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Chapter 80: Justice for the Dead

 

At first glance, Rose Palace appeared as it had always been until Carina focused on the foyer chandeliers with their half-melted candles that should have been changed out before morning. This was followed by a few seemingly innocent ornaments that had replaced or sat beside the usual flower decorations. A closer look revealed that each carved piece of wood and stone had an etched enchantment attached that, at first glance, appeared defensive and protective in nature.

“Lord Alastair Kensington brought those in after the second attack,” Percy explained quietly as he followed her gaze.

“Attack?” Carina echoed sharply.

The Earl took her arm gently and nodded towards the waiting room. He followed her inside, shut the door, sealed the air room with magic, and then turned to face the Duchess. “Eleanora has attempted to end her life at least four times since your departure.” Percy paused to let this revelation sink in and then continued with the same neutral tone. “It would appear some displaced, malicious ghost has attached itself to the Crown Princess and has been draining her of energy. We all assumed Eleanora’s sudden mood swings were due to the pressure and difficulties of her marriage, but after her second attempt, Viscount Kensington was called to intervene. He informed me of his suspicions. We have done everything we can to force the specter out using enchantments, but this ghost appears to have latched onto Eleanora long before we noticed the symptoms.”

The Duchess nodded and resisted the urge to cross her arms defensively. “And you think I can help?”

The Earl tilted his head slightly, then arched his brows and shrugged. “Lingering spirits are not that common, let alone the malicious kind that attach themselves to a host and try to drain them dry. The only other time I’ve heard rumors of a similar situation was from the Turnbell Home.”

“What?” Carina narrowed her eyes quickly. “What sort of rumors?”

“Nothing quite this serious,” Percy explained with what might have been a reassuring tone. “Just a few dismissed servants who commented on strange accidents that befell the family or staff whenever they crossed a certain half-blood.”

“Oh?” Carina quickly looked away. She could think of a few occurrences where Maura had acted out to defend her or retaliated against the family’s abuse. ‘But she was just trying to discourage them from coming after me.’

“When Eleanora mentioned that this specter looked exactly like you—I thought she was imagining things—until I better understood the meaning behind your new name, Kirsi.”

A not-so-distant warning from Captain Beaumont echoed in the Duchess’s ears, “There is something that clings to you, Lady Maura. A specter you brought to the palace does appear to bear ill will towards the royal family.”

‘I made the mistake of believing that Maura could only affect family relatives with her malice. I should not have left her here, knowing her state of mind and obsession with revenge.’

“This specter—they are the original Maura?” Percy pressed cautiously.

The Duchess turned away from him to face the front palace window. “Yes.”

Percy sighed heavily. “Why did you bring her here?”

“I did not realize how dangerous she would become. No—I knew but assumed that I could control her,” Carina murmured quietly. ‘I can’t believe things got that dire just because I left Rose Palace.’

“She never harmed you, I take it?” The Earl’s tone was curious and surprisingly free of judgment.

The Duchess raised her brow and shrugged before turning to face him. “Now that I’m here, I’ll see what I can do to help.”

Percy nodded, apparently satisfied with that, and then turned towards the waiting room door as a pair of angry footsteps stormed towards them, and Lord Alastair burst inside.

The Viscount’s countenance was laden with dark shadows and obvious fatigue. He appeared about to shout at Carina but choked on his words instead and offered a hasty bow in greeting. The Duchess glanced warily towards the Earl, who appeared mildly relieved by the father’s efforts to restrain himself, and then turned to look at her with a nod of encouragement.

“Viscount Kensington,” Carina began gently. “I understand that her Highness has been unwell. I apologize for any part I have had in bringing this unwanted presence into your daughter’s life.”

Alastair sucked in an angry breath but quickly deflated as he straightened his spine and squared off to face her. “Your Grace—I only ask that you do your best to remove this menace. No—it would be better if you destroyed it!”

“That is easier said than done, Viscount,” Percy replied with a cautioning tone.

“I will do my best to ensure Eleanora’s safety,” Carina replied and then bowed her head as she curtsied towards the distraught father. “I am sorry for the suffering you and your daughter have endured.”

There was a moment of silence before the Viscount cleared his throat awkwardly and then loudly replied, “Well then, I will take you up to see her now. That specter hasn’t shown themselves since this earlier this morning—not that I can see or sense them.”

Carina raised her brow at that and turned to the Earl for confirmation.

“I can only detect a slight change in temperature in the air,” Percy replied with a shrug. “The warding charms we’ve placed around Eleanora’s bed are more accurate at detecting the ghost’s presence.”

***

The warding charms the Earl spoke of turned out to be wreaths of twigs and grass, tied together with ribbon and adorned with stones, dried flowers, tiny bird and mouse skulls, a few empty bird eggs, and other oddities. The largest wreath, with red yarn wound to resemble a spider’s web, hung above the headboard and Eleanora’s sleeping figure.

It took a moment for Carina to notice that Lady Evelynn and Lady Meredith were nowhere in sight. Instead, an unknown noblewoman hovered beside the Crown Princess’s bed and turned to greet them.

“This is Lady Camellia Wright,” Percy said by way of introduction. “The other ladies-in-waiting were dismissed by Lord Alastair four days ago after we discovered some suspicious herbs mixed in with her Highness’s tea.”

“What—sort of herbs?” Carina asked suspiciously.

“The kind that inhibits a good night’s rest,” the Earl replied evasively.

‘So, you were just looking for a reason to get rid of them then?’ The Duchess stopped a few feet away from the bed and sighed as she took in Eleanora’s gaunt and sickly face. ‘Knowing Maura, sleep was probably the last thing you wanted.’

Percy stiffened just as a pool of black mist started to form above the sleeping Crown Princess. The ornaments of skulls, stones, shells, and other oddities started to tremble. Viscount Kensington and Lady Camellia hasty moved to either side of Eleanora’s bed and scanned the room around them suspiciously.

“So, you’ve finally returned.” Maura’s seething voice filled the room, but none of the other witches appeared to react. The Duchess retained her impassive expression as she watched the malevolent specter float down through the ceiling to lay across Eleanora’s chest like a dog. “How dare you take Hana away from me!?”

Resisting the urge to scoff at the specter’s blatant accusation, Carina turned her attention to the Earl, who was watching her curiously. “Could I have the room, please?”

Percy raised his brows questioningly and then nodded. “We’ll step outside for a bit.”

“What?” Alastair protested. “No! How do I know if she can manage it on her own?”

“You asked me to come help,” Carina reminded him as she returned her ice-blue eyes to the scowling ghost. “Now, give me space to reason with her.”

Maura snickered and rolled into a sitting position. Her abyssal black eyes watched the other witches slowly retreat to the doorway and sneered as the Earl closed it behind them. “So, you’re here to interfere and act the hero as usual.”

“I think you’ve taken things too far,” Carina replied calmly.

Maura’s savage, mocking laugh boomed back in reply. “I can’t have gone too far if the bitch is still alive.”

The Duchess moved closer to the edge of the bed, wrapped her around the bedpost, and frowned at the unrepentant ghost. ‘What was it Beaumont said? Encourage Maura to let go of grudges and move on? I don’t think that’s still an option.’

The Maura that Carina had first met hadn’t looked much different from her mortal form, except for moments she went into a rage. But now, the specter practically reeked of malice and ill intentions. There was nothing to suggest any possible chance of redemption in Maura’s pale gray skin, black soulless eyes, demon-fanged smile, and claws.

The Duchess glanced past Maura to where a dark tendril of the ghost’s aura had wrapped itself around Eleanora’s neck. It appeared to be making it difficult for the crown princess to breathe properly.

‘If I put her on the defensive, Maura’s more likely to seriously harm Eleanora,’ Carina realized grimly. The Duchess turned away from the specter and her pray and extended her hand into the open air. Isaac quickly materialized and flapped his icy wings as he settled onto Carina’s wrist with a faint screech of greeting.

“You have a new pet?” Maura commented.

“I can form a new scriva with any willing soul I choose.”

The specter’s dark eyes flashed as her lips twisted into a grimace. “You’ve grown stronger. I suppose your new title isn’t for nothing then.”

The Duchess knelt towards the floor, and with a subtle suggestion, Isaac turned into a snow-white cat, who hopped onto a nearby chair and stretched. “You once said that if you couldn’t have another chance at living, then revenge was all you had to hold onto,” Carina commented neutrally.

“What of it?” Maura snarled with a note of disbelief. “Have you come to give me back my body, Duchess Kirsi?!”

“No.” Carina shook her head and straightened as she turned to face the glaring ghost. “I’ve come to offer you a different kind of body. One not limited by physical restraints.”

“Bah!” Maura crossed her arms as she rolled her eyes and stared at the Duchess incredulously. “Are you seriously asking me to become your cat?”

“Scriva’s do not age, and they can use magic,” Carina continued persuasively. “They are limited only by the strength of their soul and the power of the summoner.”

Isaac leapt down from the chair and grew as he shook out his furry white coat, which was soon replaced with the ice-like armor of his wolf form.

Maura narrowed her eyes on the elemental momentarily before her lips twisted into a scornful smile. “What happened to your last Scriva?”

Raw guilt tightened painfully within Carina’s chest as she folded her arms. “Lumi is—recovering.”

The Specter scoffed and rolled her eyes again. “You want me to become a pet scriva that you can’t even protect? And here I thought you might have a serious offer. Sorry, your Grace, but I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. I’ll have a lot more fun and freedom here.”

The Duchess shook her head. “Have you thought of what happens after—if you kill her? You’ll be trapped in this palace—”

“Oh, another bitch will come along to take her place,” Maura interjected maliciously. “I hear Nicholas already made Lady Priscilla Broghese his Royal Consort. It sounds like she’s itching to replace Eleanora as soon as possible, so—I won’t be lonely for long.”

“This isn’t about revenge anymore, is it?” Carina murmured quietly. “You’ve completely lost sight of everything but your anger.”

“So?” The specter resumed her usual glower as she folded her arms to mimic the Duchess’s stance. “It’s not like you held up your end of the bargain.”

“I kept Hana safe! That was always our number one priority!”

“You left me behind while you went on to become Duchess and live as a savior of the Crown Prince! The same prince who had Hana raped and executed!” Isaac growled softly in warning as Maura floated up from the bed and leaned towards the Duchess. “Well, I’ve learned from my mistakes. The only person who will ensure these monsters get justice is me! And I made damn sure I tethered Eleanora’s soul here. She’s just as trapped as I am now.”

Carina narrowed her eyes. “What have you done, Maura?”

The ghost chuckled and brushed her long, sharp nails through her mist black hair. “It was those pesky earth protection wards that gave me the idea. Eleanora was easy enough to wear down after you took Hana away. I simply tied her soul to the place where she died. Now every step she takes outside of Rose Palace will drain her of stamina and weaken what little life energy she has left. And if her father succeeds in taking her away from the Palace altogether. Well—” Maura’s black lips curled around her devilish fangs, “—she’ll probably die the moment she passes through the gate.”

The room around them flickered as Maura’s foul laughter and aura stretched out to cover the ceiling in a sickly black fog.

Carina remained composed as she laid her hand down on Isaac’s neck to reassure the growling scriva. “So,” the Duchess whispered in a toneless voice. “You’re saying that Eleanora died here—inside this palace?”

Maura stiffened and quickly covered her mouth with a clawed hand before replying. “Is that what I said?”

“I seem to recall you clearly showing me the moment Eleanora pushed you out of the escape passage that would lead her safely outside the Fortress Walls.”

“Ahh—well, perhaps she died in the tunnel?” The specter spread her hands outwards and shrugged. “I can’t really say what happened after she abandoned me.”

“The only person who knew about the secret tunnel was Eleanora and Prince Tristan.”

“Not true,” Maura quickly snapped back. “Lord Percy knew. He was—” The ghost cut off abruptly and fiddled with a dull necklace that hung about her neck, which mimicked the Winter Rose. “Not all of my memories are entirely reliable,” the ghost quickly amended. “And besides—you saw for yourself what a terrible person Eleanora is!”

“I see. How interesting.”

Maura flinched beneath the Duchess’s flat tone while her nails scraped against the forged necklace.

“I’ve learned a few things about ghosts since the last time we talked,” Carina continued as she stroked Isaac’s head reassuringly. “How they can manifest and bring forth negative emotions and insecurities. How they often prey on the living and draining their energy and manipulating their perception of reality.”

“Sounds like superstition to me,” Maura replied bluntly. “After all, I’ve never had any negative effects on you.”

The Duchess smiled as she stepped forward and leaned against the foot of the bed. “That’s because I’m a witch.” The specter’s expression twisted in rage, and she quickly looked away. “And not just any witch,” Carina continued, “I’m the last descendant of the Isbrand Queens, blessed with the heart of an immortal god.”

“No! Not you! Me!” Maura shrieked as her aura darkened, obscuring Eleanora from view behind her. “That’s my body, my blood, and my ancestry! Mine!”

Isaac barked loudly as he lunged against the Duchess’s magical restraint, which held him back as the ghost loomed closer.

“And what did you do with it?” Carina responded with a hint of cynicism.

The specter blinked in surprise. “I—” Maura’s trembling lips snapped shut as her razor-sharp brows veered together in a deadly, silent glare.

“No matter,” Carina continued dismissively. “Perhaps you were never a real witch, to begin with. It’s certainly true that you were never entrusted with Viktor’s heart. I was.”

“You—ungrateful—bitch!” Maura seethed as black blood foamed against her clenched teeth. “I should have thrown you out that window and strangled you where you lay!”

The cloud of wrath and malice descended upon the Duchess. A blast of cold magic quickly dissipated the specter’s vengeful aura as the ice witch clasped the squirming spirit by her frozen throat.

“I pitied you once,” Carina murmured quietly as a pale glowing light formed beneath her fingers wrapped around the ghost’s neck. “I never stopped feeling guilty—until now. Now all I feel is disgust and disappointment. You manipulated me. You manipulated your own family. And I would hate to imagine what you would have done if I had left Hana here in your care.”

“What-what are you—” Maura sputtered as the third diamond on the Duchess’s bracelet began to suck in her fading aura. “What are you doing to me!”

“Sealing you away for good,” Carina replied without hesitation. “Don’t worry. It feels a little bit like drowning, but there isn’t any pain.”

“No! No, please!” Maura gasped as the pale clawed fingers clasped around Carina’s wrists dissipated. “I don’t want to die! Carina—please!”

A flicker of hesitation stirred inside the Duchess’s hardened as the specter’s howls muffled into pleading sobs.

“I’ll be a cat! I’ll be a mouse or a toad if that’s what it takes. Please, Carina! You owe me another chance!”

By now, the vengeful specter had shrunk so much in size that she barely filled the Duchess’s small hand. Carina studied the trembling pool of malice, suffering, bitterness, and rage. As the enchanted bracelet absorbed Maura’s spirit, she felt each and every one of the ghost’s emotions—and hesitated. “If I made you a scriva—you would have to give up any chance of reincarnation or rebirth.”

Uncertainty flickered behind Maura’s eyes, the only remaining feature on her tiny face. “T-that’s okay! I can still find a way to protect you—as I have always done—and Hana too!”

Carina’s lips curled in disgust beneath the specter’s tangible, malicious feelings of anger and obsession. “I’m afraid I’ll have to decline your offer, Maura. You are not worthy.”

“Noo—”

The moment the Duchess’s fist closed around the last strands of the ghost’s spirit, Maura’s finally wails were cut off. Carina turned her wrist to study the diamond which now encased her oldest ally and closest enemy. She shivered as a barely visible shadow twisted and wreathed against the jewel’s surface before slowly fading out of view.

“If you do have another chance at a second life. I pray you use it wisely, Maura. And I hope—for the sake of the naive girl you once were—that you find peace and happiness too.”

Isaac reproachful whine greeted the Duchess as the scriva butted his head against her arm. Carina shot the elemental wolf an apologetic look and then turned her attention to the still sleeping Crown Princess. As the dark aura faded from the room, Eleanora drew in a slow, steady breath. Her amber eyes fluttered open with a look of confusion as they studied the room and settled upon the Duchess.

“M-maura? What are you doing back?”

Carian raised a brow as she moved cautiously around the bed to stand at the princess’s side. “I heard you weren’t feeling well and dropped in to check on you.”

Eleanora frowned and winced as she attempted to push herself upright. “I do feel pretty rough—like I’ve been asleep for a really—” the princess yawned, “—really long time.” Her confused gaze froze on a wreath tucked behind the water basin on her bedside table. “What is—”

The bedroom door burst open as Lord Kensington appeared. The Viscount stumbled inside, glanced around wildly at all the warding charms, and then turned to the Duchess with a look of desperate hope.

“Her Highness should be able to sleep peacefully from now on,” Carina responded with a single affirming nod. “But she should remain indoors until she has fully recovered.”

Tears glistened in the Viscount’s eyes as he bobbed his head and rushed to Eleanora’s side, hastily examining her eyes and pulse.

Carina moved towards the bedroom door where the Earl was waiting and glanced back just once to see the Crown Princess studying her with a baffled expression.

“Were you successful?” Percy asked politely as he moved aside.

“Are you implying that you weren’t listening?”

His lips twitched with an apologetic smile. “I did ensure that no one else overheard your conversation.”

‘That doesn’t make me any less pleased that you did.’

“The ghost mentioned a tether,” Percy continued with a faintly worried look. “Are we sure that’s gone?”

“No,” Carina replied grimly. “And until I find a way to destroy her soul completely—we need to keep Eleanora inside Rose Palace.”

The Earl exhaled slowly and turned to close the bedroom door before responding. “Earth magic is the most effective tool against spirits. But I have no connections among the Earth Witches of Tharyn.”

The Duchess nodded and moved towards the hallway window to gaze across the fortress walls at the rising spire of the cathedral. “I know someone who might.”