Page 12 of Beneath Swan Lake (Deadly Endings #2)

“You must be quite tired from your journey,” Cindy says, bustling around the room. Reginald got things moving once he realized that Raymundo and I wouldn’t be sharing any details, and he sent for the King and Queen. My father was trapped with someone who was extremely unhappy in the throne room, and I didn’t ask the details.

My mother though, she’s up in arms about my return, sitting at my vanity as Cindy helps me dress. The feathered outfit I prefer is dirty from traveling around, and Mother insists that I wear one of the formal, cream dresses that she adores. It’s got capped feather sleeves and matching gloves, and I put on the slim turquoise choker to appease her fashionable sensibilities. It makes her smile, so I smile right back.

And while the two of them dote on me, I find myself missing Raymundo.

“I’m so happy you’re home, my dear,” Mother says, moving forward again to wrap me in a hug. She’s especially emotional today, clinging to me more than she has since I was first cursed. “We were so afraid someone got to you again.”

I wince. The last time I disappeared for more than a day, Dima had pulled my eye from my head and dragged me back to his cave of horrors. When asked what happened, I couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents the truth.

Dima’s haunted my mind since. Tell the truth little swan, and I’ll crush your eye for all to see. It’s cursed now, just like you. Stabbing through the eye is like stabbing you. It’s a part of you, and injuring it could injure you too.

I can’t say I’ve ever challenged the idea, so maybe Dima is stretching the truth about what would happen to me if he squished or stabbed the eye. It’s already removed from my head, so it might give him access to what I’m seeing but I’m not certain he can hurt me that way. Still, the idea makes my stomach twist with fear, and I’ve been hurt enough by Dima to not risk any more pain.

My parents may be royalty, but they do not possess magic like Dima. If he wanted to seize the throne through force he could, and my father would be the biggest casualty. I love my parents, and I don’t want to risk an attack and anyone’s sudden death. For now, Dima is still willing to play the political game.

Cindy comes back into my main room from the bath, carrying my favorite dress over one arm. I know she’s going to just go wash it, but that dress is like a lifeline to me. “Be careful, Cindy, dear. I don’t want the feathers ruffled.”

She offers me a grin, her dimples popping out as she bows. “Of course, Miss. I’ll be careful as always.”

I watch her go, wishing for a moment that my mother took a little longer sweeping into my room. I adore Cindy, and I’m forever glad she found her way here from the wretched life she knew in Tressa. That was so long ago, I’m not sure Rapunzel would have any idea what I was talking about if I mentioned it. I don’t think her parents were all that forthcoming with information. And who knows when or if I’ll ever see the Golden Princess again.

“You’re distracted,” Mother says, nodding her head to me as Cindy closes the door. My lady in waiting is a delicate girl with dirty blonde hair and a history she would rather not share. We aren’t exactly close, but she seems nice enough when she shows up to help me. “You’re certain your travels were safe?”

“Yes,” I say, fixing my mother with a glare. We have the same green eyes, though hers never change like mine do. “Raymundo was kind on the journey.”

Mother nods again. She’s never had anything against the Reaper, and I think she likes him even more now that he’s returned me home. “Tell me again, love, why you were so far from home?”

I fight the urge to wince. When Dima uses the eye and gets in my head, my actions aren’t always my own. He wants a weapon like the Reapers wield, but for what purpose I have no idea. I don’t believe anyone but Death can actually use the weapons to open the doors into the afterlife. Even if Dima got his hands on one, it would be all but useless to him. “As I mentioned, Mother, I got lost while in my swan form. I need to be more careful. Sometimes the swan mind just takes over. I fell in with a flock of swans and followed them out of Swan Lake and across Mystica. Then the Reaper spotted me when we touched down, and I recognized him enough that it jogged my memory and helped me shift back.”

She gives me a skeptical look. The lie slides off my tongue so easily I almost believe it myself. My parents, just like anyone else who doesn’t have shifter abilities, don't have an understanding of what it’s like when I’m in my shifted form. I’m not mindless, I have all my thoughts and wits about me. Blaming my swan form on being a simple follower isn’t fair, but it’s an excuse my parents can buy. It’s the only thing I’ve come up with that explains the absences Dima sometimes causes when he sends me off on a bizarre mission.

I’d like to believe that Dima doesn’t control me, but I don’t think that’s true. So long as he has my eye he owns a part of me, and I’ll do everything in my power to get it back.

If I ever stop being such a coward, it’s something I should ask Raymundo about. His power might be enough to stand and even win against Dima. If I have my eye back, even if it’s still severed, he no longer controls me.

“Odette?”

I blink, turning back to my mother. “I’m sorry Mother, what were you saying?”

“I was just saying we’re happy you’re home safe,” she continues, patting my hand. “I’m glad someone as powerful as a Reaper had the time to bring you all the way across Mystica.”

I try to ignore the implication in her tone, and force a smile. “It was very kind of him. ”

She nods again, bobbing her head twice as fast. “And as a Reaper, he doesn’t happen to know anything about curses, does he?”

Oh no, this again. “I don’t think Raymundo would have any insight into what happened to me. He deals with Death, mother, not curses.”

She pouts. I know exactly what my mom is thinking. She assumes because Raymundo is supernatural and has otherworldly power, maybe he has a solution for what caused me to turn into a bird.

I never mentioned what happened the night Seraphe died. I feigned memory loss, and the days after when I was missing were a blur. Thinking back, I’m surprised they didn’t try to dig deeper for the truth.

“The princess! The princess is here!”

Delirious, I stare straight ahead and try to make sense of the approaching figures. They look surprised to see me, relieved, but I can’t focus on much aside from the blistering pain.

“Oh, something got to her! Look at the wounds!”

The townspeople crowd me as I collapse into the ground, and I try to remember how I got here. Dima kicked me free, and I don’t remember if I flew here, if he threw me here, or if I’ve just been wandering around for so long that I stumbled my way home.

“The King! We have to tell the King!”

“Where are the guards? Get someone to bring her to the castle! ”

All the voices blur together, and someone throws something across my body. A blanket maybe, or a tarp. Something that covers the fact that I’m bleeding.

“I don’t have any more control over my swan side than it has over me,” I tell my mom, patting her hand. The Queen sniffles and straightens her crown, avoiding my gaze as she blushes. I know exactly what she’s thinking, and I hate that she carries guilt over something that isn’t her fault.

Dima came after me because he’s hungry for the crown and the secrets of Swan Lake. It has nothing to do with me directly, just who I am on the totem pole to power.

Mom clears her throat. “So, the Reaper? He seems nice.”

I lift my gaze and stare at her. “He’s a Reaper, mom.”

“But Raymundo is kind,” she goes on. “I’ve met some of the others… Zarev, and Ban. Those two are a little rough. But Raymundo is so thoughtful.”

“He’s doing his job.”

“Oh,” she says, eyebrows lifting. “I didn’t realize that part of his job is escorting a crown princess personally across the country. I thought he dealt in souls.”

I sigh. Mom wants me to be happy, but she’s a romantic while I’m a realist. Raymundo helped me feel good last night, but I imagine that by tomorrow he’ll be gone. He had to reap souls on the way here. He can’t possibly have the time to loiter here when there are always souls to see to. Besides, the Reapers basically oppose the Mad Queen, and she is always up to something.

“He was being kind,” I repeat, crossing my arms. “He didn’t want any dissent between the Reapers and the King and Queen of Swan Lake. He’s just trying to keep the peace.”

“Mhmm.” Mom nods, but I can tell she doesn’t believe me. “Well, he is busy talking with your father now. The King wanted updates on anything strange in Mystica, and he was very open about sharing his experience on the way here. Your father’s never spent so much time talking to Raymundo before.”

I blink, realizing she’s right. He’s never been overly interested in Raymundo. Dad has no issues with the Reapers, but as a King he has other things to worry about concerning the living. “I suppose you're right.”

She gives me a smile, standing as she squeezes my hands. “He’s just trying to get a grasp on what’s going on. Things have been changing recently. And Lord Dima and his mother Lady Ysanna are causing such a stir-”

“Because he wants to be King?” I interrupt.

Mother sighs. “Yes. Because of that.”

“I don’t understand his obsession,” I continue as mother stands, moving to the door. I’m not surprised that she’s choosing now to try and leave; it’s obvious she absolutely does not want to talk about this. “What’s so special about being the ruler of Swan Lake anyway? ”

She spins on me. “Shut your mouth. You know being the ruler of any realm comes with unique benefits. Swan Lake is no different.”

I throw out my hands, begging my mom to give me some sort of answer. “But what’s so important about being the ruler here?”

She shakes her head. “Your place in this world is determined by your heritage, Odette. No matter who you try to be down the line, you’ll always be a royal in your heart. You come from the royal bloodline of Swan Lake Kingdom, and that makes you unique. Remember that.”

She leaves my room on that note, and I’m more confused than ever before.

~~~

“Birdie.”

I gasp, nearly jumping out of my skin. I’ve been home the entire day, first spending time with my mother and then Cindy before walking around the castle. My father has a bunch of things going on at the moment, so I have yet to be able to see him since returning. I thought maybe he was still busy speaking with Raymundo, but when the Reaper appears out of the shadows in the middle of the hall, I realize my father has been distracted by something else.

“Don’t do that,” I groan, rubbing my chest. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugs. “Wasting time. You were busy talking with your mother. And I decided to not intrude on your bedroom.”

I force down the disappointment. Even if he did sneak in, this is my first day back. I’m not going to have enough time to myself to enjoy anything with Ray again. Unless we slip into the shadows, he’s not going to be able to fuck me a second time, and I’m not entirely sure if that would even work.

Clearing my throat, I try to not look flustered. “Why are you waiting for me?”

He smirks. “I did bring you all the way home. I wanted to make sure you’re okay before I leave.”

Right, he’s going to leave. As much as I didn’t want him to come, I’m regretting that he's leaving so soon. I selfishly want to keep him here a while longer. “I’m doing well enough.”

He nods. “Your father invited me to dinner tonight, so I’ll stay for at least that long.”

“And then you’ll go?” I ask him.

“Yes, then I’ll go.”

I lick my lips, willing myself to say something more. Asking him to stay sounds desperate and needy, and I know it’s only because he stuck up for me in front of Dima and didn’t sell me out. He didn’t have to do that, and now it’s making me extra soft for him.

The silence drags, and I can’t come up with anything to say that isn’t sappy or desperate. So instead of sticking to the sweet and grateful route, I change gears. “You still have that timepiece from your mother?”

He frowns but nods. “Yes. Like I told you, it’s tucked into the shadows for safekeeping. We can do that, just leave things in there when we need to. Unless you want it back-”

“Yes.” I close my eye. “No. No, I don’t. I just wanted to double check since we talked to Reginald.”

“Right. Reginald.” He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes. “He supposedly knows someone from Tressa. I haven’t been able to ask Zarev or Rapunzel about that detail.”

“Can’t you reach them at the tavern?”

He shakes his head. “No. I spoke with my mother, she has a stone too. I got her one some years ago so she wouldn’t worry about me. She said Zarev and Rapunzel headed off towards Camelot, and they hadn’t returned yet. I imagine it will take them a few days to get there and back. They’re looking for information on why all the soldiers from Camelot are wandering through Sherwood.”

Huh, I don’t remember that being an issue. But when Dima is in my head I guess I’m not really paying attention to much outside of all my own problems. “Interesting. How will they not get caught? King Arthur isn’t the friendliest adversary.”

He wiggles his eyebrows at me, drawing his hood up again. “Shadows, Birdie. When in doubt, we stay in the dark.”

That makes sense, and I appreciate Raymundo trying to lighten the mood. I don’t want to think about him leaving in a matter of hours. He’ll be back, it’s inevitable, but how long until I see him again?

“I hope they are successful,” I tell him honestly. “Maybe you will be able to reach Zarev when they are safe again.”

“Maybe,” he agrees, scratching his jaw. I can just barely catch the edges of his scars, and I kind of want to grab his hand and trace them with my fingers. Like me, he’s gotten good at hiding them. “I haven’t been able to reach Ban for some time either, so it’s a little weird being this disconnected from all of them.”

“What about the fourth?” I ask, my brows drawing together. “Lucius, right?”

He nods. “What type of history lesson do you have for me about him? Do you know anything about Thornton?”

“Not much,” I admit. “I know it’s a familial curse, cast by an enchantress wronged by Lucius’ parents. I don’t know what type of curse though. Ashamed they planted the thorny vines that encompass the kingdom and the village beyond, making the land extremely isolated and difficult to cross into. That’s all I really know.”

He nods again, looking surprised, and I wonder if he expected me to know nothing at all. “That’s… surprisingly accurate.”

“I like knowing things,” I tell him with a smile, “Knowledge is power, and I refuse to be powerless.”

Before he can respond, hurried footsteps interrupt us, and we look up to find Reginald flanked by two other guards as they rush towards us. I glance around, wondering if anyone will comment that I’m out here wandering the halls alone with the Reaper. If Raymundo were any other guest it would be expected that I have at least one guard walking with us.

“Princess,” Reginald says, the two other guards pausing a few steps further back. “Reaper Raymundo, pleasure seeing you again. Princess, I’m to guide you back to your rooms for a refresh after your journey.”

“What?” I snap, narrowing my eyes. “Why?”

“It’s the King’s request,” he explains. “Lord Dima returned with Lady Ysanna, and they are demanding an audience with the three of you.”

Three of us. So he wants to see the King and Queen along with me. This is another attempt to seize the crown, and I imagine father has had enough of his games since he was just here last night. I shudder involuntarily, unable to forget the feel of Dima’s hand as he slammed me back into the tree. That would have gone much worse if Raymundo didn’t happen to be nearby.

And the Reaper’s eyes shine bright when I meet his gaze. I really wish he wasn’t here to figure that out, but I know he doesn’t like Dima. He’s also the one person closest to my secrets, and that makes me uncomfortable.

“I’m not going to my rooms, Reginald,” I say immediately, lifting my chin. “If Dima-”

“Lord Dima, your highness-”

“ Dima wants to be this big of a pest, then I want to know what’s so important. Father has bigger things to pay attention to than a power hungry Lord.”

I brush past Reginald, who will never physically try to stop me. Raymundo might be the only one who would and I think he’d just drag me into the shadows. I march past everyone, feeling Raymundo’s haunting presence at my back. At least I don’t have to go in alone.

Maybe letting Dima see me with Raymundo is a bad idea, but I can’t worry about that. He won’t be able to get away with anything ignorant with the Reaper here either.

“Princess-” Reginald tries again.

“You’re not going to stop me,” I call back, marching ahead. The guards move out of my way, and I keep my head held high. Enough is enough. Dima can’t drag me out of the castle with an audience, and Raymundo has made his opinion of the wizard well known. I don’t feel afraid of Dima when I have Ray here, but once he leaves I know that feeling of safety will vanish.

I can hear the trio of guards walking behind us, and I strengthen my voice when I speak again. “Where is my father now, Reginald?”

“In the throne room, Your Royal Highness, but-”

“Excellent. We’ll show ourselves in.”

I pick up the pace, walking ahead of everyone, thankful I’m wearing something better befitting a royal princess. The feather dress is my place of comfort, but when I’m dressed for my princess status it reminds Dima that he’s beneath me. And as petty as it might be, I really like that.

Raymundo keeps a steady pace behind me and I purposely slow my steps so I don’t seem as impatient. I’m both eager to see my father knock Dima down a peg again and afraid to step into the throne room. Dima’s never directly done anything to me beneath the eyes of my parents, but Raymundo is never an important fixture during these visits either. Who knows how today will go.

I half expected to lead the way, but Ray is familiar enough with the castle he doesn’t need a guide. He easily leads us to the throne room, and I take longer strides to keep pace with him so I’m not walking in behind him.

The throne room has two massive doors that open into an even larger, still cavernous space with vaulted ceilings.

These doors open with the help of two stoic guards who jump into action as I approach, and finally Ray falls back a few steps. I don’t know if he does it for my parents sake or if he’s attempting honoring me as the crown princess.

My father sits on his throne, my mother beside him in the smaller chair, and they both stare down at Ysanna and Dima who are standing in front of my parents. This is most certainly a power play by the royal couple to remind them who is superior here in the Kingdom.

Seeing the back of Dima’s head makes my whole body stiffen. I’m sure Ray notices since he seems to notice everything. Hopefully he doesn’t say anything to cause more of a problem.

“...necessary to keep ties strong across the kingdom,” Ysanna says, her shrill voice echoing off the mostly empty space. She has the same dark hair as her son, but hers is peppered with grey. She’s slender and small, much shorter than her son, but her voice betrays this fact. She speaks as though she’s the biggest person in the room. “A union is the obvious solution.”

But Father spots me and my appearance seems to snatch his attention away from Ysanna as I approach the throne. The circular crown on his head is cut from gold and embellished with opal insets, which catches the light as he rises and moves to the head of the stairs that lead to his throne. “Odette.”

Ysanna and Dima turn and stare. Neither of them reveals their feelings about my presence through their expressions. Ysanna plasters a smile that stretches her cheeks but doesn’t meet her deep brown eyes while her son merely nods before locking eyes with Raymundo. Dima looks terrible from our last encounter in the forest. I can see the edges of bandages across his chest and over his shoulder through his shirt. His sleeves are too loose to show, but I’m betting his arm is wrapped as well. He obviously doesn’t know a healer like I do.

My father quickly descends the steps from the throne, mother picking up her skirts to follow. She's dressed like proper royalty with layered skirts and delicate shoes. By comparison my cream dress and gloves are on the simple side, but at least I’m not dressed like Ysanna. She’s pretentious enough to think she’s a Queen, and the outrageous size of her skirts and the way she’s layered her hair speaks to a level of importance she has yet to achieve.

My father steps forward with arms wide open eager to finally greet me. Unlike some of the royal families in Mystica, my parents aren’t afraid to show love. “Odette, my dear. I’m so happy that you’ve made it back home safely.”

Hurrying past a stunned Ysanna and brooding Dima, I meet my father at the bottom of the steps and throw my arms around him. Raymundo follows a step or two behind me, and I’m positive that’s so that Dima can’t get too close.That little bit of extra protection helps me to relax in Father’s embrace.

“We were so worried,” Mother says, squeezing my arm. I feel she added those words for the benefit of Ysanna and Dima. “We're so glad you're okay, darling.”

My parents might like appearances and manners, but they aren't cold with me. They do what they think is right to keep me safe and loved. I just want to stay in this happy moment a while longer, remembering that despite my mistakes they still love me.

“We're also very happy to see you’re home safe,” Ysanna gushes, shattering the sweet moment for me. My gaze snaps up towards the unwanted guests as I feel my parents stepping out of our embrace. I can tell Ysanna’s words are a calculated move to remind the King and Queen that she's still there, witness to this sweet family moment that she no doubt sees as a weakness on all our parts.

I hate it.

But my parents straighten up, switching from loving parents to calculated rulers in the blink of an eye. My father's gaze cuts directly through Ysanna, who lifts her chin and doesn't cower beneath his scrutiny.

Dima takes a step forward, eyes on me, and opens his mouth to speak. I’m assuming he also wants to gush over my return but my mother cuts in before he can. “It’s nice to see you again, Raymundo. Thank you so much for ensuring that Odette traveled home safely.”

When I glance his way, he’s sporting an unreadable mask, his face carefully blank. “Of course. We wouldn’t want anything happening to the princess. It’s my honor, Queen Florence.” He inclines his head to my father in a half bow, and I swear the shadows cling to his limbs as he moves. “King Leonardo.”

“Thank you, Reaper,” father says with a nod, and I never noticed how cold it sounds when we call him Reaper, as if that’s his name. I didn’t think of it until now, but in my father’s deep voice it’s very… formal. There’s no emotion in his voice now that he’s addressed me, and I step back and smooth out my dress, clasping my hands together.

Looking between Father and Raymundo, I would never guess they spent time together talking. Ray didn’t give me any idea about what they discussed, and I’m suddenly very curious what it could be. Neither of them gives anything away, like this is the first time they are seeing each other since Ray showed up.

I’m starting to think this might be a show for Dima and Ysanna, but for what reason I have no idea.

Dima is already pushing forward again as Ray steps back, giving the three of us a bit of space. Glancing his way I find Dima’s blue eyes staring right at me, and his smile is strained when our gazes lock. “Oh, Odette, we were so worried.”

He moves to embrace me like an old friend, and my father loudly clears his throat. Dima is an idiot when he isn’t being cruel, but he’s smart enough to not openly disobey the King. He gives me a sheepish grin that I know is for show, and steps back again. “Apologies, my King. I’m just relieved our Princess is back home safely.”

Raymundo scoffs, and all eyes turn on him. I try to shoot him a glare but he is ignoring me, focusing on my father instead and my heart sinks.

Father pays attention to it all, and like a disaster happening in slow motion he focuses on my Reaper. “Something to say, Raymundo?”

He shrugs. “It's interesting that Dima would-”

“It's Lord Dima-” Dima interrupts.

“-would need to offer his concerns up to the King and Queen,” Raymundo goes on, completely undisturbed. “Since we met in Sherwood, and he was less than friendly with the two of us.”

All eyes swivel to Dima, who holds murder in his gaze. I imagine he didn't predict Raymundo coming all the way here, much less that he would chat personally with my parents. Is this what Ray spoke with my father about earlier?

Dima clears his throat. “It's all a misunderstanding-”

“Really?” Raymundo drawls, and I dig my nails into my opposite hand, begging him to shut up in my head. “Is that why you were practically attacking her in Sherwood?”

Commotion breaks out at that. Father claps his hands once and the guards in the room surge forward, even as Dima starts to protest. “That's absurd! I've offered my hand to Princess Odette numerous times! Hurting her would do me no good.”

I almost snorted at the irony, but the guards are already standing between the four of us, making a human wall between us and Dima and his mother. Ysanna looks appalled, fanning herself with her hand. “Oh, How tragic! How can you let Death tell such lies?”

Father clenches his jaw, looking towards Raymundo. Truly, there's no reason for a Reaper to speak to any of the Kings and Queens when they pass through the kingdoms. They control Death, and, other than the wicked power Midas had, no one really interferes with that. If anything, getting in Death’s way creates a surplus of spirits.

“It's not a lie,” Raymundo says with a shrug. “You just didn't expect that I would speak the truth.”

Ysanna drops her act, and my father makes a slashing motion with his arm before she manages to say a word. “Do not defend a traitor in my kingdom. No one goes after my daughter.”

It hurts my heart to think about everything Dima’s gotten away with under my parents' noses because of my silence. For a moment, my gaze flickers to Raymundo. I’ve never trusted anyone enough to ask for help about this, but the Reaper proved to be more than trustworthy during our journey and since arriving at the castle. I don’t have to worry about his reactions either, because he saw Dima in the woods too. He knows that Dima is pretending to be kinder than he truly is.

The guards gather around Ysanna and Dima at my father’s words, and I notice the wizard’s hands begin to glow blue. Mother gasps, and my father steps back, forcing me to move backward as he pushes me behind him.

In my peripheral I see Ray reaching back to draw an arrow from his set. His shadows seem to collect them and they magically appear back in the quiver without him needing to walk around and collect them after shooting. The shadows are part of his weaponry, and even though the movement is smooth, it draws Dima’s attention. Despite the overlapping reactions, it’s Mother’s voice that rings out above all else.

“Sorcery,” she breathes, and Dima’s hands clench. The magic is too intense and he can't force it back into hiding. There were always rumors about Dima throughout the Kingdom. “So it’s true. You’ve been meddling in dark magic.”

It’s odd. He’s usually so in control, but today he let his anger override him, let himself be caught out. I can’t fathom why a little jab from Raymundo would set him off.

Father's back straightens as he watches, and with another swipe of his hand he silently commands the guards to grab them. I’ve seen all the gestures enough times to know them by heart. “We do not support dark magic here, Lord Dima. Not when it allies you with the likes of the Mad Queen. Deception is the killer of trust, and for this blatant lie you two are no longer welcome in the walls of my kingdom.”

The guards grab at Dima’s arms as he growls, but it doesn’t stop him from using the magic. He twists, sending an arch of blue towards the four of us.

And it’s aimed directly at me.

Despite how much I loathe Dima, I fear him. My father is slow to react, that blue light blasting far too quickly across the space. I’ve felt the burn of that pain before, and I love my father. I don’t want him to know the same feeling, not when most of Dima’s hate radiates from me.

I try to throw myself into my father to shove him out of the way, but it’s no use. One moment I’m pushing him, the next someone is pushing me.

I wish I could see it in slow motion. Whether I connect with Father or not is lost to me, my focus honed in on the blue light. But the arm that suddenly snatches me and wraps around me is made almost entirely of shadows, and in the blink of an eye I go from throwing myself at the King to being tucked into Raymundo’s side.

He’s crushing me to him, and my eye widens as he sends bursts of inky blackness from the floor, dissolving the blue light as the room flies into darkness. My fingers clutch at him, the magic radiating off of his skin, and I cling desperately to his one arm.

One arm. He’s not using all of his power if I’m half in the way. Dima used his fingers to send the blue bolt, but Ray is using one hand to suck the light out of the room. Swallowing, I’m reminded how powerful magic is, and how much more dangerous magic wielders truly are.

The whole exchange only takes a matter of seconds, but it seems to stretch endlessly for me. I both do and don’t want it to end, because I’ll have to release Ray when the darkness recedes.

Slowly, the darkness surrounding us turns back to light. I’m dimly aware of my mother reaching out to clasp my shoulder, her long nails lightly digging into my skin. She’s almost clinging to my back, and I’m still clutching Raymundo. I don’t need to look to see where my father is, I just have a gut feeling that he’s there.

No matter how Ray might feel about me, I seriously doubt he’d allow Dima to strike down the King in order to save me. Reapers have a hierarchy to follow, and I’m assuming I’m not high enough on the ladder to beat the importance of a King.

When I can see him again, Dima’s blue eyes are livid. There’s a madness there I’ve seen a few times before, and it causes a phantom ache in the socket where I’m missing an eye, like he’s plucking it from my face once again. If Raymundo notices me flinching he doesn’t let on.

“Throw them in the dungeon!” my father booms, his voice echoing through the room. If the shadows bothered him it’s impossible to tell from the anger in his voice. “Let them rot there.”

My stomach knots, and I can’t fathom why I care where Ysanna and Dima go to die. They are a pain, and if he can’t access my eye, maybe I won’t have to deal with his madness anymore. Maybe -

My thoughts are cut short when Dima jabs at one of the guards, his blue light shooting straight through the man. Mother screams and the guard on the opposite side loosens his hold as the first slumps to the ground, dead. I clutch Ray’s tunic, staring as Dima kicks the fallen guard away.

A hollowness settles over me as I watch Dima kill without care. I thought he was going to try and pretend to be civil, but he’s throwing all his covers straight to hell by killing with his magic.

That phantom pain in my eye intensifies.

Dima laughs, and the other guard goes for his sword. Blue covers the wizards hands again, but before he can strike there’s a shadowy circle surrounding him.

I tear my gaze to Ray. He’s not looking at me, still keeping one arm around me to hold me in place. He’s only holding up one hand, creating a barrier between us, the guard, and Dima.

The blue light is still visible through the black shadows, and my breath catches. It’s like a battle of light and dark.

I’m only half aware of the additional guards filing into the room. Dima caused an uproar, and no matter the amount of swords and spears drawn it doesn’t compare to his violent magic. The shadows circling him seem to be winning, and I can’t tear my gaze away. The shadows rise higher until I can no longer see Dima in the swirl.

Ray pushes me backward, and I stumble into my mother. He arches an arm over his head, and without physically grabbing it his shadows lift an arrow from the quiver along with the bow. They fly into his hands almost too fast to process, and despite the shadows he controls he notches the arrow anyway.

It reminds me of the stories of what Ray truly is. Before Death claimed him, he was a hunter. Just like he once told me. The bow is more natural for him than the power of the darkness.

The blue behind the shadows glows brighter, and as mother grips me tightly I half expect Dima to surge from the shadows and lunge at Raymundo. Instead the Reaper must see what we cannot through the darkness, and he lets the arrow fly.

There’s a pained cry, and then the light that’s bubbling behind the shadows explodes upwards. The surge of power tears through the ceiling of the castle with a crash, and Ray drops his stance and spins the bow, creating a whirlwind of shadows in front of him.

It’s perfectly timed because Dima finally lunges from the dark, his blue eyes almost neon as he appears before us. Guards surround us, and I can already feel myself being torn away as Ray sends a wave of shadows towards Dima. The darkness slams into him, and I can’t make out anyone else aside from the Reaper and the wizard.

“We need to get to the safe rooms,” Mother hisses in my ear. She’s insistently pulling on my arm, the guards trying to usher me away. I’ve only been home a short while and already chaos is crashing through the castle.

I don’t understand. All the years of hiding just for Dima to cause an outburst now, and when one of the strongest beings in Mystica is present at that?

“Odette,” Father breathes, standing at my other side. “You must go now! Reginald!”

I stare as Dima lights his hands that terrifying blue, flashes of blue lighting sizzling from his skin. His attention is locked on Raymundo. “I won’t go down that easily!”

“Odette,” Mother urges, “ Now. ”

Ray doesn’t look my way as he holds out his hand, the shadows twisting along his fingertips.

Just turn away , I urge myself. If anyone can destroy Dima, it’s my Reaper.

The shadows fly across the space, and if I’m seeing things right there’s no one standing on Dima’s side anymore. Where Ysanna and the guards went is a mystery between the shadows and light. I thought for a moment Ray struck hard enough to trap Dima, but I’m mistaken.

Dima rolls, the blue light curling around him as he takes to the ground. It cleaves a space between the shadows, his hair moving to cover parts of his face. He doesn’t right himself, even when Ray starts to cross the space towards him, the shadows jumping to life. He manages to strike the blue wizard again before Dima starts to laugh.

It makes my blood run cold, that sinister glee reminding me of a time better left forgotten.

“If you won’t listen to reason, I’ll convince you through pain!” Dima screams.

Instead of striking outward, he reaches into his cloak. It causes the barrier he’s creating against Ray to falter, but Dima is undeterred.

Before his hand withdraws, I know what he’s going to do. Backing away only makes my parents think I’m afraid, but they don’t know the reason why.

And Ray realizes it a second too late.

The scream that tears from my throat is a noise I’ve never heard myself make, and the pain that follows rips through my whole head. I collapse down onto the floor, slamming my hands into the stone with a strangled cry.

It’s like I can feel his fingers prodding, twisting and pulling my eye out again. There’s a profound pressure all around the socket that I reach up to cup with shaky hands, unable to stop the pain.

Dima has my eye in his hand, I’m sure of it. All of the hands that descend down on me to yank me up feel far away, and the only thing I can truly feel is the blistering pain in my face.

Another scream tears through me, and the room fades to black. I think for a moment that I’ve passed out, until I hear the whistle of wind around me.

I’m not passing out. The inky blackness is entirely made of shadows, and I can feel the energy tensing in the room as Raymundo lets his powers shine.