Curse of Blood and Shadow

by J. M. Kearl

  I’d never seen either of them fight so I had no idea of their skill level but I’d find out in a moment.

  Logan swung his sword first, I blocked it and Mia threw a kick at me, my shield was instantly up and the blow bounced off. They were only testing me, looking for a weakness. Both swung their swords, I flipped backward out of harm’s way with a little magic assist. They charged, throwing spells and punches. I put up my shield, the one my father taught me would absorb magic, giving me more strength.

  Both of them paused, I was one of very few people that knew how to absorb magical attacks. “You have to teach me that,” Logan said and then swung at me.

  Clash, ping, pang our swords hit over and over, “It’s a secret,” I said grunting as I pushed my sword against his.

  Mia kicked my legs and I went down but into a back roll and barely got out of the way of a sword planted on the frost-covered grass. From a crouched position, chanting the spell in my mind, I let loose the sunlight magic and both of them shielded their eyes, turning away. Whispering a speed spell, Crack I busted Mia in the gut with the hilt of my sword and she doubled over coughing then crashed to the ground. I went to hit her again and she held up a hand, forfeiting. So I turned to Logan. With the magic still coursing through me, I moved at three times my normal speed but Logan did the same as our weapons hit over and over. I caught him on the shoulder and he winced, then the temple and he stumbled, blood spilling down his cheek from a fresh cut and he raised a hand. “I’m out,” he said.

  When I thought I’d won, I was smacked in the side so hard my rib cracked and I fell, my breath whooshing from my lungs. Mia came back after I thought she’d surrendered. I tried to breathe in it and hurt so much I whimpered. My side screamed in agony, I tried to get up but my body couldn’t, and a boot collided in my gut. I rolled over coughing, and curled up in the fetal position, tears stinging my eyes.

  I struggled to my hands and knees and held up a hand, I was done. Through blurry vision, I tried to see Papa or Professor Tessam who should have called this match. Pain exploded in my cheek as Mia’s fist hit and I collapsed again. But this time I rolled over and an angry, painful cry ripped from me. Within my grasp, I grabbed her hair, wrenching her down on the ground beside me before she could punch me again.

  “Stay away from our prince, you little bitch,” Mia gritted out trying to get on top of me to wrap her hands around my neck.

  Grabbing her hands, I roared, threw my forehead into her nose; blood leaked out like a faucet. Screaming, she grabbed her face and began to rise up, I heel kicked her in the chin before she moved out of reach then my magic burst from me, throwing her at least twenty feet.

  Papa dashed over and stooped down beside me. I curled back up, holding my broken rib. Although I was still heated from the fight, it hurt to move.

  “Do you need to go to the infirmary?” he asked gently. “Or I think Tessam has a healing potion or two on hand. I’ll get one.”

  Slamming my eyes shut, I nodded trying to hold back tears. The pain was really setting in now. The kick to my gut after she’d broken my rib with her sword, did me in.

  “Mia kept going even after she conceded, sir,” Logan said and I heard their footsteps leaving.

  Papa let out a low grumble. “I’ll talk with her.”

  While silent tears slid down my cheeks, a hand pulled mine away from my ribs and a penetrating warm trickle pulsed into my side. The pain started to ease, and within moments I could take in a deeper breath. I opened an eye, Zyacus knelt beside me, hands over my injury. “I saw what happened, I was still defending myself in the match so I couldn’t come over to intervene. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. This is what this academy is about, broken ribs and bloody noses.” I was just grateful the searing pain had subsided to a dull ache. Less than a minute later I could sit up. I stared over at Mia who was being talked to by Professor Tessam and Papa, sipping on a potion. “I didn’t know Jennika wouldn’t be the only girl from Hesstia who wanted to kick my ass for dating you.”

  “What do you mean?” Lightly touching my cheek, he pursed his lips and healed that too. I was only mildly sore when the healing spell finished. Sometimes I wished I had a magic stone. It was limited in ways I wasn’t but it also didn’t drain physical energy.

  “She told me to stay away from you and called me a little bitch.” I got to my feet and decided this wasn’t over. I marched past Zyacus and before either Papa or Tessam could stop me, I threw a hard right hand into Mia’s barely healed nose. She dropped like a sack of potatoes. “I’m ready for a one on one match whenever you are.”

  Jerking me away, Papa said, “That is enough!” Holding firmly to my upper arm, he pulled me toward the academy.

  Zyacus fell into step beside us. “If I may, sir, Mia deserved that.”

  Papa’s stern face cracked a smile and he shook his head. “She may have but you can’t do that, Visteal.”

  “I was doing what Bindy told me to,” I said nonchalantly. “Teaching people to respect the Princess of Delhoon.”

  Chapter 29

  Papa said there had to be a consequence for what I did even if he thought I was justified. So he sent me to do dishes after my next classes, while everyone ate lunch. One would think a princess would be above this but no. My family said it would teach me humility and I’d be a better ruler for it. I didn’t correlate dish duty with ruling a kingdom but what did I know? As I dunked my hands into sudsy water, I heard the door swing open.

  “Hello, beautiful.” I smiled recognizing Zyacus’s voice. He leaned his back against the washtub beside me. “Want some help?”

  Picking up a dish and scrubbing it, I chuckled. “I thought you didn’t do servant work.”

  “I don’t,” he said, lips curling. “But for you, I will.”

  I blushed. As much as I loved this attention from him, I wasn’t accustomed to a boy—a very beautiful and charming boy—openly wanting me. “You could use some humility anyway.”

  He laughed and I realized how much I loved that sound. He took the dish from my hand and dunked it into the hot clean water. After he set it in the drying rack, he said, “Alright now let’s get some magic going so I don’t have to do that again.”

  “Spoiled little prince,” I said but we both waved our hands and set the dishes in motion. A bristled brush dunked into the soapy water and in a swirling motion, scrubbed a plate. Other dishes floated over garbage cans, dumping uneaten food then stacked beside the washtub. Soon a line of dishes floated, dunking, scrubbing, rinsing, drying.

  “I’m going to have a talk with Mia,” he said, folding his arms.

  Shaking my head, I sighed. “Please don’t. I can handle my own problems. She’ll see it as weakness, all of them will if you step in every time.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “If that’s your wish.” He didn’t seem happy about it but I was.

  “Thank you.” I hopped onto a dry countertop and sat, kicking my dangling feet slowly. “So how am I going to tell Connor I’m not going with him to winter formal now? After I already said ‘yes’.”

  “I can tell him. We can start the championship tournament early,” he said and winked.

  I’d forgotten they would face off in the arena soon. That bout might be more intense than usual.

  “But I’m sure he has an idea since everyone saw us together this morning,” he said. “I would be surprised if he doesn’t approach you.”

  My eyes drifted toward the door where outside everyone ate lunch. “I kind of want to send him a note, but that seems like a coward’s move.”

  “Just wait,” Zyacus said. “He’ll find you. I don’t know why you’re worried about this. You’re a princess, aren’t you used to telling people what to do and what you’ll be doing? You don’t even need to explain yourself.”

  No. I don’t typically give people orders. Only when necessary. “About some things.”

  He chuckled like this situation was hilarious. “This will be good practice then.”
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  There wasn’t enough time to finish dishes before we had to get to our next class so the people who actually worked here took over. With a quick wave Zyacus darted off and I turned the opposite direction. When I rounded the corner, Connor and his friends stood gathered.

  Lifting my chin and straightening my shoulders, I said, “Connor, I need to speak with you.”

  His friends quieted and left us alone. Connor scratched at his chin and shuffled to me. “You’re going to winter formal with Prince Zyacus, aren’t you?” He quickly added, “Your highness.”

  I nodded. “Yes but thank you for the invitation.”

  “I am not trying to undermine you but are you sure that’s a good decision? It will send a message to both kingdoms and I don’t think either is ready for it.”

  Where did the bumbling buffoon go? Of course I’d thought about it a million times. And I was willing to take the scrutiny. “What is best for the kingdom and me, is not for you to decide.”

  He bowed and I hurried to class. I was the last person to arrive in War Strategy and Legacy waved me over. I stopped by her table, “Where were you at lunch?”

  “Dish duty,” I frowned. “I’ll tell you later.” Without our choice of seats in this class, we sat on opposite sides of the room.

  The professor handed out an animated map that would simulate a battle. Upon closer look, I realized it was our academy.

  Walking down the middle aisle, he said, “I want you to defend the academy against invaders. Where would you place guards? How many would you need?”

  I raised my hand. “Do we know how large the opposing force is?”

  “Great question.” A snap of his fingers and a force of probably two hundred was gathered on the edge of the map in squared groups of about thirty.

  A boy named Owen raised his hand. “Will students fight or soldiers?”

  “It’s your simulation so it’s up to you. The ages of students matter and will affect the outcome in casualties. You have the use of fully-trained soldiers so ask yourself if it would be necessary to use students in battle.”

  “No,” he said, confidently.

  “But,” Professor Kyndel said. “This is a surprise attack. How many soldiers usually guard the academy? How long would it take to get more forces here?”

  Legacy’s hand shot up. He pointed at her, and she said, “Queen Daelyn could have her personal guard of two hundred here in thirty minutes with a portal.”

  “Perhaps,” Professor Kyndel said, pausing at the front of the room. “But that would leave the Delhoon castle undefended and not all are on duty at once so it would take longer than thirty minutes.”

  Only about eighty were on duty at one time and it would take probably an hour to get the others to the castle. “So Queen Daelyn brings half her guard on duty of forty, she alone is a force,” I blurted out. “Currently we have a hundred guards here, rotating shifts.” I looked at the Professor for approval and he nodded for me to keep going. “The number has gone up recently. That leaves us with a hundred and forty-two if both my parents fight. Also we would notice an army of that size before it got here so there would be time.”

  “For the purposes of this lesson, let’s say we don’t notice them coming until we can see them on the horizon.” He placed his hands behind his back. “Which leaves you with a hundred soldiers for the first initial clash.”

  A boy from Collweya said, “There are nearly a thousand students here. We have a much bigger army than you’re saying.”

  “Students would fight only if necessary,” another girl argued.

  The discussion went on and on until the end of class. “We’ll have to finish this lesson tomorrow,” the professor said when his bird started chirping. “But none of you asked a very important question. Who is the enemy?”

  Those words echoed in my head. Who is the enemy? He was preparing us for an attack of vampires; I knew it. With the shift in lessons, they believed it was a real possibility. But if it was blood drinkers attacking, they wouldn’t get into formation like that, I would bet they’d come from all directions and I hoped there weren’t two hundred of them.

  ∞∞∞

  After classes ended I went to my room to freshen up and a note conjured from my bedside candle. It read:

  Meet me by the lake at 6 p.m. I have a surprise for you.

  ~Zyacus

  A nervous-excited flutter buzzed through me. I checked the time. I still had a couple hours. Waiting for this surprise would seem so much longer than a few hours if I sat in my room. After fixing my hair and changing into a clean uniform, I found Lora and Legacy in the common area. So the three of us played cards. I glanced at the pair of dragons in my hand and wondered if they’d be enough to win. Confident, I tossed a joy enchanted cookie I had stashed into the betting pile.

  “Hmm, I’ll match that with a memory lollipop,” Lora said. This particular candy made it easier to remember things. Great for when a test was near.

  Legacy shook her head and set her cards down. “I fold.”

  “Ok, Princess, let’s see what you have,” Lora said and laid her cards out. Triple kings.

  Damn. I showed mine and Lora laughed. “I win!”

  “I’m going to have to find other things to bargain with,” I said, pushing over the pile of goods to Lora. After losing a few games I was running low on sweets and small trinkets.

  “So, how is it kissing Zyacus?” Lora asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

  My cheeks flushed and I tried to hide my smile but couldn’t. “It’s—great,” I said, feeling awkward elaborating further.

  “What do your parents think about it?” Lora asked.

  I tapped my fingers on the table. I hadn’t talked to either one of them about it. “I’m nervous to find out.”

  Legacy’s eyes widened. “You haven’t told them? Vis, it’s not like you’re smooching some no-name or a Delhoon boy. This is the Prince of Hesstia.”

  “I know,” I mumbled.

  “I thought you would have cleared it with them. You can’t simply date whoever you want. You’re the prin-”

  “Trust me,” I said. “I’ve thought about it. I’ll talk to them.” Thankfully it was time for me to go. “I’ll see you two later.”

  “Have fun,” Lora said. Legacy smiled too but she still looked worried. I walked by several students outside who waved at me, some bowed, a group of Hesstian girls glowered. I pretended I didn’t notice their hateful faces.

  Before the lake came into view, I saw a gathering of maybe fifteen students pointing at something. I followed the direction of their attention and among the trees laid a dragon. Blue scales shimmered in the sunlight, his massive head rested on long black claws. If he stood he’d be taller than the trees. My father’s dragon Cobalt was also blue but a different, darker shade and this one had a spiked tail where Father’s did not. Dragons were typically loyal to one person, and they loved strength and magic. They’re the guardians of the magic stones in the North, and the wild ones would tear a human apart without hesitation. I’d seen this dragon before, Magnus. He belonged to Ekarius, one of the princes of Collweya, the man Aric called Father.

  Zyacus stood nearby with his uncle. They both turned toward me at the same time and Zyacus beamed. My nails dug into my palms from nerves. I didn’t know how Ekarius would feel about his nephew and me. Although he married Kyria, the former queen of Delhoon so he of all people should be accepting.

  Ekarius bowed his head when I approached, and I did the same. A sign of respect for a fellow royal. “Hello, Princess Visteal.”

  “Good evening, Prince Ekarius.” I never realized how much Zyacus resembled him until they stood next to one another. Both had those same winter-blue eyes, near-black hair, light skin, though Zyacus’s had more of a golden tone from the sun. Queen Saveena, Prince Ekarius, all the siblings from the North had this coloring. All of Zyacus’s siblings did too and yet Aric did not. I wondered if Ekarius suspected the truth.

  Zyacus took my hand and tugged me clos
er to him. “Ready to fly?” he asked.

  My eyes drifted to Magnus who lifted his head at the words. I’d only ever ridden Cobalt with my father, and riding a different dragon could be dangerous. Standing beside the creature felt like standing by a mountain.

  “Do not worry, young princess. I will not let you fall,” Magnus’s voice said inside my mind.

  “I’ve ridden Magnus countless times,” Zyacus said, looking into my worried eyes. “I would never put you in danger.”

  I nodded. I trusted him. “Let’s do it.”

  Ekarius smiled and patted Zyacus on the back. “Have her back by dark, eh?” Then he winked at me and vanished.

  Wrapping his arms around me, Zyacus spelled us to the dragon’s back in an instant and a wave of anxiety hit me looking over at the tops of the trees. I gripped the saddle and took a deep breath. Wrapping his arms around my waist, the prince whispered in my ear, “Hold on.”

  Massive wings spread and with a giant leap, we took to the sky. Wind whipped my hair and I giggled at the pure elation that filled my belly. I missed flying. I peeked over the side and watched the academy become small. The air grew colder the higher we rose. When I shivered, Zyacus whispered something and an invisible force blocked most of the harsh wind and warmed all around us. I closed my eyes, let go of the saddle, and held my arms out as if they were wings and I flew on my own.

  Resting his chin on my shoulder, he said, “Having fun?”

  I nodded. “I wish I had wings. Wouldn’t it be great to fly whenever we wanted?”

  “You could, you know.” With his body pressed against mine, I felt his voice rumble when he spoke. His closeness made my insides dance as much as the flying. “Your mother has the spell for that.”