Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(45)

Her piano sat where it always had, a Chopin book open and ready to play.

“Ashleigh?” she yelled.

Something shattered in the kitchen. “Scar?”

Ashleigh came running to her, an apron on and flour sprinkled on her nose.

They hugged each other tightly.

“You’re okay?” Scarlett asked as she looked her sister over.

Ashleigh had been in a mirror world of their house the whole time. Had she realized she was trapped?

“Of course, I’m okay,” she said. “Just trying to get stuff done before Vance’s birthday tomorrow.”

Last time Scarlett had talked to Ashleigh, she’d been preparing for his birthday.

Time wasn’t moving here.

“I thought you were camping?” Ashleigh asked.

“It got boring,” Scarlett lied. She couldn’t do anything to upset Ashleigh.

She’d been worried the whole time that her sister had been lost and lonely and afraid. But whatever spell kept her here apparently also kept her oblivious.

Scarlett joined Ashleigh in the kitchen as she continued to make the cake she’d started before Scarlet had showed up. As Ashleigh baked, Scarlett asked her how things were going.

Scarlett’s stomach tightened when she realized Ashleigh’s boyfriend might be looking for her. He could be worried—or worse, not worried. Even if Ashleigh didn’t realize the confinement of the mirror, life outside went on.

But Scarlett would have to worry about that later. None of it would matter if she didn’t help Kaelem steal back what he wanted from the Winter Queen. If something happened to Kaelem in the process, Ashleigh might be stuck in the mirror forever.

Scarlett pushed the negative thoughts away. She didn’t have long with Ashleigh, and she didn’t want to waste her time.

“What about you, little sis?” Ashleigh stuck the cake she’d just mixed into the oven. “Anything exciting in your love life?”

“Not right now,” Scarlett said. “I’ve had a few other things to focus on.”

“Don’t be afraid to love. It feels glorious.”

Love. Was Ashleigh that enthralled by the guy she’d been seeing? Scarlett knew she was infatuated, but love?

Scarlett felt her body dissolve again. When it molded back together, she was back in the room with Kaelem.

“I hope whatever it is we’re here for is important.” Scarlett stomped toward the closet. She needed a moment alone.

“Scarlett, wait.”

She turned back.

Kaelem grabbed her hand.

When their skin touched, the room around Scarlett disappeared and a new image surfaced.

Coldness attacked her. Ahead, she saw a prison cell with bars of ice. She approached it slowly, worry in the pit of her stomach.

These weren’t her feelings. She was in a different mind.

When she peeked through the bars, a girl sat in the corner, head down and arms clutching her legs.

“Aria.” Kaelem’s voice said from the body Scarlett was in.

The girl’s body language shifted, relaxing as she peered up. Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Brother!”

Scarlett returned to her own body. Kaelem dropped her hand and watched her as he waited for her to speak.

Scarlett’s mental wall fell.

It was his sister? He’d stolen Scarlett’s sister to save his own. What kind of ludicrous logic was that? Anger boiled inside Scarlett. Her sister was in love, and she was happy. It might be a frivolous crush—or perhaps it was real—but either way, Ashleigh found a way to smile again. Losing their mom had been hard on her.

And now she may have lost that. Even if Ashleigh went back to him, what could she tell him? That she hadn’t been gone; he was mistaken. Then he’d think she was crazy.

The frailness of the girl in the vision surfaced to Scarlett’s thoughts. She pictured Ashleigh miserable, rotting away in a prison cell. What would she have been willing to do to save her?

“I shouldn’t have taken your sister,” Kaelem said.

Scarlett glared. He was in her head, listening to her thoughts. She’d learned to feel his presence.

You’re a hypocritical asshole.

He grabbed her arm and squeezed.

“Now, now. You should be grateful I haven’t killed you.” The Ice Queen’s voice was cold. “Yet.”

The girl lifted her head, eyes full of fury. “Fuck you.”

“Is that anyway to speak to a queen?”

“You’re not my queen.”

Nevina stepped into the cell as the bars parted for her and shot a dagger of ice into Aria’s arm.

Aria shrieked. She screamed again and again as another hit her leg and another her foot.

“You have no power here, princess. The sooner you learn that, the easier it will be for you.”

When Aria spit at Nevina’s feet, she gripped Aria’s arm.

Aria’s skin turned blue as she was frozen in place.

Kaelem released Scarlett’s arm. “I am sorry I took your sister, but I am not sorry for doing what I felt needed to be done.”

The rage in Scarlett simmered. Aria looked so breakable. She remembered when Kassandra had showed her a vision of Ashleigh dying—how it broke Scarlett’s soul to see even the possibility.

“I am going to do what I must for my sister,” Kaelem said as he looked out the window to his right. “But I won’t make you help me. I can release your sister now if you’d like. I’m the only one who can.”