Daughter of Dusk

I shut the doors behind us and look from one end of the hall to the other, ensuring we are alone.

“You okay, Luna?”

I shake my head. “Yes, just . . . um, walk ahead of me a little bit. Just in case anyone comes around the corner. I don’t want to risk suspicion is all.”

He frowns, before nodding in understanding.

None of the servants will be in this area of the Manor right now thanks to their cleaning schedules, so there’s a low chance of running into any of them. But I haven’t the slightest clue where my family is. I’m not taking any chances.

I let him get a head start, and I follow several steps behind, careful to ensure we have adequate separation between us.

After a few twists and turns within the dark stone walls, I watch him turn to the right at a place where two perpendicular hallways intersect, creating a crossroads of sorts. I quicken my pace so as to not lose sight of him, but just as I reach the center of the junction, I run right into Nox.

He glares as he looms over me. “Would you watch where you’re going, Mouse?”

“Sorry.”

I move to continue on before he roughly grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks as shockwaves of trepidation radiate through my blood.

“Ow!”

“Oh, grow up. Where are you going in such a hurry, Mouse?”

He’s now standing within the hall I came from, and although I have a view of Soren, I don’t think Nox does.

I sneak a sideways glance; Soren has stopped walking and is listening to our conversation.

Oh no.

I force my arm out of Nox’s tight grip, but the memory of his contempt lingers on my skin. “A walk.” I decide not to give any further elaboration.

Silence falls over us, and I don’t know if it’s Soren’s presence nearby, or if it’s something else giving me courage, but before I can stop myself, I speak once more. “And . . . and please don’t call me Mouse.”

He blinks in surprise. “Why shouldn’t I? You’re small and scared all the time, it’s what you are.”

I hold my gaze firm, despite my vibrating hands. “I’ve already told you I don’t like that nickname. So please don’t call me that.”

“I’ll call you what I want,” he sneers, narrowing his eyes.“You’ve been acting odd, lately. You know that? More than usual.”

“I didn’t realize you cared.”

“I don’t. It’s just an observation. And Father noticed it last night too. It makes me wonder if you’ve done something you shouldn’t.” His tone becomes just a hint more questioning, as though he’s searching my mind, attempting to pry my thoughts open for answers.

My stomach drops to the floor at his suggestion, but I try my best to hide it. “I haven’t. Besides, what could I possibly have done? After all, I’m just a scurrying little mouse, right?”

He looks down, playing with his knife. Father had it specially made for him, and he’ll take every opportunity to rub that fact in my face. The hilt is some kind of black leather, and the blade itself is an eerie white colour with delicate filigree leading up the sides. He says he’s the only one that can pick it up, but I know for a fact that anyone who shares his blood can wield it, which includes me . . . as much as he’d hate to admit it. Shadow abilities can only get so specific in that regard. I recall reading that somewhere in a book about how object proprietorship works. But I keep a weary eye on it, pushing his potential dark intentions out of my thoughts.

“No idea. I don’t know what mistakes like you get up to in their spare time.” His voice is so cold, surrounding me in a cloud of darkness, a winter’s night with no end. “I could find out though.” His gaze flicks to mine as a smirk tugs his lips, and my eyes widen as shadows linger in the air beside him.

My blood turns to ice as they circle my shoulders. “No, don’t – don’t even think about trying to compel me.”

He raises an eyebrow. “I need the practice anyway. And besides, if you had nothing to hide, it wouldn’t be a problem, now would it?”

“That – that’s not the point.” The shadows close in as pressure surrounds my skull, and I shut my eyes hard to distract myself. “Stop trying to get into my head.”

The pressure morphs into a prickling pain, like needles poking holes into my head as the shadows close in, but they still can’t get into my mind.

I clench my hair in my fingers. I have to tell him something. “I was in the library, just as I told you, and just as I told Father. If that’s not a good enough answer, then I’m not sure what else to suggest.”

I sneak a glance at Soren, who has now turned to face the interaction, but he stays frozen in place. But I can sense his shock from here, his want to make things right.

Our eyes lock for a fleeting moment.

Soren, please don’t intervene, please.

“If you’d stop resisting this would be a lot easier for you,” my brother growls.

“Nox, I swear, I’m not resisting,” I say honestly as I grimace through another wave of pain. And it’s true. It’s like there’s an invisible barrier around me whenever he tries this, intent on keeping his attacks out, but I’m not the one conjuring it – not consciously, that is. “You’ve never been able to see into my mind. What makes you think now is going to be any different?”

Anger swims in his dark eyes. “Careful. You’re talking to the future ruler of Zala.”

Oh no, come on Luna, think!

“I know, and I – ow – I’d hate for someone so important to go through the embarrassment of failing to compel someone as weak as me.”

The shadows quickly retreat from my head as he huffs with frustration. “Whatever. You’re not worth the effort anyway.”

As the pain clears, suspicion bubbles within me and I speak before I can stop myself. “Did Father ask you to do that? To find something out?”

“That’s none of your business,” he says automatically, like a rehearsed remark in a script.

The flicker of bravery suddenly makes itself known within me again as I register that I was able to resist his attacks, even if I’m not sure how I did it. “If it concerns me, then it is my business.”

He grabs my arm again, smothering the courage before it has a chance to truly ignite.

“Watch your mouth, Mouse. You don’t have a right to be part of those conversations. Mel and I are the ones who will rule this place, not you. That power is ours.”

“I said don’t call me that.” I pull myself out of his grasp again, protecting myself from his chilling, calculating energy, even if it continues to linger around me. “I’m well aware of yours and Melinoe’s birthright. Are you under the impression I would try and take it from you?”

I didn’t mean for my comment to come across in that manner, but as I register my words, it makes me wonder . . . are he and Melinoe of the opinion that I’m out to take their place?

And if that’s the case, where would such notions come from?

What has Father told them?

A flash of uncertainty covers his dark eyes before they harden once more. “I don’t know what mistakes like you are capable of. So, stay out of my way.”

And with that, he’s gone. But the swarm of dark energy he left behind remains in the crevices of my thoughts, surrounding me with unease, ready to attack at the next moment of weakness.

I look back over at Soren, who is now walking toward me. I help him close the space between us, but the disbelief in his eyes is impossible to ignore.

“I had – I had no idea it was that bad. I’m so sorry, Luna. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Don’t be sorry,” I say quickly.

“But . . . I don’t care if he’s next in line or not, he has no right to speak to you like that. Or do whatever he tried to do to you. He and Melinoe should be put in their place, not you.”

I pause for a fraction of a moment. I know how he feels about the way I’m treated here, but just hearing him say the words, knowing he can see through the facade of cruel strength and pride . . . it’s almost too much.

I look around, ensuring we’re alone. “Soren, you – you can’t say things like that here. We can talk more once we’re outside. Please.”

He presses his lips together with a sigh, before nodding. “We’re almost there, anyways.”

*

We thankfully manage to leave the Manor without any further interruptions. Before I know it, the muted green grass is crunching under my shoes once more as the gray skies arch above me. But the aftermath of my interaction with Nox has me feeling outside myself; detached. Even if being with Soren still makes my heart beat hard against my chest.

Soren turns to me with concern. “Okay, can we talk about what happened with Nox now?”

I nod.

“What exactly did he try to do to you? You called it compelling?”

I nod again. “Yes. He has an aptitude for it. It’s a way to use shadows to see into the minds of others. And, if you’re strong enough, it can extend into taking over someone’s mind. But he’s not at that point, thankfully.”

“Yikes,” he mumbles. “But it didn’t work on you?”

“No. It never has. I don’t know why. I’ve never been able to figure it out.”

He blinks. “So he’s done that to you before? Has he always been like that?”

“Yes, and yes. That was pretty subdued, honestly. He’s been worse.”

Sadness lingers behind his irises. “Luna . . .”

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing is going to stop him from acting like that.” I’m surprised at how cold my voice sounds.

He looks down, taking my hands in his. “God, I just, I wish I could help you in some way during stuff like that, or even take it away from you, somehow.”

His words poke holes in the murky energy around me. “Trust me, everything you’re doing is helping, more than you could ever know.” My face gets hot as I register my words. I quickly continue the conversation to avoid any comments on it. “What matters is that we’re out of there now.”

I give him a small grin as I focus on his energy. I let it send my negativity into the background, feeling the darkness retreat, if only for a while. “Where is this mysterious surprise place of yours?” I continue.

He envelops me in his wintery gaze for several moments before answering. “It’s just through the trees there. Follow me.”

I walk with him through the forest, only this time we’re not following the makeshift path that leads to his village. Now, we’re walking through dark sections of brush, but it doesn’t feel difficult or tiring by any means. There’s still a path here, but it’s a secret one; one that could lead to the questions to the answers I seek, one where knowledge could be hidden behind every leaf.

Before long, we come up to the edge of the treeline, and Soren turns to me with mischief in his silvery eyes. “Okay, are you ready?”

I nod; I can’t help but get swept up in his enthusiasm.

“Close your eyes.”

For a fleeting moment, the angst from earlier shows its ugly face, and I hesitate.

An endless empathy swims through his gaze. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. But I promise I won’t hurt you.”

His reassurance is enough to send the shadows of fear back to their hideaway, and I smile at him before darkness obscures my vision. “I’m okay.”

His cool touch envelops my small hands as he pulls me forward, step by step.

After several moments, his soft voice speaks once more. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

As my eyes adjust, I’m greeted by what I think is my new favourite part of Zala.