by K. G. Reuss
“Will you always be honest with me?” I asked tentatively.
“Always.” She smiled.
“The ball set for this weekend. Will father be announcing my betrothal?”
“Yes.” She gave me a watery smile. “He will be.”
“Will the man he chose be there? Will I … will I meet him?” I fretted, wringing my hands together nervously.
“Yes,” she said again, squeezing my hand.
“Does he know about me? Like is he OK with it?”
“He’s aware, yes. As for him being OK with it, I’m afraid you’ll have to ask him yourself when you meet him.”
“Do you know who it is?” I pressed.
“I do,” she breathed out. “And I’m not allowed to say. Your father has made me promise to remain quiet about it. I fear he worries you’ll reject his decision and try to flee the palace like some sort of angsty teenager.”
“Would you blame me?” I mumbled.
“I would not,” she laughed lightly.
“And if I flee?”
“Analia, please. Give this a chance. It’s only a step. It’ll take many more before you’re standing before an altar. Many things can change in the meantime. Can you do this? Just take one step? No running?”
“I-I’ll try,” I answered, the words like poison in my mouth. How could I try when I was in love with Calix still? What kind of relationship could I have when I loved another? I wondered if Soran had found any more information on breaking mine and Calix’s binding. If he had, then maybe Zaros wouldn’t seek me so fervently. Maybe the attacks would quiet down.
“One step. If you give it a chance, the journey may not be as bad as you think. You may even enjoy it, and I daresay love it. Now, I need you to rest up. The palace designers will be here in the morning with your gown for a fitting.”
“Ugh,” I groaned, rubbing my eyes.
“They aren’t so bad. Their loud giggling aside, they make gorgeous gowns, and you won’t be sorry you worked with them.” She kissed my forehead lightly and smiled at me. “I love you, Analia. Sleep. Dream. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night,” I said groggily, closing my eyes, hoping I wouldn’t dream.
Chapter 19
The flowers swayed in the warm gentle breeze. I wasn’t happy. My heart hurt for the one I love.
“Why are you crying?”
“I miss you,” I whispered, looking around the field hoping to see Calix, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“You know what I was, Ana. How could you possibly miss me?”
“Because I know what you are,” I answered, desperate to see his face.
“And what am I?”
I gasped as a shadow descended on me, only a few steps away.
“You-you’re Calix Night. The man who loves me. The man I loved. That I still love.”
“I’m more than that,” the shadow murmured, stepping toward me. “I’m a monster. I’m wicked. I’m a killer. I’m the darkness.”
“No.” I shook my head. “You are not the darkness.”
“But I am.” The shadow reached out and touched my cheek, and I cringed at how very cold it was. “Look at you. You know I am cold. Heartless. You can feel it, Ana. You can feel me. I cannot return to you as the man I was. I’ll only become a monster if I make it through the Void. I don’t want you to see me like that. I won’t have a choice. You need to let me go.”
“And if I can’t?” I whimpered.
“Then there’s no hope. You must stay safe, far from Zaros. Even now, the darkness claws to get out of me. To make me take you. It’s hard to resist when I want you so badly. You must leave and never return here. Stop dwelling on what cannot be. It saddens me to know your pain.”
“I miss you, Calix. I miss you so much.”
“And I, you, my love, my sweet girl, my princess,” his voice was pained. “Go from this place and never think of me again. It is all I ask of you. Let me go, Ana. Please. Let me go. If I’m brought back, then you burn, Ana. We burn, but from different flames. I don’t want to see you become what I am if I’m not strong enough to give you what I need to. I cannot hold out much longer. The darkness, it creeps inside me, taking over. I won’t ever be the same. Run from me, Ana. Forget about me. I beg you. Love another. I fear should we meet in flesh and bone that it’ll be under terrible circumstances. You must master the five if there is to be any hope. Wind. Earth. They stand before you, my sweet princess. Learn them. Wield them. They are your army to command. The storm is coming. Control it.”
“Calix,” I wailed, reaching for him as his shadow faded away, leaving me with nothing but the wildflowers dancing around me.
Chapter 20
I was certain I’d had an encounter with Calix in my dreams. Vision. Whatever it was. He said the darkness was taking him. It made my heart ache even more to know he was suffering. He wanted me to let him go. It was too hard. I knew it would make him happy for me to do that for him, to live the life he’d given me, but the guilt lay heavily on me, reminding me of his sacrifice, our sacrifice.
To forget him made me feel awful. Ungrateful. But I knew deep down, I wasn’t living. Calix didn’t want me to suffer. That was why he took my place. He wanted me to live my life. To be happy. To love. To smile. To feel. To triumph.
He’d been trying to communicate with me through my dreams for weeks. I felt that all the way to my core.
Calix wasn’t evil. He’d been controlled by Zaros. Zaros was evil. Calix was a victim, just like everyone else affected by Zaros’s reach. In the pit of my stomach something churned. I swallowed down bile, rejecting a harsh truth that ate at my insides. The truth that, despite my thoughts on Calix, I didn’t really know him. He had the cabin prepared when he took me. And there was the question of Courtney being set on fire. Not to mention, I still didn’t know what was in the flask he’d given me. He’d harbored many secrets, secrets that left my chest aching because deep down I was sure they were terrible things. Things I wouldn’t be able to come to terms with. Things I couldn’t really blame him for, or at least that was the argument I kept in my mind.
“Good morning, Princess,” the head designer, Marisole, greeted me after knocking on the door and stepping into the room. “We have something for you.”
“Great,” I murmured, still lost in my thoughts. The women walked into the room carrying a large garment bag. They approached me and began fussing immediately.
I gazed in amazement as they pulled the most gorgeous gown I’d ever laid eyes on out of the large bag.
“Beautiful, wouldn’t you agree?” Marisole gushed as two others started to undress me for the fitting.
“It is,” I breathed out, fingering the delicate emerald material. It was the softest satin I’d ever touched, the material cascading easily over my hand. Despite my reservations about the ball, I was eager to try on the dress. After they slipped it over my head, I gazed at my reflection in wonder, unable to believe how beautiful it all was.
The bodice was an emerald green, fitted corset with intricate black stitching along the front. It was strapless, and the sleeves cascaded into wide-open ends where my hands emerged. The back laced up, and the gown billowed out in waves of emerald splendor. It was a true ball gown with a bustle in the back.
“A perfect fit,” Marisole exclaimed. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I whispered, twirling, completely forgetting the reason behind it.
“Your betrothed will appreciate it,” Janis, another of the designers, said.
My heart plummeted. Of course. My betrothed. Aside from Soran’s birthday bash, this was my wedding announcement.
“I should take it off,” I said hastily.
The women quickly helped me out of it. By the time they decided on how to do my hair, it was well past lunch. I made my way down to the kitchens and was relieved to find Mabel bustling away with about fifty other people.
“Hello,” I greeted her softly.
“Ana,” she exclaimed happily. �
��I was worried about you. Are you well?”
“No,” I answered truthfully, and she gave me a sympathetic look. “It looks like you’re very busy. Perhaps I could help?”
“Help?” she asked, surprised. “Yes, yes, of course. We need some vegetables picked from the gardens.” She handed me a large basket and frowned. “Oh, my word. You haven’t been eating. I knew we had far too many leftovers. I’ll fix you a sandwich. You’re wasting away.”
I smiled gratefully at her as she threw together a thick sandwich with meat, cheese, and vegetables. She quickly filled a glass with fresh squeezed honey rind and sent me on my way. I quickly scarfed down the food and drink, my stomach almost hugging me for it.
I set to work, picking and pulling the vegetables. When I’d filled my first basket, I grabbed another from the edge of the garden. The help cast curious stares at me as I filled basket after basket. It was nearly dark by the time I brought in my last basket with my hands and face dirty, my hair tangled, and my feet muddy.
I’d spoken to a few of the workers, and they all seemed very kind. I felt like I fit in better with them, rather than with the royalty. My father had been scarce. I’d heard mention that he’d ridden to meet with another kingdom before the ball and had returned only this afternoon.
“There you are. I went to your room to find you and you were gone.” Rowan shouted, coming into the kitchen dressed in his blue military uniform.
“Oh, sorry. I got hungry, and I wanted to take my mind off things, so I came down here and ended up working. What did you need?”
“Your brother approaches. The king and queen have called for your presence. It’s tradition to meet the incoming troops at the gates.”
“Oh!” I exclaimed, eager to see my brother. “Is Kellin with him?”
“Kellin?” Rowan questioned. “I don’t know who that is.”
“Why does no one know him?” I muttered, trying to smooth my hair down. “Should I go change?”
“Yes, but you don’t have time.”
“To see the look on their faces,” Mabel mused, and I grinned at her.
“I’ll tell you all about it,” Rowan chuckled, pulling me from the room.
We made it to the grand entrance hall when Rowan turned toward me quickly and pulled my hair loose.
“Hey.” I swatted at him as he tried to run his fingers through it.
“You’re a mess, Ana,” he muttered. He spat on his fingers and moved to wipe my dirty face, but I pushed his hand away.
“Don’t you dare,” I hissed. “That’s so gross.”
“Not as gross as your face.” he retorted.
I rolled my eyes at him, and he grabbed my hand after wiping it on his leg and pulled me through the doors. We quickly crossed the front gardens and approached a slew of soldiers dressed like Rowan. My parents waited at the gates.
“Analia,” Mother greeted me warmly, her gaze sweeping from my messy hair to my dirty face and down to my muddy dress. “Helping in the kitchens and gardens?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Sorry.”
She smiled and winked at me as my father raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t we have enough servants? Why in heavens were you down there getting so dirty?”
I wanted to lace into him, but a horn sounded. I looked eagerly over to the approaching troops. Soran rode in the lead. There were easily a hundred of them, all dressed in silver armor and chainmail, the blue flag of Dar’ish’s summer court held high.
They traveled through the gates and filled up the massive area. Soran hopped down from his horse and strode quickly toward us, a smile on his face.
“Sister,” he greeted me with a tight hug. “I missed you. I was worried. Are you well?”
“As well as can be expected,” I answered with a forced smile.
“You look… well, terrible.” He laughed, holding me out at arm’s lengths. “Where have you been?”
“In the kitchens and in the vegetable gardens,” I answered.
“I should’ve known.” He smiled warmly at me.
“Is-is Kellin with you?” I asked, peering around him and looking for the familiar blond head of Kellin.
“No, Kellin rides with another group. He was a day behind us, and I daresay he’ll be approaching at nightfall, just in time for the celebration. He had to make a stop in Marriot.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling let down.
“Don’t worry,” Soran said softly so only I could hear. “He is well. I saw him not long ago, and he was just as eager to see you as you are to see him. Trust me.”
I nodded, still feeling let down. I had so much to say to Kellin. So many apologies and explanations to give him, it was overwhelming me. I didn’t want him to hate me.
“My son, how was your trip?” our father bellowed, coming to our side, our mother in tow.
“It was good, Father,” Soran answered, turning his attention to our father. “There were attacks on a few of the outlying villages, but they weren’t as substantial as we originally thought. Kellin had it under control by the time we arrived.”
“Good, good.” Father patted Soran proudly on the back as our mother watched with a smile on her face. “We can finish this conversation in the War Room, and you can tell me everything.”
Soran nodded his head and grasped my hand to pull me along. I’d been daydreaming, lost in my thoughts. I felt peculiar and frowned at Soran who cocked his head questioningly at me as he escorted me through the grand entrance.
“You two have some catching up to do, and I have a gown to try on.” Mother kissed us both on our cheeks. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodbye, Mother,” Soran said, giving her a gentle squeeze.
I hugged her too and watched as she disappeared up the grand staircase. Our father had already made his way to the War Room with a few of the higher-ranking soldiers and his councilmen in tow.
“Are you feeling well, Analia?” Soran asked, frowning at me. “You’re pale.”
“Soran, it’s good to have you back,” Tarek exclaimed, stepping in front of us before I could answer. He cast me a quick look before turning his attention back on Soran.
“Tarek, my friend. How are the new recruits?”
“Getting better. I haven’t trained such a talented group in years.”
“Fantastic.” Soran clapped him on the back. “And Analia? How’s training going?”
“She’s doing well, too,” Tarek interjected before I could speak.
I gave him a quizzical look, but he ignored me and continued the conversation with my brother. I tuned them out as I stared off into space, the strange feelings I had getting stronger, making my head ache. My vision became blurry, and a heat spread from my toes up to my head, making me pant. A blinding, white light flashed, and I was no longer standing in the grand entryway at the palace.
I was staring into the circular stone room I’d seen before in my visions. There were men wearing black robes, their heads covered, kneeling in front of the dais in the center of the room. A body was laid upon it, but it was blanketed in a white sheet. The men around the dais chanted, and I approached curiously as the sound grew louder.
Zaros entered the room carrying a silver goblet, his familiar black robes billowing behind him and his hood drawn up around his head. He placed the goblet on the dais. I swallowed thickly as he produced a knife from his robes and began chanting with the men.
The torches in the room emitted sparks and flamed to life. The room grew colder, and a wind swirled inside, making the men’s cloaks fan in the breeze. My hair whipped around me, and I took another step closer to the body on the dais.
Zaros chanted louder. Without warning, he plunged the knife deep into the body lying upon the table before him. The sheet turned red with the blood from the body. I stumbled backward as lightning struck somewhere outside. The thunder sent a tumultuous roar through the room.
I gasped as the body let out an ear-splitting shriek and rose, its face still covered. A deep, wicked smil
e cut into Zaros’s face as he lifted the goblet up.
“Drink the blood. Drink it. Drink it and rise.”
There was a blinding white light again, and I fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, my head feeling like it was going to explode.
Chapter 21
“Analia. Analia!” Soran’s frantic voice roused me from my vision.
I was barely able to open my eyes. I winced as my head gave a painful throb.
I passed out again only to awake moments later with Soran shouting commands to people.
“I have her,” Tarek said gruffly, pulling me into his arms and lifting me up.
I groaned as he held my body close to his. He took off quickly, and I cracked my eyelids enough to see we were moving deeper into the palace. We stopped outside a large wooden door somewhere on the second floor, and I tried to sit up.
“Be still,” Tarek whispered in my ear as he held me tighter. “You took a nasty fall, and you’re bleeding.”
I didn’t try to move anymore as the blinding white light flashed again. Random visions began pouring in, causing my eyelids to flicker rapidly.
Incaendium.
Men on their knees worshipping.
Fire.
A shadow.
Zaros smiling.
A red moon.
Blood.
More fire.
Wind.
The sounds of evil laughter.
Burning cities.
Bodies on fire.
Thunder.
Me in a white dress, engulfed in flames.
The scenes whirled by me so fast I had a hard time seeing them all.
They ended abruptly with a vision of Calix. He was dressed in all black armor standing in the field that lined the palace walls, his dark hair whipping in the breeze. I stood before him in my white dress, my body unmoving.
“Incaendium,” he whispered softly as he ignited into black flames, reaching out for me.
When his fingers twined through my own, I burst into angry flames of varying shades of reds, golds, oranges, purples, and blues. My screams echoed around us in the night with the wind whipping around us.