Page 2 of The Rose in the Shadows

“I need Kent. Have you seen him?” Clay yelled, searching for their friend.

Iris shook her head. She hadn’t seen him since their breakfast earlier in the morning.

Soldiers marched from the castle, forming a military procession, but with nothing more than a wave of her palm, she pushed back ten at a time as they approached her.

Iris retreated towards the castle just as Kent burst forward from within. He shouted to Clay, and silent communication passed between them. As an officer himself, Kent had fought alongside Clay in the Great War. Their easy rapport didn’t come from their experience on the battlefield, though; it was the years of lifelong friendship that allowed the two men to collaborate effortlessly. It truly was something special to watch the way they worked in tandem with one another. Together, they circled the woman.

Iris watched as her eyes flickered quickly, half open and half hanging closed. She was standing and yet not entirely conscious.

She's not in control of herself,Iris realized suddenly, recognizing that expression.

When Iris was a child, when her own powers had just started manifesting, she would often lose control of them. Aspects of her appearance would shift rapidly, leaving Iris exhausted and struggling to even stay standing. The woman swayed on the bridge, wild and untamed magic pouring out of her, and Iris knew she was looking at a fellow Descendant whose power was overwhelming her.

"Clay!" Iris yelled. If this woman wasn't intentionally doing this then she didn't deserve to be harmed, only subdued.

It all moved too quickly though. Clay charged at the stranger darting underneath her flying hands. She was soundless as she fought him, slipping out of his grasp time and time again effortlessly. As she lifted her arms to lash out at him with her power, he opened his mouth wide, breathing dragonfire in an angry storm. The flames snaked up her wrists and arms, but she did not scream or flinch. She hardly even noticed.

Kent’s eyes widened as the woman fought on with little sign of pain, but he did not falter in his job. Clay continued to battle her, to distract her, as Kent set his eyes upon her, planted his feet, and began to sing. He started softly at first, stringing together a simple melody, but his voice grew more commanding with each moment that passed. As the magic washed over her, her head snapped violently towards Kent. She lurched towards him, but Clay grabbed her tight and held her in place until Kent’s voice finally calmed her, and her body eventually stilled. She fell heavily into Clay who swung her effortlessly into his arms and began making his way back to the castle.

Quickly, Iris unbuttoned the cloak she wore and rushed to throw the fabric over the girls body. Clay hardly slowed as she did. Without another word, he stalked into the palace, leaving Iris and Kent standing frozen on the steps.

“What will happen to her?” Iris whispered.

Kent shook his head, running a hand over his face. “I’m not sure. The Dragon won’t take kindly to her attacking the castle. Especially not on today of all days.”

No, Iris didn’t think that mancouldbe kind regardless of the day. And yet, as she walked back into the palace with Kent at her side, she couldn’t get the image of the woman swaying helplessly on the bridge out of her head. Iris wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened, but her gut told her that not all was as it seemed.

Chapter One

“Stop worrying, she’ll be asleep for quite some time still. The sleeping potion they gave her wasstrong.”

The sound of a womans laughter reverberated through my scalp, sending shockwaves of pain into my temple and the back of my neck. I tried to open my eyes, but the violent agony forced them closed once more with a wave so intense it threatened to knock me unconscious again.

“Did you see her out there? I’ve never witnessed anything like that!”

I didn’t recognize the voice that hovered over my head, talking in an exaggerated whisper.

“Rayna, be quiet! Nurse Kira will kill us if we wake her up before the guard comes.”

I wanted to call out to them. I needed to. I needed to tell them I was, in fact, awake and in pain, but my body protested.

Rayna scoffed. “Live a little, Theadora; it’s not every day you get to see an Athenian traitor.”

Where am I?I wondered, trying to trace back my memories.

“Ok, we saw her, so let’s go. Please,” Theadora pleaded, her voice tense.

“Fine, but only because I promised Samson I’d meet him in his suite in twenty minutes.”

"You're going to his suite? You cannot."

"I have before and I will again. The things that man does with his hands are downright godly."

Rayna giggled again, and the sound of their footsteps echoed once more. Before I could find the strength to call out to them, I heard the sound of a door clicking shut and their steps faded into the distance.

Forcing in a deep breath, I took a mental stock of my body. I wiggled my toes and rolled my ankles. All seemed to be functional. I shifted my neck slightly, trying to ignore the stab of pain in my temples as I did so. With another breath, I focused my attention on my shoulders and elbows. They felt heavy, but otherwise unharmed. Finally, I wiggled my fingers, noticing the start of a nagging itch spreading up my hands and wrists.

Something was on me, scratching tender skin. As I focused on it, the itch grew to my forearms and elbows. It prickled until it became so unbearable that it actually… hurt.

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