by Ainsley Shay
The tiny sun floated out through the doors. It was whipped away by a gust of wind. The pinprick of light swirled out and over the forest toward the sea. I watched until I could see nothing but darkness. Wicked bolts of electricity streaked the night. I wasn’t scared, I felt... relieved. I stood there on the balcony and let the fierce lightning bathe me in bright light. I felt cleansed. I felt alive. There was an end to all of this, and it was close. Very close. I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with moist air.
There was nothing else to be afraid of until I heard a presence behind me. I was no longer alone. Slowly, I turned around. Leaping over the balcony would have been an option if I weren’t fifty feet from the ground. I didn’t know my new gifts well enough to know if I would not break every bone in my body.
Penemuel glided toward the place where Lord Darenfys’ body was just moments before. Either he forgot I was in the room or he didn’t care as he knelt by the heap of clothes. His features crumbled. His expression changed as he looked at me. He stood but didn’t come any closer. His face slowly reshaped and hardened into seething hatred. “You killed my father.”
Killing Lord Darenfys had given me power I never realized I could have. It was ironic it was his blood that gave me what I needed to overcome a curse. I was tired of being the victim, a prisoner, a pawn. I stood straighter. “I guess now we’re even.” Getting even would never replace my dad, nor was it considered forgiveness. Getting even was actually a benefit to breaking the curse. One, I had never thought about.
He cocked his head and I heard a bone in his neck crack. He leveled his sights on me, and my gaze never left his. When he spoke again, his voice had turned as sultry and menacing as it had been the first day I walked into creative writing class. “Miss Iris Thorn. You do realize you have the perfect name?”
I tried to ignore him but his tone forced me to pay attention. I turned to face him. I thought about the dagger at my feet and wished I had replaced it in the sheath in the cloth around my thigh. “Why do I have the perfect name?”
He tilted his head upward and laughed. It was mocking and harsh. When his eyes settled on me they were cold and penetrating. “Because that’s exactly what you are.” He turned very serious. “Since the day you stepped foot in Skelside centuries ago, you’ve been a thorn, a splinter that embeds itself deeper and deeper into flesh.”
My skin heated to an unnatural temperature as anger settled into my core. The cool splatter of rain drops hit my bare legs. Speed and agility would be my only allies to get to the dagger and charge him. The instinctual need to live drowned out the dread of killing someone else. Lightning raced through the darkness behind me and thunder boomed. The distraction of the storm caused Penemuel to glance over my shoulder. I took it as an invitation to retrieve the dagger. I had regained my stance before he was able to attack me, and I held the dagger in a lethal position between us.
He inched toward me. As badly as I wanted to stand my ground, his outstretched sword also advanced on me. I took a step back in the direction of the balcony. The storm raged behind me. Gusts of wind and rain blew the curtains up and over my head. They draped around me like a bubble of dark silk. I used them as a cover and darted around the backside of them. I came up behind Penemuel. He whipped around to face me. Lord Darenfys’ clothes lay at my feet.
“I would love to kill you like I killed your father, but I don’t think my Lord would like that.”
“I really don’t think he’s in a position to mind anymore.” A new strength tingled inside me when a realization came over me. Since I had seen Penemuel for the first time a few months ago, he’d always given me the feeling of unease, which grew into fear. The tingling sensation spread throughout me, and the corner of my mouth lifted. If I could kill his Lord, who was more powerful than Penemuel would ever be, I should easily be able to kill him.
“What are you smiling at, little girl?”
I looked at the pile of empty clothes at my feet. Penemuel eyes dropped to the floor. “You’ve been nothing more than a pet for five hundred years.” His dark eyes were full of pure hatred. “What did he call you when no one else was around? Kitty—”
“I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he said.
“That was your first mistake.” I stroked the blade of the dagger. The Lord’s fresh, slick blood stained the tips of my fingers. I tossed the dagger into the air, caught the sharp tip between my thumb and finger, and hurled the knife at Penemuel. The blade sank into his chest. I snatched the sword out of his loosened grip, and arched upward like he had taught me when he killed Lily. His head soared through the air before landing with a sickening thud, next to the place Lord Darenfys had died. Penemuel’s body fell backwards and over the rail of the balcony. I glanced down at his head. His eyes were wide and his mouth was gaped open. “Your second mistake was not looking where you’re going.”
The door to the Lord’s quarters flew open. Chandler stopped at the threshold and looked around the room. His eyes glided over Penemuel’s head and what was left of Lord Darenfys. His gazed stopped on the sword I still held. “Holy shit! My sister is a complete badass!”
I turned and looked out the French doors into the storm. With the sword still in my hand, I walked out onto the balcony and held my arms high into the air. “Did you hear that?” I yelled over the roar of thunder. “Finally, my brother admits what has been the truth all along!” I lowered my hands and walked back into the room, careful not to trip over what was left of Penemuel. I stood before Chandler and curtsied.
He rolled his eyes, a hint of a grin playing on his lips. “Go ahead, you can say it.”
“Say what?” I ask baffled.
“You learned it all from me.”
I started to raise the sword. “Just kidding.” He laughed, and took the sword from my hand. “What do you say we get out of here?”
I smiled. “I’m all for that. But, it’s not over yet.”
“Then, let’s go finish it.” Chandler took my hand and we went to find the Carving Witch.
19
“I need to get something from my room before we go on our witch hunt,” I told Chandler.
I thought he would give me a hard time, but he didn’t. We went through the castle much like we had before, as to not draw attention to ourselves. The main difference was the confidence and strength I felt. The fear, intimidation, and dread were no longer there. I wasn’t sure why, it should have been, knowing we still had to face Adelina.
We entered the large room with the painted dome. When I walked under it, I stopped. Chandler tugged my hand, but I pulled away. I stood directly under the falling angels. The painting had changed. I studied the massive image. The angel who had been portrayed as Lord Darenfys was no longer there. An empty space of sky and clouds was all that remained. The other fallen angel still had his evil grin splayed across his face while the angels who hovered around him continued to frown.
Chandler came to stand next to me. “Haven’t you seen this painting enough?”
I had. It was an image that would haunt me forever. “Look.” I pointed at it.
“Whoa,” he said under his breath.
“Does that mean he’s back in Heaven or he never existed?”
“I don’t—”
The clank of a sword against metal broke our attention from the dome. We glanced behind us to see a guard I recognized as being one of Penemuel’s main soldiers. “Where are you taking the prisoner?”
Chandler did his shifting from brother to scary puppet. “Penemuel asked that she be brought to her room.”
The guard pounded his chest with his fist and Chandler did the same salute. The guard walked down a corridor opposite of where we were headed. We went in the direction my room, though I dreaded to see Blacwin again. I knew he would not let me in. And, I hoped there would not be any blood drawn. As did I pray there was a chance the necklace would bring back some memory. “Chandler.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you believe there’s any c
hance to save Blacwin?”
Chandler stopped and faced me. His lips pursed. “Iris, after finding you, and what you did today, I believe anything is possible. I... just don’t know how long it will take?”
I nodded. What better answer could I expect? “Is he still stationed outside my room?”
“I’m not sure.”
The next several minutes seemed to last forever. Chandler grabbed my hand and held on tight. He squeezed it tighter right before we turned the last corner before the door to my room would come into view. The switchblades had closed, but now reopened. Their blades sliced the walls of my stomach and I wanted to keel over and vomit. Funny how moments ago I’d stabbed a fallen angel to death, then cut off the head of his first guard and hadn’t felt sick in the slightest. But now, with the possibility of seeing Blacwin in his finest zombie I-will-kill-you mode made the switchblades open-close-open-close.
The door to my room wasn’t being guarded. Chandler’s posture relaxed and I let out a breath. “It’s going to be fine,” he said, and released my hand. We walked quickly the rest of the way. The door had always been kept locked. And, it was no different this time.
“Damn. What do we do now?”
“What’s in there you need?”
Lily placing the vial of soap in my hand replayed in my memories. “A vial for Adelina’s blood.”
Chandler nodded. “We need to get in there.” He glanced down the hall. “You stay here, and I’ll get a key. It shouldn’t be too hard, there’re only a few keys that fit all the locks in the castle.”
He started to take out his sword. “No! You keep it. I’ll be fine. Besides, who’s going to come down this deserted hallway?”
Chandler bent and lifted the hem of his pants leg. When he stood, he held out to me a small knife in a sheath. I took it and slid out the knife. It was only about four inches long, but the blade ended in a sharp point. “This is perfect, thanks.”
“Iris, I’m telling you not to leave this spot. If for any—”
I put my hands on my hips. “Brother, did you see who your little sis just took down?” He huffed out a thin laugh and nodded.
“Exactly. Now would you go already?”
He gave me a long glance, then started down the hall. He turned and looked at me briefly before he rounded the corner and was out of sight. The castle was quiet. I imagined the guards milling around without orders or commands to obey. Hadn’t they wondered where Penemuel was or why Lord Darenfys hadn’t come for dinner yet? The quiet wouldn’t last forever. For centuries, serving the Lord was all they had ever known.
My body, even with its new strengths, was tired. I sat on the stone floor, pulled my knees up to my chest, and set the knife next to me. The torch’s light down the hall was fading. It wouldn’t be long before I’d be in darkness; this time I’d also be without Chandler to guide me.
Sleep was pulling me in. I closed my eyes. I swore to only rest them a couple of minutes. Besides, Chandler would be here soon.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d closed my eyes. When I opened them, the torch had burned out, and I was in the dark. Instinct told me to run; Chandler told me to stay. I felt around for the knife. My fingers found it, and I grasped it in my hand. Looking to my left and then my right, I saw nothing. I was blinded by the darkness. Not a minute later, a moving torch came around the corner. Someone was coming. Their face was hidden behind the light of the torch. They would be able to see me sooner than I would be able to see them. I held up my hand to block the glare from the fire. The blaze burned into my eyes and all I could see was its light in my vision and behind my eyelids.
I wanted to call out. Yell Chandler’s name. But, it was better to stay quiet in case it wasn’t him. As quietly as I could, I stood. The back of my dress scraped along the stone wall. The torch’s light sped up. In the dark, I groped the wall, its rough texture cutting my hands again.
“You won’t escape me, little one.”
I froze. The Carving Witch had found me, just as she promised.
20
I turned toward the voice. The knife was in my unyielding grasp. Adelina’s haunting eyes reflected the flame. She stopped a few feet away. Though it was still difficult to see, it wasn’t hard to tell she’d washed the servant persona away. The Carving Witch stood in the gown I had seen her in when we first arrived at Skelside, weeks ago. I wondered what she was thinking. What were her plans for me? The Lord had not been easy to kill. But, Adelina would be even more difficult. She didn’t need strength; she had magic.
“I saw your boyfriend,” she said. Her voice was sultry and taunting. “He didn’t look so good—wait, let me rephrase that. He looked as hot as ever, even if he was as rigid as one of my statues.”
“Shut up, Adelina.”
The Carving Witch gave a throaty laugh. “Awe, did I say something wrong?”
My mouth would only end up getting me killed faster, if I wasn’t careful. “I thought you said he’d be fine.”
“He will be, one day. Although, I’m not sure it’ll be in your lifetime, since that’s coming to end very soon.” She sighed. “Why don’t you tell me what a good little murderer you are?”
“Why don’t you tell me what a good big sister you are?”
Her full lips drew a thin line. “That is a line you do not want to cross. Carina was brave—”
“You let her die.”
Adelina was in my face, the torch inches from my skin. “You would be wise to not speak of things you know nothing about.”
I knew exactly the things she was talking about. She was just too cowardly to admit them. But, I took the advice and kept my mouth shut.
“That's better,” she said, and smiled. “Now, let me tell you what's going to happen.” She held out her hand. “First, you're going to place that wicked little knife of yours on my palm.”
My mind was running around in circles. Maybe I was fast enough to slide the knife out of the sheath and stab her, and forever put an end to all of this.
Adelina’s mouth was set in an all-knowing smile. She made it clear I amused her. “I know what you're thinking, and I can promise you it won't work. I don’t doubt your new strengths or your speed, but remember I, too, have his blood flowing through my veins.” She held out her hand.
It took me only a few seconds to realize I was defeated. During one of those seconds, Adelina gazed down to her own knife on her hip. It was concealed in the light silk fabric of her dress. Only the stone at the tip of the hilt was visible. As deadly as my knife was, it was no match for the magical carving knife she possessed. I set the knife on her palm.
“Excellent.” She tucked it into the thin waistband of her dress. “Now, you and I are going to walk to the center of the castle like we’re old friends.” She snickered. “I am beginning to imagine a new relationship evolving in our friendship.” She eyed me as if sizing me up to see if I was up for her challenge.
“I didn’t know we were friends.”
She touched the flame of the torch and licked her finger, gliding her tongue along her long, pointed nail. “Friends, enemies, what’s the difference? We both got what we wanted, right?”
I stayed quiet, not willing to admit I had killed the Lord. She undoubtedly already knew, but I wasn’t ready to die, and she had promised to end me after I fulfilled the curse. Where was Chandler? I wasn’t sure how long it had been since he’d left, but it was enough time for something to happen to him. My hopes rose with all of the possibilities of what he could be up to. Then, they fell, as the damning thoughts forced their way into my head.
Adelina smoothed her dress. The simple motion ripped me away from my thoughts. “What now?”
“I love your enthusiasm.” She turned, expecting me to follow. I did.
The flame of the torch flickered off the stone walls. The Carving Witch was no doubt leading me to my execution, but I was calm. My nerves should have been a frenzied mess of hysteria and fear. It had to be the blood of the Lord that brought on the calming effect. I fe
lt no different than when I killed him or Penemuel. Is that why Adelina had always seemed to be in control and unflustered? I’m not sure if I would ever know the answer. It didn’t matter. For some random and unknown reason, I remembered my father’s words. They had always found their way back into my consciousness in the direst moments of my life; no matter what seems to be hopeless now, with time, it will be healed, understood, or made right. Although I was calm and unafraid, this was a hopeless situation. I was in the hands of the ultimate enemy. A witch, whose hatred for me had only had time to grow for over five hundred years. Hatred so strong and unwavering, she kept me alive to make sure I would suffer. I wondered what part of my father’s words would end this situation, healed, understood or made right.
Without turning around, Adelina said, “Once we arrive under the dome, I am going to beckon the guards. You will stand at my side until I tell you what to do next.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Do you understand?”
“Whatever you say, witch.” She ignored me. I grasped at any idea I had to see if it could be played out where I would be the one who was living at the end of her game. Chandler and Blacwin were supposed to be by my side. I wanted them to be there at the finish line with me. If I did live through this, and they didn’t, I would have lost. I thought about Snow and my mom. I didn’t know if Chandler or Blacwin would ever return to me, but I still had people I loved to save. New feelings welled inside me: purposefulness, courage. They had replaced the need to win and survive. Every cell in my body caught fire with fervent dauntlessness. Being a pawn to end someone else’s game was no longer an option. I took a deep breath and smiled. “Don’t you want to see the evidence of his death?”
Adelina stopped and turned to face me. “There’s no need, child. All of the proof I need is in here.” She pointed to her chest. “I knew the instant the dagger entered his heart.” She sighed, tilted her head, and looked into the flame. “I will allow myself to grieve later.” She lowered her hand and spun on her heels. “Come, pet, we have much to do.”