A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1)

by V.E. Schwab

So many of the faces that hung around the stall were lovely, delicate things made of feather and lace and garnished with glass. But this one was beautiful in a different way, an opposite way. It reminded Lila less of dresses and finery, and more of sharpened knives and ships on the seas at night. It looked dangerous. She brought it to rest against her face and smiled.

Delilah Bard looked like a king.

No, she thought, straightening. She looked like a conqueror.

“You look more ready to storm a city than seduce a man.” “Kell will love it,”

She was to the mouth of the tent when the merchant woman added, “Look after him.” Lila smiled grimly and tugged up the collar of her coat. “I will,” she said again before vanishing into the street.

“Is it true?” Kell’s brow furrowed. “Is what true?” “That you have a piece of Black London?” Kell stiffened. “What are you talking about?” “Is it true?” persisted the prince. “Rhy,” said Kell slowly. “Who told you that?” No one knew, none except those who wanted the stone gone and those who wanted it reclaimed. Rhy shook his head sadly. “What have you brought into our city, Kell? What have you brought upon it?”

The prince was shaking his head. “Promises are not enough,” he said. “Not anymore. Tell me where the stone is.” Kell froze. “I never told you it was a stone.” Heavy silence fell between them. Rhy held his gaze. And then, finally, his lips drew into a small, dark smile, twisting his face in a way that made it look like someone else’s. “Oh, Kell,” he said. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and Kell caught sight of something under the collar of his shirt and stiffened. It was a pendant. A glass necklace with blood-red edges. He knew it, had seen it before only days earlier. On Astrid Dane.

“Hello, flower boy.” The words came from Rhy’s mouth in a voice that was, and wasn’t, his. “Astrid,” hissed Kell. “Have you compelled everyone in this palace?”

“Antari blood,” she said proudly. “Allows the spell to exist in both worlds.”

Astrid sighed from within the prince’s shell. “You know so little of war. Battles may be fought from the outside in, but wars are won from the inside out.”

Kell tasted blood,

Lila frowned. Something was wrong. She lifted her gaze, risking impertinence to look the queen in the eye, and saw there a subtle gleam. The same shimmer she’d seen in the eyes of the guard after he’d slit Fletcher’s throat. Some kind of spell. Had no one else noticed? Or had no one else been brazen enough to stare so baldly at the crown?

The floor above was quiet in a private way, and she knew she must be getting close, not only because of that silence, but also because the stone in her pocket was beginning to hum. As if it could feel Kell near and wished to be nearer. Again, Lila tried not to be offended.

Even when the doors had been unlocked, they had been doors. And they were kept closed. An open door between the worlds wouldn’t only be dangerous. It would be unstable.

Perhaps your half of the stone is not enough.” Kell’s blood went cold. “My half?” Rhy’s mouth curled into a smile. “Haven’t you noticed that it is broken?” Kell reeled. “The jagged edge.”

he found the stone. Broken in two, yes, but, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, its state has not stopped it from working. It is magic, after all. It may divide, but it does not weaken. The two halves remain connected, even when they are apart. Each half is strong enough on its own, strong enough to change the world. But they want each other, you see. They are drawn together through the wall. If a drop of your blood is enough to make a door, think what two halves of the stone could do.”

“It was my idea, I confess, giving you the stone, allowing you to carry it across the line.”

Kell grimaced as he twisted his wrists against the iron binding them. “Why not use Holland?” he asked, trying to buy more time. “To smuggle the stone here? He obviously delivered that necklace to Rhy.” Astrid drew Rhy’s lips into a smile and ran a finger lightly over Kell’s cheek. “I wanted you.”

“I told you once, that I would own your life.”

“It made sense. If things went wrong, and Holland was caught, the guilt would lie on our crown, and we would not have another chance. If things went wrong and you were caught, the guilt would lie on your head.

“But possession doesn’t work on Antari,

“You are mine, Kell, and I will break you. Starting with your heart.”

My life is his life, thought Kell. His life is mine. Bind it to mine and bring him back.

“It’s called a soul seal. Spells can be broken. A soul seal cannot. It’s a piece of permanent magic. But this,” he added, grazing the mark, “this is…” “Forbidden?” ventured Lila. “Impossible,” said Kell. “This kind of magic, it doesn’t exist.”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter. I am already lost.” Lila scowled. “What do you mean by that?” Kell’s eyes softened a little. “Someone has to return the stone to Black London, Lila. It’s not just a matter of opening a door and casting the object through. I have to take it there. I have to walk through with it.” Kell looked down at the stone binding itself to his hand. “I never expected to make it back.” “Christ, Kell,” growled Lila. “If you’re not going to bother staying alive, then what’s the damn point? Why tether Rhy’s life to yours if you’re just going to throw it away?” Kell cringed. “So long as I live, so will he. And I didn’t say I planned on dying.” “But you just said—” “I said I’m not coming back. The seals on Black London were designed less to keep anyone from going in, and more to keep anyone from getting out. I can’t strip the spells. And even if I could, I wouldn’t. And with the spells intact, even if I manage to make a door into Black London, the seals will never let me back out.” “And you weren’t going to mention any of this. You were just going to let me follow you on a one-way trip to—” “You said you wanted an adventure,” snapped Kell, “and no, I never intended to let you—

“His injuries are severe.” “I know,” said Kell shakily. “I can feel them as if they were my own.” Lila tensed, and Tieren’s expression darkened. “Then I will do what I can to ease his pain, and yours.”

“Though I don’t know when I’ll have the chance…” “You will,” said Kell. “Because you’re staying here.” “Like hell I am,” shot Lila. “The sanctuary will keep you safe.” “I will not be left behind.” Kell shook his head. “You were never meant to go farther. When I said yes, I did so with the intent to leave you here, in my city, to deliver word of my fate to the king and queen.”

“And to keep you safe. White London is no place for a Grey-worlder. It’s no place for anyone.” “I’ll be the judge of that,” she said. “I’m going with you.” “Lila, this isn’t some game. Enough people have died, and I—” “You’re right, it’s not a game,” pressed Lila. “It’s strategy. I heard what the queen said about the stone being broken in two. You need to dispose of both pieces, and as of right now, you only have one. The White king has the other, right? Which means we have our work cut out for us. And it is we, Kell. Two of them means there should be two of us as well. You can take the king, and I’ll handle the queen.” “You’re no match for Astrid Dane.” “Tell me, do you underestimate everyone, or just me? Is it because I’m a girl?” “It’s because you’re a human,” he snapped. “Because you may be the bravest, boldest soul I’ve ever met, but you’re still too much flesh and blood and too little power. Astrid Dane is made of magic and malice.”

Kell frowned deeply. It is amazing, thought Lila, that he doesn’t have more wrinkles.

“The girl has power in her,” offered Tieren without looking back.

“What kind of power?” asked Kell, raising a brow. “Don’t sound so skeptical,” Lila shot back. “Unnurtured,” said Tieren. “Untended. Unawakened.”

“Well, come on then, onase aven,” she said, holding out her hands. “Wake it up.” Tieren glanced back and offered her a ghost of a smile. “It shall awake on its own, Delilah Bard. And if you nurture it, it will grow.”

“And human or not,” added Lila sharply, “I’d like to remind you that you’re still alive because of me. I’m the reason that White queen’s not wearing you like a coat. And I’ve got something you need.”

Lila frowned. She’d admit that, in the beginning, all she wanted was an adventure, but that wasn’t why she was insisting now. The truth was, she’d seen the change in Kell, seen the shadow sweep across his eyes when he summoned that clever cursed magic, seen how hard it was for him to return to his senses after. Every time he used the stone, he seemed to lose a bigger piece of himself. So no, Lila wasn’t going with him just to satisfy some thirst for danger. And she wasn’t going with him just to keep him company. She was going because they’d come this far, and because she feared he wouldn’t succeed, not alone.

Kell looked her in the eyes. “You will be trapped there,” he said. “When it is over.” Lila shivered. “Perhaps,” she said, “or perhaps I will go with you to the end of the world. After all, you’ve made me curious.” “Lila—” His eyes were dark with pain and worry, but she only smiled. “One adventure at a time,” she said.

“How did you lose it?” he asked. Lila frowned. “Lose what?” His weathered fingers drifted up beneath her chin. “Your eye.” Lila pulled her face from his grip, her hand going to the darker of her two brown eyes. The one made of glass. Few people ever noticed. Her hair cut a sharp line across her face, and even when she did look someone in the eye, they rarely held the gaze for long enough to mark the difference. “I don’t remember,” she said. It wasn’t a lie. “I was a child, and it was an accident, I’m told.” “Hm,” said Tieren pensively. “Does Kell know?” Her frown deepened. “Does it matter?” After a long moment, the old man tilted his head. “I suppose not,” he said. Kell was looking back at Lila, waiting for her.

Is she a grey world antari????

“If the darkness takes him,” said Tieren under his breath, “you must end his life.” He looked at her. Through her. “Do you think you can?” Lila didn’t know whether he wanted to know if she had the strength, or the will. “If he dies,” she said, “so will Rhy.” Tieren sighed. “Then the world will be as it should,” he said, sadly. “Instead of as it is.”

The stone still sang in Kell’s hand, but not quite the way it had before. Now the melody, the thrum of power, seemed to be singing in his bones instead of over them.

Kell didn’t want Lila to see how scared he was, but he thought she saw it anyway.

But halfway through the stride, a force jarred Kell backward, tearing Lila’s hand from his as it ripped him out of the place between worlds and back onto the hard stone street of Red London. Kell blinked up at the night, dazed, and then realized he was not alone. Someone was standing over him. At first, the figure was no more than a shadow, rolling up his sleeves. And then Kell saw the silver circle glittering at his collar. Holland looked down at him and frowned. “Leaving so soon?”

“I warned you, magic is not about balance. It is about dominance. You control it, or it controls you.”

“Do you know what makes you weak?” said Holland. “You’ve never had to be strong. You’ve never had to try. You’ve never had to fight. And you’ve certainly never had to fight for your life. But tonight that changes, Kell. Tonight, if you do not fight, you will die.

He could feel the magic climbing over his skin, and under it, and he willed it to stop, pushed back with all his strength as the smoke dissolved. Holland was shaking his head. “Go ahead, Kell. Use the stone. It will consume you faster, but you might just win.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. It felt stupid and useless to say, but the sharpness had gone out of his anger, and his sadness, his fear, his loss—they had all dulled into a steady ache, one he felt he might never shake as he reached under the Antari’s collar and found a White London token on a cord around his neck. Holland knew. He’d seen the attack coming, and he hadn’t stopped it. The instant before the metal struck him from behind, Holland had stopped fighting. It was only a second, a fraction of a breath, but it had been enough to give Kell the edge, the opening. And in the sliver of time after the metal pierced his body, and before he fell, it wasn’t anger or pain that crossed his face. It was relief.

Beside him, Lila drew yet another blade from beneath her coat. But this one wasn’t an ordinary knife. It was a royal half-sword from Red London. Kell’s mouth fell open. “Where did you get that?” he asked. “Nicked it off the guard who tried to kill me,” she said, admiring the weapon. He could see the markings scrawled across the blade. Metal that disabled magic. “Like I said, you can never have too many knives.” Kell held out his hand. “Can you spare it?”

At that, she offered him the sharpest edge of a grin. “Good,” she said. “The ones who think they’re ready always end up dead.” Kell managed a ghost of a smile. “Thank you, Lila.” “For what?” But Kell didn’t answer, only stepped forward into the waiting dark.

Athos rolled his head and considered his sister’s body, propped up on its throne, the charm pulsing at her throat. A London away, she might still be wreaking havoc, but here she sat, still and pale as the sculpted stone beneath her. Her hands draped on the arms of the chair, and wisps of white hair ribboned over her closed eyes. Athos tsked at his sister.

He laid Holland’s body on a stone bench and ascended the stairs, one hand curled around the royal blade, the other around the Black London talisman.

“You are like Holland,” he said. “Do you know why he could not take the crown? He never relished war. He saw bloodshed and battle as means to an end. A destination. But I have always relished the journey. And I promise you, I’m going to savor this.”

“Shall we see how well you suffer?”