Reckless Magic

“Give me your hand,” he gruntedmenacingly.

I obeyed, sticking out my palm andallowing him to grip it firmly between his.

“Your name’s not on the list. Whoare your parents? And why do you look like that?” two other Guards walked overto listen to my explanation.

“I go to school at Kingsley,” Istarted to explain, realizing I knew nothing about this people group I belongedto. “I came with Seraphina Van Curen, we go to school together. My parentscouldn’t come, they’re on business in India,” lies tumbled out of my mouthbuilt from random pieces of overheard information, and I forced my magic intosubmission, refusing to let it give me away. “I just went for a hike, but I amgoing to shower and change before I attend the feast tonight,” I offered a widesmile, but then closed my lips quickly afraid of what my breath smelt likeafter not brushing my teeth since the airline bathroom.

“With Ms. Van Curen?” The guardasked skeptically. I nodded my head affirmatively and pushed a little magic hisway, hoping he didn’t notice. I knew it worked on humans, but I had no ideawhat the outcome would be on another Immortal.

“Please I would really like to beready on time,” I stared past the Guards as if I knew exactly where I was goingonce inside the gates.

“They just started the trial;you’ll have plenty of time before the feast,” the Guards made a path for me tofit through and the first Guard nodded his head for me to pass.

I rushed past them and into the narrowstreets of the Citadel. If they had already started the trial, I didn’t havemuch time. From the top of the hill I was able to see exactly where I hadneeded to go; but from the streets below I could not have been more lost. Imoved in the direction of where I thought the castle was and let my magic leadthe way.

I put all of my hope in the castleahead of me. I didn’t know for sure where the trial would be held, but logicencouraged me to examine the castle first. I sprinted full force through the mobsof people lingering about in the streets. My sole purpose was to get to thattrial before a verdict was given.

Out of breath and out of willpower,I stumbled into a square by chance. Tall edifices surrounded a cobblestonepiazza with an enormous fountain in the middle. The square was lit up with athousand lanterns strung together and hanging from the buildings surroundingthe fountain. Musicians played Beethoven and I glanced over expecting to see anorchestra, but was surprised by the eight or so Immortals that made up anintricate string ensemble.

With renewed vigor I took theremaining distance in strides and ran through the open castle doors. The floorsof the castle were marble and I was suddenly sliding across the lobby trying tostop. Another Guard looked up at me from his post just inside the doors.

“Trial?” I asked, breathless andunable to slow down for a minute to listen.

“Through those doors,” he pointedto a set of brass double doors that were almost an exact match for the ones atKingsley. “But you can’t go in there like that,” he glared disdainfully at myred sweatshirt and I realized that he was probably right.

“Bathroom?” I patted my backpacklike it had the answer to my disturbing appearance.

He pointed to a door positionedbehind him and I rushed past. The bathroom was surprisingly modern, despite theold world appearance of the place. I didn’t have time to take a good lookhowever and I got straight to business.

I headed directly to the sink andmirror and was almost horrified to see the image staring back at me. My facewas caked in mud and dirt and my hair was a big pile of tangles. My mascara andeyeliner had dripped down my face. I looked like a dirty raccoon. My clothingwas completely ruined, not to mention the fact that it didn’t match to beginwith. I could only do so much and decided to focus on my face.

I turned the cold water on andsplashed my face, scrubbing it roughly. Once it was clean, or at least clear ofmud and makeup, I focused on my hair. I ripped the pony tail holder out and didmy best to comb through the tangled mess with my fingers. Thankfully it wasgreasy enough that my frizz was actually more tamed than usual. I decided toleave it down, hoping the length and color would disguise the bright redness ofmy ridiculous sweatshirt that under normal circumstances I would have beenproud to wear.

I finished quickly and turned toface the door. I decided the quickest route into the courtroom and then tookone final breath before throwing the bathroom door open, sprinting through thelobby and bursting through the double brass doors.

“Lilly Mason is i

Chapter Forty

The courtroom was silent, all eyesturned towards me; mouths fell open, a pin drop could be heard. After myoutburst, I found myself speechless; I was disoriented. This was not at allwhat I had expected.

I took in the unexpected sightquickly, unsure what to make of my surroundings. I didn’t know what I thought Iwould find, but the courtroom looked more like a cathedral than a place forjudge and jury. The ceiling was vaulted all the way to the top of the castlespire; large stained glass windows extended two of the walls with elaborate andcolorful designs reaching from floor to ceiling. The other wall, not containingthe entrance doors was made of stone and practically bare, except for a largetapestry hanging in the center.

At the front of the room was alarge imposing throne, at least twenty feet tall and made of what looked to besolid gold. An extremely good looking man of maybe thirty, sat straight edged,staring at me; his crown of more gold was slightly cockeyed on his head. Thecrown adorned with rubies and emeralds glistened on top of short golden locks,and matched his closely cropped goatee.

I stood there staring at him,wondering if I should bow or curtsy or continue with my testimony. He wasobviously the King; unfortunately, I couldn’t remember anything I had practicedto say. He jumped up suddenly and I took a step back; his simple gesturefrightened me. He wore a long crimson robe and swept it back as he moved tostand. The entire room of people sat silently, waiting for him to saysomething.

My eyes finally fell on Lilly whowas positioned in the middle of the room, surrounded by rows and rows of peopleforming a type of octagon around her. She was wearing a simple black robe witha hood, and her vibrant red hair stood out in stark contrast. She was boxed inon every side by what looked like a witness box, sitting on a stool in themiddle. Our eyes met for only a second, but the gratitude she relayed to me inthose brief moments made my entire trip worth it.

“Excuse me,” Kiran’s familiar voicenearly shouted his apology and all at once he moved from his place next to hisfather and towards me.

I looked back over at the King,whose expression I couldn’t read; something like anger, or surprise or amixture of the two, but then there was something much deeper in his eyes. Kiranpractically ran to me from his throne that was barely a smaller version of hisfather’s. He too was wearing a golden crown adorned with colorful jewels andsitting crooked on his head. His longer locks, a little unruly underneath, gavehim an almost wild appearance, but one I was infinitely attracted to.

“What are you doing here?” hewhispered fiercely in my ear. He grabbed my arms firmly in his and shoved meforward to the base of the throne. “Curtsy,” he whispered again even harsherand half pushed me into the position. I was confused enough not to fight him,although this was not exactly what I had pla

He turned to walk purposefully pastthe rows of people and through a side door, dragging me along with him. I triedto fight him off my arms, after all, I hadn’t finished my testimony, but hisgrip was so tight I realized there was no use. Once we were through the widebrass door, he threw me out of his arms roughly. I struggled to regain mybalance and when I finally was able to stand strongly I turned directly to givehim a piece of my mind.