by Jordi Burton
“Yes,” said Hayde. “Please.”
Moments later, Anastasia found herself in a warm river, scrubbing away the grime and dirt on her skin. She could hear Lili, Mira, and Dani around the bend, splashing. But Anastasia was glad for the distance. She needed to clear her head, figure out their next move. Thanks to the Fairy Queen, she knew Isidora and Hughie would be on their way to Síthe, so she could Awaken them all.
But what would they do after that? Would they just return home? What would that mean for Joey? Would he still be separated into two people if they went back? And what about the Shadows? Surely, they’d be free from their stony encasements by now.
Rising from the water, she dried herself with a plush towel. It certainly felt nice to be clean after so long. It was calming, brushing out her long hair. She hadn’t cut it in so long, it hung past the small of her back. She supposed she needed to cut it when they returned home. But thinking of home reminded her of her family. Where were they? Surely, Joey hadn’t attacked them in Armol, tortured them like his father did? No. She had to believe they hadn’t been in the castle but had escaped that fate altogether.
Turning to the clothing the Queen had given her, she dressed. It was a garment unlike anything she’d ever worn before. The violet-colored top started in a high neck and ended at the top of her ribcage, hemmed and tied by swirling metal filigree complete with amethysts and crystals. The skirts had the same filigree at her waist, from which the flowing, layered skirts draped down to cover her slippers.
She felt like a fairy, just wearing it. When she returned to the trees, she found Lili, Mira, and Dani dressed in different gowns, all with flowing designs and metal filigree. They looked like royalty.
Wordlessly, they filed into the largest tree, where the Queen had told them a feast would be held. There, they found the others, all dressed in loose trousers and tunics, with boiled leather vests. They were chatting amiably, while servants laid the table.
The Queen acknowledged them with a slight nod. Anastasia took an empty seat beside Mohan. It didn’t take her long to notice that William wasn’t among them. Vaguely, she wondered what Joey had done to him, if it was more than just pluck the feathers from his wings, if there was something internal she couldn’t see. It seemed everyone close to her had been tortured at the hands of the Shadows. She vowed to make sure that never happened again.
“Shall we begin?” the Fairy Queen said. All eyes flicked to her. “Princess Isidora and Prince Hughie should be joining us within the next few days. But, until then, we have some things to discuss.”
Anastasia nodded. “We do.”
The Queen motioned to the table. “Let’s eat.”
There were buttery fruit tarts, and creamy squash pies; there were salads with nuts, and lentil stews. Carafes of pale, honeyed wine sat interspersed between savory casseroles and breads. But, like in Bahail, there was no meat. There wasn’t even any fish at the table. But no one seemed to mind. Everything was so delicious.
But Anastasia hesitated. “What are we doing here?”
“I told you to keep the vial with you,” The Queen replied.
“You also told me you’d dance to the sound of my screams.”
“Trivialities.”
The others stopped eating, glancing between them. It was an unspoken rule that the Fairy Queen’s laws governed above all else. When she called, you went. When she gave an order, you followed. But Anastasia was tired of feeling like she was being jerked around without any guidance. She wanted her questions answered.
Anastasia frowned. “Who is he.”
They all turned to look at the sorcerer that both was and wasn’t Joey. Someone had propped his head on a pillow, but he hadn’t been moved since they arrived. He slept, his chest rising and falling evenly. As Anastasia looked at him, she realized she could feel his emotions.
“The vial I made for you contained a potion,” the Queen explained. “One that would split both halves of Joey into individual beings. For lack of a better explanation, here is the good half of him. The one we left behind is the evil half.”
Anastasia stared at him. “Will he know who he is when he wakes?”
“He will have all of his memories, but his personality will be different.”
“Where do we go from here?”
The Queen smiled. “Once we are all fed and rested, you, me, and the other Ancients will restore the realms and bring everyone back to their homes.”
Dani gasped. “We can go home?”
“Yes.”
Anastasia tilted her head. “And what do we do about… evil Joey?”
“One problem at a time, Anastasia.”
Shaking her head, Anastasia pushed back from the table. On the one hand, she was immensely glad the Queen had welcomed them. It made it easy to unite the Ancients and find a way to return home. But on the other hand, she felt like she had no control over her actions. It was like she was just following in the Queen’s wake, with no say in what she did. And after everything she’d been through, she wanted to exert some control.
Getting to her feet, the Queen motioned for everyone to follow her. “I will show you to your rooms.”
Wordlessly, Anastasia filed out after the Queen. To keep herself calm, she grabbed Aagney from his place at the table. His innocence drowned out her inner lividity and helplessness. Around her, the others chatted animatedly, as though they hadn’t all just been fighting for their lives.
The Queen motioned to a circular room. “Yours, Anastasia.”
Wordlessly, Anastasia entered. Everything within was made of carved wood, including the base of the circular, mossy bed on the far wall. To her utter surprise, William was already on the bed, placed on his stomach. Finding a cradle by the bed, Anastasia put Aagney down and turned to William. Gently, she ran the fingers of her uninjured hand over the bare outline of his wings. Thankfully, the gel Durse had given her still numbed her hand, even after her bath. She figured she’d have to thank him the next time she saw him.
She couldn’t imagine how painful it must’ve been for William, to have his feathers ripped out. Her heart ached for him. But, they would be returning home soon, and it would only be a pain of the past.
She supposed she should be glad for that, but something about it didn’t feel right. They hadn’t stopped Joey but rather created a concentrated version of evil in his dark doppelganger. Who’s to say he wouldn’t redo the spell when they returned, bring them all back to the Old World with the snap of his fingers.
Settling back on the bed, she took William’s hand. She sat in silence, just staring at him, tracing the familiar outline of his face with her eyes.
“He’s going to be just fine.”
Anastasia jumped, finding someone standing in the doorway. As her eyes adjusted to the light, her heart leapt into her throat. It couldn’t be. She had pale white wings, with rich violet swirls the same color as her eyes, eyes that were identical to Anastasia’s.
“Mother?”
“It’s me, darling.”
Anarose opened her arms wide. Anastasia jumped off her bed and threw herself into her mother’s arms. Burying her face in her mother’s shoulder, she breathed deep. It had felt like a lifetime ago that her mother had stood before her. She hadn’t realized she’d needed to feel her mother’s embrace until she stood within it.
Pulling back, Anastasia looked up at her. “What are you doing here? How are you here? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, darling.” Anarose chuckled lightly. “The Queen brought me here and healed me.”
Anastasia returned to her embrace. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“You will be, too, you know.”
She pulled back again. “Where’s father? And Aunt Celia—”
“Everyone’s here. We’re all fine.”
They settled back on the bed and sat together silently. Anastasia had thought she’d had so much to say to her mother since her return from being tortured at the hands of Adrian. But, honestly, all she
needed was to know that her mother was there, telling her everything was going to be alright.
Anarose smoothed her hair back from her face. “Just sleep, darling. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
And though she tried to fight it, tried to be present in every moment she shared with her mother, the toll of the last few days caught up with her. In moments, she drifted off to sleep, comforted by the contentedness radiating from her mother. That night, she had no dreams, no nightmares, no premonitions. She slept soundly for the first time in months.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
M orning brought bruises and stiff muscles. Anastasia rolled over with a groan, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her entire body ached. And though she knew she needed to rise, needed to face the Ancients and her mother and find out what to do next about Joey, all she wanted was to slip back into sleep. She wished she could pretend none of it was happening, that she was just a regular seventeen-year-old Princess, awaiting a bath and a party.
But she wasn’t. She wasn’t the Crown Princess of Jacqueline any longer. For so long, it had meant everything to her. She found, however, that what really mattered to her was the safety of her people, and how her title allowed her to help them. But she didn’t need the title to fight for them, to protect them from Joey, Adrian, and the Shadows.
Opening her eyes, she found William staring at her. Reaching out a hand, she trailed her fingers down his cheek. He closed his eyes at her touch, turning his head to kiss her palm. But she saw he rested on his stomach, his bare wings bloodied and battered. An acidic anger flared in her chest.
“Stop,” he murmured. “I’m fine.”
She narrowed her eyes. “He hurt you.”
“And if we went after everyone who has ever hurt us, we’d never stop fighting.”
“It seems we never stop fighting as it is.”
Leaning up on her elbow, she pressed her lips to his. He was safe now, that was what mattered. As she got out of bed, she reminded herself that they all made it out alive, that they were safe and well. That was what was important. Opening herself to their emotions, she let their relaxed, gentle happiness wash away the lividity.
Stretching, she turned to see William eyeing the tunic on the bed. It was good to see him on his feet after what he’d been through, and she allowed herself a moment to study the bare planes of his back, and the black swirls that colored his skin.
“Need a hand?” she questioned.
He gave her a wry grin. “I was thinking of foregoing the tunic altogether.”
Rolling her eyes, she helped him fit his tunic and vest over his wings. She grimaced every time she felt pain shoot through him, wishing she could just take it all away from him.
It was at that moment, she realized her hand was healed. “What’s this?”
“The Fairy Queen came in last night,” William explained. “Healed the worst of our wounds herself.”
Gratitude filled Anastasia. She clung to it as she and William exited the room, leaving Aagney to sleep soundly in his crib. Absently, she wondered what her family thought of her sharing her bed with William. All they’d done was sleep, just like they had those months together they’d been searching for her grandmother. In truth, it had felt odd, not having him beside her, after he’d been arrested. Now that he was by her side, she wanted him to never leave. And she could feel that he felt the same.
As they rounded the corner, however, she forgot her train of thought. Bright sunlight filtered through the tree’s branches, bathing everything in a pale green glow. They followed the narrow hall to where it spilled out into a sort of dining hall. At a wooden table, seemingly carved from the tree itself, sat her family. They all looked up at her and William as they entered.
“Good morning, girl,” said her father.
Her face splitting in a grin, she raced forward and threw herself into her father’s arms. Aunt Celia, Uncle Graham, Aunt Calla, and Great-Uncle Bale all hugged her as well, until she was surrounded by their love.
“I’m so glad you’re all safe,” she said.
“And we you,” said Bale.
They all looked well, safe, renewed. It was incredible to see her mother up and around. She hadn’t realized how frightened she’d been for her. And now, she was glad she hadn’t taken the signet, as Mistress Miglune had suggested. She was glad she hadn’t given up on her mother and her recovery. It felt whole to be with them again.
“I think we have some things to discuss,” Anarose intoned.
William politely inclined his head. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
“No, William, stay.”
Anastasia felt his surprise and gratitude at being invited to join a family conversation. Surely, her family did, too.
As they sat together at the table, Anastasia thought how strange it was to see her family with wings. It was at that moment, she realized that the swirls were the color of a person’s trade, such as William’s black as a warrior, and hers and her mother’s violet. Bale’s and Celia’s were royal blue, for their trades as a candlemaker and a clerk, respectively; Graham’s were silver, for his status as a diplomat; and her father’s were rose pink for his work as a painter. Calla’s were the same dark indigo as Joey’s.
All were moot, now, as they hadn’t worked their trades since they became members of the royal family. So, it was shocking to be reminded of who they were before they were royalty, to be reminded of how much their lives had changed.
“The Fairy Queen has told us some of what has happened,” said Anarose. “Why don’t you fill us in?”
And so, Anastasia told her mother of Joey’s spell, of how it brought them to the Old World, and of her life in Bahail. She told them of the peoples’ decision to reinstate her as the Crown Princess, and of her opening the inn, and of discovering the Royal Library. As she filled them in on the Ancients, and going to the castle in Armol, William stopped her.
“My sister’s an Ancient?”
Anastasia nodded. “And Chris.”
“So you’re waiting here for Isidora and Hughie to arrive?” asked Calla.
“Yes.”
Celia tittered. “Who would’ve thought that Hughie would ever be an Ancient? He’s always been rather droll, don’t you think? It’ll be nice to see him put to good use.”
“That isn’t all,” Anastasia said. “Joey has the power to see the past.”
Her family glanced at one another, understanding the significance of what she was saying. He could see the past, just as she could see the future.
“He shared a vision with me.” She glanced at Calla. “About his family.”
Celia leaned forward. “And?”
“I think I can explain,” said Calla.
They all turned to look with her, surprise flashing through them. Anastasia just grabbed William’s hand under the table. She wasn’t quite sure how her family was going to take the news about Joey’s history, and Calla’s keeping it a secret.
“I’m Joseph’s mother, and Adrian, the man in charge of the Shadows, is his father.”
No one moved for a moment. And then her family started speaking all at once. Anastasia shrank back, letting them get it all out.
“You’re his mother?” said Graham.
Celia stuck her nose in the air. “I knew it! I knew there was something off about all of this.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” demanded Anarose.
“Did you make it so Anastasia and Joey were friends as children?” asked Elliot.
Bale shook his head. “You should’ve said something!”
When they quieted, Calla said, “I struggled a long time with who my parents were, and why I wasn’t raised by them. I was raised alongside Adrian, we were the best of friends as children. He wasn’t always the evil man he is today.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you lied to us,” said Graham.
“Perhaps not, but I feel it will explain why.” Calla took a deep breath. “My parents are Valdon and Analie.”
Silence per
vaded the table. William laced his fingers through Anastasia, clearly feeling her worry. Her family were filled with a range of emotions, ranging from Bale’s quiet rage, to Anarose’s concern.
“You lie,” hissed Bale. “Analie would never—”
Anarose frowned. “What did Joey have to say about all this?”
“You knew?” demanded Celia.
“My mother was a woman of many secrets, but this wasn’t one of them. She told me stories, growing up, about a sister I had, one that she had to give away to protect the future.”
Bale pushed back from the table, radiating anger. Elliot just sat quietly, taking it in. Anastasia supposed her mother hadn’t kept this a secret from him either. Celia, however, was red in the face, her eyes accusatory.
“How dare you keep something like this a secret?”
Elliot calmly replied, “You’d do good to check your tone, and remember that my wife is the Queen of Jacqueline.”
“I mean, just look at the two of them,” said Graham. “The resemblance is uncanny.”
Everyone at the table turned to look at Anarose and Calla. Just as she had the first time she met Calla, Anastasia thought how greatly she resembled her mother. They had the same features, though Calla’s hair was darker, and her eyes were now the ice blue of the sorcerers. There was no mistaking they were related.
“We could debate the rights and wrongs of this till we’re blue in the face,” said Anarose. “But there are more important things at hand.”
Elliot nodded. “Such as Awakening the Ancients and getting home.”
“And understanding what was done to Joey in Armol.”
Anastasia had nearly forgotten about the vial from the Fairy Queen, how it had split Joey into two people, and how the good sorcerer half was somewhere in Síthe. It made her shudder to think of his evil half, still roaming free in Irichat gol Naingeliar.
“The Fairy Queen said this was his good half,” Anastasia explained. “And the other side was his evil half.”
Anarose pursed her lips. “He can’t stay that way forever.”
“No,” said Calla. “We’ll have to unite him eventually.”
