The Shadow Prince (8 page)

There was nothing inside her cell. No bathroom. No bed. No food. There was just her, glaring at me with a look of total disgust. It wasn't the first time I'd seen that expression. The only time she ever smiled was when she was inflicting pain on someone else. Yet, even with everything that happened, my heart pained to see her in there. How I still managed to care for her I couldn't understand—I doubt I ever would.

“Have you come here to brag?” She chuckled. “All hail the fire court king!” she shouted, lowering her head in a mocking bow.

I thought long and hard about kicking her in the face. “Honestly, I'm not sure why I came. You certainly don't deserve my sympathy.”

“Does this have to do with your punishment, Rowan?” she asked. “Judging by my current state, I'd say I went lightly on you.” Leaning forward, eyes squinted, she said, “I should have killed you when I had the chance.” She lunged for me but the iron chains around her wrists held her back. They sizzled when she moved. It was the first time I'd ever heard her whimper.

The pain must have been intense because it seemed to calm her down. “You are here by your own doing, Mother. You have no one to blame but yourself.”

She rolled her eyes. “I did what was best for my court. That's what a ruler does. We make the hard choices others can't make.”

Anger boiled in my chest. “Like choosing to mutilate your own son? Was that one of your hard choices?”

She straightened her back, looking quite proud. “You were weak.”

I clenched my fists so hard my fingernails dug half moon crescents into my palms. “You wanted me to kill an innocent halfling.”

She stood, ignoring the iron as it burned her skin. “She is a danger to us all.”

I took several steps until our faces were only inches from one another. “You don't know that. This is all based on your own opinions. There's been no sign that she's the akasha.”

“You're a fool. You refuse to see what's right in front of you.” She shook her head. “You will bring doom to our court. I'm pleased I won't be here to witness it.”

“You know, I came down here contemplating whether or not I would beg for your life. Even after all you've done, there's part of me that will always care for you. Some small piece of me will always yearn for your acceptance, your love.” Tears welled in my eyes but I refused to let them go. After all she had taken from me, I would never give her the satisfaction. “But now I see you are beyond saving. You deserve what's coming to you.”

She laughed. “Only the weak yearn for something as frivolous as love. You aren't worthy of my approval. Certainly not my crown.”

Her hateful words stabbed into my chest. She never touched me, yet I was beaten and broken. In that moment, I bundled up all the emotions I felt for her and locked them away. Never again would I let anyone get to me as she had. “And yet, here we are. You are about to be put to death, and me, about to sit on your throne.” I grabbed her face, pressing my lips hard against her cheek. “Goodbye, Mother.”

This wasn't how I imagined this day would go. My coronation was supposed to be a celebration, the greatest day of my life. The fire court throne room should have been filled with fire elementals and high-ranking members of the other three courts. During the ceremony I'd kneel before my mother. She would say a few words then place the crown on my head. Afterwards, we would party for days honoring this significant moment in our history.

Instead, I sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room of the air court castle. There were no members of my court with me. Only three would witness my coronation: Liana, my mother's sister, and my adopted siblings. The rest of my court would hear about it once they learned of my mother's execution. There would be questions from many, but only a few would know the truth. As Taron had said, none of the records would reveal the details of her treason. The remaining council members felt this was the best way to keep the peace.

Staring out the window I watched the sunset. A purple hue filled the skies around the castle. It was incredibly beautiful. I wore my formal red ceremonial robes that Liana had brought to me. Underneath, my sword was strapped to my back, resting in its sheath. Carrying a weapon wasn't typical for this type of ceremony, but it made me feel safe. Against my mother's wishes I'd left the barbell in my eyebrow. It really didn't matter. Her death would come before I was crowned.

I stood when I heard a knock on my door. A knight handed me a letter, then exited.

Rowan,

I know this is a big day for you and I'm sorry I can't be there.
But after everything that happened
. After what I did to you. The pain I caused. I can't even look at you. I need some time alone to deal with everything. Don't look for me. That will just make things worse. I don't even know what more I can say right now. I'm sorry.

Marcus

I growled. Crumpling the note in my hand, I set it on fire. He was the one person who I could count on, and now, he was gone. He didn't want me to find him. I didn't know for how long. Maybe forever. And there was nothing I could do about it.

Something about his words felt permanent, as if I'd lost my best friend.

I was still reeling from Marcus's letter when another knight came to escort me downstairs. The design of the air court throne room didn't look anything like my court. The rectangular room was massive. Flags with the air court symbol hung high along the cathedral ceiling. White pillars lined the walls with limestone statues of elementals. My boots clicked on the marble flooring as I made my way toward Taron. He sat on a throne made of clear crystal. It was the same stone used on the outside of the castle.

Air elementals in traditional yellow robes made up the audience. They stood in small groups, whispering as I passed by. I couldn't blame them. They knew my mother was being put to death. I must have seemed like a monster coming to watch. If I had a choice I wouldn't be here. The thought of any execution disgusted me, even more so because it was for my own Mother. But I kept my emotions in check, walking face forward as if I wore horse blinders.

One of the knights led me toward a chair near the king. There was an area cleared out in the center of the room. Within the space was a wooden chopping block and an iron axe. Since they planned to behead her the execution would be quick. Her suffering minimal. After all the hateful things she had said to me I shouldn't care about her pain, but I did.

In the far corner Liana leaned against a wall in her formal red robes. A single tear ran down her cheek as she glared at the execution area. She hadn't been close with my mother, but she was still her sister. Glancing around the room I searched for my siblings. I didn't see either. Perhaps they had chosen not to attend? I wasn't surprised. They had always been closest with my mother. If
I
found this event horrifying, it must be intolerable for them.

The whispers ceased as they brought Mother into the room. There was an air court knight on either side of her. She had cleaned up since I last saw her. Her hands were still locked in iron cuffs, her hair had been braided down her back, and her torn red dress replaced by a thin white gown. With her pale skin she looked innocent and ethereal. It wasn't until she glared at me with her eyes filled with hate that I truly recognized her.

The crowd parted, making a pathway for the knights to take her to the make-shift guillotine. As she knelt in front of the wooden chopping block, she kept her focus on me the entire time. I forced myself not to look away even though my insides twisted into tight knots. She expected me not to watch. To be weak. But I refused. An executioner, wearing a black mask to cover his face, came to stand at her side with the axe in hand. He glanced up at Taron, awaiting his command.

Taron stood. “Do you have any last words, Prisma?” he asked.

Mother remained silent.

“Very well,” Taron replied, waving his hand at the executioner.

He nodded, raising the axe over his head.

I inhaled deeply, forgetting to let it out. It seemed as if I had slipped into a dream. Everyone around me was motionless. I was numb; I couldn't move even if I wanted to. Why had it come to this? All of it could have been prevented by mother expressing her concerns to the council. Now, because of her foolishness, I had to watch the only parent I'd ever known die.

The executioner swung the axe, but instead of taking off Mother’s head, it sunk into the chest of the closest knight. A cloaked woman ran to my mother. She gripped the cuffs around mother’s wrists. Fire burned out of her hands, melting the iron shackles. Her hood dropped back—Selene. Other fire elementals hidden under yellow robes blasted balls of fire into the crowd. Screams erupted as panic ensued.

“Guards,” the king shouted. Knights raced in from every doorway with blades raised. Within seconds, Taron was gone; taken to safety using a hidden doorway.

During the mayhem the executioner pulled a knife out of his side pocket, slicing the neck of the closest knight. I knew it was Valac before he ripped off his mask. Selene wouldn't have done this without him. My fists clenched at my sides. This was his idea.

He helped Mother to her feet, then shot a line of fire into the crowd, creating a pathway to one of the exit doors. They both took one of her arms over their shoulders heading toward the exit.

No way was I going to let this happen. Rage overtook me. My fingertips ignited into burning flames. I flung my robes over my head, the cloth catching fire. By the time it reached the ground all that was left were shreds of charred fabric. I unsheathed my sword, pushing my way through the crowd. One of the fire elementals stepped in my way. A ball of fire formed in each of his hands, but before he could throw them I plunged my iron sword into his belly. His skin seared, still smoking even after I pulled back. He collapsed onto the ground.

I ducked as an air elemental used her wind magic, flinging her attacker into the adjacent wall. Swords scraped against one another while pained cries filled the room. I put my hand over my mouth; the air reeked of burnt flesh. I couldn't see my siblings but I didn't stop shoving my way forward. A male fire elemental cornered a cowering air female. He was about to burn her when I sliced my weapon into the side of his neck, partially decapitating him. Blood smeared across my blade, lightly splattering my face. I wiped it off with the back of my hand.

The world around me faded away when I caught up to my siblings. They were moving much slower than before. They had used too much of their element; they were physically weakened. As they were about to exit I stood between them and the door. Mother's head hung low with her eyes closed. I pointed my weapon at Valac's throat and said, “You're not taking her anywhere.”

“Please don't do this, Rowan.” Selene begged, tears ready to release. “She's your Mother.”

Her plea made my soul ache. Selene had been the one sibling I had a decent relationship with. She didn't take up for me as I was being punished, but she refused to watch me suffer—unlike Valac. If she were stronger, she might have helped. But she was afraid. “After what she did to me, how can you ask me to step aside?”

Valac gripped a knife in his side pocket. “Get out of our way!” he shouted.

Just as I was about to respond Mother came to life, lunging at me. There was no time to think as the adrenaline kicked in. I pulled back on my sword, spun around for momentum, and carved the edge of the blade through her midsection, nearly cutting her in two. Her screams echoed through the room as she fell first to her knees, then onto her hip as she hit the floor. Selene dropped next to her, placing Mother’s head in her lap. Valac stood motionless.

“How could you, Rowan?” Selene wailed, tears streaming down blood spattered cheeks.

I stared at the blood on the edge of my sword. My hand shook until I dropped the weapon at my side. It crashed to the ground next to me. Blood pooled all around Selene and Mother. As she took her final breath, cold reality set in: I'd killed my own Mother. I was no better than her. I was a monster. I tried to inhale a long breath, but could only manage short, intermittent puffs. I was hyperventilating.

“I'm going to kill you,” Valac shrieked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Before he could make a move someone grabbed him from behind. It was Jarrod, the lead air court knight. Valac tried to wrestle his way free with little success. I glanced around—we were surrounded by a slew of knights. They pulled my sister off of our Mother as she pleaded to stay with her. My chest tightened as I watched. At some point her body had caught fire. Soon, she'd be nothing more than a pile of ash.

I was still too numb to speak, even as an air court knight escorted me back to the front of the room. Taron was back on his throne taking in the room. He didn't have to say a word; it was written all over his face: shock and horror. Fire elemental corpses were collected and thrown into a burning heap. The air was thick from the fumes. Participating fire elementals who had survived were captured and put in iron chains. Air elementals cried over the dead bodies of their kin. Each watched helplessly as they crumbled into dry matter, floating away into the skies.

Liana appeared next to me, protected by two Gabriel Hounds in their animal form. She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Are you all right?”

I wasn't sure I could answer the question. Mother was dead. My siblings had organized a coup, costing many elementals their lives. Had they succeeded, it would have started an all-out war. “Were you part of this, Liana?”

“No. Valac told me they weren't coming. Had I known, I would have stopped them. Prisma is my sister, but I don't agree with what she did. I had only just found out what happened to you.” She leaned as if she was trying to get a look at my back, I shifted away before she could. I wanted to believe her, but I didn't trust anyone anymore.

Liana backed away as air elementals brought my siblings forward.

Held by several guardians, they were made to stand next to me. Both wore iron cuffs on their hands and feet. Valac struggled to break free while Selene stayed silent, seemingly overwhelmed with grief. Taron's eyes travelled between them. His lips pressed together into a tight, thin line. I could only imagine what he was thinking.