“Everything is wrong. I shouldn’t have brought you here last night. I shouldn’t be anywhere near you.” He stalks away from me.
Something about his choice of words has me curious. “Why? Why shouldn’t you be with me?”
He freezes and slowly turns to face me. “Do I have to spell it out for you, Princess? Nothing can ever happen between us. I’m in love with someone else and you're just a task I have to accomplish for the New King.”
I flinch. His words are like a slap in my face. Gathering up what little pride I have left, I walk to the door, pausing in the doorway.
Turning back to him, I try and gather my confidence, but my voice comes out in a sad whisper. “I never wanted anything romantic from you. I only thought that after losing everything, maybe I’d found a friend. I see I was wrong and I’ll never make that mistake again.”
“How could I be your friend? We’re enemies.” His cold glare locks onto my face and his next words are the final blow, “You killed my King.”
I thought he believed me.
“Goodbye, General.” I turn and walk out of the door, softly closing it behind me.
My eyes burn with unshed tears as I try to make a plan. I battle with all the emotions that are flying through me and try desperately to fight them back down.
My veins pulse from the magic inside me, but it feels different this time. Instead of the burning lava running through my blood, I feel a coldness seeping into me. It feels like my blood is turning to ice.
“Princess wait,” I hear him yell from the other side of the door.
No, I can’t do this right now. Stay away from me!
I throw my palm up at the door in frustration and ice shoots from my hand covering the door and sealing it off. Shocked radiates through me and I stumble backward into a wall.
How is this possible? No one can wield two elements. I stare at the door as panic digs its claws into me.
The General pounds on the other side of the door, breaking through my stupor. Princess, what happened? Open the door!
No. I respond as I slam my mental shield back into place, turn, and run through the hallways.
I retrace my steps from last night, quickly finding the Great Hall. From there, I sprint down the hallways towards the Northern Wing of the building. I have nowhere else to go, so I run to the only place I'm sure no one will bother me. The Centralia Suite. I throw myself through the door, slamming it behind me.
Panic courses through me as I lay down on my parent's bed. My body feels like I’m being dunked repeatedly in ice water. I realize I'm shaking, and I can't stop my teeth from chattering. I grab a blanket and pull it around me, trying desperately to get warm.
Where’s my stupid fire when I need it? I can’t help the bitterness that washes over me because I don’t understand any of this. I’m a fire wielder and I might have some sort of mind-reading, like my mother. It’s impossible enough that I can wield two different magics. But what the hell was the ice thing?
I can feel myself spiraling towards a panic so deep, it will consume me. The only other time I’ve ever felt like this was when I was in the hedge maze with Aileen and I know if I don’t calm down, I will destroy everything around me. But I don’t know how.
A buzzing starts in my head and my entire body goes on alert with my magic flaring out in defense. It’s screaming to me that something is coming, and I need to run.
Pounding reverberates through the main door, echoing throughout the suite. My magic vanishes and I reach out, looking for my mental shield, but it too is gone. There is no more burning lava running through my veins, or coldness turning my blood to ice. After the last few minutes of cold torturing me, I should be grateful that the magic is gone. But, a paralyzing terror rushes through me instead because there is only one person I know that can stop people's magic.
I stand up and back away from the door looking for something, anything, to defend myself with. I see a small bag with Aith's seal set on a chair nearby. Thank you, Charis!
I grab it and search inside. Triumph fills me as I pull out the dagger I’ve been carrying since Arklow. The General's dagger.
I try flinging everything I have into my mental connection I have with the General. As much as I may hate him, he is the lesser of the two evils.
I need help, General. Please, hurry.
I turn just as the door to the bedroom opens.
Maximus and his minion, Nathaniel, walk in. “Dear niece, It’s great to see you again. I’ve been looking for you everywhere since your surprise visit last night. Where have you been hiding?” He eyes my clothing with interest.
I realize belatedly that I am still wearing men’s clothes. My mind raced for a believable answer and I know what I need to do. My uncle was my favorite person growing up and my mentor. The only chance I have is to try and strike up a comradery until help arrives. If help arrives...
“I haven’t been able to sleep much the past few weeks. Your soldiers are very persistent, by the way.” I grumble, earning a chuckle from him. “I left the Ceremony shortly after the vote was cast and found a soldier’s room. It had some clothes left in it from its previous occupant. I figured they wouldn't mind if I borrowed them.” I shrug, being sure to keep the dagger hidden behind my back.
“I have to applaud you on your goal, Adeline. It was brilliant. Sometimes I forget how much stubbornness you inherited from your mother." He smiles winningly down at me and it makes my stomach churn. "But, your planning? That you must have inherited that from your Father. Because, you came all this way, only to lose before the trial even begins.” His smile morphs until it resembles an animal baring its teeth.
I push at the rising panic. “What do you mean? They all voted for me, even Nereus. I will be competing in the Trials.”
“No, my dear. You will not. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?" He tisks disapprovingly at me. "All of those war studies seem to have gone to waste then. You forgot the most important rule of having a master plan, always have someone watching your back. Who, my dear, is watching yours?”
“I don’t need someone to protect me, Uncle,” I stick my chin up and glare at him. Daring him to make a move.
“Are you sure about that? I heard differently last night.” He nods at someone standing outside the door and I hold my breath, waiting to see who will walk through the door next.
When I see the Captain that attacked me last night, my fury is so powerful, I wish I did have my magic back. I could burn them all to ash. I could burn this entire building to the ground without a second thought.
“Our dear friend the Captain here, is doing me a great favor. He’s taking care of a particularly pesky problem I’ve been having.”
The Captain pulls his sword out with a smug look and advances on me. “I should be thanking you, Princess. If I hadn’t met you last night, I’d never have this amazing opportunity.”
I watch as he stalks slowly towards me, my eyes focusing on his every step. I'll only get one chance at this.
“What Uncle, you can’t manage to do your dirty work, yourself?” I ask, never taking my eyes from Captain.
“Why should I, Adeline? It’s not much to be bothered with, really.” Maximus sounds like he's choosing a meal for dinner, not deciding the death of his niece.
The Captain puts his right foot forward and I see the lunge coming before he’s even moved. As his sword jabs for my chest, I dance away, narrowly missing his blade. He tries to compensate and leaves his side open. Thrusting the dagger into his stomach, it cuts through his skin like butter. I yank it back out and blood pools down his side. He drops his knife and grabs his wound, doubling over and howling in pain.
I drop down and swing my foot out at the Captain's legs, knocking him to the ground. I thrust my dagger down towards his chest, not hesitating even when I know I’m going to kill him.
A hand reaches out and knocks the dagger out of my grip. I watch as it slides underneath the bed, and my hope falls with it. I take a blow to my face, kno
cking me to the ground.
“You think I’m a horrible person, Adeline, I can see it in the way you look at me.” Maximus sighs in resignation. “You’re too young to realize that I’m doing this for the better of the kingdom. Our people are so powerful, we could win any battle we wanted if we weren’t trapped behind these infernal wards.”
Shock ricochets through me, “You’re doing this so you can go to war?”
“I’m doing this so our people can grow. Progress can’t be made when we’re all stuck here. We need to be able to travel to new places, explore new things.” He shakes his head in resignation. “I’m sorry to do this to you, Adeline, but I’m needed elsewhere.” He looks at Nathaniel and simple says, “Finish it” before he turns and walks out of the room.
The mystery man looks down at me with a knife in his hands.
“Don’t please,” I beg him.
“I’m truly sorry, Your Highness.” He says with tears in his eyes. “But I don’t have a choice.”
His arm dashes out in front of him with incredible speed. I throw my arm down to block it and instead of stabbing through my heart, it plunges deep into my stomach.
The man takes one last look at me and turns to drag the captain out of the room. Leaving me to watch the bloodstain on my shirt grow larger.
Chapter Twenty-Four
As soon as Nathaniel leaves, my magic rushes back into me. I feel it flowing through me, hot and cold, scorching, and freezing. It's a new kind of torture. I try moving, but violent pain begins radiating from my stomach and I quickly give up the attempt.
I supposed this is a fitting way to die. Killed by the same man who killed my parents. All I wanted was justice… But maybe revenge will work.
My magic flows through me with a savagery that should terrify me, but I don’t have anything left to be afraid of. With that newfound revelation, I reach over, fighting through the pain, and wrench my ring off. Magic erupts from me in a burst of energy, swirling through the room. I catch glimpses of red and blue as I close my eyes.
If I’m going down uncle, you’re going with me.
I give my magic one last command.
Find him.
When I open my eyes, I find that I’m encircled by darkness. It takes some time to realize I'm back in the secret tunnels of my castle and when I look down at the yellow sundress that flows around my legs a deep sadness washes over me. This was my favorite dress as a child.
I smile at the recollection until realization crosses my mind and I remember what happened next. When I squint further into the tunnel, I see a boy running towards me.
“Run, Addy! They’re coming,” He yells as he grabs my hand and pulls me behind him.
I giggle as we race down the path. Out of breath, and trying not to laugh, we pause in an alcove, trying our best to hide from my parents.
Caspian holds my hand in his and as I look up into his sky-blue eyes, he flashes me a lopsided grin, that has my childish heart fluttering.
“Addy? Can I tell you something?” He whispers.
“Of course, Caspian.”
“No matter where I am, I will always love you.” He says and kisses me gently on the cheek.
He was the only boy I’d ever truly loved and that was my happiest childhood memory. But, as he pulls away and smiles down at me, my heart begins to shatter. I know he’ll leave the next day, and I’ll never see him again.
“Addy, I need you to live,” he says as the darkness pulls at me, dragging me away from the memory.
No, please. Just let me stay here. I beg, but the darkness doesn't listen.
My heart breaks all over again and tears stream down my face. A crippling pain hits me in the stomach and spreads throughout my body until I feel like I'm dying.
Wait, I am dying.
The memory of Nathaniel stabbing me flashes through me. I try to breathe, but I can’t. There’s too much pain.
I hear muffled noises and try to focus on them. Everything sounds garbled like I'm underwater.
What is going on?
I try opening my eyes. Flashes of reds, oranges, blues, and purples swirl around me. But, the colors are too bright, and I clench my eyes shut again. Wind batters me from all directions, mimicking the pain inside me.
Something pulls at me hard, like a cord is attached to my stomach and it's trying to get my attention. The next time I try opening my eyes, I hover above everything. I watch as my body lays on the ground underneath a magnificent dome of glittering ice. Underneath the ice is a swirling vortex of flame. It climbs over my limp body and swirls around reminding me of a tornado.
The General is standing beside the dome screaming and while I can't make out his words, I can hear the anguish in them. He slams his sword onto the dome repeatedly, trying to break the ice, but it just bounces off. It’s no use, nothing can break the ice my magic has created.
Just let me go already. I failed. I couldn’t even kill Maximus before I died. I beg my magic.
Not Yet, Adeline. A woman's voice speaks into my mind. I feel, more than heard, the words, as they reverberate through me, shaking me to the core. You are the only one that can save your kingdom from a great evil. Find the key and learn how to wield the power inside you. Now wake up!
I scream as the pressure explodes inside of me. The earth shakes, ice shatters, fire raves, and the winds howls, throwing the General across the room. I'm lifted into the air with fire and water whirling around me. The pain slowly fades as my magic sets me gently back on the ground.
The darkness consumes me until I’m tired of fighting it. I tried to do this the right way and where did that get me? Murdered by my own uncle.
Well, I’m done fighting the destructive magic that courses through my blood. And I’m finished trying to desperately hold everything together when I’m fracturing inside. I tried to be the High Princess that my kingdom wanted, and it didn’t work. So, now I’m going to be the High Princess they deserve and I will rip the evil out of my kingdom, even if I have to burn it down in the process.
The General is sitting against the wall where my magic has thrown him. His mouth is hanging open and he’s blinking at me like he’s seeing a ghost. “Adeline?” He whispers in shock.
Tears trail down his face and his hair is disheveled from where the wind has mussed it. His magic flows towards me, gingerly testing mine. I tense, expecting the sparks that usually happen when our magic meets, but I feel nothing. Absolutely nothing.
It's kind of refreshing. I decide. This way we don’t have any misunderstandings, right General?
I wait for a reply and slowly realize that where our connection used to be, is a dark void.
“What happened to you?” He asks, his voice barely a whisper.
I raise an eyebrow and glance down at the blood covering the floor with a shrug. “Oh, that? My uncle murdered me, of course. I really should have seen it coming.” A laugh bubbles out of me that sounds cruel and vicious, even to my own ears.
Catching a glimpse in the full-length mirror, I pause to admire myself. My clothes have somehow transformed from the baggy men's clothes I was wearing to a stunning full-length black dress. It's not one I would normally wear, but there's something about it that fits my mood now. I absently move from side to side watching the dress sparkle like diamonds and cling to me like a second skin. A lock of hair falls in front of my face and I brush it away, temporarily stunned when I find inky black curls where my red hair had been.
Wow. I look amazing. I spin slowly watching my reflection in the mirror, a wicked smile lighting my face. Now I look exactly how I feel. Dark, powerful, and deadly.
The General walks up beside me, staring at me in horror. “He tried to kill you?” He asks slowly.
“Yes, he had that prison guard fight me. When I won that fight, his ‘mystery man’ as you call him, stabbed me.” I refuse to look him in the eye, instead focusing on my new outfit.
There is no way I can deal with him right now, so I mentally detach myself. Shoving whatever feeling
s, I have in a box and burying it deep within me. It's surprisingly easy.
“Princess, I’m sorry. If I hadn’t said those things and made you run off, none of this would have ever happened. I would have been here with you.” He looks down at the floor, avoiding my gaze.
“Don’t apologize for telling the truth. I despise liars, General. Besides, if you’d been here, you would have helped your King.” I spit the title out, refusing to honor Maximus in such a way.
The General looks up with a fury in his eyes. Grabbing my arm, he spins me around to face him. “I would never have let him hurt you,” He glares at me. “Besides, I’m sworn to the crown, remember? You’re still the crowned Princess. That means it’s my duty to protect you too.”
I try using my magic to read his mind, to see if he is telling the truth. But my magic is different now. Dark and silky, it reminds me of the dress I'm wearing. And when our magics join, there is nothing. No glimmer of the bond we shared.
Why is our connection broken? I am both terrified and thrilled. It must be a good thing. Now he can’t figure my plan out and he won’t get in the way.
“Adeline, you have to believe me,” He still stares into my eyes, begging me to listen. “I am on your side.”
My heart hardens and I fight a snarl.
No, General. I am alone.
“If you’re on my side, go and get ready for the ball. It should be starting very soon. I think I’d like to make an appearance and see exactly what Maximus thinks about it.” I pull away from his grip and sit in a lounge chair, making myself comfortable.
“You're going to the ball? After he tried to kill you?” He tries walking over to where I sit, but I’ve had enough.
“You said you're on my side, yet you're questioning my every move. I will do this, General. With or without your help. I can just as easily lock you up again if you decide to get in my way.” With a flick of my finger, an ice cage forms around him, Blocking off his path for emphasis. A thrill shoots through me at the power I wield. For good measure, I flicker my other hand and a flame appears in it. It's a magnificent black flame with a hint of red shimmering through it. Completely different than the artistic flames from before, but similarly beautiful, in a deadly sort of way.
Princess of Fire and Smoke (Forbidden Court Book 1) Page 19
