Time froze for all of them, and Elaine whinnied painfully in her stall. Alastar’s hands began to shake. Corinna’s hand was pressed to her gut. Her gaze was on the shine of the sword and the color permeating her fingers and dripping over the blade.
Belle gasped and covered her mouth. Gavin snapped his hand away from his head and sat up as though he’d been stung. It sounded like Alexander whined, but Corinna could only truly hear the blood rushing through her ears.
“Corinna,” Alastar breathed out. The shaggy man reached forward and placed his hand on Corinna’s shoulder. He grit his teeth and pulled back on his sword, removing the metal from Corinna’s stomach. Corinna cried in pain and stumbled, but Alastar’s hand kept her steady. Alexander knelt frozen behind her, one hand on his side wound and one in the crystallized dirt. Alastar’s unsteady hand dropped his sword into the tainted snow.
“Alastar,” Corinna hissed. “I’m not enchanted. You are.”
“No, but…,” Alastar began, pressing his hand to Corinna’s gut, overtop of Corinna’s own. “Why would ya do that?”
Corinna raised her gaze up to Alastar’s and smiled. She leaned forward and let gravity pull them into an embrace. Corinna leaned her chin on Alastar’s shoulder and took a deep breath.
“I love you,” she said, breathing it against Alastar’s ear. “You have to break this enchantment. You can’t let her control your heart.”
Alastar released a harsh breath and wrapped his trembling arms around Corinna’s thin form. He buried his face in Corinna’s shoulder with a dry sob.
“I’m such an idiot,” he cursed himself. “I’m so sorry.” He pulled away from Corinna and cupped his cheek, pressing kiss after kiss on Corinna’s lips. In between each touch, he murmured his apology in his rough Irish tint and kept his eyes sealed shut.
“Alastar,” Corinna chided, touching the other’s face and stopping the assault. Alastar looked down at Corinna, and his eyes were clear. There was no cloud between them. “I’m sorry,” Corinna said.
“Wha?” Alastar breathed, gently caressing the back of Corinna’s neck. Corinna smiled but it was spoiled.
“I love you, Alastar. Really I do,” Corinna said and pushed Alastar’s hair back from his face. “But you have to understand… I love him more. I can’t let you hurt him.”
“I… I know,” Alastar murmured, lowering his head. His hair fell back and obscured him with shadows, but Corinna was close enough to still see. “I knew tha’… the moment you first opened yer mouth to talk about him.”
“I’m sorry,” Corinna whispered. Alastar shook his head.
“Corinna… you’re wounded.” Alastar half choked on the words, but still he did not cry. His eyes were on the red snow and the tiny streams running through Corinna’s fingers.
“This isn’t your fault,” Corinna promised. She let her dry fingers pet Alastar’s cheek and then she pulled away from Alastar’s arms and affection.
Corinna turned to face Alexander. The prince was kneeling in the snow, side skinned and arm bleeding. His eyes were wide and mouth open in a silent gasp. Corinna smiled at that. He looked young and stunned. He looked… sweet despite the shock. Corinna took a step to close the gap between them, but her feet stumbled over which one was being told to move, and she tripped into the snow. She gasped and whimpered, every bit of her wet and shivering already from her earlier fall. She heard the crunch of snow under a body and then she was being lifted into Alexander’s supporting lap.
“Corinna,” Alexander murmured. He pressed his strong hand over Corinna’s wound and caused Corinna to hiss in pain, but he didn’t stop. His eyes were shaking in place of his body, and his voice did it too. “You haven’t had the chance to learn any healing spells since your last visit, have you?”
Corinna smiled. “N-no,” she said. “Never came up.”
Alexander smiled at the repetition of conversation, but his expression faltered as his eyes glanced down at the wound and then back to Corinna’s face. Alexander’s concern spread pride and affection through Corinna’s chest. It felt wonderful, and she sighed in a contented manner.
“Sorry… about your arm,” she said. “I was too slow.”
“It’ll heal. You were right on time,” Alexander said. His voice was broken. “We should find… Morgana or someone. She can help you. She can.”
“Sorry,” Corinna said again, taking in a hard breath. Her throat burned unnaturally.
“For what?” Alexander asked. Corinna smiled sheepishly.
“For loving you. I’ve ruined everything,” she said. “You were supposed to leave this place and find love… but I was selfish. I didn’t tell you everything. I kept you. You let me go.”
“I wish I hadn’t,” Alexander murmured, his eyes sparking with water. He glanced up at Gavin. “Get Morgana,” he ordered loudly. Gavin nodded and ran off across the yard.
“Alexander,” Corinna began, drawing the prince’s attention back to her. When Alexander’s eyes were on hers again, Corinna smiled. She tensed and lifted herself up despite the pain and the rush of blood it caused to course through her wound. She placed her hand on Alexander’s face and gave her a gentle kiss. It was soft. It was chaste. It was like kissing Alastar, but with even more of a beard. Corinna saved the feeling deep in her heart. She was already tired, and she didn’t think she’d last long – especially if Morgana was her last hope. Still, she had finally kissed Alexander and told him how she felt. Corinna felt something shift under her fingers on Alexander’s cheek and opened her eyes.
Alastar and Belle took half steps back. As Corinna pulled back and relaxed against Alexander’s lap again, the fur on the prince began to flake and fall off. It shed from his head toward his toes like in the brush of the wind until it was all off and lying in the snow beneath him. Then the golden fur faded into a strange silver dust and disappeared into the snow.
Alexander was left, human and crouching in the snow. His hair was just past his ears and brilliant gold. He wore only his pants from before, but they had shrunk to fit his new size. In the cold of the winter air, his bare chest shivered. The prince pressed his lips together and shut his eyes. A shuddering breath filled his lungs.
“Alexander,” Belle gasped and stepped up by Alastar to get a closer look.
“I am -,” the prince began.
“Disgusting,” a female voice finished for him.
All eyes turned toward where Gavin had run off. A tall and regal blonde stood there. She held Gavin before her, but her hands weren’t touching him. Still he grunted and stumbled ahead of her while she just held her hand out before her. Finally she flicked her wrist and he flew to her left.
“Witch! This is yer doing!” Alastar dropped down and grabbed his sword. He was only half to his feet when Morgause put out her hand and froze him where he stood. Alastar grunted and shook and fought to stand. Still, he couldn’t rise, and then the gravity of the magic forced him to his knees.
“See, Sister, how easy it is to control them,” Morgause spoke. She cast her electric gaze over Belle, who bent with a gasp to kneel beside Alastar. Morgana moved up to stand by her sister and looked around at the group, her eyes the image of a frozen sun. “Now perhaps we can finish what we began so long ago.”
“Morgause,” Corinna grunted, trying to sit up. Alexander’s hand pressed her back down and kept her from moving again. Morgause’s eyes snapped to the pair.
“You,” she breathed and stepped over. She knelt down, but she kept herself just out of Alexander’s reach. “You are one of ours. This fabulist prince and his progenitor would see you murdered for public enjoyment. Why did you continue to encroach upon our plans? It was in your benefit as well.”
Her expression was one of disbelief and sad betrayal, as though she had known Corinna all her life and had just discovered her treachery. Her eyes were alight with magic like Morgana’s, and she kept the others on the ground without a glance or a motion in their direction. Morgana stood like a sentinel, watching with stoic acceptance. Mo
rgause frowned deeply at Corinna and reached an aging hand out towards her.
“Keep your hands away,” Alexander said and a growl shivered through his un-cursed body.
Morgause had no pity or sadness as she altered her look to reproach Alexander. She was a mask of hatred and revenge as she raised herself to her feet, her satin red dress shifting about her.
“Silence, you pathetic imitation.” She held her hand out, and Alexander clutched at his throat. Corinna reached for her as well, remembering how Niviene had done the same to her, but she had not needed to raise a finger.
Alexander was ripped from under Corinna, and she collapsed into the snow with a strangled cry.
“Corinna!” Alastar called but, try as he might, he still could not move. Corinna shuddered and placed both hands over her gut.
‘Corinna.’
The injured girl opened her eyes and cast them about as best she could. Who’s voice had that been?
“How could you let him progress so far, Sister?” Morgause asked, sprawling Alexander out on his back.
“I was not aware Corinna had done much at all,” Morgana said, turning her bright gaze upon Corinna’s shivering form. “My visions revealed nothing of this. Someone must have been blocking me.”
“Certainly you do not believe it to be her,” the elder witch said. “True you said you felt strength in her, but few powers are strong enough to block a seer’s eye.”
“No,” Morgana said, and her voice was harsh. “I’m not a fool, Morgause. I would have known if it were her.”
“Well, we shall see how foolish you are,” her sister said. She held her hand up and a gleaming dagger formed from the ice in the air. The blade was clear as glass and the hilt was pure white with the symbols of the old religion etched upon it.
“What are you intending?” Morgana asked, shifting her eyes between her sister and Alexander laying half naked in the snow. Corinna opened her mouth but only managed to whine.
“I intend to chip away at the Knight line in any way I can manage. First it shall be Prince Alexander and then we may proceed to the capital and remove the king’s newborn heir. With or without the creature curse, Paesaggia will fall, and I shall see the end of this bloodthirsty kingdom.” Morgause stepped toward Alexander but then paused. She turned on her heel and stepped instead toward Corinna. “First, however, I think I’ll dispose of a traitor.”
Chapter 26 – True Loyalties
Corinna saw the weak sun shining through Morgause’s dagger and heard a low thumping sound through the earth. Her heart thudded numbly in her chest, betraying her dizzying fear. Morgause was going to kill her. Corinna held her gut and imagined where this next blow may land. Another in her stomach? Straight to her heart? Corinna closed her eyes and let out a tired sigh. She shivered and knew not if it was from the snow or the blood leaking from her fingers. She had saved Alexander with this pain, but magic or not, she would be powerless against the sisters. She had failed.
“Morgause, no,” Morgana said, snapping her fingers over her sister’s wrist. “She was not part of the plan. Leave her. She’s already dying.”
“Soft spot for her, dearest sibling?” Morgause asked, a sly smile on her lips.
The thumping beneath Corinna’s head grew louder and louder. Her heart rate sped up to match those quick beats of someone else’s heart. An odd tinge of hope edged each pulse. Then, springing out, Veronica leapt upon Morgause and sent them both collapsing into the frosty ground. Veronica was already wet and covered in particles of snow. Her hair was a mess with white flakes. Morgause yelled out something fierce, but Veronica stayed cleanly attached to the older woman’s back.
“I won’t let you hurt Corinna!” the smaller girl proclaimed and squeezed her arms tightly around Morgause’s neck.
In a flurry of snow and blonde hair, wind burst up around the two and lifted Veronica’s body off Morgause. Her arms still held around the witch’s neck, but her body was horizontal as Morgause stood up again. The blonde reached back and snapped her hand on Veronica’s neck. With a grunt of force, she ripped Veronica off her back and pulled her around in front of her. She held the youngest servant up like a toy and sneered.
“You,” she said, her voice silky sweet. “Well well well. I was not aware you were working in this too. It seems my sister has kept quite a bit from me.”
Morgause cast a suspicious glare back at Morgana, but the younger sister stood still and calm. Morgause snapped her gaze back to Veronica.
“Not… Corinna,” Veronica gasped out, pulling futilely against Morgause’s fingers. Morgause smirked.
“You’re nothing but a powerless serving girl,” she said. Her fingers tightened around Veronica’s neck and the younger girl gasped in pain. “I have no use for you.”
“Morgause,” Morgana spoke up warningly.
“Hush now, Morgana. We shall deal with your secrets later,” Morgause snapped. She kept her eyes on Veronica and a sadistic look seemed to turn the edges of her electric blue eyes red. Veronica’s fingers began to slip off Morgause’s hand, and she whined for air, but Morgause did not stop. Only when Veronica’s eyes slipped back and her hands dropped to her sides did Morgause relent and toss her to the ground before the kneeling others.
“Veronica,” Belle said and tried to reach for her, but couldn’t move more than an inch. “Is she dead?”
“Unconscious,” Alastar grunted. “But not fer lack of tryin.” His eyes were an impassioned glare.
“I don’t believe I asked for your opinion, Sir Alastar. You have already proven yourself a failure,” Morgause said, her voice sweet once more. She looked down at Corinna and frowned. “Perhaps you are right, Sister. She’s already pale. I leave her death in the duke’s hands.”
Alastar lowered his eyes to the ground and glared there at the snow. Morgause shrugged and stepped toward Alexander.
“First it was the court sorcerer. Now it will be the two princes; then the servants; then all the people involved in the condemnation. Finally, the king, and Paesaggia will crumble to dust. I admit it would have been a more elegant finish had you let your curse come to fruition and kept your heart on your kingdom, but I can bend to fate.”
“Don’t-” Corinna gasped, but Morgause barely spared her a glance.
“Every power of Paesaggia shall fight against you. You have never experienced a harder kingdom to destroy,” Alexander said. “You will have to kill every last noble and peasant before the kingdom will fall to you.”
“Then so be it,” Morgause said, a devious smile on her lips. “To the death of Paesaggia.”
She raised her dagger up over Alexander’s exposed chest and stared down at his defiant eyes. Corinna sucked in a hard breath and pushed herself half up on her side. It felt like being stabbed all over again, but she did it and drew Morgause’s attention to her. Corinna tried to push herself up to her knees, but she felt blood in her mouth and her body tensed in pain and wouldn’t move.
“Are you eager to die?” Morgause asked. Her forehead creased in disturbed curiosity. Corinna winced and bent toward the ground.
“Corinna, just stay down,” Alexander ordered.
“Listen to the prat,” Alastar said. “Yer bleeding ta death!”
Corinna hissed and collapsed on her side. Morgause shook her head and regarded her uneasily. She turned back to Alexander, but the prince was no longer watching her in defiance and waiting for death. His eyes were over on Corinna in the snow. His eyes were filled with fear. Corinna took a heavy breath.
“Ágælan,” Corinna huffed out, raising her hand to Morgause. The blonde held perfectly still for a moment, and Corinna smiled. Then Morgause twisted and shrugged her shoulders. She rolled her neck as she turned to face Corinna again.
“Pitiful,” she said. “I do believe you meant Ásælan.”
Corinna winced and dropped her head into the snow. It felt as though a cast was being formed over her body. Her hands were pulled against her sides, keeping them from putting pressure on her woun
d. Corinna whined and tightly shut her eyes.
“Die quietly,” Morgause said. “It will go much easier if you don’t fight it.”
“Morgause.” Morgana was there behind Morgause. She put a hand on her sister’s shoulder and looked down at Corinna. She glanced over to Alexander and set her electric stare on him. “What shall we do with the one who began the magical purge?”
“The same as everyone else involved, Sister. We kill them,” Morgause said. “Why do you ask?”
“I just wanted to be sure,” Morgana said, her voice dangerously low.
Corinna watched, pinned as she was, as Morgana’s hand erupted with lightning. Morgause shrieked, her fingers flexing and dropping her dagger. Her whole body flinched and shuddered under Morgana’s simple touch. As the electricity sparked and crackled around the edges of Morgana’s palm, Morgause’s eyes rolled back and closed just before her body collapsed onto the cold ground.
The Rose Chateau Page 34
