A Shade of Vampire 79 A Game of Death - Bella Forrest Page 0,15
its formulas and the mineral quantities; I could add more serium batteries, too… I could perfect this new interplanetary travel spell before sharing it with my apprentices, with Kailani and the rest of GASP.
The Fire Star rose before me, big and bright and beautifully reddish storm clouds gathering over the vast blue oceans, almost covering them completely. I pushed through its atmosphere and steered my way behind the royal palace, where fewer fae could see me. No one was expecting me, anyway.
That quickly became obvious when dozens of palace guards gathered around the bubble spell as it landed between the artesian fire fountains. As the light dissipated around me, I stood slowly with my hands up in a defensive gesture, hoping one of the uniformed fae would recognize me. None did, to my dismay.
“It’s okay,” I said, smiling. “I’m Lumi. Here to see Taeral?”
The guards moved in closer, their hands glowing amber—a threatening display of power. I’d come here unannounced, right outside Sherus and Nuriya’s palace. After everything that had happened, I couldn’t exactly fault the fae for being extra cautious. The fearful looks in their eyes reminded me that the Hermessi trauma was still fresh for most of them.
“Lumi. Of GASP. Come on,” I said, rolling my eyes. There wasn’t much patience left in me, especially since the travel spell had basically drained most of the energy out of my flesh. All I wanted to do was talk to Taeral and sleep for a few hours to recover before leaving again.
“I know you,” one of the guards finally said.
“Perfect timing,” I replied.
He motioned to the others to put their hands down. “She’s a friend of the kingdom,” the young fae with light blue eyes said, then shot me a polite smile. “The prince is in his study, madam. I can take you there, if you’d like.”
“Took you a while to recognize me,” I replied dryly, my nerves frayed and exhausted, sensitive and impatient.
“I haven’t seen you since the Blackout,” he said, his voice faded. “It’s been a long time. Besides, I was under the Hermessi’s influence last year. My mind is still a little blotchy upon returning from the dead, to be honest.”
“Most of us are like that,” another guard chimed in, the atmosphere suddenly relaxing around me. “You’ll have to forgive us.”
“No harm done,” I offered. “If you could just take me to Taeral, that would be much appreciated. Oh, and I’d be most grateful if you tell no one about my presence here. I’m on a secret mission.”
“Discretion advised?” the first guard asked, and I nodded briefly. “So be it,” he added, looking at the others. “You heard the swamp witch. No one can know.”
The guards stood back, watching me quietly as I followed their colleague through the back gardens. Everything here had been rebuilt and regrown, probably with a little bit of magic from the Witches Sanctuary, too, after the Hermessi’s attacks. In the back of my head, I could still hear the Shills roaring and screaming, tearing into the fae…
It was quiet inside the palace. I would’ve liked to say hello to Sherus and Nuriya, but I had an important mission ahead. The guard brought me to the first floor and all the way outside Taeral’s study. He bowed before me. “You’ll find him inside. The prince has been spending most of the day here,” he said slowly. “It’s good to see you again.”
I found his words surprising and raised an eyebrow. “Why? I don’t really know you; you certainly don’t know me.”
“Your appearance is always auspicious in our world. In the darkest of times, we’ve had you to rely on,” the guard replied, hands behind his back. “I never had the chance to thank you personally for everything you did, but if it weren’t for you, and His Highness, the prince, and all your GASP friends… we would’ve all died. So, thank you.”
For a moment, everything that had made me get involved with GASP in the first place came back to me, fresher than ever. The fire in my chest. The determination to do something right, to change the course of history, to save lives and build better worlds. It was for people like him… this guard whose name I didn’t know, whose name I’d likely forget, anyway, given how many people I met on an almost daily basis. This guard was alive because of my work. Because of our desire to do good.