ONE

Tirik’s hand trembled, and she tightened her grip on the knife.

It must be done.

Resolved, she set her chin and stabbed the dagger into the throat of the girl with all of her strength.

The girl’s eyes widened. She tried to scream when she felt the impact, and she began to choke and panic. Blood bubbled from her throat when Tirik withdrew the knife. She watched the girl’s eyes redden as the small capillaries in them burst. Then her eyes glazed over as the life left her body.

Tirik lifted the gold encrusted chalice and held it under the girl’s neck to capture the dripping blood.

The corpse was strapped to the altar with thick leather straps across her forehead, chest, hips, knees and ankles. Ancient designs were scored into her belly, and her wrists were marked with burns in the shapes of stars.

Tirik drew the dagger down the girl’s abdomen, cutting a line through the designs as she chanted the words on the ancient scroll:

LIFE OF AN INNOCENT TAINTED BY BLOOD,
POWER REMOVED FROM ONE MOST LOVED,
RITES OF KARIN I INVOKE THEE,
TAKE THIS LIFE AND SET ME FREE.

The ground shook as Tirik continued to chant the same lines over and over again. Wind appeared from nowhere and whipped around her, blowing the herbs off the altar and extinguishing the candles surrounding the body lying there. Darkness shrouded the dank dungeon, and the wind died down.

Has it worked?

Tirik dropped to her knees, holding the chalice out to the darkness.

“Take this blood and give me your power. I pray to you, my dark Goddess.”

“It has been long since I visited this plane, mortal. Why do you awaken me?” The voice in the darkness was hollow with age. It vibrated through Tirik’s body, making her shake. “Is it vengeance of the heart that you seek?”

Tirik felt something cold brush by her in the darkness.

“Your offering is appropriate, golden hair like hers.” The voice paused, and then slyly added. “Golden hair, like yours.”

Tirik froze in fear as a hand brushed through her hair. She struggled to quell the terror.

Does the demon want me too?

“It is vengeance of the heart, my dark Goddess.” She forced herself to speak to Her.

A cold claw pressed against her chest, and the talons dug into the skin above her heart.

A goddess, not a demon, Tirik reminded herself. A goddess with talons.

“Not broken, never even used. How does this heart require vengeance? Has this heart had love stolen from it? You invoke me unwisely, mortal!” Her breath was icy as She hissed in her ear.

“My sister,” Tirik gasped. “She took everything from me. I have been nothing for my whole life because she was blessed with power, and I was not.”

“She does not deserve what she has. She should not be the ruler of these lands. Gifted from birth with magical powers, she can see what others cannot. She can see inside the hearts of all and speak of secrets that should not be revealed. She steals love from all under her reign and knows things that should not be read by another. She is an abomination! Mine is true vengeance of the heart, revenge for the many hearts across this land.”

The claw still pressed against her chest. “Not my vengeance, not my kind.”

Tirik winced as the Goddess’ claws scraped against her skin. “Lovers have been separated, stolen by the queen’s words. She leaves broken hearts in her wake. How is she not the worst of betrayers?” she cried in terror. “She took so many of my suitors and broke their hearts. Just because I did not love them, does it mean they should not love me? Look deeper, my Goddess. Find what you seek.” She braced herself for pain, but none came.

The Goddess laughed softly. “So you would have me change the rules, bend them to suit your will.”

“Only if you wish it.” Tirik bowed her head.

“Let us see if you wish it as time grows weary on your mortal soul.” She laughed. “I tire of Destiny and her rules. Take your revenge, and I shall accept your offering.”

The Goddess laughed again.

Tirik felt the claw leave her chest.

Silence followed.

Has She gone?

A gust of wind blew Tirik’s hair around her face, and then the candles all lit up on the altar. She blinked and warily peered around. She was alone. The altar was empty. The body of the girl was gone.

She stared down into the chalice. The blood had turned black. The deal had been struck. She smiled.

It worked.

Tirik took a deep drink from the chalice, eagerly swallowing the thick liquid and accepting the dark Goddess’ power.

Queen Arietta smiled as she blessed the marriage. The young couple before her appeared so happy together.

The priest had performed the ceremony, but she knew it was her blessing that made it official for the young lovers and their families.

She could feel how deeply they loved each other. She had always been able to feel the heart’s desire of others.

People often mistook her ability for mind reading, but it wasn’t. She could read emotions, not thoughts. She would see images flash across her mind of what the person truly wanted. Sometimes it was another person, sometimes an object. Occasionally it was dark and evil. Arietta shuddered. Those were the worst ones. But most of the time, it was the face of someone they loved.

It amazed her how often people didn’t know what they really wanted. They felt it in their hearts but ignored it or denied it. But then, she understood that too.

It’s fortunate that no one can read my heart.

Her smile wavered. She forced it to remain in place as she toasted the happy couple. Crowds of people cheered, and the couple kissed.

What is it like?

Her own heart was heavy as she resigned herself to the knowledge that she would never find true love. Long ago, she had learnt that love was impossible for her. There was no time for it to blossom and grow. She would see into a person’s heart the moment she touched them. With her suitors, she saw their designs on her crown long before they had a chance to court her. There was no way to move forward from there. The first impression would scar the relationship.

She had given up trying to find love.

In her twenty-three years of life, she had never felt love. As time passed, she wondered if she ever would. But life was good, and she knew she was luckier than most.

She had been crowned Queen of Rhecknaw at fifteen years old, imbued with the ‘Gift’ as she was crowned. Her gift took its toll, but she could help so many people with it.

People flocked to the palace to find their true path through the use of her gift. Every day, she had the chance to experience love through other people and to help them understand what they really wanted.

Many were grateful and lived happily after overcoming their fears or simply realizing what was missing. Others were not. They didn’t like what they heard, but she hoped it helped them. She knew it would on the day they accepted it as true.

The things she didn’t have because of her gift were minor in comparison to what she gained from helping others.

It’s worth it.

She walked from the church toward her carriage, shaking hands and smiling at people as she passed them. Their desires flashed across her mind: a safe home, a gallant young man, a woman of consequence. Each one carried a powerful emotion and a beautiful image for Arietta.

Her hand connected with a masculine palm, and electricity passed through it, but no images flashed inside her. She glanced up into the seaweed-green eyes of the man, and something in her chest felt as if it dropped to her belly. She tried to read his heart, but she couldn’t. He smiled at her, and her legs felt weak.

Who is this man?

She bit her lip and searched his face. It seemed plain to the casual glance, but something in it drew her to him like a magnet.

She self-consciously smoothed her gold silken gown, trying to stand regally in the tightly fitting corset. After sweeping back her long braid of dark hair, she smiled at him. “Hello,” she said softly.

“Your majesty.” He released her hand and bowed. She felt bereft as his touch left her.

“Are you a member of the family?” She didn’t know what she was doing. She rarely stopped to chat with people at these events.

“I am Second Lieutenant Connell in your majesty’s army, ma’am. I don’t know the family. I came to see you.”

She reached out and took his hand, motioning for him to stop bowing to her. “Your country thanks you for your service, Lieutenant, as do I.” She hid her disappointment that he had merely come to see his queen. For a moment, she had almost believed that her attraction to him was reciprocated. Holding in a sigh, she smiled politely at him, resuming her role as queen.

A spark of mischief lit up his eyes. “If I can be of any more service to my queen, she simply has to ask.” He gently squeezed her bare hand, his thumb rubbing against her palm in a slow, deliberate motion. The crowds seemed to fade away, and his words melted her from the inside out.

“And should your queen address you as Lieutenant, or do you go by another name, sir?” She leaned a little closer to him, her heart pounding as his large hand caused her skin to tingle with each touch.

He leaned closer to her, brushing a wisp of her dark hair away from her cheek. “You may call me whatever you wish, m’lady, but I go by the name of Hale.” His hot breath heated her skin.

“And if I were to call you into my service, what could I expect?” she asked, her heart pounding.

“You can have anything you want,” he whispered in her ear before he brushed a hot kiss across her neck.

“Oh!” She quickly pulled her hand away, inhaling sharply. It wasn’t often that anyone was permitted to touch her skin, but certainly not in that way. A blush heated her face. “I, um…” She studied his wicked smile.

After a moment of indecision, she chose to ignore what was expected of her. Feeling reckless, she nodded. “Why don’t you join me in the Royal Gardens this afternoon? We can discuss it then.” She was babbling, and her pulse was racing.

“It would be an honor, ma’am.” He bowed, with a glint in his eyes that caused her to blush even more.

She flashed him a nervous smile and continued to her gilded carriage. She took a seat beside her sister before glancing back at Hale through the window. His eyes hadn’t left her.

“Is everything okay?” Tirik asked.

“Oh yes.” Arietta smiled dreamily.

Tirik smiled.

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