Ashpin scoured the empty hallway. Pulling his bedroom door shut, he slipped down to the prince’s room. For a moment, he waited with an ear against the woodgrain for any signs of movement. When no sound came from within, he knocked.
The door was partially opened, so he called the prince’s name.
Still, no answer.
“Hello?” He pushed it open to peer inside. When he saw the two open balcony doors, he decided to investigate to see if anyone was out back.
“Shift-wizards,” his mother used to call them. “They can change in a blink!”
“Yeah, well, I need to know something in a blink,” Ashpin breathed. He had been pondering the Grand Master’s answer ever since they had left Luxor.
“The Agecroft name is carried only with you now,” he had said.
“But he never actually confirmed my father’s death.” Ashpin walked out onto the balcony, hoping to spot the prince on the lawn below. A couple of servants waved to him, but no sign of their master.
Ashpin briefly waved back, not wanting to intrude too long on the prince’s personal space. He turned to head back inside when his foot clinked against something. Gold glinted in the afternoon sun as he bent to see what he had kicked.
“What’s this?” He picked up the gold chain, the heart-shaped pendent matching his own as he held both up to compare.
A raspy caw from above lifted his gaze to the silhouette of a raven perched upon the extended rooftop. Its head cocked to one side, taking in the boy’s questioning stare with an eerie opal gaze. Then it took off, leaving a pale dropping behind that caused Ashpin to sidestep its decent.
Unsure what to make of the strange bird, he backtracked through the prince’s bedroom. Anxiety churned his stomach as his head filled with questions. Why is this here?
His gate quickened as he reached the stairs leading to the second and first levels. He was literally running across the landings, nearly bumping into several servants until he reached the main floor. Laughter spilled from the dining area, and he found the prince in full conversation with Glory.
“Where did this come from?” Ashpin interrupted.
He had not meant the tone of his voice to change, but its eagerness held the prince’s full attention. All conversation ceased as he saw Wisdom’s gaze focus on the chain dangling between his fingers. His jaw opened to speak, but nothing came out.
It was in that moment that Ashpin’s view seemed to darken, as though someone had purposely dimmed the lighting to fit his mood. But it was not the room’s atmosphere that had changed.
It was the boy’s.
In that moment, everything else held little meaning but the cold truth to his answers. When next he spoke, a menacing tone replaced innocence. Child he was no longer, but a threat.
“You knew.”
CHAPTER 6
Wisdom was speechless. Beside him, he could feel Glory’s prying gaze of, “What’s going on?” Their cook had been taking back a few trays left from lunch, but halted at the boy’s sudden mood swing. From the corner of his eye, he caught Eclipse fidgeting nervously from the hallway. The Simpleton stayed back, no doubt communicating with his own clan about the situation.
That’s all I need right now – another situation.
“How long have you known about this?” Ashpin demanded.
“Until you arrived, I knew nothing of it,” Wisdom kept his tone in check. He needed to calm the boy before his mind became a target for the storm, though he doubted it could affect him from such a distance. Still, he picked his next set of words carefully. “I did find the necklace on a traveler; that part is true. However, when Lord Gracie said you were the only one carrying the Agecroft name, he wasn’t wrong. The man who had that,” he gestured to the necklace, “wasn’t even remotely the same person you probably remember.”
“You could have still told me.” Ashpin clamped the chain tightly between his fingers. “Where did he go? Where can I find him? I need to know things! I need to know why he left us!”
Wisdom felt his stomach tighten. “Ashpin, I seriously doubt he could have answered your questions, let alone any of my mine concerning the death of my family, which was done by his own hand.”
“What are you saying?”
“I didn’t come here to be Prince because that’s what I wanted to do with my life. No, I was forced to come here due to a set of circumstances that have affected right many individuals.” He pointed to the boy, then at himself. “You. Me. Your father. We’ve all been affected by what’s going on in Sapphire. You’ve seen the storm. You just don’t know who’s behind it, or what it can do to people.”
“Wisdom,” Glory’s concerned voice directed their attention. “When you went into town earlier, did something happen? I know you’ve mentioned the storm was growing. But what does that have to do with his father?”
“Nathan Agecroft changed his name to Nathaniel Woodston,” Wisdom said. “He became an assassin under Jenario Onyx, the very one who resides within the Realm of Sapphire at this moment. Jenario is the one responsible for the storm. He’s also responsible for using Nathaniel to carry out assignments, one of them being my own family.” He took a deep breath. “That being said, who’s to say he wasn’t carrying out these deeds even back when your mother was alive?”
He caught and held Ashpin’s surprised gaze with a stern look. He knew the next question would be where his father was located. It was unavoidable.
“I couldn’t be certain in his current state of mind whether he would do the same to you, Ashpin. So don’t ask where to look for him. You won’t find him.”
For several minutes the boy remained silent. He studied the prince, as though trying to see a deeper meaning to his words. Slowly, his gaze trailed to the necklace still clenched between his fingers.
“You killed him,” Ashpin breathed.
“You didn’t!” Glory checked her financé’s expression. “Wisdom!”
“He killed himself. I never even touched him.”
“But you let him die.”
Wisdom winced at the boy’s coldness. “I—”
“You’re a Healer! Isn’t that what you said your purpose was for coming back? When my mother really needed one, you weren’t there for her. But now you’re here. You had a chance to heal the one person I needed most, and you let him die!”
Wisdom lifted an arm to shield himself as Ashpin flung the necklace at him.
“Ashpin!”
But the boy was too angry. Instead, he turned and ran.
*****
Betrayal. The thought would not rest. It was as though a knife had slashed right through him. Ashpin almost wished it had. Then, at least, he would be with his family – dead. He already felt that way inside. As he flung back the bedroom door, letting it slam against wall, he stood in the opening to the room with vacant stare. It was not until he rubbed a hand over his face did he realize whose room he had entered.
“Why?”
Ashpin blinked. His reflection in the mirror copied his actions. He recalled the mirror facing the bed when he entered earlier. Now it faced the door, capturing those red cheeks dappled with the shine of fresh tears smearing down one side. His sandy hair was a tussled mess, having not bothered to straighten it back from flying up and down stairs in his mad dash for answers.
“I’m done with this.”
He turned to leave when a soft snicker came from the mirror.
Ashpin ignored it and stayed his course for the door. When it suddenly shut, he turned in swift anger. “Haven’t you done enough?!”
Anger was quick to change to surprise, as his reflection revealed a dark-headed youth with opal eyes grinning from ear to ear.
“What’s funny,” the other said, “is you throwing away a perfect opportunity here.” A shrug. “Why leave...when you could show how you truly feel?”
Ashpin backed away. He tried the door again, but it would not budge. “You think this is funny? This...this....”
“Magic?” he heard the other co
ntinue. “Surely, you don’t think it would stop if you leave.”
Ashpin’s shoulders heaved, breathless in his attempts to free himself. Yet in the moment he gave his attention to the mirror, the door silently opened.
“I’ll leave the choice up to you. You can run. Or…you can do yourself a favor. The prince ruined your family. You know that. How ‘bout you ruin a piece of him in exchange?”
Ashpin narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
“Who are you?”
The dark-haired youth crossed his arms with a sudden frown.
“What’s the point of that when you’ve been given an opportunity to redeem yourself?”
Ashpin balked. “Redeem? It’s not me who needs redeeming.”
“I would think it is when you’re walking away from someone who’s responsible for your family’s,” here, the stranger gave a crooked smile, “passing.”
“There’s nothing I can do to bring them back,” Ashpin said with disgust. “Nothing you can do, either.”
That smile grew, and as it did, the stranger passed a hand over the surface of the mirror. His opal eyes took on a hint of fiery crimson, and when the pass was complete, Ashpin felt compelled to listen further. Like a puppet, he felt something take hold of his thoughts, tugging the strings of his inner mind to do as the stranger bid.
“This mirror is the key to the prince’s disposal. Bring it to the nearby woods.” The image slowly faded, leaving only the whisper of his words when Ashpin’s true reflection returned. “I’ll be waiting.”
Ashpin felt lightheaded. When he moved, he was not sure whether he was in control or something else. He noticed how his hands were on either side, pulling the structure toward the balcony. The wood itself was thick, a polished Redwood piece that towered over the boy’s head. Yet it moved so easily that Ashpin began to believe it was somehow tied to the prince’s magic.
He checked the balcony. No way. Below, servants crossed the lawn multiple times as they tended to their chores. This is crazy! Anyone could see me climbing down.
To his surprise, a side door opened to his left. He had seen it before, thinking it only as a storage room. For a moment it was just that, a space no bigger for a person to stand.
Or a mirror? He wondered how the thing would even fit until the back wall moved, sliding open to reveal a hidden passage. There was no light to guide him, yet his feet stepped in place as though he had walked it a hundred times. He could feel the floor sloping down, still unable to see. When he started down some steps, Ashpin was relieved the mirror floated evenly down beside him. What happens after I reach the woods? What if I can’t stop myself?
Why would you want to? A secondary thought answered.
Part of Ashpin wanted to give in. He needed this, to see the prince experience the same hurt. It was this part that allowed control, but the closer he came to delivering his prize, his steps became faulty. Once or twice he scraped against the walls while his mind fought against – what? The one in the mirror? The mirror itself?
Once Ashpin was outside, that feeling of beckoning from within seemed to drain. He blinked several times. Dismissing cuts along his arms from brushing up against some thorns, Ashpin released the mirror in disbelief.
He tested his movements, making sure he was still in control. That once bitter hate toward the prince was soon replaced with worry. Where am I? His gaze darted around until he caught sight of the clan just through the trees. He started to push the mirror back when something tripped his foot.
“Look who’s breaking rules now,” someone said from behind.
Ashpin attempted to turn, but received a slam of fist that knocked him from his feet. Eyes fluttered in spurts of consciousness. A hint of blond dotted his vision.
Then…darkness.
*****
Although Peter knew Ashpin was unconscious, he could not resist the urge to kick him squarely in the stomach a couple of times. When he was satisfied, Peter simply stepped over the boy to examine the large oval mirror sitting lopsided in the leaves.
He admired his reflection, flashing a confident grin that he had won.
A dead limb partially covered in leaves gave him an idea, and he bent to give a tug. When it proved a little too heavy, he brushed through the dried leaves until he found a rock.
“Mirrors like this shouldn’t be out in the woods.” A grin. “Something might happen.” Just as his arm raised for the pitch, he felt something grab hold. It was not a hand that he felt, but something thinner that kept his arm from releasing the rock. A tingle to this pants-leg made him look down to see what was crawling on him.
Eyes widened in shock. With a yelp, he dropped the stone and kicked out at several lime-green vines snaking up his legs. His wrist hurt where another had wrapped, and continued to snake up his shoulder.
It was a mistake to step back. Vines sprang across his path, and he tripped. With so many around his feet, he could do little but yank and kick at them.
“Well, I didn’t go through all that trouble just to have you break it.” A rather snarky Jangus stepped from the shadows to watch the creep of vines ensnare the boy. When he tried to call for help, the vines tightened around his throat.
“Betrayal only leads to another, I’m afraid. Be that a lesson learned.” A sneer. “‘Course, looks like you won’t be around long to learn much else.”
Turning his attention to the mirror, Jangus tested its weight. His opal eyes glowed with inner laughter when it easily slid across ground.
“Bet I could fly this over the border in any form!”
The crunch of dry leaves grew louder with each struggle. Annoyed, the Healer’s ears lay flat until it dawned on him that the sound followed a pattern of footsteps more so than flopping from side to side.
He quickly turned, and his chin met Ashpin’s fist.
A thin trickle of blood ran from Ashpin’s nose. His insides felt tight from Peter’s kicks but considered himself lucky. Seeing Peter’s situation demanded all attention to the magic-user who had cast it first. Once the raven-haired youth was on the ground, he dived to Peter’s aid and desperately tried to detangle the vines from around his throat.
“I don’t go down easily!” Jangus snarled, rolling to his side and extending a hand toward both boys to draw more vines.
Ashpin grabbed the same rock Peter had picked up earlier. It was his only defense against Jangus’ rush as a black wolf. He swung the same moment the wolf hit. Still, the force of it flung Ashpin against the mirror.
Bracing himself for impact, he was surprised when his body sailed straight through its center. A patch of dry leaves was his landing spot instead, with the mirror’s glass wavering like rolling water. In the shuffle of withered leaves, the rock was lost. Sure he had struck the animal, he tried to locate it when a growl directed his attention toward the still wavering glass.
Like a nightmare, the wolf followed suit through the rippling glass. It left little time for Ashpin to throw up his arm in defense when something smacked the animal off course. When he put his arm down, a vine recoiled from the ground, ready for another counter.
“I was beginning to think you didn’t know any other shifts.” A familiar voice came from behind.
Ashpin turned to see Wisdom’s brother lower his hand.
“Help Peter!” he directed the Healer’s attention to the thrashing youth.
With the shift of focus, Jangus hurled himself at the mirror. In mid-shift he was able to lift it using one clawed foot, then took through the trees in his usual raven form.
“Wait, how did?” But Shy had little time to waste on mirror questions when Peter was gasping for breath. Quickly, he set to work by calling the vines back where they belonged.
Ashpin extended a hand to help Peter up. The boy coughed as he was able to draw in several deep breaths. Hesitantly, he accepted the offer.
“We have to get it back!” Ashpin supported Peter’s unsteady stance.
Shy could feel the presence of chaotic magic stirring within the area,
and quickly agreed.
“Something else is at work here, and it’s not just Jangus.” A greenish glow enveloped his form as he shifted into a hawk. Get Wisdom! Shy’s thoughts reached out to them. Tell him it’s heading for the border!
*****
A rising mist greeted Jangus at the realm’s border, and he cackled. Trees thinned until open farmland stretched as far as the eye could see. That is, until the northern sky darkened with festering clouds of growing storm. Even now, he could hear the distinct rumble of thunder. The storm fed from the hate and greed of others, and not just within the Realm of Trully. It pulled from Lexington, Crystal Valley, and up to his very kind preparing to invade. What should have been evident, however, was blanketed from Jangus’ mind. At this point, he only cared about reaching his destination.
Jangus reveled in success. He swept low, the mirror unharmed by the tall grasses grazing its wood surface. In triumph, he let out a throaty raven’s song. Eyes closed to the lull of Darkness guiding him.
Womp! Feathers flew every which way! In the confusion, Jangus let the mirror drop to pull himself together. What had he hit?
Mist lightly swirled around three others. One of which picked himself up after impact and brushed any remaining feathers from his clothing. A silver streak ran through his dark hair, with lavender eyes widening upon recognition.
“Wha—Twilight!” Jangus snarled after shifting to his true self. “And where do you think you’re going?”
“Well, hopefully not that way.” The young Healer jerked his thumb toward the direction of the storm.
“You’re not supposed to be here!” Jangus forced the young Healer to step back.
“Neither are you.” Katherine came to Twilight’s defense. To the left of her, a black wolf growled. “This was Shy’s assignment. Chronicles didn’t need to send another.”
Jangus just smirked. “So I see love is festering in the air. Hoping to elope once you find your lover, Kat?” That got her blood boiling, and he knew it. “Well, you can scrap that idea! Shy’s become like his brother: a traitor to our people!” He started for the mirror, which had landed next to the wolf. “Delexi, isn’t it?”
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