AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ember
Air rushed past me, and adrenalin sent my heart racing as I fell backward. Shit, shit... no, it’s all right. I came up hard against the silks wrapped around my legs, spinning at the bottom of my drop, and my panic quieted at that comforting pressure. I let my momentum change my path and flip me upright. Arms outstretched and toes pointed, I ended the move. Remembering that all important smile, I posed before untangling myself and climbing to the ground.
A handful of captivated teens clapped.
Conscious of the group of parents that observed their children training, I didn’t give voice to the relief I felt at not having a panic attack after the drop. It was a relatively simple one. However, it wasn’t but a few days ago that climbing the silks without freaking out was beyond me. Where once I’d soared with complete confidence, fake-Baz’s cruel games in Nightmare had broken that. Knowing Nic lurked in the shadows, unseen though I could feel his presence, and my budding powers gave me a little more confidence. He’d catch me if the silks vanished, and I failed to catch myself.
“Sadie, you try it.” I wiped the sweat from my brow.
The teen grinned and ran over to the set of silks I had just used.
“Use a dancer climb,” I ordered. There were a ton of different ways to climb up the silks, and this was a pretty basic one, but it wasn’t the easiest—though it was far from truly difficult—and I wanted her to work a little.
She pushed her lips out in a fake pout before wrapping her leg around the fabric and starting her climb. I watched while she set herself up for the drop, talking her through a few points since she’d never done it before. When she let go, a huge grin on her face as she flew through the air, I remembered my first time. I’d been young and fearless, but I’d still had a moment’s pause to think about how I was about to fling myself toward the ground from fifteen feet in the air. The rush of a first successful plunge in the silks had stuck with me all these years and I still loved it, despite my current fears.
If I got the chance, I was going to punch not-Baz in the fucking face for putting uncertainty in my life. Well, maybe I’d use a big stick. I’d never punched anyone in my life, and I suspected I might hurt myself. The pain might be worth it, though.
Tonight, Geraint and I were going to try one of our warmup straps routines. If that went well, we’d work back up to our full sequences. He and I both had a little catching up to do after several weeks of very little aerial. Even knights of the realm of Nightmare had to keep in shape.
Of course, I hadn’t known Geraint was a being from Nightmare sent to keep me safe after a childhood game of “wedding” had bound me to three Nightmare princes. Geraint and I had grown up together, fallen in love, created the perfect life touring the world with our renowned performances.
Then someone imitating one of my princes had decided he wanted me back in Nightmare. It took not-Baz a while to find me, but when he had, he’d kidnapped both me and Geraint, tortured us, and locked us away. One of the castle guards more loyal to the realm than to Baz himself had helped Geraint arrange my escape, and I’d found Nic. Prince Nyctophobia, the embodiment of the fear of the dark or the unknown. He had these kick-ass shadow powers, and he was actually just as nice as I remembered from our play as children. Meeting him had unlocked all those magically sealed memories and turned my world upside down.
Now we were trying to balance a semblance of a normal life while Nic hid out in the conscious realm with me and Geraint, while also trying to figure out what had happened to Prince Dio and the real Prince Baz.
I’d accepted my role as the princess of Nightmare, but I didn’t really know what that meant yet. Other than mind blowing sex with Nic, and Geraint, and slowly developing my own shadow powers.
“Great job, dancers,” I said as the last of my students finished their practice. “Cool down, and I’ll see you next time!” Some of them would be back tomorrow, some only came weekly.
Geraint worked with another group on the other side of the gym. They were training with straps. I stared after my knight wistfully before tearing my gaze away. Done teaching for the day, I wanted to get food before practice with my knight later.
Late afternoon humidity slapped me in the face when I stepped outside of the air-conditioned gym. I wiped at my face and headed for the flower gardens that bordered the pathway to the house. Flies buzzed in the still air. I hurried for the big shade tree, an invisible pull drawing me toward it.
Prince Nic sat at the base of the tree, staring out at the riot of color the flowers presented. A flock of hand-raised geese wandered through our flowers, picking at the weeds and generally helping us keep up with the place. It was easier to hose goose poop off the walk than it was to weed the gardens. A chicken darted past, chasing a bug, and I knew our guardian dogs wouldn’t be far. Inhaling the perfume of all the blooms and wishing I had my sketch book, I grinned and sank down onto the ground next to Nic. I’d grab food in a minute.
“Hey.” I bumped my shoulder against his.
“Hello, Ember.” He folded his hand around mine and squeezed.
“How are you holding up?”
Nic grinned. “I enjoy the conscious realm. I enjoy your company, and I’m growing used to your knight. If it weren’t for the rest, it would be an extremely pleasant vacation.”
That Nic wasn’t hating life hanging out with me and Knight at my parents’ home made my heart swell a little.
“I’m also enjoying lurking in the shadows and spying on you while you teach your classes or practice.” He winked at me before turning his attention back out to whatever he’d been watching in the distance.
I looked but didn’t see anything.
“Use your awareness of the shadows. See if you can look through them.”
Frowning, I did what Nic said. The heat from the day faded from my awareness, bringing me into the velvety cool darkness of the shadows. Every day, my connection to these powers grew stronger, but my control was still tenuous at best.
“I feel them,” I said. “I can see blackness. That’s it.”
He squeezed my hand again. “It’ll come. Robby somehow snuck back through the arch in the cabin. He’s on his way. Some Nightmare hounds are sniffing around, but they won’t last long in the conscious realm.”
“Thanks.” Trying not to get frustrated at my lack of ability with the shadows, I slid my hand from Nic’s and climbed to my feet. “I’ll grab some food and meet you both back out here. Even if Robby isn’t hungry, I am.”
