Chapter 9: Dark Draw

Song Connection: "Burning Ember"

The kingdom felt so different after Moses and Roseanna were exiled, and Sariya and Seamus were imprisoned. It was like a dark cloud had settled over the kingdom, and the subjects of the land were afraid of what would happen next. The few lights they'd had during Ember's reign had been extinguished, and they were now on their own, practically plunged into darkness.

Ember was sitting on her throne, reading through a list of kingdoms that had declared war unless she married their most suitable bachelors (threats she received nearly every other week these days) when Brookes entered, announcing a visitor.

"Presenting Lord Zephyr of Dunoch and his…assistants," Brookes told her, seeming a bit perplexed as he looked over the four people he'd presented to the queen. He wasn't an expert in magic, but he knew a warlock when he saw one. Given the very anti-magic nature of the kingdom's history, he was quite surprised they had asked to speak with the queen.

"That'll be all, Brookes," Ember dismissed as she waved a hand toward her steward. When the older man left, she tilted her head, grinning curiously at the quartet. "Lord Zephyr, huh?"

"And my Mistresses of Darkness," the man clarified, pointing to each short-statured woman with him. "Tempesta, Vespera, and Nocturna." Lord Zephyr looked a lot like the esteemed Merlin from the Ever Realm, except his hair was tied into a short ponytail, and his beard was intricately braided with bells and a glittery rope. Instead of blue, he favored dark maroon, which was littered with yellow crescent moons and jeweled stars in the fabric of his robe.

"Kind of creepy names," Jaime whispered to Ember, who shrugged him off, eyeing him as he returned to his own throne, which was now very close to hers, but just a step down. The rearrangement was made after the betrayal of the rest of the family. The other thrones had been burned in defiance.

"Queen Ember," Lord Zephyr began, waving his hands in a grand gesture, producing a dark stream of black and gold magic, "I'm told how powerful of a leader you are: strong, resilient, and unbending."

"I've also been called a witch," the blonde girl added, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, honey, nothing wrong with that," Tempesta chuckled. "We're witches ourselves, and there's nothing better. Check it out." She withdrew her wand, spinning it a few times in the air, and then a steady stream that was aimed at Jaime literally lifted him from his throne, spun him around a few times, and then lowered him to his seat once more. She grinned, despite the panicked panting from the prince.

"Wow…" Ember had never really considered magic. For years, she'd been taught how dangerous it was. It had led to the name change of Exchancia, as she recalled. But really, magic seemed incredible. It could allow someone to do far more than if one tried to do something by hand. Imagine all the progress and success she could have with magic…

"I can see the wheels spinning in her head now," Nocturna told the others.

Vespera nodded. "There's always room for one more witch."

"Except she wouldn't want to be a witch," Lord Zephyr chided his mistresses, tutting at their suggestion. "Oh, no, I think she'd be more of…an enchantress, perhaps."

"What's the difference?" Jaime asked, though he wasn't sure why they were having this conversation. Surely, Ember wasn't entertaining the idea of garnering and utilizing magic. Not with how incredibly dangerous it could be. …Right?

Vespera raised her wand, casting a stream of magic in the air. "Witches are far more common. We practice magic, potion-making, sometimes curses if we need to… We're very connected with the land and use what we have around us to our advantage."

"Enchantresses, on the other hand," Nocturna continued, "also practice spells and charms, but they're regarded as more alluring and beautiful—perhaps even more mysterious and unapproachable than witches are. There's an almost ethereal air to them."

Ember pondered their words before leaning toward Jaime. "Go shut and lock all the doors while we're talking. Then, come sit back down."

"Okay."

While Jaime obeyed his twin's request, Lord Zephyr slowly approached her and took her hand, kissing it gently as she smiled in acceptance. "I can already tell there's a magical nature about you, Queen Ember. You're not like the others from here at all." He glanced toward Jaime, who had just finished his task and was sitting down in his chair again. "And is this someone special to you?"

"My twin, Jaime."

The older man nearly stumbled over his words, but he composed himself. "O-Oh, twins… I just assumed you were a young couple."

Ember grinned, shaking her head as she leaned back in her seat. "When we travel outside the kingdom, people always seem to make that mistake. I guess Jaime is the moon while I'm the sun, so maybe that's what people see."

'Yeah, that's why,' Jaime thought to himself, leaning his head in his hand as he listened to the others talking.

"Your Majesty, are you interested in learning more about the practice of magic?" the warlock wondered as he tapped his fingers against a staff that he'd been holding. "There is, of course, the very basic magic that helps with daily chores and assignments, but then there's the much stronger magic that we practice… The kind that will help you rule this kingdom in a more efficient way, the kind that blocks out many forces that would otherwise overcome you…" He smiled charmingly, waving a hand, producing more magic as he did. "I can teach you the ways of this magic… Dark magic…"

"Dark?" Jaime asked, but Ember placed a hand over his mouth as she leaned forward, intrigue flooding her as Lord Zephyr merely smiled knowingly at her.

"Tell me more."

Lord Zephyr and the three witches became frequent visitors at the castle, much to everyone's utter surprise. What was once explicitly forbidden was now used freely by the two most powerful people in the kingdom: Queen Ember and Prince Jaime. Magic—no, dark magic… Something once feared and shunned was now openly accepted and utilized, but only by the twins and no one else.

Ember was taught to summon dark spirits to aid her quests, practice basic skills such as transportation and creation, and even use a little blood magic, which she didn't quite like. Still, she was told that it was an option if she ever needed to try magic with a bit more strength behind it. Sacrifice, of course, was necessary if the stakes were exceedingly high.

Jaime had learned much the same, although there was something deeper happening with him. The more he practiced dark magic, the more his personality was altered. The once humble, kind, and submissive Jaime was becoming a bit bolder and more determined, which Ember liked a lot. She figured that would mean she wouldn't have to coerce him into doing things at her leisure anymore.

Both were infatuated with and engrossed by the dark magic, easily tugged into the tempting clutches of the powers bestowed to them by none other than Lord Zephyr himself. While they hadn't learned much about the warlock, they knew enough to realize he was some sort of leader in the dark magic field. Many respected and feared him, suggesting that he was the best at what he did. However, the twins were less concerned with him and more focused on what having this much power could do for their own needs and desires. In essence, they now often used these powers to hold control over the kingdom of Exchancia, with the expected result of their subjects despising and fearing both twins now—not just Ember.

A few weeks passed. More frequently, Ember had received notices of potential suitors seeking her hand in marriage. Although she'd ignored most of the messages, she couldn't avoid them forever. During a charity ball for the kingdom (Irony that was not lost on the subjects, because since when was Queen Ember ever charitable?), several people from surrounding kingdoms visited and enjoyed themselves. Ember also found herself cornered by more than a few men, including one king whose entire body must have been drenched in alcohol, because that's all she could smell. The stench made her want to vomit, but the man kept playing with her hair and trying to pinch her in inappropriate places, though she consistently twisted away from him. Finally, having enough, she subtly zapped him enough to knock him out but not kill him (not yet, anyway, although she was sorely tempted). Thankfully, she was able to pass the blame off on his inebriation, so no one batted an eye.

However, he wasn't the only one. Several other men approached her, including one who threatened to 'take what he wanted' if she didn't give it to him willingly—not to mention, the threat of war was always one of those scare tactics she'd grown ever used to. It was one unfortunate drawback to being a royal woman in Exchancia during that time: the obligation to marry and produce heirs. Ember might have upheld certain laws for her own benefit, but she certainly wasn't about to uphold that one. It would be ignored. Or better… Challenged and changed, though she had plans to go a step further…

It didn't take long for her to spot Jaime across the room, and she immediately approached him, leaning toward him to whisper something, to which he nodded slowly.

It was late at night when the prince of Exchancia made his way upstairs and down the marble flooring toward Ember's room, his footsteps echoing in the empty upper level. Her whispered request at the ball to speak privately had lingered in his mind, though he couldn't imagine what was so urgent. And why so late? He dearly loved his twin, but he was exhausted and just wanted to go to bed. Reaching her door, he hesitated, then turned the knob, pushing it open.

"You wanted to see me, Ember?" Jaime stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him. He leaned against it, taking in the sight before him. Ember sat on her bed, a vision in a deep red silk robe that clung to her like liquid fire, shimmering in the dim light. It wasn't often he saw her in anything other than her regal gowns, and the sight was both a comfort and a strange unease for some reason…

She didn't immediately look at him, seeming lost in thought. "I was propositioned today," she told him, her arms folded as she glared at the floor. "By many men. Two dukes, four princes, three kings, and one overly ambitious vicomte with a bad limp." She sighed heavily, drawing her legs up onto the bed, draping the cascading fabric over them, as she leaned against the large bedpost and glanced toward her twin. "They all want me to marry them, and I'm clearly not interested. That doesn't stop them from trying, though."

The prince nodded, his brow furrowing in response. "That sounds annoying to have to handle. Did you tell them you weren't interested?"

Ember sighed, beckoning him over with her index finger, crossing her legs so he could sit next to her. Again, she adjusted the fabric of the robe before sitting up a bit, pulling her long hair over her shoulder to tug absently at the bouncy waves. "I told them." As Jaime approached and she continued speaking, her voice grew softer for some reason. "One of the princes laughed in my face and said he would get his father to send an armada after us. And one of the kings…" She lifted her left hand, glancing at the angry red mark around her wrist, flinching when she moved it ever so slightly. "He didn't take too kindly to my rejection."

"Ember…" Jaime's heart tightened at the sight of her injury. He'd rarely seen Ember get hurt, but especially not by some strange man. His blood was boiling just thinking of someone with his hands on her… He turned to face her, reaching to take her hand in his, his thumbs gently gliding over her wrist as he tried to soothe any discomfort she might have felt with his soft touches. "These clueless ingrates need to understand that no is no. Besides, you're too good for them anyway."

"They just want my throne, and they want me to be subservient to them, and I won't do it. I'll never let a man tell me what to do. I am the one calling the shots." She finally smiled when Jaime cradled her wrist, carefully and softly kissing both the wounded wrist and her knuckles gently like he'd done a few times when they were younger, and on occasion even now that they were older. "You're too good to me, you know. You always have been…"

"I love you," Jaime responded easily, with no hesitation in his words. "You're my other half, Ember. I'd do anything for you."

"Anything?" She shuffled her seating position, allowing her legs to drape over his as she curled into his side, feeling his right hand brushing through her hair in a soothing motion. "Maybe you could… No, no, I couldn't ask you to do that…"

Jaime blinked, his hand still within her wavy hair as his eyes searched hers. "What?"

"Well…" She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant about her train of thought. "I was just thinking that it'd be nice to teach those men a lesson… Some of them just needed to be put in their place, but some probably needed a much harsher lesson." She loosely rotated her wrist before frowning. "You don't put your hands on me and get away with it…"

The prince nodded, his resolve hardening a bit as his expression darkened.

"Unless I want you to…" Ember's smile returned as she leaned in, her lips brushing against his cheek before trailing to his ear, her breath warm against his skin. "They could learn a thing or two from you, Jaime. You're always so gentle with me..." She held his hand tighter, her thumb tracing the sensitive lines of his palm, feeling him shiver under her touch. His magic, always at the tips of his fingers, seemed to pulse in response to her.

He swallowed nervously, smiling sheepishly. "I, um… I just want to help you and take care of you, Ember… It's all I've ever wanted…"

"Then can you 'take care of' this situation for me?" she whispered, her lips barely grazing his ear. "Please, Jaime? It would mean everything to me…"

Jaime cleared his throat before pulling her into a tight embrace, feeling her smile against his neck as she nestled close, a subtle warmth flowing from her in a way she'd never expressed before, verbally or otherwise. "I told you before, Ember. I'll do anything for you…"

She chuckled, her eyes glimmering excitedly as she settled back against the bedpost, her fingers playing idly with the collar of his shirt. "I know you will."

Over the course of the next month, there had been reports of around three missing royals (all either princes or kings). One of the princes who had threatened war if Ember didn't marry him was mysteriously found dead just outside Exchancia, his insides turned outward and strange traces of dark magic in his blood. People naturally speculated who could have caused the death, but most understood it was likely one of the twins, even though it was difficult to prove such a thing. Which one, though? Both were now powerful, and for the first time, both were dangerous. Jaime could have easily been the culprit just as much as Ember could have, and that was honestly worrisome to the people of Exchancia. Jaime had always been a kind but kind of pathetic prince, but he was generally well liked. However, his sister had pretty much ruined that reputation over the years as she had dragged him deeper into her tangled web.

The more the twins practiced their dark magic, the more dangerous they became. No one knew this more than Orchid and Brookes, who stood in the shadows of the castle, watching the twins as they practiced sparring with their powers, which were far more potent than they had been.

"We need to rethink this mission," Orchid told her partner seriously as he turned to her. "It's not just the queen who's a threat now. Her brother is just as bad, which I didn't think would ever be possible."

"He practically worships the ground she walks on," Brookes scoffed. "Of course, he followed her blindly into something so dangerous. I always thought their relationship was a bit peculiar and deeply unbalanced, but this was unexpected."

"Let's contact Paul and see if we can refine this operation. I'd rather go through him than the patrons, because he'll have deeper insight." Orchid took Brookes's hand and pulled him into the shadows, leaving the twins alone once more.

"Jaime," Ember cooed, circling the prince after their sparring match, her hand leaving a soft trail of magical dust along his outfit as she brushed his shoulders and back. She grinned as he turned to meet her fully, his hands reaching up to still hers. "Did you ever imagine us being this powerful?"

"Only you," he answered honestly. "You've always been the powerful one, Ember."

"True, but now we can do whatever we want. Nothing is out of our control."

He chuckled. "You know, in different times, people would have called us witches and burned us at the stake."

"I guess that would make me a…burning Ember," she joked, smiling wryly as he rolled his eyes. "Fine by me. These powers have ignited a flame so bright that I don't see it being doused any time soon. Now come on, Jaime…" She grabbed his hand, leading him away. "We have a lot of work to do…"

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Deterrent