by Sela Croft
“Oh, I know Amalia well,” Rosamon said. “In a way, she’s been my constant companion. She appears and disappears at will. She presses me to do what she wants, but I’ve yet to discover what’s behind it all.”
I stared at my sister, unable to look at her enough. “It’s just so good to see you,” I said. “You look well. You don’t appear harmed.”
“I am well enough,” Rosamon said, but there was sadness in her blue eyes. “I’m not hurt, at least not physically. But otherwise…it’s been tough.”
“I can only imagine.” I sighed. “It took me so long to get here.”
“I was lonely…I admit it.” Rosamon brushed away a tear. “I knew you’d come…but I didn’t want you to. This place is evil. It’s very dangerous. I fear for you, Callie.”
I waved my hand. “Don’t think about that. I’m here now and I’m glad I came. I wouldn’t leave you, no chance.” I took a breath. “Tell me what’s happened with you, since I’ve last seen you.”
“I haven’t had near the adventures that you have,” Rosamon said. “I suppose I don’t have much to talk about, since I’ve spent all my time in this prison.”
I shuddered at the thought of my sister being held captive. “It’s horrible that you’ve been detained in such a place.”
“I have spent my time wisely, though.” Rosamon’s eyes lit up. “I’ve learned a lot that could be useful. I discovered more about myself and my power. Seeing into the future sometimes was a small part of what I can do.”
“What are you able to do?”
Rosamon waved her arm. “All the mirrors are tools. Each can be used for magic. I’ve learned how to do some pretty remarkable things.” She paused. “How about you? Have you discovered the power you have within?”
The way my sister phrased the question struck me as appropriate. It wasn’t just that I had a clue about possessing magical power. It was also what had changed inside me. I was no longer the weird girl, unable to find any place in life. I was sought after, even if by evil creatures.
In some way, the power I possessed made me desirable. I thought about how much Amalia wanted me to return to Fae territory. There had to be a reason for that.
“I haven’t learned much about my ability yet. But it must be there.” I looked at my sister, glad that we were finally reunited. “It seems that unsavory forces want to get us together. And…I’m pretty sure that we are the daughters of a sorcerer.”
Rosamon smiled. “You know quite a lot then. You are aware that our father is in this very prison. I’ve been in touch with him and had conversations, although I haven’t yet seen him. He’s helped me develop my magic.” Her expression turned serious. “Our father assures me that he is…in fact…a sorcerer. A very benevolent one, if I am to believe what he’s told me.”
Chapter 17
Logan
Callie talked at length with Rosamon, while I looked on. It was remarkable to see the girls reunited. It was an event, long hoped for and hard won. The twins looked so different from each other. Callie’s stunning raven black hair and violet eyes made her one of a kind.
Rosamon was a delicate beauty with long blond hair and pale blue eyes. She had a bright smile and cheerful attitude, whereas my precious Callie could be quite serious or moody. Yet I couldn’t fault her for that, knowing what she’d been through.
It was my desire to see Callie’s life restored to her. Watching her with Rosamon touched my heart, because she appeared so happy, so much more herself. I wondered how she would be when returned home to resume her life as fate intended.
Yet that wasn’t going to happen immediately. Finding Callie’s sister was just the start. She also had to be rescued, as we all did. It would be wise to turn my attention to getting out of this mess. The longer we stayed inside the Fae controlled prison, the more dangerous it would be.
Noah stood next to me with a besotted look on his face. He’d fallen hard for Rosamon. The gleam in his eyes as he watched her told the tale. It occurred to me that Noah could be of great help in getting the twins to safety. And he was strongly motivated, having fallen in love with Rosamon.
“I’m wondering how you got here,” I said to Noah. “It can’t be simple. I had transportation provided from a sorceress friend, after much persuading I might add.”
Noah turned away from Rosamon to talk with me. “Well, I can explain that.”
“And whatever you know about this situation…please tell me.”
“My only concern is everyone’s welfare, so there’s no need for me to hold anything back,” Noah said. He seemed to consider where to begin.
“I have been connected to Rosamon since she was drawn into this realm. The bond was weak at first, but it strengthened. The more I tried to reach her, the more she showed up for me.”
“But there’s more to it?”
“Much more.” Noah stared into space, recalling the event. “When I had a drink of Callie’s blood, at that manor in the wood, things shifted. My connection with Rosamon became significantly stronger.”
“That’s very interesting.”
“I was able to locate her more easily, at least mentally. And I was able to come through one of the mirrors, but only in illusory form. Yet that encouraged me. Rosamon was counting on me, so I wasn’t about to let her down.”
I was intrigued. “No, I suppose not.”
“Once I’d come through the mirror, I had a sense of where Rosamon was being held. But as you can see, from inside there is no view of the surrounding area. Thus, finding it again was a trick,” Noah said.
“So how did you do it?”
“Because of the strengthened bond with Rosamon, I was able to get a sense of direction,” Noah said. “Then I followed it, all the way through the Fae realm to this castle-like prison.”
“You were able to maintain your course in complete darkness?”
“It would seem so.” Noah glanced at Rosamon. “The bond is strong now, so if I zero in on it and focus, it leads me to her. Or it did, anyway.”
“I’m impressed,” I said. “That’s quite a feat. And I’m glad to see you here. I feel it will take all of us, and whatever power or magic we can muster, to get out of here.”
Noah agreed.
“Finding and entering the prison is one thing, but can you leave the way you came in?” That was the key question, one that might lead to a resolution of our dilemma.
“I’d like to tell you that I can just turn around and leave, taking all of you with me,” Noah said. “But that is not the case.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“I would have done that already, if it was possible,” Noah said. “As soon as I arrived and ensured that Rosamon was ready, I created mist to transport us back to Shadowland.”
“The fact that you’re still here, tells me that didn’t work.”
“No, it didn’t.” Noah sighed. “It’s distressing. I should have been able to achieve it. But when I tried, my effort failed.”
“But we don’t know if that’s permanent.”
“True, as it could have been a temporary disability. But we can’t wait around for long, to see if the power comes back.”
“That wouldn’t be wise,” I said. “What else can you tell me?”
“When I arrived, Bram Mayfair was talking with Rosamon. He uses a form of telepathy, so I was able to engage in the conversation with them.”
I was anxious to hear about what Bram had relayed. “Did her father say anything useful?”
“His opinion about captivity is useful, but discouraging,” Noah said. “Bram is trapped here, and has been, for a long time. He seems savvy about how this place works. He told us that the only way to escape is for me to drink Rosamon’s blood then for her to drink mine.”
“An interesting theory…”
“He proposes that the combination of the sorcerer blood Rosamon has inherited from him, combined with my vampire blood, would be powerful enough to allow us all to break free.”
&nb
sp; “Did you attempt that?”
“As you can imagine, I was hesitant, especially after what happened when I drank Callie’s blood.”
Despite the irrationality of the emotion, jealousy overtook me. The mention of Noah drinking Callie’s blood made me a bit crazed. “I don’t advise that you drink from Rosamon’s veins, for reasons we both know,” I said curtly.
“There didn’t seem to be any other way, so Rosamon proposed a test. She wanted to get a good whiff of my blood to gauge the strength of her reaction. Her theory was that if I would have a dramatic response to her blood, wouldn’t she have an equally dramatic response to mine?”
“Smart girl,” I said. “Did her father agree?”
“I couldn’t say, since he went away the instant she mentioned it.”
“But you proceeded with the test?”
Noah seemed agonized by remembering what had happened. “I pierced one of my veins, so several drops of blood formed on my skin. Then Rosamon breathed in deeply. The effect was so overpowering that she passed out.”
“That settles it. It’s not advisable to you to drink each other’s blood,” I said with some conviction. “Who knows what would come of it? There has to be another way.”
Chapter 18
Logan
Rosamon and Callie seemed to have caught up with each other and were listening to my conversation with Noah. It struck me that Rosamon would have had the opportunity to figure out more about this place, since she’d been held captive for a lengthy period.
“Is there another way out of this prison, Rosamon,” I said. Then I remembered how she had projected her form outside, as an illusion. If she could do that, maybe she could achieve more. “Perhaps we can leave by using the mirrors. Do you think that is possible?”
“I really don’t know,” Rosamon said. “I’ve practiced what magic I’ve been able to learn. I was desperate to get out of here, so wasn’t timid about trying new things.”
Noah went over to her and held her hand. “You’ve achieved more than I would have thought possible.”
“I did figure out how do projections,” Rosamon said. “I can go outside, but only in my illusory form like you’ve already seen.”
“The mirrors are an aid,” Noah said. “I’ve seen that much.”
“If you can go through the mirrors as an illusion, can you also do it in physical form?” I said.
“No, I can’t. But since I’ve been in touch with our father, I’ve learned a lot more magic,” Rosamon said. “He’s been very willing to teach me, but there’s been so little time. I’ve tried to adapt as quickly as possible, taking on new skills. But it all takes practice.”
“We don’t have that luxury,” Callie said. “Our father has been trapped here for over twelve years. Surely, he’s figured out more than we have.”
“Have you seen your father?” I said, wondering if he was accessible. We certainly needed all the help that we could get.
“I haven’t actually seen him,” Rosamon said sadly. “The prison—or should I say its Fae princess jailer—doesn’t encourage mingling with the other inmates.”
“That’s too bad,” I said. “But it does guard against planning escapes.”
“My father is in a different chamber that I cannot reach, not even as an illusion,” Rosamon said to me. “With his coaching, I tried to get to his cell but failed. He must be locked up tight.”
“When you want to talk to him, how do you make contact?”
“If I call out, or even speak his name, he will often appear in my mind.” Rosamon’s expression looked hopeful. “We have communicated, but no one seems to interfere. I’m guessing that the Fae aren’t telepathic.”
“Or that a sorcerer’s magic is more powerful than theirs,” Noah said.
“That’s my thought, as well.” I said. “It’s of interest that your father is so securely detained, and yet he has figured out a workaround. Plus, it appears that he knew of your arrival to this prison, not long after you got here.”
“That’s true,” Rosamon said. “And he seemed to easily make contact. But then…I am his daughter. There’s bound to be a connection between us.”
“Could we summon our father now?” Callie said. “I haven’t spoken with him; I’ve only heard that he is here. I’d be agreeable to reconnecting. It’s still hard to believe that he’s alive.” She paused. “Has he said anything about our mother?”
Rosamon shook her head. “I asked about her a couple of times, but he won’t say a word. It doesn’t seem like she survived the car crash like he did, but he won’t tell me for sure.”
“Or maybe talking about the loss is too traumatic,” Callie said. “Although, after this many years…”
“I agree,” Rosamon said. “But I didn’t force the issue. I figure there will be plenty of time to talk, once we get out of here.”
“If we can get out of here,” I said. “I have the same question as Callie: can you summon your father now?”
Rosamon’s look grew intense. “I can try. With all of you here, I don’t know if he will engage in conversation.” She took a breath. “But he did talk to Noah. And it seems that my father is as anxious to escape as I am. He claimed to need my help and Noah’s too. Let’s hope he will speak to us.”
“Father, are you there?” Rosamon said, but there was only silence. “If we are to escape, then we must make a plan. I have more help for us.”
Rosamon waited, and we were all as quiet as could be.
“Please, Father, if you can hear me…will you answer?” Rosamon attempted to contact her father, several more times. But it was to no avail. She got no response.
“One of the times I spoke to my father,” Rosamon said, “he confessed that he was afraid. The Fae have tortured him, although he spared me the details.” She frowned. “I hope they didn’t discover that he’d been in touch with me, and then tortured him more.”
Callie put her arm around her sister. “We just have to get out of here, then we can help our father too.”
I decided that we couldn’t afford further delay. “For whatever reason, your father isn’t available. But I have a thought.”
The other three turned to look at me.
I patted the stone-block wall at the back of the room. “The walls are just walls. If we can remove the blocks, we may be able to create a space to escape through,” I said. “The stairs aren’t an option, since they lead to predestined locations. We must get outside in order to get away.”
“Once we’re outside,” Noah said, “then I can transport you in mist and we’ll return to Shadowland.”
“That’s the best plan I’ve heard,” Callie said. “And if we open up a wall of this cell, it might release the block on your ability to create mist.”
“I certainly hope so,” I said, studying the back wall. “I’ll start with this wall, since the outside might be just beyond it.”
The others looked on, while I used my ability to remove a block from the wall. Each block wasn’t difficult to move using telekinesis, but the trick was extracting them from the wall structure. I focused all my energy on one of the top blocks. The mortar around it loosened and the block came free. I pushed it through to the other side, then began working on the next one.
It was laborious work, even with my magic. But I was encouraged when I was able to remove a few of them. But as I lasered my energy at the next block, the building shook. If we could get out quickly enough, it wouldn’t matter.
I refused to be distracted and continued to work. But the floor shifted then the vibration of the room rattled the walls. Before I could get the next block out, the quake increased in strength. I abandoned my task and rushed to Callie, fearing the worst.
Noah and Rosamon stood close to us. As we huddled together, the building shook with such violence that a couple of the mirrors crashed to the floor and shattered glass rained all around us. Callie pressed closer to me, waiting for the shaking to stop.
But it didn’t. The violence increased,
and more mirrors were tossed against the wall or the floor. Smashed mirrors were strewn about, making the space look like a war zone.
The violence was alarming. The building shook so hard, we had to lean against a wall. But that was of little use, since the wall was moving. Then chunks of the ceiling came loose and plummeted to the floor. Rosamon screamed and Noah wrapped his arms around her. “We have to do something,” he said.
“Where can we go?” Rosamon said.
The room was rocking violently with objects crashing to the floor, so Noah activated his mist form and pulled us into it for protection. It was a relief that he was able to use his power. If he hadn’t been able to, Callie and Rosamon might have been struck by flying debris, or even been killed in the high-strength quake.
The room shook for minutes that seemed like hours. I didn’t know if it would end, or what condition we’d be in when it did. Finally, the shaking ceased then things calmed down. Noah dissolved the mist then the girls staggered free.
I gazed about at the room. The chamber was strewn with rubble. The mirrors were destroyed. The walls were crumbling and broken in places.
“Is anyone hurt?” Noah said. It seemed that miraculously no injuries had resulted. But it had been a close call.
Debris blocked the door to the hall, so there was no way to get to the stairs. But something else caught my eye. “Look over here,” I said and stared at the new development, while the others crowded around me.
“It appears to be some new kind of exit,” Callie said.
The new opening was a possible escape route. There might be hope, after all.
Chapter 19
Florian
That last argument with Valter had been disconcerting. I was considered the intellectual brother for a reason. I hoped my intelligence would do us some good.
There was still a possibility that my brother’s violent tendencies would be held in abeyance. He could exert self-control, at least part of the time. After our argument, plus Natasha’s unwillingness to support acts of violence, my brother might stand back and wait.