by Amanda McGee
Tristan and I crouched down to avoid bumping our heads on the doorway. I, personally, could not withstand the annoyance or humiliation of another concussion. Arwen began unrolling a large piece of paper across the table. Since I was already looking down, because I had no other choice, I could see the paper appeared to be blueprints.
“Sorry about the lack of artistic ability,” Arwen said.
Tristan and I chose our seats around the dining room table, which was constructed from a tree trunk, or, perhaps, a tree limb. It was very small after all. Arwen remained standing, perfectly eye-level with his sketches while we struggled to position ourselves close enough to see the drawings. Our chairs sat near to the floor requiring our knees to bend up to our chests. The table was too low for our legs to fit comfortably underneath so we rotated around and peered at Arwen with our bodies turned sideways—and ankles intertwined.
“This is a map I drew for Tristan earlier,” Arwen continued. “I was trying to illustrate the layout of the castle but my penmanship isn’t what it used...well, it never has been very good.”
“No, this is great,” I said. “Any idea where she would be holding Sadie and Blaze? Are they being tortured and only given bread?”
My frightened imagination got the best of me again. The silliness of my rambling became apparent instantly, but luckily only to me. Tristan and Arwen concentrated so absorbedly on the blueprint it left little room to recognize my awkward panic.
“She has them in this area,” Arwen said, pointing to a small section of rooms in the basement. “Conditions are less than ideal but I can assure you they are taken care of.”
“So you’ve seen them?” I asked.
“I know her plans,” he said. “The thing about being quiet and small is that you are often overlooked or forgotten, but it also means you hear things others might not want you to hear.”
“What does she intend to do with them?” Tristan asked.
“And what is so special about us? Granted, we have pretty cool powers but they aren’t life changing take-over-the-world powers. What good would they be to her?”
“It is not your individual abilities that make you all special,” Arwen continued. “The bond that makes your abilities possible is what she wants. Everyone here has some type of magical skill but we are residents of a magical realm. There is nothing terribly interesting about people who all wear the same hat, so to speak.”
“So we aren’t from here and therefore we are fascinating,” I said.
“Basically,” he replied. “There has never been an instance of a magical being having a relationship with an earthly being much less for them to have magically inclined children. You all are mixtures of two cultures that have never combined. The powers you and your siblings possess are much deeper and stronger than any Katerina can conjure.
“At first she desired revenge against your mother,” he continued. “But once she realized your existence, her plan changed. She became intrigued. Your power means little to her, she is powerful enough on her own, but with Katerina there is rarely any rhyme or reason in her actions. She is driven by hate and greed...and quite possibly boredom.”
“So she’s not concerned with breaking my mother’s spell?”
“That was always her plan and it still is, but now she’s taking it further.”
“What happens if she succeeds?” Tristan asked. “If Katerina manages to carry out her plan, what happens to them—to us?”
“They will die and so will we,” Arwen answered. “The only reason they are alive now is because they possess a portion of their mother’s genes. If those genes—the magic ones—are removed or altered they will die instantly in this world and Katerina will punish us for helping.”
“So we better get this right,” Tristan said.
“What is the point of punishing you?” I asked. “Especially if she is victorious.”
“Katerina’s power is centered on evil jealousy,” Arwen explained. “If for no other reason, she will punish Tristan and me out of pure resentment.”
Our entire fate rested in one another’s hands. The thought of Tristan and Arwen risking their lives for us was a burden I could do without. Circumstances had evolved from saving me, Sadie, and Blaze to protecting everyone involved as well.
We all needed each other. We all needed this plan to be successful. Sadie, Blaze, and I needed to escape to survive. Tristan had a promise to keep. Arwen would help us so that he may live freely for the first time since he was a child. Katerina had taken enough from him.
Oh, what a tangled a web indeed.
“How soon can we get moving?” I asked.
“We should go as soon as possible,” Tristan said.
“First, there is something you should know,” Arwen said in a serious tone. “I am confident of Sadie and Blaze’s safety because the key to all of your powers is you, Alex.”
“Tristan mentioned that last night. What is that about?”
“Katerina discovered that you are the connection between Sadie and Blaze’s abilities. Within you rests the source of the powers you all possess.”
“Why me?”
“Because you are the strongest.”
“I don’t believe that,” I said. “Sadie and Blaze are much stronger and capable.”
“The honor was bestowed upon you because, if I understand correctly, you were the connection,” Arwen said. “You were with your mother the longest and with each of your siblings before your separation. More than that the universe saw your strength from the very beginning, now it is time to discover and display that power.”
“This is not surprising to me,” Tristan interjected. “For someone who is painfully independent and intelligent, you really have no understanding of your true abilities—magical or otherwise. We all can see the real you, it’s about time for you to do the same.”
I had hidden away from the world for so long that I managed to hide from myself. Life was about finding yourself and happiness but I never dreamed that I would sabotage my own quest for completion.
Am I completely useless?
“I thought we were supposed to be the best kept secret,” I said. “How does Katerina know more about my family than we or anyone else?”
“Her life revolves around your family,” Tristan said.
“You’d be surprised what you can do with time, darkness, and magic,” Arwen said. “She felt your power the second we arrived. She just didn’t know it was you until she saw you.”
“What does this mean?” I asked. “Aside from the obvious repercussions, what effect will this have on our journey?”
“I hope that it will allow you to release the strength you hold inside,” Arwen answered. “But it also means that protecting you is the most pressing matter.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?” I asked. “As far as I’m concerned Sadie and Blaze are most important.”
“Since you are the key to your family’s magic, losing your abilities removes all power. Katerina only needs you to destroy you all.”
“So I just won’t lose my power,” I said, feigning calm. “Or don’t die. At least, I’m harder to kill.”
The walls of the tiny house seemed to close in around me. The weight of the world crushed my chest and hunched my back. A single breath of air was an intense struggle. Completely unnerved, I forcefully slid my chair away from the table just as Tristan kneeled at my side.
“Alex, breathe,” he said.
His eyes locked on mine while his thumb caressed the top of my hand in his. This was not the response of a true leader. This was the response of a frightened nineteen-year-old crumbling under the pressure of an impossible mission. Determined to become the strongest version of myself, I stared back at Tristan until his serenity flowed through me.
A gulp of air inflated my compressed lungs, washing away all anxiety. The old Alex would have been waking up on the floor after another fainting spell but this Alex faced her fears instead of succumbing to them.
Wi
thout warning, for the first time in quite awhile, I was not apprehensive—uncomfortable, but not fearful. I couldn’t if I wanted to; it was out of my hands.
The exciting burn in my soul was not magic; it was my true nature aching to be released. My constant inner conflict was not a result of complacent indecision but rather a choice I had unknowingly made to suppress the traits that could make me a leader. The image my mother painted in her journals and the person Tristan saw when he looked at me was the person I, myself, never knew but failed to disguise from the world. I had only thought I was blending in.
I may not have understood or immediately recognized the strength buried deep within but, like it or not, our fate rested in my hands. The least I could do was remain conscious and, hopefully, brave.
“We need a plan,” I said. “I suggest we make one.”
“Maybe you should lie down,” Arwen said.
“No, I’m fine. Tell us what you know.”
“Yes ma’am,” Arwen said, once again consulting his maps. “Well, the rooms where Sadie and Blaze are being held will be heavily guarded. That should be no problem since you have demolished several of the guards already. The hardest part will be getting to Katerina without her getting to you first.”
“Once I get to her I will need a second before I can start,” Tristan said. “I won’t have time to pick and choose, I will have to absorb all of her power, and so I may be weakened at first.”
“It will weaken Katerina also,” Arwen said. “We will take this time to get everyone out. Alex, make sure you have the potion with you because we will need everyone at full strength.”
“You guys have been busy with this little scheme, huh?”
“You aren’t the only impatient over-thinker,” Tristan said with a wink. “I just hide it better.”
“We won’t be able to rely on our powers,” I said. “She will probably have us blocked. The only chance I have at anticipating situations will be if she doesn’t see me coming and that is doubtful.”
“Sadie may still be able to use hers,” Tristan added. “I can handle it either way.”
Crushing despair pressed against my chest again. We had discussed this and I had come to terms with it as much as I could, but seeing Tristan hurt was not something I could ever accept. Even if my expression said otherwise.
“Most of this will be played by ear,” Arwen added.
I grinned at Arwen and his determination. He might resemble a child on the outside but his intelligence clearly extended far beyond adolescence. This was the day he had waited for. The risk he was taking was more than admirable.
“What about the route we discussed earlier,” Arwen said to Tristan.
Their brainstorming made it clear that my role in this planning session was limited. My train of thought drove off course. This world was full of enchantment and yet I managed to be amazed by the simplest of things. I supposed running water in the forest was not so far-fetched in a magical land and miniature furniture was not unheard of in any world, magical or otherwise. Yet, I was thoroughly fascinated nonetheless.
Relationships were not the only things I would leave behind.
Haliwick had more to offer than danger and anguish, unfortunately that was about all I had been able to experience. Part of me wished I could stay and see what my mother’s world was all about. This beautiful, mystic land would only exist in my mind; at least I hoped the memories would remain.
My journey had begun with only me. Now there were five of us fighting for life, love, and freedom. James had taught me that I can control my power but, more importantly, he taught me to believe in it and myself. Though he wouldn’t finish the journey with us, his wisdom would.
It was certainly not just me any longer and I didn’t intend to return to that. My character and strength were being tested to the fullest extent. Regardless of how I viewed myself in the past, I was proud of who I was becoming.
“I think it will be okay,” Tristan said.
What will?
I didn’t realize I was staring until his eyes met mine. If I ever wondered just how deep my love for Tristan was, moments like this reminded me. I held his gaze while praying that this place, Tristan’s face, my love for him, and newfound respect for myself be permanently burned into my memory.
"Arwen's going to take the potion to Sadie and Blaze tonight," Tristan said.
Tristan’s grin was confident, his gaze unfaltering. Arwen stood taller once again and looked us both in the eyes when he spoke. In the middle of the forest, in a house the size of my car, I smiled.
We might actually pull this off.
****
Chapter Twenty-Three
I had wanted to storm into Katerina’s castle as soon as possible. Tristan and Arwen insisted we wait until morning, assuming that Katerina would expect us to return sooner than later and the night would only make it more difficult for us to see. Arwen had successfully delivered the potion to Sadie and Blaze, setting my mind at ease at least as far as that was concerned.
More importantly, I knew they were, in fact, alive.
“The potion is almost gone,” I said. “This is our last chance for this to work.”
I tasted the purple concoction on my tongue, only instead of recharging, I was anxious.
I could barely stand. The potion was no longer able to compete with the strain Haliwick was putting on my body. Two drops used to hold me for well over two days, now I was lucky to make it through one.
Weakness was now accompanied by intense pain. So much so, that upon waking, I screamed in agony before collapsing to the floor. Tristan was frantic, searching my pockets for the temporary relief. Only now the bottle was nearly empty.
We had awoken before the sun, though I barely slept a wink.
I sat gazing out the window at the full moon hanging high above the forest. Its brilliant pink glow slinked between the trees and into Arwen’s living room. I listened to sounds of Tristan’s breathing while he slept peacefully, scrunched against the wall next to me.
Whether we were successful today or not, I would still lose. I just wouldn’t know how severe that loss would be until the battle came to an end.
“Are you ready?” Arwen asked, peeking timidly out of his bedroom.
Tristan attempted a positive expression but his eyes showed the worry he was actually feeling. Still, I returned the sentiment with a counterfeit smile and hoped I fooled him better than he fooled me.
We trekked through the forest in complete silence. Tristan held my hand for most of the walk, either out of concern or adoration. Either of which was fine with me. Dew clung to the blades of grass below us. The bottom of my jeans absorbed their moisture and the soles of my shoes became slippery on the wet leaves. The morning air was crisp and the shade from the trees enhanced my cold shivers. The temperature or the condition of my blue jeans was of little concern to me. A single complaint never crossed my exhausted mind much less left my trembling lips.
The stone columns of the castle’s towers came into view. We were much closer to Katerina than I’d imagined.
We left our hesitation at the door and entered the castle without even acknowledging it or any anxiety we each may have felt. Our hope was to move quickly to avoid detection and, at least, make it inside of our own freewill.
“Why are there no guards?” I whispered once inside.
“They are around,” Arwen said. “Stay alert.”
“This is about as alert as I’m going to get,” I said. “Any more alert and I may explode.”
This was the same corridor I had investigated before Sadie and Blaze were captured. Though the scenery had not changed, the gloominess had grown exponentially. The same pathetic candles still sputtered in their medieval sconces along the wall, the concrete floor was still damp and echoed the sounds of Sadie’s screams and that familiar drip-drip-drip. This time, though, the tension was almost tangible.
“I will take Alex to Blaze and Sadie,” Arwen said to Tristan. “Follow this corridor all
the way to the end and make a right. If we aren’t there in ten minutes, good luck.”
I had heard this plan a hundred times, but hearing it was the easy part. Arwen’s harsh tone was focused, not callous, but the overall message was alarming just the same. Knowing that Tristan was leaving me sent a shiver from my neck down the length of my spine. I was aware it would happen, but now it had become real.
I didn’t want him venturing off alone knowing that I was afraid. I didn’t want him to go at all. In a perfect world, he would not have to risk his life for us. In a perfect world, Katerina would not exist but in the real world, perfect was an illusion.
“I have to leave you now,” Tristan said.
In between the flickers of the candle on the wall beside of us, I caught glimpses of distress and bravery in his expression. Tristan wrapped his arms around me, communicating the feelings he could not speak aloud. I remained stoic until he leaned down to kiss me. My knees buckled but I was quick to regain my composure. I resisted the fluttering in my stomach and the pain in my chest. We both knew what this was—the end.
My heart told me I would regret not making the most of this last embrace but my always- contradictory brain said to be strong and get on with it. It was not the romantic moment I imagined but how romantic could goodbye actually be?
Tristan released me. The bandages and stitches holding my wounded heart together gave way and the pieces shattered across the cold, wet floor. The weight of the emotions I was fighting to hide squeezed my chest, pushing a silent gasp through my trembling lips.
I had become too familiar with this feeling.
“I will keep my promise,” he whispered in my ear.
“I...” I choked.
The intent and words were there but something stopped me from completing the sentence. I knew that I loved him but with an inevitably tragic ending looming ahead of us, the expression seemed wasted and would only make our parting that much harder. More than that, if I’d finished my sentence I would have surely broken down.
