23. Kit Forcing the Snow Queen to Let It Go
Kit: Forcing the Snow Queen to Let It Go
Kit’s mind spun as they emerged into the fading afternoon sunlight of the tower.
At least the experience hadn’t been for nothing.
There was now no question in his mind that the voice from the cave and the voice from the mirror were one in the same.
And even better, he now knew what spell controlled Nelle.
“The spell of dominance. I should have known,” he muttered under his breath, before following it with a string of curses he’d picked up during an ocean voyage to Talon.
“Should I take it that went well?” Kemma asked from her perch atop the wardrobe, where she was cuddling next to Ember. The phoenix didn’t look like he had registered their arrival; he was snoozing peacefully, his head tucked under his wing.
“Well enough,” Kit said, at the same time as Nelle muttered, “Not exactly.”
The tressym looked between the two. “Well, that was as clear as mud. Did you figure out how to break the dragon man’s curse or not?”
“No,” Nelle said, pulling her hand out of Kit’s.
He immediately missed the feel of her hand in his. He watched her closely as she moved to the window. After a moment’s silence, he wondered, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Her tone was brittle and sharp.
Kit cocked his head. “Are you sure? Because?—”
“I don’t know. Let me think for a moment.” She went completely still, and for several minutes, she was silent.
Kit frowned in confusion. What was she thinking?
Suddenly, she whirled around. “No. I’m not fine.” She whirled on him and continued, “What were you thinking?”
He blinked in confusion. “What? I don’t understand.”
“The Cracked Mirror was going to give you the answers you were looking for. Everything you needed to know, all for the price of becoming its student again. So why did you refuse him?”
Kit scowled at her. “Like I told you, it was a price I wasn’t willing to ask you to pay.”
“And what right do you have to make that decision?” Nelle demanded.
“What right? Nelle, I did that for you,” Kit protested.
“I lived with the Fey for half my childhood. I lived playing games, watching members of the court use half-truths and cleverly worded agreements for their gain. In all the time I lived with the Fey, the one thing I learned was that no one ever offers a deal that’s too good to be true unless they have something to gain from it.
That creature in the Cracked Mirror wasn’t a Fey, but, unless I miss my guess, it is something much worse.
I would not put you in its power again. Not for me.
I don’t care if I remain a dragon man for the rest of my days.
I’m not giving you up just to put me a few steps ahead. ”
“And don’t you think that’s something you should have discussed with me?” she asked through clenched teeth. “It’s my life; shouldn’t it be up to me?”
Now Kit was clenching his own teeth. “No, it’s not something I’m going to discuss with you, not if you were just going to give in. The Cracked Mirror doesn’t deserve a moment of your thoughts, never mind your company and your time and energy.”
Nelle stared at him. “Why? Why do you care?”
Kit’s eyes softened. “Don’t you know? I?—”
“So, wait, I’ve been sitting here, worrying my whiskers off, and all for nothing?” Kemma demanded, recapturing their attention.
“Not exactly,” Kit said. “The Cracked Mirror did accidentally reveal that Snow White cast a spell of dominance over Nelle.”
“What, exactly, is the spell of dominance?” Nelle asked, still studying Kit as if he was a confusing puzzle.
“It’s evil magic,” Kit growled, pacing the room.
“In six of the seven kingdoms, it’s illegal, and I’m guessing that the only reason it’s not illegal in Coleur is so that Queen Snow White can use it in situations such as these.
It essentially gives the caster the ability to command a person’s body, overruling their own desires, all without even having to be in the room with them.
And, unlike similar—and legal—spells, it can even erode survival instinct.
So if the queen demanded that you jump off the battlement, you’d have no choice but to do it. ”
Nelle shivered. “That’s horrible.”
Kit nodded. “One reason it’s illegal in Hopka, and the other five kingdoms, is there are no time limitations.
Most other spells of control last, at maximum, for a few days.
The spell of dominance can last as long as you live, unless you find out about it and break it.
If you’re unable to, you’re risking more than your life; there’ve been reports of victims losing their sanity before they could break the spell.
” His mind shot back to the queen’s words the first night in the castle: Not to worry, little prince, I’m sure you’ll figure it out, eventually.
Hopefully sooner, since we both need my poor Loli’s fragile mind to survive the encounter.
This type of control can have terrible effects on the psyche.
He pushed the memory to the back of his mind. He didn’t need to worry about that now. Instead, he returned his attention to Nelle, forcing a smile, and said, “The good thing about the queen using the spell of dominance on you is that I know how to break it.”
Nelle’s eyes widened. “You do?”
Kit nodded. “Absolutely. I have a bit of…experience in this area.”
Nelle eyed him curiously, but didn’t ask where he’d gotten said experience. Instead, she began pacing the room. “And once I’m free of the spell? What then?” She shot him a sideways glance. “Do you think that once you break the spell, my memories will come back?”
Kit’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t think so. I’ve been thinking about your memory loss a good deal, and, based on the timeline, I’m relatively certain that you lost your memories the day you cursed me. Do you agree with that assessment?”
Nelle hunched her shoulders as if protecting herself from that memory. “That day or sometime soon after. Why?”
Kit nodded, his heart sinking into his stomach.
Part of him wanted to avoid the topic, but the other part of him—the one that was ruthlessly pragmatic—knew that she needed to know the truth.
“That day, there was some sort of blow-back when you cast the spell. It was so strong, it launched me into a tree, and I lost consciousness. My guess is that your memory loss results from that blowback.”
Kemma frowned. “That could mean that Nelle never gets her memories back. Magical injuries don’t heal easily.”
“You sound very sure about that,” Nelle said in a small voice.
“When it was just the two of us, you read accounts of psychological damage of enchantments and magic aloud,” Kemma said, shrugging.
“I told you the topic wasn’t appropriate for a young child, but you said you needed to know.
Something about how those who don’t prepare for the worst have to deal with the worst consequences. ”
“You might have been researching what your mother’s spell could do to you.
I’m fairly certain she’s had that spell on you for years, long before you and I met.
But, in truth, we’re dealing with two separate problems. Magical psychologic injuries don’t heal easily, as Kemma said, but there are treatments available.
Unfortunately, they’re not the same as rebound magic.
Rebound magic is on a whole different plane of magical maladies,” Kit said.
“They’re more rare, and, as such, there are few, if any, treatment options.
Most of the time, only time will tell whether the victim will recover. ”
Nelle glared at him, but there was no heat behind her gaze. “I’m not a victim.”
“No,” Kit agreed. “The only thing you’re a victim of is your mother’s curse. And I’d like to stop talking about the problem and put an end to that as soon as possible.”
Nelle hesitated. “Are you sure? We went in for a cure for your curse. Wouldn’t it make sense to wait until?—”
“We’ll break my curse eventually. I don’t mind waiting,” Kit assured her, and as the words left his mouth, he realized he believed them.
He’d witnessed Nelle’s stubborn nature first hand; he knew that if she wanted to break his curse, she’d do it.
But as long as the curse remains in place, she’ll stay with me.
And I don’t want her to leave. Not now. Maybe never.
His eyes widened a little at the thought, but he hurriedly continued, “But as far as breaking Queen Snow White’s curse on you, I have to stress that it’s not a good idea to wait.
The longer you wait to break the spell, the higher the chances that it will cause irreparable damage.
” He met her gaze and continued, “I don’t want that for you. ”
Kemma said, fluttering down to Nelle’s shoulder and rubbing her head against Nelle’s chin. “I hate to say it, love, but the dragon man is right. Waiting isn’t a good strategy. Let him help you remove the spell. Please.”
Nelle glanced between Kit and the tressym and sighed. “I’m not getting out of this, am I?”
Kit shook his head. “Nope,” he said, popping the ‘P.’ “Let us help you, snowdrop.”
Slowly, Nelle nodded. “Okay. What do we do?”
Kit cocked his head thoughtfully, mentally running over the finer points of the spell. “First things first: we need to get you someplace you feel safe. Do you prefer the kitchen or the library?”
“Not her bedroom?” Kemma asked.
Kit shook his head. “Not enough space.” Plus, I don’t trust myself that much.
Nelle gave a half smile, making him think that perhaps she’d guessed his ulterior motives. “The library is closer. Plus, there are fewer sharp implements.”
Kit nodded. “To the library, it is. I’ll be right there.” He hurried down the hall to the music room and retrieved the curtain tiebacks from the gauzy blue curtains. Testing the fabric, he found them to be soft but strong. Perfect for his uses.
Kit jogged back down the hall, trying to keep his mind focused on the task at hand.
When he reached the library, he found Nelle sitting in one of the high-backed chairs with arms, Kemma curled up in her lap.
The woman eyed him uneasily when she saw the ties in his hand.
“Just what do you think you’re going to do with those? ”
“Nothing without your consent, I promise,” Kit assured her.
“I’d like to bind your wrists to the chair, just to keep your mother from trying to prevent me from breaking the spell.
” His eyes rested on the tressym, who was glaring at him.
“I swear I won’t do anything that would physically hurt you. Kemma can keep me honest.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Kemma warned, though she fluttered out of the way so that he could bind Nelle’s wrists.
“Right. Deep breaths,” Kit said once he was sure that she was secure.
Nelle took a single deep, shuddering breath. “I’m ready.”
“Good.” Kit placed his fingertips on her temples and began murmuring the spell under his breath.
As soon as he started speaking, Nelle’s eyes rolled up in her head and she began convulsing. The skin beneath Kit’s fingertips grew cold. He gritted his teeth and continued the spell.
“What are you doing, little princeling?” Queen Snow White’s voice poured from Nelle’s lips.
Kit didn’t pause the incantation. He couldn’t break his focus now. Not when Nelle’s life was at stake.
“You’re not strong enough for this,” Queen Snow White cooed. “She’s mine. And she will always be mine. Let her go now, and she will suffer no ill-effects.”
Kit’s eyes flared, but he ignored her taunts, finishing the incantation. Nelle’s body began to glow a warm shade of gold.
“No! No! I won’t go! No!” Queen Snow White’s voice rose to a shriek, and then there was a blast of bright white light, forcing Kit to close his eyes.
After a moment, the light faded, and with it, the queen’s shouts. The library seemed to be frozen in time, its silence speaking louder than words ever could.