Burned

Chapter Five

     “Jack,” Tidal whispered as we settled in the Spiriten castle. “Are you sure about this? We don’t know if she can help or not. She’s only ever appeared to Clarity and she thinks killing Valin will be the best course of action.”

     “I know its right. And I’m sure if I beg enough, she’s bound to appear.”

     My fingers smoothed over the binding of a book. I had come tot the library and gone to the top floor. Towards the back there was a vanity that served as a connection between the living and the dead in our world. No one was really sure how it worked but the Spiriten Queen appeared to a selective few when they had gone there.

     I could only hope she would appear to myself as well. If she didn’t, then I would go to earth and drag a psychic back to get her to appear.

     I had to speak with her. I had to. There was no other way I could be sure what I was doing was right. If it wasn’t…then I was going to be in a frozen wonderland that there would be no getting out of.

     “Tidal, go ahead and head back down. You know the women are going to be all over Valin. I don’t think he’ll be able to handle that so well.”

     My voice was monotone and I caught the slightest of frowns cross her lips before she turned and left, leaving me to the welcome silence of th library.

     Ever since I had arrived, the people had been touching me and calling out to me and constantly trying to direct my attention away to the fact that my mother had been killed right in front of me. They didn’t help as much as hurt.

     I just wanted to be alone and the damn people didn’t seem to understand the meaning of alone. It took me practically insinuating that I wanted to have sex with Tidal for them to leave me alone.

   And that was a completely unbelievable thought. But, sometimes, having a “player” status amongst people was handy. They didn’t ask questions when I went away with a beautiful woman.

     I slipped quietly through the library, pulling a book off the shelf every now and then as I tried to figure out what I would say to the former Queen. I’d never spoken to her and I had no idea what she looked like. I only knew her name and I doubted it would be proper to call her “Light.”

     My only prayer was that she wasn’t like the Icen Queen. Then I would get nowhere.

    I sighed softly as I replaced the book. For a library, there wasn’t a single thing to read. They could use a few tips from the mortal world about what qualified as a “good book.”

    And the history of the Firen and Icen Lands wars was not the definition of a good, leisurely read.

    I shoved a hand into my pocket, glancing around the wide expanse of the library. It was large—probably stretching a good mile or two before it finally ended. From where I was, I could almost see the opposite end. If you went inside, it would be very easy to get lost among the rows of books.

     The vanity appeared around the next corner, the oval mirror and joining stand snuggled neatly between two bookcases. There was a small mirror and what I guessed to be a tube of lipstick casually laid there. I assumed they were formerly the Queen’s—but that was only a guess.

     My hands touched the pale, chipping piece and I pulled the chair out, sitting down slowly before leaning onto the desk part. I knew there was probably a name for it but I wasn’t a woman and I wasn’t in the mood to try and figure it out.

     I met my own gaze in the mirror and frowned.

     “You’re Highness,” I whispered softly. “Please…I know you don’t come for just anyone but I need your help. I really need it. My mother…my people have been slaughtered. The Icen Queen is taking over everything and I know she’ll come to challenge the Spiriten Lands when she thinks she’s strong enough.