Free A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) by Lisa M. James Page B

come!”
    “I—am—not—Nycilla!” She said to him as she summoned the air around her and threw him backwards.  “Leave him Thomas!” She placed both hands on the side of his head and sent a shock through his body.  He looked up at her with remorseful eyes as he collapsed to the floor.
    Lightening started to brighten the darkened room. Crackles of thunder and the sound of waves hitting the land outside filled her ears.  She turned toward the window at the sound of screams.  People were running away from the shores.
    “What’s happening?”  Commander Jonathan was at the entrance of the chamber. “Princess?  What happened to him?”
    Matthew’s eyes began to open. He sat up slowly and looked at her. “Lucinda—”
    The screams became louder and the lightening more treacherous. “I have to go.”   She called to Matthew as she left the bedchamber.
    She ran through the castle doors and headed for the Green Sea. The green of the sea had become black by the loss of sunlight.  The winds moved uncontrollably and massive, threatening black waves came crashing down.  Each one larger than the one before.   Lucinda entered the water and lifted her hands to the waves.  She was pushed back and covered by the force of one of them. The wave threatened to drag her by force into the water.  She struggled back to her feet, but the waves dragged her down again. Her father’s guards were coming from a distance.  They stared helplessly at the angry sea as they tried to calm the frightened people.
    “Princess!” One of them reached out to her but a large wave knocked him off his feet. 
    Matthew and Commander Jonathan had reached the shores, struggling with the wind and waves. The water seemed to be sucking her deeper into the sea.  “Lucinda!”  Matthew stepped into the shallow waters and reached out to her. It’s Matthew. It is not Thomas. She reassured herself as she grasped for his hand.  The wind picked up around them and she dragged him deeper into the water with her.  They both went under, but Matthew wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted them both to air.  She raised her hands toward the waters. A wave that was about to make its way hard on top of them stopped in the air and created a dark wall separating them from the sea. 
    Commander Jonathan appeared behind them, deep into the water.   “What’s happening?”
    “Don’t be afraid!” She said to them as they stared in awe at the wall of water.  In truth, she was afraid. Matthew tried to kill her.  No, Thomas tried to kill Nycilla, but why?  I won’t be a part of the destruction to come. He had said.  What did he mean? And now the sea, her faithful companion since she was a child, was challenging her with angry waves.  
    “Don’t be afraid!” She repeated to them. Matthew tightened his grip around her. “Enough!” She said to the sea. “Enough!”  The waves and wind started to calm as she dropped her hands and let the wave crash down upon them.

Chapter 7
    I didn’t want to hurt her, but when I looked into her eyes, I only saw my Queen. How will the people know the difference when the spirits struggle to tell them apart? You must protect her Matthew.  Even against herself.  The choice will be difficult.
    Matthew opened his eyes.  Once again he was in a room he did not recognize.  The walls were a shiny black.  He looked out the window next to his bed.  The vegetation was turning from the green of summer to the yellow and orange of autumn.  Where am I? He thought.  He stepped out into the hallway and faced more black walls, creating long hallways surrounding him.  Embedded into the walls were small, green precious stones.  It was a stark contrast to the white kingdoms of the Green Sea.
    “My lord, you are awake.”  He turned around quickly to face the voice that spoke.  The familiar green eyes and long blond waves of Lucinda’s governess faced him.
    “Lady Geenessa?”  The governess had disappeared a few