A Thousand Year Obsession ✔

22. Don't Trust Him

22. Don't Trust Him

Shadows danced along the walls, flickering against the gentle caress of candlelight. The small round wooden table lay low between the three of us as we scrutinized the scrolls spread across its surface. A small creak rustled through the tension-filled air, and the blue eyed girl across from me glanced up, hands twitching nervously. The forest eyed boy beside her lifted his head, watching her as she let out an agitated sigh.

"Are you sure the wards will hold this time?" Sally whispered, her head tipping towards me.

I nodded, eyes sweeping over the parchment as my fingers brushed away the edge of an overlapping scroll.

"They only didn't last time because you said--you know."

Percy straightened, his fingers snatching up a scroll. "Here! It says certain powerful magic holders can conjure a portal that can transport a person through time. But the need must be dire and their heart has to be pure."

I turned the paper towards me and read it over swiftly.

"I'd count this situation dire enough." Sally commented shortly, leaning back in her chair casually.

"But it's only me that's in danger. It isn't like the entire Kingdom has been subject to Derek's insanity." I muttered.

Percy glanced up at me. "Well . . . that's just the thing." He began. "With the Prince . . . preoccupied, Dawst has taken the opportunity to attack." He explained slowly, almost wary of my reaction. "The border cities have been captured and the capital is under siege. The King is dead."

I blinked, slowly raising my head to look at him. "What?!"

He gave me a sympathetic smile. My eyes flickered to Sally, but she merely nodded gravely.

"Why haven't you told me before?" I cried.

"Oh, you know, we've been rescuing you and figuring out a way to save the kingdom . . . and yourself." Sally replied dryly.

I sighed in exasperation. "Even if we did summon a portal, how is that going to help the kingdom?"

"Rowendale needs her prince back. Her real prince." Percy explained. "That thing in Derek isn't actually him. You said yourself, when you first met him he seemed to be fighting an alternate personality. If we can successfully trap the--you know--then the prince will return and it'll be gone. The actual prince can save the kingdom, and you can finally live in freedom."

My lips pressed together but I nodded. "So, it's definitely dire enough, but do I really have a pure heart?"

Sally raised an eyebrow.

"How would I know?" I continued. "What if my heart's filled with darkness? What if it isn't pure enough? I'm not perfect, Sally, not anymore than Derek."

Sally's lips parted to object, but Percy spoke before she could.

"The thing is, Morgana, the doubt that you are pure of heart, is the exact thing that makes me sure you are. We can all see it in your eyes. Yes, you long to do this mostly so you can live, but you aren't only doing this for yourself. You're doing this for Sally, for your parents, for all those people Derek's harmed, for me. Even just the way you smile shows it. The beauty you hide within is so breathtaking, that it spills out with every breath from your lips."