Page 34 of In The Dark
“She’s living at one of the orphanages here in Arcan. She’s become close to a boy named Ezra and has a young instructor of sorts named Ren. I’m not sure who Ren is, but he’s near her a lot. She doesn’t remember anything, not even the battle when she was taken with Elynor. I had to talk with her at a local archive just to get her alone. I believe they’re wiping her memories with a Siphon.”
“A Siphon? You’re sure? They haven’t been around for years. What makes you think that?”I ask.
Orin is also educated when it comes to each realm, having studied as a scholar prior to becoming a soldier for King Andre and now me.
“Siphons are able to pull energy from the land. It’s been said that they can do the same to a Fae’s memories as well, though it is not common knowledge. It could be possible, and from what I’ve gathered, she has some of her essence but not much. I can sense it, but she doesn’tknow that she can wield. She thinks she’s a halfling and knows her name, but she doesn’t remember anything else. If they’re siphoning her memories, they’re pulling her essence out as well. Whether it’s intentional or not is hard to say.”
I exhale, speaking aloud. “It’s going to be hard convincing her.”
“Mm, I agree,” Orin grunts.
An hour passes as I finally arrive outside the orphanage and watch Isa from a distance. My heart clenches as the sight of her—identical to Elynor with her black hair, except for her bright amber-colored eyes. More yellow than orange. She belongs in Aurelia, and I can’t stand the thought of her being here any longer. We’re so close to bringing her home—I can’t fail this time.
She’s gathered around a few of her friends when I make my approach near the trees of the orphanage’s courtyard, disguised as someone much younger than my current self.
“Hello.” I grin.
She briefly turns my way when she waves her friends off, walking up to me with a soft smile. A solo freckle sits under her right eye while the others are splashed across her nose.
“Hello, do I know you?” Her voice softens, but I hesitate before answering, unsure how she’ll respond.
“You met my friend at the archives about a week ago,” I say casually.
She stills, her eyes widening. “No, I don’t know you.” She anxiously looks over her shoulder, continuing in a hushed tone, “I’ll tell you what I told that old man last week. You have the wrong girl. I’m an orphan, and I’m from Elderheim.”
“No, Isa, you’re not,” I mumble, her eyes somehow widening even more.
“How do you know my name? Who are you?” she asks, her voice trembling.
I quickly reach for her face just as I shift into my true formas Rydian, but the hope I had for her vision capabilities dissipates when my fingertips graze her temples—her essence is dark.
It barely brushes my mind when she pushes me off, shouting and frightened. I shouldn’t have grabbed her.
“No! I don’t know you! Please, leave me alone!” she screams, backing up as tears stream down her face. “Guards! Ren!”
No, not again.I groan, and my eyes flick behind her, looking to see if anyone heard her yelling, before lunging for her arm. She can travel with me through the Veil. I just need to touch her. My fingers graze her when she reels back and slaps me, bolting in the direction of the orphanage.
Whether it’s instinct or fear of failing, I chase after her, and she runs right into the arms of a light-haired boy near the back entrance. My steps halt as I realize that he must be the younger kid, Ezra.
An older one follows him around the corner—sixteen or seventeen, maybe. He glances behind Isa and meets my gaze, spotting me near the trees in my true form.Fuck.
The massive kid, Ren, I think, shouts for guards who are now heading in my direction, leaving me no choice but to step into the Veil as they swarm me. I arrive at the border within seconds, my power already feeling depleted, realizing that I can’t go back. I’m left with no choice but to leave Isa behind.
Ice coats my veins as a guttural, angry shout tears through me. But the moment I cross the ward between realms, my shadows explode from my palms, shattering the trees in a cloud of darkness.
Ivy sits to my right as other members sit across from us in the council chamber. We’re discussing the future of sending more trackers and informants to Elderheim in search of Isa.
Ever since I made an appearance to retrieve her, they’ve successfully kept her hidden from us.But how are they doing it?The thought has plagued me since I left fifteen years ago, but every time we catch a lead, they vanish without a trace.
“We need to move forward, Your Majesty. We can’t do this forever, and we’ve lost too many informants as it is. They’re tired and scared of never returning. We have fewer and fewer informants willing to travel to Elderheim to track her. We’re chasing a ghost,” Ivy explains, earning a few nods from the remaining members.
She’s not a ghost. She’s alive.
Yet it’s been fifteen years, and I can’t sleep—I can’t eat or function. The thought of her in that realm turns my stomach, and I refuse to give up because she’s the last royal of this realm since we’re still unable to locate Elynor. Kaeda hasn’t even been able to find her as a Death Whisper within the Veil, speaking to the dead—Elynor’s essence simply can’t be found, leaving me to believe she’s still alive.
King Elion’s motive for their capture remains unknown, even after all these years. We’ve dug through every inch of our archives and informants’ notes for any information. Not even the council knows. If Elynor were here, she would have been able to add some input to this mystery—but she’s not.And I need to live with it.
I nod, acknowledging Ivy’s concern, and pull at my long beard. I refuse to give up on either of them, but I know that I need to. For my sanity and the future of Aurelia. Yet I’ve spent most of my years as a king in search of both of them.