Drue smiled and looked into the room, his face turning to shock as his eyes fell upon Leonetta. She smiled kindly, holding back a giggle as Drue walked through the doorway in a haze. Humans often had this kind of reaction to the fae, as their beauty was historic and well known, but hard to comprehend. Leonetta walked over and kissed Drue on the cheek.
“Brave Drue,” she whispered. “Thank you for keeping our prince safe.”
Drue’s mouth was hanging open, and his hand was placed where Leonetta’s lips had touched. He nodded his head, a look of love washing over him. Pike shook his head and nodded at Leonetta as he took Drue’s arm and pulled him toward the door.
“Come on ‘Brave Drue,’ Let’s go eat before you melt into a puddle,” Pike teased, pulling him past Holland and down the stairs.
“That was the fae princess,” Drue stammered, his senses coming back to him. “She said I was brave!”
Pike shook his head and laughed, happy to have some semblance of normalcy, even if it was just a moment. Still, in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but think about what Leonetta had told him. She had given up her place in the fae kingdom for him, but why? And what had she meant that he was special?
Back in the room, Leonetta watched out of the window as Pike walked his friend across the street. There was an uncomfortable silence in the chamber as Ardontis and Holland waited for Leonetta to speak. She was contemplating the events that just took place, trying to sense all that she could about Pike’s powers not yet discovered.
“Do you trust Drue?” Ardontis asked quietly.
“His heart is pure – in fact, purer than anyone I have met in recent days,” Leonetta said without emotion. “This trip may prove to be the end of his life if he isn’t careful.”
“With a swing like that, it doesn’t surprise me,” Holland joked, his face turning serious as Leonetta looked at him straight faced.
“My concern for Pike remains. If he continues to harness such rage when his powers finally show themselves, he may not be able to control them,” Leonetta said, standing and walking to the window. “The frost is coming. I can feel it. Once the snow has fallen, events will begin to unfold. My sister is missing this in her vision because she is blinded by her duty, something that could unravel the Vale.”
As Leonetta stared out into the cold night, her thoughts drifted toward her home, wondering what the winter would bring.
***
“You have disobeyed me,” Asphodul stated, the shimmering blue boundaries of the dream world cascading around her.
“I did what was right. You cannot see it now, but one day your vision will clear,” Leonetta replied, irritated that her sister had been spying on her movements and decided a visit in her dreams was the best place to accomplish something. “We have to be careful what we speak of here; Ghede is capable of hopping dreams.”
“Do you think I am blind? Do you think I do not know what Ghede is capable of? There is a whole world beyond your youth I have experienced, Leonetta. I would appreciate it if you didn’t treat me as a fool,” Asphodul barked, unhappy with her sister’s directive tone.
“I do not wish to upset you, sister,” Leonetta said, stopping as Asphodul interrupted.
“Oh, don’t patronize me,” Asphodul scoffed. “You have run away, purposely making a choice not to bring back Pike. However, I haven’t figured out yet why you would do that. You are not welcome in the Vale until you have Pike in your custody. You knew that and disobeyed me anyway.”
“I do not fear displacement, I fear not having a place to be displaced from,” Leonetta said calmly. “There are things beyond your understanding or control that are transpiring. I need you to trust me, Asphodul.”
“I have given you the chance to be truthful, and you went behind me and the kingdom’s back,” Asphodul replied with a sad but authoritative tone. “I have said my peace. If you do not have him back before the first snow, I will take matters into my own hands. And with that, I cannot assure your safety.”
Asphodul clapped her hands loudly before Leonetta could respond, jolting the queen from her sleep. She took in a deep breath, still trembling with the intensity of the dream world, but trying to stay quiet as Tyriad slept soundly next to her. She turned on her side and ran her fingers lightly through his hair. He smiled in his sleep and yawned, drifting deeper and deeper into relaxation. When Asphodul was sure Tyriad was soundly asleep, she crept from the bed, pulling on her robe and tiptoeing to the balcony where she knew she could watch the night sky in peace.
The cold winds whipped through the Vale, and Asphodul mustered a fire spell, lighting the small pits surrounding the deck. She sat close to the heat, remembering how she used to feel right before the first frost. When she was younger, she didn’t understand the trauma a harsh winter had on the people and loved taking flights with Tyriad through the snowy fields and out to the Fortune. Sometimes, it would get so cold that the waves at the shore would freeze, creating a frozen wonderland. The warm fires, drifting snows, and comforting lights brought happiness to Asphodul’s soul. However, as she looked toward the future, knowing that the first snow would only bring her grief, she suddenly felt as if winter was coming too soon.
Asphodul hated the feeling left in the pit of her stomach after disagreeing or putting down Leonetta, but she knew as queen it was her duty to protect the fae kingdom even before her own blood. Thinking about spending the winter without her sister brought sadness to heart, but even more, the idea of no heir to the fae throne sent a bit of panic up her spine. She pushed the thought from her mind, realizing that was the least of her worries at the moment.
Looking down into the garden, Asphodul could see Aralea taking a late-night stroll, draped in warm furs and rubbing her belly. Asphodul transported herself down to the garden and snapped her fingers, creating artificial twinkling lights all around the two queens. Aralea smiled and turned toward Asphodul, thankful she wasn’t alone any longer.
“Having a hard time sleeping?” Asphodul asked. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Oh, no. The accommodations are fabulous. I just haven’t been able to shake this feeling of something lurking in the shadows,” Aralea said, turning toward the sky. “I can’t use my magic until the baby has arrived, so I am unable to see into the future.”
“You may not, but I have, and everything will be okay,” Asphodul said reassuringly. “Your biggest concern should be staying as stress-free as possible and taking it easy.”
“Right,” Aralea chuckled. “Since when could a queen take it easy and be stress-free?”
“Well, let’s make it a first,” Asphodul laughed. “At least while we are here under the beautiful night sky in the Vale Gardens.”
“These enchanted flowers are definitely easy to get lost in,” Aralea said, sniffing the flowers. “I enchanted my own garden in Cascading Seas, as the buds wouldn’t bloom naturally with all the salt. It was my favorite part of the castle. I miss it.”
“I promise, as soon as we know it is safe, we will get you back,” Asphodul stated.
“I am in no rush. It is hard to think of the Cascading Seas without its people, my father, and the mer-kingdom,” Aralea said in sadness. “What do I really have to go back to?”
“Your kingdom will one day prosper again,” Asphodul said. “I promise.”
As Asphodul smiled kindly at Aralea, a shimmer caught her eye, and she pushed Aralea to the side. The spiraling arrow whizzed through the air, barely missing Aralea, but striking Asphodul deeply in the shoulder. Aralea gasped as the queen fell backward, catching herself and throwing out an enchanted field.
“Go,” Asphodul yelled. “Get into the castle.”
As Aralea ran, a bulging blue shield followed her overhead. She could hear the pinging of arrows as she ran into the castle and hid around the corner. Asphodul stood down, flinching as she pulled the arrow from her shoulder. She ran her hand over the wound, healing it enough to put up a defense. She beamed a bright red, translucent shield as she walked forward and peered o
ut into the woods beyond the cliffs. Asphodul clenched her teeth at the sight of ogres of the Dead Army standing on the other side, blowing arrows at them as fast as they could. She turned her back and hid behind the stone wall, waiting for an opportunity.
As Asphodul waited, she put her hand up, stopping the Vale’s troops from advancing forward. She signaled for them to get low and keep quiet. Slowly, Asphodul crept around the wall, shooting powerful blasts of energy into the tree line before ducking back and watching more arrows fly by. Time after time, she blasted the enemy with her powers, sending them transporting back from where she came from.
When the last ogre had dissipated, Asphodul walked forward, a mixture of relief and anger building in her chest. They weren’t trapped or in danger, but the Vale was definitely under attack. She needed to order the closure of the kingdom’s gates if she was to keep the people within the city safe. Tyriad ran forward through the troops, looking for Asphodul, who stumbled forward into his arms. Blood began to seep from the wound as Tyriad looked at her shoulder. What initially looked like nothing more than a simple arrow turned out to be an arrow of the Dead Army, full of deadly enchantment.
As Tyriad lifted Asphodul into his arms, she sighed, her arm dropping to the side. Tyriad leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, worry surging through him.
“Don’t die, my love,” Tyriad whispered before hurrying her off to the castle.
Chapter Seven: The Dark Space
“Hello?” Asphodul’s voice echoed through the darkness. “Is anyone out there?”
Her bare feet could feel a smooth, cold surface below as she walked, but everything else was pitch dark. She waved her hands through the air, the energy from her body creating translucent waves. Asphodul bent over and held her shoulder, pain shooting through her entire body. Everything seemed so hazy in her mind, and she couldn’t place where she was, much less begin to think about making her way out.
As she walked, the temperature began to shift, and chills ran up and down her arms. Asphodul waved her hand, attempting to manifest some warmer clothing, but her magic didn’t seem to work there. Being lost without magic sent a spiraling fear through the queen’s chest, and she picked up her pace, running forward into what seemed like never-ending darkness. As her feet moved along the slick surface, she began to cry out, fear overtaking her. She could feel something wet and warm below her on the floor, but she couldn’t see far enough into the darkness to tell what it was. Asphodul’s grip loosened, and she fell to the ground, catching herself on all fours and plopping down on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest. She was so cold and so alone.
Asphodul looked around, trying to adjust her eyes before realizing her hands were covered in whatever liquid was beneath her. She pulled her palms to her face for a closer look and gasped when she realized they were covered in blood. As she looked down, soft light illuminated the world around her, revealing a flowing layer of thick blood beneath her feet. She stood in panic, trying to find a dry spot, but the further she moved, the deeper it got. Before long, it had risen to her knees, then to her waist, and finally to her chest. In fear, she threw her head back and screamed out, shutting her eyes to block out the gruesome scene. From the surrounding darkness, a maniacal laughter could be heard – first faint, and then growing louder and louder.
The queen opened her eyes and looked for the voice, realizing the blood was all gone, and she stood once again on the cold, dark floors. There were no remnants of the deathly river anywhere, not even on her body or dress. It was at that moment she realized she must be between worlds. The Dead Army’s arrow had pierced her shoulder, sending her soul to the place between dreaming and awake. It was a deep, dark realm, void of any magical undertaking, but with the sound of the evil laughter echoing around her, she could tell someone had figured out how to use it to their advantage.
“Malaya,” Asphodul whispered, her voice trailing out in the dark.
At that moment, a searing pain shot through her shoulder and down her arms. Asphodul could feel the poison seeping through her veins with each passing moment. She needed to get Malaya to come out of hiding; it was the only way for her to get back to her body.
“Face me,” Asphodul yelled out painfully. “You brought me here; what do you want?”
“Your Life,” a whisper replied, blowing in the wind.
Within Asphodul’s chambers, back where her body lay clinging to life, Tyriad sat next to her, stroking her hair and waiting for Leonetta to arrive. He didn’t know where else to turn, and though there were other strong magical fae, he trusted no one but the princess with his wife’s life. Aralea was sent from the room, fearing that the poison could move beyond Asphodul’s body and infect the baby in her stomach. Georges gathered the troops, but they sat still, unsure of how to fight this attack. They could not go where Asphodul sat captive. In fact, no one really knew where she was, but they knew she wasn’t with them.
A cold wind blew through the window, drawing Tyriad’s attention to the approaching dragon flying toward the Vale castle. It was Holland, with Leonetta on his back. Though Tyriad had only sent word hours before, he assumed Leonetta had sensed Asphodul’s pain. The fae stayed connected at all times, and when their bloodline was in peril, they could tell. Instead of greeting Leonetta, Tyriad waited patiently at his wife’s side, not wanting to leave her for even a moment. No movement or struggle came from her body, but deep inside, Tyriad knew she was fighting her own battle.
“Let me see the wound,” Leonetta said, barging into the room and throwing her cape on the chair next to the door.
Tyriad nodded, stood, and pulled back the bandages on her shoulder. A black tint shimmered across the hole in Asphodul’s shoulder and seemed to run down through her veins. Leonetta moved forward carefully and set her hands just inches from the puncture, closing her eyes and mumbling in the old fae language. Suddenly, she stopped, her eyelids snapping open and a look of fear washing over her.
“She is in the dark space,” Leonetta said, turning to Tyriad. “And she is not alone. Quick, lock the doors and keep all others away. I must go after her. If she is injured here, she will be there, too, and whoever is with her brings no tidings of goodwill.”
Tyriad nodded, not wanting to leave her side but understanding it must be done. He stood and looked at Holland, who patted his shoulder comfortingly and nodded as they made their way toward the door. Before leaving, Tyriad stopped and turned toward Leonetta, staring deep into her eyes but not saying a word.
“I promise I will bring her back,” Leonetta stated, understanding the unspoken words between them.
Deep within the Dark Space, Asphodul began to struggle, the poison severely affecting her. Though in her mind she knew the poison couldn’t possibly be affecting her soul, the manifestation of her body within the dark void was taking on the characteristics of her suffering. She pulled her feet forward, not sure where she was going but knowing she couldn’t stand still.
“It’s so simple,” Malaya whispered through the wind, visions of her blurry face floating across the space. “The fae believe they are indestructible, and so does everyone else. When I reduce your kingdom to rubble, all hope will be lost. Without hope, there is no reason to fight. If you think about it, you are actually saving lives. The more people that join our cause, the less people die.”
“That’s a lie,” Asphodul said, struggling through the pain. “The more people that join your cause, the more our world crumbles to oblivion.”
“I didn’t much like this world anyway,” Malaya said, appearing next to Asphodul and touching the wound on her shoulder.
Asphodul screamed out, falling to her knees, and clutching her body. She breathed hard as she lay on the cold ground before pulling herself to her knees and continuing to crawl. Malaya disappeared and reappeared, watching the fae queen struggle.
“Your strength is admirable,” Malaya chuckled. “Too bad no one will be here to see how hard you fought for them.”
“Almost no one,” Leonett
a said, appearing next to Asphodul.
“What? How?” Malaya roared out, charging toward Leonetta faster than the eye could follow.
Leonetta put her arms up, shooting bright light straight toward the Dead Queen. Malaya dodged the advance and swiped her hand down, pulling Leonetta’s hands toward the ground and toppling her over. Leonetta stood quickly, looking down at her sister who was quickly slipping away. Malaya made another advance, this time her arms out stiff. Just as she was about to latch her hands around Leonetta’s throat, the fae princess reached up, and the two began to wrestle through the darkness. Leonetta knew she only had a small window of time to get in and out of the dark space and needed to push Malaya back enough to grab her sister and take her back to her body.
Feeling the strain of time and the fear of her sister’s death, Leonetta mustered all of her strength, screaming out as light began to surge from her chest. With a swift blow, Leonetta threw Malaya through the air, watching as she spiraled off into the darkness. She could waste no time, so she ran toward Asphodul, sliding down next to her body. As she looked up, she could see Malaya’s blurred body moving toward her and grasped her sister’s shoulders, closing her eyes and yelling out a fae enchantment.
Malaya’s screaming rage faded from Leonetta’s ears, and she opened her eyes to find herself back in her body, sitting with Asphodul’s head in her lap. She looked down at her sister as Asphodul gasped for air, her eyes opening wide and her soul returning to her body. Leonetta moved quickly to her side, pushing her down and placing her hand on the wound, wanting to heal the place before the curse had time to move back into her. Quickly, she moved her hands over Asphodul’s shoulder, watching as the light from her core moved over the Queen. Though Leonetta’s strength was waning, she knew she had to save her sister.
The door flew open, and Holland and Tyriad ran inside, having heard Asphodul’s gasps. They moved next to Leonetta and watched as she healed the ailing queen. Holland followed Leonetta’s hands up to her face and realized the color was draining from her cheeks. Her life force was being drained from the severe amount of magic she was using.
War of the Realms Box Set Page 42
