The Twice Cursed

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Meical continued making a speech promising reward and retribution. Carys wasn't sure if it was effective. She could barely stay awake.

She attempted to pay attention as remaining followers pledged blood fealty to Meical. There were so many people that Bradon and Nyx were also sorting through the supplicants. Meical kept Aidan close to him, likely trying to teach Aidan how they conducted justice in the Curselands.

Some of the least important ones or most desperate sought out Carys, possibly hoping that a young female would be less harsh.

Of course, Nyx was gleefully imposing punishments on men that she hated and even slit the throat of one after an altercation.

Being younger and less warlike, Carys probably was perceived to be more merciful.

But Carys feared the real reason was her frail appearance from the aftermath of the battle.

Carys went rigid with distrust as Kieran's consort Keeva approached. She remembered Keeva's hand on the babe's throat, another reason she held a knife to Keeva's throat.

"I suppose that I needn't ask what you want of me," Carys said grimly. "Mercy is not going to be granted. You must offer something if you hope to receive Curselord Meical's protection."

"Of course." Keeva didn't look like her home had just been a battlefield.

She appeared as refined and exquisite as when she was dancing with Aidan.

But there was something different about her.

Keeva had seemed stiff and uncomfortable when Kieran had been alive.

Now, even though her life was at stake, she sparkled with confidence and beauty.

Dirt, dust, and sweat covered Carys. Her dress was torn, red gashes decorated her body, and her nose was bashed from falling face-first on the hard ridges of Spiky.

"So, what have you to offer?" Carys asked, striving for dignity but afraid that she sounded churlish.

"As Kieran's consort, I was privy to many secrets..."

Carys rolled her eyes. "Aye, I'm sure he shared the secrets of his heart with you."

Keeva made a sweet face. "Of course my lord kept his counsel, he'd have been a fool to do otherwise. But I kept my eyes open and gathered information when at all possible."

"What could you possibly know?"

"I know my lord's trick to summoning Jumping Portals."

Carys laughed bitterly. "Kieran was said to do unspeakable things to gain control of Jumping Portals. How could you possibly do it?"

"I didn't say I could do it. I said that I know. I will share this information if I can claim Meical's protection."

"Curselord Meical," Carys corrected automatically. "I am certain my brother wouldn't mind another leech from the losing side."

"You misunderstand me, Mistress Carys." Keeva bowed her head, the respectful gesture befouled by a curve of her red lips. "I want a Curse Ceremony with Curselord Meical."

Carys jolted. "Never!"

"I don't believe that is any say of yours, Mistress Carys," Keeva said. "I would only ask that you speak on my behalf to your brother."

"No!" Carys shook her head. "And I will hear no more from you on this matter. Please petition Nyx the Curse Warrior instead. I know she shall gladly hear your request."

"I think not." Keeva raised her head, a speculative look on her face. "You will want to hear what I say...it concerns the Rali shapeshifter."

Gil.

Everything was lost in a haze. Carys cleared her throat. "He...he's trapped and going to die. If you have any final words from him, it won't make much difference now."

Keeva stepped closer. Too close. "Why do you think your brother sent that shapeshifter after my lord's secrets?"

"I don't see what..."

Keeva gave a half-smile. "Do you truly think the Rali shapeshifter lingered so long just to help my dearest stepdaughter and her brat? She has an understanding of my dearest lord's control of Jumping Portals." She glanced back at the impassive Aidan. "As was dramatically demonstrated."

Carys clenched her teeth. "I don't understand."

"Don't you?" Keeva shrugged. "I see and hear many things, Mistress Carys. But I don't always speak. Survival is easier that way for those like you and me."

"I'm nothing like you!"

"Aren't you?" Keeva craned her head. "You are a woman under the rule of a powerful male relative. You have no say or will, other than his."

"Untrue!"

Keeva leaned closer. "Take a look at yourself, Mistress Carys. Bonded in a Curse Ceremony against your will, beat down by your brother in public. Have you ever done a thing that he hasn't wanted?"

"If you're trying to drive me apart from my brother, it shan't work," Carys said fiercely.

"Indeed?" Keeva stepped back. "Then I will leave you with these final thoughts: why didn't your brother kill the shapeshifter before throwing him in the portal? Why isn't the shapeshifter's sister trying to avenge him now?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Keeva chortled. "For a witch who designed the plan of twice cursing a prince, you've a decided lack of imagination. You are in need of someone to share the things that you don't wish to see. There may come a day when it will save your life."

Carys glanced uneasily at her brother, who was being shown some sort of map. "You just were liberated from your foul uncle. By the Blood Dragon, why should you want to chain yourself again?"

"Because it is the safest course," Keeva said.

"We live in a wretched world where only the strong survive.

No matter how powerful women become, we will always be at the mercy of ruthless men.

Look at you! You broke the sealing stone and captured a prince, but your brother still treated you like a thing to be used. "

Carys recoiled. She didn't want to hear these things from this hateful woman, the truth that haunted her at night.

She hated Keeva and didn't want her for a sister, but presented her to Meical. The woman would find a way to climb to the top. Short of ripping her heart out, the only viable choice was to have her think they were allies.

Exhaustion ate at Carys by the time the wretched business was over. Meical came over and gave her a cold pat on the shoulder, unable to do more in public. "Your husband has proven a great use, Nightshade."

She gave him a dark look. "I am fortunate that I didn't die when he went through the Jumping Portal."

"The prince is more resourceful than I imagined," Meical said.

Carys couldn't tell if her brother meant it as a compliment or a regret.

"I should grant him Cinder Fortress for his great victory," Meical continued.

"His great victory?" Carys said. "It was a joint effort between both of us."

"Aye, you helped," Meical said in a cruel, dismissive way. "I'll reward both of you. But I need the prince at Ghost Tower, where I can keep a close watch on him."

"He jumped back into hell. Do you really think you have any worries from him?" Carys asked acidly.

"Possibly not," he said with unwarranted cheerfulness. "Everything is different now, Nightshade. We brought down Kieran and brought about a new era to the Curselands. The news of your husband will bring many new followers."

"Aidan might not follow you forever once you end up attacking the Starlands."

"You never know," Meical said easily. "The lad has a darker heart than I would have credited. Perhaps the events of this night show that he only needs a reason to attack."

Unease crept into her. "And how will you manage such a feat?"

"Easily."

Like a Curse Vulture partaking of a corpse, his tone gnawed at her. She folded her arms. "An easy task, to be sure."

"Easier than you credit." Meical stretched. "We all have our reasons for what we do. The key was finding what would make the lad that vicious."

Meical's words had a foul taste that Carys longed to wash away. "I don't suppose Aidan's brother would ever toss one of his friends to their death."

"You'd be surprised what men will do when they're threatened."

As more pieces fell into place, Carys longed to tear up the picture. She stepped away from her brother, walking through Cinder Fortress in a daze. The cold walls seemed to close in on her, a coffin of shadows. She stepped outside, walking to the edge of the mountain.

She stared at the scarlet sea. "Why don't you push me off?"

Shanna stepped beside her. "Your dearest brother shan't thank me for it."

"You hold me responsible for your brother's death." Carys gave Shanna a sidelong glance. "Unless..."

"Unless?"

"He isn't dead, is he?" Carys asked.

Carys couldn't trust the false beauty of hope, but Shanna had been too calm since waking up. Unhelpful, but missing her murderous rage.

Shanna smiled. "No one who has dwelt an entire year in the Curselands can survive in the Starlands."

The playful smile irked Carys. "I've been told I've a decided lack of imagination. Perhaps you could be plain with me?"

"I think not," Shanna said. "I don't like you."

"That I know."

Somberness slipped upon Shanna. "I truly thought my brother was dead. I was willing to tear apart your bastard brother in revenge. But...your brother ever plays the long game. It struck me when the prince fell through the portal...Aidan would survive. And my brother would survive."

"The curse is within him," Carys whispered.

"Is it?" Shanna shuffled her feet, leaning precariously near the edge.

"Gil never used Curse Magic. He...he knew newer things of the Starlands that he shouldn't know, and your brother sent him on missions.

He would be gone for long periods. If...

if he left the Curselands during the first year, it would have disrupted the curse from settling upon him.

If he returned, it would be another year before the curse settled. ..and if interrupted again..."

Carys clasped her hands together. "The cycle would begin again."

Shanna nodded.

Carys shook her head. "If it were that easy, everyone could do it."

"Everyone couldn't do it," Shanna contradicted. "Most in perdition use Curse Magic...Jumping Portals pull those with Curse Magic into the Curselands. That was how the Starlands got rid of most of them."

Carys' heart pounded furiously. "You think my brother has been sending Gil to the Starlands for years? Those portals could have led to oceans or volcanos or..."

She couldn't even finish the thought. Grimness brought out Shanna's beastly features. "Aye, my brother could've easily died. But he'd do it for me so Meical wouldn't put me to death. Why do you think I'm still alive?"

"The Doom Ball curse?" Carys said weakly.

Scorn flashed in Shanna's eyes. "You are stupider than you look. If I'm alive, Gil's alive."

Relief should have filled Carys, not foreboding. "But Meical wanted people to think Gil was dead?"

"I imagine he wanted Kieran to think Gil was dead and have Gil pop back later to stab the good Curselord." An utterly monstrous smile settled on Shanna's face. "He'd likely have Gil show up as Kieran's niece-wife when he did it."

Carys tried to calm the whirling thoughts in her mind. "Are you certain?"

"Is anything certain in this miserable joke of a life?

" A piercing laugh rang out, halfway between murderous and mirthful.

Vulnerability washed away the beastly features.

"But I have to hope. Gil wanted me to live, but I am turning into a monster.

The only thing that gives me the strength to get through each day is knowing it's what my brother wants. "

"Gil...would want you to live for yourself," Carys said weakly.

"The moment I live only for myself is the moment that I become one of the monsters of hell.

" Shanna scowled. "Do you know why I hate you so much?

You are a lamb pretending to be a wolf. You don't act for yourself, only for your brother.

But your weakness only necessitates in others becoming more beastly.

You do nothing while Prince Aidan goes down a dark path.

You do nothing while your brother plays with lives.

The righteous die, the monsters live, and you are too much of a coward for either path. "