Whatever It Takes

Wrapped up warm against the icy fingers of the winter wind, Kita ventured out into the darkness to begin her nightly stroll toward the castle gardens. She never admired the flowers, not that it would be an easy task in pitch black and snow. Flowers had never impressed her. Her fascination was with the orbs of light decorating the night sky, a black blanket peppered with crushed diamonds.

She walked hastily along the cobblestone path, barefoot even with snow on the ground, careful not to alert anyone. She wanted to put ample distance between herself and the castle. Once she felt she was safely out of sight, she stopped and looked up, admiring the majestic beauty of the stars she envied so much.

“Oh, how I’d love to be one of you,” she murmured.

The stars were miles and miles away from where she stood. They were lucky to be free of the cruel world and the monsters who lived there. Not all humans were monsters; she had only met a few she despised.

“Monster” was a word she would use to describe most of the inhabitants in the castle. They were malicious, using others to suit their purposes just because they were in a position to do so. Despicable, horrible people who had everything they could ever want, and still demanded more. Nothing was ever enough to please them.

Bitterness pierced her heart. Because of her present situation, she knew their wickedness better than anyone.

A long sigh escaped her. She dreamed of a day when she could roam free and do whatever she wanted, without worrying about retaliation.

She wouldn’t care if it were only her life at stake. She would leave the castle immediately and take down anyone who dared stand in her way. Alas, that was not the case. There was someone else involved solely because she loved him.

If only she knew where King Luca was holding him, she could rescue him, and they could flee. She knew they would be safe in Azria. She had heard wonderful stories of its king and his kindness. Azria’s king and Henari’s were stark opposites. And to repay Azria’s king for keeping her and her beloved safe, she would fight for and protect him, as Luca forced her to do. But she knew it would never happen. Luca was too cunning and cautious. He would never tell her where he was keeping Kai.

Kita closed her hand over the locket hanging around her neck on a silver chain. It was warm to the touch, despite the frigid temperature of the night air.

“I’d give anything to just be able to hear your voice again, Kai,” she whispered. Tears began to blur her vision. She smiled sadly as they filled her eyes, spilling down her cheeks a second later. Every time she held her locket, her heart ached. She felt Kai’s spirit every time she touched it. After all, he was the one who gave it to her. She closed her eyes, hearing his strong voice, loud and clear, as if he were standing before her.

“No matter how far away I am, I’ll always be with you when you wear this, Kita. Never forget me.”

And she never did.

Even when he left the kingdom without saying a word, ripped her heart into tiny pieces, and she swore she hated the ground he walked on, she had only been lying to herself. She had fallen for him. It didn’t matter what he did to her. Even now, ten years later, she was living in hell to protect him. And if she had to, to keep him breathing, she would stay there the rest of her life.

The problem was, Luca knew it.

She wasn’t sure how Luca found out about their love or her magic, but he saw his opportunity. He swooped in like the predator he was to take advantage of it. At first, when he approached her, Kita wasn’t even sure he had captured Kai until he showed her the small leather book he always carried in his back pocket, and the picture he had of her hidden inside. She gave it to Kai because he asked her for something he could keep close to remind him of her when they were apart. Nothing better than a picture, she had told him. That’s why, when Kai disappeared, missing their last meeting, she magically placed a picture of him inside the locket, extracted from the memory of their last day together, the day he told her he loved her. But Kita hadn’t been able to open it since that day, without an overwhelming longing. She knew he was in there, and knowing was enough. It gave her the strength to press on.

Kita lowered her gaze from the sky and began to walk again. Her muscles were stiff, her feet like ice, but she didn’t care. Her room in the castle was more like a beautifully decorated cage than anything else. She was forbidden to leave it unless Luca needed her or she had to eat. She used her food delivery time to converse with the maids and servants. Some were pretty nice and despised Luca as much as she did. They knew her situation, and she knew she could talk to them about anything. As long as they didn’t get caught, they were fine. She constantly worried —she knew they would die if he witnessed them.

There were no second chances in Luca’s castle.

Kita made it to the garden’s entrance before she turned around and traveled back the way she came. Maybe if she tired herself, she would finally sleep for a while. She glanced at the stars again before quietly letting herself back into the castle.

The guard at the door snored loudly, just as he had when she let herself out. A wry smile settled on her face. If someone wanted to break in, they wouldn’t have any problem with Sir-Snores-a-lot guarding the door. She thought it odd that he slept every night. Luca couldn’t know; the pampered king would kill him for it. She quietly crept past him and disappeared down the dark corridor. His secret nap time was his business.

When Kita arrived at her room, she opened the door and hurried inside, closing it softly behind her, breathing a sigh of relief. Though she had walked around the castle and ventured outside often during the night, she was lucky. No one had ever discovered her. She knew it wouldn’t be good for Kai if that happened. She kept a spell in her mind for such an occasion, to erase the last two hours from a person’s memory. She wouldn’t stand for Luca torturing Kai just because she couldn’t sleep and wanted to go for a walk.

Kita unwrapped the wool shawl from around her slender shoulders and returned it to the closet. She took off the jacket underneath and did the same. A cold shiver ran over her entire body. She didn’t realize how cold she was until she was back in the warmth of her room. She looked down at her bare feet. They were warming up from being out in the snow, but still red. She ought to have her head examined for going outside in such a state, and she knew it. She would have to heat up quickly to keep from catching a cold.

Her gaze turned to the fireplace on the far side of the room. There were wood and ash, but the flames had long gone out.

“No problem. I can start one.”

She walked over to the fireplace and stopped just in front of it. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said the first spell that came to her mind.

“Give me now what I desire. Bring the heat. Light the fire.”

Flames suddenly appeared, tall and searing, in the fireplace. Kita opened her eyes, her lips morphing into a smile. Sometimes she loved being a witch. She could do anything with the right spell, but her specialty was wind magic. She could manipulate, produce, and use it how she saw fit. It had become a valuable tool over the years. Her power had led her to Kai. She smiled at the memory as she made her way over to the bed. She fell onto it with a sigh, leaning back against the pillows.

The first time she saw Kai, he was in the alleyway, trying not to act suspicious. He was conspicuous. Kita had made it her duty to protect the lower town from bandits. She tried to use her magic to protect the less fortunate and told him as much when she marched up to him and demanded to know what he was doing.

He flashed her the brightest smile she had ever seen and said, “Just loafing around.”

Of course, she hadn’t believed him, but he was proficient at distracting her. Kai was more handsome than any man she’d ever seen. He opened up to her about his family, a controlling father, and a mother he missed. He was so cute with small dimples in his cheeks and a toothy smile. His steel-blue eyes were remarkably captivating. She couldn’t help but ask his name. He seemed startled by the question, but finally told her with a hint of amusement.

She couldn’t get him out of her head afterward.

Kita searched for Kai when she went to town. He was always in the same place. They would hang out and talk. He bought her lunch, and they would walk around as they ate. She opened up about most things, but never told him she was a witch. That cat came out of the bag involuntarily when Kai got into trouble.

Bandits had cornered one of the market patrons, and he had to play the hero. Of course, the bandits turned on him. Kai fought valiantly, but he was no match for all four of them at once. They came at him with their combined strength. She was impressed he managed to hold them off for as long as he did. He had no weapons. Two bandits held him down while the other two beat him. He was barely able to stand when she arrived. She didn’t even have to think about it. With a wave of her arm, the two wailing on Kai went flying, her wind magic carrying them a mile or more away. The other two let him go immediately and fled.

She remembered the flabbergasted look on his face when he saw her standing there. He knew she was the one who had saved him. Once her secret was out, they became closer than ever. Kai didn’t fear her or treat her differently.

“I could tell there was something you were hiding,” he said, “but I figured you’d tell me when you trusted me.”

Kita closed her eyes, picturing his face in her mind. His bright, dimpled smile, coal-black hair, and those gorgeous blue eyes haunted her dreams. If only she could touch him again, she would be the happiest person alive. Kai had to be terrified, wherever Luca held him. He probably didn’t understand why he had to suffer, why he got held against his will. Luca would never have told him. Kai was simply a way for Luca to control Kita and use her magic to his advantage.

She loathed the king with every fiber of her being, for who he was and what he had done to her and Kai. It wasn’t like she hadn’t tried to find Kai. Sneaking out of her room and exploring the castle was her favorite pastime when she first came to the castle. But she never found Kai. Luca was too clever to keep him close, she’d realized. That’s when she began visiting the garden instead.

She breathed deeply and tried to clear her mind. She would never rest if she couldn’t turn off her brain. It took her a long time, but she guided her mind to a peaceful meadow of wildflowers swaying in a gentle breeze. Kai stood by her side, holding her hand, and she was beaming at him, their eyes locked.

Before she knew it, the darkness engulfed her, and she drifted off to sleep.