by Blue Saffire
Like my father, I love art. Mother hates that I’ve followed in his footsteps. She loses it anytime she finds me sketching or painting.
“I have the pendant, but we have a new problem,” she says.
I draw my brows as I watch her form begin to flicker before my eyes. I knew this was coming. She’s becoming completely unstable. It’s best for me to proceed with caution. We need to get her one of those roses before she can’t come back from all she has done.
“Mother. What did you just do? You’re um… you’re flickering.”
“I’ll be fine. I used a bit more magic than I thought it would take.”
“What would take?”
She huffs and holds up the watch Argon wore around his neck. It glows with a white and yellow light. My gaze bounces between her and the watch.
“I had to split in two. One of me distracted him, while the other me stole the necklace. He’s so untrusting of me, he was completely focused on the me standing right in front of him.
“It couldn’t have work any better. Now, the real problem is what I overheard while waiting in the hallway. They’re going to redo the ceremony.
“I don’t have enough time to give you my essence.” She starts to murmur to herself. I become alarmed when she also starts to reply to herself. “I could try, but I’ve used so much power already.
“Yes, you have. There has to be another way. She has to be the chosen one or all this ends here.
“I know, I know,” she says in frustration.
“I think we should go after the rose. You said that the beast is almost powerless. I can take your warriors and retrieve one of the roses for you. That will give you the power you need won’t it?”
Mother turns to me and her face lights up. She moves to me and cups my face. I lift my head and stand straighter.
“Ah, you are displaying my wisdom. That’s exactly what I need. Those roses encompass the true depths of the princess’s power.
“It couldn’t be stripped from her with the curse. It could only be forced into the roses. For now, I just need one. Once I destroy her, I’ll have control of that garden and her power,” she says.
“I will leave now.”
“No, we will go. You should remain here for the ceremony. Yes, we will take care of this.”
“Mother,” I say cautiously as she speaks of herself in plural. “If you don’t return in time and they find out that I’m not his soul match, they will kill me.”
She lifts a brow and gives me an expressionless look. For a moment, I believe she means to sacrifice me. She rolls her eyes and waves a hand.
“I guess we don’t want that. You will come along, however, you will not get in my way.”
With that she turns and storms out the way she came. The door slamming shut behind her. I draw in a deep breath. I don’t have a good feeling about this.
Argon
We are in the throne room as the ceremony begins. I look around at the small gathering Samson has pulled together. Noel and Sefira have begun to summons the heavens for an answer.
My father and I sit on the throne in wait. I don’t realize I’ve been holding my breath until Sefira speaks. She has a frown on her face.
“My king, my prince, you have been wronged. I do not see a match for you with Coralo. In fact, she is very far from the one you have a true soul match with,” she says.
“What do that mean?” My father demands.
“It means… my king, I’ve never seen anything like this before. It would seem Argon is already linked to his soul match. His link is sealed, he has claimed his mate already.”
I can’t hide the grin that comes to my lips. Blaise. She’s my true match. My spirit roars at this truth.
Noel is the next one to speak. “My prince. Your mate is in danger. You must go to her. Those that wish to overthrow the crown have gone after her.”
“You will right a wrong, but you must do so before the fire burns out. The past must meet the present to right the course of the future,” Sefira says and collapses to the floor.
A collective gasp rings out. Noel rushes to her side. My father and I stand to our feet.
Noel looks up at us. “She will be fine. We have walked between worlds to find your soul match, but I get the feeling you know this, my Prince. Go, she’s waiting.”
Without another thought I reach for the necklace with the watch. However, my hand is greeted by its absence. I pat my chest and the rest of my clothes.
“No,” I roar when I cannot find the pendant.
“You don’t need help getting to her,” Noel says. “Allow your bond to carry you forth.”
“Go,” my father says. “We’ll handle things here.”
I nod as I work my jaw. I close my eyes and for the first time allow my soul link to take over fully. My power courses through me and my soul link reaches out for its match.
“Blaise,” I say her name.
I open my eyes as the sound of glass and lights scattering fills my ears. Sparks of light shoot out before the throne room darkens and the floor starts to shake. Everyone around me begins to cry out, all except my father.
“My son,” my father says proudly.
My spirit pulls from my body. It forms a dragon once again. This time it seems larger as it sits in the center of the room. I move to it quickly and brush its side with my palm. The moment I make the connection the throne room falls away.
Chapter 18
Love’s Battle
Blaise
The pain hasn’t gotten any better. In fact, it’s gotten worse. My heartache has physically manifested itself. I can’t eat, I don’t want to move. All I want to do is sleep.
I tried to play the cello, but it’s as if I’ve forgotten the notes to songs I know by heart. It’s too much to bear. I’ve forgotten most of the things that have kept me from being nothing more than a beast. The others are forgetting things too.
Ms. Posh flew in circles trying to remember her purpose a few hours ago. She became distracted by her own magic until Hiasha came to take her to her room. I hate watching this happen.
He’s not coming back.
I’ve made my peace with that. If only it didn’t hurt so much. Not even my magic will wipe this away.
“Blaise,” Bach whispers.
“Yes.”
“I thought I’d bring you something to eat. I can feed it to you if you like,” he says.
“Leave it. I’ll get to it.”
He sighs and puts the bowl down on the nightstand. His wings buzz in my ear as he flies closer to sit on my pillow. I blow out a breath, too tired to turn away.
“I haven’t given up, you know,” he says.
“None of you have. I know better.”
“Princess—” He cuts off. He jumps up and looks at me. “The portal. It’s opening.”
“What?”
Even as I ask the question, I feel the gate to this realm opening. My heart skips a beat as I note the magic of Bach’s timepiece. It’s him. He’s come back.
“I told you he would return,” Bach exclaims.
I throw off the covers and scoot until I can throw my legs over the edge of the bed. Lifting my palms, I create an orb to view the portal and watch Argon make his way through. My brows furrow when not Argon, but two women and a group of warriors step through the portal into my world.
I narrow my eyes as I see who the woman in front is. I get this nagging feeling that I know her. My brain won’t make the connection causing my anger to rise.
“This isn’t good,” Bach whispers beside me.
“I know her,” I say.
“Yes, I was thinking the same thing.”
My lips part on a gasp as I realize who the other woman is. She’s the one that had her arms around Argon’s waist in the sphere’s image of him returning home.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this. You and the others guard the castle.”
“What? Where will you be?”
“I’m going to protect us.”
“Blaise—”
“Do as I say.” My voice echoes through the room, shaking it.
“Yes, princess.”
I stand and summons my cloak to wrap my body. I don’t so much as think before I shift the atmosphere outside the castle. I darken the sky and create a storm of snow and lightning.
“If you want to enter my world, you will play by my rules,” I mutter before phasing from my room to the courtyard where I stand ready for battle.
Coralo
We step through the portal right at the edge of a thickly bushed forest. Right away, I can feel the power of this realm. I look up at the sky as it darkens.
“She knows we’re here,” I say.
“Yes, but she’s weakened.”
This is weakened? Oh, mother. I think you’re underestimating your enemy again.
I release a sigh. There’s no use in telling her that. We need to do what we came here to do and get back. Hopefully, before we’re exposed. Although, I don’t think that’s going to be likely.
“Surround the castle. Push her to me. We need to draw her into the woods. I have a greater chance there.”
I nod and turn to our warriors to signal for them to split up. The group that remains with us, I wave forward as mother moves toward the front of the castle. The closer we get the more concerned I become.
“Argh,” mother shouts when a wall of fire rises before us almost singeing our faces off.
We all jump back. Mother lifts her hands as she murmurs a few words. She flickers in and out, but nothing happens to the wall of flames.
I purse my lips. Maybe I should’ve stayed behind. This woman is about to get us all killed. She begins to chant a little louder and this time the fire douses.
She turns to me with a satisfied grin. “See, piece of cake.”
“Sure,” I murmur under my breath.
“What was that?”
“I said look there she is.”
Mother whips her head around to face the castle once again. Standing in the courtyard is a cloaked figure. I assume that’s the beast mother has been ranting about most of my life.
“Archers attack,” my mother commands.
The sound of multiple bowstrings tightening fills my ears, followed by arrows zipping through the air. The cloaked figure stands completely unbothered as the arrows head for it. I understand why when the arrows stop in mid-air inches away from the being.
“Oh shit,” I breathe when the arrows turn to ashes and fall to the ground.
The cloaked figure flips back her hood, reveal a mass of curls. Even from this distance, I can see the glowing of her eyes. On instinct, I turn and put distance between myself and the warriors at our backs.
Mother leaps in the air just before warriors go up in flames. Their cries of pain fill the air. I watch as the fire they’re in is consumed. I jerk my head up to look at mother. She’s fading in and out again, but the warriors—though charred—are no longer on fire.
“You will fight,” she commands and the warriors stand at attention. The glow that surrounds each of them tells me that they’re no longer living beings, but creatures of my mother’s creation.
“I didn’t sign up for this.”
I quickly look around for cover. This is about to get messy. My mother is in way over her head.
Or maybe not. The warriors we sent to surround the castle start to move forward behind the beast. She seems unaware of their approach.
Suddenly, the beast speaks and everyone behind her flies backward as if her words rippled through the air and punched them all in the chest. My mouth drops open. I can’t believe my eyes.
“Welp, she’s not play with us. Fuck this.”
I turn and hide in the shadows of the forest. Just far enough to hide but still see what’s going on. My mother is going to get us flattened or burned to a crisp.
This beast has the power of the royalty of the land of Kunglig. Now I see why mother needed Argon to be the one to come destroy her. If this is her weak state, what the hell would have happened to Argon had he tried to fight her?
The battle before me continues as mother begins to throw orbs of light at the beast. Each orb is countered by a ball of flame that eats it up. However, something distracts her and she turns her head for a split second.
Mother takes the opportunity to form the largest orb yet and throws it. I cover my mouth with my hands as it hits the beast in the center of her chest. Three things happen in that moment.
The beast falls to the ground, mother transforms into a translucent force of energy, and a loud piercing roar fills the air. I look up at the sky and have to blink to make sure I’m seeing right. Sure enough it’s him.
“Dear gods, I have to get out of here.”
Blaise
I will defend my home. This woman and her dark magic will go back where they came from. In the back of my mind, it burns me to think that Argon sent them.
He didn’t come back because he hates me. This is my punishment for what I did to his father. I was such a fool to think he could fall in love with me.
Her warriors are closing in on me, but I don’t show that I know they’re there. I allow them to get closer as I keep my attention on the floating woman. It still nags me that I know her from somewhere.
“Get back,” I roar right as I feel her warriors get too close.
I don’t have to turn to know the command has thrown them back. I flip my cloak out at my sides and take a stance. I’m ready for the next attack.
The floating woman begins to throw energy orbs at me. However, her magic is no match for mine. I toss out fire orbs that consume her magic one by one.
Growing tired of her and this fight, I get ready to go on the offense. Only, the sound of Ms. Posh’s cry catches my attention. I turn toward the castle. Setting aflame the warrior that’s swatting at Ms. Posh and Hiasha as they work together to keep him from entering the front doors, I grin in satisfaction.
That’s until I realize my mistake. It all happens so fast. One simple mistake and I’m trembling to the ground.
Argon
I’m drawn through the portal on the back of my spirit dragon. Right as we come through, I see the orb that’s heading for Blaise as she stands in the courtyard. She’s distracted.
I don’t have time to react to block it. I release a roar that comes from my toes and travels through my belly up to my throat. When the sound releases from me, my dragon opens his mouth and flames flow out. The ground singes below as the unnatural warriors Helenier has at her back are burned to ashes.
We dive for the ground and land in front of Blaise’s body. My spirit dragon cries out for her. I jump from his back with my attention on Helenier.
The dark magic has consumed her. She floats above the ground, but she’s no longer herself. I can see through her.
She’s in between the worlds she’s pulled this magic from. It’s eating her essence right from her. Rage fills me to the brim. This has been going on for a while for her to be in this state. How did we not know?
“You will pay for everything you have done,” I bellow.
“I have only just begun. I’ve waited so long to come back here to finish that beast. My mistake was counting on others to do this for me.”
“What?”
The thought of others being involved in her schemes makes my blood boil. I already plan to clean house upon my return to the land of Kunglig. If there are others I need to find, I will hunt them all down. One by one.
“Blaise was such a vain girl. A spoiled princess. I knew it wouldn’t be hard for her to call the curse upon herself. I only guided the right enchantress to her.
“My mistake was allowing her to send the Princess to this realm to be forgotten. Such a nuisance. No one has been able to return on their own after one visit. I’ve been trying to figure out a way around it and then you walk right through the portal with the answer around your neck,” Helenier cackles.
“How did you get the oracles behind this?”
“The same way I got your father to do my bidding. A little spell here, a little dark magic there.” She shrugs.
“All of this for what? Why forsake your kingdom? What has she done so wrong to you?”
She tilts her head at me. I narrow my eyes at her as she studies me. I may not have memories of Blaise, but so much is starting to fall into place.
“Oh, you are a fool. Have you come to care for that beast?” She looks behind me and her brows draw. She inhales a sharp breath. “That’s your spirit reflection.”
The sound of Blaise’s groan draws my attention, but I don’t turn to face her. I have to stay focused on the witch before me. My people are never meant to play in dark magic. It taints our true spirit.
“I have always seen you as unworthy of your station. You look down on the other nobles and the people. Everyone’s beneath you.
“Now I know what you’ve been plotting and scheming.” I shake my head. “Did you really think you could overthrow two kingdoms?”
“Are you not paying attention? I’ve already taken one. Yours is next.”
She tosses an orb at me, but I throw up a shield. Her magic bounces right off of it. Lowering the shield, I prepare my next move.
I summons my blades. The weight of their carved metal handles in my palms brings bloodlust with them. Each double-edged blade glows with blue light as they charge with my power.
“You have played with the wrong one, Helenier. Now, you will die.”
I toss one of the blades and it sails through the air. It slices into her arm—as she tries to dodge it—spinning back toward me like a boomerang. I lift my palm as the blade returns and settles in my grasp.
Yanking my hand downward, I watch in satisfaction as Helenier’s body is thrown to the ground. One strike from my blade creates an invisible tether between my enemy and my blades. Helenier stumbles to her feet after rolling on the ground in pain.
