Chapter 26
Beatryce didn’t wait to see her mother’s condition after Dr. Lockhart announced that Anyka seemed stable. She mumbled that was good and, without another word, raced back across the hall to her quarters.
She pushed the door shut behind her and went straight to her office, locking that door, too. She had no idea what had just happened, but her mind felt crammed with thoughts not her own, her body suddenly tingling with sensations that made it seem as if someone else was in control of her limbs.
Even her inner voice had changed, becoming more demanding, whispering things she couldn’t understand. It commanded her to take the bandage off her hand.
She did as it bid her, staring at the wound. Except it wasn’t there. The wound wasn’t just healed, it was gone.
Not a trace of damaged skin, not a hint of scar remained, nothing.
What had happened to her? She fished the key from her pocket and went through to the vault.
Malzar would know. She secured the door before going to stand in front of the mirror. “Malzar, something has happened to me. I need your help.”
The shadowy face appeared. “Your highness, I am here.” His eyes narrowed. “You are correct. Something has happened to you.” He smiled, but there was nothing comforting in the expression. “You have absorbed more of your mother’s darkness. I would say all of it.”
“What? What do you mean more?”
“The spirit of your grandmother lives within you now.”
“How is that possible?” Bea shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Nor would you, because you are untrained. You must allow the darkness to guide you, as your grandmother did. As your mother had begun to do.”
“How do you know what my mother was doing?”
“Because that darkness is in you now and I can commune with it. The darkness and I are one. It is what your grandmother created me to be.”
Bea stepped back. This wasn’t what she’d wanted. “I don’t understand. I was trying to help my mother with that spell. I want nothing to do with darkness.”
“You put a dagger through your mother’s body and still claim you want nothing to do with darkness?” Malzar laughed, a horrible, grating sound that made her head hurt.
“It was an accident. That blade was meant for the Radiant queen.”
“Perhaps that is what you tell yourself.”
“It’s what I know.”
“Take a look at yourself, my lady. See yourself the way I see you now.” His image disappeared, returning the mirror to its true purpose.
Bea saw herself reflected, then the image changed. Her body thinned out and her face aged until she was someone else entirely. She gasped. She knew that face. She’d only ever seen it in portraits hung throughout the castle.
Leda.
“I don’t understand.”
Malzar returned. “Your mother stepped through the veil that protects this world from the Beyond. She did so to seek your grandmother’s counsel, but she went too far.
She left an opening in the veil and a piece of your grandmother’s spirit slipped through.
It took refuge in your mother but now it has taken refuge in you. Its teeth were already in you.”
“That’s not possible.
“Did not your mother’s blood mingle with yours when you sought to pull the dagger from her back? Is not your wound healed? She has left your mother and taken hold within you.”
A shiver went through Bea. “My grandmother’s spirit is in me? I don’t believe you.”
“Stare into the glass. If she is there, you will see her.”
Malzar faded from view and Bea’s image returned. She studied her reflection. Leda appeared again, but this time, Bea didn’t morph into her. Leda’s image materialized separately.
“My granddaughter,” Leda said with a smile. “How beautiful you are.”
“Is that really you, Grandmother?” But Bea knew the answer. The scent of anise suffused the vault, faint but tangible.
“It is, my darling girl.” Leda reached out as though she wanted to touch Bea, but her image stayed confined to the plane of glass.
“Malzar speaks the truth. There is a fragment of my spirit within you now. It’s nothing to fear.
I would never hurt you. You are my flesh and blood.
I will be with you always. To help guide you, when you wish it. ”
Bea’s breath loosened within her. “I don’t understand how this is possible.”
“Few things are truly impossible when one comprehends the capabilities of the dark arts.” Leda shook her head. “So often maligned by those who only show their ignorance in doing so, the dark arts are the best tools this realm has to offer. They are the way to true power. You are queen now?”
“Yes. Because of Mother’s injury.”
“It’s good you’re queen. I love my daughter dearly, but Anyka gave herself over to the darkness too readily. It must be controlled. It is a thing to be commanded, not acquiesced to. She allowed the darkness to rule her and not the other way around. Do you understand?”
Bea nodded, although she didn’t really. She didn’t want her grandmother, the dangerous and powerful Leda Blackbryar, to be disappointed in her. “I must rule the darkness, not allow it to rule me.”
Leda smiled. “That’s right, my darling.”
“But I’ve never had any training of any kind. I don’t even know what magical gifts I might have.”
A frown quickly erased that smile. “Did your mother not find you a tutor? Or was it your father? Did he prevent you from learning?”
“No, it was neither of them. My father died when I was thirteen.” She paused, the pain of that memory coming alive. “My anger at losing him was so great that I didn’t want to do anything. Magic hadn’t saved my father, so why should I give it any of my time?”
“I understand,” Leda said softly. “Death can be a great motivator, and not always in the right ways. But you are young still. There is time to learn. With my guidance, I believe you can be a skilled practitioner. Perhaps even better than I was.”
Bea’s mood shifted. No one, not even her mother, had expressed that kind of confidence in her. Not since her father had passed. “You truly believe that?”
Leda’s brows arched. “Are you willing to work hard?”
“I am.”
“Then nothing can stop you.” Leda’s smile returned. “You have all the benefits of my gathered wisdom. It took me years to attain my knowledge and years to accumulate the things in this vault. Now, they are yours.” She leaned forward, still contained within the glass. “You will not squander them.”
“No,” Beatryce said. “I won’t.”
“Good. I will hold you to that. And while I teach you the ways of the dark arts, I will also teach you how to be a proper queen.” Leda lifted her chin slightly, her imperious gaze taking Bea in for a moment. “I must say, you don’t look very much like royalty right now.”
Bea glanced down at her simple gown. “I was dressed to attend my mother’s procedure.”
“And you did not wear something more regal because…?”
Bea stumbled over her words. Not even her mother made her feel this lacking. “B-because I thought there was a possibility I might get…blood or something on my gown.”
Leda didn’t seem to care for that answer. “Do you only have one gown?”
“No, I have many, but—”
“Never dress below your station. Doing so gives others the impression that you are one of them. That you are in some way accessible. You are not.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“How did your mother fare once the blade was removed?”
“I’m not sure. I was so startled by what happened, I ran out.”
“Then change into something more appropriate, go see her, and come back. We will continue your lessons then.” Leda smiled. “Your highness.”
Tentatively, Bea smiled back.
Leda’s image disappeared and the mirror was once again just a sheet of silver-backed glass.
Bea had entered the vault confused and scared. She was walking out energized and confident. She called for her maids as soon as the office door was shut. “Lysette, Sylvia. Here. Now.”
The pair came scurrying, dropping into curtseys as soon as they were in front of her.
“Get me a better gown. Something more befitting my status. With a more elaborate circlet to go with it.”
“Yes, my lady,” they answered in unison.
In a matter of minutes, she was dressed in a pearl-gray gown with silver embroidery and silver crystals at the hem and bodice. Upon her head was a platinum and pearl circlet. Matching earrings and a ring, along with silver slippers, finished the look.
She assessed her appearance in the dressing room mirror. “This will do. Set that other gown aside.” She’d already decided to make a gift of it to Merylynn.
She went across the hall to her mother’s chambers and directly into the bedroom. Wyett was at Anyka’s bedside, as was Clary, who was feeding Anyka soup. Everyone else was gone.
“Mother, you’re awake.” Bea had not expected that.
“Yes.” Anyka nodded weakly. Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper. She was as pale and fragile as she’d been with the blade in her. Streaks of gray ran through the hair at her temples and the hollows under her eyes aged her. It was as if she’d been trapped in that magical coma for years.
Bea did her best to hide her distress at her mother’s appearance. “I am glad to see it.”
Anyka reached out her bony arm, fingers stretching toward Bea, but after a few seconds, dropped her hand to the bed. “My sweet child. Thank you for all you did for me. Wyett tells me you are doing well as queen. I am pleased to hear it.”
Bea kept her back straight as she gave a little nod of appreciation. “There is nothing for you to concern yourself with beyond regaining your health and your strength.”
“I fear that will take me some time, but I feel a great unexpected peace about it.” She waved off Clary’s approach with the spoon, turning her face away. “Give me a moment.”
Clary left with the soup and Wyett bowed as if to go, too.
“No,” Anyka said to him. “You stay. Beatryce, sit here beside me.”
Wyett and Bea both did as she asked.
“Tell me,” Anyka said. “Are we at war with Summerton?”
“Not in any real fashion,” Wyett answered. “Although Summerton has declared you an enemy of the kingdom and Queen Sparrow has vowed that if you make another attempt on her life, she will remove whoever sits on Malveaux’s throne and place the kingdom under her rule.”
Anyka began to breathe harder. “How dare she.” Her gaze moved to Bea. “And you haven’t done anything about that woman?”
“I have been focused on you, Mother.” Agitated by the accusation, Bea got to her feet.
Anyka quickly raised her hand, although she held it up only a few seconds. “And you were right to do that. But now you must turn your focus to Summerton. You must do what I could not.”
Her mother’s thin lips pursed. “If you are able.”
In homage to her grandmother, who would undoubtedly help Bea with her next move, Bea lifted her chin. “I pulled you from the grip of the Beyond, Mother. I can just as easily cast the Radiant queen into its jaws.”