Page 44 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)
CHAPTER THIRTY
JANELLE
T he hot water of the shower beats at my skin until it turns red.
The burning sensation of the heat feels good.
It helps pause my thoughts and the images of earlier.
I don’t look down for a while, worried I would see Oli’s blood going down the drain.
I wash it all off and tell my mind to focus on what is coming.
I’m quick to change into the same training gear I wore the day of the attack. I’ve kept it all this time because the fabric and fit have proven versatile. My fingers move across it and wonder if its true purpose for staying in my possession was to be used when I made things right.
My father will come here again, but this time I will not aid him. I will also not allow him to leave. There is no world where he gets to live while Oli doesn’t. I’ll make sure of that.
The ring of an alarm blasts through the castle, then flashing lights quickly follow.
I finish dressing and make my way down to the dining hall.
The chatter that normally flows through the halls ceases to a dead silence, only making the alarm noise seem louder.
No shouts are heard, but people share comforting words as they move to the prearranged hiding spots.
I walk to the window and look out at the back of the castle. The people outside are motionless, their heads facing the edge of the forest. Then I see them.
The sight of movement causes my heart rate to speed up.
Dozens of small duendes descend upon the castle’s protective barrier.
Their speed makes a mere flash of movement before they slam into the invisible shield.
The protective barrier doesn’t seem to startle them.
They climb on top of each other, covering a section of the shield.
I rush into the dining hall where the majority have checked in for marching orders. Roman is arguing with a few of his soldiers as I cross the distance. I’m making my way to him when Santiago appears out of nowhere and takes my arm.
“Any news?” I ask. Referring to the evidently missing King, Bianca and Jesse. “Was the word sent?”
“Not sure it matters. They went to the underworld. There’s no way they’ll get back on time.” Santiago looks over the crowd at the barrier.
The duendes have climbed seven feet up in the air and began punching the barrier with their magic. The shield doesn’t give in, but a blue glow illuminates the spots being hit.
“It won’t give out, right?” A young woman next to me asks no one in particular.
A huff comes from somewhere behind us. “Of course it will not.”
I’m not as confident as them and from the pacing and Roman’s face, I can see he isn’t either. I push forward toward the Royal Force guard, but I’m once again pulled back by Santiago.
“I can help,” I say.
We all know who is behind this and what he wants .
“Without magic? They don’t want your help, Janelle.” He takes a step close until our noses touch. “They will sacrifice you to gain time.” He looks around him, but no one is paying attention to us at the moment. “Roman can’t save you if Brandon isn’t here.”
I rest my palm on his cheek and say, “I never needed anyone to save me, Santiago. I have always saved myself. It’s time I save others.”
His eyes take me in with a new expression. He hesitates but concludes on something as his stiff fingers finally let me go and reluctantly steps back.
No soldier gets in my way as I cross to Roman. Nearby, Isabel sits with Lexi Blue, both of them wearing tense expressions.
Roman doesn’t stop his pacing as he spots me. But a thundering noise outside has us both running for the garden doors. We stop just inside the threshold. The grounds are now empty of people other than those outside the barrier.
Unusual dark clouds hover on the other side of the shield. The clouds rotate and shift from side to side in a way I’ve never seen before, then lightning strikes. The blue glow intensifies to cracking spider webs that spread quickly. This level of magic is beyond my father. Roman and I know that.
“It won’t last,” I say.
“Line up, soldiers!” Roman shouts behind us.
A group of men and women rush past us. They line up side by side, standing as a second shield between the castle and the enemy.
The lighting stops along with the pounding from the duendes and they climb off one another and return to the forest edge. A second later, the shield drops.
It breaks apart into dust particles falling down like sand. As it clears out, we see no other but my father, standing in the middle of the clearing with a victorious grin on his face. As if it was even possible, he looks far stronger and bigger than I remember him.
My first thought is that he has done it. He managed to uncap his magic with The Red Book. But if he had done that, he wouldn’t be here the moment Brandon left. He would not fear the King if his magic was one that could match his.
The only other answer is that he once again took from my mother. I wonder if she is dead. If he drained her of life once and for all. My heart aches for the last piece left of her. She was always too weak to stand up to him, and I’ve only ever been strong enough to walk away. That all ends today.
My father’s cocky expression is mocking. “I have come for what is mine.” His eyes narrow on me before turning to the crowd. “Your King is not here, so I’ll make the request to you and your people. It’s simple really, my daughter, in exchange for your lives.”
Not a single soldier standing between my father and I flinch at the offer. I close my eyes, expecting the murmurs of fear from the people inside the dining hall to turn into demands of my return. None come.
“You have one chance to hand over my daughter!” My father shouts over the silent crowd.
“And you will hand over the Red Book?” Roman asks in a mocking tone. His previous concern is now masked behind a confident shield of his own making.
My father’s laugh is hollow. “Oh, no.”
“Why do you even want her back?” A soldier shouts from the sidelines. “She isn’t that good of a fighter.”
I’m actually a great fighter despite my lack of magic, but this is not the time to get offended.
“She is not a good maid.” A woman in uniform chips in. “ There are always wrinkles in the laundry she does.” She shakes her head in disappointment. “Sad really.”
I’m out of words because not once have I ever done any laundry that was not my own. I look down at my shirt and see no wrinkles.
“She isn’t even a good cook!” Pad shouts from the crowd. “Burns all she touches. One would think she had her magic back.”
The crowd bursts into laughter.
They’re not turning me in to buy us time. They’re distracting him by mocking his request with irrational excuses. I feel tears gather in my eyes and do everything to hold them back.
“I want the traitorous witch back to face her fate,” my father says, breaking through the humor.
The laughter of the crowd dies. Despite the coldness in his words, I don’t shiver. I’m not hurt. I chose my path and for once I feel like I’m standing on the right side.
I turn to Roman with determination. “I can do it.” My best chance is to get close to him. I doubt he means to kill me here. “I will end him and all this will be over. People don’t have to die. With him gone, his army will be easier to destroy.”
“Without magic?” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “We’ll be offering you like dead meat.”
“I am offended you think so little of me.” I fake a pout.
Amy Bee rushes towards us, out of breath. “I hid it so well I almost lost it. Brandon gave me this a while back.” She opens her palm between us and shows us a red round ruby.
I have seen it only once before, but even if my eyes were closed, I would feel it. My magic calls to me like a part of my soul standing outside my body.
“Good old friend,” I whisper.
“This is not how she was supposed to get her magic back,” Roman says with hesitation and forgetting that this was his idea initially.
“He’s not counting on me to have it. What better than the element of surprise?”
Roman pulls at his hair in frustration. “I already called for them. They will find a way to get here soon. I know it.”
“We don’t know that. We’re sitting ducks in a building full of scared people.” Amy Bee looks back at the crowd. “Brandon entrusted me and I would like to say it is due to my judgment. I say we do it. He will understand why.”
Roman gives me a pleading look, but it’s not enough to change the events about to happen.
“These people have been through enough. Allow me to do right by them.” I step closer to Amy Bee. “I got it from here.”
I open my palm and she drops it there. I feel the restraint of power behind the glass like it knows who is holding it. The magic sealed inside can’t wait to get home. I close my fist tighter until the glass breaks in my palm and the power slips into my bloodstream through the cuts in my hands.
The shock of power snaps goosebumps on my skin and spreads within seconds. My vision sharpens, my surroundings slow, and my breathing settles as the familiar all-vivid weight under my skin seeking freedom reaches my fingertips, waiting for release.
“Did it work?” Roman stares at my bloody hand.
I grin up at him and that is all the confirmation he needs. My gaze shifts to the waiting faces inside the dining hall. I memorize as many as my eyes can find. I know I won’t find Oli, Jesse, Matias, Bianca or Brandon, but as I turn around, I count them into my total reasons for doing this.
“Janelle, I know you got this, but a little help can’t hurt.” Roman hands me a sword from his baldric. “Remind him that the Duelo dragons are born, not bonded. ”
Despite however much my father would like to believe he’s the Lord Duelo, he would only be as close as marriage would allow him. The blood running through his veins is not blended with fire. His magic can never conjure what my brother’s and mine can.