The Book of Spells and Such

by Jacquie Underdown

“I love you too.”

  He holds his other hand out for her and she clasps it. “Come, let’s see if you can stand.”

  Ariana bends forward until she is sitting upright. “Whoa,” she says, placing a hand to her forehead for a couple of heartbeats.

  “Nice and slow,” says Hadeon.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Almost four weeks.”

  Her brows arch upward as she takes in Hadeon’s grim frown. “Four weeks?”

  “I was almost…” He lowers his head and swallows hard. “…too late.”

  She leans forward and kisses his cheek. “But you weren’t. I’m here. Alive.”

  Hadeon nods and smiles.

  Ariana swings her legs over the side of the bed and presses her toes into the soft rug. Hadeon holds her hands and helps ease her up onto her feet. Her weak muscles engage; hard work, but it feels good to be using them.

  Shifting to her side, he places an arm behind her back and she lifts hers around him for support. One slow step. Another. Another. A little faster. More confidence.

  Ariana looks up at him, grinning. “I’m doing okay.”

  He smiles back, his eyes shining with life and love. “Yes, you are. I never doubted you.”

  “You never do.”

  “How about we go out to the garden and feel the sun on our skin?”

  “Yes, and then we can talk.”

  Ariana is breathless and fatigued by the time they make it downstairs and outside to the front garden that is vibrant with colorful shrubbery, plants, and flowers. She groans as she lowers onto a long stone bench. Hadeon sits beside her.

  “We’ll have to nourish you with food to build those muscles again,” Hadeon says.

  She nods. “This is torture, especially with this gravity. I’ve gone back to square one.”

  He threads his fingers through hers and kisses the back of her hand. “It won’t take long…ahhh, and here is our little mind-reader now,” he says, looking at Tuti as she floats toward them with a tray filled with food and drinks.

  She places the tray beside Ariana and lifts a cup filled with some watery concoction that smells strongly of bitter herbs. “You are to drink this. Healer’s orders.”

  Ariana nods as she takes the cup from Tuti. She looks down at the oozy, green contents and wrinkles her nose.

  “It will help restore your strength and rehydrate you,” says Tuti in her sing-song voice.

  “It looks like blended frogs.”

  Tuti’s forehead crinkles with confusion. But Hadeon laughs, his deep, throaty voice echoing around the garden. “It does indeed look like blended frogs. But drink. Please.”

  She frowns and swallows down the liquid. Despite the smell, look, and raw egg consistency, it doesn’t taste too bad—like fruit juice almost. Her veins tingle as her body assimilates the liquid and coldness permeates her limbs and muscles, hardening them.

  “Wow,” she says, brows lifting higher.

  “Good, huh? Quite a potent little concoction,” says Hadeon.

  She nods and places the cup back on the tray and is given a plate of food. She picks at a long yellow stem and chews on it. She dry-retches and, if capable of standing quickly, would spit it out into the garden, but she reluctantly swallows it down.

  Hadeon laughs again, longer and stronger than before.

  “Oh, very funny,” she says.

  “They do taste horrible, like—”

  “Dogs balls,” she says.

  Laughter roars from Hadeon, and Tuti’s chiming peal rings out softly too. “Not quite what I was going to say, but hey, go ahead, if you’ve had experience in such things.”

  Ariana smiles and forces down another mouthful.

  “Thank you, Tuti,” says Hadeon.

  Tuti nods and flutters away, leaving the tray.

  “In all seriousness, these particular varietals will help you. They are recovery foods. Believe me, I’ve had my share of them in my lifetime.”

  She thinks about all his tattoos, what that would equate to in terms of battles. “I don’t like to hear that—you being hurt.”

  Hadeon laughs. “Flower, I know what you mean, but as long as the Sun Queen is still doing whatever the hell she likes, I’m not sure we have a choice.”

  Ariana shudders to hear her name. She thinks of Sonnig, his face looming above her, and his words. Such a shame I won’t get to hear you scream as I cut out your heart. But orders are orders, and I’m not so brave as to disobey the Sun Queen. The betrayal, the humiliation, cuts deep and she presses a hand to her chest to ease the tight squeezing.

  “It’s over, Ariana,” Hadeon says. “If there ever was a time to face forward, this is it.”

  She takes a deep breath and nods. “I know, but it’s still so raw.”

  Hadeon sighs. “Yes, it is.”

  “Who saved me?”

  Hadeon forces a comforting smile. “My sister, Marseon. She’s a Healer.”

  Ariana nods as the woman’s face zooms into focus in her memories. “I thought she was familiar. Now I feel doubly bad that I called her a bare-breasted bitch.”

  Hadeon smiles. “Things were a little tense back then. I’m sure she’d understand.”

  Ariana is silent for a long moment, building the courage to ask her next question. “And what about S—Sonnig? What became of him?”

  He looks her square in the eyes, storm clouds raging. “I showed him how it feels to have his heart cut out, only I wasn’t so generous as to knock him out first or perform the operation quickly.”

  Ariana shudders. “You’re brutal.”

  “When I have to be.”

  She leans into him and kisses his cheek. “Thank you.”

  He strains a tight smile.

  “And what about my traitorous uncle and aunt?”

  “There was no use for them.”

  Ariana nods, understanding exactly what his words mean. She shakes her head. “I still can’t believe it. How could they betray me, us, like that? For what means? Why would they want the Sun Queen in power?”

  “I’m assuming because they were promised power if you were out of the picture. Power has been sought and abused by many. Not so much here in Fiore, but on Earth you see it everywhere. It can turn even the seemingly meek into gluttonous, cruel monsters.”

  “Very true.”

  “Father and I, with Tuti’s help, have rid the palace of anyone who knew or took part in the plot to betray us. It was only a handful of people—Nyklus and Sora, the old official who verified Sonnig’s fake tattoos as real, a guard, and Sonnig. I’m certain now that all who remain are loyal to the Spring Blossom House.”

  “That day. Tuti, what happened to her?”

  “They had her almost beaten to death then locked her away once she learned of their plan.”

  A heavy weight settles on Ariana’s shoulders. “Oh, poor Tuti.”

  “She’s an incredibly strong soul. As are you.”

  “I still can’t believe the lengths Nyklus and Sora took, after all the trouble to get me back here.”

  Hadeon edges closer on the seat and presses his palm to her thigh. “That’s the Sun Queen’s nature. She won’t stop. I’m certain of it now. She’s getting stronger. And now that she knows you’re back and are queen, her reach is becoming broader, much more rapidly than ever before. I didn’t want to burden you with this news too soon, but I’m afraid I have no choice. We need to act.”

  Ariana stiffens and peers up at Hadeon. “How?”

  “That’s up to you, Queen.”

  Chapter 32

  Ariana turns the taps, allowing warm water to fill the bathtub. She stands in front of the mirror, while Hadeon stands behind her, both staring at her reflection. She peels her nightshirt over her head and throws it onto the floor.

  Naked, except for the red-stone necklace around her neck, she peers at her body in the mirror. Despite her increased voluptuousness, she has lost so much weight. She looks at the flesh between her breasts. The faintest of pink
scars run from between her collarbone to her sternum.

  Hadeon catches her hips and spins her to face him. He smooths his finger between her breasts, along the faint, puckered line. “You are so beautiful and strong,” he says.

  Her nipples bloom and tummy tingles to feel him intimately touching her.

  He bends and catches a hardened nipple between his lips and sucks at it, piercing her insides with pleasure. He stands tall again, the cool air tickling where his hot, wet mouth was. “And when you are healthy again, I’m going to officially make you my queen.”

  Ariana smiles, slightly breathless. “Please.”

  * * * *

  After a long soak in the tub, Ariana dresses and finds Hadeon in the library with his father.

  Gideon stands as she enters. “Your Highness, lovely to see you up and about.”

  “Thank you. Nice to see you…” She stops and looks at him curiously.

  Gideon laughs. “What is it?”

  “You.” She cocks her head to the side. “Why am I no longer scared of you?”

  Gideon laughs again, an echo of Hadeon’s tone and character. “Because you are queen and you rule us all.”

  She smiles as she crosses to him and wraps her arms around his enormous frame. “Thank you for your help. Despite my condition, I saw that you were there, defending me and Hadeon when we needed it most.”

  He takes her by the shoulders, his gaze glued to hers. No longer is there the feeling of him probing to find her deepest thoughts, only mutual amiability and respect. “It was my honor as well as my duty.”

  Ariana nods and moves to Hadeon, bending to kiss his cheek before taking a seat on the couch beside him.

  “How are you feeling?” he whispers.

  “Still a little weak, but I’m okay.”

  “I don’t want you to rush your recovery.”

  She frowns. “I’ll be fine.”

  Gideon paces back and forth in front of them as he briefs Ariana on what has been happening during her time in darkness.

  “The Sun Queen’s army has taken one of our strongholds on the perimeter of the palace. We’ve sent more troops, but that weakens us elsewhere. We are more exposed than we ever have been. She is growing in number, gaining many, many followers willing to die for her. Word was sent this morning that there is already metaphysical activity on the barrier. She’s trying to penetrate the spell and I believe it won’t be long until she does.”

  “Then the real battle begins.”

  Gideon nods, his expression grim. “Yes.”

  “So how many numbers do we have?” asks Ariana.

  “Twenty thousand Warriors, give or take, five hundred palace guards, and three thousand Enchantresses.”

  “And the Sun Queen?”

  “We believe four times that.”

  A shudder ripples up the length of Ariana’s spine and all breath is stolen from her throat. “Oh, my. That’s a huge disparity.”

  “Yes, but we have something they don’t,” Hadeon says.

  She lifts her gaze to him. “And what’s that?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  He nods. “Don’t underestimate how powerful you are. Yes, you’re physically depleted after…after…” He stops, neck tensing and jaw clenching. He takes a deep breath before continuing. “But the Spring Blossom Queen is always, and has always been, the most powerful Enchantress.” He takes her hands in his. “Do you feel that rushing through your veins and vibrating from your soul?”

  Ariana concentrates on the rush of tingling warmth expanding her cells and lighting her spirit. Her body is buzzing and vibrating in an indefinable way. Magic, strong and present. It washes through her hands, joining a circle with Hadeon, with his strength, brutality, intuition, and confidence, and it pulses like great cracks of lightning, electrifying and lethal. Ariana gasps and lets go of his hands. She looks into his brown eyes, deep reflections of all that she felt.

  “Woah…” She stands up. “What is that?”

  He stands too. “That’s us, flower. Mother Nature pairs the strongest. Always.”

  She’s trembling, as though cold, but it’s not from the temperature, not at all. Magic is rippling violently through her body, barely containable now that she has acknowledged its presence and its power.

  Gideon touches a hand to her shoulder. “Control it, master it, and you will be our most formidable weapon.”

  Chapter 33

  Hadeon leads Ariana down the long hall toward the very back of the right wing. He opens the door, turns to Ariana, and hoists her into his arms. She screams and bursts into giggles as he carries her over the threshold. He doesn’t set her down until he reaches the enormous bed that stands in the center of the room.

  Still giggling, Ariana peers at her surroundings. Plush rugs of red and black line the opaque floor. Delicate artworks of blossoms and Fioren landscapes decorate the walls. There’s a copper bath off to the side that would easily fit her and Hadeon, a reading nook, an office space with a big blue timber desk and chair, as well as a dressing table with a mirror, and a walk-in closet.

  “What the…” she says.

  “I thought we needed our own room.”

  She nods, head still swinging to take in the sights of the room. “Beautiful.”

  “It was your mother and father’s room.”

  Ariana touches her hand to her chest. Her heavy heart is sinking like a stone in a bottomless pool. She stands and looks again at her surroundings, except this time from the perspective that the woman and man who gave her life once walked inside these walls.

  Did her mother brush her fingers along the walls? Did her gaze wander the length of the spring blossoms climbing across the ceiling? Did her father open a book from the shelves in the reading nook?

  Hadeon takes Ariana’s hand and leads her to the library. “Sit,” he says, gesturing toward the long reading couch buried in the alcove below a window.

  At a deep niche carved into the wall, he opens a timber door. Inside is a darkened space. He retrieves a slickly painted enamel box, covered with spring blossoms, much like the ones on Ariana’s spell book. He places the box on the fabric beside where she sits.

  “This box has belonged to every Spring Blossom Queen since the dawn of time.”

  Ariana lifts her eyes from the box to Hadeon’s. “It looks brand new.”

  He nods. “Magic keeps it that way. The box’s fabric is bound in a spell that ensures it never ages and that only the hands of a queen can open it.” He curls his fingers along the underside of the lid’s rim and tries to lift it with all his strength. “It hasn’t been opened since your mother. No one knows what’s inside.”

  Ariana smooths a finger along the lid, trying to sense her mother. Nothing.

  “Would you like privacy?”

  Ariana nods. “Yes, I think I would.”

  He bends and kisses her cheek before striding out of the room.

  As soon as the door clicks shut, emotions rise from her squeezing chest to her tightened throat and into her eyes. She wipes at her cheeks and sniffles. All her life she has wanted to know something, anything, about her parents. And now, she is about to find out what her mother kept most private and precious.

  Fingers to the rim, she lifts. The lid slides easily upward and off. The scent of flowers, honey, and something sweetly unidentifiable, wafts in the air around her. Pulse quickened, breaths heavier, she looks into the box.

  A pink envelope is on top. Harmony is scrawled in calligraphy across the front.

  She grabs the envelope. It feels like the petals of a flower between her fingers. Turning it over, she sees that it is sealed with bright pink wax, stamped with a blossom.

  Hurriedly, she tears the seal and pulls out the pages hiding within.

  My beautiful baby, Harmony

  For you to be reading this, a baby you are no longer, but a woman grown and a queen chosen. Oh, my darling, how I wish to be there right now, with you, for you are my every breath and I’d give
anything to breathe you in.

  But Fiore is in turmoil. What was once the most glorious of lands has become a place of evil, deceit, and death. I cannot trust even those dearest to me. So I have taken all efforts to keep you safe and return you to the throne when the time is right.

  I know, as I write this, I am not long for this world and these will be my last words to you.

  I love you with all my bones and blood. For as long as my heart does beat, it will beat for you. And when I am but wilting petals drifting across the ocean, they will be drifting toward you. I will never truly be gone, for I am a part of you, as you were a part of me.

  Be strong, my darling. Be brave. Trust yourself.

  Love,

  Your mother,

  Harmony

  Ariana’s cheeks are streaked with tears as she holds the letter against her heart. Such love and devotion stripped away from her. A beautiful being, full of compassion and honor, destroyed before her time.

  Anger brews in Ariana’s veins at the injustice of it all. Her mother stolen, killed, along with Ariana’s childhood and innocence. Trembles aggressively shake her body and the glass lights tinkle as anger spreads like a rumbling earthquake across the room. The windows vibrate in their frames. Bitterness swells in her cells, needing an outlet.

  She opens her mouth and screams her frustration to the room, a long, livid roar that sends a storm with great gusts of wind, ripping books from their shelves, covers from the bed, and glasses to the floor.

  The door bursts open, and Hadeon shields his body from the onslaught. “Flower,” he says, pushing against the wind to get to her.

  Ariana turns her face to him and her rage falls to the floor. She sinks back to the seat, grief pooling and washing over her heart. Hadeon’s at her side in a second, crouching in front of her and wrapping her in his arms. Ariana sobs, great gulping cries, her face resting against his chest as he rocks her gently like a child.

  “She took my mother. My beautiful mother,” she cries.

  Hadeon nods and smooths a hand over her hair. His eyes are filled with empathy, his frown deeply grooved into his face. “I understand. She killed mine too.”