my mouth twinge like I had bit on a piece of steel.
I stood, afraid to open the box, but just as afraid to take my hands off it. The glow illuminated my body. I stared as it flowed up my arms, erasing the bruises that riddled my skin. The light cleansed as well as healed. The dirt etched into my knuckles faded, and all the deep aches in my bones disappeared. I lifted my hands away from the wood, testing what my eyes derived as fact.
As the unnatural light faded, I shined my lamp where the worst of the bruises were clustered. All that remained was unblemished skin. I stared at the trunk for a few heartbeats, and then my body started responding to the urgency of opening the trunk. I flipped the lock off and heaved the heavy lid up. It creaked as it opened, and I shivered, pushing it until it fell wide.
I blinked and shifted back. An ornate wooden stick tipped with gold glowed, illuminating a white ball gown laced with gold trim. I reached to move the stick, and the minute my fingers wrapped around the wood, it was as if I stepped into the only thread of sunlight on an otherwise stormy day. Warmth spread from the point of contact, wrapping itself around me in a bright glow.
I clenched my hand and fell to my knees with a thousand images flashing before my eyes. The lives and legacies of all the mages that held this wand before me absorbed into my bloodstream, including the most famous sorcerer of all history, Merlin, pumping my heart with vigor and strength. When the last to hold the wand appeared before my eyes, I gasped at my mother’s kind smile.
I blinked as knowledge seeped into every cell. I was a descendant of Merlin and the lone heir to the house of Cinder.
My gaze landed on the bodice of the gown where the crest of my ancestors was threaded in gold. It reminded me of an ornate phoenix rising from the ashes.
I touched the soft fabric and more memories flowed through me. This was the gown my mother wore the night she fell in love. The night that changed the course of her future and made me possible. That night after dancing until almost dawn, my mother traded her heritage for a future with my father. Magic and marriage rarely coexisted peacefully, so my mother made her choice and put her wand in safekeeping until the day her daughter turned eighteen and fulfilled the Cinder destiny by bringing glory to the family crest.
A chill climbed my spine. I glanced at the barren attic as my thoughts turned to Lady Githa and what I could do to her with this new-found magic. My lips drew into a smile as I imagined all sorts of justified tortures. Before I could shake the visions from my head, the air clouded around me.
My heart leapt into my throat as my gaze frantically moved from one side of the attic to the other. A few feet in front of me, the fog shifted, and my mother stepped into view. My eyes widened at the sight of her ethereal skin.
“Elle, you must never use the magic you now hold to harm another soul. That will turn it into dark magic, and you will tumble down a rabbit hole forevermore. Any action you take will come back upon you thrice. Remember that any time you think about casting a spell born of vicious intent.”
I nodded and averted my eyes as my cheeks heated with shame.
“Heed the warning. You will be lost to my consultation if you give in to the darker human traits.”
I wanted to ask where she had been the past year while I endured beatings and insults as if I were a common slave girl, but I quelled the urge. It was petty and foolish to let the bitterness get the best of me. I curtsyed deep as a sign of respect. When I looked back up, my mother, along with the fog, was gone.
I tore the rags off my shoulders and slipped the beautiful gown over my head. It fit as if it was made for me. Under the gown sat a pair of crystal slippers. Again, the fit was perfect, and I stared at the dozen manuals strewn over the bottom of the trunk. I slid the wand into a pocket in the silky fabric I wore and grabbed the books, feeding them into the saddlebags until none remained in the trunk.
I closed the lid and reengaged the lock before heading down to the back door. I closed my hand around the hilt of the wand in my pocket.
“I just need to be invisible until I make it into the stables.” My whisper filled the air around me until it shimmered. I kept a grip on my wand and reached for the doorknob. Pulling the door open slowly, I envisioned a breeze strong enough to push an unlatched door open. The moment the guards turned towards the creaking wood, I bolted, running right between them while they argued about what had happened.
I made it into the stables unnoticed, but the stable hands were still milling about, cleaning stalls and talking about the ball. Only noblemen had been invited even though every single female in all of Canterbury, regardless of being noble born or not, was invited. I grabbed Misty’s saddle and reins and made quick work of getting her ready. With the saddlebags in place, I stepped into the stirrup, hauled myself into the saddle, and grabbed the reins.
As I trotted out the door, it was as if whatever cloak I had donned fell off.
“Stop her!” someone yelled.
I kicked Misty’s sides, willing her to gallop. She flew past the front guards before they could react. I didn’t look back.
It was time I met my destiny head-on. And this time, I would not let Lady Githa cheat me out of it.
Chapter 10
Misty was barely winded when we pulled up in front of the castle. I tied her in a free spot at a water trough between two stallions that were draped in their owners’ crests. I ran my hands through my hair to free the knots that had formed and climbed the stairs.
A guard stood watch at the door, and he looked down his nose at me. “You are late.”
I nodded as heat filled my cheeks, and I gave him my best curtsy. “I’m sorry, sir, but I had some difficulty escaping from my home to come this evening.”
His eyebrows rose. “Escaping?”
“Yes. My step-mother forbade me to come tonight.”
His features hardened. “The king’s message was not clear?”
“No. The message was clear. She does not know I am here, sir, and she is likely to cause a scene when she sees me.”
His lips twitched before he set them into a rigid line. “You name?”
“Elle Seeley.”
The guard pulled a small scroll out of his pocket, glanced at it, and nodded. He opened the door, waving to one of the footmen inside. “Charles will escort you to the ballroom, my lady.”
The footman led me through a maze of halls and finally opened the doors to the ballroom. I stood at the top of a grand staircase, scanning the massive crowds of finely dressed maidens. Prince William stood to the side of his father in a receiving line. He smiled politely and kissed every hand that was offered, but I saw the dullness in his eyes, even at this distance.
A murmur ran through the crowd, and the prince looked up. He dropped t
he hand he was kissing the moment our eyes met. He cocked an eyebrow, and his polite smile morphed into the genuine grin I had seen the day he challenged me to a rock-skipping contest.
The woman in front of him turned towards the stairwell. The movement pulled my gaze from Prince William’s, and I shivered as Lady Githa’s glare met mine. When the prince stepped out of the receiving line, Lady Githa turned and marched towards me at a pace that was twice as fast as William’s. She reached me first and grabbed my upper arm, trying to drag me back up the stairs.
I yanked my arm from her grip and raised an eyebrow. “Do you really want to be caught defying the king’s orders?”
Lady Githa paled.
We both turned as the prince approached. Lily was a few paces behind him, but she wasn’t looking at the prince. She was looking at me with wide wonder-filled eyes and a broad smile, which only served to infuriate Lady Githa more than she already was.
Lady Githa turned the same shade as her red dress.
I stepped down to the first landing and met Prince William halfway. He smiled and took my hand, formally kissing it like he had done to the procession of women in the receiving line. However, his lips lingered on my skin, creating a pleasant web of anticipation inside me. I wondered how his lips would feel on mine instead of the back of my hand.
I curtseyed, but didn’t look away from his captivating gaze.
The silence of the ballroom finally tore my eyes from his only to find that the crowd was staring at us.
“My lady, you look stunning tonight,” he said, his voice low and every bit as charming as it had been by the river.
I licked my lips and smiled at him.
Lady Githa stepped to my side and cleared her throat. “This is my servant,” she said, waving towards me. “And this is my daughter, Lily.” She yanked Lily to her side, almost tripping her on the steps.
The prince cocked his head and glanced at me. “Elle was never a servant,” he said, surprising me. I didn’t realize he knew my name. “She is Lord Seeley’s daughter, and, from what I understand, can wield a sword like a seasoned knight.”
Lady Githa’s face turned crimson. “When Lord Seeley married me, she became my servant.” She turned to me. “Did you steal that dress?”
“No. This was the dress my mother wore the day she fell in love with my father. It was in my father’s trunk in the attic.”
“Anything of your father’s became mine when he died,” Lady Githa snarled.
“Is this truly the time and place for your antics, my lady?” I asked, embarrassed to be the center of this kind of attention. I turned to Prince William. “I may be Lord Seeley’s daughter, but I am also the rightful heir to the house of Cinder.”
His eyes widened, but before he could speak, Lady Githa’s face scrunched in anger.
“You are not the heir to Lord Seeley’s fortune. I am, and you are my servant. I have provided for you since I stepped into that house. It is mine!”
Lily covered her face with her hand.
“I couldn’t care less about my father’s fortune. All I ask for is my father’s trunk in the attic. And as far as being your servant, I am not indebted to you for anything. The only reason I obeyed your insane orders was because of a promise I made to my father. A promise that should have died alongside him.” I straightened my back and scanned the crowd. “My father was not the heir to the House of Cinder.” I glared at Lady Githa. “My mother was, and now it has been passed to me.”
I pulled the wand from my pocket and waved it in a circle over my head, wishing for the heavens to twinkle through the ceiling. A stream of sparkling stars illuminated the dark ceiling, shining their heavenly lights down on the shocked faces of the crowd.
The king himself took a knee, bowing in respect of the House of Cinder. The entire ballroom followed suit. In a matter of seconds, the only two people who remained on their feet were me and Lady Githa. She spun on her heels, grabbed Lily’s arm, and marched up the stairs.
Prince William looked up at me as I tucked the wand back into the folds of my skirt. Heat filled my cheeks at the awe filling his eyes. His lips formed that devilish grin, and he stood, taking both my hands. He leaned in close. “May I have this dance?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” I smiled and let him lead me to the center of the dance floor.
The crowd parted, and I stepped into his arms. The music began, and he led me around the dance floor with practiced ease.
“I’m sorry about all that.” I nodded towards the stairs.
He smiled at me. “Honestly, I didn’t know if you were still alive. You never came back to the river, and I did not see you at your father’s funeral.” He sighed and glanced around the ballroom. “This was for you. I haven’t thought of anyone else since that day at the river. When I didn’t see you among the guests, I thought the worst.” His dark eyes stared deeply into mine. His waltz was graceful compared to my two left feet. He smiled in such an intimate and tender way that my insides melted.
His smile faded as he studied me. “You didn’t put a spell on me that day, did you?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t even know about the house of Cinder until tonight. I disobeyed my father’s wishes and opened his trunk in the attic. The minute I touched the wand, my family’s magic flowed into me along with all the knowledge of all the mages before me.”
“Even Merlin?”
“Yes. Even Merlin.” I glanced around. “And I thought my new knowledge was intimidating,” I whispered in his ear. “But having everyone’s eyes on me is more so.”
“You are doing just fine. You are the envy of every woman in the palace right now.”
I wish he hadn’t said that. Heat filled my every pore. I tucked my forehead under his chin, so I wouldn’t have to take in the stares of everyone around us. Some were clearly perplexed, and others were outright hostile like I had stolen their only future.
The song transitioned to a slower beat, and the floor filled with dancing patrons. We danced through a half dozen more songs before the prince swept me out of the center of attention. He led me to one of the balconies overlooking the city where it was quiet and private. He closed the door, shutting out the music before turning to me. His gaze held interest, and as he approached, I couldn’t help but shiver even though the chill in the air felt good against my overheated skin.
The closer he came, the more my heart pounded. What had started as a simple hot flash turned into an inferno of anticipation. He cornered me against the railing, smiling down at me with that same wicked grin he sported by the river. The one that made my knees weak.
Prince William leaned in and brushed his soft lips against my cheek. “You are as intoxicating as I imagined,” he whispered.
Intoxicating was an understatement for the current that flowed between us. When his breath caressed my cheek like a soft feather and his hands found the curve of my waist, I couldn’t help but sigh. My skin tingled under his touch, and I found myself leaning into him.
He pulled away, his eyes widening at something in the distance. I turned, following his gaze, and my heart jumped another notch. Flames engulfed a section of town. The section where my home stood.
I pulled out of his grip and flew through the doors and across the ballroom, dodging people as I went. I didn’t slow, not even when I heard my name being called. I nearly tumbled down the castle steps, losing a shoe in the process, but I wasn’t going to stop. By the time I got to Misty, I was out of breath. I unwrapped her bridle from the post and hopped on her back, ignoring William as he ran down the steps after me.
Misty was already galloping towards home by the time Prince William reached the road. The cold wind drew tears from my eyes and pelted my skin like a wave of sharp pine needles. My father had impressed upon me the hazards of fire with houses so close together. He had taught me how to start and douse a fire safely.
I pulled Misty to a stop a half block away from the blaze, leaving my horse in the middle of the road, I ran the rest of t
he way, choking on the billowing smoke until I skidded to a stop in front of my burning home. The sound of laughter pulled my attention to the road heading out of town. My father’s ornate trunk winked in and out through the smoke, along with Lady Githa’s laugher.
Fury encompassed me, and I stuck my hand in my pocket and wrapped my fingers around the wooden wand. I had the power to strike down that awful woman. I gritted my teeth as a litany of horrible curses swirled in my mind, but my mother’s soft voice of reason cut through the building rage.
Once I stepped into the darkness, there would be no escape.
The smoke burned my nostrils and teared my eyes. I clasped my wand, fighting the urge to do harm. Instead, I chose to channel the intense magic elsewhere, where it would do the most good.
The town needed help. Otherwise, more homes would be engulfed. I pulled the wand from my pocket, took a big breath, and closed my eyes.
We needed buckets and buckets of water to douse the flames. What better to drive the fire out of existence than a rainstorm?
Lightning cracked through the sky, and the heavens opened, dropping sheets of rain fast enough to put out the fire. White steam rose from the rubble as I stood drenched in the street, staring at the remains of the only home I had ever known.
The houses to either side held blackened shutters and minimal charring from the heat, but they stood solid despite the surface damage. The barn in the back smoldered like the house. I gasped, thinking of the animals that had been inside.
Now that there was no longer a wall of smoke, Misty trotted over to me and nudged my shoulder. I took her bridle and ran my fingernails lightly up her snout. Neither of us had a home with a roof to go to.
I leaned my head against Misty’s cheek, devastated.