Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
OPHELIA
I’m standing outside the Sun Palace. This can’t be real.
A blanket of clouds hangs above Isa and me, taunting, threatening to pour rain over us. We’re not far from the ocean, but the weather is wrong for swimming. A chill in the air sends goose bumps across my arms, prickling up the back of my neck.
A pixie floats by lazily, hardly able to carry herself on her wings. Beneath a tree rests a man-eyed frog, but it does not croak. Aside from the two guards standing in front of the castle door, there are no high fae in sight.
“I always imagined it would be brighter here,” I murmur.
“It once was.” Isa bows her head. “You should have seen it before, but alas. You would not have been born yet. Come along.”
The stories I heard of the Sun Palace reminded me of sunlight leaking through windows, fresh green grass, and everything encrusted in gold. Instead, I’m greeted with light, stony walls and shadows that cast the world into darkness.
It’s too similar to the place I once called home, but the energy here feels darker, even more than I am used to. I repress a shudder.
“What did it look like before?”
“Warm and sunny, as one would imagine.”
I can hardly believe that now.
We step inside, and the shadows remain, but the signs of what once was are present as well.
Gold-framed art, thick oil paintings in layers: portraits and landscapes far more beautiful than the outside world.
Gold-dripped chandeliers, towering copper statues, and flickering candlelight.
Even in the dark, cool energy of the curse, it’s stunning.
I run my hands over my wrinkled morning dress, but it’s useless. Nothing can make me more presentable in the dark opulence of these halls. “I’m out of place, aren’t I?”
“You’re fine.” She squeezes my shoulder. “Let us retire to my bedchamber. We can get you cleaned up, and then we will speak with Lucille. You’re lucky I am such a good friend with the head of staff.”
“I suppose I am.” Lucky is not the right word for me. Not today. How can I be so lucky, and yet not? Decidedly not.
Isa’s bedchamber is as extravagant as the rest of the palace, but even darker than the great hall. She busies herself lighting candles, and I stand in the doorway, unsure of what to do with myself.
“I will have a tub brought for you to bathe in,” she says, “and we’ll find you something to wear in no time. For now, relax.”
“I don’t know how to do that right now.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my pointed ear. “This is my first time at any fae palace, you know. In fact, I’ve never visited a mortal palace—aside from the ball, of course.”
She tilts her head to the side. “Yes. I imagined as much. Do you find it overwhelming?”
“Quite. In fact, I would say that is an understatement.”
“It’s all right if you do not know how to drop your glamour. With time, you’ll no longer have to force those walls down.”
I don’t realize I am still holding my glamour until she points it out. Maintaining my mortal facade is second nature, even though it creates tension in my body. I’m clenching my jaw to keep the magic in place.
“Apologies.” I exhale, and my wings unfold. “The fae of these parts aren’t used to someone hiding, are they?”
“They’re not—and they may confuse you for a mortal, if you’re not careful.”
“I imagine that’s something I’d like to avoid. Are there many mortals in this palace?”
“No.” She lifts a brow. “And while there are plenty of halflings where I hail from, there are none in this palace, either.”
Then why won’t she invite me to the Moon Palace? I suppose I can’t invite myself. No, it appears even Isa’s generosity has come to an end.
My jaw tightens once more, and my wings stiffen behind me. “Then I have exchanged one life of secrecy and lies for another?”
“Only until the curse is broken.”
“Curse?” I shake my head. “What is this curse? Does it have to do with the prophecy?”
“I cannot say. All you must know is that once the prince is married to his true love, the curse will break. There is an end to this darkness. Soon, dear one.”
The invitation we received makes sense now. He didn’t throw a ball for fun and festivities, no matter how much fae are supposed to enjoy those things. It was for… for something related to this curse.
Perhaps Lady Ashbridge was right about one thing. He truly wanted to sweep a mortal off their feet and into his palace.
I snort. “Surely the balls will help with that.”
“I don’t see why not.” She lifts a brow. “I’ve heard whispers that he already found the one at the latest ball.”
He found the one?
The latest ball was last night, was it not? There is no chance he’s already thrown another ball, and I was at that ball. Me. How did he meet someone else?
Perhaps… am I supposed to be the one he found, even after I rejected him? Or did he find someone after I left?
Oh, that man is so frustrating.
The room spins. When was the last time I had something to eat?
“Who?” I press. “Who, pray tell, is that man marrying?”
She gives me a knowing look. “His betrothed is a Moon Fae, much like yourself. The princess of my land, Minetta.”
Then he has a type, and all his flattery means nothing. I should have known better than to trust someone like him. I may have lowered my glamour and worn a beautiful gown to the ball, but it wasn’t enough. What could he possibly want with me?
It was all a game. The moment I left, he found someone new—someone worthy of marrying a prince. Someone who can break the curse.
“Good for him.” I shuck off my cloak and drape it over a chair. “I’m tired of speaking about that cursed prince. All I care for now is a bath—preferably hot, but I’ll take whatever is available.”
“A hot bath will be no problem. This palace controls fire, you know.”
“I did not know.” Of course, I know. Prince Emyr showed me sunlight in that little room above the inn. I plan to forget him, but I will remember how it felt to channel magic with him. “I know nothing.”
“And what about our gifts?” She gestures between us. “Do you know what you can do?”
That captures my attention. This fae may have led me to this strange place, but perhaps she can help me with my magic. “As I said, I do not know a thing—aside from the wishes and portals, neither of which I seem to have much luck with. Will you tell me, or is it a secret?”
“Magic has little to do with luck. You can learn to grant a wish and make a portal.” She busies herself around the room, scribbling on a piece of paper. “Many Moon Fae are psychic.”
“Then I am supposed to look into the future? No. I certainly can’t do that.”
“Some can. Others can tell when they are being lied to.”
If I could do that, I would have known the prince was lying about his interest in me.
I scoff. “I can’t do that either.”
She continues on, as though this is a perfectly ordinary conversation. To me, it is anything but.
“Some may remote view current circumstances.”
No. I don’t have any of these gifts. Perhaps I have no abilities at all.
I bite my lip and look out the window. “These things all feel outside of my control, Madam.”
Even though it’s not yet sunset, it’s nearly pitch black outside.
Isa throws the letter into the air, and it flies away. The paper behaves like it sprouts wings, pushing through the air with purpose and speed.
I take a step back, startled.
“Now that you’re here, you have plenty of time to learn more about your magic,” Isa says.
“And what was that?” I gesture to the window, my eyes widening. “That—”
“It’s how we send messages, dear.” She giggles. “Just within the palace—farther messages require greater magic. I asked someone to bring you a bathtub. We can talk more once you’re clean. Everything will feel better then.”
I doubt it, but perhaps the bath will give me time to spend in the water to enhance my gifts, as Isa suggested.
No, I was correct. I have no gifts.
The bath does little to change my perspective, but at least I no longer have layers of dirt and tears coating my face and body.
Isa leads me through the palace once I’m clean. The sun has now fully set, but the lamps are lit, filling the dark hallways with flickering light. Isa has no trouble leading the way in the dark. She comes with a glow of her own, one I cannot match even with my glamours at rest.
She leads me down a winding staircase to a hall that splits off into several small bedchambers with open doors, each with two tiny beds. The bedchambers are not our destination—a small study is.
At the desk sits a tall, muscular fae—a woman in trousers and a tailcoat. Her age is impossible to tell, but she fixes us with such a stern look that I imagine she’s older. She doesn’t carry the carefree, youthful energy of the prince, or even his grumpy companion.
This fae is neither sun nor moon. She must be something else. Shadowy tendrils emanate from her, wrapping around her like an old friend, and dark wings stretch out behind her, nearly like the prince’s feathery ones. Standing in a room with her makes me shake.
“It seems you had safe travels,” the fae says. “I welcome your return, Lady Isa.”
“And I thank you.” Isa smiles warmly. “I would ask you to put on tea, but I’m here on business.”
“What business could you have with me?” The unfamiliar fae tilts her head to the side.
“It’s not my business I’m attending to.” Isa steps aside and gestures to me. “This one is looking for a job, Lucille.”
“Is she?” Lucille watches me through narrowed eyes, pushing her golden spectacles higher on her nose. “What sort of job?”
“I-I don’t know, Madam.” I’ve never had a job before, and this fae does not seem like the type to give second chances. What if I choose wrong?
“She has experience cleaning,” Isa says
“Perfect.” Lucille clicks her tongue. “You are in luck—we are always looking for new maids.”
“Oh! That would be a divine fit for me.” I perk up. Cleaning up after my stepmother had some benefits after all. “I’ve spent the last several years tidying up a small estate.”
“Then we have a place for you. Welcome—Helena?” She yells the name.
Who is Helena? Is Lucille calling me a new name? Perhaps it’s fae custom.
I look over my shoulder.
“Yes, Madam?” An unseen voice calls from one of the small bedchambers.
“Come here at once!”
A small woman with bright, mysterious eyes meanders from one of the little bedchambers.
Her straw-colored hair coils to the middle of her back, worn free rather than pinned up.
She has the same white, feathery wings Prince Emyr has—perhaps hers are a bit smaller, but otherwise their wings are identical.
She is a Sun Fae, like the prince.
“How can I help ye, Madam?” Helena has a slight rasp, the sort of voice that may seduce the unknowing and amuse others.
“Show her to her room,” Lucille says. “She will be your new roommate. Name?”
She’s speaking to me again, I think.
“Ophelia.” The truth comes out before I can supply her with a lie.
Helena looks at me with those wide, excitable eyes. “How grand!” She grips my hand and pulls me through the hall, dragging me to the room from which she appeared. “I haven’t had a roommate in ages.”
“Ah…”
What am I to say? Suddenly, I feel out of practice with socializing.
I turn my head to look for Isa, desperate to find the only one I know in the palace, but in typical Isa fashion, she’s already disappeared.