Page 21 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“My parents would never kill innocents like that,” I spit back.

“The king and queen do not stay the king and queen by bestowing peace on everyone in Cloudrum. Maybe you’d know that if you ever left the castle.”

“Why? Why did you do it? What’s in it for you?”

“Oh, Cheeks, you’re so worried about what I did and why I did it. Have you ever asked yourself what it means?” He wears a stupid, wicked smirk on his face.

I hadn’t asked myself what it means. He must see the concern flash across my face at the realization.

“Yes, think about that Cheeks.”

Aidan’s right. I don’t care what he gets out of it. I need to know what it means for me. Why would my parents make a deal with him? Why would they force the Lycan blood down my throat? Am I going to turn into a Lycan on the next full moon? My heart starts to race in my chest. What has he done to me.

Suddenly the carriage comes to an abrupt stop, and I have to slam my feet down to keep from flying forward off the bench. Before I can say anything, the Sorceress from that night climbs into the carriage across from us. Her black eyes and the claw marks across her face are just as unsettling now as they were that night.

“What are you doing here?” Aidan asks, his voice sounding alarmed. I know her presence is a surprise to him too. Now with a clear mind I can really see her. She looks old. She’s at the end of her life and has to be in her eighties or nineties at least. She has light-olive skin and a thin, withered face with black eyes and light-gray hair plaited atop her head. I try not to focus on the scars across her face, but I can’t help but wonder what kind of monster put them there and what kind of monster she must be to have defeated it.

“Quiet. There’s no time. You need to listen to me now.” There’s a sharp edge in her voice.

Aidan and I both stare at her in alarmed silence. I want to jump across the carriage and strangle her, but something inside me tells me I need to listen to her.

“The king and queen are dead. Samael is going to take the throne. He cannot know what we did, or he will use her in all the wrong ways. When you arrive at the castle, play nice with Samael, and if he asks where you’ve been tell him you’ve been training Lyra as was ordered by the king and queen. That’s all.”

My breath catches as it hits me. My parents are dead. My parents are gone. Samael is going to take the throne.

“How…how did they die?” My voice breaks.

“It’s still under investigation, and the castle is in lockdown. You’ll be allowed in, but no one else is being allowed out until the investigation is complete.”

“What are you going to do to keep her from talking?” Aidan asks the Sorceress, looking at me.

“Lyra will not talk. She doesn’t want anymore attention from Samael than she already has. Isn’t that right, Lyra?”

My eyes widen. What does she know? How does she know?

“Who are you?”

“That’s for me to know, girl,” she replies sharply, then looks to Aidan. “There will be a funeral in one week’s time. I will see you then, and we can discuss future plans. Until then, be on your guard, and don’t trust anyone in that castle. Lyra, I’ll find you when I can, and all will be revealed in time.” She looks at Aidan as though his life depends on doing what she says then disappears out the carriage door.

With Aidan’s cruel words still ringing in my ears, I turn away from him and curl up in a ball, my body wracked with sobs. My heart aches with a profound sense of loss. My parents, the only family I’ve ever known, are gone, leaving me alone and vulnerable in a world that’s suddenly turned dark and treacherous. Samael’s grip on the kingdom grows stronger every day, and I fear what will happen if I don’t find a way to stop him. And then there’s Luke, sweet Luke, who was taken from me in the most horrific way possible. I can’t believe he’s really gone, and the thought of never seeing him again is too much on top of everything else.

Aidan’s presence next to me is suffocating, and I can feel his cold gaze boring into my back. If what he says is true, then everything I thought I knew about my parents is a lie. My mind reels with the implications of this new knowledge, and I’m left feeling lost and helpless. I cry until there are no more tears left, until my throat is raw and my eyes are swollen shut. And yet the pain lingers, a constant ache in my chest that I feel will never truly go away.

“Lyra, it's time to collect yourself. It won't be much longer now before we reach the castle,” Aidan says.

If I’m not mistaken, I’d say he almost sounds like he feels bad for me, but then I remember he caused this. For all I know he had something to do with my parents’ deaths as well. I’ve been unconscious for two days. I don’t know anything and can’t trust anyone.

“Don’t speak to me,” I tell him through clenched teeth. I see his jaw flex, but he doesn’t respond. We sit in silence for the rest of the ride, and although I have a feeling I should press him for information, I just can’t bring myself to care. We pull up in front of the castle, and guards are there to greet us. I don’t even look at Aidan as a guard escorts me to my room.

The castle has a different feel, one that’s colder and eerily quiet. The guards who helped me out of the carriage accompany me all the way to my room, which has never happened before, sending shivers down my spine. As I enter the room, the guards shut the door, and I hear a click that echoes through the silent chamber. Panic sets in as I realize that the door is locked from the outside, and my heart starts to race. Chepi is nowhere to be seen, and I wonder if he’s safe. I hope Lili is taking care of him and keeping him out of harm’s way.

Trying to calm my nerves, I head to the bathroom to clean up. At least there’s one positive thing about being back at the castle, and that’s the modern plumbing. I fill the tub with hot water and step in, wincing as the water burns my skin. The scalding sensation is a welcome one that distracts me from the pain eating away inside me. I scrub my body and hair until my skin is raw, wishing that I could wash away my worries just as easily.

After my bath, I dry off and slip into a nightgown before crawling into bed. I pull the covers up over my head, trying to muffle my sobs as I let the tears flow freely. Sleep eventually finds me, providing a brief escape from the harsh reality of my situation.

Chapter Twelve

Almost a week has passed since the tragic events that shattered my life. Each day blends into the next as I go through the motions, trying to keep my mind from dwelling on the horrors I’ve witnessed. But no matter how hard I try to distract myself, I can’t escape the nightmares that haunt me every night. They come in different forms, but the pain, fear, and helplessness all make me feel the same. I sometimes wake with the metallic taste of blood in my throat, and I panic all over again remembering being forced to drink my friends blood.