by Sarah Noffke
Ignoring her tactless friend, Azure nodded. “Yes, let me consult my council, and I’ll figure out a plan of action.”
The witch smiled meekly before turning for the exit. “Thank you, Queen Azure.”
“You’re not really considering returning to Virgo on the whim of a Tarot card reader?” Monet asked when Blair had gone.
“I can’t really ignore it,” Azure said, looking at Ever for support. He nodded reassuringly.
“Did you at least get what you were looking for in Paris?” Finswick asked, jumping onto the top of the piano.
Azure felt heat blossom across her cheeks. “Yeah, we’re good to go.”
Monet narrowed his eyes, staring first at her, and then at Ever. “Oh, it’s about damn time. But you two didn’t have to go all the way to Paris for that.”
“Did you get me a keychain?” Blisters asked, trotting over.
“You don’t have any keys,” Manx pointed out, dropping out of raven form and landing on top of the piano next to Finswick, taking the shape of a black cat.
“But I still have a collection of keychains!” Blisters complained.
“Can we focus for a moment?” Azure asked. Ugh, I am literally herding cats! She rolled her eyes.
“Just because some witch who can’t spot a good thing when she sees it thinks Virgo is in trouble, doesn’t mean we pack up camp and fly home,” Monet urged.
“I think that a growing threat for Virgo makes sense,” Ever stated, sounding like the first voice of reason in the carriage. “We know that bats were smuggled out of Lancothy by the vampires. I don’t think we should ignore this, just in case it’s on point.”
Azure nodded, agreeing. “This will be a chance to escort our first group of wereanimals to Virgo, too. Many of them have expressed interest in setting up residences there.”
“You two are going to be insufferable now, aren’t you?” Monet pretended to ask. “You’ll agree with each other no matter how much reason I throw your way.”
“Didn’t you say you needed to restock your potion supplies?” Azure challenged.
“Don’t you throw my own words up in my face,” her friend grumbled.
“Then it’s settled,” Azure stated firmly. “We’ll head back to Virgo first thing in the morning.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cordelia pointed to the large house, sitting high on the tallest hill in the middle of Virgo. “That’s where the most powerful witches and wizards will be housed.”
“What about the queen?” Hamilton asked, standing beside her in the shadows of the Dark Forest.
“She’ll be on her way soon,” Cordelia said victoriously. “I lured a witch from that wereanimal camp, turned her, and sent her to inform our queen.”
A sharp smile framed Hamilton’s fangs. “Good thinking, my love. And bringing them back to Virgo is perfect,” he praised, running his eyes over the sprawling village. “It’s widespread and will be difficult to protect from all sides.”
“Not to mention that we can turn the queen and her powerful alliance in one swift move,” Cordelia stated, dragging one of her red fingernails over her lips.
“The brood is in place?” Hamilton asked.
“They will be.” She pointed to the east and then the west. “I have groups stationed on both sides. They’re waiting for my command.”
“Shall I be the one to remove the protective amulet from the queen?” Hamilton asked, extending his hand.
“Yes, of course, my love.” Cordelia dropped the pouch into his palm.
He closed his hand around the leather bag, which was full of a fine dust Ata had created. It was all they needed to destroy Azure’s necklace. With a victorious smile, Hamilton swiped his fingers through his black hair, ruffling the white streak that was his soul mark.
The mark that formed on a vampire’s body after they’d been turned had always fascinated Cordelia. For instance, the witch she’d turned from the wereanimal camp developed a mark like a pink crescent moon over her collarbone. It reminded Cordelia of her own soul mark—the dagger shape on her back, beside her shoulder blade.
She could hardly wait to find out what Queen Azure’s soul mark would be when she became a founder. The more magic a person contained before they turned, the more brilliant their mark once they changed.
Cordelia and Hamilton had come a long way. Once they had Azure, they would have Virgo. Then they’d conquer New Egypt. Finally, they’d rule Oriceran.
CHAPTER TWELVE
A sea of clouds obstructed Azure’s vision. The carriage dipped down, led by the four green dragons. Far below, the landscape of Oriceran stretched, a cascade of lush, green, rolling hills. Maybe her visit to the Eiffel Tower had sparked her new fascination with heights, but for some reason, she was craving the adrenaline rushes lately. That was why she’d asked to sit up front with Oak while he steered the carriage to Virgo.
“You’re hungry for an adventure,” he said, breaking the silence.
The wind that whipped past them should have been cold, blasting them in the face and making it hard to hear. However, a magical barrier covered the carriage, making it quite cozy at the front as they flew high in the sky.
“Why do you say that?” Azure asked.
“Because you asked to ride up here in the first place. Not to mention that you just peered so far over the edge that I fear we’ll be flying after you soon, when you fall from the carriage.” Oak tapped the reins, urging the majestic dragons forward.
“I think escaping from an imploding mountain counts as an adventure,” Azure mused.
“And yet, you’re already restless,” Oak observed.
She pulled the velvet black box from her pocket and held it out for Oak. “I guess this is a good time to give you the essence you asked for.”
The old wizard arched a sharp eyebrow at her. “I’m guessing a ‘congratulations’ is in order.”
Azure pulled the box back, her mouth popping open. “How did you know?”
“That the true love you captured would be your own?” Oak asked, a playful grin tucked at the corner of his mouth.
“Yes. Did you know it would be Ever?”
Oak nodded, his black hat pitching forward a bit. “Let’s just say I had a hunch. Hence the reason I put the piano in the carriage; I thought you all could use a push.”
“So you’ve been orchestrating this whole thing?” she asked. Then she held up the box. “Did you actually even need this?”
He plucked it from her hand, opening it with ease. A gold light sparkled from the center. “Yes, very much. My deepest gratitude, Queen Azure.” Oak bent his head in respect.
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to use it on someone,” he admitted, a sneaky look in his wise eyes.
“Do you mean you’re going to make them fall in love with you?”
He shook his head. “That wouldn’t work. You can’t make someone fall in love with you—not with magic, anyway. You can with good looks, a clever wit and a brilliant imagination. That’s the only love spell that I know of.”
Azure smiled. There were potions and spells for youth, immortality, riches and everything else, but there was no way to magic love. The reminder suddenly made her more protective of what she and Ever had. It was priceless.
“So what will the essence of true love do to this person?” she wanted to know.
Oak cut his eyes at her, veering the dragons to the right. “What if I promise to show you when I use it? That way you can see firsthand.”
“I would love that. Thank you!” Azure exclaimed. “When?”
“Once the threat of vampires is minimized, I’ll be ready.”
In the distance, Azure spied a familiar landscape.
From the sky, Virgo appeared to be a pristine kingdom where all things were possible. The various colors of the houses and buildings nestled together created a rainbow that stretched until it met the House of Enchanted, which stood nobly at the top of the highest hill.
A lump rose in Azure’s throat as they neared the land where she’d been born, and that she had sorely missed while on her adventures.
“Returning home always brings a mix of emotions,” Oak ventured, staring out at the village with a serene smile on his face.
“Where do you call home?” Azure asked, knowing that he was not from Virgo originally.
Oak nodded at the four magnificent beasts that were pulling the carriage with a strange grace. “Wherever my dragons are is home.”
The queen thought of Monet and Ever and all the crazy animals in the carriage. They are my home. She’d worried about how her life would change when she took over for Mage Lenore. Leaving Virgo would be strange, but as long as she had her friends, she’d manage just fine.
However, what would happen to Virgo, she couldn’t say just yet.
Oak dug into his robe pocket and withdrew a small, black bag bound by drawstrings. “A deal is a deal. You’ve delivered me what I asked for, therefore, the weredragon scale is yours.”
Azure reached out and took the bag, not expecting it to be as heavy as it was. “Thank you. What do you think Myrtle will want with it?”
The old wizard thought on this for a moment and then said, “There are many uses for a weredragon scale. It can go into potions, although I’m not sure that’s the wisest use for such a valuable object.”
“I put my soul stone into a potion once,” Azure admitted, thinking of the stone that symbolized her magic and that she’d lost forever.
“Oh yes, but that could be considered the most powerful potion that Virgo has ever seen. Without it, there would be no magic left in the land,” Oak argued.
“Maybe Myrtle will make something as valuable,” Azure mused.
“Maybe,” he said without conviction. “Or maybe she wants to be connected to the collective consciousness of the dragons.”
“A weredragon scale can do that?” Azure asked, clutching the bag tighter.
“With the right magic, I suppose it could,” Oak said, steering the carriage to the ground. “But it’s good for you to remember that not all things of value are used for a great and noble deed. Maybe Myrtle only wants the scale for a simple purpose, or because it’s valuable.”
“You mean I shouldn’t expect everyone to take something of value, and forge it into something that will save the world,” she said, slightly dejected.
“No, Queen, you shouldn’t,” he agreed. “But your tendency to do so is why you are soon to be the protector of the Howling Willow, and everyone else on Oriceran was passed over for the position. Most either waste the splendors in life, or selfishly hoard them for their own gain.”
~~~
The carriage landed smoothly on the lawn beside the House of Enchanted. Azure could almost smell the wood inside the antique house and feel the cool drafts that graced the hallways. Her place of birth lived in her bones.
She took Ever’s hand as she disembarked from the top of the carriage.
“I didn’t notice any threats on our way down,” he reported, his fingers lingering on hers.
“Yes, Blair might have been wrong about a danger here, which I’m glad for,” Azure stated.
“‘Might’?” Monet asked, clambering out of the carriage, his robes covered in hair. “Of course the batty witch was wrong. Anyone who thinks cards can tell us our fortune is a lunatic.”
“What about a crystal ball?” Azure challenged.
Monet scoffed. “Crystal balls are pure science, just like potions.”
“I never took you for such a clinical wizard,” Ever said.
Brushing his wand over his robes, Monet cleared the hair. “Damn farm animals all need to be shaved. It’s like riding with a fucking circus.”
“Azure!” a voice called from the house.
The group spun to find people spilling out of the front of the old Victorian mansion.
It was a more of a castle than a house, but Gran had punished anyone who called it such. She’d said, “Kings and queens that aren’t of the people live in castles. Royalty who were born to serve reside in houses.” That damn witch was full of semantic games.
A witch with emerald green hair had broken away from the rest and was running toward them.
“Mother!” Azure yelled, sprinting forward.
The two caught each other in a tight embrace, and Azure suddenly forgot she was the queen of Virgo. A thousand memories passed over her in that brief moment, reminding her of the unique bond she shared with her mother.
Drawing back a few inches, Emeri checked Azure over. “Are you alright? I’ve been so worried about you since Mother told us about the vampires.” Scanning the crowd around them, she looked back at Azure. “Where is Mother? Is she all right?”
Her daughter nodded. “Yes, she’s fine. She, Reynolds and Gillian are in New Egypt.”
Her mother pursed her lips, but before she could say anything, Azure’s father arrived at her side. He looked as she remembered him, although she wasn’t used to his face quite yet.
“Azure, welcome back,” Richard said, folding her into his arms. He pressed her in tight, his nervousness akin to the reaction Azure felt from her mother. It must be difficult for them to stay in Virgo, knowing a vampire epidemic was spreading across Oriceran.
“Thank you,” Azure said, pulling away to see familiar faces drawing closer as other villagers neared.
“I’m glad to see that you’ve returned to the safety of Virgo,” Emeri began. “But why is your gran still in New Egypt?”
Azure was aware of her people listening all around her. “Mother, Gran is in New Egypt trying to find solutions. We mean to fight the vampire epidemic.”
Gasps spilled from the crowd.
“Fight?” Emeri questioned.
“That’s a death sentence,” Richard stated.
“We’re all in this together,” Azure assured them. “We’ve decided to help those from New Egypt. I’m only here because—”
“Help?!” her mother questioned. “How do you expect to do that?”
“Mother,” Azure said in a hush, aware of everyone’s attention on them. “We should really discuss this later.”
“Yes, fine,” Emeri said at once. “At least you all have returned to Virgo where it is safe.” She glanced at Ever and Monet and the rest of the gang beside the carriage.
A sharp chill coursed through Azure’s body. Before she could process what the sensation meant, a scream ripped through the air.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Azure pushed through the crowd, searching for the source of the scream. From the top of the hill, she could see most of Virgo. Searching the perimeters, she looked for a disturbance, but details were difficult to make out from that height.
The sound of beating wings came from overhead. Azure shot her gaze up. A blur of black shapes streaked through the blue sky, just above their heads. Many ducked from the near assault.
“Bats!” someone yelled.
Azure spun around, catching sight of the serious expressions on Monet and Ever’s faces.
“Everyone get into the House of Enchanted!” she ordered.
Another scream split the air, this one coming from the western side of the village. Vampires were loose in Virgo and they had to be stopped.
“We must fight!” a wizard yelled.
Azure shook her head. “You can’t. The bats will be drawn to your magic.”
A loud grumbling ripped through the crowd. Virgoans weren’t the type to hide away when their land was threatened. But if they stood against the vampires and bats, the results would be devastating.
“Mother, I want everyone inside,” Azure commanded, her eyes connecting with Emeri’s.
Her mother didn’t argue. Instead, she began ushering everyone in the direction of the House of Enchanted. They wouldn’t be safe there for long, unless they could push back the attacks.
“Look,” Ever stated, pointing at the eastern border.
A horde of outsiders was marching into the village,
filing in from different directions and heading for a cluster of houses.
“I have to stop them,” Azure said under her breath.
“Correction,” Monet chirped. “We.”
“Monet, this is too dangerous—”
“Each of you take a dragon,” Oak ordered, unlatching them from the carriage with his wand.
“Good idea,” the queen said, speeding forward to take Micky’s reins.
Ever didn’t waste time to mount another.
“Is it like riding a horse?” Monet asked, staring up at the magical creatures.
Oak climbed onto the back of one and shook his head. “No, not at all. You don’t steer with the reins; those are just for you to hold onto so you don’t plummet to your death.”
“How do you steer, then?” Monet asked, giving the dragon in front of him a questioning look.
“With your thoughts,” Oak stated as his dragon took off, its long wings beating and lifting the pair higher into the air.
~~~
“‘Just steer the dragon with your thoughts’, right,” Monet mumbled, holding onto the harness and trying to drag his leg over the creature’s side.
The dragon was fairly tall, and climbing onto it without impaling his groin was a real concern. The others had made it look easy.
It’s too high, Monet lamented, grunting as he tried again.
He jumped when the dragon moved suddenly, afraid he was about to get scorched. Dragons weren’t known for their unyielding patience, if Earth comics and cartoons about the creatures had taught him anything.
To his surprise, the dragon crouched down lower, bringing its back closer to the ground.
That’s strange, Monet thought, but didn’t waste another moment thinking about it. He threw his leg over the side, grabbed onto the reins, and pulled on them like he would if he were riding a horse. The dragon didn’t budge.
The others were high in the sky, flying toward different sections of the border. Below, screams and the sounds of attack could be heard all over Virgo. It burned Monet up, which was why he needed to get off the ground and join the fight.