Chapter 6
Thane's POV
"Your Majesty, you are back. The King has requested that you be summoned immediately upon your arrival," the palace head butler said as he hurried behind me, his voice filled with urgency, the moment I stepped foot on the high-rise stone stairs leading into the grand palace.
"I have things to do. Leave me be," I replied coldly without looking back, my footsteps quickly striding forward.
My mind was entirely focused on finding a cure for Ava before it became too late to save her.
My hands stretched forward as I approached the massive double doors that guarded the kingdom's ancient library. I pushed them open with force, and they pushed apart with a loud, echoing bang as I stepped into the vast chamber.
"Ravenswood!" I called out, my voice booming through the large, echo-filled space.
High raised bookshelves filled the room from end to end, lined with countless dusty stairs that reached all the way to the high arched ceiling.
"Prince Thane, I sense your distress. What might be the problem?" came the calm and slightly aged voice of the library's Seeker. He appeared from around the corner of a tall bookshelf, his hands tucked neatly inside the sleeves of his long, dark robe.
"I need you to save someone," I said, my voice strained and breathless. I tilted my head down slightly, as I gave him permission to see what I knew.
Ravenswood stepped forward without hesitation, and I felt the chilling touch of his fingers press against the center of my forehead.
Then came the strange, invasive sensation of his mind brushing against mine as he began to access my memories and I willingly allowed it.
"Hmmm… this is a very rare poison," Ravenswood murmured thoughtfully, stroking his thick black beard. His hand lifted away from my head slowly, and he stared off for a moment, lost in thought.
"Is there a cure in the kingdom?" I asked, wasting no time, my tone sharp and cold.
"Your Majesty," he began calmly, "there is a cure for nearly everything. But this one is quite complicated. The herbs needed to counter this poison take five full years to mature. Once harvested, they can only be preserved for one week. Beyond that, they rot and lose all potency. And to make matters worse, these herbs only bloom during the height of summer, which is still months away. She wouldn't survive until then," he finished, his voice steady as his hands were now clasped calmly behind his back.
Anger blazed within me at his words. I moved swiftly, my body covering the distance between us in a second and my hand shot out and grasped Ravenswood's neck tightly.
His hands instinctively rose to grab at my wrist, but his face remained unchanged, still bearing that unnervingly calm expression he always wore.
"I order you….find a way. Find an alternative cure!" I growled, my voice thick with rage. My eyes blazed with my magic, and glowing red wisps of magic began to seep from my fingertips, coiling and snapping like little flames around his throat.
"I'm afraid that there isn't. Only a devil can save her at this point. I am sorry, Your Highness, but there is nothing that can be done," Ravenswood explained calmly, his voice steady despite being gripped in my hold.
And in the next instant, I hurled him aside as though he weighed nothing. His body crashed violently into a tall bookshelf filled with ancient books, sending it toppling down in a loud bang.
"Only a devil can save her…" I echoed, whispering the words into the air as I froze mid-step, just as I was about to storm out of the library.
"What did you mean by that?" I asked coldly, my tone sharp as ice. I turned slowly, fixing my gaze on the aged man who was now groaning and struggling to his feet, brushing the dust and torn books off his robes with shaky hands.
"It is forbidden in the kingdom, Your Highness. Black magic is forbidden," Ravenswood said hesitantly. And for the first time since this entire ordeal began, I saw a crack in his composure. His face that was usually unreadable, now showed signs of unease. Beads of sweat dotted his face.
I began to stalk toward him slowly. I said nothing. My silence seemd to umerve him as he instinctively stepped back, as though trying to put distance between us.
But I was faster. My hand darted forward and seized the hem of his robe, yanking him toward me with one sharp movement.
"Spill," I ordered, my voice coming out as a low growl as my eyes suddenly brightened up in a burning red glow as my magic pulsing at my fingertips.
"It's truly very dangerous, Your Highness! Creating a portal to Hell will destabilize the balance of Earth. If you enter that realm, there is a high chance you won't make it back alive. I cannot go against the law, I cannot take part in something that could bring harm to the crown!" Ravenswood trembled, his voice high-pitched and fearful. His eyes were wide, yet even as he tried to plead, I saw a flicker in his eyes just a small spark of interest behind the fear.
"Grab what you need to make the portal. We begin by nightfall," I replied curtly, releasing my grip on his robe and turning sharply on my heel.
Without another word, I strode out of the library. The towering double doors slammed shut behind me with a loud bang, the sound echoing through the marble corridors and causing the ground to tremble slightly beneath my feet.