Chapter 14

I hugged the cuff to my chest after I took it off. Only Chase and Autumn were standing here with me. I wasn’t sure where the others had gone. Here I was again, willingly using what had ruined my life. I blew out a breath slowly, trying not to have that moment where I wondered what having a childhood and family would be like. Giving myself a mental smack, I turned to look at Autumn. “Who is this Eunice?” I glanced to Chase. “Besides being the sister of the one of the creeps you guys are hunting.”

He leaned against the wall. “She’s the one that was holding the women on the island, and as far as we can tell was in charge of rounding them up.”

I glanced to see Autumn’s look harden. “She told them to shackle me.” She continued to look at the wall that we couldn’t see through yet. “She almost blinded me with poison she blew into my eyes.” She snarled, “she had to cheat and doesn’t fight with honor.” She turned to look at me and for a moment I was glad we were on the same side. “She poisoned her blade and I could have bled out if the doctor hadn’t had the cure.”

Chase straightened and came over and put his hand on her shoulder. “You still kicked her ass injured and unable to see.”

She gave him a hard look, then smiled, “I did.” Turning back to the glass wall, she motioned to it with her chin. “She’s saying she doesn’t know what’s going on now. How she ended up here.” Crossing her arms over her chest. “I need to know if she’s pretending to be an idiot, or if it’s one more scheme or,” she looked at me, “if she’s telling the truth.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay.” I hugged my waist, then turned to Chase. “Maybe if they ask her what the last thing she remembers is, I will be able to hear if she is faking it or not.”

Chase nodded. “I’ll go tell Troy to try that.” He walked out of the area.

“Thanks for doing this.” Autumn said quietly. “I know you don’t want to.” She gave me a softer look. “I know you don’t like being able to, but,” she shrugged, “have you ever thought there was a reason why you can? That somewhere in all of fate’s plans you were given that for one reason only?” She nodded. “I had times where I cussed at my life. Thinking it was so unfair.” Autumn glanced to the floor for a moment. “They didn’t last long. No time for pity parties on the streets.” She nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. “Then I found out about,” she waved her hand around, “this and it hit me. I was a warrior for a reason. Being here. Stopping this is the reason.”

Biting my lip, I looked at her. She wasn’t wrong. “I’ve never thought there was a reason for it.” It felt like tumblers clicked inside my whole body. “I always thought there had to be a mistake, a fluke for life to do this to someone.” The wall changed and we could see inside the cube. I looked at the redheaded woman sitting on her bed. She didn’t look like a malicious insane person. She looked lost, in the way I’d seen so many at the asylum look. “I guess now is when I find out if that’s true or not.”

Autumn nodded and crossed her arms over her chest, she didn’t look away from the woman inside the cell.

For her own safety, I thought, that woman better hope she never gets out of there. I glanced to Autumn quickly as Troy, Victor and Arius stepped into her cell. Being on her bad side could be bad for anyone’s health. I pushed the button to open the slot in the wall.

Eunice scrambled to her feet and then did a low curtsy to Troy. “Your majesty.”

…Willis would have a coronary if he saw me do this…

…I can’t disrespect royalty, despite my brother and his friend’s delusions…

“Sit down, Eunice.” Troy said in a flat tone.

She quickly sat down, then looked at Arius. “Did the blood tests show anything?”

…please let this nightmare end…

Arius shook his head. “Nothing to confirm drugging.”

Eunice’s expectant expression changed to defeat.

…no that can’t be. Incompetent lab rats…

“There has to be something.” She jumped up, then bowed her head when the men straightened. She held out her arm. “This. What is this?” Shaking her head, she glanced at Victor. “I know it’s the Hubert family crest, but why do I have it tattooed on my wrist?” She rubbed her hand over it. “When did I get this?”

…this infernal thing won’t stop itching…

…how is it possible I got a tattoo and don’t remember…

…if this is Willis’ idea of a joke, I’m going to…

Victor turned and looked at Arius for a moment, his expression not changing. “You don’t remember getting it?”

Eunice shook her head quickly.

…would I be asking if I remembered?

“No. I didn’t even notice it until the scrapes on my arms healed.” She frowned, “which if anyone could shed light on how I got those, I’d be grateful.”

…maybe I was injured and have a concussion. That would explain so…

“What is the last thing you remember clearly, Eunice?” Troy asked then crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at her with resilient focus.

She stepped back and sat down, looking at the floor.

…what is the last thing I recall with clarity?

…I’m going to claw this out of my skin…

She rubbed her hand over her wrist again. “I-uh,” she squeezed her eyes tight, “we,” she looked up at Victor, “Nelson and I, we were trying to reason with Willis.” She looked annoyed. “Mostly I was, Nelson would never openly go against Willis…”

…talk about impossible feats. There is no reasoning with that old goat…

She shook her head. “After millenniums of trying to prove the gods chose the wrong family, we’d—I’d conceded that if,” she looked up at Troy, “if there had been an error, we would have proved it in that time.”

…I’m sorry, brother, but it’s true…

…is a pounding headache a sign of a concussion?

…what if it’s worse than that. All those years of battle could have damaged something…

…focus Eunice, get your ass out of this cell…

A look of pain filled her face, she put her hand to her temple. “You have the mates mark—all of you? I don’t know when this happened.”

…lucky bastards. What I wouldn’t give for that connection…

…the fates are cruel, there will never be a woman mated to a woman…

She gave Arius a hopeful look, “the prophecy has come true and I don’t know how or-or when.”

…the doctor needs to remove this or numb it…

Looking at her arm, she brushed her hand over her wrist.

“When were you and Nelson trying to reason with Willis?” Victor asked.

Troy was oddly quiet, I wondered if that meant he was doing his seeing into her head. Blinking I focused on listening and not thinking about things that didn’t matter.

…think, think, think, when?

…what was happening?

Eunice took a deep breath, a serious look of thought on her face. “Uh, the years seem to blur together so much after the first five or six hundred.”

…the whole realm was in a dither over something…

She exhaled and looked at the floor, “there was a celebration,” lifting her arms, she rubbed her temples, “anniversary of the coronation for our twin kings.” Dropping her hands, she looked up at Victor.

…I still can’t believe I followed Willis blindly and believed he thought the prophecies were rigged. One maybe, but hundreds…

“How many years?” Arius asked, his tone so quiet it was barely audible. “How many years were we celebrating?”

…these questions are getting annoying…

“Fifty.” She gave him a hesitant look, “we didn’t attend, of course, but…” She stopped when the three men straightened and looked at each other. “What?” She stood up.

…why are they looking at each other like that?

“What?” She gave Troy a panicked look, “how many years have you been king?”

…I swear if I’ve lost more than a few weeks, I’m going to crack Willis upside the head. His childish pranks are getting ridiculous…

Troy looked slowly from Victor to her. “We just celebrated one hundred and sixty years.”

…they’re not joking…

…one hundred sixty years…

Her mouth dropped open. Her eyes were huge. She put her hand over her mouth and stumbled back until she hit the bed. Landing on the edge of it she gave him a horrified look. “A hundred and ten years.”

…oh my god…

…what is happening?

She looked at Victor. “How-how have I lost over a hundred years.” With a shaking hand she brushed it over her hair pushing it back from her face.

…this can’t be happening…

“I’m over nine hundred years old.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

…does Nels know? Of course he does. He knows everything Willis does…

…brother what have you done to me?

…oh no. No, no…

…They did it. They found Arwan…

“We’ll be back momentarily.” Victor said, opening the door.

…I feel sick…

“Could, can I have some water please?” She asked without looking up from the floor she was focused on.

…how could they do this to me?

…I thought it was a joke, Arwan couldn’t possibly still be alive…

…when did he find him? Why didn’t he tell me?

I heard the men walk back into the space but couldn’t take my eyes off Eunice. I wanted to say I’d never heard such helplessness from another before, but that would be a lie. What I hadn’t done before was watch it while I was hearing it.

Eunice slid off the edge of the bed to the floor and pulled her legs up to her chest.

…oh Willis. You stupid, stupid man…

…you’ve gone completely mad…

…how could you be so lost in your vengeance to do this to me? Nels, I’m your last relative…

She started crying. In her grief I couldn’t make out any thought that made sense.

Taking a ragged breath, I pushed the button to close the small door. I just stood there looking at the woman on the other side of the wall. The reflection changed and then I could see her. Exhaling, I turned to see most of the royal family standing there looking at me.

“She’s not faking.” Autumn said.

I knew it wasn’t a question but nodded slowly anyway. “She’s not.” I looked at Chase. “She was pretty snarky at the start.” I watched Autumn rub her hand over her tattoo. “There’s something about her tattoo, it’s itches and drives her crazy.”

Michael gave me a hard look, then turned to look at Autumn.

She looked at her wrist on the arm her tattoo covered. “I didn’t have it long, and it wasn’t the real deal…”

“I’m calling Romulus, he better have good answers.” Michael pulled out his phone and walked out of the area we were in.

“Call the lab tech, witches, hell all of the science people and get that mark tested.” Chase told him as he walked away.

Michael held up his phone and waved it but kept walking.

“What did you hear?” Daxx asked.

I clutched the band to my chest. “She thought maybe she had a concussion at first, then that Willis was playing some sick joke on her.” I looked at Troy, “she broke when you told her it’s been over a hundred years.”

“So she doesn’t remember all the horrible things they’ve done, that she’s done?” Paisley asked moving closer to Arius.

I shook my head. “No. I don’t think she does.” I looked at the cuff I held. “She doesn’t know what’s going on, only knows her brother and Willis have done something awful.”

“Do you think we’ll be able to get some locations from her, or ideas they suggested before this happened to her?” Bethany asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t see why,” I shrugged, “she wouldn’t want to help. After she’s calmed down,”

Autumn snorted. “You’ve never seen her the way I have.”

I understood where her hostility was coming from. “I don’t think she remembers when you fought, or anything for over a hundred years.”

“How is that possible?” Daxx asked looking to Troy.

“We’ll see if she does.” Autumn spun on her heel and walked out of the area.

“Shit.” Arius followed her quickly.

Chase moved over and did something on the panel, then we could see Autumn walking into Eunice’s cube.

Eunice looked up, then stiffened and pulled herself to her feet. She frowned at Autumn then her gaze paused on the part of Autumn’s tattoo showing below her hoodie sleeve that was pushed up. She bowed her head. “Princess.” She stood taller, taking a ragged breath, her eyes darting between Arius and Autumn. “Is she your mate, prince Arius?” She gave him a weak smile. “Congratulations on the good fortune of such a lovely mate.”

Autumn didn’t look impressed. “Do you remember fighting me?”

Eunice jolted like she’d been hit. “I-I, we did? What,” she glanced to Arius nervously, “what reason could I have to fight you?”

Autumn sneered at her. “Because you wanted me for yourself.”

“I,” Eunice paused and looked her up and down, then bowed her head to Arius quickly, “who wouldn’t.” She whispered, “I’m so sorry, warden, I-I…”

Autumn made a sound of annoyance and turned on her heel, brushed past Arius and left the cell.

“Eunice,” Arius waited for her to look at him, “we’re going to look into that tattoo of yours.”

She inclined her head. “Thank you.” She looked at her wrist, then rubbed her hand over it. “It’s rather distracting.”

“I’ll be back later. I need you to think of where your brother might be hiding. Any locations you used to evade us in the past.” Arius crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her until she glanced back up at him.

“I,” she rubbed her hand over her forehead, “I can’t believe this is happening.” She nodded slightly, “yes. I’ll try to recall locations.” She had a distracted look on her face, her eyes were hollow. “I’ll-bring a map.” She frowned. “Warden,” Eunice winced at her hard tone, “Prince Arius, Willis is-is, he needs help. Nels just follows him blindly…”

Arius looked at her for a moment more, then turned and walked out.

Chase pushed the button again. “Someone needs to find out how Willis was able to bewitch her for the last eleven decades.”

I inhaled sharply. “She thought of someone named Arwan?” I bit my lip wondering if I said it right. “That she’d thought him being alive was a joke?”

Chase looked at Troy, then they both turned to look at Victor.

“Who is Arwan?” Emil asked.

Victor took a deep breath, his chest rising slowly. Exhaling, he gave Troy, then Chase a look of trepidation. “Arwan is the most powerful mage known throughout history.” He glanced at Emil then, “he’s older than time and for the most part I believed he was a fable created in a writer’s mind.”

“So this Arwan is real?” Daxx asked.

Bethany turned and looked at me, a scared look on her face. “There are stories in the witch’s journals about him. From,” she brushed her hair back from her face, “thousands of years ago. He’s alive?”

“Eunice thinks her brother found him. Sounded like he’d been searching, or at least they’d discussed looking for him.” I looked at Chase. “She thought, he did it. He found Arwan.”

Chase closed his eyes for a second, then looked at his twin. “We need the council called back.” He nodded. “Now.”

Alona went over and wrapped her arms around Chase.

The waves of fear coming off these people had my FOS climbing to a dangerous level.

Troy turned to Victor. “Did you reach Prince Bastian?”

Victor nodded. “He said he couldn’t get back over here today, but is willing to meet with us, in secrecy as soon as he can manage it.”

Troy nodded. “Okay.” He looked at Michael as he walked back into the area. “Get Romulus, Clairee, the head archivist and historian rounded up. Have them at the elder’s chambers within the hour.” He paused, a look of thought on his face. “And find the oldest living resident of Alterealm, we’re going to want a private sit down with them.”

Michael frowned. “What’s happened?” He looked at the wall Eunice was behind. “What did you find out?”

Autumn finally looked away from the wall she couldn’t see through. “She’s not faking. Hubert did something and she’s lost over a hundred years.”

The shock was plain on Michael’s face.

Autumn went over and touched his arm. He looked down at her with affection and concern evident in his eyes. “And apparently they have some mage that’s only the most powerful mage ever.”

Michael’s brows drew together as he looked over at Victor.

“Willis Hubert found Arwan.” Victor supplied.

“But he’s dead…” Michael zeroed in on me. “He’s not dead?”

I shook my head. “Eunice doesn’t think so.”

“Fuck me.” Michael whispered and then hugged Autumn into his side. Kissing the top of her head, he looked back at Troy. “I’ll get all of the heads of departments and factions to the chambers.”

“I need a drink.” Chase said and motioned to the way we’d come in.

“I’m with you there.” Emil said.

“Call Rafael, Quint and Leone and get them to the solarium.” Troy said as he took Daxx’s hand and walked out into the hall. “This is a fucking game changer.”

I fumbled to put the inhibitor back on. Keeping my head down, trying to process what was going on. I’d agreed to help. What had just happened was so far from helping, I didn’t know what to do. Bethany came over and held the one side of the cuff for me. After it closed over my wrist, like a comforting blanket, I looked at her. “Listening in was supposed to help.” I whispered.

She looked at Emil, who was clearly waiting for the two of us before leaving. “It did.” Her brown eyes connected with mine again. “Everyone is just thrown by this.” She offered a slight smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “We’ve been trying to figure out how they were doing all of it…” she let out a shaky breath, “now we know.”

“Is Rena safe where she is? Should we bring her over sooner?” Emil asked, not really looking at either of us.

Beth motioned to for us to leave. “I think she’s okay where she is now.” She gave him a gentle look. “No one can bypass Alona’s security there.”

He nodded slowly. “Yes. Okay.” He rubbed the back of his neck and started walking. “For three hundred years I had questions, now I’m starting to wish I was still clueless.”

“I think,” Beth walked between us, “we were all meant to be here. Now. To stop this from happening and destroying this side and,” she huffed out a breath, “destroying many realms and countless lives.”

For the first time in my life, my anxiety settled. That paranoia that plagued me was absent. My FOS was humming but evened off. My heartbeat was steady, my nerves calm. If I’d been someone that believed in a faith or religion, I would have taken this as a sign that I was meant to be here. That I was destined to be as fate intended me to be. I didn’t believe in any of that, and yet I knew with absolute resolve this is where I was supposed to be.