A Ghost of Magic: Chosen Saga Book 3

by J. L. Clayton

  She was magnificent with her long blue hair, bright sapphire eyes, and cobalt lips. Her skin had a hint of blue, and her gown was the color of a cloudless sky on a cold, winter day. Diamonds were embedded deep into the dress, evoking brilliant sparkles with every move she made. She wore winter well.

  “Welcome, child. I am Rendalla, the Queen of the Winter Court, but you should refer to me as Your Highness.”

  “Good evening, Your Highness,” I muttered from behind my unwanted barrier.

  She laughed; it was a harmonious sound. “Should I worry about the entourage you have with you? Or are you the one who is afraid of me? Oh, but I see. Our king truly did a number on you. It was very entertaining.” She beamed.

  I glared and pushed my way through my unwelcomed protectors. “So you saw the little twisted game I had to play?” I asked, folding my arms.

  “Silly child, nothing in Fairy is kept hidden for long. You just have to know where to look or think of what you want to see, that is, if you have the right amount of magic running through your blood. As you well know, I am Queen; therefore, I have more than enough to do so.” She held out her hand, and a milky, white ball appeared in her palm. I watched as the white cloud slowly started to fade. “Now, let’s see what dear old Kate is up to, shall we?”

  The ball grew bigger and became more flat than round. The Queen motioned for me to step closer. I did, and that’s when I saw her. Kate was standing in some room talking to the demon. The demon held a black box in her hands and shook it.

  “Can you hear what they’re talking about?” I asked.

  She grinned. “Why, yes… if I wanted to.”

  I hedged. “Are you going to let us hear them?”

  She shook her head. “I am more of a let’s-see-how-everything-turns-out kind of royal.”

  I was pissed. Not caring that I was giving my secret away, I said, “Oh, but see, I think I could hear it if I truly wanted to.”

  She glowered. “Pray tell, child. How would you possibly be able to do such a trick? I know you’re the Chosen One, but surely even the Chosen have their limits.”

  She was taunting me. I wasn’t going to stand here and let her make me look like a fool. “I don’t know, but I may know of a way. Maybe I could siphon off of you? I’m sure then I would be able to hear whatever they are saying. What do you think?”

  She took a menacing step forward. I couldn’t help myself; I smiled.

  Asher clasped my forearm and said, “Steady there, Kitten.”

  Cris stepped in front of me. “My Queen, it has been a very long day. She is tired, and I am certain she doesn’t realize what she is saying.”

  Queen Rendalla turned her sharp, penetrating gaze on Cris and smiled seductively, “Oh you.” She ran a long fingernail down the side of Cris’s cheek. “She may be talking foolishness, but I don’t doubt the capability she possesses. Yet, I also believe that she wouldn’t do anything that could put any of her companions’ lives at risk.” She turned her blue eyes on me and waited. I grudgingly shook my head, feeling ten kinds of ticked off. She laughed. “Precisely. Do you think I should still grant you passage through my kingdom with a tongue as unpleasant as yours?”

  “I beg to differ, Kitten. Your tongue is very pleasurable.”

  I couldn’t focus on Asher and his lewd comment. All I was focusing on was the fact that we might not get to cross through this land because, yet again, I opened my mouth. I took a shaky breath. I was about to plead with her.

  Cris beat me to it. “My Queen, as I said before, we are all very tired. It has been a trying day. Could you be so kind as to let us pass? You will not regret it.” Cris looked at her with a cold, calculating stare. I shivered.

  She leaned in. “Hmm, I won’t?” Queen Rendalla smiled. She puckered up her blue lips and blew him a cold kiss, winter’s frigid kiss. The kiss was a toxic vapor visible in the air as it floated towards him. Cris watched with a detachment, and right before it touched his skin, he moved his head. She giggled maddeningly. “Oh…You know! I know! We know!” She spun around with her arms spread wide.

  She was certifiably crazy, and I didn’t understand what was going on.

  She stopped her erratic spinning and sighed. “Fine. Fine, it seems no one is in the mood to have fun, but I am in the mood for you, boy.” She tapped Cris on the chest.

  This irked me on so many levels that I didn’t understand. I took a step forward. Asher put a hand on my arm to stop me, and Cris looked at me. He looked surprised, but the look faded quickly as the queen clapped her hands together, pulling our attention.

  “Wonderful. Now, if you wish to pass, you must entertain me. What say you? Will you play my game so you may pass, or will you give up now and go back home with your tails tucked between your legs?” she asked condescendingly.

  At this point, I was so mad it was a wonder I wasn’t on fire. I knew I could suck the life right out of the bitch. Yeah, I was so feeling like a vampire, but I didn’t give a flying frig. I knew I could literally take her power, kingdom, and her life. I could be the freaking Fairy Queen and move the freak on from this dementedly insane realm. But what would I become if I did that? Who would I lose? What would I lose? I looked at my family and friends’ faces, and I knew I would lose them. Sure, I was the Chosen One, and I would, without a doubt, eradicate the queen, but who would I lose in the process?

  I conceded. “Okay, what is it you want me to do?”

  She rubbed her hands together and hummed. “Let’s find your deepest, darkest desire. Oh this will be so much fun.” She clapped her hands and squealed like a mad person.

  I groaned inwardly. “What is it with you fairies and sex?”

  She giggled, “One day you will understand why anyone who has taken in the pleasures of another’s body loves sex. Now, it’s time. Come along.” With that, we entered the castle.

  “So, what do you want me to do now?” I asked anxiously.

  “Oh child, you will see. As of right now, all you have to do is close your eyes and give all of your trust over to me.”

  This had me worried, but I knew the only way I was going to be able to cross through her lands was by playing her game. I relented. “Let’s do this.”

  “Oh goodie.”

  “Kitten, fairies are very crafty beings. Please be careful on what you are agreeing to. You may be in over your head, my sweet kitty cat.” I knew what he was saying was the truth. I was most definitely in over my head, but the other choice wasn’t any better or one I was willing to take. I nodded to let Asher know that I understood what I was getting myself into.

  “Follow me!” she said in a sing-song voice.

  “Fox,” Jace called out. We all looked at him. I saw Jace swallow and look down. He coughed. “Um, Charlie, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, there could be another way.”

  I shook my head. “I have three options. One, we could call ourselves defeated and head home with our tails between our legs.” I looked over at the ones that did have tails in their supernatural forms and smiled sheepishly. Tru chuckled; it was a sound that melted my heart just a little. I picked up where I had left off. “But I could never do that to Nikko, and besides, look at what we have all gone through to get to this point. Two, I fight the fairy queen. I know I have some crazy-insane magical powers and I believe I could kill her, but I also believe I would lose one of you in the process.”

  Naturally, all the guys, even my dad scoffed at that statement. I rolled my eyes and carried on. “I know you all think that you can take her and all the fairies on, and maybe you can, but if just one of you were to die… I couldn’t live with myself. I am not willing to lose anyone else. I know the choice that I’m making now is the best one. So, no, Jace. There isn’t any other way I would be willing to try.”

  Jace nodded, but he looked like he didn’t like it at all. I knew exactly how he felt. I didn’t like it either.

  “Are you quite finished now? Because you may have all the time in the world to debate whether or not you w
ant to save your friend! However, I do not.”

  I scowled at her. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  “Finally! Guards, if you would.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Charlie

  Two, burly fairy men approached and took hold of my arms, snorting as they did. I wrinkled my nose. They were ugly creatures with leathery, black skin, jagged, rotting teeth, and haphazard patches of fur on their bodies. Their eyes were solid red, and they had hooves for feet, floppy looking ears, and big, bat-like wings. All in all, these things freaked me the hell out. And they were touching me… with their slimy, meaty, and smelly hands! Yuck!

  “Come on!” he barked as he pushed me against a pole.

  “My Queen?” The other creepy fairy looked at Queen Rendalla beseechingly.

  “Surely, you know what to do! So do it!” Queen Rendalla ordered.

  I was starting to get a bad feeling about all of this. What did I agree to? Both grimy beings took one of my hands and pulled it forcefully behind my back.

  “What the hell?! You’re hurting her,” Tru protested.

  I looked over and saw Jace take a step closer, but some of the fairy guards stopped him.

  “Kitten, things are going to get really bad for your two, foolish, young men if you don’t calm down and cooperate. Should I remind you, my sweet little Kitten, you were the one that agreed to this game?”

  I shook my head, knowing he was right. “It’s okay, guys. I’m fine. I was the one that volunteered for this. I am just being stubborn.”

  Everyone calmed, and I let out a sigh of relief. I was such a fool at times. I knew what I was getting myself into, yet I was fighting it. I knew it would make everyone freak out, but me being foolish and all really sealed the deal. I clenched my hands and knew I should thank Asher. Calling me out was exactly what I needed.

  “Thank you, Asher.”

  “Kitten, I’m always willing to serve you in any way imaginable, so what is my prize?”

  “What makes you think you deserve a prize?”

  “Oh, my sweet, if I didn’t suggest that your foolish boys were about to be on the wrong end of the fairy dust … Well, let’s just say, they might not be standing.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Asher smiled.

  “Shall we continue? I am growing quite bored with this all!” Queen Rendalla huffed.

  “We will talk more about this later, Kitten.”

  I groaned inwardly and nodded.

  Queen Rendalla glowered. She ran a cold, blue hand down the bodice of her gown and cleared her throat. “For my little game, my guards will be placing ancient magical shackles around your wrists and feet. They will also be fitting a blindfold over your eyes. The shackles will prevent you from using any of your magic, and the blindfold is self-explanatory. So in essence, you will be a normal, human girl. You will not be able to access your magic, nor will you be able to see what is happening around you. But do not fret, for I give you my oath and the word of a fairy, let alone the Fairy Queen’s word, it should never be taken lightly—your purity will remain intact.”

  The robust fairy men grabbed my arms again, ready to fasten the cuffs onto my wrists. This time, I was going to let them. I sure as hell didn’t want to cause another scene.

  “My Queen?” one of the fairies inquired, holding out his hand for the manacles.

  She raised an eyebrow and sniffed. “But before I allow my very impatient footmen to restrain you,”—the fairy in question lowered his head, and Queen Rendalla smirked—“I am giving you one last chance to leave. After the shackles and blindfold are in place, the game will begin, and there will be no turning back until I command it. Do you understand?” She looked at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

  I looked over at my companions, a wave of trepidation flooding my soul. I sucked in a sharp breath and closed my eyes, holding out my arms for the guards to take. No matter what, I was going to play another fairy game. I was going to save Nikko, and I was going to make damn sure I did it right this time!

  “Splendid,” I heard her giggle.

  I opened my eyes and saw her dancing across the floor. She twisted and twirled, clapping her hands together and dancing to whatever music played in her head. She was a breathtaking sight of madness and beauty. Her long, blue hair whipped around her face as her gown seemed to float on air. I shook my head in amazement, transfixed and totally captivated, until rough hands grabbed my wrists and forced them behind the pole. For a split second, the urge to fight kicked in, but then I slammed into my reality. I blew out the compulsion to kill these freaking fairies in one long, drawn out breath. I don’t think I would have really killed them. Hurt them, on the other hand? Yes, I think so.

  As the locks clicked into place, Queen Rendalla stopped the insane dancing and watched me with cold, callous eyes. The room shook around me, and it felt like all the air was being sucked out of my body. I never really considered how it would feel to be cut off from my magic. Sure, for the first sixteen years of my life I didn’t know I had magic, but it had always been inside of me, just waiting. Now, I didn’t feel anything. I felt empty, like a part of me was missing. I thought I would suffocate as this hollow feeling crashed through my body and settled in the pit of my stomach with a heavy thud. The air in my chest expanded like a rubber band. I strained as I felt the band give and snap. Air gushed out of my lungs, and a screeching, guttural sound bellowed past my lips as I struggled to inhale in deep, gulping breaths. I lowered my head. My body shook, and I started to cry.

  “Sweetie!” Mom cried out. She and my father surged forward.

  Queen Rendalla held up one blue finger and wiggled it. “Nah-ah-ah-ah! She agreed.”

  Pain and this unbearable agony tore through my body. I clenched my teeth.

  Queen Rendalla laughed. “I am told that what you are feeling now is exactly how you make others feel when you use your cyphering ability to suck the life and magic out of a being.”

  I coughed and wheezed. “Who told you that?”

  “Silly child, why Kate of course. Surely you didn’t think because I was allowing you to cross that I wasn’t friends with Kate! She told me all about you trying to suck the life and magic out of her… just like one of those nasty vampires.” Queen Rendalla flicked her crystal blue eyes at Asher.

  He winked and flashed his fangs saying, “Why yes, Your Majesty. I am a very nasty vampire, and I would be happy to show you.” Asher’s eyes blazed red as he glared at her.

  I lowered my head and shot him a knowing look. Asher ran a tongue over his fangs, cracked his knuckles, and shrugged.

  Queen Rendalla huffed and continued, “As I was saying, all of your magic is being pulled into the shackles, and until they are removed from your body, it will seem as if you are a normal girl. Fortunately for you, when the shackles are no longer touching your skin, your magic will return. That would not have happened to Kate if you would have kept feeding off her. Her life would have been no more, as would any other being you unleash your cyphering powers upon. This is what being on the receiving end feels like, my wretched darling!”

  I felt sick. I put Kate through this. Even though I thought she deserved to die, I wouldn’t want to torture her, or anyone. But some people needed to die, and if Queen Rendalla thought that I would feel bad for wanting to kill Kate… well, she was gravely mistaken. Using my powers to save myself and those I love will never make me feel guilty, but torturing someone—even if I didn’t know I was doing it—made me feel ten shades of awful. As I stood there, chained to a pole in front of a mixed audience, my self-pity and self-loathing faded. I doubled over as much as I could and sobbed. The pain and loss of something that should be inside me was almost too much. Numbness settled over me, and the pain dwindled, melting away in a blissful moment. I sighed in relief as sweat ran down my face. I sucked in a breath and smelt something foul.

  Queen Rendalla pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh, I forgot about that sickly sweet smell of magic being locked away. It’s a nasty st
ench. No worries. We will get you properly dressed before you leave here. Someone please bring me the blindfold,” she intoned.

  A cute, little fairy with pink and purple shimmering wings, a white dress, blond hair, and green eyes came scurrying out. In her tiny hands, she held something and offered it to the Queen. Queen Rendalla took it and held it up. It was a gold blindfold.

  “This blindfold is called the mind opener. It will allow the possibility of what is to take place, setting your mind free and unlocking your deepest secrets.”

  With that, she placed the garment over my head. Once the blindfold made contact with my skin, I felt a sizzling sensation. It started at my forehead and ran down the back of my skull, along my spine, down my arms, and ended at my fingertips. I swallowed and licked my lips.

  “Um, other than taking my sight and making my body feel as though it was laid across hot coals, what was this supposed to do again?” I asked.

  “You will know very soon, child.” I hated that she kept on calling me “child”, but what could I do about it now? “Everyone, take a seat!” Queen Rendalla called.

  I couldn’t see, so I didn’t know what was going on, but the noises I heard made me think everyone had taken a seat. The silence erupted into shouting, and I heard Jace above all others.

  “What the hell, man!?”

  “If you don’t get your hands off me, I will rip them off for you,” I heard Asher growl.

  “I think you may want to reconsider that!” Tru barked.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  She grunted, “Your companions don’t seem to want to be strapped down.” Her voice was laced with a maniacal snicker.

  I sputtered, “Why are you strapping them down?”

  “Foolish child, what is about to happen, well, I’m afraid that your companions will not take it sitting down.”

  Cute play on words, I thought, irrationally. I was now starting to get a little worried. What did she have in mind?