Ever Shade (11 page)

They filed around the table on their right and sat down at the end nearest the queen. The queen herself had a table set up right in front of her with anything she asked for. There were stone plates and wooden forks and knives already set up in front of each of them. The small faeries that had laid out the table were now darting back and forth. They were so quick and efficient at their job; all that could be seen was a blur of wings and hands.

Shade watched them, fascinated by how tiny they were with their wings as thin as tissue, but they held the tiny stick thin figures gently in the air. The ones she was able to gaze longer upon showed her tiny faces with perfect tiny lips and straight noses. Most had jet-black body-length hair, some tied back and some with it hovering around them like capes. Large almond insect eyes were black as night and blinked at her curiously, none of them smiled but flitted by her, leaving a gust of cool air as they raced by.

Shade was exhausted. The food was working on her already and helped fill the void in her stomach. She felt sleep pulling at her eyes, and her body ached with every stretch and movement. She looked around at her friends. They all seemed tired too as they quietly munched on the great feast. She had stuffed her belly full and felt a twinge of regret with the pain of her swollen stomach making it hard to breathe. She sat back in her chair and looked across the table. On the parallel stone table straight across from her was Captain Dylan, he stared at her and smiled, a softer look on his face as he held his cup up in the air, nodding to her. He set it down and was then interrupted by a guard to his left. Shade glanced at the man who now was leering at her, and he was speaking softly to the Captain. He had similar facial structure, looked a bit younger than the Captain.

Shade was betting they were related somehow. She barely noticed that they were both looking at her now. The other guard’s dark stare was just that much colder than Dylan’s. She probably had stared too long. Shade felt her cheeks flush and turned quickly away, hiding behind her goblet of sweet punch. She pushed her plate back and looked at her friends; praying that they would be heading to their rooms soon, to sleep.

“Shade, are you done? We are being led to our chambers soon. Ready to go now?” Braelynn asked as she nodded at her and smiled. Relieved, Shade stood and followed as all of them began to file out. A dark haired and paled skin Teleen woman stood in front of them and waited for them to gather around. She smiled broadly at someone and held her arms out. Shade craned her neck to see whom she was smiling at. Jack came into the embrace, hugging the woman and began pulling back but the woman hung on a little longer, long enough to whisper something in Jack’s ear. He then pulled back abruptly and frowned at her, shaking his head and answered her sternly but soft enough so that no one else was privy to the conversation. Shade wondered who that woman was and how she knew Jack.

Jack turned back to the group, now composed and had a face of calm. He cleared his throat and spoke loudly for them all to hear. “Okay guys, Sylphi here is going to join us and show us to our rooms. We might be spread out for these are natural caves and are quite large. Don’t go wandering either, these tunnels travel far and it is easy to get lost. If you absolutely must, please only leave your room accompanied by someone else.” He waved to them to come forward and they all filed in by twos behind him and Sylphi. Sylphi kept trying to inch up near to him but he avoided her advances by stepping back and cramming in by Shade and Braelynn. “Shade, how is the trek finding you? Getting too tired?” He smiled down at her and completely ignored Sylphi’s raging glare. The woman turned back towards a large tunnel that they all filed into. Joining her were Captain Dylan and his near relative guard from the table.

“Um, it’s ok, my muscles are killing me, I‘ve never felt so sore in my life. I think I might have some blisters on my feet that are hurting something awful. I’m really not an outdoors type; this is really a big push for me.”

“Ah, you will need Sari’s famous foot soak, that’ll take care of anything on your feet for sure. I am sure she will have something for your muscle aches; this journey will take a toll on us all. I’ll have her stop by your room after she gets settled,” Jack said.

Sylphi was giggling and turned back towards them. “Shade, you might like Darren’s famous massage. He will definitely make you forget any pain you ever have felt and more…” Her voice had a singsong way, but with a definite malicious tone to it. She patted Captain Dylan’s comrade’s back.

“Thank you Sylphi, I will try to make myself, useful, for anyone who wishes so.” Darren, Captain Dylan’s sidekick snickered. Shade swallowed, somehow the massage did not sound like something she might need at all.

“That’s enough from both of you. I am sure our friends are much too tired from a long journey and just want to get some shuteye. Just show them their rooms already,” Captain Dylan snapped. He grumbled under his breath and gave Shade a dark look. She wondered why he didn’t seem to like her much.
He doesn’t even know me, why would he be so mean?

It’s because the unknown is a thing to fear Shade. Never forget that,
the voices chimed in.

Shade sighed, she agreed with her voices for sure. She just wasn’t so sure about the company here tonight. Especially Darren, he gave her the heebie-jeebies. He just radiated some kind of evil; it was all around him. She wasn’t sure why he was chosen to be one of their escorts: it did not seem very appropriate. Shade glanced at Sylphi.
She’s no better.

The dark haired Sylphi was hanging off of Jack’s arm now, whispering something into his ear. She wondered if those two had a thing for each other or if it was one-sided. From the look on Jack’s face, he did not seem to mind her hanging on him, but frowned every now and then at some of her comments and giggling.

She reminded Shade of the mean girls back at school, always finding a victim to torture amongst the high school kids. Sylphi was the kind of girl that would make snide comments to a good girl and send her the bathroom, with tears streaming down her face and feeling humiliated. Shade narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Those kinds of girls thrive on other’s suffering.
It would probably best to straight out avoid her,
Shade thought. At least they were only here for a night and would not have to endure the Teleen’s ‘hospitality’ too much longer.

“What are you thinking about, dear Shade? Have we offended you in some way? You’re shaking your head with such distain. Has your stay been so unpleasant so far?” Sylphi asked. She had left Jack’s side once he had entered his room and now joined Shade at her side. She slipped her hand around Shade’s arms and bent closer to her. Her pale skin shone like moonlight, only with a slight bluer tinge to the glamour she wore. The smell of roses and another kind of fragrant scent surrounded her, as she invaded Shade’s personal space.

“Jack’s mine you know, I do hope you understand.” She whispered to her. “We are to be married soon. I know that being a woman; you must understand how rare it is to find such a wonderful strong and handsome man, like Jack. Just letting you know how very much he has missed me. I feel so overjoyed to have him back; he stays away far too long. Oh, here we are now!”

She paused, smiling deeply for Shade, a smile that seemed to cut into her like a knife, and full of things unsaid. “Your room, my dear. Do have a good rest, you will need it!”

Shade almost scurried into the room and turned to see Darren leaning by the open door with arms crossed, smiling at her.

“Do let me know if you change your mind about the massage. I find you most fascinating, Shade. I have never met a human before. It’s been quite a delight.” He snickered, bowing as he left. Darren had shut the door for her and when it clicked Shade ran to it, and turned the lock as quickly as she could.

She turned, leaning against it and let her breath out. Somehow she did not feel all right. Something about this place was setting alarms off in her head, like crazy. She pulled her pack off and rubbed her shoulders, as she looked about the room for the first time.

The room was gorgeous; it was really a cave and no windows. The air was cool with an undertone of dampness that left a bit of a chill. There was a nice large bed at the far wall, just opposite the door. It was piled with fluffy pillows and soft blankets and was neatly arranged as to not seem messy, but comfy. There was a wooden table to one side of the room that she placed her pack on; it was long but smooth with use and polished. Above it was a silver mirror with a vine design frame; it had crystals embedded all around the edges. It was breath taking but seemed out of place in that room. Shade stood there, staring at her reflection. She looked tired; a thin layer of dust seemed to stick to her skin and hair. That wasn’t what stopped her though. The mirror looked like it had a tiny ripple in it. It was as if she was gazing at her reflection in a still pool of water. It looked smooth and almost see-through. She reached out her hand, letting her fingers almost caress the surface.

Suddenly, almost as if something had turned it off, the mirror was once again solid. Shade’s fingers made a clinking sound as they touched the hard glass surface. It was nothing more than solid mirror. Shade stared at it for a moment longer, shaking her head again.
Nothing is as it seems here
. She felt like Alice, and was deep down the rabbit hole. She sighed and turned towards a door in the wall of the cave that was next to the table. She turned the crystal and wood knob slowly, praying that nothing awful would jump out at her. It turned easily and opened into a well-lit bathroom. She laughed and let a breath out.
A bathroom
… It was both modern but very well equipped, with a large claw foot tub on one side, and a large shower. The shower itself had several showerheads installed. It had no door to it but a drain on the floor that would reveal the water’s path. She reached in and turned the curved silver knob on the wall and watched with amazement, as water fell like rain and poured out of the spouts. She smiled; the water was the perfect temperature. She noticed soaps and a sponge on a ledge near the end of the shower; they were wrapped in twine topped with a bow. She shrugged her clothes off and stepped under the pouring shower. It felt amazing. The hot water ran down on her skin and rinsed the day’s soil away, swirling dirt down the drain.

She hadn’t looked for towels before she had entered the shower but she looked around the room once she had her fill of the shower and found that a neat clean pile was set out on the counter by the sink. She turned off the shower and stepped out; she then pulled one of the towels out of the stack and wrapped it around her body. She didn’t feel cold in here; the steam and warmth of the water seemed to swirl around her still. She pulled another towel out and rubbed her hair, then twisting it around her hair to pile on top of her head. She sighed; she had left her bag with her clothes in the bedroom. She groaned, hoping it wasn’t too cool coming out of the bathroom. The room was as she left it; she paused to glance at the door to the hallway, listening for any steps or voices. The stone walls seemed to insulate the rooms very well here, and she didn’t hear anyone.
Natural soundproofing.
She rummaged through her pack and pulled out a deep blue nightgown and underwear. After she quickly dressed herself she noted the air in here was much cooler. Her hair was still wet from the shower and felt cool on her shoulders. Shade stopped, her eyes widened and the goose bumps flared on her skin. She looked around the room and couldn’t figure out why she was so cold suddenly. She’d heard what sounded like a whisper. She saw nothing. Where had that voice come from? She held her breath, listening hard for anything else.

Her eyes darted around as she stood there. None of her spirit guides responded, like a mute button had been pushed. Shade didn’t like it. Something was wrong. She grabbed one of her daggers from her pack and listened. Looking around again, nothing jumped out at her and there were no more voices. Her heart raced and pounded in her ears. She held her breath listening. She sighed, it was probably nothing. She shook off the crazy feeling, tossing the dagger on the vanity table and walked to the bed. She slipped under the soft sheets and pulled one of the thick quilts on top of her. She sat up in bed looking around one more time before reaching over to turn off the lamp. She paused one more time staring at the mirror.
Is it rippling again?
She shivered and felt uneasy.
I need to rest; I’m just really tired and exhausted. That’s why I’m starting to hallucinate. Tomorrow will be here before I know it.
She then decided to reach for her pack and pulled out her cell phone. It still had a charge on it but she doubted there would be an outlet here to charge it. It read 10:45pm.
Ugh, it’s getting too late
!

They had planned to regroup for breakfast at six am and after that, continue on their journey. She pulled out her charger and glanced down the wall near the floor. The lamp was plugged into the wall too and there was an open outlet just next to it. She couldn’t believe her luck as she plugged her cell phone in. Faeries with modern technology! She wondered if all the rooms were like this or was she the only one with modern comforts in her room. For sure there would be iron in the conduits, running through the stone walls.

She shrugged; she would have to ask Jack about it later. The Teleen weren’t bothered by it, since they were made of electricity and blue fire, but what about her friends? It was something to ask about for sure. The palace at Guildrin had not had such amenities. The light had come from torch and candle and by some weird magical spell that illuminated the place as bright as by natural sunlight.

She lay back, sinking into the bed and sheets. She let the blankets envelope around her; embracing her body heat that was held in the soft sheets and making the bed feel like heaven. She reached over again and clicked the lamp back off. She tried to not look at the mirror again but instead closed her eyes and let herself slip away into sleep.