Magical Acts: (Skeleton Key)

by Michele Bardsley

  It was hers.

  Auron was real.

  And so was this.

  She’d been this close to meeting the mage of Barrows Flat. The one who claimed to love her.

  “I’m sorry, m’lady.”

  The whispered words came from a huddled figure less than a foot away. Natalie watched as the mass of rags unfolded into the thin form of a young girl. She looked over her shoulder and Natalie followed her gaze. A squat man sat in front of the cart, leading two oxen over the bumpy ground.

  “Let me go,” whispered Natalie.

  “Can’t.” The girl crawled close, her big, gray eyes staring at Natalie’s scar. “Papa says you’re a hero. You’re saving us.”

  “I’m not a hero,” she said, fighting hysteria. “I’m a prisoner.”

  “Well, you’re saving us all the same.” The girl patted Natalie’s arm. “The Wicked One will remove the curse from our town in exchange for you.”

  Okay, that was sorta like the original plot. Except she was supposed to escape before the evil mage claimed her. And Natalie didn’t know anything about the Wicked One.

  “Who is the Wicked One?”

  The girl’s face paled, and she shook her head.

  Natalie pulled at her bonds. No way could she undo the knots. She knew the only way to escape was to convince her talkative companion to free her. “Let me go. Please.”

  “If I did, then my father would have to give me to the Wicked One,” she said. The girl’s eyes got as round as saucers. “Her punishments are greatly feared.”

  Natalie slumped. Well, she wasn’t going to trade her freedom for the girl’s. Wait. She? The Wicked One wasn’t the lascivious male mage? A new character had entered the story. A nemesis Natalie knew nothing about.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “The Castle of Dreams.”

  It didn’t sound ominous, but she couldn’t imagine any place belonging to someone called the Wicked One would be pleasant. Now that she knew the girl might suffer if she were to escape, she ditched those plans. She could try after the girl and her father had gotten safely away. Even if she managed to free herself afterward, she still had no idea which direction to go, or where to find help. Even if she had a cell phone—it wouldn’t work here. How could she even begin to try and find Auron again?

  How could he find her?

  “Almost there, m’lady.” The girl jerked her head to the left. In the distance, against the black, jagged shapes of the mountains, Natalie saw the outline of a huge white castle. The Castle of Dreams? Natalie bet it was more like the castle of nightmares.

  Fear twirled through her, chilling her to the core.

  A few minutes later, they rolled to a stop. The man leapt from his seat and lumbered around the cart. He opened the back and unsheathed his knife. Looking at Natalie, he said, “Don’t cause no trouble, missy. We paid good money for you.” He cut her bonds then grabbed the length of rope that dangled from the knot on her wrists. “C’mon.”

  Natalie did as he said because she had no other choice. Even if she managed to run away, where would she go? And to whom?

  “Aidra, stay with the oxen.”

  The girl nodded at her father and trudged through the thick, gray soil to stand near the big beasts. Natalie was forced to follow the man through the sludge-like earth until their feet struck a stone path.

  His pace quickened, and Natalie could only be grateful her ankles hadn’t been shackled as well—otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to keep up. Ahead, she could see the thickness of trees and bushes. The sweet smell of lavender, roses, and honeysuckle weaved through the dust-clogged air. Moments later, they entered a gorgeous, lush garden. Had she been a free woman exploring a new area, she might’ve enjoyed the wild beauty of this place. Instead, terror raked at her with sharp claws. Cold sweat beaded her forehead, and she felt so dizzy, she stumbled.

  “We’re here,” said the man. She saw flashes of guilt and pity in his eyes. His gaze slid away. “Step up on the altar.”

  She resisted his tugging on the rope. She did not want to crawl on top of that marble slab. If she were locked into those silver manacles that dangled from each corner, her fate would be sealed.

  He yanked hard, and she either had to fall or to move forward. She reluctantly joined the man on the top step.

  “Lay down, m’lady,” he said gruffly.

  Utterly dejected, she raised her arms. The man cut away the ropes. She climbed onto the white marble. The thin dress did nothing to protect her from the blazing sun above. She would fry like a piece of bacon.

  “We thank you, m’lady,” said the man as he snapped on each cuff. The silver felt unusually warm and seemed to flow around her skin. “Blessings upon you.” He leaned over her. “We are not without mercy. Rest now.” He placed a small vial on her lips and poured its contents into her mouth. The minty concoction burned. Natalie was unsure how sticking the equivalent of Listerine down her throat was helpful.

  He hurried away and who could blame him?

  An ache settled in her chest.

  If this is a dream, now would be a good time to wake up, Natalie.

  Chapter 6

  Natalie drifted in and out of consciousness as the afternoon wore on. The sun bore down on her relentlessly until her skin felt like parchment and her throat was coated with dust. Her mouth tasted of mint and fire. She rubbed her teeth with her tongue and tried to rid herself of the awful tang.

  Had she gone mad? Was she comatose in her house, or the loony bin, simply living inside this dream? This delusion? Because right now, it did not feel like she’d fallen asleep reading Magical Acts. This felt like she was actually living it.

  Despite the awful heat, she managed to sleep again. When she awoke, a large tree with broad leaves had grown next to the altar. The shade was so thick and plentiful, she couldn’t see the sky.

  If only I had something to drink.

  The sloshing noise alarmed her. She couldn’t see the ground, but the noise got closer and closer. Natalie watched in amazement as a thick, green vine wobbled up next to the stone platform. Topped by white flower, which was shaped like an upside-down bell, the vine grew taller and taller. Then, it shifted sideways, moving over her until it hovered about six inches from her mouth. The flower tipped over, and sweetened water flooded her mouth. She gulped the refreshment greedily. Her thirst wasn’t quenched, but she needn’t have worried. Two more vines with similar flowers appeared and offered their water to her as well. She knew Auron had something to do with this. Surely her captor wouldn’t be so kind as to provide water and shade. If Auron couldn’t speak to her during the day, how was he managing these feats?

  Every so often, the flowers appeared, and though her stomach grumbled with hunger, at least she wasn’t thirsty. Water was the key to surviving. She’d worry about food after she was freed from the Wicked One’s chains.

  If she ever was. Maybe cooking like raw meat in the brutal sun was the sacrifice part of this bargain. You traveled to another world for this?

  As the afternoon waned, a mountainous man lumbered to the dais. She recognized him as the one who’d nearly attacked Gretta in Chapter One of Magical Acts. Her heart leapt into her throat.

  What was he going to do?

  He removed the manacles, tossed her like a sack of potatoes over his massive shoulder, and trundled into the castle.

  Mountain Man tossed her onto a chaise lounge in a luxurious room filled with reds and golds. But something about the room was off. Stale. As if it needed fresh air and a deep cleaning. The roses distributed throughout the brash room did little to combat the acrid smells of cigarettes and an odd, almost decaying, smell. She crinkled her nose. Gross.

  A beautiful woman in pale green dress sat next to her. Her eyes were forest green, and her lips were a vibrant red. Like freshly spilled blood. She withdrew a slim gold cigarette from a case on the table next to her. She touched her fingertip to the end, and the cigarette sparked into life.

  “Who
are you?” croaked Natalie.

  “The Wicked One, of course.” She smiled, but the gesture resembled a hissing cobra. “I know who you are, Natalie. The delusional woman who hopes to save Auron Tarlett.”

  Stunned, Natalie stared the woman. “How do you know my name?”

  “Oh, I know lots of things. For instance, this is the last year of Auron’s curse. If no one breaks it, he and his wretched parents shall move on to the next world. I’ve waited a century to see the end of the Tarletts.” The woman leaned forward, her expression filled with hate. “I also know that you alone can end Auron’s torment. But … you have to be a virgin to do it. As pure of body as you are of heart.”

  “You’re Rin.” Well, the Chamomile version of Rin. Natalie knew the mage hid her true self in false beauty’s skin. Underneath, the bitch was an ugly, old, sociopathic sorceress. I’m so screwed.

  “How did you get here?”

  “I was kidnapped. Twice.”

  “Are you an imbecile? You’re not from the Barrows. You’re otherworld. How did you manage a portal?”

  “I didn’t.”

  Rin blew smoke into Natalie’s face. “You’re a liar.”

  Her heart knocked inside her ribcage. She could only imagine what Rin might do to her to stop her from helping Auron. Rin took another drag of her cigarette and this time when she blew smoke into Natalie’s face, the noxious fumes contained bits of black sparks.

  Rin leaned forward. “Tell me about your portal.”

  “I don’t have one.”

  Rin’s cherry lips brushed Natalie’s cheek. For some reason, she couldn’t move away from the unwanted contact. She felt the woman’s teeth tug her earlobe.

  “Tell me.”

  Fear beat a faint tempo in her head. She was helpless. The mage would force the truth from her, no matter how much she wished to conceal it. Unwillingly, Natalie said, “I bought a skeleton key. A magic door appeared, and the key opened it.”

  “Where is the key? Where is the door?”

  “Gone.”

  “Don’t be stubborn!” Rin grabbed Natalie’s chin, red nails digging into her face. “You know where it is!”

  “Are you deaf?” asked Natalie. “It no longer exists.”

  The woman’s scream of outrage startled Natalie. Rin’s hand swung down. The blow snapped her head back. Natalie wanted to lift her hand to slap the bitch right back, but her muscles refused to move. She smirked. “You can’t raise your hand against me. Just a little magical insurance.” She crushed out her cigarette. “Brey!” He appeared instantly. “Take her to the virgin suite.”

  Apparently, this dude was her personal transportation unit. He scooped her up easily, tossed her over shoulder again, and left Rin’s living quarters.

  Trying to fight Brey was a useless endeavor. She’d pounded on his back and kicked her feet the entire time he carried her. He’d put her in a white room. She didn’t see many details because Brey had pinned her to a huge, luxurious bed and tied her to it with silk scarves.

  Brey trudged out of the room, leaving her with Rin.

  “What the fuck is your problem, lady?”

  “You are. But I’m going to solve it right now.” She smiled. “You’ve been sold, my dear. By the time Auron figures out his true love is in trouble, you’ll be deflowered and useless to him.”

  Natalie couldn’t bear the woman’s gloating. “No matter how badly you try to harm the Tarletts, you will never be able to fill that hole in your chest. You have no heart.”

  “Not one of my own,” she acknowledged. “But I do have his.” Rin grabbed Natalie’s hair and pulled it hard. She yelped as pain shot down her scalp. Rin let go of Natalie’s hair, then smoothed down the strands. “Poor, stupid Natalie,” she whispered, her voice thin with viciousness. “Auron will reject you the same as his father rejected me.”

  “You’re a vindictive bitch who deserves nothing but pity.”

  Rin raised her hand as though she meant to strike, but Natalie refused to flinch, and she would not look away from the woman’s seething gaze. Rin’s hand curled into a fist as she dropped it to her side. She waved her hand, and the thin dress and gold panties disappeared.

  Oh, my God!

  With a last sneering smile, Rin turned and strode out the door. It slammed shut with a final, terrifying thud.

  Natalie turned, twisted, wiggled, pulled, and pushed. The silk ties wouldn’t loosen even a centimeter. Straining against her bonds, she prayed for a way out of this horrible situation.

  Everything in the room was white. A white nightstand trimmed in gold sat next to the bed, its lone lamp giving out a soft glow. On the wall was a rectangular mirror framed in gold-painted wood.

  The door popped open. “Hello?” called a tentative male voice through the crack.

  Natalie jolted, her heart hammering against her chest. The door swung fully open. She swallowed the scream vibrating in her throat.

  The man who entered was nondescript. Not too tall, not too short. Short brown hair, brown eyes, and a friendly, if not handsome face—he seemed the sort anyone would forget almost immediately. Dressed in a simple white suit, only the gold rings on his fingers gave away his status as a wealthy man.

  “You’re the virgin?”

  “Please, sir. I am being held against my will. This is not my choice.”

  He grinned, shaking his head. “You sure get into it. Rin said you’re a fine actress.” He squinted at her. “But you’re a virgin, right? I paid a lot of credits so I could be your first man.”

  Natalie closed her eyes. “This isn’t what I want.”

  “Oh, I know,” he said confidently. “But we got all night, sweetling. We’ll try what you want later on.”

  Natalie’s eyes flew open. “All night?”

  “Yep.” He walked to the bed and looked down at her. “Is there someone else you’d want to…er, pluck your flower?”

  Why should she tell this man anything? He had paid to take something from her that she wanted to give willingly to someone else. To Auron. She wanted Auron as her first—and only—lover. Oh, what did it matter now? She looked at the man, tears in her eyes. “Yes. I would choose someone else.”

  He nodded. “Guess you needed the money or something, right? Does your man not take care of you?”

  “I’m not helpless. I can take care of myself.” The words felt heavy on her tongue because obviously, she was helpless and she wasn’t exactly taking care of herself.

  For a brief moment, the man looked flummoxed. Then his expression cleared, and he shrugged. “If you were mine, I sure wouldn’t let you sell your virginity to the highest bidder.”

  “I’m a prisoner!”

  “Sorry, sweetling. I paid for you.” He sat on the bed and trailed his fingers along her thigh. “And I’m going to have you.”

  Natalie looked at the man. He would not let her go so she would have to endure his touches, his kisses … and his penetration. A sob caught in her throat.

  The man lay on the bed next to her. She stiffened, biting on her lower lip. You’ll get through this. His lips grazed her earlobe, and she tried not to flinch. His tongue traced the shell of her ear. Then he whispered, “Sweet Natalie. Do not fear.”

  Her eyes widened, and she turned to stare at him. He put a finger to her opened mouth. “Sshh. Rin has eyes and ears in this room.”

  Joy rushed through her. Even though Auron was disguised, he was here. Saving her.

  “The silk ties are bespelled, Natalie. They will stretch and allow you to move, but they will not come off. I’m sorry, but I can’t undo this magic. The only way to break the spell is to take your virginity.”

  Her breath shallowed. Yes, she was scared and nervous. But pleasure awaited her too. There were worse fates than giving her virginity to the man she loved.

  “Okay.” Natalie turned her face to his. In the depths of his brown eyes, she saw a glimmer of blue.

  “You sure smell good,” he said loudly as he sat up. He stood and began to unbut
ton his shirt. “Okay, sweetling. Let’s get started.” As he peeled his clothes off, he winked at her. A luminous blue fog filled the room. Before she could take her next breath, the magical mist disappeared. When she looked at the mage, he was no longer disguised.

  “Oh, my God,” she said. “It really is you.” The Auron who stood before her now was a blend of the man from her dreams and the man from the café. Little things were different, the shape of the nose, the dip in the chin, but those eyes … those eyes were amazing.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Magic,” he said. “I can’t undo the silk bonds, but I can bespell the bastards staring at us through that mirror. I will not allow Rin and her toe-licking minions to watch us make love.”

  “What will they see?”

  “Anyone watching or listening will hear and see whatever they think is supposed to unfold. By the time the spell breaks, we will be long gone.” He lay next to her. “I’m sorry it must be this way. This is not how I envisioned our first real time together.”

  “As long as I am with you, I don’t care where we are.” She looked at him. “Can I really break your curse?”

  “Yes,” he said. “But you should know. Shedding Rin’s evil is only the first part.”

  “What do you mean? In the book, Gretta only needed to give herself to you.”

  “Not Gretta,” he said softly. “You, Natalie. Always you.” He took her hand. “To mate with me, you must accept my mage’s mark while I’m in my other form.”

  “Um … you mean the statue?”

  “No, not the statue.” He hesitated. “The Tarlett males are … different. Not … human. Only when our mates accept our marks will our monsters disappear forever.”

  She remembered touching his scales in their last dream together. “Monsters, huh?”

  “Does that frighten you?”

  Natalie shook her head. She’d fallen in love with Auron when she believed him to be just a book boyfriend. It seemed the fantasy romance hadn’t included everything about the mage—or his curse. Or even his world. But it didn’t matter.

  “I’m yours, Auron.”