by Sela Croft
It felt as though I was underwater, because of currents that were all around me. There was a visceral flow filling my body, engulfing me with energy. Such waves could not be permitted to overwhelm me. If I had any chance at all, it would only be if I stayed in control.
There was no alternative but to snap out of it. Circumstances were what they were, despite that I wished the others were with me. Sorceress power or not, my confidence sagged. I had no idea what I’d face or how I’d deal with it.
If only Logan had been with me. I hadn’t even had a chance to say goodbye and I missed him dreadfully. It had been foolhardy to let him leave my side, even for an instant. The cottage had been treacherous. He’d know that and had kept me close. But I hadn’t realized how dangerous the mirrors had been.
Yet I couldn’t go back, so I had to go forward. Since I feared where I might be, I hesitated to turn around. After taking a breath, I spun to see what was before me. Then I wished I hadn’t.
An insane world surrounded me. Oregon wasn’t there anymore. This was a new realm. Once again, I’d been thrust into a strange land. I prayed I had the skills to survive it.
Brushing aside my sense of loss at leaving Logan behind, I took a step forward. Overawed with what I saw, I wavered. There was no certainty that I’d be safe. Just the opposite, there was every reason to be terrified.
At first, the great chamber reminded me of a fun house. The levels moved and adjusted, unevenly. There was a multitude of balconies, reminiscent of a medieval town. The structure’s levels opened onto a huge courtyard, so I was able to see the interior clearly.
Gazing up, I saw an enormous dome of stained glass. It gleamed from a hidden source of light, as there appeared to be no electrical fixtures. The ceiling was a work of art, but it was more like a mirage. The colored glass panes appeared to move and change, which was disorienting.
Far below, a basement level was visible. The flow I experienced emanated from that lower plateau. The currents weren’t visible, only felt. The waves coursed through my body, the force alarming me. I tried to discern what it was, and whether it was good or bad.
The flow was familiar. I recognized it from the flashes I’d had. I’d drawn a picture in my notebook that had symbolized it, although I hadn’t understood what it was. The energy currents had been in dream sequences, too. But that hadn’t shed any light on their meaning.
At that moment, I was most certainly awake. I’d have welcomed the realization that it was only a dream. But it wasn’t. The energy was real, as was the structure around me. Possibly, my previous flashes were clues to what was happening.
But the opportunity to discover their significance via my drawings had passed. I’d been plunged into the real thing. This was no longer a vision or a dream; it was reality. There was no disputing it. The trouble was that I didn’t know what to do next.
Realization took hold. This was the Fae realm, and I stood within the high court. I’d seen it before in some of the illusions Amalia had created and glimpsed it through various mirrors as well. The question was: what was I doing here?
The view shifted, then I found myself standing in the middle of activity within the palace. No one seemed to notice that I was observing, as though I was invisible. Unnerved by what I saw, I tried to subdue my reaction.
It was important to fit in and not attract attention. But I doubted that I disguised my surprise all that well. The creatures who hustled about were of a wide variety. Some had pointy ears, while others looked like animals with the ability to walk upright.
Thankfully, the creatures were focused on their tasks, so didn’t appear unfriendly. Since I didn’t sense aggression, I relaxed a bit. Either the occupants of the palace had no reason to attack me, or they hadn’t seen me. It would be wise not to give them any reason to view me as an enemy.
The people I watched were quite busy, which I was glad to see. That was a reason that no one would notice me. Although, I couldn’t assume my luck would hold. A teenage girl with raven hair and violet eyes wouldn’t go unnoticed indefinitely—especially, since my eyes glowed, giving away my vampire state.
My instincts kicked in and I thought of escape. While everyone was distracted, it might be possible to get out, before anyone noticed that I’d arrived. I held my breath then began to back away from all the activity. This was my chance to flee from the Fae court, not a safe place for me to be.
Chapter 21
Callie
I turned and ran, trying to find a way out of the maze. It turned out that the palace was not much different from the Fae prison, where my sister had been held. The structure reminded me of a type of building I’d seen before.
The architecture had been drawn by a Dutch artist, one that I’d studied in art class. The pictures had been a bit dizzying, because it was a sort of mathematical design that repeated. And, so it was in the Fae palace.
Whichever way I turned, it did not lead me away. I felt like a rat in a maze. Finding a path to freedom was unlikely. As I ran, the structure repeatedly pointed me back to the spot I’d come from. Going in circles wasn’t going to aid my escape.
Frustration didn’t begin to describe how I felt. If I was unable to go anywhere, then I might as well be in a prison. After all that I’d gone through, I wondered if I’d only succeeded in returning to a Fae creation intended to entrap me.
Whether it was by design or by accident, I didn’t know. The fact remained that I wasn’t going anywhere soon. I needed to come up with a better plan. When I stopped to catch my breath, I decided that it was time to dig deep for some magic that would release me.
After all, I had freed my sister and my father. Although, the latter had been unwise. But nevertheless, I had achieved taking apart that magical prison, block by block. If that’s what it took, I could do the same here. But there was a complication.
In the prison, my father—or the man I’d thought was my father—had wielded his skill to make sure the Fae didn’t interfere. He’d cast a spell to ensure the guards wouldn’t be aware that we were together, undoing the magic of the prison. I should have asked how he’d done that.
Without such a protective spell, if I attempted to take apart the palace, the Fae would swarm upon me. That was a risk I couldn’t take, so I tried to think of another method of escape.
Then, as if reading my mind, a familiar voice spoke. “Do you truly want to escape?”
I turned to face Seth, shuddering at the sight of him. His eyes bored into me and terror filled my heart. I stared at the man who dared to trap me in this realm, for surely that was what had happened. I knew that now.
Seth seemed younger and more vibrant than when I’d last seen him. He’d departed by vanishing, when challenged about his creation of the wall dividing the realms. The outfit he wore was quite extravagant. The garb reminded me of the clothing of ancient Egypt.
A length of white linen wrapped over his body and hung to his ankles. Elaborate gems adorned the cloth and he wore a wide gold band on his wrist. If he fancied being a Pharaoh, he’d failed miserably.
The royal Egyptians had held the highest status. Despite Seth’s outfit, he was mismatched for that role. He didn’t appear regal, but more like a grown man dressing for Halloween. I stifled a laugh, since my situation was precarious. Then I bolstered my confidence and looked up at him.
Seth’s dark eyes were like black holes. I sensed no mercy, nor any fondness for his own daughter. He wasn’t any kind of father that I recognized. The man had betrayed any loyalty I’d had. Bramwell Mayfair had been my father, not this monster.
“Callie, my daughter, I knew you’d show up.”
“I’m not your daughter.” I railed against the idea, finding it repulsive. “I deny any relationship to you. Your blood may be in my veins, but I will not accept you as my father…not ever.”
Seth’s eyes darkened, then he had the gall to smirk at me.
“I went to the cottage, as you predicted. Rosamon and I found the hologram of our mother,” I said. “Wa
s that some sadistic game you were playing, anxious to see our mother’s image dangled before us, knowing that she was dead?”
“Quite impressive, wasn’t it?”
“My sister and I figured out how you did it,” I said. “You had to be in that prison, at the time we were conceived. To use our real father to impregnate Sadie with your seed, to pass on your tainted blood, was black magic.”
“You are quite right,” Seth said. “And there is more to it. Even when frozen in that golden cage, not all of me was imprisoned. You have no idea the magnitude of the power I’m able to wield. Impregnating a human woman, so I would have twin girls to carry my sorcerer blood was child’s play.”
“It was evil.”
Seth laughed but the sound was derisive. It was his way to mock me. “It depends on how you view it. Bramwell was quite willing to do the deed. He was human and, as such, extremely malleable. He agreed to allow me take over his mind to create my daughters. All it cost was a few baubles.”
“You’re disgusting.” The description of how he’d conceived children made me ill. It was my life and Rosamon’s he was talking about. Yet he had no remorse for his actions. Instead, he seemed proud of what he’d done.
On the heels of repulsion, came excitement. That surprised me. I couldn’t understand why I’d be excited or about what. I wondered what was happening to me, as I began to lose touch with my own feelings. The smartest thing would be to get away from Seth.
The sorcerer was poisonous. His presence had begun to pervert me. The emotions surfacing bored little resemblance to any I wished to claim. Yet the longer he stood there, the more I was inclined to favor him. My mind warned me to stay away, while an inner compulsion that I couldn’t seem to control drew me near.
“We shouldn’t bicker, my daughter,” Seth said. “I witnessed your power and how you took apart that prison. You saved me. And now, I want to save you.”
I stared at him, unable to speak.
“That shouldn’t surprise you,” Seth said. “You are my daughter, a powerful sorceress in her own right.”
Right then, that’s the last thing I wanted to be. Yet, part of me wanted to be his daughter, craved the power. Pride over my skill with sorcery blinded me to the truth—a truth that I struggled to recall.
“I drew you into my palace to honor you with a request,” Seth said. “You must join me in my great cause, because it is the only cause worth fighting for.”
“Join you in what cause?”
“In changing everything,” Seth said, his eyes glowing blacker. “Together, we can change the world; all realms will be united.”
In my gut, I sensed the demise of all that I loved. But rationality escaped me. My head was unable to win over the force that gripped me. Seth’s offer was enticing.
“It will happen, I assure you.” Seth’s body vibrated, as if the magic he possessed was too much to contain. “Hear me…help me change everything.” His gaze locked with mine. “I’ve nearly amassed enough power to do it.”
Chapter 22
Florian
When Seth had erected the wall, the Fae kingdom had swallowed me. There had been no way to return to Shadowland; I’d been caught on the wrong side. My aim was to get back to my family. Surely, they were concerned.
For all Logan knew, I had met with a dastardly demise. Or if not that, then some horrible curse. That was Seth’s way. Transforming the Fae into malformed images of their former selves seemed to satisfy him. But the distorted visages were appalling.
So far, I’d managed to avoid his watchful eye. The rampage he’d embarked upon wasn’t easily stopped. But I still hoped to do so. The power he sought was falling into his hands, one creature at a time.
No one dared to defy him for fear of what he would do. With the magic he used, any atrocity might be achieved. I cringed at the sight of several beings he’d remade into a disgusting sight. Vowing my luck would hold, I poured my energies into the resistance.
Before Amalia had escaped, she’d organized a group of loyal supporters. Each one seethed with hatred at Seth and was brave enough to act against him. I prayed their efforts would be rewarded. But the ongoing terrors made success difficult.
I stood in the mushroom forest with a good vantage point to direct the offensive. The abominations Seth had created converged in groups, attacking in full force. There were decisions to be made, and since I was in charge that was left to me.
Those who stayed to fight would surely die. The Fae beasts were fierce and as rabid as any wild animal. Yet I had to leave a group to fend off the raging enemy.
A few others were with me, as we had another important mission. My new allies had come with me to recover much-needed weaponry. But the Fae armies had been waiting in hidden places, having more familiarity with this land than I did.
The situation pained me, and I agonized over coming up with a better tactic. Even with my intelligence and capability at reconnaissance, it was nearly impossible to overcome the Fae or take them by surprise.
After all, they had Seth’s magic on their side. The evil sorcerer waging destruction was a formidable foe, and my vampire magic wasn’t adequate to stop his crimes. At least, I was unable to do so alone.
That was why I’d allied with Amalia’s resistance. And however futile the effort may be, it was what drove me to aide this group of rebels. We had to last, for as long as we could, and clung to the hope that Amalia would return with help.
Two of our group were lost in the battle, but miraculously the Fae retreated. We’d lost lives, less than the last battle but still a loss. Yet the enemy would return, so I had to used what time we had to prepare. With the battle over, there was a chance to recover the weaponry we’d come for.
I’d been told where the cache would be hidden, so investigated without delay. The Fae might return at any moment. But the fighting had been worth it. The weapons were stashed as promised, so we had a treasure trove of Fae weaponry that could be used against them next time.
We had to get the weapons back to our secret headquarters. The underground movement Amalia had started had gained some momentum, though not enough. The better defense we mounted the better chance we had; every advantage counted.
On the way back, morale was up despite the loss of personnel. And my spirits soared when Amalia’s beacon came through. It meant she was back, as she could only activate it in Fae territory. If she’d brought reinforcements, we might be able to tip the balance in our favor.
I teleported with a few of my Fae teammates, leaving the others behind to carry the weapons. Anxious to see Amalia, I didn’t want to delay my return. Uniting with the Fae princess had been a necessity. I was of the royal Bayne family, one of the magic vampires who ruled Shadowland.
It was like fire and water for us to work together. Such hadn’t been done before. I’d resisted at first. But what choice did I have? If Seth located me, I’d be in no better shape than the Fae he’d morphed into terrors. And worse than that, I’d have no chance of returning to my home.
It was vital that I assist in the effort and get back to Shadowland to help my family. On my own, I wouldn’t be able to conquer Seth. Only as a unified resistance could we hope to overcome his evil. A message was delivered: there had been a magical arrival.
So few people were aware of our location, that is had to be Amalia. I could only hope she came with good news. She’d been the only one to get around the wall between realms, much to Seth’s dismay I was sure. But she had managed the feat and had returned.
Upon striding into the meeting room, joy filled me as I embraced Amalia before thinking—such was my relief. I hadn’t been sure if I’d ever see her again. Before that moment, the princess hadn’t been any more affectionate to me than I had been to her. This was strictly business after all. Yet even a vampire can be moved to emotion at times.
The Fae princess was as disfigured as she had been, so she hadn’t found anyone to undo Seth’s curse. But she was here, plus she’d brought the others with her.
I glanced around. “Natasha…and Noah.” Each nodded at me.
The twins were with Amalia too. I took Callie’s hand then Rosamon’s. “Good to see you both. You are very brave to cross into this realm.”
Then I refocused on Amalia. “There is one missing. You didn’t bring Logan.” He was the one with the most interest in Callie. My older brother Valter had probably stayed behind to command the armies.
“Logan doesn’t know you are alive.”
I raised my brows. “There is a reason you didn’t tell him, I assume?”
“It wouldn’t have been wise,” Amalia said. “Logan would have insisted on coming with us. He’s needed in Shadowland. Leaving his kingdom without a ruler, or with only his warmonger brother in charge would be dangerous.”
“I’m sure he is worried about me, but I do see the logic in leaving him behind.”
“What’s the situation?” Amalia said.
Gloom dampened my good spirits. “It’s not good at all.” I proceeded to tell her the highlights, hitting on any important details of battles fought in her absence. She listened intently, as did the others.
I took a breath. “As you see, it hasn’t been going well.” I paused. “I hope you have good news.”
Chapter 23
Logan
The blasted mirror had betrayed me. The poor excuse for a looking glass had let Callie slip through to some other realm. Emotion welled inside me. I had lost my love with such suddenness that it left me reeling, and I was furious.
Morrigan stared at the mirror, as if hoping she hadn’t witnessed what she had. But she didn’t offer any insight.
I must have been in some sort of trance. That talk with Callie had been bizarre, but I’d gone along with what she’d been saying. It hadn’t been like me at all.
The shock of seeing Callie disappear into the mirror had snapped me out of it. I staggered forward and put my palm on the glass. But it was as solid as the floor I stood on. There had been an opportunity to stop Callie from going, but it was as though I’d been frozen to the spot.