“This would have never happened if he hadn’t done this to me,” Corabelle said, on the verge of tears. It hurt to hear the truth.
With an expression of pity, Evania continued. “You already know that Dehawk cannot force you to do anything. If he were to appear before you this instant and you turned him away, he would flee. However, you want him near you. Thus, he continues to pursue you.”
Glowering, Corabelle rose to her feet. “I’ve changed my mind! I want to fight.”
Evania made no move when Corabelle backed away and prepared a spell in her mind—not even when she shot a stream of fire from her hands. The spirit sat immobile with the Staff across her lap, and with the sheer power of her mind forced the approaching flames to fly at an angle away from her as if bouncing off an invisible shield.
Astonished, Corabelle had no time to react to Evania’s counter-spell that momentarily paralyzed her and sent her tumbling to the ground. She screeched when a bolt of lightning struck her, and she kicked violently as an invisible force dragged her toward Evania.
“You chose to learn from me, shaman, and that is what you’ll do. You will not fight me, and if you refuse to sit here, I swear by the Guardians, I will crack you over the head with the Staff of Shakynah until you come to your senses.”
Tears stung Corabelle’s eyes, and she forced herself to sit in the position she was in before. “What do you want from me?”
“Have you learned to know yourself? The part of yourself you hide from the world?”
“I know it because I live with it every day,” she replied, taking a deep breath. “I am sometimes selfish and impulsive, and I know I’m enthralled by the one person who I should be guarding myself against. I don’t even understand why I’ve made it this far, and all I can do is trust that it was the gods who’ve helped me.”
There was a long silence, and Evania gazed at her with an unreadable expression. Corabelle was shocked that she could meet the heavenly spirit’s shimmering eyes without flinching, and she was also surprised that she actually felt relieved. She couldn’t explain it, but a sense of serenity filled her, and the burden she carried in her heart lightened.
“Your path to recovery will be arduous and painful,” Evania said in a quiet voice. “But I see a chance for transformation, and it will be your choice what you will become.”
Corabelle almost wanted to recoil when Evania handed her the Staff. “I can’t take this, Evania.”
“Do you think there was ever a shaman who actually deserved to wield this? I give Shakynah to you not because you’ve earned it, but rather that you should know heaven’s grace.”
She took the Staff from the spirit, an expression of awe dawning on her face. “Thank you.”
The spirit smiled and held up her palm, emanating a silver flow of light. When the flow reached Corabelle’s head, it penetrated her mind as easily as sunlight breaking through thin haze. Images and voices flashed in her head, knowledge and spells, some of which were long lost.
After what seemed like an eternity, Evania broke the flow. “I have given you the ability to walk the paths of the past and to prophesy the future, among other things. If you should succeed in the second part of your test, your powers will be doubled. But don’t forget your lesson…don’t forget the truth.”
Corabelle stood with the Staff. “I will replay this in my mind every night if I have to.”
She bowed deeply to the celestial spirit, and with the Staff in hand, glided away toward Asteria. As she flew over the breath-taking terrain of her home country, it had finally occurred to her that she was now upon the final part of her test—she must wield Shakynah and perform a healing or exorcism.
She thought about returning to Boathe, since there was unquestionably much healing needed there, but then decided that she didn’t want to take the chance of running into Dehawk there, nor did she want to go near his ruined Temple. As she surveyed the land for any signs of distress or infestation, she caught a whiff of a familiar stench floating on a soft breeze. Turning toward the eastern region of Asteria, she descended into a wooded area from where she spied two Glasya demons.
The colossal winged-dogs were growling—no, speaking in an unintelligible tongue and salivating from their pungent mouths. Corabelle hid behind a tree and couldn’t help but reconsider confronting the Glasyas. Long ago, she had read of a shaman who had died battling one of these. And here she was on the verge of facing two! She wasn’t certain how soon Shakynah would react to her direction, or even if the Staff would obey her at all. If she was going to challenge these demons and exorcise them, she had better know what she was getting into.
Clearing her mind and reaching out with her extended-sense, Corabelle probed the Glasyas and the area they were in. She had the impression that their growls and shrieks, while unintelligible to her, were demonic incantations. She could sense the bitter taste of rage and death around them as their infernal eyes became glazed over with bloodlust. The Glasya demons inspired murder, war, and death. Whatever they were doing in this area, they were affecting people in the physical world who lived here, and they could be instigating anything from a homicidal rampage to a violent riot.
Gripping the Staff with both hands, Corabelle raised Shakynah high and commanded fire to pour down from the heavens and devour the Glasyas. Instead, the Staff quivered in her hands and jerked forward as if trying to escape her. She tightened her grip and let out a strangled cry when she saw that the demons had noticed her presence and began gamboling toward the woods as if they were faithful hounds answering the summons of their master. But she wasn’t their master, and if they found her, they’d seize her between their teeth and rip her apart.
Wrapping one leg halfway around the base of the Staff to support her grip, Corabelle used her other hand to make the gesture that called forth fire and sent flames shooting toward the approaching demons. The first Glasya dodged and continued toward the woods while the other took to the air and launched lightning into the wooded area.
Corabelle fled with the Staff behind another tree, watching the first Glasya hungrily prowl, sniffing the air in pursuit of her scent. She tried to get the Staff of Shakynah to channel her spell, but the Staff only quivered again in response. Frustrated, Corabelle used a whole-hand gesture to call down a lightning storm on the Glasya.
The demon roared in shock at the surprise attack as the surges of energy and light hovered above him and struck him. However, it didn’t do as much harm as she needed it to, and without the help of the Staff, Corabelle was unsure if she’d ever destroy the Glasya.
The demon shrieked a counter-spell and sent a fireball flying toward the storm cloud. The lightning storm slowly and quietly dissipated, and Corabelle made her way further into the woods away from the enraged monster.
Still clutching Shakynah, Corabelle raised it once more to command a spell but nearly fainted when an earsplitting song burst forth from the head of the Staff, alerting the Glasya and the gods knew what else to her whereabouts. She took off running from the woods but was immediately assailed by the second demon that had been patrolling the air.
The airborne Glasya swooped in and pounced on her, sending the Staff flying out of her grasp and skittering across the ground. She could feel the Glasya’s paws on her back, and the weight of its body mercilessly pressing her into the ground. She could see the shadow of the second Glasya circling above and growing larger, until it finally landed in front of her, tongue lolling and putrid saliva dribbling from its fangs.
The Glasya that had just landed spoke something in its demonic tongue, and the other responded with a grunt. Corabelle didn’t know why, but she began listening intently to their speech. Perhaps it was one of the mystical gifts mediated through Evania, but the more she listened, the more she understood.
“…this is a shaman,” said the demon who pinned her down with his feet, “and I say we devour her.”
“But what of the scent on her? She has been in the presence of the Great Lord.”
“She is tainted…so what?”
“She may be a servant of his.”
While the Glasya did not release her, he seemed to have positioned himself in a stance, preparing for a fight with the other demon. “And if she is not? We would be letting an enemy go free. I say we tear her head off and send her to the Gatekeeper.”
Corabelle shrieked when she felt the Glasya’s hot breath on her neck, and though it appeared to matter little, she cried out, “I am not a servant of Dehawk! I am a servant of Nasai.”
“I told you,” said the ravenous demon that stood over her. “Now leave her to me, since you were fooled.”
“Fine,” the other replied. “I will take her staff.”
Quickly reaching out with her extended-sense, Corabelle let the touch of her magic surround the Staff. She poured all her strength into summoning Shakynah and stretched her arm toward it. When it rolled in her direction, both demons leaped toward Shakynah, seeking to keep her and the Staff separated.
However, when they tried to seize it, a blinding light emanated from the Staff, and the demons howled in pain. Corabelle caught the Staff and jumped to her feet, using Shakynah as a shield when one of the Glasyas swiped at her. The other demon flapped its slimy dark wings and rose into the air, sending a blue-flamed fireball toward Corabelle.
Swinging the staff in an arc, Corabelle instantly created a circle of protection, shielding herself from the demons’ attacks. Raising the Staff high in the air, just as she had done before, Corabelle commanded a spell through Shakynah, calling forth the most powerful firestorm she had ever conjured. It was pure white-fire, unlike the red-orange ones she was accustomed to, and it was completely the opposite of the infernal blue flames demons and dark mages used. The pure white flames crashing down on the Glasyas engulfed and consumed the demons with terrible force, and Corabelle shakily commanded another spell that caused the ground to quake, part open, and swallow the Glasyas.
She collapsed onto the ground from sheer exhaustion.
She had forgotten that using one’s powers in the spirit world was just as strenuous as using them in the physical world. No matter how strong she was, or could be, the moment she tired herself out from casting spells, she was as weak as a child.
It seemed hours had passed when she finally gathered the strength to stand and continue her journey. Taking up the Staff with a surge of triumph, Corabelle zoomed toward the Great Tree, leaving behind Asteria and barely glancing at the Aurelia Ocean.
As soon as she landed on the island, she dropped the Staff and flinched in pain. There was a terrible burning sensation on her right shoulder, making her tremble in pain and leaving her wondering if she had perhaps failed in some way. Crawling toward the Great Tree, she rested against its shining white trunk, expecting at any moment to burst into flames.
Instead, the pain subsided, and she hesitantly reached for her shoulder to assess the damage. When she felt the smoothness of her skin, she gasped and turned to study the mark imprinted on her shoulder. It was a tattoo, like the ones Maia wore except hers was a butterfly—the symbol of the soul’s transformation.
Through bleary eyes, she spotted the Staff of Shakynah and grabbed it. The sense of relief and elation she felt was indescribable, because although she had doubted herself, she had passed the test. In one single thought, she transported herself from the spirit world and back into her body.
Dear Reader, thank you, and I hope you enjoyed this magical story! If you’d like to grab more of my fantasy books with wizards, magic, and danger, please visit my Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/alesha-escobar
About the Author
Alesha Escobar writes fantasy to support her chocolate habit. She enjoys reading everything from Tolkien and the Dresden Files, to the Hellblazer comics and classic literature. She’s the author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy, an action-packed supernatural thriller set in an alternate World War II. The trilogy hit the bestsellers lists at Amazon (Top 60 in the entire Kindle store), as well as iBooks, Kobo, Barnes & Noble online, and Amazon UK. Alesha is also the co-author of the bestselling Aria Knight Chronicles and the Immortal Brotherhood series.
Besides being a loving warrior mom to her six children, she enjoys crafts, consuming more coffee than is necessary, and spending time with her husband, Luis, a 20-year art veteran for The Simpsons™ television show.
For more information about the author, please visit: https://www.aleshaescobar.com
Parallel Princess
The Wizard and the Demon
C. K. Rieke
Princess Fallon has traveled twice to the land of the Fae to spend her time with the fairy Pip and the mysterious and emotional creature Antolin.
Two sieges on her castle, and twenty years spent in the Fae.
Will this third time in the real world be her lucky charm? Or will she be doomed to repeat the nightmare Princess Fallon is living in?
Find the answers in the conclusion to Parallel Princess now.
C.K. Rieke
Everything she thought she knew about reality is about to turn upside down . . . Princess Fallon’s life in the castle has been dreamy, but now her castle lay under siege by an army and she must make a choice:
Should she stay at her home to face the encroaching army or use a spell that will sweep her off to another world? There’s a catch though… why is there always a catch…? In this dark fairy tale, things aren’t always as they seem— especially when magic is involved.
Chapter One
The castle was dim, much dimmer than she’d ever remembered it being in her many years there. Candles rested coldly along the stairway that led up to the queen’s chambers. She hurried up there. Her fingers glided up the long banister as worry shot through her mind like a piercing, sharp arrow.
Princess Fallon entered her mother’s chambers past a row of slain soldiers who lay in gruesome, contorted heaps upon the soft, fine rugs. Leaping over them, she turned into the room and her hands flung up to cover her mouth at once.
For the last twenty years, the princess had been in the realm of the Fae twice—for two stints, escaping from the sieges that had been laid upon her castle to get to her. She’d just returned for the second time, desperate to escape the Fae and those who claimed to help her. All she wanted was her family, all she wanted was to see her…
“Mother,” she gasped from behind her cold hands.
“Fallon!” her mother screamed. There was deep fear dimly lit in the queen’s eyes. Her lips quivered. Beneath her pale face lingered the sharp point of a thin dagger, pointing its way at the side of her delicate neck.
Behind the queen stood an unfamiliar man with a scraggly, black beard scattered with long gray hairs. His eyes were wise yet lit with a sort of determination; vengeance was what Fallon thought it to be.
“Princess,” Fallon heard over to her right, and snapping her vision in that direction, she found her handmaiden, Celeste, with an aged face, stricken with a dark terror.
There was no one else in the room that she could see.
“What is this?” the princess demanded. “Who are you? And know that if you don’t let my mother free this very instant you are going to feel the full wrath of a woman who hasn’t seen her family in a very, very long time.”
“No,” the man’s voice said.
How dare he just simply say ‘no’ to me. He doesn’t know what I’ve been through… he doesn’t know how long I’ve waited to be home…
“Fallon,” the queen said. “You… you’ve grown… and those… horns…”
“This is what happened to me in the Fae,” Fallon said. “It didn’t keep me safe. It turned me bitter. It made me angry. And now I come back to my home to see this? What is happening here? There’re no armies, there’s no war. But what is he doing here with that dagger to you?”
Her fists were balled up so tightly her fingernails were digging into her palms and drop of blood fell from one of them.
“I found who was after you,” the queen said
with a sullen pause.
“Who are you?” Fallon asked the man through gritting teeth.
“I’m the one who saved you,” he said with his wise eyes glaring at her. “And I’m the one who will end you.”
“You’re…” she began. “You’re the wizard. You’re Shadine?”
He nodded, not taking his eyes away from her though.
All this time… it was him… it was Shadine that gave me this gift to escape, and this curse! Why is he here now? Why does he have my mother? I feel like I can’t breathe I’m so angry…
“My daughter,” the queen said. “I’m sorry. I tried to stop him this time. I truly did. But he’s powerful.”
“So am I.” Fallon groaned.
“Princess,” Celeste said. “He’s been here for days. He’s…” She looked around with wide eyes. “He’s saying all these things about you… I don’t know if they’re true. But I don’t want them to be true. I don’t!”
“What lies are you spreading to my family?” she asked the tall wizard.
“Lies? Why would a wizard, wise and true as I, lie? I speak only in truth. I have no reason to deceive a queen.”
“Mother… what’s he talking about? And why is he holding that dagger to your neck?”
“If what he says is true,” the queen sighed. “Then your father was wrong… All he wanted was for you to be safe… but he didn’t know… and even Shadine didn’t know…”
“Know what?” Fallon said with a roaring anger rolling up from her chest to her shoulders and arms as her hot blood pumped in her muscles.
“The king—my king—bade me the charge of saving your life if it was ever in great enough danger. And as I was in his council, I did so. I enchanted you with the gift of entering the Fae world. But it came with a price, a ten-year price each time, as you know. This was because it was the only spell I could find that could bring you back with certainty. But what I did not know at the time was… was that there was a demon on the other side. A demon waiting for you…”
Magic Underground: The Complete Collection (Magic Underground Anthologies Book 4) Page 207
