Inherent Fate

by Geanna Culbertson

  I recalled the spell she was talking about. The Fairy Godmothers had used it when Mauvrey’s mother, Sleeping Beauty, had been bewitched. They’d created a complex sleeping potion to keep her kingdom’s inhabitants asleep while making time temporarily stand still so that when everyone woke up it was like nothing had happened.

  “But that spell required magic,” I protested.

  “Honestly, do you listen to any of our lectures?” Mauvrey replied. “It is like Madame Alexanders said, the results achieved by spells like those are entirely possible without magic; they are just not as powerful or permanent, and require advanced skill and knowledge to brew. I used the instructions in SJ’s book to concoct a potion that put the entire school in a magic-like sleep for an hour. Everything stood still around the campus while I broke into the Archives. It was like a loophole in time. The guards, the students, the staff—even the alarm systems and defense mechanisms—were frozen while I took what I needed. By the time the potion wore off, it was as if not a second had gone by.”

  “Then what? You planted my pumpkin earring in the wreckage just for kicks so I’d be framed?” I asked, recalling that awful day I’d been summoned to Lady Agnue’s office as the lead suspect in the break-in.

  “It was not a part of my initial plan,” Mauvrey admitted. “But the birds I employed to fly into your room and bring me SJ’s book happened to pick it up. They must have thought it was shiny birdseed or something. Anyways, I figured why not? I deserve some fun from time to time in between running Arian’s errands.”

  Fury flashed inside me. Again I tried to take a swing at her but I was only able to twist a couple of inches and move my arms up to my waist before a jolt of pain caused me to stop.

  “You’re despicable, you know that?” I grimaced. “Do you have any idea what I’ve had to go through because of you? The magic mirror and genie lamp you gave Arian almost got me killed.”

  “‘Almost’ being the operative word,” Mauvrey said. “So it is a very good thing that I took this corset from the case as well. Granted I was not one hundred percent sure it would fit you—Snow White was much thinner. But it looks like I was worried for nothing. Sometimes it is just wonderful how things work out.”

  I felt so stupid. I thought it was strange how I’d been drawn to this dress, despite my aversion to corseted gowns. But I remembered that SJ said this corset was laced with dark magic and enchanted via potion to attract anyone who got too close to it.

  This whole time my face was not flushed from embarrassment at having Mauvrey help me, but from losing oxygen as the poison kicked in. The corset’s magical toxins were seeping into me with every passing second.

  I tried to harness my own magic in the telepathic way I’d done back in Alderon, but it was no use. Doing that required way more power than I had at the moment. Maybe if I could place my hands on something I could transfer my magic into it that way . . .

  “I was supposed to eliminate you after your prologue prophecy appeared,” Mauvrey explained as I racked my brain for options. “That is why I stole this corset in addition to the items Arian needed to find and catch Paige Tomkins. My intention was to use it on you at our next ball, but you and your friends fled the campus before I had the chance. You have no idea how furious Arian was. At least now I have a chance to redeem myself.”

  The poison coursing through my veins was reaching dangerous levels. I felt my heart slowing down. Every breath made my lungs hurt and my core shiver. I couldn’t believe that I’d survived antagonists, monsters, and death-defying adventures only to be killed by a dress.

  My rage and spite taking a slight back seat, a tinge of confused desperation sunk in. “Are you seriously trying to kill me, Mauvrey?” I gasped, trying to keep a straight face and keep my nemesis from seeing the pain I was in. “I mean, do you really hate me that much?”

  “Yes and no,” Mauvrey chirped. She placed her icy hand on my shoulder. “Do not misunderstand, I do loathe you, Crisa. But you know perfectly well that there are bigger things happening right now than you and me. Although I have to say, after all the trouble you got me into with Arian and Nadia, I am taking great pleasure in this. Do you have any idea how much heat I had to take when they discovered the magic mirror I took from the Treasure Archives was a fake that you and your friends left behind?”

  I huffed in amusement. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for my escapades to interfere with Nadia’s plot to break out of Alderon and murder the realm’s protagonists. Why are you even helping her anyways? You’re a protagonist.”

  “Correction, Crisa. I was a protagonist. A long time ago. My priorities and allegiances have changed. And now I am, shall we say, something quite different.”

  Her eyes locked with mine in the mirror and for a second their vivid blue color flashed deep, cold black—exactly like the color I’d come to know in Arian’s eyes. The dots connected and the last piece of the puzzle became clear.

  “You’re a Shadow Guardian,” I said wearily, thinking back to my visions of Mauvrey in that purple cloak beneath the bunker in the Capitol Building. “That’s how you were able to get past the In and Out Spell when you had to meet Arian outside of school.”

  “Not only that,” she confirmed, “it is how I am going to walk out of here now. It is just too bad you can’t be there to see me off.”

  “Cannot.”

  “Pardon?”

  “You used a contraction, Mauvrey;” I replied flatly, calling her on the very stupid grammatical error she’d belittled me for over the years. “A real princess would say ‘cannot’—not ‘can’t.’ Your words, not mine. Looks like that Shadow inside you isn’t just sucking out your soul, but your good breeding too.”

  Mauvrey’s expression turned sour. The daggers she stared very well could have killed me had the corset not already been doing the job. It felt like my pulse was slowing and an icy sensation was quickly spreading through my nervous system.

  “Very good, Crisa,” Mauvrey commented, recovering her composure. “Most people in your situation would be groveling. But not you. And that is all right. Actually, it is rather nice to see you retain your irritatingly bold nature even in your last few minutes of life. It makes the situation more meaningful.”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but it was as dry as the Valley of Strife. I swallowed hard—trying to regain some feeling in my throat, but to no avail.

  Mauvrey just laughed.

  “Having trouble speaking, are we? Yes, well, that is how this darling corset works. First you lose your ability to move, then your ability to speak, then finally you just lose. Any minute now you will be lying on this floor gasping for air like the homely little fish out of water you always were.”

  I wanted to say something in retaliation. But I had to conserve whatever energy I had left for a moment when it might be converted into something useful. I just had to figure out what that something was going to be, and fast.

  Calling for help would be useless. Even if I could focus the strength to, no one would hear me. The whole school was in the grand ballroom.

  Ugh, think. There has to be something.

  My eyeballs—the only parts of me still able to move without difficulty—scanned the room. The balcony doors were open. On SJ’s perfectly organized desk was her collection of glass figurines . . . including the glass Pegasus.

  Memories of the thing flying around my dreams flashed through my head. That was it. I only needed to touch it.

  Just as Mauvrey described, my legs gave out and my body fell to the floor. With one last burst of adrenaline and pure will I extended my left arm to grasp the edge of the desk on my way down. This caused it to wobble enough for the Pegasus—already precariously perched on the brink—to topple to the wooden floorboards at the same time I did. The figurine shattered into a dozen tiny pieces.

  I could no longer open my mouth to speak, so I lay there motionless and slowed my breathing in an effort to conserve the strength I had left. As I did, my nemesis collected her purple cloak f
rom my bed and moved toward the door. Just before leaving she looked back at my helpless form on the floor.

  “Goodbye, Crisa,” she said contentedly. “I would say it has been nice knowing you, but princesses are not supposed to lie either, are they?”

  She smirked, tossed her hair over her shoulder triumphantly, and left me to die. At least that’s what she must’ve thought. Me, I had a completely different thought. And that thought was: Sorry Mauvrey, but not today.

  I rallied all my strength, stubbornness, and sense of fight to reach out and touch the broken shards of the Pegasus figurine. When my fingers made contact, I released a breath—concentrating on forcing the magic inside of me to flow through my hands.

  Reassemble, I thought desperately. Then follow Mauvrey. The girl—

  I struggled as the excruciating pain of the corset crushed me.

  Follow the girl with the purple cloak. Find out where she’s going and don’t return to me until you do and can show me the way.

  The glow that emanated from my hand was weak. It barely flickered, and for a moment I thought I might not have enough power to bring the figurine to life. But then several brighter wisps of golden light pulsed out of my fingertips. They enveloped the pieces of glass. A few seconds later the shards joined together and reassembled the figurine perfectly. The glass Pegasus flitted to life and took off as I’d ordered—flying through the balcony doors.

  My heart was beating as slowly as a rusty clock trying to keep time. But I couldn’t give up yet; I had one more play.

  I pressed both hands firmly onto the wooden floor and focused so hard I thought my brain might explode. My eyes started to close. I released a final, fading burst of magic from my hands.

  Come on, I thought. Come to life. Rip yourself free and fly.

  Please fly.

  The glow was so faint a firefly’s funeral would have outshined it. But as my vision hazed over I heard the distinct sound of wood splintering and felt the floor beneath me begin to shake.

  Take me to the infirmary, I commanded the wooden floorboard that was beginning to break loose. It’s the third tower from the . . .

  ou’d think with all the blackouts I’d experienced during this adventure I would’ve learned to wake from them with a bit more grace.

  Ah, wishful thinking.

  When I stirred I found my face smooshed into a pillow, a moderate pool of drool beneath me, and my hair matted to my face.

  Realizing I was alive, I tried to jump to my feet but serious pain kicked in and I was only able to sit up in bed.

  Wait, bed?

  I looked around and discovered I was alone in my school’s infirmary. It was dark outside. Only one window was open, barely allowing the sound of distant music from the ball to stream in like a melodic whisper.

  I was wearing a floor-length, black silk robe. It was the kind that the infirmary reserved solely for people with serious illnesses. The robes were made from rare silk produced by enchanted silkworms in the kingdom of Coventry. I’d had a dream about me wearing one of these. What that dream had failed to illustrate, however, was the searing pain I’d be feeling while wearing it. I doubled over and clutched my ribcage as ache and agony pulsed through my core.

  I glanced up and saw the fireplace on the other side of the room was roaring. The infirmary was usually all beige walls, white lace curtains, and unscented wax candles. But the hot orange flames instantly caught my attention. There also seemed to be a bulky object burning inside them.

  Gathering all my strength, I forced myself to get up. I staggered like an old woman as I hobbled closer. I made it to the fireplace before the pain became too much and my legs gave way. With an ungraceful stumble, I landed in a seated position right in front of the fire. The flames’ warm glow danced on the sheen of my robe.

  Sitting on the stone floor, I realized what was burning inside the fire. It was a dress. The black demon gown with Snow White’s poisoned corset was roasting in the blaze.

  Suddenly the main doors to the infirmary swung open. I turned to see my friends walk in. Well, only SJ and Daniel walked in. Blue and Jason rode in on a flying, jagged plank of wood. I imagined it was the chunk of floorboard that had broken free from our suite in order to bring me here.

  I forced myself to my feet. My friends were still in their formal ball attire—SJ in the dress I’d seen earlier, Blue in a black gown with ruffles, and the boys in their handsome silver suits.

  “I am so glad you are awake!” SJ gushed. She and Daniel helped me over to the nearest cot, where I sat down.

  The enchanted slab of wood didn’t have eyes, but somehow it still noticed me. When it did, it started flying around the room in figure-eights that almost tossed Blue and Jason off.

  “Whoa there,” I said, raising my hands. “Settle down.”

  Much to my relief, it landed on the ground. Jason and Blue couldn’t get off quick enough. Once they’d descended, the flying wooden floorboard abruptly took off back through the infirmary doors.

  Hm. I’ll have to follow up on that later . . .

  Blue dusted off her dress then gave me a mischievous smile. “So who tried to kill you this time?”

  “Blue, that is a highly inappropriate and insensitive way to phrase the question,” SJ scolded. Then she directed her attention back to me. “But seriously, Crisa, who was it?”

  “Was it that Nadia chick?” Blue suggested.

  “Or was it that Arian kid again?” Daniel practically growled.

  “How did any of those Alderon pains-in-the-neck even get into the school anyhow?” Jason interrupted. “I mean, I get the whole Shadow Guardian concept, but there are guards patrolling the perimeter at all times.”

  “Guys, it wasn’t an Alderon pain-in-the-neck,” I said as I sat up straighter. “It was one of our own.”

  My friends listened as I explained what happened with Mauvrey, from the realization that she had been the girl I’d seen plotting with Arian in my dreams to how I’d harnessed my last bit of strength to give life to the wooden floorboard so that it could bring me to the infirmary.

  I also mentioned that I’d sent SJ’s glass Pegasus figurine after Mauvrey, hoping that when it eventually returned it would be able to show us where she’d gone. It was extremely important to find out where Arian and his cronies were holding up. They would need a new place to plot and recruit commons for their cause if they could no longer use the bunker beneath the Capitol Building, and I intended to find it.

  The others were shocked by the revelation. Not because they were surprised to find out Mauvrey was evil (I guess we all kind of knew that already) but because she was one of them. She was with Nadia and Arian. She had a Shadow living inside of her. And she was bent on destroying our realm’s protagonists—the very group of people she’d spent her whole life associated with.

  Did you see that coming? Cuz I sure didn’t.

  I wondered how Lady Agnue would take the news. Based on how she’d reacted to our other revelations, I was sure the truth of what happened tonight would never get out. She was probably already plotting with the school nurses about how to cover everything up.

  When I finished my tale, SJ explained that my chunk of enchanted wood had dropped off my unconscious body at the infirmary, but the nurse hadn’t known what was wrong. She hurried to find my roommates, hoping that they might be able to shed some light on what was happening. It was a good instinct. It only took SJ and Blue a second to recognize the corset and realize the problem. My friends and the nurse unlaced it as quickly as they could. Unfortunately, I had been wearing the corset for so long that simply removing it wasn’t enough. They had to burn the thing in order for its dark magic to be disrupted. Doing so in the nick of time saved me.

  “That’s three, Crisa,” Blue commented.

  “Three what?”

  “Three notable fairytale relics you’ve obliterated—the magic mirror, Aladdin’s genie lamp, and the corset. We might as well go get your mother’s glass slipper and chuck it at the wall ri
ght now.”

  “Hey, you destroyed the enchanted pea,” I protested.

  “And who’s fault was it that we were locked in an Alderon prison?” Blue countered.

  I sighed and glanced over at SJ. “All right. Remind me to make some time in my calendar to have that talk about my affinity for destruction.”

  In the aftermath of the corset poisoning I was forced to spend several days in the infirmary recuperating.

  My friends periodically checked up on me. Lady Agnue hadn’t exactly agreed to let the boys come visit (even after SJ, Blue, and I explained that they could pass through the In and Out Spell like we could). She couldn’t risk the other students learning about our new abilities.

  Nevertheless, my friends and I had outsmarted villains and monsters of every caliber on our adventure. Daniel and Jason possessed more than enough stealth to come and go from our school without being spotted. Using the forest between Lady Agnue’s and Lord Channing’s as cover while the other students were in class, they had no problem visiting me during my recovery.

  It was a risky endeavor, but they didn’t hesitate to do it. Which could be considered both sweet and asking for trouble. I approved on both counts.

  On the first day of my recovery I woke to a much different tune than I had the previous night. Instead of ball music, blue birds chirping outside stirred me awake.

  It was a pleasant sound, and their merriment helped me shake off the intense nature of the dream flashes I’d been having.

  I’d seen the inside of a building collapse and become consumed by fire. A white porcelain teacup with a steaming hot beverage inside. A vision of a compass where the directions—instead of pointing to North, East, South, and West—pointed to the words: Nightmare, Enigma, Sweet Dreams, and Wanderers’ Void.

  I didn’t know what any of those dreams signified, but I immediately reached for the small journal and quill on my bedside table and scribbled everything down. I may not have been a painter like Liza, but I figured it was probably in our best interest to take a page from her playbook and start keeping track of my visions. There was a lot to remember and we might be able to use some of the details in the future.