The spooky woman pulls a ring out of her pocket, placing it in the palm of my hand. This time, it is her harsh voice I hear. "This is a ring carved out of a moon tree from the lands of Feyord, not a lot is known about its magic. It’s dangerous and powerful, for it will only work in darkness and shadows. Hurry, The Chosen, the dark Prince is looking for you, and his shadows are growing restless. He won’t like that you need to travel this way. Quick, you must think of Eleanor, and you will be transported to exactly wherever she awaits."
The ring has a thick black band and the pearl sitting on top is generous in size. For the first time, I realize I can breathe within the icy depths of the dark waters. Focusing, I close my eyes and think of my mother’s best friend, Eleanor. Her fairskin consumes my thoughts, her blonde wavy hair, the way her dress sparkled as she walked out of Lake Luminous, and the bittersweet look she had on her face when she thought of my mom.
My eyes bolt open, my heart is beating erratically, and just when I think it will explode, it stills. My body begins going in and out of focus. A scream dies in my throat, and panic sets in as Sebastian appears out of nowhere. Every time he tries to grab hold of my hand, his fingers can only graze my skin for a fraction of a second. My hand fades in and out, making his hand fall back into the water. His menacing gaze lands on my ring, as he tries to take it off my finger again, only to have the same scenario play out. Somehow, his shadows are a fraction faster than he is. Two of them manage to pull me out of the water.?
The whole group surrounds me, my cousins are freaking out because my body can’t focus. Merrie-Beth is somehow here... She looks like she is about to have an aneurysm. Sebastian starts whispering into my ear, but it comes in clipped words that I can't make out. It sounds like he is telling me to let go.
Let GO??! I don't think so! That would mean I’d have to relinquish control and face the unknown. No, this was a fucking mistake. I just can't.
I wake with a jolt, the part of the dream where I’m fluttering in and out is now real. My heart contracts in on itself as my body continues to go full blown Houdini with all the disappearing and reappearing acts.?My dark Prince is beside me, he appears calm, but his worry slices into me like a knife. With his magic he slips my clothes into place. "Ara—a...L-t go. You have to do th----s!" Sebastian’s words still fizzle in and out, butit calms me all the same. He says I have to do this, and Eleanor wouldn’t hurt me.
Closing my eyes once again, I concentrate on Eleanor and the conversation we shared. That night seems like forever ago, so much has happened since. I’m finally able to let go and the last thing I feel are his lips on my forehead before I’m teleported away.
Chapter 23
The Maritime in Me
Moon travel is different than through the mirrors.?
-Arabella
Although, I am calmer than seconds before, my chest still feels heavy, and my breathing is labored. All I see is darkness mixed with fragments of light and shadow. I’m flying toward something, but what? Finally, a great beam of light that doesn't disappear in the distance, makes the ring on my hand start to glow. My anxiety lessens the closer I get to the light. My inner peace returns, and seeing Eleanor is my only concern. Her sweet murmurs of comfort begin entering my thoughts.
I land on my feet somewhere in the middle of the forest and Eleanor seems frantic, rushing to my side. "Sorry, but there was no other way you could travel to me except by way of the Moon, sweet child."
Flinging myself into her arms, she holds me. “What’s wrong, Eleanor?”
"First, I must apologize, Arabella, because traveling by the light of the moon can be deadly. Many never return from itsshadows, but you did well, just as I knew you would. However, they can sense these things, so you must return another way." She squeezes my hand and beacons me to follow her.
"Who's they?" I already know the answer, but I need to hear it from her.
She leads me into the heart of the forest, so I take out my necklace to give us some light as we travel. "No, put that away. Quickly. We mustn't be seen Mayra has eyes everywhere. That's why I didn’t want you traveling through the palace. Those that mean you harm are many, Arabella. An evil is growing in this world, and Duvessa is at the root of it all."
The mention of Mayra and Duvessa makes me cringe, causing me to move as close to her as I can get without being a weirdo. From this moment forward, I must be careful in all things. The Umbra having spies planted in this very place. I whisper, "Do you think they have lots of spies?"
"Yes, more so than anyone else believes, and I don't think they captured all of Mayra’s supporters before she went to jail. They hid in plain sight, draped in silence, waiting for the time and place you were born. They knew that their wait would be limited, so they've been preparing for war. I watch when no one else is watching and have witnessed the evil things that the "honorable" men do. There are whispers at home. I'm afraid some will side with Mayra when the time comes. No one will be spared from choosing a side." She shivers while holding my hand tighter.
How will I know who to trust? When I’m one step ahead, I fall two steps back. Mama’s warning about the one who wears the ice dragon tattoo filters through my thoughts. Who else is on that list? My head hurts, and it's about to explode!
Eleanor brings me to the edge of Lake Luminous. Startled to now be so plainly out in the open, and without the safety of the trees, I feel naked. She feels my hesitancy and that I’m getting ready to bolt back to safety, so she grabs my hand tighter. "Trust me. Please, follow."I trust her but I’m questioning my sanity as my feet follow hers into the cool blue waters. When Eleanor is shoulder deep, she turns to me with a smile. "Do not be anxious. I want to see something. Ok?"
I nod and continue walking, almost disturbed because my very soul already knows what the outcome will be. I'll be able to breathe. My knees buckle as shivers encase my body. In a few short days my entire world has blown up in my face. So many changes are happening in my life, but I’m learning that sometimes change can be good. As we continue, warmth surrounds me. Without needing to hold my breath, we make our final descent into the depths.
"Open your eyes, Arabella. Tell me what you see?" With some reluctance, I comply.My eyes see everything, looking down at my feet reveals they are planted firmly on a cobblestone road. I'm not floating. In fact, it feels as if I'm not underneath the water at all. Lifting my head, I look towards the surface that's merely inches above my head. The moonbeams are dancing happily on top of the water as confusion furrows my brow."My dear sweet, Arabella. It’s as I expected. Oh, this is marvelous!"
Eleanor doesn't move her mouth to speak, but there's no doubt that she is visibly excited, her face is radiant with joy. My face is the opposite, add annoyance and being fucking done with the confusion. It's anyone's guess which emotion is more prominent at this point. I swear if one more thing proves different, I’m going to have a full-blown meltdown.
Eleanor laughs, causing my irritation to grow. How can she laugh at a time like this? She laughs again, but I just can'thandle it. With a huff I turn to make my way back up to the surface."Stop!" I bring my gaze back to Eleanors. She’s trying hard not to smile.
"Why?" All that comes out is a bubble, no sound. Covering my mouth with my hand, I whisper the question in my mind this time.
She looks perplexed, not sure of how to answer my complex question. Without a confession, I still know she's been privy to every thought I've ever had around her. "Yes, I can read your thoughts, but this is the first time I've allowed myself to do so. It takes practice to control our gift, and in time you will learn to do the same. My sweet, Arabella, you are half Maritime. I suspected as much but didn't know. Your great-grandmother was one, it skips generations until it falls upon whom it may."?
"Eleanor, this has to be some sort of mistake! I have been under water plenty of times before. This has to be some kind of fluke! I won't believe it, I just won't.”
Eleanor comes to stand in front of me, her hair gliding behind her as she moves. Her hands squeeze mine gently. "I'm sorry that it comes at a time when you're not ready to hear something new. You have every reason to be upset, but you must listen. When someone is not born of the water, and they live outside its parameters they will not exhibit signs until their 18th year. It was the same for your great grandmother, Charlene. I called out to her from the water in a dream, and she heeded to my voice. She went on to be a part of the First Five, which is the reason we won the second world war, and you're the reason we'll win the 3rd."
That does give me some comfort. "Does my family know?"
