A Ghost of Magic: Chosen Saga Book 3

by J. L. Clayton

  I was now in a room with a long table, lots of food, and a wineglass filled to the rim.

  “Wow, that’s a lot of food!” I declared.

  “I don’t know how I got here, and I don’t care. I'm starving. It feels like we haven’t eaten in days,” Jace said, beaming. Jace was here. I was a little shocked and worried. What could happen? What did it mean that Jace was here? Was this going to be like Asher all over again?

  “So, Fox, should we eat? I mean, we might as well. This food looks too good not to eat.” He wiggled a piece of cheese in the air.

  “Yeah,” I choked back a giggle. “It does look really good.” The feast placed before me was quite the spectacle. On the right of my plate was a tall glass of red wine and on the left was one single fork. Piled on my plate were different kinds of cheeses, fruits, and crackers. I was feeling a little hungry. I looked at Jace.

  He licked his lips and muttered, “Let’s just try a little to see how good it is. Besides, you’re doing so wonderful. I think you deserve a snack, and since I’m here with you…”

  I did laugh that time. “Thank you.” My stomach decided to let me know what it thought about all this food. “Well, I am hungry. So, cheers,” I declared as I picked up the wine glass and took a sip. As soon as the wine hit my tongue, an explosion of taste overwhelmed me. It had to be the drink of the gods—ambrosia. I drank it all. It was gone, all gone. I thought about licking the inside of the glass.

  “Wow, its sooo good, Jace. You should try it,” I urged.

  Jace raised his eyebrows. Sounding skeptical, he asked, “It is?”

  I nodded as I picked up a piece of cheese and shoved it into my mouth. “It’s really delicious, Jace. Go on. Try it,” I mumbled. Food fell from my lips as I shoved more into my mouth. In no time, my plate was nearly empty. I needed to eat it all. I looked up and smiled at Jace, my mouth full of food.

  Jace gave me a funny look as he picked up his wine glass. He looked at the wine and frowned. “Umm, are you ok? I mean, you’re eating that food really fast.”

  I nodded. “Yessss, it’s so good.” My words were a little slurred.

  Jace hopped up and rushed over to me. “Charlie, stop!”

  I paused and looked at him in confusion. “What?” I laughed. “It’s so good, Jace. Try it!”

  “Charlie, just listen to me,” Jace said, searching my eyes.

  The need for the food vanished and faded into a different need— a more carnal need… a need for Jace. I dropped the food and slowly turned toward him. I grabbed the bottom of his shirt and started pulling myself up his body. I pressed myself into him and whispered into his lips, “You know I’ve always loved you, Jace. Even when I couldn’t remember you, it was like my heart knew who you were and what you meant to me. When my memories came back, I finally remembered that love for you. You do know that, right?”

  Jace swallowed and choked out. “Be serious!”

  I looked at him, perplexed. “I am being serious, Jace. Why would I say it if I wasn’t?”

  He gazed at me with his gorgeous, bright blue eyes. “I don’t know, but if I had one wish in this world, it would be to turn-back-time and make sure you never lost your memories of me.”

  My heart pounded as his words took hold and ripped me open, revealing all the longing I had felt for him ever since I got my memories back. I took a step in his direction.

  Jace held up one hand, stopping me. “Fox, I lost my first love. The girl I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with.” He flicked his fingers in my direction, he asked, “Do you know how painful it was to love someone that didn’t remember loving you back?” Frowning he added, “Love’s a funny thing, how it cuts you in so many ways—happy, sad, overwhelmed, worried and sick. All of these are small, but deeply felt incisions that can leave a lasting imprint on your heart. Love is nothing to joke about.”

  I looked at him and said, “I never said I was joking.”

  Jace took a step back and ran a hand through his blonde hair in frustration. His shirt rose up showing off the bottom of his stomach, reminding me of the time in his workout shed and how well-defined and chiseled his body looked. I wanted to trace every inch of it with my hands. A wildly sexual need took over, and I surprised us both. I quickly moved so my body was inches away from his, and I pulled his face to mine. I forgot all the things Jace just said. All I wanted was to taste his lips and feel his body pressed to mine. This feeling wasn't just a craving; this was a visceral feeling that burrowed deep into my marrow. Our lips clashed like a tidal wave beating itself against the rocks. Our tongues fought for premises as the sensation of our hot breaths blending together undid me.

  I started pulling at Jace’s shirt, but Jace had other plans.

  “Hey, slow down. What’s going on?” he asked, looking confused.

  This was so not what I expected from him. I moaned. “Jace, what’s going on is that I want this. I’ve always wanted this, and I love you. I have always loved you. Even when my memories were erased, I knew, somehow, that I loved you. I know I’m a confusing person and that I have put you and Tru through hell. Sometimes the heart just can’t decide. My heart is a fool, and I wish I could rip it from my chest and take away all the confusion. I hate that I’ve hurt you and Tru, but I can’t help the feelings I have.”

  Jace smiled sadly, and it broke my heart. “You know how I feel about you. You’ve always known because I’ve never hid it from you. I have been here waiting all along for you to see. Yet, we can’t do this right now. What would you do if I gave into my feelings for you instead of saving Nikko? How would you look at me after this was over? Would you still love me? Could you forgive me if I agreed to finally having you entirely? What if that little bit of time was all you needed to save Nikko? I don’t think you could forgive yourself. Just know that I will always love you, and I’ll always be here, Fox, waiting for you to finally notice and choose me. You will always be my choice.”

  I went to protest. All I wanted in that moment was our bodies intertwined, but then something happened and all thoughts of a heated moment were gone. I sucked in a sharp breath, “Oh God, Jace, it burns.”

  Jace grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “What? What burns?”

  I shook my head, desperately trying to find the right words that would explain what was happening. “I don’t know…” I breathed, tears falling from my eyes as I clutched his arms.

  “You’re going to be ok,” Jace said firmly.

  “No…I don’t think it’s me.” I doubled over. “Oh God, no…I think it’s Nikko.” I whimpered in agony. “It’s Nikko. Oh Jace, what was I thinking? I have to save him.” I coughed. “I was being so selfish, and now I think he is dying, and this time, it’s for good.” I fell to my knees, clutching my stomach. Pain rippled through my insides, and heat seemed to be rolling off my skin.

  Jace picked me up. “Come on, Charlie. We have to get out of here. You have to get us out of here.”

  I shook my head. I didn’t know how.

  Jace looked at me. “Yes, you can. You’re the Chosen One. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

  I thought about what the nymph told me, how she asked, “What do you truly desire?” I knew, in that moment, I desired nothing more than to be finished with this realm and standing in front of the king. I clinched my fists, pushed hard on my stomach, and stood, my legs unsteady.

  I called out, “Your Majesty, I think it’s time that this game is over and we have a little chat.” A few minutes went by and there was nothing but the sound of our breaths. I wasn't going to wait. I was pissed he didn’t answer me. I looked at Jace and smiled as my body started to glow a white light. I knew what was about to happen, and I just hoped I didn’t hurt us. I grabbed Jace’s hand and said, “Whatever happens, don’t let go.” I wrapped the light around Jace. “I desire for this game to be over—now!” My words echoed through the room. The walls shook, and the ground rolled underneath our feet. The room was being torn into shreds from the seams.

 
“That is quite enough of that nasty temper tantrum ye have. What exactly are ye going tae do? Destroy my kingdom? That is enough of that,” said a disembodied voice. “If ye would… please refrain from causing anymair damage.”

  I slowly let go of the magic.

  “I will see ye now,” the king declared.

  Just like that, Jace and I were standing before the king in all his majesty. I looked into his gray-green eyes and worked my way over the rest of him. Long, silver hair fell over his shoulders, and a chiseled jaw edged out his face. Rosy cheeks warmed his white-as-paper skin. King Demetrius’s lips were full, and his nose was tilted up just a little, giving him a snooty look. Yet, something about him was so magnetizing, almost compelling in nature.

  “Aw-aw-aw, Kitten. Don’t do anything you will regret in the morning.”

  “Shove off, Asher.”

  I pushed him out of my head, even though I was grateful for what he just saved me from. Whatever I was about to do, I was sure it would have been humiliating. Mentally rolling my eyes, I looked around and noticed that everyone was here. That’s when I spotted her. I was off, running like my life, my heart depended on it. The hounds of hell couldn’t have stopped me. There was only one thing on my mind, and that was to hug her and make sure she was alive. Somehow, I talked myself into forgetting what I saw. I knew it was the only way I could make it through what was to come next, but now, I remembered everything. My body crashed into hers, and she embraced me.

  I cried, “Oh Mom, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t help you. I let you die.”

  “Shhh, Sweetie, it wasn’t real. You did the right thing. I’m okay. It’s over now, and everything is okay.”

  I sniffed and pulled away, giving her a weak smile. “I love you, Mom,” I said, wanting her to hear the truth in my words.

  “As I love you, and I never once doubted it.” She cupped me under my chin.

  “Oh, how lovely! Mither ‘n daughter reunited. I always liked happy endings.”

  I turned my head, and whatever compulsion I was under when I first set eyes on Demetrius, was gone. I scowled at the king. He sat up on his throne like a pompous prick. I looked away, unable to look at the bastard. My eyes focused on a large screen, clips of my journey playing on loop. Wonderful! The asshat captured all my greatest hits in the fairy realm.

  When images of Jace and I flickered on the screen, I winced. I looked over at Tru and felt sick. His face looked shattered and broken.

  I snapped, “You were watching us? You let everyone watch me! You sick, twisted bastard!” I was almost overcome with disbelief, even though I had the evidence right in front of me. My focus fell on Tru once again, and I nearly came unglued. I wanted to kill the king more than anything at that moment. All the thoughts of murder and what everyone had witnessed escaped my mind as I collapsed to the floor in pain.

  “Make it stop! It hurts so bad, please make it stop.”

  Mom picked my head up and placed it in her lap, pushing my hair away from my face. “What’s happening, sweetie?”

  “She said something about Nikko dying for good this time. I didn’t know what she was talking about,” Jace said.

  I nodded my head and held back another agonizing scream.

  Cris knelt down and placed his hands above my head, letting them hover there. “It looks as if they are forcing Nikko to pull on Charlie’s magic, but he is fighting them.” Cris narrowed his eyes, stood up, and turned to face the king. “I believe it is time for these games to be over. Wouldn’t you agree, Your Highness?” He spread his arms out to either side of his body. He looked like a glorious falcon, gliding in the sky. He bowed his head slightly and held that position…waiting. The king acknowledged Cris with a subdued nod. Cris straightened and looked back at me.

  I looked at him, suspicion building. The interaction between them wasn’t right. Since when did a king take orders from a…nobody? Something strange started forming in my mind about Cris, something, I didn’t like.

  “I agree,” the king said. He looked over at me and winked. He flicked his fingers my way. “There now, I have just placed an enchantment over ye, but it’ll only last until ye reach The Winter’s Court.” He clapped his hands together joyfully. “Ye were a breathtaking sight for me tae observe, living up tae my expectations brilliantly. Bravo!”

  I could breathe again. I stood and gave him a thankful nod. “You thought I did brilliantly, huh? But have you taken into consideration all the help I had?” I raised my eyebrows and cocked my head to the side. “Do you honestly believe I would’ve been able to finish your little game without the help of my friends?” I smirked. “Just something for you to consider, Your Majesty.”

  He laughed, “But of course. I had only confidence when it concerned the successful. It seems the only one lacking the confidence is ye. My dear, ye are more powerful than ye know and until ye truly believe in that fact, your full potential will forever be suppressed. Ye are a force of nature.” He glanced over at Cris. “A force tae be reckoned with.”

  Cris sniffed and folded his arms. I was trying for snarky, but he just shot me down, and what’s with the creepy message and look he gave Cris? I shook my head and looked at everyone, wondering if they were seeing what I was seeing. What was I seeing exactly?

  Just one more thing for me to consider on a later date, yay!

  “Perhaps after ye save your friend…Ye will come back for a visit?” King Demetrius ventured.

  I knew I couldn’t thank him in the proper manner, and I had to word this properly or there was no telling what might happen. I didn’t want to stick around this place any longer. I was so ready to get the heck out of Fairyland. “I don’t see myself ever coming back here again. There are no words for me to express how I feel about what you have done for me. So, Your Majesty, if you wouldn’t mind, please show us the way out of your kingdom and into another.”

  Demetrius folded his hands in front of him and ran his tongue over his teeth. “Remember, there are malevolent things ye cannot see hiding in plain sight. I believe the phrase- a wolf in sheep’s clothing is not farfetched from ye. So, isn’t it better tae know who the malevolent ones are than tae not see them coming until it’s too late?” He smiled, winked, and snapped his fingers. We were gone.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Nikko

  Pain was the only thing I knew at this point. It suffused my soul in a deluge of anguish. I didn’t know how long I had been blocking off the magic that connected me with Charlie, but I was almost certain it was working.

  “What else could make me feel this much pain? And almost all of my body is invisible now, so something’s happening.” I glanced down and wondered, yet again, where the parts of my body were going. I couldn’t see anything from the waist down, and both of my hands were gone too. I’m sure I was a sight.

  “But I would make for a pretty impressive Halloween costume,” I mused, finding a sense of contentment with the fact that Charlie would be okay. The thought of this pain being a distant memory made me want to push at the magic harder. Once all the magic that filled my soul was finally gone, I could rest. I would find peace.

  The lid to the box lifted, and I squinted. Bright, piercing light spilled in through the opening, but the light quickly diminished as the demon with Tammin’s face appeared.

  “Hello there, gorgeous. What in tarnation do ya think ya doing? Come on, boy. You should know better than to think I would let ya get away with killing yourself. I understand that ya may not like the taste of Charlie. I sure as hell don’t blame ya for wanting to separate yourself from the likes of her, but I need ya right now. Afterwards, by all means, walk right into the open arms of the Reaper. Shit, she’ll be very glad ya did. Oh”—she snapped her fingers—“better yet, allow me to introduce ya. She and I, oh… yeah, we go way back.” The demon laughed.

  She is a fire-loving, brimstone-smelling demon. Remember, this is not your friend. This is not Tammin.

  The demon with my friend’s face looked at me with sympathy. “I kn
ow you’re in a whole lot of pain right now, and I have the perfect remedy. Instead of stopping the magic, why don’t ya push the magic back at her, and at the same time, pull on her life force? Ya see, she will be all magic, and you, my friend, will finally get the release that you have been seeking. Bonus, it won’t hurt ya at all to do the little swap-a-roo.” The demon winked.

  “Whatever trickery you are selling, I’m not buying,” I said on a grimace.

  The demon snorted. “Oh, Nikko. Don’t ‘cha know when not to look a gift-horse in the mouth and just go with it?”

  I peered at her with disbelief. “What do you see in this whole situation that would have you believing I could possibly consider what you have just offered me? Because, trust me, I do not, in any way, believe that what you have presented could be a gift, favor, or a good thing.” Growing angrier, I huffed, “Besides, the way you made it sound, I’m going to die no matter what happens. I can just choose what way I go, and it will be my choice, and not yours.”

  “Yes, very true, but I could force ya into doing it,” the demon taunted. “Oh don’t make that face,” she said, noticing my scowl. “We are about to be at our destination. Soon, you will be reunited.”

  With that, the demon pushed the lid back into place, sending me back into darkness, leaving me alone with my pain once again.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Charlie

  We were standing in the middle of a winter wonderland. Everything had a silver-blueish hue, a cool shadow cast over the land. Ice crystals hung everywhere the eyes could see. It was a frozen tundra of beauty and horror. I looked around and saw gorgeous and grotesque fairies mangled on the grounds, but one by one, they stopped and stared at us. I swallowed, but I didn’t have to think about the glances some of the fairies were giving me. Their focus was fixated on the sound of a trumpet. There was an-uproar and every magical creature turned towards the palace doors. Jace stepped to my right, and Tru stepped to my left. It was as if they had choreographed their movements. Mom and Dad stood right behind me as Asher, Cris, Zeb, and Oz flanked my front. I was being corralled, and I didn’t like it at all, but before I could voice my discontent, the fairy queen took the opportunity to show herself.