𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘺. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵?
And then the sickening realization struck her.
Was Seashell even an animus at all?
Was Pearl... Was Pearl trying to be rid of the NightWing animus by killing Eclipse? And if so, Seashell was just a pawn. She was doing her mother's bidding.
"Eclipse?" came Thoughtful's voice. "Eclipse, Seashell is waiting outside for you."
"Tell her to come in," Eclipse whispered.
Seashell entered, looking around Eclipse's room in awe. "Wow, it-"
Eclipse picked up the pearl bracelet and burned it to ash.
Seashell gasped, taking a step away from Eclipse. "You didn't- you..." Seashell took a deep breath, her eyes darting everywhere but on Eclipse. "Look, I didn't mean... Mother put me up to..."
Eclipse held up a piece of paper. "Enchant this paper to turn red when the person is lying, green for truth and purple for half-truth."
She smiled sadly at Seashell. "Say that again."
"My mother put me up to this."
Green paper.
"I have nothing to do with this."
Green paper.
"I'm just an animus."
Green paper.
Well, either the paper wasn't working or she really wasn't telling any lies.
"Seashell is a SkyWing," Eclipse said. That was definitely a lie.
GREEN PAPER.
"What?" Eclipse said. "No way! Seashell is a SeaWing!"
RED! IT WAS RED!
Eclipse turned on Seashell. "Pearl didn't put you up to this," she whispered. "You aren't... Her name is Seashell. Her real name."
Red.
Princess Seashell of the SeaWings was not the one standing in front of Eclipse.
But that was impossible. The SkyWings killed all their animus dragons, it was impossible that any had survived.
"I get that you don't understand," Seashell - or whatever her real name was - said, as though she sympathized. "Do you know who I am?" Eclipse shook her head. "I'm Princess Sunset. The SeaWings - and everybody - thinks that Albatross killed me. But I'm an animus; you think he could have killed me? My mother, Queen Carmine, let me live even though I was an animus because the SkyWings need power behind their threats."
Just like that, Princess Sunset of the SkyWings had survived the attack from Albatross and escaped alive with everyone believing her dead. Eclipse had to admit to being a little impressed with the SkyWing princess. Although this meant that Queen Carmine was far more devious than they had thought.
"What happened to Princess Seashell?" Eclipse asked softly. "Is she actually an animus?"
"Seashell? But of course she is! Seashell is still safe... In the SkyWing palace."
"Why did you try to kill me?" Eclipse demanded.
Sunset looked surprised. "For goodness's sake, Eclipse, we don't want Nightwing animi, especially not in the royal line."
"In the royal line?" Eclipse whispered.
Sunset stared. "Did Thoughtful seriously never tell you he's Queen Vigilance's son?"
YOU ARE READING
Wings of Fire: Overcast
FanficEclipse was hatched to Whiteout and Thoughtful shortly after the mess with Darkstalker was resolved. She was supposed to bring her family great happiness, and yet all they can see is a reflection of Darkstalker within her. She has the same powers, t...
