The Witch’s Destiny

by Emma Glass

  It felt greatly significant.

  I rounded a corner, glancing at a shattered wall. Always took it for granted that this place was neutral ground, deep down in one of our holds… buried beneath the earth, maybe below one mountain or another. The others, I am aware, all thought the same.

  How will it change our world to realize we were wrong?

  At long last, these curious questions offered a diversion from the endless memory of my sister’s demise. Though I welcomed having something new to consider, I could not forget that Nikki still had bearing on why I was here.

  And, eventually, I came to the council chamber.

  I glanced around at the archways, each one cut through the stone to provide a corridor back to another castle. Even as one lord died, their throne and corridor faded away.

  I no longer counted eight. I counted six.

  “There goes your seven,” I sighed.

  It was not long before I found what I needed. Shoving away shattered debris and upended thrones, I reached the body of Lord Mattias Blackburn—and I paused. His hands were folded over his sword; he was positioned in the ways of a warrior lost in combat. It was fitting.

  You outdid yourself, Nikki. I will preserve this.

  I took a knee besides Mattias. He looked just as he had when the battle raged, without a hint of decay. My only indication of the lord’s demise was his lack of breath; his chest lay motionless and still as the grave. Mattias had been left in his armor and cloak, worn with the ferocity of many battles—some, far more recent than others.

  “You were right, Nikki…” I glanced around the broken chamber that served as his gravesite—left here out of fear. “This dark and rotten place is no suitable tomb for a great man such as this. Surely we can find… another.”

  Lord Blackburn looked wise. He looked strong.

  He looked like a man I could be proud to call Father.

  Chapter 39

  Clara

  Two Months Later

  Spring had finally come to Stonehold.

  Standing on the stone balcony of Craven Keep, I let my eyes trail across the horizon. Even just here on the Isle of Obsidian, the snow and ice was long thawed in every direction. Thanks to a little widespread irrigation, this was the lushest and greenest I had ever seen the hold. Silas suggested it would stay like this for a long time.

  “Clara,” a voice called from behind. “It is time.”

  I nodded distractedly and turned back.

  Asarra and Kinsey stood patiently. One smiled openly; the other looked bored at first. But when her gaze locked with mine, she rolled her eyes, letting a small smirk out.

  “Come on, then,” Kinsey snorted.

  I followed them to Elliott’s bedroom, where the dress lay on the bed. As was traditional of a human wedding, he had not slept here last night. Indeed, the two girls still had a slight stagger to their steps, having slept off one hell of a hangover on a little joyride on the mainland (with Elliott’s cautious blessing, of course).

  Stripping down to my skivvies, I let them help me into the beautiful dress that a very special tailor on mainland Stonehold had spent the past few weeks making for me—banished or not, it turns out that a lifetime of tailoring for the royal court and a sack of gold was all you needed to be the most in-demand craftsman in five hundred kilometers. His clientele came far and wide to see Jerald Puckett, most of them unaware that he was blind!

  After we explained what the gown was for—and what a wedding actually was—he insisted it was a wedding gift. I had Elliott sneak payment into his son’s surprised hands.

  And, oh my god, was it beautiful.

  Above the waist, the strapless wedding gown held me snugly, accentuating my curves to a degree that the mirror could never show me. Below, it flowed outwards in a wide bell of gorgeous ruffles that made me feel like a princess. Lace edges, dangling pearls, and even sparkling feathers had all been sewn into the gown’s fringes. No one element overwhelmed the others; they coexisted in beautiful layers of a majestic gown fit for a woman far prettier than I.

  My favourite part was that the entire gown shimmered in the light as I moved. With the slight bump of my hip or a sway of my feet, it glistened; but when I spun, the entire gown burst into beautiful rays of soft, twinkling light. The ensemble made me feel, just once, like this was my world after all—and that this is where I belonged, right here…

  Here, in the castle of Elliott Craven.

  I held out my hands as the girls helped them slide into long, fingerless gloves that reached up near my shoulders. Made of sheer lace and woven with intricate patterns, I felt a stunned adoration as I stared down at them.

  “You look… beautiful,” Asarra whispered.

  Kinsey shrugged. “You look alright.”

  I cast her a feigned glare. She smirked.

  For a moment, I glanced over longingly at the pendant dangling from a rod on an end table. Drained and useless, my old amulet—the Blackwell Amulet, as it had once been called—rested there since the night we arrived. I felt a little tug in my heart, easing me to wear it for this.

  But I didn’t need it anymore.

  It wasn’t mine. Not really. I stepped away from them to toss it into a drawer, briefly knocking my hand on the edge of the wood. With a slight hiss, I lifted my hand to stare at the deep splinter.

  “Clara! Are you okay?” Asarra helpfully asked.

  I nodded my head, carefully plucking it out. Eyeballing the slight red trickle of blood that threatened to stain this beautiful white gown, I held my hand up and frowned.

  “Novo.”

  The tiny wound was gone in a whisper.

  I glanced back down at the half-open drawer holding my old necklace. Not today, old friend. For all the good you’ve done for me… you’ve caused just a little too much trouble. Can’t have you trying to rip me between worlds on my wedding day…

  With my hip, I bounced the drawer shut.

  * * *

  “Come on, you two. We have a long walk down.”

  A handsome voice called out. “Actually…”

  I turned in shock. “Elliott! But you’re not supposed to be here! Get out of here in once!”

  Wilhelm and Viktor shoved my groom into view. With his eyes bound in a blindfold and his palms out, he looked ridiculous. But that sleek, black open tuxedo with the crisp white dress shirt beneath, the tight waistcoat over his hard chest, and that velvety red-underside cloak draping over his broad shoulders down to his shins stripped away any lasting hilarity of the moment. Even down to his polished boots, it was clear—the groom was dead sexy.

  Viktor coughed. “We know that your mate—“

  “Groom,” Asarra corrected him insistently.

  “…Groom,” he continued, “is not allowed to see you.”

  Wilhelm interjected. “Yet, we couldn’t help but notice that Lord Elliott here was going to need to be around if we wanted to spare you dusting all those stairs in that thing. Or, you know, half the castle on the way there.”

  “Right,” Viktor agreed. “So, we brought him anyway.”

  I folded my arms, shaking my head.

  “How do I look?” Elliott groaned.

  I lifted my ruffles and crossed the gap. “Marvelous, my love. You look… more handsome than ever.”

  “I agree,” Wilhelm nodded. “All downhill from here.”

  Elliott smacked him lightly upside the head.

  “Hey! I thought you couldn’t see!”

  “Frustrating as you can be, Wilhelm... I make a point to always be aware of where you are.”

  “We should get a move on,” Viktor glanced around the corner at the balcony’s sunlight. “The ceremony should be starting any minute now. It would not do for you to be late to your own wedding, would it?”

  I held out an arm. Wilhelm helpfully threaded Elliott’s arm through mine; I helped escort him towards the nearby chrysm node of his private suite. Hearing the whirring of the node as it flickered to life for its master, my love turned in my
general direction with a hopeful smile.

  “May I see you now?”

  I grinned, nodding over to Viktor; stepping forwards, he unthreaded the sleek blindfold. As Elliott blinked away the light and turned to me, his jaw physically dropped.

  “Clara! My gods… you look…”

  “Choose your words carefully,” I grinned.

  “…Like the woman I want to spend my life with.”

  I felt my heart beat hard in my chest. “Really?”

  “If I do my job right, my beloved…”

  Elliott tightened his arm in mine and beamed warmly. One step forwards, and we were on the chrysm node—the others drew close as the light glowed around our shins…

  “…You’ll never feel compelled to ask me ever again.”

  * * *

  Arm in arm, Elliott escorted me across the chrysm hub. Our small entourage followed as we rounded the corner to the next half-ring of nodes. As our little procession passed, the chrysm attendants on shift briefly paused their work to watch, no doubt confused by the sight.

  He led me to a particular node; we all stepped on.

  “Are you ready?” He whispered as the glow whirled.

  “More than ever,” I sighed against his shoulder.

  The chrysm light flashed before our eyes…

  And then we stood at one end of his throne room, filled on both sides with his cheering subjects. Far ahead and up the few stairs, Sage Sebastian of Stonehold triumphantly watched us with an ancient spellbook in his hands.

  Elliott leaned in. “It is time, my love.”

  I nodded, gazing around at his jubilant castle subjects. “There are so many of them, Elliott! And they’re all here to watch their vampire lord finally take a mate…”

  “No, my love,” he whispered. “They came for you.”

  I was so happy, my knees nearly gave out.

  Proudly, he escorted me across the long carpet towards the throne—or thrones, I suddenly realized. I glanced up at him questioningly.

  “What?” He chuckled. “Thought I might rule alone?”

  “I hadn’t really… thought about it…”

  “What did I ask you, the night before the Calamity?”

  “To marry you.”

  “No, my darling. I asked if you would be mine forever. If you would live in this castle with me, stand at my side, and help me to rule these people…”

  “You meant—?”

  “Stonehold had two vampire lords once,” he replied, a trickle of grief in his eye. “I am sure that they will accept a royal pair dividing up the duties—perhaps it should even be the norm. One to balance the other, keeping either from straying down a darker path…”

  Before I could reply, I realized we were already there. I turned back to study the throng of cheers on either side. Wilhelm, Asarra, and Viktor were walking behind me and took their place at my side. On his side, Kinsey and Silas took their own positions. I hid a glint of sadness, as did he; I knew he intentionally left a place for his fallen sister.

  Sebastian raised his free hand, silencing our audience. As the sage did so, Elliott gave a silent, curt nod to Kinsey, who immediately slipped away behind a wall. I looked up at him questioningly; he ignored me but smiled.

  “I understand,” Sebastian began; he projected his voice for all gathered to hear, “that this is not a usual ceremony for vampires to undergo. Neither is it particularly common for vampire lords, either. In fact, what we all assemble today to witness is, quite truly, a historic moment—and I am sure that all the history books shall remember this occasion for the rest of our days…”

  He kept an eye on Elliott, who merely nodded.

  I mouthed at the groom: What is going on?

  “Now, Lord Elliott… Miss Clara…” Sebastian ordered, “please release your arms and face one another. As I have been made to understand it, this ritual relies on the two of you holding hands… staring into each other’s eyes… and making powerful promises to one another…”

  Why is he drawing out his words? But I followed orders.

  “Please, gaze unto one another. Reflect on the road that brought you two together; even as you found yourselves in mortal peril, or terribly divided by fate… that very same road has always brought you both back. And it has finally led you here, to this moment now.

  “And so… reflect.”

  If I didn’t know any better, is he… stalling?

  But it was a wonderful sentiment, and I wasn’t about to ruin it. I gazed into Elliott’s eyes with love and warmth; he did the same to mine. We stood together, hand in hand, calmly reflecting on all that had happened.

  And I thought of a different witch between worlds.

  A terrible witch that, by sheer mistake, brought the two of us together. By trying to make me a weapon to inflict her own twisted justice upon reality, she caused me incredible pain—and gave me the best thing that had ever happened to me.

  That evil witch brought me Clara.

  There was a commotion now. I turned my head.

  “Ah, yes,” Sebastian smiled. “I might have forgotten to mention that we have a few extraordinary guests today…”

  I turned back to Elliott again. “No way.”

  He smiled. “Yes, way.”

  As Kinsey popped in and held open a nearby door, the remaining Council of the Eight Holds all swept one-by-one into the throne chamber. An awed murmur fell across the crowd as the vampire lords took their places standing just past the dangling ropes holding back the subjects on either side. Only five of them were left, excepting Elliott; without Lord Akachi Azuzi or Lord Mattias Blackburn, we were all down two holds represented. Neither one had confirmed a new vampire lord just yet, given the recent circumstances. Meanwhile, Elliott’s vassal silently took back her position behind him once again.

  “Please,” Lord Vasiliev gestured. “Continue.”

  Sebastian beamed, raising up the open spellbook in his hand. As I got a closer look at it, I recognized it as a book I would never forget—originator of the protection spell that was cast over me, some years ago, to save me from their unquenchable bloodlust. A little more recently, used to banish me back into my own world when Elliott couldn’t protect me…

  It was a fitting choice, I thought. That single hardback had given all of our lives so much history.

  His voice carried as he began to recite the speeches that he wrote for us; Sebastian wielded the book he knew well with a tempered fervor and a wide smile, reciting touching words that had me far more emotional than I thought that I’d be. Even Chandra wiped a few tears from her eye.

  But in the same breath, I caught her and Viktor sharing a brief smile. Turning away, I couldn’t help but join in.

  The ceremony was as beautiful as the dress. Sebastian outdid himself as a makeshift minister. We read out vows that broke each other’s hearts with joy; we both laughed at Wilhelm when he timed a perfect, parting joke. And when the time came for Elliott and I to say our “I do’s”…

  “With all of the power vested within me as the Sage of Stonehold... I proudly decree you both husband and wife! Elliott Craven, Lord of Stonehold… kiss your bride!”

  Elliott wasted no time whirling me around, supporting my back with his arm. I laughed in shock as my husband planted his lips hard against mine, to the deafening roar of unanimous cheers—

  And the best magical crackle yet surged in our veins.

  Chapter 40

  Elliott

  As the festivities died down, I led my bride away.

  It was perhaps unwise to be so frivolous with security concerning the vampire lords... but this was a new time, and a new era. And with the dispersal of the plagues drowning our world, we all enjoyed peace.

  At least Chandra will be occupied—she and Viktor have been practically inseparable since we first returned. Clara and I even had to send the man off to Alevorra with her, just to get her to leave my bloody castle… Although, I couldn’t fault them for their growing attraction, no matter how unlikely.
r />   And besides—the lords wouldn’t dare betray me now.

  Not after they surprised me with a round of voting to establish a new echelon of political power. One of us to, rule over all of us—one lord to speak for the others. Strangely enough, the idea was the brainchild of none other than her eminence herself, the proud Lord Valentine Vasiliev. Hell, the vampire lords even coined a curious little title for it…

  The vampire overlord. It was a little catchy, I can admit.

  But Clara had a better idea. A concept from her world. She laughed now as we strolled together; Clara trailed her bare fingertip on the edge of my neck. “Elliott Craven, the Vampire King… and as of today, my husband.”

  “So many titles,” I smirked. “How to juggle them all.”

  “Indeed,” she winked. “And so many responsibilities.”

  “Not as many as Svetlana,” I chuckled mischievously. “You have made that woman busy. Between synthesizing newer, healthier blood for mass production from what you brought back, and the start of her electricity revolution… I imagine she is going to be busy for the next eighty years.”

  Clara looked shattered. “Oh no! I didn’t mean for—“

  “Don’t worry,” I reassured her. “Svetlana loves keeping her scientists occupied. Take the compliment. It is not very often that she suspends every last project and experiment at hand to divert resources. The last time it happened—as far as I am aware—she and my mother changed the world. I truly believe you have ushered in something incredible as well. Give it a few decades, and we shall see…”

  She nodded in relief. “Well… I hope so. But the credit should be all hers. All I did was print off a bunch of pages and rob a blood bank.”