His black hair was gleaming as he glared down at my mother with pitch-black eyes. He was focused on her with an intensity that I had never seen before. This wasn’t the uncle who had lifted me up as I picked apples from the orchards. He looked like he’d gone mad since I’d last seen him.
“Maximus, what was between us ended long ago. What could you hope to accomplish by doing this now?” My mother asked him.
He stood up and walked slowly down each step, like a predator stalking its prey.
He spoke when he was a step away from her. “I have loved you for thirty years. I lived with your marriage to my brother because you tricked me into believing that it was best. That you two had to be wed because you were bonded together.”
My mother opened her mouth to say something, but Maximus cut her off.
"When my son, Nereus was born, I knew he would be Murra’s chance to have a High King. I taught him everything he would need to know to beat the other competitors. He’s trained since he was a child.
“Then, I find out that you’ve hidden the fact that your daughter is a DESTROYER! She’s going to win through her tricks, just like you did! You scheming, devious woman! She looks just like you. I should have expected she would be a snake too.”
I had no idea what they were talking about… A destroyer? Is that what my magic was?
“She’s not a destroyer, Maximus. Her magic is strong, yes. But she just hasn’t had a chance to embrace it yet. She won’t trick Nereus to win the trials, just like I didn’t trick you.” My mother tilted her chin up and glared up at my uncle, every bit the High Queen our Kingdom loved.
“You’re trying to change my memories again. I can feel you trying. But, can you read my thoughts this time?” Maximus smirked down at my mother.
My stomach churned as he lovingly reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“No? I didn’t think so.”
When he grabbed her behind her neck and forced her to her knees, something inside me snapped. I pulled to one side and slammed my foot against the man who was holding my arm. Then I slammed my elbow into his stomach and was about to turn and face him when a knife pierced my side. The pain was excruciating and I bit back a scream. I didn’t want my mother to worry about me, I wanted her to fight.
“You see, my dearest Adora. It took me thirty years to find what I was looking for.”
He motioned for a man in a dark brown cloak to come forward. “This is Nathaniel and he has a very unique magic. He can put a damper on any magic in his presence. You can’t get inside my head now.”
My mind was reeling as magic simmered under my skin. It pushed and flowed trying to escape and trying to protect me. I sucked in a breath as I tried to wield it. My mother had always told me that my magic would come when it was needed most.
Well come on magic, I need you.
But nothing happens...
“It’s such a pity, really. That infernal bond between you and Jerome. Such delicious power you hold over him and you’ve never really used it. You should have had a whole court bonded to you for protection. Too bad my brother doesn’t feel the same way. He wanted you all to himself and he kept you here, defenseless and powerless. Where is he now, my dear? Off hiding somewhere preparing to make a grand entrance in his shapeshifting form, I’m sure.” He laughed bitterly. “He will be shocked to learn his tricks won’t work here.”
“Maximus, you the council tricked all of us. I never betrayed you. You were my ally in there and my friend.” Mother tried to find some part of my uncle that was still sane.
I growled as he backhanded her across her cheek, and the knife pressed deeper into my side.
“Lies! I don’t believe you, Adora. You tricked me and then you ran off with my brother!”
“Jerome and I only became friends because you came out of the trials cold and bitter. You wouldn't even look at me after that. The council could see that our marriage would never last and it would corrupt the kingdom. So, when they found out about Jerome and me, they pushed us together. That summer that we both spent in Aith, they planned that. And yes, we did fall in love and were bonded together.” Mother stood up and glared at Maximus. “But it is not mine or Jerome’s fault. I was nineteen years old and my life had just been ripped apart. He was there to help me put it back together.”
“Well, then it’s convenient that he will be here to watch it all fall back apart.” He glared at my mother with a murderous look in his eye. “Call him with the bond.”
My mother went pale, “Never”.
“Let’s put it this way Adora, call Jerome here,” He glanced over at me for the first time. “Or your precious heir dies.”
My head swam as everyone turned to look at me. “No. Mother, please don’t do this—” My voice came out in a scream as the man behind me hit the arrow that was still piercing my shoulder.
“Okay Maximus, I’ll call for him. Please don’t hurt her.” My mother gave me one last sorrowful look as she closed her eyes in concentration. After a moment's pause, she turned to my uncle and said “He’s coming.”
We heard yelling as my father came crashing into the throne room. He was automatically surrounded by a group of Maximus’ guards. Even without his shapeshifting magic, he was one of the best warriors in the kingdom. He could have easily taken the dozen guards that surrounded him.
His golden eyes swept the room until they landed on my mother standing in front of Maximus with a bruised cheek and blood dripping from her mouth. Lifting his sword, he roared in outrage as he prepared to fight his way to his wife.
But then he glanced over at me and froze. His eyes widened as he took in the arrow through my shoulder and the knife digging into my side. I knew then that he wouldn't fight for my mother, not when he would be risking my life in the process.
“Hello, little brother. I was just explaining to Adora here, that if you try anything, your daughter dies. So, be a good lad and drop your sword for me.” My father looked murderously up at Maximus, but he obeyed the order and dropped his sword.
Guards were on him instantly, dragging him to stand beside my mother.
My parents exchanged a glance as they both turned to Maximus. There was so much love and sorrow in their eyes, my heart ached. But, as they turned, they subtly placed their bodies in between my uncle and myself. Trying their best to block me from view and bring Maximus’ attention back to themselves.
“Alright Max, we’re here. What do you want?” My father’s deep voice echoed throughout the room.
Maximus gave him that horrible smile as he turned and slowly sat down on my Mother’s throne. “I think it’s rather obvious what I want, Jerome. I want to be High King. Or rather, High King Apparent, when Nereus wins the trials.”
“The trials are in two weeks, Maximus. Why now?” Father tried to reason with him. “Why not see if your son wins the trials first?”
“That was the plan. Until I found out your daughter was a Destroyer! She’ll use those powers of hers and cheat her way to becoming High Queen.”
“Brother, you know there is a protection around the arena. She couldn't cheat, even if she wanted to!” My father yelled in frustration.
Maximus sneered at him. “You’re right Jerome, she won't be able to cheat this time. Because she'll be dead.” He cackled like a mad man.
“You can’t kill her, Maximus. Think this through. Think about what the assassination of the royal family will do to our Kingdom!”
“I have thought about it and they will need someone to lead them. Who better than the King’s right hand? I'll be in the perfect position to take over.”
My mother stepped closer to Maximus. “I understand why you're angry. You’ve had twenty years to dwell on this betrayal. I know you won’t spare us, but maybe you'd be willing to spare your niece. You’ve loved her all these years.” Her voice quivered as she glanced at me. “She’ll leave, she won’t come back for the trials. You'll never see her again. Please Maximus, this is the only thing I ask from you.”
The pain in my heart outweighed the pain in my shoulder.
I can’t believe she’s facing death and still making deals for my life. But I knew better than to try and interrupt here. Maybe there is still a way I can get them out alive…
I watched as my Uncle slowly stood up and walked towards my mother. Clarity flashed in his eyes as he slowly raised his hand and brushed it across her cheek. “Only for you, my love, will I spare your daughter.”
My father stood rigidly beside them. His anguish was clear on his face as he looked at me with silver-rimmed eyes. I realized at that moment, he too, was willing to sacrifice everything for me.
If he spoke up about the way my uncle intimately touched my mother, they might lose this chance for my safety. He would protect me, no matter what, even if it meant sacrificing the love of his life.
“In fact, this works out perfectly.” My uncle said as the clarity in his eyes was replaced by madness. “I'll let her go, for now. But how will I know she won’t try and compete in the trials? The only way to be sure of it is to turn the kingdom against her. And I know the best way to do that. She’ll make the perfect assassin.”
My father’s growl shook the chandeliers that hung above us.
My mother glared at Maximus with murder in her eyes.
He nodded to the man by his side, “Let’s see what my darling niece is capable of.”
The man in the brown cloak, Nathaniel, walked past my parents and came directly behind me, replacing the idiot with the knife. He grabbed my head and yanked it back. Everyone froze. We all waited for the destructive power to flow through the throne room… And nothing happened. I couldn’t feel any magic at all.
“Well?! What’s wrong?” Maximus bellowed. Fury exploding across his face.
“I can’t feel anything, my Lord. There isn’t any magic for me to harness,” Nathaniel said.
“Try again! She’s a destroyer, I know it. There’s untapped power flowing through her, and I want it!” My uncle's voice grew louder as he spoke.
The man grabbed my head again, digging his hands into my hair and pulling my head backward. He whispered into my ear, “If I was you girl, I'd let loose whatever power you have before your uncle decides to kill you too.”
I willed my magic to stay hidden. I would not do this.
My father looked at me one last time and I saw the love in his eyes. Everyone was so focused on me; they weren’t paying attention to my parents. My mother grabbed a dagger hidden in my father’s boot and tossed it up to him. They moved with such speed and accuracy, if you blinked, you would have missed it. He grabbed the dagger and stabbed it right at Maximus’ heart. But, just as it got to his chest, a brilliant bright light shown in a ripple around his chest. The dagger bounced back with such force, it slipped from the Kings’ hand.
Maximus looked at Jerome with such hatred in his eyes. “Do you really think I would come in here unarmed, Brother?” He pulled a chain out from under his cloak that held a black crystal on it. “It looks like I found a little magic of my own.”
Maximus’ guards surrounded my mother and father again.
“Uncle Maximus, please don’t do this!” I screamed, unable to keep silent any longer.
“I'm sorry, my dear, I can’t let this unjust ruling go any longer.” He said with a glint in his eyes.
He walked up to my father, drew his sword, and stabbed him straight through the heart.
I could hear my mother screaming and yelling at Maximus, but all I could see was my father laying on the ground. He looked at my mother one last time and slowly his chest stopped moving.
My magic pounded and screamed inside of me begging to be let out. But, if I did, this man would use it to kill my mother too.
“My Lord, I feel the magic in her now, but it's locked away somehow. It's powerful, but she’s so weak, she can’t even use it.” The man behind me chuckled.
“She’s of no consequence now, not when we have another’s magic we can use.” Came Maximus’ dark reply as he turned to my Mother. “It's your turn, my darling. Let’s see what your magic can really do".
The man behind me was replaced again by the idiot with the dagger. I watched as Nathaniel walked over to my mother and placed his hands on her head. As he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his hands started glowing and his smile turned lethal. “This one has a power I've never felt before.”
My mother fought and clawed at him. “Get out of my head!” She screamed. Two men forced her on her knees and held her down.
My magic had returned with a vengeance and I could feel it coursing through my blood, trying to find a way out. Its force was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. It rippled and rushed through me, pooling in my hands. I dropped to my knees and my nails ripped as I dug them into the floor. Surely, I would explode if I couldn’t get this magic out.
As the man tugged my mother’s hair back and she cried out in pain, I felt the force of my magic flow straight to my head and pound there.
The pounding was too much. The pain came out of me with a scream and I felt a ripple around me. Like some invisible shield was cracking and the ground shook around me.
Everyone looked at my mother in horror, they assumed she was causing the tremors. I willed my mother to hear me.
I can save you, mother! Please, hold on. I can feel my magic coming. I can save us.
My mother turned her head and looked at me. Tears streaming down her face.
My darling girl, I love you. But, you may not, under any circumstances show your uncle your magic, he will kill you if he finds out all that you can do. You must survive because Chadonia needs a true ruler on its throne. You’ll have to run and hide, then when the time comes, compete in the trials and win. You must be High Queen. The future of our kingdom depends on you.
Tears flow down my cheeks as I look up at her. Mother, please don’t do this! Our kingdom doesn’t need me, it needs you! I'm eighteen years old. How could I possibly help our kingdom survive this?
My darling daughter, you have no idea the forces you wield inside you. You are exactly what this kingdom needs.
I watched helplessly as my mother reached up and grabbed the guy's hands. “You want my magic? Then take it all!”
The glow on his hands grew brighter and his face distorted in pain. He screamed in agony as my mother pushed all her magic straight into him and he collapsed to the ground behind her.
“Do it now!” Maximus yelled at him and I felt a surge of power flow through the palace.
Maximus pulled his sword out and pierced my mother through the heart. She slumped to the ground and her breathing slowly stopped.
Every bit of power that was driving through my veins vanished as I stared at my parents.
My parents were dead.
Chapter Twenty-One
My eyes fly open as the memory vanishes. My stomach churns and bile burns its way up my throat. I stand up and stumble away from our camp, blinking back tears as I go. The memories seem to be getting more vivid the closer I get to home. I fall onto a tree stump and stay there for a long while, trying to give the others a chance to sleep.
By the time I make my way back to our camp, everyone's awake and they're packing our stuff back up. Aileen offers me breakfast, but the nausea I'm fighting back has me declining. Silently, we pack everything up and begin making our way towards Centralia.
Lack of sleep and nerves have me in a horrible mood today.
After I snap at Aileen and Emerson for the third time, they don't bother trying to talk to me again. Not, that I can blame them. We make good timing and camp outside of Centralia that night.
I don't bother trying to sleep, I know the nightmares will come. I stay awake guarding the others while they sleep.
When we arrive in the Capital the next day, we find it bustling with activity.
As we approach the center of town, a plan is already forming in my head. We rent a few rooms above a tavern and Emerson brings food up to us.
“We kn
ow Maximus is going to want to show off his ‘victory’. He successfully took charge of the throne and his one possible threat is supposedly running scared. He’s going to think he’s gotten away with it.” I explain quietly to my companions. “He’s going to want to sit on our mother’s throne in the Grand Hall, as every other High King or Queen has done before him. He won’t give that up.”
“Okay, we know where and we know when.” Aileen nods in agreement. “Tomorrow evening the opening celebrations will be held in the Grand Hall at the Capitol Building with the Welcoming Ball the following evening. Then the trials will be held one week after the Ball.”
Of course, they’d make a week-long celebration. Royalty loves a good long party. I think as bitterness washes over me.
“Okay, so how do we get into the Capitol Building tomorrow?” Emerson askes.
“We don’t, I do,” I respond quietly, but firmly. I know the arguments are coming before they even opened their mouths, so I hold up my hand and speak quickly. “Look, I have had plenty of time to think this through. Maximus will use any perceived weakness to make me back out. If we all get in and he captures either of you. I don’t know if I would go through with the trials.”
“Come on, Addy. We can’t let you go in there along with no backup.” Emerson crosses the little room and takes my hand. I can see the determination blazing in his eyes. “Please, let us help you.”
“So, I can lose you too? I’ve lost my parents, my home, my people. You can’t expect me to willingly go through this knowing I could lose you too. I won’t do it.” I glared at both of them, daring them to argue with me. I’ve thought about this extensively over the last few days and this is not a decision I will relent on.
“So how will you get it?” Aileen asks quietly from her spot on the bed.
“I know which store is providing the servant's clothing. I’ll sneak in tonight and gather up what I need.”
“You can’t show up to the ceremony in servant’s clothing. Not if you want to be taken seriously,” Aileen says rolling her eyes at me.
“I have proper clothing waiting for me inside,” I look at Aileen, willing her to accept my plan.
Princess of Fire and Smoke (Forbidden Court Book 1) Page 15
