Epilogue
EPILOGUE
JANELLE
T he quiet guard I’ve been following stops walking. Jose is his name. Jesse mentioned him once or twice. He gestures with his head to a dark tunnel in front of us. I don’t question his actions. I give him a nod and head into the dark space without looking back.
I attempt a spell for light, and of course, it fails. I’m reminded once again of my new reality. With no magic, I’m rendered utterly human.
A giddiness enters my body at the thought.
My eyes take a minute to adjust to the darkness, but soon, I begin to make up shapes and see walls. There’s little to see. A straight line forward. The air is damp, and the smell is musty. I pick up my speed, and when I begin to wonder how long this can be, a beacon of light appears in front of me.
I exit the tunnel to the open forest. Green, luscious pine trees greet my new freedom. I never imagined the taste of it would be bittersweet. The lightness my body feels now that chains have fallen doesn’t ease the reality of all those I will leave behind .
Exiles aren’t granted a way out of Puerto Queen, and I’m expected to find my way—no exceptions. I look inside the bag Jose provided me inside the castle. A compass, a knife, a couple amulets, and some food and water. A huge gesture of generosity.
This is his way of still looking out for me. I don’t deserve it, I don’t deserve him . Jesse will forever be the future I will never know and will never be lucky enough to find out.
I could spend the rest of my days on this earth gaining good favors with karma, and even then, I wouldn’t deserve him in my next life. But maybe just being around him will be enough. It has been so far.
Brandon Oscuro might have thought he was punishing me while taking my powers, but he has offered me a gift. Without magic, I can no longer be wielded as a weapon. I’m useless to my house and to my father. Leaving Puerto Quinn is an opportunity to start somewhere new on my own. I might have lost my powers, but I gained my freedom. To me, that’s worth so much more.
I look at my compass and calculate the correct direction. With the backpack secure on my back, I set out.
After a few miles, I hear running water. A waterfall comes into view, and I rejoice at the sight. I go to the edge and clean my skin. The cold, clear water feels refreshing and cleansing.
The bottom of my dress is beyond help. With the knife in hand, I cut out the fabric, feeling its smooth texture beneath the blade. Presumably the last tailored dress I will ever wear.
I watch the fabric fall from my hand into the water and get carried away. No more servants to wait on me. No more social gatherings where I’m expected to entertain. I won’t miss the drills and training sessions that left me bruised and bloody.
I am free. I say inside my head, but it doesn’t ring true. The notion of freedom has never been within my grasp. Free to choose, free to feel, free to live.
“I’m free!” I scream out loud. My heart thumps so fast I can feel it in my throat. “I will say it over and over again until I believe it to be true.”
“Not a day on your own, and you are already talking to yourself?”
The mocking remark comes from one of my father’s men. I’ve seen him a few times. No top dog, but a pet all the same. I don’t know his name and don’t care to know it.
I grab the knife and hoist it to my waist. “What do you want, dog?” I use the same voice I would speak to someone beneath me.
Men like him have always hated me, for several reasons. The biggest one is that I was untouchable to their hands. He frowns at the name but doesn’t argue with me.
“Your father sent me.”
I don’t let the fear show on my face at the mention of him. “Yeah, I’m guessing he has plenty to say after his plan failed.”
“He doesn’t entirely blame you.”
I laugh at the absurd comment. His plan failed, but my father would find a way to pin the mistakes on someone else. Blaming me for not winning his beloved war sounds like him. At least to save face. Even my father is smart enough to know it’ll take a lot more than one powerful person to take down the Oscuro’s reign. Not when even the Fates align on their side every time.
“I don’t care anymore. I’m done. Have you not heard? I’m an exile with no power.”
The dog laughs. “Oh, we heard, princess. But your father will forgive the shame you have brought on your family if you seek him and ask for forgiveness. ”
“Seek him?” I shake my head. “I have no intention of doing that. After all, isn’t Brandon chasing after him as we speak?”
“He’s gone into hiding, you’re correct. You’ll find him in his safe house.”
I turn in the direction I plan on walking. I won’t spare him a glance as I place the bag over my shoulder. “If that is all, you can go now.”
“The invitation stands. You might not have magic anymore, but your father will surely find a use for you in his cause.”
“After I pay my penance, he will find a way to use me to his advantage.”
That is what he truly means.
“Better than being alone.” His eyes run over the forest.
“That is where you’re wrong.” I move away from him. “I’m better off alone.” His lips are set in a straight line and an impatient frown. My father probably told him I would jump to the idea of being returned to him. “If you follow me, I’ll try to kill you, dog. I heard what you said. Now, let me go. This is my last warning to you.”
“If you change your mind.”
“Yeah, I will crawl back to the pit of hell and find him.” I wave my hand over my head and keep walking.
He will follow me for a few miles, but I do not mind. Once the Forest grows dark, he will realize I’m not bluffing.
I realize this might be harder than I thought. I’m hungry, and catching fish has turned out to be harder than expected. My skills are not translating without magic. I need to decode my brain from attempting to use magic. My hand darts into the water slower than I’m used to. I had no idea how much magic I incorporated into my every move; it became second nature. Another fish swims right by hand.
A movement to my left alerts me that I am not alone. I spotted the young boy walking. I hoped he would make a note of my presence and leave me be, but instead, he slowly made his way to me. Now, he is up on a tree watching me humiliate myself.
“Who are you?” I ask.
I eye the boy suspiciously. His golden hair is loose and curly. Bright, deep blue eyes and a playful smile that age him backward. He’s only a few years younger than me, but he looks like a child from here.
“You need to learn to catch fish,” he says, like I didn’t already know that. “I once needed to catch fish to survive. I might never need to know how to again. Let me leave the skill with you. Then, you can pass it on.”
“Pass it on?” I ask because it sounds like a catchphrase people know about. I’ve never heard of it.
“Good deeds.” The boy closes the distance between us. “Today is for you, tomorrow for me.”
“You aren’t traveling with me.”
I have no plans to let anyone join my journey; they’ll only slow me down. I’m on my own, and won’t allow baggage to drag me down.
He shakes his head with laughter. “I don’t think we are going the same way.” He walks over to a tree and yanks a long, thick branch. “Where are you going?”
“Human lands.”
I want to bite my tongue as soon as the words come out. He’ll know I’m not fully human if I say it like that. What do I care? I’ll never see this man again .
“Learn human lingo if you wish to blend in.” He eyes me curiously.
That’s all he says. He pulls out a knife and sharpens one side. Once it’s pointy on one end, he leads me back to the river. We stand on rocks just outside. I watch as he stabs down with speed and precision. The first catch of the day comes after his third attempt. The second comes after my third.
My knowledge of wildlife and plants impresses him. He’s not impressed with my plan to cross through the forest surrounding the City of Sin. It never crossed my mind that it would be much different. He goes over trap warnings and tells me who to look for in the forest. He goes as far as to draw me a map. The route he encourages me to take will be a bit longer, but will take me out of the most dangerous places. Before heading out for the night, he gifts me three knives and provisions that should last me a few days.
I don’t get his name as he blends into the night after the sun tucks in for the night. But for the next few weeks, I think about his words often.
His warnings will ring true in my head as traps cross my paths. His lessons will ring true as fish fill me every night, and my nights are quiet under the stars. Every piece of advice delivers me a step closer to Paz.
I promise myself I’ll pass it on if I ever can; I will do it for him if for no one else. For the sliver of kindness this stranger stoned upon me for nothing in return.
The End.