Page 48 of Vanish

I couldn’t make sense of his words—they tangled in knots with all the assumptions I’d borne throughout my life concerning my relationships with my family…or rather lack thereof. Had Castiel perhaps cared for me this entire time, even when I hadn’t realized it?

I sorted through every memory of my brother for any hint; new insight gradually illuminated moments that had once been obscured by stormy grey. Though he’d rarely spoken to me over the years—a fact I was now coming to realize was due to his quiet nature and focus on his royal duty rather than a personal affront—no matter how busy he was he’d always been nearby, watching over me and often redirecting Father’s attention before it could land on me with anger. A silent, stalwart support throughout my life, each moment acting as its own shaft of light to finally penetrate the clouds previously tainting my perception.

“Do you care for me, Castiel?”

Crimson tinged his cheeks and he hastily averted his gaze. Silence stretched between us before he finally managed a response, a mumble he directed towards the floor. “You’re my sister.”

While not exactly the direct confirmation I’d been seeking, his answer accompanied by his rare display of fluster was enough for me to sense the words he couldn’t express, causing me to warm. Perhaps our distance had less to do with his indifference and more with our each being absorbed in our own roles that had drawn us into ourselves rather than supporting one another as we ought…a similar mistake to what had transpired in our first courtship.

“You and Lucien are rather similar.” My heart fluttered just speaking his name.

His jaw tightened and his gaze snapped up. “I’m nothing like that scoundrel.”

It appeared that similar to Aira, my brother didn’t trust the man who, even with his deceit exposed, my heart couldn’t seem to let go of. I was tempted to ask him to expound on his reasons, even as I was terrified of obtaining additional damning evidence against the man I still desperately wanted to believe in.

“You’re both closed off, but the barriers you erect seem to protect a tender heart.”

He snorted dismissively, though the deepening color in his cheeks was quite telling of the feelings he still refused to express. “Enough of this sentimental nonsense—now that I’ve found you, we have matters of far greater importance to discuss.”

I forced myself to lock away the curiosity that made me yearn to explore these sentiments. Though I’d allowed myself to be seduced by the curse’s promise to alleviate my pain, deep down I knew that allowing myself to disappear wasn’t the answer…especially when there was still the unknown matter binding me to the visible world, a purpose I was only now beginning to understand.

“You must tell me everything you know so that I can help Brimoire.”

He frowned. “You’re concerned for a kingdom not your own—a people that have done nothing for you—rather than for your own sake?”

The clarity I’d been seeking took enough shape for me to seize hold of it and examine it. I dusted off the lingering fog to convey my epiphany in words. “My arrangement with Lucien is more than a marriage—it grants me the title of crown princess. I might have been a forgotten princess in the Thorndale Court, but I refuse to be a queen who remains in the shadows while her kingdom is suffering.”

Surely it wasn’t mere coincidence that the future queen of Brimoire with a connection to the kingdom who’d cast the curse found herself in the unique position of straddling between two realms, giving me hope that there was something only I could do to finally rid the land of the devastating blight.

Castiel stared at me a long moment before the hint of a smile penetrated his stoic expression. “I admire your strength; it’s always been a part of you, even before you recognized it. You are meant to save the kingdom of Brimoire from the selfish greed of myself and the king. Though I confess to caring little about the land outside of our own borders, I do care about your wishes and will do all in my power to help you.”

Though his expression remained stoic, earnestness filled his eyes, belying the indifference I’d feared he harbored towards me. Perhaps I hadn’t seen it all of this time not because it had never been there, but because I’d never believed in its existence enough to look for it.

No matter my current circumstances, he seemed to have my best interests in mind, which meant that whatever difficult conversation lay ahead I could trust him.

I took a wavering breath before determinedly lifting my chin. I was ready to finally face my painful past in order to uncover the secrets that I hoped I would be able to use to forge a new future—that for the kingdom I’d grown to love, and for whatever kept me here despite the lingering uncertainty I still felt towards its crown prince.

CHAPTER21

Tension filled the prolonged silence, measured by my frantic heartbeat as I waited for Castiel to speak. He appeared to struggle for words even when we weren’t speaking of state secrets, but the gravity of our current subject weighed more heavily upon him.

He seemed at a loss for how to begin. His gaze wandered as if in search for inspiration before settling on the pendant I’d worn for as long as I could remember. He reached forward to cradle it in his palm; unlike my transparent form, it seemed solid enough for him to touch.

“You’ve had this since your birth. I believe it’s a token from your mother.” His tone was far too casual, considering the mere mention of her existence was taboo within the royal court.

“Did you know her?” I hadn’t realized just how desperate I was to solve the mystery of my birth until I was finally presented with someone who potentially possessed the answers.

He shook his head. “I was too young when you were brought to the palace, just old enough to understand that you weren’t born to the queen and to remember when I saw you for the first time. Even as a toddler you wore this necklace, leaving me to surmise it must have been a gift bestowed by your mother.”

Even after he released the pendant his attention remained fixated on it before he slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“You asked for Thorndale’s motive in unleashing the curse. While Father has kept many of those details even from me as his heir, it is my understanding the curse was initially an unforeseen consequence when he tried to acquire the mineral this amulet is comprised of…one that upon its discovery he has since exploited for his benefit in an effort to strengthen our influence.”

“A mineral contained within my pendant?” I lifted it at an angle to better examine it in the faint candlelight. For all its beautiful carved artistry and amber stone embedded into the metal design, it looked far too ordinary to be at the heart of the King of Thorndale’s greed.

Castiel nodded. “I’m not sure exactly how he plans to use it, but apparently the king has discovered its value and hidden potential, and has determined to go to any lengths to acquire it…whether it’s through peaceful means such as an alliance with Brimoire, or an invasion when even sacrificing his daughter proved in vain.”

My fingers grazed the smooth stone; it vibrated against my skin as if pulsing with energy, a sensation that had been dormant before becoming trapped beneath the curse’s influence. Even in my inexperience I now recognized it as the elusive magic that was said to have gone extinct from most of the land.

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