Fight for the Crown

by Emilie MacCauley

“My gift can let my soul travel through the past and relive memories as they were. I brought your spirit with me to the day I was kidnapped. What you saw was the truth.”

  “How do you know what you saw wasn’t fabricated,” Lola is still in denial.

  “Because I saw myself. I saw myself the moment I entered the tent and saw she was gone. There is no way Melani could have known exactly what I did,” Rowan offers her hand to help her off the ground. “I believe you.”

  “So you must believe that Mikah did no harm to that little girl.”

  “Prove it,” Lola challenges jutting her chin out.

  “I can’t. I’m too weak, I used all of my energy to bring Rowan back in time.”

  “How convenient for you,” Lola sasses back. “Roe, I’m not sure we can trust her. This isn’t a game. Lottie is dead. If you let her out and your judgment is wrong…” she trails, “You’ll never forgive yourself.”

  “This isn’t going to be a wrong judgement call. I know in my heart that she had nothing to do with the attacks that happened and that Shadow was forced to do something he never would have under normal circumstances. He loved Lottie and you know it, too.”

  Lola ponders for a moment. “Fine. I’ll unlock her chains and I really hope I won’t have to say I told you so.”

  * * *

  Shevka guards heal Shadow’s eyesight as per Knoton’s request. As a guest of Prince Arlo, the guards have no intention of turning him down. They also gladly oblige when Knot suggests that when he’s through with the prisoner, they can have their go at him again.

  The guards leave the two of them to their privacy. Shadow gives him a nasty scowl as Knot smiles loving the sight. He always thought of Shadow as a friend, they were prone to joking around, but there came a point when Shadow always acted more superior. There were times Knot wished he could pull him down from his cocky and egotistical self and drag him down to him and Blade’s level of debachurary. Seeing him like this, reflecting on the monster he has always been, makes Knot feel better about himself.

  “What in Hellias name do you want?” Shadow spits blood on the ground.

  “Came here to tell you that I talked with Roe yesterday,” the sound of her name perks him up. “She hates you.”

  He slumps against the stone wall and closes his eyes. “I don’t want to hear it.”

  Knot picks up another pebble from the ground and throws it at his head. He opens his eyes and Knot quickly says, “They are torn over Lottie’s death. They all hate you. They think you and your sister betrayed them—”

  “We never betrayed anyone!” Shadow barks.

  “Oh, I know that, but they don’t,” he shrugs. “Actually, you did betray someone.” Shadow raises an eyebrow. “You betrayed me, and Blade, and your father. You brought this on yourself when you went against us by stealing your sister. You betrayed us the minute Roe entered Cirvka and you panted like an animal in heat. We had a plan. A plan you very well could have ruined.”

  “Whatever. The plan is still going to happen with or without me.”

  “You’re right. It will,” he shrugs. “With you out of the way Roe trusts The Overseer. With that trust, he can control her just as he controlled you.”

  Shadow bares his teeth but there’s nothing he can do. Knot laughs, holding his belly as he does so. He’s enjoying this—a lot. Knot is undefeated in the fighting ring at Cirvka. Many Shevka even challenge him, but no one can win. Except one. With Shadow’s shadows he has always been quick and stealthy; restraining Knot and hitting him before he even knew what happened.

  “Roe isn’t the same.” He taunts. “She’s sad, angry, and lost. She’s confused because she thought you were a good person, Shadow. Turns out you weren’t. Now she feels like she can’t trust anyone again,” he clicks his tongue. “I think she might have even loved you.”

  That grabs his attention. His eyes widen and his fists clench.

  “She’s a mess. It’s like you ripped out her heart. She’s crying over you. Mourning what you two could have been. Can you imagine it?” He asks. “Can you imagine having a life with her? Maybe a baby or two?”

  “Would you just shut up and leave me to my confinement,” he hisses.

  “Don’t think I won’t be back. We will be seeing each other very often. Goodnight.” He turns on his heel bringing the lantern with him, slowly enveloping Shadow back in the darkness he belongs in.

  In the distance you can hear him scream in frustration. Knot pauses and revels in the noise with a wide ear-to-ear smile.

  Knot considers this a job well done.

  * * *

  As soon as Rowan and Lola escape the headquarters building without getting caught, Pepper and Solana are standing by holding surprised expressions.

  “Can we do this later?” Rowan whisper-shouts when Pepper starts arguing. “If they hear us and come outside—we’re all dead!”

  Begrudgingly, Pepper complies and they escort Melani back to their tent. Pepper and Solana walk ahead of them while Rowan has her arm wrapped around Melani’s waist helping her walk. She used all of her energy to use her power earlier and now she’s completely drained. Lola walks behind them with a cautious eye. She too looks weak and in dire need of replenishing her energy.

  As soon as they get through the flap of their tent Pepper is standing, arms crossed, and waiting for an explanation. “Why are you mad? You knew this was a possibility!” Rowan sets Melani down on her mattress.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t think she’d actually be there! I thought you were going to come back empty handed and she,” she points to Melani, “would be off somewhere hiding or rotting in a cell at the castle with Shadow.”

  “She’s innocent and I’m almost certain Shadow is innocent, too.”

  Pepper’s eyes nearly bulge out of her skull. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Roe! You were fooled once and now you want to be fooled again? This is unbelievable.”

  “If you’d let me explain—”

  “How can we trust her?” Solana intervenes. “Last time you broke her out, she and Shadow disappeared and then Cirvka was destroyed and Lottie was murdered.”

  “She has shown me the past, that is her gift. Melani was kidnapped by Prince Arlo, she had nothing to do with the attacks.” Rowan goes on to explain the vision Melani brought her and the validity of how real it was.

  “Just because that proves her innocence doesn’t mean Shadow had no involvement,” Pepper sits down and starts rubbing her forehead. “His shadows turned her veins black and killed her. You found him standing over her dead body.”

  “Yeah but...he was in a daze. His eyes black, his body motionless. Pepper, I don’t think he meant to do it.”

  “Whether he meant to or not, she is still dead!” She shouts.

  “I know. I know,” Rowan walks over to Pepper and tries to calm her down. She grabs her hand, “It hurts and you want justice. I want justice too, but I don’t think Shadow did it on his own accord. Melani was saying their father has the power of manipulation.”

  “Why would his father want to kill Lottie? How did he even know about her?”

  “If Shadow cared for Lottie as much as Rowan says he does, then it makes sense. My father has spies all around Cirvka—mainly Blade and Knoton—they easily could have reported back seeing him with Lottie. My father has always tried to destroy everything good in our lives. He killed her to get to him,” Melani voices.

  “Even worse,” Rowan exhales, “He made him kill her.”

  “He did love Lottie,” Lola whispers while staring at her lap.

  “And the story Knot told me about what he saw, none of it made sense,” Rowan argues.

  “So he got a few details wrong. He said Shadow killed her and you saw Shadow standing over her. What difference does it make?”

  “Because, Pepper, Knot had said Shadow and Melani killed her. Melani wasn’t there, she was locked in a cell. So, he was lying!”

  Pepper is acting stubborn but it’s only because out of the four of them she ca
red the most. Lottie was like a little sister to her. Ever since she came to Cirvka they’ve done everything together. Rowan understands that she is hurt and she needs someone to blame. She tells everyone to sleep on it, think about it, because if Shadow is innocent and a victim of manipulation—then they can’t let him rot in the dungeon at the castle.

  Rowan takes Melani back to another unoccupied tent where she will watch her the rest of the night. Pepper doesn’t want to sleep in the same tent as her, so this was their best option. Before retiring for the night, she helps Melani bathe. She wishes she could feed her, after hearing her stomach rumble multiple times, but the dining hall doesn’t prepare food until breakfast.

  They starved her down in the cell, her face is hollow and her stick-like legs can barely support her when she walks. After she used her remaining energy to prove her innocence as well as allegiance, her movements have slowed. Rowan has to carry her out of the bath and help her dress.

  Rowan carries her back to their temporary tent for the night. She hopes in the morning after a good night’s rest, Pepper will come to her senses and help them plan a way to set Shadow free.

  She vowed to never be deceived again and she knows deep in her heart that Shadow—the male who slowly opened up to her and shared his secrets with—did not do it.

  The only one deceiving her is The Overseer.

  She will not be deceived. She will find out the truth and she will make all who are responsible pay.

  * * *

  Shadow doesn’t know what time it is when the guards come back and beat him up.

  After they’re done, Shadow still doesn’t know what time it is because it is always dark. He doesn’t know how much time has passed. Being down there feels like a lifetime to him.

  His ribs feel cracked, his eyes have re-swollen shut, and somewhere in his mouth is bleeding because all he can taste is copper. All he can smell is blood mixed with dirt. He didn’t have any warning of them coming. He couldn’t see them coming with the darkness and couldn’t hear due to his lack of hearing which made the attack a surprise.

  Down in the dungeon the only sense he has is touch, smell, and taste and they have never felt so useless. He’s in so much pain both mentally and physically that he wishes for death. He wishes for an execution for the crime he committed against a little girl he swore to protect.

  Shadow keeps telling himself he did it all to protect them. To protect Melani. Roe. Lola. Lottie. Everyone. He pushed himself away, he tried to stay away as much as possible but they kept pulling him toward them. Roe kept pulling him toward her. He never wanted to open so much to her. He never meant to get close and he never meant to bring her into this mess. But he did bring her into it, and he did so knowingly. The second he saved her from the Darkwraith and brought her to Cirvka he brought her into it.

  But he never meant to fall in love.

  Gods above, he is in love with her, isn’t he?

  His whole life was leading up to one thing and then Roe came along and ruined it. Ruined his future. He never cared about where he was going to be in ten to twenty years. He always knew that his life would be for his father’s use. He never cared as long as his sister was safe and unharmed. Roe made him want more, a life free to do what he wants. To have friendship and love and a path that he can choose. His father always told him which direction to go, but for once he wants to take the path he never dreamt of going down.

  Roe will never take him back. He won’t blame her either, but if he were free he could try to make things right or try and explain to her everything before it is all too late.

  Instead, he is stuck here and will probably never see her face again. Never stare into her intense red eyes, or count the freckles on her nose. He will never touch the soft silkiness of her skin or feel the touch of her lips on his.

  He lays his head against the stone wall hoping to fall asleep and dream of her.

  * * *

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Rowan knows they have to act quickly. Melani told her that Knot and Blade bring her three meals a day. Breakfast will be served and they will know that she has escaped and the first place they will look is with the four of them.

  Rowan wakes everyone up early and they steal breakfast from the dining hall. The only food that is ready is bread and jam. They stock up to replenish their energy, especially if the trek to the castle to break Shadow out will be a long one.

  Pepper declines going with them, she said she doesn’t know if she can face Shadow whether he killed Lottie intentionally or not. Solana also said she will stay back and stall if Blade or Knot came asking questions about Melani, Rowan, or Lola’s whereabouts. Lola sticks by her side believing wholeheartedly now that Shadow is innocent.

  They have one obstacle to get through first, the electric fence. Sneaking into The Overseer’s office to see if there is any sort of shut-off button will take too long, so they’ll need a faster solution.

  Madame Tallulah is sleeping in her booth when they wake her up. She rubs her eyes and blinks a few times before putting on her glasses. Her eyes meet Melani who is shyly standing at a distance, whether Madame Tallulah knows who she is or not, she doesn’t say.

  “Madame Tallulah, we need your help,” Lola asks. “Is there anyway you can take our collars off?”

  Rowan knows the answer is no, judging by the fact that Madame Tallulah is still wearing her own collar. “Better yet is there anyway to get out of Cirvka without getting shocked?”

  “Of course there is!” She laughs. “I don’t know how many times I leave this place to walk in the village and collect items from the merchant square.”

  “Can you perform the spell on us?”

  “Not a spell,” Madame Tallulah shakes her head. She turns around rummaging through her trunk until she pulls out a clear jar filled with bright blue mushrooms. “This is a very rare mushroom that temporarily changes the electrical makeup of one’s body. This mushroom acts as a resistor to electrical shock. The natural current that moves around inside the body is disrupted by the electrical shock the collar will give you—which will under normal circumstances shock and harm you. But the mushroom has the ability to freeze and close off any electrical current from entering your body for one minute exactly. The collar will only shock you if you are five-hundred feet from the gates, anything past it won’t. You should be able to make it, but you have to run.” She gives them two mushrooms each. “Take it right before you leave and before you come back.”

  “Thank you,” Rowan puts the mushrooms in her pocket.

  Without any time to waste, the three of them leave just as the sun is rising. With Cirvka shut down to the public, no one has been working the ticket booth at the front, allowing them to escape through the gates. Inches from crossing the line that separates Cirvka from the outside world, they swallow the mushroom at the same time and then run as fast as they can.

  Rowan counts the sixty seconds in her head and once the time is up, she realizes they haven’t been shocked. They must have made it past five-hundred feet. They stop to take a breath. Rowan pulls out a red ribbon she took before she left and ties it around a nearby tree. That way they know when to take the mushroom upon returning home.

  “Do you think we’re going to come back?” Lola says in a soft voice.

  A sickening thought comes across her mind, if she breaks out Shadow, Cirvka is not a place they can return to.

  “If anything, we’ll have to go back for Pepper and Solana,” Rowan answers.

  “What if they don’t want to leave?” Lola frowns.

  She didn’t want to think about not having Pepper and Solana by her side. Not after so many promises of them vowing to stick with her and helping her accomplish everything prophesied by Madame Tallulah.

  “We will deal with that when it happens,” she says, dismissing the conversation with a waving hand. “Come on.”

  They walk through the same forest where Rowan was nearly eaten by a Darkwraith. The same night she escaped the castle and her life as
Princess Rowan Greenfallow ended. Rowan hadn’t thought of leaving the place that she has considered her home since she arrived. She definitely never thought she’d ever return back to the castle.

  The forest feels eerie, as if there are creatures lurking and watching their every move. They stay close so there is no risk of being separated.

  It doesn’t take long to reach the back gate of the castle. She looks up at the large dark gray castle, she feels a slight squeeze to her heart. She hasn’t realized how much she missed the beauty of the castle and the royal grounds. She grew up here and had many memories, some good, but mostly bad. What she can’t help thinking of is that the castle was the home of her real parents. It is where her mother used to walk around with Rowan still in her womb. Where her father used to write all of his journals. Where he dreamed of starting a family.

  And where he fell.

  “I think I know a way we can easily get in.” Lola suggests, “I glamour you so you look like Princess Rowan Greenfallow and I can glamour myself and Melani into Shevka chambermaids. With my magic still not fully energized from yesterday, I can only buy us a few hours for our disguises. We will have to be quick but you know where the dungeon is right?”

  She nods her head. “Let’s hope they are actually keeping him in the dungeon or if he isn’t already—” She stops herself when Melani tenses at the thought that Arlo, The Overseer, or the royal guards have already executed him.

  Lola works the glamour over Rowan first repeating the phrase three times, “Glovka va daj ku levizja.”

  Her freckled skin disappears and is replaced with pale white skin that is unblemished. Her hair turns to glistening silver, and her eyes become as blue as the freshest water. It feels weird being back in her old skin. There was a time she felt unsure of her orange hair and red eyes, her identity felt altered, but she grew into her skin and found out things about herself that have never felt more true to her bones. She learned truths that have felt right when her entire life felt wrong. Now she stands as Shevka once again.

  “The guards are still going to want to notify my father. The whole castle will know I’m back within seconds,” Rowan starts to worry. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”