“Stop being stubborn. You heard Natania. We only get one shot at this and then we’re done. If something goes wrong, you need to be around to rule Aboria. I’ll have to be the one to get rid of Edwin.”
She hiked her skirt to her knees and stormed through the brush toward the main path. I rushed behind her, careful not to step on the mushrooms and tripping on exposed roots. I caught her shoulder and spun her around.
“And how do you expect to get into the castle? If anyone sees you, it will be about five seconds before you end up back in the dungeon…or worse. At least I can disguise myself.”
She stopped rushing and her shoulders dropped, her posture caving in and making her look small.
“You know I’m right.” I stepped in front of her and held out my hand. “Besides, between me, you, and Dad, we all know you’re the one most fit to rule.”
“But it will never be my throne.“ She stretched her head back toward the sky, her breath puffing heavy in the air. “And what if he kills you. I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to not die.” I tugged at the bag and her fingers relaxed their grip. Giving up. Knowing she’d never win this argument even though she’d probably come up with ten other rebuttals to try. The thin slivers of white moonlight slid into the lines of worry cutting around her eyes. Even in sadness, her beauty transcended. She’d carried the weight of my family’s secrets and still held her head high with a welcoming smile across her lips. No castle guard or wandering knight was half as strong as my mother and her wild heart. It may be true that I’d been adopted, but I hoped I’d grow up to be just like her.
I wrapped my arms around her and her head fell against my shoulder. “I’m going to survive this and we’re going to be a family again.”
“I hope so.” She squeezed around my ribs so tight my breath stayed trapped in my lungs. “You know I don’t feel okay with any of this, right?”
“I do. But I also know that this is the only way. That I need to do this for all of us.”
I wriggled out of her grip and looked back into the darker part of the forest as my mother’s stare seemed heavier and more frightening. “You can’t stay here either. Head into the city and go to Kalmin’s house. Tell him I sent you to hide out there and he will keep you safe. Just stick to the shadows until you find him.”
“You trust him, Kalmin?”
I took a deep breath. “Yeah.” I had to. I didn’t have any other options left.
“And then what? I can’t just hide out forever. Edwin will eventually spread his influence to the people if he hasn’t already.”
I took her hand and clutched her soft fingers tight. “Give me a day. If you don’t hear from me by tomorrow morning, run.”
4
13th June
I fought to keep my eyes open as my head bobbed toward my chest again. Over twenty-four hours with no sleep weighed on the back of my neck and my body begged to rest. But dreams would come much easier when I claimed victory over the nightmare posing as a king.
Darkness blanketed the dank, narrow cave that led to the secret entrance to the castle. I considered curling up on the ground for a few glorious moments, just to get my strength back, except, if I missed my chance one may never come again. Edwin had to know by now that my mother and I had escaped the dungeon. He'd probably trotted down the stone steps first thing this morning to rub in our capture, just to find our cell empty. I pictured the explosive shades of rage as he probably slammed the dungeon door shut and ripped through the nearest guard that he could find. Sometime in the afternoon thick, heavy footsteps trampled through the forest, as deep male voices ricocheted off the trees. They'd been looking for us. They wouldn't stop until my mother and I were both dead. No longer a threat to Edwin and his potential reign. I cringed every time a twig snapped or a bush rustled in the wind, hoping that I wouldn't end this life in a musty cavern of rock.
After nightfall, the stomping stopped. The wind howled, or at least I convinced myself it was just the wind. The faint sliver of moonlight that appeared near the entrance of the cave had tip-toed across the dirt as it counted down the hours. Almost time.
I patted the pocket of my coat and checked for the pouch of fairy dust for the millionth time. Still there. At least Natania and her family hadn't chosen to trick me, or at least not yet.
My legs ached as I pushed off the ground and a sharp stiffness stung in my thighs from sitting all day. I muffled a groan and staggered to the entrance then peeked out carefully into the night. Nothing seemed to move outside the cave except for a few leaves too high for humans to disturb. Slowly, quietly, I emerged and took a sharp right heading farther away from the main path until I reached a small creek running down the forested hill.
I dropped to my knees and scooped the cool clear water in my hands then splashed it on my face. A reflection of who I was stared back through the ripples and the bluish light of the moon. I’d changed since the last time I'd looked at myself in the mirror. The angled cheekbones had hardened with anger and betrayal as deep lines of worry cut across my forehead. A few stray locks of my unkempt hair flopped across my brow but did little to hide the wear and tear on my expression. Except, each one of these new changes grew from strength. From taking charge and responsibility for my kingdom. Like chips and cracks in cobblestone, only enhancing their allure while holding strong under everyone's feet. Just a few weeks ago I would've cried at such deformity, but now I knew what every mark stood for and once I took Edwin down each one would be a source of pride, like each jewel in my father's crown. My crown.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes letting the tingle surge from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I looked back into the creek and gasped. The shifty menacing eyes. The thick jaw with its traitorous smile. The thin scar cutting through my left eyebrow. Perfect. An exact match to Edwin Macario, except without his cold, black heart.
Patting my coat pocket again, I rushed back to the cave and slipped inside rushing to the broken stone stairs that led me home. My brain focused on the task at hand as it ran over the plan’s steps one by one in a vicious loop, while my feet guided me to my mother's library from muscle memory.
I pulled open the bookshelf door and crept into the silence, the skylight the only guide for me to follow. On my first step, I stumbled and teetered forward, but grabbed onto the shelf to avoid falling. A book. No, a pile of books. Tons of them littered on the floor ripped from their perfectly sorted rows and tossed aside like dirty handkerchiefs. I scooped one from the floor and ran my fingers along the letter spine. Each embossed letter stamped hard on my heart. Mom would be devastated, but if I did this right she would have an eternity to fix it. A new fire stoked in my soul and I cast the book onto my mother's desk as I headed out the door.
Silence filled the corridors. Each one empty save the occasional servant who bowed with reverence then scurried quick in the opposite direction. I crossed my hands behind my back and tried to hurry but still maintain a slow nonchalant pace. No need to alarm anyone, at least not yet.
On occasion, I’d catch a glimpse of myself in a hall mirror, except Edwin's eyes would look back. A guard caught me flinching at my own reflection and gave me a curious narrowed stare, but I held my head higher and he moved on.
As I neared the guest suite, my stomach twisted with every step. I slid my hand in my coat pocket gripping the fairy dust in my fist. One shot, that's all they gave me, and hopefully, that's all I would need.
I gripped the door handle and turned it slow as my head turned back to search the empty hall behind me. No light escaped through the crack between the door and the frame so I edged farther into the room. The air lay still. No breath. No sound, as I crept near the bedside. The thick silk comforter remained untouched from the last time a servant had cleaned in here. No personal objects lay on the dresser. No dirty clothes strewn on the floor. No sign of Edwin at all.
"Can I help you find something, sir?"
I jumped and emitted scared yel
p as Griswold entered the room, his hands gently crossed in front of him and his know-it-all stare analyzing my every move.
I cleared my throat and forced my voice deeper. "Griswold, don't ever sneak up on me like that."
He bowed his head at the harsh tone, enough that he couldn't see me cringe. Even though Edwin still had him under his spell, the empty hollow in my heart where he lived ached deep in my chest.
"Of course, sir. I just saw the door open and wanted to make sure no one was trespassing where they shouldn't be."
"Not to worry." I patted him on the back and he lurched forward. "I was just looking for something but I guess it's not here."
"The staff should’ve taken everything from this room when you moved to the king’s chambers. If you'd like I can have someone re-search this room in the morning?”
The king’s chambers? Of course, he’d be that arrogant. I’d probably barely left the grounds before they started moving his things.
“No need, my good man. I’m sure I just misplaced it.”
Griswold narrowed his stare and raised the lantern near to his face as he scanned me over from brow to boots. “Are you feeling all right, Your Highness?”
I clenched my fists at my sides and fought the rage bubbling in my blood from showing across my cheeks. No one should ever refer to that villain as a royal.
“I’m fine. Just having a bit of trouble sleeping, that’s all.” I stretched my arms out and up as the yawn came naturally and on cue. “I think I’ll head off to bed and look again tomorrow.”
He nodded, but his sharp suspicion still pierced my flesh. He stepped aside and swept the lantern out to the side to guide me down the hall. “Would you like me to send up some warm milk or maybe some brandy to help you get some rest?”
“Thank you, but I think I’ll stop by the kitchen on my way up. I’m sure you have plenty of work to keep you busy.” I clasped my hands behind my back and paraded past him. “Goodnight, Griswold.”
As soon as I hit the corner, I doubled my pace and headed for the grand staircase before anyone else could see me. My fraudulent face likely had him convinced, but his keen loyalty and years of silent observation made Griswold the most lethal enemy in games of deceit. He’d seen through almost every lie I’d ever told, even when my parents had fallen for my stories, but never overstepped his place. Except now he had a new master. One who needed me dead.
Up I ran, taking the steps two at a time and twisting through the hall until I reached the west wing. What little noise remained fell away as I turned into the dark stone corridor.
I gripped the pouch of traveler’s dust in my pocket, then swallowed the rest of my fear. I crept down the hallway, each step slow and steady so no one came running. The lion statue guarding the secret passage loomed over my head. The bared teeth and readied claws dripped in shadow and turned the symbol of my family's pride into a thing of nightmares. An omen, perhaps. Or maybe just my brain warning me to turn back.
At the outer door, I gripped the handle and pushed in. A whiny creak echoed through the corridor and I froze. My heart thumped loud, almost louder than the door. I glanced back over my shoulder, but no one lurked behind me. Safe, at least for now. I gripped the door frame and breathed slow until my nerves settled again.
I pushed the door the rest of the way open and slipped into the dark outer chamber. A large mirror stood across from me, and in the dark, it twisted the reflection of Edwin's face on my bones. Pale and deathly. A ghost or a phantom with an evil sneer. I forced my eyes away and continued deeper into the bedroom. The moon illuminated the far wall as it beamed through the grand window and cast a spotlight on my father's four-poster bed. A large lump rested in the middle of the mattress, tangled in the expensive silk sheets and hand-embroidered duvets.
Thick, warm saliva pooled in my mouth. I held the dust in my pocket as I tried to keep focused on my task, even though my mind wandered to the sword mounted over my father’s mantle and the pure joy that plunging it through Edwin’s heartless chest might bring. Except, what would that make me? The short-lived pleasure would not be worth knowing that I would be the murderer that even Edwin had yet to become.
I hovered beside the bed, one hand on my magic weapon the other gripping the edge of the duvet. The fairies gave no instructions, but logic seemed that the dust needed to at least hit the target’s skin. Besides, a devious part of me wanted to see the shocked look on Edwin’s face when he woke to see me standing over him before he disappeared into oblivion.
My hands trembled. A few seconds. One final uncertainty coursed through my bloodstream before a smooth calmness overtook the anxiety.
I ripped the covers back.
Pillows. Nothing but fancy pillows and crumpled clothing piled high in the center of the bed. I caught the bag of traveler’s dust before it fell, my other arm still moving before my brain managed to process the deception. What?
“Do you think I’m stupid enough to lie around waiting for death?” a familiar deep voice bellowed from behind me.
I whirled around and shuddered as I stood face to face with Edwin Macario. His eyes lit. Flames danced in his dark irises as the heat of the fire rose up his clenched jawline.
“How dare you insult me by wearing that mask,” he shouted.
I brushed my cheek, as I remembered what I looked like and backed up a step until my calves smacked the side of the bed. “How dare you insult the people of Aboria by pretending to be their king.”
“Why you hateful devil.” Edwin grabbed my arm. His furious expression faded as the color drained from his face. He released his grip and recoiled, as he slammed his open hand against his chest. He staggered back several paces, his stare locked on my face. “It’s you! I should’ve known.”
He clutched his forehead and stared harder as he absorbed my features. His thoughts flickered across his face as each one fell into place. Puzzle pieces firing together to create a clearer picture.
“You know nothing,” I shouted back as I maneuvered the bag between my fingers and spilled the dust into my palm.
“Oh really, Prince Fallon. That energy within you. The power pulsing in your veins. I felt it before at the temple, but I never expected you to figure out how to wield it or what it might mean. I guess I underestimated you. But I won’t again.”
He reared his arm back as a purple light built between his fingers.
I flinched, trapped between the bed, Edwin, and the wall. No escape. The purple light crackled and charged. It covered Edwin’s hand until it wasn’t clear where his body ended and the magic began. I pitched forward to strike first but lost the draw. Edwin's arm surged toward me, the purple magic flinging from his fingertips. I tucked my head into my arm. My body tensed until my muscles ached. My brain flit through the people I’d let down. My mother. My father. Veda. Griswold.
The purple magic grew brighter. I held my breath. It slammed into my forearm.
But nothing happened.
My arm stung. No more than a bee sting. The purple light dissipated and slithered into the darkness. A nuisance rather than a pain.
"What?" Edwin yelled, but left no chance for response. He pulled his arm back again as if throwing a ball and launched another purple strike. Another sting in my shoulder. I shrugged it off as another orb of light crashed into my abdomen. Then another at my knee.
"Enough,” I shouted against the onslaught.
But he didn't stop. Magic pummeled me over and over, but nothing seemed to be doing anything. Each time the light sparked the fury grew in Edwin’s face. Veins throbbed in his neck and forehead as he launched attack after attack and I swatted them away. I stepped toward him and he stepped back, a dance of distance where I might for once have the lead.
I needed to get closer to hit him with the traveler’s dust. I stepped closer to the fireplace. Edwin stepped back as he tossed another attack of purple lights.
With a quick pivot, I ripped the sword down from my father's mantle and extended the tip of the blade underneath Edwin
's chin.
He lowered his hands and the magic fizzled out. "You don't have the guts, kid."
He grabbed the blade between his palms and thrust it back.
I strengthened my stance and nudged the tip forward, pushing Edwin backward to maintain his grip. "You have no idea what your vendetta has done to me.”
He narrowed his stare and stood taller. A game of posturing. One he had more experience with playing than I did. “I’m far more powerful than you will ever be.”
“Then how come your magic fails against me? You tried to control my mind, but it didn’t work. You hit me over and over again and I’m the one with your life at the end of my blade. You will not win this fight, Edwin. You will not take my kingdom.”
His head rolled back as a loud, hearty laugh escaped his throat. “Your kingdom? You’re not even a real part of this family. My blood runs more royal than yours ever will. You were left on a doorstep, unloved and unwanted. I have more claim to the throne than you do.”
“But I won’t destroy the kingdom for my own gain. Even if I were the son of the lowliest beggar, I’d still have more honor and nobility than you.”
“And that my boy, is what might just be your downfall.” He shoved hard on the sword blade and pushed me back.
I stumbled but quickly regained my footing. Edwin swooped his right arm in the air and snapped his fingers with a loud pop. A puff of smoke billowed in front of him. Sharp smells of strongest incense and the last of the fireplace embers clouded around burning my nostrils. I coughed into my shoulder as I forced my arm to stay steady. I rubbed the dust in my palm. A perfect distraction. Now was my chance.
I dropped the sword to my side and held up my fist. The smoke thinned. A high-pitched voice shrieked.
“Let me go,” Veda screamed as she wriggled against her father’s forearm wedged underneath her neck. “What are you do—”
Veda’s eyes widened as she stared at me, then twisted her head up to look at her father, then me again.
Fallon: Son of Beauty and the Beast (Kingdom of Fairytales Boxset Book 6) Page 29
