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Ainsley
Father had been poisoned? I wanted to know by whom and how. But as it stood, I didn’t have time to ponder these questions. Mother had given me the answers I sought—and more. Whomever had killed the duke was attempting to get to me through my family. I knew then, after Mother’s final words, I indeed had to leave and seek out Silverthorne.
I rose from the bed and began to pace. “I cannot stay. Mother, I shouldn’t remain here a moment longer. What if I put your life in danger, too? I would never forgive myself if something were to happen. I cannot—”
“Listen to me, Ainsley.” The duchess interrupted. “Before you depart, you must first tell me of the woman with whom you were speaking to. What did she say? Please, if you can recall, I need to hear every word.”
I stopped and stared at the ceiling for a moment. I remembered the anger I felt. The magic as it rose within me. Silverthorne. She had mentioned his name! An old friend of my father’s? I relayed everything as best as my memory served and took a seat back on the bed, placing my head in my hands.
“And, Mother, she was no ordinary woman. Her name was Gretta, and she was an automation of sorts. Half-human, half-mechanical. Her eyes were violet in color, and, well, one zoomed in and out, and it focused solely on me. It was unnerving.” I breathed in deeply and shook my head. “And her face! One half was metal: blue and green. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Why did my mother appear so calm at this revelation? “She is not so exceedingly rare, I’m afraid. Nevertheless, her presence here is quite alarming. She was not a friend of your father’s, the duke. But Silverthorne I would venture to guess. And I dare say, she may be much more foe than anything—one of his many enemies.”
“I felt that way as well. I somehow knew she was lying; however, I cannot quite explain it.”
“Your powers, Ainsley. From this day forward, listen to your inner thoughts and that feeling you have inside. From what little I know it is your magic awakening. It speaks to you, for a lack of better words.”
This sounded so foreign coming from my mother. Never in my life did I believe I would be having a conversation such as this. As a matter of fact, it seemed as though I were now living part of the fantasies I so enjoyed reading.
Be careful what you wish for…
“I believe you are right, darling. We must hurry and get your effects in order. I hadn’t thought of this new stranger or what others may have seen. The consequences. I fear your time is now more limited than I first realized.”
My stomach plummeted to the floor. “Yes, Mother. But where do I even begin? I know nothing of pirates, rogues, or whatever. Only what I have seen in the skies and what I’ve read in my books.”
“Come, I have something for you.” She ushered me into the corridor and inside her chambers. “It belonged to your parents. I believe its contents will help you along the way.”
While Mother searched through her wardrobe, I sat on the chaise lounge near the window. My thoughts had begun to race. Birth parents? I felt as though I were in a dream, and not necessarily a good one. My entire life had been a lie, but I didn’t harbor ill will toward the duke and duchess, not in the least. I only wondered what awaited me now.
I’d always dreamed of adventures, but now it seemed my dreams had become my new reality. Although, I wasn’t quite certain if this particular journey would be an adventure or a life-altering experience I may not be able to come back from. Would I still be Ainsley? And a magic-caster? I had no idea how to process this new information or my abilities for that matter. Even so, I had chosen to keep my concerns to myself. Mother had more than enough to deal with, and I did not want to add to it.
“Ainsley? Are you paying attention?” Her voice broke me from my internal musings.
“I apologize. I was lost in thought.”
Mother crossed the room and came to sit next to me on the chaise. In her hands, she held a worn wooden box shaped like a treasure chest. It appeared as though it would fall apart at any moment. “It is yours to open. Here is the key, my dear.”
It was a golden key with what appeared like a lightning bolt forged in the middle, and on its side, a name had been engraved but seemed to be scratched out. I carefully took the rectangle-shaped chest and placed it on my lap and then inserted the key.
I closed my eyes and paused, only for a moment before unlocking the mystery that sat before me. “You don’t know what’s inside?”
My mother stood with her back straight, elegant, and regal. She smiled at me, although the small sparkle that always highlighted her radiant face was nowhere to be found. “It did not feel like my place. You were mine the moment we took you in, Ainsley. I did not need to know more and left this for you… For you when the time was right.”
She waved her hand forward, beckoning me to continue. I heard a small click and gently opened the lid.
Part of the box crumbled near the top, leaving etchings of old metal raining down onto the contents. It had not been weatherproofed or sealed properly. That much was certain. A small sigh beside me let me know that Mother had high hopes for answers that may lay hidden within this nearly ruined wooden shell, but I didn’t need to look at her to know she was thinking the same thing I was now.
There would be no answers here.
My stomach knotted as I lifted the rusted contents from within, one after another. Something that could have been a broach was first, followed by a gnarled piece of what I imagined to be ribbon. At least that’s what I would tell myself, because perhaps it had belonged to me as a babe. There was a thin, paper-like material that should have held a picture, but instead, whatever had been there was faded, the edges torn and tattered.
I ran a hand over my face. Without realizing it, I’d built my next move around this box, believing it contained something of value to this sudden journey. My mother had, too—her breathing had grown heavy.
Now what?
Staring at the small wooden chest on my lap, I moved slowly, grasping the top of the lid before closing it and sliding the key into the obscure pocket of my dress.
Suddenly, Jackson burst through the doors of my mother’s chambers, which was highly inappropriate and unlike him. “Ains, we need to talk.”
