Aura nodded. For a moment, she felt sorrow for Wendelone, confined for all eternity. I guess that’s me now. She shook her head. Ask her what you came here to ask.
“I found something of my uncle’s, of Zakar’s. I think it was his journal.”
“Yes. He was lonely. We had that in common.”
“It seemed to be in another language, but when I ran my finger over the words, they changed so I could read them.”
“He probably had a curse on the journal, so if anyone found it, they couldn’t read it.”
“How come I was able to?”
“You received the powers he had, did you not?” Wendelone’s voice smiled, and Aura shivered again. “Cold, my dear?”
“No,” Aura lied. She walked forward, heading back toward the tower.
“That’s all?” Wendelone whined.
She turned and looked back at the tree. This is her Fate. “Wendelone, do you believe in Fate?”
Wendelone chuckled. “Believe in Fate? Ha, I’ve met her!”
Aura stepped back toward the tree. “A week or so ago, I was forced to go into a room. The Room of Papers.”
“Ah, yes. The Room of Papers. Did you find yours? Did you find your Fate?”
“I found what I was told to find. The one paper which had something I could see.”
“And what did your eyes see?” Wendelone asked eagerly.
“We are told it’s for us and us only. We’re only to share if it directly involves another individual.”
“And you’ve kept it to yourself this whole time,” Wendelone said understandingly. “For someone who doesn’t believe in Fate, you should have no problem sharing what you saw.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe. It’s just that I want to make my own way. I don’t want to be told what my way is.”
“Good. Good,” Wendelone said.
The eagerness in her voice made Aura cringe. “Forget I said anything.” Aura turned away.
“No! NO!” Wendelone shouted. “Please.” Her voice softened. “Please tell me what you saw on your paper. If you’re going to make your own way, surely it wouldn’t matter if you told me.”
Aura turned back and looked at the tree. “The Room of Papers.”
“What about it?”
“That’s what I saw.”
“Oh?”
“On my paper. It was a picture of the Room of Papers. Stacks and stacks of papers.”
“I see.” Wendelone’s voice danced.
Aura turned back toward the tower. Dark clouds formed around her, preparing to transport her back. “They were on fire.”
39
Adie
Her eyes burned, but she tried not to blink. If I close my eyes for too long, I may fall asleep. Adie’s soul was weighted with worry, sinking slowly into the ground of the Holding Room as her latest nightmare replayed over and over in her mind.
She heard the sound of sand whistling in the air behind her, but kept her eyes forward. The world below her was painted lush violet, ruby red, and sky blue as she gazed through the eyes of the stained glass.
Mid-afternoon approached, and she could see children playing in the garden. The Rokis lay on the pedestal a few feet behind her.
“You wanted to see me.” The heavy voice came from behind her as the sand finished his frame. The Sandman walked up the few steps leading to Adie.
She turned, glancing at him. The stained-glass windows made his top half appear dark blue.
“I had another premonition.”
The Sandman brought out his hand and gently touched her shoulder.
She gulped. He looked at the pedestal where the Rokis lay. As if reading his mind, she responded, “I’ve started to dread wearing it. Though it does make me calm, it is so heavy. I don’t think I can bear it much longer.”
“I know. You are young.”
“Too young. I’m the youngest. We were at war.” Adie thought back to her premonitions and felt there was something still to come. “We are at war.”
“The premonition?”
She sniffled and choked back tears, grabbing her abdomen where the wound from her premonition remained fresh in her mind. She winced remembering the pain.
“It was a large room. Larger than this one,” she said, eyeing the Holding Room and looking at the high ceiling.
The intricate carvings on the ceiling were more visible during the day.
Her eyes fell to the floor.
“There were thousands of mirrors, just floating against the wall, all around each other. I couldn’t see my reflection in any of them.” She touched her face, and a few tears fell. She wiped them away. “I stopped because I thought I finally saw it. My reflection. But it was Aura. She looked sickly. So pale. And her eyes, they were dark. She screamed.” Adie peered up at the Sandman, and her words tumbled out. “It was loud and the mirrors broke, and she appeared in person and told me I would never understand and she would make sure I never did. Then Zakar . . .” Adie broke, and more tears escaped her.
The Sandman effortlessly walked over to her, tiny bits of sand falling behind him. “Zakar is dead.”
“He is, but Aura kept speaking of a curse and that only she could stop it. Zakar had a blade. I felt it enter me. I felt the hot iron. I felt the rush of blood down my abdomen. I felt the lack of air and my throat closing . . .”
“It was only a premonition.”
“Yes, but meaning what?” She looked at him with pleading eyes. “I cannot do this.” Please don’t make me do this anymore.
“But you can, and you will,” he said, taking her hands. “This is your Fate. Your premonitions are warnings. You’re being warned, that’s all.”
“Of my death?”
The Sandman released her hands and hunched down to face her. His right eye drooped low, and his nose twitched as the sand moved around his face. “Premonitions are forewarnings. They are not always meant to be taken literally, and they can give you an advantage. It’s clear Aura is in danger, and her danger may be reflecting on to you. You’re not only sisters, but twins, which is an even stronger bond.”
“What do I do?”
The Sandman walked over to the Rokis, picked it up gently, and went over to her. He placed it on her chest. “You must continue to live. You must warn Aura.” His crooked smile grew large.
“Thank you,” she said, watching as the sand around him swirled and the shape of the Sandman disappeared.
A peace came over her. Not only because she was wearing the Rokis again, but because the words of the Sandman had brought clarity. I have to stay strong and figure this out. If Aura is in danger, I have to help her.
She placed her hand on the center of the Rokis. “Take me to Aura’s chambers at the tower in Vadim.” She felt the tug on her skin as a warm light folded over her. She closed her eyes until the rush of wind faded.
Red velvet walls stared back at her, and the crystals on the chandelier rattled from the remaining rush of wind that echoed through the room. She walked toward the bed and touched the golden sheets. This place is in Vadim? The room was dark but stunning.
She turned and stopped when she saw the shards of glass on the floor and the broken mirror lying in the corner. She slowly walked over to it, holding her breath.
The images from her premonition the night before flashed in her mind as she bent down. Her plum colored dress gathered around her. She picked up one of the pieces of glass and looked into it.
No reflection.
She jerked back, dropping the glass, and stood quickly.
Adie thought she heard footsteps coming from down the hall, and she put a hand on the center of the Rokis as fear rushed through her. “Take me to the Dome.”
40
Aura
Should I have told Wendelone what was on my paper? Aura replayed her meeting with Wendelone and ignored the what-ifs flooding her mind. It doesn’t matter what you told her. I kept my side of the deal, and now Thindoral is safe.
She furrowed her brow as she
thought of what still remained—the curse. But I saved Thindoral. Shouldn’t the curse have died with Zakar?
She paced the hallway at the entrance of the tower. Maybe his journal can help? She made the decision to return to her chambers, when suddenly, muffled shouting came from the walls. Aura froze, holding her breath as she listened. She hadn’t encountered a Sight in the tower since their arrival, nor did she want to.
She stepped closer to the walls, tracing her hands along the designs, and tilted her head at the eye of the gruesome creature staring back at her. She placed her finger on its red eye, feeling the cold orb beneath her hands, when the shouting suddenly grew louder. It’s coming from the walls!
Placing her ear against the wall, she heard the yelling more clearly. Bokah!
“Hold on!” she screamed, looking back to the red eye. As she pressed her finger down, the orb caved in and the wall spun around.
There stood Bokah covered in pedris webs. He stepped away from the wall, cursing at the air, and threw the scroll down at her feet. “I did not sign up for this!” he cried at her but stopped when he looked at the wall. “Whoa . . .”
Aura followed his gaze. In place of the gruesome design from before, there was a beautifully carved enlarged version of the Rokis. Its center was cream white, and its pointed edges were silver. She ran her hand over the carving, smooth and sharp in all the right places. “I’ve never seen anything like it before,” she said. “Maybe it represents the star.”
“The star?”
“The Rokis. Its power comes from a star. The carvings on all these walls are incredibly detailed,” she said, looking down the hall both ways.
“Yes, I’ve started to map a few of them. I’m hoping to take a few of the sketches to Tut and see what we can learn from them,” Bokah said, walking away quickly.
Aura chased after him. “How’s the mapping going so far?”
“Didn’t you see? I got stuck in a wall. Who knows where Ulop and Dolp went. I lost them a while ago,” he said, frowning.
“Well, you’re doing a great job, and I’m sure both the Etoyocs are fine.” Hopefully we find them. She looked back to the walls, wondering how many trap doors and spinning sections were inside.
“It’s nice to receive the recognition I deserve,” he said, chuckling. He stopped and glanced at her. “By the way, how did it go with the Wicked Willow?”
Aura shrugged. “I made sure she understood her part of the bargain and made it clear I’ve kept mine. Thindoral is safe now.”
“It’s still odd though.”
“What do you mean?”
“She just strikes a deal with you because you asked? And because of that, she’ll make sure the Sights don’t attack?”
“Well, the Sights never attacked because of her.” I think. “Zakar was the one that planned the attack on Hatem.”
Bokah shrugged, and Aura sensed his skepticism. She opened her mouth to ask why, when a loud noise came from the wall and they jumped back just in time as Ulop and Dolp came rolling out from an opening that appeared.
“Well, it looks like I found them!” Bokah said, walking toward them.
Aura chuckled and turned away.
“You aren’t going to stay with us and get lost in the tower?” Bokah asked, picking up the scroll.
Aura shook her head. “No. I have a few things I need to do, and I’m sure Adie will contact me soon for a status report.”
She was ready to retreat to her room and look over Zakar’s journal. Maybe then I’ll have my answers about the curse.
41
Adie
Adie sat on the edge of her bed. She swallowed hard, pulling at a few lose crimson curls. She could feel the trembling in her hands. Her heartbeat grew erratic as she tried to steady her breathing. Just rest your eyes. Everything’ll be okay.
She gazed at the Rokis that lay on opposite side of her bed. She longed for it, but at the same time, wished it had never been in her possession. Worry clung to her like a second skin as she tried to push back the image of the broken mirror in Aura’s room.
A knock at the door startled her, and she stood quickly.
“Who’s there?”
“Adie, it’s Gossamer.”
She walked to the door and opened it. She saw the concern in her uncle’s eyes when he didn’t see the Rokis on her.
“It’s on the bed.” She stepped back, allowing Gossamer to enter, and made her way toward the Rokis.
“The Sandman came to me. He told me of your premonition,” Gossamer said, closing the door.
Adie stopped and kept her back towards him. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him in fear that the tears would return to her eyes. If I have any left. Her hand slowly rose from her side, reaching for the Rokis. As she neared, the blue light from the center gem grew brighter.
“Adie, you need to tell me if something’s wrong. I can help.”
Can he? Can anyone help me? “Aura.”
“Is she okay?” A sense of urgency filled his voice.
Adie turned to face Gossamer but kept her eyes on the floor. “The premonitions lead me to believe something is going to happen to her or has already happened to her. I didn’t know what to do after the last one.” She hesitated. “The Sandman said I needed to warn her.”
“The Sandman is wise.” Gossamer walked toward Adie and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Adie locked eyes with him. His blue eyes shifted, and dark brown swirled around inside them.
“Gossamer.” She brought his hand down and held it. “The premonition from last night, it had Zakar in it.”
He stepped back.
“I know he’s dead, but I believe he still has some part in this. I need to know everything about what happened between him and my mother. I know you don’t like talking about what happened, but I need you to tell me. How was he still alive?”
Gossamer’s eyes grew darker, and he turned away from her.
“Why do your eyes change?”
He sighed heavily, and his shoulders fell. He turned and motioned for her to sit. Adie sat on the edge of her bed, next to the Rokis.
“Your grandmother didn’t think they would have any more children after they had Zakar. They tried for many years, to no avail. She was nearing the age when she felt it was no longer possible for her to bear children. My parents decided Zakar was to train as if he was the future Ruler of Thindoral. His first attempt at touching the Rokis brought fear into my parents. The center gem turned black and cold. It didn’t respond to him.”
“The Rokis knew. It knew my mother would be born,” Adie said.
“Yes. I will admit, I was happy when this happened. Zakar was always hungry for power and bullied everyone he thought was below him. Which, sadly, was a majority of those around him, including me. Our relationship wasn’t a good one. Though I was four years older, he was taller and stronger. He never let me forget that.”
Adie looked as the color drain from her uncle’s eyes. They were pale gray.
Gossamer stared at her intently. “You practice your training your whole life. You work with your father and your fellow Guards and Tribesmen to learn your way around weapons, but you never believe you will use the training to kill your own brother.” He paused. “Despite our bad relationship, he was my brother. Shortly after his first lesson with the Rokis, our mother became pregnant with Ambrielle. Zakar grew enraged. He hid from everyone. All whom he had bullied no longer feared him. He was no longer the future Ruler. He had no power to hold over them. He wouldn’t even look at Ambrielle when she was born. He began to travel and disappear for months . . . years even. We never knew where he was, but I always assumed it was nothing good.”
Gossamer paced the floor and abruptly stopped to look out the window. “He returned for your mother’s sixteenth birthday. We hadn’t seen him in many years. Ambrielle was happy to see him, a brother she barely remembered but could now get to know. I kept my distance but watched him closely. I tried to warn your mother to be careful, but
she always wanted to see the good in people.” He turned back to Adie. “I see so much of your mother in you.” He smiled, but it quickly faded and his eyes fell to the floor.
At that moment, Adie wished she was as strong as her mother but knew she never would be.
“One evening, I decided to search his room. I wanted to know where he’d been. He came back earlier than I thought he would, forcing me to hide behind curtains. After that . . . I don’t remember much. It’s a blur of whispers and darkness. I had no control over my body, and this rush of dark clouds came toward me.”
Dark clouds . . . like the ones that surrounded Aura in my first premonition! Adie tried to ignore the pit growing in her stomach. Aura is not safe.
“The next thing I knew, I woke on the floor and Zakar was no longer in the room. My body ached, but I managed to sit up and realize where I was. Then it hit me. He was going after Ambrielle. I called quickly for the Guards and we ran to Ambrielle’s chambers.” His voice cracked as he spoke. “Zakar realized he was about to get caught, so he forced a drink down her throat. Ambrielle’s Personal Guard quickly knocked it away. Some of the poison spilled onto the Guard’s skin, and there was nothing we could do but watch in horror as the life drained from him.”
“Samuel’s grandfather,” Adie whispered. You are my Fate. She heard Samuel’s voice echo in her head, bringing brief peace to her.
Gossamer nodded. “His grandfather was a brave man and a dear friend of mine.” His eyes went dark again. “Zakar tried to transport from the room, but not before my sword entered his side. Before I knew it, I was being transported to the gates of Vadim along with Zakar. I spit the sand from my mouth, calling to him, and I heard him laughing a few feet in front of me. My sword was still on his side, and he was lying face up. I can still hear his voice gargling between gulps of blood, calling me brother.”
Gossamer sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes glistened and jaw clenched as mixed emotions coursed through him. “I grabbed my sword and twisted it before removing it from his body. I figured he would bleed to death and no one could save him. His wound was fatal. I walked through the woods until I reached a hut and found a woman who helped me until Father showed up with the Rokis to transport me back to Giriveen. I always assumed he was dead. There was so much blood. I should’ve buried my sword into his heart. I should’ve made sure he was dead. Maybe then . . .” Gossamer stood and walked over to the mirror by Adie’s nightstand. “Since then, my eyes have changed with my mood. I know he cursed me, but to this day, I don’t know the extent of the curse. Tut has been doing research and experiments on me for years, to no avail . . .”
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