19. Esmira
ESMIRA
O ne sunrise I woke to clouds of mist. As the sun rose and burned it away, cerulean waves turned crystal clear, and before the ship rose mountains covered in vivid blues and greens.
While buildings dotted the mountainside.
At its summit was a circular globe of white.
Even from a distance, I knew it was what we sought. The temple.
Eventually a port came into view and a cheer echoed across the waters. I gawked at the architecture and other vessels of various shapes and sizes that had docked. Fishers were out, and the waters rippled with creatures.
Scales sparkled, catching the light and radiating tiny rainbows, which arched over the water. I’d never seen anything so beautiful yet enchanting.
One of the creatures leaped, and a long, fish-like tail appeared, but the other half of the body was all female, with long hair the color of coral and a nude torso. A mermaid? I’d always imagined the waters held many mysteries, now I finally got to see them for myself.
My thoughts flew to Rhea and my throat went thick.
I missed her. I missed her vibrant life, she’d love everything here, except for the magic.
But I imagined she was much like myself, willing to accept that she’d been wrong about the past, willing to accept the change, the newness of magic.
The only difference between Rhea and I was the fact that I had magic.
She did not. When I returned, would she accept me in my new state? Or would she flee in terror?
My dour thoughts darkened the beauty of my surroundings. The ship slowed as we floated toward the dock, the call of birds above us, the scent of salt and fresh fish. The mermaids were left behind as we entered the cove, but the sunshine remained golden and strong.
A strong sense of trepidation came over me as Lyra sidled up beside me. I searched for Methrin, finding him at the head of the guards as they escorted us off the ship and down the long dock. The eyes of the Everminati burned into my skull, their curiosity so potent I could almost taste it.
The musical cadence of voices surrounded us, growing louder as we moved inland.
I clung to Lyra, craning my head to see all the sights.
The scent of fresh baked goods and wood fire filled the air as we entered the village.
Lovely buildings rose on either side of the paved road, shop windows were open to catch the sea breezes.
Signs clearly market what goods were sold and the streets were busy, bustling with life.
The sweet sound of strings floated in the air, and a longing filled me to be part of a community instead of an outcast. I wanted friends and to be on the right side of the law again.
My gaze flickered to Methrin. He walked tall, dark hair curling around his neck in a way that made me want to run my fingers through it.
I wanted him . I’d been so quick to refuse his proposal, but now my body hummed at the reminder of his arms around my waist and the taste of his mouth against mine. Irresistible. Unforgettable.
Sound shifted as we walked. Slowly, people stepped out of shops or lingered in doorways, watching us. Hands shielded mouths, and the voices became a low of murmur of shock and awe. Then louder, clear as a bell.
“Prince Methrin has returned.”
“No, it can’t be.”
“After all these long years.”
“He’s returned!”
People rushed toward us, shouting, cheering. “Prince Methrin has returned!”
“The heir has come home!”
“Long live the true heir!”
“All hail the mirror-born!”
“The lost star falls no more!”
“All hail the Prince of peace!”
My heart pounded. This was not the cursed prince banished for his mirror magic, judged for his shadow or the madness he brought into their world. No, in their eyes he was a hero. They welcomed him, honored him.
My heart swelled and I lifted my head high, proud to be by his side, walking in the shadow of his glory.
Until you slay him .
I flinched.
A shadow stood among the people, red-eyed and glaring. As soon as I fixed my eyes on the dark shape, it vanished.
Despite the joyous atmosphere, I couldn’t shake the sensation something was wrong as we entered the waiting carriages.
They were not like the ones in my father’s kingdom, they had rows of seats, enough for all eight of us, and were pulled, not by horses, but by some great big oxen.
I saw why within moments. The road inclined sharply upward, turning and twisting until I gripped the seat as though it would keep me from sliding off the edge.
The sea sparkled far below, growing smaller with each turn. A wordless silence hung heavy over the group, tinged with anticipation. I recalled Methrin’s words about the Shadow Slayer. We were to seek it and steal it. I straightened, searching for him as the oxen slowed and a courtyard appeared.
A roar split the air.
My blood went cold and something slammed into the carriage.
Hard.
It rocked from side to side.
I screamed. The guards shouted.
It slammed into it again, this time, knocking it over.
Glass shattered and my head bashed the ground. My ears rang as I struggled to sit upright, and failed. A terrible growl filled the air along with screams of pain and the squealing of terrified animals.
Thick, ropy ribbons of black ink surrounded me, blocking my vision. Ribbons tightened around my throat and squeezed until I swam in a sea of blackness.
I clawed at it, my fingers catching at nothing. Panic surged. A cruel voice mocked me as it whispered in my head. Where’s your magic now?
Even though I couldn’t breathe, a scream welled up inside. Magic unfurled and I released it.
Whatever held me vanished. I scrambled upright, coughing, tears burning my eyes.
“Esmira, give me your hand.”
I looked up and there was Methrin. He’d wrestled open the carriage door.
A crimson trail of blood tricked down his head, and his hair was mused, eyes blazing as he reached for me.
I scrambled over the plush seats, my feet sinking into ruined velvet.
Blood and gore splattered the inside, glass covered the seats, and my stomach roiled.
I yanked my gaze away from the mess and focused on Methrin.
Where was Lyra? Lord Pelgrin and Lady Velune? Where were the guards?
Methrin caught my forearm and pulled me up, out of the wreckage. One arm tight around my waist, he guided me away. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’ll manage,” I croaked, even though my throat was sore, my head throbbing.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, but when I started to turn around, Methrin held me firmly. “Don’t look, we were blindsided. No one warned us of this . . .”
“Not even the people who celebrated you down at the port?” I asked.
Methrin’s expression hardened and he released me. “ I don’t blame them, I sense something else here. A darkness, magic. Not the pure light that flows from the moon but something else.”
My heart stuttered in fear. “Where’s Lyra? The others?”
“Don’t turn around, I’ll be right back.”
Even though I was tempted to look at the wreckage, I imagined Methrin was trying to save me from seeing the gruesome carnage. Instead I studied the courtyard.
White columns of the temple rose to a doomed ceiling in the shape of the moon.
Two curved staircases arched around the building, leading up to the double doors, which stood open.
The hollow darkness gaping out was unnerving.
On any other day I would have appreciated the architectural magnificent, the celestial symbols carved on the stones.
Stars and the moon in all its phases, gods and goddesses, and words likely written in an ancient tongue, words I did not understand.
The aura of the place was overwhelming, with hints of intense magic. From beyond the doorway, white motes appeared occasionally, quickly replaced with darkness. Dread filled me, and I didn’t know whether it was my own voice, or the command of the shadow, mocking me. Run!
Forgetting Methrin’s words, I spun around. The carriage had been ripped apart with impossibly large claw marks. My thoughts immediately went to the beasts beyond the Boundary, the large and impossible monsters. Did one live here?
One of the guards had been torn apart, their body in four pieces.
Pressing a hand over my mouth, I turned away, catching Lyra speaking with Methrin.
Her skirts were shredded, hair wild, but she gestured adamantly.
Lady Velune lay on the ground, holding her side, blood spilling out no matter what she did to stanch the flow.
But it was the oxen who’d been mutilated the worse. Whatever had attacked them had ripped them open down to the bone. My stomach felt sick, and I took deep breaths to calm myself. Was this a glimpse of war? Of the horrors others had endured?
I thought of my father, marching to take back cities, fighting beasts and wild men, forcing those with magic to pour their energy into keeping the Boundary full.
It was a terrible life, a death sentence.
How many horrors could one’s mind take until they became numb, immune to the suffering around them, the pain.
Until they became a shell of themselves, not only that, until they became the very evil they were trying to snuff out.
Was that what had happened to Prince Methrin?
Was that why he became the Wicked Prince of Mirrors?
“Esmira.” Lyra ran up to me and threw her arms around me, holding me tight. “Go with Prince Methrin, I’m going to stay with the guards and help everyone get to safety. By the time you return we should have a way back down the mountain for you.”
“But Lyra,” I protested, clinging to her. “What if that . . . that monster returns?”
For just a moment, her eyes changed colors. “I’m a Succor, remember, I will calm it. My will is stronger.”
“Is that why it’s gone? ”
“I think so, I hope so. Esmira, you have magic, and so does Prince Methrin. Do what you need to do.”
“But Lady Velune knew the rituals to perform.”
Lyra squeezed my arm. “Prince Methrin knows them too, I’ve been studying Lord Pelgrin’s tomes but my knowledge is too new, too fresh to be useful. After all, it’s always been another with Mirror Magic that Prince Methrin needed.”
I nodded. “I’ll see you by the shore?”
“You will, and Esmira, don’t hesitate. I’ve seen you practice your magic, you know what you’re doing.”
I took a deep breath to center myself as she walked away. Prince Methrin needed my magic, why? I’d assumed that he only needed me to take him across the portal back home and I was by his side only because he’d promised to slay the shadow. Lyra’s words hinted at something else.
He only needs your magic. When he’s done with you, he’ll dispose of you.
My thoughts went to the kiss and heat flamed my cheeks. “I’m not listening to your lies,” I whispered.
The weight on my chest lifted.
Methrin joined me, and there was a stillness about him, a silent anger building. I felt his frustration and pain, but underneath it all was an iron determination. I’d never felt his magic before. Not like this.
“I don’t know what’s inside,” he said. “If you wish to wait out here with the others, I understand.”
He was giving me an excuse to flee, and that meant more to me than anything else.
This was why I did not see his wickedness, his cold cruelness from a life before, of what had been his past but was no longer his present or his future.
Instead of forcing me down a dangerous path, he gave me a choice.
Now, looking back, I saw that all along he’d been giving me choices.
“I’m coming with you.”
The unnatural silence was unnerving as we climbed the curved steps, our footsteps jarring.
The beauty of the day seemed misplaced, golden rays of sunshine, the clear blue sky, fluffy white clouds so close they could be touched.
On any other day I would have enjoyed sitting on the steps, seeing the view of water and sky, watching the ships come to dock and the mermaids dance in the distance.
“What do we need to do while we’re here?” I asked.
“We need to do two things. First, confirm that magic is, indeed, gone. The priestesses of the temple perform a ritual on the rooftop, that is where the moon dust is gathered and distributed out in the air and sea to infuse the land with magic. But based on our greeting, I assume an enemy or foul beast has taken over and must be driven out. We might see things that make you uncomfortable. I am sorry.”
“Don’t worry about shielding me,” I said. “It is not your fault.”
“No, but we should not willingly walk into evil, we should look away and refuse to tarnish our minds with it. It corrupts all.”
“But you’ve beaten it before.”
“If I hadn’t given in, there never would have been a fight, I never would have had to beat it in the first place. ”
We reached the doorway where a foul smell drifted. Daylight streamed into the space, somewhat dimmed by the walls of the building.
“We go up first,” Methrin said. “Then we look for the weapon, the Shadow Slayer.”
“How will we know when we find it?”
“You will know. The magic it carries is innate. It cannot be destroyed.”
“Can you sense it?”
“No, but if we get close, perhaps—Esmira, there’s something else.”
“What is it?”
“Legend holds that the Shadow Slayer can only be used by one who has never slain a monster, nor been corrupted by magic. If that is true, you will need to take the sword.”
“Oh.” This was why he needed me. But how did he know I wasn’t corrupted? I heard the shadow’s voice. I saw it with my waking eyes and in my dreams. Didn’t that mean I was already corrupted?