THE CURSED PRINCE: BOOK 1, page 18
Justin reached into his bag for a spell without looking. Gio taught him to let his stress guide his choices by only allowing his fingers to choose the spell. He used telepathy to speak to Poe and Shilo. “Poe I think I have a spell to get us back to Adam and Yuri. But you have to put us down for it to work properly.”
Poe wavered, seeming to think over Justin’s request.
“Poe, how long can you carry us before you burn out? You have to trust me! You’ll both understand when I cast it! Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” Poe said without hesitation as he lowered Shilo and Justin but kept them behind him.
Justin knew once Poe unraveled his vines, the creature would most likely make a move. “We only have seconds to react. If we split up—”
“No!” Poe snapped. “We must stay together!”
“Agree,” Shilo added. “It’s too risky. The creature might be able to split apart. We’re stronger as a group.”
“All right,” Justin settled, knowing Adam would have said the same thing.
“I’ll take the lead, Justin, you’re in the middle, and Poe will take the rear. Now tell us the spell.”
“It’s a speed spell called Swiftshadow Escape. It will increase our speed and reflexes. We’ll move like shadows—"
He was cut short when Poe lifted them again and took off running just as the specter leaped at them.
“How long will it last?” Poe asked, keeping them in front of him.
Justin continued. “We have a small window, but it should be enough to reach the others.”
“Do it,” Poe said, lowering them, as he retracted his vines.
Justin and Shilo were hovering when he took a breath as the grip of the vines released his waist. "Velox Umbra" (veh-loks uhm-bruh)”
They dropped to the moving ground, and like a bolt of lightning, they took off running, leaving a gust of flying dirt and leaves as a trail.
Shilo never felt such power as she sprinted forward leaping over rocks and tree logs. She could scarcely feel her feet touch any surface.
Poe used his vines to run backward, keeping his attention on their pursuer. His memory of the woods gave him confidence in his whereabouts as he followed his friends.
They moved like blurs, darting through the woods when they saw their companions just ahead.
CHAPTER 30
Adam and Yuri assessed their situation, strategizing their next move. Yuri noticed that Adam still held Patrick's unconscious body and suggested, "Shouldn't we find a safe place for Patrick while we deal with them?"
Adam hesitated, realizing the risk involved, but ultimately agreed, "You're right. I don't want to endanger Patrick's life.”
As they prepared to act, Adam called out to the men, "Hold on, gentlemen!" He narrowly dodged a flying pitchfork, skillfully avoiding harm to Patrick, and instead embedded its teeth into a protruding tree root. Irritated, Adam glared at the men and remarked, "So, no fair play, huh?"
Adam gave Yuri a sideways glance “Cover me while I place Patrick down.”
Yuri responded by unleashing a powerful wave blast toward the men, sending them crashing to the ground.
Adam moved swiftly behind a nearby tree, catching sight of a patch of small yellow flowers with four pointy petals. As he gently laid Patrick among the flowers, he witnessed a remarkable sight—the flowers spread apart and enveloped the injured prince's body, as if providing a comforting embrace.
Yuri saw no need to inflict further harm upon the men, viewing them as mere pawns. However, to his surprise, they rose to their feet, seemingly unaffected by the previous attack.
Frustrated, Yuri sighed and concluded, "They must have a defense spell in place." He attempted a more potent spell, but it was met with another reflection.
“A strong defense indeed,” Adam acknowledged.
"It must be the work of the magician," Yuri insisted, casting a defensive shield as a dagger was hurled toward him.
"Protect Patrick. I'm going in," Adam declared.
Yuri shielded Adam as the Ranger retrieved a small pouch from his coat pocket. Pouring its contents into his hand, Adam raised it to his lips and whispered, "Whisperblade."
Yuri scoffed, "I told you the magic is too strong. What makes you think that will affect them?"
Ignoring Yuri's skepticism, Adam blew the contents of his hand at the approaching adversaries. The dust gracefully descended to the ground, seamlessly vanishing into the earth.
Yuri was about to protest, but his objections were silenced as the ground beneath their feet trembled with threatening energy. Suddenly, a vindictive force surged forth, transforming the earth into a searing cauldron of malice. The once peaceful ground erupted into a furious display of power, an inferno of wrathful brilliance that sent shockwaves through the air.
From the depths of this horrendous transformation, vivid plants arose, surging upwards with an unholy hunger. These sinister vines snaked around the men's limbs in a grip, their twisting presence suffocating and controlling. The vegetation tightened its hold, disarming the men with a bone-chilling efficiency, leaving them helpless and at the mercy of their captors.
As the captives dangled helplessly in mid-air, a calm silence fell upon the scene. Adam glanced back at the Sun Elf his eyes gleaming with triumphant malice. “Problem solved.”
The air crackled with an unspoken warning, strengthening the tension that hung thick in the air.
Yuri's irritation mixed with a deep sense of unease as he shifted his gaze between Adam and the captive men, realizing the gravity of their situation. The pulsating aura surrounding the captives intensified, burning with a ghostly white glow that seemed to consume everything it touched. It radiated a blistering heat that threatened to melt their very souls, a glaring testament to the profound power that had been unleashed.
"You might want to reconsider that, Ranger," Yuri managed to remark, his voice strained with a fusion of annoyance and an underlying fear. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, a desperate plea for caution in the face of a looming misfortune.
Now fully aware of the dire consequences, Adam turned his attention back to the men he had once confidently subdued. But to his horror, they had become unrecognizable. Swallowed whole by the radiant white glow, their forms had morphed into unclear silhouettes of agony and despair. Their screams were silenced, replaced by a haunting silence that echoed with the realization of their impending doom or reimagining.
At that moment, it became abundantly clear that their invoked power was far beyond their control, a force of devastation that threatened to consume them all in its merciless grip.
"What the hell is happening now?" Adam rushed over to Patrick. "We can't wait any longer; we have to get him out of here."
"He's still in the healing process. It's not safe to move him," Yuri cautioned.
"Then, as the mage, I need you to break that shield so I can fight!" Adam insisted.
"I've already told you, it's beyond my power," Yuri replied with frustration.
"So you say!" Adam retorted, his voice filled with skepticism.
"What do you mean by that?" Yuri questioned, his tone defensive.
"Please, stop yelling," Patrick groaned, his head rocking slightly before he opened his eyes and saw Adam and Yuri above him.
"Pat," Adam said, kneeling beside him. "It's about time you woke up," he added with a smile.
Patrick smiled in return. "Sorry for making you wait."
"Can you stand?" Adam asked.
Patrick nodded. "I think so."
Yuri watched with a mix of disdain and discomfort as Adam helped Patrick to his feet, their connection evident as they shared an unapologetic kiss.
Their embrace was brief yet brazen.
Yuri turned his gaze away just as Poe, Shilo, and Justin abruptly appeared in front of them. Shilo and Justin panted from their accelerated run, while Poe remained unfazed. Yuri couldn't help but notice the transformation in Poe's appearance. “It seems we've all been quite busy,” he commented, his unwavering gaze fixed on Poe.
Poe stared back with curiosity before Adam's voice caught his attention.
"Poe? Is that really you?" Adam asked, holding the unsteady Patrick by the waist. "Looks like you've had a growth spurt."
Poe responded with a toothy grin directed at his comrades. "I'm genuinely glad to see you all well, my friends."
Patrick, regaining his balance, noted, "Your voice sounds different."
Poe paused, seemingly pondering Patrick's statement, when Justin interrupted.
"Um, should we be concerned about what's happening over there?" Justin asked, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and dread, drawing everyone's attention to the searing, blinding ball of light that pierced through the darkness like a vengeful comet.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We got to go," Adam exclaimed, his urgency amplified by the sheer magnitude of the unfolding chaos.
"That might pose a problem," Shilo added, her words laced with an evident sense of dread.
"Why?" Adam inquired; his voice tinged with uneasiness.
But before anyone could respond, an encroaching malevolence emerged from the depths of the forest, a sinister black haze that slithered through the air with predatory hunger. It closed in with terrifying swiftness, ensnaring the party within its inky grasp, leaving them trapped between two unfathomable forces that threatened to consume them whole.
"What the hell is that?" Adam demanded, his frustration fused with a growing sense of desperation that filled his voice, clawing at the edges of his composure.
"Not sure," Justin spoke up, his words faltering slightly as he struggled to find his voice. "But it's fast and defies all logic."
Adam's gaze hardened, his eyes fixated on the shadowy, shapeless entity that loomed before them. His mind raced, seeking a glimmer of understanding. "What kind of attacks does it have? Is there any way to fight it?"
"Not sure," Justin revealed, his tone tinged with fear and uncertainty. "We encountered Poe facing it."
"Did you, now?" Yuri interjected; his voice laced with suspicion as he studied Poe's facelift.
Poe ignored Yuri, his attention drawn to the two forces that surrounded them. He turned his gaze towards the glowing phantom, his eyes flickered purpose. "We need to focus on that one.”
"Why is that, Poe?" Adam questioned.
"It's transforming," Poe replied. "Its power increases, into something far more dangerous. We need to act."
Adam's mind raced, searching for a viable solution amidst the encroaching chaos. "Okay, there's six of us. We need eyes on both threats, to defend ourselves on all fronts."
"No, Adam, just one," Poe interjected, his voice resonating with conviction. "Our only chance lies in combining our strengths."
"I'm open to suggestions," Adam admitted.
Poe responded by unleashing his vines, encircling the group with a formidable wall of vegetation.
"What now, squash?" Yuri demanded.
"All who can, combine your powers, channel them into a shield that can withstand what's to come for our survival.”
Yuri was about to protest, his objection poised on the tip of his tongue, but Adam interjected. "You all hear him, do as he said. Pat, stand down."
"No, Adam," Patrick protested, his voice defiant. "He said everyone who can, and I'm helping, no matter the cost."
"No, you're too weak," Adam argued, his voice tinged with a mixture of concern and desperation, his attempt to protect Patrick from any more harm.
"On my mark," Poe commanded, his voice resolute, drowning out their heated exchange as he took charge of the dire situation.
"I'm ready," Justin said, his voice echoing with a newfound resolve.
"As am I," Yuri declared.
"Pat, we can handle this," Adam pleaded, his voice mixed with worry and desperation, wanting to shield Patrick from the looming chaos.
"I said I'm helping, and you can't stop me," Patrick declared, his voice resolute, unyielding in the face of his lover’s pleas.
"NOW!" Poe's command shattered the tense atmosphere, cutting through their internal strife, and leaving no room for further debate.
On cue, Poe’s vines pierced the backs of Yuri, Justin, Adam, and Patrick, unleashing their powers in unison, a symphony of raw energy manifested in a dazzling display of might. Their incantations blended, intertwining like threads of destiny, forming a shield just as the shadow lunged toward them—or so they believed. To their astonishment, it bypassed them entirely, hurtling toward the radiant glow with a thunderous impact.
In that critical moment, the true nature of the threats unraveled before them. As the dust settled and the blinding light began to dissolve, Poe's vines released his friends, who were unaware they had become vessels for his power. The wall of vegetation that had shielded them recoiled back to its owner, revealing the aftermath that lay in its wake.
There, amidst the eerie silence, lay the six hooded men. But in addition to their fallen foes, two extra bodies lay motionless on the ground.
Patrick's heart skipped a beat as a chilling reveal sent shivers down his spine. He recognized the limp figures before him. A mixture of shock and realization washed over him as he gazed upon the faces of a woman and a man he knew all too well.
CHAPTER 31
As they could have traveled by any transport, Lady Bess thought it was best to travel by horse so as not to draw any attention. She wasn’t sure if the sorcerer had any spies watching them so she also disregarded her royal guard uniform for a trade woman with simple garments and cloak much to the disagreement from Felix.
“Lady Bess, is any of this really necessary,” Felix asked, examining the clothes, he snubbed as lower class, that were laid out on their mutual bed.
Lady Bess gave a soft giggle at her spoiled mismatched mate while she sat at her vanity. “Oh, Lord Felix, can’t you bend a little?” she asked staring into her mirror and applying makeup. Something she rarely got to do when dressed in her guards’ attire. She used to paint her lips and eyes but would notice her men would forget she was their commander and leer at her. So, she would have to remind them through sparring, which quickly took them out of their fantasies.
Felix glanced at her wearing the drab colors of a merchant. Her black, tight, curled hair was crowned with gold and silver decorative strains and charms. He had to confess seeing her dressed that way still radiant with her beauty. He approached her, leaned down to her ear, and whispered. “How did I earn the right to win your heart?”
“By being you, my love, and nothing more,” she said reaching up and caressing his sideburns and jaw-trimmed beard. “I will never forget the day we met.”
“Nor will I,” he responded kissing her neck. “The way you bested that water snake with the skills of a master saving my wretched life was unforgettable.”
She turned to him cupping his face. “Never call yourself that. I see you as nothing less than a learned man who finds strength in his mind that I burn for.”
Before Felix could speak she kissed him sending heat throughout their bodies.
She pulled away and released him smiling. “Now get dressed, the royal family is seeing us off.” She turned back to the mirror and checked her hair. “We have just enough time to detour to our private cabin where I’ll drop you off.”
“What?” he asked, watching her through the mirror.
“You heard me. This journey is too treacherous. I can make it alone.”
“I am not allowing you to drop me off like a child and voyage into possible doom.”
“Oh Felix, you are so overdramatic. I’ll be fine. I’ve done it before.”
“Without my knowledge?”
“Of course, I just wish you never made light of the prince’s condition. You knew the king was rigid.”
“Yes but—” Felix stiffened his stance. “I’m going with you.”
She rose and turned to her defiant lover. “How must I phrase this so that you will understand?”
“I understand that the king is sending the only woman I’ve ever loved on a dire mission. And I might—” he struggled to say the words. “—never see you again.”
“Felix—”
But he cut her off. “Which will lead me to take matters into my own hands and follow you to the other side.”
The shocking look on her face spoke volumes to him as she threw her arms around his neck.
“Felix don’t speak such words to me,” she ordered in gasps.
He returned the embrace and nestled his face into her neck.
“I don’t mean to upset you but losing you and having to go on is my greatest fear and I won’t do it.” He broke their hug but held her firm. “So, Commander Bess. If you are committed to this mission then so am I. No questions.”
Lady Bess smiled through her tears at her lover’s valor.
****
They journeyed from the Valdez kingdom not from the main gate but from the side entrance where merchants, servants, and deliveries were guided.
Felix’s doubts melted away as they progressed on their quest. The first night they set camp was under the stars covered by an old willow tree. They shared their sleeping arrangements to stay warm then by morning they did it all again. By the third day, Felix's doubts returned.
While Lady Bess gathered wood for the fire, Felix toiled while prepping their dinner which consisted of a trout, wild mushrooms, and a few spices, Felix brought with them. He was alerted by Felica’s return from wood clanking behind him. He turned to see her wiping her brow as she looked over their surroundings which were nothing but a single tent and the fire pit. Her eyes landed on the tent.
“I going to have to raise the tent tonight,” she said locking eyes with Felix, who rose from where he kneeled to look at her with concern. She knew where his questioning eyes and slouched shoulder were leading and decided to avoid him. Without a word, she went to her saddle and opened a medium-sized bag removing several yards of vines. “I always carry this in just-in-case moments,” she said sitting by the pile of wood she’d collected.
Felix watched while she tied the broken tree limbs together before walking over and squatting in front of her. “Felica,” he said trying to stay serene.
