Elias didn’t answer me right away, and when he did, he didn’t look me in the eye. “It was... basically it was a natural death.” He shifted his feet.
It’s not like my father was old. He was an encanto; he could have lived a thousand more years. “How is that possible? Did hefall ill?” Encantos were long-lived, but I supposed they were not immortal.
“As I said, Princess, we can talk more later. The insurgents can’t be far behind. I’m certain they’ve discovered what’s happened already.”
“Well, can you tell me who they are and why they’re after me?”
“With the death of your father, some in our world think the throne is up for grabs. And how better to stake a claim than to first assassinate the king’s heir? I have my thoughts on who might be behind it but can’t share until I have more proof. It’s not just you at risk either—our entire world is in danger. Without the rightful encanto on the throne, the forces of nature and magic are out of balance.”
I nodded. “The weird storms.”
“Correct. And every moment you’re not in Biringan, it gets worse. In both worlds. Already the magic is flickering. Nothing is working as it once did.”
“But why would they want that?”
“Simple. Because in the chaos, they can reign.” He clapped his hands together, and the fairies rushed into action, readying their weapons and preparing to flee again. “But once you take the throne and satisfy the treaty, balance will return.”
“What treaty?”
“The ancient encanto kings signed an agreement to keep the forces of magic in balance. You’ll learn more when we get there.” He held his arm out, motioning me toward the door once more.
I swallowed, trying to push down my anxiety. “We’re going there... right now?”
“Yes. Well, no. First we have to get your mother.”
That was the best thing I’d heard in hours. I suddenly felt lighter.
As we walked to the door, he added, “You need the amulet. The sign of your birthright.”
The confusion must’ve showed on my face, because he said, “You don’t know about the amulet?”
I shook my head.
He looked more worried now. “Let’s hope it’s not lost, then. And that we get there before the insurgents. If we don’t, your mother will be dead.”
4
“MJ!”
My mom ran for me before I even got out of the car. She was waiting anxiously at the door with two suitcases, already packed, and a belt bag over her chest. Her hair, tinged with gray at the roots, was a mess, haphazardly pulled into a bun, pieces falling out. She looked tired. More exhausted than I’d ever seen her.
“I was afraid of this,” she said as she hugged me. She leaned back and took my face in her hands. “But I never guessed it would go so bad so fast.”
We both looked up at the menacing sky. It was still swirling with clouds, and they were getting darker by the minute. As before, the storm seemed to be trailing us.
She started looking me over. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Michelle!” Elias hugged my mom. His two companions nodded to her.
“Is it true, then? Jun is dead?” she asked, her voice quavering. My father’s name was Vivencio, but my mother called him by his nickname, the one used by his intimates.
“I’m so sorry,” Elias told her. He cleared his throat. “You have the amulet?”
She said that she did, so he loaded the suitcases in the trunk and slammed it shut. “Let’s go.”
Mom and I crammed into the back seat. Elias got in the driver’s seat, and then we were off again.
