Chapter 18 Red and black marble
I repeat those words in a low voice and wait for something to happen. I walk to the mirror and see my reflection. The red was still there, and I sigh wearily.
"What am I doing wrong?" I ask myself.
"Be patient with yourself. We only have one book to help us; it's natural that it takes time," Harper says, trying to comfort me.
But in truth, I could feel her despair. As present as my own. I grab a coat and leave the room in silence. I leave the castle, careful to see if I'm being followed. I head towards the most secluded garden and soon arrive at a large wooded area.
A forest that was green and splendid by day, but which at night was covered in mist. The temperature was lower, making me shiver with cold. But even so, I enter the forest. I needed privacy, without fear that Conrad would wake up and see me trying to practice black magic.
There I was alone, with only the moon as my witness. I sit on the damp grass. I cross my legs and take a deep breath, trying to concentrate. I start repeating the words again, three times in a row. But again, I feel nothing.
"I think you need to improve the setting." I hear Harper's voice.
"The setting?" I ask ironically, impatient with what I'm about to hear.
"Witches usually put several candles around, make circles with that smelly powder, and scream like crazy. Maybe you're too shy." Harper says, making me huff.
"I'm not a witch, I don't have candles, and I don't know anything about that disgusting powder. Not to mention that we can't afford to go around shouting dark magic." I state the obvious, and it's Harper's turn to huff.
"I'm just trying to help." She says dramatically.
"Okay." I give in and get up.
I start looking for dry branches, and as soon as I find some, I make a large pile of them. I tear a piece of my pajamas and wrap it around one of the sticks. I return to the palace garden, hiding. I take advantage of the light from a lit torch and return to the forest with the fire.
I throw the stick onto the pile and soon I have a large bonfire. The fire makes the environment brighter, but full of shadows. I sit back down on the ground, now close to the bonfire.
"I'll have to pass on the dust and the screams," I say to Harper, easing the tension between us.
I close my eyes again, but I don't recite anything. I wanted to see if I felt anything first. Just as I feel Harper, I should feel my power. I remember the step-by-step process to feel Harper and I did the same.
Soon I see something inside me. It was like a flame. The color was red and black, almost like marble. The two were moving like a mist, bright and dense. The color that radiated was as strong as the heat that the fire transmitted.
When I felt I could see completely, I began reciting the words again. Time after time. Each time I finished and started again, I felt as if that power was expanding within me.
As if that mist began to travel throughout my body. When I felt the power was all over my body, I stopped reciting. I looked at the palms of my hands. I could feel the power coursing through each of my veins.
"It worked." I knew it, I could feel it.
"I feel it too." Harper said, and her tone caught my attention. "I feel different too, Maya. As if the power is hitting me too."
"Are you okay?" I asked anxiously.
"I feel very good, actually. I feel stronger." She replied with excitement and surprise.
I smiled. I was also feeling stronger. I felt the power throughout every part of my body. I returned to the garden and walked to the fountain. I look at my reflection in the water and see that the mark from my eye had disappeared.
Not only the mark, but also the white part of my hair. I touch my face and then my hair. More normal. The unusual color of both was gone. Something about me looked more like a she-wolf. An omega. That's all. That's what the kingdom needs, that's what Conrad needs.
"Now I'm perfect." I say with a smile, satisfied to see my new reflection.
"What are you doing here?"
I jump, caught off guard. I look back and see Conrad, staring at me curiously. I see his gaze wander over my entire body and I expect the worst. Was Conrad seeing traces of dark magic? Was he able to track it in me?
"Are you alright, my love?" He asks now with a worried look, walking quickly towards me.
Conrad inspects my body and then places his hands on my face.
"I'm fine, don't worry. I couldn't sleep and decided to go out for some fresh air." I lie, even though my heart aches for doing so.
"Why didn't you call me? I would have come with you. Even with the security guards, I don't trust you going out alone. I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened."
"Nothing happened." I quickly reply. "I already feel more tired. Can we go back to our room?" I ask, showing him a calm smile.
"Of course, my love." He replies, wrapping his arms around my waist and guiding me towards the castle.
"Are you going to dismantle the pillow wall?" I ask ironically.
"Absolutely not." He replies quickly, making me huff.
I wake up with the sun streaming through the window. I stretch and sit up to look at Conrad, who is on the other side of the pillow wall. But her side of the bed is empty. Just a note and a rose.
"I had to leave early to deal with pack issues. The event planner will be here today, and you can decide on the whole party to your liking. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you. I'll be back as soon as possible.
With love, your Conrad."
I pick up the rose from the other side of the bed and bring it to my nose, inhaling its sweet scent. After all, being the king's wife means sharing him with the kingdom. Waking up without him and going to sleep without him.
I hear strange movements around the castle. Everyone seemed to be walking too fast, and there were many whispered conversations. I get up quickly, getting ready to find out what was happening.