Morning comes, and the sun dries all the rain left from the night before. Valentino takes my hand which surprises me considering he’s been so distant. But I don’t pull away. We walk through the city in search of anyone who might know something about the kingdom and the royal family who once ruled. Perhaps that wasn’t the best approach, because just mentioning it got me dirty glares from multiple people.
“We need to eat,” Valentino says at midday. Our search has gotten us nowhere. The sun is shining bright on us, burning me up. I’m tired and ready for this all to be over.
“Agreed.” I sigh.
“Go back to our room. I’ll get us food and bring it back,” he says, more of an offer than a command. I want to stay by his side but can feel my energy wasting away.
“Thank you.” I smile. He returns it before turning and walking toward the markets. I turn back to the inn only to come face-to-face with a stranger. He wears all black, the hood covering his face, everything but his eyes hidden in the shadows.
I clear my throat, unsure what to do when the person doesn’t move. “Can I help you?” I’m a little nervous. All that I can see of the hooded figure is their dark blue eyes. My first reaction is to be scared. This could be anyone – a spy for Mendina.
But as I look into their eyes I see fright. They’re not sure what to make of me any more than I am of them. She gestures for me to follow her and starts walking away. “Wait!” I grab at her cloak, barely catching the edge.
She whips around, the look in her eyes hardening. “We can’t be seen.” She snaps. I look around us, standing in the middle of the street. The people of the town walk about going through their daily routines. But one man in particular grabs my attention, the way he eyes me, looking between the hooded figure and myself.
Out of the two of them, I would rather be with her. So I nod and follow after her. Using a different path than the one we took before, the stranger leads me to the ruins. I knew it! I want to shout. So someone is living in the remains of the castle.
The door leading to her hideout is in the floor, right where I assume the throne sat when the castle was still standing. It’s made of the same brick in the floor, blending in perfectly. It’s no wonder Valentino and I couldn’t find anything when we were here.
I follow the woman down the ladder, leaving my way out open. We reach the bottom and the stranger removes the cloak. Standing before me is a beautiful young woman, close to my age. Her light golden brown hair spills from the hood.
“I hear you’re searching for me,” she says. “And I have to wonder what the one to save us all wants with me.” She says it with a seriousness in her voice, written in her expression but I have the feeling she’s mocking me.
“Your highness,” I curtsy to Princess Amber. “I am here to ask for your help.” I look her in the eye.
“Why do you need her help?” I nearly jump out of my skin, turning around to face the speaker. He is older, I would’ve guessed he was Amber’s father but looks nothing like her.
“Who are you?” I ask, now thoroughly confused.
“It doesn’t matter who he is until you answer his question.” Another man steps out from behind him. This man is her father, undoubtedly. They have the same dark eyes, the same defined jaw, the same brown hair – though his is short.
“I would think by now that it would be quite obvious why I need her help. She is royalty. She has magic, and she has a chance at reclaiming her kingdom,” I respond.
“Then I suppose you’re looking for me as well.” The younger man steps forward.
I want to ask who he is but the way he is sure I am looking for him as well tells me he is one of the missing princes.
“I am Prince Nicklaus, and this is my father, King Jareth. Our kingdom is known these days as the Ruined Kingdom. Then again, many of them are.”
“Indeed. And it is not Amber’s kingdom, but mine, and Amber isn’t going with you. She cannot help in this battle of yours,” Amber’s father states, anger in his eyes, venom in his voice. I look back at Amber.
Nicklaus glares at the older man before turning back to me. “Amber is my wife. And while we would love to see Mendina undone and paying for her crimes, our child is not due for many more months. She cannot fight.” He wraps his arm around her.
I feel lost. I came to this world believing that I would find the royals, the royals would come with me, we would defeat Mendina, and everyone could return to their lives. I wasn’t expecting that some of us would not survive, or that some would refuse to help.
“I wouldn’t ask you to do that. I was given a task, ripped from my own world to get here. Ripped from my life. I don’t want to have to ask another to leave the comforts of their ways to help stop her. Yet here I am, asking for your help. You do not wish to help, yet wish to live from the benefits of the results that will come once the war is won. You are right, Amber cannot fight. But what about you three?” I take a deep breath.
“You cannot ask us to leave the family we have. We have made peace with the fact that our kingdoms are long gone. And while yes, Mendina’s death would be a glorious reason to celebrate, we are more content living together while she rains evil upon us than to fight and be apart. So do not question why none here offer their help. You are the one chosen to end her, the one they say will save us all. You don’t need us.” The old man sneers again.
“So be it. I’m sorry I wasted your time. I’m sorry I traveled for a week to get here only to leave alone.” I turn back toward the ladder.
“Wait!” Amber grabs my wrist. “I may not be able to fight alongside you physically, but at least allow me to give you information that may help you.”
“Thank you.” I wish I had more, but information is just as important.
“There is a young woman, one of Mendina’s spies. But something’s off. I do not believe she wants to help Mendina. She is the best of the best, never misses her target.” She undoes the top part of her dress just enough to show me the scar on her shoulder.
“She hit me but I know she intentionally missed a kill spot. It was almost as if she didn’t have control of her actions. Tears were streaming down her face. She couldn’t stop herself from shooting but at the last second she aimed at my shoulder rather than my heart. She made sure I was still alive and able to survive before disappearing. She apologized.”
“What did she say?” I ask. I need to know who this girl is.
“I don’t know. She spoke another language. I just know she was scared and not working by her own will. One word she said did stand out to me. She said a word, pointing to herself. I’m pretty sure she was telling me her name was Krea.”
I try not to look excited. “And then what happened?”
“She ran off. I haven’t been outside since that day. This was a month ago. I wanted to find her at first, find out who she was. But I was never able to learn more about her.” She glances at her father. I understand exactly what happened.
With the threat of death so near, she’s been locked up for protection.
“Thank you. This information is most helpful. You are right—her name is Krea. And she believes she’s Mendina’s daughter. She is, in fact, under a spell of some kind, and it appears Mendina has been using her to kill off any living heirs, even if their thrones have been destroyed,” I say. Javiar, believing he was Mendina’s son, did things he didn’t want to. If Krea is in those same situations, it makes sense she wouldn’t want to do what she is being forced to do.
“Who is she, though? And why would she think she’s Mendina’s daughter?”
“Her name is Krea Elizalde, daughter to Danica and Kajetan. Mendina kidnapped her as a toddler in an act of revenge toward her sister, Danica, for stealing the man she loved. Mendina believes that the throne which will one day be mine in truth belongs to her.”
“So where do you go from here?” Amber asks.
“I must find and rescue Krea. She is one of the many missing royals.”
“And if Mendina commands her
to kill you?” Amber looks worried. I wish her father wasn’t here just long enough for me to speak to Amber freely.
“I have to save her before she follows through with the task. And because our numbers are dwindling and hope is running out, I must leave. Thank you for the information.” I curtsy before turning back to the ladder. Valentino will be panicking at my sudden disappearance.
A much larger hand lands on my shoulder.
“You’re not going alone.” I turn back to see Nicklaus’ father. He is strong still. I would not have asked him to fight, but from the looks of it he can handle his own. I could cry with joy right now.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“I will pack my belongings and meet you at sunrise tomorrow at the edge of the town,” he says with surety.
“Thank you,” I say again before scrambling back up the ladder.
Valentino grumbles when I wake him. “Where were you?” He says more clearly. I want to explain but Jareth promised to meet us at the edge of the forest when the sun rose and the sun is rising. I already packed our things.
“I found Amber. And though she isn’t coming with us, we aren’t leaving alone.” I say as I throw clean clothes at him.
I changed into a dress, removing my filthy pants. With a few days’ ride to Umare, I should survive in a dress. And with any luck, we’ll find a river where I can rinse my pants, and the sun will shine so they dry.
As promised, Jareth and his horse stand at the edge of the town, waiting just as the sun reaches its peak. Exhausted, I allow both men to take the lead. I stick close by but stay behind them.
They talk as if they are long-lost friends—everything from which stance is the best in a fight to who has a better sword. I shake my head and laugh. At least we aren’t traveling in silence.
Breaking the calming chatter, Valentino shouts my name, voice filled with panic. “Shanice.” He falls back and grabs my arm. I follow his gaze. Before us on the path, and coming our way is one princess we’ve yet to reach. In one swift swoop, all three of us dismount and lower ourselves amongst the bushes. The horses race between the trees, staying hidden. She is hunting us for the very witch that just about killed us.
I feel for her more than any of the others. Does she know she’s royalty? She must, if she believes herself to be Mendina’s daughter.
“We need to gain her trust, Valentino. I cannot let her slip away.” I move closer, as silently as possible. I have one shot left at not dying today. I approach her quietly, and yet she still turns toward me. Her face is covered with the hood of her cloak, but I know well it is her.
“I will kill you. I never miss my mark,” she threatens.
I hunker down in the bushes. “What if I told you I know the truth, and I can help you?” It’s a brave move speaking but I have to try and save her. Valentino comes up beside me.
“It doesn’t matter what you know. No one can help me. I am her servant until she frees me. Her will is the only I can do,” she states. She doesn’t sound happy but it sounds more like Mendina has programmed her words. She has complete control over Krea. It’s evident in the way her voice struggles with every word as she fights it. She moves the same way, fighting every step but unable to overcome it.
“Listen, Krea. I can save you but you have to trust me. Shoot the arrow at a tree and I will save you.” I close my eyes, wishing, hoping that she does not release that arrow.
“This arrow must hit its mark or I die this night, Princess. It is no ordinary arrow.” She almost stops speaking, but for that split second, I heard Krea speaking and not Mendina.
“This is for you. It’s poisoned.” Her voice sounds like a robot. “She wishes to kill you slowly. Please don’t let me see you.” She cries, her voice breaking. I keep moving further and further away.
“Krea, I promise you will be freed if it’s the last thing I do.” I would have been safe had I not made that promise, but I moved back too far. At the sound of snapping twigs, without hesitation, she spins around and fires.
The arrow sails true, aiming right for me. I feel like a deer in the headlights, my heart has stopped, I can’t breathe, can’t move. Valentino jumps from the bushes beside me and shoves me aside, allowing the arrow to plant firmly in his shoulder. He gasps and falls to the ground with a thud. I wish he had allowed the arrow to hit me.
“Shanice!” Krea yells, not daring to come closer. “You must save him! Mendina will use every ounce of energy left in him for herself. It will kill him slowly, painfully, and in a more torturous way than one might think possible.” She rips the mask from her face. “I am so sorry.” Tears rush down her cheeks, but she can’t stay. Like a deer running from its hunter, she runs into the forest.
I whistle, begging Star to come. Tears pour down my own cheeks. Valentino has lost consciousness, blood running down his chest and side from his shoulder, and I can’t do anything to stop it. I can’t remove the arrow without hurting him further.
Star comes, as does Knight. Jareth jumps from the bushes and rushes to me as well. “Shanice, he will not survive with that amount of blood loss.” He grabs a blanket from the saddle and kneels beside me, pressing the cloth to Valentino’s shoulder. “We need to get him somewhere safe.”
“We need Nastasia. She’s our closest bet.” I try to stand, but cannot bear Valentino’s weight on my own. I look to Jareth. “Please help me—I can’t carry him.”
“Shanice, be strong. You will be faster on your own.” Jareth helps me lift Valentino into Star’s saddle. I would lay him across her back but I fear the arrow would be pushed in farther and hurt him more.
“Go! I will take care of his horse, return to Umare, and inform the king what has happened,” Jareth says.
“Thank you.” I don’t have time to say any more. I sit behind Valentino, leaning him against me so he does not fall over or off.
“Star, run,” I command.
She listens, running straight for Garverdale. The minutes tick by—I’m sure there’s a trail of blood behind us. Poor Star’s coat of white fur is covered in red. I lower my head and allow her to tear through every mile between us and Nastasia.
As we approach, I call for her, screaming for her attention. The second we arrive at her door, she is there, waiting. “What happened?”
She looks as mortified as I feel. “Help me get him inside! Please!” Star lowers her body again, allowing me and Nastasia to carry him off and into the house.
“Get me water now,” Nastasia orders. We lay him on the couch. Nastasia begins working the arrow out of his shoulder. I’m grateful she sends me to fetch water—I can’t watch his body twist and turn in pain.
I bring in a bucket of fresh water from the well. Nastasia has the arrow removed, lying on the floor. I glare at it with all the hatred I feel toward Mendina right now.
“Hurry!” Nastasia orders, needing the water. I set the bucket beside her and place a hand on Valentino’s good shoulder.
“I have to destroy Mendina,” I whisper. Tears spill, falling onto Valentino’s cheek.
“I know, dear. But what happened?”
“You don’t understand. I have to go now. She’s out there using his energy as a boost for her power. Every minute she lives, he dies that much faster.”
She doesn’t reply to me right away. “Help me get his shirt off,” she commands. I do as she asks and then wait. Around the hole, his shoulder is purple and black as the poison spreads.
“Do you love him?” she asks, looking at me now that she has done all she can to stop the bleeding.
“With all my heart.”
"Why do you refuse to marry him? You make him think you love him, and then you break his heart. And now that he is dying, you're willing to risk all of our lives to save him."
"I never said I wouldn't marry him. I said I wouldn't marry him because I was told I had to—because it was dictated by someone else. I'm in love with him, Nastasia. I always have been. He's the one person I truly care about in this world. I'm not going to sit b
y and watch him die, waiting for a miracle when I know one isn't coming. I'm going to save him no matter the cost."
I don’t wait for her to protest. I storm outside and mount. I make sure my sword is still strapped to my side before taking off. It doesn’t matter that the sun will set soon. It doesn’t matter that I am hours away from Gowell, from her and in the end, could help her kill him faster.
I don’t care that I’m supposed to be building an army or that I don’t know enough magic. I can’t let him die. This ends tonight. The numbness begins to spread. All the pain from the past three days, all the torture, and the endless hours of climbing and running—it’s all gone. One thought takes over.
Kill Mendina. End her. She will not kill him, she can’t. I won’t let her. I can‘t lose him.
But Krea said it was to cause me endless torture. Only one thing could do that. Hurting Valentino.
I push Star faster and harder, putting all my anger into getting her to ride like the wind. What Fuentes did in one flight seems to take us forever on horseback. Gowell is much closer to Garverdale that Umare, and that’s good.
Mendina will not get away with this. She can’t get away with this. I can’t lose Valentino. I won’t. I knew I loved him, but with the thought of losing him, the pain is unbearable. I have nothing without him.
I hate having to take Star through the black forest but I don’t stop. I don’t have time to walk through it again. Mendina knows I’m coming. She’s expecting me—I can feel it.
Just as I approach the front gate to her lair, it opens—the door, the same way. She wanted me to come. My heart skips a beat, stuttering as I walk into a trap. I should’ve stayed away from Gowell.
“I’m so glad you came, dear Princess. I’ve waited a long time for this.” She smiles wickedly, and I admit, she isn’t what I expected. Dark brown hair flows behind her, curling in the wind created by the magic flowing around her. Her eyes are the equivalent of sapphires. Her dark crimson dress moves with her, the color mocking my pain.
The room we stand in is spacious, and mostly empty. A throne at the end of the room, sitting before large stained glass windows depicting a forest. The floor is a mosaic but from where I stand I can’t tell if it makes a full picture, or is just colorful.
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