Curse of Blood and Shadow

by J. M. Kearl

  “I hope something didn’t follow us here from Collweya.”

  They stopped right in front of us and I could already feel the spell taxing my energy; a bead of sweat even slipped down the side of my face. If only magic didn’t cost physical energy, how much more powerful we’d be.

  “You don’t think…” one held a hand to her mouth.

  “Only time will tell. But for now, let’s not speak of it. We don’t want to worry anyone. It probably was a wolf.”

  Thankfully Madison called to the two women and waved them over. Her eyes fell on Legacy and me, as if she knew we were there. I’d bet my crown that she did, though I have no idea how unless she’d seen this part in her vision, too.

  When they were out of the hall, I released the spell that slowly drained my strength and power, and both Legacy and I became fully visible once again, bent over with our hands on our knees. My legs could give out on me at any moment and my arms shook just holding my upper body weight. After a few deep breaths, I grabbed Legacy’s arm and trudged back toward our room.

  I threw the door open, and there sat Atticus on my bed, balled up, asleep! A pair of socks peeked out of my partially open drawer and I launched them. Making contact, his head shot up and wide-eyed, he looked between Legacy and me.

  “Where were you?” I snapped. “You were supposed to be the lookout.”

  Getting onto all four paws, he arched his back and took his time stretching. I rolled my eyes and looked to Legacy.

  Legacy folded her arms. “We almost got caught.”

  “Well,” he said with a big yawn. “If you almost got caught, then you did not actually get caught, so I do not see why you felt it necessary to throw socks at my head whilst I slept.”

  I stomped over and snatched him by the scruff. He stiffened and tucked his tail. “Listen here, cat, if you are going to be our feline guardian, the guardian of the Princess of Delhoon and her family, you better not abandon us in our time of need.” I released him then felt bad and petted his head. “Sorry for, you know, grabbing you like that. But I need you to know this is serious. Maybe this time it wasn’t a big issue but next time it could be. There is something dangerous—” no, that wasn’t the right word, there were a lot of dangerous people and things here, “something savage and murderous on the grounds and you need to be alert.”

  “Murderous?” His usually half-closed, lazy eyes became wide. Lifting his chin, he said, “My apologies, Princess. I will be a better guardian from this moment forward. I certainly did not expect any perilous problems to arise on the first day. Did someone die?”

  “A horse but others could be in danger.” Finnick. Finnick is in danger.

  “I will check with the other cats about any rumors.”

  “Thank you,” I said and sat down as he made for the door.

  I laid down on my side to face Legacy who was fluffing her pillow. “What sort of creature do you think those professors from Collweya were talking about?”

  Legacy shrugged. “Obviously it wasn’t a dragon but who knows what other things are from that place.”

  “I know who we could ask.”

  Legacy looked over her shoulder at me. “A certain prince from the North?” She grew a huge smile. “Will you introduce me to him? If he’s not already seeing someone, I’m going for it.”

  I laughed. “Didn’t you already meet him?”

  “No,” Legacy said sitting on her bed. “Both times you spoke with him I was talking to someone else.”

  I could already see a relationship happening between them. Legacy was fun, witty, and a great person, and by the number of boys who’d expressed interest in her, gorgeous. She really had an incredibly beautiful face and amazingly thick, silky hair. “Of course I’ll introduce you.”

  Hours passed before a candle on my bedside table lit and a piece of paper conjured from the flames and floated in the air, waiting to be plucked. Communication through magic. Legacy grabbed the half folded paper and opened it. “It says we may leave our room and go to the dining hall for supper. Signed by Madison.”

  I hopped to my feet. “Good, I’m starving.”

  Chapter 7

  When I opened the door, Bindy, my attendant stood on the other side with one fist in the air like she was about to knock and the other hand held a rather delicious looking cupcake. The dollop of chocolate frosting made my mouth water. “Bindy,” I said in surprise. I knew she was coming but with all the commotion I’d almost forgotten.

  “Hello, Visteal. Apologies for being late.” Her brown eyes assessed me from head to toe, probably making sure I hadn’t been hurt in any way. She must have heard about the thing creeping around our grounds. “I’ll escort you and Legacy to the dining hall.”

  When we began to descend the stairs I heard doors opening and the chatter of girls from behind us. The other students must have just gotten their notes of permission.

  “I’ve only just arrived but I heard about the horse,” Bindy said. “I want you two to be very careful. Don’t wander about by yourselves and always carry your weapons.”

  I cracked a smile, I didn’t leave my room without at least three items I could kill a person with.

  Legacy took a dagger from her belt and flipped it in the air. “Never go anywhere without it.”

  Bindy looked at me. “Your parents left to meet with leaders from Nordia or they’d no doubt be here. There was an attack on our southern border by a group of Nordian rebels—”

  “We were attacked?” I blurted out.

  “No Delhoon died,” Bindy said. “It was one of those rabbel groups who won’t do any real damage. The so-called leaders the King and Queen are meeting with only want to stop us from obliterating them one village at a time. Considering this is the third time this has happened in a month.”

  I clenched my hands into fists. “If I was queen we’d already have a battalion down there putting an end to this. Mother is too lenient.”

  Bindy clicked her tongue. “Your mother is a wise leader who knows much more about war than you do. Wars cost precious lives.”

  “We probably wouldn’t even lose any of our soldiers. They aren’t organized or trained fighters,” I argued. Even if I didn’t know as much about war as my mother, I knew we could destroy Nordia if we wanted to.

  “We would lose some but they would lose many and just because they aren’t Delhoon doesn’t mean their lives are worthless. We are ready for war should it be necessary but we never seek it out. You know this.”

  I wanted to argue, when would it be necessary? But I let it go. It’s not as if me making a point with Bindy would make any sort of difference.

  Once we arrived at our table in the dining hall I looked around for Aric. Matters within my own academy walls were more important than things happening outside. But after looking for several minutes, I didn’t see him.

  When everyone was eating dessert, Headmaster Jace stood at the podium. “Some of you may have heard the reason for the lockdown was an animal attack on a horse. I want to assure you we will do everything we can to ensure your safety here. You should not be afraid but do be on your guard. Don’t leave your dorm after curfew which is ten o’clock. You have bathing rooms, a common area and food there also, so there is no reason to leave your kingdom’s dormitories after this time.”

  I hadn’t seen the common room for the Delhoon girls’ dorms yet. Something I’d have to explore after this meeting. I glanced across the room at Zyacus who looked to be flirting with a girl sitting next to him. The way she stared into his eyes and touched his shoulder—irritated me. It shouldn’t, considering I hated the bastard but a spark of anger burned inside me, nonetheless. I pushed that feeling away.

  I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to sneak off to the lake to watch Zyacus fulfill his losing end of our bet. After what happened, it could be dangerous and Bindy would have her eye on me. And after all the pranks he’d pulled on me in the past, he might find a way to push me in or who knows what else and I didn’t feel like freezing
to death.

  As if sensing my change of mind I felt his stare from across the room. I didn’t even know how I knew it was him but when my eyes slid to his face, he was indeed staring. He mouthed the word “Midnight”.

  I shook my head. He can call me a coward but I was already on two weeks of dish duty and I needed to find out what was going to kill Finnick and perhaps more of us before I went traipsing about at night. One thing I couldn’t see was my own death.

  He shrugged and then went back to flirting.

  I tuned back into what our headmaster was saying, “Classes begin at seven. When you’re finished eating, you may explore the academy, but stay inside for tonight. Again, be back to your kingdom’s dormitories by ten. If students are caught outside there will be consequences.”

  Headmaster Jace stepped down from the podium and chatter amongst the students grew.

  Taz nudged my arm. “Madison is waving at us. I think we’re being summoned for dish duty.”

  I groaned and stood from the bench. Legacy and Taz walked beside me and we made our way over to my grandmother.

  “This way.” She pushed a swinging door open and we were led down a set of stairs into the kitchen. It looked almost identical to the one at home and had the same mound of dishes that was growing. The plates were spelled to appear down here when the person was finished eating. A couple of older women looked relieved when we stepped into the room. We were about to take over their job.

  “If it were up to me,” Madison said. “You wouldn’t be doing dishes. This is a new place and you should have started with a clean record. But fortunately for you, I’ll allow the use of magic. You have some help as well. There are a few other students who apparently aren’t good at following rules either and should be arriving soon.”

  I smiled at my grandmother. Just allowing us to use magic would make this go by so much faster. “Thank you,” we three said.

  Madison flipped her golden hair over her shoulder and made for the exit. With her hand hesitating on the door, she said, “When you’ve finished, the time is yours to do what you’d like until curfew.” Then she was gone.

  The two kitchen workers made their way to the exit. “Have fun,” one said.

  “Madison is so great,” Legacy said and enchanted three sponges to start scrubbing. They dipped into the water and in circular motions scrubbed the floating plates, poised above the sinks.

  “Definitely.” With a flick of my wrist and the spell in my mind, my magic wafted from me and those scrubbed plates dipped into the hot water and floated to a drying rack. This magic took minimal energy, about as much as doing it manually.

  Taz started on a different stack of dishes and then the door swung open. Leaning my back against the countertop, I turned, and in walked Aric with two students from Hesstia I didn’t recognize. To say I was surprised was an understatement. Out of the two princes, I’d expect Zyacus to be on dish duty not Aric. He seemed more on the straight and narrow but then again, I didn’t know him really at all.

  The professor who brought them in looked at us, then to the dishes being cleaned on their own then back to his group of students. “Just make sure everything gets cleaned.” And he was out.

  Aric made his way over. “Already in trouble?”

  “It was a previous offense,” I said with a shrug. I didn’t want to go into details about torturing professors with snakes. “You?”

  “Same,” he said but didn’t offer any more details.

  I gestured to my two partners in crime. “This is my cousin Legacy and our friend Taz.”

  Legacy’s smile brightened the room and Aric looked as smitten as any other boy she directed it at. “It’s great to meet you, Prince Aric.”

  With an awkward wave, Taz said, “Hello.”

  The other two Hesstian students, two boys hung back for a moment but then they grabbed sponges and started scrubbing in a different washtub. I wondered if they were illcasts, no magic ability. Or perhaps they were unsure how to enchant the items to do the work for them. I didn’t know how to ask without possibly offending them so I turned back to observing my own task, making sure nothing was amiss.

  “Should I help you Taz?” Aric asked. “The girls seem to have theirs under control.”

  Grinning, he nodded. “Sure.”

  There were five wash tubs and soon we had the pile of dishes dwindling. Even the Hesstian students started talking with us. They were illcasts it turned out but they didn’t seem to mind washing by hand, since we did most of the work.

  Legacy and Aric chatted like two old friends, then he playfully tossed a handful of water at her and it hit her in the face. At first she was stunned, wide-eyed and silent. Then with a wave of her hand a bucket zoomed across the room and dumped soapy water over his head. I darted to the door to avoid the water fight but Taz flung a cup full at me and soon all of us were soaked.

  “What in the name of Delhoon is going on!” A man’s voice boomed and all of us froze. I knew who it was before I turned and dread crept into my body.

  Professor Deg with his very full, serious mustache, looked at each of us pointedly. When he stepped further in his arms swung wildly in circles, he slipped on the bubbles and crashed onto his behind.

  I swallowed hard with the long pause that followed his fall. Aric splashed over and held out his hand to the professor. Maybe that was why Professor Deg hated our little trio so much, I never even thought to help him up.

  Deg grabbed Aric’s hand and the prince lifted him to his feet. “Apologies, Sir. We never meant for water to get on the floor like this or for anyone to get hurt.”

  Deg snatched his fallen spectacles off the floor and wiped them on his robe. “Get this place cleaned up. No magic! I want this floor dry as a weathered bone.” Then he stormed out, stomping his feet on the way.

  I grabbed a mop and tossed it to Taz, he caught the handle mid-air, and cleaning up the floor was added to dish duty which was nearly done. I enchanted my broomstick, disregarding Deg’s order. Madison said we could use magic, and she was my Kingdom Leader.

  I watched Aric roll up his sleeves before he took hold of a broom, and the skull mark on his wrist caught my eye again. I’d wanted to ask Aric about what creatures from the north could rip into the horse like that but with the two Hesstian kids there I kept quiet. Now I had two questions for him.

  My curiosity getting the best of me, I looked to the dark-haired boy with the blue uniform. He’d said his name, as did the other, but I’d already forgotten. “Why don’t you two go? We’ll finish up since we started the water fight.”

  If I had to guess, they were eager to get out of there. They didn’t ask any questions, said their “Thank you’s” and left.

  I elbowed Legacy who was towel drying her hair. “Let’s ask him about what we overheard today.”

  She nodded and set her towel down. “Aric,” she said, getting his attention. He’d been talking with Taz and they both looked our way.

  “What creature from Collweya could kill that horse and be undetected.”

  Aric’s already pale complexion seemed to lose more color. “What do you mean?”

  Legacy’s eyes flicked to me, apparently wanting me to take it from there. Of course she would, she wanted to be the fun one, not questioning him about things he clearly didn’t want to answer.

  I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “We overheard some of your professors.”

  Clearing his throat, he seemed to gain back his composure, and leaned against the mop stick. “Well, there are a lot of things that could mutilate an animal up there. Stuff of nightmares lurking about in the cold and darkness.”

  A chill ran down my body and goosebumps erupted on my flesh.

  “But I doubt any of them would acclimate to this place or ever make it this far. It’s too hot and the sun shines far too much. Not that I’m complaining.”

  Relief washed over me. All this worry and speculation and it probably was just a wolf or wild animal that could be easily dealt with.


  “Good to know. I’m sure this incident will be over with and forgotten soon.” But as the words left my mouth they tasted like a lie.

  When the place was cleaned and dry, we left and walked in a group with no destination in mind. Legacy and Aric chatted like Taz and I weren’t even there. It was like they were already a couple. I then knew what it felt like to be Taz when Legacy and I talked about boys we liked. I felt like I didn’t belong.

  I grabbed Taz’s arm and stopped. “You two go on ahead, Taz and I are going to check out the library.” I could see he was dying inside anyway watching those two.

  “Oh,” Aric said as if remembering we were there. “We can go to the library with you.”

  I waved my hand and shook my head. “You two should get to know each other better. We planned on going anyway.” I looked over at Taz and he nodded.

  “Alright, see you tomorrow.”

  When they were out of earshot, Taz said, “Thank you. I felt so awkward.”

  “Tell me about it,” I said and chuckled.

  Since we had some time I wanted to find where my classes were. I hated that everything was unfamiliar and I didn’t know where I needed to be in the morning. Taz pulled out his class schedule and we both laughed seeing we had Professor Deg together again.

  “Let’s find his classroom first,” I said. “You know how he is if someone is late. Especially us.”

  Before we even got three steps I heard, “Hey freckles,” from behind me.

  Why the nickname made my skin burn with anger, I didn’t know. I absolutely hated that he called me freckles, and I had like five on my face anyway so he was stupid for saying it.

  Taz’s face scrunched up as we both turned.

  Zyacus approached with his two henchmen, Skinny and Unibrow, I’d silently decided to call them. Given the gangly arms nature of one and the caterpillar-like black brow that didn’t seem to end, of the other, it was fitting. “You’re bailing out on our bet?”

  “Considering I won, I don’t care to witness you jumping in the lake all that much. It’s satisfying enough to know I’m a better shot than you.” Unibrow let out a puff of air from his puffy cheeks like it was a joke. I hoped we were in Advanced Swords together so I could give him a good wallop. “Unless you want to finish two weeks of dish duty for me.”