by Halle Dean
He dropped out of the tree and Sophie stopped trying to climb. She brushed dirt off of her dress before marching up to him. He held out his arm for her to tag, but she ignored it. Instead, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his, taking him by surprise. She smiled and skipped away, leaving Warner and Mason in shock, and Melody giggling.
"Got you!" Sophie called back.
She was laughing, but then the forest grew dark. The trees melted into stone walls and Sophie felt her heart beating very differently. Blood stained the ground, which had changed from dirt and grass to the hard, wooden floor of her bedroom. She realized, after a moment, that the blood was hers. She was lying on the floor, body cut and bruised.
"Wh-why?" she asked weakly. "Why are you doing this?"
She heard footsteps and a pair of legs appeared in front of her. She strained to look up and see Warner at age eighteen. He would have been very handsome if his expression had not been twisted by malevolence. His face and armor were splattered with blood that was not his own. He used his foot to roll Sophie onto her back and she groaned in pain.
"This is necessary," he said coolly.
He crouched beside her, examining her face with interest. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned away from him.
"I thought you—"
"What?" he interrupted. "You thought I loved you?" He grabbed her chin with one hand and forced her to look at him, digging his fingernails into her jawbone. "Well, you're not wrong. But there's no room for you in my heart," he said. "There's no room for love when I must be focused on power." He released her chin, letting her head smack against the floor.
"Warner..." she sobbed, unable to move.
"That's why you must die," he continued. "The same as the king and queen. The same as Melody. Everyone that I care for must perish—you most of all. I care for you far too much." He caressed her face with blood coated fingertips. "Sophie."
His hand moved to her throat and she started to panic. She tried to roll away and kick her legs, but she still couldn't move. She squeezed her eyes shut, but his face was burned into her mind. She felt arms behind her back and knees—he was carrying her? She thrashed about, trying to free herself from his grip.
No! She tried to scream. Let me go! No sound would come out.
"Sophie," Warner said again, more forcefully.
Sophie's eyes shot wide open to see a dark forest canopy above her. An anxious Warner looked down at her, holding her in his arms.
Four
Over the Edge
Warner was glad he'd kept the stilling spell on Sophie's voice box. She screamed and struggled and pushed against him until he set her down on the forest floor. She scooted away from him several yards before curling into a ball, sobbing silently. Warner had known that him carrying her would upset her, but he'd had no choice. He also hadn't expected her to panic quite as much as she did.
"Sophie," he said gently, not daring to step closer to her. She didn't look up. "I'm sorry," he said. "You were unconscious. I had to carry you. The knights were getting closer and I couldn't let them find you. You are aware their orders are to kill you, aren't you?"
Sophie trembled, but uncurled herself a bit so she could sit up. She wouldn't look at Warner, and that caused him great pain. If her memory of five years previously was half as vivid as his was, he understood why she couldn't bear to see his face. With all the magic in the world, he couldn't take away what had happened. One day, he would be gone and Sophie wouldn't have to worry about seeing his face ever again. But, for the time being, he had to live to save Melody.
Save what's left of her, other Warner corrected.
Warner released his stilling spell and Sophie spoke, her voice shaking. "I know their orders. How do you know?"
He looked down and sighed. "My task was meant to be the same," he told her. "Edric said that Melody and I would walk free if I…" He trailed off, unable to complete the sentence.
"Why is Melody there?" Sophie asked.
"She's been imprisoned in my place."
Sophie's eyes widened. "What?" she said. "I never knew about that..."
Warner shrugged. "Your uncle must have kept it from you," he said. "He told me it's been unpleasant for her, so he might have guessed you would object if you knew."
"I do object!" she shouted. Warner glanced over his shoulder. They had made it a decent way away from the knights, but they weren't out of the woods yet, literally or figuratively. Sophie seemed to realize she should be quieter, because she kept her voice at a whisper when she spoke next. "She didn't do anything wrong."
"I know," Warner sighed. "That's why I must rescue her. I can't let her stay there. Especially not because of something I did."
"How could you let her stay there in your place for so long?" Sophie asked, crossing her arms.
"I was unaware," he defended himself. "I only learned two weeks ago that she was still alive."
Sophie stood up, her trembling having subsided for the most part. "So," she said, "if you must kill me to free her, then why am I still alive?"
Because I'm completely useless, that's why, other Warner said acidly.
"I can't kill you," Warner said. "I tried. I cannot do it. I returned and told Edric that I would bring you to him alive. He swore to still free Melody, but I couldn't find you again."
"You found me before?" Sophie asked in surprise. "When? Where?"
"Ten nights ago," he said. "You had only just reached the forest. You fell asleep in such an unprotected place. You need to be less careless. I watched you for three days."
"Three days?" she repeated. "How did I not notice?"
Warner raised his eyebrows. "You are not very observant," he said. "Though, in your defense, you were exhausted and fleeing for your life, and I am skilled in staying out of sight."
Sophie crossed her arms and pouted. Warner had to fight a smile. He reminded himself that he no longer had the right to enjoy her. That wiped the grin off of his face. Sophie's expression shifted to one of confusion.
"Wait," she said. "If you followed me for three days, while I was tired and alone, how did you have trouble killing me?"
Warner was taken aback by her question. "I don't believe you understood my meaning," he mumbled. "It isn't that I'm incapable of killing you. I simply... can't do it."
Completely pathetic, other Warner insisted.
"Oh," was all Sophie said.
"I don't know that I will ever convince you that I mean you no harm," Warner went on. "But I wouldn't lie to you." Sophie scoffed, but he continued. "There are things I have left out, which, I suppose, is a lie of omission, but everything that I've ever told you is the truth."
Sophie looked as if she was struggling with her emotions. Warner hoped that meant she still cared for him, but he quashed that hope. He reminded himself that she should not care. She should hate him. She should fear him. She should flee from him as fast as possible.
She won't, other Warner said. She's too trusting. Too naive.
I know what you're thinking, Warner thought back. I won't let you out.
"Everything?" Sophie echoed, finally looking directly into his eyes. "Everything you told me when we were younger is true? Everything you said… on that day… is true?"
Warner grimaced, wanting to look away from her eyes, but finding it impossible. "I… Yes," he said.
"Then… there is no room for me in your heart."
The words hurt. They weren't a question, but a statement. Warner could vividly recall them coming from his own mouth. The memory was causing the darkness to push harder against his conscious mind.
Exactly, other Warner said. No room.
Stop! Warner tried to push back.
"You can't kill me yourself," Sophie said.
Warner held his hands to his head. This cannot happen now! he thought. Go away!
Stop fighting, other Warner pressed. It's her own fault for bringing this up.
"But… I must die," Sophie continued, pushing him over the edge. "And
that is why you will let Edric kill me."
In an instant, he had her up against a tree. Warner had been overtaken. He couldn't speak for himself or make any move. Sophie looked shocked and terrified, but there was nothing he could do. The other part of him was in control, and he was helpless to stop it.
Five
The Other Warner
"Sophie," Warner said, his voice as dark as his heavily lidded eyes had become. "It has been such a long time."
"Warner!" Sophie yelped. The tree behind her was scraping against her wrists as he pinned them beside her shoulders.
"You can refer to me as such if you like," he drawled. "We are the same, after all, but I'm not the Warner that you wish to speak with."
"W-what do you mean?" she asked. Her voice shook, but the way he was pressing up against her made her incapable of movement. Or perhaps he was using magic.
"You've been speaking with your Warner up until now," he said. "You've met me only once before. I'm quite sure you haven't forgotten that night."
"I don't understand," she said, confusion adding itself to her mixture of emotions.
"I don't have the time to explain it to you," he said. "Warner loathes when I'm in charge, and I don't have much time before he regains control. I may not be able to kill you, but I'll say one thing. You are a thorn, Sophie Cameron. He's fighting against me and it's your fault. I told you that there's no room for you, but you stayed. If I had only managed to kill you then, I could have snuffed out this light and truly taken over."
Sophie thought she was finally beginning to understand. "Then—" She swallowed nervously. "—you are not Warner?"
The smile he gave her was one of pure evil. "Oh, I am Warner," he said. "I'm… another part of him. Not the part that you love. Though," he added, "you should know that both love you."
"Wh-what?" she stammered, her eyes widening as he brought his face closer to hers.
"Your Warner doesn't understand that love only makes us weak. Our feelings may be the same, but our desires about how to act on them differ greatly. It's a strange sensation," he continued pensively. "Trying to kill you and protect you, all at once. Wanting to hurt you and, at the same time, wanting to kiss you." Sophie tried to struggle again, but still couldn't move. "How I wish I could be rid of you. You're this close, and yet I can't do a thing about it."
"W-Warner," she said, her lip quivering. "P-please, let me go."
"At the moment, however" —Warner grinned— "the closer I get to you, the more it hurts you." Sophie could hardly breathe. "It's perfect," he murmured. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he leaned into her.
"Stop," she pleaded.
He ignored her and pressed his lips to hers. She tried to push him away, but still couldn't move.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips. "I truly do. That's why I must be rid of you."
He frowned and closed his eyes, looking displeased. He backed away a few inches and Sophie let out a relieved sigh. Still, she couldn't move. She was sure that he was using magic, though how he managed it without hand gestures or words, she didn't know. He opened his eyes, looking angry, and her fear flared up again.
"I was only playing," he grumbled. At first she thought he was responding to her protests, but it seemed more as though he was speaking to himself. "You don't tell me what to do," he snapped, drawing closer again and brushing his lips against Sophie's. "It will only hurt a bit."
"What—"
He interrupted her by biting down on her bottom lip, hard. She squeaked as she felt the skin break. At once, he backed off, stumbling over his feet as if he couldn't get away quickly enough. The hood of his cloak fell back, revealing his flustered face. Sophie was frozen to the spot, tasting her own blood.
"I'm so—" Warner gasped, holding his hands up in surrender. "I apologize deeply. I tried not to, but I—we—he very much wanted to."
Sophie blinked a few times, thrown off by his change in demeanor. The darkness had left his voice and expression. She realized, after a moment, that she was no longer trapped. She put her fingers to her lips and pulled them away to see red. He had bit her very hard.
She looked back at Warner as he fell to his knees. He stared at the ground, ashamed. This was her chance to escape. He wasn't watching her; he might even let her get away if he felt bad enough. She took a step forward.
"Warner?" she said, voice brittle. He looked up and she wished she had run. His eyes shone with tears and the sight made her chest constrict painfully. She wiped at her own tears before speaking as calmly as she could. "What happened to you?" He looked down again and shook his head. "Please explain," she pressed. "I don't understand."
After a moment, he took a deep, shaky breath and responded. "I don't understand it either," he said. "It's—He's my sorcerer magic."
"I don't understand," she said again.
"People are born with all of the magic energy they will ever have," he explained. "When they're old enough, they can learn to use it. That's how magicians are."
"Even magicians are born with magic?" she asked.
Warner nodded. "Yes, but they must learn to channel it. Sorcerers are different. We can use magic without needing to learn how. Though, we can learn more. I was born with a significant amount of magical energy. However, I had a separate store of magic that I had no access to." He stood up. Sophie stiffened a bit and took a step back, but he didn't move any closer. "That's the sorcerer part of me. Eventually, as with every sorcerer, that part began to act up. It intertwined itself within all of my other magic energy and physical energy. It was incredibly unpleasant."
"Hold on," Sophie said. "Was that when you fell ill for weeks?"
"Yes," he said. "I didn't know why at first. I had a horrible fever and I couldn't move. But, when it cleared up, I had knowledge of how to do magic. I didn't have to learn how to channel it, I just could."
"Royal magic users are the same, aren't we?" Sophie asked. "Though, I was eighteen when I could use magic, not ten. And it didn't make me sick."
"It's similar," he said. "But royal magic isn't a separate store of magic. It's completely you."
"Sorcerer magic isn't you then? It can't be controlled by you?"
"Well, it's supposed to be controlled by me," he said. "Something happened to it though. I was able to control it until… I don't know what happened. I couldn't any longer."
"That's what attacked?" she inquired. "Your magic acted on its own?"
Warner shrugged. "That's what it felt like," he said. "He's still me, though. He's a dark part of me. I can speak to him, but it's the same as thinking. It's… they're still my thoughts."
"That's… unsettling," Sophie said.
"You have no idea."
"So," she said, absently licking the wound on her lip and wincing at the pain. "Why exactly does he wish to kill everyone?"
Warner started drawing shapes on the ground with his foot. "Only those that I care for," he said. "Melody is my sister, so of course I'd care about her. The king and queen were more like our parents than anyone. The others had the misfortune of being in the way."
Sophie watched Warner trace designs into the dirt, wondering what the symbols meant. They looked familiar. "And me?" she asked nervously.
After a brief moment of silence, he answered. "You were the last thing standing between him and me," he said. "If I had killed you, there would have been no positive emotions left and the darkness would have consumed me. But if you're there, taking up space in my heart, then I'm still there. And I—Well… You know how I feel about you. He can't take over until you're gone."
She tried to ignore her heart twisting painfully as he avoided voicing his love for her. "Those feelings are strong enough to stand up to magic?"
"Emotions are powerful," he said. "They may not actually be magic, but that doesn't make them insignificant. If you stand two equal—"
"If you stand two equally matched opponents against each other—" She looked up at him and, for once, had no flashbacks of blood and
pain. "—the one who cares more will decide the outcome."
Warner smiled. "It's good to know that not all your memories of me are unpleasant," he said.
"I remember good times," she said. Then she looked away. "But the bad ones are there as well."
Warner's smile faded. "They always will be," he said. "I wish it could be different, but I can't erase the past. I can only deal with the consequences."
"Warner—"
"After I free Melody," he continued, "You must kill me."
Sophie blinked in surprise. Then she crossed her arms. "You're forgetting that I'll be dead already," she said. As if I could kill you anyway, she thought.
Warner shook his head. "No," he said. "I won't actually be handing you over to Edric. Once I find out where Melody is being kept, I'll free you. With her alive, I have another positive emotion to keep the darkness at bay, but that doesn't mean I can allow you to die... It would crush me."
He whispered the last part, but Sophie heard him. She sighed and looked down at the forest floor. "I want to believe you," she said. "This explanation of everything that happened… I want to accept it. But, I can't know that you're not lying."
He sighed. "I don't expect you to forgive me or to trust me ever again. In fact, I expect the exact opposite. But you'll see when this is over and I am gone. I only ask that you do a favor for the Warner you used to know. Take care of Melody. I hate that she is tangled up in this."
After a long moment, Sophie nodded. "Melody is my friend," she said. "She's always been a sister to me. Whatever happens, that won't change."
Six
Melody
Melody had almost lost more blood than she could afford to lose. That was always the sign that her day was over. Her chains were refastened and her cell was locked up tight. Edric peered through the slotted window on her door. She didn't have the will to look up at him.
"Don't worry," he said, smirking cruelly. "Soon enough, your dear brother will be here to save you."