PINELIGHTforkindle (18 page)

I swayed to a somber melody down the halls of the castle until I came to two golden doors. There was something very familiar about the doors, but I was too excited to study them.

The music pulled me in. I stood at the top of the balcony, waiting for Edmund to find me. I was more than nervous standing there alone. My eyes scanned the hundreds of masked men and women dancing across the floor, until stopping on one. But it wasn’t Edmund.

He stood alone in the back of the room with a stare pinned on me, like his life depended on it. He wore all black from head to foot, with the exception of the silver pattern on his cape. His mask was not like the others’. It wasn’t jeweled or molded. It didn’t glitter, and it wasn’t decorated with feathers. It was a simple black cloth tied around his head.

I managed to make it down the stairs without so much as tripping—all twenty-five steps. Maybe I could be graceful after all.

The stranger was standing at the bottom of the stairs when I took my last step down. His eyes were piercing through his mask. He quickly took my hand in his and led me through the crowd to the dance floor. I noticed his fingers were warm as they wrapped around my entire hand. He stopped once we reached a small opening and placed his other hand on my lower back. I could only think of him touching me. We stepped into the music.

After a few twirls around the floor, he leaned in to whisper in my ear.

“I don’t have much time here, Clara—so listen closely.”

“How do you know me?” I tried to sound calm.

“That isn’t important. Listen, you must leave this place, Clarabella.” He pronounced my name softly and carefully.

I was still staring at him when his enticing eyes darted back to mine. Couples circled around us from every direction, but his eyes were focused only on me. At this point it was comforting to know that my worried expression was behind a mask.

“Why would you say that? I’ve seen nothing but kindness.”

“Listen, you are in danger. Do not trust Edmund.” He continued quickly with a concerned tone. “And do not trust what you see. Edmund is the king of deceit and illusion; you will see only what he desires.” He spoke with a passion that was hard to ignore.

“Why should I believe anything you say?”

“I wish,” he whispered, “I wish you could remember…”

He reached for my face, but I turned my back to him. He quickly placed a hand around my waist, pulled me into his body, and swayed back into the music. I could feel his warm presence behind me, and I could hear the quickening of his breath in my ear. There was nothing but a secret passion in that moment.

In a faint and mesmerizing voice, he began to sing, “Smile for me…and surrender all your fears. Come to me…I will silence all your tears.”

While his voice surrounded me with a warm embrace, he loosened his grip from my waist and allowed his fingers to brush against my arms. I marveled at the voice that interrupted my thoughts and caused my heart to flutter. His voice gently faded into the sounds of the orchestra, while his feet shuffled to take a step closer to me.

“There was a time that my words meant something to you,” he said tenderly. I felt his breath on the back of my neck, and an appealing rush came over me. “I understand that time has passed, but you must trust me.”

“What do you want from me?” I muttered.

“Let your mind imagine.” His voice was gentle. “Think of pines and fire…of dark owls from the north. Please imagine it.”

His words struck me in a strange way. As he spoke, images flashed in my head.
Fire. Drowning
—the same images I had seen on the carriage ride.

“Don’t let yourself dream. He will distort the truth.” He stopped abruptly, looking to the hall. “I’m sorry. I must go—I will be back for you.”

And then, as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.

Before I could say anything, a short man in gaudy clothing and an oversized mask grabbed my arm and proceeded to twirl me around the room. I looked over the man’s shoulder, trying to find my previous partner in the crowd, but he was nowhere to be found.

Edmund walked up to us, and the man came to an immediate halt. The man, who had tossed me around so carelessly, dropped his gaze as he shuffled off into a happy group of dancing couples. Edmund seemed to be satisfied. He quickly placed a hand around my shoulder and led me to a secluded area in the ballroom. We stood right beside a tall grandfather clock. I gave him my best fake smile and proceeded to watch him cautiously. The corners of his mouth turned slightly upward, indicating that he was pleased with my smile.

“You are stunning.”       

My face blushed immediately.

“I have something for you.” His voice was soft and delicate. “Hold out your hands.”

I held my hands out in front of me and curiously watched as he slid his hand into his frock—out came a sparkling egg. He gently placed the shimmering egg into my hands and then cupped his hands around mine. I looked down at our intertwined hands wrapped around the egg.

“What is it?” I asked anxiously.

“Patience, Clara. You will soon find out.”

The clock began to chime. It was ten o’clock. My concentration was broken when I felt the egg shake between our hands. The egg was rocking—it was about to hatch. In a matter of moments, a small crack split down the center of the egg. I watched while a small white-and-brown head with two soft yellow eyes popped out of the opening. The egg wiggled in my hands again. The opening cracked again, so that the split was wide enough to observe the whole body of the chick. The small pile of feathers hopped out of the crumbling shell and perched on my wrist. Edmund slowly released his hands from mine to grab what was left of the empty shell. He placed the shell in his pocket before speaking.

“Look into his eyes,” he said.

I held the soft bird to my cheek and then glanced into its yellow eyes. The eyes I had admired before became brighter and brighter until they were glowing an intense golden color.

“The great white owl is yours for life now.” In a circular fashion, he waved his hand over the owl three times.

“Rector suus quod Servo suus
, oh,
Valde Niveus!”
His voice sounded demanding.

I suddenly felt the weight of the hatchling increase. Surprised, I shot a glance to Edmund. He quickly and effortlessly grabbed my hands and tossed them into the air. The small owl hurled high into the air of the ballroom. I was frightened for the chick, knowing that any minute it would smash into the floor. But that didn’t happen. Instead of the small owl falling to its death, it began to grow. I watched, fascinated—the chick transformed into a grand white owl. In seconds of crashing to the floor, the owl spread his wings and soared back to the high ceilings of the hall.

“Is this what magic feels like?”

“What do you feel?”

“My skin feels…tingly—almost like it’s falling asleep.”

“Yes, you are sensitive to the enchantment in the room.” He stepped back, admiring the white owl. “Do you like your gift?”

“He’s beautiful. Is everything here enchanted?”

“You ask too many questions.” He chuckled.

“And you give few answers.”

“There is not much for you to know. Only that I want you to be happy here and I will do whatever it takes to see that happen,” he said. “Come—dance with me.”

I found myself gliding across the ballroom floor again, back in his arms. Everyone danced all around us, laughing…smiling…kissing. The people seemed so carefree and happy. I wanted to be them.

The lighting of the great hall hushed to a twinkling glow as the music switched to a somber melody. I could sense the essence of a lullaby hidden in the dawdling harmony.

Edmund placed his hand on my neck and guided my head to his shoulder. I felt intoxicated by his touch. He looked at me once more with a crooked grin and slid his hand upward to remove my mask. In one fluid motion he had the mask off and falling to the ground. In my head the mask seemed to fall to the ground in slow motion—everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I could no longer hear the obnoxious laughter of the crowd or the shuffling of feet, just the faint sound of a melodic violin playing underneath the sound of Edmund’s humming.

“Are you happy?” He paused. “Are you happy here—with me?”

“I am, but there is one thing I long for.” I lifted my head so that our eyes met. “Edmund—let me see you.”

His grip on my hand tightened, while his body stiffened. “That is something I cannot allow.”

“Why? What are you hiding? What are you not telling me?” I pleaded for answers, but they were hidden behind his tightened lips.

He was full of so many secrets, which surprisingly didn’t bother me. But this one, I couldn’t get past. A part of me felt like his face held some kind of truth I had been looking for—and he was keeping that truth from me. I wanted to know why. I swallowed loudly, trying to keep my emotions at bay.

Suddenly, a silence fell over the ballroom, and everything stopped. Those who had laughed loudly and danced around us carelessly only moments before were now hushed to a distinct silence, bowing toward the ballroom’s newest arrival.

He was tall, much taller than Edmund, with an overall striking appearance. His eyes were the blackest of black, matching the long, silky hair that was combed back, folding slightly over his broad shoulders. I noticed his lips were sharply sculpted, as well as his dark eyebrows. His teeth and the white of his eyes shined as he smiled at the submission of the people bowing. The man dominated the room with his presence. It was hard not to watch him as he walked to the center platform and rested himself on the king’s throne, Edmund’s throne. With one gesture of his hand, he waved everyone off pause.

“Forget all of your questions. There is someone you are to meet.”

Edmund looked down to my eyes, waiting until I met his gaze before escorting me to the throne. I’m not sure how he did it, but he had me in a haze again. Dazed. Confused. I would do anything he asked.

I followed him to the platform, until I stood facing the man of the hour.

“On high tides will the ocean bring—the nightingale who’s lost her wings,” the man said, standing from the throne. “So innocent, so beautiful you are.” Each word rolled from his tongue with the most exotic tone.

Nightingale who’s lost her wings.
His words sounded familiar. I met the man’s gaze, drawing a blank again. I wasn’t sure what to make of him now that I was close. He appeared like a dark stallion, standing tall in my presence.
Who is he?
His fingers lightly touched the curve of his lips while he seemed to look me over.

“I am Victor,” he said.

I nodded, too intimidated to respond.

His hand reached out to graze my face; I flinched from the startling cold. There was something remarkably similar about him and Edmund, something distant and sinister, but undeniably beautiful and alluring.

A loud crackling sounded from overhead, distracting me from his touch. My eyes automatically glanced up to see the owl flying toward the throne. The sound was coming from the regal creature. The moment the owl touched the back of the throne, there was another loud crackling sound, followed by a hiss, and then silence. The owl had frozen into stone before my eyes.

I glared at Victor, assuming he was to blame. “What did you do to him?”

While Victor laughed at my concern, Edmund stepped in front of me to calm me down. “There’s no need to be upset. He is yours, and you are his. Your touch will awaken him.”

My eyes flickered up through my eyelashes at Edmund. “Why did he turn him to stone?”

“He did not turn your owl to stone.” He continued, “The owl will turn to stone when it is time for him to rest.” He explained with such a calm voice, that I believed him without another question.

“Come,” he instructed while guiding me down the platform. “I think you should retire for the evening.” He smiled. “May I see you once more before the night is over?”

“I thought you said I should go to my room.”

“Yes, you see, I have another surprise for you, but I would like to share it in private.”

“Another surprise?”

“Will you consent to the midnight rendezvous, then?”

“I will consent.” I twirled my dress and then squeezed his gloved hands. “But only if we can meet in the library.”

With his nod of approval, I gave an enthusiastic smile and then made my way to the spiral staircase. I could feel his stare watch my every step up the stairs, until I was completely out of sight.

Once I made my way through the two golden doors to the hallway, I closed them behind me and leaned back against their cold surface. I rested there, thinking about the night—about Edmund. I decided not to worry about Victor or the stranger and his warning—not now when everything seemed perfect. I finally pushed myself from the doors and twirled down the hall, humming the melody of the dark waltz. I was finally happy.

As I danced past the portraits and sword displays in the hall, I came to the hall ending with the red door. Edmund was persistent that I never enter the room, but I had a strange desire to take a peek. I looked down the hall; there was no one behind or in front of me. I walked quickly and quietly to the door and slowly turned the knob. With one fast tug to the door, I realized the room was locked. I stood there for a moment, thinking about leaving and going to my room. But my curiosity got the best of me.