The Twice Cursed

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"I won't do it!"

Carys glared at her brother. She couldn't remember feeling such rage at him. But now, unbridled fury unleashed her power. A loud crack echoed through her room, leaving a black jagged line on her mirror.

"Didn't you curse someone once for damaging your mirror?" Meical shook his head. "It's rather hard to find a good replacement down here. Perhaps if you're blessed, a wedding guest will gift you a new one."

Her magic splintered the wooden table. "I don't want a gift, I don't want a wedding party, and I certainly do not want to marry Aidan!"

She didn't know how her life ended up in such a poisonous tangle. After Aidan's meeting with Meical, he only said her brother agreed to the plan. Then he stopped speaking to her.

Three days ago Meical announced that she was to wed Aidan. The shock that rippled through Ghost Tower was nothing compared to horror that ripped through Carys.

Aidan stopped looking at her, following the announcement.

Her magic slipped out of control again and items went sailing every which way.

Meical stepped out of the path of a hurtling hairbrush. "I know you don't want to do it, Nightshade."

Frustration choked her. "Then why would you ask it of me!"

With a solemn expression, he caught one of her poppets. "It had to happen at some point. No matter how powerful you become, there will always be someone out there who can either overpower or outwit you. I won't have you end up in Nyx's situation."

Her stomach clenched. "I can take care of myself!"

"I believe you can take on almost anything.

Yet we all have weaknesses. I know that one day I could be overthrown.

" His tight grip on the doll would give a mysterious neck ache to someone in the Tower.

"When you lose my protection, you'll be surrounded by enemies.

You are one powerful witch in a world of powerful monsters. "

She snatched her poppet back. "Even so, I should have a choice in the matter!"

He nodded. "You should, but you don't. We follow the Law of the Beasts. I am the most powerful mage here. My protection comes at a cost. Obedience. You will marry him."

"I won't!" She flung her poppet down. "Our law also says we can do what we will!"

"We only do what we will if we're strong enough. That is the Law of the Beasts." A grim expression settled on his face as fabrics and bottles sailed past him. "Defeat me, Nightshade."

She blinked. "What?"

"If you're so set against this ceremony, defeat me. I can't force you to do something if you're more powerful."

She hesitated for a split second before summoning her mystical energy. Her insides burned as she summoned Curse Magic without invoking a spell. She gritted her teeth as untamed power expanded within her hands. The invisible manifestation felt like holding a red-hot anvil.

Her brother made no move to defend himself.

She hurled the magic at him. The powerful mystical wave shattered her mirror and bottles, but no glass hit the floor.

The force of the magic kept the infinitesimal shards hovering.

Mirrors fragments reflected the black aura of her magic, dotting the room with ebony.

The ground beneath Meical's feet cracked, stone bits flying up into the air.

He remained still.

She unsheathed her dagger and sliced her arm.

Distorted little spiders crawled out of the blood, hundreds rushing at Meical.

They crawled on the floor, leaving tiny trickles of blood in their wake.

Within seconds, they swarmed Meical's body.

Mystical spiders covered his blond hair and poured into his ears and mouth.

Then, just like that, they turned to ash.

The spiders were a manifestation of her magic.

Everything blurred when Meical dispelled them.

Her throat burned and her stomach longed to vomit.

She released another wild wave of power at him, but he remained untouched while her chair burst into bits.

Her vision almost went black. The only option left was summoning Spiky, but that would alert Aidan.

If Meical defeated their demon, it would crush Aidan and her.

A loud crash echoed as the flying objects crashed to the floor. Exhausted and weak, she fell to her knees. She looked up at her powerful brother and fought the urge to let out an impotent cry.

Meical didn't gloat, almost appearing sorrowful. "The ceremony shall take place in six hours. Get some rest, Nightshade. I'll send Nyx to help you get ready."

"I shan't bother looking nice!"

"You shall," he said, indifferent to her temper. "The ceremony is a reflection on me. This is the alliance of my beloved sister and a prince of the Starlands. We're going to make it look as good as possible."

She glowered at him, resisting the childish urge to stick her tongue out. He shook his head and left.

Her head lowered as she hugged her shaking knees.

It was like being a helpless child again, only this time it was Meical holding a dagger to her throat.

Wild plans whirled in her mind, nothing solid to grasp.

The ugly truth pierced her. She couldn't defeat her brother.

Years of study couldn't compete with his sheer power.

Rapid knocking dissolved her haze of misery. Her spirits lifted and eyes went to Aidan's adjoining door.

But the rapping came from her door.

It wasn't Meical. He would just knock the door off the hinges. It was likely Nyx. She debated feigning sleep like a child. But she rose to her feet and opened the door.

She met dark eyes. "Cal?"

Usually so calm and collected, now he was flustered and a bit jittery. Their stolen kiss haunted her and her spirits fell, knowing he must think she was no better than a siren.

"The ceremony is not my choice," she blurted out.

"I know." He gave a rough nod. "I saw... I saw your face when your brother made the announcement."

She lowered her head. She had been so caught up in her own horror, it never occurred to her that he was watching.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered.

"I do." His hand brushed against her arm. "Let's go."

She looked up in alarm. "Go?"

"You don't want this, do you?"

She imagined binding herself in an intimate ceremony with someone who would never want her. Then she gave a wild shake of her head.

"I thought so." His face grew grim. "We haven't much time."

He pulled her forward, but she stepped back into her room. "I cannot leave. I... my life is still bound to the prince. I can't be away from him. And Meical would hunt me down."

"I know." He sucked in a breath. "The wolves always find their prey. But if we move fast enough, we can stop this ceremony from ever happening."

"How?"

"I've a mage who can perform a Curse Ceremony for us. If you're tied to me, you can't be tied to the prince."

She backed away. "No. Oh no. I couldn't possibly."

"I know I am not your first choice..."

"It's not that!" Her fingers curled up. "Meical... he'll always have his way. If we're bound and it prevents the ceremony... he'll kill you. Then he'll have me marry Aidan."

"Aye," he said. "But only if he can find me. I'll wed you, then flee. Perhaps we'll never see each other again. At least you won't be further tangled up with that Dalon bastard."

Her heart clenched. "Why? You are getting far with my brother... why do this?"

"I didn't always serve your brother," he murmured. "Someone important to me was once in this situation. I followed the Law of the Beasts and allowed it to happen."

She looked down, feeling foolish to imagine there had been true desire for her.

"You're a fool," she whispered. "Aidan sacrificed so much and it destroyed him. You shouldn't destroy yourself for a memory."

"Don't compare me to him," he said with a snarl. "He threw away everything. I don't have much at all. I am a servant of your brother and when the Dalon prince joins his inner circle, I'll never move further."

She lifted her head, forcing a cold smile. "So you wouldn't do this for me if it weren't for Aidan hurting your prospects."

He shrugged. "It's my nature, as it's yours or any who survive in this perdition. But I wouldn't risk Meical's ire this way if..."

If he didn't care.

She stepped further back. "Meical will hunt you down to the ends of the Curselands."

A somber nod. "Perhaps...enough time will pass that he'll realize the folly in forcing you into one of these twisted ceremonies."

"He can't let someone defy him. There must always be a consequence." She crossed her arms, endeavoring to conceal her trembling. "He'll find you... and do terrible things to you."

Frustration shadowed his face. "You have to fight... you don't want to end up like me. Always serving a master, always pushed down in the shit."

"Law of the Beasts," she said faintly. "I'm not strong enough."

He turned around, expelling a steady stream of oaths before pivoting back. "You've done so much for the Curselands. I never thought I'd live to see a0 true tree again... that was because of you."

She shook her head. "Aidan..."

"You did it. You saw what could be done and didn't rest until the impossible became possible. Just like opening the portals and bringing the prince back. You are strong and a fool to think otherwise." He took a deep breath. "You deserve better."

"If I was strong, Meical couldn't force me into this ceremony," she said flatly.

He reached his hand out. "Your only weakness is sentiment. You don't want to put me in danger, so you refuse. Perhaps you cannot defeat your brother because of sentiment. If you can get rid of that weakness, I'll be waiting. I'll come to you when you wish to free yourself of chains."

"I threw you in a pit of snakes once," she said, not resisting as he took her hand.

"I haven't stopped thinking of you since that day."

He leaned down and kissed her. With slow intensity, he pressed her up against the wall. kissing roughly as his hands traversed her body. His touch left the warm tingle that he always caused. Nothing more.

Why couldn't she feel something more?

She pushed him away. "Go." Her teeth gritted. "If Meical suspects..."

She didn't finish. They both knew if Meical suspected anything, Cal's heart would be served for her wedding feast.

"This won't be forever." His black eyes fixed on her. "The prince will outlive his usefulness. When that day comes, you need only call on me."

He sprinted into the shadows, and she shut the door with a shudder. She didn't want Aidan to die.

But she didn't want to marry him.

She flung herself on her bed and tried to pretend none of it was happening. The creaking of her door and the clomping of boots destroyed her fragile attempts at denial. Her stomach churned, and she peeked out of the bed curtains. Nyx had brought a simple but elegant black dress.

"I'm not wearing that," Carys said.

"There's not much else." Nyx shrugged, laying it down on a table. "Your gown for the Doom Ball is still being made."

Carys opened the curtains wider. "Do you approve of what Meical is doing?"

"Meical is my overlord."

"He's forcing me to wed!" Carys clenched the curtain. "How can you, of all people, support this?"

Nyx spread out the black skirt. "You don't want to be late."

She did want to be late. But she scrambled off her bed to face her brother's best warrior. "You were forced into one of these ceremonies. You cannot think this is right!"

Nyx didn't look at her. "This is different."

"It's not! Meical is forcing—"

A fiery crack stunned Carys into silence. Nyx's slap had more power than most punches.

With an expression colder than ice, Nyx faced Carys.

"This is completely different. Meical is your overlord, and you owe him obedience for his protection.

I was enslaved to a tyrannical madman. You will be united with someone who must serve your brother.

This whole ceremony is taking place so that you will never be in my position. "

Carys resisted the urge to clutch her cheek, making herself stand straight and face the warrior. "This is just another way for Meical to enslave Aidan. It has nothing to do with me. He is chaining me to Aidan to further his own plans."

Nyx nodded. "But you've already chained yourself to the prince. You started this mess. Meical may not have liked it, but a Curse Ceremony was always going to be necessary for your protection."

Carys flinched.

"And... you could do worse than Little Dalon Prince."

Carys threw up her arms. "Don't you see? He doesn't want this!"

"But he agreed." Nyx sighed. "And, unlike you, he is not childishly fighting against the inevitability. When Curselord Meical decides something will happen, it will happen. Now get dressed. If your brother has to drag you down to the ceremony, he will."

Murderous rage swept through Carys. "All to show his power over everything."

"Aye."

She crumbled at Nyx's unyieldingness. Nyx had a maidservant bring up buckets of purified water for the bathtub.

Carys rarely wasted the precious substance on bathing, but even crystalline water couldn't cheer her.

The cold barely touched her as she squeezed into the narrow tub.

Little fragments of filth floated to the surface as the grime of the Curselands dislodged from her body.

Just like the dirt, she felt detached from her body. Her illusion of autonomy had been washed away in one day.

After she left the tub, Nyx watched her the whole time. She was making sure that Carys didn't paint any mystical runes on her body that would interfere with the ceremony.

"You needn't spy on me. I would never cross Meical!" Carys snapped as she fumbled to pull the dress over her head.

"I know." Nyx helped straighten the dress and fastened the ties in the back. "But I promised your brother to watch for any tricks. I... aren't you going to comb your hair?"

Carys defiantly shook her wet clumps of hair. "No. I am not a Starlands princess. This is just a ceremony for Meical's adherents."

Nyx sat Carys down at the dressing table and picked up a comb. "There's no reason that you have to make this day any more miserable for yourself."

Carys considered snapping back, but faltered as she remembered the slap. She remained silent until the comb hit a snag, tearing an oath from her.

"Meical doesn't want you to be miserable," Nyx murmured. "The ceremony is very specific that there will be consequences for lack of fidelity."

"Splendid. My brother is leaving the door to adultery open to me." Carys glowered. "He thinks highly of me."

"He knows that neither of you wants the ceremony. He knows the little Dalon prince doesn't love you."

"And I don't love Aidan."

"Indeed." The remaining mirror shared reflected Nyx's smile. "Perhaps one day you'll find one that will make you happy..."

"Meical needn't bother." The cracked mirror shard made Carys' scowl even uglier. "I know his intentions. He's locking me in this ceremony for as long as Aidan is useful. When he ceases to be of use, my brother will free me."

Nyx tilted her head, the monstrous half of her face only visible in the broken mirror. "Are you bothered by that idea?"

Carys stiffened. Part of her wanted to confide in Nyx, as she did with Gil.

But Nyx wasn't Gil. She was utterly devoted to Meical. She may not always agree with him, but would always serve him.

Carys stared straight at her broken reflection. "Only bothered that Meical may put me through this rubbish again. I shan't do it, never again."

She wasn't sure if Nyx was fooled by her manner, but the warrior shrugged. "If that is your desire, tell your brother. He may offer you that indulgence."

Carys sniffed. There was something deeply disturbing about the promise to not be forcibly re-wed being treated as an indulgence.

Especially knowing that indulgence would come upon the day that Meical slit Aidan's throat.

"What's the point?" she asked. "My dread lord of a brother has made it clear that my wishes don't matter—just his power."

Nyx pulled out a wreath of dried white flowers and raven feathers from her satchel. Flowers bloomed in the Curselands now, but Carys was only worthy of dead petals. She arranged it on Carys' smooth hair.

Carys grimaced. She looked more like a mummer than a bride.

"Meical loves you true," Nyx whispered. "All of this is done for you. And, like all the damned down here, his love takes a crooked path. But if you were to ask for a boon today, he would grant it."

Carys didn't believe her. Grim determination was the only thing that got her feet moving to the courtyard.

It was vile that the ceremony was to take place in Aidan's gardens.

Meical's supporters had gathered in a circle beside a fig tree.

They each held one candle, illuminating the long circle in a funereal ambiance.

"Must all these people be here?" she asked in a grim undertone to Nyx.

"It's better than my ceremony," Nyx said, her empty tone conveying more than the words. "You can be sure Meical shan't have you lose your dignity."

Out of respect for Nyx, Carys swallowed a retort that her brother was more concerned with the effect on his own dignity.

He was waiting for them at the edge of the circle.

Nyx kissed Carys' cheek and went to take her place in the circle.

Meical handed a white candle to Carys. She stayed silent as he lit the wick with his own candle.

She stayed silent as he took her hand and led her through the circle.

She stayed silent as the black eyes of the circle followed her.

But she couldn't stay silent after catching a glimpse of Aidan in front of the fig tree. Aidan's candle barely illuminated his features, a shadowy reflection of the sunny prince of Dalon.

"Meical..." Carys' voice nearly disappeared.

What could she say? If she refused, Meical could compel her in front of everyone. It would look bad for him, but worse for Carys. Everyone would see her weakness.

Aidan would see that she was no better than him.

Carys stopped. Meical halted, giving her a sidelong glance. He didn't need to force her along.

He knew she would come.

It took a minute for Carys to work up her nerve. "I would ask a boon."

He was expressionless. "Indeed?"

"I shan't ask now, but in the future," she said in a hushed tone. "I want an autonomous boon that will be determined at a later date. I swear to the Blood Dragon that it shan't be anything that harms you or your cause."

"As you wish, Nightshade." His face was still impossible to read. "After the ceremony, we shall administer the blood vow."