Chapter Fourteen
Carys didn't understand Aidan. His determination to get through each day without giving into despair or hate. His ability to smile in hell. His courtesy toward the woman who damned him.
"Why must you spend so much time with him?" she asked Gil, wiping grime from her eyes.
She held up her scarf, trying to shield herself from the dust. The ashy rain grew worse as they traveled down south through the Hushed Plains.
"Who do you mean?" A puzzled expression came over Gil's face. "This brave young man? I believe it was you who asked him to accompany us."
Her irritation increased because it wasn't Gil's face. It was Aidan. "Must you use that face?"
"Is that me?" Aidan asked, trying to catch up with them. "Has Gil transformed into me?"
Her jaw twitched and for the one thousandth time, she wondered why Gil enjoyed his company.
The past month, Gil visited him, and she often heard the two of them talking and joking.
She had to pry Gil away for her mission, and he had the gall to ask if Aidan could accompany them.
The worst part was Aidan's expression, so eager for her to agree.
Of course, she had to agree. The curse required them to stay within a certain proximity of each other. But Gil's question irked her.
A fit of coughing slowed the sunny prince down. "Why is there so much dust?"
"Some think the dust is the remnants of Curse Creatures," Gil said in a cheerful echo of Aidan's voice.
Aidan's coughing turned to exaggerated hacking.
Gil laughed. "The taste is divine, eh?"
Aidan chuckled. "It's so peculiar to hear my voice."
"Perhaps I should try singing in your voice." Gil smirked as the prince went red. "It would make this journey a lot less dreary. Carys? Would you care to harmonize with us?"
Carys pushed forward, trying to see through the blur of falling grayness.
"Singing might make it easier for me to follow the two of you through this dust storm," Aidan sang.
Smothered by soot and annoyed with their antics, her patience frayed. "Do be quiet! I need to mind the area for Curse Creatures." She shot a cold look in Aidan's direction. "Unless you want me to die and the curse to rebound on your princess."
Only the relentless rain of ashes sounded for a moment. She continued forward, and Gil hastened next to her. "That was me," he whispered. "The prince only commented on hearing his own voice."
Her face twisted from the stale taste of dust. Or maybe from the distress that she hadn't recognized him. She always knew him, even when he insisted on pretending to be other people.
Gil's face, Aidan's, scrunched up in concern. "Are you nervous about your task?"
"No." She lowered her head, attempting to avoid the falling filth. "Isn't it bad enough that I must put up with one of him? Must I put up with two?"
She lifted her gaze to find Gil transformed into her. "Doesn't your entire scheme involve 'putting up with him'?" he asked, his voice identical to her own, just with a lilt.
"I wouldn't have chosen this curse if there was any other way." She sent her best deathly glare at the smiling reflection of her face. "You are the only one who likes him. I shouldn't choose his company if we could part without consequences... and stop looking like me!"
Gil shifted back to the annoying appearance of Aidan. "Are you jealous that I get along so well with him?"
"Not at all!"
She ignored the twinge inside brought forth by Gil's words. It shouldn't bother her. Maybe it stung because Gil was her friend and she didn't want to share.
Maybe it was because she had grown accustomed to Aidan being shunned. It was easy to hate the prince from a distance. But what if people became acquainted with him and realized the truth?
What if Gil realized Carys was a monster?
Gil wiped dust from his false face. "You say that you don't want his company, but you did go to considerable trouble to get him. Shouldn't you be happy to have two?"
"I don't want two!" she snapped. "Change back!"
He neared her. "I'll change back only if you stop making him the target of your anger."
She gritted her teeth, but gave a quick, reluctant nod. Gil dashed forward, moving out of the relentless rain of ashes. She summoned up patience to wait as Aidan struggled through the filthy fog.
"Follow my voice," she instructed, emerging from the gray haze.
He laughed as he moved into the clear area. But a grim expression settled as he wiped the grime from his face. "Where are we?"
Gil, now in the guise of Carys, dramatically raised his arms as he stepped over a small, ridged border. "Welcome to Demon Dell."
Carys folded her arms. "No one calls it by that name."
Aidan didn't appear to hear as he took in the area. A small narrow surrounded by trees, some branches bare while others dripped in blood-red foliage. The rain of ash didn't touch the land past the ridged border, gray debris swirling around the quiet dell.
In their haste to escape the pelting dust, they ended up underneath one of the unnatural trees. Crimson leaked from the leaves, spattering Aidan's head. "Is that... is that blood?" he asked, leaning down to examine the red puddle.
Carys shook soot from her hair and dress. "No."
"Yes," Gil said, using his Carys voice to match her flat tone.
"Which is the real Carys?" Aidan looked up. "I can't tell."
"This isn't blood," Carys said, irked by the shapeshifting nonsense. "It's mystical waste. No different from the falling ash or the muck you gather for Mistress Claudia."
"That's not the whole tale." Gil tossed back his imitated blonde waves, silkier and shinier than Carys could ever have. "Should you tell him or should I?"
"I'll do it if you change back!"
Gil reverted to his preferred appearance with an unnecessary snap of his fingers and a wink. He knew she wasn't really angry with him. The anger distracted her from unease.
"Now, can one of you explain why waste is dripping from the trees?" Aidan asked, wiping residual dust from his face.
Carys exhaled. "Because they aren't true trees.
These things... these are former Curse Mages, ones consumed by their own twisted magic.
Use of Curse Magic results in dark ends.
Sometimes turning into stone or transforming into a Curse Creature.
" She poked the branch. "This is what happens when someone resists turning into a beast."
The black branch swayed as dread shadowed Aidan's face. "That's a person?"
As her skin prickled, she forced a calm expression. "Most aren't aware of it happening. They lose their senses, wander to this sacred ground and transform. It's not true death, they are just no longer men. Their magic continues to exist, excreting from the trees and feeding the Curselands."
Aidan blanched. "They... they are still alive? Are they aware?"
She shrugged. "Likely no more than a tree in the Starlands."
Mild disapproval shone on Gil's face at the vague explanation. "Carys..."
She threw up her arms. "Very well. Some think they have a degree of awareness. Visitors to this valley have claimed to hear whispers... or screams."
Aidan inched away from the black tree. "Can't you change them back?"
"No." She shook her head. "Curse Magic is only good for destruction. I cannot do true healing. No one in the Curselands can restore them."
His look of horror changed to sorrow. "If they suffer... shouldn't they be put out of their misery?" he asked, voice low, as if ashamed of expressing such a dishonorable thought.
"No," she said. "They keep the Curselands existing. Should they be destroyed, this entire realm could vanish."
Her stomach dropped at the foolish words. She just handed the prince a blade that could strike them all down. Her heart pounded as she waited for the realization to dawn on him.
It never happened. Aidan's gaze remained fixed on the Curse Trees. She didn't linger, and he followed in silence, as if mourning the loss of those damned by their own choices.
She moved closer to Gil. "I think... I shouldn't have told him why we need the trees."
He looked at her as if she was mad. "You actually believe the prince would do such a thing?"
"Shh!" She checked to see if Aidan heard. "You don't?"
Gil gave a small smile. "Did you forget why he came to this wretched world?"
"His beloved." She tried not to roll her eyes. "What if his love fades? What if he decides sacrificing her is worth it?"
"I know the grave secret, but do you think I would ever do that to Shanna?"
"No." She stepped over a sharp rock. "But you aren't as noble as the prince."
"Thank you."
She sighed in exasperation. "All I meant is that your desire to protect your sister isn't motivated by righteousness. You're not a Curse Mage, but you're more like us than them..."
"Thank you," Gil said, this time with obvious feigned offense.
He hesitated, losing several inches to walk under a low-hanging branch, before turning to her.
"Have you considered that the prince may not be as pure as he seems?
He must know that his sacrifice will help the Curselands and harm the Starlands.
But he did it anyway, for his loved one. "
This time, she rolled her eyes. "He has faith in his brother saving the day, likely with the heroic help of his princess. He thinks that good will prevail."
"Then you've no cause for worry." A shadow passed over him as they neared a large Curse Tree. "Your brother has his own plan, and that is less than a year away."
His comfort didn't dam her flowing fears. What if they failed? What if the prince's heart hardened too fast?
"Watch out!"
A hand clasped her shoulder, yanking her backwards.
She whirled back, Aidan's green eyes piercing as he seized her.
Magic sparked as her anger ignited. She readied her power for revenge when she saw he saved her from tumbling over a broken tree branch.
Sharp, metallic edges protruded from the crimson smeared bough, edges that almost caused great injury.
He let go, looking sheepish. "Are you all right?"
She nodded, at a loss for what to say.
But Gil had an idea. "The words you are looking for are 'thank you'."
That crushed any confused gratitude. "Why should I thank him?" she asked, summoning up her iciest voice. "If anything happens to me, the curse activates and his princess perishes. It wasn't for me at all."
Aidan showed no sign of outrage at her accusation. "Aye, Bella's life is tangled up with your fate. After all, you didn't bring me along for the pleasure of my company."
She straightened her skirt and stepped away from him. "We know where we stand."
"If we know where we stand, why isn't one of us watching where they walk?" He raised an eyebrow. "It would be rather disappointing if your grand scheme was undone by clumsiness."
She didn't understand his humor about such a serious subject. She didn't understand how he could find any companionship with Gil when the shapeshifter served her brother.
She didn't understand him.
Aidan stretched his arms. "Well, if we know where we stand and to watch where we walk, perhaps you could tell me what we're doing in Demon Dell?"
Regret filled her for telling him anything at all. It would be fair to explain, but Curse Mages shouldn't care about being fair.
But Gil did care, mostly, and beamed, ready to prattle.
So Carys spoke before he could open his big mouth.
"This valley has great magic. Magic attracts Curse Creatures, but they can't consume Curse Trees.
Indeed, the trees can actually consume hostile magic, so the beasts are their prey.
The creatures won't even travel too close to the valley.
That's why Gil has been able to use his shapeshifting magic with impunity. "
Gil turned into an adorable little girl with a sweet smile that would have melted Carys' heart. If her heart wasn't made of stone.
"But," she continued, ignoring Gil's antics, "I can summon a Curse Creature here and not have to worry about my magic attracting more than one. I need greater power now that my circumstances are different."
Now that she needed to survive for her brother's plans.
Aidan frowned. "Greater power?"
She nodded. "I must capture a Curse Creature to serve me."
Disapproval etched upon his face. "You're to capture one? By yourself?"
Affronted, only the dangerous trees restrained her from shoving the prince with her magic. "You think I can't do it? I'm fairly good at capturing what I want."
Her cruel jab only made him frown. "I know you've a considerable bit of magic, but my brother says that the only way to defeat a great enemy is with a band of true-hearted allies."
She clenched her hand. "I'm sure that is true in the glorious land of stars, famed for damning children to this abyss, but things are different in the actual abyss."
His mouth dropped open. "Children?"
"What Carys means is that you can't trust allies down here." Gil's voice was so familiar that she didn't need to look over to know he transformed into Meical. "Everyone is out for themselves here, even when they've the best intentions."
Aidan lowered his gaze, as if he didn't want to see Gil appearing as the man who tossed him into hell. "What do you mean?"
Gil crossed his arms, the familiar gesture of her brother's unsettling Carys. "I meant that when Curse Creatures come attacking, we save ourselves first."
Aidan shook his head. "Not you."
Meical's features melted back into Gil's typical form. "Me," he confirmed. "I might not intend it, but I still do. Most of us are safer on our own. You never know when..."
Unable to finish, a troubled expression came over his face as he looked at Carys.
She clasped her hands together. "You never know when someone will decide that not only is their own life worth more, but you are an acceptable sacrifice."
The noble prince kept shaking his head, refusing the truth. "No... I know you people are rotten. But no one can be that awful. You two are good friends... you wouldn't..."
Carys and Gil exchanged grim glances. Gil let out a laugh of false cheer. "I certainly shouldn't care to test our friendship."
Aidan played with his sleeve. "Then why would Carys have you accompany her?" he asked Gil, as if she wasn't there.
As if Gil was better than her.
"It would have been suicide to attempt this spell on my own.
" Carys marched forward. "I may never be able to trust Gil, but there's not much he can do to harm me.
At least I don't have to worry that he'll summon a fireball, roast my leg until bone shows and allow a Curse Creature to feast on my flesh so that he can escape. "
Aidan's brow crinkled as he attempted to keep pace with her. "Has anyone actually done that?"
"Recall the recruit who pushed you into a snake pit?" Gil transformed into Cal. "He did that to a fellow recruit ten days ago. Really impressed Curselord Meical."
"How could that be an act of distinction?" Aidan asked, so upset that he almost tumbled over a fallen branch. "How could your brother ever trust him?"
Carys paused as her skirt snagged on the sharp edges of the branch. "He followed the Law of the Beasts and survived. My brother only wants those who will do what it takes to win."
Gil pointed at his Cal countenance. "But he still wouldn't trust someone like him to guard his sister."
When Carys finished unsnagging her dress, she caught Aidan's gaze and realized it was all too much for him. Gil didn't seem bothered by Aidan's judgement. Of course, he hid behind a face that Aidan hated. But Carys tensed at the prince's morally superior disdain.
"At least we don't pretend to be better." She smoothed her skirt down. "Unlike your brethren, we're aware of our nature."
She bit her lip, feeling ridiculous for trying. The prince saw them all as monsters, and that was all that he would ever see.
A painful silence chained them while trudging through the dismal valley. She tensed as a loud crunch shattered the quiet. Aidan froze, his foot crushing brittle red leaves. Scarlet pooled around him, leaking from the dead foliage.
"You're all going to lose," he whispered. "Do you know why my brother will prevail? He will die for Dalon and the people know it. That's why they will fight for him until the end. At the lowest moments, they'll still be by his side."
Carys kicked a stony leaf. "They will all die together."
"No." He took a careful step over a spike protruding from the ground. "That's why the Star Champions could lock you down here. Thirteen noble souls working together, dying for the people."
"An act of spite." She rolled her eyes. "To damn their enemies."
"No." He held his head up confidently. "And, just like that time, that way will prevail. My brother always said self-interest is the path to damnation."
She hated he couldn't see the self-interest in his own people. "If that's true, what will he think of you?"
"What do you mean?"
Her face twisted into the closest approximation of a smile that she could manage. "This poisonous land changes everyone. The day will come when you value your life more than the Starlands."
He crunched down on more leaves, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. "Never!"
"But you will," she taunted, wishing that she could enjoy his anger. "There's nothing to be done about it. Gil is no Curse Mage, but this land brought out more selfishness in him. Isn't that true, Gil?"
Gil shifted back into his own form with only his unhappy expression staying the same. "Are we supposed to be risking our arses for a monster?"
Carys glowered at Aidan. "He doesn't want to say the truth. You're as damned as the rest of us!"
She didn't know what reaction she expected. Despair or anger were common. But neither appeared on the prince's face, just a simple expression of determination. "Never. I will never give into this poisonous land."
Sharp leaves cut into Carys' feet, but Aidan's uncomfortable composure unaccountably stung. "You think you are better than us?"
"No. But I will fight it. I will do everything I can to resist."
As she tried to navigate two Curse Trees blocking her path, she found herself caught between confusion and frustration. Aidan wasn't stupid and wasn't proclaiming superiority, but still thought that he could resist the Curselands.
Thorns and bristles tugged at her skirt and hair, trapping her. She forced herself through the passage, shaking off Aidan's attempts to assist her and tearing skin and hair in the process. Resolved to hide her pain, she strode toward the center of the valley.
The prince kept his righteous views to himself while she busied herself with preparations.
Her hands burned as she arduously carved runes into the ground.
Perspiration soaked her body, mixing with a scarlet substance seeping from the stone surface.
Aidan's sporadic, shaky sighs accompanied her toil.
If she wasn't trying to concentrate, she would have reassured him that the ooze wasn't blood from mages.
It was the Curselands reacting to her invoking magic into the land.
The resemblance to blood was a deliberate, disconcerting design by whoever created the realm.
She finished her painstaking carving of the intricate runes before adding one important ingredient to the spell.
Aidan's eyes widened as she sliced her palm with a dagger. "What are you doing?"
She held her hand over the runes, dripping blood on them. "The spell requires blood to activate."
He grunted. "Is there Curse Magic that doesn't require blood?"
Gil leaned his head down, resembling Cal. "Some require feces, right, Carys?" he asked, too cheerful for the dour voice.
She ignored him, keeping attention on the spattered runes as they absorbed the blood, glowing an uncanny scarlet shade. The glow slowly dissipated, leaving harmless looking runes.
Aidan tapped his foot. "What next?"
"We wait." She gestured for him to follow her, leading him to the Curse Trees. "You should wait here. The Curse Creature will avoid this area, since the trees consume magic."
He backed away. "All of us use magic."
"Curse Creatures are composed of magic. You would have to summon a great deal of power to merit attention." She sniffed. "I doubt you could summon that much magic if you wanted. So here you will stay."
"What's the point?" He folded his arms, still staying a distance from the graveyard grove. "If you die, I'll die. No, what... that won't happen. Bella shall die. If Bella's life is on the line, I'd rather fight than cower by these foul trees."
She fished out a bandage from her satchel. "You can't help. I've seen how you use magic. You've no training in it. You would just get in the way. Gil will distract the beast with his shapeshifting magic and I'll bind it."
He wrinkled his nose. "You'll make the creature a slave. Like me."
"Hardly. You aren't my slave. Our lives are tangled up together." Stiff from carving, she struggled to wrap the bandage around her sliced palm. "This beast will be at my bidding."
Aidan reached over and swiftly finished bandaging her. "I don't know whether to pity the beast or envy it."
She moved her hand away, disconcerted by his rude words and thoughtful gesture. Unable to think of a reply, she trained her eyes on the sky, waiting for the beast. After some time, a dark shadow cast over the valley. Her spirits sank at the approaching creature.
It was bigger than she expected.