Cursed Blood

I wasn't as miserable as I orginially thought.

Once inside the castle, I avoided every Lightblood I could, mostly using my sharp senses and pain detection to sneak by. My hazardous path eventually took me to the library, where I dove into every book that had a useful seeming title. At the moment, I was tucked in between two shelves with my knees up to my chest, a dusty book resting on top of them. Its writing was smudged and the grammar itself was of an older time. Right language, though.

Heaving a sigh, I rested my head back. Words were swimming in front of my eyes. So far, I'd only learned about Lightblood magic. Healing wasn't too uncommon, but the dome seemed to be a tad abnormal. The strange, almost non-existent limits on my power were something I wasn't too surprised about when I read that Lightbloods almost always hit their limit during training after a while. It was usually clear to a person, like a rock sinking to the bottom of a lake when they neared the limit of their power's capabilities.

Not for me.

Not yet.

Unable to stand the stuffy library much longer, I grabbed as many books as I could from the pile of relevant ones I'd found and hauled them back to my room. Carefully stacking them on an empty shelf, I yawned and rubbed at my eyes. There was leftover frustration swirling around my mind. The Prince's half assed apology was a taunting memory, along with the hazy faces of everyone at the ball. After all, the only people I could trust were my family, Rebecca, and Dmitri. I didn't know where everyone else had been, and therefore didn't know if they chose not to help. Dmitri had been watching Rebecca for me, and my brothers had been stuck in the crowd. My father was also with Rebecca.

All my other Lightblood friends, though. They hadn't given me any excuses.

Stop, I told myself, this isn't the time to start hating everyone. You've done enough of this.

Slowly gathering myself, pulling my thoughts out of the dark place they'd gone, I managed to force myself to leave the room. Other than researching myself, I also had training to do. Probably some sort of chores for the Queen as well, but I think I'd lose it if she or her son tried to order me around so soon.

My footsteps were dead quiet on the carpet floor as I walked down the hall, strolling in no particular direction. I was half heartedly searching for someone to teach me something, or at least spar with.

"Holy sh--Cloud?!"

Slowing, I craned my neck to look over my shoulder. Warren and Charles were wide-eyed, staring at me like I'd sprouted more horns.

They haven't seen me out of my room in... a week, exactly.

I shot them a quirky smile. "Hi, guys."

Charles held a goofy look on his face, as if he'd just seen the gods faceplant directly in front of him. "Imposter!" My brother exclaimed, running over to me. His hands began to poke at my cheeks like a child. "Who are you?"

Swatting him away, I rolled my eyes. "It's me. The lovely Princeling dragged me out of my room today, so I figured it was time to get some things done."

"Like what?" Warren questioned, strolling over to where Charles and I were, my other brother still marvelling at the fact that I left my room.

Like reading books until I go cross eyed so I can finally explain my existence.

"Training," I answered, it being only a partial lie.

"Cloud," Warren blurted suddenly, "maybe you should rest longer. The ball was definitely... a shit show."

I couldn't help but scowl. "I have Darkblood healing, Warren. I'm fine."

He looked uncomfortable, throwing a worried look to Charles.

"What is it?" I asked, looking between the two of them.

Charles shrugged, his lips turned down into a frown. "We've all been thinking that maybe this castle isn't a good place for you," he admitted, holding my stare confidently. Warren looked away, shame colouring his cheeks pink. From the look of it, I expected that the entire Rose family wanted to get me out of here.

My heart broke for them. This had felt like a dream with my brothers being here to become knights and my father free from tedious farmwork, but I became an obstacle for them.

They're just trying to protect me, I reminded myself, stop feeling guilty. Get yourself together.

"I'm okay, guys," I insisted. "Really. Thank you, though."

They both grimaced, their faces haggard for a split moment. Part of me wanted to reach out to them, to spend time with them so that we could all relax, but they were too worried for me. I shot them the widest smile I could manage, and saved the talking for when we could do it without them worrying so much.

"I'm going to go visit Rebecca," I lied, slipping around the corner before they could say anything. Sadness lingered in Charles' eyes as I left, Warren's face as expressionless as ever. Ignoring the guilt that came with leaving them, I forced myself to walk back to the library, and lost myself within the shelves of books. Looking for nothing in particular, I began to browse.

By the time night rolled around, I was frustrated. Impulsive actions came to mind and I shot out of my seat at one of the desks, headed for the library doors. When no one was around, I slipped out of the castle, sprouting wings as I ran toward the edge of the mountain. The rush of blood pounded in my ears as I leapt off, catch the breeze and soaring downward toward the farm.

The lights were on inside when I landed in the field, staring at the shadows of moving people.

Someone moved in, I realized, my eyes widening. I had come to speak with Spirit, but what if their entrance had forced her out?

"Well if it isn't the Gray One," a voice whispered. My head whipped to the side, eyes landing on Spirit as she leaned against the wall of my home.

"You're still here?"

She laughed. "Well, yeah. I'm tied to this place. I cannot leave until my work here is done."

My head tilted to one side as I considered her words. "You're stuck?"

She nodded. "I'm stuck until either you or the gods themselves free me so that I can move on," Spirit shrugged, walking my way. Her eyes flicked back to the kitchen window, where a light was still on. "You're going to be seen if we stay in this moment, give me just a second."

I did as she said, remaining quiet as her hands jerked unnaturally. Finally, the world went silent, and the sky above us became all sorts of colours, stars and even planets clear. It was like I was staring right into space, as if our atmosphere had disappeared.

It took my breath away, to say the least. If some spirit of a human woman related to the gods could create something like this, then I was dying to see actual gods in action.

"Much better," Spirit sighed, her eyes joining mine as we stared up at the stars above us. "I never get tired of this, dead or not."

I snorted abruptly. "Sorry," I smiled, "I just forget that you're actually a ghost sometimes."

She rolled her eyes before sitting down on the crops, which were also frozen in time.

"So? What did you need?"