The Twice Cursed

Chapter Thirty-Five

Someone tapped Carys' shoulder, and she recoiled. Her magic floated to the surface, ready to attack.

She relaxed marginally when she saw that it was Cal. "What are you doing here?"

"I brought Curselord Meical's gifts." He bobbed his head. "Do me the honor of dancing."

All Carys wanted to do was run from this place and give in to her tears. But she took his hand and began moving with Cal. "This is wrong," she muttered. "Do you know what they did to Gil?"

"Indeed," Cal said levelly. "Curse Mage Bradon told me to expect a promotion."

"Of course," she said stonily.

"I've never seen Curse Mage Bradon look so shattered."

Bradon had a heart, after all. But too late. "He didn't deserve Gil," Carys said bitterly.

"Indeed not," Cal nodded. "Serving your brother only ends one way. Surely you see that now."

"Do I see that I will plunge to my death?" She smiled sourly. "I always knew it. But I've never had another choice."

"It needn't be that way," he said, his dance steps as forceful as his words. "We can do something. Take power."

"Are you suggesting that I overthrow my brother?" she asked incredulously. "I haven't the power."

He squeezed her hand. "Not alone."

The whirling green flames made her eyes ache. "No. I won't hear this," she said. "I just lost my best friend. I shan't speak of overthrowing my brother!"

Overthrowing someone meant ending their life and, even now, she couldn't contemplate a world without her brother.

"If he was gone, the monsters like Kieran would have all the power," she said. "Weren't you once at the mercy of wolves? Do you want to go back?"

He pulled her closer. Too close. Carys caught Aidan staring at them across the dance floor as he glided along with Mona.

Cal cleared his throat. "Carys, you need to know..."

"May I cut in?"

This was getting to be too much for Carys. Typically men avoided her, knowing she was poison. Tonight so many men whirled her around when all she wanted was to curl up and cry like a babe.

The urge grew stronger when she realized the request came from Kieran. Cal pulled her backward as if trying to protect her from those soulless eyes.

Too zealous in following the Law of the Beasts, Kieran didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed Carys' hand, pulling her along.

All of her instincts cried to resist, but that would show weakness. So she went along with him as if it was her choice to dance with the puppeteer of Gil's murder. Her skin crawled as Kieran put his hand around her waist.

"May I say that you look lovely tonight, Mistress Carys?"

Carys was a witch and the sister of a Curselord, but at that moment, she felt very much like an insect trapped in a spider's web. "You...are quite the host," she managed to say.

Kieran nodded as if it was a compliment. "It's been years since I saw you. Did you know I once offered Meical an end to our conflict? Even after he murdered my brother. All it would take was a union with you."

Her very soul seemed to shudder. "My brother never needed your alliance," she said, striving for a bold manner.

"But he has always needed my magical knowledge. That is why he sent his Rali dog sniffing around and is one of the reasons that he never openly challenged me."

"Don't insult Gil," she said savagely.

Kieran squeezed her. "Never tell me what to do, girl," he warned. "You've seen what happens to people who defy me."

All Carys wanted to do was yank her hand back and slap him. "What do you want?"

"What I've ever wanted. Domination of the Curselands." Kieran pulled Carys closer. "Your Bloodwitch understands the secrets of pulling life from the Dalon prince. I need those secrets."

Carys let out a harsh noise that might be mistaken for a laugh. "Never! And even if you somehow obtained them, you would need Aidan. He shan't ever aid you, not after what you did to Gil."

"What I did to Gil?" Nothing seemed to exist except his monstrous eyes. "I believe your brother shoved him to his doom."

"Aidan knows you set the stage," she said. "Gil meant something to him."

"Aye." Kieran nodded. "Those from the Starlands are weakened by what is called compassion. It is how your brother wrangled his service. But that can be used by me."

"Aidan shan't ever be used again!" Carys snapped. "There is no one you could use against him. You killed the only friend that he had in this hellish realm."

"Did I?" He cocked his head. "Not even his fair wife?"

"He cares the way that I would care for you if we wedded."

"Indeed?" His black eyes almost seemed to sparkle.

"I think he cares a great deal more. He would certainly come running if he thought that you were threatened.

" She scoffed. Aidan would only save her to spare the life of the one he truly loved.

"That theory can never be tested. Nothing can harm me during this Doom Ball. "

"Magic cannot harm any guests." Kieran ran his finger up Carys' arm. "But someone can be pushed into a portal. There are always alternatives."

She tried pulling away, but Kieran forced her closer. So close his hot, rancid breath overwhelmed her.

Her nose wrinkled. "What are you doing?"

Kieran moved his foul finger up to her cheek. "You aren't beautiful, but there is a charm to you. Not enough for most men, yet I suppose the prince wouldn't have to fight too hard to find his way into your icy cavern."

She attempted to yank her arm away, but Kieran was physically stronger, and she couldn't use magic. While she tried to think about the best way to extract herself, Kieran forced her head up and his mouth upon her.

The foul taste of his mouth inundated her. It was as if he dined all of the time on rotten Curse Creature meat. So sickened by the foul flavor, she almost missed the cause. His lips sieged her mouth, his tongue battered its way into her mouth.

Carys did the only thing possible and bit down. Her teeth ripped into his lip, causing blood to gush into her mouth.

Kieran didn't stop. It was as if the taste of his own blood was an aphrodisiac. He bit back, tearing into her lips. Carys dug her fingernails into him, preparing to knee him in the codpiece.

She never had the chance. A mystical force hooked into her very soul, like being pulled out of her skin.

She gasped for breath, unsure if Kieran had found some way around the Doom Ball's restrictions.

The warm mystical force was pulling her backward at a rapid pace.

When it abruptly ceased, she almost tripped over her own feet.

Arms wrapped around Carys, holding her steady, and she breathed in a familiar scent.

"Do not touch her."

Kieran turned toward them, his mouth still bloody from the kiss. "Law of the Beasts says that we must do what we will. I saw your wife, and I wanted the taste of her."

Carys pushed away from Aidan, shaking from humiliation at her helplessness, frustrated that she didn't think of using magic to get away.

Aidan stepped forward, green flames casting an eerie glow over him. "If you touch her again, you're dead."

Kieran wiped the mouth and licked the blood. "I can taste you in her. The Curse Ceremony has brought you together in quite a powerful way. But I do believe in fairness."

Carys spat his blood out upon hearing the last word.

"I tasted your wife..." Kieran tilted his head. "You can taste my wife, Keeva."

As if summoned by his last word, Keeva popped up behind Kieran. Her long dark hair fell past her shoulders, and her skin was pale white, giving her an almost vampiric appearance. The notion brought a whole new realization to Carys.

"Don't do it," Carys said in a low voice to Aidan.

"It wasn't my intention," he said irritably.

Carys flinched. "I meant that they want your blood." She ducked her head. "That's why Kieran kissed me."

She didn't have to see him to know he understood. No one would know better than him the worth of his blood. He cleared his throat. "If you want to make it up to me, give me some of your blood."

"Easily done," Kieran said. "Most of it is still in your wife's mouth. Kiss it if you dare."

A hush came over the room. Carys raised her head and saw the open curiosity about how the encounter between the Dalon prince and the Curse Mage would end.

It could only end in disaster. If Aidan showed any hint of affection, Kieran would use it against him. Aidan had too many people using his affection against him.

She took a deep breath, trying to freeze her feelings. "If you've both had your amusement, I shan't be disrespected anymore!" she snapped. "I am not a Starlands whore princess who can be used by men to settle their fights. You both disgust me!"

Aidan glanced over at her. If he had shown any dismay, she would have stopped, but the cold look on his face only spurred her forward.

"There's no need to make a show of honor anymore, Aidan," she said scornfully. "No matter what you say, you sold your honor for comfort. You're as rotten as the rest of us, yet you pretend to be better. But mark me, a witch never forgets who uses her."

She slapped him with all of her might. Her attacks on Kieran weren't effective, but the crack echoed. Worry whirled within that the Doom Ball spell might rebound on her, despite using no magic for the slap.

Her hand shook at the empty look on Aidan's face. She raised her arm to slap him again, but Aidan caught her hand. "What is wrong with you?" he hissed. "Gil would be ashamed."

Genuine anger spiked inside. "Aye, and Princess Bella will ever be ashamed she thought you were worthy. You threw away your love at the first opportunity."

She wrenched her hand away from Aidan and stormed through the crowd. Murmurs followed, but she didn't look back. She couldn't look back. Her whirling thoughts offered no relief. Gil was waiting for death, Aidan hated her, and she shattered her brother's claim of it being a willing union.

But she kept Kieran from thinking that she could be used against Aidan, and, more importantly, she kept Aidan from ever being compelled to sacrifice himself for her.

Many black eyes followed her. She yearned to flee from Cinder Fortress, but feared looking cowardly.

So she made a sedate pace out of the fortress to the stark courtyard, the ball's macabre melody fading.

A few adherents of mages lingered in the courtyard, but one scowl kept most at bay.

She tried to avoid some of the blatant debaucheries but caught one woman pleasuring a man with her mouth.

She doubted such things happened at a Starlands ball.

Her pace increased until she found a broken bit of wall. She hiked up her skirts and sat on the crumbling stone. Aidan's words of Gil being ashamed haunted her. She closed her eyes, listening to the ocean crashing against the wall of the fortress.

"Mistress Carys?"

She jerked and opened her eyes. Kieran's daughter stood before her. Mona opened her mouth, but another loud wave drowned out what she was saying.

"I didn't hear you," Carys said.

Mona shook her head. "So many wild Jumping Portals outside of the fortress. Their magic makes the ocean so wild."

"What do you want?" Carys asked in an acid tone.

"Everyone is speaking of you in there," Mona said quietly. "None have much good to say. A weak witch throwing a tantrum. A plain scarecrow not deserving of the attention of a prince and a Curselord."

Carys huffed. "I've heard worst things from my own mother. None of it matters now."

"None of it matters?" Mona echoed. "Is that because of Gil?"

Carys' magic nearly exploded. Holding it back burned, and she coughed out blood. Once the coughing fit was under control, she forced herself to look at Mona. "I'll eat your heart."

"I wish you would." Mona leaned against the broken wall. "Anything would be better than serving my father."

Carys gestured to a coach. "Fly away with me from the restrictions of the Doom Ball and you shall have your desire."

Mona hiked her skirts up and sat beside Carys. "Your wicked witch play-acting doesn't work on me. I've put on that show so many times. One player recognizes another."

Carys moved to make a retreat, unwilling to sit beside Gil's murderer. But Mona caught her arm.

"Do let go!" Carys snapped.

"I didn't murder Gil with my own hands, but I am the reason that he was caught." Mona grimaced. "And...and it should never have happened."

Carys hesitated. "What do you mean?"

Mona stared down at her pale hands. "I was the one who first realized aught was amiss. Gil played his roles well but was too kind for his part. No one who serves my father is kind. I tested him, you know. I stumbled, and Gil caught out his hand to help me."

"Courtesy isn't utterly dead in the Curselands," Carys said.

"But it is here." Mona craned her head up at the crimson sky. "No man has touched me in quite a while. Not since my father found my lover. You saw the prisoners in iron masks."

"Your lover is one of them?" Carys asked with indifference.

"He wishes."

Carys narrowed her eyes. "If you think your sorry tale shall reach my heart, you are more of a fool than you look."

"What I am trying to tell you is that Gil acted with decency, and I knew he wasn't one of my brother's men. I also knew that he was my best hope to escape."

Carys let out a noise that hurt her throat too much to be a laugh. "And you expect me to believe you are the locked away princess and Gil was your knight-errant? Gil was the truest heart in this abyss, and even he wouldn't play that role."

"True." Mona nodded. "Not for me."

Carys pursed her lips. "What do you mean?"

"Some time ago, before my father cut Curse Warrior Taran into pieces, I did the most grievous folly a young woman can do in this tainted land."

"You fell in love," Carys said with a derisive snort.

"In a manner of speaking." Mona stared down at the rocky ground. "I had a child."

A loud wave crash served as an excuse for not speaking, and Carys took another look at Mona. She didn't see a siren, just a scared young woman.

They both knew what having a child meant in the Curselands, so Carys didn't belabor the point. "What happened to the child?"

"My father has him," Mona said. "He means to sacrifice him when he's reached his seventh year."

Carys swallowed. "And you wanted Gil to be your white knight to save you and your babe?"

"Just the babe."

Unable to help herself, she slapped Mona. "You've the worst sort of weakness. Who would bring life into this world of death? And you are a witch? Do you know what we do to our own children?"

"It doesn't always have to be that way," Mona argued. "My mother..."

"Kieran killed your mother when you were a babe!" Carys snapped. "Do you know what witch mothers do? They kill their children for having more magic! They leave their children out in the wilderness as sacrifices for the beasts. Some even eat their own children!"

"I wouldn't!"

"Don't be a ninny." Carys hopped off the wall, trying to mind her skirts. "This is why Gil died? He tried to help someone so stupid that they took a 'lover' and risked having a babe. Well, Gil is a fool who deserved his death!"

Every word she said was supported by the Law of the Beasts, truth engraved into her as a child. Yet her insides spasmed at Gil's name.

"Do you truly believe that?"

Shock rippled through Carys. Shanna was behind her. The cursed shapeshifter had somehow shaken the sleep spell. Carys' exhaustion probably weakened the magic.

"There!" Carys gestured to Mona. "If you want your revenge, there is the one who caused your brother's death. Take your retribution."

Shanna snarled. "You'd like for me to attack her with magic.

Then I should die, and you wouldn't have to worry about my vengeance.

This is still the fault of your selfish brother.

He sent Gil to his death before he even pushed him into the portal.

This visit to the Doom Ball was never to save my brother, it was to show his power over Prince Aidan. You know it to be true."

Shame struck Carys. Why had she ever believed Meical? Aidan wanted to run off and rescue Gil. A plan that likely would have failed.

But it might have succeeded. Then Carys, Aidan, and Gil would be flying away on Spiky like the legends of the Valiant Prince.

It was so much simpler in stories. Carys scorned the ease of the stories, but she might be wrong.

Perhaps things ended up in such a terrible mire because she didn't believe the better way could work.

"Law of the Beasts," Mona said quietly. "We suffer, and we hurt each other. It never ends. The last thing that Gil said to me was that we will all eat each other alive. Saving one life isn't enough, but it's something."

That did sound like Gil. Carys met Shanna's eyes for a second before both turned away.

"I don't know what Gil was thinking," Carys said crossly. "A baby is as good as doomed in the Curselands, even if it is far from the kin that would sacrifice it. Otherwise, we'd have more children capering about!"

"You are only damned upon taking your first breath of the Curselands. It takes a year for the Curselands to seep into your being." Mona clasped her hands together. "My babe is only nine months old."

Carys' mouth dropped open. "What were you intending?"

"As you saw, my father experiments with Jumping Portals." Mona pushed a long, dark strand back. "Gil was to get my Cathan to one of those Jumping Portals."

"You were going to throw your babe into one of the Jumping Portals?" Carys asked incredulously. "There's no telling where the portals end up! You could be consigning your babe to a watery grave."

She almost choked as the image of Gil drowning entered her head.

"That is exactly what Prince Aidan said," Mona said. "I told him when we were dancing..."

"You told him..." Carys took a deep breath. "Why are you approaching him? Why me?"

Mona hugged herself. "I want to save my babe while there is still a chance."

Carys hated her flowing skirts because she really wanted to kick something. "Should we all offer ourselves to Kieran's portals?"

"I have what Gil wanted, what your brother required him to steal from my father," Mona said. "I will give it to you if you save my Cathan."

"No!" Carys snapped. "You were stupid enough to have a baby. Suffer the consequences!"

"Is that what he wanted?"

Carys froze. The voice was too painfully familiar. She turned around and only saw a blur of Gil's features before they melted back into Shanna. Tears streamed down Shanna's delicate face.

"My brother was ever a fool. Not selfish enough for the Curselands," Shanna said tearfully. "But that's a good thing. He will die in a better place than us, being better than us. We may as well honor his last wish. And Prince Aidan surely agreed."

"Indeed he did," Mona said.

"Then if you have his agreement, why nag me about it?" Carys asked, too undone from hearing Gil's voice.

"Because Prince Aidan needs your help," Mona said. "He wouldn't tell me what it's about, just that he worked out how to get around the spell that stops people from harming guests. But, to do that, he must take a terrible risk. And only you can stop him. It is a power that you both share."

It took a moment for Carys to understand. "But...how would that get around the spell?"

"Prince Aidan says it will get around the spell." Mona hugged herself. "He just needs to take a chance. He says that it might endanger all that he loves."

"Of course," Carys murmured. "But...he can't do it. That makes it sound as though he means to embrace the Law of the Beasts to get what he wants."

"Isn't that for the best?" Shanna asked grimly. "At least from your perspective? You drag someone down to hell, and they must inevitably embrace the Law of the Beasts. Gil had to live with the Law of the Beasts to survive. He only perished because he couldn't embrace them fully."

That was true, but it disturbed Carys. She didn't want to lose Aidan to the beasts.