by Anna Lewis
“Why are you here?” Nessa asked, finally finding her voice.
“We need your help,” he replied, running a hand absent-mindedly over his hair. “I asked you about spirit magic for a purpose.”
“Yes?” Nessa did not like where this was going.
“Recently, my brother has been sensing a new power—a stronger power than the Necromancer in the past,” he studied Nessa as he spoke, gauging her reaction. She tried to keep her look impassive. “This Necromancer is trying to call up a demon. One who seeks to enter the land of the living and destroy it. It is an ancient power—one that is strong enough to do serious damage.”
“I don’t see how I could help you,” Nessa replied doubtfully.
“We need someone who is strong,” Ra said. “We have heard a lot about you. Well, Charlie has, and that’s saying a lot because he rarely leaves the palace.” He laughed nervously. Nessa frowned.
“Why doesn’t he leave?” she asked. She had heard of the other prince, but not many had ever seen him. It was rumored that Ra’s twin brother was malformed—an aberration as a result of an indiscretion on the queen’s part.
“I know what you may have heard,” Ra said slowly. “But none of that is true. Charlie is special. There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s a sensitive—a very powerful one. Going out among people is just really difficult for him. He can’t touch people without having some sort of vision. It’s just easier for him to remain among his books. He wears gloves… all of the time.”
“Is that why you’re the crown prince?” Nessa bit her lip. That was probably taking too many liberties with a royal. But then, she had never been in the presence of a royal before. She did not know the social protocol. Ra waved it away.
“Yes and no,” he said, unbothered by her question. “I was born three minutes before Charlie.”
“Ah,” Nessa said. “I still don’t see—” He raised his hand to stop her.
“Charlie has seen that you are the one to stop this.”
“Oh.”
“He says that you have the power to harness the spirit magic.”
“Only me.” She could not believe what she was hearing. She had never attempted spirit magic in her life.
“Only you.”
“How accurate are Charlie’s visions?”
“Very.” He said it with such certainty. “Your parents were particularly strong Necromancers.”
“Why wouldn’t they tell me this?”
“It’s illegal.” He shrugged.
“And I won’t be arrested for working this spirit magic?”
“Why would we do that to you?”
“I’ve never dealt with royals before,” she replied. “I only know what I’ve read in books. In the past, royals have been known to be a bit… unreliable.”
“That would be my great-great grandmother,” Ra replied. “She had a penchant for beheading people. We prefer to burn people.” He smiled easily at her. She could not tell whether he was joking or not.
“I see,” she replied slowly, trying to figure out the best way to say no.
“Please come and meet Charlie,” Ra said. He wasn’t begging. He definitely expected her to go. He wasn’t the type of person that was denied what he wanted. She could tell that he definitely expected her to go. She had to admit to herself, though—she was intrigued. She wanted to meet the mysterious hidden prince. She wanted to see him for herself. More than that, though, she wanted to dabble in spirit magic. She had for quite some time. She had wanted to try her own strength. She figured that she could do it. The allure of power that most people were not able to harness was tempting. Her confidence in her own abilities was high.
“Alright,” she said, and he smiled. He had expected it. “But I want a promise from you that I will not be burned for breaking the law.” He nodded once.
“You have my word as crown prince.”
Nessa fought rolling her eyes. She had the feeling that she was going to hear that often.
***
The palace was a large stone monstrosity. It was fortified dark granite on the outside, seemingly impenetrable. On the inside, however, it was elegantly decorated, with cream-colored walls and gold and crimson accents. Nessa looked around her. The lush crimson carpet beneath her feet was soft as butter. It hushed the clack of her stiletto heels. There were grand, mullioned windows that let the sun shine through, and golden silk curtains hung beside them, spilling onto the floors. The walls were hung with tapestries that depicted scenes with golden dragons.
“Are these your ancestors?” she asked Ra.
“Of course,” he replied. “All royals of this country are golden dragons. We were gifted the ability to shift in times when the country needs to be protected.”
“Are both you and your brother shifters?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Do you have any other abilities?”
“I get the distinct feeling that you are studying me, Professor,” he teased lightly. Nessa flushed red.
“It is the Academic’s curse,” she replied, refusing to be ruffled. “We must study all whom we come in contact with. And, anyway, I’m not a full professor yet.”
“No?” he looked at her.
“No. This was to be my first semester as a student teacher,” she replied. “Another semester, and I would have been offered the professorship.”
“You seem confident,” he remarked. She looked him in the eye.
“I deserve it.”
He seemed taken aback by her utter and blunt certainty for a second. He recovered quickly, however. He led her down the hallway to a dark mahogany door. He opened it and held it for her as she passed. There was a large flight of stairs behind it. They climbed it in silence.
At the top of the stairs, there was another door. It was painted crimson, with sleek gloss paint. Ra opened this one, as well, letting Nessa pass him. She gasped when she saw what was behind it.
She found herself in a circular tower room. It was filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, which were absolutely magnificent. In the center of the room, there was a model of the solar system, sculpted from bronze. It was moving of its own accord, in order to tell the watcher where certain alignments were occurring—like a clock, but for a clairvoyant. Beneath the bronze clock, there was a table, which was covered in open books. The table was surrounded by comfortable-looking plush armchairs. One of them was occupied by Ra’s double—the same chiseled features, sparkling blue eyes, and brown hair. He smiled at Nessa, and immediately, she could spot the subtle differences.
Where Ra was confident, Charlie was hesitant. Clearly, he did not meet people on a regular basis. He stood up from the chair, standing awkwardly, waiting to see what she would do. He was an observer, much like Nessa. She smiled. She liked him already.
“Hello,” Nessa said. Ra’s clothing was contemporary fashion—a well-cut oxford shirt and jeans. Charlie was dressed in a black t-shirt, and what appeared to be plaid pajama bottoms. He wore no shoes. She looked for his hands, but they were both in his pockets.
“Hi,” Charlie replied. He shrugged his shoulders. “We’ve met before. Although, you weren’t awake.”
“I see,” Nessa said. “What happened?”
“I asked you to come,” he said. Nessa couldn’t recall this happening. “You promised that you would.”
“I don’t remember,” she said. He smiled.
“Most people don’t,” he assured her. “Do you want me to show you?”
“Yes,” she said. He walked over to her. He held out his hand. It was covered in a soft, white glove. Nessa stared at it.
“Go on,” he said. “Take it.” He smiled at her. He was kind, she could tell. Nessa reached out. The second that her hand touched his, she felt a jolt of electricity. The room with the books faded away. She was suddenly in a place—it was like being inside of a thundercloud, lit with blue. Charlie was there, holding her hand.
“It was right here,” he said.
“What did you tell
me?” She asked, a sense of unreality overwhelming her.
“I told you that there would be a coming storm,” he said. “I told you that I had seen you in a vision, fighting at the forefront.”
“Why me?” She asked, and he cocked his head to the side, smiling.
“You know your inner strengths. You’ve wanted to try spirit magic for a long time,” he said. “Your chance is coming. You are special, but you know that. Just like I am special, and Ra.”
“How am I special?” She asked. She knew that she was talented, but special?
“You are the only one who can manipulate spirit magic without being taken over, Nessa,” he said excitedly. “You can control it.”
“Am I a Necromancer?” Her heart was pounding.
“You are,” he said.
“How do you know?” she asked. His only answer was a smile.
“Let’s go back. Ra will be wondering where we’ve gotten to.” He reached out his hand, and Nessa took it. They were back in the tower room.
“Did you tell her?” Ra asked. Charlie nodded.
“Of course.” Ra nodded and turned to Nessa.
“Officially, you will be working as a contractor for the government. We don’t need this to get out unless the other Necromancer threatens society as a whole. We also don’t want it to get out that we are condoning the use of spirit magic. We don’t need others to begin to experiment with it.”
“How am I a Necromancer?” Nessa asked. “Isn’t that a genetic ability?”
“Your parents were known Necromancers. They worked for the government,” he said. “I told you this.” Nessa thought back to all of those parties that were held. She thought back to all of the money that they’d always had. She frowned.
“How did they die?” The brothers looked down at the floor.
“They didn’t,” Charlie said. “They’re still alive. On the spirit plane.”
“What?” Nessa’s stomach was roiling. This was far too much information.
“They went in to get this Necromancer. We believed that she had been killed with them,” Ra said. “However, she must have survived. They needed to take down her entire fortress. It collapsed.”
“You’re sending me to finish what my parents failed to do,” she inferred.
“Yes,” Ra replied. “They were the most powerful Necromancers in the world. Until the rise of Ravenna. She has returned. She has your parents. She is feeding off of their powers. You’re the only one who can stop her and get them out of there.”
“Then what do I need you for?”
“Charlie is a powerful seer. He can help you get there. I am the stronger dragon,” Ra explained. “I can protect you.” Nessa sat down in one of the armchairs. She felt deeply overwhelmed. She looked at Charlie, who was studying her curiously.
“So, they just call you Charlie?” she asked him.
“Yep.” He seemed pleased with this.
“How do you not have any fancy titles?” she asked him.
“I was born a few minutes too late for that,” Charlie replied lightly. “I was the gifted one, however.”
“I got the titles,” Ra said. “Charlie got the talents.”
“Oh?” Nessa glanced back and forth between them.
“I am a sensitive,” Charlie explained with a shrug. “I am a seer.”
“What happens when your gloves aren’t on?” Nessa asked. Charlie’s smile faltered.
“He can’t control it as well,” Ra supplied quickly. Obviously, something had happened, Nessa reasoned. Charlie’s powers were stronger gloveless.
“Are you really dragons?” She asked, tactfully changing the subject. “Or is that a myth?”
“No,” Ra replied. “That’s really true.” There was a fiery gleam that shot through his eyes. His pupils turned to reptilian slits for a moment—it was so quickly that Nessa felt like she might have imagined it.
“All royals are dragons,” Charlie explained. “It’s so that we can protect the country should the need arise.”
“I told you this on the way in,” Ra said.
“Yes, but I thought you were making things up,” Nessa replied. “There’s a fine line between myth and tradition.”
“Always the academic,” Ra stated wryly.
“Have you ever—” Nessa began.
“Not yet,” Charlie replied. “But the time for that is coming soon.”
“So what do I get for agreeing to help you?” Nessa asked.
“Your parents returned to you,” Ra said.
“If she has been feeding off of them, then they will not live much longer,” Nessa replied.
“What do you want?” Ra asked, ever the politician.
“I don’t know,” Nessa replied. “What are offering?”
“A queenship?” He said.
“I don’t want that.” Nessa could feel herself cringing at the thought.
“Gold? Jewels?” He tried. “The key to the royal treasury?”
“No,” she replied.
“She wants to be free to use spirit magic,” Charlie said, smiling. “It is her birthright.”
“You want to be above the law,” Ra remarked, his eyebrow raised.
“I want to be free of it,” she explained. “I won’t misuse it. I want to see what good can be done with it. I want to study it.” The two brothers looked at each other.
“I can help her,” Charlie said. “I can make sure that nothing bad happens.” Ra nodded slowly. He looked over at Nessa.
“You may study it for academic purposes only,” he said. “And only with Charlie to assist.”
“Agreed,” Nessa said, thinking of all of the possibilities.
“Excellent,” Ra said, standing. “You will move into the palace immediately. There are requirements that come with living here. You must also attend a certain function this evening.” Nessa sighed.
“What is it?” she asked mournfully.
“A ball,” he said simply. He glanced over at his brother. “Mother expects you to attend, as well.” Charlie nodded. He looked tired. Nessa felt disappointed. She wanted to begin to try spirit magic, not spend an evening rubbing elbows with the court.
“Must we go?” Nessa asked.
“Yes,” Ra replied. “You are employed by the court. We must show them that the chosen person is someone that they can trust.” Ra left the room. Nessa looked over at Charlie.
“I’m guessing you don’t want to go, either,” she said.
“Not really. It’s very hard to keep from getting inside of people’s heads when you are surrounded on all sides,” he explained. “I much prefer my books and my tower. However, duty calls. We’ll survive.” He gave her a sobering smile. Nessa looked down at Charlie’s hands.
“If you can take me other places with the gloves on, then what happens to people when you touch them without the gloves?” She asked. A cloud seemed to pass over Charlie’s face. He opened his mouth to answer. Before he could, the door to the tower opened, and a palace maid peered in. She had a perfectly done chignon, and she wore a simple black dress.
“Hello, Professor,” she said. “I’ve come to show you to your rooms and to help you prepare.”
“I’ll see you in a little while,” Charlie said gently.
“Okay,” Nessa replied, following the maid out of the room. She glanced back at Charlie, who smiled at her.
***
In a short while, the maid, Sophia, had helped Nessa prepare. Nessa’s rooms were not far from Charlie’s tower. It was a room with cream-colored walls and large mullioned windows that overlooked the palace lake, which was a deep blue. The bed was large, and had a pile of soft pillows and a plush down comforter on it. Nessa looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She barely recognized herself.
The gown that she wore was a deep emerald color. It had a full, satin skirt and a tight-fitting bodice. Her hair was pulled into a neat chignon, and her makeup was flawless—gold eyeshadow, a touch of bronzer, pale pink lipstick. To top it off, Sophia brought
out a simple diamond teardrop pendant on a gold chain. Nessa placed her hand on top of it. It was delicate, the perfect accent. Nessa felt the soft satin of the dress, hugging her midsection tightly.
“You look marvelous, my lady,” Sophia said.
“You certainly can work some magic, Sophia,” Nessa replied. There was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Sophia said, walking to the door. She opened it, revealing Charlie, who looked rather flustered. He wore a black tuxedo, his hands covered in white silk gloves.
“Don’t you look charming, your majesty,” Sophia said.
“Ah, thanks,” Charlie said, clearly uncomfortable. “Can I come in?”
“Certainly,” Nessa said. He entered, rubbing the back of his head so that his hair stuck up in the back. “Is everything alright?”
“Ah, yes. No. You look… fantastic,” he said in rapid succession. Nessa smiled at him.
“So do you,” she replied. “Do the gloves help?” He looked down at his gloved hands.
“A little,” he said. “Sometimes visions are activated by touch. Other times, it’s just by proximity.” Nessa studied him for a moment.
“Can you read my mind?” She asked. He laughed, a sharp bark.
“No,” he said. “I can just feel the alternate fabrics of the universe.”
“How so?”
“There are threads which weave the fates of the universe together,” he explained. He was staring at the carpet as he thought about it. “I can see the way that they fit together. I can see the way that they are being affected by different things that are happening. I can see how they are being manipulated by different individuals.”
“That is quite a gift,” Nessa said.
“It’s a bit of a curse sometimes,” he said, looking at her. She could see how exhausted he was—how apprehensive of going out and being among people he felt.
“If you want, you can stick with me,” she offered. He smiled.