“Thena?” King Leonel gasped in surprise when he noticed the dirty woman.
“Hello, dear,” Thena chuckled, and gave a little twirl to show off her raggedy dress. “I’m sorry that I’m not properly dressed for our first meeting in almost twenty years.”
“That’s because you betrayed me. You bore me a monster.”
“Love is never a betrayal. I can forgive you for imprisoning me, but not for trying to kill my daughter.”
“She tried to kill me,” King Leonel said. “I held her, and she tried to kill me.”
“She was a babe, and didn’t understand her power,” Thena yelled back.
King Leonel shook his head. “That’s why she was banished. She should never have been born, and I should have killed you as well. Guards! Kill her!” the king screamed, and the archers turned on her.
I slowed when I got to Amaryllis.
“Go, Honor.” Amaryllis pushed me toward the palace. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“She can’t do this alone. She’s too weak. She’ll need help,” I rushed out, knowing that it was taking every ounce of strength left for my mother to walk upright.
“It’s okay. I’ve got this.” Amaryllis shooed me away, and raced out to Thena’s side, taking her hand.
Thena looked at Amaryllis. “Are you sure?” she asked. “You know what it means? I will take everything you have.”
Amaryllis swallowed, and looked back at her prone husband. “I’m sure. My future was foretold long ago. I knew this day would come. We do it for Honor.”
Even from a distance, I could see Thena trembling, struggling to stand up and face her captor. Amaryllis wrapped her arms around her in a hug, holding her upright.
I was still too close. I could feel myself pulling on Thena’s magic. I needed to save her, and the only way to do it was to run away.
I ran for the open doors of the palace as fast as I could, trying to give her enough space where I wouldn’t nullify her magic. Just as I passed the palace threshold, I looked back and saw Thena raise her hands, and a bright light flickered across the courtyard, emanating from her chest. Amaryllis screamed.
Another blast followed, and I flew backwards into the foyer, hitting a marble column, and darkness followed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Get up, you lazybones!” Rumple growled. “You’re squishing me.”
Groaning, I rolled over on my side and saw the courtyard was empty. Piles of dirt lay everywhere. Hundreds of people, decimated into dust.
I screamed, realizing what had just happened. “No . . .”
Thena had killed everyone. Fueled by Amaryllis, in a blast of magic, she had destroyed the entire courtyard, the king’s army, and herself.
Ogress, Amaryllis, Thena, Lorelai . . . all gone.
I couldn’t do this. I didn’t even know what I was supposed to do, or where I was supposed to go. Nothing made sense.
I picked myself up, stumbling through the carpeted halls of the empty palace. As I passed a portrait, the frame swung open, and I saw the beady eyes of the house-elves watching me.
I wandered aimlessly and crossed a deactivated ward. My slipper passed over it, and I felt a twinge of guilt. Was this my fault? Had I started the avalanche of circumstances that led to everyone’s death?
If I hadn’t jumped through the veil and followed the trail to the city, I wouldn’t have ended up at the palace. I never would’ve met Bravado, and his magical menagerie, or Saphira. They’d all be alive.
A small cough surprised me.
Turning, I saw Nimm, his clothes singed, and part of his face was badly burned.
“This is all my fault!” I cried out, dropping to my knees. “Everyone’s dead because of me.”
He shook his head and pointed down the hall toward the princesses’ wing.
“I can’t.”
He grabbed my collar, slapped my face, and pointed again. “I don’t understand.”
He pointed down the hall and then to his ears.
“Listen?” I guessed. “I am listening to you. I’m trying.”
He shook his head no, and signed again, his fingers flying as he tried to act out what was going on. Hopping around, dancing, pointing at his ears.
“Elves?” I said. “Percy . . . the princesses . . .”
Immediately, my focus shifted from grief to worry, and I was once again surprised by the lack of people roaming the halls. The house-elves were in hiding, but where were all the servants? Where were the elves? Where was the leader of the southern elves?
“The painting!”
Nimm jumped up and down in excitement. I knew what was going on. There would be another attack that would happen tonight, and I had to stop it.
As I ran, I passed the ballroom and saw the storage closet. I paused, and I stared at the trunk, then down at my tattered dress and knew it would hamper me. Quickly, I changed into a performing outfit, dropping the bloody dress on the floor. Slipping into another pair of puffed pants and striped leotard, I tucked the dagger into my belt. There weren’t any boots in the trunk, but I’d make do.
Every hall I turned into, I passed another deactivated ward, and each time I had an eerie feeling. I came to the golden double doors, and I went through.
Empty. Just as I’d suspected. I looked up at the painting and ran my fingers over the dried paint. How did one get through the painting? What did I need to do to activate it?
“That’s a horrible imitation of Thornhaven Court,” Rumple said.
“You recognize this place?” I asked, pointing to the painting of the silver trees.
“Of course. It’s the birthplace of magic, where the very first ley line erupted out of the earth centuries ago. It’s said that its magic was so wild and rampant, it turned the trees into diamonds, gold, and even silver. From this ley line, the fae were birthed, even the dwarves.” Rumple seemed proud of his knowledge.
“How far away is it? I mean, how long would it take to reach this place by foot?” I asked.
“I don’t know. No one does.”
“Then how do I get there?” I growled in frustration.
“With our help.” A deep voice came from behind me, and I turned to see Kings Xander and Dorian. Behind them, four more people stepped into the room. Liam of Rya, Brennan of Isla, Aspen of Florin, and Kash of Kiln. The rulers of the other six kingdoms.
Immediately, I bowed, dropping my head.
“Will you look at that?” Kash said. “I never thought I’d see the day when this would happen.”
“Sissy hands!” Rumple roared in delight at seeing his favorite king.
“Don’t tease her,” Liam said, his handsome face scrunching up. “Can’t you see how much turmoil she’s in?”
“Can we stop this yet?” Aspen asked, scratching his arms. “This really itches.”
“You’re no fun.” Brennan elbowed the shorter Aspen. “I want to see how long it takes her to notice.”
I frowned, staring at the royals before me. Their demeanor was off, even though they were in much larger and more muscular bodies. Their hand actions and movements were wrong, and very feminine.
Liam was watching me, and a smile cracked his lips. “I think she’s figured it out.”