Police sirens rang out throughout Sector 4, and for the first time in Elshana’s life, she was grateful that she knew the streets like the back of her hand. She ducked into an alleyway that was crammed between a soup shop and a bookstore. Elshana held her breath as a slew of police wagons flew by without offering her so much as a glance. She thought she was safe, but a clammy hand landed on her shoulder and pushed her to the ground.

“I caught her!” a young cop announced as he bound Elshana’s wrists and ankles in rope. “Get a wagon. Quick, before this demon wields her dark magic.”

“I’m not a demon,” Elshana protested. “I swear I don’t know what I did back there. I don’t even know what that monster was.”

The cop said nothing as he tossed her into the back of a police wagon. It was made of timber wood and had a distinct scent of mildew. Elshana was plunged into darkness as a heavy set of doors closed, and the click of a lock echoed throughout the tiny chamber. Elshana pounded against the door, but it was pointless. She was trapped.

Elshana sat in the wagon for what felt like hours. It was almost soundproof, which made it impossible for her to decipher any conversation from the muffled voices outside. Her wrists itched from the rope and her nose was unwilling to adjust to the pungent odor that surrounded her.

At long last, the door of the wagon flew open. Elshana was greeted by a blinding light. When her eyes adjusted, she saw it was a light mage holding a flame in her palm. Her green uniform signified that she was a member of the royal guard. With a flick of the wrist, the mage burned through Elshana’s ropes.

“Elshana Devere,” she said, her voice deep and her tone commanding, “his highness Prince Isidro has requested a private audience with you.”

Elshana blinked. “Uh…what?”

The woman extended her hand toward Elshana. “Do not make me repeat myself,” she said, helping Elshana to her feet. “He wants to speak with you before the end of the day, so we must make haste.”

“Why should I believe you?” Elshana asked. “For all I know you’re taking me to my execution.”

The woman narrowed her dark eyes. “I will take you by force if necessary.”

“Not necessary,” Elshana muttered. She hopped out of the police wagon and followed the stranger down the same alley she’d hid in just hours earlier. “But I do think it’s worth noting that this has been a really, really weird day for me, so forgive me if I’m a bit wary of random people offering to take me to the royal palace for unspecified reasons.”

“First of all, I am not a random person. I am a top royal guard.” The woman reached into her pocket and handed Elshana a badge. It was engraved with the name VASHTI BASHENKO, and its gold finish glinted in the sunlight. “Second of all, we’re not visiting the royal palace. We’re going to Prince Isidro’s nearby estate.”

“Thanks for clearing things up,” Elshana said sarcastically. “Believe it or not, I still think you’re lying to me.”

As the alley came to an end, Vashti pointed to a carriage. “Does this convince you?”

It was the most expensive carriage Elshana had ever seen. Led by two white stallions, its dark blue hue reminded Elshana of the tea set she’d played with as a child. When Elshana climbed inside, she was greeted by padded seats and a collapsible roof for when the weather was nasty.

“Okay, I’m convinced,” Elshana said. “But I still have questions. Why does the prince want to meet with me? Is he angry with me? Does he think I’m a demon? I swear I’m not a demon. I’m just a girl. Hell, I’m not even a mage. I—”

“You talk too much,” Vashti said. “The prince despises blabbermouths, and so do I.”

The carriage lurched forward, and to Vashti’s disgust, Elshana nearly fell out of her seat. Elshana composed herself and asked, “Can you tell me anything about what’s happening to me? Please?”

Vashti was quiet for a moment. “I am not permitted to reveal the prince’s intentions, but rest assured that he will cause you no harm.”

Elshana’s relief came in the form of a smile. “That’s good I guess.”

Vashti stared at Elshana for an uncomfortable amount of time. “I will set you up with a stylist as soon as we arrive at the estate,” she said. “The prince hates sloppiness almost as much as he hates blabbermouths.”

“You’ve told me two things he hates, but what does he like?”

“The prince has had a difficult life,” Vashti replied. “I dare say he hates much more than he likes.”

Elshana tried not to snicker at the thought of the prince living a difficult life. Elshana had been shunned and treated like dirt while he got to grow up in luxury. Elshana knew pain, but the prince? How could anyone so fortunate know the true meaning of suffering.

The city faded into a thick forest and it wasn’t long before the estate came into view. Elshana gawked at the magnificence of the gardens and orchards. There wasn’t a single wilted flower or bruised apple in sight. An ornate fountain came next. It was at least ten feet tall, and water cascaded off of it like a small waterfall. But the true gem of the estate was the main house. It was at least three times bigger than the apartment building Elshana lived in and it looked like it had been dipped in gold. The carriage pulled to a stop and Vashti stepped out first.

A guard saluted her and she motioned for him to be at ease. “I have with me someone who is to meet with Prince Isidro in an hour,” she said. “Please escort her to the stylists.”

Vashti began to walk away. Elshana stumbled out of the carriage and chased after her. “Where are you going?” she asked.

“I have other duties besides babysitting you,” she said. “My advice? Let the stylists do their job, and for the love of the spirits please keep your mouth shut in front of the prince.”

Elshana was led into the palace. She passed portrait after portrait of past kings and queens. They were all different, but one thing was the same in every painting: a striking pair of green eyes. It was a family trait—and a strong one at that.

The stylist room was at the end of a long hallway. Her stylist was a man with platinum hair and more plastic surgery than Elshana had ever seen. He grabbed Elshana’s face and moved it from side to side to inspect her.

“This is going to be tough, but I should be able to make you look somewhat presentable,” he said.

Rude, thought Elshana as she took a seat in the stylist chair.

He yanked at her tangled mass of black hair. “Do you cut this yourself?” he asked, almost in disgust. “It looks terrible.”

“I can't afford a hairdresser.”

The stylist went on to critique almost every aspect of her body. Her hair was too frizzy. Her tan skin was too blotchy. Her chest was too flat. (That last one was especially uncalled for, but for once in her life, Elshana didn’t say anything.) But by the time the stylist was done with her, she looked like a different person.

Elshana wore a simple blue gown, and her hair had been straighted until it shined. Her makeup was tasteful, and the finishing touch was an elegant gold necklace. She smiled at the stylist. “Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do if you’re going to meet the prince,” he said. “Good luck. With him, you’re going to need it.”

Elshana was taken to a large set of double doors. They were sealed shut, but the moment they opened, Elshana caught her first glimpse of the prince. Like the portraits, his eyes were so green she could see their color all the way across the throne room. His dark hair was slicked back, and he wore a suit that was worth more money than everything Elshana had ever owned combined. He looked the part of a prince, that’s for sure. But then Elshana noticed something she hadn’t been expecting.

Prince Isidro wasn’t sitting on a throne. Instead, he was in a wheelchair. His legs were visibly weak and misshapen. Trying not to seem rude, Elshana diverted her attention away from the wheelchair and towards Vashti, who was standing beside him. She mouthed the word bow and motioned for Elshana to step into the throne room.

Elshana walked until she stood halfway between the door and halfway between the prince. She had no idea what a proper bow looked like but she gave it her best shot. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, your highness.”

“You call that a bow?” he asked. “You look like a fool.”

Elshana straightened herself. “Says the guy who clearly can’t bow at all.”

Elshana clasped her hands over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say that. Vashti’s eyes were wide, her mouth agape. Elshana started at the prince in horror. Instead of seeing anger, she swore she saw a smile flash across his face. But a moment later his expression was as stern as it was before.

“Let’s not waste any time,” he said after a long silence. “My sources tell me that you took down a shadow wolf this afternoon. Is this correct?”

“…I think so?” Elshana replied, shifting uncomfortably. “I’m still not quite sure what happened.”

Isidro glared at Vashti. “You told me she took down the wolf.” He tapped his finger impatiently against the right wheel of his chair. “If this is another waste of time, I’m going to be very displeased.”

“That’s what the police report said, sir,” she replied, unfazed by his rudeness. “But if I have offended you in any way, I apologize.”

“You brought me ten people last week and all of them were useless,” Isidro said. “And now you’re trying to tell me that this—this imbecile is the one we’ve been looking for?”

Before Vashti could reply, Elshana said, “Well it just so happens that this imbecile thinks Vashti is doing a great job with…whatever it is you’re talking about.”

“Speak only when you’re spoken to, commoner,” Isidro said dryly. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another blot on Vashti’s resume.”

Elshana couldn’t tell if he was using the word blot in its literal sense or if he was insulting her for being a non-mage. Either way, she didn’t appreciate his attitude. “What exactly is it that you want from me?” she asked. “And what do you mean that the ten people Vashti brought before me were useless?”

Isidro gripped the wheels on his chair and pushed himself forward. He stopped a few feet in front of Elshana. Up close his eyes were even greener than the portraits had suggested, and his skin was paler than the winter moon. “Give me your arm.”

Elshana took a step backward. “Are you trying to do a share magic ritual? Because if you are, I already went through that once today.”

“I would never commit such a barbaric act,” he said as he pulled a small knife from his pocket. “All I need is a small blood sample.”

Elshana offered her left pinky finger. Isidro held it still with his gloved hand and pushed the knife in just deep enough to draw blood. He allowed it to drip into a small jar for a few seconds before releasing Elshana. Then he grabbed another jar that contained what appeared to be a black cloud. He poured the blood into the jar with the cloud and stared at it intently. Seconds later, the shadow evaporated just as the wolf had evaporated earlier.

“Well, well, well,” Isidro said. “Looks like I’ve found my shadow mage.”