Crown of Sunlight

by Payton Taylor

  Westin's head jerked up, and he was confronted with knowing blue eyes. Her satisfaction was coming off of her in waves—as was her interest.

  He scratched the back of his neck. Clearing his own throat, he said, "You're welcome."

  Smooth, he thought.

  She crossed her arms as her shoulders shook with silent laughter. Leaning back against the railing they were still standing near, which Westin thought was awfully brave, she looked the portrait of casual, as if they didn't almost just fall half a league into a river.

  "This is all your fault, you know," she said grinning, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  "And how is that?"

  She sighed, "Well, I'm not very good at controlling my Gift yet—shocker, I know," she said with an exaggerated eye roll. "But if you would've just stopped running like I asked you to, I would've been able to stop. I guess I can forgive you just this once. I mean, you did save my life and all."

  "You were tapping into my Gift?"

  "Yes. I felt everyone's Gifts at once and lost control. I'm working on it, though. It should be pretty easy, considering I'm an incredibly patient person and things just come naturally to me," she said, nodding her head sarcastically.

  He grinned. "Yeah, I can tell."

  She snickered. "So, what's your name, oh brave one?"

  Still grinning, he crossed his arms and said, "Westin Airoldi. And yours?"

  "Well that depends," she said, pretending to think about it. "My friends call me Sunny, but my enemies call me Bringer of Nightmares."

  "And what do I get to call you?"

  "Hmm. . .I guess we'll have to find out. All I can say is you don't want none of this." She mockingly flexed her arm. Then, her laughter floated through the air like a melody, which made Westin laugh as well. He couldn't remember the last time he'd actually laughed with someone other than his family. But here he was, talking with this woman who claimed to be the bringer of nightmares, even though she looked like an angel.

  Little did she know, she truly did scare Westin. His Match couldn't be who the king wanted—she just couldn't be. Just as he was about to ask her another question, he heard a scream.

  "SUNNY! SUNNY, OH MY GOSH!" The tall brunette was back and came running at Sunny, wrapping her arms around her. The Morriannan princess and the royal guard followed close behind.

  Westin noticed Sunny's demeanor changed instantly. He could feel the guilt spark through her as her confidence faded to the background, but there was such tenderness in her eyes as she hugged her sister back.

  "I'm so sorry, Jo. I've never felt like that before, so out of control," Sunny said quietly.

  "I know, I felt it, too! I'm just glad you're alright. You are alright, aren't you?" Sunny's sister, Jo asked, looking her over for any injuries.

  Sunny nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks to him," she said, pointing at Westin. She told Jo what had happened, and Jo gasped and put a hand to her mouth. Sunny looked even guiltier as her sister looked more and more worried.

  "We'll be better once we take our lessons this week. I'm glad we're doing this before the ball.

  I can't even imagine what that will be like." Jo said, patting Sunny on the arm reassuringly.

  The Morriannan princess looked at him distrustfully, before her face went back into a mask of calm. "Everything will be worked out by then.

  Don't you girls worry," she smiled.

  Jo and Sunny mirrored her smile, "I sure hope so," they both said in unison, then laughed.

  Westin noticed Sunny and Jo looked most alike when they smiled. Their blue eyes crinkled at the corners in the same way, and there was one dimple on each of their left cheeks.

  Jo turned to Westin. "Thank you for saving my sister."

  He nodded respectfully. "It was my pleasure," he said. Then he wished he didn’t say that because Jo looked suspiciously between the two of them, which made Sunny laugh and shrug.

  Jo shook her head and muttered, "Every time," under her breath.

  Sunny walked forward and looked up at him. "Well, thanks again. I owe you," she said, grinning, then turned and started walking away. The other two women followed behind her.

  He got the sense that she didn't want to leave, didn't want to say goodbye, but stronger than that was her resignation.

  Westin went back to hating himself.

  He knew that when he returned to the king without the princesses, he would have to give him some sort of information. He would have to tell him about the ball. Everything else he would have to practice really hard shutting out.

  Maybe Sunny was right, maybe she was the Bringer of Nightmares. Because this certainly felt like a bad dream.

  I wish I never would've met her.

  I wish I never would’ve let her walk away. I wish things were different.

  But those were a fool’s thoughts, so he squashed them and made his way back to the hotel.

  Chapter 15

  Sunny

  Writhia, 5219

  Vianna

  Sunny woke, covered in sweat.

  In her dream, the Swarog had called in its deal and challenged her to fight all of its pets with nothing but a fishing knife. Then it had dropped her in the water, and its monstrous pets tied sandbags around her ankles so she sank to the bottom where Jo and Westin, the handsome man she’d met, lay unconscious. At least, she hoped they were unconscious.

  She didn’t know why Westin would appear in her nightmare, but she felt almost as upset seeing him there as she did about Jo. Sunny didn’t think that made any sense. She’d only just met the guy, but she felt oddly drawn to him. She couldn’t get his honey-colored eyes out of her head.

  Eventually, the pets had attacked her, and she’d started running out of air when, suddenly, a light touch shook her awake.

  Khione was standing there, a worried look on her pretty face. But there was something else there, too, like she understood.

  “Bad dream?” she asked.

  Sunny could only nod. Her throat was parched, and she felt like she might hurl.

  A light tap sounded at the door, and Khione walked over, saying, “Right on time.”

  There was a maid at the door—or some kind of servant—Sunny thought it impolite to ask her role. The maid had a golden tray with some sort of fruity drink and a piece of toast.

  “How did you know?” Sunny asked, reaching for the drink and taking a deep gulp. Then she nibbled on the toast, which did wonders for her stomach.

  Khione smiled. “It’s my job to know. Now, Asteria has hired a tutor to talk to you and Jo and teach you about Writhia. You’re probably getting fed up with not knowing, right?”

  Sunny agreed as two more maids came in to stand beside the wardrobe. They had been trying to help her get ready each day, but Sunny didn’t know how to let herself be taken care of to that extent.

  She looked to Khione for help, and Khione laughed and shooed the maids away, but she stayed behind. “How are you feeling?” she asked, opening

  Sunny’s wardrobe and taking out two dresses to hold up to the light.

  Khione herself was wearing a loose, red shift that belted at the waist and fell to her knees. Her feet, as always, were clad in her signature black heels. Sunny was pretty sure Khione would be the type to spend most of her paychecks on shoes.

  “I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “This is so much. It feels like too much. I feel strangely fine during the day, but when night rolls around, all I can do is stare at the wall and wonder what’s happened to my life. I’m worried about my job back home and whether or not it will still be there when I get back. I need that job.”

  Khione laid the dresses on the bed. “You’re planning on going back to your world?” She looked confused as if that thought had never crossed her mind.

  “Of course,” Sunny told her. “I mean, I’m very thankful to have met everyone here and discovered this place, but home is home. I can’t just replace it.”

  “But Asteria said…” she trailed off.

  Sun
ny got up and looked at the dresses

  Khione had laid out. “Asteria said what?”

  Khione bit her lip as if debating before leaning close and saying, “Asteria thinks you want to stay here. That you’ll take over being queen.”

  Sunny blinked. Blinked again.

  It should have occurred to her that Asteria would want her to accept her birthright. But she, herself, was the absolute last person Sunny would ever pick to be a queen.

  “I can’t do that,” Sunny blurted out. “That’s crazy! If you knew me better, you’d understand.”

  Khione gave a small smile. “I think you’re underestimating yourself,” she said. “But if you insist, please break it to Asteria gently. She’s been like a mother to me, and she’s been so hopeful since you and your sister arrived.”

  Dammit, Sunny thought. That is one conversation I do not want to have.

  Khione left to let Sunny get ready to meet their tutor. She decided on a black-and-pink floral dress with a plunging neckline and pulled her hair back into a thick, fishtail braid.

  She looked good.

  She met Jo in the hall outside of their rooms, and for a moment it felt like back home when they’d meet by the front door to walk to work.

  Jo had also gone the extra mile today. She was wearing a pale purple gown with a high neckline but which was completely backless. It was the riskiest thing she had ever seen Jo wear. She couldn’t blame her, though—it seemed they were both enjoying the princess treatment while they were there.

  “Is it hot in here, or is it just my sister?” Sunny teased, causing Jo to blush from her neck to her hairline. She loved ruffling Jo’s feathers, but sometimes she wished her sister was a bit more confident in herself.

  Together, they set off for the library to meet their tutor.

  *****

  Sunny and Jo were in love.

  When Khione had first shown them the library, they had both stared wordlessly for a good five minutes. It was massive with glossy, light wood shelves that ran from floor to ceiling, a sprinkling of tables and chairs, and, off to the side, a reading room made entirely of glass for excellent lighting and soft chairs.

  Their tutor was an elderly woman named Mrs. Ammon. The Viannese title was “Ses,” but it basically translated to “Mrs.,” so that’s what Sunny decided to call her in her head.

  Unfortunately for Sunny and Jo, she seemed to be the no-nonsense type. She began with the history of Writhia, highlighting Vianna and describing other countries they hadn’t heard of yet, like Pocaea and Subaque. This world was just as diverse as Earth, with its multitude of different cultures and environments.

  Sunny had never been the best student, but she had to admit it was interesting. Beside her, Jo leaned forward, absorbing every detail.

  Thank God for Jo, Sunny thought. If she forgot anything, Jo would remember.

  Sunny especially liked learning about all of the different religions practiced all over Writhia.

  Mrs. Ammon told them the Viannese used to worship a pantheon of gods who represented different aspects of the world, but eventually they faded into myth.

  Gods such as Saga, the god of wisdom and prophecy. The mysterious Aloka, who encompassed the night and all of its shadows. Sesna was the goddess of snow, the moon, and the north wind. She taught Sunny and Jo more names: Madow, Goddess of Nature; Tamsus, God of Sun and Fire; Lahko, Ancient God of the Sea; Karani, Goddess of the Sky; Myrkur, God of Truth and Invention; and Kivuli, Goddess of Travelers and the keeper of knowledge from other worlds.

  Sunny wondered sardonically if Kivuli knew they were there and if there was a way to get in contact with her.

  Mrs. Ammon wrapped the lesson up with the rest of the big players in the pantheon: Gerra,

  God of war; Hele, Goddess of Medicine; Kohe, God of Time; and, Liebbi, Goddess of Love.

  According to her, many thought their Gifts came from those gods, that they possessed them because they were the god's descendants.

  Apparently, the people of Writhia didn’t have Gifts thousands of years ago, so one of the theories for how they’d developed was due to the gods coupling with mortals so much that the powers became ingrained in the bloodlines.

  Not to mention that most Gifts had a corresponding god. Thieves, like Sunny, were thought to be descended from the goddess Veras, Mistress of Thieves and Goddess of Persuasion.

  When Sunny asked if Murmurs were thought to be descended from Veras too, since their power seemed a type of persuasion, Mrs. Ammon shook her head. After a slight hesitation, she told them Murmurs were thought to have come from the god Agares, who presided over fear and death.

  “That doesn’t make sense. What does my

  Gift have to do with fear and death?” Jo asked. “Well,” said Mrs. Ammon, “It is said when

  Murmurs originated they could look into a person’s thoughts and see their deepest fears, and show those fears to the person by making them see it in their mind. They also could sometimes kill with a single thought, if they were powerful enough. Many Gifts have evolved over time—broadened, so to speak.

  That is one theory, as I said, and one based on myth. Scientists are still studying this phenomenon, trying to find the true cause.”

  Jo turned to Sunny and mouthed, Behold the mighty fear god while making a ridiculous face.

  Sunny tried not to laugh too loud.

  Mrs. Ammon also tried to teach them about politics and etiquette. Sunny found politics boring and tedious, and etiquette unnatural and grating against her outgoing nature. Not that people shouldn’t have manners, but according to Mrs.

  Ammon, her questions were too blunt, her greetings too familiar and friendly, and her attitude was too enthusiastic. Jo’s more reserved nature was more suited to Mrs. Ammon’s tastes, but she was also told to be more neutral and to speak up.

  After being terrorized by Mrs. Ammon, they had lunch with Marzanna and Seren, who talked about plants the whole time while Jo and Sunny looked on, amused.

  While the Murmur who was going to help Jo with her Gift wouldn’t be ready for a day or two, Asteria had decided to teach Sunny about her own Gifts, fire and air. Sunny was excited to see her grandma in action.

  *****

  The training room was a cavernous room filled with everything a person would need to train, both physically and with their Gifts. There was a pool off to one side for swimming laps and for those who had water-based Gifts, and a door that led to a greenhouse for those with plant-based powers like Marzanna. Some sort of obstacle course surrounded the room, and there was a section that held weights that ranged from small to so large that Sunny didn’t see how a human could lift them. There were targets people could aim at with either weapon or Gift.

  In the center of the room stood Asteria. She was wearing a loose, white top and flowy, white pants, her hair in a simple knot atop her head. Her nurses stood off to the side, ready to help if needed.

  Sunny herself had to change into a black, form-fitting, fireproof suit. Jo, Marzanna, Seren, and Khione all stood to the side, looking on eagerly. Sunny suspected they were waiting for her to fall on her butt.

  As Sunny approached her grandmother, Asteria grinned. Without any preamble, she summoned a ball of fire to her hand, turned, and threw it at one of the targets, hitting it dead-center.

  Impressed, Jo and Seren clapped while Khione shook her head ruefully, a smile across her face.

  “Will I be able to do that at the end of our lesson?” Sunny asked, hoping the answer was yes.

  Asteria chuckled. “You may be able to summon a small flame, but it will take time to perfect it. Patience, love.”

  Sunny smiled, just the idea that she was capable of doing something like that was incredible. “Asteria?” she asked.

  “Yes?”

  “Why do you have two Gifts? Like, how is that possible?” Sunny asked. She’d been wondering about it since Asteria had told them about her Gift.

  Asteria smiled, “I’m glad you asked.

  Sometimes, w
hen two parents have elemental Gifts, such as my mother had air and my father had fire, they can combine inside the child. Air is a Gift that can be paired with other Gifts, but we aren’t sure why. Something about its structureless nature helps it to attach itself to other elements. However, air is the only element that does so. No other elements combine, such as water and earth, or water and fire.”

  Sunny found that both interesting and confusing. It made a certain amount of sense, though. She could sense the Gifts of the people in the room with her. Jo’s dark, searching thoughts, Marzanna’s bright living essence, the cool structure of Khione’s ice Gift, and the watchful nature of Seren. But in Asteria, she sensed a bright burning light, wrapped in a gale-force wind. Her grandmother was powerful, and Sunny wondered if her Mark took up her entire back as well.

  Sunny snapped out of her thoughts as her grandmother started speaking. “I think we will begin with calling heat to your hands. As you get stronger, you will be able to sense the Gifts around you and use them at will,” Asteria said patiently.

  Sunny wondered whether or not she should tell her grandmother that she could already sense the Gifts around her. She decided to bring it up later.

  Asteria had Sunny sit in a meditative pose. First, she tried calling the fire to her, only to fail. Finally, after what felt like hours, she was able to call heat to one hand. The heat intensified in her palm until, afraid it would burn her, she shook her hand as if it was on fire.

  Once she was able to call heat to her hand a few more times, her grandmother had her focus on feeling the air around her, the way it moved and vibrated, before asking her to redirect it. This part was easier, and Sunny started to get the hang of things a lot more quickly.

  *****

  After the lesson, her grandmother asked Sunny to walk her back to her bedroom, the nurses trailing discreetly behind. Sunny noticed as they walked that Asteria was pale and winded.

  “It is a good thing you girls showed up when you did, so you can carry on the Corvinus legacy,” she said, ending with a cough.

  Concerned, Sunny placed a hand on her back. “What’s wrong?” she asked quietly.