Crown of Sunlight

by Payton Taylor

  "I know you girls have been through a lot, but Asteria is a good woman. You're safe here," she said gently, as if knowing they needed to hear that. And the kind look in her eyes told Sunny that she wasn't lying.

  Sunny and Jo went into their respective rooms, and Sunny felt her eyes bug out of her head as she looked around her new lodgings. The room alone was the size of their apartment back home.

  There were two huge floor-to-ceiling windows with a comfortable-looking chair between them. The bed was huge, with white blankets and sheer white curtains hanging down around it, canopy-style. The carpet was plush and pale pink, and the walls were teal with intricate designs going up and down at even intervals. A vaulted ceiling with pink and teal tiles revealed more elaborate designs. The furniture was white with gold trim, and the dresser had a large vanity. It was a room fit for a princess.

  But the most magnificent part of all was the bathtub. Instead of a private bathroom, there were just two wide steps off to the side of the room leading up to a jacuzzi tub that looked as if it were made of solid gold. Near the tub was a door that led to a room with a toilet and sink. Sunny thought it was weird that the bathtub was in the bedroom, but she wasn't complaining.

  After the best bath of her entire life, Sunny dressed in the pajamas that had been left on the bed; a white silk camisole and white silk shorts. She was walking over to the bed when she heard a knock at the door. She knew who it was before she even answered it. She opened it to find Jo standing there with wet hair and similar pajamas, only hers were a pale yellow.

  "I was waiting for you," Sunny said with a smile.

  Jo closed the door. "Can I stay with you?" she asked.

  Sunny rolled her eyes. "Like you even have to ask?"

  But instead of laughing like Sunny intended, Jo just stared at her. This was where they were alike, both needing to let their emotions out, both not knowing how. Sunny wrapped her arms around her sister and whispered, "I know” while patting her back. She felt Jo release a shuddering breath. "I know," Sunny whispered again. Sunny didn't know who started crying first. She led Jo to the bed where they cuddled under the blankets, as if they were little girls again, and cried themselves to sleep.

  Chapter 12

  Leo

  Writhia, 5219

  Vianna

  After a couple of hours had passed, the king and his crew had finally landed the tryst at a private hotel.

  Leo felt cramped in the closet he had hidden in. When he'd overheard the king making plans to go on his secret mission without him, of course Leo had decided to tag along. If there was one thing Leo prided himself on, it was being in the know.

  That pride was why he was now crouched in a cramped closet on the king's trysk, praying to the gods that no one knew he was there.

  As he sat, Leo couldn’t help but dwell on the woman the king had killed, yet another victim in the king’s relentless search for these two strangers. Leo wanted—no, needed—to find out who they were and why the king wanted them.

  He took out his contact and sent a message to his tech girl, Elara, telling her to hack the Viannese camera system and find the girls.

  Elara messaged back a while later and informed him that they were with Seren Reed, a man Leo knew in passing as one of Orrin’s guards. If she found Reed, she would find the girls.

  Whoever they were, they were important, and important things could be used as leverage.

  But instead of being out, gathering his own intel, he’d been crammed in a closet all day. He was curious and restless and his entire left side had fallen asleep hours ago.

  As he sat there, listening for any signs that the king was near, he heard three knocks on the door and then Airoldi’s voice. “I know you’re in there, Cassavant. I’ve smelled you in there this entire time. You reek of two-day-old cologne.”

  Leo cursed to himself.

  “I heard that,” Airoldi said.

  Damn him and his heightened senses. That’s why Leo preferred to hide in the rafters, where it was harder for his scent to reach others.

  And he definitely did not reek.

  He figured the game was up, so he opened the door and faced the general. “You knocked?” he asked with a smirk. But Airoldi was in much too serious a mood for his standard eye rolling.

  “Lot of eyes around here,” he said, looking around fervently.

  Leo arched a brow. “Eyes?”

  Airoldi’s gaze met his as he repeated, “Lot of eyes around here.” He enunciated each word as if to give it meaning.

  Leo frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  As Westin sighed in frustration, Leo had to bite back a smile. He knew the general was trying to talk in code, but playing with him was just too much fun. The guy was too serious, he needed to lighten up.

  Westin tried again. “Lot of eyes around here. Sure wish there was a place to get some privacy.”

  Leo opened his mouth to ask Westin if he was coming onto him when Airoldi’s words registered. He felt his eyebrows pop up in genuine surprise. He was so astounded that Airoldi was actually coming to him for help that his snide comment died on his tongue.

  Was the general going against the king?

  This was too rich for words.

  Leo had seen the rage on Airoldi’s face when the king had killed that Lorlean Queller, as if he’d finally woken up to the king’s true nature. But he never dreamed Westin would actually do something about it. Maybe he wasn’t quite as brainless as Leo had thought.

  Even though he knew the risk, Leo found himself speaking. “I’ll message you an address and a time to meet,” he said before turning and walking away. They couldn’t be seen spending too much time together.

  “You don’t have my contact information,”

  Westin called.

  Leo chuckled as he called back, “Yes I do.”

  *****

  Leo entered the marble mansion in downtown Creseon late that night and found Airoldi without much effort. It wasn’t hard to spot him, standing uncomfortably in the middle of the room while half-dressed women and men stroked his dark skin, looking for business.

  When Westin spotted him, his glower deepened. “A brothel?” he asked through clenched teeth. “You brought me to a brothel?”

  Leo's smile widened. “Well you did ask for privacy, and no place is more private than a place where people come to do things in secret.”

  “Why are we here?” Westin asked, shooing away yet another woman. He was really very good- looking, though Leo was sure that if he ever smiled his face would crack.

  Leo draped his arms around the man and woman that had come up to him. They each pressed a slip of paper into his pockets as they ran their hands up his chest and thighs. He whispered in his informants’ ears and they walked away, giggling.

  He looked back to the general, who had caught sight of the exchange of information with his keen eyes.

  He was still glaring.

  Leo sighed, “Come on.”

  Airoldi was never any fun.

  He led Westin through the mansion, down countless hallways just to confuse the poor bastard, when they finally arrived at the room he wanted.

  When Leo opened the door, Airoldi did not look amused at the velvet-draped room scattered with dozens of pillows, all red and pink.

  Leo walked over to a lamp fastened to the wall and pulled one of the switches. Next to the lamp, the wall receded as a doorway emerged. He looked back at Westin, expecting him to be impressed. He wasn’t. His face was as sour as ever.

  Westin followed Leo down the passage to another door that opened up into a study. The study had no visible doors, only this secret one. Decorated in dark woods with a stale smell in the air, it was a place for trysts and shared secrets. Many people came there hoping to trick others into thinking they were simply enjoying the company of the prostitutes, but in reality, they were heading to this secret room, where they could be sure to meet in absolute privacy.

  “Alright, what?” he asked.

 
; Westin continued to look around. “Are you sure this place is safe? There aren’t any prying eyes?”

  “Will you please stop talking like that?” Leo was all for games, but come on.

  Westin took a deep breath. “How do you block your mind from the king?” he gritted out. This was clearly costing his ego something.

  Leo didn’t let his surprise show. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he said. “Shielding our minds is illegal.”

  Westin scowled, “I know you do it, I can see it in your eyes. The king controls your body, but your mind is always yours.”

  Leo arched a brow, nonplussed, causing Westin to clench his jaw. He wasn’t about to admit to treason in front of the king’s own general. He was afraid that his suspicion that the king was behind this was confirmed.

  But Westin only sighed. “I’m sure the king would be pleased to know that you’re always perched above us during his meetings. I can smell you.”

  Surprise swept through Leo. He was serious.

  He never thought he’d live to see the day that

  General Westin Airoldi turned against his own king.

  He wasn’t quite sure how to play this yet, so he rolled his eyes and said, “Really, Airoldi?

  Blackmail? I thought that was beneath you.”

  Westin looked down. “Nothing is really beneath me anymore.”

  Leo understood the feeling. He’d felt it himself at a very young age when he’d discovered exactly what sort of king ruled his country.

  Leo smiled. “My, my,” he drawled. “How the times have changed. The big, strong general asking little ol’ me for help?”

  Westin snorted. “You’re hardly little.”

  That was true, Leo was at least half a head taller, though Airoldi had a lot more muscle on him. Leo was what he liked to refer to as “lithe."

  “Alright, first things first,” he began. He could tell the general was serious about this and wouldn’t be ratting him out. “You have to listen to everything I say, even if it sounds ridiculous at first.”

  “Everything you say is ridiculous,” Westin replied drily.

  Leo grinned. Now he was getting it.

  He paced the room as he tried to collect his thoughts and decide how to explain this to another person. Leo had learned how to shield his thoughts by himself, he’d never had to teach anyone.

  “Well,” he began, and Westin jerked to attention and took out his contact. He typed in a command and a light came on and Leo could see a tiny image of himself on the screen. Westin was recording this.

  Leo rolled his eyes, of course Airoldi was a teacher’s pet. He began again, “You see, you have your outer thoughts and your inner thoughts.”

  Westin put down his contact, already looking lost.

  Leo let out a dramatic sigh. “Your outer thoughts are the fleeting thoughts that pass through your mind. The king can use these thoughts by adding suggestions and making them seem like your own. Your inner thoughts are the core of who you are. They make big decisions and life choices. First, you have to learn to recognize when the king is trying to read your thoughts,” Leo trailed off. This would be much easier if they had a Murmur to practice with. He resolved to bring the journal he’d learned from to their next lesson.

  He gathered his thoughts and continued, “It’s a very subtle pressure because he’s powerful, but it’s still there. Then, you have to learn to block all your thoughts, both outer and inner. Then, you’ll practice pushing your outer thoughts out of the shield, while keeping your inner thoughts protected. This is so when the king is trying to read you, he’ll only see what you want him to. And though he’ll still be able to control your thoughts, your inner self will still be aware of everything that’s going on.

  Your body will be controlled, but your mind will still be your own. When he tries to brainwash you, it won’t work. And eventually, you’ll be strong enough to resist him completely. Does that make sense?”

  Westin nodded slowly. “I think I’ve got the basics.” He was quiet for a moment, before saying, “Can you. . .?”

  “Can I what?” Leo asked.

  “Can you resist him completely?” Westin asked, watching Leo for any sign of deceit. Leo swallowed. “I’ve never tried.” “Then how do you know it’s possible to resist him?” Westin looked slightly incredulous.

  Leo swallowed again, his mouth suddenly dry. “I’ve resisted his second, Cerise.” He didn’t meet Westin’s eyes.

  “And she let you live?” Westin asked. It was a fair question, Cerise didn’t tolerate dissent.

  Leo shook his head ruefully and smiled,

  “I’m not as easy to kill as I look,” he said.

  To his surprise, Westin only nodded. “Why did you agree to help me?” he asked, his tone neutral. Leo saw that he was genuinely curious.

  He felt the smile slip from his face. “I know what it’s like to not be in control of yourself. To have no choice over your actions.” His voice sounded haunted, even to his own ears. He shook the eerie feeling off. “Anyway, it’s all about self- control, which you seem to have in spades.”

  He knew that Westin saw through his façade, but he chose to ignore it. “Now, practice building a wall in your mind. Build it up, brick by brick. . .”

  *****

  Leo was impressed with how quickly Westin was learning. They were just finishing their lesson when the secret door banged open.

  In strode a group of three, each of them beautiful in a different way. In the middle stood a tall man with golden skin and shoulder-length auburn hair. He was accompanied by a short, curvy woman with coppery brown skin and long brown hair, and a man of average height and build with short brown hair and pale, blue eyes that shone like diamonds.

  The one with auburn hair stopped, eyes widening before a lazy smile spread across his face. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he drawled.

  Leo liked him immediately.

  He strode forward and inclined his head,

  “Jean Bellford. And who are you?” He gave them the name his informants working in the brothel knew him by. He wasn’t about to hand out his name to strangers who could identify him if someone important came snooping around.

  The man's smile widened. “Ayven Eris,” he replied. “And this is my husband and wife, Rivan and Cianna.” He gestured to each of them, and Cianna gave a charming smile while Rivan gave a shallow nod. “If we had known this room was occupied, we would have knocked first,” Ayven said, leering suggestively at Leo and Westin.

  Leo waggled his eyebrows at Westin while Westin rolled his eyes in return. He turned back to Ayven, “We’re finished. We were just leaving,” he said, attempting to put his arm around Westin, who just sighed in defeat.

  After Ayven and his spouses said their farewells, Leo and Westin took their leave. They were walking back down the tunnel when he heard Ayven whisper, “What a lovely couple.”

  Leo snickered and, though he couldn’t see Westin, he could practically feel him rolling his eyes.

  Once they were back in the satin room, Leo told Westin to go on without him.

  “Why?” Westin asked.

  “We can’t very well leave at the same time,” Leo told him, and Westin nodded as he understood how that would look suspicious.

  “Besides,” Leo told him, turning invisible, “that was the Pirate Lord, Ayven Eris. I need to know what business he has in Vianna.” Leo walked through the secret door, and back down the hall.

  A spy’s work was never done.

  Chapter 13

  Jo

  Writhia, 5219

  Vianna

  Each morning, a light knock woke Jo from her uneasy sleep, and she would answer the door to find three women waiting to force their fashion sense on her.

  After several days, Jo still wasn't used to the idea of servants. The fancy gowns they insisted she wear were a bit of a step up from her and Sunny's dorky T-shirt collection. She felt uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gazes, but the servants were always kind. Jo made
her bed every morning, giving them one less thing to do. It also resembled a normal, everyday task, which she desperately needed right now.

  Today, Jo had selected a red maxi dress. She was impressed that it fit her long legs perfectly, reaching to her toes, and the airy material was ideal for the hot Viannese weather. Most of the gowns they wore were sleeveless, backless, and low-cut because of the sweltering heat. The backless dresses really made Jo and Sunny stand out when people got a view of their Marks.

  They were already the main topic in the local gossip mill. Their very first day in the castle, they had overheard a group of guards talking.

  "Hey, did you see the Queen's long-lost granddaughters?" one woman asked with a laugh. "I bet they're lying. Just trying to get a bit of attention."

  A man had chuckled and replied, "If they want attention, I'll gladly give it to them. . .if you know what I mean," he said, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.

  Oh, how nice that perverted pigs exist in every world, Jo thought sardonically.

  For the most part, people were on edge when Sunny and Jo were around. They didn't respond well when they knew someone could read their mind. They tried so hard to shield their thoughts from Jo, but a few would pass through from time to time. Jo didn't want to intrude on anyone's personal thoughts, but she did it anyway. If falling into this world had taught her anything, it was that she had to stay alert. She and Sunny needed to protect themselves and if they had to trespass into someone's mind, then so be it. She was glad to have the extra protection, and she knew Sunny felt the same.

  The Queen had set up classes for them to cover what seemed like everything imaginable. Classes for politics, etiquette, and the entire history of Vianna and all the other countries. Most importantly, they would be training, learning how to control their Gifts.

  Jo just hoped they found a Traveler soon so they could go back home.

  The Queen had told them that elemental Gifts were more common in Vianna. Asteria could control fire and air, and her advisor, Khione, could create and manipulate ice, though they hadn't seen these skills exhibited yet.