The secret curse, p.23
The Secret Curse, page 23
I traveled.
Shocking them all, I easily carried the entire group of twelve. Maybe it was the adrenaline or the absolute rage driving me, or both, but I barely felt tired by it. Following Shem’s directions, I traveled one final time and arrived a few dozen paces from the daleth.
“To the king and queen,” I repeated for everyone else’s sake, watching Shem closely for signs that my Gift was fading. He remained obedient, leading the way through the portal.
We landed directly in front of the castle gates, which was as close to the castle as we could get with the enchantments surrounding it. We’d need to physically cross them, as well as one of the castle’s grand entrances, before we could travel within the castle itself.
Cold fury poured out of me as Shem stepped up to politely ask the guards to open the gates.
Not waiting for him, I made my voice heavy with the full weight of my Gift, though they were too far to touch, and stared into their eyes as I snapped, “Take us to the king and queen immediately.”
I couldn’t be sure if it was the size of the group already obeying me, my tone, or the Gift itself growing, but something made them jump to obey.
We strode through the castle toward the throne room.
“The king and queen are currently holding court,” the guard told us nervously over his shoulder, as we reached the grand doors. “They’re going to share an announcement of some sort.” Probably about to tell everyone their son is marrying a Vaade. “You can slip into the back here and speak with them after.”
“No,” I said in the same flat, hard tone, slamming my Gift into him with all my strength. “We’ll join them on the stage. Bring us to the side door.” Before he could argue, I hooked my arm through Shem’s, daring him to speak back to both of us and added sharply, “Now.”
30
WE WERE LED TO a side door that opened onto the stage.
King Jubal and Queen Samaria both turned at the sound, cutting off whatever they’d been about to say. “Shem?” The queen rose, hand to her lips. “What happened?”
Her gaze seemed to sweep right over me. King Jubal didn’t even spare me a glance. They focused on their son, drawing him forward.
I didn’t let go of Shem’s arm.
With a pointed glance at my fingers, Queen Samaria finally turned her attention to me.
I stared coldly back.
This was the family who’d left me to the Vaade without a second thought. Just like their son.
“Mother,” Shem was saying, bowing his head respectfully. “Father.”
I kept my chin high.
Turning to the crowd, I took in the throne room, full to the brim with Jinn, waiting to learn about a marriage to the Vaade that was no longer happening. Their judgmental eyes should’ve made me step back—in the past they would have. Today they didn’t affect me. I hardly cared what they thought anymore.
By now, King Jubal was coming to the conclusion that the marriage covenant clearly hadn’t happened. He looked between his wife and son, considering.
They’d want to hear the full story privately and discuss it before revealing anything to the public.
Too bad.
I raised my voice as I spoke to them, making sure everyone gathered would hear, all the way to the back. “Good, you’ve gathered everyone. That’s exactly what Shem and I were hoping for.”
King Jubal narrowed his eyes at me. “Thank you, Jezebel.” His tone was polite, but he gripped my shoulder firmly, trying to intimidate me. “That will be all.”
I ignored him, speaking louder. “The Vaade threat has been extinguished. By me.”
He’d lifted a hand to call for a guard, but this made him pause. Queen Samaria gave Shem a wide-eyed look in question, and he confirmed it with a slightly dazed nod.
Now, finally, I deigned to give them a small bow along with a tight-lipped smile. “You’re welcome.”
King Jubal caught Captain Uriel’s eye, subtly summoning him.
I stepped between them, capturing the king’s eyes with my own, sensing my Gift rise at the ready the more I used it. “Shem and I knew you would want the kingdom to hear the news immediately. I’m sure you’d like me to explain.”
I’d never addressed the prince so informally in a public venue before, and I knew the onlookers didn’t miss it.
Neither did King Jubal.
I couldn’t tell if my Gift overpowered him or if he simply didn’t want to lose the image of a united front, but he grudgingly nodded for me to continue.
Turning my back on him, the queen, and Shem, I spoke directly to the people. “You may have felt your Gifts weakening in the last hour or so.” Though I didn’t wait for anyone to nod, I took some satisfaction in the widening eyes throughout the room. Had everyone tried to hide it from their peers? Koda was right, we concealed everything. In this case, it worked to my benefit.
“The Vaade attempted to steal our Gifts.” I let my voice carry, let the pause after my words grow heavy before I continued. “I personally turned this curse back on them, stripped the Khaanevaade of their strength and other abilities with a spell that will last a thousand years.”
To sound more powerful, I left out a few key details, such as the fact that I had no idea if the curse would last that long. I didn’t know if it would ever end if Koda didn’t receive a ring.
“Without their magic, all currently living Vaade should be dead within a century or two at most.” I paused for emphasis, lowering my voice slightly so that they had to strain to hear, which naturally added emphasis to my words. “They’ll never be a threat to Jinn again.”
Shock swept across the room.
The Jinn weren’t usually the cheering sort, but a murmur of excitement swept across the room, and slowly, they began to applaud.
Glancing back at the royals, I held back a satisfied grin at the astonishment on their faces.
When Queen Samaria stepped forward to take my shoulders, subtly preparing to edge me away from the stage yet again. “No.” I stood up to her for the first time. “You will let me speak.” I’d use my Gift on her without a second thought if she didn’t listen.
Stunned into submission, she loosened her grip and let go.
Turning, I caught her hands in mine, causing another surge of murmuring in the crowd at my boldness. This time I did use my Gift, leaning heavily on it as I glanced between her and King Jubal evenly. “Thank you for sending your son to come for me when the Vaade took me hostage.” I’m giving you false credit for what you should have done, I thought bitterly. Speaking far louder than necessary, I made sure this story would be spread far and wide today. “I know how much thought you put into my rescue and how worried you were.” In other words, not at all.
Both their faces grew blank under the influence of my Gift, and they nodded slowly. “We were terribly concerned,” Queen Samaria murmured, almost to herself, agreeing with me fully now. King Jubal looked slightly confused, as if he were fighting my Gift, but losing.
Continuing loudly, I guided them on, “That’s why Shem and I both knew you’d agree to the wedding taking place today.” They startled, but the reaction was dimmed by my Gift and their own desire to show confidence in front of our audience.
The buzz from the crowd was growing louder. It covered the queen’s quiet question, “You’re... getting married?”
“Shem and I have decided to wed as soon as possible,” I told her and the king, lowering my voice so no one else would overhear. “To prevent anyone else from trying to take advantage of our people again.” She nodded slowly, though King Jubal still seemed to be resisting my Gift. In a harsh whisper, I added, “Your son was already going to be married at sunset. It’s very fortunate for you that it will now be to his original bride.”
That finally seemed to sway him. “Yes,” he murmured. “...very fortunate indeed.”
I waved an arm grandly toward the crowd. “And here you are, prepared for it with witnesses already gathered. It was meant to be.”
My Gift made them bob their heads in agreement.
It was what they should have done all along.
To Shem, I added, “You’ll want to share the full story of the Vaade’s breach of the agreement to pass the time. I’ll be back in a quarter hour.” His confused expression smoothed out as he nodded in agreement.
Before I left, I made sure to raise my voice for the audience, “We look forward to celebrating this glorious turn of events with you. The wedding will begin shortly.”
Though it obviously struck the onlookers as strange that I spoke on behalf of the royal family, they didn’t dare question it while the king, queen, and their son stood beside me in direct support.
I strode out in a hurry.
Without experimentation, it was impossible to know how long my Gift would hold power over the royals if someone tried to talk them out of it.
Either way, after the speech I’d just made, it was highly unlikely they would find an excuse to change their minds and still save face before I returned.
Just to be safe, though, I wouldn’t dawdle.
“You and you,” I pointed to two of the queen’s council members lurking outside the throne room doors, waiting for her. “Go get Milcah, Jerusha, and Dorcas, and tell them the princess needs them immediately in her rooms. Make sure they don’t delay.”
I allowed myself a satisfied smile as they hurried off. I’d chosen those three to help me into my dress, knowing how much they’d hate being forced to serve me. Knowing that if I had to, I would make them obey.
The more I used my Gift of manipulation, the more I wondered why I hadn’t let myself use it before. It was untraceable. As long as I took care not to stretch someone outside of their will too much, no one around them would question it. In some ways, this Gift could be more invisible than Shem himself.
And, if anyone did catch on to what I was doing, it’d only take a few words to make them forget.
Traveling directly to the residential hallway where Shem’s council members lived, I opened the door to my room and entered.
It was exactly the way I’d left it.
Not a single person had left a note or other sign of their presence, because no one had cared that I’d been gone.
That was about to change.
I was done living in the shadows of what other people wanted.
From now on, I would make them value me.
My dress hung along the side of the wardrobe.
White and pure.
As I shucked my ripped and dirty dress to the floor, I wished there was time to bathe before the ceremony. It wasn’t worth the risk. But first thing when it was over.
Once this wedding was done, there’d be time to do whatever I wanted. No one would order me around ever again, least of all Shem.
That was the benefit of marrying him instead of Koda. He would do whatever I said.
As I stepped into the wedding gown, pulling the delicate lace over my shoulders and staring into the mirror, I began a shift without thinking.
The fabric darkened.
Black lace.
It was the color of mourning.
Fitting.
When Milcah, Jerusha, and Dorcas arrived a few minutes later, I’d already run a brush through my hair and taken a few minutes to shift my features in the mirror—adding a soft blush to my cheeks, removing the bags from under my eyes, and reddening my lips.
“You called?” Milcah asked dryly when I answered the door.
I didn’t invite them in. Meeting her eyes with a saccharine smile, I infused my words with my Gift. “I need jewelry fitting for a wedding ceremony. You have some jewels in your room, don’t you? Bring me your favorite?”
Her eyes grew blank in response.
When she obeyed, traveling out of the hallway to another part of the castle, Dorcas gave Jerusha a startled glance and shrugged.
“Dorcas, help me with the buttons.” I gestured to my back, swinging the door to my room open finally and turning. I didn’t use my Gift, wanting to see if she’d cave in simply because Milcah had done so first.
Dorcas stepped forward, starting at the bottom. The little pearlescent buttons led all the way from my lower back to the base of my neck, drawing the dress in to fit my curves.
Jerusha wasn’t willing to stand idle in the hall, so she reluctantly stepped inside as well, closing my door softly. Between the two of them, they were finished by the time Milcah returned.
They brushed out my dark hair so that it lay along my shoulders in waves, while Milcah placed a gold headpiece with a pale blue gem the same color as my eyes around my brow.
As she carefully fit matching gold earrings into my ear, she muttered to herself, “I don’t know why I’m letting you borrow these. They’re my favorites.”
I turned from the mirror to grab her arm, smiling innocently for the other ladies’ benefit as I let my Gift flow over her. “It’s because you’re secretly happy for me to marry the prince.” It came so naturally now, I hardly had to think about it. Her face softened in response as my words sank in.
Facing the mirror again, I touched the pretty blue gem in the center of one of the earrings. The gold pieces dangled all the way to my shoulder, making me smile for real this time. “They make a wonderful wedding present.”
When Milcah didn’t argue, Dorcas and Jerusha glanced at each other again. Over my shoulder, I caught a glimpse of Jerusha studying Milcah in the mirror.
“Jerusha, will you take us to the throne room?” I said to distract her, using my Gift on her this time, just because I could. Taking her arm, I moved us toward the door. “I have a wedding to get to.”
Smiling sweetly, I waved for the other ladies to follow, and they did with a nervous chuckle.
“To the main entrance,” I told Jerusha as we stepped into the hallway, and she nodded. I could’ve traveled on my own. The request was strategic. Now was the time to assert my authority. When we reappeared at the great hall, I wanted everyone to see their deference to me, not rolled eyes behind my back. And, I admitted to myself, it felt good.
We landed in the grand hallway outside the double doors leading to the throne room. Two Jinni Guards stood outside, giving us stern looks as Dorcas and Milcah appeared behind me. Ignoring the guards, I told all three ladies. “Follow me in and lead everyone in a bow when we reach the front.” Blank obedient looks passed over their faces.
Turning to the guards, I captured their gazes and demanded, “Open the doors with a bang. Let’s make a grand entrance.”
Slowly, they followed orders, moving stiffly like puppets with their strings being pulled.
Lips curving in satisfaction, I stepped back as the doors swung wide.
They hit the outer walls with a loud crash, as the guards gave me the striking appearance I’d asked for.
Inside, the room grew hushed as all eyes turned toward me.
Not waiting for permission, I strode forward.
An orchestra hastily put together near the front of the room lurched into song.
I didn’t bother to check if Milcah, Jerusha, and Dorcas trailed after me. They didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except saying our vows before the people and completing this marriage.
Jinn parted, making an aisle for me to walk toward Shem. I didn’t hurry. With long, slow steps that fit the music, I made them wait, savoring the control I held over the whole room.
When I met Shem’s eyes, I forced a smile for appearance’s sake.
It was only a week ago that I’d looked across a crowded room seeking his face, but it couldn’t have felt more different. No longer was I hopeful or naïve. Now, when I looked at him, I saw things plainly. Shem had fallen for a simple Jinni girl who didn’t mind that he prioritized his crown over her. But that girl didn’t exist and never had. He couldn’t possibly love me when he'd never truly known me. And maybe that was for the best.
Koda’s face replaced Shem’s in my mind, unbidden.
A twinge of regret struck me.
He wouldn’t have let me walk all over him the way Shem was now. That was one of the many things I’d found myself liking about him. He wasn’t soft, but he didn’t try to make me soft either.
With a slight shake of my head, I forced myself back to the present.
A malleable husband was exactly what I needed in this relationship.
It would be me who ordered the Jinni Guard to subtly search for the records Koda had mentioned, removing all traces of the Vaade’s history permanently, while they were still vulnerable. I’d make sure they believed they were human. Shem hadn’t been capable of facing them, so I’d do what had to be done. Once we became king and queen, he’d step back, one way or the other.
In the meantime, I’d make it my personal mission to find and close as many daleths to the human world as possible. King Jubal and Queen Samaria had left far too many open. I’d also appoint someone to find the spell the Vaade had used to open portals. Not that they’d remember creating them anymore. But better to be safe and remove any chance of them rediscovering it.
Though, perhaps I’d keep one open.
Then I could still check in on Koda now and then.
I bit my lip, unsure if I wanted to when he had no memory of me.
As long as the Vaade never received a sacrificial ring with the intention of marriage, Koda would never recognize me—or my Gifts—ever again. None of the Vaade would. And I’d make sure Shem was under compulsion to never speak a word of them either. All my secrets were safe—both my Gifts and what’d really taken place in the human world.
And if the covenant wasn’t completed, neither was the magical truce. We would put the Vaade in their place.
Reaching the stage, I solemnly took the stairs, holding Shem’s gaze the entire time—not to search for a sign of love in his eyes, since I wouldn’t believe it even if I saw it—but because I wouldn’t deign to give his parents or the onlookers a single glance.
Reaching him, I accepted the hand he held out. Remembering how so many daughters of Jinn hated to see affection between us, I leaned closer.
Over time, I was sure the tale of what’d happened today would become twisted.
But I’d know what’d really happened.
