Before Elshana had the chance to interject, Isidro said, “Vashti, prepare her a bedchamber.” He glanced at Elshana. “Tomorrow I’ll assess your skill level and we’ll go from there.”

“What’s a shadow mage?” Elshana asked. “Why did my blood make the shadow in the jar disappear?”

“It’s late,” Isidro replied. “I’ll explain everything in the morning. Until then, get some rest.”

Elshana wasn’t sure how she was supposed to rest after such a hectic day, and the magnificence of her bedchamber only added to her excitement. The canopy on her bed was embroidered with golden thread, and the bed itself was comfortable enough to melt into. Then there was the bathroom. Elshana couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a warm bath. She savored every second in the bathtub and cleaned every inch of her body with rose-scented soap. But the best part of the room was the balcony. It overlooked the north garden, which was somehow more beautiful at night than it was during the day.

As Elshana rested her arms against the balcony, she saw a familiar figure enter the garden. Isidro rolled past a saluting guard and made a beeline for a yellow rosebush. He tended to the bush like it was his flesh and blood, inspecting each and every rose, cutting off the ones with blemishes. Elshana was so lost in thought that she didn’t realize Vashti was on the balcony too until she started talking.

“His mother loved those roses,” Vashti explained. “They planted that bush together when he was just a boy. He takes care of it every evening in her memory.”

“That’s surprisingly sweet.”

“I came here to tell you to tame your tongue.” Vashti snapped her fingers so Elshana would look away from the garden and into her stern eyes. “I don’t know how you got away with your little comment about the prince’s bowing, but as I’m sure you can imagine, he doesn’t enjoy being reminded of his condition…especially in such a disrespectful way.”

“I think it offended you more than it offended him,” Elshana asked. She turned away from the balcony and stepped back into her bedchamber. “As a matter of fact, he was about to laugh when I said it.”

“That’s impossible. Prince Isidro doesn’t laugh.” She said the word like it was a disease, not a normal human behavior. “He has never been amused in my presence.”

“What? I find that hard to believe,” Elshana said sarcastically. “I mean, you’re just so jovial and fun-loving. I’m sure you’re a blast at parties.”

“Parties are of no use to me.”

“Shocking.”

After a brief silence, Elshana worked up the courage to ask about her magic. “Do you know what a shadow mage is?” she asked. “Do you think…I am one?”

Vashti gave a small bow. “I must apologize for my ignorance, but I am uneducated in the art and history of shadow magic. But you passed Prince Isidro’s test, so I do believe you possess the power he so desires.”

Elshana sat on the edge of her bed. “I don’t know how to feel about that…” her voice trailed off. “How long has Isidro been searching for a shadow mage?”

“It’s been a year now,” Vashti replied. “You’re certainly not what the prince was hoping for in a shadow mage, but you’ll have to do.”

“I’m going to forget you said that,” Elshana replied as she fiddled with the tassels on one of the overstuffed pillows. “I want to make a bet with you.”

“A bet?” Vashti asked. “I don’t gamble.”

“It’s not that kind of bet,” Elshana explained. “If I can make Isidro laugh out loud by tomorrow night, you have to dress as a Jester for a whole day.”

Vashti grinned. “Fine. But if he doesn’t laugh, you have to remain silent for an entire day.”

“Okay then. It’s a bet.”

Vashti left, and Elshana snuggled beneath her blanket. It was hard to believe that the last time she fell asleep, it was on a cot in her apartment building back in the city. It almost seemed unfair that so much could happen in less than a day. Elshana’s body caught up with her brain and it didn’t take long for her to fall into a deep sleep.

…

Shadows danced along the walls of the bedchamber. When Elshana opened her eyes and saw them, she didn’t know if she’d been asleep for ten minutes or ten hours. It didn’t matter. All she could focus on was the shadows. They moved like waves all meeting as a single point on the part of the wall that was right in front of Elshana’s bed.

The shadows converged into the silhouette of a man. He lifted his arm before pushing them outward. The shadow man leapt from the wall and into Elshana’s bedchamber. The appearance of body resembled the wolf from earlier. Dark and translucent. But his features were more distinct. He had a mane of light blond hair and a pair of dark red eyes.

Elshana opened her mouth to scream, but the shadowy figure said, “Scream and I’ll kill you.” He crossed his arms and added, “Try to fight me and I’ll kill you slowly.”

“Who are you?” Elshana whispered.

“Don’t you recognize me? I’m the shadow that's been on your bedroom wall for months,” he looked around. “This is quite the upgrade from your old apartment.”

The creature touched the wall and pulled out a shadow. He turned the shapeless mass over in his hands until it took the form of a spider. He tossed it onto Elshana’s pillow and watched as she scrambled to get away from it. But no matter where she moved in the room, the shadow followed her.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “We shadow mages have power over these beings.” He placed his pinky and index finger together and dragged the shadow spider close to him. He placed it back on the wall and it disappeared. “It’s back in the shadow realm now.”

For once in her life, Elshana said nothing.

“How rude, I have yet to introduce myself,” he said. “I am Kerrim, the man who will bring justice upon this wrteched realm.”

“Why are you here?” Elshana trembled.

“I’ve had my eye on you for a while now,” Kerrim said. “It took me a long time to awaken shadow magic in this realm, and you were the first person that saw my shadows on the wall. I sent that wolf today to see if you were ready to take the next step, and you passed my little test with flying colors.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kerrim walked toward her. His steps didn’t look like steps at all. They were floaty. Inhuman. “Oh Elshana, I see your pain. Dumped by your parents, branded by society. Your agony is quite severe.” He smiled, and Elshana was surprised that there were no fangs in sight. His smile was almost gentle, much more human that his strides. “But all your misery has led to this moment. This moment where you take the first step into a glorious future. A future that has always been your destiny.” He stretched out his arm toward Elshana. “Help me conquer this realm, and I will appoint you ruler over a great kingdom. Shake my hand and claim what is rightfully yours.”

Elshana brought her knees close to her chest. “I don’t even know what the shadow realm is. And I’m not exactly a conqueror, either. Just a few hours ago I was nothing more than a mail carrier.”

“Control over the shadow realm is your birthright,” Kerrim said. “Think of how the people of this realm have treated you because they think you’re a non-mage. Imagine ruling over them, crushing their sorry souls beneath your feet.”

“I could never hurt people.”

“They deserve it,” Kerrim leaned in close to her. “And deep down, you want them to suffer. You want them to understand your pain.”

Memories flooded Elshana’s mind. She remembered the countless magic sharing rituals she’d been subjected to. She remembered the smell of her flesh burning as the brand was pressed into her forearm. She remembered being called a blot. Blot. Blot. Blot. Revenge sounded good. No, it sounded great.

But then she remembered all the good in the world. She remembered eating lunch with Caldor in the park. She remembered the familiar comfort of the leather boots she wore evey day. She remembered the yellow hue of the roses in the garden. Revenge paled in comparison to beauty.

“No!” Elshana yelled.

Light flooded the room, and Kerrim let out a loud hiss. “Do not reject me,” he warned as he began to fade away. “This is your last chance to join me, or I will have no choice but to destroy you when the two realms collide.”

“I’d rather be destroyed than give my soul to a monster.”

“You’ve made your choice,” Kerrim said. “Don’t blame me when you have to pay the consequences.”

Just before he faded away, Kerrim placed a finger on Elshana’s forehead. He erased her memory of ever meeting him. It was too risky to let her remember this moment, especially since the prince had taken an interest her.

The force of the memory removal forced Elshana to fall asleep.

“Sweet dreams,” he whispered. “Hold onto them while you still can.”