Page 2 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

His feet carried him over to the wooden wardrobe in the corner. He opened it and looked inside. The gorgeous gown she had worn to the Sky Lights Festival hung gracefully inside. Another pang of sadness threatened to choke him as he wondered what he should do with her belongings. Keep them in this room? Bring them to his chambers and hide them away, a reminder of what he lost? Grayden turned towards the center of the room, preparing to leave, acknowledging the decision should be made later when everything wasn't so raw.

A rainbow prism caught his eye, and he gravitated towards the small table beside her bed and saw the pair of snowflake clips, sparkling in the light from the large windows.

He took them into his palm, closing his fist around the clips and fighting back the wave of emotion that came over him. He held them tightly, the shape leaving a snowflake imprint in his hand. Grayden walked out and closed the door behind him, leaning against it for support.

Once in his bedchamber, he carefully put the clips on his desk and started to undress. As he removed his tunic, the book he found in the woods fell to the floor with a soft thud. Grayden picked it up and tenderly stroked the cover. Without thinking about it, he took the book over to his inner chamber and stashed it underneath his pillow and moved the clips she had worn so prettily on top of his side table. With a deep, soul-shattering sigh, Grayden sank to his bed, closing his eyes and wishing for sleep to take him and ease his heart of the pain.

Chapter Two

Renya's fingers clawed at the scorching sand, each grain searing her palms as she gasped for air. Her chest heaved, lungs burning as they struggled to expand. The world spun violently, her stomach churning with each labored breath. Two portals in mere minutes—it was too much. Her body, still weak from the nightmare dungeon's torments, trembled with exhaustion. The raw ache in her heart, fresh from leaving Grayden behind, only amplified her physical agony.

A salty breeze caressed her face, carrying the strong scent of seaweed and brine. Without opening her eyes, Renya knew she was far from the Snow Lands. The oppressive heat pressed down on her like a heavy blanket. A violent cough tore through her throat, the briny air scraping her raw lungs. She retched, but only thin strings of saliva dribbled from her lips, leaving a bitter taste on her tongue.

Cold, hard hands pulled her up and forced her to her feet. Renya squinted against the bright light and gingerly opened her eyes. She tried to wiggle away as the Shadow Queen peered at her intensely and with disgust. Renya’s eyes met her violet ones and she thought she detected fear. What could Cressida possibly be afraid of? It made no sense, but Renya would use any vulnerability she could exploit. She stood strong and stared at the Shadow Queen, threatening her with a look of contempt. This monster was the reason she had to leave Grayden behind.

For the first time, Renya got a good look at Cressida. Deep lines ran the length of her forehead, with heavy make-up caked into the creases. Renya noticed she was older than she had originally appeared, maybe in her fifties.Much too old for Grayden, Renya thought. He deserved someone young and full of life. Someone willing to make the sacrifices necessary for his lands and his world.

Cressida’s lips were thin, and Renya could tell now that she enlarged them with the blood red lipstick she wore. While her raven black hair was indeed shiny and full, up close it was evident that streaks of gray had started at the roots.

Almost as though she felt Renya’s scrutiny, the Shadow Queen suddenly released her. Renya fell to her knees and sank into the soft peach-colored sand, her tired legs unable to support her in time to brace her fall.

“Take her away. I don’t want to look at her until I’m ready for the ritual,” the Shadow Queen said, wiping her hands on her dress as if Renya was carrying some kind of contagious disease.

A wave of fear passed through Renya and bile threatened to make its way up her throat. A ritual? What was Cressida going to do to her?

Another pair of hands grabbed her, but this time they were gentle. She looked up and met Sion’s warm brown eyes. He instantly put a finger to his lips, reminding her she wasn’t supposed to know who he was. Renya could never forget her savior in the Sunset Land and the respite he provided from the nightmare dungeon.

Hands on Renya’s shoulders, Sion roughly led her away from the shore back into a line of tropical trees. Similar to palm trees, only shorter and a brilliant green, they loomed in the background. He motioned for her to sit and she did, grateful to no longer be on her aching legs. Renya cast her gaze out towards the horizon. Not even a wisp of cloud cover protected her from the brutal glare of the sun, which felt much more intense here, hotter than she’d experienced in California. Renya tried to scoot back farther into the protective shade of the palm trees, but they were scarce on the beach and couldn’t shelter her from the cruel rays of the sweltering sun. She felt like a minuscule ant trapped under a magnifying glass, waiting to burn. There was nothing in front of her but water and sand, and the lone portal reflecting over the sea. The ocean was a beautiful seafoam green, turning into a dark emerald closer to the horizon. The color reminded her of Grayden’s eyes.

Grayden's face flashed in Renya's mind, his green eyes filled with worry. Was he desperately searching for her, aware of her second abduction? The uncertainty of her location gnawed at her—was this still his world, or had she been thrust into yet another realm? Sion's presence kindled a flicker of hope; if he was here, perhaps she remained in Grayden's time and place. A warm surge of relief coursed through her as the realization struck—Sion could be her lifeline to Grayden. He would come for her, she was certain. Her thoughts then pivoted to Aunt Agatha. Renya's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her aunt's familiar form. The absence was confusing to Renya; why would the Shadow Queen risk leaving such a formidable opponent behind?

Unless...a chill ran down Renya's spine as she considered the implications of her aunt's disappearance, her mind racing with possibilities and fears. Would Cressida go back and kill her when this was over?

Renya heard a thunderous crack roar through the humid air, and she turned toward the source of the noise. The shimmery portal that she was pushed through combusted. Tiny pieces of sparkling silver dust floated through the air before a breeze took them out to sea. Cressida lowered her hands, pleased with her handiwork.

The shimmering gateway that once linked this world to her own had vanished, leaving only empty air where hope had been. Her heart sank as realization dawned—the Shadow Queen had severed all connections. Aunt Agatha couldn't follow, and Renya...Renya was trapped.

The finality of her situation should have crushed her. Instead, a strange numbness settled over her, her mind too overwhelmed to fully process the weight of her new reality. Survival now took precedence over grief. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus on the immediate danger rather than the deep chasm of loss threatening to engulf her.

Renya watched Cressida inspect the place where the portal had stood. The Shadow Queen had changed her attire since they met in the Sunset Land. She wore a dark red halter dress with another large slit. It was tight and form fitting with tiny black snakes embroidered all over, with ruby colored gems acting as eyes for the snakes. Her hair was braided into elaborate coils. The crown she wore was made up of two golden snakes twisting together before meeting in front. Red and black stones sparkled under the bright light. The effect was grotesque, straight out of a low-budget horror film.

Renya was sizzling in the heat. She slipped off her cloak, carefully removing the elkten pin and began transferring it to the front of her dress. It was all she had left of Grayden, and she wouldn’t leave it behind.

Sion stood over her, his bulky shadow offering her a brief respite from the scalding sun, and spoke out of the corner of his mouth in a low-pitched voice.

“She’ll take it from you,” he said through clenched teeth, looking down at the pin. “Grayden is a sore spot for her. His refusal of her has wounded her pride. She’ll hate you for it and punish you.”

Renya frantically tried to find a place to stash the elkten pin. She started to dig a hole in the blistering sand before Sion held his hand out to her from behind his back.

“I’ll make sure it’s returned to you,” he said to her quietly, the sorrow for her predicament evident in his calm voice. Renya hesitated before placing the treasured pin into his open hand. He quickly shoved the pin into the deep pockets of his golden robes as if nothing happened. He was wearing the same garb he donned in the Sunset Land, and Renya wondered if it was a uniform of sorts.

The Shadow Queen turned back towards Renya, while Sion feigned boredom, looking around at the beach like someone waiting in line at the grocery store. “Where’s Brandle?” she snapped at Sion.

“My queen,” he said, sweeping into a low bow, “He was still tending to his…injuries the last I heard. He knows you have summoned him, though.”

“He’s a fool,” she spat, pacing up and down the beach, clearly agitated. Her pointed heels dug into the powdery sand and she kicked at the tiny dune in front of her angrily. “I can’t believe he allowed not only Snowden to get away, but the girl as well!”

“Well, at least we have her back,” Sion said, trying to placate Cressida. “If you let it be known you have her, Snowden will follow. He fancies himself in love with the girl, if the rumors are to be believed.”

---