by J. M. Kearl
“You know I will,” I said. “I always do.”
“First of all, where would we get a transfiguration potion?” Taz asked, tapping his finger against his glass of purple juice. “It’s not like they’re easy to make. And the transformation only lasts an hour or two at most.”
“Second of all,” Legacy said, “You have to ask Zyacus about Aric. Don’t you think he’s heard news of him?” She wanted to know how he was doing since the whole becoming a vampire thing, but she’d been too scared to actually write him a letter herself and ask.
I shrugged. “Probably. I will ask.” I looked pointedly at Taz. “I know Professor Darvy keeps a box of potions in his classroom. Locked up in the cupboard. And I only need an hour to get off castle grounds and into the city.”
“Vis,” Legacy said, eyes widening as if she just realized something. “What if your parents ask questions I don’t know the answers to?”
I ran my fingers through my hair and ripped through some tangles. “Avoid them if you can, say you don’t feel well. But I’m confident you can pass for me for a little while. I’m hoping I’ll be back before breakfast and you won’t have to even see them.”
“Alright, I’m in.” She tossed a raspberry into her mouth.
Both of us looked to Taz. “Fine, I’ll help. But I think it’s dangerous to go by yourself. I should come.”
“I was about to ask,” I said with a smirk. “It should be safe in the capital city but one never knows. So you’ll come even if you might get into trouble?”
“When has that ever stopped me?”
∞∞∞
Within a few minutes we stood in the quiet hallway outside the row of classrooms of the academy portion of the castle. A few pairs of students walked casually up and down the way so we didn’t look completely criminal. Peeking into the small window of the classroom door, I spotted the cupboard and the vials inside the glass. “I don’t see anyone,” I said, tugging on the door handle.
We stepped inside looking around. It was indeed empty. Dashing for the cupboard I took the metal padlock between my fingers. “Check the desk for a key.”
“He’s not stupid enough to leave the key so easy to find,” Taz said but still made for the desk.
While he searched I looked at the different vials and their labels. Several healing potions, the clear color would give that away if it weren’t labeled. A pain relief potion. Something else I’d never heard of with a bright purple liquid. My eyes skimmed until I saw it. Transfiguration. Three of them.
“No key,” Taz hollered from the desk.
My pulse raced as I thought of how to get into the cupboard.
Legacy peeked over my shoulder. “We could break the glass.”
We were already thieving; what was one more offense? “Alright, back up.” I flicked my fingers and sent a gentle percussion wave, the glass shattered and the vials rattled but thankfully none broke.
“That was loud,” Taz angry-whispered, and ran for the door. Peeking out the window, he snapped his fingers. “Hurry up.”
I reached inside and wrapped my hand around the first vial and when I tried to pull back, it wouldn’t move. The vial was heavily anchored by magic. Oh of course it couldn’t be easy! When I tried to release the potion, panic rose up in my chest. No no no no. “My hand is stuck.” I pulled back with all my strength but the magic held me like an insect caught in a spider’s web.
“Stop messing around,” Legacy said, watching warily. “We need to go.”
“I’m not,” I said through clenched teeth, my mind scrambling for a way out of this. “My. Hand. Is. Stuck. Help me!”
Legacy grabbed my wrist and tugged, to no avail. “You’re serious! This can’t be happening.” She put a hand over her mouth. “It’s a protection enchantment.”
“Obviously,” I snapped.
“What, they don’t trust us?” Legacy said, grabbing my wrist again and pulling.
“With good reason,” Taz hissed. He darted over and stared at my hand glued to the potion. “Remember last year when he talked about how to undo enchantments? We just need to know which protection spell it is to undo this.”
Sweat beaded on my forehead. “Yes but how can we know what this one is?” Would they have to get help to get me out of this? Caught stealing from a professor, my parents would love that one. My father would probably force me to attend my sixth year of academy here in Delhoon as punishment.
My breath caught when the door handle jiggled. “Hide!” I screeched.
Legacy and Taz ran to the closet and I stood in the wide open, heart racing. The door opened, I silently chanted the invisibility spell willing myself unseen.
The professor walked in and his eyes immediately fell on the broken glass. “How did that happen?” he mumbled, making his way over.
I held my breath when he stood inches from me. Holy phoenix, holy phoenix!
Feet crunching on the glass, his eyes inspected the cupboard. “Huh, nothing missing.”
My lungs burned, my throat ached, I couldn’t hold much longer. I needed a breath. I needed to release the invisibility spell. Black dots floated in my vision.
“Dismantia priv,” he said, releasing the protection enchantment and reached inside, fixing a potion that had tipped over.
The hold on me vanished. I pulled back and silently moved away from him. I had to breathe again even if it revealed me.
As I sucked in a breath, the professor looked right at me. Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me. I hoped my spell held. Darvy blinked a few times then abruptly turned toward the door. “Shoot, I forgot my bag.”
I was probably the luckiest person in the world at that moment. The professor hurried out of the classroom. When the door clicked shut, I dropped to my knees and released the invisibility magic.
Taz and Legacy blasted out of the closet and lifted me up. “I can’t believe he didn’t catch you,” Legacy said with way too much excitement. “I almost had heart failure when he went straight for you.”
“You almost did? I almost did,” I said, grabbing the now freed potions.
Taz pulled the door open. “I put that thought about his bag into his head. It’s over by the desk.”
“I didn’t know you could do that,” I said as I stuffed the potions in my pocket. We ran out of there like a wild beast chased us.
The three of us crashed into my room and I slammed the door, locking it behind me. “Alright let’s hurry so it doesn’t get dark on us.”
I grabbed a bag and tossed a set of clothes in. I didn’t have anything that would make me look poor so that disguise was out but I had plain brown leather pants and a black top that would disguise me well enough. I also stuffed in a dress since that was the fashion in Hesstia.
“Cloak,” Legacy said, tossing it my way. I shoved the dark gray material in the bag.
Taz brought a spell book over and set it down on the bed in front of me. He pointed at a line of words. “All you need to do is add a couple drops of blood to the potion.”
“Ew, I have to drink your blood?” Legacy’s face scrunched up.
“It’s a couple drops and you won’t even taste it. I’ll have to drink yours.” I then grabbed Legacy by the shoulders. “If you happen to get caught, do not tell them where I am. Lie.”
Her big hazel eyes widened. “Lie to the King and Queen? And say what exactly? My father, your uncle, would murder me if he found out I lied to his brother.”
My eyes flicked to Taz. He shook his head. “I wouldn’t lie either. She gets caught, we all get caught.”
“Best just not to get caught,” I said with a smile.
With a huffy breath, Legacy said, “You owe me. Like a lot.”
I wrapped my arms around her and crushed her into me. “I know. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
I took the dagger from my boot and pricked my finger. Taz pulled the stopper and I squeezed in four drops of blood. “Better do two just in case. We have three potions.”
I squeezed more blo
od into a second vial. Taz placed them in Legacy’s hand. “Take these so we don’t mix them up.” She promptly dropped them in her pant pocket, then Legacy made a tiny slice to her palm and clenched her fist over the third potion bottle. I swirled it and watched the liquid change from yellow to burnt orange.
“What do you think it tastes like?” I asked, putting the lip of the bottle under my nose. It smelled sweet and slightly minty.
“Bitter,” Taz said, grabbing the book. “It should taste bitter but smell sweet. That’s what the spell states.”
I licked my lips and moved in front of my body length mirror. “This is going to be strange.” Legacy and I met each other’s eyes in our reflections. “Ready for me to be you?”
“Go for it.”
I downed the bottle. The bitter liquid tasted like a shot of ancient liquor and burned all the way down. “Yuck,” I said, wiping my lips with my sleeve.
I stared into the mirror and watched my hair color change first. The dark honey-colored tresses morphed into a warm brown. My eye color went from blue-green to hazel then my face and body slowly shifted. Slightly shorter, smaller hips, bigger breasts, and in a matter of moments, I became my cousin.
Openmouthed, Legacy’s eyes flicked back and forth. “Holy phoenix, you’re me.”
“I am,” I murmured, touching the full brown hair that hung to my waist. “You seriously have the best hair.”
“Woah,” Taz said, poking me in the shoulder with his finger. “I knew it would work but it’s so… uncanny. You even sound like her.”
“We have to hurry.” I grabbed my bag off the bed. “Let’s go Taz.” I turned to Legacy before opening my door. “Oh, you know you can call up a pixie to bring you something to eat. Or send Sir Gideon for you. I’m sure he’ll laugh about this. Just make sure he keeps his blathering mouth shut.”
“I got it, Vis. Go, you don’t have time to linger.”
Only a few paces into the hallway and Bindy came out of her bedroom. Play it cool, I thought.
“Hello, Taz, Legacy. What are you two up to?” she asked, tucking a stray piece of her dark hair into her bun.
“Not too much,” Taz said, shrugging.
“We were just visiting Visteal.” It felt strange to say I was visiting myself.
“Isn’t that her bag?” Bindy asked, pointing to the black leather hanging at my hip. “And her sword?”
I gritted my teeth together. Ever the watchful eye. “She’s letting me borrow some clothes and—uh, I took the sword—”
“We’re playing a game,” Taz said quickly. “We take something of each other’s and have to figure out what it is. If we don’t figure it out by morning the next day, then we have to do something like—eat a spicy pepper.”
“Huh, interesting game,” Bindy said then glanced down the hall. “Is she still pouting?”
Pouting?! I’m not pouting.
Bindy chuckled. “Oh the poor girl and that prince. I feel sorry for them.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Yep, still pouting,” Taz said and grinned at me. “She said she wasn’t feeling well and going to sleep early.”
“What she needs to do is go outside. Keep busy so she stops obsessing over Zyacus.” Bindy placed a hand on her hip. “I’ll get her up and you two should go riding with her or something. The sun won’t set for hours.”
Ugh, of course she’d pick today to want to get me out and busy. She hadn’t cared about keeping me busy yesterday. I tapped my foot. “She really isn’t feeling well, but we’ll make her go out tomorrow.”
Bindy gave me a long look. “Alright,” she said. “I’ll see you kids later.”
I watched and made sure she didn’t head for my room before Taz and I hurried down the stairs.
“That was close,” Taz mumbled when we reached the ground floor.
“Seriously. I didn’t even think about switching swords with Legacy.”
We hurried down the outer front steps. Every few moments Taz’s eyes drifted toward me. “Ugh, it’s just so strange looking at Legacy but talking to you. Especially when you know how much I liked her before I got with Freya.”
I gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “Well, get over it. We need to get some horses.”
∞∞∞
When we arrived at the stables a couple barn boys stopped talking and turned their attention to us. “Legacy,” one boy said, sounding surprised and excited. “What can we do for you?”
I had a feeling Legacy was supposed to know who he was but I didn’t. I thought I knew all of her friends. “We need two horses and we’ll be back tomorrow.”
The dark-haired boy’s eyes drifted to Taz, gave a glare then he smiled at me. Not just any smile either, an I-want-you-smile. Oh no, he likes her and I don’t even know who he is.
“We’ll saddle them up for you. Give us a couple minutes.”
As promised, shortly after they came from within the barn leading two horses. “So Legacy,” the same boy said. “When can we meet up again?”
I peeked over at Taz who stepped into the horse’s stirrup, seemingly oblivious.
I patted my horse’s neck and grabbed the saddle horn. “Uh, maybe soon. I have some things I need to do.”
He didn’t look at all dejected; if anything my secrecy intrigued him. “I see that. Where are you going?”
Was Legacy seriously seeing this boy and hadn’t told me? Had she moved on from Aric? I couldn’t remember ever seeing him before, but tall, well built, and attractive, he was her type. His barn boy status was the only thing out of place since she usually pined after boys with wealth and a known family name, and if I had to guess, he didn’t have either. Not that he couldn’t earn it within the academy, however.
“I’m going home to see my parents.” I put a foot in the stirrup and threw my leg over. They lived nearby, the excuse should work.
He then rested one hand on my thigh and the other on my palomino’s golden neck. “I thought you weren’t going home for the break.”
I pursed my lips, getting annoyed. I needed to get out of here before this potion wore off. “I changed my mind. And I’m running late.”
He drew his hands back like I’d slapped them. “Alright, uh, see you when you get back.”
I softened my face and forced a smile. Clearly Legacy had something going with him and I didn’t want to mess it up. “It’s only a day. Don’t miss me too much.”
He grinned and the other barn boy put a hand on his shoulder. “Taron has it bad for you, Legacy. He can’t help but miss you.”
Taron shrugged his friend’s hand off and just smiled.
I winked and gently kicked my horse’s sides and the mare strode forward. If I’d stayed any longer he would have known something was off.
We rode across the white bridge from the palace grounds over the canyon to the city of Delmar. At the end, two sets of guards waved at us as we passed through the gate. A grassy clearing separated the bridge and the city. We came upon the first houses. A woman standing on her front porch shook out a dusty rug. Children chased each other from house to house. When we got deep into the city the streets teemed with people. Bartering, showing of magic tricks, drinking and eating at tables in the warm sunshine. A little girl with black curls looked up at me and waved.
We came to the main street where the library was located and had to dismount. With so many people crossing and standing in the cobblestone path it was easier to lead the horses. I didn’t mind walking anyway. A soft breeze brought the aroma of roasting meat and my mouth watered even though I wasn’t hungry. It smelled divine.
“Stay close,” Taz said, bumping shoulders with me. He’d been with me a couple of the times I got mobbed by the people. But right now I didn’t look like the Princess; at least I hoped the potion still held.
A pair of guards, one that I recognized, stared me down and whistled. “Such beautiful women today,” one remarked as we passed. “Care to have a drink with us?” I knew I still looked like Legacy because
the one with blond hair and tattoos would have recognized me as the princess if not. He knew my father well.
Taz didn’t react to them, though I half expected him to gut punch the guard. Instead Taz trudged ahead and I followed closely.
A haggard old woman beckoned us with her knobby hands. “Come. Come young man, let me tell you your future.”
The old woman looked like she was about on her deathbed. Even without my curse, I could tell her her future. A grave.
Off to the left, the library, with white brick and a gold dome, rose high above the other buildings. My stomach twisted at the thought of being in Hesstia in only a few minutes. I hadn’t been in years and when I had I was with my family. I’d only ever been on castle grounds and I had no idea the distance between the castle and library there.
We could easily find the direction but what would I say to Zyacus? He’d be shocked to see me. What if he really didn’t want me anymore? I would only be embarrassing myself going there. I almost didn’t want to find out the closer I got to actually talking to him. Two weeks didn’t seem like a long time but when I waited for a reply, for answers, it felt like years.
Once we reached the path to the library, the busyness calmed to a serene, peaceful area. No crowds, no running children or shopkeepers calling. Arriving at the front, a valet man took the horses for us. I tossed him a gold coin and he grinned. “Wow, thank you, Lady.”
“You’re welcome,” I said and turned to Taz. “Shall we?”
“I’m ready.” We made our way through the high wooden front doors. The white marble floor shined like glass. Massive front windows showered the room in daylight and the foliage along the walls gave the place life.
“The portal is this way,” I said, nudging Taz’s arm who appeared to be lost in the delightful scenery.
We hurried down a long hallway where, at the end, the white archway holding the portal glowed. Two women in black uniforms stood guard. With their hair in tight braids and faces hard as stone, they didn’t look accommodating.
When we approached, the brown-skinned woman with sleek black hair stepped forward, “What may I do for you?”
“We need to use the portal,” I answered.