Behind My Shadow - Book Three

47. For The First Time I Had Something to Lose

"Sorry 'bout your mum, lady," Bishop softly woofs. We've been sitting down here in the secret cellar for what feels like ages and my nerves are more than a little frazzled.

I'm sitting on the floor with Bishop in my lap, absently stroking his back and for once he has no objections. I'm staring up at my mom with tears in my eyes as I study her. It's been so long since I've seen her last! My heart is simultaneously leaping with joy at having found her again and it's also breaking with despair at grim situation I find us both in yet again.

Adisonia wasn't wrong though, her hunch about spiritual creatures being able to manipulate forces was right. Whenever I summon spirit, I can move Mom's bubble around, but I still can't touch her and honestly, there is no place to move her to go so I just keep her here where the Phantoms left her. At least Regina can't touch her, and now she doesn't have the Phantoms anymore so no one will be able to move Mom except for me.

At leastwise she is safe. Unreachable, but safe.

"I'm just so relieved I found her before my final Labors," I softly tell Bishop. "At leastwise now you know where she is, and you can tell the others if I don't..." I trail before I say if I don't come back. I don't want the little puppy to worry about me anymore than he already does. "Dad is really smart," I say a moment later. "He'll figure out a way to break this spell and then she'll be free."

"Yeah," Bishop wags his tail hopefully. "I believe that, lady! Your old man is real clever!"

"He really is," I agree softly, gazing up at Mom with torment. "God, I miss you..." I whisper painfully.

"Hey, is it weird that you have a mum and a dad but they've never actually -"

"That's enough out of you, buddy," I chuckle despite myself and put my hand over his snout. He grumbles and paws at my hand. "I see you've entered that phase where you start asking weird questions," I laugh. He huffs with an eyeroll.

Suddenly I hear the ceiling above us groan as it begins to open.

We leap up to our feet, our eyes trained on the stairs slowly rolling down towards us.

"We're hopin' that's ol' Red, right?" Bishop nervously whispers, his hackles are up with alarm.

"Yeah..." But nevertheless, I summon a sword to my hands in a flourish. If it's the Queen of Hearts though, I'm not pulling any punches. She can go to hell, and I'll happily send her that way myself.

"Guys? It's just me!" I hear a whisper call through the darkness.

"Adisonia!" The tension in my muscles melt with relief. "OMG, you came back for us!" I swiftly dissolve the sword in a flourish of glitter and rush forward to hug the princess.

"Oh...okay," she's stiff in my embrace. "That's...that's totally unnecessary," she awkwardly pats my back before shoving me away. "I said I'd be right bloody back, you dimwits!" She rolls her eyes. "Now let's go! You don't have much time to get around for your last week of Labors!"

"Wait! What about my mom?" I anxiously glance over my shoulder. "I can't just leave her down here -"

"Darie, no one can hurt her as long as she's in the mind-chamber. This is the only place you can keep her that won't alert my mother to anything amiss. Now c'mon! You're going to be bloody late for your ceremony!" She seizes my hand and drags me up the stairs after her.

I'm sorry, Mom! I think desperately as I throw one last glance over my shoulder at the pale purple light we rapidly leave behind. I will come back for you! I promise, I solemnly vow as I let Adisonia drag me away.