A Walk Amongst Shadows (Book 2)

I decided to give myself a day off after the Night of Masks, much to Aris’ satisfaction. It was still a struggle to bring myself back to work the following day, however. Luckily, no one seemed to pay me any mind. Ever since Simon and I reconciled, things had been much more peaceful in the apothecary. I was happy to find that there was little work to be done that morning and got to spend some time with Deja. She spoke enthusiastically about her night at the festival. Unfortunately, Evangeline cut our conversation short.

“Rose,” she called my name softly, but urgently, “I need to speak with you.”

“Of course,” I started, “I was just about to-”

She held up her index finger, cutting me off. “I’ll have one of the others cover for you.”

She ushered me briskly into an empty room. Confused, I followed. Snapping the door shut behind me, she turned and handed out a piece of folded paper.

“This came for you today.”

I took the paper in my hand and unfolded it. Large swooping letters sprawled across the page. I saw the royal coat of arms seal at the bottom. My heart sank as I read.

By Royal decree, Rose Rivyn is hereby summoned for private audience with the King’s court. An escort will be provided for Miss Rivyn to see her safely to her destination this afternoon. Understand that attendance is mandatory and to ignore such a summons is a criminal offense against the King himself.

The letter was signed with the seal at the bottom of the page. I read over the letter a second time, feeling my pulse quicken as I did.

“I don’t understand…” I looked up at her. “Have I done something wrong?”

“Of course not.” There was something in her voice that didn’t sound convincing. “I’m sure word’s just gotten around about your exceptional healing abilities.”

Her words sent panic coursing through my body. I dropped the letter. “No, no, there’s got to be a mistake, I can’t go to-”

“You read the letter Rose, you don’t have a choice. The King is not requesting your audience, he’s demanding it.” Sensing my distress, she softened, “I’m sure everything is going to be just fine though.”

“Have you ever been summoned to King’s court?” I asked.

She shook her head. “But it is not uncommon for a healer to be summoned to the court in times of distress.”

“Do you think it’s possible that the King is ill?” I asked.

She shrugged, “It’s certainly possible, but the royal family has their own personal healers. If they’re needing additional help, I can only imagine things are not going well.”

I thought on her words for a moment. Perhaps I am not in any trouble at all. Maybe they are just desperate for help up at the castle. Something deep inside me told me otherwise, not unlike the feeling I had before my first night of cleansing with the council back in Wren’s Glen. I needed Aris. He would know what to do. I told Evangeline I would wait for my escort on the steps of the apothecary. I walked quickly down the hallway and flung the door open. Surely, he would’ve sensed me by now. But when I opened the door, no Aris. Instead, I found myself face to face with a man in an emerald cloak. He was clean shaven with harsh chiseled features. On his back, I saw the coat of arms of the royal family emblazoned in gold. This must be my escort.

“Rose!” I had hardly noticed Deja standing in front of the man. She was grinning broadly from ear to ear. “This man was just asking about you.”

He turned to face me, “Rose Rivyn?”

I nodded anxiously.

“Name’s Frederick Offmeier,” he extended his hand towards me, and I shook it. “I trust you got our summons this morning.”

Again, I nodded.

“Well then, shall we be off?”

I looked around wildly. I felt like an animal being led into a trap.

“Have fun, Rose.” Deja grinned excitedly. How was she not bothered by this? Am I just being paranoid? Against my better judgment, I followed the man called Frederick through the crowd. As we walked past the apothecary, I saw Aris. He nodded curtly towards me and began following us at a distance. I sighed and let myself relax a little. At least I wasn’t entirely alone.

We walked in silence for the most part. Frederick had been cordial enough to exchange a few pleasantries, but I was not in much of a mood for conversation. The courtyard leading up to the castle looked much different today than it had during the festival. It was not nearly as crowded either. Frederick walked me up to the main entrance and spoke a few words to the guards who promptly let us enter. I could feel my chest getting tighter as the heavy doors swung open. I was both awestruck and terrified by the grandeur of what lay before me. Vaulted ceilings and painted windows created an ethereal effect on the room. Statues and paintings lined the walls. It was a lot to take in. I focused on following Frederick, paying extra close attention to each and every turn we made and each door we went through. Second hallway make a right, then left, pass two long corridors and another right. There is no way Aris could have followed us into the castle. I was on my own for now.

I don’t know what I expected the chamber of the King’s court to look like, but I was underwhelmed when we finally arrived. It was a small room lit by a few torches and a window. A long table stretched the length of the chamber lined with chairs on either side. I saw a few well-dressed men and women seated with backs straight and hands folded in their laps. At the head of the table sat, who I could only imagine, was King Westford. He was older, with graying hair and a short, well-manicured beard. His pale blue eyes twinkled as he looked on at me. Everyone in the room stood when I entered.

“Your grace,” Frederick bowed as he addressed his king, “Rose Rivyn, as requested.”

I stood awkwardly as all the eyes in the room locked on to me.

“Good afternoon, Your Grace” I muttered just loud enough to hear. I bowed in the same manner that Frederick had done. I quickly sensed the life energies in the room. I felt a sinking in the pit of my stomach when I realized there were no sick individuals, not in this room at least. So I extended my reach further. It was easy enough, after all, extending the reach of my magical perception was one of the first things Aris and I had worked on together. Good thinking Aris. I thought, feeling thankful for his foresight. Further and further I extended my reach. I sensed all sorts of life in the castle. I felt a waning in a few individuals maybe a few hallways down, but certainly nothing requiring emergency attention. My stomach churned, if no one was ill then why was I here?

“Rose Rivyn,” King Westford repeated beckoning me forward. I felt as though I were moving through mud as I approached him. “At long last, we meet.” He offered me his hand which I promptly took. But rather than shaking my hand, he drew it up to his lips and kissed the back of it lightly. “Please sit.” He motioned to the empty chair to his right and I tentatively sat. “Your reputation precedes you,” he continued, “I have heard little else of anything but the great healer that has graced our kingdom with her presence.”

“That’s kind of you to say, sir.” I kept my tone even. Of course he knows.

“A prodigy like you deserves recognition.”

I glanced nervously at the others around me. Two middle aged men and one woman all smiled back at me and nodded. I sensed traces of magical ability in one of the men, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

“Thank you, sir.” I didn’t know what else I was supposed to say.

“What do you think of the castle?” he asked. I was struck by the conversational tone in his voice.

“It’s beautiful, Your Grace, truly,” I replied.

“Why don’t the two of us go on a walk,” he suggested. “If you all would excuse us,” he addressed the others seated around me. We both stood and exited the room. My heart raced as I walked alongside the king. I still had no idea what his intentions were with me. My mind flashed back to the last walk I had taken with Simon and how poorly it had ended.

“I don’t know about you, but I much prefer conducting business outdoors.” His voice was warm and inviting, but it was doing little to settle my nerves. We walked out onto a terrace that faced out on the royal city. “Marvelous, isn’t it?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Rose, I’m going to cut to the chase,” he said, turning to face me directly.

This is it.

“I’d like to appoint you as the official mage in my royal court.”

I froze. “M-mage, sir?” I asked, terrified of what he was going to say next.

“Let’s drop the pretense, shall we? You can’t tell me that a healer of your talents isn’t a life mage.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.

“Don’t act so surprised. What with the prophecy and all, your arrival has been anticipated to say the least.”

I took a step back, I wanted to run but knew that would only land me in trouble. He put a heavy hand on my shoulder, rooting me to the spot. It was intended to calm me, but it did anything but.

“Relax, child. It is not a crime to be a mage. You are in no trouble here.”

I nodded.

“Just think about it. All of this,” he turned and gestured at the castle behind us, “could be your home. You would be free to come and go as you please, as long as we are not requiring your services of course…” he clarified.

I looked at the castle but saw only a prison. I wanted to be with Aris in our home.

“Your expression betrays you, Rose.” He sounded solemn.

“I’m sorry. It’s an incredible offer. I am deeply honored…” I began, “but I have a home.”

“Cohabitation with a demon is no home for a mortal, dear girl.” His words stung, and I felt myself physically recoiling from him. “Surely you must know the danger you are in.”

I sighed, so it was this again.

“If this prophecy comes true, it will not be just you, but all of us that will be in danger.”

“So, you want me to live here to prevent the prophecy?” I asked.

“Not just live here, live like royalty. Help me and my family and I will make you wealthy beyond your dreams. Anything you desire in the kingdom will be yours.” He placed an arm around my shoulder. “What more could a young woman ask for?” he asked. I imagined myself wondering around the castle, wearing the finest clothing free to spend my time as I wish. But then I remembered the last time I was made an offer for my services by Madam Odetsky and felt my blood run cold.

“I’d feel more comfortable if I could stay in my own home.”

“Unfortunately, dear, all who serve the royal family are required to stay with us at all times.”

That was all I needed to know. I’d be free to do as I pleased so long as I was within an arm’s reach of the royal family.

“I understand,” was all I said.

“So, what do you say?” he asked grinning at me.

“It’s a big decision…” I trailed off, knowing full well that ‘no’ was not an option. “Would it be wrong for me to ask for some time to consider your generous offer?”

“Of course not!” he clasped his hands together in delight. “Take all the time you need, sweet girl.”

I exhaled. Perhaps this trip wouldn’t be a total disaster after all.

“Come, I’ll have my men see you out.” He ushered me back into the castle. Once inside, I saw him nod curtly to the two guards that stood just inside the doorway.

“Our guest would like some time to think,” he said sweetly. “Why don’t you take her somewhere quiet for her to contemplate our offer.” I felt the hands on the guards clamp down on my arms and start pushing me down the hallway.

“Wait! Let me go!” I shouted.

“Do let us know when you’ve made your decision,” he said with a sinister grin.

“Stop! I want to go home! Please!” I felt a surge of panic rising in me. Focus, Rose, I told myself. Against every part of better intuition, I closed my eyes and relaxed. Even through their gloves, I was able to siphon away the life energy of the guards, leaving them both in a heap on the ground. King Westford turned, having heard the commotion.

“Astounding,” was all he said as he approached me. Whistling, he summoned more guards who ran up behind him. I cursed under my breath. There would be no easy way out of this. I drained the new guards, and they fell on either side of their ruler.

“Please, sir,” I begged. “Please let me leave. That’s all I want to do. I am happy to help your family, really I am.”

He took several more strides towards me. “I shall do no such thing.”

“Then I must apologize, sir,” I said flatly as I watched him collapse. I was precise in how much energy I was absorbing. The last thing I wanted to do was overwhelm my system like I did back in the village. I’ve just attacked the king. I thought to myself as I broke out into a run. It didn’t take long for me to hear the shouts from the guardian as they saw the barely conscious bodies behind me. I rounded another corner, trying desperately to remember the way I had come in. I heard a loud crack in the distance and more shouting. Only this time, the shouting was coming from up ahead of me. What on earth is happening? By some miracle I found my way to the main entrance. I took several steps into the courtyard before I came across any more guards. I heard them calling out to the others as they barreled towards me. I dropped them both quickly. Feeling the buzz of magical energy building within me. I decided to release some of the life energy back to the king and the guards I left behind in the castle. I needed to be strategic here if I didn’t want to seriously injure anyone. I heard another loud crack that reverberated through my chest and felt whoosh of wind and instinctively ducked. Are they attacking me? I looked wildly around to see if there were guards attacking me from afar, but saw nothing.

“She’s here!” I heard a man yell. Another loud crack almost like lightning in a vicious storm.

Spinning around, I saw a shadow walker I had never seen before running towards me.

“Come with me!” he yelled.

I followed him around the corner, away from the entrance I walked in through.

“They’ve got the entrance sealed. You’ll never get out that way,” the man said to me as his long black hair whipped wildly around his ghostly pale face. I did not recognize this man in the slightest. But in this moment, I found shadow walkers to be far more trustworthy than the kings guard currently hunting me.

“Where are we going?”

“We’ve secured you a way out,” he said. “Come, we must hurry.”

I heard another loud crack in the direction we were running followed by more screaming. Every part of me wanted to turn around and run toward the main gate. But if the man’s words were true, there would be no way I could pass through. I had no choice but to move forward. I followed the man along the wall until we came to a break. It looked as though someone had demolished a portion of the stone wall, leaving a space just small enough for a person to slip through. It was then that I finally saw Aris. A wave of relief washed over me as I ran toward him.

“Come! This way!” Aris grabbed my hand and led me to the break in the wall.

“Get her out of here!” the other shadow walker called. “I’ll stay and hold them off!”

“No!” I shouted.

Both Aris and the man stopped.

“Don’t hurt anyone. I’ll take care of it,” I insisted.

“Rose!” I heard Aris protest, but it was too late. Within moments, I had drained the life force of the remaining guards on the yard. There was no one left standing but us.

“Gods…” I heard the long-haired shadow walker swear under his breath. He looked at me with fear and awe in his eyes. Aris regarded me carefully. I felt myself trembling slightly as the influx of magic buzzed through me. I was okay, but I didn’t want to hold onto it any longer than I had to.

“Let’s go,” Aris said once more. I noticed he was careful to touch only the parts of my arm covered by clothing just as he had when we were leaving the village. We tore through the streets of the royal city. There weren’t many people out on this side of town and for that, I was grateful. As we neared the edge of the city, I heard the man shout to Aris.

“You’re going to have to carry her out of here. Follow me, I’ll take you to the others!”

“Release the energy, Rose,” Aris called to me. “I can’t touch you with that much magic in your body.”

I nodded and did my best to release all the life energy I had stolen from the citizens behind me, making a mental note to ask Aris why he couldn’t touch me like this later on. I was abruptly accosted by the faces of the villagers of Windsle. I stumbled back and rubbed my eyes. Not now. I thought. But it all felt so familiar. The buzzing energy coursing through my body. The pleasure I felt nearly to the point of pain.

“ROSE NOW!” Aris shocked me back to reality and I cleared my body of all excess life magic. The faces of the villagers waning from my sight as I did so. I watched the foreign shadow walker, now standing before me, change. Growing taller and darker until he looked more like a phantom and less like a human. I saw his glowing red eyes as he looked back at us. He hissed something at Aris who nodded in response. Aris turned toward me.

“Are you ready?”

I nodded.

“Hold on to me,” he commanded, “just like the other night.”

I jumped into his arms just as I had done after the Night of Masks. I watched his handsome face twist as his eyes blackened. His white skin seemed to wither, almost as if it were being burned away from his skull. I looked down, too disturbed to watch any further. I saw his body lengthen and stretch to unnatural heights, clothes tearing as he did so. In seconds he was once again, the same terrifying figure I had seen that night in Naogs End. Pushing all fear from me, I clung tightly to him as he picked up his pace, drastically. The world around me blurred, and I felt myself getting dizzy. I closed my eyes and buried my face against his chest. It was bony, his skin cold and lifeless. This was not the body of the Aris I knew. I pushed these feelings away. He’s still your Aris, I told myself. He’s still your Aris.