Maga's a Beast (The Beast Within Book 3), page 5
“That’s why?”
“I did it to prevent needless more deaths. I had just lost my sister. Queen Renal was killed and I didn’t want any more death.”
Ty stood from his seat and began pacing the room. He stopped at the fireplace and laid his hand on the brick mantle, his head rested against his hand. “I thought I thought we would never find each other again. I did not know there was a way out for you. Had I, I would have insisted you take it,” he turned around, the flames reflecting in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have let you stay there if I knew you could have been here this whole time. Safe.”
“If I came back to the palace, back to my parents, we would never have been able to be together again. Oma said nothing would break the curse. We had to be reunited, and you couldn’t leave Ormshire.”
“Except through the tra monde.”
“Yes. That was the only way. The death of our land—our people—this would never heal. It would never stop. At least this way, we are together, and we can fight—together.”
“No,” he yelled. His fists were clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles and fingers were turning white with the pressure. “The time we spent separated would have been easier to endure if I knew you were here—safe.”
“But nothing would be resolved, and now it can be.” Exhaustion took hold of my body. I slunk down onto the edge of the sofa while he resumed his pacing. Quieting my voice, I tried to reason with him. “Regardless of what could have been, we are faced with what has been. We need to be married—that’s One of the things the curse spoke of. Correct?”
A slow sigh escaped him before he nodded. His eyelids fell for a moment, and his body became visibly more relaxed.
“Then we should do what my father has asked. We will schedule a small ceremony for tomorrow evening. We can have it here in the palace with our friends in attendance. The people will know of it, and we can greet them on the front steps of the palace afterward. I do not want to open the gates for this. I don’t want a lavish party now, or later.”
“Are you sure? I mean I know why we shouldn’t have a big wedding now, but later? We had so many things planned that you never got to see.”
I stood then and went to him. When our hands touched, our fingers entwined—I looked into his eyes to see his reaction. The bond had broken with all the hate and anger I had in my heart over losing my mother. Blaming him for something that was never really his fault. I saw the hint of surprise as the moment the energy that once would have crippled us so that we didn’t even have enough energy to breathe, hit and subside without releasing one another. The link was present once again.
When his lips turned up, I knew without a doubt he was aware as well. I looked down to our joined hands, at the index finger of my right hand and saw the black discoloring of my heart stone was gone.
“I only want to be married to you. Not for the sake of the curse, or the people, but because I love you. Not because I remember it but because I feel it.”
“That’s really good to hear. I just wish things could have been different.”
“Well, we can’t change the past. What we can do is enjoy a nice intimate ceremony with our friends.”
There was no time to process my own words as Ty pulled me to him and my body melded into his. It was where I should have been when my mother died. It’s where I should have been after every attack, and with every fear I had during the last few weeks. I shouldn’t have pushed him away, and more than anything I knew I never wanted to again.
T he ceremony was simple. My father decided to remain in his chambers and only emerged after we met the people. I was a married woman, and he was overjoyed, but I could still see the light in his eye dimming as he stood congratulating us. He was no longer the man I knew as a child. He was hurting in the worst way possible, and I couldn’t relate to it. Sure, I’d felt despair, anger, and fear of continuing on without her. I’d didn’t feel his depth of misery and I never would unless something happened to Ty. Since we were announced as husband and wife, I could feel the change within both of us.
The Sacerdote married us in my mother’s favorite rose garden. Though bare and beige like the rest of the land, it was where I wanted to be. Somehow being there felt like she was by my side. Her hand laid on my shoulder during the whole thing. I could feel gentile touches against the red ribbon that fastened the back of my white dress. It was a summer dress from the queen’s closet. A dress I had loved my entire life. The ribbon was thin and laced down the back to my waist. I wore flat shoes allowing the hem to just graze the ground as I moved.
Ty chose a simple white shirt and black slacks. His hair was combed so that his curls resembled a wave in the ocean. His red tie matched the color of my ribbon, and his black cloak had silver embellishments from one shoulder to the other. We were dressed for the part, even if we were only witnessed by a small crowd.
Tabby and Chris stood as my bride’s maidens, and Nolan and Farlow stood up with Ty. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if our parents could have been present. Since Sheree stayed behind in Corinthia and was now missing and my father was sequestered to his chamber, neither of us had a parent present.
Three hours later and the people outside were still celebrating. The cheers and laughter in the walls of the palace grounds was a warm welcome. Even if none of us were in the mood for a celebration, we were all happy that the people could find joy during such perilous circumstances.
I was on my second piece of cake the cook insisted on baking for the occasion when Chris jumped from her chair in the great room. We took to the comforts of the fire and cake after returning indoors to figure out what our next step should be. Ty went upstairs to my father’s study to write a letter letting his mother know of our nuptials. I was heartbroken at the fact Oma had bound me from uttering a word about her abduction. The best I could do was smile and nod when Ty said he was okay. I knew better. Just as I was missing my mother, he was missing his. We were separated from everyone for so long, it was a hard pill to swallow when we said ‘I do’ without them with us.
“Chris? What’s wrong?” Tabby jumped from her seat beside me as Chris’s body went board stiff and then slumped to the floor.
Farlow ran then skid across the floor on his knees to get to her. His hand cradled her head laying it on his lap while he used his powers to check her for injury. Just as he was about to pick her up, her eyes flew open. They were the color of fire and swirled as they moved around the room looking.
“What is going on?” Tabby looked to Farlow for answers, but the prince remained stoic.
Chris sat up, and the flame in her eyes moved quicker.
“The two are bound, in power and matrimony. The great power will make itself known when Buio and Luce co-exist. None may survive if the three does not join.”
“Who-what in the world is that about?” Tabby screamed.
“I think I have an idea. Before Oma left, I think she said it was time for another to take her place.”
“Wait, Oma left?” Farlow looked up at me, his eyes glowing blue with his power.
“Yes, she said she was needed elsewhere, and there was another meant to guide me. I don’t know. All I know is she left me paralyzed to my bed for the entire night so I couldn’t go after her.”
“So, what? You think Chris is the new Oma?” Tabby glanced fearfully at her friend.
I had to think about that as well. Oma thought the person who had taken Sheree might be our new seer. Yet Chris was obviously the one chosen. “It will be someone you can relate to,” she’d said.
“Yes. I do. Which makes sense, but I didn’t think it would be one of you. I thought there was someone here in Hearthstone, but I never would have guessed it was Chris.”
Chris’ eyes began to close, and she laid back down on the floor with the guided hands of the fairy prince. He never took his eyes off her as he watched over her, scanning for any injuries. When her eyes opened again, they were the honey brown they’d always been. She looked around confused as Farlow helped her to sit up and raise to sit in the chair.
“That was intense,” Chris said with one hand pressed against her stomach.
“I’ll get you some water.” Farlow ran over to the cart covered with decanters filled with different liquids. A bucket of ice sat nearby, which he grabbed two cubes from before pouring water over them.
Tabby sat on the arm of the chair, her hand rubbing the back of Chris’ shoulders. “What was that?”
“I don’t know, but if I were to guess, I’d say it was a prophecy,” she shrugged her shoulders and took the glass from Farlow when he produced it.
Ty entered the room at that moment prompting us to fill him in.
“It makes sense we would get a new seer. When the throne changes hands sometimes seers retire with the last royal. Your parents have sat on the throne for a very long time.”
“But the throne hasn’t changed hands. I’m overseeing things while my father takes some time to himself. Nothing has been passed down.”
“Still, it will eventually.”
“Yes, but that’s not today.”
“I don’t get it,” Tabby said, her eyes glassing over in thought. “None may survive if three does not join? Shouldn’t be, if the three do not join?”
Chris moved the glass from her face and closed her eyes. “I can’t help you with that. I wasn’t exactly in control of my tongue.”
“So, it has to be significant,” I said looking around.
I don’t know what everyone else was thinking about as we all sat there in quiet contemplation, but my mind was drifting to darker things. I needed to know what we were going to do while we waited for the big power to come and handle the problem with Ourobus. I couldn’t sit around playing queen while there was a genuine threat to our land.
My wedding night should have been the happiest of occasions. Instead, I was pondering life. My beautiful white dress flowed behind me as I got up and crossed the room to the fireplace. I pulled the pins from my hair and let it flow down, blending in with the color of the flames. Red was the object of the original prophecy. The one my mother had always wished was about me. Though she never knew the truth of my magia. She died not knowing I had it.
A gentle hand rested on my shoulder and slid across my back until Ty’s other arm snaked around my midsection. He turned me until I faced him and rest his forehead against mine. His warm breath coated my face, and I breathed him in. Our friends disappeared into the background, and there was no one but Ty and me in the room. The fire blazed hot and bright against my skin. The glow bathed my dress in red, and I was the fire. My ring pulsed on my finger and I pulled Ty closer to me, soaking up the power that our link created the longer we stayed in contact.
That was our future. The power that we created together. The energy we needed to defeat his father and bring our land back to life. It had to be us. Together. We had to be the way out of our troubles. We wouldn’t survive waiting around for some other power to emerge.
The night drew on and one after another, our friends retired to bed. Ty and I stayed together for our first night in my childhood room. It was strange, but comforting having him to turn to in the middle of the night. He held me while I slept and stroked my hair when thoughts of my mother came to me.
That night I dreamt of the party held in our honor to announce our engagement. Sheree in her midnight blue dress when she presented the silver locket to me. The way the white flowers scattered about with the subtle hints of green from the leaves. When Ourobus wielded his power and flung me across the room. I woke with a start and Ty was there, his arms wrapped around me and he held me close.
T he fire died out and the cold bit at Sheree’s toes. She curled her legs up to her chest on the ground and shivered in the night. Her captor lay sprawled out, snoring on the other side of the fire pit. His bedroll that he generally used as a pillow was gone, replaced by a sack filled with hay. The second bedroll was opened and laid over top of Sheree. She figured he’d done it while she slept.
She looked to the sky. Her teeth began to chatter, and the feeling in her fingertips started to prickle with cold. A rustling made her look toward Tangier. He stood from where he was sleeping and grabbed a few pieces of wood to place on the fire. After a few pokes with a stick, the flames began to stir. The heat from the fire quickly warmed her, and she slowly drifted back to sleep.
When the sun rose in the sky, Sheree woke again. Tangier was up, as usual, getting breakfast finished for them. He began strapping their bedding to the horses and then moved to the fire to clean the cooling pan.
“Eat up, mother. It’s getting cold.”
She was almost used to hearing him call her mother. Another child of her own. It was too surreal. Instead of dwelling on his tale, she vowed to accept him. She couldn’t have imagined what his life was like growing up without his family. She just knew that knowing he was hers, he would never be without them again.
After they spoke, she wished he had shown her why he concealed his face. He would have told her the story of the healers on the way, but they were intercepted by Metitore. The beasts were vast and overpowering. Sheree had to inform Tangier that they were residents of Ormshire. So, instead of facing them, they ran. Tangier whistled, and both horses took off at a run through the woods. They had gotten turned around trying to lose the beasts but managed to evade them. In the process they had spent the rest of the day trying to find their way back to the route Tangier was leading them on to Largania, adding another day to their travel.
Sheree rose from her makeshift bed, hoping they made it to their destination before nightfall. She wished for the comforts of a soft bed and a warm room. She was happy to be going to the high temple to aid the healers, but also needed to get a message to Hearthstone to let Tyson and Tabitha know where she was.
“We should get going. Are you done with breakfast?” Tangier started to collect the two bedrolls, packed them up and secured the rest of their supplies to the horses.
“Yes, I’m finished. I need to send word to your brother and sister when we get to the temple. I need them to know where I am and that I’m okay. They’ll want to know about you as well.”
“I would speak with Brighton first, then you can send word to your children. They’ll still be at Hearthstone for a few more days.”
“A few more days? Why will they be leaving the palace?”
“Many things need to be handled. They will need to travel to Regalis, spend time there with the people and find out what has occurred since you’ve all been gone. Preparations will need to be made. The battle against your husband will be long and destructive.”
“Your father.”
“Yes, he helped facilitate my birth. I haven’t thought of him like that in some time. I was raised to believe the healers of the high temple were my only family.”
Sheree pulled herself up and into the saddle of her horse while Tangier held the reins keeping the steed still. “Does that mean you do not see me as your mother?”
“I do. There was that one connection I could not help but hold on to. A boy always cares for his mother, even with distance.”
They rode for an hour in silence. Sheree followed her son watching how he pulled his hood secure around the sides of his face every few feet. Tangier had yet to tell her of the circumstances that made him hide behind the old tattered fabric, and she so longed to hear of his troubles. Not understanding why he would think she wouldn’t blame herself for whatever tragedy was bestowed on him, she quietly approached the subject again.
“Will you tell me now? Why you hide.” She stayed behind him but moved closer, so she could hear him if he spoke. When he said nothing, she took to watching the wind in the trees. The sun above gave them warmth they could not have in the darkened hours of the night. She lifted her face to it so she may feel the heat on her skin. She had grown pale in the last few months living in Cherry Valley. They had been entering fall there as well and the days shortened and grew darker much earlier. It was harder in the other world to keep the tanned skin she was so used to having while living in Ormshire.
Ormshire never had a winter season. The ground was dry and infertile. The only thing they were able to grow was grain and upland rice. The heat was their best friend in Ormshire. Long summer days lasted the entire year, only cooling when a light breeze blew in off the sea. She never experienced the cold they were enduring on their way to Largania. Only one realm in Pylira suffered in the cold. Regalis spent many months under a thick blanket of bright white snow, and Sheree made sure she never had to travel there when it did.
Tangier cleared his throat, bringing his mother back from her thoughts of how Pylira used to be. She looked at his back intently as if the act alone would make him talk to her. Then finally he did.
“The Third child born is always the one born with magia. The last time a Third was born, that was not the case. They received the wrong child. A healer set the babies close to one another, and when the time came to flee with the child before the mother came to, he’d forgotten which one was the Third. So, grabbing a random baby, he left, and when they returned to the High Temple, the child was marked.”
“Marked?”
“Yes, we are marked with the insignia of Luce on the nape of our neck. A sigil made of magia.”
“I just spent a long time living in a world where tattooing is very common. Black ink is pushed into the skin with a needle, and it becomes a permanent mark. Is that similar?”
“Yes, but this is done with a spell and may hurt a lot less than having needles pierced into the flesh.” He shook his head. “Mortals are a strange breed.”
Sheree had to laugh to herself. She thought she was one of those mortals until the curse lifted and gave her back her memories of a life she would have sooner forgotten. Sheree would never admit it to her children, but she was happy. She had a husband and a child. A home that was her own, and a great career. The wasted land with its brown grass, and bare trees were making her miss that reality a little more every day. The advances in technology wasn’t a bad thing either.
