“Wait, what?” I blurt out as I sit up. “Your sister doesn’t know about the curse that bound her own life?”
Damien leans back, running his hands down his face. “I didn’t want her to live in fear that she could drop dead at anymoment, and I didn’t want her to feel guilty for my actions. It was better she was blind to it all.”
“Wow. Well, are you going to tell her now that it’s all over?”
“I don’t know. If I do, I’ll only be hurting her. Maybe ignorance is bliss.”
I stand up and walk over to him. “Trust me when I say keeping secrets from people you care about has a way of hurting them, too. I won’t tell you what you should do but think long and hard about who you want this next version of you to be.” I offer him my hand and he takes it.
“You make a decent sounding board, you know that?”
“I’ve been around a long time. Wisdom is a side effect of it.”
The two of us share a laugh and head down the hall for the council meeting. When everyone gets settled, there’s a noticeable anxiousness in the room.
“Who has something to report?”
Artemus stands and leans on the table from his spot at the end. “King Cimmerian has ordered a lockdown on the Great Six Realms. No one is getting in or out of there which means information is going to be harder to come by. The latest update has reported dead bodies hanging from the Baltaire Viaduct outside of the kingdom. He’s making a statement now. You’re either with him or against him and if you’re the latter then you better be ready to die for it.”
Groans and sighs echo around the table as he sits back down. I knew violence and fear is the path my father would take. It’s the only move he knows in times of distress. Those who remain in the realms won’t have much of a choice now. We did the best we could getting everyone who wanted to join our cause out of there, but many were still unsure or too scared to take the risk. Although they ultimately made their own choice, it doesn’tmake me feel any better knowing there will still be innocent casualties to come.
“Any word on what attack he’s planning?”
“No. Whatever he’s got brewing, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest,” Artemus informs with a look of defeat.
I stand up and each of the council members instinctively straighten. “We knew this was coming. Let it serve as a reminder of what it is we’re fighting for.” I earn a few head nods, but it’s not enough. Most of them have never experienced war, and it shows. “Damien is joining me and Reign on our trip to the Infinite Sea Territories. While I’m away, Artemus is in charge. My father has us out numbered and overpowered. Getting the Infinite Sea Territories to join us is top priority. While I work on that, I want the exact location of the lost island keeping Casstia Nircosa’s tomb. I have no doubt that my father is working overtime to get his hands on that scepter, and we need to beat him to it if we want to stand a fighting chance against him. Someone or some book out there has information. Find out what it is.”
“Hey, what’s up?” Reign asks when she answers the door.
“Are you all packed for tomorrow?”
“Pretty much.” She swings her bedroom door wide and motions for me to come in. “You said pack warm, right?”
“Yeah, it’ll be cold and windy like the caves were.” I scan the clothes already laid out on her bed. “These should work.”
I watch her roll up each garment and stuff it into her bag. It almost feels like how it did when we were back at the safe house in Cyron. I’m hoping that the next words to come out of my mouth don’t ruin that.
“So…” I begin, trying to stall as long as I can.
“Spit it out,” she orders, lifting her head to look at me.
“I invited Damien to come with us.”
“Oh.” It’s not much of a response and I’m not sure how to take it so I give her a minute to mull it over. “I guess that makes sense,” she finally adds.
“Is that going to be okay since you’re avoiding him and all?”
“I’m not avoiding him,” she snipes, turning away and walking to her closet. “I’m just taking some space.”
“Same thing,” I argue, grabbing the jacket she just pulled out. I roll it up and place it in the bag that is almost completely full.
“You have your ex that you’re still in love with after lying to you your whole relationship come back from the dead and then tell me it’s the same thing.”
“You still love him?” I hate that I even feel the need to ask. Why do I even care? It’s her relationship. She can feel how she wants.
“Yes.” She sighs after she says it and takes a seat on the edge of her bed. “I mean, I think so. Maybe it’s just a part of him I love. Or maybe it’s the illusion of who I thought he was. I don’t know anymore which is why I’ve been keeping my distance.”
“Well, maybe this trip will be the clarity you need,” I offer.
