Chapter 29

A s soon as breakfast was over, Ro and her party returned to the royal apartment, except for Uldamar and Posey, who'd gone with a guard to his quarters to collect the necessary items. They'd already decided they'd use the large sitting room as ground zero for dealing with Lady Cynzia's diary.

Uldamar and Posey returned. Uldamar had a large sack with him, which he set on the table. "We must not be disturbed while we do this."

Ro nodded. "Understood."

Gabriel went toward the door. "I'll make sure the guards know."

Ro was nervous about opening the diary, even though it had to be done. She wasn't as nervous for herself as she was for those helping. They were doing this for her. That made her feel responsible. As it should.

JT was chatting with Raphaela, Aunt Violet was doing the same with Posey. Vincent, Violet's guard, stood at the windows, giving the outside world a quick scan. It had already been determined that he would not join the circle, but stay alert to protect those who were part of it.

Uldamar reached into the bag and took out the book that sat at the heart of so much turmoil. His mouth bent as he laid it on the table. "So much darkness."

Ro couldn't imagine what it would feel like to be open to all of that. The unknown added to her trepidation.

The wizard took out the urn as Gabriel returned to them. He gave Ro a nod. "We're all set. No one will even knock until we tell the guards it's all right."

"Thanks," Ro said.

Since bestowing the estate of Starfall on him, Gabriel's behavior had changed. Not in a bad way, just in a way she wasn't quite used to. He was more attentive, more upbeat. More…cheery. It was weird. Maybe he was just happy. If so, she was happy, too. But if he was acting that way because he thought that's what she wanted? They were going to have to talk. Soon.

Uldamar stood in front of the table. "If I could have your attention?"

Except for Vincent, they gathered around the table, keeping the book and the urn in the center, and faced Uldamar.

"I cannot tell you what is about to happen, because this book has not yet been opened. It will be a new experience for all of us. What I imagine is that you will feel the power contained within. It will seem…good. Tantalizing. There will be images in your head, beautiful things, perhaps. Hints of what the power might give you. You might smell flowers or fine food. You might hear music that makes you smile or feel like dancing. You might feel a pleasurable touch. All distractions. All lies."

No one said a word, but from the expressions on the faces of those surrounding Ro, everyone knew how serious this was.

"Ignore them as best you can. Focus on a memory of your own. One you know is true. One that gives you joy. Hold on to that happy thought, because when the dark power in this book realizes you are ignoring it, it will try harder. What you see and hear and smell and feel then will not be good. It will be threatening and malicious. But again, all distractions, all lies."

"Why?" JT asked.

"Because as a group, we are too much for it to take possession of," Uldamar said. "But if it can break the link we are about to create, the chances of it overtaking one of us increases greatly. Do not break the link."

JT nodded. "We won't."

"I would not be upset if you did not want to participate, Prince James. The same goes for your aunt."

JT shook his head. "We're helping. Right, Aunt Vi?"

Violet crossed her arms. "You bet we are."

"Told you," Ro said.

"Yes, you did." Uldamar picked up the urn and took the lid off. He dipped his hand in and retrieved a pinch of the ashes, then handed the urn to Ro. "Take a little ash and rub it over your hands. All of you."

Raphaela made a face.

Uldamar smiled and nodded. "Yes, it is distasteful, I know. I don't care for it, either, but I believe Lady Cynzia's ashes will give us some extra protection from the black magic in this book. It will, for a little while, see us not as a threat, but as the owner of this magic. Like recognizes like."

Ro did as Uldamar requested, passing the urn to Violet, who was next to her. Ro spread the ashes over her hands. It made them feel dry and chalky. Not a pleasant feeling, which was only made worse by the knowledge of what she was spreading on her skin.

The urn made its way around, then Uldamar replaced the lid and set it back on the table. "All of you, join hands. Your highness, if you would put your free hand on my shoulder." He looked at Gabriel. "Lord Nightborne, if you would do the same."

Gabriel and Ro took hold of him. Then Ro lifted her hand off. "Wait." She pulled the Silversmith dagger from her boot. "If this gets hot, which I think it will, it'll distract me." She set it on the table before returning her hand to Uldamar's shoulder.

"Now," he said. "Prepare yourselves as I've told you. Think of something good and wonderful. A true memory. Hold onto it. And under no circumstances let go of one another." He looked at Ro and Gabriel again. "Nor must you let go of me."

Ro nodded, as did Gabriel.

"Close your eyes if you wish, or keep them open. I don't know that it will make a difference. Whatever's easiest for you." Uldamar picked up the diary, whispered a few words over it, then opened the cover.

Ro closed her eyes, tightening her grip on Uldamar's shoulder and Violet's hand. She thought it would be easier not to see what was in the book. She concentrated on the memory she'd chosen. One of the many times Aunt Violet had taken her camping as a little girl. They'd rented a two-person kayak and gone out on the lake. It had been so much fun. A family of ducks had come close to investigate and see if they had anything to eat.

She could smell the water, the pine trees in the surrounding forest, the savory scent of someone barbequing. Sunlight sparkled on the water and a fish jumped just a few feet away. The water was bluer than she remembered and crystal clear. That wasn't how it had been, but memories were often seen through a filter that smoothed the rough edges.

Another fish jumped, showing off rainbow-colored scales and large, shimmering fins. Aunt Violet laughed, the sound a sweet trill that was much younger. A mama duck appeared with dazzling feathers in peacock colors.

This wasn't right. Ro's brows drew together in confusion. What had started out as her memory had changed and not just because of time. It was enhanced somehow. Almost like watching someone else's fantastical version of it.

She focused on bringing the true memory back as Uldamar had said. The water in the lake had not been blue and once they'd gotten away from the shore, not crystal clear. In her mind, she changed the image, fixing the color of the water.

Aunt Violet, sitting behind her in the kayak, splashed Ro with water. Ro smiled and nodded. She remembered that very well. She turned back to see her aunt, and found a young, vivacious version of her instead.

Again, the memory had changed. Ro could feel her frustration rising. Was this the darkness at work? She wasn't having it. She forced the real image of Aunt Violet to take the imposter's place.

The water turned black, and thunder rumbled in the distance. The kayak began to rock as the water's surface went from smooth and glassy to rough and choppy. She glanced over her shoulder again. Aunt Violet was now an old, haggard woman with dark, angry eyes and a snarl bending her mouth.

Ro swallowed. It wasn't real. She knew that. This was the darkness trying to unnerve her. Lightning cracked the sky in half overhead. Ro jumped, almost letting go of Violet and Uldamar. Instantly, she tightened her grip on them and opened her eyes.

The images didn't disappear, but they faded enough for her to ignore them. She glanced around.

Uldamar was concentrating on the book, turning pages as soon as he'd studied them. JT's face was screwed up in a troubled expression. Raphaela was breathing through her mouth, taking deep gulps of air as if she couldn't get enough. A tear trickled down Posey's face. Aunt Violet's chin was trembling. Ro leaned forward. Gabriel's lip was curled, his jaw tight. All of them had their eyes closed.

Uldamar hadn't said anything about them talking. Softly, she said, "Stay strong. Open your eyes. Focus on the goal, not on what the magic wants you to see."

One by one, they opened their eyes and seemed to gain some control. Aunt Violet met Ro's gaze and nodded.

The urge to close her eyes pulled at Ro. It was strong. Magic-driven. It had to be. She refused to give in. Even so, when she blinked, she saw flashes of dark, terrible things.

Page by page, Uldamar went through the book. His forehead wrinkled with concentration; his gaze fixated on the words before him.

Trails of sooty vapor leaked from the book, dripping into the air like oily smoke. Some wound around Uldamar's wrists and arms. Some of the tendrils curled slowly outward.

They reached toward Ro and Gabriel, the closest to Uldamar and the book. Ro didn't want them touching her, but she couldn't let go of Uldamar. There was no choice but to let them. She glanced at Uldamar. He didn't seem to be bothered by them.

The black magic inched closer. She braced herself, once again fighting the desire to close her eyes.

The inky line snaked around her forearm. Its touch burned like ice for a second, then a pleasing warmth spread through her. She inhaled, holding her breath a moment, her heart beating faster.

A sweet taste filled her mouth, and a strange euphoria made her head light, the colors in the room sharpening with an odd clarity. She felt dizzy but good. As if she'd just come off a roller coaster. The desire to feel more of that sensation took over.

She watched as a second tendril joined the first, curving around her arm, twining with the other one in a curious, captivating dance. It was impossible to look away. She found herself wishing for a third touch. A fourth.

Uldamar and Gabriel had tendrils all over them. Winding around their arms, nuzzling their necks, wrapping around their chests, and disappearing under their clothes. It wasn't fair. Why didn't she have more of them?

She inhaled sharply as she realized the magic was seducing her. Sickening her. She shifted her attention from the black magic vines to her son and found he was staring at her, Uldamar, and Gabriel in horror, watching the magic overtake them.

"It's okay," she whispered to him. "I'm fine." She wasn't, not exactly, but she would be. Uldamar was past the halfway point in the book. She made JT her center, thinking about him as a baby, a toddler, about his first day of kindergarten, the time he'd climbed a tree at the park and hadn't been able to get down, when he'd lost his first tooth, when he'd gotten braces, a girlfriend, the tale of his first kiss, practicing for his driver's license.

She smiled, laughing as the memories became her own magic, a pure, bright energy that shrank the sooty tendrils and faded them to gray. "Think about someone or something you love," she whispered to them all. "Focus on it."

Then, in an even softer voice, "Hurry, Uldamar."

Whether he heard her, she had no idea. His finger traced down the page before him. The warmth that had entered her at the first touch of black magic turned cold. Pinpricks of ice, like frozen daggers, dug into her. Somehow, the magic knew it wasn't getting to her.

Was it doing the same thing to Gabriel? She couldn't tell. She shivered, goosebumps pebbling her skin. Her teeth chattered and she winced at the pain. It was as if her whole body was going numb while being stuck with thousands of needles. Her pulse raced. She swallowed as nausea rose up inside her. If she fainted, there was no way her hand would stay on Uldamar's shoulder.

She fought hard to remain conscious. Her vision tunneled down, and her hearing went tinny. Dark thoughts entered her head. She struggled to keep JT as her focus. She wasn't going to last.

Uldamar ripped two pages from the book, slammed it shut, and dropped it to the table. "Break the contact," he commanded.

She freed Aunt Violet's hand and removed her own from his shoulder. The pain and cold vanished immediately.

He held the two pages aloft. "I have found it. The way to lift the curse. I have it!"

Ro's breathing and heart rate returned to normal. She sank into the closest chair, grateful it was over and that Uldamar had found what they needed.

" Mom ." JT rushed to her. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Just a little light-headed."

He took her hand. "You were covered with those stringy black things. I was freaking out."

"But so were Uldamar and Gabriel. They had more of them than I did."

He frowned and shook his head. "I didn't see them on anyone but you."

"What?"

Posey gave them both a curious look. "I only saw them on Vi."

"No," Gabriel said. "They were only on Queen Sparrow and Raphaela."

"I don't think so, Dad," Raphaela said. "You had them head to toe." She cut her eyes at JT. "So did you, your highness."

Feeling better, Ro stood. "The dark magic manipulated us. Made us see what it thought would bother us the most so that it could distract us."

Uldamar nodded. "That is exactly what it did. You all held out magnificently and I am very proud of you." He smiled and lifted the pages up. "Especially because it enabled me to find exactly what I needed."

"Is it all you need?" Ro asked.

Uldamar glanced at the pages. "There are a few other things. A crystal bowl, a wand of green wood, soil. Other bits and pieces." He shrugged. "Easy enough items to collect."

"I'm very glad," Aunt Violet said, exhaling in obvious relief. "Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use a little fresh air."

"So could I," Posey answered. "Shall we take our walk in the garden now?"

"I'd love that," Vi answered. "Do you mind, Ro? We won't be gone too long."

Ro started to answer, but Uldamar spoke. "If it's not too much trouble, could you gather some soil from the Malveaux side of the gardens? I'll need it for the lifting of the curse."

"Absolutely," Violet said. "Would a cup of it be enough?"

"Maybe two," he said. "Thank you."

Ro could only smile. "Take all the time you want. You've earned it. You all have, so if the rest of you want some downtime, that's fine with me. Thank you all for your help."

She breathed out as if a weight had been lifted off her. Things were definitely looking up.