The Second Sister (The Amendyr Series)

by Magdon, Rae D.

  ***

  Two nights after reading about sorcerer's chains in Elementary Majicks, another book was waved under my nose as its holder yelled at me. This time, it was Sarah. She was holding a familiar leather-bound journal in her hand. “Ellie, it can't be true,” she nearly sobbed, almost slamming the cover of the journal into my face. “Please tell me that nothing in this is true!”

  “Where did you get that?” I snapped, trying to grab the journal from her. She was too quick for me, holding it above my head where I could not reach it. We had played this game before, and I knew that jumping was useless. “Give it back.”

  “All this time, your mystery lover was—”

  “Don't say the name! Just give me the book back.”

  Sarah was nearly crying at that point, still holding the journal over my outstretched hands. “Ellie, I won't let you elope! It's the most foolish thing I've ever heard of in my entire life. If you try, I'll stop you.”

  “I don't suppose you read the last entry in that diary, did you?” I asked, lowering my hand.

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “I couldn't get through the rubbish without wanting to vomit. Of course I didn't read the last entry.

  She sounded like an insulted courtier, conveniently forgetting that she had gone through my things and taken the book without my permission.

  “Well, since you've already stolen it from me, you might as well read it now.”

  Sarah looked down her nose at me, studying my face as she considered my suggestion. Tilting her head up so she could see the pages without lowering the book, she flipped to the last entry, a scowl pulling over her lips. Her mouth dropped open. She forgot about holding the book up and let her arm drop to chest level. I took the diary from her and she did not protest. First, she stared at me, loose jawed and wide eyed. Then, she started to laugh. “You almost killed me, Ellie. I can't believe—”

  “Exactly,” I interrupted, keeping a tight hold on the journal now that I had it back. I could not have anyone else reading it, just in case they misinterpreted. “Cate and I thought you needed a friendly warning before you got all of us into trouble.”

  It had started because Sarah's teasing about my mystery lover was driving me to distraction. Despite my warnings about Luciana's taste for blackmail and torture, Sarah's curious nature subdued any caution that she might have possessed. As dearly as I loved my friend, she was one of the most indiscreet, gossip-hungry people I knew. Letting her discover my relationship with Belladonna would have been disastrous. Cate was sensible about the whole thing, and so I enlisted her to help me teach Sarah a lesson.

  The joke was rather simple. Since Sarah was so eager for information, I decided to give her the most lurid gossip of her life. Belle's journal had given me the idea. Instead of letting Sarah get her hands on that private book, in which Belladonna still wrote entries for me to read, Cate and I had composed our own. My favorite scene was a particularly lustful encounter with Jamison on the stairs.

  “I can't believe you, Ellie Sandleford. You had me thinking you were going to elope with that odious Jamison and have ten children with him in Briaridge!”

  “On the other hand, I have no trouble believing that one of my best friends would go looking through my things just to satisfy her curiosity.” Sarah had the decency to blush. I smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “It's all right, I'm not angry with you…much. But I'm certainly not helping you clean up tonight, if you catch my meaning.”

  “I suppose I deserve it,” Sarah said, blowing her loose bangs out of her eyes. “I never should have fallen for that rot you put in there. Jamison? You couldn't have picked someone else?”

  I grinned wickedly. “Of course not. I wanted to pick the most horrifying, vile person imaginable. Besides Luciana, Jamison was the obvious choice.” I offered my hand to Sarah. “All right, if you promise to stop going through my things to learn details about my private life, I promise not to elope with Jamison and have ten children. I'll even keep being your friend. How does that sound?”

  “Sounds wonderful to me.” Sarah looked relieved. I had a feeling that keeping her nose out of my business was going to be more difficult for her than she realized, but I knew she was a well-meaning girl very deep down. This scare would probably keep her out of trouble for a week or two, at any rate.

  ***

  While Belle was reading book after book on magical objects and sorcerer's chains, I had an idea of my own. The troubling dream did not return to haunt my sleep, but it was with me during the day. When I passed into a shadow, when my mind wandered from Belle for just a moment, when everything suddenly paused and the entire manor stopped to listen to a sound that was not there, I saw the large, burning black eye in my mind. It made my stomach squeeze and my heart curl in my throat.

  I decided to ask Cate about the pendant. Sarah had revealed that she was from an ancient Amendyrri family. Perhaps she had lived there as a child. She might know something about dream-telling, especially since she could See. Better yet, she might know of a way to get rid of frightening dreams and visions.

  I spent many hours at night thinking of what to say to her, but in the end, I just blurted it out. “I know you can See.”

  Cate was not surprised. “I knew you would find out,” she told me, setting down the load of fresh laundry that she had carried in to our room. We actually needed to take the bedding upstairs, but we decided to stop for a few moments to catch our breath. “Sarah can never keep her mouth shut.”

  “I don't think any differently of you,” I said. Cate looked relieved, and once she had lowered her arms and the bundle of bedding, I could see that her lips were pressed tight. She was calm, but still alert. “Actually, I am…”

  “I know, sister,” Cate said.

  My eyes grew large. “Do you know everything I want to say before I say it?”

  Cate gave me a small smile. For a moment, her freckles stood out on her milk-pale skin. “No. But I get strong feelings from you. Also, I've heard you talking to the cats. Rucifee was pestering you the other night.”

  I scowled, remembering. I had stepped on the fat ginger nuisance's tail. Although I had apologized very politely, he had taken a swipe at my leg with his claws. I shook my head and focused on Cate. “Cate, I had a dream. Have you noticed that Luciana wears a pendant around her neck on a silver chain?”

  Cate thought about it, squinting her eyes as she concentrated. It did not look like she was performing any magical actions and I did not feel the pleasant, warm buzz that I had grown to associate with my own magic. A dark look crossed her face and she nodded. “She never takes it off. Even when...I mean...She never takes it off.” There was a long pause. “Sometimes she makes me undress her. I tried to unhook it once. She knocked me over a table.”

  I gasped and reached out a hand, but Cate shied away from my touch. “Don't. Don't touch me right now. I'm all right.”

  “I'm so sorry, Cate. I didn't mean to make you think about...”

  “I'm all right. Tell me about your dream.”

  And so I told her. She listened with a serious expression on her face, but she no longer looked pained or frightened. She was focusing. She shivered slightly at the part about the giant eye and my bones twitched in response. There was something primal and evil about what I had seen.

  “Your dream sounds real. My mother told me that everyone has a little bit of the Sight in them. Before we came to Seria...” She closed her eyes, remembering a time long ago. “We lived in the Forest at my grandmother's house, before the bad time.”

  “The bad time?”

  “Mother was sick. Grandmother sent me away to relatives across the border. When they grew too old, I ended up here. I still miss the Forest.”

  I was surprised that Cate was discussing her childhood so freely, but as soon as the thought rose in my head, she decided that she was tired of talking. She watched me for a long, tense second. I gave her a smile and she smiled back, slowly and carefully, wondering if she had revealed too much. “Every
Ariada has a little bit of the Sight in them. Listen to your dreams.”

  “I will.”

  As we picked up the forgotten bedding and walked up the stairs together, most of our discomfort faded and I was left with more questions I could not answer.

  CHAPTER 7

  SHARING BELLADONNA'S bed could only go unnoticed for so long. We knew that we were taking a risk by being together, but we continued meeting all the same. They say that love is blind, but I know better. Lovers see, but choose to look away. The tears of joy that stained our cheeks at night never blurred our sight completely. Perhaps we stole a kiss more than was wise in one of Baxstresse's many empty rooms. Still, the day came when one of our rendezvous was rudely interrupted.

  Belle was busy blazing a trail of dusky purple marks along the column of my throat, bruising my skin with heated lips and tongue, strands of her black hair tickling my bare shoulders. “Mmm, you taste good,” she breathed across my collarbone, peppering kisses over the bite marks. I had already stolen an hour in her arms, but I still wanted more. If I had been standing, her kisses would have made my knees weak.

  “You shouldn't,” I whispered, tugging weakly at her wrist. “Someone will see them.”

  “Then let them see that you are mine. You belong to me.” She left my neck and moved her face over mine, our mouths brushing together without meeting.

  “I've been gone too long already...”

  “I don't care. I need you again, my beautiful girl. I have to have more of you.”

  “Yes,” I hissed. My eyes fluttered shut as heat blossomed in my chest, beating out to my fingertips. “Belle, I love —” My declaration was cut short as the doors flew open, and my heart skipped. I crossed my arms over my breasts, lips parting in surprise.

  Luciana walked casually into the room, the corners of her mouth flickering up with satisfaction. “Good evening, sister,” she drawled, her cold voice cutting off my breath. Her gaze dug into every inch of my bare flesh and my skin prickled with fear. I clutched the sheets at my throat, huddling into a ball to hide from her wicked black eyes. Belle did not even bother covering herself. She placed a hand over mine, where it was clutching nervously at her hip, and removed it, pulling away from the safety of my touch and standing up. All the warmth inside me left with her.

  “Luciana,” she said, challenging her sister with her eyes.

  Luciana rested a hand on her waist, tilting her head back proudly. “You know, I hardly believed it when I first heard.” She finally tore her eyes away from me and turned to Belladonna. “Taking your own sister to your bed. How shameful.” She shook her light hair off her shoulders, her thin smirk broadening.

  “Not nearly as shameful as raping kitchen maids and beating your lovers to near death. Ellie gives herself to me freely. I would never take her against her will.”

  For the first time since she entered the room, Luciana looked surprised. She glanced at me, bafflement breaking through the haughty mask of her face. Was it really so unbelievable that I would make love to Belle willingly? She recovered quickly, returning her attention to Belladonna. “I'm sure you would feel uncomfortable explaining all of this to our mother.”

  “Blackmail,” Belle whispered to herself, glancing at the floor stones. “All right, Luci, mother's favorite. What do you want from me?”

  Luciana's lashes lowered wickedly. “Your complete obedience and...friendship.” Her eyes rose again to take in Belle's breasts and stomach, her smooth legs. I was disgusted.

  “Friendship? That's what you call it, then?”

  “Friendship,” Luciana answered, enjoying the word on her tongue. “And, of course, the friendship of our dear stepsister. I am sure that Ellie will enjoy herself with me.”

  The expression of horror on Belladonna's face mirrored the fear collecting at the bottom of my stomach. “You will never touch her.”

  I wanted to go to Belle, embrace her, thank her for the flood of shielding warmth that her words enveloped me in, but I could not move. I reached out my hand after several still moments in silent thanks. She took it, brushing her thumb over the tops of my knuckles.

  “Who will believe you, Luciana?” Belle was powerful and intimidating even in her nakedness. I shrank behind her, biting at my bottom lip. “No one would accept such an allegation, even from you.”

  Luciana was unfazed. “Perhaps they wouldn't, if I had no proof.” She pulled her white hand from the folds of her skirt and held up a familiar leather-bound journal. My heart jerked out of rhythm for an instant.

  Belle's stoic expression faltered. “My diary...”

  “Written in your own hand.”

  Belle was silent again, clearly shaken. Even so, she did not retreat. “Ellie is mine, and as long as I have strength to protect her, I will. You won't lay a hand on her until my death.”

  Luciana did not take the threat well. The back of her neck straightened and she lifted her chin, revealing the three-circled pendant at the base of her throat. It bobbed wickedly as she breathed, seeming almost alive itself. I could not tear my eyes from it. All I could see was the eye, watching us. I thought I could hear it speak. ‘I am awake. I see you.’

  “I think not, sister,” Luciana said through gritted teeth. I shot back into the present moment. Red sparks of light crackled and danced around her clenched fist, although the hand holding the book remained dormant.

  My eyes widened as the sparks jumped around Luciana's pendant, rushing to her fingertips as she extended them towards Belle. She held her ground, but I caught the flash of nervousness in her eyes.

  “No,” I said hoarsely, my throat tight with unshed tears, “don't hurt her.” I moved to the side, away from Belladonna's protection, still near enough to clasp her hand. “I…I will do whatever you want, but don't hurt her.”

  Luciana smiled. “Good girl,” she purred, tucking Belladonna's diary back into her skirts and silencing the sparks along her slender fingers. The words made my eyes sting with tears.

  The thought of what I had said to Mam all those months ago came back to me: “If she ever touches me like that, I will kill her. And then I will kill myself.” But could I go through with it now that I had Belle?

  “I won’t let —” Belle started, but we were interrupted by a knock on the door. “I’m not dressed,” she called out, staring at the door.

  “'Course you're not,” Mam said. I could feel her roll her eyes even from outside the room. Only Mam would dare to sass Belladonna. “Is Ellie in there with you?”

  “Yes,” I called out. My voice shook.

  “Good. You'll be helping Miss Belladonna into one of her evening gowns, then. A messenger with a fine red coat is waiting at the door, and if he don't look a sight! I'm thinking he's from the palace.”

  Relieved that I had something to do, I bent down properly at the waist and picked up Belle's chemise. Luciana watched as Belle lifted her arms over her head and let the simple white garment settle about her shoulders. I could see the lust in her eyes and it made my chest tighten. I did not want to know what she was imagining. I bent down again to lift Belle's corset. My hands shook terribly, fumbling over the hooks and eyelets as Luciana stared at us.

  “She will try to find me next,” she said, not looking away. “Neither of you will say a word about this to anyone, unless you want this,” she held up the diary, “to be made public.”

  As suddenly as she had entered, she was gone. I fell into Belle's arms, sobbing against her bare shoulder, leaving her corset half tied. I felt something wet against my forehead and realized that she was crying, too. “What are we going to do?” Belle whispered, tracing my lips with her fingertip. “I will never let her touch you. Oh, Ellie...” She kissed me, and her lips were rough, needy.

  “But she will ruin you. She can take away everything with this.”

  “We can run away. We will go to a place where no one knows who we are.”

  I shook my head, knowing it was impossible, but Mam entered before I could answer her. “Ellie, finish he
lping Miss Belladonna.” Silently, I finished tying Belle's corset and helped her with her dress. “Now, away with you,” Mam ordered, pointing imperiously at the door, and Belle obeyed without protest. Only Mam was indispensable enough to give orders to the ladies of the manor. Baxstresse would collapse in on itself without her steady management.

  Belladonna gave me a soft, open-mouthed kiss before she left, giving both of us strength. I was left alone with Mam. We stared at each other silently for a long moment. “You don't have anything to say to me?” I asked. I could not meet Mam's eyes as she lowered her full body and picked up my dress from where it lay crumpled against a wall.

  “Better be putting this on.” Mam offered me the bundle. I uncrossed my arms from where they had been shielding my modesty and worked my hands into the sleeves. The rough material scraped my skin as it settled across my shoulders. Once, I had refused to consider myself spoiled at all, but I had learned that being a little spoiled is better than suffering poverty. I missed the luxury of comfortable dresses, although the corsets were something I did not miss at all. I would probably not return to wearing them if I ever escaped this hell.

  I felt better once I was covered, and was almost able to look Mam in the eye. “Luciana knows. She wants Belle's inheritance out of this.” I could not speak of that other horrible thing she wanted, could not even think of it. “She can prove what Belle and I have done. She found a diary.”

  Mam let her eyes fall shut, lowering her chin and pressing her lips tight. “Oh, Ellie.” Her mouth moved, but there was nothing left to be said. I held my wrist with one hand and feared what love had brought me.

  ***