Fabled

by Vanessa K. Eccles

  Slowly we walked down the aisle and joined the others at the feast. The tables were positioned in a way that made them look less obtrusive in the forest’s natural setting. The fog settled lower as everyone ate and drank. They were full of food, laughter, and happiness. I was full of something else. Chester was right that magic would change me. I felt this overwhelming sense of power, and for the first time since I’d been here, I was aware of my immortality.

  Let’s get down to business, shall we?

  I waited until Dekel’s sobriety was long gone before I got to work. I didn’t think it was possible to project all the way back to the castle and release everyone, but I had to try. I pushed myself. It took a minute, but I was elated to see the castle’s steps. I carried my immense dress in my arms and ran towards the basement. The home was practically empty besides the few servants that weren’t assigned wedding duty. I ran down the stone steps and into the darkness. I couldn’t see anything, as usual.

  Think about light and blow on your hand.

  I did as Julia suggested and blew. A small ball of fire appeared.

  Wow! That is amazing.

  Get on with it!

  I heard something from one of the cells. I shined the light and saw a bear. I jerked back and watched it morph into something else. It was Jacob.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked while giving me a once over.

  “It’s a long story. Here,” I waved my other hand over the lock and heard it unlock.

  “You’ve got magic,” he whispered. He stared at me in shock.

  “You were a bear.”

  “Shape-shifter.” He shrugged.

  “I married the boy. I needed to try to save the people I’ve hurt. Where’s Wilhelm?” He pointed to another cell. I let him out too.

  “Why are you both down here?” I asked.

  “It was our punishment for keeping you over the designated time. We were only sentenced a week, but we’re happy to be out,” Wilhelm answered.

  “You’ve got to get out of here now,” I told them. They turned to bolt, but I couldn’t help but ask, “Shape-shifters?”

  “We’re usually something a little less terrifying. A rabbit is my favorite disguise,” Jacob said.

  “There aren’t really people who help on the other side, are there?”

  Wilhelm answered, “There are, but they can’t all pass through the portal. If we shed our human bodies, we still can. That’s how we got the equipment to make the podcasts and how we’ve shared our stories in the past. We just couldn’t tell you then,” his voice trailed.

  “Thanks,” I whispered and turned away. I heard them go up the stairs as I traveled deeper down the corridor.

  “Cale?”

  “Here!” I heard him say. His wide eyes stared at the flame in my hand. I waved the door open, but he pulled away. “What are you?” he asked.

  “It’s just me. It’s a long story, but you have to believe me.”

  “Why would I? You have magic.”

  “I fed you popcorn. I slept beside you in your cave. I’m Roe, Cale.” His eyes turned away, but something must have convinced him because he followed me. We released Mack and Cilla and ran up the basement steps.

  “What do we have here?” one of the servants said. He stood taller than Cale and much larger. We cowered.

  “Run!” I yelled to them. I held my hand out, strengthened the fireball, and threatened to throw it. Everyone ran besides the servant. The man trembled as I forced the fire onto his chest. I could feel his terror. It was strangely invigorating to see him recoil in pain.

  Once I felt enough time had passed and they were safe, I coerced the fire into extinction. I forced my fist forward, which sent the man flying into the stone wall. I let go of the castle and found myself sitting in front of sixty suspicious eyes. My new magic made the whole excursion painless. For me, at least.

  Chapter 33

  I sat quietly for a while, hoping everyone had made it out of the castle.

  “What’s the matter, Rowena?” Lauren finally asked as she patted my arm.

  “Nothing. I’m just overwhelmed.” I smiled, trying to divert the attention. Slowly, everyone started talking again.

  “Where were you just now?” Dekel leaned in and asked quietly.

  “Just somewhere in my mind,” I answered with a forced smile.

  Dresdem stood, and the entire party silenced. “I’d like to make a toast to the newest member of our family. We hope for a lifetime of love for the two of you, and we look forward to new endeavors.” He glanced at me, smiled, and took a sip of his drink. I drank too, for the first time ever. It burned going down, but it only took a few gulps for me to understand why people chose this poison.

  “Rowena, I’d like you to meet my brother,” Dresdem said approaching with a tall man beside him. When the man removed his hat, I almost collapsed.

  “This is Mr. Carol,” he announced. Mr. Carol extended his hand and gave me a quick nod. Our mouths mumbled courteous, first-time greetings, but our eyes spoke the truth.

  “It’s nice to meet you.”

  He nodded, placed his hat back on, and said, “Congratulations. Please excuse me.” He hurried away.

  I immediately felt the part of me that belonged to Julia cry. My heart ached as she suffered losing Carol yet again.

  I’m so sorry.

  Dekel took my hand and twirled me around. He snapped his fingers and music filled the forest. Everyone danced, but only part of me was there. My mind was still trapped in Julia’s sorrow.

  The same man I’d thrown against the wall at the castle interrupted my inner turmoil and our dance. He and another servant had made the trip to the wedding with Isabelle, who I’d only just realized wasn’t at the wedding already. I guess I’d been so distracted that I hadn’t paid much attention to the guest list. I knew my minutes were numbered, but I stood frozen as I watched her whisper in Dresdem’s ear.

  “Guests, we’d like to thank all of you for accompanying us this evening. We are thrilled about the new addition to our family, and we look forward to our next meeting. Please accept my apologies, as we will be cutting the evening short. Running kingdoms has its unfortunate misfortunes.” He smiled and the guests started for their transportations.

  Dekel looked at me in both confusion and frustration. “What is the meaning of this?” he asked as Dresdem approached.

  My first inclination was to run, which probably would have been a good idea, but something kept me bolted there. Looking back, it was probably the layers of dress and the realization that there was nowhere to go.

  Dresdem didn’t even acknowledge him. He simply charged at me, grabbed both my arms, and sent shockwaves down my entire body. I was burning from the inside out. “Who do you think you are?” he snarled. “You will never use magic against me!”

  “What happened?” Dekel asked, still trying to understand.

  Dresdem let me go and motioned for a nearby servant to bring him his drink. He sipped it and stared at me. I leaned on Dekel’s arm as I struggled to recover from the internal burn.

  Tell him that you don’t know what he’s talking about. Isabelle is probably just jealous.

  I’m not lying. I may have married a royal, but that doesn’t make me one of them.

  Just do it!

  I twitched nervously as Dekel’s eyes watched me morph into his strong, magic-filled wife.

  “I don’t know what he’s talking about,” I said.

  “What a disgusting fiend you are,” Dresdem growled. “Only snakes lie, son. The servant and Isabelle can vouch that she released her friends from their cages.”

  Dekel’s eyes searched me and watched for my lie to tell itself, but somehow it didn’t.

  “Isabelle has every right to be jealous. I’m sure this is a difficult night for her,” I added.

  “Besides I’ve been in your reach the entire night.” I looked him in the eyes and reached for his hand. He allowed me to take it, but I could tell he still wasn’t completely
convinced.

  “She was here. I don’t understand,” he said to his father.

  “She’s a projector. Something I’m sure she’s kept from us for a while now. Marrying you was just a way for her to gain power. I’ve been warning you of this!” he yelled at him.

  Dekel thought for a moment and pushed my hands off of him in disgust.

  “It’s okay, son. She wasn’t the only one who saw benefit in becoming a part of this family.” He shocked me again with some invisible lightning rod. He leaned down to me. I was now on my knees. “Do you think anyone out there will ever trust or help you now that you’re a royal? You are on your own. Without the family, you have no one. The entire world will be against you. Welcome to magic.” He smiled wickedly.

  I could smell the alcohol on his breath. Without thought, I grabbed his arm, ripped the cuff of his shirt, and glared at the inked crest.

  Fight! Julia urged.

  He yanked his arm back and slapped me across the face so hard that I landed flat on my back.

  “You stupid girl!” he snapped.

  I sat up slowly and gathered my strength. I tried to throw him like I did the servant at the castle. I thrust my hands outward and focused. But before he moved an inch, I received another bolt of electricity, but this time it wasn’t Dresdem, it was Dekel.

  His eyes lowered as they met mine, and he released me.

  “Everyone just calm down now. I’m sure we can talk this through,” Lauren said, approaching from behind.

  There was no way I would be able to use magic against them. They’d had hundreds of years to adjust and strengthen their craft; I’ve only had an hour. With a swift turn, I resorted to the best escape in mortal situations — I ran. I held up my dress and tried to make wings of my legs. I knew this wasn’t going to end well for me. I ran until I hit my portal. I collapsed at its base, curled into a ball, and cried. Then I saw them.

  “It’s okay, Rowena. We’re not going to hurt you,” Lauren said softly. I could hear the sadness in her voice.

  “We just want to resolve this. Come back with us. Dad’s promised to take it easy,” Dekel said as he extended his hand for me, which was odd since he was nearly ten feet away.

  “Never,” I whispered, and I felt the surge again. I screamed and turned my face towards my reflection as the pain continued. I reached out for my reflection, watched myself plead for mercy, and hopelessly allowed my hand to streak the mirror’s surface with my tears. I sobbed for the memories of Mezzanine and harder for the memories of home. I thought about the hole, the old Victorian, my parents’ split level house on the cul-de-sac.

  I leaned into the merciful arms of the mirror. The pain suddenly ceased, and unexpectedly I found myself in the dirt on the other side. I could see them — Lauren and Dekel — looking at the portal in confusion. I could still see my inverted tear-smeared hand mark on the glass.

  What made it open?

  Emotion. Maybe portals are sensitive?

  When I realized they couldn’t see me, I ran again. I had forgotten the whole reason I’d crossed the portal before was because I couldn’t get up the large hole that led out. When I reached the base of the hole, I cried out in exhaustion. I could see Terra’s moon peek through the trees and into the pit. I was almost home again. Even as relieving as that was, mentally I couldn’t handle another obstacle.

  I just want to be back home again.

  With that, I flew to the top. I stood there, startled and confused by the police tape surrounding me. I didn’t have time to analyze. I waved my hands and made fire, like I had in the basement. It worked.

  We still have magic.

  A part of me was both thrilled and terrified. I knew magic didn’t belong in this world, but admitting that would have been admitting I didn’t belong in this world. I wasn’t ready to digest that yet.

  I ran again. My once beautiful white dress was now torn and filthy. I didn’t care how many times I tripped or fell. The idea of home being just two miles away kept my tired legs moving. Running was the physical embodiment of escaping my worst nightmare.

  When I turned on my road, I slowed down and began preparing a statement to give my parents and the police. The best option, I figured, was to tell them I’d run away. They’d be mad, but they’d get over it. To be completely honest, nothing mattered but being home again. Pangs of worry for Chester, Cale, and Madeline surfaced, but my overwhelming joy in that moment suppressed them.

  I approached the house. Everything looked the same to me. The shrubs, the trees, and Mom’s confederate jasmine still encompassed the fence out front. I could even see Dad’s concrete bulldog sitting on the porch steps. Go Dawgs! I almost laughed.

  I saw the swing moving under the dull glow of the porch light. I looked, but couldn’t make sense of it. Dashielle held Lil in his arms.

  I froze.

  A pain emerged within my soul, a pain more severe than any that Dresdem and Dekel had forced upon me. I nearly fell but somehow didn’t. Instead, I stood glued to the road. To that moment.

  I watched her stroke his hair and speak indistinguishable words in my boyfriend’s ear. The blank, unreadable expression on his face left me wondering.

  What is happening? My world has gone on without me.

  I choked back the tears.

  You have gone on without it, dear girl. Look at yourself.

  I glanced down at my dirty dress and the large black diamond on my left hand and imagined what I must look like. I clearly didn’t belong here, yet here I was on my childhood street watching people I once knew betray memories I’d long forgotten.

  I then noticed the locket that Lauren had placed around my neck. Inside was a royal family photo, but one person, though familiar, didn’t belong.

  I looked up at her and him and recognized that the end never felt so much like the beginning.

  Dear Reader

  Thank you for taking the time to read Rowena’s story. Your voice is the only way Fabled can ever be a success. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review or star rating on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble.

  If you’d like to keep in touch, sign up for my newsletter, and follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

  Your support means the world to me. Thank you.

  Acknowledgements

  It takes a village to raise a child and an army to birth a book. Books are relentlessly stubborn, trying every tactic to make you reconsider your choice to allow anyone to see them. They want to be your babies — your secret children. They are perfectly comfortable hiding away in some closet on your computer. They’re introverts by nature. Publishing your work, a piece of your soul, is terrifying. But when you love something, you let it go in hopes that it sprouts wings and flies into someone else’s heart too.

  I have so many people to thank for giving me the push I needed to publish Fabled. I’m eternally grateful to my husband, for sponsoring me and being my biggest fan, and my parents, who have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Special thanks to my first readers: Bob, Patrick, Krista, Jessica, and Stephanie, who read the drafts in their hideous forms and still somehow enjoyed them. I appreciate all your love and support. I cannot tell you how much it means to me.

  I also want to thank my editors and cover artist for their work and attention to detail. You have all made this a wonderful experience.

  And I especially want to thank you, kind reader, for picking up my book and giving it a chance. I hope it added a little magic to your life.

  About the Author

  Vanessa K. Eccles has had a writer’s spirit since before she could write. She won her first short story contest at the age of six and was first published at thirteen. Words have always been a part of her life, but it wasn't until 2009 that she began focusing on novels and has been pursuing her dream ever since.

  Her deep love of literature inspired her to study English at Troy University before founding Belle Rêve Literary Journal, where she currently serves as executive editor.

  She is al
so the founder of YA-NA Sisterhood, where she and several other authors share writing advice, reviews, and introduce readers the the newest YA/NA books.

  When she's not writing or devouring books, she enjoys living the lake life with her Prince Charming and their four dogs.

  Website: http://www.vanessakeccles.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanessaKEcclesAuthor

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaKEccles

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