“Everything.”
“Fine, you’re the queen’s guardian,” I answered as I rolled my eyes but figured I’d have to play by his rules if I wanted to learn the answer to my question.
“Exactly. And as the queen’s guardian, I thought it would behoove me to prepare myself in case the incident, which just happened, should happen while on my watch,” he finished. He arched his left eyebrow as if he were pleased with himself.
“Then you taught yourself about timing her contractions, and breathing, and all that stuff?” I asked him, sounding dubious.
“Quite so, Princess,” he responded calmly. “I believe it is better to be prepared than to find oneself in a potentially complicated situation.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, I was struck by an acute pain right behind my eyes and between my ears. It was the same pain I’d felt earlier, during Jolie’s wedding, when Luce announced his plans for imminent attack. This time, however, it was much more intense. The pain felt like someone was stabbing me right through the ear.
My knees buckled as I dropped down to the ground and instinctively brought my hands up to my ears to ward away the agony. Sinjin was by my side instantly. He gripped my arm and pulled me upright as I took a deep breath and rallied any residual magical power I possessed to fight the pain. I clenched my eyes shut tightly and subdued the agony with my magic until I finally felt a reprieve. When I opened my eyes, I faced Sinjin and Jolie, only to find both of them were staring at me.
“Bryn?” Jolie asked, her eyes wide as she studied me. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Luce,” I announced. Looking around, I suddenly felt as if the walls of the cave were shutting in on me. What was only moments ago a safe haven now felt like a cage—like we were trapped, just waiting for Luce to find us.
“Luce?” Sinjin repeated.
“What do you mean?” Jolie interrupted him.
“He’s trying to break into my thoughts,” I answered absentmindedly as I wondered how I could keep Luce out of my head. His power was much stronger than mine and even though I’d managed to evade him this time, that didn’t mean I’d be successful again. And it was only a matter of time before he next attempted it.
“He’s trying to find us,” Jolie said, her tone of voice suddenly flat.
“Yes,” I answered.
“He will not find us here,” Sinjin announced resolutely. “We are surrounded by the sea.”
“He can find us anywhere,” I replied as I shook my head. “As long as he can get into my head, he can find us.”
“Then you must keep him out,” Sinjin answered resolutely.
“Easier said than done,” I replied with a little laugh that was completely devoid of humor. My gaze then settled on my sister and her newborn baby and I knew I couldn’t be the reason Luce found them. “I have to get out of here.”
“No,” Jolie said immediately.
“I’m endangering you and your baby,” I insisted.
“You leaving makes no difference,” Jolie continued, shaking her head. “Because if Luce is able to get into your thoughts, he’ll know where I am no matter what.”
I nodded because she had a point. It made more sense for Sinjin to move Jolie, without letting me know where they were headed. But in taking one look at my sister, I knew she was in no shape to travel—especially with the storm still brewing outside. She was exhausted and I was more than aware that her magical powers were in need of recharging.
Suddenly, the pain hit me again and I clenched my eyes shut tightly as I tried to fight Luce’s invasive strength and force him out of my head. But I could feel the increased energy behind his assault. I shook my head at the torture that was debilitating my mind. It felt like my brain was expanding and pushing against the hard walls of my cranium. I gritted my teeth and tried to push him back, but it was no use; my power was nothing compared to his.
I gasped as the pain suddenly stopped and my eyes blinked open of their own accord. With two deep breaths, I felt my eyes land on my sister who was gaping at me.
“He got in,” I said in a flat voice.
FOUR
“He got in?” Jolie repeated, the alarm in her voice growing louder. “What does that even mean?”
“It means I couldn’t keep Luce out of my head!” I replied, and then realizing how frustrated I must have sounded, I further explained. “His power was too strong and he forced his way inside my thoughts. I just wasn’t strong enough to keep him out.” I shook my head as I tried to figure out what our next course of action should be. Meanwhile worry, fear and anger pulsated through me and I felt like I was going to be sick.
“I get that part,” Jolie said. “But what does not being able to keep Luce out of your head equate to … exactly?”
I faced my sister’s worried countenance and had to mentally command myself to calm down. Panic was starting to set in and I knew that wouldn’t do me, or anyone else, any good. “It means that none of us are safe here any longer.” I stopped pacing and pivoted on my toes to face Sinjin, hoping he might have something helpful to contribute.
“What then, pet?”
“I think the answer is pretty clear,” I responded, even though my voice was wavering. “If none of us are safe here, we need to leave.” I didn’t say anything for another few seconds, just settled my gaze on my sister, as I attempted to determine if she were even capable of traveling. As soon as that thought crossed my overwhelmed head, I had to remind myself that anywhere I went, I would be followed by Luce. And that meant I couldn’t go with them—not if I would just be endangering Jolie and her baby. Well, Sinjin too, for that matter.
I looked at Sinjin again and had to wonder how he managed to remain so stoically calm all the time. Nothing ever seemed to get under his skin. Maybe that’s what living for centuries on end did to you … “Sinjin, you have to take Jolie and the baby someplace safe,” I decided.
He nodded briefly. “And you?”
“You can’t take me with you,” I answered in no uncertain terms. “I must stay here and face Luce on my own.”
“I will not leave you to that fate,” he countered and shook his head. His usually plump lips were pressed into a tight line that warned me not to argue with him. I couldn’t help feeling a little surprised. As a rule, I didn’t think Sinjin was very fond of me.
“He’s right,” Jolie added. “We’re in this together, remember?”
I immediately shook my head and threw my hands on my hips, spearing them both with an impatient expression. “Have both of you lost your minds?” I railed loudly. I alternated my glare between the two of them, before eventually letting it remain on the elegant vampire. “The queen is your foremost responsibility, Sinjin. You’ve said so often enough.”
Sinjin nodded, but his facial expression said he wanted to argue with me. “In case you temporarily forgot, Lady Macbeth, you also are a vessel of royal blood. You are the princess.”
“So what?” I yelled back. Although I didn’t intend for my voice to sound so abrasive, I was long past the point of levelheadedness. Time was of the utmost essence, and we were squandering it by standing here, arguing.
“My commitment includes the protection of any and all blood relatives to the queen, as well as the queen, herself, of course,” Sinjin finished. He crossed his arms over his expansive chest and looked at me with what appeared to be deliberate disinterest.
“I’ve never heard that line of reasoning from you before,” I said flatly. “You always claimed the queen was your duty to guard and protect, exclusively.”
“Shall we just agree to call it a promotion then?” he asked with a knowing smile that was as charming as it was infuriating.
“No, we won’t,” I started, but Sinjin interrupted me.
“What is more, I will not willingly hand you over to that … fiend, Luce,” he added as he glanced over at Jolie. “Besides, as you can see, the queen is in no shape to travel.” His gaze dropped to Jolie’s baby. “Furthermore, I would never expose t
he royal princess to the storm outside.”
He did have a point there. The rain had returned with a vengeance, and was joined by deafening claps of thunder and multiple bursts of lightning. The truth of the matter was that without me, Jolie wouldn’t have the strength left to buffer herself or her baby against the merciless storm. That much was now as obvious as the exhaustion on her face. Yes, unfortunately, there was definitely no way that Jolie could travel without me; but I couldn’t exactly tag along since I’d simply be leading Luce directly to us. My brainwaves would be the proverbial breadcrumbs along the way.
“Then what are we going to do?” I asked in a hollow voice. I eyed Sinjin and hoped he had a plan. He was usually pretty good about preparing for things in advance …
“I will fight Luce,” Sinjin replied steadfastly.
I didn’t say anything for a few seconds as I waited for him to announce the rest of his well thought-out plan. But when he didn’t say anything more, my short temper overcame me. “You will fight Luce?” I repeated while shaking my head. I had no intention of belittling him, but I had a pretty good hunch that was exactly how I came off. “You? An army of one?”
“Need I remind you that I am a master vampire,” he retorted with an annoyed expression.
“I understand that, Sinjin.” I tried to mask my patronizing tone, but I couldn’t help it. We were stuck between a rock the size of a boulder and the hardest hard place I could imagine. Never mind the time now slipping past us like sand between my fingers. “But you can’t take on Luce’s legion alone,” I argued. I was more than sure Sinjin couldn’t even take on Luce alone, master vampire or not.
“I can and I will,” Sinjin started.
“Please,” Jolie interrupted him. “Stop arguing.” She took a deep breath while staring us both down. “Sinjin, we will have to take our chances with the storm. I see no alternative because Bryn is right, we can’t just stay here and wait for Luce to find us.”
“And what then?” Sinjin continued.
“Then we will just have to keep running from Luce until I’m strong enough to tap into Mercedes’s powers, whereby I can replenish mine,” Jolie answered steadfastly.
“That is if the prophetess is still alive,” I added before instantly realizing I shouldn’t have. Jolie’s hopeful expression dropped, only to be replaced with worry.
“Be that as it may,” Sinjin said with a brief nod. Approaching me, he reached out to take my hand, which I guessed meant that he was getting ready to transport all of us again. I took a step away from him and put my arms behind my back.
“I still don’t agree that I should go with you,” I announced.
“And, I must admit, that I cannot seem to find it within myself to care,” Sinjin replied with practiced ennui.
I was about to further protest my opinion, but the words were taken from me as I felt a chill traveling through me. Every hair on my body stood at attention as my breathing suddenly came in short gasps. Although I didn’t feel the usual pain between my eyes that was inflicted by Luce, I didn’t need to. I knew his trademark anywhere.
“It’s too late,” I said, my voice cracking as my stomach plummeted to the ground. “He’s here.”
Even though there was no physical sign of Luce, I knew he wasn’t far. My body was telling me as much; and I knew by now to trust my instincts. The time for fleeing had vanished. Now, we couldn’t run. We would have to face off with Luce. It was the worst possible outcome…
I turned toward my sister and caught her widened, startled eyes. When I looked at her daughter, my niece, snugly wrapped in her arms, I made the decision, right then and there, to commit myself wholeheartedly to ensuring their safety. I could not and would not allow Luce to get to either one of them. As long as there was a breath of life left in my body, I would fight him. Yes, right to the end. I would make damn sure they both were safe because they were the only family I had.
Jolie, I said in thought as soon as an idea started to take shape in my mind. Once I had her attention, I continued. There is no way we can defeat Luce because your power is depleted, and I can’t take him on my own because he’s way too strong.
Okay, she responded, her blue eyes gleaming with interest and worry.
So, instead, can you summon up whatever strength you have left and project it into me?
Why?
I closed my eyes and sent out mental feelers, trying to detect exactly how close Luce was. A slight energetic buzz coursed through me as the hairs on my body stood up again. But my body’s reaction wasn’t very different or stronger than it had been earlier. That meant Luce was somewhere in the vicinity, but he hadn’t yet arrived. He was probably finding it difficult to locate me, thanks to the sea, which surrounded us along with the cave. The rocks and water must have acted like natural barriers, insulating my telltale brain waves, making it more difficult for Luce to tune into my signal.
Because you need to help me transform myself into you, I told her.
I don’t understand, she started while shaking her head. An expression of dread began to appear on her face.
We will simply create mirror images of ourselves; so as far as Luce can see, I will be you and you will be me.
But why?
Because dematerializing with both of us and the baby will be too much for Luce, especially considering the distance he’d have to travel to get to one of our training camps which is all the way back in the States. And not only that, but he’ll also be dealing with Sinjin …
I thought he was all-powerful?
I’m not doubting Luce’s power or his strength, I said, not wanting to create any doubt in Jolie’s mind about him either. He’s incredibly powerful, but de- and rematerializing all three of us is something even he isn’t capable of. Besides, as an Elemental, materializing isn’t ordinarily part of our repertoire. Usually that was something only Daywalkers and vampires could accomplish.
Okay, Jolie said.
So that means Luce will have to decide which one of us he will take back with him, I finished. With a deep breath, I considered that exact subject. It wasn’t something that was easy to contemplate, because even though I recognized Luce’s treachery, he was still like a father figure to me. Really, he was the only father I’d ever known. However, I also didn’t want to kid myself by sugarcoating anything. I know you’re the one he truly wants, I finished.
Bryn, Jolie replied as she sensed the disappointment in my thoughts as well as the betrayal I felt toward Luce.
Shaking my head, I refused to let her feel sorry for me. There’s no way I would willingly hand you or the baby over to him.
I appreciate that, but your plan is too dangerous, Jolie argued. You’d be putting yourself right in harm’s way and who knows how Luce might punish you once he discovers what you’ve done?
He already knows what I’ve done, I corrected her, shaking my head. I tried to offer her a consoling smile that suggested I wasn’t worried about Luce’s retribution, even though I was. But none of that matters anyway. Luce won’t hurt me—I promise you. I’ll be fine, I answered. But I wasn’t sure if I was speaking the truth. In general, Luce was always unpredictable. Furthermore, having never seen anyone cross him before, I had no idea what to expect. But the outcome no longer concerned me. All I cared about was making sure that my sister and my niece were safe. Beyond that, I’d grown callous and numb to whatever punishment awaited me. Even if that punishment meant death …
Bryn, Jolie started to argue with me, but I immediately shook my head. I needed her to agree with me or I couldn’t be sure she and my niece would survive. And their survival was paramount, as far as I was concerned.
If you don’t do this, you are endangering the life of your child, I spat out, trying to cut straight to the chase. It is your duty as the princess’s mother to ensure that she remains safe, above anyone else. She is your number one priority, Jolie. I paused for a few seconds and stared her down. You know I’m right.
Jolie glanced down at the beautiful baby in
her arms and then looked back up at me with a nod before a single tear streamed down her right cheek. I was overcome with feelings of remorse and sorrow as they passed from my sister into me through the connection we shared. I took a deep breath and forced myself to put up a wall so I couldn’t feel her pain. It wouldn’t do me any good. I’d made up my mind and now all that remained was following through with my plan.
Are you ready? I asked, refusing to indulge in her sorrow. I had a mission to accomplish; and if I was good at anything, it was fulfilling my missions.
Jolie simply nodded as I knelt down in front of her and reached for her hands. I gripped both of them and closed my eyes. I imagined myself absorbing her essence while surrendering mine to her. A hum of electricity started in my fingers as soon as we made contact. It traveled up my arms and throughout my body until I was buzzing with Jolie’s and my combined power. Even though she was in a weakened state, I could still feel strength pulsating through her. When paired with my own powers, our combined strength seemed to grow exponentially.
Now focus! I instructed her.
I imagined a mirror standing in front of me with Jolie’s reflection looking back at me. Squeezing my eyes shut tightly, I imagined my sister’s reflection changing and morphing into mine. I opened my eyes and watched her platinum blond hair darken into a shade of honey brown, and grow longer until it cascaded around her elbows in straight tresses. Her cornflower-blue eyes lightened slightly, but her eyebrows darkened and arched until they resembled mine. The fullness in her cheeks grew hollower, and her fair skin yielded to a light tan. The pink blanket that previously covered her disappeared, along with her baby. After another second, I was facing myself.
It was just as though I were looking at my own reflection. Even though I was really looking at Jolie, she was now dressed in the same champagne-colored, fitted satin gown I had been wearing. Glancing down at myself, I found my precious niece bundled in my arms, her little, pink blanket surrounding us both.
It worked, I said to Jolie with a smile as I felt a surge of gratitude flow through me.