Cin d'Rella and the Golden Apple : Circle of the Rose Chronicles, Book 2

by S. J. West

  “You should do that more often,” Coltan tells me with a smile, enjoying my laughter.

  “Do what?” Scarlet asks as she, Gretel, and Kalder all come to stand with us.

  “Nothing,” I say, since I feel sure Coltan’s words were meant only for me. “What do we do now? Wait for Blu to convince the Huntsmen to open the gate for us?”

  “That seems to be the plan,” Gretel says as she peers up at the massive iron doors that protect the inhabitants of the city from outside forces.

  As if the keepers of the gate heard my questions, we hear a loud clanging sound right before one of the massive doors moves inward just enough for one person to step out from behind it. That person is Gretel’s brother, Blu. His presence either means he convinced the head Huntsman to let us in or they are kicking him out of the city to join us. When I see a man follow behind Blu out of the open door, I assume he was successful in his mission and that the man following him out is Hunter Rin.

  The leader of the Huntsmen is younger than I thought he would be. If I were to guess, I would say he’s around the age of thirty. His almond-shaped eyes and jet black hair confirm that at least some of the inhabitants of the city are oriental. Both he and Blu wear black pleated bottoms that look like skirts from a distance, but as they get closer, I can distinctly see that they are merely wide-legged pants. Hunter Rin also wears a matching shirt that’s belted around the waist with a ribbon of white fabric, which also acts as a holder for his sword. His stoic expression as he advances toward us gives nothing of his thoughts away.

  Gretel’s other brothers remain lying on the ground in their dragon forms as they watch the two men. I can’t imagine how their lives will change now that they are able to transform into humans. It must have been frustrating for them knowing that they were only living half lives, and it makes me wonder how differently Gretel’s life would have turned out if Isabel’s father had never come to this place and taken her away from it. For selfish reasons, I’m glad that he did, because if he hadn’t, I never would have had her in my life. Gretel is my voice of reason when I need it and my source of strength when I think I have none left. I’m not sure what she’ll do now that she’s found her real family, but I desperately hope she doesn’t choose to stay here.

  “Sister,” Blu says as he walks up to Gretel. “I would like to introduce you to my best friend and the leader of the Huntsmen, Rin Saito.”

  Gretel extends her arm to shake hands with Rin, but he doesn’t do the same. He glances down at Gretel’s hand but doesn’t move his own away from his side. He looks up into her eyes with an intense stare that makes me wonder if he’s a mage with some sort of magical ability to judge the hearts of those he meets. Seeing that he has no interest in shaking hands with her, Gretel slowly lowers hers. One by one, Rin shifts his gaze to all of us as if he’s making snap judgments about our individual characters. After a few tense seconds tick by, the leader of the Huntsmen speaks.

  “Blu tells me you come from a city called Briardale,” Rin says, focusing his attention back on Gretel. “He also told me that you’re his long-lost sister. What he didn’t seem to know or care about is how you got here, but I’m afraid that’s something I will need to know before you’re welcomed inside my home.”

  “There was a portal in our city that opened up when I got close enough for it to sense my presence,” Gretel tells him.

  As I do my own observation of Hunter Rin, I realize he’s a lot like Commander Ford in the manner in which he presents himself to others. Maybe it’s a trait all great leaders have in order to keep their feelings hidden.

  “What’s the name of this city?” Gretel asks.

  “The City of White,” he tells her. “It was named after Snow White. Blu said you were told about her existence and that you and your female companions are the caretakers of someone named Briar Rose. Tell me, is there anything particularly . . . different about your Briar Rose? Or have you seen her in person?”

  “We’re not allowed to discuss her with others,” Gretel informs him. “If we did, our status as Thorns would be revoked, but since you asked that particular question, I think you and I both know the answer without me having to say it aloud.”

  Rin cracks a lopsided grin as he considers Gretel and her refusal to give him a full answer.

  “I suppose we do,” he replies. “Tell me, Gretel, why have you and your friends come here? What is it that you seek?”

  Gretel has a clear question on her face as she turns to me. She’s unsure how much she should reveal to Rin about our true purpose for coming here, so I step in and take over the conversation.

  “We’ve traveled here to find something called the golden apple,” I tell him, hoping that part of the truth will suffice, because telling Rin that we’re here to see Snow White would probably make him even more wary of our intentions. As soon as he places his hand on the hilt of the sword hanging from the belt around his waist, I instantly realize I’ve said something to alarm him.

  “Why do you want it?” he asks as he keeps a steady gaze on me.

  “Where we come from, there’s a legend that says if you hold the golden apple, it will grant you the knowledge to one question,” I reply. “We need to locate someone, and we’re hoping it will tell us how and where to find this person.”

  “Who are you looking for?” His eyes narrow on me as he awaits my answer, and I know I have to make a gut decision about Rin without knowing much about him. All I have is what Gretel’s brothers told us. Since he’s the leader of the Huntsmen, it’s obvious that he’s dedicated his life to protecting Snow White and the people within her city. That type of honorable behavior speaks volumes to me, and it’s something I cling to as I place a small bit of faith in Rin.

  “She’s someone who can help us break the curse on our city,” I tell him. “Red told us that you haven’t been able to leave this place, which is the same problem we’re having in Briardale. The portal to this world is the only way we’ve found to go anywhere else.”

  Rin loosens his grip on his sword and allows his arm to drop back down to his side.

  “Is it possible that this woman can also help us escape?” he asks, daring to hope for a way to end the curse his own city is under.

  “I think so,” I tell him. A bond begins to form between us because we share this mutual hardship, but we’re also giving each other newfound hope that we can solve the problem plaguing both of our people. “But we need to find the golden apple so we can gain the knowledge that we need to find her. Do you happen to know where it is?”

  Rin nods his head and opens his mouth to speak, but before he can say a word, a loud explosion comes from somewhere inside the city, causing us all to cover our ears. While my ears are still ringing, Rin wastes no time and runs toward Red, jumping on his back. Without having to be instructed, Red immediately soars skyward and heads straight into the city to discover what happened.

  The rest of the dragons rise from the ground to follow them.

  “Wait!” I yell to Gretel’s brothers. I turn to look at my friends. “Get back on your dragon. Maybe we can help.”

  I rush over to Bash and retake my place on his back while everyone else, including Gus, does what I asked them to. Bash has us in the air in a matter of seconds, and this time, my fear of flying has to take a back seat to my duty. The City of White isn’t Briardale, but Briar Rose sent me here to find her sister. I believe she would want me to do whatever was needed to help the people here. As we rise above the White Wall, I catch sight of what exploded and why.

  The top floor of the White Castle now lays scattered in ruins. Floating in the center of what’s left is a beautiful young woman with hair as black as ebony, lips as red as blood, and skin as white as snow. Ethereal wings on her back stretch out majestically as the layers of white and pink material of her dress surround her in a cloud of soft fabric. Snow has her hands clasped in front of her, and she’s holding the golden apple. Unfortunately, Snow White isn’t alone. A cloaked figure I’ve had the m
isfortune of coming up against once before stands before her and begins to weave her hands together as she prepares to cast a spell.

  Rin and Red zoom toward Suri as they attempt to interrupt her spell and capture her. As Red approaches the dark mage from my city, he opens his mouth in an attempt to grab her, but Suri evades him by vanishing from that side of her target only to rematerialize behind Snow as she continues to weave her spell. From this new angle, I can see a black wispy ball of energy forming between her palms, and I fear I know what Suri is about to do because I’ve seen this spell before.

  “Take me down!” I yell to Bash. Without any hesitation, he lowers his head and descends so quickly that I have to cling onto his black spine to prevent myself from toppling off his back. Bash lands heavily onto part of the roof that’s still attached to the floor below the one with Snow and Suri on it. I jump off his back and race over the black tiles to confront Suri.

  “Get away from her!” I yell, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu since Suri and I have done this song and dance once before.

  Suri throws the ball of black energy between her hands into the air above her head, and within a matter of seconds, the same spell that spiraled around Shadowspire engulfs the White Castle, instantly freezing Bash into place and preventing anyone else from breaching it.

  “We really need to stop meeting like this, Cin,” Suri says to me. Even through her cracked voice, I can hear her glee at the situation. “Thank you ever so much for opening the portal to this city. I couldn’t have gotten through without the stupidity of you and your friends.”

  I silently berate myself for not waiting until the portal closed behind us before we left it. I was so focused on getting here that I didn’t stop to consider the possibility that Suri would follow us through.

  “That is a mistake I won’t make again,” I tell her as I try to figure out how to get rid of Suri this time. I did bring the crystal heel from my mother’s slipper with me, and that’s the only weapon that I know of that can hurt Suri.

  As I’m about to pull the heel from my jacket pocket, Snow White appears beside Suri. When Suri doesn’t react to Snow’s presence, I realize I’m seeing Snow’s astral projection, which seems to be something Suri is oblivious to.

  “Run into the pillar of light!” Snow urges me. “Hurry!”

  Without a second thought, I run into the incandescent light surrounding Snow’s real body. Once I’m standing beside her, the pillar of light changes to a glittery gold. Suri tentatively reaches out to touch the barrier. She jerks her hand away when the light burns the withered flesh covering the palm of her hand. She shifts her gaze to meet mine, and all I see in the depths of her muddy eyes is hatred.

  “I should have known they would use a unification spell to prevent me from reaching them,” Suri says, not sounding at all surprised that she can’t break through the light protecting not only Snow, but me as well. “However, I am shocked that they’ve chosen you to be their champion. I never dreamed they would put their faith in you, considering who your mother was.”

  “My mother?” I say, wondering what she has to do with this. “What do you mean by that?”

  Suri shakes her head like she pities me. “You poor clueless creature. I’m not sure why I expected more from you than I would any other foolish human, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by your limitations.”

  “How did you know my mother?” I ask, needing to find out what information Suri has about a woman I myself know very little about.

  “The better question to ask is what was your mother,” Suri informs me with a sneer. “Do you believe your puny human mind can handle the answer to that question?”

  In my heart, I know I can’t let this opportunity pass me by because I would regret it forever. My father told me so few details about my mother that any information, even if it comes from a twisted, ancient mage, is better than nothing.

  “What was she then?” I ask as I hold my breath.

  Suri gazes upon Snow before she answers. “Once upon a time, your mother was an angel too, but she allowed herself to be corrupted by your father’s love for her.”

  I suddenly feel lightheaded, but I try to keep in mind that what she’s telling me could be a lie meant to throw me off guard.

  “My mother died when I was born,” I inform her. “I wasn’t aware angels could die.”

  Suri rolls her eyes and massages her temple like I’ve said the stupidest thing in the history of humanity.

  “You’re so naïve and gullible,” she says with a deep sigh of regret. “Too bad your mother didn’t finish the job when she had the chance.”

  “What job?” I find myself drowning in a maelstrom of confusion because Suri isn’t giving me any answers, only more questions.

  Suri gives me a cold, malevolent smile. “Why, killing you of course,” she says with a great deal of satisfaction.

  “You’re lying!” I shout, refusing to believe another word that comes out of her decrepit mouth. It’s clear to me now that she’s trying to goad me into stepping out of the pillar and into her clutches.

  Suri cackles with glee at my denial. “Ask Maximus Kane,” she challenges me. “If he truly cares for you like he says he does, he’ll tell you the truth. When your mother tried to bury you alive in the backyard of your father’s house, Maximus is the one who killed her. That was the moment your father cut him out of his life forever.”

  “I don’t believe you,” I say confidently as I turn my head away from Suri because the mere sight of her gloating face makes me sick to my stomach. “My mother loved me.”

  Suri laughs again, but I don’t take the bait this time. I keep my eyes averted from her.

  “I suppose that’s what your father told you,” she says. “Oliver was such a romantic at heart. Too bad he gave his love to the wrong woman.”

  I keep my lips pressed together.

  “If you don’t believe she was an angel, perhaps you’ll trust your own eyes,” Suri says, sounding rational for the first time since this conversation began. “Look at the shoes Snow is wearing,” she instructs me.

  I can’t stop myself from looking back at Suri because her suggestion sounds so ludicrous.

  “What could a pair of shoes tell me about my mother?” As soon as the question leaves my mouth, I feel the weight of my mother’s crystal heel in my pocket. The realization must be evident in my expression because Suri begins to mock me again.

  “I may not have been able to kill Snow like I wanted to, but the look on your face right now was well worth the journey here, Cin. Thank you for that gift.”

  Suri vanishes from my sight, leaving me to make the decision on whether or not to look at Snow White’s shoes.

  I pluck up my courage and kneel beside Snow’s body. With a deep breath, I lift the soft hem of her skirt enough to peek at her shoes. When the gold light surrounding Snow passes through the crystal of her slippers, I witness the same prism effect that happened with my mother’s shoes when light passed through them.

  “Suri is pure evil, Cin,” Snow says to me. When I direct my sight to the other side of her corporeal body, I see her astral projection staring kindly back at me.

  “She may be evil,” I say as I let the material of her dress fall out of my hand as I stand back up, “but is she telling me the truth about my mother?”

  Snow looks out over the city, and I get the feeling she’s trying to make up her mind on whether telling me the truth is the right thing to do or not.

  “She was one of us,” Snow tells me.

  “Are you really angels? Who cast the sleeping spell on all of you? Was it Suri? And how is it that this city has been cursed for a thousand years when Briardale has only been separated from Faloria for a hundred?”

  “So many questions,” Snow says with a benevolent smile. “Pick the one you want answered the most, and I will give you a truthful answer.”

  “Why not answer them all?” I ask, annoyed by her reluctance to help me more.

  “Because
there is only one of those questions that you truly need the answer to,” she replies. “I must warn you though that knowledge doesn’t always come for free. Sometimes it’s easier not to know the truth than to pay its price, which is why Maximus refused to answer a similar question before he fell into his coma.”

  “Have you been watching everything that’s happened to me?” I ask, finding such a possibility disconcerting.

  “Yes,” she replies without batting an eye while admitting to spying on me. “We’ve been watching the events of your life unfold for quite some time now, but it was when you drank the blood from Ari’s heart that your mother’s gifts were awoken inside you. That allowed us to connect with you through the astral plane, but we’re only able to appear to you in our full form when you lay eyes on us.”

  “That’s why I can see your face now?” I ask, remembering the dream I had the night of graduation when Snow and the third sister I still need to find had faces made of light.

  “Yes, that’s the reason,” she tells me. “Now, what is the question you most need an answer to, Cin?”

  I consider the four questions I asked and see that Snow was right. I do only need the answer to one of them.

  “Why has this city been under the curse for so much longer than Briardale?” I ask, hoping the answer will lead to a better understanding of what’s actually going on.

  Snow’s smile falters. “It’s always seemed strange to us that everyone considers it a curse when it was meant to be a gift.”

  “A gift?” I ask. “Why would being separated from the rest of Faloria be considered a gift?”

  “Because it protected you,” she tells me.

  “Protected us from what?”

  “Maximus knows the answer to that question, but the one you asked deals with time. Through the bond my sisters and I share, we funneled our energy to slow time in Briardale because it’s the place with the most potential.”

  “Since you’re willing to answer questions about the time difference, how long has Briardale been under the spell? Is it a thousand years like this city?”