Half Heart

  Chapter 13

  I left the magical shelf and its books and fled to my tower. It was becoming my place of refuge, for no one ever bothered me there. Except for the occasional Kirken bringing me my meals. He surprised me by not asking me why I was looking for a deep and grimy place; in fact, he questioned me no further. He didn’t even ask if I had found what I was looking for.

  What surprised me by finding the key’s match in the library was that the place was neither deep, nor dirty. The riddle could have possibly meant deep by magical, and grime by the dust that lingered everywhere. That was the only explanation I could think of.

  I lived every day of my captivity in fear. I was scared of Soea now, more so than I had been before, because I now realized his power. I wasn’t even sure if it was me being scared, or him using his powers to make me so. But what did it matter? Either way, I still had fear in my heart, which made me despise myself.

  I sat by the window waiting for Mem. I did it everyday, waiting to hear word of my beloved Brye, she never came. I began to doubt her.

  The sight out my window never seemed to change, except for at night, when all was still and not a sorcerer flew. How I wished I could fly. I would fly away this second and hide myself. Where I would hide, I didn’t know, for Soea would find me anywhere. But I wanted more than anything to be away from him. He made my heart sick.

  “Mem,” I sang, “I want to know. I want to hear what is happening to me, what to expect, for oh I fear it.”

  “Okay.”

  She scared me so badly I fell off the stool I was sitting on, screaming all the way.

  “Whoa! Quiet, girl, I didn’t mean to scare you so.” Mem was there, in my window. She was bringing me news! News of Brye!

  “What have you heard, Mem, oh, what have you heard? Did you find him? Did he believe you, that it was me? What’d you say? Oh, what’d he say?” I stood up, throwing every question I could think of.

  “Slow down, don’t get so excited.” She came in the window, into the room, sitting on my stool.

  I felt my face droop. “You didn’t find him, did you?”

  “No, I found him,” she said, although she didn’t look enthused.

  “Well?”

  “Well, you were right. He is going to need a lot of convincing.”

  I sighed, feeling depression coming on. “Oh, did he hurt you?”

  “He would’ve if I couldn’t fly. He’s spitting mad. Right now I think he could kill Soea and Aduhlajh at the same time.”

  “Really?” I said, hope in my voice.

  “I don’t know. He’s angry enough, that’s all.” She sighed. “He knew the letter was your handwriting, but he thought that maybe I forced you to write it, or something.”

  I stood up straighter and began pacing. “I need to send him something of sentimental value that I know only he and I know about. Something we’d both laugh at, a secret we both share.”

  “Yes,” Mem agreed, “so what do suggest?”

  Suddenly I stopped pacing. “Do you know where I could find any pink frosting?”

  A malicious laugh filled the room. I covered my ears, for even the sound of his voice made me ache. Soea walked right through the wall, startling Mem even more than I.

  “Dear Memlai, what are you up to?” He held out his arms, as if welcoming her.

  I looked at Mem, and she shuddered. She looked pained to be in the same room with him.

  “I’m plotting against you, my flower-boy,” her voice was shaky. She seemed so scared, even though she was a sorcerer, too. It made me frightened even more.

  “Ah, I know. And I knew dear Brydon wouldn’t believe a word you said. Nothing will stop him from saving his dear, dear, girl,” he turned his eyes to me with a vicious love in them. It made me look away.

  “Don’t fear me so, Layla.” He came forth and put a hand on my shoulder. I began to tremble. Then he looked at Mem. “I’m sure Mem has told you. I’m quite a good aficionado. She was almost my betrothed.”

  My jaw would have dropped if I hadn’t been scared solid. That was why Mem hated him so! He must have left her for Viloria, who was as far as I knew, not even a sorcerer. He was so cold, such a lowly beast, that I couldn’t help myself any longer. I couldn’t stay silent, not when Mem’s heart was being trampled as if it meant nothing at all. I was still terrified, but I had to say something. “You terrible cad.” I spoke slowly, stepping away from him. “You are the most heartless creature I’ve been touched by. And I’m disgraced by your touch! I am terrified by even your laugh, but that won’t stop me from saying what I feel.”

  Soea tilted his head at me, as if to tell me he was listening.

  “You care for no one!”

  He let go of me. “That’s right! I told you were intelligent!” The laughter and playfulness was gone from his voice. He was getting defensive. “Why should I do anything for anyone else, when no one does a thing for me? I help myself!” He began to scream, his face turning red, shaking from the force of his voice. “And no one will stand in my way! I am the greatest sorcerer there ever was!” His eyes seemed to turn red with anger. He hunched lower and put his face close to mine. “And you’re right. I hate you too. So much, that the only thing that is keeping me from killing you is Aduhlajh!”

  He turned to Mem, with an accusing finger. “But nothing is stopping me from her.” His voice was lower, and he sounded as if he were going mad.

  “Why do you hate me?” I screamed at him.

  He turned slowly. “What?”

  “Why do you hate me so?” I screamed again.

  His eyes rolled back in his head, and his mouth opened wide. He screamed like a beast. My legs gave out, from fright, and I covered my mouth. Mem couldn’t move. I could see she was trying desperately to fall out of the window, but Soea had her there.

  He was more of a beast than I knew.

  As I was certain he was about to kill her, the door swung open. And who would have thought he could save the day?

  It was Kirken!

  He had my food, and he looked terrified.

  “Don’t go,” I whispered to him, for he looked ready to run.

  Soea looked at me, and yelled in anguish. Then he stormed from the room, bumping into Kirken, causing him to drop the plate.

  Mem slunk off the stool. We were both breathing so hard, and tears started to come. They came, harder and harder, and I couldn’t stop. I held my dress to my face.

  Kirken stopped picking up the broken glass and came over to me. He looked timid, and slightly shook up, but I could hardly see him through my stream of tears.

  “Are–” he got down to my level. “Are you okay?”

  “I–I–I– I don’t know,” I managed to choke out. “I d–d–don’t w–what’ll become of m–me.” I was still so frightened, and needed to be held. I wanted Brye so badly, but a hug from anyone would have done. I looked up at Kirken, still crying uncontrollably. “W–will you h–hug m–me?” I said, sniffling.

  Kirken looked surprised, and nervous, and I almost regretted asking him. I forgot he was a mistreated servant. For a moment he was simply my friend, there when I needed him. He surprised me by, after a second, putting his arms around me. I cried on his should. He was tense, but I couldn’t care. I was so shaken up.

  I drew back from him and looked at Mem. She on the floor, crying in hysterics just as I was. I crawled over to her.

  “Is it h–him m–aking us c–cry?” I sobbed, lying next to her. Kirken came and sat next to me.

  “I don’t kn–know.”

  We laid there for at least a quarter hour, unable to control ourselves.

  “I’m so s–s–sorry I put you in this d–danger,” I apologized.

  “N–no,” Mem wailed, “It was a–a–all m–me.”

  Kirken brought us both some food, which helped us calm down a bit. I sat with my legs crossed, my plate on my lap. Each bite was tasteless, despite how delicious it was. I stared out into space. “My life is near it’s end.”

/>   “Don’t say that,” Kirken said. He was beginning to open up to me.

  “But it’s true!” I said in despair. “Brye is coming, their plan is working!”

  “What if they change their plan?” Kirken said.

  “Yes, Brye is on guard now, whether he believed the letter or not. Would they still let him come all the way here, do you think?” said Mem, holding her fork half-way in her mouth. She looked as despairing as I.

  “Maybe, but it would be for the worse!” I said. “And what about you, Mem, what’s to become of you?”

  “I don’t know,” she whispered. Her face had blanched. “Soea always gets his way. I can’t think of anything that would stop him.” She stood up, for the first time since she flew in my window. “I… I’m going to go home. I’m so scared he’ll come back.”

  I stood up too. “But you’ll come back, won’t you?”

  Mem smiled, wistful again. “Of course.” Then her smile faded. “That is, if I’m alive to come back.”

  “Do you think he’d hurt you?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ll never know what to expect from him.” She turned to Kirken. “Thank you Kirken, it was so nice to meet you. You’re a wonderful cook.”

  Kirken smiled. Mem took a last look at me, then flew away.

  “Oh, Kirken,” I said. “Is all hope lost?”

  He smiled, and shook his head. “I’ve never known hope, until I met you.”