Chapter 219 - The Deadline is Tonight

~ I cannot leave without your forgiveness, ~ the Shade said simply.

'...!' of all the things she expected to listen to, Alexa didn't think that was Gisela's request. And only gradually did the understanding of what the White Queen had done to her make sense in her mind.

Perhaps her mother had not died as a result of childbirth. Alexa had no way of knowing. Perhaps she would have been sacrificed, if the spell that linked her to a boy elsewhere had not inspired her father to hide her identity.

At the age of four, the period when Alexa awakened for her powers, and saw a Shade for the first time, she would have been thrown into the fire. But while surviving was a blessing, she shouldn't have been alive... if it weren't for Alexander's life. But all magic has an end, and they were coming to an end. Both must die to keep the promise in return for Magnus' heart.

'You … went too far, Gisela.'

The Shade didn't respond, as the White Queen knew of her crimes against her own son and the Light Bearer.

'Alexa,' Alexander called, 'Everyone commits mistakes. You said you made decisions that went against what was right, but followed your heart and your instincts instead. Perhaps you cannot forgive her now, as I did. But she did not do this for personal power or selfish purposes. One thing led to another, which led to another...'

The princess knew her soul mate was saying sensible things, and reminding her of her own mistakes.

'Yes, everyone commits mistakes,' she murmured, turning to the Shade, 'but what are you going to do to fix it?'

~ I can't fix anything anymore. I'm dead. Only in my future reincarnation, should I pay for what I did, and try to correct my mistakes. ~

Alexa fell silent.

Again, she had opened her mouth to say stupid things, moved by her revolt.

Why did she, a child on the other side of the world, have to pay for a witch's deal? Why would she be sacrificed to Orcaius, the Blind Soul, the Eternal Lich?

It was hard to get.

Of course, Gisela on the first impulse, wouldn't offer something that cost her a lot, to balance the magic. The witch thought she could live with the guilt of having sacrificed a special child to save another. But when she saw her own baby, when she felt like a mother, her thoughts changed, her heart softened. She shared her own son's life and destiny with the child she would use as sacrifice.

'You ended up cursing your son as you did to me, instead of protecting him, or me.'

~ I shared the pains, and life. Alexander endured your sufferings together with you. But I didn't know all the consequences or everything that would happen. ~

'Alexa, find somewhere in your heart understanding for all this,' said Alexander beside her. She can only really leave when she knows that you at least understand her.'

She wanted to make things easier and not drag that bitterness, but there was something else.

'So tell us, is there still a way to renew Sigrid's spell? The body has fully healed, so my soul can no longer maintain Alexander's body, as Magnus's blood did?'

Shade sighed heavily when she heard Alexa's words.

~ The spell can no longer be renewed. There is no more time. Now, there is only one alternative for Alexander. The pomegranate. ~

'What do you mean by that? Are you talking about the pomegranate Orcaius stole? '

~ Yes, and that's in the Forbidden Garden. A single seed will keep the soul forever wherever it is, in this world or the next. The deadline is tonight, children. But if you're in Alexander's body too... They'll be stuck together, you know? ~

'Yes.' Alexa at least thought she understood. However, Alexander could not be alone in the body. How could this be possible?

'Don't worry,' said Alexander. I think I know a way. '

'What will happen if we can do this?'

'I will return to my body, and you to yours.'

~Alexa, your body will return to the place where you connected with Alexander. At the lighthouse. But, after that night passes, I don't know what can happen ... ~

'So we can't waste any time! I have to wake up, Alexander! ' Alexa exclaimed.

ººº

"Gahhh!" The Prince Regent woke with a jump, feeling light slaps on his face. A hand full of calluses and smelling of blood tried to wake him up. Lex narrowed his eyes, pulling this hand away from her face. "Enough! I woke up!'"

"Thank Godness," said Balbo, relieved.

Looking around, Lex saw that they were in the cell that once imprisoned Sigrid. The walls were also painted with strange scribblings, drawings and symbols. But she didn't have time for that,

'Alexander, are you on board?'

'Yes, Alexa. I'm with you.'

It relieved her a little. Getting up and going to the window, she looked through the bars. The sun was shining high in the sky. Maybe it was the middle of the day.

'We have a few hours to reach the Forbidden Garden.'

The Prince turned to Balbo.

"The blame for this massacre will rest on your head, Balbo. Were you really the person who shot Magnus? So you asked me for the coin and pretended you were going to investigate who had hired the actual killer?"

The eyes of the Castilian swordsman and assassin narrowed for a moment, but he spoke with his usual calm,

"The death of these people was needed to protect your identity, Your Highness. Unfortunately, I heard that Jette escaped, by your express order. She needs to be captured. And yes, I was the man on the roof of the cathedral. But nobody hired me but myself. I also hired the killer who dressed as the bride. If she were there, he would have killed her to be in her place, but they had already replaced her with a maid."

"BALBO! WHY?!"

"Prince Magnus was poisoning Prince Alexander with his blood, Your Highness, that's what I saw. I was an ignorant thinking I knew more than anyone. Thinking it would do him good to get the First Prince, who always pretended to be his friend, out of the way. I was wrong. But that was only proven when Prince Magnus went in search of his antidote for his little brother."

Lex bit her lip in distress. Balbo had a real appreciation for Alexander, and as a Thanaion, he had thought Prince Magnus was the real culprit.

'In the end, your friends are just worried about you ... They cheat on you with their best mind at heart ...' she said to Alexander thoughtfully.

'I ... I don't know what to think of that right now. But we don't have time! We have to get to the Forbidden Garden! '

'Yes!'

Turning to Balbo, the Prince made a dismissive gesture, "This matter will have to be postponed. We need to get back to the castle immediately! "

The ride back to the capital and the castle seemed to drag on because of their haste. The impression Lex had was that the path was getting longer, and the sun, faster in the sky, as they rode furiously towards the city.

Feeling out of breath, the Prince Regent ran through the courtyards and staircases, being guided by Alexander, who knew the castle better than Lex. Balbo followed at the same speed behind him, as did the other guards.

After a few cool, raised, pointed arches, the prince reached a tall, wide portal. Lex could see the poisonous, beautiful, well-kept garden just beyond the ogival gate. There were no guards at the door, no bars.

One of the guards came in front of the prince, immediately kneeling,

"Your Highness! What are your plans? Not even the Regent can enter! It's the law!"

"What do you mean, I can't go in?!" Lex didn't imagine hearing that. Wasn't Alexander the Prince Regent? Wasn't he in Gutard's place? Didn't he make the laws?"

The soldier lowered his head further, but pointed to a mosaic next to the garden door.

Lex approached the mosaic, where he saw it written in Latin,

BEWARE.

NO LIVING BEING, NOBLE OR COMMONER, SLAVE OR FREE PERSON, SHALL TREAD THE SOIL OF THE GARDEN OF FORBIDDEN HERBS. ONLY THE ROYAL GARDEN KEEPER SHALL ENTER FREELY. THE THREAT TO THE KINGDOM IS DIRE, AND THIS LAW IS WRITTEN IN STONE FOR IT IS NOT FORGOTTEN, ERASED OR TORN. THIS IS ONE OF HOLSTEN'S SEVEN LAWS THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. THE ROYAL GUARD HAS AN OBLIGATION TO KILL ANYONE WHO DISOBEYS, UNDER THE PENALTY OF HAVING THEIR LIVES AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILIES TAKEN AWAY FOR DISOBEDIENCE TO THEIR OATH, THEIR PROPERTY BURNED AND THEIR NAMES TAKEN AWAY. THERE IS NO ONE ABOVE THAT LAW, NOT EVEN HOLSTEIN'S HIGHEST.

"No! This is ridiculous! Where is the royal apothecary? I want something from the garden!" Lex turned to his witnesses, his heart pounding hard. The Prince understood the reason for this law. That garden had not only the most dangerous plants in the kingdom, but it also protected the cursed Pomegranate tree from both the unwary, and the ambitious.

A girl in a green apron came running, and threw herself at the Prince Regent's feet,

"Please, Your Highness, I beg you not to come in! Do not break the law. This humble servant is Ana, I am the daughter of the royal apothecary! He left with a small guard three hours ago, taking medical supplies to the battlefront in the east. These are very precious supplies, which he needs to teach how to use. Please wait for his return! We will send messengers to pick him up! "

It took Lex a while to remember that they were facing the Poles in the east. But… three hours? Even if they sent a messenger to get the man back, it would be at least six hours, and they didn't have all that time.

What to do now?

CONTINUES