“There!” Micah pointed as a door came into view.
They ran to the large steel door built to withstand the harshness of the elements, Micah’s heart beating wildly. Was it possible Lily was behind this door? They’d traveled so far to find her. It’d be heartbreaking to discover that a strange woman on the balcony was the only person here.
“How are we going to get this open?” She studied the lock, wondering what she could use to pick it.
Raphael reached out and turned the handle.
“Like this,” he said, swinging open the door.
“Very clever.” She was certain they’d have grinned at each other if it weren’t for the harrowing scene they’d just witnessed out there on the rocks.
It seemed she’d also witnessed something in the water that nobody else had. Unless she’d imagined it. She was going to need to think about this before she shared it with anyone. Not that she had time right now to ask Raphael whether or not he thought she was going mad.
“I don’t suppose there’s a lot of point locking your door when you live out here,” said Raphael, stepping through the door.
“I guess not.” She was quick to follow him inside, blinking in the darkness.
“Do you think Lily’s here?” asked Raphael, bumping into her.
“I want her to be.” It was hard to speak over the chattering of her teeth. “But… I don’t know.”
“I don’t feel her here.” Raphael’s voice was full of despair.
Micah blinked in the darkness as her eyes found their focus. Moonlight was pouring in through the windows, lighting up a circular staircase that’d been lined with bright crystals of every color imaginable. Such a contrast to the dull exterior. They’d definitely been brought to the right lighthouse. Only a Queen could possibly live here.
“We should go back for Azrael and Pip,” said Micah. “It’s warmer in here without the wind.”
“Let’s just check that it’s safe first,” said Raphael.
“Hello,” Micah called up the stairs. “Anybody home?”
“We’re unarmed,” added Raphael. “We just want to talk to you.”
Micah reached for the handrail, running her palms over the smooth bumps of the crystals. She’d like to see them in the daylight, although she doubted they’d be beautiful. These crystals were stained with the blood of children who’d been taken from their families and forced into the mines.
She began the climb with Raphael close behind her.
“I should go first,” he said.
“Why? Because I’m a helpless female?” she asked.
“There’s nothing helpless about you, Micah,” he said. “It’s just… okay, you go first.”
She smiled in the darkness at Raphael’s attempt to be a gentleman. Tallis had given up on that act years ago, accepting she wasn’t like other women. It seemed Raphael was learning fast. It was nice that he’d wanted to protect her, though. The world could use more men like Raphael and Tallis.
They climbed the stairs, each step feeling like a hundred, until they got to a landing.
“The woman was on the balcony, right at the top,” said Micah, ignoring the small groan Raphael made at the thought of more stairs.
“Is it worth searching this floor first?” He tilted his head toward a door on the landing.
“Why don’t you have a look and I’ll continue up?” she said, keen to reach the top to see if the woman was indeed the Queen.
“I’m not sure we should split up.” He crossed his arms.
“Well, it’s up to you, but I’m going to continue up.” She couldn’t see the harm in separating for a few moments. If they were going to be attacked, surely it would’ve happened by now.
“I’ll just have a very quick look then,” he said. “It’s safer if we clear each floor as we go.”
Micah had barely paused her steps in her eagerness to get to the woman on the balcony. If Lily wasn’t here—and she was starting to doubt that she was—then at the very least the woman should know where she was and what’d happened to her.
She climbed past another landing and went up further. The exertion was increasing her heart rate, but her clothes remained damp, clinging to her skin and keeping her bones cold.
Finally reaching the very top landing, she walked cautiously toward a door covered in blue crystals. It was closed, although if the front door hadn’t been locked, then she doubted any of the interior doors were locked either. She grasped the handle and turned it slowly.
Moonlight flooded the room and Micah saw that every surface was covered with the same blue crystals as the door. They were everywhere. On the floor, the bedposts, the chairs, the window frames, and table. A set of blue curtains were billowing at an open doorway that Micah guessed led to the balcony.
“Your Highness?” called Micah, heading for the door. “I saw you from below. I know you’re here.”
Moving one of the curtains to the side, Micah stepped out onto the balcony, wincing as the cold air nipped at her face.
There was a woman, huddled in a corner of the balcony, her knees pulled up to her chest and her face buried in her hands. She reminded Micah of a child thinking they can’t be seen, because they can’t see anybody else.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” said Micah. “I just want to talk to you.”
The woman huddled down further and Micah noticed the color of her hair was red. This had to be the Queen. It couldn’t be Lily. There was no way her niece would try to hide from her like this.
“My name’s Micah.” She stepped forward, aware of the racing of her heart. If the Queen attacked her then she needed to be ready. “I’ve come a long way to talk to you.”
Very slowly, the woman lifted her face and looked at Micah.
“You can see me?” she asked, in a voice little more than a whisper.
Micah nodded. “Are you the Queen? I was told that a beautiful Queen lives in this lighthouse.”
A little flattery wouldn’t go astray.
Very slowly, the Queen nodded, seeming to gain a little confidence. Micah hoped Raphael took his time, or at least didn’t approach too quickly and scare her back into her shell.
“You look like her,” said the Queen.
Micah’s heart soared. She had to be talking about Lily. They hadn’t come here for nothing.
“I’m Lily’s aunt,” she said. “I’ve come to… talk to her.”
Best not to reveal her true motivation just yet.
“Where is she?” asked Micah.
“Her name’s Angel now,” said the Queen, slowly pulling herself to a stand.
“Where’s Angel?” Micah remained where she was, doing her best not to look too intimidating.
“He took her,” said the Queen, visibly shaking. “He left me all alone.”
“Who took her?” Micah dared to take a small step forward.
“The King. He hid her in his boat and took her away. He thought I didn’t know he did it, but I saw. He took my Angel.”
“Where did he take her?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been waiting for her to come back. I thought maybe your boat was my Angel, but it wasn’t.”
“I saw you watching us,” said Micah.
“I thought you were my Angel at first.”
There was a noise behind Micah and she spun around to see Raphael stepping out onto the balcony. She winced and held up her hand to warn him to be quiet.
“All clear downstairs!” He’d spoken far too loudly. Had he not seen her warning? “Seems we’re the only ones here.”
“No, we’re not.” Micah pointed to the darkened corner of the balcony where the Queen had taken a step back into the shadows.
“What do you mean?” asked Raphael.
“She’s right there,” said Micah, pointing again. “The Queen.”
“Micah. There’s nobody there.”
“But…”
Micah looked at the Queen who was coming toward her now.
“He can’t see m
e,” said the Queen. “Just like he couldn’t see your friend’s soul rising from the ocean out there. Nobody can see me. Except for Angel. And now you.”
“I don’t understand.” Micah was the one to step back now and she put her hand to her heart trying to still its rapid beat.
“What don’t you understand?” asked Raphael. “It’s pretty simple. We’ve come to an empty lighthouse. Lily’s not here.”
“You really can’t see her? Please don’t joke with me, Raph.” Micah shook her head, unable to remove her eyes from the woman that only she could see. How was this possible?
“Micah, you’re starting to scare me,” he said. “There’s nobody out here.”
“There is.” Her voice dropped to a whisper and she studied the Queen more closely now, unable to tell the difference between this apparition and a regular flesh and blood human. Griffen had also looked real when his soul had detached itself from his body and hovered over the water, still reluctant to leave his Princess’s side. And Raphael hadn’t been able to see him either.
“I need your help,” said the Queen. “I need you to find my amethyst. Please, will you help me?”
“Where is it?” asked Micah, glancing around.
The Queen pointed to the ocean. “I threw it out there. I shouldn’t have thrown it. Now I’m trapped here. I can’t leave this lighthouse until the amethysts fall into new rightful hands. You have to help me! Please! Angel left me and can’t help me now.”
“I don’t even know what an amethyst is,” said Micah. “And going back out there into the water is certain death. I’m sorry, but—"
“What’s going on?” Raphael grabbed her by the arm. “Who are you talking to?”
“You swear you can’t see her?” asked Micah. “The woman standing right there in front of me.”
“I really can’t,” he said. “Micah, I think you need to come inside and warm up.”
“Give me a moment.”
Raphael stepped back and sighed. But she didn’t have time to explain to him right now. She reached out her hand toward the Queen. If she really was an apparition then surely, she wouldn’t be able to touch her.
The Queen held steady, blinking at her in the moonlight as Micah’s hand passed right through her body.
“You understand now, don’t you?” asked the Queen.
“This is… I can’t…” Micah’s heart thumped and she wondered if she might pass out. How was this possible? She stumbled back and clutched at her chest, trying to draw air into her lungs.
“Micah!” Raphael rushed to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Come inside.”
“She’s coming back!” The Queen went to the railings and pointed out at the sea. “This time it’s really my Angel. I can feel her. Can you feel her, Micah?”
Micah looked out across the water and saw what the Queen was pointing at. A boat was fighting the waves and heading directly for them. The sun was rising behind them casting orange streaks across the sky, reminding Micah of her brother Jeremiah whose color blindness would prevent him from seeing this spectacular sight. But he wouldn’t need to see the colors to appreciate it—for Lily was a far more welcome sight than any sunrise could ever be.
“Look, Raphael,” said Micah. “It’s Lily.”
Raphael let go of her to go to the railings to look out.
“Please, tell me you can see that boat.” A new fear bubbled inside Micah’s chest.
“I can see it,” he said.
Now all she had to do was hope that he could see Lily, too. She hadn’t come this far to chase after some kind of ghost.
LILY
THE NOW
Lily was being forced back to the one place she’d hoped never to return. To see the one person she never wanted to see again.
She’d begged Father to let her stay in the palace but he’d refused and she knew he’d never let her out of his sight again if she didn’t have his trust. And the best way to get trust was to earn it.
She was going to get Father his precious love stones from under the ocean and convince Mother to leave the lighthouse. That was assuming it didn’t fall down on their heads first. If that didn’t earn Father’s trust, then she didn’t know what would. Once she was safely back at the palace again, she’d wait for the right opportunity to flee.
As the boat crashed over the waves, thoughts of the children in the mines nagged at her. If she were to stay in Feldspar and take over from Father, she could set the children free. But was this her responsibility? She hadn’t taken them from their mothers’ arms.
“If something were to happen to me, who’d rule in my place?” she asked Father from the stern of the boat.
“Nothing will happen to you?” He shook his head and pursed his lips, clearly unimpressed with her question.
“But what if something did?”
“Nothing will.” He shot her a look that told her it was time to be silent. Something had very nearly happened to her. Twice. She’d almost died of cold in the ocean, then again on the Terrace. Both times, Father had been the one to bring her back from the brink of death. Was this why he’d saved her? Because he didn’t know what he’d do to fill her place if she died. Maybe she shouldn’t have fought so hard to live if that was the destiny he had mapped out for her.
As they drew closer to the lighthouse, Lily could see Mother on the balcony watching them approach, despite the earliness of the hour. So, the lighthouse was still standing. She’d half expected to find nothing but water in its place. Please, let it hold steady just long enough that she could do what they’d come here for and then get far away to safety.
“She’s been waiting for us,” said Lily, pointing.
“You know my eyesight is terrible.” Father squinted at the balcony. “But I’m not surprised.”
There was a shadow behind Mother and for a moment Lily was certain that she wasn’t alone? She blinked, deciding she’d imagined it. Who would possibly be out here with Mother?
“You won’t leave me there, will you?” begged Lily, suddenly fearful of the power held in this man’s hands. “We’re just going to get the amethysts, then we go back to the palace, right?”
“That’s right,” said the King. “Your time out here has come to an end.”
Not believing him for a moment, Lily attempted to smile at this man who had the power to decide if she lived or died.
“What happened to Norris?” she asked, remembering the man she’d promised to make rich with a ruby.
“What do you think happened to him?”
“I honestly have no idea.”
“He’s no longer rowing,” said the King. “Let’s leave it at that.”
“Oh.” So, that was another death Lily had on her hands, along with that poor oarsman who’d been thrown overboard for refusing to be bribed.
There was only one place a boat could safely dock at the lighthouse, and it was hidden between the rocks. Just another measure to ensure unwanted visitors were kept away. The oarsmen directed the boat between those rocks now, bringing the boat to rest at the only patch of sand on the entire rock-filled island.
Lily stepped from the boat and removed her hood, letting her hair fly free in the breeze, as she undid the buttons of her cloak.
“What are you doing?” asked Father.
“I’m going to go and get the amethysts,” she said.
“First, you talk to your mother.” He put a firm hand on her shoulder and her busy fingers stilled.
“Don’t you mean we?” she asked.
“You talk to her,” he said, a weight seeming heavy on his shoulders.
Letting out a sigh, she marched toward the lighthouse, her ears already feeling the pain of Mother’s shrieking anger that would no doubt be unleashed. She couldn’t blame Father for not wanting to be a witness to that.
She climbed the familiar staircase, running her hands along the fluorite stones, wishing she wasn’t comforted by their familiarity. She stepped lightly and carefully, not wanting to push her l
uck in a structure that she was certain was about to fall.
Reaching the first landing, she went to the kitchen to find Mother standing at the table wringing her hands in front of her.
“Hello, Mother,” she said.
“Angel.” Mother’s voice was soft and warm, not at all what Lily had been expecting. Something must have happened while she’d been gone. But would it help or hinder her cause?
Lily kept her distance, aware of Mother’s intense dislike of being touched.
“You left me,” she said.
“I’m sorry, Mother. Father brought me back, though. We want you to leave the lighthouse.”
“I can’t leave here,” spat Mother. “The King knows that.”
“You can!” said Lily. “We want you to come home with us to the palace so we can be together properly as a family.”
This was the only argument Lily had been able to come up with on the boat ride here. Mother loved family time, even if Lily didn’t intend to stick around to experience too much of it.
“The King didn’t say that.” Mother crossed her arms. “He may have said that he wants me to leave here, but he’d never have said I should return to the palace.”
“Where else would you go?” asked Lily, unsure what she meant. Father hadn’t needed to say she should return to the palace for her to know that’s what he’d meant.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Mother with a sigh. “Without my amethyst, I can’t go anywhere. That was why I shouldn’t have thrown it away. Why I wanted you so desperately to find it.”
“If I find it, will you come with us?” Lily took a step toward Mother, only for her to step back.
“No. I told you I can’t.” She shook her head. “But if you find it, I’ll leave the lighthouse. Don’t you know that’s why I’ve always wanted you to find it? I want us both to be free of this place.”
“Mother, I think you need to lie down. You’re not… making any sense. Why don’t you hop into bed and I’ll tell you a story?”
“There are people in my bedchamber,” she said. “Two of them.”
“Who?” Lily remembered the shadow she’d thought she saw.
“There’s a man and a woman. They’re the ones you’ve been waiting for.”
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 110
