Page 55 of Wicked Prince of Mirrors
My heart pounded. This was not the cursed prince banished for his mirror magic, judged for his shadow or the madness he brought into their world. No, in their eyes he was a hero. They welcomed him,honoredhim.
My heart swelled and I lifted my head high, proud to be by his side, walking in the shadow of his glory.
Until you slay him.
I flinched.
A shadow stood among the people, red-eyed and glaring. As soon as I fixed my eyes on the dark shape, it vanished.
Despite the joyous atmosphere, I couldn’t shake the sensation something was wrong as we entered the waiting carriages. They were not like the ones in my father’s kingdom, they had rows of seats, enough for all eight of us, and were pulled, not by horses, but by some great big oxen. I saw why within moments. The road inclined sharply upward, turning and twisting until I gripped the seat as though it would keep me from sliding off the edge.
The sea sparkled far below, growing smaller with each turn. A wordless silence hung heavy over the group, tinged with anticipation. I recalled Methrin’s words about the Shadow Slayer. We were to seek it and steal it. I straightened, searching for him as the oxen slowed and a courtyard appeared.
A roar split the air.
My blood went cold and something slammed into the carriage.
Hard.
It rocked from side to side.
I screamed. The guards shouted.
It slammed into it again, this time, knocking it over.
Glass shattered and my head bashed the ground. My ears rang as I struggled to sit upright, and failed. A terrible growl filled the air along with screams of pain and the squealing of terrified animals.
Thick, ropy ribbons of black ink surrounded me,blocking my vision. Ribbons tightened around my throat and squeezed until I swam in a sea of blackness.
I clawed at it, my fingers catching at nothing. Panic surged. A cruel voice mocked me as it whispered in my head.Where’s your magic now?
Even though I couldn’t breathe, a scream welled up inside. Magic unfurled and I released it.
Whatever held me vanished. I scrambled upright, coughing, tears burning my eyes.
“Esmira, give me your hand.”
I looked up and there was Methrin. He’d wrestled open the carriage door. A crimson trail of blood tricked down his head, and his hair was mused, eyes blazing as he reached for me. I scrambled over the plush seats, my feet sinking into ruined velvet. Blood and gore splattered the inside, glass covered the seats, and my stomach roiled. I yanked my gaze away from the mess and focused on Methrin. Where was Lyra? Lord Pelgrin and Lady Velune? Where were the guards?
Methrin caught my forearm and pulled me up, out of the wreckage. One arm tight around my waist, he guided me away. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’ll manage,” I croaked, even though my throat was sore, my head throbbing.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, but when I started to turn around, Methrin held me firmly. “Don’t look, we were blindsided. No one warned us of this . . .”
“Not even the people who celebrated you down at the port?” I asked.
Methrin’s expression hardened and he released me. “I don’t blame them, I sense something else here. A darkness, magic. Not the pure light that flows from the moon but something else.”
My heart stuttered in fear. “Where’s Lyra? The others?”
“Don’t turn around, I’ll be right back.”
Even though I was tempted to look at the wreckage, I imagined Methrin was trying to save me from seeing the gruesome carnage. Instead I studied the courtyard.
White columns of the temple rose to a doomed ceiling in the shape of the moon. Two curved staircases arched around the building, leading up to the double doors, which stood open. The hollow darkness gaping out was unnerving. On any other day I would have appreciated the architectural magnificent, the celestial symbols carved on the stones. Stars and the moon in all its phases, gods and goddesses, and words likely written in an ancient tongue, words I did not understand.
The aura of the place was overwhelming, with hints of intense magic. From beyond the doorway, white motes appeared occasionally, quickly replaced with darkness. Dread filled me, and I didn’t know whether it was my own voice, or the command of the shadow, mocking me.Run!
