Kingdom of Shadows

by K M Reynolds

  She turned to face the lake house, speaking through gritted teeth. “You’ll pay. After I rescue my parents, I’m coming back here for you, and you’ll all pay.” With the ultimatum hanging heavy in the air, she turned and fled through the shadowy jungle back to her cave, clutching the Time Glass.

  The sun was sinking low in the sky, casting the world in hues of pink, violet, and gold. A night thrush sang in a tree, his sweet voice drifting across the still water of the lake. The air was perfumed with gardenia and honeysuckle that adorned the wooden archway. Adelaide stood beneath the arch, smiling breathlessly up at Charles. Her gown shimmered softly in the growing twilight, and a gentle breeze kissed her cheeks.

  “Addie, from the first moment I saw you, I was enraptured.” Charles’ voice was husky as he spoke. “I knew then that we were destined for something great, and now, here we are. I love you more each day, and I truly can’t wait to see what our future holds. You astound me, and push me to be a better man. I can’t thank you enough for the change you’ve brought into my life. Yesterday, today, and forever, I am yours, body and soul. I swear it.”

  Adelaide’s eyes misted as he finished his vows, and butterflies swarmed in her stomach. She took a deep breath, and began her vows.

  “Charles, when I met you, I was lost, both literally and emotionally. I was searching for my destiny, for the answer to something greater than myself. I’ve found the answer in you. Together, we have defied the odds, and we will continue to do so. I can’t imagine my life without you, and I can hardly remember a time when I was not madly in love with you. You are the breath in my lungs, the song in my heart, the burning ember of my soul. I am yours, eternally and always. I love you.”

  Wynne wiped tears from her eyes and laughed. “Well, I promised myself I wouldn’t get emotional, but you both just blew that promise away!”

  Adelaide and Charles laughed, their faces glowing with pure joy in the quickly-fading light. Wynne motioned for them to join hands, and they did. She flicked her hand and soft orbs of light began to dance above them, illuminating the shore like a thousand tiny stars. Adelaide’s breath caught in her throat as she took in the moment.

  “Now, Charles,” Wynne began, “do you swear to honor Adelaide, to serve and protect her, and to respect her now and for all days to come?”

  “I do.” He squeezed Adelaide’s hands for punctuation, smiling down at her.

  “And Princess, do you swear to honor Charles, to love and cherish him, and to respect him now and for all days to come?”

  “I do,” Adelaide whispered around the growing lump in her throat.

  “Well then, that settles it!” Wynne declared. “You may share your first kiss as husband and wife.”

  Adelaide melted into Charles as he swept her up in a tight embrace, his lips seeking hers tenderly, then with growing ferocity. The world seemed to fall away as they kissed, lost in the moment of pure bliss. As the moment ended, Adelaide stepped back, grinning and gasping for air, her cheeks flushed.

  “Long may you live, long may you love,” Wynne whispered, laying a hand on each of them. “May this union be blessed by the gods.”

  Adelaide turned to Wynne, embracing her. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for everything.”

  “You are welcome,” Wynne replied, returning Adelaide’s embrace. “I’m happy that you’ve found each other, despite the odds and my initial misgivings.”

  “I just wish Cambria could have been here,” Adelaide admitted, shaking her head. “I am heartbroken that she had to miss it.”

  “Don’t dwell on it,” Wynne instructed. “Enjoy this joyous night for what it is, and we can think of sadder, harder things tomorrow.”

  As if to punctuate Wynne’s sentence, there was a flash of brilliant blue light and a loud clap of thunder on the edge of the lake house property. The companions cowered, flinching instinctively away from the violence of the light and noise. After a long pause, they straightened up, peering through the darkness at the spot where the unexpected interruption had occurred.

  “What in all the unholy realms was that?” Charles exclaimed.

  Adelaide’s blood was roaring in her ears, her heart beating out a rapid tempo in her chest. “It looks like there’s something there,” she pointed, squinting into the darkness at the edge of the jungle.

  “You’re right,” Wynne nodded, directing the dancing orbs of light to float closer to the jungle. “It looks like… a person.” She hesitated, stepping forward cautiously. “No, it couldn’t be…” she whispered.

  “It couldn’t be what?” Adelaide demanded, also stepping forward. “What do you think it is?”

  Wynne shook her head, her lips pursed in a thin line. “Let’s wait and get closer before we hazard a guess. I’m sure there’s an explanation for this.”

  the forbidden doorway

  C ambria sat on the floor of the cave, staring at the Time Glass. She took a deep breath, willing her heart to beat slow and steady. She held her hands out at either side, and began to chant the incantation. She began softly, slowly, feeling each word carefully as they rolled off her tongue.

  “Mel kah-rei, sol vex nor!”

  She quickly got into a rhythm, picking up speed and volume. The Time Glass began to shudder, then spin, surrounded by pale blue flames. Faster and faster it spun until it became that familiar dark vortex. Cambria gasped as she was sucked through the ring of fire and into the darkness.

  As before, icy winds swirled around Cambria, but this time, she had no companions to cling to. She was hurtling through space and time alone, surrounded by a din of wailing voices and flashing lights. She shuddered as the voices of her parents cut through the noise, one in each ear.

  “Come with us, baby girl,” her father’s voice pleaded. “Come and we can be together, without pain or sorrow. Just say yes.”

  “You’ve been so strong for so long,” her mother crooned. “Let go of your fear and anger and we can live together forever. Come with us, baby.”

  Cambria fought back tears as her body hurtled through the darkness. “No,” she cried out. “No, I won’t come with you. I’m doing this for you.”

  As soon as the words left her lips, everything stopped. She was standing in at the edge of the forest just outside the gates of Greystone Castle. Throngs of people were pouring into the open gate, and with a sickening lurch, she realized why. Today is execution day.

  She quickly made her way to the front, slipping into the sea of people and drawing her cloak around her tightly. She knew she would have to act quickly if she wanted to save her parents. She made her way into the courtyard and kept to the walls, shuffling around to the dungeon doorway. She looked across the courtyard and could see herself, in astral form, moving into position. Wynne’s warning echoed in her mind and she hesitated. “It is meant to be used as a window, not a door. Terrible things could happen!”

  Cambria brushed off the sinking feeling in her stomach and shook her head. No, I have to stick to the plan. It’s the only way.

  She pressed her back against the cold stone wall as the courtyard filled with people. At last, the door opened and her parents emerged, flanked by guards, the jailer puffing along behind them. Cambria gasped, her stomach knotting. From across the courtyard their abuse had been clear, but standing right next to them, she was able to take in every detail of their battered, emaciated bodies.

  “Move it!” shouted the jailer, shoving Chloe so that she stumbled and almost fell. Cambria used this to her advantage, moving as quickly and quietly as she could. She leapt from her spot against the wall, whispering an incantation as she brushed her hands over the guards before they had time to react. They dropped like stones, their bodies hitting the cobblestones with a thud. The jailer stood still, mouth agape, as Cambria squared off with him. She muttered another spell and flicked her hands, sending him flying backwards into the open doorway and tumbling down the stairs.

  “Cambria!” Chloe gasped. “By The Five, what are you doing here? You are in
danger!”

  “We all are,” Cambria agreed. “Come with me, we have to go now!”

  “Cambria, wait,” her father begged. “How is this possible?”

  “I will explain everything, but we have to go!” Cambria glanced wildly around the restless crowd that was beginning to realize what was happening.

  The people began to shout and move like a sea in a storm, their bodies pressing toward Cambria and her parents. The unrest quickly whipped into a frenzy, and Cambria grasped both of her parents by the hands, pulling them toward the open gate. Something struck the back of her head and she fell, darkness enveloping her.

  When she came to, her parents were naked, tied to the wooden posts in the center of the courtyard, and Thanaeron was approaching them, a wicked smile on her face. She leaned forward and stared into Chloe’s eyes.

  “It’s time, you worthless sow. I’m so pleased your daughter decided to join us today. After she watches me carve you up, it will be her turn. I want you to watch her face as you die, knowing her turn is next. Today truly is a blessing.” Her lips twisted in a grin and she lifted her knife, running it down Chloe’s arm, removing a long, thin strip of skin.

  Cambria screamed, straining against her restraints. She closed her eyes, howling as her heart pounded in her chest, desperate for release. Her parents screams filled the courtyard, mingling with her own, and the smell of blood hung heavy in the air. Her head was spinning, and it was hard to breathe. In the middle of the chaos, a single thought came to her, like a quiet whisper after a storm. She quickly spoke the counter spell she had used to release herself from Wynne’s protection bubble, and to her surprise, the restraints that bound her melted away.

  Martin’s eyes widened as he saw his daughter stumble to freedom from her post. “Run!” he bellowed. “Run, Cambria! Don’t look back!”

  Cambria took a step towards her parents, but her mother stopped her. “It’s too late for us, my love! Save yourself, please!”

  Cambria cast one last tearful look at her parents, bound and bloody. Then, feeling her heart breaking, she turned and fled, whispering a cloaking spell as she stepped off the platform. The crowd gasped as she vanished from view.

  Thanaeron screamed an incantation and hurled it toward the gate, a flash of green lightning leaving her hand. Cambria dodged the magic and kept pressing toward the gate, desperate to escape. Sobs wracked her body as she struggled against the teeming mass of people. Thanaeron hurled another spell, then another, before whirling to face the guards. “Find her! Bring me her head,” she bellowed, pointing toward the gate.

  Cambria stumbled through the gate, having evaded Thanaeron’s bolts of dark magic. She stumbled forward, her vision blurred with tears. From behind her, she heard Thanaeron calling out once more, and then a searing pain ripped through her back. She dropped to her knees, a warm wetness spreading down her side, running in rivulets down her leg. I have to make it back to the Time Glass.

  She rose to her feet, struggling as she limped around the castle to the edge of the woods, falling to her knees in front of the Time Glass. She gasped out the incantation, barely able to breathe. Her vision was clouding and the pain was white-hot every time she moved. As the darkness in her peripheral vision grew, she could see the blue flames and dark vortex pulling her in. As she slipped into unconsciousness, battered by the cold winds of space and time, she had one final thought. Wynne was right.

  The trio slowly approached the dark shape that lay motionless on the edge of Wynne’s property. Step by step they crept forward, Wynne in the lead, Adelaide and Charles right behind. The orbs gathered above the mysterious figure, gently illuminating the truth.

  “Cambria!” Adelaide gasped, throwing caution to the wind and rushing to her friend’s side.

  “What happened to her?” Charles asked, glancing at Wynne.

  Wynne’s brow was furrowed as she took in Cambria’s unconscious form. “I don’t know, it almost seems like…” her eyes widened and she gently pulled Cambria’s cloak aside, revealing the Time Glass. “Oh, Cambria. What have you done?”

  “Cambria, wake up,” Adelaide cajoled, cradling her friend’s head in her hands. “Please, please wake up.” She brushed a stray hair from her cheek, leaving a dark swath of blood on her fair cheek.

  “Addie, there’s blood.” Charles’ voice was somber and he pointed at the dark pool slowly spreading on the grass beneath Cambria’s limp body.

  “No! No, this can’t be happening,” Adelaide cried, embracing her friend, paying no mind to the crimson stains on her white gown. “Wynne, fix her,” she begged.

  “I’ll do what I can,” Wynne promised, “but you have to understand, it was magic that did this. I may not be able to fully heal her.”

  “Well, stop the bleeding at least,” Adelaide pleaded.

  “Yes, I think I can do that.” Wynne knelt beside Cambria, instructing Adelaide to roll her over. She gasped as the large gash in Cambria’s back was revealed. “Adelaide, get me a bucket of water please,” she instructed, rolling up her sleeves.

  “I’ll do it,” Charles replied. “Addie, you stay here with them.” He rushed off to get the water.

  Wynne began to whisper, violet light engulfing her hands as she hovered them over Cambria’s broken body. Slowly, the wound began to heal, the torn edges of skin knitting themselves back together again. As the gash finally closed, Charles returned with the water, setting the heavy bucket down beside Wynne. She ripped a strip from her gown and dipped it in the cool water, using the cloth to wash away the blood from Cambria’s skin. “Charles, your hunting knife please,” Wynne commanded, holding out her hand. Charles quickly acquiesced, handing her the knife. “Now leave us,” Wynne motioned toward the house. “What follows is not for your eyes.”

  Charles nodded silently and retreated to the house. Wynne turned her attention to Cambria, using the knife to cut off her blood-soaked clothes. “Addie, here,” she said, conjuring a glowing ember that floated above her hands. “Go get the fire started.”

  Adelaide cupped the ember gingerly and raced across the yard to the fire pit, placing it on the kindling and blowing softly. The ember ignited the hay around it, and small flames leapt up, growing larger as Adelaide stoked the fire. When it reached a steady blaze, she returned to Wynne’s side.

  “What now?”

  “Burn these,” Wynne instructed, motioning to Cambria’s clothing. She ran the cool cloth over Cambria’s naked body, the orbs causing her dark skin to glisten as Wynne washed the blood off.

  “Will she be okay?” Adelaide worried as she gathered the discarded rags. “Will she recover?”

  Wynne sat back on her heels and gazed solemnly at Cambria. “Honestly, Princess, I don’t know. I hope she will, but I truly don’t know.”

  Thanaeron sat cloaked in swirling green light, a smirk dancing across her lips. Images flashed across her memory, images of what had come to pass, and of what had changed.

  “Well?” Lord Bainbridge’s voice cut through her trance, causing her to open her eyes.

  “Well what, Desmond?” she snapped. “What do you want to know?”

  “Did it work?”

  She smiled, her lips twisting and revealing her pointed teeth. “Yes, it did. The foolish girl used the Time Glass to try and return and save her parents. She made a big mess, and still had to witness them suffer at our hand.”

  “And did she die?”

  “Unfortunately, no,” she hissed. “The little brat escaped, but I can continue to probe her mind. After witnessing this tragedy a second time, she is likely raw and wide open. It will be easy enough to get into her thoughts and discover her whereabouts.”

  “I thought you said she had separated from the others?”

  “Yes, she had, but she isn’t far from them. So if I can discover where she is, we can find the others quickly.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “Also, she was wounded by my magic,” Thanaeron cackled, rubbing her hands together. “There was a trail of blo
od leading from the front gate to the side forest. So wherever she is now, she’s in a world of hurt and is in no condition to fight back.”

  “Excellent,” Lord Bainbridge smirked. “Well, just keep me informed. I’ll be ready to send out the troops as soon as we learn the whereabouts of these traitors.”

  “Oh, I will,” Thanaeron promised. “We will feast on their hearts.”

  consequences

  “C ambria, wake up,” Wynne intoned, pressing her fingers lightly against Cambria’s temples. “Come back to us, here in the light.” When nothing happened, she tried again. “Keeper of Shadows, it is time to return to the waking world. We need you.”

  After a minute, Wynne stood and threw her hands up and looked at Adelaide, who sat in the corner, watching her work. “It’s no use, Addie. She won’t wake until she is ready.”

  “When will she be ready?” Adelaide asked. “It has already been a week!” Her voice trembled as she asked the question that everyone had been thinking. “What if she never wakes up?”

  “Now, Princess,” Wynne soothed as she crossed the room and cupped Adelaide’s chin. “She was injured with dark magic, and these things take time to heal from. She suffered a great trauma, and her mind is just trying to protect her.”

  “I guess that makes sense,” Adelaide agreed, resting her hands on her rounded stomach. “I just want her back here with us.”

  “I understand.” Wynne turned and strode towards the door, her stomach growling. “I am going to go take a break, but you can stay here with her until I return,” she said. “Although I would recommend going and getting some rest.”

  “No, I’ll stay here with her. Thanks though, Wynne.”

  “You are welcome.” Wynne closed the door softly behind her, shuffling down the hallway toward the kitchen. Her stomach growled again and she patted it playfully. “Oh hush, you’ll get fed in a moment.”