A Curse of Shadows

A crown falls off my head, tumbling onto the stone platform I still stand on and rolling until it stops at the man’s feet.

He picks up the unwanted accessory with gentleness and finally stands. “Your Highness, I don’t know what’s happened, but please, come with me. I’m sure King Asher will make sense of this.”

My hands shake as I release the foreign strands of what should be my hair. I’m not me, but I still feel like me. I have no clue where I am or what the hell happened to my car. My heart constricts to the point of pain as I blink several times, trying to force any of this to make sense.

The coolness of the cave surrounds me and I close my eyes, inhaling deeply. While I’m understandably freaked out, I’m not frightened. Not in the way that I fear for my life, just more confused than I’ve ever been.

This must be some vivid dream. Maybe if I play along with whatever this is, I’ll be able to wake up. Yes, that has to be the answer here.

Reopening my eyes, I nod toward the unknown man and extend my hand, taking back the offered crown. As its weight settles onto my head, I ignore the swell in my chest and pray that in no time at all, I’ll be waking up in my own bed, never having hiked that damn mountain and gotten on the wrong freeway.

CHAPTER TWO

ISLA

What began as a nightmare doesn’t seem so bad once I stop fighting against whatever is happening to me. Cain, as he finally introduced himself, leads us out of the cave and we emerge into a utopia plucked from the pages of a storybook.

The air is crisp and invigorating against my skin and the twilight above is a tapestry of dusky blues and deep amethyst. Twin moons shine brightly amongst the darkening sky and an explosion of stars seem to just be coming to life. I’m transfixed by the sight and a serenity, both profound and unfamiliar, settles over me, at least for the moment.

“Right this way, Princess.” Cain’s gentle prompt nudges me back to the present, his voice a soft echo in the quiet of the night.

I peel my gaze away from the sky and remind myself that I should be paying more attention to what’s around me as opposed to what’s above.

We walk a smooth, stone pathway that leads over a grass-covered hill. At the top, I pause once again to appreciate the striking view before me. Rolling hills of greenery continue until they turn to a darkness that seems never-ending. Structures, most with their lights off, appear often enough to resemble a quaint town, but it’s the opulent castle that seizes my attention most.

The shimmering silver building, highlighted by the moon’s glow, sits on the highest point that I can see. There are several levels to it, giving it a cascading effect. The tallest portion has two turrets—both concealed by the seamless stone with few windows—and a domed area between them made of glass and a steel frame. Beneath that, there’s a broader section with smaller windows spaced out and one large set of double wooden doors that stand out, even from this far away.

“Your Highness.” Cain clears his throat. “We really shouldn’t linger.”

“Are you taking me there?” I point toward the architectural marvel, the tightening of my throat betraying a nervousness that I try to swallow away. The chances of waking up back in my bed should be higher if I just play along. Right?

Cain’s green eyes spark under the moonlight as he nods. “Yes, that is where King Asher is and where I’m instructed to bring all unexpected arrivals, Princess Isobella.”

“It’s—never mind.” Isobella, Isla. Doesn’t matter, it’s not like this is real. Though I can’t deny, I’ve never had a dream this vivid. My senses are on overdrive and I’m not a fan.

Out of nervous habit, my hand reaches up to twist a section of my hair and I wince when I’m reminded that not even my long strands are as they should be.

“To the castle we go, then,” I say with a smile that has tension draining from Cain’s shoulders.

He leads the way down the path and as we start to pass modest homes made from smooth stucco in varying shades of tan, I begin to wonder where all those who occupy these houses are.

“How many people live here?” I ask to fill the silence and ease my racing thoughts.

Cain keeps his voice low. “There are around five hundred of us on this island now, Your Highness.”

“You know, you can stop calling me that,” I tell him kindly. “Even if I’m a princess, there’s no need for formalities.”

A flush of humility paints his cheeks. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to keep with our customs…Your Highness.”

“All right, then.” I sigh, hoping this isn’t about to get any more awkward when I meet the king and have no clue how I’m supposed to act. “If five hundred people live here, why does it feel as if we’re the only two out right now?” I know it’s nighttime here, but the sky is hardly dark. It can’t be that late.

“It’s the middle of the night, Your Highness,” he says, still keeping a low tone. “Your people are resting before the new day.”

Considering this isn’t real, I push down my surprise that their night doesn’t get as dark as nights back home. Plus, I’m pretty sure he’s also trying to politely tell me to be quiet.

The castle grows closer and its stature is magnified by our proximity. I’m forced to crane my neck back to see the top of the turrets and I wonder how incredible the view will be from up there.

Shaking my head, I clear those thoughts from my mind. I won’t be here long enough to find that out because none of this is real.