The Return of the Dragon Queen

by Farah Oomerbhoy

  She had cut me all the way down my forearm. If I hadn’t moved in time, she would have gotten me in the stomach. I opened myself to the magic around me to heal myself. Nothing happened—the pain only got worse. I tried harder to reach for my magic, but there was no fire, no ice, no light, nothing.

  “No!” I gasped. I was no longer looking at her but at the curved Dagger she held in her hand, a huge red ruby flashing on its hilt. There was no mistaking it—the Dagger from my nightmares, the Dagger I had been searching for.

  “The Dagger of Dragath,” I said slowly, cold dread flashing down my spine.

  I scrambled for some power and shot a weak push strike at her. At least some of my mage magic remained. But it was not enough to fight the Dark Queen.

  My fae magic was gone.

  Lilith laughed, a cruel, sinister sound, as she stalked toward me in Vivienne’s body. “Your magic will enhance the Dagger’s powers a hundredfold. Our plans have finally come to fruition. The general will be very pleased. Now no one will be able to stop him from raising the demon lord.”

  “Lilith,” I ground out through gritted teeth, staring at the Dagger as a blinding horror took hold of me. “What have you done?”

  I couldn’t lose my magic, not now. Not when I had so much to do. I was the heir of Illaria Lightbringer, I was the Dawnstar, and my fae magic was my power. My grandmother said I could touch the Dagger without being pulled inside. But she never said what would happen if I was cut with it.

  Had she known?

  The pain intensified, and the corridor seemed to tilt as I fell to the ground, too weak from the loss of blood to do anything more. My fae strength was gone, and my senses dulled as the world swam before my eyes and darkness threatened to swallow me whole.

  I heard a shout at the end of the corridor. “Aurora!” It was Tristan.

  Lilith growled when she saw the dark prince, but she didn’t advance on me. Instead, she took out a small stone from her pocket and flung it at the wall. To my astonishment, a portal opened.

  Witchstone, I thought through the haze. Marcus had told me about these rare stones in the Night Bazaar in Sanria.

  “Till we meet again, Princess,” sneered Lilith as she stepped through the portal, just as Tristan’s sword clashed with the stone wall as it closed behind her.

  “Aurora, what happened?” Rafe appeared behind Tristan and knelt beside me.

  His face swam before my eyes. “Rafe, I, she, Lilith . . .”

  “Shh, you can explain later,” Rafe said, gently picking me up in his arms.

  A crowd had gathered, and Penelope ran over. “Get her to her room now,” she ordered.

  Tristan had both his swords drawn and threatened anyone who came near us, making way for Rafe to carry me quickly through the castle corridors.

  “Rafe.” I could barely get the words out as I held on to his neck, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled as my eyes closed.

  He probably thought I couldn’t hear him, and it may have been a hallucination, but I could have sworn he whispered, “I know, my love. I know.”

  When I woke up, I was lying in a blue-and-gold canopied bed under a confection of satin pillows and blankets. A light fragrance of lavender and vanilla filled the room. Penelope was at a table mixing and grinding powders and speaking to Kalen in hushed whispers. They hadn’t noticed I was awake.

  “Is there any hope?” Kalen asked his mother.

  Penelope shook her head. “I’ve examined her thoroughly. All her fae magic is gone.”

  “But she will be all right. Won’t she?”

  Penelope nodded. “Yes, she will live.”

  I winced. Her answer didn’t seem very encouraging.

  “How was she not pulled into the Dagger like her mother and the other fae?” Kalen asked, pacing in front of the table.

  “Her mage blood protected her essence, but it could not protect her fae magic.” Penelope looked as distraught as I felt. “As soon as the Dagger touched her blood, it extracted her fae magic, drawing her power into it like a sponge.”

  I coughed as I tried to sit up, catching their attention. The pain in my arm had dulled but was still there, the wound heavily wrapped in muslin bandages.

  Kalen ran over to the bed. “Aurora, you’re awake.”

  I smiled faintly. “Kalen.” I was always glad to see my old friend. He was a breath of fresh air in a world that had gone completely mad.

  He held my hand, his violet eyes shining. “I’ll get Rafe.” He ran off and came back moments later with the King of Eldoren.

  For the first time since I came back, Rafe fully smiled at me, but only for a moment. It was so fleeting I could have imagined it. His face took on the bored, regal look he was so good at portraying, so different from his worried expression when he was carrying me back to my room.

  “Ah, good! You’re awake.” His tone was flippant. “At least now Prince Tristan will stop questioning and threatening everyone in the castle. The nobles have been asking to have him locked up.”

  I groaned at the thought of Tristan prowling the corridors of Caeleron Castle in a bad mood. I could well understand the nobles’ fear for their lives. An angry Tristan was not someone you wanted to mess with.

  The door burst open and Tristan stalked into the room. “Why didn’t anyone inform me she was awake?” He spoke to Penelope and ignored Rafe.

  Rafe rolled his eyes. “See what I mean?”

  He was about to say something more when Penelope stepped between them. “We were just about to call you, Tristan.”

  Tristan moved past Penelope and came to my bedside with a scowl. “What happened?”

  I told them everything.

  Rafe frowned. “So all your magic is gone?”

  I nodded. “I can’t even speak to Abraxas,” I said numbly, looking at the ring, which now rested cold and dull on my finger.

  “Everything fae about her has been stripped away,” Penelope replied. “Which includes her fae strength and her powers as a Dragonlord.”

  “And the Dawnstar?” asked Tristan.

  Penelope shook her head. “Her fae magic is the basis of her Dawnstar powers, a culmination of them, if you will. She can no longer summon the light of the ancient queens.”

  “It’s only her fae magic that’s gone,” said Rafe, trying to look on the bright side. Not that there really was a bright side to this. “She will still be able to use her mage magic.”

  “Not that it’s going to be of any use to us,” Tristan growled.

  Rafe raised his eyebrows and looked at me. “Cheerful fellow, isn’t he?”

  Tristan glowered at Rafe and was met with the famous Ravenswood smile.

  “So let me get this straight,” Rafe continued. “Lilith has now taken over Vivienne Foxmoor’s body?”

  I nodded.

  “And what happens when she decides to change bodies again?” said Rafe.

  Everyone looked at Penelope.

  “Lilith will take her essence to strengthen herself,” Penelope replied.

  “Which means?” I asked. I had to know if there was anything we could do.

  “Which means when Lilith decides to leave Vivienne’s body, Vivienne will die.”

  My mind flashed back to Calisto’s broken body, and I pictured Vivienne in its place. “There must be something we can do. Some way to remove Lilith from Vivienne’s body without killing her.”

  Penelope shook her head and looked at me. “Only the Dawnstar can do that.”

  I hung my head. I had failed her. I had failed everyone. I thought I was invincible, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. Now I was being punished for my hubris. Without my fae powers I was no longer the Dawnstar; I no longer had the power of Illaria Lightbringer within me. I was a failure. A queen without a throne. Now it looked like I would never be able to defeat Morgana, or this general Lilith spoke of. Dragath would rise again and enslave the whole world because I was too weak to stop him. Morgana had won, and there was nothing I could do about it
.

  “Erien is going to be so upset,” I mumbled. My thoughts were an absolute mess. How was I going to get through this? There were so many people counting on me.

  “Then he mustn’t know,” said Penelope sharply. “In fact, no one outside this room must know that you have lost your fae magic. It will only weaken your position to retake your throne.”

  “I agree,” said Rafe. “But we must find out more information about this general Lilith mentioned. Who is he?”

  “She implied he was the one calling the shots, not Morgana.”

  “If that is so, then whoever he is, he is a master strategist,” said Penelope. “We didn’t know he existed until now. I must consult Izadora. She will know what to do.”

  “Are you going to tell her what happened with Lilith?” I asked.

  What would my grandmother do when she found out I didn’t have my fae magic anymore? Would she dismiss me as her heir? Would she still help me retake my throne?

  “I must,” said Penelope. “Without you being able to contact Abraxas, Izadora is the only one who can tell us if there is any way to get your powers back.”

  My eyes lit up. “You think that’s even possible?”

  Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “I certainly hope so. Without the Dawnstar, our world doesn’t stand a chance.”

  A Fall from Grace

  Penelope went to speak to my grandmother through a mirror portal. I had been looking forward to learning how to use them, but now that option was gone. I had spent so much time being upset that I was different and had so much power to control. But now that it was gone, I would do anything to get it back.

  “Get some rest,” said Rafe, his eyes briefly meeting mine. “I will speak with the rebels about this general and see what we can find out about him.”

  I nodded, too weak to argue. What was the point? I was no use to anyone anymore. I was just another mage with inadequate training.

  Tristan stood guard outside my door.

  I hoped my grandmother would come up with a plan. She had warned me against coming to Eldoren, even though she had finally sent me here herself. Saving the children from Brandon’s dungeons was the catalyst to me coming here. But I saw now it was not the only reason, however much I may have tried to deny it.

  The truth was that I wanted to see Rafe, and I wanted to be the one to help him, to show him what I could do. Somehow, I thought if he realized I could be an asset to him he would see me differently. Once more I had jeopardized everything because of my feelings. I saw now I couldn’t save everyone individually, however powerful I was. My purpose was bigger than myself. I was a symbol of hope for the people of Avalonia, a promise that things would be all right. Now I had given that up, and I had failed the world.

  Penelope finally returned. “I have spoken with Izadora,” she announced, clasping her hands in front of her as soon as we were alone.

  My eyes narrowed. “Did you tell her I lost my magic?”

  Penelope shook her head and gave me a meaningful look. “I didn’t have to say anything; she already knew. When the Dagger took your magic, Izadora and some of the Elders felt it. The transfer of such formidable magic doesn’t go unnoticed by those who are powerful enough to sense it.”

  “Did she know this would happen if I was cut with the Dagger?”

  Penelope shook her head. “She was not sure. But she did hope it was not so.”

  “So much for hope,” I said darkly.

  Penelope cleared her throat. “The fact remains that you can still touch the Dagger without being pulled into it. The other fae cannot.” She lowered her voice, and I could feel her pulling a magical shield around us to prevent us from being overheard. “Your grandmother wants you to be the one to find the Dagger. And she doesn’t want the mages involved. The Dagger must not fall into the wrong hands again. Whoever possesses the Dagger of Dragath will have the power to wipe out the fae. You are the only one she trusts to have such power and not abuse it.”

  “Rafe would never use the Dagger against the fae,” I said, automatically defending him. But now I wasn’t so sure I even knew him anymore.

  “He may not, but the other mages cannot be trusted,” said Penelope. “Racial prejudices run deep in Avalonia. There was a time when all the kingdoms were at constant war with each other. It is only in the last hundred years we have had peaceful relations with our neighbors. An object as detrimental to the fae as the Dagger of Dragath can never be trusted with the mages.”

  I nodded. She was right. We had to be careful.

  “Did my grandmother say if there was any way to get my magic back?”

  “She is working on it,” Penelope said. “Without the Fae Codex it will not be easy. I will contact her again once we have met with Rafe and the Eldorean Council.”

  The days went by slowly as I curled up in a ball in my blue-and-gold canopied bed feeling extremely sorry for myself. We had still not heard back from my grandmother, and I still didn’t know if it was possible to get my fae magic back. Every minute that passed dragged me deeper into a well of despair and hopelessness. Now I would not be able to protect myself from Morgana or this general, whoever he was. I could not lead an army, not without my powers.

  My arm was already getting better. Penelope was a gifted healer, but I had lost all confidence in my abilities, and I could not face the world. Penelope had told me to keep this a secret, but I was sure someone would see through the deception and expose me as the fraud I really was. What use was I to anyone? It was better to just lie here in my bed and let more capable people handle it.

  On the third evening after my injury, Tristan stormed into my room. “Get up, Aurora.” He came over to me and pulled my blankets off. “Stop wallowing in your own misery.”

  I glared at him and replaced my blankets. “Go back to Elfi, Tristan. There’s no point in you being here anymore. I’m of no use to anyone; there is no need to protect me now. I can’t go up against Morgana, not without my fae magic. Let my grandmother lead her own army. I can’t do it. I give up.” I turned over in my bed and shut my eyes tight, as if I could block out the world and all the horrible things that had happened.

  “Rubbish,” said Tristan, pulling me up. “Just because you lost your powers doesn’t mean you don’t still have a job to do. Your powers don’t make you Queen of Illiador. Your bloodline does. Have you forgotten your parents? Or how your mother gave up her immortal life so you could live to save the world?”

  “That’s not fair,” I complained as I got out of bed and punched him on his arm.

  Tristan didn’t flinch. “Who said life is fair?”

  My anger abated. “I’m sorry. I know you lost your mother too.”

  Tristan’s jaw tightened. “If there were any chance I could get her back, I would scour the ends of the world. With or without my magic.”

  I moved closer and put my hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “I know. But without the Dawnstar, I can do nothing. I cannot protect the ones I love, let alone save them. I will only succeed in getting more people killed. That’s all I seem to be good at doing these days.”

  Tristan’s eyes flashed with silver stars, and he held me gently by the shoulders. “You can do something. And you will. I know you, Aurora. You are brave and kind, and you care about people. Where is the girl who came to the fae kingdom and defied the Queen of Elfi? Where is the girl who stood up to the Prince of the Day Court when no one else would?” He lowered his voice. “It is your spirit, not your magic, that will make you a great queen. You are the true Queen of Illiador, and your people are suffering.” He moved back and opened the door to leave. “Do you intend to let the world be swallowed into darkness because you were too scared to face what is coming?” He closed the door behind him with a definitive click.

  I walked over to the windowsill and leaned against it, taking in a deep breath of fresh spring air as my head cleared. The moon shone its splendor over the valley beyond as I gazed out at the small town that lay at the base of the castle, its little lights tw
inkling from fires and hearths. I realized Tristan was right. Lilith had stripped me of my self-confidence as well as my powers. Without my magic I felt exposed, vulnerable. But giving up was not an option. I would not hide in the shadows, weak and afraid. I would not go down without a fight.

  I put on the green velvet robe that had been laid out for me and left my room in search of Rafe. I had to clear things up with him if we were going to work together. As I made my way through the moonlit corridors of Caeleron Castle I almost turned back. The memory of Lilith still lingered, and my heartbeat sped up when I heard a small sound up ahead. I stopped, hesitating, but was relieved to see it was just a guard. Rafe had soldiers stationed at regular intervals all over the castle after my attack, and that made me feel a little better even though there was no guard who could protect me if Lilith came back. I cringed at the thought of what I had become—afraid of my own shadow.

  I hurried to the king’s chamber after getting directions from one of the guards. I knew Rafe was very busy during the day, especially during such a crisis, and this was the best time to catch him alone. I had hoped he would have come to see me, but he hadn’t. So I would have to go to him and explain everything. I knew he would not forgive me easily, but I had to try.

  As I neared his room, his door opened, and Danica stepped out. I backed into the shadows and held my breath as my heart raced. Why was she in Rafe’s room at this time of night?

  Rafe stood at the door shirtless, his dark hair tousled and his muscled torso glistening in the moonlight, as Danica ran her hand down his arm. She went up on her tiptoes to kiss him as he bent his head slightly to meet her lips, his hand tightening around her waist. She ran her fingers through his dark wavy hair and deepened the kiss.

  He pulled away eventually. “It’s been a long day. I’m tired, Danica.”

  “I’ll let you rest,” she said in a low, throaty voice. “You know where to find me.”