Chapter 160

ISABELLA

I was being allowed back into Fresonia–sort of.

After sending Charles my findings from Abernathy, the royal family had evidently decided that I had done enough good for the kingdom to be briefly allowed back into the borders of my homeland to tell Felix the full story of my findings.

I never thought I would see Fresonia again. I had grown accustomed to the idea that my home would now forever be out of reach, unattainable to me for the rest of time. But as my tiny little transport plane landed on the royal airstrip and the kingdom came into view around me, I burst into tears.

The kingdom looked different from the last time I was here. The greenery was all brighter and lighter somehow, like the colors had been saturated in some sort of editing. The air felt different, too–sweeter and more charged.

It felt, in fact, like Abernathy, with the magic everywhere and in the air.

I had not received any information of my own regarding how Fresonia’s struggle for magic and Mila had gone. I could only assume from the way the air felt that magic had been restored.

I was brought to a small holding cell in the bowels of the castle. I dared not complain about my surroundings, for anything would be better than the hell I had endured at the hands of the Bensons. Even a windowless room that was barely big enough to lie down in was better than the attic.

At least I was home.

The guards sat me down in a chair that was shackled to the wall, not saying a word. I must have sat there for a few hours, waiting for somebody, anybody, to come talk to me.

I would have been annoyed if I was not so relieved to be back in Fresonia.

At long last, Felix walked into the tiny cell, followed directly by Mila.

I gasped at the sight of the Queen. No one had told me that Mila was actually alive–this was my first indication that my mother’s information was either incorrect or outdated.

Felix smiled slightly. “I suppose that no one told you that Mila was alive.”

All I could do was shake my head.

The Queen grinned. “Some might even say that I never died. But that’s all part of a longer story.”

I wanted desperately to hear everything that happened, but I knew I was in no position to be asking questions.

“So, Isabella,” Felix said, settling into a chair that a guard brought in, “we want to hear all about what’s going on in Abernathy.”

I gulped, nervous to reveal all the dirty details of what I had done, but explained to Felix all about the magic hoarding and the suffering of the people.

Mila’s brow furrowed. “Surely now that the magic has been restored, the royals would not still be keeping the supply for themselves.”

I winced. “I fear they might. The King of Abernathy seemed really intent on keeping as much of the magic as he could.”

“And did you learn anything more about his plans to use civilians as a power source?” Felix asked.

I shuddered as I remembered what the King had told me, with his grimy fingers tracing circles on my thigh. “Just that it was his intention.”

Felix nodded slowly. “That makes sense then, why he was so willing to join Charles in the coup. I wonder if he saw the other magical kingdoms as nothing more than feeding grounds for his power grab.”

“He’s greedy for the magic,” I interjected, not really wanting to discuss the coup. “He’ll do anything to gather as much power as possible and lock it away for his own nefarious purposes.”

Mila shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I don’t like the sound of that. Do you think that he’s hoarding all this power so that he can take over the other magical kingdoms?”

“I would not be surprised,” I replied truthfully. “He made no secret of the fact that he always gets what he wants.”

A shadow crossed over the Queen’s face. “And what exactly did he want from you?”

I swallowed. I did not want to think about it.

“Isabella.” Mila’s tone softened. “Are you alright? What did he do to you?”

“He wined and dined me quite a bit,” I said. “As the nights wore on, he got much more brazen in where he was willing to touch me. I let him because it was the only way to get him to talk.

Mila pressed a hand to her mouth, horror in her eyes.

“I did not cross any lines with him though,” I added quickly. “I’m sure he would have been thrilled if I jumped into bed with him, but I thought that the chase might excite him more.. Make him more willing to talk.”

To my shock, Mila reached across the tiny room to place a hand on my arm. “You were very brave, Isabella. We thank you for your service.”

There was nothing but warmth and kindness in her voice. I wanted to cry. I had done so many horrible things to Mila, and here she was, showing me grace and mercy that I did not deserve.

“You should know that we contacted the Bensons and informed them that you will no longer be in their employment,” Mila continued. “

“And you should know that there is a large sum of money that your adoptive father squirreled away that was supposed to go to you,” I told her, recalling the bank information I had found in his office.

“How large?” Mila asked, confused.

I told her the number and her jaw dropped.

“Oh, my,” she whispered. “That could have changed my life a few years ago. If I’d had that money, I would have been able to leave their house.”

“If you didn’t live at your adoptive family’s house, you would not have been so different to get away,” Felix pointed out.

Mila blushed. She turned back to me and said, “Do they still have this money?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted, “but it was a payment for adopting you all those years ago.”

Mila nodded, clearly considering something in her head.

Felix leaned back in his chair, mulling over everything I’d just said.

“Perhaps the King of Abernathy needs to remember that he is part of a larger community,” Felix mused. “And maybe the best way to remind him is to pay him a little visit.”

Mila stared at her husband. “Are you serious? You want to go to Abernathy?”

Felix shrugged. “Actually, I want us both to go to Abernathy.”

Mila flinched. “You want me to go?”

Felix grinned. “Who better to figure out what they’re planning on doing with all their hoarded magic than the most powerful enchantress alive?”

That made my jaw drop in shock. Mila had magic?!

Mila looked at me for a moment before saying, “I see that there is a lot you need to be caught up on. Later, maybe.”

Felix and Mila stood to leave. From the expressions on their faces, they clearly had a lot they wished to discuss in private.

“We will reevaluate the terms of your banishment,” Felix said finally.

Then the two of them walked out the door, leaving me alone.