Page 9 of To Catch a Prince

The Shadow had a human form; the form of a girl, or a woman, crouched on the floor, hugging itsknees.

“Are you a ghost?” she asked the Shadow. “Do you need help passing through? I read about these things,” she said, sitting down to be at its level. “They say the ghosts who haven’t gone on to the immortal lands have something to do in this world, yet. I could helpyou.”

She titled her head, wondering, “Can you talk? I know a spell or two to communicate, regardless. I use it on birds. But don’t tell, I’m not supposed to. Besides, I need various ingredients to performit.”

“I’m noghost.”

Talia smiled; glad to have gotten somewhere with her test subject. It was talking to her now. “What are you,then?”

The specter lifted its head, slowly, and Talia’s eyes widened when she saw itsface.

It had a straight nose, a little upturned, large eyes, and a small chin with a beauty spot on the left side, close to hermouth.

She was looking at her ownface.

“Shadow. Darkness. I’m the part of you made todestroy.”

Talia felt her heartstop.

From what she knew, Shadows were the pure evil living within any creature’s heart. Most never were conscious of it, but it was different for mages. They could feel it each time they made use of their magics, tempting them, whispering to them. Talia had heard hers in the past. She’d heard hers when she was healing a soldier known for his cruelty towards commoners. “Let him die,” it had said. Shadows were temptation itself. And here was hers, sitting right in front of her, vulnerable. She could destroy it to make sure she never became a danger toanyone.

Talia stared at the Shadow for a longtime.

“You’re not evil,” she said in a whisper, mostly talking to herself. “You just seem lonely andcold.”

“Shadows dwell indarkness.”

Talia chuckled. “Well, that’s ridiculous. I’ve never seen a shadow without light shining through. I tell you, shadow mine, what you need is a good sunbathing session. Let us make a bargain. I will listen to you and let you have your say. I will not ignore you again. In exchange, you’ll never force your will on me.Deal?”

The shadow said nothing. For a time, Talia thought it might fight her on it. But it finally got to its feet, slowly. Talia did the same, facingher.

“Deal,” it said, before taking three steps and walking inside ofher.

Suddenly, Talia felt like she was falling at high speed; she screamed, closed her eyes, and braced herself for animpact.

The next instant, she felt centered again, if a little drowsy. Tentatively, she opened her eyes. She was a little confused to find herself back in the amphitheater, still strapped to the chair. The Tutor was undoing herbonds.

“Tell me there’s more mead on the menu,” she whispered, making himchuckle.

“I’m fairly confident you may have whatever you please,child.”

She noticed the audience looking at her was utterly silent right when she was about to ask what he meant. Now she was a little less confused, she turned to look at the strange machine everyone was staringat.

Each of the nine little light bulbs fitted on top of it had been lit up, ingreen.

“Wow. So, I’m a Pink Unicorn,hm?”

“Notquite.”

6

The Return

Instead of leadingher back towards her peers in the amphitheater, Talia was ushered out of doors and brought to magnificent regal chambers. Servants brought her belongings there and offered to pamperher.

“Enough,” she said, after an hour of nonsense. “I’d like to see the Tutor. And myfriends.”

“Your friends, mylady?”

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