Something Darker; Chapter 19

Frowin nickers uneasily, prancing in place. "Shh," I sooth him, gently patting his neck, "It's alright." Another strong gust of wind goes by. If my hair weren't pulled back, it'd be a tangled mess by now. I look at Micah. "That storm is hitting tonight."

Micah looks at the storm clouds in the distance. "Late tonight. We'll be fine."

"No," I shake my head. "Early night. Shortly after the sun sets."

Micah looks at me surprised. "How do you figure?"

I look towards the storm clouds. "I just know it." My eyes drift towards the late afternoon moon hanging in the sky. "The bad moon is calling it in."

My eyes come back to Micah who's studying me. "Are you sure you're alright?"

I nod. "I'm fine."

I can see Micah wants to press, but I'm saved by Gaitan reappearing through the trees. "The path is clear in both ways," he states, dismounting, walking his horse closer to us. "Don't worry about concealing your marks and eyes for now, conserve your energy. You're still healing."

Zanthus, in crow form, dives into our area, perching on my shoulder. You can most certainly reach the town today, but you'll have to press hard or you'll be caught in the storm. It will hit shortly after sundown.

Gaitan nods. "With this wind, this isn't a storm we want to be out in the open for."

"Alright." Micah looks over at me. "Violet, set the pace. I know we're racing the storm, but you're still-"

"I'll be fine," I cut him off, swinging up into the saddle as Zanthus takes off.

I'll follow overhead and keep an eye out for unwanted guests.

xXxXx

I slow Frowin to a walking pace, allowing him some time to catch his breath. Micah and Gaitan slow their horses to match my pace. Overhead, I can see Zanthus sweep by, edging towards the tree line. Evening was setting in and I couldn't see any signs of the town up ahead.

Zanthus, I can feel his attention pique at my call, Are we still on track to make it by nightfall?

The next long ride after this break should get you to the town. Don't worry. If I had any doubt you wouldn't make it before the storm hits, I'd let you know.

Are you sure my connection to the waking dream trap is completely severed?

As sure as I am when I first severed it four days ago and every day you've asked since.

Is it possible that whoever cast it is trying to cast another one?

Zanthus is silent for a beat. Tell me how you're feeling.

I just feel tired. Like if I shut my eyes for longer than a blink, I'd pass out. I also feel oddly heavy, but also light.

It could just be your healing body finally protesting the traveling. Perhaps we should stay in this town for a day; let your body get some proper rest. You'll need all your strength when we set off for our next destination.

xXxXx

The wind is howling by the time we reach the village. I feel like I'm about to fall out of the saddle, and not because of the wind. I'm using all of my strength to stay upright. The tiredness is sapping the last reserves of my strength. On top of that, there's a pounding in my head.

Zanthus, in cat form, slinks along, guiding us to the inn in this village. As we stop in front of the inn, Zanthus hops into the saddle in front of me, peering up at my face.

How do you feel?

I manage to focus my eyes on him, and I can see the worry in his eyes. I just shake my head.

Can you conceal your eyes?

I don't even bother feeling for my power. It'd be a disaster if I tried. I can't.

Micah, Zanthus summons my brother, tail flicking, Let Gaitan settle the rooms. His eyes shift to Gaitan. We'll probably be staying two days.

"Violet, Violet are you alright?" Micah appears by my side. I hadn't heard him dismount.

I turn my head to him. "Tired,” I mumble, the word sounding distant and muddled to even my ears.

Her injury is getting to her, Zanthus tells him. She needs rest.

I feel Micah's hands on mine. "Give me your reigns. I'll help you dismount once Frowin is secured." I don't fight him. Zanthus leaps from the saddle as Frowin begins moving again. Frowin stills and a second later Micah's voice resumes, "When you're ready."

Taking a deep breath, I rise in the stirrups. Thankfully, my injury protests little. I slowly swing my leg over, taking care not to upset my injury.

Thunder cracks in the distance as I feel something in my mind snap. Everything goes numb. I can't hear, see, breathe, or move. Something pulls at my consciousness from the back of my mind. My breath comes back as fast as it left with a sharp gasp as pain racks my body. I can hear Micah yell my name as my body free falls to the ground.

xXxXx

I sit in my pile of pillows as Mother's worried eyes search my face. Father stands beside my bed.

"You're sure she's fine?" Father asks the court physician yet again.

"Yes, your majesty. I can perform another examination if you'd like, but I doubt I'll come to a new conclusion."

"She fell from a horse. She hit her head, I saw the blood myself," Mother objects.

"And your assistant said her arm was broken," Father adds.

The physician sighs. "Head wounds always seem worse than they are; even the smallest one can produce an alarming amount of blood. As for what my 'assistant' said, I will repeat this again: he is my apprentice, not my assistant. Most likely in the rush and panic Princess Violet's fall caused, he mistook a bruised arm for a broken arm. I know it was my day off, but you still should have called me. I would have come."

Mother takes my arm, examining it. "There's no bruising. Even if it is bruised, shouldn't it still hurt? Shouldn't she still be in pain?” Mother turns toward the physician, “She could hardly move yesterday!"

I look towards the physician. He's shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what to tell you, Queen Nivera, but your daughter is fine. Perhaps yesterday was merely her body coping with the shock of what happened. Children do bounce back from injuries quite quickly."

I look back at mother. I can tell she wants to protest. Father beats her to speaking though. "Thank you, you are dismissed."

I don't have to look back to know he's bowing and leaving. "May I go play with Micah and Gaitan now, Papa?"

Father smiles, reaching out a hand to ruffle my hair. "Humor your mother and stay in bed for the day. . . But," he amends when I start to pout, "Micah will most certainly want to see you now that you're okay." I smile up at him. As he begins to walk around my bed, he takes one of mother's hands.

Mother's head snaps towards him. "Quinton," her tone is a warning.

"Just for a moment dear."

Mother stands, placing a kiss on my head before following after Father. I pick up the book I had been reading. I'll read while waiting for Micah to come.

"No," I hear mother hiss. "Do you think I would be this worried if I had?"

I know I shouldn't listen, but my curiosity gets the better of me. I focus all my attention on listening.

"Nivera, I won't be mad-"

"No, Quinton. That much power would have attracted attention. I wouldn't dare to put any of you in danger unless I was absolutely certain there was no other way."

"Then how?"

"I don't know and that's what's worrying me." I can feel eyes on me. I turn the page of my book to appear less conspicuous.

I hear the door open and close. Looking up, I find Mother walking back to the bed. She doesn't walk around it this time. She perches on the edge closest to the door. We sit in silence for a few seconds before she sighs.

Reaching out she tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, "You were listening, weren't you?"

I quickly shake my head. "No."

Mother smiles knowingly. "I know when you're lying, V."

I look down, "Sorry."

"It's alright." Another beat passes before mother gently lifts my chin with a hand. "I'm sorry too."

Before I can ask why, mother places her other hand on my forehead, saying something I can't understand.

I can see a woman standing in the shadows in the far corner. I want to hide under my blankets, but moving hurts.

"Don't be afraid," she whispers. "I've come to help." She smiles. "You're special, little one. I felt your pain and I've come to take it away. This will hurt, but don't worry; you won't remember a thing when you wake up."

She waves her hand and just like that, the pain I'm feeling increases. I want to scream and cry, but I can't. The pain burns and pulses, spreading across every inch, stealing my breath. Even the tears streaming down my face burn. Everything goes black.

Mother holds a hand over her mouth, fighting back tears. I can't stop staring at her and my younger self, the sudden shift from watching the scene through my younger self to watching it as is it plays out is slightly disorienting, but the least of my worries; I remember the riding accident and falling from the horse. Why didn't I remember any of this?

Slowly mother stretches out a hand, placing it on my forehead. She whispers another word. I watch my younger self slump back into the pile of pillows. Younger me may not have known what that word meant, but I did. It had been one of the first spells Zanthus had taught me after concealing my eyes and marks: memory wipe.

I couldn't remember because Mother had wiped my memory.