Chapter Thirty-One

 

 

Shade

I peered around The Glass Castle, exasperated. My mind was elsewhere, thinking of the endless trouble all because of Kilara. Not finding Ursad present to greet us was the last straw. I was tired. Tired of everything and everyone.

“Hey, sis. You all right?”

I shook my head at Benton. “No. I just really wish for once our lives would calm down. All this craziness… it gets old fast. Nothing ever turns out the way it’s supposed to. I know you’re just as weary of it all, just like I am.”

He nodded, sadness spreading over his face. “What’s really wrong? I know it’s not just one thing.” Benton eyed me curiously. I couldn’t hide a thing from my brother to save my life.

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes, feeling even more weary and tired than I had in a long time. I finally flicked my eyelids back open to look straight at my sibling.

“I’m sorry, Benton. I know we’re all tired of being toys for the Ancients. If I could, I’d put all four Ancients to sleep and let the land thrive without them. I would, you know? But I’m afraid there’re things that the Land of Faerie demands, and I have to do its bidding. That includes Kilara’s demands. I wish I could see through everyone. I know you’re on my side, but what about Ursad? Not finding him here…it worries me. He’s my friend, I know this down to my core, and he never would’ve betrayed me if it weren’t for Corb. Something tells me that he’s not here because of Corb again. It angers me that I must travel to the damned Great Divide again because of him. I don’t want to go on any more journeys for Kilara or anyone else.”

At the mention of the ancient ice castle which belonged to Corb, Benton’s frown tightened. I’d been held prisoner there with Dylan for weeks, with no memory of my past, until I figured out how to use the memory charm necklace my mother had made me. It, along with the ampule my grandmother had given me, which held her blood, had broken the spell Corb had placed upon me. I’d nearly died from it.

Going against an Ancient’s power can be fatal, and that was why I did whatever Kilara told me to. Challenging Ancients brought almost certain death, and even if I was spared this time, she had cursed Soap for good measure. But I did not want to return to The Great Divide for any reason, even if Corb was on our side. The place held haunting memories for me. Knowing Corb had that much control before I’d been bound to him and could control his magic, it had shaken me up more than I’d like to admit. I’d almost lost my life that day, but then, instead, I gained some ice powers from Corb, after I reined in his magic.

“If only we didn’t have to go back to Corb’s castle,” I groaned. “But who knows? Maybe he knows more about The Heart of Fire and Ice than we give him credit for.”

“You think so?”

“I don’t know, Benton. Maybe he does. Maybe he has the key to what we need. All I know is that I need the blood of three Ancients along with fire and ice magic to enter The Heart. Without all of it, if I fail, no one else will be able to enter and get what we need. Kilara will not be happy.”

We all turned to exit The Glass Castle when the very man we were looking for stepped into hall, blocking the exit.

I stepped back, shocked to find the Ice Ancient nonchalantly standing there, as if waiting for us. “Corb… we were just heading toward your castle. What are you doing here?”

He was fit and tall in his black riding outfit, which he favored as it contrasted with his white hair. He appeared unfazed by our shock. His mother-of-pearl eyes blinked at us, lacking any expression. Finally, he threw us a sly smile.

“Hello, Shade. It has felt like an eternity since I’ve seen you, though it’s been just a week. I’m afraid Ursad is not here. I came to visit him, but his presence has been lacking here for some time. I’m sure he’ll turn up sooner or later.”

His lack of concern for his son made me flinch. “You don’t care where he is?”

He tilted his head at me, his eyes gleaming under the sunlight streaming through the walls of windows. “Of course I care. I can find him if I want to, but he doesn’t want me to. So I let him be. For now.”

I nodded, feeling more at ease with that answer than his previous nonchalance. “Corb, since you’re here, we need to ask you for something.”

He further tipped his head in my direction, drilling his stare into me. “Ask away, Your Majesty. Whatever it is you need, I am but your humble servant.”

I fidgeted, wondering why he made me feel so exposed, like his eyes could peel each invisible layer of glamour I wore, leaving me naked. Straightening, I tried to appear as though he didn’t make me uncomfortable. The way he stood watching me made me suspect he already knew why I was there.

Damn those Ancients. Always knowing yet always unyielding. He had to know something about all this. Maybe he had talked to Kilara already. Maybe he knew the answers we sought and would willingly help us. Or maybe he was there to mock us after all.

“I need some of your blood so I can enter The Heart of Fire and Ice and gain whatever magic is there to help Kilara heal herself.”

At this mention of Kilara, Corb flinched. His smile dropped, and he scanned all the warriors with a scrutinizing gaze before he snapped his eyes back onto me. “No ordinary fey can enter that place. Even a half-blood. What makes you think you can?”

“That’s why I need your blood. Rowan said I need the blood of three Ancients so that I may enter. Rowan and Arthas are with me, and now here you are. I’d like to avoid asking Kilara for her blood if I don’t have to. Besides, since you have ice magic, your blood would combine with Benton’s elemental fire magic to allow him to enter as well. I—I may need the help.”

Corb pressed his lips together in a tight line, disturbed by the news. He obviously hadn’t heard from Kilara, and everything I’d said was a surprise to him. I wondered why he knew so little of Kilara. Had she been keeping him at arm’s length again, blocking him? The thought broke my heart, because Corb loved Kilara. He always would, until he died, but that woman was unable to even understand what love is.

“So it’s true. Kilara is dying.” Corb’s voice formed sad, booming words which echoed across the hall, sending forth a somber, icy mood that passed through everyone. Everyone shuddered with the slight chill. It failed to bother me; I had the power of ice thanks to Corb. But I could see in the corner my eye my companions rubbing their arms and hugging themselves for warmth. His words had conjured winter into our midst.

“Did you not know or even suspect why she avoids you so much, Corb?” I asked, afraid to look him in the eye. “Yes, she’s ailing from an incurable withering. Incurable, that is, except by some magic in The Heart. Or so she says.”

He snapped his narrowing gaze at me, not quite angry but not one bit joyous. “My love for her is for all eternity, but her mind is fractured, yes. She’s different now and will probably never be the same again. I fear her demise is imminent, even if you reach this place and gather the magic she needs to recover, there’s only so much the Land of Faerie will allow, and I do believe Kilara has lost its favor. I have felt the magic dividing in the land, swaying in directions it never has before. And in the center of it all….” He paused and glanced down at his feet. “At the center of it all is a part human, part faery named Shade.”

I glared at him, my fists tightening at my sides. “You aren’t blaming me, are you? I have nothing to do with what is killing Kilara. How dare you accuse me of it?”

“What it has to do with you and all this, I have no idea, but you have the land’s favor, and it stops at nothing when it wants something. I’m afraid you probably already know this, but once Kilara….” His voice choked, betraying his shattering heart. “Once she is gone, another must take her place. The power of the Land of Faerie is symbiotic with the mortal world. Power fluctuations not only affect our realm, but the human world as well. Ours is divided amongst four to control the power, so none can be stronger and none can be weaker. What do you think the power will cling to when Kilara is gone? She has only one single heir. Therefore, my dear Shade, you will be the one to pay the price when Kilara dies.”

Benton stepped forward, anger surging in his expression. He held out his sword, which he ignited into flames and pointed it at the Ancient. I cried out to him to stop. What good would it be to challenge Corb here and now?

“What do you know about sacrifice? Kilara dies and this place will be a lot safer than it was when she was alive. Shade’s not going pay any stupid price. She’ll be right here with us just like always.”

Corb stared at the sword, knowing full well that he could not touch it or he’d suffer possible incineration. It was an old, powerful weapon which could harm even an Ancient of Faerie.

“You’re right, elemental. I don’t plan on letting Shade take that fall, nor do I plan on watching my love wither. We will find a solution. But first”—he held out his hand to me—“take all you need from me. I give it freely.”