Twilight's Spell

by Sela Croft

“You must know something. Humans do not simply appear in our realm. Someone brought you here. And I need to know why.”

  “I told you, I don’t know how I got here.”

  Her tone was as sharp as mine. She sat up a little straighter, as if to demonstrate that she wasn’t afraid of me. Her bravery was as admirable as it was aggravating. I had done all I could to break her. I had been kind. I had been patient. And I had been intimidating.

  She remained unchanged, as stubborn as the moment we met.

  “You can’t keep me here for not knowing the answer to your question. It’s cruel. I haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t deserve this.”

  I leaned in close and hovered over her. “In case you hadn’t noticed, being cruel is natural for me.”

  I didn’t have time for her evasive tactics. But I was not done with her. I stared at her, intending for my presence to make a dent in her resistance.

  “I have a matter to attend to,” I said, then marched toward the door. “We will resume our discussion when I return.”

  “I won’t be here. I’ll find a way out. I’ll do whatever it takes to—”

  “To what?” I asked, turning back.

  “To get away from you.”

  “You’re in my world, Callie. You can’t get away from me.”

  With that, I pulled the door open and stepped out into the hall, letting it slam shut behind me. The sound echoed down the long hall. A sigh escaped my lips. I had to put Callie behind me. I had to block her from my thoughts.

  My sister was in danger, and I trembled with rage. But more than that, I was concerned. Losing my sister would be a tragedy, not only for me, but for everyone inside my city.

  Whoever was responsible for this would pay. I didn’t care if they were Fae or human or some other force we hadn’t encountered before. I would find them and destroy them.

  Chapter 33

  Logan

  While striding toward the exit, I barked orders to my servants. Callie wouldn’t be allowed to leave. “Keep an eye on her and watch every move she makes. Bring in more security. See to it that she’s here when I return. I’m not done with her.”

  Under normal circumstances, I walked to my sister’s home to enjoy the breeze and take in the scenery. With no time to waste, I travelled through the air, oblivious to what was around me. My gaze was locked onto my destination.

  Where could she be? Would anyone be foolish enough to kidnap a member of the royal family? It was a brash move, to be sure. It was something a human wouldn’t conceive of attempting. While more than willing to bring pain to my family and to my people, the Fae couldn’t enter the city.

  The closer I got to my sister’s home, the more my anxiety rose.

  When I landed at the foot of the walkway, I noticed several guards stationed on the premises. I scoffed at their presence.

  “It would have been better, if you’d been here hours ago,” I said, glaring at the security chief.

  “You’re right, your grace. I’m sorry,” the chief said, not daring to look me in the eye.

  “Save your apologies, since they will not bring my sister back,” I said, surveying the grounds. “There aren’t many of your men here. Why is that?”

  “Most of my guards are out scouring the city, searching for the missing fugitives.”

  Our city had faced a great deal of upset in the last few days. Resources were spread thin.

  I walked up to the entrance of Natasha’s home.

  “I want answers,” Valter said to one of the guards, his posture stiff. “You will not stop until I get them.”

  He ran a slightly shaking hand through his dark blond hair. He was as worried as I was. Perhaps even more. He wouldn’t let that show though. He was the warrior of the family, strong, confident, and capable.

  When he was around his men, he maintained that persona, no matter what was at stake. His ability not allow emotion to sway his decisions was part of what made him such a skilled fighter.

  Under the circumstances, he might not be able to do that as easily. It would be difficult to approach this situation objectively. It was personal, which was the intention.

  No one in the realm, except for perhaps Callie Mayfair—if her word could be believed—that didn’t know the role that Natasha played within the ruling family. She had been targeted for a specific reason. What that reason was remained unknown.

  “What happened, Valter?”

  My brother turned to face me. Emotions that had been reigned in returned with full force. He stretched out his hand and motioned around the room. “Take a look for yourself.”

  I did as he said. The sitting room where we stood, was my sister’s favorite. She loved the large windows and the simple design. The area was in a complete state of disarray. Chairs were overturned, and her knife protruded from the wall on the far side of the room. The ground was littered with the weapons typical of vampire hunters.

  I kicked them away and moved to examine the rest of the house.

  The kitchen was in the same condition as the sitting room. The study, the bedroom, the gardens, every place showed signs of the struggle.

  When I returned to the sitting room, Valter was there waiting for me. His man had left, and we were alone.

  “There is blood everywhere,” I said.

  “Yes, human and vampire.”

  “What human would do this?” I said. “What human would be capable of doing this? Natasha is strong and a skilled fighter. It would be impossible for a human to overpower her, not to mention spirit her away.”

  Valter shook his head, looking somber. “Whoever it was had help,” he said. “There’s no other answer. The humans have teamed up with a more powerful force.”

  “The Fae,” I said. “But they aren’t able to get inside the city.”

  “Perhaps it’s not the Fae.”

  I stepped back, then shook my head. The Fae had been our mortal enemies for as long as I could recall. They were responsible for all the ill that befell us. Yet, to think that something else could be out there capable of doing harm, terrified me more than what the Fae might do.

  I turned to look at the scene, hoping to glean some sort of information from the ruins scattered about. My eyes drifted past the couch, over the pile of wooden stakes on the ground, and out the window. As I turned my face toward the sky, hoping for some revelation, I noticed the flock of birds still swarming overhead.

  “You’re right,” I said, grabbing onto my brother’s arm. “Whether Fae or some other evil, the human invader had help.”

  I pointed in the direction of the fluttering wings. Valter’s eyes darted upward, with a look of genuine fear on his face. It was a look I hadn’t seen for many years, not since the early days of our fight against the Fae.

  My brother’s distress added to my own angst. “Call off the search for the fugitives. I want every resource engaged in locating Natasha.”

  Chapter 34

  Callie

  I had expected the room to fill with servants or guards to execute Logan’s command to keep me under lock and key. But no one did. I was left on my own in the large, imposing study.

  With nothing else to do, I pushed myself up and began to investigate my surroundings. There had to be a way out. Unfortunately, I was left in the only room in the residence that didn’t have one of those fancy, half-way-up windows.

  I wondered if Logan had meant to keep me in this study, or just within the confines of his shiny, floating bachelor pad. I needed to get to one of those other rooms with a window.

  I‘d heard the vampire prince bark out orders, as he’d marched down the hall. His voice had carried through the walls, especially since he was mad, as he often was. Earlier, he’d revealed a softer side of himself. While on the rooftop, I’d begun to think I could trust him.

  He’d shared details about his life, his past, and his hardships. He hadn’t been forced to do that. He hadn’t been required to tell me those things. So why had he?

  Was it a plan to get me to tr
ust him in return? Or was there something else? I had to admit, there were times when it seemed I was attracted to him, in a strange way. In those moments when he let his guard down, I’d enjoyed being around him.

  In a flash, it had all changed—he’d changed.

  He was a volatile person, which was more evident the longer I spent with him. More than that, he was domineering and controlling.

  I walked around the study, examining the books and letting the memory of my time with the vampire prince replay in my mind, and latched onto the last thing he’d said to me before taking off without explanation.

  “You’re in my realm, Callie. You can’t get away from me.”

  I refused to be afraid of Logan Bayne. But part of me was. Up until now, I had been fortunate that he deemed me worthy of his time, or at least, important enough to keep me around and alive. Although, I still wasn’t sure why he felt that way. The only hint he had given me was his insistence on asking why I was in his realm.

  The fact that he wanted to know so badly made me more apprehensive to tell him. What if I said the wrong thing? What if he thought I was valuable in some way? That was nonsense, of course.

  All I wanted was to find my sister and go home. And that’s what I was going to do. I refused to sit around, waiting for Logan to change his mind, and drink my blood. Or offer me to those drooling vampires he’d introduced me to.

  With that, I paced around the room, trying to think of a way out. My thoughts wandered back to the bossy vampire responsible for my current predicament.

  Logan had seemed frightened for a moment, after Henry had relayed the news. But what would be scary to a vampire who controlled an entire realm?

  Perhaps it was the Fae? Those creatures of darkness seemed to hold a strong position in the realm. When Logan talked about them, he seemed genuinely concerned about their influence.

  After fighting them for so long, it didn’t add up that he’d be afraid. But not much in the world made sense to me. And many things in Shadowland were frightening.

  That thought brought back my concern for my sister. Rosamon was out there, alone. I had to get out of this place and find her. She must be so scared.

  I walked toward the large doors, then pulled them open, finding them surprisingly heavy. Logan was able to throw them back with ease, making it look deceptively easy.

  The second I stepped out into the hall, I was stopped.

  “Callie,” Henry said, running up to me. “I’m afraid I can’t let you leave.”

  “I heard,” I replied. “I’m not trying to leave. I’m just tired. It’s been a horrible day.”

  I stuck out my bottom lip a little before forcing a yawn. The truth was, it has been a very long day, and I was feeling fatigued. I had no way of knowing what time it was, but it didn’t matter. I hadn’t slept more than two hours in the last twenty-four.

  “Oh, of course,” Henry said, waving his hand to a pair of guards that were coming down the hall. “His grace often forgets that we humans have needs that his kind have long since put aside. I’ll show you to your room.”

  As we walked down the hallway, I took in my surroundings, trying to memorize each turn we took and each door we passed. It wasn’t an overly large place, but it was different than any I’d seen before. It was regal, yet not overdone, considering its owner was of royal lineage.

  “My house back home could fit inside this place at least ten times,” I said, gawking at the high ceilings and expansive layout.

  Henry chuckled but didn’t speak. When we arrived at my room, I asked for some privacy. Henry was hesitant, but obliged. It would be rather uncomfortable for both of us if he insisted on watching me sleep.

  More so for me, since I wasn’t planning on sleeping at all.

  “Let me know if you need anything,” he said, then walked off.

  I noticed that the two guards who had approached earlier had followed us. They stood outside my door, arms crossed over their chests. I knew trying to get rid of them would useless. I smiled at them brightly, then I pushed the door shut.

  The second I was alone, I raced across the room. I had only been there once, for a short time. And only to sleep. The plush bed in the center of the room seemed to call out to me as I hurried past. Sleep could wait; my sister could not.

  I rushed up to the window, the only part of the room I remembered clearly. I took hold of the edge and leaned out. The glass came up to my waist. As I looked out, I was suddenly very thankful for the glass barrier.

  The ground was many stories down. An unexpected fear of heights seized me, so I moved away from the edge. I had been up high before, when climbing trees or sneaking out onto the roof at night to look at the stars. Yet this was higher than any tree or any rooftop I’d climbed on before.

  There had to be some way out.

  I leaned against the glass, taking in the sights. The Crystal City was rustling to life. I could see people moving about below me. The light coming from the center was brighter, and a warm glow filled the scene. In the distance, the mountains rose, the trees quivered in the breeze, and the sky stretched out infinitely, filled with millions of stars.

  It was beautiful.

  I gripped the glass, wanting so badly to be out there. It didn’t matter that I was in an elegant floating mansion. Or that all that surrounded me was gorgeous and breathtaking.

  I was still in prison, just as I’d been earlier.

  A single tear rolled down my cheek. “I’m going to figure this out, Rosamon. I promise. I will find you.”

  Chapter 35

  Callie

  When my eyes flew open, the first thing I saw was the ground far below me. Panic consumed me, and I tried to escape the sense of vertigo.

  I’d fallen asleep against the window. There was no way of knowing how long I’d been there. Getting to my feet, I looked out over the edge again. It couldn’t have been long.

  The light seemed the same. But did the light change that often? I scanned my surroundings. Bodies below moved back and forth, involved in their mid-morning routine.

  I pushed back and spun around. The room was large and pristine. There was a bed, a dresser, and other typical items. I wondered what vampires needed beds for. Or if Logan had any human visitors to make use of them.

  It seemed unlikely.

  More than that, it was unimportant. I had lost time. There was no telling when Logan would be back, and I get away before that happened. It was clear that I was not going to be able to jump out the window of my assigned room, as I had hoped.

  But there were other windows. Perhaps a different window would offer a better opportunity. There might be a slope, or a surface to slide down.

  Yet, it seemed unlikely. I moved toward the door and pulled it open. The two guards were in the spot I’d last seen them. They looked down, examining me with amber eyes.

  So, I shut the door. Sneaking out wasn’t an option, so I paced while trying to come up with another idea.

  I returned to the window to contemplate the situation. I considered calling to Kaida. She was friendly enough. But she was Logan’s pet. What were the chances she would listen to me? Besides, how would one go about controlling a dragon?

  I had just recently gotten my Oregon driver’s license. I wasn’t confident enough driving a car yet. There was no way I was going to try to navigate my way through this strange, terrifying place on a dragon’s back.

  The servants would have to come and go, which lead to a revelation. Logan had mentioned getting more food for me. The food had to come from somewhere. I was willing to bet that the human servants were the ones to leave for supplies.

  I raced back to the door, and took a moment to regain my composure, before I pulled it open. “Hello,” I said, in the most cheerful voice I could muster.

  The guards didn’t react. The unflinching stares made me hesitate. I swallowed back doubt and fear, then stood taller. “I’m hungry.”

  My plea was met with empty stares.

  “I’m human,” I sa
id. “I have to eat food.”

  The sound of footsteps hurrying down the hall drew my attention away from the large, vampires who seemed unable to understand anything I was saying. I was relieved to see Henry rushing toward me.

  “Callie,” he said. “Do you need something? I’m sorry I didn’t check in on you sooner. I assumed you would be sleeping for hours.”

  “I’m fine. I’m just hungry,” I said. “Can I go to the kitchen and find something to eat?”

  “Of course.”

  Henry nodded to the guards, before taking off down the hall. I followed behind him. The guards joined our rapid procession through the floating mansion. I was amazed at how fast Henry was able to move.

  My depleted condition impacted my ability to keep up with him. He looked over his shoulder to find me struggling to keep up.

  Henry slowed his pace. “Moving fast is a habit,” he said, and waited for me to catch up with him. “The vampires move quickly. I’m simply used to trying to keep up.”

  “Do they really control everything around here?”

  “Oh, yes. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember.”

  “And are you happy?”

  My question seemed to strike him as odd. The look on his face told me that he hadn’t been asked before. While he continued to the kitchen, he seemed to contemplate.

  “I’m lucky,” Henry said, after a long pause. “His grace has been very kind by allowing me to work here. Others are not as fortunate.”

  He looked over his shoulder, then at me, before pushing open the door to the dining room. I knew what he was hinting. The guards were close behind, so could hear what we were saying.

  It didn’t matter, since I had run out of time to ask any more questions. We walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. Three humans were busy with food preparation, and barely seemed to notice our entry.

  “Not in here,” Henry said, shooing the guards out of the kitchen. “There is nothing in here for you anyway. We’ll keep an eye on her.”

  I was amazed that the guards listened to him. They turned and left the kitchen without a word.