by Allison West
"You can't believe her!" Aurora said and pushed herself between the two of them.
"What are you doing?" Mara asked Aurora.
"Protecting you from this monster!"
Mara pushed past Aurora. "Let me go." Her voice was stern and level. "Whether she is Ophelia or something else, she has the memories of my sister. Don't you?"
"Yes, because I'm your sister."
Smiling proudly, Mara threw her arms around her. "Ophelia, you're back."
Aurora watched the exchange and backed out of the mausoleum, into the rain.
"How is it possible?" Mara asked, glancing over Ophelia. "You were dead. I saw your body when they carried it back from the village."
"Long story," Ophelia said. "Is there someplace we can go and talk that's a little less creepy?"
Mara smiled. "Never did like the mausoleum, did you?" She pulled her sister in tighter, perhaps afraid if she let go it would all be a dream. "Where have you been?"
"Interesting story. Do you remember Wynter and Leila?"
Mara's smile faded. "Oh yeah. A strange group. Sad what happened to Leila." Mara paused silently, perhaps reminiscing about the teenage girl. "Were you staying with them?"
"Staying with Leila? I am Leila."
Mara frowned, confused. "No. I met Leila. You most certainly are not Leila. Next, are you going to tell me you're Wynter or Violetta?"
"Of course not," Ophelia said and smiled. "When I died, I became a grim reaper."
"Yeah, right. If you don't want to tell me where you went, fine. I get it. You didn't want to marry Astin, but you should have been here for Larkin. What father did to him—"
Leila sighed. "You're right."
Mara chewed her bottom lip raw, a family trait, not wanting to sour the mood. "So, if you won't tell me what you were really up to, tell me a story. Something amazing about your travels. Come on, you've been out of Casmerelda, and I deserve a story filled with adventure."
Ophelia smiled. "Sounds fair, but maybe I should ask about you becoming queen. Does it meet your expectations?"
Mara leaned back against the stone tomb. "My expectations? You and father were dead. I didn't know what to expect. I accepted my responsibility, but let's face it, you'd make a better queen than I ever will. There are too many without food. I'm doing my best but I worry it's not good enough."
Ophelia hugged her sister again. "I'm sure you are doing fine. You are reigning queen. I hope to never see the day where I have to take the throne. Besides, you're not going to force me to marry a royal, are you?"
Mara rolled her eyes. "Please, no more talk of marriage. Father never relented until his death. Maybe he was right about our kingdom needing the support. I would never force you to marry anyone against your will."
Ophelia grinned. "Good. Just because I'm not queen doesn't mean I'm still not the older sister."
Mara took her sister's hand. "We should get you back home. Everyone will be so glad to see you again."
"Are you sure?" Ophelia asked. "You didn't accept me so easily at first sight."
"I am their queen. They will listen to me."
"I hope you're right."
Leila stepped inside the castle, taking in every sight and sound. The storm hadn't let up, but it didn't matter. She removed her wet cloak, wringing it out by the door.
"You don't have to do that," Mara said, taking the wet material in her hands and handing it to a servant. "Get this dry for Ophelia."
"Ophelia?" the older servant repeated, her brow furrowing.
"Yes, my sister has returned," Mara said to the servant. She turned to Leila. "Let's get you changed and out of that old outfit." She scrunched her face in disgust. "How could you wear such dreadful clothes?"
"Not many live the luxurious lifestyle of a queen or princess," Leila reminded her younger sister. "I made do with what I had." She swam in the gown, the hem much too long and the bust far too big. She had tied it as tight as possible, and it still looked awkward. "Are my clothes still in my room?"
Mara laughed. "Only the dresses I found appalling. I cleaned out your room the minute you left."
Leila's jaw dropped. "Tell me you're joking!" She pinched her sister, listening to hear squeal as she darted up the stairs trying desperately to get away.
"Stop her!" Mara shouted at the guards standing in the hallway at the top of the stairs.
"Queen Mara?" A guard grabbed Leila forcefully by the arm. "Shall I put her in the dungeon?"
"What?" Ophelia paled and tried to pull herself from his grasp, unsuccessfully.
Mara's eyes widened and her cheeks burned. "Let her go! Do you not have any idea what fun is? She's my sister, a royal member of this family! You treat her with the same respect you treat me."
The guard released Ophelia from his grasp. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," the guard said. His eyes darted toward Ophelia, making her shift uncomfortably as she rubbed the red marks on her arms away. He didn't try to explain himself, nor did he say another word.
Ophelia groaned beneath her breath. She knew the guard. He'd served her father and their family for nearly ten years. How could he not recognize her and say something?
"Come on," Mara said, taking her sister's hand in hers. "Let's get you cleaned up and dressed. I bet you could use a hot bath. You still owe me a story or two about where you've been."
How would she explain her adventures to Mara? She'd tried telling her the truth, but that hadn't gone over well. Of course, why had she expected it to? Had the situation been reversed, she'd think her sister had gone mad.
"A hot bath sounds absolutely wonderful," Ophelia said and let go of her sister's hand. She walked to her room, opened the door, and stared at her bed. The covers were made; her favorite monkey sat atop the mattress. Ophelia walked over and sat down, reaching her arm out for the monkey. She clung to it as if it was air and she needed it for survival. It smelled just like her mom, lavender and honeysuckle. At least how she thought of her. It had been a long time since she'd been with Ophelia and Mara.
"I kept him safe for you," Mara said. She walked toward the bed and sat beside her sister. "I wished every night that you'd find your way home. Honestly, I never thought seeing you again would be a possibility. I feel like I should be angry with you for leaving, abandoning us."
Ophelia gently pulled the monkey back from her chest and held it tightly in her hands, staring down at the small creature. "Why aren't you mad at me?"
"Did you do it for me?" Mara asked.
"What's that?" Ophelia tilted her head up, meeting Mara's intense gaze. As queen, she definitely held a power over everyone, even her older sister.
"Disappear, so I could take the throne?"
Mara's question caught her by surprise. "You question whether I left on purpose?" Ophelia couldn't believe it. Her sister hadn't grown up, not entirely. Maybe she wore the crown and the kingdom of Casmerelda bowed before her, but she would still be a child for a little while longer.
Mara nodded and stood. "You didn't want to marry Astin. I can only assume you left selfishly to avoid responsibility, leaving me to take care of our father and the kingdom. We don't have enough grain or vegetables. What we do have we've been sharing, rationing inside the palace as well. Preposterous, I know." Mara didn't appear proud of the situation.
"What can I do to help?" Ophelia asked. "I never listened to father and his politics with the kingdoms. He certainly had me sit in on a few meetings, but my mind was on Larkin. I don't know who trades what."
Mara smiled reassuringly. "There are advisors who offer guidance."
Ophelia's jaw tightened. "Are you sure they're to be trusted?" After being murdered by a neighboring ally, Ophelia had doubts on the loyalty of her own subjects, or rather her sister's subjects. Mara's smile faded, and she walked out of the room without saying a word. Ophelia stood and followed. "Where are we going?"
"I'm going to have the servants draw you a bath. I'm tired of discussing politics," Mara said, gaining control of the situation. "When you
finish, they can bring you a gown. Also, you should join me for dinner this evening. We must celebrate your return."
"Sounds lovely," Ophelia said, wondering why the mood had shifted. Had she said something that offended her sister? She revised her earlier opinion. Mara had grown up. Even though Ophelia hadn't been gone for years, it seemed as though Mara had matured significantly since she'd left.
The servants silently filled the tub, refusing to say anything to Ophelia. However, they constantly kept meeting her gaze. What were they thinking? Were they angry that she'd left? Would everyone think she had abandoned the crown and her people? She opened her mouth to say something, but then she snapped it shut. What good would it do? Ophelia suspected she needed to give these people time to accept her return, just as she needed time to find her place in this new situation.
The servants deposited thick towels and lavender soap onto a nearby table, and Ophelia smiled, feeling the hot water against her fingers. She disrobed, leaving the cold, sticky gown on the floor as she submerged herself in the tub. Stretching out, she shut her eyes and allowed herself to finally relax. There would be no scroll to tell her where she needed to be to release a soul from the realm of the living.
Ophelia heard the door creak open. "Mara?"
Aurora stepped into the bath chamber, a knife nestled in the palm of her hand. She didn't say a word. Her presence was enough.
Ophelia glanced at the dull gray blade and swallowed anxiously. "You're here to kill me." This time, there was no grim reaper to release her soul. Worse, when she died, her soul would go to a monster in the Underworld for eternity.
Aurora approached the tub, knife in hand. Swift, she darted toward Ophelia, grabbing her shoulder, positioning the blade at her throat. "Take this message as a warning. Leave, and your life will be spared. Stay, and it will burn." The dark-haired girl nicked Ophelia's throat, leaving a long scratch that burned down her neck, before pulling away. "Others won't be so nice."
Aurora backed out of the bath chamber, leaving Ophelia alone gasping for air. Her heart pounded wildly as her fingers moved to the cut, finding blood on her fingertips. What had she done, returning home?
After her bath, Ophelia settled into her room, feeling at home again. She stretched out on her mattress and shut her eyes, exhausted. She knew she'd be expected at dinner, but the whole ordeal still felt overwhelming.
Her fingers moved up and across her throat where Aurora had pierced her skin and drawn blood. Should she report the girl? Had it happened under her father's rule, Aurora would have been executed for treason. Casmerelda had become a different country with Mara as queen. Soon, starvation would kill more people than the Second Wave. Ophelia could feel turmoil bubbling to the surface.
The mark had barely been a scratch at all, after the water had rinsed away the offending drops of blood. No one would notice or likely even believe her story of what happened.
A soft rap sounded at the door. "Come in," Ophelia said, waiting for whoever it was to enter.
Mara opened the door and rushed over to the bed, climbing atop the mattress. She plopped down and onto her back, staring up at the canopy. "I thought it might have been a dream," Mara said and turned her head to face her sister.
"Nope. It's real. Do you want me to pinch you?" Leila joked, reaching out for her sister's arm.
Mara shrieked and pulled back and sat up, laughing hysterically. "No. Stay away!"
Ophelia placed her hands back on the mattress, gazing up as if she were looking at a painted sky. "Were you with him when he died?" she asked, curious about her father's death. She'd never forgive him for what he'd done to Larkin, but she also didn't forgive herself for not being there when her father died.
Mara stared down at her lap, her hands pushing the wrinkles from her gown as if it would help dull the pain of speaking about their loss. "I spent many nights at his bedside."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you." Ophelia tried her best to offer her comfort, but they'd both lost a father.
Mara's head shot up, and her sad blue eyes stared at Ophelia's. "Where were you?" Her voice ached with pain and a sadness that Ophelia could not erase.
What good would it be to tell her the truth? Mara hadn't believed it the first time. Why would repeating it help anyway? "Does it matter?"
"I'm trying to decide if I should be mad at you or not." Mara sighed and stood from the mattress.
Ophelia sat up and pushed her legs off the edge of the bed, letting them dangle. "I take it you're mad then?" It seemed there were only two options: to tell her the truth or lie, and Mara appeared to be leaving the room. It wasn't as though telling Mara the truth would get Ophelia anywhere. Wasn't it better to just lie about it and protect her sister? The answer seemed quite simple.
"No. Yes." Mara frowned and stomped one foot, frustrated.
"You always were used to getting your way." Ophelia knew she shouldn't have said it, but she found Mara's behavior appalling. Her sister carried on like a child when she had the kingdom in her possession and people who looked up to her.
Mara's mouth fell open. "This, coming from the girl who ran away and left her boyfriend to hang."
Ophelia couldn't believe her sister. She had no idea what that had felt like! Ophelia had desperately wanted to save Larkin, but she hadn't known how. She couldn't have just waltzed into the castle and demanded he be set free. She hadn't looked like herself. She'd been a grim reaper! If only Mara could understand what she'd been through and experienced, maybe that would change their relationship for the better. "You know what, I don't have to take this from you!" Ophelia stormed past Mara out of the room and down the staircase.
"Where are you going?" Mara stomped after Ophelia, letting everyone know of her presence. "You will listen to me. I'm your queen!"
Rushing toward the door, Ophelia grabbed her dark purple cloak and secured it before opening the heavy door. "No, you're Casmerelda's queen. This isn't my home anymore. I made a mistake coming here."
"Stop!" Mara screamed, her voice heavy with urgency. Had she realized she might actually lose her sister a second time, forever?
Ophelia didn't heed her warning. She rushed outside into cool air and was grateful the rain had stopped. Jogging across the land toward the stables, Ophelia was glad the stable boys had already brought her horse from the mausoleum and fed and watered the poor beast. She quickly bridled the horse and climbed on. There was only one place she'd ever considered home, and it wasn't here.
Chapter 52
The ride from Casmerelda to the refuge in Seora took less time than she thought it would. Probably because her mind had been racing. How would Wynter react when he saw she'd turned human again? Would he still love her mortal form and all her flaws?
Daylight would soon be dwindling. She followed the path through the forest toward the mountains, knowing they could be seen from the refuge. Wynter had once told her about the beautiful snow-covered peaks and how he wanted to take her sledding one day. She had no idea what sledding involved, but the thought of snow and having fun sounded delightful. Especially the way Wynter had spoken so cheerfully of it.
Ophelia sighed as she slowly approached the refuge. Would Wynter be glad to see her, or would he be upset she hadn't stayed away? He'd come here to become a dark angel and accept his fate. Why could she not accept her own?
Luna clung to Wynter's hand as they stepped out from the two-story battered refuge. The white paint was chipped away at the sides. He held her hand all the way down the thirteen porch steps that looked about ready to cave in. Reaching the grass, Luna let go and ran toward the nearest tree, trying to climb it. Wynter walked over and gave her a boost.
Climbing down from the horse, Ophelia walked with the reins in hand toward Wynter. With his back facing her, he didn't appear to notice her coming.
Quietly, Ophelia tied the reins of the horse around a nearby tree and walked over to stand beside Wynter and wait for him to notice her. Seconds passed, which felt like minutes.
"
Look at you!" Wynter shouted with a smile as he stared up at Luna. "Now come down before bed."
Ophelia's stomach grumbled, causing Wynter to turn to see what the noise had been. "Leila, is that you?"
How had he known? They'd never met while she'd been alive. At least, she hadn't remembered meeting Wynter. "Yeah, it's me. How'd you know?" she asked.
Wynter laughed. "Every noble knows who the royal family are, even those in neighboring countries."
Ophelia was startled by that information. It meant she couldn't hide among the people in the village or at the refuge without worrying that an aristocrat passing through might recognize her. "How is that possible?"
"How is it not? With coronations, the royal ball, the masquerade, Winter Solstice Ball, should I continue?" Wynter smiled warmly at Ophelia. "You're beautiful in every form."
"Hi, Luna." Ophelia waved to the young girl, forgetting she would not recognize her. Turning to Wynter, she kept her voice quiet so Luna couldn't overhear what she wanted to ask him. "Where are her parents?" She hoped Erebus hadn't returned, angry that they'd found their way from the Underworld.
"They're out tonight working a soul save, together."
"That doesn't happen very often, does it?" she asked.
Wynter shrugged. "I'm not sure, still learning the rules and how things work around here."
"How's that going for you?" Her eyes followed Luna as the girl climbed halfway down before jumping the rest of the way.
"This isn't what I wanted," Wynter said, turning to face Ophelia. He reached for her hands, holding them in his own. "I didn't have a choice. Juliana insisted I stay here and learn my trade. The royal council insisted I step down as a teacher and become a student again, this time with the dark angels. You don't have to leave, though. Now that you're not a grim reaper, and since you already know about the refuge, I don't see the harm in you staying here."
Ophelia laughed. "I'm sure someone will be against it." She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him in tight for a hug. "Okay." She could use a home, and with Wynter was where she belonged.