Crown of Shadow and Bones

Secrets Beneath the Surface

The hollow beneath the oak tree was cool and damp, its earthy scent filling Elara's lungs as she leaned against the twisted roots, her mind still reeling from the revelation Kael had shared. The fae queen, Kael's mother, had orchestrated her exile. The thought turned over in her mind like a stone in turbulent waters—what could Queen Celyndra possibly want from her? What made her so dangerous?

Kael sat a few feet away, sharpening his dagger on a stone, the rhythmic scrape filling the tense silence. His presence was comforting, but Elara couldn't shake the unease that clung to her like a shadow. He said he had brought her here to protect her, but from what? Or worse, from whom? Was it more of the queen's spies riding to capture them, or something worse?

"Kael," she began, her voice cracking slightly, "why would your mother go to such lengths to bring me here? What do you think she's planning?"

Kael paused, glancing at her with a sharp intensity that sent a chill down her spine. "My mother has always been... calculating. She values control above all else. But recently, things have shifted in the court. There are whispers of alliances forming, and threats emerging from both within and outside the realm. I think she sees you as a weapon—a key to a power she hasn't been able to grasp."

Elara swallowed, her fingers trembling as she absently traced the lines of her palm. "I'm not a weapon. Regardless of what you may think, I didn't ask for any of this."

"No," Kael said softly, his eyes losing some of their sharpness as he met her gaze. "But the magic inside you is powerful, and I think she's been waiting for a moment like this—a chance to cease control of a power that could make everyone else fear opposing her."

Elara's stomach churned at the thought. All her life she had sought answers, sought understanding about the delicate balance between life and death and what teathered them together, and how her own power could manipulate that balance so precariously. But now, it seemed that she was the one being manipulated—her curiosity, her abilities, twisted into something that could be used against her.

She clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus. "So what do we do? How do we stop her?"

Kael hesitated for a moment, his jaw clenching as if chewing his next words. "There's a place," he finally said. "A place deep within the heart of the fae realm that few know about. It's ancient, older than the court, older than the fae themselves. It's said to hold the answers to questions about magic—dark and light—that even the oldest fae fear to ask. If we can get there, we might find out more about your powers and how they play into this. We may even be able to find out how to control them."

Elara's heart quickened at the thought. "Where is this place?" She was eager, her hunger for information began gnawing at her, starving for answers.

Kael shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darkening. "It's known as the Abyssal Archive. A place of forgotten magic, hidden in the heart of the Shadowlands. It's very dangerous, said to be guarded by creatures made from nightmares, and the journey there isn't just treacherous—it's nearly impossible. Almost everyone who has tried to reach the archive has never returned, and the ones who have returned didn't come back whole—physically or mentally."

A cold weight settled in Elara's chest. Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Nothing in this world would have been. But if this place held the answers to her questions—and perhaps a way to stop Queen Celyndra's plans—then she had no choice.

"We'll go," Elara said, her voice firmer than she felt. "Whatever it takes, I need to understand what's happening to me."

Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. "We'll leave at first light."

The rest of the night passed in restless silence. Elara lay awake, staring up at the tangled roots above her, her thoughts spinning in a hundred different directions. The dark magic she had felt—had used—still thrummed beneath her skin, a constant reminder of the dangerous path she was walking. What if she couldn't control it? What if it consumed her, just as it had nearly done earlier?

And Kael... She glanced at him as he stood by the entrance to the hollow, his silhouette bathed in moonlight. There was something about him, something deeper than the charming smile and rebellious attitude he often wore like a mask. He had his own secrets, and while he seemed to genuinely want to help her, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that he was hiding something—something important.

But for now, they were allies. And she would have to trust him, at least until they found the Archive.

The Journey Begins

Dawn broke with a pale, watery light, filtering through the dense canopy above. Kael led the way through the forest, his movements swift and confident, even as the landscape grew darker and more twisted with each step. The further they traveled, the more the vibrant beauty of the fae realm gave way to something more sinister. The trees grew gnarled and sickly, their branches reaching like skeletal hands toward the sky. The air was thick with tension, as if the very land itself was warning them to turn back.

Elara's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the unknown pressing down on her. But she pushed forward, keeping pace with Kael, even as her nerves screamed at her to run.

"How far is it?" she asked after what felt like hours of walking through the increasingly oppressive forest.

Kael glanced back at her, his expression grim. "We're close. The entrance to the Shadowlands lies just beyond the next ridge."

As they climbed the ridge, the air grew colder, and a heavy mist began to creep through the trees, clinging to their clothes and chilling Elara to the bone. When they finally reached the top, she gasped.

Below them stretched a vast, dark expanse of twisted, barren land. Shadows moved across the landscape like living creatures, and the sky above was a swirling mass of storm clouds, crackling with faint hints of magic. In the distance, Elara could make out the faint outline of a towering structure—massive and ancient, shrouded in shadow and mystery.

"The Abyssal Archive," Kael said, his voice barely a whisper.

Elara's breath caught in her throat. It was real. And it was terrifying.

"There's no turning back now," Kael added, his eyes locked on the distant structure. "Once we enter the Shadowlands, there's no telling what we'll face."

Elara swallowed hard, her fingers brushing against the pendant around her neck—a small token from her childhood, the only thing she had left from her life before the fae realm. She had come this far, and there was no room for hesitation. Not now.

"I'm ready," she said, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her chest.

Kael nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Then let's go."

Together, they descended into the Shadowlands, the weight of the journey ahead pressing heavily on their shoulders. As they ventured deeper into the unknown, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that they were not alone—that something dark and ancient was watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.

And deep within her, the dark magic stirred, as if it, too, sensed the presence of the Abyssal Archive—and the secrets it held.

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0DJKD5CGY